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Show and Tell	By : hatochan Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1304 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Author's Notes

- Sorry I'm so slow! Life's been kicking me in the teeth lately, eating into my writing time. But this chapter is extra long to make up for it :)

- Thanks to everyone who reads this mess XD!!!

- llyoung - Thanks so much!!! I love the Inuzukas, especially Kiba! He's just so much fun XD

- Gcbella19- Thank you!!! Yep, 'Ruka's just trying to find Mr. Right :) Isn't the pic amazing!!! It's been my wallpaper since she posted it :)

- HumanInfiltrator- Thanks so much!!! Virginal Iruka is yummy, but I prefer a more aggressive dolphin XD!

- cynaga- Thank you!!! I agree, sex is great, but communication is what brings people closer ( i sound like a therapist) ;)

- Tiffany- Thank you so much!!! I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

Story Notes

- This occurs several months after the events of Tolerant Intolerance, perhaps a month or so after the events in Along the Way: CDs2.

- Many thanks to shi-chan's Roommate ( exciting, exceptional story!) from which I ganked some names for Kakashi's summons, because my brain's tired!

- I know I've been spastic about their ages :( In this, they are three years apart, which is what they are listed in the 'official guidebook'. I'm going to try very very hard to keep to this age difference in the rest of whatever I write for this series. It doesn't really change much in the way of the other stories, but it's an inconsistency that someone might have noticed .

Warnings: Coarse language, malexmale sexual dialogue, biseinen-ai, SAP, angst, poor attempts at humor, etc.

Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

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Show and Tell

Chapter 4

Show Me Yours...

Kakashi awoke the next day feeling very un-stupendous. Too... much ...to ... drink. Too... much... sex...He wrinkled his nose at the raw sticky feeling of his groin, then smiled at the memories of how his groin had come to be raw and sticky. Never... too... much... sex.

The jounin's brain slowly began to process his surroundings through touch, smell and sound since his eyes remained closed and his tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth. Kakashi knew he was in Iruka's bed; soft cotton sheets emanated herbal shampoo, fabric softener and light musk. A fresh breeze caressed his shoulders and back, exposed above the line of the thick quilt. Birdsong also alerted him to the open bedroom window. Lack of morning sun penetrating his closed lids told Kakashi that it was mid to late afternoon and that he'd pretty much missed the entire day. Not that he cared.
Muffled knocks and scrapes could be heard from beyond the bedroom door. Iruka's already up. Bastard drank more than me, how the hell is he moving around? Then the smell of cooking rode in on the draft and Kakashi was hit by a swelling wave of nausea, starting in his stomach and rocketing upwards to slam against the shield of his clenched teeth. Oh shit! Rolling across the futon, the silver haired man slapped a hand over his mouth and scrambled on hand and knees towards the adjoining bathroom.

What the fuck is this?! As his dinner and senbei and three varieties of beer mixed with a generous volume of stomach acid was ejected from his belly, Kakashi had to wonder at his state of health. My hangovers don't involve vomiting! I'm a little tired, have a little headache, but that's it! No puking!!! His stomach cramped and sent another fountain of sickness ( oh look, noodles...) into the toilet, purely to contradict his thoughts. Kakashi squeezed his eyes shut in an effort to block out the gross sight and to get his rebelling stomach under control. A shaky hand reached out and flushed the toilet. The sound of spiraling water did little to help the jounin, but Kakashi forced himself to his feet and nearly fell against the sink ledge, propping himself up on trembling arms.
Cold water flowed into the concave porcelain, washrag dipping into the liquid and wiping the overly pale face. I really look horrible. Maybe that whisky Iruka made me swallow didn't set well with the beer? It wasn't very likely, but the silver haired shinobi didn't have any other explanations. It just wasn't like him to get sick from drinking. Oh well, first time for everything. My age must be catching up to me.

Knock, knock. " Kakashi? Are you alright?"
Kakashi stuck his head out the bathroom doorway, aiming his weakened voice at the closed bedroom door. " Yeah, 'mkay. Just give me a minute." He listened to the soft footsteps padding away, followed shortly by more sounds coming from the kitchen. Kakashi exhaled and dropped his forehead onto the cold surface of the mirror. Kami, last night was something else. The silver headed man crawled into the shower and allowed memories of the previous night's events to swim through his mind as the water pelted his sore body.
He was clean quick enough, gargling water to rid his mouth of the film of bile that remained, scrubbing the stale sweat from his hair and the dried cum from his groin as he relieved himself. Kakashi watched the yellow stream circle the drain and quelled the uneasiness in his mid-section.
Towel dried and only slightly light headed from his earlier bout of sickness, Kakashi dressed in the clean clothes that he found laying on the corner of the made up futon. He squirmed into a loose pair of Iruka's drawstring pants and pulled an equally baggy shirt over his chilled frame. A fresh black scarf was tied across his sharingan before venturing out of the cozy bedroom. The smell of hot food assaulted him once he entered the hallway, but the consequences were less dire; merely a tiny twist in the pit of his stomach. One pale hand dragged along the wall, steadying the jounin as he walked into the larger main area. On his right, Iruka was busy fighting with something on the stove. To his left, the low table held a full cup of tea and a half empty mug of coffee. Genma's been here. He's the only one I know of who drinks coffee, other than Ibiki who should still be out on a mission.

Instead of his usual shinobi-like way of hedging around, the jounin simply came out and asked his lover, " Was Genma here this morning?"
" Yeah, he stopped by a few hours ago. " Iruka spoke over his shoulder, his hands lifting a teapot from the hot eye and moving an open pot to the back of the stove. " I made some tea and we have soup. I have teriyaki beef and bell peppers, too, but I wasn't sure if you'd want any after..."
" Throwing up my spleen?" Kakashi joked as he slumped into the corner of the couch. The silver head tilted backwards until the base of his skull was cradled in the couch upholstery. Now that his nausea had abated the expected headache was beginning to make itself known and Kakashi shut the gray eye to the cracked plaster ceiling. " I'd like to have a little bit. It'd do me good to get something back in me."
" Just stay there and I'll set everything up. "
Kakashi mmm'ed in response, his mind slipping into the comforting sounds of domestic life...
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He fell asleep.
Iruka woke him up with gentle shakes and soft kisses, helping the jounin to the kitchen table where they ate their early dinner in comfortable silence. Kakashi managed to ingest two pieces of marinated beef, three bowls of miso broth and a pot of tea. The silver haired man was insanely jealous of the dolphin who seemed to be suffering no ill effects.
With the table cleared, Kakashi ambled back to the couch, flopping into the deep cushions and exhaling a weary sigh. No more drinking for a while. He listened as Iruka continued to putter around in the kitchen, bare feet slapping against the hard floor. Wonder if I can convince him to go back to the bed and curl up with me? His lover crossed back into his field of vision, leaning over before disappearing altogether. Two small taps indicated cups being set upon the polished wood of the low table, followed by a deeper thud of something heavier hitting the top.
" I've been thinking about our conversation last night." Iruka's smooth voice interrupted the quiet.

That was sooner than I expected. Kakashi brought his head back to it's proper perpendicular alignment with the floor, visible eye taking in the table and man sitting at his feet. Iruka was stationed cross-legged on the other side of the dark wood. As he suspected, two steaming cups of tea were gracing the worn surface, a plate of his favorite almond cookies placed between them. He remained silent, his unmasked face open and encouraging.
A brown elbow rested on the table, chin propped onto the heel of his hand. The other hand scratched the back of his head in an embarrassed gesture, a blush spreading across his cheeks. " And there are some things that I've been curious about, but just never found the right time to ask, so..."
" Anything you want to know, Iruka. I'll tell you straight up." Kakashi was excited... and nervous as hell. I said I would do this, I wanted to do this. I just didn't think he'd be ready so soon. He ran a hand through the messy spikes of silver and tweaked one side of his mouth. Though I'm kinda relieved that he wants to go first, I'm honestly afraid of what I might find out when I perform my interrogation. Kakashi's memories began to mock him, threatening him with the repetition of painful events, of another broken heart if he went through with the proposed question and answer session. I'm going to do this for Iruka. And when he's ready for me to ask my questions, I'm going to except whatever answers he gives me. Even if... The jounin steeled himself and steadied his voice. " Anything at all."
" Uh... what's your favorite color?"
Kakashi forgot to breathe for the few seconds it took his mind to fully process the utter irreverence of the question. I got myself all worked up over my favorite color?! When oxygen became a pressing issue the jounin forced air through his nose and into his lungs. He noticed the brunette still fidgeting with his loose hair, other hand lightly tapping the plate of cookies.
" It's just... you know, when I go to buy you something I have to guess what color you'd like best and- and I thought maybe it wouldn't ..." There were uneasy chuckles and Iruka's sable eyes flittered about the room. " Uh, yeah."
It hit Kakashi, when the dark eyes lit and left various spots that were no where near his own spot on the couch. He's just as freaked out about all this as I am. He's just being adult enough to go through with it; even if it means starting out with something silly. The jounin was oddly proud of his dolphin. Kakashi picked up his cup and sipped the fragrant liquid before settling more comfortably into the couch cushions. " Sky blue."
Doe eyes locked onto the single gray. " Sky blue? That's pretty." The tension that had been so visible only moments before in the athletic frame melted into a grateful smile. Iruka drank some of his tea and nibbled on a sweet. " Any particular reason?"
" Because sky blue doesn't have anything to do with death. " Kakashi didn't know of any shinobi that favored the colors red or black, of blood and assassin uniforms; gray came in a close second, the color of corpses. " It's pure, calming."
Iruka nodded as he chewed, thumb brushing stray crumbs from the side of his mouth. " My dad painted the ceiling in my bedroom like the sky. Clouds and a sun and everything. " The cookie was finished quickly, pink tongue licking sugar dusted lips and capturing Kakashi's undivided attention. " Do you have a favorite flower?"
" Daffodils. Bright and sunny."
" Why do you wear the mask?"

Well, he blindsided me with that one. Kakashi raised an eye brow and took another sip of warm tea. He reached forward and plucked a cookie from the plate. The jounin couldn't say that he was surprised by the question, but it had never come up in the two years they had been involved and he had assumed that Iruka simply wasn't curious about its origins; an absolutely ridiculous assumption. He's a shinobi. Of course he's curious. " My mother bought a special lightweight mask for my second mission to Sand when I was seven. I went barefaced on my first mission there as a genin and my face was so wind and sun burned by the time I got home, it was agony. " Kakashi smiled around the rim of his cup, his expression softening slightly at the memories. " Anyway, my mother died three days after I returned from that mission and I kept the mask on out of remembrance of her, only taking it off when I sat at her shrine. "
Iruka's expression held the perfect balance of sympathy and pride in his lover's ability to speak about his past without bitterness. " I remember a little bit of it; it rained the day of her memorial and Sandaime had a cold. Silly things to remember. I know I was too young to fully understand what had happened and I had been in an accident a few days before, where one of my friends had been killed. I was released from the hospital the day of services. Do you mind my asking how she died?"
Kakashi pictured that loving smile beneath dark hair, so similar to Iruka's, only faded slightly by the passing years. " A few months prior, my mother led an ANBU team into Stone. One of the members didn't make it back, leaving his sixteen-year-old non-shinobi daughter without any living family. She somehow managed to discover who led the team ( it turned into a complete security debacle when it got out), she covered her body with her father's leftover explosive tags, dressed in his festival yukata and found Hatake Kyoko at morning market, talking to some friends. " The jounin had fallen into the speech patterns associated with mission reports, factual and unemotional. Despite the years, Kakashi was still uncomfortable discussing his mother's death; her life was filled with joy, her demise was nothing but pain.
" Hatake-san recognized the girl and approached her. The girl threw herself around Hatake-san, witnesses say it looked like nothing more than a friendly hug, then the explosive tags were set off by contact with Hatake-san's chakra signature, killing the jounin, the civilian girl, and a small child that happened to be shopping with her father. " Kakashi watched in morbid fascination as Iruka brought a tentative hand to his temple, fingers ghosting over a tiny spot that was one shade darker than the rest of his golden skin. " There were several injuries, including Umino Makoto-san, who incurred minor burns to the right side of her body, broken ribs and a concussion from the impact. Her four-year-old-son Iruka-"
" - hit my head on a merchant's stall when my six-year-old friend, Kurosaki Tsuki, was thrown into me, knocking me unconscious; I was protected from the brunt of the blast by the older girl's lifeless body. " Iruka was staring back at Kakashi with a kind of shocked realization. His hand had dropped into his lap, abandoning the faint scar at his hairline. The chuunin was obviously upset, but his eyes remained dry, his voice steady. " I woke up in the hospital a few days later. I remembered 'Kaasan talking to Hatake-san, and Tsuki-chan running over to show me her new kanzashi, then a deafening boom and...nothing. My mother explained what happened to me and Tsuki-chan, but she never told me about your mother. And I- I was too dense to make any connection."
" You were only a child, Beloved. Things get lost in those early hazy memories." Kakashi's brow furrowed in pained empathy. He hadn't thought the day's discussions would be entirely pleasant for himself , but he certainly hadn't expected to hurt Iruka with his answers. " I'm sorry I brought that up."
The younger man laughed softly, making a dismissive gesture with his hand. " Don't be silly, I'm the one who brought it up. I'm sorry, 'Kashi love. "
" Come up here." The scarecrow leaned forward and extended both hands towards his lover. Iruka took the offered palms, careful of the items on the table, moving to sit beside the jounin on the low couch. Caramel colored skin warmed the pale flesh exposed by Kakashi's short sleeves. " You want to hear about my first kiss? " There was a giggle and nod from Iruka and Kakashi silently congratulated himself on averting yet another I've-upset-my-Beloved-into-not-talking-to-me-for-a-week disaster. " Well, I don't actually remember it, but my father used to tease me about it when I was older. Apparently a certain little brown haired cutie, who was two, tackled me to the ground on my fifth birthday and laid a big wet one right on my lips."
" Oh Kami-sama, tell me it wasn't." Iruka groaned into the jounin's shoulder.
" Oh yes, it was. You were my first kiss, 'Ruka-chan. " Kakashi grinned and wrapped both arms around the other man, rocking him playfully as he nibbled on the ear closest to him. " You forced yourself upon me and stole my first kiss! How could you, Umino-san?! I was only five !"
" I was only two and you should be ashamed that someone younger than you was able to get the upper hand! Gyah!!! Kakashi, stop!!! " Iruka squealed as the jounin pulled him into his lap and proceeded to tickle him.
After several gasping minutes, the two shinobi broke for air and Kakashi righted their positions. Pale fingers meshed with brown ones, the jounin giving his lover a squeeze. " Okay, back to the interrogation. What else do you want to ask me?"
" What about first sexual encounters?" Iruka tittered into the delicate ear.
" You aren't pulling any punches are you?" Kakashi snickered and slipped a hand under the hem of the dolphin's shirt, fingers teasing the hard abdominals.
" I'm sorry! You don't have to-" The blush darkened across Iruka's scar.
" Shhhh... 'Ruka, stop apologizing for doing what I ask. Nothing you ask me is going to permanently scar me, or send me into some spiraling pit of depression, or make me angry. " He growled into the dark hair, kissing and soothing with his lips. " So, I was seventeen-years-old when I got my first hand job from my teammate Rin, my first blow job from an ANBU teammate, my first frotting from a client. There was a general mixture of those three activities, plus some heavy make-out sessions, with a variety of people; most of whom I no longer remember their names, or their faces. I didn't lose my virginity until I was nineteen. Since then I've had sporadic one night stands, whenever things became too much, or when a prime opportunity presented itself. " His fingers splayed over his lover's flat stomach, resting quietly and feeling the slight rise and fall with each of Iruka's breaths. " Like when Konoha's sexiest chuunin threw me into his bed. "
" Yeah, yeah, I had my wicked way with you. " Iruka bumped his forehead into the silvered temple, sweet breath caressing the older man's cheek. " So what about love? Have you ever been in love before?"
" Twice. " Kakashi spoke softly, his mind pulled back through his memories. This is hard. I haven't... He pulled the other man closer, seeking strength and comfort in his spicy scent and overwhelming heat. I haven't told anyone about them. Kakashi closed his eyes and settled his quaking mid section. " I was very much in love with Yondaime. Puppy love, perhaps, born from a familial affection. He took me in after my father died, kept me sane after Obito was killed. Sensei was everything to me. "
" Did you ever, uh, was it reciprocated?" Iruka's voice was very close to him, almost muffled.
Kakashi smiled and opened his eyes, berating himself for being so unnerved by the conversation that he had essentially initiated. Focusing on the shape of his hand through the thin green fabric of Iruka's shirt, the jounin pressed on. " No, no. He was careful to keep all interaction appropriate; affectionate, but not sexual. And I was so confused by the whole ' having emotions' thing that I made damn sure that I didn't act differently. " The soft cotton wrinkled over the outline of his fingers, creating small shadows, moving and changing with the chuunin's breathing. Kakashi's thoughts centered around the well played, slow motion scene of his leader's last day. Blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes and a background of fire and dying screams. The end of the world and all that mattered was his touch. " But he knew. Sensei always knew and right before he left to seal the Kyuubi he kissed me. Not like a father or brother or friend. But like a lover. And not because he felt that way towards me, no, because that's what I wanted and that was his last gift to me. "
Iruka tightened his embrace and nuzzled the jounin's neck, placing barely there kisses just above his shoulder. Kakashi enjoyed the sensations as he continued. " It wasn't until I was eighteen that I dared any similar feelings towards another person and even that began badly, as most of my relationships did. My second love affair began when I returned from an S-rank so wounded I didn't make it through the gates before passing out. Luckily, a young man named Uesegi Jomei was in the forest that day and he was kind enough to haul my pathetically bleeding ass to the hospital. He was there when I woke up three weeks later and the friendship sorta took off from there. Before I knew it, I was completely head over heels. "
" Hmmmm, I don't think I know him. " Iruka leaned his head back, bringing the dark eyes to face the jounin. His hands did not cease their small petting movements on Kakashi's arm and chest.
Silver hair fell forward, a stark contrast to the dark material of his scarf. " He wasn't shinobi. He was a carpenter, a civilian. " Kami, it hurts just to say it. Shinobi were taught from a very young age that civilians were to be protected and it was best that you didn't have anything more than passing friendships with non- shinobi. Romantic relationships were severely frowned upon. I pulled Jomei into my world of death, put him in danger, and in the end there was nothing I could do to save him.

" He must have been very special." Iruka leaned his cheek against Kakashi's shoulder, cuddling up to the older man as though he were an oversized teddy bear. The jounin was reminded of a small child settling in for a bedtime story. Iruka went on in his smooth voice. " If you loved him so much, I know he was special. What was he like? Was he tall, dark and handsome? "
" Jomei..." Kakashi's words hitched in his throat and he wondered where the swell of emotion in his heart had come from. I cried all my tears for him years ago. I moved on, I moved on. He would be extremely happy that I have Iruka now. There was a slight cough and sniffle before he began again. " Jomei was extraordinary. I wish I had a picture of him. His skin wasn't quite as tan as yours, but he spent so much time in the sun while he worked that he was always a dark mocha color where he was exposed; almost the same color as his hair and eyes. He was a couple years older than me, a little taller, a little broader. His hands were covered in scars and calluses from working with wood and sharp tools most of his life. " Kakashi found a smile as he talked, remembering the deep voice and tender touches. " He was kindhearted and simple, not that he wasn't intelligent, he just- just didn't let life complicate him. And he was a great artist! You know those carvings of Pakkun and Chibi and Koushi and all the rest on my window sill ? Jomei made them for me, all by hand. He would make toys and knick knacks for the neighborhood children, he lived near the civilian school and would help the sensei whenever he had time off. I would sit in the trees sometimes and just watch him play with the kids, four dozen pre-pubescents practically running circles around him and he would just laugh and smile and roughhouse until the sun went down."
Iruka's fingers twitched in their place on Kakashi's arm as the jounin accidentally scraped a fingernail over his sensitive belly. The scarecrow rubbed tiny soothing circles over the spot. " I happily gave up my virginity to him, though I was awkward as all hell. Hehehe, I topped him first time, and I was convinced that I was going to hurt him and he'd never want me to touch him again. And despite my less than graceful performance, it was beautiful. " His body writhing beneath mine, surrounding me with his warmth and his scent and I said those three words as our heads cleared and our heartbeats returned to normal. " He reciprocated the next night, showing me some of the finer points of being seme. I'd thought I'd lost my mind, the orgasms were so intense. Anyway, I basically lived at his house from then on. "
" I bet his neighbors loved having the infamous Sharingan Kakashi skulking around at all hours. " The chuunin chuckled and began to play with odd strands of silver, twisting them around his brown fingers. " My neighbors certainly do."
" Best part about being an elite shinobi; no one ever knew I was there. And they didn't have any reason to. I didn't want anything to happen to Jomei, so I made him promise that he wouldn't let anyone know about us. We were a secret from his friends and family, and no one ever discovered that I no longer spent my nights at home. Never let an enemy get wind of him. " The jounin's lips grazed his lover's cheek. " We got good at it, too. I'd throw a temporary dye on my hair, wear an eye patch, leave my mask off and speak in a Wave dialect. Then we'd go out on the town passing me off as a past coworker from an out of village job. It was hilarious, really. We even ran into Asuma and Raidou once at a yakitori stand. I talked to Asuma for ten minutes and he never knew it was me! Jomei and me laughed our asses off once they left! "
" How did you manage to fool them?" Sable eyes twinkled with amusement.
" I was cheerful and bouncy and effusive; the total opposite of my normal demeanor. " Kakashi slid his hand higher under Iruka's shirt as the chuunin laughed at his own mental image of an ' effusive' Kakashi, palm searching for the solid thud-thud beneath the scarred pectoral. " We were together for nearly two years and no one had a clue."
" What happened, 'Kashi love?" A brown hand moved to rest on top of the cotton covered appendage. Iruka's smile softened, obviously sensing an unhappy ending.

Umino-Mind-Reading-no-Jutsu at work. " One lovely spring night he wore my ass out, several times, we went to bed together wrapped in each other's arms... and the next morning, I was the only one who woke up. " Kakashi released a deep sigh, his hand relaxing on Iruka's chest. " I kissed him one last time and left through the window. Jomei was always punctual, so it wasn't long before his employer sent someone to look in on him and found his body. It was the peak of sakura season, I hid in a tree outside the temple while they held services. " Petals falling like snow and I felt so cold I thought it was winter again. " While eavesdropping on the mourners, I learned that our relationship wasn't the only thing that Jomei had been hiding; he had a serious heart condition that he kept from me. His family knew, his friends knew, his fucking boss's wife's cousin knew.... but I had no idea that he had a weak heart that eventually just decided to stop working. "
" Oh, 'Kashi love. " The words were whispered into the pale throat, the chuunin curling closer around the slender body.
" It was a long time ago, Beloved. " It hurt, but Kakashi had moved past it and he'd been using memories of the good times to get him through the rough years. And since becoming attached to Iruka, his memories of Jomei had become less painful, turning faint and sweet like dried flowers. Only that one little secret continued to mar the otherwise happy scenes. " You're the first real relationship I've had in nearly seven years. "
" Is that why you wanted to do this? To see if I was keeping anything from you?" Iruka lifted doe eyes to meet the lone gray.

Umino-Mind-Reading. The man knows you better than you know yourself, Hatake. Or, rather, he knows when you're lying to yourself; even when you've been doing it for so long you think it's the truth. Pathetic. Kakashi removed his hand from under the shirt, feeling lost without the reassuring beat beneath his palm. He immediately used his free arm to wrap around the younger man and practically crush him to his own chest. " You know, it started out as this vague urge, then it grew every time I learned something new, usually by courtesy of Genma. And then it was just about finding out who you had slept with and why, and why you hadn't topped me. Anything that wasn�t the real reason. " He carefully brushed aside some silky chocolate strands and ran his thumb along Iruka's lower lip. " Of course, as always, you've seen through all my self-delusional bullshit and gotten me to see the truth. You know, in all these years, I've never told another living soul. Just the names on the memorial stone and they've been lacking in the sympathy department. "
" Kakashi, I-I just..." Iruka was stumbling over his words and it took the jounin a few seconds to decide whether his lover was upset or simply overwhelmed. " I'm glad you told me, that you felt you could tell me. Thank you. "

Overwhelmed it is. " I should be thanking you for loving me even though I'm an emotionally retarded ass and for being such a wonderful person so I could tell you." He felt good, if he was honest with himself. I thought I was going to take that part of my life to the grave, but leave it to this dark beauty to pry it out of me. Kakashi tilted his face upwards and sent a silent prayer to his lost lover. It wasn't fair to you either Jomei, I'm sorry. I promise to say an extra round of thanks next time I light incense for you, sweetheart. " Ibiki could learn a few things from you. Maybe you could teach him that doe eye trick. It'd make the most hardened criminal spill his guts."
There was no verbal reply. Iruka had entwined both hands into the silver hair and buried his face in the loose folds of Kakashi's shirt. The scarred brunette held his lover silently.
" 'Ruka, Beloved. Are you alright?" Kakashi whispered in the still apartment atmosphere. " Was there anything else you wanted to ask me? I'm sure I could come up with some absolutely scandalous, and probably embarrassing, moments that you could rule the grape vine with for the next few months." The younger man remained quiet. " I bet Genma would love to hear about the time I nearly put my good eye out with a soldier pill, a girdle and a lime flavored condom." Two brown hands slipped from the light colored crown to cradle the pale face. Dark eyes gazed intently into the jounin's gray orb. " Iruka?"
" 'Kashi, I want to tell you everything, like you've told me. " Iruka's normally strong voice was subdued and almost child like. " But I've been so afraid. "
" You have nothing to be afraid of, Iruka. Especially not from me."
" It's just that-"
A sharp tap at the living room window interrupted the chuunin. Both shinobi turned in the direction of the noise and discovered a messenger falcon sitting on the outer sill, its feathers ruffled in indignation at having to wait for acknowledgement. Iruka jumped from the couch and lifted the framed glass to allow the bird entry. It flew straight at the silver haired jounin, perching haughtily on his shoulder. Kakashi flinched at the talons digging into his flesh as he removed the thin scroll and read its contents. Fuck. " I have to go. Now."
" Of course, of course." Iruka ran an unsure hand through his messy hair and headed for the bedroom. " I just washed the uniforms you had over here, should still be in the basket. If you're going to be taking a pack, I can make something for you to eat so you- Ooomfph!"
Kakashi used his lightening speed to his advantage and jerked Iruka into his embrace, ending the helpful spiel with a fierce kiss that quickly melted into a tender caress of lips. Both men were trembling slightly when they parted.
Tsunade's messenger bird had taken the hint at Kakashi's sudden move and had flown back out the open window.
" I shouldn't be gone more than a couple of days. " Kakashi breathed into the tan ear half hidden by the coffee colored locks. One hand pressed firmly against the small of the chuunin's back, the other cupped the back of Iruka's skull. " I promise when I come back we'll talk more, about anything you want, but only if you're ready. Alright?"
Iruka nodded and a smile bloomed across his face, lightening the fearful look still haunting his dark eyes. " You were strong enough to confide in me and when you come back, it's my turn. So you'd better think of some really good questions to ask. "
" Can I ask you something before I go?" Kakashi lifted the scarf to memorize each and every line of Iruka's beautiful face.
" Of course."
" What's your favorite color?"
A smirk lifted one corner of the brunette's mouth a little higher than the other, a chuckle escaping him as he answered. " Leaf green."

And with one more kiss, Kakashi teleported to his own flat to get his Inu mask and ANBU armor. He had someone to assassinate before he could find out anything else about his Beloved.

Wonder if I could find a green ribbon for his hair while I'm in Grass Country.
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One and a half days later...

Kakashi was dying.
He knew this as he stumbled through the village gates, waving away the guards who were inquiring about his obvious diminished state. His blurred vision was making it very difficult to navigate. Another wave of dizziness swept through him, nearly sweeping him off his feet. The jounin fell to the side, his shoulder impacting with the back wall of a building and halting his descent.

I'm dying. How did that happen?

He hadn't fought anyone. He'd murdered his assigned target while the woman slept in her bed, leaving the body for her maid to find in the morning. Then he'd headed back to Konoha, only to be struck by an intense case of vertigo and nausea. And a couple bouts of diarrhea. There was no pain, and most poisons that he was familiar with caused at least a little pain for the victim. Of course, he couldn't remember of any point in the mission when he could have been poisoned. But he couldn't deny his current medical situation; namely staggering through the streets of his home, headed towards the academy instead of the hospital.

Iruka. Beloved. I have to see your face.

The sound of children's laughter reached his ears and Kakashi turned the corner to have full view of the academy's training grounds. It looked as though several classes were running about in the open field, more playtime than practice. And standing to the side, watching over the pleasant chaos, was Iruka.

Such a beautiful smile.

The silver haired shinobi swerved again, this time connecting with a nearby tree before forcing his heavy limbs to move towards the sensei. The blurred vision began to tunnel as well, blocking out everything that wasn't caramel skin and coffee hair and cocoa eyes that turned to look at him and widened in surprise.

I must be hungry. Or delusional. Death must make one delusional.

Iruka was running towards him, surprise morphing into fear. Kakashi could see his mouth moving, but his own heartbeat thundered in his ears, drowning out the much missed voice. He felt very light headed, as though he were flying, which he thought was odd since it seemed as though the ground was rushing upwards.

Sorry, Iruka. I did remember what you said, though.

The hand with the green ribbon stretched up with a great feat of will power as Iruka's sweet face loomed above him.

Good bye, Beloved...

" Get the hell up, Hatake! "

Huh?

" The next time you take a mission when you're sick with a stomach virus, I'm gonna kick your sorry ass until it's black and blue and colors that don't even belong to the rainbow!!! "

Oh, guess I'm not dying. Just sick. Damn, I wasted a perfectly poignant death scene on a virus.

" Genma's been spewing from both ends and Raidou isn't looking too good, either. Almost everyone at the party came down with it ! And the next time you don't tell me that you're sick when you know you aren't feeling well, I'm going to-"

Sigh. At least I got him a present.

" - and that's if you're lucky! I can't believe I haven't caught it yet wi- uh, is that ribbon for me?"
Kakashi felt the smile stretching over his face.

And I still get to find out all about him...

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tbc...
- I was going to leave it at ' Good bye, Beloved.', but I didn't want to be killed :)
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