The rain poured down endlessly, soaking me to the core. I stood silently in front of the memorial stone as rivulets ran down my face and mask. I hated the rain. It reminded me of too many missions gone wrong, comrades lost, memories of times I wished I'd forget.

'Obito… does it rain where you are?' I thought sadly.

The rain running down my body was turning pink with the blood of my injuries. I had come to see Obito before treating my injuries when I got back from my mission. I had been standing in the same place, unmoving for what had to be close to five hours. I was cold, bleeding, and miserably unhappy.

My hatai-ate slid down for the hundredth time and I irritably yanked it off and shoved it in my pocket. Without the support my hair flopped down in my eyes, heavy with water. I shook my head, trying to get some of the water out of it. For all of about three seconds my hair stayed out of my eyes before it was soaked and sticking to my forehead again.

I sighed. I really didn't want to go home to an empty house tonight. I wasn't in the mood for a quick fling either. So I just stayed where I was. Although I was still alone I would rather be at the memorial stone than my house. I would have to leave eventually though. My body ached, my wounds needed to be treated, I was low on chakra and I was frozen.

Footsteps sounded behind me and I cursed silently for being too out of it to notice the approaching chakra. It was familiar but I couldn't place it until the person appeared beside me, white lilies clung to his chest. Iruka. He glanced up at me from under his umbrella. He knelt down and placed the flowers and put his hands together in a quick prayer. He stood back up and turned to look at me more closely.

He slowly looked over me, taking in the rain-diluted blood, the cuts in my uniform, the drained look on my face. He reached out and grabbed one of my arms and stepped closer shielding me from the rain with his umbrella.

"Come on. There's no way I can leave you here in good conscience." He said quietly as he started to lead me away.

I was too tired to really fight it or even tease him like I normally would. He probably knew it too. He was smarter than most gave him credit for. So I let him lead me away. We walked in silence for about ten minutes before we arrived at his apartment. He opened it and motioned me inside.

After removing my shoes I stood in his entryway a little out of it. He walked away toward the back of the house. After a few minutes he came back with some clothes in his arms. He led me to his bathroom and handed me the clothes.

"Take a shower and warm yourself up. Towels are under the sink."

He closed the door to the bathroom and left me to myself. I undressed slowly and got out a towel. I turned on the shower and once it was warm enough I stepped in. I cleaned my wounds and washed my hair before just standing under the spray for a while. After five to ten minutes I turned the water off and stepped out. I dried myself quickly and put on the clothes Iruka had given me.

The sweatpants hung loosely on my hips while the shirt was almost ridiculously big. I may have been taller than Iruka but he was broader than me. I was practically swimming in his clothes. It would have made me laugh if I were in a better mood but currently I could only manage a bitter smile.

Among the clothes Iruka had even been thoughtful enough to provide a handkerchief to cover my face with until my mask dried.

With my hair dripping wet and the towel draped around my neck to catch the water I walked out into the dining area. Something smelled amazing. As I sat down at the table Iruka put a bowl of imoni soup in front of me before sitting down at the opposite end of the table with his own bowl.

"Itadakimasu," We both said quietly before eating.

When I was half way done I notice Iruka looking at me with a rather annoyed look on his face. I cocked my head to the side questioningly. He got up and grabbed the towel around my neck before throwing it over my head and proceeded to dry my hair. I sat there in shock for a minute before relaxing into the touch. It felt nice.

When Iruka was satisfied he threw the towel over the back of one of the kitchen chairs. I looked at him, raising an eyebrow in question.

He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry but it was bothering me for some reason."

I nodded and continued eating and he did the same.

When we were finished he set me on the couch and started treating my wounds. While he was doing that I let my mind wander.

I couldn't figure out why he was doing this. To the best of my knowledge he didn't even like me. I couldn't really blame him either. I had been a real ass the first time we ever really talked at the chunnin exams and I annoyed and infuriated the chunnin every chance I got after that. So why? Why was he caring for me so meticulously?

"Kakashi-san?" He called softly.

I hadn't even realized I had fallen asleep. I opened my normal eye and saw him standing in front of me.

"Come on, let's get you to bed. You'll be even more sore if you fall asleep sitting up like that." He smiled softly at me. It reminded me of how a father would smile at his child. He led me to his bedroom in the back of the house. "You can have my bed. Oyasumi nasai, Kakashi-san."

He shut the door quietly. I walked over to the bed and collapsed on it, falling asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.

My third fic on here and my addition to this wonderful pairing. IDK how long this one's going to be or how it's going to end really... So the ending will be as much of a surprise to me as it will be to you! XD Gotta love my unpredictability...

Imoni (芋煮): a thick taro potato stew popular in Northern Japan during the autumn season

Itadakimasu: literally, "I humbly receive". The phrase is similar to "bon appétit", or saying grace to give thanks before a meal. It is said to express gratitude for all who played a role in preparing, cultivating, ranching or hunting the food. This also acknowledges that living organisms have given their life to human beings as Daana.

Oyasumi nasai: good night