Mission Iruka

disclaimers? If you haven't figured it out by now you never will

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"It didn't work," Kakashi said as he crouched beside the stone. "I just thought you should know." He rubbed the back of his neck, "So what do I do now since you guys seem bent on tormenting me?" The sigh that escaped held a tone of amusement. The sun was setting by the time the silver haired shinobi moved.


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Iruka tucked one last scroll in a pouch and headed out the door to find Kakashi. He wasn't sure how he was going to get Kakashi to let him back in his house but he would. And then he'd get his revenge.

Iruka resorted to simply knocking on Kakashi's door. He'd thought about knocking on the library door but he wasn't sure if he should. 'I'd probably be intruding.' Iruka waited. 'He should be home. Why am I here? What am I going to say?' He could feel the pre-prank nerves hitting him. Well mostly pre-prank.

Kakashi popped his head out. "Oh, it's you." He slid the door open and motioned for Iruka to come in.

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'What is he doing over here now?' Kakashi wondered then shrugged mentally. 'Not that I mind.' Iruka took off his shoes and held them looking at Kakashi. "Oh, I was just fixing dinner would you like to join me?"

"I didn't mean to intrude." Iruka blushed slightly.

"You're not." Kakashi turned and walked back towards his part of the house. 'He's awful cute when he blushes. It may even be better than the angry look.' Kakashi contemplated the idea as he led Iruka to the living room.

"Please sit. I'm almost done." Kakashi smiled and went back into the kitchen. 'And don't think I haven't noticed you haven't said a word as to why you're here.' Kakashi turned off the stove and got out plates for the rice and stir-fry.

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Iruka watched Kakashi, 'Damn how am I going to set this up with him in the same room?' He watched as Kakashi carried the food over and then went back for the tea. 'Why did I come over here? I didn't think about this very well. I should already have an excuse!'

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Kakashi sat down. "So what brings you all the way out here?" Iruka squirmed. 'That's cute too. Not as cute as the blushing though. Oooh there's the blushing! The squirming is especially cute when he's blushing.'

"I don't know." Iruka poked at his food before taking a bite. "I guess I just enjoy your company." He took another bite looking at it carefully. Kakashi watched as the blush deepened.

"Okay." Kakashi scratched his head then pulled down his mask to eat.

Iruka choked.

"Are you alright?" Kakashi wondered briefly if he'd made it to spicy.

Iruka stared at him. His face was a fascinatingly bright shade of red by this point.

"Iruka-san are you okay?" Kakashi was beginning to get worried.

Iruka nodded. "Your... mask." He squeaked.

"Yes...?" Kakashi asked hesitantly wondering if Iruka was going to pass out.

"You took off your mask."

Kakashi stared at him. 'Oh!' Kakashi grinned. "Sorry I'm not used to having people over. I can put it back on if would make you more comfortable." 'If I'd known he'd react like that I might have taken it off sooner. Like before I put the food down. I hope he doesn't choke. I can imagine what people would say then.'

"No!" Iruka started. "You don't... shouldn't... I was just surprised is all. I've never seen you with it off before."

Kakashi smiled. "Forgot I had a face underneath my mask? Usually I get the opposite response. You know people trying to get me to take it off."

Iruka's face had almost returned to its normal color.

"Please eat." Kakashi looked wickedly at Iruka, "Of course if you've lost your appetite I apologize."

"You're very handsome Kakashi-san." Iruka said then blushed again. "I mean uh..."

Kakashi chuckled. "You mean I'm not handsome? I suppose I could be getting old..."

"No you are handsome and you're not old, it's just I didn't mean that to come out like that." At this rate Iruka really would pass out.

"Like what? A compliment?" Kakashi just couldn't resist teasing him one last time.

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Iruka picked up a piece of chicken and popped it in his mouth. 'Change the subject please.' He chewed.

'This is good. Yes change the subject to the food.' His voice wasn't cooperating.

"How do you like it?" Kakashi asked as if reading his mind.

"It's amazing, Kakashi-san. Where did you learn to cook like this? When?"

"Minatoi-sensei taught me."

Iruka looked at Kakashi. "Sometimes I forget Yondaime was your sensei." Iruka took a drink. "It was nice of him to teach you to cook."

"You remind me of him sometimes." Kakashi stared at him with an odd look on his face for a moment. "The way you take care of Naruto."

Iruka blushed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's nothing, Naruto's a good kid."

"He's lucky he has you. I think Minato-sensei would say the same." There was that odd look again.

"I'm just as lucky to have Naruto around. I shouldn't have a favorite student... I keep telling myself that."

Kakashi chuckled. "Probably not. But Naruto needed you more than your other students."

"Not more than Sasuke." Iruka felt the bottom of his stomach drop and not in a pleasant way. 'Oh... I shouldn't have said that. He's probably more upset about Sasuke than he would be Naruto. Though he doesn't really seem upset about Naruto...'

"You're probably right in some ways but Sasuke was more my fault than yours. You shouldn't blame yourself." Kakashi's voice was serious.

"I didn't mean..." Iruka started.

"I know you didn't." Kakashi interrupted. "It doesn't make it less true. I saw it coming but I thought I could convince him otherwise. Minato-sensei... would have gotten it right." Kakashi looked away for a moment. When he looked back he smiled. "Maybe Naruto will get it right." He laughed lightly then, "I don't think he'll give up until he does."

Iruka relaxed and chuckled. "Naruto doesn't know how to give up. It goes against his very nature."

Kakashi changed the subject and they fell into a relaxed conversation about the various nin, trading gossip and stuff that really wasn't gossip. Eventually Iruka left, but it was dark when he did.

"Well I didn't get them planted but now I know I can drop by for no reason and he won't think I'm crazy." Iruka flew over the roofs towards his apartment. "And I'm still going to do it. He deserves it."