Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the characters.
Last time: Gai reassures Iruka and Kakashi that everything will turn out all right—they still haven't spoken to clear things up, but they haven't given up on each other—now it's only a matter of time. Plus, Gai and Anko hit it off really well over dinner at Iruka's.
Author's note: So, Beni is an OC, but it's such a bit part that it really shouldn't matter. I couldn't think of anyone else from the Naruto-verse that I thought was suitable for this list, (and my intents and purposes) but I needed it to be longer.
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Kakashi talked with Gai for a little longer, getting more details out of him about the situation between Iruka and Genma. Aside from wanting to strangle the bastard for hurting his Ruka, he had decided that he would stay out of Iruka's way for the next few weeks to give him a chance to prove that dick wrong. After all, Kakashi had waited this long for him, what harm could a few more weeks do? He knew Iruka would win that bet, after all, you don't spend years watching someone and not notice how smoking hot they are . . . . and it wasn't just that, he reflected, Iruka could have anyone he wanted because anyone could be happy with him—he was just the kind of person that made you feel welcome, at home and loved. It was one of the things Kakashi himself loved the most about Iruka. It would be hard to wait, yeah, but from what Gai said, Iruka was as lost on him as he was on Iruka. At that thought, Kakashi laughed to himself, shaking his head at how much time they'd lost because each thought the other was on an entirely different page when, in fact, they wanted nothing more than each other (and had for a long time, apparently). If Kakashi had known how Iruka felt before, he would have jumped him ages ago. Oh well, they could always make up for lost time later.
Kakashi pouffed away, deciding to hand in his mission report when Iruka wasn't on duty, so he wouldn't distract him.
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Iruka had been watching Kakashi and Gai out of the corner of his eye for a while when Gai made his way over to Iruka, a large grin on his face. Kakashi remained alone for a while, then seemed to chuckle, shoot a glance at Iruka, and then pouf away. Iruka was a little disappointed, after all, he still wanted to talk to Kakashi—but at least he knew that Kakashi hadn't dropped off the face of the planet.
When Gai got closer, he skipped the line and went directly to Iruka's side. He scooted behind the desk and began to help sort out some of Iruka's paperwork, so other shinobi wouldn't yell at him for jumping the line, but giving himself a chance to talk to his friend.
Iruka smiled gratefully at him, then spoke, "So, should I be worried?"
Gai's grin got even wider, "Actually, my fair friend, Kakashi was rather disturbed that you were behaving so familiarly with Anko-san. I don't think he liked to ponder that you were perhaps courting her."
"But I'm not!"
"You are making it look like that, though. Worry not, though, Iruka, I told him all about your bet with Genma."
Iruka looked petrified. "You did?"
"Yes, my friend. You were honest with me and I thought it best to be honest with Kakashi."
"Well, I suppose, but what if he thinks . . . ." Iruka trailed off, listing the possibilities in his head; What if Kakashi thought he was being petty? Or slutty? Iruka shuddered. What if he thought Genma was right? Iruka didn't think he could handle it if Kakashi thought he was undesirable—Genma he didn't really care anymore—the jackass was the farthest thing from his mind but Kakashi? The man he'd wanted even before Genma? He really hoped this damn bet didn't put a damper on their new relationship—or this thing, whatever they had that Iruka prayed might become a relationship. Iruka was so lost in his thoughts, in fact, that he missed part of what Gai was saying.
"—ing to be out of town for the next little while." He stopped speaking and looked expectantly at Iruka.
"Oh?" Iruka shook his head a little to clear it. "You're going on a long mission?"
"Yes. Would you tell Anko that I look forward to seeing her upon my return?"
"Of course, Gai. And don't worry, she'll be glad to see you too and I'll take care of her while you're gone."
"I know. You are a wonderful brother Iruka, I wish that I had a family like the one you've managed to create with Anko and Naruto—you're like glue that holds everyone together even through the roughest of storms."
"I don't know, Gai. Sometimes I think I hold on a little too tight."
"Nonsense, Iruka. People love to know they are needed, wanted and cared for. Look at your situation with Genma."
"Mmmm. I suppose so. But what do I do about Kakashi now?" Iruka looked up at Gai, with a little bit of a lost look on his face, only one step shy of open pleading.
A thoughtful look crossed Gai's face. "I think you shouldn't worry about it. Go on with your day-to-day activities. These things have a way of working themselves out. I have feeling that one day soon, you and Kakashi will sort things out and spend forever together, my friend."
"I hope so." Iruka shuffled some papers to his out-box and placed a sign-card on his desk. Two hours moved quickly when you're busy. Then he turned back to Gai, "I have an hour's dinner break. How about joining me for ramen before you head off on your mission?"
"I would love to. There's nothing like being sent off by a friend and enjoying the local cuisine before going out of town. The warm memories will keep my FLAMES of YOUTH BURNING BRIGHT when I am away!" Gai reverted into the persona he portrayed to the outside world as they left the missions' office and Iruka hid a small grin with a shake of his head. He really had the best friends—maybe a little crazy, but hey—they were shinobi.
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After dinner, Iruka headed to the missions' office again and Gai left to pack for his mission. Iruka was a little disappointed when he returned to find, on his desk, a mission report signed by Kakashi. Hmm, is he purposefully avoiding me? Then he decided that no, he wasn't going to dwell on it. Gai seemed to think they would end up together and he knew Kakashi best so . . . . Iruka would have faith. Besides, he still handed the report in to me and it's pristine! Iruka grinned. I always knew he could do these properly—he was just putting on airs to piss me off. Now that I'm sure though, that man will never again get away with handing in a sub-par report! Iruka thought back to all the mission reports he'd gotten from the silver-haired jounin and he realized that it was only after the chuunin-exam incident that Kakashi began handing his reports in only to him and that it was shortly thereafter that the quality of the reports began to decline. He startled a bit when he realized what that could mean. Has he been interested that long? Wow—that's as bad as me. How exactly did we not notice this going on? I must be the densest—
Iruka's thoughts were cut off as Genma bumped into him roughly on the way to his own desk. Iruka glared. Then he returned to his work, effectively ignoring Genma for the rest of the evening. He would not let that prick ruin his day.
Genma, for his part, glowered the entire evening, completely put out by the fact that not only could Iruka completely ignore him; but no one else seemed able to ignore the adorable (and tightly dressed) chuunin. Genma's mood soured more every time someone let their hand linger just a little too long on Iruka's, when the kunoichi batted their eyelashes at him and especially when Anko came to pick him up at the end of their shift and they walked off hand-in-hand. Genma stormed off towards the bar after watching them go.
Up in his tree, overlooking the windows of the missions' room, Kakashi laughed to himself. It looked like his delectable chuunin was doing quite the number on the adult population of shinobi of Konoha. Sure, if he admitted to himself, he was more than a little jealous that everyone got to flirt with his man while he had to wait until Iruka won his bet; though watching Genma squirm, sulk and stew at least made up for it a little bit. How could you be so blind, Genma? Oh well, your loss, my gain. Kakashi got up to follow Iruka home.
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The rest of the week passed in a similar manner. Kakashi always watched over Iruka, but from a distance, still convinced he needed to win his bet before they hooked back up. Iruka sometimes sensed Kakashi lurking, but was comforted by his presence even if he was a little annoyed that he would follow him so diligently while still managing to avoid him completely. Figuring that at least Kakashi was still there, Iruka went about his days, getting more comfortable and bold in his new clothes and really—who knew that the prim and proper sensei would have such a capable and foxy inner-flirt? Well, Kakashi sure knew and apparently so did half of Konoha, civilian and shinobi alike, because all week Genma heard and had to suffer through comments of, "I haven't seen this side of you in years, Iruka!"
Or, "Back to your old ways, you sly prankster?"
And, "Come on, Iruka, isn't it bad enough you were such a shameless flirt when we were teenagers? You've got everyone all wound up and you're leaving no one for me!"
Iruka would just smile, sometimes apologising, sometimes ribbing his admirers just a little; but always turning down invitations for dates and such, saying he already had someone special in mind. This pleased Kakashi to no end when he heard it, but only spurred on Genma's anger.
Genma stared, sullen, arms crossed over his chest from across the room as Iruka let down yet another suitor gently, insisting that he was taken. He can't be. He's lying. I left him. I dropped his ass, there's no way he can have anyone, Genma fumed, conveniently forgetting that it was indeed Iruka who had left him after he'd insulted the man. It couldn't be Anko, he mused, there's obviously something there and they've definitely been involved but it sure as hell wasn't recently. He wouldn't stare off into spaced all zoned-out and trance-like for someone he was seeing and flirting with every day. No, it has to be someone else to make him daydream like that.
Genma had finally had enough and he marched over to Iruka purposefully. Stepping in front of the first shinobi in Iruka's line, he jabbed a finger in Iruka's space. "That's it. This is enough of this crap. You're not that good at flirting. There's no way you're getting all of this attention without cheating. I know you've been involved with Anko already, haven't you? That's why it was so easy this week. Well, I've got news for you, Iruka. That doesn't count! Neither does Gai because . . . . because . . . . well, be—" he spluttered, finding no fault with Iruka's win there, but not willing to admit that.
Iruka, having no qualms about being polite to this jerk anymore, cut Genma off. "Fine, whatever. You can say whatever you want and think it too if that makes you feel better. But I know the truth and sure, Anko and I may have been involved at one point, but you and she never were, so as far as I'm concerned you can shove off. I know you've seen how many offers I've gotten this week and we both know you haven't had half as many—if any at all."
Genma started to say something, but was cut off again by Iruka standing up and putting a hand out in a 'stop,' gesture. "No, Genma, I don't want to hear it. If you still think that you can best me then just go ahead and try. What do you want to do next? Because I will rise to any challenge and crush you. But I haven't got forever to do it—I have a life to get on with and someone waiting for me to be done with you."
Genma turned bright red, "You can't have someone! I know it. This next week will be different. This will be a race—you can start with whoever you want, but by the end of the week, whichever one of us has had a date with the most people wins. Here's the list: Shizune, Ayame, Jiraiya, Raidou, Tenten, Temari, Kurenai, Yamato, Kiba, Shino, Tsunade, Beni and Ibiki. That's over a dozen to choose from. Have fun." He sneered the last part, finally allowing the annoyed shinobi behind him (Konohamaru, very recently graduated to chuunin) to push him out of the way indignantly.
"Yo, Iruka-oji," Konohamaru slouched over the desk, (now that he was out of school, he reverted to what he used to call Iruka; since his mother had practically grown up with Iruka after the Kyuubi attack, because of his grandfather, they were like family) and leaning on his elbows, he continued, "What the hell was that about?"
"Kono-kun, watch your language," Iruka chided, shoving his adopted-nephew's elbows off the counter, "that's rude."
"But what's his deal, Iruka-oji? I mean, he was, like, really nasty! Did he dump you?!" At that thought, Konohamaru's eyes got comically wide in indignance, ""Cuz if he did, I'll totally tell the boss and we'll get him good for ya, Iruka-oji! No one hurts my precious people!"
Iruka smiled, patting his nephew's hand reassuringly. "Don't worry, Kono-kun, it's nothing I can't handle. You aren't losing faith in your old Oji-sensei, after all, now are you?"
Konohamaru hmmph'd off-handedly, "Well, you know we've got your back, right?"
"Of course. Now, what can I do for you today?"
"I neeeed something to do, Oji. My team hasn't gotten any missions recently. I'll take anything, even a stupid solo D-rank cleaning gutters or whatever! I'm just sooo bored!" Konohamaru tugged at his hair.
"All right, Konohamaru. How about this? Go and find your teammates and I'll scrounge up a C-rank for the lot of you." Iruka started riffling through the folders in his top drawer.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I should have one somewhere here," Iruka murmured, waving Konohamaru off.
After he'd left, Iruka found an appropriate mission and put it to the side to save for the young chuunin. Then he cleared his line quickly and efficiently and sat back to contemplate the list Genma had given him. There were a few names on it that he hadn't anticipated, but not many. He knew how Genma thought and he went over each name again.
Shizune, Ayame, Jiraiya and Ibiki he'd expected, for the same reasons he'd already discussed with Gai. He figured he'd try all of them, just to show Genma up, since he knew he could manage each of them—even if certain ones might be a bit of a challenge.
Tenten, Kiba and Shino, he knew, were because Genma wanted to make him feel bad—they were his former students and Genma thought Iruka might take issue with that. Honestly , Iruka did see it as a little bit of an obstacle, but not a problem per se. He was a good person and a professional when it came to his job, so he would never even entertain the idea of a relationship with a current student—they were underage and off-limits—he was bi-sexual, not a depraved lunatic. Also, he was hesitant even at the idea of former students, but he supposed he could get over that since they were all of age and no longer his kids. Besides, given their chosen careers, he'd started teaching really early in life and some of his ex-pupils weren't all that much younger than him. Naruto was like his little brother, and if they were close enough in age to be actual siblings, it couldn't be that bad if he dated someone their age. The boys were only nine years or so his junior and his own parents had been seven years apart. Plus, for Tenten the age gap was even smaller and they were all colleagues now—equals.
Iruka snickered to himself—little did Genma know that Kiba was actually one of the shinobi who'd made an advance on him that week. He really was a cheeky little bugger and Inuzukas weren't particularly known for their tact. He knew he'd have a date with Kiba by the end of his shift—he and Naruto were due back from their joint mission today and most of his former students preferred to turn in reports to him—if for nothing other than nostalgia and since Naruto was paired with Kiba for their last assignment, there was absolutely no question that he'd see them later. Even if they all preferred Iruka, most students would hand in their reports to someone else when they had to, but not Naruto—no, he was as single-minded as Kakashi about that and never turned in a report to anyone other than his big brother, even if that meant it had to be a little late sometimes. But, Iruka reflected, as opposed to Kakashi, Naruto always made sure to hand over absolutely impeccable reports (given his personality, that made Iruka smile every time).
Now . . . . Kurenai would be all right too. After all, she was Asuma's widow and Iruka hadn't checked up on her or the little one in quite a while. He was sure they'd appreciate a home-cooked meal from their adopted giri-no-ani slash oji. If Genma construed it as a date, well, that was just a bonus.
Raidou was no surprise, Iruka knew Genma probably just include him because he wanted to get into his pants, but he also knew that his friend was too smart to fall for an idiot like Genma; so he'd score that point too.
Temari, Tsunade, Beni and Yamato were more surprising. Not impossible, but Iruka was a little puzzled as to why Genma included them at all. He figured that he could meet up with Temari and talk about Shikamaru, since he knew the lazy brunet was after her. He thought they'd be good for each other—they complemented each other nicely and he did love to play matchmaker. Again, if Genma construed it as a date, well, that was his problem, not Iruka's.
Tsunade might be little awkward at first, but just as he had been with the Sandaime, Iruka was surprisingly (though it was not well known) close to the current Hokage. After all, they did have one infuriating, lovable and irrepressible little brother in common. Actually, Iruka had a standing 'appointment' with their leader once a week when he brought in cookies and she a bottle of sake and they bonded over their crazy stories of the week. He knew he could convince her to be a little louder about their rendezvous so Genma would think it was a date if he told her the situation. Tsunade had a surprisingly similar sense of humour to Iruka's own and she had a bit of a vicious streak too; which she would no doubt love to exercise on Genma—she'd been telling Iruka to drop him for months because as she put it, Iruka could do so much better.
Finally, there was Beni and Yamato. Iruka wasn't sure he wanted to go anywhere near Yamato, only for the fact that he was so close to Kakashi. That might get a little touchy, even if Yamato was nice enough and not bad looking. Iruka wanted Kakashi and he wanted that to be perfectly clear. Still, if Yamato had any insight on Kakashi like Gai did, that could prove to be helpful.
As for Beni, well, Iruka had never been entirely sure, but he thought that perhaps they were distantly related cousins, since her family was one of the reasons his father's family had decided to settle in Konoha rather than elsewhere when they fled their previous home. She wasn't dumb enough to get mixed up with Genma, so Iruka didn't have to worry about her going over to the idiotic side. Maybe they could catch up about old times with their families and pass it off as a date.
Overall, Iruka had Kiba, Raidou, Kurenai and Tsunade right off the bat. He was also pretty sure he could get Shizune, Ayame, Jiraiya, Tenten, Temari, Shino, Beni, Yamato and Ibiki to count for him with a little work. This next week was going to be a whirlwind, but the business would be more than worth the fun of leaving Genma with not a single date! He could relax later—right now he had a bet to win!
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Kakashi continued to watch through the window. He smirked. Having followed Iruka around like a faithful puppy for the last few years, he knew his chuunin already had Raidou, Kurenai and Tsunade before the games even began and he was fairly certain he'd watched Kiba ask the teacher out just yesterday morning. That was four points scored for his hot brunet off the hop!
Next, Kakashi figured that Shizune, Ayame, Beni, Shino, Tenten, Temari and Ibiki would be easy for him, since he had connections there too. That didn't mean Kakashi couldn't make it even easier for his delectable chuunin—after all he was on good terms with Ibiki too and he could just imagine Genma's face when Iruka didn't even have to go after the man, but he was pursued instead. Of course, he'd have to be careful not to get caught, Iruka was fiercely independent and like to stand on his own tow feet. However, Kakashi didn't feel too bad—after all—Iruka could get them all on his own if he tried, Kakashi was certain, but he still wanted to help. Yamato would be game, especially as soon as he found out how much Iruka meant to Kakashi and if he talked to Jiraiya, he could save the teacher a little work there too. He rubbed his hands together gleefully, happy to cause some trouble for the ass that hurt his Ruka. It was time to get this damn bet out of his way!
TBC . . . .
