Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Can I keep You ? ❯ Part 4: Solitude ( Chapter 4 )

Can I keep you?

Sequel to Pumpkins and Ravens

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

Part of my 100 themes challenge.

 

Part 4 - Solitude (99):

The two young men had ended up staying with Iruka for the next two days, finally being shooed out so that he could get a decent night's sleep that didn't involve a sofa and a painful crick in the neck every morning.

The chuunin came to the decision that he may need to invest in another futon - although once Kakashi-sensei left then there shouldn't be a need for one. The only two people who ever stayed didn't mind sharing, but it was better to be prepared than not - he never knew when he would have another guest.

Iruka took a deep relaxing breath, indulging in the silence that now echoed in the apartment, it had seemed that his home had become a bit of a through fare in the past few weeks - it was certainly different. If it wasn't Sasuke and Naruto dropping in and staying around for days at a time it was Sakura checking in on the patient. Iruka had been pleased when Sakura had declared that Kakashi's fever had finally been broken, it had been a long time coming. Iruka had noticed that the older man's pale skin was cooler to the touch now and had hoped that Sakura would confirm his suspicions; he had finally stopped perspiring and had seemed more peaceful in his sleep - which let the chuunin relax a bit.

He could only hope that this meant the jounin would wake soon - he was both happy and sad at that prospect. He had enjoyed the older man's company far too much, whether he was unconscious or not; but he also wanted him back on his feet again - being his usual enigmatic self.

Iruka spent the remainder of the day tidying his small apartment, not having had the time when Naruto and Sasuke were visiting. It was early evening by the time he'd finished; he was in the kitchen pulling together a simple meal of rice and fish when he thought he heard something from behind him. He set his utensils down and turned the stove to simmering, fishing a kunai out from his belt and walking silently through the small apartment in search of the odd noise.

He checked the house carefully leaving his own room for last, making sure there was no one creeping around his home that could come up behind him - even though his first instinct was to check on the sleeping jounin. When he reached his room, he took a cautious look around the door and was shocked at what greeted him.

The noise evidently had been a very silly Copy-nin, who was awake, complete with sleep fogged eye and attempting to get out of bed; which had caused the injured male to groan in pain. Iruka dropped his hand, pocketing the blade and moving swiftly into the room to halt the other shinobi from escaping, “Stop that - Hatake-san you'll pull your stitches.” His voice was very firm with the errant ninja; he knew how much trouble the other man caused when he was in the hospital.

He pressed firmly on the jounin's shoulders trying to keep him down, deftly avoiding the bandaged parts of his body and forcibly stopping the other nin from getting any further. “Will you stay still please; you're going to hurt yourself.” Iruka couldn't deny the shivery feeling he got when his hands made contact with scarred ivory skin, but he put on his teaching voice and held fast, even though he could feel a deep, almost irresistible, urge to wrap the other nin in his arms and assure himself he was alright, before running his hands all over that stunning male physique.

“I-Iruka? What are you doing here?” Kakashi's voice was raw. The older nin sounded exhausted and slightly confused, but there was something in the way he said his name that made the chuunin practically shudder with need for the other shinobi. Iruka figured that the Copy-nin must have been attempting to escape the confines of the bed for quite some time, going by the jounin's dishevelled and panting state, before he had levered himself almost upright.

The chuunin shook himself out of his hazy stupor when the Kakashi spoke, feeling guilty for the desire running through his body when faced with the half naked man - wrapped in bandages or otherwise Kakashi was truly stunning. He couldn't restrain the flush that seeped into his cheeks as he held the other shinobi down by his shoulders; it was one of the few safe areas left on his chest.

“You're in my home Hatake-san. Sasuke brought you here - don't you remember? I should get you a glass of water.” He watched as the other nin's brows furrowed in concentration, as he reluctantly distanced himself from that cool skin, dragging his fingertips along the surface for as long as possible before moving away. The chuunin headed across the room, going to the desk for the glass jug filled with cool water and the cup that he had left there in preparation for working on some class schedules for the new term.

He watched the jounin from the corner of his eye as he filled the glass and took it back across the room. He reached out, curling his fingers around the other nin's shoulders, smoothing his fingers out to touch the plush surface as he raised the injured man just enough to drink from the glass he held. The evident upset and confusion that swirled in the Copy-nin's charcoal orb made the chuunin's heart squeeze - he looked so vulnerable that way.

“I can't think - my head - it feels so fuzzy.” Kakashi's gaze drifted back to the teacher as he settled himself back against the feather pillows. Iruka felt momentarily overwhelmed by the softer looking ninja before him. Whoever knew he could look like that - he hid it very well.

“You should try to sleep some more - you'll feel better for the rest. Just don't turn over okay; you'll pop your stitches.” Iruka reached out and made sure that he was settled comfortably in the bed once more, fluffing the pillows and pulling the covers up. He went to reach out to tuck the unruly silver strands away from the other shinobi's cheek but pulled away at the last moment, chastising himself for the oversight and hoping the sharp nin hadn't caught it.

Iruka realised that the thing he had been dreading was finally here. Kakashi didn't like people in his personal space and what the chuunin had been doing under the facade of taking care of the other man would make the Copy-nin angry at best. Iruka never wanted to be the subject of that anger having seen it in action on a few occasions.

The chuunin reached up setting a hand against his own bare throat, cradling his palm against it, remembering the feeling of hard callused fingers tightening on his neck - he flinched at the memory. When he turned his chocolate gaze back to the jounin he feigned a small smile, seeing the other man looking at him curiously. “I'll explain a few things when you've rested. Get some sleep now Hatake-san.”

He didn't let the other man complain, shifting to tug the curtains further shut to block out the brilliant orange light that had filtered into the room from the setting sun and then walking slowly to the door. He turned when he reached the bright doorway, one hand on the frame the other still at his throat rubbing tenderly as he watched the older man shifting in his bed, “Sleep well Hatake-san and welcome back” He felt his shoulders drooping and his heart squeezing in his chest as though it too felt the burden falling back on his shoulders - he was going to be alone again.

Kakashi eyed the man leaving the room - oddly curious about the young sensei's behaviour. But it seemed his head refused to cooperate with his need to think -it felt like his head was stuffed with cotton - thoughts and ideas slipping like liquid through his fingers. He settled more firmly against the pillows, feeling the tightness of the skin covering his chest and a firm and unpleasant tug whenever he shifted and pulled on a stitch too firmly.

What had happened to get him in this state? And why was he at the young sensei's home?

His mind wouldn't comply with his need to think so he took a deep calming breath, his throat felt better after the brief drink. He pulled the covers up further, intent on sleeping as the young shinobi suggested when something sweet and warm tingled in his nose - it was like honey and something he couldn't place but it was soothing and familiar. He felt his eyes drift shut as he took in that delicious smell, it didn't take long for sleep to consume him. He would consider everything else in the morning.