Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Faint ❯ Part 5 - Confessing ( Chapter 5 )

I remembered someone asking me if Shiranui was Genma's name. Actually, Shiranui is his surname, so I hope I have that part cleared up. Thank you for all your reviews! You've made me a happy person.

This has been beta-read by b4k4_girl! Wai! Thank you!

Here's part 5. I finally typed it out when I got home day before yesterday. After daydreaming in the airport and airplane on what scenes can unfold and taking out my laptop while sitting in a very boring and dull waiting room and writing the chapter outline - woot! I'm glad this came out okay. My beta-reader says so at least.

Enjoy!

FAINT 5

It was only early afternoon and Genma was already seeing red. He sat seething in his seat in the office, glaring at everything and everyone. Not a second passed by since the morning in which he did not receive any giggles, comments or looks of `oho! I know who you got the hots for' and looks of curiosity and sometimes annoyance. Genma swore that if he didn't care for his village so much, he'd turn in to someone that could rival Orochimaru himself.

"Be a dear Genma." A female ninja whom he didn't even know addressed him. "I have to go and catch up for my son's birthday. Would you give this Iruka-sensei for me?" Genma threw her a filthy dark look but she was unperturbed by it. "Thank you Genma. It's real important. The Hokage is expecting that report from him. Good day!"

Genma was left alone in the office, staring at white folder in his hand. Raido and Shizune were out on a C-rank mission with a few genins. Whatever he said about missions being tiresome, he took every single word back. Right about now, he'd do anything to get a nice long mission just to get away from all the smiles and giggles and occasional annoyed looks. He let out a sigh and stood up, heading for the academy and the classroom that he knew Iruka used and taught in. He knocked twice before sliding the doors open and found Iruka with his head faced away from the door, tucked on top his arms, the elastic rubber band he used to tie his hair up lying on the floor.

Genma blinked and walked in, wondering if the chuunin was all right or if he was hurt. Once he got closer and saw the flush on Iruka's cheeks and slightly parted lips, along with the long locks of dark brown hair framing the innocent look he had, he felt his cheeks color and the blood roar in his ears. If Genma was denying the fact he liked Iruka by making up excuses even after the incident the other day, he did not know how long he could keep it up after seeing Iruka like this. His skin was a caramel color, with long lashes caressing his cheeks and full lips that were always curved in a smile and was currently parted and rosier in color. His hair was dark and thick, the color of the chocolate syrup Genma remembered his aunt used to pour on top of the famous banana dessert she used to make for him when he was young. He was lithe with narrow shoulders and a slim waist, just the right amount of muscles to made him look manly and fit but just enough to give him a slight `feminine' tinge to his physique. Genma could feel his muscles tighten and his breath suddenly hitch as he stared at Iruka asleep, completely oblivious to his surroundings. He looked so endearing and so - Genma shook his head. He couldn't possibly think such thoughts now.

He debated whether to wake the slumbering Iruka or to just leave the folder on his desk and leave quietly. Without really deciding, his hand gently reached out for Iruka, about to brush the lock of hair behind his ear but it settled on his shoulder to shake him awake instead. "Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka blinked his way back to reality and sat up, staring rather blearily at Genma. The chocolate brown eyes snapped open widely and a flush came to his cheeks adding more redness to his already red skin. "Sh-Sh-Shiranui-san!" He stuttered.

"Are you all right?" Genma asked, taking in the sweet flustered look that Iruka had on his face.

"I - I - C- Can I help you w-with something?" He said instead of coming up with an excuse. Genma watched as Iruka ran his fingers through his loose hair and searched around for his elastic band. He found it behind his chair and quickly picked it up, grabbing all his hair and pulling it up into its normally bushy ponytail.

Genma let out a chuckle as he watched Iruka try to look composed, only to have a very, very messed up ponytail with loose hair strands falling on the sides and back, forehead protector tilted to one side and the supposed bushy ponytail all but neat and stiff. "Honestly, big deal. So you fell asleep. Where's the harm in that?" Genma said, casually pushing the forehead protector up Iruka's temple to straighten it when his fingers grazed against the flushed skin of Iruka's face. Genma frowned. "Why haven't you gone home yet? It's past five already."

"I - I still have to finish these." Iruka said and jerked the forehead protector off along with his elastic hair band. He let out a long tired sigh and turned his eyes up at Genma. "Is there anything you need?"

"Just dropping off this folder." Genma said, leaving the folder on Iruka's desk. Iruka gave the folder a desperate and tired look before taking it and placing it on the pile beside him.

"Thank you." Iruka said and this time slowly redid his ponytail, getting it just right.

"Right. See you around." Genma said and walked out of the classroom, sliding the doors closed. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he found Kakashi, Asuma and Gai looking at him by the doorway. "What are you three doing here?" He hissed, foul mood suddenly returning.

"Aren't you going to tell him?" Kakashi asked, peering in to the classroom to find Iruka scribbling down on the folders.

"Tell him what?" Genma hissed and dragged the three away from the chuunin's classroom and in to the quadrangle before things got uglier.

"That you like him of course!" Gai said, flashing him a toothy smile

"That is NONE of your business. I'll tell him when I want to!" Genma hissed and glared at the three. "What's it to you three anyway?"

"Iruka is the resident crush of many people around here." Asuma said warningly. "Why do you think you've been getting annoyed looks from some?"

"He is?" Genma asked, suddenly eager to march back in to the classroom and confess his undying affections for the younger ninja.

"Yes! So you better make your moves!" Kakashi said, smiling beneath his mask.

Genma suddenly looked very flustered. "Fine. I - I'll go tell him I like him."

Genma made his way for the academy entrance when the three blocked his path. He gave them a puzzled look and then got annoyed. Why can't Asuma just go and play Romeo with his Kurenai? Why can't Gai just go and make a whole show about youth and its spring and whatnot? Why can't Kakashi just go and read his Icha Icha Paradise? Genma made up his mind and he really, really need to get this over and done with. Better know that he tried rather than have his feelings suppressed. Although, it still surprised him he fell that hard in just a grand total of five days. The fluttering in his stomach whenever he thought of Iruka got worst and worst. Firstly, it was just slight wondering and annoyed thoughts about how the chuunin can be so careless. That evolved in to more, more wondering and just genuine curiosity. Then that blasted Raido had to point out things and now he was just head over heels for the chuunin. And the three buffoons were standing in his way. He gave them his most baleful glare.

"What did you say?" Kakashi asked.

"I said I will go and tell him that I like him." Genma said, getting annoyed by the three even more. The three exchanged looks then frowned at him.

"You're just going to march up to him and tell him?" Kakashi asked, eyes a bit wide.

Genma sighed. "Yes."

"No plan? Or well - a plan?" Asuma asked, both eyebrows raised, frown evident on his face.

"What plan? I don't need a plan to just speak what I feel for him!" Genma answered.

"So you mean to say that you're just going to walk in to the classroom and tell him you like him?" Gai asked, sounding scandalized.

"Yes as I've said a few seconds ago. Now will you three move it so I can get this over and done with?" Genma hissed.

"You can't!" Kakashi said suddenly and the other two nodded.

"Come again?" Genma asked, frowning now.

"You. Can't." Asuma repeated.

Genma's eyes widened and the needle hung limply in between his lips. He could feel his heart suddenly stop and his mind go blank as he stared at the trio in front of him. "You - You - three - you - like -"

"NO!" They chorused.

"Then what?" Genma snapped back.

"Look here, Genma, this is a great thing! You finally found someone you really like after such a long time! I mean, you! One of the best shinobis of the leaf, talented, handsome and smug! This is momentous! The reason we really stopped you is because you're a bit...lame. Have a bit more style in your confession." Kakashi said, all while with an arm draped around Genma's shoulder.

"Style." Genma repeated. He then narrowed his eyes dangerously, hands reaching out for his kunai holster. "Is there something wrong with the one I have now?"

Kakashi swallowed and wisely took several steps away from Genma.

"No, no. There's nothing wrong with it, of course." Gai said, waving his hands. "What we meant was that you should be a bit - ummm - creative. Like, maybe give him some flowers or candy perhaps? Uh - sing him a song or give him a nice poem. That stuff, get it?"

Genma was a bit off when it came to courtship so he blinked at the three. "You think so?"

"Hell yeah!" Kakashi said. "Iruka is a real nice sweetheart. Give home something to nibble on and some stuff to sniff and you two will be in bed in no time!"

"I don't think that's how it goes." Genma said with doubt. He wished he were more experienced with the arts of courtship and love. After his parents died during a mission several years ago, he never really got down to having a lover. He had Raido as his best friend and it was sufficient enough - until he got coffee all over him and burning hot at that!

"Oh Genma!" Asuma said, waving a hand. "It will work. Iruka is that sweetest guy and is very romantic. Say nice things to him and he'll fall at your feet. Believe us, it will work!"

Genma gave a sigh. Well, anything is better than rejection. Judging by the phases Raido went through when he got rejected or dumped, Genma evaluated that it must have been really painful. He didn't want Iruka to hate him and he hoped - and he hoped a lot - that Iruka may like him too.

"Fine." Genma said, agreeing. "Is there a flower shop nearby?"

TBC