A/N: And here goes. ^_^ The chapter before the epilogue. Well, the epilogue has nothing to do with Valentine's. But I haven't had my fill of tormenting Oukei yet and I really need to satisfy that sadistic streak of mine in torturing someone. But until it's out, hope you will enjoy this!

Chapter 10: Valentine's Memories

Iruka let the soft breeze blow across his face as he took in the refreshing air. He opened his eyes and looked over the cliff, marveling at the view he get of the entire village.

"Iruka, come here." Kakashi pulled the chunin to a spot and sat down.

Iruka arranged his things neatly beside him as he cuddled up to the jounin's warm body.

"Are we creating some new memories? Because I'm sure we hadn't been here before." He smiled when Kakashi wrapped his arms around him.

"Well, in a way, yes. I believe we will be creating some very nice memories for ourselves here." Kakashi shifted closer to the younger man. "And in a way, this place brings back some memories for me."

Iruka watched the older man, waiting for him to continue. Kakashi reached over and brushed a strand of hair from his face.

"Ruka, do you have the necklace which I gave you before I left for the mission with you now?"

Iruka shifted and glanced at the jounin. Then he grinned and reached into his shirt, pulling out the chain hanging from his neck.

"Right here."

Kakashi watched as the younger man removed the accessory and handed it to him. He took it into his hand and studied it, before he spoke.

"The only time I ever came to this place, was when I was four years old. My mother brought me here and told me her memories of this place." Kakashi said wistfully.

Iruka's eyes softened and he wrapped his arms around the jounin's waist, silently urging him to continue.

"Well, I don't remember much about what she told me. But I definitely remember the main point of her experience here." Kakashi smiled softly as he pressed the necklace into the other's hand. Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box.

Kakashi opened the box and held it out for the chunin. Iruka leaned forward slightly to study the pendant lying in it.

It was a delicately carved pendant in the shape of leaf with swirling patterns around it, decorated in gold and silver.

"My family heirloom." Kakashi smiled. "Passed down for generations. It's always given to the firstborn son of the family to give to their chosen partner. And well, I'm the only son anyway, and so, this comes to me after my father died."

Iruka nodded slightly as he tightened his grip on the older man.

"My mother told me that my father gave this to her as an acknowledgement that he is choosing her as his life partner." Kakashi grinned as he looked at Iruka, who was still staring at the jewelry in awe. "And Ruka, this is the place where my father gave it to her."

The chunin's head snapped up at that statement. Kakashi merely shrugged as he took the chain from the tanned hands and slipped the pendant through it before he shifted and secured the necklace around Iruka's neck.

"Now, it looks complete." Kakashi's eye turned up into a smiling arc.

Iruka felt his breath caught in his chest as his trembling fingers reached up to feel the necklace. He eyed the older man uncertainly.

"I've been meaning to give it to you." Kakashi scratched his head sheepishly. "But before I could actually do it, I was called away on that mission. And well, I thought I could do it all the same tonight, and so, I left half of the heirloom, which is the chain, under your care, until I come home."

"But…. But…." Iruka stared at the jounin helplessly, unsure of how to react to it.

"The final step to this, Iruka, is your decision." Kakashi eyed his younger lover tentatively. "Will you accept it?"

Iruka felt a rush of emotions running through him. He stared gaping at the older man for a few more moments before he realized that Kakashi was still waiting for his answer and as the time wore on, the jounin was getting more fidgety from the lack of response.

Iruka finally got his erratic heartbeat under control. He took in a deep breath to clear his throat. Then, with his mind made up, he smiled. "I will keep it safe for as long as I live."

Kakashi's tense posture finally relaxed. He pulled down his mask and leaned over, pressing a soft, lingering kiss on the chunin's lips. He pulled back slightly and grinned. "You do know that you won't be getting out of this."

Iruka smirked. "I have gotten that warning from so many people when I started going out with you."

"Ah…… I didn't know I have that kind of a reputation." Kakashi chuckled as he lay down on the grass, pulling Iruka down beside him.

"Oh yes, you do." Iruka sighed happily. "But whatever you have done for me tonight means so much to me." He admitted quietly. "Thank you, love."

"Anytime."

"Well, I do have something for you too. Just that, I don't think it will actually be of much significance compared to what you have given me." Iruka turned slightly and watched the jounin.

"Ah…. I almost forgot about my present." Kakashi grinned. "Well, whatever you are giving me will mean to me too."

Iruka smirked mischievously as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small document envelope. He waved it in front of the jounin enticingly.

"Special limited edition. Original manuscript. No one other than the author himself has it. Which means that it's not even out in the stores yet."

Kakashi's eye widened as he reached out and made a grab for the envelope. Iruka laughed as the jounin removed the seal and pulled out the neatly bound stack of papers.

"Icha Icha Anniversary Special? My sensei, I wouldn't have thought you would give me this." Kakashi leered. "And to think you are always scolding me for my choice of books."

"That's because you read it in front of my students." Iruka rubbed the scar across his face in embarrassment. "And I giving you this don't change the fact that you can't read it in front of them or in the academy for that matter."

"Of course." Kakashi tucked the envelope away safely as he reached over and pulled Iruka against him. "But mind telling me how you got that?"

Iruka gave him a wry smile. "From Jiraiya-sama."

"He gave it to you so willingly? I'm surprised." Kakashi chuckled.

Iruka blushed deeply as he shifted in the jounin's embrace. "Well…. Not really."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "I sense a story behind that."

"Well, when you left the gathering ahead earlier on, I told Naruto that I haven't gotten anything for you yet." Iruka admittedly quietly. "And I asked him for suggestions."

"You asked Naruto for suggestion?" Kakashi had to bite back a laugh. "So, did he suggest you getting me a year supply of ramen or some Ichiraku's coupon?"

Iruka elbowed him lightly. "No."

"That's new." Kakashi's eye twinkled in amusement. "So, what did he say?"

"Well, he gave me all sorts of ideas. But most of them aren't really practical, or they just don't suit your personality."

"And?"

"He gave me the last suggestion. He said Jiraiya-sama had a new limited edition out and he was going to bring the original manuscript to the publisher for printing." Iruka's face was getting redder, as he remembered how Naruto had tried to convince Jiraiya to give up the manuscript with excuses that had made him wanted to dig a hole and hide from the embarrassment.

Kakashi chuckled at the younger man's uneasiness. "So Naruto convince Jiraiya-sama to give up the scripts?"

"Yeah. And it was only after the threatened Jiraiya-sama that he won't help him to do any more research that Jiraiya-sama finally gave in." Iruka groaned. "What on earth has Naruto turned into?"

Kakashi rolled over and pinned the chunin under him. "For the better, I'm sure." He nipped the soft lips and whispered huskily. "Thank you."

Iruka smiled and wound his fingers into the silvery strands. "I'm glad you like it."

"You bet I do." Kakashi hummed in approval. "And I just thought of something. Do you think Naruto is on a date with Hinata now?"

Iruka laughed. "Yes. Before we parted earlier on, he said he is going to meet Hinata for dinner. Though from the way he said it, I don't think he even know that it's a Valentine's date."

"So, he's oblivious like you huh?"

Iruka snorted. "Stop making me guilty."

Kakashi laughed as he swept the loose strands of hair from his lover's eyes. "Happy Valentine's, Iruka."

"Happy Valentine's to you too." Iruka smiled as he reached up and caressed the pale face.

They remained in their blissful spot for a short moment before Kakashi shifted and look at the chunin, a mischievous spark in his eye.

"You know, I just thought of something. For safe measures, I think I got just the right plan to make sure that Oukei keeps his hands to himself."

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