Thanks for the reviews, I'm happy to see that you liked Pakkun and blowjob and baking a cake (maybe even in this order, but I'm not entirely sure about that...).

This chapter is rated T and contains spoilers up to vol. 16, chapter 138 of the manga.


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The Right Way

by nayru-kleinefee


Chapter 14 – Giving Shelter

Why didn’t I see it coming? I’m supposed to be a genius! I knew Orochimaru was in the village! I knew he was after Sasuke! Why didn’t I see it coming?

Kakashi hurried further through the destroyed streets, throwing glances left and right in search for possible attackers but finding none.

And now Sandaime is dead and the kids are who-knows-where in the forest with that demon boy and Pakkun is with them although he’s no good at fighting and I don’t even know whether my Iruka is safe or in danger or hurt or even-

The Jounin clenched his fists and shook his head forcefully.

Don’t think about that! Iruka’s a Chuunin, he’s perfectly able to take care of himself! You have to go search for the kids now! And they’re safe, too! But they’re outside in the woods and you have to take them back here to-

“Kakashi-san!”

“What?!” The Copy-nin stopped in his run to glare at the young kunoichi who had dared to call for him.

“Kakashi-san, I shall tell you that Jiraiya-sama wants you to come to him”, the woman told him, fidgeting under his glare.

“Now?!” What’s that old pervert thinking? I can’t see him now!

“Now”, the kunoichi confirmed. “He saw you running and told me to get you because he needs your help.”

“I can’t, I-”

“He said it’s urgent, Kakashi-san.”

“This is urgent, too. I have to-”

“Kakashi-san”, the woman said pleadingly. “Please, tell Jiraiya-sama about that. I was only sent to tell you.”

“Fine”, Kakashi snarled. “Where?”

“On the fifth roof to the south.”

The Copy-nin nodded and quickly jumped up to the fortunately still intact roof of a burning house nearby, then further south towards his old friend. This is better important! If he’s ordering me to do some stupid exploring stuff or such, I’ll be off again before he even finishes chattering!

“What do you want, Jiraiya?”, Kakashi asked the moment his feet touched the roof next to the Sannin.

“Kakashi.” Jiraiya turned around and dismissed the shinobi he’d given orders before with a wink of his hand. “You have to-”

“My students are in the forest with that sand demon now”, the Copy-nin interrupted him. “I have to search for them.”

“The demon retreated already. I felt-”

“I know. I felt his chakra vanish, too. But I have to make sure they’re still alive. And that Sasuke’s seal didn’t break.”

“That Naruto-boy summoned Gamabunta and-”

“I know that, Jiraiya.” Genius shinobi, remember?

“And I already sent some ANBU to search for the kids”, the Sannin told him, sounding impatient.

“When?”

“Right before you came here.”

“Then I can still catch up. I will-”

“Kakashi, you have to help here.”

“But I-”

“Some Sound nin attacked one of the shelters the Academy students were brought to”, Jiraiya interrupted him briskly. “They were defeated by the teachers, but the shelter is severely damaged and not safe anymore. You have to help taking the kids to another hide-out and protect them on the way in case there are still enemies left.”

“Where?”, Kakashi asked, reluctantly understanding that the safety of the village’s children indeed was more important than rushing out to find his students.

“The attacked shelter was the one inside the Hokage Monument. There were casualties and injuries, but not among the kids.”

“Good.” Kakashi nodded, but at the same time he felt a nagging pain in his chest and didn’t know where it suddenly came from.

“Go to the shelter, help Ebisu and make sure the children reach the hide-out near the Hyuuga-mansion safely”, Jiraiya advised. “You know where that is?”

“Yes.” The Copy-nin nodded again, then jumped to the next roof and hurried towards the Hokage Monument.

At least the children are unharmed. And Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke will be alright, too. The ANBU will find them and take them back here, along with Pakkun, and then I will invite them all to ramen or whatever, and Iruka, too, and-

He stumbled in his run and almost fell from the roof when the pain in his chest came back tenfold and robbed him of his breath.

‘There were casualties and injuries, but not among the kids.’

Kakashi choked and stumbled again when his knees threatened to give in.

‘Casualties and injuries.’

‘Casualties.’

He forced himself to run again, as fast as possible.

Iruka.

The Copy-nin saw the Hokage Monument before him, saw the new crack in the Third’s face, saw all of it seem so near that he would only have to reach out and touch it, but it was still so far away.

Iruka!

Kakashi picked up even more speed and forced his already aching body to use all he had to be faster, to reach his goal sooner.

Iruka! Don’t leave me! Please, I will die if you leave me! Iruka! You can’t leave me! I love you!

By the time he finally reached the shelter, his mind had wrapped itself around one thought only, repeating it over and over.

Iruka’s safe. He’s safe. He’s here, he’s waiting for me with the children and he’s safe. He’s safe. He won’t leave me. He’s safe.

“Iruka!”, Kakashi shouted at the top of his lungs the moment he entered the little crowded cave inside the Monument’s stone wall, filled with crying children and frightened teachers. “Iruka!”

“Kakashi-san!”, somebody addressed him suddenly, but when the Jounin turned around, he only saw his reflection in the dark glasses on the face of Ebisu.

“Where’s Iruka?”, the Copy-nin asked and grabbed the other Jounin by the collar. “Where is he?”

“Iruka? Who are you talking about?”, Ebisu asked back and tried to free himself. “Aren’t you here to help us get the children out?”

“I… Yes.” Kakashi let go of him and tried to collect himself, then nodded. “Yes. I am.” First the kids. You were ordered to protect them and you are shinobi – you always follow your orders first before you think about yourself.

“Good. I guess we’re enough now.” Ebisu nodded, then turned around. “Listen, everybody!”, he shouted. “We will now leave the hide-out and move to another! It’s not far away, but please hurry up!”

The children and adults all stood up, seeming to understand the urge behind the polite order, then approached the exit of the shelter.

“I will go first”, Ebisu told Kakashi before he opened the door. “The teachers are Chuunin, they will spread out through the children to protect them if necessary, and you will watch them from behind.”

The Copy-nin nodded, then took a step back and carefully examined every face that passed him, searching for his Chuunin, but he didn’t see him.

Maybe this isn’t the shelter where he took his children. Maybe Iruka’s somewhere else, all safe and sound. Kakashi forced himself to breathe evenly and didn’t allow his head to turn towards the two bodies in Chuunin vests with the symbol of Konoha lying on one side of the cave. It’s not his class here. He’s safe somewhere else.

The Jounin left the cave after the last kid, then threw glances through the streets and up to the roofs they marched under in search for any sign of an attacker. My Iruka’s safe and sound. He’s not been in the cave at all. He’s-

“Konohamaru!”, a loud voice sounded towards him. “Stay in the line!”

Konohamaru! He’s in Iruka’s class! He’s- he’s- he’s-

“Jounin-san?”, another voice asked. “Don’t you feel good? Are you injured?”

“No”, Kakashi choked out. My Iruka’s been here! But he’s not here anymore! Why not? He’s safe and sound, so why isn’t he coming with us? He should be with me, he knows that I want him to be with me all the time, so why-

“Jounin-san?” The same voice, now even more concerned. “Are you injured? Did you get poisoned?”

“N-no.” The Copy-nin forced his body to stay calm and his mind to focus on the search for enemies. I must protect the children. My Iruka will never forgive me if I fail and one of the kids gets injured. He will be angry with me if I fail. I don’t want him to be angry with me.

“Jounin-san, you should go to the hospital. It’s safe, those who were injured were already brought there.”

“Hos-hospital?”

“Yes, Jounin-san. We had injuries and they were brought there.”

“How… how many?”, Kakashi asked hoarsely while he already saw the new hide-out appear in front of them.

“About twelve, I think. Some were severely injured. And Riku-sensei and Gita-sensei…” The voice broke off and the Jounin heard a sob.

“Alright, everybody”, Ebisu’s voice reached the Copy-nin. “Here we are. Please go inside now carefully and wait until I tell you differently.”

“Riku-sensei and Gita-sensei?”, Kakashi asked and quickly grabbed the sleeve of the person he’d previously talked to, seeing that she was a young Chuunin teacher. “Are those two the dead?”

“Y-yes.” She sniffled. “They stood near the door when the Sound nins attacked.”

“And were there more casualties?”

“No. Just Riku-sensei and Gita-sensei were killed. But some other teachers were injured”, she told him.

“What about Iruka?”, the Copy-nin asked, not caring about pretending he didn’t know his Chuunin more closely.

“Iruka-sensei?” The woman frowned. “I saw him when we went into the shelter and while we fought the Sound nins. If he wasn’t in the shelter anymore, he must be in the hospital, but I don’t know whether he got injured or just helped to bring an injured there…”

“Thank Kami”, Kakashi breathed. “I-”

“Iruka-sensei was injured”, somebody told him.

“What?” The Copy-nin spun around. “How?”

“I don’t know how exactly.” The man shrugged. “I saw him fight against three Sound nins alone, then had to fight myself and when I looked at him again, he already had defeated all of them although they all seemed to be Jounin.”

“Iruka-sensei fought to protect the children”, the woman whispered. “He’s like a demon when those important to him are in danger.”

My Iruka… my demon… Kakashi smiled softly. My demon Iruka… you’re alive…

“But the Sounds got him, too”, he heard the man say. “I saw him kneel on the floor and his leg was bleeding heavily and-”

Kakashi didn’t hear more of it when he jumped up a roof again and hurried towards the hospital. Iruka. Iruka. Iruka. Be safe. Iruka. Be alive. Iruka. I need you. Iruka. Don’t leave me. Iruka. Please, stay with me. My Iruka. I love you. Don’t leave me.

“My Iruka”, he started to murmur when he saw the hospital appear in front of him, but he only half registered that his mouth moved and there were words at all. “My Iruka, my Iruka, my Iruka, Iruka, Iruka…”

Kakashi entered the hospital without slowing his run, then grabbed the first nurse he saw by the arm and made her give a surprised start. “Iruka!”, he shouted.

“What?”, the woman asked. “Jounin-san, are you injured?”

“Iruka!”, Kakashi repeated. “He’s here. Where?”

“I don’t know, Jounin-san, there are so many here. I can’t-”

“I have to find him!”, Kakashi yelled.

“Jounin-san”, somebody said behind him, then a hand was placed on his shoulder. “You should calm down and-”

“But I have to find Iruka!”, the Copy-nin shouted, then let go of the nurse’s arm and turned around, slapping the hand away from his shoulder. “I have to find him!” Why don’t they understand? I have to find him and be near him and hold him in my arms and see that he’s safe and protect him and-

“Jounin-san”, the man tried again. “Please calm down. You seem to be under the effects of a jutsu, let me-”

“I’m not”, Kakashi shouted. “I have to find Iruka! He’s injured!”

“Kakashi.”

“Jounin-san, please calm down so I-”

“I don’t need to calm down!” I need my Iruka!

“Kakashi.”

“Jounin-san, please-”

“Kakashi.” Again a hand was placed on the Copy-nin’s shoulder, heavier this time. Kakashi growled and already wanted to turn around to slap this hand away, too, when he noticed the familiar chakra behind him.

“Iruka!” He turned and then really saw his Chuunin stand in front of him, leaning against the back of a chair and smiling tiredly. He was barefoot and wore a crumpled shirt and a pair of pants with the left leg cut open up to his waist and revealing a thick bandage around his upper thigh. The cloth of the pants was stained with blood, but the bandage was thankfully clean and white.

“Kakashi”, Iruka whispered. “You’re safe.”

“Iruka!” Kakashi reached out and took him into his arms, then buried his face into the crook of his Chuunin’s neck, took in a deep breath and inhaled the scent he loved so much. Oh, thank Kami! You’re safe! You didn’t leave me!

“Ow”, Iruka gasped. “Kakashi, my leg…”

“Oh! I’m sorry!” The Copy-nin let him go instantly, but thus only caused the Chuunin to stumble and almost fall before Kakashi wrapped his arms around him again more carefully. “You’re injured.”

“Yes.” Iruka smiled again, then rested his head against the Jounin’s shoulder. “But it’s not very bad, just a shuriken wound and no poison. Much blood loss, but they said it’s not life-threatening anymore.”

“You protected your children”, Kakashi murmured and hugged him a little tighter. And you protected me. You live. I can live on.

“M-hm… I couldn’t let them get hurt…” The Chuunin snuggled his head deeper into Kakashi’s neck. “And I didn’t want you to be sad, so I had to make sure to survive. But the children were more important than me, Kakashi, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine”, Kakashi whispered and smiled. “You were a good demon.”

“Hrn. I hate it when they call me that”, Iruka told him. “Are the children safe?”

“Yes. We brought them to another shelter.” You’re my shelter. Let me be yours.

“Good. I-”

“Iruka-sensei!”, somebody suddenly shouted. “What are you doing there? You should lie in your bed!”

“Hn?” Kakashi looked up and saw a small nurse all but waltz towards them, her angry face reminding him more than a little of Pakkun’s.

“Oh”, Iruka murmured, sounding sleepy. “Will Tana-san scold me now?”

“Not very fitting for a teacher, hu?”, Kakashi chuckled, feeling the relief about his Chuunin being safe and in his arms again sink in further and make his heart light despite the chaos and horror around him.

“Iruka-sensei!”, the nurse started the moment she reached them. “I told you to stay in your bed! You are severely injured, and the sleeping pills will start to show effects soon!” She sighed and shook her head.

“They already do”, Iruka told her, then yawned and nuzzled his face deeper into Kakashi’s chest. “Believe me, they do. And the pain killers, too. I don’t feel very good…”

“I can see that”, Tana told him a little friendlier. “You have to go back into your bed now.” She reached out and grabbed his arm.

“No.” Kakashi gently but firmly removed her hand. Mine! “I will take him there.” Mine! Mine! Mine!

“And you are?” A glare was directed at him.

“Hatake Kakashi.” Wow, she’s scary. But she won’t get my Iruka!

“Hrn.” The nurse nodded once. “That Copy-nin.” The tone of her voice more than clearly indicated that she wasn’t impressed at all, and the glare didn’t vanish but only got more intense and scrutinizing.

“Right.” Kakashi nodded. She’s super-scary. But he’s my Iruka! No touching!

“Kakashi’s safe”, Iruka whispered before he slumped even more against the Jounin. “I heard him call for me and that’s why I got up… I had to make sure that he’s safe… I was worried… but then I heard him… call for me… call my name… had to see him…” He yawned and moved his arms to wrap loosely around Kakashi’s waist.

“I’m safe”, the Copy-nin told him softly. “Don’t worry anymore, Iruka.”

“I’m your Iruka”, the Chuunin whispered, then tightened his hold around him a little. “Your Iruka. That’s important.”

“Yes”, Kakashi agreed, his throat thick. “That’s important.” My Iruka. I love you.

“Kakashi and Iruka”, Iruka murmured, “Iruka and Kakashi. And Iruka. And Kakashi.”

“Yes, dear.” Tana suddenly smiled warmly. “What about going back to bed now?”

“M-hm.” The Chuunin tried to straighten up but stumbled against Kakashi again. “Oops.” He grinned, half tired, half sheepish and three quarters drugged.

“I’ll help you, my Iruka”, the Copy-nin whispered and helped him straighten up again. “Do you think you can walk if I support you?”

“Could try…”, Iruka mumbled, then took a small step but stumbled again. “Nope”, he lightly declared afterwards. “That make-Iruka-sleepy stuff’s good…”

Kakashi chuckled. “I’ll carry you to your bed.” He bent down and moved his left arm behind his Chuunin’s knees, then lifted him up carefully.

“But no telling”, Iruka whispered and laid his arms around the Copy-nin’s neck and his head against his shoulder.

“Never.” The Jounin laughed softly while he slowly followed the nurse out of the hall. “You’re like Pakkun in that matter, did you know that?”

“But Pakkun’s a dog”, his Chuunin told him, his voice sounding slurred.

“Not if you ask him. He’s a nin-dog.”

“Mh.” Iruka yawned. “But ‘s nice. Pakkun should try it…”

“Being carried around by me?”

“M-hm.” The Chuunin yawned again.

“I could do that for you every day from now on if you want”, Kakashi offered.

“M-hm. Sounds good.” Iruka lifted his head a little. “And… can we do something else, too?”, he whispered into Kakashi’s ear, blushing.

“Anything you want.” Especially if it makes you blush.

“I…” Iruka blushed deeper. “When I’m good again and my leg doesn’t hurt anymore…” He frowned. “Why does my leg hurt? What… however…” Another huge yawn. “When it stops hurting… can we… can we do what we did yesterday? In the kitchen?”

“Oh.” Kakashi grinned, but then asked innocently, “You mean baking a cake?”

“No, not that.” The Chuunin shook his head slowly and looked at him with an utterly shocked expression in his tired and glazed eyes that caused the Jounin to laugh softly. “Can’t you remember? I mean what we did in the kitchen… and then in the shower… and then in bed…” He yawned. “I liked that, Kakashi…”

“I liked that, too.” Kakashi leaned his head down and placed a soft kiss on Iruka’s forehead.

“When I’m good again…”

“M-hm.” Kakashi nodded when he saw the nurse in front of him enter a small room.

“Lay him down here.” Tana pointed at a bed inside.

“Got it.” The Copy-nin went in and bent down to lay his Chuunin into the bed, but Iruka only tightened his hold on him.

“M-mh.” He shook his head and pouted. “Don’t want that… wanna stay here…”

“But you have to sleep now, Iruka”, Kakashi whispered, smiling, and straightened up again.

“Can’t I sleep like this?”, Iruka asked hopefully.

“Iruka, I-”

“If I say ‘please’?”

“I’m sorry.” Kakashi shook his head. Although I would love to hold you like this forever, my Iruka.

The Chuunin looked up at him pleadingly. “Please-please?”

“You have to sleep now”, the Jounin whispered. “I would like you to stay like this, too, but-”

“But you have to lie still in bed now”, Tana told him, smiling.

“No chance?” Iruka pouted again. “That’s mean, Tana-san…”

“I’m sorry, my Iruka.” Kakashi carefully placed his Chuunin on the bed, then pulled the blanket over him and leaned down to stroke a loose strand of his brown hair out of his face. “Now sleep, Iruka.”

“You stay here with me?”

“I’d like to. But I have to go and see whether I can do something to help.” And I have to make sure that you get your Naruto and the other kids back.

“‘kay. But come back to me soon?”

“As soon as everything is under control.”

“Mmmh… I think I’ll wait here for you…” Iruka yawned and closed his eyes.

“I’ll be back soon”, Kakashi promised, then stood up reluctantly.

“M-hm…” Iruka sighed. “I think I’ll dream of you, Kakashi…”

“That’s nice, my Iruka.”

“M-hm…” Iruka yawned. “Kakashi?”

“Yes?”

“Hmmmm…” The Chuunin frowned without opening his eyes.

“What is it, Iruka?”, Kakashi asked softly.

“Forgot…” Iruka yawned again. “Wanted to tell you something… I guess… can’t remember anymore…”

“It’s fine”, Kakashi whispered. “Now sleep. You can tell me afterwards.”

“Mmmmh…”, Iruka sighed, then his head fell to his side and Kakashi could hear his breath even out and see his face relax completely, making the Chuunin look younger than usual and even more beautiful in the Copy-nin’s eyes, but also more vulnerable than the Jounin had ever seen him.

“Iruka?”, Kakashi whispered, suddenly afraid of not telling him before he would go out into the danger again, and leaned down until his cloth-covered lips almost touched his Chuunin’s left ear, but Iruka didn’t answer. “Iruka, I… I love you”, Kakashi breathed in his ear.

The sleeping Chuunin gave no sign that he’d heard him, but Kakashi wasn’t quite sure whether maybe Iruka’s mouth hadn’t smiled a little after his confession.

“He asked for you”, Tana told him softly.

“Really?” Kakashi straightened up again but didn’t move his gaze from his sleeping Chuunin.

“Yes. He asked me to tell him immediately when I heard something about you.” The Jounin could hear the smile in the nurse’s voice.

“Why did he get sleeping pills?”

“The shuriken wound was deep”, Tana told him. “We restored the nerves and muscles with chakra, but the new flesh is very fragile still. It has to lie as still as possible at first, and therefore we always give sleeping pills to ensure that.”

“How long will he sleep?” Kakashi finally looked up.

“At least eight to ten hours.” The nurse grinned. “I would say I’m surprised he even managed to get up earlier, but I guess he had a good reason for doing so.” The grin widened.

“Take good care of my Iruka”, Kakashi murmured while he felt himself blush under his mask.

“I will. Come back safe so he’ll be happy when he wakes up.”

“I will.” I promise I’ll always try my best to make you happy, my Iruka.


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A/N:
I always wondered why all the shinobi just stood there after the Third fell. But maybe Kakashi did this afterwards.

Nayru