Fighting Dreamers

Fighting Dreamers
By: Kung Fuu

Chapter 3
“Realizations”

Iruka found an apartment the next day. It was the cheapest available in Konoha – smaller than their last place and with no division between the kitchen and the bedroom. The bathroom was a public one used by everyone on their floor of the apartment complex, and the building was one of the older ones in Konoha. Still, it was cheap and safe, and the market was close by. They even had a small balcony, though Iruka didn’t think it looked very stable. He certainly wouldn’t be standing on it anytime soon.

The first day in Konoha was spent unpacking, purchasing some cheap furniture, and turning the room into a home. Naruto’s artwork went on the small refrigerator, and Iruka’s only picture of his parents was given a place of honor on the end table. Wanting to be cautious with his money, Iruka had purchased a couch the made out into a bed instead of buying a mattress and a frame. He purchased a small radio, because he and Naruto liked listening to music in the evenings, along with a table big enough for them to eat at. A small dresser held their clothing and the pantry was filled with ramen. Physically, it didn’t look much different from their old place, but mentally the change was enormous.

Naruto had gone to explore the village (with a stern warning not to get into any trouble) and so Iruka was left to finish the last bit of unpacking in the early afternoon. It also gave him some quiet time to do some thinking – a rarity in his life.

He had thought that Kakashi was going to blackmail him into prostitution again, but instead the man had given him the best sex he’d ever had and told him about his past. Despite the fact that Kakashi was wealthy and successful, Iruka pitied him. He could see in Kakashi the loneliness that had almost consumed him before he’d found Naruto.

‘Just because I pitied him, I shouldn’t have comforted him in the way that I did,’ Iruka thought with a sigh. ‘Now he probably thinks I’m interested.’

Iruka stared out the tiny kitchen window and tried to sort out his emotions. Through the grimy glass (which needed a good cleaning, he thought to himself) he could see people bustling about in the market below. It was a jarring thought to think they were all strangers. His eyes searched absently for a shock of silver hair and a small smile appeared on his tired features.

He and Naruto had one friend, at least. Iruka felt a connection with Kakashi because he knew the loneliness the man felt.

‘The sex was good – pretty amazing, actually, but it was still just sex,’ Iruka thought. Sex had been Iruka’s job. He was tired of sex. It simply wasn’t as meaningful to him as it probably was to Kakashi. He’d let their intercourse become a little more romantic and personal than he usually did, but that didn’t mean he had to date the man. He didn’t want that. He wasn’t ready emotionally, and moving to Konoha was all about giving Naruto a chance to succeed. Iruka was pretty sure having a gay father wouldn’t do any favors for the boy.

It just wasn’t worth the risk – no matter how much Iruka pitied Kakashi. He could be a friend, and he would make an effort to welcome the man into their lives, but he would not sleep with him again as long as he had a choice. That part of his life was over, and it was over for good.

The front door opened and Naruto came bursting in, blood streaming down his chin. Iruka’s eyes snapped away from the window and onto his young son. Immediately he switched into mother hen mode.

“Naruto! What happened?” Iruka exclaimed, gripping his son’s shoulders and inspecting him for any more serious injuries. His son growled and turned his head away, obviously in a foul mood. Iruka guided him to a chair and sat him down, fetching a wet rag from the kitchen to clean him up with. “Answer me, Naruto!” Iruka ordered. The blonde boy’s bottom lip stuck out stubbornly at first, but then it began to tremble. Fat teardrops began to roll down his whiskered cheeks. Worriedly, Iruka fussed over the busted lip and brushed away the tears with his thumbs. Finally, Naruto opened his mouth and the story came out in a huge jumble. Confused, Iruka shushed him and asked him to repeat it more slowly.

“I was in the market at a ramen place, and this boy my age came up and ordered some. He asked me why I wasn’t ordering anything and just standing there looking stupid, and then he looked at my clothes and said that it must have been because I didn’t have any money, and I told him to take it back but he wouldn’t, so I told him to shut up because I was going to be a ninja, but then he said I was too big of a baby to be a ninja, so I hit him because he made me mad!”

Iruka frowned deeply. He didn’t know whether to find the little brat and make him apologize or race Naruto to the hospital to make sure he wasn’t too badly injured. It was irrational thinking, he knew, but the sight of Naruto’s blood made him feel so helpless.

“Did the boy hit you back? Did you hurt him?” Iruka asked, his voice very stern. Naruto’s crying died down to sniffles.

“I missed him, but he hit me hard. I started to cry – I couldn’t help it! And then some girls laughed at me and he called me a crybaby. I hate him!” Naruto wailed. Iruka bit the inside of his cheek hard, hating the situation and kicking himself for letting Naruto go out alone. Worst of all was the fact that it was his fault that Naruto was wearing shabby, second hand clothing. He hated himself for that, too.

“I’m sorry he gave you a hard time, little cat. I wish I could fix it but I can’t. People might tease you here. They might tell you that you’ll never become a ninja, but you can’t listen. You just can’t. If you want it bad enough, what they say doesn’t matter, okay? They’re only saying such mean things because they don’t know how strong you really are, but they’ll see one day,” Iruka said, pulling Naruto into a hug. His son quit crying and swallowed thickly.

“It’s going to be hard here, isn’t it Dad?” Naruto asked, sounding much older than he was. Iruka felt something heavy in his chest. Naruto was growing up and learning life’s lessons, no matter how much Iruka wished he could hold onto his little boy.

“Most things worth doing in life are hard, Naruto, but I’ll always be here to help you when you need it. I haven’t been able to give you much, and I may never be able to give you anything more, but I can give you my promise that you’ll always have a place to come home to as long as I’m around.”

Naruto was quiet for a few moments and then he said, “You worked really hard so I could come here and make friends. I’m sorry I got in a fight.” Iruka flashed him a small, proud smile.

“You know what? If it had been me, I probably would have hit him, too.” Naruto grinned a bit mischievously, but then it faded.

“But I didn’t hit him! He made me look dumb,” Naruto replied sadly. Iruka grinned and ruffled his hair.

“Well, that’s why you’ll be going to the Academy soon. They’ll teach you how to fight so no one will talk down to you without thinking twice about it. Cheer up, okay? Smile for me?” Iruka cajoled. Naruto grinned a bit, and then tenderly touched his fat lip.

“The next time I fight that guy, I’m gonna win!” he boasted. Iruka was glad to see Naruto regain his fighting spirit.

“He’ll deserve it too, if he’s going around calling people stupid,” Iruka replied. Standing again, Iruka glanced out the kitchen window. “I’ve finished unpacking, and it’s still not too late. Let’s go visit the Hokage and enroll you, alright?” Iruka asked. Naruto nodded and hopped off the chair. “Go change your shirt,” Iruka instructed. Naruto fetched a clean shirt from the dresser and pulled it on, followed by his thin black jacket. Iruka studied it with a frown. It really did look shabby. Perhaps it wasn’t so noticeable in their old village, but here in Konoha where most people were wealthy, he and Naruto looked different. He would have to pay the entrance costs and see if they had any funds left to buy Naruto some new clothing.

~*~

Iruka and Naruto made their way to the Hokage tower and explained their purpose to a ninja on secretarial duty. The dark-haired man looked at Naruto critically, as if doubting he had what it took to make it in the Academy. Iruka began to inwardly fume, and realized that he might be getting into his first fight in Konoha, too, if the man didn’t let them see the Hokage.

“He’s very busy this afternoon, and most Academy students are enrolled at five years old. He’s just going to tell you that the kid is too old and too far behind already,” the man drawled lazily, flipping through a stack of paperwork as he did so. Iruka clenched his fist tightly, about to tell the man just where he could shove his paperwork, when a familiar voice interrupted their conversation.

“Let him see the old man,” Kakashi ordered. Iruka turned, and Naruto pointed at him excitedly.

“It’s the Masked Killer!” he exclaimed. Then, speaking to the secretary, “He’s my friend. You better not call me names or he’ll beat you up!” Naruto boasted. Kakashi raised an eyebrow and Iruka smiled sheepishly.

“Hush, Naruto. Don’t go around saying things like that!” Iruka chided.

“Yeah, kid, quit lying and show some respect to the legendary Copy Ninja,” the man snorted, “as if he’d actually associate with a little brat like you!”

With a smile that made his lone, revealed eye turn upwards happily, Kakashi casually placed a hand on Naruto’s shoulder.

“I’m tutoring him. He’ll catch up to the other kids in no time at all,” Kakashi announced. The man gaped and then shuffled his papers furiously.

“I didn’t…I’m very sorry…I’ve never heard of you taking on a student, so you must understand that I had no way of knowing, Kakashi-san…Of course that changes things! Let me alert the Hokage that you’re here. It will just be a moment,” he said before practically running off, shooting worried glances over his shoulder as he scuttled down the hallway. Naruto laughed at him.

“Did you see his face, Dad? That was great!”

“Yes, Naruto, I saw. It seems we’re in Kakashi’s debt yet again,” Iruka said with a gentle smile. Kakashi basked in it, focusing his attention on Iruka completely, his hand instantly dropping from Naruto’s shoulder.

“It’s nothing. I’ve finished my mission early today. Would you like to get some dinner after you speak with the Hokage? It will be my treat,” Kakashi suggested confidently. Iruka’s heart went out to the man who had no one to share his meals with, and with a kind smile he accepted. Naruto, feeling left out, tugged on Kakashi’s sleeve and pointed to his lip.

“Look, Kakashi-sensei! I got into a fight today! I can tell you all about it at dinner, but we’re going to need to do lots of training. I have a rival now!”

“Sensei?” Kakashi repeated in a confused tone, “And won’t it be getting too late for you to be awake?” Kakashi realized with mild horror that Iruka assumed (incorrectly) that Naruto was invited to dinner as well. Iruka’s expression showed understanding and then he frowned.

“Naruto, I think Kakashi was just saying that he was your teacher so that man would let us through. He’s very busy and –”

“So you don’t want to teach me?” Naruto interrupted, looking imploringly up at Kakashi, his hand still holding onto the tall ninja’s sleeve. Kakashi glanced at Iruka and then at his son and realized (with a depressed sigh) that the two of them were a package deal.

“Sure, I’ll teach you a few things,” Kakashi agreed reluctantly. Naruto positively beamed, but Kakashi’s reward came from the soft, grateful smile that Iruka gave him, as if he’d just given the man a wonderful gift.

Just then, the secretary returned.

“He’ll meet with you now,” he announced, noticing worriedly the familiar way Naruto held onto Kakashi’s sleeve, and how casual and friendly they all looked together. He sincerely hoped he wasn’t on Kakashi’s bad side now.

Iruka nodded at the flustered man and followed after the secretary with Naruto on his heels. He turned, though, to clarify their plans with Kakashi.

“Will you be waiting here?” he asked. Kakashi nodded.

“I have to turn in a mission report, but I’ll meet you back here.” Iruka nodded, flashed him one last smile, and disappeared down the hallway. Feeling proud of his advancement in Iruka’s good favor, Kakashi practically floated to the mission room.

~*~

Iruka returned to the front desk with a significantly lighter wallet. Thankfully, he wasn’t broke. He wouldn’t be able to afford to buy Naruto new clothing if he wanted to have rent and grocery money, but they would have a roof over their heads and Naruto was officially enrolled. He would start after the weekend was over.

Naruto was practically bouncing with excitement, despite the lateness of the hour. Kakashi was waiting for them just outside the building, casually reading his book to pass the time. Iruka frowned a bit upon seeing the cover, but smiled again when Kakashi tucked it away.

“I’m sorry we made you wait. I hope it wasn’t for very long,” Iruka apologized. Kakashi shrugged.

“It wasn’t that long. Is he enrolled now?” Kakashi asked unnecessarily. Naruto wouldn’t have been smiling so broadly if he’d been rejected.

“Yes,” Iruka confirmed, “Everything is finally taken care of.”

“I’m gonna be a ninja for real!” Naruto added. Kakashi ignored the loud child and tried to start a conversation with Iruka about apartment hunting. Naruto, however, kept interrupting and distracting him.

Iruka was oblivious to Kakashi’s growing annoyance. Kakashi was envisioning tying Naruto up and hanging him from a tree with a gag in his mouth by the time they made it to the long line of restaurants. Kakashi had been hoping to take Iruka somewhere expensive and quiet – like one of the places Kurenai was always begging Asuma to take her to – but Naruto’s presence ruined that idea. Instead, as they passed a cheap ramen bar, Naruto begged to eat there and Kakashi had little choice but to indulge him.

It was certainly not going to impress Iruka, but Kakashi couldn’t imagine bringing a loud mouth kid into a swanky restaurant anyway.

The three of them sat at the bar and Kakashi faked a smile.

“I’m glad to get to have dinner with you again,” he said, directing the comment towards Iruka. The brunette gave him a smile that was…full of pity? Kakashi’s eye narrowed as he studied Iruka’s unmistakable expression.

“I know you must get lonely living alone,” Iruka replied. “But Naruto and I will be good friends. Whenever you’d like some company, we’ll be here. Isn’t that right, Naruto?” Iruka asked, oblivious to Kakashi’s growing irritation.

The silver-haired shinobi sighed mentally and hid his irritated scowl behind a menu. He had thought he’d shown the brunette a good time, and he’d been so responsive afterwards, but now it seemed that his actions had been out of pity – not attraction. It sounded cruel even to him, but Kakashi was kicking himself for telling Iruka he would never force him into sex by using his past against him. He’d only said that because he didn’t think it would be necessary anymore!

Worst of all, however, was the realization that Iruka, a poor, simple-minded prostitute, pitied him – a legendary, genius ninja! It was almost enough to make him want to forget the whole idea of wooing the delusional man, but then Kakashi reminded himself that Iruka was the only gay man he knew in Konoha.

It was either Iruka or celibacy again. In those terms, the decision was an easy one.

~*~

Perhaps karma was punishing him for his evil scheming, because the kid literally breathed the food down – bowl after bowl after bowl. Iruka had tried to stop him, at first, but Kakashi was morbidly fascinated and wanted to see just how much the kid could possibly consume.

Now he was cursing his curiosity. The meal was going to cost him an arm and a leg!

“That’s his fifteenth bowl. It’s humanly impossible for him to eat anymore. Not even the Akimichi clan could eat that much,” Kakashi marveled, wondering if the boy had multiple stomachs or something. Iruka just looked embarrassed, watching in bewilderment as Naruto polished off bowl after bowl.

He slammed down the fifteenth empty one and patted his stomach.

“I’m full now,” he announced happily. “I don’t think I could eat another bite!”

“That’s what I was thinking around bowl four,” Kakashi commented dryly. Blushing, Iruka fished his wallet out of his pocket.

“I didn’t know Naruto was so hungry. Let me pay for his – that’s too much for you to cover,” Iruka offered, eyeing the large stack of bowls with dismay. Kakashi inwardly sighed and brushed the offer away with a wave of his hand.

“It’s nothing. I said it was my treat.” He passed a wad of bills to the ecstatic stand owner and stood.

“Hey, hey, Sensei! When are you going to start teaching me, huh?” Naruto asked excitedly, also hopping down off his stool. Kakashi reminded himself for the millionth time that night that he was going to be well rewarded if he just stuck it out for a little longer.

“I could show you some things tomorrow afternoon. Meet me here around four,” Kakashi instructed. That way, when they were done, Naruto might invite him over for dinner and he’d have a chance to seduce Iruka once Naruto had gone to bed. That strategy had worked well the first time – no reason it couldn’t work again. Confident that his new plan would be successful, Kakashi waved goodbye to the pair and made his way home. As he walked down the quiet, nearly deserted street, the memory of Iruka tucking Naruto into bed filled his thoughts. It was a strange thing to think of, and he wondered why the memory made the wind blowing against him seem just a little less harsh.


AN: I hope this was a little better for those of you who thought the pace was too fast. No way are those two going to get a happy ending ANYTIME soon, lol. Thanks for all the reviews!