Title- The Rescue
By- InuVampireChan
Genre- Romance
Pairing- KakaIru (Kakashi x Iruka)
Words- 10,657
Characters (no spaces) 47,626
Chapter 3
"Lets get moving Pup." Iruka nodded in agreement and pulled Kakashi onto his back again before following the path. It got darker the further they moved and Iruka found himself wishing that he had an affinity with fire. "Where do you think this leads?"
"As old as it is I'm not sure. Hopefully right to where Genma and Raido are…" He was worried about his teammates almost as much as he was worried about the man resting on his back. Kakashi was in bad shape and if he didn't get those Chakra retraining cuffs off he would never get any better.
They continued to walk for what almost felt like an eternity, Iruka's back slowly starting to throb with the weight of the other man. When he almost felt like he was going to collapse they reached a dead end. Iruka gently slid the older man off of him and rested him against the wall before looking up to the exist. "We'll have to climb and I can use Chakra rope to get Kakashi up there." If it didn't break under the older mans weight, but Chakra rope was fairly strong. Iruka helped Pakkun out first before he threaded his Chakra around Kakashi. With barely any help from the Ninken the two of them were able to get Kakashi out if the hole and resting against a tree. Iruka collapsed next to the other man before glancing around, lips pressed together tightly.
"Were on Konoha land, but where we are I have absolutely no idea." Lost in his own land, now that was just purely pathetic for a Ninja. Iruka sighed and glanced over to the man he had just risked his life to save. "We shouldn't stay here for long, we need to get far away from the trap door incase the others start to follow, but first…" Digging through his bag Iruka retrieved a Senbon that he took from Genma and crept closer to Kakashi. Turning the Chakra neck cuff he placed the Senbon into the lock and started to twist around inside. It took a few minutes but eventually he heard the distinct click and the guard fell off. Lock picking was something most Shinobi were good at but when you have pre-genin that try everything to lock you out of your own classroom it becomes even easier. Iruka repeated the action with the remaining cuffs and eventually Kakashi was free, his Chakra slowly starting to replenish itself. "Alright Pakkun lets get Kakashi out of here."
Iruka lifted the man onto his back again and took off into the woods, jumping through the trees and heading toward something that would hopefully remind him of where he was. He kept a close eye on Kakashi as they traveled, making any notes in the mans change and how his Chakra was doing. Though it depleted his own to keep a close eye on the others body status it was worth it to make sure that the other wasn't going to die. By the time night fell Iruka was dead tired, walking through the woods now as he fought to keep himself up right. Pakkun from all the jumping had reopened a few of his wounds and looked like Iruka felt. "I think were far enough away now, let's rest." The dog nodded in agreement and Iruka placed Kakashi down, looking the man over again before turning to the dog.
He re-stitched up Pakkun and wrapped his wounds before tending to Kakashi, stripping the man of his vest and shirt to get to the wounds that layered his chest. All the while tending to his wounds he never made a move to take off the others mask and he was honestly surprised that the grass Ninja didn't take it off themselves. Though he could see dried blood on the garment Iruka didn't want to invade Kakashi's privacy by removing something that clearly was used as a defense mechanism. He didn't know what the other was hiding but that was his own business and not Iruka's. "I've tended to most his wounds, what I can fix anyway. I'm sure he has internal bleeding but I'm not a medic, standard school healing of pre-genin is my limit. Not to mention being Chakra drained. We'll have to wait to Kakashi wakes up to see if he is going to be alright." Pakkun nodded in understand and Iruka rolled out the only blanket he had. Wrapping it around the other's body he sat next to Kakashi and fought to stay awake and keep guard.
Genma, Raido, surely by now they would have escaped and returned to Konoha to alert Tsunade about what happened. They were smart, brave men who knew what to do in a bad situation; much like Kakashi himself. Iruka closed his eyes and started to mentally draw a map of the land of fire in his head. They had left Konoha and gone west and northwest, reaching the border of Kusagakure. From the tunnel they went east and slightly north several miles and then on foot after reaching the exit they went southwest. If Iruka had to guess they were near the rivers and Sunagakure, which also meant to the northeast should be Konoha. Iruka slowly stood up and looked around, wondering if they really were near the rivers. He could use some water and so could Kakashi. "Pakkun, keep an eye out I'm going to find water. If anything happens bark." The dog almost looked offended by the words before snorting—sneezing?—and giving a nod of his head.
Finding water wasn't hard, but getting it back to Kakashi proved difficult. Iruka used Chakra to seal a ball of water and carry it back to Kakashi. Kneeling in front of the man he looked over to Pakkun and arched a brow. "Seeing as it's impolite to look at another person when they clearly don't want to be seen I'm going to have to close my eye and you're going to have to guide me." The dog actually seemed bemused my this and Iruka wondered if it was because he wasn't going to use the chance to look at Kakashi's face or if it was because this whole idea was ridicules. He was just looking out for Kakashi's privacy! Wasn't that the better thing to do? Honestly he knew he was being stupid but he was showing respect, which was more, then the other gave him. Telling him Naruto wasn't his student anymore, the nerve that man had—another time another place. Currently the unconscious man needed help and water. Iruka closed his eyes and breath deeply, his hands cupping the silver Jounin's cheeks and fingering for the mask that guarded half his face. Iruka managed to loop his fingers around the fabric and tugged it down to rest against his chin before thinking what to do next. With one hand he managed to get the others mouth open and with the other he reached for the ball of water. He couldn't obviously force all of it down Kakashi's throat so using his hand he managed to pull a small ball from the larger one and waited for Pakkun's directions.
"You're close, five degrees to two o'clock." Iruka nodded and slowly moved his hand as directed, using his senses to guide it the rest of the way. When the ball was finally in Kakashi's mouth Iruka closed his jaw and lightly rubbed his throat to get the man to swallow. When it actually worked Iruka inwardly cheered and repeated the action, giving Kakashi several more bits of water until the other man began coughing. It honestly took ever bit of self-control that Iruka had not to open his eyes, his hands moving from the others throat to lightly pat his back. What happened next, was really testing his self-control.
In a matter of seconds Iruka found himself pressed up against the nearest tree, a hand around his throat and Pakkun barking something about calming down and Iruka is an ally. The hand around his throat slowly started to lesson and the sound of a deep confused yet stretchy voice that belonged only to the Copy Ninja spoke. "Mah… Pakkun… what's going on?" Iruka felt the eyes turn back to him, his hands gripping Kakashi's wrist even tighter as he fought to keep his eyes screwed shut. "Iruka-Sensei…. What are you doing?"
"Th-That's what I s-hould ask you." Was his choked out answer and at that, his body was instantly released and he just knew Kakashi was rubbing the back of his silver hair. "Put your mask back on." The ruffling of fabric was heard as well as the good-natured laugh and Kakashi mumbling about how weird Iruka was. The Chunin Sensei peeked one eye open to make sure it was alright before the other followed its lead. Kakashi was standing in the middle of the clearing, his pale skin still pale but much better looking then it was when he found the man passed out on the cell floor. He was discussing what happened with Pakkun, his open eye showing clear shock at the mention of Iruka being the one who saved him. Iruka wasn't sure if he should be offended or proud at that.
Kakashi turned back to the Sensei and offered that weird one-eyed smile that he always gave everyone else. Iruka could tell this time though it was actually sincere and he couldn't help but smile back. "Mah, thank's for everything Iruka-Sensei, can I have my Hitai-ate back now?" Body stiffening the tanned Chunin felt his cheeks turn several different shades before he nodded wordlessly and reached up, untying the mentioned item from around his neck and tossing it to the Jounin. He had completely forgotten it was even there but now he was glad he brought it with him. To bad he gave the pack to Genma but at the very least it made it easier to carry Kakashi.
"How are you feeling Kakashi-sensei?" Iruka questioned and the other gave a small roll of his shoulders as if to test for himself.
"Sore, they did a number on me but I'll be fine. You're quite handy Iruka-sensei, good thing you were around or I'm not to sure I would have been patched up this well." At the compliment the Chunin's heart did several different flopping motions in his chest before deciding to just pound away happily. Clearly Kakashi wasn't as much of a jerk as he had originally pegged the Jounin to be.
"You're welcome, do you happen to know where we are? If I calculated correctly were at the rivers that separate Konoha from Suna, but I could be wrong…."
Kakashi looked around briefly before turning back to Iruka and smiling, as much as one could with a cloth covering their face. "I believe your analysis is correct, and that being the case were a good days travel away from Konoha. Might as well make camp here tonight it's going to get incredibly cold." The Jounin turned to his ninken and gave the dog a kind smile. "Pakkun you're dismissed for now, you've done enough and earned a rest; thank you." The ninken nodded and bowed low to his master before turning to Iruka.
"Good job pup it was an honor to work with you again."
"And you as well, Pakkun, thank you for your help." The dog vanished in a puff of smoke and the two men were left alone, Kakashi slumping back down against the tree and closing his eyes. Though even if he looked relaxed and resting Iruka could tell he was still high on alert.