Iruka smiled contently…he had finished his report filing at a quarter to six, a new record. It has been days since he gave Kakashi a mission, and was surprised that Kakashi hasn't showed up for a new one or to return the old mission. Iruka shrugged to himself as he tidied up his desk. He grabbed the folders with all the stamped and organized mission reports and placed it next to the others that needed filing. He felt sorry for those in the morning that had to file them. He would do it, but somehow he just wanted to relax for the rest of the day, not to mention he had homework to grade and a quiz to make up.

Iruka sighed, both in annoyance and relief, when he felt Kakashi's presence enter the room. He turned around and frowned, noticing how Kakashi was trying not to sway. Kakashi placed his mission report on the table and waved at Iruka, not even sparing him a word as he turned around and stepped out of the office. Iruka frowned even more; Kakashi would normally crack a joke on him or disappear in his puff of smoke. Iruka rubbed the bridge of his nose as he grabbed Kakashi's report and put it in the box where the unread mission reports were located.

Iruka still had a nagging feeling, from all those years of experience when things were not what they seemed. As Iruka approached the door he slipped, nearly falling to the ground. Frowning even more, if possible, Iruka looked down to see the source of his 'fall'. His eyes widen, and then narrowed as he noticed the source of it…blood.

"Why that stupid…fool…perverted…" Iruka kept rambling as he dashed out of the office and ran out of the building, searching for Kakashi. He didn't have to run far, he could spot Kakashi avoiding the public by going through the trees. Iruka rolled his eyes as he took off after him, dodging a kunai sent to him.

"And then they say I'm moody" Iruka told Kakashi as he jumped in front of Kakashi. Kakashi glared at him with his visible eye and moved past Iruka.

"I don't have time to argue with you Iruka…" Kakashi said irritated.

"And neither do I…now let's go before you pass out of blood loss" Iruka said equally irritated as he grabbed Kakashi's arm. Kakashi pulled away and continued to glare at Iruka.

"What is it to you if I do pass out? It's my business…I will handle myself fine Iruka…I am a shinobi" Kakashi snapped. Iruka's eye twitched as he dragged Kakashi out of the tree and onto land again. Kakashi could feel his knees get weak from the impact, and scowled. Iruka shook his head as he grabbed Kakashi's arm and slung it over his shoulder, helping the jounin through the streets. Kakashi grumbled and mumbled about being fine, but Iruka ignored him. Iruka led Kakashi towards his apartment and Kakashi barely managed to open the door. Kakashi pulled away from Iruka and stepped into his home.

"I'm home Iruka…thank you for your wasted efforts…" Kakashi said annoyed. Iruka frowned at Kakashi. Why was he so hard headed?

"Fine…but don't blame me if you die" Iruka said as he walked down the hall.

"It wouldn't matter…it would be better…" mumbled Kakashi as he closed the door to his apartment. But Iruka heard him…heard him even if he mumbled him, causing Iruka to get infuriated and stomp his way away from Kakashi's home.

"That good for nothing jounin! I help him and look…he doesn't even care for himself…why do I even bother?" Iruka snapped as he entered his home. He stormed into the bathroom and tossed his clothes onto the floor carelessly. He took a warm shower, still muttering curses and getting himself worked up over how a certain silver haired jounin had an attitude problem.

/Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/

Iruka had a serious expression that afternoon. He was looking at the mission reports and signing them, stamping a success or failed stamp on each mission. He looked at the clock and noticed how late it was getting, and was grateful that Kakashi didn't show up to get a new mission. Kakashi needed to rest, even though he disliked him. Iruka sighed inwardly…no matter how much he disliked him…he didn't like seeing Kakashi or anyone else suffering or in pain…call is his 'mother-hen' instinct or whatever. Doing his normal routine of setting the signed reports on the desk to be filed, Iruka could feel a presence behind him. He turned around and glared at Kakashi who was waiting in front of Iruka's desk.

"What are you doing here Hatake-san?" asked Iruka.

"Give me a mission" Kakashi said.

"No"

"What?"

"I said…no" Iruka turned to him with an annoyed look. Kakashi's stared darkened and his mood turned slightly sour.

"Why…not…" Kakashi asked.

"Because you are in no condition to go on a mission…in case you haven't noticed Kakashi…you were nearly bleeding to death last night…you need a few days of rest before you can take on a 'light' mission" Iruka stated bluntly.

"Give…me…a…mission" Kakashi said with a scowl. Iruka crossed his arms and leaned on his desk.

"No…go home Kakashi…" Iruka said. Kakashi snorted.

"You won't order me around…" Kakashi said. Iruka smirked.

"I think I just did…now go home before I report to Tsunade-sama about your little…incident…" Iruka said. Kakashi growled slightly at Iruka, both annoyed and surprised that the cheerful and overly nice Iruka could be so cold and demanding, which, to Kakashi's dismay, intrigued him.

"Fine…you blackmailing fiend" Kakashi mumbled as he turned around and headed for the door. Iruka chuckled at the name. He was a blackmailing fiend? He shook his head and pushed himself off his desk.

"Hey…I'm doing you a favor…so quit with the name calling" Iruka said as he followed Kakashi out of the office. Kakashi shoved his hands into his pockets, wincing at the notion, but not showing his pain. Kakashi mumbled a good night and left Iruka behind. Iruka looked at Kakashi and noticed how pale Kakashi looked…well…paler than what he looked. He also noticed how Kakashi's body slightly changed. His eyes widen as Kakashi fell forward, collapsing to the ground.

"Dammit Kakashi…" growled Iruka as he ran to the jounin and lifted him off the ground, wrapping one arm around Kakashi's waist and bringing his arm over his shoulders.

"Oh…and you wanted to go on a mission like this?" Iruka asked in disbelief as he dragged the unconscious jounin out of the building. Iruka knew that he wouldn't be able to drag Kakashi to his place, so Iruka opted in taking Kakashi to his small house. Iruka's house was small yet cozy, and it was only a few minutes away from the academy. Iruka tried juggling Kakashi and opening the door and succeeding. He dragged Kakashi inside his house and kicked his sandals off, and then proceeded to drag Kakashi into his room, dropping the 'dead' weight onto his bed.

"Man…I thought you'd be heavier…" Iruka muttered. Iruka took his vest off and placed it on his chair. He stared at Kakashi, trying to figure out if it would be safe to remove Kakashi's mask, or simply leave it on for his own safety. Iruka shrugged as he pulled Kakashi's sandals off, pulled his vest, his hita-ite and his gloves. He took Kakashi's uniform and placed it on the small desk in the corner of the room. Iruka frowned at all the wounds Kakashi had. And…were those healing ones? Iruka leaned over Kakashi's chest and noticed how there were still fresh wounds.

Iruka scowled…Kakashi was taking missions while still being injured…and had no medical attention? Iruka growled as he took Kakashi's pants off, not even realizing it. He pulled Kakashi's mask off and his scowl faltered. Iruka stared at Kakashi's pale features…his eyes with the scar over one…made his face look so deathly beautiful…like an angel fallen from heaven. Iruka's eyes traced over Kakashi's broad shoulders, his slim features, and a perfect skin even though it was adorned with scars. Iruka suddenly blushed as he realized Kakashi had nothing but boxers on. He quickly grabbed a blanket and tossed it over Kakashi's waist, sighing in relief.

Iruka walked into his bathroom, pulling out a rather large first aid kit to treat serious wounds. He pulled the chair next to the bed and started undressing Kakashi's wounds. Iruka frowned and looked worried as he noticed how infected the wounds were. He placed his hand over Kakashi's forehead and noticed he was burning up.

"You idiot…why take missions when you were already ill?" Iruka said more than asked as he rushed to the kitchen to grab a bowl of cold water and some peaces of cloth. He returned to the room and sat back down, placing the bowl on the nightstand. He wet a cloth and squeezed the excess water out, placing it over Kakashi's forehead. Iruka went back to removing all the bandages and gasped at the wounds. There was a side gash near Kakashi's spleen. There was another wound grabbing Kakashi's shoulder down midway to his chest.

Iruka shook his head as he grabbed another piece of cloth and wetted it, cleaning the wounds one by one, removing old and new blood. He sighed as he opened the first aid kit, and took out a disinfectant spray. He knew it was going to hurt Kakashi, even if he was unconscious. Iruka sprayed his wounds, noticing how Kakashi's muscles tensed and his brows furrowed, but didn't wake up. Iruka then proceeded to grab a surgery needle with the medical thread. He was an expert at sewing, after having to take the place of medical-nin in the field at times. He gently began sewing the wound on his shoulder, taking into consideration the serious swelling of the skin.

"Why do this to yourself Kakashi?" Iruka whispered as he finished sewing up Kakashi's major wounds. He sprayed his wounds one more time with the disinfectant spray, making sure to kill any bacteria. Iruka took out a medical cream and started to apply it slowly. He applied it to the major wounds first, and then proceeded to apply on other wounds, like arm scratches, small kunai attacks, and an occasional bruise around his body. Iruka took out the bandages and slowly started to roll him up. It took some effort, but eventually he managed to wrap the bandages around him and secure them tightly, but not too tightly.

Iruka took the bloodied cloths and bandages and threw them away in the bathroom trash bin. He washed his hands from the blood and cream and headed back to the room. He grabbed the bowl and refilled it, this time with warm water as he grabbed a wash cloth and a fresh clean towel and headed back to the room. He grabbed a new soap bar from one of his drawers and threw it inside the bowl. He took his seat and proceeded to clean Kakashi up the best he could, hoping to make Kakashi a little more comfortable and refreshed.

/break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/

Iruka stepped out of the bathroom in a clean pair of sweatpants and a short sleeved white shirt on. He stepped into his room where Kakashi slept in a clean pair of pajamas, a blanket covering his entire body. Iruka couldn't help but smile at the peaceful expression Kakashi had on his face. Iruka shook his head as he grabbed a pillow and a blanket from the closet and headed to the small sofa chair on the other side of the bed. He sat down and curled his legs under him, covered himself with the blanket and placed the pillow behind his head, closing his eyes and soon falling into a light sleep.

Kakashi furrowed his brows. He felt warm…comfortable…at peace. He was feeling all the wrong things as he slowly opened his eyes and noticed this was NOT his room. He raised his hand to his face and noticed there was a small eye patch over his sharingan eye, preventing the sharingan from activating and absorbing his chakra. Kakashi tilted his head sideways and his eyes widen at the sight.

Suddenly everything hit him…he collapsed nearly unconscious and Iruka helped him. Iruka was mumbling something about his condition. But he also felt the warmth of Iruka's care…his touch…his personality. Kakashi stared at Iruka's sleeping form, curled on the sofa chair like a little cat, the blanket keeping him warm. Kakashi couldn't help but smile at the sight, and suddenly he frowned. He sat up and winced, looking at his wounds.

He shook his head as he noticed he was clean and well bandaged. He smiled slightly, though his smiled faltered. He couldn't allow himself to relax and roam about lazily. He had a duty to do…and it was protect Konoha. He couldn't indulge himself in the life of friends…of peace. Kakashi sighed softly, as to not wake Iruka up.

"I can't do this…I have to keep going…" Kakashi whispered to himself as he slowly slipped out of the bed. He looked around the semi dark room, since the sun was beginning to rise over the horizon. /This is the only way…to atone for what I have done/ thought Kakashi as he put his uniform back on. He looked back at Iruka and smiled sadly. Now more than ever he needed to deal with his guilt and remorse. And being in the house and the source of his problems was not helping him. He walked silently, like a predator stalking his prey. He leaned over and pulled his mask down, placing a soft kiss on Iruka's cheek.

"Thank you Iruka-chan…but I don't deserve this…good bye…" whispered Kakashi as he disappeared in a puff of smoke, causing Iruka to furrow his brows. Iruka frowned…the sudden warmth disappeared. Where was that soft voice…that soft voice full of pain and tormentation? The voice that soothed his nightmares and made him warm? Iruka opened his eyes slowly, yawning as the morning rays brought light to the room.

He stretched and yawned like a cat, smiling contently at the dreamless sleep and the warmth that encircled him, but frowned when he noticed that the warmth that encircled him quickly disappeared. Shrugging to himself he let his gaze fall on the bed….his eye twitched…and cursed….loudly…and very colorfully…with words he scolded his students for saying, and words he frowned as his colleagues repeated it…oh he cursed alright…waking up the neighbors in the process…

/break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/

Nyah…this chapter is done…done before My Reflection…O.O damn…wasn't hoping for that…but oh well…this chapter was ok I guess Ja!

R.A. ducko: thanks for the words of encouragement ) I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Snow887: lol /looks at flag/ oo pretty flag lol no need to thank me…I hope you enjoy this chapter

Lady Geuna: thanks for not thinking it's boring. It's a little slow I know lol but sometimes those are best stories ne? Hope you like this chapter

Jemiul: I hope this chapter gave you a little hint as to why Kakashi takes so many missions…his true motive shall be revealed in the next chapter…and a half heh…

Sev Crucio: thanks a lot…I hope you enjoy this chapter

TheSunshineGirls: yeah I like plot development lol especially with two characters who are polar opposites…it makes it more interesting lol

Polka Dots: thanks for your suggestions…next chapter will be a chapter revolving solely on Iruka…with some hints here and there of Kakashi and the rest of the Naruto cast…the chapter after next will revolve around Kakashi…heh…these chapters are going to be fun…mwuahahahaha

Catc10: lol you're close lol but it's deeper than that…heh…you'll see

Ika-chan: thanks for liking the beginning…I hope you like this chapter as well.