Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I am making no money writing fanfiction.

…..0…0…0…..

Later that afternoon, Kakashi had finally explained to a perplexed Iruka what he meant by 'their reactions.'

"Do you remember what your cousin said?" He began, talking around the crumbs from his toast slathered in lemon curd.

Iruka hmm'd at him non-committally, glancing up from the photo album Kakashi had let him browse through.

The silver-haired man elaborated. "When he called me, 'oh that teacher.'"

"Okay." Iruka put his bagel and cream cheese down.

"Well, don't you see?"

Iruka cocked his eyebrow.

Kakashi sighed, "We're both the other's 'that teacher'. Everyone knows we fight. Everyone thinks we hate each other. They'll probably have an aneurysm when they find out. Naruto was apoplectic and he knows us both well. I mean, like he said, people will find out." He finished with both eyebrows raised.

Iruka chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose. We really are each other's opposite…. To everyone else, at least. It'll take some getting used to, I suppose, but they won't really have a choice."

Kakashi smiled. "No, they won't. But it'll be funny though!"

Iruka grinned wickedly. "That it will, love, that it will."

…..0…0…0…..

It had been several months. The snow had melted off, Neji's prediction came true, and Naruto spent almost every weekend with his family whilst Iruka was at Kakashi's. Or they would all spend the weekend at Kakashi's…. It depended on what mood the younger teacher was in, really. None of the teenagers were wont to spend the day with a grumpy Iruka—no, they'd leave that job to his boyfriend. More often than not, Kakashi spent the weekdays at Iruka's place though, but he was tiring of the back and forth and the unsettled feeling of living out of an overnight bag.

The genius had hatched a plan and started stealthily stealing his boyfriend's belongings to leave them at his own house, since obviously, it would be the better fit for them since it had more room for his dogs and Naruto's many friends. Exasperated, Iruka had finally confronted him about the missing items mysteriously relocating themselves and after a bit of a blow out (and passionate make-up, which Naruto bolted to the Hyuuga's for), they had decided Iruka would tell his uncle to put his place back up for rent again and he would move in with Kakashi. The only unhappy party was Kiba again (like the day they'd left him to his mom and sister), because he wouldn't be able to walk the ten feet over for Iruka's cooking anymore.

He got over it when Naruto introduced him to Hinata (and 'mini-Hinata' and 'cousin what's-his-name'), and he and the blond started a silent (not really- it was the opposite actually) but friendly (mostly) battle for her affections. Hinata had actually taken a liking to the boisterous blond though, and it amused him to no end that she would hide behind him and clutch his jacket sleeve whenever Kiba got too loud…. Kiba was not as impressed. Even Neji had warmed up and made friends with the blond, though he wouldn't give Kiba ('dog breath') the time of day (the feeling was mutual). Kiba did take quite the shine to 'the math dude's' pack of dogs though and often pestered his teacher to teach him how to train his own dog, Akamaru, to do the tricks Kakashi's dogs could.

Iruka had eventually met Kakashi's one good friend, Gai and in turn, introduced Kakashi to the three dark-haired people from his teenaged pictures. Kakashi got along fairly well with the first two, Kotetsu and Izumo, but really hit it off with Anko, who was only too glad to have a gay BFF…. Since she said Iruka didn't count because he played football and did manly things, while Kakashi could be convinced to go shopping and kept his nails nicely manicured (Kakashi was a bit offended, but glad to meet someone as socially awkward as himself, so he shut up about it).

Kakashi also spent time with Iruka's parents (outside of Naruto's school functions) and met the housekeeper's daughter, Shizune (he scoffed now when he thought he'd been worried about his Ruka having a thing for her, but he was glad Gai had mustered up the courage to ask her out). He had also begun to rekindle a friendship with Asuma and his sister (though he was still a little afraid of Kurenai-who was about ready to pop now and grumpy as hell for it).

The only awkward meeting was with Genma and Raidou, as Kakashi couldn't help himself but glare at Iruka's first lover (which amused Raidou to no end but thoroughly put Genma off the silver-haired math teacher). Iruka had also, at his boyfriend's request, visited Obito in the hospital to lend support to his silver-haired lover on the anniversary of their accident.

The odd thing was, with all of this happening, even in their small town, no one had put two and two together yet.

Still, no parent conferences or teacher workshops had popped up yet….

…..0…0…0…..

Kakashi was beyond excited. Not only was today Friday, but Iruka was boxing up the last of his things this weekend and officially moving into Kakashi's farmhouse. On top of that, Monday was a literacy-themed in-service, so they could spend the day together- even at work!

He laughed giddily at his desk during his last class of the day as he watched the clock, earning him worried glances from most of his students and a knowing, sardonic smile from his student-slash sort of brother-in-law. Kakashi shrugged in response and both Naruto and Kiba snorted, Kiba leaning over to whisper in his blond best friend's ear.

"See, I knew he'd be nicer if he got laid. Math dude is actually laughing an actual laugh. I bet he just wants to go home and bang your brother." He nodded sagely, thinking he was brilliant for making that deduction.

Naruto bonked him over the head indignantly. "I did not need that image in my head," he hissed venomously.

Kiba looked at him, confused. "You whacked me!"

Naruto lowered his brows into a glare and grumbled, "And I'll do it again if you don't shut up."

Once the bell rang, Kakashi caught the boys in the hall and asked if they needed a ride home, since he was going to be swinging by Iruka's place for a last load of boxes anyways. Naruto smiled and patted the teacher on the back, but laughed.

"Nah. You guys'll harangue me into moving boxes again. I'm not making the same mistake twice! I still have a corner-shaped dent in my side from packing boxes falling on me!" he finished in a whine and Kakashi just shook his head, used to the dramatics by now.

"Even if you got poked by the box, Naruto, dents like that in skin don't stay around for more than twenty-four hours. A couple, at most."

Naruto shrugged. "We have spring mid-terms coming up anyways and you know Sakura. Brainy bully conned us all into study group at her place. I'm under threat of death if I don't show up."

This time it was Kakashi who laughed, picturing his strawberry-blonde student menacing her peers with textbooks and boxing gloves.

"Yeah," he smiled, "that does sound like her."

Patting Naruto on the back and waving to Kiba, he headed down to the staff parking lot with a final (heartfelt- goodness knows what Sakura could be like), "Good luck boys!" tossed cheerfully over his shoulder.

Naruto rolled his eyes and Kiba grumbled, "I don't know why I have to go. She's your friend and everyone knows I'll barely pass anyways."

Naruto slung an arm around Kiba, then tightened it, "You're my buffer, Kiba. Everyone knows if there's anyone that pisses her off more than me, it's you."

Kiba struggled all the way down the block to Sakura's house.

…..0…0…0…..

When Kakashi got to Iruka's old townhouse, the brunet wasn't there yet. Letting himself in, he began loading boxes into the trunk and backseat of his car. There were only a couple dozen left anyways and since Iruka had an SUV, they'd most likely get it done in one trip between the two of them. Once his car was full to bursting fifteen minutes later, he texted Iruka that he was heading out and he'd meet him back at the farmhouse before they went to drop the keys of at his uncle's realty office.

Iruka didn't answer, so Kakashi assumed he was already driving. He made one last quick call before hopping in the driver's seat and taking off to his place. Their place. (Bad to text and drive guys, bad!)

Once he'd gotten all of the boxes into the foyer area, Kakashi waited on the porch in the warm spring sun for the delivery he'd called ahead for. Beside him was a basket, waiting to be loaded and hidden in the trunk before Iruka got in with his load. It didn't take long for the delivery to arrive and Kakashi sniffed appreciatively at it before packing it away to surprise his brunet later.

After double-checking to make sure he had everything, Kakashi checked the time. Iruka had texted back when he got to the townhouse and then again when he was all packed up and he would be arriving any minute now. He slid into the driver's seat of his car to wait. When Iruka pulled up not three minutes later, he waved him over and the younger teacher peeked in the driver's seat window, leaning down to kiss Kakashi lightly.

"Why don't you just leave the boxes in your Jeep for now, we can go…. drop off the keys with your uncle and then head back here to unload."

Iruka smiled, noticing the pause, but shaking his head and making his way around the car to slip in the passenger's side.

"All right," he leaned over for one more, deeper kiss, then buckled up, "let's go."

After ten minutes of comfortable silence, when Kakashi was just pulling into the town off the highway, he glanced over at Iruka.

"Did you say good-bye?"

"Good-bye?" Iruka looked over at Kakashi quizzically. "To who?"

Kakashi smiled, "To your house!"

In a doubtful tone, "My house?"

"Well…. yeah?" Kakashi glanced at him again.

"I might be lovey dovey with you and my family and I'm definitely a softie for my students, Kashi. But…. it's just a place to live. I'm not that sentimental." He turned to the silver-haired driver and smiled.

"Oh." Kakashi adjusted his grip on the gearshift and Iruka could definitely tell he was a bit nervous. They had also just passed the turn-off to his uncle's office.

He glanced at Kakashi again, but didn't say anything, hoping he wouldn't have one of his panic moments behind the wheel of his car. After another minute or two, he wiped a sweaty palm on his slacks and gestured at the glove box.

Iruka opened it and pulled out…. a blindfold?

"Could you…. could you put it on?" Kakashi dried his palm again on his pants. "I know it seems kind of weird, but—"

"I trust you." Kakashi smiled and watched out of the corner of his eye while Iruka reached up to secure the material around his head. He reached down and slid his hand across the seat and Kakashi linked hands with him, Iruka gripping his hand reassuringly.

"Don't be nervous, love." They drove in silence again for a while.

"You know I'm kind of sentimental, right?" Iruka nodded as he felt the car slowing to a halt.

"I figured that out my second morning at your place, when you let me at the photo albums. I didn't know one album could fit so much stuff in it that wasn't pictures!" He laughed, remembering the movie ticket stubs from when Kakashi had been a kid, all of his report cards, an envelope with clippings of his first hair cut….

He was pulled out of his musings by Kakashi's barely audible, "Our place." The brunet smiled.

Kakashi sighed beside him and Iruka squeezed his hand again. "Tell me?"

"It was where we started."

Iruka reached up to pull the blindfold down, unsurprised to see that they were, indeed, parked in his old driveway. He smiled again and leaned over to place a reassuring kiss on his lover's cheek.

"Okay. So what do we do, oh sentimental one?"

Kakashi beamed. "I want to make you an album like one of mine."

He reached into the backseat and pulled a camera bag onto his lap. "I assumed you weren't not sentimental by choice, if that makes sense? You had to learn to deal with losing most of your stuff in the fire, then you had to just drop everything anytime you changed foster homes."

He pulled Iruka's hand back into his as the brunet blinked back tears. "So, I'm going to make you your first album like mine. We're going to start here." He squeezed and smiled, waiting for a reaction.

Iruka canted his head and smiled heartbreakingly at him. "Oh, Kashi."

The brunet leaned forward, cupping Kakashi's cheek in his free hand and sighing into a soft, sweet kiss.

"I'm so glad you're my sentimental boyfriend." Kakashi smiled even wider, if it was possible.

"I tried to con Naruto into being here, but he thought we'd make him move junk and he had a study session at Sakura's."

Iruka shuddered. The girl was brilliant, really. And pretty to boot…. but the temper on that one- scrappy as his brother was, Sakura was the only friend Naruto wouldn't say no to. Ever.

"That's all right." He sidled up to Kakashi's side as the math teacher fished the last of his supplies out of the trunk. "We'll just have some more alone time." He grinned.

Iruka offered to shoulder the backpack while Kakashi dangled a basket over his elbow and juggled his keys into his pocket before picking the tripod back up and tucking it under his arm. He used his free hand to grab one of Iruka's while the brunet closed the trunk.

"All set?" The genius nodded.

Kakashi led the way inside, because he figured Iruka would head to the living room out of habit and he had other plans. When they got to the kitchen, he put down everything but the camera round his neck on the counter. Iruka dropped the backpack on the floor just in front.

Iruka turned about, eyeing the space around them. "It's so empty."

"I remember the first time I was here." Kakashi slid his hands into his pockets. Iruka turned back to face him.

"So do I." He closed the distance, so there was nothing left but fabric between them, not even air, as he slid his arms around Kakashi's waist. "I've never gotten around to asking, but I always wondered how you knew. You waited right there." He pointed to a spot in front of the counter.

"Away from the knives and right where I could see you best from the door. You left me the best seat in the room for watching everyone else and you hesitated to come in the kitchen after Asuma left." He paused, running his hands up and down Kakashi's back.

"That last bit, at least, makes more sense. Asuma probably told you to stay out of the kitchen." He smiled up at Kakashi, who had wound his own arms around the brunet. "When it was happening, you know, I thought at first it was because you'd found out I was gay…. and weren't as okay with that as you let on."

Kakashi leaned down and nuzzled into Iruka's neck, staying silent and letting Iruka talk it out.

"But breakfast though…." Iruka pulled back a tiny bit, making Kakashi look back up at him, "That had to have been before Naruto told you our story because he was still out like a light upstairs and Asuma hadn't even thought of coming over yet."

Kakashi smiled gently and peppered slow kisses on his brunet's lips.

"Do remember what I said before the boys got up that day?"

Iruka cocked his head to the side, thinking.

"About a new…. interest of mine?"

"Umm…. oh!" Iruka's eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh, shit! I was…. it was me? How did you? You couldn't have figured it out from the photo albums the night before…."

"No." Kakashi nuzzled back into Iruka's neck (one of his favourite places to hide and sighed contently, softly. "I'm a genius, so I did figure out about the fire from those first pictures of your biological parents."

He could feel Iruka nod. "I knew there was a kid missing from the pictures too. And that you were adopted from knowing your brother." Another nod and thumbs rubbing soothing circles near his hips.

"So I Googled you." Kakashi stood straighter and looked at Iruka.

"You Googled me?"

"I Googled you."

"That sounds…. vaguely sexual." Kakashi laughed out loud.

"Especially if you say it lots of times." He giggled again. "Want me to Google you again? Or you could Google me this time. Google me good. We could Google now. We could Google in the kitchen."

Iruka was shaking with mirth in Kakashi's arms. "Oh my gosh, you sound like a—like a perverted Dr. Seuss book!"

Kakashi laughed lowly, pulling his arms tighter.

"I'll never be able to read one to my students again with a straight face! Or—or…. could you imagine if I have to tell them to Google something in computer class? It'll be the death of me!"

Kakashi laughed heartily at that one, imaging a blushing Iruka trying to force out the words to one of his eleven-year-olds.

When he finally calmed his laughter, Iruka fiddled with the top button on Kakashi's button-up.

He whispered, "Why are we in the kitchen, Kashi?"

Kakashi leaned further into the counter to reach around Iruka and push the basket into his sight. "Because we're going to make good memories in the kitchen. Better ones."

Iruka continued to play nervously with the button. "This isn't even the kitchen where—"

"All kitchens make you nervous. You're better when Naruto's there…. Or there are lots of people like the first day we had Hiashi's kids over. You're completely fine with me now too."

Iruka finally looked up and smiled. "That one didn't take long."

Kakashi smiled back and kissed him gently. "That's because you love me."

"No." Kakashi didn't quite freeze, but his movements hitched for a fraction of a second. Iruka sighed and swatted him gently. "That's not what I mean, you silly man and you know that by now."

"I love all of my family, but I still don't like to be in the kitchen with anyone but you, Naruto or mom. It's because you're my most trusted people. It's not about whether or not I love you guys- which I do, immensely and unconditionally- but this is more about me knowing that you're the three people in the world who love me the most."

He took a deep, maybe-a-bit-shuddery breath before he continued, Kakashi's arms tightening around him again, "Not just that you'd never hurt me. It's not like I think my dad or Suma's gonna go postal on me- it's that I know that you would all fight with me- like Naruto and his frying pan."

Iruka shook his head, sad laughter bubbling up from his throat. "Good lord, but he must have been scared. He was only ten. And I fought harder. Because it was him. Because he was my most important person. He still is, and so are you and Mom. So I know that I could beat whoever came at me if it was only to protect one of you."

"I love you."

"Me too, Kashi, me too."

They stood in silence for a moment, contemplating.

"I'm not sure…. I don't think I would have gotten up after that first gash down my back if I wasn't scared shitless of what would happen to Naruto if I didn't. I—"

"Damn, I love that kid more every day." Iruka burst out laughing.

"Don't let him hear you say that. You'd never get to wrangle him back in class again!"

Kakashi chuckled. "If he's the only reason you fought your way back out of that hospital bed, then I think I might owe him a lot more than no detention, a few free periods and ramen everyday at lunch for the rest of his life, and then some."

Iruka laid his head on Kakashi's shoulder. As he began to shake with laughter, Kakashi glanced down.

"What?"

"I'm getting as sentimental as you. I mean, really, we're discussing some of my deepest shit here, and I'm all weepy and stuff." He peered up through thick, dark lashes.

Kakashi kept a straight face (quite an incredible feat for him) as he responded seriously, "Maybe it's because I rub off on you when we Google each other."

Iruka's laughter squawked through him indignantly as he whacked his boyfriend on the bicep.

…..0…0…0…..

After a pizza dinner on a picnic blanket surrounded by candles on the kitchen floor and a few glasses of wine, the pair headed out to the back yard.

Kakashi showed Iruka some pictures he'd taken of Naruto the other day by the tree in the backyard, then set up the tripod to take a few shots of the pair of them posing there too. He collected a leaf that fell in Iruka's hair and said he was going to press/dry it for the album.

They walked around the yard, Iruka telling Kakashi stories of his time there and Kakashi collecting things (like a flower from the ones that came back every spring, a white stone from around the little birth bath Iruka had installed himself, and the trellis where Iruka had marked Naruto's height each summer vacation. (He wrestled that one into the back seat before they headed back into the house.)

They settled in the kitchen again, Kakashi pulling out a file folder and pushing it towards Iruka as he set out a rich array of deserts. Iruka shuffled through the folder, pausing every now and then in wonder as Kakashi broke through his thoughts with little anecdotes explaining some of the mementos as he glanced over every now and then from what he was doing. There was a printed version of all the articles Kakashi had read about Iruka when he Googled them, the receipt from the garage where Kakashi had taken his car after the storm (he told Iruka he'd kept it because he was grateful his idiotic sports car had been good for something after all, namely getting him invited to his future boyfriend's place), the label from the bottle of whiskey they'd shared that first night (Iruka laughed when Kakashi told him the story of coming over, seeing the bottle was gone from the cabinet, replaced with a new, full one and then panicking, digging through Iruka's recycle bin till he'd found it) and many other little knick knacks tying them together and to their beginning here. He also had the dry cleaning receipt from the white, coffee stained button-up that had earned him their first kiss and the label for the lube they'd used their first time at the farmhouse (Iruka turned beet red and tried to toss that one, Kakashi wouldn't let him). All in all, it took Iruka a good hour to get through everything and when he did, he looked up to find that beside their desert selections, Kakashi had set up a little camp area, full of sleeping bags, blankets and pillows. There was even a little kerosene lamp off to the side, complementing the candlelight that was now the only source of light in the kitchen.

Iruka couldn't help the tears in the corners of his eyes as Kakashi handed him one last envelope, a letter, written mostly as a poem, addressed to him and entitled, "The Ballad of A Socially Awkward Genius Who Finds and Falls in Love with his Soul Mate."

After a few more laughs and indulgent deserts with tea from a thermos, things got hot and serious again when Kakashi leaned over and smeared chocolate cake all over Iruka's cheek.

He leaned forward and whispered huskily, "One last hurrah, hm, Ruka? A good memory in the kitchen?"

Iruka nodded and allowed Kakashi to lean him back amongst the sleeping bags. "I know you said no more sleep overs on the floor, but since it's our last night here…."

Iruka laughed and pulled the silver-haired man into a kiss. "Shut up and kiss me, you sentimental old fool." And so he did.

…..0…0…0…..

The End

A. N. I may come back to this, but for now I wanted to at least complete it in some form as I'm going to start working on a massive project and didn't want to leave you hanging since I hate it when other authors do that to me.

Also, sorry to anyone who was subscribed to this story... This was a re-read overhaul and not an actual update.

P.S. I'm a little bit sorry about the Google thing, but not too much... It was giggle-inducing for me, but granted, I wrote it in the early hours of the morning.