Leaves in the Wind

Chapter Twenty-One: One and Twenty Black Birds

Eight o' clock had come quickly, and so Kakashi had to keep his meeting with Nakura brief. She was by no means satisfied with the Jounin's riddles and vague hints at why he was spending so much time with Iruka as of late. However, Kakashi had snagged the three books she had promised him and took off before she had much of a chance to react. He was still holding all three novels as he pushed the cloth to the Ichiraku stand. He entered, attention immediately falling upon Iruka's back. Kakashi smiled and took a seat next to him, setting 'Marionette's Melody' volumes two through four on the counter. "Good evening, Iruka-san."

Iruka glanced up once, offered Kakashi a weary smile, and returned to staring at the countertop. "Oh, hey, Kakashi-san."

The Jounin's eyes flickered over his friend's body, taking in complexion, posture, and mood. Iruka had dark rings under his eyes, and his head hung wearily. His elbows seemed to be the only thing left supporting his body. "Mm, you don't look so well," Kakashi mentioned offhandedly as he gave a short order to Teuchi, the Ichiraku Ramen owner. His attention returned to Iruka. "Tired?"

"Yeah," Iruka said with a sigh. He was tired of birds. Tired of birds assembling outside the Office window. Tired of having a flock follow him to Ichiraku. At this very moment in time, the demonic creatures were scattered among the surrounding buildings. Iruka could feel their eyes on him, waiting for some signal to strike. Kuro and Kuro had to be close; it was the only explanation Iruka could come up with. "Long day." He skeptically eyed the books Kakashi had set down on the counter. "More of those things, Kakashi-san?"

"Hell yeah." He held up volume two of Marionette's Melody. "The entire collection." Two steaming bowls of Ramen were placed in front of Kakashi and Iruka.

"Itadekimasu." Iruka mumbled, plucking noodles and gently blowing on them. Beneath the cacophony orchestrated in the small kitchen in front of them, he heard a calling night bird. Iruka set his chopsticks down, sucking up the stray noodle caught between his lips. "So is Naruto improving?" He could see that his companion had tugged down his mask and was now silently taking his time with the ramen.

"Mm. Yes, I suppose." The man shifted, using his chopsticks to pluck another choice noodle. "Genin assignments don't exercise full potential, but he is doing fine."

Iruka's dark umber eyes watched the steam rise from his bowl and idly drift overhead. "He'll be laughing at all of us when he becomes Hokage."

"I'll join in laughter," Kakashi stated cynically.

"And Sasuke-kun? Sakura-chan? How are they?"

"As expected. Sakura-chan is growing to be well-rounded. Sasuke-kun is still stubborn as ever. It'll take a while to break him in." He sucked up another noodle and then nabbed a vegetable, munching on it rather contentedly. "Their training is coming along fine. They're working hard, naturally."

Iruka exhaled deeply as he leaned back. "They're all going to become expert Shinobi someday. And Yasuo-kun. If he keeps training, he'll make the Jounin rank won't he? He's got what it takes. I can see it…"

"Yup," Kakashi nodded, a gentle smile coming to his face. If he had been wearing the mask, such an expression would have been lost. "He's strong. In a year or so, even."

Iruka's ear pricked at the sound of a hoarse caw of a bird; it was quickly lost in the sudden, intense sizzling of stir fry dishes and ramen noodles. The crowing was followed by a quick succession of angry chirping, but the sensei stubbornly tuned it out. "So you're not going to be staying with Yasuo-kun?"

"Mm. I'll use my apartment the same way I always do."

"Which means you'll be crashing with Asuma." Iruka stirred his noodles. "Or rather, at Asuma's place, since he's got a commission."

"Yeah. He wouldn't mind."

"If he frequently holds parties for drunken ninja, then no, he wouldn't."

Kakashi nodded, a single chopstick held between his lips. It snapped upward when he bit on it, and then it fell loose again. "Mm."

Conversation loosened as they each ordered second and third bowls, and periodic bouts of slurping punctuating their speech. Eventually, Iruka had reached his spending limit, and as the last noodle was consumed, he consigned himself to grading papers for the rest of the night. Chopsticks were neatly placed beside the empty dish, the stool was abandoned, and Iruka, after thanking the Ichiraku vendor, nodded to Kakashi. His hand reached out and brushed aside the cloth, revealing the black night. "Have a good-" A night bird's squawk interjected, "-night, Kakashi-san."

Kakashi's gaze lifted to a flock of birds that had landed on a power line. He smiled at Iruka, fixing his mask back into place. "Walk you back?" he offered.

Iruka shrugged. He too was eying the birds.

The Jounin pocked his hands and started to walk with Iruka. The sun had long slipped below the horizon and the final stray rays had already evaporated. Their pace started quickly, but Kakashi's lazy disposition quieted Iruka to a slower stroll. Every so often, nocturnal avian calls would pierce the night air, and Iruka's steps would momentarily jump an octave before settling back. Once, he had glanced over his shoulder and saw three night fowl on a power line above a store under renovation. Two more birds had joined them before he had turned away. Iruka wouldn't allow himself to fall prey to paranoia, but as an entire flock passed over head, he had to stop.

"What's wrong, Iruka?" Kakashi stopped. His gaze lifted to a building top. "Birds. Are they still bothering you?"

"They've been hanging around the Academy, the Missions Office…. They followed me to Itachiraku."

Iruka hadn't seen or sensed movement, but one of Kakashi's shuriken whizzed towards the birds. It thwanged into the center of the flock and they scattered to all directions, screeching their discontent like banshees. They circled over head, making several rounds before stubbornly settling on the roof again. "You know, I think Asuma-san's place is still in ruins. You wouldn't mind if I crashed on your couch tonight, would you?"

"It's-" Iruka watched a bird flutter to the ground, pecking at something in the dirt, "-fine…"

"Thanks. I appreciate it." Kakashi continued down the quieting street. Two birds hopped after them as they walked. One time, Kakashi goaded a small child into chasing a bird with a kunai, but the creature just squawked and fluttered until the kid had been scared away. The birds had grown much bolder, and there wasn't much they could do about it. There was always the option of killing all fifty-hundred-million vermin who so daringly plagued the streets of Konoha. But then, they would have to explain to the Hokage why they had eliminated the entire avian population.

They made it to the apartment complex with eighty-three birds in total lining the gutter above them. Iruka kept his gaze skyward as he entered the building. His eyes landed wearily on the large windows as he trekked up stairwell after stairwell. The birds were watching them, sitting on the sills, perched on power lines, flocked on building tops. It wasn't mere coincidence the animals' heads were tilted, beady eyes on both ascending men.

"Haha, we're under siege," the silver-haired man said with sarcastic irony as he shut the door behind him. His voice had gained a dark undertone. Kakashi walked over to the window and stared outward. There were four birds balanced on the small ledge. He slid the curtains shut.

"I'm aware of that, Kakashi…" The kitchen light flickered on. "What the hell are they trying to pull?"

"I'm not sure." He watched the closed curtains until he was satisfied with the result. He stepped back cautiously. "I think they're just observing right now. There's nothing we can do about it anyway. Just keep an eye out."

A low mutter was nearly drowned out by the clang of metal on enamel. Iruka was gripping a tea pot so tightly his knuckles had turned pale. The sensei looked as though at any moment he would go berserk with the container. "I'm being stalked by birds…"

Kakashi walked over and touched Iruka's hand, slowly prying it away from the kettle. "The animals are simply a tool. It's not entirely pathetic."

A scathing glare was shot into Kakashi's visible eye. "…Birds…" He reached for his pot again.

The lazy gaze met Iruka and locked tightly. The longer the Chuunin stared back, the more the expression forced the tension to fade. No one was ever quite sure how the copy-nin had come to possess such a power as to stem the Sensei Irritation, but it worked. His technique was topped by a generous, sensible offer. "How about I make the tea and you sit down for a bit, ne?"

Iruka's eyes fell and his shoulders hunched dejectedly. "Thanks." Iruka slid into a chair around the kitchen table and slumped against the wooden surface, tugging at the band that held his hair in place. His head rolled to the side, and he kept his gaze settled upon the living room window. Iruka's brows creased as he imagined the birds sitting, patiently waiting on just the other side of the glass….

"Relax," Kakashi's voice was comforting. The soft sound of bubbling water aided his effect. "I doubt the Harogami brothers are even in Konoha right now."

"These aren't summons. They're real animals…." Iruka murmured, finally divulging his concerns. "How can the twins control so many of them?" He moved an arm over his head, forcing the sight of the curtains out of his vision.

There was a click by his head where Kakashi set down a steaming glass. "Dunno."

Almost reluctantly, Iruka straightened. Timid fingers lifted the cup, and he blew softly on the tea before sipping it. His eyes lifted to Kakashi. "You're not going to drink any?"

"Not really thirsty." He sat down in the seat across from Iruka, leaning back on the last legs.

"Chair on the floor," the Chuunin automatically corrected.

"It's not like I'm going to fall ba-" CRASH! There was surprised, incoherent muttering from under the table.

Iruka sipped his tea, savoring his little victory.

FAM! CAWW! The window rattled violently.

The cup slipped from Iruka. "Shit!" He fumbled for the glass in mid air, tea splashing out of it onto the table. Both hands firmly grasped it and he let out a deep breath in an attempt to slow his heart rate.

Kakashi pulled himself back into his chair, attention locked on the window. Their breath stilled, chakara compressed, adrenalin rose, and stiff silence filled every corner of the apartment. Nails scratched against glass, feathers flittering desperately as wings flapped. Kakashi stood up, hands held defensively at his sides. A dreadful, intimidating force stole the air, and the Jounin's eyes narrowed threateningly. The birds stopped.

There was a moment of contemplative silence before Iruka attempted to speak. His voice cracked, and then settled to a normal, nervous tone. "F-futon or couch?"

Kakashi relaxed and the deadly presence faded into the Jounin's normal state of being. His eyes ripped from the curtains and landed on Iruka. "Mm," his grey eye held a calculating glint. "Futon."

"It's in the closet…. You can set it up next to mine," Iruka murmured softly. He stood and stared at the tea splashed across his table. The sensei began to busy himself with cleaning it up. "And could you check to be sure the window is locked in the bedroom?"

"Sure." Kakashi disappeared into Iruka's room. There was a soft thud as the futon was set up, and the ruffle of sheets signified that the sleeping space was ready. The copy nin padded into the kitchen once again, watching the sensei.

The pecking returned and increased in intensity. Iruka wiped down his table without comment. His ears twitched as it became apparent that the birds were also mercilessly pecking at his bedroom window. "They're…" He swallowed hard, trembling hand clutching at the dish cloth that soaked up tea. "They're trying to get in…."

Kakashi nodded once. Attention was garnered from the younger man as the Jounin concealed his chakara completely. "I'd like to try something, Iruka."

Iruka concealed his presence as well, setting the towel on the counter near the stove. He waited, listening to the assault lessen until there was only a faint tapping on his bedroom window in the back. "So they're following chakara traces…"

"Or they're leading us to think that."

"Kakashi," Iruka countered, "the amount of Chakara needed to spy through this number of birds is ridiculously enormous. The user wouldn't be able to hold control for long, and these birds have been following me for hours. I don't think anyone could work more than a simple tracking command."

"Who ever said it was one person controlling them?" Kakashi's bluntly ominous words stiffened the atmosphere.

"Alright," the man admitted, "there are two Kuros. Two people. That's still a-"

"And a sensei," Kakashi interrupted. "Iruka, they're doing this to psyche us, create chaos, discontent, wrack nerves. If they really wanted to spy, they would be using one bird, maybe two. Not eighty-seven or more."

"I know they're controlling them, but the birds can't think on their own," he was attempting to convince at least one of them of this. "At least, not in the way you're implying." Iruka scratched at his scar subconsciously. "Three people and over a hundred birds. The energy it takes to control a singular animal isn't that much. But, to control a pack or a flock it changes the amount needed…divided into three…" Iruka sighed. "It's possible. It's just…"

"Unnerving. Amazing. Unlikely." Kakashi rattled off possible endings of Iruka's words. "But when has that ever stopped anyone?" He shook his head and crossed his arms.

"But the concentration that goes into it- Wherever they're hiding, they're vulnerable right now," Iruka pointed out. "If someone could-"

"No. Absolutely not." The Jounin murmured. "There's no way for us to tell which direction they're in, even if we could predict an approximate radius. ANBU couldn't find the twins when they were within our own city. If they left, there's no telling where they are, who they are working with, and how to approach them without detection." Kakashi looked away from Iruka, eyes locking on the blue curtains that hid the window. "You're suggesting a suicide mission, and you know it."

"Sorry…" The Chuunin closed his eyes. His knees wobbled and he took a heavy seat in the kitchen chair, arm resting on his newly cleaned table top.

"The birds have to be a distraction." Kakashi thought out loud. "They're a distraction with the benefit of some tracking, some information gathering. There is something we aren't noticing. Something we don't expect or suspect."

"I know…" Iruka tapped a finger against his chin. The finger slid up and he chewed on the nail. "But I can't see anything beyond the birds. I haven't felt any traces of the twins…"

Kakashi closed his eyes, tilting his head forward in thought.

"Could they be using someone? An actual person with the birds as a cover?"

"That's a possibility." Kakashi scratched the back of his neck. "If it's so, that person may not even have a clue as to what's happening."

"Isamu-san? Asuma-san? Nakura-chan?" There was a long, palpable silence. Iruka turned to Kakashi, met him eye to eye and said in a dead-pan tone, "What about you, Kakashi-san?"

The Jounin smiled crookedly and shook his head. "No."

The racket of the birds had simmered down to an occasional stifled flutter. Iruka scratched at his scar, turning his head to watch the time slipping away over his stove. 21:57… His voice became a faint murmur, "Seems like time has slowed down…"

Click. 21:58. "Yeah…."

"Genjutsu?" Iruka half-heartedly joked.

"Yeah. Has to be." Kakashi attempted to aid his friend's jest. "Time would never decelerate so willingly…."

The Chuunin was transfixed by the sluggish passing of time. "…I feel like an idiot." He paused before clarifying. "You know… staring at the clock…"

"Yeah." Kakashi mindlessly agreed, just as transfixed. He blinked, shaking his head slowly and looked away.

Click. 21:59.

Iruka closed his eyes, willing himself to stop. His head turned stiffly on his tensed neck, and his eyelids lifted, allowing his gaze to lock on the wall beyond Kakashi. "Hm."

"Mm."

"You're not one for conversing, are you, Kakashi?"

"Not generally." The Jounin mumbled, grey eye turning on Iruka. "Especially small talk."

Brown eyes slowly traded the wall for the Jounin. "Small talk is just to be polite."

"Oh well."

Iruka risked a glance at his clock. 22:01. Time had resumed its normal pace. The inevitable quiet of observation followed. "The birds have stopped."

"They could be waiting, but I'm not about to go look."

Kakashi could feel tension returning to the man leaning back in the chair. "We probably won't find out until morning."

He looked over to his companion. The ninja stepped towards him and placed a calming hand on Iruka's shoulder. "Yeah, we'll find out in the morning."

"Mm…" Iruka could hear phantom claws and beaks against glass, echoing in his head like a lingering nightmare. His mind relentlessly replayed the rapid clicking, the desperate bird cries, the rustling of black feathers, the banging of bodies as they suicide dived the thin glass. Iruka subconsciously placed a hand over Kakashi's.

Kakashi observed every twitched offered by his stressed friend. "You should lie down. Go to sleep. I'll keep watch."

"No, not with the birds out there…" He bit his bottom lip, white teeth pressing gently into flesh. "They're doing a good job messing with my mind if that's their goal." Iruka looked up to the Jounin. "But thank you, Kakashi."

Kakashi's hand moved, shifting under Iruka's touch to the back of his neck. It just rested there, a comforting presence. "You've been really wearing yourself out…"

The Chuunin leaned into the Jounin's palm, eyes closed. The non-existent pecking rang in his ears.

"Come on." Kakashi held out his other gloved hand for Iruka to take. "I told you that I wouldn't let anything happen. You'll be fine enough to get good sleep for tonight."

"I owe you." A tanned hand joined Kakashi's and almost reluctantly, Iruka followed his lead. The bedroom door was opened and they stepped into darkness. The only dominating noise was their breathing. Iruka shrugged off his vest and pulled off the hitae-ate and weapon pouches, letting them fall to a limp, careless pile next to his sleeping space. The Chuunin curled up on his futon, not bothering to slip under covers.

Kakashi's vest, gloves, hitae-ate, and weapons joined Iruka's, and then he sat down on his own bedding. The Jounin leaned forward and placed his chin on his knees, listening to the soft rushing of wind outside. Minutes passed with Iruka relaxing a bit more as each second ticked by. Eventually, Kakashi watched the Chuunin roll onto his back, eyes closed and breathing regulated. He was, apparently, far more exhausted than Kakashi had originally assessed.

Kakashi blinked wearily, finding he was growing uncharacteristically inattentive. Both eyes slowly slid shut and his arms slipped from his legs to the futon. His teeth clenched and he took in a deep breath, snapping out of his momentary stupor. The Jounin shifted positions, crossing his legs and tilting his head forward. Silver bangs fell into his face, glistening in the faint street glow that seeped through the pale bedroom curtains.

Tap… tap tap…

Kakashi's eyes snapped open and his head jerked towards the window. A silhouette of five birds on the sill had appeared. The tapping ceased and the Jounin momentarily relaxed.

Iruka's body tensed up and a soft squeak escaped his throat. Kakashi looked over just in time to see the man's limbs slowly relax, starting from the fingertips and toes, working up the major joints up into his chest and neck. Iruka groaned and a deep breath left his lungs.

Tap tap tap tap…. Scraaaaatch… tap…

The Chuunin turned on his side, deep in sleep. Another long scratch of nails on glass accompanied a soft whisper of Kakashi's name. The sensei's whispers developed into incoherent murmurings as the tapping intensified, and it relented with the decrease of tapping.

CRRAWK.

Iruka's hand lashed out at nothing and then jerked back to his body. Fingers clutched at his chest, then relaxed.

The Jounin fought back another wave of sudden lethargy. He was beginning to feel numbed, subdued by something, but he was too groggy to place his finger on exactly what it was. Red and grey eyes flickered to the window. Shadows frantically fluttered against the window, negative space bouncing around the curtains and casting long shadows across the apartment room floor.

He blinked heavily, shaking his head once more. He pressed his hands together, just in case. "Kai…" Moments passed, and he was finally able to concentrate on his surroundings, whether or not it had been some trick of the mind or not. His attention fell to the size of the shadows through the window. There were small, fluttering creatures that seemed to be nightingales. However, there was a solitary cat-sized darkness that was calmly perched in the center. Its head snapped to the side once, as if it knew Kakashi were studying it through the fabric. It revealed itself to be a raven.

Iruka muttered Kakashi's name again, calling softly as the birds resumed a violent pace.

Kakashi stood up, and silently approached the window. He left a foot of space between himself and the birds. Neither could see the other, but both understood the presence of the other. The raven pruked menacingly.

"Hold me…" came Iruka's soft whisper. He twitched in the bed, hand lifting an inch before limply giving in to gravity.

The Jounin looked over his shoulder to Iruka, question in his eyes. The man was sound asleep. Kakashi turned back to the window, watching the fluttering animal. After a moment more, he ignored the bird and returned to Iruka's side, flopping down on his own futon.

The raven croaked louder as though demanding he return. Perhaps he would have, but Iruka called the name again, voice soft and breathy. "Kakashi…"

Again, the raven croaked, commanding Kakashi's presence.

"Back off," Kakashi snapped at the window.

PRRRUUK! A loud snort came from Kakashi's side, shortly followed by a deep sigh. The nightingales vanished and only the solitary pecking of the raven could be heard.

"Shut up, Raven," the copy-nin muttered, placing his chin back on his knees.

Finally, silence befell the room. The bird waited patiently for some kind of response. None came from the stubborn shinobi watchdog. Screeeeeeeeeaaaaaatch. Nails raked painfully down the glass. Kakashi flinched and growled lowly, looking over to the twitching Chuunin before standing up. He walked over to the window, hands in pockets, and stared expectantly.

Peck. Peck, peck, peck. It was a futile effort to break in.

"Ki…" Iruka's breath.

THUD. The raven rammed its entire body into the glass. The window tremmored, but nothing more was collected as fruits of its labor.

"Kiss me…Kakashi…"

Another thud and a louder 'pruk'.

Kakashi closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. He glanced over at Iruka once, checking to see if the man truly was asleep. He was. Kakashi turned back, contemplating his bird issue. His fingers curled around the rim of the cloth, and he opened the curtain, staring blankly at the pitiful creature. "You can't get in," Kakashi clarified, voice stern but low. "You will never have him. Go away, and I won't kill you right now."

The raven twisted its head to the side, beady black eye locking on Kakashi's face with profound intensity. For a split second, the Jounin heard a deep, venomous voice in his head. "The scarecrow was meant to frighten birds away."

This made Kakashi grin crookedly. For the first time, he realized the irony of his own name. "Nyan-nyan." He placed a hand on the glass. His fingers tapped, mimicking the bird's previously threatening action. "I'll cook you in a stew, bird. No, no." Kakashi shook his head, tilting his finger side to side. "This straw man's going to eat you live."

"Suzume, suzume." The voice began as the bird cocked its head to the other side as if it meant to grin. In the background, Iruka grunted and an arm shot up before flopping over limply. "Fly to freedom, don't get caught; don't get cooked and don't get shot. Don't get strangled, don't get bought." A pained moan interrupted the bird's monologue. Both Jounin and Avian froze. Light tapping continued for a moment before the voice whispered, "Fly with purpose, fly by rage. Kill the straw man; break your cage."

Iruka's steady breathing stopped.

Kakashi's eyes widened and he jerked the curtain shut, turning abruptly to find the Chuunin ducking into a roll and immediately taking a dangerous sweep at Kakashi's legs. The Jounin jumped, and another wave of exhaustion seized his mind. He stumbled, rolling on his foot incorrectly and taking an extra step, falling forward to land on both knees.

The Chuunin sprang up, body tensed into a combat position. His eyes were open and centered upon Kakashi, but any trace of intelligence or recognition was gone. Kakashi jerked to the side and landed wearily on his back, effectively dodging a foot about to be slammed down upon his face. He pulled himself to his feet, side stepping a fist. He ducked, jumped, and stepped backwards.

Even considering Kakashi's sudden lassitude, Iruka had suddenly become faster, stronger, and more precise in his fluid motions. Iruka feinted to the right. Kakashi instinctively sensed the trick and turned left; however, the Chuunin made an abrupt dive for his legs and slammed his body weight into the man.

Kakashi grunted as he slammed into the wall. He brought up his arms to defend, but Iruka's hands rammed upward, pinning Kakashi's wrists to the wall. The Chuunin's grip threatened to fracture his wrists. The Jounin grimaced and jammed his knee forward, knocking Iruka away from him. Iruka lunged forward, reaching for Kakashi's throat. The Jounin's hands snapped together. "Kai!" He grabbed Iruka's wrists, twisted his leg around the Chuunin's knees, and both slammed to the ground.

Discontented screeches erupted from a massive gathering of birds outside. Loud fluttering and scratching ripped through the air as they abruptly took flight.

Perhaps it was a combination of both impact and dispel, but the Chuunin made no move to neither escape nor attack. He lay quiet and still beneath Kakashi, brown eyes opened and glazed over. The raven gave a last startling 'pruk' before it flew from the sill. Gradually, the haze lifted from Iruka and left him in a momentary state of uncomprehending paralysis. Kakashi watched the man's eyes sweep over the room then settle on him. A deep, crimson blush pervaded Iruka's skin; his ears and cheeks were completely enveloped. "Kakashi…" Blink. Iruka's eyes widened. "PERVERT!"

Kakashi allowed himself to be thrown off, landing on his back with a harsh thud. He took in deep, slow breaths, trying to calm his heart beat. The Jounin pulled himself to his elbows, eyes glimmering nervously through the darkness. "You aren't hurt are you?"

"N-no…" Iruka stared at him, blush extending to his neck before he turned his head. "Something happened."

Kakashi let out a sigh of relief, letting his elbows slip so he could lie back on the ground. "It's over for tonight. The Birds won't be back."

The Chuunin laughed nervously. "I…I thought as much…hah…w-why else would you…?"

"Sorry, Iruka…" Kakashi's breath was settling down to something akin to slow and steady. He closed his eyes, lifting his hands in the air so that he could rub his sore wrists. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Cautiously, Iruka scooted toward him, examining the dark bruises forming at the base of Kakashi's hands. "I appologize…I did that…"

The Jounin sat up, letting the sensei take his wrists to study closer. "It's nothing." He offered a smile to Iruka.

"Like hell it's nothing, Kakashi! This is ludicrous! All of it!" He gently rubbed at the forming marks. "Are you hurt in any other way? Kakashi?"

"No, I'm fine." He took his hands back.

Iruka gaze fell to his own hands. He felt tainted. The feeling of something invading his body, forcing it to move without his dictation…. He felt defiled.

Kakashi reached out on his own initiative, placing his hands on Iruka's shoulders. "Look at me, Iruka…"

Iruka kept his gaze locked in place on his twitching fingers. The blush had returned, though not in full force. "I-iie…" His shoulders just barely trembled.

"Please, look at me." Kakashi's hand tilted Iruka's chin upwards, though the Chuunin's gaze did not follow example. The Jounin's eyes glinted through soft, silver locks that were usually held out of the way by a lopsided hitae-ate. Kakashi was honestly concerned, and he allowed himself to show it this once.

Iruka choked on air. His dream had begun exactly like this… "K-k-" He up-turned his anxiety ringed eyes to Kakashi and the name died on his lips.

He smiled warmly. "It's going to be Ok."

The Chuunin sat in front of him, stunned. It had all become an unbelievably vivid de ja vu…. His next words came slowly and cautiously. "…Kiss me." Kiss me….Kakashi…

Kakashi stared back at Iruka, at first a little stunned and unsure of what to say or do. Finally, he glided forward and kissed Iruka, breath fluttering through the thin fabric of his mask.

Again, Iruka's gaze fell downcast, ashamed of what he'd just done. "Sorry…"

"No…" Kakashi shook his head slowly. He kissed him once more, loose silver strands brushing against Iruka's face as he pulled back slightly.

Hands latched onto him, one on Kakashi's cheek and the other on the man's shoulder. Iruka wouldn't question, nor would he speak. He wouldn't dwell on the birds. He wanted to forget that the Harogami brothers were hunting him, forget that he'd been used, that he'd just hurt Kakashi. So, he acted on his emotions, well aware that Shinobi generally regarded the 'feel, act' pattern as suicide. Carefully, he peeled Kakashi's mask further down his nose before he leaned in, clamping his teeth over a fold of fabric and pulling downward.

The mask slipped the rest of the way down and Kakashi's bare skin brushed against Iruka's neck. He kissed under the Chuunin's ear as he curled one arm further around Iruka, pulling closer.

Iruka kissed Kakashi's cheek, dragging his lips across flesh, stopping at the Jounin's ear. A finger traced it. "Kakashi…"

The man responded with a soft intake of breath. Kakashi could feel his self control quickly diminishing. It was as if his mind had turned to water, and it was quickly slipping through his fingers. This was the exact concept he had always avoided, but somehow, the idea of loosing himself to Iruka wasn't so terrible. Kakashi pushed on Iruka gently. The Chuunin felt the futon at his shoulders. Iruka barely had enough time to scoot all the way on it before Kakashi caught his lips in his own.

Iruka lightly bit Kakashi's bottom lip and released it just as quickly, nimble fingers still trailing the perimeter of Kakashi's ear. It was strange, but he wanted it. Why and how didn't matter. He was caught in another, deeper, more domineering kiss. Guilty as hell, he wanted Kakashi.

Kakashi's hand slipped up the front of Iruka's shirt, trailing up his chest. The Jounin's behavior had altered from the last time they'd been caught in this situation. His movements were a bit more aggressive, his kisses a bit more longing. Whether Kakashi had realized it or not, there was a bit more meaning to his actions -a bit more passion.

It sucked Iruka in. The longer Kakashi touched him, the more he burned. The heat radiating from his quivering skin made the Jounin seem cool to the touch. His face and neck were strong and clearly accented. In his own way, Hatake Kakashi was surreally beautiful. The power he emitted drew Iruka closer, his movements gaining confidence and longing.

Kakashi's free hand clenched hold of the sheets below Iruka. His left hand pulled Iruka's shirt off. He leaned down and kissed the sternum.

Iruka ushered a satisfying groan, shivering and clutching at Kakashi's shirt. His fingers dug into the fabric and the Jounin could feel it sliding up his back. He went blind for a moment as clothing was pulled over his head and then there was the flustered sensei beneath him, breathing heavily, almost smiling at the successful discard.

Kakashi left a trail of pressed lips down the center arch of his rib cage, over his shuddering abs and to the rim of the man's pants, taking in every tremble, every twitch of a muscle. He pulled back up to Iruka's face and kissed his begging lips, pressing their chests together.

Iruka's eyes were closed tightly as he craned his neck, shifting past Kakashi's kiss and sinking his teeth into the Jounin's scarred shoulder. He sucked lightly on the salty skin, feeling involuntary tremors pass through Kakashi's muscles.

"Ah…" Kakashi bit on his own lip to hold back another involuntary moan as Iruka bit him again. The Chuunin was working to mark him. The Jounin returned the favor, biting his neck, knowing full well that come morning, Iruka would be pissed at the bruise. The Chuunin didn't care at the moment, wasn't thinking ahead, and the older shinobi took full advantage of that.

Iruka clamped down on Kakashi's ear and a wave of heat spread through the Jounin. Kakashi attempted to tilt his head, but Iruka was fully determined to nip at his ear, teasing him with every chance he was allowed. He gave in to Iruka's silent demand.

Suppressed energies drove Iruka onward, biting and kissing and clutching, silently and vocally pleading. He finally allowed Kakashi to move but not without raking his fingers forcefully down the Jounin's back. A deep, pleasured breath left Kakashi at that. His hand trailed down Iruka's body once again, and a faint 'snap' could be heard from Iruka's pants. Kakashi kissed him again, experimenting with boundaries.

Iruka seemed not to care or not to have noticed. Being a Shinobi, it was probably the former. You noticed when someone touched you. He certainly wasn't unaware of Kakashi's hands or lips. As Kakashi bit him once, he returned the favor all over the man's neck, lingering occasionally. The extra article of clothing was slowly worked down to his knees until Iruka simply kicked them off. The ruffle of fabric made both pause, and in that instant they weighed all options.

Kakashi grinned and kissed Iruka. Not another thought of stopping passed through either mind. Oh yes, Kakashi was quite pleased with the collective decision; Iruka's nearly bare body pressed against him, flushed and hot…it was well worth putting up with the inevitable bite mark complaints in the morning, among other protests the Chuunin might make.

"…Kakashi….."

The copy nin gained a mischievous smirk. His breath was hot against the Chuunin's ear. "Iruka…" saying his name alone was enough to get nails dug into flesh. Kakashi bit down on his shoulder, moving across the sensitive collar bone to the other side.

Deep, rich moans proceeded every bite and Iruka ground into him as he automatically arched his back, head tilted, neck exposed. He felt Kakashi's fingers trailed up his neck into his hair. Kakashi had offered deft flick of the wrist. The hair band was tossed to the side. Umber strands fell freely to the crumpled white sheets beneath him. Kakashi nipped Iruka's bottom lip, savoring the pleasured mumble that came as a result. Iruka's hands slid over Kakashi's sides, to his abs, to his stomach and back around to his spine. He'd never touched anyone in this way before -it was consuming.

"Iruka…?" Kakashi's hot breath tickled the Chuunin's ear. He brought one hand to rest on Iruka's lower stomach. Kakashi's teeth grazed the man's ear, and his breath expertly allowed itself to fall heavier. The murmur became a low croon, "Iruka, can I have you?"

Iruka's response accompanied a long, drawn out moan. "Yeeeees…"

He'd said all he needed to say.