Wow, I got many reviews for the last one. Thank you very much, hope you'll enjoy this just as much (although there's only almost-smut.)
Chapter is rated T and contains slight spoilers up to manga vol. 4, chapter 34.

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The Right Way

by nayru-kleinefee


Chapter 11 – Past Failures

Hrmph… awake… how late?… past midnight… Kakashi growled quietly. Better sleep again… tomor- today much to do… mmmmh… Iruka… He wrapped his arms a little tighter around the Chuunin lying on the right part of his chest, then sighed. My Iruka… I should have told you what I’m going to do today. I’m sorry for being a coward. I just hope that you won’t-

“Kakashi?”, Iruka whispered, almost not audible.

“Hm?”

“Everything alright?”, the Chuunin asked, then shifted and moved up until his head was beside Kakashi’s and his body lay half on the Jounin’s.

“Yes, everything alright”, Kakashi lied, heart heavy. “Can’t you sleep?”

“No.” Iruka lifted his head and kissed him. “You could help me get sleepy…”

“Mmmmh… Good idea.” The Copy-nin grinned, dark thoughts forgotten for the moment in order to happily meet the Chuunin’s suggestion. Ever since their first shower together, Iruka had felt free to tell him whenever he had wanted to repeat the experience in one way or another and had more than willingly accepted each of Kakashi’s invitations to do just this. Also because of that, the last four weeks had been very good for one tricky, very, very happy little Jounin.

“I know.” Iruka wrapped his arms around the Jounin’s waist and rolled on top of him. He moved his right leg between Kakashi’s, then kissed him again.

“Like that”, the Jounin told him before he deepened the kiss, placed his hands on Iruka’s back and let his fingertips slip under the waistband of the Chuunin’s underpants to stroke and tickle the tender skin there.

“No tickling”, Iruka whispered against his lips. “But you can do other things…”

“Oh?” Kakashi grinned and tickled him a little more. “And what could those other things be?”

“Mmmh… What about stroking?”, the Chuunin suggested.

“Sounds good.” The Copy-nin complied more than willingly. “Anything else?”

“Squeezing?”

“Squeezing? Have to go lower then.” Kakashi grinned. You like it when I do that, don’t you?

“Fine with me.” Iruka licked the Jounin’s lips.

Kakashi moved his hands further under the boxers, then cupped the Chuunin’s firm buttocks and squeezed gently. “Like that, maybe?”

“Maybe without pants? Would be much easier”, Iruka suggested and grinned against the skin of the Copy-nin’s cheek before he licked his way to the left ear and bit the lobe.

“You’re so smart…” Kakashi chuckled and moved his hands higher again, then took the waistband of the boxers and tugged at it playfully. “Would have never thought of doing this, you-”

A knock on the front door, loud and energetic.

“Did I just hear that?”, Iruka asked and looked down at the Jounin in disbelief.

“…No.” Kakashi lifted his head and kissed him. “You never didn’t hear nothing.”

“Kakashi!”, the Chuunin laughed. “Don’t you want to go and see who’s knocking?”

“It’s past midnight”, the Copy-nin answered. “It’s probably a drunk neighbour who can’t find his door.” He quickly turned them around until he lay above Iruka, then kissed him and let his hands roam over the naked chest beneath him.

“And if it’s a messenger with a mission?” Iruka kissed him back and wrapped his arms around his neck to draw him closer.

“Missions important enough to be handed out in the middle of the night are always delivered by messenger birds. That’s why I keep the window open”, Kakashi answered, then moved lower and kissed the Chuunin’s chest before he licked a nipple.

“Oh”, Iruka breathed. “Do that again.”

“Whatever you-”

Another knock, even louder and, if possible, more energetic.

“Whatever you ask of me”, Kakashi whispered, ignoring the noise, then he licked the nipple again, bit it gently and was rewarded with a shuddering sigh from the Chuunin. He felt Iruka’s hands slide into his hair.

“Mmmmh, Kakashi”, Iruka moaned. Then he suddenly sat up, pulled at the Copy-nin’s hair and claimed his mouth in a deep, passionate kiss.

“Again”, Kakashi whispered afterwards.

“Whatever you ask of me.” The Chuunin did as wished before he drew him back down to the bed.

“Mmmmh, Iruka…” The Jounin kissed his way down over lips, chin and neck to Iruka’s chest, then further, very slow to make sure the Chuunin could stop him whenever he felt uncomfortable with it.

“Kakashi”, Iruka whispered, sounding a little needy and not at all like he wanted the Copy-nin to stop.

Kakashi purred and moved lower until his lips found the waistband of the Chuunin’s pants. He let his tongue delve into the navel what made Iruka arch his back slightly and moan while the Jounin tugged down the boxers to the knees and revealed his already stiff member. Still very slowly and carefully, he travelled his mouth further down the abs under him to the left hipbone, all the time paying attention to Iruka’s reactions to see whether he was fine with going further than before.

“Iruka”, Kakashi whispered and moved his mouth right over the Chuunin’s almost totally hard erection, “I will-”

Again, somebody knocked, sounding like he wanted to break down the door this time, then-

“My Eternal Rival! Are you asleep?!”

Kakashi froze. No! No, please… Anybody but not HIM!

“Kakashi, my Eternal Rival! I will not go away until you answer me!”

“Kakashi…”, Iruka whispered, his eyes wide. “Please tell me that’s not…”

“Sure it is”, Kakashi growled. “You wait here while I kill him. Don’t you dare to move, it will only take a minute…” He stood up and reached for his mask on the nightstand. I can’t believe it! I almost- and then he comes and- He will pay for that!

“What’s he doing here in the middle of the night?”, the Chuunin asked.

“Probably-”

“My Eternal Rival! Open the door and hear my Noble Challenge of Youth and Rightful Strength!”

“That.” Kakashi shook his head. “And they call me insane…” He bent down and kissed Iruka sweetly, then straightened up again, pulled his mask over his head and hid his face. “I’ll try to make it quick.”

“You better do.” The Chuunin in his bed grinned up at him impishly, then shed his boxers and stroked his chest with his left hand, slowly moving it lower. “Don’t make me wait too long, or I might go on without you…” He blushed at that but kept the grin on his face.

“Oh my- Iruka…” Kakashi yanked his mask down and pounced on him. “You’re so mean”, he murmured and kissed the Chuunin, his tongue delving deep into the warm, docile mouth.

“I know…” Iruka kissed back and wrapped his legs around the Copy-nin’s waist. “What if you just stay here? Will he go away?”

“Don’t think so.” The Jounin quickly moved his hands and pinched both of Iruka’s nipples once, causing the Chuunin to let his legs fall down to the bed, throw his head back in surprise and moan. “Please wait for me”, Kakashi whispered, then reluctantly stood up again.

“I will.” Iruka smiled, his face flushed and his breathing harsh.

Kakashi kissed him again, then pulled up his mask, put on a pair of very tight pants to hide his Iruka-induced excitement and stiffly went through the bedroom into the living room and towards the front door, fuming. I’ll kill him… and then I’ll make his body disappear… nobody will ever know… how can he dare to interrupt us NOW?

He grabbed the door knob and yanked open the door forcefully, then glared at the person standing outside. “Gai, I will not-”

“Kakashi! My Eternal Rival! I’m back!”, the Noble Green Beast of Konoha shouted at the top of his lungs.

“I know. I can see that. And I can hear that. As can the entire apartment block, if you care to know. And now-”

“I have a new Noble Challenge to test our Youthful Strength!”, Gai declared, stepped around the Copy-nin and entered the apartment.

“Yes, I already heard that.” Kakashi turned around but left the door open although he knew the hint was much too subtle once Gai was in full Challenge-my-Eternal-Rival mode. “But not now, Gai, I-”

“I have thought about new Challenges ever since I left with my Beloved Students! And now that I am back, we will finally-”

“No”, Kakashi told him, tired of being the one always interrupted. “We will not.”

“But my Eternal Rival! I have been away for months, and we had no chance to find out who of us-”

“A pity. But we will not find it out now.”

“But we have to-”

“Gai.” Kakashi shook his head. “It’s past midnight.” And I have a naked and unbelievably sexy Chuunin in my bed who’s waiting for me to play with him.

“But my Eternal Rival! You have to be prepared no matter what time it is!”, Gai exclaimed.

The Copy-nin sighed and shut the door, reasoning he could just as well throw his opponent out of a window. “Believe me, Gai, I’m prepared.” To spend the next hour or so playing with said naked Chuunin in my bed.

“Very good! Then we can-”

“No. We. Can’t.” Playing. Naked Chuunin. Bed. Kakashi wants.

“But we-”

“Gai, listen.”

“Yes, my Eternal Rival?!”

“Gai. First, it’s past midnight, and I should be in my bed now.” With Iruka, without clothes and DEFINITELY without YOU. “Second, you and your students will stay in the village for quite a while now, so there’s no need to rush things.” Except rushing to get you out of here and me back to my Iruka. “And third, wouldn’t it be better to do the challenge by day?” When Iruka doesn’t have time for me anyway?

“Kakashi, again you are so cool and reserved, my Rival! So hip!”, Gai exclaimed.

“I do my very best.” The Copy-nin shook his head. At least I can be sure Iruka is still awake when I come back. Nobody could sleep through that voice…

“And I have to admit that you are right, my Eternal-”

“Sometimes I am. So what about you go home now and sleep, and tomor- later today we’ll meet at the Hokage Tower anyway?”

“That is a perfect idea, my Rival! You are indeed in the Springtime of your Youth! I will hurry now so I am prepared to Challenge you tomorrow!” The Green Beast flashed a blinding smile and did his infamous Good-Guy-Pose.

Oh Kami, how I missed THAT… “Perfect. Then we’ll see us later.”

“Be sure about that!” Gai smiled again, then turned to leave.

Finally… Kakashi approached the door to his bedroom on silent feet. Now back to Iruka… my Iruka… my soon-to-be blushing and moaning and writhing and sighing and-

“My Eternal Rival!”

NO!

“There is something else I have to tell you!”

GO! AWAY! “What is it now, Gai?”

“Well…!” The Green Beast seemed to hesitate, much to Kakashi’s surprise, but still managed to make the exclamation mark be heard – something that surprised him even more. “It is…!” He took a step towards the Copy-nin, then tilted his chin in the direction of the bedroom and winked.

“Gai, what do you have now?” Kakashi frowned. He will NOT go there!

“It is…!” Gai took another step towards the door. “…another thing…!” A step. “…I have to tell you…!” A third step.

“Gai…” He’s not coming any nearer to my Iruka! I can’t risk to… to… to let him rub off on my perfect, non-green Iruka!

“It is…!” Gai took another step that brought him to the Copy-nin’s side. “…about intruders!” He winked again exaggeratedly.

“Intruders?”, Kakashi asked and stared at him in disbelief. He’s got to be kidding me! Why does he want to talk about intruders in the middle of the night?!

“About intruders!”, the Green Beast repeated. “Inside of other people’s apartments…!” He looked expectantly and nodded.

“Yyyes.” The Copy-nin’s frown deepened. “They wouldn’t be intruders if they weren’t inside other people’s apartments, you know…” He’s snapped! He’s totally snapped now! Great, now I don’t have an insane-but-harmless self-declared Eternal Rival to deal with anymore but an insane-and-snapped-and-only-perhaps-still-harmless one.

“Yes, inside other people’s apartments!” Gai grinned, looking triumphant, and winked again before he pointed with his thumb at the door to the bedroom. “Especially inside their bedrooms…!” Another exaggerated winking and pointing.

“Gai, really. I think you need sleep now and-” Kakashi’s eyes widened when realisation finally sank in. “Gai!”, he started. “It’s not-”

To his horror, the Green Beast grabbed the door knob to the bedroom before the Copy-nin could stop him, then turned it and forcefully yanked the door open. “A-Ha! There you are, you evil intruder! Waylaying my Eternal Rival in the Springtime… of… his… Youth?!” Gai’s eyes widened slowly and he fell silent.

“Gai, this-”, Kakashi started while he tried to peek around the soon-to-be ex-Green Beast to see whether Iruka had already fainted from the shock and he had to rush in and do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

“Iruka-sensei?!”, Gai asked incredulously and thankfully quietly.

“Good… Well, I guess it’s ‘Good morning’ already, Gai-sensei”, Kakashi could hear the Chuunin answer.

He sounds friendly… and even totally calm… He’s got to be in shock. Poor Iruka, I’ll kiss it better soon and-

“Iruka-sensei…!”, Gai muttered.

“Yes. That’s me. You already said that”, Iruka told him, still sounding perfectly calm.

My poor beautiful little Chuunin, he’s so shocked he doesn’t even realize he is…

“Iruka-sensei, what…!” The Green Beast shook his head. “What are you doing here?!”

“I tried to sleep here. That is, until short before you came here.”

Even in shock, he’s so brave… My Iruka, you’re doing so fine, just hold out a little while longer, and I will come and rescue you!

“But… but why?!”

“Gai”, Kakashi started, then squeezed himself through the door the man was blocking. “Gai, I can explain this.” And if you don’t react like I want you to – which is calm, collected and grown-up – I’ll crush your head against a wall until you do!

“I slept here because Kakashi invited me to do so”, Iruka said.

“Yes.” The Copy-nin looked at the Chuunin who sat on the bed, legs drawn to his body and arms crossed on the knees, and smiled friendly at the Green Beast currently staring at him. He noticed that Iruka had put on a sleeping shirt and his boxers. Wow, he thought about getting dressed while in shock?

“Ka… Kakashi invited you?!”, Gai asked.

“Yes.” Iruka nodded.

“Can’t you sleep in your own apartment anymore?!”

“But sure I can.”

“Then why-”

“Gai”, Kakashi interrupted him. “Would you come with me to the living room and let me explain?” And stop staring at my Iruka. You’re frightening him. The Copy-nin looked at the smiling Chuunin. I think…

“Explain?!”, Gai asked. “What is there to explain?!”

The Chuunin in my bed? The male Chuunin in my bed? The male Chuunin in my bed who’s dressed only with shirt and boxers? And who doesn’t seem so shocked anymore by now…

“Don’t you want to know why I am in Kakashi’s bed?”, Iruka asked, laughing softly.

Shocked? Hatake, you’re an idiot.

“But I already know!”, Gai exclaimed. “My Eternal Rival! I always knew you were a Noble and Kind Man, but this…!” He sighed, and Kakashi thought he even saw a tear glistening in the corner of an eye.

“What do you mean, noble and kind?”, he heard Iruka hiss suddenly and jumped when he saw the Chuunin glare daggers at the other Jounin. “Do you want to say I’m not worth-”

“Kakashi, my Eternal Rival!”, Gai continued his rant, obviously too absorbed in his Speech of Praise to notice the Chuunin’s sudden rage. “I am so proud to be your Youthful Opponent! Giving shelter to those who need their Rightful Sleep to stay in their Springtime of Youth! I am so moved!”

“What the hell?!”, Kakashi asked and saw a look on Iruka’s face that clearly showed that he was thinking exactly the same.

“And Iruka-sensei!” Gai turned around and smiled brightly at the confused Chuunin. “You did the right thing to stay with my Eternal Rival! He will protect you from anything that could disturb the Well-Deserved Sleep you earned yourself!”

Except when it’s me disturbing his sleep… “Gai, could you please-”

“My Eternal Rival!” The Green Beast turned around again.

“Yes?”, Kakashi sighed and finally decided that it was impossible to stop him and therefore best to try to get over with everything as fast as possible.

“I trust you to ensure that Iruka-sensei, the former teacher of my Beloved Students, sleeps better this night than anybody before him so he will have all of his Youthful Strength to use later today when he has to help our Honoured Hokage to organize the Chuunin exams! I trust you to keep all harm and disturbance away from him!”

“I’ll try my best, Gai”, Kakashi told him, then looked at Iruka who made a face as if he could barely stop himself from laughing out loud.

“Yes, my Eternal Rival! Iruka-sensei came to you to ask for your Youthful Help and to give him a protected and safe shelter to gather his Youthful Strength for the Challenges awaiting him! I am sure you will succeed in this Important Challenge of your Youth!”

“I will”, Kakashi assured him. Challenge, hu? You could take it that way…

“But only if I get my well-deserved sleep now”, Iruka threw in, chuckling and his face slightly red from suppressed laughter.

I don’t think you’ll get sleep anytime soon. Do you know how beautiful you look right now? You can call yourself lucky if I let you sleep at all tonight.

“Yes, indeed, Iruka-sensei!” Gai flashed another blinding smile and posed again. “I will retreat immediately and let you gather your Youthful Strength as soon as possible!” He turned around and practically stormed to the front door of the apartment. “Have a good, long night full of Rightful and Well-Deserved Sleep, Iruka-sensei! My Eternal Rival!”

And then he was gone.

Kakashi stared at his closed front door. “I can’t believe this really happened…”

“I can’t believe you’re still standing there”, Iruka told him and laughed, then he shed his shirt and lay down on the bed again.

“Iruka…”, Kakashi growled, practically jumped out of his pants and approached the bed quickly, then pounced on him.

The Chuunin laughed, pulled off the mask from the Jounin’s face and kissed him. “You made me wait”, he whispered.

“Sorry.” Kakashi kissed him again and slipped his arms under and around him. “I tried to get rid of him.”

“Must have noticed my chakra, I guess. Forgot to hide it.” Iruka wrapped his legs around the Copy-nin’s and his arms around his neck, then laughed again. “When I noticed that, he already talked about those mysterious intruders, and I knew it was only a matter of time until he would storm in. Now really, did Gai really think anybody wouldn’t get instantly what he was talking about?”

“Erm… Well…” Kakashi hid his blush by nuzzling the Chuunin’s neck with his nose. “That’s why you had that shirt and boxers on…”

“M-hm.” Iruka tilted his head back and to the side to give him better access, then he started rubbing the Jounin’s back.

“What did you want to tell him?”, Kakashi asked.

“Hm?”

“When he asked what you were doing here.” Did you want to tell him? About us?

“I don’t know”, Iruka confessed and stopped his movements.

“Hn?”

“He was so confused at first that I thought I could win time with giving short answers while I thought about what to say once he would have recovered.”

“Oh.” Kakashi nuzzled his face deeper into the crook of the Chuunin’s neck.

“I don’t want anybody to know yet”, Iruka whispered and his body tensed.

“That’s okay”, the Copy-nin told him. “As long as you want to be with me.”

“I want to be with you.” The Chuunin relaxed a little and kissed his shoulder. “And I want to tell them some day, at least Naruto and our other friends…”

“M-hm.” I will definitely NOT be the one to tell the boy! I guess he’ll try to kill me for corrupting his Iruka-sensei… my Iruka…

“But…” Iruka took in a deep breath. “Can we keep it to us for now?”

“Sure we can”, Kakashi told him, then lifted his head and kissed him.

“I’m not ashamed”, the Chuunin assured.

“I know.” I really know that. Don’t trouble yourself.

“I want this to be ours…”, Iruka whispered. “Ours alone… At least for some time…”

“Ours”, Kakashi confirmed. “Yours and mine.” You and me.

“Ours.” The Chuunin kissed him and sighed, his body still slightly tense.

“Do you want your ‘good, long night full of Rightful and Well-Deserved Sleep’ now?”, Kakashi asked and grinned. “Or do you prefer a better but shorter night less full of exhausted and most certainly well-deserved sleep?”

“Let me think…” Iruka smiled.

“Don’t make this Noble and Kind Man wait…” The Copy-nin licked the Chuunin’s lips but stopped when he didn’t receive a reaction but felt him tense further suddenly. “Iruka?”

“I’m worth you”, Iruka whispered.

Kakashi tensed. “Iruka, why-”

“I’m worth you.”

“You are, Iruka”, the Jounin answered and tried to look into the Chuunin’s eyes, but Iruka turned his head away, his face a mask of strained composure and hurt.

“I’m- I’m worth you”, he whispered again and closed his eyes.

“Iruka, look at me”, Kakashi pleaded.

“I’m worth you.” The eyes were closed even tighter.

“Iruka!” The Copy-nin shifted and turned them around until the Chuunin lay above him, then took his face in his hands. “Iruka, look at me.”

“Kakashi…” Iruka opened his eyes slowly. “Why do you do this?”

“What do you mean? Why I am with you?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Iruka…” Because I think I love you.

“Why, Kakashi? You could have anyone you want. Why me?”

“Because I… don’t want anyone else. I want you.” Kakashi moved his hands and embraced the Chuunin tightly. “You’re all I want.” I love you, my Iruka. Although I don’t understand what it is that makes me feel this way or how it is possible to feel like this or how to describe it to you.

“But I’m only-”

“No, you aren’t. You’re everything but ‘only’”, the Copy-nin whispered. “You’re all I want.”

“Do you really think that?”, Iruka asked, sounding unsure and hurt and close to tears, and it broke the Jounin’s heart into pieces.

“I would never lie to you about that, Iruka”, he promised. “You’re all I want and you’re more than worth me. I’m the one not worth you.” I can’t even tell you how I feel for you. How should I tell you? What should I say? And if I tell you, what if you leave me?

“No, Kakashi, you-”

“Yes”, the Copy-nin interrupted him softly. “And I will not argue with you about this. You are more than worth me, and I am the one to be grateful that you are kind enough to associate with me at all.” I wished I could tell you, my Iruka. I wished I wasn’t so frightened.

“Kakashi…” Iruka let out a dry sob and buried his face against the Jounin’s chest before he started to shudder and sob more.

“Shhh”, Kakashi whispered and stroked his back, feeling Iruka’s tears run over his chest and his own burn in his eyes. “Please don’t cry. I c-can’t stand that, Iruka. Please don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry”, the Chuunin choked out.

“No, don’t be. You didn’t do anything wrong”, Kakashi tried to reassure him. “You shouldn’t think too low of yourself, that’s all.”

“M-hm”, Iruka murmured, still sniffling, then he placed his head on the Jounin’s shoulder and took a deep, shuddering breath.

“Did somebody tell you you weren’t worth them?”, Kakashi asked after a while, willing his voice to be steady although his whole body suddenly vibrated of anger.

Iruka didn’t say anything but his silence more than answered the Jounin’s question.

“Who did it?”, Kakashi hissed furiously. “Tell me, Iruka!”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does! I don’t allow anybody who hurt you to get away with it! I will-”

“It doesn’t matter, Kakashi”, Iruka told him softly. “He doesn’t matter anymore.”

“‘He’?”

“M-hm.”

“Who is he?”

“…Somebody I thought I knew”, the Chuunin whispered after a while.

“Who?”

“I won’t tell you, Kakashi.”

“Why not? Iruka, he doesn’t deserve-”

“It’s my own fault.”

“No, it isn’t! It’s-”

“Yes, it is!”, Iruka shouted suddenly and lifted his head. “It is my fault because I was stupid!”

“B-but Iruka…”, Kakashi stammered, shocked at the outburst.

“Listen, Kakashi…” Iruka sighed and laid his head down on the Jounin’s chest again. “He… We had… something. It wasn’t a real relationship, not like you and me have. In fact, I don’t really know what it was or how it happened or how or why I allowed it to happen at all, but…” He sighed again.

“What happened?” ‘A real relationship like you and me have’… I love you, my Iruka… I only wished I was brave enough to tell you…

“I didn’t really want that… thing we had, but didn’t know how to stop it anymore, and then he wanted… more than I was willing to give.” Iruka took a deep breath. “I’d been with women before, but… it was different with him because… he… and…”

“It was different because you were both men and it was new to you”, Kakashi guessed.

“Yes.” The Chuunin nodded against his chest. “It was new to me and I knew it wasn’t right for me… with him it wasn’t right for me… and therefore I told him I wouldn’t do what he wanted to do with me and wouldn’t want that… thing we had anymore and…” Iruka tensed again further, then whispered, “And then he said that he’d known from the start that I wasn’t worth him and that he’d only wanted to be kind when he associated with me.”

“But it wasn’t your fault…”, Kakashi murmured.

“But it is my fault that I believed him. I don’t know why I did but I did. And even after he had betrayed the village and almost killed me and Naruto, I still believed his words.”

“They’re not true. Try to forget them.”

“I will try.” Iruka shifted and kissed the Jounin’s neck softly.

“And I will never do something you don’t want.”

“I know, Kakashi.” Another small kiss.

“And tell me when we reach the point where you stopped him, so I can make sure to give you all the time you need.” I don’t want to lose you. Never.

“It’s too late.” Iruka chuckled quietly.

“Too late?”

“M-hm.” The Chuunin yawned and snuggled his face into the crook of the Copy-nin’s neck. “We reached and crossed that point four weeks ago.”

“Oh.” Kakashi’s eyes widened in surprise.

“M-hm.” Iruka shifted until his body only lay half on the Jounin’s, then yawned again. “Thank you”, he whispered. “For letting me choose when. That means a lot to me.”

“Always”, Kakashi breathed back, then closed his eyes and listened to Iruka’s breathing even out until the Chuunin fell into an exhausted sleep.

I’m sorry, my Iruka. Sorry for not being brave enough to tell you all the things I want to tell you. Sorry for being frightened at the thought of loving you although I could lose you any day. Sorry for being a coward. Sorry for not telling you what I will do today. Please don’t hate me when I do it.


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A/N:
This chapter got much longer than I intended, but I blame it on Gai and his habit of overdoing everything. (I actually thought of colouring his speech green after I found the HTML-code by accident some time ago, but then I settled for the exclamation marks.) I really like Gai, he’s so much fun when dealing with his Eternal Rival.
And now I have to write what happens the next day, as unpleasant as it will be…

Nayru