Pick Up The Pieces

Frustration

Iruka's eyes scanned the dance floor looking for any sign of Kotetsu. When he had left with Genma, an uneasy feeling began to bubble uneasily in the pit of his stomach, and he was finding it hard to concentrate on what Kakashi had to say.

'Iruka, is there something troubling you?' Kakashi asked, his lone eye seeming to bore into the brunette's soul.

'I'm just...trying to...find Kotetsu.' Iruka admitted quietly, his eyes still darting around the room desperately as the unease built and overflowed inside of him.

'Iruka, I'm surprised at you.' Kakashi drawled mockingly, swirling his sake in his bottle lightly. 'Surely you would have known by now that he left here at least twenty minutes ago.'

Iruka's eyes widened and his mouth dropped before he could stop it. He smacked his forehead with his palm before looking at Kakashi with shame.

'How did I not notice this?' Iruka groaned, sinking into a nearby bar stool in defeat, shaking his head in his hands.

'It's not too late to go get him.' Kakashi said, putting his hand on Iruka's shoulder and rocking it lightly. 'Don't worry; I'll keep an eye on our young Hokage. He seems to be happy enough. But you must remember what I told you before. Unless you can find someone to take your place, you have to leave in the morning for an S-rank mission. Surely you understand what that means?'

The brunette looked up and swallowed deeply, fully aware what was at stake. But he needed to look after Kotetsu and to be the shoulder that he so desperately needed to keep him stable. He was caught between loyalty to the village, and loyalty to his friend.

'Kakashi, would you do me a favour?' Iruka whispered, his eyes fixated on a small section of the wall where paint was peeling in small flakes.

'I can do my best.'

'Whatever happens...look after him. Look after Kotetsu, he needs someone to trust. Can you be that one?'

'I can't reciprocate what you have done for him, but I promise to do what you ask to the best of my abilities.'

With a small smile, Iruka picked himself up off the stool and bowed his head to the fluffy haired nin, and fled through the bustling crowd, shaking off the wall of noise that beat down on him as he retreated from the protective bubble of the henge. Naruto caught a glimpse of his teacher fleeing out of the club, but was much too preoccupied with a young lady caressing his chest to think more of it.

When Iruka stepped out of the club, he found Genma lying in the street, not even bothering to pick himself up after his spat with Kotetsu. A lot of it had to do with him being a little shaken at almost having his testicles sliced open, but he wasn't about to admit that. Iruka almost stepped on him as he looked up and down the street for any sign of his friend.

'He went north.' Genma said, answering Iruka's silent question.

'North? Why?' Iruka questioned.

'How should I know? That's just the direction he went.' Genma said bitterly. 'All I wanted to do was talk to him.'

'You can't exactly blame him for not wanting to listen to you.' Iruka retorted, arms folded and looking down his nose at Genma.

'I get it, I was an ass. I wanted to apologise.' Genma admitted, letting his arms flop out to his sides with a huff.

'You? Apologise? That's new.'

'Iruka, I don't need the third degree from you as well. I've already had enough for tonight.'

'Fair enough. How long ago did he leave?'