Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Can I keep You ? ❯ Part 8 - Silence ( Chapter 8 )

Can I keep you?

Sequel to Pumpkins and Ravens

Main Pairings: Kakashi/Iruka, Sasuke/Naruto and others

Part of my 100 themes challenge.

 

Part 8 - Silence (15):

 

The three shinobi arrived back at Iruka's flat an hour later, the chuunin managed to fish out his keys and hand them up to the blond who hadn't removed himself from the teachers back since he had sprung on him at the memorial. He could hear Sasuke snort from behind him as Naruto jingled the keys and managed to press them into the lock, giving it a decisive twist and shoving the door inwards.

 

Iruka twisted his face around to glare at the young man clinging to him when the door gave a resounding bang as it hit the interior wall, “Naruto. Be quiet what if Hatake-san is sleeping?”

 

“Chh... he needs to be awake for this anyways Iruka-sensei.” The blond didn't even have the grace to look slightly apologetic, but he could understand why considering the words that had passed inside these walls a few hours ago. Though they had all calmed down some after being away for a time the tension that suddenly snapped to life at Naruto's words made everyone fidget uncomfortably.

 

Iruka and the two young men crossed the threshold into the apartment and Iruka couldn't help but feel the stillness inside the silent rooms. He felt something churning in his gut, he couldn't help the sudden need to go and check on the injured male they had left completely alone in his bed. He berated himself quietly for his own stupidity - what would have happened if the Kakashi had tried to leave and hurt himself further?

 

Iruka barely restrained himself when his arms released there hold around the blonds' muscled thighs and felt the young man slip from his back to the ground. He could hear Naruto and Sasuke's usual banter behind him but his attention was focused elsewhere.

 

“You're more like a monkey than a fox, hn.” Sasuke's mocking tone was unmistakeable.

 

“Hey take that back, teme.” As was Naruto's familiar protestations.

 

Iruka jumped when he felt a warm hand rest against his forearm, the weight of the small shopping bag being removed from his fingers. He turned widened chocolate orbs around only too meet two sets of probing gazes. He felt his cheeks warm at the intent stares he was receiving and watched the two turn and look at each other in silent communion. He watched Naruto nod at Sasuke and his warm fingers released Iruka's arm as the last Uchiha turned his gaze back to him.

 

“W-What?” He watched as Naruto's grin broadened and lit his features from the inside. He turned to Sasuke in hopes of getting some response but he was met with his usual blank expression. Iruka shook his head at the two and felt his eyes drawn back to the open doorway to his room and he stilled, listening to the silence once more.

Naruto walked past the frozen man into the kitchen, calling to Sasuke when he had arrived, “Teme, I need that bag - I'm hungry.”

 

Iruka was surprised to hear Sasuke chuckle quietly behind him, but as the raven haired man walked past he felt his breath catch at the quiet words the Uchiha whispered, “You best go check on him, ne? Iruka-sensei.” Before breezing past on his way to the kitchen, replying to Naruto's calls, “Dobe - you'll get fat one day from all the ramen you eat.”

 

Iruka stared after the other two shinobi for only a moment before heading to the doorway that had been taunting him since he had arrived home. He felt panic tickling at his senses, hoping the older shinobi was still there and a deep well of guilt churning in his gut at having left the injured man alone and after such a heated conversation. He hadn't wanted to upset Kakashi but his words as always stirred Iruka's passions in more ways than one.

 

Kakashi had been a little stunned when Sasuke had left; trust an Uchiha to go right to the sore points of a person's life. He had sat in the small room for two hours wondering about what both the raven and Iruka had said to him. It was unusual for him but he couldn't get the look Iruka had given him out of his mind - the mix of disappointment and conflict that had been evident on his face pulled at his heart.

 

He hadn't truly spent much time with Iruka before and over the last few hours that he had been awake they had spent a considerable amount of time together. It was evident that the young teacher had been taking diligent care of him for the last three or so weeks whilst he had been comatose. He couldn't understand why he would feel the need to do such a thing, but Kakashi couldn't help but feel deep warmth permeating his body when the young man fussed around him.

 

Kakashi had never known anyone to be so careful with his body. He found the young chuunin both engaging and a pleasure to tease mercilessly, although he had known that before. Kakashi knew that he maintained a degree of distance socially and that very few had penetrated that sacred space that he maintained, but there was something about the brunet that had burrowed under his skin and he couldn't find the need to be angry about it.

 

He found himself confounded by the way he felt whenever someone made the younger male smile - especially the soft sweet smiles he seemed to reserve just for Naruto. Kakashi had enjoyed inciting the young man in the past using Naruto as a tool for the task, feeling a satisfied heat flood him whenever he caused the other man to blush. He knew there was something more to this feeling and he wanted to spend the time analysing it but, unfortunately, he didn't have the time at the moment.

 

Kakashi needed to concentrate on recovering his memories first, and he hoped that Iruka would help him. He had a feeling the dreams he had been having of late, the pain he had felt, was connected to those memories and he felt oddly vulnerable against the amnesia he was suffering. The Copy-nin was renowned for his intellect and mimicry techniques but he was vulnerable to his own mind as he had been when he was child, calling for his mother in the night when the nightmares would follow him from his slumber.

 

The dreams where laced with pain and flashes of orange - the marks he bore from the Kyuubi's claws helped to ground him with some idea of what had happened to him. But he needed details to fill the blanks in his head; hopefully they would be enough to trigger the memories that were locked inside him.

 

Kakashi lay back against the warm pillows, allowing the soft scent of the young chuunin to fill his nose as he took deep, soothing breaths. He hoped when this was over, he could concentrate on getting back on top of his life and that included finding out just what the feelings burgeoning in his chest where for a certain scarred pre-genin teacher.

 

The Copy-nin dozed for a time but was awoken by the harsh bang of the front door and he started upwards from his prone position a little too fast for his healing body, wincing but making no further noise as he resettled himself in the comfort of Iruka's bed. He couldn't hear the conversation that happened at the doorway but found the changes in tone quite soothing after the constant silence of the small flat.

 

He watched the doorway from the bed and hoped that they could get this over with as soon as possible. He didn't like being at odds with Naruto or Sasuke but he couldn't go against the instincts that had propelled him for his whole life. He needed to know that he could trust them. The fact that they were keeping secrets from him, ones that had, however unintentionally, ended in his injuries, had this dark shadow of distrust haunting his thoughts.

 

Kakashi's gaze flitted up to the doorway when he heard a quiet rap against the frame, “You looked like you where miles away Hatake-san.” He frowned at the chuunin, not liking the change of name again.

 

“Kakashi. Please - just Kakashi.” Iruka could see the frown pull at the jounin's brow and wanted nothing more than to wipe it away. He walked slowly into the room, checking that everything was in its place, and there was no obvious sign that the injured man had attempted to leave.

 

Kakashi couldn't help the smile that curved his lips at the way the brunet surveyed the room observing the way he trailed his gaze across every surface, paying special attention to the window, “I couldn't leave if I wanted to Iruka ... and I don't want to”

 

He watched the results of his words as the chuunin's cheeks pinked and he let his eye crinkle in his signature smile, allowing the younger man to see his pleasure. When Iruka coughed lightly into his fist and his expression cleared and went completely serious he knew he had something important to say.

 

“Kakashi - I apologise for leaving you alone. I should not have done that.” Kakashi watched as those deep mahogany eyes turned to face him, flushed cheeks forgotten in his earnestness. Kakashi wanted to reach out and touch the younger man, to take away the guilt that was so clearly evident in those gentle eyes.

 

“I am not an invalid, nor am I stupid Iruka - I can barely sit upright, why would I ever try to leave. You have no need to concern yourself with being in the apartment 24/7 with me, I am awake and thinking - though I wish I had a good book to read.” He let his voice put undue emphasis on this last part, hoping it would lighten the mood some. He hadn't expected the reaction he received though.

 

Iruka stood transfixed as the jounin spoke, feeling his face heat at the idea of the Copy-nin reading one of those books in his bed led to a whole new round of flushes that he couldn't hide. “I ...you...you can't read that in here!” Iruka's eyes darted around the room refusing to land and focus on the Copy-nin but he heard something that shocked him into focusing his undivided attention on the other shinobi.

 

Kakashi couldn't help letting the deep rumbling laugh escape from his mouth, he had wanted to do that ever since Iruka's face flushed an endearing cerise. He hadn't implied anything about what kind of book, but apparently he hadn't needed to, too cause that pleasing reaction followed by the stuttered words.

 

Iruka watched with fascination at the sound that was escaping the other shinobi, he felt his face heat at the knowledge that he had caused that wonderful sound coming from the other nin. He felt his lips tug upwards into a gentle smile, he had never seen the Kakahsi look so relaxed - it would almost seem like he was happy.

 

It made Iruka feel fluttery inside as that sound eased once again and their eyes met stormy grey to warm chocolate. They shared a quiet moment together, absorbing each other's emotions; maybe silence wasn't always a bad thing.

 

They were interrupted by the unsubtle cough at the door. “I knew he would still be in one piece, Iruka-sensei.”

 

The chuunin turned to meet laughing cerulean eyes and though his skin warmed he gave the young blond a smile. “I know Naruto.”

 

Sasuke was the one who broke the moment of comfortable silence, “Shall we get this over with then.”

 

“Hai - let's begin.” Kakashi looked at the two shinobi in the doorway and nodded slowly. His eyes shifting back to the chuunin once more, eyes assessing. “You best come in.” He watched Iruka almost flinch at the tone in his voice, hand coming up to smooth calloused fingers along his throat before noticing his rapt attention. He watched as the Iruka situated himself against the wall closest to him, between the two younger shinobi and him anyway.

 

It was a strange action, and he may be reading something into it but why would he do that? Another question he needed answering - he couldn't help but sigh before turning his gaze to the determined blond his voice sounded tired and resigned, “Let's get this done.”