Soooo... long time no write huh guys? I do really apologize for neglecting this story for so long. School and work piled up and I started losing interest in the story because I had a bit of a road block on where to go with it next.

BUT! I had a nice little spark of creativity and by Jove I think I've got it!

I hope you like it anyways!

Iruka was not at his home, nor was he at the school, or missions office, or any of the places Kakashi could think of as he went in search of the teacher. He asked around with some of the other Chunin and Jounin Iruka was close with, but he was nowhere to be found. Kakashi had fucked up. That was clear, but nothing was going to be resolved if Iruka ran away.

Kakashi did not sleep that night, continuing to search the village for any sign of his beloved Chunin. He had a plan. Iruka would have to go to class tomorrow; after school, or maybe even during a recess or lunch, Kakashi would talk to Iruka. And if not, he was closing again at the missions office. If all else failed, he could always find Iruka there.

Iruka however, did not show up for class. Another Chunin stepped in to take his place, disappointing most of the children. The missions room was his only chance.

Missing class was necessary. Iruka wanted to avoid Kakashi at all costs, and it was far too easy for Kakashi to get to him at school. Iruka wasn't even sure if he could handle the sight of the silver haired bastard outside his classroom window. At least here in the missions office, there was only one way in, and one way out. Easy to protect himself.

To say Iruka was distracted during his shift would have been an understatement. He had to go back several times to re-evaluate the difficulty of some missions, and several more times when he filed those missions in the wrong places. Nobody spoke to Iruka unless it was necessary; everyone could feel the frustration and anxiety radiating from the long haired teacher.
"Kakashi-san! My most youthful rival! How are you!" Hearing that name made Iruka freeze. He had asked Gai to guard the door for him. Telling him that Iruka needed time to think and Kakashi was going to try to alter his choice. And if anything Gai would understand how important it was to be able to make your own unbiased choices. And so Gai agreed, and even came up with the idea to speak louder than normal (which was already plenty loud in Iruka's opinion) when Kakashi came. Because Iruka was 100% sure Kakashi would show up.

"No, I'm sorry Kakashi-san, I cannot let you do that." Gai's booming voice came again, the entire missions room stopping and looking to Iruka, who was currently trying to disappear into his desk.
"He needs time Kakashi." This time, in his normal voice.

Iruka couldn't handle the anxiety building up inside him, knowing Kakashi was so close, and the only thing holding him back was a very strong man in green spandex. He stood from his desk and made his way into the furthest reaches of the office. It happened to be the lunchroom, Iruka closing and locking the door behind him, walking to the corner and sinking down, his knees pulled up against his chest, wishing he had never gone out that night.

~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~

"Time? What do you mean he needs time?" Kakashi tried his best not to shout.
"Kakashi-san, I don't know what happened between you and my dearest Iruka-sensei, but he obviously does not want to see you right now. He needs time to think things through, whatever those things are. I'm sure even you would realize he is confused and anxious and not in the best of shape right now." Gai spoke in his best 'teacher' voice and gave his best 'just leave him be' look.

Although Kakashi tried to argue his way in, Gai was adamant that Iruka wanted to be left alone, and Kakashi was not about to fight Gai to see Iruka. And so Kakashi went home. Defeated and out of ideas Kakashi sat on his favourite comfy chair, and thought.

It was well into the early morning when Kakashi decided to check for Iruka at home once more. The teacher had to go home at some point. And so Kakashi made his way to Iruka's home, all his senses on high alert, searching for the teacher within.

Kakashi was pleased to find Iruka in his room, and from the feel of it, he was asleep. He had probably stayed up reading until he passed out. Kakashi made his way to his usual window, thanking Kami that the window was closed and locked, but Iruka had not put up a trap on the other side. Kakashi undid his trap, and quickly popped the lock on the window before quietly sneaking into the house.

He had to be quiet, Iruka really didn't want to see him, and if he was spotted in his house… Kakashi shivered at the thought of the wrath he would incur.

Kakashi sighed as he crept into Iruka's room, looking over at the slumbering Chunin, passed out, lights on, book in hand. Even if Iruka was angry with him, he had his duty to make sure the man was comfortable. So Kakashi buckled down and moved in closer, taking the book, turning the lights off, and tucking Iruka comfortable into his bed. Tomorrow. Tomorrow Kakashi would confront him.

Kakashi did his best to say out of sight as watched Iruka take his students out to do 'field training' or as Kakashi liked to call it 'hell with kunai'. Iruka didn't seem in a bad state as he instructed, disciplined, and kept in control of the excited students.

Kakashi stayed and watched Iruka teach the entire day. He never would have thought the simple act of just watching Iruka would bring such joy to him, but it did. Watching Iruka speak with his confidence radiating into the children, watching him smile at a question, or sigh at one of the smart alec comments. Kakashi could have stayed and watched Iruka forever. But the class was winding down, and with his attention and focus on the kids slowing and expanding to the rest of the world, Iruka would no doubt realize Kakashi was there, and then he would have quite a bit of explaining to do.

So Kakashi jumped up and headed back into the village for some late lunch. Iruka had no missions room shift tonight. So he would have to go home again.

Kakashi waited a few hours before going to Iruka's home. He wanted the teacher to have some time to unwind from school before bringing chaos into his day. He thought about knocking on the door, but figured that Iruka may just slam the door in his face, and that would get him nowhere. So he instead opted to climb in through the trapped window. This way, he could get inside and make Iruka talk with him. No running away this time.

He walked quietly into the hall, and made his way to the living room where he was sure Iruka would be. Of course he was right, Iruka sat on his comfortable couch, legs propped up on a kitchen chair, red marking pen wiggling up and down in Iruka's mouth as he sat, deep in thought. Kakashi figured he had gone unnoticed because of the teachers' obvious concentration.

"Kakashi. Get out of my house." Iruka spoke in a dead-pan voice. His eyes not leaving the paper as he took the pen from his mouth and scribbled a few words on the page. Kakashi didn't move. He stood, frozen in the middle of the living room, watching Iruka's face, his eyes scanning the paper, looking over his students answer again and again before giving it a few checks and moving on.
"I said get out. I have nothing to say to you. And I certainly don't want to see you." Another few scribbles and checks before Iruka returned the pen to his mouth.

"Maybe you don't have anything to say. But I do. We need to talk about this." Kakashi tried to keep his voice down, the rare emotions welling up inside him. Iruka sighed heavily before setting the papers down on the side table and placing the pen gently beside.

"It's not enough you practically molested me in public, you need to stalk me now too Kakashi?" Iruka spoke in a flat voice, standing and turning to Kakashi, his eyes dead. Molested? How could he think he molested him!
"I think molested is a strong word. If I recall properly you-" Kakashi was not allowed to finish his sentence as Iruka's face lit up with anger.
"I what Kakashi, I liked it? Not that I'm saying this is the same thing, but I'm pretty sure that answer is one well loved by men who rape teenage girls." Iruka was breathing deeply, his face red with rage as his hands turned to fists at his side. And Kakashi, for once in his life, stayed quiet and let Iruka speak his mind without interrupting.

"I don't know what kind of a person you think I am Kakashi, but what happened the other night. I am not that kind of person. Fuck Kakashi I don't even know why you would think to do that." He started pacing. "You know I'm shy about these kinds of things. I asked you to stop-"
"Well actually you said-"
"Kakashi shut up. It doesn't matter the exact words I used. You knew exactly what I meant. And you continued anyways. I pushed, and I tried to leave without making it a fight but you kept going. I wasn't ready for that kind of leap- I'm not even gay!" he shouted the last part. His arms we're thrown above his head before coming back down and wrapping around himself, hugging his middle.

"Then why did you agree to this?" Kakashi was confused. If Iruka didn't like Kakashi in that way, if he wasn't interested, what was all this?
"I don't now. I just- I think…" Iruka let himself fall back onto the couch, still holding himself, not making eye contact with Kakashi.

As Kakashi swallowed, it sounded loud in the quiet room. He took a deep breath to prepare himself, before walking to the couch and sitting beside the confused angered man. He knew what Iruka was thinking. Kakashi didn't know if he could handle Iruka decided to stop, whatever it was they were. He couldn't let Iruka say it.

"I know I fucked up Iruka. It was wrong for me to do that. I just can't help myself around you sometimes. But I need to know what is making you run away from me right now." Kakashi spoke quietly, making sure there was still some distance between the two. "Was it that I want to far? Was it because it was in public? Was it because we got caught; was it because of what the man said?"
Iruka fidgeted in his seat a little before unwrapping his hands from his body and leaning back in the chair. "I don't know. Maybe… maybe a little of everything. It just happened so fast, and I lost all control and… and it was in a public bathroom for Kami sake!" Kakashi was about to speak but Iruka begin once again. "Maybe, when I realized what was happening, I was a little frightened." He sighed and looked over at Kakashi, seated on the edge of his couch, tensed and ready to run at any moment. "You must have realized I'm quite shy and reserved in the umm… sexual department… and kami, I've never even thought of another man that way. Not even the slightest hint or even voice in the back of my head pointing me in that direction. Not even curiosity. And then here I am, pressed up against the counter in a dirty washroom at a seedy little dance club, eyes covered and closed as another guy is rubbing-" Iruka stopped, to embarrassed to finish his own story. "I never thought I could be gay. I don't even know if I am gay I just-" Kakashi slowly reached over and took Iruka's hand, giving it a light squeeze.

"It was too much to fast. It was my fault. I won't let it happen again Iruka. I promise. But I like you to much to let you run away and let it end like this." Iruka's hand gave the slightest of squeezes before turning to look at Kakashi.

"I need more time to figure out… how I feel about you Kakashi. I like you. I really do. That's why I agreed to this. Because as terrifying and confusing as it is, I did like it. Under different circumstances I might even want to do it again. But I need more time. I don't know how long but… now it's not."

Kakashi allowed himself the faintest of smiles as he listened to Iruka try to explain his confusions.
"Let's take it back a few steps. Slow it down. Way down. I'll drive the train, and you can control the breaks and the gas. This way, you can go as fast or as slow as you want to. Alright?" Iruka nodded slowly, pulling his hand back and staring into his lap.

"Let's have dinner. I'm not a good cook, but give me some pork and vegetables and I can make a mean barbeque." Iruka forced a smile over at Kakashi.

"That sounds fantastic Iruka. Tomorrow? Or maybe Friday?" Both men stood, conversation becoming awkward after the sharing of feelings.
"Friday sounds good. 6 o clock." They walked to the door in silence, Iruka unlocking and opening the door for the silver haired man.

"Umm… thank you. Last night you still made sure I was asleep properly… so… thank you." There was a tiny blush on Iruka's face as he closed his eyes, hand blindly making their way to Kakashi's face, fingers slowly and gently searching for the edge of the cloth. Iruka could feel Kakashi's body tense as he slowly pulled the cloth down under Kakashi's chin. Standing up onto his tippy toes, Iruka pulled Kakashi's face towards his own, their lips just barely brushing before Iruka pulled away.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." Iruka spoke quietly, giving Kakashi time to fix himself before opening his eyes and pushing the shocked man out the door, smiling a little before closing the door.

Kakashi stood in the door way for a few minutes, wondering what just happened. He came to 3 conclusions.

1) He still had a chance.

2) He was going to have to put in a lot more effort to make this work. And

3) Iruka was most definitely gay.

Yay making things better! I will try to have a new chapter up in a reasonable amount of time...not 2 years this time...

-Majestic Moose Out-