Repeat Customer

Alright, this is the final installment of my first Kakashi x Iruka story. I hope you have all enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. This last part is crazy epic long but I tried to fit everything in and could see no way to divide it and take even longer with it. I would like to mention some things about this part.

1. It starts off terribly dark and just seems to be darker, but it gets better I swear on pain of death. I wanted a contrast to the fluffy beginning, you know, some sort of plot and full circle and all that.

2. There is a block of text in italics near the bottom, that is actually just copied and pasted from an email, from a website and is not mine. I also have to think Samurai Smee for recomending the information to me and for sending it as well.

3. Gomen means sorry.

4. Chapter two has been adjusted some for the lemon in it. I've actually had some feedback about the blood and such in the chapter and rather than just leave it like that and have some people unhappy, I went back and added the mention of lube, which it hasn't really been a problem on this site, but it was pointed out about three times on another. Not that the reviews were bad, just trying to be helpful, so thanks. So, I didn't feel like stressing out about it and just made a few minor adjustments.

5. I would like to thank Samurai Smee here as well for all of her support with this fic. It was her idea after all and so I owe it to her. She has put up so kindly with late night phone conversations and me whining about different things, and giving me ideas for it. So, this part is dedicated to her and I hope she enjoys the surprise in it. Really, thank you for continuing to support me!

6. Thank you to everyone that has reviewed, offered their complete and honest opinion, and faved or added this to their alerts. This is the biggest yaoi project I think I have ever taken on, my first Kakashi x Iruka, and my first Naruto yaoi as well. So really, thank you so much for all of your support and kind things and I hope to have another story up in the not so distant future for this pairing and I hope you guys enjoy that one as well.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters. The information regarding swords is not mine either and anything else that you don't recognize.


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Repeat Customer

Part 4

Kakashi felt that something was horrifically wrong after Iruka’s phone call. He knew of Mizuki from Iruka’s class. He was nice enough, but there was something off about him.

Grabbing his keys, he headed over to the school. He was an hour or two early, but that didn’t matter. Something was wrong; very wrong.

It was dark and he picked a parking space closer to the main entrance. He just barely got the car shut off before he was running in the building.

Better to be safe than sorry.

He headed for the library, hoping Iruka was there. He could hear broken sobbing coming from the back.

His heart nearly stopped. He gulped and began diving around tables and chairs toward the source of the noise.

He sadly found Iruka, lying on the floor, his clothing messed up, half on and half off. He was bleeding from a few places, his face buried in the carpet. His hair was tangled and he held his body funny.

“Iruka!” Kakashi shouted as he bent down to help him. The younger man looked up before grabbing Kakashi. The older man held him in his arms. He was hurt. “What happened?” he asked. “Who did this to you?”

Iruka wouldn’t answer right away. In fact, he wouldn’t speak. He just buried his face in Kakashi’s neck.

The older man didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t leave poor Iruka there. On the other hand, he wanted to know who may have been around to witness this.

He picked Iruka up, setting him on the nearest chair.

“What happened Iruka?” he asked, looking into his ginger eyes. Iruka didn’t want to look at him.

“I-I was…” He refused to say the last part. He shook his head and said nothing else.

“Raped? You were raped?” Iruka began to cry softly. Kakashi forgot any thought of moving him. He pulled Iruka to him again, hugging him tightly and rubbing his back, whispering comforting nothings in his ear.

“Come on, we have to take you to the hospital.”

“No! No hospital,” he cried.

“Then at least the police. Iruka, you were raped. This is a serious matter. We have to tell someone.” He made Iruka look at him. “Iruka I love you,” he said fiercely. “And I can’t stand to see you hurt.”

“I know,” he said, “but I’m scared.”

“I’ll be right there with you Iruka. I promise.” He squeezed the other man’s hands to reassure him.

“You’re not mad?”

“No, you did nothing wrong,” Kakashi said. “Who did this to you? Was it Mizuki?” That was the last person he had been with. Iruka merely nodded. He was scared to tell Kakashi because he thought he might go and kill him. While Kakashi wanted to, he preferred his boyfriend’s company.

“Come on, we’re going to take you to make a report. Don’t worry Iruka, everything is going to be fine.” He helped Iruka fix his clothing some and pick up his things.

Poor Iruka was going into shock if they weren’t careful. Kakashi warily looked around to be sure that Mizuki wasn’t still in the area. He wasn’t sure he could hold himself back right then if they should meet.

It was a long night of confessions and paperwork ahead of them.

Lucky for Iruka, Kakashi knew a few people on the police force, from teaching self defense and combat to some of the officers.

As soon as they were inside the building, he demanded that they see a man named Fugaku Uchiha. He was the chief after all. Iruka was more than uncomfortable in the police station.

He clung to Kakashi as much as he could as they followed one of the officers to his office. The door was open and Kakashi pushed right past.

“Mr. Hatake, what brings you here?” he asked as he looked up from the phone call he was ending.

“My partner here has been raped,” he stated. Iruka held his head down. He couldn’t look anyone in the eye. He couldn’t even process what had happened to him real well yet.

The past weeks had been a blur of work and school and Kakashi. This had come as such a shocking event. He had never expected something that vile out of someone he considered his friend.

Sure, Kakashi had done his share of rather strange and kind of absent minded things, such as forget to use lube the first time they made love drunk in all his excitement to sleep with Iruka.

Of course they had a few minor scuffles when Iruka was pressed for time with a paper, but they couldn’t stay mad at each other and Kakashi had never hurt him on purpose.

Izumo and Kotetsu borrowed books from the store and sometimes forgot to bring them back, or left without tell him.

But Mizuki had crossed and broken whatever barrier was between them. He had the intention in his head that night when he came to class. He had probably planned it all out. He had purposefully broken Iruka’s trust in him. Iruka didn’t think anyone could sink so low.

But the world was a cruel and imperfect place…

He had been so lost in his own hate and thoughts that he didn’t realize both Fugaku and Kakashi were trying to speak to him.

“What?” he whispered looking up for a second.

“We need a statement from you and to collect some evidence. I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to separate you from your partner for a little while.”

Iruka looked fit to cry as a couple of officers came and led him away. He didn’t protest once though, he held his tongue as he was still so dazed and in pain.

He could scarcely walk. Tears streamed down his face every now and again but the officers with him were very kind about them.

“Don’t worry,” the female one standing beside him said as they took the sample. Her voice was gentle and reminded him of his mother’s. He nodded, but didn’t speak. She handed him a tissue as the other continued his investigation.

“Looks like he did a number on you,” he said grimly. He coughed off to the side as he looked at Iruka with doleful eyes, brushing some of his dark brown hair out of his eyes. “What a sick bastard,” he remarked.

“Hayate!” the female exclaimed. “Don’t say such things.”

“What? It’s true. And he’s smart. Doesn’t look like he left much of himself here.” Iruka let a few tears fall; there was a slim to none chance they would ever find Mizuki.

“Hayate!”

“Gomen Yuugao,” he apologized. “But look.” She shook her head. “You should go to the hospital to at least get looked at,” Hayate coughed. Iruka didn’t say anything back to him.

“Come on, just answer our questions and then we’ll have you back with your boyfriend,” she smiled. She gave her own look to Hayate and Iruka could see that they were probably dating.

She helped him out of the room and into another, where it was just a blur of questions that he tried to stumble his way through. He had the feeling that they were not going to be able to help, just from his session.

All he wanted to do was curl up with Kakashi and never leave the apartment. He also wanted to try to drown himself in the shower, anything to get Mizuki’s feel off of him, his smell, his body.

He hated himself for crying in front of complete strangers. He hated that he couldn’t fight back against Mizuki. He hated that he had ever agreed when it had felt so wrong to go and study instead of going right home to his boyfriend.

“He probably would have taken you anyway,” Hayate pointed out between coughing fits. Another glare from his girlfriend. “What? It’s true,” he pointed out again, using a monotone.

But still Iruka blamed himself. He would still not look at Kakashi when they finally gave him back at around three a.m. He had work and class the next morning, but none of that mattered.

Kakashi had been speaking with Fugaku as much as he could regarding the situation. Of course, he said the police would look into it, but he never specified a when.

He knew that Iruka was going to have one hell of a time getting through school and work now. He was scared of the effects this would have on their relationship. Would it wreck it completely? Would Iruka stop trusting him too? Would they break up?

“Please, just take me home,” he begged, grabbing fistfuls of Kakashi’s shirt. He wouldn’t look at anyone until he heard the reply.

“Of course.” Kakashi put an arm around him, holding him close as they walked out into the dead morning hours of the city. Iruka was shivering, but not because he was cold.

He was terrified that Mizuki would be waiting around the corner, lurking in every dark space and shadow, playing havoc with his nerves. A trashcan in the alley next to the car rattled and Iruka nearly jumped into Kakash’s arms.

“Shh, it’s nothing, just a cat,” he pointed. A small white kitten strode from the darkness, sitting on the curb and staring at the couple.

He helped Iruka into the car, running to his side and jumping in as fast as he could, to reassure him that no one was going to get in.

Iruka still didn’t speak on the ride home. Kakashi spoke to him, saying as many encouraging things as he could think of; but without the stimulation from his boyfriend, the one-sided conversation died out and they were left in the deafening silence.

“Iruka, I am truly sorry this had to happen to you. I hoped I had made it in time, but I guess I didn’t. But it is no one’s fault okay?” He made Iruka look at him as they sat in the parking lot of the apartment building.

Iruka nodded. Kakashi got out, being sure that no one was around before he helped Iruka out of the car. He kept his arms around him, through the lobby, the elevator, every hall, and even after they got in the apartment.

It was somewhere between the elevator and the door that Iruka began to cry all over again. Instead of changing their clothes or anything else, Kakashi just sank into the couch with Iruka on top of him.

He held the slightly younger man until he stopped crying. The only reason he stopped was he fell into a fitful sleep. Kakashi didn’t sleep though. He kept constant vigil incase Iruka should try to harm himself.

He rubbed his back and combed his hair with his fingers, trying to soothe him. It took him singing a lullaby, badly, into Iruka’s ear before the younger man stopped moving and just rested. It was one of the few things Minato did that no one else knew about him.

Satisfied that Iruka wasn’t going to wake up right away, Kakashi allowed himself a light sleep as well, even though he already knew he wasn’t going to teach his class tomorrow. Genma could do it.

X

Iruka didn’t want to go to class. Kakashi couldn’t blame him. The police would probably be unable to prove that Mizuki had raped him, letting him go after they finally caught him.

That would be because it would be difficult to get evidence from him, provided they even found him. He had used a condom after all, being sure to take it with him. It took Kakashi knowing a few guys to even have the case pursued so much.

He didn’t want to be away from Kakashi for so long. He was terrified it would happen again. Kakashi of course understood; he didn’t want his boyfriend out of his sight.

“What about work?” Iruka asked. Kotetsu and Izumo had already called asking where Iruka was. No one had informed them.

“I’ll call, they need to know,” Kakashi told him. Iruka was sitting on the couch, clean from the shower and dressed down.

“Are you sure?”

“Iruka, they have to know, they’re friends,” Kakashi explained. “Unless you want to go to work.”

“No, not today, please,” he almost begged, his voice and eyes pleading with Kakashi. He didn’t want his coworkers to know either though. He wanted it to be the biggest and most humiliating secret of his life.

“I’m not going to make you go anywhere all weekend,” Kakashi told him. “Not to worry.” Iruka was heavily aware that he was behaving as a child, but he couldn’t help it. He was terrified that Mizuki would try it again.

Kakashi called and explained the situation as best he could without going into too many details. Of course the pair understood, sending their best wishes for him to recover and come back to work.

Iruka hugged his knees as he cried softly into the material. It was like a loop inside of his head, the night coming back again and again to haunt him. Kakashi had been unable to make him eat anything all morning. The dogs stayed around him, licking and nuzzling him. They could tell that something wasn’t right.

“Iruka baby, it will be alright,” Kakashi whispered as he held the fragile young man in his arms once again. “Nothing is going to get you.” But the once place Iruka needed protecting was somewhere that Kakashi couldn’t go, no matter how much he wanted to.

X

The weekend seemed to drag on, with no sign of change from Iruka. He felt like he was trapped inside his head. His thoughts were endless blurs of Mizuki’s grey hair and the table he had been raped over part of the time before he was flipped around and had to look at Mizuki’s face, the sounds of his own screaming filling his ears, and the feel of his slimy hands on poor Iruka’s skin.

Every night he had at least one nightmare that was serious enough to wake him and Kakashi as well, since he would sleep curled up next to him, in his arms. He couldn’t fend off the attack in his head, no matter how much he tried. Tears would pour down his face as he would clutch at a very worried Kakashi almost unable to breathe he was afflicted so. They were both loosing a lot of sleep.

“I am so sorry,” Iruka told him Sunday night, his second time waking up. He raked a hand through his hair. “I am keeping you awake and you have work.” But he didn’t want Kakashi to go to work and make him go to school; of course, Kakashi had no such intention.

“Don’t worry about Iruka, I’m here for you,” Kakashi told him as he hugged him close once more. He stroked Iruka’s hair and back, singing softly to him again so that he would fall asleep. That seemed to work best.

“What are we going to do about tomorrow?” he whispered, before his eyes became heavy with sleep.

“I’ll just take you to work with me,” Kakashi told him, not realizing the effects that were going to surface from doing that. Iruka’s behavior was normal, but it still worried Kakashi. He was scared Iruka would try to take his life in his hands or something.

X

Iruka sat in on Kakashi’s classes, watching him work with people of all sizes, shapes, and races. He was quiet, trying to focus on the scene before him instead of the one that would play continuously in his mind.

It was driving him mad, very slowly. He didn’t think about class or work or even the things around him. So far, when he and Kakashi tried to walk the dogs at night, he clutched to Kakashi more so than normal. He couldn’t stop it. In his mind, Mizuki was the shadows, keeping a tab on him at all times to try and come back to take his body.

He had missed a lot of class and work by the end of the week. Everyday was the same, he would get up with Kakashi, phone into work sick, and go to the dojo, sitting in on every class or following the older man around.

Kakashi didn’t mind this, but he was worried that there was something wrong with Iruka, something he couldn’t fix no matter how hard he tried. He was concerned that his boyfriend was missing too much school to finish his degree and that he was going to actually lose his job.

Unlike work, Kakashi couldn’t send him back to school. That would have just been cruel of him, especially with Mizuki just walking around as a free man. He phoned in everyday to see if they had anything new, with Fugaku getting irritated enough to throw him in jail next time he should call.

“Kakashi, there is nothing we can do right now, our hands are as tied as a bondage queen’s alright? Please stop calling or I’ll throw you in jail for interfering with the investigation alright?” The threat had been mostly empty as they wanted to nail Mizuki too. He was suspected in more rape cases, male and female, beyond Iruka’s.

He hated to do it, but he was going to have to pull Iruka out of class. Everyone at the station felt it would be best.

“Iruka, we’re going to withdraw you from your classes alright?” Kakashi told him one morning as they were getting ready to step out into the chilly air of November. Kakashi had already withdrawn him from his classes until spring, knowing that the younger man wouldn’t protest.

“Thank you Kakashi,” he said, a weak smile spreading on his face. Kakashi wasn’t sure if it was a trick of the light or if his boyfriend looked a little paler than usual; like the unhealthy pale that comes with not eating or sleeping as you should.

“But you are going back to work.” He got Izumo and Kotetsu to work with him to give Iruka a schedule that would have one of them with him at all times and his hours all before closing.

“I understand. Mizuki didn’t know where I worked.” He had never bothered explaining to him; it had never come up over conversation.

“Alright. You’ll just be there the hours I’m at work okay? I’ll pick you up and drop you off.” Iruka nodded as he tried the burgundy wool scarf around his neck.

“Are you sending me back today?”

“No, but Monday. If it doesn’t work out, then we’ll stop okay?” Before he wrapped the black scarf around his face, he gave a gentle smile. The other man nodded. It wasn’t a trick of the light; Iruka was growing paler and maybe just a little thinner.

Kakashi had trouble making him eat anything and Iruka was still sleeping fitfully every night he guessed. The other man had grown skilled at not waking Kakashi as much. But he could tell when he would get up in the morning and find the bed empty, Iruka already up with a cup of coffee, staring off.

Iruka was so quiet too. He didn’t speak or smile as much anymore, keeping to himself. In fact, the car ride that morning was so disturbingly quiet that Kakashi had to do something he never had to do with Iruka in the car; he had to turn on the radio.

He didn’t want to be intimate, which Kakashi fully understood, well outside of hugging and kissing and light petting. But Kakashi was fully prepared to wait until his boyfriend came back around, he mused as he drove along. But he had to wonder if maybe he should have been doing something else as he looked at Iruka in the seat beside him.

Mizuki was still a free man until the evidence could be proven. Kakashi hadn’t thought that Iruka was his first; that was evident from the neatness of the job. In fact, he was sure that if he looked into it more, he would realize how many people may have been raped by the student.

“Something wrong?” Iruka asked as he studied Kakashi’s profile.

“Hm? No, nothing’s wrong.” Iruka was so distant. He couldn’t tell what was going on in his head anymore. It was scaring him more than he let on. Iruka knew he was scaring Kakashi; he had to be. He was scaring himself.

It had been well over a month now and he should have been moving forward. Instead, he felt like he was progressing backwards. Mizuki had made him drop out of school, which was a bit drastic sure, but for his own safety. He couldn’t sleep, he couldn’t eat, and he couldn’t be intimate. It was all the signs of lovesickness, but it wasn’t; no it was quite the opposite.

He wanted to be over it, so that he could try and take some control of his life, but he just couldn’t move. He was so paralyzed or something. He was angry with himself for being so weak, for allowing it to happen; despite how many times Kakashi told him it was his fault. Maybe he was asking for it.

Mizuki was always lurking in his thoughts, his cold laugh and his harsh words. Sometimes it felt as if Mizuki had taken up residence inside of him, was controlling him. He didn’t feel like himself anymore.

He wasn’t himself anymore. He was thin and getting thinner. He couldn’t hold down food like he used to, but he didn’t let Kakashi know that. His skin was growing gaunter, paler and not just the winter pale. It was the pale that comes with extreme depression and sadness.

This just wasn’t him. He had endured the pain of his parent’s deaths for kami’s sake! But this was different. It would have been better if Mizuki had been killed; but he was alive and warm, lurking. He couldn’t get over it.

His swimming head hurt and he cried out often, for no reason to Kakashi, as he wouldn’t tell him what was going on inside. The one place he really needed someone and he couldn’t let them in. He was breaking down.

“Iruka, is something wrong?” Kakashi asked. Iruka hadn’t even realized that his boyfriend had pulled the car over and was now trying to comfort him. He had cried out again?

“What?” He felt like he was having an out of body experience.

“You screamed and I had to pull over. I thought you were in pain or something. You were holding your head.” Yes, he was holding it to try and alleviate the pain that was quickly consuming it and the rest of him.

“I’m sorry, I just…” He let his voice trail off, unsure of what he was going to say. He simply looked at his lap.

“That’s it, I’m going to take you back home,” Kakashi said.

“No, please, don’t do that,” he cried, feeling guilty, even as tears streamed down his cheeks. He was putting his own life on hold but he didn’t want to make Kakashi put his on hold either.

“No, its okay, Genma can take over,” Kakashi told him as he pulled him across the seat to try and comfort him. “Right now, you need me and we need to figure out something to do okay? Don’t worry Iruka, we’re going to get this all figured out.” He kissed him and the tears away as he let go and turned the car around.

He never dreamed that it would affect Iruka this way. He was such a strong person, but whatever Mizuki must have done to him had been absolutely cruel and terrible, to break him down this much.

Once they got home, Kakashi made him sit on the couch as he began to prepare a pot of green tea to calm them both down. While he was waiting for the water to finally boil, he grabbed the phone and the bright yellow phone book too.

He searched around until he found the office that Fugaku had told him about. He had hoped that he could put off the visit; that Iruka would start getting better as some people did. But it wasn’t working and he was running out of options.

“Hello, I need to make an appointment with Dr. Tsunade?” he asked the secretary.

X

That night, they got ready for bed quietly as usual. The dogs around their feet, still giving Iruka extra affection, as they just didn’t believe the younger man had enough.

They climbed into bed, but Iruka wasn’t able to fall asleep until he asked Kakshi the one question that had been burning on his mind for a few weeks now, heightened since his outburst this morning and making Kakashi miss work.

“Kakashi, you’re not going to leave me are you?” he asked as they lay curled up with all the dogs on the bed with them. He felt a little bit of the weight leave him, but still he was scared to hear the answer, scared of the result.

“No Iruka, I’ll never leave you,” he told him, kissing his forehead. “No matter what happens.” Kakashi was a little taken back that his boyfriend would even consider the thought, but he couldn’t blame him. It did seem to happen. But Kakashi vowed, as Iruka was drifting off, that he would make this work.

X

“I’ll be back in one hour okay?” Kakashi told Iruka as he walked him to the office. Lucky for Iruka, Dr. Tsunade had a cancelled appointment that allowed him to be seen right away. He was nervous though, as they walked up to the building. It was relatively early in the morning. He was missing work again.

“Okay,” he nodded. His skin was even paler than the usual, Kakashi noted.

Kakashi had someone to go and talk to; someone that might be able to get Mizuki off the street and behind bars where he belonged. After he had made the appointment last night, he had made another phone call.

“I’ll be here,” Kakashi promised, giving him a kiss, as he left him in the care of Dr. Tsunade. She was waiting for Iruka at the door, him being her first appointment as well as a new patient. The office was empty. She was about as tall as he was, wearing a lab coat, but allowing her two blond pigtails fall around her shoulders. She looked like she could have been a model.

“Come on in and we’ll see what we can do,” she smiled, shutting the door with a carefully manicured hand, red nails of course. She gestured to the rather comfortable looking couch. “Make yourself comfortable.”

X

Kakashi bundled up in his hoodie as he walked down the street to the nearest café. It was already crowded with the corporate men and women who were in a rush to get to work.

The meek girl wasn’t so hard to spot among the loud coffee addicts as she sipped at the large mug in front of her, the boy beside her whispering and pointing. You could tell they were family from their eyes and facial structure, even if she had long black hair and his was a long brunette.

“Hello Hinata,” Kakashi greeted. He knew the boy beside her, her cousin, Neji Hyuuga. He was one of Kakashi’s more advanced students while Hinata was one of his self defense starters.

“Good morning Mr. Hatake,” she smiled. Her voice was soft, like always. She had started taking lessons recently. Now Kakashi knew why. Her cousin had explained once he had begun to come to class with her.

“I don’t have much time, but we have some things to discuss,” he told him.

“Okay,” she nodded. “I hope I can help your boyfriend.”

“I hope so too.”

X

Iruka didn’t want to talk about his problems with a perfect stranger, but if Kakashi said it was good for him, then he would at least try.

Surprisingly, Dr. Tsunade understood. She listened as quietly as possible, making notes and allowing him to voice the things that scared him the most.

“Iruka, I understand more than others, believe it or not,” she smiled. “The women from the village I grew up in were often raped, and some of the men too.

Some of my best friends, both male and female, have been violated just like you. In fact, I never tell patients this usually, but Iruka I was raped probably as violently as you. I gave up on school and life for a long time. I nearly took my own life, as hard as that is to believe.

But a childhood friend of mine stopped me and told that if I went through with it then I would have just been letting the rapist win. I would have been showing weakness that wasn’t me. Iruka, you look like you used to be very strong, and your partner was very concerned when he called and spoke to me personally.

I think that worries you too. Iruka, it’s not that he isn’t concerned, I just think that he isn’t sure what to do. His hands are tied essentially.

So Iruka, I want to you to take back your life okay? Because if you give up, then your rapist wins. Understand?”

“Yes, I think so,” he said, trying to absorb her advice and information. He felt better though; better than he had in months.

“Good, I want to see you same time next week okay?”

“Okay, I’ll be here. Thank you.”

“You’re a good kid Iruka.” She showed him out of the office. Kakashi was standing by the door, two cups of steaming coffee with him. He smiled as he headed over to his boyfriend.

“Everything go well?” Kakashi asked as they walked to his car. The cups kept their fingers from freezing.

“Yes, a lot better,” he smiled. Kakashi was glad. It was the first time that he had smiled in a while.

“I’m glad then.”

“There are some things I want to talk to you about when we get home,” Iruka told him.

“Really now?”

“Nothing bad, just some things I want to do and some things you should know about.”

X

That night over green tea, Iruka told Kakashi everything that had been bothering him, all of his thoughts, and the idea he had to take back his life.

“You know Iruka, I’m glad I took you to see her as I think she helped you,” Kakashi smiled.

“Yes, she has. I want to take your self defense class,” he resolved.

“Well, I think we can work that out, as long as you start going to work again.”

“I think I can do that.”

X

“Alright, again Iruka. Come at me again,” Kakakshi said as he stood in the center of the floor.

“Okay,” he nodded, breathing heavily as he came forward trying to land at least one hit on Kakashi, only to be stopped. They had been at this a while.

Iruka was taking self defense and martial arts from Kakashi along with poor meek Hinata and her cousin Neji. It had been a few weeks now, since his first meeting with Tsunade.

Though her meetings and self defense with Kakashi, he was improving. He was starting to feel like he had before the incident. He felt great. His skin wasn’t so tight or pale, he was even sleeping and eating better.

“That was good work,” Kakashi told them. “You’re all improving,” he commented. Comments were rare from Kakashi.

“Thank you,” Hinata told him meekly as she and her cousin made to leave.

“Hey Hinata, good work today,” Iruka shouted after her. She looked faint for a moment before she bowed and they stepped into the cold night.

“Thanks for encouraging her too,” Kakashi told Iruka as he wrapped his arms around him.

“No problem. I want her to do well,” Iruka told him. There was that big heart at work again.

“I must say that you’re coming a long way yourself. Are you sure you’re Iruka Umino, my boyfriend?” he teased.

“I’m a superhero,” he smiled. He was smiling a lot more now, even venturing out on his own to work or to the dogs.

“Would you like to finish your classes next semester? You need to register soon.”

“Yes, I could jut take all of my classes then and graduate. That would give me the summer to look for a teaching job.”

“Excellent planning. Which means that you get to spend the holidays with me and recovering.” He kissed Iruka’s neck.

“Yep.” They stayed like that for a few moments before Kakashi had to close up so that they could go home.

The night was cold enough they cold see their breath under the streetlights. Iruka held Kakashi’s hand as they walked to the car. Iruka looked to Kakashi and smiled.

He felt something wet and cold touch the scar on his nose. He looked up to see snowflakes slowly falling from the sky.

“Ah!” He stopped and pointed up, a huge smile on his face.

“Hm?” Kakashi looked up as well. “It’s…”

“Snowing!” Iruka cried in delight. He sounded slightly like a child as he let go of Kakashi to clap his hands. He laughed as he extended his arms, holding his face up and his tongue out.

Kakashi watched, a large smile gracing his lips. Iruka was adorable dancing around in the snow.

“Come on Kakashi!” he laughed. “Play with me!”

“Alright,” he chuckled, dancing around and trying to catch snowflakes with his tongue.

He caught a few, kissing Iruka to share them. The white powder clung to their hair and clothing. When Kakashi pulled Iruka in for another kiss, he noticed the white flakes coating his eyelashes, framing his ginger eyes.

Iruka felt more alive than he had during the therapy, more like when he first made love with Kakashi; one of the brightest memories he had before the rape.

The world right then to Kakashi was a swirling black night flecked with white and a dancing Iruka; like a snow globe.

It was perfect.

X

Eventually they got in the car and made it home. Both of them were cold and rather damp, but that didn’t matter.

“You’re freezing,” Kakashi told him as they shut the door to the apartment. Iruka had wrapped his arms around him, to keep their body heat.

“So are you,” he smiled.

“Well, I know a way to warm us up,” he smiled as he gently kissed Iruka.

“Oh really?”

“Mhm.” He gently encouraged Iruka toward the bedroom as they began to shed the cold and wet clothing.

Their lips met in sensuous after sensuous kiss, their hands and nails on skin, as they grew more intimate on Kakashi’s bed. Kakashi could feel every crevice of Iruka on him, as he gently thrust into his tight body, after the lube and the foreplay.

It had been a while since they had made love. Their soft sighs and moans filled up the empty space that their names, sweat, and bodies couldn’t. Body fluids and flesh mixed to create something entirely new.

“Oh Kakashi,” Iruka moaned for the final time as he arched all over their stomachs and chests, riding out Kakashi’s wave of pleasure too as warmth filled him.

They fell among the sheets, curling together in perfection.

“I have you back,” Kakashi whispered as his fingers tangled in Iruka’s hair. He was on the verge of doing something rare; crying.

“I’m back,” Iruka smiled, as tears pricked his eyes. He would have felt a little silly had it been anyone else.

They whispered ‘I love you’s until they were sound asleep. At that moment a witness was seeing the police and a repeat offender was being removed from the street.

X

“Kakashi, did you see the headline?” Iruka asked as he showed his boyfriend the headline of the most recent paper.

“Hm?” he asked, piece of toast hanging from his mouth. He looked over Iruka’s shoulder. It had been over a day since Iruka had finally broken from his self-induced shell.

“Mizuki has been caught on multiple rape charges,” Iruka beamed as he held the paper out.

“That’s excellent,” Kakashi smiled.

“Yes it is.”

“We need to talk about some things before we go celebrate.” Iruka’s face fell a little; he was worried Kakashi was going to get rid of him or something.

“Oh?” His tone made Kakashi a little sad as well.

“Nothing bad, just something I thought you should know about the case.” Iruka nodded as Kakashi sat down across from him. “You see, I asked Hinata if she would go and tell her experience to the cops, if Neji would present the evidence.”

“Hinata?”

“Mhm, she was raped at least twice by Mizuki, the last time Neji was a witness as he was the only one home at the time. Mizuki was careless and left evidence, which Neji kept even though it nearly killed them both. She was terrified, like you, to go to the police about it and so that’s why they waited. Plus, there was some family trouble as well.

That’s why she started taking self defense classes not so long ago. Neji told me one night after class. So, when I saw you hurting so badly and there was nothing we could do about your case, I went to them as a favor.” Iruka sat there, letting everything sink in. Kakashi only talked that much when it was important.

“Hinata actually brought down Mizuki?”

“Yeah, I guess so. But that means he’s not roaming free anymore. Iruka, you can go back to school.” The younger man put his finger to his nose.

“You’re right,” he smiled. “This all seems to be working out. Even though Mizuki is put away, I’ll still be able to defend myself,” he smiled.

“Oh really? Even against me?” Kakashi joked.

“Well, you I’m not sure about,” he blushed.

“Well, you should be worried,” he teased as he got up and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend. They shared a deep and passionate kiss. “I’m glad you’re back,” Kakashi told him. “I can’t say it enough.”

“I can’t hear it enough.” They had spent half the day before sleeping in and cuddling, after Kakashi picked Iruka up from work.

“Do you realize what tonight is?”

“It’s Christmas Eve isn’t it?” Kakashi nodded, pressing his lips to Iruka’s neck.

“And while we’re going to exchange gifts tomorrow, there is a gift you’ll get tonight.”

“I can’t wait!”

“You’ll have to, but in the meantime, want to go and have a snowball fight with the guys?”

“Of course. You know I can’t resist the snow.”

“I know and I can’t resist watching you play in it.”

“Kakashi!” The older man laughed as he ran from Iruka to go and get ready.

X

“That’s two for me!” Iruka shouted as he ducked behind a statue in the park.

“Quit bragging,” Izumo smirked as Kotetsu knocked him upside the head with a ball of frozen delight.

“Ha!” he shouted across the walkway from behind the bench he and Kakashi were hiding behind. “Four for me!”

“Miss!” Genma called. He was hiding alone as Neji and Hinata had moved when he put them in unintentional danger. Kakashi had invited him with Neji and Hinata to the fight from the dojo, since they didn’t have any classes.

There was a soft “damn” before flurries of balls were coming across the pathway and a giggle.

“Good job Lady Hinata!” Iruka called before threw two at his boyfriend. Kakashi had been discussing tactics with Kotetsu and took them head on, falling in the snow.

“Oh that’s it,” he smiled behind the scarf. “War.”

And so that fight continued until dark.

X

“Here, drink up,” Kakashi said as he handed Iruka one of the cups of coffee as they walked through the park.

“Thanks.” The liquid was warm to their freezing lips.

“Today was fun wasn’t it?”

“Yes, I haven’t fought like that since I was little, with my parents. You’re never too old for a fight,” he smiled, his cheeks were rosy and his eyes shining.

“Nope, you’re not. Why do you think I teach martial arts?”

“Exactly.”

“Now it’s time to go and get your gift, if you’re not too tired.”

“Never!” he laughed as he felt Kakashi’s hand grasp his.

“Good then, because tonight is a perfect night for this.”

“What exactly?” Iruka asked in wonder.

“You’ll see,” Kakashi chuckled. They walked through the crowded city streets to a shop that Kakashi had never taken Iruka to before.

“What is this place?”

“Weaponry store. This is where I get things for class. I got you a sword for Christmas.”

“A sword?”

“Yes, now mind you I’m not actually going to ask you to fight with it, but it is to symbolize your training.” He pulled the scarf down enough so that Iruka could see him smiling. “Come on,” he said, taking Iruka’s hand as they walked in.

The store was hot compared to the outside, the windows fogging up. Kakashi knew his way around well enough he just led Iruka to the counter instead of glancing around.

“Oh back again?” the girl behind the counter asked with a warm smile. She had rather long bluish-black hair and was around Iruka’s height. She was clearly a trained fighter though, from the way she handled the merchandise.

“I’m here to pick it up Ms. Samurai.”

“Oh, this must be who it is for then. Iruka right?” He nodded, glancing at her nametag that read ‘Lindsey.’

“Yes, this is the love of my life.”

“Well, I think he is going to love this.” She disappeared to the back only to return with a long and slender hard case. “You’re lucky Iruka, to have Kakashi,” she teased.

She opened the box, keeping it purposely hidden from them to add to the effect until she could reveal it. There was a beautiful white Shirasaya sword with gold Sakura blossoms inlaid on the handle.

It was highly polished, catching the glint of the lights before she withdrew the blade. It was perfect in shape, unstained and untouched.

“What do you think?” Kakashi asked. Iruka wasn’t sure that he could respond.

“It’s beautiful,” he whispered, reaching out to touch it. The sword was silky to his frozen touch.

“Now let me tell you what you have here,” she said, grabbing the order form with it. “This is a hand forged Shirasaya with gold sakura blossom inlay. This beautifully crafted sword features a 27.5" carbon steel blade with blood groove, black lacquer finished handle and scabbard. A shirasaya (literally "White scabbard"1), is a plain woodenJapaneseblade mount consisting of a saya (scabbard) and tsuka (hilt), used when a blade was not expected to see use for some time and needed to be stored. They were externally featureless save for the needed mekugi-ana2 to secure the nakago (tang), though sometimes sayagaki (blade information) was also present. The need for specialized storage is because prolonged koshirae mounting harmed the blade, owing to factors such as the lacquered wood retaining moisture and encouraging corrosion.

Such mountings are not intended for actual combat, as the lack of a tsuba (guard) and proper handle wrappings were deleterious; as such they would likely never make their way onto a battlefield. However, there have been loosely-similar "hidden" mountings, such as the shikomizue. Also, many blades dating back to earlier Japanese history are today sold in such a format, along with modern-day reproductions; while most are purely-decorative replicas, a few have functional blades.Also The Sakura has always been closely associated with the Samurai. The Sakura blossom is beautiful but with a very short life span, very similar to the Samurai. There are legends of the Samurai questing after this blossom. They would go through unimaginable hardship to find the perfect Sakura Blossom,” she told them proudly.

“Kakashi, I love it,” he said, kissing him on the cheek.

Kakashi blushed somewhat as the sword was packed back up, mumbling a ‘no problem.’

They thanked the girl as they left with the sword. Kakashi had been so sure that Iruka would like it that he had paid for the whole thing at once.

“Kakashi, this really is a beautiful gift,” Iruka told him as they walked home.

“Iruka, it’s not a problem. You deserve it because you trained hard with me and made it through. It is a symbol of the completion of your training.”

“Either way, it’s lonely,” he laughed, the sound like music in the night air. “I’m not sure if my gift even compares,” he blushed, despite the cold.

“Iruka, if it’s from you, whatever it is will be more than enough.” They shared a simple kiss as they continued on.

The dogs were asleep when they got home and the apartment was still in one piece. There was only a small Christmas tree sitting on the table, decorated in miniature presents and candy canes. Iruka had brought it home from work.

Iruka set the sword beside it as Kakashi settled in the couch after they disposed of the wet coats. He walked back to their room and dug around in the closet. He hoped Kakashi hadn’t already figured out what he got him.

It was right where he had left it when he brought it home from work a few nights before. He grinned as he all but ran back to the living room.

“I hope you like this,” he said as he handed the wrapped package over. He had made Izumo do it.

“I’m sure I-“ He stopped as soon as he saw a familiar orange cover. “You’re kidding!” He tore the rest of the wrapping off and held the novel in his hands. It was the newest copy of Icha Icha Paradise, not released in stores yet and signed by the author Jiraiya.

“It’s there isn’t it?” Iruka teased as he leaned against his boyfriend, grinning so wide his face threatened to split.

“Iruka, how did you get this?”

“I have my ways,” he laughed as Kakashi pulled him into his lap. He began to flip through the pages.

“We’re reading this right now,” he told Iruka as he flipped back to page one.

They probably made it through a few chapters before they both fell asleep on the couch.

X

The holidays were good to the couple. They went on a few dates to things like dinner or the movies as Iruka got ready to enter school again.

He was nervous but as far as he knew, Mizuki was behind bars and attending court dates. His own would probably be brought up in time. He was ready.

“Kakashi, are you sure I can do this?” he asked as he snuggled close the night before his first set of classes.

“Yes Iruka, I have full faith in you,” he smiled as he kissed his boyfriend’s head. “You’re a shinobi with a samurai sword now,” he laughed. “And I’ll be there every step of the way.”

“Thank you Kakashi, for everything.” He breathed in the scent he was so fond of, the scent that could only be described as Kakashi.

X

Iruka’s first day went really well. His classmates were all very nice, most of them being female. His professors from last semester were all pleased to see him back after the incident.

Iruka was glad to be back. It would mean that he would be finished soon and would not be a student anymore but a teacher. A cheesy kung-fu line ran through his head every time this thought crossed his mind.

He still worked, but he budgeted his time better so that he was not working half to death. His hours at work were cut considerably and while he was there, he was doing homework to try and keep up.

Kakashi took good care of him though, making sure that he ate and that he tried to get enough sleep. Iruka still continued to see Tsunade, to keep the stress down somewhat.

Kakashi even tried to help with homework and papers, making sure that he stayed on deadlines and that things were finished as they should have been.

“Did you get that thesis typed yet?” he asked over breakfast. Sometimes it was ‘did you study for that test?’ or ‘did you hand in the essay on blah blah…”

It was kind of motherly of him, but Iruka didn’t care. He had someone that loved him enough to keep up with him and his well being.

X

The spring semester was nearly over. Iruka had pushed to get all of his required classes so that he could graduate with everyone else and begin to get a job.

One particular spring night, he was walking out of the main building toward his car. He had just finished a rather lengthy and exceptionally boring paper to be handed in within the next few weeks.

He noticed someone with grey hair standing beside his car. At first he thought it was Kakashi, but it was quickly evident it was not his beloved boyfriend.

“Hey Iruka, miss me?” Mizuki asked. He was just leaning against the car, driver’s door, very casually.

“You’re supposed to be in jail,” Iruka said, horrified. He dropped his books to the sidewalk.

“So? Who said I couldn’t break out?” Iruka didn’t answer. He was trying not to panic. He set his jaw as Mizuki started toward him. “So, since I broke out to see you, why don’t you give me a kiss?” he laughed. It was every bit as cold as it had been all those months ago.

“Alright, I’ll give you a kiss,” Iruka told him with a smile. He made a fist and gave Mizuki a ‘kiss’ right in the cheek.

There was enough power and hate behind it that Iruka heard a crunch as Mizuki fell to the ground. He coughed up blood all over the pavement, holding his cheek and screaming in pain, his cheekbone possibly broken.

“I’m not the same weak little thing that you raped that time before,” he told him. He didn’t even know he had that much power, but he wasn’t afraid. Mizuki didn’t reply. He was too stunned. He lay there and held his face.

“So how about you give me a kiss?” Iruka asked as he got down close to his face.

“N-no,” Mizuki said, trying to get away. Iruka wasn’t the same person he had raped before. He could actually kill him.

“Are you going to go back to jail or shall I drive you? You know, I think I’ll take you myself.”

“N-no I’ll go back. I’ll leave everyone alone.”

“Good, because if you don’t, then I will find you and I’ll have to give you more of my love.” Mizuki began to crawl away. The change in Iruka was frightening, considering he knew he created it.

Iruka was shaking inside though, some from fear and some from adrenaline. He could only half speak to Kakashi when he called.

Kakashi rushed over as fast as he could though Mizuki was long gone by now, turning himself in at the jail. He somehow believed that Iruka would keep his word.

“Are you okay?” Kakashi worried as he grabbed Iruka to him. It was a few minutes before he could understand what Iruka was saying.

“I did it Kakashi.”

“Did what?” He searched the younger man’s eyes.

“I did it,” he repeated. “I defended myself against Mizuki.”

“Mizuki? What was he doing out?” Iruka sat on the sidewalk as he tried to explain.

“See I did it.” He finally noticed that his knuckles were bleeding a little.

“Iruka, I’m so proud of you,” Kakashi said as he hugged him close. He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. “You’re going to make a fine teacher.”

X

Kakashi sat in the seats reserved for family, sweating in the dress shirt and pants Iruka had made him wear. The mid-morning to afternoon sun was brutal, even in the spring.

He listened closely for Iruka’s name, looking hard for him among the other black robed figures.

“Umino Iruka,” the dean called. Kakashi stood up and began clapping as his boyfriend walked across the platform to receive his diploma.

All of the months of hard work had really paid off. He had finished with Kakashi’s love and support. It was all over.

He smiled widely and waved to Kakashi as he moved aside for the next person. Kakashi never cried but he felt a tear prick his eye.

He had trouble sitting through the rest of the ceremony as he really wanted to hug his boyfriend. In fact, before it was really over, he moved from the seats to closer to where the graduates would be coming.

They began to shuffle off and Kakashi was waiting.

“I did it!” the slightly younger man laughed as he hugged Kakashi tightly. “I’ll be a teacher soon.”

“Iruka, I’m proud of you.” He kissed him right in the middle of the crowd. He didn’t care who saw his face now. “Now you’re really Iruka-sensei,” he teased as he held Iruka around the waist as they began to walk off.

X

Epilogue

He straightened his tie as he tried not to drop his briefcase. To most it would have seemed too early to be doing this, but to Iruka it was one of the greatest jobs he could ever come across. He breathed deep as he entered the room.

“Good morning class, I’m Umino Iruka but,” he smiled setting the briefcase down and turned to the board. “You may call me Iruka-sensei,” he grinned.

The class sat politely, all smiling at him.

“Well I’m Konohamaru and I’m going to be famous one day,” he said, standing up from his chair. Iruka recognized him as the principle’s grandson.

“I’m sure you are,” Iruka smiled, “but please sit down for now. Can’t be famous if you get detention. No one will ever see you.” The boy thought about it and took his seat.

He couldn’t wait to tell Kakashi about the students, especially since he already had one similar to a student named Naruto Uzumaki in Kakashi’s martial arts classes.

“I’m sure we’re going to have an exciting year,” he smiled as he ducked a paper ball, catching the next in his hand, both from the principle’s grandson. “Isn’t that right?” he gave the same smirk he gave to Mizuki all that time ago and all movement ceased. “That’s better, let’s call roll and then get started.”

Only eight hours until he would be home with Kakashi.

X

The End

So I hope you all enjoyed it and thanks for everything!