A/N: Guess I couldn't churn out their V-day celebration here. But well, I couldn't resist having Kakashi tormenting a clueless Oukei.

Chapter 8: Confrontation

"Sensei, I will see you tomorrow then." Naruto beamed as he slipped on his sandals.

Iruka nodded and gave him a tired smile. The blond gave him a hug before heading out of the door and down the stairs around the corner.

The chunin closed the door and headed back to the couch where Kakashi was sprawled on, tiredly.

"He's gone?" The silver-haired man looked at his lover. Iruka nodded as he started to clear the cups from the coffee table and brought it to the kitchen to wash it.

Kakashi stretched himself and sat up in the couch, as he rubbed his face. "I can't believe him. I was so sure that half of those things he spoke about were only a figment of his wild imagination."

Iruka laughed as he scrubbed the cups. "Well, you know Naruto. Whatever he can exaggerate, he will."

"Yeah. So we are meeting him tomorrow morning at 11?"

"Yes. I believe Jiraiya-sama will be coming along too."

Kakashi nodded. Then something crossed his mind and he frowned. He stood up and strode over to the kitchen, where the chunin was drying his hands. Moving over, he stood behind the younger man and wrapped his arms around the lean waist.

"And I assume that Naruto will take up at least five hours of our time, if not more."

Iruka elbowed him lightly. "Kakashi, be nice. It's not often that we get to see him."

The jounin snorted. "If I weren't nice to him, I wouldn't even bother entertaining him the whole night and spend half my afternoon tomorrow going to meet him." He sighed and half buried his face in the chunin's shoulder. "So, our afternoon tomorrow is definitely going to be dedicated to him. What about evening?"

Iruka turned in the man's embrace and wrapped his arms around the masked neck. "What about it?"

Kakashi sighed. "Are you really going to leave me alone in the evening?"

Iruka's eyes softened in understanding. He reached forward and pulled down the jounin's mask, planting a soft kiss on the lips. "I'm so sorry. I actually forgot that tomorrow is Valentine's."

"Well, I guess as much when you were totally clueless about what Sakura said the other day." Kakashi gave him an amused look. "But that isn't what I'm talking about."

"I know." Iruka leaned forward and rested his head on the broad shoulders. "It's my dinner date with Oukei-san, isn't it?"

Kakashi sighed. Iruka laughed softly before he lifted his head and looked at the jounin solemnly. "Sorry, love. I wasn't thinking straight when I agreed to it."

The jounin managed a small smile, in order to ease his lover's guilt. "So, you are really going for the dinner?"

Iruka tightened his arms around the jounin and grinned. "Well, you are the king of lame excuses; do you think you can come up with anything to get me out of this? Honestly, I've been thinking of a way out the whole night, but I can't come up with any that is good enough."

Kakashi snorted. "I will pass the honor of having that title." Then he smiled. "But I could think of something."

Iruka chuckled. "Knowing you, it can't be anything good."

"Well, I don't see any reasons why I should be good to him when he actually tried hitting on my boyfriend." The jounin scowled. "And in such a blatant flirtatious way."

Iruka laughed softly. "So, what do you have in mind?"

Kakashi mused for a moment as Iruka watched him in curiosity. Then, something in him clicked and he grinned at his younger lover.

"What?"

"Well Ruka, we won't stand him up on the date tomorrow." Kakashi smiled.

"But….." Iruka stared at him, confused.

"Let me finish what I'm saying." Kakashi leaned forward and pecked a kiss on the chunin's lips.

"Uh huh… And what?" Iruka watched him bemusedly.

Kakashi shifted and started leading the younger man out of the kitchen and towards the bedroom. "Well, you know, it's not nice to actually stand someone up after you promise to turn up."

Iruka rolled his eyes as he trudged beside his boyfriend with the arms still tightly encircled around his waist. "So, what happened to 'you not being happy that I'm going on another dinner date and leaving you alone'?"

"I didn't say that's going to happen." Kakashi grinned.

"Then what?" Iruka frowned.

"Ah…. You know, that date is still on. But….." The jounin gave his lover a feral grin. "I will be the one going."

"Ka…. Kakashi?" Iruka almost choked.

"Yes. I will go and meet him personally. You know, we need a long-term solution for this." Kakashi shoved Iruka lightly into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. "It won't help if you just miss the date this time. He won't get the hint. He will still ask you out another time."

"So?" The younger man sat down in the bed.

"So, we need to let him know his place." Kakashi sat down beside Iruka and pulled him close. "Need to let him know that when someone says no, they means no." He turned and kissed the chunin's nose lightly as he whispered huskily. "And let him know that, he should never, ever, flirt or meddle with my boyfriend."

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Kakashi's agenda was simple. Wake up, get ready, and meet Naruto. Then, at six in the evening, he would on Iruka's behalf, make his way to the restaurant which Oukei had made a reservation and meet that chunin. Then, after warning Oukei off, he would enjoy the rest of the evening with his boyfriend.

Yes, it's that simple.

He couldn't help the smirk on his face as he thought about the 'conversation' he was going to have with Oukei that evening. How dare that man hit on Iruka when he was away on a mission. Previously, with his little conflict with Iruka, he couldn't be too bothered. But now that things were cleared up, he was so going to make Oukei pay for all that harassments.

Iruka eyed him warily as they walked towards the meeting spot arranged with Naruto. "I hope you don't take things too far when you meet Oukei-san later."

"Oh, you read my thoughts?" Kakashi gave him a masked grin.

Iruka sighed. "You promised, Kakashi."

"I know, love. I promised that I won't use my sharingan, my jutsu or my ninken on him."

"Does jutsu includes taijutsu as well?" Iruka watched as the jounin's eye curved up into an arc.

"Maybe?"

"Kakashi…." Iruka grimaced.

"Fine. I was just kidding." Kakashi wrapped an arm around the chunin's shoulders. "It will just be a talk between us and I will just let him off with a warning."

Iruka smiled. "I hope you keep to your words."

"As long as he doesn't try anything else on you, I won't do anything to him either."

Iruka nodded.

"But…." The jounin glanced at his lover. "If he does, I can't promise that I will take it too easy on him."

Iruka grinned and snaked his arms around the jounin's waist. "If he does, I will have him face my fury before he sees yours."

"Ah, sensei. What would your students say if they see you unleashing your anger on your poor, unsuspecting colleague?"

"Poor, unsuspecting?" Iruka snorted. "Who was the one talking last night about using his mangekyou sharingan and trap Oukei-san in another realm just because he was a conniving, flirtatious and unscrupulous person?"

"Maa…. It was the truth." Kakashi chuckled. Iruka snorted.

"Iruka-sensei! Over here!" As they neared the meeting place, they heard the familiar voice calling out at the top of his voice.

Kakashi rolled his eyes and Iruka shook his head in amusement as they walked over.

"Sensei!" Naruto ran up and enveloped Iruka in a bear hug. Jiraiya came up behind him, laughing.

"Jiraiya-sama." Kakashi greeted with a smile.

"Kakashi, glad to see you are doing well." Jiraiya nodded.

"As good as ever." Kakashi grinned as he shot a glance at Iruka who smiled.

"Ah well, the things are all laid out over there. Let's go over and sit. The others will come with the food later." Jiraiya turned and walked towards a clearing where a mat was laid out. Kakashi shrugged and followed. Iruka pried Naruto off him and walked after them, with the blond boy chattering away.

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Kakashi walked towards the restaurant and snorted. What a nice coincidence. Oukei had chosen the same restaurant as him. But well, who could blame the chunin. After all, the restaurant was the most popular one in the village and Kakashi was pretty much surprised the Oukei had still managed to get a seat so late in the week. He would have expected much of the seats to be snapped up as Valentine's Day neared. Hell, he had to make his reservation one month in advance.

But well, it made things easier for him anyway. After he finished off his conversation with Oukei, he could just go over to his table and enjoy dinner with Iruka.

He shifted the bouquet of flowers in his arms and stepped up to the counter at the restaurant at exactly 6 30pm, the arranged meeting time for Oukei and Iruka.

The girl at the counter glanced up at him. "Good evening. Anything I can help you with?"

"Oukei booked a table, didn't he? I'm here to meet him."

The girl blinked a few times at the hostility in the tone. Then she quickly lowered her gaze and flipped through the reservations book.

"Um yes…. He is here." The girl motioned for a waiter to show Kakashi in. "Table 27."

Kakashi followed the waiter in. They walked past the rows of tables and Kakashi finally spotted the chunin sitting at a table at one of the dimly lit corners. The jounin's eye darkened. What the hell was Oukei intending to do by choosing this spot?

He stopped the waiter and waved him away. Then he shoved one hand into his pocket and walked over nonchalantly.

"Good evening, Oukei-san." His eye immediately curved up into a smiling arc as he stood in front of the table.

Oukei glanced up and was startled by the presence of the copy nin. Before he could even say a word, Kakashi had sat down in the chair opposite him, placing the flowers at the side of the table.

"Ha…. Hatake-sama. It's a pleasure to see you here." Oukei smiled. "But that seat……"

"Are you waiting for your date?" Kakashi cut him off with a cheerful tone.

"Yes." Oukei beamed. "He should be arriving anytime soon."

"Ah… I see. I'm waiting for my date too. Well, since both of them aren't here yet, I hope you don't mind if I sit here for a while and chat. It's boring to wait alone."

"Of…. Of course it's fine, Hatake-sama." Oukei smiled nervously, not understanding why the jounin would choose him out of so many people. After all, it wasn't like they knew each other well. But well, who in the right mind would dare to reject a polite request from the copy nin anyway?

Kakashi adjusted his civilian clothes and settled himself in comfortably before he glanced at the chunin, the friendly disposition never leaving him. "So, let me guess. Your date for tonight is Iruka-sensei?"

The chunin gaped at him. "How… How did you…."

"How did I know? Maa…. Oukei-san, I was there when you asked him out, remember?" Kakashi had to bring out all his self control to keep the murderous intent from lashing out at the reminder.

"Oh yes, of course. I'm sorry, Hatake-sama." Oukei smiled politely.

Kakashi waved him off dismissively. He slipped his book out from his pocket and flipped it open to read it, all the while maintaining the conversation with the other shinobi. "So I heard that you like Iruka-sensei."

"Yes, of course. I don't deny that." Oukei smiled.

Kakashi forced himself to loosen his grip on his book as he continued to probe, keeping his voice steady. "What do you like about him?"

"Well, he's nice. And he got this limitless patience about him when dealing with kids. And of course, he's good looking. Who wouldn't want him?" Oukei sighed happily. "I'm so glad that he finally agreed to come out with me."

"Oh?" Kakashi's voice darkened. Then he cleared his throat and threw out the next question calmly. "So, how long have you known him?"

Oukei was a little surprised at the seemingly interrogation session. But Kakashi merely looked up from his book for a split second and gave him a one-eyed smile.

"Not for long. We only started talking two weeks ago. But I met him in the mission room sometime three months back and I have been watching him since then."

Kakashi's control almost slipped at that confession. He had to fight with all he had to keep himself from pulling out a kunai and throwing it at the man across the table. He lowered his book slightly and eyed the man almost intently.

"You do know Iruka is attached, don't you?"

Oukei nodded. "But that's not going to hinder me from courting him all the same."

"Have you even bothered to ask around who his partner is?" Kakashi's voice dipped down dangerously, teetering along the edge of murderous.

Oukei didn't seem to realize the change in tone as he continued talking happily. "No. I don't see the need. I want to win Iruka over with my own capabilities and strengths and not in comparison with another party."

"Noble enough." Kakashi said passively. "But you should at least gather some information about the other party before you decide if you should go ahead. Seems to me that you are oblivious about who the other person is."

"Ah…… Well…." Oukei shifted uncomfortably when he noticed the jounin's cold eye on him and the edge in the tone. "Um….. You don't sound too good, Hatake-sama. Are you alright?"

Kakashi cursed mentally for his slip and immediately regained his composure. He cleared his throat and the smile was back in place. "Yes I'm fine. Guess I'm getting a little edgy with my date being late."

Oukei laughed softly. "I understand. Mine isn't here too." He noted the flowers at the side of the table and changed the subject before Kakashi could continue with what he was saying before. "Nice flowers there. For your date?"

"Well, yes. It's our first Valentine's together by the way." Kakashi grinned.

"I see. That's sweet of you. I'm sure she would be very happy that you are so thoughtful." Oukei nodded.

"It's a 'he', Oukei-san." Kakashi stated calmly, keeping his eye arched up in a smile.

Oukei faltered for a moment before he fidgeted nervously. "Oh….. Um…. Sorry about that."

"It's alright." Kakashi leaned back in his seat. "Back to what we were saying earlier. Do you know anything about Iruka's boyfriend?"

"Oh well…." Oukei rubbed his neck and grinned. "He's a chunin."

Kakashi almost fell off his chair. Alright, so this dunce here thinks that Iruka is dating a chunin. What exactly is the meaning of that?

"Oh…. Who told you that?"

"Well, I guessed it." Oukei admitted sheepishly.

"You guessed it?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "What's the basis for that guess?"

"Well, chunin usually hangs around chunin. And jounin don't usually take note of us. You are an elite jounin yourself, Hatake-sama. You will know better. Don't you think so?" Oukei smiled expectantly at the older man.

"I really don't think so." Kakashi smiled, all the while fighting the rage rising up in him. 'You are probably right. I won't notice any other chunin. But I will definitely notice Iruka!'

Oukei was a little taken aback by Kakashi's response. He smiled and scratched his head."Uh….Oh… Um… I guess you are one of the few exceptions then."

"Ah…. Of course. I do appreciate people for their capabilities and personalities regardless of their ranks." Kakashi said cheerfully. Then, he slipped out his pocket watch and took a quick glance at it before putting it back into his pocket. "Well, my date is coming anytime soon. Before I leave, Oukei-san, I want to seek your opinion on something."

Oukei looked at him, surprised. "Of course, Hatake-sama. That's an honor. I will try to give you my best feedback."

"Great." Kakashi chirped. Then he opened his eye and looked at the other man solemnly. "Tell me, Oukei-san, do I look like a chunin to you?"

Oukei almost choked on the mouthful of water he had just taken. He stared incredulously at the copy nin. "You are kidding me, Hatake-sama. You are renowned throughout the village, the Fire Country and even in the other countries. You are a through and through elite jounin. Everyone knows that!"

"That's good to hear." Kakashi smiled.

Oukei returned the smile. "That's for sure. But I'm curious, Hatake-sama, why would you ask that?"

Kakashi's smile faded. His eye turned steely as he glared at the man across the table and the cold anger which he had been holding down radiated through his entire being. "Because I am Iruka's boyfriend."

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