Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Naruto is a creation of Masashi Kishamoto-sensei.

Note: This chapter was edited May 26, 2006. Some content that came before and after the chapter may have been removed or replaced.

Since When Was Boredom The First Step To Love?

Chapter eight-You're in what? With me?

By Riyo-sama

One week of attempts on both sides found both parties feeling very discouraged and frustrated.

Just how the hell is one guy supposed to tell another guy that he has feelings of a not so platonic nature for him, when he doesn't even know if the other guy likes guys in that way? This was the thought that held Kakashi back in his attempts to speak with Iruka about his feelings. It didn't help that all previous romances that Kakashi had taken part in had involved people drastically different than Iruka (let alone the fact that his previous romances had been with women). He was sure that Iruka wouldn't fall for cheesy lines, and he wanted to be taken seriously.

After failing to tell him face to face, Kakashi decided that he should try a love letter. What cannot be easily articulated with the voice is more easily described by the pen, right? thought Kakashi.

Thirty balls of crumpled paper later and Kakashi was ready to tear his hair out. Since when was writing one little letter so hard? Kakashi started to fume. Damn him for being so cute, kind, dependable, good looking, and..and…and, and well just so lovable!

Kakashi removed his hiate-ae and rubbed at his temples. He then surveyed the mess he had made of the desk and floor in the study. It's a good thing for me that Iruka isn't supposed to be home until much later tonight. I'd be in trouble if he came in on me now, and not just because of the mess. Just as he finished that thought, he heard the front door open and shut.

"Tadiama, Kakashi-san!" he heard Iruka call out.

Ah crap! He's home early! He couldn't pretend not to be home since he had said that he wasn't going out that evening, so he had to respond. "Okaeri!" Agh! He'll come in here, see the mess, and wonder what I was up to. What if he opens one of them up and finds out? Wait, that would be a good thing since I want him to know, then I wouldn't have to go through all the stress of telling him. Ah, but I don't want him to find out like this. Kakashi held his head in his hands and shook it from side to side while mumbling to himself.

"Kakashi-sempai, Iruka-san wants to know if you had dinner yet…" Yukio was hanging by the door frame into the room, with an eyebrow raised at the mess. Kakashi sat frozen and watched dumbly as Yukio bent to pick up a ball of paper that had landed near the door when Kakashi tossed it in his frustration. He uncrumpled it and started to read it.

Iruka came to the study door and was startled to see the mess. Yukio laughed, causing him to notice the crumpled looking paper he was holding. "What are you reading Yukio-san?"

Yukio glanced at Kakashi with a gleam of mischief in his eyes, which Kakashi caught. "A lo-" that was all the further he got since Kakashi immediately clamped a hand over his mouth and snatched the paper away.

"It's nothing, don't worry about. I'll clean up the mess in here. Could you make dinner? I'll come and help in a little bit, I just need to talk to Yukio about something." Kakashi said this so rapidly that Iruka was just barely able to keep up with what he said.

"Ummm, okay." said Iruka before walking back to the kitchen.

Kakashi shut the door and removed his hand from Yukio's mouth. Yukio immediately started laughing while Kakashi deliberately shredded the paper into itty-bitty pieces.

"It-wasn't-tha-that-bad-se-se-sempai…" said Yukio between laughs.

"Don't tell him." said Kakashi.

"Sempai shinpai nai. I've known almost since the first time I came here, and I haven't said anything yet. I'm pretty good at telling when someone likes someone else." said Yukio with a huge grin.

"Oh." was all Kakashi could come up with. Then he frowned. "What was so funny about that letter?" He had thought it was one of the better ones, but gave up on it in the end.

"Well, it seemed kind of flowery and forced. It didn't sound like you at all." Kakashi was staring at him blankly. "Iruka's known you for a little while now right? He knows what your like for the most part. So if you try being different when you tell him, he'll probably wonder if your being sincere or not. He'll probably respond more favorably if you just act like yourself."

"Really?" Kakashi was curious now. It was sound advice. "So, what did you do the first time you were in love with another guy?"

"Eh? Me?" said Yukio with surprise as he pointed at himself.

"Yes, you. I'd like to know if you don't mind." said Kakashi.

"Well, I was much younger than you are the first time. Sixteen to be exact. He was eighteen. I spent the first week in denial before I could accept the fact that I was indeed in love with someone of the same gender. I spent another week trying to decide weather or not I should try approaching him, and it was another three weeks before I actually worked up the nerve to try talking to him." Yukio paused here and smiled.

"So, what happened?" Kakashi was really interested now.

"I barely said 'Hello', and all the sudden he just started talking as if it weren't the first time we'd talked. He said he'd been watching me for a while and had wanted to get to know me. He'd actually liked me a lot longer than I'd liked him. He didn't want to scare me away by being forward though, and there was never an opportunity for him to try and become friends with me, so he had been waiting for long time."

"That was it?"

"Yeah. I know it's hard to think so now, but you're probably worrying more than you need to. You should just go ahead and tell him how you feel."

"I'll think about it." A thought suddenly occurred to him. "Yukio, why are you here tonight?"

Yukio turned red and hung his head in what seemed to be embarrassment. "Genma-san won't let me cook, even when he's not home, because I nearly burned the house down twice. Genma-san won't be home tonight, and I'm low on cash. Iruka-san said I could come over for dinner since I helped him get done with his work early when he found out about my situation." Yukio became even redder when Kakashi started laughing.

Kakashi spent the next week trying to confess to Iruka, but fate seemed to have a vendetta against him as it thwarted his every attempt to speak with him alone.

First, there was an unexplainable increase in missions, which meant that he was out in the field with his team a lot, or on solo missions. Several of the teachers at the academy caught a bug that was going around, and Iruka ended up handling their students. So, when they did end up alone, they were either too tired to do anything, or someone would come interrupt them.

By the time things slowed down next week, they were both almost ready to give up.

Having nothing better to do that day since there was finally a lull in the stream of missions, Yukio decided to go for a stroll. He had discovered a pleasant track running through the woods not to far from the main gates that he had taken a liking to.

He noticed just as he passed through the gate and waved a greeting to the gate watchers that he was being followed. Upon realizing who his followers were he smiled. This should be fun. I've been wanting to meet them.

He continued walking as if he hadn't noticed until he reached the forest. Once in the forest, he sprinted off. They continued to follow him while just barely keeping pace with him. He led them all over the forest in zigzag patterns and loops, until they came back to about the middle of his forest track where he stopped. He waited until he was sure that they had stopped a short distance away. This should be a good spot. he thought before puffing out of sight.

Meanwhile, his pursuers where catching their breath and wondering what to do next. "Ne, Sakura-chan, are you sure we should ask him? He'll probably just laugh at us."

"What would I laugh at?" asked a voice directly behind Naruto. Naruto squawked in surprise and spun around to see Yukio hunched down and giving them all a big grin. Sakura was clutching her chest as if she'd almost had a heart attack (inner Sakura had fainted dead away). Sasuke looked as if he had seen a ghost.

Yukio sat down crossed-legged and looked at them thoughtfully. "Lets see now, you'd be Uzimaki Naruto, very orange and full of surprises," Naruto nodded energetically, "the young lady would Haruno Sakura, pink and intelligent," Sakura blushed, "and this would be Uchiha Sasuke, the genius of the last graduating class." Sasuke just gave him a humph. Yukio gave them another happy smile. "Kakashi-sempai was right, you're all so adorable." Yukio immediately clamped a hand over his mouth and they heard him mumble, " I wasn't supposed to tell anyone he said that."

"Ano, Kimura-san?" said Sakura hesitantly.

"Don't you think that Kimura sounds kind of stuffy? Why don't you just call me Yukio?"

His easy manner reassured her that he wasn't mad about being followed. "Yukio-san, would it be any trouble to you if we asked you for a favor?"

"Does the favor have anything to do with the thing you thought I'd laugh at?" asked Yukio, who looked amused.

"Hai, you know about Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei being in love with each other, right?" said Sakura.

"Yeah, Iruka-san came and asked me for advice about how to approach Kakashi-sempai, and just last week I found Kakashi-sempai trying to write a love letter." said Yukio.

"Well, we know that with these sorts of things that it's better to let them take their course, but it's taking too long for out tastes." said Sakura.

"All Kakashi-sensei does on the missions is mope while he reads his book, and I hear Iruka-sensei has become a bit cross at school." said Naruto.

"So, what do you want me to do about it?" asked Yukio.

"Give them a little push." said Sasuke.

Yukio blinked. "You mean, help them get their confessions over with? Would they appreciate meddling like that?" Yukio closed his eyes in thought, "It is kind of frustrating to watch them almost say it and get cold feet at the last minute. Yeah, sure, I'll help you out. Just leave it all to me." after saying this, Naruto knocked him over with a hug.

"Arigatou, Yukio. You're the best!" said Naruto.

Sakura pulled Naruto off of Yukio and starting scolding him for knocking over the person who was supposed to help them while Sasuke rolled his eyes. Yukio started laughing, gaining him three curious looks. "Gomen, it's just that you're exactly as Kakashi-sempai and Iruka-san described." He received looks of puzzlement which made him laugh harder.

After they had returned to the village and he said goodbye to the three genin, he started thinking about what the best option would be to helping the two people he had come to regard as friends.

I could use the subtle approach and set them up in an environment that is conducive to romantic confessions. He considered this option for about half a minute. Ah, to hell with subtlety! They've been dragging their feet long enough. I'm getting this over with today! He headed off in the direction of Iruka's house.

Kakashi was sitting on the couch trying to read. The keyword being trying. He couldn't concentrate due to the thoughts that were continuously running through his head. I should say it now. I should march right down that hall, into the study, and say "I'm in love with you." right to his face. That's what he thought he should do, but the more he told himself to do it, the harder it seemed to be to move.

Iruka walked into the living room on his way to the kitchen for some tea. He paused at the entrance to look at Kakashi who was too wrapped up in his thought's to notice. We're all alone, theirs no one to interrupt us. Yet I still can't work up the courage to say it. He repressed a sigh and would have gone into the kitchen if he hadn't heard a knocking at the front door. "I'll get it." said Iruka.

It's strange for anyone to come around on a Wednesday evening. thought Kakashi.

He heard greetings being exchanged before Iruka came back with Yukio. "I'm surprised to see you Yukio-san, your usually out of the village on Wednesdays." said Iruka.

"They gave me a break today, and I decided to go for walk. I met three cute little birds on my walk who sung a song about a problem that needed resolving right away, so I decided to stop by." Yukio's eyes had a strange twinkle to them. "It's something that involves the both of you."

Kakashi gave up the pretense of reading in order to give the conversation his full attention. There's something suspicious here. Three little birds, huh? I think I have a pretty good idea what variety of bird he's referring to.

Yukio took a seat in one of the armchairs while Iruka sat on the opposite end of the couch. Both Kakashi and Iruka were looking at Yukio expectantly, who looked as if he was having fun.

"The problem is that you both have a secret that you're keeping from each other. The little birds and myself are getting tired of waiting for you to 'confess' your secrets to each other." said Yukio.

Iruka and Kakashi were staring at him with growing alarm and comprehension. He wouldn't…. thought Iruka wide-eyed.

Oh, no, no, no. Hell no. thought Kakashi, starting to sweat.

To their ever growing horror, Yukio stood up with a serious and determined look on his face. It was a real contrast to his usually mild expression and placid smile. "Hatake Kakashi, you're in love with Umino Iruka. Umino Iruka, you're in love with Hatake Kakashi."

Iruka sat still on the couch, mouth hanging open and face turning red as he turned to face Kakashi. Kakashi looked back at him, his single eye slowly blinking.

Yukio decided that this was a sufficient 'push', and disappeared onto the roof where he made a small prayer before heading home. Kami-sama, please don't let them be mad enough to try killing me.

They didn't notice or care that he had left. Iruka was the first to speak. "What he said about…you…with me….was that true?"

Kakashi took a deep breath, scooted closer to Iruka, pulled down his mask, and said with a lop-sided grin, "Hell yeah, I'm in love you."

Iruka startled Kakashi by throwing his arms around him in a tight hug. "I'm so glad! I've been so worried that you'd be upset if you found out about how I felt." Kakashi could hear Iruka starting to sniffle and felt a bit of wetness on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around Iruka's shoulders and returned the hug. "So you love me then?" Kakashi laughed at Iruka's mumbled reply of 'What do you think baka?'

"I had a lot of scenarios thought up for how this scene would go, but none of them really turned out like this. And don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to Yukio and his three 'little birds', but I still think they need to be punished for meddling." said Kakashi with an evil glint in his eye.

He felt Iruka laugh against his shoulder before he moved back a bit to scrub a sleeve across his face. "You have such a vindictive streak in you." said Iruka as he smiled weakly.

"Are you done crying now?" asked Kakashi. Iruka nodded. "Now this begs the question. Why are you in love with a vindictive, lazy, never punctual, perverted bum like myself?"

Iruka smiled at this, "That's easy, it's because of your devoted loyalty to the citizens of Konoha. You show a great deal of consideration and kindness to your friends. You're a strong shinobi, and…" Iruka trailed off with a bright blush as he glanced at Kakashi's face and looked down.

"And because I'm the most devilishly handsome man you've ever met?" added Kakashi with a small smirk on his face.

Iruka mumbled out a maybe. He then looked up at Kakashi inquiringly, "What about you? I'm plain and boring, and don't have any outstanding achievements to speak of. What's there to love?"

"You're kidding me right?" asked Kakashi incredulously. He cupped the sides of Iruka's face with both hands. "I think you're far from plain. I'd say you're beautiful, but I don't think the word would do you justice. I'm never bored when you're around. In fact, I don't think I've had a single boring moment since I met you. If you want to know what you've achieved, than look at your students. They're some of the best genin to ever come out of that academy, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them become some of the best shinobi of their age."

Iruka didn't know what to say at first. He gave Kakashi a small smile, "You always seem to know what I need to hear."

Kakashi smiled slyly, "You know what step comes after confession don't you?"

Iruka blinked and shook his head. "This is the first time I've ever been in love with anyone, and I've never been one to read romances."

Kakashi's smile grew. "Than I don't suppose you've ever kissed anyone before either?"

"No…"

Kakashi's smile softened a bit and he brought his face closer to Iruka's. "May I give you your first kiss Iruka?" he asked in almost a whisper.

Iruka's eyes widened a bit and he blushed even more before giving a slight nod. He kept his eyes open and watched as Kakashi brought his face even closer, a mere hairsbreadth away. Kakashi tilted his head just slightly, and gently pressed his lips against Iruka's for a few seconds before pulling back. He looked into Iruka's eyes, silently asking permission to continue. Iruka answered by lightly pressing his lips against Kakashi's. Kakashi started to move his lips against Iruka's.

His lips were soft and warm against his, causing a new sensation that was warm and pleasant to develop in him. Iruka closed his eyes and gave Kakashi free reign.

Kakashi lightly sucked on Iruka's lower lip, and then covered his mouth. He tried to deepen the kiss but Iruka pulled back. "What's wrong?"

Iruka looked down embarrassed. "I'm sorry. It… it just felt weird when you tried to put your tongue in my mouth."

Kakashi laughed and leaned his forehead against Iruka's while wrapping his arms around his shoulders. "That's alright. We'll save that for the future."

Iruka nodded and they remained silent for a bit without moving.

"Kakashi?" said Iruka tentatively.

"Hmmm?"

"What should we do now?"

Kakashi thought about it, and then moved back to look at Iruka and smile, "Lets take a nap."

Before Iruka had a chance to ask Kakashi what he meant or to be surprised, he found himself being pulled on top of him as he lay back with a flop. Kakashi shifted around until he was comfortable and had Iruka's head lying on his chest.

"Ano, Kaka-"

"Shh, just relax for now. We'll talk during dinner." said Kakashi quietly. He pulled Iruka's hair tie off, and started to slowly run his fingers through his hair, marveling at the smooth silkiness of the dark brown strands. "You know, that was the first time you called me just Kakashi."

"Oh, you don't mind do you?"

"No, I love the way you say it." Kakashi shifted so he could rest his head on Iruka's. He smelled his hair and sighed in contentment. Clean and wholesome, just like I imagined. He shut his eyes and continued to stroke Iruka's hair. They both drifted into a pleasant sleep, happy to finally be free of the secret they had each been keeping from one another.

Going back through and reading this, after how long its been since I posted it, I can't help but feel a little floored that I wrote something like this. Its strange. I wonder if its okay to admit that your amused by your own writing.

Thank you to the following people for reviewing: seporith's angel, Maliciously Creative, Peridot Pooka, mini-kero, Omi Maxwell, Rachel Dracon, godess of sand, anbu-kakashi(), snow887, wyldcat, Smoking Panda, Sei the Purple Ryu, Xaphania 49, RedVulpine, and Isolde1.

Jaa ne!