Leaves in the Wind

Chapter Fifteen: Tangled

Both Iruka and Kakashi continued the rest of the day as though nothing had happened. The moment they had shared was purely physical in nature. Both knew that was not an unusual occurrence between Shinobi, and the only strangeness about it was who their choice partner had been. Nevertheless, neither felt any regret towards their actions.

At one point, the rain seemed to let up. However, the instant both ninja began a whispered conversation about finally seeing sunlight again, it began to drench Konoha once more. Iruka now stood in the kitchen boiling water for rice. Kakashi sat on the table, watching him as he usually did, and both were speaking animatedly about the visit Tekki had just paid them both. The med nin had burst open the door, breaking the top hinge in the process. Kakashi had made the remote comment that he looked like a drowned cat, and thus, the said wet cat proceeded to attack him.

It had been an interesting scene, seeing the Shiringan no Kakashi fight like a child against a rather large, pissed off medical nin. Kakashi had been successfully stripped of his shirt and other bandages, then let them be replaced as soon as he was defeated. Once again, when Tekki had gone for his pants, he snatched the gauze out of the man's hand and walked into the bathroom to wrap his own wounds. The hissing feline then turned his fangs upon Umio Iruka, but the fight was only a few twitches as the med nin tied the gauze a bit too tightly. Then without further notice, he picked up and left.

"-so what if I wasn't in my apartment sleeping like I was supposed to be? He's lucky I let him at me at all. Hell, he's lucky he had half a chance when I was unconscious. Did you know they put me on low-dose anesthesia to keep me down? They claimed that I didn't sleep enough. What with all the pain killers, it took me a while to get my mind working again."

"Kakashi…" The Chuunin scratched at a bandage and shook his head. "It's what they do." Could the man just accept the fact and move on? It had been painful hearing Tekki pin him down, mostly because it was the same brutal force the med nin would turn on him if he even attempted to escape. Attention was placed on the still, silent water. A watched pot never boiled, but Iruka was currently marveling at the fact that after five minutes nothing was- He grumbled, resisting the urge to hit himself when he realized he'd forgotten to turn the burner on. The button was pressed. Iruka turned around and leaned against the counter, facing Kakashi.

Kakashi was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, a silly half-grin hidden by the mask. "Not what they do to me. You can't tell me that you don't refuse medication."

"I take it like a man." Iruka countered, lifting his chin in a proud fashion. "Even if it's fetid, bubbling and absolutely disgusting."

Kakashi laughed. "Ok, Iruka, you're too manly for me. I've been blinded by your amazing will power."

This merited Kakashi a knock upside the head, but Iruka was still smiling. "Shut up." Iruka mock punched him again for good measure and laughed.

Kakashi grabbed the wrist and held it in place. "Did he rant about how I've corrupted his best patient again? You and your drug accepting jutsu?"

"Yes. A lot, actually. He was about ready to turn around and strangle you when he was finished with me." Tug. Tug. "Eh. Hand."

"Oh, yeah." Kakashi let go of the hand only to be bopped. He lifted his arms protectively. "Hey! Hey! That's why I was holding it!"

"I'm cooking." Iruka reminded him, turning on his heel and staring over at the stove, back pointedly to Kakashi. The water stared back at Iruka. Just as still as ever. It was like a child who didn't want to do his homework in front of their sensei because that would give away the fact that they actually did what they were told to do.

Kakashi, still sitting on the tabletop, leaned to the side to peer at the pot. "Is it working?"

"No…" The sensei grumbled.

Kakashi stood up and peered down at the stubborn water. "Should you cover it?" He kneeled studied the little fire licking up from the stove. He turned the knob to high.

Iruka sighed. "No. It won't do anything. It has to heat up first."

Kakashi stood up and pocketed his hands, stepping back next to Iruka. Both men stared expectantly. Kakashi would have offered to just go out to eat, but Iruka had long decided he wasn't ever again in his life going to walk in freezing rain. The man at his side suddenly pointed to the table.

"Sit." There were very very tiny bubbles in the bottom of the pan now. This was nearly exciting to Iruka. Iruka's friend had sat down but leaned forward as if looking at the little bubbles would encourage them to grow. "Kakashi, watching it is only going to make it worse." Iruka prodded his shoulder. "Go get one of your books and read."

The Jounin obediently pulled out the book Iruka had given him and peered down at it. His gaze flickered to the pot and back.

Iruka brandished a heavy spoon at him. "Don't. I mean it. Stare at something else."

Kakashi stared at Iruka.

The Chuunin, again, wanted to smack himself. He should have seen that one coming. "Fine! I give up." He stared down into the pot. The bubbles were making slow progress. Ah, well, he shouldn't be watching the pot either, should he? It was kitchen taboo. Iruka's eye twitched as he felt the Jounin's stare still boring into the back of his head. He turned and met Kakashi's stare. He could play the game.

"You know," Kakashi held contact with annoying ease, "your eyes always have this murderous glint in them whenever I tease you."

"Yes." Iruka confirmed, murderous glint in his eyes. He continued matching Kakashi's lazy stare. Neither blinked nor twitched. "You always have such a noncommittal gaze. I think that's why I get these urges to hit you."

"I'm told that often."

"You think maybe you could change it so they don't?" He risked a begging glance to the lazy pot. It was as if Kakashi's personality had infected the water. Iruka sighed. "There's no escaping you…"

The noncommittal disposition rolled onto his response. "No."

Well the water was being difficult, so Iruka decided he might as well sit down. He did so. Finding nothing else to occupy himself, he glared.

Kakashi deflected it, looking down at Marionette's Melody and continuing to read where he last left off.

Iruka twitched, suddenly irritated by the action. The Chuunin had never been so readily and easily ignored. He tapped his fingers on the table, glare still locked on target. Tap. Taptaptap. Tap. Kakashi turned a page. Tap. The water still wasn't boiling. Tap. He was getting annoyed. Taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap. "…Hm." Iruka looked away indignantly. Tap.

Kakashi didn't notice this.

This further irritated Iruka. TAP. TAP. TAP.

The page turned.

TAP. "So…" Silence was suddenly broken, but it didn't bother the Jounin in the slightest. "How do you manage reading so many of those things?" Tap.

"Mm. Just read while I do everything else…" Kakashi's eye traveled down the page.

Uh huh. Tap. Reading. Taptap. If he still had his scrolls -which had been in the living room at the time of the explosion- he'd read one too. Kakashi seemed pretty interested in the book, that was, if he could be interested in anything. Kakashi read it as if it were Icha Icha Paridise. Iruka's eyes slowly swiveled to the book as horror dawned upon him. Was Marionette's Melody as bad as Icha Icha Paradise? Tap. The Chuunin found himself sickeningly curious. What if he'd picked up something that was worse? What would Kakashi think of him then? Could anything be worse than Icha Icha? Tap taptaptaptap. "…Is it a good book?"

A low chuckle escaped the Jounin. "Yes."

TAP. The Chuunin slowly rose to his feet. The refrigerator had suddenly become very enticing, and it just so happened to be that it was right behind Kakashi. Not that he'd read over Kakashi's shoulder, of course. His fingers twitched. Tap. Iruka resisted the urge and sat back down. Tap. He stood up and decided a drink was a good idea. Ta-dap. Fingers drummed against the refrigerator door, and Iruka dug through it, finding nothing appealing. He peered over his shoulder and his gaze automatically found the open page.

-turned with tears streaming down her now flushed cheeks. "How could you, Haruki-kun? I trusted you!" Her shout echoed through the empty hallway. It had been so long since she'd stepped foot in this forbidden home, and now she was only to be betrayed by her lover.

Haruki stepped towards her, holding his hand out for her to take. "Kana-chan, please, listen to me. It isn't what it looks like. I love you, sweet-

"It's getting good." Kakashi commented offhandedly, turning and offering the book to the man. Of course the Jounin knew he was peeking. "But you'll have to start from the beginning to appreciate it."

"Nah. I er…don't think I'd enjoy it as much as you are." Iruka's face flushed almost as badly as the heroine's in that cheesy book.

Kakashi shrugged and went back to reading. He turned the page. "Oh, but it's getting better."

-pinned her arms to the wall, breathing heavily on her neck as she struggled. "Kana, I won't let you leave like this."-

Iruka's blush intensified as his eyes diverted away. Kakashi had noticed this and laughed. The Chuunin thought about sitting down, but he was inexplicably rooted to the spot. The water still wasn't boiling. That was…unnatural.

-"No! Let me go, Haruki!" She writhed in his grasp. Her lover's grey eyes snapped to the black silk strap slipping down her shoulder. "I can't! I won't!

Haruki pressed his body against hers, keeping her in place against the wall. His breath was heavy against her neck as he crooned, "Sweetheart, please, don't do this to me."-

Kakashi snapped the book shut and looked over at Iruka. He had a skeptical, questioning look on his face. "Now, what would they say at the Missions Office if they found out that Umino Iruka likes romance novels?"

"I never said I liked them." Iruka retorted heatedly. He slid back into his chair and turned his head away from Kakashi.

"Oh, is that so?" Kakashi opened up the book again and outstretched his arm. He held it as if he were a priest about to read a passage from the Bible. "'Their heated bodies slid down the wall together and Haruki pushed her writhing body to the floor. Her supple flesh, soft and delicate, reminded the man of the flowers he and Kana used to grow in the garden so many years ago. He would reach out and run his thumb across the daisy petals, plucking them one by one, making a wish as the last was stolen away from the yellow center.

"'Oh, how had it come to this? How did he allow his beautiful flower to be plucked? Haruki's eyes faltered as the decision was made. He must strip her of the petals, or the wish would be wasted!" Kakashi threw his finger into the air with that statement. "'Haruki made a silent promise to himself to never be deceived by such women again. Kana would learn her lesson.

"'His hand slipped out her view and his fingers pressed softly to her bare stomach. Her brown gaze locked upon a crooked grin on his face. Kana ushered a desperate cry for he-"

"Don't. Read. Anymore," Iruka warned through gritted teeth, eyes narrowed and scar lighting up against the red.

Kakashi looked up from the book and stared as if he'd just realized something. This made Iruka's glare falter. The Jounin smiled. "Has anyone told you that your blush is rather adorable?"

The Chuunin's glare intensified and then quickly turned to the table. "N-no!"

"Oh, ok. Just thought I would ask." He continued reading to himself. Kakashi could see twitching at the very edges of his vision.

Iruka stood, moved back to the stove, stared into the slowly bubbling water. Tap. Tap. Tap. Taptaptap. What an embarrassing situation Kakashi had put him in with that stupid book. When it came to interacting with Kakashi, giving him the book was the worst idea he'd ever had in his life. He should have just put it down and walked away from Makoto, or even burned it on his own time rather than forking it off as soon as he possibly could. In that instant, he had an epiphany. The book had to go. "Hey, Kakashi?"

"Ne?"

The Chuunin pointed into the living room. "Look," he commanded, making a swipe at the trashy romance novel as Kakashi did so.

The Jounin's hand snapped away from Iruka's grasp. The book danced around Iruka's fingers as the man made more desperate attempts to steal it away. He held it out to the side, leaning across the table so the Chuunin couldn't get to it. "Come now, Iruka! I thought you had forty students to snatch kunai from daily!"

"You're a grown man, Kakashi. Although, sometimes I doubt that." He leaned over Kakashi, flailing at the book held just out of his reach.

Kakashi let the book graze the Chuunin's fingertips before snapping his hand to the side. He pushed lightheartedly at Iruka. "Haha. I'm taller."

Iruka snarled, nearly resting on top of Kakashi now as he strained to reach the damnable book. "It has to go!" He squirmed, placing a knee on the table to improve his reach. He could feel Kakashi's critical gaze angled upward at him. The book flipped through the air and Kakashi grabbed it with his other hand. It was closer, but he could still keep it out of the way. Iruka placed his hand on Kakashi's cheek, pushing his head into the table as he outstretched his other hand.

The Jounin's hand twisted to the side and he held it with his fingertips. Iruka growled. The book was doomed. Iruka wouldn't give up until the damn thing was tossed out his window into the muddy street. It seemed almost cruel, if he reflected on it for a moment, but he was too preoccupied with securing it to care about what Kakashi would think. He could buy another one. Who knew how many of these things Kakashi currently owned. "Damn it, Kakashi! Give me the book!" The Chuunin withdrew for a moment, glaring at Kakashi.

"Never."

One of Iruka's hands slammed into Kakashi's chest as the other grabbed the free wrist, and the Jounin was promptly pinned. "Game over." The chest-based hand slipped up Kakashi's arm and attempted to pry fingers away from the book. His index finger wiggled into a crook in the Jounin's grip and the book flipped and fluttered to the ground. Iruka was fully prepared to dive after it when he released his prisoner.

Kakashi gripped at Iruka's shirt and yanked him back. "No!"

Iruka paused, hands raising to Kakashi's clenched fists. His shirt was trapped. Brown eyes narrowed at the Jounin. "…Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

Iruka glanced at the book on the floor and at Kakashi. "Yes!"

Kakashi jerked back Iruka as the Chuunin struggled again. "No!"

The former trickster realized his forceful tactic wasn't working, and then decided a fairly played game was overrated. The Chuunin pressed both hands against Kakashi's chest and leaned in closer. "Yes."

"No." The Jounin's eye narrowed suspiciously. He could see the gears moving in the Chuunin's head.

"Yeees." Iruka breathed in Kakashi's ear.

"Hey, that's bad." Kakashi turned his head to the side, attempting to push away Iruka without releasing his grip. Kakashi had to save his precious book from a disastrous fate.

Iruka frowned, but continued quite readily. "Revenge is sweet, as they say." He chanced slowly running a finger along Kakashi's brow line. The Chuunin noticed Kakashi's grip on the shirt relented slightly against the man's will. Iruka couldn't quite escape yet, but his diabolical plan was working. Iruka leaned forward again, breathing on Kakashi's ear.

The Jounin twitched and reluctantly uncurled his fingers from the other ninja's shirt. "I'm going to get you back for this one." Iruka was just lucky that it wasn't Icha Icha Paradise he was after. In that event, the naive Chuunin would have been pinned to the wall with a hand full of kunai. He stared up at Iruka, whose hands were still pressing down on his chest and wrist.

"And I'll get you back for that," he promised, eyeing the grand prize on the opposite side of the table. "Distracted yet?"

Kakashi's eye narrowed in irritation.

Iruka couldn't help but laugh. He should have been ashamed at his own childish behavior, but he wasn't. The teacher was far too amused for his own good. "Hm." Kakashi was a strong opponent, but he had his weaknesses that apparently only Iruka could manipulate at the moment. The Chuunin placed one hand over Kakashi's eye, the other tugging at the man's mask. "I win."

"H-hey, what are you…" Kakashi was cut off by the soft flutter of lips. The Jounin remained still and silent as his will to shove Iruka away rapidly diminished. His hand reached up and took Iruka's wrist, slowly pulling it away so he could see the man. Their eyes locked, and the soft hissing sound of rain lingered in the air. Kakashi's hand slipped to Iruka's face and he slowly guided him closer.

STIIIISZZZSSSSTIIIISSS

"SHIT!" Iruka gasped and jerked away from Kakashi, whirling around to stare at the pot that now boiled over and sizzled violently. The sensei lifted the pot from the stove and stuck it in the sink, then grabbed a handful of kitchen cloths, mopping up the mess on the appliance and floor. Iruka cursed random things and people, slumping against the counter with dejected embarrassment when he'd finished. "Damn it…" He had been busy! Why did the pot choose NOW to heat up?!

"Damn it." Kakashi agreed sitting up and slipping off of the tabletop.

Iruka placed a hand on his forehead and let out a shaky sigh, eyes rising from the floor to Kakashi. "….Want some cup ramen?"

Kakashi nodded.

---

The faint smell of blood wafted through cool, damp air, leaving the taste of iron on the tongues of those who breathed it in. Kuro disliked the smell of blood. It was this reek that haunted his nightmares and even innocent dreams. The odor clung to his clothing like an aura of death. He loved it, and he desperately longed to scrub his regenerated body raw. He would perhaps scrub until the skin was raked off and he bled the stench of blood away. He'd once confided this desire to his brother when they lay in bed together, as they were now. However, Kuro-kun merely pointed out that blood was blood, what difference did the method of origin make? Harogami Kuro understood the deviation, but explained that blood drawn out beneath water was clean blood. Were it to be drawn in any other fashion, it was tainted.

He plucked disdainfully at his Jounin shirt and sniffed piteously, earning a sharp smack upside the head. "Why must you hurt me, Kuro-kun?"

"The same reason you hurt me, Kuro-kun." Kuro's brother buried his head under his pillow, hiding away from eye contact.

Kuro figured Kuro was attempting to evade a response. The elder Harogami obliged. He stared blankly out the window of their home. ANBU had previously invaded it and the Harogami twins had returned to find it ransacked. Never mind the fact that all weapons had been confiscated; to leave kitchen utensils on the floor was utterly uncalled for. Was ANBU supposed to leave such blatantly obvious traces? According to what Kazahaya-sama had once said, the answer was 'no'. "Kuro-kun….I miss Kazahaya-sama."

A pale, clawed hand emerged from beneath a stack of blankets and squeezed Kuro's knee. "Mmhmm," came the muffled response.

"And why did Sensei have to kill Leiko-chan?"

Kuro shrugged against the futon.

Kuro's golden eyes slipped behind lids. "Thank you for the resurrection. I didn't like that darkness."

"That's called 'death', Kuro-kun." Kuro rose, pelting Kuro with his pillow. "You dream about it."

"Don't you?"

"No." He shook his head, visibly contemplating. "Perhaps we should play for a while; your lack of focus is distracting me." Rain pelted the glass, making streaks and random patterns as the water ran down the sleek surface. It reminded both brothers of bodily fluids splattering against hospital windows. Neither spoke as they watched their macabre memories unfold on the glass.

"I don't like death."

Kuro responded to the whisper by pulling the other to him, latching onto the man tightly. "I do, Kuro-kun. But I won't let it touch you. Now shut up. You'll feel better once we've had some fun tomorrow."

"With Iruka-san and Kakashi-sama?"

"Yes. With Kazahaya-sama too." Younger Kuro tangled his fingers through long, white strands. Even in such dimmed lighting, their hair glowed. He marveled at his twin and almost laughed. Labeling his sibling as so beautiful was a form of narcissism, considering they looked exactly alike. He could feel his brother's thoughts wrap around the concept of death, apparently unwilling to relent to something simpler. Every damn night, Kuro-kun dreamed of Mother and Father, of patients they'd lost, recently of Suien and that hunter-nin. He, himself, dreamt of nothing.

Kuro-kun dreamed for him just as Kuro-kun lived for Kuro-kun. Kuro was pushed away as his elder rolled onto the futon, wrestling with cloth. He pulled his soiled shirt over his head and rolled to the other side of the bed. With a dissatisfied grunt, he pulled off his blood-dyed pants and rolled back to the other side. His eyes landed on his brother expectantly. "Pet me, Nii-san?"

"No. You're dirty. I don't want to pet you until your body's finished regenerating."

Kuro-kun grumbled in his quiet way, laying his head in his brother's lap. They sat together on their futon, watching the rain, the rest of the house empty and silent. Jutsu enabled them to escape detection, but they would stay only for this last night while Kuro-kun recovered. "Kuro-kun?"

"What?" He glanced downward.

"Will tomorrow be our last chance to play?"

"For a little while. We must listen to Sensei."

Kuro met his brother's stare from the lower vantage point. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip before speaking. "Promise me you won't let me die, Yuki. It's unpleasant."

They laughed at the nickname. Neither had heard that pet-name in years. "I promise."

"And promise me that Sensei will give you back your eyes. I miss them…."

"No."

Harogami Kuro spoke no more.

---

Iruka smiled politely as Isamu ushered a half bow, his hair curtaining his face completely, the bow of his kimono bouncing slightly with the movement. The handle of a porcelain kettle was clutched in one hand, the other was holding an unopened cup ramen. Isamu straightened and flashed Iruka an amiable grin of his own. "Thank you, Iruka-san! My own was broken yesterday and I didn't think I could go any longer without my tea." He raised the cup ramen to accessorize his next comment. "And I don't have much time to cook so I don't often eat. This is far more than I could have asked."

"It's fine, Kazahaya-san."

"I really am sorry for dropping by so unexpectedly but then, it's habit, ne?"

Among ninja, yes, it certainly was. "It's fine, Kazahaya-san," Iruka repeated himself.

The cross dresser turned his grin onto Kakashi. "It was a pleasure speaking with both of you outside of investigative terms. Unfortunately, next time we see one another, I can't guarantee the same." He gave them both a final bow and exited with an enthusiastic farewell.

Iruka slumped against his kitchen table. He'd just regained his composure and his cup ramen ready to eat when naturally, there was knocking at his door. Isamu had gotten himself caught in the rain again and had promptly passed out on a startled Chuunin's floor. They'd spent twenty minutes attempting to wake the man. Kakashi had finally kicked Isamu -much to Iruka's displeasure- and the man awoke. Apparently, Iruka was the only person Isamu trusted in this area, and thus, he'd braved the several flights of stairs to reach him.

He was gone now, which presented Iruka with another problem. Said problem stared back at him with a lazy eye.

"Interesting guy, ne?" Kakashi sat down across from Iruka at the kitchen table. He held a small grin through the fabric mask.

"That might not be the word I'd use to describe him but yes, he's…interesting." Iruka was currently observing his ceiling apprehensively.

The Jounin let out a sigh as he leaned back in his chair. "He'll be useful to us."

"Yeah." Isamu was strange but then, what Shinobi was considered normal? Himself excluded, of course. Iruka lay his head against the hard wooden surface of his kitchen table, watching water stream down glass. "But it's regrettable he has to face against friends."

"That would be the danger of friendship." With these words, Kakashi trained his eye on Iruka. They stared at one another for a long moment, and for the first time, it was the Jounin to look away. "He at least has one more day."