...

Fever

...

The hall exploded into sound. Wooden tokens carrying the weight of fortunes clattered on the table beneath Tsunade's gleaming eyes. Men and women alike scrambled to get their hands in on the game. Like fish thrashing in water after their feed.

Iruka and Sakura were awestruck by the secret world that had been slumbering just underfoot. Their jaws hung open.

The gold tinge that permeated the walls and emerald woodwork glinted in Iruka's vision. The lights were too bold, too corrupting.

If the red teahouse had been the image of orderly perfection and social elevation, the green gambling hall was a paradise of deviation—derailed and detached from reality and meaning—the embodiment of madness.

"Kakashi? Is that you?" A man with spiky hair called from across the railing. He had a bandage across his face covering a recently broken nose. He rounded the corner, yelling at his companion, "Izumo! Izumo, look!"

A younger man with a cloth tied at his forehead and bangs covering one eye gave an exasperated sigh. "What is it now, Kotetsu?" When he saw Kakashi, he turned pale. "Kakashi?"

Kotetsu continued gleefully while his friend staggered like he might faint.

"I heard you died!"

Kakashi squinted, "Is that so?"

"What's with that half-assed hello? Don't you recognize me?" Kotetsu frowned, "I know it's been a while, but come on!"

Kakashi called playfully back, "I'm sure it'll come to me."

Kotetsu shucked it off. "Well, we're usually doing security at the gates." He caught up to them saying, "Boss is getting strict about who walks around outside these days."

"What? That is not true—" Izumo sputtered in pursuit of Kotetsu, "Is that what you've been telling people?"

Kotetsu ignored him and introduced himself to Sakura with flourish. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kotetsu. This is my best friend Izumo."

"Kotetsu!"

"Okay, okay!" He stuck out his tongue, caught in his fib, "We caused a little trouble the other day, so we're grounded."

"What do you mean 'we'!?" He pointed an accusatory finger at Kotetsu, "I had nothing to do with it."

Kakashi shook his head at the pair, bewildered. "How could I possibly forget you two."

Kotetsu was already tugging at Iruka and Sakura in an attempted escape. "Do you have a table already? No?"

"You started a fight with a government official for eating dango—"

He elaborated innocently to Sakura, "I thought he took mine. It was a simple misunderstanding." Kotetsu pushed the three around the railing. "Here, come sit with us! We have plenty of room. And Ibiki will be happy to see you, Kakashi."

"I highly doubt that." When Iruka stumbled at Kotetsu's prodding, Kakashi supported him with a hand on the small of his back.

Izumo was exploding behind them. "You threw a bench at him!"

"Now, now, Izumo." Kotetsu halted at a door to reprimand him. "I wouldn't have done it if you hadn't encouraged me."

Izumo was practically screaming, "I did no such thing!"

Kotetsu threw open the door while Izumo popped a few veins.

"Here's our room!"

"Don't change the subject!"

The inside was unexpectedly pigmented. Red light poured out from within. Multiple box lanterns were mounted high on the walls. Iruka couldn't tell if the hue of the lanterns was tinting the wooden framing, or if the wood itself was a dark blood red. The panels were without scenic paintings, but instead held decorative weapons—exotic curved blades, javelins, katana, sickles with chains, throwing knives—all fake, Iruka hoped. In the center was a large table where a few were already seated. All of them aside from Izumo had at least one sleeve of their kimonos pulled off to reveal their elaborate inking.

As soon as Kotetsu's face appeared in the doorway, someone from inside said, "Kotetsu, did you get more saké?"

"No! But look at what I found!"

The trio shuffled in and the room clamored with shock and elation.

"Kakashi!?" "Kakashi! Welcome back!" "Is that a monk?"

The room abruptly went quiet as they all gawked at his formal robes. Iruka wished he was back in his shabby old kimono.

Kakashi strode in with confidence to take up Iruka's defense but, rather than old friends, he charmed them like someone would to win over new acquaintances.

"Tsunade abducted him." Kakashi gave him a firm pat on the back, knocking him off balance. "Try not to give him a hard time."

The crowd seemed to accept this and started greeting Iruka with enthusiasm while Kotetsu sat them at the end of the table. He stuck Iruka next to a terrifying bald man with gouging scars on his head and face. Iruka tried his best not to stare.

"Goddamn it, Kotetsu! Get the fucking saké!"

That voice sent a chill down their spines.

At the other end was none other than Anko, with a woman's arms draped over her shoulders. The woman leaned her chest heavily into Anko's back who took a heavy drag from her pipe. The two were thoroughly intoxicated and making eyes at each other through the smoke.

When Kotetsu didn't move, Anko yelled again, "Go!"

In response, Kotetsu grabbed Izumo and retreated behind the door frame, waving. "We'll be back!"

Izumo struggled to get loose, "Wha'dya mean 'we'!?"

The two of them disappeared with the snap of the sliding door and the room resumed its rampant partying, passing food and drink.

The bald man hadn't made a peep since Iruka and the others came in. The top half of his kimono was off, showing a more modest motif of a blue dragon navigating clouds and pursuing a perfectly symmetrical lotus in the center of his back.

He poured a cup for each of them, saying, "Happy to see you alive, Kakashi."

Kakashi matched the man's respectful tone. "A pleasure as always, Ibiki."

There was the warped smile in his eye that gave Iruka goosebumps as he said, "Defiling monks now, are we?"

Kakashi filled the man's cup and toasted, "Hardly. He's here to exorcise a spirit."

Ibiki visibly shuddered, then regained his expressionless visage. He lifted his cup to Iruka with a small bow of his head, "I wish you the best of luck."

Panic rose in Iruka's throat. What horrific creature was capable of scaring this unsettling man?

"Don't worry, Obou-san." Kakashi leaned into Iruka's good shoulder. "Ibiki is afraid of anything spirit related. Even will-o'-wisps."

At the mention of will-o'-wisps, Ibiki twitched. He drank from his cup with sage-like calm.

"Fighting the intangible takes a different kind of strength."

Kakashi laughed lightly, "Yes, I suppose you can't torture something you can't touch."

The two men locked eyes while finishing their cups. Ibiki started to pour again, but the bottle was empty.

He stood with an, "excuse me," and went off to fill it from the large jug in the corner of the room.

In the man's absence, Sakura and Iruka restarted their petrified hearts.

Kakashi whispered to himself with phony nostalgia, "Oh, Ibiki. How I missed you."

Sakura drank tentatively from her cup. "Do you know him?"

He gave a dismissive shrug.

"We worked together a long time ago."

The deliberate ambivalence didn't escape Iruka and he asked pointedly, "Were you the good guys or bad guys?"

Kakashi stared at the ceiling in thought for too long. "The good guys? It's a little fuzzy."

Iruka sighed gruffly. It didn't feel like he was sitting in a room full of dangerous criminals, Ibiki being the most noteworthy exception, and that was some comfort. It was clear they had history with Kakashi, but if Iruka didn't know better he would assume they were perfect strangers.

This wasn't the first time Iruka had seen this behavior from Kakashi and it Iruka reminded of another topic the man had dodged.

Iruka leaned toward him, pulling his focus.

"You knew about this place, didn't you."

Kakashi's eyes crinkled in a joyful smile and he held out his hands, "Surprise!"

Iruka wasn't in the mood. "Why didn't you say anything?"

He leaned back on a hand, "Places like this are illegal, you know."

Iruka's anger was building and Kakashi could see it.

"Oh, come on, Iruka." He gestured to the room. "I didn't want to spoil it for you."

Even with Kakashi's obviously joking attitude, Iruka's frustration abided. How had he let himself get this distracted? The enthralling spell cast by the teahouse and gambling hall was fading from his mind, leaving more questions than answers. He hadn't gotten any closer to fixing Tsunade's problem, or understanding anything more about Kakashi. He couldn't understand why the latter made him so irritated.

The other two were oblivious to Iruka's mood. Ibiki returned with more saké and poured for them all.

"This is the last of it until Izumo and Kotetsu come back. Knowing those two, it'll be a while."

Sakura was still in awe, "There's no way I would have guessed she had a gambling hall down here. Does she have anything to do with the yakuza?"

Ibiki only laughed—an unnerving sound.

Iruka stood up abruptly earning a startled stare from Kakashi and Sakura. "I'm… I'm going to take a look around."

They moved to join him, but he stopped them.

"Alone."

When Kakashi made a confused sound, Iruka didn't look at him.

He left the room behind, not caring how it appeared to the rest of its occupants.

He needed space to think.

He opened the door to a hall filled with drunken revelry. It wasn't ideal for collecting thoughts, but it would have to do.

As the doors of the other rooms opened and shut, the corrupting red light briefly cascaded onto the wooden walkway in strips of color. They pulsed around him in this way, like the ticking of a strange clock.

Iruka thought he might let the seed feel for that sinking energy like he had before, but all he could tell was the obvious: the gambling hall was drowning in wild and unpredictable energy.

Wickedness and sensuality mingled together seamlessly. If he didn't know better, he would say demons had possessed the whole lot of them.

Rather than a lull in the excitement, maybe finding the strongest pocket of madness would get him somewhere.

With nothing to do but try his luck, he let his feet take him along the balcony. He coasted his hand on the wooden railing as he went.

On the ground floor, Tsunade had been replaced by another dice roller. The crowd had dispersed some as a result to share their merriment. He wandered to where the insanity was strongest, bumping into a few floppy drunks as he went down the stairs. Here the tables were arranged like private sittings in a restaurant. Elevated tatami mats were divided by a single wall and each inlet had its own low table and cushions. Guests roamed between groups, counting their spoils, lamenting their losses, and fueling up for more attractions. As in the teahouse above, the far corner led to where food was being prepared. Though the tug was weak, the seed in his chest was drawn that way. It couldn't do any harm to investigate, regardless.

As he walked that way, he noticed something pulse strongly above. Something pulling together on the third floor. Waking up. His heart pounded in response.

He dove back toward the stairs and ran the circle around the balcony, earning more than a few flustered scoldings and bristled threats from the other guests.

When he threw himself around the railing to the last set of stairs he collided with someone much taller than him.

Iruka apologized clumsily, bowing deeply, only to discover a familiar face. It was one of the guards that had apprehended him that morning. Now that she was in casual clothes—and not threatening his life—she looked very pleasant.

She blushed a little, "Obou-sama!" She quickly bowed in apology. "I'm so sorry for being rough with you this morning. I hope you weren't injured."

Iruka waved it off, trying to get by her. "No, not at all! I'm fine."

"Would you like to get a drink? We were about to get another jug from downstairs." She gestured at the company behind her.

Iruka shook his head, "Thank you for the invitation. Maybe I'll stop by later."

The woman added shyly, "Please do, Obou-sama. I'll be waiting."

Just when he resolved to politely blow past her, the pulsing energy exploded. Iruka froze and a scream silenced the hall.

The woman instantly switched to guard mode and ran up the stairs ahead of Iruka.

Before they reached the room, Iruka could hear a violent scuffle. They came to one of the many card rooms where two men were fighting. One was cackling wildly to the point of tears, while the other's face was purple with rage. They wrestled, punching and kicking each other. They tumbled onto the lap of another guest, clearly a friend of theirs, who joined in the fight to separate them.

The guard fearlessly dove in, throwing down the laughing man and locking his arm behind him. She commanded him with authority, "Settle down!"

The man was complete jelly, kicking his legs as he howled like he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. The woman bellowed loudly and lifted him, throwing the joker out the door. The spectators all dodged back.

Another woman jumped in to help her tear apart the remaining men. The friend surrendered without a struggle, but the raging bull of a man could not be stopped.

The cackling of the offender outside drew his bloodshot eye.

Rage tore through his throat and he scarcely sounded human.

"SHUT UP!"

He launched himself at the door only to be caught by the women. Iruka heard the guard's arm snap and she held back a grimace before slamming the man into the floor.

He thrashed like a wild beast.

Iruka took a step closer. This had to be it. If the joker and the bull were indeed possessed, he would know it. Or so he hoped.

When Iruka took a second to think about it, he remembered he had only faced one possession before this. Furthermore, that particular encounter hadn't turned out very well for him.

He could only hope luck was on his side this time.

When the man bucked off the guards, Iruka dashed to put himself in his way. The man didn't hit him with full momentum as he had the guard, yet it took all of Iruka's strength not to be thrown off. A jolt of pain shot through his shoulder as he was rammed, but it held in place. Behind him, the laughing man goofily teetered into another card room.

Iruka used the bull's driving force to steer him, sending him crashing into the railing—wood snapping. Before the man could get his bearings, Iruka ran into the room after the joker. He had plopped himself down and fixed a drink like he didn't have a care in the world.

Iruka examined the walls. More weapons. He grabbed a scabbard from its mounting. To his relief it was hollow. When the bull stepped into the doorway, he didn't even see Iruka. He charged for the laughing man. All Iruka had to do was swing.

The scabbard shattered on the man's head and his feet went flying out from under him. His body crashed with a quaking thud.

Silence fell over the spectators as they waited for the raging man to spring back up. Iruka, panting and clinging to what remained of the broken scabbard, watched the man's head bleed.

He didn't move.

The guards flew into the room and tackled the unconscious man while the joker at the table exploded into tearful laughter. The women tied the two up and dumped them by the wall.

When more guards joined in, the familiar young woman broke away to attend to a very stunned Iruka.

She ducked her head, "Thank you, Obou-sama." Iruka fixed on her arm as she cradled it. She smiled sheepishly and flexed her hand with difficulty. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

That was a futile wish. He bowed to her, an apology caught in his throat. The muffled sounds of the laughing man drew their attention. He had calmed a little now that the crowd was dissipating.

"Are you alright?" Iruka asked the joker.

The man wasn't looking at him. He didn't seem to understand what had just happened. He hiccoughed, making him convulse with a full bellied laugh once more. He was out of his mind.

Tsunade's authoritative voice silenced the room.

"What do you make of it, Obou-san?"

The god of fortune stepped inside, her hands on her hips. The sleeves and top portion of her kimono hung at her waist and showed off her large chest bound tightly by a white band. Up close the koi tattooed on her shoulders looked like fledgling dragons.

Iruka put his hand on the laughing man and felt for any sign of possession. There was an inkling of something there, but the seed in his chest was uninterested. There was nothing for it to absorb.

"I'm not sure," he said. "We should… search them for anything odd. Marks of possession, or an item that might be controlling them." Everything he had to offer was generic knowledge about spirits he'd heard from superstitious laymen on Mt. Kurama. Rumors and scary stories. He had no idea how to help these people.

Tsunade beckoned in guards to help the laughing man to his feet. They patted him down. He had a silk money bag and a few wooden tokens for gambling. Iruka hovered his hand over them, but they were innocuous. The women searched the unconscious man. Same story.

Without the source, Iruka's hands were tied. If it were here, the seed would feel it. But there was nothing. When Iruka took stock of the gambling hall, the negative energy was still spreading—even more than before.

"They'll be fine once they sleep it off." She tossed one of her tails of hair. "That's the way it always is. Always in pairs. There'll probably be a few more before the night is over. It doesn't always end in a fight, but more often than not we have to lock someone up until morning."

"They don't always fight?"

Tsunade was suddenly amused, "No. Depending on the pair, it can be very entertaining to watch."

Iruka had absolutely no idea how two people trying to tear each other apart could be the least bit entertaining.

Tsunade put her hands on her hips and assessed the room. "Regardless, they're always destructive. That's my main issue. The property damage is very annoying."

"Can there be more than one pair at a time?"

She shrugged, "Sure. Depends on how rowdy the night gets."

"There must be at least two spirits, then." Iruka paced a little, then grumbled loudly, "But that still doesn't make sense. A spirit wouldn't just leave their host because they fell asleep or passed out, right? And they can't control multiple individuals like that. It would take too much energy." Iruka sat at the table, stumped. "No, they wouldn't leave unless the host became uninhabitable. And if it were strong enough to influence someone from a different floor, even a room away, I would definitely pick up on it." Right? He rubbed his head and groaned. He was digging his own grave.

Tsunade mused out loud, giving him a saving grace. "I had an amateur in here a while ago taking a look. He said even a weak demon could pass its influence into an object just by spending time with it."

"That has to be it then." He looked around the room for a moment, then got back on his feet and walked past Tsunade. He stepped outside and asked the crowd, "Does anyone know these men?"

The friend who had gotten pulled into the fight was sitting by the damaged railing. His lip was busted and he had a colorful bruise coming in on his cheekbone. He raised his hand, "Yeah, I know 'em."

"Were they acting strange before this?"

The man was a little drunk, but coherent enough to earnestly consider the question. "Nah. We were jus' talkin'. Mondai started laughin' at somethin' Potcha did… then it all went t'shit."

Iruka grumbled at the lack of detail. "Where else have you been tonight? Did you do anything in particular in the last few hours?"

The man thought hard. "Mmm, no. We've been sittin' in here drinkin' all night." Then something struck him. "Oh! We went to the gallery!" He looked up and pointed, slurring, "Potcha'd never been before, so we did a lil' walk through."

Iruka's eyes lit up. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

"The gallery's on the top floor." Tsunade came beside him, sounding doubtful. "We've gone down this road before, Obou-san."

He couldn't blame her for her lack of enthusiasm.

"I have to try, at least. Maybe something will turn up." He thought of the man bleeding in the room. "You may want to have Haruno-sensei take a look at that man. I hit him pretty hard. And your guard is injured."

Tsunade nodded, "I'll send for her."

"Thank you, Tsunade-sama."

He started to leave, but faltered with his hand on the broken railing.

At Iruka's sunken expression, Tsunade gave him a reassuring pound on the back. "Knocking them out's the best way to stop them, really. Try not to feel too guilty." Then she winked, "I won't charge you for the scabbard or anything else so long as you finish the job."

Iruka suppressed a groan. He didn't want to think about how much the decoration had been worth. Or how in the world he would foot the bill if he failed.

Iruka trudged up the stairs. Hills and mountain roads were one thing, but his wounded leg was going to be extremely sore after all the flights he had climbed during this brutal day.

The gambling hall had already recovered from its scare. The jubilance was fully restored, if not more inspired by the displays of violence.

As he took the final steps, demons and gods rose to meet him. In their rush, the trio had missed the incredible art painted upon the outer walls of what he could only assume was the gallery. Great heroes draped in elaborate armor fought epic foes across the panels. Lightning and fire and waves roared behind them. Rearing its massive head was a terrifying, coiling dragon that repelled the heroes' attacks. The saturated colors had the images practically floating off the surface, as if they would step out of the painting at any moment.

The doors were large and heavy, like the entrance to a palace. He slid one open enough to go inside where it was surprisingly insulated from the outside noise. The walls were blank and the halls were well lit, allowing the art to shine.

Tsunade had amassed a formidable collection. Works of all sorts and sizes covered the place: woodblock prints, watercolor, and sketches. Sculptures, carvings, and pieces of pottery were presented on podiums in the center of the floor. There was a separate hall for folding screens, one for kimonos, and one for metal crafting. Books lay open on small tables, collections of drawings and a few novels.

A thought struck him and he dug through his fancy new kimono for Shizune's book.

After all he'd seen, he couldn't think of a better place to hide it than here.

He opened to a page and ran his fingers along Shizune's neat handwriting and delicate illustrations. Occasionally there were notes in the margins, additions and edits that had accumulated over years of personal study. The idea of this diligent opus being used for murder was heartbreaking.

Under one of the displays was a small shelf of books, but even the covers and spines were beautifully painted. Of course Tsunade wouldn't show off a dingy, hand bound book in a place like this.

He ambled until absently pausing at a large hanging scroll packed to bursting with white and red peonies. A few small song birds flitted within the bushes, barred by leaves and stems and petals. He wouldn't have noticed them if he hadn't felt them peering from their hiding places. The painting was large enough to envelop him. He spotted a single white bud and stretched his hand to it. He knew better than to touch it, but it took everything in him not to.

The serene image washed over him as his thoughts churned.

He had practically gone running from the room with Sakura and Kakashi. He knew it wasn't their fault, but he couldn't get rid of his restlessness. With the book in his hand, it was hard not to remember why. He had been in the pleasure quarter for a single day and he had forgotten why he came to Enten in the first place. A man had died. His friend. He hated himself for pushing it from his mind for this long.

Tsunade held their ticket out of the teahouse and he had to do his best to satisfy her. He had to find her demons and get out of this place before he lost sight of his purpose.

A few steps out of the drunken sea, the pieces were becoming clearer.

What had alerted the seed to those men in the first place was an accumulation of energy right as it reached a breaking point. Until that moment, the spirit's influence—or whatever it was—had been harmless. That's what was so odd. On the top floor and at the brim of the hall, it was clear now that the whole place was swimming in that influence. Waiting to tip over the edge. They were all in danger of possession.

He couldn't understand how that was possible.

Iruka heard someone on the stairs and panicked, remembering Shizune's book. He sprinted back and forth, trying to decide where to put the damn thing.

Just as the stranger made it to the door of the gallery, Iruka bolted into the hall of kimonos and slid the book into one of the many hanging sleeves.

He ran back to where he had been standing at the painting just as a voice resounded in the empty space.

"Any luck?" When Kakashi stepped into view, his playful smile was gone.

Their previous interaction at the forefront of his thoughts, Iruka meekly shook his head in reply.

Kakashi's one grey eye gazed out from a curtain of silver bangs. Instead of scrutinizing him as Iruka anticipated, Kakashi examined the art. He strolled from one piece to another as if he expected Iruka to return to his duties without paying him any mind.

"I heard about the fight. Were you hurt?"

The painting of peonies in his periphery made Iruka self-conscious so he moved on to the next artist. The large scroll depicted a terrifying monster in the process of eating a samurai. Much better. Iruka could feel Kakashi off his shoulder, but there was a distance stretching between them. Iruka knew it was entirely his fault, yet his stubbornness held back an apology.

In a small voice he answered, "I'm fine."

He returned to his search, but was a little disappointed when Kakashi remained silent. Had their lighthearted relationship really been so fragile?

They were halfway through the gallery when Kakashi spoke. "Do you think something in here is behind the possessions?"

He was startled from his thoughts, "I don't know yet." Iruka went ahead to a collection of ceramics. Bowls, cups, and pots. He paused with his hand over one of the pieces, then released with a sigh. "No. It's not here. There's no way."

He wished he could turn back the day, to before they had been caught by Tsunade's guards and dragged to the teahouse. Back to the morning before he knew the man beside him was a wandering god—whatever that meant. He wished he could return to the night when they sat in the Okiya, enjoying the silence together.

He kept his mouth moving, spouting words while his thoughts raced. "A possessed object would need to stay close to the victim to maintain influence. But those guys didn't take anything from here. " He growled, "Tsunade said there might be more of them before the night is through, but I can't feel even one spirit!"

"So there's more than one of them?"

He exploded at Kakashi, "Who knows! Maybe?" He thought of the injured guard and the man he bashed over the head, cursing himself. "I'm not a monk! I'm completely out of my depth." He wasn't anyone special or worthy of trust. Yet this was the task he had been given. He considered the facts. He thought of the guard, the injured man, and whoever else had been injured before he came. He had to keep going. He had to do everything he could, even if he failed. He rubbed his temple, muttering to himself. "I have to do something before someone else gets hurt."

Kakashi's clear voice resonated in the room.

"Why?"

For the first time since he had come into the gallery, Kakashi looked directly at Iruka. His red and grey eyes pierced him through.

"Why does it matter to you what happens to these people?"

Iruka was startled by the resentment in his tone.

"I made a promise to help."

That struck an odd chord with Kakashi, as if he had anticipated such an answer. He was enraged by it.

His voice came in low, "And you'll take on every crazy berserker you can find just to keep it."

He flared defensively, "If that's what it takes, yes."

"Why!?" Kakashi gripped his fists. "You could just leave. It's not like Tsunade would actually do anything to Sakura, you know that as well as I do. You don't owe these people anything."

"I know that! I know it's none of my business, and I know you think I'm foolish for interfering. I certainly do! But I have to finish what I've started. I have to at least try."

Kakashi growled, his anger peaking, "Why are you so stubborn!?"

He snapped, "I can't just relax and drink saké and flirt around with you! If I'm the only one who can do something about this, then I have no choice—"

Something resounded in Iruka and his thoughts clicked into place.

Kakashi too stopped short.

They stood in silence as they played back Iruka's words.

The demon's object. Iruka knew what it could be.

Just then another surge of energy brewed below them. On the first floor, near the kitchen. The seed tightened in Iruka's chest and he knew another set of drunks were about to rampage.

Without wasting a moment, Iruka burst out from the gallery to skitter down the spiral. His wounded leg throbbed outside of his notice.

Kakashi followed after, calling him. "Wait! Iruka!"

Iruka kept his eyes on the crowd betting on dice. Just when he and Kakashi stepped onto the second floor, a cackling laugh broke through the hall. The second possession of the night hit.

Iruka had his eyes locked on the joker man and bull woman.

Tsunade was already there conducting the masses to keep them apart when a third possession ignited without warning.

By the time Iruka landed on the ground floor, it was in full blown chaos. The two different pairs tore through the crowd in a mad game of cat and mouse.

One of the bulls flew over the mesh of arms restraining her to slash at her joker. The group regained control of the woman and held her down. She broke free, roaring and charging. Iruka saw the shine of a bald head, then watched Ibiki flip the woman over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and onto a dice table, breaking it and knocking the breath out of the possessed patron.

The other pair had found one another and tumbled together in a mess of limbs. At first it looked like they were wrestling, but the joker gushed with ecstatic laughter. The joker tangled into their other, voice bouncing off the walls as they were crushed in the bull's forceful embrace. There was never enough contact and they sought it ravenously. They looked like newlyweds, high on their elation and the inescapable emotions that controlled them.

It was not the possessed individuals Iruka rushed to. Iruka elbowed his way through the crowd to the spot where first pair had been sitting. His knees hit beside the betting table and he searched the floor. The violence from the other couple surged and Iruka had a flash of panic that he might be trampled underfoot by the mob of people. Someone pressed the bodies back, giving him room to breathe.

It was Kakashi. Before returning to his search, Iruka spared a second to take in the contradictions waring on the man's face. Kakashi was beaming with delight until his brows furrowed and he fell into a sullen contemplation. Then he blinked it away, remembering something else and almost smiled again. This conflict played in him even as he pushed back the swarm of people falling in on them with aggravated grunts.

Iruka had no idea what to make of it, but Kakashi would have to wait.

He dove back in and found what he was looking for almost immediately.

An abandoned jug of saké.

He pulled out the plug of the mostly empty container and cautiously brought his face close.

With a deep breath, he took in the smell of saké. It buzzed strangely in his head.

He sloshed remaining contents and curiously licked his lips. Feeling confident, Iruka let his head fall back and took a heavy chug, emptying the last of the saké. The heat spread down his throat and through him instantly.

The seed throbbed in response

He corked the jug, face glowing with excitement.

The patrons were being possessed by an object after all.

Iruka shot up and shoved his way out of the crowd. He dashed to the kitchen with a confused Kakashi hot on his heels.

The kitchen was hard at work, in a frenzy to prepare the food coming from above. It was as if the roughhousing outside was the most natural thing in the world and not worth wasting their time. The countertops were spilling over, yet intensely organized. A slew of people worked over vats of boiling oil and simmering vegetables. A line of chefs were preparing fresh fish, severing meat from the bone with flawless cuts. One chef, who seemed to be running the place, walked behind the others and selected from a variety of toppings at any given station to add to the dishes she passed. She yelled orders and critiques at the other chefs as she did so. Workers prepared batches of meals at a time, adding a final drizzle of sauce or a dash of some spice as they left the kitchen doors, pushing past Iruka and Kakashi.

Iruka lingered there, trying to be as small as possible, and waved at every worker that went by. Not one of them bothered to look at the man holding his saké jug.

"What now?"

Iruka flinched when he realized Kakashi was beside him.

They watched the bustling together and finally Iruka said, "Maybe I should get Tsunade-sama?"

Kakashi was still torn between exasperation and childish giddiness. It was as if he desperately wanted to say something to Iruka, and it was taking all of his control not to. Nevertheless, his impatience with the kitchen crew was undeniable.

Without a word of warning, Kakashi grabbed a platter and shattered it on the ground.

The kitchen went silent, giving the two men their full attention.

A little startled, Iruka asked timidly, "Where do you store the saké?"

"You'll have to pay for that, you know." A kitchen aid tottered to them, garbling. "You can't just come in here like you own the place—"

"No, no. I work for Tsunade-sama. We're just trying to—"

He gasped sarcastically, "Oh, I'm sorry!" He planted his hands on his hips. "You work for Tsunade-sama, do you? Do you have any idea how many times I hear that in a night?"

Kakashi's chilling voice brushed Iruka's ear, "Mind if I help?"

"What—?" Iruka looked back to see the alarming expression on Kakashi's face. "Wait, Kakashi! Wait—!"

The silver haired man was in no way hindered and strode to the kitchen aid, cool as a cucumber.

"Stop right there—!"

The man attempted to grab Kakashi, but was evaded with ease. Mimicking Ibiki, Kakashi took hold of the attacking arm and ducked down, pivoting. The man gave a hiss as his arm was yanked, then it transformed into a long, surprised wail as Kakashi lobbed the full grown man over his head and toward the door where Iruka was standing.

Iruka hopped inside of the kitchen as the man crash-landed in the doorway—howling all the way.

"Kakashi, you don't have to—"

A cook took an impassioned swing of vengeance at Kakashi and was similarly slung to the floor.

There was quiet in the room while Kakashi searched their fearful faces.

"Anyone else?" A few of them shook their heads and Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. "Now, where do you keep the saké?"

One of them pointed out the backdoor and said, "Go down the hall and turn at the stairs, you can't miss it."

He inclined his head. "Thank you."

He pushed open the door without looking at Iruka.

Iruka stumbled through the kitchen, blurting apologies as he stepped over the downed staff. "I'm so sorry. We'll be out of here in a moment. Tsunade-sama really did send me. I'm so sorry."

They came out into a dank hallway illuminated by weak lanterns. Ahead was the aforementioned set of stairs. There were a few workers coming and going, carrying large delivery boxes from the restaurants on the surface. If Iruka had to guess, he would say the stairs came out under the storehouse. They walked past them until the path naturally turned.

The hallway took them to a heavy wooden door. Kakashi pushed it to the side to reveal a storeroom packed full of racks holding saké casks. They were wrapped in fabric bearing the unique marks of breweries from all over the countryside, sealed by knotted ropes. At the front of the room was a row of smaller ceramic kegs with a mouth at their base that intended to fill the serving jugs. Their contents were indicated by the opened cask on the ground beside them.

The cellar was just as faintly stained by dark energy as the rest of the hall, but when Iruka put a tentative hand on a one of the ceramic kegs, the demon's presence was noticeably concentrated.

"Do you feel something?"

Iruka nodded.

Kakashi took the jug Iruka clung to and traded him with a lantern from the hall. Then he shut the door to seal them inside and cut out the light. The warm pocket provided by the lantern was just big enough to contain them both.

Iruka walked from row to row, feeling the casks as he went. The presence within the barrels was undeniable. And it was growing. He followed the trail through the racks.

This was definitely the origin of the possession. Somehow the saké had been tainted. Not just one barrel, but all of them.

Kakashi pulled him from his concentration, "Iruka."

He looked up to see something the size of a cat skitter under the racks. Squeaky laughter echoed off the rock walls.

When Iruka squinted his eyes into the dark he could see a dim glow of light.

They came to the deepest corner of the room, edging around the final rack of casks.

Racing about the barrels were two blue creatures. Despite their childlike hands, their bodies and faces were distinctly cat-like. The fleeing demon cast off a warm ochre haze, while the one chasing seeped with flaming red energy. High pitched giggling of the fleeing demon was met with a ferocious snarl when it was tackled and caught. The two blue imps grappled like rabid dogs and the air enveloping them turned bright red. They gripped one another, baring their shining, feral teeth. Iruka flinched back, but then they erupted in playful laughter and rolled on the floor in a warm cloud of yellow.

Kakashi whispered with a small smile, "You found them."

The kindness in his voice set Iruka at ease.

Iruka had been unaware of their closeness until that moment. Kakashi watched the two playing creatures with a crinkle in his eyes, then he met Iruka's stare. His expression dissolved into his usual smug grin and their argument in the gallery suddenly felt far away.

Iruka was hit with renewed determination. Their trial was almost over. Now he just had to catch the demons and hope the seed would work its magic.

The demons continued their play as they climbed over the casks, taking turns and changing the air around them with their game. Occasionally the fleeing party would slip into a barrel in a burst of colorful smoke. They would hide there until the other scared them out, emerging dizzy and drunk.

Iruka crouched and pointed with his good hand, thinking aloud, "Maybe if we corner them?"

Kakashi huffed mockingly at his cramped pose and took the lantern from Iruka to set it down. "I think I should just do it."

"And let you have all the fun? No way." Iruka's heart pattered happily.

Kakashi held a finger to his lips, shushing the man. He walked away to flank the pair and gestured for Iruka to close in.

Iruka suppressed an enthusiastic snicker as he took his place.

The red goblin drifted near Iruka, too distracted to notice him.

Kakashi's shouted, "Now!" and Iruka grabbed it.

Iruka was yanked to the ground with surprising force. He rolled onto the little beast and tried to stay clear of its gnashing teeth. All he had to do was restrain it long enough for the seed to do its job, or so he hoped.

The demon's energy flooded into him. Adrenaline pumped in Iruka's temples as the seed guzzled its meal. He struggled to hold onto the wriggling creature as his muscles jerked involuntarily. The force of the possession was much stronger than he anticipated. The rush of heat from the demon was overwhelming and a heavy drunken feeling was washing away his rational thought. His vision tunneled to almost black.

The demon was shrinking—changing—in his arms.

A low defenseless chuckle clattered in the storeroom and Iruka felt a surge rocket down his spine.

His eyes rolled back and he gasped at the blaring heat coursing through him.

The hold on both his sanity and the goblin was failing fast.

Iruka strained to properly assess what was happening to the demon he had caught, but when the joyful tittering from across the room turned into unbridled laughter Iruka's body took on a mind of its own. He threw himself blindly at the sound, demon forgotten.

Before he knew where he was, someone caught him. His back rippled with tension as he fought the blinding red haze.

Through light chuckles Kakashi said, "You're injured, Obou-san. It's dangerous to run around like that."

Something else was sneaking in with the anger. Guttural and hasty.

With his good arm, Iruka launched Kakashi to the ground. The man hit with a grunt and laughed even more.

Iruka briefly came to his senses while straddling Kakashi. He panted heavily and held himself there. The rage was prickling under the surface. A lightheaded buzz trickled down and his muscles clenched into it.

Under him, the warmth haloing Kakashi was shifting steadily toward red. Kakashi pulled down his mask very deliberately and revealed that infuriating smirk.

Iruka shot his one good hand at Kakashi and grabbed his collar to yank him close.

His control was slipping.

"You caught me. Now what?"

The heat saturated him, bringing every cell to life.

Before a clear thought could flicker in his mind, Iruka shot forward and his mouth closed over Kakashi's in a hungry kiss.

The taste of Kakashi's mouth was sweet. Too sweet to be saké. The man gave in without an ounce of resistance and Iruka's tongue dove in for more, pulling Kakashi's into his mouth. A shiver rippled down his neck, flashing through his body with the frenzy. Iruka sucked in Kakashi's lip and bit it harshly.

Kakashi responded aggressively, gripping Iruka's ass tightly in his hand and throwing him to the side. Kakashi rolled onto him and held Iruka to the ground by his uninjured shoulder.

He watched with starved eyes as Iruka arched up to almost reach him. Kakashi's parted lips hovered above his and Iruka opened his mouth slightly in anticipation. Their ragged breaths mingled. Iruka could feel the anger flutter away, replaced by a jittery tingle. A single chuckle escaped Iruka and Kakashi consumed him out of rage. Kakashi's tongue glided along his and they tangled with painful slowness.

Iruka felt weak. He turned his head to deepen the kiss and allowed Kakashi free reign to saturate his senses. His toes curled and an erratic breath snuck in between their lips. A voice barely his own came from the back of his throat and vibrated through him. The possessive energy was draining rapidly into the seed from both of them, but Iruka didn't care.

Kakashi broke the kiss and took Iruka's hair in his hand. Iruka lay beneath him, panting.

The deadly glint in Kakashi's eye sent a chill through him. He might have felt frightened, but the demon's uncontrollable mirth was taking the lead. He snorted, trying to hold it in.

Kakashi sharply tilted Iruka's head back by his hair and bit down on his throat. Iruka cried out and it dissolved into laughter. Kakashi's tongue eased the pain, running it across his skin before planting soft kisses on his pulsing skin. Kakashi teased up Iruka's neck and to his ear. The tickling sensation nearly undid him. He bit his lip to suppress his snickering and Kakashi smiled against his cheek. That did it. Iruka sputtered into laughter, quickly joined by Kakashi.

Kakashi lifted away so their eyes could meet. Signs of his possession had shifted to a subtle gold.

The fog of the demons' power was fading from them both.

All that was left was to let the seed drain it.

Iruka lowered his gaze to Kakashi's lips. As he did, they pulled into a slight smile. Knowing he was being watched, Kakashi rolled his tongue over where Iruka had bitten his lip. Iruka lifted from the cold ground to take him in a gentle kiss.

Kakashi released Iruka's hair and caressed down his neck. His touch lingered apologetically on the new bite mark he had made. His cool fingers soothed the throbbing pain before moving on to the collar of Iruka's kimono, teasing it open. Kakashi adjusted to give his other hand freedom to wander, but accidentally pushed on Iruka's bruised ribs in the process.

Iruka let out a yelp and Kakashi immediately came to his senses.

He sat up, startled. "Are—are you alright?"

Kakashi looked like he had been woken from a dream. As reality became clear around him, he checked Iruka carefully.

"Yes… I'm fine." He smiled at Kakashi and laughed weakly, "That didn't go very well."

Kakashi replied with a whiff of mockery, "What makes you say that?"

Iruka held his side, groaning. Kakashi helped him sit upright as guilt and concern took over.

Iruka let his head fall into Kakashi's chest and he sat there breathing through the pain. Kakashi's hands fidgeted for a moment before folding loosely on Iruka's back. He played with the hair at Iruka's nape that had fallen loose from its tie, muttering apologies.

They stayed like that for a moment as the last of the demons' energy faded from them both. When it was gone, Iruka sat straight. Movement caught his eye and he spotted the last blue demon crouched by the stone wall of the storeroom seeming very small and lost. Its glow was gone—the balance undone. It watched them fearfully.

"It wiggled away as soon as I started laughing." Kakashi glanced around, "Where did the other one go?"

Just then a light drifted into view. Flitting innocently above them was what remained of the demon Iruka had caught. It had transformed into a sunny sprite. Shifting in and out of a recognizable form, it passed through the casks with a giggle like the jingle of small bells.

Iruka and the remaining, mournful gremlin watched it in awe.

When Iruka's breath finally settled, he held out a guiding hand to the blue creature.

"Come on, then. It won't hurt."

The little thing moved to Iruka and extended its small hand with uncertainty. As it reached into the air around Iruka, the tips of its fingers turned into light. The brightness gradually spread through it and the little beast lost its form as well. It floated away from Iruka and Kakashi like a shred of sheer fabric caught in a breeze. Motionlessly it drifted, as if asleep.

Kakashi gaped at Iruka's hand. "Did you kill it?"

"I don't… think so."

Its partner appeared from the casks and circled curiously. Finally, it gave its friend a sharp poke.

A light sparked between them and new life burst from the duo. They took in one another, clearly in shock. Then the first flickered to the side, teasing the other and encouraging it to play. The second joined in instantly and they fell into joyous song and dance. Their voices clattered through the chamber like tiny chimes.

Iruka laughed.

"What is it? What's happening?"

Turning from the touching scene, Iruka saw Kakashi's wandering eyes. The man sat straight as he searched the storeroom.

Kakashi could no longer see the creatures.

The childish disappointment in his face was so sad it was laughable.

The teacher once more, he put a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, "They're here. Sit very still." He scooted closer to match their line of sight. "See if you can hear them."

They sat motionless as the spirits bounced about the rows of casks. Their little voices chittered as they went, the tinkling of glass.

Kakashi's eyes widened when he heard it. Iruka kept him quiet with his hand.

"Just watch."

He pointed to where they were in the room, trailing them with his finger.

Kakashi reflexively touched Iruka's arm as they appeared for him. Iruka could almost see the magical light bloom for Kakashi.

The men sat back and watched the sprites restored display of affection. Reunited, the pair chased each other, oblivious to their human visitors. They shifted freely in and out of their feline forms, sometimes falling into a wisp of gold light.

The negative energy in the storeroom had dispersed. Without the demons, Iruka was optimistic that the possessions would end.

Kakashi leaned back with a sigh, drawing Iruka's focus.

He shared his satisfaction with Iruka, "You did it."

Iruka swelled with pride. "I guess I did." He puffed out his chest and said, "Not bad for a fake monk, wouldn't you say?"

Kakashi rocked forward to stand and extended a hand to Iruka.

"Not bad at all, Obou-san."

Iruka took it gladly and was pulled to his feet. He swept up the lantern, though they hardly needed it. The two sprites illuminated the majority of the storeroom now and the men easily made their way to the exit.

As they reached the end of the room, uneasiness grew in Iruka. Their time was almost up.

Kakashi spotted the jug they had left at the door and chuckled. He plucked it from the ground and turned to Iruka.

"May as well, while we're here."

Iruka nodded wordlessly. He didn't even know where to begin, yet his head was buzzing with things to say. He didn't want to leave yet. He didn't want to reenter the chaos of the hall, whatever waited for them.

Kakashi filled the container and corked it, presenting it to Iruka. He inelegantly took it, trading for the lantern once more, and they walked toward the exit. Kakashi started to open the door when Iruka stopped his hand.

His voice shook, "I'm sorry about…" He had started speaking without imagining a proper end to his sentence and was forced to lamely settle with: "that."

The man gauged Iruka carefully, then gave a sly smile. Iruka flushed.

Then the door jerked out of Kakashi's hand.

There stood Kotetsu and Izumo. With them came the sounds of boisterous celebration and ardent music echoing from the distant gambling hall.

Kotetsu was slathered, "There you are!" He held a jug in each hand. "Are you here for the saké?" His shoulders jerked with a hiccough. He searched Kakashi's hands and saw no container. "Did you forget your jug?"

Iruka babbled for a second, still red-faced, before hoisted his container up to answer Kotetsu.

Izumo pushed past them with his own jugs and headed for the ceramic keg. "Damn it, hurry up! Those girls won't wait out there forever." He mumbled to himself, "We were finally having some fun, too."

Iruka looked at the back of the storeroom, clutching the jug nervously, but the little sprites were nowhere to be found.

Kotetsu stumbled after Izumo saying, "Don't blame me. I didn't ask you to come."

"No! You didn't! You smacked her friend in the head dragging me out of my seat!" Izumo latched onto the keg and filled his jugs.

"Anko was yelling at me… I got scared."

"Because you keep fucking around! Do your fucking job!"

From behind the keg, a shining sprite popped out.

Iruka reflexively gripped Kakashi's arm, but the man saw nothing and lifted a brow in Iruka's direction.

Kotetsu, however, had frozen in place and pointed a shaky finger at the elusive sprite.

"Um—uh. Izumo? There's…"

The little light swam over Izumo's shoulder, prickling at his anger. The second appeared at his feet. Kotetsu's face drained of all color.

Izumo hooted scornfully, "No, no, no. Don't try to pull that crap on me again. I know your games—"

A scream was caught in Kotetsu's throat as the little sprites latched onto Izumo.

He and Iruka waited tensely for Izumo's reaction.

To their surprise, a blanket of ease settled in and all the rigidity in his body drained away.

Izumo looked around, dazed, as if he had forgotten why he was standing in a storeroom.

"I-Izumo…?" Kotetsu called cautiously.

Izumo's head swished lackadaisically from his shoulders. He stifled a drunken chortle as he finished filling his jug. He turned to Kotetsu and made a motion to trade for the empty bottles in his friend's hands.

When Kotetsu didn't hand them over, Izumo inquired with a heavy slur.

"Wha's'wrong?"

Kotetsu leaned closer to examine him. "A-are you alright?"

"Am I 'right?" Izumo searched the room, perplexed. When discovering nothing particularly wrong, he burped in his mouth and said, "Hell yeah!" He shoved the filled jugs into Kotetsu, almost dropping the whole lot. After the tussle, Izumo emerged with the empty ones. "Are y—" He burped again and snorted a laugh, "—Are you a'right?"

Kotetsu was astonished, but clearly not upset by Izumo's change in attitude. To Iruka and Kakashi he whispered, "Did you do this?"

Iruka was too bewildered to answer, while Kakashi feigned ignorance with a shrug.

Izumo started humming to himself and did a little shimmy of his shoulders as he approached the ceramic cask once more.

A grin spread across Kotetsu's face. "I haven't seen him this happy in years."

The sprites, satisfied with their handiwork, frolicked back to the racks.

Izumo finished filling and shoved the final cork into place. He lugged one over his shoulder by the handle. "We—" he said to Kotetsu, pointing back to the hall. "—are goin' back out there. We're gonna find a couple of nice women. And we—" He bumbled forward and gave Kotetsu a suggestive nudge. "—are gonna show 'em a good time." Kotetsu could only nod. Izumo staggered past Iruka and Kakashi, saying, "Follow me!"

Kotetsu did so with gusto. "Now we're talkin'!"

Kakashi and Iruka were left stunned. They pursued the inebriated pair at their own pace.

"Is this really okay? I mean…" Iruka looked back at the storeroom, "Can we really leave them here?"

"Are you worried?"

"A little. They seem harmless now." He added nervously, "I just hope Tsunade will let them stay."

"If I ran a secret gambling hall…" Kakashi mused, "and I had demons in my basement that could turn gangsters into happy-go-lucky drunks… I'd be thrilled. Besides, if they ever go crazy again you can just come back to purify them." His lids drooped cheekily, "With my help, of course."

Iruka flushed furiously. "I—Listen—That—"

Kakashi chuckled at him, "Relax, Iruka. You'll pull a muscle."

The celebratory roar was deafening even before they passed through the kitchen. The workers acknowledged their entrance with little interest until they saw Kakashi. Their scramble to meet the demands of the rejuvenated rumpus came to a screeching halt at the sight of him.

"G-good evening." Kakashi said awkwardly, rubbing his shaggy hair.

Iruka pushed him forward before they could cause any more trouble.

The sounds coming from the gambling hall soon drowned out all else. The pattering of sticks on the rims of drums rattled in Iruka's bones like the clattering of hail against wood. It grew and grew, the frantic heartbeats of a thousand birds hammering at once.

When Iruka and Kakashi broke into the hall, a new level of drunken festivity awaited them.

The elevated plain had been cleared of its gambling table and now hosted a mesmerizing group of women engaged in brilliant dance. Their gold leaf fans flickered in the lantern light like a catching flame. With the sharp turn of their heads, their hair ornaments whirled through the air and made the room spin with them.

Tables set on the ground floor were lily pads amongst the restless carp. Most of the patrons had shed the top halves of their kimonos, presenting a gallery of ink. Every ripple of excitement made the tattooed images quiver like beautifully painted scales. The servers, dealers, and dice rollers calmly roamed among them. They corralled their wild fare with expert skill. They did not seek to tame, but rather stoke the drunken power so it could thunder on to the end of time. Or to the bottom of their wallets, at least.

Kotetsu slung his arm over Izumo's shoulder as they passed out the jugs to various tables until only Iruka's remained. His feet went after them, though his eyes wandered. The group of men edged around the dancer's platform to a hectic table hiding in the back.

The drum's sound scattered and the patterns became disjointed while a large cymbal crashed at a steady pace—holding the rhythm until it abruptly cut off. Sticks cracked on the rim of the drums and were silenced.

In the stillness, the twanging call of the shamisen rang out.

Iruka saw the tattoo of an oni's face glaring out from within the packed crowed of their intended table. There sat Tsunade staring down the roller rattling their dice. The teahouse owner's cheeks were pink with drink. When the roller slammed her cup and called for bets, the table went oddly quiet.

Tsunade held her chin in concentration as the shamisen's melody accelerated. Deep taiko drums resounded behind it, shaking the walls and making Iruka's arms prickle with goosebumps. The two competed for musical dominance.

Finally, Tsunade pushed forward a formidable stack of wooden tokens and shouted confidently, "HAN!"

Instantly, her entire company responded with equal confidence, "CHOU!" and clamored to put in their tokens.

The dealer revealed snake-eyes and the table erupted in triumphant cries. Tsunade's fortune was snatched up and divvied amongst the flailing frenzy.

Kotetsu broke through to pass Iruka's jug to Tsunade. She yanked out the cork and took a large swig, then noticed Iruka behind him.

She yelled out, "There's my favorite monk!" and tore from the table to the players' dismay.

They hollered after her to stay, but she shoved them aside to get to Iruka and Kakashi.

Iruka checked the disappointed crowd. "Is it alright for you to leave your game?"

"It's fine, I'm out of money anyway." She slung the jug of saké into Iruka's belly, "Here! Drink up! Job well done, little monk."

Someone from the table wined, "Come back, Tsunade-hime! What'll we do without you!?"

She snarled, slamming her foot on the ground. "Back off, you fucking vultures!" She pushed the jug on Iruka with more force. "Come on! A drink for my favorite monk!"

Iruka reluctantly held up the heavy bottle. He went in for a small sip and Tsunade lifted the end of it, forcing him to chug the saké. When he broke free, he sputtered and sucked in air with a gasp while Kakashi snickered behind him.

"That's better! Follow me." She pulled them to the stairs and headed for the room they had visited earlier. "I'm impressed! We had four crazy people running around one minute, then all the sudden they collapsed!" She mimicked the action with her hands, "Bam!" When they reached the room she gave Iruka a jarring slap on the back. "I don't how you did it, but it worked! You'll have to tell us your gallant tale."

Kakashi smirked and said, "Oh, yes. I'm sure he'd be happy to. Obou-san has a very unique way of exorcising demons—"

Iruka elbowed him sharply in the side as Tsunade pulled open the door. He had no intentions of making a habit of that particular method of exorcism, but he didn't at all mind that he could still taste Kakashi on his lips.

He unconsciously licked them at the thought.

When the room spotted his monk's robes, they broke into clamorous cheers.

Iruka was pulled into the red room and its festivities. The group demanded to hear the story of how Iruka had saved their gambling hall. Kakashi watched with keen interest but stayed frustratingly silent. Iruka avoided the man's sparkling eye and appeased them to the best of his abilities, leaving out a few particular details.

Bystanders pilfered in long enough to soak in the tall tale and subsequently offer him a drink for his valiant efforts.

Tsunade did well to escalate the narrative with every passerby. Soon enough the whole hall believed the monk had singlehandedly saved the kitchen crew from two bear sized demons and brought them down with nothing but his prayer beads. They saw his injuries and congratulated him on making it out alive.

He struggled to correct them, but his reputation had been too enthusiastically fabricated to be undone. He wallowed in guilt and had no choice but to let the masses have their way. He was toasted over and over, hailed as a hero of the gangsters. A monk for sinners and saints alike. It didn't take long for gamblers to start lining up to have their dice blessed. He sloppily obliged, slurring made-up prayers and chants.

Occasionally he would spy at Kakashi, who had settled at the other end of the table. Clearly ignoring his pleas for help, Kakashi carried on with the lively conversation that surrounded him.

At one point, Tsunade plopped down beside Iruka. She clinked her cup with his.

"How's my favorite monk? Enjoying yourself?" Her speech dragged lazily.

It took him a little too long to comprehend her question and made him realize how intoxicated he really was. He faced her with big, guilty eyes.

Equally sloshed, the woman pulled him close and pressed his injured shoulder unintentionally into her enormous bosom. "What's wrong, Obou-san? Is someone being mean to you?"

He answered with a long sigh. "Tsunade-sama… I'm sorry." His head sagged on his shoulders and the truth poured out, "I lied to you. I've lived on Mt. Kurama all my life, but I'm…" He blubbered quietly, afraid of being overheard, "I'm not really a monk."

At her silence, Iruka realized he had made a terrible mistake. Their wide eyes met and Iruka waited for the axe to fall.

Tsunade blinked at him.

"You lived in the temple?"

"Y-yes, Tsunade-sama. Mostly."

"But you're not a monk?"

He drew steadily away from her like a frightened animal and shook his head rapidly when his voice wouldn't come out.

She sat him apart from her and examined his face, clothes, and beads. Her brows scrunched together to bring him into focus. Behind them a server brought in another tray abundant with food and the crowd clamored to get the best treats before they disappeared. The oblivious room partied on while the kami and frail mortal man stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Blood drained from his face and Iruka prepared for the end.

She grabbed his shoulder roughly and his heart nearly stopped.

"You had me fooled!" She cackled loudly.

Iruka staggered in his seat, clammy and shaking.

"D-did I?"

"You give off a saintly air." Tsunade sipped from her cup and said, "Isn't there a saying? 'An apprentice near the temple will recite scriptures untaught?' You're living proof!"

"Ah well, I don't know about that." Iruka blushed and rubbed the back of his neck.

The roar of the room caught Tsunade's attention and she added, "But let's keep up your little charade, Obou-san. We wouldn't want to burst anyone's bubble." She booped his nose, "At least for tonight." Then she grinned and poured more saké into his cup. As he drank, she voiced her innocuous curiosity, "If you're not a monk, how did you stop the demons?"

Iruka blanched, spilling on himself. "Oh… Um…" He finished his drink, bumbling for an answer. Just to be safe, he settled for the easiest lie. It came out stiffly, "Kakashi did most of the work."

"I see." She poured more for him. Tsunade swallowed the fib well enough, but when the god of fortune examined Kakashi across the room it was clear she held other, more significant suspicions. "You should be careful with that one, Obou-san."

"Meh." Iruka hazily swirled the liquid in his cup. "Don't worry about him, Tsunade-sama. He may act all mysterious, but he's harmless."

Now that the weight of guilt had lifted, he sank into boozy relaxation. The queen of the pleasure quarter on the other hand had sobered some.

"Obou-san, I understand you don't want to think ill of your companion, but that man doesn't have a very clean record in this city."

Iruka realized she was about to launch into her history with Kakashi and sat at attention, eyes sparkling. He tried and failed to nonchalantly probe for more information.

"How long have you known him?"

Despite his blatancy, Tsunade answered with earnest. "A while ago he was causing a ruckus with some of my boys. Well… they weren't mine at the time." She grumbled, "They were terrorizing the merchant quarter: bullying 'taxes' out of shops, breaking into houses. And they had the balls to try and sneak into my territory to do the same. I hired some people to track them down, but then," She watched Kakashi warily, "a noble family was wiped out overnight. And he disappeared."

Iruka's gut dropped. That wasn't what he had been expecting.

"I don't know what he had to do with it, if anything. My boys seemed to think he wouldn't be a part of something horrible like that, but I'm not so sure. I could tell something was off about him. He didn't… feel right. Then one day it dawned on me." She wagged her finger ironically, "I had been watching that mutt slink around this city for over a century. Dragging the rain in with him. Whether he was a man or a beast, I could tell it was him. He was… like me."

When she didn't continue, Iruka tentatively finished her thought. "A kami?"

That didn't pin it well enough for Tsunade, but she provided no alternative.

He couldn't miss this chance to interrogate her.

"Where did… where did you come from, Tsunade-sama?"

Her cheek lifted at his wariness. "Are you asking me what I am?" Looking very human, Tsunade leaned on the table. "I'm sure we can agree no one remembers their birth. And we don't come out asking how we came to be. Or why. We just live and survive by doing the things that come naturally." She continued, "I'm certain I came from a feeling. The desire for wealth and good fortune." She leveled with him patiently, "That's how we start. Driven by our sole purpose. And like most kami, I started influencing humans from the other side,—stoking human's ambition, feeding their greed."

He clarified cautiously, "F-from the spirit world?"

She nodded, "Some never leave. They're content to stay in that place. But I… I started asking those questions. Why was I born? What made me different from the beings I felt compelled to watch over? I wanted to experience mortality for myself. I wanted to be a part of the world I was affecting. I started out very pure, if you can believe it—very ignorant—but I've spent enough time among humans that I've changed. Now I can't even imagine going back."

"So that's where Kakashi…"

She filled with disgust, "No. He's not from our realm." Iruka flinched at the flash of cruelty. Then Tsunade sighed. She knew Iruka meant no harm. And she knew his true question. "There are beings from the mortal world that live long enough to change their nature. Most of them are born from something very simple. A human's companion might manifest as their guardian after death. A cry for vengeance becomes a restless spirit seeking vindication." Recognizing her dark examples, she groped for a cheery alternative, "Um… Springtime could take the form of a song bird."

The spider witch from the mountain came to mind. Her silky hair and red lips. Driven by hunger.

The thought slipped out, "They sound like… demons."

Tsunade paused at that. Iruka realized he might have insulted her and prepared to apologize, but she merely eyed her drink with a darkening smile.

His stomach twisted as that otherworldly air seeped out from the woman. The others in the room were unaffected as the turbulent field swirled around them.

"Who's to say I'm not a demon?" She lifted her eyes, their severity glinting in the lanterns, "Who draws the line, Umino-san?"

He didn't know how to answer. He was afraid to.

With a hint of bitterness, she told him, "It's humans that worship us as gods. It's humans that declare us demons. Youkai, kami, oni… We take many forms, but what we have in common is purpose. We all have something at our core that sustains us." Before Iruka could get ahead of himself, Tsunade cut his thoughts off. "Now I don't know if that's what Kakashi is. I can't say which side he falls on by your standards, if he belongs to one at all. All I can tell is… he is malformed."

She turned to take a drink and wash away the foul taste the talk had left.

Iruka gazed at the man in question.

Kakashi's cheeks were flushed lightly with drink. He laughed at something said and sat with his back against the wall. Despite his involvement, Kakashi still seemed disconnected from the merriment. Perhaps that was what drew others to him. They couldn't turn their charmed eyes away. They all wanted was to catch his attention, even if for only a moment. They wanted to pull him out from that other world by their own hands.

He realized Tsunade's concerned gaze was on him.

"Does he eat people?"

Her eyebrows cinched together. "No. Not that I can tell."

Iruka hummed at that.

If he had been raised as one of the monks, he was sure his conversation with Tsunade would weigh differently on him. He would feel more reverent of the otherworldly things that mortals were not meant to glimpse at. Maybe there was something wrong with him for thinking otherwise.

Even if he was still reasonably intimidated by Tsunade's power and influence, hearing her beginnings and her doubts had changed him. She had questions. She had her own ambitions. She had a moral compass that steered her actions. Even the demons he had purified were compelled by the simple joy of being together. How was that any different from a mortal's motivation?

"I had never considered… what separates demons and kami. It's a little scary to think that so many people base their lives on something that might just be a matter of opinion." He stretched his hand out, examining it. "You could use your influence to take advantage of people, but you help them instead. The power's the same either way, isn't it? You're a kami because that's what you've chosen to be."

Tsunade's eyes widened, entirely at a loss for words.

Iruka squinted at her, not sure of exactly what he had said. He was a little too drunk to be having this conversation and it was making him dizzy.

"Kakashi's saved my life more than once. Though he can be a little violent sometimes…" He looked at his lap. The Kakashi he knew was… lost. He didn't seem like someone to fear. "I don't know what all he did in the past, but I don't think he's a bad person—kami—whatever."

To Tsunade, Kakashi was an unknown which she deemed dangerous. Her riff raff imagined him to be refined and mysterious, while the real Kakashi was anything but. He was childish and shameless and surprisingly single-minded.

He couldn't tell if Kakashi was still angry about their confrontation in the gallery, but he didn't want this awkwardness to go on between them. There was so much more to the man than that. Iruka wanted to breach that solitude and had confidence he could do it. He needed to know what would happen if he did.

His fingertips tingled at the thought.

"Even if he was…bad." He winked at her, "I'll do my best to keep him in line."

She snapped out of her daze, "But Obou-san—"

"It'll be alright." He pushed off his knee and came to standing. Tsunade moved to help, but he stopped her by saying, "Thank you for everything, Tsunade-sama. It's been a wonderful night, but I think I'll turn in."

She was surprised by his stubbornness, but watched him in awe.

Finally she bowed her head in thanks and toasted her glass to him. "Have a good night, Obou-san."

Upon standing, Iruka was reminded just how much saké he had enjoyed. He made an effort to not watch Kakashi as he made his way to the door. He could have sworn he saw the man staring at him, but perhaps Iruka had wishfully imagined it.

Having almost forgotten, Tsunade stopped him when he pulled the door open.

"Come to me tomorrow, Obou-san, and I'll give you your payment."

He didn't recall her making such an offer when she gave him the job, but Iruka's head wasn't clear enough to question her. He simply waved and stepped out of the room to the open balcony.

Two singers had joined the shamisen in place of the drummers. Their duet was full of dissonance, often their voices were in opposition, but they always came to a place of harmony one way or another. And always when he least expected it.

His intoxicated brain couldn't help but link the duet's song with his own stream of misfortunes and be moved by their parallel journeys. Iruka might not enjoy discord in his own experience, but he knew the satisfaction that came with resolution was unlike anything else.

The party raged on. There were still those diligently gambling for their fortunes. They were tireless and their primal fight had lost none of its fire. Iruka was sure they could continue well into the morning. The lights of the hall, however, had been purposefully dimmed by those tasked with manipulating the evening's atmosphere. A haze lingered in the air from pipes and incense, and balconies were overflowing with people savoring their food and drink. In more secluded parts of the hall, pairs and clusters had settled into one another's arms. The guests watched the trails of light and smoke with dreamy eyes.

Iruka ambled up the stairs, worn by fatigue and alcohol.

He was determined to make it to the top when he spotted a familiar head of pink hair.

Sakura was sitting at the edge of the broken railing. Her socked feet dangled and she had a bottle of saké tucked under her arm.

At first he thought her eyes were dazed from drink, but there was something markedly melancholy in her absent stare.

Iruka couldn't let it alone and approached her carefully.

"Are you alright?"

When she looked up, there was the trace of a tear in the corner of her eye.

She blinked it away in an instant. "Umino-san! You did it!" She wiped her face with her expensive sleeve, laughing, "I can't believe it. I've been hearing crazy stories about you all night. What happened?"

Iruka settled beside her and gave her the censored version he had grown accustomed to telling. As he finished, he remembered those who had been injured in the process.

"Is that man okay? The first one that was possessed. I-… I hit him really hard. I was worried… And the guard! Her arm—"

"They're fine, Umino-san. He's not the only one who got hurt, believe me. Not just the possessed ones. I've been splinting broken hands and stopping nosebleeds all night." Sakura could tell that didn't do much to reassure Iruka, so she added, "That guy's going to have a bad lump and a hell of a headache for a few days, but there's no permanent damage I can see. I'll keep an eye on him tonight, just to be safe. Once I set that guard's arm she went off celebrating somewhere."

That made him chuckle. "I'm glad. Thank you."

"I wish I'd been there with you. You're a legend now." She held her bottle higher to examine it. There was a sadness in Sakura that she couldn't shake, even as she laughed with him. "Maybe I should pay your little demons a visit."

He couldn't ignore that. He didn't care if he was being nosey.

"What's wrong, Sakura?"

At the sound of her teacher's voice, her brows drew together and the threat of a tear returned.

"The saké… It tastes sour to me." Her lip quivered and the quiet tear escaped. She quickly sat the bottle aside. "I was thinking about a friend I haven't seen in a long time." She pulled her knees in and gripped the red kimono. "I know I have better things to do, but… I can't get him off my mind."

Iruka encouraged her to continue, "Is that so?"

She watched the bottle with tender eyes.

"I realized he and I have never shared a drink together."

"He should come out with us next time. Saké tastes better with good company."

She rested her cheek on her knees. "I wish that were true."

After some silence together, Sakura came to her senses and gave him a covering smile.

"Were you headed back to the room?"

He nodded.

"You go on, Umino-san. I'll stay with my patients tonight."

Iruka could tell he was being avoided and decided it was best to give Sakura her privacy.

He said goodnight and left her there.

He resumed his climb and, by the time he completed the spiral, Iruka thought his legs would give out. Iruka leaned on the balcony railing at the top to catch his breath and watch the hall thrive below. Finally out of the public eye, he let out a long sigh. He sagged into the rail until his chin was resting on it.

The walk had sobered him a little, but not nearly enough. He was still swimming.

A voice close by stopped his heart.

"I thought I'd lost you." Kakashi stood on the stairs directly below him. "Have you had enough excitement?"

Iruka couldn't deny he was happy to have been followed.

Iruka gave an exhausted groan. "What a mess."

"And whose fault is that?" Kakashi chided him.

He sank into the rail. He deserved that. Probably.

"I know, I know. I'm a busybody."

He corrected Iruka as he made his way up, "No, you're worse than that." He was unhurried as he walked behind Iruka. "You're too kind to say no when people push their problems on you," Though Iruka couldn't see his face, the reproof in his tone was clear, "and you're too naïve to realize they're doing it on purpose."

Iruka couldn't deny that either. He gave a self-conscious laugh, "I suppose that's true."

Kakashi planted himself by Iruka, but would not look at him. He watched the people on the balconies instead, almost speaking to himself. It was then Iruka realized the man was fairly drunk.

"If being gullible wasn't enough, you're also reckless. It's a terrible combination."

Iruka was getting a little tired of being criticized. "At least I don't pout when I don't get my way."

"Pout?" Kakashi scoffed, "When have you seen me pout?"

"In the gallery… and in the kitchen."

Kakashi opened his mouth to answer, but puffed out a chuckle instead.

Iruka continued, hiding in his folded arms, "I don't know why you were so angry. I know I was being foolish but—"

Kakashi asked plainly, "What am I supposed to do when you keep running headlong into trouble?"

The question felt honest, but that didn't keep Iruka from provoking him.

"That doesn't justify assaulting the kitchen staff."

Kakashi laughed and rubbed his hair mindlessly, fluffing it.

"I…" He gripped the railing in his hands. "You're too nice."

It wasn't often that he managed to stump Kakashi and Iruka couldn't miss the opportunity to gloat. "Thank you."

Iruka anticipated more criticisms when their gaze locked, but he was met with that faint smile. Iruka's ears burned. Any trace of annoyance in the red and grey eyes had gone. Instead they rumbled with some mysterious torrent and started a fluttering in Iruka's chest.

"So what was that, exactly?"

When Iruka didn't catch on, Kakashi specified.

"In the storeroom?" Kakashi suggestively lifted his brows, "When you jumped on me?"

Iruka's heart dropped like a rock and thudded low in his stomach. Oh. Right. Yes. When he threw this handsome man on the floor. The most humiliating and incredible thing he had ever done in his life.

He made an attempt to sound offhanded, as if he had tripped onto Kakashi by accident.

"What more is there to say? I told you I was sorry."

Kakashi did not falter, "I'm not."

All it took were those two words and Iruka was ripped open. Half of him was infuriated by the knowledge that Kakashi was doing this on purpose. The other half was going right back to a fire akin to the possession. Not the frustration and anger part—oh, no. His drunken mind dangled the taste of Kakashi in front of him. The feeling of his skin, his hair. Iruka was afraid of the impulses that followed. He wasn't ready to be that honest.

What was left of Iruka was crippled with guilt that he had done something that impulsive to someone else while feeling so out of control.

He pushed off the railing and Kakashi was forced to follow. Iruka attacked the shoe rack in search of his geta.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tease you." Kakashi hovered behind.

Iruka managed to track down his shoes, or a pair that were strikingly similar and the right size, and yanked them from the pile. When he stood straight, he staggered woozily. He fell forward to barge through the wooden doors into the tunnel and attempted to use his renewed focus to push the intoxication aside.

His head was rapidly filling with unnecessary thoughts. He needed air.

Kakashi's voice echoed in the tight space. "Iruka, wait—"

"I'm a grown man. I can handle teasing, but I'd prefer you not lie to get a rise out of me."

"I wasn't lying." He had to practically run to keep up with Iruka as he fled. "I'm not sorry about what happened. Not at all."

He scoffed, "Of course you're not sorry. It's so easy for you—"

"What is?"

They wove along the passage to the stairs under the small teahouse.

Iruka whispered angrily behind him, "This is all just a joke to you, but… I'm…" Iruka flushed, and cut himself off.

"What's a joke? What're you saying?"

He didn't know what he was saying himself. He scaled the steps and trundled out the square door into the garden.

Then Kakashi caught him by the arm.

Kakashi's voice came close, "Talk to me."

Iruka couldn't lift his eyes. The drunken swirl had returned, but it wasn't nausea. He could yank free from Kakashi at any time, but what would he be running from? This was the heart to heart he had been hoping for, wasn't it?

Kakashi squeezed lightly, grounding them both. "Iruka. Look at me."

Iruka hadn't realized how vulnerable it would feel to acknowledge what had been brewing in him from the moment he met Kakashi. But it was coming out all wrong. He had gotten frustrated all by himself and he knew that, but he couldn't think of a way to back out.

What was he so afraid of? He felt so good, so happy when Kakashi looked at him—touched him. The sound of Iruka's name in his voice shivered through him unlike anything else. How was he supposed to explain that kind of thing out loud? The idea of it made his stomach flop. Kakashi's laugh could cast away Iruka's fears and doubts in an instant. Even his grief, buried deep within, was rendered weightless by it. Just the memory of it calmed his anxious heart.

Could it be that easy?

"Iruka."

He faced Kakashi in the dark.

Lights from within Tsunade's teahouse had been extinguished long ago. The night was at its darkest here—leaving the faint and glittering stars. Not quite night and not quite day.

The garden was cradled in this space between worlds.

Though it was hard to see, Kakashi's expression under the mask was soft. Patient.

The ache Iruka saw there rattled through him. Did Kakashi want him too? Did Kakashi know even an ounce of this overwhelming feeling? He was still ashamed of himself, but Iruka had no choice but to answer. He couldn't wait for the thoughts to fully form or they would be lost.

"I didn't… I didn't want it to happen that way." He shook his head, trying to erase the words as they came out. "I don't usually… I'm not—"

Iruka's heart thumped heavily as Kakashi said, "I enjoyed it."

His rattling thoughts vanished in a puff.

Kakashi waited for Iruka's answer, but was provided none. He slowly stepped closer until they were a few inches apart. He took Iruka's hand.

"Do you want to do it over?" He asked.

Iruka allowed Kakashi to guide his hand to the edge of the mask. Together they pulled it down and off his chin. This close, Kakashi's features were clear. His scar, the piercing red eye. The captivating mark at the corner of his lips.

Then Kakashi released him.

Iruka felt shaky. The pounding of Iruka's heart was his only measure of time.

His hand free, it moved on its own. He brushed Kakashi's cheek. His fingertips just barely settled on his skin. The man reflexively shut his eyes as Iruka trailed the scar with his thumb. Kakashi kept his lids closed, waiting.

Iruka could not quell the conflict he felt. He wanted nothing more than to close out the world and indulge himself in the warmth of this man's lips. Yet he knew he wanted more, if it were even possible. He needed more than that.

"What's wrong?" Kakashi kept his eyes shut, as if opening them would break the spell.

"I don't know. I just… I don't understand." Iruka's brows knit together. "Why are you here?"

Kakashi shrugged helplessly and said, "I was bored."

Iruka's hand shot away as if he had been seared. Mismatched eyes snapped open and Kakashi caught him before he could run.

He scrambled, "I'm sorry—I didn't mean it—…"

The only thing rooting Iruka to that spot was Kakashi's touch and the yearning it brought.

Even in the dark Kakashi's face had flushed. "—Stupid. That was stupid. I'm sorry."

Kakashi's hand curled over his. At a loss, he turned Iruka's palm open and examined it. As if he could read their fortune in the lines. The man seemed clumsy now, rather than cunning.

With his gaze low, Kakashi laughed quietly at himself. "I doubt it'll make sense, even if I tell you."

"Try me." Though his heart felt weak, Iruka's gaze was unwavering.

Clumsy though it may be—there could be no more running. For either of them.

Seeing Iruka's resolve, Kakashi tried to begin, "In the woods, I…" He clenched his jaw, unsure of himself. Iruka could see the memory unfolding as he came to the right path. "It didn't matter where I was, every forest looks the same. The days blend together." Aware of himself and the absurdity of it all, he tried to joke about it, "When an old dog is tired, it sleeps. When it's hungry, it looks for food. It doesn't realize it's alone. It doesn't notice if it gets smacked around." He said casually, "It was just another day fighting for scraps. One day in a thousand. It shouldn't have been any different. It shouldn't have mattered." He took a mystified breath, "But it did to you."

Iruka could see it.

He could see the stray standing in the alley. The woods glowed green through the seam between buildings. The stray's head lifted and Iruka waved to it.

Such a small, delicate connection.

"And when I saw a mad man swinging a stick at a flock of Tengu, I couldn't believe it was you. Then again, only you would do something like that." Iruka flinched, and Kakashi laughed at him. "It was amazing!"

Iruka flushed, "Please forget that part."

"Not a chance." Kakashi snickered, and was captivated by the memory. "I'll never forget it. The kind and reckless you." He squinted, baffled, "You're so ready to help other people with absolutely no concern for yourself. Be it a gangster boss…" he added with mirth, "…or a rain-soaked mutt on the side of the road."

The reiteration of Iruka flaws fluttered through him in a new, warm light.

"I've seen you dive in with that fearless stubbornness—" He huffed in disbelief, "—over and over again. It's terrifying. It feels like my heart'll stop. And yet… All I want to do is jump right in with you."

A silence fell over them. Iruka could feel the thudding of Kakashi's pulse against his skin, just as nervous and hesitant as his own. Kakashi's lips drew into a quiet smile and traced Iruka's hand as though it were the most precious think he had ever beheld.

His voice was low, under his breath. "You always go off running the second I look away. And I… I don't want to."

When he lifted his eyes to Iruka, he was a weary ship in an endless storm.

Of all the outrageous things to say, Iruka wished he had said it first.

How could he tear away from this man? Who had come into his life with a crack of thunder.

On that mountain, Iruka had given in. He had forfeited his life to the valley town. Yet when he saw that raggedy dog wrestling for food, with a fire in its belly to survive no matter the cost, something in him had changed. A feeling Iruka had kept locked away was revived in that moment.

The impulse to escape—to be free.

Grab your scraps and run.

That beast had been the embodiment of all he lacked.

The man at the bar laughing at his follies, the unruly child hanging from the inn's balcony, the wandering soul that watched the world turn from afar. Iruka was sure the naked eye would call them opposites—too disparate to ever meet eye to eye.

Perhaps that was it. He felt like he had been chasing a nameless feeling from the start. That there was something more, something hidden in those cold eyes that only Iruka could find. He was dominated by the urge to pry Kakashi open in his hands and take in what he uncovered there—never to let go.

Unable to look away? What right did this man have to say those words first?

With nothing but silence from Iruka, Kakashi had no choice but to recover from his sense of exposure. He tried to play off his words with a grin. "To answer your question… it's you," he said. "I'm here because of you."

This was the man that sat apart from the world, yet there he stood with eyes that reflected Iruka and nothing else.

"You woke me up, Iruka." Kakashi cupped his cheek and caressed it tenderly. "And I want is to hold onto this feeling. Is that so wrong?"

Iruka's chest swelled, full enough to burst.

"No."

Kakashi drew his thumb lightly across Iruka's bottom lip as he spoke. "Can I kiss you?"

Iruka's mouth fell open as his mind went blank. All words faded but one.

"Yes."

Iruka brought his lips to Kakashi and they melted together. A buzzing ran through him and a tear chilled Iruka's cheek at the wistful sweetness of it. His hand wove into Kakashi's silver hair and cradled their faces closer. Just as his knees went weak, Kakashi held him by the small of his back. His other hand moved down Iruka's neck, encouraging him to release into his touch.

Iruka surrendered to it. The world ground to a halt with every brush of skin, every broken breath.

Iruka wondered if it was possible for one moment to destroy everything that came before it. Iruka could feel the burdens he had been carrying—all the things that anchored him—being severed. To feel so at peace, so content—it was frightening.

Iruka wanted more than anything to have his other hand free. Instead it was trapped between them, bound by its wrapping. His shoulder and side ached.

Reading his mind, Kakashi started to open Iruka's kimono. One hand slid under the collar and over Iruka's shoulder, pushing the fabric off. The other felt for the knot of his obi. His skin prickled at the nipping night air.

Then suddenly Kakashi's hands stopped. He righted Iruka's kimono and separated them.

Iruka was flabbergasted until Kakashi spoke.

"I'm sorry," he said, a little winded. "We should go inside. If we get interrupted again I might kill someone."

Iruka couldn't help but chuckle at his dazed honesty. He closed the space to ghost his lips over Kakashi's.

"Lead the way."

Kakashi gave in to the modest kiss, but Iruka ended it too soon. The forlorn furrow of Kakashi's brow didn't escape him. He tracked the line of the Kakashi's jaw with his thumb to tease across his lip with a grin. Reluctant to release him, Kakashi took Iruka's head in his hands. He pressed a kiss to Iruka's forehead, then his cheek.

He swept along Iruka's arm to guide him to the wooden porch where Tsunade had been seated earlier that day. Abandoning their shoes at the edge, Kakashi pulled him up. The spinning from the saké had eased, but left fluidity in Iruka's joints. He practically floated, tethered by Kakashi and nothing else.

The panels within had all been shut, separating them from the interior. They crossed the dark room and discreetly opened the door to the center chamber of the teahouse. There was hardly any light in the hollow space, making it seem much larger. There were a few dim lanterns on the stairs, but most of the light came from the dying moon filtering down the halls which gave the opening an ethereal blue glow.

There was not a soul to be seen.

Kakashi led them across the open floor to the stairs, and a spirited feeling sparked in Iruka. He stifled a laugh as they ascended. What were two grown men doing, sneaking about like adolescents after curfew?

Iruka squeezed their intertwined fingers as they went along the first balcony. Kakashi lagged in response and kissed the back of his hand with an impish smirk.

Unsatisfied, he tugged at their joined hands before Kakashi could take off again. Whatever Kakashi caught in Iruka's expression stopped him in his tracks. The change in his gaze sent a jolt through Iruka and a startled breath escaped him. Kakashi's movement was a molten force as he walked into Iruka, causing him to stumble back. Iruka met the railing and quickly grabbed it to steady himself.

Kakashi trapped Iruka's hand there. His lip twisted deviously as he bowed his head to nibble on Iruka's neck.

"I'm so glad I didn't let that old witch eat you."

"Do you have to mention her—?" His voice broke at the prick of Kakashi's teeth.

Kakashi poured over him. His arm curled around Iruka's waist and his knee pressed between Iruka's legs, twining them together.

"Watching you get tricked was pretty funny, but I think you should listen to your instincts more often."

The heat brewing between them was making Iruka lightheaded.

"Maybe I should start now."

Kakashi smiled against his skin. "Is that right?"

Kakashi made a breath of space between them. Hands on the railing, he hovered over Iruka so their only point of connection was his lips moving slowly on Iruka's neck.

He teased up to Iruka's ear with a low voice. "Do you want me to stop?"

Iruka couldn't trust what sounds might come out if he tried to speak. He answered by gripping Kakashi's obi with a feeble shake of his head.

Kakashi huffed a laugh at the face Iruka was apparently making and dragged the back of his fingers across Iruka's cheek.

Just as he leaned in to kiss him, a drunken rabble tumbled through the front door.

It was Tsunade's crew of gamblers. They lingered at the door while the drunkest of them struggled to sort their shoes. One foot inside, Anko and her young partner were lip locked. Izumo and Kotetsu leaned into each other to stay standing, singing some off-key ballad. Ibiki and a few older gentlemen strolled by, deep in conversation.

The last thing Iruka wanted was to be pulled into whatever shenanigans they had planned.

Iruka yanked Kakashi's kimono and shushed him with a finger at his lip. A snickering Kakashi ducked behind the railing with Iruka and they waddled to the stairs, staying low.

By the time they successfully made it to the third floor in their half crouch, Kakashi's childish and infectious delight was plain on his face. Iruka fought his laughter and pulled Kakashi into a sprint for the last staircase. The sound of their clumsy, pattering footsteps nearly broke them—Iruka was sure the others could hear, but he didn't care.

Just when he believed they had escaped, pain shot up his leg and Iruka faltered.

Kakashi caught him as he fell and they sank to the ground.

Iruka hissed, holding his thigh, and Kakashi pushed Iruka's hair out of the way to examine his face.

"Are you alright?"

Iruka tried to reassure him with a smile, but his body had had it. "It's fine, I tripped." He tried to stand and winced, collapsing to the floor.

Kakashi lifted an incredulous brow. "Uh huh." Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms under the man. "Stay still."

Iruka pushed on Kakashi's chest, but before a word of protest could escape him, he was gently lifted off the ground. Rather than fall again, he swallowed his pride and put his good arm around Kakashi's neck.

"Th-thank you."

Kakashi smirked and settled Iruka into his chest. He glanced about. The voices of their acquaintances were growing louder as they came closer. They would soon be spotted.

Kakashi eyed the final set of stairs, but swept into the hall instead.

They passed out of the lantern's sphere and into the blue, dying night. Kakashi's feet tapped on the wood floor and off the paper walls.

Iruka watched the drunken mob pass behind them. The sound of their sloppy frivolity gushed down the open mouth of the hall. A rush of panic hit—if they turned their heads, the pair would be spotted. But the sounds became muted as they disappeared into one of the nearby rooms.

The thrill of success hit and the pair shared their silent excitement, lest their voices give them away. A breathy laugh slipped out of Iruka and he muffled it in Kakashi's shoulder.

The man walked on, determined to get them to their room before anything else happened.

In the quiet, Iruka took the opportunity to ogle Kakashi without restraint.

With every step, the silver strands that had fallen loose from their tie bounced on Kakashi's shoulders. Even in the darkness, they caught the moon's influence and glimmered like trails of stars.

Iruka caught them and they poured through his hand, more like wisps of smoke than hair. He guided them in the fold of his fingers to gently rest on Kakashi's kimono.

Iruka wondered, as he had before, what of this man was real.

He noticed the tips of wings peeking from Kakashi's collar. The purity of their pigment lifted from his skin. Iruka traced the tattoos with his tan fingers, pushing back the obstructing fabric. He wanted to see the full design once more. He imagined the peonies that spiraled open into camellias, the sleek wings of the cranes that blanketed him, and the white bud slashed by his deep scar.

In his memory, the image was so alive. As if Iruka could run his fingers through the white plumage of the cranes.

He closed his eyes and a drunken dream descended. Iruka wrapped Kakashi closer, resting his chin on the man's shoulders.

Iruka could feel Kakashi's heart beating through his chest—his head filled with the wings of birds. "…beautiful."

Kakashi adjusted his hold around Iruka's back while a hand moved up his thigh. His heart fluttered as Kakashi's long fingers slipped under his kimono to pull him in tighter.

"Hold onto me," Kakashi's voice buzzed in his ear. "We're going upstairs."

Iruka nodded, nestling into his neck.

Their passage between floors barred the moon's touch and a chilling breeze came from the open space above. Iruka tried not to flinch. His skin felt sensitive. In the dark, he became all too aware of their closeness and self-conscious of his own burning heat.

As if a black curtain had been ripped down, the sky expanded endlessly before them on the familiar open balcony.

Half the horizon was still drenched with the dark azure night. The railing of the fourth floor was barely visible, leaving the balcony to fall off into the star peppered sky. Blending like paint in water, the blue glow of the coming day crept closer. There was a pale line at the edge of the world where the sun teased its light.

Iruka was overcome with an unexpected fear. The fledgling dawn filled him with awe, yet the promise of what would follow terrified him. He couldn't understand why.

Feeling him stiffen, Kakashi held Iruka away and cast down his droopy eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Iruka shook his head, avoiding them. "N-nothing."

"Tell me." Kakashi planted an unexpected kiss at the corner of Iruka's mouth.

He could blame it on the drink, or the half dream he was living in. Or how safe he felt. Whatever the reason, his self-awareness was overpowered and he uttered, "I don't want to sleep."

Kakashi dissolved into contented grin and nuzzled into Iruka's cheek.

The only reply Kakashi gave was Iruka's name, quietly in his ear.

Iruka let out an embarrassed laugh and knotting the fabric at Kakashi's back in his hands to burry deeper.

He murmured, "That's… silly, I know."

"Not at all."

Iruka wasn't convinced. He tried to curl up and hide, but Kakashi took the opportunity to slide his arms more snugly around Iruka and hoist him higher. His hands pressed into Iruka with less restraint, molding him in his arms until their bodies were flush.

His breath and voice were muted as he spoke into Iruka's hair.

"I'm the same," he said. Iruka rose with his chest as he took a deep breath. "I don't want to let you go."

Kakashi resumed his walk toward their room, taking slow steps. Iruka's eyes drifted shut and the two swayed together.

Their door was open and two futons awaited them. That pastel sky was spreading and a languid morning with it.

Kakashi eased him to the futon and Iruka muttered shyly, "Sorry, was I heavy?"

As he knelt, Kakashi shook his head into Iruka's neck and brushed his skin with that feathery silver hair. "It's not so bad when you're awake." A mischievous eye peeked at Iruka when he sat back.

Iruka smacked Kakashi's arm and stretched his side painfully in the process. He laid back with an angry hiss.

Kakashi snickered, "Take it easy, Obou-san. You've had a long day."

He crossed the room to shut the door. Iruka observed every footfall, how his fluid legs extended, how his hips shifted to carry his weight. To Iruka it was as if his feet barely touched the ground. He imagined invisible hands glancing off him and guiding him into the next perfect step. It didn't take much to envision the figure hiding beneath the kimono.

Mindlessly, Iruka ran his hand over the futon and focused on the textured fabric under his fingers. His heart pounded against his ribs and he gripped the futon—holding himself together. The room span lazily with the remaining effect of the saké and he shut his eyes in hopes of stopping it. He listened to the door close and Kakashi's approaching steps. The soft thuds resounded through him.

"Iruka." Kakashi brushed his cheek. "Are you asleep?"

When he looked at Kakashi, his brows were knit with a gaze was almost sad.

On impulse Iruka pushed his finger into where they were drawn together.

"Enough of that." He felt like a teacher again, trying to ease the truth out of an unruly student. "What are you thinking about with such a serious face?"

Kakashi sighed and flopped on his side next to Iruka, propping up his head. "I'm afraid I'll wake up and you'll be gone."

Staring harmlessly at the ceiling, Iruka sighed, "We could just stay up until the sun rises."

Kakashi was strangely surprised by the suggestion.

He glanced off with a tiny blush.

"We really shouldn't, Iruka. You're still injured."

Iruka fumbled to clarify, "Oh, I didn't mean that—I just…" He groaned loudly when he ran out of words. The infectious blush crept over him and he looked at the incoming light. The birds were already chirping. "I just wanted to…"

He was startled at Kakashi's warm hand on his stomach, rubbing and gripping the fabric of his obi.

"W-what?"

Very nonchalantly, Kakashi slid his hand into Iruka's kimono and traced the circle of his bellybutton.

"Do you want to stay up? Just for a bit."

Iruka caught Kakashi's hand.

Taking the action as a refusal, Kakashi started to pull away. "Sorry. We can just—"

Unable to form the words, he squeezed Kakashi's hand. All Iruka's tiredness vanished in a flare of heat through his body. He absently ran his tongue over his bottom lip.

Kakashi twined their fingers and brought them by Iruka's head. He thumbed at the now wet lip with his free hand. Iruka brushed his tongue across the pad of Kakashi's finger and ducked his head to kiss it, keeping an eye on Kakashi's increasingly heady stare.

Kakashi bowed to kiss him. He started slowly at first, but it didn't take much to rile Iruka up until his lips and tongue tingled—sensitive to even the slightest bite and suckle. Iruka whimpered in their mouths and squirmed within the wrap that held his arm.

Iruka's arousal was impossible to mistake in this position and, with growing embarrassment that Kakashi would notice, he bent a leg to shift their position. Kakashi had other ideas. He lifted from the relentless kiss and straddled Iruka in one smooth motion.

A jolt shot through Iruka when Kakashi's erection pressed into his own.

There was enough delighted mockery in the man's smile that Iruka was positive Kakashi was being intentionally torturous.

Kakashi licked his lips with that devious tongue and Iruka couldn't help but see himself as very stupid prey. Practically skipping into the jaws of a good-looking predator.

He wished he had at least one hand at his disposal to pay Kakashi back—even the odds a little, but when he tried to free it again Kakashi flattened it into the futon meaningfully.

"Lie back, Iruka. We have to be gentle."

Kakashi released Iruka, teasing fingers down his arm.

Iruka complied, his freed hand almost shaking. It was hard to believe how much he had wanted to feel this good—the relief that came, just knowing who was touching him.

The cool hand went under Iruka's kimono and over his chest, dipping his fingers into his collar bone. The other wove through his hair, then along his neck. Iruka turned his head, exposing his skin to the touch. They were fairly innocent motions, and Iruka was only too conscious of how his body was overreacting.

He didn't know what Kakashi was planning, but he was going to lose his mind at this rate.

Then the fingers were gone.

The mischievous grin couldn't disguise Kakashi's desire.

"It's been a long day. Maybe we should go to sleep after all."

The flush was filling Iruka's head so badly he felt dizzy. The aching was enough to choke his words.

Kakashi asked, "What do you want?"

Breaking Kakashi's unspoken rule, Iruka reached for him.

He wasn't begging. He demanded it.

"Don't stop."

A delighted smile on his face, Kakashi pressed his lips to Iruka's extended hand. As ordered, he bent to Iruka and kissed him once more. Iruka was well past the point of keeping track of Kakashi's movements. One hand pushed Iruka's kimono off his shoulder while the other went under him, undoing the obi's knot. He arched into Kakashi and was scolded.

"Relax, Iruka." He scooted down, planting kisses on Iruka's chest.

He fondled Iruka's fundoshi with one hand while pulling off the kimono to tease a nipple with his nail. Iruka bit his lip against it. Kakashi's tongue flicked his nipple until it perked nicely. The kimono dropped from Iruka's thighs—the obi long gone. Fingers slipped under the band of fabric at his hips and Iruka turned his head into the futon, fighting the sounds trying to escape.

Kakashi lifted his head, but kept his hand moving between Iruka's legs. Iruka panted, thankful for the small reprieve.

"Where do you think we are, Obou-san? You won't get in trouble for making a little noise."

Iruka glared back, "You're doing that on purpose—!"

Despite his efforts, Iruka cried out when Kakashi took the bead of his nipple between his teeth. "Ah… so it seems."

He cupped Iruka's peck, soothing the bite with the flat of his thumb. Iruka could feel the other nipple hardening against the wrap binding his arm. Kakashi saw it and grinned. He twisted the exposed nipple and was pleasantly surprised when Iruka throbbed into his other hand in response. Iruka covered his mouth as he moaned.

Kakashi's voice seemed to come from far off—yet it shuddered through him.

"I already know you're enjoying yourself, there's no reason to hold back. We've just started."

Iruka trembled as Kakashi skimmed his fingers through the trail of hair on his stomach. After freeing Iruka's erection, Kakashi took a moment to admire the view and made Iruka blush anew. Trapped and exposed, he hid in the crook of his arm. Those same hands that washed him at the bathhouse sculpted his shape without restraint. Outlining every bend and muscle and bone. Not watching Kakashi do it was almost worse—he could feel it that much more.

"Your skin is burning hot," he fanned his fingers out to emphasize this, "and beautiful." Then Iruka felt Kakashi's lips press inch by inch down his stomach. "You're beautiful."

From behind his arm, he barked—voice cracking, "St-op talking."

Kakashi only chuckled. "It's too late to be embarrassed."

His eyes shot open when Kakashi lifted his leg. Their gaze locked and Kakashi paused there, kneeling between Iruka's open legs with his mouth hovering by the thin skin of his inner thigh.

"There you are." He planted a kiss on the sensitive skin, sucking at it and nipping. Iruka muffled a groan, but that wasn't enough for Kakashi. He chomped on the flesh and Iruka's shocked cry echoed back. "You have to tell me if I'm doing a good job. It's been a while."

Iruka's whole body shook with terrified laughter. "Keep those teeth away from me!"

Kakashi settled Iruka's thigh on his shoulder. "Just making sure you're still alive."

"You're the one who—"

He squeezed Iruka's ass, cutting him off.

"I changed my mind. I need encouragement."

Iruka sighed and gruffly pet Kakashi's hair, "Y-you don't have to do this for me."

Kakashi blinked at him. "Who said I was doing it for you?" He licked Iruka's thigh. "You've fallen right into my trap."

Iruka's breath caught when Kakashi coiled a hand around his shaft. If he had to describe the twinkle in Kakashi's eye, he'd say sinister.

He was stroked firmly from root to tip, wringing out a startled moan.

Kakashi laughed, "A little pent up?"

"Shut up," he hissed, but had little time to be mad at the blatant taunting.

Unable watch, Iruka covered his eyes and listened to the sound of his own uneven pants bouncing around the room. The long strokes continued, tortuously slow and a hot wet tongue lapped at his balls. Kakashi pulled one into his mouth, then the other. Iruka writhed in a halfhearted escape, but was held steady by the leg on Kakashi's shoulder. Determined to devastate him, the man's hand made shorter passes, focusing on the head of Iruka's cock. He ran an occasional finger over the top, smearing the precum gathered there and slicking his touch.

Iruka was mortifyingly close and bit into his arm to fight it. Glancing down, Kakashi's eyelids were drooped—focused intently on his work. The sight of that and the brush of Kakashi's hair on Iruka's thigh was enough to send him over. Just as he felt a release coming, the ring of Kakashi's fingers tightened at the base of his cock. With a mangled sound, the thwarted orgasm ripped through Iruka and his leg went limp on Kakashi's back.

Those predatory eyes snapped up to him. Want, anger, and determination were bizarrely jumbled together in that gaze.

Something suddenly made sense to Iruka.

Listless and desperate, Iruka laughed from the back of his throat. His protective arm fell away and he stared at the ceiling. He tested his voice, humming another little laugh.

The man was evil after all, but maybe he was on to something.

When Kakashi dragged his tongue on the underside of Iruka's shaft, he let the sound come out on its own. The vibration of it tingled through his chest to his fingertips.

He found Kakashi with his free hand and thread fingers into his hair. Kakashi smirked, licking his lips. While keeping his grip at the base, he molded a wet kiss onto the head of his cock, flicking his tongue over the slit. Each little cry from Iruka traveled further, shocking him with jittery pleasure down to his curling toes. When Kakashi finally took him in his mouth, the room disappeared. His world narrowed to his own bursts of sound and Kakashi's reciprocating tongue that readily answered him.

A choked orgasm hit him again and he gripped Kakashi's hair with painful strength. Kakashi flinch around him.

His cognizance flooded back. Panicking, he grabbed a fistful of the futon instead and grit his teeth to maintain reason. He went quiet, willing Kakashi to get on with it before he lost control.

Kakashi pulled off to take a breather. He took Iruka's hand from the futon and put it to his cheek to kiss his palm. "Where's my encouragement, sensei?"

Breath ragged, Iruka took Kakashi's face in his hand. It scared him. He was afraid of what he might do. He thumbed under Kakashi's eye apologetically.

Kakashi shook his head, snickering. "You can't hurt me." He leaned into Iruka's touch, eyes closing peacefully. "I don't think you can hurt anyone."

Kakashi skimmed along Iruka's thigh and lightly kissed him there. Iruka stroked Kakashi's head and that ache returned, clutching at his heart. Feeling that same longing in Kakashi's touch was almost too much to bear.

He gently churned the base of Iruka's cock as he asked, "Does it feel good?"

The pleasure had changed. It didn't prickle and bite at him. It was a building heat that lifted him from the floor, gradually saturating him. Fluid and unstoppable.

He held Kakashi's gaze.

"Y-es." A smile crept up, "It feels good."

Saying it somehow made the feeling stronger.

Devilishly satisfied, Kakashi held Iruka by his hip and took his full length in his mouth. Iruka's head fell back with an inarticulate sound meant to be Kakashi's name. He didn't fight it anymore. His voice reverberated, building on the sensation and overwhelming time itself. Awareness of Kakashi's actions poofed away, hands—mouth—it didn't matter.

Bubbling up like laughter, his mouth dropped open on a smile. He said it again, as if giving himself permission.

He clutched at Kakashi's hair, fingers digging into his neck, his shoulder.

When the pleasure finally seized him, pulling in from the farthest reaches of a vessel that had lost its barriers, orgasm tore through in waves.

He collapsed, skin prickling. Panting, staring sightlessly above.

He could absently feel Kakashi's tongue on his stomach and sensitive cock. A moan slipped out here and there as Kakashi meticulously cleaned him. The hand on Kakashi's head was too weak to hold on, but smoothed a piece of his hair between his boneless fingers.

Then suddenly Kakashi was grinning down at him. He rubbed a hand calmly across Iruka's chest, back and forth. Iruka could only imagine what he looked like in this state, but he was too blissful to feel bashful.

Not sure of what else to say—and too exhausted to consider reciprocating—he apologized.

"This doesn't seem fair."

Kakashi shrugged. "There's always next time." He eyed Iruka's various bandages. "Maybe when you're not so banged up."

The promise of a next time didn't sound bad at all.

Iruka curled forward and beckoned Kakashi with a glance.

Kakashi blinked in surprise, covering his mouth a little, "Iruka, I'm—"

"I don't care." He took Kakashi's collar in his hand and pulled them both to the floor. "Kiss me."

Kakashi snickered against his lips as Iruka locked into him, holding the back of his neck. His taste in Kakashi's mouth made him shiver.

Kakashi broke away, "Just a second, Iruka."

He got up and snatched the unused futon from the floor. He threw it where the wall met the open railing, arranging it haphazardly. Then he returned for Iruka. He stood over the man with his hands on his hips, assessing him.

Completely deadpan, he confessed, "You're magnificent."

Iruka snapped—not sure if he was being teased or if Kakashi had lost his mind with lack of sleep.

"Give it a rest!"

Kakashi promptly knelt and scooped Iruka up, "Alright, alright."

"Kakashi—!?"

He cradled Iruka and kissed his temple, which effectively pacified the grumpy, lethargic man.

He realized there wasn't really a point in putting up a fuss, so Iruka draped his arm over Kakashi's shoulder as he was carried to the edge of the room. Kakashi dropped to the ground and threw the futon over them.

Iruka fell into Kakashi's warm chest, buried under the covers as Kakashi got them comfortable. The crisp breeze hit Iruka's feet and he sucked them under.

When Iruka's head broke free of the futon, all of Enten stretched at their feet.

Lingering dew gave the city an ephemeral haze. There were people starting their day, opening their stores and attending to their errands. The buildings in the distance were tiny, like clay replicas. Iruka could pluck them from the earth if he wanted.

Kakashi finished tucking them into their little nook and snuggled into Iruka. "How's this? It shouldn't be long now."

Iruka was confused until he noted the sky. The navy blanket was warming with dusty peach light across the horizon. Kakashi was right. It wouldn't be much longer before the new day would begin.

Fog still rested at the foot of the mountain and poured into the part of the city hiding in shadow. The towering storm clouds over the mountain had not dispersed. Their shaded side was a splatter of night, while the edges were tinged with the gold of the imminent sun.

When the young dawn did set the sky ablaze with red and orange, it blinded him. He barred it with his hand and the light outlining his fingers until his eyes adjusted.

He let out a long, peaceful sigh and drifted to the steady pace of the kind heart beating at his back.

Feeling the inescapable lull of sleep, Iruka shifted to the side so he could look at Kakashi.

His voice barely above a whisper, he said Kakashi's name.

Hearing the invitation, Kakashi kissed him once more.

They folded together. Tiredness and comfort melted their bones.

Iruka's eyes floated shut without fear. The warmth of the sun and the bright red glow behind his eyelids were there to remind him it wasn't just a dream.

...

This was a crazy chapter. It started and ended in so many different places before this final version. But I'm happy with it! Early iterations had our boys killing the gremlins... which was... super depressing! So we didn't do that! And thank goodness, honestly... they'll need all the friends they can get.
And the smut was unexpected. At least for me! Hahahahahaaaa

Thanks for reading as always! I'll see you next time!