Iruka rolled over in his bed so that the sunlight wouldn't be in his eyes. He mechanically walked to the washroom, changed into his uniform on the way, and began his usual morning ritual of showering, teeth brushing and gathering of papers that had somehow managed to scatter themselves over the entire living area. His breakfast was just a few slices of toast before he grabbed his freshly stacked pile of yesterday's tests, which he had amazingly managed to mark the previous night. Naruto had kept him busy late into the evening but Iruka was no stranger to even later nights.
When he opened the door to his class room his students were unusually quiet. He squinted around the room as he saw that they were smirking.
"Okay you hooligans, what's so funny? Hmm?" He spoke menacingly to his kids. One of the boys in the first row just pointed, and Iruka turned around to find a vase of flowers sitting on his desk.
"Iruka-sensei! Do you have a girlfriend?" One of the kids asked innocently, causing poor Iruka to blush before walking over to his desk to inspect the flowers. They were tiger lilies, which were very had to find, but so beautiful. A note was stuck in a plastic stick in the soil.
Dear Iruka,
I hope one day we are close enough that I may taste and touch all your beauty.
No name was signed. By now, Iruka looked as if he was trying to become a tomato and most of the children were giggling.
"Iruka-sensei! Someone must have a big crush on you."
"Yes, I suppose someone does. Now, lets move on." He spoke taking a last glance at the flowers before launching into that day's lesson.
He wiped the sweat from his brow as the last devil spawn left the school room, running to get home to his mother and father. It made Iruka remember when he still had a parent to run to. He sighed heavily before picking up the last of his work and his unexpected bouquet, turning, he ran into something, almost knocking him off balance. Strong arms held him in place as he looked up into the masked face of the Copy-Cat Nin.
"Uh … Kakashi-san? How can I help you?" Iruka spoke after taking a few steps back, he shuffled his work into a more comfortable position when he realized he might not be moving as quickly as he would have liked.
"Actually, I had something I would rather like to discuss with you." Kakashi said as he shifted from foot to foot a little restlessly.
"Can it wait till I get home, or at least till I'm out of this place?" Making his way out of the halls beckoning Kakashi to follow. "Would you like to come over for a few cups of tea or something?"
"Well … maybe, we'll see."
They chatted pleasantly on the way to Iruka's home. Normally small talk would infuriate Kakashi, but the small talk was short lived. He soon found out that he and Iruka had much to talk about. Iruka had serious thoughts, deep meaningful ideas, and Kakashi found him fascinating.
When they arrived, Iruka smoothly unlocked and opened the door one handed and lead Kakashi in.
It was a fairly large home for someone to live in alone, and Kakashi immediately wondered who might also be in the home to disturb his plan.
"This is an awfully large home for a single person …" Kakashi slid expertly into conversation.
"Yes, I know… I just… can't bring myself to sell it, memories of my parents and all."
Right, Iruka's parents had died in the same battle as his own dear Sensei.
Iruka quickly changed the subject before the silence dragged on, "So what is it that you wanted to talk about Kakashi-san?"
"Well …" He stopped mid sentence, not entirely sure how to continue on. He had never been one for a lasting relationship. His idea of a good relationship was being able to sneak, unheard, from his one night lovers bed before he or she could awake. Kakashi watched as Iruka placed his paperwork on his coffee table and then walked to the kitchen counter. He carried with him the vase and flowers Kakashi had bought earlier in the day. He thought it might soften up the school teacher before he sprung his plan.
"Kakashi-san?" Iruka asked without turning his head, walking to the other side of the counter to refill the vase with fresh water.
Kakashi's resolve crumbled. "Those are beautiful flowers Iruka-sensei. What's the occasion?" What if Iruka was disgusted by the idea of a maleXmale relationship? Though Kakashi found himself to be more alike to a saloon door, swinging whatever way was more convenient, most people in Konoha were more of … conventional door people. Most were not very accepting of same sex relationships. He didn't know Iruka well enough to judge his reaction. He would need to wait. Maybe… get to know the man first.
"Oh these?" Iruka's words snapped him out of his internal thoughts. "I'm not really sure. To be honest a … secret admirer bought them for me. I haven't a clue why, but it was a wonderful thought. Tiger lilies are so hard to find in this region …"
Kakashi had to steel his insides from melting as that sweet smile of Iruka's slid onto his face. "Well, obviously, someone is very fond of you Iruka-sensei. You … don't have a special someone yet?" Maybe that was a better idea, maybe Kakashi should have checked that Iruka had no actual lover yet … or worse, interest in someone.
"No, not at all Kakashi-san. I find myself to busy with the academy and working the missions room to allow myself into such a world." He sighed and turned around and then placed both elbows on the counter, leaning down and placing his head in his hands.
Wonderful, no lover, no love interest, Iruka was all his for the taking, it was just a matter of getting the man used to him first now. "Did you have a good day at the academy today Sensei? I don't know how you could possibly survive with all those brats."
"Please, sit down Kakashi-san," He spoke before walking a little further into the kitchen, "it was an average day I suppose, nothing to exciting going on. The children aren't that hard to handle you know." He spoke looking over at Kakashi who had seated himself on the wonderfully plush couch. "Would you like some tea?"
"If your offering I guess I could have some." Kakashi answered, he only hoped this was not a ploy on Iruka's part to see his face, for so many had tried, and so many had failed. He was tempted to pull out his wonderful little orange book, but he didn't want to offend the poor man. "Is Sencha fine with you?" Iruka asked as he rustled threw a cupboard.
"Yes, that's fine."
"Have you had any missions lately Kakashi-san? It's been awfully quiet around the mission room." Iruka spoke as he brought a tea tray to the couch with him, and then sat across from Kakashi on the green armchair.
"Well it has been a bit slow month, and I'm not sure what's going on with the Hokage, but I think I speak for the collective when I say us Jounin are getting bored."
"Oh dear, that's not a comforting though Kakashi-san."Iruka spoke as he sipped his tea.
"What worries you?"
"Bored Jounin means many drunken, pranking, public disturbance making, vandalizing, grown adults acting like children all over the town." This statement was followed with a loud sigh.
"Hmm ... well if that time comes I'll make sure to not cause to much trouble." He looked up at the school teacher and smirked, Iruka obviously couldn't see the smirk in it's total beauty, but the look in Kakashi's eyes told the story all the same.
A small blush could be scene on Iruka's face, and it gave Kakashi a small bit of hope blooming in him. Iruka recovered quickly for this and then seemed to be inspecting Kakashi, watching what could be seen of his face.
"Kakashi-san ..." He stopped, contemplating his next words. "As nice as this is Kakashi-san ... I can't help feeling this meeting has ulterior motives." He looked away from Kakashi and into his tea. Kakashi had been caught in his own trap.
"What makes you think this?" Kakashi said, he had to keep it light, and playful.
"It's no secret that the infamous Copy-Cat Nin is ... a lone wolf. Kakashi-san does not have time for such simple things as friendships. You've hardly said three words to me since our ... scuffle at the Chunnin exams. I'm ... more than a little confused about your sudden interest in meeting with me."
Iruka's honesty shocked Kakashi a little, making him think of his reply longer than he usually would. "I simply saw you teaching threw the window at the academy and seeing how stressed you were, thought you might enjoy my company to ease your pain."
Iruka frowned and stood up, taking his and Kakashi's empty tea cups with him to the kitchen.
"That's bullshit Kakashi-san and we both know it," Another long pause as he put his hands down on the counter and leaned against it, thinking. "I don't know what the great Sharingan Kakashi wants with a simple Chunnin teacher like me."
Kakashi was quietly contemplating his response before Iruka interrupted his thoughts.
" But you're in luck Kakashi-san, I've had a good day and I'll humor your strange impulse. If, and that's only IF, you can assure me this is not some ploy to use me in one of your foolish Jounin pranks." He turned around as he spoke this, looking straight into Kakashi's single visible eye. The man clearly meant business, and though Kakashi was intimidated by no one, he had a sneaking suspicion that Iruka was not to be messed with.
"I can assure you Iruka-sensei i have no such plans for you." He was amazed that Iruka didn't press the matter, but also glad that he didn't. If Iruka suddenly took interest into his motives ... he may be in trouble.
"Good, in that case, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." He spoke coming back from the kitchen and standing beside a very confused Kakashi. "I'll be the first to admit that I actually enjoyed our time together Kakashi-san, but I have some things that I need to do, and after a rather late night yesterday I hope to get to sleep tonight, rather than tomorrow morning."
That was completely understandable; he DID have to deal with thirty plus brats at an ungodly hour in the morning. "Alright Iruka-sensei, I know when I've worn out my welcome." He stood and allowed Iruka to walk him to the door, turning around to smile and wave to Iruka before he proofed away.
So, everything has finally been beta'ed, all of my chapters by the wonderful xXxXxRoxasFanGirlxXxXx (www. fanfiction. net/u/2483916/)
Hope you enjoyed!