This chapter is rated K+ and includes minor spoilers up to manga vol. 4/chapter 33.

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The Right Way

by nayru-kleinefee


Chapter 7 – Sweet Decisions

“Bed, bed, bed, bed, bed, bed…”, Kakashi mumbled when he finally, finally, finally slid the key into the lock and managed to open the door to his apartment. “Bed, bed, bed, bed, bed…” He stumbled inside, kicked the door shut behind him and bent down to take off his sandals, almost toppling over.

I thought the Hokage would never stop asking… He sighed. And my back’s killing me… maybe should have taken the roofs to come here… I mean, what’s the danger of possibly falling down a couple of metres from a roof because of exhaustion compared to being run over by a horde of school kids on their way home? Another exhausted sigh, but then a pleasant thought came to the Jounin’s mind. School kids… school… teacher… Iruka… mmmmh…Iruka…

Kakashi straightened up again and shed his backpack, vest, weapon pouch and hitai-ate, then stretched and winced at the pain shooting through his upper body. He sighed again and made his way towards his bedroom, pulling down his mask to breathe easier.

Really have to sleep now… maybe should sleep on the floor… would be better for my back… but… He looked longingly at his large, soft, comfortable bed. Floor or bed, floor or bed, floor or bed, bed, bed, bed, bed, bed…

The Copy-nin slowly made his way to his bed, then closed his eyes and let himself fall forward and collapse on it, sighing happily when he felt the pain in his back lessen almost immediately. After a while he even managed to gather enough strength to crawl up and lift his legs onto the warm, soft heaven.

Bed… now sleep… then food, something, no matter what… would even eat soldier pills… then shower, I stink… and then… Kakashi grinned dreamily. Then visiting Iruka… telling him I’m back… asking if- when we can make up for the dinner… I’m just glad he was there when we got that terrible mission… no need to explain or apologise then…

Without opening his eyes, he reached out to pull the blanket around him, too tired to regret or be angry about the fact that his bad luck had made him miss the Chuunin’s invitation and instead go to Wave Country with his three little brats on an A-rank mission disguised as C-rank and get himself nearly killed by a missing nin and his student.

Have to tell Iruka that Naruto did a good job there… Kakashi yawned. Will make him smile… I’d like that… maybe I’ll even get a kiss for telling him… He grinned tiredly. I’d certainly like that… and have to ask him if he thought everything over… certainly has, is smart, my Iruka… and then I’ll kiss him… at least twice… better more often… if he wants me to, that is… sure wants me to… and maybe I may loosen his hair… wonder how he looks when it’s-

A soft knock on the door.

“Grmph”, Kakashi announced and buried his face deeper into his pillow. Go away… wanna sleep… wanna dream of Iruka… wanna-

Another knock, then-

“Kakashi?” Soft enough not to disturb somebody sleeping.

Iruka. Kakashi rolled over the edge of the bed and caught himself on his feet and hands right before his face could hit the floor, then straightened up slowly while he half hurried and half crawled to the apartment door. Iruka. Iruka, Iruka, Iruka, Iruka, Iruka…

“Iruka.” He opened the door.

“Kakashi.” The Chuunin smiled at him, but then frowned. “Did I wake you up? I’m sorry, Kakashi, I didn’t mean to do that.”

“Never mind”, the Copy-nin reassured him while he did his best to suppress a yawn. “I didn’t sleep yet.” And actually seeing you and talking to you is much better than dreaming of you. Who needs sleep anyway?

“Oh, good.” Iruka smiled warmly. “I just wanted to come by and make sure you’re alright.” He blushed a little. “I was worried until Naruto came over some minutes ago and told me that all four of you are back safe.”

“Yes, that kid did a really great job”, Kakashi started when he somewhere in his clouded mind remembered something about a kiss as possible reward for saying that. Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss…

“He really did?”, the Chuunin asked, sounding surprised but smiling. “I was pretty sure he exaggerated his importance when he told me.”

“He did. He was-” Kakashi wanted to take a step back to let Iruka in but suddenly stumbled and barely caught himself on the door right before he could fall. No falling! I’ll certainly not get a kiss when I lie with my face on the floor!

“Kakashi!”, Iruka exclaimed, then he took a fast step forward and carefully laid his left arm around the Jounin’s waist to stabilize him. “You’re dead tired. You have to go to bed now and sleep.”

“Not my fault”, Kakashi tried to defend himself weakly, then closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the body beside him. “Hokage didn’t stop asking…. wanted to know everything… had to stay… couldn’t sleep… was so tired…” No kiss?

“Naruto said you were perfectly fine!” Iruka took the Copy-nin’s right arm and placed it over his shoulders, then gently but firmly dragged him to where Kakashi remembered his bed was.

“Would never let the kids know I’m tired”, he told the Chuunin and even managed to both sound indignant and whining and not to care about it at all. “Would never let me hear the end of it, noisy little brats.” Sure no kiss?

“You’re probably right.” Iruka sighed. “Are you injured?”

“Was. Already taken care of.” I think… can’t remember… no kiss, I guess… but Iruka smells nice… is warm… maybe he’ll let me sleep now… but wasn’t there something else?… was important, I think… thinking… something about thinking…

“Fine. Now lie down.” Kakashi felt himself being laid carefully on his bed and afterwards covered with the blanket. “And now sleep”, he heard Iruka demand strictly while he gently tugged the cloth up to his chin.

“Did you think about it?”, the Copy-nin asked while he already felt himself drift off to sleep. Whatever ‘it’ was… can’t remember… but was important… very important…

“That can wait, Kakashi.” One of Iruka’s hands gently stroked over Kakashi’s head and thus made him purr in bliss. The Chuunin laughed softly.

“M-mh, can’t…”, Kakashi mumbled and shook his head tiredly. “Is important to me… thought ‘bout it all the time… ‘bout us… did you, too?” He yawned. “Think ‘bout us?” Right… thinking ‘bout us… and ‘bout kissing… very important…

“Yes, I did.” More tender strokes, each of them coaxing the tired Jounin to let go and sleep. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Promise?” The Copy-nin yawned again. “Is important…”

“Promise.”

“‘kay…” Kakashi drifted into sleep with the sound of Iruka’s soft laughter in mind.

He dreamt about Iruka tenderly stroking his hair and telling him that he would give him a kiss when he woke up again.

He woke when the smell of something really good filled the room.

Chocolate… and fish… and onions… weird composition… but sure smells good… Kakashi cracked an eye open but only caught sight of his dark bedroom and a strip of light coming out from under the door. Groaning quietly, he stretched his abused and aching muscles, then sat up slowly when his stomach growled.

Someone’s cooking… in my kitchen… Hmm, let’s see… Pakkun? No, he’s with his brothers… and he can’t reach the upper shelves… and can’t cook… but who else would come here? … Hmm… Gai? Sure hope not… Then maybe… He got up slowly, pulled up his mask and approached the door, then opened it silently, hoping-praying-wanting that-

Yes! Yes yes yes yes YES!

Kakashi grinned broadly while he watched Iruka move around in his kitchen, take out plates and set them on the table. Then the Chuunin looked up from his work, gave a little surprised start and finally smiled.

“Kakashi. Do you feel better now?”

“Much better”, the Copy-nin told him and pulled his mask down again before he entered the room and sat down at the table. “How long did I sleep?”

“Several hours.” Iruka turned back into the kitchen, took two glasses out of a shelf and placed them on the table. “I went home after you fell asleep but then came back about two hours ago to make something to eat for you.” He blushed and stopped his movements to look up. “I hope that was alright.”

“That was perfect. I’m starving.” Kakashi smiled. “What is it you’re cooking? Smells like chocolate fish with onions.”

The Chuunin laughed. “Actually, it’s fish with tomatoes and onions and a chocolate pie for desert.” He pointed at the kitchen counter where a dark brown cake was placed, practically begged to be eaten and promised to be of much, much chocolate.

Kakashi sighed. “Perfect.” Yummy food and yummy-yummy Iruka. Kakashi happy. He frowned. And Kakashi still quite sleepy, I guess…

“The fish isn’t quite finished yet”, Iruka laughed. “I think it still needs another ten to fifteen minutes in the oven. Why don’t you take a shower before we eat?”

The Copy-nin nodded. “I’ll do that in a minute. But before that…” He stood up, walked to the Chuunin slowly, stopped when he was right in front of him and looked into his brown eyes. “You thought about it”, he said softly and felt his heart speed up in his chest. “About us.”

“Yes.” Iruka nodded. “I did.”

“And what do you want now?”, Kakashi asked. He hoped with all his being that the Chuunin would give him a chance. Would give them a chance.

“I want there to be a ‘we’, Kakashi”, Iruka whispered, then he lifted his hands slowly and let his fingertips trail gently over the Jounin’s face. “But I can’t just… can’t just jump into something like… like this. I need to go slow to make sure that this… goes the right way for me. For us.”

“If that’s what you want, we’ll go slow.” Kakashi leaned forward until he was as close to the other man’s face as he could without touching him and could feel the Chuunin’s breath whisper over his face, over his lips like a tender caress. Going slow is nothing compared to the things I else would do to be with you.

Iruka smiled. “Thank you.” He closed the space between their lips and kissed the Jounin gently, then placed his hands on his shoulders.

Kakashi closed his eyes, focused only on the feeling of Iruka’s soft lips on his and laid his arms around the Chuunin’s waist, then gently pulled him close until he could feel a very pleasant warmth spreading through his whole body. Perfect…

When Iruka broke the kiss after what felt like an eternity but was still much too short, the Copy-nin almost growled in disapproval but was instantly soothed when the Chuunin laughed softly and rested his head against his shoulder.

“That was nice”, Iruka whispered. “We should do that more often.”

“Definitely”, Kakashi agreed and smiled contently into the soft hair before his face. “The more the better.”

“M-hm.” Iruka tilted his head and nuzzled his face into the crook of the Jounin’s neck, loose strands of his hair tickling the skin there. “Thank you for doing this, Kakashi. For going slow for me.”

“It’s all selfish.” The Copy-nin grinned. “I want to go slow to relish every moment of it.” And I would do anything to make you happy so you want to be with me.

“That was sappy.” Iruka laughed. “But sweet. I didn’t know you were a closet romantic.”

“Just don’t tell the kids, okay?”

“Certainly not.” Iruka laughed again.

“That’s good.” Kakashi moved his hands to the Chuunin’s back and started to rub in circles gently while he watched the pony-tail in front of his face shake with Iruka’s laughter. “Can we do one more thing?”, he asked, captured by the movements. “If it’s alright for you?” Please?

“What is it?” Iruka looked up and raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Your hair. May I loosen the hair-tie?” Please-please?

“My hair?” The Chuunin frowned.

“M-hm. Would really like to see you wearing it open.” Kakashi placed feather-light kisses on the scar over Iruka’s nose. Big please-please?

“‘kay.” Iruka tried to free one of his hands but his arms were trapped between their close bodies. “Let me go?”, he asked and smiled.

“Mmmh… no. I’ll loosen it”, the Copy-nin told him and reached out with one of his hands to the hair-tie. While he held his breath in anticipation, he slowly freed the brown strands from their bond to cascade down on the Chuunin’s shoulders.

“Kakashi?”, Iruka asked after a while that had the Jounin staring in fascination. “Do you-”

“Perfect”, Kakashi whispered, then took a thick strand between his fingers and felt it run through them like silk before it fell down again and framed the Chuunin’s face like the rest of his hair.

“Kakashi? What-”

“You’re beautiful”, the Copy-nin breathed out hoarsely. “You’re so beautiful, Iruka.” I’m almost glad I never saw you like this before. I always knew that you were beautiful, but I don’t think I would have been able to stop me from staring at you and would probably even have pounced on you in public if I had seen you like this before. In fact, I can’t promise the memory won’t make me do that from now on.

“Oh.” The Chuunin blushed brightly. “Don’t… don’t say such things”, he laughed, sounding nervous.

“But you are.” The most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.

“Kakashi!” Iruka placed his head on the Jounin’s chest and hid his face. “Don’t say that.”

“Why not? It’s true.”

“It’s… it’s embarrassing and… Just don’t say it”, the Chuunin in his arms murmured. “I mean… look at you, and then… and then I look so… so…”

“So beautiful, Iruka”, Kakashi repeated softly. How can you even think of calling me ‘handsome’ when you look into this face every morning and have to know that I’m nothing against you?

“Don’t say that, Kakashi”, Iruka whispered.

“Why not? Do you think I lie to you?”, the Jounin asked softly, not meaning to accuse.

“I… I…” Iruka looked up, eyes wide. “No, I don’t… I…”

“Well, then it has to be true, right?” Kakashi smiled.

“But… but you can’t…” The Chuunin blushed and hid his face against the Copy-nin’s chest again. “You can’t just say something like that…”

“Then may I think it?”, Kakashi asked, grinning. “Well, it would be really nice if you allowed me to do it. But to be honest, I don’t think that I could stop myself from doing so even if you told me not to.”

“Do… do you really think that?”, Iruka asked, sounding disbelieving and a bit insecure.

“M-hm.” The Jounin leaned down and kissed an inviting temple. “May I?”

“… M-hm.” Iruka nodded against his chest and relaxed a little.

“And may I say it, too?” Kakashi smiled. “Please?”

Iruka laughed. “‘kay. If you feel you have to.”

“Mmmh”, the Copy-nin purred. “That’s very nice of you.”

“I can be nice, you know”, Iruka quoted before he looked up and grinned.

“I know.” Kakashi kissed him. “And I think I should reward you for being-”

“You should go shower first”, Iruka interrupted him, smiling. “Before the fish’s done.”

“Do I really have to?”, Kakashi asked, hugged him tighter and sighed in bliss. “Can’t I just stay here like this and be a very, very happy little Jounin and hug this beautiful little Chuunin in my arms? I’d like that.”

“You really have to.” Iruka laughed. “You might be a very, very happy little Jounin right now, but this little Chuunin in your arms has a very, very happy little Jounin hugging him, and unfortunately, that little Jounin stinks.”

“I don’t stink, I smell manly”, the Copy-nin corrected and smiled again, then tilted his head and stole another small kiss. “And we already agreed that it’s a beautiful little Chuunin in my arms.” My beautiful little Chuunin.

“‘kay. But this little Chuu-”

“Beautiful little Chuunin.”

“… this beautiful little Chuunin-”

“And maybe it’s a beautiful, very, very happy little Chuunin?” Kakashi smiled impishly. I’d like that very, very much.

Iruka sighed and shook his head, then smiled back. “This beautiful, very, very happy little Chuunin thinks you smell very, very manly then.” He laughed again. “Now go shower, or you won’t make it back in time for the dinner.”

“I’ll be quick.” Kakashi kissed him again, unbelievably happy he was allowed to now, then hurried into the bathroom and showered in record time, all the time practically vibrating in excitement. Mine! Mine! My Iruka! And I may kiss him and hug him and stroke him and he’s all mine and his hair is open and he’s so beautiful and he’s all mine!

“That was fast. I’m impressed”, Iruka told him when he returned to the living-room while he carefully put the steaming fish onto the table.

“Couldn’t wait to come back to you”, Kakashi answered, then embraced and kissed him sweetly. Mine! “Do I smell better now?”

“Acceptable.” The Chuunin grinned and gave him another kiss. “Now let’s eat. You need to refill your energy.”

“My, Iruka”, Kakashi purred. My Iruka! “What for, I wonder?”

Iruka blushed brightly. “Not for that! I told you I-”

“I know”, the Jounin assured him hastily. “I just like to see you blush.”

Iruka stuck his lower lip out in a pout. “What if I don’t like to blush?”

“But you’re so beautiful when you do it”, Kakashi said. “And if you pout like that in the future, I don’t know if I’ll always be able to stop me from making you blush even more.” He leered playfully at the Chuunin.

“Kakashi, I…” Iruka freed himself from the embrace and took a step back. “Please, Kakashi, I can’t-”

“I know!”, the Copy-nin told him hastily. “I know you want it slow. And I want that, too, I just…” He sighed and made a step forward, then took Iruka into his arms again and rested his head on the other man’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Iruka. I didn’t mean to make you upset. I just wanted to tease you a little and sometimes I go too far with that, I know. But I would never do something you don’t want.”

“I know that, Kakashi.” Iruka stroked his hair gently. “I know you don’t mean it that way, I know you won’t push me. It’s just that-”

“Did somebody try to push you?”, Kakashi asked, then he thought of something and straightened up immediately. “Did somebody try to make you do something you didn’t want?”, he growled, suddenly furious beyond reasonable thinking. “Who did it, Iruka?”, he hissed. “Who was it? Who hurt you?”

“Ka-Kakashi…” Iruka frowned.

“Who did it?”, the Copy-nin repeated. “Tell me who hurt you! I’ll make them regret they ever came near you and-”

“Kakashi! Nothing like that happened”, Iruka told him. “Nobody did anything to me.”

“But- but-”

“I’ve been with someone before and… it just was too fast for me. I stopped it before I did something I didn’t feel ready for and that was it.”

“That was it?”, Kakashi asked, relieved.

“That was it.” Iruka nodded and smiled. “You don’t have to worry about me. Although it’s very cute of you.”

“I don’t know if I want to be cute.” The Jounin faked a pout, then grinned. “I don’t think I can compete against you in that matter. Even Pakkun thinks you’re cute.”

“I’m not cute!”, Iruka laughed.

“No?”

“No!”, the Chuunin told him, still smiling. “I’m… I’m manly.”

Kakashi grinned. “Somebody very cute told me showering helps against that.”

“Kakashi!”, Iruka laughed. “I’m not cu-” He was silenced when the Copy-nin sealed his mouth in a sweet kiss.

“Cute in a manly way?”, Kakashi offered afterwards.

“Manly in a cute way”, Iruka corrected and smiled. “And if you ever call me cute in public, I’ll make you regret it.”

“I’m terrified. What shall I call you in public instead?”

“Oh… erm…” Iruka frowned. “I didn’t think about the public part yet”, he admitted. “Does there have to be a public part just now?”

“Only if you’re fine with it”, Kakashi assured. “I don’t care if we tell somebody or keep silence about everything.” As long as there’s a ‘we’ and an ‘everything’, I don’t care about the somebodies.

“Hm… Can I think about it?”, Iruka asked, sounding unsure. “Please don’t think I would feel ashamed, it’s just-”

“I know.” The Jounin gave him a small kiss. “You’re a teacher, you have parents to deal with.” He grinned. “It’s easier for me. Everybody knows I’m a pervert.”

“This is not perverted.”

“Not yet.” Kakashi grinned wider. “We’ll go slow and then we’ll see.”

“Pervert”, Iruka said but smiled. “We’ll see.”


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A/N:
YAY! Kakashi got what he wanted without Pakkun's help! I'm so proud of you, Hatake!
Nayru