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With This Ring...	By : RyalsShoal Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kakashi/Iruka Views: 2356 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the Naruto franchise, this is a fanwork made without profit (I'd be a rich bitch otherwise)

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Ch. 3 Cold Feet

The sunset that evening was a glorious one. A golden sun bathed Konoha in a spectrum of rosy hues as it made its nightly decent. Birds chirped their evening song as they flitted about the clear summer sky, and a few venturesome bats squeaked through the trees as they began their hunt for insects.
Hatake Kakashi was too engrossed in his own thoughts to be bothered by nature's beauty. The outburst that he had elicited from Iruka, just hours ago, weighed heavy on his mind. As Kakashi made his way home along the outskirts of the village he would occasionally pause to shake his head in bewilderment before moving along.
Kakashi had learned at an early age that politeness and formality were only a mask people used to hide their true intentions (he had the Hatake clan to thank for that revelation) and ever since his father's death, provoking people had almost become second nature to Kakashi. He had found over the years that he could learn some interesting tidbits about a person when they were off-balanced--the right jibe used at the right time could make their mask slip to reveal an honest reaction to whatever situation Kakashi had nudged them into. Kakashi excelled at this unconventional means of intel-gathering, and other than being an endless source of entertainment he also saw it as an insightful means to glimpse into a target's mental state.
He had learned so far that his fiancé, Sarutobi Umino Iruka, was more than a little disgruntled with choosing Kakashi to marry. True, Iruka had only agreed to marry Kakashi when he was backed into a corner by the Hyuuga Clan…but the unexpected appearance of Yukari had worked into Kakashi's favor to allow him to snag the only available hand of a Sarutobi clansman. Nonetheless, Kakashi had decided to test Iruka's resolve by abandoning the other man to deal with Nadoko Yukari without his help. Kakashi did not want to tie himself to weak personality, and he refused to become a convenient means for Iruka to bypass an unwanted marriage. Kakashi had been pleasantly surprised to discover Iruka still willing to sign the marriage contract after meeting with Yukari, though now Kakashi was having second thoughts over their compatibility. Kakashi had provided everything that the other man could want in their marriage contract, and yet the chuunin seemed dead-set on having a stick up his ass with him and the entire arrangement. Iruka was acting as petulant as a spoiled child. Really, the man should not have taken responsibility for his clan if he was unable to handle it. They were not going to last long as partners if Iruka kept up his act, and Kakashi could definitely see their marriage ending with a kunai at each other's throats. Kakashi had no real desire for marriage. He had been content to live alone during the years since his father had died with only the ninken pack to provide all the company that he needed. If he ever felt the urge for human interaction he always had the companionship of his fellow jounin. But now Kakashi was approaching his thirtieth birthday (a fact that still surprises him) and with age comes a new perspective on how he wanted to spend his remaining years.
Kakashi did not want to die unmourned as the last of his line. An encroaching fear of his was that he would waste away among the empty rooms of his estate with only the ghosts of his memories for company. It was a terribly lonely prospect, and one that needed to be rectified otherwise his ancestral home would forever remain empty. As much as he despised his relatives Kakashi needed to make amends for his father's disgrace to ensure the Hatake bloodline to survive. The simple truth was that shinobi blood must mix with other shinobi blood, otherwise the Hatake bloodline and their secrets would weaken then forever disappear.
The corners of Kakashi's mouth quirked at the thought of his relatives. Kakashi could never, ever forgive them for abandoning him, a six-year old boy, when he had needed his family most. He wished that he could see the looks on their imperious faces when they heard that he was about to be married into the Hokage's family--and most especially when they discovered that they will not inherit a penny from Kakashi's personal fortune after he died. They will get nothing from Kakashi other than the right to fuck the other snobs of shinobi nobility, and perhaps someday, the privilege to do so would allow a child to be born worthy to inherit the Hatake name.
The ancestral home of the Hatake Clan was not as grandiose as the other mansions that dotted the Konohagakure landscape. Even with his considerable wealth Kakashi preferred to live in moderation and without the aid of servants. His only hired help was in the form of the local gardener that did little else other than pull weeds, and Kakashi was satisfied with just that. He did not like strangers to intrude on his privacy, but that will all change when he was married--Iruka was notorious for his sociable personality. It went without saying that the chuunin would be moving from his low-income apartment to Kakashi's home. But on the other hand, Iruka was a shinobi that rarely left the village, and it might actually be a nice change to have someone waiting for Kakashi to return home after a dangerous and bloody mission.
As Kakashi neared the path that led to his home he spotted one of his neighbors taking advantage of the cooling heat to water her garden. Mori Kanao was a plump grandmotherly woman that appeared perfectly at home tending to her garden and the hoards of stray cats that took up residence on her property. Kakashi knew better than to be fooled by appearances; Kanao was a retired Black-Ops ANBU that specialized in interrogation and other methods of mind-fuckery for intel-gathering. Kakashi knew first hand of what the retired woman was capable of--as a boy he had found out the hard way the one time he had tried to pinch sweets cooling on her windowsill. Kanao was famous for using a pair of blunt chopsticks as her preferred interrogation tool, and Kakashi had heard from a reliable source that she would leave a broken prisoner smiling and without a single drop of blood staining the wood.
He gave Kanao a familiar wave and she put down her watering can to return the greeting. Despite himself, Kakashi was rather fond of his neighbor. Kanao was one of the few constant presences in Kakashi's life, and she was among the few that had never treated him differently before or after his father's suicide.
Kanao's wooden clogs thumped hollowly against the packed dirt as she walked up the path. Mud from her garden stained the hem of her faded blue yukata, which was not an untypical sight. Kanao rarely gave much merit to clothing befitting her noble bloodline, and had always preferred comfort and practicality in both her appearance and manner. "I just heard the news!" She said cheerfully, and her round face creased to show wrinkles made from a lifetime of smiles. "Congratulations!"
"Word travels fast." Kakashi shook his head in bemusement. No doubt Kanao had eyes-and-ears scattered throughout the village to help her keep a finger pressed firmly on the pulse of Konoha's gossip chain. As the saying goes: once an ANBU, always in ANBU.
With her greeting out of the way, Kanao planted both of her fists onto her hips as she regarded her young neighbor with a stern look. "Please tell me that you are not getting married just for the sake of the Hatake Clan."
Kakashi willed himself not to sigh with exasperation. There was no use avoiding nosey neighbors (especially if they were armed with good intentions) "I don't see why it's any of your business."
"I have a right to know of what goes on in my neighborhood." Kanao impatiently tapped a foot to show that she was not easily put-off. She could match Kakashi tit for tat when it came to being brusque, and she was most especially stubborn when she felt that her opinion was in the right. "The Sarutobi Clan's reputation and your own safety is at stake. It would be wise to fully consider your decision before you marry that sweet young man. "
"I've considered," Kakashi snorted. Iruka was hardly a threat when compared to himself, and the chuunin was anything but 'sweet.' "He's got his own selfish reasons for our agreement, and I can tell you that it's not because he likes me."
"Exactly!' Kanao folded her thick arms over her bosom. "I know you, Hatake Kakashi, and it is an undeniable fact that you cannot resist pushing people's buttons. If you are truly serious about marrying that boy you will do whatever it takes to be a gentleman and welcome him into your home."
"I agreed to marry him, not change who I am" Kakashi grumbled, then grimaced when Kanao shot a boney finger into his chest.
"Unlike YOU," She prodded her finger to emphasize the word. "Iruka-sensei is beloved by the citizens of Konoha. It will be your undoing if you don't put forth the effort to make him happy." She jabbed her finger again, harder. "Otherwise the villagers would be more than willing to string up your sorry ass for crow bait. And who knows? Perhaps in time you will both learn to tolerate each other, and maybe fall in love."
"I tolerate him enough already!" Kakashi retorted indignantly. "Otherwise I wouldn't have offered myself in the first place!"
Kanao withdrew her finger and her expression became unreadable. "But do you even like him?" She asked after a weighted pause.
"I've seen how he looks at other men," he said evasively.
Kanao lifted an eyebrow, waiting.
Kakashi did like to reveal his emotions, which was a big reason why he wore a piece of cloth to cover half his face. Kakashi had first noticed Iruka long ago in the mission assignment room. Iruka had never been intimidated by Kakashi's reputation and had always bit back at the jounin's banter when others chose to politely ignore his rude behavior. It was those exchanges that made Iruka stand out to catch his eye, but Kakashi had long given up hope of ever forming a relationship with the chuunin since he was a part of the Hokage's family. Most of the Shinobi elite would not willingly involve themselves with a Hatake that was also the son of a traitor, and until recently Kakashi had believed that Iruka was of a similar mind. An offer of marriage was a last drastic move on Kakashi's part and done entirely on impulse before Iruka was forever out of his reach. Though in hindsight, Kakashi never considered that Iruka would actually accept his offer.
Kakashi shifted his stance uncomfortably before he finally made an agreeing sound to Kanao's question (albeit grumbled sullenly) under his breath. He was grateful to have his mask firmly in place to hide the color that blossomed under his pale skin.
A slow smile pulled at the corners of Kanao's lips. "I'm happy to hear that," she said, and Kakashi was surprised to hear relief in her tone. She reached to pat his hand affectionately. "Your methods might be a little unorthodox, but you deserve to have love in your life like everyone else. Why, in my day--" Her voice trailed off when she caught sight of movement behind the jounin, and her grey eyes widened in surprise. It was Kakashi's only warning before an all-too familiar voice screeched his name.
"KAKASHI-SENSEEEEI!!"
Kakashi spun on his heels to spot Naruto bound up the hill with grim determination set in his blue eyes. The teen's nostrils flared wildly in a sure sign that he was worked up. "I've been looking all over for you!" Naruto accused once he skidded to a halt before the jounin, then he remembered his manners to give Kanao a quick respectful bow before turning his ire back on Kakashi. "Tell me why you're marrying Iruka-sensei, and don't you dare lie to me!"
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Kakashi drawled as he slipped the Icha Icha from his pocket. Naruto had the habit for his rants to take considerable time before he wore himself out.
"Because Iruka-sensei isn't a pervy one-eyed weirdo like YOU," Naruto said tightly as if it were a known and obvious fact. Kakashi observed blithely that the black and orange outfit that the youth favored would not look out of place in Kanao's flower garden. Naruto made a motion to recapture Kakashi's attention and gave his former squadron leader a glare that promised violence. "You'd better not try anything funny with him!"
"How do you mean?" Kakashi asked innocently as he turned a page in his book.
Naruto pointed dramatically at the Icha Icha novel. "Like anything weird from THAT!"
"Why are people so quick to assume the worst of me?" Kakashi sighed, then jumped when he sensed chakra energy flare dangerously from the youth. Kakashi dropped his book in shock at the murderous intent he sensed in the boy--and focused directly at him!
Naruto glowered at Kakashi, a shadow clone stood behind charging a sparkling Rasengan into his palm. "Iruka-sensei is the kindest and most generous person that I've ever met, and he's the first to ever acknowledge me as a person!" Naruto snarled with an undertone of a primal growl and his eyes momentarily flashed crimson with the power of the Kyuubi. "If you do ANYTHING to hurt him--I swear…" The unsaid threat lingered ominously in the air like a funeral knell.
Then suddenly both the clone and the Rasengan dissolved into a puff of smoke. Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. The violent aura that had radiated from him mere moments ago had completely and utterly disappeared. "I guess that's all that I'd wanted to say," he said lightly with his usual grin. "Anyways, congratulations Kakashi-sensei! I'm very happy for both you!"
Both of the adults stared after the blonde youth as he ambled down the path to the village with fists stuffed into his pockets while whistling a carefree tune to match the song of the night birds. It was obvious to the world that Uzumaki Naruto was pleased with himself and the impression he had made on his former squadron commander and rank superior, Hatake Kakashi.
Once Naruto was safely out of sight Kanao turned to give the said man a sympathetic look. She could not entirely hide her wry amusement over the rigid expression of horror that had struck Kakashi dumb with shock. "Well now, I hope that you understand what I mean about your safety being at stake." She reached on her tip-toes to give him a motherly pat on the head, of which Kakashi did not seem to notice. "I think you need some time to think about your new perspective on things. Why don't you go get yourself a drink and do just that?"
"S-sure," Kakashi replied faintly. He started walking back towards the village (but through a different route than the one Naruto took) his legs felt a little wobbly. "I think I may need more than one drink. Maybe two." He also needed to find a dark corner to hide in as well. If Naruto was the among the first of many 'well wishers' then Kakashi might be put into an early grave before the sun had a chance to fully set.
*******
TBC (reviews are greatly appreciated! :)
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With This Ring...