Ninja Moon

Did I mention that there will EVENTUALLY be sex? I'm thinking somewhere along the lines of chapter 7 or 8...after we get the first three pairings really set in stone. Btw, this chapter is more background for pairings and flirting between Kakashi and Iruka. I really love that couple. Again, I would worship anyone who makes fanart of this story.

Chapter 5: Love and Dreams
Luna sat in front of Kakashi, Iruka, and Sasuke at the memorial of the ninja who died on missions. She had called them together, knowing the three would have questions for her. Though I wish I had the others here as well, she thought, looking over the three nin. That way I wouldn't have to repeat myself. "I called you three together to answer any questions you may have," she said finally.

Sasuke spoke up. "What exactly is going on?"

The cat sighed. The hard question first. "A hundered years ago, the original Sailor Scouts and Tuxedo Mask died in a battle to protect the universe. Their souls and powers were sent into the future, the now, by the Queen of the Moon, Serenity, and have been born into you. Each scout was a princess of her respective planet, each were close friends of the Moon Princess. The princess had a lover, the prince of the Earth." She noted Iruka's expression shift from thoughtful listening to a slightly sad. "Their souls will be released and their powers will leave you once the final battle has ended. Everything will be just as it was before I came."

"So your presence is the reason everything is happening?" Sasuke asked.

Again Luna sighed. "In short...yes...That's part of the reason..."

Iruka shook his head and elft without a word. About half a mile into the forest, away from Konoha, he stopped and said with a bowed head, "I want to be alone...Why are you following me?"

Kakashi appeared in front of Iruka, hands on the chuunin's shoulders. And though his face was hidden as always, Iruka could imagine it distorted with the concern that was in his eye. "Why are you upset?" Kakashi asked. He had shed his perverse mask to replace it with a noble chivalry when alone with Iruka, as if the mask were for others to see and only Iruka was worthy of seeing Kakashi's true self.

The chuunin shook his head. "Don't you get it?" He asked Kakashi. "The only reason you love me is because of this dream...because of Luna being here and because we have become Sailor Scouts." Iruka couldn't look at him now, hoping the jounin didn't see his tears. "You only love me because Tuxedo Mask loves Sailor Moon..."

"That's a lie."

Iruka was shaken by Kakashi's tone. It wasn't harsh, but stern and convicting like a parent's to discipline a child. It was a tone Iruka used often to tame Naruto. Never had he imagined the voice would be used on him.

Kakashi continued speaking, now in a gentler tone that caressed Iruka's soul like a lover. "That's a lie, and you know it...You know we've always had a connection...a bond...even before your dream and this adventure began. Iruka..." He kissed the bridge of Iruka's nose lightly. "I loved you before we became these new souls...I love you for who you are...I always have..."

Again Iruka shook his head, but Kakashi saw the smile on the chuunin's face and knew he had said just what Iruka wanted to hear. They held each other in a tight embrace, taking in the presence and essence of one another. Reluctantly, they pulled apart and let go of the warm hug. Iruka stole a light kiss on Kakashi's lips before saying, "We have work to do..."

The jounin nodded. "Yeah..." His mask of perverseness and nonchelance that he normally wore returned as he fixed his mask and smiled behind it. "Gai's challenging me to another contest, but this one I'm willing to participate in. Perhaps afterwords, we can enjoy ramen and sake together again?"

Iruka smiled. "Alright. I have paperwork to do as well. Grading and class preperations for the week..."

"Good luck with that."

"You too."

They leapt away in different directions, Iruka smiling at the remembered warmth of Kakashi against him.

---

Luna sighed as she was left alone with Sasuke, the Uchiha looking up at the moon in the clear noon sky dreamily. He hugged his knees to his chest. The cat sat beside him. "Is something wrong, Sasuke?"

Now Sasuke sighed. "Itachi knows I'm Sailor Mercury...but I'm not allowed to tell anyone else who I am or what's going on, am I?"

Something in the boy's voice made Luna's heart clench in sadness. She put a paw on his knee. "You have a new duty now...To protect the universe and Moon Princess from evil...You can't tell anyone of your new identity or powers for saftey sake. An agent of the Negaverse could take advantage of a scout who's identity is known by friends and loved ones."

Sasuke didn't speak, his eyes betraying hidden sadness and fear. Both he and Luna looked up as Naruto hailed them and ran to Sasuke, grinning. The Uchiha looked up at Naruto, an eyebrow raised as he returned to his cold exterior. "What are you grinning about, dobe?"

Naruto twitched at the pet name, but returned to grinning. "Check it out! I'm in the newspaper!" And he handed Sasuke a copy of the newspaper Iruka was reading days ago. Luna hopped onto Sasuke's shoulder to read as well. "I'm the masked woman! Believe it! Isn't it awesome?" He let out a startled yelp as the newspaper was flung into his face. Naruto glared at Sasuke, blushing wildly. "Hey! What was that for?!"

The black-haired boy smirked, and Luna giggled to herself at the show. "Your Sexy no Jutsu has gotten popular, Naruto. Someone would tell if it was you or not. This isn't you. I would know that. Nice try, dobe."

"But...but it really is..." Naruto pouted. "Well...why don't you believe me?"

Sasuke shrugged, leaning against the memorial. "If you wanted fame and respect so badly, why use an alter-ego and transformation jutsu to do so?"

"I...uh...but...it's..." He stuttered, trying to think of an excuse.

Reaching up, Sasuke put two fingers to Naruto's lips, the blonde blushing at the touch. "Hush..." Sasuke smiled. "Just chill, okay? It's not the end of the world that I don't believe you. I don't think Sakura would like you any more if she started believing you turned into women to get men."

Naruto laughed a bit, sitting next to his friend. "Yeah..." He removed his head-band to run a hand through his hair several times, flyffing it and making it more into a mess than before. "About Sakura...I've sort of given up on her, you know?"

Sasuke blinked, petting Luna on his shoulder. "Do you really mean that?"

"Yeah..." The blonde nodded, smiling. "She doesn't like me for who I am...and if she can't accept me for who and what I am...then she's not good enough for me."

"Seriously?"

"Believe it!" Naruto grinned and stood, pointing to himself with a thumb. "I've got a princess to find! And when I find her, I'm gunna protect her with my life and devote my skills to her and her alone!"

Luna perked on Sasuke's shoulder as the Uchiha again rose an eyebrow at him. "A princess, huh? Do you know what she even looks like?"

Naruto shrugged. "It was really foggy, and I couldn't see her face...all I know is she'll be wearing a blue dress, and she has dark hair...maybe even black..."

Sasuke stared at Naruto as if realizing a thought, silent as a ghost and almost as pale. Fog surrounded a glowing garden lit by the light of the Earth, Sasuke remembered. A hand belonging to another young woman grabs mine, and I see a back with long blonde hair and a blue bow and the long fabric of a bright yellow dress leading me through the fog, away from a battlefield behind us. I trip on my own sky blue dress, and the yellow princess kneels beside me. "I won't leave you!" She cries. "I won't ever leave your side!" She summons a sword and fights to protect me, though I scream the sword could drain her... The Uchiha shook his head. "Dobe..." He muttered under his breath. "You shouldn't chase a dream..."

The blonde blinked. "How did you know I knew her from a dream?"

Luna smiled knowingly to herself.

"It's obvious," Sasuke answered with a smirk. "Only a baka dobe like you would fall in love with a princess from a dream."

Naruto growled and Luna barely escaped from Sasuke's shoulders before the blonde pounced on his friend. They rolled around, wrestling for several minutes before the cat realized they were fighting to tickle one another. She smiled as Naruto pinned his friend down and forced him to laugh at light fingers on his side. She blinked and turned, then shook her head. I thought I saw...No...It couldn't be...He wouldn't reveal himself to me...Not yet anyway...

"Surrender!" Naruto commanded.

"Never!" Sasuke laughed. He shifted his weight and rolled so he was on Naruto and tickled back.

A shiver went down Luna's spine, and her eyes fell on a lone figure hidden in the trees. It was another boy, about the same age as Sasuke and Naruto. His short hair exposed his forehead and a giant gourd was on his back. I've heard of him, Luna thought. Gaara of the Sand...That look in his eyes...Why does he look so sad? Bravely, she padded to him. Like most nin from the Village of the Wind, he smelled of blood and sand and spices of a distant country she could only imagine.

Gaara looked down at the feline when he felt her presence and knelt to pet her behind her ears. She could feel his sadness and lonliness seep into her, followed by a burning hatred. The cat was relieved when he removed his hand from her head. He nodded to her and stood, walking away.

Her eyes went wide with realization as he walked away. Quickly, she ran to find Iruka.