As agreed, they went to Iruka's flat for the fourth day. They woke very early, and indulged in some leisurely touching and heated kisses, and then had to wipe the sticky release from their skin with damp cloths. Then, they spread the bed, did some quick cleaning and dressed. Kakashi packed a few of his favourite books and some uniforms, just in case, and they set off into the dark, still morning.
Iruka led the way, his hair loose as they leaped from roof to roof, landing on the tiles and pushing off with capable confidence. The air was cool, and Kakashi was sporting his scarf, thankfully. He still felt naked without his forehead-protector and mask, and he wondered how he appeared now, dressed in a loose pair of old trousers and another long shirt. Kakashi was a big fan of shirts like that. They were comfortable and easy to pull on, and he could drag the neckline up to cover his face, if he wanted to.
Iruka had chuckled when he had pulled it from its place on his shelf. "I thought you only owned that green one," he said, doing his part of their now effortless dance to put their clothes on while maintaining contact at the same time. "How many do you have?"
"Seven," Kakashi said, and smiled. "One for every day of the week."
"You gave me the yukata to wear." Iruka wrinkled his nose at Kakashi. "Next time, I want one of these shirts."
"Fine," Kakashi said and had felt surprised when he realized that there was going to be a next time. That sort of continuity was unprecedented in his romantic life.
Now, Iruka landed on the roof of one of the larger apartment-blocks and headed towards the covered entry of the stairwell. The door was open, and Iruka led him down four flights before stopping at another. He glanced at Kakashi.
"Want to try undoing my seals?"
Kakashi nodded, and hitched his rucksack properly over his shoulder. He stared at the door, and felt the webbing of chakra stretched over the wood and along the walls, shimmering in response to their proximity. It felt like searching for his own chakra, even though he hadn't placed these security wards here at all.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Iruka hissed at him when he revealed the Sharingan, but it was a good-natured sort of ribbing. Kakashi ignored his pinches, and smiled triumphantly when he saw the sliver of chakra which held the rest of the web locked together. He reached for it and then paused; too easy. Too obvious.
Iruka's fingers squeezed against his as Kakashi looked underneath that first level of chakra and found another slender string lying so incongruously behind it, the real key to unlocking the protective seal. He teased it out of its hiding place, making it fall apart and unravel the rest of the arrangement.
"That was excellent," Iruka said and Kakashi preened internally. Iruka laughed at his conceit, but it was rare that someone gave him such simple and yet heartfelt compliment. They were always awed at his accomplishments, amazed at his prowess; or brusquely brushing off what he'd done, since it was his job. Kakashi wasn't going to beg for anyone's attention, but Iruka's smile and acknowledgement felt so warm.
They stood in front of the door, grinning at each other like naughty children.
"Well, come on in." Iruka finally broke their joined gaze and opened the door, spreading his arm out in a demonstrative arc. "Welcome to my humble abode."
Kakashi looked around, noting all the details as they removed their sandals and placed them on a low, dramatically painted table. The colours were primary and the style wild, as if it was done by a child. His greatest impression, after that insane little table, was the amount of plants Iruka had in his tiny apartment. They were everywhere, and of all types: narrow bamboo and trailing vines, a few squat flowering types and one actual small tree that stood in the corner near the sliding door which led out to the tiny patio. These apartment blocks were built to contain an internal courtyard, where some of the shinobi trained when they were at home. Kakashi approved of the view when Iruka pushed open the door to let in air and the grey dawn. There were more plants outside, even a prickly cactus perched on the balustrade like a smug cat.
Balls of chakra hovered over each plant, containing varying amounts of liquid. At certain angles, the energy of the chakra was barely visible, so that it appeared as if there were bubbles of pure water lingering in the air. It was enchanting, like a fairytale and when Kakashi poked one, the surface of the chakra rippled and a tiny shower erupted from it to sprinkle on the plant below.
"Don't hassle the watering-spheres," Iruka chided, but he simply smiled when Kakashi touched another one and caused another miniature storm.
"So many," Kakashi said and looked at Iruka, who shrugged. "And where did you learn that chakra-ball technique?"
"My parents had a big garden at the back of their house. They tended to grow more plants than most people," Iruka said, plucking a few brown leaves from a hanging plant. "So they showed me, and I'd help take care of the whole thing. What do you think?"
"It's cluttered," Kakashi answered and Iruka laughed in that you're-so-silly-but-I-like-it fashion; Kakashi thought it was a cute laugh and then felt a little shiver down his back at the naturalness of that musing.
"I know." Iruka rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I keep telling myself to take some out, but I end up just getting new ones. At least Naruto's room isn't so bad. Here, let me show you."
Iruka led him towards to doors set side-by-side and pushed one open. It looked more like an office than a small bedroom, but Kakashi saw the narrow bed tucked along one wall. There were only two small plants inside, with their accompanying watering-spheres.
"So Naruto lives here?"
Iruka pulled the door shut. "No, he has his own place a few floors down, but he stays with me more often than not, the leech."
"Oh."
Iruka open the other door, putting his shoulder to it because it seemed to stick in its frame a little. "And this is my room."
Even more plants, but not as much as the living area. Iruka's bed was bigger than the one in Naruto's bedroom, and Kakashi angled away from its lure. He wanted to press Iruka against the soft surface and rock into him, and the desire burned deep in his groin.
Iruka cleared his throat and Kakashi looked at him out of the corner of his eye. Iruka was staring at the bed as well, but he asked, "Do you want to go to a training-ground later, and see if we could do the collaboration jutsu?"
"That would be acceptable," Kakashi answered and they both gazed helplessly at the bed.
Iruka turned to him and the words fell out so fast that they tumbled over each other: "Okay, but before that, do you want us to—"
"Yes," Kakashi growled and gathered him in his arms. Iruka lips were so pliant underneath his, so warm and willing, his hands grasping at Kakashi's ass. They walked together across the room to the bed and Iruka dragged him down onto it. Iruka's legs went up around his waist, rubbing up against him as he grasped Kakashi's face in his hands, fingers trembling as they stroked over his skin.
Kakashi took both his wrists as they kissed, and dragged Iruka's hands up over his head, pinning them there. He pulled away, smiling when Iruka raised his head in an effort to recapture his mouth.
"Ah, ah, ah," he taunted and squeezed Iruka's wrists. Iruka looked up at him with a half-lidded gaze, brown eyes smouldering.
"I see. And what do you plan to do with me now?"
Kakashi hesitated; he hadn't planned that far, very uncharacteristic of him. Taking advantage of his distraction, Iruka lunged up, snapping his head forward. If Kakashi hadn't jerked back, Iruka would have connected and probably knocked him out.
...the thought of that only served to arouse him even more.
Iruka laughed, a truly evil little chuckle, and moved under him, twisting and rubbing their clothed cocks together. Kakashi was still a little sensitive from this morning, but he was so far gone that he couldn't help up thrust back, watching Iruka's face as soft groans fell from the other man's lips with every movement. Iruka's gaze was locked with his, the pupils blown so wide that Iruka's eyes were darker than ever.
Kakashi felt Iruka's arousal winding like smoke, echoing through the seal and enhancing his own. He felt his breathing hasten as if he was in a fight, and Iruka nearly threw him off, he bucked so hard when he came. Kakashi followed a few beats after, his forehead pressed against Iruka's as he felt his body go limp with satiation.
"Huh," Iruka said when Kakashi rolled from atop him; they lay side by side, staring up at the ceiling. "That was…intense."
"Hmm." Kakashi felt the world shift and darken around him, and groped for Iruka's hand right away, closing his eyes at the relief that poured over him. For a long, content moment, he concentrated on the feel of Iruka's fingers curled around his, the sturdy strength of them.
"Okay, let's go," Iruka said, sitting up and making a face. "But let me get a clean washcloth first."
Kakashi tagged along to the bathroom, noting that there were plants set on the rim of the bathtub as Iruka searched through a narrow closet and pulled out a blue cloth, handing it to Kakashi; he stared at it as Iruka rummaged for another one, and then turned to look at him.
Iruka's mouth quirked up in a slightly wry smile. "This would be easier if we just took a bath together," he said.
"All right," Kakashi answered and they blinked at each other. "Shouldn't be a problem," he continued, and shrugged. "Right?"
"Right." Iruka bit his lower lip and Kakashi couldn't help himself, he leaned forward to claim a kiss. He liked how Iruka responded, hard and yet yielding at the same time, tongue sliding out to taste Kakashi's mouth with sultry licks. They pulled off their clothes slowly, cloth sliding over skin in with low murmurs.
Shyly, Iruka helped to wash him off and Kakashi did the same, pulling the soapy washcloth across Iruka's tattooed back as they stood very close in the small depression which marked the shower-area. Kakashi had never helped wash anyone before; he watched the cloth drag across ink and muscle, tiny soap-bubbles glistening on top of tanned flesh. He slipped a hand under Iruka's hair, lifting it out of the way as he concentrated on the skin at the nape of his neck. Iruka leaned so that his back rested against Kakashi's chest for a moment, before he moved away to run water into the tub.
They watched the water swirl, splashing against the rounded ends. Iruka held up his free hand and smiled.
"Katon? A small one."
Kakashi reached out his own free hand, clasping Iruka's fingers, palm-to-palm. They moved through the hand-signs easily; Kakashi watched their hands dance together, his long pale fingers twisting with Iruka's darker ones. He inhaled deeply, feeling their chakra shift and press underneath his skin, influenced by the power of the seal. Without consulting each other, they moved their joined hands to hover in front of Kakashi's mouth, so he could exhale the gathered chakra into a thin spire of flame and heat the water.
They were still standing close; it felt right to initiate a kiss once they were finished and so Kakashi did, turning to cup Iruka's cheek, then slide his hand along Iruka's shoulder and down his side (Iruka laughed against his mouth when Kakashi's fingers tickled down his ribs and the lines of his abdominal muscles), before reaching around to rest his hand on Iruka's lower back. It was an uncertain touch, and Kakashi disliked that his hands felt so unsure as they splayed across Iruka's cool skin.
Iruka wriggled against him so that Kakashi's hand slipped down, and he found himself with a handful of firm bottom; Iruka released their joined hands and put his arms around Kakashi's waist, hands roaming over Kakashi's back as he pressed slow kisses to Kakashi's cheek and jaw.
"More," someone whispered and Kakashi realised that it was he who had said spoken, voice low and needy. Iruka pulled back a bit, a strange little smile playing around his lips. He rubbed his nose along the slope of Kakashi's shoulder and kissed the jut of his collarbone.
"More?" Iruka pressed against Kakashi when the other man nodded, their chests so close that Kakashi could feel the steady cadence of his heart. They must have appeared fairly ridiculous, standing there beside the uncovered tub, completely naked and swaying slightly as they kissed and touched. Kakashi didn't mind.
Iruka pulled away and stepped into the tub, grasping Kakashi's hand again. After some moving around, and a minimum of splashing, they managed to find comfortable positions with Kakashi sitting in-between Iruka's legs. Kakashi felt awkward for a few moments, aware of Iruka's penis tucked up against his back; he shifted and Iruka murmured, "Careful," in an amused tone. He allowed himself to relax, head resting against Iruka's shoulder.
This was nice. Kakashi had never been so close to someone before; he rarely touched other people, unless he had to, such as carrying an injured team-mate. He had never sat with someone in a tub, feeling the press and slide of their body against his. It was surprisingly...comforting. He had no concern that Iruka would harm him, because he could feel Iruka's intents, at the very least. He concentrated, worming into that section of their bonded chakra that was still exclusively Iruka. There was a slow exhale behind him, and his mind was welcomed into a sweetly comforting core.
Kakashi suddenly wondered what it would be like to have Iruka inside him, and he felt overly warm.
"What are you thinking about?" Iruka asked, raising a hand out of the water and letting droplets fall into Kakashi's chest. Kakashi didn't answer; he wanted to savour this particular activity before he set his mind to worry around that sudden longing, more than likely influenced by their sealed chakra. He sent his mind in different directions, the method he used during battle to figure out different reactions of his opponents and how to react to them. Now, he treated himself as the adversary, and all the threads came back with the same response: what is your reason for fighting this?
"Kakashi?" Iruka kissed the curl of Kakashi's ear. "You're thinking very hard about something."
I want you, Kakashi thought, and experimentally, let his desire wind through their bond. Behind him, Iruka shuddered and whispered Kakashi's name again.
"Do you..." Kakashi cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head against Iruka's neck. "Let's have penetrative sex."
"Your sweet-talk is so arousing, Hatake-san," Iruka said, voice mockingly breathless and he chuckled; however, his cock pressed, hot and hard, against Kakashi's back. "How do you—"
"You should do it to me first." Kakashi sat up, removing himself from the circle of Iruka's arms with some regret. He stood up, rivulets of water streaming down his body, and reached for the towel Iruka had given him; he felt a firm touch on the back of his leg, keeping contact. When Kakashi dried himself off, he turned to look at Iruka, who was looking up at him with very wide, dark eyes.
"You want me to be inside you," Iruka said, picking his way through the words very carefully, as he rose himself; his hand dragged up Kakashi's skin, creating a wave of goosebumps.
Kakashi squared his shoulders and nodded. "I'm sure you won't hurt me. And I'll know what to do...next time."
Iruka's lips parted in obvious surprise and Kakashi dropped a quick peck on them, feeling a slight smile on his face when he pulled back. Iruka wasn't even blinking, his gaze tracking all over Kakashi's face as if he could delve any further into what had been said.
"All right." He wrapped his own towel low around his hips as Kakashi rest a hand on his elbow.
Then, Iruka reached for him.