I know it's a little short, but I promise the next chapter would be a bit longer.
xXOXx
It has been two weeks since Kakashi returned. Two weeks of avoiding and feigning disinterest in everything Kakashi related. Teaching at the academy and his students are the only things keeping Iruka from checking up on the jounin, thus he stayed in his classroom beyond school hours, burying his mind into grading papers and planning future lessons. Only when it was late into the night did Iruka retire to his house, too tired to do anything else besides sleep.
Iruka glanced at his wrist watch, 7:05, still too early to pack up for home.
The teacher layed back into the chair, letting the day's work take its toll on his tired body. Rubbing his temples, Iruka straightened himself up, ready to finish preparing for a lesson 3 months into the future. A knock was heard on the door.
Iruka gave a small, strained smile. "When do you ever knock, Raidou?"
The door opened moments later and said man walked in.
"What brings you here?" Iruka asked, looking up at his long time friend. How many days has it been since they last saw each other? A month? Two months? Iruka couldn't remember.
"Tsunade sama calls for you."
"Right now? At this time?" Iruka questioned.
"Yeah, seems kinda urgent."
Iruka nodded and stood up, gathering his things and putting papers back into their place. Before he was able to pass through the door, a hand was placed on his shoulder, stopping him from leaving.
Iruka turned to look at his friend, confused.
"When you get back, we need to talk. I'm worried about you. In fact, everyone that knows you is worried about you." Raidou whispers.
"I'm fine, really I am." Iruka insisted.
The palm on his shoulder tightened, "You are not fine. Everyone can see the change in your physical health aside from your personality. We miss the hot tempered, yet caring and passionate teacher. Please let us help you in whatever you're going through." Raidou spoke softly.
"I'm not going through any-"
"Please."
Iruka's heart broke at his friend's pleading tone and he nodded weakly.
oOo
"You called for me?" Iruka asked, sitting down in front of Tsunade.
"Iruka, I need you to go on a mission."
"A mission?" Iruka was not sent on missions often, almost none after he had became a teacher.
"Yes, I need you to help escort a little girl back to her hometown." Tsunade knew Iruka was great with children and she wanted the best of the best escorting the important young child. "A jounin would be going along with you." She added.
"Who is this girl?"
"The girl, Sachi, is the only child of a powerful businessman in the neighboring town. He controls many of the town's facilities. If anything happens to her, the ties between Konoha and them would be severely damaged and I can't afford that to happen. Iruka, I trust your skills with children and I hope nothing falls upon the child. She shall not sustain any injuries or trauma."
Iruka nodded in understanding, "When do we leave?"
"In an hour. Now go home and pack. The mission should take about a week. They will meet you at the gates." Tsunade ordered before shooing Iruka off and reaching into a cabinet for what Iruka was sure to be a bottle of sake.
oOo
The sky was pitch black by the time Iruka neared the gates. From afar, Iruka could see two figures leaning against the gates, one of a young child, no older than 5 or 6, and the other a grown man. 'He must be the jounin.' Iruka thought to himself.
As Iruka got closer and the two people became more focused, dread filled the chunin. 'No, no, no'. The tall, lanky figure, the pale and untamed hair, all was too familiar for Iruka.
"Kakashi." Iruka muttered to himself.
Iruka swore that the Gods were against him. Did he do anything wrong his previous life? Why is Kakashi assigned to this mission?
"Iruka sensei. I'm delighted to have you as my company." Kakashi said extending his hand. Iruka took this moment to assess the copy-nin's physique. 'The injuries seem to be healing quite well.' He concluded.
Iruka chose to ignore the outstretched palm, hoping that Kakashi will take the hint and remain distanced from Iruka. "Hatake san." Iruka nodded in greeting before shifting his eyes away from the older man and onto the little girl.
Iruka knelt down to the little girl's height, "You must be Sachi?"
The small head nodded up and down enthusiactically. Sachi was a little chubby, the baby fat still very much apparent. She had two short pigtails that curled around her round cheeks while a permanent blush adorned them. She was adorable. Iruka smiled at the girl, "My name is Iruka Umino. You can call me Iruka sensei."
Sachi grinned cheerfully before taking Iruka's hands into her smaller ones. "Let's go Ruka sensei."
Iruka smiled and stroke the child's cheek before standing up. The teacher straightened himself only to be pulled ahead by the young child. Innocent giggles were heard in the silent forest as the trio trudged down the path leading away from Konoha.
Iruka glanced over his shoulder to find Kakashi close behind, a glint of amusement in his only visible eye.
oOo
The campfire was growing dimmer and dimmer and the soft snoring from Sachi, who was nestled on Iruka's chest, was luring the teacher to sleep. Despite the temptation, Iruka couldn't sleep. His subconscious mind was well aware of the pair of eyes that had been set on observing the teacher.
Kakashi sat on the other side of the forest clearing, far awar from Iruka and Sachi, but still closely watching the pair's every movement. Every little disturbance to the surroundings was taken into account by the jounin.
It is quite an understatement to say that Kakashi is fascinated by the Iruka. There was something about the teacher that attracted Kakashi.
Soft chestnut colored hair falling over tanned shoulders, brown eyes hazed with lust, narrow waist and an arched back sprawled out, ready to be ravished. These images haunted the copy-nin's mind ever since he woke up from the hospital. Kakashi swore he had never seen Iruka without his hair tied up, yet the images were so vivid, so real.
This intrigued Kakashi and he wanted to learn more about the chunin, felt that he needed, no, should know everything about Iruka.
Iruka shifted in his seat, his right arm growing numb from Sachi's weight. The child stirred in her sleep and Iruka quickly rubbed soothing circles on the small back. Wouldn't it make more sense to send them on the mission in the early morning, when everyone had a good night's rest? Sometimes Iruka couldn't understand the hokage's thinking.
The night has been better than Iruka had imagined. After their brief greeting, Kakashi had chosen to keep his distance, rarely speaking to Iruka at all, and Iruka was fine with that. Iruka wanted to keep contact with the jounin at the minimum, hoping that the touch, the feel, and the voice of Kakashi would soon fade and be forgotton.
Iruka's train of thoughts was broken and his body tensed up. There were multiple unknown chakras heading their way.
Before Iruka was able to react, he and Sachi was gathered into the powerful arms of Kakashi and effortlessly lifted into the air. In the blink of an eye, Iruka was now seated high up in the trees, covered by layers of thick branches. Sachi sat on his lap, and a protective wall of chakra was placed around the pair, and at the same time covering any traces of Iruka's own chakra.
"Stay." Was all Kakashi said before disappearing from Iruka's sight.
xXOXx
Sorry if Iruka seems so defenseless in this story. I just love the whole typical helpless, help-me-I'm-a-uke thing.
Thank you for the supportive comments. Glad people didn't find the writing horrendous or anything.
till next time. ^^