Iruka's pov

I dumped yet more rubbish from the class I had recently taught into the bin, and grabbed a pile of their books from a desk in the front row, moving to put them on my desk; sometimes they can be so lazy...

Then I picked up the bin from the front of the room, and moved it near to the door for the cleaning staff that would be round to finish up shortly. As I did so, the door opened, and Kakashi wandered in looking almost as though he was lost.

"Hey sexy," He said when he saw me, and winked at me with his only visible eye.

I rolled my eyes at him, and turned around to pick up the second pile of books that I had to grade tonight instead of having a life, but he caught my arm before I had even taken a step away, and yanked me backwards, into him.

One of his arms snaked around my waist, the other turning my head to the side, so that I faced him more fully.

"What?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at his antics.

"I missed you on that mission. I was hoping for a 'hello' kiss" His visible eye closed a little as he leaned in closer to me. I moved my head back, away from his, rolling my eyes once again. This man is exasperating…

"Sure, because anyone could even kiss you in that mask. And stop making passes at me, or I'll get you done for sexual harassment. People are going to start thinking I like men if you keep this up. "

I presumed that he knew I was teasing him about the sexual harassment, because I was always threatening him with it, but if he was behaving like a pervert, he kind of deserved it.

"Huh?" Kakashi questioned, his visible eye widening in false shock "You mean...you don't like men?" He raised his hand to an invisible mouth and shook his head "All this time you've been leading me on? I'm shocked, shocked and appalled Iruka." His hold around me loosened and I stepped from the circle of his arms easily.

"Don't sound so sarcastic Kakashi, you know I'm not gay." I turned and walked to the front row of desks to finally pick up the last stack of books so that I could go home.

"You could have fooled me" there was humour in his voice. I stopped a hand on the top book. I could feel my cheeks turning scarlet as I itched to throw the book at him.

"That was one kiss, and I was drunk. I mean it's not lik- " I started defensively, but was cut off.

"In fact, if I remember right, didn't you start trying to take my shirt off..?"

"Uh, Yeah- well..." I turned around blushing furiously, only to find him millimetres away from my face, his mask clad lips a breath away from my own.

In shock I fell back against the desk behind me. "Kakashi! For god's sake, stop that! I'm going to have a heart attack if you keep it up!"

"You're blushing." He stated matter-of-factly as he reached for my face. I slapped his hand away and stood up, finally picking up the books. I carried them over to my desk to put them down heavily.

"Do you want your gift or not?" I asked him to change the subject, hoping it might distract him, for a little while at least.

He mock gasped again, and put his hand on his heart. "Aww, you got me a present, I guess you did miss me after all." The corner of his visible eye crinkled as he smiled.

I couldn't help but begin to smile back, but stopped myself "No...I just thought you might like it, that's all." I had missed him, but not in the way that someone misses a lover, just the way a guy misses his friend. Though I wouldn't even tell him that much, I knew he would only try to twist it around and tease me over it. "Can you guess what it is?" I smiled as I walked to the front of my desk and reached into the top draw to retrieve the book that I had bought for him.

He just stared at me with his only visible eye for about 30 seconds, saying nothing. I huffed in a breath, and looked around my classroom for things that I might have missed while I tidied up earlier, my hand still poised atop the book.

He clapped his hands together and made an 'ah-ha' sound. I looked over at him and waited for him to speak.

"It's a kiss, isn't it...you thought I might like it, so you're going to give me one."

"No, idiot! It's not, let it go already!" I huffed at him, amused despite myself, but hoping my expression was stern.

"Well how about you plant one here anyway?" He tapped his cheek with his finger and carried on, "It would make that last mission worthwhile." I waited until he had finished, and pulled out the book, not even bothering to acknowledge his request. I held it up for him to see, before placing into his then outstretched hand.

He stared at it for a second, before dancing on the spot, hugging it to himself saying "Ah – I didn't know it was out! Icha Icha paradise! How did you know? I...I think I love you!" Before I knew it, Kakashi was on top of me, and my ass was planted firmly on the floor.

"What the-? Kakashi, get off me I can't breathe!" At this he stopped hugging me, and propped himself up on his forearms to look down at me.

"Maa, Iruka?"

"Yes?" As I looked up at him, he dipped his head closer to mine. Nervously, I felt a blush spread across my cheeks again.

If he makes a move on me now… I can't get away…

I was trapped under him; I turned my head to the side, hoping he wouldn't try to kiss me and closed my eyes. I heard him laugh softly to himself, and his weight shifted off of me.

A pang of regret stole through me, but I squashed it down, telling myself that I was relieved; that I didn't want him on top of me, telling myself that I only thought of us as friends. He is just my friend. Don't think any further into his teasing…

I opened my eyes and looked up; he was standing up, holding his hand out to me to help me up. I grabbed it thankfully and heaved myself up. We were suddenly so close. I quickly took a step away from him, not wanting to confuse my already thumping heart.

"Why were you laughing?" I asked. At this he laughed again, in an aloof way without answering "Hey! Tell me what you thought was so funny!"

"You looked so cute when I fell on you, scrunching your face up. It's an expression I've never seen on you before, I quite liked it."

As a flush stole through me at his words, he imitated the face I had pulled. Because I could only see his one eye, the expression was comical. I expelled a breath of easy laughter as I composed myself silently from being so close to him.

Smiling still, I shook my head at him, and quickly crammed all of the books on my desk into my bag to take home. The longer I spent with him, the easier it became to be in his company…

I once again felt his arm around my waist, moving me away from the desk, this time so that he could take over putting my stuff away. When he finished, he picked up the bag and slung it over his shoulder before offering me his hand, saying "Do you want to come to dinner with me? I'll pay."

I felt my heart flutter in my chest and quickly quashed it, saying instead; "Ah, I can't...I really have to grade those books, you know, and there's the graduation exam preparation tomorrow and everything" I looked out of the window at this point, and spotted Naruto getting up off the swing outside, scuffing his feet. He looked so alone...

"And besides, I promised Naruto I'd treat him to some ramen today, he's been waiting for me," I indicated out of the window at the blonde. "Some other day though, I will. I'm sorry."

I held out my hand for my bag, and he passed it to me as we walked through the classroom door to the entrance.

"See you soon then, I have to go report for my next mission later." He turned in the opposite direction to where Naruto had already started walking, and disappeared almost instantly from my view.

Another mission, that meant I wouldn't see him for god knows how long again... I shook my head to rid myself of my stray thoughts, and hurried after Naruto.