Author's Note: Tada! Yes, it is a "rewrite" of a previous quote story. I just added another cute little flashback, inspired by a KakaIru icon that I saw the other day. Tyger hopes you enjoy! She was too lazy to go back and edit and just uploaded and posted the whole story over, haha. oh wells.


"True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked."


Kakashi realized one day, in some dark little pit, miles and miles away for some boring old routine assassination mission he was sure he could do in his sleep that he had fallen utterly in love with Iruka.

He'd just finished the mission, which had consisted of sneaking into a barricaded camp to off the man in charge and then sneak back out. He hadn't quite anticipated the fact that he'd been discovered so early, so he'd ended up having to fight his way out and hide away in some dirty pit of a cave.

It was cold, he couldn't use chakra and he was tired and bleeding from a few sore spots. He was outnumbered enough to say that quite a few of them had managed some lucky hits on him. And though it was nowhere near fatal, he just knew his worrisome dolphin at home would throw a fit when he got back.

Now it was times like these when Kakashi would send numerous prayers and thanks to Obito because his gift saved his sorry ass and more. At this moment, he was using yet another function of his present. With it, he could close his eyes and see his adorable chuunin, sitting at the kitchen table. He could see his lover as they lay in perfect peace, seated beneath the large oak tree just enjoying the moment of the day.

Kakashi sighed happily as memories resurfaced in his mind's eye.


It was a rainy day, storming really. The clouds were heavy and gray and covered every corner of Konoha's skies. Kakashi loved days like these sometimes. The times he enjoyed them were obviously when he didn't have missions and the times he hated them were when he did. Today happened to be one of those non-mission days and the copy-nin was enjoying a glorious day of reading. Icha Icha reading of course.

He was seated in his study room, one of the few rooms in the old Hatake Estate that he frequented. Minato-sensei had been kind enough to have set a system that allowed Kakashi to stay in one area of the large mansion without having to walk through the rest of it often. As it was, one of many slips of papers, covered in symbols, began to glow and the jounin looked up from his reading with a frown. Who in the world was coming by his place in this weather? Even Gai and his ever-present Youthfulness tended to stay indoors a little more on days like these.

Kakashi heaved a sigh and headed for the front door, his lone blue eyes focused in front of him as he resolutely avoided looking at the rest of his family's house, too many harsh memories he didn't need to delve into.

Just before he opened the door, his hand hesitated slightly as he recognized the chakra of the person behind it. "Iruka-sensei?" he raised his eyebrow at the shivering, wet and all around drowned kitten looking man in front of him.

"S-S-Sorry to b-b-bother you Ka-Kakashi-sensei, b-b-but my h-h-house was f-flooded a-and I…I w-w-was wondering i-i-if I could s-stay with y-y-you in the m-meanwhile."

"Come on in already! You know you could have just gone right to the back. And do I need to remind you again that just Kakashi is fine?"

Kakashi and Iruka had started getting along after Sandaime himself set up a meeting for the two to resolve their feelings over the chuunin exam. The two hard started off with an awkward silence, staring at each other and neither wanting to back down or apologize for what they said. Both of them ended blurting an apology out at the same time and then burst out laughing. From that point on, they had shared a much more easier relationship. The bond between them grew into a strong friendship that neither they, nor anyone else, thought would ever happen between them.

"Then it's I-Iruka to you too." Iruka grinned, fingers slowly prying themselves off their hold around the strap of his bag. He walked beside his silver haired friend as they headed back to the rooms Kakashi lived in.

The night was spent full of laughter and pleasant conversations about Team 7, their colleagues and some of their better childhood memories. That had only been the start of it.


Kakashi snapped back into attention when he heard something to his right. His entire body tensing slightly for a second before relaxing, ready to spring into action at a moments notice. A pair of yellow eyes reflected the low light that filtered into the cave, "No one's followed us Boss."

The jounin gave a sigh of relief, "Thanks Pakkun, you can go now."

"You sure you don't want me to stay?"

Kakashi's eye curved into a crescent, "Aww, I didn't know you cared to much Pakkun! Don't worry, I'll be fine by myself."

Pakkun glared at the jounin, "Forget I asked Brat! I just didn't want to have to drag your sorry ass back to Konoha later!" His look turned into an evil grin, "Besides, I'll just let Iruka do all the pounding for me!" with that said, the pug disappeared in with a small pop and plume of smoke.

Kakashi scowled at the empty spot, even his dogs knew who wore the pants in their relationship. And now that he had time to think about it, wallowing in this horrid little pit of existence, Iruka had never left his place after that.


He couldn't remember how long Iruka had been staying with him since that day. But it was one such day after a mission that Kakashi had come home feeling rather down. It had been one of those missions, the ones that took a part of your soul away. To put it shortly though, the jounin was looking forward to a little quiet down time. Maybe even offer Iruka a little help with grading. It was mind numbing enough for the mood he was in.

As it was, he came home at the perfect time. The chuunin had the lights on, even though he was sprawled across the coffee table, papers and pillows everywhere. Ink stained the tips of his fingers and soft snoring filled the air.

Kakashi grinned underneath the mask, taking in the tranquil sight like a breathe of fresh air. Of course, an idea lighted in his tired head. Shinobi must always be on guard after all, even in the house of the infamous copy nin, or perhaps, especially so. Thus the silver haired male started creeping in,

He was almost there, ready to pounce the unsuspecting teacher when all of a sudden, Kakashi found himself with a face full of pillow and his back hitting the floor since he'd been knocked clear off his feet. Only one thing rung in his ears though,

"Dolphin Takedown!! Mwahaha!!"

Pushing the pillow down, Kakashi could only stare in disbelief, single grey eye wide as a dinner plate as Iruka stood there, triumphant as ever and laughing his socks off. The illustrious copy nin pouted and sulked.

"That was so unfair Iruka…" He whined rather pitifully, pushing himself to a seat. He tried one more pout on the teacher before quickly reacting, "Scarecrow Counter Attack!!" Kakashi yelled, flinging the pillow back while the Iruka was still laughing. He chortled gleefully when the tan chuunin fell over, his aim was dead on of course.

After that, the two were in a full out shinobi pillow fight, the poor cushions flung this way and that until in the end, they'd resorted to tackling each other and wrestling. Of course, when they finally calmed down and found themselves rather close to each other, there was a flurry of stuttering and blushing and sheepish looks.


Realization struck the genius hard over his head, "That little-!" Kakashi allowed himself a low chortle and a shake of his head.

The next evening found Kakashi limping through the gates of Konoha with a weary wave to the guards. Despite being tired to the bone and ready to fall asleep on his feet, the jounin had a few things he had to do. Each step was made through sheer determination as he made it home. As the door flung open and one delectable chuunin pounced on him in worry, Kakashi merely held up a finger to his lover's lips.

"You!" he jabbed Iruka's shoulder accusingly, "You tricked me!"

Iruka seemed taken back for a second before offering a slow warm smile in response, "I can't believe it took you this long to figure that out."