Don't own anything Naruto
Thank you to everyone reviewing. Here is another chapter. Enjoy
Chapter 8
"It's been three weeks, and he's still not back." Iruka thought to himself "Don't worry, he's the best shinobi in the village. It's just taking longer than he thought that's all."
Genma watching the play of emotions going across Iruka's face, sighed wondering what was wrong. "Something has been bothering him all week." Genma thought to himself.
"Iruka, is there something bothering you?" asked Genma
Iruka looking over at Genma replied "It's nothing important"
"It's been bothering you all week, so I don't think it's nothing." said Genma
"Have I been that obvious?" asked Iruka
Chuckling, Genma replied "Just a little."
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to bother you." said Iruka feeling a little guilty.
It's no problem, really. What are friends for." replied Genma
Not for sure if he should say anything, but deciding it would make him feel better, Iruka looked over at Genma and asked "When Kakashi-san goes on missions, is he usually late?" rubbing his nose in embarrassment.
Smirking Genma replied "Is our little Iruka developing feelings for our Copy-nin?" grabbing Iruka's check and pinching it.
"NO!" yelled Iruka "and stop that. I'm not a little kid. We have become friends. It's just he said he would be back in a couple of weeks and it's been three. I guess I was a little worried about him."
"Aw, I see." replied Genma still smirking.
"What? You see what?" said Iruka
"Nothing, nothing, nothing" replied Genma becoming a little more serious. "Well as you know, Kakashi is never on time, but no it is not unusual for him to be late. But since you aren't aware of this, I'll go ahead and tell you that our copy-nin is back, but suffering from chakra depletion. He's at the hospital, if your interested.
Iruka not sure what to do, started debating with himself "I want to go see him now for myself, but I can't because I still have to work at the mission desk. Maybe I could go as soon as my shift ends here. But I'm really worried about him, and want to see him now to make sure he is alright…."
Genma watching Iruka's face, thinking to himself "Just friends, yeah right. Wonder how long it's going to take him to confess." "Hey, Iruka why don't you go ahead and leave." said Genma
"Oh, I can't do that Genma, my shift isn't over yet." replied Iruka
"It's ok. You only have an hour left, and there's nobody in here. I'll be fine." said Genma smirking "Besides if you don't go and see your copy-nin soon, your going to worry to death."
Iruka narrowing his eyes, looked straight at Genma and said "He is NOT my copy-nin. He is my friend, and I am worried about him. There is nothing else to it."
"Sure, sure" replied Genma. "Just do us both a favor and go see him. Honestly, I'll be fine."
"Ugh, fine." said Iruka getting up to leave "It'll be better than staying here and having you teasing me."
"Ah, I'm hurt Iruka." said Genma and Iruka walked out the door.
"Yeah right" replied Iruka
Iruka walked down the streets towards the hospital. "I wonder if I should go. I'm not sure if he would really want me there. We are friends though now, and that's what friends do right? Right. I didn't realize how worried I was about him." thought Iruka looking up realizing he was standing in front of the hospital. "I'll just go and see if he's alright, and then leave."
Walking up to the desk, Iruka asked the nurse "I'm here to see Hatake Kakashi. Could you tell me what room he is in?"
The nurse raising her eyebrow looked at Iruka and replied "Hatake Kakashi?" Iruka nodding his head in conformation. "He's in room 121."
"Thank you" said Iruka. "I wonder what that was all about. She acted like she couldn't believe that I was here to see Kakashi." thought Iruka to himself
Walking up to the door, Iruka lightly knocked on the door before entering the room, peeking around the door.
Kakashi looked up from the bed to see what nurse was brave enough to enter his room now. "Seriously you would think they would just release me." Kakashi thought to himself. But what he saw instead was Iruka standing by the door, surprised to see the tanned man here.
"Yo"
"Um, hi. I'm not bothering you am I" replied Iruka rubbing his hand across his nose.
"No, not at all. I thought you were another one of them annoying old bats coming to bug me again." said Kakashi
"Kakashi that's not nice to say about the nurses." replied Iruka
Kakashi just shrugged his shoulders and smirked at Iruka and said "but they are."
Chuckling Iruka just shook his head and asked "How are you feeling."
"Bored. They won't let me out of here." replied Kakashi, groaning when he heard the door opening.
"Hokage-sama" said Iruka, a little surprised to see him here.
"Iruka, what are doing here?" asked Sandaime
"I come to see how Kakashi-san was feeling." said Iruka rubbing his nose, blushing in embarrassment.
"Ah, I see" said Sandaime making Iruka blush even more making Sandaime let out a little chuckle.
Turning his attention to Kakashi he asked "So how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, Hokage-sama. These old bats won't let me leave." replied Kakashi
"Well you depleted your chakra, Kakashi. You need your rest. Once your chakra is up to acceptable levels again, you can leave" said Sandaime, smirking when a plan formed in his mind. "This would be good for the both of them, to find someone else to care about and not be alone. Everyone deserves friends" he thought to himself. "unless there is somewhere you can go and stay." looking over at Iruka. Iruka's eyes going wide and a blush going across his cheeks when he realized what the Hokage was thinking.
"But I don't need anyone to watch over me, Hokage-sama. I'm fine." whined Kakashi, not catching on to what the Hokage was thinking.
"Yes you do, Kakashi-kun. I know you. You won't rest and you need rest to build your chakra back up." replied Sandaime "So since you don't have anyone to stay with for a couple days, then you will have to stay here.
Groaning, Kakashi looked at Sandaime and said "But I don't want to." crossing his arms and pouting making Sandaime laugh.
"Hokage-sama, it's not funny. It's soooo boring in here." said Kakashi making the Hokage laugh even more.
Looking over when he heard a chuckle from across the room and glared at Iruka "It isn't that funny."
Iruka putting his hands up and said "Sorry, sorry. It's just I've never seen you pout before."
"I'm not pouting." replied Kakashi crossing is arms again and turning his head. Making both Sadaime and Iruka laugh even harder.
"Ugh, would you two stop it." said Kakashi. Both Sandaime and Iruka stop laughing, but still had smiles on their faces.
Iruka putting a more serious face on, looked over at Sandaime and said "What if he stays with me." making Kakashi whip he's his head up, eyes going wide, staring at Iruka.
"Are you sure?" asked Sandaime.
"Um, yes I'm sure." replied Iruka rubbing his nose, blushing.
Kakashi just sat there still in shock. "Did Iruka just say I can stay with him. Why would he do that?" he thought, coming out of his musings when he heard Sandaime start talking again.
"Very well" replied Sandaime "I'll give you a couple days off from the mission desk, but you will still need to do your teaching at the academy."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." said Iruka
Sandaime turning his attention to Kakashi and said "I want you to behave Kakashi-kun, and don't give Iruka a hard time, Understood?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama, and I won't" replied Kakashi still a little shocked.
"Alright, I'll have one of the nurses bring in the discharge papers." said Sandaime turning around to leave. Looking over at Iruka and said "If he doesn't behave, let me know."
"Yes, Hokage-sama" replied Iruka. Sandaime looking at him smiling before walking out the door.
"You didn't have to do that." said Kakashi
"It's ok, I wanted to." replied Iruka
"Why?" asked Kakashi
"Because you're my friend and I want to help you" replied Iruka.
At that time the nurse came in. "Here is your discharge papers, Hatake-san."
"Thank you" said Kakashi, signing them and handing them back.
"Alright you may leave in the care of Umino-san" said the nurse walking back out the door. "Thank goodness. Glad to get rid of that one." she thought to herself.
"Are you ready to go then, Kakashi?" asked Iruka
"More than ready" replied Kakashi as he started to walk towards the bathroom "just let me get changed."
Iruka watching him walk off, realizing the back of his gown was wide open "He doesn't have anything on under his gown. Oh wow, he looks good. Ugh, I did not just think that." Iruka thought to himself turning his head, face red as a tomato. "Oh no, realizing he had a little problem. What am I going to do. I can't let him see me like this." not noticing Kakashi had already came back out and was walking over to him.
"Are you alright?" asked Kakashi laying a hand on his shoulder.
Iruka turned around to quick, shocked that he didn't hear Kakashi come back, hit his head against Kakashi's chin. "Well that took care of the problem" Iruka thought holding his forehead. "Oww"
"Yeah I'm fine" replied Iruka looking up at Kakashi "Oh, are you alright? I didn't mean to…"
"It's ok really." said Kakashi rubbing his chin "How about we get out of here?"
"Yeah, let's go." replied Iruka both of them walking out the door.
