One: Study Hall?




“Umino!” a man shouted behind Iruka, causing the brunette to turn around and search for the familiar face he had come to trust. (1)

“Hey!” Iruka said, waving at Mizuki. “How’d your exam go?”

“Tough as hell!” the white haired man said, sighing. “I passed with a 498, though. Two wrong. You?”

“492, I passed.” the brunette said, smirking. “What day’s your combat exam?”

“Two weeks from Saturday.” Mizuki said. “Yours is too.” Iruka blinked in confusion. How did he know that?

“We’re in the same group? Did I miss that list? I could have sworn the only one posted was a bunch of ID numbers and scores.”

“I have an inside connection.” Mizuki said, winking. Iruka shrugged, not knowing what else to do, really. Something was wrong with his friend, though he wasn’t quite sure what it was. Iruka just knew he didn’t want to be around Mizuki much longer. “Hey, did you want to train tomorrow? I know it’s short notice, but I think we’d balance each other out perfectly.”

“Sure, that’d be nice.” the dolphin said, smiling. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

“Well, actually. . .” the other man said, thinking. “Were you going to that TGIF the other guys were having at Pomi’s Bar? Everyone who passed the written exam was going to have a drink there tonight.”

“I have some house cleaning to do, actually.” Iruka admitted. “I’ve been putting it off until the end of the exam. . .”

“What’s a little partying going to do?” Mizuki asked, smiling . “It’ll be fun!”

“I’m not really into alcohol. You know that.”

“Then get some ocha!”

“As lovely as it probably would be, I can’t.” Iruka said, his tone a little more forceful than before. However, that didn’t seem to deter this friend.

“I bet you’re such a light weight, you’d get drunk off anything but water.” Mizuki challenged, smirking triumphantly after seeing Iruka’s expression.

“Fine, I’ll come for a while.” the brunette promised.

“Good! See you at six, Umino!!” the other man said, waving good bye and bound for home. Iruka sighed once the white haired man disappeared. Sure, Mizuki was pushy and domineering, but this time something felt off. . . like the way he smirked. . . and that wink? Since when did Mizuki wink?? Iruka decided that he wasn’t going to go to the bar that night. THAT could only lead to disaster. . .


Unfortunately it did anyway.


Mizuki was nearly passed out on Iruka’s doorstep at almost 11:30 that night, and it looked like he had gotten into a fight with someone. The brunette pulled his friend’s body inside and put Mizuki on the couch, planning to tend to his injuries, how ever minor they were.

“What did you do?” Iruka asked, shaking his head as he brought out a bowl of warm water and bandages.

“’Mino?” Mizuki mumbled, opening his drunken eyes. “’z it you?”

“Yeah,” the other man replied, putting the damp cloth to Mizuki’s scraped cheek. “I hope you can hold your liquor. I just cleaned out the bathroom this afternoon.” Mizuki grabbed Iruka’s wrist and looked at the brunette. Iruka blinked. “Something wrong?”

“Yer. . . pretty with your har dwn.”

“Huh??” Iruka had been asleep for a while before he heard the thump of a body at his door, and he didn’t bother to pull his hair back.

“’Nd yer cute wen you blush.” Mizuki said, smirking and then falling off the couch, passed out completely this time. The brunette sighed and put his friend back up on the couch so that he could tend to Mizuki’s wounds. Once the dolphin had finished his task, it almost seemed a waste to spare the energy to go back into the bedroom. Thus, Iruka slumped on the floor with a pillow and slept beside Mizuki, who was now covered in bandages.




“Okay, what happened?” Iruka asked, helping Mizuki sit up to eat breakfast. “And don’t tell me it wasn’t anything you couldn’t handle by yourself.” Mizuki smirked at the comment.

“I got drunk and was a loud mouth. Kotetsu thoroughly kicked my ass for insulting Izumo.”

“Kotetsu? Why would he get offended when the insult wasn’t directed at him?” Mizuki almost died of shock after hearing Iruka’s question.

“Haven’t you heard?! They’re together!”

“Wait, together as in. . .?”

“Lovers! Didn’t you know that?”

“Obviously not.” Iruka answered.

“Geez, I’m surprised Anko didn’t gossip to you about it!” Mizuki said, hissing as he sat back against an injury. “Itai!!”

“When did they get together?”

“About a month ago.” Mizuki said, taking a bite of oat meal. “This is horrible, by the way.”

“It’s what I’ve been living off of for the last month.”

“Sheesh, no WONDER you hardly hear a word anyone says! We need to buy you REAL food!!”

“I would, but I’m on a tight budget.” Iruka said. “I haven’t been on many missions lately because of the Teachers’ Exams.”

“I know, but I’ve been in the same boat and I’m not eating crappy oat meal three times a day!” Mizuki took another (regretful) bite. “Hey, why don’t we cut down our living costs and just live together!”

“WHAT?!?”

“I mean, you OWN this place, right? I’m still renting an apartment. If I didn’t have to rent that old piece of crap and lived here, we’d BOTH be well fed, rested, and we could train and study together!”

“You. . . honestly want to live. . . HERE??”

“Yeah, why not? We’ve been friends for how long?”

“A long time, but that’s not the point!” Iruka said. “I mean, I know I own the house, but it’s not a lot of space. It’s a few rooms, the kitchen, and a bathroom.”

“So?”

“So. . . there’s not a lot of room.”

“Don’t you have a guest room or something?” Mizuki asked, raising an eyebrow. “Or is that room stockpiled with porn or something?”

“NISENO!!!” Iruka shouted, glaring and appalled that he’d say such a thing. “And that’s not it. It’s just. . . I don’t have an extra bed.” Mizuki blinked, confused.

“Come again?”

“The only bed in the entire house is located in my bedroom. I didn’t have a use for them, so I sold them years ago when I was having financial problems. Anko bought my old bed, and Genma took the guest bed.”

“So, you have your parents’ bed?”

“Yeah, I couldn’t bring myself to sell that piece.” Iruka said. “Besides, it’s really nice.”

“I’ll just sleep here then.” Mizuki said, patting the couch. “Or we could share the bed. It’s not like we’re strangers or anything.”

“Well. . .”

“What? Are you afraid I’ll find some perverted, kinky side of you?” Mizuki asked, smirking suggestively. Iruka paled.

“No.” he said, deadpan. “I just haven’t lived with anyone in over 10 years.”

“So, can I move in?” the man asked, hopefully. Iruka sighed.

“As soon as you can get up without crying out in pain or bleeding through your bandages I’ll help you move in.” Iruka promised. Mizuki smiled and went back to his muck called oat meal. Iruka, however, was not entirely sure that he wanted Mizuki moving in with him. Granted, he would be eating better than he was, and he could train and study with Mizuki at almost any time, but it still didn’t seem quite right. Then again, Mizuki didn’t seem to be right. Something was gnawing at Iruka, but the brunette couldn’t place it. . .

Maybe it was nothing.



TBC...



**-**-**

Notes:

(1): Even though Mizuki and Iruka are friends here, they still use their last names to address the one another. This is a common practice between male friends, though the closer they get the less and less they will use the last name and start using first names.

Itai: “Ouch!” or “It hurts!”

Two: The First Rose



Studying and training for the exam had gone exceptionally well with the two. Mizuki was a good fighter while Iruka was good with tactics from all his book-study. Each day they would wake up, fight over who made breakfast, study various books and scrolls, eat lunch, then train outside until the sun went down. Both would be too tired to cook by that time, and they usually went out to a cheap ramen shop or convenience store to eat dinner (1). This went on until the day of the combat exam, which had an unexpected turn.

“Hey, Iruka?” Mizuki asked. Since the two had been growing closer to one another, they had stopped using last names to address the other. “Wanna do something after the exam?”

“If we’re not too banged up, I suppose so.” Iruka said, smiling. It had been relatively nice to have someone else to live with, especially when it came to injuries and house cleaning. “Pomi’s bar?”

“Actually, I had something else in mind.”

“Something else?” Iruka asked. “Like what?”

“It’s secret for now.” Mizuki said, smirking at his companion. “Well, gambatte, ne!”

“Same to you.” Iruka said as they entered the dark arena.


**-**-**


“I totally saved your ass.” Mizuki said, laughing as they patched up their wounds from the exam. “That kunai was about this close!!” Iruka rolled his eyes as Mizuki gauged the distance with his fingers.

“It wasn’t THAT close.” Iruka said, putting a bandage across his shoulder. “You done?”

“Yeah, it just hurts like hell.” Mizuki said. “Will you kiss it and make it better?” Iruka’s eyebrow twitched.

“I’ll get some pain killers.” he said, getting up to grab a bottle.

“Aw, I wanted a kiss.” Mizuki said, putting on a pouty face. Iruka just sighed and threw the pills at the other man. “So, are we still on for tonight?”

“You mean dinner?” Iruka asked. “We’re both pretty scratched up.”

“It’s not going to make a difference.” Mizuki said. “It’s just dinner.”

“Where?” the brunette inquired. It had been bothering him exactly where this place that they were going out to eat was.

“Yume no Kumo.”

“THERE?!?!?” Iruka shouted, wondering why in the world Mizuki picked that place when he knew they were going to be all worn out and beaten up that day. Yume no Kumo was one of the best restaurants in Konoha, which served very expensive food and wine. The dress was formal, and they only had one sitting per night. Reservations had to be made months ahead of time in order to get a table for two. “It’s so expensive. . .”

“I’ve been saving up for a while, and I pulled a favor from a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Well, a friend of a friend. I heard Kakashi works at Yume no Kumo for extra money, and Kurenai owed me a favor.”

“So, Kakashi is slipping us in under the radar?”

“Sorta. There’s definitely a table set up for us, but we’re getting the best seat at the restaurant.”

“Oh really.” Iruka asked, not really believing Mizuki. That “best seat” might as well have been in the kitchen. . . next to the trash cans. . . that hadn’t been taken out in a week. “You sure?”

“Positive. I’d bring a coat, though. It might get chilly outside.” he said, smiling and walking out of the house. Iruka didn’t ask where he was going, but raised a questioning eyebrow at what Mizuki’s motives were. . . and where they were going to be sitting. . . and how in the world they were going to pay for such an expensive dinner. . .



“Welcome to the Yume no Kumo,” the silver haired Jounin said, bowing at the two men as they walked up to the entrance. “Saa, Mizuki-san,”

“Everything’s ready?”

“Yes, but you’ll have to come around the back.” Kakashi said, looking at Iruka. Iruka felt a slight blush creep up on his face. “This is your friend?”

“Yes, Kakashi, this is Umino Iruka.” Mizuki said, introducing the two. Kakashi and Iruka shook hands.

“Nice to meet you, finally.” Kakashi said. “Mizuki has been looking forward to this dinner for a while.”

“I see.” Iruka said, looking at Mizuki. The other man just shrugged. “Thank you for this favor.”

“Thank Kurenai, she’s the one who pulled the strings.” the Jounin said. “If you two could go around the back, I’ll meet you to open the door.” The two men nodded and left to make their way to the back door.

“So, you’ve known Kakashi for a while?” Iruka asked.

“Our fathers were kind of close.” Mizuki said. “We don’t know each other that well, but we do talk.”

“I see.” The brunette hugged his coat closer to his body. The wind had kicked up a little bit, and it was getting colder.


When the two were inside, Kakashi took them upstairs, through an attic, and to the rooftop. It wasn’t your average roof, however. Yume no Kumo was built into the side of a mountain, thus the roof top was the top of a green, lush plateau. In the center of the small flat section, there stood a table for two, a candle lighting the table, and small, electric lamps lighting the pathway to the table. Iruka was thoroughly impressed by the setting, but even more so of the view. Above, the stars shone brighter than they ever had below in the village, and the gentle glow from the town lights made everything seem softer than it actually was. Iruka was speechless.

“I’ll be back with your wine shortly,” Kakashi said, letting them go to their seats while he went back down to do his job. Mizuki smiled.

“Do you like it?”

“I. . . yes, yes I love it.” Iruka said, still stunned. “It’s. . . beautiful.”

“Just like someone I know.” Mizuki said, pulling out a fresh, red rose. Iruka’s blush covered his face again.

“Niseno–”

“Iruka, I’ve been thinking about something.” he said, looking Iruka in the eyes. “I’ve always liked you in some way, but I think that our friendship took on a new form for me.” Mizuki handed the rose to his friend. “I think that I may come to love you, if you’d let me.”

“L-love?” Iruka asked, hardly believing what was happening. “How long have you been thinking about this??”

“Since before we took our Teaching Exams.” Mizuki said, smiling. “I’ve had a while to think about this.”

“I. . . I had no idea you. . . I wish I had known. . .”

“I hate to say it, but you are rather oblivious.” the white haired man said. “I’ve been dropping you hits since I resolved to try to win you over.” Iruka scratched his nose.

“I suppose I didn’t pick up on that.” he said.

“So, do you accept?” Mizuki asked, once again showing the rose to Iruka. “I won’t hold it against you if you decline or need time to think.” Iruka panicked for a moment. He knew Mizuki would be true to his word, but. . . everything would be awkward from that point on. They were living together, after all. . . And did he like Mizuki that way? That was the biggest question. . .

“I suppose we could try.” Iruka said, smiling and taking the rose. Mizuki’s eyes lit up and he reached over to kiss Iruka on the lips. . .

Iruka froze as his friend - now lover - kissed him. Mizuki’s hold was strong on his cheek, and so was the kiss. It felt so overwhelming, so wonderful, and Iruka couldn’t help but loose himself in it. The brunette closed his eyes and let whatever feelings were in the kiss be shared. After all, this was the man’s first kiss. Once Iruka forced himself to relax, Mizuki let go and smiled at him.

“I. . . I think that we should sit before Kakashi-san comes back.” Iruka stuttered, his blush practically glowing in the night.

“You’re right,” Mizuki said, taking Iruka’s hand and walking him to his seat, then pulling out the chair for Iruka to sit on.

Kakashi came up a few minutes later, though not by coincidence. The Jounin had seen the whole thing, and decided that it was best that he leave them to their private matters instead of bursting up Mizuki’s carefully planned moment. Still he couldn’t help but eavesdrop and listen to their conversation. To Kakashi, it seemed as though Iruka wasn’t so sure about their relationship, but dove in anyway. . . but who was he to judge? This was a private affair, and he was not part of it. For tonight, he was just their waiter. . .



TBC...


**-**-**

Notes:

(1): When I went to Japan in November of 2005, I was at a home stay in a smaller city. They had a Circle K convenience store, which had hot meals all day. A lot of them had sea food, or some sort of stew, but it was ALWAYS hot and ready to eat. . . they also sold cakes for birthdays and holidays. . .

gambatte, ne!: good luck, okay!

Yume no Kumo: Dream Cloud (or in some dialects, Dream Spider )

Saa: It’s like, “oh” or “ah”


A/N: Hey! Thanks to the five people who reviewed the first chapter! I really appreciate it! Hopefully I’ll have another chapter up soon! I’ve got a lot of updating to do, so I don’t know when I’ll be able to update this next!

PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW!! ^___^

A Rose By Any Other Name


Three: Holding On to the Rose





Things seemed to be going well for the most part. The rose Iruka received bloomed beautifully for nearly three weeks. Mizuki kept making small, flirty gestures toward Iruka, even in public, but Iruka hardly minded it. In fact, it seemed as though Mizuki had always been his lover: it was just not official. Everday the couple would wake up, Iruka would make breakfast, they would go to work together at the academy, go out for lunch, come back to teach, and come back home for dinner. Once in a while (usually Fridays), the two would go and share a private onsen, where they felt was one of the few places where they could freely speak to one another as lovers, and not as commerades.

“It was funny too!” Mizuki said, scubbing Iruka’s back. “Kotetsu was so adamant about getting me to say that we were together.”

“Did you?” Iruka asked.

“No, of course not.” the white haired mand said. “I would never betray that secret.” Iruka frowned a little when he said that.

“Do you really want to keep it a secret? Kotetsu and Izumo are freely together, and no one has given them grief about it.”

“Koi, you’re too naive about that.” Mizuki claimed, sighing. “People don’t talk to you about things like that because you’ll set them straight, and they don’t want to ‘corrupt’ your mind.”

“As if them talking to me about a gay couple will do anything to me.”

“True enough.” he admitted. “But they don’t know that you’re gay.”

“Why can’t I just tell them?”

“You’ll get hurt.”

“Do you honestly think that will happen? Even you said that people think I’m naive.”

“You are.”

“Do you think that they’ll try to hurt me?”

“Then what about me? I live with you. Rumors will go around that I’m sleeping with you.” Mizuki said, angry at Iruka. “We’re risking a lot by being together.”

“Sticks and stones.”

“Hurt, and sometimes aren’t just stones. They’re deadly weapons, koi.” Mizuki retorted, putting everything away. “I’m trying not to get you killed here.” Iruka sighed and rinsed off his back.

“Let’s go into the onsen.” the brunette suggested. “We’ve had a long week.”







“Oi!” Mizuki said, finding another person in the hot spring assigned to them. “I think that the sign said ‘private’, no?” The man in the water turned around and looked at the two other men.

“Konbanwa, Mizuki-kun, Iruka-kun.” he said, his face half covered by a wash cloth. “Gomen, ne. The owner ran out of spaces in the public bath. She said she had informed you.”

“No, she hadn’t.” Mizuki muttered. “Would you mind leaving, Kakashi?”

“I just got in.” Kakashi said. “There’s plenty of room for all three of us.” Mizuki was about to say something, but Iruka interrupted him.

“That’s fine. We weren’t going to stay long anyway.” the brunette said, trying to compromise. Kakashi’s eyes smiled.

“I see.” he said, turning back to the wall and his sake. “Well, the water is very nice. Come in whenever you want.” Mizuki pulled Iruka to the side and looked at him firmly.

“This is–”

“I know, but we can’t avoid the situation.” Iruka said, knowing that this was ‘their’ time together. Mizuki shot a glare at the Jounin sitting in the onsen.

“I’m going home. You can stay if you want.” the white haired man said, turning and stalking off. Iruka knew full well that his lover didn’t mean that. Mizuki wanted Iruka to follow suit and go home. That’s how it always was with Mizuki. However, this particular week had been rough on Iruka, and he rather enjoyed his weekly onsen. Sharing the hot spring with Kakashi wasn’t so bad. . . and he could always cuddle up with Mizuki later. Thus, he didn’t understand why his lover had been so adimate about being in the same room as the Jounin. Nonetheless, Iruka sighed and walked into the bath, deciding to not worry about Mizuki and his attitude.

“I see you and Mizuki have a thing going on.” the silver haired Jounin said. Iruka shook his head.

“A lot of people have been saying that these days, but no.”

“That’s a lie.” Kakashi said. “It’s quite obvious, you know. You’re always together, you live in the same house, he makes those flirtatious passes at you and you don’t care. . . Heaven knows Izumo and Kotetsu have been trying to crack open Mizuki for the last week or so.”

“I know. He told me.”

“Then why hide it?” Kakashi asked. Iruka looked at the other man and searched for a sign of deception. There was none.

“Well, I don’t want people talking about us, really.” he said, just restating Mizuki’s reasons. “Mizuki has been hearing people who disapprove of Izumo and Kotetsu recently, and we don’t want to share in the gossip.” Kakashi shook his head at the brunette.

“I don’t think that those are your reasons, Iruka-kun.” the Jounin said. “It doesn’t sound like you were the one who came up woth those words.”

“Why do you say that?” Iruka asked, shocked that a man, whom he hardly knew, figured out so easily that Iruka had never once thought those reasons.

“You seem the open type, particularly when you write in English.” Kakashi stated. “Your ‘a’s are almost alwyas open at the top.” Iruka furrowed his brows.

“A’s?”

“Yeah, your ‘a’s.”

“You’ve seen my handwriting?”

“All the time. You do get Anko’s reports, no?” Kakashi asked. Iruka then remembered that Kakashi and Anko often worked together for menial tasks around the village, and part of the required teacher work was to process paperwork from missons. Apparently, Kakashi had noticed that the small amounts of English in the reports were in fact Iruka’s handiwork.

“What does my handwriting have to do with anything?” he asked.

“English is strange.” Kakashi said. “Your personality comes out in much of your writing. Most of what I know about your writing tells me you’re a happy, open, dedicated person. Sadly, I don’t think I can say the same for Mizuki.”

“What’s he like?”

“Close minded, stubborn, calculated, and mostly selfish.”

“Selfish?”

“His name is written bigger than any other word in his work.”

“Where did you learn this?”

“Books.”

“You trust that?”

“Not more than my intuition, but more than a rumor.” Kakashi stated, pouring more sake for himself. “Would you like some?” the Jounin offered.

“I don’t drink.” Iruka said. “But thanks anyway.”

“Does Mizuki drink?”

“Sometimes too much, honestly.”

“Be careful about that.”

“He’s never gotten out of hand.”

“Records don’t always mean everything.” Kakashi said, sipping his sake from underneath his mask. Iruka decided that the other man was trying to pull something to perhaps break up himself and Mizuki. Maybe. . . Mizuki had spoken the truth! There were people who wouldn’t approve of their relationship! Kakashi was either one of them, or someone trying to protect them.

“Thanks for the advice.” Iruka said, grabbing a towel. “I think I should be going now.”

“Oh? So soon?”

“I still have work tomorrow, and it’s going to be long and tedious. I should get all the sleep I can.”

“All right. Kio tsukete, Iruka-kun. Oyasumi.”

“Oyasumi.”



**-**-**



Mizuki was asleep when Iruka arrived home, and he was glad because of it. He didn’t really want to hear Mizuki lecture him, as he knew the white haired man would. All he wanted right then was to grab some decaf tea to warm him up, and then go to bed.

“’Ruka?” Mizuki asked, barely conscious and walking out toward the noises in the kitchen.

“I’m sorry. Did I wake you?” Iruka asked. Mizuki shook his head.

“Nah, I fell asleep waiting for you.” he said, getting down two mugs. “How was it with Kakashi?”

“Nothing mentionable, really.” Iruka replied. “He knows about us.”

“Did you tell him?”

“No, but even when I denied it he wouldn’t give up his claim as everyone else has.”

“I see.” Mizuki said, sitting. “I’m sorry I walked out. I should have stayed.” Iruka stood there shocked. Mizuki was apologizing? This was a first.

“It’s fine. I don’t hold it against you.”

“Still, you could have called me on it.” the other man said. “You didn’t have to let me go.”

“I didn’t want to argue with you, or cause a scene.” Iruka said. “We could always talk at home.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Mizuki commented. “I needed time to cool down.”

“I’m glad to see that you did.” Iruka said, smiling. “Now, let’s get our tea and go to bed. We have tests to grade tomorrow.”

“Oh joy.” Mizuki said, taking the mug Iruka filled with water and a tea bag.



TBC...




**-**-**

Notes:

Konbanwa: Good Evening

Koi tsu kete: Take care

Oyasumi: Good Night



A/N: Again, I'm sorry for the delay! I had some time right now, and I decided to write this one for a while ^^. I'm working on chapter 6 right now, so hopefully that one will be posted soon... -____- knowing me it won't be, but we can always be hopeful!! ^^;;

Please rate and review!! ^____^ I'll be more motivated to update! X3

A Rose By Any Other Name


Four: Plucked






“I heard you have the Kyuubi.” Kakashi said, approching Iruka one afternoon for a mission.

“Where did you hear that?”

“Mizuki has been complaining a little about the boy’s attitude.”

“Sou ka?” the Chunin asked. “I suppose he is a handful.”

“You must be understating. He talks as if he’s a little devil.” Kakashi said, a smirk clearly visable beneath his mask. Iruka sighed.

“Okay, maybe he is.”

“You need help disciplining?”

“No, I don’t think Naruto needs discipline, honestly.” Iruka said. “He needs to be pushed and accountable for all his actions, but not disciplined.” Kakashi shrugged.

“Well, if you ever need the help, I’ll see if I’m available.”

“You? Teach?”

“Perhaps.” said the Jouinin. “Ja na.”

“Ja.”

“Oh, before I go,” Kakashi said, remembering something. “I have something for you.”

“Nanda?” The silver haired man pulled out a plain, flat paper bag and handed it to Iruka. “Kore wa. . . hon ka?”

“Don’t open it here. It’s something else Mizuki has been complaining about recently.” he said smiling. “Enjoy.” Iruka was still looking at the paper bag.

“Haa.” Iruka said, sliding the book under the desk for later looking. Izumo smirked.

“So! Now we’re on to Kakashi-san?”

“Nani?”

“Is Mizuki too boring for you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Izumo-kun.”

“Kakashi doesn’t even come into the room until he knows that you’re available to talk to him. I heard Mizuki has been spending less time with you too.”

“I don’t know about Kakashi, but Mizuki has been busy lately. His parents want him to marry soon.”

“Too bad he can’t.”

“Doshite?”

“He’s in love with you.” Izumo said, smiling and then turning back to his work. Iruka just sighed. Word got out that Mizuki had stormed out of the onsen and Iruka had stayed behind to speak with Kakashi. Rumor had it that Kakashi had put some smooth moves on Iruka, and Mizuki was jealous. The white haired man didn’t want anything to do with Iruka or Kakashi, thus he conveniently disappeared for days on end. However, that was far from the truth. Mizuki was not jealous of Kakashi, and Kakashi had done nothing to Iruka. Though it was true that Mizuki would mysteriously disappear, it was as Iruka stated: the Niseno family only had one son, and they wanted Mizuki to marry soon. Though the job of a teacher is not life threatening, anything could happen. The sooner there were heirs the better.





By now, it was nearly three months into Iruka and Mizuki’s relationship, and they had not done anything past cuddling and kissing. Understanding Iruka’s desire to take things slow, Mizuki had done little to push the matter. However, for Mizuki, things were. . . too slow to say the least. As a man, there were things that needed to take care of. As a man in a relationship, there are things that need to be only shared with his partner. Sadly, these things that needed to be done were not willing to be shared with Mizuki’s partner. As a result, the white haired man was struggling to keep himself in check, and he focused mostly on his work. It boggled his mind that Iruka could go for weeks not even thinking about sex. At times, Mizuki definitely thought Iruka should have been born a woman.

“Mizuki,” Iruka asked the day that Kakashi had given him the book. “I’ve been wondering something.”

“What’s that?”

“Do you speak with Kakashi a lot?”

“Sometimes, why?”

“Kakashi was saying that you’ve been venting lately.”

“Venting?”

“Well, those weren’t his exact words–”

“I know. So, what did he say about?”

“Uzumaki Naruto, and this.” the Chunin said, pulling out the paper bag that Kakashi had given him before. Mizuki took it and looked inside, smiling.

“A gay porn magazine?”

“It’s way more graphic than any regular magazine.”

“Oh? You’ve seen regular ones?” Mizuki said, smirking. Iruka blushed.

“Just because I’m not thinking about sex every three seconds doesn’t mean that I don’t at all.” Mizuki bust up laughing. “What?!”

“I just can’t picture you looking at porn.” Iruka blushed.

“Oh, shut up.” Miziki shook his head and spread his arms. Iruka just crossed his arms and glared half heartedly.

“I’m sorry, koi. Let me make it up to you.” Iruka shook his head but embraced the other man on the couch. “Wanna look through it?”

“Not particularly.”

“Maybe we can try them out later?” Mizuki asked, hopeful. Iruka smirked.

“Were you complaining to Kakashi-san about out lack of activities?” The white haired man raised an eyebrow.

“So he bought it for you?”

“Do you honestly think I’d buy this on my own?” Mizuki rolled his eyes.

“To be honest, men are horny bastards.”

“Some are.”

“All but you, koi.” Mizuki stated. “And I can’t exactly go to others for help on the issue.”

“I suppose not.”

“Then you see my problem with you taking this so slowly.” Iruka sighed.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. . . it’s that I don’t trust you with that.”

“What if we started slow? Maybe just fool around a little before getting serious?” Mizuki asked, thinking that it was better anyway that they began slow. Even he wasn’t ready to go all the way the first time. However, Iruka was still hesitant.

“I. . . just don’t know.”

“Iruka, can you just do this for me?” Mizuki asked, kissing his lover’s forehead. “I’ve been patient, haven’t I? Can we try this?” Iruka leaned his head on Mizuki’s shoulder.

“I suppose you have been accommodating to me. It’s not fair that you have to suffer because of me.” Mizuki squeezed Iruka and smiled.

“Arigato, koi.” Iruka put on a smile for Mizuki and took the magazine.

“Should we start now?” Mizuki nodded, ignoring how uneasy his partner was doing this.




“What’s this for?” Kakashi asked, taking the present from Iruka rather confused.

“Zasshi da.” Iruka said, bowing. “Mizuki’s very happy.” Kakashi smirked and bowed back, holding the present above his head in respect. (1)

“I’m glad to hear it. What is it?”

“Mizuki bought it for you. He said you enjoy reading.” Kakashi’s smile grew wider.

“Exchanging rated materials is not something I do on a reguar basis, but thank you nonetheless.” Iruka blushed.

“It’s not a problem, but I have something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

“What’s that?”

“Well,” Iruka’s blush deepened. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Mizuki told me he didn’t talk to you much, and you suddenly help him like that.” Kakashi smiled.

“I didn’t do it for Mizuki.” he said, plainly. Iruka stood there, shocked, but Kakashi had no reaction to it. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to find Anko and Asuma. We’ll be gone on a mission for a few days.”

“Haa. . . kio tsu kete.” Iruka said, stumbling a bit. Kakashi took out the book Iruka gave to him and began to read it as he disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Iruka stood there, confused and dumbfounded. The only thing that made the teacher move was the laugh from behind him.

“So, it’s true!” Kotetsu said. “Izumo kept saying that Kakashi had been awfully interested in you, but I couldn’t believe it!” Iruka blushed and glared.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, com’on! We all know you and Mizuki are a couple.” Iruka sighed.

“You keep insisting that.”

“There’s no use in hiding it.” Iruka looked away.

“How many times have you been looked down upon?”

“Hm? Nani?”

“You and Izumo.”

“Oh, that? Only once by someone who wasn’t important.” he said, smiling. “Everyone is very accepting and tolerant of us, and we keep PDA to a minimum as to not offend people. I think that’s the biggest problem with people. They just don’t want to see it.”

“Then,” Iruka sighed, thinking about this. “I suppose it’s not bad that I admit to the relationship.” Kotetsu patted Iruka’s back enthusiastically.

“There you go! Now, what’s with Kakashi?” Iruka shook his head.

“I have no idea.”

“I think he likes you .”

“Why would he like me?”

“Because you’re so adorable!” Iruka glared.

“I’m plain, dark-skinned, scarred, and not even close to Jounin level. I’m just a teacher on top of it all. I don’t think that’s adorable at all.”

“Well, Mizuki took interest, right?”

“I still don’t know why.” Kotetsu smiled.

“You’re more attractive than you think, Umino.” he said, reassuring him. “Now, I’ve got to go find Kakashi before he leaves.”

“Why are you and Izumo into everyone else’s business?”

“Not everyone’s, just other gay couples.”

“But why?”

“Because it’s fun!” he said, laughing. “Ja na.”

“Ja.” Iruka said, sighing. He didn’t understand it, and it seemed he wasn’t going to any time soon. He just hoped that Mizuki would come back soon and that perhaps they could talk about it. . . then again, maybe not. Mizuki was possessive and very, very jealous. If Mizuki thought that Kakashi was flirting with him, there would be major trouble for both of them. Mizuki would likely never leave Iruka alone, and Kakashi would never be allowed anywhere near them. Iruka sighed again, looking upward as if some divine power would pity him if he did.



**-**-**




"How was your week?" Mizuki asked, grumbling as he ate his diner. "Better than mine, I'm sure."

"It was okay, I guess. Lonely." Iruka admitted. A lot of time had passed since Mizuki had started to go to his parents, and they had been spending less and less time together. Right now, even though it was obvious that Mizuki was unhappy, Iruka appreciated the conversation. "Other than that, fairly uneventful."

"Well, at least there's that." he muttered. Iruka put a hand over Mizuki's, which was then thrown off by the other, angry man.

"What went wrong?"

"My parents have a wife for me."

"And?"

"As in I no longer have a choice in the matter."

"Haven't you talked to them about your orientation?"

"That's the reason I no longer have a choice." Mizuki growled, glaring at Iruka. "If I had just shut my mouth like I wanted to, this might have turned out better!" Iruka blinked.

"Well, whether it was now or later it was bound to come out sometime."

"Yes! But because all this shit was going on I'm not reduced to an arranged marriage! It's because you told me to tell them I was gay that I'm marrying that bitch!"

"You're blaming me??" Iruka exclaimed, anger building in him.

"Yes! I am!" Iruka stood up, glaring at the man in front of him. "What? Would you rather that I lie to you and say no?"

"I'd rather you not even blame me for something I had no control over! You didn't have to tell them! I said that you should, not that you had to!"

"And then have you yell at me for not telling them?"

"Until now, have I ever yelled at you?!" Iruka said, shouting. This act had gone on long enough. Mizuki was stressed, yes, and he had been the understanding boyfriend for nearly a three months. Everyday that Mizuki would come home, he'd complain that he just wanted to sleep, and Iruka understood that. However, it usually ended up the two of them fucking until all hours of the morning to let Mizuki relieve his stress. This week they hadn't seen each other at all, and now that they were having a quiet dinner together Mizuki had the nerve to blame his problems on Iruka! The brunette was on his last leg by this time, and was not going to be stepped on anymore.

"All the goddamned time! Your eyes are so fucking accusing!" Mizuki said, throwing his hashi down on his plate and glaring at Iruka.

"Fine, if my eyes are so accusing, then you won't have to deal with them." he said, walking out of the room and slamming the bedroom door shut. Mizuki sat there for a while, angry and uncaring. It wouldn't matter. Iruka was sure to be the one to break and apologize first. That's the way it had always been, and always would be. Iruka was such a softie, and Mizuki knew that the other man cared for him almost as much as he did. All Mizuki would have to do is wait, and Iruka would come out, eyes down cast and sorry. That's all.




TBC...


Notes:

(1): I don't quite know how to explain this one. It's common practice that if you're showing profound thanks you bow and lift the object over your head. This is also true when you receive a gift, as if to say that you are not worthy of the gift (literally you are beneath the gift). Many times it's not so formal, but you will see it happen quickly within an exchange. It's kind of a personal thing, so unless it's between friends you shouldn't do it very quickly or sloppily. You'll see this action done a lot in temples, too, with scriptures or books.

Ja/ Ja na: Bye/ See you later

Nanda: What's this?

Kore wa hon ka?: This is a book?

Nani: What?

Doshite: Why?

koi: short for koibito - lover, sweet heart

zasshi da: it's a magazine

Kio tsu kete: Take care, be careful (Usually said before someone leaves to go somewhere)

hashi: chopsticks


A/N: I'm sorry it took so long. I'm a busy person. ^^ I promise to get the chapters out as quickly as I possibly can!

Please rate and review!! ^___^

A Rose By Any Other Name



Five: The Second Rose







Sure enough, Iruka had come out the next morning with an apology and Mizuki readily accepted it. He apologized as well, though Iruka could tell that it wasn't realy sincere. It was all right, though. Mizuki was like that when he didn't think it was wrong. However, it was the gesture that he appreciated. That, and Mizuki had come back home with a present after work.

"A rose?" Iruka asked, smiling at the pure, white flower. "You really are a romantic at heart." Mizuki shrugged.

"I wouldn't say that, but I know how much you liked that first rose, so I thought I'd give you another." Iruka took the rose and smelled it. It lacked a fragrance, unlike the first one he had been given, but he had to admit this one was much more beautiful than the first. He figured it was one of those new breeds of rose, all beauty and no smell. It was fine. It was a present.

"Domo." Iruka said, leaning in to kiss Mizuki in thanks. Mizuki smirked and pulled Iruka in for a far more intense kiss than just 'thank you'. "Sheesh, eager?"

"Well I spent one night out of your favor. Of course I'm eager." Iruka made a pouty face at him.

"Did 'little Mizuki' not appreciate the fact I was angry with you?"

"Not at all." Mizuki said, laughing. Iruka smiled. This was the first time Mizuki had laughed in a long time, and he was happy. Maybe a little anger in the relationship was good: it made them appreciate each other that much more. "Can we make it up?"

"Maybe later. We have papers to grade before tomorrow." Mizuki sighed.

"Oh joy." Iruka laughed and went to put the rose in a vase. "Speaking of papers, I keep hearing things about Kakashi."

"So have I." Iruka said, knowing exactly where this is going.

"Is he really flirting with you?"

"No, I just happen to be in charge of his team's paperwork, and he talks to anyone who gives him paperwork." Mizuki nodded.

"That is true. What does he talk to you about?"

"He usually asks me what the mission is, or I ask him about his last one. He usually asks how Izumo and Kotetsu are regarding their persistence about us, and that's about it."

"Nothing too personal?"

"Not really. A few times he's asked about you, but it's nothing really." Mizuki visably still didn't like the idea. "You're not going to get all possessive, are you? He's harmless." Mizuki looked back at Iruka, deadpan.

"Koi, are you calling Konoha's White Fang harmless?" Iruka had to laugh at the irony.

"Well, yes, I am, but that's not the point." he said, putting the rose and vase on the kitchen table. "I'm honestly not picking up anything from him, and even if I was I'm not interested." Mizuki wrapped his arms arouns Iruka and kissed the man's lips.

"Arigato. I really like that." Iruka smiled and shrugged humbly.

"All I can do to help and stay faithful."







"What's this I heard about Mizuki getting a wife?" Kotetsu said one day, sitting down in the Hokage's office next to Iruka. "Are they really going to make him marry?"

"I. . . don't know." Iruka said honestly. "That was the verdict so far, but we have yet to see if anything chages.That was only round one."

"You think the Niseno's will change their minds?"

"Maybe, probably not." a voice said from in front of them. Iruka looked up to find Kakashi. "Sorry to eaves drop."

"It's fine." Iruka said, smiling. "You're here to pick up a mission?"

"Actually, I'm here to report something to you directly." Kakashi said, looking over to Kotetsu. The man politely excused himself and left the two alone. Iruka had a concerned look on his face.

"What is it?"

"I was approached by someone today."

"All right."

"And was threatened within an inch of my life to, quote, 'stay the fuck away from Iruka'." The brunette sighed.

"Mizuki."

"I know about the rumors, and I wouldn't doubt if they've gotten to him." Kakashi said, a calm anger present in his voice. "Has he spoken to you about this?"

"Yes, and I told him there was nothing. The only reason why any of this started was because I get your paperwork for missions. If it had been anyone else, the rumors probably would have been the same with the other person." Kakashi slightly scoffed, shaking his head.

"And that's why everyone thinks that about you." Iruka raised a questioning eyebrow. "That even though you're a Chunin, you're still very naive and innocent."

"What are you talking about?" Kakashi shrugged and turned around.

"Rumors always start from some sort of truth." he said, starting to leave, but Iruka stood up and grabbed the Jounin's arm before he could walk away.

"You did this before and just left me with something to think about." Iruka said, annoyance building in him. "I didn't appreciate the riddle. Will you just tell me what it is?" Kakashi looked at the Chunin's hand and then back to Iruka's eyes.

"You're intelligent."

"Apparently not that intelligent." Kakashi sighed and looked away.

"In essence, Mizuki beat me to the punch." Iruka's grip slackened.

"What?"

"I suppose it was only natural that he did, seeing that he was your best friend and all." the silver haired man muttered. "I had only known you from the Hokage's office." Iruka took his hand away and sat down at his desk.

"Why?"

"Why what?" Kakashi asked, looking back downward at him. "Why do I love you?"

"You can't even say that." Iruka said. "You don't know me, and you can't just proclaim love."

"Perhaps I can." Kakashi said. "Because perhaps I know you better than you think I do."

"How can that be?"

"I talk to you every time I get the chance. I talk to Mizuki about you, and anyone else who knows you well." he said, shaking his head. "I know you, and don't think that I don't." Iruka said nothing, only opened the file next to him and shuffled through papers. "I know that you're not experienced in the field of love, and that's why I like about you. You're not going into a relationship from physical need. You will genuinely care about that person. Do you know how rare that is in the shinobi community? It's almost impossible to find."

"And that's what attracts you to me?"

"Partially." Kakashi said. "There are other things as well." The Jounin turned around and started to walk away again. "It doesn't matter, anyway, I'm not here to take you from him. I'm just here to pick up missions." Iruka looked down at his hands, then handed Kakashi some paperwork.

"Anko requested these for the three of you." Kakashi grabbed the sheets and left without saying another word.





Iruka's heart slowly sank the rest of the day. He knew what it was like to be in Kakashi's position. After all, it wasn't until he was in his twenties that Mizuki had approached him, and of course Mizuki had been his first real relationship. All the others had been attractions from afar, and no one bothered to look Iruka's way. Not until now, he supposed, but that was a complete mystery. Maybe this whole thing was just big fat joke, and Kakashi had been messing with him the entire time, but. . . Iruka didn't want to believe it. He couldn't possibly. . .

"Koi?" Mizuki said, seeing Iruka spacing out as he walked home. "What's wrong?" Iruka snapped out of his day dream and shook his head.

"Gomen, ne. I'm really tired." Mizuki smiled.

"All right, as long as it's just that."

"The Sandaime wants me to start organizing his personal paperwork on the weekends now." The white haired man smiled.

"That's great! You'll be getting paid more, right?"

"Hai, but that means a lot of tiredness." he said. "I'm not going to have a lot of time to spend doing whatever I want. I still have to teach."

"True, but when you do have those moments you'll be able to do more things because you have the money." Iruka nodded.

"I suppose that's true." he said, smiling. "Let's just get home for now and rest. I'm bushed."

"Bushed? I thought you liked men!" Iruka glared and boped the other man gently on the head as he walked past him to get ready for bed. . . sleep.




Unbeknownst to the happy couple, a third party had heard the joke as well. Kakashi had been standing below the window of the split-level home and felt his heart crack. Yet, his face seemed cold and neutral as if that facade would protect him from himself. The Jounin looked at the thing in his hand and stuffed it in his vest. Another one gone. Another chance missed. He wondered how many more he would go through before he gave up?




TBC...


**-**-**


A/N: I know it's short, but I know it's got to be interesting!! ^^ I'm really liking how this is turning out!

Please rate and review!! ^___^

A Rose By Any Other Name


Six: Fade



"Okaeri." Iruka said, yawning. It was 3 in the morning and Mizuki had just come back home from another fight with his parents. Iruka had promised to wait up for him, even though it was Tuesday - scratch that, Wednesday - and the kids had shuriken practice the next day. . . and that would take quite some effort considering they were throwing sharp objects at each other.

"Nn." Mizuki said, grumbling. "Why did you stay up?"

"I promised I would."

"Yeah, but you need sleep. You're looking after the brats." Iruka sighed. Just from that tone he knew that the fight had still gone no where. Mizuki was still going to marry that other woman.

"Go ahead and take a bath. I'll just eat a soldier pill or something."

"Whatever." Mizuki said, slipping off his sandals and walking straight into the bathroom. Iruka didn't appreciate it, but he knew that this was the way that Mizuki was when he in a bad mood. He'd cheer up in the morning with all the kids.





"How are things at the academy?" the Sandaime asked, smiling at Iruka while they sat and drank some tea. "And Naruto?"

"It's fine, I suppose." Iruka said. "Naruto is such a trouble maker. I don't know how he's going to turn out." The Hokage smiled and nodded.

"I remember when I could say the same thing about you." Iruka laughed.

"I guess that's true."

"But I can't say that about Kakashi." Iruka furrowed his brows and looked at the Sandaime questionably.

"Kakashi?"

"I heard about the little incident in the office." he said honestly. "No one heard, but there's something going on between you two?"

"Nothing, sir." he stated. "It was a misunderstanding probably."

"Mizuki, then?" Iruka looked down at his tea.

"If I might just kindly ask if you would get to the point of the questions?" The old man laughed.

"Iruka, I'm just curious as to why you chose Mizuki?"

"He offered, and I didn't want to decline."

"How standard an answer." he said, smiling. "Do you love him?"

"I. . ." Iruka blushed a little. "Honestly. . . I. . . I don't know."

"You don't hate him, do you?"

"No! I've never hated him!" Iruka protested. The Sandaime nodded, leaning back in his chair and looking out over all of Konoha.

"I hope that you never will." he said, his smile fading from his face. Iruka didn't understand, but didn't bother to ask. There was probably a personal reason why he wasn't saying what he meant to say, and Iruka wasn't one to pry. "How is your relationship?"

"All right, but his parents have set him up with a wife." Iruka said. "We're trying to fight that now." The Hokage nodded.

"I see. He's been gone a lot, then?"

"Hai, almost everyday." Iruka didn't like this. Sure the Hokage had watched Iruka grow up and helped him form into the man he was today, but there was something about the Sandaime's eyes and seemed. . . calculating. He wasn't just asking out of curiosity. There was reason behind it.

"What do you do with all your spare time?"

"Hm?" Iruka asked, snapping out of his reverie.

"I mean with Mizuki gone, you must fill your time somehow."

"Oh," the brunette said, still dazed slightly. "I usually end up grading school work for the both of us or coming here to do extra work. I figure I'd be too bored at home." The Sandaime smiled.

"Wonderful. I was beginning to think that you took on this job simply because you weren't in a good situation." Iruka shook his head and smiled.

"Not at all! It's an honor to help you! I'm just glad that I have the time now." The old mand nodded and sipped his tea. To Iruka, the worry had gone away, and the man was simply concerned for his well being. However, the Sandaime was indeed calculating. Something was going on while Mizuki was away, and he hoped that Iruka had nothing to do with it. Originally, he had hoped that Kakashi had been his love interest, and Mizuki was simply a housemate, though that deteriorated quickly. Now, he was simply glad that Iruka was keeping himself on the straight and narrow. . . he only hoped that it would stay that way.




When Iruka got home after his lunch with the Hokage, he found that Mizuki was, again, not home. It hardly mattered now. He was used to Mizuki not coming home for hours on end, and then showing up without warning. What distubed him, however, was what he found on table, dead.

"Already?" Iruka said, taking the now-brown rose out of the vase and dumping out the water. It hadn't been two full days yet, and it had died almost instantly. He'd go out and buy another one, just so that Mizuki didn't find the dead one. Iruka thought that he'd feel badly if the rose had already died by the time he got back. He'd have to find a rose that was exactly like that one before he threw it out, and he was sure the the Yamanaka shop would be able to help him out with that. However, inside something bothered him about this dead rose, though he didn't know what. Maybe it had died because Mizuki hadn't been there? No, roses don't care who is there and who isn't. Why did it bother him?



"Kakashi-san?" Iruka asked, seeing the Jounin exiting the flower shop as he was entering it. The man smiled.

"Konbanwa. How are you?"

"Fine, I suppose." he said, feeling guilty. "You?"

"Could be worse off." he said. "Are you here to exchange that?" he asked jokingly. Iruka blushed.

"Uh, no. I'm trying to find a replacement of it."

"Naze?"

"For Mizuki." Iruka could see Kakashi's heart drop.

"I see. What kind of rose, do you know?"

"Just that it was white." Kakashi laughed softly to himself.

"That's funny."

"What?"

"He had the gall to give you a white rose in his situation." Iruka blinked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kakashi shook his head.

"Nothing. Good luck with that. And thank you for the paperwork earlier. Anko appreciated it." the man said, bowing. "Sayonara."

"Ja ne." Iruka said, just walking into the shop. What was Kakashi saying? Why did it always have to be riddles?

"Irasshaimase!" the youngest Yamanaka, Ino, said, waving to her sensei. "Konbanwa, Iruka-sensei!" Iruka smiled.

"Konbanwa. How's your leg?" he asked. Ino had gotten scratched by a shuriken the other day and had been out the next day to heal.

"I'm fine! Aw, who's flower is that?" she asked, looking sad at the crumpled up rose.

"Mine, and I'm looking to replace it."

"I'll find it for you." she said, getting up and taking the flower from his hands, walking straight over to the roses and picking one out. "It's so sad."

"What's sad?"

"I've never replaced a rose before, but Kaasan says it's sad."

"Why is that?"

"You left one for another." she said. "Roses have feelings too." Iruka looked at the flower and then at the new one that was in Ino's hand. He smiled.

"Never mind, then. I'll take this one back home." Ino smiled and handed the dead one back to her teacher.

"Okay! Oyasumi nasai, sensei!"

"Oyasumi."





TBC...



**-**-**



Notes:

Okaeri: welcome home

Naze: why? (it's another way to say 'why')

Irasshaimase: Welcome (to the store). It's always said to customers upon arrival.



** As a side note, in case it was too sublte, when Kakashi says goodbye to Iruka, he uses the formal term 'sayonara', while Iruka uses the familiar term 'ja'. This is because Kakashi is alienating himself from Iruka, more formal because they are no longer "close" to one another, or cannot be "close". Iruka doesn't want that, and uses the familiar parting as if nothing had ever changed. . . truly naive.


A/N: I really should be reading Theogany, Genesis, and Chapter 2 of my drama text, but I'm in the middle of a fire drill at my dorms, and I can't access those books right now X3. At least that's my excuse. . . >_<

PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW!!!

A Rose By Any Other Name




Seven: Burried




"Iruka! What happened?!" Anko said, seeing Iruka holding an ice patch to his face. They were supposed to go out for that evening to the bar and catch up, but now she wasn't so sure. "Oh my god! That bruise!"

"It's nothing." Iruka said, smiling. It looks worse than it is."

"What happened?"

"I fell."

"Fell? What the fuck kinda fall was that?"

"I slipped in the bathroom and my face landed on the edge of the tub."

"Ouch! You're really not a slick ninja."

"No, I suppose I'm not." Iruka said, laughing. "The swelling went down at least."

"Thank goodness for that." she said, peering around the ice to see the bruise. "Damn, you banged yourself good."

"It's nothing, really." he said. "Let's go." Anko nodded and started jabbering away at the missions and events that Iruka had been missing out because of his work, but the Chunin hardly noticed. He was much more concerned about his bruise.

Mizuki had been annoyed beyond reason, and when Iruka had announced that he wasn't going to be home until late because he was going to dinner with Anko, the white haired man had begun to argue. It was fine until Iruka started yelling too, and then Mizuki had thrown the punch. The bruise had instantly formed, and there had been a cut that was bleeding too. That's what stopped the argument. Mizuki walked away, shocked at what had happened, and Iruka just stood there dazed. It was almost as if he hadn't realized he had been hit and the throbbing pain was a mystery. Iruka had slowly touched the purple patch and then let out the breath that he had been holding this entire time. Had. . . Mizuki actually. . . hit him?




"OI!" Genma shouted, calling Anko and Iruka over to the bar. "I'M BUYIN' YER DRNK!" Anko nearly bounced over there and sat at the stool to order. Iruka just sighed and found his seat next to Anko. " 'Ruka, wu happened to yer face?"

"The smart one, here, slipped and fell on his tub." Anko said, laughing. Iruka smiled sheepishly.

"That's why I'm still a Chunin." Genma and the others started to laugh, and Iruka put on an embarrassed face for them. In fact, he really didn't want to be there at the moment. He wanted to be alone somewhere, maybe even cry. This didn't seem like the best night for him.

"So, Iruka," Raido said, holding up Genma from passing out. "What's been new with you?"

"Nothing, really. The kids are a handful."

"Kids?! You adopted?!?" Genma asked, bewildered in his drunken state.

"No, I mean the academy kids."

"Oh. . ."

"It's okay. I like teaching, but it's very scheduled. There's not a lot of downtime especially with the exit exams coming up."

"Better than us." Raido said, sighing. "I haven't had work in a month and I'm reduced to living off of Top Ramen for the time being." Iruka laughed.

"That's better than what I was living off of. I had instant oatmeal for a month while I was taking the teacher exams."

"Oatmeal?"

"Three meals a day."

"Egh. That's gross."

"Mizuki thought so too that day he got beat up by Kotetsu."

"Oh, you saw that?" Kotetsu said, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry."

"It's no big deal. He just was totally wasted and bloody on my door step. I felt bad because all I had was nasty oatmeal." They all laughed at the forgotten situation.

"Where is Niseno anyway? I've been meaning to have a talk with him." Ibiki said, serious as always.

"Yeah, he was supposed to come with us, right?" Anko said, a little tipsy already. Iruka shook his head.

"He couldn't make it. Family issues."

"Oh, it's that woman, right?" Anko asked. "You know who she is?"

"Nope. I haven't met her. Apparently she's from a good family, though." Iruka said, lying through his teeth and stabbing his own heart. The topic had been coming up a lot reently, and it was harder and harder to keep up a good face while he tore away himself. "He doesn't want to marry her." Genma laughed.

"Yea. Bet 'er boobs rn't bigenough." he said, laughing and then falling over, taking an off guard Raido with him. "Oops, sury." Iruka smiled. At least Genma was amusing. Maybe he needed to indulge himself a little and let go of his problems. Heck, it was better than brooding.





When Iruka left the bar he was a little more than tipsy. Anko decided to have a shots contest with Iruka, and the teacher decided that he'd accept. They all started betting and surrounded the two, thinking that Iruka would be down after one or two shots. However, Iruka's system proved to be much more than just tolerant to alcohol. After twelve shots, Anko had passed out and Iruka was just leaning on the back of his chair, drinking one more shot slowly than Anko. All of them except Izumo lost money to that.

Iruka didn't really mind that he was drunk. The bruise didn't hurt much, and he felt deliriously happy. His worries were at a minimum, and he was sure that Mizuki was either fast asleep or not there at all. Nothing really mattered, and the next day was a Sunday. No students. No papers. No tests. He thought maybe he should start drinking more often.

"Tadaima." Iruka said, taking off his shoes and closing the door behind him.

"Okaerimasu." a voice shouted. Iruka raised an eyebrow. That wasn't Mizuki's voice. It was a woman. Iruka walked down the hallway and looked into the kitchen area where the light was shining. The woman was very plain-looking, with a long, black braid falling down her back. "Are you Umino-san?"

"Nn," Iruka said, the light hurting his eyes a little. "Who are you?"

"My name is Tsubaki." she said, blushing. "I'm sorry I used your kitchen. Mizuki was supposed to come back some hours ago."

"Your his fiancé then?" Iruka said, depressed. She nodded, smiling.

"Then you are Mizuki's lover." she said. "I'm sorry for all the trouble." Iruka shook his head.

"It's all right. I'm sure you didn' ask for it either."

"Actually. . . I did." Iruka looked at her confused. "I was the one who asked to be married to Mizuki." He looked away.

"I see." Tsubaki gasped.

"What happened to your cheek?" she said.

"I. . ." Iruka stopped. "I fell and hit myself. It's nothing."

"But you should put something on it." Iruka shook his head.

"It's all right. Will you be staying the night, then?"

"Likely. I don't live close to here." He nodded.

"You can have the bed. I'll sleep on the couch." he said, leaving the room so that she could not protest in the modest way he knew she would. She would be a good wife someday.





The next morning, Iruka woke with a start. He woke up in strange surroundings until he remembered that he was only in his living room. It seemed that Tsubaki and Mizuki had left earlier that morning, and Tsubaki had left him a note saying that she had made his breakfast and a hang over cure if he needed it. Iruka tossed the note and sat down to make himself some food. He appreciated her kindness, but at the same time. . .

That's when he noticed something wrong about the dining table. There were field flowers in place of where the dead rose had been. Iruka looked for the flower, finding it in the trash can beside the sink. Tsubaki likely had been the one to throw it out and find new ones. She just thought she was helping. Still, the brunette clutched the stem of the withered rose and wished that she hadn't even touched it.

After a few long moments, Iruka threw it out of the window into the garden. There was no place for it anymore.


Kakashi was again outside, this time there for a purpose. He had brought a healing creme for Iruka's bruise, which he had seen at the bar the evening before. He had overheard Iruka's story, but didn't believe it. Somehow, Iruka just seemed too sad about the bruise for it to have been a fall. Kakashi figured something must have gone wrong between Iruka and Mizuki, and he didn't like it. The silver haired man decided to confront Iruka about it. . . until he saw the rose thrown away and Iruka's face contort in pain. More than anything at that moment, Kakashi wanted to go in there and comfort the man, but he knew that it was not his place, and likely Iruka did not want it right then. Kakashi decided that this wasn't a good time, and just left the tube of creme in the mailbox with a note.


For the bruise.
-Kakashi






TBC...




**-**-**


Notes:

Tadaima: I'm home.

Okaerimasu: a formal form of 'okaeri' (welcome home)



A/N: Sorry I didn't update for Saturday! I worked 2 difference jobs from 9 am to 10:30 pm, so I didn't get a chance to write or post I'm still tired. I'm going to sleep after this.

Please RATE and REVIEW!!! ^______^

A Rose By Any Other Name




Eight: Forget





The bruise had gone away a few days after Iruka had found the creme in the mailbox. He had burned the note, hoping that Mizuki wouldn't notice that the unused ashtray Iruka had out of courtesy had been used recently. He wasn't sure if the man would or not, seeing that Mizuki was hardly ever home, but it still bothered him. What if Mizuki asked? What would he say? Iruka didn't smoke, and the only ones who did weren't welcome in the house according to Mizuki. Would he tell the truth and have Kakashi in trouble? He doubted that Kakashi wouldn't be able to handle the situation, but he didn't want to put the Jounin in a pinch still.

That's when it occurred to him. How did Kakashi know about the bruise anyway?

He heard the garden outside rustle.

"Who's there?" Iruka said, sighing and walking to the window. Since he had started teaching, there were a few trouble makers, including Naruto, who would vandalize his home or leave bugs to destroy the garden. The Chunin stuck his head out of the window and started searching for the culprit. However, it wasn't a student he found.

"Yo." someone said. Iruka looked down, finding a pug looking up at him. "You're Umino Iruka, yeah?"

"H-hai." he said, confused. "Who are you?"

"Pakkun. I'm here on an errand for Kakashi." Iruka sighed. Wonderful.

"Well, what does he want?"

"I'm to ask you about what really happened to your face." he said. "No lies. I can smell if you're lying."

"Why does he want to know?"

"Look, I've learned not to ask Kakashi about that anymore. If you want to know that, ask him."

"Do you know at least why he didn't come here himself?"

"He said he didn't want to get you into trouble with Niseno, whoever that is." Iruka smiled and nodded.

"That's fine."

"So, mind answering?" Iruka face dropped.

"Mizuki and I got into a very heated argument, and he hit me."

"What sort of argument?"

"He didn't like the fact that I was going out with some friends for the evening." Pakkun nodded.

"Is there anything else?" Iruka thought about it, and then nodded slowly.

"Yes, actually. I wanted to thank him for the medicine. Tell him that he's free to come over anytime today. I'd like to have him over for ocha." Pakku raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Is it safe?"

"Mizuki won't be home today, and I don't think I'd care if he was anyway." he stated. "Whenever he has time, he's free to come over." Pakkun nodded and sighed.

"He'll be here shortly, I'm sure." he said, and then disappeared. Iruka smiled and then shut the window. He wasn't ready to have company over by any stretch of the imagination, but it felt nice to know that he wasn't just going to sit around all day. He was going to get the house cleaned for a guest, and he even though he actually did care if Mizuki knew or not Iruka felt that if he at least pretended it would be a start.






"Domo," Kakashi said, taking the tea from Iruka. "So, Pakkun told me about the–" He pointed to his own cheek to indicate the wound. "I'm sorry." Iruka shook his head.

"No, it's all right. It was a mistake."

"Has he apologized to you yet?"

"Honestly, I haven't seen him." Iruka said, "Not since he hit me." Kakashi sipped his tea, but was slightly angry at Mizuki. "I met his fiancé."

"When?"

"After I came back from the bar Saturday." he said. "Mizuki had brought her here and hadn't come back for quite a few hours."

"Why did he bring her here?"

"I don't know, honestly. I think she might have just come on her own accord." he said, a little sad. Strangely, Iruka didn't feel that he needed to save face for Kakashi. "She was the one who wanted to marry Mizuki."

"She told you?" Kakashi asked. Iruka nodded. "I see."

"It was just unexpected, that's all."

"He still shouldn't have kept her here." Iruka shrugged.

"If he wasn't expecting her, what else could he have done? She doesn't live close to here."

"He could have sent her away or taken her directly home."

"Maybe." Iruka said. Kakashi sighed.

"You're far too nice." he said, lifting the handkerchief to eat a cookie. Iruka raised an eyebrow.

"You eat with a mask on?"

"Well, yes I do."

"Why?" he asked. Kakashi smiled.

"Do you want to see?" Iruka blushed.

"It's not that." he said. "I'm sure there are reasons, but it's just funny that you'd have it on all the time." Kakashi laughed.

"That's very true. I do have my reasons, and it is funny that I have it on all the time." he said, pulling the cloth down a little, his nose peeking out. "That's as much as anyone has seen." Iruka stared at the slender feature. Though Kakashi was not tan by any means, there was a definite line that had formed from the mask. The skin was so pale, almost translucent, yet, there was a tiny scar that ran up the side of it. It looked helpless, marred forever on his skin, and Iruka couldn't help but reach over and gently touch it. Kakashi flinched at the touch.

"I'm sorry." Iruka said, recalling his hand. "I'm really sorry." Kakashi just put up his mask again.


"It's nothing." he said. "Bad memories." Iruka looked away, ashamed. "Don't worry about it. I'm just not used to people touching my face."

"I shouldn't have anyway. I invaded your personal space." Kakashi smiled.

"Let's just forget the whole thing happened."

"Hai." Iruka said, though inside he didn't want to. For that brief moment that he felt Kakashi's soft skin, Iruka felt happy and curious, confused and sad. He liked that feeling.

"You've been busy with exams?" Kakashi said, changing the subject.

"The preparations anyway." he said. "This week is study week, and the kids only have one teacher watching over them the entire day. I don't really go in until Friday."

"I see. That's why you're free today?"

"Yeah, otherwise I'd be stressing over work."

"And the Hokage's office?"

"The Sandaime has been giving me time off. He says I need to start thinking."

"About what?" Iruka shook his head.

"I'm not sure." he said honestly. "I think it may have something to do with Mizuki, though."

"What makes you say that?"

"He asked about him about two weeks ago, and there was something that was off."

"Off?"

"He was thinking too hard." Kakashi smiled.

"He's always thinking too hard."

"I suppose that's true, but it just seemed. . . strange." Kakashi nodded.

"Maybe he's just looking out for you?"

"Maybe." Iruka answered, looking out the window then smirking. "I guess I am just stupid and naivé." Kakashi put a hand over Iruka's. The brunette looked back at the Jounin.

"Don't think about it too hard. It'll come to you." Iruka nodded and felt his hand twitch. He wanted to lace his fingers with Kakashi's and hold on to the connection. However, Kakashi took away his hand before Iruka could think about it more, and he felt the twinge of regret for not doing something. He had all but forgotten about Mizuki, and knew that he was a horrible person for wanting to keep Kakashi there longer. Iruka knew it wasn't right to cheat, and he wouldn't, but. . . how he wanted to. "Iruka-sensei?" Iruka snapped out of his reverie.

"Hm?" Kakashi smiled.

"I tell you not to think, and you do it anyway." Iruka laughed and scratched the back of his head.

"I'm sorry. It's hard to not think when you're told not to." Kakashi nodded and smiled.

"Maybe I could help you with that?" he asked, reaching over and quickly capturing Iruka's lips into a kiss.

Something fell off the low table and spilled onto the floor, but Iruka didn't notice it. Through the cloth, the Chunin could feel Kakashi's wishes to lengthen and deepen the kiss, but also the reigns that were holding the Jounin back from doing what he wanted. Iruka closed his eyes and let himself drown in the feelings; Kakashi's hand stroking his cheek, their shallow breaths mixing in the small space between their parted lips, and the tears. . . tears?

Iruka pulled away and looked at the man in front of him. There were tears in the blue and red eyes falling onto Iruka's face. Kakashi's eyes were heavy with saddness and longing, and Iruka could do nothing but stare at them.

"You stopped thinking." Kakashi whispered, then backed off and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

The Chunin just sat there, dumbfounded and confused, but he couldn't think. It was almost like he forgot how to think. He was glad that Mizuki was probably not going to come home for a while. He wasn't sure if he could face the other man at that moment.






TBC...



**-**-**


Notes:

ocha: Green tea



A/N: Another short one, I know, but I think you need to digest that little bit of emotion for a while.

Please rate and review.

A Rose By Any Other Name




Nine: Cheater's Guilt





"What the fuck?!" Mizuki yelled, throwing his hands down on the table, causing the wood to crack. "Why was he over here?!"

"I invited him, first of all." Iruka said, trying to stay calm. "You were gone, and I needed to cool my head before I started talking to you about Tsubaki-san."

"What about her?" Mizuki demanded. "What the fuck is wrong with you? I never want you to speak with him again!"

"What are you, my mother?" Iruka said, glaring. "I simply wanted company, and Kakashi was available. Nothing happened other than we talked and drank some tea."

"As if I fucking believe you." Mizuki said, walking away. "He probably asked to come over so that he could fuck you."

"What are you talking about?!" the brunette shouted, standing up as well. "Where are you getting these ideas? Do you not trust me?!"

"No, actually, I don't." Mizuki said, throwing something at Iruka. He dodged it and saw that it was a glass cup that Mizuki had been drinking from not two seconds earlier. "You're a lying cheat! I can't trust you anymore! Why would you invite someone who's interested in you to my home and then socialize with him while I'm not here?!"

"First of all, this isn't your house. It's legally mine. Second, I could say the same thing about you with Tsubaki! What was she doing here anyway? And why were you gone for so long? She had been here for so long that she had to use my kitchen to find something to eat!! What were you doing all this time?!?"

"Is that any of your business?"

"Of course it is! You leave your guest alone in the house with nothing to do, and you just keep disappearing! How do I know that you're not into trouble? I don't! I just trust that you're okay and that you're going to come home sometime so that we can go and teach!" Mizuki's temper had been paper thin, and now it was ripped to shreds. Again, the white haired man threw a punch, but this time he didn't stop. Iruka blocked a few of them, but Mizuki was moving too fast for him to dodge all of them.

Punch after punch, Iruka tried to talk some sense into Mizuki, but the other man was too far gone for that now. All he knew was his anger, and Mizuki was going to take out that anger the only way he knew how: fighting. Finally, Iruka got the chance to punch back, which resulted in Mizuki stumbling backward and gasping for breath, the wind knocked completely out of him. Iruka was out of breath, and leaned up against the chair behind him to keep himself up. He did not pitty Mizuki and his state. In fact, it only seemed deserving that the man could not breath and yell anymore. Once Iruka caught his breath, he walked into the bedroom and locked the door, barricading himself until morning.




"Okay, if you say that you fell on your tub again, I'm gonna give you a bunch of carpet for your bathroom floor." Anko said, grabbing Iruka's face and inspecting it thuroughly. "You didn't manage to get yourself on a mission, did you?"

"No," Iruka said, taking her hand off his face. "I got into a fight."

"With who?"

"Mizuki." Anko looked worried. "What?"

"He hit you? Why?"

". . . It's a long story, and one that I don't really want to tell right now." Anko put her hands on her hips and glared at Iruka.

"I'm gonna kick his ass if he lays another finger on you." Iruka smiled and waved it off.

"Don't worry. I knocked the wind out of him." Anko smirked.

"That's my boy!" she said. "He doesn't do this often, does he?" Iruka shook his head, lying.

"No, this is the first time." he said. "I'm hoping these will go away before the exams. It's already embarrassing going to class with all these silly injuries."

"Well, I know of this great creme that will help."

"I have that. I used it last night."

"Oh, okay." she said, concerned. "Have they gotten better?"

"Well, actually yes."

"My god! How hard did he hit you?!" she shouted. Iruka cringed.

"Not so loud." he said. She put a hand over her mouth.

"Sorry." she said. "But seriously! How hard did he hit you?"

"It. . . wasn't that bad." he said. "It looks worse than it was."

"Still. . . " Anko sighed. "Well, I'm glad that at least you hit back." Iruka smiled and nodded.

"Thanks, I guess." Anko smiled and patted his shoulder.

"So! Ready to take on academy brats?" Iruka sighed dejectedly.

"Of course not." Anko laughed.







That evening, Iruka took an extra shift at the Hokage's office, simply because he did not want to go home. The Sandaime heard of the incident and allowed for the extra, unpaid shift. For that, Iruka was most thankful. He didn't know what he'd do with himself for hours if he had to go home.

"Damn, Iruka." Genma said, seeing how much work was piled up and done on Iruka's desk. "Are you on a super soldier pill or something?" Iruka looked up from his rapid stamping, confused.

"Huh?"

"You're already into tomorrow's paperwork." he said. "You won't have anything to do tomorrow if you keep that up." Iruka looked down at searched for the date. Indeed, the numbers indicated that he was already into Thursday's paperwork.

"Oh. I hadn't noticed." Iruka said, stopping and searching for the other packets with the same date. Genma sat down in front of Iruka and tossed him a stack of papers.

"Okay, what's with you?" Genma asked, chewing on his senbon. "I know your work ethic is sickeningly ridiculous, but this goes beyond that. Plus, you're not even getting paid for this. What's up?" Iruka just shrugged. "I heard Mizuki hit you, and you can't start to deny that." he said, looking at the multitude of spots on Iruka's face and arms.

"He did."

"Is that why you're still here? You don't want to face him?"

"He's probably not home anyway." Iruka said, putting away Thursday's papers and taking the stack Genma gave him. "It wouldn't matter if I went home now or later."

"Okay, then you don't want to go to the place where you got hit?" Genma suggested. Iruka looked up, giving him a look. "I'm not saying it makes sense, but people are like that."

"No, I just wanted to stay a little longer."

"Iruka, it's an hour until closing. I hardly think that's a little longer." Iruka sighed.

"I just need to forget about things for a while. If I'm working, I can forget." Genma looked sternly at Iruka.

"Umino," he began. "If you ever need a place to stay, we're all here for you. I'm serious. If Mizuki ever hurts you again, I swear we'll all be there to beat his ass down for you."

"I appreciate the offer–"

"And if you think for a second that it makes you look weak, you're wrong. This," he said, picking up Iruka's bruised arm. "Makes you look weak." Iruka looked at his arm, seeing the purple and green patches covering the brown skin. He took his arm away.

"I know." he said, looking down. "I'm not going to go home, tonight."

"Where will you go?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I'll find some place." Iruka said, smiling. "Maybe I'll stay here and sleep on my paperwork." Genma shook his head, but smiled.

"All right, Iruka, I'll let you off. But you'd better find a place better than this dump." he said, looking at the office. Iruka agreed. He knew where he wanted to go, too, he just wasn't sure if he'd be welcome or not.






Iruka found his way to Kakashi's apartment, though he hardly knew how. He had only been there once, and he had forgotten the address. However, the brunette found his way there is if he had been going to the apartment for years. It was just starting to sprinkle, and the clouds coming in looked threatening. So much for the "I'll just sleep in the park if he doesn't let me in" idea.

"Umino!" Kakashi said, shocked to see him at his door. "Oh my god, what happened to you?!"

"Just, I wanted to apologize."

"For what? You did nothing."

"I think. . . I hurt you." Iruka said, looking away. "I don't know how, but I think I did." Kakashi looked around and put an arm around Iruka.

"Let's get you inside before you soak yourself." he said. Iruka stopped him.

"I know this is rude of me–"

"I'm keeping you here for the night. I don't want you to go back to Mizuki until you're healed." Iruka smiled.

"I didn't want to go back anyway." Kakashi looked at the bruised man sadly.

"Stay as long as you like."




The next morning the rain hadn't stopped. Kakashi didn't bother to wake Iruka for work, and called in for him. Thankfully, Genma was the one who picked up the phone at the Hokage's office and didn't even ask for a reason. He already knew Iruka was in no state to teach or work. He offered to take Iruka's place at the academy the next day, too, if Iruka was still not well. Kakashi thanked him, and said he'd call again if Genma was needed.

The Jounin couldn't sleep that night, and spent his time watching over Iruka. The man wasn't critically injured, but the wounds on his body made Kakashi sick. These bruises were from someone who supposedly loved Iruka.

No, Mizuki didn't love Iruka. That much he knew. Mizuki didn't care if he hit Iruka or not. However, Iruka. . . did he actually love Mizuki? Kakashi didn't know what the exchange was about, but he was sure that Iruka hadn't fought back. Typical, he supposed. Iruka was always the innocent one. He wouldn't hurt Mizuki. It wasn't in him.

A few times, Kakashi saw a tear fall from Iruka's eyes, though he didn't know from what. His dreams didn't seem haunting, but still the tears would come. Each time Kakashi would gently reach over and wipe the droplets away and wish that there was something he could do to help the man. However, it seemed that he was doomed to sit back and watch, for he knew if he got too close to Iruka, the Chunin would face the consequences when Mizuki found out. He was sure that Iruka's injuries were to be blamed on him.

"Mn," Iruka moaned waking up sore. "Mornin'." he said, the light hurting his eyes.

"Afternoon, actually." Kakashi said. Iruka shot straight up.

"Afternoon?! Crap, I'm late!" he said trying to get out of bed. Kakashi put hands to Iruka's shoulders and pushed him back down.

"Don't worry. I called in for you already. Genma's taking your shift, and he offered to teach for you tomorrow too if you needed the time." Iruka relaxed a little, but looked up at Kakashi.

"That won't be necessary. I should have gone in today–"

"Not with your bruises."

"I did yesterday."

"And I'm sure people were asking about them." Iruka looked away. "Don't be afraid to rest. It's good for you." The brunette looked up at Kakashi, who looked like he hadn't seen sleep in weeks.

"I think you need it more than I do." Iruka said, touching Kakashi's covered cheek, right under his eye. "When was the last time you slept?"

"Two nights ago."

"Then I should be the one saying 'rest it's good for you.'" he said, smiling. Kakashi chuckled.

"I suppose."

"Go ahead and sleep. Mind if I use your shower?"

"What's mine is yours to use." Kakashi said, taking off his hiai-ate and vest. He had planned to go places, but. . . "Actually," he started. "Would you mind staying here?" Iruka blushed.

"Nani?" he asked. Kakashi shook his head.

"Nevermind. It doesn't matter." he said, ruffling Irukas hair and getting on the other side of the bed to take off his shirt. "Go take a shower. The fresh towels are under the sink." Iruka nodded and left, though he thought he saw Kakashi frown from underneath his mask. That's when he decided that he would need to repay Kakashi for his kindness. . . somehow.




Kakashi's dreams were always filled with nightmares, and this dream was no different. He always saw Obito, then Rin, and then Yondaime. However, this time he saw Iruka's face, covered in gashes and blood. Mizuki had taken Iruka captive in his own home and beaten him mercilessly simply because he had seen Kakashi. Now that Kakashi had found the Chunin, he could do nothing to save him. . . just like everyone else. Kakashi was too late. And Kakashi was the problem. And Kakashi was the cause. . . And Kakashi could do nothing but sit and watch.

The Jounin woke up and sat upright, the image of Iruka's mutilated body too intense for him to bare. Yet, unlike all the other nights where he would wake up with only his dreams to face, Kakashi found another body lying with him in his small apartment bed. The Chunin had propped himself up against the headrest and had been napping on and off with the exhausted Jounin.

"Dreams?" Iruka asked, his eyes open without sleep. Kakashi shook his head, confused.

"Haa." he said. "What are you–"

"You were fighting in your sleep." Iruka explained. "I didn't know if it happened often, and I thought maybe it would comfort you not to be so alone. It seemed that way, anyway. You stopped shifting so much."

"If Mizuki ever found out–"

"He won't."

"You're a horrible liar, Iruka. What are you going to tell him when he asks where you were?"

"I. . . don't know." Iruka said, truthfully. "I'll probably say I went to the park or something."

"In this rain?" Iruka shrugged. Kakashi sighed at his reaction. "I don't want you to get hurt when you can't lie to Mizuki."

"Then why did you let me in?"

"There's a difference between staying at someone's house and sleeping with them." Iruka had to smile at that.

"I suppose you're right."

". . . Though. . ." Kakashi began, sadly, awkwardly trying to say something. "Thank you." Iruka blinked in confusion. "It was nice not waking up alone." The Chunin nodded.

"I know the feeling." he said, holding his arm. "I never thought I'd say this, but I really miss waking up with someone."

"Why do you say that? You've been living with Mizuki."

"But he's hardly been there for the last two months or so. If he's there for breakfast it's amazing." Kakashi looked away, hurt and worried.

"Iruka, may I ask you something personal?"

"Anything. Go ahead."

". . . Do you love Mizuki?" Iruka looked away.

"What difference would it make if I did or didn't?"

"I don't want you getting hurt."

"It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

"And I regret that I didn't do anything to stop it!" Kakashi shouted, his chest tightening. "I thought that maybe I should stay away from you and that you'd be safe, that maybe it was my fault. Then you went to that bar with the bruise. . . Just because you wanted to enjoy yourself." Kakashi looked back at Iruka, who was still not facing the Jounin. "I don't care if you don't want me, but at least let me help you get away from him. I don't want you showing up next time on my doorstep almost dead."

"Why would you help someone you hardly know?" Iruka asked, tears welling up in his eyes, threatening to fall at any moment. Kakashi made him face something he didn't want to, and the reality had been dropped through the paper thin barrier that Iruka had kept it hidden away. Honestly, no, he did not love Mizuki. . . at least he thought he didn't. No, no. He didn't love Mizuki, and Mizuki did not love Iruka anymore. . . Did he ever? Why did Mizuki embark on this relationship? Iruka didn't want to think about it anymore.

"Those reasons don't matter if you don't return those feelings." Kakashi said, getting up. "There's no need to state the obvious." Iruka grabbed Kakashi's arm and pulled him back into the bed, using his free hand to tear down the mask and kiss the man. Though it threw the man off, Kakashi pushed away and covered his face, then looked down at Iruka whose eyes were watery.

"I don't care if you love me, or if you don't love me." Iruka muttered. "But stop just turning away. I hate it when you hide." Kakashi, slowly lowered his hand and let Iruka see his face in its entirety. Iruka was amazed to find that there was not a single scar or mark on the pale face in front of him. . . simply pure, soft skin. Kakashi was. . . beautiful.

"Then I won't hide." Kakashi breathed, barely a whisper escaping his lips. "I'm. . . I'm sorry." he said, closing his eyes. Iruka brushed the skin that hadn't been seen by anyone in years and felt Kakashi relax into the touch. Iruka felt the scar he had seen before, barely noticeable in this light, and this time Iruka was the one who flinched. He felt that that certain area was something Kakashi didn't want him to touch, but Kakashi only took Iruka's hand and brushed his fingers across it again. "I got this scar when I tried to save my best friend." Kakashi said. "I didn't make it in time."

"Kakashi. . ." Iruka whispered.

"Then Rin died. . . and my sensei, the Yondaime." Kakashi still hadn't opened his eyes. "And after that I decided that I wouldn't care anymore. There wasn't anyone else who was worth the heartache and worry. I didn't have to worry about anyone being weak, or who went on a mission, or who didn't come back home. All I had was myself, and that's all I needed. Then you came along." he said, pressing his cheek into Iruka's hand. "Mizuki told me about you, how sweet and naive you were, how much you wanted to be a teacher. The more I learned about you, the more I wanted to meet you, and when I did. . ." Kakashi looked deeply into Iruka's eyes. "I didn't know what to do. For the first time in my life I didn't know what I wanted or why. All I knew was that I wished that you would see me as more than just Hatake Kakashi. It was irrational. Why would I go and put myself into the same emotional pains I had avoided all these years?" Kakashi put a hand to Iruka's trembling face. "And the only conclusion was that I loved you. I loved the fact that you were content and happy with your life. You had obvious faults, and I loved those too. I was so happy that you were a teacher because you would never face death on a daily basis. I would never have to constantly worry if you were dying or not."

"Why are you saying–"

"I promised I wouldn't hide from you." Kakashi interrupted. "And I keep my promises."

More tears fell from Iruka's eyes as he hugged and kissed the man in front of him. He couldn't ask for more than that.




TBC...



**-**-**


A/N: Please rate and review.

A Rose By Any Other Name



Ten: The Exit Exams







"I'm sorry, Naruto. I can't let you pass." Iruka said, not looking at the boy who reminded him so much of himself. Mizuki was there beside Iruka, and had to come to the same conclusion. Naruto's world shattered, that much of obvious, but there was nothing that Iruka could do to help the boy. He didn't study, never practiced, and didn't have anyone to make him either. All Iruka could do was fail him and hope that it would motivate Naruto to progress for the next time they held the exit exams, though it broke his heart to see the boy run out of the room like that. Iruka sighed.

"So, where have you been?" Mizuki asked, packing up his exam papers and putting them in a folder. "You haven't been coming home lately." Iruka shrugged.

"Here and there."

"Where?" he demanded, glaring. Iruka simply stared back, blank.

"I don't believe that I have to tell you that information." he said. "And I would kindly ask you to pack up your belongings this afternoon. I'd like you evicted by this evening." Mizuki snarled.

"You're breaking up with me?"

"Yes, I am." The white haired man slammed his papers onto the table, grabbing the front of Iruka's vest and pulling him into his face.

"You think you can just kick me out of your life? Well, you're wrong." he spat. Iruka just stood there, unmoving. "I'll leave your house, fine. But I swear, I'll never let you go to anyone else. You'll regret it." Iruka blinked once, uncaring.

"Are you finished?" Mizuki was taken back. This was very unlike Iruka to just take it and be rude right back. The man then shoved Iruka back into his chair and left with his work, slamming the door on his way out. Iruka smiled to himself, a humble pride settling in his eyes. He was sad and angry, but happy and thankful. . . He'd done it. He had broken off the relationship. It was time for a celebration, but first his students. They were to be congratulated first.




Everyone was outside being congratulated and presented with gifts. The children were so happy, and Iruka felt fulfilled. There was a certain happiness that came from seeing others succeed because of you, and that feeling was like no other. He couldn't wait until this first group of children grew up to become great shinobi. However, he saw Naruto out by the lonely tree swing, watching the group as well. The blonde was so hurt, and Iruka couldn't blame him. He was the only one that failed, and that peer pressure was more than what he could handle. It was his fault, he supposed. Naruto brought it upon himself.

That's when Iruka saw Mizuki approach Naruto. He looked like the kind and gentle man that Iruka had always known before, and Iruka figured that he was trying to comfort the boy. It wasn't unlike Mizuki to do that sometimes. He'd go up to a child who was down or not quite up to par and comfort them until they were determined to become better, yet Iruka felt anger welling up in his stomach. If Mizuki laid one finger on Naruto, he'd have his head.

"Iruka," the Sandaime said, standing seriously next to him. "I need to speak with you later."

"Hai." Iruka said, trying to supress the anger.






"How did it go?" Kakashi asked, letting Iruka into his apartment again. The two had been living with each other for the week simply because Iruka had no desire to return home, and Kakashi was loathe to let him go even if Iruka had wanted to. Iruka smiled.

"I did it." he said. "He's moving out as we speak." Kakashi smiled, capturing Iruka in a hug and kissing his forehead.

"I'm proud of you."

"Do you want to go out for dinner?" Iruka asked. "My treat."

"Sure, but I think I should be the one paying." Kakashi said. "We're celebrating your accomplishment, so you shouldn't pay." Iruka shrugged.

"Sure."

"I'm sure you'll want to make sure everything's okay, so why don't you go home in a bit to check on your house and we'll meet up some place?" Iruka nodded.

"That sounds good. Where did you want to go?"

"Ameya?" Kakashi suggested.

"Sounds good." he said. It's was a comfortable place: fancy enough to ask for reservations, but not pricey. It would be nice going there. "Thank you." Kakashi shook his head.

"It's nothing. I'm just glad that you did it." he said, smiling genuinely for the first time in ages.




When Iruka went to his house, he found that everything had been left in tact, and that Mizuki had not left anything behind. For that, the brunette was thankful. He didn't think he'd want to see Mizuki asking for something of his back. It would just remind him again of what they had lost for some reason. However, it seemed that Mizuki was definitely not a cleaner. In the week that Iruka had been gone, his home had turned from sparkling clean to nearly a pig sty. Thus, Iruka decided that in the time span he had before dinner he'd clean up the house. Dinner would be an extra treat if he knew he could relax the next day.


Unfortunately, dinner would never come. All the shinobi of Konoha were sent to find Naruto, being that he had stolen the Scroll of Sealing. Mizuki had been the one to tell Iruka, and the brunette was too concerned about his student to care. After obtaining orders to bring Naruto and the scroll back to the Sandaime, Iruka had separated from Mizuki to find his student. Once the brunette had found Naruto and heard of Mizuki's involvement with the theft, Iruka's world split. What was Mizuki doing?

That's when Mizuki had appeared and revealed his plan to both Naruto and Iruka. He nearly killed the Chunin, and almost got away with stealing the scroll if it hadn't been for Naruto's persistence and mastering the Kage Bunshin technique. Mizuki was taken in and put straight into prison, while Iruka passed Naruto and was sent straight to the hospital afterward. That gigantic wound in his back was not something to be taken lightly. After surgeries and medication, Iruka was left to stay in the hospital for some time, which left Iruka alone with his thoughts.

'Why?' Iruka kept asking himself. 'Mizuki isn't power hungry like that. Why would he do that? And taking advantage of Naruto? What was he thinking he would accomplish?' All that first night Iruka tried to answer his own question, but could not find a reasonable answer. He knew one thing, though. Mizuki had made his final betrayal, and strangely. . . Iruka felt to remorse.

Nothing.



**-**-**



The Sandaime was Iruka's first visitor after the stitches had been put in on his back. He explained that he knew something was up with Mizuki, but his sources could not tell him what exactly. The Hokage had spoken with Tsubaki and she knew nothing of it. She knew, however, that those months that he claimed that he was going to convince his parents of getting out of the marriage was not spent the way he said. The only times he had spoken with anyone in his family was when he was informed he was going to be betrothed and again when he was informed that Tsubaki was going to be his wife. Other than that, she had not seen him. That's when she had come into town and asked to see him, being that he was supposed to visit her. Where he had gone after that was beyond her. All she knew was that he was out.

Iruka had no idea, either. All he had known was that Mizuki had been trying to convince his parents to get him out of the marriage, though tht obviously was not the case. The Hokage thanked both Tsubaki and Iruka, and then left to attend Mizuki's interrogation, Ibiki being in charge of that. Iruka felt that was a bit much, but perhaps it was just 'bachi'. (1)





While in the hospital Iruka got more and more frustrated by the day, lying on his stomach and doing nothing but healing. He was glad that he didn't have school until the new year began, seeing that he was out of commission, but at the same time it bothered him that all he was good for was making conversation and recuperating.

"How are you?" Kakashi said, peeling an apple for Iruka, who wasn't supposed to be eating apples in the first place, but was too fed up with the system to care.

"Better now that you're here." he said honestly. "It's been boring otherwise." Kakashi stuck a slice of apple on a toothpick and fed it to Iruka. "tan kyu."

"You're welcome." Kakashi said, smiling at the Chunin. Iruka was having a hard time getting the rest of the apple into his mouth. "Here." he said, pushing the last little edge of the slice in Iruka's mouth. Iruka's eyes smiled and he chewed. "You're so adorable." Iruka scoffed a little.

"I think you're just saying that because I'm helpless and you have a thing for feeding people." Kakashi laughed.

"Aw, you caught me!" Iruka laughed along. "But even if I didn't have a thing for feeding people, I still say that you're adorable." Iruka blushed.

"Thanks, I guess." Kakashi smiled, handing Iruka another apple slice.

"And that's what makes you adorable." Iruka decided that it was better not to argue with the man who was feeding him. After all, who can argue with apples?





TBC...





**-**-**


Notes:

(1): Bachi is a VERY Japanese thing. It's kind of like the concept of Karma, but it only deals with the bad things that you put out into the universe. Whatever bad you do will come back and hit you twice as hard. You'll hear a lot of this when parents talk to their kids about something bad that's happened, blaming it on bachi. Oddly, the drum sticks that Taiko players use are also called bachi. ^^ Just a little trivia.


Ameya: Literally, The Rain Shop. I figured that the rain washes away the old and brings forth the new. . . ^^

A/N: DON'T STOP READING!!!!!! I still have one more chapter to write!!!!!!! X3 I still haven't wrapped up Kakashi's story yet!! I'll have it to you soon!!! ^____^

Please rate and review!! ^^ Thanks!!!

A Rose By Any Other Name



Eleven: The First Rose. . . Again






Once Iruka left the hospital, the Hokage ordered that he not leave his home for several more days, noticing the man's eagerness to get back to work. The medics figured that he could go home, but that wound would still need about three weeks to fully heal. The Sandaime said two weeks. For even that much, Iruka was grateful. However, that still put him in the position of being stuck. . . it was just in his own house now. Kakashi had given him the option of moving to his place, but Iruka declined. He was already a burden on Kakashi once before, and he wasn't going to be now that he was all but incopacitated. Still, Kakashi left the invitation open for Iruka, and a couple of times Iruka had slipped over there for an afternoon away from the same few walls he was so familiar with.

Naruto had come to visit several days in a row, bringing ramen and milk to eat with his sensei. It was nice to know that the blonde boy was now motivated after the incident, but it didn't make it any better that Naruto was still behind. Thus, Iruka was still teaching the boy even though he was supposed to be resting.

"Why do I need to know all this stuff, Iruka-sensei?!" Naruto said, exasperated. "It's all uesless unless I know I can fight!"

"But this will help you in your field experience." he said, sighing as well, not getting much through to the boy. "Honestly, there's more to being a ninja than fighting."

"Like what?"

"Like stealth." a voice said from the door. Both looked over and found Kakashi standing there, a broken handle in his hands. "Sorry, it just kind of slipped off." Iruka shook his head.

"It's fine. I was going to call in a locksmith anyway." Iruka said. "I'll ask if they can make an emergency run."

"Why doesn't Naruto go out and get a replacement? It'll be faster, and I'm sure he can practice his stealth skills to scare the store owner." Naruto snickered.

"Sounds like fun!" Iruka shook his head, but allowed Kakashi to write out and give the instructions to go find a locksmith and buy a certain lock with two sets of keys. . . two?

"You have a secret mission, Naruto." Kakashi said, holding up the instructions. "It's on this piece of paper. If anyone but you and the locksmith finds out about it, you've failed the mission. Got it?"

"Yeah! Got it!" he said, snatching the folded paper and rushing out the door. "I'll be back! Take care of Iruka-sensei for me!"

"Naruto! Take an umbrella with you!" Iruka shouted after the boy, knowing that it was probably pouring outside. Kakashi just lazily waved good bye and nodded. The Chunin sighed.

"So what's the secret mission?" Iruka asked. Kakashi smiled.

"A secret." Iruka just shook his head and reclined back into his chair.

"Thanks for sending him out. He was getting on my last nerve."

"I'm surprised he hadn't before now."

"Oh, he's passed that barrier before. He just manages to get back on the right side again before any critical damage is done." Iruka said, laughing a little.

"He's lucky. I don't know many people who can cross that line with you, let alone get back on your good side." Kakashi said, pulling up a chair and sitting on it backwards. "How's your back?"

"Better than it has been. I'm still thinking how fortunate I was that he missed my spine." Kakashi smiled.

"Indeed you are." Iruka sighed and shook his head.

"Okay, what is it? You're thinking about something?"

"How lucky I am that you're still here." Kakashi said, an obvious cover-up stuck between the words, though the thought was incredibly sweet.

"There's something else too, isn't there?" Iruka asked, knowing there was something up now.

"Are you able to sneak over to my place tonight?"

"Why?"

"I've got a surprise for you." Kakashi said, resting his head in his palm and smiling at Iruka. "Nothing bad, I assure you."

"What are you–"

"I can't tell you. It's a surprise." he interrupted. Iruka shrugged.

"I suppose I can leave for tonight. Besides I've been dying to get out again." Kakashi nodded and stood up.

"Then I'd better start getting food together. Wouldn't want you to go hungry." the Jounin said, waving good bye and leaving Iruka alone in the house. Iruka sighed and shook his head. Well, that was Kakashi for you. . . aloof and carefree, but always with a purpose. . . you think.




When Naruto came back with the new locks and keys, Iruka took careful notice that the second set of keys did not match the first set, which was to Iruka's home. Naruto wouldn't budge with the information, not wanting to fail his mission, and thus the Chunin just let it be. Naruto took care of a few locks, but Iruka knew he'd have to do all of them after Naruto left, seeing that the boy didn't work well with screws.

"That's good enough for today, Naruto. Why don't you go home or something?"

"But sensei! The locks aren't finished!"

"It'll be fine. I'll finish them. I'm going to finish this last one and then get ready for bed. I'm tired." Naruto nodded.

"Okay, but if you need any help just call me! I don't want you to hurt yourself or something." Iruka laughed.

"I'll be fine, Naruto. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay!" the blonde said, grabbing his shoes and going out the front door. "Ja ne, Iruka-sensei!"

"Ja na. Try not to get too wet!" he said, screwing the last bolt into the front door and making sure the door locked correctly. It seemed that it would do for now. The rest of the locks needed to be redone, but for now it was fine. No one would mess with them. Iruka was far more interested in finding out what the heck Kakashi had been planning in all this muddy rain.





"Okaeri." Kakashi said, opening the door. Iruka shook his head.

"It's not my home, Kakashi."

"True, but it was for a while. Did you get the keys?"

"Yes, I did." Kakshi smiled.

"Then what did you knock for?" he asked. Iruka shook his head.

"Why?"

"Because what's mine is yours." Iruka shrugged and then looked around. "What are you looking for?"

"Something like lots of people or something that's going to pop out at me and scare me." Kakashi smiled.

"I'm sorry, sensei, it's not one of those surprises." he said, turning and stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Follow me?"

"Sure, let me just take off my shoes." Iruka said, bending over to slip off his sandals.

"Go ahead and take them with you. We're going out into the courtyard." the silver haired man said, smiling. "I've only got one pair of slippers in the back." Iruka nodded and took his mud-caked shoes through the house.



Down three flights of stairs and through a small alley, Kakshi led Iruka into the back of the courtyard, which looked as if it hadn't been weeded since the building opened. The grass had never been cut, and the rain didn't seem to touch the area. It was wet, yes, but there were no puddles to be seen. The place also seemed to be home to all sorts of broken machines and tools. There were several lawn mowers of various ages, tires, and pieces of playground equipment rusting in the yard.

"Why are we here?" Iruka asked, not understanding the significance of this place. Kakashi smiled and walked over to a large tarp, pulling it off and revealing what was underneath it.

There lay hundreds of dead and dying roses.

Iruka stepped back, something like pain hitting his soul. Dead roses. What was this? Kakashi sighed and pulled out a fresh rose: mostly white, but with red at its tip and fading into pink then white.

" The red rose whispers of passion,
And the white rose breathes of love;
Oh, the red rose is a falcon,
And the white rose is a dove.
But I send you a cream-white rose bud
With a flush on its petal tips;
For the love that is purest and sweetest
Has a kiss of desire on the lips." Kakashi said, placing the rose into Iruka's shaking hand. "Here, and all the roses I was too ashamed to give you."

"What?" Iruka asked, confused.

"Every single one of these," Kakashi said, looking back at the pile. "Were times I was going to tell you how much you meant to me, but I backed out of it, thinking that it wasn't my place to do so. You belonged to someone else, and there was no room for me in that picture." Iruka threw the rose on the ground and hugged Kakashi.

"I don't care what you did or didn't do. I don't care about roses." he said, hugging the man tighter than he ever thought possible. "It doesn't matter. Live for the now, not in the past." Kakashi cradled Iruka and nodded slightly.

"I love you." Kakashi whispered, strangely his regret dissolving slowly. "So much, you can't possibly know." Iruka smiled and kissed Kakashi, not saying a word. Right now, Iruka just wanted to revel in loving and being loved. Words could wait.




Owari.





**-**-**


Notes:


Okaeri: I know I've put this here before, but I wanted to point something out. "Okaeri masu" is "Welcome back home". Kakashi opened the door and said this. . . I think you can figure it out from there. ^^


** The poem is by John Boyle O'Rielly. I was introduced to this poem by my ex-boyfriend, who gave me my first rose, my second rose, and my third rose.


*** Argh, because I want you to get the symbolism, but I don't know if you'll get it so I'll tell you!! >< The courtyard is Kakashi and his memories, regrets, secrets, sadness, joy, etc. It hasn't been taken care of in so long that it's overgrown an rusted, but is still there, and now Iruka has access to all of it.



A/N: I'm sad, and happy, and in pain (but that has nothing to do with the story though ^^). It is now finished, and I'm going to post the one-shot soon. It'll make you cry so hard. . . I'm sorry, I had to because it was in me and I had to let it out.

Hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a rating and a review!!