Thank you again one and all for reviewing :) Hiei's Gothic Angel, of course I remember you:) reki-chan, yay! I love vanyel and all the valdemar series! And yes, here I am, continuing the story, all thanks to people like all of you who reviewed and encouraged me to write more :)

Disclaimer: no, I do not own Naruto or any of their characters. I only own the story line. :)

Chapter 8

This was the happiest week of Iruka's life. He couldn't remember another time when he was so blissfully happy and contended.

Kakashi was a demanding lover, often keeping both of them awake until the wee hours of the morning. Kakashi was also a considerate lover, never doing anything that Iruka did not agree with and always bringing Iruka over the edge of desire before crashing down into his own release. But above all, Kakashi was an experienced lover and Iruka was pleasured like he had never before. The lovemaking often ended with Iruka screaming out Kakashi's name.

Kakashi had "moved" into Iruka's bed and they would sleep, cuddled together, with Iruka's head lying on Kakashi's chest and Kakashi's strong thighs trapping Iruka's legs. Iruka was glad that the bed was small. It meant that they could be closer to each other.

"Kakashi?"

"Mmhmm?"

"Kakashi."

"Whaa...?"

"I just wanna know... why me? Why did you choose me? I mean, I'm just a chuunin and I'm sure there are many more handsome and attractive shinobis around."

"Mmhm..." Kakashi opened one sleepy eye. Iruka's touseled hair was soft and silky beneath his fingers. He absentmindedly stroked it as he answered.

"Kakashi...?"

"I don't know. Why? Is it important?"

Iruka stiffened, he didn't know what to say. Did Kakashi think it was important? Of course it was bloody important! There's got to be a reason why Kakashi is sleeping with him! Iruka felt like throttling the jounin. Did the copy-ninja think he was a mere toy? An easy prey? Drat that man! Iruka threw Kakashi a death-threatening stare in the darkness only to realize that the jounin had promptly fallen asleep.

BAKA!

Miffed and very insulted, Iruka wriggled his way out of Kakashi's arms and moved to the far end of the bed, (Or as far as he could go) turning his back against Kakashi. He hugged himself as he cursed Kakashi in his head.

But Kakashi was not to be denied his delightful source of warm and pleasure and he instinctively moved closer to Iruka, until Iruka was trapped between the edge of the bed and Kakashi's hard, warm body. Strong arms snaked around Iruka's waist and Iruka was pulled into Kakashi's chest.

"Why you? Because you're so damn attractive you take my breath away."

Iruka stilled.

"Because I love the way you care for Naruto and your students."

Iruka's heart began to relent.

"Because I knew you would be great in bed."

Iruka blushed.

"And... because you are sunshine here to chase away the darkness." Perhaps he sensed that he had said too much, Kakashi added another remark. "Besides, I love the way you respond to me with such enthusiasm." Kakashi grinned in the dark.

All previous aminosity against Kakashi vanished and Iruka proceeded to show Kakashi how much enthusiasm he had for him.

"Now, be on your best behaviour today." Iruka instructed sternly.

"No tricks, no funny approaches, just be GOOD."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow."Iruka-sensei, why would you think I will not be on my best behaviour? Don't worry, I will only sneak a kiss when nobody's looking."

"YOU WILL NOT!" Iruka's face puffed red with anger and embarrassment.

Kakashi hid a grin behind his mask. "Saa... we better go, or I'll be late for the meeting with Tsunade."

"For once the great ninja Kakashi will be on time. Will wonders ever cease?" Iruka raised his hands and asked the ceiling in mock surprise

"You're 2 hours late, Kakashi." Tsunade remarked, not at all pleased by the jounin slumped in front of him.

"I... I can explain." Iruka stammered, trying to resolve the situation before him.

"No need, Iruka, he deliberately misled you."

"Did I? Iruka-sensei just assumed the meeting was at two in the afternoon."

"And you did nothing to correct him! Maybe you would have liked to tell Iruka before hand! So that instead of sauntering in here at two, you would be here, PUNCTUALLY at 12!" Tsuande thundered, the force of her words blowing Kakashi's hair back.

Kakashi winced. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to tease the hokage after all...

"Iie, I have better things to do then to get angry over you." Having vented her frustration in that one yell, Tsunade recovered her composure.

"So, Iruka, how has Kakashi been?"

Iruka, glad that a major disaster had been averted, quickly gave a short summary on Kakashi's progress.

"Good, I see that you're recovering fast. At least you're not tensai ninja for nothing."

Kakashi declined to comment.

"About what I talked to you..." Tsunade inclined her head towards Iruka, silently asking if Kakashi was alright with Iruka knowing what's going on.

Kakashi gave a small nod. Iruka who saw that silent exchange was bewildered, but waited patiently for the mystery to reveal itself.

"Before I say anything else, Kakashi, I want you back for your duties next week. I've a mission for you."

Kakashi raised one eyebrow in question, but otherwise remained expressionless. It was Iruka who had a major reaction. "What! Tsunade-sama! You can't do this to Kakashi-sensei. He was seriously injured! He was badly hurt and was still recovering not so long ago..."

"Was. Even you said it yourself. 'Was', past tense. What happened happen in the past. And I did not ask for a comment. What the Hokage commands, the shinobi has to follow. I'm sure you understand it more then I do."

And Iruka did. Of course he did. He was the one to drill it in the heads of the young children at the academy. Shinobi. Everyone aspired to be a Shinobi, yet few understood the sacrifices and loss that each Shinobi had to undergo. Iruka could try very hard to teach them all they needed to know to become a good Shinobi, but ultimately their path would be decided by them themselves and often, the Hokage.

"Kakashi, I've gotten some more intelligence from Jiraya's snooping arounds." Iruka snapped out of his musings and listened interestedly. "I told him about that incident with the scroll and asked him to look into it. So far he hasn't been able to get much but I'll just brief you on what we've found out. By the way, Naruto sends his love to you, Iruka and he would like to remind you, Kakashi that reading those pervetic books cannot be any good for your education."

Kakashi "hmpfed" while Iruka tried to look unaffected. But secretly, both were glad that Naruto was safe and sound with Jiraya.

"I've also given the scroll much looking over and I've tried to piece the bits of information together. Basically the story is like this.

We know that Sasuke left Konoha to find Orochimaru, but we have no evidence that Sasuke IS with Orochimaru now. I believe that Sasuke had NOT been with Orochimaru all these while. We know that Orochimaru wants to use Sasuke as he next body, and even though his current body may be functional, it isn't the optimum. And if I remember that old snake well, he's getting impatient."

"So all these things... how are they related to me?" Kakashi asked.

"Orochimaru is afraid that he would not be able to get Sasuke and therefore he's going for the next best thing. It seems like every Sharingan has its own special function. And yours, Kakashi is to 'copy'. The scroll contains specific instructions on medical jutsus, especially those regarding operations. My guess is that Orochimaru intends to implant your Sharingan into his own body, and at the same time, transfer all the jutsus you've learnt into his own brain. In this way, he can copy all the jutsus he wants and fulfill his ambition."

There was silence in the room. Tsunade let Kakashi absorbed this frightening news. As usual, he took it with a shrug, as if it did not matter to him. But Tsunade knew better. Iruka for that matter, looked absolutely furious. His fists were clenched at his sides and his face was thunderous.

"My mission is related to this."

A statement, not a question.

"Very good, Kakashi. You really are a tensai to be able to read minds. Yes, this would be the best time to tackle Orochimaru and do what Sarutobi-sensei had not been able to fulfill. Using you as a bait, we will take Orochimaru down once and for all."

After walking for a long while, Kakashi decided that Iruka was not happy. Something was bothering his Iruka and it was affecting Kakashi. For a start, Iruka was ignoring him. Since leaving the meeting with Tsunade, Iruka had not uttered a single phrase and had walked ahead of Kakashi, not caring if Kakashi had followed. Kakashi did not like to be ignored.

Iruka was mad. Oh yes, he was very very mad. The anger was slowly simmering inside him, building higher and higher... all ready to burst. Unknowingly, he had walked to the memorial stone at the edge of the forest. Soft footsteps behind told him that Kakashi had followed till here.

"Ruka... what's wrong with you?"

"Don't call me that!"

"?" Confusion was etched upon Kakashi's face.

"You bastard! When were you going to tell me about Orochimaru? How long were you going to keep me in the dark? Did you ever intend on telling me!" As if the pressure in him had all been released, Iruka launched himself onto Kakashi, attacking frenzily.

"You (punch)

pig- (kick)

headed- (shove)

asshole! (slap) "

Kakashi defended himself valiantly, but was taken aback by Iruka's sudden attack. He finally caught Iruka's wrists and flipped him around, pinning him onto the soft grass with his body. He held Iruka's wrists together above him.

Iruka breathed heavily, staring at his masked lover in front of him. All the tension and anger flowed out of him onto the ground and his body slumped onto the ground.

"Kakashi... I'm... I'm so... sorry... Did I... did I... are you hurt anywhere?"

Kakashi shook his head twice. No. His face unreadable as he slowly released his hold on Iruka.

"Oh, Kakashi..." Iruka cradled Kakashi's face with trembling hands. "I... I... why didn't you tell me about Orochimaru before. Did you think I wouldn't care? He's after your life for heaven's sakes. As your lover I should be the first to know what's going to happen to you..."

"It's not important."

His forlorn voice sounded so lonely to Iruka. How long ago had it been that Kakashi had someone to trust, to rely on? Hatake Kakashi, copy-cat tensai ninja, one of the strongest shinobis in Konoha. So many people relied on Kakashi for help, but who had Kakashi to go to when he was troubled? Iruka's heart broke a little for Kakashi.

"It's important to me. You could be killed anytime. Do you think I wouldn't like to know?"

Kakashi stared at Iruka long and hard. He seemed to be contemplating something. "I won't be killed by a psycho-maniac. But..." Kakashi looked away. "If, what if I were to perish during the mission... would you miss me?"

"No... don't say that. You must come back, you will keep yourself safe and come back.. or else.. or else..."

"Hush..." Kakashi took off his mask and lowered his mouth to Iruka's. "Le't just concentrate on the present, on now."

Iruka lifted his head to find Kakashi's mouth and they fused together in one hungry, passioante kiss. It wasn't long before Iruka was writhing under Kakashi, begging for release. They made love intensely, fiercely, clinging to each other as if there was no tommorrow, living only for the present and treasuring every sweet ecstacy they shared with each other.

"Another one of Konoha's shinobi."

"You can have him." Kabuto smiled at his aide. His eyes, however, remained cold and cruel. They had set the trap and the bait, it was time to wait to see if Konoha would spring the trap. This cat and mouse game was becoming more and more interesting.

"Orochimaru-sama, the information has already been planted. They would have received it by now."

"Good, Kabuto-san. Who knows, I may yet overlook the blunder you made with Kakashi and the scroll."

"Then I thank you first, Orichimaru-sama."

Orochimaru smiled. The game had just begun.

end of chapter 8! hope you enjoyed reading (: