Chapter 2: Chanced Meeting

Iruka sighed as he trudged despondently through the streets of Konoha. School had just ended and he had another four hours before he actually need to make his appearance at the mission office. For once, he had actually managed to finish up his pile of ungraded assignments and now, with nothing left to do, the only thing he can think of is to do his grocery shopping for the next week.

Iruka sighed again. Something is missing in his life. He just knew it. But he doesn't know what it is. It just made him feel so empty and dejectedly down.

A couple walked past him, laughing and joking. The chunin looked up a little to see the couple cuddling up close with each other. The sight only made him feel like finding a cave and hiding in it forever, hidden out of sight from prying eyes and hiding his sights from intimate moments such as this.

As he continued his walk towards the supermarket, he began to wonder just what was wrong with him. Perhaps he is just having a bad day. Perhaps he is remembering too many unhappy things. Perhaps he is still upset with his friends.

Or maybe perhaps what he need is another companion. Someone to share his laughter and his sorrows. Someone who can provide him with the comfort and support. And maybe someone, who can accompany him on days like this, when he is just feeling down.

The chunin stopped in his tracks. 'Whatever the hell was I thinking? I don't need anyone. Absolutely not. I've been alone for long enough and I'm used to it. Another person in my life will just disrupt it.'

Iruka growled and pushed all thoughts out of his mind, as he walked briskly towards his destination. He was so preoccupied in keeping his steps that he failed to see someone in front of him.

And he ran right into the person.

"Oof…" Iruka grimaced as he landed on the ground.

As he sat on the ground dazed, a gloved hand reached out to him. Without looking, he grabbed the hand and felt himself being pulled up.

"Are you alright, Iruka-sensei?"

"Um….. Yes." Iruka mumbled as he concentrated on sweeping the dust and sand away from his clothes. He then smiled and looked up to thank the person.

And he froze, his smile turning awry.

Right in front of him stood the person whom he least wanted to see in the entire village. He groaned inwardly. It seems like he hasn't been able to get along well with Fate lately, since it seems to love throwing him humiliating surprises at every corner of his life.

"Iruka-sensei, are you alright?" Kakashi asked, concerned. "You look very pale."

Iruka immediately snapped from his mortification as he blushed and fumbled for words.

"Erm…… Yes…… Yeah….. Um……. I mean, yes, I'm fine." Iruka managed a weak smile. Kakashi looked at him strangely. "Nice to see you, Kakashi-sensei. I hope everything is fine with you. Sorry I didn't see where I was going. Well, I need to run. See you!"

Without waiting for a reply, Iruka pushed past the copy nin and bolted down the streets.

Kakashi looked at the half running Iruka with mild amusement in his eye. He knows Iruka had a reputation for giving long lectures. But he didn't know that Iruka had the capability to say so many sentences in a span of five seconds. He must be really in a rush.

Then something ticked in the jounin's mind. He quirked an eyebrow as his single eye followed the back of Iruka, until he disappeared around the corner. He smiled and his eye turned up into an arc. Burying his face back into the book in his hand, he continued on his way to meet his team.

Iruka owes him something. That he remembers. No wonder the chunin seems so flustered at seeing him. He chuckled lightly to himself. This is going to be fun.