warnings: yaoi (iruka x kakashi and maybe others, nobody knows but nostradamus), sicky-sweet fluff, rambling, lots of other undesirables.

rating: very tame G

do i have to say it? I don't own nothing (double negative! I own it all!)

A/N 01: keita and tomoko have some air time here...yes, they are OC and have a bit more to do with the story than i had originally intended...no they are not in love with iruka or kakashi. i guess i should have used some minor naruto ninjas in their place, but it's too late for that now. (i.e. i'm too lazy to fix it)

CHAPTER 02 : Cake and Contrition

Kakashi took a swig of his beer, his figure outlined by the kitchen window as he watched the brunette stalk off down the street. Kakashi was thinking he'd rather misread Iruka. Genma came to stand beside him after having fetched a beer from the fridge.

"Wasn't expecting him to leave already." Genma said as he popped off the cap. "Hmph. Most new kids would stay. Especially freshmen. Iruka's not gonna make many friends if he doesn't learn to play nice."

With a sudden swipe Genma found his now shattered toothpick neatly deposited into his bottle. Genma looked up to watch Kakashi's back as he walked past groups of mingling students and out the front door. The blonde shut his mouth and smirked, eyebrows raised in mild surprise. It wasn't like his friend to be perturbed. It also wasn't like him to have enough interest in someone to bother broadcasting it. The state of Iruka's shirt had been a very clear and public message. (Genma suspected it was one directed to him in particular).

Since Kakashi showing interest in another human being was an unprecedented and momentous event, Genma decided he would relent. Iruka was cute, but not altogether his type, a pleasant diversion at the most. Kakashi, on the other hand, was, but Genma had finally given up when he noticed Kakashi didn't seem to care one way or the other. He deposited his beer in the sink with a resigned sigh and retrieved another. Some things just weren't meant to be, and Genma wasn't the dwelling sort Locating a new toothpick, he resumed his oral fidgeting. But he was no angel either and couldn't help but hope things didn't go too smoothly for the two.

"We're sorry Iruka, we didn't know they were going to take it that far..." Tomoko apologized the next morning before class, Keita nodding in agreement after she ribbed him. Iruka had been quite cross, but she seemed genuinely concerned, and really the only lasting irritation he had was with the white haired pervert. Besides, school work was at stake.

"It's alright, I'll live. Let's just forget it and start working on our project. I had some ideas I wanted to run by you two." Iruka smiled to show there were no hard feelings. Or at least, no more murderous intent.

Tomoko brightened. "Really? We'll work hard to make up for yesterday ok? My sister said she was sorry too, she didn't know Kakashi was going to...I mean, usually they just sit in the closet you know? It was the first time Kaka-"

Iruka raised a hand, silencing her. "Please, let's not talk about him ok?" The throbbing vein on his forehead told Tomoko he was to be taken seriously.

"Sorry...Anyways, it's really meant to be an invitation of sorts, most of the people there are involved with student council and clubs, and it's kind of a welcoming-recruiting party you know? They didn't mean you any harm, just having a little fun."

"And," Keita added "Genma thought you were cute." What could Iruka do but redden?

"Keita! What a thing to say..." Tomoko admonished, looking apologetically at Iruka.

Keita, however, wasn't in the mood for apologizing anymore. "And Kakashi too by the looks of it." He put on a cheshire grin as Iruka shot him a dirty look. Tomoko grinned and sweat-dropped and pinched Keita's side, causing the boy to yelp.

"Don't mind Keita, he's just compensating. Iruka, why don't we meet for lunch later?"

Iruka nodded. Why not, he didn't have any other plans. He watched the pair take their seats, Keita mumbling he had nothing to compensate for.

Iruka sat at an empty table. He was a bit early, having brought a lunch with him. Tomoko and Keita were still in line getting their food. He began writing an outline for the work ahead in a notebook.

"It's about time you got here." Iruka said when a figure appeared before him. His smile disappeared as his heart stopped, looking up expecting to see his project mates and instead seeing THAT guy. (you know who)

Kakashi grinned good naturedly, setting a tupperware in front of the flat-lining boy. "Expecting me?" Kakashi was met with chilly silence and a narrowed glare. "Hi to you too." He ran a hand through his hair, exposing a pale scar over his left eye. "You left before the cake so I- , we saved you a slice, since it was...our fault you left. Anyways, sorry about that, it was...just a joke. Alright, see you around." Kakashi waved two fingers and walked away with his hands in his pockets. Iruka watched him head to the exit, countering with a mental "Not if I can help it."

Genma caught up with him en route. He noticed a slight but telltale hue on Kakashi's cheeks. 'Hmmm, this semester gets curioser and curioser' he thought, chewing industriously on a lolli stick, and turned to see Iruka staring at them. He waved at the freshman, who half-heartedly waved back. Kakashi reached over and grabbed Genma by the shirt, yanking him out of the cafeteria. The corner of Iruka's mouth twitched.

Iruka had to admit the last thing he was expecting from the upperclassman was a piece of cake. He opened it and found a neat square of fancy strawberry short cake. Tomoko and Keita arrived just then with their trays, ooohed and awwwed over the confection.

"Wow, your mom must really love you Iruka, that looks good. Can I have a bite?" Keita asked, already holding his spoon above the slice. Tomoko's hand gripping his wrist was the only reason he hadn't yet ravaged the baked goodie.

"Huh? This-...wasn't there any cake at the party?" Iruka asked, puzzled.

Keita frowned. "Nope. But even if there was is there some law that says I can't eat cake everyday? Or you just being stingy?" Tomoko put on her cute face, but increased her grip a tenfold. Keita winced and grumbled.

Iruka let Keita have the first bite. When he didn't die or run off with stomach pains, the three shared in the dessert. Iruka didn't say much for the rest of the lunch period, instead listening to Tomoko talk about the school and students there, Keita providing snide commentary at intervals.

A few thoughts were formulating in the freshman's head. One, that the cake had been a gesture of good will...probably. Or a set-up. Some kind of lull-into-a-false-sense-of-security tactic. Anyway, that Kakashi could not be trusted. And he was still a perv. And he had a scar over his left eye. But mostly that he was still a perv.

Tomoko suggested they meet at her house after school again, this time to actually start on their project. Iruka adamantly refused. The three settled on the library instead.

Reviewer Response Conrner : thanks for the reviews guys, i appreciate them lots

anbu-kakashi : kakairu hoooooo! Ahem, indeed forever.
sneazelburg : -wink wink- if you meant 'snogging' by 'saving' then yes. that is what you meant right?
spectre: hs, how we all loathe you. thanks for the illustration for cat-fancy btw, it was very cute and nicely done!
Thefuturefreaksmeout: don't be afraid, trust in nostradamus ;) know what you mean, i like the high school stories too, guess cause things happen in them that never happened in my high school...for example, there were no cute guys named scarecrow or dolphin. unfortunate.
disama: thanks :), i'll try not to...but i usually don't like uber-long stories...
hikarienzeru: if you are in need of good kakairu fics, i have a whole bunch listed in my favorites (actually that's all i have - i am a monogamous obsessive) and there is the kakairu fanfic C2 archive as well.
eudoxus: ah, i hope this is going ok so far. AU is the spice of life! Or no, that's salt or imagination or something isn't it?...
xtina: hope ch02 doesn't disappoint :)
silent laugh: I was afraid people wouldn't be able to tell between inner and inner-inner iruka. i miss small details like that in other fics all the time is why...
hana: eeee! Thanks :)
lightdragon1987: cruel? oh it was all good, if not entirely clean, fun. ;)
sodesne: yes poor kid. poor lucky kid. ;)
snow887: glad to make your day, your review made mine :D
tfi-muse: i love threatening reviews XD hehe, well, here's more! aren't you sorry you asked now?
eyesonme19: iruka is always cute, scientific fact it is.
flare2: well he didn't do much in this chapter, but more to be had in the future, scout's honor.