I am so sorry! Things have been a bit crazy in my life, and that means that I haven't had a chance to update. Actually, I haven't even had the chance to write. This chapter has been sitting half finished in my book since about mid October! I finished it on the train ride that I took on New Years Eve between D.C. and New York, but I haven't had access to a computer until now. So, I, in my most dignified way, fall down upon my knees and beg for forgiveness. …All done now? Okay, good. Now, on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not, under any circumstances, own Naruto, or the characters. I own only the story line. If I did own Naruto, I would not have to worry about college. …So there :P

Iruka's thoughts

Kakashi's thoughts

Tsunade's thoughts

Tsunade sat behind her desk, deep in thought. Now she knew that both of the annoying nin had feelings for each other… okay, in all honesty they loved each other , but both were under the impression that the other hated them, when that was as far from the truth as it is possible to get. sigh This isn't fair! They are both too stubborn and too shy to do anything about this! Why am I stuck in the middle of this? …Oh yeah, it's because I was bored out of my mind and they both looked like they needed someone to talk to. … I have no idea of what to do now!

Iruka sat behind his desk in the missions' office, staring at the paper work in front of him, not registering that it was there. Ever since he had talked with Tsunade he couldn't get Kakashi or what Tsunade hade said out of his head. Why can't I make this stop? I can't focus on anything else but this, and people are starting to notice that I'm really out of it…

"Iruka sensei, are you doing your work, or are you just ignoring me?"

Pause, no reaction.

"Iruka sensei …Iruka sensei?" Louder, but still no response.

"Iruka sensei, wake up!"

"Huh?! Wait, what?" Oh Kami, just the person I didn't want to see right now.

"Iruka sensei, are you alright? I mean, I'm the one usually slaking off and you do the work!" Iruka blinked as Kakashi's words registered in his mind.

"Wait, Kakashi sensei, does this mean that you are turning in a legible copy of your report? On the day its due!?"

"Oh no, I've written it, but it is currently in my apartment with Pakun, to whom I have left orders to mangle and defile said report in any way he sees fit." Kakashi was truly annoying Iruka decided. He had just given his speech on destroying his paper, while his only facial expression was his trademark eye smile.

"If you are not going to give me your report, then why are you here wasting my time?" Iruka asked, getting more agitated by the second.

"Hey, that was uncalled for! Wasting time, why I never! Anyway, the reasons are these. Number one: entertainment. Number two, to help make it seem as though actually are working. And number three, is to annoy you!" Kakashi ended with his eye smile of which Iruka had decided must truly be trademarked, for no one else ever attempted to use it.

"Arghh! Kakashi! Why must you do this?!" Iruka asked while quickly losing his patience.

"Why must I do what? If you mean annoy you, it is again because of three simple reasons, it is fun for me, and it gives you something to do instead of sitting at your desk and signing papers. But I suppose there is one more reason better than any of the others…." With that Kakashi trailed off.

"If there is such a reason, please tell me before I lose what is left of my already tried patience."

"Are you sure that you want to know, Iruka sensei?"

"Please Kakashi, just tell me." Just keep control, you can do this Iruka, don't let the infuriating jounin get to you. Iruka told himself.

"But Iruka sensei, are you sure that you want to know? I mean, are youabsolutelysure that you wantto know?" Kakashi persisted, smirking.

"Just tell me Kakashi!"Iruka burst out.

"Iruka sensei, did you realize that the past two times you have addressed me, you have not added 'sensei' after my name? I realize that I am worth your admiration, but I had no idea that your feelings ran that deep." Inside Kakashi was thoroughly enjoying himself, while on the outside; he wore a mask of complete surprise.

"Well, Kakashi sensei, if there is a point that you are trying to make, make it fast, now!"

"Of course, Iruka sensei. As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," at this, Iruka shot Kakashi a look that clearly said 'you have ten seconds before your imminent demise'. "As I was saying, the third and most important reason that I find for annoying you is this: when you get angry, you are very hot, and if I may say, equally as sexy. That's why." Kakashi ended rather lamely. He then remained quiet as he watched for the reaction that Iruka would make.

Did Kakashi just say what I think he said? There has got to be some sort of misinterpretation here somewhere. Iruka quickly went over the conversation in his head again, but could find nothing that told him that he was interpreting Kakashi words incorrectly.

As that finally sunk into Iruka's paralyzed brain, he felt his cheeks turn a color reminiscent of a tomato.

"Oh, and Iruka sensei, blushing just increases those opinions of mine."

Iruka, who was still in shock from what Kakashi had told him, didn't reply. Then, Kakashi leaned over iruka's desk and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Sadly, at this, Iruka's brain, which hadn't been working all that well to begin with, decided to die on him. ………………………………… …………….. … . . Wha-what just happened?

Now assured that Iruka was indeed still alive, Kakashi turned and walked out of the missions' office. A few seconds later, Kakashi stuck his head back in the door.

"Oh, Iruka?"

"H-huh?" Iruka replied in a strangled voice.

"See you around." Kakashi gave a smile and a small wave and exited again through the door. Iruka, who at that moment had the mental capacity of a three year old, disconnectedly realized that that was the third time that day that Kakashi had opted to use the door instead of his much preferred way of getting around: teleportation. His reverie was interrupted by a small sound in the opposite corner of the room. In that corner, much to Iruka's regret, sat Tsunade.

"Aghhh.." Iruka squeaked out, "Tsu-Tsunade sama, what are you doing here? In the missions room? Right now?"

"What I am doing Iruka, is observing. I came in here with the plan of talking to you, but as you might know, that didn't really work out as planned." At those words, Iruka's face lit up like a tomato once more. "But, I now have the feeling that we have much more to talk about. Lets go." Tsunade ordered while trying with all her might to keep from laughing.

"But Tsunade sama…"

"What is Iruka sensei?"

"Um, well…It's still my shift! I am truly sorry, but I have responsibilities, I guess this little talk must happen later. Oh well."

"Iruka sensei! Stop trying to run away! You know that this will help you in the long run, right?"

Why do her explanations always make sense? And why do they always make sense when it is better for me in the present for them not to make sense? Iruka gave up a decided that he would live longer if he just agreed with the 5th. "You are right Tsunade sensei. This will help me later more than it hurts me now." Just because I'm agreeing with you does not mean that I won't find a way out of this!

"Good, now, let's go."

"Go where?" Oh crap! Iruka thought to himself. Where are we going? Going somewhere does not help my plans for escape!

"To my office of course. So we won't be interrupted while we speak." Tsunade started to walk to above mentioned office, and then paused when she realized that she was not being followed. "Coming, Iruka sensei?"

"I'm right behind you Tsunade sama." Iruka answered as he hung his head and followed her to his death.

When they both were inside her office, Tsunade closed and locked the door behind them. "To make this more private." Tsunade answered Iruka's unspoken question when she felt his gaze upon her.

"Now then, tell me what happened. What made him do that?"

Iruka blushed. "Alright, Tsunade sama. But before I tell you, will you answer me my next question?"

That surprised Tsunade, she wasn't expecting him to ask something of her, but then decided that after all she had put him through he deserved to have one of his own questions answered. "Yes."

"Thank you. My question is this; why are you so interested? In my and Kakashi's relationship, or, in this case, lack thereof?"

"That's simple. I care about you." She caught Iruka's disbelieving look, "No, I really mean this Iruka. You are both immensely talented and are both huge additions to this village." All of her praise made Iruka fell as though he should point some flaw of his out to her, but she beat him to it just as he was opening his mouth. "And don't you dare give me that 'I'm only a chunin' thing. We both know that if you wanted to you could become a Jounin extremely easily, as well as join ANBU in the blink of an eye if you wished to, or if it was required of you." That made Iruka close his mouth as quickly as he had opened it. "Furthermore, you have both had so much sadness and misfortune in your lives. That makes you similar enough to get along if you would just give yourselves a chance to try. Yet at the exact same time, your own personalities are so very different. It is this difference that will give continuous surprises to both of you. You both need someone to make you happy in a way that friendship cannot. Is this making sense to you, Iruka?"

After she was done with her speech, Tsunade stopped talking, both to catch her breath, but also to allow Iruka to have a chance to comprehend her words. And as much as Iruka wanted to deny it, he understood her reasoning and why she was making his life a living hell. And…why she wanted to know everything.

After this realization, Iruka again failed to respond, so Tsunade began to grill him again.

"So, what happened?"

"…Oh yeah, right. Well, I was in the missions' room and Kakashi suddenly walks through the door," At the mention of Kakashi purposely walking through a door.

"He did what?!" She asked in shock.

"Who did what?" Iruka asked, confused at her sudden outbreak.

"K-Kakashi walked through a door. On purpose. Kakashi? Walked through a door?"

"Yes, he did. Come to think of, he walked through it two times. Well, four actually. If you his head entering and exiting as well." This time Tsunade managed to control her disbelief at hearing that Kakashi had used a door correctly four times in a day. Well, two times if you don't count his head entering and exiting. Which Tsunade did.

"Okay, let's get back to the main topic and come back later to look more closely at the phenomenon of Kakashi using a door correctly, shall we?"

"Okay. So, Kakashi came into the room and started to annoy me. I got fed up and asked him if he had an actual reason for being there, like turning in his report. …which of course he didn't." This annoyed Iruka, Tsunade could tell. After taking a calming breath, Iruka continued explaining the events of the day. "He said that he was here to help me, so that I had something to do other than pretend to do my work." When Tsunade heard this, her eyes filled with questions, but Iruka wasn't paying any attention to her, so she let it drop.

"I asked him why he was doing this, and he said that it was to give us both something interesting to do. But, he also said that…that he…." When Iruka started to stutter, Tsunade smirked.

"He kissed you, right." As soon as the words had escaped her mouth, Iruka lit up like a light bulb.

"Yes, he did…but…he also said something…" Iruka admitted reluctantly. His reluctance intrigued Tsunade immediately.

"What did he say?"

"…"

"Iruka, what did Kakashi say to you?"

"…Do I have to tell you? Isn't everything else I've said been enough?" Iruka pleaded.

With an innocent smile that was anything but, Tsunade answered his desperate question with a resounding "No."

"Iruka, this is important, so spill. Now." They sat in the silence that had been created for a few moments, until Iruka looked as though he might explode.

"Really? Must I?"

"Yes Iruka, you must. If you are this reluctant to tell me, then this is something that I need to know."

Those words felt like a death sentence to him. But, with them in his mind, his brain went into overdrive. I really don't want to tell her what he said, or at least not yet. What can I do? What can I do? What can I do? …I know! She may have locked all of the doors and windows, but she won't be expecting this! …I'm going to pay horribly for this later, but I really don't care about that right now. Here it goes. Iruka made up his mind, and preformed a transportation jutsu.

Tsunade stared at the empty seat in front of her for a few moments in shock. What a bloody git! Here I am, doing everything in my power to help these idiots, and Iruka up and runs away during the best, and I suppose, most crucial part of this entire conversation! I mean, I know he knows I know what happened, but he's refusing to speak about it! All I'm trying to do is help him. And the book said that number thirty-seven was a fairly simple one to follow! I mean, everyone knows that admitting issues to yourself puts things in a better perspective! Plus, it gives you more control over the situation! That's it, there's only one thing left to do!

"Shizune, send for Kakashi sensei immediately. I don't care what he's doing, bring him here."

"sigh Right away Hokage sama."

When you can't get to the problem from the front, got about it through a different direction, or, inthis case, through the other man.

"Mwa ha ha ha ha ha cough cough cough okay, no more maniacal laughter. But, I will give Iruka one thing. I did not see that coming."

Meanwhile, with Kakashi

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit! What did I just do!? well, that's noe the real issue here, I know what I did, I kissed him. The real question that I should be asking my self is what the hell was I thinking?! What if he hates me even more now? Oh shit!

Kakashi was currently pacing in circles in his apartment, stopping only to put out fires that the friction from his feet had created. And all the while, he kept repeating the exact same thing in his head.

"What am I going to do?" he asked his empty room when he finally sat down after realizing that his carpet now had a very distinguished circle of singed marks added to it.

"Well, for a start, you can come with me."

Again, I'm so sorry that it took me this long, but you will have to wait a while until chapter four comes as well, because at this moment, my life is crazy, as well as the fact that I am writing five other stories that I need to work on, all of them which may or may not end up on my profile. Thank you for reading.

The book that Tsunade was talking about is Over Three Million Ways to Make Your Life Suck Less. No, it's not a real book, but if it was, I would likely as not own it myself.