Thank you all for your reviews. I was very happy to see that you love Pakkun as much as I do. He'll definitely be in the story more often.
This chapter is rated K+ and contains no spoilers.
Nayru

The Right Way

by nayru-kleinefee


Chapter 2 – Grocery Secrets

“So, what exactly do you need?”, Iruka asked when they reached the market place.

“Meat”, Pakkun told him before Kakashi could even open his mouth.

“Meat?” The Chuunin frowned. “I thought you said fruits and vegetables.”

“Erm… Yes”, the dog mumbled. “Those, too.”

“So that’s what it’s all about”, Kakashi whispered angrily. “You wanted meat.”

Pakkun grinned cheekily, then whispered back, “Just like you, hu?”

“You…”, his master hissed. “I will-”

“Kakashi-sensei?”

“Yes, Iruka-sensei?”, Kakashi answered, smiling brightly. Everything’s fine. I’m not arguing with Pakkun. I’m not going to kill him at all. Please keep smiling.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes, perfect.” Kakashi’s grin widened. “I just told Pakkun he really should eat less meat and more vegetables. He’s not the youngest anymore, you know…” He shrugged, sighing. Take this, smart-ass dog!

“Maybe you’re right”, the Chuunin said and frowned down at the nin-dog. “He really should watch his health then…”

“Hey, hey”, Pakkun complained. “I’m not old, you know!”

“Sure”, Iruka said hastily.

“Heeey! I’m in my best age!” The dog growled, then turned towards his master. “You’ll pay for this, boss”, he hissed.

“Make me”, Kakashi gave back, chuckling. This is fun!

“Then we should get lots of vegetables for Pakkun”, Iruka murmured, oblivious to the argument beside him. “And some meat without much fat… I guess, chicken would be alright.”

“Perfect.” Kakashi nodded. Funfunfun!

“I prefer steak”, Pakkun complained.

“Steak has too much fat”, the Chuunin told him.

“Has not! And it’s tastier than chicken!”

“Pakkun, don’t contradict Iruka-sensei”, Kakashi told his dog, grinning like mad under his mask. This is FunFunFUN! “He wants to make sure I can enjoy your company as long as possible.”

“Kakashi-sensei, I didn’t know you love Pakkun that much“, Iruka said softly, looking utterly moved.

“Erm… I don’t think that’s quite the right word…”, Kakashi started.

“The boss really loves me”, Pakkun stated, grinning devilishly. “He even lets me sleep in his bed and hugs and cuddles me at night and-”

“Pakkun!”, his master hissed, embarrassed. “That’s not true, Iruka-sensei, he’s just making fun of me.”

“Oh, there’s nothing to be ashamed of”, the Chuunin reassured him, smiling. “I think it’s really a nice thing to do and you certainly look very cute when-” His eyes widened suddenly, then he closed them tightly, slammed his hand over his mouth and blushed brightly.

“I have to admit he looks sexy now”, Pakkun whispered, grinning like mad.

“Doesn’t he?”, Kakashi whispered back. Perfect.

To his utter surprise and confusion, Pakkun stared at him, looking disbelieving, then rolled his eyes and muttered, “Humans.”

“I- I- I’m sorry, Kakashi-sensei”, Iruka stammered and opened his eyes again slowly. “I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t be”, Pakkun told him, grinning innocently. “I bet the boss likes being called cute by you.”

“Pakkun!”, Kakashi growled. How can he do that?! Iruka’s going to be mad at me for teasing him and I didn’t do anything this time!

“I’m sorry, Kakashi-sensei, I-” Iruka frowned. “What did you just say, Pakkun?”

“Nothing”, the Copy-nin said hastily. “What about we start shopping now?” And stop embarrassing me in front of you?

“Oh. Sure.” The Chuunin smiled again, looking relieved. “So, vegetables and fruits first?”

“Yes.” Kakashi nodded.

“Fine, then let me show you my favourite merchant here, Kakashi-sensei.” Iruka started walking through the stalls. “She always has the best fruits and vegetables you can find in Konoha.”

“Pakkun”, Kakashi quietly told his dog while following. “Behave from now on, hear me?”

“Sure. If you behave, loving master…”

“Pakkun, I’m serious.”

“Okay, okay, I got it, boss.” Pakkun sighed. “You really have it bad, don’t you?”

“What do you think?”

“Fine, boss. I’ll be a nice puppy from now on.”

“Really?”, Kakashi asked suspiciously. I don’t think you’ve ever been a nice puppy, not when you actually were a puppy and certainly not later.

“Really. I’ll be good now.” Pakkun grinned. “But I’ll be even better if I know I’ll get a steak for it…”

“’Even better’? What do you mean?”

“You’ll see, boss.” A grin from ear to ear, revealing small, sharp teeth.

“Deal.” Kakashi nodded. “And better be best.”

“Here it is”, Iruka declared suddenly. “Good evening, Hara-san”, he greeted the merchant, smiling.

“Good evening, Iruka-sensei”, she answered, smiling brightly back.

Too bright.

“Hara-san”, Iruka continued. “This is Kakashi-sensei, Naruto’s new Jounin instructor, and this is Pakkun.”

“Nice to meet you”, she said, but barely looked at Kakashi, smiled much less brightly and ignored Pakkun altogether.

“Nice to meet you, too”, Kakashi greeted back. I thought so. After my Iruka, hu? Forget that, lady. He’s mine! … Well, in fact, he isn’t, but… he’ll be. Soon. And… I will know how to make that happen soon, too… I hope… AAARGH!

“So, what can I do for you today?”, Hara asked Iruka, then bent down and brought a bag in sight. “I already chose some apples for you, sensei.”

Iruka smiled, then took the bag from her and handed over some money. “That’s very kind of you, Hara-san.”

Kakashi glared. That won’t help you either, Hara-san.

“You’re welcome, Iruka-sensei”, the merchant gave back.

You’re mine, Iruka-sensei.

„Hara-san, Kakashi-sensei would like to buy vegetables and fruits for him and Pakkun, and I want to show him how to choose the best.“

“Oh, how very kind of you, Iruka-sensei”, the merchant said and smiled even brighter than before. “Let me assist you, will you?”

“That would be-”

“But Iruka-sensei wanted to help us”, Pakkun exclaimed, then jumped up on the stall, right on the oranges, and crushed one with his paw by what looked like accident but Kakashi knew better. “I’m sure he’s perfectly fine with doing it alone.”

“Oh!”, Hara shouted suddenly and waved her hands in the air in front of the pug’s face. “Bad dog! Go away! Sh!”

“Don’t be rude to Pakkun”, Kakashi told her coldly and glared at her. “He’s a Konoha shinobi and he’s protecting this village like all of us.” And he’s on the best way to earn himself a steak.

“Kakashi-sensei is right”, Iruka added, looking embarrassed. “I’m afraid you hurt Pakkun’s feelings, Hara-san. I think you should apologise.”

“I- I- It’s a dog!”, the merchant exclaimed, then looked at Kakashi who quickly grinned cheerily back, visible in spite of the mask, and winked at her when Iruka didn’t look, and she seemed to realize that she’d made a mistake.

Never challenge the famous Copy-nin! …or his infamous pug, that is…

“I’m a nin-dog”, Pakkun huffed, feigning utter humiliation. Kakashi noticed the acting but Iruka looked sympathetically at the little pug. “I’m not just a dog.”

“Okay, okay.” Hara shook her head in defeat. “I’m sorry… Pakkun. I didn’t mean to hurt your… feelings.” She glared at Kakashi, then made herself busy with some crates next to her.

Kakashi had to keep himself from bouncing. Great. Problem solved, I guess.

“I’m so sorry, Pakkun”, Iruka murmured.

“It’s alright”, the pug gave back and sniffed fake-miserably. “I’m used to it. People do that to me all the time.”

“Oh, really?”, Iruka asked, looking like he desperately wanted to hug the dog but didn’t dare, afraid to embarrass him further.

“It’s fine, Iruka-sensei”, Kakashi tried to reassure him. “It’s not your fault.” Sooo cute!

“I know, but-”

“It’s really alright, Iruka-sensei”, Pakkun said and smiled, then jumped down from the stall again. “I’m fine. Let’s buy the fruits and vegetables now.”

“Yes”, Kakashi agreed. “So, what kind of fruits would you like, Pakkun?”

“Apples?”, Iruka asked. “Hara-san has the best in the whole town, you know.” He looked up to talk to the merchant but she had turned her back to them and seemed to pretend she didn’t notice.

Kakashi grinned. “Yes, what about apples, Pakkun?”

“Don’t like them.”

“What?”, Iruka asked in utter surprise. “But they’re delicious. Especially the green ones.”

“I prefer the red ones”, Kakashi told him. “They’re sweeter.” Like you. So sweet and cute and sexy and- Ah… better stop thinking right now.

“Yes, but apples are crunchy. And I prefer sweet fruits when they’re soft, but hard fruits are better when sour.” The Chuunin laughed a little sheepishly. “It’s a matter of consistence for me, I guess. Can’t explain it.”

“Apples are eew”, Pakkun threw in and made a face of utter disgust.

“They’re not”, Iruka contradicted, looking like he was about to pout.

“No, they’re not”, Kakashi agreed.

“No, they’re not”, Iruka stated, pouting by now.

“But… but maybe they are for dogs”, Kakashi murmured, staring at him. Sooooo cute and sooooo sexy!

“Maybe.” The Chuunin shrugged and smiled at him, then turned towards the pug again. “What fruits do you like then, Pakkun?”

“Cherries, pineapples, strawberries and… erm… kiwis.”

“Oh.” Iruka frowned. “That’s pretty… well… special.”

“Eccentric”, Kakashi offered, grinning.

“Like master, like pug, I guess”, Pakkun answered, grinning even wider.

“Pakkun!”, Iruka laughed. “That’s not very nice.”

“But true, I guess.” Kakashi said mock-seriously and shrugged, causing Iruka to laugh more, a sound that the Copy-nin discovered to be quite addictive.

“I’d really like a pineapple”, Pakkun said. “Can we get one, boss?”

You’ve never in your life eaten a pineapple. “Sure.”

“Let’s see then.” Iruka stepped around the stall. “Here they are. Let me show you how to pick one that’s ripe enough.” He took one of the fruits, pulled at a leaf and ripped it out without much afford. “You see? When you can pull a leaf out easily, they’re ripe enough. And you have to make sure they don’t have any brown, weak spots.”

“Got it, sensei”, Kakashi said, grinning.

“Oh.” Iruka blushed a little. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want it to come out like that.”

“No, no!”, Kakashi told him hastily. “I didn’t mean it like that either!” Pull yourself together, Hatake! No teasing!

“Oh.” The Chuunin smiled. “‘kay then.”

‘‘kay’! He said ‘‘kay’! That’s sooooo cute! Kakashi stared, captivated. How can somebody be so cute?! That’s even better than pouting and- no, it’s not, pouting’s better… or saying ‘‘kay’? Mmmh… it’s equally cute, I guess… although he’s much sexier when he pouts… and when he’s angry… and when he-

“Can we get strawberries, too?”, Pakkun asked, clearing his throat.

“Oh… Sure”, his master agreed and forced his eyes from Iruka, feeling himself blush a little. “But don’t you prefer kiwis? They’re looking really good here.” You hate kiwis. But you would kill for strawberries, hu, Pakkun?

“No, strawberries, please”, the dog gave back, then directed an innocent puppy-eyed look at Iruka. “They’re best when the boss makes whipped cream for them or coats them in white chocolate.”

“I bet that’s perfect.” Iruka sighed dreamily.

That sigh! That sigh! I wish I could make him sigh like that for me and- Stop it, Hatake! No naughty thoughts!

“Maybe the boss could make them for us later and-”, Pakkun started.

“Wait!” The Chuunin frowned at Kakashi. “You give Pakkun whipped cream and chocolate? I’m sure that’s not good for dogs.”

“No, no, I don’t”, Kakashi assured hastily. Pakkun, what did you do? He’ll get angry at me! Do something!

“The boss only gives me tiny portions of cream, sensei”, Pakkun threw in and nodded eagerly. “And he only coats the tips of the strawberries in chocolate for me and gives me just one a day, at most. He’s very careful.”

“Oh.” Iruka frowned a little further, then smiled again. “I guess that’s alright then. If it’s only a little bit at a time.”

“Tiny little bits”, Kakashi assured, inwardly sighing in relief. Crisis averted.

“‘kay.” The Chuunin’s smile widened. “Then let’s choose some strawberries. You have to be careful and take only those without weak spots. And when you buy them already packed in a box, you have to look under the upper layer to make sure those beneath are good, too. You should do that with every fruits or vegetables you buy in boxes.”

“Got it.” Kakashi nodded, then picked up a box of strawberries and did like Iruka had told him, finding them in best shape. “Let’s take these.”

“Yes, they’re very good”, the Chuunin agreed. “And now vegetables?”

“I want eggplants, please”, Pakkun told him. “I love them, especially when the boss makes them.”

“Really?”, Iruka asked and smiled at the dog. “I love eggplants, too!”

“Really?”, Pakkun echoed in feigned surprise.

Really, Kakashi thought. We saw him make them for dinner every two to three days. But he decided to keep this comment to him, just in case Iruka didn’t like being stal- spied o- part of stealth training.

“Yes! They’re so delicious”, Iruka said, nodding. “I like them best in miso soup.”

“You know, the boss makes them in the oven, filled with minced meat, tomatoes and cheese, and with tomato sauce over them.”

“Sounds great”, the Chuunin admitted.

Yes, it does. Maybe I really should give that a try some day.

“They are. Maybe we should buy eggplants and tomatoes then, and the boss could make filled eggplants for us”, Pakkun offered.

Sure. Just tell me how and I- Wait! He’s inviting Iruka over? That’s great. Worth a steak definitely, maybe even two or- Oh no! I can’t make filled eggplants!

“Oh, no, I really shouldn’t let your boss- I mean, Kakashi-sensei do that”, Iruka declined. “We can’t just-”

No no no no no! I can learn it! I can definitely make filled eggplants. I mean, how hard can that be? I was ANBU.

“Sure we can”, the nin-dog told the Chuunin, nodding eagerly. “I’m sure the boss doesn’t mind.” He looked up at Kakashi, smiled brightly and winked.

Sly dog. Just earned himself a steak, I guess. “Sure, we can do that.”

“Oh.” Iruka blinked, surprised, then smiled. “Well, then I’d really like to come over.”

“Then that’s settled”, Pakkun declared. “Let’s just buy-”

“Oh! You meant today?”, the Chuunin asked. “I’m sorry, I don’t have time tonight, I’m meeting Naruto for ramen.”

“That’s okay, Iruka-sensei”, Kakashi told him. “We can do it another day.” Would give me time to learn how to make filled eggplants. For Iruka. For my date w- I mean, for my dinner with Iruka.

“I’d really appreciate that, Kakashi-sensei”, Iruka told him and smiled.

“What about tomorrow?”, Pakkun asked. “Can we do it tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” Iruka frowned, thinking. “I think… Yes, I’m free tomorrow.”

“Then would you like to come over tomorrow evening? Let’s say, seven o’clock?”, Kakashi asked. Say yes! Say yes! Please please please plea-

“‘kay, that’s perfect”, the Chuunin said and nodded. “Thank you very much for the invitation, Kakashi-sensei.”

“No, thank you for going shopping with us”, Pakkun told him.

“Yes, thank you very much, Iruka-sensei”, Kakashi agreed. Yes yes yes yes yes!

“Now pay for the strawberries, boss”, Pakkun advised his master.

“And the pineapple.” Kakashi grinned.

“Oh.” The dog looked at the fruit sceptically. “Sure.”

“Erm… Kakashi-sensei?”, Iruka asked.

“Yes, Iruka-sensei?” He’ll not cancel the da- the invitation, will he?

“Would… would you maybe like to go with me and Naruto for ramen tonight?”, the Chuunin offered, blushing a little. “I mean, you invited me for dinner, so maybe I can return the favour this way?” He smiled. “Only if you and Pakkun like ramen, that is.”

“I love ramen”, Pakkun told him. “And the boss does, too.”

You’ve eaten ramen as often in your life as you’ve eaten pineapples.

“So you’ll come?” The Chuunin looked at the Copy-nin.

“Sure.” Kakashi smiled, inwardly bouncing from joy. Two da- dinners!

“Great.” Iruka smiled back brightly. “We’ll meet at Ichiraku’s at half past seven.”

“We’ll be there”, Pakkun told him. “I’ll make sure the boss is on time.”

“Pakkun!”, Kakashi hissed.

“You better do that”, Iruka laughed and thus made Kakashi’s anger vanish in an instant. “I’m afraid you won’t get any ramen if you’re late. Naruto told me he’d overcome his personal record tonight.”

“I’ll be there”, the Copy-nin laughed. “Would never miss that. And his record is… eleven bowls?”

“Thirteen since last Saturday. But I almost had to carry him home afterwards, so I don’t really think he’ll top that.” Iruka smiled. “See you tonight, Kakashi-sensei, Pakkun.” He waved and turned to go home.

“See you”, Kakashi gave back, smiling broadly.

“I want my steak now”, Pakkun told him when Iruka was out of sight.

“Now? You’ll get ramen later.”

“Now.” Pakkun nodded.

“Okay, okay.” Kakashi paid for the fruits, smiled more than brightly at a glaring Hara, then went to search for a butcher.

“He’s nice”, Pakkun said after a while.

“Hm? Iruka?”

“M-hm. Guess I could start to like him.“

“You already like him, don’t you?”, Kakashi chuckled.

“Maybe. I have to admit you’ve got a good taste, boss, for a mere human, that is.” The dog grinned cheekily.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Please do so.” Another grin, then: “He would be a good mate for you.”

“He’s not a mate!”

“Then this other thing, this human-thing…” Pakkun frowned. “‘Lover’, right?”

“Hmmm. I’d like that.” Kakashi nodded.

“I’ll help you, boss.”

“That’s very kind of you, Pakkun”, Kakashi laughed.

“Will I get another steak if I teach you how to make filled eggplants?”

“Sure. How do you know?”

“I come around a lot. Everybody likes cute little pugs, you know.”

“Sure.” Kakashi grinned. “That is, until they know them better.”

“Heey!”

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That's it for now.
I know dogs shouldn't eat cream or chocolate, but Pakkun's is a nin-dog! (And I think he more than deserves it.)
Nayru