Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 32

Hiro looked up as Kakashi joined him behind the house. They sat in silence for a while Fawkes sang softly nearby. But eventually Hiro broke the silence. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Kakashi denied and Hiro glanced at him. "What you did, to help me…can it do more?"

"You're gonna have to be a bit more specific Kakashi, I did a lot."

"My mind."

"Is something wrong? Have you been having trouble?" Hiro asked, instantly concerned and Kakashi shrugged.

"I was fine until we finished in Suna and then…I just wanted to curl up in a ball. IO hate it! Why can't I get passed this?" He snarled and Hiro grabbed his fisted hand.

"It's okay Kakashi. Just breath." He soothed and Kakashi forced himself to calm down. "I can take a look around and see what's going on?"

Kakashi nodded and they shifted so they were sitting face to face. "Eye patch." Kakashi pushed it up, revealing the Sharingan. They made eye contact and both stilled as Hiro carefully entered Kakashi's mind. The improvement since the first time was amazing, then again he had been bordering insane back then. Kakashi was perfectly sane now but the damage done still lingered in shadows that clung to the corners of his mind. Hiro withdrew and they both blinked before Kakashi pulled the eye patch back down. "Good news is your mindscape has repaired fully. There is some lingering trauma thought which I'm guessing is the problem."

"Can you fix it?"

"No, but you can." Hiro smiled and Kakashi blinked in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"It means you are going to learn how to control your own mind, like I can. And I'll teach you in a much nicer way than I learnt." Hiro grinned and Kakashi smiled under his mask, this was what he needed to get better.

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Sakura sat next to Hiro who glanced over at her before going back to watching Naruto and Ibiki spar. "He's good."

Sakura laughed. "You should have met him in the Academy." She shook her head. "Used to scream about being Hokage one day and now…. now I believe him about it."

"I think he'd make a good leader."

"He really believes in people." She flopped back onto the grass, aching from her own fight against their sensei. Just because she could use Tsunade's strength technique and had great chakra control didn't mean she could beat a jounin, not alone anyway. "Do you ever miss it, your home?"

"Home is people, not a place. I miss them but I'd never get to just be me there. Here I'm Hiro and I like it. No expectations beyond completing our missions." He smiled softly and she nodded.

"I'm glad you stayed, you fit with us, the team the Rookies."

"Thanks."

"Do you…do you have a date for the festival tomorrow?" She asked and Hiro blinked in surprise.

"No." He cocked his head to the side to see her better. "Do you?" She shook her head. "Then Miss Haruno, would you do me the honour of being my date?" He asked and she blushed slightly.

"I'd be happy to."

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Iruka peered into Hiro's room and smiled at the disarray of clothing. "Need help?" he offered.

"Please? What am I meant to wear?"

"Well you could go traditional, semi-traditional or non-traditional."

"Thanks, figured that bit out myself. What do you think Sakura will pick?"

"I'd go semi, it's the safest option." Iruka offered and Hiro nodded, choosing an outfit that had some traditional aspects. He grabbed his gift for her and then shoved his feet in his shoes and apparated so he wouldn't be late.

Sakura opened the door and smiled at the older teen who offered her a flower, gently putting it behind her ear. "It's pretty."

"Not as pretty as you." Hiro argued before offering her his arm. They walked through the streets arm in arm. "Anything specific you want to do or should we just wander?"

"Wandering sounds good." So they wandered through the stalls, stopping now and then whenever something caught their fancy. Hiro bought dinner and they ate on a picnic blanket on the hill to watch the fireworks. At the end of the night he escorted her home. "I had a great time Hiro."

"So did I Sakura, thank you for coming." He stepped down from her front door and turned to walk away.

"Hiro?" She called and he turned back. "Maybe we could do this again?" She asked shyly and he smiled.

"Sounds good to me. Goodnight Sakura."

"Goodnight Hiro."

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Kakashi slumped back and Hiro went to get him a glass of water. "Why is this more exhausting than physical work?" he grumbled.

"Your mind is tired so it's telling your body to be tired too. But you're doing well, better than I expected considering you're not magical."

"Really?"

"Yeah." He handed over the water and Kakashi drank. "How are the panic attacks?"

"I haven't had one."

"That's a good sign." Hiro assured him and they ended the session, Kakashi heading off to do more work with the latest lot of genin. Since he wasn't on active duty he was cycling through the various teams, helping out with their training. It kept him busy, in shape and passed his knowledge on.

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Iruka stayed still as Kakashi jerked awake, not moving until he was sure his lover was awake. Then he rolled over and wrapped his arms around him, murmuring soothing words in his ear as Kakashi slowly calmed. "Nightmare." He whispered and Kakashi nodded. "It's okay, I'm here." Since Hiro had started teaching Kakashi the nightmares had become far less frequent. It was nice to sleep through the night most nights and to not see the fear in Kakashi's eyes when he woke from one. He looked up at a noise and smiled when Fawkes settled on the windowsill and began to sing softly, helping calm Kakashi down even further. Iruka kissed the messy silvery hair, one hand shifting to gently stroke up and down Kakashi's bare side. "I love you." He murmured as he felt Kakashi's relaxing fully, sleep pulling him under.

TBC…