Corn Fields and Coral Reefs

see original summary, disclaimers, and warnings on the first chapter

Well it's another chapter…after how long? apologizes to rabid readers who pelted my email with so many reviews I couldn't put off updating anymore Not that I could really update with that virus on my computer…what a pain in the ass Anyway that's my excuse, like it or lump it…in the end you got a chapter! Not one of the best chapters or anything but hey, it's a chapter! And the next one should come sooner than this one did (as long as computer problems don't bite me in the ass again. Pray with me readers…I need a new computer for Christmas that won't die on me every week….)

Chapter #8

Kakashi stared at the soup, and despite the old proverb of 'a watched pot never boils' it finally started to bubble, and little waves of steam came up from it. Deciding it was done, he reached over and turned the burner off, then put some of it into a bowl for Iruka. Placing the bowl on a plate and throwing a few crackers on it, he carried it to Iruka's room, the dog watching him all the way.

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Opening the door with his foot, Kakashi forced a smile on his face...even though it was covered by the mask. Iruka was sitting up a little on the bed, now that the pain killers had kicked in…he looked a little drowsy as well. Kakashi placed the tray in front of Iruka, who bent his head as if embarrassed, which discouraged Kakashi a little.

Kakashi drew back slightly. Iruka hadn't really said anything when he'd tried to explain himself, so maybe he was still upset. "Um..." He coughed nervously. "Here's your soup...you don't have to eat it all if you don't want to..." He started, and Iruka reached over, pulling the tray closer and taking a sip. That left Kakashi with only one thing to do...stand there and try not to stare at him.

Iruka blushed when he noticed Kakashi still standing there after a few minutes…he should have noticed sooner, but with the drugs in his system, he was lucky to have noticed anything at all. "Kakashi...you can sit down, you know." he spoke up, and Kakashi cleared his throat before obediently sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Iruka's hand-eye coordination was starting to slow down, and he was having a slightly difficult time getting the spoon to his mouth. With stubborn determination, however, he kept trying to eat the soup and prove he wasn't too weak to even do that. Unfortunately, the pain killers were making even that extremely difficult...although it didn't hurt to move anymore...

Kakashi glanced over just in time to see Iruka, eyes closed and keeling over, his face headed straight for the bowl of steaming hot soup.

His hands shot out and caught Iruka's head between his hands. He helped him to sit back up as Iruka blinked his drowsy eyes at him. Both of them blushed just a little, and both were determined to ignore it. "Maybe we should wait until you're not too droopy eyed before you eat... Unless you're too hungry to wait, I can help..." Kakashi blushed and looked away again, secretly hoping Iruka would accept the offer.

Iruka opened his mouth to answer when a loud growl broke the silence for him…his stomach was growling. Iruka turned red and nodded to Kakashi's offer...he was too hungry to be proud right now.

Kakashi, feeling his ears growing very, very hot, dipped the spoon into the bowl and held it up for Iruka to eat. Iruka opened his mouth and let Kakashi feed him, and if possible, the butterflies in Kakashi's stomach picked up the pace.

It was a little awkward, but with Iruka propped up in bed and Kakashi spoon feeding him, they were able to get most of the soup into Iruka before he became too tired to even keep his eyes open. Kakashi smiled as Iruka's head leaned back against the pillows in exhaustion. "Maybe it's time to get some sleep." Kakashi told him gently.

Iruka nodded sleepily and Kakashi made sure he was comfortable. Putting the tray on the ground he reached to cover Iruka with the blanket, but the dark haired boy was already sound asleep. Kakashi slowly pulled the blanket up to Iruka's chin, and couldn't help but watch him sleeping.

Iruka sighed in his sleep and Kakashi felt the butterflies in his stomach again, only this time they weren't so agitated and he couldn't help but smile. No matter what anyone said about him, Iruka was stronger then he looked…

It was getting dark out and Kakashi knew he should get going and have his own supper, but he was content just to watch the boy sleep. Iruka muttered something in his sleep and turned his head towards Kakashi. Acting on complete impulse, Kakashi removed his mask and leaned over, lightly kissing Iruka on the lips.

Kakashi closed his eyes as he let himself enjoy the feeling of his lips brushing ever so slightly against Iruka's. He felt at peace...then he pulled away and realized what he had just done. Eyes widening, he jumped off the bed and backed up, almost knocking over the chair that was still in the middle of the room. He stared at Iruka, still asleep, in mixed horror and confusion. What had he just done?

Kakashi turned and fled the room, his mind still asking himself a million questions, his face fevered with embarrassment. That was nothing like what happened at lunch! That had been a complete accident, and a painful one at that. Ignoring the look the small dog gave him, he threw himself into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Cold, a very cold shower.

"Hey, are you ok in there?" The dog asked, knocking at the door with his paw.

"I'm fine, go away!" Kakashi yelled, closing his eyes as the water ran over his head and soaked into his clothes. Slowly, he sunk down into the tub and stared blankly into the shower wall. His mind was still reeling, with questions, and images of Iruka...always the images of Iruka...

Kakashi shivered a little as the cold water pelted down on him. Okay, he liked Iruka as a friend... but that didn't explain why he'd kissed the other boy. Nor why he was insanely protective over him. He sighed, trying to figure it out as the water soaked him through. The only conclusion he could come up with was that he had kissed Iruka on complete impulse, and had enjoyed it!

He covered his face with one hand then dragged it down as he groaned. This was the most confusing thing he'd ever had to deal with...here he was, probably the biggest, most perverted hentai lover in Konoha, kissing boys and liking it.

'But it wasn't just any boy' a small voice in the back of his mind spoke up. 'It was Iruka...'

Kakashi shook his head sending water spraying everywhere, 'No, no, don't blame this on Iruka, he's got enough problems as it is!' Kakashi mentally scolded himself, 'Blame it on hormones! You're 17, you have hormones, they make you do strange things,'

' ...Like kissing Iruka?' The small voice asked.

'Ummmm....'

He groaned again, and felt like just melting into the ground so he wouldn't have to deal with this. The weird tiny voice in his head was right...this wasn't hormones, this was something...different. Something he'd never come across before. He knew how his Icha Icha paradise books made him feel...this was the same, but still different. "Argh, what is it?!" he cried, and practically ripped out his hair.

"What's what?" The dog said, still outside the door. "Hey, are you trying to drown yourself in there or what?"

Sighing, Kakashi turned off the water. It was not helping him think and at this rate he was going to catch a cold before he even figured half of it out. Pulling off his soaked clothing, he grabbed a towel from under the sink. He was cold, hungry, and wet...such a lovely combination...not to mention he was confused, so that was even better.

Poking his head out the door, Kakashi glared at the annoying dog, "Why don't you go chase a cat or something?" he asked.

The dog glared back as Kakashi checked the room, then stepped out in his towel and headed for his room. "Why don't you?" The dog retorted, poking his head into the bathroom. "What the hell kind of shower did you have anyway? It's not even warm in here! And why are your clothes lying on the ground all wet?"

Kakashi tried to ignore the questions as he took his pj's out of a drawer and pulled them on.

Once in his pj's, he made a brief stop over at the kitchen for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sandwich in hand, Kakashi crept back to his room, only to stop when he reached Iruka's door. Not able to resist the temptation of peeking inside…just to check on Iruka, of course…to make sure he was okay…

He opened the door a crack and peeked in. Iruka was just where he had left him, sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of what had just gone on in there. Kakashi couldn't help it, just seeing him so peaceful brought a smile to his lips. The dog walked over and looked in as well. "What? What are we looking at, is something wrong in here?" He asked, and Kakashi almost slammed the door on the dog's head.

Pakkun glared up at Kakashi, but he tactfully did not say anything, ...at least not about almost taking his own dog's head off. "You smell different, Kakashi," Pakkun spoke up, "Kind of like when you're reading your perverted books...but different."

Kakashi's face turned very, very red, "I smell different when I'm reading?"

"Yeah, kind of like..." The dog started but Kakashi held up a hand.

"I don't want to know!" he said desperately. Whatever he smelled like when he was reading his books couldn't be good.

"Are you sick or something, Kakashi?" The dog asked, following him. "You smell different, you act different, you..." he stopped when Kakashi turned on him.

"Will you just stop...look I don't know ok? I don't know anything right now so stop asking me!"

Pakkun sighed "Fine, fine, I'll let it drop...at least for tonight." the dog said and went to find his own bed amongst the piles of junk in the living room. Kakashi sighed, he was going to really have to clean his house tomorrow…he didn't think Iurka would like to spend the whole day in bed if possible...and maybe Pakkun would lighten up a little about how he smelled.

Pakkun awoke the next morning to find Kakashi garbed in an old outfit, covered with an apron, and one of those paper air filter masks on, cleaning the kitchen with a vengeance. Dust flew through the air as he dusted the top of things, and wiped counter tops at the same time. This was it...the guy had definitely lost it, the dog thought to himself as he hauled himself to his feet.

Walking over to Kakashi, Pakkun sneezed from all the dust in the air, "What do you think you're doing, cleaning?" he asked which stopped Kakashi, feather duster in hand as he turned to Pakkun and said quite seriously that they had an injured guest and it wouldn't do to have him tripping over all the junk that they had left out.

"You never clean when the loud one comes over." The dog pointed out, and Kakashi continued his cleaning regiment.

"I hate Gai, I thought you would have figured that out by now." Kakashi replied. "Drag that trash out so it can get picked up, will you?" He asked.

"Pfft, if I were a normal dog I wouldn't have to do this." Pakkun grumbled, grabbing the bag in his teeth and dragging it out the open door.

Kakashi ignored the complaining dog as he began washing about a month's worth of dishes. He knew he was acting odd, he normally didn't care who saw that he lived like a slob, but as it was, he was keeping his hands busy so he didn't think about Iruka in the other room. He had barely slept and all he could think about was Iruka…it scared him a little to be honest, he had never been this...directed...focused on anther human being before. Well except maybe the 4th but that was completely different, he had been Kakashi's teacher and mentor.

Realizing his thoughts were wandering back to Iruka, Kakashi redoubled his efforts on scrubbing the dishes. The dog came back in and, as was his custom, jumped up on the counter to see what Kakashi was doing.

"What are you trying to do, rub the paint off that plate?" The dog asked, somewhat concerned at his master's increasingly odd behavior.

Kakashi sighed and rinsed the plate, "If you're not going to help clean I suggest you check yourself into a doggy hotel for the day." He told the dog.

Pakkun sighed, "Just trying to figure out if you need to be put in a strait jacket is all." he said, then jumped off the table and headed out the door.

Kakashi stopped scrubbing plates and looked at the dog, "Where do you think you're going?"

"You told me if I didn't want to clean I could leave and I don't wanna clean." the dog answered and disappeared out the door.

Kakashi stared at the open door for a while, his hands still immersed in the dish water before realization sank in. 'Damnit, now I'm stuck in here alone with Iruka!' He rushed to the door. "Pakkun, come back!" he yelled desperately, but there was no answer. Several people in the street turned to look at him strangely though.

Sighing, Kakashi closed the door and resumed cleaning, and seeing how he had gotten up at about 5am and had been cleaning non stop, he soon found himself in a completely spotless apartment. He almost groaned when the work stopped, because it meant he would have to go check on Iruka, and since it was almost 10am he figured he should get up and eat something.

Taking off his apron and throwing it lazily on a nearby chair, Kakashi nervously approached the cavern of doom (a.k.a. Iruka's room) and knocked. He heard a sleepy, muffled answer from within, and took it as an invitation. Opening the door he stepped inside and saw Iruka lying there, apparently just waking up, his topknot almost completely undone, long dark hair flowing loosely out at all angles.

The light was shining in through the window and Iruka laid there blinking as the light hit his eyes; Kakashi wished he had a camera…then he wished he had waited another hour, when the light wouldn't have shone through the window in that way and highlighting his features in a way that Kakashi really had been only half expecting.

Feeling a blush rise in his cheeks, and after stifling that tiny voice in his head that cried out how totally adorable Iruka looked, Kakashi stepped inside and looked down at the half awake Iruka.

"How do you feel this morning?" he asked, and Iruka blinked at him, then reached up and rubbed at his sleepy eyes, without flinching from pain.

Iruka's sleepy features soon turned as red as a tomato, "I...err...I have to use the bathroom..." he said embarrassed, throwing the covers off and trying to get out of bed. But the painlessness that he'd had during sleep was now gone, and his muscles were stiff and bruised. Iruka doubled over in bed clutching his stomach.

"I-Iruka?" Kakashi cried, as Iruka continued to groan in pain. "Damn it, why did that dog have to leave?" he cursed.

TBC…

Nyaa, there you have it, chapter eight! Hopefully you enjoyed it…and be thankful I didn't have to edit the nine page chapter or it would never have gotten done…

Mysterious Ninja: You didn't do the gasp thing…

Eimaj: Meh fine…

Gasp! What's wrong with Iruka? Will Kakashi save him in time? And how long will Pakkun remain awol? The answer to these questions and more when we update again…whenever that is, I'm lazy heheh…

Mysterious Ninja: I'm never letting you finish these things again….

P.S. Please Read and Review!