Will you be there when I fall?

blah”=speech ‘blah’=thought ~>*<~ blah~>*<~ = Song Lyrics

Warnings: None

Disclaimers: Some day…

Notes: Ok, this fic is also modeled around the ATB song Long Way from home. I love ATB. * sighs wistfully * Anyway!!! I told you the story would be a bit smoother. Still no beta reader yet but I can wait…I can reread it myself.
For all of you who weren’t scared off by the first fic I hope you like this one!! Be good little readers and leave me a nice review so I can hang them on my walls when I have writers block and I can think “ Wow look at all those people who are depending on me for another chapter and/or story”

Feedback: why do I even have to answer this?

Chapter two:
Long Way Home
> ATB <

Genma sat by Iruka’s side as the night flowed into day and he watched as pink and red started to paint the sky. He had delicately bandaged the young chunins wrist and forearm before placing a cool cloth on the young mans forehead and deciding he could do no more he sat back. Now as he sat and watched the gentle rise and fall of the young teachers breaths he was taken back to the first time he had met the young Iruka.

> I’m kicking that stone
Down your street alone <

>>Flashback<<

It had been a particular loud party, the music was loud; but the people were louder. He had been walking around the club quietly occasionally stopping to chat with a group of acquaintances when he caught sight of Kakashi and another young man by his side. He deftly made his way to the pair, quietly trying to figure out it they were a couple or not.
“ Hello there Genma, what drags you out to a party like this? The chance to score perhaps?” Kakashi had to shout over the music and his visible eye was curved as he yelled his last statement.
“ Haha Kakashi but I’m not as desperate as you,” Genma paused and eyed the young man standing by the scarecrows side. “ Looks like you already have a victim though.”

> And the walls criticize where I have gone <

“ Hee Genma come now you don't mean to tell me you don't know?” Kakashi buried his face into the mans neck beside him and smiling at the puzzled man across from him.
“Once again, left out of the loop.” Genma hissed, he didn’t need that display of affection from Kakashi and he knew the other man was doing it to simply rub it in his face and piss him off. He glared at the silver haired Jonin and something in the mans blue eye screamed mockery and he was slightly hurt by it. “ Why don't you stop being an ass and introduce me?”
Kakashi caught the edge in Genma’s voice and he smiled, he loved agitating people. “ Touché “ he turned to the flushed man beside him and brushed a stray hair away from the chocolate eyes, smiling gently. “ Genma this is Iruka, Iruka, Genma.”

> I’m throwing that stone
Through your open door <

Genma scowled as Kakashi looked fondly at Iruka and spoke to him, his eyes softening as if he was saying more than introductions. Nonetheless, he stuck out his hand and as he shook hands with the handsome man he noticed how soft the mans hand was. “ Iruka? Are you a Jonin? I don't ever recall seeing you around.”
“ No” Iruka spoke for the first time upon meeting Genma and he shyly looked at the ground, “ I’m a chunin, I teach at the academy and that’s probably why you have never seen me.”

> And the halls seem to tell me I am wrong <

“ Oh” Genma whispered, Iruka's shyness was adorable and he was slightly taken aback by the mans soft voice. Things were still for a moment, the music seemed to fade into the background as his eyes locked with chocolate ones. The moment seemed to last forever till Kakashi grabbed his lover and steered him to the bar, waving his farewell before disappearing into the crowd.
“ What the hell was that?” Genma whispered to no one as he fiercely chewed on the needled in his mouth. Iruka was handsome, beautiful even but he belonged to Kakashi and he knew better than to touch what didn’t belong to him. “ Damn it” he hissed as his eyes followed the young chunin onto the dance floor.
“ Isn’t he adorable? You shouldn’t stare its rude you know.”

> I’m taking the long way home <

A hint of amusement in the velvety voice that was suddenly very close. Genma growled softly as Kakashi whispered into his ear. He had been caught staring and he stiffened as he felt the silver haired jonin's warm breath against his neck. He swallowed with some difficulty as he felt a calloused hand ghost down his arm and he turned, staring into the visibly amused eye of the Jonin. “ I wasn’t staring”
“ Haha don't lie.” Kakashi laughed and looked over Genma's shoulder, eyes catching the twisting body of his lover. “ Why don't you go make friends? Go dance…but remember don't touch.” With that he pushed the honey eyed Jonin towards the dance floor causing Genma to stumble and fall into the crowd.

> Where everything’s overgrown <

Genma wasn’t given the chance to protest as he was shoved into the mass of moving, sweating bodies. He was quickly swept to the middle of the floor, the press of bodies both male and female against him made him feel slightly uncomfortable but as he was moved closer to the DJ booth the music became louder and more intoxicating. He was losing himself in the music, the bass matching his heartbeat and the notes lacing his breath as his steady breathing became faster.
Suddenly, he felt the press of another body against him, closer than the press of the others and he turned, his breath hitching at the sight of Iruka smiling at him. He felt the needle fall from his mouth as he felt those smooth hands slip around his waist and he felt the young chunins hot breath on his ear. “ Dance…” was the word breathed into his ear and he felt the lithe body press against him.

> Just like the boy
Trying to give it away <

Soon the music took hold and he was lost in the ecstasy-laced beat. Every breath took him higher and he forgot to be cautious, pulling the young teacher closer as he drowned in his sweet scent. He could feel the young chunin grinding against him and he looked down, his breath catching at the sight of the young teachers flushed face with strands of his fine, dark hair falling into his half lidded eyes. He remembered to breath as the mans tongue flicked out to moisten full lips that were parted slightly as he panted and smiled up at him.
Genma swallowed hard as he held Iruka closer, reaching up to tuck the loose strands behind the chunins ear and he allowed his fingers to tangle in the silky locks. The music seemed to dim and the people around them disappeared as he gently pulled the dark hair causing the young mans head to tip back slightly and he leaned down, gently capturing those full, moist lips. The soft crush of desperation made his body catch fire and he was getting lost in the delicate sensation of the young teachers lips sliding over his own.

> I regret tomorrow <

The feelings were fleeting though as he suddenly felt strong hands rip him away from Iruka and he gave out a whimper of need but he soon forgot to be disappointed as he felt a fist slam into his jaw. It took him a good minute to realize he was on the floor with Kakashi standing over him and he brought a curious hand to his abused cheek.
Genma let out a soft gasp as the silver haired Jonin grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him to his feet and dragged him outside with him. The cool air made his throat tighten but it felt wonderful against his bruised cheek and he calmly looked at the furious Kakashi as his back was slammed against the wall. He could feel the rage radiating from the man standing before him and he ground his teeth together, looking for his needle when he suddenly felt strong, icy fingers grip his chin firmly, tilting his face up so he could look into one icy blue eye.

> I’m taking the long way home <

“ What in the hell were you doing?”

Genma desperately searched for an answer and he stared into Kakashi’s cool eye. He knew he had done the taboo and he looked past the silver haired Jonin as if looking to the dark for answers. “ Kakashi, I’m sorry, you told me not to touch him, you told me he was yours…I just…its just…” Genma couldn’t finish because though he knew why he did it, he didn’t want to fill in the copy ninja before him. Iruka had just looked so beautiful, flushed and panting he couldn’t resist but now with the angry Jonin before him, he figured he probably should have tried harder.
He felt the fingers on his chin tighten and he slowly placed a hand on the other jonin's wrist, trying to remove the hand from his chin. Suddenly, Kakashi was too close and he could feel the scarecrows breath upon his face. He swallowed the gasp that jumped to his throat when he suddenly felt the lips behind the mask and his eyes slid shut as the silky cloth caressed his lips ever so gently.

> Whatever may come and go <

If the situation had been different he might have enjoyed the kiss but he knew better and he pulled away from temptation the fear of being seen by someone overriding the small fire of want in his stomach. All seemed quiet and still as he stared into a half lidded eye, unsure of what to do next. Then to his surprise, Kakashi turned and started off down the street, leaving him in a fog of confusion.
“ Oh, Genma,” Kakashi paused in mid-stride, shooting the smile at the flushed and confused Genma. “Iruka's mine” he whispered before disappearing into the dark.

> Just like the boy
Trying to give it all away<

>> End Flashback <<

> I regret tomorrow <

Genma ground down on the needle in his mouth and he tipped the chair back so he could rest his head on the cool window. Despite the sunlight that was pouring from the east, he knew it was going to rain that day and he closed his eyes, sighing. ‘ How is Iruka going to react when he wakes up and finds himself here?’
Up until now he hadn’t regretted his actions of that night. As the days and months went by and not a word had been said about it he figured it was forgotten about, fading into nothing. But now, with the young chunin in his bed, tossing around like he was having a bad dream all the details came flooding back. How soft the young mans lips had been, how strong but delicate his body had been as it ground against his and he swallowed with some difficulty as he shifted in his chair.
A sudden movement out of the corner of his eye made him shift and he came face to face with a confused looking chunin. He gently placed the legs of the chair back on the floor and made his way to the bed slowly.

> I regret tomorrow more than yesterday <

Iruka hadn’t even noticed the man sitting next to the window until he moved to look at him. Memories flooded back with uncomfortable swiftness and he flushed, he didn’t have to look down to know what was causing the sharp pain on his wrist. He looked into the jonin's warm brown eyes, noticing the mans flushed cheeks and he suddenly remembered that night at the club.
“ Shiranui-san…” Iruka whispered, his cheeks immediately catching fire as Genma sat on the edge of the bed and gently removed the cool cloth from his forehead. He sat up and closed his eyes trying to make the room stop spinning.
“Iruka, lay down, you should try and get some rest.” Genma refolded the cloth and kept his eyes fixed on the sheets. He could feel the heavy awkwardness in the air and he pulled the needle from his mouth taking a deep breath to speak but he stopped short when he heard an odd noise from the head of the bed.

> Remember that wall <

Genma looked up quickly all embarrassment and awkwardness gone when he saw Iruka was crying. He quickly thought the worst and in an instant he was by the sobbing chunins side, grabbing the abused wrist and gingerly pulling back the wrappings. His eyebrows furrowed as he saw the wounds weren’t bleeding and he though maybe he was in pain.
“ Iruka! Are you ok? Do you need some medicine or something?” Genma asked, voice full of concern and he gently tilted Iruka’s chin up so he could look into those watery chocolate eyes. “ Medicine?” he whispered, nodding as if encouraging the young chunin to speak.
Iruka was so hurt by the events from yesterday and putting that together with the embarrassment of waking up in, of all people’s bed, Genma's had been too much. He felt the hurt clawing at his throat, filling his eyes with tears and as the air became heavy with awkwardness he couldn’t stop his salty hurt from spilling. He felt more than heard the Jonin come to where he was satting, trying and failing to silently cry and he was surprised when the honey eyed Jonin took his wrist. He watched through his tears as the bandages were taken off and his cuts examined with a sort of gentleness, making the tears come in a fresh wave as he was reminded of his former lover.

> Where we used to hide <

Genma was at a loss of what to do and he stood chewing his bottom lip, “ hey,” he reached down and gently cupped Iruka's soft tear stained cheek. “You hungry? I could make you something and you could take some medicine.”

> And the world seemed so dark and cold outside <

Iruka looked at Genma quietly for a moment, how could anyone possibly be hungry? He felt a rage grow in him and he glared at the man before him. “ Am I hungry? Hungry?! No, I’m not hungry, thank you, I want to go home!” he threw the sheets off and stood shakily starting for the door. Then he felt a gentle but firm hand grasp his wrist and he froze as a gentle, but authoritative voice reached his ears.
“Iruka.” Genma whispered and it sounded almost pleading but he ignored it, “ I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you I… I’m just trying to…” he wasn’t totally surprised by Iruka's out burst and he felt stupid for even asking such an obvious question. Of course the chunin wouldn’t be hungry, who would be after such an emotional blow. Nevertheless he wasn’t just going to let the young emotional wreck walk out and he tried to let the glaring chunin know he was being sympathetic without coming out right and saying it. He could feel the young shinobi trembling under his hand and his eyes widened as he felt the sharp edge of a kunai against his throat. He had been caught off guard, the distressed teacher was faster than he though and he stared at the bowed head of the young chunin.

> Remember that field <

“ You what? You’re just trying to help? Do you know what it feels like…to be dropped as if I was nothing?! And to add insult to injury, to add humiliation to it all… he has taken my student, my adopted son as his lover and God damn it am I that worthless?!” Iruka screamed, tears streaming down his face as he finished in a soft whisper and the kunai fell from Genma's throat to his side as he drew a shuddering breath. He felt his knees give way but instead of sinking to the floor he was caught by strong arms and the kunai clattered to the floor.
Genma caught Iruka as he fell and he held him against his chest, as the young chunin sobbed. Unknown to the distraught teacher he did know what it was like to be dropped like nothing, he knew how much it hurt and he sighed as the young chunin pulled away from him. “ Iruka” he started before he was silenced by the look he received from the man a few feet in front of him.

> Where we used to kiss <

“Stop, just stop. I know you’re trying to help but you’re not…you’re making it hurt more…” Iruka had to get out of Genma’s warm arms, those strong yet gentle arms reminded him too much of Kakashi and he could feel hot tears stinging his eyes. “ Please, Genma…just leave me alone, let me go home.” Deep inside of him, there was the almost irresistible urge to go back into the jonin's arms, to be held like Kakashi had once held him and he bit his lip as the honey eyed man looked at him sympathetically. “ Don't look at me like that…” He hated that look, the look of pity and sympathy, he had received it so often in his youth and he hated it.

> And the rain washed away our secret list <

“ I’m sorry” Genma whispered and he turned his gaze to the floor. Iruka was a wreck and he wanted to take him in his arms, tell him everything would be ok. He swallowed with some difficulty as the young chunin looked at him with plea deep in his dark eyes and he stepped back, knowing the harder he fought to keep the young teacher, the harder he would fight against him. “ Ok, go home, get some rest and please try to eat something. Change your bandages and don't hurt yourself like that again.”
Iruka noticed that authority in Genma's tone but he ignored it as he sighed, nodding to the things the Jonin was telling him to do. He wanted to go home and sleep; food was the last thing on his mind. He was only half listening to the jonin's soft voice and he jumped slightly when he felt that calloused hand cup his tear stained cheek and he looked up shyly into worried eyes.
“Did you hear me?” Genma pursed his lips as Iruka shook his head sheepishly, “ I know, I’m probably not the best person to talk to but I am here,” And with that awkwardly said he shoved a small piece of paper into the young teachers hand. He closed the chunin’s hand around the paper before giving him a small smile, “ Take care of yourself Iruka.” he whispered and he heard the rain begin to fall.

> I’m taking the long way home <

Iruka lay on his neatly made bed; the sharp almost painful scent of cleaning supplies burned his senses. After he had gotten home he had gone into automatic, he had taken out all the cleaning supplies in his house and got to work. It was as if he were trying to scrub off all remains of Kakashi as he furiously cleaned his house.

> Where everything’s overgrown <

Now, the iridescent numbers on his clock read 5:00 pm as he lay on his bed, the room looking as if his past-lover had never existed and he rolled over to watch the seemingly never ceasing rain through his window, watching his breath fog up the cool window. He closed his swollen eyes and pressed his arm over them, sighing as his cool skin pressed against his flushed face, he was totally exhausted.

> Just like the boy <

Anytime Iruka had come across anything of Kakashi's he had burst into tears, now as he stared at the window he swore he could see the smiling Jonin in the rain, making promises as gentle and fragile as whispers. He bit his lip and buried his face into his clean pillow. He lay there for a moment before rolling away from the window and as his feet touched the cool hardwood of the floor his eyes feel on the folded piece of paper Genma gave him lying serenely on the bedside table. It contained the honey eyed mans phone number.

> Just like the boy
Trying to give it away <

Iruka stared at the lined paper as if he meant to burn a hole through it and he stood slowly, a debate raging inside of him as his eyes darted to the phone. He sighed, Genma had been very kind to him and though he knew the honey eyes man through…interesting terms… the man was still kind to him as though nothing had happened. He glanced at the floor as he remembered the warmth of the mans calloused hand against his cheek and the empathy in those warm eyes brown eyes. That had been what he had seen, now as he looked back on it, it hadn’t pity in those deep eyes, it had been had empathy. He had been harsh to the jounin, even as the other man tried to help him and he felt a jolt of guilt go through him. He sighed heavily before picking up the phone and shoving the small piece of paper into his pocket before heading downstairs.

> I’m taking the long way home <

Iruka sat on the couch in front of his front window, crossing his legs and staring at the phone in his hand. If he called Genma, what was he going to say? ‘ I’m lonely and when you held me it was warm and nice and it reminded me of...’He made a face as the mock conversation took an ugly turn and the jounin laughed at him.

> Whatever may come and go <

Iruka threw the phone to the other end of the couch and he glared at it as if it was the cause of his dismay. He gently set the paper on the coffee table in front of him as if, if it were handled too roughly it would shatter into a million pieces like a frozen piece of glass. He sighed heavily as he laid his head back on the pillows, his whole body hurt and he could feel a throbbing at the base of his neck, the promises of a migraine to come.

> Just like the boy
Trying to give it away <

With a small groan he stretched his tired, aching body as he buried his face deeper into the pillows. He finally allowed himself to hear the hurt of his body, he could feel how swollen his eyes were and he felt the sharp pain of the cuts on his wrist. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, forcing his tight muscles to loosen. Crying, plus the rough sleep he got at Genma’s was finally catching up with him and his body couldn’t take it.

> I regret tomorrow <

He could feel himself falling, his soul detaching itself from the weight of reality and sleep was suddenly very heavy and suffocating. He felt the dark eating at him and he finally gave into it, allowing himself to fall into the darkness his body was craving for.

> I regret tomorrow more than yesterday <

Genma quietly watched the rainfall from his doorstep and he bit down hard on the needle in his mouth. He had walked Iruka to the door and he had watched the broken teacher disappear into the cold rain, all the while biting his tongue to keep the protest at bay. He sighed heavily before turning and stepping inside, the air thick and warm as it caressed his cool cheek.

> Nobody’s home
And I feel lost inside <

He quietly made his way back to his room but as he walked by the bathroom he stopped and upon peering inside he winced. The sink was still covered in the chunin’s blood where he had gently washed the cuts on the smooth, pale wrist. He reached under the sink and pulled out a bottle of bleach.

> There is a clock counting down
What's left of time <

When he finished with the bathroom, he made his way to his living room and collapsed onto the oversized lazy boy. He sighed softly and brought his knees to his chest. He pulled the needle from his mouth and buried his head into the soft leather. He was tired after staying up with Iruka and the worry that had been eating at him throughout the day was disappearing. As he closed his eyes he remembered the helpless look in the chunin’s eyes and he hoped the young teacher was all right.

> It’s easy to hesitate<

A sharp noise jolted Genma out of his blissful sleep and he opened one eye lazily so he could glare at the phone. He hissed softly as it rang again and the caller ID lit up. Suddenly he was out of his chair and kneeling by the coffee table, staring at the name on the ID plate that read Umino Iruka.

> Like a girl listening to her heart break <

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Last Words: OoOoOoOhHhHhHhH…what could happen now?!?! The suspense!! Ok this one was a little more forgiving then the last one…yeah!! So…what do you think? Love it? Hate it? Tell me about it!!!