Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto…

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Chapter 2

A confused Kakashi awoke to an unfamiliar room. Sky blue ceilings and pastel yellow walls greeted him. Sunlight peeked in from the small window on his right. It was a small room, clean, simply furnished and neat. Yes neat, totally unlike Kakashi's own messy apartment.

The last thing Kakashi remembered was Tsunade forcing him to be looked after by Umino Iruka.

This sure doesn't look like a hospital. So they whisked me off to Iruka's apartment while I was asleep huh?

A scowl played across his face. It had been a long time since he had slept so soundly that he lost all awareness of his surroundings. Kakashi did not like feeling defenseless, it made him vulnerable.

A low rumbling in his stomach reminded him that he had neglected it for a long time.

Damn… now where is that Iruka? Isn't he supposed to play nurse and meet my every need?

A disgruntled Iruka was currently making breakfast in the kitchen. Muttering strings of curses under his breath, he recalled the conversation he had with the Hokage just this morning, a mere two hours ago.
Iruka was an early riser. He felt as a teacher at the academy, he was duty-bound to wake up before everyone else and arrive just as the gate to the academy opened.

He had just finished his morning rituals when he heard a knock on his door.

To his surprise, Tsunade stood at the doorway, with a bright smile on her face. Without waiting for an invitation, she unceremoniously swept into his house.

"Morning Iruka, Now this may seem a little abrupt to you so I suggest you sit down for a while" Tsunade motioned a bewildered Iruka to sit.

"I'm sure you would have heard by now that Hatake Kakashi had been badly injured during his mission."

Only someone as perceptive as Tsunade would have noticed Iruka clench his fists involuntary.

"I've heard, he should be alright, shouldn't he? I mean… he's one of Konoha's most skilled warriors…"

"Oh, don't worry, he's alright now. Well, I should just cut straight to the point. You, Iruka are going to take care of Kakashi in the period that he is still recovering and are to report his progress to me."

Huh?

HUH?

HUH? HUH? HUH? WHY ME!

Almost as if she could read minds, Tsunade answered Iruka's unspoken question. "Because I get to see you everyday so you could report to me. Because you live alone and have a spare room for Kakashi. Because I trust you and I know you are the right person for this. And oh yes, I've taken the liberty to moved your early morning lessons to later so that you would have time to settle Kakashi in before you leave."

"But…"

"Alright, if there isn't anything else, I'll be going. See you at the academy in awhile." With that, Tsunade swept out of the apartment, leaving a dumbfounded Iruka, staring in horror as two ANBU carried a soundly asleep Kakashi into his spare room.

Iruka felt as if his whole world was turned upside down. But as reality sank in bit by bit, Iruka knew that there was no escaping this.

Hatake Kakashi. He's the most unsettling person I've met. Somehow, it seems as if he's always trying to throw me off guard.

For this reason, Iruka tried to avoid Kakashi as much as possible. He still remembered the incident when he had questioned Kakashi's authority when he had nominated Team 7 for the chuunin exam. Iruka had gone cold then. He forgot that he was only a chuunin and did not have the right to question higher jounins. He forgot that Hokage-sama was present. He forgot everything except the fear that he would lose the ones he tried so hard to protect again.

Iruka had lashed out at Kakashi. Kakashi had merely given him chillingly cold answers that had shocked Iruka to the bone. And yet... and yet, somehow deep inside, Iruka knew that Kakashi did not entirely mean what he said. He knew Kakashi value his team more then just mere shinobi, tools for his use.

Ah, no point dwelling in this now. Better hurry and prepare breakfast before the patient awakes.

Humming a soft tune, Iruka deftly flipped a few pancakes, all signs of displeasure gone.

He was interrupted by an annoyed shout coming from the guest room. "Oi! Iruka-sensei! Where the hell are you? I want my breakfast!"

Sighing, Iruka cleaned his hand on the towel before pasting a bright smile on his face, all set to tackle the impossible Kakashi.

Sorry the chapter is so short! Having a little trouble trying to define Kakashi's and Iruka's character, especially what they think about each other. wistful sighs how I love iruka and kakashi!