A/N: Chapter 3! Working on the next chapters. Would love some input if you have any to give! Enjoy!
It was dark, but Kakashi felt something shaking his shoulder. He tried to brush it off, but it became more vigorous.
"K-Kakashi-san…" Iruka whimpered.
"Huh?" Kakashi groaned. It was too early in the morning.
"I-I-I…" Iruka stammered.
"Hmm?" Kakashi grunted and rolled over. He blinked and his eyes began to open.
"I-I had an acc…accident," Iruka sniffled.
That woke Kakashi up instantly.
"What?!" Kakashi exclaimed before he could control himself.
Iruka stared back at him with tears in his eyes.
"I mean…" Kakashi hesitated, "That's okay…."
Kakashi did not know what to say. He had never dealt with anything like this before. Children were not his area of expertise it turned out. He took Iruka to the bath and peeled off the soiled clothes. He put them in his laundry basket. Iruka sank into the warm, soapy water.
"Alright…get yourself dried off and go play for a while," Kakashi instructed Iruka.
"Okay Kakashi-san," Iruka said shyly.
Kakashi went to Iruka's bedroom to clean up the bed. He looked at his spare mattress and groaned. Iruka would pay for this once he was back to normal!
"Iruka...let's have breakfast!"
As they ate their cereal, Iruka stared inquisitively at Kakashi. Kakashi raised his eyebrow.
"Why you wear a mask, Kakashi-san?" Iruka asked earnestly, a bit of milk escaping from his mouth and dribbling down his chin.
Kakashi paused.
"Because I'm too handsome for you to handle," he boasted teasingly, remembering a time the older Iruka had asked him the exact same question.
Kakashi felt someone trailing him. His ears pricked, but he kept looking at his book. The footsteps were right behind him now. Kakashi was tense, prepared to act. A hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder. Kakashi flipped around and threw his assailant to the ground. He dusted himself off and looked at the assailant, who was now in a hole in the ground.
"Hello Iruka," Kakashi smiled too innocently.
Iruka stumbled to his feet and brushed himself off.
"Kakashi."
"Why were you following me?"
"I-I…" Iruka blushed.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"Um…I wanted to know if you wanted to get some ramen together?" Iruka grinned sheepishly.
Kakashi's face was inquisitive.
"Okay…why?" he asked.
"J-just as friends," Iruka said, his face a bright cherry tomato red.
They went to get ramen. Iruka stared intently at Kakashi, waiting. Kakashi made no attempt to start eating until Iruka turned away to cough. Iruka was incredulous. How had Kakashi done that so fast? Kakashi was completely done with his bowl of ramen! He hadn't been able to see Kakashi's face!
Kakashi remembered the old man giving them sake on the house. Iruka's face was tinged pink from happiness and alcohol. He remembered going home with Iruka and roughly throwing Iruka onto the bed. Iruka's long, slender fingers reached up to his face and pulled—
"I don't believe you…take off!" demanded Iruka, interrupting Kakashi's stream of thought.
Kakashi smirked.
"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you!"
Iruka watched attentively as Kakashi slowly drew down his mask.
"Behind this mask is…"
Iruka bit his lip.
"Another mask!" Kakashi smiled.
Iruka's face fell.
"I wanna see your face!" he pouted. "Please please please please please!" he added.
'Geez…kids pout about anything don't they…' Kakashi thought.
"Nope," said Kakashi. "It's a secret."
Iruka frowned. He sulked the entire rest of the meal.
"Iruka," Kakashi said once Iruka had finished his breakfast.
Iruka did not answer.
"Iruka!" Kakashi barked
Iruka glanced up at him sullenly.
"Let's go on a walk. There's someone I need to talk to."
Begrudgingly, Iruka agreed, refusing to hold Kakashi's hand near the busy roads. He darted in and out of the streets.
"Iruka! Come here, right now!" Kakashi ordered.
Iruka ran further away. Kakashi felt a throb in his temple. He sprinted after Iruka and grabbed his arm.
"Stop running away!" he scolded, causing Iruka to sulk even more. Kakashi did not let go of Iruka's arm even when he screamed. Everyone in the vicinity stared at Kakashi. Kakashi rolled his eyes.
Iruka threw himself to the ground and began screaming and crying. Kakashi felt his patience dwindling. He picked Iruka up, who resisted with all his might.
"Oi! Kakashi Sensei!" came Uzumaki Naruto's voice from behind him.
