...DISCLAIMER... you should know this by now...

i dont like this chapter.

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...chapter 8: aftermath

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"Ummm-" Kakashi's voice echoed Irukas. He watched as the chuunin's face contorted into a variety of expressions. Perplexed to worried, worried to wary, wary to inquisitive and finally, from inquisitive to tiredly resigned. He closed his eyes as he continued walking, taking great care to stand on Kakashi as he went. "Waaargh," Kakashi groaned as Iruka's sandal mashed his internal organs to pulp. He fought back the urge to vomit (it was the fact he would have spewed straight into his mask that finally forced it back down his throat) and wobbled upright, with a small "meep" signaling his askew vertebrae clicking back into place. "Iruka! Wait!"

But, of course, Iruka did not wait. As though Kakashi had never spoken, he continued calmly walking forward. Kakashi jogged after him, every bone screaming in protest. He tried to ignore the bizarre clicking noise his joints were making as he ran, imagining what he would say when he caught up with the chuunin. He was almost certain telling him of the conversation between himself and Kabuto was not the best idea - no doubt it would get back to the silver-haired shinobi and Kakashi was willing to bet his entire Icha Icha Paradise collection that he wouldn't let a silly little thing like a promise stop him from slaughtering the majority of Konoha.

I suppose all I can do is try to apologize.

Oh, and you REALLY think he's going to listen?

He might.

You RAPED him. He wont listen to you, he'll kick your head in.

Iruka isn't like that. He'll probably never speak to me again, but he's not the violent type

Does that mean you're the raping type?

Shut the fuck up.

He shook his head to dislodge the sanctimonious voice and looked up. He was drawing level. Oh well, now or never.

"Iruka, please, just let me explain, I - "

Iruka cut him off without even looking at him, or breaking his stride.

"There is nothing you could possibly say that I would want to hear," he spat. Kakashi staggered, reeling from shock at the amount of venom in Iruka's normally cheerful voice. The chuunin turned his head to face him. "Oh, don't look so shocked, Kakashi. What, did you think I was just going to roll over so you could fuck me again? Oh wait! I wouldn't have to!"

A bitter smile twisted his features as he glared at the Jounin. Iruka stopped walking and stared Kakashi in the eye. A week's worth of anger, pain, hatred and fear welled up in his throat as he prepared to vent his fury. Misery poured out of Iruka like the blood from his veins had poured every night since Kakashis "visit". Scalding hot tears stung his eyes, but he was NOT going to cry. Kakashi didn't deserve his tears anymore.

"I wouldn't have to because you would just do it anyway, wouldn't you? Whether I wanted you to or not. Because that's what you're like, Kakashi. You're so high and mighty because you're the infamous Copy Ninja, and everyone is below you. You think you can just take what you want! Well, I may just be a chuunin, but that does NOT make me below you Kakashi, and I will NOT let you take anymore from me. You've taken my security, my sleep and my happiness. Worst of all, you've taken what was left of my heart! That's what hurt the most. I let you into my heart when I KNEW it was a bad idea, and I believed you when you said you loved me, when you love no one and nothing but yourself. I gave you everything, and you gave me nothing but pain. Well, I have ONE thing left Kakashi: my pride. And NOTHING will take that from me."

He raised a hand and pointed with a finger down the alley in the direction of the busy street ahead. "This is the way forward," He jabbed the same finger into Kakashi's chest, knocking him back a few steps, "and you are the way backwards. Well, I chose the way forward. I've left you behind." All through this vicious verbal assault his voice never rose above a deadly whisper. He twisted as though about to walk away, but turned back again. Kakashi flinched. He never though he would be scared of Iruka, but the pure hatred reflected in the chuunin's brown eyes chilled him to the bone. He stood, rooted to the spot as Iruka walked toward him, stumbling as Iruka backed him into the shadow of the wall behind him. The light vanished and he was plunged into darkness, all he could see before him was Iruka standing, leaning in uncomfortably close. Sweat pricked his forehead as the chuunin lifted his head so his mouth was level with Kakashi's ear. Iruka's voice was now soft and sultry. His lips tickled Kakashi's ear as he delivered his final line:

"You broke my heart, Kakashi. Come anywhere near me again and I'll break every bone in your body." He threw the shaken Jounin a smile that didn't reach his eyes before calmly turning and walking away into the sunlight.

Kakashi stood plastered to the wall for a moment, hand clutched to his chest. His heart was hammering so hard, he felt it would burst right out of him.

See? I told you he wasn't the violent type. But that - that was - oh god, that was terrifying. Who knew Iruka could be so - so vicious?

Kakashi wasn't used to being scared. It just wasn't something that happened to him. But there was no doubt in his mind that Iruka would snap him like a twig if he ventured too close again. But an unsettling thought lodged itself in Kakashi's gray matter. He realized a familiar feeling was coming over him; a giddy high that turned his insides to mush and caused other parts of his body to - well, become rather alert.

Oh my god. Iruka just looming over me like that. He was just so forceful; it was scary, but sensual at the same time! All I wanted to do was throw myself at his feet and beg him to beat me black and blue.

What's happening to me?

Perhaps it was that night in the forest, where Iruka showed his dominant side for the first time. The way he had forced Kakashi to do what he did, then forced him to be uke. Kakashi shuddered as he remembered this. It had never happened before! But it had been good. Better than ever before, better than he had thought possible. He had enjoyed the physical sensation of the pain tearing him apart, same as earlier in the night he had been rendered speechless by Iruka sinking his teeth into his shoulder, his nails into his back. They all produced the same adrenaline rush as the sight of the blood on his lips that morning, and the sting of the skin of his lips ripping as he pulled it apart.

Realization dawned.

All thanks to the ministrations of an unsuspecting chuunin, Hatake Kakashi had become a masochist.

Unfortunately, Kakashi didn't have time to dwell on this revelation. A shrill female voice screeching "THERE HE IS!!! GET HIM!" will alert even the most preoccupied ninja. He peered out of the shadow just enough to catch a glimpse of his student, Uchiha Sasuke, hurtling up the narrow alley, closely pursued by a group of screaming girls. Kakashi chuckled to himself. It was the same every morning. Hell, Sasuke's morning pursuit was now planned with military precision! They had long ago given up watching his front door, although a few girls were still stationed there, and now placed themselves at strategic positions throughout the town, congregating on rooftops and in trees, only all coming together to form one massive hormonal teenage avalanche once he was forced to take to the main streets. Sasuke may have been the number one rookie in Konoha, but his skills were nothing compared to those of a love-struck teenage girl.

The pounding of feet was growing closer and closer. Kakashi shook his head and laughed once more, before leaning out of the shadow to sweep the child up in his arms before disappearing in a puff of chakra smoke. The Hokage could wait.

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"So where were you off to today Sasuke? I thought it was your day off."

The two shinobi reappeared with a poof on top of one of the highest buildings Kakashi could find, the better to delay the mob by about ten minutes. He dropped the startled teenager on the ground and stuck his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels. Sasuke picked himself up and dusted down his black bodysuit before turning to his sensei with the trademark Sasuke Sneer in place. He recognized that Kakashi was his senior and so commanded respect, but that didn't mean he had to be nice to him.

"Hmph, nowhere special." he replied, folding his arms.

Kakashi sighed before smacking him over the head. The kid had become awfully cocky lately and he was in no mood for his posturing today. "I expect a proper answer when I ask you a question, Sasuke. Don't piss me off." He had to stifle a giggle at the sight of the Uchiha sprawled on the mossy tiles. Still just a child after all.

Neither of them noticed the five or six females shinning up the buildings drainpipes.

Sasuke, meanwhile, was rubbing the ever-growing lump on his forehead. He shook away the last of the stars and stood up again. Pouting, he turned his eyes up toward his teacher.

"Well, if you must know, I was - I was...." He trailed off, muttering something under his breath.

"Sorreeeee, Sasuke-kun. I didn't quite catch that!" Kakashi chuckled, teasing. He had heard the boy perfectly well, but this was just too perfect an opportunity to wind him up.

"I SAID I was grrrngnadtwthnrtrrrr," he hissed between clenched teeth. A group of children on an outing roared beneath them. People going to work and market added to the now deafening level of noise. The girls inched higher and higher, crazed expressions on their hungry faces.

"Ahhh, I must be getting old, my ears aren't what they used to be! Say it again, for the sake of an old man!" Kakashi bellowed. The noise below grew louder and louder. The Sasuke-stalkers inched higher and higher, almost at their destination. One lucky girl finally reached the rooftop, her mouth opening for the victory cry just as Sasuke balled his hands into his fists and shouted for all he was worth.

"I SAID I'M GOING ON A DATE WITH NARUTO!!!"

Of course, just as he uttered this sentence, the gaggle of people on the ground below were instantly silenced, every bird in the village stopped singing and even the wind ceased to rustle the fallen leaves, so that every word cascading from his mouth was heard far and wide. His voice echoed around him, into the ears of every person in the vicinity. A dozen or so thumping noises heralded the bodies of the stricken fan girls hitting the ground, with one particularly loud "AIEEEEEEEE" finally breaking the unbearable silence. Sasuke turned slowly, his back now to Kakashi, and found Sakura and Ino standing at the buildings edge. Both were staring, faces paralyzed with shock. Ino's mouth finally moved silently for a moment, but it was Sakura who found her voice first.

"Sa - Sa - Sasuke-kun? You - you - you and Nar - Nar -" she trailed off as her legs wobbled and fell from under her. Unfortunately for Sakura, she toppled backwards, and there wasn't really enough rooftop to break her fall. Her pink hair fanned out around her as she dropped.

Ino came to her senses. "SAKURA, NO!" she dashed forwards to catch her rival.

"You girls really need to find a new hobby."

Ino skidded to a halt as Kakashi reappeared in front of her, Sakura cradled in his arms. "It really isn't fair on anyone anymore. A true shinobi never shows emotions, yet you girls wear your hearts on your sleeves." He put a groggy Sakura back on the ground, where she fell against the blonde girl, who held her up. "I suggest you learn some restraint. Now, if you'll excuse us, Sasuke and I have some talking to do." With that he seized the black-haired boy around the waist and disappeared again, leaving the two stunned females behind, alone on the rooftop, wondering exactly what the hell just happened.

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Kakashi landed gracefully in the middle of the lake in the center of the forest, his excellent chakra control allowing him to stand on the surface of the water. As Sasuke wasn't yet as skilled in that department, he still had his arms wrapped around the boy's body under his arms, his back against Kakashi's stomach. He held the raven-haired ninja tightly against him. Although he couldn't see Sasuke's face, he could tell he was grimacing with embarrassment. Well, it isn't every day you announce to the world you're going on a date with someone everyone thinks you hate, and a male someone at that, is it?

"So what did you mean, you're going on a date with Naruto?" Kakashi inquired. Sasuke squirmed in his arms, and Kakashi could see the red blush creeping up his pale neck under his high collar.

"What the hell do you think I meant? I think I made it pretty damn clear!" he growled. Naruto is gonna kill me! Thank God no one knows where I'm meeting him at least. His life isn't going to be worth living after today!

"Well, you might have meant that Naruto had a date, and you were going with him because he was too nervous to go on his own, couldn't you?" The tone of Kakashi's voice implied that this was the most obvious thing in the world.

Sasuke cringed. It WAS obvious! But he had just essentially confessed about his relationship, without even trying to make an excuse. It was too late now though. Ino had a HUGE mouth; it'd be all over the village within the hour. Now all the girls would be chasing Naruto down the streets of Konoha, baying for his blood. Well, maybe this situation isn't completely without its merits, he thought, rather evilly. He turned his head up towards his teacher. Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"Do - do you thinks it's wrong?" he asked nervously. He bit his bottom lip and his brow furrowed in worry.

Kakashi tossed the question around his head for a moment. Well, he couldn't truthfully say he thought it was wrong because he swung the exact same way and had, until recently, been involved in a similar relationship. But he also couldn't in all honesty say he thought it was right, mainly because he felt both boys were far too young to be delving into something as confusing as their sexuality. In saying that though, the younger they worked out how they felt, the better. Kakashi wished he had worked out his feelings a few years earlier. It would have made a lot of things a lot easier!

"Are you certain that it's - well, boys that you like?" His heart went out to the child when his handsome face creased into an agonized frown.

"Well, sensei, I really don't know. Naruto told me he liked me, and I said I liked him too, but then he kissed me and I was going to say I didn't mean I liked him in that way but then I wasn't sure because kissing him felt nice. I don't know, sensei! I'm just so confused." he trailed off and looked away, his head sunk into his chest. His face returned to its usual expression of near-permanent boredom. "It doesn't matter anyway. I don't intend on anyone else finding out. If anyone asks we'll make something up."

Kakashi's eyes widened. "Why wouldn't you just be honest with everyone? It's best in the long run, you know that."

"Yeah, but let's face it, we wouldn't be accepted, would we? To be honest, I think we're both a little ashamed."

A nasty thought occurred to Kakashi. Oh my god! Is this what I did to Iruka? I always said I didn't want to tell anyone. Did Iruka think I was ashamed of him? Of us? I never ever told him I wasn't, because the thought honestly never occurred to me. That isn't right.

I don't want anyone else to go through that.

Kakashi crushed Sasuke to his chest, burying his face in the boy's mass of blue-black hair. Sasuke yelped, confused by his teachers sudden and uncharacteristic display of emotion, plus he was pretty sure most of his ribs were now broken. He twisted and wriggled until he was facing Kakashi, his face against the rough blue fabric of the taller ninjas sweatshirt.

"Sasuke, you should NEVER be ashamed of your relationship with Naruto. Never. You can't pick and choose who you care for." He looked down into Sasuke's onyx eyes. "Does Naruto make you happy?" he asked, cocking his head to one side.

"Yes." Sasuke replied without hesitation. "I've been alone for so long, Kakashi-sensei, because I couldn't care about my own brother, I felt I couldn't care about anyone, and if my own brother couldn't love me, then no-one would. But Naruto does care about me, and he makes me happy."

Kakashi hugged the boy tighter, Sasuke wrapping his arms around the jounin's waist. "Then that's all that matters, Sasuke. Not what the rest of the village thinks. No, I don't think it's wrong, but I do think you're both a bit young for a full-blown relationship. But I suppose you're both smart enough to know what you're doing. Whatever makes you happy! Be true to yourself, that's the main thing."

Kakashi wished he had had this conversation a long time ago. Maybe then he would've been strong enough to defy the Hokage and refuse to give up his own happiness for the sake of hers, and then he wouldn't have been put in the situations he had found himself in recently. He looked down again at the black-haired teenager and thought about how different his life would be without him. No Naruto constantly trying to prove himself against the Uchiha heir, no Sakura spending every second trying to impress him. What is it about you Sasuke? Why do you have this effect on people?

His heart lurched as Kabuto's smirking face flashed before his eyes. His grip on Sasuke's shoulders tightened as he recalled the fact that his time with these people was now limited. If he didn't think of something soon, he would never see this boy ever again, nor the other members of his team. Or Iruka. A stabbing pain attacked his chest. I can either leave and have them think I deserted them, ran away from all my responsibilities or I can just stay and sit back and watch them die!

Either way, I'm going to lose them all.

A tremor of pain crawled through his abdomen, leaving a nagging ache in the pit of his stomach. That damn seal. That damn kid! Why did I have to be so weak, so damn needy? Now he's under my skin! What can I do?!

A sharp dig in his ribs called him back to reality. A muffled voice rattled his ribcage.

"Uhh, sensei, could you let me go please? I can't breath!"

Kakashi had almost forgotten where they were as he relaxed his arms slightly, but he caught himself just in time.

"Are you SURE you want me to let you go Sasuke?" he enquired.

"YES! I'm sure I can stand on my own two feet!"

Sasuke had apparently forgotten where they were also. Oh well, what the Uchiha wants, the Uchiha gets!

Kakashi sighed, chuckling softly to himself as he opened his arms wide, grinning at the realization dawning on the boys face just a fraction of a second too late, gazing dreamily into the middle distance as Sasuke spluttered and thrashed in the water at his feet.

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ok so do you see why i dont like it? not a lot happens, no action, nothing really carrying the story forwards. but it had to be done. i couldnt fit the content of this chapter in anywhere else, which was annoying but trust me, itll pay off in the long run :) there is just soo much to happen in later chapters that its quite hard to keep it all straight. its just because i have all these ideas but its just too early for them to happen, so i need to pad it out a little in the interim. if this is the sort of thing i have to write to make the next few chapters a bit more action-packed, then so be it! so please, dont give up on me because of this one little slip up. i promise the next chapters will push the story forwards and we'll have a bit more action then :)

cheerio!

b4k4 girl