Late update + non-beta-read version. Betas is on its way and I'll replace this once I get it. Thing is, I've been bugged about this story in more than 1 email by readers and I want to apologize. Finally got off my butt and wrote it off. Pardon mistakes since I tend to fly-by them. I did reread it twice but I might have still missed some. So, sorry in advanced.

PS - 'Because you never knew' is still on hold because I'm having a SERIOUS block. I keep trying, really. It's been bugging me too.

Figured I'd give a lil KakaIru loving in this chapter. Enjoy.

THE CHILD IN ME 7

The living room was a mess when he returned. Candy wrappers, empty juice packets, stacks of porcelain bowls and empty ramen cups littered the wooden center table. Gaara briefly wondered how anyone could eat that much and not have indigestion. There were broth stains on the surface of the wooden table and the house smelled slightly the same as the ramen bar down the street. Amidst all the chaos sat Naruto, blue eyes glued on the television set, throw pillow on both laps, while biting down on his lower lip. A quick glance at the television set told Gaara that it was one of those cheesy romantic movies that made saps tear up. The fact that Naruto himself was tearing up somehow made the whole picture more bizarre.

"I'm back." Gaara announced.

"Uh-huh." Naruto nodded, waving a hand in acknowledgement to the greeting. "Welcome home."

Gaara didn't need to speak further. He was feeling slightly hungry since he didn't really eat any lunch. With food in mind, Gaara pulled the fridge door open to see if there was anything to eat. He merely found a bag with two bad tomatoes and an empty carton of milk. The hopes of getting anything to eat vanished as he tossed the milk carton in to the bin and kicked the fridge close. IT was just a few hours away till dinner. Maybe Iruka would bring something to eat. Squishing down all thoughts of hunger, Gaara joined Naruto on the couch, sat cross-legged and stared at the screen.

It was a foreign film with subtitles. The story was about two best friends – Raul and Andre – who were fighting for the heart of the lovely Consuelo. At some point, when an evil rich tycoon called Pierre tried to buy Consuelo's hand in marriage, Raul had jumped in to save her. Things got nasty and Raul ended up being in a coma and Pierre dead. Andre, the scum and devious little imp, took advantage of Raul's absence and tried to seduce the fair Consuelo. It was at this point, in the hospital room where Raul resided in, did Andre confessed his love to her.

Gaara was about to ask Naruto what kind of crap he's watching when Andre cupped Consuelo's face and kissed her. Upon seeing that scene, a genuine curiosity filled Gaara's head. He remembered Naruto saying that lip locks were supposed to be special. IF that was the case, then why did Consuelo let Andre kiss her? It was so obvious that she loves Raul. And sure enough, the ending had Raul and Consuelo together in one hot and wet lip lock after a wedding proposal to which the scene dissolved in to a bright wedding day, said couple still in a lip lock. Andre had died of brain cancer and was happy to have known that his friend and love were happy together.

Naruto was already sniffing tears back and grinning with delight at the same time. "That is the best film I have ever seen." Gaara looked at him funny – the one where he tilts his head to once and side and his invisible brows presses together. "What?"

"Wet." Gaara said as Naruto switched the television and VCR player off.

"Wet? Naruto asked, puzzled.

"The kiss was all –" Gaara's frown deepened. "Wet."

"Well," Naruto shrugged and dropped himself back on the couch next to Gaara. "It should be. It's got some tongue in it."

Gaara blinked. "Tongue?"

Naruto paled for a brief second then blushed a bright red. "It's when they kinda' have a tongue fight."

"Is it supposed to be good?" Gaara asked, curiosity now at its peak.

"How should I know? I never had someone stick their tongue in to my throat!" Naruto defensively said, still red in the face.

"I'll ask Iruka-sensei." Gaara stated, wanting to know more about the tongue-kiss process.

"Oh hell no! Whatever you do, do not ask Iruka-sensei! He'll blow steam off and most likely hand me by my toenails!" Naruto then got that wide eyed look on his face. "Crap! That reminds me! Iruka-sensei promisedlunch! We gotta go bug him! Come on! Grab your sandals!"

XXX

The Academy halls were already noise free since it was already forty-five minutes past the normal student dismissal time. Iruka was just exiting the teacher's lounge after having a warm cup of refreshing coffee when Gaara and Naruto spotted him. Both exchanged looks (Naruto grinning widely) before making a wild dash towards Iruka's retreating back. One second, Gaara was running forward, hot at Naruto's heels. The next instant, an arm shot out from one of the doors and grabbed him from the scruff of his shirt pulling him back. If Gaara hadn't been a ninja, he would have sprained his ankles from the abrupt pull back. The sand didn't even have time to react to the sudden grab and Gaara found himself looking back (as much as his neck would allow him to) at a very serious looking Kakashi.

"Oi!" Naruto yelled, from the other end of the hall, abandoning all intentions of doing a flying hug at Iruka and darted back towards Gaara and Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, what are you doing? Let him go."

Of course, the commotion didn't go unnoticed by Iruka. "What is going on? Kakashi, wha –" Kakashi had already set Gaara on his feet, opting to hold the boy the shoulders, the grip firm. "What are you doing to that boy?" Iruka asked, feeling the annoyance creeping in. Naruto understood that a fight was going to break out between the two elders, so he tugged at Gaara's hand, giving Kakashi an annoyed look. "Let that boy go this instant!" Iruka hissed, and jerked Gaara away when Kakashi's fingers lost a bit of its tightened hold. Iruka rubbed the back of Gaara's neck, kneeling down to look at the boy. "Gaara?"

Gaara was too quiet, an emptiness glowing in the green depths of his eyes. "Yes, Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka knew that look and sighed quietly, plastering a strained smile instead. "Why don't you two wait in my classroom? I'll be with you two in a second." He gave Gaara and Naruto a light push towards the classroom's direction.

"Yes, Iruka-sensei." The two chorused and headed for the classroom, Naruto mouthing off silly things about some lame joke so that the atmosphere around Gaara would calm a bit.

Iruka turned to look at Kakashi, a tired and almost pained look directed at the Jounin. "Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi looked at him quietly then sighed. "I'm going to say it one more time. I don't like that kid."

Iruka wanted to slap his forehead. "What am I going to do with you?" It was a tired and fed up question. "He's a child, Kakashi. A child. And he's alone. You were once a child too and like me and many other shinobis out there, you were alone as well! This is not fair."

Iruka's sentence seemed to have caused dark swirls to fill Kakashi's visible eye. "You won't get an apology from me if that's what –"

"I don't want an apology from you." Iruka said, rubbing his temples. "And I don't expect one because you're too proud to even give one." Kakashi's breath paused at his throat briefly as he stared at Iruka, a feeling that he can't label. Iruka looked up at Kakashi, smiling sadly. "I would have expected a little maturity and understanding from your side." Iruka shook his head, turning around to walk back towards the classroom. "But I guess I'm expecting too much."

Kakashi could only stare at Iruka's retreating back and watch with a somewhat offended and hurt feeling as Iruka opened the door to his classroom andgot jumped by the two waiting children inside.

XXX

Iruka had dropped off the two kids back home after having fried noodles and barbeque at one of the small restaurants located near the administrative office. He watched as the two raced up at the steps of the apartment complex. He couldn't help but smile proudly, at the same he felt like a father. Shaking his head with amusement and waving in return at the two, Iruka slowly made his way back to the administrative office to file reports. He'd get the workload done, stop by at the dango shop to buy a treat, scoot over to Naruto's place and leave them some of the sweet confectionary and call it a night.

Iruka shoved his hands in to his pockets, a smile glowing on his face. Just before entering the building, he turned to look up at the face monuments, his gaze lingering on the fourth. They had already began carving the face of the fifth, hence there were hanging pulleys and platforms for the architects to work on. He remembered a night similar to the current one, years ago, during the days when he had a massive crush on the fourth. At the mere memory, his happy smile dropped a few notches, a sad touch glazing it.

(Thirteen years and two months ago)

Mr. Umino and the Yondaime worked closely as peers. Majority of the missions and diplomatic meetings the Yondaime went through, he made sure that Mr. Umino was with him. They were good friends and comrade with a small age difference, because Mr. Umino had married early. Iruka's crush on the Yondaime had grown to the point that if any kid in the academy dared mentioned or hinted that the Yondaime was a bad ruler, said kid would either end up with either a black eye or a very, very painful shin. So Iruka had been very excited when his father announced the Yondaime's presence at the dinner table one spring afternoon.

Iruka made sure that the house was spotless, and even adorably scolded his own father when Mr. Umino accidentally left a work scroll on the coffee table when it should be on the shelf in the hallway. To say that the Uninos were amused was an understatement. They downright wondered what was up with Iruka, but dismissed it in a fond parental way.

When the Yondaime arrived, dressed in casual shinobi clothes, no longer donning his white fire-pattered coat, Iruka had made sure he looked his best. He tied his hair up neatly, pressed his clothes and took a shower. Iruka was at his best behavior, always using 'please', '-san' and not once showing a display of rudeness. Mrs. Umino was one proud woman while she witnessed her young boy display utmost grace and respect. Mr. Umino beamed, while the Yondaime smiled amusedly and sweetly at the young boy.

It was during dessert time did Iruka cease his talking and just remained silent, watching the Yondaime down his bowl of sweetened fruit and cream, a slight tinge of pink on his cheeks. They were all talking about some grown-up thing like mission counts, village stats and the new genin graduates. Iruka didn't even touch his sweetened fruits and no one noticed, up until the Yondaime spoke.

"That was very nice. Thank you." Yondaime direct at Mrs. Umino.

Iruka, noticing how the sweetened fruits disappeared in a speed that could rival his father's, hurriedly and without hesitation pushed his untouched bowl towards the Yondaime's direction. His parents exchanged completely baffled looks, because if anything, Iruka loved Mrs. Umino's sweetened fruits and usually had three bowl fulls. To see him giving it to someone else, even it's the Yondaime, was plain surprising.

"Y-You can have mine, Y-Yondaime-san." Iruka said, voice so small and low that it was a wonder anyone even heard him, shinobi or not.

Yondaime shook his head smiling. "Come now, Iruka. Your father tells me that you love sweetened fruits. You haven't even touched your bowl."

Iruka blushed redder than the sliced apples in the bowl that it caused a low rumbling laugh from his father. Iruka shook his head. "I – I'd like you t-to have it.

Please."

Yondaime blinked and tilted his head to one side. "You sure? Would you at least have a bite so I wouldn't feel bad?" Iruka stared at him, going redder if possible and nodded shyly. "Great. Here. Say 'ah'." Iruka obeyed and took in the spoonful of sliced pineapple and peaches with cream that was being fed to him by the Yondaime. After that, Iruka sat in a daze, a mantra saying 'He spoon-fed me! The Yondaime spoon-fed me!' going on in his head.

Later on in the evening, all four retired to the living room. Iruka was given juice while the others sipped light and cool sake. If Iruka had been slightly older and not exhausted from doing a lot of polishing and cleaning earlier to please their guest, Iruka would have remained wide awake. He had seated himself snugly beside the Yondaime, sipping his juice quietly and just listening to the village leader speak, all the while feeling like he was on cloud nine. Iruka didn't even know he had fallen asleep, head leaning against the Yondaime's elbow, though he still looked like he was trying to look attentive and polite, even while asleep.

"Oh dear." Mrs. Umino said. "Iruka fell asleep." She glanced at the clock that read ten-fifteen PM. "That was early."

Yondaime stared down fondly at the boy. "He's a great child. I give him all my blessings. You're very lucky parents."

Mr. Umino dipped his head. "Thank you."

"If I ever have a kid, I'd like him to be adorable like Iruka." Yondaime said, shifting slowly and gently lifting Iruka in his arms.

"He spent half the day cleaning for your arrival." Mr. Umino said, standing up and taking the boy in his arms. "I don't know what came over my son."

Yondaime could only laugh amusedly.

The next morning, Iruka woke up horrified that he fell asleep and completely embarrassed that he spent the entire day locked up in his closet with his stuffed bear, crying his eyes out. Mr. and Mrs. Umino tried their best but even they couldn't understand what was going on with Iruka. In the end, Mr. Umino ended up dragging him out of the closet and treating him to a big bowl of ice cream.

Even then, Iruka was still sniffling while he dug in to his bowl at the parlor.

(Present time)

"Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka blinked at his gaze at the fourth and turned to find Kakashi looking at him curiously. "Yes, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi hesitated for a moment then shrugged. "I – I wanted to apologize."

Iruka blinked. "W-What?"

"For earlier." Kakashi shrugged again. "I'm sorry."

"Oh." Iruka nodded then fell silent, staring quietly at the copy-nin. "I'll – wait – look, no, wait." Iruka rubbed his temple, feeling a migraine coming. At the action, Kakashi peered at him closely with slight worry in his visible eye. "Will you at least promise me to not bug the boy anymore? I can understand your distrust towards him, but if you're going to remain in doing so, at least keep your distance. Can you do that?"

"I can do that." Kakashi nodded. "I wouldn't want sour grapes between us." He added quietly, his gaze now intense about Iruka. "My worries about the kid may mean nothing to you, but it does to me. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

For a reason Iruka couldn't comprehend, he blushed. "I'll be okay."

Kakashi turned around and began to head off the opposite direction. "I'll cross my fingers."

Iruka watched, curious at why his heart was suddenly hammering against his ribs. "K-Kakashi-sensei?" He called out, without even thinking.

The Jounin paused in his steps. "Yes?"

"Would you like to join me for dumplings tonight?"

Kakashi turned his head, eyes radiating the smile his mask hid. "I'd love to, Iruka-sensei. I'll see you after work."

Iruka nodded. "I'll be waiting."

XXX

While Iruka sat behind his table, filing report after report, he began to think of what could happen later that evening. He didn't know why he asked Kakashi to join him nor did he understand why Kakashi agreed to in the first place. To say that Iruka was surprised was an understatement. Much to his dismay, excitement and slight surprise, the box of reports was done and it was nine in the evening. He took the time to arrange the reports in its box and carry it to the storage room. Just as Iruka exited, he found Kakashi walking languidly down the hall, Icha-Icha-Paradise in hand.

"Good evening, Iruka-sensei." Kakashi said, lifting a hand in greeting as he tucked the book away.

"Good evening." Iruka greeted back, closing the storage room door. "Is there anything you want to get done before heading off?"

Kakashi shook his head, hands in his pockets. "No." There was a smile under the mask, his eye crinkling up to a cute crescent.

Iruka couldn't help but smile back. "I'm done here. Shall we?"

"Lead the way."

Fifteen minutes later, after walking in a leisurely pace in the cool spring afternoon, both teachers found themselves seated in the corner booth of the sweet dumpling shop, where no one seemed to bother them. Kakashi took the seat that had his back to the kitchen area and other tables, right across from Iruka. Iruka ordered some tea and a few rolls of dumplings. When the waiter disappeared, only then did he notice Kakashi staring at him. Kakashi has been doing that a lot lately.

"So umm – how was your day?" Iruka asked, drawing circles with his pinkie on the smooth wooden table, eyes fixated on the invisible circles.

"Long. Tiring. Boring. The usual." Kakashi said, mirth in his tone. "Do you do that when you're flustered?"

"What?" Iruka asked, and only then did he realize that he just admitted, indirectly, that he was indeed flustered.

"Drawing circles on flat surfaces? Going all kiddie-like?" Kakashi said, tapping on the table twice.

"Kiddie-like?" Iruka sounded offended, blinking and is possible blushing more.

"It's not a bad thing." Kakashi said, shrugging and leaning back. "I think it's cute."

Iruka felt stumped and at loss for words. Was Kakashi flirting? It was unbelievable and Iruka was about to snap a witty comment back when the waiter brought in their orders. Two cups of steaming green tea was set before them, along with a plate with dangos on sticks. Iruka thanked the waiter, completely forgetting about Kakashi's previous comment as he helped himself to a dango stick. While Iruka ate off the stick, chewing slowly and occasionally licking his lips to not spare any of the syrup remnants, Kakashi stared, mesmerized. Iruka didn't even notice until he finished an entire dango stick and when he did, he blushed.

"You don't like dangos Kakashi-sensei?" He asked, now twiddling with his thumbs under the table.

"I like them." Kakashi answered, shrugging. "I like to watch you eat them better."

Iruka blinked and looked away shyly. It was confirmed that Kakashi was definitely flirting. Iruka didn't mind it but was rather puzzled at the sudden change of attitude. He shrugged in reply. "I'll feel bad if you don't have some."

Kakashi automatically reached out for one of the sticks and Iruka humbly dropped his gaze to his tea cup. He wasn't rude to invade Kakashi's privacy while the Jounin pulled his mask down and took a bite off the sweet ball. Things seems to go by so slow. But Iruka promised himself not to look up unless given permission other wise.

"I don't mind you looking." Kakashi said, tone a bit off because he seems to be chewing.

"At what?" Iruka said, playing dumb.

"Look up, sensei." Kakashi said, sound like an order.

Iruka slowly lifted his gaze and fount himself staring right at a finely shaped face, with sculpted features and a light complexion. It was not a perfect face because of the scar running down the covered eye, along with the small blemish just under the right side of Kakashi's jaw line. Iruka caught a faint line of a scar on Kakashi's chin, an indication of the immediate use of charka healing when the wound was inflicted. Otherwise, there was a finely shaped mouth that was now curved up to a smirk while the jaw lines moved in chewing motions and a sharp nose. Kakashi just looked sharp, period. Like a finely cut diamond.

Iruka smiled a bit at Kakashi, a bit flattered about such a revelation. "Is it to your liking?" Iruka gestured towards Kakashi's dango.

"Yes." Kakashi nodded, eyes on Iruka the whole time as he bit off the chunk of his sweet, licking the corner of his lip in the process. "I like it very much."

Iruka swallowed nervously, dropping his gaze quickly. "That's g-good." Iruka busied himself stirring his tea and sipping it slowly, relaxing as it calmed him.

"Genma received flowers today." Kakashi said, making Iruka look up. "Gaara gave him carnations."

That surprised Iruka. "He did?"

"Kind of surprising isn't it?" Kakashi shrugged, licking his lips before taking another bite.

Iruka merely shrugged. "It's –" Iruka stopped, deciding not to say what he thought of the situation.

"It's what?" Kakashi pressed. Iruka shook his head. "Tell me, sensei."

Iruka took a long sip from his tea, before taking the other stick off the plate and taking a big bite. "I think it's sweet."

Kakashi looked utterly amused. "Really?" Iruka nodded, chewing the large bolus in his mouth. "Would it be sweet if I gave you flowers?" Iruka's eyes nearly popped out as he stopped mid-chew and swallowed the lump forcefully, ending up in a coughing fit. "I think I'll order some water." Kakashi said, pulling his mask up and signaling for the waiter.

XXX

Iruka swallowed two aspirins the next morning before heading off for work. He couldn't sleep properly because the scene at the dumplings shop kept replaying over and over his head. Everything was like a flashing projector – Kakashi's face, his smile, the way he ate, the way he drank his teeth, his flirting and finally his last question before Iruka nearly drowned himself stupid from drinking too much water. Iruka had gone home with an aching bladder as he spent almost a minute in the bathroom emptying the strange tank.

On top of that, sleep barely even touched him, he had afternoon classes to teach and tuitions to handle for the slower kids in class and later on he had reports to do. Iruka doubted he could even make it to the academy itself because he had one hell of a headache. Grumbling and cursing his luck, he got ready, managed to down a cup of bland coffee and trudged his way to the academy. As usual, the classroom was still empty when Iruka arrived so he busied himself in writing down the notes and exercises on the board. That done, he sat on his chair and dropped his head on his folded arms.

The sudden presence behind him made Iruka blink and sit up, just as a hand clamped down his shoulder in a soft hold and a red rose was held up to his face from behind. Iruka blinked, sputtered and caught the hand of the person handing him the rose. "Wha – what is – Kakashi-sensei?"

"Now, I'm sweet too, ne?" Kakashi was putting on that 'adorably-cute' act in front of Iruka, while gloved hands wrapped a tanned one around the smooth stem of the flower. "Have a nice day, Iruka-sensei." There was an audible poof and the Jounin was gone.

Iruka could only stare at the rose in his hand, the thorns removed by what seemed to be a very sharp object so he wouldn't prick his fingers. Iruka stared and stared some more until the first few pupils walked in to his classroom, shouting out energetic and loud greetings.

TBC

Red rose loooooooove (as far as I know)