asparkleofmuses

[asparkleofmuses]

"Unless it's frost country, you'd be fine right now. Although maybe some places are not ideal because of the humidity rather than the cold. But Hmmm. Maybe you would have a good time at Suna" the last time he was there it was to rescue the Kazekage from the Akatsuki, so not too pleasant of a trip, really.

"Well isn't there a place you'd like to get to know?" he files away the information about the onsen in his mind, continuing the conversation instead.

[asparkleofmuses]

"Well isn't there a place you'd like to get to know?" he files away the information about the onsen in his mind, continuing the conversation instead.

"Aside from a few days at the onsen I usually do, I wouldn't know where to go."

[asparkleofmuses]

"You could go on a trip?"

"I'm at a loss for what to do for my break this year."

[asparkleofmuses]

He might have fallen asleep on the Engawa.

[asparkleofmuses]

All of her muscles are sore. She's almost ready to go find an empty room and take a nap right there at the hospital.

[asparkleofmuses]

"..." No comment.

which tragic character from ancient greek literature are you?

[asparkleofmuses]

"I don't think you'd even talk to someone who didn't like Naruto. Well. Maybe to berate them." Kakashi replied. He sighed at the next sentence.

"Even though Naruto deserves to be shown love and care openly?"

Despite Kakashi saying it wasn't going to do anything, Iruka stubbornly ran his fingers through Kakashi's hair again. He also just liked running his hands through it whenever he had the chance and the older man knelt down to give him better access so he was going to take advantage.

"I wouldn't date someone who hated Naruto either so I'm glad that I'm dating someone who cares about him as much as I do." He gave Kakashi a little smile. "I love that about you, even if you try not to show how much you actually care."

[asparkleofmuses]

Give my muse an item and see how they react!

Things may or may not be added to their official inventory

[asparkleofmuses]

He crouched down to give him more access to his hair, leaning his hands on Iruka's thighs, and looking up at him. Kakashi's hair, however, kept springing up as soon as Iruka wasn't holding it down.

"Hmm... Well, it's not like I'd date someone who hated Naruto." he scrunched up his nose in distaste at the idea. "... You know that is not going to do anything, right?"

That had Iruka laugh softly, making him feel lighter despite the slight hangover he was feeling. A spot on Naruto impression, if he did say so himself. "He probably would but I think it's a thing to celebrate." He reached up to fix Kakashi's hair as best as he could with a run through with his fingers. "Two of his sensei's are dating. That's two people who care about him."

[asparkleofmuses]

"Mhm" he could already hear Tenzou's voice teasing him. He'd find soon enough. Actually, he was surprised he didn't know already. The ANBU knew everything and gossipped.

"Maa... I think he'll come to you and tell you something like 'Iruka-sensei, are you sure you want to date him? He's a pervert, y'know?'" Kakashi imitated Naruto's voice, and his fox-like facial expression, verbal tic included.

"You really were." Iruka hummed. Shinobi liked to gossip and teachers had a lot of information, unwillingly really, because of how talkative their students were. It probably wouldn't stay a secret very much longer, though he was sure the wrong information based on what was seen was going to go around.

He leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek. "I'm sure he'll be okay with it? He doesn't have a reason to protest, does he?"

[asparkleofmuses]

"The Hatake Kakashi," he repeated, rolling his eyes as he let Iruka pull him closer. "was just as all over you. And he didn't have the excuse of being drunk."

He suddenly went serious and groaned. "I think the one who won't let us hear the end of it will be Naruto"

He took a couple sips of water, then the pain killers and then took a couple more sips to make the cottonmouth feeling go away as much as possible. Then he was reaching out to tug Kakashi closer. "I'm not going to hear the end of how I was draped all over The Kakashi Hatake."

[asparkleofmuses]

He forced his lips down into a not very convincing frown. He really wanted to laugh, though, Iruka's expression of suspicion was adorable.

"You weren't a bother at all. I hope your coworkers don't give you a talk on going home with random jonin, though." Kakashi's eye glinted mischievously.

His eyes narrowed a little at Kakashi's smirk and he sat up properly to snatch the pain killers from. "Don't look so smug." He puffed out. Kakashi looked cute though, half asleep and not quite as put together as he usually did. "I wasn't too much of a bother was I?"

[asparkleofmuses]

After a couple of minutes, the bathroom room opened, and Kakashi emerged, his white hair sticking in all directions, and still looking half asleep. He walked back to the bed and offered a little bottle of painkillers to Iruka, with a knowing smirk.

Iruka kept his head in the pillow for a moment later until it dawned on him that Kakashi had gotten up. He finally got the nerve to lift his head up and brave the light of day with the headache he knew he had. He blinked slowly, looking around to take in his surroundings. Definitely Kakashi's apartment. The water from the night before was still on the table so he reached for that.

[asparkleofmuses]

The arm slid completely from under his head, and a hand (the opposite one, actually), carded gently through his head, then disappearing. Kakashi's weight disappeared from the bed and then, silently, from the surroundings. A quiet click was the only thing that signaled that the man had disappeared into either the kitchen or the bathroom.

Iruka let out groan as the arm under him moved. He shifted enough to let Kakashi free himself, finding a pillow to stubbornly bury his head under. He was slowly becoming aware of the dull throb to his head and his mouth was a little dry. He vaguely knew Kakashi was there, but if they were at his place or Kakashi's he didn't know and didn't want to open his eyes to the light to take a look around.

[asparkleofmuses]

It took Kakashi a good while longer to fall asleep, but he eventually managed it. He woke up the next morning, his face still smothered against Iruka's hair, and the arm under his head with really bad pin and needles.

He groaned, and did his best to gently extract his arm from under Iruka without waking him.

Iruka yawned loudly and let himself drift off. He wasn't in his own bed or home but he was comfortable, warm and safe. He was happy there and that made it easier to fall asleep.

"G'night Kakashi." He mumbled softly, fingers curled in Kakashi's shirt as he fell asleep.

[asparkleofmuses]

"I'm sure the cover of my book is not the most upsetting thing Itachi-kun has seen"

[asparkleofmuses]

Kakashi's heart squeezed, hearing Itachi tell him that. He wanted to feel happy that Itachi would care so much for him, but it also terrified him. Knowing that Itachi would endanger himself to save his life�� well, it was the last thing Kakashi would have wanted. Still, he couldn't help but smile at the way he leaned against his hand.

Tapir and Boar had been on a standard tracking and capturing mission for a man that had been coming and going to and fro River Country. Border patrol had reported that he had been moving through different parts of the border and never repeated a place. Furthermore, he had been wearing disguises. All in all, very suspicious behavior once you had noticed. He was to capture him alive at all costs and bring him to Konoha so T&I could find out what his deal was.

He could be something as simple as a drug dealer, or he could be a spy looking for intelligence, and then they could be on the brink of a war with another country (and it might not even be river country).

They had been looking for the guy for three days already, to no avail at the moment, but Tapir and Boar knew this mission had the potential to drag on. Boar had been getting restless, and at some point he just grumbled at Tapir that he hoped something would happen already.

Before Tapir could even say, "Don't jinx it," a crow landed on his shoulder, reporting that Uchiha Itachi was requesting backup. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach; what could possibly have happened that Itachi-san would request backup?. Well, it didn't matter; they were not going to ignore a call for help. Boar was looking grimly at him, but he still asked Itachi's summon to guide them.

They moved inland through the forest, hurtling at full speed along the trees, and, soon enough, they reached a clearing with… A giant… well, it looked like a samurai. Inside it were Itachi and Kakashi. Fortunately for him, it seemed that there were no enemies around, because if he had to fight someone that had defeated the Black Flame of Konoha and the Copy Ninja, he was dead meat. He was so freaked out by the entire thing that he never processed that Kakashi's face was out in the open until Itachi covered it. Kakashi himself blinked, too, like he hadn't considered that, either.

No, it seemed they had defeated the enemy, but they were both injured. As he was ushered inside the construct, with the eerie sensation of another person's chakra bathing him, Itachi pulled him close and started giving instructions. The man's face was bloodied, he was pale as a ghost, and he was struggling to keep his head up. And yet, he was hashing out a plan to him through slurred words. As he listened, Tapir moved his mask away, finding himself face-to-face with his captain.

"We'll get you home, Captain, no need to worry." Ayumu told him. Boar had finally approached and was now standing behind him. Ayumu looked him in the eye and didn't let go of his hand, focused on reassuring him. As the Sharingan reverted and disappeared, he saw out of the corner of his eye how Kakashi started to sit up and put his arm out to catch Itachi as he predicted the exact moment in which he passed out. Ayumu was still holding onto his hands, and he was able to soften the fall a little.

By the time Itachi woke up, he would find himself looking at the white ceiling of the hospital of Konoha. It was dark and cool in the room, and the crickets chirped outside, like nothing bad could happen in the world. His right hand was warm, enveloped in someone else's hand.

It was, of course, Kakashi, sleeping soundly, even as he was sitting on a couch. His head slumped slightly sideway, and half resting on his right hand, half leaning on the back of the couch. He was not wearing his customary mask, but rather a sanitary mask, and he was wearing hospital pajamas.

Safe. They were both safe.

ㅤIt took every ounce of discipline in him to not just allow his eyes to flutter shut, the moment Kakashi's hand so gently touched his face. For the pragmatic motive of wiping away a little the drizzling blood, yes, but Itachi felt himself leaning in all the same. Chasing that soothing contact, never mind the older man's cold hands. «How foolish,» he said in response, a loving smile curving his lips despite the teasing words, «to believe that I would ever let you die.»

ㅤIt really was taking everything he had left to simply keep himself more-or-less up straight, however; his head already starting to nod off absently and his breathing growing slightly more labored. Thankfully, just at the most perfect timing, a familiar voice calling from behind them made itself heard. Itachi turned his head slowly, not trusting himself to perform any quick movements at the moment, but had to squint with a frown because all he could discern were two vaguely human-shaped figures. Sharingan coming in clutch, all over again, because the chakra signatures matched perfectly. That and, thank the heavens, it was Kemuri. Of course it was. Shisui likely broke out of the Pure Lands momentarily to guide her himself. Not trusting himself to raise his voice, either, he instead communicated with his crow telepathically.

ㅤ«Come along, little prince,» the crow promptly said to Tapir, playfully pecking at the side of the porcelain mask; yes, she'd been teasing him all the way up to here and it wasn't going to stop just yet, «it won't hurt you.» To illustrate what she meant, she took flight and entered the area covered by the Susanoo, motioning with a wing for the two ANBU operatives to follow her. Passing through the wall of chakra would feel like... nothing, really. No real physical sensation, other than the expected change of lighting. If anything, it would feel like having Itachi's presence all around, given that the armored giant was indeed born from his chakra. From there, Kemuri flew all the way over to Itachi and landed on his shoulder, promptly receiving a gentle nuzzle in response.

«Thank you,» he murmured, «I am in your debt.»

ㅤOne thing less to worry about. Letting go of that bit of control, he allowed Kemuri along with all the other crows to be dismissed and vanish into thin air. As his subordinates approached, however, there was one tiny detail he still had the presence of mind to cater to. Bringing his unsteady hands to Kakashi's mask, he rolled it back up into place as well as he presently was able to - aware that, although it wasn't as much of a big deal as most people thought it to be, his former captain preferred it that way. And then he turned again, to face his men.

ㅤ«Tapir, Boar,» offering the best smile he had available while hanging on to consciousness by a thread, he clumsily reached for Ayumu's nearest hand and tugged on it till the older man was crouching beside him; hopefully, the current absolute lack of decorum would be forgiven. Not to mention, his own mask had been pushed almost all the way over to the back of his head, for the obvious reason one couldn't exactly do CPR with it in the way. «Well done.» Always important to positively reinforce good performance, as well.

ㅤAnd now on to the priorities, «Kakashi-san needs medical assistance as soon as possible. Be careful when moving him, there is at least one cracked rib. Please check him for other possible injuries. If he insists he's well enough to walk on his own, do not trust him.» What else...? Thoughts seemed to be quickly escaping his grasp, getting lost and jumbled together. It also probably didn't help that, by now, he was starting to struggle to breathe for good, a dull piercing ache shooting through his chest. Just a little bit longer. Don't ruin everything now, Itachi. «Mission concluded successfully. All targets eliminated.» Not the most eloquent report he'd ever given, but it would have to do for the time being. Mostly, because he wasn't about to last much longer. «As for myself, don't worry. No injuries. I will be all right after some rest.»

ㅤThere. It would have to do, scrambled that it was. Ayumu was a bright man, surely he'd be able to make sense out of that half-slurred mess and take the best course of action. With a sigh of relief, Itachi finally allowed his mangekyou to revert to the three separated tomoes and, from there, the sharingan faded away. Immediately, the Susanoo began unraveling as well, following the reverse order: from armor to sinew and muscle to skeleton to nothingness. Finally. He could swear he could almost hear his entire body squeaking in protest like the rusty hinges of an old gate. With his eyes falling shut, he slumped unceremoniously to the side and stopped moving; the weasel-shaped mask snapping free and rolling away a few inches to the side on the sandy ground of the lake shore. Fortunately, it didn't crack.