Yo, Wolf here. So this chapter is like a major turning point for the story, and now is where the good part truly begins :3 Enjoy!
CrazyShikamaruFan: I' always make sure I update at least once a week. I owe it to loyal fans like you!
OrlandosLover2009: The waiting has ended! Now this story is going to become more and more twisted by the chapter. Yay for drama lolz
Ryu Earth: Lol, I don't think I could be that mean to Iuka :P
(break)
"Fifty push-ups!" Kakashi yelled towards his class, earning an exasperated sigh in return. "It's only fifty. I can do that in my sleep."
"Yea, but not everyone's a muscular killing machine like you, sensei," Kiba complained, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm.
"And this is coming from the boy that always claims he can do better than me? Less talking and more exercising," the karate teacher commanded, clapping his hands to confirm his orders. "And just a little tip, flattery gets you nowhere."
Everyone hastily dropped to the floor and began their routine.
"I can't hear you counting," Kakashi drawled out, taking a seat on the floor in front of them.
"One-two-three," the class began with a groan, faces contoured into pained expressions. "Forty-nine, fifty."
"Good job today. Class dismissed," the pale man announced happily, waving farewell to his students.
"Bye, sensei," they all said, limping out of the dojo.
"Finally, I get to see my 'Ruru. He should be home by now," Kakashi said to himself, locking up the dojo; not bothering to change out of his uniform.
He casually walked down the paved streets of the village, turning left and right, greeting others along the way. After what seemed like a millennium, he arrived at his house.
'Now to see my sweet dolphin,' he thought in anticipation, unlocking the door and pushing it open.
"Iruka, I'm-Iruka? Iruka! What's wrong?" Kakashi asked in a panicked state, running over to the man who was currently sitting on the living room sofa sobbing uncontrollably.
The other man merely wept louder, before slowly raising his head from his tear stained palms. His eyes were a blood red, and his usually neat ponytail was in disarray.
"Ka-Kakashi," he said between sobs, "N-Naruto told me th-that you were called into the N-Navy."
The elder froze, eyes growing wide with fear as the words registered in his mind.
'Damnit,' he thought, eyes not leaving his love's pained expression. 'Does he know? Shit. What do I say?'
"I'm so sorry y-y-you got ch-chosen to do this," the distressed man cried out.
"Chosen?" the other repeated, arms reaching out to encircle themselves around the tanned man in an attempt to comfort him as he took a seat beside him. "It's ok. Just take a few deep breaths and tell me the story."
Iruka did as he was told, taking in much needed air. His breathing soon evened out, and his hiccupping reduced drastically.
"I ran into Naruto and he said that your name was called to join the N-Navy. I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. Oh God, I don't know how to react to this. What will I do without y-you? What if something happens?"
"Ruka baby, don't worry. We'll get through this. Just take some time to calm down, and then we'll talk, ok?" Kakashi asked, rocking the other back and forth gently.
Iruka nodded his head and buried his face into the muscular chest, shoulders shaking slightly.
'Shit, I can't believe I'm lying flat out in front of his face… but it's for his safety,' Kakashi reassured himself.
"I'm so sorry Kakashi," Iruka mumbled into the warm flesh. "I love you."
"I love you too baby. Just be strong for me."
After a few minutes of comforting, Iruka removed his face from the other's chest. Although a small smile graced his lips, his eyes still held sorrow, fear, and confusion.
"I forgot you haven't had anything to eat since you came home. Let me heat up some food for you," the tanned man said in a slightly shaky voice.
Without another word, the school teacher rose and padded off into the kitchen. Kakashi left the comfort of the sofa too, and made his way into the dining room, seating himself quickly.
'I just have to pretend I know nothing about the Navy… but it's so wrong. Lying. Nothing but a liar. No! It's for his safety. I need to protect him. He'll only hate me if I told him about my past; about my service in the- in there,' Kakashi thought, wincing as a headache began to from. 'Don't want him mad. Need him happy. Make him laugh.'
The pale man was snapped out of his thoughts when a hot plate of vegetable curry was placed in front of him. He glanced up at Iruka and saw that the other was smiling down at him.
"I hope you like it," Iruka said, seating himself across from Kakashi.
"Your food is always amazing, 'Ruru," Kakashi responded, which caused both males to laugh.
"I'm sorry about how I reacted. I just couldn't handle the impact," Iruka apologized, taking a bite from his food. "It's just not fair that out of all the people who could have been called, you were chosen. Why couldn't they have picked someone who was retired? At least they'd know more about what to do."
"I know," the silver haired man said in a calming voice. "It'll be over fast though. I doubt they'd put me somewhere dangerous, since I don't really know anything about ships and all that," he lied.
"Haha, yea. We need to be strong about this. Together."
"So do you know when I leave? Any details?"
"No, but the mail man is supposed to come by later and give you the official letter."
"Oh. Where's Sango?" Kakashi questioned, trying to change the subject.
"She's over at Naruto's. He really wanted to stay with her, although I have no idea how Sasuke will react to someone else stealing Naruto's attention," the school teacher laughed out.
"That's why I'm afraid to spar with him. If I get one scratch on him, Sasuke might rip my dick off and shove it up my ass."
"Isn't that a pretty sight," the other teased. "I doubt he would go to that extreme."
"Have you seen the way he looks at that kid?"
"Actually, I'd rather not think about that," Iruka chuckled, as he thought of the incident back at the school. "Oh here, I'll get that," he offered, collecting the other's plate and carrying it into the kitchen.
Kakashi shuffled back into the living room, taking his place once again on the sofa.
'Just stay cool. Just calm down and try not to dwell on the subject,' he thought, trying to ease his nerves. 'This is for Iruka.'
Iruka soon joined him, cuddling closer against the older man. He sighed in content when the other wrapped an arm around him.
"I feel like I'm in some sappy drama movie or a romance story," Iruka commented, giggling softly.
"Haha, what would it be called?"
"Hmm, how about 'Desperate Househusbands'"
"What?"
"You know, since the regular show is about women and Army stuff? Well ours would be about men and the Navy."
"Wow 'Ruru, wow."
"Hey, it could be a hit. I mean, they have some really dumb reality shows on T.V., and half of them make no sense whatsoever."
"True, but who would watch? The gay community?"
"Yes," Iruka replied, "and all the women who like that kind of stuff."
The two chuckled at the absurdity of their conversation, each relishing the other's companionship. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, before the ringing of the doorbell broke their spell.
Ding-dong.
"Must be the mail man. I'll get it," Iruka said, walking towards the door. "Oh, Naruto! Come in, come in."
"Thanks, sensei," Naruto said, sauntering into the living room and taking a seat in the chair opposite of Kakashi, Iruka joining them a second later.
"Yo, Naruto and Sango," Kakashi greeted, earning an energetic bark from the dog who was currently seated in the blonde's lap.
"Sorry to barge in like this," Naruto apologized sheepishly, "but Sasuke didn't really like how attached I became to Sango, and he spent the entire afternoon either glaring daggers at her or sulking."
Iruka shot a glance at Kakashi, with a small grin securely planted on his face, eyes saying 'I told you so.' The other male merely laughed at the other's gesture.
"Hey, what's so funny?" the young boy asked, eyes darting back and forth between the two in confusion.
"Oh, it's nothing. We just remembered a funny joke from earlier," Iruka replied, stifling back a few giggles. "Anyways, I completely understand, and you are by no means barging in. You are always welcomed here. You're family."
"Thanks, sensei. I was afraid of what Sasuke might do to poor Sango," the boy confessed, patting the small dog on the head, causing her to wag her tail furiously in delight. "He can be pretty, well pretty Sasuke, if you know what I mean."
"Oh trust me, I do. I was a victim of his famous glare before, back when we were sparring a while ago," Kakashi snickered out. "I believe he wanted to kill me."
"Ugh," Naruto exhaled, gingerly placing Sango onto the floor. "I told him not to be so possessive."
"Well at least you know he truly cares," Iruka said, watching as Sango pranced towards her pillow.
"Yea… Well thanks again sensei! See you tomorrow, and see you after school Kakashi sensei!" Naruto exclaimed, heading towards the door.
"Later," both males called out as the door closed.
"Wow, I don't think I've ever seen Naruto that calm before. It was like he was a whole new person," Iruka stated, resting his head against the other's chest once again.
"Maybe Sasuke is starting to rub off on him," Kakashi teased, stroking the teacher's silky locks.
"I hope not. Naruto's too innocent."
"Judging by that huge hickey on his neck, I wouldn't say the kid is that much of an angel."
"What?" Iruka yelled in disbelief, raising his head to look the other in the eyes. "A hickey?"
"It was as plain as the sun in the sky 'Ruru." Kakashi chuckled, as he pulled the tanned man back against him. "You could spot that thing from a mile away."
"Ok, ok, new subject. I'm starting to get mental images," Iruka pleaded, shivering at the thought of how Naruto might have obtained that mark.
Just as Kakashi was about to suggest something else, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get this one," the karate teacher said, making his way towards the door. With a soft click, he opened it and greeted the person. "Oh, hello. Mail? Thank you. Have a good afternoon."
"A letter? Is it…"
"Yea," the other responded, seating himself next to the anxious man, eyes glaring at the letter as a wave of uneasiness washed over his form.
"It's ok; we can handle it, right? We're stronger than that," Iruka coaxed the man, giving his hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
"Yea… stronger."
The silver haired male hesitantly tore the edge of the envelope and pulled out the folded document, his breaths coming out slower and slower.
"Breathe love, breathe," the tanned man reminded.
"Right, sorry,"
Pale hands slowly unfolded the important letter as mismatched eyes scanned over the paper quickly. A solemn expression soon presented itself on his face.
'Can't let Iruka see this,' he told himself.
"What does it say?" Iruka queried, looking up at him.
The older man closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, placing the document in his lap.
"I leave in a month, and I'm staying for two years. They're… they're placing me on a ship."
"What? A ship? Two years? Why?"
"Well they said they ran out of retired civilians to recruit who had naval knowledge, so they're going to train a few of us and send us out to sea," he lied, once again.
"But you'll be in the actual war! Out there, fighting! Oh no, no, no, what will I do? What will we do?" Iruka cried out, burying his face in his hands,
"Shh, 'Ruru, remember about us being strong?" the other reminded, pulling the younger closer to his body.
"Fuck being strong! This is ridiculous!"
"I know love, but I- I- oh God Iruka, even I can't be strong for you," Kakashi sobbed out, a few tears spilling down his face.
Both sat like that for what seemed like an eternity, completely ignoring the presence of the outside world. Time seemed to still as they sat there, embracing each other as if they were holding on for dear life. Tears cascaded down both of their faces like a waterfall, as their bodies shook from the racing, negative emotions within them. Fear, hurt, frustration- they were all present. No words were spoken; no sentimental sayings exchanged in hopes of bringing a smile to the other's face. It was pointless. There was only the sound of the occasional chocked out sob and the racing of their troubled hearts.
"I'm sorry," Iruka apologized, breaking the silence at last, although he had no idea what he was apologizing for.
"It's ok, everything will work out. I promise," Kakashi cooed in a soothing tone.
'I'm so sorry Iruka. I never wanted this to happen to you. Forgive me,' he thought in agony, as he lowered his head in shame.
(break)
Ok, Kakashi wouldn't be honest, because in the past, he promised Iruka he woud tell him everthing about him, even about his past. Well he kept the Navy part a secret, and he's scared that Iruka woud get upset and leave him if he tod him, just to clear things up.
Iruka in a romance story? Pft no way! Haha. And Kakashi, how could you? Well please review! And I'll throw in a nice little something in the next chapter :D