A/N: lol okay last night I seriously thought this chapter sucked...well its not the best but it does work.

Anyways as it stands Iruka, Kakashi, and Raidou are at the estate still. Genma and Akane are elsewhere.

We also know that it was Kakashi who found the mask in her room. Just who does he think she is? Well that one is unanaswered, but at least we know where the mask went off to.

Anyways slowly this story will feature Iruka less and Kakashi more...At the moment though Iruka's role is a little more important.

Anyways review please or email me...I really really want to know what you think...and feel free to tell me what you think will happen.

Chapter 17: Sudden Panic

Walking through the house Iruka looked into the room they had placed Kakashi in earlier. He was making a final round through the house to make sure nothing was left behind. The chances of them returning were slim and he wanted to avoid it. The less time they spent at the estate the better for Akane and her family.

At the moment Kakashi was outside talking with Raidou. They had all gathered their gear for the mission. Of course Kakashi had far less to worry about than the rest of them. He had to admit the jounin still seemed comfortable even if all his supplies were gone along with half his weapons. It seemed as though nothing could faze him.

Raidou had agreed to stay behind as backup. It seemed to be the man's favorite role. Iruka smirked. It gave him more time to relax, he guessed. Raidou loved to be relaxed and he loved to plan and scheme. Reading was another pass time he enjoyed. Iruka wasn't sure how long the man spent reading but he was sure he read just about every scroll the family owned, which posed a risk. Raidou could learn more than Iruka cared for about their host family.

Kakashi on the other hand was more dangerous. He seemed to be interested in Akane even more now. At the moment Iruka was sure he was asking Raidou what he found out about her. Kakashi learning a few of her secrets could be very bad and deadly.

Looking around the room he saw a few things had been moved. He knew the older man was snooping. This room was proof enough. However the amount of things moved around was so minimal, just a few books and scrolls were moved.

Looking closer though he saw one scroll in particular that was unraveled and nestled next to it was the salad bowl.

"He must have forgotten; he's so lazy…Hmm?" Looking closer he saw what the scroll was.

Why did Kaji have this? It's just an old legend…

Reading the first few lines and skipping to the end Iruka felt all the blood drain from his face.

If Kaji found this…and Kakashi was looking at it…

As he reached for it he felt there was something underneath it. Pulling the scroll up carefully he came face to face with a battered old ivory bird mask. The very same mask he had seen his best friend receive the first day she had joined ANBU.

"SHIT!" He winced. He wasn't meaning to scream it so loudly.

I need to warn her and now. He knows something…Wait why does he associate this with the scroll? Or does he?

Lifting the scroll and looking at the back Iruka realized why.

No no no no. I have to go now. No wait that would make things worse. I need to send a summon now. He thought as he frantically paced in the small room. He made his decison quickly.

Racing out of the room and skidding into the kitchen Iruka found a small sheet of paper and wrote a message quickly as his hand would allow him to.

The sight before Kakashi left him more confused than the whole mission was makig him feel. There in the kitchen was Iruka frantically writing on a small piece of paper as if his life depended on it.

What is he up to now? Why is there something so urgent he has to be like this.

Stepping into the kitchen Kakashi watched more closely. He had to ask, it was bugging him too mcuh

"Iruka-san…What are you doing?"

"No time…" The chuunin mummbled incoheretly as he continued his writing.

"I can tell." Kakashi crossed his arms and watched. Some how the chuunin was able to keep his writing clear; but he was to far away to read what the smaller man was writing

No time for what? What is it that he has no time for. It's not like anything has happened...unless...

Seeing Iruka like this was nothing new. The chuunin was frantic most of the time. This however was something else. Kakashi could also see the worry and concern passing over the chuunin's face mixed along with fear and anxiety. He was basically a wreck.

Kakashi watched as Iruka lifted the pen for a moment. His hands were shaking badly and the pen nearly fell once out of his hand.

"Can you slow down? I'm sure you can write better calm." Kakashi asked as he moved closer only to have Iruka move further away.

"No!" Iruka continued his frantic writing. How he managed to fit all what he wanted on that paper perplexed the jounin.

Moving yet even closer Kakashi tried not to laugh, as Iruka lost any counter space he had and dropped the paper. Kakashi moved as quickly as he could but the chuunin was faster.

Iruka's behavior was starting to grate on Kakashi's nerves.

What the hell are you hiding that I can't see?…It must have something to do with Akane. Somethi...wait a minute...the mask maybe? Damn I left is behind in the room...he must have seen it.

"Can I see that?"

"No…n..no you can't." Iruka shook his head violently and tried to finish what he was writing. Needless to say Kakashi was getting upset.

I hate this game. He's a teammate and he's hiding something important from me. Why would he do this?

Moving closer again, Iruka pulled away from the table placed the pen down and left the kitchen, out the door Kakashi had entered earlier to watch the chuunin…go crazy.

He tells me jounin are crazy and yet he acts like someone who should be locked up.

Following Iruka, Kakashi made a last ditch effort to get the paper. Disappearing in a puff of smoke he reappeared in front of the smaller man and snatched the small page out of his comrade's hands and held it above his head. Simply put Iruka looked as white as a sheet and rather mad.

"GIVE IT BACK!" Iruka roared. Needless to say Raidou's attention was captured by this outburst.

"Why would you not let me see this? Hmm?" The question came out rather snide, but he was mad after all. Iruka should know better than to keep secrets from him.

"I..it…I'm not telling…give it back." Iruka was now getting frustrated as he batted up at the page only to miss.

"I think not."

"Damnit Kakashi give it back." The whine in Iruka's voice was almost too much to take. Kakashi relished the sound. He made the chuunin sound like a child desperately trying to get a rather embarrassing note. Maybe there was something embarrassing in this one.

"Who is this for?" He knew full well but he wanted to hear it from Iruka's mouth.

"Kakashi!" There was that whine again.

This is just too much fun. I was running out of entertainment…this is priceless. Too bad Naruto couldn't see this…I bet this note is for Akane…we all know how much he likes her.

"I think this is to Akane-san isn't it?" Not laughing was getting harder. The more he resisted the urge the more he wanted to. The situation was just painfully hilarious. There he was standing holding the page above his head as Iruka momentarily tried to take it…of course the younger man was shorter and couldn't get it no matter what he did. Kakashi was surprised he hadn't really thought of using jutsu to get it back, either way this just made it all the more fun.

"So what if it was?" Iruka now crossed his arms and pouted. It looked like the man was made to pout.

"Well I think that would be interesting…is it a love letter?"

"Get your head out of the gutter…now give it back." Saying this Iruka flung his arms out in frustration. Kakashi laughed. This was getting better and better.

He's in denial. I can see him being the type to write such a letter, he's like that. To see what's on this paper could make up for all this hell I've been put through.

"No I want to read it." Kakashi now laughed. Iruka shot him a rather nasty glare and snorted.

"You're just doing this because you don't have your book." Again he crossed his arms and made a pout.

Huh? He doesn't know about the book…I never told him…did Genma maybe…no he wouldn't know, I normally put it in my hip pouch…and I had placed it in my bag that night when he was gone.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed dangerously. Somehow he was starting to understand. Akane was a playful personality, so was the ANBU. He could also tell from the sounds of their voices, they had to same voice. How he hadn't thought of the mask muffling the inflections she used and the sharper tones was a mystery.

"Where is it?"

"I don't have it…nor do I know where it is." Iruka's voice was now become sharper as he tried to avoid the accusation.

"Iruka!" The lack of honorific didn't escape the shorter man neither did the sound of the paper being wrenched open violently.

As Kakashi's eyes roved over the characters he kept an eye on Iruka and his behavior. Sure enough all it was, was a small list of supplies Iruka would need and couldn't get on his own…still the writing was strange. Memorizing the writing was simple. He'd have to think on it later.

"Here." He handed Iruka the note and at the same time he felt defeated. He knew some how there was something else going on, but still he was in the dark.

If it were supplies he would have been calm…there's some hidden meaning in those words. I'll have to figure it out soon.

"Thank you." Iruka snatched the page rather violently and stomped off down the path. The anger in his stance and even the flare in his chakra were hard to miss.

His heart pounded loudly in his ears as he made a sigh of relief. He was so close to being discovered. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. As it stands he was hiding Akane's identity, a score of her secrets, and to top all that, his own identity. It didn't seem to be a lot but these were serious secrets. Secrets he would take with him to the grave.

Kakashi was a dangerous man in his opinion. Sure he may look unreliable and even absent minded, but Iruka knew better. From the day he first met the man he was worried about being found out. Kakashi was a jounin but not only that he was one of the few to attain such a rank at the youngest age possible. This meant a lot, not only was he smart, he was cunning and strong. Iruka knew he could stand no chance in a fight against Kakashi, at least not on even terms.

Iruka was not going to let him know who he really was.

I screwed up. I admit it, how the hell can I fix this? It won't fix itself that's for sure. I should have planned this mission out more. I should have come up with a better plan to keep him away from here and Akane.

"Kuchiyose no jutsu" (summoning technique). Iruka murrmered as he slammed his palm to the gorund.

In a puff of smoke a large brown hawk appeared.

"It's been a while!" The hawk seemed to wink. "I was wondering if you forgot how to summon us."

"Ha ha…no I was just very busy. Please don't take offense." Iruka smiled. He loved his summons, as long as he was kind to them, they were kind to him. This summon in particular was his favorite. The hawk was a dark brown with black speckles over it's wings. He liked him the most for his intelligence and perception. If a job had to be done Iruka could count on him to get it done fast and correctly.

"I need you to fly as fast as you can to Akane-san. Is there someone listening?"

"I do not snese anyone, nor do I see anyone."

"Good take this…it's not the message. I want you to tell Akane-san that Hatake knows who she is and that she is to exercise caution when she meets up with us. I'm suspecting he's got a plan already."

"I'm surprised you managed to get that all out in one breath." The hawk bobbed it's head imiatting the motion of laughter.

"Hey!"

"I'm kidding…Of course I will inform her. Do you want me to watch over her?"

"If that isn't too much. I'm sure she can watch herself but I'd rather have the extra precaution."

Yes the more people looking after her the better. She's no match for Kakashi, he could easily kill her, if that's even what he wants to do.

"Understandable."

"Good. Thank you."

"It is a pleasant surprise to see you again Iruka-kun…I hope the next time you summon me it will be under less urgent circumstances, I miss our conversations."

"Of course. I'd love to…but right now I need you to warn her and watch her, but don't let her know you're still there."

"That may be very difficult…with Katon…" If a hawk could look worried this one did a good job of it.

"He'll understand…I'm sure he wont alert her. I'm suspecting he knows more than we do. I just wish he'd share." Iruka sighed. Katon never shared much information. What he did share was usually only between he and Akane...no one ever knows what he tells her.

"Is there anything else?"

"Not now but if there is a problem come get me. I have a bad feeling about this whole mission."

"Alright. I will tell her and keep watch." HTe hawk made a final bow and turned to leave. "Make sure you live, Iruka-kun...We have a lot to discuss." With thos final words he took off with a flurry of feathers.

Iruka smiled as he watched the bird enter a thirmal and spiral to a higher altitude before flying to his destination. With his summon out there he knew she would be safe.

"So what are we doing again.?" Genma whined. He hated to just sit around, and right now that was what they were doing. If he really wanted to sit around all day he'd go home and do it there.

"Nothing really." Akane just simply answered with a sly smile. how much he hated and loved the see that smile. It usually meant she was up to soemthing.

Genma stared. However there was something else going on. She was doing nothing. Planning something meant action, some type of activity...not sitting by the waterfall.

She's lost it. I knew she was crazy but this is a little much.

"Okay so we came out here to this particular spot with your ANBU teams to sit around and enjoy the view." Sometimes Akane was capable of the most unexpected actions. This one took the cake.

"Yep. Isn't it nice." She said in a hushed voice and smiled. He resisted the urge to hit her over the head and tell her to get it together.

"Yes it is nice falling water…there's a real reason we're here isn't there?"

"Yep!"

"Oh? Do tell me, or I'm going back to where I can eat a real meal."

"I needed to get out and away from your friend." She now frowned. Was he that bad?

"Hatake?"

"Yeah him. He's a nice guy but he's to smart and I can't seem to hide much."

Heh that's a good description of him. He's the most nosy person in the village.

"I know. He likes to know as much as he can about the people around him. I think he feels safer that way."

"Well him feeling safe would put me in danger…from him."

Genma turned to face her. She had long since take off the armor and arm guards. She had been watching the water fall but now he saw she was more conent with watching her feet. She seemed to be happy, but he knew her too well. She was still deep in thought and his chattering wasn't helping her.

"Look I don't think he'd kill you. You hadn't done anything to him to deserve that fate."

Well I can't sa that's entirely true either but seriously he wouldn't do that. There's no way he'd hurt her for no reason.

"True. But what I saw that day he escaped from Nariko was scary. He's powerful even when his chakra is half what it usually is. In his state he shouldn't have been able to perform a water style jutsu like he did."

"Ahhh you see he's been a jounin for a long time, longer than you and me. He's learned how to use his chakra in ways we have yet to learn…well me anyways. I know you're ahead but he's still leagues ahead of you there. All you need to do is use that speed of yours and you can win, if it cmes down to a fight. He wouldn't know what hit him. Better yet you could use that crazy jutsu you and Iruka had developed, he wouldn't know what to do for that either."

"You're optimism amazes me." Akane sighed and stood streaching stiff muscles in the process.

She's so worried about him attacking her. I wouldn't blame her, I'd be paranoid too.

"Well then right now we should get some food and rest. Tonight is when they move." Akane sighed. She seemed to have so much on her shulders no. Normally she'd be off with her teams training along side them and having a good time of it. This was something entirely different. She was strained and worried.

"Why so late?"

"It's a bit safer here. The infected shinobi can't see to well in the dark, so moving then is best if we want to avoid trouble. I suspect it won't go as planned since…" Akane stopped talking and spun on her heel and glared into the trees.

"What is it?"

She still does that. Her senses are so honed I can never sense things as quickly as she can.

"Eh it's nothing, probably a squirrel." she shrugged and moved towards the tree line none-the-less.

"Ha ha well we all know how they feel about us taking their stash…Why do you want those nuts anyways."

"Oh they're a distraction, you'll see. I just hope not to need to use it." How she planned to use a bunch of acorns was beyond him. It seemed foolish. Still her teams did as told and each man picked up at least a handful and placed them in thier hip pouches.

"Oh for a trap then?"

"Possibly, I haven't decided yet."

Hasn't decided? Damn it girl..get a grip.

"Well I guess we should get them to stop sparring before they comepletely tire themselves out."

"Ha ha them get tired?" Akane seemed confused by his comment.

"I know…I have no clue how you did it, but those two teams have as much energy as you do."

"May I remind you one isn't mine." She was refering to one of the teams. They had this discussion countless times.

"Ahhh but you see you still command the captain." It was true she was incharge of one team but also the other team and it's leader. Genma wasn't to sure why it was like that but it seemed to work out well enough. Not a single man or woman from each team has died yet and they'd been a team for at least nine or ten years. The funny thing was his comment was not about the teams but rather the other leader and she did not miss it.

"Genma!" Deciding it was best to escape Gema tried his best to get away as fast as he could. Sadly Akane was faster and body checked him into the lake.

Water engulfed him in seconds soakig his clothes and leaving him somewhat miserable, but it was coming to him and he did deserve it.

Damn she's fast I should have been more careful.

Laughing she helped him out.

Before he could retaliate by throwing her in a loud screech tore the air.

"Damn, now what?"

There goes my plan to relax before I have to face them.

She watched as a large hawk flew down at her with amazing speed. Reaching her arm out she allowed him to land.

This is not a good sign. Iruka had used this particular summon and it looked as though he was in a hurry.

"What is it?" She snapped.

Bowing his head the large bird of prey gave her the slip of paper.

"Ahh I have all this already." She muttered as she read the note. Cromplin g it she shoved it into a picket.

"Yes I know. Iruka-kun wants me to send you another message." The hawk eyed her with his large yellow orbs.

"Oh a verbal one neh?" She asked.

"Yes he felt it was safer to not have any evidence."

It only holds true if no one is listening. So I'm guessing he had you look.

"I bet so what's this all about?" Her nerves were already fraid and this was not helping.

"He wants you to know Hatake knows who you are. I have…"

Akane froze.

My mask…he found it…not good. I'm so screwed. There's no way in hell I can avoid him. I'm needed and I made a promise to help. Things just can't go well for me can they?

"Are you alright Akane-chan?" The hawk bent his head to check anyways.

"Ah yes thank you for telling me, was there anything else?"

"Yes. He said you have to be cautious when you meet up with the rest later. He would like you to make sure there is nothing to label you as ANBU. The hawk eyed her to make his point clear. She knew Iruka never said that but rather the bird came up with it on his own.

"And why do you say that?"

"Well obviously he knows you as jounin."

"Yes a very good guess."

The bird gave her a dirty look. "As much as I think it is amusing that you find this funny, I do know there is validity in Iruka-kun's words."

"I know and I'm sorry." Akane hung her head. She was now very worried. How was she going to hide her gear when it might be needed? She could always get one of her teammates to pretend to be her. The only problem was none could work out her personality well enough to fool someone at Kakashi's caliber. In short she was doomed to fail.

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

"Good thank you, I will do what I can."

The bird bowed his head and flew away, Leaving Akane with a lot to think about.

"Okay that was scary. So I guess he figured you out?" She wanted to scream hearing those words again. She had done all she could and even that wasn't enough to keep him from finding out about her.

"Only part of it, at least I think so." She sighed. To her this was a sick joke. She liked him. He was kind and funny and seemed to care somewhat. She knew he was a little shy about some things and others he knew nothing about. Above all she saw he knew more about being a shinobi than being a human being. How much she wanted to help him learn...now though the chances were slim she'd live trhough this. He was a jounin...and the copy ninja...not a good opponent at all. She was domed to fail, and right when what he had in his pack was starting to become useful. She still needed two more days before she can safely 'give' it back. To think she was going to use it as a trump card to get him to leave...fat chance there.

I just don't get it. Is he out to kill me for what I did to him? Or am I afraid of him for another reason. Is it possible that maybe he's the ANBU I met a long time ago? It fits, that would explain this whole situation, not to mention the person. He looks just like him, I'm stupid to not see that and the name...there was only one kid from that doomed clan. I was blind and stupid. This is all out of hand. I'm going to have to stay as is if I can defent myself properly. He'll be armed and so muct I be. This won't be a happy meeting when I join them...definately not.

A/N: This was basically to create the sense of urgency between Akane and Kakashi. However it wound up being Iruka getting franitc and Kakashi...confused...poor guy...he's so out in the dark he probably won't find his way back out of it. Akane and Iruka seem to be running circles around him. Alas that is just how they wrote themselves...still poor Kakashi I mean he just can't get a break (hee hee I'm evil)

Next chapter will have a bit more action and less of Iruka's POV...I wonder if Kakashi is really going to hurt her...? What do you think

Please review...my email looks very sad...and empty.