To Be Alive At All Is To Have Scars (Kakashi Hatake x Iruka Umino)

Chapter Three

When Friday rolls around that week, Kakashi can't help but be overcome by a giddy sense of excitement- even if most of his day is going to be spent reading Icha Icha and watching Yamato assist Naruto's training. While he knows those hours will drag by, he also knows that afterwards, he'll get to go through his weekly routine of frequenting the local bar that's just down the street from his apartment.

It's a nasty habit he's gotten into, but it gets him through the week; disguising himself as his alter ego, Sukea, and going to a bar that runs rampant with ANBU members and other high-ranking village shinobi. Sometimes, he only goes to sit at the bar and chat, to pretend to be someone else for a night. Most of the time, though, he uses the opportunity to connect with others in a way that he never can as himself; to be whisked away by a stranger into the cool summer's night and, inevitably, into their bed. He always leaves after said stranger falls asleep, only to repeat the cycle with a new one the following week.

Images of last Friday night play back in Kakashi's mind as he sits hunched over on a log. His eyes are trained on the familiar pages of Icha Icha, but he's not really reading the words.

"Hey, Kakashi!" Naruto exclaims, running over and sitting next to Kakashi on the log. Yamato watches them from the middle of the training grounds as he packs up his bag. Kakashi didn't notice how fast the time had flown by- the sun is starting to set and it looks like they're getting ready to part ways for the night. He finds himself letting out a sigh of relief before he can stop it. "Do you know who your soulmate is?"

"My soulmate?" Kakashi blinks. The question from Naruto takes him by surprise. It's considered extremely inappropriate in social settings to ask about soulmates. Then again, Naruto has never been one to follow societal norms. Having been evading the soulmate questions for years now, Kakashi quickly comes up with an answer. "I actually don't know, to be honest."

"Man, really? That sucks!" Naruto responds, seemingly convinced by Kakashi's lie.

After some more talk about today's training, Naruto runs off, citing something about having plans with Sakura and Hinata. Yamato, however, stays behind with Kakashi. The older man puts his book away.

"Oh, Senpai," Yamato says, shaking his head as he leans back against the tree behind Kakashi and sighs.

"Tenzou," Kakashi stands and turns to glance over his shoulder at Yamato. "What is it?"

"Are you really going to keep this up?"

Kakashi blinks.

"Keep what up?"

"The lying... You know, about Iruka?"

At that, Kakashi's face burns bright red. Yamato has been a close friend of his since they were children, and with how perceptive the brunette is, it's no surprise that he's figured out Kakashi's secret. In fact, Yamato is the only one who knows. Kakashi is blessed that his friend just so happens to be kind enough not to go around telling everyone about it. Every once in a while, though, Yamato will gently pester him about it like this. It's always driven Kakashi up the wall, because there's no way Yamato could understand his perspective or what he's going through when it comes to Iruka.

After all, how could anyone understand?

Kakashi does a onceover of the training grounds to ensure that they're alone before responding with crossed arms.

"I don't want to talk about this."

"One of these days, someone less merciful than me is going to find out and spill the beans," Yamato shrugs. "Or Iruka could figure it out himself. He isn't stupid."

"He's had twenty six years to figure it out and still hasn't. Quite frankly, I think I could keep this up for as long as I wanted," Kakashi bluffs.

"I'm sure you could, Senpai. Do you really want to, though?"