Chapter Sixteen: The Epilogue

"Oh, Kakashi-san," Iruka stood frozen in the hall of the Hokage tower. "Congratulations I suppose," he smiled shyly, "on being chosen to be the next Hokage."

Kaksahi's eyes drifted, watching other shinobi pass in the hall. "I'm glad I ran into you, sensei. Can we talk?"

Iruka was visibly torn. Kakashi could see the faintest hint of color on the teacher's cheeks, daring to hope, but his eyes were cautious, telling himself not to. "I don't think that'd be a good idea…"

"Purely professional," Kakashi promised.

They had seen each other only a few times since the war had ended. Iruka had been with the villagers to welcome back the returning shinobi. He watched as Naruto ran to him, to tell him everything that had happened. He stood in the background as Iruka expressed concern over the blond's injuries, namely his missing arm.

Their eyes met once in the commotion but it was brief.

After the funeral was held for the ones that didn't come back he thought he'd seek the teacher out.

Kakashi waited outside the apartment knowing his knock wouldn't go unanswered. When the door opened brown eyes regarded him sadly.

"Can I come in?"

Iruka seemed to debate the idea before sighing and stepping aside.

The air was heavy between them, both unsure what to say.

They stood in silence, thinking to themselves. Finally the chunin sighed. "This was a mistake, you should go, Kakashi."

Kakashi ignored him. He pulled Iruka close, slipping free of the black mask.

Iruka didn't fight but he didn't kiss back either. "You should go."

Kakashi touched the tan face. He had been through so much and he wanted Iruka. Now more than ever, he wanted to be happy again.

"You can't use me like before, Kakashi," Iruka's voice was hard, pained.

Kakashi stepped back realizing Iruka was right. He was falling into an old habit. "I'm sorry." He backed towards the door. Iruka had known from the second he'd seen him at his door, but he still let him in. "Why'd you even let me in?"

"You've always looked good in black," Iruka mumbled out his answer before closing the door on the jonin.

"Alright," Iruka hesitantly agreed.

Kakashi opened a door to an empty office and they stepped inside.

The air instantly became awkward. Iruka's eyes avoided looking directly into Kakashi's face. "What is it, Kakashi?"

"I think Naruto's ready to advance to jonin," he shared.

Iruka seemed to falter, realizing this was actually a professional visit. "Oh."

"Would you be willing to help him prepare for the exam?" Kakashi asked.

Iruka looked off at one of the desks. "I don't know… I'm a chunin instructor he'd be studying advanced material."

"If anyone could handle the challenge I'm sure it would be you," Kakashi assured. He took a step towards him. This has been the longest he'd been alone with the other man in such a long time. He missed him.

Iruka sighed. "Of course I'll help Naruto." He looked up at the jonin, his body tense. He knew Kakashi was getting dangerously close but part of him wanted him to. "If that's it-"

"Of course that's not it," Kakashi said softly. "Iruka, I-"

"I miss you," Iruka blurted. He turned away, face turning pink. "Please... I can't do this." It had taken all his strength to reject Kakashi the first few times and it hurt more each time. Couldn't he just leave him alone?

"Iruka, I don't want to go back," Kakashi confessed. "We both know you're just being stubborn now," he smiled behind his mask.

Iruka's arms folded across his chest. "I am not. We both know there's perfectly good reason for-"

Kakashi just slid closer, the space between them was almost nonexistent. He hummed with mock amusement as if not hearing a single word, "good reasons yes."

"Kakashi, you're going to be the Hokage, for real this time, we can't-"

"I'm going to be the Hokage, I can do what I want," His hands slid expertly over Iruka's waist, pulling the defiant chunin closer, "and I want to do you."

"Pervert," Iruka mumbled under his breath, face turned away, in the most adorable shade of pink. Kakashi looked down, Iruka's arms were still folded but his lower half was forced into an embrace. He watched the stubborn arms fall to the chunin's sides and brown eyes looked up.

"Iruka," Kakashi's tone became serious. "I still love you, I never stopped."

"I know," Iruka's eyes fell sadly. His hands slid up the strong arms holding him. "I love you too, Kakashi."

"I don't know what kind of Hokage I'll be but I don't want to be the kind of man that turns away from love anymore," he shared. He had been forced to face a lot of his demons during his battle with Obito. He had realized his mistakes in life. How cold and distant he had been to people that only cared about him. He wouldn't do that again. "I need your help, Iruka. Keeping peace between the nations is going to be hard work, especially for me."

Iruka looked into the matching dark eyes. He was one of the few people to see Kakashi's whole face. He was used to the scar over his eye, but it was usually shut, keeping the sharingan inactive. It was strange to see it grey. "I'm sure you'll manage," he said reassuringly.

Kakashi remembered the conversation he had with his father in what had felt like a dream, but he knew it had been real. He had died that day with a lot of regrets. He didn't want that to happen again. "No," he let out a sigh, "We both know love isn't easy for me but it's what the world needs right now." He raised a hand to touch the side of the teacher's stunned and beautiful face. He wished he had the sharingan again to keep it locked in his memories. "I'll need you to teach me, sensei, like you did before."

Iruka moved closer, fingers finding the edge of the dark mask. "You'll be a good Hokage," the fabric moved down to Kakashi's chin. "You already love one ninja."

Their smiles melted against one another as lips finally touched. Kakashi's arms tightened around the chunin, resolving to never let him go and Iruka seemed perfectly okay with that.

A/N: Thank you all for reading. I hope you enjoyed the story. If you're looking for some Hokage-Kakashi and Iruka feels I've started another story The Hokage's Wife.