Pick Up The Pieces

Recollections

Iruka's apartment had a very cosy sense of grandeur; amber light cast stretchy shadows across the walls and ceilings as a fire crackled and danced in the fireplace. Kotetsu felt more relaxed and at peace since everything went topsy-turvey less than a week ago. The place had a nice atmosphere; one very homey and content, as his eyes took in the series of potted plants and bookshelves that adorned the room. He took another sip of sake from the bottle clutched in his hand and breathed a sigh of satisfaction, feeling the tension seep out his body. He leant back on the floor, stretching out his spine and balancing the bottle in the middle of his bare chest.

Iruka had offered his facilities to Kotetsu without a second thought after bringing him home with him. He had found the chūnin sitting staring blankly into a bowl of ramen with his head in his hands. If anything, he'd have to appreciate the fact that Teuchi and Ayame were such accepting people. It was obvious that would have heard all of the rumours. Heck, Ichiraku Ramen was the haven of gossip and news that was never meant to be overheard, but they still welcomed him in with a smile and even sprung a bowl of their most special ramen for him free of charge. Maybe there were still good people in the world after all.

It only took a little convincing from the brunette to bring him back to his place. Iruka figured that keeping him around for the night away from his place would clear his head a bit. Turns out it was working, and the influence of alcohol was making him ease up even more so. He watched the fire burn and twist freely, enjoying the warmth of the golden glow across his bare skin. He had taken advantage of the shower to clean himself up and rid the feeling of the sticky saliva that he constantly felt on his face. How degrading that situation had been; how sick and twisted the villagers minds were. How prejudiced.

'How's the sake?' Iruka asked, rubbing a towel through his long hair to dry it. He had slipped into a pair of loose sweatpants and his torso naked, just like Kotetsu. In past days, he would have been quite shy about sitting in such little clothing, but the need for modesty around each other was over. They we closer than ever before and both of them looked past the outer shell. Their relationship was special, and both appreciated how important they were to each other.

'Dragonfire.' Kotetsu said, raising the bottle slightly in acknowledgement.

'It's good stuff.'

'Help yourself. I have crates of it that I have to get rid of. I think I'll join you.'

Quickly, Iruka disappeared to another room and returned towel less and a crate of sake in hand and flicking his hair back over his shoulder. With a grunt, he collapsed onto the floor and leant against the lounge, sighing in relaxation and stretched his legs out in front of fire threw a beautiful glow over his caramel skin and the warmth lowered the little goosebumps on his arms. The harsh shadows from the fire only illuminated Iruka's tribal tattoo and Kotetsu couldn't drag his eyes away from it.

'Tell me something.' Kotetsu started, handling his bottle and rolling onto his stomach, his chain glinting golden from the fire.

'What does the ink stand for?'

He pointed a finger at the other man's chest and took a mouthful of his drink. Ahh alcohol. Such a beautiful way to drown the sorrow, especially when the drink lit a fire in his belly.

Iruka glanced down at his pectoral and his mouth twitched, fingers tapping against the ceramic bottle of Dragonfire in his lap.

'It's my commitment ring.' He said finally, after a quiet moment had passed. Kotetsu coked his head to the side with his eyebrows knitted slightly. Iruka couldn't help but be reminded of a puppy at his action.

'A long time ago...I was involved pretty deeply with someone, to the point where I was willing to share my entire life with them...I can't believe I'm saying this.'