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Another Perfect Wonder	By : jaded_priceless Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kakashi/Iruka Views: 10014 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I make no profit from this work of fiction. Full disclaimer inside

Chapter List
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Chapter 43
Kakashi woke first the next morning. He knew Iruka said they would have a long day ahead of them but he decided to let the chuunin sleep. Iruka was expending a lot of energy taking care of him and bags were forming beneath his eyes to show it. He didn’t want something as simple as lack of sleep to be the reason they were discovered.
He remained still knowing that if he moved Iruka would wake up but kept his eyes open to study the other man’s face. He’d noticed Iruka on several occasions but never had the opportunity to study him up close without his knowledge. He initially thought that his skin was tanned from time outdoors but now that he’d seen him naked he knew better. It was the middle of winter and that beautiful bronze lingered in places the sun never saw.
The scar itself was not recent and Kakashi was surprised to find a spattering of barely there freckles dotting the nearby. It was old but unlike some of his childhood scars that got smaller and faded with age his seemed to grow with him. Kakashi knew this for two reasons; the first being often tasked with monitoring the youngster during his early days as an Anbu. At the time he thought it was hazing by his senpai much like he’d placed Tenzou in charge of watching Naruto considering his target was a fine upstanding citizen who never got into or caused trouble.   He now had the good sense to realize all of his long boring hours were not due to Iruka’s good behavior but because the little genin was aware Anbu was watching him.
The second reason was because he, as Namikaze Minato’s unofficial heir, had broken into the records of everyone who took an interest in Naruto. He stormed into Sandaime’s office and went ballistic because the boy was being placed under the care of someone who’d lost both parents in the Kyuubi attack. According to Asuma had Sandaime found it rather humorous when Iruka did the same when he nominated him for the Chuunin exam.
Kakashi took another look at the man next to him - at the time he’d interpreted Asuma’s words to mean Iruka merely stormed into Sandaime’s office; now he believed it was possible Iruka had somehow gotten into his file.
His wasn’t aware of reaching out to touch Iruka’s scar until he saw his fingers in his line of vision. He pulled his hand back and stared at his fingers before reaching toward’s Iruka’s face once again. He repeated the action twice more and each time his fingertips came back with the same tingle. There was chakra embedded within his scar. Whoever it was that injured Iruka made sure he would bear their mark forever.

It was after eight when Iruka finally woke but Kakashi had drifted back off to sleep by then. Iruka, thinking Kakashi needed the rest, unknowlingly decided to mimic Kakashi’s actions by letting his partner sleep in. An hour later both of their eyes cracked open at the same time and their attempts at smiles turned into yawns.
Kakashi recovered first but only because Umino Iruka had perfected the art of yawning. His mouth opened, his eyes closed, he rolled onto his back and extended every part of his body before relaxing and slowly rolling into his original position. Now that was a relaxing morning ritual that could be done on most missions and help to start the day off right; he’d definitely taken a wrong turn by adopting the stroke and burn as his normalizing morning routine.
It made sense at the age of fifteen but there was something inherently sad about a man approaching thirty being able to finish himself and burn the evidence in less than 30 seconds. That was another reason he needed a new standard; he was no longer a child, priming himself took more time. Not that he was old and having problems just that it took more to get excited for the same old hand and five fingers.
“Morning Shi.”
Iruka was now facing him. His eyes were the mixture of bright and dim that only came with just waking. His rolling had twisted his waistband to reveal a portion of hip and treasure trail. As if on cue his body reminded him that he was still young and Iruka was the perfect primer.
“A very good morning” Kakashi replied moving closer and brushing his lips against Iruka’s.
“Really?” Iruka hummed drowsily as he rolled towards Kakashi. “What’s so good about it?”
“This for one,” Kakashi replied placing his hand on Iruka’s hip. “I’ve never understood the allure of hipbones until I watched you wake up. There it is all innocent but hinting of something sinful.”
“I wonder what would happen if I were to do this?” he asked leaning forward and running his tongue over the expanse tan skin from Iruka’s belly button to his hip.
Iruka’s hips rose off the bed as he squealed and pushed Kakashi’s head away. He apologized in midst of giggles, “I’m sorry I’m ticklish. I didn’t know you were going to do that.”
“Ticklish? Since when?” Kakashi yelped.
“Since always,” Iruka replied, “but most of the time you have me too worked up to notice.”
Kakashi’s question began with a hmm and ended with a smirk, “Hmmm, so does this mean I am supreme master of your body?”
Iruka leaned forward and ran the tip of his tongue over Kakashi’s top lip, “If I say no, do you promise to take it as a challenge and prove otherwise to me?”
Kakashi shuddered, it hadn’t taken Iruka long to realize this mostly hidden lips were extremely sensitive, “If you lick me like that again, I promise to roll over and hand you my title.”
Iruka’s hand slipped between their bodies and he raised his eyebrow while dragging his knuckles over Kakashi’s scrotum. He unfurled his fingers slowly grazing them over the sac before cupping them, “Fight me for it?”
“Devil,” Kakashi whimpered while circling his fingers around Iruka’s shaft and sliding his thumb over tip, “First to make the other scream gets the title?”

It was late afternoon by the time they made it to the lake and they were only able to catch a few fish but Kakashi had the brilliant idea of checking Iruka’s traps on the way so they also had small game. Two families of the poor families wanted the rabbit; Iruka was willing to split it between them but they decided to share the cost and the rabbit. His stomach growled as they excitedly discussed which vegetables and types of dumplings would go best with them as they traded root vegetables, seasonings, miso, and soy flour for the animal.
Once the poor had been serviced they were left with one large fish that Iruka decided to take to Mama-san’s restaurant. Kakashi hesitated at the door and masked sniffing the air with a sneeze. There was a new scent in the air. One he’d detected upon arrival and at the fortress but had been unable to tie to a certain individual. He was “sneezing” for a second time when Iruka grabbed his wrist and dragged him in, “Don’t just stand outside sneezing baka! Get inside where it’s warm. You’d think after all you’d been through you’d know not to do anything that would cause another bout of pneumonia.”
They stopped as soon as they got inside; all eyes were on them and most of them were hostile. Kakashi took a step behind Iruka and used his one good eye to scan the room. They’d interrupted a meeting of some sorts. It was likely the instigators they were looking for were all present and accounted for.
He looked about the room again taking the time to memorize each new face while tugging on Iruka’s shirt, “Rui, I don’t think we should be here.”
“Damn right you shouldn’t!” one of the newer faces yelled while reaching for his weapons.
“Stop it! All of you! Just stop it! This is my restaurant and these are my patrons! These men are the two renting the house at the edge of the forest and look, Rui has even brought me a fish. I will not have you endangering their lives with your impatience! There is a time for friends and a time for business!” Mama-san yelled.
She rushed over to Iruka and Kakashi and ushered them in while apologizing, “Rui, Shishi, please accep my apologies. This place is a popular gathering spot and I try to make everyone feel at home here. Sometimes I fear I do too good of a job and people get at little excited and forget who is the true owner. Come in, have a seat, take a rest.”
“Mimiko, Emi, come get their coats and show them to the back room,” Mama-san yelled waiving over two of the waitresses.
Her voice softened, “Please don’t think I’m sending you away as punishment. I’ve heard that Shishi is nervous around ninja and the two of you will probably be more comfortable away from everyone. Mimiko, take the fish, Emi bring them donburi and a nice pot of the oolong and white tea blend. Pack them some chamomile and lavender leaves as well. Please accept this as my apology. I can not bear the thought of you two feeling unwelcome.”
She clutched the ring around her neck, “It brings me such joy to see that the two of you have found your way back to each other and would hurt my heart if I wasn’t able to see the look of love on your faces. My love and I were forcibly separated too but each day brings us hope that we’ll have vengeance on those who ripped us asunder and we’ll once again be allowed to be together.”
Kakashi focused his gaze on her; something was bothering him about the whole exchange from earlier but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
“Oh, forgive me Shishi. You must think it strange to hear an old woman speaking of true love and vengeance,” She tittered nervously.
Kakashi shook his head and spoke honestly, “After my mother passed away my father swore he’d take vengeance upon death. Such a task is impossible but he did not let it deter him. Day by day he began to change into something unrecognizable. I don’t know if shutting yourself off and killing the person you once were is considered obtaining victory over death or immediate surrender.”
“He must have loved her very much if his heart died along with hers,” Mama-san said quietly. “I do not know if it is a victory or a loss, but he must care for you tremendously in his own way if he did not immediately follow after her. I know how difficult it is to see the person you love in the child that you share knowing that you can never acknowledge him. It must have been heartbreaking to look at you and see your mother’s face each and everyday knowing there is no retribution to be had against the cruelty that took your love away.”
“It must have also been extremely comforting to see her and the love she had for him in your little face. I imagine that after she passed you became his whole world. I envy your father. I think often of my love and the child we created. I envy your father so very much in that in those dark moments he was able to look at you and hold you, to see your smiling face and know the love which ensnared his heart and changed his life was such a wonderful and pure thing. I envy him in that he had the opportunity to do what he felt was best for you as a parent even if you do not agree with him.”
“I envy that so very much. How he must love you to have endured this hellish life for your sake and have been willing to risk your hatred in doing what his misguided parental heart feels in in your best interest. I envy him in that he gets to see his love in your little face and proclaim his feelings to all of the world. I hated my parents for the decision they forced on me. I was willing to die for my love, but if not for their damned interference I would not be alive for this day. I would not be able to see my son all grown and handsome or hear him call me “Mama”.
“Even if it is done without his knowledge and followed by the cruel honorific of san, it warms my heart to hear the child who was stolen from my arms after his first nursing say it just the same. I am sure he would hate me if he knew the truth but I am glad to see him with his father and I just the same. I would not be able to say this if I had not lived to this day. Parents do stupid things out of their love for their children, as misguided and twisted as it sometimes manifests, the love is true just the same. Your father would not have lived for you if it were not.”
Mama-san leaned forward and brushed her hair back behind where an ear should be and smiled at Kakashi once more, “I know these things because I pulled myself out of my shame and now I live for the child who does not know his real mother’s name. I must be going before the others get suspicious, but you eat and drink as much as you want. Ryuu-sama will see to it that you make it home safely.”
Kakashi blinked and nodded. No one had ever told him that before. Yes, he’d heard plenty of times that Sakumo loved him but no one had every phrased it in a way that made him realize how much he must have meant to his father for Sakumo not to have killed himself when they buried his mother. Sakumo hung on for four long miserable years cooking for him, cleaning up after him, teaching him, forcing himself to smile for him, laugh for him, trying to give him a sense of normalcy when there was none.
Kakashi reached out and grabbed the bar owner’s hand as she turned to walk away, “Thank you Mama-san, I’ve never thought of it that way before. There was love in our household,” Kakashi whispered before remembering to slip back into character, “the old man ruined my life but he only did for me what he did for his precious daughters. It doesn’t make what I’ve suffered throught any easier but at least I know it was not out of cruelty or hatred.”
Iruka slipped his hand into Kakashi’s, “Come along, Love, we’ve bothered Mama-san long enough. I’m sure she has to get back to her meeting.”
Kakashi followed Iruka and the waitress to the back room. It was cosier and the old woman was right. In his weakened condition he did feel more comfortable here away from the enemy ninja’s oppressing chakra than he did upfront. He sat in the booth next to Iruka and laid his head on the chuunin’s shoulder.
He closed his eyes and for the first time since he could remember deliberately called up his father’s face, “All these years…all these years I wondered why I wasn’t good enough? Everyone tells me that I look like him when I only have his gender and hair color. I was so busy hiding from those words I’d forgotten I look like my mother. Everyone else looked at me and saw his son, but each time he looked at me he saw hers.”
“How could I have forgotten all the times he told me if I ever thought I was forgetting my mother’s face all I had to do was look in the mirror to see her and I smile to see all of love she had for me. How could I have forgotten that?”
Iruka caressed his cheek, “You were a child and you were also hurting. We all do and forget things to ease our pain. Be happy that you were able to retrieve the memory and know that when you look into the mirror the face you see shows you your parents love.”
They separated enough to eat when their meal was served and had taken the last bite when the man who’d threatened them earlier walked in. He bowed and spoke curtly, “My apologies, in my profession you learn never to be too careful and begin to see enemy faces everywhere.”
Iruka shook his head, “There is no need to apologize.”
Iruka smiled slyly and his voice took on a mischievious tone, “We really should be thanking you, if you had not been so vigilant I would have had to cook dinner after trudging home in the snow. Now we’ll be leaving with our bellies full and sufficiently warmed up.”
“Aah, Ryu-dono said you were a wonder,” he replied cryptically before exciting once more.
Kakashi leaned against Iruka, “We should probably go also. It’s getting dark and we don’t want to encounter any wolves. I’m the only one who gets to eat you.”
Iruka nodded slowly and rose also recognizing the man after getting a better look at him - Kaihyou Garou. The hungry wolf who’d gone missing from Mist during bloodline purges appeared to be well fed and quite at home in the Land of Snow. He didn’t know what it meant that Uncle Garou had come out of hiding or that he would mention Ryuu’s name to him. The last he’d seen of his father’s genin teammate was on that family vacation to Grass during the turbulence leading up to the Third War. They’d been attacked by hunters from Mist and Lightning. He was taught never to speak of such things but the mask, face behind it, and low grunt of a hippopotamus, like his parents homelands, had became a thing of dreams.
As Mama-san promised Ryuu-sama and a second chakra signature lingered above them as they made their way back to the cabin. It reminded him of those brief but harried moments when the genjustu and sleeping spells worked their magic on those who’d been forcibly put down he could see his mother telling a young Lightning hunter to stand down while his father told a seasoned Mist hunter to do the same. It was in that moment he knew that his parents were strong and why they spoke so quietly about him when they didn’t think he was listening. He could barely keep up with some of his classmates but together they were able to defeat two squads of hunter-nin.
He was strapped to his mother’s back during the battle. His father was stronger but she was faster. Surrounded by the overhead signatures he remembered hearing his parents agreeing the most important thing was to save him. Hunters traveled in packs of four and they counted out each they time they downed one.
They stopped at the count of six and cried, “Come out, our child is with us, we will not fight. You know what he means to us.”
Iruka still wasn’t sure if the strange voices swearing to protect him were real or a dream.
The sight of the small cabin pulled Iruka from his thoughts. He followed Kakashi inside then made two more trips to unload the sled before carrying it in. The overhead signatures left once he’d secured the doors. He wasn’t sure what it meant that those two had escorted them to the cabin after a meeting at Mama-sans or how much he should tell Kakashi without arousing suspicion.
A troubled night’s sleep plagued by dreams of his parents and those they trusted and morning brought no new answers. He rose early, prepared breakfast and began working on the fishing gear.

MisatosPenPen: Thank you for the constructive criticism. I was trying to avoid the “Kakashi said/Iruka said” every sentence and overbalanced the other direction. I am glad you liked the back story parts. I’m a bit bothered by Kakashi’s absence as well but I would like to think he was somewhere behind the scenes protecting him.

Wikedsinn: I am glad I was able to make your commute better and give you a holiday surprise. Hopefully my procrastination post J will set your week off to a good start.

Silistina: Thank you. I hope this update was fast enough for you.

Mysticaldragon11: Thank you. My KakaIru muse has been refreshed. Many of the sticking points before the end are slowly working themselves out.
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Another Perfect Wonder