Leaves in the Wind
Chapter Four: Falls
It is common knowledge that when something dull is revealed to have brilliance at its center, it will then garner the awareness of the world. 'The rock that has been slightly cracked' sat on a wobbly wooden chair in the Missions Office of the hidden village of Konoha, glaring pointedly at Genma and sighing wearily at everyone else.
It is less commonly known that the audience to the phenomenon is as equally important as the victim of change. You would be fortunate to bask in the attention of intelligent, powerful people, but woe if the eyes upon you were apt to easy thrills and quick to amusement. Apparently, constantly being flooded with adrenaline brought on by frequent, near-death experiences drained a ninja's sense of time, space, and subsequently reality. They were far too amused with the fact that 'the Iruka-sensei' had nearly died by allergic reaction.
Dealing with jests, quirked eye-brows, and spontaneous laughter from his colleagues for the past six days had left him in a foul mood -foul enough where he'd neglected to say 'Thank you' and replaced that with a passive 'Oh, right' when receiving reports. He'd even turned down Naruto's cheerful greetings with a 'Mmkay'. Of course, when someone attempted to cheer him up, they were instantly shot down by a sensei-death-glare. Many a foolish ninja had fallen prey to the med nins as they dropped under Iruka's glare. This didn't seem to hinder their fun, however. It would be a while before they would let it go. Not to be cruel, of course; they were merely overestimating Iruka's tolerance.
He spared a glance at the sheet just recently delivered to him, a missions report to be handed out to the first team of Genin available. Afterward, he could go home.
Another potent scowl was directed at Genma before Iruka returned to filing.
The door to the Mission's Office swung open and a certain silver haired sensei strolled in. Kakashi had dropped off the face of Earth for five entire days. It got around to all of the Shinobi that the sensei had accepted an A class mission, though none of them really understood why he would risk leaving his students behind for good. However, just as quickly as he'd left, he reappeared in the Konoha Missions Department as if he'd been there the entire time. "Af'noon, Genma-san." Kakashi said, raising a hand in a casual manner.
Kakashi walked across the room with purpose and stopped in front of Iruka's desk. A beaten, folded paper landed in front of the Chuunin. It was the Mission Report, and, of course, it was two days late. He grinned in his usual manner and placed his hands in his pockets. Kakashi seemed refreshed. "Yo, Iruka-sensei. I came to pick up a D mission for Team Seven."
"Oh, s'that so." The man rolled up the scroll that had been covered by Kakashi's report, then promptly shoved it at the Jounin.
Kakashi placed the scroll in his front vest pocket. He then glanced around the room, spotting Asuma. "Hey! Asuma-san!" the Jounin called, and then gestured to the irritated Academy sensei. "What'd you do to Iruka-san while I was out?"
Asuma grinned around his cigarette. "Initiated innumerable acts of indescribable and intimate torture upon his person."
All ninja stilled, gazes shifting to Iruka to see how the sensei would handle the comment.
"Mmkay…."
Asuma snorted. "What the hell did you do to him, Kakashi-san?"
"Same," Kakashi responded simply. There were snickers around the room as the mood relaxed. The copy-nin's infectious, laid-back attitude had begun to affect them. "Aiya, Iruka-sensei," once again- that tone in his voice when he said 'sensei'. "Do I need to take you out for drinks again?" He grinned.
"No."
Asuma shrugged, waving at Kakashi before exiting.
"Mm." Kakashi watched Iruka.
The Chuunin rose, stuffed some scrolls in a desk drawer, locked it and met Kakashi's gaze with his own bland expression. "See you later, Kakashi-san." He reached over, grabbed a small, beaten paper bag from his desk, and strolled through the doorway without another word.
Kakashi watched him go. The others in the room either blatantly stared or continued about their work, keeping track of the situation in the back of their mind. "Yeah. Genin. Mission." Kakashi disappeared from the room.
---
Sasuke let out a slow, bored breath as he looked over the river moving under the bridge. Kakashi had finally come back and told them to meet him at the bridge immediately. Of course, they waited for hours, and now the sun was beginning its decent towards the horizon.
The three Genin perked up when they felt Kakashi's presence. "YOU'RE LATE!" Naruto and Sakura greeted the sensei in their usual manner.
The Jounin peered down at them from his place in a tree. "I overslept," he explained.
"What? That was lame, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto waved an arm around. "What's our mission this time? Fighting ferocious missing nin? Unearthing the lost treasure of Konoha?"
Kakashi pulled the scroll out of his pocket and unrolled it, eye lazily traveling over the black ink. "You're in luck, Naruto-kun."
Sakura and Sasuke looked up at Kakashi curiously. The girl spoke. "What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?"
The copy-nin rolled the paper back up. "We're supposed to meet a visitor and escort her to the Hokage."
The blonde Genin processed this, mouth struggling to both frown and smile. "Huh?"
"Her name is Kozue Amaya," Kakashi continued. "A hunter nin from the Hidden Village of Waterfall."
Sakura squeaked in nervous excitement. "A hunter nin is coming to Konoha? And she wants to speak to the Hokage?"
"Yup."
Naruto leapt up, punching the air with a fist. "Alright! Let's go Sakura-chan! Where are we supposed to meet her? Do we have to find her or is she going to find us first, Kakashi-sensei?"
"She'll be at the north gate of Konoha." Kakashi leapt down from the branches.
Sasuke thus proceeded to ask a very logical question, in the past tense. "And what time were we supposed to have met her, Kakashi-sensei?"
---
The sun was halfway down the horizon when the four of them reached the north gate of their village. They waited for fifteen minutes. "Maybe something happened…" Sakura said softly, rocking back and forth on her feet. "Or maybe she went into the village without us?"
There was a soft rustling in the bushes and a light thud at the base of the tree next to Naruto. When the blonde whirled around, he came face to face with a hunter nin. She wore the traditional black cloak that swept down to her feet. The hood was up, casting a shadow over the mask she wore, white with three green dashes on the left cheek and the symbol of waterfall on the forehead. "You're late."
"No way! We were here first!"
"Kozue Amaya from Takigakure no Sato." She inclined her head towards Kakashi. "Hokage-dono sent you?"
"Yes. Naruto-kun, stop pointing." Kakashi ushered them through the gates.
---
Birds.
Iruka's fingers opened and closed, tearing gashes in the brown paper bag he held. How strange that he'd kept it. Again, something had forced him to deviate from his safe, enclosed routine. On an impulse, he'd gone back to the spot where he'd fallen, carefully extracted the carcass of the bird he'd felled and plucked a few feathers from it before gently placing it at the base of a tree a few meters off. What drove him to do so, he couldn't quite figure. There was the option he was loosing his mind, but he wanted to ignore that for as long as possible. When he started hearing voices in his head, then and only then would he admit to it.
Possibly, he was just sleep-deprived, doing things on impulse due to half-awareness. He felt fine, but then again, his judgment could be impaired.
"Hey, Iruka-kun, you gunna buy that or'm I gunna have to kick your ass to the curb?"
"Huh?" Ah, right. He was shopping. Iruka was grocery shopping in the village, and he'd been standing at this vendor's stall for about four minutes. He knew this man too…right…he shopped here every week. For-?
"Are you going to buy this book or not?"
Ah, that's right. Gin Makoto. Old friend of the family.
Judging by the wrinkles and flagging skin, Makoto was a very very old compatriot indeed. "Of course, I apologize, Makoto-san."
"Ahh. Well, give me your money." The old man held out his hand expectantly.
Iruka pocketed the bag of feathers, snatched the book, stuffed it in one of the many larger bags and pressed a few coins into the man's outstretched palm. "Always so direct."
"Always so deceiving, Iruka-kun."
"Good day, old man."
As the Chuunin turned to leave, he noticed that the pile of books he'd been standing over were old, cheap, paperback copies of various 'romance novels'. Not the sort he'd see village women read, but the kind Kakashi would obviously enjoy. He had originally intended to buy a new scroll written on various aspects of taijutsu but…
Raaawk!
Iruka flinched. Something prodded at his mind, attempting to pierce into his coherent thoughts when the bird squawked again, but he merely tightened his grip on his bags and stalked off through the crowd. The last thing he needed to buy was painkiller.
"Iruka-sensei?!"
Okay. Now. He needed painkiller now.
When Iruka turned around, he was immediately hugged by a blonde boy. After Naruto was pried off, Iruka had room to look up at the group -Sakura, Sasuke, and of course, Kakashi, but there was someone else with them. Apparently it was Kozue Amaya, the Taki hunter nin he had sent them to pick up hours ago. Why was she still with them…?
And why was Kakashi looking at him like that?
"Yo." The Jounin started with an unusually sly grin on his face. "Iruka-sensei, I'd like you to meet Amaya-san."
Amaya bowed politely.
Another bow was returned. "Good evening, Amaya-san. I am Umino Iruka." His features lifted into the amiable expression all of Konoha was so used to receiving. He would ask more, but then, this wasn't his mission and therefore something he shouldn't pry into.
Raaawk. Damn bird…
Kakashi produced a scroll and took one of Iruka's bags so that the Chuunin could open it up to read. As Iruka's eyes ran over the paper, Kakashi peered into the sensei's bag, plucking the 'romance novel' off the top. "Oh, you've been corrupted, Iruka-san."
Iruka shrugged a shoulder, mouth slowly tilting downward. "No. Take it, it's yours," he murmured. Naruto was watching him, shifting from foot to foot, waiting for a reaction.
He got one. "What is this Kakashi-san?" Caution dictated Iruka's movement as he re-rolled the scroll.
"Your mission, Iruka-san," and thus Kakashi's sly look was one of amusement. "Oh, my fault, our mission."
The hunter nin stepped forward slightly, hoping to explain further. "I came to Konoha for assistance."
"I see. Amaya-san, I understand the obvious importance of your mission, and that is why I must ask: Who chose me for this?"
"Well, Kakashi-san-"
"The Hokage, Iruka-san," Kakashi cut her off suddenly, head snapping up from his new book.
Iruka fixed him with an unreadable look. There was a polite smile on his face, but it certainly wasn't reaching his eyes. Something non-descript was layering those dark brown orbs. "Kakashi-san, not meaning to be rude, but you're a horrible liar when distracted. Think about this logically. While I understand I'm not a bad ninja, my abilities are adequate at most-" He was good with certain genjutsu techniques, however, "-and there are a few dozen Jounin with nothing to do who would be wiser choices than an injured Chuunin."
Naruto shook his head. "You're a good ninja, Iruka-san." It was all he needed to say. Iruka could see the rest in his eyes.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun…"
Amaya cleared her throat. "Kakashi-san felt that you possess some qualities that he desired for the team, so he recommended you to the Hokage, who agreed."
Kakashi took back the scroll, but held onto the Chuunin's groceries. "Ok! Iruka-sensei and I can take the rest from here. We'll lead Amaya-san to Iruka-sensei's apartment. Dismissed!"
Sasuke muttered about another wasted day as he stalked off towards his own residence. Sakura dashed after him.
"I am honored, Amaya-san." Well, yes, he was, but it didn't mean he wasn't going to kill Kakashi after it was all over. He'd do it quickly though. Friendship entitled the Jounin to at least a painless death.
Naruto grinned, winked at Iruka, and suddenly vanished.
Iruka absently reached out to take his bags back.
"I appreciate this, Iruka-san." Amaya's voice had a relieved tone to it.
Kakashi seemed not to notice Iruka's silent demand for the grocery bags. He started walking in the direction of the Chuunin's apartment as if he'd been there a hundred times before.
"My pleasure, Amaya-san." Iruka bowed. A large avian shadow passed above the rooftops; an owl with its soundless flight. He spared it a glance, and shook his head. "I'm assuming this is your fist time in Konoha?"
"Y-yes." The nin nodded once.
"Hey," Kakashi stopped walking and looked back at the two. "Come on."
---
The copy-nin set down the bag on Iruka's counter, sifting through it idly. The Jounin had no business in doing so, and both men knew this, yet he proceeded to do it despite himself. Iruka was beginning to wonder if Kakashi was purposefully trying to piss him off.
Once the door was shut and locked behind all three of them, Amaya's posture seemed to relax. The black hood fell to her shoulders to expose curly umber hair that was tightly pulled back in a pony-tail. She cautiously slipped the mask off with a relieved sigh. Her blue eyes blinked once and she looked up to Iruka and Kakashi.
The girl had a pretty face that was just that. Pretty, not beautiful, but neither the Jounin nor the Chuunin could outright dismiss it. The cool, emotionless mask she once wore apparently hid an uncomfortable and nervous expression. She had a sort of kindness in her posture; Iruka and Kakashi could immediately tell she was a novice hunter-nin.
That, however, was not surprising. Takigakure was an extremely small village that didn't even have a leader such as Konoha's Hokage. They had ninja to protect their literally hidden village, and the need for a hunter-nin was rare. The very fact they had attempted to train one and send the nin on a mission rather than waiting for an attack on their home front was an alert in itself.
"Thanks, Iruka-san…" Amaya smiled at him in much the same way Iruka did to other people. She stepped further into the apartment, taking in her surroundings.
Various photographs adorned Iruka's walls, all involving current or older students and graduates of the Academy. There were some letters here and there, some scrolls, each casually brushed aside but obviously not forgotten. He had some knick-knacks around the kitchen, however, his focus was directed at the people in the pictures. A few photos dated back to nearly a decade, but most were recent.
Photos of Naruto were suffocating Iruka's refrigerator. There was Sasuke. There was Sakura. It seemed that nearly all the ninja of Konoha were smiling, shouting, insulting, or scowling at them from Iruka's walls.
There was Kakashi near the stove. The bottom right hand corner of the picture had been burnt and it seemed to be the only photograph in that small sliver of kitchen space.
Iruka lived in a standard four-room apartment; not as cheap and small as a bachelor's place or as large as some of the other Jounin's choice living areas. Kakashi stood in the kitchen, Iruka and Amaya in the living room, the bathroom door was open and what must have been Iruka's bedroom was closed off. The apartment was humble, somewhat flustered and slightly plain -an architectural shadow of the person living in it.
"I'll take up residence out here, Amaya-san. If you'd please wait, I'll have the bedroom cleaned out for you."
"Appreciated," Amaya watched the shinobi slip behind the closed door. Her eyes wandered over to the kitchen area to find Kakashi lazily looking over the pictures. "Uh, Kakashi-san?"
"Mm?"
"Does he live here alone?"
Kakashi laughed softly. "Yup." His eyes traveled over to the girl. "Why?"
"Curious." She unzipped her uniform cloak and shrugged it off of her shoulders, revealing Taki's basic Jounin uniform. It consisted of the usual black pants and a long sleeve, high neck shirt that every other country used. The vest was a deep blue with shoulder armor, but no apparent pockets or scroll slots adorned the front. It could have been safely assumed that they were kept on the inside of the vest. Instead of zipping up the front, the navy vest was either pulled over the head like a shirt or zipped up the side, but Kakashi couldn't tell from his angle.
The girl's Hitae-ate glinted through her thick bangs. The symbol resembled an arrow pointing downward with the tip left un-drawn. She shifted it self-consciously, keeping her eyes away from the strange, silver-haired Jounin. "Iruka-san seems kind…"
"Uh huh…" Kakashi agreed, leaning in the kitchen doorway, watching her like a hawk. There was something more she wanted to say, he could tell.
"Kakashi-san, with all do respect," Her eyes lifted to meet his, "Iruka-san is injured. Are you certain you made the right choice?"
"Yes."
He'd answered so quickly it threw her off guard. Amaya took in a deep breath, not backing down. "Why is he so valuable to our mission?"
Kakashi paused, sizing her up before speaking. "Because-"
There was a loud thud down the hall and the Chuunin suddenly poked his head around the door. "If you're hungry or thirsty, feel free to take what you want!"
"Itadekimasu!" Kakashi exclaimed, throwing a hand in the air and whirling around. He disappeared into the kitchen.
Amaya followed afterward. She waited in silence, watching Kakashi pull out a small package of rice balls. The Konoha Jounin opened it up, turned and offered it to her. She blinked and then took one. "Thanks…"
"No need, it's Iruka's food anyway." Kakashi leaned against the table.
"Back to what you were saying?" Amaya wanted an answer.
"Say what?"
"About Iruka-san?"
"What about him?"
Amaya sighed and shook her head. "Never mind."
"If you'd like, I could cook f- Ah, well, never mind then." Iruka scratched at his scar as he stepped into view, maneuvering around his guests in order to reach the fridge. He paused, glanced over to the counter and remembered the goods he still had to pack away. Some of it was already out; no doubt a result of Kakashi's curiosity.
The Chuunin stepped past Amaya, filing food away just as neatly as he filed scrolls. "Unless you'd prefer something later on?"
"Oh, no. I'm fine really."
Kakashi's eye flickered between the two. They were both nervous. Amaya's nerves were understandable. She'd probably never left Takigakure with such a dangerous mission before. Kakashi could still remember his first time. Iruka, on the other hand… A thought occurred to him. Should he? Kakashi pondered over the probable consequences. The Jounin nodded in such a way that caught both their attention. "Iruka-san, when is the last time you've had a woman stay over night?"
"Never had a woman over." The teacher was surprisingly calm, bustling around his kitchen preparing to make tea.
"What?" Kakashi crossed his arms, watching Iruka. "Aiya…"
Amaya shifted uncomfortably and stood. "I'm going to freshen up if you don't mind …" She slipped out of the kitchen.
"I said I've never had a woman over." Iruka rolled his eyes. "Nor have I had anyone save Naruto come to my apartment."
Kakashi pondered over this in silence.
A light click signaled the stove being ushered into life. "Will you be staying or going, Kakashi-san?" Though it didn't seem likely the Jounin would stay. Most people regarded Kakashi as one who preferred his nights alone.
"Going," though the Jounin made no motion to leave.
"Ah, I see." The man reached into a cabinet, gently setting down three teacups on the counter.
"Need help with that?" the Jounin offered quietly.
One dark brow rose at the inquiry. "I'm more than capable of making tea, but thank you."
Kakashi closed his eye and let out a deep, lazy breath. His voice swept through the air in a casual manor, "So why haven't you ever brought home a girl, Iruka-sensei?"
"No time. If I wasn't training, I was working. If I wasn't working, I was teaching. If I wasn't teaching I was volunteering." He shrugged. "I've never deemed it necessary."
"S'that so." Kakashi watched Iruka fumble with opening the box of instant tea pouches. Apparently, it was hard to open with one hand. The Jounin appeared at Iruka's side and he opened the cardboard box, offering it to the sensei with his usual grin.
A corner of Iruka's mouth twitched downward. "Thank you, Kakashi-san." With the water boiling and the pouches out, he moved onto the fridge, this time to withdraw the salmon he'd purchased and some leftover rice from the night before. He made for one of the small drawers next to the stove, apparently where he kept cooking utensils.
Kakashi opened the drawer for him and produced a knife.
Iruka clenched his teeth together before letting out a sigh. "I appreciate the effort, Kakashi-san, however, I can prepare my own dinner unaided."
"Of course." The ninja nodded. Oh, that congenial smile was starting to piss Iruka off. As the Chuunin went back to working on the salmon, he heard the pouring of water. Kakashi had already set up the tea. Sensing Iruka's peeved look, Kakashi peered back at him. "Just trying to be helpful."
Alright…there was nothing wrong with that. To help someone in such a manner was a gesture of consideration. So long as Kakashi wasn't over exaggerating that aid because of a broken arm, then there was no need to be hostile. "I can tell." Iruka started chopping.
Kakashi watched. "Can you handle that ok?" Alright, that was it. Kakashi had crossed a line and he wasn't going back.
"Yes." Chop. Chopchopchop. Chop. Chopchopchop.
"Because if you need me to do anything, I'll be willing." The Jounin was doing it on purpose, Iruka just knew it.
"No, I'm fine." He finished and moved on to the rice. It needed to be reheated so he'd just do it over the stove. Now, a pot…
A pot magically appeared before him.
Iruka quickly poured his rice in, turned on another burner and waited.
A cup of tea was offered to him. "Thirsty?"
"Thank you." He had to be polite. There was no reason for him to react with anything else, even if it was irritating and most likely an attempt to be so. He couldn't tell with Kakashi…. Iruka set the cup down after a few silent minutes had passed and removed his rice. The Chuunin tossed his salmon pieces in and ate it all without ceremony or speech in between. Once he'd offered some to his guest, but it was immediately declined. So, when the last grain had been picked and the pot had been discarded, Iruka excused himself and exited enroot to his bedroom. He could at least change while Amaya was cleaning as she'd said, or at least extract some clothing to do so later. It didn't matter either way.
Iruka rooted through the only dresser in the room, pulling out random articles of clothing.
Kakashi stood in the doorway of Iruka's room. It was orderly, with even more pictures of students hung up on the walls. This organization interested the Jounin. The only reason Kakashi's apartment stayed in tact was because he never used it. He preferred staying outdoors, and when he wasn't out doors, he was on a mission or with his students, which often involved being outdoors anyway, so…. Kakashi's eyes shifted to Iruka, who was pulling out night clothing.
The Jounin coughed to announce his presence, and he continued to take in his surroundings. There were spots on the wall over the futon where more photographs had been. Things Iruka had obviously wanted left unseen. This caught the ninja's attention and drew him completely into Iruka's bedroom. He pointed. "Hey, what was here?" When he was in Iruka's apartment just last week, he hadn't given much mind to the pictures that hung on the walls.
Iruka glanced up at him. Kakashi obviously wasn't going to go until a satisfactory answer was given, so Iruka would have to wait to change. "Photographs."
"Oh, photographs, that was unexpected."
"Yes."
"Photographs of who?"
The Chuunin gave up and unzipped his vest, hoping Kakashi would at least take the hint. "People I knew. And myself."
"Family?"
Iruka shrugged. A few pictures he'd stashed were, indeed, of his family. His fingers were lingering at the bottom hem of his black uniform shirt.
"Why'd you take them down?" The Jounin obviously wasn't leaving.
"I wanted to."
"Why didn't you want Amaya-sama to see them?"
"I don't want her to." Iruka countered, a little more hostilely than he had intended. Caught in this sensitivity, the chuunin immediately stopped himself, paused, and turned his head away from the jounin. He stripped his shirt off and threw it at Kakashi's head.
Kakashi pulled it down, staring pointedly at Iruka. "I see." Yes, yes. Kakashi did see. Not only did he see, he beheld. The Jounin shook off the awkward thought.
His host merely snorted, shaking out a blank white cotton shirt.
Kakashi's eye flickered away. "See ya. I'm leaving."
Iruka was smoothing out the wrinkles, hand running down his chest. He nodded at his friend and glanced toward the door. "Have a good night, Kakashi-san."
The Jounin raised a hand in the air. As he headed for the door, Amaya stepped out of the restroom, damp curls framing her face. She wore travel clothes that Ninja often wore around for sleeping or in public places. She stared into the room where Iruka was and smiled. When she looked back, Kakashi was gone. "He's an interesting guy, ne?"
"Ah, yes, that would be a word to describe him." Iruka stood, gathering the rest of his clothing. "Will you be sleeping now, Amaya-san?"
The Waterfall nin's hands were fidgeting together. "Oh, I wouldn't want to force you out of your room. Honestly, I don't mind sleeping in the living room." She pointed over her shoulder.
"No, I assure you it's not a problem." His smile broadened. "Good night, Amaya-san."
Amaya smiled and nodded, stepping past Iruka awkwardly. "Good night, Iruka-san."
---
Amaya's travel had been a long one, a trek southward over mountains and through forests to get to Konoha. She'd not slept much along the way, only enough to ensure her movement for the next day. Her body was weakened from exhaustion, and Iruka's generous offering of his own futon was greatly appreciated. To be able to sleep in a bed, even though it was not her own, was a luxury she had not experienced for seven complete days.
She had fallen asleep easily enough, indeed. The little place of comfort she found between the soft mat and the warm blankets was more than enough to ensure a deep sleep. Iruka's hospitality had been such a relief, in the dead of night, she had almost forgotten why she'd come.
Yet, something in the back of Amaya's mind bothered her. It wasn't something wrong with the place; to the contrary, she felt relatively safe here. It was something happening in that moment of time. Amaya's instincts made her pry open a weary eye to the darkness. There was a noise. What was it? A motion? A voice?
Amaya suddenly sat up with a gasp, throwing the sheets from her body. Iruka was shouting. Something was wrong. The hunter nin grabbed her kunai knife from the pouch she kept at the bedside. Her soft steps brought her to the door and she listened. The sound of a struggle met her attune ears.
The door cracked open a fraction and her eye flickered, peering into the living room. The struggle became un-muffled by the door, yet her vision revealed no intruder. The waterfall shinobi crept down the short hallway, keeping concealed by the darker shadows.
Iruka let out a desperate scream and Amaya charged in, leaping over the couch and landing on Iruka's struggling body, automatically holding the kunai to a bare throat.
The girl blinked. "I-Iruka-san?"
"A…Amaya…san." The Chuunin's words were hoarse and tinged ripe with fear. He shook sweat drenched hair from his eyes and stared up at Amaya for a moment, deciding between embarrassment or any other emotion that would have been remotely appropriate. He couldn't find one, only simply pushed her arm away and sat up, running his hands through his dark, damp hair. "I'm so sorry…I had no intention of waking you…"
"N-no, I apologize," Amaya shook her head, quickly hiding the kunai behind her back. "I-I just thought that… I mean, you were…" She settled for scooting to the edge of the couch rather than explaining her actions to someone who understood. "Uh… Was it a dream?"
"Apparently." Iruka attempted a half smile. "It's not unusual for a ninja to…have those sorts of dreams."
Amaya gulped, shifting uneasily. "I know." The kunai knife clicked when she set it on the small table in front of the couch. "I don't mean to intrude, but if you want to talk about it…" Her blue eyes shifted to him, glinting in the night.
The man laughed lightly, turning his gaze away from her. They sat quietly in the dim, cool moonlight that streamed in through the living room window. "It's…" Iruka's quiet murmur broke the lull, "not something that can be easily explained. It was…a series of emotions, not a series of images. A common nightmare." Lips were held in an upward position, but his dark eyes weren't quite smiling.
The Jounin shook her head slowly, watching him closely. Concern appeared in her expression. "You're not a very good liar, Iruka-san." She tried to smile good-humoredly.
"And you're not the first to tell me that." He laughed again. "It's nothing, -Amaya-chan?" He ventured, unsure if the honorific would humor or insult. It was a risky move on his part. A lot of Jounin were particular on what they wanted to be addressed as.
"That's fine, Iruka-kun," Amaya returned. She grinned, pulling her feet up on the couch and hugging her legs.
"Ha, Iruka-kun. The only person who still calls me that is a male street vendor."
"Then I'm nearly certain it was not he you dreamt of." Amaya gave a half-sly smile. She was not so easily diverted.
Brows knitted together. "No." Iruka sighed, lying back, left hand behind his head, right arm stiff at his side. "I'm trying to make sense of it myself. Darkness. Bird eyes and a talon. The rest came in emotions."
"Symbolic?" The girl asked. "Or were you really struck by a bird?"
"I don't know."
"Oh." After a pause, a warm hand rested on his shoulder. "Well, let's just hope it doesn't come back, ne?"