Chapter 2

Sunflowers

Yos!

First off, thank you so much to my reviews, specially the guest reviewers. Yes! Ibiki is like a big scarred teddy bear! And I really don't think he's at all OOC, after all in the anime he did get in to an argument with two of his employees about where to get a pork dish. Sadistic, yes. Emotionless? No.

SlikyOtter: (love the name BWT) of course I did another, I love them too! And really? You think? I could have been really awful and actually crippled him or something! And who needs gloves? That's what pockets are for!

Iruka: is great to know you care Rythum -_-

Ryth: awwww, you love me once I get to the sex *beams*

Iruka: *facepalm*

...

The sound of bird song was the first thing Iruka heard when he woke up. It made him smile and sigh happily before stretching – and gasping in pain.

Oh, right. Hospital.

Slowly opening eyes Iruka blinked at the low light filtering in through the blinds, soft sounds of the outside world coming it with it. Carefully he rolled to his side and reached out for the water that stood next to the bed.

Sipping the glass of warm water slowly Iruka let his gaze wander. The beeping machines were gone as were the tubes from his arms, some of the bandages had been removed from his body, giving him a better look at the healing. There were a good number of new scars crossing his skin but Iruka pulled his attention away from them – he didn't want to think about it right then.

There were flowers everywhere, taking up pretty much every available surface in the room; that made him smile and wish he was feeling up to standing so he could have gone and read the cards he could see attached to the pretty glass vases. There was a huge bouquet of sunflowers sitting next his bed however with a big handmade card proudly displaying the words 'we love Sensei' in untidy colourful scrawl. It warmed his heart and made him fight tears as he reached out to touch one of the bright yellow blossoms.

You precious little dears.

Hopefully the Hokage would allow his class in to see him, he missed their smiling faces and he would need to thank them for the get well gift.

Brushing his fingers over the soft yellow pedals once more Iruka let his hand drop with a sigh. The room seemed quiet, though he could still hear the birds outside and the occasional 'clip clip' of someone walking past the door.

Staring back down at his hands Iruka was once again faced with the odd sight of three fingers and a thumb; it was weird, like something done in one of those cheesy old space movies Raidou and Genma sometimes made him watch. the strangest thing about it was his hands also seemed to be thinner than before.

I wonder how it will look once the bandages are gone? How will people react?

Iruka grinned at himself for that one. It was a ninja village, sure people would probably do a double take the first few times but loss of limb wasn't a strange thing to the men and women who lived here. The worst thing people could do, would be to get mad that it had happened to him – but Tsuande was right, it wouldn't affect him very much.

Yawning, he carefully curled his back, gently stretching it to relieve some of the ache when the sight of a stack of paper lying next to the window sill caught his attention. It hadn't been there before had it?

Wiggling over to the edge of the bed he leaned over as far as he safely could to try to read the words printed on the paper. It was fairly difficult but he managed to make out the letters 'T&I' before stopping and sitting back, whatever was on the paper – he was not supposed to read it.

Though, Iruka mused as he sat back against the pillows and picked his glass of water back up, if it was from T&I it must belong to Ibiki. Did he leave them there when Tsuande dragged him out? Or had he come back and just left the room momentarily?

Also from what Tsuande said the Jounin had been with him almost constantly for five days, why? Did he really feel that bad about what had happened? Or was there something he still wasn't remembering? He and Ibiki had been in contact before of course, but only ever on a work base. They'd never been rude but not overly friendly either, so why did it seem like the big man was suddenly playing guard?

A sound outside the window pulled him from his thoughts, a slight puff of air, like someone exhaling sharply before he heard the window slide open farther and the blinds were pushed to the side. A long leg made its way through the opening and a lanky but muscled body followed, a gloved hand held onto a small, decretive cloth bag while the person finally pulled the rest of their body through to land silently on the lament floor, revealing a sharp but masked face with a white, gravity defying mane.

"Kakashi?"

The Jounin started and spun around, shocked grey eye focusing in on the chuunin blinking surprised back at him.

"Ruk- your awake!" the bag was set down – well, more like hastily dropped on the window sill – as the white haired man sped over to the bed and wrapped his arms around the younger man.

"Your- they said you might not-" Kakashi pulled back and took in a breath, looking a little shamed that he had lost his control like that. Raising his head again the grey eye ran its gaze over the bandaged body.

"They took the tubes out. So that means you're getting better right? You'll be ok?"

Gently Iruka took the long fingered hand and removed it from where it was running over his torso, checking for cuts or breaks in the bone.

"That's what Tsuande said, just need rest and time to heal before going back to teaching" he smiled at that thought, a goal, a reason to behave, he missed his class room and all the kids. The smile faded though when he turned to face the other man "Yes, I'll be fine but – Kakashi? What are you doing here?"

The Jounin froze at the question, a pained regretful look in the grey eye when he turned it to meet the brown ones and Iruka could help but feel a small well of justice rise in his chest.

You should regret it, bastard.

"Ah, well I – I came to check on you. I was here with a team mate when Ibiki brought you in and it-" the grey eye closed while the older man took in a shuddering breath "They didn't know if you were going to live Iruka and I – Ru-koi, I was scared"

Iruka bit at his lip, he knew Kakashi was being sincere, he could see it but – it still hurt. After everything, everything he had done and given up-

"Well, I'm fine now as you can see so you can stop worrying about me"

A hurt look filled the dark eye and the long body slumped "I-Iruka, I'm still going to worry. Your important to me and seeing you like that reminded me of-"

"How's Tenzo?"

Iruka's hasty interruption could have been considered rude but it was necessary. He had to wake Kakashi up, just because the moron had bombed their relationship didn't mean he sat by and watched as Kakashi ruined another one – even if he wasn't overly fond of Tenzo, he would still respect that Kakashi was with him now.

"Ah, we broke up"

Or not. This complicated things.

"Oh?" Iruka quirked a brow "Why?"

"He- was cheating on me"

The bottom of Iruka stomach fell and he turned his head so Kakashi wouldn't see his tears "It doesn't feel good does it?"

There was a sharp intake of air before the long boned hands grabbed his "Iruka, Ru-koi, baby I'm sorry. Please, I fucked up and I can't even give a good reason for it but please, please believe me when I say I'm sorry and-"

The chocolate eyes slip shut as Iruka slowly pulled his hand from the loving hold "Kakashi" his voice was soft and low but it made the other man quiet regardless "Kakashi, I'm not trying to be cruel here but-"the dark eyes opened again and lifted to meet the grey one "I'm still on drugs, I can't move without hurting or get up without help. I really don't want to deal with a messed up relationship talk right now, ok?"

Kakashi looked pained for moment then slowly nodded before sitting back so he was still close but no longer in the younger man's space "I understand. Just please know if there's anything you need I'm here"

Smiling Iruka nodded, making Kakashi brighten as the grey eye gained a happy light. Mentally sigh Iruka knew he would have to be careful. Though he and Kakashi had been great friends and were very comfortable around each other he had to make sure Kakashi didn't back him into a corner. Though it was clear the older man was all for getting back together Iruka wasn't going to fall for it this time.

Kakashi had proven that he was very flighty in relationships – at least in theirs he had been, though Iruka hasn't sure if he was indecisive or just still stuck in old habits built over years. At any rate, he could enjoy Kakashi company but would have to make it very clear that they were in no way back together.

Not until he was sure Kakashi would put an effort into it.

"So- what's in the bag? You bringing me presents?" Iruka grinned cheekily while distracting the other man. It worked; Kakashi looked confused for moment before giving a little 'oh!' and bouncing up to retrieve the bag.

"Ya, I've been bringing them the past few days in hopes you'd be awake but have had to give them anyway when you weren't. One another note, the nurses really like me now"

Iruka laughed at the beaming face and was once again reminded why they had been such good friends. Kakashi relaxed around him and would start to act silly, knowing Iruka would never mock him for it.

The bag was slipped open and a familiar sweet scent hit Iruka nose, "Sugar cookies!"

Kakashi smiled and set the bag down by the huge vase of sunflowers "You should be able to have them once you're cleared for solid food and since they've taken you off the machines that should be soon. They were Suzune's idea by the way" the masked face nodded to the bright yellow flowers "She brought them in though the kids bought and picked them out. Something about internal suns and making the room brighter for when you woke up, though they wouldn't let the kids in"

Iruka nodded "That's probably a good thing. I'm sure I wouldn't have liked them to see me hooked up to a blood bag and breathing mask"

Kakashi hummed and absent mindedly stroked one of the big blossoms "That was our thought too, though now your awake and look mostly alive you could ask to see them, I'm sure the kids won't say no"

Iruka tried glare but it fell away to a grin, he knew the 'mostly alive' joke was a cover for how worried Kakashi had been.

"That would be great, I'll have to mention it to the nurses next time I see them. So uhh – how long have I been out? Tsuande told me a bit but no pacific times"

"Ah" Kakashi dropped into one of the plastic chairs and slouched back "Today would make it a week since you came in, three weeks since you went missing"

Nodding Iruka tapped his fingers on the bed spread only to stop when pain shot through his hand; the movement drew Kakashi's gaze downward and his eyes narrowed, a hard, mildly horrified look in the grey eye "Wh-what happen to your hands?"

"Mmm?" blinking Iruka held his hands up "You're saying you didn't notice that before? What about the other times you've come to see me?"

The grey eye narrowed "I checked on you by looking through the window. This is the first time I've managed to get in the room" there was a definite sulking tone in the deep voice that normally would have had Iruka rolling his eyes, but what had been said was strange.

"What? Why? Surely the staff wouldn't have kept you out"

"They didn't" Kakashi's tone dropped and he slouched back in the chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared at the door. Confused Iruka looked over in time to see the panel slide open, revealing the lumbering form of Ibiki, two steaming cups balanced carefully on one big arm.

The big man had to stoop slightly to fit through the low doorway, the scarred face rising to lock gazes with the copy nin even as he slid the door shut behind him.

"Hatake"

There was no form of greeting in the way Ibiki spoke the name, in fact it almost sounded like a threat. Kakashi however didn't blink, just narrowed his gaze and glared defiantly back at the other man.

"Morino"

Iruka glanced between the two of them, the dark threatening atmosphere causing trials of fear to start curling in his belly. The rational part of his mind knew it was the beginnings of a panic reaction, the fact the other two men were much stronger and more powerful than him seemed to be screamingly frank at that instant and the still damaged part of Iruka psyche was shrinking from what it saw as new pain.

It's fine, they're not going to- just calm down, your over reacting, they won't hurt you, you stupid moron

Taking in a breath Iruka tried to calm his nerves without drawing the attention of the other two – it didn't work. At the sound of his exhale both men were looking back over at him. The threatening aura's disappeared instantly as they both noticed the slight tremble in the bandaged hands.

Both Jounin looked slightly shamed, though neither said anything about it, not wanting to lose face in front of the other. Iruka forced back a sigh; he'd forgotten Kakashi and Ibiki didn't get along – for what reason he didn't know, though in hind sight, you didn't always need a reason to not like someone.

"You're awake again" chocolate eyes turned to Ibiki who walked slowly across to the bed, a small smile on the scarred lips "Good, you are getting better then. Here" one of the cups was held out to the smaller man, steam curling off the top "Herbal tea, not the stuff that tastes like drain leavings, the one that's actually nice"

Iruka grinned and took the cup with a small 'thank you'. Taking a sip he hummed appreciatively as the warm flower scented liquid left a trail down his still slightly sore throat to his empty stomach.

"The Hokage says we have to start you back on food slowly, after the starving in Stone then the week asleep we're going to have to stick with liquids and soups for the time being"

"Ah" Iruka smiled while he took another sip and turned his gaze to the Jounin who was still slouching in the corner, watching them with a hooded eye "Can I get a rain check on the cookies then Kakashi?"

Kakashi blinked, then smiled "Sure, I'll take you to dinner when you get out"

Iruka inwardly frowned at the line but kept his smile in place - Already trying for a date Kakashi? - But before he could answer a low growl came from Ibiki.

"Hatake, what are you doing here?"

A dark smirk took over Kakashi's face while he stared challengingly back at the other man "Visiting Morino. It's not illegal"

The black eyes were narrowed into silts, warning clear in their depths "Visiting hours are over, and usually people are expected sign in –not slip in through windows"

Kakashi frowned, arms once again crossed over his chest "And what about you? Your still here"

"I have permission from the Hokage as his captain"

"As his captain?" Kakashi snorted "Aren't you the reason he's in here?"

A thunderous expression passed over Ibiki's face before going blank once again, Iruka glanced between the two of them and decided to intervene before Kakashi got his idiot ass killed.

"Kakashi, you can come back tomorrow. Go get some sleep alright?"

Kakashi glanced over at him and instantly his gaze softened. Sighing he stood and scooped up the cookie bag. Stepping up to the bed he leaned forward and Iruka realized nearly too late that he was trying to get a goodbye kiss.

Quickly Iruka turned his head to the side, he couldn't stop Kakashi but he could control the extent of the contact. Kakashi hesitated for less than a second then pressed in anyway, giving the younger man a quick kiss on the cheek before straightening and head for the door, saluting Ibiki lazily on his way out – though Iruka knew it was more to spite the other man than out of respect.

It was quiet for a time as Ibiki glared at the door then walked over to drag a chair closer to the bed, sitting down while he took a sip of his own tea. Iruka absent mindedly rubbed a hand over the spot Kakashi had kissed, whether it was to get the feeling off or not he wasn't sure.

Ibiki watched the movement, eyes down cast as he took another drink from his cup before he set it down to the side.

"Are you dating Kakashi?"

The question came out of the blue and Iruka looked up startled "W-what?"

The big shoulders shrugged "Are you dating Kakashi? He was always trying to get in here while you were asleep, and with the kiss it the end-"

"Ah" Iruka smiled sadly as he leaned back against the pillows "Not that it's any of your business" he grinned when the Jounin glared then sighed "We were dating, but we broke up a few months ago"

Nodding Ibiki stared down at his cup, not meeting the chocolate eyes "May I ask why? You two seem pretty friendly for ex's"

"We were good friends before dating so we're still fairly comfortable with each other. Really it's the first time I've seen him since the breakup, I was pretty hurt and did a good job of ignoring him, and he was the same. But when the guy who used to be your best friend comes in baring cookies you don't send him out"

Iruka grin was met with an eye roll, then he sighed again "In truth I'm not sure how to deal with him, Kakashi can be very brunt and forceful when he wants something – it the only reason we started going out in the first place – but since we were such good friends it actually was good for a while, nothing really changed much except for certain obvious areas and I guess that was the real problem"

Ibiki frowned and leaned forward slightly "How so?"

Iruka smiled ruefully "You don't have to be the biggest gossip hound in the village to know Kakashi's tendencies toward bed hopping. Maybe it was my fault for just assuming that would stop when we started dating"

Ibiki froze, a shocked look on the scarred face "He cheated on you?"

Looking away Iruka nodded "I can only prove the one time, though I know there must have been more. We were reaching our 'eight month anniversary' not that either of us were paying attention to it when I came home to find Kakashi in bed with one of his ANBU friends."

Scratching at the back of his head Iruka sent the other man a sheepish grin "Not quite clear on what I did after, though I vaguely remember punching one or both of them before tossing them out. I believe Kakashi had been talking but to be honest I really can't remember what he said. That was three months ago and today was the first time we've spoken" the grin slipped from his face while the chocolate eyes dropped their gaze back to the white covers "Anyway, that's the story"

A long silence stretched between them and Iruka could practically feel the big man trying to find something to say. It was kinda cute but finally Iruka took pity on him and started up the conversation again, switching it away from Kakashi as it didn't feel like a safe topic.

"So how was drinks with Tsunade?"

Iruka grinned the older man looked stunned for a moment then groaned, dropping his head into his hands "That woman is crazy. She dragged me to seven different bars, only to get kicked out of each one"

"What, you mean you stayed with her the whole time?" Iruka snorted "Rookie"

The look the big man gave him was great, sending Iruka into a happy peal of laughter before winking "I've been dragged out with her before. The trick is to make sure she gets the strong stiff right off the bat then you escape out the bathroom window"

Glancing over at the bigger man Iruka laughed "Scratch that, sneak out through the kitchen – you won't fit through the window"

Ibiki snorted in amusement "I'll remember that – though one night stuck with that woman was more than enough. I have a whole new world of respect for Shizune-san now, dealing with her everyday"

Chuckling Iruka nodded "I was her replacement for three days once when she got sick – it's an impressive feat of hers that she's still mostly sane. Just don't ever ask her if she's ok – it sets off her panic attacks"

Ibiki gave him a look like he wasn't sure if he believed him or not. Iruka only grinned back, quickly raising an arm to stifle a yawn that left him blinking sleepily.

Gentle hands brushed against his and Iruka looked up to see Ibiki carefully taking the cup from him before reaching out to move the pillows, the thick arms wrapped around his back and eased him down gently.

Dark eyes watched as the Jounin moved to the door and switched off the light so only a trickle from the other side of the door and a soft glow from a street light outside illuminated the small hospital room, having done that Iruka listened as Ibiki moved back to his chair, a soft creak coming from it when the Jounin sat back down.

"You're not going home?"

Iurka's voice was low and sleepy as he fought to stay awake.

"I can stay a bit longer" the deep bass was gentle and soothing "Go to sleep Iruka"

He didn't reply as the peaceful dark crashed over him like a gentle wave, pulling him under while the warm flickering of Ibiki's chakra filled the room and let him fall asleep, knowing he was safe.

...

aaawww, cute right?

so! there are our three gorgeous guys! Kakashi you idiot -_- why must you always make things hard for yourself?

Kakashi: technically, that's your fault

Ryth: Muha? *points to herself* now why would you say that?

Kakashi: *growls*

Ryth: *giggles* So! there we go! I'm still writing the story but I think I might have enough chapters backlogged to be able to post weekly - that's the hope anyway.

cheers! Please review!