Kakashi's pov
Phew…that mission took much longer than expected. A whole week….
My thoughts moved to Iruka the second I stepped out of the debrief meeting with the Hokage and the other members of the cell that had been sent out.
I was tired, hungry and thirsty hours before I even reached Konohagukure, but now I only wanted to go and tease a certain teacher, other needs forgotten completely. Well other than one.
I really need a shower.
Arriving at the academy after washing and getting changed I hoped that Iruka hadn't already left as the students would have all or mostly, been gone for about half an hour already.
I poked my head into the classroom that he always taught in, expecting him to still be there, tidying up as he usually was. He wasn't there. Strange… instead a very petite woman was tidying up around the room.
"Um, excuse me miss, but would you know where Iruka sensei is, please?" I asked politely. Maybe she was cleaning staff, although I had not seen her in the school before, and I was usually here when all the cleaning was going on…
"Oh, I think he's in the hospital. I'm not really sure why, I'm a substitute teacher so I'm not here often. I'm sorry that I can't be of more help sir….Sir?"
I was at the hospital faster than you can say "WhatthehellhappenedtoIruka?!IswearIleaveforafewdays…"
xXx
When I asked at the reception, I half expected it to be a joke, but it wasn't. No, the woman directed me to the room that Iruka was in, saying "Blah blah visiting time blah blah " Or something along those lines anyway.
"Iruka!" I exclaimed when I opened the door to see him propped up against a stack of pillows in the bed "What happened!?" He sat up a little more and opened his mouth to speak, but was cut short.
"MIZUKI! That's what happened! I swear if he hadn't been sent off to prison I wouldda-"
"Naruto! Calm down!"
I looked at the yappy blonde at the side of the bed, noticing him for the first time since entering the room.
"Mizuki?" I directed it at them both.
"Its fine Kakashi, it's a long story but I'm okay. I'm getting let out in the morning, and it only happened yesterday, so it can't be that bad can it?" He laughed lightly, albeit a little nervously, to try and lighten the air, but Naruto butted back in, almost shouting;
"Not that bad? YOU HAD A HOLE IN YOUR FREAKING BACK MAN!"
At this, a nurse walked in and proceeded to make a big fuss over the noise that the blonde was making, and told him to leave because he was only going to make Iruka stressed.
After arguing and stomping around for a good couple of minutes, he finally left, leaving the room in awkward silence as the nurse apologized and fluffed the pillows behind Iruka's back.
"That kid is like a tornado" I expressed, after a silent minute, admiration evident in my voice.
"Yeah…that's putting it mildly. I went to save him from Mizuki, and he was the one who ended up saving me…." We both looked toward the door that the blonde had exited through for a long moment, before I turned and walked over to his bed and sat down on the chair that had been recently vacated.
"How was your mission then?" He was trying to change the subject.
"Not today" I moved closer and laid my head on his lap "Just let me sleep, I'm tired. I've only just got back." I closed my eyes to emphasize my point, silently hoping that he wouldn't shoo me away, thinking that I was teasing him again.
"Okay" His hand appeared on the top of my head and I smiled a little, I really was tired, and the past few almost sleepless days and nights were catching up on me, but I didn't want to succumb to sleep just yet. I didn't want to miss the feeling of his warm hand on my hair, stroking softly. Oh no, I was going to pretend to be asleep so that I could stay right where I was, until visiting hours were over.
"I'm thinking of putting Naruto In your team."
I didn't ask why, and I really didn't mind. Looking after that hot head might be interesting, or at least a conversation starter anyway. I replied with a sleepy sound, to be convincing, and settled my head more comfortably on Iruka's lap.
"Mmm"