Search for Strength

Search for Strength

A/N: Okay. Long chapter gets a long author’s note. Okay this chapter is, as previously stated very, very, very long. Yes, you are reading my sixty page master piece. It’s over 17,000 words which is why it took so long. God, I hope the writing is decent or my poor bleeding fingers and broken wrists won’t be worth it. PLEASE REVIEW! I’m thinking of taking a break from this story and writing one of my others that I’ve been neglecting horribly. However…if I get an outpouring of reviews telling me that an angry mob will hunt me down if I don’t keep going then I will. Also, I think I forgot to warn and disclaim last chapter. Hope I didn’t scar anyone. This chapter was edited by the oh so talented michelerene, who fit me into her busy writing schedule. Thank you!! There are a bunch of song lyrics in here. I’ve been reading an author who has perfected the art of songfics so I thought I’d give it a try. If I didn’t succeed, don’t be afraid to tell me. The songs are Trip by Hedley, Why Can’t I by Liz Phair and Crash by the Dave Mathew’s Band. Oh and Leave the Pieces by the Wreckers. Oh and just a reminder, the timeline is off. I love the third but Tsunade is more fun to write. Okay, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Naruto characters I just love to torture them.

Warning: EVERYTHING!! Okay that was a little over the top but there is Yaoi sex, language…lots of language…uhhhh. Well that might be it. If I forgot something I’m sorry.

Chocolate eyes fluttered open and squeezed close again. Iruka groaned in discomfort as his stomach churned and head throbbed. The game and several free bottles of sake surfaced in his memory. He groaned again and buried his head beneath one of his pillows. His hangover was so impressive he could actually hear his head throbbing. No…wait…that was someone at his door. He unwillingly pushed himself from bed, still in his pants from the previous night. His shirts, for some reason, were nowhere to be found.

Kakashi almost laughed out loud as he heard disgruntled sounds from the other side of the door. The wood panel opened to reveal Iruka, still half naked and looking incredibly disheveled, his dehydrated body covered in crisscrossing lines from the sheets he’d passed out on. How was it possible that the brunette still looked so sexy when he felt like crap?

Iruka mumbled something he didn’t catch and sat down at the kitchen table, leaving Kakashi in the open door way. Sliding the door closed behind him, Kakashi set the paper cup of coffee down in front of the younger man, smirking at his obviously excruciating hang over.

“Afternoon, Sunshine! How you feeling?” Iruka dropped his head to the cool surface of the table.

“I’m never playing the game again!” Kakashi chuckled at the empty statement, both knowing and hoping that the chuunin was lying.

“Here.” He placed a bottle of water in Iruka’s hand and sat down beside him. Iruka cracked open the bottle and drank half of it in one go.

“Oh god. I’ll leave you everything I have in my will if you cut off my head!” Iruka clutched his stomach which was churning powerfully with all the water he’d just ingested. He groaned loudly, making his temples pound. Kakashi laughed.

“You’ll be okay. Did you at least have fun?”

“Yeah. I think so. Urgh! I don’t know if it was worth it though.” He glanced at Kakashi who had turned stoic and unease tightened his already suffering stomach.

“What?”

“I wanted to talk to you about what happened last night.” Iruka dropped his head to the table and moaned.

“Ooooh! What did I do? Did I strip again? Look, I’m sorry, but for some reason I have a hard time keeping my clothes on when I’m that drunk.” Kakashi gritted his teeth as he thought about the way Iruka and touched him last night. The broad, muscular body arching toward him, begging to be fucked into the next century.

He didn’t remember. He didn’t remember any of it. He didn’t remember Mizuki all over him; the way he had tried and very nearly succeeded in seducing Kakashi…he didn’t remember what Kakashi had said in response.

Forcing a smile onto his face, he pulled a neatly folded white tank top and red dress shirt from a bag and handed them to the hung over teacher. Iruka tried to pull the tank top over his head but when his stomach lurched he balled them both up and stuck them under the side of his head.

“Well, you lost these at some point while dancing, but other than that I’m pretty sure you didn’t remove any other clothes.” Iruka nodded and smiled weakly.

“Thank the gods. Last time I did that I woke up with women’s numbers written all over me…in permanent marker!” A pale hand tucked a stand of chocolate locks behind the owner’s ear.

“I shouldn’t have woken you up. I’ll let you go back to sleep.” The jounin stood to leave when a hand grasped his wrist.

“Wait! What did you want to talk about?” Kakashi stared down at the teacher whose eyes were shinning with curiosity and concern. He wanted nothing more than to press his mouth to the dark, full lips and mark the man as his own. He wanted to pour his heart out to the object of his affections and tell him everything that happened and that the only reason he didn’t wake up with a sore ass this morning was that Kakashi wanted more from him than just sex. He swallowed thickly…

“Nothing. Mizuki was after you last night, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” Iruka stiffened, clearly having no memory of this.

“What happened?” he asked timidly.

“Not much. You put him in his place.” Iruka smiled at the idea that Kakashi didn’t have to save him again.

“I can only assume I got home safely because of you. Thanks.”

Kakashi smirked. “How do you know Rei didn’t help you home?”

Iruka barked out a laugh and then gripped his head.

“She would have found the women another, even more permanent marker!” Kakashi laughed and gently gripped the chuunin’s lean shoulder.

“Go back to bed. I’m sorry I woke you.” Iruka reached for his coffee.

“No, I should get up. You did say it was afternoon didn’t you?”

“Uh, yeah, it’s about one thirty.” Iruka took a tentative sip of the hot drink, grimaced and stood on shaky legs.

“Maybe bed isn’t such a bad idea.”

“Are you okay?” Iruka nodded as he leaned against the doorframe of his bedroom.

“So when am I teaching you to dance?” Kakashi growled in frustration.

“All the things you don’t remember about last night and you had to remember that?” His aggravation made Iruka chuckle which in turn made him grab his head.

“I could ask Rei if we could use the bar. She’s there most of the time. I think she’d live there if it wasn’t some kind of health code violation.”

“Whatever.”

“Don’t think you’re getting out of this. If you hadn’t noticed, women love a man who can dance.” Kakashi didn’t respond and Iruka took that as license to set up something more definite.

“I’ll talk to Rei today and see if we can get in Tuesday evening before the bar opens.” Kakashi sighed in exasperation for show, secretly excited to see the teacher dance again. The prospect of having the ripped, bronze body pressed up against his chest was making his pulse race.

“Fine! Tuesday.” The silver haired man conceded.

“I’ll see you later.” Iruka said smiling.

Kakashi nodded and exited the residence his chest taut in both anticipation and remorse. He didn’t remember. The simple admission the previous night had been a real stretch for the jounin. He now felt like he was again at square one with the teacher. Square one for him but Iruka had somehow slid past his impenetrable barriers and deep into the silver haired man’s heart. No one had done that since…him. He leapt off the balcony and landed softly on the ground heading in the direction of the memorial stone. He needed direction. He would find it there; among the names of his loved ones…people he’d loved and lost.

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“Hello Naruto!” The blonde twisted in his seat at the ramen counter and gazed at the friendly, silver haired man.

“Mizuki-sensei! How’s it going?”

“Pretty good. Do you mind if I join you?” Naruto nodded and gestured to the seat beside him.

“So how’s your training going? Ah, miso ramen please.” He settled down in the seat and ordered a bowl of food.

“It’s good. It’s been off lately though. Sasuke-teme’s been acting weird. His moves seem all off and he’s been taking it easy on me. He actually pulled that damn cat with the bow off me when it was clawing me to pieces on Friday.” Mizuki chuckled.

“Sometimes you can get very protective of your friends.” Naruto scowled.

“I didn’t think we were friends. We try to kill each other at least a dozen times a week!”

“Sounds to me like you might be more than friends.” Naruto cocked his head in confusion.

“Wouldn’t that make us less than friends?” Mizuki smirked.

“Not always, my young, genin friend.”

“What about you? How are things?” Mizuki plastered a stoic expression on his face before smiling weakly.

“Things are…good. They’re fine. I’m just…bah. Never mind. It’s nothing.” He knew he had said enough to pique Naruto’s interest.

“What is it? Can I help?”

“No! Well…”

The blonde began to bounce in his seat. “Please tell me! I’ll buy your ramen for you! If I can help, I want to.”

“You don’t have to buy my ramen for me. I just don’t know if he’d want me to talk to you about it.” Naruto had a very contemplative look on his face and Mizuki could almost see the wheels turning in his head.

“Are you worried about Iruka-sensei?” ‘And the last horse crosses the finish line!’

“Well…yeah. He hasn’t said anything to you, has he?” Naruto shook his head.

“No. No, of course not. I’m just so worried about him. Who could possibly want to hurt anyone so wonderful?” Naruto looked in awe at the teacher. He’d never really spent much time with Mizuki-sensei and was beginning to like him more and more with each passing second.

“I know! But it’s okay. Kakashi-sensei’s been looking after him.” Naruto’s brows furrowed as Mizuki scowled in response.

“I know. I just don’t understand. Iruka and I have been friends for years. We’re much closer than he and Kakashi are. Why won’t he talk to me? And I don’t think that Kak-no. Never mind.”

“No! What were you going to say?”

“I just…I shouldn’t say anything. He’s you’re sensei. It would be wrong of me to say anything. This is just grown up stuff.”

The blonde puffed out his tanned cheeks. “I’m not a kid you know. I’m worried about Iruka-sensei too, so if Kakashi-sensei is doing something wrong, I want to know!” Mizuki feigned a difficult inner battle. “Okay. Well first of all I don’t trust him. Sure, I trust him to watch out for me in a battle or on a mission but with my best friend’s heart…no way! He’s a scoundrel. He reads porn and sleeps around. I just don’t want to see Iruka hurt. In any way!” Naruto dropped his chin. He’s always thought of Kakashi-sensei as a good man. Unorthodox and a little crazy, but deep down, someone he could trust with anything. Now he was having serious doubts about letting Kakashi look after the most important person in his life.

“Naruto…you don’t happen to remember if you saw Kakashi-sensei the night Iruka was attacked, do you?” Azure eyes flew open in shock.

“What! No! You don’t mean…”

“No, I don’t know what I’m saying. Forget it.” Naruto saw the look of unease on the chuunin’s face but refused to believe it. Kakashi-sensei would never do that. Never…no…not possible…not ever. His own thoughts became less and less convincing.

“I gotta go. Thanks for listening, kid.” Mizuki left the horrified child by himself. Even if the blonde hadn’t believed him, he’d sowed the seeds of distrust. He knew how much Iruka loved the boy and if Naruto began to pull away from Kakashi, Iruka would follow suit. He smirked to himself as he sauntered down the street, thinking that he had really missed his calling when he became a shinobi. After that performance, he was sure he should have been an actor.

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Monday flew by and before Kakashi knew it he was heading to the Shuriken as the sun set over Konaha. He was nervous. He never let it show, his hands deep in his pockets, a lazy expression on his face, but he was nervous. He couldn’t dance. No rhythm. He was coordinated when it came to fighting but somehow when you added music to the mix he just looked goofy. He pushed the door open and found only Rei sprawled out on the bar on her stomach like it was a couch; her bare feet up in the air. She had her head buried in a magazine and didn’t seem to notice when he entered. His eyes swept the empty room and he thought about leaving.

“Don’t even think about it.” He looked up at the woman, surprised.

“What?” She set down the magazine and glared at the jounin.

“Sweetheart just went to get some food. He’ll be right back so don’t even think about making a break for it.” Running a hand through his silver hair, a growl of unease slipped from the pale, covered lips. Rei smirked and went back to reading.

“Come on. You can’t be that bad.” Kakashi was about to respond when the door opened to reveal Iruka’s bright smile. He blushed when he saw the jounin and hurriedly dropped the containers of food on the bar.

“Hi,” came the breathy whisper from Iruka’s lips. The pair just stared at each other for a minute. Rei looked up from her magazine. She had told Iruka that she was waiting for an important phone call but the truth was she wanted to see them interact. She was certain that something was either happening or about to happen and she wanted to help facilitate in any way possible. She also wanted to confirm her suspicions so she could tease her best friend relentlessly. Kakashi too. She wasn’t sure why, but she loved getting under the older nin’s skin.

Rei smirked at the obvious chemistry flying between the pair. She debated about letting it continue but her stomach growled and she thought they’d have plenty of time to eye each other on the dance floor.

“So what kind of bribe did you bring me?” Both of them, snapping out of their daze, looked at Rei. Well, Iruka looked. Kakashi glared. Iruka cracked open one of the containers and fed a piece of sushi to the petite woman, who moaned in delight as she tasted her favorite maki. She pulled herself down the bar with her hands, kissed Iruka on the corner of his mouth and grabbed the container from his hands along with a pair of chopsticks. She smirked up at Kakashi who was still glaring at her. She slipped another piece into her mouth, eye lids fluttering at the taste. She then pulled Iruka back to her and kissed the corner of his mouth again, a little longer this time. Her eyes flicked to Kakashi and she saw his knuckles go white on the bar. Releasing her friend, who began to open some of the other containers, completely unfazed by being kissed by a woman, she commenced a staring contest with the single, visible, stormy grey eye.

“Mmm, Sweetheart, my favorite. Thank you.” The grey eye narrowed but didn’t move. She was quite sure that he was trying to burn a hole in her head with his gaze. She shuddered when she thought that the legendary ninja probably could. She took another piece of the salmon sushi and watched the blush spread over Iruka’s tanned cheeks as he handed Kakashi a container and their fingers brushed. Kakashi, she noticed, did not tear his eyes away from the chuunin for almost half a minute before glancing at the dish Iruka had handed him.

“Did you know that I love eggplant?” The tan cheeks flushed deeper and Iruka mumbled that he may have heard that at one point. Rei grinned like a maniac but neither man noticed. They were obviously crazy about each other…too bad neither thick skulled male knew how the other felt. That’s why she preferred women. Well, that and breasts.

The delicious meal finished the two men headed to the dance floor. Iruka put on some standard bar music and turned to face Kakashi, who was wondering if he would ever have a chance with the brunette after he saw the horribly jerky moves he would undoubtedly perform.

“Okay. We’ll start off small. Just move you’re feet from side to side.” Kakashi already felt ridiculous but the warm encouraging smile Iruka was sending him made him relax. After a couple of songs, Kakashi was starting to loosen up and was far more comfortable with the simple steps the seemingly flawless chuunin was showing him.

“That’s good! Much better. Now all you have to do is move you’re hips a bit and not keep your arms at your sides like a zombie. Watch me.” Iruka began to subtly swing his hips, his arms rising in front of him, crossing and uncrossing. What caught the jounin’s attention the most was the look that slid onto the tan face. It was peaceful yet sexual; like the music was flowing through every cell in the smaller frame. Iruka closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. The groan that escaped the covered throat was thankfully muffled by the music.

Iruka opened his eyes and gestured for his student to try. Kakashi gave a few jerky, very geeky movements before a loud snort drew both of their attentions to the bar where Rei had buried her head in her arms in an attempt to stifle her laughter.

“Does she have to be here?” Iruka knew that Rei wouldn’t leave but thought he’d ask for Kakashi’s sake.

“Hey Rei, would you mind-?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, thanks. We won’t be much longer.”

“I meant yes, I would mind.” Kakashi glared at her. He could see how she would be a fun friend but he found himself disliking her. It could be her insufferable knowing smile, or maybe the way she seemed to delight in kissing Iruka which made him question her sexuality. But mostly, he knew he couldn’t concentrate with her laughing at him. No one laughed at him and got to live to tell about it. Well, mostly no one ever dared laugh at him…period. Iruka grabbing his wrists made him snap back to attention.

“Just ignore her. You’re doing great.” Iruka cut the distance between them in half and slid his hands onto the older man’s hips, guiding them to swing in time with the music.

Iruka’s heart raced. It was a silly, guilty pleasure, but even this small amount of contact with Kakashi made his cheeks flush in delight. He could feel the muscular abs contract and relax under his hand making his imagination run wild with dirty images and fantasies. Images of those washboard abs uncovered and dripping with sweat as they hover inches above his body. He shook his head trying to focus on the task at hand but his mind kept sliding into the gutter. He inched a little closer and inhaled deeply. The older man’s smell was intoxicating. He glanced up at the jounin’s face to find that he was being watched intently. Blushing furiously, Iruka pulled back just as their play-list on the jukebox ended. Chuckling nervously, he ran his hand through his hair.

“Well, I could use a glass of water, how bout you?” Kakashi didn’t answer, studying the flushed face in fascination. Was Iruka blushing because of him? It was so hard to tell. The brunette seemed to blush all the time but Kakashi had never really seen him interact that much with other people. Did the little chuunin have feelings for him? Was it just attraction, or was it more; something deeper than lust? He watched with new eyes as Iruka began to fidget under his gaze.

“Kakashi?” Still he didn’t reply. He watched the tan cheeks flush deeper and glittering, white teeth press nervously into the full, bottom lip.

“Kaka-?”

“Yeah, I could use a drink.” They sauntered back to the bar where Rei again seemed to be heavily engrossed in her article.

“Hey, can we get a drink?” Rei nodded and pointed to the fridge at the end of the bar. Iruka skipped off towards the fridge and Rei glanced evilly up at Kakashi.

“So…you looked like you just had a ‘eureka moment’ out there.”

“A what?” Rei rolled her eyes, glancing over her shoulder to watch Iruka’s progress.

“A ‘eureka moment’. A moment of clarity. An epiphany, if you will.” Kakashi didn’t respond. He was watching Iruka bend over and shuffle the contents of the fridge.

“He doesn’t know. He has no idea, and he won’t unless you grab him and kiss him till his pretty, little, chocolate head pops off. Sweetheart is too modest to think that his hero could possibly want him.” The visible grey eye widened.

“Hero?” Rei laughed heartily.

“He’s had a thing for you since we were kids. You didn’t know? Kami! You two are hilarious! How can two smart men be so un-fucking-believably thick?” A short whistle drew the silver haired nin’s attention down the bar where Iruka was holding up a bottle of water and a beer. Kakashi pointed to the water and watched as Iruka bent over again to replace the beer.

“So my advice to you…Hey!” she smacked his arm to get him to focus, “Pay attention! I’m trying to help you out here. My advice to you is to grab him and kiss him till his pretty, little, chocolate head pops off!”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. He’s just out of a really bad relationship and I don’t want to take advantage of…”

“WHAT?! A relationship? With who? Why was it bad? What happened?” Kakashi looked at her in shock. The pair were so close that it never occurred to him that Iruka wouldn’t have told her about Mizuki.

“I…you don’t…he didn’t tell you?” She shook her head in response. “Fuck! Look I promised him I wouldn’t say anything.” Green eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Does this have to do with why he was in the hospital?” She took Kakashi’s silence as confirmation. She studied the man with intently. She could hear Iruka’s approaching footsteps and the grey eye returned to her with a silent plea. She grudgingly nodded in unspoken agreement not to push the issue with either of the men.

Iruka rejoined them, looking curiously between his crush and his best friend who seemed to be deep in very serious thought.

“What’s with the somber mood?” They both turned to Iruka, whose warm, curious smile lifted the dark clouds from around both of them.

“Nothing. Just a philosophical debate.” Kakashi gave Rei a grateful nod.

“Hey Sweetheart, you haven’t taught him how to dance with another person yet.” Iruka shifted uncomfortably.

“I didn’t get a girl to come. Hey! Unless you…”

“No,” she deadpanned.

“Oh come on! He’s not going to want to learn it with me!” Rei shot Kakashi an exasperated glance.

“I’m busy.” Iruka looked around the empty bar, and growled indignantly, “With what?!”

“I’m learning how to please my man.” She gestured to the magazine. Iruka snorted before seeing that she wasn’t laughing.

“Really?” She flipped the magazine to show him the article’s title.

“Ten moves guaranteed to make him moan. Isn’t that kind of a waste of time?”

“No more so than dancing with a guy.” Iruka nodded before glancing over her shoulder at the article.

“Hey, can I read that when you’re done?” It was Rei’s turn to snort.

“Sure. Now go teach! Kakashi won’t mind dancing with you.” Iruka turned to Kakashi worrying his lip with his teeth and rubbing the back of his head.

“Well…if you want to…you can just pretend I’m a pretty little thing that you’re attracted to.” Kakashi, feeling that it wouldn’t be hard, grabbed Iruka’s hand and led him back to the dance floor. Rei called to Iruka across the room, “Use play-list six! It’ll be good for what you’re teaching.” Play-list six being some of the hottest, most sexual songs on the jukebox.

The first song was rather uneventful. The men just danced in front of each other. Iruka wanted to move in closer, to press his body against the lean chest before him but suddenly there were bigger implications to the dance now. He didn’t trust his body not to react if he started grinding with his crush.

As the song came to an end, Kakashi was beginning to get frustrated. He could tell that Iruka was uncomfortable and he was beginning to doubt how well Rei thought she knew him. Maybe Iruka liked him a long time ago but she had said herself that they drifted apart from time to time. She didn’t even know about her best friend’s abusive ex. He was about to tell Iruka to forget about it when a pen flew across the room and struck the chuunin on the shoulder.

“Damn it, Sweetheart, loosen up! Teach him properly or don’t bother!” Iruka flushed a deep crimson and moved tighter to the jounin’s body. Another song started, one of Iruka’s favorites, and he felt his body relax, his hips swinging seductively to the beat. He was so relaxed that he barely jumped when pale hands snaked around his waist. Twisting in the grip he leaned back into tight body. Feeling bolder, he reached back and pulled Kakashi’s slim hips so that they pressed tightly against his ass. The pale hands on his hips tightened. Iruka placed his hands over Kakashi’s and slid them slowly up his chest before pushing them down his muscular stomach to the top of his pants. A pant escaped the dark lips as the strong thin arms slowly crossed, palms dragging along his waist to rest on his hips again. Kakashi slipped his thumbs under the hem of Iruka’s shirt, brushing the searing skin beneath, both stretching to touch every inch of flesh possible as they moved across the smaller man’s torso.

Iruka twisted in his grasp again, running a hand up the jounin’s muscular chest and tangling it in the silver hair at the back of the older man’s neck and resting the other low on Kakashi’s tailbone. He then thrust his hips forward his so that his pelvis collided with his partner’s making the visible grey eye close in pleasure. Iruka slid a few inches to the left so he was straddling a long lean leg. Pulling Kakashi toward him so that there was no longer any space between them, he began maneuvering both pairs of hips so that they were rocking backward and forwards, making each man gasp as straining erections were ground against strapping thighs.

Kakashi’s ears buzzed as blood pounded through his veins. The room disappeared as he slid his hands forcefully up the chuunin’s back one pulling the tie from Iruka’s hair before finding a tight grip in the dark, chocolate locks, the other slid over the teacher’s taut ass. Grasping Iruka’s outside leg, he pulled the smaller man’s head beside his to balance his weight as they continued to dry hump on the dance floor. Their cheeks brushed and soon both men were panting in the other’s ear.

Kakashi released the leg in his grasp and slowly ran his palm up the back of the leg and over the dolphin’s ass, fingers splaying and flexing making the brown eyes close and the dark neck stretch in desire. He slid his nose along the tan jaw until their lips were inches apart and tightened his grip in the thick, dark hair making Iruka gasp. When the sinful dark lips parted and the hot breath hit his chin and lips, Kakashi was regretting his decision to constantly wear his mask, wanting to slide his tongue over the cinnamon mouth and taste the man in his arms. He brushed his covered lips over the corner of the chuunin’s mouth inciting a throaty moan. Growling, Kakashi spun him around. Iruka slid downward, tightly gripping each thigh as pressed his body into the groin behind him as he stretched back up to his full height, his head falling against the taller form as a strong hand moved up his chest and over his throat to grasp his chin. Iruka’s lips fell open again and Kakashi tilted his head and whispered breathily in the tan ear.

“So, how am I doing?” Iruka drew a breath to respond but his brain had effectively turned to mush and a gasp and a moan was all he could manage. A gasp from the other side of the room made them both look up to the bar where Rei and Takara were speaking in hushed tones. The spell was broken and the men parted immediately.

“Hey! Don’t stop on our account!” Rei whined. Chest heaving, Iruka moved to the bar, Kakashi following closely behind.

“That,” Rei breathed, “was better than porn!” Iruka blushed furiously and avoided everyone’s eyes.

“No, she’s right,” Takara agreed. “I’m a man-hating lesbian and even I thought that was intense. I know a dozen women who would have paid their weight in gold to watch that.”

Kakashi smirked and ran a hand along Iruka’s lower back.

“I should go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He caught the tan chin between his thumb and fore finger, his eye curving into a happy arc.

“Thanks for the dance.” The chuunin nodded and watched the man that sent his body into its current state of trembling, leave. Sighing, he dropped his crimson cheek to the cool surface of the bar.

“I need a drink and a cigarette.”

“Sweetheart…you don’t smoke.”

“I know.”

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Naruto glared at the water below the bridge. Kakashi was late as usual but today it seemed to be bothering him more. How could he have not looked closer at his jounin sensei? He still didn’t believe that Kakashi hurt Iruka but it still didn’t mean that Kakashi was a good guy. Thinking about Iruka made him smile softly before his sapphire eyes narrowed again. Iruka was so special to him, his surrogate brother or the father he never had a chance to know. Cursing himself for being so naïve as to think that Kakashi, lazy, unpunctual, sleazy Kakashi, could possibly be good for his sweet, pre-genin teacher. He released a long sigh and rested his forearm on the railing of the bridge.

“What’s the matter, Dobe?” Naruto glanced to the left and saw that Sasuke had joined him along the railing. He had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he hadn’t even noticed.

“What makes you think that something is wrong?” Naruto quipped. Sasuke shot him an exasperated look.

“Hn. You’ve been sighing like that for twenty minutes.” The blonde released another long sigh.

“Teme…have you ever misjudged someone you trusted?” Sasuke’s eyes grew steely as he thought about his brother that he used to love and admire. Blue eye widened as he realized his mistake.

“Yes, yes of course you have. Sorry. I just…I think I’ve seriously misjudged someone and now I don’t know what to do about it. Any suggestions?” Sasuke didn’t meet his gaze, his mind still violent from thinking about his sibling.

“Base every moment of your life on getting revenge.”

“Seems a little to involved for me. I need to stop him before he does something terrible.”

“Hn.”

“You’re useless!”

Sasuke finally snapped out of his vengeful state and eyed the disgruntled blonde warily. “Who do you think you’ve misjudged so badly?”

“Yo! Sorry I’m late. I got lost on the road of life.” Sasuke smirked at his ridiculous sensei before noticing that Naruto had turned away and was scowling at the river again. Sakura’s high pitched whine could be heard berating the tardy man but Sasuke wasn’t listening.

“Dobe?”

Naruto continued to glare at the water.

“Dobe, are you okay?” The blonde didn’t reply but the shocking blue eyes met the obsidian orbs and Sasuke read his mind. “We’ll talk after training. I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.”

Naruto nodded but continued avoiding Kakashi all day. His mannerisms almost Uchiha-like as he silently brooded throughout the entirety of the training session. Kakashi had asked Naruto several times what was wrong but the blonde had just stuffed his hands in his pockets before shrugging nondescriptly. Finally, giving Naruto a rare, concerned look, Kakashi took off to the meet Iruka. Sasuke rounded on his blonde rival.

“So, are you going to tell me what this is all about?” Naruto sighed and kicked a pebble at his feet.

“It’s Kakashi-sensei.” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

“Well that was obvious. But what about him? Has he done something wrong?”

“NO. Well…maybe. How much do you trust Kakashi-sensei?” Sasuke pondered the question for a moment. He’d never thought much about his bizarre instructor.

“He’s hasn’t given me a reason not to trust him…yet.”

“Do you…do you think he’s capable of…do you…it’s just he’s…”

Sasuke growled in vexation. “Spit it out, Dobe!”

“I think he’s the one who hurt Iruka-sensei!”

Silence. Not a sound followed the blonde’s words. The voices that had floated from the village were mute. The wind stopped rustling the leaves on the trees. No gentle calls emanated from the sparrows and larks in the forest. Sasuke stared, dumbfounded by the simple phrase. He refused to believe it. Refused to believe that one of the few people he respected was a monster; refused to believe that someone as sweet as Iruka could forgive someone who nearly killed him; refused to believe that his blonde rival could be so colossally stupid.

“Are you colossally stupid? What the hell is wrong with you? What could possibly make you think that Kakashi is capable of something like that?” Naruto’s eyes narrowed and he hissed through gritted teeth, “Kakashi-sensei is capable of something like that. Did you know he used to be Anbu captain? He used to torture people on a daily basis.” Sasuke marveled at how the idiot could even know something like that. Anbu identities were supposed to be secret. Very secret.

“Hn. That doesn’t mean he could hurt someone like Iruka-sensei.” Sasuke felt his own words lacking conviction. Anbu black ops were known for being cold and aloof, their perfectly polished masks hiding tormented psyches and unstable, paranoid and violent tendencies. Few black ops lived to be as old as the silver-haired jounin. How much stress had the long years of killing and loss lain on Kakashi?

“What got you thinking this way?” The blonde shifted restlessly.

“Someone said something. Someone who cares about Iruka-sensei. He doesn’t trust Kakashi.”

“And who is this mysterious person? Does he have a name or is he someone only you can see and hear?” Sasuke was actually making an attempt at lightening the mood. His mind was beginning to depress even himself.

“Fine, Bastard! I’ll deal with this myself. I’m just concerned about Iruka-sensei, but I forgot you don’t give a damn about anyone but yourself.” Naruto turned and began to walk away. Growling, Sasuke launched himself at the orange back and pinned the smaller teen to the ground. The pair struggled for a few minutes before pale hands locked dark wrists above spiky blond hair.

“You think you know me,” Sasuke hissed, his lips hovering inches above Naruto’s face. The sapphire eyes widened as they studied the intense, porcelain face above him.

“You think you know what’s in my mind. What I care about? Who I care about?” Naruto’s breath hitched as he felt hot breath on his lips. His tongue darted out to moisten them and he shivered as the pants from the teen above him caressed his wet mouth. The tan body shuddered involuntarily as pale, thin lips caressed the bottom of his tan earlobe.

“You’re so blind, Dobe.” Naruto gasped as the mouth moved against the shell of his ear, he stretched his neck, allowing the mouth more room.

“I care more about the people around me than you know. I care about Iruka-sensei. I care about our friends from the academy.” The mass of dark spikes pulled back and obsidian orbs bore into the turbulent, blue pools of emotion. Naruto almost cried out in shock as a hand gently cupped the side of his face. Sasuke’s expression was almost unreadable and his golden brows furrowed in confusion. What was Sasuke trying to say?

“We’ll watch Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei. We’ll figure out what’s going on. But you have to pretend nothing is wrong until we do. Okay?” Naruto nodded breathlessly.

Sasuke pushed his weight off the ground and lowered his hand for the blonde, pulling the slighter boy to his feet.

“So, who got you started on this whole crazy idea anyway?” Naruto didn’t answer at first, his mind concentrating on how his hand was still locked in Sasuke’s strong grip.

“Huh? Oh, Mizuki-sensei.” Sasuke snorted in disdain.

“Do you even know Mizuki-sensei? Why would you trust him over Kakashi-sensei?” Naruto huffed and pulled his hand out of the pale grasp.

“He cares about Iruka-sensei. They’ve been friends for years.” Sasuke nodded slowly before replying, “We’ll watch him too. Something tells me he knows more about what’s going on than we do.” Sasuke jerked his head and the pair started toward the heart of the village. Naruto shifting nervously caught Sasuke’s attention.

“Dobe?”

“Thanks, Teme. For your help and everything. I… I care about you too.”

“Hn. Dobe”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kakashi pulled Iruka a little closer to his body as they turned in lazy circles on the dance floor to the slow rock song. He knew how to slow dance but after his day, it felt comforting to be able to hold the dark man in his arms. Sighing deeply, he dropped his face to the top of the shorter man’s head and inhaled deeply, reveling in the smell of the dark locks.

“What’s wrong ‘Kashi?” A small smile appeared behind the mask and he tightened his arms around his dance partner.

“Had a bad day.” His pulse jumped as he felt Iruka nuzzle his neck, the soothing voice lilting in his ears.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Tan hands gently stoked the soft, silver hairs on the back of his neck causing waves of electric pleasure to race down his spine.

“It’s nothing. Let’s just dance.”

/Some say love is not for sinners…I believe that isn’t true…Cuz when I was finished sinning love came down and showed me you/

“Mmm. I love this song. Do you know it?” Kakashi shook his head but didn’t verbally respond; sliding a hand up Iruka’s back pulling the tan chuunin even tighter to him.

“Rei must have put it on because she knew it was one of my favorites. Are you going to stick around and here her sing tonight? I’m going to stay at least for the warm up anyway. I have grading to do though, so I can’t stay all night.” Kakashi desperately tried to make his mind focus on the words but Iruka was still stroking the back of his neck…and it was incredibly distracting.

“Hmmm? Yeah, I’ll stay for a bit.”

/Oh what are you doing to me…I’m so into you/

Kakashi glanced at the juke box, both praising and cursing Rei for her choice of such an appropriate song. At least she wasn’t leering at them again, busy bustling around the bar.

“This is a nice song. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before.” The chocolate head pulled away and beautiful, burnt umber pools full of mirth locked on the singular stormy grey orb.

“Are you kidding? This is hardly a new song. Don’t you listen to music?”

“I prefer something more classical.” Iruka nodded and much to the older man’s delight settled his head back in its original position on the crook of his neck.

“That seems to suit you.” The pair kept turning slowly, looking almost like a pair of lovesick teens at a dance. Kakashi suddenly had an overwhelming urge to yank down his mask and tenderly press his lips to the younger man’s face. The dark lips, yes, but his flushed cheeks, his forehead, the delicate lids that covered the striking eyes. What was the chuunin doing to him?

/Like a ton of bricks it hit me…And woke me from this dream/

“Iruka?”

“Hm?” Strong light hands left their positions to grip the sides of the golden face, holding it at half arms length so that it could be studied.

“Iruka…I…” Crimson tinted the captured cheeks and the chin dropped in pale hands and Kakashi’s heart faltered as hurt flew through the dark brown orbs.

/Can you hear me?...Cuz I can’t change what I’ll always be./

“Right. I’m sorry. I just…got caught up in the song.”

Kakashi grimaced as the man pulled from his grasp and turned to walk away. Why couldn’t he just say something? Why couldn’t he tell Iruka that he was crazy about him? Would he always be stuck watching the muscular back as the chuunin walked away from him despondently?

Iruka sighed and dug his hands in his pockets wondering how he could be so careless. Kakashi had been there for him the past couple of weeks. He’d been a constant source of strength and courage for the broken young man. The last thing Iruka wanted to do was make him uncomfortable. What if he was suddenly not around? What if he couldn’t stand the closeness that had erupted between himself and a known homosexual? He knew Kakashi wasn’t prejudice, but it’s different if you have a gay man hanging off you all the time. ‘Probably doesn’t want to tarnish his reputation,’ Iruka thought as he slid into the barstool in front of Rei, who was lightly smacking her head against the solid, wood surface.

“What?”

Rei glanced up at him and then at Kakashi who was stalking off the dance floor, shoulders hunched and looking both sulky and deadly. “Uuuuhhh….nothing. I…just forgot to pay a bill. Gotta hate those late fees.” Iruka nodded and looked at his jounin crush, who was focusing on the toes of his shoes.

“I should go,” Kakashi mumbled and turned to leave. In a move, the speed of which would make some shinobi jealous, Rei had leapt over the bar and was in front of the silver haired ninja, her hand placed firmly on his chest, eyes narrowed dangerously.

“No. Sit. Have a drink!” Her voice was sweet but her face, which was hidden from Iruka behind Kakashi’s torso, was anything but. Her lips pursed into a thin line and she lifted her eyebrows pointedly before furrowing them in warning.

“Or…I could sit and have a drink.”

Her face pulled into the wide smile and she adopted a sarcastic, sing-song voice and planted herself behind the bar again. “What a lovely idea. Why didn’t I think of that?”

Chuckling, Kakashi settled into the stool beside Iruka who avoided his gaze. Rei, not so subtly, jerked her eyebrows towards her best friend, trying to send Kakashi a message to go for it. The jounin swallowed thickly glancing at the dark beauty and then back at Rei. She shot him a ‘what the hell is wrong with you?’ glance to which he shrugged. Hanging her head back in defeat she mouthed ‘I give up’ to the ceiling.

“What do you give up?” Her head snapped forward and she shot the three additional men who had settled at the bar a spectacular grin.

“Gen! Izzy, Ko-kun! I didn’t hear you guys come in.” She moved along the row of men, kissing each of them on the cheek. Kakashi noticed that Genma flushed and then grinned lecherously at Rei when her full ruby lips touched his face. At least she did seem to be affectionate with people other than Iruka.

“So, Sexy, ready for your big debut?” Rei asked and Genma grimaced loudly.

“Not tonight, Rei! You keep trying to spring this on me. I’m not good enough ye-.”

“Yes, you are! You’re fabulous and I’m getting tired of that excuse. You’ve been using it for months and it’s getting old! You’re singing tonight.” The honey haired man scowled before his face twisted into and evil grin.

“Maybe you could do something to boost my confidence.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“Go set up, Gen!” Rei was now erratically moving from task to task behind the bar, avoiding Genma’s gaze.

“Come on, Rei. It’s nothing we haven’t done before.” Kakashi’s eyes widened at the statement. So Rei had been with other men. ‘How often did that happen?’ he wondered. The senbon sucker then shifted his attention to Iruka who was staring fixedly at his beer.

“What about you, Iruka? Wanna give me something to steel my nerves?” Genma moved to Iruka side, pulling the senbon from his mouth and gently running his thumb along the back of Iruka’s neck and leaning in to whisper seductively in the chuunin’s ear.

“It been ages since I’ve had you’re tight, hot ass milking my cock, Iruka. I miss hearing you moan as I pound you into the mattress.” Iruka blushed furiously, his eyes flicking to Rei pleadingly before returning to stare at his drink. Kakashi’s hand twitched on the bar. Hearing Genma hiss in the beautiful brunette’s ear was making his blood boil. Swallowing, he kept his chakra from flaring and his outward appearance relaxed.

“Gods, just thinking about that sexy mouth of yours around my cock has me-.” His sentence was cut off as Rei reached across the bar, grasping his collar and pulling him into a searing lip lock. Genma hesitated for half a second before he carded his hands in her long, dark hair and thrust his tongue into her mouth greedily. Finally, Rei pushed him away and lightly slapped his face.

“Take that filthy mouth over to the stage and set up.” Genma smirked and snuck another peck on her lips before heading off to the other side of the room with the other two ninjas.

Iruka studied his best friend as she snuck glances at the retreating back before dropping an arm load of glasses in the sink, several of them breaking on impact.

“FUCK!”

Iruka’s brow furrowed and his previous discomfort with Kakashi was long forgotten. “Rei-?”

“I’m fine. Okay. Everything is fine. See? Fine. Nothing wrong. Why aren’t you listening? I’m fine.” Iruka sighed and caught he slim arm as she dumped shards of glass in the garbage halting her. He gently pulled a small chuck from her finger.

“So how long?” She shrugged and avoided his knowing brown eyes and slipped the finger into her mouth to stem the bleeding.

“I dunno. We’ve been spending a lot of time together. It’s all the practicing for shows, I think. But it’s not an issue. I’m in a great relationship with a woman I love and I’m not going to fuck it up. And for what? A week or two with the sleaziest man in Konaha? No, not a proble-.”

“Rei!” The woman’s green eyes flicked to the stage and widened as Genma pulled off his vest and uniform shirt to reveal his broad, muscular chest.

“Get that sexy, little ass of yours over here! We’re ready to sound check.” Rei shot Iruka a pathetic look.

“Life hates me!” She moved from around the bar muttering under her breath, “I love my girlfriend. I love my girlfriend. I love my girlfriend.” Kakashi waited until she was out of earshot before hissing to Iruka, “What the hell was that?” Iruka chuckled and took a swig of his beer.

“Poor Rei. About twice a year she gets the urge to be with men. Usually it’s just a one night thing but she said a week or two. I think she’s starting to fall for him. She always did have a weak spot for musicians.”

“And what about you?” Iruka shifted uncomfortably.

“Genma and I used to see each other casually before I started seeing Mizu. It was never anything serious. Just sex.” Kakashi took the opportunity to take a long sip of his beer while Iruka was busy gazing at the stage, his mind floating back to the weekend when the shirtless brunette had pressed his body against him and hissed similar words in his ear. Pulling his mask up, he rubbed his chin and shifted to ease the pressure on his straining erection.

“So, what? Is Genma bi? I thought he was with Raidou.” Iruka released a strained chuckle.

“Gen will screw anything that holds still long enough. That was the problem with Raidou. Rai walked in on some civilian woman ridding him at a party. They broke up a week ago. I guess it’s a good thing. If he was someone she could have a relationship with she probably would have left Takara already. Rei’s good for Takara. Helps keep her stable. I know serious relationships with civilians are discouraged but Rei is strong. She can handle Takara’s breakdowns.”

“Sounds like a lot of pressure on her.” Kakashi was all too familiar with the various ways that ninjas could break. The mental stress from the life they lead caused depressing and often violent outbreaks.

“Yeah. I think it is. Takara is a little rough with her sometimes but there’s never been anything serious. Nothing like…” Iruka sighed and smiled weakly at Kakashi who gripped his shoulder comfortingly.

A squeal of a guitar drew their attention back to the stage. Genma had a sleek black Gibson slung over his naked shoulder and was intently watching Rei as she bent over to adjust one of the amps, his head cocking to the side as he tried to look up her skirt.

“So,” she said, straightening up, “It’s your night, what do you want to sing?” Kakashi lightly smacked Iruka’s knee as the light haired ninja leaned close to the petite woman and cupped the side of her face in a gesture that was surprisingly not sleazy.

“I want to do the songs we wrote together.” Rei bit her lip and smiled shyly before grabbing a wireless mic and a hands free mic for Genma. He eyed her closely as she clipped the receiver to the back of his pants, leaning towards her as she tucked the headset behind his ear. Smiling softly as she adjusted it along his jaw, their eyes locking heatedly for a moment before Rei blushed and moved away.

“Oh, she’s got it bad!” Iruka said at the exact same moment Kakashi exclaimed, “He likes her!”

They looked at each other and laughed.

Slow melodic rifts streamed from the stage and Iruka jerked his head to a table that was a little closer. Both ninjas slid into the booth side, legs brushing as they listened to their friends.

/Get a load of me get a load of you walking down the street and I hardly know you/

The chemistry between the pair on stage immediately flowed out into the two person audience, the tan chuunin leaning into Kakashi’s shoulder as they listened to the vocalists harmonize.

/But this is just the beginning…We’re already wet and we’re going to go swimming/

Rei and Genma cut the distance between them in half and Kakashi slipped a strong arm around Iruka, the dark head falling immediately dropping to his shoulder.

/Why can’t I breathe whenever I think about you? Why can’t I speak whenever I talk about you?/

‘Say something Kakashi!’ the jounin berated himself. ‘Now is perfect. The song is perfect. Say something.’

“Uh, ‘Ruka?” He looked down at the dreamy smile on the beautiful face and his brain stalled.

/Isn’t this the best part of breaking up, finding someone else you just can’t get enough of…someone who wants to be with you too./

The chocolate orbs of innocence met his gaze.

“Yeah?” came the breathless response.

/It’s an itch you know we’re going to scratch gonna take a while for this egg to hatch…but wouldn’t it be beautiful?/

‘Say it you idiot!!’ Kakashi’s mind was now screaming at him but his tongue didn’t seem to want to listen.

“It’s…It’s really good to see you smiling. You have a gorgeous smile.” Iruka blushed but didn’t look away, inching his face closer to the jounin’s.

“Thanks. I’d like to be able to return the compliment but…” and tan finger ran along the masked jaw and then brushed over the covered lips.

/Here we go, we’re at the beginning…we haven’t fucked yet but my head’s spinning/

“Iruka, I-.” He was cut off as the chuunin began to pull back…again.

“I’m sorry. I know. I-.” His word caught in his throat as Kakashi pulled him into his lap.

“You don’t make me uncomfortable. Not at all.” A pale hand pulled his head back to the crook of the slim neck and Iruka released a shaky breath and nuzzled the older man’s collar bone.

/I'd love for you to make me wonder…Where it's goin'…I'd love for you to pull me under…Somethin's growin'…For this that we can control…Baby I am dyin'/

“I like being with you Iruka. I like talking to you; I like dancing with you; I like holding you; I like seeing you smile. But I especially like it when it’s me that makes you smile.”

Iruka couldn’t breathe. Was Kakashi saying what he thought he was saying? Deciding to test the waters he pulled his head back slowly, dragging his nose along the jounin’s chin until he was far enough away to gaze into the stormy grey eye.

/Why can’t I breath whenever I think about you? Why can’t I speak whenever I think about you? It’s inevitable it’s the fact that we’re gonna get down to it so tell me why can’t I breathe whenever I think about you?/

“Iruka…I wan-.” His voice stopped when he realized that the song had finished and they both glanced to the stage.

“Maybe you two should visit the back room for that confidence booster!” Kakashi was going to glare but realized that the comment wasn’t directed at them. Rei was looking up at Genma who was standing over her, the petite woman’s chest was heaving in anticipation. They were both so enraptured with each other that they didn’t even respond to the comment. It wasn’t until a cool female voice floated across the room that either of them stopped staring.

“Who should go to the back room?” Rei whirled around and attempted to smile, managing only a very nervous grin as she saw her girlfriend scowling at Genma.

“Nothing. They were kidding, Hun.” She leapt off the stage and rushed to her girlfriend’s side. Genma watched her dark hair fly behind her as she moved and no one in the room missed the malicious glint in Takara’s eyes as she began hissing furiously at Rei who was obviously trying to placate the older woman’s temper.

“Fuck,” Iruka whispered, “I should go mediate this.” He caught the grey eye that was laced with conflict and he ran his hand through the metallic hair.

“I’m sorry. I’m just wor-.” Kakashi cupped the tan face in both hands.

“Don’t explain. It’s okay. I should go anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow night?” Iruka nodded breathlessly making Kakashi’s eye curve in a happy arc.

“WHAT EXACTLY is…?”

A snippet of the argument flitted to their ears and groaning Iruka slid off the warm lap, motioning to Genma to remain on the stage the honey haired man was moving to the edge of in concern.

Kakashi stood and walked to the door of the bar and looked back at Iruka who had stepped between an enraged Takara and his best friend.

‘So close this time, Kakashi. So close.’

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kakashi smirked as Naruto huffed and planted himself cross-legged on the floor. ‘At least he’s back to normal,’ the jounin thought as the blonde began to complain about not getting harder missions. His mind drifted back to last night when he had almost confessed everything to the incredibly distracting chuunin, his lips twitched as he concealed the smile that was fighting to spread across his face.

“Fine, Brat. I’ll send team seven on a C rank escort mission to the land of waves.” The smile was gone and Kakashi stared in shock at Tsunade. He wasn’t going to argue because then he’d have to give a reason but he didn’t want to leave the village. Not now. Why now?

He led his team and their client towards the gates of the village when the sound of children playing hit his ears.

“Hang out here for a bit. I’ll be right back.” He leapt off in the direction of the academy. Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances before telling Sakura to wait here for them and that they’d be back before Kakashi. They darted off after their sensei, splitting as they reached their old school. Sasuke followed Kakashi while Naruto dashed into the school to find Mizuki.

“Konahamaru, stop staring out the window and pay attention!!” Iruka snapped at the brunette child with goggles on his head.

“But Iruka-sensei…”

“No buts!! Now who can tell me what the-.” Tap, tap, tap. Iruka glanced at the window where a smiling Kakashi was balanced on the ledge, waving.

“I was trying to tell you Iruka-sensei, that there’s someone at the window.” The teacher glanced at his class and then at the clock. 11:43.

“Okay kids. Take a long lunch. I’ll see you at one.” The kids cheered loudly and stampeded from the room. Iruka waited until he could no longer hear them in the hallway before sliding the window open.

“Hi,” Kakashi chirped, sliding his feet a little farther onto the window sill. Iruka blushed and rested his weight against the frame of the open window.

“Hi. I had fun last night.” Kakashi smiled beneath his mask as he eyed the chuunin who looked so sexy in his lazy pose.

“So did I. Which is why I hate to tell you that I can’t make it tonight.” The jounin cringed as the beautiful shy grin that was on Iruka’s face melted into disappointment.

“I’m sorry, ‘Ruka. Team seven is on a mission to the Land of Waves. It’s a simple escort mission. We should be back be back in a week tops.” Iruka’s chin dropped and concern spread over his once peaceful face.

“The kids are taking C ranks already. I thought…”

“Don’t worry,” Kakashi gently cupped the tan face, lifting the chin so Iruka was looking in his eye.

“I’ll look after them. They’re ready. We both know it.” The brown orbs swam with emotion and Iruka’s bottom lip trembled slightly. Kakashi gently swiped his thumb across it and pulled the tan man closer so that their foreheads were touching, remaining there until Iruka’s breathing evened out.

“Be careful.” Kakashi nodded and leapt to the ground, his heart soaring. Nothing was going to keep him from finishing this mission and getting back to Iruka as quickly as possible.

Sasuke dropped from a nearby tree and smirked. Kakashi certainly didn’t seem to be violent with Iruka but there was the side that he showed to the outside world and the side that few ever got to see…and live to tell about it. There was certainly the possibility that the jounin hurt the beloved chuunin-sensei but the cards were stacking up in the silver haired man’s favor.

“Hey, Mizuki-sensei!” Naruto was standing at the door to his classroom, his kids looking at the genin curiously. Mizuki grimaced inwardly but smiled brightly at the blonde.

“Hello, Naruto! What can I do for you?” The blonde looked at the horde of young faces and then jerked his head towards the hall.

“Finish this question. I’ll be back in a minute.” He stepped out of the room and glanced at Naruto who was looking around to make sure they wouldn’t be overheard.

“We’re going on a mission. I just wanted to see if you’d keep an eye on Iruka-sensei while we’re gone.” Mizuki smiled fondly while his inner demon was dancing in elation around a roaring fire.

“Well, of course, Naruto. I always look out for Iruka but I’ll keep both eyes on him while you’re away. Don’t worry. Nothing will happen; I’ll take good care of him for you.” Naruto beamed at the teacher.

“Thanks, Mizuki-sensei. I really appreciate it.” With that he bounded down the corridor.

Mizuki grinned evilly and headed back to his class, thanking Kami for his acting skills and the trusting nature of the thick-skulled blonde. He didn’t notice said thick-skulled blonde stop at the end of the hall to look back at him.

‘Why was he smiling like that?’ Naruto mused. ‘Crap! I gotta get back before Kakashi-sensei!’

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It had been just over three weeks since team seven had left on their mission. Tsunade had received a message from Kakashi weeks ago stating that they were remaining with the client until the bridge was completed so he wasn’t worried…about them. The heat wave had hit Konaha three days ago and everyone was acting a little crazy.

“So the basic principle behind the replacement jutsu is that you use chakra to replace your body with an inanimate object.”

“Sensei, how do you do that?”

“Well you…you…ah…you…” Iruka walked to the side of the classroom and picked up a large bucket of cool water that a several minutes ago had been ice water and dumped it on his head. The kids would have been shocked if he hadn’t done it several times already this morning.

“Ah! What was the question?” The kids groaned. They had already shed all the clothes that Iruka had allowed and where now panting in their shorts and tank tops. Iruka glanced at the clock. Eleven thirty. The kids weren’t learning anything at this point anyway.

“Okay. Write me an essay on weapons and particular compatibilities with ninjas. Two pages to be handed in tomorrow. Now go find somewhere cool until sundown!” The kids gave a grateful cheer that seemed diminished by the god damn unbearable heat and trudged from the room. Just as the last child was leaving Rei entered carrying a large cooler.

“Wow. I thought I was early but it looks like my timing is perfect.” Iruka looked up at his best friend and smiled weakly, wiping water and sweat from his brow. She set the heavy cooler down on the floor with a thump.

“So, are the brats on a long lunch?”

“No, I let them go for the day.” Rei chuckled, “Well, I have water, sushi and ice cream. Oh and beer if that’s allowed.”

“Have I told you lately that you’re awesome?” Rei grinned broadly and pulled out two bottles of beer from the heaps of ice.

“Is that a yes on the beer?”

“And how!” She twisted off the top and handed a bottle to him. Taking a large swig he pressed the freezing bottle to his neck and moaned loudly.

“Aaah gods, that’s good.”

“So do we want to skip nutrition and go straight for the ice cream?” Iruka nodded and caught the tub of lemon sorbet that she tossed him. He looked at the large container and quirked an eyebrow.

“Gee, do you think you brought enough?” His eyes widened as she pulled another container from the cooler.

“Yeah. I think there should be enough.” They laughed and settled around one of the desks in the front row each digging into their own container of sorbet.

“Wow. Beer and ice cream. Nice combo.” They both looked up to where Mizuki was leaning lazily against the door frame.

“MIZU!” Rei leapt from her seat and wrapped her arms around her old friend’s neck, pressing her cool lips to his warm cheek.

“How have you been? Come! Come join us!” Mizuki looked nervously at Iruka who smiled and nodded.

“I’d love to. So Iruka, where are your kids?” Iruka smiled around a mouth full of raspberry sherbert that he snuck from Rei’s container.

“I let them go for the day. If I couldn’t really concentrate then they probably weren’t learning anything.” Mizuki chuckled as he and Rei settled back down on either side of him.

“You say it’s for them but you just didn’t want to have to deal with them in this heat.” Rei snorted and pulled another large container of ice cream and a beer out for the silver haired sensei.

“I was thinking of taking my kids swimming today but letting them go for the day sounds good too.” Iruka raised his bottle in cheers.

“We’re great teachers!” The trio laughed and chatted for an hour before Rei smiled and sighed.

“This is nostalgic, huh. The three of us together again. Remember when I used to bring you guys picnics on your lunch break?” Mizuki smiled fondly at Rei.

“That was the best. Good times. Although you never brought us beer.” Rei laughed heartily and twisted the leather cuffs on her wrists.

“How can you wear those in this heat?” Mizuki asked, gesturing to her arms with his beer. Rei’s smile fell and she tried to hide her hands under the table but Iruka was too fast for her. He snatched her left arm and brought it to the top of the table, unsnapping the cuff, afraid but quite certain of what he was going to find there. Large purple bruise circled the entire patch of delicate skin.

“Rei…” She sighed and unclasped the other cuff.

“It’s nothing. It was just a little rough sex. She just got a little carried away. I wasn’t complaining.”

“Takara did this to you?” Mizuki was looking in concern at broken, angry skin on the wrists, gently running his fingers over the inside of her wrist.

“It’s nothing. It looks much worse than it is.” Cradling her hand tenderly he lifted it to his pale thin lips, pressing them to the mark softly and resumed gently soothing the abused skin with his fingers. Iruka watched with a rekindling of emotion for his oldest friend. Mizuki had always been protective of Rei, maybe even more so than he was. He knew the wild emotions that were probably flying though his fellow teacher right now. But Mizuki didn’t get angry. He didn’t yell and vow that he was going to tear Takara limb from limb. Instead, he spoke in soft but firm tones to the green eyed woman.

“You need to be careful, Rei. She could really hurt you. You don’t deserve to be treated like that.” Mizuki’s guilt-ridden eyes shifted to Iruka.

“No one deserves to be treated like that.” Iruka stared back at his ex-lover, ex-tormenters face and felt his heart wrench at the look of utter sorrow that lay in the older man’s eyes. He couldn’t help but think about the wonderful times they’d had together. The nights of slow passionate love-making, the easy Sunday afternoons snuggled on the couch, the good days when Mizuki was tender and made him laugh.

Rei pulled her hands out of their grasps.

“Thanks, guys. I’m really okay. We love each other and I usually give it to her as bad as she gives it to me. She’s never hit me. She’s very gentle most of the time…just a little too possessive. She’s still gets really mad when I see Gen though.” Iruka’s face twisted into a smirk.

“Aaaah and how is Genma doing? Still fighting the urges or has the insanity passed?”

“Is it that time of year again?” Mizuki teased.

“Shut it, Mizu. And Gen isn’t an issue. What would be the point? He would move on so quickly that it would hardly be worth my time.”

“So, you are still hung up on him! Oh Kami. You’re ridiculous! You never know. Maybe he’s ready to settle down with a nice, sexually stimulating girl like yourself.” Rei rolled her eyes and grabbed a handful of ice from the cooler, handing a couple of pieces to her friends before digging her spoon into her now soupy tub of ice cream.

“That’s not helping, Sweetheart! I’ve been keeping my distance as much as possible. Everything about him is bad for me. I need to concentrate on fixing things with Takara and he complicates the matter. She’s so jealous of him.” Iruka’s dark brow furrowed with the mention of the female chuunin.

“Listen, Rei. If you want to talk…about anything, I’m here. And I want you to promise me that if she ever hits you, that you’ll tell me. You have no idea how quickly something like that can escalate.” Rei eyed her friend suspiciously.

“But you do, don’t you, Sweetheart? Why haven’t you told me about this horrible relationship you were in?” Iruka flinched at the hurt expression on her face. He looked across the desk at Mizuki whose eyes were filled with shame and desperation. Rei had looked up to Mizuki since she was four years old. They had been so close until Mizuki started teaching and started loosing his grip on reality. The already pale chuunin looked ghostly and almost on the verge of tears as he waited silently for the guillotine to descend and one of the few people he gave a damn about to hate him forever.

The conflict bubbled in the broad, dark chest. On the one hand, he had made Rei feel that he didn’t trust her. On the other hand, he didn’t want her to despise Mizuki. His ex needed friends now and he’d always been very caring of Rei. If anything the revelation would hurt Rei as much as Mizuki.

“It not that I don’t trust you, Hun. You just don’t want to know. It’s all okay now. I think we’re even back on the way to being friends.” Mizuki’s lips parted in shock before he nodded his head and smiled softly in gratitude. Rei stuck out her lip and huffed, “Fine! I’ll trust that you have a good reason for not telling me.”

“I do. Thanks for not pushing the issue.” She nodded and stood up, pulling Iruka’s head toward her and laying a kiss on his temple. She repeated the action with Mizuki before re-clasping her leather cuffs.

“Okay, I should go. I’ll leave the cooler. Bring it by the bar later.” She paused at the door, “Thanks guys. I really appreciate that you’re both still looking out for me and I promise that I’ll talk to you if things get bad.” Both chuunin’s smiled and waved as she exited the room.

The silence that followed was oppressive. They sat enveloped in it for several minutes before Mizuki spoke.

“Thank you. Thank you for not telling her. Thank you for not having me arrested. I…I’m not…I don’t deserve the second chance that you’ve given me. I wish you would have left me the first time I hit you. Then I never would have done it again.” Iruka’s jaw dropped at the emotionally charged words that fell into the hot humid air.

“I don’t want people to know Mizu and you do deserve another chance. Rei loves you and not only would I hate to hurt you by telling her but she would be crushed. Just don’t let me down.” Mizuki smiled sadly.

“I won’t. I can’t. I…never realized what a monster I was, not until I saw those bruises on her wrists. I was so angry that anyone could hurt her. Then I realized how much worse I was to you. I…I almost killed you. I love you and I almost killed you. I know it doesn’t mean much now but I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Iruka.” The tan jaw dropped again as Mizuki hung his head and his shoulders began to shake. It must be the heat. It has to be the heat. Nothing is making sense. He moved to the pale man’s side resting a hand on each side of the shuddering neck.

“You’re not a monster. I’m not angry with you. I’m glad that you’re pulling yourself back together.” Mizuki knocked his hands away.

“No! Don’t touch me. I don’t deserv-.”

“Shhhh.” Iruka cupped the sides of the pale face, thumbs darting out to brush the tears off raw cheeks. Mizuki’s violet eyes slowly rose to the compassionate dark brown orbs. They studied the tan face before dropping to the dark full lips. A trembling, pale hand lifted, hesitated and then touched the chuunin’s mouth.

“God, you’re so beautiful. So beautiful.” Their proximity…the glimpse of the man he used to know and love…the gentle touch (god it’s been so long since he’d been touched)…the officious, excruciating, agonizing heat. Who the hell knew which if not all of the factors pushed him to it but his pink tongue darted out and coaxed the digests into his mouth. His dark eyes slid half shut as he watched Mizuki gasp and tremble as he sucked and licked the fingers.

“Oh fuck, Baby.” He pulled Iruka’s face into his, mashing their lips together, moaning as his tongue explored the mouth that it had dominated so many times before. He carded his hands into the restrained brown hair, gripping fiercely, needing to feel everything again. He felt Iruka tense under his harsh grip and let the hands slip from the hair to gently cup the cinnamon face. Finally they broke the kiss needing air.

“Baby. I’ve missed you so much. I love you.” He wrapped his arms under Iruka’s ass and lifted him onto the desk and pressing his straining erection against the younger man’s pelvis, enticing a throaty moan from both men.

“Fuck…I want you. I need you. I love you, Baby.” Mizuki dropped his lips to the bronze collarbone sucking and nipping and leaving a very noticeable mark there.

Iruka’s mind reeled as he felt his old lover’s hands slide over his body. It felt so good, like returning to something familiar. Why did it feel so wrong? Why did he feel so dirty? Mizuki wasn’t hurting him. He wasn’t yelling or beating him. What was bothering him so much? He was dying for the attention. He’d been so lonely since team seven left…

KAKASHI…

Kakashi was what was bothering him. The jounin he cared so deeply for. The man who had stood by him, comforted him, intoxicated him, occupied his thoughts for weeks. How could he have done this to him? The whole mess would start again and if…no…when Kakashi found out would he still be there. Iruka’s stomach churned as he realized that he had just stabbed the jounin in the back. He began to push Mizuki’s hands off of him. They didn’t relent. He fought harder, pushing mizuki’s head away from him.

“Stop. Mizu, please stop!” The silver head pulled back and looked questioningly into the dark brown eyes.

“What? What’s wrong, Baby?” Iruka’s heart broke as he looked into the purple eyes.

“I can’t. I’m sorry.” He pushed Mizuki away and grabbed his stack of papers, shoving them roughly into his bag.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…this is my fault. I’m sorry.” He hazarded a glance at the room’s other occupant and was dismayed to see that he was crestfallen and confused…and very hurt.

“Please, Baby…don’t go.” Mizuki moved toward him but Iruka held up his hand halting the other’s movement.

“No. I can’t do this again. I do hope you’ve changed Mizu. I do. I…I just can’t.” With that he closed his bag and exited the room.

“Baby! Iruka!...FUCK!” The desk slammed into the wall, splintering into hundreds of pieces before Mizuki even knew that he was throwing it. He collapsed to the floor, his hands clenching into painfully tight fists. He’d tried. He’d failed. Iruka was gone for good. Something innately evil flashed threw his eyes.

‘If I can’t have him…no one will.’

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kakashi increased his pace, his team groaning as they jogged behind him. They were only an hour from the gates, twenty minutes if they ran. The mission had been successful but so long…too long. He was worried about Iruka. Was the chuunin alright? Did Mizuki do something to him? Would they be able go return to the way things had been before he left? He increased his pace again to a light jog.

“Kakashi-sensei, can we please slow down?!” Sakura whined.

“Yeah, Kakashi-sensei! The mission is over. I’m excited to get back too but we’ll be there soon.” Kakashi sighed and slowed a fraction.

“Sorry guys. I’m just…just want to make sure everyone…everything’s okay.” Naruto eyed the silver-haired ninja warily.

“Are you worried about Iruka-sensei?” Kakashi didn’t reply.

“Well don’t. Mizuki-sensei said that he’d look after him while we were away.” Sasuke and Naruto saw the visible eye widen and Kakashi resumed jogging. The question was…was their sensei worried…or jealous?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Iruka scrubbed his skin raw. He had been in the shower for half an hour but he still felt dirty. He sobbed lightly as the choking fear of what his stupidity could cause gripped him. Would Mizuki start hounding him again? The last two weeks had been peaceful. He’d felt safe, even without Kakashi.

Kakashi…

What would he say? What would he do? He tried to swallow the wail of anguish that threatened to rip from his chest. It escaped as a strangled cry, echoing off the walls of the shower. He pressed his forehead against the cool stone tiles. Suddenly he no longer felt hot. Ice seemed to be flowing through his veins. He turned up the temperature of the water. Then he did it again…and again until the water was scalding his skin. It was no use. True warmth was evading him, his skin contracting into goose bumps despite the burning water. He turned the water off and wrapped himself in towels. Clothes…bed…sleep…time. Those things would help. He would feel better when he woke up. Things wouldn’t feel so out of control.

He pulled on warm flannel pants and a long sleeved shirt and buried himself under the heavy covers of his bed, clutching the spare pillow to his chest. Sleep was about to grace his spent body when a knock at the door brought him back to consciousness. He wanted to pretend that he wasn’t home, just let the person come back some other time but he was unable to leave a door or a phone unanswered. A little foible of his.

Groaning, he pushed himself from the warm comfort of his bed, the goose bumps returning as he left its confines despite the heat. His stomach clenched as he thought about who it could be. Probably Mizuki. He didn’t want to deal with him right now. He couldn’t deal with him right now. Flipping the lock and cracking open the door Iruka felt all of the blood drain from his face, making the world tilt and spin dangerously. Dark eye…silver hair…masked smile met him. Worse. Oh god! SO MUCH WORSE!

“Kakashi…w-when did you get back?”

Kakashi grinned, “Just now. I thought I’d come see you before handing in my half-assed report. So…are you gonna just leave me on your doorstep or are you going to let me in?” Iruka seriously considered leaving him there but opened the door and stepped back into the kitchen, rubbing his arms he tried to will the blood to flow faster.

“Iruka? Are you alright. You’re pale.” Kakashi caught the younger man’s arm.

“Kami! You’re freezing! Are you sick?” Iruka grimaced. ‘Yes. Sick. Very, very, very, very sick.’

“No. I’m okay. I think I just caught a chill.”

“What? In this heat?” Kakashi’s eye narrowed and he pushed up his hiatai to reveal his sharingan.

“What happened?” He saw the chuunin’s breaths shallow, the pulse point in the dark neck throb and if possible the face and lips pale further.

“Noth-.” He gripped the tan face forcefully but not painfully.

“Don’t lie to me. What did he do? Did he hurt you?” His grip softened as he saw tears brimming in the wide brown eyes.

“Talk to me, Iruka. Don’t you trust me? I won’t tell anyone if that’s what you want.” What had happened while he was gone? What could possibly have made Iruka regress so severely?

Iruka closed his eyes causing tears to stream down his face. He tried to steady his breathing but it would only come in gasps and release in sobs. Kakashi pulled him into his chest and gently stroked his hair making him sob harder.

“What Iruka? What did he do? Please tell me.” Iruka inhaled deeply, fisting the front of Kakashi’s uniform before releasing it.

“It’s not what he did…it’s what I did.” Kakashi’s muscles seized, his whole body tensing. He had not been prepared for the answer. He extended his arms and held the chuunin away from his body, studying the watery, wide orbs of the man in front of him.

“What did you say?” He felt Iruka quake in his grasp but he didn’t care.

“I…I let him kiss me. No. I started it. I don’t know what I was thinking. I wasn’t thinking. I…” Kakashi shoved him roughly into the wall, cutting off his explanation.

“How could you be so stupid? Do you want this nightmare to continue forever?” Iruka’s lip trembled and tears sprang to his eyes anew…tears of fear. Kakashi was advancing on him and all he could do was tremble.

“Why? Why would you do something so idiotic? He’s going to come after you again.”

“I know. I…I don’t know why. I was lonely and the heat. I-.”

“Did you think he’d changed? Did you like it? Did you sleep with him?”

“NO! No, I just got caught up in the moment. I stopped as soon as my brain started working again. Kakashi I’m so-.”

“Why are you so naïve? Why are you so stupidly trusting? Why Iruka? Why? Why? Why?” The older man slammed his palms against the wall on either side of the younger man’s head leaning his face close.

Iruka closed his eyes as he felt the force of the motion shake the wall behind him. He had expected as much. Kakashi hated him. He would soon walk out the door and out of his life forever. He opened his eyes and returned the mismatched gaze.

Kakashi watched the brown eyes open and for the first time saw the fear that lay in the tortured, watery orbs. His heart clenched. He had put it there. After all he had done to take Iruka away from all the pain he had made the beautiful chuunin afraid of him. He leaned closer, exhaling a slow shaky breath. He was mad, but no longer at Iruka. He was mad at himself. Iruka was so vulnerable and he’d been gone for so long. No wonder the poor man had reached out to someone. It was unfortunate bordering on tragic that it had been Mizuki but that wasn’t really his fault.

‘It’s mine,’ Kakashi thought. ‘I shouldn’t have left. It’s my fault and now he’s afraid of me.’

“Why, Iruka? Why do you have to be so god damn perfect?” With that he pulled down his mask and pressed his lips against the smaller man’s mouth. The lips beneath his parted in surprise and he thrust his tongue into the mouth, finally tasting the man that had rarely left his thoughts for weeks. Sucking on the unresponsive bottom lip he nuzzled the bridge of the tan nose, laying a string of soft kisses along the scar there. Still Iruka hadn’t moved. Hadn’t reciprocated or pushed him away. Panic started to grip the jounin. He’d said too much. Iruka was afraid of him.

“Iruka…please say something. Please…tell me you want this.” Silence. Kakashi dropped his forehead to Iruka’s nose and sighed.

“Fuck…I’m sorry. I’m sorry ‘Ruka. I’ll leave.”

Iruka was in shock. It had paralyzed him the moment Kakashi had pulled down his mask. He wasn’t even sure if he was breathing. ‘Could this really be happening? Not only was Kakashi not leaving but he’s kissing me. He…he’s kissing me. He’s saying something. I missed it. Why can’t I move?’

“Fuck…I’m sorry. I’m sorry ‘Ruka. I’ll leave.”

‘Leave? No! Don’t go. Don’t go. Move lips! Say something!’ The warm hands removed themselves from his hair and he was watching Kakashi’s back as it headed for his door.

‘No. Don’t do. Please don’t go.’ Too late. Kakashi was gone. It was several minutes before Iruka raised a shaky hand to his still burning lips. It was real. That really happened. His body shifted into overdrive and he raced to the door, wrenched it open and searched wildly for the trademark silver hair even though he knew Kakashi was long gone. He raced back into the apartment and threw on jeans and a black t-shirt and raced back out again.

‘I have to find him. I have to tell him…that I want him. That I need him. Kakashi, I need you.’

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

/There’s nothin’ you can do or say you’re gonna break my heart anyway so just leave the pieces when you go/

Kakashi glared at the stage where Rei was harmonizing beautifully with another civilian woman.

‘Fucking broken heart country!’ He had chosen a table in a corner where he could drink in peace.

‘Hmph. Peace…right. Why did I come here? Why of all places did I come here to drown my sorrows?’

“Thank you! Thank you. Okay, we’re taking a five minute break. There’s lots of cold drinks at the bar and water’s on the house tonight. Stay hydrated!” He poured himself another drink from the bottle he’d bought from the bar and downed it in one shot. Having scared the poor waitress silly, he wasn’t expecting anyone to bother him and was surprised when he realized that someone was standing behind him. All the ninjas would know better than to approach him when he was drinking alone. Who would be stupid enough…

“Kakashi! When did you get back? Sweetheart’s been missing you something fierce. Where is he? Aren’t you two usually joined at the hip?”

‘Fuuuuuuuccccckkkk! Go away, Rei.’

“Go away, Rei.” Much to his aggravation she slid into the seat along the wall.

“What’s eating ya, old man? Bad mission? No one died did they?” Kakashi simply glared at her and refilled his glass.

“Ooookay. Not the mission. What could possibly be so bad that you’re here drinking like a fish without Iruk-,” A pale hand slammed down on the table making it shake violently cutting her off.

“Oh Kami…something happened with Sweetheart! Well, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be-?”

“He rejected me.” Kakashi didn’t look at her. He could feel her gaze and knew this was far from over but all he could do was stare at the drink clutched in his hand and hope that she would leave so he could drink it.

“WHAT!! How…why…that doesn’t make any sense! He’s crazy about yo-.”

“I fucked it all up, okay? I fucked up and now he hates me.”

She eyed him suspiciously, “What happened?”

Kakashi shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about it. Please leave me to drown my sorrows in peace.”

Rei glanced at her watch and then waved a waitress over. The poor girl quaked from head to toe when Kakashi turned and glared at her but relaxed a little at her boss’s kind smile.

“I want you to comp Kakashi’s bottle and any other food or drink he orders tonight.”

The young woman chewed her lips nervously and gripped the tray in her hands so hard her knuckles turned white.

“M-ma’am…y-you’ve already used your comps for the month.” Rei glared and then hissed through her teeth, “Then put. It. On. My. Tab!”

“Y-yes, of course, ma’am.”

“No one comes over here unless he signals for you, and Riku…stop calling me ma’am.”

The woman nodded and hurried off.

“Thanks,” the ninja grunted. Rei reached across the table and gripped his hand.

“This will sort it’s self out. Try not to get too upset about it. I gotta get back to the stage. Any requests?” Kakashi finally looked up at her, sincerity pouring from his visible eye.

“Yeah. No more country.” She chuckled and gave his hand a little squeeze before dashing back across the bar.

Iruka felt like he’d looked in every bar, alley and shady corner of the village when he stepped into the Shuriken. He wanted a drink and Rei’s comforting, patient ear. He hadn’t felt so miserable in…well…weeks, but he still felt really bad. He was only a few feet in the door when he saw her arguing with one of the staff.

“Rei. I’m so glad to see you! I’ve made a mess of -.”

“Sweetheart! Oh thank the gods! WHAT HAPPENED? Do you want to explain to me why there’s a broken hearted, silver haired ninja trying to drink himself to death in my bar?” A voice blared over the speakers, “Rei! It’s been ten minutes! Get back up here!” The crowd erupted in cheers and the pair of friends had to move so that they were yelling in each other’s ears to hear.

“I don’t want to see Mizuki. I need to talk to you. Rei I’ve ruined every-.”

“Mizu? What does this have to do with Mizu? I’m talking about Kakashi. He’s in the corner trying to destroy his liver!” Iruka pulled back and glanced around the room frantically.

“Kakashi? He’s here?!” He looked at his friend uncertainly.

“Does…does he want to see me?”

“REI, GET BACK TO THE STAGE!” She glared at the stage and then turned to Iruka, clearly frustrated.

“For fuck sakes! You want to be with him and he wants to be with you so why don’t you two just stop whining and be with each other cuz the whole thing annoys the hell out of me!” Iruka smiled and she clapped him on the shoulder.

“He’s in that corner. Use the back room if you can’t wait to get to a bed. The door locks from the inside and I have the only key. I gotta get back. Now go! Go get some!” She shoved him in Kakashi’s direction and pushed through the crowd to the stage.

Iruka wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and began to walk to the edge of the room. His heart began to beat erratically as the mass of silver spikes came into his line of sight. Rei was saying something on stage and the metallic hair dipped as Kakashi dropped his head to the table surface. Swallowing his anxiety, he approached the older man and ran his hands up the muscular, lithe back.

Kakashi was at least happy to be left alone. He sighed and pounded another drink shaking his already foggy head.

“Okay, I’m back. Gen, we’re singing ‘Crash’. This song is going out to a good friend of mine. Go for it, Hun!” Dropping his head to the table he groaned as she started singing the sexy, slow song.

/ You've got your ball, you've got your chain tied to me tight tie me up again. Who’s got their claws in you my friend? Into your heart I'll beat again/

‘Thanks Rei. This is much better.’ Genma’s voice floated into the air and he ran his hands through his wild hair wondering if Rei would kill him if he threw his half empty bottle at the stage.

/Sweet like candy to my soul sweet you rock and sweet you roll. Lost for you I’m so lost…for you /

He groaned again as hands slid up his back. “Rei, I don’t want to talk about it. Aren’t you supposed to be sing…ing…” He glanced to his shoulder and saw a tan hand gently easing the tension from along his shoulder blade. ‘I must be drunk. I could swear Iruka was rubbing my back. Gods, it even smells like him.’ He could feel warm breath on his neck and ear as a soft, deep voice whispered in his ear.

“I want this. I want you. Do you still want me, ‘Kashi?”

/Aw and you come...crash…into to me… I come into you/

All Kakashi could hear was the breathing in his ear. His mind spun along with his body as he stood up and stared down into the shorter man’s dark eyes that were sparkling with passion, insecurity, and heaps of lust. His chest tightened painfully and he sucked in a shaky breath, raising his hand to the tan cheek he watched the insecurity evaporate from the hypnotizing eyes.
/Touch your lips just so I know in your eyes, love, it glows so. I'm bare boned and crazy…for you /

Kakashi ran his pale thumb along Iruka’s parted lips and moaned as a pink tongue darted out and caressed the callused skin. He watched captivated as the sinful lips wrapped around the thumb and sucked it slowly. The strong tan hands slid up his chest and back down, stroking his hips before snaking around his back and pulling their bodies together. Kakashi’s breath was coming in pants now and withdrawing his thumb from Iruka’s hot mouth he pulled their heads together. He wanted to say something but his now straining erection was pushing into Iruka’s own hardness and his already slightly fuzzy mind was not allowing anything but deep, shaky breaths to pass his lips. Iruka gripped the jounin’s collar, smirking at the older man, “Can I take that as a yes?” Iruka rolled his hips forward and watched as the grey eye closed in pleasure.

“Come with me,”he whispered into the masked lips and dragged the jounin across the bar.
/… Show your world to me. In a boys dream… /

As the pair entered the hall that led to the back room Kakashi yanked down his mask and sealed his mouth to Iruka’s and pressed the broad back against the wall, the dark lips parting immediately to give his tongue access. The taller pale body shivered as he felt the soft, dark hands on his cheeks. A deep moan ripped from the cloth covered throat as he felt the vibrations of a whimper on his lips. He dropped his head to the younger man’s throat, nipping and sucking at the exposed Adam’s apple.

Iruka’s body arched as he felt the thin lips on his neck. He fisted he hands tightly in the silver spikes, panting Kakashi’s name again and again. He wrapped his arms around the man’s head, shielding his face from two women who emerged from the washroom. He glanced at the door at the end of the hall. They were so close but he didn’t want to stop; it felt too damn good.

/Oh I watch you there through the window and I stare at you wear nothing but you wear it so well. Tied up and twisted the way I'd like to be. For you, for me, come crash

into me/

“Ah…‘Kashi…oh, kami…just a few more feet. Aaah! Please, I need you.” The strong arms around his waist began to push him backwards toward the door, the skillful mouth never breaking contact with the cinnamon skin. They burst into the dimly lit room, the lock scraping against the metal of the door and muffling the sounds from the crowded bar. Iruka arched and moaned as warm, callused flesh slipped under his shirt and up his chest, teasing his nipples as the black t-shirt was pushed up to his arm pits. Kakashi growled impatiently and lifted the tan arms to remove the obtrusive article of clothing. Pulling it over the dark hair, he tossed it to the ground and dropped his head to explore the broad, muscular chest when tan hands caught his face.

“Wait…just wait.” He raised his gaze to the tan face, flushed with desire, which was studying him like he was a stranger. Iruka slowly pushed his hiatai up over his forehead and let it fall to the floor with a clank.

“You’re so gorgeous. Oh gods…you’re so…” tan fingers slid over every inch of the uncovered face, paying particular attention to the scars that lined the features. Kakashi’s sharingan studied the face that was studying him so intently, drinking in the parted, swollen lips that hung open in fascination and the dark eyes that flicked from feature to feature before resting on his thin lips. The fingers trembled as they caressed the scar that marred his bottom lip. It wasn’t large but Kakashi had always been happy to be able to hide it, thinking that it was living proof of what a shinobi’s life brought. It certainly wasn’t his biggest scar and no where near his ugliest but it did bother him the most. Whenever he kissed someone, it was a reminder never to get too close. He would probably die for his village and didn’t want to break some poor thing’s heart. The urge to pull away from the touch almost overwhelmed him but he forced his body to remain still as Iruka touched the sliver of raised skin, trailing his index finger vertically along the lip to where it stopped just above his chin. The dark eyes met his mismatched red and grey gaze and his body pulsed at the adoration that laid there.

“…perfect…” Iruka pulled their heads together in a bruising kiss, pushing every thought about the scar into the past. Their tongue’s slid along each other, wrestling and stroking, exploring and conquering the mouths. Kakashi pulled Iruka’s hair out of the pony tail, vaguely aware that his shirt and vest were being undone. He wrapped his arms under the slim hips and lifted the smaller man to a metal table in the middle of the room, pulling the hips to the edge so that their pelvises could still grind together. Finally, breaking the kiss, Kakashi pushed Iruka back on to the table, the younger man hissing as his back pressed against the cool metal surface.

“You’re so fucking hot,” the bi-coloured eyes raped the half naked form below him, “Do you have any idea how sexy you are? Do you have any idea what you do to me?” He thrust his hips forward to emphasize his point.

“Aaaah. Kakashi, I can’t wait. Please fuck me! Please, I need you inside me.” Kakashi moaned and pounced on the younger man, sliding his tongue down the muscular, bronze chest pausing to swipe each nipple and dip the wet muscle into the belly button in the center of the washboard abs. The taught body writhed beneath his mouth and Kakashi began to delight in teasing the needy chuunin. He laid a string of kisses above the waist of Iruka’s jeans and slowly undid the button. Iruka hissed in frustration, sitting up and pulling his pants off his tan legs.

“Too slow.” The tan hands opened Kakashi’s pants before winding themselves around the pale neck.

“Now, Kakashi. Fuck me. No more teasing. I want you.” The voice shifted from demanding to sultry. “Don’t you want me? Don’t you want to be buried inside me?”

Kakashi abandoned all thoughts of torturing Iruka as strong naked legs wrapped around his waist and pulled his throbbing cock from his pants. He brought his long, thin fingers to the full lips but Iruka shook his head and positioned his weeping cock at the unprepared entrance.

“Iruka, no. I don’t want to hurt yo-aaaahh!” Kakashi’s knees buckled as Iruka slowly impaled himself on the jounin’s throbbing shaft. Iruka’s back fell to the table making him growl in pain as Kakashi was forced deeper into his body as the older man collapsed on top of him.

“Are you ok-.” The tan legs around his back tightened and the silver haired man was lost in the sensation of the tight heat surrounding him, his words smothered as the pouty dark lips captured his in a heated kiss. Dropping his arms to the table he began to rock his hips, gasping into Iruka’s mouth as the tight ring of muscles contracted around him.

Laying back on the table Iruka, gazed up at the flexing mass of muscles rocking above him, delighted by the way the handsome face contorted in pleasure.

“Mmmm, ‘Kashi. Gods, you’re so big.” The jounin groaned as the words hit his ears and he increased his speed and depth of his thrusts making Iruka yelp as he struck the bundle of nerves deep in the tight body again and again.

“Fuck, ‘Ruka! You feel so good. Aaah!” He let his head fall to the tan chest and began pounding the other’s body mercilessly. Iruka moaned and screamed in delight, squeezing his legs to meet the jounin’s thrusts. Feeling a tightening in his abdomen, Kakashi fisted his lover’s dripping cock, adjusting his movements to synchronize with the drives of his body. Iruka mewled in delight and gripped the top of the table, panting incomplete sentences into the heaps of silver spikes.

“Ah…so good…so…close.” Lifting his head Kakashi gazed into the lidded brown eyes, growling when he saw the passion that lay there. His frantic pace abusing the younger man’s prostate. Iruka arched and screamed his name, spilling his seed over the jounin’s hand. The tight passage closed around him and Kakashi was swept away by the most powerful orgasm he had ever had. Thrusting himself into to the cinnamon body to the hilt, he wailed in bliss, “Gods, yes! Oh…IRUKA!”

He collapsed on to the tan chest and listened to his lover’s racing pulse. After a few minutes he heard a nervous squeak from above him.

“Kakashi…you don’t…it wasn’t the booze was it? You don’t regret this…do you?” Pushing himself up on shaky arms, the mismatched eyes studied the vulnerable face before he pressed his lips to Iruka’s.

“Never. No matter what happens, nothing will ever make me regret tonight. I…I…oh ‘Ruka.” They collapsed together in a sticky heap listening to each other’s breathing and the muffled noise from the crowd beyond.

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