Disclaimer: I don't even own my car, I just pay for it. How could I afford a whole TV show and merchandise line? Nope, Naruto does not belong to me.
Last time: Iruka told Genma he could get anyone Genma could. Genma issues his first challenge: seducing Gai-sensei! (Yes, there's a reason he had to go first! I'm sorry if it's taking so long to build up the story, it's my first one and I want it to be just right—or at least what it's like in my head!) Also, even though these last two updates were really quick, just a heads up that they won't always be. I had a sick day today and all I could do was eat and type all day!
Iruka was amused. He hadn't had such an amusing week since he 'd quit full-time pranking. He still got in a god one here and there, but he also had work to keep him busy now and a little brother who had recently come back with a certain obnoxious toad-sage. Still, this was almost as good as the thrill of a good prank. Iruka hid a snigger behind his hand as he watched, once again, as Gai shot Genma down.
"Now, Genma-san, I understand that you are brimming with the energy of YOUTHFULNESS, but I must insist, please, leave me ALONE!" Gai was waving his hands between Genma and himself, backing up until he was right up against a filing cabinet beside Iruka's desk in the missions room.
"Oh, come on now, Gai," Genma dropped his voice down a few notches, "you can't just walk around in skin-tight spandex and want me to not get a peek at what's under there." He groped at Gai's sides suggestively.
"Now, Genma-san—" Gai practically squeaked. Iruka shook his head. He himself hadn't tried anything yet and it was already Thursday. He had one more day and Genma kept reminding him he hadn't even tried. Scared? You wish, Genma. I'm just not worried. Thanks to your pig-headed advances, I might not even have to flirt that much, just bide my time and play the hero.
Iruka casually wandered over and cleared his throat. "Genma-san," Iruka stressed the honorific in mock-respect, "That's not kind of you. Gai-sensei asked very nicely if you would leave him alone."
Gai looked at Iruka and nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, Genma-san, our fair Iruka-sensei is correct!"
"Shut up, Umino. This is between me and Gai."
"I only wish to help, Genma-san." He stressed the honorific again.
"Yes, THANK YOU, fair Iruka-sensei. Your YOUTHFUL DEVOTION to the WELL-BEING of your fellow shinobi is ADMIRABLE!" If he hadn't been pressed up against the cabinet, Iruka was certain he would have flashed him a thumbs-up.
"Of course, Gai-sensei," Iruka slid closer and gently placed an arm on Gai's. "I know how this one," he gestured towards Genma with his head, "can be, and," here, Iruka pulled on Gai's arm while turning his own body slightly, effectively putting himself between Gai and Genma, "I think that you are far too kind to tell him he should just back off, when it's obvious you don't appreciate his attention."
"Yes, well. . . . " Gai seemed to deflate a little, not wanting to be impolite at all.
Iruka smiled kindly and leaned forward conspiratorially, then waited. After a moment, Gai leaned in to him as well. Iruka lowered his voice, "Besides, Shiranui just doesn't know something good when he sees it," like me, "and I'm sure a pair of eyes like yours would be wasted on him." Iruka leaned back, still smiling kindly. Well, flirting a just a little couldn't hurt.
"Eyes. . . . Like mine?" Gai seemed confused.
"Of course, Gai-sensei, you have very nice eyes. They are as rich as dark chocolate and sparkle like stars, especially when you do your good-guy pose!"
"Oh. Oh! Iruka-sensei, you noticed all of that about me?"
"Yes, Gai-sensei, hasn't anyone ever noticed before?"
"Umm. . . . " Gai scratched the back of his head. "Well, no actually, most people seem to ah. . . . Well, they seem to. . . . ignore me."
Iruka's heart gave a little clench. "Oh, Gai-sensei, I'm sorry." He hadn't realized Gai was so lonely! "I guess they can't, as Naruto's sensei puts it, see underneath the underneath. I remember when Lee was in my class, Gai-sensei, he is a very kind boy and if he adores you as much as it seems, then I'm sure you are just as kind!" Gai positively beamed and stood up a little straighter.
"Why thank you, fair Iruka-sensei! Your YOUTHFUL KINDESS is TRULY INSPRING!" By this time, Iruka had gently maneuvered them several feet away from Genma and he was leaning casually on his own desk as Gai stood in front of him. Gai glanced back towards Genma. Iruka noticed and leaned forward expectantly.
Gai leaned in too, and stage whispered, "And I must thank you, kind sensei for RESCUING me from the advances of Genma-san. He has been really forceful this week. I appreciate his YOUTHFUL ENERGY and PERSISTANCE, but I really don't know what has gotten into him!"
"Well, I think I can explain that." Iruka raised his voice a little and made sure Genma was looking, "How about over dinner tomorrow night?"
"You wish to have dinner with me, Iruka-sensei?"
"Yeah, is it a date then? Around six o'clock?"
"Of course, Iruka-sensei! How could I REFUSE such a KIND and YOUTHFUL request?"
Iruka smiled. "Great. Would you like me to pick you up, Gai-sensei? Lee told me you live in the jounin apartments near my own building. I could come by at around five thirty? And really, I'd like to be friends so you are more than welcome to just call me Iruka."
"YOSH! I will be ready at FIVE O'CLOCK, Iruka-sensei and NOT A SECOND LATER! If I am late, I will do ONE HUNDRED LAPS AROUND KONOHA!"
"That's really not necessary, Gai-sensei," Iruka smiled kindly, "and I insist, just Iruka."
"All right then, fair Iruka. Then I am just Gai!"
"All right, thank you Gai. I will see you tomorrow. "
"I look forward to our YOUTHFUL MEETING Iruka!"
Iruka patted him on the shoulder. "Me too, Gai."
Genma just glared.
Iruka, ever the considerate date, had talked to his former student Lee right after work that Thursday and found out which restaurants Gai liked best, then made reservations at one of the cozier ones for the next day. After all, Lee still felt like he owed him.
He did not spend years with his students and not know them or build relationships with them, so he became a bit of a matchmaker. Accidentally, at first, but he really was good at it; he was the same way with his long time friends. Being the kind soul he is, it breaks his heart when they come to him in tears, but he always seems to know, instinctively, just who can make it all better. So far, he'd gotten Lee and Sakura, as well as Ino and Chouji together. Luckily for him, his little brother has wizened up on his own and was now happily tied to Hinata's apron strings. Recently, Iruka had even given Shikamaru advice about their lovely ambassador for Sand, Temari. It looked like they'd be happy, and that's all Iruka ever wanted for his kids. As for his friends, he'd practically had to bash Izumo and Kotetsu's heads together before they finally got it through their thick skulls!
Walking home after making the reservations, Iruka lost himself in his thoughts. He shook his head. Zumo and Ko have been together for what, close to eight years now? He sighed. Why can't I find myself someone?
So lost was Iruka in his thoughts that he didn't notice the man by the telephone post until he walked right into him. "Oopmh! Oh, I'm so sorry—Kakashi-sensei!"
"Well, hello, sensei. What brings you here?"
Iruka glanced towards his building a few feet away. "I, uh, live here?"
Kakashi glanced at the building a little incredulously. "Oh, is that so?"
"Um, yeah." He shifted a little. "Um, Kakashi-sensei? Would you mind?"
"Mind?" Kakashi cocked his head, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Iruka glanced a little nervously at his arms where Kakashi still gripped them from when the jounin had caught him as he stumbled into him. "Mind letting go? I'm all right now, thank you for catching me, Kakashi-sensei."
"Oh." Kakashi looked down, seemingly confused, "Oh. Yes, of course, Iruka-sensei." He let go slowly. If Iruka didn't know any better, he would almost say Kakashi was reluctant to let him go. But he did know better, so he shook it off.
Iruka glanced towards his apartment. "I'm sorry again, Kakashi-sensei, and thank you again for catching me."
"Of course." Iruka thought he could see a small smile beneath the mask.
"Well. . . . I'd best be going. Good evening, Kakashi-sensei."
"Yes, good evening."
Still a little flustered from being in Kakashi's grasp, Iruka missed the small sigh that escaped the jounin as he made his way the last few feet to his building. It also didn't occur to him to wonder just what, exactly, the copy-nin was doing just standing outside his building by a phone pole and more importantly, why he was there.
Kakashi stood still a moment and just watched after Iruka. When the complex door finally closed behind him, Kakashi sighed again, slipped his book into his pocket and headed up the road past the chuunin and tokubetsu apartments and to his own jounin building, a few blocks away.
It was just after a lovely dinner. Gai wiped his mouth on his napkin and folded it, placing it to the side of his plate on the table.
"So, Iruka, Genma was only flirting with me for a bet?" Iruka found the jounin far more demure in the intimate restaurant setting and when in one-on-one company. He really was a kind man. A good man, as man Iruka would like to be friends with. After a whole evening of delightful conversation (for the most part, Iruka hadn't enjoyed explaining his situation with Genma), Iruka also knew his hunch about the jounin was correct: he really was far more intelligent than people gave him credit for.
Iruka wrung his hands on the table in frustration. "I'm really sorry, Gai, really. I would never hurt my friends on purpose , and—"
Gai patted him on the hand gently. "It's all right, Iruka. I understand. He made you fell inferior, unloved, and ugly. You have not hurt me. You have told the truth and I think that we will be great friends. Worry not, Iruka. All will be well."
Iruka gave him a watery smile as he looked up from their hands. "I'm so sorry, Gai. I would love to stay friends."
"Your Genma, he is not very nice to you. Why have you stayed with him for so long?"
"Well, it hasn't been that long. Just a little over a year and we weren't really that involved right away, since I'm counting from our very first date. We were only seriously involved for the past eight months. Even then, we were on again, of again sometimes. I suppose I only agreed to go out with him because he was just so insistent that I thought he would be good for me. He wasn't and I realized very quickly that I was settling, but by that point, I wasn't sure if I could be alone again."
"Settling, Iruka? What do you mean?"
"Well, I just mean that Genma wasn't the person I wanted, even then. I just told myself it was for the better."
"If you don't mind my asking, Iruka, who is it that you want and why do you think that you are destined to be alone?"
"I don't know, Gai, I feel bad burdening you with all of my problems. . . . It just doesn't feel right."
"Nonsense! We are friends, are we not? This is what friends are for! I would be honored to listen and help you with your problems."
"Really? Well, you promise not to tell, right?" Iruka leaned forward conspiratorially. "I. . . . Oh, this is going to sound so silly! I feel like a little kid with a school ground crush."
Gai waited patiently. Iruka leaned forward again, blushing heavily now. He motioned Gai forward and whispered into Gai's ear. Gai's eyes widened comically.
"Really?" Iruka nodded shyly. "Well! I must say that I approve, Iruka! This makes me very happy!"
Iruka just blushed harder, hoping that the jounin wouldn't relapse into his exuberant persona.
"May I ask though, why you chose me to begin with?"
"I didn't, Gai. That was actually Genma. He thought it would be easy for him to seduce you."
"Because everyone avoids me?"
Definitely smarter than they give him credit for. "Oh, Gai, I'm so sorry. I really enjoyed spending time with you today and I wouldn't avoid you. I really meant what I said, you know, about you having nice eyes." Iruka glanced up through long eyelashes, shyly contemplating his hands on the table.
"I know, Iruka," Gai patted him comfortingly on the hand again, "you have been nothing but a gentleman and I look forward to spending more time with you, my friend. And thank you for the compliment."
Iruka nodded and smiled. "Genma is predictable. I mostly know who he'll choose already. After you, it'll be Anko because she's so open with her sexuality. He thinks that will make it easy for him and uncomfortable for me. Then he'll get frustrated once I win two in a row."
"Two in a row? So you think you'll get Anko too?"
"I know I will. I am not as bumbling as Genma thinks I am." Iruka grinned smugly.
Gai grinned back. "Who'd be next then?"
"Oh, then he'll either pick Shizune or Ayame from the ramen stand because he thinks they're both shy. He knows Shizune is a little tightly wound from dealing with Hokage-sama and Ayame is overly polite. He doesn't think I'll be persuasive or pushy enough to catch either of the girls."
"Really? But you think you can." There was a mischievous glint in Gai's eyes now.
"Pretty sure."
"All right, after that?"
"I don't know if it'll continue after that. I mean sure, Genma is one stubborn bastard, but I'm not sure if he can take four losses in a row."
"Say he does, though?" Gai's eyes twinkled even more.
"Well, maybe Jiraiya-sama, since he's in town. Genma will think that someone that kinky would be too much for me. I just pray he won't choose Ebisu, since he's a pervert too. I don't think he will though, because he has to try and seduce them too."
Gai was almost shaking with laughter now. "Yes, Iruka, I don't think even Genma would be up to that. What next?"
"If he still hasn't given up at that point, I'm not so certain anymore. The last possibility I could think of would be Ibiki, and since he was my jounin-sensei, Genma probably thinks I wouldn't be able to carry through. Ibiki is so stoic though, that Genma wouldn't stand a chance either."
"Hmm. I'm surprised that you haven't mentioned Kakashi."
Iruka spluttered, choking on the drink he'd just brought to his lips. "What?"
Gai's eyes crinkled as contemplated the man in front of him, as said man began to redden yet again. "Well, it makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, I've known Kakashi for a long time and he is both perverted and stoic, which covers not only one, but two of the criteria for the other candidates for your challenge. Am I not right?"
Iruka took a few calmer breaths, then looked pleadingly at Gai. "You're his best friend, aren't you? What do I have to do if I have to try and seduce him?"
Gai took pity on him as Iruka looked ready to panic. "Do not worry, Iruka, I will support you through it. After all, that is what friends are for. I'm sure that it's going to be all right."
"Okay. If you think so, Gai, then I'll believe it." Iruka smiled.
Hands tickled up his sides, then nails dragged back down sensuously. His skin prickled even with the barrier of fabric between them. They stopped at his hips, grasping almost painfully tight and pulled him tighter against the body pressed to his. A hot mouth was soon plastered on his own and as he let out a moan a tongue glided in to dance with his. He arched into every touch, every stroke; he reveled in every gasp, every whimper, every sigh. His shirt was unceremoniously ripped open, then pushed off of his shoulders. He was allowed a breath of air as that talented mouth made its way down his jaw and those wandering hands made their way down his stomach. As the mouth reached his ear and whispered hoarsely in it, the hands made short work of his pants. A tongue lapped its way around his ear and teeth gently nibbled on the lobe as hands finally, finally reached into the waistband of his boxers and he—woke up.
The fuck! And he'd just gotten to the good part, too! Sighing, he untangled himself from the sweaty sheets. Glancing up at the antique clock over his mantle, he made his way to his bathroom. Forget sleep, he needed a shower. A cold one. Like, really cold.
TBC. . . .
Sorry if that disappoints, it really didn't turn out quite the way I'd pictured, but then again I hate to reread because then I just start worrying. Whatever, hope it's okay anyways!
