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(Atsu, Liv & Seji)
And keep in mind that Naruto is only a kid …
(Atsu - sorry for not updating for such a long time! eep!; happy new year everyone!)
“Hey, love.”
The low rumble of his lover’s voice next to his ear made Iruka look up in surprise.
For all he knew, Kakashi had been asleep for at least an hour by now while Iruka was still reading through one of his rather large encyclopedias, this one on the human chakra system and its influence on the blood circulation. Now, however, his lover’s warm arms slipped under Iruka’s blanket to wrap themselves around his waist.
The chuunin chuckled softly as he lay the book aside and turned around to look Kakashi in the half-opened eye. A lazy grin showed on the face of his lover, and Iruka sighed.
“What is it? Have you been dreaming of me yet again?” he replied casually, but his bright smile betrayed his amusement. It had happened four times in the past week alone that Kakashi had proclaimed his never ending love to Iruka when they were having breakfast in the morning just because he had been dreaming of admittedly nasty things all night long.
Kakashi nuzzled his nose against Iruka’s chest as he huffed, a sound of both resignation and understanding.
“No, that’s not it.”
Warm breath ghosted over Iruka’s tanned skin, and he shivered appreciatively.
“I’ve been thinking.” the jounin continued, and Iruka cocked his head to one side as he held himself up on one elbow.
It was not so unusual that Kakashi got lost in his thoughts when he seemed fully relaxed or was simply not paying attention to his surroundings, but it was definitely new that he did so in bed. That indeed aroused Iruka’s curiosity, so he waited for his lover to proceed.
Kakashi’s voice was deep and hushed when he spoke again.
“What profession would you have turned to, had you not been born into a village like this? We take this life for our natural fate, for something we were meant to do. But imagine you could have chosen for yourself, and you had not known the way of the shinobi. What would you be doing today?”
Iruka kept quiet for a long moment, and his eyes fell shut, his mind rushing back and forth in time, remembering things he had seen and heard, balancing pros and cons of different lifestyles.
When he looked up again, meeting Kakashi’s intent gaze, his lips were quirked up in a small smile.
“I think I’d be doing what I do best- teaching children. Really, I cannot imagine doing anything else but working with the next generation. Even if I were a civilian, I’d still be teaching children, if only the common type. Kids are kids, if talented in chakra usage or not. And if I were not allowed to do that, I’d establish a sports club for the young.” he answered earnestly.
Kakashi’s look was distant and thoughtful as he considered that. After a long minute of silence, he nodded.
“So you could still stick with what you chose to do for a living, because you actually enjoy your life as it is.”
There was something in Kakashi’s tone that caught Iruka’s attention, and the chuunin flinched back slightly before leaning down to kiss the other man’s forehead. Something was just not right about the way his lover seemed to be lost in things Iruka couldn’t quite grasp. He tried to coax Kakashi into talking some more, carefully.
“Why do you ask? Are you not okay with how your life is right now? I thought you enjoyed tutoring your genin team.”
Kakashi’s natural eye snapped shut. He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.
“That’s not it, love. I’ve been chewing over this for several days now, and I can’t seem to think of myself as anything other than the shinobi I’ve always been. It’s not that I cannot think of anything else that I could find an interest in, just the profession that goes with it… how would I be working in a social field or as a salesman if I do not even know how to interact with the people of this village? How can I imagine myself in a normal civilian life if all I have been trained for is killing?” he sounded exasperated, and Iruka wrapped his free arm around his lover’s neck to hug him close.
It appeared to him only now that Kakashi’s way of advancement had been completely different from what he had been taught. The man had learned how to extinguish a person’s life before he had known how to write his own name, he was more accustomed to tracing traitors than to do cooking.
A sympathetic smile pulled Iruka’s lips up as he buried his fingers within the shock of silver hair that was now pressed firmly against his collarbone. Kakashi didn’t know better.
“So you don’t know anything but being a ninja. That’s right. But you could still become attuned to something else if you grew up in another society. Don’t think you’re inapt of everything but killing just because you never learned how to look at things differently! I bet you could be an excellent businessman; just think of your ability to convince people if you really want to. And you certainly don’t need a Sharingan for that.” He laughed. “I can tell you a thing or two about that.”
Kakashi looked up at that, cracking his eye open just enough to stare at Iruka in disbelief.
“Me, a businessman? Are you insane?” he grumbled, but the bitter edge in his voice was gone. Actually, Iruka thought he’d spied the hint of a smile in his lover’s eye, but it was gone too quickly to be sure. “I don’t think I’d like to be bothered with other peoples’ money for a living.”
Iruka let out a small laugh as he leaned back against his pillow.
“Alright, so you wouldn’t want to be a businessman. But you definitely have a knack for what lies underneath the underneath.” A broad grin spread across the tanned features as Iruka continued. “I’m sure you’d make a brilliant psychologist. A doctor, even. How about you specialized on eyes? You have lots of experience with vision and the physics of human eyesight, don’t you?”
That last remark seemed to break the ice, and Kakashi cracked up laughing.
“I feel like you want to suggest a position change rather than something I could do in an alternate life!” he cackled. Then, after a moment of shared laughter, he offered a delighted smile. “Well, I’m sure my patients wouldn’t like my ways of therapy, but I’d gladly try. Let’s give it a shot.”
And he sat up with a serious look on his face, although the corner of his eye was still crinkling suspiciously, as he leaned forward and pressed his lips firmly against Iruka’s. They parted after a short moment of silent relish in each other’s closeness.
“How do you feel now, Umino-san?” came the familiar drawl.
Iruka’s expression was blank, his eyes the color of liquid gold in the light of the bedside lamp.
“Excellent.” he replied with a nonchalant wave of his hand, and Kakashi’s face lit up as he flashed him a smile.
“Session successful, patient healed. I really seem to have a knack for this kind of thing.” he declared, and then leaned in to claim Iruka’s lips once more.
It was Iruka, however, who broke the contact this time, and he laughed breathlessly as he drew back.
“I didn’t even feel sick before! Besides, you’re an awful liar.” and he pointed a finger at Kakashi accusingly.
The jounin raised an eyebrow, apparently taken aback.
“What did I say that was not true?”
He was kissed square on the lips as Iruka’s reply sent a brilliant smile across his face.
“I love your methods.”
(Liv)
Iruka never knew which gender he felt attracted to until a fateful day in May. He had turned 23 years old only days before, but despite the canon experience men his age used to have; Iruka had not been interested in relationships with anyone whatsoever.
It was only past noon when the brunette made his way from the academy back home, a large stack of students’ essays protruding from the bag he was carrying, and sent his thoughts travelling to further plans for the day. He knew he would have to mark the papers he had collected this morning, and then make sure he got some decent food into his already protesting stomach. Today’s breakfast had taken place far too early in the morning and he really needed something more to keep him functioning all day long.
Absentmindedly, he walked past market stalls and yelling civilians as he tried to wrap his mind around what he would use this evening for. He only realized where he had been going when his foot caught on a casually outstretched leg and was sent flying face first to the rough ground. A startled yelp caught in his throat as he tried to roll over but was restricted by a long arm suddenly wrapping around his chest. His face stopped in midair, hovering only inches over what could have been a really painful landing. A burning sensation spread all through Iruka’s lower arms and wrists where he had tried to hold himself up against the downfall, and he knew he must be bleeding by now, but all he could feel was relief for the unexpected help.
Carefully, he was pulled back until his heels touched the ground, and then released to sit on his own.
Iruka’s eyes roamed about, taking in the mass of papers that had spread all over the ground during his rapid fall and then jumping to his arms where sand and rough grit mixed with his blood. He winced but was taken aback by chilly fingers taking a firm hold of one of hands. Gently, his arm was turned to rest in a gloved palm, as a man stepped in view and moved to squat in front of him. A quiet gasp flew past Iruka’s lips as he recognized the masked face that was intently studying his breached skin.
“Y-you…!?” he blurted out before realizing how impolite he must seem, and blushed furiously.
Iruka thought he saw a fleet smile cross the masked face of Hatake Kakashi, but he couldn’t be sure and decided to look elsewhere.
“I… I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention” the young man admitted, still glowing with mad redness.
A quiet chuckle drew Iruka’s attention back to the jounin still perching in front of him, and only now he realized that the man had been watching him intently. His visible eye looked far less bored than what Iruka could remember as its usual manner; indeed, it rather seemed to be searching for something, and although the man was laughing quietly to himself, the stormy gray eye belied his curiosity. One of the gloved hands still held Iruka’s arm in a firm grip, and the younger man could feel his blood drain from the wounded area.
Uncomfortably, Iruka started twitching to escape the all too tight grasp the other man held on his arm, and the gloved fingers retreated in one quick movement. The eye that had been studying Iruka’s face so curiously before narrowed ever so slightly and the chuunin groaned out in misery.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to… ah, it was just… my arm hurts enough even without the pressure and….. and I don’t think you wanted to hurt me.” Iruka trailed off lamely.
The instant reaction took him by surprise, though, and he looked up into the unblinking eye as a soft baritone washed over him.
“Why are you apologizing?” came the words, spoken neutrally, from under the mask, but the raised eyebrow betrayed the jounin’s surprise.
Iruka swallowed. Slowly, he withdrew his arm to rest it in his lap together with the other one, before he shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
“I… I just thought you might have been wondering….. I was being impolite, wasn’t I?” He stared down at the bloody mixture covering his arms.
A deep rumble made the young man start, and he looked up again. The chuckle was back.
“Why are you apologizing?” the other man repeated, and Iruka could have sworn he saw the mask twitch as lips stretched into a smile. “You were just being honest. If anything, I should be the one begging your pardon. It was my posture that caused you to stumble, to begin with.” And the silver crowned head bowed briefly.
Iruka didn’t realize he had been staring in awe until cool fingers touched his lower jaw and pushed it upwards. Hatake Kakashi was bowing to him? A wave of something Iruka couldn’t quite identify sent a shiver down his spine and burning heat started to coil in his stomach, slowly rising in his chest until his heart was pounding painfully against his ribs. The mad blush on his cheeks was back, spreading across his nose and to the far extent of his scar. Again, Iruka thought he saw Kakashi smile.
A moment of silence passed between the two until Iruka got painfully aware of the increasing amount of people who were standing nearby, watching them. Quiet whispers broke through the surrounding area and Iruka’s blush deepened. With sudden haste, he made his way to the scattered papers he had been carrying with him to collect them all and then be on his way once more, but was stopped by the same tight pressure across his chest that had prevented him from crashing, face first, onto the ground earlier. A strong arm had sneaked around his upper body and restricted his every movement, so Iruka held still for a moment and sent a quick glare over his shoulder. What he had not anticipated, however, was the proximity in which Kakashi’s face hovered next to his, and the young man let out a startled cry.
“Ah, I… Kakashi-sensei, I need to… regain my papers. If the wind picks up, I won’t be able to collect them all!” he pleaded, but the man at his back didn’t release him. Instead, a second arm wrapped around his belly and took a hold of one of his bleeding arms, holding it up for him to see.
“Do you really want to have that on your students’ homework, Iruka-sensei?” he asked honestly, and Iruka felt the heat in his face rise to his hairline. He hadn’t thought of that at all.
Resolutely, he shook his head. But what to do with all this mess? A little exhausted, the young teacher leaned back against the warm body behind him. He couldn’t tell how to carry the papers without smearing them with his own blood.
Already he wanted to turn to the bystanders to ask if anyone was ready to help him out when a finger was pressed against his lips.
“It’s okay. I’ll accompany you home and carry that load of- what are they, essays? - for you.”
The grip around Iruka’s chest tightened as Kakashi rose to his feet and dragged the smaller man with him. Iruka kept quiet this time, his face hanging low in shame and embarrassment. His heart, however, was hammering furiously inside his ribcage, and even as the jounin retreated from behind him to kneel and pick up all the papers, Iruka felt as if the heat had never left him.
For a moment he just stood there, awkward, watching the higher ranked shinobi retrieve all the stray papers from the ground. It was only after a few more minutes that Iruka mustered up enough courage to raise his voice again.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked, shrinking back where he stood as he realized how ungrateful he must sound. He quickly backpedaled. “I mean, why is someone like you helping someone like me? It was not your fault that I wasn’t paying attention to the street! You could just as well scold me for being so pathetic…”
Kakashi didn’t so much as look up to him while collecting the papers, but Iruka saw the smile tug at his mask once more.
“Iruka-sensei, do you want to refuse my help? If so, just let me know, and I will no longer bother you with my attention.” he responded casually, a low chuckle rising in his throat even now.
Iruka was just about to object yet again when he realized the slight tint of red right above where the jounin’s mask ended, and he stared at the apparently heated skin in silent astonishment. The possible words he could have mustered were stuck in his throat as something started tickling in the depths of his belly. Oblivious to the meaning of his own emotions, the chuunin kept his gaze on the other man steadily, feeling slightly dizzy.
He did not raise his voice anymore for the following minutes, silently accepting the elite jounin’s inexplicable courtesy up to the point where the man asked to be allowed into his home.
Iruka did not object.
All he really objected to was to be left alone after Kakashi had treated his arms with surprising patience. And so the jounin stayed.
(Liv)
(A.N.: asdfvbrohbcnepckl sorry, I know this doesn’t exactly answer the question. I somehow managed to get distracted with a portrayal of how they fell in love for the first time… and I beg your pardon for that. Long story made short: They never cared. n_n)
„Haaaah“ Iruka leaned back against the edge of the bathtub as beads of sweat began dripping from his forehead.
Long, slender fingers found his temples in one swift movement and started massaging them to release the painful tension built within. Iruka sighed.
His day had been long, stressful and more than a bit too cold. He had been freezing while standing in front of his class, teeth chattering as the technician had tried to fix the broken heating, until one of his fellow teachers had come up with the idea to delay their lessons into the meeting room of the academy. Students as well as teachers had been relieved to leave their chilly classrooms, merging all the children into one big group of furious babbling and fidgeting.
It had taken the teachers only a few minutes to separate the classes once more just to realize that their talk would be overheard by each other’s students anyway and thus decided to leave the separation be for the day. The result had been four extremely tiring hours of multi-tasking; lecturing in front of about one hundred pre-genin while blocking out their constant chatter, giving out tasks and supervising those, keeping an eye on the obligatory troublemakers and catching their repeated attempts of manipulation such as smoke bombs and chakra enhanced paint bags in midair.
Iruka’s eyelids slid shut as warm hands rubbed soothingly against the back of his neck, causing goose bumps to break out all over his skin. Warm water was cupped in those big palms and spread all over Iruka’s shoulders and chest; and the brunette sighed in relief. For several minutes he lay back in the bathtub, taking his time to let the day’s exhaustion wash over him and be taken away by those skillful hands. Tender fingers brushed against the chuunin’s back, slid between his skin and the bathtub and began kneading the tight muscles there until Iruka sighed and moaned in relaxation.
Several more minutes passed until Iruka ‘s eyes fluttered open again, and he blinked against the heavy weariness threatening to take him down. Loosening muscles caused him to shiver in silent pleasure as he slowly craned his head to meet his smiling lover’s gaze, steel gray and totally calm. Pale lips approached his darker mouth to press gently against as Kakashi’s fingers returned to Iruka’s temples and pushed a few loose strands of brown hair out of the chuunin’s face.
“Welcome home, love” the jounin breathed against his lover’s lips when he retreated, the corners of his natural eye crinkling in genuine happiness.
Iruka’s lips lifted in his first honest smile for the day, and he flicked his tongue over Kakashi’s lips just as the other man’s face approached him once more.
“Thank you. Really.” And Iruka flung his arms around his lover’s neck with a cheeky grin as he pulled back against the farther wall of the bath tub, leaving Kakashi at a loss for balance. A helpless and completely unmanly yelp escaped the jounin’s lips as he was forced to fall face first into Iruka’s lap and thus into the warm water filling the bath tub, and he sputtered indignantly.
Iruka’s reaction was instant; he laughed. With all of his heart and relishing in the easiness of his life once he was around his lover, he giggled until tears sprang to his eyes, and he released his lover with bittersweet regret only to realize that Kakashi had started tearing at his own clothes already. Before Iruka even knew what was happening, an unmistakable Splash sent beads of water flying to hit him right in the face, and Kakashi was on him to tickle his sides, which made the brunette’s giggle grow uncontrollable.
The laughter filling their small bathroom increased in volume until they both lay breathless and wet from head to toe, Kakashi’s chin rested on his lover’s chest as he stared at him, still chuckling.
“So” he grinned, his eye arcing up in the crooked smile Iruka loved, as he was panting for breath. “Did your children behave?”
Iruka let his head sink back against the cool porcelain of the bath tub. He laughed once more while he listened to the sound of his own heart beating with all its might. “They were not too bad. To be honest, you’re far worse than they could ever be.” With that, he tilted his lover’s head up so he could look him in the eye, and kissed his lips once more. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
(Liv)
