Roommate

by shi-chan

AU KakaIru Iruka lost his dorm room to an accidental explosion and was given temporary residence with Kakashi. Iruka thinks Kakashi is a complete psycho. Is there more to Kakashi's antics than meets the eye or does he simply hate Iruka?

19. Chapter 19

Warning: OOC, weirdness, sexual references and foul language. Now with added fluff, angst and sexual content. 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 had fallen asleep using his laptop keyboard again, books strewn all over his desk a couple of sharpened pencils cluttered on the floor from when he knocked it over during his sleep shifting. The sound of running water woke him up, making him blink and frown at the bitter aftertaste of the orange soda he was drinking beforehand. He sleepily glanced at the wall clock, moaning (partly annoyed and partly tired; he's been cranky all week) when he saw the hands pointing at two-forty in the morning.

He looked behind him and found the bathroom door slightly ajar, Kakashi's sneakers by his bed along with his dirty looking backpack. His sleepiness started to disappear when he realized that Kakashi just returned at such a late hour (because Kakashi always put him to bed no matter what the time without waking him up). Iruka stretched and got to his feet, popping a few of his joints and clearing away the pencils and some of the books from the table. He set his laptop on hibernate-mode and puttered towards the bathroom.

"Kashi? It's kinda' late. Did you just ..." Iruka's words melted to shocked silence as Kakashi, who was bent over the bathroom sink, looked over his shoulder with wide eyes.

"Did I wake you?" Kakashi mumbled hoarsely, nose and mouth bleeding, the white porcelain of the bathroom sink splattered with so much red and clotting blood.

"What the fuck happened to you?" Iruka gasped, quickly grabbing the towels off the rack and pulling the toilet lid close. "Sit down!"

Kakashi frowned. "I'm fine, 'Ruka."

"Sit down!"

Iruka pulled the cupboard under the sink open and took out the first aid kit while Kakashi tilted his head back and sat on the toilet seat lid, sniffing and coughing. Iruka quickly pressed a cold wet towel over the bridge of Kakashi's bloody nose, applying pressure to help stop the bleeding. With his other hand, he wiped the lips clean, watching as blood oozed out of the split lip. The cut was quite deep. Iruka took one of Kakashi's hand to place it over the cold towel he was holding as he fussed over the first aid kit, looking at all the different bottles and tubes of medicines.

"Disinfectant is in the nameless bottle." Kakashi said, voice still thick and hoarse.

Iruka grabbed the said bottle and poured a generous amount over folded piece of gauze. "I'm going to clamp this over your lip and I'm going to walk you downstairs and four buildings away from here to the infirmary."

"There's no need -"

Iruka pressed the gauze over the split lip firmly, applying pressure and cutting off any protest Kakashi had (the poor man hissed and tried to pull his head back but Iruka held him place by gripping his hair tight). "You shut the hell up!" Iruka growled and took the towel away from the bridge of Kakashi's nose.

"Hey, I'm not some baby that you can just -"

"On your feet." Iruka pulled Kakashi's bigger frame up, managing to get a groan out of the man. "Are you bleeding anywhere else?" Kakashi shook his head, face pinched into a look of pain. "Lying bastard. Come on." Iruka draped Kakashi's arm around his shoulders, hooking his around the firm waist.

"You're not going out dressed like that!" Kakashi hissed, glaring down at Iruka.

Iruka knew that the thin white sweat pants and wash worn gray vest (it was Kakashi's favorite and the cotton fabric looked sprayed on) was quite close to indecent. But it was past two in the morning and he doubted that anyone would care what anyone wore in the ungodly hour. He also doubted that anyone would be in the streets anyway.

"I can walk out of here naked if it means getting you to a doctor! Now keep your head back! That lip might need stitching!" Iruka spat, taking his keys and phone and helping Kakashi down the flight of stairs and towards the infirmary. Kakashi remained stiff and silent beside him, limping just a little bit until Iruka pushed the glass doors of the infirmary and approach the desk. "Hello. I need a doctor! My friend here..." The 'nurse' behind the desk looked up and blinked dark eyes behind round glasses in surprise; Iruka had to blink back as well. "Kabuto!"

"Iruka-san! What a pleasant - oh hell no." Kabuto glanced at Kakashi at frowned.

"Like I'd want to be treated by you!" Kakashi hissed, words muffled by the blood soaked gauze. The heated glare sent a shiver down Iruka's spine.

"Help him. Please, Kabuto." Iruka begged. "Anyone here? He's bleeding badly! And he's hurt! Please!"

Kabuto pushed aside his distaste towards Kakashi and nodded. "This way."

Iruka felt relief flood him as he pulled a reluctant Kakashi towards the small examination room. Kabuto pulled the curtains back and motioned for Kakashi to lie down, taking away the bloodied gauze and studying the cut. "Will he need stitches?" Iruka asked with worry.

Kakashi's glare was stifling the entire room. Kabuto pushed the tip of Kakashi's nose and shone a flashlight in to his nostrils. "No, he won't. Thought I'm surprised. Where did you get such an injury from, Hatake-san?"

"Mind your business and I'll mind mine." Kakashi said bluntly.

Kabuto said nothing further as he proceeded to treat the wound, bandaging the cut on Kakashi's nose and effectively stopping the bleeding by applying just the right amount of pressure in strategic places; Kakashi was gritting his teeth at the amount of pressure. Iruka knew that the pressure was painful because the hold Kakashi had on his hand was starting to really, really hurt.

"Normally, I'd stitch up. But I don't think you'd want your pretty face scarred, hmm Hatake-san?" Kabuto said sweetly, dabbing the last bit of ointment over the clotted wound and tightly pressing down a staple-like shaped band aid over the cut. The dark look Kakashi was giving Kabuto as he fussed over his nose and placed the band aid over the cut was ominous; it made Iruka feel ill at ease. "Good news is, Iruka-san, is that he will heal properly. Providing he doesn't end up in another fight."

Iruka glanced down at Kakashi who was looking directly up at the ceiling. "Thank you, Kabuto. This means so much to me."

"Anything for you, Iruka-san." Kabuto smiled sweetly and pulled back, done with treating Kakashi's cuts and wounds. "Anything else hurt, Hatake-san?"

"None." Kakashi mumbled and sat up, lightly touching the dressing on his lip and nose.

"Good. I wonder how many more people are coming by tonight." Kabuto said, stretching. "You're not the first one here to come out of a fight. Were you pick pocketed as well, Hatake-san?"

Iruka looked up at Kakashi, who was already standing (putting most of his weight on one leg) and coldly looking down at Kabuto; the slight curling of his lip only made Iruka more uncomfortable. The silence said it all and Iruka put himself between the two staring duo. Although Kabuto was smiling, Iruka could feel the distaste towards Kakashi. "Is the other one all right, Kabuto?"

"Oh he's fine." Kabuto smiled and looked over at Iruka worriedly. "Aren't you cold, Iruka-san? It's quite windy outside."

Iruka glanced at his attire and managed to blush in an embarrassed manner. "Ah, I was so worried. He was bleeding so much I didn't even think of changing."

Kabuto nodded in understanding and smiled. "Maa, it doesn't matter. You still look good no matter what you wear, Iruka-san. How have you been?"

Kakashi took a step forward and smiled down sinisterly at Kabuto. "Don't we all agree?" Iruka glanced from behind Kakashi to find Kabuto smiling cheekily at Kakashi. "Now quit staring."

The air got hostile and Iruka quickly took Kakashi's hand, giving it a squeeze; normally he'd disapprove of Kakashi's behavior but his possessive and jealous ways made him even cuter. "We should get going." Iruka offered. "You'll be here till morning, right Kabuto?"

"Training shift for a few days, Iruka-san. Don't get in to any more fist fights, Hatake-san." Kabuto warned, and headed for the door. "I just need you sign your name at the desk and you can go." Kabuto went on ahead towards the desk, giving the two some privacy.

Iruka looked up at Kakashi disappointed looking face, eyeing the bandage-work and the slightly bruising. "At least you didn't get stitches." Kakashi remained quiet, merely glancing at Iruka briefly before he made his way to the door. Iruka stopped him and gave him an apologetic look. "I know you don't like him. But please, don't get mad because I brought you here for help."

"I'm not." Kakashi said and pushed passed Iruka to get to the desk. He filled the form, signed the sheet and left without another word.

Iruka thanked Kabuto again (politeness getting the better of him) before following Kakashi out of the door. He caught up with Kakashi and couldn't help but worry about Kakashi's left leg. He wasn't putting much weight on it and was limping just a little bit. In the middle of the street, Iruka stood in front of him and smiled up at him (looking all cute and sweet). He wrapped his arms around Kakashi's middle, touching his chin to Kakashi's collarbone. "Want me to kiss it better?"

"I'm fine." Kakashi said, not reacting to the hold Iruka had on him but not pushing him away either.

Somehow, Iruka felt sadness creep in to his heart. "You're mad at me for getting you medical attention. Why?"

"Who said I was mad at you?" Kakashi shrugged.

Iruka dropped his arms and sighed. "Never mind. Come on; let's get you back so you can rest."

"You're not going to ask what happened?" Kakashi wondered, sounding a bit sarcastic.

Iruka let the words and tone fly over his head, feeling just a little put out but not wallowing in it more than he should. It was past three in the morning and he was sleepy and tired. "I just want to get back and go to sleep. I also want those wounds to heal properly. Along with whatever reason you're limping right now."

"Not limping."

"As you say." Iruka mumbled and kept walking beside Kakashi.

They remained quiet till they reached their room. Iruka headed for the bathroom to brush his teeth, coming out to find Kakashi painfully lowering himself to the bed, clad in his boxers and pulling a pair of mid-calf length pants over his ankles. Iruka caught sight of the purple and greenish bruise in the middle of Kakashi's left thigh. He gave it a worried look, wondering what could be the cause of such a large and ugly looking bruise. Either Kakashi was pretending not to notice his concerned stare or he really didn't notice because he was too tired. When Kakashi was dressed and sighed as he lay down on his pillow, Iruka turned the lights off and slid under the covers of his own bed. Kakashi was sulking and was irritated with him because of a bruised ego; Iruka couldn't bring himself to care because the only thing he was worried about was Kakashi's wounds getting proper medical treatment. Now that it was very well on its way to healing, Iruka was going to let Kakashi sulk all he wants and not give a care in the world.

Just as he was about to drift off to a peaceful slumber, Kakashi's voice broke the room's silence. "'Ruka?"

"Hmm?" Iruka hummed sleepily, managing to crack his eyes open just a little bit to vaguely make out Kakashi's silhouette on the bed.

"Can you come over and sleep here?"

Iruka blinked awake at the almost begging tone in Kakashi's voice. He shifted and got up, bare feet making very light patting noises against the cold floor. Kakashi scooted over so that his back was pressed against the wall, making room for Iruka to lie down. Iruka slid under the soft covers, pillowing his head on Kakashi's arm and pressing their bare torsos together. He kissed Kakashi's chin lightly, closing his eyes and allowing Kakashi's leg to settle in between his.

"Get some sleep." Iruka mumbled and was about to fall asleep completely if Kakashi hadn't spoken.

"I'm sorry."

Iruka reached up and tangled his fingers through Kakashi's hair, lightly and sleepily massaging the scalp to comfort the bigger man. "There's nothing to apologize for."

"I've been an ass all evening. You were just -"

"It's nothing." Iruka shook his head, keeping his eyes closed. "Don't worry about it."

"But 'Ruka -"

Iruka shushed him up by sucking on his throat sleepily (Kakashi's breath hitched at that), biting down lightly on the Adam's apple and kissing the throat one last time before settling back to sleep. "I'm not going to forgive you for whatever it is you're apologizing for if you don't shut up."

"Yes, sensei." Kakashi mumbled, wrapping his arms around Iruka possessively so that their entire body was pressed together firmly. "I can't sleep now."

"Well I am. Good night." Iruka mumbled.

"Can't we have sex instead?"

"No, I'm going to sleep."

"But sex is so much more fun."

"Be a good puppy and tomorrow morning, I'll let you gag me." Iruka offered. When he sensed Kakashi's hesitation, he sighed and shook his head. "I'll put on a pair of silk panties."

The stunned silence was stifling. "You wouldn't!"

"Would. Now go to sleep." Iruka yawned and snuggled deeper under the covers.

Iruka got a moment's long silence before he felt hands crawling down his hip

"Can't you put the panties on now?"

Iruka rolled his eyes, got off the bed and crawled in to his own across the room (being with Kakashi for roughly a month now, he was far too used to his attitude when going to sleep). "Go to sleep, Kakashi."

Kakashi's disappointment (and childish sulking) could be felt even from across the room with his back to the man. Iruka fell asleep in seconds (he was reading so much that his eyes were dried from reading-abuse). Kakashi didn't bother him anymore once his light breathing filled the room and he was relaxed and finally getting his well deserved sleep.

It was the sound of his cell phone vibrating loudly on his table that startled him awake; it also made him aware of the pair of warm and strong arms looped loosely around his waist. He let out a tired groan and looked up at the wall clock, hissing out a curse when he realized that he over slept and forgot to set the alarm a few hours ago. A pale and sleepy hand reached out past the headboard to grab the annoying cell phone to answer.

Kakashi's croaking and sleepy voice. "Take it before I throw it out the window."

Iruka blinked several times to look at the caller's ID and sighed, pressing the answer button. "This better be good, 'Ko."

"Oh it's better than good! It's fucking brilliant!"

Iruka knew sarcasm when he heard it and buried his face under the pillow, phone pressed to his ear. "No need to shout, 'Ko. What's wrong now?"

"Our dorms, stupid! Someone stole the ceramic and parquet floorboards along with the stock of cement! Don't you get it? We might not even move in by the end of this week! It's a riot! They say it's them again with their pranks and shit!"

Iruka sat up with a bolt and was suddenly wide awake. Kakashi gave him a curious and confused look as he started climbing over the pale torso to stand on the floor. "Okay, okay, shut up, 'Ko. No need to -"

"Get over here and see this mess! Aren't you even the least bit concerned?"

"I'll be there in a few minutes and of course I'm concerned! Just let me get the morning stars out of my eyes first, damnit!"

"And quit shagging that man!"

Iruka scowled and hung up before they started bickering again. He tossed the phone over at his desk and puttered over to the shower, turning the cold knob on so that he could wake up faster. Half-way through his shower, Kakashi pulled the sliding door open and stuck his head in, watching as Iruka rinsed the soap off his thighs.

"What's the hurry?"

"Something happened over at my to-be dormitory." Iruka said, rinsing his face one more time before turning the shower off; he pulled the sliding door open fully and grabbed the towel on the rack to dry himself before making his way towards his toothbrush. "I'm going to go see what's going on."

Kakashi was watching him through the reflection of the mirror looking a bit put out. "What happened?"

"Some moron stole the materials apparently. They say it's a prank." Iruka mumbled while he brushed his teeth. He spat the foam out and continued brushing. "They say it's ANBU or whatever. I think people are just being stupid; ANBU don't exist. Besides, things get stolen all the time." Iruka rolled his eyes and shrugged. "People." Iruka bent over to rinse his mouth and stood up again to find an unreadable expression on Kakashi's face through the mirror. Iruka pulled the towel off his waist and started wiping his mouth with it, blinking confusedly at Kakashi's expression. "What's wrong?"

"You still plan on moving out?" Kakashi asked, brows knitting together.

"I paid for that dorm in full installment at the beginning of the year. It's not refundable and yes, I am moving out." Iruka sighed, feeling an argument rise.

"Yes, you can." Kakashi insisted. "They just have to deduct the amount of time you've been in the dorm and return the rest to you."

"You think I haven't tried that already?" Iruka asked, heading for the room and grabbing his comb from his table.

"It seems like you haven't tried hard enough."

Iruka turned to simply look at Kakashi. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me. You've got a reputation on campus and people would, quite literally, bend over for you. What's wrong with a refund?"

Iruka could feel the vein in his neck and temple throb as his temper started to rise. "I can't believe you're saying this."

"Well, things are clear now. It seems your dorm room and phone calls are far more important than -"

"Where the fuck is this coming from?" Iruka glared, fingers itching to break something. He started getting dressed, pulling his clothes on a little too harshly for comfort.

"Why do you have to move out? Why are you even showing interest in moving out?"

Iruka gritted his teeth. "I am not! It's not like I have much of a choice now, do I? That was my best friend! And there's a riot outside! Why can't I show interest?"

"What's that reply got to do with anything?"

Iruka turned to look at Kakashi. "What is this, Kakashi? Really. Because I don't know where all this - this insecurity of yours is coming from. So I move out. Big deal. If it's sex you're worried about, you can come and spend the night over or I can spend the night over or whatever it is you want. If it's being together you're worried about, then I don't see why you should! Both of us are busy enough as it is that we don't even see each other unless we wake up in the middle of the night to -"

"And you're not putting any effort to remedy that!"

Iruka felt his head explode. "What?"

Kakashi threw his hands up in the air and shook his head. "Forget it."

"Take that back!"

"What's there to take back?"

"Oh I see!" Iruka said, voice rising. "This relationship seems to be quite one sided."

"You're telling me! You want to move out! You're not comfortable here? Why? The only thing that's getting in the way of your comfort is me! What else is there in this room that could get in the way? Huh?"

"Hey! I had a life before I lost my room and I had a life before I got together with you! And I still have it! What are you bitching about? Because I've made a choice for myself without consulting you? That I picked my best friend's concern first before you? What is it, Kakashi? What?"

"You don't really care."

"I'm going to start not caring if you keep throwing assumptions my way! He's my best friend, Kakashi and before you or anyone else, he - they've always been there and always will be!"

Kakashi gave Iruka a deeply hurt look that made Iruka do a double take as to what he just said. "So, all this time, we're just some sort of 'arrangement' or something?"

Iruka felt the anger drain out of him, leaving him tired. "We are not an arrangement. Unless I've gone wrong somewhere in thinking what we are, last time I checked, we were a couple." He rubbed his temple and gave Kakashi a surrendering look. "We always fight over the smallest things. I am going to go see what's up with 'Ko and riot. Is there a problem with that?"

Kakashi stared at him for a moment and shrugged. "Whatever."

When Kakashi turned his back on him, Iruka didn't utter another word and left the room.

XXX

Iruka could see the mass of students making their way to spectacle. He managed to mingle in to the crowd and get close enough to see through the fence the constructing company built around the building to find one part of the wall missing and empty sacks of cement piled on top of each other in the middle of the entrance way. The head engineer was ordering the crew to sort out the mess (lumbers were out of place, equipment scattered and already mixed mortar was left out to dry in the middle of the entrance way where the bags of cement were piled on). Iruka didn't even want to know what happened to the spare cans of paint the crew kept for later because he was too busy staring at some of the boys looking crestfallen at the building beside him as they stared at the sign that said:

Due to construction delay, all tenants are kindly requested to wait for another week before moving in.

- Management

He felt his heart reach out for them, feeling their depression and thoughts of 'where the hell am I going to stay for another week'. The loud chatter and indignant talk from the crowd around him distracted him from feeling anything else other than sympathy for the students who had to commute back and forth the city and quite literally beg others to let them stay in their dorms. Iruka knew that if it were not for his relationship with Kakashi, he'd be in those students' shoes and wondering the same thing.

A hand firmly clamped on his shoulder and Iruka whirled around to find limp spikes and a familiar frowning face. Kotetsu grabbed him by the arm and tugged at him. "Come on."

Iruka followed Kotetsu through the protesting body of students, getting himself elbowed and knocked on the head a couple of times. Kotetsu lead him to a quiet corner, eyeing the building with an equally crestfallen face like everyone else. It was only then did Iruka notice the bruise on Kotetsu's chin.

"What happened to you?"

"Got elbowed this morning when I came to see the ruckus." Kotetsu looked around cautiously, eyes darting back and forth.

Iruka knew the gesture like the back of his hand; when Kotetsu was this agitated, it meant he did something foolish. "Okay, 'Ko, what did you do now?"

"Someone threatened me last night."

Iruka blinked. "Huh?"

"Threatened." Kotetsu swallowed and ran his fingers through his hair, further messing up the ungelled spikes. "I just got back this morning. I was in the city, spent a few nights there doing research and I found this." Kotetsu took out a small MD case from his pocket and extended it to Iruka. "You might want to have a look at it."

Iruka eyed the disk and didn't take it. "What have you been doing?"

"Iruka -"

"No, Kotetsu! What the fuck were you -"

"Just take it!" Kotetsu shoved the disk towards Iruka's chest, pushing the thinner frame against the wall of the building. "Take it."

Iruka glared back, taking note of how apologetic and sympathetic Kotetsu's face looked like as he pressed the disk some more. Giving in, Iruka took the disk and slipped it in to his pocket, frowning. "What am I going to find?"

"Things you're better off finding out from me rather than someone else." Kotetsu's tone sounded cryptic and Iruka didn't like it. "Izumo and I fought today. I started it, said a few lies to get him off my back." Iruka's shoulders slumped at Kotetsu's words, a tanned hand coming to rest on his temple, rubbing what was going to be a pounding headache. "We're on a break and it's going to stay that way."

Iruka couldn't believe his ears. "What?" He searched Kotetsu's face which remained solemn and quiet. "Why do you want to go on a break anyway? You stupid idiot!"

"I was threatened! Damnit, Iruka, someone called me last night while I was just getting out of the shower and flipping the TV channels!"

"People prank everyone, 'Ko! It couldn't have been serious! Honestly, sometimes I wonder."

"I traced the incoming call from the cell phone and it's a secured line, not listed in any of network services and it's encrypted. I can't get through and that's what scares me the most."

"Whoa!" Iruka raised both his hands. "First of all, where the hell did you get that kind of equipment to start off with? Those stuff aren't just sold to everyone on the street, 'Ko!"

"Black market." Kotetsu explained, looking behind him one more time.

"Since when have you been dealing with the black market, you bastard?"

Kotetsu grabbed Iruka by the shoulders and squeeze. "Listen, no matter what happens, don't tell Izumo that I was threatened or I lied. He doesn't know! Okay?"

"Kotetsu, what the fuck did you just get yourself in to?" Iruka asked slowly, grabbing his friend's forearms and squeezing.

"I don't know. I don't think I want to know." Kotetsu stepped back. "Don't call me."

Iruka moved forward but Kotetsu was already walking away. "Oi, hey! You can't just -"

"Don't talk to me. We're done." Kotetsu gave Iruka one last apologetic look before he started running down the street towards, disappearing from Iruka's sight.

Iruka leaned back against the wall, shoulders slumping tiredly as he tried to think. His hands fell to his sides, back of his hands feeling the case of the MD. He glanced at his wrist watch and decided then and there that he was going to skip classes. Without a second's thought, Iruka headed back to the room he shared with Kakashi to find the man sitting on his bed, cell phone pressed against his ear and a frown on his face. There was a courier express package sitting on the floor, a stack of documents lying face down.

Iruka knew better than to speak or say anything about their 'argument' an hour ago. Instead, he toed off his shoes and grabbed his laptop, sitting cross legged on the bed and pressing the switch. He loaded the disk Kotetsu gave him and allowed his personal security program to encrypt everything he was going to be viewing. The cursor spun a few times as the MD loaded; Kakashi was staring at him from across the room as he listened to the person on the other line. Iruka paid him no mind as his screen blacked out, making him raise an eyebrow and wonder just what Kotetsu gave him that he wanted to keep secret from Izumo.

A bar below the screen started loading, displaying the number of percentage as red filled the empty bar. Iruka started tapping his finger against the laptop screen, lips twisting in annoyance as the program continued to load. Kakashi got on his feet, telling the person on the other line to shut the hell up as he grabbed his package and stepped out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Iruka knew it was nothing more than childish sulking and didn't even bat an eyelash when Kakashi walked out of the room.

He waited a few more minutes and the black resolution of his screen started to clear out, revealing a list of folders. Iruka blinked his eyes several times, eyeing each of the folder title. They reminded him of an office database with subfolders within folders and text lists and monetary values falling under hundred million ryos to billions. Iruka couldn't make sense of the values and gave up reading the numbers after a few minutes.

Randomly picking a folder, his screen blacked out once more and slowly cleared by pixelating and revealing a black background with a red logo that made Iruka do a double take. The grotesque shape of what reminded him of a flame glowed amidst the dark background, a window popping open in the middle with several folders waiting to be opened; it was the very shape that he loved kissing and touching on Kakashi's arms. Iruka wasn't even thinking of looking at what was in the folder; he was too busy staring at the logo on the black screen to pay attention to anything else.

"Oh, fuck." He whispered to himself, reminding himself to breathe.

The door knob turned and Iruka forced himself to blink out of his reverie as Kakashi stepped back in to the room, frowning and shoulders slumped. He quickly exited the encrypted program, shut off his laptop, shoved it in to his bag and without thinking walked up to Kakashi and wrapped his arms around Kakashi's waist from behind. Iruka's mind was racing, heart beating wildly against his ribcage at the idea of just what could be in the MD Kotetsu just gave him. He didn't want to think about the disk that was still in his laptop player, waiting to be viewed completely. Iruka didn't want to even believe that there was link of any sort between the disk and Kakashi.

He idly wondered if tattoo and logo designs can be similar due to a mere coincidence.

Kakashi wasn't responding to him but he wasn't pushing him away either. Due to the lack of response, Iruka felt desperation gnaw on his insides while fear swallowed him from underneath his feet. Kakashi dipped his head, remaining perfectly still in his hold.

"What's this?"

Iruka spoke without thinking. "I just read an e-mail from Izumo. He and Kotetsu are on a break because of a stupid argument." Kakashi remained quiet, waiting for Iruka to continue. "I don't want today to lead to that."

When Kakashi remained quiet, Iruka felt nervousness creep up to him, making him latch on to Kakashi even harder. He pressed his face against the back of Kakashi's neck, fingers digging in to the fabric of Kakashi's t-shirt.

"Iruka?"

"Yeah?"

"If anything happens, you'd never leave me, would you?"

Iruka blinked, a bit startled with the question. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, if something happens to me or if I do something really, really stupid without the intention of hurting you or something, you wouldn't leave me without hearing me out, would you?"

Iruka cocked an eyebrow, moving to stand in front of Kakashi, cupping the pale face that was paler than normal and looking like the weight of the world just squashed the joy (or what was left of it) off his face. "That's kinda' dumb. Of course I'd want to hear you out. What are you getting at anyway?"

Kakashi fell quiet, taking a few steps back to sit on his bed, pulling Iruka down. Iruka knelt in between his knees, arms resting on his thighs and looking up at the concentrated expression on Kakashi's face. "Today. I've said a few things that are really stupid without meaning for it to hurt you. I don't really do the whole expressing one's self thing well."

"You don't want me to move out?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No. But I thought about it."

Iruka waited for a good minute before both his eyebrows were raised. "And?"

"And I've hurt you and I don't want that. If you want to move out, that's fine. But I won't lie to you and say that I won't be hurt by it or not feel empty or whatever. Because even if we don't see each other these days or spend time together, coming back to you and sharing a pillow and falling asleep beside you makes all the difference."

Iruka closed his eyes and sighed. "You're talkative today, aren't you?"

"I'm sorry. For everything I've done wrong and will do wrong."

"Will?" Iruka snickered. "What, you're going to beat me up or something?" There was no mirth in Kakashi's eyes and whatever joking streak Iruka had that moment disappeared immediately. "Kakashi, it's fine. I am going to try with the management again to try and get that refund. I don't have that much money to start off and that's why it makes a difference to me. I can still leave some of my stuff here, you know."

"You'd forgive me right?"

Iruka blinked. "Huh?"

"If I do anything wrong?"

Iruka rolled his eyes. "Kakashi, are you okay? For real?"

"Will you?"

"Kakashi -"

"Will you?"

Iruka looked up, feeling completely confused. "You promised not to hurt me and I will never forget that. Besides, it's not like you'd do something wrong and mean it. Half the time you're just being stupid. Like today." Iruka attempted to jest once more and only got a guilty look off Kakashi's face. Iruka kissed Kakashi's cheek, wrapping his arms around the pale neck. "I will hear you out. And I will forgive you. Happy?"

"You mean it?"

"Why won't I mean it?" Iruka pulled back to look at Kakashi.

"People change."

"Not overnight." Iruka shook his head and stood up. "Tell you what. You're starting to depress me with all this weird talk of yours. Why don't you take me out to breakfast and we'll buy a pair of silk panties while we're out. Then, maybe we can do something interesting when we get back. What do you say?"

Kakashi hesitated for a bit before he nodded. "Let's get dressed then."

Iruka was glad that Kakashi agreed. His talk bothered Iruka more than it should have been and the only thing that pleased Iruka the most about the outing was the fact that he was far away from his laptop and MD disk Kotetsu gave him.

He didn't want to think about its contents at all.

XXX

Iruka made a few phone calls to make sure that a copy of the assignments given to the class for the next three days was sent to him by mail (being the overall nice guy had its benefits; people were more than willing to be helpful). After their small dinner, Kakashi offered to take him up to the hot springs for a little getaway (and as an apology for being a complete asshole). The impromptu vacation wasn't unwelcomed but it was surprising. Iruka found himself nodding at the mere idea that he and Kakashi would solo a booked space for themselves, soaking and sipping wine and watching the night sky. It made his stomach flip back and forth to think that he and Kakashi will be all alone in such a cozy setting (not that their room wasn't cozy or that they weren't alone enough - Iruka just had weak knees for hot springs).

That windy evening, Iruka found himself behind Kakashi again, arms looped around his middle and the bike moving at high speed towards the borders of the Fire Capital. Iruka would have fallen asleep behind him if he didn't mind loosing a few limbs should he fall off the bike. Instead, he stared at the flickering scenery, the colors changing from a dull gray to a dark green as they started ascending the road on the hills.

Iruka wasn't expecting to get there so fast (even with the few stops they took for a toilet break and refill Kakashi's gas tank), but when they did, he was glad. His backside was starting to cramp and the sensation left him wobbly for a few minutes. Kakashi took complete advantage of his wobbly state and kissed him breathless (tongue, teeth and all) right there in the middle of the parking lot. If it weren't for the hold Kakashi had around his waist, Iruka was pretty sure he would have fallen over a long time ago.

"Come on. The next few days are going to be great." Kakashi whispered, nibbling on his ear and shifting the backpack on his shoulder before tugging Iruka towards the traditional rice paper sliding doors of the inn they were going to stay at.

Iruka watched with dumbfounded surprise at how Kakashi charmed the boy at the desk in to giving them the room with a view while he filled out the forms and paid for their stay. The boy was young, the type that had a girlfriend in the small subdivision at the bottom of the hill and helped his family run the business. He was polite enough to look down when Kakashi was busy whispering dirty little things in to Iruka's ear and was decent and human enough to blush at Kakashi's mild teasing. Iruka found the poor boy adorably cute who no doubt, when he got married, would have his ass whooped by his wife for being such a pushover.

With a little direction, they reached their room with the view of the woodlands below the hill. The first thing Iruka did was to step in to the balcony, staring at the view and at the full moon above their heads, smiling rather pleasantly (the fact that he was skiving classes wasn't even bothering him as much as it should) and feeling his bones tickle at the idea of what could happen in the next few evenings they'd be staying at the inn.

Just as Kakashi joined him in the balcony (clad in only his unbuttoned jeans), Iruka felt his stomach rumble with hunger. Kakashi was snickering behind him, fingers tracing circles over the rumbling organ and lips pulled back in a smile as he pressed them against Iruka's temple.

"I'll go order us food from downstairs. Why don't lie down for a bit and rest? It was a pretty long drive." Iruka offered, leaning against Kakashi's lips without being aware of it.

"No tempura for me."

"I know. Thought I don't understand why you hate it. It's very nice." Iruka chuckled, kissing the corner of Kakashi's jaw and tugging him in to the room, drawing the curtains shut and leaving the balcony open as he pushed Kakashi on to the low bed, climbing over him. "Although you have absolutely no intention of remaining in this room, well behaved."

"You know me." Kakashi grinned wolfishly, tugging Iruka down for a kiss and reaching down to unbutton the jeans Iruka still donned.

"Nah-uh." Iruka whispered, pulling Kakashi's hands away from the button and zipper of his jeans. "Not me. I will go order us food."

"And make me follow you and take you in the hallway in front of so many people?" Kakashi teased, grinning wider. "I didn't know you were kinky, Iruka."

"Who said anything about following me?" Iruka asked innocently, sliding down Kakashi's hips to straddle his thighs and simultaneously tugging the zipper down along with the waistband of Kakashi's boxers. Iruka watched with amusement as both of Kakashi's eyebrows shot up to his hairline, the long messy spikes of hair covering his scarred eye falling back from the earlier push towards the bed. "I'm going to make you wait here, like a good lil' boy."

"Really now?"

"Yep. Definitely." Iruka smirked and watched as Kakashi's eyes widened and his eyelids fluttered shut when he took the slightly hardening length in to his mouth and proceeded to work his magic. Iruka noticed how Kakashi's moan changed its pattern (or tone range) whenever he rubbed the throbbing head against the roof of his mouth. He also noticed how Kakashi squirmed under his watch while his mouth continued doing wicked things to the head in his mouth. Whenever he gave Kakashi a good blowjob (most of the time, it was just to shut him up when he was being irritating or whiny), Kakashi could remain lying boneless for a good hour (and if he used honey or doughnuts, Kakashi usually remained quiet for the rest of the day) and Iruka was going to use full benefit of that so that he head downstairs and get them both a much deserved dinner.

A good two minutes later after Iruka felt the back of his neck go stiff from all the bobbing movements he was making for Kakashi's sake, he felt the hard cock twitch against his teeth and braced himself for the oncoming orgasm. His ears tingled with the throaty moan Kakashi gave out, neck arching back and hands fisting against Iruka's hair, tangling it and messing it out of its proper ponytail. Iruka gave the softening organ on last good suck from base to tip before pulling back and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Unn 'Ruka ..." Kakashi moaned, head lolling to one side and panting, cheeks flushed.

"Yes, baby?" Iruka sing-songed, licking off the residual whites off the corners of his lips before reaching out for the box of tissues on the night stand to wipe his hands and cheeks. He stared at Kakashi lying boneless and spread eagled on the bed, pants pooled just around his thighs and dick lying limp and pleased over the folds of his boxers. Kakashi's arms were lax, fingers curled against what was once crisp and made sheets, chest gradually slowing down from its heaves due to the orgasm.

"Don't think I'm going to let you go for this." Kakashi mumbled, eyes closing for a moment.

"Not going anywhere. Just going to get food. Now, you wait right there and don't move a muscle." Iruka said, puttering to the bathroom to wash his face and hands before he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind and leaving Kakashi to the bed.

The small inn was very traditional, with polished wooden floors and stairs and tatami mats in all the rooms' floors. The smell of burning incensed drifted down the halls, along with the sounds of soft tinkling wind chimes what was mounted in all the balconies. From a distance, Iruka could hear the bamboo fountain tapping against the rock as it was filled with running water, the sound of crickets accompanying the unbreaking melodic evening tune. There weren't many people in the inn but it wasn't empty either. Iruka spotted an old couple sitting in one of the tea rooms with rice cakes and brewing tea, facing the view of the back garden where the gills of the golden and silver fish glimmered underneath the surface of the small koi pond. It was a very affordable place and Iruka knew without a doubt that during weekends or public holidays, the place would normally be full and busy.

The boy at the desk was watching the news on the small television mounted on the wall having nothing else to do. He perked up and gave Iruka a polite bow, hands folded behind him. "Something you need, Umino-san?"

"Dinner, if you please. What are you serving tonight?" Iruka asked, smiling at the polite teen.

"Let me go fetch the menu from the kitchen." He said, dipping his head as he headed out of the desk and disappeared out of the back door. It took only a few seconds before he appeared again and handed Iruka the day's menu (a folded piece of light green paper with the day's dish printed on it).

Iruka scanned it quickly, glad that most of the things they were serving that evening was to his and Kakashi's liking. He asked for two different sushi and sashimi platters along with a jar of sake and bowl of chilled fruit. The teenaged boy was more than happy to assist him and take his order down, giving Iruka wide smile as he bustled back in to the kitchen to alert the cook of the new order. Iruka thanked him before he disappeared completely behind the doors, shaking his head at the giddy and eager attitude to please the customers the boy had.

Iruka was just about to head back to the room when the breaking news flash through the small black television. Raising an eyebrow, Iruka lingered for a few more minutes to watch the breaking news, noting with no surprise how the businesses like Uzumaki Corps. was being attacked by other countries for their great influence. Iruka knew they were more like propagandas to tarnish the good and generous company. Iruka sighed shaking his head as the reporter read out the report of the Earth Capital criticizing the merge of Uzumaki Corps. with Nara Industries (although it was old news, sour grapes still remained scattered everywhere and no one was keeping quiet about it). Iruka was just about to roll his eyes when an aerial view of Konoha University's sporting facilities came in to view, the text 'Break-in and explosion' catching his eyes.

As he listened to the news, Iruka had to wonder why anyone would want to damage the pool area by blowing the entrance and exits of the small building, blocking off anyone from entering or using the pool. Footage was shown as police officers surrounded the area with yellow tape, confirming that there was nobody trapped in the rubble and that area was going to be off-limits to students till further investigation was done and completed. Iruka felt sorry for those in the swimming team; he heard that they had a national tournament in two months.

Iruka gave the boy at the desk a slight shrug. "Silly huh?"

"It's a good thing no one was hurt." The boy said, polite and quiet.

"Yeah. That's the second explosion in this term alone." Iruka mumbled, blaming it on hazing and other silly things that fell under that category. "I'll be heading back. When should I come down to get dinner?"

"Oh, I'll bring it up myself, Umino-san." The boy said, smiling and eye crinkling.

"Thank you." Iruka nodded and headed back to the room to see what Kakashi was doing. He was in the middle of climbing the stairs when the cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Tugging it out, he glanced at the name and blinked at Kotetsu's name flashing on the screen. He pressed the answer button and frowned. "Yeah?"

"Did you see the explosion?"

"Yes, on the news."

"Where are you?"

"I'm in the hills. Getaway, little vacation with Kakashi. Why are you talking so quietly?"

"I'm heading back to the city, in my apartment. I need one of the drives of your computer. I'm going to go get it, okay?"

Iruka blinked, confused. "Sure, I guess. You and Izumo have my extra key, so go help yourself."

"Great. My extra drive just fucked up, so I'll be taking yours. I'll leave everything as it was, okay?"

"Okay." Iruka could feel the nervousness in Kotetsu's voice along with his heavy breathing. "Ko' are you okay? You running or something?"

"I'm fine. Take care of yourself. Hills aren't that pretty."

Iruka blinked, utterly confused. "Yes they are."

"Bye, Iruka. Don't tell Izumo."

The line went dead and Iruka's eyebrows went up. Confused and somewhat worried, Iruka shrugged and tucked his phone back in to his pocket, counting the doors he passed by before entering the one he and Kakashi booked. He closed the door behind him and found Kakashi leaning against the balcony railing, pants and boxers up (but the jeans remained unzipped and unbuttoned) as he watched the scenery.

"Hey, I got us sushi and sashimi."

Kakashi pushed the curtains away and stepped back in to the room, pulling the balcony doors partially closed before he dropped himself on the floor cushions by the bed. "Sounds good."

"Boy downstairs was very nice. This is a nice place actually." Iruka shrugged. "Was watching the news. Our pool building got blown up, entrance and exits blocked."

"Blew up?"

"Prank, hazing, police are still investigating." Iruka shrugged again, pillowing his head on Kakashi's firm stomach, arms looping around the strong torso. "It's a good thing no one was hurt."

Kakashi nodded. "Yeah."

A moment of silence passed by and Iruka was about to fall asleep with him being snuggled up cozily against Kakashi. It was the knocking on the door a good half an hour later that startled him off his semi-sleep, making him sit up with a start as Kakashi wrapped his arms around him protectively and kissed the top of his head.

"Oh. It's the food." Iruka blinked, feeling silly for startling in the first place. "Let me get it."

Kakashi released his hold on him, allowing Iruka to walk to the door and take the trays of food from the boy at the desk and set them down on the small low table in the middle of the room. Iruka allowed the boy (who looked like he was going to fall over with the amount of trays he was carrying along with the sake jar and cups) to come in to the room to set down his load on the table as well (he blushed at the sight of Kakashi's rather indecent state of undress) before bowing quickly and left the room with a quiet, 'enjoy your dinner'.

The quiet pitter patter of footsteps and creaking of wooden floor boards was the only indication that he was gone. Iruka knelt by the table and started pouring out the sake in to the two cups, motioning for Kakashi with his head to join him.

"We'll soak up later, when everyone is asleep. What do you think?"

"I think that's a good idea and that you're just being a horny bastard." Iruka mumbled, taking a sip off the warm wine and smiling. "Good sake."

"You're the one who is good." Kakashi whispered huskily, leering at Iruka's face and licking his lips slowly in a predator like manner.

Iruka rolled his eyes and sampled one of his sushi, shrugging off his shirt as he chewed to get more comfortable. "Good sushi." Iruka smiled, reaching for another piece when Kakashi knocked his cup of wine over his lap and stomach, making Iruka jolt and move back in reflex.

"Oh, sorry." Kakashi mumbled, reaching for Iruka's chopsticks and moving them away. "Clumsy me."

Iruka couldn't stop the chuckle because Kakashi didn't sound sorry at all. He was about to reach for the tissue box on the table to wipe the sticky wine off his stomach and pants when Kakashi crawled over him and pushed him down on the floor rather roughly. Iruka felt the wind get knocked out of him as Kakashi smirked down at him, trailing his tongue down from his lips down to his neck and over the cooling wine on Iruka's navel and stomach.

"You know, you could have just asked." Iruka laughed, reaching down to undo his now sticky jeans and push it off as far as he could before Kakashi did the rest for him.

"I didn't mean to spill the wine." Kakashi said, not stopping with his licks and little nips over Iruka's waist.

"Yeah, right." Iruka said, rolling his eyes and pushing himself further away from the table, laughing when Kakashi gave chase and pounced on him, pinning him on the ground once more before grinning down at him, eyes crinkling in mirth.

"Tease."

Iruka allowed Kakashi to push his hands up so that his tanned hands were resting beside his head. He closed his eyes, relaxing completely and lips tugging up to a relaxed and loving smile. He waited for the kiss and touches but none came. Confused, Iruka opened his eyelids and peered up curiously (and cutely - Kakashi always liked it when he 'peered up'). He was met with a serious looking expression on Kakashi's face that was slightly pinched in the corners like someone was tugging at his hair. Iruka felt his smile disappear as he continued to stare up at the now pained looking face above him, the hair no longer hiding the red eye that was glassier than the marble gray one he always saw. The smile gone completely from his face, Iruka had to wonder what was going on in Kakashi's head because all trace of playfulness (or foreplay) was gone to be replaced with a very somber and almost guilty looking expression.

Iruka heard warning bells go out like a bomb in his head as he watched the lone red eye turn glassier and glassier till large drops of salty tears started to land on his own cheeks. Staring at his other eye, Iruka found it dry and unblinking, the pupils dilated while the red iris continued to weep. Iruka felt his own eyes widen further as Kakashi squeezed at the hands that were entwined with his, more tears falling against Iruka's cheeks.

"Kakashi?" Iruka asked quietly, wondering what he should do to handle the situation.

"I feel funny, Iruka. I don't know why." He said, blinking away the watering of his red eye.

"What's wrong?" Iruka asked, watching as Kakashi closed both of his eyes and kiss him. Iruka didn't stop him, leaving Kakashi to wrap his arms around his head, fingers threading through the thick mass of brown hair as the kiss grew desperate with each ticking second. He let Kakashi kiss his face, warm and trembling lips tenderly pressing against his cheekbones, jaw, forehead, eyebrows and eyelids. It was so slow and gentle that Iruka couldn't help but shake at the amount of affection Kakashi was directing at him, even as he left drops of salty tears in his kisses' wake.

Kakashi kept kissing him till he slowed to a stop and stared at Iruka again. He forced a smile to his slightly trembling lips, the effort of trying to look cheery somehow breaking Iruka's heart. "This red eye, it's not mine."

Iruka blinked. "Transplant?"

"Accident. Motorcycle, long time ago during my freshmen year at college. The guy who owned this eye was always a crybaby." Kakashi said, reaching up rub his weeping red eye. "We got in to a fight, notorious gang and we were running away. I lost my eye when someone slashed at my face. He saved me."

"Kakashi-"

"And then we got on our bikes, he was still a noob. Couldn't drive that well and I was half blind. There was a truck and they had guns and Obito pushed my bike out of the way, I don't know how."

"Kakashi, you don't have to say this to me now."

"And I went underneath the truck to the other side; he got caught and got crushed. He didn't burn and the police came a little too late. He gave me his eye when they got us in to the ambulance. He died before we even reached the hospital." Silence filled the room as Kakashi kept both his eyes closed, but the large fat tears kept falling down without his control from underneath the closed and scarred lid. "This eye cries all the time. It hasn't cried since then and now it's crying again. I don't know why."

Iruka pulled Kakashi's face down to kiss the scarred eye, before he pushed himself off the ground and pulled Kakashi to his chest, wrapping his arms protectively around him. "It's okay."

"I'm not crying. I don't cry. It's this eye's fault." Kakashi said, voice thick with whatever suppressed emotion that Iruka couldn't quite figure out.

"It's okay." Iruka said quietly, kissing the top of Kakashi's head. "It's really, really okay."

Kakashi looked at him and blinked several times, brows furrowing together. "I'm sorry."

Iruka never understood what exactly Kakashi was apologizing for; whether it was for the ruined mood, dinner or the fact that he spilt sake all over him, he couldn't figure it out, but he didn't push the matter either. Kakashi's sudden excess in possessiveness didn't bother him as much as the apology did. Iruka never knew how much a simple 'I'm sorry' could drive one up the wall, but as Kakashi remained lying quietly beside him that night, dressed in a cotton robe and snoring softly, arm looped around his middle, Iruka told himself that Kakashi was probably apologizing for going all 'emotional' on him without warning.

Iruka fell asleep with his heart clenched beneath his ribcage, the image of Kakashi's tears and cracking control haunting him even in his dreams.

XXX

Iruka woke up the next morning to find Kakashi still curled up beside him, asleep and unmoving. He smiled and kissed the bare shoulders, quietly slipping away from the loose hold Kakashi had on him. After managing to eat dinner quietly last night, Kakashi shared his shower with Iruka and both went to bed immediately, no sex, no kisses or touches. It was a simple curl-up-and-sleep act. After Kakashi's little story of his past during dinner, he remained somberly quiet and distant, only speaking when Iruka asked him something, sometimes not using words and merely nodding or shaking his head instead.

Iruka hoped, for his own sanity (because he knew he was a worry-wart) that Kakashi would be more lively when he woke up.

When he stepped out of his morning shower, dressed and ready to call for breakfast from downstairs, he found Kakashi still asleep on the bed in the same position since the other night. Iruka parted the curtains a bit, allowing a stream of sunlight to light up the dim room so that Kakashi can wake up slowly. He wanted to take Kakashi out in the woods for some fresh air and to unwind (that was their original plan). He watched with a small smile as Kakashi shifted in bed, moving away from warmth of the sun's rays and burying his face further in to the pillow Iruka used the other night as Iruka quietly slipped out of the room.

He walked down the stairs and found the boy at the desk looking up from that day's newspaper and smiling up at him. "Breakfast, Umino-san?"

"Yes, please."

"Here's our menu for today." The boy said, handing Iruka out a blue folded paper with the printed text.

Iruka read through it and placed his order. "Hey, uh, is there like a pathway around here to tour the woods?"

"Yes. There's a path that will lead you to the lake and waterfalls. It's a good area to go for a walk and a picnic. There's also a shrine nearby."

"Oh, good. Thank you very much for the info." Iruka said, smiling and nodding.

"I'll bring your breakfast upstairs."

"Thank you." Iruka dropped his head in a bow of thanks and headed back to his room.

Just as he suspected, the parted curtains did its work and roused Kakashi from his sleep. The bed was empty and the shower was running when Iruka stepped further in to the room. He made the bed and started fluffing up the floor cushions, moving around and generally getting the room ready for any sex acts Kakashi might feel like doing later. The last thing he wanted was for any of them to get hurt because there was something unnecessary on the floor.

When Kakashi stepped out, butt naked with a towel around his neck as he dried his hair, Iruka felt his cheeks heat up. "Morning." Kakashi mumbled, yawning as he dried himself.

"Morning. Breakfast should be here soon."

Kakashi nodded absent mindedly and puttered towards his bag in the corner of the room, bending over to take out some clothes. Iruka found himself admiring the fine backside, the limp organ that he so loved feeling inside of him and the strong muscle lines of Kakashi's legs, arms and back. His stare must have been so intent and focused because Kakashi turned to look at him, smirking before grinning.

"Like what you see?"

Iruka shrugged, clearing his throat and dropping himself down on the floor cushions he just fluffed. "Hard not too. You are a beautiful man."

Kakashi laughed and tugged on a pair of boxers to look decent before joining Iruka on the cushions. "You're the one who is beautiful."

Iruka shook his head in amusement and allowed Kakashi to kiss him good morning and touch him as much as he wanted. "After breakfast, I was thinking maybe we can just walk around. There's a shrine and waterfall nearby. We can stay there, talk, hold hands and maybe make use of the rocks and tree trunks."

"Oooh trees." Kakashi whispered, licking the outer shell of Iruka's ear. "Ride me, baby?"

"Anything and everything you want."

"I feel lucky today."

"I just want to cheer you up." Iruka said, wrapping his arms around Kakashi pressing their foreheads together. A moment of silence passed by before Iruka spoke again, growing worried with how Kakashi's expression fell and little lines of worry appeared on his temples and the corner of his eyes. "Are you okay?"

Kakashi didn't reply immediately but when he did, he smiled. "Yeah. I'm fine."

There was a knock on the door and Iruka found himself smiling just a tad bit more easily. "That's breakfast."

XXX

Iruka didn't want that day to end. After having breakfast, he and Kakashi took a long stroll down the path Iruka was told about and spent a few hours simply relaxing and enjoying the view (and making out a bit). They did visit the shrine, offering their respective prayers and dropping a few coins in to the offering box and ringing the large bells for blessings and good fortunes. They skipped lunch that day, opting to pick out one of the growing apples in the orchard they passed by on their way back to inn, laughing and telling jokes, which eventually lead to Kakashi pulling Iruka over his lap, apples forgotten and impromptu sex with Iruka straddling Kakashi's lap and bobbing up and down while holding on to the tree bark.

By the time they made it back to the inn, they had leaves and dirt all over them. Iruka ordered dinner to be delivered to them within two hours because Kakashi insisted they soak first before enjoying a good warm meal. They headed back to their rooms, sent their dirty clothing to the laundry service at the end of the hall before changing back to their bathrobes and making their way to the empty hot spring.

Iruka found himself sighing happily at the steamy surroundings. He lowered himself in to the water, peeling his robe off and keeping the small towel fastened around his waist as he sank deeper in tot he water, leaning against a large rock and moaning in great pleasure as the hot water did miracles to his body.

"Oh yeah, baby." Iruka whispered, popping his neck slowly, before lying boneless against the rock, staring absently at the night sky.

"Keep making pretty noises and I can't guarantee that your dignity and honor will remain safe for long." Kakashi said, leaning against a rock beside Iruka as well.

"It's so good." Iruka sighed, smiling widely. "Nothing, absolutely nothing can ruin this. Not this outing, not the sex, not our dinners - nothing."

Kakashi kissed him quietly and continued to soak for another half an hour. Somewhere in the middle, Iruka sat down between Kakashi's legs, using his chest as a pillow. At some point, Kakashi did try to give Iruka a hand job but got his hand slapped for even trying (Iruka's excuse was that there were other people who might want to soak up before going to bed and that how would Kakashi feel if someone jerked off in to the hot spring and he was going to bathe in later - of course, Kakashi ignored all the words that flew out of Iruka's mouth and instead attempted to give the hand job once more. Iruka left him in the hot springs, stalking back to the room where their dinner was arranged on the table and ready to be eaten).

Dinner was quiet since Iruka was irritated with how Kakashi didn't care for the other people in the inn. Kakashi didn't put more coal in to the fire by speaking and instead, he ate his food and drank his wine. When the food and dishes were taken away and everything was cleared, Iruka lay down on the floor cushions, curling up and facing the open balcony, the cool evening air tickling the exposed skin.

"Are you still mad at me for not caring?" Kakashi asked, coming to sit beside him. Iruka didn't reply and left Kakashi to stew for a bit more. "Can't I make it up to you, love? You know I want to do you so bad now, that it hurts."

"Well, you should have thought about our situation first before even thinking of getting wang all over the hot springs."

"You were naked, hot and flushed! How can I resist?"

"By not thinking of that kind of stuff!"

"I can't help it!"

Iruka rolled his eyes, trying to suppress his smile as he turned to face Kakashi, lying down and spreading his arms beside him. "So, if I let you make up for it, what are you going to do?"

Kakashi straddled Iruka's thighs, kissing his chest and leaving fresh new red marks all over the tanned skin. "Well, you'll just have to trust me, no?"

Iruka frowned, whimpering under the hand that was fiddling with his nipple, pinching and kneading. "Shut up and put your mouth to a better use!"

"Yes, master."

XXX

Iruka was pulled out of his sleep with his phone vibrating insistently on the night stand. The slight stinging of his backside along with the warm body pressed up against him made him grin like a fool in the afternoon sunlight as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Kakashi was still snoring beside him, pale body littered with so much red nail and teeth marks that Iruka found himself getting aroused just by staring at them.

His morning (afternoon) was brilliant (except for the vibrating cell phone which he ignored; if he didn't answer, maybe the moron would quit calling). He felt the hand resting on his thigh move to cup his limp dick, giving his balls an affectionate squeeze just as the caller hung up and his cell phone went silent. Iruka hissed out, the sensation painful but blissfully wonderful as well.

"Morning, love." Kakashi croaked out. "Who's the fucker calling so early?"

"Don't know, don't care. I'm ignoring it." Iruka fell back against the bed as Kakashi climbed over him and started sucking on his nipple piercing like a hungry infant. Iruka could feel his erection grow as Kakashi continued to suck on the piercing, his other hand tugging and squeezing at the ring on his navel. "How many - many times l-last night?" Iruka whimpered, breath hitching in his throat as Kakashi smirked in to his sucking.

He released the nipple and jewelry with a pop. "Ten."

"No wonder. I think it's p-past n-noon - unn! Kashi!"

Kakashi smirked as he run his teeth over the nipple, the friction making Iruka buckle underneath him. "You were so good last night, baby. Ten times and I still want more."

Iruka smirked, grinning widely. "Want milk?"

Kakashi laughed and started trailing his tongue down from Iruka's nipple to his navel and finally towards the throbbing head begging for attention. Iruka could feel Kakashi's own hardness pressed against his knee since Kakashi moved to tilt himself a bit to the side. "I always want Iruka's milk."

Iruka didn't have time to laugh as Kakashi started taking care of his morning erection while slowly stretching him again for their round of morning (afternoon) sex. Iruka was gripping the sides of his pillow tightly as Kakashi sucked him off while his fingers kept sending shivers down his spine as he stretched him. Iruka was beyond coherent when his cell phone started vibrating again.

"Unnn! Kakashi!" Iruka whimpered, gritting his teeth and screwing his eyes shut as Kakashi chuckled and continued working his mouth.

A pale hand gripped the hard length, mouth moving away with a popping noise as Kakashi grinned down at Iruka. "Answer it."

"Wh-What? No!"

Kakashi kept his fingers inside Iruka as he grabbed the phone and dropped it down Iruka's chest. "It's not a number registered in your phone memory. Answer it."

"I c-cant -"

"Yes, you can." Kakashi curled his fingers inside Iruka, making Iruka whimper out loud and struggle to breathe and gain some coherent thought. "Answer it."

Iruka noticed Kakashi's lecherous grin and it made him hard even more; the idea that Kakashi had full intention of continuing to sex him up while he was having a conversation stirred him even more that it made him groan as he grab the phone. Kakashi lowered himself again as Iruka pushed the answer button just as Kakashi's tongue started licking the slit of his head.

"H-Hello?" Iruka managed to say somehow without sounding like he had a man sucking off his dick.

"Umino Iruka-san?"

"Speaking, y-yes. W-Who is this?" Iruka bit his lower lip as Kakashi started to nibble on his balls, using his fingers to fuck him until he had his eyes screwed shut.

"This is the North-East State Correctional Facility. We have some news about one of our prisoners, Mizuki? He wrote down in his form that you are one of the few people to be notified if anything changes? Is this a bad time?"

Iruka blinked, staring at the ceiling and momentarily forgetting that Kakashi was busy sucking on his dick and finger-fucking him. "Please, go on."

"He is very ill and is suffering from an unknown drug's side effect. He is not expected to live long. He has a few last words to say." Iruka felt his mind slowly shut down as he lay limp and numb and staring at the ceiling. "When would it be an appropriate time for you to be able to arrange a visit or maybe even phone conversation? We can easily transfer the call to you." Iruka took a long time to reply, lips trembling as he blinked several times, trying to think of just what to say. "Umino-san?"

Iruka found Kakashi's face looming over him, curious and concerned. The fingers were no longer on him and Iruka could no longer feel the tight pull of his straining erection (it was gone). "I can talk now." Iruka said, pushing away from Kakashi and standing up, grabbing a robe from the chair in the corner of the room and pulling it on, leaving Kakashi to stare at him with confusion as he headed to the balcony and shut the sliding door behind him.

"Please hold on for a few minutes. This may take a while."

"No problem." Iruka said, finding his voice strangely calm.

The wait was almost agonizing. Iruka started counting the birds flying across the trees of the woodland area below him, dreading each second as it passed by. After what felt like a year, the annoying hold-melody ceased.

"He will be with you on the other line, Umino-san."

"Thank you." Iruka said hoarsely; there was a click on the phone and then silence and light breathing. Iruka knew that Mizuki was on the other line and that the silence was an indication that things were very awkward between them. Iruka couldn't remember how long passed between them since they last spoke to each other and it because of large amount of time, he forgot he had a tongue in the first place.

"Iruka?"

Swallowing thickly, Iruka nodded to himself. "I'm here."

"How have you been?"

"Okay. I'm doing my masters to earn a higher degree for more pay."

"Good, good! You've always wanted to do your higher studies. When do you graduate?"

Iruka felt his stomach tighten as the conversation progressed; they spoke about what any other person would normally talk about - movies, music, jobs, stuff he bought recently, sales in the mall, politics and university life in general. Iruka buried his face in his palm, biting down his lower lip as the conversation progressed with normalcy that wasn't quite normal. When they ran out of things to say, an awkward silence fell between them and Iruka, for once, was at a loss.

"Mizuki?"

"Yeah, babe?"

"Are you okay?"

There was a long silence before a tired sigh reached Iruka's ear. "No, I'm not, Iruka. And I won't be. I'm going to die soon and I wanted to tell you that I don't regret anything that happened, that I'm not sorry and that at some point, I did cheat on you." Without his control, Iruka closed his eyes and the first few tears trickled down his face. "I have a wife and a son, he's four years old now and he'll be starting school soon."

Iruka found himself smiling. "What's his name?"

"Mizuo. His mother picked the name."

"He must be a spitting image of you." Iruka choked out, swallowing thickly and clamping his hand over his mouth to silence himself.

"I saw his pictures. He looked like how I used to." Iruka didn't know what to say to that. "I didn't ask to speak to you to say I'm sorry. I just wanted to hear you before I go."

"When...?"

"Soon."

Iruka stared at a flock of birds flying across the sky, the tears coming down without his control. He was glad Kakashi was giving him his privacy and he was more than grateful to be away from the city. "I'm sorry."

"You don't mean that. So don't say it. Are you with someone now?"

"Yes."

"Good. Take care of yourself, Iruka. You're too close to that little brat and you'll be used and bribed and in the end, that brat will ruin your life. Don't become like me."

Iruka blinked and sat up straighter. "W-What are you talking about?"

"I'd appreciate it if one day, you'd tell my son what a fun guy I was at some point."

Iruka nodded. "I will, I promise."

"See ya' Iruka."

Mizuki didn't give Iruka a chance to say anything else as the line went dead. Iruka remained numb and unmoving as he stared at the phone in his hand. He slid down the balcony railing, phone clattering to the floor as he tried to digest what he just heard.

How long he remained in the same spot, he wasn't sure. Kakashi poked his head past the balcony door at some point and nearly tripped on his own feet rushing to his side. Iruka remained motionless and in a state of shock, boneless and unresponsive like a rag doll. Kakashi had to carry him in to the room, sitting him on the bed and shaking him, tapping his cheek, calling his name out over and over again.

Iruka refused to talk the whole time, his psyche shutting down as Kakashi worried and fussed around him. Iruka remembered falling asleep and waking up the next morning starving. He ate what breakfast Kakashi ordered from downstairs. He remembered wolfing down his share and throwing them up roughly fifteen minutes later. The whole day passed with him sitting in the balcony and staring at the sky.

He was expecting the worst to come, his dreams plagued of Mizuki's dead body.

When his phone rang, Kakashi took the call. He answered casually, coldly almost as if he didn't want the phone to ring in the first place. He came out and handed Iruka the cell phone, not looking happy. "I think you should take this."

Iruka stared at the phone dumbly before taking it and pressing it to his ear. The dazed look vanished almost instantly, subconscious mind taking over. "Yes?"

"Umino-san? I'm sorry to be calling again. This is the correctional facility -"

"What happened?" Iruka asked flatly, dread rising up like a high tide.

"Mizuki committed suicide last night by biting his tongue off. He wrote his will and requested he be cremated before his funeral. There will be a small service tomorrow."

Iruka strangely found relief. "He was suffering, wasn't he?"

"The drug's side effect was very difficult to stabilize. He was in pain all the time."

Iruka swallowed, his hand tightening against his robe. Kakashi's cool and pale hands took his as he knelt beside him, giving them a squeeze. "The service ...?"

"It will be held tomorrow morning. Will you be attending, Umino-san?"

"Please give me the address and timing." Iruka got up and headed back to the room to jot the down the time and address. "His wife?"

"She's been informed. She will be attending as well."

"Thank you."

"I am sorry to bear such news."

Iruka exchanged goodbyes with the officer on the other line and slumped down on his knees on the floor, staring at the piece of paper in his hand with the address and time. Kakashi came up behind him and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, kissing his temple.

"He's dead. They say he suffered a lot."

Kakashi rocked them both back and forth. "It's okay."

"There's a small service tomorrow. I - I have to go."

"I'll take you there myself."

XXX

Iruka idly listened to the priest reciting the final sutras, dressed in black t-shirt and jeans, eyeing the jar the empty coffin that had nothing but Mizuki's ashes. He strangely felt calm, reciting the familiar prayers he knew, praying to the heavens that Mizuki be forgiven for what he's done. He hoped that Mizuki found some sort of peace somehow. He was the only one attending the ceremony, along with Kakashi who chose to stay far away to give him some space. There were two officers several feet behind him, patient and also looking respectful for the dead.

Mizuki's wife came by later just as the casket was being lowered in to the ground, clutching a young boy with dark hair and Mizuki's eyes to her side, a bouquet of flowers in the other. She looked pale, tired and worn. Iruka turned to look at her for the first time and found himself staring at Mizuo instead, a smile tugging at his lips as the boy stared back at him.

Mizuo remained standing by Iruka's side, staring up at him with curiosity as Mizuki's wife - Tsubaki, Iruka heard - set the flowers over the casket, whispering her own set of prayers and shedding a few tears. She looked lonely yet relieved at the same time. Iruka paid her no mind and instead he crouched down to meet Mizuo's eyes.

"Hi."

"Hello." The boy answered, voice thick with a lisp.

"What's your name?"

"Mizuo." He answered. Iruka could see Mizuki's lips, nose and eyes on Mizuo's face along with his skin complexion. The only thing Mizuo lacked was the moonlight colored hair Mizuki donned.

"How have you been, Mizuo?"

"I'm okay. Daddy sent me a goodbye present."

Iruka could hear his heart break. Mizuo was going to grow up without knowing what it was like to have a father in his life. "What did he send you?"

"He got me crayons and lots of large coloring books. They're huge! He said in his letter that it's going to last me till my next four birthdays!"

Iruka smiled at the child's excitement. "Do you love your daddy?"

"Yes, I do! But I never met him but he always sent me drawings. It's in my room!"

Iruka had to look at the ground and screw his eyes shut to control the tears. "Well, your dad is going to a faraway place."

"Mama said he went with the angels and I won't see him ever again until I grow up." Mizuo nodded, understanding. "That's okay. Daddy promised to wait for me. He said so in his letter."

Iruka nodded and reached out to ruffle the soft dark locks. "Good boy. You make sure you study hard and become a very smart and brave boy that your daddy will be proud of."

"Sure!"

Tsubaki appeared beside Mizuo, taking his small hand and dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief. "Did he suffer?"

Iruka sucked in a deep breath and shook his head, lying. "No. They say it was a quick death."

"He always sounded like he was in so much pain over the phone." Tsubaki said, sighing and sucking in a deep breath. "I'm glad it's over. He always said he was tired."

"I'm sorry."

"It's good to finally meet you, Iruka. Mizuki told me about you."

Iruka was surprised but he didn't show it. "Likewise." He lied.

There was an awkward silence before Tsubaki bent down to pick up Mizuo in her arms. "I should get going. Mizuo still has pictures to color that daddy gave, ne?" Mizuo gave a cheery whoop and nodded.

"If you ever need anything, please, you can reach me here." Iruka said, taking out a slip of paper from his pocket and jotting his cell phone number and e-mail address down. "Mizuki - Mizuki asked me to tell Mizuo about him sometime. If - If you need anything, help, babysitting, tutors ..."

Tsubaki nodded, taking the paper. "I understand. Thank you."

Iruka watched as Tsubaki gave him one last sad look and walk down the pathway that lead to the main street where her taxi was waiting for her. Iruka glanced back at the people covering the coffin with soil and erecting the tombstone, lingering till they were done before he knelt and said his final goodbyes to Mizuki.

When he was done, he stood up and was approached by the two officers. "Umino-san? This was left by Mizuki in his cell. It was addressed to you."

Iruka stared at the outstretched envelope, taking it and folding it in half. "Thank you."

"Take care on your way." The officer said and Iruka nodded, gave a small smile and started walking towards Kakashi in the parking lot, who was leaning against the bike.

Kakashi said nothing at all until they reached the dormitories. When they were inside, Kakashi held Iruka all night long, not leaving him alone.

XXX

Things were so sudden, that much Iruka noticed. He was sitting on his desk that evening after the funeral, staring at his laptop screen, the window that displayed his mail content minimized on the task tray. The envelope was sitting in front of him, waiting to be opened and read. He was still replaying the last conversation he had with Mizuki in his head and thinking of reasons why Mizuki would want to speak to him instead of his wife. The officers informed him sometime before the funeral that Tsubaki wasn't aware of Mizuki's latest condition before his death and that it was in his will that she didn't find out.

But he wanted Iruka to know.

A part of Iruka was torn as to whether to feel appreciated or lost. Kakashi had been nothing but silently supportive through out. He gave him the privacy he needed that evening, telling him that was he going to go do laundry and then get them both dinner. Iruka appreciated the thought and thanked him.

A good half an hour later, he reached out for the envelope and tucked it away in to his box, not wanting to read what was written in the paper within. He didn't want to think of Mizuki or how he died and his last few words to him. Instead he checked the assignments emailed to him, going through his mail one by one according to the date it was sent. Upon seeing what kind of assignments he needed to do, he took a spare MD he always kept in his drawer and pressed the eject button of his laptop to take out the previous MD disk he left behind and never took out.

When nothing came out, Iruka raised an eyebrow to see if the disk was stuck; he found nothing.

Confused, Iruka got to his feet and checked his laptop bag, emptying the contents and looking for the colored disk Kotetsu left him. He checked his drawers and other bags, swearing to himself that he did leave it inside his laptop's MD-player. The more he searched and didn't manage to find it, the more he grew worried.

He sat back down on his desk, thinking slowly as to where he might have kept it. He checked his drawers again and again, along with his bags and every corner of the room. When he came out with no results, Iruka got really worried. He didn't know what the disk contained and now it was missing.

He opened his mail window, reading the last email he received before he typed up a short e-mail to Kotetsu to resend him a copy of the disk. He saw Kotetsu's name on the sender's bar of his last email and was just about to scroll down when his cell phone vibrated beside him.

A glance at the caller's ID made him blink. "Izumo?"

Izumo's voice sounded worried on the other line. "Hey, Iruka! Where the hell were you?"

"I was out of town." Iruka frowned, leaning back on his chair. "Something wrong?"

"Do you know where Kotetsu is? His phone has been out of service for the past three days! He wasn't in the apartment and he isn't on campus."

Iruka frowned some more as his worry escalated. "No one's seen him? He told me that he was heading back to the city to borrow one of my hard disks because on of his computers fucked up or something."

"I went to the apartment and checked. He's not there. Did he tell you where he was going?"

Iruka glanced at the date on the e-mail Kotetsu sent him; it was on the day before he spoke to Mizuki, the day he and Kakashi had a great time in the hot springs and by the waterfalls. "He didn't call me or speak to me."

"Well, I'll wait. We had a fight so I don't know if he left for school project or whatever."

"I'm sure he'll call back or e-mail or whatever."

"He hasn't e-mailed me since our fight."

Iruka's heart skipped a beat. "If he gives me a call, you're the first one to know."

"Thanks, 'Ru. I'll e-mail him myself and wait as well."

Iruka mumbled an almost incoherent goodbye before dialing Kotetsu's number, hearing the same operator message saying that the number was out of service and to try again later. Iruka shook his head scrolled down to read Kotetsu's mail message.

The one line on the page made Iruka's blood run cold.

Help me. Find me.

TBC

Shi-chan would like to apologize for the lack of update last week and for this one being late and slightly chunkier (and packed with too much things at once) chapter. Wrapping up the story was a killer and I had to rewrite this chapter more than a few times till I somehow ended up feeling a wee bit satisfied with this.

Notes and credits:

- Mizuki dying may come off as a shock but it had to be done.

- The idea of Mizuki leaving a child behind was influenced by Kung-Fuu's story New Promises and Fighting Dreamers. Her stuff is awesome and whatever role Tsubaki might have in the future will all be because of her influence.

Not much to credit here. Again, I am sorry but real life gets in the way and my evenings have been robbed (i.e. I haven't got that much free time to write anymore). I also just got over a massive block that was also part of the reason I couldn't update last week (along with mid-term exams).

For the record, I am not that pleased with this chapter (but it's way better than what I had before I retyped several parts). As usual, I'd like to hear your thoughts and suggestions.