The two men were looking at pictures. Dozens of pictures. Of women. Photographs of every strong eligible konoichi of childbearing age in Konoha.

"So these are the women Hakage-sama wants you to choose from?" Iruka said with a sigh.

"Yeah."

"How are you going to pick?"

Kakashi leaned back in his seat at the kitchen table and put his hands over his face wearily. Covering his visible eye. "I don't care. Anyone. Well anyone who can put up with me and who won't drive me too much crazier than I already am."

"And whoever you choose will just have to marry you?"

"Yeah, I suppose so."

Iruka saw a glimmer of hope. "But I know a lot of these women. They wouldn't want to get married any more than you do." He blushed at the indecency of what he was about to suggest. "Maybe one or two of them would be willing to have your children without getting married."

Kakashi shot a surprised look at him, grinning widely. "Iruka-sensei!" Then he looked grim again. "I already suggested that. Tsunade thinks that children should grow up in a traditional household with two parents. And that it takes a genius to raise a genius, or at least a sane one."

"But you didn't. You raised yourself without any parents from an even younger age than I did."

"Yeah, but I said a sane one. I think that's pretty much her point."

Iruka reached over and took his hand, squeezing it gently. "Kakashi you aren't crazy. You think a little differently to other people but that's just part of being a genius. You're probably the most level headed person I know."

"Maybe, while I have you. Without you I'm not sure… " He put his other hand over the teacher's, squeezing it in turn. "Hey, you said you know a lot of these women, are there any you would recommend? I mean that you think I could get along with? You know me better than anyone."

The suggestion made Iruka shift uncomfortably in his seat. "You want me to find my own replacement?"

"Kakashi's eye softened. "Iruka no one can replace you. Just find someone who won't hate me too much, and who isn't jealous. I would like us to be able to stay friends."

That was something he hadn't considered. "Ok, I'll be your matchmaker. But I can't promise that I'll be any good at it."

"Good and I'll be yours." The copy nin grinned sheepishly. "Well you can't expect me to let you stay single for a year and a half while someone else stalks you the way I had to. That would be far too much temptation to bear."

Iruka blushed, "So when do we start?"

Kakashi considered carefully. "Wednesday. Then a new date every weeknight for as long as it takes. That will leave us the weekend to be together."

Wednesday night rolled around, much too soon. They were both in their bedroom, neatly groomed, cologned and dressed in fashionable jeans. Iruka was wearing a blue silk shirt and Kakashi a black linen one. Shirts that they had recently bought as gifts for each other.

Kakashi looked over his partner approvingly. He wondered if they had time for a quickie before meeting their dates, but regretfully decided against. Iruka looked stressed enough as it was without adding further complications. "So who do you have for me?" He asked with feigned enthusiasm and genuine curiosity.

The younger man gave him a nervous look. "Well you probably aren't going to like it, but you see she found out what I was doing and insisted that I put her first. You only have to go on the one date, unless you find that you like her I mean, in which case…"

"Who is it Iruka?"

"Anko."

"ANKO! You set me up for a date with Anko!"

"She'd have eaten me alive if I'd turned her down." Iruka's voice had become very quiet.

Kakashi glared with his one eye, Iruka almost expected him to uncover the other. "So you decided to let her eat me alive instead!"

"You can handle her Kakashi, I know you can." To change the subject, although he really didn't want to know, Iruka asked. "So who did you find for me?"

Iruka should have been warned by the way Kakashi's expression became unusually smug. Even for him.

"Gai."

"GAI! MAITO GAI! How could you Kakashi? Is he even gay?"

"He will be if that's what it takes to surpass me. I challenged him to make you love him more than you love me."

"You made me a challenge! With Gai?"

Kakashi was pouting. "I thought it was unusually clever, genius even." Suddenly he became very earnest, clutching the younger man's shoulder then pulling him into a hug. "He's a nice guy Iruka, and a really good man. And he's strong, he'll protect you and take care of you properly." Then pushing him back to arm's length, he looked at him with a strange mixture of lechery and pained regret. "His stamina is legendary."

"But Kakashi, Gai?"

ooooo

Anko's apartment was dark inside. Over furnished with bulky carved furniture and shrouded by heavy drapes. Kakashi remembered when he had lived like that. Behind dusty drapes that were never opened, day or night. Then Iruka had come into his life and let in the sunlight.

Stop! That's in the past, you have to let go, to move forward into the future.

He sensed rather than saw Anko move next to him. She ran the palm of one hand slowly up the length of his back.

"Well you're not as late as I expected you to be." Kakashi-san. The room went from too dark to too bright as she flicked on the light. "So what are you waiting for? Let me see what's under there."

Kakashi blinked in surprise. "You want me to take off my mask?"

She threw back her head. "Ha! No. I don't care about your face, it's the rest that I want to see." She slipped off her dress letting it pool around her ankles, then slid down her panties and stepped out of them.

She stood for a moment, letting her perfect naked body have full impact, before advancing on him and slowly unbuttoning his shirt.

He grabbed her hand, halting her. The pervert within was screaming at him, telling him to go for it. Now! On the cold tile floor. "You want to have sex on the first date?"

Anko traced around his fingers on her arm with her other hand then stepped forward and pressed against him, hissing in his ear. "How long is it since you were with a woman Hatake? Do you still remember how? Disappoint me and I promise you won't even get a first date, much less a second."

He slipped down his mask and pressed his mouth against hers, but instead of kissing he bit her lower lip, hard. Making it bleed. "I'm sorry Anko-san, but I don't think the two of us could have the kind of relationship that Hokage-sama has in mind… for raising children."

He slipped his mask back in place to cover his grin and buttoned his shirt as he let himself out. Then went home to wait impatiently for Iruka.

Oooooooooooo

Gai must have been waiting to see Kakashi leave, because the moment he was gone Iruka heard him tap loudly at the door. He opened it and Konoha's green beast bowed formally, then took his hand and kissed it.

Gai looked Iruka over approvingly. He'd never been on a date with another man before, but this wasn't just another man. This was Umino Iruka, the man who had won his rival's heart, and a force not to be taken lightly. He noticed the way Iruka's blue shirt brought out the shine in his eyes. The way the scar on his face arched across the bridge of his nose, almost begging for a smile in the interest of symmetry. But most of all he couldn't keep his eyes off the teacher's hair. Not as dark or as shiny as his own, but so silky and so bouncy. He wanted to untie it from its binding and let it spill loose, to run his fingers through it, to smell the man's scent collected in it. Something to work hard for.

Still holding Iruka's hand he led him to the horse-drawn carriage that he had hired to take them to the restaurant.

Iruka did have a wonderful evening with Gai. The restaurant was the best in Konoha, although not quite the most expensive. Iruka had suggested to Kakashi that they should go there together on several special occasions, but they never had. Although Kakashi praised Iruka's cooking, the teacher knew that food was really just fuel to the copy nin, like oxygen. And although some was better quality, he really didn't feel it made much sense to go out of the way to find it.

But Iruka did like good food, he loved good food. And he was thoroughly enjoying having someone to enjoy it with, someone who loved it as much as he did. Except when he glanced up and saw Gai's stern face and thick eyebrows. Just don't look at the eyebrows you moron, don't even think about them.

Kakashi's eyebrows intruded on his thoughts, arched and white. He smiled fondly.

"Good I'd like that too, very much." He heard Gai say and had a moment of panic over what he'd silently agreed to, until he realised that the other man was preparing to walk him home.

Gai bought Iruka a rose and then they walked along the river for a while, stopping on the bridge to look at the stars. Gai knew the names of all the constellations, of course Iruka did too, he taught them. But Gai knew other things, he knew that the constellation called the Dragon in Japan was called the Hydra in Europe and the Serpent by the natives of North America. He marveled eloquently that such different cultures had seen exactly the same shape in a random scattering of stars. And Iruka marveled at him, as they strolled back to his house through the night. He really was a nice guy. At least in the dark you couldn't see those eyebrows.

Iruka was about to turn and unlock his door when Gai stepped very close to him, towering over him. The man's sheer bulk, at such a small distance, made the teacher hesitate. Gai must have thought he was waiting because an instant later he had one hand behind Iruka's back, leaning him off balance, and another fisted in his ponytail. Iruka wasn't really aware that he'd opened his mouth at all, and if he had it was in surprise, not invitation. But Konoha's green beast claimed it anyway, breathing into it hot and fast. Feeling every inch of it with his tongue. Tasting, and glorying in the taste of, this man. Who in just a few hours had turned on its head all of his ideas about what it meant to be manly.

Reluctantly he pulled away, watching sadly as each of the silver strands of saliva connecting them broke, and took a final long look at Iruka's lovely face. Then he bowed again and turned away. If he won this challenge it might be the last one he'd ever need.

Iruka stumbled into the house.

"Looked like a good kiss." He heard Kakashi say from the darkness.

"Oh you're home. How long have you been here?"

"About four hours."

"Then it didn't go too well with Anko."

"She's a predator. I ditched her and came home to you." Iruka could hear the sulk in the other man's voice.

"Kakashi, if you're going to be jealous I can't do this. You were the one who challenged him."

For the second time that evening Iruka was surprised by a kiss, but this time he welcomed it, gave as good as he got. He was dimly aware of an arched white eyebrow, above a glowing red eye, as he was steered into the bedroom and into bed.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Iruka had been late going to bed and considerably later going to sleep. So when his alarm rang at 5:30 the next morning he was not well rested. He cast an envious glance at the silver haired man next to him, then kissed him just to show that there were no hard feelings.

Because he was already late he just kicked the bouquet of flowers that he tripped over on the doorstep, inside the house, and ran.

When he got home from the academy, later than he would have liked, they had been neatly arranged in a vase and were in the middle of the kitchen table. Kakashi was almost hidden behind them.

"Nice roses, who are they from?" Iruka asked.

Kakashi nodded to a card propped next to them. Iruka picked it up and read: To My Sweet Iruka, The other eleven roses. Your Nice Gai.

"I don't give you flowers do I?" Kakashi asked sadly. "I wish I had, It's too late now of course. Do you think he'd win, if it were a real competition? Would you choose Gai over me?"

Iruka smiled mischieviously. "Well he is a really nice guy, and he's generous, and thoughtful, and smart, and strong."

"But?" The copy nin asked hopefully.

"But he's just too big, and too hairy, and those eyebrows… urgh!"

Kakashi laughed. "I'm sure he'll shave them off if you ask."

Iruka cringed. "I don't know, Gai without eyebrows? Somehow that's even worse. I'm sorry to be so horribly shallow, but will you tell him? That it just isn't going to happen between us I mean. I don't want to lead him on."

"I'll try, but I doubt if he'll stop. Even if I do tell him that it's not a real challenge. But if you prefer smooth and beautiful I have a treat for you tonight."

"Who?" Iruka couldn't think of anyone.

"Ah, you'll find out soon. Who do you have for me? Someone a little more gentle I hope."

"Er, you could say that, it's Hyuga Hinita." Iruka waited for the bomb to drop.

"What? Hinata! I can't take her out, she won't say a word all evening. I'll die of boredom."

"Actually you won't be taking her out. It was Hiashi who approached me. He's interested in blending Hatake genius with the Hyuga bloodline, he wants you to go to a formal reception at the main house."

"IRUKA! I can't go to a formal reception! My father used to go to those things, you have to wear seventeen layers of sleeves or something."

"Seven." Iruka corrected.

"Seven , seventeen, whatever. I can't wear seventeen layers of sleeves, I only have one layer of arms. And they're Hyuga's, they'll know if I've got it all wrong, they'll be able to see."

"Kakashi, Hiashi knows you well enough to understand that you're well… sort of casual. Just wear something nice, he won't be shocked if you aren't all done up in formal wear. Anyway, even if he is, do you really want to be his son-in law?"

Kakashi grinned. "Since when did you get to be so cool Iruka?"

"Since you got to be so flustered. You should get ready those things start early."

As it turned out Iruka was right. Hyuga Hiashi wasn't shocked when the Copy nin sauntered up to the Hyuga main house wearing Italian silk pants and a silk shirt. But he obviously wasn't happy either. He greeted him with warm words and an icy demeanour. Kashi spent the next several hours seated on the floor with all the Hyuga menfolk, enduring endless tiny portions of food, endless polite formal conversation and endless pitying looks from Neji.

The evening only started to look up when he decided that the others had consumed sufficient sake to not notice when he slipped away to a quiet corner. He had intended to read his book, but it seemed that Iruka had taken it out of his pocket before he left home. Hinita, who had served him his food and sake, but who hadn't spoken a word other than a single formal greeting, came and joined him. At first she asked after Naruto. Kakashi told her what he knew about his former student's current adventures. He was touched that the Hyuga heir still obviously cared about the boy. She then moved on to village politics and a variety of other subjects, about which she was clearly well informed and had thought a great deal.

Kakashi wondered what she thought about their present situation. "What do you think of your father's plan? Are you interested in having me as a husband?"

"Kakashi-sensei, any woman would be honoured to have you as their husband. However I know I'm small and weak but there are many things I hope to do before I become a wife and mother, many changes I'd like to make." She looked in Neji's direction and lowered her eyelids, whether she also lowered her eyes was hard to tell.

He left the compound very very late, with a much higher opinion of the girl but a much lower one of her family.

Iruka arrived at the tearoom, where Kakashi had arranged for him to meet his date, fifteen minutes early. He wanted a chance to see who it was before he was seen. As luck would have it he ran into a former student, Tomonori Yuki. A quiet shy boy, pretty in a slightly feminine way, with very long black hair and tan skin. He had become a genin a year before Naruto and his class.

"Yuki-san!" He called out, waving to him then bowing. "I'm just waiting to meet someone, won't you join me?"

The young man's face lit up. "Iruka-sensei, I'm waiting to meet someone too. Let me get you some tea."

Iruka strained to remember some details about the quiet boy. "Thank you Yuki-san, I believe we're equal in rank now."

Yuki smiled widely, showing perfect white teeth. "Yes, I made chuunin three years ago, at my second attempt."

"Congratulations, you'll surpass me soon."

The boy looked very serious, his eyes widening to great dark orbs. "Oh no Sensei-san, you're the best, no one will ever surpass you."

Iruka laughed easily. "Really you shouldn't be so naïve at your age. Teachers are just people, we have all the same weaknesses and flaws as everyone else."

Yuki frowned for a moment, as if something Iruka had said bothered him. Then he smiled again. "So who are you waiting for Iruka-sensei?"

The teacher blushed. "Well, my date. It's sort of complicated but Kakashi-san will be getting married soon and he wanted to find someone to keep me company."

The young man was still smiling. "That seems unusually broadminded of you both. What does he look like, I assume it is a he?"

Iruka's blush deepened. "Er yes he is, and as I said it's complicated. Kakashi described him as beautiful, tall and lean with long hair and smooth dark skin. I'm surprised I haven't seen him, he really should be here by now."

Yuki's expression changed, becoming deep and intense. Iruka felt a strange instability in the youth's chakra as he leaned across the table and put his hand over the one the teacher was holding his teacup in. "See, Yuki is such a silly name for me. I'm even darker than you are."

Iruka's eyes shot up to meet the nearly black ones boring into him, as the truth dawned. "You mean…?"

"Yes Iruka-chan, I'm your date."

The teacher put the teacup down and tried to pull his hand away but it was held in a surprisingly strong grip. "Now now, Hatake-san warned me that you would be timid and try to run. But I'm not going to let you. Now that I have you I'm going to keep you."

"What… what else did Kakashi say?"

"Only that if I hurt you in any way he'd kill me. Come on, let's go somewhere more private. Somewhere we can talk."

Iruka was in a daze as he let the young man, who was still holding him in an iron grip, lead him out onto the street. "Where are we going?"

"To my apartment, unless you'd rather go to yours. But Hatake-san said that he didn't know when he'd be back, and we wouldn't want to be disturbed."

Iruka was already quite sufficiently disturbed. He knew that Kakashi probably wouldn't get home until the early hours, so that didn't help. "Er, maybe we could just walk for a while, it's a very pleasant evening."

Yuki was still holding Iruka's left hand in his. He stretched his right arm over the teacher's shoulders."

"Yuki-san, don't you feel that's uncomfortably close?"

The youth laughed. "You are shy aren't you?" He touched the back of his hand against Iruka's burning cheek. "I'm sorry, I can't wait for you like Hatake-san did. I've waited far too long already. Don't you think it was uncomfortable for me, keeping my legs crossed for a whole year, trying to hide the hard on you gave me just by being in the same classroom. I've been in love with you since I was six and I first saw you at the academy. My oldest brother was in your class. When you became a chuunin teacher I prayed every day that you would teach my class. Then when you did it was heaven and hell wrapped up together. Seeing you and wanting you but being nothing more than another kid in your class."

"I'm sorry Yuki-san but I can't think of you as anything but a former student. I know you're not twelve years old anymore but you are still very young."

An instant later Yuki had him pressed against the wall of a building, dotting his face with tiny kisses. "I'm not the shy little boy you remember Iruka-chan. I'm taller than you and stronger than you. I'm nineteen, all grown up now."

To make his point he ground his hips against him. Pushing his erection against the tight muscles of the teacher's stomach. Iruka knew that he should be enjoying this. Wasn't finding someone like Yuki exactly what he needed to do?

But it wasn't Kakashi and he didn't want anyone but Kakashi touching him. He smiled then planted a single chaste kiss on the boy's lips. "I'm going to go home now Yuki-san. It's very common for students to get crushes on teachers, but I'm sure you'll soon find someone who'll suit you much better than I ever could."

He wriggled free then went home to wait for Kakashi.