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chestnut-b · 4 years ago

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Himawari Chapter 9

In which Iruka gets a bit of a winter cold.

Chapter 9 of a Demon Slayer AU

“All right. Class dismissed!”

There was a small chorus of happy cheers, and the children gathered for a respectful bow before running off for their morning break. Naruto wasted no time, grabbing Lee’s arm and pulling him towards the courtyard for sparring. The rest, having braved the chill long enough, retreated indoors.

Iruka watched them go with an exasperated, fond sigh.

There was still some time before lunch, so he took the time to wander the school grounds, eventually coming to a stop outside the tea room.

Sliding open one of the doors, the room was dark, and his shadow, cast on the floor, was a solitary one.

He smiled to himself wryly before sliding the door shut. He walked, turning the corner in the hallway, but his ears soon picked up the sounds of approaching footsteps behind him.

“Oiiii, Iruka.” Came a familiar drawl.

Mizuki. He was dressed in his haori and outdoor sandals, his nichirin blade strapped proudly to his waist. He approached Iruka casually, his arms raised to brace the back of his head.

“It’s a sortie. We’ve just received orders to head out.”

That explained his attire, and certainly the smile that was plastered on his face.

Iruka bowed his head.

“I see. May you and your squad see victory on the battlefield.”

“Hmmm. Must be nice, getting to stay behind while we get sent out to die like rats.”

“Wha-,”

Iruka didn’t dodge the arm that shot out past his neck, pinning his body to the wooden post behind him. Mizuki’s gaze, seemingly nonchalant but laced with barely hidden disdain, bore into him.

“I’ve been wondering for a while, you’ve been here for over two years now, and I still don’t know your rank, Iruka.”

Iruka stood, still as stone. His fist closed into a ball.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Just curious. They said you’d come as an apprentice of a former Hashira, but so far I haven’t seen anything to be impressed by.”

“Maybe there isn’t anything impressive about me to begin with?” Iruka raised his tone to match Mizuki’s.

“Heh. I heard when you came with that brat of yours, security got so much tighter. It’s still such a pain, to be honest.” Mizuki let down his arm, drawing back.

“The children here were all orphaned by demons. If we won’t protect them, who will?”

“If they get killed, it’s because they weren’t strong or lucky enough, that’s all. If they’re going to be that pathetic, they’d be better off digging graves with the rest of the Kakushi. I’ve seen you go on and on about how we’re here for them, but in reality, some of us are just here for the paycheck.”

Iruka felt the heat rise up his neck. His nails were biting into his palm now, but he couldn’t refute the statement. Anyone could take the selections, it didn’t surprise him at all that more than a few entered the corp just to survive.

“Maybe some of us are here for more than the paycheck then.”

Mizuki snorted, leaning back to rest his hand on the hilt of his blade. He was clearly bored of the conversation.

“Well, have fun babysitting. I’m off to slay some demons. With a couple more under my belt, I’ll get promoted by the end of the year. That’s something to look forward to in this god-forsaken dump.”

Without another word, the slayer made himself scarce.

Alone, Iruka took a moment to dust off his uniform. He passed another set of corridors, and found himself outside the room he and Naruto shared.

The tree that stood in the yard between him and the guest quarters was barren, its crown dotted by dry, empty nests against a grey, overcast sky. Months ago, when it was still green with life, he’d shared many conversations with a Hashira under its generous shade.

The birds that flew by then had long since moved south.

A week later, on a quiet night under a full moon, he found himself standing beside Naruto before the compound’s prayer box.

They prayed; for health, for each other, and for those they’d lost.

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The winter that came was harsh and unforgiving.

Iruka lay shivering in his futon, face flushed with fever. He’d never taken to the cold well, especially as a child. In his delirium, he thought he could feel his mother’s warm hand against his cheek, or his father’s rough, calloused palm resting on his forehead.

Being clear-headed was never more painful.

He’d moved to the tea room to make use of the closeness of the hearth. Naruto was as attentive as he could be, considering he’d been shooed away with Lee when he wasn’t delivering food or medicine. Sakura would peer into the room too, when she thought he was asleep. He’d open his eyes to see a cup of hand brewed tea at his bedside, smelling of herbs and flowers. Izumo and Kotetsu had taken up his duties in his absence, and he was never more grateful for them, as much as he disliked being away from the children.

He thought he was in the middle of another fever-induced dream when he heard a familiar bark accompanied by the sounds of light footsteps, amplified by the silence of the surrounding snow.

“Iruka-nii!” Whispered a dear voice.

He couldn’t help but smile, even if it did hurt his burning cheeks.

“Naruto? Do we have a visitor?”

Another bark.

“It’s Guruko!” Came the hushed proclamation.

Naruto’s small hands pulled open a space in the door just wide enough for the hound’s slim body to slip through, and was shut just as quickly to prevent the heat from escaping.

With effort, Iruka rolled to his side, resting his head on his arm to see the familiar red hound come to stand just above him. She was looking at him emphatically, and lowered her head to nudge him with a cold, wet nose. Iruka chuckled softly, patting the side of her face.

“It’s good to see you. I hope Kakashi-san hasn’t been overworking you guys.”

Guruko whined softly and gave his palm a few good licks before turning around. It took a bit of fumbling, but Iruka eventually managed to undo the buttons to her small satchel. His fingers found the slip of paper they were looking for, and Iruka focused his eyes on the inky characters on the page.

Iruka-sensei,

If this finds you in the right circumstances, it means we’ve both survived another year, maybe. Much like starting a new Icha-Icha novel, the provisions you sent were consumed with much reverence -

Iruka rolled his eyes, groaning. That didn’t stop him from continuing though.

And since you so kindly offered, I’ve sent Guruko to request for a little more than just your attention.

Regarding your souvenir, since you didn’t ask for anything reasonable, I’ve taken it upon myself to find something that could be worthy of your amusement. As I write this, I find myself holed up in a small fishing village on the northern coast. It is as miserably cold as you might expect, but the fish is delicious. Guruko was skulking around on the beach one morning and picked up a fine specimen. I’ve often been told you can hear the sound of the ocean if you hold it to your ear. Alas, on my first attempt, I nearly had mine torn off by a very unhappy critter. I hope you will have better luck with it than I.

It was signed off in the Hashira’s usual fashion.

Iruka paused. He dipped his hand back in Guruko’s satchel, and as he expected, found something solid and smooth.

Ah, no good. His eyes were already starting to sting.

A conch shell, white and spotted brown, fit warmly in the cup of his palm, like something he could have picked up outside his childhood home, when it was still an acceptable preoccupation for a four year old shinobi.

And though he certainly didn’t have to put it to his ear to remember the sound of the ocean, he thought he would amuse Kakashi’s efforts.

He closed his eyes, and surely enough, he saw the crouching figure of his child self, on the familiar beach, doing the same.

The sound rushing in his ears was no doubt, that of the rolling tide.

Iruka was pulled back to the present by a tongue lapping at his cheek.

“Sorry, Guruko. Your master’s a bit of an idiot.” He sighed.

There was a bark of agreement, and the hound curled itself on the floor within arm’s reach. Iruka tucked the letter under his pillow, but kept the shell in his palm. Exhausted, he closed his eyes.

If the letter was still there when he awoke, he’d go through it again then.

---------------------------------

Kakashi-san,

By the time this reaches you, the new year would have passed. As usual, the winters here are harsh, but Guruko’s presence was a welcome warmth.

As you may know, Jiraiya-sama visits from time to time. He is, under the right influences, generous with his anecdotes of you. Had I not known your acquaintance, it would have been hard to believe that even the Hashira have their bouts of rebelliousness.

Your souvenir was well received, and worthy of much more than just my amusement. Among other things, I’m reminded of the fact that Naruto has never seen the ocean before. It would be nice if he could, some day.

Besides the usual provisions, you’ll find a small token of thanks. We do not have priests here, so it is lacking in the divine benefits, and is filled with nothing but sentiment. Nevertheless, know that my thoughts go with you, and the hounds, of course.

Iruka

Under the warm, dim light of a paper lamp, Kakashi took a sip from a cup of tea. Guruko lay beside him, snoring softly.

In his palm, a small, hand-stitched omamori.

---------------------------------

Before he knew it, summer had come round once again.

He was making his way through a rice field when he’d received word from a crow;

The Lightning Hashira is to report to the outpost in the Forest of Death for yearly evaluations at his earliest convenience.

Watching the crow take off into the sky, he couldn’t help but recall a certain conversation.

When was the last time a crow brought you good news then?

The teacher’s grin when he answered was hard to forget.

Without meaning to, Kakashi had leaned on that memory, more than once. Covered in blood, in the wretched cold, on the darker nights.

Not that he’d ever admit to it, of course.

Yearly evaluations huh, that’s new.

He wondered if Iruka had already been informed. He wouldn’t know when he’d arrive exactly, and Kakashi found himself thinking that sneaking up on his friend might make for a fun challenge. Watching him turn red and bristle would be its own reward.

They’d exchanged letters only once more since Guruko had returned that winter. The long nights always meant an increase in demon attacks; he’d not been able to spare any of the hounds for more trips back. She’d returned that time noticeably more distressed than he remembered ever seeing her. Knowing Iruka, he could think of a few reasons why, but as long as he’d not been summoned on some emergency, there was little to be done. There were lives to be saved and demons to be defeated wherever he went.

Jiraiya being around brought him some ease of mind, at least.

The letter that came in spring, to Kakashi’s amusement, had the distinct smell of gunpowder on it. Someone was having fun. Iruka spoke of dabbling in the art of explosions, now that the air was warmer and drier, with an enthusiasm he’d not quite known the teacher capable of.

It was rather...cute.

Just as the thought entered his mind, the cry of yet another crow caught his attention. A bird soon landed on the scarecrow he had just walked past, and looked at Kakashi haughtily. It stuck out a leg without even bothering to speak. The man looked at the bird humorlessly, walked back towards it, and took the message.

Kakashi,

Oyakata-sama tells me you’re due to be sent back for another evaluation. I’d like you to come by the estate on your way there. You’d be doing me a big favour.

It was signed with the Sarutobi clan seal.

Jeez, now everybody wants a piece of me. Kakashi sighed.

He didn’t know what business the retired Hashira had with him, but in all likelihood it had something to do with his former disciple. Hiruzen was probably the only person alive who knew anything significant about the man, and that was enough to make him feel a little less unwilling to make the long detour.

“Tell Sarutobi I’ll be seeing him soon” he said.

The bird flew off with a shrill cry.

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End of Chapter 9

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A bit of an unintended chapter, this one, but certainly not one I regret writing. :D Naruto and Guruko are such cutie-pies! We’ll be seeing Sarutobi in the next chapter! (Artwork for that one is already all done, look forward to it!) I apologise for not being able to have any kind of consistency in the artwork (from my own hand, for my own story at that), I always just end up drawing however I feel like at the moment.

Just so you know, I consider the version of AO3 to be the ‘definitive’ version of the story because sometimes I’m a dumbdumb who has to go and re-write certain bits.

Again, thank you always for reading! I love reading your comments whenever I get them. <3

#kakairu #iruka #Kakashi #umino iruka #iruka umino #iruka sensei #Demon Slayer AU

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