Disclaimer - I don't own Naruto or any of the characters from the original series! Okami Etsu and the Onizuka's are mine however - so please ask nicely before borrowing! Any characters and situations herein are purely fictitious, and any similarity between those and persons living or dead is coincidental.

Apology

The next day dawned cold, clear and all too soon for Iruka. He'd had a sleepless night after the run in with Anko in the afternoon and then his talk with Shizune. He wondered for the thousandth time why Shizune would have to tell Lady Tsunade. The information wasn't that interesting nor was Anko's threat serious in any way shape or form. A knock on his window startled him awake more effectively than the coffee he had been brewing could have managed. He groaned as he found Anko grinning at him through the glass.

'What do you want?' Iruka asked in disgruntled tones as he let the tokujo in.

'I'm to apologise for yesterday.' Anko muttered, equally disgruntled as she jumped down to the floor.

'Oh...' Iruka sounded so surprised that Anko seemed unable to suppress a giggle.

'So, I'm very sorry for what I said to you yesterday at the academy.' Anko ran her left hand through her hair. Iruka frowned as he noted how very tired the tokujo looked. Seemed like she was pulling back to back missions the same as every other shinobi in the village...

'It's ok... Apology accepted... On one condition.' Iruka grinned at Anko's surprised look. It was just too good an opportunity to miss though.

'Hnnnn.' Anko pouted and pulled a face. 'Fine. Whaddya want?'

'How do you and Etsu-chan know each other?'

'Oh...' Anko seemed relieved by the question. 'Hnnnn. Well I'm guessing she hasn't told you a whole lot. She never tells anyone a lot, but she kind of... she... well... you see... she... She saved my life.'

Iruka nearly choked. 'What?!'

'Etsu-chan saved my life.' Anko blushed bright red. 'I'd been out on a long, hard mission and the enemy came very close to killing me before it was over. I was dimly aware of them being driven off by someone... Of course I was too out of it to know who they were! I could only presume it was a Konoha ninja! Then they took me to a safe-house and treated my wounds - it was about five days before I regained my senses enough to grasp what had happened. That someone who took care of me was Etsu-chan...'

'But she's a chunin...' Iruka gasped.

'Nnnnn. Yeah, but that's only really because of... Well I guess the village's attitude put her off... Plus she has a whole bunch of stuff in her past she doesn't talk about.' Anko shrugged. 'She's ducked out of promotion a couple of times.'

'Really?' Iruka chewed his lip thoughtfully.

'Look Iruka-sensei, will you make me a promise?' Anko cocked an eyebrow at him.

'I guess... If it's just a repetition of yesterday's threat.' Iruka grinned as Anko looked fleetingly guilty.

'Well, yeah. Just promise you won't hurt her?' Anko grinned. 'And maybe don't tell her about yesterday? Please?'

'Why don't tell her about yesterday?' Iruka frowned.

'Lady Tsunade already chewed me out good for it... I don't think I could face Etsu-chan if she knew...' Anko looked worriedly at Iruka.

'Etsu-chan would probably just laugh.' Iruka retorted.

'She wouldn't. You can trust me on that... I've been in trouble with her before...' Anko replied miserably. Iruka could hardly believe his ears - Anko was so obviously uncomfortable.

'Fine. I'll keep my mouth shut. And I promise I'll try not to hurt her.' Iruka smiled.

'Good.' Anko shrugged. 'If you want my advice, try and get her to talk about her past. I don't think it can be as bad as she makes out...'

'Ok. And my advice is - go see Etsu-chan! I know she'd love to see you...' Iruka grinned as Anko gave him a calculating look.

'Hnnnn... Fine - you heading over there after finishing your shift today?' Anko waited for Iruka's puzzled nod. 'I'll go with you then.'

'Heeeeeey! Iruka-sensei! We going or what?' Anko yelled from the doorway of the Missions Room. It was Iruka's turn to go bright red. It was Saturday for crying out loud! There were still people in the room... Including Lady Tsunade and Shizune... And Lady Tsunade looked like she was about to murder him!

'As soon as I'm done.' Iruka snapped irritably. Anko leant against the doorframe chewing on a dango stick.

'Why don't you go Iruka-sensei? And I'll close the Missions Room for the night?' Shizune asked in icy tones.

'Oh, ok... If you're sure.' Iruka stood up and began filing papers away quickly. He waited until he passed close to Shizune before hissing. 'It's not what you think.'

From Shizune's look, she didn't believe him.

'Did you have to do that?!' Iruka wailed as they trotted down the street that led to Etsu's house.

'Do what?' Anko looked surprised. 'You were taking too long!'

'Rrrrrr! You know what!' Iruka yelled, drawing the attention of everyone in the street. 'What was it? Payback?'

'Iruka-sensei, you're making a scene...' Anko frowned. 'Look, I didn't mean anything by it... or whatever you thought I was doing. I'm just... look, patience isn't my strong suit - ok?'

Unsurprisingly, Etsu was at the main gate to greet them.

'I might have guessed you two wouldn't get on...' She smiled shyly.

'Hey! Etsu-chan! Long time no see!' Anko grinned happily.

'And you, Mitarashi-chan.' Etsu hugged the older woman before trotting briskly down the path to her house. Anko stood frozen to the spot for about five seconds before following. Iruka only just managed to stifle a chuckle.

'So was that little argument for show or was it for real?' Etsu asked curiously as they entered the hallway of her home.

'Eh?' Iruka looked puzzled.

'For real...' Anko's eyebrows rose. 'Why?'

'Because there was an ANBU following you, and he's now sitting in the tree outside.' Etsu didn't sound exactly worried by the prospect... More like she was curious...

'Ah. Well, Lady Tsunade and Shizune-san may have the wrong end of the stick over a few things...' Anko chuckled. Etsu rolled her eyes expressively.

'A few things! Why send an ANBU agent?' Iruka yelped as he looked back out of the door.

'Hnnn. Because Godaime-sama is Hokage, and the ANBU are under her direct control, and this was obviously the next best thing, after coming herself?' Etsu explained with great patience.

'He's gone now Iruka-sensei...' Anko laughed.

'Not before giving Umino-san a heart-attack...' Etsu giggled in return.

'Not funny.' Iruka groused.

Iruka wandered up through the quiet streets to his apartment. He'd spent the entire evening with Etsu and Anko. Etsu had cooked dinner, Anko had insisted on setting new traps for fox-san and Iruka had been tasked with picking a movie from Etsu's extensive collection. They'd eaten and talked, and talked and drunk the night away. Kami, when was the last time he'd had this much fun?

And here endeth Chapter 6...

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