If you ever have trouble sleeping, just youtube the extended version of Kakashi counting sheep. Yes, I'm serious, it exists :D I just COULD NOT fall asleep last night and it saved my life! Well, anyway, thank you for reviewing and enjoy!
Kakashi didn't exactly have anywhere else to go- his home wasn't very inviting anymore, and Tenzou wasn't set to wake up for another few days, at least- so he decided to stay on the bench outside of the Academy. He was, after all, very tired and very sore and very unwilling to move, and being near Iruka did help keep him calm. He got another hour of lounging on the bench, reading Icha Icha, and relaxing near the soothing presence of his fix. But when kids began pouring out of the school, chattering incessantly and coagulating near the playground, Kakashi decided that it was time for him to go home, lest he incur Iruka's wrath.
But his limbs and muscles didn't seem to want to move. In fact, the very moment he tried to stand, he felt injuries stretch and ache and became acutely aware of just how much Chakra he was lacking. No, moving was certainly not a good idea at all.
Perhaps Iruka just wouldn't notice him here.
Emboldened by his flawless logic, Kakashi settled into the bench to wait for his strength to return to him. Maybe he could take a nap… yes. Take a nap, and then, when he woke up, he would be strong enough to get himself home. Yes…
"…san?"
What kind of a fool thought talking was a good idea now. Sleep was so much better.
"…shi-san?"
Oh. That voice was a bit familiar. But still annoying and intruding.
"Kakashi-san, are you all right?"
No, but if you would just go away-
Oh, shit! Iruka!
Kakashi forced his eye open and jerked back, to find, sure enough, Iruka standing right in front of him. It was darker than he thought it should be, and Iruka looked like he had been on his way home, with his satchel over his shoulder and the sun setting behind him. His brown eyes were slightly wide in concern, and Kakashi immediately straightened upright and curved his eye into a smile. "Oh, I-Iruka-sensei, what a surprise!"
Did his body still hurt too much to make a run for it? Damn it, it did! This was really bad!
The sensei, rather than blowing up at him, squatted down to his eye level and tilted his head to the side. "Um, are you all right? You don't look so good."
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he promised, beaming. "Just decided that I was in dire need of an afternoon nap."
Iruka frowned, but seemed to decide not to question him. "I… okay. Kakashi-san, I'd like to apologize for how I reacted this afternoon. I was a bit upset that the Academy caved into Hyuuga Hiashi's request to have me evaluated so easily and took it out on you. My apologies, Kakashi-san. But, if I may- why is the Academy getting jounin like yourself to do evaluations? Aren't you needed for missions?"
Kakashi shook his head a bit to clear it, then smiled again. "Right. Um, you see, I think there's been a misunderstanding- see, you're not being evaluated. I was just in the area and happened to see your class going on and decided to watch. …Sorry if I disturbed you."
Iruka made a soft exclamation of surprise in the back of his throat, and then a light blush rose in his cheeks and he bit his lip in embarrassment. "Oh. Oh! You- you weren't… I wasn't being- oh, no. Oh my god. Kakashi-san, I'm so sorry! My friend got me worked up this morning, he kept saying that Hiashi had more influence than I thought, that the least that was going to happen was that I would be evaluated- when I saw you this afternoon I just thought… oh, no. I'm really sorry, Kakashi-san."
Iruka's cheeks were getting redder by the second and Kakashi was rather glad that his own cheeks were hidden by his mask, but as amusing as the sight of watching Iruka blush was, he felt extraordinarily uncomfortable this up close and personal to his fix and could feel the heat rising up to his face. He scooted a bit further back on the bench and forced himself to smile. "It's no trouble at all. Really."
Iruka looked like he might spontaneously combust. "Oh, my… I- I went off on the Copy Ninja. I just- oh, no. P-please don't… don't…" he trailed off nervously into silence and took a small step back, looking as if he had no idea what he was pleading Kakashi not to do but perhaps he might blow up from embarrassment before he got it out.
Kakashi frowned a bit at that. What did Iruka expect from him? Did he expect the famous Copy Ninja to kill him just because of a misunderstanding?
Iruka's presence suddenly wasn't as soothing as before. Even if it did seem a little funny that he could be so intimidating… it also wasn't.
"Don't worry," he murmured, the fake happiness his voice had previously been infused with now gone. "Just because I'm a jounin doesn't mean I'm going to attack you for crossing me."
Iruka's expression softened a bit, and then he stepped back forward to his previous position, his nervous, tense posture vanishing. He held out his hand and smiled. "Ah… right. Well, after our… rude first encounter- we don't even know each other, do we? Well, I'm Umino Iruka. And… I know who you are."
Kakashi slowly curved his eye up into a smile and reached out to take Iruka's hand, then winced as the movement stretched the wound in his side. It was only for half a second but the sensei noticed and started, immediately moving forward to crouch by his side.
"Oh, you're injured!"
"No, it's really nothing," Kakashi insisted, though a little surprised at Iruka's concern. "I've been treated. It was never serious in the first place, actually."
"But you really don't look well." Iruka squinted at him, tilting his head to the side. Kakashi shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny and was incredibly relieved when he heard someone call out for Iruka.
"Yo! Rukaaaaa!"
Iruka raised his head, then turned to see one of the men from the bar- the one who had made the others uneasy and called his face boring. He frowned slightly, though watched without comment as the sensei turned and waved to his friend. "Mizuki! I'll be right there!"
Kakashi was just about to celebrate when Iruka turned back to him, the concern back in place immediately. "Kakashi-san," he said, voice sounding entirely honest, "you're going to be okay? You don't need any help?"
"Why, yes, Sensei," he answered, a teasing lilt to his voice. 'I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself."
Iruka blinked, seeming a bit surprised, then just shook his head. "Right… silly me. You're- well, the Copy Ninja; I'm sure you've been injured before. Um… well, I have to go. I won't come back later tonight to find you still collapsed on this bench, will I?"
Kakashi shook his head slowly, not quite sure what to do with Iruka's odd concern. "Nope. I'll have found my way home by then."
"Good." Iruka nodded, satisfied, and turned to walk towards Mizuki. "You better do that, Kakashi-san," he called over his shoulder. "You look like you could use some rest."
Kakashi stared after the sensei as he left to go join his friend, a bit nonplussed. Iruka was… very odd. Why did he care so much for a stranger?
Mizuki grabbed Iruka by the wrist and pulled him aloneg the street, shaking his head as he did so. "Honestly, Iruka," Kakashi was able to hear him mutter. "You're too caring and trusting. That guy could've been some enemy trying to kill you."
"Mizuki! That was the Copy Ninja! Of course he wasn't trying to kill me-"
"How do you know it wasn't an enemy in a henge? You and I both know you're not that good at fighting; he could've completely killed you. Damn, Ruka, you make me worry."
Kakashi frowned. In ANBU, such a comment would be taken as an insult and probably a provocation for a fight- but Iruka just sighed and remained silent.
Right… Mizuki was the rude and annoying one.
Well, injured or not, Kakashi still had his Secret ANBU Stealth Powers. And Iruka was very nice and helpful, so the least he could do was follow him to make sure he was all right with Mizuki. After all, the chuunin didn't seem like a very good friend. He made Iruka stop smiling, and Iruka smiling helped calm him down a lot.
He didn't have the energy for the henge- just walking was a bit of a painful effort- but he wasn't too tired to change his appearance at least a little bit. Kakashi felt around in his weapon's pouch for the leather tie holding his bundle of shurikens together, then pulled it out to tie his long, disheveled hair back. Then he pulled his mask down again and unzipped his vest and took his gloves off- and there you go, completely different person. His scar was still bit of an identifying factor, but it would take someone who knew what he looked like to identify him. And that was not Iruka.
He walked close enough to hear, trailing along behind the pair and listening in on their discussion. Iruka was in the middle of complaining to Mizuki. "…and you got me so worried that I went off on the Copy Ninja about it! The. Copy. Ninja. He could've killed me, Mizuki!"
The chuunin shrugged, unconcerned. "It's your fault for crossing Hyuuga Hiashi. You know he's got the influence to do whatever he wants to you."
"But you go me so worried about the possibility of being evaluated- it's probably not even going to happen, but you kept worrying me about it and-"
"-And this, and that, yeah, yeah, whatever. Enough about your problems, Iruka. You're always complaining about your own problems. Meanwhile, I've got a few little worthless punks who pass themselves off as students- they're the kids of rich, influential people, you know, so they have to pass, but they're just dumb as rocks. Wouldn't know what a jutsu was if it hit them in the face. I'm trying to rig the exam for them but they're so stupid it's not even working. I could yell the answer at them and it wouldn't help."
Iruka looked away and said nothing, just let Mizuki complain and gesture about. Iruka just stuck his hands into his pockets and slouched a bit, letting his gaze roam around the street. The teacher caught sight of him and Kakashi stiffened when his brown eyes widened in surprised recognition. He didn't recognize him, did he?
"…Taji?!"
Oh. Yeah. Taji.
Kakashi forced a smile and nodded. "Hello, Iruka."
Mizuki stopped mid-rant and turned around, his own surprise showing before his lip curled in contempt. "Oh, Taji. Back from your mission? How'd it go?"
In a spur of brilliance, Kakashi gestured at his hair and scar. "Undercover op. …It went better than expected. They're not really my thing. My hair and face will be back to normal tomorrow once I've seen the Defense people to reverse the jutsu."
Mizuki tsked. "No, keep it like it is- you look better with silver hair, definitely. Before you just were boring."
"And I suppose your own hair color has nothing to do with that choice, eh, Mizuki?" Iruka elbowed him in the side and chuckled, and the chuunin finally smiled instead of smirking.
"Well, come on with us, Taji. We were just about to go get dinner, and if you only now got back from your mission, then you've got to be hungry for some good food. I hope you like ramen." Iruka smiled at him and Kakashi reluctantly decided to allow himself to be pulled along on another outing. He really didn't like this; he didn't want to talk with Iruka or Mizuki, he didn't want to talk with his fix, he didn't want to do anything but follow him around and use his presence to calm himself. That was what a fix was for, not- not this!
Kakashi was able to keep primarily quiet, nodding or shaking his head in answer to questions and, in effect, becoming the third wheel. He was thrilled with this development- after all- it was just like he was spying on Iruka, except up close. All he had to do was give a few ambiguous replies in exchange for this wonderful hit on his perfect drug.
But his fix didn't work as well as usual, and he knew why- it was because Mizuki was annoying.
He kept criticizing Iruka, for one. His teaching methods, his looks, his training- and whenever Iruka tried to vent about one of his own problems, Mizuki would quickly cut him off and complain that all they ever talked about was Iruka's issues.
Kakashi found himself missing Izumo and Kotetsu. As odd as they were, they didn't dilute Iruka's calming presence as much as Mizuki and didn't make him this uncomfortable.
He finally interrupted just to take some of the heat off of Iruka. "So, Mizuki. Do you teach at the Academy too?"
Mizuki grunted. "Aah. I take care of those little ungrateful brats, just like Iruka."
"It doesn't sound you enjoy it. Why don't you just quit if you don't like it?"
Mizuki shook his head slightly and nudged Iruka. "Easier than mission work, which is good for lame ninja like us. I mean, the brats annoy me, but at least they don't throw stuff at me like enemy ninja. Safer work, yeah. Besides, when Ruka and I made chuunin the higher-ups were on their advertising streak about teachers- needed more staff at the Academy and were going on and on about all the benefits and how safe and important it was. Glorified little babysitting duty."
"Mizuki! We are not babysitting these children!" Iruka exclaimed, startling both Kakashi and his friend. "We're teaching them! Don't treat it like it's a joke!"
"Pssh, it's a joke and you know it. It's how they get rid of bad ninja like us who are too good to be genin but not good enough to be chuunin."
Iruka frowned. "We both passed the chuunin exam fair and square, Mizuki."
The other chuunin just shrugged. "Meh, they could've rigged it. You know, given us easy opponents. You, definitely. I mean, it took you four years after you made genin to pass the exam, and three tries. That's… kind of sad. Taji, how long did it take you?"
Kakashi frowned as he saw the heat rise in Iruka's cheeks, the teacher quickly looking back to his ramen and fiddling with his ponytail. "Seven months," he answered truthfully, then regretted it when Iruka's cheeks turned from a light red to a furious shade of violet. He had only told the truth… perhaps he should have lied? "But there's nothing wrong with taking longer," he said quickly. "I was rushed into being a chuunin and regretted it."
Mizuki frowned at that. "What exactly are you bragging about? You're supposed to make chuunin in the first exams after you make genin. Or at least the second. That's what they say, anyway. If you don't, well, it's kind of pathetic."
That certainly wasn't true. It was in Kakashi's time, when they were at war and children were being promoted beyond their years, cultivated into little killers- but it seemed standards had lowered. Children graduated at twelve instead of five, took the chuunin exam two years after graduating instead of six months. And there was nothing wrong with that; Kakashi took pride in that- it was partly because of ANBU's work that the shinobi of Konoha were allowed to be so lax.
And then, there were apparently people like this Mizuki, who thought that was a bad thing and wanted to be promoted further to kill.
Kakashi took a second to retain his anger. Taji wasn't ANBU, Taji was a nervous, shy chuunin with no hope or desire to advance. Taji wouldn't have anything to say to Mizuki.
Luckily, the conversation drifted away from rank and professions, turning onto more mundane topics- that was, chuunin gossip. Kakashi was thoroughly unversed in the matter, but Taji was supposed to be- he ended up mostly nodded and smiling, as well as learning some very interesting things about what the chuunin did when they were supposed to be on guard duty. It was only when it was dark that they finally separated, and Mizuki's verbal abuse and berating calmed down throughout the night to where it was no longer a worry. It was the perfect ending to an… okay, rather weird night.
It was almost eight by the time Kakashi found himself wondering slowly home, hair let free and mask back up where it belonged. This short hour and a half actually talking with Iruka had made him feel better than seven hours of watching him had.
When Kakashi returned home that night, it was to the depressing reality that, oh yes, his home was not at all like a home. But after a day full of his fix, it didn't depress him quite as much. Iruka really did work wonders for him- no matter what Mizuki thought about him.
"You normally don't show your face here until after your teammate has regained consciousness."
"Maa, what can I say. Hospital visits aren't my thing. …But, I feel extra special now. Another visit from the ANBU commander. Aren't I important?"
Kakashi didn't turn when he heard Lion sigh. "You're not that special, Kakashi. If you weren't the Copy Ninja then I would never put up with you."
"Another wound to my ego. How nice."
It was silent for a moment, and Kakashi decided to ignore Lion. The ANBU commander was there for a reason, and until he fessed up and stopped fooling around, then there was no point in him listening.
He focused on Tenzou instead. His ANBU teammate was unconscious- sedated- and would be for several days. Having a wind jutsu tear out your insides was not the healthiest way to end a mission, that was for sure, and the doctors had decided to err on the side of caution since Kakashi had barely managed to get him back to the gates of Konoha alive. It had apparently taken over eight hours with the best healer in the village to patch him back together again- just before said healer passed out from Chakra exhaustion.
Kakashi clenched his fists when he remembered the moment of Tenzou's attack. He had seen the enemy form the seal for a wind technique, and he had seen his teammate suddenly stagger back. He had seen a spray of blood and heard an agonized scream- and then Tenzou collapsed.
Kakashi held desperately onto what he remembered of Iruka to stop himself from remembering just how furious and stricken he had been afterwards, for being too slow to save his teammate.
"Well, this is odd. I distinctly recall telling you not to risk your health for your fix. And then, what do you do but run off so you can stalk him?"
Kakashi shrugged happily. "But I simply left the hospital so I could sleep in my own bed. Iruka was just a bonus."
He could practically see Lion's annoyance. "Right," the ANBU commander grumbled, "and, in any case, you know how we discourage you having a relationship with your fix. And then, what do you do? You got out and talk to-"
"He talked to me first…"
"You are an ANBU captain. There are any number of ways for you to escape that situation without having a relationship with-"
"I do not have a relationship with him!"
"Frankly, I don't care. But you are not going to have a relationship with this chuunin, friendship or romantic or even if you just want a funk buddy. Either find a new fix or accept that-"
"I don't want a relationship with him!"
"Could've fooled me."
Kakashi groaned. "For god's sakes, Lion. Both times I talked to him, it was a complete accident!"
"Both times?!"
Kakashi morosely slumped in his seat and would've buried his head in his hands if his arms weren't so sore. "Please just leave me alone."
"Kakashi-!"
Disgruntled, he shifted in his seat to glare up at Lion. He hadn't come to the hospital to be interrogated and the commander was starting to seriously annoy him. "Lion-sama. Look, I'm not going to beat around the bush here. I know, full well, that you've been wanting to retire and that my name is in the discussions for who will be the next ANBU commander. If and when that happens, then I won't have anyone like you looking over my shoulder to judge whether my methods of coping are acceptable or not. Let this be my test- if I can handle my new fix without your interference, then I'm ready for the job. If I'm not, then I guess I'm doomed to life as an ANBU captain."
Kakashi couldn't tell if Lion was livid or not, but knowing the man's temper, it wouldn't be a surprise. "…I'm not going to retire if I'm not happy in the council's choice for my successor," he replied stiffly, and Kakashi scoffed and turned back to Tenzou.
"Give it up, Lion-sama. I know that you were the one who recommended me in the first place." He sighed, then decided to cool off on the offensive. If he wanted Lion to leave, then he would have to be nice. "I've been doing this for ten years. I know what to do with my fix."
There was a short silence after that, and when Lion spoke again, his voice was a bit softer and less angry. "I know you do. But… you've never reacted like this with a new fix before. This is the first time you've been so attached to anyone but your own teammates."
"I am not attached to him."
Lion sighed. "You know what I mean. Kakashi, your way of copying has been stalking and watching people from afar- this is the first time you have ever even spoken with your fix."
"Like I said, he talked to me first."
"I have seen you disappear from conversations with the Hokage because you got bored. You could've easily done the same with Iruka- and don't give me the excuse that you found him interesting. I'm just concerned that you are getting too close to this one. He's just a chuunin… if you lose control around him, then you could kill him."
Kakashi groaned and rolled his eye. "Now you're talking like I'm Genma. He's the one who goes home to Raidou and fucks him senseless. Or maybe you think I'm Gai- he's the one who beat the ever living hell out of whatever he finds, whether it's a person or a tree. All I do is harmless stalking. Look but don't touch, right?"
"…Just promise me this won't get so serious that I have to interfere."
Kakashi made himself smile and nod. "Of course, Lion-sama. I'll be perfectly well-behaved and won't do a single thing that would offend Iruka's fragile chuunin sensibilities."
"Don't be snarky. It doesn't suit you."
That night, Taji joined Iruka, Izumo, Kotetsu, for drinks at seven. Did Kakashi forget to mention to Lion that he'd been asked out for drinks by his fix? No, no. It just conveniently slipped his mind.
Mizuki would not be joining them. Iruka had waited to ask him the previous night until after his other friend had gone, and said that Mizuki was going to be on guard duty. Kakashi had pretended to mull it over before it accepting, and no he was not thrilled that Mizuki would not be with them. He was just mildly happy for alone time with his fix.
Oh, Izumo and Kotetsu would be there, right- but they didn't really count.
Kakashi's energy was slowly coming back- certainly enough for a henge, so long as he didn't drink and let his concentration slip. He wore one of his bulkier vests to ensure his bandages and injuries were definitely covered, then wondered along to the bar.
He most certainly did sense an ANBU chakra signature, now that he was paying attention for it, following him. It wasn't Lion; it was one of his guards. Big difference. Kakashi scowled before heading into the bar as if he had never noticed.
Izumo and Kotetsu were there, as expected, and Iruka was all smiles. The sensei saw him walk him and waved him over, still laughing about something.
"Yo," Kakashi greeted, raising a hand as he sidled over to the trio. "Can I ask what's so funny?"
"Taji! Oh my god, you are not going to believe it. Remember Tetsu's ridiculous ass syrup release move he kept chattering on about? Well, he wanted to prove it was 'awesome' and everything, so you know what he did?"
"Shut up, Izumo!"
"He tested it- against a pre-genin! And lost!"
Kakashi snorted and Kotestu shoved his friend away, shaking his head frantically. "Shut up! I did not lose!"
"You totally did! The kid made what Iruka called his 'contempt face' and walked away!"
"That's just because my move didn't work! I don't why I didn't; I tested it beforehand, but the syrup just didn't come out! Shut up, you guys!"
Iruka laughed. "Kotetsu, as mad as I am that you thought it appropriate to test this, ahem, asinine maneuver on my students, I do think it's pretty hilarious. Even though I'll have to take Sasuke asking me if all the chuunin are so weak for the next month."
Kakashi snickered as he sat down next to his fix, watching happily as Kotetsu tried to desperately to explain what happened and Izumo just kept laughing. It was just his luck that Iruka's friends were very amusing entertainment. Well, besides Mizuki, but Mizuki wasn't here right now.
He just happened to have found the best fix in the village, and Lion could just stay out of it, because Kakashi wasn't letting him go.
"Oh, cheer up, Kotetsu," he said happily. "I know a few people who would love to fight with a teammate who uses syrup release. I mean, they've got all a death wish, so why not?"
Kotetsu slumped over onto the bar, resting his head morosely on his arms while Izumo and Iruka burst out laughing. The spiky haired chuunin moaned. "Come on, Taji. You just met us and you're already on their side?"
"What can I say. I like to win."
"I'll show you all!" Kotetsu exclaimed over the laughter. "I'll perfect my new move and use it against you guys and win!"
"Mmmhmm," Izumo drawled. "Sure you will."
"That's it! You're sleeping on the couch tonight!"
That made Izumo perk up and stop laughing. "What? Kotetsu! Oh, come on! That couch is so lumpy! Come on… you know it was just a little teasing!"
Kakashi tilted his head to the side in confusion as the pair descended further into their argument. Iruka noticed and chuckled slightly. "Oh, right. Zumo and Tetsu are together, Taji. That's why they can get so sweet they sound like a sickening old married couple."
"Hey!" the pair both exclaimed indignantly. Kotetsu jabbed a finger at the sensei while Izumo frowned crossly.
"You're just saying that because you're not dating anybody!" Kotetsu retorted while Izumo nodded fiercely in agreement. Iruka frowned in response, but it looked like he was trying really hard not to smile.
"Come on. There's nothing wrong with being single."
"Yeah," Kakashi added, coming to Iruka's defense. "I'm single, too."
Kotetsu stared at him in disbelief. "Eh? You, and your stunning good looks? Oh, come on, you're kidding! You've got one of the prettiest faces ever!"
Izumo coughed loudly, and his boyfriend was quickly to realize his mistake, shaking his head and waving his hands frantically. "Not as good as yours, Izumo, not as good as yours! No one's is as good as yours!"
"That's more like it."
Kakashi smiled. "Finally, someone who understands. Mizuki seemed to think that my face was boring."
The mention of the chuunin's name immediately soured the mood. Izumo frowned while Kotetsu sighed, suddenly very interested in his drink- only Iruka retained his smile. "Oh, he was just teasing," the sensei said good-naturedly.
"Yeah. He likes to tease like that a lot," Izumo remarked darkly, though the sarcasm seemed to be lost on Iruka.
"He tends to come across as insulting to people who don't know him. But he doesn't mean it."
Kakashi frowned inwardly when Iruka was the only one who smiled. Izumo made a valiant attempt at a false smile, and Kotetsu just sulkily sipped his drink and remained silent. It was uncomfortably quiet for a moment before Iruka broke the awkwardness with a thankfully un-Miuzki related topic, and the unhappy aura was dispelled.
They parted at only half past night, Iruka explaining that he was teaching a class first thing the next morning and had to be awake. Izumo and Kotetsu both laughed and waved him off, saying they understood- that one would need their wits about them when dealing with a roomful of demonic little pre-genin devils. Iruka gave a passionate, if short, defense of his students before leaving his friends behind. Kakashi waited only for a few brief minutes before doing the same. As amusing as Izumo and Kotetsu there were, he was there to see his fix, not his fix's friends.
On Kakashi's way through the busy streets to his home, he cast a curious eye up at the roofs and the trees. Well, non-Chakra enhanced exercise could help his recovery. Sure, he was still a bit sore and injured, but that was nothing. This would be good physical therapy.
Of course, if he was going to climb trees, then it would be rather pointless to just climb one and jump back to his own apartment. That would just not be good exercise. And what if it turned out that his body couldn't handle it and he collapsed, insensate on his apartment floor? No, that simply wouldn't do at all. He should, instead, exercise somewhere in public, so if he fell, then someone would be able to find him.
And if he was going to be practicing tree climbing in the village- why not go to Iruka's?
Kakashi beamed, pleased with himself, as he changed course, wondering through the streets to his favorite sensei's home. He dropped Taji's disguise to become Kakashi again, then jumped up to continue his journey in a nearby tree. It hurt- a lot- but it was bearable, and besides, he got to have more Iruka Time! Anything was worth more Iruka Time!
Kakashi journeyed along to his sensei's home cheerfully, finally coming to a stop in his favorite tree with a perfect view into the house. The lights were out and Iruka was nowhere to be seen. Well… Iruka had said he was going to sleep…
That didn't mean his journey was worthless, though. Far from it.
Kakashi remembered how empty and boring and… well… cold his apartment seemed. How it seemed very un-homelike. And how he always had to compare it to Iruka's and how different it seemed…
Well, now he was at Iruka's. He could see just what made his apartment so nice that Kakashi's was lacking.
Kakashi moved a bit closer and squinted in through the dark window. Iruka's apartment just looked… different than his. Different.
No, no. He should compare them and list their differences. Then, maybe he would be able to change his apartment to be just like Iruka's, and then it would be easier going home at night- right? It would feel like a home and it would remind him of Iruka and he would be happy. Right?
So. What was in his living room?
Mmm… Couch. His poison set. His pack.
Uh… nothing else.
What was in Iruka's?
Kakashi peered inside. There was a couch. Nothing special, but with a blanket draped over the back of it. So, he should get a new blanket. There was a low, glass table in front of his couch with multiple papers strewn across it that looked like homework and papers to be graded. Well.. he didn't have that… but he could buy a table and put some of those files that Lion was always asking him to update there. It's not like they would get done, but he could do it anyway.
Then there was his satchel, next to the couch. That was like his pack. Okay, that was good. Unless maybe a satchel made it look more homelike?
Maybe. That would be a last resort. A satchel would be inconvenient on missions.
But there were many other differences. There were… shelves and cabinets lining the walls. And there were things in them. Not just books or files, though. There were weird, ugly, misshapen mugs, and creepy clay animals that looked even uglier than the mugs. There were a few other, slightly nicer trinkets that looked like they had been store bought and not crafted by a clumsy bear, but they were just as odd as all the other items. What use did they have? They were not weapons. They would be worthless on missions, they weren't traps or good for defense of the home… why were they there? What purpose did they have?
Kakashi shrugged. He wasn't here to ask questions. Iruka clearly knew what he was doing, and Kakashi didn't, so he would just got out and buy strange, ugly objects like those. And shelves to put them on. And maybe a new apartment, to have room for all this new stuff.
There were also pictures on the wall and the table. Some were framed photographs of people he didn't recognize, others were rather badly drawn pictures taped up to the wall that depicted… well, he couldn't really tell what, that's how badly they were drawn.
Hmm. He didn't think they sold those in stores. Whatever was he going to do?