A/N: Well, many of you did guess who the earrings are for. And well, glad that you all had enough faith in Kakashi that he won't cheat on Iruka. So here you go, the next chapter. Enjoy it!

Chapter 6: Confusion and Obliviousness

Kakashi stared blankly at the cup of tea in front of him. He couldn't in his genius mind figure out what is wrong. One moment, everything was still fine and the next, he was left stranded on his own. He somehow had the notion that he was trapped in some horrible nightmare or a genjutsu.

He frowned. He had just returned from a mission. That was clear enough. And he was sure he hadn't hit his head or got drugged to imagine that Iruka had been to see him on Saturday at the hospital and they had spent almost the entire Sunday together in bliss.

Almost, because Iruka had suddenly gone all crazy on him when he came out from the shower, demanding to know who the other woman was. He had gaped and blinked and tried to figure out what his boyfriend was talking about. But, he just did not understand what was going on.

And then, Iruka had narrowed his eyes and spoke in such a dangerous voice that the jounin almost flinched. The younger man had said that if he doesn't get a good enough explanation, Kakashi will be on his own. And after that, Iruka had stomped out of their shared apartment, leaving the older man confused and trying to grasp what the hell had happened.

And Iruka hadn't been home since then. Kakashi sighed. But at least he knew Iruka was in safe hands. Izumo had turned up at their apartment shortly after the academy teacher had left and told Kakashi that Iruka was over at his place. But he had advised Kakashi against looking Iruka up, because apparently, the academy teacher was mad at him over something.

And the next two days after that, Iruka had been avoiding him like a plague. He had gone to look for Iruka. But when their eyes met, he had been startled by the icy, cold look and the resentment behind those brown orbs and the chunin never stayed around long enough for Kakashi to approach him.

Kakashi had never in his life, felt so confused and unsure about the whole situation.

The two figures that joined him at the table did nothing to stir him away from his thoughts, until one of them spoke.

"It's a surprise to see you here early, Kakashi."

The jounin scowled and looked at the person sitting across from him. He dug into his pocket and produced a velvet box, pushing it across the table.

"Here you go."

Asuma grinned and opened the box, studying the earrings lying inside and the gold inscriptions of words embedded in the cover of the box.

"They did a good job." Genma glanced at the box and grinned. "So, you are giving that to Kurenai on Valentine's?"

Asuma shrugged. He glanced at Kakashi. "Thanks, pal."

Kakashi sighed. "It's no big deal. I had to get them to do some inscriptions for me anyway."

"To the woman of my life. With a love that last forever." Genma snorted. "That sounds so sappy."

"I didn't write it." Asuma grinned.

"Technically. Because I'm the one who wrote it." Kakashi glared at him. "And the reason why I did that is because you can't even bring yourself to write down the message that needs to be carved into that box. Though, must I remind you that you were the one who recited that message?"

Asuma grunted. "Fine. But you didn't go off empty-handed for doing me this favor."

"Right." Kakashi sighed deeply. Asuma raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't Ino prepare what you needed?" Asuma glanced at him. "When I met her yesterday, she said she had everything in place."

"I know."

"Then be a little more grateful, will you? I have to pull strings with Inoichi just to make sure that you get the best." Asuma pulled out his cigarette and lit it.

Kakashi shot him a sideways glance and nodded. "Yeah. Eternally grateful."

"Hey Kakashi, you don't sound too good." Genma frowned as he took a sip of his tea.

The copy nin shrugged. "I'm good."

"Really? Then I think I may let you in on something then." Asuma grinned. Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"I've spoken to Kurenai and somehow got out of her, some of the happenings that took place during our absence."

Kakashi stared at him. "What did you find out?"

"Well, as you had said, Iruka is really in some kind of trouble." Asuma grinned.

"What trouble?" Kakashi watched his friend carefully.

"He's being hit on by another chunin." Genma drawled. "Or so that's what I heard from Raidou. Is that what Kurenai said too?"

Asuma nodded. "Yeah. That chunin's name is…. Um…. Unokei or something."

"Oukei." Genma offered helpfully. "I heard Raidou rant about him enough times to have his name imprinted in my memories forever."

Kakashi fiddled his teacup thoughtfully. Now, that name sounds familiar. Where had he heard it before?

"Well, anyway, as I was saying, that chunin is Iwashi's friend and they met at the pub sometime a week or so ago. And that chunin took an interest in Iruka immediately, chatting him up the entire night." Asuma said grimly as he watched the copy nin frowned slightly.

"And obviously, Rai and the others aren't too happy. I heard Anko was ready to plunge a kunai into that thickhead's brain." Genma shook his head in exasperation.

"Well, apparently, Kotetsu had informed Oukei that Iruka is attached. But that man refused to just let it up and even openly said that he would challenge you for Iruka's affection." Asuma sounded amused. "But of course, he doesn't know Iruka's boyfriend is you. I doubt he would have dared to say that otherwise."

Kakashi's frowned darkly. This wasn't what he was expecting to be bothering his boyfriend. He waved for his two friends to continue.

"The week after that, I heard it got more interesting. The man showed up wherever Iruka was. And just last week, Iruka got into this heated exchange with him. Apparently, what Rai heard was that Oukei tried asking Iruka out, and that, really got on your dear boyfriend's nerves."

Kakashi felt a small smile tugging on his lips. That's just Iruka. Then he sighed, realizing that his lover was still ignoring him and he had yet to figure out why.

"And well, apparently Oukei hadn't given up. He's still seen openly flirting with Iruka and trying to get his attention. And just yesterday, when Kurenai was with Iruka, Oukei just came up to them and openly presented Iruka with a gift and ask him out this Saturday." Asuma grimaced. "You should have seen Kurenai's anger when she told me that last night. I'm so sure her anger then was ten-folds of what I experienced. And Iruka was just so irritated that he dumped the gift back to Oukei and stomped off."

Anger radiated from the silver-haired jounin. Just who the hell was this person who was hitting on his boyfriend?

Then, realization dawned on him and he tensed. Surely, surely Iruka wasn't ignoring him because of this chunin? He swallowed hard. Was Iruka trying to make him back out by treating him so coldly? Was that why he demanded an explanation which he knew Kakashi didn't have? And he could use that as an excuse to leave the jounin? But that doesn't make sense, does it? Asuma had said that Iruka wasn't too pleased with the attention from the other man. So doesn't that mean that Iruka doesn't like that Orukei or whoever it is?

"Hey Kakashi, what's wrong?" Genma frowned when he noted the tensed posture and the silence from the silver-haired jounin.

Kakashi sighed and he deflated. "Nothing."

"So, what are you going to do about this?" Asuma raised an eyebrow. "Not that this is any competition, seeing that Iruka isn't interested in anyone else other than you. But shouldn't you put a stop to this? It is apparently causing Iruka great distress."

"He's ignoring me." Kakashi muttered.

Asuma raised an eyebrow.

"Who?" Genma stared at him, confused.

Kakashi glared at him, then sighed in exasperation. "Iruka."

"What happened?" Asuma leaned across the table, eyeing the copy nin.

"I wish I knew." Kakashi rolled his eye. "He accused me of something which I didn't do."

"And that is?"

"He said I have another woman outside."

Genma almost choked on the tea he just took a gulp from. "What?"

Kakashi nodded. "That was my exact reaction to him."

"And you didn't explain?"

"He didn't believe me." Kakashi sighed. "Sometimes I wonder where he gets all his crazy ideas from."

"Probably from hanging around you too much." Genma chortled. "You aren't exactly the epitome of sanity."

"That's not funny, Genma. I need a solution." Kakashi groused. "It's Tuesday. And I have already made plans for Saturday. But I haven't even had the opportunity to ask him out."

"You are living together. What difference does that makes?" Asuma snorted.

"You never know." Kakashi sighed. "Anyway, he's staying over at Izumo's now. He's refusing to come home until I give him a satisfactory explanation."

Asuma shook his head. Genma shrugged.

"I would love to help you, pal. But I don't think Rai had heard anything either. Or else, he would have told me." Genma said grimly. "Perhaps you should ask Kurenai. She knows more gossips than we do. Maybe she knows where Iruka gets that idea from."

"I heard that, Genma." An irritated voice came up behind them.

Asuma sighed at the annoyed tone. He turned around and regarded his girlfriend with a smile. "What is it, Kurenai? You looked like someone just ruffled your feathers."

The kunoichi glared at him. Then she turned towards Kakashi and pulled him out of his seat.

"Go to the academy now, Kakashi."

"Why?" The jounin raised an eyebrow.

Kurenai turned to Asuma. "Doesn't he know?"

"Oh yes, he just did." Asuma gave her a wry grin.

The red-eyed lady turned back to Kakashi. "When I was at the academy five minutes ago, Oukei was flirting with Iruka, trying to ask him out this Saturday."

"What?" Kakashi immediately pushed past the kunoichi and bolted out of the shop.

"Woah….. That's fast." Genma stared at the disappearing figure in amusement.

Asuma shrugged. Kurenai slipped into the seat which Kakashi had just vacated and stared at him.

"So what were you talking about before I came?" She glared at the two men.

"Nothing much. Just that we thought you might be able to help Kakashi with his little problem." Genma chewed on his senbon lazily.

"What happened?" The kunoichi raised an eyebrow.

"He and Iruka had a misunderstanding." Asuma stretched himself and leaned back in his seat. "Iruka thinks that Kakashi has another woman outside."

Kurenai snorted as she tried to hold back her laughter. "Where did he get the idea from?"

"Obviously, we thought you would be a better candidate to find that out, since you are so close with Iruka." Asuma gave her a lopsided smile.

Kurenai frowned as she folded her arms and leaned back in her seat. "Iruka hadn't said anything when we met yesterday."

"Well, you are good at prying for information, aren't you?" Genma grinned.

Kurenai's mused for a moment.

"Come on, you will be doing Kakashi a favor." Asuma tried to convince her.

"What do I stand to gain from getting involved?" Kurenai raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I don't think you would want to see their first Valentine's go awry." Asuma smirked, knowing he had gotten the kunoichi's weak point. He knew how much Kurenai cares about the happiness of Iruka.

Kurenai shrugged. "You are right, I don't." Then she caught sight of something nestled between the bearded jounin's folded arms on the table. She reached over and plucked it out before Asuma could even react.

She opened it and grinned when she read the inscriptions and the earrings that rested within the box. "Is this for me?"

Asuma grunted in dissatisfaction. Kurenai grinned.

"Fine, I will find out from Iruka. And I will take this for my trouble."

"It was meant for you anyway." Asuma snorted.

"I'm not done saying my piece." The kunoichi stood up. "I'm taking this for helping you to find out what exactly Iruka is thinking. But I expect something else for Valentine's!"

With that, she left the table and walked out of the shop, with a gaping jounin and an amused one staring after her.

"Women, Asuma. Get used to it." Genma tried to hold back his laughter as he patted his friend's back comfortingly.

"Damn you Kakashi. You owe me one for this." Asuma grumbled.

=-=-=-=

Kakashi skidded to a halt outside the classroom, where he felt his chunin's angry chakra emitting from. He paused outside the door, as he concealed his presence and tried to listen in on the conversation.

"I said no, Oukei-san! Will you please stop asking me?" Iruka growled.

"But Iruka-sensei, you haven't even given us both a chance to try it out."

"Because there isn't a need to. I'm attached. How many times do you want me to say that?"

Kakashi grinned. So Iruka hadn't had any notions of breaking up. That was a relief.

"Well, I did say if you give me a chance, I'm sure I would fare better than your chunin boyfriend."

Kakashi's eye narrowed dangerously. When did Iruka have a chunin boyfriend?

"I said no!"

Someone stomped towards the door and before Kakashi could even move away, the door was pulled open harshly.

Angry brown orbs met his single grey eye. He scratched his head sheepishly as Iruka glared at him.

"What are you doing here?" The chunin hissed.

"Ah well, Iruka…. Um…. I heard you were being harassed…. So….."

Iruka did not wait for an explanation. He pushed past the jounin and was about to stalked away when a pale hand reached out to grab him.

He turned around and Kakashi almost flinched at the icy edge in the usually warm eyes. He sighed.

"We need to talk, Iruka."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Then why are you avoiding me?"

Iruka paused. And then he narrowed his eyes. "You should know why."

Kakashi was about to say something when Oukei came up behind him.

"Hatake-sama, what a surprise to see you in the academy."

The jounin turned and glared at the source of disruption. Iruka took the opportunity and pulled away. He cleared his throat and looked at Oukei with a forced smile.

"Well Oukei-sensei, did you say you want to ask me out this Saturday? Let me know the time and place and I will be there."

Kakashi's head snapped back to the chunin. "What?"

Oukei beamed. Finally, his perseverance had paid off. "Certainly, Iruka-sensei. And I will make sure you have a good time."

"Sure. Don't disappoint me." Iruka said as he glared at Kakashi.

The jounin vaguely heard Oukei moving away, whistling happily. He stared at his lover in front of him, wondering if he was caught in some sort of a nightmare.

"What? Wait, Iruka. What the hell?" Kakashi looked at him, shock evident in his voice. He hadn't expected his boyfriend to do such a thing in front of him.

"You heard what I said." Iruka folded his arms and his glare intensified.

"You are going out with him?" Kakashi almost growled. "And this Saturday?"

"Yes."

Kakashi's eye narrowed. "You are kidding me."

"Do I look like it?" Iruka was unfazed.

"You can't go out with him this Saturday!"

"Why not?" Iruka folded his arms.

Kakashi watched the younger man intently. Was he kidding or was he serious?

"Iruka." He started as he eyed the chunin carefully. "You should know why."

"I don't. Enlighten me." Iruka snorted.

Kakashi could have smacked himself against the nearest wall. Was his lover acting dense or does he really not know? Even after all the hints that Sakura had given two days ago, and the bustling activities going on throughout the village in preparation for the occasion on Saturday?

"Iruka, this Saturday is……"

The chunin held up a hand to silence him. "Don't talk to me about this Saturday when you haven't even resolved the matter at hand."

"But Iruka, I got no explanation to give. Would you even mind telling me what's going on?" Kakashi's single eye widened in obvious confusion.

"You should know, Kakashi." Iruka gritted his teeth as he stomped down hard on the jounin's foot.

Kakashi winced. Who could have thought that Iruka would put so much force into that stomping?

The chunin pushed past him and strode down the corridor towards the teachers' room. Kakashi rolled his eyes and growled in frustration as he glanced around the empty corridor. Now, that wall does look hard enough for him to knock himself out.

=-=-=-=