Gaffe

AN: I won't be updating very quickly this time. That is to say, I'll add a chapter in a week, approximately. My studies are taking a way too much of my time lately ^.^; Hope you enjoy this story and remember to rate and review. It'll make me write faster ^_^

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The tropical night was dark and humid. Pale moon hovered over the horizon watching its even paler reflection on the calm surface of the sea. Two figures stood in the middle of a deserted beach, their feet sunken into the fine, white sand, their bodies entwined together like a Boston ivy. The young woman took a step backwards her bosom heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her lips curled to a mischievous smile and she took the man's hand, guiding it under the short skirt barely covering her round bottom. His fingers followed the curve hidden only by shamelessly thin, silky pants. They pushed the cloth aside, feeling the inviting moisture of her folds. Gently he slid his fingers opening them more, covering his fingers with her juices.

“Hatake Kakashi! Honestly, how many times do I have to call before you get your nose out of that damned book?” Kakashi sighed and closed the orange paperback with a snap.

“Yo, Asuma-san.” He greeted the taller man.

“So, are you coming tonight?” Asuma asked holding Kakashi's one-eyed, lazy gaze.

“Yeah... I'm coming. At eight, wasn't it?” The jounin scratched the back of his head smiling, his visible eye arching.

“Uh-huh. Don't be late this time.”

Kakashi leaned with his back on the rough tree and watched the older man light a cigarette as he walked towards the village. He let out a long sigh. It wasn't that he disliked the monthly gatherings of their tightest circle of friends, the atmosphere was always relaxed and it was nice to sit, chat and drink, but there was someone he'd rather not see. In that particular setting, that is. Still, he couldn't not go either. He needed to be there, for his own sake, no matter how much it would hurt.

Weighting the well worn book in his hand Kakashi looked at two kids playing in the grass with a small, dappled puppy dog. The red marks on their cheeks and their wild behaviour were tell-tale features of Inuzuka. In a few years they'd start their long and hard training to become shinobi. They really should enjoy this life of innocence while it lasted, for once they start going on missions it'll be utterly lost. Deciding his mood for a bit of romantic reading was permanently ruined, Kakashi put the old book in his pocket and pushed himself off the tree. Plenty of time to visit Obito and the others.

The smoky bar was filled with people and laugher. Music wasn't too loud in this side, but the bar was connected with a night-club and the rhythmic pumping of the bass seeped through an opening covered by a thick curtain. The low beat boomed under the buzz of conversation, setting the tempo, making it sound like some weird composition of a tripping composer.

Kakashi was sitting at their usual table, not really listening to the heated conversation between Asuma and Gai. He closed his eyes and inhaled. The scent of sweaty bodies sparkled his imagination; he could see them moving to the rhythm, pressing against each other under the stroboscopic lights. The silver haired jounin bit his lip and opened his eyes, pulling himself back from his overly visual thoughts.

“My eternal rival, can you believe this insolent, ignorant excuse for a jounin?” Gai was in a good mood; his eyes were laughing with his incredible white smile.

“Huh?” Kakashi sipped his drink when he was sure no one was looking.

“Well, there is only one way to find out which one is right!”

Uh-oh. I should've paid more attention. Gai can be dangerous sometimes. Kakashi mentally prepared himself for the up coming challenge. With a new sense of horror he watched Gai push himself up and wind his arm around Kurenai. A quick glance at Asuma's smirking face calmed Kakashi down a bit. At least Gai isn't getting his ass kicked for touching Asuma's woman. The tall jounin looked around, his pot cut hair moving comically as his eyes searched for something. Suddenly he stopped gazing around, his face lit up and he pulled a long haired brunette up from the next table pushing the man stand next to Kurenai.

Kakashi's eyes widened and his features hardened, only for a second, before he managed to put the relaxed and easygoing mask back on. Inside he was in turmoil. Naturally he had prepared himself for this encounter, but it wasn't supposed to come before the end of the evening.

“Ah, evening Iruka-san.” Kakashi hid his angst in a smile.

“Uh, evening Kakashi. What's with the honorific?” The undertone of the question stung Kakashi's heart.

Shit, he thinks he's not good enough to be my friend when other jounin are around. Why do I always mess things up? Iruka's gaze swept from one face to another, trying to figure out why he was standing there. Kakashi glanced at his friends as well. Gai was wearing a self-righteous smirk and, weird enough, Asuma was nodding approvingly, clearly agreeing with Gai. He doesn't sound like he's been drinking too much. Kakashi thought, his dark eye observing the slightly tipsy chuunin covertly.

“You know each other?” Kurenai interrupted the silence, she didn't seem to mind what ever it was that was going on.

“Yeah.” Kakashi nodded. After he had ceased to be Naruto's teacher he and Iruka had become close. They enjoyed each other's company, watching movies and cooking together. Maybe it was the caring feelings they both had for the blond loud mouth that brought them together, maybe it was something else, but for a while they had fun.

“Have you been here long?” Iruka asked, he sounded a bit nervous “I was just wondering, since I was sitting in the next table and” his voice trailed away.

“A couple of hours. I didn't notice you there.” Kakashi tried to calm his speeding heart. He didn't want anyone notice how keyed up he was. “Care to tell what this is about, Gai?”

“Oh, so you weren't listening!” Gai's smug smirk widened still. “Which one of these gorgeous beings do you prefer?”

The words smacked Kakashi like a well-earned bitch-slap. His eye fixed on Iruka's blushing face as the chuunin turned his head away to hide his bafflement. Oh gosh, he's sweet. The quiet teacher was wearing a slim-cut shirt buttoned up to the third button. It was light and created a nice contrast against the tanned skin on his neck and chest. His snug, low rise leather pants accentuated his slim figure, leaving very little for the imagination. It was practically impossible for Kakashi to tear his eyes off the chuunin.

“Sorry Gai, I have to disappoint you. Kurenai is Asuma's girlfriend and Iruka,” Kakashi swallowed “Iruka is my friend. I can't choose between them.” Gai raised his thick brows and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything Kakashi continued. “It wouldn't be right. Gai, I'm serious. Nothing you say will change my mind.” Gai closed his mouth in defeat. “Could you please let go of them now?”

Kakashi did his best to keep his annoyance from showing. Gai, who was still holding the chuunin from his hip kept quiet for a while. Suddenly he pulled his arm up and shoved his hand forward, showing his thumb to Kakashi smiling brightly. Iruka glanced around. He caught Kakashi's eye. With a little nod and a gentle ghost of a smile he returned back to his table. The grey haired jounin couldn't help watching the chuunin go. He wanted to jump up and forestall him, but he didn't. Gai rambled something about youth, Kakashi didn't care. His eye was fixed on the chuunin who emptied his drink and headed towards the night-club. The heavy weight of remorse and powerlessness pressed Kakashi's chest, making it hard to breath.

A tray full of schnapps landed on the already sticky table with a series of clinks.

“I admit my defeat.” Said Asuma setting a small glass in front of everyone sitting around the table.

“He was really cute, I can see why Kakashi would be interested.” Kurenai snuggled a bit closer to the bearded jounin sitting next to her.

Hearing his own name spoken, Kakashi was snapped out from his thoughts. He gave Asuma a sidelong glance before taking his own schnapps, pretending he knew what was going on around him.

“Interested? The poor man couldn't help but stare at him!” Gai triumphed and toasted “To my rival, who has shown us his true colours tonight.”

“To Kakashi!” Agreed the others raising their glasses before emptying them.

Kakashi grunted and gulped the herby liquid, it tasted of anise. Ouzo. Brewed probably in Greek in the island of Lesbos. How like Azuma. The alcohol warmed his chest its sweet flavour caressing his tongue. Kurenai had emptied her schnapps into a taller glass and mixed the liquor with water, making it turn milky white. The night was still young and Kakashi could smell the main topic of the evening; his questionable sexual preferences. In a way he didn't mind; his thoughts were riveted on the shy academy teacher and his incredibly sexy outfit. Time for heavy drinking. Kakashi rose up to buy them another round.

The bartender had turned the lights on, signalling it was time for the customers finish their drinks and head to wherever it was they'd spend the rest of the night. Despite of the turns they'd taken to buy rounds, Kakashi wasn't feeling nearly as drunk as he wished to be. At some point Kurenai had wanted to go to the other side of the establishment and dance, rubbing herself against her lover. Asuma'd wanted to go as well, but Kakashi's sad gaze pleading him not to leave him alone with Gai had stopped the bearded jounin from going. Or perhaps it'd been the copy-nin, at that point, looking like he was going to either throw up or cry, slurring something about screwing everything up and ruining his life, that made Asuma apologize to his woman and sit next to the man, consoling him.

Now, the blissful haze of intoxication had faded. Kakashi was standing on a long queue to the toilet as he saw two figures trying to get pass in front of him. His mood was far from agreeable and he didn't like the way the taller man elbowed his way through the crowd.

“Excuse me, we're trying to get through.” The man's voice was commanding.

Kakashi turned his head to give the man an 'I could not care less' look with a glowering eye, when he recognized the man's companion and stood straight. The smug-looking man was a shinobi whose name Kakashi had utterly forgotten. He was clad in a tight fishnet shirt and black trousers. His arm was wound around a chuunin whose chestnut hair spilled over his shoulders, framing his flushed face.

“Iruka” Kakashi said in a much more shocked voice than he'd meant to.

The chuunin looked up. His brown eyes flashed a sad look, barely recognising Kakashi was there, before softening into a drunken gaze. The honey coloured cheeks were gently blushed as he pressed himself closer to the man holding him. In Kakashi's chest the familiar pain sharpened like a dull kunai slowly carving its way through his skin and flesh, all the way to his heart.

“Oh, you know each other?” The man asked tilting his head to glance at the chuunin. Kakashi didn't bother to answer him.

“Iruka?” He repeated the teacher's name, searching his face for the slightest indication of not wanting to go with the man.

But there were none. Iruka's expression revealed nothing. It was like trying to cypher a blank letter; there just wasn't anything. The pain was tearing Kakashi apart. If there was even the smallest hint from Iruka, he'd seize the chuunin's arm and pull him away from that man. He'd walk Iruka home, tell him how sorry he was and how wrong he had been. And he would kiss him. Kiss him until they'd run out of oxygen. But Iruka was leaning to the shinobi, letting him hold him, pressing against his body. It was killing Kakashi, but all he could do was step backwards and let the couple pass.

This is the way it should go. Kakashi thought as he watched the younger teacher vanish into the crowd with the taller shinobi. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes for a moment. His legs moved before his head could catch up with them; he was squirming through the mass of people trying to see even a glimpse of the brown haired man.

The air outside was chilly, it felt sweet and refreshing after the smoky bar. Couple of deep breaths and Kakashi found the lingering scent of Iruka hanging in the breezy night.

Trying to calm his mind the jounin walked as slowly as he could following the invisible trail. After couple of blocks he felt his stomach lurch when he realized Iruka was heading home... with the man. It was too much. Kakashi froze on his steps; he didn't want to see anything more, he didn't want to know anything more. He had punished himself enough for one night, and if he'd go after them he, most likely, wouldn't be able to stop himself from rushing into Iruka's apartment and beating the dirty, canny, sleazy man into a bloody bulb for laying his filthy hands on the chuunin.

Displaying unparalleled self-control the grey haired jounin turned a corner, firmly abandoning the calling of the teacher's scent, and headed home. It'd do no good. I would only torture myself by watching them through the curtains. He was angry, though he'd never admit it to himself. He hated the smug man and the ease he had held Iruka with. Why couldn't I do it? Rushing his steps Kakashi nearly ran to the tall apartment building.

The apartment felt empty. It had just enough furniture that the once white walls didn't allow sounds to echo. The pattered carpets deadened Kakashi's steps making the whole place feel even more lifeless, tomb-like. The jounin tossed his keys onto a kitchen worktop. Suddenly he felt old and tired. Lonely. Once he'd enjoyed his solitude, the quietness of his home; he had pictured himself a loner. Now, it all felt just sad. A quick shower and I'm off to bed.

After rolling on his bed for half an hour Kakashi sat up. The relieving sleep didn't want to come and ease his mind this night; all he could think about was the broad-shouldered jounin keeping his arm tightly around Iruka. He had rolled a heated sex scene between those two in his mind over and over again to the point he was ready to punch his head through the wall just to keep the images from coming. His heartbeat was racing, his blood was running so hot it hummed in his ears.

This wasn't the way it was supposed to go. Why am I feeling like this? Naturally, he had seen Iruka at bar many times before. He'd even seen him leave with other men. All those times Kakashi had stood in the shadows, watching, then biting his lip, turning his head away and walking home, alone. So, why was it so hard tonight?

The chocolate-brown, sad eyes looking at him filled Kakashi's mind as he jumped off the bed and pulled the dark blue pants on. He pulled the matching shirt over his head, leaving the tall collar cover the lower half of his face. Without stopping to think what he was doing the jounin rushed out from his apartment and into the night.

The tall tree wasn't as strongly build as Kakashi would've liked; he was on his haunches on a not-too-thick branch, leaning with his back on the trunk. His eyes were riveted on a dark window trying to spot movement behind the drawn curtains. The jounin felt ridiculous. It was already over an hour since he had stopped following the couple and went home. Surely Iruka had already had sex with the man and fallen asleep in his arms. What would people think? The sharingan-Kakashi sitting on a tree, peeping! He laughed silently to himself. The branch gave an ominous creak just when he thought he saw something move inside Iruka's apartment. And then it was too late. The thin bough snapped with a crack leaving the hunching jounin at the mercy of gravity.

Swiftly Kakashi stood up and brushed his sore behind with his hand. Stealthily he looked around to be sure no one had seen him. Lights were lit in couple of windows. Hiding his presence he slowly stepped backwards until he was sure the darkness had swallowed him. With a sigh he sat down sideways careful not to put weight on his undoubtedly bruised left buttock. I'm an idiot. He rubbed his forehead. Hell, if anyone saw me... I'd never be able to live it down.

I have to do something. I can't go on like this much longer. Kakashi ran his fingers through his wiry hair. It had been going on four or five months now. He'd go to the bar, watch Iruka flirt with other men and hope that one day it wouldn't hurt any more. He had tried to numb himself, push away those possessive, unjustified feelings he'd developed for the academy teacher. Never succeeding, not even once. Why the hell is it so hard?