Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Weeks went by and Iruka kept quiet about the mask but his curiosity burned hotter with every cloth restricted kiss. They were walking around looking at the cherry blossoms and Iruka went against the normal process of Kakashi making the first move. He leaned in and kissed Kakashi's lips. The copy ninja looked curiously at his mate. They had left their kanji at home, choosing to wander as two normal citizens for a day. Kakashi seemed nervous about the whole scaring small children with his red eye thing but Iruka assured him he'd be fine. Kakashi of course would never show outward concern about anything; he was too cool, laid back, apathetic to the outside world. Iruka, however, didn't need Kakashi to give him signs. He knew what made Kakashi nervous. So he held on tight to Kakashi's hand as they walked around, their faces touched gently by falling petals from the cherry blossom trees. Iruka kissed Kakashi gently, Kakashi watching his boyfriend with mismatched eyes curiously. He didn't have to wait long to find out why Iruka had instigated the kiss. When the tan ninja pulled back, his scarred face came into full view, Kakashi's mask between his teeth. Kakashi's apathetic gaze looked down at Iruka as he stepped back, dropping the cloth from his mouth and looking worriedly up at the silver fox.

"Iruka." Kakashi looked at his mate for a long time.

"Why were you so insistent you keep the mask on?" Iruka asked as he put his tan hand gently on Kakashi's cheek.

"With the mask I have a certain amount of mystery and am granted a level of self I may withhold." Kakashi said.

"But why? Don't you trust me?" Iruka asked.

"Completely. That's why I haven't returned it." Kakashi said as he leaned in to kiss Iruka. Iruka kissed back.