Disclaimer: Don't own.

AN: Just to clear some confusion that Emma pointed out. These are seperate stories, meaning that they are not related to each other, unless other wise noted, like number 3 and 4. I hope that clear things up for everyone.

21. Vacation

Iruka stretched in his bed, waking up at 11am and completely rested. It was the first day of summer vacation and he couldn't help but feel…well. He looked over to his still sleeping lover, the thin blanket drawn up, giving him the appearance that he was trying to hide from the sunlight. He smiled and snuggled closer to the older man, planting lazy kisses along the pale clavicle and shoulders. The older man stirred and sighed, relaxing under the younger man's ministration.

"'Morning Ruru."

Iruka smiled against skin, "'Morning 'Kashi."

Kakashi smiled at the pet name, no matter how many times he heard it, it always made his heart flutter and make him grin like a fool. He felt Iruka push him onto his back as he continued to plant kisses along chest. Iruka grinned at him before pulling the covers over him, hiding his actions from the older man's. Kakashi shivered when he felt a hot tongue follow a rather sensitive scar, he nearly yelped when he felt the younger man lightly bite his side. He felt firm hands gently spread his legs and he felt himself blush as those same hands smoothed over his thighs, following the inner crease where leg met hips, caressing him through the fabric. Iruka shuffled under the covers and ducked his head back out, grinning at his lover as his hands continued to caress the pale skin.

"And here I was going to offer if you wanted to spend a weekend at the hotsprings," Kakashi said, threading his fingers through the chocolate strands.

"We can do that too," he kissed the older man's jawline, "We can even do both…at the same time."

Kakashi felt himself shiver in anticipation, "We can even extend our stay," he pulled the younger man closer and began to kiss the tan neck.

"Hmm," Iruka's eyes fluttered closed, "I'll like that," he gave a low sigh when a hand on the small of his back pulled him closer, "But isn't it too hot for a trip to the hotsprings?"

Kakashi smiled against his neck, "Not at night."

"Hmm," Iruka pressed himself against the older man, slowly rocking his hips against the older man, "I'm already loving my vacation."

Pale hands snaked into his shirt, "Me too."

22. Mother Nature

Iruka watched as the older man doze off next to him. It brought a smile to his lips and he leaned his head on the nearest shoulder, making the dozing man lean his head against his. Iruka watched the scene in front of him from under the huge tree that edged a hill near the academy. The tall grass swayed with a rolling breeze. He felt the older man pull him closer, as if trying to warm the sudden chill. Iruka smiled

and continued the gaze, watching the sunset beyond the horizon, feeling the last rays of sunlight touch and caress his skin before completely disappearing behind the horizon. He lovingly nuzzled the sleeping man's jaw.

"Wake up, Love," he said softly into his lover's ear, smiling when the older man stirred and lazily nuzzled back. The mismatched eyes opened and looked at the horizon.

"I missed it," he said in a tone that sounded much like disappointment.

Iruka chuckled, "It's alright, there's always tomorrow." He kissed the scarred pale cheek and smiled when their noses bumped. Lips met his in a soft, tender kiss. His head tipped back as a hand cupped his jaw. They broke the kiss, lips brushing against lips, the older man nuzzled the younger man's cheek, planting soft kisses along the tan jaw. One of his hands cupped the older man's cheek as their lips met in another passionate kiss.

The growing night, dusked by shining stars, gave them all the privacy they needed.

23. Cat

Kakashi stepped into Iruka's apartment, shedding off his wet vest and toed off his sandals. He pulled off his equally soaked shirt, making a pile near the doorway. Something tickled his nose, making it twitch. He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, and looked around the apartment.

"Iruka?" he walked further into the apartment and towards the bedroom, eager to get out of the clinging went clothes. He found the chunin digging in a drawer in the cabinet, "There you are…what are you doing?"

Iruka looked up and smiled at the jounin, before continuing his search, "Looking for a blanket."

Kakashi grinned and wrapped his arms around the younger man, "I can warm you u-up," his nose twitched again and pressed the back of his hand against his nose.

Iruka turned around, concerned, "Are you alright?" now that the older man was closer he noticed just how wet he was, "You're soaking wet!" He fully turned towards the older man, "You're freezing!"

Kakashi continued to rub his nose, his face scrunched up and took a sharp intake a breath before sneezing.

Iruka couldn't help but find it adorable, "Come on, let's get you out of these," he tugged off the older man's pants, letting them drop of the ground. He turned back to the dresser and took out a pair of warm sweatpants and a worn t-shirt, "Here."

Kakashi tugged on the sweatpants and then the shirt and felt something tickling his nose again, he rubbed it with the back of his hand and sneezed again.

"Are you getting sick?" Iruka asked as he shut the drawer after finding the blanket he was looking for.

Kakashi shook his head, "I don't think so."

Iruka frowned and walked out of the bedroom, the older man followed him.

"Where are you going with that?" he sniffed.

Iruka stopped in front of the laundry room and opened the door. Kakashi froze when he heard mewing. Iruka noticed the older man take a step back, "Kakashi?"

"Please…" Kakashi took a deep breath, "Please tell me that you don't have a cat in there…"

Iruka furrowed an eyebrow, "Why?"

Kakashi felt his nose twitched and sneezed again.

Iruka's eyes widened, "You're allergic?" Kakashi rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, frowning at the younger man. Iruka sighed and shook his head, a smile on his lips. He gestured at the laundry room and walked in. Kakashi took a step forward, and his frown deepened.

"She won't bite," Iruka called from inside.

Kakashi tentatively walked to the door and pushed it open. Iruka had wrapped the cat in the blanket he was looking for and was placing it in a shallow basket. The blanket moved and a small orange head popped out and look at him with green eyes. It wasn't a cat, it was a kitten, maybe five or six weeks old. The kitten ducked back in to the blankets, keeping it's gaze on the silver head jounin. Iruka chuckled, "I think you're scaring her." Kakashi's sneeze echoed in the small room, making the kitten duck back into the blanket's nest.

"Uh, sorry."

Iruka chuckled and pat the lump in the blanket, making the orange head pop back out, and give a soft mew, "I'm not going to keep her, if that's what you're worried about," he smiled warmly at the older man, "I think I'll give her to Anko."

"You don't have to," he sniffed.

"You're allergic, 'Kashi, don't want you sneezing every time you're here," he looked back down at the kitten that was falling asleep, "And I don't want you taking medicine to control them either."

"Sorry," he said and sniffed again.

Iruka smiled at him and chuckled, "I don't think I can give her enough attention anyway." He stopped petting the blanket and checked if the kitten was really asleep. He moved the bowl of milk closer and stood up to walk over to the older man, "I have a dog that takes all of my attention anyway."

Kakashi leered at his lover, "Are you calling me a dog, Ruru?"

Iruka placed a firm hand on Kakashi's chest and gently pushed him back out of the doorway and closed the door softly behind him, leaving the top half ajar, "Maybe…"

"Hmm," he eyed the younger man as he got closer but stepped back and placed a hand on the younger man's chest, frowning. Iruka raised a questioning eyebrow, "I…think you have car fur on you," he felt his nose twitch, and rubbed it with the back of his hand.

Iruka grinned and pulled off his shirt, "Better?"

Kakashi felt his cheeks heat up, as he openly admired his lover, "Much," he pulled the younger man closer by the waist and nuzzled the tan neck.

Iruka snaked his hands into the older man's shirt and ran his fingers along the curve of his spine, making the older man purr against his neck. He chuckled, "Though sometimes you behave much like cat."

Kakashi quirked an eyebrow, "Do I?" He dipped his hand into the younger man's sweatpants and squeeze the firm, round muscle, making their hips flush. Iruka gasped and jerked against him, "I resent that," he whispered into the younger man's ear, and nibbled on the earlobe. He maneuvered the younger man against the nearest wall and pressed his thigh against the chunin's. He raised his knee and shifted Iruka closer. Iruka bit his lip as he tried not to grind into strong thigh. Kakashi slid his thigh back down, forcing Iruka to rock his hips against his thigh. The younger man gasped and rested his head on the shoulder in front of him, his cheeks heating up as his hips grinded into the older man's thigh.

"I think you would agree," he said hotly into Iruka's ear. Kakashi grinned and set to prove that he was nothing like a cat.

24. No Time

Iruka was hunched over his coffee table, trying to get his grading down on time. He heard a knock at the door. He stood and walked over to open it.

"Yo," Kakashi walked in as Iruka went back to the coffee table.

"Hey," he gave the jounin a smile before returning his attention to his grading.

Kakashi stood at the doorway, fidgeting, until Iruka looked back up at him.

"I take it that you're not ready," Kakashi said, a bit of a tease in his voice.

Iruka looked at him confused, "What are you talking about?"

Kakashi straightened his posture and waited for the gears to clicks into place.

Iruka looked at him and realized that Kakashi was dressed rather nicely – Iruka's got a shocked look on his face and pressed his palm on his forehead, "I forgot," he said, ashamed, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to forget our dinner plans, it's just I got caught up with my grading and…," he trailed off, the older man waved a hand in dismissal.

"Maa, don't worry about it," he toed off his shoes and made his way to the chunin, "We can reschedule."

Iruka sighed, "I'm really sorry."

Kakashi shook his head and smiled at his lover, "Really, don't worry about it." He squeezed himself in between his lover and the couch and sat behind the younger man. His legs on either side of his lover. He wrapped his arms loosely around the younger man's waist and rested his chin on the tense shoulder, "You shouldn't press yourself so hard, it's not good for you."

Iruka sighed and relaxed against the man behind him, "I know, but these papers have been piling up, and exams are coming up. So I need to get these back to them so they can study and…," he gave a frustrated sigh and pushed back his bangs.

Kakashi planted a kiss right below the younger man's earlobe, "You shouldn't burn yourself out, either Iruka. Then you won't function as properly either," he rubbed his lover's biceps, "It can have a toll on work as well," there was concern in his voice as he spoke into the younger man's ear.

Iruka relaxed further against the older man, "I know…" he sighed again, "Say…would you mind waking me up…if I fall asleep…?"

Kakashi shook his head, and watched as the tired chocolate eyes fluttered close and the brunette's head lolled to face him. He kissed the tan forehead, You have to make time for yourself too, love. One arm held the younger man against him as he slept, while the other graded work so he wouldn't have to wake him up.

25. Trouble Lurking

While teaching, Iruka had the strangest feeling. Like if someone was watching him. He turned back to his class and didn't notice any intense gazes.

"Iruka-sensei, is everything alright?"

"Huh? Yeah, now where was I?" he turned back to the chalk board and continued his lecture, writing important notes for his students to copy down, Why can't I shake this feeling off? The release bell took him by surprise. He watched his student flee his classroom, as he announced his reminder for a quiz next class meeting. He sighed and looked around the classroom, and then he felt again. That feeling that someone was watching him. He casually walked over to the window and opened it, he leaned out the window frame and took a deep breath, and casually looked around. He stepped back into his classroom,

intentionally leaving the window the open, There's someone watching me…I can feel it. He began to wipe off the chalkboard and nearly jumped when Kakashi landed on the window sill.

"Oh god, you startled me."

Kakashi tilted his head, "A bit jumpy aren't we?"

Iruka glared at him and continued to wipe his chalkboard. Kakashi walked over to Iruka's desk and leaned against it, facing the chalkboard. When Iruka was within reach he pulled the chunin by the waist, "Missed you."

Iruka sighed, "It's only been seven hours."

"Enough time to miss you," Kakashi nuzzled his neck.

Iruka's heart skipped a beat. There was something wrong, he could feel it. He pulled away and looked and the older man.

"What is it?" Kakashi asked confused, "'Ruka, what's wrong?"

His heart skipped another beat in panic, Ruka? "Nothing…," he pulled away and continued wiping the chalkboard, What's going on here? He heard something gracefully land on his window sill, and froze when he saw it was Kakashi. The jounin's gaze instantly went from Iruka to the imposter.

"Ka-," before he could react he was pulled from behind and an arm wrapped around his neck painfully, he froze when he felt a coldness under his earlobe. He watched the blue eye give a piercing glare at his captor.

"You've got a cute little fuck buddy here, you know that? Copy-nin?" he licked the shell of Iruka's ear to emphasize his point, "And if you don't want anything to happen to him, you'll cooperate."

Kakashi didn't move from the window sill. The only movement was a slight tilt of his head. Iruka could see through the passive expression and watched the jounin trying to find a solution to the situation. He saw the blue eye flicker to him, before going back to his captor, "Who sent you?"

"Doesn't matter," the man grinned and tightened his hold on Iruka, "Now, if you cooperate, nothing will happen to this lovely man of yours…"

"You can't hurt him if you want me to cooperate regardless," Kakashi countered flatly.

"Hmm," the captor dragged the blade of the kunai along Iruka's cheek. Admiring the way Iruka didn't flinch, "I can see why you like this one," he continued watching the chunin as he dragged the kunai bluntly along the tan throat, before raising his gaze to the copy-nin, "Be shame if something happened to him."

Kakashi continued his steady gaze, "You're not the brightest of the bunch are you?" he asked amused, "It must be information your after."

"Good guess, Copy-nin."

Kakashi's eye flickered at met Iruka's for a mere second. Iruka caught it. He took a breath and felt a sudden rush of air graze his cheek, as a half gloved hand grasped the one holding the kunai. Iruka heard a snap, and tried not to flinch when he realized it was his captor's wrist. He heard a grunt and the body move away. He looked at the jounin perching on the window sill, didn't want to look back when he heard a guttural sound and a body hit the floor, instead he held the lone blue eye's gaze and watched the jounin walk up to him.

"Are you alright?" he cupped the younger man's jaw and tilted the tan face up to him.

Iruka nodded.

Kakashi's gaze went to his clone and then the limp body on the ground, "Never look away from your enemy," he said above a whisper.

"I should have known better," Iruka said above a whisper, "I knew there was something wrong…"

Kakashi looked at the younger man.

Iruka scoffed, "Should have known…"

Kakashi's expression softened, "Don't beat yourself up over this…"

"He called me Ruka," he bit out, and down casted his eyes, "I should have…"

"Don't Iruka," he put a firm hand on the younger man's shoulder, and then looked back at the body on the floor, and the clone crouching next to it, "I'm just glad he didn't hurt you." He looked at the chunin, "We have to report this."

Iruka nodded, he kept his eyes on the window.

"I'll go to Tsunade-sama…I'll leave my clone with you." Iruka nodded again and felt warm fingers stroke his jaw and masked lips kiss his cheek, "I'll be right back." Kakashi left through the window, leaving Iruka and his clone behind.

Iruka finally turned around and looked at the limp body, making his stomach turn and flip, I should have known better. He looked at the clone that looked up at him with a blue eye that looked so familiar, but just didn't feel right. It should have been a dead giveaway.

26. Tears

Kakashi cracked open an unfocused eye, his eyelid felt so heavy along with the rest of his body. His eye fell shut again, before trying to open it again. He blearily looked around. He was in his bedroom, but he felt like if he should be in the hospital. Why…he remembered. Itachi. He looked to his side when he felt a warmth shift. He looked at the brunette that was sleeping next to him, cautiously trying not to sprawl on

him like he likes to. He felt a hand grip his before loosening again. He looked at their joined hands on his chest.

Iruka…He tried squeezing the hand back, but hardly had the strength to do so, "Iruka…," he said hoarsely. The younger man stirred and looked up with lazy eyes. Kakashi realized that the younger man looked extremely tired.

"Kakashi," he said above a whisper and tears sprung into his eyes, "Kakashi," he said in mix with a sob.

"Iruka," he lifted a weak arm and tugged at the younger man, "Come here," the younger man sprawled onto his side, wrapping his arms around his neck and began to cry into his neck, "Shhh, it's alright…I'm ok."

"Kakashi," he chocked, "I t-thought -," be broke off as he began to sob uncontrollably.

"Shhh," he whispered soothing endearments into the younger man's ear, and rubbed a weak hand on his back, "Everything's alright, Ruru," he leaned his head against the trembling man's, "It's alright…"

Iruka clung on to him, unwilling to pull away, "K-kakashi."

Kakashi felt the warm tears on his neck and it made his heart ache, "Please don't cry, Ruru, I'm alright…"

"I t-thought you w-would never w-wake up, I t-though you w-would n-never l-look at me a-again…I-I t-thought-," he lost control of himself again, his fears attacking him full force.

"Iruka," he managed to hold the chunin tighter, placing a hand on the chunin's head, "Iruka."

Iruka pulled away and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, "I-I'm sorry," it seemed that his tears couldn't stop flowing from his eyes.

Kakashi managed to cupped the younger man's face and pull him down for a kiss. The younger man gave a noise of surprise before kissing back, and Kakashi could taste the salty tears and the desperate need. He kissed with renewed vigor, trying to reassure the chunin that he was alright. That he was now awake. That he was alive. That there was nothing to worry about. He held the chunin close, an arm around the slender waist, his other hand held the chunin by the back of his neck, deepening the kiss. Iruka pulled away and rested his head on the older man's shoulder, his face turned to him. Kakashi kissed the tan forehead and stroked a tan scarred cheek. Iruka closed his eyes under the ministration, and cupped the older man's jaw, stroking and following contours as if making sure he was still there. Kakashi took the tan hand in his weak one and kissed the palm.

"Are you ok?" Kakashi asked against his forehead.

"Are you?"

"Just tired," relaxed back against the pillows, keeping his gaze on the younger man.

"Then I'm alright," he offered him a small smile.

"Good," Kakashi felt his eyes drift close, "I love you, Iruka," the words barely leaving his lips. He missed the smile on the younger man's lips as he drifted back into sleep. His lover followed him.

There were no more tears that night.

27. Foreign

"My eternal rival!"

The phrase made both Iruka and Kakashi cringed and slowly turn around, "Gai," Kakashi said a bit peeved.

"Oh such youthful love and benevolence! I have lived to see the day when my hip, eternal rival has found true, and beautiful love!"

Kakashi and Iruka had the decency to blush.

"I have not seen such a more beautiful, youthful thing!" Gai nearly blinded Kakashi with his smile, "This thing called love!"

Kakashi vaguely wondered what the sun was doing right behind Gai, and tried not to snort when Iruka glanced up.

"I have decided not to challenge you today, my hip young rival! But in return, you must promise to treat your…uh, partner! With great respect and gentleness that Iruka-sensei has earned and deserved!" Gai flashed them another smile, "And Iruka-sensei! Such pride and youth! Thank you for showing my hip rival the meaning of true love!"

Iruka blushed and tried not to glance around at the gathering crowd.

"I must bid your farewell for now, oh such youth!" Gai winked at the pair and flashed another smile before leaping off onto rooftops.

"Sometimes…just sometimes, I wonder if he's a foreigner," Kakashi said, a note of exhaustion in his voice.

Iruka looked at him with a questioning look, "You mean he's not?"

28. Sorrow

He stood in front of Tsunade's desk. Frozen. His eyes on the dirty hitai ate. This can't be happening. This can't be real.

"I'm sorry…," Tsunade's voice broke through him, "but…he have to assume…that he's…," he broke off, choosing the right words, "missing in action."

He shook his head, trying to clear it, This can't be happening.

"He's long overdue…I'm sorry," she pushed the forehead protector closer to the paralyzed man, "I'm so sorry Kakashi."

Numb pale fingers picked up the dirty forehead protector, gripping it almost painfully into his hand. He turned to leave, he didn't want to lose his composure in front of the Hokage.

"Kakashi-san –"

"Leave him," Tsunade's voice froze Shizune, "He needs time alone."

He stepped into his apartment. Leaning against the solid wood on his front door, he slid to the floor, his knees giving out. He stared into the darkness of his apartment. Blurry eyes looked down at the forehead protector still in his hand. His fingers followed the hidden leaf emblem craved into metal. Sudden tears dropped on the metal, leaving a trail as they rolled off. Iruka…he shook his head, No…he can't be…I would know, he shut his eyes, I would know.

3 days later…

He laid on his bed, trying to force himself to sleep. He couldn't. Something was missing, and he knew what it was. More like who. He rolled on his back and stared at his ceiling. He didn't know if he was in denial or he just didn't want to accept the fact that his lover was… he shook his head. It hurt too much to think about it. He shut his eyes and took in a deep breath. He heard a tap at the window, he wanted to ignore the messenger pigeon, just wanted to go to into a dreamless sleep. It hurt too much to be awake. The tapping became more persistent. He opened his eyes and looked at the window. He shot off the bed and snapped open the window. He stared. He stared into the tired chocolate eyes, the tan face framed by loose bangs. He didn't know if it was a dream. If it was. He didn't want to wake up. Timid fingers stroked his shocked face, and his breath hitched, he found himself leaning into the touch and trying to fight back tears.

"Is it really you…?" he asked above a whisper, his hands gripping the edges of the window, "Please tell me it's you…" he asked in a desperate tone that almost surprised him.

Familiar warm hands cupped his jaw and lifted his face to meet a soft kiss. Telling him that it wasn't a dream. Telling him that this man, his lover, his love, was alive.

"It's me 'Kashi," Iruka whispered against his lips.

At the sound of his pet name he felt relief, he felt a weight lift off his shoulder, and the sorrow that was breaking and ripping his heart into pieces, drain out of him. He shifted his grip from the window to the

younger and pulled him into his bedroom and held on to him as if for dear life. He let his tears fall, tears of joy that his love and heart was still alive.

29. Happiness

Iruka walked into the living room, a basket of fresh out of the dyer laundry, ready to be folded. Kakashi peered at him from above the edge of his book.

Iruka smiled at him, "Want to help me with these?" he placed the basket on the floor between them and sat on the couch.

Kakashi closed his book and sat up, "Sure." He scooted closer to the basket and began to take clothes and fold them. He folded a shirt and placed it on the coffee table before reaching in for another random article of clothing. His fingers touched something…silky? He pulled it out and it was snatched away before he had a good look at it. He turned his gaze to the younger man, who was blushing beet red with a horrified look on his face.

"Iruka?" he said slowly, "What was that?"

Iruka swallowed, "N-nothing, just-just keep folding," he tucked the article under him, and sat on it before reaching in to the basket, averting his gaze, his cheeks still blushing furiously.

Kakashi kept looking at the younger man, an eyebrow raised in suspicion. He reached into the basket and folded another shirt. He glanced at the younger man and noticed that he was still blushing.

Iruka concentrated on his folding and trying not to look at the older man, Damnit, I should hidden that. Iruka mentally groaned at himself, No, I should have never bought it. The article that he was folding was snatched out of his hands and Kakashi was leaning towards him. He panicked and reached for the article that he was sitting on, making sure that the older man wouldn't get to it.

Kakashi leaned in to the younger man and locked him into a kiss, he threaded his fingers into the chocolate strands behind the brunette's head, making sure he wouldn't pull away, while his other made its way to the hidden article of clothing. A hand caught his wrist before he even reached it. He delved his tongue into the younger man's mouth, he pushed the younger man onto the couch and reached for article again. Iruka pushed his hips down onto the couch keeping it between him and the couch. Kakashi pulled away to breathe, and took the chunin into another searing kiss. His fingers dipped into the younger man's sweatpants and grazed around and behind, dipping further down and squeezed the round firm muscle. Iruka gasped and deepening the kiss. Kakashi raised the tan hips, pressing their groins together, making the younger man moan into the kiss. His other hand snaked around and took the hidden article from underneath the younger man, and grinned into the kiss. Iruka's eyes snapped open and pushed at the older man. But his hands defied him and instead pulled him closer when the warm hand on his behind began to massage his cheek.

No! wait! Iruka pulled away and pushed the older man off of him reaching for the black article in the older man's hand. He growled when Kakashi pulled away, grinning at him. Iruka pushed himself towards him and gripped the older man's shoulders, trying to pin him down onto the couch, but the older man rolled from underneath him and landed in a squat next to the couch. Iruka instead caught himself on his hands and glared at the older man who was still grinning at him. He reached towards him but Kakashi pulled out of reach and darted next to the coffee table. Iruka rolled off the couch with such sudden speed that it nearly surprised the older man. Iruka tried grabbing the jounin but he took off into closest room, which happened to be the bedroom. He ran after him and froze when the older man wasn't there.

Shit! Where did he go! His thoughts were interrupted when hands wrapped from under his hands and soft lips brushed along his neck.

"Now, what were you hiding from me, hmm?"

Iruka snapped out his trance and struggled out of the older man's hold, "Let me go, damnit!"

"Oh, I forgot how feisty you can be," Kakashi grinned against the younger man's ear and walked forward, forcing the younger man to move his legs as well. He leaned forward and let the younger man fall onto the bed.

Iruka hit the bed and rolled, but apparently not quick enough. As soon as he was on his back, Kakashi straddled his hips, effectively pinning him down with his weight.

"Now, let's see what we have here," Kakashi reached back and un-tucked the black article of clothing from the waist of his pants. He pulled it back when Iruka tried snatching it from him. He raised an eyebrow in amusement, "You're making me even more curious, Ruru."

Iruka blushed and just wished the bed would swallow him up, Why, oh, why did I buy that?

Kakashi moved his attention to the black silk in his hand, "It's soft," he said in an amuse tone.

Iruka glared at him and tried moved out from under him, but it only made Kakashi press down harder.

Kakashi curiously looked at the cloth and began to unfold it. The holes made him confused for a while but hooked the ends of the biggest opening and stretched it. His eyes widened and he blushed. A black thong? He looked down at his lover who was looking off at the side, his blush reaching his ears, "Ruru, I didn't know you were so kinky!"

Iruka whipped his head around and glared at the jounin, "I'm not!"

Kakashi looked at the thong, and then at his lover, "Oh?" Iruka glared at the thong and tried snatching it, but Kakashi pulled it out of reach, "Then why would you buy such a kinky thing?"

Iruka blushed hotter but glared anyway, "For your birthday you idiot!" the words left his mouth before he had a chance to stop himself.

Kakashi's eyes widened, a blush dusking his cheeks, "Are…are you serious?"

Iruka looked off to one side, embarrassed with himself and murmured something that sounded a lot like "Idiot." Kakashi chuckled, earning him a glare from the younger man, "Don't laugh at me! That's the last time I try to do something nice for you!"

Kakashi leaned down and kissed a heated scarred cheek, "But Ruru, why would you think you needed something like this?" he held up the black thong.

Iruka refused to answer, and instead glared at the black cloth.

"Having you would make a perfecthappy birthday," he purred into the younger man's ear, "even without the aid of this." He leaned back and grinned at his blushing lover, "Though, now I'm curious how this would look on you."

Iruka's eyes widened, "It's not your birthday!" he countered, not being able to think of anything better to say.

Kakashi leered at him, "Does it matter?" he leaned down and kissed the younger man, "I'm as happy as I will be next week."

Needless to say, the thong had to be washed again.

30. Under the Rain

Their first date wasn't all flowers and violins, it was far from that. Even though the weather was a bit colder than preferred they went ahead with their planned night together, which was dinner. Simple. If they were a nervous wreck. Since it was Kakashi who asked Iruka out, it was common courtesy to be at your date's house or apartment on time. Something he failed to do by a good half hour. He was planning on being there on time, really, but he got caught up with figuring out what to wear that when he looked at the clock, he was thirty minutes late! He, however, will never know that Iruka didn't notice since he was too busy trying to figure out what to wear as well. At the restaurant, which was a nice, quaint restaurant, Kakashi pulled out Iruka's chair, possibly because he felt like an idiot for being late. But it earned him a cute blush from the chunin, however the waitress asked him if they would like wine with their meal, distracting him, and therefore pulling the chair too far out. He was mortified when he heard a loud thump and looked at the chunin that was blushing beet red. He apologized, possibly the whole night, but Iruka waved it off. The dinner was lovely, it smelled great, and just looked wonderful. Iruka respectfully kept his gaze down so that the jounin could eat in, at least a bit of, privacy. Kakashi smiled at the gestured and wondered if it would cause any harm to allow the chunin see his face. He figured it wouldn't. He called Iruka and told him it was okay. The chunin raised his gaze tentatively and blushed beet red again, Kakashi thought it was well worth it, only before Iruka starting to choke on his gasp and tried to clear his airway with the wine. When they left the restaurant, it was raining. Neither of them remembered to bring an umbrella, well, since they were so worried of what to wear and all. Iruka shrugged and took Kakashi's hand in his, smiled at him and pulled him into the rain. Kakashi couldn't remember the last time he walked in the rain willingly, and liked it. When Iruka's building was in sight, and after a glance around to see if anyone was around, Iruka stopped the jounin in his tracks. Kakashi had a sinking feeling that he wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the chunin apartment, the smile that the younger man offered made that feeling vanish. Tentative fingers pulled down his mask and soft lips met his just as tentatively. The lips got bolder when he started to kiss back. Despite the rain, and all the previous awkwardness, the kiss was perfect, and couldn't be better.