To the Winner Goes...

Gai had returned to his apartment immediately after departing from Kakashi. He stood in front of his closet staring at the forest of olive vests and green spandex suits. He knew he had other clothes, but apparently NOT in his closet. But if not there, what did he do with them?

He tried his chest of drawers next, digging through the first four drawers before finally finding something in the back of his bottom drawer. Two pair of jeans, one in regular denim and another in black denim, and a pair of dark navy slacks. One button-up dress shirt in a nice olive tone. And, four T-shirts in four colors: black, white, green, and orange.

Finally, he settled on the black jeans, white T-shirt, and the olive outer shirt. Spotting a black leather belt as he started sliding the drawer closed, he pulled it out as well. Gai then carried the clothing into the bathroom, laying it aside as he showered. His shower took at least a half an hour, feeling the room with a thick fog of steam.

Stepping out of the shower, he opened the door to let out the steam and swiped the mirror with his hand. It did little good as it steamed right back up. So, he took his towel and clothes and walked out into the bedroom to dry himself, giving the room time to cool down and be useable. He would dress once he had groomed himself.

Once he could finally see himself in the mirror, Gai set about shaving slowly and methodically. Then, he brushed his hair, noting he needed to get it trimmed sometime soon, before spending a good ten minutes brushing and caring for his teeth, giving each and everyone tender loving care. A dash of aftershave he hadn’t even known he owned and some deodorant, he was ready to get dressed.

Going back into the bedroom, he grabbed the jeans and slid his legs into them. He realized, after one leg was already in them, that he should have likely put on underwear, but changed his mind once the jeans slid up his thighs and over his ass like a second skin. Leaving the jeans open, he pulled on the T-shirt so he could tuck it into the pants. The taijutsu master thought for a moment he would have to lie down to get the pants fastened. Luckily, he had strict control of his muscles and contracted them as much as possible to get the zipper carefully zipped and the button snapped. He hadn’t been in the jeans for at least a decade. The denim fit his body tightly, accentuating his toned thighs and ass. Hopefully he didn’t chafe.

Sliding the belt on seemed silly, there was no way the jeans were going to fall down. If anything, he’d bust out of them. Still, he slid it into the loops and fastened it to fit just right with the waist of the pants. The outer shirt completed the outfit, rolling the sleeves up part way. His watch and the sandals by the door would be the last pieces of his look for the night. Though . . . something seemed missing as he glanced in the mirror, combing his hair again from where the T-shirt had mussed it up.

He snapped his fingers as he realized what he felt it needed, if not why. He walked back into the bedroom and opened the small box on top of his bureau. Inside were a ring, a bracelet, and a necklace.

The ring he had been his father’s, made of the finest red gold. The band was wide and designed in a fashion to resemble the gaping maw of the demon inside of Naruto. The gemstone, a diamond, in the mouth blazed like fire when it caught the light being a rare but brilliant orange red. His father had fashioned it himself and had it commissioned. He had promised to smite the demon with the fist on which he wore the ring. The ring was one of the few pieces found of his father after that attempt. It symbolized a great deal to Gai, who slid it onto his right middle finger.

The bracelet had belonged to his sensei and was made of dark jade. He had got it in another country while on a mission. The bracelet had been a gift from a king he had saved, telling his sensei it would protect him throughout his life. And, that it should be gifted to the one person in which he found the greatest sense of honor, courage, and sacrifice. He had gifted it to Gai as he lay dying in his arms. This, he placed on his left wrist with his watch.

The necklace was a delicate but strong silver chain. Off it hung an intricate but beautiful dragon. The necklace had been made for him. It was a gift on his twentieth birthday from Sarutobi as a good omen for his future. He told Gai it symbolized his strength, wisdom, and passionate personality. The pendent hung just below the collar of the T-shirt.

Finished preparing, physically at least, Gai found he still had a half an hour before he needed to meet Iruka. He was growing nervous, and he had no idea why. Granted, he’d not been on any sort of date in nearly ten years. Nor had he gone anywhere dressed differently than he did every day, except on missions that needed him to disguise himself. But he’d never gone out dressed like this in nearly as long as his last date. He hoped he could get through the night without losing his youthful cool.

**************

Iruka never did get back to his grading. His mind was too busy thinking about Kakashi’s words and his plans for the evening. Bouncing back and forth between the two. He felt guilty considering any plans, even for tea, with Kakashi when he was going out on a date, even if it was just to win Gai the challenge with Kakashi.

Leaving the academy an hour before he was to meet the green clad jounin, he quickly made his way home to get ready for dinner. He had no idea what he was going to wear. While he fully expected Gai to show up in his jounin gear, he himself did not feel inclined to wear the same clothes he’d worn all day. Nor did he want to dig out another of the same outfit just to go to dinner. Besides, it was a date, more or less, and he was going to treat it as he would any date. That meant he was going to have to dig out a different outfit . . . but what?

Once back to his apartment, he rifled through his closet and drawers, frantically searching for what he wanted to wear. He knew he wanted something casual, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted jeans or slacks. Did he want a sweater or T-shirt? He didn’t know why this was so frazzling. It was just a date . . . It was just Gai, who had seen him thousands of times.

He finally settled on faded jeans and a black T-shirt. Grabbing the clothes, he took a shower. After that he shaved, brushed his hair and tied it back, put on some cologne, and his deodorant. Walking back into his room, Iruka slid into the tight, soft denim that, though tight, hung low on his hips. He pulled on the skin tight black shirt, which rested an inch or so above the edge of his pants. Then he hung a black leather belt over his pants instead of through the hoops. He strapped on his thick black watch, snapped on a chain bracelet Naruto had given him, and then draped a black leather necklace that supported a silver dolphin wrapped around a shining blue diamond around his neck. Sandaime had given it to him when he’d become an instructor at the academy. He had said it symbolized not only his name but his gentle and caring spirit, his fierce protectiveness, and his brilliance.

He double checked he had slipped his wallet in his pocket before leaving his apartment and heading back to the academy to await Gai. There was still a half an hour. Maybe, if his stomach stopped turning, he’d have time to get a few of the papers graded before the other man arrived.

Iruka found himself being gazed at and turning heads as he rushed his way back to the academy. Okay, so seeing him in anything other than his normal chuunin gear or pants and a baggy sweater was a little weird. Still, it was too warm for sweaters and it wasn’t like he was running around naked. Not that he didn’t feel naked under a few gazes, especially upon hearing a wolf whistle or two. Some people in the village really were horn dogs.

**************

Gai left his apartment ten minutes before he was to meet with Iruka. He used a harried pace, knowing that his attire alone would draw attention to himself. He didn’t want to be stopped and have to answer questions. His nerves were bothering him enough without having to answer questions. The stares and occasional whistles were enough.

After bypassing at least a half dozen men and women all asking questions, even a couple groping his rear, he made it to the academy. He swallowed, stilling just inside the main door to calm his rolling stomach. Taking a slow breath, he calmly and slowly made his way to Iruka’s classroom.

Pausing in the door he watched as the younger man paced back and forth. He unconsciously licked his lips as his eyes fell on the tight round ass hidden under the soft denim. Then there was a glimpse of taunt abs peeking out from under the T-shirt. Not to mention the hidden planes of muscle underneath the black fabric . . . He cleared his throat.

Iruka jumped what felt like a mile at the sound and spun around from his pacing. He flushed at being caught pacing and gave a sheepish smile. Then, he took in just how Gai was dressed and how he looked dressed in such a way. Iruka felt his mouth water before chastising himself to stop ogling the man like he was prime beef. Though, he admitted, Gai looked as delicious as any food he’d ever tasted. He flushed more.

“Ready to go?” Gai asked him, watching as his eyes moved up and down and the chuunin licked his lips with a distant expression. The question jarred the other man out of whatever thoughts he was having and his slowly growing flush deepened considerable. Gai found it cute.

Iruka couldn’t do anything but nod. “Yeah,” he responded, voice cracking a bit. He swallowed and tried again. “Yes. Where are we going?” He stepped closer to Gai and had to stifle the tiniest of moans. The jounin smelled so good, even from a distance of a few feet.

“Uh . . . We’ll figure that out as we walk.” He gave a sheepish smile. He’d not thought that part through. “Any place is fine by me.” He grinned. Food was food.

“Alright. I know a nice place.” Iruka smiled up at Gai, stepping still closer until only a foot remained between them. “It serves most traditional dishes and a few that aren’t.” He looked up at the older man.

Gai’s eyes locked with Iruka’s, and he felt the sudden need to swallow but his mouth had gone dry. “I think I know that place.” Was it just him, or had his voice taken a husky undertone? He felt like a blushing virgin teenager. He was Maito Gai! Konoha’s Green Beast! He was not a blushing virgin! But damned if those chocolate eyes and those pink lips and that soft voice didn’t make him feel like it. Make him feel like he wanted to give up that blushing virginity here and now if he had it.

“Good.” Iruka smiled, licking his lips as the heady smell of Gai and his aftershave assaulted his senses again. “Let’s go.” He instinctively looped his arm with Gai’s. He told himself that was what dates did, but deep down he knew it was just because he wanted to touch. As much as he wanted people to know it was him on the larger man’s arm. That he was out with the sexy beast beside him.

“Are you alright?” Gai asked as Iruka turned an impressive shade of magenta. While the man had been changing pink shades since he’d set eyes on Gai, this was a sudden and drastic change.

“Yes,” Iruka cursed in his head when he heard the slight squeak to his voice. He couldn’t believe he’d just thought of Gai as a sexy beast. Nor could he believe the images that thing of Gai and sexy, which led to thinking of sex in context to Gai, conjured up. Suddenly, Iruka didn’t care about the date at all. What he wanted was to take Gai home and let the jounin fuck him however he wanted. To use whatever method on the bed, against the wall, on the floor, over the table, in the shower, on the couch . . . Iruka’s magenta shade darkened more at all the arousing images. He couldn’t figure out what was possessing him to think like he was.

“You are flushed. Are you sure you’re feeling well?” Gai put a wrist to Iruka’s forehead. He did not feel too hot so he wasn’t feverish. That left anger, which Iruka obviously wasn’t angry, and embarrassment. Now, a wise man, Gai knew it wasn’t the date or even the gesture or taking his arm. That meant Iruka was having naughty thoughts. It was comforting to know he wasn’t the only one feeling a tinge of arousal.
What Gai didn’t know was just how strongly Iruka was being overtaken with his own arousal, far beyond a simple tinge. No, Iruka could honestly say he’d never felt the need he felt now. A burning in his ass that ached to be filled. A throbbing in his cock that ached to be fondled and sucked. A shiver and fire on his skin that yearned to be caressed and licked. The chuunin didn’t know if he could make it through dinner without jumping the other man. This was most unlike him.

Gai, wanting to help sooth and appease Iruka, removed his arm from the man’s grip and placed it around the slighter man’s shoulders, drawing him into his side. This was how they were when they exited the academy, and that was how they were when the passed people on their way to dinner. Gai holding Iruka to his side like it was the most natural, unsurprising thing in the world for them to be out together in such an intimate pose and in such casual attire. Normal for Iruka to finally place his head on Gai’s shoulder and loop an arm around his waist.

And as surprised as the citizens of Konoha were. No one was more surprised by this turn of events than the two men themselves as they analyzed their own behavior and thoughts as well as the behavior of their companion. That is except, perhaps, the man shadowing them from a distance. Yes, Kakashi was beyond surprised. He was in shock as well as feeling the fingers of jealousy settle over him and start to take a firm grip.