You know, I've decided I like the KakaIru pairing a lot… I think they should get together in the actual Manga/Anime at some point. I mean really, apparently, they were both still bachelors when Naruto got married to Hinata so why not?

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

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Love of the Lost

Chapter 2: Denial

When morning arrived, Iruka seemed to have forgotten how embarrassed he had been the night before and was chatting with his former students like nothing had happened. Kakashi was quiet, as usual, but listened to their conversation for any hint that the brunette was irritated with him.

After being left to his thoughts for the rest of the night, Kakashi wasn't able to get the scarred mans blushing face out of his mind. There was such a cute innocence to it, drawing the copy-nin in like a moth to fire, though fully aware of just how badly he could be burned by such a warming feeling.

"Kakashi-san, were you told the reason their marriage is so controversial?" Iruka asked, his big brown eyes piercing through the eavesdropping man.

"He was supposed to marry a princess from across the sea, but turned it down to marry a prince in the Land of Rice-Patties." He answered.

The Chunin blushed again, his eyes closing from some unknown emotion. "Ah young love!" he exclaimed happily, making everyone else sweat drop. Only Iruka could find the mushy underbelly of what had been a major issue between multiple lands.

"It seems like such foolishness to me. No one can escape their destiny, not even a young Lord like him" Neji responded, his nose high in the air.

Shikamaru snorted softly, earning a glare from the proud Hyuga. "Oh, nothing Neji. I was just wondering how destiny was working out for you after getting your ass kicked by Naruto" he snickered, purposefully trying to get under the man's porcelain skin.

Neji turned to the shadow user and started to argue, the two quickly entering a battle of witty comebacks and attempts to out-maneuver the other.

Iruka stared at them as they walked, unable to keep up with the two geniuses. He returned his attention to Kakashi and sped up some to stroll beside him, but didn't say a word. Just kept the pace and politely ignored the man he had come to walk next to.

***Time-Skip: 1 Week***

The mission had gone smoothly so far, the three shinobi under his command had performed well, but Iruka had stood out. He still wasn't much of one for killing, but his skills in combat had greatly improved. Kakashi wondered how that had happened since he was constantly around snot-nosed children and probably never doing any real fighting.

The copy-ninja hadn't realized he was staring at the sensei again until he blinked and brown eyes were looking back at him, an eyebrow arched delicately in confusion. He beckoned the man over, desperately trying to think of something to say to make sense of his gaze. Thank goodness, he had the majority to his face covered; he was sure he felt his cheeks heat up as the man crossed the ceremony room.

"What is it Kakashi-san? Is something wrong?" he asked, concerned.

They were right in the middle of the wedding now and supposed to be focusing on the crowd to ensure the rituals safety.

"Have Shikamaru and Neji been acting strangely to you?" the Jonin questioned, still attempting to cover his slip up.

The brunette gave him a funny look, "is that important for the mission?"

No, no it really wasn't. The two teens had done well despite the issues he had been worried about in the beginning. Shikamaru had regrown his confidence some, and Neji didn't seem to be hindered by his shoulder. But he didn't want Iruka to know that he had been ogling him. "Yes," he lied, "I'm concerned about their focus."

Kakashi could have sweat-dropped; he was completely projecting his own faults onto two fine shinobi who despite their problems were performing excellently.

The sensei crossed his arms and stood beside the elder man, his head cocked to the side some in thought. "I suppose they have been arguing more than usual, but I didn't think it was causing any problems. In fact, the two seem to perform better this way."

"Very analytical of you Iruka" Kakashi responded, glancing at the shorter man from the corner of his eye.

The Chunin smiled warmly as he spoke, "I still have a lot to learn. You obviously noticed something I didn't Kakashi-san. I'm always so impressed with your skills." His dark eyes flickered up to the silver haired man, studying his masked face. The Jonin was about to awkwardly make conversation when Iruka scratched at his scar nervously, mumbling something about getting back to work.

Kakashi let out a tired breath, it was getting harder for him to keep his mind on the assignment. Iruka was warm, loving, sensitive and truly good; everything that he wasn't. He wanted to be around the younger man because it made him feel less like a failure. The Jonin figured that his old teammate had that effect on a lot of people since he was a favorite at the academy.

The man had even managed to help get Naruto on track with his life before anyone else tried to intervene, including himself. The brunette was far too good for him, but his usually sturdy self-discipline was becoming lax.

***Time-Skip: Back in Konoha***

By the time they had reached the gates of their village, all four shinobi were worn out. It hadn't been a necessarily straining mission, but the air had been tense the entire way back, pulling the oxygen they needed from their grasp.

Shikamaru side-glanced at Neji and smacked his lips lightly, his bored face still in place. But there was something behind his eyes that only the Hyuga seemed to understand, and he responded by shooting a glare back.

Iruka stretched and walked over to the two shinobi sitting at the entrance, asking them how things had been while he was gone. Kakashi was a little saddened the man didn't so much as say goodbye, but honestly, why would he have? It wasn't as if they were good friends; the two had really only spoken about Naruto since the Chunin had decided to become a teacher.

He turned to leave but paused when that enticing voice called out for him. "Kakashi-san! Wait up!"

The man felt his heart beat just a tad faster and stayed still, doing his best to look uninterested. Iruka jogged over to him and flashed an embarrassed grin, one that almost broke the elders hard fought mask.

"I was wondering if you would help me train sometime?" Iruka asked, his voice quiet.

"Mah, why would you want to do that sensei? If I remember correctly you work with pre-Genin that can't even do the transformation jutsu" he replied. A tidal wave of guilt washed over him when he saw the disappointment in the youngers face. He hadn't meant for what he said to come out so harshly.

Iruka gave a sad smile and nodded, "I understand Kakashi-san. Have a good day!"

The Jonin almost called out to his old friend, but every ounce of his pride pushed against such a gesture. There were plenty of elite shinobi that could work with the brunette, it didn't need to be him. Still, his chest tightened when he watched the man walk away.

He needed to do another mission to get his mind off everything.

Neji panted as he paused from training, his mind swirling around the shadow-user. The lazy ass had purposely pushed his buttons the entire mission and then had 'accidentally' been knocked into him during a light scuffle at the ceremony, pushing them both up against a wall. He'd given the Hyuga the same bored, but mischievous smirk ever since then, having clearly noticed the older boys blush.

"You know, most people take a shower and rest after coming back from a stressful mission" an uninterested voice spoke.

The Hyuga gritted his teeth and turned back to glare; the person he was desperately trying to remove from his thoughts was standing in the tree line behind him, idly leaning against a large trunk.

"Have you nothing better to do than come and harass me, Nara?" he hissed, his patience wearing thing from fatigue.

The boy pushed off his resting place and strolled over, his hands still tucked into his pockets. "I didn't think it was considered harassment if you like it, Hyuga." He replied, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Neji scoffed incredulously, crossing his arms over his chest. "Just what nonsense are you spouting about now?"

Shikamaru didn't answer immediately, instead, he stopped inches in front of the boy and leaned forward, his lips hovering just above the others. "I think you know exactly what I'm thinking Neji" he whispered, his voice low. After a momentary pause, he pressed his tan lips against the Hyuga's, so lightly the elder boy could barely feel it.

Neji was so shocked by the shadow user's forwardness that he didn't move, just stood rock still as his face flushed in embarrassment.

The Nara pulled back, a smug look covering his sharp features. He turned and started to waltz away, throwing a hand in the air to wave at the still frozen boy. "See you around Hyuga" he called back.

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Sorry… writers block… I'm sure it will pass eventually.

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