Thank you for reviewing! I promise, the story picks up soon, it does. I just don't divide the story into chapters until AFTER I've finished writing most of it, so it always feels like I've written less than I actually have and that's I'm writing like the third chapter when it'll turn out to be the tenth. Well... enjoy!

Kakashi was healed enough by the next day to take another mission, but Tenzou certainly was not, and he wouldn't be getting a solo mission until he was fully recovered. With the rest of his team out undercover, Kakashi was given yet another day off. Which was good, because he had some redecorating to do.

He wondered about the market district for over an hour, thoroughly lost. He had never had much need to come here before, and it had grown exponentially since Minato had last dragged him out on unwilling shopping trips many years ago. It was a confusing place, loud and dangerous, and his instincts didn't like it. Full of unknown people crowding against him and unknown objects just sitting right there. Those could be poison, or explosive tags, or poisonous explosive tags, and all those people! They could be missing nin. Danger, danger.

It was very uncomfortable for him, but Kakashi managed to control his urges- just barely. It didn't help that he was still injured and weakened and wouldn't be able to do much if someone just attacked him in this small, cramped space- but this was necessary. This was to be more like Iruka. Maybe, if he was more like Iruka, he wouldn't even need a fix, because Iruka was so nice and comforting and if he was like Iruka than he would be like that, too, and would be able to comfort himself.

It still took over an hour and a half to find anything he needed.

Kakashi was thrilled when he found a small shop that sold picture frames, among other things- frames that already held pictures. Kakashi bought seven.

Then he found a sketchpad and decided to buy that as well. He could draw some of those weird pictures that Iruka had had hanging on his wall and hang up some of his own.

Next, the ugly creations sitting in the shelves. They were harder. Everything in the stores was pretty, if primarily useless- he didn't want something pretty. He was sure that most of the things on Iruka's shelves were ugly or otherwise weird.

It took him a while, but Kakashi eventually managed to track a few things down- objects hidden in the back corners of stores, covered in dust and forgotten. These were cracked, scratched, had bubbles in the paint or irregularities in the shape- they were perfect.

The ANBU bought every one he could find.

His next mission? Find a blanket. That was easily done, but then he had a problem- he found too many of them. There were big ones, small ones, patterned ones and plain ones, pink ones and black ones. There was one covered in dolphins and another that was striped in garish red and orange. Kakashi was torn between… at least five.

There was one that was just plain black that he was partial to. Another that had the Uzumaki red swirl on it, the same as the sleeves of his uniform- that one was okay, too. And then, a light blue one that was just as plain as the first, because he was worried that black might be too depressing and his apartment was already depressing enough. Then there was the faded yellow throw the exact same color as Iruka's. And then, his last choice… the dolphin one.

What? You couldn't go wrong with dolphins. Plus, Kakashi had found that he abruptly found the animals cute.

No reason at all.

In the end, he went with the yellow one. It was most like Iruka's, and, after all, he was trying to copy Iruka. Maybe the color of the blanket was important? Well, he didn't want to risk it.

So, all the small things, check. Now he had to find a table and those shelves Iruka had to put all those weird, ugly things on.

It was almost two in the afternoon when Kakashi lugged himself up the stairs to his apartment, bags slung over his shoulder, pieces of heavy furniture clambered together in sore arms. He took excessive care not to bump or scratch anything- that had to be important, right? It had to be important.

"Um… is this a bad time?"

Kakashi poked his head around the pile in his arms to see Raidou sitting outside his doorway. The scarred ANBU was looking up at him skeptically, eying the furniture with an uncertain eye. Kakashi paused, then curved his eye into a smile and shifted his weight awkwardly. "Not at all, Raidou. Would you mind opening my door for me?"

The man complied, then jumped the moment his hand had touched the doorknob. There was an electric blue jolt of energy, followed by Raidou swearing and Kakashi giving a nervous chuckle.

"Eh… sorry about that."

"I'm sure you are. Next time you trap your door, make sure to tell a guy first."

"Sure thing." Kakashi shifted as he walked up to the door, leaning up against it to disable his traps with his own Chakra. No way was he handing over his things to Raidou; they could be scratched. No way was he going to risk that. "Now it's safe."

Raidou was still hesitant and cautious in touching the door, but when it no longer shocked him, he easily pushed it in and led the way. Kakashi gently set his new finds on the floor before turning to face the visitor, cocking his head to the side. "Well. Now that that's taken care of, why the visit, Raidou? You normally hang out in places other than my apartment, right?"

"I'd rather spend my time anywhere else than this rat-sized hole you call an apartment."

Kakashi huffed. "That was insulting."

"And well deserved. I'm just here to ask if you'd heard anything from Genma. Commander won't tell me anything."

Kakashi shrugged at that. "No, actually, I haven't. He's only been undercover for… gods, less than a week. What a long week it's been."

"Oh. …I see." Raidou sighed, then drooped, hanging his head and shoving his hands into his pockets. "Hmm. Well, promise me that you'll tell me when you hear something? Genma didn't even tell me he was going on a long mission, you see- I'd like to know when he's coming back so I know when to be mad at him."

"Sure." Kakashi began setting up the many items he had bought today, meticulously placing furniture and items to copy Iruka's design. "Well, if it helps, Genma didn't exactly know that he was going undercover either. Assignment was to send minimum one, maximum two shinobi undercover- nothing specific about who it had to be. Genma was just the best choice. And the mission is… well, it's pretty dangerous, but Genma's good. Plus, Gai's with him. He'll be all right."

Raidou scowled. "You should take some new classes in how to be comforting. Here's a tip- the word dangerous and the name Gai should be avoided at all costs."

"There is nothing wrong with Gai."

"Yeah, a loud, green blob who screams about the powers of youth to anyone who will listen- and most often to those who won't- is exactly who I want with me on an undercover mission."

Kakashi sighed heavily and continued redoing his living room, and Raidou shook his head unhappily before allowing himself to be distracted from his anxious worry. "So, whatcha doing, Kakashi? Didn't take you as an interior decorator."

"Oh. Ah… my fix."

The mention of someone's fix, in ANBU, was like a girl telling her boyfriend that her problem was 'feminine stuff'. It was an immediate way for him to back out of the query and pretend it had never happened; an ANBU's fix was an ANBU's business, and no one else's. Except for Lion's, apparently. Raidou immediately nodded in comprehension and waved him off. "Say no more, say no more. I understand. Though… I've been looking for a new fix lately- since Genma's gone, I don't have one. Is your fix any good? Worth trying? If you don't mind me asking…"

Was his fix any good? Was it worth trying? Hell yes!

But… but…

My Iruka!

Kakashi was struck by the sudden urge to laugh at the abrupt- and inappropriate- surge of protectiveness. But it was still true! My Iruka and no one else's!

It wasn't as if he didn't like or trust Raidou. He was one of the few ANBU that Kakashi would trust to never overreact and hurt anyone- how he had acted in the field notwithstanding. In fact, Raidou was probably more trustworthy than himself in that regard. Kakashi let his instincts rule him whereas Raidou was more level-headed. Iruka would probably be better off being Raidou's fixation than his.

Actually, he would be better off being no one's fixation.

But… MY IRUKA!

"Okay, okay, got it. You don't want to talk about it. That's fine."

Kakashi winced. That wasn't exactly how he'd wanted it to come across. "Well… uhm… you see, Raidou, that's not really- it's just… I don't like… sharing." Damn, was this uncomfortable. "My fix is… my fix… I don't want anyone else to…"

Raidou did laugh for a few seconds before mercifully falling silent, allowing Kakashi a reprieve from the embarrassment. He, thank god, changed the subject, moving away from ANBU and fixes and just enjoying Kakashi's company, since his partner was out on a dangerous mission and he needed something to distract him.

It was late when Raidou left- so late that visiting hours at the hospital were over. The scarred ANBU had lingered longer than it seemed that even Raidou had expected to, seeming glad that he had someone to talk to and occupy his time so he didn't have to worry about Genma. He had let Kakashi organize his room, too, without interference, watching as he hauled shelves upright through protesting injuries and meticulously arranged all the trash he had bought throughout the room. But, finally, he left, leaving Kakashi with an empty schedule for the night.

Well, there was always sneaking into the hospital. After all, as much as he wanted to see Iruka again, he felt guilty that he hadn't yet seen his teammate awake.

Tenzou cracked open his eyes the moment Kakashi opened the window to slide into the ICU. "Good morning, Senpai," he rasped, and Kakashi waved.

"Technically, that's good night."

"Yes, but then it would sound like I was saying goodbye. And you just got here."

Kakashi smiled faintly, though the masked gesture was lost on his weakened teammate. The upright ANBU slouched over to sit in a chair several feet back from the bed and promptly kicked his feet up- directly over Tenzou's. The wood user grunted in false pain and Kakashi leveled him with a flat stare. "Oh, shush. I happen to know that you don't have any injuries below the knee."

"I'm injured. I don't want your heavy feet on top of me. They impede my healing."

Kakashi didn't make any attempt to move. He just stretched slightly, then met Tenzou's half-open eyes with his own alert one. "I think you're picking up my whining habits. Hmm… sorry to break it to you, but they only look good on me. Don't suit anyone else."

"I think I can complain when I'm the one in the hospital."

"Hey," Kakashi huffed. "I was in the hospital too, you know."

"Well, you were okay enough to sneak out. I'm not. Therefore, I deserve sympathy. Right? That's how it goes?"

Kakashi chuckled at the real question lurking in Tenzou's voice. His kohai was more unused to concern from others than he was. This ANBU team was his first time on a team. Kakashi had had his genin team since he was five, and then his ANBU teams since he was fifteen. Tenzou had only had his ANBU team, and only for three years. He was still learning.

"Yes," he said with another smile. "That's how it goes."

"Ah. Good." Tenzou gave a slightly loopy smile, and Kakashi wondered just how much medication he'd had in the past twenty four hours. Then the wood user let his hand drop on his bandaged torso without so much of a wince, and Kakashi was quite sure he was still on the good stuff. "Mugh. Kakashi-senpai, do you want to help me go home? I think one of the nurses… you know…" His face tinged with a slight pink, and Kakashi chuckled again.

"Aww. Does wittle Tenzou have an admirer?"

"I- Senpai, do not- don't talk like that!"

Kakashi grinned. "Now, Tenzou. As much as I would positively love to help you out, this is something you must learn to do on your own. After all, I won't always be around to spring you. And anyway, I'm not entirely sure you should be out of here. You know, being nearly killed and all, and looking like this? You don't look well enough at all."

Tenzou gave a miserable sigh and turned his head back to stare at the ceiling. "Oh. I see."

Oh, hell. Kakashi really didn't like those puppy dog eyes, intentional or not.

"Don't worry. If you're still here in a week, then I'll come back to free you."

Tenzou's depressed sigh was even louder this time. "A week?! Senpai- th-that nurse, she keeps looking at me like… like… I'm a piece of meat, she ogles me and when she changed my bandages, Kakashi-senpai, she kept flirting with me! Me!"

"Why are you so surprised?" Kakashi asked curiously. "Personally, I think you're very cute."

Tenzou's eyes went wide and he blushed. "Senpai! Don't! I'm- I'm not-"

"That face? And those eyes? To die for."

Tenzou whimpered in embarrassment. "Stop that! You're worse than she is!" After a moment of reflection, he abruptly shook his head and sighed again. "No, I take that back. At least you don't touch. She touches. See, that's the problem. She keeps touching me."

"Well, she is your nurse. That's her job."

"Not to touch me this much. And what's with the hair thing? She keeps twirling her ponytail. I don't know what that means, but it looks… silly. And she keeps fluttering her eyelashes, too. I'm not really sure what that means."

Kakashi frowned. "…I actually don't know either, Tenzou. A lot of my nurses do that. But only the female ones, and not all of them. The ones that like me do that. But I agree, it looks silly."

Tenzou just shook his head. "Don't you see what I'm faced with? She just won't quit touching me, Senpai! It's weird and I- I don't like it! It makes me uncomfortable and I want to go home."

"Now, Tenzou, you're just overreacting. Be happy with all the attention."

The wood user shifted unhappily. "But I'm not like you, Senpai. I don't like all the attention."

"Whatever made you think that I like attention?"

Tenzou shrugged, then winced. "Well… it's just, whenever you get nurses like the one I have… you seem to like it. You always take advantage of the fact that she likes you."

"When you put it that way, it just sounds means."

"Gods… you know what I mean. You read those indecent books and giggle and-"

"I do not giggle!"

"-get her to bring you ramen or other non-dsigusting hospital food or do you favors like get you released early-"

"Tenzou, Tenzou, Tenzou. Just because I take advantage of the attention doesn't mean I like it. Though it does help fuel fantasies created by Icha Icha…" Kakashi smiled at his kohal's furious blush. "If you just calm down and enjoy it, then you'll be fine."

Tenzou glowered at him. He began to lightly tap out a pattern on his injured chest, seeming more than a bit antsy and aggravated, even as his cheeks flushed. "Kakashi-senpai… you know that I've done… that I've never… well, uh… I mean, you taught my seduction lessons!" Tenzou's voice rose defensively but his flush just grew worse, and he seemed to want to look anywhere but at him.

Kakashi winced. Oh yeah… one of Tenzou's awkwardest moments had been admitting to his new ANBU taichou that his only experience with sex was reading about it in medical texts and his only experience with dating was… well, he hadn't really known what dating even was.

It did wonders for Kakashi's ego to know someone who was even more socially awkward than he was.

"All right. I think women like the 'so awkward it's cute' type. Well, that's what Jiraiya-sama once told me; that works for you, I'm pretty sure. So-"

"Oh, give it up, Senpai. We're both basket cases. Utterly hopeless."

Kakashi opened his mouth to protest, then shrugged. Tenzou was right. Why bother saying otherwise? "Oh, don't mope, my favorite kohai. We can be utterly hopeless together."

Tenzou rolled his eyes. "Don't say that. It sounds too romantic."

"What would you know? You've never had a relationship."

"Neither have you!"

Kakashi sighed heavily. "True, true."

The silence persisted for a moment, and then Tenzou rolled his head over again to meet Kakashi's eye. "So, Senpai. About relationships. How's that interesting fix of yours doing?"

"Why does everybody think I have a relationship with him! I don't!"

"Hmm? Who's 'everybody'?"

Kakashi paused, then just shook his head. "Never mind 'who's everybody'. My fix is… he's getting more and more interesting by the day, Tenzou. I would recommend him if I wanted to share. May I suggest one of his friends? Izumo and Kotetsu, they're good. But not Mizuki. Mizuki is bad."

"Oh really? What's wrong with him?"

Kakashi winced in annoyance. "He's just… annoying. And rude. And he called my face boring."

Tenzou's eyes widened. "He's seen your face?!"

"It was a disguise!"

The wood user shook his head, face still twisted in surprise. "Wow, Kakashi-senpai. This fix of yours, he must be really special if you took off your mask for him. And only after a few weeks of using him, too."

Kakashi frowned at that. "Come on. He didn't know it was me. And I used a henge to change my hair and my scar. It was a pretty good disguise and anyway, I had to- Iruka and his friends were talking in a bar and I had to get closer to listen, but didn't want him to know I was there. That's where I met Izumo and Kotetsu. And Mizuki. But I don't like Mizuki; he's not good for a fix at all. If you do end up trying out the other two, you should know that they are involved. So, for the sake of your virgin eyes, perhaps you should stick with your current methods of coping?"

Tenzou groaned. "Senpai…"

More days off. More relaxation time. Which now meant more Iruka time. Kakashi couldn't be happier!

His home was feeling slightly better, but it wasn't anywhere as good as Iruka's. He had hung up the pictures and drawn some of his own- he hadn't really known what to draw, so had ended up with a bunch of stick figures acting out mission plans. They were… all right, horrendous, but so were most of the hand-drawn pictures in Iruka's apartment, so that worked. The pictures were hung up all over his walls, the ugly little trinkets were in the brand new shelves, and the blanket- which had actually been useful, winter was coming, after all, and it was cold- was on his couch. But it still wasn't anywhere near as good as Iruka's.

That meant he had to explore more than just the sensei's living room. But to do that, he had to be inside his apartment.

Dun dun dun.

There were two possibilities to accomplish that. Somehow get Iruka to invite Taji inside was option one. But Kakashi didn't really like that one. Did people even do that- invite their friends into their homes? And was Taji even Iruka's friend? He didn't know the answer to either of those questions. Besides, it would be just weird being in there with Iruka's knowledge. What would he do, what would he say, how would he act? No, no, no. It was too much trouble.

(Plus, Lion would probably murder him for having the audacity to worm his way into an invitation into his fix's house.)

That left him with option number two- sneak in as Kakashi when Iruka was not there.

That one was much more preferable.

So, the morning after his visit to Tenzou, Kakashi went from the memorial stone to Iruka's apartment, ensuring that the sensei had had ample time to get to school and would not be returning and surprising him just because he had forgotten something. Then, with all the skill and grace of an ANBU captain, he effortlessly disabled the man's traps and slipped in through the window to stand in the kitchen.

Kakashi took a moment in the comfortable stillness of the house to smile triumphantly around the room. Infiltration: successful.

Now to continue comparing his pathetic apartment to Iruka's home. Beginning with the kitchen. What was in his kitchen? Those few containers of instant ramen… a bottle of sake… oh yeah, that first aid kit under the sink… hmm…

Yep. Nothing else.

Now what was in Iruka's?

Perhaps a better question would have been what wasn't in Iruka's, however, because as Kakashi turned around to examine the kitchen, he was stunned by the absolute volume of stuff that packed the room from head to toe. There was a thick, raggedy book that appeared to contain recipes, pots and pans and dishes stuck into cabinets or lying in the sink, and a refrigerator fully stocked with just so, so much of everything. There was a cake in there, for some reason- ew, sweet stuff- and an eggplant- yum!- and bunches of ingredients for who knows what.

Kakashi dutifully memorized the contents with his Sharingan, then regretfully felt at his wallet. It was about to get much, much lighter.

And this was just the kitchen!

Kakashi moved on, carefully memorizing the contents of each and every room of the house. It was all interesting- and would wind up being expensive- but his spirits were crushed the moment his inspection of the bedroom began.

Of course, the only bit of personality or individuality in Kakashi's apartment- hell, the only thing about his apartment that he was actually attached to- was something that Iruka had different.

There was no photograph of a genin team at the head of his bed. There were no pictures anywhere in his bedroom.

But… Kakashi really didn't want to move his picture…

His genin team needed to stay there. Not matter how wonderful Iruka's apartment was… Kakashi didn't want to move his picture in order to get it.

But… Iruka…

Kakashi swallowed and looked elsewhere besides the absence of the photograph. In contrast with the rest of his apartment, it was rather plain. No weird knickknacks or colorful anything. His uniforms all hung neatly in a closet, like Kakashi's- except he also had civilian clothes. Those confused Kakashi. Why would a ninja need those? Kakashi only ever used any for undercover missions.

His bed was also a bit different. It was a double bed- the kind that Minato and Kushina had had. And the blanket was different than Kakashi's, too; Kakashi's was plain black, while Iruka's was striped white and faint grey.

Well, off to the store he would go.

Though he still didn't know what he was going to do about his genin photograph…

In a slight panic, Kakashi scrambled out into the living room again. That was where all of the sensei's pictures seemed to be. Maybe… yes, yes, there! There! A picture of a tall, pale ninja that Kakashi recognized as one of the elders in the jounin council that towered over three tiny children- one of them tan with a ponytail and a scar over his nose. Yes, yes, Iruka had his genin team photograph. He just had it in his living room. So he would only have to move it, not- not-

No, he was never going to throw it away. Not even being like Iruka was worth that.

Thoroughly relieved but still a little worried, Kakashi decided he had another stop to make before the market.