Flashback! You're all gonna have to wait a little longer till I resolve the cliffhanger. If I resolve it. Mwahaha.

Fragile: Handle With Care - Chapter 6

It felt like all his muscles had turned to liquid. Iruka looked down at his hands and smiled when the table underneath them started to tilt.

About damn time, too.

He turned his gaze back to the glass in front of him and counted, trying to figure out how much he'd imbibed. The service being excellent at this particular bar, an empty glass never stayed on the table for long. That made it all the harder to keep track. Besides that, concentrating was becoming impossible, which was exactly what the chuunin was going for.

"Excuse me," he said, getting the attention of one of the waitresses. "Could I get another vodka?"

"Make it two."

Iruka turned his head towards the source of the voice just in time to see a silver-haired man sit down at a chair across the table. "Just the one, please," Iruka said to the waitress, though his eyes never strayed from the other man. "Hatake-san won't be staying." The woman, hoping to avoid an awkward confrontation, made a quick getaway. Iruka simply folded his arms and leaned back. He was obviously waiting for Kakashi to say something.

The jounin took his cue. "I don't see you in here very often. Special occasion?"

Just the sound of Kakashi's voice was enough to make the chuunin defensive. He wondered how such a seemingly simple question could feel so much like a personal attack. "You think because I'm a school teacher, I don't drink?"

"No," the other man countered. "I think because you're a school teacher, you don't kill people. That's why I come here."

Iruka thought it sounded vaguely like an insult. "You're right. I don't even remember the last time I had to kill another person. But believe me, Hatake-san, I have my own sins to consider. Just because I don't end lives with my own hands doesn't mean I'm completely free from blame."

The copy-ninja hummed noncommittally, but didn't comment. The chuunin teacher was filled with alcohol and clearly on a roll. "I train kids...little kids to fight. I have to teach them how to defend themselves, because other teachers are out there, teaching their kids how to kill our kids. I'm responsible for what happens to them. They..."

"They're shinobi," Kakashi interrupted quietly. "Those are the risks we all face. They can't stay safe in your classroom forever."

Iruka growled, shoving his chair away from the table so violently that the empty glass tipped over and rolled off the edge, shattering upon impact with the floor. The teacher was only hazily aware that he was making a scene. Standing so suddenly had destroyed his sense of equilibrium, so Iruka was concentrating all his energy on glaring at the jounin in front of him. "Perhaps you forgot, Hatake-san, but I'm already familiar with your thoughts on this particular subject. You made it quite clear to me, and every other shinobi present."

Kakashi said nothing as he watched Iruka take an uncertain step forward. "Just because they stop being my students doesn't mean I stop caring about them." Iruka began to walk out of the bar, past the other man, his attention on putting one foot in front of the other.

Which was why a gloved hand wrapped gently around his arm caught Iruka completely by surprise.

He glanced down at Kakashi, hoping for some kind of explanation, but the jounin was staring steadily at Iruka's arm, which he had yet to relinquish from his hold. The chuunin felt his face flush, as the silence stretched on, becoming quite awkward. He was just about to pull himself forcibly out of the other man's grasp when Kakashi finally spoke.

"You're not the only one that cares about those kids. They're the first people I've really loved in a long, long time." The silver-haired man turned his head so that he was looking up at the young chuunin teacher. "You should really sit down, Iruka-sensei," he said, smiling happily. "You don't look all that steady."

Iruka was so stunned by the sudden change in atmosphere, that he could only nod dumbly as he fell heavily back into his seat. The jounin had very effectively ended his tirade, and Iruka had been counting on his righteous indignation to help him make it out the door. But with most of his anger now gone, the chuunin doubted he could make it without falling or running into something. Neither of those things sounded particularly appealing.

Iruka found Kakashi was still smiling at him, and the teacher's booze-addled mind became irritated again very quickly. "What?"

"You're blushing. Do you have the hots for me, sensei?"

"Do I...'have the hots'...for you?" Iruka said slowly, trying to buy time to think up an adequate response. "What, are we sixteen now?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Naruto said it a couple of days ago and it stuck. So, do you?"

"D-don't be an idiot!" the chuunin stuttered. "Alcohol makes my face turn red. Really red."

"Of course it does. Excuse me!" the silver-haired man called out to the same waitress they had spoken to before. She walked over to their table, looking slightly nervous.

"Yes, can I help you?"

Kakashi turned back to grin at the teacher once more. "Iruka-sensei has very graciously allowed me to stay. So, can we get those vodkas now?"

The middle-aged woman smiled, relaxing a bit. "Sure, is there anything else?"

"Um, I accidentally broke one of the glasses," Iruka said, face clearly showing his embarassment. He gestured to the glass on the floor. "I'll be glad to pay for it."

The waitress shook her head as she bent down to carefully pick up the pieces. "Don't worry about it. It happens. I'll be right back with your drinks."

The two ninja nodded their thanks as she turned and headed back to the kitchens. A sudden groan made Kakashi look back at the chuunin, who was holding his head with both hands. Eyebrows raised in speculation, he wondered how much alcohol the younger man had drunk to get him into such a state.

Iruka leaned forward to put his elbows on the table for support. He was still holding his hands tightly against his temples, as if trying to keep his head from splitting apart. "Another drink would be a very bad idea," he said, eyes rolling upward to watch the silver-haired man. "I can see two of you...as if one wasn't bad enough."

"Hnn...It's good to see the alcohol hasn't affected your personality." The jounin studied Iruka's face thoughtfully. "Are you sure that isn't a blush? It seems to come and go..."

The teacher closed his eyes, beginning to regret the decision to stay. "It gets like that when I'm angry too. Which," he began, raising his head to look Kakashi square in the eye. "I have every right to be, by the way."

"Considering the whole thing was your fault, I have to disagree," Kakashi said, looking completely serious.

"What?" the chuunin asked, too far gone to care that his mouth was hanging open in disbelief. "How in the hell do you figure that one?"

"Nine of your students were nominated to take the exams as first year genin. You must have done something right."

Iruka shook his head. "It wasn't me. Those kids are special. Motivated," he said, thinking fondly of the students in that group. Naruto...Hinata...Shikamaru... "Er...most of them, anyways."

"You know as well as I do that Naruto would never have gotten this far if it wasn't for you." Kakashi smiled as the teacher accepted the compliment silently. "You know, he talks about you a lot," the jounin continued. "Topic-wise, I think only Sasuke and ramen rank higher."

"I suppose in Naruto's case, losing out to ramen is nothing to be ashamed of. Thank you, Kakashi-san," Iruka said sincerely.

"Oh, so we're on a first-name basis now? I'm flattered."

The chuunin snorted. "Don't be. You've been calling me 'Iruka-sensei,' so I think I should be able to call you 'Kakashi.'"

"Fair enough," the jounin said happily, as the waitress approached with their drinks. Iruka frowned as a glass was placed in front of him. Kakashi noticed and pushed the drink closer to the chuunin. "You look like you could use it."

It was a few moments before Iruka answered. "A former student from my first class ever...she was killed yesterday. She only made chuunin last year."

The jounin nodded. This was something he understood very well. "In that case, one more definitely won't hurt," Kakashi said as he picked up his own glass. "For fallen friends, that they never be forgotten." He watched the other man raise his drink briefly, before knocking it back in one go.

Kakashi knew better than to comment. He'd already riled up the chuunin enough for one night. But he couldn't hold back a smile as he lowered his mask and took a sip from his own drink.

Even with his rapidly burring vision, Iruka was close enough that he could clearly see the other man's features. Feeling guilty for staring, he turned away quickly and looked around to see if any of the other patrons had noticed. Things seemed pretty calm, so Iruka assumed that no one else had. He looked back just as the jounin was getting the mask back into place.

Kakashi had already decided against angering Iruka any further. Teasing the poor teacher, however...

"What? Is there something wrong with my face?" he asked innocently.

The copious amounts of alcohol prevented Iruka from thinking through his response before saying it aloud. "You know damn well there's nothing wrong with your face. It's perfect." The chuunin froze, and Kakashi could practically see the wheels spinning in Iruka's head as he started backpedaling desperately. "That is to say...it's umm...not bad...as far as faces go..."

"How cute. Did you fall for me again?"

"No!" Iruka said frantically. "I mean, I didn't fall for you before either!" Kakashi simply smiled. "It's getting late. I should go...school night and all..."

"Tomorrow's Saturday."

Crap. Iruka thought. "Have to feed my cat. Poor thing's been alone all day."

"You don't have a cat."

Don't panic! Stick to your story... "I just got her. Last week. So, no one knows about it. Not even Naruto."

The jounin leaned back, folding his arms cockily. "I have a pack of ninja dogs. I would have been able to smell cat all over you."

So much for lying. "Okay. Honestly? I just need to get home. If I stay here any longer, I'll pass out at the table." Or say something completely mortifying...

Kakashi stood up, removing his mask and finishing his drink in one fluid motion. "You should have said so in the first place. I'll walk you home. As long as you promise not to molest me on the way. I have a reputation to protect, after all."

"Most people would imagine it the other way around..." Iruka said, eyes narrowed. "And anyway, you don't need to do that. I'm fine."

"Uh-huh. Considering the fact that you're looking right past me, I can only assume you're still seeing double. What kind of gentleman would I be if I let you stumble home by yourself?"

Common sense won out over pride in the end, and Iruka sighed in resignation. "Fine, let's just pay and get out of here." He slowly made his way to the door, as he fumbled for his wallet. The teacher opened it and frowned at its contents. He felt someone brush past him, and glanced up to see Kakashi at the counter, paying his bill. "What? What are you doing?"

The jounin waved off his objections dismissively. "Don't worry. You can pay me back when you're sober enough to tell a two from a five."

Huh... Iruka thought, staring at his money. They do kinda look the same. The transaction was taken care of quickly, and both men stepped out the door and into the cool night air. The change in scenery and temperature lessened some of his dizziness, and the chuunin sighed in relief. Things were looking up.

"You live near Gai and Asuma, right?"

"Yes," Iruka replied, as they started off in the direction of his apartment. "Asuma-san lives next door."

"You picked a good spot for drinking, then. At least you live pretty close. Although actually, we'll be lucky if you make it that far..." Kakashi paused as he watched the teacher trip over an exceptionally large bump in the road. A hand at his elbow kept Iruka from falling over.

"Damn thing came out of nowhere..." he mumbled.

The copy ninja rolled his eyes, but didn't move his hand from where it rested lightly on Iruka's arm. Who knew what might jump out to trip the poor, drunk chuunin next?

The rest of their journey, however, was relatively uneventful, and the two soon found themselves standing outside Iruka's door. "Keys, keys, keys..." the chuunin muttered, as he fished through his pockets. Iruka pulled out the keyring, and after three tries, managed to get the door open. Not bothering to remove his sandals, the teacher walked straight down the hallway to the back of the apartment. "I'm going to bed."

Kakashi, who had slipped through the door behind Iruka took his own sandals off before stepping into the chuunin's kitchen. "I'll find you some painkillers," the jounin said. "I have a feeling you're going to need them." He walked over to the sink and filled a glass with tap water before making his way to the bathroom. Iruka's medicine cabinet was well-stocked, and Kakashi easily found the pain medication.

The door leading to the chuunin's bedroom was half open, but Kakashi knocked before poking his head in. Iruka was lying flat on his back on top of the covers, completely comatose. Kakashi pushed the door open fully and glanced at the rest of the room. Night stand next to the bed, dresser on the far wall, trash can in the corner... Perfect.

The jounin put the bottle of pills and glass of water on the night stand, and dragged the trash can over, so that it was right next to the bed. Kakashi managed to take off Iruka's sandals and pull the blankets out from underneath him without the chuunin showing any signs of life.

Realizing that this was about the best he could do for the young teacher, Kakashi covered Iruka with the blankets and walked over to the other side of the room. I'll stay here tonight... he thought to himself, as he sat down with his back to the wall. Just in case. And with that, Kakashi closed his eyes, and fell asleep thinking of the brown-haired teacher.

'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'

AN: This chapter just would not end. I'm not completely happy with the ending, but I just wanted it to be over. Gah...I know you all want to get back to the present, and frankly, so did I...There was just a lot that had to fit into this chapter. So anyway, chapter seven is already in the works, and as far as the present is concerned, things will pick up considerably now that our hero(?) has finally woken up.

And thank you to all of my reviewers. I got some very lovely comments, and it makes me happy to know that people are enjoying the story.