A Lover for the Holidays

Status: 3 of 12

Theme 14: Frosted

And So It Truly Begins

It had been a colder winter then usual in Konoha, pristine white blanketed the entire village and forest surrounding it. In a chilly classroom a lone teacher sat doodling on a stray piece of paper, the kids where outside playing in the snow, a treat he had promised them if they all passed their winter final. He was more then glad for the time it gave him alone to think on a kiss he had shared under the mistletoe yesterday. A tanned hand touched lips absent-mindedly, soft pink spreading over cheeks as he remembered his crushes soft lips pressed against his. For the hundredth time he damned himself for not getting a glance of the face behind the mask. How he wished there was more to that kiss then just the mistletoe above their heads. Iruka had only really met Kakashi during the chuunin exams before the Sound Wars. It had been a rough beginning but the two had steadily become good friends. From that friendship had blossomed Iruka’s’ crush on the older shinobi. Kakashi could be a terrible flirt and tease but Iruka had never hoped that his feelings would be returned or at least not until the kiss. Had there been more to it then a silly holiday tradition, could he possibly let him self believe that.

Looking up from his doodling Iruka gazed out of icy windows at children playing in snow, some throwing snowballs, some building snow forts, a few girls lay in it making snow angels. But looking to the last window ones the sun had not hit yet, he noticed someone had drawn on the frosted panes. Curiosity piqued he walked over to the glass, there in looping rough characters he easily recognized was a note. The drawing of a dolphin assured him it was for his eyes.

Join me tonight? Dinner?

It wasn’t signed but in the corner of the pane was a carefully drawn henohenomoheji. Iruka smiled and in the frosted pane next to the note he left his own message knowing that Kakashi would find it. Then he left the classroom to gather his class for weapons practice.

Kakashi stood once more in front of the frosted windows of the academy a smile so big it could be seen through his mask on his face. He re-read the note Iruka had left him before going to get ready for their date. Date he hoped that was right, would Iruka see he wanted more then just the friendship they shared? A henohenomoheji started the message which read simply…

There is no better way I could think of spending my evening then with you.

Only a doodle of a dolphin left as a signature.

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Kakashi hadn’t said where to meet for their date. Date Iruka thought, is that right? Well he would just have to find out. Walking to his apartment, after his mission room shift, he mentally went through what he could wear, unworried about where they would go or how he would find Kakashi, for as long as he had known the man, the jounin had always found him when he wanted to hang out. Although this was the first time he had invited him to share dinner with him, Iruka fought the sense of excitement, sure they had gone out for a friendly drink after work and had shared lunch together but never dinner. Surely that meant something, for Kakashi to change their normal routine. Iruka half ran up the last steps to his apartment only to, for the second time, run into the living wall that was the Copy- nin.

“ Really now Iruka- sensei we have to stop running into each other like this.” rich laughter filled the air, Iruka couldn’t help but laugh along with his friend even as he blushed furiously and tried in vain to stutter out an apology.

“Sorry Kakashi-san” the flustered man finally managed to get out. “ Umm… Are you… early?” Iruka looked at the sky knowing it hadn’t taken him that long to get home and Kakashi never came to find him before sunset. Assured the sun was still well above the horizon the younger man turned his gaze back to his friend who was now nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

“ Well… I guess…I umm... I am aren’t I. Would you like me to come back” It wasn’t often that one got to see the famous Sharingan Kakashi at a loss for words. In fact Iruka hadn’t even know it was possible, especially after how calmly he had handled their kiss. Being the kind man that he was Iruka decided to show some pity on the obviously nervous man.

“No, no, come one in it’ll only take me a moment to change.” he stepped around Kakashi and opened his door taking off his shoes slowly so he could steal a glance at the other man. He had been so tied up in finding Kakashi unexpectedly at his door he hadn’t even taken the chance to see what he was wearing to dinner tonight, and get a better feel for what he should wear. It was a good thing he had one hand supporting him against the wall as he removed his boots, else he may have toppled over. Never had he seen Kakashi looking so delectable, not that the older man wasn’t always a treat for the eyes. Kakashi’s silver hair was the same wild untamed mess of spikes, but instead of his usual hitae-ate he wore a piece of black silk tied over his sharingan. His uniform had been replaced with a soft grey and black ringed sweater worn tight and low slung black slacks, the only thing familiar was his mask and standard issue boots that most of the village shinobi wore in this weather. Iruka looked away quickly hoping Kakashi hadn’t known he was staring but feeling sure that he had.

“ Well I’ll just be a minute Kakashi- san” With that Iruka left the other man to his own devices as he went to change and ready himself for the rest of them night.

Kakashi seated himself at the kotatsu Iruka had set up by the apartments small window. His lone blue eye idly taking in the room, it wasn’t that he’d never been here before it was just he’d always had a good-looking chuunin to keep him occupied. Finally he settled on looking out the window watching the sun set as he listened to the sounds of a shower being turned on, he could hear the distinct sound of water hitting a body. An Icha Icha abused imagination imagined water running over a trained toned tan body, long brown hair being washed as warm steaming water ran down... shaking his head Kakashi decided it would be best if he didn’t listen to his love interest getting ready. Instead he focused his attention to the books Iruka had left strewn across the table. The soft sound of the bedroom door opening minutes later immediately drew his gaze up to find a completely magnificent site before him. Iruka walked out chocolate locks let loose from his usual ponytail feathered across his shoulders. Iruka pulled on a loose tan sweater over a tight black tank as he walked toward the stunned jounin. Dark russet pants rode dangerously low on tanned hips giving the slightest flash of a stomach as he put his arms over his head tugging the sweater down.

“ Sorry about the wait. Ready to go?” Iruka asked looking up from fixing his sweater to find Kakashi staring at him with more intent then he had ever had sent in his direction. “ Kakashi-san?”

Kakashi shook himself out of his trance and gave the younger man his trademark smile (aka upside down eye crescent), trying to put him at ease. He knew he’d been caught openly staring at the chuunin.

“Yes Iruka-sensei lets get going.”

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Dinner Iruka decided had been wonderful, the food the company and the conversation, everything had been wonderful. He’d even managed to build up the nerve to tell Kakashi how amazing he looked and was flattered when Kakashi had said the same of him. The later into the evening it got the more comfortable he became and even started teasing Kakashi back and flirting just as openly as the jounin had been all evening. Now as they walked back to Iruka’s apartment though, the nervousness from earlier was steadily returning. He wanted badly to test his hopes that Kakashi might possibly return his love, and what better way then a goodnight kiss unaided by a mistletoe ( and Genma). As they reached the landing to his apartment Iruka decided it was now or never. Turning with a speed that even surprised himself, Iruka pulled down the unsuspecting mans mask and pressed their lips together. It did briefly occur to him that essentially attacking, even if it was to kiss them, an elite ex- ANBU jounin was not the best of ideas but that thought was quickly banished when instead of a kunai to the heart he felt long pale fingers tangle themselves into his hair and a hard body push against him. Pressing Kakashi back hard against the wall of apartments Iruka teased his way into the jounins mouth, delving deep into the warmth. He was slightly shocked that he was allowed dominance of the kiss so easily. This was all the answer Iruka needed to sate his fears of rejection. The young man ran calloused hand along Kakashi’s waistband under the sweater sending shivers through that pale body that weren’t only caused by sudden cold. Kakashi’s nimble fingers moved from long brown hair to caress a tanned cheek then down to grasp at Iruka‘s back, when the chuunins mouth moved from his lips to neck nibbling and kissing a trail to his ear.

“See you later Kakashi-san” Iruka murmured into Kakashi’s ear hot breath sending shivers down the other mans spine. Just as suddenly as it had started it ended Kakashi watched as Iruka disappeared into his apartment.

“ Yeah see you later” Kakashi whispered still stunned. Pink flushed cheeks and kiss bruised lips still exposed to the cold finally drawing out of his stupor. Pulling his mask up he started his walk towards home. He supposed he’d deserved that he thought laughing to himself. He had left poor Iruka in much the same way, well looking down at himself and blushing slightly, not quite the same. He decided he was looking forward to where this would lead and maybe this year he could get for Christmas the one thing he’d been wanting all year, Iruka’s love. Who would have thought a little note on some frosted glass would have lead to this.

A/N So for those of you interested on my myspace and on my live journal (links on my profile) I have the stories posted with some little bonus stuff.