Well, I got lucky because my muse found this chapter with her! I'm so relieved! At first I thought I was going to have to type this part from scratch, which is nasty because I don't remember much. Oh well, thank heavens for small miracles.

Sorry for the lateness .

Enjoy minna!

THE CHILD IN ME 5

Kakashi couldn't believe it. He refused to believe it. Even Genma was having a hard time, but not as hard as Kakashi. Genma, for some reason, somewhat felt the change in the redhead during the second exam. There was not that much blood lust or rage like the one he used to have during the first chuunin exam. Somehow, some sort of calmness surrounded the boy, and he guessed, judging from what he heard, it was Naruto's doing. So when Gaara collapsed after his match with Sasuke (again), he had personally carried the boy out of the arena and towards the hospital near the stadium.

Kakashi was not faring off very well. He worried over Iruka's well being, due to having him exposed to someone like Gaara, openly and weaponless. Not even Sasuke's chidori could kill the boy. Damage, yes, but not kill. Even then, Gaara had been strong. What about now? Just how much control did he have over Shukaku that he could be trusted around 'normal' people?

"I better get going." Genma said, peeking at the window and finding Iruka sitting on the bed, in front him Naruto and Gaara talking. Actually, it was just Naruto talking, his arms moving in rapid gestures. "I have gate watch duty tonight."

"Right." Kakashi said.

Genma tapped on the glass, making signs that he was going to leave. He offered the two youngsters a grin, and couldn't help but smirk when Gaara blushed. He left Kakashi to ogle at the sight, taking place beyond the glass window, as he rushed off towards Konoha's gates.

XXX

Iruka was walking to Naruto's house, a month later after his recovery, and was carrying two plastic bags of ramen take-out and beef barbeque. It was a peaceful winter evening, the sky dotted with tiny stars, cool mists twisting in the air as he breathed. He took a detour down the road that lead to Naruto's street. He was not expecting to find Kakashi standing under the street light post just beside the entrance to Naruto's apartment.

"Kakashi-sensei." He said, slightly surprised. "Good evening."

"Ah, good evening, Iruka-sensei." The orange book was tucked away and he stood before Iruka, hands shoved in to his pockets.

"Is there something I can help you with?"

"Can we talk?" Kakashi watched as Iruka blinked at his question. "I was going to ask you today at the academy after your classes, but I got – uh –"

"Save it." Iruka said, raising a hand. "It's either about a cat, a pigeon or an old lady. I don't want to hear it."

Kakashi laughed. "Looks like you know me."

Iruka stared at him for a while then shook his head. "No. I don't know you."

Kakashi found himself stumped at those words. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine." Iruka said, sifting the weight of the bags on to his other hand. "Look, the boys are waiting. I promised to bring them dinner tonight."

"Why do you even bother?" Kakashi asked, and watched as Iruka's eyes widened at his question. "I can understand Naruto, but Ga –"

Iruka held a hand up. "Don't start again!

"Can you just listen for a second?" Kakashi asked, glaring at Iruka. "There –"

"He's a child Kakashi, and a lost one at that! Why is that so hard to understand?" Iruka asked, feeling the start of migraine coming up.

"He's a dangerous child. How do you know, while hugging or whatever it is you do with the boy won't result in him crushing you to death?" Kakashi asked, narrowing his eyes.

"That is just stupid." Iruka stated, raising an eyebrow.

"It's a fact. It's Gaara. With that boy, nothing like that is called stupid."

"You're being paranoid."

"I'm just worried!"

"Well, stop it!" Iruka snapped. "Because it's uncalled for. It's wrong! It's all wrong!"

"Why hasn't he returned to his village yet?" Kakashi asked, visible eye narrowed.

"I don't know. Hokage-sama doesn't seem to mind. He's also attending the field-training Naruto and the other graduates are currently going through anyway."

"That's no reason for him to stay. He's not a Konoha citizen! And the villagers know of him. They're not very delighted either."

"Doesn't matter!" Iruka said, glaring a bit. "Besides, Hokage-sama knows what's happening. Put a little trust in her."

"I don't trust him. The kid is mentally weird up in the head. The kid has a crush on Genma."

"So?"

"What do you mean so?"

"Like I asked. So?"

Kakashi blinked. "Iruka, for a child to be falling for someone three times his age, isn't that a bit strange?"

"No. And it's twice his age, by the way."

This time, Kakashi was very disturbed. "You don't find that strange?"

"No."

"Why?"

Iruka stared up at Naruto's window, and remembered.

(Thirteen years and five months ago)

Iruka stared at the flower he held carefully in his hands. It was a single white rose, something he saved up for, for the past five months or so and finally bought from the Yamanaka flower shop. The pregnant woman had been surprised that such a young child was buying a flower and teased him if it was for someone special.

It was indeed for someone special.

He took a left on the fork of the road that would lead to the Hokage administrative office, the flower still clutched between his hands firmly, a slight fear caressing the back of his mind that he might drop it and all would be lost. He wouldn't get a chance like this again. And hid not spend the past month or two, saving every penny he got in to the little milk can he nicked out of his mother's kitchen. And the nightly practices he did before going to bed in front of the mirror with his perfectly structured sentences for a 'speech' was not going to be ignored too.

He reached the gates of the building, and with all the stealth he had, he crept in, keeping a watchful eye at his surroundings. Trained feet crept up the stairs, enough to pass by an average non-ninja citizen and perhaps kids around his age and level. He peeked down the hall, and smiled, walking calmly and silently towards the main office doors. Voices from within made his scuffle back and jump in to the nearest and available dark corner.

"There will be a sake-karaoke party tonight. Hokage-sama himself invited the guests." One of two ANBU said.

"I'm surprised. I would have never thought that the Hokage would approve drinking." The second ANBU said.

"He doesn't. I heard Sandaime suggested it as his birthday celebration." The masked ANBUs exchanged looks and laughed as they disappeared down the hall towards the stairwell.

Peeking from his hiding corner, he breathed a sigh of relief and gathered his courage once more. With renewed mental strength, he approached the door and pushed it open slowly, thankful that the hinges were well oiled. He poked his little head in, giving the room a curious glance.

It was empty.


Frowning, he made his way to the mahogany painted oak desk. He gave the mission ranking scrolls a bored stare, before swiping the rest of the table with his eyes. There was a wrapper of a chocolate bar lying beside an empty teacup, along with an empty bottle of ink and a broken brush lying in an almost rushed attempt to make the table look neat. His frown lifted when he caught sight of a picture lying on top of a brown envelope, newly developed. A thatch of blonde hair told him that the Yondaime was in it, but it was the mass of brown, black and silver that made him peer at the picture closely, until he felt a hand grab him by the scruff of his neck and yank him back with so much force that he squeaked in an undignified way, dropped the flower he was holding and came face to face with two masked hunters.

All the blood drained from his face as he stared at the hunters with terror. Rational thoughts and wit abandoned him then and there and his tongue went numb in his mouth. The feline mask the hunter was wearing in front of him scared him so much that his mind reeled, debating whether to scream or to just shut down completely.

By some form of blessing, the door opened and the Yondaime stepped in, raising an eyebrow at the two hunters and their captive. "Hmm? What's going on?" He asked, seemingly snapping Iruka's fear-induced stupor.

"A nosy child, sir." The hinter holding him by his scruff said, and stepped forward around the desk and held a trembling Iruka in front of the Yondaime. "We found him snooping around your desk."

"I wasn't snooping!" Iruka whimpered and at the embarrassment of it all, anger flared in him. He kicked out and missed his captor's side.

"Well, there you go then." Yondaime said, flashing the two hunters a grin. He motioned with his hand for Iruka to be set down. "Excellent work, hunters. I believe Sarutobi-sensei is waiting for your presence in the next room." With a bow the two hunters left, but not before throwing Iruka a dark look from behind the feline mask. Once the door was closed, all fear returned to Iruka ten-fold, as he stared up at the Yondaime, a blush coloring his cheeks. "So!" He said, smiling down at Iruka. "To what do I owe your presence?"

Iruka blushed redder. A little voice in his head reminded him of his purpose and almost immediately, his eyes widened as he scanned the room, looking for his flower. When he spotted it, he fought the bitter urge to sob out his frustration and failure. The Yondaime seemed to have spotted his source of distress and blinked, but kept quiet.

"I – I – I wasn't s-snooping, Hokage-sensei." Iruka explained. He then bent and picked up the remains of the flower, and held it in between his pals. The hunters must have stepped on it when they caught him without noticing. "I – I came here today to wish you a happy birthday and I hope that you have many more happy returns."

The Yondaime smiled widely and sat back on his heals, so that he was within eye level with Iruka. "That's very nice of you, Iruka. Thank you." He then looked a the broken petals in Iruka's hands. "For me?"

"Yes." Iruka answered, blushing brighter. "B-But it's ruined now. I-I'll get you a new one." Iruka mentally did a rough estimate of the time he'd need to gather enough money and came up with the horrid conclusion of two months and one week at the least.

"No." Yondaime said, shaking his head. "These work just fine. Here, put them inside this." He reached out for a small wooden box from his drawer and held it out for Iruka. Iruka obeyed and placed the broken petals in it. "Ever heard of potpourri?"

"Mom has them."

Yondaime nodded. "Well, if I give this a few days, or maybe a week or two, I could use it as potpourri. In fact, dried flowers are natural air fresheners." He placed the box on the table, covering it with the lid and sat back on his heals in front of Iruka once more. "So all is not lost. Thank you for your gift. I shall keep it on my desk all the time."

Iruka felt his cheeks color some more as he shyly looked at the Yondaime. He was great man and person that held his adoration and respect. So, as boldly as any six year old could get, he pressed his lips to the Yondaime's cheek, just around the corner of his lip and stepped back, smiled, bowed and left the room, all the while the Yondaime was smiling.

(Present)

Iruka shrugged. "I don't find it stupid or silly or strange. It's just something kids his age tends go through. It's pretty normal."

"Uh-huh." Kakashi said, nodding and folding his arms across his chest.

"Come of it, Kakashi. You were once like him." Iruka said, rolling his eyes.

"When I had a crush, Iruka, it was someone of my age. Not someone way older than me. And it just so happens that it wasn't male too."

"So you got something against homosexuality?" Iruka asked, turning to look at him with a curious eye.

"I didn't say that."

"You were implying it."

"I wasn't!"

"While we're on the topic, you got something against lesbianism as well?" The sarcasm was evident.

"Iruka!"

"How about bisexuality? You against that too?" Iruka asked, glaring.

"Can you just listen for a moment?"

"So you are."

"Iruka!"

"What?" Iruka snapped. "No, forget it! I don't want to hear it. I appreciate your concern, really, I do. It's touching. But, I don't see the need for it. If you could just come out of that paranoia-induced shell of yours, you'd come to see the soft side of that child! He's no monster! He's no killer! He was just brought up in a dark environment and now he's reliving the blank space of his life. Why, oh why, can't you understand that?"

Kakashi stared at him for a while. "Because it's difficult."

"Then you are a foolish blind person." Iruka said and side stepped from him to climb the staircase, ignoring the gaze that was boring at his back as he raced for the top, ramen and barbeque slightly gone cold.

XXX

After feeding the two boys and tucking Naruto in to bed and leaving Gaara watching TV, he headed back home, carrying an armful of books that Gaara read in the past few weeks. He would look for more good reads for the boy to prevent him from getting bored. He was thrilled when Gaara shyly asked for more books to read. Apparently, he liked all of them and the blush and shy look he gave him made it difficult for him to say not.

But the books were heavy.

And he missed the pebble on the ground just as he was walking past a sushi bar that was in the same block he lived in. His world was a flurry of blurring images as he began to fall forward, until he felt the concrete smack him hard on the chest and chin.

"Oh crap." He hissed and pushed himself off the floor, sighing at the scattered books around him.

"Need help?"

He turned to find Genma standing behind him, a plastic bag of sushi take out in his hand. "Oh yes, thank you, Genma-san."

"That's quite a load you got." Genma commented, carrying some of the pile, enough for Iruka to see in front of him.

"Well, Gaara is quite a reader." Iruka chuckled.

"Gaara? Gaara read all this?" Genma asked, blinking in surprise.

"Well, he can't sleep for some reason. So I brought him some books to keep him entertained in the evenings." Iruka explained.

"Ah. I see." Genma nodded, smiling. "How is he anyway?"

"He's fine. Shy and a bit withdrawn, but he's more communicative nowadays. Especially around Naruto." Iruka explained, remember the time after his recovery where Gaara actually spoke in real debating conversation with Naruto about how having too much ramen was not good for the kidney because of its additives.

Genma chuckled at his answer. Minutes later, they were in front of Iruka's apartment. Genma dropped the books off at the table and bid Iruka a good evening, heading on his way home. Iruka flopped down on the couch, kicking his sandals off and tilted his head back, closing his eyes.

It's been a tiring day.

TBC

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