Teach Me To Love You

Title: Teach Me To Love You
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: KakashixIruka
Rating: T for now, will go up
Summary: Kakashi had never been anything else than what had been expected of him. And nobody had ever expected him to be human. So how could Iruka even want to be near him? How could he say he loved him?
Spoilers: Spoilers for Kakashi Gaiden and very slight ones for the events before the time-skip.
Status: Chapter 5 of 15(?)
Disclaimer: I do not own the anime/manga Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I
do not make any money from the writing of this story.


Teach Me To Love You
by nayru-kleinefee


Chapter 5 – So very me?

“Know what?”

“Hm?” Kakashi lazily lifted his head to look at Iruka snuggled against his left side on the Chuunin’s huge couch. And then he stroked a strand of hair behind his ear, just because he could.

“You’re never late when we meet.” Iruka arched an eyebrow up at him.

“I’m never…” Kakashi frowned. “Oh, that…”

“Why are you coming late at all if you’re able to be perfectly on time? Only if you don’t mind me asking.”

“It annoys people. Keeps them away from me.” And kept him safe. Just like the books, the mask and the ‘I-don’t-care-about-you-or-anybody-or-anything’-air.

“Ah.” Iruka hummed for a little while. “So… that means that you don’t want to keep me away from you.”

“I don’t want that.” Kakashi tightened his arm’s hold around him. “And… if I came late for meeting you… then I couldn’t spend as much time with you as I can if I come on time.” He’d figured that out rather quickly. He was a genius after all. Aand he knew that Iruka got really pissed if stood up.

Iruka chuckled softly. “That’s really smart. And I really like you reasoning.”

“Me too.”

“Know something else?”

“What is it?”

“When I cast the jutsu on you in the mission room right before I brought you here for the first time, you never did anything to stop me. You didn’t even seem to notice me gathering my chakra.”

“I didn’t.” Kakashi frowned. “At least not consciously.”

“Maybe you didn’t see me as a threat?”, Iruka guessed.

“I always see everybody as a potential threat.” Kakashi turned his head and nuzzled his masked nose into the Chuunin’s hair. “Except that I changed towards you now.”

“That’s good.” Iruka smiled up at him. “But still I think you didn’t see me as a threat back then. Nobody ever does…”, he murmured, sounding a little bitter.

“You’re strong”, Kakashi whispered. “And you invented that amazing jutsu you showed me. I’m sure you could give me much trouble if you chose to.”

Iruka snorted. “No need to tell me that. I know I’m not only the humble, polite, mediocre little Chuunin everybody sees me as. It’s alright if they do, though, kind of. It’s just…” He sighed. “I don’t like it when people think they can judge me by first look or just from my rank. Or pull rank on me and order me around. I so hate that.”

“I’m sorry”, Kakashi whispered. “For pulling rank on you before the Chuunin exams.” He knew now that he shouldn’t have snapped at the Chuunin the way he’d had. But he now also knew why he’d done that: He’d been terrified by the fierce will to care and protect that Iruka had shown. He hadn’t known it, hadn’t understood it and therefore he’d just closed up and tried to get him to back off as soon as possible.

“That was different.” Iruka snuggled closer and stroked over the Jounin’s stomach. “You were right and I was right, too, but I overstepped my boundaries. Forgiven?”

“Forgiven.” Kakashi pulled him even closer.

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

Kakashi sighed happily when he slipped under the sheets of Iruka’s bed. And it wouldn’t be long anymore and his boyfriend would come out of the bathroom and join him for snuggling. Sooo ni-

“Huh?” The Jounin blinked when his outstretched feet suddenly came in contact with something warm. He lifted the sheets and peeked under them. “Iruka?”

“Yes?” The Chuunin walked into the bedroom, hair open and freshly brushed.

Kakashi reached out his hand and as always his boyfriend walked towards him and let him stroke through his hair for several calm, blissful moments. “Iruka?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“What’s that?” He reluctantly let go of the soft hair and instead pointed at the thing under the sheets.

“Hm? Oh, I made us a hot-water bottle. It’s in a pillow cover to keep the heat longer and to feel better against our feet.” Iruka slipped under the sheets and squirmed a little, then sighed contently.

“Why? Are you sick?”, Kakashi asked worriedly.

“No, I’m not.” Iruka chuckled. “My feet were cold.” He smiled at his boyfriend. “Come on, try it. It’s big enough for all our feet.”

“Okay…” Kakashi still wasn’t convinced. The only times he’d ever had a hot-water bottle had been when he’d had a flu or even worse.

“Nice, hm?”, Iruka murmured when the Jounin was spooned up behind him.

Kakashi wiggled his toes, then once again when he realised that they had been slightly cool before. He pulled his boyfriend close. “Nice.”

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

“Iruka-sensei! Iruka-sensei!”

“Hm?” The Chuunin turned around on the street without letting go of Kakashi’s hand. “Oh, Keiko-chan. Hello.”

“Hello, Iruka-sensei.” The small blond girl smiled at him broadly. “Who’s that?”

“That’s Kakashi-sensei”, Iruka said softly.

“Yo.” The Copy-nin waved at the tiny girl.

“Hello.” Keiko grinned at him. “Why do you hold Iruka-sensei’s hand?”

“Because it feels warm.” And he wouldn’t share, not even with little girls, no way.

“Are you Iruka-sensei’s girlfriend? My mommy told me that boyfriends and girlfriends hold hands.”

“He’s not my girlfriend, Keiko-chan.” Iruka laughed softly. “He’s a man, so he’s my boyfriend.”

“Are you his girlfriend then, Iruka-sensei?” The little girl frowned.

“No.” The Chuunin laughed more. “I’m a man, too, so I’m his boyfriend.”

“Hmmmm…” Keiko frowned deeply. “I’ll ask my mommy!”, she declared then. “Bye, Iruka-sensei! Bye, Kakashi-sensei!” And she ran away.

Iruka sighed. “Here comes…”

“What’s wrong?” Kakashi carefully tightened his hold on his boyfriend’s hand.

“Won’t be long anymore, then my students’ parents will know about us…” Iruka sighed again. “We’ll see how they’ll react.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess there might be some parents who won’t like the thought of their children being taught by an openly gay man… I’ll have to wait and see what they’ll do…”

“They’re stupid”, Kakashi growled. “It’s not as if you were different suddenly, only because you decided to be with me and help me become human. You’re still yourself.” And if any of those people dared to do anything that hurt his boyfriend, he would pay them back.

“Let’s just wait.” Iruka smiled at him. “And don’t worry, I can handle it. I don’t really care about what the parents think, only what my students think of me.”

*****

Most parents took it well when the news spread. Some even came to school to hug Iruka and wish him luck with his newfound happiness. Kakashi was not particularly happy about those people hugging his boyfriend but he could stand it, really. At least if they didn’t hold Iruka for too long.

Unfortunately, there was one family who even demanded to fire Iruka. Kakashi was not happy. Kakashi was so much not happy that he went to their home, cornered the father and told him that if he had a problem with him being with Iruka, he should straighten things out with him, not go and whine to the Elders or the Hokage. They still had their son transferred to another class. Iruka was sad and hurting and Kakashi did his best to comfort him. He had never before felt so helpless.

When the boy still came back to the Chuunin’s class the next day, saying that he wasn’t as stupid as his parents and wouldn’t let them keep him from being taught by the best teacher ever, Iruka was so happy he was close to tears. When Kakashi couldn’t hold himself back anymore, jumped from his place on the tree in front of his classroom through the window and embraced him, he started crying. Which resulted in the children joining for a class-hug with a rather distraught Copy-nin in the middle.

Tsunade had a word with the parents but they wouldn’t change their minds.

Kakashi had a word with the parents but they wouldn’t change their minds.

Iruka had a word with the parents and the child was officially transferred back to his class. Nobody ever lost a word about the incident again.

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

“I’m sorry, Kakashi.” Tsunade smiled at him apologetically. “It can’t be helped.”

“I understand”, the Jounin assured, his heart heavy in his chest.

*****

“Iruka?”

“M-hm?” The Chuunin didn’t look up from grading his tests.

“Iruka, I have to go on a mission”, Kakashi murmured.

“What?!” Iruka’s head snapped up immediately. “But Tsunade-sama said…”

“It’s very important.” Kakashi didn’t want to go, he really didn’t. He knew that it was his duty to go though, that he was shinobi and therefore had to serve his village. But he would rather stay with Iruka. Where it was warm. Where he was warm.

“Oh.” Iruka sighed, then nodded. “Of course. I understand.”

“I should be back in a week.”

“You’ll be gone for so long?”, Iruka asked sadly.

“I’m sorry. Please don’t be sad.” Kakashi took a deep breath. “And please wait… I mean… don’t get… don’t lose your patience while…”

“Hey.” Iruka looked at him sternly. “I promised not to doubt you anymore, remember? The least you can do is giving that trust back to me, alright?”

“I… Alright. Sorry.” Kakashi smiled sheepishly, but with very much relief.

“Will you be able to sleep?” The Chuunin’s voice sounded concerned.

“I have to.” Kakashi shrugged. And he was trained to function without sleep for days if he had to.

“Oh…” Iruka looked at him, but then smiled suddenly. “Wait here, alright? I’ll be right back.”

“Sure”, Kakashi murmured unsurely and watched how the Chuunin disappeared in his bedroom, then came back after some seconds, holding his pillow.

“Here”, he announced while he pulled the cover from it. “Take this with you, maybe it helps.”

“Your pillow cover?”, Kakashi asked confusedly.

“Yup.” Iruka grinned. “You can sleep on it and then it will remind you of me. I would give you the whole pillow, but it’s too big for your backpack.”

“Oh, that’s…” Kakashi carefully took the cloth. “That’s very nice of you. Thank you.” He didn’t know if it would help, but right at the moment the thought that Iruka wanted to help him made him feel very good.

“I hope it works.” Iruka smiled.

“Thank you”, Kakashi whispered again. “Can I… Is there something I can do for you?”

“You can come back safe to me”, Iruka told him. “I know you can’t promise that, but you can promise me to do your best.”

“I promise.” Kakashi smiled at him. He had a reason to come back safe now, he realised suddenly, a reason other than his duty. It was… it made him feel… more human.

“And…” Iruka bit his lower lip. “Now that I think about it… maybe you also could…”

“Yes?”

“Would you… kiss me goodbye maybe?”, Iruka asked softly.

“Kiss you?” Uh-oh, he wasn’t sure if he could do that.

“Only if it’s alright for you”, Iruka assured but Kakashi could see in his face that he really wanted to do it.

“I… I think…” If Iruka wanted it, then he probably should do it. And it also would make Iruka smile. But… but what if he did it wrong? He didn’t know how to kiss. Nobody had ever asked to kiss him before and he was wearing a mask and didn’t know if kissing was even possible with a mask.

“It’s alright.” Iruka nodded reassuringly. “You don’t have to.”

“But I… I mean, we… we could try.” Kakashi felt himself blush under his mask. He would just try and hope that he did it right. And then Iruka would smile. Maybe.

“We don’t have to.”

“But… we can.” Kakashi nodded. “Just… just tell me what to do.” No, he hadn’t wanted to say that! Why had he said that?! Now Iruka would think that he was completely stupid!

“What to do?” Iruka frowned, then his eyes opened wide. “You’ve never…”

“I… I… I wear a mask”, was all that Kakashi managed to get out as an explanation.

“Oh. That’s…” Iruka blinked. “Sure. I mean… Never?”

“You want to kiss me or not?”, Kakashi snapped when the heat in his face increased even more. It wasn’t that unusual, now was it? He was only twenty-six and if he hadn’t kissed yet, so what? And no, he was not embarrassed.

“Yes!”, Iruka assured. “I want that.” He blushed. “And I’m sorry. I was acting like an idiot.”

“Alright.” Kakashi nodded, still a little miffed. Miffed, not embarrassed. “What shall I do then?”

“You… you just have to press your lips on mine”, Iruka explained. “Not too hard and not too soft.”

“And that’s all?” He’d known that. He’d just been convinced that there had to be some kind of… stuff apart from that. Something that made the faces of the people he’d watched kissing turn so… so all dreamy and soft and all that.

“Yes, that’s all.” Iruka slowly wrapped his arms around his waist.

“Alright.” Lips on lips. Not too hard and not too soft, alright, that was easy. It wasn’t as if there were about a million possibilities for that.

“Alright.” Iruka tilted his face up a little, then closed his eyes.

Kakashi leaned forwards slowly, aimed carefully and then placed his masked lips on the Chuunin’s. He applied a little pressure and stopped when he heard Iruka sigh softly, then waited.

It felt… okay. It wasn’t anything special or spectacular, but it was okay, he supposed. Somehow a lot like embracing, all nice and close to Iruka. But he didn’t understand why people were so crazy about it.

“Mmmh…”, Iruka sighed when he leaned his head back again. “Thank you.” He smiled.

“It’s okay”, Kakashi murmured.

“Did you like it?”

“I… Yes.” He hadn’t really not liked it, so he had probably liked it.

“Does that mean we can do it more often from now on?”, Iruka asked.

“Erm… Sometimes maybe?” He could do that, no big deal. And then Iruka would smile, just like he did now.

“M-hm.” The Chuunin smiled softly. “And it will feel even better once you take the mask off.”

Kakashi froze immediately. Taking off his mask? He couldn’t do that! Then Iruka would see them! Then Iruka would see the signs of his shame and he would leave him and never want to be with him again and-

“Only if you want that”, Iruka assured hastily. “I mean, you don’t have to.”

“I’m sorry”, Kakashi whispered. “I can’t.”

“It’s fine.” Iruka placed another, featherlike kiss on his lips. “I’m sure that you’ll one day trust me enough to take off your mask.” He smiled warmly.

“I’ll… I’ll try.” But Kakashi doubted that that would ever happen.

*****

The pillow cover worked, Kakashi noticed on his first night out of Iruka’s bed. He still woke at every noise he heard, at every movement around him, but that was due to his shinobi training and survival instinct. And then he could lie down on the cloth again and take a deep breath through his mask and smell Iruka, and then he would slip back into calm, refreshing sleep.

And he also noticed that he seemed to be more aware of his surroundings during the days, and even faster and stronger during fights. But that certainly couldn’t be because of the pillow cover, now could it? Granted, he slept better and was more refreshed when he woke up again, but could that make such a difference? Could the sleep he was getting since he was with Iruka be the reason for his sudden energy? Hmm…

But there was no other explanation than Iruka being the reason for his increased strength and stamina. As far as he could remember, it had got better some days, or more precisely nights after he’d started having a relationship with the Chuunin. Heh… Iruka as energy boost. Nice, the Chuunin would certainly smile if he told him.

But now that he thought about it… He should better not tell anybody. What if Gai took it as a reason to make up more and more challenges? Or what if Tsunade decided to send him to more and more missions once she heard about it?

Or even worse, what if Tsunade sent other people to sleep in Iruka’s bed to make them stronger, too?! No way, he would so not let that happen!

*****

“I’m back!”, Kakashi announced through the open window to Iruka’s living room, then frowned when he noticed something odd. Why did Iruka have two curtains now? His usual cream-coloured one and underneath a new white one?

“Kakashi!” Iruka came out of his bedroom, approached him and held out his arms to be embraced, and the Jounin complied happily.

“I could sleep”, Kakashi told him without letting go. “Thank you for the pillow cover.” Although the real Iruka was so much better.

“I’m happy that I could help you.” Iruka leaned his head back, looked at him and then kissed him softly.

Kakashi held still, knowing that he would make the Chuunin happy with it. Kissing was alright, he could stand that. Especially if he could embrace Iruka while he kissed him. Embracing was so much better than kissing, and he wasn’t sure why Iruka seemed to think differently, but it was alright. As long as he got embracing, too.

“I have a surprise for you”, Iruka told him when they parted again.

“A surprise?”, Kakashi asked warily. He wasn’t very fond of surprises. In his life, surprises almost always had meant kunais out of the dark, jutsu traps or sudden treason.

“Turn around.” Iruka grinned.

Kakashi did as wished and caught sight of the new curtains again. “New curtains.” New curtains were at least a safe surprise. Probably.

“Look closer.”

“Okay…” Kakashi squinted with his uncovered eye. “New white curtains that look like… fishnet?”

“Almost.” Iruka moved to stand beside him and took the cloth in his hand. “New white curtains that look like fishnet and are strong enough to stop kunai and shuriken and the like.”

The Copy-nin frowned. “Stop them?”

“M-hm. Here, feel it.” Iruka held out the cloth. “It’s a very strong and heavy fibre. If you throw a kunai or a shuriken or something else against it, the weapon can’t cut through and instead gets stopped by the heavy cloth and falls down. And still, because of the fishnet, the light can shine through them although the view is rather obscured. Ibiki invented them and I asked him to install them in my apartment. We already tested them.”

“They’re handy”, Kakashi admitted, but then jumped in shock. “Why do you have them? Is somebody threatening you?!” And it was certainly his fault, he had put Iruka in danger!

“Nobody’s threatening me.” Iruka stroked the Jounin’s upper arm reassuringly. “They’re for you. To feel safer in here.”

“Oh.” Kakashi’s eyes widened. “For me?”

“Yes.” Iruka slowly wrapped his arms around his waist. “I have them on every window. I want you to feel safe to embrace me or sleep or do anything you want in here whenever you want.”

“Oh.” Kakashi looked at him, unsure what to do. He couldn’t remember the last time anybody had done something not strictly necessary to make him feel better. He didn’t even know if that had ever happened to him before.

“Do you think you can feel safer with them?”, Iruka asked softly.

“Yes”, Kakashi whispered. “Yes, I… thank you.” He embraced the Chuunin. “Thank you, Iruka.”

“You’re welcome.” Iruka nuzzled his neck. “I love you.”

“I want to love you. Thank you”, Kakashi whispered once again, then leaned down to kiss him softly. And just as he had hoped, Iruka smiled.

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

“Again a mission? And for two weeks even? But you’ve only just come back here.” Iruka looked at him sadly.

“I have to”, Kakashi murmured. “We’re short-staffed at the moment and the Hokage can’t afford to let me stay in the village.”

Iruka sighed. “I understand. It’s just…” Another sigh. “I missed you while you were gone, and you’ve only just come back this morning. But I understand.”

“I will have to leave in three hours.” Kakashi smiled hopefully. “We could eat dinner together before I go.” Apple pancakes?

“That would be nice.” Iruka smiled back. “Any wishes?”

“Apple pancakes?” Pleasepleaseplease?

“Well”, Iruka laughed. “I knew that. I meant apart from apple pancakes. I think I should feed you with more if you have to go on a mission.”

“Don’t care.” Kakashi smiled happily. Apple pancakes!

“Alright, I’ll find something.” Iruka grinned, then walked towards him and embraced him. “I will miss you. Without you, my apartment feels so empty, especially at night. I missed you in my bed.”

“Oh, night.” Kakashi remembered something. “Can I take your pillow cover with me again?”

“Of course. But I’ll give you the one I used while you were gone, alright?”

“Thank you.” Kakashi hugged the Chuunin tighter. Iruka was very nice to give him something to help him sleep. Maybe he should try to give Iruka something in return? But what? Iruka had always slept well without him, and Kakashi didn’t have a pillow cover.

“What did you miss most while I was gone?”, he asked.

“Being held”, Iruka murmured and snuggled closer. “And holding you. And hearing your breathing at night and feeling your warmth then.”

Being held… Kakashi didn’t know how to give that to Iruka. And holding him… maybe he could find something for Iruka to hold? But that thing with the breath and the warmth… that was tricky. Soo… something to hold, to hear breathing and to be warm… Hmmmm… So what could that be? What could-

“Pakkun!”, Kakashi exclaimed when an idea struck him.

“What?” Iruka jumped in shock. “What’s a ‘Pakkun’?”

“You can have Pakkun while I’m gone.” Kakashi grinned happily. “Wait.” Oh, this was so perfect! Not only would Iruka be happy, Kakashi could also be sure that the Chuunin was safe. Pakkun would make sure of that and could even inform him just in case something happened. And Pakkun would-

Kakashi flinched. Uh-oh. He had forgotten that Pakkun didn’t really like to be treated like a dog. Or being cuddled, or even touched much. And that was bad for that ‘something to hold and be warm at night’-thing.

“Kakashi? What’s wrong? And what’s that ‘Pakkun’?”, Iruka asked.

But Pakkun would still breathe. Everybody had to breathe, even a bad-tempered, sarcastic pug. And that was at least one of three, right? And Iruka would have somebody to talk to, even if Pakkun could be rather grumpy and stroppy at times. But still Iruka would have someone to keep him company. And be safe, and that was even more important.

“Kakashi?”

“Pakkun can stay here.” Kakashi nodded, having made a decision. “I’ll call him.” He took out a kunai from his weapon pouch, nicked his thumb and then formed the seals for the summoning jutsu. A cloud of smoke appeared.

“What is it now, boss?”, it asked. “You know, I was eating.”

“Pakkun, you will stay here with Iruka while I’m on a mission”, Kakashi declared.

“What’s an ‘Iruka’?”, the pug asked.

“That would be me”, the Chuunin told him, then turned towards Kakashi. “Explain?”

“Pakkun can keep you company while I’m on that mission.” Kakashi beamed happily. “He breathes!”

“Ooo… kay?” Iruka didn’t seem convinced.

“He’s a client?”, Pakkun asked. “You know, if he is, then it’s your job to protect him.”

“I don’t need to be protected”, Iruka growled.

“Pakkun will stay to keep you company”, Kakashi interfered. “And to breathe at night.”

“To…” Iruka frowned, then laughed. “Kakashi, that’s so very you.”

“So very me?” He wasn’t sure if he understood that.

“Yes, very.” Iruka smiled at him, then kissed him softly. “Pakkun can stay if he wants to. To keep me company and breathe at night. But now I’ll take care of dinner. You’re invited, Pakkun.” And with that he went into the kitchen.

“Explain”, Pakkun ordered the moment he and Kakashi were alone in the living room.

“Iruka’s my… boyfriend”, the Jounin told him, not sure whether the dog knew that word. But he would so not call Iruka his ‘mate’, no way.

“Ah.” Pakkun arched an eyebrow. “And you decided that why?”

“He loves me. And I want to learn to love him back.”

“Sure, boss, whatever you say.” Pakkun snorted. “And I’m here because…”

“I have to go on a mission and don’t want Iruka to miss me. Therefore you’ll stay here and keep him company.”

“Of cooouuurse…” Pakkun glared. “Look at me, at my bushy, pink fur and my nice, dumb-looking eyes. What do you think I am?! A frigging poodle?!”

“You will do as I tell you”, Kakashi growled.

“Ah, you order me to be the pet of your boyfriend?!”

“I order you to keep Iruka company, make sure he doesn’t get sad because he misses me and protect him just in case it’s necessary.” Kakashi glared at his nin-dog. He had known that Pakkun was stubborn, unfriendly and not very fond of humans, but didn’t he see that Iruka was important and special?

“Protect him?” Pakkun snorted. “Now really, boss, you almost had me there.”

“I mean it!”

“Yeah, sure. You want me to protect a Jounin, alright.”

“Iruka’s a Chuunin.” A very capable one from all he knew, but the Copy-nin had dangerous enemies.

“Of cooouuurse…”

“He is! What makes you think he’s a Jounin?”

“Boss, I think it’s enough now, was very funny and all that, but-” Pakkun stopped and eyed his master suspiciously. “You are kidding, aren’t you?”

“Iruka is a Chuunin”, Kakashi repeated, slightly confused by his nin-dog’s odd behaviour.

“His chakra is too strong for that.” Pakkun sniffed. “Well, not really too strong, but it’s rather strong for a Chuunin.”

“His chakra’s too strong?” Kakashi frowned, then carefully felt out with his own towards Iruka. His eyes widened. “You’re right!” The chakra waves he felt were definitely extremely strong for being Chuunin-level.

“But sure I’m right. Unlike you humans, I can smell how strong a chakra is.” Pakkun snorted. “You’re sure he’s a Chuunin? His chakra control is excellent, almost reaches an ANBU’s even. That’s probably why you didn’t notice immediately.”

“I… I…” Kakashi didn’t know what to think. Was the man in the kitchen not Iruka maybe? But that couldn’t be, he smelled and felt like Iruka and had the Chuunin’s chakra signature. But what could it be else? Had-

Kakashi swallowed hard, painfully. Had Iruka tricked him? Had Iruka just pretended to be Chuunin-rank to… to do what? To kill him? To infiltrate Konoha?

“I… Iruka?”, Kakashi croaked. “Iruka?” It hurt to think about the possibilities and he didn’t really want to know what it was, but he had to.

“Yes?”

“Iruka, could you come here?” And then explain everything? And say that it was nothing serious or that Pakkun had made a mistake? And not, please not say that he was a traitor and had only pretended to love him?

“What is it?” Iruka looked out of the kitchen.

Kakashi opened his mouth to speak, to ask, but found that he couldn’t form a single word, could hardly breathe. He motioned for Pakkun to ask instead of him.

“Why are you Chuunin while judging from your chakra level you should be Jounin?”, the pug asked coldly. “And are you Chuunin?”

Kakashi saw Iruka freeze, then his face grimaced. “I am a Chuunin”, he told them.

“Your chakra tells differently”, Pakkun gave back.

“I didn’t want the promotion when it was offered to me.” Iruka stepped into the living room and crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking uneasy.

“You took the exams?”, Kakashi asked, feeling hope well up inside him. That could be an explanation. Iruka could have been ready but then have refused. He had never heard of something like that happening before, but it was possible, right? Right?!

“Yes.” Iruka nodded. “I had the chance to become Jounin three times.”

“And you passed the third time and then refused?” Passing at the third try was incredibly good. Kakashi himself had passed on his first, but the average was four.

“I passed and refused every time.”

“What?!”, Kakashi gasped.

“Kakashi, I…” Iruka sighed and seemed to want to say something but then the look in his eyes became defiant suddenly. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But Iruka, I-”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Iruka turned his back towards him. “If it’s so damn important for you, you can ask Tsunade-sama to give you my file. You have my permission to do so if you think you have to.”

“Iruka, I…” Kakashi sighed, unsure what to do. “Promise me you don’t intend to… to do something that will harm the village?” He knew it was stupid not to dig deeper, not to try to get Iruka to tell him. He probably even should inform the Hokage about it, but… Trust, right? That was what Iruka always gave to him. He would try to give it back although it was a risk he as a shinobi probably shouldn’t take.

“I promise that the reason why I’m still a Chuunin is of no concern for the village’s safety”, Iruka told him stiffly.

“And promise me that it doesn’t… that it is of no concern for us?”, Kakashi pleaded softly.

“For us?”, Iruka whispered and shook his head but turned around. “Do you really think I could do anything to harm you?” He smiled sadly. “I’d rather die, Kakashi.”

The Jounin swallowed hard. “Okay.”

Trust. He would just trust Iruka.

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

Kakashi sighed when finally Iruka’s apartment house came in sight in the darkness after two and a half weeks of being out and being shinobi instead of human with Iruka. He was so, so, sooo tired. Somehow the pillow cover hadn’t worked quite as good as the old one. But he was rather sure that it hadn’t been because of the cloth.

Sighing again, the exhausted Jounin entered the apartment through the open window to the living room. He smiled softly when the heavy new curtains brushed his shoulders. He would be with Iruka again. He would sleep again. And in the morning he would try to sort everything out.

On silent feet, Kakashi went to the bedroom and carefully opened the door to slip inside. He quickly but quietly shed his clothes except his shirt and boxers, then just wanted to slip under the sheets and next to Iruka when he noticed something and froze.

There was somebody in the bed! There was somebody lying in Iruka’s arms!

Kakashi growled softly. That was his place. Nobody but him was allowed to sleep there!

“Hey!”, he hissed angrily. “Hey!”

“Hrn?”

“Hey! Get lost!”

“Hrmngrph.” A yawn. “Boss?”

“Get lost!”, Kakashi hissed again.

“Get lost yourself.” Pakkun closed his eyes again.

Kakashi stared. Then stared more. Waaait. Wait. That… that was…

“What the hell are you doing there?”, he demanded, trying to keep his voice low despite him being outrageous by now. His place! His place! His place, his place, his-

“Your boyfriend invited me.” Pakkun grinned smugly.

“Get. Out.”

“No. Way.”

“Pakkun, that’s my last-”

“Kakashi?”

“Yes?” The Jounin flinched. He hadn’t wanted to wake Iruka.

“You’re back.” Iruka yawned and slowly opened his eyes. “How are you?”

“Fine.” Kakashi nodded and was rewarded with a sleepy smile.

“See?”, Pakkun asked. “I told you he would be alright.”

“You!”, Kakashi hissed, remembering whose fault it was he wasn’t already lying in Iruka’s bed with Iruka in his arms. “That’s my place!”

“Hm?” Iruka frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Pakkun’s lying on my-” Kakashi broke off when he realised how stupid he would probably sound with his complaint.

“The boss wants to kick me out”, Pakkun told him, showing the Chuunin an indignant pout.

“Why that, Kakashi?”

“I… that…” The Jounin felt himself blush under his mask. “That’s my place.”

“Your place? Where?”

“In… in your arms.” Where it was warm. Kakashi’s warmth.

Iruka groaned. “You want to tell me you’re jealous of your nin-dog?”

“That’s my place”, Kakashi insisted. “And besides, Pakkun never before liked to be cuddled.”

“Well, I like it now.” The pug huffed. “And now get lost.”

“That’s my-”

“Stop it!”, Iruka told them sternly. “This is ridiculous.”

“Sorry”, Kakashi murmured. But still… his place.

“Okay…” Iruka sat up. “I’m sure we’ll find a good place for each of you. But first…” He looked up at Kakashi. “Did you read my file?”

“No.” Kakashi shook his head but felt that he had to confess more. “I wanted to. I… I almost asked Tsunade-sama for it just now, but… but I didn’t.” It had felt bad suddenly, as if he had been about to do something very bad to Iruka.

“Why not?”

“I… I thought that… that if you don’t want to tell me, then I shouldn’t look for it in your file.” He bit his lip. “But before I left for the mission, I… I told Tsunade-sama about our… argument and asked her if she knew anything and then she said that she knew and that you’d had your reasons and that Sandaime-sama knew, too, and that the village isn’t in danger and when I came back, she asked me whether I wanted to see your file and I said that I didn’t want because I don’t think you want me to and then I came here because I wanted to see you”, he finished in a rush.

Iruka kept looking at him for some moments more, but then smiled softly. “Come here.” He held up the sheets on his side not occupied by Pakkun.

“Thank you.” Kakashi hurried to get close to him, then embraced him. Mmmmh… warm.

“Apple pancakes for breakfast?”

“Yes, please.”

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

tbc

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

AN:
Some things I want to say to this chapter:
First, I’m sorry that it took so long for me to write this but I haven’t had a single free day in the last four weeks, including my weekends. I hope it’ll get better now.
Second, hot-water bottles in pillow slips are heaven.
Third, I can’t stop giggling when I imagine Kakashi close to panic because twenty-something little kids hug him.
Fourth, kissing through a mask probably isn’t a very pleasant thing. *shrugs* We’ll have to wait and see whether he learns to like kissing still.
Fifth, no, this is not going to be an ‘Iruka is a funky, cool, kick-ass Hunter Nin’-story. He’s a Chuunin, period, and that’s how he’s best. He doesn’t need any rank or anything to be a great character. I do have certain plans for him but I’m aiming for him to stay himself. For Kakashi’s sake, if not for anything else.
Nayru