Names, Part 1 - Lying
by nayru-kleinefee
"Mission completed, mission completed, mission…"
"Naruto, could you just shut up?" Sakura sounds like she's ready to kill. I can't blame her. If Naruto wasn't my student, I'd already punched him into the nearest wall.
Twice.
At least.
"But we succeeded in completing another mission", Naruto complains. "You should be happy, too, Sakura-chan!"
"I am, but-"
"But there's no need to sing 'Mission completed' for half an hour, dope", Sasuke finishes. Wow, that was the longest sentence he's spoken the whole day. He must be really pissed, too.
"Sasuke and Sakura are right", I say before Naruto can start another never-ending rambling about Sasuke calling him names. "You all did a good job today, but now let's just hand in this report and then go home."
"Erm, Kakashi-sensei…" I see Naruto scratching his head. Damn, that boy's gonna try to be intelligent again.
"Yes?"
"Why did you insist on coming with us to hand in the report today? You normally send us alone and… I don't know, go home or something."
"I have to make sure from time to time that you do everything properly." I shrug and take out my Icha Icha Volume 7 – my favourite. Hope it will shut him up.
"But, Kakashi-sensei, we-"
"Look, we're there", I interrupt him, then enter the mission room quickly.
Now let's see… There are Genma, Raidou, several Chuunin carrying papers, some Jounin handing in reports…
But no Iruka… -sensei.
Damn.
I take a quick glance at the clock in the room – we've been fast today, so it's only 4:56 p.m. He should be here, his shift ends at 5 o'clock and he would never leave early.
So where is he?
Maybe he changed shifts with somebody?
I have to suppress a groan of frustration and disappointment. Great. The one-in-a-hundred day me and my little pains-in-the-ass make it here in time and Iruka changes shifts.
Lucky me.
And it's 'Iruka-sensei', Hatake. Don't try to fool yourself. It is and will always be 'Iruka-sensei' for you.
My days aren't anywhere near good if I don't see my favourite Chuunin at least once every twenty-four hours. (Speaking to him would make my entire week.) And because I know that he would never of his own free will spend time with someone like me, I have to steal his time somehow…
Maybe I can sneak into the Academy after handing in the report and see if he's there grading tests. Or maybe have a short look at him through the window of his apartment. Or-
"Kakashi-sensei, what are you waiting for?", Naruto asks curiously. "Didn't you want to hand in our report?"
"You do it", I answer, giving him the paper and burying my nose in the story where a handsome brunet schoolteacher and the school's security guard are locked up inside the school building for the night. And the schoolteacher has a pony-tail. Nice.
But it doesn't help. So where could Iruka be at this time of the day?
-sensei.
"What! You come here with us only to let us do it?", Naruto yells. What is he referring to? Oh, yes…
"Obviously", I snarl. Just do it and let me go search for my Iruka, you noisy little-
Not that he'll ever be my Iruka.
-sensei.
I sigh.
"Is everything alright, Kakashi-sensei?", Sakura questions.
"Yes." Even better. Not only is Naruto confused now, also is Sakura worried. And even Sasuke looks like he would pay attention to my behaviour. Great day, Hatake. I groan inwardly, shut my book and put it back in my pocket.
"Are you sure, sensei?"
"Yes, I am", I say as calmly as possible. "Everything is perfectly fine. I just remembered that I have to be somewhere." Academy first, then outside the window of Iruka's apart- Iruka-sensei's apartment. "I'm sorry, but it's really urgent that I leave now, so-"
"Don't believe him. He's lying", someone laughs suddenly from behind me.
I turn around to see who dares to-
"Iruka-sensei!" Did I just chirp his name? I sure hope not…
"Hello, Kakashi-sensei." That adorable Chuunin gives me a stunning smile and walks closer to me (and the others).
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto runs a few steps and tackles his former sensei. He'll better not hurt my Iruka.
-sensei. And it's not 'my'. Never will be. Remember, Hatake?
"Hey, be careful", Iruka-sensei laughs as he swings the blond brat around and then ruffles his hair. I suddenly wish I was twelve again.
"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei is lying?", Sakura asks after Iruka-sensei has freed himself from Naruto's embrace. "How do you know?"
"I can tell." Iruka-sensei grins and winks at me.
He winks.
At me.
"How can you tell? Tell me? Please? Pleeeease?", Naruto pleads.
I know I should interrupt them now – I don't know how Iruka figured it out, but Naruto and the others knowing whenever I lie to them would be disastrous.
-sensei.
But…
He winked at me.
"No telling, Naruto." Iruka-sensei smiles again. "Can't let you read your teacher, can I?"
"But-"
"No telling. But I'm sure Kakashi-sensei always has a good reason for lying to you."
"Do you, Kakashi-sensei?", Sakura questions, sounding highly suspicious.
"I do." Do I? I really do, don't I? Hard to tell with Iruka smiling at me like that and that scar on his nose crinkling so adorably…
Oh, yes, I remember. That was my reason…
And it's '-sensei'.
"I bet he wants you all to learn how to detect lies so you will be prepared if you have to deal with enemy nins", Iruka-sensei states, now grinning. He doesn't look like a sensei now.
"…Yes." I nod. "To make you learn how to detect lies." That's a really good reason, now that I think about it.
"Oh, then it's okay", Sakura agrees hesitantly.
"Enemy nins?" Naruto's eyes widen visibly. "When will we have to deal with enemy nins? Tomorrow? Kakashi-sensei? Tomorrow?"
"Never if you don't hand in that mission report soon", Iruka laughs then glances at the clock. "I can't take it from you anymore, my shift ended two minutes ago." I can almost see him making plans for his free time.
Without me, of course.
"I will!" Naruto nods eagerly then storms away to queue up after three other ninja in the line, Sakura and Sasuke on his heels.
"Where have you been up till now?", I ask Iruka-sensei after the little… ones are out of earshot. Not that I just HAVE to know. I'm not jealous. Not the tiniest bit.
At least I don't have a right to be. He's not mine and never will be.
"Taking some reports to the Hokage to sign", he answers, shrugging.
"Oh." Good. Just the Hokage.
We stand near the door for a while, watching the first kunoichi in the row hand in her report and leave. It's nice just to stand next to him like that, pretending to wait for my students although they could now vanish any time and I wouldn't care…
Well, I guess I would, but they won't, so I don't have to-
"Don't you want to know how I could tell you were lying?", Iruka suddenly whispers into my ear and I jump a little. When did he come this close? Not that I mind…
"M-hm." I nod. This close I can smell him – a little ink and chalk and… mmmmh, is that his shampoo? No, I bet it's his conditioner. He has to use one, for his hair is so shiny and smooth (I bet) and perfect and- I suppress a sigh. He smells soooo good.
"I could tell you…"
"Please." Tell me everything you want. I could listen to you all day.
"But better not here, don't you think? Too many people. You sure don't want anybody to eavesdrop?"
"No, certainly not!" Going someplace else. With Iruka. Alone. YAY!
-sensei.
"So… What do you think about dinner tonight? We could go to that little restaurant near the Hokage Tower if you'd like…"
"Sounds go-" Wait… Did he just- "Did you just-"
"Ask you out?" Iruka grins a little, scratches his nose a little, blushes a little. "I did."
"Oh." I feel myself blush a lot under my mask. I have to be dreaming.
"So, would you like to go?"
"I- Yes… Yes, I really would like to go." I can't stop myself. I grin like mad and it's a luck for me he can't see it under the mask – he'd probably run away scared like hell.
"It's a date then." Iruka smiles.
"Yes, a date."
A date.
A Date.
A DATE.
With Iruka.
With IRUKA.
A DATE with IRUKA.
'IRUKA' without '-sensei'.
"You scratch the side of your right upper thigh", he whispers suddenly.
"What?" I look down but my hands have twisted themselves in my vest at some part of the conversation.
"Not now." Iruka laughs quietly, his breath tickling my ear. "You do it when you lie. That's why I can tell."
"…Oh."
"M-hm." He grins and winks again.
"But- but why are you telling me now? I thought you would tell me tonight?" Doesn't he want to go out anymore? He must have seen me grinning and that must have scared him. Stupid Hatake!
But I can't blame him. I wouldn't want to date someone like me, and after the dinner (at the latest) he won't want it anymore either, so-
"Well, I'd like us to meet tonight because we want to be with each other, not because I need to tell you."
Oh. "I- I would have come because I wanted to… be with you." I always want to be with you.
"I know that, Kakashi." Iruka laughs again. "I only wanted to make sure that you know I will do so, too."
I feel myself blush again.
Maybe he can be my Iruka some day. Maybe if I try really hard.
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"Iruka-sensei?"
I force my eyes away from the four little figures approaching the Hokage-Tower and turn around to look at Kotetsu and Izumo. "Yes?"
"We're sorry, Iruka-sensei, but could you do us a favour?"
Right now? Can't it wait till- "Sure. What is it?"
"Could you take these papers to the Hokage to sign? We have just been called out on a mission, otherwise we'd do it ourselves."
"Sure, no problem." I smile at Izumo while he hands me the papers. "Come back safe."
"We will. Thank you, Iruka-sensei."
I sigh and take a look at the clock. 4:48 p.m. I turn around again and watch the four figures, one tall and three smaller ones, nearing the Tower, then I take another look at the papers.
Great. The one-in-a-hundred day they're on time for my shift and I have to leave the room. But there aren't that many papers, so maybe…
I take on a measured pace to walk out the mission room. Once I've reached the floor, I take a quick look around to see if somebody's watching.
No one's there. Good.
I pick up speed and hurry down the floor towards the Hokage's office. Maybe I'm lucky and I'll be back in time to see him…
And Naruto.
A little pang of guilt twists my stomach. I really, really like the boy and it's not fair to wait for somebody else in the first place, but… I just can't help it.
I knock at the door and enter, handing the papers to the Hokage sitting on his desk.
After some time inside the Hokage's office I can't help but throw a nervous glance at the clock. 4:53 p.m. And he's still reading and signing.
"Waiting for the end of your shift, Iruka-sensei?", the Hokage asks suddenly.
I jump a little. "No, Hokage-sama." Then I decide to go for a part of the truth. "I just saw Naruto and his team approaching the Tower before I came here…" And he is with them today. Maybe today he will finally-
"Then you should really hurry back, Iruka-sensei. Don't want to miss him, do you?" The Hokage smiles at me in a way that…
Does he know?
"No, Hokage-sama", I say, still wondering.
"Go back, Iruka. I'll have someone else take these back." He gestures at the papers on his desk.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." I bow and turn around.
Outside the door I stop and wonder. Does he know? Or did I just misinterpret that smile? Is it that obvious that everybody- I shake my head. No, it isn't. Maybe the Hokage knows, but no one else, I'm sure about that.
I walk back to the mission room. I know, I'm not a very open person, so there's no way anyone could have noticed my… Infatuation? Crush? Lo-
I guess 'crush' is okay for now.
But, on the other hand, he isn't very good at hiding it. Maybe the Hokage has seen his behaviour and then added one and one together.
I turn around a corner and just want to enter the mission room when I stop dead and-
"What! You come here with us only to let us do it?", I hear Naruto yell. I know that tone. He's… let's say 'not pleased' with Kakashi.
Kakashi-'sensei'. 'Kakashi-sensei' for me outside my mind. At least until-
"Obviously", said sensei snarls. He seems pissed, too. And he's throwing glances around the mission room like he's searching for something.
Or somebody.
It really is obvious. And he's supposed to be one of the best shinobi of Konoha AND a genius.
"Is everything alright, Kakashi-sensei?", Sakura asks, sounding worried. And Sasuke seems to have left his own little world to look something like attentive.
Now this isn't good. They are the last ones I want to notice Kakashi's… condition.
-sensei. Kakashi-sensei.
"Yes", he says now and puts away that orange book. I really can't understand how he's able to read them the whole day. I've tried, I really have, and I had to break off every story after a few pages 'cause they were so… let's say 'bad written'.
But… There had been this one with the schoolteacher and the security guard…
"Are you sure, sensei?"
"Yes, I am", Kakashi-sensei answers, sounding somewhat strained. "Everything is perfectly fine. I just remembered that I have to be somewhere." His eye lights up a little as if he's thinking of something pleasant. "I'm sorry, but it's really urgent that I leave now, so-"
He scratches his right upper thigh.
Like he always does when handing in one of his single-mission reports late and telling me why he wasn't on time this time. Every single time he lies to me and scratches his thigh and doesn't know that I know the real reason why he's late is because he waited for my shift to start, for me to be there to take his report.
"Don't believe him. He's lying", I laugh before I even realise that I've done it.
He turns around and glares at me and-
"Iruka-sensei!"
Did he just chirp my name?
"Hello, Kakashi-sensei." I smile at how the visible part of his face lightens up at my sight. I walk a little closer to him.
And the others, of course.
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto runs to me and throws himself in my arms. I see Kakashi glare a little at him.
-sensei.
"Hey, be careful", I laugh and swing Naruto around before I ruffle his hair. I know he hates that so I do it a little more. I just want to invite him to a bowl of ramen (more like twenty), when-
"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei is lying?", Sakura asks. "How do you know?"
I grin. I've always known that girl was smarter than most other kids her age. Won't give that chance away, ne?
"I can tell." I grin a little wider and wink at Kakashi before I can think about not doing it.
He stares at me, then blinks. Once. Twice.
"How can you tell? Tell me? Please? Pleeeease?", Naruto whines and interrupts me watching his sensei.
Who should stop me right now before I tell his students, shouldn't he? But instead he just keeps staring at me in this way like he can't believe I really winked at him. I mean, really. I winked at him. I didn't jump him, yank his mask down and kiss him right here in the mission room in front of his students.
Although I'd like to do that right now.
I force the image out of my head and my mind back to reality.
"No telling, Naruto." I smile to hide my earlier thoughts. "Can't let you read your teacher, can I?"
Still no reaction from Kakashi.
"But-", Naruto starts.
"No telling." I guess it would be fun to watch Kakashi's face if I really told them but that wouldn't be worth it. "But I'm sure Kakashi-sensei always has a good reason for lying to you."
Yeah, sure.
"Do you, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura sounds highly suspicious and I have to suppress a laugh.
"I do", he answers, visibly snapping back into reality although the kids don't seem to notice.
Does he really? I'm not sure about that.
I smile brightly and see him drift off again while watching me doing so. He really has it bad.
"I bet he wants you all to learn how to detect lies so you will be prepared if you have to deal with enemy nins." I just feel that I should help him. Although torturing him is fun, too.
"…Yes." He nods. "To make you learn how to detect lies."
That's a really good reason, isn't it?
"Oh, then it's okay." Sakura doesn't sound convinced.
"Enemy nins?" I knew Naruto would react that way. "When will we have to deal with enemy nins? Tomorrow? Kakashi-sensei? Tomorrow?"
"Never if you don't hand in that mission report soon", I laugh and check the time. "I can't take it from you anymore, my shift ended two minutes ago." And I've got lots of free time now. Just in case SOMEBODY would finally like to ask me out.
"I will!" Naruto storms away to the queue, Sakura and Sasuke following him.
Perfect time to arrange a date, now. If only SOMEBODY could at last-
"Where have you been up till now?", Kakashi asks me.
Now see who's jealous.
"Taking some reports to the Hokage to sign", I answers lightly, shrugging my shoulders.
"Oh."
Sounds more like, 'Good. Just the Hokage.'
We stand near the door, he pretending to watch his students while watching me from the corner of his eye, me waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting…
…
Oh, screw it!
"Don't you want to know how I could tell you were lying?", I whisper into his ear after closing the space between us without him noticing.
He jumps a little. "M-hm", he nods finally. He smells like leaves and earth… Hmmm, very nice. Quite addictive, in fact.
"I could tell you…", I whisper.
"Please", he croaks. And his voice is shaking a little. He really has it BAD. I guess I could tell him anything I want now, and he would listen to me all day.
"But better not here, don't you think? Too many people. You sure don't want anybody to eavesdrop?" And I don't want anybody to interrupt us.
"No, certainly not!" He likes the idea. I knew he would. Now he has an excuse to spend time with me.
But that's not what I want. No excuses.
"So… What do you think about dinner tonight? We could go to that little restaurant near the Hokage Tower if you'd like…" It's nice there. And they've got some tables separated from the rest of the room.
"Sounds go-" He hesitates when the realisation finally sinks in. A genius, really. "Did you just-"
"Ask you out?", I interrupt him, grinning a little not to scare him out of it now I almost have him, scratch my nose a little to hide my sudden nervousness, blush a little when I think of the chance to see him without his mask. "I did."
"Oh." He goes tomato. I can see it creeping over the edge of his mask.
"So, would you like to go?", I ask as lightly as possible. I'm still a little nervous. I know he likes me an awful lot, but I also know that he isn't that skilled when it comes to dealing with people apart from a battle. That he's very uncertain. I figured out ages ago that this was the reason why he hadn't asked me out by himself yet.
"I- Yes… Yes, I really would like to go." He grins like mad under his mask. If I wasn't so relieved, too, it would probably scare me out of my skin.
"It's a date then." I smile, using that word to make sure he realises what I really want.
"Yes, a date." He looks happier than I've ever seen him. If I hadn't already, I would fall for him right now.
But there's one more thing to do.
"You scratch the side of your right upper thigh", I whisper.
"What?" He looks down at his hands twisted into his vest and frowns. Cute.
"Not now", I laugh and almost brush my lips against the shell of his ear. "You do it when you lie. That's why I could tell."
"…Oh."
"M-hm." I grin and wink at him again, although on the inside I'm more nervous than ever. I only hope he'll not shy away.
"But- but why are you telling me now? I thought you would tell me tonight?" He looks like a kicked puppy, obviously fearing I would cancel our date. Stupid Hatake!
"Well, I'd like us to meet tonight because we want to be with each other, not because I need to tell you." I want him to be sure I set this date because I WANT to date him. I want to make sure he can't tell himself he only came because he had to know how I could tell he was lying. Just in case he should be afraid of this going on between us tomorrow. I've waited long enough for him and now I don't want to let him ruin everything because of his stupid fears.
"I- I would have come because I wanted to… be with you", he stammers.
"I know that, Kakashi." I laugh again. I know he wants to be with me. What other reason could there be for him to sneak into the Academy at night or to watch me from the tree outside my apartment window? "I only wanted to make sure that you know I will do so, too."
He goes dark cherry this time.
For the sake of this, Kakashi, be brave. Be brave so you can become my Kakashi.