12. Chapter 12

**6 Months Later.**

"Tadaima," Iruka callled, he set his school bag down by the front door and started to unwrap the scarlet scarf.

"Okaerinasai," A feminine voice replied. A woman walked into the hallway with a wooden spoon in her hand, she wore a pastel pink jumper and a black skirt and a white frilly apron. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a high ponytail.

"Ino-san," Iruka greeted.

"Iruka we're getting married in 2 months so stop with the honorific," The blonde scolded, she waved her spoon about in warning.

"Sorry Ino-sa….. I mean Ino," Iruka smiled warmly. Her blue eyes locked onto the scarf and she laughed.

"You're still wearing that old scarf? It's May Iruka, what about that nice powder blue scarf I gave you?" Ino pouted.

"Sorry old habits die hard and I like my red scarf," Iruka grinned. Ino blushed and shook her head playfully, she didn't know how she would survive having a husband that was almost as cute as she was.

"You should have just taken a day off, I've made your favourites and look look!" She latched onto his hand and pulled him up the hallway. Iruka laughed at the young woman's energy.

The Elders were forcing him to marry and he knew he could do worse then Ino, she was a loud person with a loving heart and sometimes selfish but Iruka knew everyone had flaws.

'I feel like I've betrayed myself, I always said I wouldn't marry someone I didn't love but it's not like I have a choice,' Iruka thought. Ino stopped pulling and Iruka looked up, his eyes widened.

A painting of Mount Fuji was hung on the normally blank wall, to Iruka it felt wrong but he wouldn't put Ino down.

"It looks great Ino-san," Iruka praised.

"Iruka!" Ino laughed.

"Sorry. It's great Ino," Iruka corrected himself. Iruka lifted his thumb up and stuck his tongue out in a comical fashion.

"I don't know why you never put anything there, it just looked so…. Empty," Ino said sympathetically.

"I don't know either. It just never crossed my mind," Iruka said.

"Come on it's dinner time," Ino smiled, she stopped suddenly "Oh and Iruka?". She leaned in and pecked Iruka's cheek sweetly.

"Happy birthday," Ino sang. She skipped of to the kitchen and Iruka beamed happily after her.

"Thank you Ino-san," Iruka called after her.

"Iruka!" Came the angry voice from the kitchen.

Tsunade downed her sake with experienced skill, Jiraiya was out doing 'research' and she had to stay home. She didn't mind too much since she knew Ino was coming over to discuss wedding plans, the young blonde would appear with her arms filled with bridal magazines as per usual. She couldn't help thinking that the girl was even more naive then Iruka or she was just a true blonde.

"**So have you decided on a dress yet?" Tsunade asked politely.**

"**Not yet, Iruka is so indecisive that I could probably walk down the aisle in a bin bag and he would think I was beautiful. He's too kind to me," Ino sighed. **

"**Yes Iruka-san is a genuinely compassionate person and unfortunately he is a dying breed in this world," Tsunade said dreamily, Ino looked confused but shrugged the strange statement off. **

"**So how are things between you two? You know…. Affection and etceteras," Tsunade nudged the teenager. Ino blushed and looked away with a tired sigh.**

"**Nothing. Iruka is such a gentleman, he says he wants to wait till after we're married. He's old fashioned but I know he would never take advantage of me like some others," Ino's tone was sharp. Her ex-boyfriend Chouji was unreliable and always but his job at the bakery before her, she didn't want a boyfriend who didn't pay her any attention. She was a beautiful 19 year old woman who could get anyone, she jumped at the chance to be married to Iruka. Her father was one of the elders of their village and one word from him and the deal was sealed. Iruka was reliable and caring and just a teacher so he would have plenty of time for her and he had good skills with kids.**

"**Hm that's so like Iruka, so moral and fair," Tsunade said quietly. She had suspected that the potion wouldn't erase everything, subconsciously he still didn't seek the touch of a woman. **

'**At least he's moving on,' Tsunade told herself.**

Tsunade poured herself some more sake, she could never have dreamed how well Iruka adjusted back to his life after he took the potion. She thought there would be a struggle but Iruka was compliant to a new life. He couldn't remember the old one he could have had with the playboy prince.

**Tsunade and Jiraiya had been knocking on the front door for a long time, her heart feared that Iruka was in trouble. He had only just returned and she knew the memories were plaguing him. Jiraiya rattled the front door and found it locked, he glanced around suspiciously and then sent a pulse of chakra into the door. Tsunade glared at him, there was no fog so they didn't have as much cover. It slid open easily and they rushed inside, terrified that Iruka had done something stupid. **

**On the living room floor lay an unconscious Iruka, still dressed in his work wear with his long hair fanned out around him. **

"**Iruka! Are you okay? Iruka!" Tsunade panicked. She kneeled down beside him and checked his pulse, it was still strong and his breathing seemed undisturbed. **

"**He seems okay but I don't know wh…." Tsunade stopped, her eyes fell on Iruka's open hand. Jiraiya frowned and he placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder.**

"**Hime are you okay?" He asked. **

"**Look at his hand Jiraiya," Tsunade said clearly, the guardian looked at Iruka's palm and his face grew grave. In Iruka's hand was a empty glass vial with a few small droplets of purple clinging to the rim. Tsunade plucked it from his hand and held it up to the light.**

"**He drank it. He drank it!" Tsunade squealed. She wasn't sure if it was in happiness or anger. She didn't want to manipulate Iruka, she was outnumbered by the other kages but she was relieved that it had all ended well.**

"**He has chosen his path," Jiraiya said seriously. They watched the brunette fondly, he was like a son to them and they were glad he would finally be happy.**

"**Come on! Get him into bed and I'll get rid of the bottle, he has to believe he has had flu for the past month and that's the reason he can't remember it," Tsunade clapped her hands.**

Tsunade brought the sake cup to her lips and was about to drink it when she heard a thump. She slammed the cup down on the table with a scowl, she didn't like getting interrupted while she drank and she wasn't expecting Ino for another 10 minutes.

There were a few consecutive thumps but they didn't sound like knocking, more like someone trying to escape a cloth prison. Amber eyes snapped to a nearby shelf, a blue package jittered and the thumps grew more urgent.

"I'm drinking," Tsunade threatened but the thumps continued. It leapt across the room and landed on the table in front of the Kage knocking over her cup. Tsunade glared demonically down at the bundle but it didn't react.

"This better be important," She snapped. She pulled the knot apart and spread the material out. The top three cards on the pile had been turned over so their pictures were face up.

"How curious," Tsunade commented, she reached a hand out and felt something cold brush her ankle. She took a deep breath and looked to her side.

"Tonton! You scared me half to death! What kind of Familiar does that?" She scolded the pig. Tonton squealed and backed away, Tsunade rolled her eyes and got a sappy look on her face.

"It's okay, I'm busy right now with something I think is important. Let's play later," Tsunade scratched the pig between it's ears. TonTon squealed happily and galloped out the room. Tsunade shook her head and inhaled deeply, the serious and mysterious atmosphere returned. She picked up the top three cards and spread them out.

"What are you trying to tell me?" Tsunade sang childishly.

"The High Priestess what do you stand for Oh wise one? Wisdom, learning, intuition, virtue, purity, lack of patience, a teacher…." Tsunade listed. A cat like smile appeared on her unusually young face.

"Iruka? What could be happening?" She asked herself. It was one of her guilty secrets, she enjoyed voicing her thoughts aloud and talking to herself. It helped her get things in perspective, Jiraiya would laugh his head off if he ever found out.

"The Sun card, how appropriate. Satisfaction, love, joy, an engagement or a happy wedding," Tsunade cooed.

"But what are you doing here Emperor? A capable person, leadership, wealth, confidence, a father/brother/husband card," Tsunade clicked her teeth and she tapped the card.

"Am I being warned to stop the emperor?….. Or am I meant to help him?" She asked. She packed all the cards away but left the three new cards out, she wrapped up the others and sat them back on their shelf.

"Iruka? Iruka?" Ino waved a hand in front of Iruka's face.

"Huh? Sorry Ino I was daydreaming," Iruka smiled. She picked up the empty dishes and took them over to the sink.

"I noticed," She grinned. She looked up and out of the window over the wink but she couldn't see anything.

"Iruka? Look at this fog? That wasn't there before, this freak weather is really weird. My cousin said it snowed in August where she lives. But this fog looks really thick, I might have to borrow your blue scarf when I go see Tsunade-hime," Ino conversed. Iruka's eyes were drawn to the pure white window, he couldn't remember a time when it was so foggy.

"It hasn't been this foggy since before I had the flu," Iruka remembered.

"Aww I wish I was there. I could have practised my nursing skills but Tsunade-hime did a good job. People can die of flu you know," Ino said.

"I thought I was meant to come to Tsunade-hime's with you?" Iruka scratched his scar.

"Yeah but you hate those wedding planning meetings and it's your birthday so I'll let you miss this one," She winked.

"Aww you spoil me Ino," Iruka smiled.

"Don't I? I just need to get a few things ready, get changed and I'll be off," She said. Iruka stood up and undid his hair, he walked over to Ino and hugged her from behind.

"Thanks for dinner Ino, it was delicious," Iruka complimented, the woman blushed lightly and nodded.

"It's fine Iruka. What are you going to do with your free time while I'm gone?" She asked.

"Probably do some marking,"

"Bo~ring! Remind me to take you clubbing some time and don't even start with that 'I'm too old' stuff. You're 24 and smokin' hot," Ino said. Iruka blushed and scratched his scar shyly.

"Thanks Ino but I'll stick to my piles of paperwork and my favourite red pen," Iruka said walking into his study.

The elder opened her front door and a wave of cold air hit her, the fog wasn't just dense it was freezing as well. She slipped on her shoes and walked into the blanket of white, she put her faith in her other Kages and Guardians to watch over her when she couldn't see. She walked in the direction of Iruka's house, her eyes squinting to make out figures of trees and houses. She hadn't walked more then 30 steps when she bumped into a tall figure.

"Sorry," Tsunade apologised. She took in every detail of the man in front of her, she knew every person in Konoha but she had never seen the strange man before. He wore comfy black trainers and simple blue jeans that accentuated his long legs. Tsunade's gaze crawled slowly up the man, something deep down told her to be wary. He didn't wear a scarf or jacket, he wore a black turtleneck jumper with the collar rolled right up to cover half of the man's face. A serious blue eye stared at the blonde and Tsunade could just make out the scar over his other eye. His hair was a light silver and slightly limp from the moisture in the air.

"Tsunade-hime," Kakashi greeted.

"Prince Kakashi. What the hell are you doing here?" Tsunade growled.

"You already know why. I know the truth," Kakashi said.

"The truth? And what might that be?" Tsunade played dumb.

"You forced him to leave, you played on his kind nature and forced him to return. I don't know why did you did it…. Whether your motives were selfless or selfish…But I'm telling him the truth and I'm taking him back to the castle," Kakashi said sharply. Tsunade had forgotten the temperature around her as her face heated up in anger.

"Selfless! I only want him to be happy,"

"And he couldn't have been happy with me?"

"No, the few times he called me through the mirror…. I've never seen him or heard him so happy since before Kyuubi attacked. I was outvoted, Iruka had to return home. It was the best for both of you," Tsunade reasoned but Kakashi shook his head.

"I already know you care about Iruka but to be perfectly honest," Kakashi looked at the house in front of him "It's not you I want to talk to,". Kakashi stepped forward but Tsunade grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"You can't! You'll ruin everything," Tsunade panicked.

"You ruined everything! When you stole him away from me," Kakashi retaliated.

"…. He's in there with his fiancee, they're getting married in 2 months. Are you going to be selfish? Selfish enough to break apart what they have?" Tsunade clenched her fists at her side. She wanted to punch the man into oblivion but then the mission would have failed.

"Yes. I am selfish. I'm a selfish, vain, lying, lazy, spoilt prince but since I met Iruka…. Take my crown, take my life but I won't let you take Iruka," Kakashi declared. The woman could see the mix of determination and desperation in the prince's eye.

"His fiancee is leaving for my house soon, if you're going to see him it has to be then," Tsunade gave in.

"Keep her busy," Kakashi ordered. Tsunade glared angrily at the tall man and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'll do whatever I please. I'm going to keep my ear out for the doctor and a policeman to turn up and drag you away. What are you going to say? 'Oh hey Iruka by the way you came through a magical mirror into a world where only men exist, your dead uncle is alive and has a family and I'm a prince and I want to be with you'," Tsunade mocked.

"I don't see why not. He has to know the truth,"

"He can't handle the truth,"

"He's strong and deep down…. Even if he doesn't remember me, he deserves to know about the professor," Kakashi said. Tsunade studied the prince carefully before nodding, she opened her mouth to talk but they were interrupted by the sound of a door opening.

"I'm leaving for Tsunade-hime's now," Ino shouted into the house. Iruka scrambled out the bathroom, he had gone for a bath and lost track of time. He dried himself and slipped into a blue yukata, Tsunade and Jiraiya had given it to him as a birthday gift. When Ino saw the outfit she giggled with glee and started mumbling something about how hot Iruka would look in it. Iruka peeked his head out of the door and saw Ino waiting for a response.

"Okay, see you soon Ino-san," Iruka smiled. The blonde puffed out her cheeks and put both hands on her thin hips.

"Iruka! Stop with the 'san'," She giggled. She blew him a kiss, picked up some bridal magazines and shut the door behind her. The teenager skipped happily through the fog towards Tsunade's house completely unaware that she was being watched.

"I'll go meet her but I can't guarantee anything Heika. If Iruka-san doesn't want to remember then you can't make him, if he says no…" Tsunade trailed off ominously.

"I would never force Iruka," Kakashi reassured. Tsunade nodded stiffly and turned around, she walked towards her house and tried to intercept Ino. She didn't know what would happen when Kakashi eventually gathered the courage to knock on Iruka's door but she hoped the mission would have it's optimal outcome.

Iruka secured the red obi around his waist a few times with a huff, it was much easier to tie with two people instead of one. He managed to tie it rather sloppily at the small of his back. Even if it was a pain to get on alone, Iruka loved the yukata. It was made of pure silk in a beautiful royal blue colour with golden patterns along the bottom. Iruka had tried to give it back to the elders but they wouldn't hear of it.

"_This is a very special gift and I want you to treasure it," Tsunade had said with an almost sad tone._

**Knock Knock**

'I wonder what she's forgot this time,' Iruka shook his head. He walked gracefully (as he could in the kimono) into the hallway and towards the front door. Butterflies formed in his stomach as the sturdy wooden door got closer and closer.

'What's the matter with me?' Iruka asked himself. Iruka pushed the feeling away and placed his hands on the doorhandle, he took a breath and smiled as he opened the door. The smile disappeared and a confused frown replaced it when he discovered it wasn't his fiancee at the door.

"Iruka," Kakashi breathed. It was a great feeling to see the teacher again after so long but he never expected to see him wearing that kimono. The same kimono Kakashi had dressed him in on the first day he had brought the brunette to Konoha. It was so overwhelming to see all these things, that he didn't bother to question how Iruka had the kimono.

"Wh….?" Kakashi placed a hand over Iruka's mouth to silence him.

'Please don't ask me who I am, let me pretend that you know me, love me,' Kakashi begged in his head. Kakashi walked Iruka backwards so he could shut and lock the front door behind him. Keeping his hand across Iruka's mouth Kakashi lifted up his other hand to caress the long hair. Iruka's eyes were wide in shock, his arms hung limply at his side and trembled occasionally.

"Don't be scared. I know this will sound completely insane but you have to listen to me. There was a mirror that was a portal to another world, I'm from that world. I'm prince of that world and you were there from October 1st to October 31st. You're uncle Mashimizu is there with his husband and his son, he's alive. I know what Kyuubi did…. How could I know unless you told me?" Kakashi raved. Iruka wiggled out of Kakashi's grip and withdrew slowly.

"Listen to me Iruka, you went there and studied all the strange things about my world. It was your research that helped me find you, helped me find the truth. Iruka we were in the castle and Kyuubi came and they forced you to leave me. You don't remember because you took a potion, Iruka try to remember," Kakashi pleaded. Iruka continued to back away from the prince until he could gather himself.

"But… that's…. How…." Iruka babbled.

"We were together Iruka," Iruka stopped freaking out and stared at the silver haired man. Kakashi pulled down his collar so Iruka could see his face, hoping it would trigger a memory.

"No…. We should have been together. The Kages, these celestial beings decided to split us apart but I won't let them…" Kakashi persisted. Iruka took a deep breath and turned on his heel, he ran down the hallway and Kakashi followed after him.

'I don't blame him for running, there is no way I could have told the truth without sounding like a nutcase,' Kakashi thought as he followed Iruka through the house. The brunette turned into the kitchen and started rooting through the cupboards and drawers. Kakashi leaned against the doorframe and sighed sadly.

'For a kunai no doubt,' Kakashi thought darkly. Part of him wanted to just leave and let Iruka get on with his life but his heart shot down that idea quickly.

"Try to remember Iruka," Kakashi said. Iruka's hand encircled what he was looking for and he held it tightly, getting ready to throw it at the prince.

"Remember? Remember? I can't remember what I didn't forget!" Iruka shouted. Kakashi looked at the heaving brunette, he was trying to calm his racing heart and the prince tried to figure out what he meant.

"What do you mean?" Kakashi implored.

"**A dolphin never forgets**," Iruka whispered. Kakashi's breath hitched at the familiar words, Iruka threw something over his shoulder and Kakashi caught it easily. Kakashi looked down at the short fat bottle full of dark purple black liquid.

'This is the blood,' Kakashi thought.

"I didn't want to forget…." Iruka's voice faltered. Iruka turned around and leaned back against the counter, tears filled his eyes. Kakashi felt like he was nailed to the ground, waiting in burning anticipation.

"I didn't want to forget you Kakashi," Iruka confessed.

Hands, lips, tongues, warmth, need,

The only thing wrong with the intense make out session Iruka was in was that his tailbone was being pressed uncomfortably against the kitchen counter. Iruka disentangled his fingers from Kakashi's hair and slid them down to his strong shoulders, he used his last bit of strength to push the prince away.

"D-don't…. We need t-to..._hah_…._hah_…. Talk," Iruka panted and Kakashi pressed his forehead against the brunette's.

"You want...t-to talk?" Kakashi asked incredulously and Iruka whined.

"Of course I don't want to talk but we _need_ to," Iruka composed himself.

'Don't stop, a few more kisses and we can change his mind,' Kakashi's inner pervert said.

'Nope Iruka wants to talk and after 6 months without him I'm willing to listen,' Kakashi thought seriously. He kissed Iruka chastely a few times and kneaded the soft skin of the tanned thigh before letting his hands drop.

"Do you want some tea?" Iruka asked politely and Kakashi sighed.

"You know what I want," Kakashi purred, Iruka blushed scarlet and cleared his throat.

"Pervert, you don't change. I meant do you want something to drink…. Wait…. Shut up I didn't mean it like that," Iruka said but Kakashi still grinned.

"I'm fine without tea, let's talk," Kakashi smiled. The couple sat opposite each other at the table in the living room and Iruka tried to think where to begin.

"How the hell did you get here? I broke the mirror," Iruka said.

"I woke up and wasn't functioning well at all. I couldn't believe that you would just leave, Hiruzen-sama just said you felt it was a good time to make an exit," Kakashi laughed. Wide brown eyes stared in horror at the prince.

"He said what? But I didn't have a choice I…" Iruka hyperventilated but Kakashi's hand caressed his calmly.

"I know. I didn't believe him so I went over all your research, took me months. I used your work as a building block, I studied in the library and found some extensive information on portals and the Kages. I confronted Hiruzen-sama and he admitted that he lied," Kakashi said.

"Did he say why?" Iruka checked. He had liked the guardian and to hear what the man had been saying… really hurt.

"No but he helped me. My research led me on a quest, I eventually found a portal to another dimension. Then I had to find the next portal in that dimension and so on. I had to go through 3 different dimensions to get here and one of them was a cannibal universe. If I didn't have Hiruzen's seal with me then I might have been in trouble," Kakashi pulled out a small amulet and set it down on the table. It was a small square of bronze in a celtic design that gave off a white glow.

"Wow you'll have to tell me about that," Iruka grinned.

"I'll tell you when we get back to Konoha," Kakashi said. Iruka fiddled with his thumbs anxiously and Kakashi watched him.

"I don't know if…. I just don't know," Iruka scratched his scar.

"You don't know what Iruka?" Kakashi probed.

"I want to go back with you but… Ino-san. She's a nice girl and I don't want to hurt her," Iruka said softly. Kakashi ignored the jealousy that bubbled up in favor of affection, Iruka was just as caring as he had been 6 months ago.

"Do you love her?" Kakashi asked.

"No," Iruka replied with no hesitation.

"It's not fair on her, you should give her the chance to find someone who loves her as much as I love you. It's better to do this before the wedding," Kakashi said wisely. Iruka blushed at Kakashi's words and he intertwined their fingers.

"You're right. I'm glad you came to find me…. I was starting to lose hope," Iruka admitted.

"Why didn't you take the potion?"

"But I did… well I was going to. I thought through everything, Hiruzen-sama's strange behaviour and Tsunade-hime's desire for me to forget and I realised they wanted me to come home and forget so I transferred the blood into another bottle, smashed the original so it looked like it fell when I drank it and they believed I had forgotten," Iruka said. Kakashi blinked a few times before laughing.

"It took me months to figure it out but you got it instantly," Kakashi admired.

"So what's been going on in Konoha?" Iruka conversed. Part of him warned that Ino could come back at any moment but he didn't care, he was finally talking with Kakashi again.

"Ummm I haven't been there in a while but Neji had a little seme, Shouri," Kakashi saw Iruka's face light up in joy.

"Really? Aww," Iruka cooed.

"Sasuke is due in about 2 months," Kakashi said casually.

"He's…? Wow a lot of things have happened since I left," Iruka said. He stood up and walked through to the kitchen, everything was so overwhelming that he felt faint.

'Take a deep breath and calm down,' Iruka reminded himself. A pair of warm arms slipped around his waist from behind and his breathing evened out, he let his head drop back against Kakashi's shoulder.

"Are you okay Iruka?" Kakashi worried.

"Y-yeah… it's just…. It's a big shock…." Iruka stammered. Kakashi rested his head atop Iruka's and tightened his arms.

"Let's go home Iruka,"

"…. Yeah take me home Kakashi," Iruka snuggled into Kakashi's embrace with a fond smile.

Hilda scurried down the busy street, her beady eyes looking out for her best friend. She gave a toothless grin as she spotted Miriam sipping at a piping hot cup of tea. She entered the cafe and pointed to her friend, the waitress nodded and returned to serving others.

The taller woman slipped into the seat opposite Miriam with a excited look, Miriam looked up and set her tea down, she knew Hilda had big gossip.

"You remember Umino Iruka?" Hilda said and Miriam nodded.

"He's that poor boy who lost his family to that serial killer. Became a teacher didn't he? All the little ones loves him and he's getting married isn't he?" Miriam listed all her trivia.

"Yes he was getting married to Yamanaka Ino," Hilda said dramatically.

"Was?" Miriam fell for the bait and Hilda suddenly grew serious.

"There was a big fire at the Umino house last night and he died," Hilda said.

"He died? How?" Miriam asked.

"I'm not sure. Elder Tsunade handled the whole thing and she has dealt with the body," Hilda continued.

"Poor boy and it was such a beautiful house too. Was Yamanaka-san okay?"

"She was fine, she went around Elder Tsunade's to discuss wedding plans, she had a drink and was so intoxicated that she passed out. Ironically drink saved her life," Hilda sighed.

"I think it's a blessing in disguise for Iruka-san," Miriam said suddenly.

"How on earth is it a blessing?"

"He always had a sad look behind his eyes and he was always so isolated. Seeing his family die must have messed him up badly and now he can be with the ones he loves," Miriam said softly. Hilda considered this for a moment and the waitress placed her usual sweet tea in front of her.

"I agree. To Umino Iruka and his happiness, wherever he may be," Hilda toasted. Miriam lifted her own tea high.

"To Iruka," Miriam smiled.

"So let me get this straight: You did this all for him?" Iruka pointed to Kakashi. The 3 figures in the communication mirror drew back in fear at the brunette's rage.

"W-we didn't have a choice Iruka. In the Kage rule book, rule 7…."

"...is to maintain the important bloodlines and protect at least one of them," Kakashi finished. Iruka looked at Kakashi with an impressed look.

"It was one of the things I studied when I was trying to find you," Kakashi blushed beneath his mask.

"More then just a pretty face," Iruka winked at him and Kakashi smirked.

"You know it," Kakashi said.

"Ahem!" A collective cough came from the mirror and the men focussed back on the mirror.

"Sorry to interrupt on domestic bliss but you were the ones who wanted to know the truth," Tsunade laughed.

"Don't think you're off the hook for lying to me in the first place," Iruka warned. Tsunade pouted and jerked her thumb towards Jiraiya.

"You lied to us about the memory potion so we're even," Tsunade exclaimed.

"Hardly," Iruka whispered playfully.

"What was that?"

"I said 'Truth please,'" Iruka beamed innocently.

"Anyway Prince Kakashi had no intention of marrying or passing on his blood, he was irresponsible and unfit to be a king, lover or father. He refused to be with anyone and we had no idea why. Then Hiruzen noticed him sneaking away to the mirror every night and we discovered his… attraction to you and it was different to all his other whims. He genuinely wanted to be with you," Tsunade watched Iruka blush violently.

"We jumped on the opportunity and knew we had to get you two to meet. He hadn't anticipated Kyuubi or his plan but it did work in our favour," Jiraiya said.

"But if you wanted us to be together then why did you split us up?" Iruka asked.

"We had to be sure that you weren't just another fling to the prince and 'you don't know what you have until it's gone'. If Kakashi genuinely loved you then we knew he would find a way around the mirror," Hiruzen said.

"That's…. I don't know whether it's sweet or stupid. I've always loved Iruka," Kakashi said sternly.

"But Iruka didn't know his feelings for you, he only realised it after he was trapped on his side of the mirror," Tsunade said calmly. The prince turned to his lover and Iruka nodded.

"That right, I just thought it was an attraction or lust not… love," Iruka turned away. Kakashi smiled at the cute gesture and his desire to talk to the guardians and Kage dropped dead.

"Whatever you did it for us right?" Kakashi said bluntly and they nodded.

"Then all is forgiven and we'll talk to you later, now if you'll excuse us," Kakashi purred. The mirror went black and they heard Iruka yell 'Pervert!' before the connection was broken.

Tsunade shook her head and chuckled happily, she set the mirror down on her desk and linked her fingers together.

"Remember when we were young?" Jiriaya said, memories flooding through his mind.

"Yeah. Are you heading back to your dimension now Hiruzen?" Tsunade asked and the man nodded.

"Yep have to get back and protect my people," Hiruzen bowed.

"When do you think the coronation will be? I don't care whether I have to alter my own genetics for one night, I want to be there," Tsunade said proudly.

"It's whenever they get married," Hiruzen smiled beneath his hat. Tsunade and Jiraiya burst into laughter and Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at the couple.

"What?" The guardian asked.

"Those two are some of the biggest sufferers of Gamophobia we've ever seen," The blonde laughed.

"Gamophobia?" Hiruzen repeated.

"Phobia of Marriage, they'll try to stay just lovers for as long as they can," Jiraiya explained.

"They have a 2 year limit," Hiruzen smiled.

"And they'll milk it for every day they can," The pair continued to laugh.

Iruka walked along the marble hallway of Konoha castle with a towel slung over his shoulder. A pair of black pyjama pants hung tantalisingly off his hips and the matching black vest top stretched across his lean body. He had no idea that he was being watched, stalked, hunted.

It wasn't until he was 10 feet from the bathroom that he noticed his footsteps were being echoed. He stopped abruptly and pinched the bridge of his nose, he didn't have to turn around to know who was following him.

"Kakashi," Iruka stated and he heard a hum of acknowledgement. He looked over his shoulder and saw the prince with his nose buried in his favourite book.

"Why are you following me?"

"You missed dinner,"

"I was visiting Naruto, Sasuke and baby Yanagi. You know I can't say no to Naruto especially when he gives me the puppy dog eyes, he's just like one of the kids in my class," Iruka smiled.

"You've only been back for 3 months, you need to pace yourself and stop spending so much time with Naruto and your students…." Kakashi trailed off, Iruka turned to face Kakashi and rolled his eyes.

"And start spending more time with you?" Iruka suggested.

"Ruka you're psychic!" Kakashi sang.

"I'm going for a bath and I'll spend time with you after," Iruka promised.

"Well Ruka I was thinking…" Kakashi placed a hand on the brunette's forearm and warning bells went of in Iruka's head.

'Where did his book go? Wait… Kakashi…. No book…. Thinking….' Iruka thought. Suddenly Kakashi's mask was around his neck and his moist lips against Iruka's ear.

"….that we should bathe together to save water and the dolphins and all that jazz," Kakashi smirked. Umber eyes narrowed and he cleared his throat.

"No," Iruka said firmly.

"Omocha-sensei! I'm shocked at your lack of compassion for the environment," Kakashi teased.

"Kakashi just let me bathe and then we can retire to the bedroom and…." Iruka said coyly but the prince was stubborn.

"Nope I need a bath too so it makes sense for us to," Iruka slammed his hand over Kakashi's mouth to stop him spewing anymore words.

"You have a bath to get clean not get dirty," Iruka blushed.

"But the bath is the perfect place, we get dirty and then we can get clean,"

"Or we can just skip the dirty part and you can go back to the bedroom and wait for me,"

"Hmmmm nah. It'll be strange to actually be in the bath with you instead of watching from outside," Kakashi said bluntly. Iruka tensed and he ground his teeth together.

"You… I'm assuming this was before I left,"

"Yep,"

"You're admitting to spying on me in the bath? Are you a BAKA! I'm skipping the bath and going back to our room to sleep," Iruka raged. He tried to pass the prince but Kakashi threw him over one shoulder.

"HEY! PUT ME DOWN!" Iruka shouted.

"I can't. Hygiene is very important and I would be a terrible lover if I let you skip it," Kakashi gave an upside down U smile. He kicked the bathroom door open and strode through it with a struggling brunette trying to seriously injury him.

"Kakashi!"

"Don't worry Ruka I'll even wash your back,"

**The End ~**