Disclaimer: No change here, I do not own Naruto or the characters.
Last time: Iruka spends the night at Kakashi's, but Kakashi gets called away on an involuntary mission, so Iruka wakes up alone and takes it the wrong way. Ahh, gentlemen, it really is time that you learned the finer points of good communication. It'll do you a world of good, my boys!
Author's note: Thanks to all reviewers, favouriters (yeah, that's right, it's a word now—kidding) and followers! Also, there won't be a lemon for awhile, I'm trying to tie up some loose ends in the story. There'll be more lemons at the end! As a final side note, I may end up taking down the lemon chapters, as I think I'm in violation of 's rules and I don't want to have my whole story deleted. If I do that, though, I'll prolly end up opening a Livejournal account or summat to post there. Anyhoo, thanks for listening to my rant! PS—Iruka's coffee trick really works (but with a microwave instead of a katon, only make sure you don't heat the milk too long, if the foam starts to rise, get it out immediately, and milk with more fat actually works better, 2% is great—the heat from the microwave stabilizes the foam, so that it sets and won't melt). I learned it this week and wanted to incorporate it into my storyline. Onward to action!
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Kakashi left his apartment and headed over to the Academy. Iruka would still be teaching, it was a Tuesday afternoon, after all. He wanted to turn his mission report in to Iruka, so he'd wait, then follow the man to the missions desk and hand it in. Kakashi settled himself down in a tree close to the schoolyard, one that he knew had a good view of iruka's classroom windows, but that had enough foliage to conceal his presence. Needless to say, he'd been frequenting the tree for quite some time. He pulled out his mission report and glared at it disdainfully. Now, usually, he would find no end to his amusement in handing a mission report such as this, as he loved getting a rise out of his temperamental chuunin because it was just so damn hot, but given the circumstances, he knew he'd have to do better.
Kakashi pulled a fresh scroll from his pouch and began re-writing the report. As he checked and re-checked everything twice, he realized that he hadn't turned in a mission report this pristine and complete in a long time, Pre-Iruka obsession, definitely. Erm, well, not obsession per se, but . . . . Oh, who the hell am I kidding? I've been long gone on that man since he told me off at the chuunin exams. I might as well be honest about it. Hehe! I don't remember if I ever turned in my reports to him before then, but since, then, I only turn in reports that'll get a rise out of him. I almost forgot what it was like to hand in one that was well done—I never would have handed in anything less than perfect in my rule-following days, but I guess my priorities have really shifted . . . .
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Fifty three hours earlier (two and a half days—ish) . . . .
After a good cry, Iruka felt alone, more alone than he had in years. After all, he reasoned, I had resigned myself to being alone. I chose that over this, this loving and losing shit. It was easier to pretend I was okay alone and I knew I shouldn't have gotten involved with Kakashi! So, yeah, maybe he was what I wanted, but I settled for Genma because I knew it would never hurt as much even if Genma left me, because I didn't care as much. Maybe that was selfish of me, but come on! I can't lose anyone else—I may be stubborn as hell, but no one is that cold . . . . And I did grow fond of him, even if he is an ass. He sighed. Maybe he'd get over it better with some good company. He mentally went through his list of friends and sighed again. Kotetsu and Izumo were out because they were on gate duty (again), Raidou and Hayate were both on long missions and most of his other friends were former students (and he really didn't want to share with some of them about this). He went over that list mentally as well, just to double check: Hinata and Shikamaru were now teachers at the Academy, he might not mind sharing with Shikamaru, but sharing with Hinata made him shudder. Then there was Lee and Naruto, but Lee wasn't someone you told your problems to, unless they were something he could help you fix, because he would try to fix them anyways; and he wouldn't mind sharing with Naruto, honestly, the boy was one of the last two people alive he considered family. He didn't think he should tell Naruto though, unless he wanted him to kill Kakashi . . . . and, well, he really didn't want that. Then there was Gai. Gai! Yeah . . . . no, wait. Gai was Kakashi's best friend . . . . but that might help—after all, he had been very supportive when Iruka had first admitted his feelings for Kakashi that night at dinner. Plus, he reasoned, Gai might have some insight on Kakashi's point of view of the issue.
Gai was more than happy to come over, and Iruka had begun baking as soon as he'd gotten off the phone. Baking, for him, was like therapy. He didn't care if some people thought it was un-shinobi-like, he'd always baked with his mother and after his parents died, it had been the one thing that made him feel safe and comforted, other than staying over at the Sarutobi's when the Third took pity on him some days and feeling like he had a real family again.
Therefore, by the time Gai got to Iruka's place, he had two pies, a cake and three batches of cookies done, as well as a pot of hot coffee on. He also had a batch of apple turnovers in the oven, a tray of dango cooling on the counter and a full kettle of water waiting for tea. Gai knocked on the door and as soon as it was opened by a thoroughly flustered looking Iruka, the green beast of Konoha folded his friend into a comforting hug. Iruka almost fell into tears again, but the baking really had settled him and it was good to know he wouldn't lose a friend in Gai even though things hadn't worked out with Kakashi.
As they settled in around Iruka's island counter with steaming mugs of coffee and still-warm slices of kabocha1 pie, Iruka proceeded to tell Gai almost the whole story of his last two days with Kakashi (minus some of the, um, juicier bits). Gai listened patiently and intently, then nodded sagely.
"Well, Iruka, my friend, I must say that I think you are over-reacting. I know it seems bad right now, but I'm sure Kakashi meant no harm. I have known him for a long time, my friend, and though he wants to keep everyone at arm's length, it is not really because he is careless or callous, it is simply because he is trying to protect himself. You are a kind and easy man to get along with, Iruka. Perhaps he thinks that he will become too attached to you, too quickly." In all honesty, though Kakashi was Gai's closest friend, he was such a private person that Gai wasn't sure what to think about the weekend's escapades. He knew though, that Kakashi wouldn't purposefully hurt a comrade, especially one as well-loved as Iruka.
Iruka considered this for a moment. "I understand that, Gai, really, I do. But then he shouldn't have gotten involved with me in the first place!"
"What if that is what he really wanted though?" Gai prodded Iruka gently, wanting to both comfort his new friend while still defending his best friend. That was a friend's duty, after all.
Iruka paused, thinking that through. "I wish it was, Gai, I do." Maybe, if I talk to him, I can clear things up. Then, he got up to clear the counter and added, "How about we concentrate on happier things, though? I'm glad to know you're here when I've got tough stuff going on, but Anko is going to come over to dinner tonight because she's helping me to get back at Genma this week," here he glanced slyly at Gai from the sink, "Would you like to join us?"
"Anko? The tokubetsu jounin with purple hair?"
"Mmhm," Iruka nodded, still washing dishes, "I've known her since her family moved in next to mine. She had just made genin and I was still an Academy brat. There's a lot of stigma surrounding her because of her ordeal with Orrochimaru, but I can assure you she was just a victim in that. I mean, don't people realise that she was just a kid that that bast—snake took advantage of? She's an exceptional kunoichi, a real survivor and one of my closest friends."
"You're really close, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Iruka finished rinsing the dishes and turned around to face Gai, leaning against the counter, "I guess our relationship could be somewhat comparable with yours and Kakashi's. She's been with me through everything and I with her. When we first met, we were best friends . . . . she loved to prank almost as much as me. We never got caught when we worked together, not that I got caught often even when I pranked alone, but . . . . Then, when I was orphaned and acted out, she was the only other person besides Sarutobi-sama who could get through to me—she was my sister. Then, when we got a bit older and she came back broken from what her sensei did, I was her confidant, her shoulder to cry on. Eventually we became lovers, but with all of our history, it was always a bit awkward. Now, she's my best friend and always will be, lifelong."
He stretched, moving back towards the island and leaning on it, he continued, "I think you'd like her. She pretends to be rough and tough, but she'd love a gallant gentleman like you. You know, chivalrous. She puts up a hard as nails façade to protect herself, but she always dreamed of a man who would sweep her off her feet when we were kids. I'm sorry it couldn't be me, she's a good friend and I want her to be happy, but you can't control your heart and mine has belonged to Kakashi since . . . . well, for a long time, anyways." Then, sighing, he added under his breath, "Years."
Gai watched him for a few seconds, then spoke, "I think you're right, my friend. We should think about happier things."
"All right," Iruka smiled, "While we're waiting for Anko, let me show you a new trick I learned."
"A jutsu?" Gai perked up at the thought of training, "Taijutsu perhaps?"
"No," Iruka laughed, imagining the chaos of training with his green-clad friend in such an enclosed space, "I don't want to ruin my apartment, Gai. It's just a coffee trick."
"A coffee trick, my friend?"
"Yeah. You up for another cup?" Iruka paused then, internally debating the pros and cons of giving Gai, of all people, an extra dose of caffeine. Then he shrugged, waiting for his response.
"I would love to see your new trick, my talented friend!" Gai almost reverted back into his exuberant persona and Iruka chuckled, questioning the caffeine issue again. He shrugged, then he poured them two more cups of coffee, fixing his with one sugar and motioning for Gai to fix his as he liked.
Next, he turned his attention to his task, getting a jar down from his cupboard and pouring some milk into it. Then he put the lid on, shook it for about thirty seconds, till there were lots of bubbles at the top and then he warmed the jar up with a katon jutsu for about another thirty seconds. Finally, he poured the warmed milk into the coffee, then scooped the foam onto the top. He added a sprinkle of cinnamon and chocolate shavings, then presented the cup to Gai with a flourish.
"I have not seen coffee like this before, my friend."
"Oh, it's specialty coffee, called a latte. I had one in the capital once. There is a special machine that makes the foam, but this works too."
"Mmm!" Gai grinned, foam covering his lip. "This is lovely!"
"Thanks, I enjoy them instead of tea once in awhile." Iruka smiled warmly, "You have a little, uh, foam on your um . . . ." he trailed off, indicating his lip. "How about we play a game of shoji until I have to make dinner?"
"Of course, my youthful friend! We shall while away the hours training our minds!"
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All things considered, Iruka thought the evening had gone rather well. He had enjoyed his shoji with Gai, Anko had loved the dango he'd made and they had hit it off rather nicely, if Iruka did say so himself. Iruka smiled. He was very satisfied with himself. He had managed to help bring two more of his friends together, he had decided that as soon as he saw Kakashi, he'd talk things through with him. That way, if things really didn't work out, at least he could say he'd tried.
As for tomorrow, he knew he'd have to start dressing more provocatively, if he wanted to convince that jackass Genma that he'd lost one of the hottest things in Konoha. However, he couldn't very well wear civilian clothes to work. So he'd had some thinking to do.
Iruka had decided to forego his vest that week, at least at the missions desk—but he'd have to stay in his standard uniform at the Academy—he did have a reputation after all. In addition to losing the vest, he'd requested several new uniforms . . . . he'd just ordered them a size or two smaller than he usually wore. Normally he wore his hair up as well, but he's also decided to wear it down that week, again, mostly at the missions desk and outside of school. Who knew, maybe it would cut down on his headaches too. Finally, he wasn't going to wear his forehead protector on his forehead—he'd also requested fingerless gloves, wristbands and a weapons pouch with the Leaf insignia to demonstrate his allegiance instead. Since he had two village-bound jobs during the school year, that was all right. It was only regulation that he was required to wear the headband and his dog tags when he left the village and he mostly only took out-of-town missions during the winter, summer and spring breaks at the Academy anyways. He had toyed with the idea of wearing his old scabbard strapped across his back, but had nixed the thought after contemplating what his students could do to him if they got their hands on a sword (not that any student had or ever would get the jump on him—he was one of the best damn Academy senseis that Konoha had ever seen).
Content, Iruka settled down for the night and fell into a much more peaceful slumber than he'd thought possible morning.
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Monday had gone exceedingly well. Genma's jaw had hit the floor when Iruka walked in the missions room that afternoon, chocolate coloured hair free around his shoulders, disarming and genuine smile adorning his face as he talked with Anko and Gai, with a snug uniform showing off his tight ass and toned abs. The smaller uniform also had pants that hit just below his hipbones and they showed off a little strip of tanned skin and the barest hint of hair under his navel when he moved and the shirt rode up just a fraction. Honestly, he was a little self-conscious at first, but he had to admit, that after a while, he'd started to enjoy the admiring stares he'd been getting all day. Damn, he'd even gotten a couple of wolf whistles out of a pair of Inuzukas'.
When he'd gotten up today, he'd been in a stellar mood. He donned his new uniform, then made breakfast. When he was ready to go, he'd given himself a quick look in the mirror, doing a once-over to make sure he looked all right. He sighed, his mood deflating just a bit. Too bad the person he wanted to impress hadn't been anywhere to be found at all yesterday. Sure, the reason he'd started this was to get back at Genma and prove that he was in the same league as him, just as desirable and all—but after his weekend with Kakashi, it had morphed more into getting Kakashi to notice him, if he admitted it to himself.
With that final thought, he headed off to the market for a quick stop before going to work. He knew it was an Academy day, so he didn't have as much time to go to the market, but he really wanted some fresh apples for lunch and he'd run out after making the turn-overs the other day. He also made sure to pick up a flower for Anko, he'd be sure to give it to her when Genma was watching. Still, he wanted it to mean something more than one of their usual pranks. They were friends and she was helping him out, after all—it was just a bonus if Genma saw it as him courting her.
Iruka picked out a single pink carnation. He thought that buying a single flower, or only a few, but making sure that it had a meaning behind it was much more powerful than simply buying a huge bouquet with no thought. Pink carnations meant gratitude—he knew and he knew Anko would too, but for most (like that jerk he used to call boyfriend), pink was a girly, romantic colour. It was perfect!
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Flash forward (back to the present time) . . . .
Kakashi had proofread his report and made sure it was clean, then rolled it up and put it in his pouch for safekeeping. It was almost the end of the day now, and Iruka had left his classroom. Kakashi wondered why he hadn't already come out the front doors yet. It never took him this long simply to walk down the hall, unless he was talking to a colleague or parent, and Kakashi couldn't sense anyone else's chakra near the teacher. He waited impatiently, drumming his fingers against his leg and sighing dramatically. Finally, Iruka emerged from the Academy and Kakashi saw why he'd taken so long. The man had changed his clothes and, Daaaaamn!
Kakashi stared. Then stared some more. Iruka's satchel, usually carried in his hand like a briefcase, was slung carelessly over one shoulder, more like a messenger bag and he was walking with a confident bounce in his step, but still, that wasn't what immediately caught Kakashi's attention. Nor was it the dazzling smile, friendly waves and head nods at passers-by. No, what got Kakashi's attention was the way Iruka was dressed. Again, Daaaamn, but that sensei was hot. H-o-t, HAWT! I always knew it, but then again, I've been watching him closely. Hot, hot, hot. How'm I feeling, hot, hot, hot! Kakashi licked his lips, lifting a hand to his face and using the back of it to wipe absently at the drool that had escaped his mouth. Then he realized something and lamented to himself, Aw! Now everyone's going to know how damn good-looking he is. And I wanted to keep it to myself, too. He sighed. At least I've already got him. So there, all of you other people! Well . . . . sort of. Kakashi reflected back on the situation. Then he decided that it didn't matter—he was here to fix it today so it didn't matter anyways. Then he noticed the flower in Iruka's hand and he paused. Who's that for?
Intrigued now, Kakashi continued with his plan to follow Iruka, but was more careful that habitually not to get caught. He wanted to see whom the hell that flower was for. As he followed, though, he didn't mind the view and he definitely appreciated the new uniform. And, oh, was it formed! Formed directly onto that hot, tight body—so form-fitting in fact, that Kakashi could literally see each ripple of Iruka's muscles through the skin-tight fabric. He could also make out Iruka's ass through the thin pants and oooh! Kami—he wasn't wearing underwear again, or if he was, then it didn't cover much, because Kakashi couldn't see the bulge of boxers or the line of briefs! Kakashi began to salivate all over again. He was mesmerised by that round, firm butt as each step sent delicious undulations through the defined muscles of Iruka's legs. A strong wave of lust washed over Kakashi. Then the missions room door closed behind Iruka and cut him off. Kakashi followed him in quickly, only to see Iruka head over to the corner where the door to the jounin offices were and lean in to whisper something to Anko.
Kakashi watched as Iruka and Anko both looked over to where Genma was watching them with a scowl on his face. Then Iruka did something unthinkable! He placed a hand on the wall and moved even closer to Anko, kissing her gently on the cheek and presenting her with the single pink flower he'd been carrying. Kakashi saw red, and he was about to storm over there when he was stopped by a hand firmly grasped on his arm. He turned to the offender, ready to tear whomever it was a new one when he saw Gai.
His best friend removed the hand quickly, sensing Kakashi's dire mood. "I'm sorry, my friend, but I don't think you should go over there right now."
"Oh?" he sneered, "And why the hell not?"
"Calm yourself, my friend, it is but a ruse."
Kakashi glared at Gai for a while, then finally gave in as he watched Iruka take a seat at his desk. "A ruse?"
Gai nodded. "A ruse."
"Gai, if you don't give me more information, and I mean five minutes ago, I'll rip you to—"
"My most hip and youthful rival, there is no need for tha—"
"Gai," warned Kakashi.
"Okay, okay," Gai waved his hands in front of himself, then proceeded to explain Iruka's situation with Genma. He finished with, "So don't mess it up for him, Kakashi. He's a great guy and even though he is both capable and has a healthy self-esteem, he deserves this confidence boost and could use it too, after all the things his ex said to him. He uh . . . . needs to talk to you though, and preferably soon but not right now. Oh, and don't worry about Anko-san. They're more like brother and sister really, and um, actually . . . ." the green beast of Konoha trailed off, looking at his shuffling feet.
"Maito Gai, are you blushing?" Kakashi asked, relieved by his friend's explanation.
"Well, I might have a rendezvous with Iruka's lovely friend when this is all over at the end of the week . . . ." He fiddled with his hands, glancing at Anko nervously.
Kakashi smiled. "Good for you Gai. I'm glad."
TBC. . . .
