"What?" Iruka stammered. "How did you…?"

"Get in?" Kakashi asked, ripping his mask away from his face and bearing his teeth. "This is MY apartment!" He practically screamed, rage evident in every syllable, every small movement of his body. He was literally shaking. The urge to taste blood rising in his gut as he loomed over the defenseless Chunin who shifted uncomfortably. He was no match for Kakashi and he knew it. "Why?!" Kakashi asked, his voice sharp with the edge of danger.

"Why… what?" Iruka asked, really not wanting to aggravate the situation why admitting he had no idea what this outburst was in reference to.

"Why do people think that I cheated on YOU?" He growled, eye twitching as he fought for control.

Confusion flittered across the Chunin's face. His brown eyes conveying no rancor. He shook his head slowly, not sure how to answer.

"I… I don't… do they? Sorry I don't know what you mean?" He stuttered, raising his hands in a small surrender.

"Anko just accused me of cheating on you. She said it was a shitty thing I did to you. That you really liked me." He said slightly softer, his voice on the edge of breaking. "The general consensus was that I'm a pretty crappy person if the glare's people have been sending my way all day are any indication. Fuck me Iruka, if you're trying to ruin my life at least be man enough to admit that's what you're doing." He finished, breathing hard as his voice finally cracked on the last word.

"I'm not doing anything…" Iruka answered honestly, taking the opportunity to slip out from under Kakashi's sullen form while he was momentarily passive. "Seriously Kakashi… I'm not trying to ruin your life. I'm sorry for what I did I don't know how many times I have to say it before it sinks in but I am. I was actually just thinking that I should move my stuff out so you can move back in." He said, gesturing around the room. "I don't know where Anko got that idea." He lied, swallowing the lump in his throat at the thought of Tenzou. What Genma had said was just a rumor. He was a gossip mill all on his own that man.

Iruka reached out slowly, pausing before his hand touched the other man's arm. Kakashi made no move to get out of his reach so he encircled in gently and pulled him towards the kitchen table. He pulled out a chair and gestured to it. The other man sat heavily as he moved around the table to sit on the other side. They were facing each other now, like they had on so many other occasions. It seemed years ago they were sitting like this, eating breakfast together, pausing occasionally to get lost in each other's eyes. But in reality it had only been a couple of weeks.

"I heard a rumor today." The Chunin stated softly, resting his forearms on the table and looking up in to the other's lone grey eye. Kakashi threw him a questioning look before letting his gaze fall to the hands wringing together in his lap. He hadn't come here to gossip. He'd come here to beat the shit out of someone. But Iruka seemed sincere. He supposed he should hear him out before slicing his throat. "That you and Tenzou are…." He trailed of, twirling his hand in a 'you know what I mean' kind of manner.

Kakashi looked back up, his eye locking on to brown orbs. He hadn't expected to see sadness in them. But Iruka never was very good at hiding his emotions. His large expressive eyes gave him away. Kakashi's chest tightened at the sight. He nodded slowly.

"So what if we are?" He asked, forcing the edge back in to his voice. It wasn't fair. Iruka wasn't allowed to be hurt. That's not the way these things work.

He's a liar you idiot. He's lying. He's faking it.

His brain screamed as the eyes disengaged from his, looking away on purpose.

"We've barely been broken up for a week and you're in bed with someone else. I thought you had more dignity than that." He sneered. This time there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to hurt Kakashi with his words.

He jumped as Kakashi's fist slammed down hard on the table.

"We weren't broken up at all and you were in bed with someone else. Don't try and make me feel guilty, I will pull you off your high horse so fucking fast!" He shouted, his rage returning with a vengeance.

"Yeah okay calm down." Iruka, snapped, annoyed at his own jitteriness.

"Don't guilt me…" Kakashi repeated, softer. "Tenzou makes me happy after you broke me. I'm happy with him."

"With?" Iruka asked, his eyes wide. Kakashi, realising his mistake made to correct it, his mouth opening and then closing again. He wanted to nod, to agree, to make Iruka feel the sick feeling he had felt in his stomach for the last week. "Are you serious? What the fuck Kakashi? You already have a new partner?" He bellowed, his own temper getting the better of him.

"That's not what I came here to... discuss." The Jonin answered, not wanting to say he was unabashedly single. But not wanting to lie at the same time. He let the mistake go uncorrected.

This man works with Genma. If it gets around that I said we are together and Tenzou hears it from someone else he won't be happy I used him. Not after our talk. But… I never said we were together… at least I didn't mean it like that. I just didn't correct the assumption.

"Then what did you come here to discuss?" Iruka hissed, sounding like he was thinking about doing some throat slicing of his own.

"People think I cheated on you." Kakashi answered flatly, waiting for an explanation.

"Well I didn't tell them that." His ex spat incredulously.

"Well someone said it and you didn't correct them." He said, ignoring his hypocrisy.

"I assumed everyone knew the truth. It was pretty obvious something was up thanks to your episode. Then I told people we had broken up. I didn't say why because frankly I assumed you had bad mouthed me all around the village."

"Why would I do that?" Kakashi asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. Iruka stared, no answers coming to him. "Everyone already thought you were too good for me." He continued. "They thought I didn't know. But I heard them whispering. Why would I advertise the fact that they were right?" He asked, a small whimper ending his sentence for him.

Iruka opened his mouth, his compassion urging him to comfort but his brain wanting to scream.

"I'm not too good for you. That's stupid. If anything you're too good for me." He said quietly.

Kakashi kept his head down, tears brimming in his eyes as he tried hard to keep his voice even.

"You need to set things right." He stated. "You need to tell people what happened. The whole truth Iruka. No matter how humiliating it is for me."

Humiliating.

Iruka thought, looking away from Kakashi's shaking shoulders. He had never really thought about it like that before. He knew his lover was self-conscious. He spent all his time pretending he didn't care what people thought of him when in reality that was probably the thing he worried about the most. It had never occurred to him that what he had done to Kakashi would be considered humiliating on his part. He had only thought about how embarrassing it would be for himself to be found out. He had never stopped to think that people might assume Kakashi wasn't a good partner, which was what had lead Iruka to cheat. He just assumed everyone would think him a terrible person.

He tried to imagine how he would feel if Kakashi cheated on him and realised that the embarrassment he must be feeling was overwhelming. Hell he was embarrassed earlier in the day when Genma had mentioned Tenzou. He hated the thought that someone pitied him, or thought that he wasn't good enough, even if it was heart-warming to know he still had friends.

He broke down in front of the Hokage… In front of me… probably in front of Tenzou. He's always felt inadequate. People staring at him, whispering. He must be dying inside.

Kakashi straightened, his eyes no longer glassy, but the rest of his face conveying so readily the hurt he kept inside his heart.

"I really am sorry." Iruka whispered, reaching across the table. The Jonin eyed his opened palm before slowly slipping his hand in to it. It was squeezed tight for a second, before the other hand slipped back to its owners lap. Kakashi felt silly resting his hand half way across the table and moved it back to his own lap.

He nodded. He wasn't sure if Iruka's apology was sincere. Giving that man that benefit of the doubt had not worked in his favour in the past.

He sat back in his chair, looking around his small apartment and wishing desperately he could just walk in to the bedroom and fall asleep. The different emotions running through his body exhausting him more than a sparring session with Gai.

His brain felt heavy. His eyes tired.

"Why don't you stay here tonight?" Iruka asked, standing and nodding towards the bedroom his ex was eyeing longingly. "It is your apartment after all."

"No." Kakashi answered simply. The thought suddenly making him feel sick. He realised he couldn't think of anything worse than sleeping in the bed he had shared with the man that betrayed him

A small smile curved his lips as his eyes rested on the Chunin.

"Why are you smiling?" Iruka asked, arms folded.

"Because I've made a decision." Kakashi grinned.

OoOoOoOo

"So you and Kakashi?" Asuma asked, taking a drag from is cigarette and waiting. Knowing that his friend would fill in the rest of the details if and when he wanted to.

"No." Tenzou answered nervously. Asuma nodded, staring straight ahead for a second before turning to look in to dark almond pools.

"No you're not together. Or no you're not even thinking about it."

"We're not together." He answered simply, taking a sip from his drink to try and dispel the awkwardness.

"Kakashi is damaged goods. You know that right?" Asuma smiled, tapping his cig on the edge of the garden bench they were sitting on. "I mean don't get me wrong I love the guy. I respect him like all hell but he's batshit insane."

Tenzou nodded, a smile of his own creeping across his lips.

"I know."

Asuma chuckled, taking another drag before dropping the butt on to the ground and stamping it out with his sandal.

"Kakashi's fragile. He pretends like he's top shit and nothing bothers him. But he's not. Everything bothers him. Sometimes I worry that his own insecurities will be his undoing. He's not the kind of guy to enter in to a relationship willy nilly. He's sort of like a swan. When he loves, he loves hard. He mates for life, so to speak. Unfortunately for him he paired off with a dolphin and has been treated accordingly. Trust is a big thing for him. Iruka wasn't his first love, but he was the first person he ever let in to his life. Even then there were some things I'm sure even that arsehole still doesn't know about."

Tenzou nodded again. His thoughts turning to the small stuffed dog. The way Kakashi had held it so tenderly. His eyes filled with unguarded insecurity as he shoved it in his pocket that first day. The ANBU's gut twisted at the thought of himself pitying Kakashi. He hated knowing that if his friend was to ever find out he would be mortified. But he couldn't help it. The man had experienced an incredibly sad life.

Worse than mine…

He thought to himself as he considered the fact that no matter how lonely he was, it was nothing compared to feeling the loss of everyone he ever loved, coupled with the crippling loneliness that followed death.

He had parents of course. Somewhere. But he never knew them. Or if he did, he didn't remember it. Until he was rescued by Danzo his life consisted of nothing other than a tube, barely wide enough to fit his small body in. He had no sense of anything other than the water bubbling around him and the girl floating in front of him.

He had watched her die. Screamed silently as he watched the water drain from her tank. Scratched at the glass frantically as she took her first and last breath.

He thought about her often, although he never spoke it. She was his first memory and one he wished every day he could forget.

"If you're going to pursue a relationship with Kakashi I have only one piece of advice." Asuma drawled. His gruff voice ripping Tenzou from his thoughts and forcing him to focus on the matter at hand. He could wallow in self-pity later, when he was alone. When Kakashi was better. "Always be prepared for the worst. Even when he seems happy. I just don't think he'll survive another loss."

OoOoOoOo

"So…" Tenzou started, slumping down on to the couch next to his friend. He had been racking his brain for almost 20 minutes trying to think of something to say. He was aware that Kakashi hadn't been present for his conversation with Asuma but he couldn't help feeling slightly awkward.

Asuma had given him some insight in to the private person that was Kakashi Hatake. His suspicions had been confirmed when the burly man had mentioned the Copy Ninja's mental well being. He was aware that he was emotionally damaged. He had his reasons to be. But that didn't stop the feelings of helplessness twisting in his stomach when it had been confirmed.

He had been taking care of Kakashi for a while now. He was confident he knew how to handle him when and if he was to have a proper break. But what Asuma had said about preparing for the worst had scared him. He had breathed a sigh of relief for his comrade's improvement. But it seemed as though this is the point he should be watching him even more closely.

Even when he seems happy.

The words had been repeating over and over again in his mind since he left the other man's house.

"So?" Kakashi asked, repeating his friend's earlier inquiry when it was not followed up.

"How did your check up go?" He asked lamely, just wanting to get the ball rolling.

"I'm okay." The Jonin answered simply, nodding his head as if to reinforce the answer.

"So then why do you look like shit?" Tenzou asked with a small smile. Kakashi looked at him astonishingly, his eyes shining with sadness. "I mean… You're hot as always but… You look like shit." Tenzou clarified, a small blush spreading across his cheeks at his confession.

"I had a… Um… Altercation with Iruka this afternoon." He answered somewhat cryptically.

"An altercation?" The ANBU repeated, his smile widening involuntarily. Kakashi nodded again, not really wanting to talk about it but having to at the same time.

"Apparentlyyyy…" He began, dragging out the word to reiterate how skeptical he was. "People are under the impression that I cheated on him. So I went over there to straighten it out." He finished with a slight growl.

"What do you mean?!" Tenzou gaped, rage coursing through him.

"I mean Anko accused me of cheating. She told me I'm a shitty person and that he really loved me and… and I… couldn't deal with it Ten…" He almost whispered as he looked away. Tenzou squelched the rage in his heart, putting it aside for the moment as he pulled Kakashi toward him by the arm. He leaned back in to the arm of the chair. Then without protest, positioned the Copy Ninja until his head was lying on his chest and he could stroke his hair with ease. "She's not the only one that thinks that either." He whispered. "Everyone's so mad with me. I feel like a naughty child." He closed his eyes, shutting them tight as his arms slipped around his friend's waist.

They sat for a minute, the silence broken by the steady drum of Tenzou's heart. Kakashi felt himself start to calm him as he listened like his life depended on it. His hands were tense, creasing the back of Tenzou's shirt as he slowly relaxed in to the embrace. He slowly let go of the other man, his hand coming up to rest on his chest as his breathing started to slow right down.

Tenzou smiled as he realised Kakashi was falling asleep. He had planned to keep the conversation going. Actually he had planned to teleport to wherever Iruka was and beat the shit out of him. But this was much nicer than anything else he had planned to do.

He let his own eyes flutter closed as he tightened his hold on his precious cargo. He wouldn't let this man succumb to his emotions. He would fight to keep him alive until he himself had taken his last breath.

OoOoOoOo

"What's he embarrassed about though?" Misumi asked lazily. She stretched her arms out like a cat basking in the sun before pulling them back down and draping one over her lover's naked chest.

"He thinks he wasn't good enough for me." Iruka answered softly, feeling guilt wash over him again at his words.

"So did you straighten it out then?" She asked, nuzzling her nose against his jaw. He smiled, pulling her closer.

"I did. He deserves that much. I told Genma that I cheated on him and that's why he was in the hospital and that now he is in Tenzou's care. I also told him not to repeat that, which means everyone probably knows by now. Which of course, was the plan."

"But won't telling everyone he had a breakdown embarrass him more?" She asked, propping herself up on one elbow, her eyes glinting at him in the darkened room.

"Hey! He told me to straighten it out no matter how humiliating it is for him." He replied defensively.

"Okay… I was just asking." She snickered, leaning down to kiss him slowly.

"I'm kind of annoyed he's in a relationship already. I mean he had a breakdown over me. But he's fucking someone else?"

"You're one to talk." She scoffed, shaking her head. She had succeeded in getting what she wanted. Kakashi was officially out of the picture and she was happy. But there was a small part of her that predicted Iruka wasn't as content as she was and she hated when she saw clear evidence of it.

"I know but we aren't in a relationship." He whispered back. "I'm still a hypocrite. I know I treated him like shit. But I still love him."

Misumi narrowed her eyes, shoving a hand down hard on his chest and using it to push herself up. She kissed him passionately, straddling him as she did so.

"I'll make you forget all about him." She panted between heated kisses.