MIRROR 4
Waking up without falling off the bed gave Iruka the great feeling of satisfaction even though his bottom was still aching from the fall the previous evening. He remembered asking himself why 'they' made hospital beds so high as he got ready. While he pulled on his uniform, Iruka could not ignore the intense feeling of relief that overwhelmed him to the extent that he was singing out loud.
Just like he saw in his last vision, Iruka made sure to drop by the market and select the best peaches he could find. He knew that getting good sweet ones at this time of the year was near impossible, but if he had to circle the entire market twice, then so be it. Iruka didn't know if luck was on his side or not but after asking in the first six fruit stalls, he managed to hit the jackpot. Ten minutes later, he was heading for the hospital, a large paper bag of peaches in his arms. By the time he arrived in Genma's recovery room, he was not surprised to find Genma asleep nor was he surprised to find Raido slumped on the chair by the window; head dipped down and fast asleep. Iruka smiled happily as he quietly set the paperback on the side table. He took note that the bandage on Genma's temples was gone and that his hair was no longer parted in the middle. Instead, bangs fell over Genma's forehead. Iruka reached out and fixed the blanket over Genma's chest. He then located a spare blanket at the foot of the bed and draped it over Raido. Iruka pulled the hospital blinds close so that his two superiors can sleep more without the hindrance of sunlight.
"You know something?" Raido spoke, startling Iruka a bit. "All you really need is the nurse's uniform and cap."
Iruka blushed a bright scarlet. "Ah – Anou – Raido-s-san – A-Anou –"
"Didn't mean to startle you." Raido mumbled, eyes kept closed the whole time while he snuggled under the blanket Iruka covered him with. "What's in the bag?"
Iruka managed to clear his throat and will the heat on his face to go away. "Peaches."
This time, Raido looked at Iruka with an intense gaze. "Is there something about the two of you that I should know about?"
Iruka blinked. "Huh?"
"You two sleeping together?" Raido now had a suppress grin on his face.
If Iruka blushed scarlet before, then the color that tainted his cheeks now was the most royal of reds. He began to stammer. "A-Anou, I – I have to go. I'll be late f-for class." Iruka all but bolted out of the room in an embarrassed frenzy. Just before he closed the door, he stuck his head in, face still aflame and answered Raido's question. "No! We're not sleeping together!"
Iruka ignored the little looks the nurses at the desk were giving him as he stomped back to the academy. Once he did managed to settle down and begin his lecture, the happy skip in his steps returned and he – to put it mildly – was giving his students his 'playful mood'.
This basically means extra longer breaks, no quizzes and less homework.
XXX
Iruka, for one thing, prided himself to being sure of what he felt. So he didn't deny his attraction to Genma. But there was a lingering fear within him, and it was that very fear that was making Iruka reconsider his feelings for elder Jounin. A week has passed since he dropped by to visit Genma in the hospital. An increase of incoming missions meant an increase in reports, so half the time, Iruka was either trying his best to hold his pen steadily and not fall asleep or simply rushing through stacks and stacks of report. He dedicated all his concentration on the reports day after day, trying to ignore the nagging fear at the back of his head.
The fear of falling for Genma because of his resemblance to his old lover often made him wonder when he was, for example in the shower or making tea in the staff lounge. Iruka kept assessing Genma's personality from what he's heard, knows and saw, all the while getting a positive image. Iruka knew that Genma was far from what Mizuki ever was. He knew that Genma would never be Mizuki, despite the slight resemblance. Narrowing his eyes at that line of thought, Iruka pressed on the pen too hard, ending up with a large black blotch on the report in front of him. He grumbled out a curse and reached out for the white out beside him, eyes not leaving the annoying black blotch he created. His hands felt around for the spot beside him, searching for that little blue pen tube, only to find none.
"Where the hell –" Iruka turned to look at his desk but ended up looking up instead. He found Genma standing before – actually standing – him, chewing on his needle and holding up the ink corrector between two fingers. "Genma-san!"
"You didn't even hear me come in." Genma said, voice still a bit raspy but otherwise he looked fine. Better, compared to the last few agonizing days where he was out cold in the hospital.
Iruka couldn't stop the soft look from coming to his face. Genma noticed it and actually blushed and turned his head away a bit. "Good to see you, Genma-san." Iruka said softly, holding his hand out for the ink corrector. Genma gave it to him immediately.
"It's good to see you too, sensei." Genma said, looking a bit bashful for his personality.
Iruka uncapped the lid and began to dab the white out on the ink blotch, a smile slowly spreading on his lips. "Do you feel better? Are you still on medicines?"
Genma shook his head. "I'm fine now. But no missions yet. I actually came by to drop this." Genma set down a folder that was marked 'D' in one corner.
"Ah. So you're taking it light." Iruka glanced at the folder and stifled a yawn with a hand. "That's good. Really good." There was a moment of silence before Genma smirked and turned around, hands going in to his pockets. "Genma-san?"
Genma stopped and turned his head. "Yeah?"
Iruka found a lump forming at the base of his throat. That pose – the way Genma turned his head only and kept his lower body straight – reminded him of Mizuki. Mizuki used to do that when he dropped by to visit Iruka or to deliver a message. Whatever intent Iruka had of complimenting Genma died at the tip of his tongue. Instead, Iruka shook his head, once again missing his chance.
As if I ever had a chance anyway.
"Nothing." Iruka shook his head and forced a smile on his face. "Take care of yourself?" It was a lame cover up, but at the moment, with his rattled thoughts, it was the only thing Iruka could think of.
Genma blinked and nodded. "Of course. You take it easy too, sensei." Without another word, Genma left the room.
A sigh escaped Iruka's lips. Glancing at the clock told him it was five in the afternoon and still he had more work to do. He picked up the report Genma left lying on his desk blinking at the sudden swirl and change of setting. There was a loud hum and the vision that clouded over his real sight was opaque, as if it was unsure and hasty. Iruka felt himself being pushed and pulled down a corridor of moving pictures – Iruka and Mizuki practicing chakra on water, Mizuki dueling with Iruka over a bowl of ramen with chopsticks, Mizuki jumping Iruka on the back and ruffling his hair while Iruka flailed his arms to regain balance, Iruka bopping Mizuki on the head with a mission scroll.
Mizuki and Iruka.
Mizuki and Iruka.
Mizuki and Iruka.
Iruka brought his hands to his temples, the folder he was holding dropping, papers falling out. A strangled groaned escaped his lips as he was catapulted back and forth the corridor. Occasionally, a memory would flash before his eyes but there were too many broken speeches going on for Iruka to even decipher the purpose of the entire vision. Iruka shut his eyes tight, gritting his teeth as the vision began to flick past him faster.
"I didn't put the paint there, it was your idea!"
"The hell are you doing eating tuna in the morning?"
"You should watch your aim because that nearly got my eye you dork!"
"That's not supposed to go there!"
"You'll come back from the mission safe and sound! I know you will!"
"You believe in me?"
"I won't forget. Remember, I love you too."
"Wait for me."
"I'm home!"
"Mizuki!"
"Oi! Iruka!"
"Sensei, he painted the Hokage faces again."
"There's no point channeling chakra when your points are already burned, stupid!"
"You can't even look at me!"
"This isn't about you!"
"You have mission room duty tonight?"
"You forgot! Again! Idiot!"
"You lied to the Hokage? You want to be on death row or something?"
"Why do you always have to make me feel guilty?"
"I'm not mad at you."
"I love you."
"Stop it." Iruka whimpered, gritting his teeth harder, searching for control in the vision he was seeing. He was hearing too many things; things he didn't even want to hear anymore. "Stop it! Stop it!"
The vision came to a halt to one setting. Iruka recognized it as the mission room, late night. There was a new moon glowing outside the window and the wall clock read eleven-twenty-four. Iruka found Genma standing in front of his future self, teeth in a snarl and needle gone. The Jounin looked angry and hurt, his hand moving in pointing gestures towards Iruka, angry muted words being hissed out. In return, Iruka made a sharp dismissing gesture with one hand, eyes ablaze with anger, cheeks flushed from the sharp notes his voice formed as angry words left his mouth. It was an argument of sorts and still, no sound reached Iruka's ears. He couldn't understand what they were fighting about nor could he read their lips from the angry movements of both future-Iruka and Genma's hands. The vision ended with Genma spitting out something that made Iruka freeze and turn around sharply, looking at the window. Genma seemed to have calmed down, spoke quietly and left the room, the door slamming. The last thing Iruka saw were his future-self bringing hands to his face and shoulders shaking.
Iruka toppled back in his chair at the impact of the image winking out. Iruka felt the wind get knocked out of his lungs as he crashed on the floor, head thumping with pain at the impact. Iruka kept his eyes shut, short curses escaping in little whispers as he groped for some base in the vision. One thing he hated about his vision was that it had a nasty habit of popping in whenever it wanted and that it usually left him rattled for several long minutes to distinguish between future-settings and the real-settings.
"He fell!"
"Umino Iruka!"
Iruka narrowed his brows and lifted his eyelids open slowly. I was sure I was alone in the room. Who said that?
"Are you all right, Iruka-sensei?"
An image of a mass of spiky hair and dark eyes swam before him. But what drew his attention the most was another smooth forehead with a dark diamond mark on its center. Iruka knew he's seen it before, along with the soft mass of blonde hair and intense hazel eyes. He's seen it before, definitely. Now, who had a tattoo of sorts on their forehead and nice long hair - Iruka's eyes snapped open in realization.
Oh fuck me sideways! Hard!
Iruka waved his arms for space as he tried to get up and failed miserably. He felt a very embarrassing squeak escape his lips when two arms lifted him up and steadied him to a standing position. Iruka found himself looking up briefly at the person who lifted him up while he busied himself in straightening his uniform.
"Thank you, Raido-san." Iruka mumbled then froze in the middle of straightening the crease on his pants. Raido? He looked up and found the Jounin looking at him with worry. "Raido-san?" Iruka then took the time to look around him. "Hokage-sama!"
"What happened to you Iruka?" The busty woman asked, eyes narrowing. Her gaze would have frozen hell and back to anyone who dared lied when she asked. The fact that said gaze was being directed at Iruka himself didn't help his fried mind from the vision think up any better excuse either.
"I fell." Iruka stated, gaze darting between the Hokage and Raido. "I thought I was alone in the room."
Raido picked up the fallen chair and placed it in its proper position. "I came in to hand in a report. You were –"
"Sit down, Iruka." Tsunade ordered.
"I'm fine, Hokage-sama. I'll stand." Iruka said, quickly declining. If he sat down, that meant he was vulnerable to questions and examinations made by the greatest medic there is in the village. Iruka didn't want anyone else knowing of his abilities, and the look Tsunade was giving him was enough to send shivers down his spine.
"Sit. Down." Tsunade said again.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Iruka quickly sat down on the chair, thinking up every excuse he can muster while his mind melted from panic. Iruka felt his heart ram behind his ribs and blood roar in his ears. He looked at Raido, almost begging for help to prevent Tsunade from putting any of her medical skills to use now.
"It's okay Iruka-sensei. Hokage-sama is just going to make sure you're okay." Raido said.
"But I am okay." Iruka said, abashed that his voice made it sound whiny, like a four year old.
"Be silent!" Tsunade hissed, looking dead serious as she undid the knot of Iruka's forehead protector, taking it away and placing it on the table. Iruka stared at the symbolic head gear with growing panic, as Tsunade reached for his forehead with her palm. Her warm healing hands touched his slightly sweaty forehead and for a moment nothing happened. Iruka felt a sigh of relief escape him and was about to relax when everything flashed a bright light. Upon instinct, he sat up rigid, hands flying up to his forehead to wrench Tsunade's hand off. He was a few seconds too slow before he found himself completely within the new reality of the vision.
Iruka found his future-self standing in front of the Hokage's desk, as she said something that was making him shake. There were tears rolling down his cheeks as Tsunade extended a scroll with his name written on it in small shaky-looking prints. It was Genma's handwriting. Along with the scroll was a badly mangled forehead protector, the metal plate having a vicious dent on it.
Iruka screamed and fought the image. His grip on Tsunade's hand tightened to the point that it would've crushed the female's bones. Iruka felt chakra surrounding him pushing the image back. The vision began to flicker, like a television when the plug is being tampered with. Iruka could feel the back of his head ache from the mental battle he was doing. The vision sucked him in fast and hard and just as he was being pulled directly to smack the Hokage's desk in the reality he was in, he was spat out just as fast, making him recoil back and the chair he was sitting on rock.
Iruka was aware of Raido holding the back of the chair and the protective chakra surrounding the hand pressed against his forehead. As if touching something hot, Iruka jerked Tsunade's hand off his forehead and stood up, putting distance between himself and his two superiors. Breaths escaped Iruka like he was being gutted while he stared widely at Raido and Tsunade.
"Iruka, I want you to calm down. Your heart rate is too fast and your blood pressure is too high." Tsunade warned, lifting a hand to calm Iruka.
"I'm fine. I'm fine, Hokage-sama. Don't worry." Iruka shook his head, taking a step back. He kept thinking about the vision. He was crying, Tsunade was handing him a mangled forehead protector and a scroll. Iruka desperately tried to recall any detail in the vision that might hint on when it was going to happen. When he found none, he began to fret.
"You're not fine! Your chakra is everywhere. Sit down, Iruka."
"No!" Iruka shook his head taking a step back. "I – I'm fine. I don't need medical attention."
Tsunade's gaze hardened. "Umino Iruka."
Iruka knew he was stepping out of bounds with his refusal, but by heavens he can't face anything right now. He had to figure out the vision he just saw and he had to figure it out fast. Iruka's hands began to shake as cold sweat formed on his forehead. He immediately regretted fighting the vision and he recalled never being able to do that before. His fear of being caught seemed to have pushed the vision back. Iruka willed himself to stare directly at Tsunade who was the cause of the vision in the first place.
"Iruka-sensei. Calm down. You're leaking chakra!" Raido said, stepping forward to attempt to calm Iruka down but Iruka stepped back, the chakra around him sizzling and cracking in the air like loud whip lashes.
"Iruka." Tsunade warned, stepping forward.
Iruka searched and probed in his mind, anything to make the vision come back. Panic and pure desperation made him take quick strides and stop before Tsunade at arm's length. Iruka lifted a hand up slowly to touch Tsunade's cheek or shoulder.
I have to see! I have to see! Show me! Show me!
"Show me!" He yelled, making Tsunade step back and grab at his hand. The chakra around Iruka burst in to small specs, as his pupils dilated, reality melting away in whizzing motions. Tsunade watched as Iruka's gaze turned glassy like doll, heart rate slow down immediately and breathing to stop.
"Iruka!" Tsunade said, shaking the now unmoving and standing man before her who remained staring at her like the dead.
Iruka heard his name far, far away just as he was whooped in to the new setting that is the Hokage's office. He watched as the scene replayed itself, the words muted, as his future-self let down silent tears while the Hokage extended the small scroll and the forehead protector. Iruka looked around in search for any indication on what date it might be. A glance out the window showed him red fall leaves and that it was early evening, right after sunset. He frantically searched the desk for a calendar or anything that might give a sure indication. A memo tacked on top of a folder in front of Tsunade who was still speaking words Iruka couldn't hear made him stare at it hard.
12th of November.
Iruka found no year at the end of the date. Just as he was about to survey the desk some more, he was catapulted back to reality and Iruka once again found himself staring in to the bewildered and assessing eyes of the Hokage. His heart rate increased and his breathing came out in fast heaves. Iruka's head hurt and things were starting to tilt at an obtuse angle.
"Iruka! Iruka, can you hear me?" Tsunade asked, voice a sharp tone of a doctor trying to revive a patient from a stupor.
"Iruka-sensei!" Raido said in alarm, coming to stand beside Tsunade to support the falling Chuunin.
Iruka felt his mind attempt to claw at consciousness. Last thing he remembered feeling was leaning on Raido's chest as the Jounin caught him, and Tsunade's hand on his forehead, the warmth of chakra caressing him and making him relax.
XXX
Iruka found himself standing in the staff lounge of the mission tower, mixing himself a cup of coffee. He turned to find Raido and Genma bent over a Go board, arguing whose move was better and what strategy was best to avoid whatever conflict was present on the board. It was a common thing for these two Jounins to play Go or chess or even the lame childish hang-man during their breaks while they ate their lunch. Iruka found himself staring at Genma, who was pointing at a black Go piece, needle hanging in between his lips while he spoke of some strategy to Raido.
Iruka blinked when a head leaned forward to peer over Genma's shoulders while Genma remained oblivious. Iruka blinked yet again as he found Mizuki staring at the Go piece Genma was pointing at before straightening, hands in his pockets. Mizuki looked up directly at Iruka, dark eyes crinkling up at smile.
"Mizuki." Iruka mumbled, the grip on his coffee cup tightening.
Mizuki grinned at him while flicking a brief glance at Genma. Mizuki extended a hand to pick up a white Go piece from the plastic pot beside the board, tossing it towards Iruka. Iruka caught the piece and wondered, staring at it quietly in the middle of his palm. Mizuki motioned for him to approach the Go board. Iruka set his cup down and approached as he was told, Genma and Raido still completely oblivious of his presence and Mizuki's. Mizuki said nothing as the two Jounins continued speaking. Genma moved to toss the black Go piece he had in his hand up and down the air.
"What is it?" Iruka mumbled.
Mizuki pointed at a black Go piece on the board, making Iruka glance down. The black piece was being approached strategically by the white pieces. Mizuki moved his finger towards the board, just as the two Jounins stood up to get something to drink. Mizuki moved a white piece that was in an open position and free to 'own' the black piece's movement to a more bold position. Iruka blinked and stared at the board where the black Go piece Mizuki was earlier pointing at was now 'captured' by the white piece Mizuki moved, then at the white Go piece in his hand. He looked up to find Mizuki giving him the knowing look, and nodding.
Mizuki looked up as Genma and Raido sat down again, cups of hot tea in hand as they cleared the board, putting everything back in to its proper place to play tic-tac-toe instead.
Mizuki tapped the bridge of Iruka's nose twice before smiling and walking away, leaving Iruka staring wide eyed as Mizuki vanished from view.
That gesture was symbolic to Iruka. It was Mizuki's silent way of saying 'don't hesitate' when he was alive.
TBC
Just to answer a few reviews:
1 – Iruka keeps getting knocked out because of the mental stress his precognition gives him. It's not because I want him to be knocked out all the time. It just fits in situations.
2 – The Hokage will know. I planned on that already for this chapter. Patience, patience. As for him walking out of the hospital, well, he can. Then again, after this chapter, who says no one is going to stop him next time?
3 – Iruka doesn't want anyone to know because that's just him being him. He doesn't want too, period. That's what's going to get him in to trouble. If he broadcasted his abilities, then this would be a boring fic really, IMO.
4 – Thankies for all your lovely encouragement! I hope this chapter was okay.
Damn, my chapters are getting shorter and shorter. Maa … tell me what you think. Oh and I'm eating a tuna sandwich right now (happy happy grin)