Petals from a moulting cherry blossom twisted and floated in the breeze by Kotetsu's balcony and tickled his face as they brushed past. His hand shot out and clasped around a handful of them, to which he breathed in their scent deeply. While the day was blue skies and sun, a steady wind was blowing through the streets making a chill in the air.

While the day was a sad one, he somewhat felt relieved of tension; his muscles were taut but not painstakingly as they had been the previous few days. It was a pleasant moment actually, and he would have been quite content to remain frozen in time to enjoy it to its fullest extent. With a kiss to his closed fist, he threw the blossoms to the wind, watching them serenely as they drifted away into the distance.

'That's everything then.'

Iruka's eyes flew up in surprise at Kotetsu's garb. He was wearing his handsome black suit again from the night he had exchanged rings with Izumo. It wasn't common to see the chūnin dressed in such a tidy way, but he was pleasing to the eye no doubt. The soft brown eyes locked onto a bright crimson kerchief knotted around Kotetsu's neck though. It was eye-catching next to all the black.

'That's a nice touch.' He quipped honestly, pulling Kotetsu's out of his reverie.

'Hmm? Oh, right. It was Iz's favourite colour. It's something that I promised to him months ago...y'know, in case one of us...'

' I get it. It's sweet.'

Iruka's hand touched up the raven-hair's collar and patted it down smoothly with a smile.

'It's nice. You should wear coat-tails more often.'

'Only on special occasions, sorry. You scrub up nice yourself, Iruka.'

'Been a while since I dragged out the tux...I have something for you.'

Fingers swift with expertise clasped a silver chain around Kotetsu's neck; an intricate weave of solid silver wherein Izumo's own wedding band now lay in the midst of his chest. Kotetsu could swear a flicker of blue emanated from the two rings, but it had to be his imagination. Tears sprung to the onyx irises, but this time they were of happiness.

'I thought I had lost this.' He said quietly.

When the two had returned yesterday from the hospital, Kotetsu nearly had a heart attack after searching for the ring and was terribly fragile. Iruka had planned this for a while though, and felt terribly guilty after seeing him in such a harried state.

'I'm sorry. I just wanted to surpr-'

Masculine arms clamped around the smaller chūnin in a bear hug.

'Thank you so much for everything, Iruka. You really are the best friend someone could have.'

'...that means a lot, Kotetsu.'

He patted his back and gave a quick embrace back to the other man. In the short amount of time they've spent together, they had grown considerably close to each other. Iruka was quite fond of him. It's no wonder that Izumo had taken a liking to him as he had. Kotetsu was actually a very sweet guy when you peeled back the layers to the bare minimum. He was naturally caring, and it was easy to gravitate around him. Despite that this was a hard time to go through, tiny elements of him still lingered at the surface; he was always thinking of other people before himself.

'It's time.'

With a nod, the two clicked the door shut behind them and headed to the cemetery.

-x

It's never easy coming to grips with the death of someone in Konoha. Villagers stood in rows, all dressed in deep black as they bowed their heads in remembrance of Izumo. As Kotetsu and Iruka slowly made their way to the front to pay their respects to the headstone, whispers were spun between people. This time it wasn't just paranoia. It was actually happening. News spreads quickly with haste from one to another. It was atrocious how vast gossip could spread between people.

'Did you hear?-'

'I can't believe they were like that-'

'-bad example for our children-'

"Ignore them Tets... They aren't important..." He repeated to himself, a personal mantra.

"Focus. Do it for Iz..."

'-It's disgusting-'

Words ate away at him, his anger beginning to bubble and spill over the guard he had placed on himself to stop another outburst happening like yesterday. He was trying desperately to keep it all contained, but it was growing more difficult with each step. The walk felt like an eternity to the gravestone. He wished that if he closed his eyes, he'd be there already and this wouldn't feel like such a difficult task.

"Keep going Tets. Almost there."

'Good riddance to the fa-"

There. The last straw. That guard broke off and all hell broke loose. Alarm bells rang inside, begging him to stop and breathe but It was pointless. He started to salivate heavily, like a mad dog, and in the blink of an eye, he was already straddled across a hefty onlooker, who was sneering up at Kotetsu's raised fist.

'Finish that sentence.' Kotetsu said vehemently, poison dripping dangerously in rivers from his words.

'Go on. I dare you.'

The butch male laughed at the threat, not even bothering to try and throw the nin off of his chest.

'I said "good riddance to the faggot".' He jeered, watching the pain behind the onyx irises transform into hate and malicious intent as a simultaneous intake of breath was drawn from the crowd.

'Thats what I thought!'

'Oooh, what are you going to do? Punch me? Like you've got the balls to do so!'

A strong set of arms looped under Kotetsu's underarms and dragged him off of the commoner, fighting to keep him at bay before he could lay a finger for his cruel words. They stung at him, like a thousand senbon needles piercing his heart again and again, every time making him feel dirty at his sexuality.

'Kotetsu he's not worth it!' Iruka said, struggling to keep the squirming body against him.

'I don't care what he says about me!' Kotetsu yelled, trying to pry himself out of the smaller nin's grasp.

'But I'll die before he says anything about Iz that way again!'

'That'd be a way to solve everyone's problems.'

'Iruka let go-!'

'There's no place for your kind here!'

Foul, vile stickiness dripped down over Kotetsu's eye before he had a chance to react. His mouth dropped open in shock and suddenly, he could feel vibes of hate and detest wrapping their suffocating arms around his throat. So this is how they felt? That he was lower than they were because of one simple factor of his genetic makeup that he had no control over? His hand shook as he wiped the glistening glob of spit from his face; the stench of a mix of cabbage and halitosis sticking to his skin as the saliva and phlegm clung to the pores of his face. All eyes were fixated on him; their gaze staring multiples holes into his body.

'Enough.' A young voice spoke out, cutting the silence.

Naruto stood between the quarrelling men with his arms folded and an impassive expression written across his features. His cerulean eyes clicked onto Kotetsu's helpless eyes and he stooped, handing him a small handkerchief with a softened gaze.

'Here.' He said quietly, waiting for Kotetsu to take the supple material.

'Take it.'

He was paralysed. He tried to will his hand to clutch the offering but he couldn't. Never had he felt so helpless and weak before, and it stunned him. He was a shinobi for crying out loud! He was want to be the one protecting and helping others. So why was it that only two people had come to his aid?

The Hokage knelt on bended knee and gently wiped the residue of the offending saliva from Kotetsu's, carefully holding him steady with his free hand. Calloused fingers lightly brushed his jawline until he realised that his eyes had sprung with tears and one fell down his cheek. Indeed, he looked like a pitiful child and this was the bullying grounds at the academy again.

'Are you okay?' Naruto asked him quietly, helping him to his feet. His suit was now scuffed with dirt and debris and every ounce of confidence diminished. He couldn't speak, yet again, and shook his head lightly. He wasn't. He didn't understand why people had to be so cruel, even after everything that he had done to protect them. How was it that a week ago he was regarded with respect, and in the bat of an eyelid, he was dusting the dirt from his knees and being spat on like an animal.

Hurriedly, he wiped away the tear trail from his cheek. He no longer wanted to appear weak in front of everyone.

'Thankyou Hokage-sama.' He said in a small voice, all eyes still on him.

'This needs to stop.' The blonde said, making sure that his voice was audible to everyone.

Murmurs grew in the crowd again, setting chills to run down Kotetsu's spine. Knowing that the topic on everyone's lips was him set his teeth on edge.

'Please.' Naruto said to him and giving him a gentle push.

'Please pay your respects to Izumo.'

He turned away to finish his ascent up the lane way, holding his chin up high yet dying in the inside. This was not at all how he wanted to spend the day when it meant so much to him. He had convinced himself that he was not going to cause a scene, but quietly say goodbye to Izumo. Things, however, never managed to go the way he wanted them to, almost as is Kami himself refused to give him a break and enjoyed watching him suffer.

He pulled a small present from a pocket inside of his jacket and placed it before at the headstone. He placed a hand on the grey stone and let it fall to his side.

'I'll come back buddy...I promise.' He whispered before stepping back to let the next person to say goodbye, though it was like the people were convinced that he was something unpleasant and abnormal. Maybe he was in some way, but he was still a human. It made his heart drop into the pit of his stomach. What a way to ruin the memory of a splendid shinobi.

It was Iruka that took up the mantle and stepped forward, placing his own trinket of respect and bowing deeply before the headstone. Soon after, Asuma, Kakashi and Raidoū each took their turns until a steady stream of well-wishers began to form again, but at this point, Kotetsu had already turned tail and walked away from the commodity. Iruka's eyes scanned for the raven-haired but to no avail. He did, however, find the beefy fellow that caused the whole assault on Kotetsu scowling and conversing with a dark-haired woman. Iruka waltzed passed casually and grinned as he doubled back and felt the satisfying feeling of bone cracking upon bone and a spurt of crimson spurt from the freshly broken nose. With a flourish, he flicked most of the blood from his knuckles and walked off nonchalantly; hands in pockets and smiling lightly at the crumpled mess he left behind without another thought.