Fox eat Dog

I was reminded by kiss_me_deadly it was Kakashi-san's birthday so I quickly slapped together a short B-day chapter with string and duct tape but it's the thought that counts, even if it is a day late...

So this is a sort of prequel to Fox eat Dog and its definitely stand alone. At most it might have a mention in future chapters but otherwise it has nothing to do with the story. Slight Naruto+Kakashi fluff.

As it is the real update may be a while as I'm currently screwing with a TachiKashi crack mpreg hosted on another website but it will eventually come for those who care. Reviews are wonderful, even mean ones that make no sense...

~*~*~*~*~*~

'Most definitely a fractured arm...'

Steadfast and swiftly Kakashi jumped from one tree to another. He had left the enemy behind long ago laying beyond Konoha's border with fatal injuries. One doesn't walk away from a hole in their esophagus. His trek home was far from comfortable with room service, the injuries he acquired were crudely bandaged or left to heal on their own. The wound in his thigh from a kunai he had to remove by hand bled through the white cloth and there was always the worse case scenario of infection. The white surface colored with dark splotches from dirt and blood told him if not changed soon he'd have to have an antibiotic injection. Laughably he despised getting needles but when you get stuck, stab and prodded with metal objects on an almost daily bases your whole life you grow quite hateful of the fact.

The injuries were his own fault. Stupidly he thought to play the hero when his ANBU team was surrounded. He must have taken a page from Gai's book of How To Be A Noble Champion. In the end he received a busted arm, cut up leg, most probably a cracked rib or two, countless bruises and cuts of that including damage from senbon needles and shuriken. His back was slightly singed from a fire jutsu he dodged but not entirely making his leaps from tree limb to limb all the more delightful as his back muscles worked pulling the skin tight so he felt the pain in every jump. The momentary lapse of idiocy he'll be paying for in recovery. Ninjas weren't issued pain killers if you didn't lose and arm or had your head scalped. If Konoha did then the number drug dependents would increase in the village as more ninjas became addicted. Nothing but cold/hot compresses and Saskura's the terrible green tea concoction she says meant to sooth the ache but is flavored like it came from a cheap restaurants garbage bin...

Finally having enough of vicious burning aggravating his back the jounin jumped down onto the forest's surface. The landing was smooth enough and after a time the unbearable itch in his back from nerves over exhausted subsided. He was not far from Konoha's Gate anyway soon he would have a medic slap some gauze and band aids on him, hopefully not followed by a needle, before crawling home to bed. Once there he'll read all night while pretending he wasn't in pain, that he didn't almost die again today and that tomorrow will be better. Clutching his left arm as he almost limped towards home just one thought fiddled across his head in his cynic mind.

'Happy Birthday Kakashi.'

~*~*~*~*~*~

“I can't believe you got yourself hurt like this!” Sakura screeched in his ear again while tying up a nick in his forearm. Anything under five stitches was a nick and hardly a concern to professional ninjas but she had insisted. It was always a draw back to the older ninja when his former pink hair student took care of him. He'd be appreciative of her concern, maybe even grateful if she also wasn't a bossy nag while doing it. Like her ranting by his ear as he dazedly concentrated on the back wall of a painting some low-rent artist created. Pictures like that placed through out the hospital as if the sub-par drawings would make the patients more homely with the surroundings. He'd take a pin-up girl with next to no clothes on over any corn-field scenic shot any day.

As the pink hair kunoichi in the white lab coat continued to treat him while spouting the various methods of dodging thrown weapons from the basic ninja defensive maneuvers manual he already knew and had memorized Kakashi idly began to wonder if maybe he should bring his idea to the Hokage about having more appealing pictures and posters placed on the out-patient treatment room walls. Possibly while shes drunk so she more receptive to intelligent reasoning. Now all he had to do was formulate a plan to distract Shizune while he was negotiating with Tsunadae.

At this point Sakura started roughly applying some balm to his back burns causing him to tense up and hiss in pain otherwise he remained silent until the process was over. 'Her bedside manner could certainly use a lot of work...'

“Here take this and have someone apply it to your back every three to five hours. It'll help speed up the healing process.” She dropped the small tub in his lap as his hands were clenched into fists, ignoring how her old teacher was giving her a dirty look. The young woman knew he knew she was being cold and indifferent on purpose, it scared her to have to treat the man's injuries fretting that if they were just a little bit lower, a couple of more inches... She didn't like that. So he would have to put up with harsh treatment while receiving... treatment. Just one more reason why he should avoid getting hurt next time.

“Put your pants back on and leave so I can take care of a real patient.” He slapped him on his elbow where there were no injuries but jarring the others regardless. He clamped his jaw close, pissed off but hiding it. Like he'd let the girl know any of her actions effected him emotionally, it would just goad her into doing it some more. Getting off the examination table he pick up his torn pants figuring he'd take a shower a little after he got home, he'd have to get someone to reapply the cream.

Just as he placed his vest back on striding pass the medic ninja writing down complicated medical garble on a piece of paper he was stopped by a hand on his arm. Curiously he followed the hand up to the the owners face looking into concerned, almost warm, green eyes that offered tenderness that wasn't there during his entire visit. “Kakashi-sensei I almost forgot...”

For a moment his stomach did something funny as he wonder if she remember what today was... Until he saw her other hand and he began a light struggle as the grip on him tightened.

“Sorry Kakashi-sensei but this is for you own good it'll just take a second...”

He would forgive Sakura later he knew because she did look honestly sorry as she stuck the needle in his arm. Though it didn't stop him from struggling in the meanwhile knocking over vials and ruining all her paperwork as he scrambled to get away. It took the woman three minutes to catch him and over a minute more to put the needle in him. There was also the ten other minutes in fixing his broken stitches and re-wrapping his dressings. She did well, however, still not as quick as her mentor Tsunadae who currently held the record.

Limping out the office while rubbing his twice injured arm he cursed this day once again for many reasons. To him it was just another year. Another birthday he sometimes wish didn't happen at all...

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Kakashi-san!" The jounin had to pat himself on the back for his hobbling down the street went mostly unnoticed. He took many back alleys and short cuts to avoid the areas which most of the faces who knew him would ask questions. He managed to get nearly all the way home, just three blocks away, before someone was calling out his name. He sighed and stopped. Running wasn't an option, he'd have to jump right to cruel dismissal. Kakashi was in too much pain to even want to deal with this. He stood there until his present company caught up and stood in front of him, directly in front of him. They were nose to lips since the person was slightly taller, with the man practically stepping on his toes.

"I heard about your gallant deeds! I'm so filled with admiration for you efforts... to think you would defend your team so honorably... its so touching..." When Gai started to sniffle going from a loud triumphant tone to near sobs Kakashi promptly side stepped him continuing on his walk home. He refused to watch the grown man cry today. Yet as he thought, as it never worked before, ignoring Gai was not enough to get rid of him and once more he was standing before the shorter jounin, face more stern than before He'd look authoritative if hedidn't still have tear streaks on his cheeks.

"Kakashi-san... even though it is truly the greatest act a man could do for his village your still far too young to die... and I still have to surpass you in skill!" Again the Green Beast of Konoha proved he was bi-polar sounding sincere and almost pained at the thought of him dying then making an exaggerated declaration with his fist beating against his chest. Hardly enough to move Kakashi with the display, only infuriating him more.

"Gai the day you surpass me is the day I'll give up reading Icha Icha books." The injured ninja scowled, his eye darkening with fury. Under normal conditions the thought of giving up his books would be sacrilege, but both of them were over thirty if Gai wasn't stronger than him by now chances are he never would be. Kakashi believed this statement to be entirely safe.

The dog trainer once more walked passed the leotard clad man and this time the green giant seem to get the hint. Though he was far from rid of him yet and after a few half steps as he kept pressure off his other leg the bowl-cut man was there slowly walking beside him keeping with the slow pace.

If Gai's loud boosting and obnoxious antics wasn't vexing enough his inquisitive silence would make you want to kill him. The injured man could feel dark eyes burning a hole in his visage, assessing him, analyzing his outward and inward status. The masked jounin got to his block before he snapped, in his own Kakashi way.

“I'm not inviting you in for tea and cookies.” The bushy hair man received a reaction but it was only a minute deepening of Gai's brow titling downward as he frowned. Undoubtedly trying to pick apart and assemble Kakashi's language. People didn't believe that the extraordinary jounin ever got emotional over anything, thats only because he never expressed it in a manner as normal people would. When he was mad he didn't shout, when he was upset he didn't cry, but for him his simple bored tone laced with sarcasm Gai was currently translating. 'Get the fuck anyway from me I'm in a bad mood!'

Kakashi would never call him a friend, would never admit to having any care for their rivalry but for all the years he knew the other Gai was the one who knew him best. When you revolved your life around one person as obsessively as Gai did you come to know a lot about him, and thats why the other jounin pushed him away.

Gai knew too much.

Which is why when Kakashi awkwardly limped up the stairs he stayed at the bottom watching him leave. Never offering help but ready to catch him if he fell. Kakashi would not accept help if asked but would submit if forced on him. So the spandex dressed ninja stayed where he was observing his rivals slow steps with care while the silver hair man ignored the fact that it wasn't just relief of being left alone making his shoulders relax and body less tense. It was at his door his present company spoke up, voice not a yell but loud enough to carry to the other's ears.

“Kakashi almost forgot that today...” The jounin's hand tighten on the doorknob. He stared at the wooden door as he swallowed deeply. What sort of declaration would the odd-ball freak make to him about today? Why did it make his stomach flip?

“Since you can't use your leg and arm I'm going to do five-hundred one-leg, one-arm push ups!” The jounin didn't need to be looking at Gai to know he was smiling as the light from the sun reflected off his teeth and landed on the door. Promptly Kakashi opened it and escaped to inside. Relieved to be at home there was a eerie pang of something tremble through his body, some close to disappointment.

He remembered what he did last year on this day. He was sitting in his home, reading his porn, doing his laundry, cooking dinner for one. It was odd since he could remember what he did on this day as he did the year before and the year before that. Out of all the days he couldn't recall Kakashi did remember this day every year since he was three and every year after he turned twelve it was never good. Funny how even though he always long to forget when it came but he never did. He remembered every year no matter how banal the day was.

He wish he could forget this day...

~*~*~*~*~*~

'Now to get this on my back..'

After his shower where his wounds ached as he uniformly cleansed them, the water ran down the drain tainted with red swirls, came to the fun part of putting Sakura's miracle cure on his burns. He'd need to summon a clone to put it on his back, but he'd have to eat first to replenish his reserves. The jounin practically ran his chakra into the ground earlier.

Slipping on his pants, leaving his re-bandaged chest and face exposed, he limped into the kitchen intent on fixing himself something to feast on. Though he didn't really feel like cooking anything at all, maybe something instant. Glancing around his near empty fridge seeing nothing but spoiled milk, a half-used wasabi jar and container of something that looked like it had grown its own civilization he would have to eat something packaged.

In his cupboards he found them to be sorely lacking as well as sugar, flour and a formerly lost weapons manual didn't make for a scrumptious meal. Had he really forgotten to restock his food supplies before a mission? It was the worse time as chances are you are so beat and torn up afterward the idea of leaving your house was inconceivable. Though it had been a while since he gotten so battered it really didn't cross his mind as a problem.

Slumping against the counter top he was disgruntled enough that the idea of just giving up and going to sleep seemed better than letting this day get any worse. This had to be the second worst birthday in his lifetime, the first being when he was held in captivity for questioning for seventeen hours, it didn't nearly beat that.

Clenching his fists staring at the counter's surface he was honestly infuriated in himself. Why should this day be any different then any of the others in his life? It really was nothing special. Even when he wasn't trying to think of it somehow the thought of it somehow wiggled its way into his mind infesting him with some old nostalgic idea of yesteryear cruelly reminding him he was another year older but in the same place he had been the time before. Why did it matter so much anyway?

Taking a deep breath running his hand through his hair Kakashi couldn't shake the feeling like it did.

A loud noise like a battering ram at his door caught his attention just as a loud, punishing screech of a voice that felt as though someone dug a rusty spoon into his ears resonated through his house.

“Ka-Ka-shiii-sen-seiii! Lemme in! My hands are full!”

'Oh hell.' Hesitating only long enough to remind himself Naruto probably could feel him in here and was in fact kicking his door in so if he didn't open that door it would be opened by force.

'But I'll need a mask...'

“Kak-KA-SHIII! I know your in there! Come on its getting dark out here and I'm sick of holding this junk!” This was followed by more kicks to the door telling the older man if he didn't answer soon his neighbors would probably come complaining to him later about his guests.

Grabbing the nearest make-shift mask, a dish towel, he crudely tied it to his face before storming to the entrance to his apartment, in as much as he could under his condition, and unlocked it barely pulling it open an inch before he was stumbling back as Naruto decided he wasn't opening it fast enough as the boy charged in. Kakashi was just recovering as the blond flashed by his vision moving into the living room and dumping whatever in his hands on the counter top.

“Whee-hoo. Damn I just barely made it, do you know how far I had to carry this stuff? You can't get get books like these in Konoha!” The silver hair man stepped into the room watching the grinning boy who brimming with self-satisfaction with cautious eyes before glancing at the thing the other had cluttered his table with.

“What is that crap?” It was his home invaded, he was allowed to have that tone, if Naurto didn't like it he could leave.

“Dammit Kakashi! I just lugged this stuff from halfway across the country how about a little appreciation?!” Just as the teen sat down digging into one of three bags on the small table the jounin came closer noticing that the young man's black pants and black shirt were covered in dirt as it did look like he came back from mud fight in Rain village. What was it about kids and being tracts for dirt?

“See, look at this! A limited edition Honey Come Bunny novel! Its hard finding porn you haven't already read you know?” The whisker face boy held up a book next to his cheek sounding cheery, his eyes flashing with exuberance at the older man. To this Kakashi answered with a blink.

“Kakashi? Why is a dish rag on your face?”

That was also answered with little more than an eye twitch.

“What are you doing bringing me porn?” He had to know. He couldn't hide his curiosity and confusion. Naruto was good at doing that, an expert surprise ninja.

He could shock a rock.

“It's your birthday duh! I like had to rush a mission just to get home in time. I'm surprised I made and I even brought you food! Ramen! Of course though I would have been here sooner but I had to stick around and eat some there but I brought enough for us to have here. Iruka says Happy Birthday have a wonderful day. Are you hurt Kakashi-sensei?” The amount of energy the blond showed in his explanation moving from ecstatic, explanatory and concern contradicted his earlier statement of being tired, he was wearing the jounin out with his enthusiasm.

There at his table was a bag full of books, a bag with take out from Ichiraku and one bag contents yet unknown. Kakashi furrowed is brow looking very unsure and confused as to why this was all happening. 'For his birthday...'

“Why'd you do this?”

“Jeez Kashi-sensei you ask an awful lot of questions but never bother to answer mine. Why don't you just sit down and not hurt your brain trying to figure it out eh? I'm hungry.” Just like that the boy dismissed his ex-teacher grabbing the containers of food while pushing aside stuff for space on the table before placing them down. The next moment Naruto stood up leaving the room to go into his teacher's kitchen, not even bothering to knowledge or ask him about going in there. He came back a few minutes later with cups and a pot of tea looking at into Kakashi's mis-matched uncovered eyes as the hound summoner sat at the table, the older man still look dazed and confused.

“See that's better and here is some tea! I tell you nothing on the old man but the stuff he serves is never good. I tried convincing him to buy some other stuff and he refused to serve me for three days! Can you believe it? He is so touchy... You always have the good stuff in your house, at least from what I can remember from my last visit. When was that again? Like a year ago? Why don't you ever invite me over anyway? You damn recluse. M-mah! I love this tea, where do you get this stuff anyway? Hey aren't you going to eat?”

After Naruto's long one-sided conversation from which he immediately began slurping up the still warm noodles he held the other man's gaze as he ate. Naruto watched him like he was waiting for something. For Kakashi this whole encounter was odd and it unsettled him because he was sure he almost knew the answer but forgot somehow. The idiot just busted in here gave him a bunch of books and food, made himself at home, talking like they were the best of friends. Naruto also used his best green tea bags he bought from a Suna merchant he went too once a year.

“You know Kashi-sensei, correct me if I'm wrong but I deserve a 'thank you' and possibly, 'your the best guy in the world Naruto' for my efforts. Not a blank stare and eye twitch. You have lips under that rag don't you? I always wonder if you did or maybe there is just a hole in your face where there should be...”

“Dammit Naruto don't you ever shut-up?”

“Hey you spoke!”

“Naruto why are you bringing me presents and food and just genuinely your annoying company?” He asked exasperated, this was far beyond aggravating and going into 'I wanna claw my eyes out'.

“Because thats what friends are for! You know no one ever remembers birthdays in Konoha is that like in the ninja book or something? Forget you were ever born? Its a wonder people even know how old they are or what year it is. I thought it was just me, but just the other month it was Neji's birthday and I had no idea! When I asked him about it he said he was in the middle of mission that week and forgot. Like no ninja ever celebrates it so I went and dug up files on everybody I knew to find out and here I am! I can't believe how old you are, ha! Thirty-one and yet your already covered in grey hair... Hows it feel to be that age eh grandpa? Whatever you do don't start peeping on chicks when you hit fifty like Jaraiya, although he was doing that when he was twelve wasn't he?”

The blond was staring at him expectingly again, this time Kakashi knew why. It was so easy to mistake the simple for something complicated sometimes. The annoying knuckle-headed blond was showing consideration. He was doing it cause he cared even when other people didn't care no more about the simple things in life. He just wanted to be here eating slightly cold noodles, giving him books he did indeed already read and having a stupid conversation about nothing just because he cared too. It was so stupid it just had to work and Kakashi laughed. The jounin laughed like he hadn't laughed in months, years and tried valiantly not to fall down as the other man just stared bug eye at him.

“Damn did you crack or something? Whats wrong Kakashi-sensei? Should I get a doctor?”

“Naruto... whats in the other bag? Hm-hm-hahaha.” The silver hair man quieted his chuckles waiting for the other to make a move. The blond himself looked weary about giving into the other's demands but slowly responded reaching into the plastic bag with a unusual store logo on it to reveal a pink box. It was short but big around and Naruto opened it.

It was then the jounin fell face forward covering his head with is uninjured arm hating how it hurt his ribs to laugh so hard yet not being able to help himself.

A cake, a cake! A cake with Happy B-day Kashi on the top and a slightly squished left side from being jarred around. Undoubtedly he skimped on the letters as they cost to put on there. It was so idiotically sentimental it was practically adorable.

“Na-Naruto, are you trying to kill me? Hahahaha! Owww...”

“Hey! I swear after this I'm never celebrating your birthday again! Jeez your getting just a card next year you unappreciative bastard!” He dropped the cake on the table near his teachers head and followed the motion with placing his elbow on the table, putting his cheek in his hand in a huff. To this Kakashi wiped the tears from his eyes and sat up.

“You made my stomach split at the sides, my back is killing me. Your just a big girl aren't you? Ha-ha I need to put that cream on if I ever hope to continue this delightful meeting.” He stood up almost regretting he laughed so hard as he left for his bedroom.

“I'm not a girl! ...Hey Kashi-sensei is that burn marks on your back? What'd you do?!” Naruto followed the older man into his room in time to see the shirtless jounin getting out the tub of cream. In seconds Kakashi was on the receiving end of one of the boy's 'can I do anything to help make it better' looks. Sighing he gave in readily holding out the tub and turning around pointing his thumb to the area.

“Just don't do what Sakura did and slap in on there like your tenderizing meat.” Kakashi shuddered at the thought.

He could hear Naruto uncap the cream and butter up his hands with it but it was unexpected how softly the other man put his hands on the area. It wasn't at all painful like he prepared himself for, being how fresh the wounds were. For a second Kakashi almost jumped away at the near intimate manner in which Naruto began rubbing his back, caressing even as it wasn't hard enough to consider rubbing.

Callus fingers touched him first as to test the area before the young man's palms followed, pressing tenderly down onto the flesh. In smooth small circles he gently slide his hands over the delicate area like he was holding something fragile that would break with the tiniest bit of force. It put the jounin in a bit of unease as a finger grazed his neck tickling the area closest to his ear. He didn't even know Naruto could be so gentle and wondered for a brief instant if he ever been with a woman, with a caress as gentle as that it seemed logical he picked it up from somewhere.

When he pulled away to get more of the stuff on his hands the skin tingled with a bit of pain but also something else. Kakashi couldn't stop himself from jumping slightly when he felt the fingers again and his student pulled away waiting a minute before trying again assuming it was probably a reaction in pain. Naruto held out his hands flat near to Kakashi's skin but not touching just letting his body heat be felt and mingle before closing the distance. He then began repeating his ministration's over again to the sensitive skin stroking the flesh like he knew how much press here and touch lightly there. Kakashi would have moaned if it wasn't so awkward to, this was Naruto...

“Kakashi-sensei...”

The jounin gulped as the teen whispered his name. It was so surreal standing there in his room with his young student receiving the softest back rub ever, hearing his name spoke like how a lover would. His overworked muscles stiffened and the other dropped his hands seemingly finished. Kakashi was grateful for that much as it was long overdue to stop the touching.

“It may not mean much but... Happy Birthday.”

It was funny how his stomach fluttered, heart swelled and his throat-tighten making it hard to say anything in return, but he be damned if he didn't force something out.

“This doesn't mean I'll let you see my face you sneaky brat.” Kakashi smiled as Naruto frowned grumbling about mean old men.

It's funny how that came to be his fondest birthday in a long time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

OMG I KNEW I'd do it! I turned this short side story into... practically a chapter, 5000+ words! I just meant it to be a quickie fluff with some drama and humor. I was slightly bugged that some parts came out stiled and rush but damn it wasn't suppose to carry on like that. Amazingly enough it only took two days too, even though Kakashi's birthday was yesterday. Oh well, Happy B-day Kashi and if like I'd give you a lot more than just a story if you only ask. ~_^