Naruto does not belong to me (however I SO wish it did).
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"I'm going out," he muttered, exiting the apartment before his friend could respond.
"You always do, Kakashi," Iruka muttered, shaking his head slightly, continuing to stare at his folded hands placed in his lap. It's been this way for a while, they'd come home from their jobs, they would eat, they would sit in silence, then Kakashi would 'go out'. Iruka never asked him where he went, but trusted people generally, so he figured he could give Kakashi the same courtesy. Iruka cared so much for him, more than friends, and these feelings have been expressed, but whenever Iruka tried to be bold, Kakashi would shrug it out. "Am I being used?" Iruka asked himself, quickly throwing away the idea while rising from the couch to go to sleep.
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"To Konoha!" Genma shouted, raising his glass.
"Konoha," Kakashi slightly raised his drink before swallowing it in one gulp.
"Come on, Kakashi, loosen up. I've been your friend for…well, I'm too drunk to count, but we've been friends for a while and I think you need to cheer up," Genma added, eyeing his friend.
Kakashi nodded.
"I know that, what's wrong?" Genma pursued his curiosity, turning to face the fellow ninja.
"There's this… girl," Kakashi started, emphasizing the word.
"…And?" Genma continued.
"We like each other…at least I think so. But I think whatever feelings we have for each other have been buried," Kakashi shook his head softly.
"Maybe you're growing apart or something," Genma shrugged, "If the love ain't there, then what kind of relationship is that?"
"Maybe you're right," Kakashi's voice softened, his gaze turning to the bar counter. The next few hours consisted of incessant drinking until Kakashi was tired enough to go home.
--
Kakashi unlocked the door and entered the apartment to no longer see Iruka waiting on the couch. He shrugged, knowing that this would happen. "Iruka…" Kakashi breathed out, "We need to talk." He felt his whole body shutter.
Iruka's instincts had him pay attention to all noise and Kakashi's voice was no exception. Frowning, the dolphin slowly rose from the bed, stumbling out into the kitchen to find Kakashi perched upon a bench.
"What's on your mind, Kakashi?" Iruka asked, stretching himself awake, his eyelids fluttering gently. Kakashi felt his heart break at the sight.
"I-um…nothing," Kakashi smiled under his mask, "I just wanted to say good night. Sorry for waking you."
"Oh," Iruka yawned, slowly leaving the kitched before muttering what sounded like 'good night'.
"God, what's wrong with me?" Kakashi whispered to himself, placing a gloved hand over his eyes in shame. "I can't do this to Iruka after he's been nice enough to let me live here." He slowly stumbled onto the couch, slumping down into a deep, drunken sleep.
And so, it continued, they'd go to work, they'd come home and eat, they'd sit and silence, and then Kakashi would leave. As always, it was a lonely life, but it was accommodating to their busy and unsure lifestyles.
"Kakashi, I'm telling you, you've got to get a girlfriend," Kurenai said, slapping her hand on Kakashi's back.
"Hn?" Kakashi slowly woke from his drunken daydream.
"I must be seeing you at this bar every night for the past, what's it been, four weeks?" she responded, shaking her head, "You seriously need to get a girlfriend."
"I…" Kakashi began, not quite sure how to respond.
"Listen, if you don't have anyone in mind…" Kurenai began, her eyes squinting. It was all a blur in Kakashi's eyes before he storming into his apartment, his lips pressed against hers.
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Sorry, there was a lot of talking in this one so the paragraphs aren't that long. HOWEVER, the next one will be longer so add this to your favourites or something so then you can be like "OH MY GOSH…she updates fast!"