Warning: OOC, weirdness, sexual references and foul language, emoz and whatnot. Any misspellings or wrong grammar is unintentional. I am my own beta. I could have missed some stuff.

Enjoy people! Damn block. Sorry for lateness.

OFFICEMATE

Kakashi, more or less, refused to get out of bed the next morning or rather, he refused to leave it once he returned to it. He felt utterly miserable. Earlier that morning, he had gotten up to check on the surveillance screens and found Iruka curled up in bed, sound asleep. A brief zoom-in told him that the man didn't look too good. A year ago, maybe the long hair would have hidden the fact that Iruka wasn't feeling well. With his new short hair, it was easier to tell what the man was feeling with his face and neck more exposed. Seeing Iruka the way he did that morning didn't help in alleviating his mood for the better.

He officially felt like crap.

The only reason he forced himself to get out of bed was because he was supposed to be monitoring Iruka, he was in the middle of a job and slacking around while pitying himself - injured or not - was not going to change that. He had a duty to fulfill and he wasn't what he was if he was going to let something as small as Iruka's tears hinder him useless. It shouldn't have.

But it does, doesn't it? It hurts you more than a bullet to the side or a bike accident. It hurts you more than you'd like to admit because you know that you committed your first mistake for caring about you target and assignment months ago. You know that putting off studying what -

Kakashi didn't like where his head was going. Cursing darkly, he made his way back to the next room, limping slightly with his IV-stand and flopped against the reclining chair with a huff. He still hurt all over and he knew that it would take more than a week for all the bruises on his body to disappear completely. Being in the field so long, Kakashi knew that his immunity - while still fairly strong - was also slow. That meant any injuries took time to heal because his physique was always being pummeled one way or the other. If it wasn't a messy sweep-up operation, it was training or some sort of accident.

Iruka was cleaning his kitchen, and Kakashi found himself silently watching how the smaller man scrubbed at the tiles with gusto, the brush slipping off his grip once or twice. A long while must have passed because Kakashi was blankly watching Iruka move from cleaning the kitchen to the bathroom then his bedroom. He wasn't exactly sure how long he remained in his position but when his muscles protested and his body ached more than it should have been, he knew he just fucked himself over twice. It was already mid-afternoon and Iruka wasn't showing any signs of giving up in turning his apartment in to a mirror.

Hitting the record button, Kakashi painfully got back to his feet. The cellphone he had carelessly dumped beside the keyboard was blinking and Kakashi wondered why he never heard the thing beep. Grumbling to himself, he flipped the phone open and read Raidou's message:

Genma sent away on an assignment. Tenzou is his replacement. He's coming over with Naruto at five. Order a pizza.

Kakashi cocked an eyebrow at the message, scrolled down and squinted at the time it was received. He had time. The message came in at one. Kakashi glanced at the clock and realized that it was already ten minutes past five.

"Oh, fuck." He sighed and hobbled back to the bedroom to change because Tenzou, if anything, was punctual. Kakashi was just about to grab a clean shirt when the doorbell rang. It was times like these did he wish someone was with him in the house because that way, the person with his hand glued to the damn doorbell would get their finger off it before he snapped it in half.

Bull nudged his bedroom door open with a large paw, dark eyes looking at him with something akin to impatience because the doorbell wouldn't stop ringing. Kakashi was in the process of yelling a 'stop with the fucking doorbell pressing already' when he decided that it wouldn't be right to act like he did in front of Raidou before his student. While Tenzou was quite aware of just how deep his temper ran under all the devil-may-care attitude, Kakashi also decided that the young man didn't need to witness said temper tantrum over something so trivial. The painkillers were probably making him less intolerable to the 'shit' that went on around him. But really, it wasn't like he had a choice. There was a week left till classes officially started and while he wanted no more than to relax and probably sleep the pain of his body away, he knew that Naruto was of utmost importance here.

He needed to do this.

Bull gave a short bark and Kakashi pulled on a sweater instead, with extra long sleeves. They weren't his, he realized. They were Raidou's and the man was exceptionally broader than he was anyway. Yanking the IV tube off the back of his hand - and hissing because that hurt when he was already hurting - Kakashi limped his way to the door, one hand smoothing the messy hair down to cover his scarred eye before opening the door with irritation.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto blinked wide blue eyes up at him, already watery and looking downright terrified.

Whatever temper Kakashi had boiling in him - and possibly with all the dogs behind him looking at their guests with equal irritation - dulled to exasperation and tolerance at the sight of Naruto looking up at him with all the mortification and fear a child his age could muster.

"Senpai." Tenzou greeted, offering what looked like an apologetic glance but otherwise nothing else.

If Naruto was what Ibiki described him to be, then Kakashi was wiling to bet his month's pay that Tenzou probably had no control over what the boy was doing and that Naruto most likely came up with an excuse to keep his finger - yes, it had to be Naruto - glued to the doorbell button. The boy looked his usual, dressed in big shorts and sneakers with the shoelaces still untied, a colorful orange shirt along with his necklace, armbands a jacket that was surely three times his sizes tied around his waist. There was a backpack strapped to his small shoulders and on the said backpack, a bouquet of yarrows, peonies and pink tulips stuck out oddly.

"Tsunade-baba said you were hurt!" He looked at Kakashi with genuine earnest worried eyes. What Kakashi saw though, was pure fear. "Are you okay?"

Tenzou remained silent as Kakashi pulled the door wider. "Come in." He sighed and watched as Naruto tentatively took a step inside, stepped on one of his shoelaces and fell forward. It was only Tenzou's quick reflexes that managed to wrap Naruto by his shirt to prevent his face from connecting with the floor. "Naruto, are you ever going to learn to tie your shoelaces?"

Naruto straightened and toed off his shoes by the door, not really looking at Kakashi but at the litter of dogs looking at him curioulsy. "No ..." He looked up at Kakashi and pointed a finger at the dogs. "Are they yours?"

Tenzou toed off his boots by the door, tugging his suit jacket off and folding it over an arm. Kakashi shook his hand and caught sight of the worried glance Tenzou flicked over his bruised hand. Kakashi pulled away and casually slid his hand in to his pockets, leaving Tenzou to close the door.

"Yep." He nodded, eying the dogs. Some were already wagging their tails and looking at Naruto curiously.

"All of them?" Naruto's eyes were practically twinkling.

Kakashi couldn't stop the smirk from coming to his lips despite his dry tone. "All of them."

"Do they bite?"

"If they feel like it." Kakashi shrugged.

Naruto paused as socked feet cautiously approached the dogs. "Can I touch them?" He asked, blinking wide blue eyes almost in sync with the dogs' curious blinking.

"Don't see why not." Kakashi drawled.

"Senpai ..."

Kakashi shook his head at Tenzou, silently telling him that it was okay, the dogs weren't going to harm Naruto. He watched, with genuine amusement as little hands moved to touch Miira's head, the other patting Bull's forehead. It was a hesitant touch but when the dogs started crowding around Naruto's legs to be petted, Naruto was suddenly laughing with all the excitement of a child his age, kneeling on the floor and petting each and every dog, fingers rubbing their necks.

"They're so cool, Sensei!" Naruto said, absolutely delighted.

"Glad to get your approval." He peered over at Tenzou who was smiling - just like he was - at the sight. Kakashi gestured for the couch and made his way towards it, Tenzou following suit before he slid down gratefully against the plush surface. His body, apparently, couldn't take standing up for long or remaining rigid and 'looking normal'. He pretended to not see it, not really wanting Tenzou harping at his 'well being' and such nonsense. He was fine. He ached but he was fine.

"Oh!" Naruto got up, leaving the dogs and pulling his backpack down, kneeling by the rug as he carefully extracted the bouquet of flowers, little hands smoothing the cellophane and ribbon before he got up and stuck it out towards Kakashi. "Here."

Kakashi eyed the bouquet suspiciously and wondered why exactly was Naruto giving him flowers. "What for?" Really, it felt just a little bit odd accepting flowers from Naruto and while he knew the reason, he couldn't help but tease the boy for a while.

Naruto's brows knitted together as a blush dusted over scarred cheeks. "Just take it!"

Tenzou was already trying to hide his laugh by coughing and pretending that Kakashi's ceiling lights were the most fascinating thing on the planet. Kakashi himself didn't bother to hide the goofy and silly grin. "For me? Oh how sweet of you Naruto!" He chuckled and took the flowers anyway.

"Shut up." Naruto looked away, cheeks puffing and red. "Iruka-sensei suggested it because you were hurt and everything and those are really good flowers you know?"

Kakashi was looking at the flowers but didn't ignore the way his heart drummed to a stop at the mention of Iruka's name. He could already feel Tenzou's dark gaze on him. He had to admit though, they were very nice flowers indeed. Yamanaka chain of floral stores was never something to take lightly; they did produce the best. "Oh? Iruka-sensei?" He asked, fingers lightly touching one of the pink tulips.

Naruto nodded, shifting to sit on one of the single-seat couches and picking up Manju on the way. "Yeah. I never had any of my teachers not resign after an accident." He said, looking at the dog. "I wanted to do something ya' know? And you didn't quit yet so ..."

Kakashi had to admit, that looking at the almost dejected form of the boy who was suddenly so quiet on the couch petting his dog was not something Kakashi wanted to see often. He was reminded of Minato and how ghastly silent he had been during Kushina's death, when he was normally so cheerful and energetic. "Thank you." He said, sincerely, the cellophane wrappers shifting and rustling as he adjusted his hold on the bouquet.

"I didn't know what to get so I asked Iruka-sensei. He's so helpful!" Naruto was grinning up at him, a farce if Kakashi knew one. He could tell from where he was sitting that the grin was a forced one.

"Yeah?" Kakashi nodded, encouraging Naruto to speak. He didn't want the silence.

"Let me put those in water." Tenzou offered and quietly took his leave from the living room, taking the bouquet and disappearing in to the kitchen.

"Yeah!" Naruto nodded, hands rubbing over Manju's belly and continued to grin, talking a mile a minute. "I visited him and Ayano-san - she's so pretty! - three days ago and Ayano-san made ramen for me! And then I told Iruka-sensei about you and he said that flowers was a good thing to give! And Ayano-san had this big book about flowers, and their meanings with pictures and everything, so we looked up stuff to give you! She said she used the book for their wedding planning and there was so much flowers! There was this one that looked like a tiger ..."

Kakashi was sitting there, listening to Naruto innocently retell his story about how he came about the decision to get him - his sensei, Hatake Kakashi - flowers with absolutely no idea how his own words were practically bullets to Kakashi's heart. Kakashi felt his throat constrict, because he didn't know. Iruka and his fiance were already planning the wedding? So soon? But it's only been a year! Kakashi sucked in a shaky breath and tried to focus, tried to think of how thoughtful and such a kind-hearted student he had.

It wasn't working. Even with the reminder of the vow he made to himself the other night that he was going to let Iruka go. With the reminder of how he was moving further and further away, a slap to his soul that there was absolutely no chance for him to claim him back, Kakashi felt like the world's biggest loser.

"... so anyway, Iruka-sensei suggested to give you yarrows! For good health! And peonies for healing!" Naruto beamed proudly. "And then Ayano-san asked if I cared and ... and I do." He looked at the dog on his lap and gave a little shrug. "I mean, you didn't quit yet so I guess you're gonna stick around for a little longer."

Something crossed Kakashi's features, enough for Tenzou - who came out right then to set a vase he found with the flowers on the low table - to look at him in mild alarm. Kakashi knew his temper must have a flashed for a millisecond there and quickly squished it down and plastered on a neutral expression.

"I'm not going anywhere, Naruto. I'm still going to be your teacher."

Naruto looked up at him then, blue eyes searching and looking a tad bit hesitant to readily believe the words. "... really?"

"Yep." Kakashi nodded, pushing a little cheer in to his tones. "You said so yourself. I didn't quit yet so I guess I am sticking around." Naruto had no clue he was working for the company's security and networks long before he was born. The boy was yet to understand the depth of Kakashi's loyalty.

"But you got hurt." Naruto reasoned and right there and then, looked crushed ad hopelessly terrified.

"A minor car-accident. It was raining that night you know?" He offered, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"People always get hurt when they stick around me." Naruto offered, with a bit of a small pout. "Ya' know if you back out now, it wouldn't matter. I understand I mean."

"Nah." Kakashi shook his head and caught the almost sullen expression crossing Tenzou's face. "Not going anywhere." He grinned a Naruto, flashing teeth. "I haven't even tortured you yet with my lessons!"

Naruto's cheeks puffed up and he looked away with a sharp 'hmph' but the blush and flash of relief and joy that crossed his features did not go unnoticed to both ANBUs. "I'll kick your butt. You'll see."

"I look forward to it then." Kakashi chuckled and remembered that Raidou mentioned that he had to feed the kid. There was a diner's magazine sitting by the table - he had an inkling that Raidou was responsible for that - that he easily reached out for and flipped towards the pizza section. That was probably the quickest to order and the easiest to clean up later.

"Ne, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, reaching down and picking up Ichi to join Manju on his lap. "Are you okay?"

Kakashi looked up from the magazine, watching Naruto play with the paws of the dogs on his lap while Tenzou knelt by him and was affectionately giving Megane a neck rub. "I'm fine." He gave Naruto a questioning look.

Naruto was looking at him again, searching and trying to feel the lie if there was one. "Do you hurt?"

Tenzou was looking at him again, a silent warning to read with caution. Kakashi was willing to bet that Tsunade pulled threats out that if Naruto came home unhappy, it was going to rain blood. Kakashi weighed the option of lying, just to shut Naruto up. But with the way Naruto was just looking at him, he couldn't stop the words from coming out of his lips. "A bit." He didn't miss the alarming look that crossed Naruto's gaze. "Ah, Naruto, bruises do hurt you know? Like when you practice kendo? You get bruised right?"

Naruto nodded. "You'll get better?"

No, I don't think so. "Yes."

"Promise?"

Kakashi smiled, soft and genuine. "Promise."

There was a peaceful sort of silence as Naruto smiled widely and proceeded to play with the dogs some more. "Oh! I forgot to call Iruka-sensei!" Naruto looked up and quickly grabbed his backpack in search for his cellphone. "He sorta' told me I didn't have to but I promised to tell him when I gave you the flowers! I mean," The blonde head disappeared in to the backpack, and Kakashi wondered how the hell did Naruto intend to find his cellphone by sticking his head in to his bag. "at first I told him that giving flowers was so girly! That's something Sakura-chan would do but he said that's what people bring when someone they know ends up in the hospital or something - got it!"

Tenzou ran a hand through his hair. "You know, Naruto, perhaps Iruka-sensei is busy?"

"Nah, he's at home! I know! I called him before I went to the flower shop to get the names written down. And he lives right across the street!" He said and was already searching for the contact number on his phone.

Kakashi didn't know whether to stop Naruto from calling his obviously favorite teacher or to let him be. Part of him didn't want Naruto to call, didn't want to know what Iruka would say or how Naruto would react. Naruto could give his precious Iruka-sensei a call once he was out of Kakashi's roof because Kakashi honestly didn't think now was the right time for him to deal with anything related to Iruka. He was already messed up as it is.

So he tried to distract Naruto and hoped against all hopes that the boy would either forget that he was calling Iruka or Iruka's phone was busy. It was like hoping that the sky would rain gold. "Hey Naruto, you want pizza? I'm going to order us dinner."

"Oh I love pizza! Can we get lots of cheese?" Naruto beamed but showed no signs of hanging up.

Kakashi dared to dream. "Sure. Anything you want. Now, why don't you call Iruka-sensei later and we'll decide whatever it is you -"

"Hi Iruka-sensei!" Naruto perked and grinned at the phone. "Yeah, yeah guess where I am!"

Kakashi wanted to slam the magazine that he had unconsciously rolled against his forehead. Tenzou gave him a slight shrug. "Hey, Naruto ..." Kakashi knew it was a futile attempt because Naruto waved a hand and made shushing gestures because Iruka was apparently supposed to guess where he was. Kakashi would have happily liked to point out that the red SUV parked downstairs was a big sign enough that Naruto was in the building.

"No, Iruka-sensei! I'm at Kakashi-sensei's house! And I gave him the flowers." Naruto said enthusiastically and looked at Kakashi blinking at him. "Yep, yep, nope, yep." Kakashi quirked an eyebrow at the way Naruto was conversing with Iruka just as Tenzou gestured towards the magazine lying in a half roll on Kakashi's lap. "No, he's awake! Hey - no! I mean, he opened the door for me! Of course not sensei! I'm not making trouble! I'm sitting on his couch and playing with his dogs! Kakashi-sensei has so many!"

It was getting a bit to stifling for Kakashi. "Naruto ... about the pizza ... " Kakashi tried again, though he knew the point was moot.

"I gave it to him! You're right! He didn't think it was girly. The flowers are in a this big glass vase now!" Naruto was grinning from ear to ear. "Kakashi-sensei? He's right here! Do you wanna talk to him? He's awake! He can talk!" Naruto pulled the phone away and looked at Kakashi, brimming with innocence and looking genuinely happy. "Iruka-sensei wants to talk to you." He said, and Kakashi's lips thinned because Iruka was making an interesting racket on the other end of the phone. "We're having pizza Iruka-sensei!" Naruto said.

"Naruto ..." Kakashi brought a hand up to his forehead. There as no way he could deal with this, there was absolutely no way he was going to be able to face Iruka now and not do something foolish or mean in front of Naruto. Even with the promise he made with himself, there was no guarantee - while still strung upon painkillers and still in some sort of physical pain - that he was going to be one hundred percent civil. The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt Iruka.

Naruto was not helping things.

"Hey, Naruto, you should probably let Iruka-sensei go now. What about we order that pizza, hmmm?" Tenzou offered, kneeling by Naruto's chair and slowly picking up the dogs off his lap and setting them on the ground.

"Oh okay!" Naruto beamed at Tenzou and returned to Iruka who was still making an interesting racket - what with how he was going 'Naruto! Hey, are you listening to me? Get back on the phone, young man!' - in the other end of the line. "Hey, Iruka-sensei, Yamato-san and I are gonna' go look at the pizzas! Here, say hi to Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi stiffened, Tenzou pressed a hand against his forehead just as Naruto leaped out off the couch and handed his very colorful and orange cellphone to Kakashi. Kakashi tossed the diner's magazine over to Tenzou just as he took the cellphone.

"Thanks." Kakashi grumbled and watched with conflicted emotions as Naruto tugged Tenzou towards the kitchen.

"Ne, can we order extra pizza? Iruka-sensei lives just across the street ..." Naruto suddenly looked unsure and peered at Kakashi from under messy blonde bangs.

Kakashi felt himself release a slow and long sigh. "Go choose your pizza, order as many as you want. I'll handle Iruka-sensei." He said and waved Naruto away.

He didn't press the phone to his ear until Naruto disappeared in to the kitchen with Tenzou. He got up, made his way towards the living room window, slid it open and hid behind the curtains. That was when he pressed the phone to his ear. He felt just a little bit let down when he realized that Iruka was still on the line. At the same time, he was glad that the man didn't hang up.

He cleared his throat and looked at the window across the street, the one that he knew was Iruka's living room window. "Hey." He greeted, voice neutral but just a touch softer than his usual drier tones.

"Hey ..."

It was almost timid, the way Iruka replied to his short greeting. Kakashi leaned against the stainless steel frame of his window and caught sight of shadows shifting in Iruka's living room. "I'm going to assume you heard all that."

"I did, yes. Naruto ... he's just a child. He -"

"It's okay." Kakashi felt his life tug a bit in to a sad smile. "Up to you, you know? Naruto ... expects you for pizza."

"Ah, Kakashi ... sensei, you know that's going to be a bit ..."

Kakashi ran his fingers through his hair. "Hard? Awkward? I'm not going to explain it to him, Iruka ... sensei. You do it. I'm not the one who ..." He caught his sarcasm just in time and decided that it'd be wiser if they didn't argue. He didn't want to argue. He was tired of it but every time Iruka would say that he couldn't get any closer, the bastard and asshole in him couldn't resist a jibe to point out that it wasn't exactly his fault.

The silence was longer now. Kakashi watched Iruka's form appear and disappear as he crossed the distance of his living room while pacing, the curtains of his window shifting as he moved back and forth the short distance. Leaning his head against the stainless-steel frame of his now open window, he watched as Iruka leaned his back against his living room window and ran a hand through the short brown locks, pulling at the strands. Hard.

"I ... I don't know ..."

"I hardly think pulling at your hair is going to help you come up with a decision, Iruka-sensei." Kakashi said dryly, albeit amused if not a touch melancholic as he watched Iruka drop his hand slowly with caution and stare at the phone in his hand. Before Iruka could even start a tirade about 'how did you know', Kakashi started speaking again. "I can see you from where I'm standing, sensei. I live across the street remember?"

Iruka whipped around and faced the window. Even with the several meters between Kakashi's building and the one right across, Kakashi could still make out every line of Iruka's face, from the wide eyed look to the crease between his eyebrows and the slight frown pull of lips that the knew were soft.

"Were you spying on me?"

Kakashi shrugged, knowing Iruka could see action from where he was standing. The window was pulled open as the slender brunette leaned against the window frame as well, expression fairly neutral. If you only knew. "Speaking with a window open dulls a child's hearing." He answered coolly. He could hear Naruto listing ingredients that he predicted to be Iruka-sensei's favorite. "Naruto's guessing pizza toppings for Iruka-sensei right now."

"At least it's not ramen."

There was a hint of a joke in Iruka's tone and Kakashi felt some of the muscles in his back loosen a bit. "I heard it's his favorite. Wasn't that someone else's favorite too?"

"... I wonder who that person is." It was dry this time, with a touch of humor.

"I wonder." Kakashi gave a little shrug just as Iruka replied with a cock of a slender eyebrow. From the kitchen, Kakashi counted three boxes of large pizza being ordered, one of them having an odd combination of ingredients. "Pizza order is in. Iruka-sensei joining us or should I be making up a story?"

It was a long moment of them staring at each other from across the street, in their respective living room windows, the distance between them a reminder of just how far apart they've grown. In respect to that, it was also a reminder of how close they could be too. Kakashi knew that someone out there was pointing a finger at him and laughing their guts out.

"I'll change." Iruka sighed. "I'm ... Kakashi, I'm sorry ..."

"What for?" Kakashi ignored the gaping hole in him and wondered if two simple words of apology would ever be enough to refill it again, or at least give him peace of mind.

"...a lot of things." Iruka said softly. "... last night, I - I though about you. A lot. And, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"You have your rights, it was your decision. There is nothing to apologize for."

"Yes, it was my decision. But now I am going to be intruding in your home once more and - and last time, you weren't ... what I mean to say is, this will probably be more frequent. And the restraining order and court rules ... "

"It's Naruto. You're doing this for him. Not for me. Remember that." Kakashi said, and swallowed, hating himself for what he was about to say. "I'm doing this for him. Not for you. Not for me. He wanted this, he deserves to be happy. A little drama between adults shouldn't get in the way of that."

The silence was choking.

"D-Drama, of course." Iruka choked a laugh out. "I'll get dressed. See you in a bit."

"Yeah. Hey, if you already have dinner plans with your fiance ..." Kakashi wasn't stupid but he had to play his innocent part. He knew that Ayano had an evening shift at the hospital that day and she wasn't going to be at home.

"No, she's got the evening shift. I'll - I'll see you in a bit." There was a brief pause before Iruka closed the line and stared at Kakashi from the window for a long time.

A sad and almost desperate look crossed the brunette's features that Kakashi did not miss. Wordlessly, and almost lingeringly, Iruka turned and disappeared behind a shuffle and whisper of curtain fabric.

Kakashi wondered why he felt like he did something wrong again when he's done nothing but remain civil and polite - no cruelty or anger, just a neutral persona - through out the phone exchange.

XXX

Kakashi wasn't the one who answered door when the doorbell echoed through out the apartment. The pitter patter of socked feet running for the door, followed by the placating tone of Tenzou's voice drifted over Kakashi's head as he busied himself with peeking in to the contents of stacked pizza boxes lying on his coffee table. He didn't need to look up to know that Naruto was turning his beloved Iruka-sensei in to a carnival ride by the foyer or how his dogs were clamoring around the 'familiar brunette' and demanding attention. He could feel Tenzou's stare on the pair as the door was closed and his comrade (and teammate) came to join him on the couch.

Kakashi sucked in a deep breath as Naruto proceeded to drag Iruka towards the vacant single couch, already blabbing about kendo practice as the pair settled down. The dogs went back to their respective napping places around the small living room, remaining close to their owner and his house guests, the three smaller ones remaining by Iruka's feet and not showing signs of moving way anytime soon. Looking at three smaller canines napping comfortably as if they knew Iruka all their lives, it was a painful reminder of what Kakashi once had and could have had. There was something peaceful about the picture that made his lips tickle up in to slight smile. It was also enough to summon forth a tidal wave of bitterness that made him drop his gaze towards pizza boxes instead.

"Ah, Iruka-sensei, this is Yamato-san. He's also a temporary sub-teacher to me. He teaches me self defense." Naruto grinned.

Kakashi watched as Tenzou met Iruka's questioning look evenly with a polite smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Iruka-sensei."

"An ... honor ..." Iruka kept staring at Tenzou even as Naruto helped the man dish out the pizzas in to the disposable plates. Kakashi sat back, took his plate from Naruto with a dry thanks just as Iruka's eyes widened in recognition.

The glare thrown at him - coated with irritation and barely contained malice - was so dark that Tenzou asked Naruto to come help him fetch the glasses from the kitchen and to see what was Iruka's favorite drink. Once they duo were out of earshot, Iruka picked the first thing in his hand and flung it at Kakashi's head.

The plastic knife was easilly caught and set aside.

"You. Asshole." Iruka hissed. "... it wasn't just you and Genma or Raidou. You even had the Yamato, the pizza boy on your side?"

Kakashi eyed the man across from his blankly and gave a bit of shrug. "Protocol."

"Who else Kakashi?"

His lungs - still aching from the impact against his chest during the accident - betrayed a slight sigh. "Does it even matter?"

"Was Gai part of it too?"

Kakashi picked up his plate and took a bite off his pizza. "If you're so curious, why don't you hook up with your two other friends and break in to the system? Take a look at things yourself. You did it last time. I hear you're very good with these things."

Iruka stiffened and broiled on his seat, hands fisting against the coffee table. "... you know nothing."

"I know nothing?" Kakashi leaned over and set his plate down. Before Iruka could even back away, a pale and bruised hand gripped the fisted one in a vice, squeezing and pinning it down on the table. "You should watch your mouth."

"And you should watch your hands. One minute you're saying things that make me believe that maybe, just maybe, a part of you back then was real. That maybe it was something I can believe in and actually cherish. But I come here and I see this, this walking lie with his teammate who I honestly thought was just - was just a ..."

His fingers were hurting, the back of his hand was going numb and the bruise was burning like hot fire under his skin. "I wasn't lying."

"All those dates and those dinners and - and the carnival, the - the beach and your dogs and - you knew I wasn't fit to be in a relationship, I told you back then! And then you just - you just went ahead and - you're a monster, Kakashi. Toying with lives for a living does not make you a decent human being!"

Kakashi counted his blessings that Tenzou and Naruto came back carrying their drinks because he honestly couldn't reply to that. He knew he was a monster, for taking hundreds of lives in the line of duty, for lying and using people for the greater good, toying with lives just as Iruka accused. He knew it wasn't a good thing and he wasn't at all proud of his dirty hands. But someone had to do it, and if it meant keeping the Uzumaki legacy in one piece and safe, then he'd gladly turn himself in to the corporate's puppet. It was a small price for what was given to him when he had nothing left but his father's shame. It wasn't a big deal when it was the only way he knew how to live.

However, hearing it come out from Iruka's lips was so painful that his grip went lax. The tanned hand was yanked back and Kakashi casually - or as much as he could manage - picked up a sachet of ketchup and pretended that it was his sole purpose of leaning over the table. Almost immediately, the chatter flowing out of Naruto's mouth started and Kakashi was glad that he didn't have to open his mouth anymore because Naruto took care of whatever tension or awkwardness that may have fallen between himself and Iruka. The numbing cold hurt in his chest didn't go away, not even after the last pizza box was consumed and Tenzou and Iruka were laughing at Naruto's stories. The soldier part of his mind, the one that remembered that he was on an assigment, filed away whatever necessary information he may need from Naruto that may prove useful for later. Kakashi remained eerily silent, mild laughter shaking his frame whenever his 'student' said something amusing. Somewhere in the middle when he subconciously (even eventually) began to relax, he and Iruka would exchange looks and actually laugh together without even noticing that they were.

The evening progressed to more chit-chat as the skies darkened outside, rain starting to fall. They someohow ended up playing poker with the empty soda caps as their chips. Kakashi wasn't exactly sure if Naruto should have been terrible at the game, but after the first two rounds, Kakashi assumed that the boy did indeed spend a little too much time around Tsunade. Only she could turn a sore loser to a pro when it came to gambling. Naruto played like a natural pro that it even surprised Iruka and Tenzou.

It wasn't till Naruto started to yawn did Tenzou actually shift from his seat and nudged Kakashi by the elbow. "We better get going."

"Yes." Kakashi glanced at the window between the parted curtains. It was pouring outside.

"Naruto, we should get you home now." Tenzou set his cards down, revealing a royal flush that made him own this particular game round.

"Ehhhh, but I'm not sleepy yet." Naruto protested and yawned as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Come on Naruto, you probably have a long day tomorrow. Let's get your shoes." Iruka set his cards down and ushered the boy towards the foyer, soft encouraging words that Naruto merely nodded to echoing down the hall.

"Senpai? Are you okay?" Tenzou asked, putting all the trash in to a plastic bag to dispose of it on the way out.

"Fine." Kakashi brought a hand up to his scarred eyelid, headache pulsing behind the red iris. "Just tired I guess. Painkillers."

"Naruto insisted to visit." Tenzou sounded apologetic. "He was worried about you."

"I appreciate the little bugger for coming. I do." I just wasn't expecting the Iruka part of the entire deal. "You guys have backup right?"

Tenzou nodded. "We won't be heading back alone. Necessary precautions are being taken after your accident, Senpai."

"Good." Kakashi stood up and shoved his hands in to his pockets. The bruised one was numb by now. Tenzou knew what to do; Kakashi trusted his junior because if anything, the man followed Kakashi's ways of doing things by the book.

"Do you want me to walk Iruka-sensei home?"

It was a casual question and yet Kakashi felt his throat go dry. "Up to him." He made his way to the door to see Naruto off, the little boy already nodding off and rubbing a sleepy eye. "Safe trip home, Naruto."

"Mnn. I'll see ya' ne, Kakashi-sensei?" The backpack slid over small shoulders as blue eyes turned to look up at Kakashi.

"Of course." Kakashi nodded and watched as Tenzou got his shoes on and picked up the boy with one arm, the other hand taking the plastic bag of empty pizza boxes and soda bottles.

"Bye, 'Ruka-sensei." Naruto waved sleepily from where his chin was pillowed on Tenzou's shoulder, already falling half asleep.

Once the pair left the door step of his apartment, Kakashi abandoned Iruka - who was still smiling and waving at Naruto - and moved to stand by the window, eying the SUV parked on the empty parking slot. A glance on either side of the street alerted him of the back up that was there to keep watch on anything suspicious that may have lurked around the area or Naruto's transportation vehicle. As Tenzou's head appeared and an umbrella was held out by one of the guards on standby with the driver, Kakashi watched them board the car and the vehicle pull out of the parking slot. The back up vehicles followed suit a few seconds after the red SUV disappeared down main street.

"Do you need anything, Kakashi?"

"Why are you still here?" He answered with a question, no malice this time, just resignation.

"I'm sorry for earlier. That was ... impolite and inconsiderate." The click of the front door closing made Kakashi cringe.

"Don't say things you don't mean." Kakashi sighed, shoulders slumping and still not daring to turn and face the man.

"Will you look at me when I'm talking to you?" Iruka asked, mild rage in his voice.

"Why? So you can aim acid better?"

"Kakashi, I want this to work! I want us to be better! Naruto, he just -"

"Us?" Kakashi turned, a mockery of a confused expression on his face. "What us, Iruka? There is no us. You made sure of that!"

"I am sorry!" Iruka's hands fisted against the sleeves of his sweater in frustration. "I didn't exactly think we'd be working together let alone see each other again."

"Tough luck. World doesn't function the way you want it to be." Kakashi grumbled darkly and turned to walk in to the kitchen. He needed a drink. He was in no firm state of mind to handle things smoothly.

"Even if it did work out and I never found out about your assignment," Iruka followed him to the kitchen. "what difference would it have made? What would you have done after acquiring sufficient information from me for you assignement? What would you have done differently?"

If it was hope in Iruka's tone, Kakashi didn't register it. Old wounds were being picked on with a rusty knife and he wasn't exactly feeling very happy about it. "Maybe you should have thought about that before you filed a fuck-off-Kakashi at the courthouse."

"You know something? I don't get you. A few nights ago, you call me and you speak to me like you did back then, and - and I want to believe you and now here you are acting like a complete cold rod. Did they teach you that in messing-people's-lives-101? Or is this just Hatake Kakashi speaking?"

Kakashi slammed his fists down the kitchen island, glaring at Iruka who was standing on the other side and who more or less started at the violent reaction. "Nothing I say is going to make you listen. And in case you're forgetting something, you're in my apartment. Not the other way around. Who's violating things now?"

"What would you have done differently, Kakashi?" Iruka asked, a flash of desperation in his eyes that Kakashi tried to ignore.

"Goddamnit, Iruka. Get the fuck out of my apartment."

"What would have been differently?" Iruka repeated, looking up at him with an open gaze that made Kakashi falter in his rising temper. "Would you have forgotten about me? Would you have killed me if I wasn't what you needed me to be?" Warm irises reflected the grief that never quite left him all those months ago, giving Kakashi a clear view of just what the shorter man went through. "And if I turned out to be okay, would you have left me anyway?"

Kakashi wasn't exactly sure how to answer and he took too long to form words. Because he watched as genuine and undiluted regret and crushing hope reflect briefly over the surfaces of Iruka's gaze as the man smiled at him brokenly, turning away silently and heading for the foyer to get his shoes. Kakashi couldn't form words and it wasn't because he didn't know how to form them. He just didn't know what to say. He never thought that far ahead back then. Sliding down kitchen tile wall, he pressed the heel of his pruised palm against his red eye.

What would have you done differently, he asked himself.

Hours that turned to days passed and his mind still hit a blank.

XXX

The sharp vibrating sound of his new cellphone moving against the smooth wooden tables startled Kakashi awake from where he had fallen asleep in the surveillance room. A sleepy glance at the wall clock told him that it was ten-thirthy in the morning. He didn't remember falling asleep and quick glance at the monitors showed him that Iruka and his fiance was sitting beside each other in their small dining room, going through books and magazines on what seemed to be flower and fabric arrangement.

Kakashi sleepily got up and stretched the aching muscles of his back and neck as he clumsily felt for the insistently ringing cellphone. Raidou's call better be something important

"What?"

"Turn on the news. You're not going to believe this."

Kakashi groaned as he made his way back to his living room and flicked the news channel on, turning the volume up as the 'breaking news' came to focus in his sleep-deprived mind. The Uzumaki Corps. towers were surrounded by special ops armed in glass shields, helmets and flak jackets while a mob of protestors carrying signboards with phrases like 'equal oppurtunity' and 'fair trade to all generations' blocked the main streets and covered the entire parking lot and front entrance of the building. The protesting crowd was a mix between young and old, parents and graduates, employees and some were even younger students, clearly looking unhappy, if not angry.

"What the hell is this? When did this start?" Kakashi slowly lowered himself on the couch as focused on the news.

"A little over an hour ago. It's not good Kakashi. There's a petition officially being filed to the court and some of the managing parties involved are not happy with that children's program. Something about not being equal and playing favorites to only those involved in supporting Uzumaki Corps."

"That's bullshit." Kakashi scowled at the television screen. "Those kids went through some tests and got those posts of their own effort! Everyone knows that!"

"Yes, but Kakashi, Naruto wasn't exactly above average."

There was a loud crash from the other side of the line as Raidou promptly started cursing accompanied by shuffling sounds. "He was the highest amongst the 'average' crowd Raidou, cut the boy some slack."

"You know that, I know that, everyone in the company knows that. We're not sure how this started. There wasn't anything in the radar or one of our watchers would have picked up on it. Thing is - damnit - they're arguing that the program is meant to be for kids who are above average. Naruto, as far as they're concerned, is an average student."

"How would they even know of classified data." Kakashi brought a hand to his temple and rubbed the tell-tale signs of an upcoming headache. "Nevermind. Don't answer that. This is just something against Naruto and company."

"If things don't settle down, they're going to cancel the program."

Kakashi tried not to think how much this entire mess was going to hurt the innocent boy who knew nothing as to why people out there still despised him and the title of his company. There were alot of corruption going around and envy ran deep. Kakashi knew that Naruto was looking forward to the entire program, all the other kids were.

"Have they reached a decision yet?"

"Tsunade is in the courhouse arguing the case. There's a meeting for the employees working under the program, that's why I called. You're going to have to bring Iruka with you. You better get moving."

Kakashi slid his eyes shut and gripped his hair tight. "Where are we going to meet?"

"Towers. Pent house. The others are making their way here already. I'll alert the guards to keep an eye out for you and Iruka."

Kakashi got to his feet and snapped his cellphone shut. Fifteen minutes later, he was standing in front of Iruka's door and ringing the door bell. It was just his luck that Iruka was the one who answered the door, looking at him with a bewildered gaze.

"Get dressed." Kakashi said flatly. "I'll wait for you downstairs. It's important."

TBC

AUGH, this chapter was torture to write. The entire story had to undergo some major replanning in terms of chains-of-events. But yes, this should be going ... uhm, okay for now.

Now I wish I wasn't so distracted to finish this story already. Efffff.