Mission: Drabbles

Kakashi's Reports

It had started slowly; it was almost an imperceptible habit, but when a step was taken back Kakashi could finally see the pattern. He regularly blamed it on Naruto and would have taken it up with the young blond, but when he thought about it the habit really wasn't that bad at all even if now it was becoming more of an obsession than a simple habit.

Kakashi could pinpoint the first time he'd stepped over the line. He'd watched that ever present smile turn flat as the familiar chuunin had waved away the smoke from his transportation jutsu. It was with great pleasure that Kakashi remembered the ensuing argument complete with insane questions offered by the watching children as the jounin turned in his mission report.

Kakashi knew he had still been a bit fuzzy in the head that day from the very mission he had been reporting about. He had walked into the office and not seen the familiar face that Naruto had always demanded they wait in line for. It was a routine, get the mission, finish the mission, wait in line to turn the mission in, receive a happy smile and a friendly 'thank you' from Iruka, go home and sleep. His muzzy brain had decided he needed to keep to that routine even if his genin team weren't present, and so the search and the habit had begun.

Over the past year it had escalated. No longer could the silver haired jounin blame it on a head wound. He had consciously made the decision to seek out the chuunin while he was eating ramen, training, and even late at night while he was sleeping. He had made an effort not to be too intrusive, though and had once waited patiently while Iruka finished showering. That time had not ended in a friendly smile and a pleasant 'thank you', but Kakashi didn't mind since he'd gotten quite a nice eyeful of bare skin.

So it was nearly natural now that Kakashi would seek him out. He had finished a mission and his report was burning a hole in his vest pocket. The trees flashed by and his kunai were already in hand as he sensed Iruka not too far away. It only took a minute, possibly less than, for the Copy-nin to settle beside his bleeding comrade and grin. The wounds were superficial; Iruka was good at dodging fatal blows.

"Thank you," Iruka said while struggling to sit upright. "I didn't know if I was going to be able to get out of the way fast enough again." He scowled at his torn shirt then turned to Kakashi. "You look upset. I'm really alright, its just a few scratches thanks to you."

"You messed up the order," Kakashi muttered while rummaging through his many pockets."

"What?"

"The order," Kakashi repeated and pulled out his formerly neatly folded report. "First I hand in my report, then you smile and say thank you." He offered the sheet of paper to the still bleeding chuunin. "Do it right."

Iruka felt faint. Was it possible to actual know the moment you go crazy? He tried to stay calm as he stood and brushed some dirt off his pants. "So, you didn't come out here because of the message I sent ahead about pursuers?"

"Not me," Kakashi answered quickly. "But they did." He pointed to two ANBU who now patiently waited just outside the ring of carnage. One of them waved.

"You're here to hand in your mission report," Iruka confirmed as Kakashi once again offered the familiar looking sheet to him. The chuunin looked around and sighed heavily as he held out his hand. The Copy-nin happily stood and placed the report on the open palm where it was quickly crushed by a fist that immediately rushed towards his jaw.

"Thank you for your hard work," Iruka growled just before he began stomping his way towards home.

Kakashi took a moment to gather his thoughts before looking at the one ANBU that hadn't followed Iruka. "That was different," he announced to his quiet companion who he could tell was doing his best not to laugh.

It took only one mission for Kakashi to see the effects of his revelation to Iruka. The chuunin was where he was supposed to be and, as normal, had a line waiting to turn their mission reports in to him. Once Kakashi had been noticed as having entered the room the queue immediately cleared leaving him to happily turn in his report. He was able to recognize several emotions run across that familiar scarred face as Iruka looked up to see him holding a rather worse for wear report in hand; confusion, annoyance, anger, confusion again and finally acceptance.

"Thank you, Kakashi, for all your hard work."

owari

A/N: just a quick drabble I had to type up before I lost it XD Please enjoy.