Title: Life in a Small Town
Genre: Naruto
Warnings & Pairings & Characters: Yaoi & Kakairu & as many characters as fit into the story properly while keeping to their ages
Summary: Iruka in first person, a quick rundown of his life, AU Present day
Status: WIP, unbeta'd

Chapter 2

"I should probably leave these on the tile here," I explained holding up my muddy shoes. "I wouldn't want to ruin your carpet the night before you leave."

I watched as Kakashi shrugged. "That's alright," he said evenly not explaining further whether it was alright to leave my shoes there or to ruin the carpet. I placed them down by the door, ever the good boy that had been well trained by my auntie. I proceeded to straighten up and look around then with a smile and a bit more courage.

"I've never seen your place, Kakashi. I always thought it would look more studious." It was a nice little apartment if small. Through two open doors at opposite ends of the far wall I could see both a stove denoting the kitchen and a bed. The room the front door opened into was furnished with a small plaid couch and an old TV on one end and a desk complete with computer on the other. "Shouldn't there be more textbooks scattered around," I asked as I stepped forward.

Kakashi followed behind me. "I've been packing," he explained. "But even before that I liked to keep the place neat." He waved towards the couch. "Have a seat, would you like anything to drink? I have tap water, cold tap water, and an orange soda."

I requested the cold tap water and watched as he walked into the kitchen. As he was busy I took the time to get comfortable on the couch and noticed that everything was exceptionally clean. He really had been getting ready to leave and as any good tenant would do, had made sure he was leaving the place looking good. I smiled sadly thinking I had missed out on his little personal touches which were probably packed up in three taped up cardboard boxes I finally noticed over by the computer desk. I wondered what more those pictures and mementos would have revealed to me about the man, but I could only square my shoulders and swallow my sigh at the lost opportunity.

He returned with two disposable plastic cups, a good choice seeing as he was leaving the next morning and offered one to me. I accepted with a smile and made a small show of moving over on the couch in an attempt to make sure he had enough room to sit comfortably. We sat there sipping until he finally broke the silence, and he did it with a generic and safe question.

"So, when will you be leaving for college?"

I took the opportunity and happily expounded on my plans. He knew most of it already, but letters and phone calls had arrived since we had last talked of future events. I now had an assigned dorm room and the basic information on my roommate, another freshmen also going for a teaching certificate. I told him how auntie was even considering purchasing me some transportation seeing as how I'll be in a city where walking everywhere wasn't an option. I watched him laugh as I hoped for a motorcycle but knew it would probably be some old and dented car from the used auto lot.

He told me about his own first vehicle experience, an old and dented truck his neighbor had sold to him for a summer of severe yard work on an empty lot he owned. The truck had been hiding in a shed on the lot and was perfectly usable if a bit rusted. Kakashi had me laughing at the explanation of being forced to wear rain gear inside the truck on certain days due to an unfortunate rust hole placed perfectly above his head.

We went on like that talking about little things or laughing at each other's stories for hours. There were so many lines we hadn't yet crossed in our friendship, but that one line I wanted to cross kept getting farther and farther away as he went on about classes and the job his mentor had waiting for him to come back to. My courage, still hiding behind the bush, but not as desperately before, was able to peek an eye out and sigh in relief as it seemed Kakashi had no intention of advancing and I knew the moment hadn't come yet.

We started speaking about Hayate and Kakashi was given his entire medical history as well as I knew it, which was pretty good. He expressed his concern over his health and what he'd seen diseases like that do, but I brushed it off. Long ago Hayate and I had made a pact to only worry about what his body was doing to him when he was finally unable to function anymore. After years of telling the same thing to myself, I could easily tell Kakashi with a straight face that we knew it would kill him one day, but that day was in the future and not today. Hayate would live to see tomorrow's sunset and that was all we concerned ourselves with other than never getting him another cold like the one that kept him out of school for two weeks after spring break.

We started into our childhood foibles and I got some interesting tales of how Kakashi and cats don't get along very well. He told me about a favored pet he'd lost just a year ago, a pug he'd called Pakuun. I laughed and mourned that auntie had never let me keep anything larger than fish, though I had tricked her and grown one fish to an enormous size once, we had eventually sold it back to the pet store where it had reigned as king of the tank for many years until finally dying.

A soft clock chimed in his bedroom and he coughed in sudden embarrassment. We'd been sitting and talking for three hours and it was now midnight. I watched him stand up and rub his hands on his thighs trying not to look too closely at those arms so nicely shown off by an old t-shirt. I listened with sad eyes as he said it was bed time for him since he had an early morning, but neither of us had yawned the entire time. We were both too focused on each other to think about being sleepy. My courage, still behind the ever convenient bush, prodded me to a small action as we walked to the door

I looked down at my shoes and then back up at him, so gorgeous and standing within easy reaching distance. "I came to make sure you left happy," I told him. "I don't think the town treated you right, and I wanted to make sure you didn't hold it against any of us."

He shrugged and leaned against the wall of the small foyer. "I'm only not liking the people I shouldn't like, Orochimaru for being the man he is and that woman. Everyone else I've met in this town will remain in my good graces," he said. "Even after I leave."

"And that's tomorrow morning," I noted sadly. "I wanted to invite you out to auntie's farm again over the summer. We have strawberries to eat and the lake feels much better when it's not freezing you to death. There are fireflies in late summer and fields full of nothing to run around in."

"It sounds nice," he said and smiled.

"It is," I agreed. "And it's where I would have wanted to say goodbye before I left, but now I won't get that chance. I still want to say goodbye properly," I told him and watched his eyes widen almost imperceptibly. "Properly the way an adult can do, not a student." My courage roared softly from behind its bush and I stepped closer to him. It was enough that I could touch him and I did. It was a small touch, a small kiss; it was just our lips touching, not moving over each other as I'd done with girls, not pressing or fighting for more. It was just a meeting that my mind kept saying now had to end. I pulled back and touched a hand to his chest laying my palm flat against the skin warmed cotton shirt he wore.

"I've been wanting to do that,' I confessed to him and allowed my forehead to join my palm against his warm chest. I could feel his heart beating, his lungs moving. I took a deep breath full of his scent; just soap and cleaners from earlier, but underneath was something warm and spicy. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, but I had to take this chance, Kakashi, or I would have hated myself for letting it pass."

I felt a hand on my left arm then another on my right. "I'm not uncomfortable," he said softly and I felt his fingers tighten into my skin. "But I would like my own chance."

I looked up at him and saw those blue eyes gleaming. I smiled and brought my other hand to his waist as he lowered his head and kissed me. This wasn't just a light touch, not a soft meeting, but a showing of want and need as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me into him. I melted into him as his tongue traveled across my bottom lip and easily opened my mouth to allow my own to meet his.

I lost track of time as we kissed not caring if the clock chimed another midnight. I never wanted those lips to leave mine, but they eventually did and I could feel him panting as he leaned his head back against the wall exposing his throat to me. I gave in to my wants and broke his hold on my arms so I could easily run my hands down and up his chest again. They finally found a resting place in his hair loosely holding his head still as I licked that soft skin underneath his jaw and felt him shiver as that innocent lick was followed by a small nip. I quickly attached my mouth to those lovely neck muscles and was rewarded by a groan erupting from his mouth and his hands on my ribs.

"Iruka," he said softly and then again as his hands tightened. It was only a moment later that our roles were reversed and he had me up against the wall pressing into me with abandon as he attacked my own throat. I cried out and cared not a bit that my body was almost completely depending on him for support against the wall as he had lifted me for easier access. With great effort I forced my chin down and attached our mouths together again. His hands were up against me; pressing me into the wall, but mine were now perfectly free to roam as far as they could, which wasn't much since they were now stuck above his shoulders, but I ran my fingers over as much of him as I could and relished every sound he made. He shifted slightly and ran a hand down my side and around my thigh then pulled my leg up. I instinctively wrapped it around his waist and almost cried out at the feel of our hips meeting like old friends. For the first time I felt an excited man pressing against me and it only strengthened my own feelings. I lifted my other leg on my own and latched them around his waist. He called my name again and freed his hands depending on his hips pressing into mine to keep us balanced. His hands immediately ran up and underneath my shirt making me moan when they reached my nipples and softly pinched and rolled over them. My hips bucked and I cried out as he lifted my shirt and leaned down to attach his mouth to my chest running his tongue over as much skin as he could. I called out his name as his busy hands traveled down to cup and caress over my butt and thighs. As I continued to strain against him with wordless noises he pulled back and breathed against my neck.

"Iruka," he whispered. "Iruka," he called my attention again even as he licked a long swath of my neck. "I want my chance, Iruka," he told me. "But I need to know how far you'll let me take this."

I looked him in the eye and smiled wide. He moved back and I felt myself sliding down on the wall so quickly disentangled my legs for their needed support. My eyes closed at the feel of just that slight movement as our bodies moved against each other but opened again quickly to stare into his blue eyes. "I came here to give us both a chance," I admitted. "I don't think either of us should worry about limits right now." I kissed him softly again and pulled away with a lick to his lips. "I came here to stay the night, Kakashi. I'm willing to do whatever you wanted to take a chance and do to me."

Kakashi's eyes widened and he pulled away from me completely. I stood there leaning against his wall panting slightly, my face flushed with emotion and my lips red from his kisses. He lifted a hand to travel fingertips over my mouth and grinned. "Do you really know what you're asking, Iruka? There are a lot of things I'd like to do to you, most of them involve you underneath me on my bed," he moved closer, "in my shower," another inch, "on my couch even." He was against me again, but not pressing. "Iruka, you came to me so I won't mince words. I want to fuck you, Iruka. I want to feel you around me as I fill you up."

My heart started beating faster just from his words, but he wasn't stopping. Deep inside I understood he was giving me a chance to run, but my courage had emerged from behind its bush and was roaring with all the drive of an eighteen year old hormone offered his first chance to touch the forbidden. My eyes closed as I attempted to imagine how he would feel straining above me, both of us naked and our hot skin sliding against each other, but a small niggle of nervousness still existed. "Maybe," I whispered and licked my lips then continued in a stronger voice. "Maybe we could begin with your couch?"

He grinned lecherously and grabbed my wrist to pull me away from the wall and led me backwards like a dancer. "On my couch where I've imagined you just calmly sitting next to me, maybe some cuddling, definitely some groping." He spun us around and we collapsed together on the couch with me straddling his lap. Immediately his hands began roaming and naturally traveled up under my shirt again, but this time they traveled further up my arms so I lifted them and my shirt slid off with ease. I watched his eyes eat me up and then his tongue wet his lips as he contemplated his next move. I laughed and lifted his chin. "You've seen me without a shirt before," I said as I chuckled. My hands fumbled down to his waistband and began pulling. "It's me who should be looking at you like that." He laughed low and leaned forward as I slid his shirt off and began to explore that never before seen expanse of skin. He was pale, so pale, but perfect in my eyes. I ran my hands over him freely then gave into my own wants and awkwardly leaned down to lick him. I bit his shoulder and scooted backwards on his lap for better access. It was when I bit at his pale pink nipples that he moaned and bucked underneath me, his hands finally moving into action and grabbing at my thighs then moving inward. I gasped and groaned and kissed him as he finally touched me and caressed that cloth covered bulge. I felt his hands on the button to my jeans and then the zipper. They then traveled around and slid the heavy denim down on my hips just enough for him to delve around and underneath them as he grabbed my butt again and slid me back up against him. We stayed there, his hands on my back, my lips on his for some time just enjoying each other.

Kakashi pulled another trick after he got impatient and I was suddenly on my back in the couch cushions with him groping and pulling above me. My hips were pulled upwards and my jeans were now around my knees. I laughed and wiggled as he pulled them the rest of the way off and slid a hand from my bare ankle up and under my boxers. I stopped laughing as he touched hardened flesh and only sank back down in pleasure as he leaned over me. "So hard, Iruka, so needy."

"All for you," I gasped out just before his tongue invaded my mouth. His hand left me quickly only to each down again from underneath the waistband for easier access. My own hands started pushing down at the elastic and were soon assisted by him until we had me completely naked on his couch. He braced himself above me and looked down with a wide grin. "All this is mine," he asked with wide eyes. "All for me and looking lovely against the green plaid."

I blinked in confusion then looked at the couch cushion I was leaning against and laughed. "Focus, Kakashi," I admonished him as my hands went to his own jeans. "I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to be the only one naked here." I knew he was watching my face while I unzipped his pants and reached my hand in to feel him. His eyes saw mine widen as I pulled him from his pants and saw him for the first time. I could only hope he saw lust in there and not a single spark of hesitation. I sat up as best I could and started pushing his pants down. With a squirm and a bit of assistance we quickly had him naked and once more between my legs. I grabbed on to him with arms and legs and just held him. I'd had months to figure out I wanted him like this, months to get used to idea that I wanted his naked body against mine, but actually having my dreams come true was an altogether mind numbing experience.

I think he could tell and began moving accordingly. He began nuzzling and licking whatever skin he could reach and slowly rolling his hips against mine. It didn't take too long for me to jump back on the 'I want to jump you' wagon and loosened my death grip around him. It was easy to give into the waves of pleasure he incited with every rub and kiss. I could feel him against me just as rock hard as I was myself and occasionally jutting into my stomach. My hand moved downwards and slid over his butt in an attempt to pull him closer as I felt those surging waves building up to an unbearable point. I gasped out his name and arched backwards as I came and only had to wait a few moments more to feel him finish between our bodies also.

We lay there on the couch in the quiet for several minutes just listening to each other breathe. Finally he lifted his torso and cradled my red cheeks in his hands. The kiss he gave me was amazing and full of enough emotion to make me melt all over again, but he ended it after too short a time and grinned down at me. "We get to try the shower next."

That night was amazing. I was fully indoctrinated into all areas of sex under his masterful hands and reveled in both the feelings he gave me and the ones I gave him. It was only when I woke the next morning with the odd feeling of someone next to me that I fully thought about what was going to happen now and how I had complicated things beyond measure. His arms were circled around me holding me close, his face hidden in the crook of my neck. I knew if I moved I would wake him up so just lay there and enjoyed the warmth, but my unconscious waking movements must have begun his own as his eyes were soon peeking open and I could feel him smiling against my skin.

"You weren't a dream," he said sleepily as he kissed my neck. "That's really nice."

I could only laugh and roll until I was facing him. He whined softly and once more snuggled into me. "I never imagined you as a cuddler," I mentioned while poking his shoulder.

He yawned and patted the arm I had thrown over him. "Have to take advantage of you now," he said. "I won't have you to do anything with after today."

My muscles tensed up and I couldn't say a word as he lifted his head and looked at me with serious eyes. "Iruka, I'll give you my phone number in the city. You should call if you miss your next period. I'll take full responsibility for getting you pregnant."

I could only blink, sputter and fail at any and all attempts to actually speak to him as he rolled onto his back and laughed at me. I lifted myself up and pounced on him causing myself to take a second to wince at the discomfort in my lower back. "You're an idiot, Kakashi," I told him with a smile after I got comfortable. "But for right now you're an idiot who's underneath me." I watched an eyebrow rise in speculation and chuckled. "There's at least one thing you didn't give me a chance to do last night that I still dreamed of doing to you." I licked his shoulder and started scooting down on the bed. He'd been a wonderful lover last night making sure I reached orgasm several times, but I had noted that whenever I tried to repeat the same actions I enjoyed receiving he'd pulled me back and melted away any of my intentions with a mind altering kiss. Now, as I had him underneath me and still muzzy from sleep I was going to take advantage of a man's natural morning complaint.

As I looked down at him and smiled at his occasional twitches I recalled the feeling of that hard length inside me the night before, slipping in and out and rubbing up against nerves I hadn't known I had. I remembered how he'd dragged me back into the bathroom for a second time and cleaned us both up while I just leaned against him or the wall or whatever was convenient. I looked back up at him and grinned just before I licked the tip. I watched him gulp and take a deep breath then focused on the task I'd given myself. I'd never been on the receiving end of a blow job before Kakashi had sucked me in the shower last night after our first time on the couch, but I remembered enough from that to rub my tongue along the entire length as I used one hand to keep him still and another to rub and play all over his sensitive skin.

I felt him buck up and call my name as I explored how far down I could easily take him and then again as I braced myself and pushed my mouth down further. I pulled up and bobbed my head several times over the thick tip and licked it again. A quick glance up showed me his open and panting mouth as he started to beg me not to stay down there and come give him a kiss again. I laughed and pushed his hips into the bed. "I don't care what you want right now," I told him. "You came in my ass last night and now I want you to come in my mouth." I smirked at his surprised expression and ran my tongue over his slitted head while keeping my eyes on his and watched those piercing blue eyes beg me to continue in any way I saw fit as long as I didn't stop.

I focused again on my task and the careful use of teeth as a stimulant which had him crying out. It was only a few more minutes before I found a good rhythm of licking and bobbing and then swallowing as much of him as I could that I felt comfortable continuing as he made tortured sounds that resembled my name and other heated words. In a short time afterwards I felt a difference in him that told me he was close and I prepared myself for what would soon be coming. Within seconds of feeling that final hardening of his shaft I felt a shot of hot and salty liquid hit the roof of my mouth and stopped moving as I made sure I wouldn't choke. As soon as he finished giving me my wanted taste I continued my movements at a slower rate and with more sucking involved until I felt him softening in my mouth. I then lifted my head to see him lying against his pillow in utter relaxation with his eyes closed and his hands still gripping the sheets to either side.

I scooted back into a cuddle position beside him with an arm thrown across his chest and my head resting on his shoulder while he sprawled. He surprised me by grabbing a handful of my hair and pulling my face towards his to kiss me and then kiss me again. I could only give in as he rolled into me and invaded my mouth with his tongue. I heard him groan and answered it with one of my own as I felt his other hand slide up my side the back down to the very evident hard on I was now left with. He touched and grabbed then slid a fingertip across the tip to gather some of the pre-cum already already dripping. He stopped kissing me long enough to bring that moistened fingertip to his mouth and make me watch him suck it. I shuddered and didn't let my eyes stray from watching his mouth as he then moved forward and kissed me again as open mouthed as he had left me. Our tongues rubbed and fought in that kiss and I moaned low when he pulled away again.

"Remember that, Iruka," he told me. "That was what we taste like, and that's something I thought I would only ever get to dream about." I knew I was blushing as he leaned over and our foreheads met. "Now," he continued. "Let me thank you again for allowing so many of my dreams come true."

I had watched Kakashi promise to leave the morning after graduation, but I didn't help him carry his boxes down to the car until almost noon, and I kissed him up against the car not caring who saw and what they would say about it. I hid my eyes as I declined his offer to catch a better breakfast than the last of his frozen waffles. I knew that it was time to start letting go. His car was beeping due to the open driver door when I grasped his wrist for the last time and finally looked him in the eye again.

"I would go with you if I could," I told him. "But I know I have my whole life ahead of me right now." He touched a hand to my cheek and I smiled bravely even though I could feel tears trying to build in my eyes. "I won't ask you to wait for me, Kakashi," I said softly. "I don't even know if our relationship would have survived college years."

He laughed at me and wiped at my eyes. "I think it would have, Iruka. In fact, I know it would have, but if you think it's better to part cleanly right now then we'll do that. I understand," he whispered onto my lips. "But you have my phone number if you change your mind."

We kissed again and said goodbye. I stood at the foot of the stairs leading to what used to be his garage apartment and watched him drive away. I don't remember how I made it home after that, but I've always remembered the strong drink my auntie had ready for me when I got there. Hayate came later that afternoon to check up on me and teased me into a sense of normality. He let me know how proud he was of me and then offered himself as a rebound lover. He was laughing as he was thrown out of my room, and I know he and my auntie conferred while I went back to sleep holding the small paper that Kakashi had written what would be his home number in the city until he found his own apartment again.

I planned on calling him after a week, but it didn't happen until almost a month later. Hayate relapsed and spent three weeks lying bored to tears in a sterile room while I stayed nearby and read him the daily newspapers from all over that he had delivered to him. The night before he was released into a non-sterile room we held a karaoke contest through the speaker we were forced to use to communicate. His pulmonary specialist won with a heartfelt rendition of an Alanis Morisette song done in a falsetto that should not have been heard from as old a bewhiskered man as he was, but Hayate and I were both stunned into silence and I calmly passed the six pack of beer his way.

When I finally did try calling it turned into a game of phone tag. I continuously reached the answering machine voiced by a crazy man named Jiraiya who I remembered being mentioned as Kakashi's mentor at his teaching college. I know he did try to call me back and got regular updates from my auntie whenever he did as she kept him on the phone with enough questions to fill up a notepad. I found out that Jiraiya was taking him on a midsummer vacation to the northeast and the many historical towns there for three weeks in July, and that he had been in contact with Orochimaru and asked about Anko. I was grateful that he was pursuing my errant friend as she hadn't bothered to contact anybody; not her parents, Hayate or me.

I moved into my college dorm in early August and tried calling one more time before I left town. I was curious over the change in the answering machine message change which now sounded hurried and worried as Jiraiya mentioned that both he and Kakashi lived there. It wasn't until after October when neither any of my calls had been returned nor had my aunt received any at her house that I gave up. My freshman year was finished in a funk and I was offered a summer job through the college working in their records department. I returned home for a week to say hello and check up on Hayate who had been confined to classes at the community college by his doctors who wanted to keep him close.

My second year I overloaded on courses and wound up spending the winter break either drunk with Hayate or asleep. We finally got word from Anko during the holiday season. She sent us both a glittery Christmas card and actually called her parents to inform them that yes, she was alright and now had her own place and a job that was supporting her. We all heaved a sigh of relief and fumed at her lack of a return address or any contact information whatsoever.

It was during the spring semester of my second year that I was introduced to some life changing individuals in the form of a foster home full of kids. I was put in charge of the rambunctious seven year olds and soon learned why they chose the greenies for that task. I thought I would be learning how to handle a variety of childish personalities and then be able to smile proudly as they all began to work together as proof that I was meant to be a great teacher one day. Instead I became the worst dictator the world had ever seen and even learned that my knowledge of knots and bleaching chemicals was extremely useful in the workforce.

My nemesis turned out to be two boys, mortal enemies that attempted to outdo each other in their ability to make my life miserable. When I was asked my secret of control by the upper classman who had been assigned that class last year as six year olds I could only laugh hilariously and ask him if he'd ever paid close attention to the rules of what a teacher could and could not do to their students. When he said that he paid explicit attention to those rules knowing they would save him a lawsuit in the future I laughed again and said I'd never read them. I spent my evenings devising new tortures for that pair to endure together and even some the class would destroy them both for putting them through.

I spent my summer in the city again taking a job at the foster home and gaining valuable experience if not a big paycheck. It was during that time that I met my next relationship which turned out to be one of the biggest mistakes I hoped to ever make.

Mizuki was assigned my class of degenerates for the summer having signed up for the summer version of my spring course. I let him suffer the first day, but gave pity that afternoon and took him aside for a cup of coffee in the lounge and told him the ins and outs of the crazies I had fondly begun calling my own after three months of mutual torture. They occasionally behaved for him, but more than often he took my advice and made them run laps until 'he' was tired.

We started going out for drinks in the evening and Mizuki found out all about my life in a small farming town. Auntie forced me to invite him home for the winter break my third year and kindly waited until he was being conveniently distracted by Hayate to inform me of her misgivings about him. I listened to her as I always did, but brushed her ideas off later as a clash of personalities between the two. Mizuki told me that he didn't think she liked him very much, but I continued to ease his mind. He would smile so nicely and hold me tight that it was a simple thing to forget any bad words had passed through his lips.

I was assigned my crazies again that spring semester, and now dealt with the wily eight year olds like any old hand of a teacher would. They were actually calm for me most of the time, but would slyly go nuts whenever anyone else walked into the room to allow me my high recognition as the most amazing cattle tamer the home had ever seen. I realized the feelings every teacher has as I found which students I was most fond of and began guarding my actions around them in an attempt to stop any favoritism from showing, but it was hard when dealing with my two favorite trouble makers and their 'clans.'

Mizuki and I were separated for that next summer; he stayed to catch some more summer classes while I returned to the farm and showed off my unripened strawberry eating skills again. When we met again in the fall I began noticing some discrepancies in his words and actions that finally hit me as odd. Not having had much schooling in the ways of homosexual relationships I cornered one of the permanent teachers at the foster home who was obvious about his orientations and laid it all out for him. All he did was invite me out to a bar for a night to ease my mind and introduce me to the scene he said I should have been playing around in for the last three years.

Twenty minutes after my arrival, welcome, and subsequent push towards a well hidden corner niche I was surrounded by new friends introduced by way of Genma who slid in right next to me and started talking. He set his own partner, Raidou to my other side in what he explained was a protective maneuver from the idiots that frequented the bar. I soon truly realized why that protection was needed and who he was calling an idiot as a familiar head of hair started showing up on the dance floor; and those ever so familiar arms were nicely wrapping around someone who was not me. Genma wouldn't let me leave saying I had to see the entire game played out. He told me how Mizuki had been a constant occupant to the dance floor, the bar, and even the backrooms since he had started school three years ago. He had even spoken to him a few times himself and definitely heard about him from others. Mizuki seemed to be in constant need of companionship due to a 'little wifey' who never allowed him any fun. My face was held in a very tight emotion which my students would have easily recognized and already bolted out of the windows in a futile attempt to avoid whatever words were about to erupt out of my mouth.

Genma turned out to be a much better friend than I ever thought he could have been in such a quick time. He arranged everything that night even down to Mizuki being brought over to the table for what he thought was a free drink from what turned out to be the owner of the bar, Raidou. His eyes when he met mine were scared then I almost laughed as I watched his defensive wall slam into place and he began mentally sorting out all the excuses as to why he had been found doing what he was doing. Strangely enough I only said one word to him, but Raidou later complimented me on my tone and facial expression as being perfect; that mixture of utter disgust, hate and promised misery was exactly what was needed to make him walk away and stay away permanently. Mizuki never spoke to me again after those two parting words, my name from his mouth and "Goodbye," from mine. It was only later that I realized both Genma and Raidou each had placed a restraining hand on either of my thighs and that the two drinks I was cautiously served afterwards were very low in their alcohol content allowing me my anger without fear of drunken vengeance and regrettable mistakes.

My fourth year, which looked to be my last year at the college, was turning out to be every bit as enjoyable as my senior year of high school after getting rid of Mizuki. I continued to meet up with Genma and Raidou, and was introduced to several nice young men who were very good at necking and expected nothing less than a few sweet kisses over the bar and good conversation as I sat a few evening shifts behind the counter to fill in for Raidou's continuous bartender problems. Auntie requested I invite the pair home for visit during winter break and I was pleased when they said yes. Hayate was amazed and oh so curious even if completely straight. He used the excuse of having to live vicariously through my own and other's lives to hole them up in Auntie's kitchen with enough questions to fill his entire library anew. I was sure that by the time their four day visit was over Hayate could have easily taken over the running of Raidou's bar and given Genma tips on how exactly to defuse his partner's constant annoyance over what were called childish actions with a few words instead of an enjoyable toss up against the wall which always ended in a loud necking session and most times louder sex. The two of them, Hayate and Raidou really hit it off well together as did Genma and my Auntie. He would continue to call her 'Old Biddy' as she fed him fresh baked brownies and forced him to hand mix a batch of Swedish meatballs, but every evening would find them sitting on the porch out in the cold with a stomach warming drink in hand as they talked about 'everything big and nothing important' as they would say when we asked.

It was near the end of the spring semester that Hayate took a turn for the worse and Raidou drove me home in time to enjoy one last week with my friend. This time the hospital hadn't bothered putting him in the sterile room knowing it wouldn't have done any good and would have kept us too far away from him for everyone's comfort. I would stay the days in his room again reading him his papers while listening to him struggle to breathe. Raidou spelled me a few times and refused to tell me what they talked about. There was never a point when the doctors weren't truthful to him in front of either friends or family, but it was still a surprise when his specialist once more begged him to rescind his 'do not resuscitate' order. Hayate told me that night about his choices, die with a bit of dignity without surviving on a machine or wait for a miracle transplant that his sick body probably wouldn't take kindly to much less be allowed by the hospital anyway due to his immunity disorder. I could only agree with his choices and drank enough coffee to destroy my entire future, but I was awake when he grabbed my hand in the wee hours of the morning and finally took one last breath with a smile on his face and his eyes pleasantly closed. I waited for a few minutes then calmly stood to go find his mother who had left the room earlier to catch a nap in the empty room next door.

Due to his DNR orders he'd had the alarm on his heart monitor disabled so the entire floor was able to hear her wail as she entered her son's silent room. I waited until the doctor arrived and answered a few questions then left as my friend was no longer there to keep me. I was asked no questions as I opened the door to the guest bedroom at home and crawled into bed with Raidou who now also had Genma with him. The two men stuffed me between them for protection just as they had that night in the bar and held me as I cried.

To Be Continued…

A/N: second chapter down and hardships galore. My rule of writing.. think up something horrible for the characters to face and then make it worse. I hope you enjoyed it :D