Title: Eight Lovers
Author: Sekiseishi
Rating: T
Pairing: Hatake Kakashi x Umino Iruka
Theme: Lover
c. Masashi Kishimoto
A/N: This drabble is dedicated to my newest reviewers: ZeldaFitz and Reily! And some familiar faces whom I love so much: happychica, MeeLee, necrophile, and EoS!
The streets were lined with people, all eager to get their shopping done as early as they could so they could get home to their families or rush to work. Civilians spilled out of doorways leading to the precious beverages that contained so much caffeine necessary for their every-day functions; the scent barely detectable from the street as people of all shapes and sizes and occupations passed each other with barely a glance or greeting to be found.
Kakashi looked down at them all, literally, of course, the people he'd sworn to protect with his life, even if it cost him his happiness. Coincidentally, the same people his lover swore to protect with his own life.
He sighed, looking at the lazy sun as it rose upon the already bustling village, bright and yellow and gay as a songbird. Untouchable and so high up no one had any chance of reaching it, not even the small children cupping their hands around rays of light only they saw, trying to catch and tame the elusive ball of flames.
Kakashi chuckled, shielding his eyes from the strengthening light. He hadn't been like those children, splaying their fingers towards the unattainable. He'd been a more complicated child than they, born into a shinobi family. He was taught the ways of the ninja early in life, the most memorable being to 'find your opponent's weakness'. It was simple, really. In order to catch the sun, he had to lure it in with what was precious to it.
The stories his mother told him as a child wondered through his mind and he remembered that while the other children his age tried to confront the sun directly, Kakashi went straight for it's weakness. Instead of standing in the heat of the mocking flame, he stood in the cool of night, reaching for the moon, the sun's lover and sometimes sister depending on the context. Despite what the moon was called, though, he'd always heard the story as the two being so very close to each other.
Of course, he was unable to catch the moon, just as the other children were unable to catch the sun. He laughed at the memory, Iruka immediately coming to mind. The risk of a shinobi was something he knew well. Like the sun, however, he was willing to accept that risk and to keep the danger as far from his lover as he was able. There were exceptions, always, but he'd staved off of more of Ebisu's advances than he cared to count, so he figured he was doing something right.
A/N: Yay! Another chapter! Sorry it took so long. I had a death, but kicked it out the door when I decided I wanted to give you all an early present. I may have another up tomorrow, but no promises.
Happy holidays to you all!
And yay, EoS! I have a Bleach story up! I am so very proud I finally got up to doing one. XD Love to you all!