Iruka was leaving Konoha's main gate just as Kakashi and his team were leaving their overnight camp. He'd left a note for Kakashi as Kakashi did for him, when he was called away suddenly. It had been a hard letter to write. Just choosing the right pen had taken half an hour, and in the end he'd gone out to buy a new one. Blue. Black ink was too ordinary and the red he used to grade his student's papers way too scary. He had a bottle of sepia, but he'd have to use a brush with that, too formal. Blue seemed about right. When he was done the letter was personal enough, yet not so personal that he couldn't bear the thought of someone else reading it if the worst happened and neither of them came home.

As far as the world was concerned he was just a young tutor going to meet his young student. He walked briskly, a man with a purpose, a destination. But he walked, not raced, and along the road, not in the shadows or through the treetops. He was a tutor, not a ninja. Although he did have his leaf headband tucked into an inner pocket of his pack, he would be able to identify himself if he needed to. One fragile link to his village and everyone he loved.

Iruka hadn't been outside the village out of uniform since he was a kid, and it was… different. Liberating, if slightly unsettling. And he was on his way to the ocean. He was much more excited at the prospect of seeing it again than he felt he should be, at his age. His parents had taken him when he was a small child but he'd never been back.

He didn't really mind taking his time. The road to Wave Country was lovely, autumn was just starting to touch some of the trees with gold, making them light up in the golden light of the rising sun. Red dragonflies zipped past, speeding faster than the eye could follow then hovering like suspended jewels, following their age-old courtship dance. And overhead formations of cranes cut through the sky like winged arrows, headed south to their winter feeding grounds. Iruka was so engrossed in his surroundings that he didn't notice the rosy tint to the morning mist, and down on the road he didn't hear the fleeting rustle of leaves in the treetops above.

While he was still deep in the forestlands, a young woman was skillfully steering a motor launch between jagged rocks and towards a breach in the granite cliffs around Wolf Island. She tethered it to a metal ring set in the stone and sprang to the top of the cliff in a few agile leaps. Then she set off for the stone castle just visible on the mountains ahead. It was a stark lonely landscape. Rocky and barren with occasional copses of stunted old trees, windswept into tortured silhouettes against the bright sky.

The sun was high when she reached the castle. A sadly dilapidated wreck of what once must have been an impressive fortress. The outer wall was overgrown with creepers and a tree had broken through it in one place, causing part of it to collapse, and strewing debris on the ground nearby. She stepped over the fallen stones and traced a pattern on the rough inner wall. With a grating crunch a section slid open to allow her entrance. Once inside a servant appeared at her side, and they walked in silence through the castle's narrow passageways.

They stopped at a great wooden door and the servant hung back as she knocked. Without waiting for an answer she opened it and went through. There was a man seated on a cushion at a low table, eating sweet dumplings. Long dark hair almost completely obscured his face and the sleeves of his star spotted robe reached to his fingertips.

"Ah, come in Yoko my dear, have you had breakfast? Or should I call it lunch?"

She bowed slightly. "No thank you, I just came to tell you that he's on his way."

"Excellent, excellent. Well done."

"I should go to see my master now."

The man's expression changed behind his hair. To smugness? "Very good my dear. Any clue as to when the graft will become permanent?"

She shook her head. "I have the power for a while but it always wears off. I'm starting to suspect…"

"Suspect what my dear?"

"Well I just have a feeling that we can't both have it at the same time. That the true blood limit will always stay with him. Maybe a blood limit can't be fully transferred from one person to another."

"But we both know that's not true. That it worked once."

"You mean the Konoha man?"

"Yes exactly. Maybe there's something different in that case. Perhaps you can find out from this teacher when he gets here."

The woman bowed again and left.

A cloud of red mist appeared at the back of the room. An elderly man stepped out as it dissipated, walked over to the table and set down a bundle of folders next to the platter of dumplings. "I'm not sure these were worth the effort."

The robed man tensed imperceptibly, how much of the conversation had he heard? "They'll tell us what we need to know."

The old man sat on the floor with unexpected ease for his age and speared a dumpling with a skewer. "I saw him you know, the Konoha man. Through the mist. He was quite impressive in action."

So he'd heard at least that much. "Could he take you down?"

"Easily, I'm too old to fight. But isn't that the reason you want her?" He nodded towards the door where the woman had just left.

"Mmm. The transfer is going well, and you've done a good job training her." He shot a glance at his elderly companion from beneath his curtain of hair, but the other was too busy eating to notice.

"She's good, she'd be good even without everything her own blood limit has given her. We were lucky to find her."

Theyounger mannodded in agreement. "You'd better get to your rooms before she does."

The old man took another dumpling then disappeared into red mist.

Iruka heard the ocean before he saw it. A distant rumble, like far off thunder, but friendlier, without the threat of danger. As he got closer he could hear higher notes, the hiss of waves breaking onto the shore. It was so strange yet so familiar, could he really remember that sound from when he was six? Or was he fooling himself just because his name was Umino? Umino Iruka, Iruka of the sea. It had always seemed a strange name for someone born in a forest, but when the road turned through a curve and the sea came into view through a break in the pines, he felt honoured.

It was perfect, perfectly beautiful. An endless vista of deep blue water rising up to meet the azure October sky. Blue on blue. He scrambled down the rocks to the beach and stood on the sand, filling his senses with the sight, sound and smell of the ocean. Kicking off his sandals he walked out to the water's edge. The sand was soft and yielding under his feet, quite different to the harsh gritty stuff that he knew from the deserts of Wind Country. And where the beach was still wet from the retreating tide, it was firm and cool. The surf swirled around his ankles, soothing feet that were hot and achy from walking so far, then pulled back with a sigh to form another wave. Restless, ceaseless, stretching as far as the eye could see.

It reminded him of Kakashi, slouched and relaxed but never quite still, with hidden power that could sweep away anything in its path. And all blue, so very blue, like Kakashi's right eye. If he squinted he could just make out some of the islands that made up the archipelago of Wave Country. Maybe one of them was Wolf Island.

With a twinge of regret he left the water and climbed back up to the road. Dry sand stuck to the salt on his feet like an outer layer of stony skin.

In another mile he could see the bridge. Strong and sturdy, like its namesake, Naruto. Forming vital connections that improved and enriched the lives of those around it, like Naruto. He crossed it and walked onto a road over a mangrove swamp. Soon he would be at the port where a boat was due to meet him.

The boat was already there with its motor running, piloted by a woman of nineteen or twenty. She had white hair and bright blue eyes. Iruka tried not to stare. He sat down carefully, allowing his body to roll with the surf. Water with waves felt… interesting. Under the right circumstances, with the right person, he imagined it could be quite erotic.

The woman saw him blushing and turned around to button her shirt higher. So this Konoha sensei was modest and shy, she liked him, she'd enjoy it this time.

She revved the engine and headed towards the open ocean, Iruka held on grimly as the boat picked up speed and skipped over the tops of the waves. She obviously knew exactly where she was going, steering around what he guessed to be submerged shoals and turning sharply away from the setting sun towards a small island. Suddenly she cut the motor and he saw that that they were headed past the rocks towards a small gap in the cliffs. She tied up the boat, climbed out and offered him her hand. Iruka laughed, sprang out beside her and offered her his hand, which of them was the ninja after all? Giggling like a schoolgirl, she let him help her up the cliff.

Wolf Island was enveloped in a thin layer of mist, tinted pink by the sunset behind them. But even in the fading light Iruka could tell that it was a delightful place. He saw spreading meadows dotted with late wildflowers and punctuated by a few gracious old trees, giving way to lush woodlands that covered the hills up ahead.

"I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself yet." The woman said. "I'm Yoko, I hope you don't mind walking, the soil here is fragile and we don't use vehicles if we can avoid it."

Iruka bowed. "Umino Iruka, Konoha chuunin, but I expect you know that already. And I don't mind walking at all. I wouldn't want to miss anything this lovely."

Yoko bowed in return, hoping it was more than coincidence that he had looked up at her when he said that last word.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

Kakashi and his team reached Konoha just as the sun was starting to dip behind the horizon. He was empty-handed and had no idea who he had been chasing for the past three weeks or why. But right now he didn't care. The less he had to report the less time it would take to report it and the sooner he could go home to Iruka. He sent Naruto and Sakura on their way and set out over the rooftops for the mission room. With any luck his favourite chuunin would be on duty and he wouldn't have to wait until he got home to tease him breathless.

He wasn't in luck. Izumo was at the desk. Kakashi snarled behind his mask as the annoying droopy haired man took longer than he felt necessary to check over the report and date stamp it.

"You've already read it twice, it isn't that complicated." He said irritably. Then he heard heels clicking on the hard floor and looked over to where Tsunade had just entered the room.

"In a hurry Hatake? Don't bother, he's away on a mission."

Kakashi was shocked but kept his voice even. "You sent Iruka on a mission?" The words 'without me' hung in the air unsaid.

The Hokage snorted. "He was the right man for the job, see for yourself it all but had his name written on it." She tossed a scroll towards him.

Kakashi unrolled it and bristled visibly. "But this is an A class mission."

Tsunade smirked inwardly, why did she enjoy discomforting this man so much? "It was only classed as A to satisfy the vanity of the Daimyou. Iruka can handle it. He's done A class before. You're the one who's been pushing me to send him out into the world more."

Kakashi looked over the details. An accomplished, experienced chuunin who could act as a tutor. It was true. There was no one in the village that described better than Iruka. And he had done A class, but never on his own.

"So since he's not here I assume you won't complain about leaving again tomorrow. I need you to go to Wind Country, to the desert, I've been waiting for you to get back."

Kakashi nodded. "Of course Hokage-sama." Anything was better than hanging around worrying.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was almost dark by the time Iruka and his guide reached Wolf Castle. A huge edifice, looming black against the lingering grey of dusk. They'd climbed a steep slope to reach it and Iruka was surprised by Yoko's stamina and agility as she easily negotiated the stony path. But then she lived here, she probably ran up and down these hills several times a day.

Every detail of the castle spoke of great age and great wealth. Iruka was led through a gateway in massive stone walls that enclosed an elaborate formal garden. Past its best now, so late in the season, but still impressive. The inner wall had a small doorway cut into it. The warrior in Iruka couldn't help but think it a shame to spoil such a perfect fortress, but then they lived in a different world to the one the castle had been built for. He could hear the hum of a generator, but no lights had been turned on to brighten the gloom inside.

"It's late and you've had a long journey." Yoko said. "I'll arrange for some food to be brought up to your room and you can meet my father tomorrow."

"Your father! You mean that you're the princess?"

Iruka looked so delightfully confused that she couldn't help laughing at him. "Yes. My full name is Ookami Yoko and I can look a lot more regal when I need to."

He blushed hotly and scratched his head to cover his embarrassment. "I'm sorry I didn't mean… I was just expecting someone much younger."

She looked at him knowingly. "You think I don't look as if I need a shinobi bodyguard."

Iruka's cheeks flushed scarlet. "I would never suggest… that is a beautiful young lady like you should never travel so far alone."

The man was perceptive, and refreshingly honest, she glowed at the compliment.

While they were talking she led him up some stone steps and opened a paneled door, then flipped on a light. He'd never been anywhere so fine. The room was the epitome of elegance, from the ancient scroll paintings on the walls, to the delicate hand painted screen and the silk covered bed behind it.

"This is much too good for a tutor."

The young woman bowed. "You'll find we treat our guests well. We try to make them happier here than they would be at home." She covered her mouth and giggled sweetly. "Sometimes I suspect that my father secretly hopes they'll never leave."

"But I'm not really here as a guest, and we'll be leaving here tomorrow right?"

"Yes tomorrow, early. And everyone who visits Wolf Island is an honoured guest."

Closing the door behind her she continued along the hallway, now dimly lit by the light shining through the panels. A light came on behind another paneled wall. She slid the door open and entered. The elderly man was lying on a small bed on the far side of the room.

He raised himself onto one elbow. "More blood already?"

She nodded. "He's strong, I'll need more power. He almost saw through me on the way up here."

Iruka heard a gentle tap on his door and two servants entered, one carrying a low table and the other a tray of food. They set down the table, arranged the bowls on it, bowed and then left without a word. The food smelled good but he had little appetite, despite walking all day. There was something depressing about this castle, an air of ancient gloom and old ghosts, as if it knew horrible secrets that were best left untold. He ate a little rice and drank some tea then sat on the deep stone sill and watched the stars gathering in the night sky. He wondered if Kakashi was home yet and whether he was looking at the same stars. Had he thought of him at all? Somehow he missed him even more than when he was in Konoha, and he wouldn't have believed that possible.

The waves pounded against the rocks in the distance. That was something Kakashi couldn't share, the sound of the sea. The sea that linked this island to the continent and the sea that separated him from the ones he loved.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Kakashi found Iruka's note inside Icha Icha, lying on his pillow. He smiled, the man knew him altogether too well. Knew that as soon as he got home he'd want to lie in bed and read some smut. Or at least without Iruka there, that's what he'd settle for. Such a sweet note too. Trying to be stiff and businesslike but dripping with sloppy sentimentality. He folded it small and tucked it into an inside pocket in his jacket. Now food, then sleep. He had an early start tomorrow.

But sleep didn't come easily. It was years since he'd come home to an empty house and he missed Iruka, the aching need for him forming a hollow inside his chest. Much more than just the sex, although it had been three weeks, and he missed that a lot. The welcome home, God I've missed you, I'm so glad you're safe, let's fuck like demented rabbits until we both collapse from exhaustion, kind of sex that he had learned to anticipate.

He climbed into Iruka's side of the bed. It had been neatly made but the sheets were a little rumpled, used, whereas his side was unappealingly smooth and untouched. No it wasn't just the sex. He missed the man simply being there, with his smell, his weight, the rhythm of his breathing, the warmth radiating from his body. Iruka's sweet musky scent surrounded him as he pulled the sheets up to his face and he inhaled deeply, sucking in the lingering trace of his absent lover.

It made him relax, well most of him. One part was reacting in a very different way, a way that was impossible to ignore. He reached down and smoothed his hand along its increasing length. In his imagination the hand was darker, less narrow, with quick nimble fingers. God how he missed him, he hoped he was safe. The muscles across his groin and belly tightened and he groaned in response. He'd make a mess but he'd change the sheets in the morning, before he left. Closing his eyes he increased the pace tantalisingly slowly, stroking softly, gently, the way Iruka did.

It wasn't enough, but for now it was all he had.