Secret Admiration
Chapter Three: The Beginning of Knowing You More
As I walked towards Iruka-sensei, I did my best to look cheerful. I was pretty discouraged, knowing that he was going out with Kurenai-sensei. But Tsunade-sama had told me that it had been Iruka who requested that I deliver the things he needed. What did it mean?
I shook my head. It couldn't mean anything. Besides, Tsunade didn't really tell me anything other than that.
Drawing nearer to Iruka-sensei, I realized that he had the ability I feared most of all. The ability to hurt me. Not physically, but in all the other aspects that I had. I was horribly confused, wondering how Iruka-sensei really felt about me. "Ohayou, Iruka-sensei," I told him quietly. "Here are some more stuff from Tsunade."
"Thanks," he replied hurriedly. He looked a little pale and uneasy.
I waited for him to tell me that he purposedly wanted to see me. I waited for him to admit to me that it was he who asked the Godaime to let me deliver the scrolls and the documents. I waited for him to tell me something other than 'thanks'. I waited and waited. But he didn't say anything more, so I turned to leave.
Tears filled my eyes, because I was tired of waiting for him. I was emotionally spent, and I wasn't sure I could take anymore. When I reached the school entrance, the tears finally rolled down my cheeks. I didn't make an effort to hold them back, because I knew I wouldn't be able to, anyway.
--
Iruka cursed under his breath. His chest tightened as he watched Mitsuri walk away. He was chicken, chicken, chicken. Quick, go after her! A tiny voice inside his head commanded him. He had been hearing that voice a lot lately, and he wondered maybe he was going crazy. You're crazy if you don't go after Mitsuri. He bit his lip, trying to muster enough courage to make a fool of himself.
And then... "Mitsuri!" he called out. His voice echoed in the hallway.
For a moment, he thought Mitsuri hadn't heard him, because she didn't turn to look at him. Then she stopped walking, and Iruka's heart jumped into his throat. Chicken, chicken, chicken, filled his mind.
"Hm?" Mitsuri finally answered, facing Iruka.
Gulping, Iruka walked nearer to her and said, "I...I..."
She waited.
"I-I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me."
--
Her heart leaped when he called out to her. It took a few seconds for her to wipe away her tears, but it wasn't long enough to make Iruka think there was something wrong. When she had finally turned around and spoke to him, Iruka asked her to eat lunch with him. Could it be that he liked her after all? "What about Kurenai-sensei? Isn't she going to eat with you?"
"Kurenai? She's busy, I think. Usually she eats with Asuma."
Really? Mitsuri's lips twitched into a smile. Iruka wasn't interested in Kurenai after all. Then she sighed inwardly. If he had lunch with her, and he isn't interested in her, then he might not be interested in me either. Oh well. "Oh. All right, I'll eat with you."
"That's great!" Iruka answered. Mitsuri couldn't tell if he was eager or not. "We have a lot of catching up to do."
"Right," she said weakly. So that's all.
"Are you all set?"
"I'll be right back." Mitsuri stepped out of the school and went to the direction of... well, she didn't care where, actually.
--
Taking a deep breath of the fresh air that passed through the window near him, Iruka re-entered the classroom after a while. The students were very noisy, since most of them were already done with their lunch. "OK, kids, I'll be back later, OK?"
"Hai, sensei," the students replied.
--
Mitsuri walked back to the school and found Iruka waiting for her by the entrance. She hadn't gone anywhere important, she just went to calm herself. She was happy that she got to be with the person she loved, but she was also afraid that she might discover that he didn't feel anything special for her. "Hey, Iruka-sensei. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's all right. There's still about an hour left till lunchtime ends." Iruka smiled, and Mitsuri felt herself weaken. She was such a softie whenever her former sensei was around. He looked so good when he smiled, too. "Let's go to Diverse Lifestyles. Is it OK with you?"
"Yeah, sure. I like that place."
They walked off together, both silent. They weren't looking at each other, but they were smiling at nothing.
--
"Oi, Mitsuri." Hatake Kakashi nodded as the green-haired girl walked in. He was surprised to find her with Umino Iruka, but he said nothing about it.
"Ne, Kakashi! What are you doing here?" Mitsuri exclaimed. As if she didn't know he hung out there often. In fact, they always hung out there together! But she always liked to play dumb with Kakashi. He had been her teacher after she graduated from the academy, and they were pretty close. Suddenly remembering that she was with Iruka, Mitsuri's face reddened, embarrassed by her noisy self. She smiled sheepishly, hoping Iruka wasn't annoyed. To her surprise, Iruka was laughing silently.
Iruka was happy to see Mitsuri act like her old self. He always found her funny and lively whenever she was with other people. He had often wondered why she couldn't act that way with him. "Hey, Hatake-san," he said aloud. "How are Naruto and the other kids?"
"They're fine. They have a mission later today."
"Honto ni? How's Sasuke?" Mitsuri asked eagerly. She had forgotten to ask Kakashi that when she met with him the night before.
"You haven't gotten over him, huh?" The silver-haired jounin teased.
Iruka sweatdropped. Could she be in love with the Uchiha kid? No way.
"What are you talking about, Kakashi-sensei? I just wanted to know if his fever's gone now."
"Yeah, he's OK now."
"Would you like to join us?" Iruka offered. "We're about to have lunch."
"No, thanks. I already ate. Enjoy your meal." Kakashi winked at Mitsuri with his one visible eye and left.
--
"So, what will you have?"
Mitsuri thought for a while. She was a little shy about having the love of her life pay for her lunch, but she was hungry. "I'll have the mabo don, please. Without the pork."
"All right. I'll have the garlic chili ramen."
Few minutes after they ordered, the food arrived. Mitsuri got hers happily, and took a huge bite of rice with tofu. "ACK!" she screamed, causing the other people to look at her.
"Geez, Mitsuri," Iruka told her, laughing all the while. "It's still hot!"
"I know now, I know now," Mitsuri blubbered, nearly in tears. Her tongue hurt and felt scratchy. "I'm so stupid."
"No you're not," Iruka said, sobering up. "I'm sorry I laughed at you."
"It's OK." They continued to eat, and Mitsuri made sure to let the rice cool first.
--
While they ate lunch, Mitsuri and Iruka weren't able to talk much, but when they left Diverse Lifestyles and walked back to the nin academy, they had a lot to talk about. "Ne, Iruka-sensei, do you remember Somoda Koyomi?"
"Yes, I do. She was one of the tallest among your class."
"Uh-huh. Yomi was a mean girl." Mitsuri chuckled. "She was always on my back. The others looked up to her, because they thought she was sweet and everything, but the things she did to me were horrible."
"I know."
"..."
"I mean, I noticed." Iruka cleared his throat. "I've punished her quite a lot of times because of that."
"Honto? I never knew that."
"Do you know how Yomi is now?"
"Well, last I heard, she got married to the Runa heir."
"H-How about you? How have you been?"
"Haven't gone on any missions outside the village lately... I haven't seen my family in a long time, too." Mitsuri was the younger daughter of the third-generation head of the Kekoru clan. It was known among the significant families and people in Konoha that Mitsuri belonged to a yakuza family. They also knew that they weren't the same as the gangs who were always involved in something illegal. The Kekoru family was more into clean business, and they did their best to go against those gangsters who disregarded the law of the land.
When Mitsuri's older sister had gotten married, Kekoru Mizuki had been disappointed, because he had expected his first daughter to take over the family business. Although he didn't say much about it, Mizuki resented his first daughter's marriage. He knew he couldn't hope for Mitsuri to be the next head, because she was busy with her job as well, as a ninja.
But lately, Mitsuri was a little stagnant in that area. She had been spending more time lying around in her house than going out to get a mission. Tsunade had tried to get her to some outside missions, but she refused, anyway. She didn't know why.
"Do you know how your father has been?" Iruka asked.
"He's doing well. And he's healthy, too," the girl replied cheerfully. She was a little over being shy with Iruka, and it felt good. She still had no idea how he felt about her though. "What about you, Iruka-sensei? What's new?"
"Uhm... nothing new, I guess," he replied. "But things have been great. My students now are quite interesting."
"Really?"
Iruka thought she looked a little wistful. "Do you miss school?"
Mitsuri blushed. "Kind of." Before Iruka could ask more questions, Mitsuri quickly pointed out that they were in front of the academy already. "Ne, sensei, thanks for the treat." She smiled prettily and shook Iruka's hand.
"Thanks for a really great time," Iruka told her. As he watched her walk away, he was sure he was going to ask her to spend more time with him later on. Although he hadn't been able to tell her how he felt about her, he didn't regret it. He wanted things to be gradual.
--
Author's Note: Hope you liked this one! Sankyuu for the review... : ... I'd forgotten all about this fiction, but it turns out that I'm a bit inspired to continue this. I started this chapter this morning, and finished it just now (9:20 PM). I might have finished earlier if I hadn't stopped for other things. LoL . Lemme know what'cha think! Thanks again.