A/N: Holy bejesus! Sorry I swear I tried to get this out sooner but life (i.e work) decided to kick my ass this week.

EDIT: Just correcting a few mistakes and adding a little bit at the end. Thanks to Jukebox for the constructive criticism.

April 'Fools'

Chapter 14: A little less Conversation.

Rooster reappeared outside a rundown apartment building and let out a sigh of exasperation. He stared at the unconscious Sensei in his arms and shook his head, how on earth had this situation even arose? The ANBU had known something was going on, Tsunade had been far too cheerful for the last few days and that was always a dead giveaway.

But now he had an unconscious Chuunin in his arms who had looked like he was on the verge of breaking and his Hokage had looked more furious than he'd ever seen her.

Who had this simple sensei almost gotten killed?

Rooster shook his head, it wasn't his job to question orders just obey them.

But still, he couldn't quell the curiosity he was feeling; he was human after all.

He readjusted the man in his arms and made his way toward the buildings stairs. Despite its dilapidated look the complex had several powerful wards protecting it and if he'd tried to just teleport straight in the ANBU would have likely killed both of them. Rooster smiled behind his mask as he recognised the chakra signature in the majority of the traps, seems the little Sensei had a few tricks up his sleeve after all.

He stared down at the teacher with puzzlement, the brunette was certainly an oddity. He wasn't particularly powerful but he had somehow garnered the respect and support from not one but two Hokage as well as a large number of the clan heads. Most Shinobi wouldn't have been able to do one of those in their lifetimes.

Yet the man didn't let it go to his head, he was humble and kind and yes he had a vicious streak when he was angry but that somehow made him more endearing to people.

Iruka was not merely a tool.

He was so ridiculously human.

And by Shinobi standards a piss-poor shinobi because of it.

The ANBU shook his head again with a faint chuckle, honestly what was the world coming to?

Rooster climbed the stairs as silently as possible not wishing to disturb any of the denizens, his job not made any easier by the awkward man in his grasp. He made his way to what he hoped was the sensei's door more focused on the task than where he was walking.

"Hey watch where you're stepping."

The ANBU Did. Not. Jump. He merely took a quick step back out of reflex. Rooster tilted his head down towards the origin of his voice and glared, surprised to find a familiar looking dog right under his feet.

'One of Hatake-san's ninken. This night keeps getting curiouser and curiouser.'

Pakkun stared up with a mildly irritated look on his squashed face.

"You nearly stepped on me brat."

Rooster honestly couldn't decide whether to be amused or annoyed.

"My apologies…" He fished for the name at the back of his mind but it just wouldn't come.

The pug rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Tch, brats these days. It's Pakkun."

The ANBU only just resisted letting out the sigh of annoyance that had built in his chest. Dealing with summons was always a pain in the ass it was why he'd never formed a pact with one himself. Instead he took a deep breath and asked his next question.

"Why are you here?"

The dogs dark eyes shot unconsciously to the man lying asleep in his arms before he answered with his own question.

"Why do you have the teacher?"

This time Rooster did sigh, he did not have time for this but if the dog was anything like his master then he would not take his silence for an answer. Hatake-san was very good at looking 'underneath the underneath' but when he wanted a straight answer the main was tenacious and driven. The ANBU rolled his eyes behind his mask, tonight was rapidly becoming simultaneously more interesting and irritating. Noticing the pug was still staring at him he decided to answer.

"Orders…" He replied simply.

Pakkun frowned the already deep brow creasing further. "Orders…" he reiterated not entirely sounding convinced.

Rooster didn't add any more to the conversation and made his way toward the door, he felt the crackle of a ward spring to life as he approached and reached out tentatively. Like the wards surrounding the complex if he handled this wrong he would be in for a world of pain. Carefully he snaked out a thread of his chakra and wormed it through the intricacies of the barrier, Shinobi always built in a failsafe for occasions like this, if they were hurt or unconscious and needed a fellow comrade to take them home but that didn't mean it was easy to find. There were so many layers built in here it was starting to give the ANBU a migraine, finally after toiling for what felt like a small eternity he found the mechanism and the door sprang open.

Rooster was impressed if it had caused him this much trouble then most regular shinobi wouldn't have stood a chance unless they knew what they were looking for.

The ANBU carefully maneuvered himself and the Sensei through the open doorway and into the small apartment followed by Pakkun. He looked at the surroundings with interest much like the Sensei the room was full of contradictions, in one corner there was a small arsenal of weapons and yet scattered around it were drawings and all sorts of knick-knacks from his students. In another corner there was an ancient desk that looked as if it hadn't been used in a lifetime but the coffee table in front of the battered and worn couch was completely caked in paperwork scattered about in no discernable order.

Rooster stalked over to the messy couch and laid the brunette down as comfortably as he could and then turned around to the pug who was sitting behind him, eyeing the teacher with immense suspicion.

"You never answered my question Pakkun."

The pug levelled him with a stare and what Rooster assumed to be a doggy grin.

"Orders." He replied.

The ANBU scoffed and crossed his arms across his chest.

"I assure you ANBU-san I don't mean Iruka-Sensei any harm. I just want to talk to him." Pakkun said honestly.

Rooster unfolded his arms "I assume that whatever had Iruka-Sensei in such a state this evening has something to do with Hatake-san?"

Pakkun frowned, Iruka was in a state too? What on earth had happened? Kakashi he knew was not exactly the most stable of people and was prone to bouts of low moods, admittedly he hadn't had one in quite a while but it wasn't unheard of. Iruka though, from the interactions he'd had with the man he'd always come across as a rational, level-headed person unless of course you pissed him off but the kind of melancholy the ANBU was suggesting was vastly out of character for the Chuunin it sent alarm bells off in his mind.

"I honestly don't know ANBU-san." The pug said solemnly

"Rooster…"

Pakkun looked confused and Rooster clarified "My code name is Rooster."

"Oh… Apologies Rooster-san."

"It's fine Pakkun-san, tonight has certainly been a strange one."

The pug nodded in response, now more than ever he needed to speak to Iruka because it appeared that this situation was far worse than he initially thought.

"Are you going to stay Pakkun-san?" Rooster asked.

Pakkun nodded again "I have something to discuss with him, how long do you think he will be out."

The ANBU knelt in front of the dog giving him his full attention. "I'm not sure, Hokage-sama knocked him out so I would suspect a few more hours, apologies Pakkun-san."

"No apologies needed. You can go Rooster-san I promise I will watch over Iruka-san."

Rooster stood back up seemingly torn as to whether he actually wanted to go or not, there was a nagging feeling that he was missing something but there was nothing he could see to support that feeling. After a few minutes the ANBU made his way to the door and disappeared back toward the Hokage tower.

Finally alone Pakkun approached the sleeping teacher, even unconscious he looked troubled and he could see the tightness around his jaw and eyes. He hopped up on the man's stomach as gently as he could and was relieved when he didn't stir in the slightest. Pakkun could feel the warmth radiating from Iruka and it was a comforting sensation and after the stress of seeing his erstwhile master drinking himself into oblivion it was a welcome one.

Snuggling down he plopped his head on Iruka's chest letting the steady beat of the teachers heart lull him into a light slumber.

'Tch, Humans.'

Iruka opened his eyes and found himself in that dark back alley once again. His minds eye conjuring up the scene that had unfolded earlier that evening. He could see Leiko… Kakashi, lying prone on the floor with that brute Kensei poised above them.

He knew he should act and he was screaming at his body to move but he remained motionless.

"That won't work you bitch… I'll make you pay attention."

Iruka saw the glint of metal, saw the arm swing back and then plunge downwards.

Iruka screamed, frozen against his will.

Again the arm pulled back and swung down.

And again.

And again.

And again .

The brunette screamed himself hoarse, tears flowing openly down his cheeks. He hadn't meant for this to happen he had just wanted to teach Kakashi a lesson not get the man killed.

Whatever force had been holding Iruka hostage suddenly seemed to vanish and he stumbled forward. With trepidation he took a step forward trying to resist the urge to vomit as the blood lapped against his sandals. He desperately did and did not want to see the full extent of the damage inflicted but knew he had to, had to commit this to memory for his transgression.

The pale skin was stained red with blood, the numerous wounds up and down the torso jagged, gaping and still weeping Kakashi's precious life blood. The usually bright, mischievous eyes were dull and lifeless and there was a look of resigned sadness on Leiko's face.

Iruka closed the eyes, so the empty depths couldn't judge him anymore.

He didn't notice the presence appear behind him and didn't care much when the sharp bite of metal touched his throat.

"You did this." A familiar male voice intoned.

"I know." Iruka replied.

There was only silence as the blade slashed his throat.

Iruka awoke with a start, sweating and shaking. The images of his dream came rushing to the forefront of his mind and the brunette felt his stomach churn and roil. Without even thinking he made a mad dash for the bathroom and promptly emptied what was left of his stomach contents down the toilet. Iruka couldn't stop the tears this time as the guilt consumed his very being, he'd almost gotten someone killed because of his juvenile antics.

"...uka-Sen…"

The voice was foggy as if several miles away.

"IRUKA-SENSEI!"

Iruka snapped out of his daze and turned around startled by the sudden presence of someone else. His eyes darted wildly around the bathroom and confusion creased his brow as he couldn't find the owner of the voice.

"Down here Sensei."

The brunette turned their gaze downwards, stomach still churning madly. When he laid eyes on the pug he felt his whole body freeze, so this was how it was going to happen; Kakashi was so hurt and angry he didn't even want to look at Iruka to kill him. His death was literally not worth the copy-nin's time and energy. He felt himself retreat backwards into the corner, brown eyes never leaving the small animal in front of him.

Pakkun watched the skittish sensei curl into himself with alarm as if he was afraid of him.

"Iruka-Sensei…" Pakkun tried to sound reassuring.

The man stilled, resignation etched across his distraught face.

"Whatever you're here to do Pakkun do it quick, Kami knows I deserve it."

Pakkun was pretty sure that his eyes were bugging out of his face, did Iruka think the ninken was here to hurt him?

"I just came to talk Iruka-Sensei."

Iruka looked confused and the pug's previous assumption was confirmed. What on Kami's green earth had happened that the teacher thought he was going to hurt him and Kakashi to drink himself into oblivion.

"Talk…" the word sounded foreign on the brunette's tongue.

"Yes Iruka-Sensei just talk."

"So what did Kakashi send you to say." There was still suspicion thick in the teachers voice.

Pakkun sighed "The brat didn't send me Iruka-Sensei but I am here because of him. What has been going on."

Iruka stared wide-eyed, looking like a frightened deer before sliding down the wall and drawing his knees up to his chest like one of his pre-genin.

"I… nearly killed him…."

Pakkun gaped "W-what…"

The brunette dropped his head mumbling.

"I nearly killed him… I pranked him because I was tired of him being an asshole to me… and it backfired badly…"

The pug was shocked, he couldn't believe what he was hearing of all the things he'd thought of happening this was about as far from what he had expected. He felt possessive anger rear it's ugly head at the slight to his master but bit it back, now was the time for cooler heads.

"Iruka…" He took a step closer and asked softly but firmly "Tell me what happened."

Pakkun could see the tears in Iruka's eyes could see his whole body shaking with some indiscernible emotion; fear, anger, grief? It was hard to pin it down. He listened intently as Iruka explained what had been going on for the last few days his voice completely hollow. Pakkun empathised with him, he knew Kakashi had been purposefully torturing the teacher just to get a rise out of him but he'd never imagined that Iruka would pull something like this in revenge. He knew he should feel enraged at the situation and he really,really did; but right now it would only cause more harm than good. He had to take this slowly there was a lot more at stake here.

"I… I never meant for it to spiral this far… I fucked up so badly and I know I can't take it back but will you please tell him I'm sorry."

Pakkun sighed "I'm afraid not Sensei, it won't mean anything coming from me."

Iruka closed his eyes "I never meant to hurt him… I truly didn't. I wish I'd known sooner what I know now and not risen to his bait so much. Kakashi will never forgive me for this, not that I deserve it. I'm so stupid, I destroyed something before I even gave it a chance all because of my pride."

The ninken sighed again, humans were so troublesome. "You know what they say about pride Sensei…"

Iruka nodded "It goes before a fall."

Pakkun nodded in response edging closer to the brunette. He settled at Iruka's side just close enough to feel the warmth radiating from the man.

"Listen Sensei, Kakashi is an idiot but he is a forgiving one, he's lost too much to push away those he has left…." He gave the brunette a stern stare "But it doesn't happen immediately, you're just going to have to give him time."

The Chuunin nodded solemnly still looking shaken, Pakkun edged closer hoping to be some form of comfort to the other man. He believed that Iruka had meant no real harm by what he had done and he could see how much those actions were tearing the man apart. He had been fucking stupid and had gone way overboard with his prank but it was obvious the brunette knew that. Both men had shared some blame in the situation but Pakkun was pretty sure that the brunette wouldn't see it like that and neither would Kakashi. He just hoped that both of them weren't too pigheaded to learn from their mistakes.

"It will work out Iruka-Sensei, just give it time."

Iruka laid a still shaking hand on Pakkun's head and the pug let it be despite his anger, knowing he needed it at this moment.

"I hope you're right Pakkun, I hope you're right…" Replied Iruka his voice full of doubt

~End Chapter 14~

A/N: Goddamn it this just did not want to get written, this is what happens when I start-stop writing a chapter. DAMN YOU REAL LIFE. Anywho it's done now and that means it's now time for some real fallout Mwahaha.