I do not own Naruto!
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Tenzou threw himself heart and soul into his training for the next three days. The first time back in the arena was rough, especially since he had to be extremely careful about anything getting too close to his head. Sparring was not an option, especially with Gai, so the most Tenzou could do was play with his mokuton at long ranges. He didn't mind, though. For once, he welcomed the feeling of using his rare wooden element. He cared far too much about his team to let his fear get the best of him.
Slowly but surely, Tenzou delved into the intricacies of using the mokuton. He began to use it as an extension of himself, transforming his arm or his fingers into wood and extending them as far as he dared. Kakashi was useful in pushing Tenzou's limits, as he was fond to do, but the copy-nin was extra sensitive about potential repercussions due to their little incident with Gai.
"Why don't you try that with your chest, too?"
Tenzou looked at Kakashi like he was an alien. "...My chest?"
Kakashi smirked and stepped forward, placing his flat palm against Tenzou's padded armour. "Picture someone engaging you in close combat. Maybe he's got you cornered and both your hands are tied. What are you going to do? How useful would it be if you could extend wood from your chest like you just did with your arms?"
Realization dawned on Tenzou and a bright smile erupted across his face. "Ah! To push them back? Hmm..." He clasped his hands together and concentrated. It wasn't nearly as fluid as extending one of his limbs, it felt almost counter intuitive, but he was actually able to push a tiny plank of wood out of his abdomen after a minute of trying.
"Wow...it's like anything I can imagine, I can do..." he whispered, staring down at himself in awe. Kakashi couldn't help forming a smile that matched Tenzou's at the way his subordinates eyes positively glowed. It was moments like this that he could hardly resist his kouhai.
"I saw you reading some architecture books last night. Learn anything new?"
Tenzou blushed and scratched the tip of his nose. "Oh, that? Ah, that's just a hobby..."
"A useful hobby." Kakashi continued, his smile growing. "It would be nice to sleep in a little house instead of on the ground during missions."
"That's what I was thinking, but it seemed excessive. I just...well, I enjoy sculpting things. So I thought I would try it."
"Show me."
Tenzou turned red again, looking very much like he'd rather not. Kakashi laughed. "What's wrong? Why are you embarrassed?"
"I...well, I don't exactly have it right..."
"Tenzou. I can't even cut a snowflake out of a piece of folded paper. You have nothing to be embarrassed about." Kakashi deadpanned.
Tenzou laughed. He could see he wasn't going to get out of this without a demonstration, and Kakashi's comment did make him feel better. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind. After taking a few steps back, he formed his seal and pressed his palms against the ground. He flipped through the pages of his book in his minds eye, going through the structure, the floors, the way the planks of wood intersected. The ceiling, the beams holding them up. He pictured beautiful carvings, dragons, birds, swirling like smoke. Distantly, he heard Kakashi make a noise, so he opened his eyes.
He gaped.
A two story house stood before them. It was everything Tenzou had pictured, right down to the carvings. He couldn't believe it. He had just...well, he'd just kind of trusted himself and it happened. The mokuton was almost completely intuitive. As long as he had control over his own mind, he could control his wood release.
He was torn from his thoughts as he intuitively glanced to the side.
Kakashi staring at him with absolutely no reservations. His grey eyes bore into Tenzou's brown ones, reaching in, probing, intruding. Tenzou felt naked before Kakashi, felt his nerves ignite and his abdomen burn with the open desire his captain was piercing him with. If Tenzou had any doubts about how Kakashi felt about him, they were gone in an instant. His captain's eyes openly said "I want you now."
"DAMN! Tenzou, seriously, is there anything you can't do?"
Their moment was once again interrupted by Genma. He stared at the house in awe, his hands on his hips. "This is insane. Can I go inside?"
Tenzou had to run a very shaky hand from his forehead to the back of his head before he answered Genma without his voice cracking.
"Ah, actually, I would appreciate knowing if the floors are-"
"MY FRIENDS!"
They all craned their necks to look up. Gai was popping out of one of the second story windows waving his arm enthusiastically.
"The floors are a bit unstable, but this is quite incredible! I only fell through twice on the way up! YOU ARE MAKING EXCELLENT PROGRESS! HARD WORK PREVAILS!"
"Well. Never mind, then." Genma chuckled.
Tenzou chanced a glance back at Kakashi, but his captain was too busy looking up at Gai with an amused expression to notice. As always, their 'moments' were quick lived and forgotten. Frustration coiled inside his gut. Tenzou was getting sick and tired of Kakashi doing things like that to him and then pretending they never happened. The sexual tension between them over the last few days was almost unbearable. He absolutely could not keep his eyes off of his captain, especially if any skin (and the ANBU uniforms were not exactly conservative) was showing. In turn, he also felt Kakashi's eyes roaming his body when his back was turned, or if he was busy reading or training. He didn't know how much more of these strange games he could handle before he snapped.
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When the four of them teleported back to their rooms, Tenzou instantly wished to be as far from Kakashi as possible. He felt childish, but he was still angry. Being alone in a small space with his captain was not going to help matters. Besides, he wanted to avoid any more flirting. If Kakashi tried something when Tenzou was like this, he was definitely going to act in a way he'd instantly regret.
But...what could he do?
"What do you guys want to do for dinner?" Genma asked as he reached for the door handle of his room. "I was thinking ramen, but I'm too lazy to go out and get it."
Tenzou desperately wished he could offer to go, but knew he wouldn't be allowed outside. He sighed.
"I'll get us food." Kakashi offered.
Tenzou nearly cried out in happiness. What were the chances?
Obviously, no one was going to argue with him, so Tenzou amazingly got his wish. Within moments, he was alone in his room. He wanted to hug something but opted for his bed instead. He flopped onto it and lay on his stomach, sighing in happiness. It was so nice to just be...alone. Kakashi kept to himself a lot, but it wasn't the same. He missed having privacy. Being forbidden to go anywhere alone kind of robbed you of that.
Technically, he probably shouldn't be alone right now, but fuck it. He decided the best course of action would be to rest on his bed for around twenty minutes, which is how long it would take Kakashi to pick up dinner. Then, he would go into the shower, so that when Kakashi got home he'd have at least another ten minutes by himself before having to face his captain.
Surprisingly, everything went according to plan. Just as he turned on the shower he heard Kakashi enter the room. He had a moment of shinobi paranoia where he hoped to God it was actually Kakashi, but the copy-nin was considerate enough to give a lazy "its just me" before the springs of his mattress creaked and Tenzou assumed he started to read his book. He was starving, but his desire to be away from Kakashi overpowered his hunger 10:1. He took his sweet time and didn't emerge from the shower for twenty minutes. To his utter astonishment, Kakashi wasn't in the room when he came out, but had left Tenzou's dinner on the nightstand for him to eat at his leisure.
This was a little bit too lucky. Tenzou started to wonder if Kakashi had sensed his anger and was giving him his space.
Good.
Feeling not at all bad he plopped down onto his bed and happily shovelled his food into his face. He couldn't believe how happy being alone was making him. Clearly, Kakashi had gotten to him, and had gotten to him good.
When he'd finished his meal he left the container on his night stand and rolled over onto his side. He was feeling so utterly content that his eyes easily slipped closed and in just moments he was slumbering like a baby.
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When Tenzou opened his eyes, he instantly wondered what time it was. He felt like he'd been asleep for a while as his mouth was dry and not at all pleasant. It was the kind of feeling he got after passing out on top of his sheets; for some strange reason he never slept as well. Scientifically, sheets shouldn't really make the difference between good and bad sleep, but the evidence was against it. Before thinking about it, he rolled over on his bed and instantly wished he'd stayed facing the wall. Kakashi was, obviously, on his bed reading his book. Tenzou wanted to close his eyes and pretend to be asleep, but he didn't actually want to rest anymore. Maybe he would go and visit Gai and Genma.
Sitting up, he ran his hands through his hair a few times to fix the bedhead that was sure to be there. Grabbing his canteen, he unscrewed the tap and turned it over his mouth.
Nothing.
"Damnit..." he hissed. Water would have been really nice.
Movement caught his eye. Tenzou glanced over to see Kakashi's extended arm with his own canteen clutched in his hand. He wiggled it around a bit to entice Tenzou to take it. The temptation to ignore Kakashi was strong, but he didn't want to be childish and he was really thirsty. He bent over and took the offered liquid from his captain.
"Thanks." he muttered, wincing when it came out way more pissy than he intended. Not that he had a problem with Kakashi knowing he was driving him crazy, but he didn't want to be immature about it. He needed to keep face in this situation.
His captain didn't react at all. He just kept reading his book as if Tenzou wasn't there. Well, okay then. That made things easy.
He took a long swig from the water bottle and gasped loudly when he finally pulled away. Damn, he must have forgotten to drink water after they trained. He was dry as dirt.
"You can have all of it."
Tenzou stared at Kakashi in confusion. His captain still had not peeled his eyes away from his book once, and yet he seemed to be able to read Tenzou's mind. With a shrug, Tenzou emptied the canteen in less than a minute. With a deep sigh of relief at finally being hydrated he wordlessly handed the empty vessel back to Kakashi in the same manner it had been gifted.
Except Kakashi made no move to accept it.
Tenzou blinked and waited.
Nothing.
Well, whatever. Annoyed, Tenzou tossed the canteen sloppily to the foot of his bed and laid back down to stare at the ceiling. This was absolutely ridiculous.
About a minute passed before Kakashi spoke up.
"Can I have my canteen back?"
It was all Tenzou could do not to freak the fuck out. Instead he took a deep, calming breath, waited for his rage to subside and then answered.
"You missed your chance."
To his utter amazement he saw Kakashi extend his arm and wiggle his fingers. Tenzou's jaw dropped. There was absolutely no way Kakashi didn't see him offer his canteen a minute ago; he was a freakin ninja. Not just any ninja, mind you, but one of the most popular and talented ninja's in the village.
"Get it yourself." Tenzou hissed.
Nothing could have prepared him for Kakashi leaping onto his bed. Tenzou yelped loudly and sat up like a bolt. He came face to face with his captain who was crouched over Tenzou's legs, throwing and catching his canteen in one hand while he watched the mokuton user with a lazy expression.
Tenzou stared at him in open faced shock.
"...What..." he started, and then, he found himself unable to stop.
"WHAT the FUCK!?"
Kakashi's expression did not change.
"Something wrong?"
"YES!" Tenzou screamed before he leaped up and glared down at Kakashi, his chest heaving and his fists clenched. His captain stared right back at him and met his furious gaze with steady calm.
"Tenzou. What's the problem?"
The mokuton user was just...aghast at Kakashi's gall. He knew FULL and WELL what Tenzou's problem was, and despite openly antagonizing him, he was going to make Tenzou explain himself? Nope. Nope!
"Fuck off." Tenzou hissed, then spun and jumped off the bed. Absolutely no way, no how was he going to put himself out there. Kakashi was clearly fucking with him knowing exactly how Tenzou would react, and he wasn't going to play into his hand.
As soon as he put his hand on the doorknob Kakashi appeared behind him and flattened his palm onto the door above Tenzou's head.
"You know you can't go out there alone."
"I'm going to Gai and Genma's!"
"With what excuse?"
"I don't need a fucking excuse to see my friends."
Tenzou twisted the handle and yanked at the door, but Kakashi was pushing against it with his full strength and it stayed closed. Tenzou had half a mind to mokuton his stupid captain into next year, but decided against it wisely. He spun around and glared with all his might.
"Just GO AWAY."
"Tenzou. Gai and Genma can hear you."
Silence.
"What?"
"Its for security reasons. We fortified the rooms together. They are only sound proof from the outside."
Oh come ON.
Fuck.
Well, he obviously wasn't going to go there now. How damned embarrassing, and how perfectly convenient for Kakashi. Tenzou was starting to realize that he had played into Kakashi's hand anyway. Fucking stupid geniuses.
Tenzou shoved Kakashi away and stormed back to his bed. He felt like a petulant child, but he honestly couldn't have cared less. He had already cursed more in the last five minutes than he had his entire life, there was no going back now.
He sat down so hard the mattress bounced him back up a couple of times before he settled. He refused to face Kakashi and glared at the wall instead. He could not believe he was trapped in the room with someone he wanted to throttle with absolutely no other options.
He heard Kakashi sit down onto his own bed calmly and nearly threw a kunai at his head. He had never been so angry in his life. Why couldn't Kakashi have a normal fucking conversation? Why couldn't he be like 'I'm sorry, Tenzou, I know I've been stringing you along for the last few weeks, please don't be mad' or something. Instead, he opted to try and make Tenzou feel like an idiot, or do all of the work himself. It was just...it was infuriating, and not just that, but it kind of broke his heart as well. It was like Kakashi had no considerations at all for how he felt.
He had to stop that train of thought as he felt himself getting emotional. Anger was a lot less embarrassing than sadness, so he needed to keep that line of fire or risk severe humiliation.
"Tenzou..."
His shoulders lost a bit of their tension at the hesitant way Kakashi called for him. Slowly, he turned. Kakashi was sitting, cross legged, facing Tenzou. He looked...well. Tenzou wasn't entirely sure.
"What?"
Kakashi closed his eyes. He seemed to be concentrating really hard, as if he wanted to be sure of what he said next. Tenzou actually perked up and felt some of his anger dissipate. It seemed too much to hope for that Kakashi would be honest with him, but...
Instead of talking, Kakashi rose from his bed. Tenzou watched him walk over, his eyes swimming with emotions Tenzou couldn't place. He felt his throat close up at the familiar intensity that was building between them.
Kakashi stopped when he was standing directly over Tenzou. His eyes...looked sad. The mokuton user had no idea what to make of any of it.
"I...understand why you're angry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Kakashi paused to collect himself, and the two shinobi continued to gaze into each others eyes without looking away. "I haven't handled things well at all. It's my fault. I just...I don't know what to do."
The look of utter helplessness in Kakashi's eyes made Tenzou's anger evaporate instantly. He opened his mouth to say something, but Kakashi continued.
"The worst part of all of this is that I have no excuse. I know how you feel, and yet I still couldn't be honest."
Wait.
Huhwhatnow?
"I don't..." Tenzou started, looking as confused as he felt. "How do you know?" he asked quietly, as the way Kakashi said it had been so certain that it seemed as if it wasn't just a conclusion he was coming to. He really, actually knew.
"You told me."
Dread smashed into Tenzou like a sledgehammer.
"I...no I didn't..." slipped past his lips numbly, and yet, he knew exactly what Kakashi was going to say next.
"When you were on your pain meds, you did."
Wow.
Well.
Where were those Root ANBU when you needed them? Tenzou could really use a little bit of death right now. He looked as if he'd just been told he had two minutes to live.
Kakashi's heart wretched painfully at his utter and complete failure at trying to make the situation better. No matter what he said he always seemed to torture Tenzou.
Kakashi knelt before his kouhai, gripping the mokuton users shoulders tightly. "Don't look like that, please. I feel the same way."
Tenzou stared uncomprehendingly at Kakashi. The jounin smirked.
"I feel the same way about you."
Tenzou's mouth fell open. His entire face slowly flooded with redness. When Kakashi met his gaze steadily, the mokuton user realized that he was being completely serious. Well, it...explained a hell of a lot...
"But...why?" he whispered, and the hurt in his voice made Kakashi's grip tighten on his shoulders.
"It's just...it's a bad time." the copy-nin floundered, feeling like he was making pathetic excuses, but it was the truth. "You're in danger, I can't focus on anything but that. And, I don't really understand how...well, I've never even attempted to be with someone in the same team as me. I don't know what that means. I wanted more time to think things through, to feel them out. But, I understand that I ruined that for myself. I didn't realize how impossible it would be." he smirked suddenly, his eyes dancing. "You're far more irresistible than I initially anticipated."
Tenzou turned so red he thought he was going to pop. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kakashi...found him irresistible? Him? But Kakashi was so...he was so...
"Really?" he blurted out and instantly felt like an idiot at how amazed he sounded. Way to keep it cool, Tenzou.
Kakashi merely smiled warmly. "Yes...I couldn't keep away from you."
Briefly, Tenzou wondered if he had some kind of strange woodland pheromone that unnaturally drew Kakashi to him. It wasn't as if he was insecure or anything, but he just...didn't understand how someone like Kakashi could like him THAT much. But the more the thought about it, the more he wondered why he was so surprised. Kakashi had been flirting with him nonstop since he joined ANBU. The fact that he liked him should have been pretty damn apparent. He didn't know what the hell he was thinking anymore.
"Are you alright?" Kakashi chuckled, and Tenzou realized with embarrassment that his face must have been pretty classic.
"I...well...yes." he stammered, earning another grin from Kakashi. Great, he was acting like a complete tool. He just needed to think about this stuff afterwards and deal with the actual situation now.
"So...what do you want, Kakashi-senpai?" he asked softly.
Kakashi sighed heavily, dropping his head for a moment. His hands left Tenzou and went into his hair, making his frustration that much more apparent. Tenzou realized with affection that Kakashi was just as lost as he was.
"I just need time. If you want me to leave you alone, I promise I will. But I..." Kakashi stopped suddenly, as if realizing something. He raised his head and captured Tenzou's eyes with confidence. "Will you give me time to figure myself out?"
Tenzou didn't think he'd be able to deny Kakashi anything he wanted at this point.
"If you need it, then have it..." he whispered. His captain's eyes swam and Tenzou thought he was going to pass out from lack of hair. His throat had constricted so tightly it was hard for him to breathe.
Kakashi stood slowly, never breaking eye contact with Tenzou. The mokuton user craned his neck to follow the others movements, his large eyes wide and searching. Kakashi thought his kouhai was at his most desirable, and he found himself struggling for control of his own body. He stretched out his arm and gently grasped Tenzou's chin. He ran his thumb gently along his bottom lip. He wanted him, but he'd asked for time, so time is what he'd get. Having both was wrong and he knew it.
"Senpai..." Tenzou breathed. He had no idea what made him so bold, but before he knew it he'd flicked the tip of his tongue across Kakashi's thumb.
Tenzou's mouth opened as fingers gripped his hair roughly and yanked his head back. He let out a startled sound, but it was muffled by such incredible warmth that Tenzou nearly moaned. Kakashi's kiss was hard and ravenous, and Tenzou's hands pushed past his shirt and slid up his powerful back with barely contained hunger. White hot pleasure burned in their abdomens as Tenzou fell back against the bed, Kakashi crawling on top of him easily. They kissed mindlessly, their hips grinding against each other, tongues clashing heatedly. Tenzou moaned loudly and Kakashi thrust into him in response. The whimper that escaped the mokuton users lips almost made Kakashi rip his pants off. He realized faintly that they should probably stop, or the whole 'needing time' thing would be completely futile.
Right.
Luckily for them, the need to breathe was becoming more and more apparent. Their kiss began to wind down from searing hot to slow and sensual. With one last long, chaste kiss, they pulled apart. Their eyes refocused enough to see what had become of them. Tenzou's shirt was pushed up to his shoulders, his toned chest red from Kakashi's fingers. His lips were swollen and his eyes were glistening with lust. Kakashi didn't know how he was supposed to last with the image of Tenzou the way he was now burned into his memory.
"I...probably shouldn't have done that..." Kakashi panted with a small smirk. Tenzou smiled back, and to Kakashi's relief, it was warm.
"I'll give that one to you." he murmured. "I needed it."
Kakashi felt his smirk die on his lips. He really needed to get his shit together. As he ran a hand through his dampened bangs, he slowly raised himself into a crouch.
"I'm sorry." the jounin murmured, and he certainly looked it. Tenzou found himself unable to be angry anymore. He couldn't fully understand Kakashi's hesitation, especially since he was clearly ridiculously interested, but he could tell he was being earnest in saying he needed time.
"It's alright, Senpai. Wow..." he blushed furiously. "It feels really weird calling you Senpai after that."
Kakashi's eyes darkened and he leaned down again. "I like it."
Something important sputtered out in Tenzou's brain.
"Oh."
Kakashi grinned and swung his legs around, slowly stepping off of Tenzou. He held out his hand and the mokuton user took it sheepishly. With one easy pull, the brunette was on his feet before Kakashi.
"I feel like you need to use the bathroom."
"Yup. Yup, I do."
"Well. At least your not the only one this time." Kakashi smirked. "I'm just as hard as you."
Tenzou was about to get all embarrassed, except a thought occurred to him that stopped the impending blush in its tracks. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared up at Kakashi smugly.
"You know, I really doubt that I was the only one sporting anything in any of those encounters. I think you enjoy yourself far too much for that."
A large, toothy grin broke out on Kakashi's face. It made Tenzou believe he hit the nail right on the head, but his captain merely spun him around and shooed him into the bathroom as an answer.
He was so right.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Kakashi had just traded places with Tenzou in the bathroom when a light, hesitant knock resounded from the door.
Oh no...
Tenzou had completely forgotten about his rather loud outbursts at Kakashi. Gai and Genma were probably wondering if they'd killed each other. What the hell was he supposed to tell them?
I'll just...tell them the truth. I got into a fight with Kakashi. No one needs to know the nature of the fight, and everyone knows how infuriating Kakashi can be. No problem.
After taking a deep breath, Tenzou turned the handle and ripped the door open. He smiled brightly.
"Hey!" The mokuton user greeted overzealously.
Genma looked like he wasn't sure what he was going to find on the other side of the door. His nervousness dimmed down when Tenzou appeared to be of sane mind and whole body. The senbon wielder popped his head inside the room and looked around.
"Are you alright, bud? Where's Kakashi?"
"He's just in the bathroom." Tenzou answered pleasantly.
Genma straightened and looked incredibly relieved. "So, everything is good?"
Tenzou laughed lightly. "Yah, sorry if I worried you."
Genma looked like he didn't know what to believe. "Ah...yah. You seem mighty chipper considering you sounded like you were going to tear Kakashi's throat out with your teeth."
The mokuton user resisted the urge to laugh extremely loudly and artificially. He settled for a realistic sigh instead. "Yes. Well...he's...quite the character. But, everything is fine now. We worked it out."
Now Genma looked as if he was satisfied. He nodded sagely. "Well, that's good. Umm, working it out aside...if you ever need a change in company, please feel free to swap with me. I love Gai to death, but it's verging on the death side of things right now. I can see it might be the same for you and Kakashi. It doesn't mean you guys don't like each other, it just means you need a break. It's all good."
Suddenly, Tenzou realized this was exactly what they needed. Kakashi said he wanted time? Well, he could get all the time he needed. If Tenzou was honest with himself, being in the same space as Kakashi after they had made out like horny teenagers was probably going to be torture. This would also give his captain an opportunity to miss him a little, if that was even possible. Anyway, it sounded perfect.
"Actually...I think I might take you up on that, Genma."
The relief in his friends face made Tenzou worry about just how homicidal he had sounded in their fight.
"Great. Gai is strong, he can protect you from the Root boogie men, so I'm sure Kakashi will have no problems."
"No problems with what?"
They both turned at their captains voice. He had emerged from the shower, blessedly, fully clothed.
"I was thinking it would be a good idea if Tenzou and I switched places for a few days. You know, mix things up, give people some new company."
Kakashi, at first, was stone cold silent. Tenzou was actually terrified he would say no. What would that mean...? He didn't want to have him but wasn't willing to give him up? Was that healthy?
However, his paranoia was short lived. Kakashi actually smirked. "I see you heard our little row."
Genma laughed. "If you want to call that little."
Tenzou blushed furiously.
"Alright, I approve. Gai is forbidden to use his sleeping mask, though."
Tenzou's eyebrow shot up and Genma waved Kakashi's worry away. "I already told him he'd have to lose it."
After taking a few minutes to switch some of his stuff to the other room, the move was official. Tenzou sent one tiny look to Kakashi over his shoulder as he stepped out. It was returned, steadily, by his captain. It seemed to reassure Tenzou of the promise he'd made. As the door closed, the mokuton users heart felt full. Hopefully...hopefully, everything would work out.