So I'll See you there then?

Title: So I’ll see you there then?
Chapter: 5 of 6
Author: Chibi-zoe (me)
Series: Naruto
Pairing: Kakashi x Iruka
Rating: R
Warnings: none
Summary: Kakashi is forced to undergo sexual dysfunction therapy and his therapist turns out to be Iruka


Chapter 5

“I see that you really enjoyed yourself then Kakashi-sensei.”

Was it just his imagination or were Iruka-sensei’s cheeks more than just a little bit pink? The man had been carefully reading through his meticulously notated diary. Not that there was really all that much in there, as he’d only had a couple of days to experiment, but he’d tried to capture as much detail as possible. He still had quite a few more toys that he wanted to try out, and a few more that he had yet to purchase, that he had been reading about in Iruka-sensei’s yaoi manga.

“Hn.” he snorted in wordless response.

He absolutely hated to admit it, but the chuunin therapist was right. He really had thoroughly enjoyed himself, a lot more so than he had expected to and he hadn’t felt so relaxed in years. Not even having to write down his experiences, so that the closet pervert sitting opposite him could read them, had dimmed the glow that he could feel himself emanating. He had felt Iruka’s curiosity about it from the moment that the man had entered his apartment, but luckily the teacher was too polite to enquire about it.

“Now that you know what it is that you like, we’re going to move on. I want you to think about what it is that you would want from a sexual encounter with another person. I don’t want you to tell me now, I want you to keep it in your mind and tell me at our session next week.” Iruka-sensei gave him a blinding smile “Now, I want you to come over here” he patted the floor beside the cushion he was sitting on “and tell me what you think about these scenarios.” Iruka-sensei pointed to the small pile of papers that he had spread out before him.

The session had gone remarkably well, once Kakashi had gotten over his unease with sitting so close to the other man. He had been able to feel the heat of Iruka-sensei’s body, and their arms had bumped continuously as they worked through the various scenarios presented. Kakashi had the sneaking suspicion that the session had actually been more about the casual closeness than the scenarios, because overall, they had been pretty lame, and he had found it hard to concentrate on what he should have been working on. His suspicions were confirmed when Iruka-sensei turned to face him as he was leaving and smiled brightly.

“You did extremely well today Kakashi-sensei. I must admit that I didn’t think that you would be able to get through all of those exercises with me sitting so close to you and deliberately breaching your personal space.”

Then to his complete surprise, Iruka-sensei gave him a little bow of respect, and then vanished out the door before Kakashi could come up with an appropriate response. What a strange man his therapist was. Shaking his head, Kakashi moved into the kitchen to make a cup of tea and to think about what Iruka-sensei had asked him. What would he want from a sexual encounter with another person, taking into account everything that he had learned about his body in the last couple of days? Settling himself at the table, he tapped his fingers against his teacup rhythmically as he thought his way through it logically.

First of all he would want pleasure, that being the main purpose of sex. Although, as he had learned, in order to have a really enjoyable sexual encounter, he had to be completely relaxed and at ease, so he would also want to be with someone who he felt comfortable with, and who felt comfortable with him. That was a critically small number of people, unless he could branch out a little socially. Perhaps he could learn to become comfortable with someone; surely that was the purpose of dating?

Secondly, he would want the encounter to take place somewhere that he felt completely safe and secure. He had seen people copulating in all kinds of strange and unhygienic places during his time, and he had even participated on occasion when he was a teenager. However he was a man now and he wanted none of it. His body was his temple, and if someone wanted to worship with him, then they would have to abide by Kakashi’s rules or go find someone else to be intimate with.

He also didn’t just want to be someone’s conquest, another mark in their bedpost; he wanted it to mean something to both of them. Meaningless encounters had their place but not at this particular stage of his life. He hummed slightly, he sounded like his sensei, nattering on and on about true love, and soul mates, and being together forever. Although, he paused his tapping thoughtfully, loving, or at least being loved by, the person he was being intimate with would basically cover all of his wants and needs. He smiled smugly; this was clearly what Iruka-sensei had been working around to, the devious man.

In Kakashi experience, real love appeared to make both partners weaker; it took the edge off their instincts and made them horribly sappy. He could still remember, with horrifying clarity, the awful poems that Minato-sensei had inflicted on their team when he had been courting Kushina-san. Not to mention Sakura-chan and her endless obsession with Sasuke-kun. Somehow, Kakashi just couldn’t see himself spouting the romantic drivel that seemed to lighten women’s hearts. With that thought, Kakashi stilled, he didn’t want a women. He wanted a man, and he was reasonably sure that a man wouldn’t want to be the recipient of endless sappy-ness.

Kakashi felt bitterly disappointed in himself, all these years he had been avoiding intimacy and social norms because he hadn’t once considered what it was that he actually wanted - he could’ve kicked himself. This was clearly the reason that the shrinks had marked him as Sexually Dysfunctional, some genius he was. Disgusted with himself, Kakashi skolled the rest of his almost-cold tea and stood up. What he needed right now was some vigorous physical exercise to take his mind off his own stupidity. He glanced out the window to gauge the time, if he guessed correctly, Gai would probably be on field nine about now and the man was always up for a spar.

When the smoke from his teleportation jutsu dissipated, he found himself alone on the field with his spandex-clad, self-proclaimed Eternal Rival. Sunlight glinted from the blindingly bright smile and Kakashi felt contentment steal over him, he could always rely on Gai, no matter what.

“So my Eternal Rival, have you come to pit your strength against mine?”

“Hm” he tried for disaffected agreement, and was rewarded with a hearty good guy’s pose and thumbs up.

“Come then Kakashi, I will show you the error of your ways” Gai’s smile was blinding in its intensity.

“…” Kakashi wordlessly returned Gai’s smile as he settled into a defensive stance to await his rivals’ inevitable frontal charge.

Several hours later, and almost completely exhausted, Kakashi staggered off the field, half supporting and half supported by, his equally exhausted rival. As always, after very strenuous activity, Gai was quiet and thoughtful. Kakashi wondered what was going through his bowl-cut topped head, but wasn’t quite curious enough to actually ask. On the other hand, Gai’s opinion mattered quite a lot to him, so maybe he could broach the subject that was very much on his own mind.

“Gai?” he murmured, trying to indicate that discreteness was required.

“Yes, my Eternal Rival” came the overly loud whisper.

“What do you think of Iruka-sensei?” it was almost, but not quite, the issue on his mind. He would have to work up to it, somehow.

“He is a most youthful man, training Konoha’s wonderful children.” Kakashi could sense that Gai was deliberately being unhelpful; he decided to up the ante.

“He is indeed.” It wasn’t much but it was better than nothing.

“A very attractive young man as well.” Kakashi’s eye nearly fell out of his head as he stared at his rival, was the man actually smirking at him? He didn’t know what was worse, Gai noticing that the academy sensei was attractive or Gai realising his intent in asking about the man.

“Very” he mumbled in embarrassment as he searched his rivals face for any signs of disapproval.

A lot of things that were acceptable during missions, and were studiously ignored during war times, were not approved of inside the village during peace times. Kakashi had no idea what his ninja colleagues might think of his desires, not that he cared overly much what they thought of him, but if his half-formed wishes became reality, then he cared very much what they might think of his lover. He couldn’t stand it if, after finally realising exactly who, and what, it was that he wanted, if his love then caused them distress or harm.

Thinking it over carefully, he realised that he couldn’t say for certain that he actually knew the preferences of any of the men and women that he worked with on a daily basis, other than Asuma and Kurenai, who he knew for a fact where an item, having accidentally jutsu-ed in on them once. He had his suspicions about some of them, but up until now, he hadn’t really cared enough to take any notice. As long as they hadn’t approached him, then he’d been quite happy living in blissful ignorance.

“He is also a chuunin” Gai said very seriously and Kakashi frowned, of course he knew that his therapist was ranked as a chunnin. What point was Gai trying to make? That Kakashi was an awful lot stronger than Iruka-sensei? Or perhaps he was trying to tell Kakashi to tread with caution in case the other man felt too intimidated by his reputation to refuse the great Copy-nin’s attentions?

“…” Kakashi nodded slowly in answer to Gai’s comment. There were so many things that the man could be alluding to, all of them worthy of consideration.

The heavily muscled arm holding him up tightened around his shoulders and strong fingers dug into his bicep for an instant, before they loosened back to their companionably hold.

“Don’t rush things Kakashi. Make sure that you’re both comfortable with everything before you continue.” Gai stopped walking to turn a solemn face his way and stare directly into his eye.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt, my rival.” With that, Gai thumped him on the back hard enough to make him stagger, and walked off. Kakashi stared after him in confusion, before smiling slightly in understanding and heading towards his own apartment. He could hear a cup of tea calling his name, and there was definitely a hot bath looming somewhere in his future.

In the warmth and safety of his bath, Kakashi pondered over his rival’s words. It was nice to know that his friend was there to support him, no matter what might happen in the future. Now all he had to do was figure out how to get Iruka-sensei to agree to go on a date with him. He had plenty of time to plan, as he had a funny feeling that the academy teacher would not accept his offer whilst still acting as his therapist, conflict of interests and all that. That was OK by Kakashi, he had survived alone for this long, and he would continue to survive for another couple of weeks. Swirling the water thoughtfully with his big toe, he wondered what the other man though of Hot Springs.