My Sunshine

The Dinner Invitation / War Heroes - Iruka

Luckily for Iruka, once the winter break was over, the pace of his life began to pick back up.  he was able to immerse himself in his work, and Haru was immersed in teaching again.  He felt like some of the pressure was off of him since there were both so busy, and he secretly hoped that things in his head would be easier.  He still treausred his time with Haru,  but every day it seemed as if it was getting harder.

And one cold night in February, the thing he both expected and feared finally happened.

"I saw Kata again today."

"Yeah?"

She nodded.

"We actually talked for a while. He's a really nice guy. He asked me to go to dinner with him tomorrow night."

Iruka felt his heart drop into his stomach, even though he tried not to let it show on his face. He looked up, and gave her the most genuine fake smile he could muster.

"And? Are you going to go to dinner with him?"

She looked down at the table and shook her head no.

"I don't think so. He seems nice enough and everything, but I'm just not interested in him like that."

Iruka just gazed at her from across the table. This wasn't right. She needed to get her life started. He couldn't keep her under his protection forever. He took a deep breath.

"I think you should go. Invite Ino and Sai.  Make it a couples thing."

She actually looked a little crushed by his words.

"Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?"

He was shocked when she began to cry. Getting up from the table quickly, she ran down the hallway, slamming her bedroom door.

Fuck.

In trying to protect himself, he had hurt her.

Sighing, he stood up from the table and slowly walked to her door.

"Haru?"

"Go away."

He leaned against the wall next to her door, his hands in his pockets.

"I just don't want you to get stuck here with an old man like me. I don't want you to miss out on any more of your life."

No response. He stood there for another minute before getting up slowly and walking to the kitchen, clearing their cups from the table and putting them into the sink before trudging into the shower. He was pushing her away because he had to. There could never be romance between them, and he was stupid for even entertaining the thought. For ruining this amazing thing he had with this amazing person. She was becoming more vibrant, more alive, every day. In a village of shinobis in their 20s with war credentials and honors, he was a school teacher who was past his prime.

One of those men would easily sweep her off of her feet and give her everything: strong, passionate love, a home, marriage, children, security, and an entire life. He could practically see it in his mind. Haru standing there with her arm around a shinobi in uniform. She would look stunning and he would look like he was the luckiest man in the world, smiling widely next to her. In the man's other arm would be a little boy. Their little boy. The thought of it made him want to vomit, it this wasn't about him. It was about Haru and her future and happiness.

After all, he always had the Academy.

He took a shower, brushed his teeth, and headed to bed alone, feeling crushed.

***

He was awoken in the middle of the night to Haru's panicked screaming. Practically falling out of the bed, he scrambled to the hallway to find Haru falling backwards out of her door, still shrieking.

"NO! NO!"

"Haru! Haru!"

He fell to his knees, scooping her up. She was swinging wildly.

"Haru! Wake up!"

It took her a few more seconds to come to and stop swinging, instead laying in his arms breathing heavily and sobbing.

"He was trying to kill me! He was going to kill me!"

Iruka held her close.

"No one is going to hurt you. I'm here."

She gazed up at him with her wide, violet eyes, full of tears.

"Get your blanket and come to bed."

He helped her shaking body up before getting up off of the floor himself and heading back to his room. Haru appeared in the doorway a moment later, her pink blanket wrapped around her shoulders protectively. She trudged in and laid next to him. After a minute, she spoke to him softly.

"I'm sorry I ran off tonight. I know you're just trying to help me."

"Haru, we're five years into a time of peace for the village, and only five years out of the 4th Great Ninja War. This is a village of shinobi in their 20's who are war heroes and looking for a woman to pamper and hang off of their arm. A woman to start a life with. Wherever you came from, those men were evil. Most people don't act like that. Especially many of the men in this village. I've taught many of them, and they're honorable and would treat you like a queen. I'm just saying, don't hang around here. I'm ten years older than you and I'm a boring schoolteacher. I'm past my prime, but you aren't. You should meet more people; that's all I'm saying.  Kata is a good man."

She rolled over and snuggled into his shoulder.

"I'll try."

He could still feel the uneasiness in the air around them, but he was determined to treasure whatever little time he had left with her before she moved into someone else's bed.