Title: Bad Weather
Series: Naruto
Author: Miali
Summary: A bad storm strands Kakashi at Iruka's apartment. KakaIru fluff.
A/N: Another one in my series of random topics… This one number 28: bad weather.
---
Iruka loved the rain, he loved the way the droplets fell and splashed, the way puddles formed in every dip in the sidewalk, reflecting the world around. He loved the way the sun sparkled off of everything and the way the world glimmered.
Kakashi hated the rain. He hated rain country, mist country, and snow country. He hated the water in his shoes, freezing and squishing between his toes. It wasn't that he hated precipitation itself, he just hated being wet.
---
The rain began lightly at first, speckling against the windows of Iruka's classroom. The teacher tried to resist the urge his students gave into: to sit and stare out into the storm. His students' expressions were easy to read, some wanting nothing more than to jump in puddles, others hating to get wet at the end of the day. Iruka sighed and continued his lessons, albeit a little more distractedly.
The day finally over, the chuunin gathered his papers in his bag and began his stroll home, umbrella tucked under his arm. The rain had steadily increased through the day and was now reaching the beginnings of a rainstorm. Thunder crackled overhead and Iruka picked his pace up slightly, still taking the time to splash through the puddles that lay in his path.
Sitting at the table in his warm apartment, Iruka pulled out his papers and began the mind-numbing task of grading papers. He was shocked out of his nearly zombie like state by a knock on the door.
On the steps to his apartment stood a thoroughly dampened Kakashi, hair cascading over his headband in a silver arc and dripping down his face. His cheeks were slightly rosy from the cold and he smiled slightly, raising a hand in a gesture of greeting.
"Apartment's flooded," the jounin murmured before stepping into the warm room as Iruka scuttled about, making coffee and ushering the wet man into the warm shower and supplying him with a dry change of clothes.
---
"Thanks, Iruka-sensei," Kakashi began as soon as he emerged from the shower, dressed in Iruka's clothing, "I'm sorry to intrude on you like this, but Genma, Raido, and Gai are all out on a mission…"
"Oh, don't worry about it," Iruka smiled warmly, settling down on the couch with a hot cup of tea and the rest of the papers. "I'm just sorry I can't entertain you, but make yourself at home." Red pen in hand, he began to grade the homework.
Kakashi smiled and took a few papers himself from the stack before sliding onto the couch next to Iruka with a fluidity water would envy.
---
The papers graded, Iruka felt something tickle across the side of his neck and a gentle weight on his shoulder. Kakashi had fallen asleep on Iruka, pen still in hand, but papers all corrected and graded. His hair was beginning to dry, the wet strands dripping their excess water on to the chuunin's shirt, the dried pieces brushing across Iruka's neck as the jounin breathed. The tanned man smiled, not wanting to disturb the tired Kakashi and lightly ruffled the silver-man's soft hair.
Kakashi opened his eyes slightly and sighed contentedly as the storm outside roared. He thought of his warm, although lonely apartment and decided he'd rather be here, despite of the rain.
I'd brave any storm for you, Iruka-sensei. You just don't know it yet.
---
A/N: Yes, I know, disturbingly sweet and corny. Please forward your dental bills to me, should you get any cavities. As always, much love to my reviewers!