Disclaimer: I lay claim only to my family, cat, house and car.
Sorry, no pictorial inspiration for this chapter. Concerning the last part of this chapter: I just couldn't help myself. Enjoy!
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Chapter 7
Kakashi wasn't fooling himself. Life had made him a realist and in the past few months he'd come to realize that he had in fact bypassed being friends with Iruka and had gone straight to wanting more from the man. It had been a long time since he had wanted to actually be with someone. There were the rare one-night stands or moments of comfort between colleagues, but Kakashi had not wanted to share his life with someone for a very long time.
His early induction into the upper ranks of the shinobi and the losses he'd had to bear stunted that part of his heart that craved love and affection. Staying alive and keeping those around him safe had become his reason to live. But now…
Could you want someone like me, Iruka? I know you've suffered losses in your life too, but somehow you still seem……untainted. Could you accept me….scars, wounded heart and all?
Kakashi remained on the tree branch observing the teacher through the window in his classroom, sending his silent questions to the man, hoping he would somehow hear him and look his way, just once, and smile. After an hour Kakashi sighed and left to meet Team 7 at their appointed place, his usual two hours late.
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Iruka didn't know how, but he sensed the presence of the jounin sitting in the tree outside the school. He used all his strength to ignore the man he knew was watching him and taught his lesson, hoping that Kakashi would eventually get bored and leave.
Why is he just sitting there? He should be with Naruto and the others!
A few moments later, a stroke of luck in the form of one of his female students getting caught primping herself during class landed a pocket mirror in his possession which he was able to strategically place to make spying on the voyeuristic ninja much easier.
What? He's not even reading his precious book? What is he up to? Well, I will not give him the satisfaction of distracting me during class.
Iruka felt the small pulse of chakra when Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke and that was when he allowed himself to look up at the empty tree branch and smile at the dissipating tendrils of smoke.
Ha! That'll teach you to spy on me.
Iruka's triumph at withstanding Kakashi's stare was short-lived however. For the rest of the day he found himself glancing up at the empty tree branch, wishing he'd find a mop of messy white hair and a smug smile concealed under a mask. But Kakashi never reappeared that day and it left Iruka feeling disappointed and he couldn't figure out why.
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Depending on who you were, you either saw the time of day as very late at night, or very early in the morning. But no matter what time of day you saw it as, there was no mistaking the scene playing out in the darkened streets of Konoha. Two men, both respected by their peers for the way they carried themselves both professionally and personally, were staggering down a deserted street, drunk, happy and sleepy.
Asuma and Genma had taken Iruka out to celebrate his birthday and the trio whooped it up in their favorite bar, joined intermittently by various well wishers until the owner finally pushed them out the front door so he could close.
The friends didn't make it more than three steps from the front door of the bar before Hayate showed up, offering to see Genma home since he was in the opposite direction of Iruka's and Asuma's homes. No one had thought anything of the sudden arrival of Hayate, their minds slowed considerably thanks to the large quantity of alcohol they'd consumed.
So Asuma and Iruka waved goodbye to Genma and Hayate and made their way home to their respective apartments.
"Hey, Asma?"
The older man cringed at his drunken friend's slurring of his name.
"Yeah?"
"You think Genma will ever figure out how much Hayate reeeeally likes him?"
Asuma scoffed at Iruka's question. Unbelievable. He's asking if Genma will ever open his eyes when he himself is blind as a bat. Not that that senbon-sucking idiot would ever be brave enough to tell Iruka.
"I doubt it. I think Hayate will have to take things into his own hands."
Iruka giggled and Asuma looked over to see him strolling along with a grin on his face.
"What about you, Iruka?"
Iruka turned big brown eyes to Asuma, looking like an innocent child.
"Hmm? Me?"
"Yeah. Is there anybody you really like?"
Iruka suddenly burst out laughing, holding his midsection as he staggered in a halting zigzag pattern.
"Are you serious?! What are we…..ten? Is there a note you need me to pass during study break?"
Asuma had stopped and watched as Iruka kept walking down the dimly lit street, lost in his own perceived hilarity. That's what I was afraid of.
Looking over to see if his friend was enjoying the joke as much as he was, Iruka turned to his right only to find himself alone.
"Huh?"
He whirled, a little too quickly and wobbled as he did an about-face to find Asuma several yards behind.
"Asma? Why'd you stop?"
Asuma rolled his eyes and started to slowly and carefully close the distance between them. He clapped a strong hand on Iruka's shoulder causing the drunken birthday boy to lean heavily in that direction.
"You're a good friend, a good ninja and a good teacher. And if the situation ever called for it, I would lay down my life for you. But you're as much of an oblivious fool as that senbon-sucking idiot and I pity the person who wants to pass you notes during study break. Happy birthday, and goodnight."
Iruka watched in bewilderment as his dear friend turned and made his way slowly down the street. What just happened? Iruka replayed Asuma's words, his brow furrowed as he concentrated on every word:
"You're a good friend…ninja…teacher…I would…..pass you notes during study break….Happy birthday…"
Suddenly his face brightened and he ran after his friend, hugging the larger man from behind.
"Thank you, Asma. You're a good friend."
The jounin blinked a few times, wondering why his friend was hugging him and what he was being thanked for. Not able to come up with anything, he pat the hands on his chest and a sleepy smile curved his lips.
"I'm glad you had a nice birthday, Iruka. Now stop hugging me before someone sees us."
To be continued…..