Sasuke pushed the only slightly heavier cart and led it to the service exit, but not before locking the 'princess' in her room. It was hard to slide the cart down the stairs without dropping Naruto, but he managed it. Eventually they were on the ground floor and Naruto could see the daylight through the table sheet.
"Okay. Please don't take long. I'll be back with dinner at 9. I'll meet you right in there." Sasuke pointed at the small space before the stairway and after the thick wooden door. "I'll take you back in the same way."
"Thank you Sasuke-sensei! I really want to see him." Naruto smiled and nervously let all the thoughts from last night filter into his head.
"I'm sure he'll be glad to see somebody as beautiful as you. Plus he's single again." Sasuke winked invitingly at Naruto before turning away into the main castle.
Single. He must think I dumped him.
Naruto ran his fingers through his loose hair as he walked towards the gray stone wall which seemed so far away. He passed the market stalls and wondered where all of those vegetables came from. He reached another stall with pewter items. There he found a small knight and a tiny princess. Instantly he bought them. Sasuke had given him perhaps too much money to spend. Naruto placed the pieces in his pocket and soon found the stairs he needed to climb.
At the top he could see everything. He could see the outside of the castle walls. It was immense, green and beautiful. The market from there seemed like nothing. He saw his own room from there and he could clearly make out the bed.
How is it that he hasn't seen me?
Naruto walked towards Kakashi who was still a couple of hundred feet off. Naruto's quick walk turned into a full sprint. He wanted to tell Kakashi everything. The whole truth and ask him to marry him. It would be awkward, but he wanted to do that. If he had to marry anyone it would be him.
"Kakashi!" Naruto finally came to where Kakashi was with Asuma. Asuma made a pained face and looked to see Kakashi's reaction.
"Naruto." Kakashi stood up in his shining armor and caught Naruto's speeding body before it slammed into Asuma. "What are you doing here?" Kakashi released Naruto and leaned out of the kiss he was so used to giving. Naruto's small and slightly puckered lips moved away as well he opened his eyes completely and felt tears rise into his eyes.
"Asuma could you give us a moment." Kakashi turned to look at his friend.
"Don't get hurt." Asuma walked away towards the stairs Naruto had climbed only moments ago.
"Hey Naruto what brings you here." Kakashi took a seat on his stool and refused to look at Naruto.
"I wanted to see you." Naruto stood closer to Kakashi. He placed his arm around Kakashi's back.
"Don't. Please." Kakashi shrugged the small hand off of himself. "Why did you want to see me? I think you made everything perfectly clear last night. I only wish you had been a bit more honest with me. I don't like lies." Kakashi stood up and faced to the outside of the kingdom.
Naruto sighed and took a seat on Kakashi's chair. "You want honesty?"
"Yes. That's all I've ever wanted. I thought we were both being honest. I really do love you Naruto, but I'm not an idiot. I won't let you hurt me." Kakashi turned back to look at Naruto and leaned against the low wall's edge.
"I never meant to hurt you." Naruto closed his eyes and let his tears fall freely.
"Hey now, come on don't cry." Kakashi lifted Naruto's face and wiped a tear away with his tough leather gloves. "I'm the heartbroken one. You have no need to cry." He cooed.
Naruto took deep breaths until he could speak again. "I'll be honest with you, but can we please go to your house? I have a lot to say."
"Sure. I'll get Asuma to cover for me."
Naruto smiled and held out his hand hoping it would be held. Kakashi smiled and shook his head. Reluctantly his arm moved out of its own will and held onto Naruto's extended hand.
"Lets go." Kakashi walked down the stairs with Naruto close behind. They turned a corner and found Asuma smoking and chatting with a random villager. "Hey Asuma I have something I need to do. Cover for me please." Kakashi walked away without waiting for an answer.
"Kakashi remember what we talked about!" Asuma yelled out into the alley they'd taken.
Asuma slowly trudged up the stairs and was glad that for once he'd get to sit on that chair.
---
Kakashi closed and locked the door behind him. He removed his armor and heavy leather under armor. "What did you need to say to me?" Naruto looked around the house. Bottles and cups were still everywhere. It was evident a party had taken place. Naruto started picking up the trash and placing it in plastic bags.
After a couple of minutes Kakashi left to his room and changed into his house clothes. He watched as Naruto picked up the last of the champagne glasses. Naruto was wearing different pants. Kakashi chuckled at the sight of the cargo pants riding up and down Naruto's back every time he picked up a new piece of litter.
"Naruto." Kakashi decided to quite stalling. It wasn't that he didn't have time, but having Naruto so close for any longer would be dangerous. He loved him and would forgive him if he didn't leave soon.
"Sorry." Naruto walked to Kakashi and pushed him into the bedroom. "I'm sorry Ero-shishi." Naruto's face was sad and honest.
"Don't apologize. Just tell me why you left." Kakashi took a seat on his bed. "I deserve to know at least that."
"Of course." Naruto sighed and closed his eyes tightly. "The truth of it all is that I'm not who you think I am." Naruto stared out the window and noticed Iruka walking towards the house. Kakashi followed his gaze.
"That's Umino Iruka he was my ex. I guess he forgot something. Come you can meet him he works with the princess too." Kakashi stood up and headed towards the door.
"Wait Shishi!" Naruto caught Kakashi's arm and worried eyes stared at Kakashi's pair. "Don't let him know I'm here. Please." He pleaded.
"Why?" Kakashi reached to open the door.
"I'm not here." Naruto ran into Kakashi's room and hid under the bunched up blankets.
Kakashi finally pulled opened the door after the third knock. "Hey Iruka. What brings you around?"
"Nothing. I called in sick. I wanted to see you." Iruka put his hand on Kakashi's chest and pushed him back to allow himself in.
"Oh, well I was about to leave." Kakashi lied.
"Really? I heard from Asuma you were headed home." Iruka pushed Kakashi back until he was against the door of his room.
"Well, I'm going back now." Kakashi attempted to get out of the cornered position he was in.
"Just give me a couple of minutes. I was hoping to cheer you up." Iruka reached behind Kakashi and twisted the doorknob which made Kakashi stumble backwards into his room.
"I'm fine really." Kakashi looked around and noticed the irregular lump under the blankets.
"How can you be fine after being dumped on the night you were going to propose." Iruka attempted to kiss Kakashi, but said man turned his face away. He heard Naruto's sharp intake at the words Iruka had just said.
"Believe me, I wasn't dumped. I'm doing fine. Plus, you and me are just friends. I love him too much to take you up on your offer." Kakashi pushed Iruka away and led him to the door in silence.
"Fine. Good luck." Iruka turned and left back towards the castle. Maybe Naruto could cheer him up.
Kakashi shut the door and locked it again. He went to his kitchen. "He's gone." He yelled to Naruto. Kakashi searched the drawers and found what he'd been looking for. A small box which contained months of his hard work.
"Thank you for not exposing me." Naruto sat on the bed and waited for Kakashi to return.
"Why would Iruka care?" Kakashi took a seat next to Naruto. "I suppose you heard everything."
Naruto only nodded. He looked out of the corner of his eyes to Kakashi who was fiddling with something in his pocket.
"This was for you, had you said 'yes' last night." Kakashi brought out a ring and handed it to Naruto along with the matching box.
"I'm sorry." Naruto looked at the large pure white rock on the thing white gold band. It was amazing. "Let me explain." He handed the ring back to Kakashi.
"You said you loved me. Is that still true?" Naruto stood now and faced Kakashi.
"Yes."
"You would love me no matter what?"
"Of course. I love you even now. My mind somehow has managed to pull all the pieces of my heart together just so that I may continue to love you." Kakashi's eyes were tearing up.
"Okay. I love you too. I want to marry you. I want you to be the one to have all and everything of me." Naruto looked at Kakashi straight in the eyes.
"Then why did you leave last night?"
"I was trying to protect the three most important people in my life. You being the most important." Naruto shifted under Kakashi's intense stare.
"Protect me from what?"
"From death. I didn't want you to be put to death. That's why I left."
"And why would I be killed if you showed up at the party?"
"Because I broke the rules."
"What rules? Naruto, what are you trying to say?"
"Well, Kakashi, I'm the princess." Naruto looked to Kakashi reaction. Would he accept him or turn him in as was his duty in such a high position?
"The princess?" Kakashi's mouth dropped open for a second. He looked at his ring and then back to Naruto.
"That's why I had to go. I didn't want to be seen. I didn't want to get caught. I've been sneaking out to see you." Naruto walked closer to Kakashi.
"Why? Why me?"
"Because I love you. I already said that." Naruto wrapped his arms around Kakashi's neck. "Please forgive me and I'll tell you everything from the beginning."
"Done." Kakashi leaned in and kissed Naruto's lips. How he had missed those soft red lips on his. He slipped his tongue carefully into Naruto's mouth and took him onto his lap. Kakashi let his hand hold onto Naruto's hip and slid him onto the bed. Kakashi climbed over him and kissed down to his neck.
"You're easy to convince." Naruto gasped as Kakashi bit down.
"No, I'm really not. I'm just so madly in love I'm not thinking straight." Kakashi pushed Naruto shirt off over his head. His lips sucked diligently down Naruto's chest.
"Of course not thinking straight! We're gay." Naruto giggled at his joke and let Kakashi pull off his pants.