a/n: Sorry about the long delay between updates, firstly I got super busy with life & secondly my laptop took a nose dive for a few days... TWICE! Thanks for hanging in there and bearing with me!

Also, I started writing a new naruto fic, feel free to check it out if you've got time :)

"I'm sorry, but did you just say, WIFE?"

Kakashi asks Guy carefully as he slowly approaches his eternal rival.

"Yes Kakashi, you heard me correctly..."

"Why didn't you ever tell me, Guy?"

"I'm sorry... It was just so sudden... Nobody knew, really..."

"I know it's rather belated now, but when? How did you meet? Why didn't you ever introduce anyone to her?"

"Well, you could say she just showed up on my door step one day. She was absolutely beautiful with a fiery personality. I think we rushed things but at the time we didn't care... Honestly looking back on it all, I was just jealous of you Kakashi"

"What are you talking about Guy?"

"C'mon now Kakashi, I know most people think I'm a loser but I'm not a total idiot. I know about you and Masami"

Kakashi pauses for a moment before regaining his composure. Out of all the people he thought would have figured it out, he would've pegged Guy last because of how oblivious he normally is. Then again, they are rivals after all, of course Guy keeps a sharp eye on him to see where he can edge Kakashi out at. Guy continues

"I really got lost in my own head for awhile and things got pretty low for me"

"Guy, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you more. I guess I wasn't being a very good friend"

"No, it's alright. You had your missions and I had mine, and I'm just as guilty for not reaching out to you..."

"Are you okay now Guy?"

"Surprisingly, yes. It's kind of a relief that it's over. Things escalated too quickly between myself and my beloved to the point that our situation was more artificial than not... When things started falling apart between us, I sought some counselling. Then just when things started to resolve themselves she started deteriorating..."

"Was she ill? Did she not go to a doctor?"

"No, she was far too stubborn for that"

"Hmf, sounds an awful lot like Masami"

"Actually, I need to apologize for that too... I think the basis of my attraction for my late wife was based off of my obsession for Masami... They had fairly similar features and their names were very similar... Her name was, um, Asami..."

Kakashi gets slightly ruffled like this, but asks

"Um, Asami?"

"Well, I'm a bit embarrassed admitting this all to you now... but I need to get this out in the open"

"...Okay"

"I'm sorry for trying to compete with you in the arena of love. I should have just accepted from the beginning that Masami was not interested in me and I shouldn't have tried to match you by finding a substitute for myself. In the end it was only destructive for me... I never introduced her to anyone because I was ashamed. That wasn't fair to her or to myself... I've been a real dirt bag here lately, and I'm sorry for that Kakashi"

"It's alright Guy. As long as you're getting yourself back onto the straight and narrow, everything will be okay... You don't still have feelings for Masami, do you?"

There's an uncomfortable pause before Guy finally answers

"Well, I mean, she is a very attractive woman..."

Kakashi just raises an eyebrow at Guy, which causes the latter to quickly add

"But it's nothing! I've got a better perspective on things now and I wouldn't do anything detrimental towards the friendship I have with you Kakashi!"

Kakashi lets out a sigh before clapping his old on friend on the back

"If you're ready to head back into the village now, I'll help you pick up your apartment. I'm sure your students will be relieved to see you as well"

Guy blushes recalling the tragic state he left his apartment in and also from feeling slightly guilty about how he yelled at his genin team earlier. As Guy steps away from the grave he leaves behind his depression and a stone that reads "M. Asami".

:::::

Iruka sighs. He's been awake for a few minutes now, staring at the ceiling and wrestling with his thoughts as the morning starts without him. Finally he gives up and gets out of bed to prepare himself for his day. After dressing and eating a quick breakfast he opens his door to leave and finds a startled Masami there with her fist mid-air as she was just about to knock. Iruka caught a glimpse of her new hair last night across the way but now in person it's quite a shock. She can read the surprise on his face and handles it gracefully by tilting her head and smiling brightly at him

"Good morning Iruka, am I catching you at a bad time?"

"Hi Masami! No, it's no problem, what can I do for you?"

"I was just stopping by to pick up my plants"

"Oh of course! Just one moment..."

Turning around, he's glad to have a reason to tear his eyes away from her. After all the thoughts he's been having about her lately, seeing her now makes his heart race again. Iruka quickly returns with a flowerpot in each arm and Masami exclaims

"Wow! They've really gone well since I've been gone! Thank you for taking such good care of them!"

"Oh, it was no problem at all. In fact I've actually been enjoying the color they add to my window and I'll miss the fragrance..."

Iruka trails off as he gets lost in Masami's curious gaze

"Well, how about this then? I'll keep one and you keep the other so we can both appreciate them"

"Oh no Masami, I couldn't"

"No really I insist! You've done so well with them... I think they like you"

She laughs with a wink and moves to take only one

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Think of it as a thank you gift until I can think of something better"

"I can think of plenty of other ways you can thank me..." The thought flashes through Iruka's brain but he forces a cough and pushes it away

"Well, uh, thank you for the gift then, and I'll see you around"

He speaks quickly, ready to be out of her presence. Masami misinterprets his haste and apologizes

"Oh, I'm sorry I must be holding you up. I bet you're on your way to the academy, right?"

"Uh, right. That's it. I better be on my way..."

"Bye Iruka! And thank you again!"

She offers him a short smile and quick wave before walking away. Returning the lone jasmine to his window sill he thinks to himself

"Gee, thank you for giving me something that will constantly remind me of you. I really needed it"

Finally leaving his apartment, Iruka walks with his hands in his pockets while staring at the ground. He doesn't pay much attention to where he's headed because he's so familiar with this path he could walk there blindfolded. Closing in on the academy he bumps into an unseen person causing papers to fly everywhere.

"Oh my! I am so sorry about that! I wasn't watching where I was going!"

Dropping to the ground to help pick up the loose papers, he notices Shizune doing the same

"No, it's half my fault too. I should've made two trips to carry all these, but instead I tried to carry them all in one stack and I couldn't see very well over or around them"

As they're gathering everything off the ground, their hands brush together and they look at each other and share a cautious smile. Shizune can still recall how Tsunade played Iruka and Masami against each other almost a year ago, and while Masami appears to be abundantly happy with Kakashi, Shizune can't help but wonder how Iruka is fairing.

"Thank you for helping me pick everything back up"

"Of course, not a problem"

"Hey... would you like to go the Dango Shop with me later?"

"Sure, but what's the occasion?"

"Just to thank you for helping me and to apologize for keeping you from your students..."

"And to gauge how you're doing after Tsunade's games..." Shizune thinks to herself

"Oh, okay. I'll just swing by the Hokage's office after class lets out this afternoon"

"That'd be great! Thanks!"

Shizune smiles before Iruka turns to walk off while rubbing the back of his head. He finds it curious that it's so early in the day still and people, more specifically women seem to be excessively friendly with him. He hopes it's not a bad omen. Watching him leave, Shizune gives him one last glance before entering the empty Hokage's office and thinking

"I can't lie to myself, I really want to know how he's feeling because I'm lonely and I wonder if he's lonely too..."

:::::

Down at the hospital Aoba is finally awake and Tsunade is already busy interrogating him.

"Where are the maps from your mission?"

"Here milady... I'm sorry they are not complete. Because we were constantly on the move and could not get very close to the village I only have a rough layout of the area"

"What is this large area of blank space?"

"A body of water that the village borders"

"I see. Could it be used as an infiltration point?"

"Perhaps. I'm not sure how well guarded the shoreline is but perhaps a single man could slip through"

"Hmm. Thank you Aoba"

"You're welcome Tsunade-sama"

Walking away from the hospital, Tsunade wears a troubled look. At her office she is very lost in her thoughts and barely pays any attention to Shizune before she sits down and summons Katsuyu.

"Katsuyu, I need you find Jiraiya and keep him abreast of the developing situation"

"Yes, of course milady"

:::::

Tsunade spends the rest of the day brooding and acting rather robotic but Shizune doesn't mind because at least Tsunade is getting a mountain of paperwork done and Shizune is looking forward to this evening. The sun begins sinking towards the horizon and the sky burns a golden orange when Tsunade decides to go for supper and leaves Shizune to lock up the office. As soon as Tsunade closes the door, Shizune exhales a deep sigh of relief. She had been hoping Tsunade would leave before Iruka arrives in order to avoid Tsunade pestering her about it later. After straightening up a few papers and putting away some books, Shizune hears a knock at the door. A hopeful smile grows on her face and she smooths out the front of her clothes before walking out of the office.

"I was beginning to worry you'd forgotten about me Iruka!"

"Oh sorry about that Shizune, I was just cleaning up the classroom and getting materials ready for tomorrow"

"I see. So, shall we go then?"

"Sure"

Iruka turns and begins to lead the way while Shizune feels a little dissappointed. She was hoping he would at least offer his arm to escort her, but then she reminds herself that she is the one with romantic intentions here, not him. Their conversation is light and brisk during the walk and when they settle into a table at the Dango Shop, Shizune keeps her excitement hidden while Iruka only seems content to go along with things.

"So! How are things going for you Iruka?"

"Just fine."

"I'm sorry I haven't kept up with you more since the jonin trial"

Iruka has a barely perceptible wince at the reminder of it but Shizune catches it and wishes she hadn't mentioned it

"Oh, well, no big deal. In hindsight it really wasn't for me. I don't think I could be any happier than teaching my students"

"I'm glad it all worked out then!"

"Yea me too"

"So other than your students, what other interests do you have?"

Shizune is hoping to use this question to pry into whether or not he is actually interested in anyone until she's interrupted by a loud, boisterous female voice

"OH C'MON GUY! QUIT ACTING SO GUN SHY! You're the one who said you wanted to get out of your place for a little while and go do something and now you're being hesitant about it!"

Mitarashi Anko claps Guy roughly on the back as she says this and Guy coughs at the impact. Guy appears to be shaking off some unseen demon and wears a grateful smile to be out and about but it almost looks like a grimace in comparison to Anko's wide sharp toothed grin.

"HEY SHIZUNE & IRUKA! Fancy meeting you here! Mind if we join?"

Anko nearly shouts. Shizune is annoyed but Iruka is feeling friendly

"Sure why not"

Iruka scoots over on the bench and Guy slides in next to him while Shizune begrudgingly makes room for Anko. Initially Shizune is perturbed that Anko & Guy interrupted her opportunity to get closer with Iruka, but as the afternoon and the conversation continues she softens. Shizune recognizes Guy is recovering from some internal struggle and needs the company of good friends. A couple hours filled with jokes and laughter warms up Guy and Shizune relaxes as she accepts spending individual time with Iruka might have produced the opposite effect of what she was going for whereas this group setting eases him in. The sun has just set and the last streaks of purple are leaving the sky when two familiar faces pass by on the street just in front of where the group is currently seated at the Dango Shop. Anko hollers out to them

"Hey Kurenai and Masami! What are you girls up to?"

Anko is completely oblivious. but Shizune immediately senses both men are feeling some sort of discomfort at hearing the latter's name. Kurenai answers Anko

"We're headed to Shushuya for some drinks, you all should join us. It'll be fun to have a lot of people there"

Masami peers around Kurenai a gives a gregarious smile and wave to the group. Anko pounds Guy heavily on the back and speaks loudly

"That sounds like a great idea! Let's go everyone!"

Hopping out of her seat, she practically rips Guy up onto his feet then gives an obnoxious glare to Shizune and Iruka

"Are you two coming or what?"

"Yes, sure.."

Shizune mumbles as she and Iruka move uneasily out of their seats. Kurenai and Masami lead the way, chatting between themselves and laughing, as Anko drags Guy along with Iruka and Shizune tailing. Out of earshot of everyone else, Shizune says to Iruka

"We don't have to go if you're not up for it"

"No, it's fine. Really. It'll be fun. It's not often we get together in large groups like this, right?"

"I suppose"

"Lets take advantage of the moment then"

"Hm. I like that idea"

Shizune smiles at Iruka with the gears turning in her head, processing his last statement. Arriving at the bar, Izumo and Kotetsu are already there and they give loud and rowdy greetings to Masami, as she and Kurenai move towards the cluster of tables secured by Inuzuka Hana, and Yurika of the cypher division. Izumo and Kotetsu pick up their drinks and follow them over as Anko, Guy, Iruka, and Shizune join in. Not long after, Asuma and Kakashi arrive and take seats directly across from Kurenai and Masami. Initially there is a slight tension in the air, but as the waitress gets the drinks flowing, everyone begins to ease into the situation and have a good time. Someone has brought dice, and they begin a raucous game at the tables. Everyone is becoming loud and laughter is in full effect as the karaoke begins with a drunk ANBU on the mic as per the norm. The waitress brings over a tray full of shots and when everyone curiously looks around, Guy stands up holding a glass in the air.

"This one is on me everyone! I'm sorry for being an ass here lately, we're only young once and I've been wasting the time. Let us drink to youth!"

Everyone raises their glasses except Iruka who begins making excuses

"Oh no you guys, I can't!"

Anko asks impudently

"And why not?"

"Cause I've got to work in the morning!"

Kotetsu chimes in

"So do the rest of us! So join the club and quit being such a girl about it!"

Anko responds

"Hey, I resemble that remark! Besides, what he really means Iruka, is quit being such a sissy bitch about it and take the shot!"

Glaring at Anko, Iruka grabs the glass in front of him and lifts it in the air

"CHEERS!"

Everyone says simultaneously before tilting the liquor down their throats. Setting the glasses down the table, Kotetsu speaks up again

"Hey Izumo! Don't you still owe Masami a song?!"

Masami giggles and playfully adds

"That's right, you did mention it to me before I left on my last mission"

Izumo looks alarmed and throws up his hands defensively

"What? No! I never-"

"So are you calling me a liar then, Izumo?"

At the end of her question, she adds a seductive tilt of her head as she pierces him with her gaze

"Well, no, it's just-"

"C'MON IZUMO!"

Anko brassily calls as she pulls him out of his seat and pushes him towards the stage. As he steps up there, the table of friends begins to cheer and call his name. Izumo begins signing a popular rock song from the previous decade and the nostalgia gets the whole bar singing along with him at the choruses. Kurenai hops up for a moment to go the restroom and Kakashi casually slides in with a beer in his hand and unobtrusively speaks with Masami

"Hey, how's the ankle?"

"Much better, thank you for asking. I spent the day tending to it with medical ninjutsu while filling out reports. How's your chakra reserves?"

"Very well thanks. In fact my spirits are feeling pretty up right now"

Kakashi says a flirtatious gleam in his eye

"Oh I bet they are!"

Masami laughs lightly then leans in to whisper in his ear

"But the real question is, will they be feeling up later?"

"If you're lucky you'll be feeling it later"

Masami leans back and looks at him playfully with raised eyebrows while feigning a shocked expression. No one could hear what they were saying to each other over the noise of the crowd, but Iruka tries his best to pretend he didn't see any interaction between them. He's only vaguely interested in his conversation with Shizune but he's noticed she seems to be very into their exchange and she's smiling a lot however he factors her intrigue into the same cause as the flush that is taking over her face.

Izumo steps off the stage to thunderous applause with excessive hooping and hollering coming from his table of comrades. Taking his seat, more shots are ordered and the night draws long in the social atmosphere. Adding more alcohol into their bodies, some of the guys get the great idea to begin dancing on the bar. Izumo and Kotetsu reach down and each grab Iruka's arms and pull him up despite his protests. Playfully the women begin cheering and tucking money into the waistband of his pants, but Iruka only blushes when Masami does it as well. Kakashi and Asuma are the only two left down on the floor with the ladies, when Guy tries to take center stage with his inebriated dance moves. Anko offers a loud catcall while Asuma and Kakashi laugh heartily and jokingly pelt him with coins. By the time the bar closes, Izumo and Kotetsu wander off arm in arm wailing away to an under-articulated song, Yurika is helping a drunk-sick Hana home, Asuma escorts Kurenai to her apartment, and Kakashi likewise for Masami, Guy is unsure what to do with a passed out Anko, and Shizune drapes herself over an intoxicated Iruka.

Iruka and Shizune walk without direction, reviewing the evening's highlights and laughing together amiably. Before he realizes it, they've walked back to his apartment, so he tries to draw the evening to a close

"Thanks for inviting me out tonight Shizune, I had a really fun time"

"Me too"

"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"The fun doesn't have to end now..."

"What do you mean?"

"What where your words earlier? 'Let's take advantage of the moment'"

Shizune giggles then leans in to kiss Iruka. Being impaired and not under his best judgement, Iruka reciprocates.

The next morning when Iruka's alarm goes off, the sound pierces his ears. Turning it off he realizes one of his arms is numb as well. A feeling of dread wells up in his stomach when he comprehends the numbness is being caused by a weight laying on it. Looking down, he finds a still sleeping, yet nude Shizune curled up next to his equally naked body. Slapping himself on the forehead with his palm, then pushing his fingers up into his hair he thinks to himself

"Well crap! This wasn't what I was going for at all!"

:::::