A/N: Manga Spoilers

Warning: This Has some Light Yaoi, if you don't like it don't read it please Skip to the next paragraph :D

CHAPTER 4

Iruka awoke with the gentle warmth of breath on his face; Yamato was only a few centimetres away from him. As Iruka had beaten the alarm clock, he savoured the half an hour watching the two sleeping on his left. Yamato was lying nestled in the crook of Kakashi's shoulder an arm and leg spread over Iruka. Kakashi had his arm around Yamato's middle with his face burrowed in Yamato's hair and a leg also resting on Iruka. He smiled to himself seeing both of them looking somewhat peaceful even if there was some visible strain on their faces. Yamato had hardly stirred all night; he occasionally whimpered in his sleep but otherwise seemed quite content which signalled hope to Iruka.

He lay there contemplating how his life was and now is. He had two beautiful men who loved and cared for him and he wasn't prepared to loose either. They all had their own demons but this was beyond his comprehension. Yamato had been suspended and poisoned for weeks on top of being under Madara's Tsukuyomi. Kakashi had briefly been under Itachi's Tsukuyomi and it had taken him weeks to get over it and rebuild the mental walls. Yamato knew this and wasn't asking Kakashi for help, maybe not wanting to remind him of the incident, which would be exactly like Yamato he thought. Never wanting to burden anyone with his troubles, even now that he could share it with two other people who loved him for who he was, he continued to carry the weight of his concerns alone. This had always bothered Iruka but at least he had finally opened up a little yesterday which was reassuring. He looked back at his lovers; both had fought gallantly during the war. Kakashi captain of the 3rd battalion and Yamato although captured had done his part protecting Naruto and the five nations. He often felt useless in comparison to the sacrifices his lovers made to ensure the wellbeing of the village.

Every time they both left the village he wasn't sure if he would see them whole again or if they would even return. He spent his time rattling around in the empty house with his insecurities. That was the lifestyle of a Shinobi he knew that but he couldn't always accept it. So when Yamato had gone for a month with Naruto to the Island and Tsunade Sama came to him to persuade Naruto to stay on the Island he jumped at the opportunity. His first thought was to protect Naruto but he would get to see Yamato as well. He cared for Naruto like a little brother and knew he had influence over him, even today, when he was stronger than Iruka would ever be.

When he got to the Island and had heard about Yamato, Iruka felt like he had been sucked into a whirlpool and never thought he'd see his lover again, let alone alive. He felt physically sick and disorientated that Aoba had to stabilise him. His heart felt like it had been ripped out and his body left lifeless as an empty shell. He didn't shed any tears, he couldn't, he just stood there frozen Aoba helping to keep him on his feet. Time had no meaning for him anymore, he wasn't sure how long he had been out of it, until Gai had held him and assured him he would be searched for and that Naruto needed him right now. He couldn't stop Naruto; he didn't want to stop him. If anyone could find Yamato it would be Naruto and Kakashi, who cared for him as much as Iruka. Iruka thought of Kakashi, who was leading out a battalion to war. How was he going to take this? He needed to see Kakashi, hold him and feel him to make the living nightmare go away. But he knew Kakashi had a tougher job, it would be up to him to lead his battalion decorously whilst keeping Yamato in the back of his mind.

He looked at the face adjacent to him and stroked the soft brown hair. He had no way of showing Yamato just how much he meant to him, he just hoped he knew. He wouldn't let Yamato be alone; he knew too well what that felt like. He went back to caressing the pale face. Yamato smiled in his sleep, his face was soft, homely, round with those big puppy brown eyes that just wanted to make you hold and love him, yet scared Naruto. He reached over to remove the silver hair out of Kakashi's face to view the beautifully sculpted face better. Kakashi's face was the opposite, angular, edgy, but he had a soft smile that put you at ease. Both were extremely stunning and he was the luckiest man alive to be able to wake up with them in his arms.

The alarm clock sounded and he heard twin groans from both men causing him to chuckle. "Morning" he kissed Yamato who was now stirring and blinked twice to steady his vision. He smiled seeing Iruka's face. "Hi" he rasped sleep still caught in his throat as he tried to shift to get on his back. "Mmmm…what do I have to do to get a kiss around here?" came a muffled voice from behind Yamato. Yamato poked him in the ribs causing him to yelp and the other two to laugh. "You're so mean Yama" Kakashi begrudgingly let him go. Yamato smiled before turning and kissing him, Iruka leaned over to drop kisses of his own on both men. All three lay there tangled up in each other savouring the feel, no one wanting to move. Iruka looked at Yamato who seemed more at ease with himself than yesterday. "You sleep OK baby?" Iruka asked propping himself up on his elbow so he could caress Yamato's face easier. He smiled "Yes". He had actually felt at peace sleeping between both of them, the fatigue helping too. He looked at them; they were still concerned about him so to lighten the mood he finished "apart from him nuzzling my ear, slept very well" he gave Kakashi a pointed stare. This did the trick and both Kakashi and Iruka grinned.

"You can't blame me, your ear is as sexy as the rest of your body" Kakashi continued nibbling at the said ear running his hand down the body. Yamato flinched "I err…Sorry Kashi. I…I have to go help Sakura again; I don't want to be late. I'll never hear the end of it and I…I don't want your reputation" Yamato quickly finished not looking at Kakashi's expression as he knew he had hurt him. He hated himself for putting them through this.

Iruka chuckled ignoring the flinch and trying to keep the mood light "And the fact she's surpassing Tsunade Sama's strength each day is scary too". They all laughed at that, as caring as Sakura was she had a bad temper. "Speaking of whom, don't you have to report to Tsunade Sama Kashi?" Iruka smirked. "Shit..." Kakashi grumbled causing them all to chuckle again; he chose to ignore Yamato's flinch but he couldn't deny that it had hurt him to see Yamato recoil at his touch.

"What about you Ruka" Kakashi asked. "I have to be at the academy today to organise classes before we open, I won't be home till late" Iruka was disappointed, he wanted to be home early to be with Yamato. He wasn't sure if this mood of his would last, if it didn't he wanted to be there to catch him before he fell further.

Iruka looked at Yamato smiling "Do you want the first shower?" he asked. Yamato nodded stroking Iruka's hair and got up to gather his things for the shower, he smiled over his shoulder as he left knowing both of them were watching him and probably wanted to talk over yesterday's conversation.

Iruka rolled over to Kakashi and dropped kisses along his jaw. "You OK?" he asked seeing the look of disappointment in Kakashi's face. "Yeah, I just wanted to feel him…I know, I know, his not ready" Kakashi replied in answer to Iruka's questioning look. "I know what you mean. The bed feels larger without him" Iruka pouted nuzzling into Kakashi's hair.

Kakashi took Iruka's lips and kissed him hard. Their tongues battled for dominance and they got lost in the feel of each other's mouths. Iruka slid his hand down Kakashi's leg and felt hardness. "Let me take care of that for you" he grinned and slid his hand into the boxers pulling him out. "Aahhhh Ruka…wait…please". He felt lips on his ears. Iruka slid down his body taking his nipple in his mouth "Ruka please... I can't...Mmmm" he got lost in the sensation and gave himself up to Iruka's assault. He felt Iruka's gentle hand stroke his length releasing gasps from the man which got louder when he rubbed both their lengths together and stroked them in unison causing more moans to escape whilst they kissed. Kakashi wrapped his hand around Iruka's then and stroked to the same rhythm. Iruka whimpered, he wasn't going to last long, seeing the expressions on Kakashi's face was enough "Aahhhh" he moaned feeling Kakashi's hand rub the top of his length. Iruka quickened his strokes causing Kakashi's face to contort as he held on.

Yamato heard them from the hallway and yearned to join them he felt himself stir with their sounds and fought to keep control. He wasn't ready to take that step yet; afraid the darkness would engulf and overshadow him in the midst of love making. He couldn't do that to either of them again. Though they assured him he was all they needed and wanted there was only so much one could take and he didn't want to push them over the edge losing them. Nobody keeps a place in their heart for the wounded for too long. Their tears last night were heart wrenching and he didn't want to see them again.

He waited for them to come down from their climaxes before entering the bedroom. He smiled at them and avoided eye contact, he knew he wouldn't last seeing them both flushed and groaned internally adjusting his tenting towel. He hated this. Iruka and Kakashi looked up panting they hoped he would join them but he went about getting dressed. Iruka dropped a kiss on Kakashi's forehead before getting up. He looked at Yamato's bare back with a towel loosely wrapped around his waist. He wanted so desperately to take him seeing Yamato so vulnerably exposed in front of him, he cleared his throat "Eh, I'll get breakfast ready Kakashi, take the next shower" and left for the kitchen resisting the urge to squeeze Yamato's rump. Kakashi was fighting his own demons seeing both Yamato wet after his shower and Iruka half-naked with a blush across his face. He was glad to be next for the shower as he needed to cool himself down.

They dressed quickly and ate a hurried breakfast all leaving together. The hospital was the first stopping point, Iruka and Kakashi captured Yamato's lips in turn kissing him goodbye causing him to blush as people looked on. "We'll see you in the evening" Kakashi smiled dropping a small bag of walnuts in his hands. Yamato clutched the bag to his chest and smiled back, he loved them both so for the little things they did and for putting up with him. Iruka saw the look of disappointment and pulled him in for a hug "have a good day babe" he kissed him. "Sakura keep him out of trouble for us" he waved to his former student. "Will do Iruka Sensei, Kaka Sensei" she waved back.

The morning was grey; Yamato was helping Sakura with odd jobs. They were now on their way to the academy to drop of some medical supplies for the new term. Sakura felt the rain start to fall "Taichou, lets hurry I don't want the bandages getting wet". They run for the nearest cover. The academy was not how either of them remembered, the bulk of it was patched up but there were a lot of repairs to do still. The rain got heavier and leaked through the cracks in the ceiling. They found the medical ninja's office and dropped the boxes off.

"Yamato Taichou, let's go say hello to Iruka Sensei, he shouldn't be too far" she smirked knowing full well how embarrassed calm and stoic Yamato could get when his lovers teased and kissed him in public. He blushed before nodding, he wanted to see Iruka and maybe get some lunch together. The rain got heavier and more leaks appeared. They saw Gai Sensei from a distance helping with repairs. "Oi, Yamato, Sakura!" he shouted waving at them with his broad smile. Yamato waved back but as he did he heard a huge crack; he looked up just in time to push Sakura out of the way of the collapsing walk way. Yamato found himself trapped in the dirt. He couldn't see anything and his body felt numb. His head was throbbing, "Oohhh" he groaned and lost consciousness.

Thanks for reading, hope your enjoying it!