Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ I'll Cover You ❯ Finale A ( Chapter 20 )

tsukiraven: Howdy! I'm here to begin another chapter of I'll Cover you.

 

You know, all; I originally planned this story to be a short two-shot where both Iruka and Kakashi died... Hmm...

 

Then, there was the idea of ending the story after ten chapters. Whatever happened to that plan? That was a good plan...

 

Nah, that wasn't going to work either.

 

So, I wait, and bide my time--ow. Who just threw that newspaper?

 

Sasuke: Wasn't me.

 

tsukiraven: It had to be you! It's always you! I even made fun of your hair last chapter!

 

Sasuke: --hits tsukiraven-- Well, that's for mocking my hair. But I really didn't throw that at you.

 

Naruto: I threw it! Stupid Tsuki-san... encouraging me to jump off buildings and drink rum.

 

tsukiraven: An answer to a reviewer's question, the title of each chapter is a different song, or variation of a theme, from the movie/ Broadway play, RENT. You know what this title means! We're not at the end yet, folks! Keep tuning in!

 

Iruka: tsukiraven owns nothing! Any allusions you might see in this chapter to other shows, none of them belong to her. Now, please enjoi the story!

 

I'll Cover You; Chappie 20

Let me protect you, Iruka.

 

I'm here Kakashi... I'm here.

 

“Mizuki... Let's fight.”

 

Mizuki picked himself up off of the floor, brushing off his clothing with a haughty disdain. “Iruka, don't even try to fool yourself into thinking that you can fight against me. You can barely stand, let alone summon enough chakra to fight with any jutsu.”

 

Iruka drew back his features into a determined scowl. What Mizuki was saying was true, there was no way Iruka could hold his own in a serious ninja fight right now. He had no kunai, no throwing stars, and almost no chakra.

 

But, he had to try. If he could gather up enough chakra, he might stand a chance. And that meant he had to stall.

 

“Why me anyway, huh Mizuki?” Iruka snapped. “Why chose me? You probably could've had plenty of other people with Orochimaru.”

 

“The thing is,” Mizuki stated, “I didn't hit you with that kunai on purpose. You see... well, do you remember when Sasuke left Konoha?”

 

“Of course,” Iruka hissed. “How could I ever forget that?”

 

“No, you wouldn't would you? But, you also remember how he came back to Konoha after killing Orochimaru's right hand man?”

 

“Yes.” `Kabuto...'

 

“Well that left Orochimaru-sama quite frustrated. His only servant who knew his medical jutsu was gone. No one left to treat his arms night after night anymore. Yes, I daresay that made him quite angry.

 

“Then I introduced the idea that, although he doesn't have two, Kakashi Hatake had a Sharingan eye just waiting to be taken. It was just the idea that Orochimaru had been waiting for! A sharingan eye, complete with 1000 jutsu, and revenge on Sasuke by killing his mentor.” Iruka bit back a furious retort listening to Mizuki's sick plan.

 

“We staged the invasion of Konoha to lure him out; he's just as loyal as the dogs he commands. The poison would've given us time to both collect the eye and probe him about everything that he knows of Konoha. The perfect plan!

 

“But even Orochimaru-sama couldn't have thought of this little detour.” Mizuki chuckled. “I honestly don't think it could've turned out better myself! Do you think he'll give himself over fully for your safe return? Or do you think he'll just give up his eye? Either one is fine.”

 

“Kakashi wouldn't do that.” Iruka said evenly. “He knows that... all of those jutsu he has, giving up his Sharingan would be the end of Konoha. He's loyal,” Iruka smirked, playing off of Mizuki's earlier words.

 

“Idiots in love do whatever they're told. I'll deliver the Sharingan eye to Orochimaru myself, and I'll be honoured beyond my wildest dreams!”

 

Iruka winced. Kakashi wouldn't... not for him... he wouldn't kill so many people just have Iruka safe, would he?

 

Yes, he would.

 

But Iruka wouldn't let him.

 

“Kakashi and I both love this village,” Iruka said. “There's no way either of us would let anything put it in jeopardy.”

 

“Well, if I kill you he may not be willing to take me up on my offer just for your body,” Mizuki mused. “Or is he that far gone?” Iruka grit his teeth.

 

“Oh I see!” Mizuki exclaimed. “Is he even in love with you, Iruka? Or are you just some poor sap he's been using to pass his time? If you're doubting the fact that he'd come to your rescue, you must be wondering about the strength of his affection.”

 

“Shut up...”

 

“I mean, you are awfully emotional. Too emotional to be a good shinobi. And why would he want someone who couldn't even protect him or herself from being kidnapped?”

 

“Mizuki, stop it!”

 

“And you fell in love before. And look at what happened.”

 

Iruka charged forward, knocking into Mizuki at full force and bringing him down. Mizuki grunted as his head clipped the edge of the nightstand table. Iruka pulled off of Mizuki, gasping.

 

“Don't you ever insult Kakashi, Mizuki,” Iruka ground out. “I know that even in the face of a choice like that, even if I made the wrong decision, he wouldn't.”

 

Mizuki sat up slowly, rubbing the spot where his head had been hurt. “Love is an irrational and stupid thing. He will come.”

 

“You speak of love as if you've never known it,” Iruka stated. “Humans are bound to love at least once in their lifetimes.”

 

“You speak of humans as if you aren't one,” Mizuki reciprocated.

 

“All shinobi are human,” Iruka said softly. “Under the coldest exterior, there's still a beating heart... a soul.”

 

“Ah, the never-ending compassion of Iruka-sensei,” Mizuki said. “You say all shinobi are human and yet you teach children to kill other humans, on order. What soul is there in that?”

 

“I teach them to survive,” Iruka said. “Our future is in the hands of these children, and it's our job to enable them.”

 

“You were always too soft, Iruka. Have you ever wondered why they never sent you out on missions? They were afraid you'd become sympathetic and allow your opponent to live.” Mizuki's tone changed abruptly. “What do you think of me, Iruka? Do I still have a soul?”

 

“Yes,” Iruka nodded, “you do. Everyone does. A soul is a human thing; you cannot escape it. It must be such a heavy burden to some people... to you. You must feel guilty all of the time.”

 

“Are you going to offer me to come back now?” Mizuki said. “Tell me that I can just come back to Konoha, turn myself in. A few years in prison, tell them everything I know about Orochimaru--"

 

“No.” Iruka said simply. “You're too far gone, Mizuki. You have a soul, maybe, but you have no conscience. No remorse for anything that you've done. You're gone,” Iruka took a deep breath.

 

“And you should've stayed gone.”

 

Mizuki shook his head, standing up. “You just don't get it, do you?” He drew back his foot and kicked Iruka in the stomach, making the teacher gasp.

 

“I hold the power here! I'm stronger“ -kick- “than” -kick- “you!”

 

“Then what are you so afraid of?” Iruka asked. He spat to the side, an arc of blood tailing along with his saliva. “Because I'm certainly not afraid of you.”

 

“What?” Iruka winced as he pulled himself to his feet.

 

“You can kill me here, you can take me to Orochimaru and have him torture the living daylights out of me, but I won't crack. I won't spill a secret of Konoha's and I won't give you Kakashi. I'm stronger than that.” Iruka stood, on wobbly legs and looked Mizuki in the eye.

 

“I'm above that.”

 

Mizuki paused for a second and then smiled, laughing. “Well, Iruka, if you're so prepared to die here then I won't disappoint you.”

 

Iruka settled into the best fighting stance he could. “You have no power over me anymore, Mizuki.”

 

“But my poison does,” Mizuki chuckled again. “I don't need that power.”

 

“Goodbye, Mizuki,” Iruka stated solemnly.

 

“Fool, don't talk about your opponent as if he's already dead!” Mizuki roared, charging at Iruka and slamming him into the wall.

 

“I will not,” Mizuki panted, “be made a mockery by you!”

 

Iruka drew back his fist and punched Mizuki in the stomach, sending him off a bit; enough to give Iruka leverage to push him away.

 

“I'm... We're done with you, Mizuki.” Iruka said quietly. “Disappear from Konoha, leave Orochimaru and never come back again.”

 

“Fool,” Mizuki hissed. And then he grinned. “This is exactly why they didn't want you on missions.” Mizuki put his hands together in a very recognizable hand sign. “The Kyuubi's strength shall be your undoing, Iruka. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Shadow Clone technique).

 

Instantly, a duplicate of Mizuki appeared behind Iruka, kunai in hand.

 

“You won't,” Mizuki said, “be able to react in time.” The clone dove the kunai into the back of Iruka's shoulder, ripping the blade out roughly. Iruka yelled in pain, turning as swiftly as he could to disperse the clone.

 

The moment the clone had disappeared, Iruka felt the air around him take on a different atmosphere. It became thick and dense, moist with a static undercurrent.

 

Iruka placed his hands together in a dispelling sign. “Kai! Release!” He gasped out; he did not have the energy to fight a genjutsu.

 

“Keep your eyes on your opponent, Iruka!” Mizuki yelled, throwing a handful of kunai at the younger man. Iruka dodged them easily and turned to face a smiling Mizuki.

 

Iruka sniffed. Smoke had permeated the air. “Wha--?” And explosion erupted from behind him, propelling him forward by yards, past Mizuki and into the opposite wall. He hit the wall at full force and crumpled to the ground.

 

“Exploding notes!” Mizuki called cheerfully, turning around to face Iruka. “Always be prepared for traps set by your enemy, sensei.” Mizuki unsheathed a kunai and held it at the ready. “Any final words, Iruka?”

 

Iruka grit his teeth and spat out another wave of blood. The wound on his back wasn't deep, but he was losing enough blood to blur his vision.

 

It was over.

 

Panting heavily, Iruka brought himself upright to lean against the wall behind him. `At least... I can die standing...'

 

Mizuki threw the kunai at Iruka's neck the same moment that the far wall crashed in.

 

In a flash of light and speed, Kakashi dove in through the fragmented wall. Iruka's eyes widened as he saw Kakashi smile briefly at him through his mask.

 

Kakashi dove in front of Iruka, taking the kunai in the very center of his chest.

 

“Kakashi! Kakashi!” Iruka screamed. He dropped to the floor to support the weight of his sagging lover. Kakashi crumpled on top of him. “Wake up! Wake up you idiot, wake up! Tears rolled easily from Iruka's eyes. “Wake up, Kakashi...”

 

Kakashi's eye cracked open. “Iru... I made it...”

 

Mizuki chuckled, striding forward. “This is too easy, even I couldn't have expected that! I'll just take Kakashi and--"

 

“Don't touch him!” Iruka screeched. “Get out.”

 

“Iruka, you don't honestly think that you can make me--"

 

“Get out, get out, get out!!” Iruka cried, puling the kunai out of Kakashi's chest and throwing it at Mizuki's leg. “I'll kill you Mizuki, I swear it; I'll kill you!”

 

Mizuki paused. He had never seen Iruka so upset. And there was no doubt in his mind that every word that left Iruka's mouth was serious.

 

“I'll be back,” Mizuki said coldly. “For the bodies; his and yours.”

 

Iruka sobbed, rocking back and forth with Kakashi strewn across his lap. “Kakashi, don't leave me please don't leave me.”

 

“I... I love you, Iruka...” Kakashi choked out.

 

“I know, I know... I love you too, Kakashi Hatake.” Iruka tugged the soft black cloth off of Kakashi's mouth and kissed him.

 

He tasted like blood.

 

Iruka pulled back, horrified, as a bubble of blood grew and erupted at the corner of Kakashi's mouth, freeing the crimson liquid to flow down the man's chin.

 

“Iruka, my Iru...” Kakashi's voice was choked off, and the man's eyes faded as he lost consciousness.

 

“Kakashi,” Iruka sobbed, throwing his head onto the still man's chest. “Oh, Kakashi...”

 

Iruka's eyes shut as he breathed in his lover's scent. So rich, so warm. If Iruka concentrated hard enough, he could still remember the beating of Kakashi's heart.

 

The way he used to listen to it after they made love, the way it would comfort him after Kakashi returned from a mission, the way it would lull him to sleep...

 

There was no life for him without Kakashi Hatake. A tear escaped Iruka's eye and landed on Kakashi's jounin vest, a silent promise of eternal love as Iruka drifted off to sleep.

 

 

To be continued...