Chapter five: Throwing Caution to the Wind

I was sitting on a couch – Iruka's couch, staring at the ceiling, waiting for something to happen. I was bored out of my mind, tracing imaginary patterns in the ceiling. Suddenly, I feel warm hands gently run over my shoulders and down over my chest, from what I tell intentionally brushing over my nipple. I immediately tense up as those arms – strong, tanned arms fold over me, fingers tracing circles on my collarbone.

My shinobi instincts are on overdrive. I had forgotten to check the apartment. It was dumb, just fucking dumb. Even if the said apartment belonged to possibly the most liked man in Konoha, it was sloppy and it just told me that I needed to sharpen up. It was not an easy task to keep up with ninja of Naruto's generation over the age of thirty. I just need an intense workout, or so I told myself, but first, I needed to take care of the current problem.

I used my right to snatch the hand curled over my left shoulder –the intruder's right hand– and yank it off of me, pulling the man half over the top of the couch. I turned my head, my eye hard and calculating, ready to see an array of faces – faces of people who want me dead or people I have lost.

Who I see makes my breath stop short in my throat.

Iruka had a smile small on his face, his hair undone and falling in waves above his shoulders. He leaned in closer to me, our faces only centimetres apart. Iruka sealed his lips over my masked ones. It was a rather awkward position, so I pulled him over the couch and pushed him down. I hovered over him. If he wanted to tease me like that, then he should be willing to go further.

I pulled down my mask, looking at the sight laid out before me. Iruka was dressed in his uniform, but fortunately for me, he was without his flack jacket. I was having a hard time holding myself back.

I crashed my lips onto his, my tongue stoking his bottom lip, asking for entrance. It was soon granted and I plunged into that hot mouth of his, feeling out every available surface, gliding my tongue over his teeth and then the inside of his cheeks. He tasted so exotic. Iruka had a sweet taste to him, which I unconsciously pegged as cinnamon. I was never one for sweet things, but this I knew I would soon to be addicted to.

I moved around his tongue and to my surprise and pleasure, Iruka reacted. We soon had a heated battle for dominance which I won, but pulled away for much needed air. I looked down at Iruka, he was panting slightly from our kiss and his face brushed with a pink tinge.

I was focusing so intently on his face that I neglected to notice his hands had left his side, until they rested on my lower back. His fingers sneaked under the hem of my shirt. I felt his shuriken calloused fingers slide over every muscle, mapping out every dip and curve on my back.

"Maa, you sure are bold tonight, Iruka-sensei," I said, lowering my head to kiss him again.

This time, Iruka broke the kiss, looking up at me with his dark chocolate eyes. "'Kashi…"

I failed to hear what he had said. I saw his lips move, but loud banging replaced his words. Iruka looked up at me, as if he had just asked or said something important, but that loud racking continued.

Kakashi was roused out of his dreams. The jounin sat up and ran his fingers through his hair. Kakashi had to take a moment to recollect where he was. He was sitting on a green couch, in a vaguely familiar surrounding – he was in Iruka's apartment. He had decided to wait for the chuunin there and somewhere along the line he had fallen asleep.

The loud knocking came from the front door. Kakashi looked at it like it had just burned his favourite Icha Icha novel. The Copy Nin got up and stomped his way over to the door. Kakashi made sure he had his default expression in place; the one everyone said was a look of indifference and boredom. The jounin yanked the door open, eager to get rid of the pest at the chuunin's front door.

"Hey, Iru- What are you doing here, Kakashi? Where is Iruka-sensei?" Naruto shouted.

"Well, firstly, it's a free country, so I can be here if I want to. And secondly, if I knew, I wouldn't be here, opening the door for you," the silver-haired shinobi said in a bored tone.

The blonde gave Kakashi a pointed look for a moment. "Well, if you see him, tell him I want him to come to dinner tonight, Sasuke and I want to tell him something."

"I'll be sure to pass the message along the grape vine."

"Huh?"

Kakashi sighed. "I'll be sure to tell him."

Naruto smiled. "Great, thanks Kakashi!" The blonde jumped down the stairs, going home.

The jounin went back inside and closed the door behind him. Kakashi looked over at the clock mounted on the wall by the kitchen. It had been well over two hours since he had left the hospital. Kakashi remembered letting himself in through the window. In the first hour, Kakashi had reached his fifty page limit for the day concerning his new Icha Icha Violence, volume three. In his boredom, he had fallen asleep and had one of the best dreams he had had in a long time.

Kakashi ventured over to the book shelf, he took out the Tales of Genji – he had yet to finish it since his previous visit was cut short. The jounin sat down, relaxing into Iruka's sinfully comfortable couch.

XxxxX

Iruka sighed. He looked across the room at Tsunade, who was at this stage of their discussion, was pouring her first drink. The chuunin was surprised that she even held out this long, since they started arguing not too long after Kakashi had left the room.

The Godaime sipped at her sake, trying to fight off an oncoming headache. The chuunin sensei certainly knew how to raise his voice and make a bombastic explanation. Tsunade set the empty cup down, using her free hand to pour more rice wine into the cup. She looked over her desk, and at the shinobi sitting on the other side of it. The two had moved their discussion to her office – there was no need to disturb the hospital patients or accidentally leak some confidential information.

"Are you at least going to consider the proposition?" Tsunade asked, narrowing her eyes at the brunette.

"Tsunade-sama," Iruka said, "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Sandaime-sama: I'm not interested."

The blonde sat up, digesting the new bit of information that had been handed to her. "So, the Sandaime made the same proposition? How many times did you turn him down?"

Iruka sighed, thinking back. "Well, five times I think, I never really kept a track record of those things."

Tsunade felt her temper rising. "You're only holding yourself back, Iruka-sensei."

"And that's the way I want to keep it."

The Godaime grumbled in the back of her throat, gulping down what was left in the bottle. "You're impossible."

"It's just safer that way." Iruka chewed on his bottom lip, a nervous habit that refused to break. "If that is all, Hokage-sama, I will take my leave."

The chuunin got up. Tsunade grunted, waving her hand towards the door. Iruka bowed and left the blonde to her sake. Iruka knew that he had to meet up with Kakashi, but the brunette was not one for company at the moment.

Only a few people knew about his secret; most of them had already taken the secret to their graves. Tsunade was one of the three living people that knew, and the deceased consisted of his parents, and the Sandaime. He had no one to confide in – not like Naruto. No, if Naruto knew, only disaster would be born from it. Tsunade was pressing him to do something he had been avoiding for years already, and he had no intention of doing it any time soon. The only people he could really talk to would be his parents and Sandaime.

Iruka left the Hokage Tower and made his way to the cemetery, taking the back roads in order to avoid most of the civilians and some shinobi. The chuunin stepped into the clearing and was happy to see that no one was at the memorial.

The brunette walked over to the Memorial Stone, pressing his forehead against the cool stone, sighing out his frustration. The chuunin took a step back, his eyes automatically falling on the names of his parents. He had not been to the Memorial Stone since the Sandaime had died and he felt a pang of guilt at the thought.

The brunette traced his fingers over the names, his mood disappearing like the ebb and flow of a wave. Iruka put a small smile on his face, knowing it would not fool anyone.

"Hey Mom, Dad," he said. "It's been a while."

Aan almost eerie silence filled the air. Iruka just stared out at the grey stone, his memories occupying his thought.

XxxxX

Kakashi buried his hand deep into his pocket, the other holding up his Icha Icha book. The jounin was making his way to the Memorial Stone. He had to tell Obito what had happened earlier that afternoon. In the past, Kakashi told his friend about more than his team and his missions, he also told the Uchiha about his feelings for the chuunin sensei. The least the jounin could do was get up and tell him that there would be no more moping on about a lost conquest for love any longer. He had also finished Iruka's book so it was partly out of boredom.

The Copy Nin walked calmly past the training grounds, looking at the logs where he had tied Naruto up and where the four of them had become Team 7. Kakashi looked back in front of him and stopped as he saw Iruka standing by the Memorial Stone.

"Maa, here you are, Iruka-sensei," he said, as he made his way over to the brunette.

Iruka looked at Kakashi, but did not utter a word.

The jounin noticed this and stood right by the chuunin, his shoulder slighting brushing against the brunette's. Kakashi glanced at Iruka and then to the engraved stone. They might have been there for different reasons – for different people, but the Copy Nin wanted to know what was weighing on the chuunin's heart. Kakashi knew it ran deeper than just standing in front of the Memorial Stone and getting lost in memories. However, he knew that it was neither the time nor place to ask.

The two of them stood there in silence, both content to be there to be comforted by the respective ghosts of their pasts. Rain started to pelt down from the grey, overcast sky. The fat, cold drops fell on the shinobi, quickly soaking their clothes through as they remained still.

Iruka was the first to break the silence. "We should head back," he said. "I don't want to have to nurse you if you get a cold."

Kakashi let out a low chuckle, happy to see the brunette smile again. The jounin followed Iruka back to his apartment, taking off his sandals at the door. He unzipped his jacket and hung it up next the brunette's.

"Would you like some tea?" Iruka asked, switching on the kettle.

The jounin walked towards the kitchen, and sat down in one of the chairs. "That would be nice, thank you."

The chuunin smiled at the silver-haired shinobi, giggling softly. Kakashi's usual, crazy lopsided hair was a dark grey colour and long bangs were plastered to the side of his face. Iruka left the room and came back with a towel, throwing it onto Kakashi's head. He dried the jounin's hair for a minute or two. When the brunette removed the towel, the jounin's hair was back to normal.

"There, that's better." Iruka left the towel on Kakashi's head and went to finish their tea.

The chuunin set the two cups onto the table. Iruka sat down, staring at the steam rising from his cup. Kakashi ignored his tea, too busy observing the other.

"So," he said, "about earlier." Kakashi saw a blush dust the chuunin's tanned skin. He was really too adorable for his own good. "When I said that I liked you – I meant it."

Iruka sat up, looking at the older man with wide eyes.

"You know those stories about jounin being bat-shit crazy? Well, they're true and I think the term started when people didn't know how to describe me. I just want you to know that if you do by some insane reason do decide to return my feelings, that I'm not an easy person. I'm paranoid, I'm caught up in the past and I don't know how to handle my emotions. On good days I just bury them. I often blame myself for Sasuke's defection to Sound. I think that if maybe I didn't push them to be in the Chuunin Exam that maybe, none of this would have happened. My entire life revolves around missions and protecting Konoha."

Iruka sighed, taking his tea in hand and took a long sip. Kakashi gave the chuunin a pointed look. There he was spilling his guts in front of him and the brunette was drinking his like the jounin was not even there.

"Why do you list your faults?" Iruka asked, putting his tea down. "Weren't you the one that told me to stop doubting myself?"

"I…" Kakashi thought about it and found that he was right. He doubted himself. Doubting if he could have a relationship with this warm hearted chuunin sensei who he had fallen head over heels for.

Iruka had a warm smile on his lips, it was small but it was sincere. The brunette stood up and walked over to stand in front of the jounin. Iruka laid a hand on Kakashi's face, his thumb tracing the rim of his mask. The brunette gently pulled the dark fabric down, feeling his heart swell that the jounin was allowing him to do it. Iruka held his breath, plant a chaste kiss on the Copy Nin's cold lips.

The chuunin drew back before Kakashi could deepen the kiss. The jounin whined and pulled the tanned shinobi down to sit on his lap. Kakashi cupped the back of Iruka's neck and pulled him in for another kiss. The Copy Nin stroked his tongue along the other's warm lips, wondering if his mouth was just as warm.

Iruka was uncertain. The jounin had only told him about his feeling only hours prior and the brunette felt that he was moving too fast. Iruka pulled back and looked Kakashi in the eye.

"I-I'm sorry," he said. A deep red blush heated his face. Iruka turned his head to the side, but made no move to get off of the Copy Nin.

Kakashi mentally slapped himself. How could he have been so stupid? He only confessed today and now he already wanted to practically take it all the way. It was Iruka he was dealing with – not some fuck buddy. Kakashi cupped the tanned shinobi's cheek and turned him to meet his gaze.

He said, "Hey, there is no need for you to apologise. On the contrary, I think I should be the one apologising." Kakashi stroked Iruka's cheek, feeling calm in doing so. "I wasn't thinking."

Iruka bit his lip and tried to hold back his laughter. The brunette failed miserably.

"What's so funny?" the jounin asked.

Iruka let out his laughter, burying his face in the crook of Kakashi's neck. "I'm sorry, it was just too hilarious."

The silver-haired shinobi still had no idea what the chuunin sensei had found so amusing.

"You had such a cute expression on your face, but I just couldn't take you seriously with that towel still on your head."

Kakashi grabbed the towel and threw it of into a corner. Iruka stopped laughing and got up. "Come on, you can take a shower and I'll give you a clean change of clothes. As I said before, I don't want to nurse you if you get a cold."

"Aw, I was looking forward to you giving me my medicine in bed, dressed in a sexy nurse's outfit." The jounin knew he was going to get a reaction from that and that was exactly why he said it. But, now that he thought about it, Iruka in a nurse's outfit didn't sound half bad.

"Maybe," the brunette said, getting behind Kakashi and taking right into his ear in a low, husky whisper, "or I can just wear a leather collar and a black thong with my hands tied above my head."

Kakashi didn't know what to say. He had to give the chuunin credit; he was not as innocent as everyone liked to think he was. The jounin never thought that the brunette would catch up to his little game and it seemed that the chuunin had won that round.

"Two can play at that game, remember that Kakashi," Iruka said, disappearing down the corridor to get the jounin clothes.

Kakashi smiled. Yes, games were always more fun when played in pairs. The Copy Nin started towards the guest bathroom, seeing that a towel was already laid out for him. His shower was quick and refreshing. Kakashi dried his hair vigorously and walked out of the bathroom with only a towel bound around his waist.

Kakashi could hear the shower running from Iruka's bathroom and for a second, the jounin entertained the thought of sneaking in and taking a peek. He quickly swept the idea aside, not wanting to scare the brunette. The last thing he wanted was for Iruka to kick him out because of his peeking.

The Copy Nin sighed, and told himself that within due time he could have the dolphin all to himself. Kakashi took the clothes that were neat fold and waiting for him on the bed. It was the same as last time, a t-shirt and sweatpants. It didn't matter to Kakashi, just as long as he could stay.

XxxxX

Iruka stood in the bathroom, looking at his reflection in a fogged mirror. His hair was wet and plastered to the sides of his neck and resting on his shoulders. It was getting longer and the chuunin thought he was due for a haircut. The brunette turned his attention back to the mirror.

Dark eyes staring back at him. Iruka looked at them closely, a malicious grin on his reflection's face. He wanted to turn away, but the chuunin could not unclench his hands as they gripped the countertop.

This was the last thing he wanted.

"Hello, 'Ruka-chan," his reflection said, the grin still wide on his lips. "You've been ignoring me lately."

Iruka let out a frustrated sigh, trying to break free of the genjutsu. It was no use, he always knew how to trap the brunette, and even if he did get free, there was likely more than one layer to the genjutsu.

"Now now, I don't appreciate the attitude."

"Like I give a damn! Why are you even here?" Iruka asked. "I thought you were sleeping."

"D'aaaw, tsk-tsk," the reflection wagged a finger, giving the chuunin a bittersweet smile. "Is that any way to talk to me – to a part of you?"

"What do you want?" Iruka asked desperately.

"Well, regarding your previous statement, I was sleeping. I just woke up from a little jolt of that man's chakra when he kissed you just now. Why did you pull away? I had half a mind to take over and finish it myself."

"Don't you dare! Kakashi knows nothing about this. I intend to keep it that by." Iruka looked sternly at his reflection. "What do you really want, Juubi?"

"Now that's more like it," the reflection smiled, opening its eyes to reveal vivid yellow demonic eyes staring back at Iruka. "There are only two left now. I sure as hell don't intend on being plucked out of my cosy environment. After all, I'm only a sliver of what I was and if they assemble all the bijuu then all they need is to track down the last fragment and suck it out." Juubi paused, looking over the other. "If that happens, then you'll die Iruka. I'm as much a part of you are you are me."

The chuunin frowned. It was a rather unusual for the youma to make. Iruka sighed, leaning forward and pressed his forehead to the cool glass of the mirror. He already knew. As a child it often gave him sleepless nights thinking that he was part monster. His mother used to tell him that it was only the tiniest part, but it was still a part of him.

The chuunin laughed a little as something randomly popped into his mind. His thoughts turned to the Sage of the Six Paths, or Rikudou Sennin as some called him. He had sealed the original Juubi in his own body and had divided the beast's foul chakra into nine portions, thus creating the bijuu and that the Juubi's body was sealed side the moon. It common knowledge but what people didn't know, was that the Juubi's body was not sealed in the moon at all.

The Rikudou Sennin had two sons, the elder being said to be the ancestor of the Uchiha clan and the younger being the ancestor of the Senju clan. One of them intended to carry on his legacy, and the other to help create the known shinobi world. There were so many things that were twisted into the fairy tale that are told to children at night.

"What are you thinking about?" the Juubi asked the brunette, pulling him from his musings.

"Nothing," Iruka said, sighing and standing back straight again. "Look, I'll think of something just don't get your tails in a twist."

"Fine, fine," the youma smiled knowingly at the chuunin. "I can smell how much he wants you, so put him out of his misery and fuck him already." With that, Juubi lifted the genjutsu and Iruka found himself staring at his own reflection.

The chuunin blushed at Juubi's words. There was no way that Kakashi had such strong sexual feelings towards him that the youma could have picked up on it. Iruka shook his head, shoving the thought aside and left the bathroom and dressed in a pair of blue pyjama pants and a t-shirt.

Iruka dried his hair with a towel and left his damp hair the way it was, making his way to the living room where the brunette found the older shinobi lounging on the couch with his Icha Icha in hand.

"Maa, I was beginning to think you slipped in the shower or something," the jounin said.

Iruka blushed, scratching his scar. "Sorry about that. What would you like for dinner?"

"Anything is fine with, as along as I get to have dinner with you."

The chuunin sagged his shoulders. It was not an answer to his question, but the comment was sweet nonetheless. Iruka went to the kitchen and searched through his cupboards. He was busy pouring rice into the pot when he heard Kakashi come into the kitchen.

"Mind if I sit here while you work?"

Iruka smiled, his back turned to the jounin. "I don't mind."

Kakashi made himself comfortable and watched how the chuunin eased his way around the kitchen. Soon, a plate of grilled fish and rice was placed in front of him. The two ate in a comfortable atmosphere, light conversation constant.

"Thank you for the food, it was delicious," Kakashi said, smiling at the younger shinobi.

Iruka returned the smile and stood to put their plates in the sink. "Please, it was a meal hardly worth that kind of merit, but thank you. I enjoyed having dinner with you."

The Copy Nin got up and pulled Iruka into the living room and gently pulled him down to sit with him on the couch. The brunette sat with his body half turned and pressed against Kakashi's side, a hand curled over his left shoulder and his leg hooked over the jounin's. Iruka had to admit that he was comfortable, especially when Kakashi had wrapped an arm about his shoulders to press him closer to his own body.

Iruka rested his head in the crook of the older ninja's neck, breathing in his scent. He was surprised at how smooth and cool the jounin's skin was against his cheek. Iruka was touched at how comfortable Kakashi looked around without his mask on or without his hitai-ate placed over his eye.

"Something on your mind Iruka?" Kakashi asked looking at the brunette as his chocolate eyes swept over his face.

Iruka's eyes met the jounin's. "Oh no, nothing. I was just…" The chuunin trailed off, not wanting the other to know what he really was thinking about. Iruka made a mental note to torture Juubi the next time he saw the crazy ookami.

"Well, you're blushing." Kakashi chuckled as he brushed strands of the brunette's hair from his face and tucked them behind his ear.

The jounin pressed a chaste kiss on the tanned shinobi's warm lips. Iruka closed his eyes, but saw Juubi's eyes. Put him out of his misery, it was chanted to him like a mantra. The brunette opened his eyes again, looking at Kakashi as the man planted soft kissed on his lips again. Iruka had always been a cautious man, but now he wanted to throw caution to the wind.

The kissed back and soon Kakashi was pressing his kisses harder until he bit on Iruka's lower lip, asking for entrance to the chuunin's mouth, which was immediately granted. The jounin delved his tongue inside the younger man's warm cavern, running his tongue over every available surface.

The jounin tangled his tongue with Iruka's. The Copy Nin was bursting with giddiness. Three hours ago –if even– the chuunin had stopped him and now, now he was having a make-out session with said man that was quickly steering into a different direction. Kakashi wondered what had happened while Iruka was in the shower, not that he particularly cared at the moment.

Iruka was pushed back to rest in the couch, his head lying on the armrest. Kakashi hovered over him, a predatory glint evident in his eye. The jounin planted, hot, open-mouthed kisses on the tanned shinobi's neck, scraping his teeth over the taunt muscle.

A hand threaded itself through silver locks. Iruka let out a moan as Kakashi nicked his teeth as a particularly sensitive spot at the brunette's nape. The jounin drew back and planted feather soft kisses along Iruka's jaw, wondering if he should – no could– take it any further.

Loud raps from the front door erupted, stopping the jounin dead in his tracks, his train of thought crashing down into the ground. If Kakashi was a lesser man, he would have whined about the irony of the situation, but he stayed quiet and opted for burying his face in the chuunin's hair instead.

"I need to answer that door, you know."

A/N: Hiya! I wanted to put this up yesterday but I got a bit caught up with studying. Well, this chapter now marks the end of part I of the story that I'm gonna call the 'Amity arc'. I want to hand out some nice hot, homemade pork dumplings to everyone that reviewed/alerted/faved and if you're a vegan, then have a cookie or something.

Ah, recently there was a little confusion about my gender, and I just have to say that I'm a girl and a senior in high school.

Ahem. Well, Kakashi's and Iruka's relationship has moved on a bit. I know things a progressing rather slowly, but it'll pick up with the start of part II. Let's see what new developments are there… Oh, what do you guys think of Juubi? He's going to be a big part of the story so you'll learn to love him… I hope (he's kinda based off of two teachers of mine).

It'll take way longer to update for a while. I have streams of tests, along big projects. In my school the next term –semester, I believe that's what people call it overseas– is only two weeks long before the exams start and I need to start with my Visual Art prac and theory final as in, like now. I'm a bit of an art junky so it kinda takes priority right now. I hope you all will just bare with it for a month or two – I hope not longer. I'm apologising in advance - I'm sorry.

I'm starting to like reviews, so keep 'em coming.

See ya next time people!