Kakashi was excited. Ruka was on a mission; a very easy B rank delivery, only ranked so high because the shinobi had to travel through Rock. He'd received word through Genma that Iruka had returned safely and was at the Tower, being debriefed by Ibiki and Tsunade.

Kakashi looked around the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear. He'd cleaned Iruka's apartment, restocked the fridge, and fixed a simple dinner (Kakashi's kitchen skills were, while not being horrible, still not as good as Iruka's).

And sitting on the counter, wrapped in sea-green paper, was Iruka's present.

He heard the door and turned quickly, stirring the pots. Iruka walked in and laughed. "Kashi?"

"Hey, Ru." Kakashi grinned at him. "Sit down. I made dinner."

"That's really…what's this?" Iruka asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Nothing! It's not for you!" Kakashi mock-yelped. Iruka bust out laughing and grabbed the package. A short, enjoyable wrestling match later and Iruka unwrapped it, gasping.

"Do you like it?" Kakashi asked quietly.

"It's…beautiful!" Iruka's fingers trailed over the leather surface. It was a book bag; a satchel arrangement that slung easily over one shoulder. The strap was extra-wide for comfort and the whole thing was triple-stitched for extra durability. The best part was the decoration; Kakashi had sketched it out, and the artist had done a wonderful job. The Kohona leaf was played out over and over again in a repeating pattern, picked out with gold threads that glimmered gently in the light.

"Thank you for not getting me a dolphin." Iruka said with a chuckle.

"I know. You told me." Kakashi grinned. No more dolphins. Iruka liked dolphins, but there was a limit…

Iruka grinned. Then he sobered and rearranged his face into a regretful look. "It's beautiful, Kakashi. But…"

"But?" Kakashi yelped. "You don't like it?"

"I love it. But there's something I'd like better…" Iruka gave him a sly, chuckling grin and Kakashi suddenly laughed.

"Really?" Kakashi purred. Iruka wrinkled his nose and Kakashi closed the distance between them, pressing Iruka gently back against the counter. "What would that be?"

"Kakashi…" Iruka breathed. Kakashi leaned over and kissed him, deeply. Iruka set the bag down and wrapped his arms around his lover. When they broke apart, Kakashi kissed Iruka's nose and looked deeply into his warm, chocolate eyes. "I love you, Iruka." He whispered.

Iruka's eyes lit up with pure happiness. "I love you too, Kakashi."

They stared at each other for a long moment. Then Kakashi kissed him again, and Iruka was responding to the kiss, moving against his body.

Suddenly, Iruka gasped and pushed him away. "The food…Kakashi…."

"Don't care." Kakashi murmured, trying to pull Iruka back into his arms. "Not hungry anymore."

"Well, I am, you idiot." Iruka giggled and kissed his nose, then successfully managed to evade Kakashi's arms. "I just got back from a mission! I'm starving!"

Kakashi sighed dramatically. Iruka leaned over and touched his cheek, his eyes brimming with mischief. "Dinner first. Sex after."

Kakashi growled. "Eat fast."

Iruka laughed and shook his head. "Pervert. I love you."

"I love you to. Less talk, more eating."

…