Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Can I keep You ? ❯ Part 26: seeing Red (86) ( Chapter 26 )

Can I keep you?

Sequel to Pumpkins and Ravens

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

Part of my 100 themes challenge.

 

Part 26 - Seeing red (86)

 

Twice in one night Iruka had been reduced to stunned silence. He could only stare at the man holding him so carefully, fingers twinned in his hair. Kakashi wanted him to live here… with him? But… “I don't understand before… you said..”

 

“I know and I'm sorry. You surprised me and I didn't think I just said what I know now I shouldn't have.” Kakashi's eye turned away from the brunet staring out at the small courtyard they were stood in. He could remember a time when this place was filled with flowers and the pond always had Koi darting and shining in the sun. Now the once beautiful garden his okaa-san had tended so lovingly was empty - barren.

 

Iruka watched as Kakashi's dark gaze turned from him, staring out at their surroundings. He followed the jounin's gaze seeing moonlight fall over bare branches reaching for the sky, and a small pond that was dry to the bone. He couldn't picture in his mind what could have been here before to have such a sad look in the copy-nin's eye. He felt those butterflies in his stomach increase tenfold alongside something hot and sharp that was bubbling up inside as Kakashi's words sunk in, “You refused me. You said that you wouldn't until we'd sorted…”

 

Kakashi had heard and felt every word that had fallen from Iruka's lips, sadness filling him. He could feel something heavy settling in his chest - had he pushed the chuunin to far would he truly abandon him? He felt something squeeze in his chest and his fingers tightened in a fist, his gaze turning back to focus solely on the man he cared for. He latched on to this last, he knew only to well how far Iruka could get ahead of himself - the jounin hadn't been able to explain any of his other reasons before so he would now.

 

“That is still a reason - one that I plan on fixing but you never let me tell you what the other is. I do love being with you, around you. Your house feels like home and it's been… to long since I felt like that. But this was my home too and I wanted, I hoped… you'd want to be here with me.” Kakashi looked deep into Iruka's eyes, seeing a degree of pain and anger directed at him and he could understand that fully but he needed the chuunin far more than he had ever realised until a few days ago and he would meet the other's wrath head on.

 

Iruka's gaze met Kakashi's and as the jounin spoke he could feel his emotions as though they were reaching out, goose bumps breaking out over his bare skin and though his anger was still their he could feel the Copy-nin's need and it warmed his heart, easing the fluttering in his belly. He spoke quietly, “You should have said - you have no idea how much that hurt. I've never asked anyone what I asked you.”

 

Kakashi felt like something had stabbed him in the chest at Iruka's softly spoken words. He had hurt this man greatly and yet he asked still more of him? How many times would the chuunin forgive him? He turned away from Iruka's gaze, feeling a very familiar emptiness swelling in his chest. He to spoke in a raspy whisper, “I am sorry Iruka - forgive me I ask to much.” He walked steadily, heading for one of the few rooms he had actually had the time to open up and clean, stepping up and out of his geta and up onto the wooden walkway that wrapped around the courtyard.

 

Iruka could only stare at Kakashi's retreating back, his dark form disappearing into the shadows and he felt something snap inside himself then, anger finally bubbling over into a angry torrent of words, “What your just going to walk away? You're not even going to listen to what I have to say?”

 

Kakashi froze at Iruka's angry words and he turned, still shadowed by the roof of his house. This place would never be home without the irate man before him. He sighed softly and looked back over his shoulder at the chuunin and spoke with a resigned tone, “Then say it.”

 

Iruka focused all his attention on the jounin who he could barely see and strode with a great degree of purpose across the courtyard, slipping his geta off at the step and moving up onto the wooden platform. He grabbed the jounin by the shoulder and spun him to face him and his finger's curled in to the soft fabric of his kimono, tugging him down hard so they were millimetres apart. “You think you know everything!” And with that said Iruka pressed his lips firmly against Kakashi's covered ones.

 

Kakashi wasn't sure how to react to the chuunin's sudden assault, though with Iruka this close, lips pressed against his own, warm breath seeping through the material he couldn't help but groan. He let his hands wrap and around the brunet and pull him flush against his body, lips pressing back against Iruka's. When he felt the need to breath finally coming to the fore he pulled back, dark orb heavy lidded as he gazed into two chocolate coloured pools. “So…”

 

Iruka stared back, face flushed and body now firmly pressed against Kakashi's. He replied to the jounin's solitary word with one of his own, “So…”

 

Kakashi almost smiled at that last, his heavy heart felt a little lighter just from having Iruka close to him like this. He wasn't sure if Iruka was just playing him but he hoped and with that came his next query, “You had something you wanted to say…”

 

Iruka felt the weight of his anger disappearing, a coy smile slipping onto his lips as he rubbed the tip of his nose against Kakashi's, “Mmmm… yes I suppose I did.”

 

Though Kakashi was enjoying Iruka's attention the way the brunet was stepping around the issue was a little frustrating so he prodded him a little further, “And…?”

 

Iruka looked up at the Copy-nin, eyebrow quirked in question, “I thought you already knew everything Mister Genius.”

 

Kakashi's patience was thinning and though he felt deeply for the teacher he was pressing very close to pushing to hard. “Iruka.”

 

Iruka could see Kakashi's frustration building and he felt a little satisfied at getting the other nin back for getting him to the point of outburst. He relented with good grace though, “Fine… ask me again.”

 

Kakashi found Iruka's little game trying but he felt hope rising inside him, it had been the first time Kakashi had really seen Iruka's temper in action but he had heard that it was quick to blow over. Though it usually came with a prank or two behind it. So he took a deep breath and let calm settle inside him as he gave what felt like a much easier response than the first time he'd said it, “Mah… che… will you come and live with me Iruka?”

 

Iruka looked up, rather innocently as he asked, “Hmmm… is Naruto allowed to come over and stay?

 

Kakashi could feel a smile trying to tug at his lips as he murmured, “Mmmm…”

 

Iruka let the corner of his lip twitch as he asked another question, “and Sasuke?”

 

Kakashi could feel his heart stirring inside him, the cold clenching fist that had held it captive loosening as he responded, “Hai.”

 

Iruka's lips shifted then into a teasing smile s his eyes lit up, “What about the rest of my Pre-Genin?”

 

Kakashi had a moment's pause at this last, imaging hundreds of half-pints running all over his home. He sighed thought the smile never left his lips when h gave a more reluctant response, “Ahhh… that may need some negotiation?”

 

Iruka didn't let the chuckle that wanted to bubble up from his throat escape, instead, leaning forward as he drew out his answer, “Hmm…..welll”

 

Kakashi was done with Iruka's little game and he gave the brunet a light squeeze as he said his name, “Iruka …”

 

Iruka responded to the gentle squeeze around his waist with a slightly breathy, “Yes.”

 

Kakashi leant forward at the soft sound, letting his forehead rest against the chuunin's as he inquired again, “Yes you'll live with me?”

 

Iruka sighed at the warmth that was wrapping around him, the feel of Kakashi body so firmly moulded against him. When he spoke he leant in lips brushing across Kakashi's once more, “Yes.”

 

Kakashi sighed audibly felt his heart ease inside his chest, warmth flooding in, “Thank God for that.” He placed a chaste kiss to Iruka's waiting mouth and looked deep into the chuunin's orbs, “I don't know what I would have done if you'd refused.”

 

“Now why would I do a thing like that - stupid jounin?” Iruka's voice was a teasing lilt when he spoke and he could feel Kakashi heat seeping through the kimono and deep beneath his skin. His anger had always been short lived and he knew that they likely had trials and tribulations ahead his aversion was the most prevalent and yet he felt hope stirring in his chest.

 

Kakashi sent the tease back to Iruka though his had a more serious edge to it, “I don't know - maybe due to the…stresses we've already been through.”

 

Iruka's eyes darkened a little at the reminder but he let his hand trail up into Kakashi's silky hair, “Hmmm… that just makes us stronger, ne?”

 

Kakashi leant into Iruka's touch enjoying the feel of his calloused fingertips against his scalp. His voice was almost a purr when he spoke, “Mah - you're right sensei.”

 

Iruka smiled once more at the soft rumble to Kakashi's words and his own were filled with tenderness he felt deep inside, “Thank you Kakashi.”

 

Kakashi gave the chuunin a puzzles look, “For…”

 

“This.” Iruka pulled the jounin's face forward with the hand firmly ensconced in silvery locks. He tugged Kakashi's mask down with nimble fingers as his eyes fell shut hiding the jounin's face from his eyes as he pressed forward, lips connecting for the first time skin to skin in a soft caress.