Warning: OOC, weirdness, sexual references and foul language. Any misspellings or wrong grammar is unintentional. I am my own beta. I could have missed some stuff.

I do not own Naruto.

ROOM-MATE

Iruka felt rather glad after his forty-five minute talk with Ryuuken. He took a liking to the man who was completely patient and understanding when he explained how his previous sessions went, his timetable, current standing and enviroment and a brief account of the medication effects years ago (mostly anti-depressants and sleeping aids). Ryuuken explained to him that he will not prescribe medications up until he's gotten a more thorough understanding of the entire situation. As exchanged on the phone beforehand, Iruka was able to arrange a good time schedule with Ryuuken, to which he will get sessions three times a week, at seven in the evening after his classes.

Iruka met Kabuto down the hall just like the intern said he would be waiting. Kabuto suggested relaxing with warm drinks at night and maybe reading a good book to get his mind off things if he felt stressed, all in good nature. Iruka accepted the advice with an open heart and laughed as Kabuto attempted to crack a joke.

"You're still a novice!" Iruka laughed. "Didn't I tell you? It comes with practice!"

The elevator door opened and Kabuto lead Iruka towards the waiting lounge to bid him goodbye. "Well, I don't get much of that. You know you're the only one I play with, Iruka-san."

Iruka felt his cheeks color just as a familiar presence came to stand beside him. Iruka turned to find Kakashi waiting. "I - I thought you left."

Kakashi raised his eyebrow. "Dinner, remember?"

Kabuto didn't bat an eyelash, but his smile did look just a tad bit strained. "You take care of yourself, Iruka-san. I'll see you around."

Iruka couldn't resist not hugging Kabuto in his utter gratefulness. Kabuto didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Iruka either. "Thank you. Thank you very much."

"Anytime, Iruka-san. I told you that loads of times." Kabuto chuckled.

Iruka stepped back from the hug and nodded. "I'll see you around."

Kakashi shot him an icy glare. "See ya, brat."

"Bye old man." Kabuto gave the duo a cheery wave (with a small eye twitch towards Kakashi) as Kakashi lead Iruka towards the sliding doors and towards the parking lot.

Iruka couldn't help but glance sideways whenever he can to get a glance of Kakashi's expression. Judging by how the lazy slouch wasn't present around Kakashi's shoulders, Iruka can only assume that Kakashi wasn't happy about something. He walked stiffly and with long almost-hurried strides.

"You shouldn't have waited." Iruka said offering him a smile and trying to perk him up. He didn't like the icy look over Kakashi's face nor did he like to be around him when he was this icy. "I know you probably have much to do and I've probably troubled you enough with -"

"I meant it when I said that I was taking you out to dinner." Kakashi said bluntly.

A blush colored Iruka's cheeks, not because he was shy but because it was coming from Kakashi himself. Normally, if it were anyone else, he would have simply chuckled good-naturedly and wiggled his way out of the situation if he wanted to. But with Kakashi, it just didn't seem like the right thing to do.

"I - I'm not really hungry. I don't want to trouble you, Kakashi. What you've done is more than enough and I really appreciate the ride, more than anything. But you - you don't need to do this!"

"Iruka." Kakashi looked at him, grasping him by the shoulders and slightly dipping his head so he'd meet Iruka's eyes. "Do you honestly thing I'd be wasting my time with you if I didn't want to do this?"

Iruka swallowed, feeling utterly small and almost fragile under the firm and warm grasp of Kakashi's hands. "No."

"Then I don't see why you're making a big deal about this. Do you want to have dinner with me or not?"

Iruka hesitated and thought about it clearly. He remembered what Kabuto said earlier about underneath the underneath. Iruka readilly assumed that this was probably just Kakashi's way of making a troubled person cheer up (even whent the idea of cheering people up and Kakashi didn't go together). Or maybe it was a way for Kakashi to say that he wanted peace between them.

Iruka found himself giving the taller man a small shrug. "I guess."

"Really?" Kakashi asked again, this time stepping closer and peering in to his eyes some more, as if he were searching for a trace of a lie.

Iruka didn't really mind. It was the weekend and he already covered most of his studies and homework. He was just unsure and unsettled about Kakashi's intentions. "Yeah. But I still think you shouldn't trouble yourself."

Kakashi leaned against the seat of his bike and cocked his visible eyebrow, crossing his arms across his chest. "And why not?"

"Because this is odd." Iruka said openly, being completely honest.

"All right." Kakashi nodded. "Why is it odd?"

"You're taking me to dinner. People don't just take other people to dinner when they don't know them."

Kakashi rolled his eye back in thought. "It's just dinner. And if you're not that hungry, I do know a place where they make good pastries and sweets. You like sweets. Espcially those fruity and caramel ones."

Iruka blinked and frowned. "And how would you know that?"

"You picked only the caramel and fruity ones when I shared my chocolate bag with you."

Iruka remembered the pile of chocolates Kakashi forced him to have some of several days ago and blushd. "You forced me!"

"Get on the bike, Iruka."

"No! This is not fair! W-What do you want from me?" Iruka asked, completely terrified of the fact that he's not understanding Kakashi and the fact that he just couldn't figure the man out.

Kakashi plucked the baby-blue helmet from the back of his bike and slipped it on Iruka's head, promply stopping any sort of struggle when he placed both his arms on Iruka's shoulders to put the helmet on. Any complaint from Iruka was immediately silenced by the uncomfort of having Kakashi too close. He also didn't want to be at the receiving end of Kakashi's wrath should the man get annoyed and decide to lift him up by his collar again.

"Come on. Just let me do this for you." Kakashi said, steering Iruka towards the 'love-seat' till the man was seated and ready to go.

Iruka looked absolutely troubled and completely lost. "That's just the thing. I don't want you to do anything for me!"

"And why is that?" Kakashi asked, folding his arms across his chest once more.

Iruka grasped the edge of his seat from behind and remained unnaturally calm while Kakashi's gaze pierced through his entire body. "Because!"

Kakashi looked amused. "Tell you what. You think about why you don't want me to do anything for you till we get to the dinner place. And I know you're hungry. You weren't in the mess hall during dinner."

"But that's -"

"And when we're settled and seated and we've ordered our food, you can tell me why you dont want me to do anything for you. Fair enough?"

Iruka sighed, shoulders sinking further in to a tired slouch. "You won't let me go?"

Kakashi grinned, eyes crinkling. "Nope."

"Absolutely not?"

"Absolutely, absolutely not."

Iruka looked at the general direction of his temporary dorm. "Even if I beg?"

Kakashi leaned closer and smiled. "Now that will depend on how good you beg. But no. No begging this time."

Iruka felt the heat slowly crawl up his neck in an awkward blush as Kakashi smirked and mounted the bike, pulled his helmet and fired his way down the street, all the while Iruka holding on to Kakashi's waist and his face against the warm and firm shoulderblade.

XXX

Iruka recognized the parking lot of the small noodle and sushi house at the edge of the Fire-City, just before the commercial business district. It didn't feel like a long trip because Kakashi was driving fast and drifting whenever there was traffic. They took almost thirty minutes to reach the comfy and warm looking restaurant and by the time Iruka got off the bike, he was shivering. Unlike the jacket Kakashi was wearing, his hoodie was slightly wash-worn and thinner in material. Naturally, he shook like a leaf from the cold.

"Come on. They make good fruit tea." Kakashi said, leading them both towards the entrance and picking a two seater table just near the corner.

Iruka sat himself, getting a clear view of the other patrons and the kitchen. A friendly waiter came by to greet them, handed them their menus and left them alone to pick what they wanted. Iruka took a single glance at the ramen section and decided that he wanted miso-ramen with slices of tofu and pork. He was reminded of the cozy Ichiraku ramen stand near the school he taught at, where he and Naruto would frequent in during the end of the weekday after school. Just seeing the ramen selection in the menu made him miss his favorite loud student and something in his throat clench. He didn't notice how Kakashi was already ordering his food from the waiter and asking for some special tea that was apparently the place's signature drink.

"What are you having, Iruka?" Kakashi asked.

"Miso ramen with pork and tofu please." Iruka smiled at the waiter sweetly; the tired looking waiter smiled back just as happily, a blush coloring the young man's face.

When the waiter left (with Kakashi giving him a vicious scowl), Kakashi leaned against his chair, throwing an arm behind his head. "So, have you thought about it?"

Iruka couldn't find a proper answer to the question without Kakashi feeling smug about the entire situation. "I'd rather keep the reasons to myself so as not to offend you."

Kakashi raised his visible eyebrow at the answer. "And how would you know that it'd offend me?"

"I just do."

Kakashi smirked. "I find that hard to believe."

"Believe what you want, but I'd rather not say anything." Iruka leaned against his chair trying to keep warm as he wrapped his arms around himself, a shiver running down his spine. He was still cold from the bike ride.

"You're uncomfortable around me." Kakashi said it quietly, eyeing Iruka with a studying gaze. "Why so?"

A million reasons sprung to his mind that instant. He chose his words carefully, not wanting to sound insulting and rude while at the same time remaining perfectly honest. "I guess it's because I'm not very used to new behaviors and ways, that's all."

"My ways? Like?" Kakashi asked, sounding genuinely curious and leaned on the table, waiting patiently.

Iruka knew he was treading on slightly shaky grounds and sucked in a breath. "You know what? It shouldn't really matter! Because I think you're a nice guy, despite what you try to portray! And besides, colorful characters are refreshing once in a while! Don't you think?" Iruka was lying through his teeth just to pacify the man; last thing he wanted was to be in a sticky situation with Kakashi temper flaring like wild fire.

"So, I'm a clown?"

Iruka blinked and shook his head. "No! No! That's not what I meant!"

"So you like me for my 'colorful' character then." Kakashi stated, eyes narrowing.

Iruka hesitated then nodded, lying again. "Yeah."

"I see." Kakashi said nothing further and continued to stare at Iruka, single eye piercing through every skin pore and just overall studying the already squirming brunett.

Iruka wasn't happy with the stare and when Kakashi said nothing further, he stared at his hands on the table, twirling his thumbs around each other, counting the seconds in his head. Iruka knew he was nervous with the way Kakashi kept an unwavering look at him. He told himself to pretend that he didn't notice or be busy with something else. However, Iruka found himself looking up, drumming his fingers lightly against the checkered cloth covering the table (tired of twirling his thumbs), brown eyes piercing back at the single marble gray eye. Iruka lost his track in counting the seconds once he reached six-hundred-three and was instead, completely absorbed in to Kakashi's gaze. The gaze didn't break even when the waiter came and set their steaming tea cups in front of them, the stare morphing into some sort of battle of wills. Iruka was competitve by nature and he was not going to backout.

"It's fruit tea. Quite popular in the Lightning-City." Kakashi said. "I think you'll like it."

Iruka reached out for his cup to take a sip, not breaking his gaze. The taste of berries tickled his tastebuds along with the underlying taste of something citrusy and cool mint. "It's wonderful."

A smile glowed over the surface of Kakashi's eye. "You've got bright eyes, Iruka. Mother's eyes?"

Iruka blinked and found himself looking away. "I am told."

"Don't look away." Kakashi said, direct and flat.

Iruka could only lift his gaze back up in question and was once again caught up in Kakashi's stare. Iruka couldn't look away even if he willed himself to do so. He noticed then and there that Kakashi's eye was the most expressive feature in his entire calm and lazy looking facial expression. Iruka never realized just how dark and deep gray could get.

"Kakashi, I don't want trouble." Iruka stated, strangely remembering Genma all of a sudden. Perhaps it was because of the honey like interior of the joint or it was just his consciousness being careful, Iruka wasn't sure.

"What kinds of trouble?" Kakashi countered, setting his tea cup down.

"Genma-san might - I mean, I don't want to make assumptions or anything." Iruka found himself looking away, embarassed at his own thoughts. Maybe it was a common thing for some people to grope one's ass as a greeting.

"What about Genma?"

"He - You both seem close. I just don't want trouble with us, you know, having this dinner and all." Iruka finally blurted out, feeling the heat slowly rise up his neck once more.

Kakashi gave him an amused shake of his head. "Genma and I are friends. We're not a couple."

Iruka thought that maybe groping a friend's ass was normal in Kakashi's dictionary and didn't push the matter any further. "As long as I'm not causing trouble." Iruka glanced at his tea cup, twirling the liquid around slowly with his teaspoon. "That's the last thing I want for you or anyone else.

"No, no trouble." Kakashi smiled when Iruka looked up to peer at him. It was so infectious and real that Iruka couldn't stop the smile from reaching his own eyes.

Their dinner came a minute later and neither spoke as they tucked in to their warm meals. Kakashi had taken the liberty of ordering a course of sushi for them both. Iruka found himself enjoying his ramen (even though Ichiraku still topped his preference) and stared at the platter of sushi.

"Sushi?" Iruka blinked, eyeing the pieces of raw salmon and red tuna.

"You don't like them?" Kakashi tilted his head to one side.

"I love sushi." Iruka frowned, eyeing Kakashi with more suspicion now. "Didn't you say you were a vegetarian?"

"Fish aren't cute." Kakashi further emphasized this by taking a piece of tempura in to his mouth.

"But you're a vegetarian." Iruka stated, watching as Kakashi pulled out the tail bit of the shrimp he just ate.

"Didn't we have this conversation before?"

Iruka sighed, shaking his head. He knew Kakashi was pretending and now it was coming out in the open. "Nevermind." Iruka picked at the sake-maki.

They didn't need to make small talk or say anything for that matter once the whole sushi-fish-aren't-cute situation was cleared up; Kakashi would just poke the sake-maki towards Iruka's side, waving his chopstick as he continued eating his bowl of vegetable yakesoba.

At the end of the meal, Kakashi paid the bill, motioning Iruka to follow him next door to grab dessert. There was a wide selection of ice cream and Kakashi insisted that he order the double-scoop special. Iruka couldn't resist and chose his favorite strawberry and caramel flavor, fully pampering his sweet tooth as he ate his ice cream. A glance at Kakashi's cup told him that Kakashi was the minty-type of person with just a dash of chocolate. It was an awkward situation because Iruka never would have thought that a day would come when he'd be eating ice cream with Kakashi in a parking lot.

Just like Kakashi said, it was just dinner. By the time they were done with their ice cream, it started to drizzle a bit.

"Wouldn't it be dangerous on wet roads?" Iruka asked, eyeing the motorbike with worry.

"It is is with noobs." Kakashi said, staring at the sky with a frown. "Didn't I tell you before, Iruka?"

Iruka blinked in confusion. "Tell me what?"

"I won't hurt you. And that includes the fact that I'd take care of you."

Iruka took it as a joke and chuckled, rolling his eyes at the cheesy line (even though his cheeks colored). "Yeah, yeah. Sure you will."

Kakashi said nothing further and mounted his bike, handing Iruka the helmet and turned the engine on just as the rain started to come down a little faster. Iruka didn't bother to zip up his jacket since he knew he'd just get soaked through the bone anyway. Mounting the 'love-seat' and holding on to Kakashi's middle, he closed his eyes and held on extra tighter as the bike skidded across the asphalt and sped through the night.

XXX

Iruka looked like he fell in to a tub of water by the time Kakashi pulled in to an empty parking slot in the dorm's underground garage. No words were said as Kakashi took both helmets and handed it back to the caretaker, exchanged a few words before climbing up the stairs, equally soaked as Iruka was. They left puddle trails as they climbed the stairs to their rooms.

Iruka offered Kakashi to use the bathroom first. Kakashi merely nodded and went about taking a hot shower and changing to drier clothes before Iruka took his turn. The warmth of the water made Iruka sigh. He spent more than ten minutes under the warm spray, the cold seeped in to his bones melting away. He was about to shampoo his hair, grabbing the familiar fruit-fusion scented goop only to grab the wrong bottle. He stared at Kakashi's brand, the common minty-anti-dandruff types that left the head with a cool sensation after being used. Iruka didn't think that Kakashi had dandruff and probably just used the shampoo for the sake of its cool scent.

Chuckling to himself, Iruka set the bottle back down and grabbed his own.

When he did step out, Kakashi was talking to someone on his cellphone, chuckling and basically keeping his side of replies to a minimum. Iruka paid him no mind and gave him his space as he sat on his bed and started towel drying his hair, keeping his gaze away from Kakashi. The man was shirtless again.

Iruka hanged his towel by the chair next to his bed, pulling a book out from his bag and began reading as he waited for his hair to dry out. He got lost in the expanse of text he was reading (it was a very nice philosophical paperback novel) that he managed to tune out most of Kakashi's voice. However, when Kakashi laughed - a low rumbling noise that was equally infectious as his smile - Iruka felt his feet being tickled. His concentration broke and he looked up, to find Kakashi saying goodbye to the person and tossing his phone by the pillow.

Iruka suddenly felt completely awkward. For all he knows, it could have been Kakashi's girlfriend - or boyfriend. He felt like a third wheel in the room in hearing a conversation he shouldn't be hearing (even with Kakashi's reply reduced to the minimum). He kept himself busy with his book and felt the stare once more. He ignored it and continued reading till he felt his eyes go dry. Iruka shut the book, which made Kakashi shift in his bed. He watched with wide eyes as Kakashi pulled out a hammer from his backpack and reached for the light bulb.

"Kakashi!"

Kakashi looked at him paused in mid-blow. "What?"

"Please don't hammer it dead. C-Can we just turn it off from the switch?" Iruka asked, hoepful.

Kakashi kept staring at him for a good minute before he lowered his hammer. "We can do that."

Iruka felt a smile tug at his lips as Kakashi pressed the switch and room bathed in darkness. Iruka lay on his bed, snuggling under his blanket before muttering a pleased and almost dreamy-sounding sigh. "Good night, Kakashi."

He already had his eyes closed when Kakashi replied, "G'night, 'Ruka."

TBC

Notes/Credits:

- I use the term Fire-City and not country because this is not a ninja-verse. Konoha is merely a suburb where the university is at.

- Again, Ishida Ryuuken does not belong to me. He belongs to Jump (bleach) and his rightful creator.

I want to thank you all again. As much as I regret not being able to make this any funnier, I have to say that things have taken a huge turn. I am still trying to incorporate humor in to what I already have. Still trying. And everyone seems to want a piece of Iruka it seems (calms all muses).