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A six years old kid on the night before the first day in the academy, Tenzō carefully finished tying his sandals, straightened out, and looked in the mirror, admiring his new uniform – a simple short-sleeved shirt, mesh undershirt, and shorts. They were the very first pieces of clothing that anyone had ever given to him, other than a hospital gown. The fabric was strange to the touch but flexible enough not to restrict his movements. His skin didn't seem to like it much, though – Tenzō could feel every edge, crease, and stitch. He sighed and tugged at his collar, trying to ease the itching at his neck. Because it was what everyone else wore he needed to get used to it.
He had to.
At Root, Tenzō's progress with training was slow. He learned new things every day, practiced ninjutsu every free minute he got, and still, he was not advancing fast enough. Tenzō could tell from the expression on his teacher's face – it was similar to the one that Orochimaru had at a failed experiment. He was afraid because bad things happened to failed experiments.
Every night, he quietly sat on the edge of his bed and focused on things that distracted him during the training session that day. There were many: birds, background noise from the village, his teacher's cough, to name a few. He wanted to listen more to the birds singing in the high branches of trees and to wander around the village that was bigger than anything he has ever known before, but his teacher's stern voice urged him to focus. Eventually, Tenzō got used to filtering the distractions out to not lose concentration. However, one was incredibly hard to ignore – the persistent itching around his neck.
Tenzō frowned, tugging at the crew neck of his shirt, which was softer now after several washes. He got used to the fabric already, so the cause of this discomfort had to be something else. Perhaps, it was his hair. He slowly moved his hand to the back of his neck, and, indeed, the new blunt haircut was ending right at his nape, stray hair tickling the sensitive skin from there up to his chin. That must have been it.
He saw other members of Root wear shirts with high collars and thought it would help get rid of the itching – it didn't. His hair wasn't the issue, as Tenzō found out a few weeks later. One morning he woke up and saw a mark on the side of his neck. Though, calling it a mark wasn't right as it didn't have a particular form – just a fluid motion of changing symbols and colours on his skin. It should have scared him, but Tenzō was surprised to note that it didn't. On the contrary, it brought him some comfort, an irrational feeling of connection to something—someone, as if he wasn't alone.
This feeling, he believed, helped him improve during training. There was no more itching to distract him, and the chakra flowed freely, allowing his attention to focus on upcoming threats and defeat them with precise motions. His teacher praised him for the first time that day.
After training, Tenzō loved watching through the mirror the softly glowing symbols swirl on his skin. He even moved the mirror closer to the bed so to see the reflection more closely when falling asleep.
"So, you finally developed one, huh," his teacher pointed out during their training, and immediately Tenzō's hand flew up to his neck to find the cloth torn. On instinct, he covered the mark as if to protect it. It wasn't like he never intended to tell his teacher about it, but somehow he just wanted to keep it for himself a little longer. There weren't many things he could call his own—even his body wasn't quite his and instead someone's weapon—but this swirling pattern of symbols and colours felt like belonging to him alone.
At his teacher's order, Tenzō moved the hand away and stood still as the older man examined it, holding him by the chin and tilting his head to the side. It felt wrong to show the mark, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.
The man told him that this was a soulmark – a link to another person's soul. Which explained the feeling of connection that Tenzō experienced after it developed. It turned out that most people had one or more marks on their bodies. To civilians, this meant a strong emotional bond; to shinobi – an opportunity to share chakra through space. Throughout life, soulmates sought each other out being drawn together, pulled in by an invisible force. When soulmates meet, they agree on the depth of their bond and boundaries, if necessary.
"At Root, though, we have only one use for soulmates, boy,—"
Tenzō heard his teacher say. Then, to his horror, the man quickly formed unknown to him hand signs and touched his neck with a thumb to forever seal his beautiful mark. A sudden rush of adrenaline shot through his body then pinned him to the ground. As his heart threatened to jump out of his throat, his teacher continued:
"—their chakra makes our soldiers stronger. It looks like you were connected to someone with great chakra reserves, I expect you to do better in your training from now on."
"Yes, teacher," Tenzō could only whisper in response, tears threatening to fall as he stared at the muddy grass under his fists. He knew then that somewhere out there his soulmate just lost access to their chakra reserves.
For years since then, he hid this cursed seal underneath high-collared shirts. And every time his body was pushed further than should have been possible, every time he used up the chakra that belonged to not one but two people, he felt shame and anger. And every time, he made a promise to find a way to pay his soulmate back.
But there was no way for him to find his soulmate now as the invisible thread connecting them was sealed away together with the mark.
Tenzō was afraid that the medic-nin would see the cursed seal and ask about it. He wouldn't be able to, as it also played the role of the seal of silence, so he could never speak to anyone about Root for as long as his old teacher was still alive.
“The burn, it...” The woman muttered. "It doesn't make sense..."
"What?" He inquired, half expecting the next comment to be about the seal.
"Your overall condition and chakra exhaustion indicate a serious injury," she explained carefully. "We tended to your other wounds and believed the burn to be the primary cause, but this is not the case. The burn doesn't look as bad as we originally thought. It should heal properly and even without a scar. Let me do this now. Afterwards, I will scan you again for possible rare poisons."
She proceeded to heal the burn with glowing green chakra illuminating her hands. As his skin tugged from being forced back together, Tenzō felt an insatiable itching at the spot.
"How is Kakashi?" He looked towards the other bed in the room where the man laid sleeping. The mission was rough on both of them.
"He will be fine. His—uh—soulmate came by, and this accelerated the healing. He was mostly chakra-exhausted anyway. There was no record of your soulmate on file, so we couldn't call anyone in. Make sure to update your file when you recover."
"There isn't one," he muttered, wincing at another sting of pain and averting his eyes from the nurse's.
"Oh."
Oh, indeed. People always assumed that he had a soulmate, and he did, technically. Just, never had the opportunity to find them. Most people located their mates in their teens as Kakashi and Iruka did, so by Tenzō's age, everyone had at least one entry in their medical records.
He was surprised to hear that Iruka came by. While his friends were soul-bound, they had an agreement to not be part of each other's lives at all. Even in emergency situations, their chakra connection was set to neutral so that neither could take advantage of the other. How many times did Iruka actually visit Kakashi when the man was chakra-depleted? Though this wasn't something Tenzō should worry himself over – the agreement between soulmates was a private matter, and outsiders like him didn't need to get involved. In a way, it served as a reminder to him that meeting a soulmate didn't always lead to the personal connection he always craved.
Within a week, Tenzō's body healed, but his chakra levels remained dangerously low. The scan for poisons showed that his body was free of dangerous toxins, and the medic-nin released him from the hospital with strict instructions to get as much rest as possible.
When Tenzō reached his room at the barracks, he collapsed onto the bed and slept through what seemed like another week with only breaks for takeout food and shower. Still, his condition wasn't getting any better, and the itching at his neck wouldn't go away. It was almost as bad as—
He didn't want to think about that.
Tenzō learned to live without the soulmark. He went on dates, allowed himself to fall in love and have relationships, though nothing truly worked out just yet. His life as an ANBU operative, and Team 7 captain as of late, has been busy, which obviously played against him. However, he had good friends who never stopped setting him up.
He was even in the middle of having a crush, which Kakashi constantly made fun of him for. Tenzō was mastering the courage to ask the man out but— he kept finding excuses not to.
Gai Maito was a very handsome man with a charming outgoing personality. It was such a big contrast to him, who preferred to act in a more reserved manner. Still, Gai was so friendly with him and very physical, not realizing the effect he had on Tenzō all the time. Confessing to his crush would for sure change that. And Tenzō didn't want things to change just yet. He wanted to be the jounin's friend for a little longer.
Tenzō woke up startled to a hollow feeling in his chest and a horrible sense of entrapment. He knew right away that it was going to be a bad day.
Even though he felt weaker than before, he knew that there was no way he would be staying inside. He needed to breathe some fresh air, stretch legs and just go—go somewhere, like something was pulling at his body. Good thing that he was due for another appointment at the hospital.
He went into the bathroom and took in his dishevelled appearance in the mirror. His skin looked sickly pale and his eyes seemed even larger, surrounded by dark circles. He wasn't getting much sleep, wasn't able to eat much either, and it clearly showed. As he carefully examined the changes to be able to better explain them to the nurse, Tenzō noticed a faint glowing on his neck. He moved closer to the mirror before stumbling away in shock.
His soulmark was back.
It was there, right where he first developed it as a kid, not as bright and lively but—there.
It was back.
The burn must have affected the seal and sat the mark free. Though, he couldn't think of any reasons why it would – the seal was supposed to be indestructible. Even though it looked so pale, he couldn't stop the hope from igniting in his chest again. Perhaps, this was the opportunity to find his soulmate. At the same time, he wasn't sure how this would affect his yet non-existent relationship with Gai.
He didn't have the strength to think on this further, just left the room in as much of a hurry as he could muster.
The hospital visit took priority over his confused feelings.
"You look like shit," Kakashi fell into step with him on the way to the hospital – the man was due for a check-up as well but looked much better than Tenzō. Hell, even a stray cat looked better than him at the moment.
"Nice to see you too, senpai," he spat out but was surprised by a cup of coffee. Which was a rare occurrence, so he accepted the drink with gratitude.
"I hope you're going to see Tsunade. It wouldn't be good to have my kohai die before me, would it?"
He was going to see the nurse without bothering anyone else. The place was busy enough as it was, and he only needed to rest for a bit longer anyway. So Tenzō didn't bother to justify it with a response. His gaze moved towards Kakashi's right hand, where a soulmark was covered by the man's fingerless glove and thought back to Iruka's visit to the hospital.
"How are you and Iruka-sensei?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.
Tenzō promised himself to not think about soulmates before the hospital visit, but the thoughts and hopes persisted—would he be able to find the person on the other end of the bond and get to know them? After so many years, was there still a chance to make things right, or was he destined to the kind of non-existent relationship his friends had? Or did they change their mind, perhaps? He would feel better if they did.
"Same as always, why?"
"He visited you in the hospital, I thought you—"
Kakashi stopped dead in his tracks.
"He, what?"
"I thought, you knew, senpai. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything," Tenzō's chest tightened, and he suddenly regretted asking. This wasn't how he wanted to approach the subject of soulmates with his friend. He wanted to say more, but an enthusiastic cry from behind them interrupted him mid-word.
"My Dear Rival!" Gai ran through the streets towards them with more vigour than Tenzō could remember. The taijutsu master has always fascinated him with the high levels of energy, but today he looked even more animated, almost blinding with joy. Tenzō wanted to smile in greeting as the man approached, but a jolt of pain through his chest sent a wave of nausea through him. He felt dizzy instantly as if the last remains of strength have been sucked out of him. Tenzō grabbed at Kakashi's shoulder for balance and could say nothing to the look of worry the man sent him.
"You don't look well, my esteemed friend! Captain Yamato, may I be of help as well?" Gai's cheerful expression was quickly replaced by a troubled look, and Tenzō was so sorry to see that. He didn't mean to worry people around him, didn't mean to scare the joyful smile from the taijutsu master. If only he could get to the hospital for his check-up...
The pull at his chest became unbearable.
Under Kakashi's direction, Gai moved to hold him around his back when suddenly, Tenzō's body moved on its own towards the man so violently that he couldn't suppress a loud grunt from escaping. He found himself eye to eye with the jounin and looked at him apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Gai-san, I don't know what happened," Tenzō tried to gain his balance back but found himself too weak to do that. He pushed with both hands away only to find himself not moving an inch. Instead, his palms seemed to get stuck to the man's shoulders. Very broad, muscular shoulders. Tenzō considered himself well built but somehow always felt smaller in the other man's presence.
"Tenzō, let go. We need to get you to the hospital," Kakashi insisted from behind him.
"I am most delighted at the display of your manly affection," Gai looked down at him with the usual kindness in his eyes, and Tenzō nervously swallowed. "—but I must admit that my eternal rival is right."
He pushed again, but his chest stuck to Gai's like a magnet, and he couldn't do anything.
"I'm trying!" Tenzō groaned in frustration after struggling some more, mentally cursing at making himself look like a fool in front of his crush. No matter how sick he was, he was an adult and should have been able to at least stand on his own two feet. He admitted to himself, though, that being pressed to Gai and basking in his body heat made him feel a bit better. The colour returned to his cheeks, Tenzō could tell, and then there was that dizzying sensation of chakra finding its way back into his body.
"Well, this just won't do. Allow me to—" Gai took one step back and Tenzō helplessly got dragged with him.
"Please don't move, Gai-san, I'm not doing it on purpose," he said then fought against the man's magnetism before hearing a muffled cackle from behind his back. "Don't you just stay there, senpai! Help us!"
"Oh, I will, in just a moment," Tenzō heard another cackle from Kakashi followed by a click of— was that a shutter? "You just look so cute together—"
"Senpai!" How much more embarrassing could this get? Tenzō wanted to shunshin back to his apartment and never see anyone ever again.
"I must admit, it is rather entertaining." Gai chuckled then smiled at him with his signature blinding smile, and Tenzō decided to go missing-nin when this was all over. Now even his crush was laughing at him.
Iruka has always known that not all soul bonds worked out the way the mates wanted them to. To be honest, at times, he wasn’t even sure why they existed in the first place. Yeah, some people had the amazing experiences of sparks flying and falling in love with their soulmate at first sight. But these were as rare and as frequent as among those who weren't soul-bound. Some implied that sex was on a completely different level, but, again, that opinion was mostly promoted by biased people or romance novelists.
His mother once told him that the bonds were there so that no one ever had to feel alone. In their harsh world, it was easy to feel alone. However, when one mate died, there was a very good chance that the survivor would form another bond. And he honestly believed that. Because he knew loneliness and would never wish it upon anyone. He also knew the feeling of giving up the bond and then losing it completely.
Iruka meant to talk about that last part to Kakashi for quite some time but never mustered the courage. After the Pain's attack, things changed with their bond. He could feel the pull to the man again but also wondered if everything changed only for him as Kakashi's attitude to him remained as distant as ever.
What Iruka hated the most was that whenever his mind wandered, his feet always carried him to the jounin. Like right now, he heard a familiar chuckle and then saw the man on the other side of the road snapping pictures of Gai and Yamato who were locked in an embrace. Did his friends finally agree to date each other? It was about time.
As he crossed the street, he saw Kakashi put his little camera in a pocket and try to separate the two. That was odd. They seemed to struggle some more but the more they did so, the stronger the two stuck together. Was that yet another of Gai and Kakashi's challenges-gone-wrong situation?
"What's going on?" he asked, finally approaching the trio.
"Gai and Tenzō got themselves into a sticky situation."
"Not funny, senpai!" Yamato was blushing furiously when sending a chain of strong words towards Kakashi who continued to laugh, failing to conceal the mirth behind the mask. Then he looked at Iruka as if the teacher was a saving grace from gods. "Iruka-sensei, can you try pulling Gai-san away while Kakashi is holding me? If we push strong enough, we may get unstuck."
"Is this some sort of jutsu?" Iruka inquired looking at Kakashi but trying to grab a hold of Gai.
"I don't think so. I checked it out through the sharingan and wasn't able to identify anything."
"Okay, let's try."
Iruka held Gai at his waist and pulled while Kakashi mirrored his actions from Yamato's side. For a brief moment, this seemed to work, and there was almost a foot between the two before the captain yelped and got smacked back against the taijutsu master's chest with a loud thump.
(Art by Happy_Monger, Kakashi and Iruka are trying to separate Gai and Tenzo)
Iruka observed the jounins struggle some more and decided.
"You don't just stick together, you're actually attracted to each other."
"So, you noticed it too?" Kakashi was suddenly next to him "They've been sending each other signals for over a month now, I'm sure—ouch!" The slap that connected with the jounin's head felt damn good. Iruka could not believe the man would focus on this when their friends were obviously in trouble.
"That's not what I mean!" He fumed. "They're like magnets!"
"Oh."
Yamato sent Kakashi a glare that promised more than just a slap after his hands aren't stuck to Gai's body. Speaking of whom, Gai looked rather silent and embarrassed at the moment.
"Get out of the way, you, useless jounin," Iruka pushed Kakashi aside and began forming a sequence of hand signs. If he remembered his academy days correctly, magnetism is weakened when the objects are warm enough, so he needed the signs for rat, dog, and then—"Hot Water Release!"
A splash of hot water right into Tenzō's face sent him down on the pavement spluttering. Like a wet cat, he sat there in bewilderment and realized that Gai was just a few feet away in the same position. Immediately, he began to feel the pull towards the man. All muscles in his body screamed at him to stand up and embrace the man again. He moved instinctively before Kakashi pinned him down.
"Get him to Tsunade. Now, Kakashi!" the teacher shouted and the copy-nin quickly formed the hand signs for transportation. The next thing he knew, he was in the middle of the Hokage's office with four ANBU surrounding him and Kakashi. Without Gai in sight, Tenzō immediately felt relieved but hollow at the same time. What was going on?
"What exactly do you mean by glued to each other? Describe that again," the Hokage watched them as if they each grew three heads.
Iruka and Gai made it to the office a few minutes later but made sure to stay on the opposite side of the office – a good distance away so that they don't get stuck together again. Though Tenzō had to admit, the moment the men walked in, the urge to touch the taijutsu master increased tenfold. He had to get a stronger grip on the chair arm to resist it. Gai also looked somewhat restless, with Iruka standing nearby to hold him back, if necessary. If he wasn't mistaken, the teacher also had a couple of barrier seals ready, just in case.
"Oh, I can do better," Kakashi said and walked over to her, pulling out his camera from a pocket and showing the snaps he took on the back screen. "This one is going on my wall, for sure."
By then, Tenzō could only roll his eyes at his senpai.
Tsunade carefully looked through the photos then at them and furrowed her brows in a frown. She then gestured at Serpent, who was one of the ANBU that originally surrounded them upon arrival, and asked her to scan their chakra pathways, Tenzō knew that she was one of the Hyuuga. The masked operative nodded, stepped aside and activated her Byakugan.
"Hokage-sama," Serpent began, "It is hard to describe—this is the first time I'm seeing such a connection between two people who are not soulmates. Yamato-san and Gai-san's chakra paths are connected in similar ways as the soulmates would, but the balance in reserves is completely off. It is like Gai-san stores both of their chakra at the same time. Though even a soulmate cannot call in so much chakra from their mate, as it comes at a great expense to the source, and the bonds exist to protect both."
What was she saying? Gai had his chakra? So, he wasn't simply exhausted from the mission a week ago?
"I see," the Hokage said and looked at them thoughtfully. He was hoping she would elaborate, but the woman took her time.
"You see what, exactly?" Tenzō rushed her. What Serpent said worried him. How could he be linked to Gai? In what way?
"Gai, who is your soulmate?" Tsunade finally spoke. "Your file is blank on the matter."
"I haven't had the pleasure of meeting mine, Hokage-sama," Gai responded politely from the other end of the room and Tenzō's heartbeat quickened. "My father told me that they must have passed away shortly after I developed the mark."
"How long have you had this chakra exhaustion, Yamato?"
"I—I haven't recovered from the last mission." Tenzō proceeded to tell her what the nurse said last time, the checks he has gone through, and how the fatigue never quite left him since then.
"Did anything else strange occur in the meantime?" She looked deep in thought, which didn't ease his worry.
"You are familiar with my file, Hokage-sama, I—" he started but stopped. He never told anyone about the soulmark nor the seal, he couldn't—
"Yamato," Tsunade's voice changed to a softer tone, and his eyes widened at what she said next. "I hadn't had the chance to tell you but your silence seal should be gone now."
This only meant one thing – his former teacher and commander was dead.
"When?"
"When you were out on your last mission. Cause unknown."
He nodded numbly at the news then took a few deep breaths and continued:
"Then, you should know that my soulmark reappeared this week."
Tsunade's eyes immediately widened and she stood up to examine Tenzō's neck. He felt the gaze of everyone in the room on him as she did so. It always seemed like a betrayal to never discuss the matter with his friends, not even Kakashi who knew of him and Root. However, it was easier to say that he liked to keep it private than to explain why it wasn't there.
Tenzō heard Gai inhale sharply at the sight of his mark and his heart seized – the jounin must have recognized it. The nature of the marks allowed for milliards of patterns and symbol sequences so that only soulmates had matching marks.
"How?" Gai whispered.
"Are you saying that they are soulmates?" Kakashi asked, the earlier cheerful tone now gone.
"But they've met each other before, why didn't the bond recognize them?" Iruka urged Tsunade to explain.
Everything buzzed inside his head, and Tenzō felt dizzier than ever in his lifetime.
"Tsunade-sama, he is losing the remains of his chakra. If we don't act now—"
"Gai, get here quick," she called, though the man was already halfway through the room. In the next moment, Tenzō felt warm hands wrapping around him and released a relieved sigh.
He couldn't fight the pull of the bond anymore, didn't need to, now that they knew what it was.
"I am so sorry, Captain Yamato, I have been hurting you all this time."
The jounin was close to tears, and Tenzō wanted to contradict the statement, assure that he was the one hurting the man all these years. but Tsunade beat him to it.
"You're not hurting him, Gai. Your bond was forcefully and one-sidedly suppressed when Tenzō was a young child."
"Who would do that?!" Iruka all but screamed.
"This was a technique used by some villages," Tenzō avoided looking at Gai as Tsunade spoke, "It has since then been classified as forbidden. A seal is placed on the soulmark to draw the chakra out of one mate into the other to enhance their abilities. Among those who are alive today, not many people in Konoha were affected, and, unfortunately, we've never seen the seal break, so didn't know of any side effects."
"Is this why I'm so full of energy? For the past week, I could feel it buzzing inside me. So much, I could burst?"
"Your bond hadn't had the chance to fully form at a young age," she continued. "Your chakra, Gai, was stolen from you and forced into Tenzō. It was kept there all this time with the seal. Tenzō's chakra wanted to find its way back to you, waiting for the bond to open. That's how a soulbond works – due to its magnetic nature, the flow has to go both ways, it exchanges, and is always at a balance. Now that the bond is freed from the seal, your chakra has returned to you but so has Tenzō's." She looked back to Serpent who nodded in confirmation. "Right now, your bond is trying to reach equilibrium. You need to give it time by being close to each other. Normally, a long handshake or a hug is sufficient. But yours—it's been almost twenty years, hasn't it? So, it may take a while."
So, this was why the pull has been so strong.
"A soulmate, huh," he whispered, not quite believing that he finally met the man on the other end of his bond. He wanted to ask so many things, wanted to apologize for so much. Didn't it explain a lot as well? Wasn't this the reason why Gai barely ever used ninjutsu? Because most of his chakra has been with Tenzō this whole time? Still, the man has reached the ranks of jounin and without access to his full chakra reserves. What kind of shinobi would have he become if Tenzō wasn't his soulmate? If it was someone else—
"Hokage-sama, does this mean that if we stay connected like this, my friend will get his strength back?" Gai pulled him out of his train of thought.
"Not only that, but your energy will also quiet down. You're too hyper, not everyone's heart can withstand this much chakra. You were lucky to find each other so quickly. If you didn't, this could have ended badly for you both."
Gai nodded in agreement and turned to face him.
"Not in my wildest dreams did I hope to meet my soulmate. I am most blessed." He said with such tenderness that Tenzō forgot to breathe. "I wish our circumstances were less distressing, but, Dear Yamato, will you allow us to be in such proximity until our bond stabilizes?"
How could he refuse?
"Yes, of course."
(Art by Happy_Monger, Tsunade tells Gai and Tenzo that they are soulmates, shocked Kakashi and Iruka on the background)
Iruka watched the two men leave Hokage's office with a heavy heart. They earnestly opened up to their bond right from the moment they learned about it. And it made him remember the moment he too met his mate. How far from this idyllic picture it was.
It was just after the Kyuubi attack when the village was in grief when Iruka was still in shock from the loss of his parents. He stayed late at the memorial stone, as he often did at the time, feeling lost and alone. It wasn't like he had anywhere to go either.
A teenage boy, a few years older than him shunshined into the empty space next to him. He was tall, all too skinny, with the Konoha forehead protector lowered to cover his left eye.
"I came to talk about our bond," Iruka heard him say and then saw the mark flash in the evening light on the boy's pale hand – a perfect match to his. He felt the call of the bond around the village before but was still too hesitant to follow it, not knowing what awaited him there.
"Oh, hi, I'm— I'm Iru—" he was about to introduce himself when the boy interrupted.
"I don't need to know your name," Iruka was taken aback by the statement and withdrew his hand. "Do you require my chakra for your imminent survival?"
"No."
"Good. We will seal our bond but won't ever tap into each other's chakra reserves nor associate in any capacity going forward. If you see me around the village, just walk past, I promise to do the same. This is for your own good, trust me."
Trust him? Iruka had no reason to but agreed nevertheless. When their hands touched that night, he felt a gentle buzz of electricity pass through their connection to wrap around his heart then leave, to never return. Not until many, many years later.
"We need to talk." Kakashi pulled Iruka out of his thoughts and then out of the Hokage's office.
"I don't appreciate being manhandled." He didn't raise his voice but brushed off the jounin's hold on his shoulder with a force. "What about?"
"Why were you at the hospital when I was unconscious? How did they even know to call you?"
Ah. So, his mate finally found out. Well, it wasn't how he wanted to start that conversation, but whatever.
"I added my name to your file. Don't worry, I left yours out of mine."
"Why would you do that? I never asked for anything of yours." Iruka stayed silent because, clearly, the man was not done talking. "How many times have you loaned me your chakra and how exactly? We had an agreement. The transfer shouldn't have even happened. Did you do something to bypass the bond?"
Iruka took a few levelling breaths before looking at Kakashi in the eye.
"Our agreement, how you call it, went to shit when you died," he allowed for the taken aback jounin to fully absorb the statement before continuing. "And you're right, we do need to talk. Find me when you're actually ready."
They were still glued to each other when the taijutsu master shunshined them to a small apartment. He guessed it was Gai's. The earlier confidence Tenzō felt was quickly replaced by sheer panic. For weeks (months, if he allowed himself to be honest), he wanted nothing more than to go on a date with the jounin. Now, he was at the man's home!
As things were progressing, they would need to be locked in an embrace for the rest of the day, night even! He didn't want to think about it...this was moving way too quickly...
Gai cleared his throat audibly to draw Tenzō's panicked state back to him.
"Why don't we get some tea?"
Tenzō nodded. He needed something stronger to settle his nerves, that's for sure but agreed to the offer. There was nothing more innocent than two adults having tea and talking about the way their souls were connected while being pressed together like sardines in a can.
They didn't quite think this through.
They struggled to get to the kitchen, still unable to separate and properly walk. Tenzō had a hard time moving legs, and his thighs ended up pressed against Gai's, completely immobilizing them.
"Could we, lie down for a bit, maybe?" Gosh, it was so embarrassing to ask, even more so to think about it. "It may be easier to move after a while."
"Yes! Of course! Forgive me for not offering this in the first place!"
"You have nothing to apologize for," he smiled. It looked like he wasn't alone in his nervousness.
They found their way to the couch and, after a few awkward moments, fell onto it with a thump. It was a surprisingly comfortable couch, and Tenzō didn't mind being pressed into its cushions by Gai's warm body.
He could tell that with every minute of this closeness, the pull was letting go bit by bit. His chakra was finding its way back to him, though, he couldn't yet feel Gai's. He wondered when exactly he would get the chance. Hopefully, soon.
It was interesting to simply lay together on a couch with someone, and Tenzō furrowed his brows. Their bond was part of it, for sure, yet, somehow, it felt just differently. He has had relationships in the past but nothing long-lasting and there was never time for simple leisurely cuddles on a couch together. Maybe, he never quite made an effort to do that with his previous partners, never quite felt safe enough... He felt safe with Gai. Though this wasn't something they volunteered to do, it felt nice.
"I see that you're in deep thought, my friend. Does this position bother you? Should we shift more?"
He smiled, noticing how Gai's heartbeat quickened and looked up to finally make eye contact with his mate.
"No, I am quite comfortable. More than I thought I would be," he admitted. The man nodded but the look of worry on his face didn't ease. After a minute he surprised Tenzō with a question.
"Are you, perhaps, sad of me being your mate?"
"What? Why would you think that? I am quite content." He was certain that his blush covered his whole face as he spoke, but he didn't waver. "Are you?"
"I could never be sad about such a precious miracle! Surprised? Yes, of course! I've always thought that there was no soulmate for me. It's—" Gai paused to clear his throat, and Tenzō understood that despite the usual light tone, the topic was just as hard for his mate as it was for him. "It's a relief to know that you've been there, alive, the whole time. To learn that it's been you—the man I know and respect deeply—the news brought me much joy. Now that we know of our bond, I hope that—" bright pink coloured the jounin's cheeks as he spoke. "I hope that it only strengthens our friendship."
Friendship.
They were friends, Tenzō was relieved to hear that, but it also got him thinking. He knew that it wasn't all he wanted to be with Gai. Was now a good time to bring up the subject? Their relationship was already changing. Perhaps, they would be able to bear a bit more change?
"Kakashi has been egging me to ask you out for ages," Tenzō began and immediately felt the relief of finally being able to say the truth.
"Did he? My rival has always been a quite nosy friend," Gai laughed it off nervously, but Tenzō didn't let him continue.
"I wanted to!" He couldn't leave any more room for misunderstandings between them. "At first, I just wasn't sure if he was serious. It is really hard to say when senpai is plotting a joke, you know? One time he told me to invite Anko out, told me stories about her undying love, that the moon and the stars stopped shining the moment she laid her hazel eyes on me. And let me tell you, turns out, he lost a bet with her, and owed her as much dango as she could eat. That really put a dent in my pocket!"
Gai had to shift on the couch enough to release a hearty laugh that reverberated through Tenzō's whole body. It was so contagious that he followed suit. Soon he realized that the tension he felt inside for the last week has been lifted, and he could breathe more freely.
"Would you have agreed, if I asked you out?" Tenzō finally asked.
"Yamato-san—"
"Tenzō. Please—" he cleared his throat, suddenly embarrassed at finding himself laying on Gai's chest. His heart was beating wildly, too, which didn't help. Only one person called him but this name, but at this moment he wanted nothing more than to hear Gai call him that. And every time from then on. "I would like for you to call me Tenzō."
"Tenzō," the jounin said slowly as if savouring the name and Tenzō smiled. He already loved how it sounded in Gai's gentle deep voice. The question that followed had him look up at the man in surprise. "I wanted to invite you to a date myself, for a while. My rival always spoke highly of you. For a long time, I longed to meet this Tenzō. And when we finally did, it was a pleasure to get to know you. I—I always enjoyed my time with you, and then this soulmate thing happened. I'm just so overcome with joy."
A part of him still whispered that he didn't deserve to feel the warmth of his soulmate, didn't deserve the large hands stroking his back in reassurance, but Tenzō tuned it out. With Gai, he wanted to hope, to let go of all the worries in the world and just be.
"Maybe once we get unstuck, we could finally make it to the kitchen for some tea. Then, we could talk about going out."
"Fabulous!" Gai beamed at him, and Tenzō got a sudden urge to touch that smile.
He raised his hand and it separated easily, but Tenzō could still feel the magnetic attraction when his fingers touched the man's cheek. He separated them, touched Gai's skin again, and laughed at how they magnetized. As he looked up at Gai, the jounin's arms around him tightened. Then, suddenly, the man's lips were on his.
A bolt of electricity shot through his body at the contact, and his eyes widened. A moment later, Gai's own eyes widened at the realization of what he has done.
"I'm so sorry!" Gai scrambled back, trying to put some distance between them, but the bond kept him in place. So, he just averted his eyes to the ceiling. "I shouldn't have done that without your consent and without even being with you out on our first date! I hope— I hope you can forgive me!"
Tenzō was startled by the contact but more than that, he was disappointed at its abrupt interruption.
"Do that again."
Gai looked at him with wide eyes and didn't move.
Tenzō reached up and slowly touched Gai's lips with his, noticing how at the last inch they were gently pulled together for perfect contact. He did it again, exploring the connection. He was curious to learn how the bond affected them, but more than that, he was excited to finally know the texture of his friend's lips. Gai shifted on his side to add more pressure to the kiss, and Tenzō hummed in appreciation.
Gai withdrew for a brief moment to look at him.
"Are you okay with this?"
"Yes," he wetted his lips on instinct, and then the man's mouth was on his again, harder this time.
Every fibre of his body buzzed, and his head was getting dizzy. Tenzō felt himself being pressed deeper into the pillows and parted his mouth to nib at Gai's full lips. Their tongues brushed tentatively, testing the waters and the way their bond connected them with short pulls of magnetism. Then, Gai deepened the kiss and Tenzō forgot to think, forgot to breathe, and just gave in to the sensation of the man's tongue gliding against his.
Tenzō moved his arms up and around the man's neck to bring him even closer. Gai's palms were hot against his back, even through the material of his shirt. They roamed to hold him tighter as if the bond gluing them together wasn't enough anymore. Gai rolled over on top of him, and he had to break free from the kiss to suck in a breath of air just to release it with a shudder at the hot tongue on his neck and hardness pressing against his own.
"Tenzō-san," the man breathed into his ear, questioningly, before biting onto it gently.
"Just continue, this feels incredible," and Gai listened, releasing a relieved sigh into his ear before pressing his hips down.
Tenzō's thought of regretting all of this later was quickly brushed off. He knew exactly what he was doing, where all of this was leading to. Maybe his judgment was clouded by the euphoria of finding his mate, but that wasn't enough to stop him. They would agree on the rules of their bond later. Now, he just wanted to feel Gai – the very same man he had wanted for some time now.
Tenzō raised one of his legs to allow Gai to brush harder against him and released another moan at the contact. He already loved the man's weight on him, the feel of full muscles under his palms, the fragrance of the man's aftershave. He sought Gai's mouth for another searing kiss just before the jounin began grinding against him. It's been a while since Tenzō felt this good. He broke their kiss again simply to share breath with Gai and focus on the growing pleasure in his groin. The taijutsu master's eyes were dilated with desire and seemed darker than night. Gai wanted him just as much, he realized, and his chest tightened at the thought.
He dug his heels into the couch and raised his hips, drawing an appreciative grunt from the other man. They were far from teenagers but, dammit, Tenzō was so close, and he wasn't about to stop. He gripped at Gai's back and suck at his neck, breathing harder and harder, feeling the warmth bloom at his stomach, consuming him. This past week took a toll on him, and even though he felt divine, he knew he wouldn't last long. When he cried in pleasure, Gai swallowed the sound with a deep kiss.
They made it to the shower clumsily, still connected by the bond and struggling to rid of clothing. However, there was no awkwardness between them. Tenzō liked that feeling of comfort where there was no need to feel ashamed nor embarrassed – he knew that he stood on the same ground as Gai. They were both new to this, still had so much to explore of each other.
As the warm water warmed their bodies, Tenzō felt the magnetism weaken between them. Gai's hold on him tightened, though.
"I don't want to let you go," the jounin confessed.
"I'm not going anywhere," Tenzō breathed in response and connected their lips again, nibbling and tugging, and inviting the man to continue their earlier activities.
The man responded with fervour, holding him underneath his chin and plunging deeper to explore more of his mouth. Tenzō welcomed him with a throaty moan. He couldn't get enough of the jounin's taste. The water ran down their faces and they moved a little to the side of the stream just so to not break off the kiss.
Kissing Gai was addictive. The man's lips were full, firm, but also soft. They moved masterfully against his own, knowing when to press harder and when to let go to allow a short breath in between gentle assaults.
Letting himself be kissed thoroughly, Tenzō moved his arms down Gai's back, wanting to feel the man's wet skin, then rested them at his waist. Soon, the curiosity got the better of him, and he shifted them to the front, in between them, to take the jounin in his hand, feel the growing hardness. The man gasped at the contact, breaking their kiss and looked at him with dark eyes clouded with desire. Tenzō knew that the man didn't get his release earlier, and craved to pay him back in kind.
Nibbling at the man's jawline, he shifted their position so that Gai's back would be against the tiled wall, it warmed up by then. He stole his name from the full lips, taking control that was freely given by his partner. Tenzō stroked him to full hardness before moving down, placing wet kisses on the man's chest, collecting the beads of water on toned abs, and then landing on his knees.
He always suspected that Gai had a beautiful body, honed to perfection by regular and rigorous training. Now, at seeing the man in all his naked glory, his mouth watered. The jounin looked at him with lust in his eyes then brought both arms up to his face to cover it in a moment of embarrassment. Tenzō smiled at that, took him in both hands and parted his lips.
Gai felt hot and heavy on his tongue, and Tenzō moved slowly. He was careful to moisten him enough to be able to move quicker, without accidentally hurting him. The man's hips shook every time he wrapped his tongue around the tip, begging to be taken in deeper, and when the time came, Tenzō obliged. Gai was stretching the walls of his mouth, but he was able to move effortlessly, drawing audible pants out of the man.
Every time he was withdrawing to suck on the tip, he would stroke the man, then take him in even deeper, before repeating the motion. The taste was diluted by water but Tenzō still enjoyed it. There would still be the time for a repeat, once they are out of the showers, so he would get his chance to savour the man properly. He felt Gai grow harder and knew that the pleasure was soon to catch him. So, he withdrew again, giving them both a moment to breathe.
Not for long, though. Wetting his lips again, Tenzō took the man deep in his mouth in one swift movement and sucked hard before beginning to move with intent. He increased the pace gradually, taking cues from the sounds Gai was making. The jounin held him by his jaw with both hands, not forcefully but firmly, and began to thrust forward, meeting him every time, hitting the back of his throat. He was breathing harder, and Tenzō stroked, licked, and sucked the man to the peak of his release. Soon, Gai was pulsing inside his mouth, with his head thrown up to the ceiling, and Tenzō took it all in.
After a long moment, Tenzō released the man and stood up from the floor. He moved to wipe at his mouth but Gai stopped him with a thumb over his lips before lowering his head and licking them clean, then drawing him into yet another deep kiss. They stayed like that under the stream of hot water for a while before the jounin groaned and bit at his jawline.
"As much as I would like to continue, the water will get cold soon," he said then reached out for a bar of soap. "We also need something to eat."
Tenzō nodded, for the first time this week he felt ravenous. Not just for food.
"How do you feel?" Gai asked, passing him tea. They were sitting in the kitchen, having just finished their dinner. "The light has returned to your eyes and the colour to your cheeks. Is it safe to assume that you're feeling better?"
"Much better, yes." Tenzō smiled, taking the cup carefully so to not touch the jounin's fingers nor spill anything on the yukata that Gai graciously let him borrow.
After the hot shower weakened the connection, they agreed to stay separated from each other for a bit. This allowed them to move around the apartment easily. The pull of the bond was still strong between them, though. While Tenzō felt his body healing, he also knew that not all of his chakra returned just yet, from the way his muscles craved for the magnetic link to Gai.
"How does the bond feel to you now?" He asked the jounin.
"It feels like I miss you," Gai responded quickly as if he was thinking about the same thing. "You're right here before my eyes. But my whole body misses your touch." Tenzō blushed at the description and took another sip of tea. When the jounin realized what he just said, he quickly added "I didn't mean it sexually! Though, that too, after—I'm not saying it right."
"That's okay, Gai," Tenzō smiled to ease the flustered man. "I feel the same." And he truly did.
When the mark reappeared, and he heard the call of the bond, Tenzō felt awful. His body was starved of the connection, not unlike his whole soul suffering in silence through the years. And the moment Gai first touched him felt like coming home. Now that they were apart, even only for a short break, he missed the touch.
Tsunade told them that it will get better after the bond stabilizes, but what would it take to stabilize it?
When they were cleaning the dishes, the jounin's brought up the subject again.
"I can tell now, that my body has two kinds of chakra, can easily separate the two. Before, it was just a tangled mess of energy that didn't have anywhere to go. Now, when we touch, some of yours goes away, but there is another part of it that's not letting my chakra travel to you. Why?"
Tenzō looked up from cleaning a plate in surprise. Though, once he thought on it, it made total sense. He needed Gai's chakra to remain with the man, as a way to atone for all the years he lived with it. It didn't make any sense, he knew, because there was nothing he wanted more than to feel the protective brush of that chakra around his heart.
"It's protecting you," he said. "Your chakra has been trapped in me for most of our lives. There's always the danger of it not being able to escape if it returns to me. Now that it's back with you, it should stay there. It's only fair."
"But we won't be able to complete the soul bond if you won't allow it to reach your heart. It is custom to let the chakra through while holding the partner," Gai took the last clean plate and put it back on the shelf. He then turned and prompted Tenzō to look up at him. "While it's been forced into you before and held there hostage against your will, this time it wants to come to you. Let it."
"I—" Tenzō moved to step away, but Gai put a palm on his shoulder. Immediately, he felt the flow of his chakra back. Through that connection, he also felt something else. It was a different call of the bond, the one he didn't pay too much attention to before. He realized now, that it was the jounin's chakra trying to find a way to him.
Tenzō covered Gai's hand with his and looked up to see the man gazing at him with so much trust and warmth in his eyes, that his heart clenched. There was something about the jounin that always made him feel safe, forget about worries.
He took a deep breath and let down his guards. Tenzō expected to feel the same rush of adrenaline he felt when he was a kid but instead, it was a soothing sensation. It came through their hands, warm like a gentle summer wind, and embraced his heart. He has never known such tenderness before, it felt—
A tear rolled down his cheek.
—complete. He felt complete. Gone was the loneliness and the feeling of weightless uncertainty he felt his whole life, instead, he felt on solid ground. Tenzō took Gai's face in his hands and put their lips together.
"Take me to bed," he whispered in between kisses.
Tenzō's heart threatened to jump out of his chest as he lay on his side with one leg bent at the knee. Everywhere they touched, the soul bond lightly magnetized them together, leaving them both breathless. It was a new experience for both of them, and they wanted to enjoy it for as long as they could. He leaned over slightly to allow Gai to stretch him properly. Long full fingers moved gently but with purpose – he could feel that the jounin couldn't wait to proceed further as well.
There were no games between them, Tenzō knew. Not like the other partners he had. Every touch was true, fuelled by nothing but the honest desire to explore each other's bodies while the chakra bond explored their souls.
"Get in here," Tenzō urged the man who moved up on the bed to embrace him from behind.
"Are you sure? We can still wait—"
No, he couldn't wait.
Tenzō shifted on the bed so his back was flush against Gai's chest, took the man's hands and sucked on the fingers. He wrapped his tongue around the same digits that prepared him so thoroughly just a moment ago and heard the jounin's sharp intake of breath.
"Can we?" he asked and was rewarded with a growl.
He arched his back as Gai placed wet kisses on his neck and traced a hand downward, soothing his heated skin, to take a firm hold of his hip before pushing inside. The jounin grunted, having met with a barrier, but didn't stop. He pushed further until the muscles gave and let him in. Tenzō released a contented sigh.
Gai began moving slowly, placing kisses between his shoulder blades, and he closed his eyes to focus on the sensation. His heart was racing wildly, but the jounin's chakra around it made it feel safe and full. He bit his lip and moaned when Gai brushed the sensitive part inside. This made him relax further, and soon, the man was picking up the pace.
Tenzō felt the man shift behind him, nudging a leg in between his to spread them wider. Then, Gai began to move faster, drawing short gasps out of him—in and out. He grasped the sheets, desperate to hold onto something. It felt good, being filled this way. The jolts of pleasure shot through him every time Gai was buried deep inside him. Every time the man withdrew, he missed that feeling of fullness and pushed backward.
He lost track of time, it ceased to exist. There was just him, Gai, and their soul bond.
Tenzō stood with his knees spread wide in the middle of the bed, leaning back and reaching to feel the damp skin of his partner. Gai embraced him from behind, large palms burning him with heat. Tenzō felt him buried deep, hot and hard, and just right, moving slowly, savouring every moment. Gai stilled and embraced Tenzō even tighter, planting a kiss to the side of his neck then drawing their mouths together in a slow kiss. They stayed there, just like that, connected in every possible way, lost in each other.
He felt full, complete and—
—greedy.
He never allowed himself to be selfish, not once in his lifetime. Now, the desire boiled inside him, threatening to consume him whole, and he responded to its call by moving back against Gai, grinding his hips, increasing the speed back to their earlier frantic rhythm.
Breaking the kiss, Tenzō smiled as his partner groaned, losing control and giving in to the pleasure just as Tenzō did. He fell forwards, fists twisting the sheets but still remaining on his knees, spreading them even wider. He arched his back, enjoying how the new angle allowed Gai to slide deeper, and deeper, escalating the pleasure to new heights. Tenzō felt Gai clutch at his waist moving faster, stretching him wide, seeking release for them both.
His breath was shallow, never quite filling his lungs before being pushed out by Gai's thrusts. Tenzō felt the tension in his abdomen raise at how hard the man grew inside him. He was burning in and out from the blazing passion. Suddenly, it all seemed too much. Out of nowhere, a hot palm covered his hardness and he cried out as the pleasure shook through him. Gai's arms were around him as he too, found his release, pulsing inside, breathing just as hard as Tenzō.
Tenzō woke up slowly but easily to a ray of sun streaming through the windowsills. He didn’t recognize the place but wasn’t alarmed. Gai’s hand was a gentle, grounding weight on his shoulder and he turned his head to look at it. The pull of the bond eased throughout the night but he could still feel the soft magnetism at the skin contact Gais chakra, cool earthy caress, was wrapped around his heart—around his own chakra—and the two danced, not competing but exploring each other. Perhaps, it would take a while for them to get fully acquainted, just like for him and Gai.
The taijutsu master breathed evenly next to him, and Tenzō watched his sleeping form for a while before that same ray of light that woke him travelled to interrupt his soulmate’s sleep. He saw the full dark brows furrow, face frown and the hand withdraw to protect its owner from the disturbance, and Tenzō couldn’t stop a chuckle from escaping. Watching the great green beast of Konoha wake up from his slumber was the most entertaining thing he has ever been privy to. Quickly, the man’s frown was replaced by a blinding smile and Tenzō only had half a warning before strong arms were around him and he found himself face to face with Gai.
“Good morning,” the man said, and Tenzō knew that indeed, it will be a good one.
(Art by Happy_Monger, Gai and Tenzo are woken up by the morning sun)
“You look like shit.”
“Shut up,” Tenzo heard his senpai bite back in the same manner as he did about a week ago. They met again on the way to the hospital for their last check-up.
Tenzō has been feeling much better since his and Gai’s soul bond stabilized. He’s been doing great, actually. Just thinking about what he’s been doing all week brought blush back to his cheeks.
On the contrary, Kakashi didn’t look all that well. Not in the chakra-leaving-body-soulmate-starved-about-to-die kind of way Tenzō did the last time, but still.
“It’s all your fault,” Kakashi mumbled and took a long sip of his coffee. No cup was waiting for Tenzō this time.
His senpai was a fair and reasonable man in all matters except one. And Tenzō was certain he didn’t mess anything up recently that would have caused such accusation. Which meant that—
“You and Iruka-sensei still haven’t figured it out, then?”
Kakashi stopped and glared at him, silently drilling his response into Tenzō.
“Why don’t you just talk to him about it?” he tried again.
“There is nothing to talk about,” the man spat out and continued to walk. “We had an agreement!”
“And grieving teenagers are so good at making sound life choices,” he couldn’t stop the sarcasm. His senpai was such a thickhead at times.
Tenzō knew that Kakashi had reasons (though irrational) to decline Iruka’s bond so many years ago. He lost teammates, buried his teacher – almost every bond he had was taken away from him forcibly. He couldn't bear to lose another one, so decided to give it up himself before growing too attached to it.
Kakashi didn't say anything in response, just took another sip of his coffee. Tenzō knew that this was the end of the conversation.
Iruka took a shot of whatever drink the bartender gave him. He was too frustrated to actually care what it was but enjoyed how it burned its way down his throat. He had a long-ass week that left him drained, his mood was at the lowest, and even his friends decided to ditch him at the last minute.
This was supposed to be their night out but the lovebirds just fled to the hot springs resort for the weekend! Those bastards deserved 24-hour shifts at the mission desk for a month.
He took another shot a prayed for someone to pick a fight with him. He might be a chuunin, but could easily take on an S-rank criminal at that moment.
"Evening sensei," he was surprised by a greeting from the side and looked up to see Kakashi smiling down at him.
"Oh, wow," Iruka said. "Your timing is impeccable. As in bad. Like, really bad."
It's been a week since his soulmate so much as looked in his direction, and here he was, curving that perfect silver brow in a condescending gesture of curiosity. Didn't he know how pissed off Iruka was with him?
"So, not a good evening to discuss our bond, then?"
"Depends," Iruka scoffed and gestured to the bartender for another drink. "Are you truly ready to talk about it? Not the-copy-nin-knows-better-bullshit like the last time."
"Sure, we can talk." Kakashi gestured for a drink for himself too and took the seat next to him. "I stand by my decision, it's best if we stay out of each other's ways."
"You're impossible," Iruka couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes. "Why come here, then?"
"Why can't we just go back to how things were? This bond—it just complicates things."
"Why would you even want to go back to that? Don't you feel the difference? Don't you feel—" Iruka closed his eyes to focus on the call of his bond. It rang in his ears, begging to hear the answer from its soulmate that was so close but completely silent. "—anything?"
"I'm not heartless, Iruka," the man said and emptied his glass.
He was getting more pissed off with the jounin by the minute. He didn't think of Kakashi as heartless. A thickheaded stubborn asshole – sure, but not heartless. The jounin was a loyal shinobi, a hero. He was a great teacher to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. A friend to Gai and Yamato, and many other people in the village. None of that would have been possible if the man was heartless. But—
A thickheaded stubborn asshole.
Soul bonds didn't have to be complicated. It was the one true thing in the world that should have been safe, something that people could put trust in. There were virtually no ways for either of the mates to cause harm to the other, the bond protected them equally.
"It's just me, then?" Iruka asked, feeling hot from the alcohol. "You just don't want me as your soulmate."
Kakashi didn't justify it with a response. Didn't even look in his direction, just stared at his drink before pouring it down his throat. Iruka was livid.
"Why?! Anyone in here would be happy to have me as their mate, anyone!" He spread arms to highlight the point, a few cheers from the happy crowd were sent in his direction. "I'm kind, have a stable salary, my life isn't constantly in danger, good with kids, a terrible cook but I'm damn good at housework to make up for it. I'm low maintenance!"
"Iruka, calm down," Kakashi urged him to stop.
"I don't want to calm down. I've played your game, stayed silent for years! You would think that someone like you, who reads trashy novels in public, would be at least curious about sex with your soulmate. But no, the great copy-nin is too high and mighty for some academy teachers."
This wasn't good. Iruka knew that he was crossing the line, he was just too heated. It hurt to know that he was the problem here. Kakashi didn't want him as a soulmate, it was as simple as that. He had the right to refuse the bond, regardless of how much Iruka wanted to keep it.
It was time to put a pin on that conversation. Maybe when he cooled off a bit, he would go back to the jounin and put an end to their bond once and for all. Now, Iruka just needed to get a breather.
Putting a few bills on the bar table, he picked up his flack jacket and left.
Kakashi didn't follow.
What a wonderful end to the week, Iruka thought slamming the door to his house. He walked in, discarded his clothes wherever and went straight to the shower. Then, he immediately came back to pick up the garments with a chain of curses under his breath. He might have been frustrated with a certain jounin but wasn't about to become a slob just because of that.
When Iruka finished his shower, he heard a loud knock on his door.
"Sensei, open up!" What the hell was Kakashi doing at his place? Was he looking for another fight? Iruka walked to the door but didn't open it.
"What for?" He was looking forward to ending this freaking day by falling dead on his bed and will himself to sleep. Fighting with the jounin more wasn't in the plans.
"I want to talk."
"We just tried it. It didn't go well, remember? Just, go away," Iruka was feeling the headache coming, either from alcohol or from his foul mood all evening. It was promising to become a major migraine if the man wouldn't leave.
There was a prolonged silence from the other side of the door, and he would have thought that Kakashi left if not for the insistent call of their bond.
"You're not my first soulmate."
Iruka's eyes widened at the quiet confession.
After a moment of contemplation, he opened the door to let Kakashi in. The man looked relieved but only for a second, as Iruka's field of vision was filled with a bottle.
"Peace offering!" Kakashi said giving him that signature eye smile. Iruka looked at it and rolled his eyes, letting the man proceed into his home.
"Gods know I want to hate you—" He groaned at the bottle of orange juice, the only thing that ever helped prevent his hangovers which have always haunted him after shots, no matter how few. "—but you've always been a damn good friend."
They sat in awkward silence, sipping on the orange juice for a while before Kakashi spoke again.
"You should dry your hair."
Iruka wanted to tear it out then slap the living life out of his soulmate, but the water was indeed dripping from the ends and wetting his beautiful couch. So, he groaned in frustration and began towelling his hair aggressively.
“She died,” Kakashi spoke again, and Iruka paused drying his hair to listen but didn’t remove the towel. “It was before you were old enough to develop your bond. We had a good friendship, still kids, teammates. But—“ the man cleared his throat and Iruka’s heart squeezed. “—Losing that was tough. When the second mark appeared, it felt like a betrayal, you know? Well, maybe you don’t. I can't fully explain that. Around the same time, the people I loved and who loved me continued to disappear from my life. I was afraid that this new bond will disappear, too. That’s when—“
“—You found me,” Iruka finished the sentence and stood up from the couch.
He was surprised to hear that Kakashi had a soul bond before him, they were so young! But it all made sense. This was a lot, too. Iruka took a deep breath and left to hang his towel, while the jounin sat on the couch in silence.
When Iruka returned to the room he found Kakashi studying a photo of his parents on the wall and walked over to him.
“Were they—?” Kakashi asked.
“Soulmates? Yeah. They were neighbours as kids, and the bond brought them even closer as they grew up. Didn't get together romantically until later in life, though. Theirs was the second marriage for both. Kakashi,—" Iruka put a hand on the man's shoulder. "Thank you for telling me. I think, I better understand your decision now."
"Does it mean that you will honour our earlier agreement?"
"No. I'm sorry but understand that I gave up my side of the bond without really knowing what exactly I was giving up. You said it was for my own good, and at the time it felt like it. But after that, I always felt lost. Half full. Up until the moment when even that was gone. When you died—and I know now, that you can relate to it—I was empty. Completely empty, and alone," it pained Iruka to remember that moment. "So, when our soulmark reappeared, when you came back with all the others, I made my choice. My side of the bond stays open, if you want to keep yours closed, fine, but I'm not stopping mine from reaching you. If your side wants it, it takes it. That's how it works."
"Stubborn as ever." Kakashi walked away to sit back on the couch.
"Look who is talking," Iruka landed next to him with a thump. "What did you feel, when the bond reappeared? You must have noticed something."
"Honestly? Yes, I felt the call of the bond, but there was so much going on. Coming back from the dead isn't as fun as you might think. And after that—I haven't had the time to figure it out properly. Hokage works us, jounin, like dogs, if you haven't noticed. So, I just suppressed it."
"Well, you should take some time, then. Maybe you will convince me to go back to how things were, maybe not. But first, you have to figure out what you really want."
"And you're willing to give me time?"
"I'm a patient person," Iruka said and sunk into the pillows with arms locked behind his head. "Plus, the longer you think, the longer our bond stays open, and I can reach you whenever I want. Did you know that the bond can find you even when you're trying to conceal your chakra?"
"I don't even know anymore how to act as a soulmate," Kakashi leaned back as well, stretching his legs. Iruka was happy to see the man finally relax in his presence. "How would that even change our relationship?"
"My point exactly! It doesn't have to change much. It's not like I'm asking you to marry me."
"Could have fooled me, Mr. stable salary and good at housework."
Iruka groaned and covered his face from embarrassment. He did say that.
"I just want to feel the brush of your chakra again, to complete the bond without unreasonable conditions."
"So, no mind-blowing soulmate sex?" Kakashi sounded wounded, and Iruka threw a cushion at the jounin, blushing furiously.
"I doubt it's any different," he said.
"Icha Icha says otherwise."
"I guess, we'll never know," Iruka rolled his eyes at the jounin then stood up to put away the glasses.
"We could try," he heard Kakashi say and froze.
"You do realize that we would need to complete the bond in order to do that, right?"
"I can always suppress it later," the jounin shook his shoulder as if what he was proposing wasn't outrageous at all. "You get my side of the bond for the night, and I get to prove a point. It's a win-win."
"You're ridiculous," Iruka brushed off the proposal and went to the kitchen to rid of the glasses. However, the idea was tempting. Not because of the soulbond at all, but because he was planning to spend some quality time with himself later to unwind from all the stress. Now, there was a willing hot-blooded male offering his services. There was no such thing as mind-blowing soulmate sex, but there certainly was a good quality one-night stand with a fit, healthy jounin.
This was a bad idea.
"OK," he said from the doorway, and the man's attention was back to him. "Under two conditions: no barriers, the bond stays open until we're done; and you shower."
When the shower switched off, it dawned on Iruka just what exactly he agreed to. He couldn't even blame it on alcohol because hours have passed since the bar, and he hadn't even had enough to get drunk in the first place. Would they even be able to go through with it? Kakashi voiced the idea, so he must be used to male partners. Iruka didn't have a preference, always more interested in a person, their physique than their gender, but it's been a while since he slept with a man.
Thoughts were rushing through his mind but as soon as the bathroom door opened to reveal his soulmate, they flew out of the window.
"Holy shit," he immediately covered his mouth to hide a huge grin that threatened to split his face in two. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"Is there something on my face?" Kakashi asked.
"Well, the face, for starters. I'm surprised you have one,—" the jounin only had a towel around his waist, and nothing to cover his face.
"Funny."
"—but it's not what I mean. Are they real?" A sound of pure glee escaped him as Iruka came to look closer at the man's face. Kakashi took a step back, but Iruka cornered him. "Freckles!"
"I should've known you'd make a big deal out of it," the man groaned and rolled his eyes. "They are hideous, you don't have to spell it out."
"They're adorable!" In honest fascination, he looked at the distinctive spots peppered about. "Can I touch them?"
"We're about to do more than that, so sure."
Iruka beamed and traced Kakashi's cheeks and over the bridge of his nose with a finger. They were faint but still visible on pale skin, forming intricate constellations. Out of curiosity, he planted a few light kisses on them but withdrew quickly, suddenly unsure if he overstepped. Kakashi looked at him, as if searching for something in his eyes, before bringing their mouths together.
The simple touch he lingered, waiting for a response and soon Iruka pressed back in a simple kiss. Maybe it was the smell of his soap, but kissing Kakashi felt familiar, easy. Iruka responded to the way the man's lips moved, allowing them to part his mouth to make way to the jounin's tongue. His breath got caught in his throat as the muscle glided along with his in slow exploratory movements.
"You didn't have to do it you know," Iruka said after they finally parted. "I would have been fine with your mask on."
"You said, no barriers."
"And yet, you're already kissing me when we haven't tied the bond."
"I'm setting the baseline," Kakashi smiled at him, and Iruka's heart skipped a beat.
"Sure you do," he laughed off the previous comment and pushed the jounin aside. It was time to get down to business. They had a deal. "Are you ready?"
"Are you?"
"No," he admitted. While their bond was always on his mind, and its call was almost unbearable at the moment, Iruka couldn't have thought that tonight (or any night, really) this call would be answered. He didn't get a chance to prepare for it.
"Show me how you did it at the hospital. My body called for you, didn't it? Show me how you answered."
Iruka took a deep breath and put a palm on Kakashi's bare chest, encouraging him to lean on the wall. He felt his chakra travel through his fingers to the jounin's body like it did many times before.
When the jounin was unconscious, chakra depleted, it was a simple act of replenishing the exhausted reserves and promoting the production of new chakra by the other man, as it responded to the soulmates call. He never had a chance to reach the jounin's heart, though. More like, made a choice not to without clear consent. While their bond agreement from childhood wasn't valid anymore, it was still a promise which Iruka honoured. But he was just so scared to lose the man again that couldn't stay away when Kakashi was wounded after missions.
"This is as far as I've ever gone," he confessed.
"Go further," Iruka looked up but Kakashi's eyes were closed. So, he closed his and concentrated on transmitting his chakra through the bond.
He felt some sort of barrier fall and gasped as his chakra finally brushed the beating muscle. Iruka's head was getting dizzy at the sensation. He wanted to hold onto it, to protect it. This desire was so strong that it scared him. He was about to withdraw but Kakashi's hand kept him in place.
"Stay."
He could only nod in response.
Kakashi switched their positions, and it was Iruka's turn to have his back against the wall. A moment later, the jounin's hand snuck under his t-shirt and he yelped.
"It's only fair," Kakashi winked at him but it didn't ease his nerves. Soon, their bond will be complete. It was the moment he's been waiting for, yearning for, for so long.
When the soft buzz of electricity wrapped around his heart, Iruka froze. Immediately, he was thrown back to that moment from his long-gone childhood. He was waiting for it to pass, for the bond to disappear like the last time, but it lingered.
Kakashi stayed.
Iruka wanted him to stay.
"Oh," Iruka said in surprise when he felt the two chakras move between them in dance as if rediscovering each other. Kakashi must have noticed it too because his eyes were just as wide.
It was a pleasant sensation that warmed him up from the inside. As if drawn by an invisible force, he leaned up to meet Kakashi halfway in another kiss. This time, it quickly escalated. The jounin pressed harder, wetting their lips with an eager tongue and Iruka parted his mouth to let the strong muscle in.
The kiss felt different. He couldn't wrap his head around it, but it was just—perfect. Every time their lips parted they were pulled back together just right as if made for each other.
The next thing he noticed was the way his hand magnetized to Kakashi's chest. He withdrew a finger and it was immediately pulled back.
"How do you want me?" Kakashi broke their kiss to press their foreheads together.
"In many different ways," he admitted honestly. Kissing with the bond tying them together felt incredible. If Icha Icha series spoke the truth about soulmate sex, he was looking forward to what happens next. "We can start right here."
Kakashi didn't waste time to pull the t-shirt off of him and plant a wet kiss to his adam's apple before trailing the flat tongue to his ear. What the man said next went straight to his groin.
"I want to lick you all over," he traced the shell of his ear, and Iruka shivered. "Have you noticed how your skin attracts my tongue?"
Oh, he did.
Yes, that was what made their kiss different from the earlier one. But not only that, everywhere they touched, a current of chakra (his or Kakashi's) went through, heightening his senses. Iruka groaned when the man snuck underneath his sweatpants to touch him. He responded by unwrapping the towel from around Kakashi's waist and grasping him as well. It only took them another deep kiss to stroke each other to full hardness.
Kakashi's other hand wrapped around Iruka to cup him from behind and draw him away from the wall. His sweatpants fell to the floor and Iruka stepped out of them before being kissed senseless again. He found a way into the jounin's hair and responded with vigour, guiding them both further into the room.
He was embarrassed at first to let Kakashi prepare him, but the man insisted. And there was nothing more convincing than a flat tongue gliding from the base of his hardness to the tip. The jounin's mouth was hot, wrapped around him. It moved up and down, leaving him breathless, as a finger probed at his entrance. Soon, it slipped inside, and he felt it brush along his inner walls.
No matter how much he loved Kakashi's mouth pleasuring him, in this seated position Iruka couldn't relax enough. He groaned and urged the man from the floor into another kiss.
He stood on his knees on the couch, holding onto its back while the jounin worked to stretch him enough. That was much better. Soft magnetic kisses to his skin kept him distracted from the digits moving in and out until the earlier discomfort turned into a pleasant promise. Iruka felt his muscles respond to Kakashi's hands and couldn't wait to let the man inside.
When he felt ready enough, Kakashi stood behind him and after a gentle warning pushed in. Iruka tried to breathe evenly as the jounin moved in and out slowly, letting him get used to the size. It's been too damn long since Iruka had sex with a male partner. But slowly, his body remembered what it needed to do to relax and welcome the sweet intrusion. Soon, Kakashi was able to move easier, filling him, fuelling his desire.
He leaned back to rest his head on the man's shoulder as large hands up his abdomen and across his chest. His skin was growing more sensitive by the minute. Long and sure thrusts from behind, Kakashi kneaded at his chest muscles then brushed over his hard nipples. This sent waves of pleasure throughout his body together with currents of chakra, and Iruka responded with a sigh.
This already was the best sex he has ever had.
Gods knew he wanted to hate the jounin for being right, but the man felt so good and hard inside him, reaching all the right places.
Kakashi sucked at the back of his neck, and Iruka realized that he missed the man's mouth. He bit his lip and groaned. He wanted that tongue inside his mouth now. Pausing their movements, he shifted, causing the man to pull out completely, before switching their positions. Kakashi flopped on the couch in surprise but as soon as Iruka climbed on top of him smiled appreciatively. Iruka didn't wait before kissing that smile away. He hummed when the bond magnetized their tongues together. His mouth didn't feel so lonely anymore.
Behind him, Kakashi pressed himself against his entrance, begging to be let back inside. Iruka obliged eagerly rising on his knees, never once breaking their kiss, and lowering himself. Fully seated, he felt Kakashi even deeper and couldn't stop a moan from escaping. He rose and lowered himself again feeling every inch of the man stretch his walls—the friction was incredible. His whole body felt aflame as he gradually increased the pace.
Iruka rode the man like there was no tomorrow. He held onto the couch's back and the jounin's shoulder for support, though there was no need – their bond held them together even stronger than before. He looked at Kakashi's parted lips and wetted his own on instinct, he wanted to kiss the man madly but wasn't yet ready to slow down the pace. Some things took priority. Kakashi was long and hard inside him, and the angle was just right, Iruka already loosened enough to move up and down effortlessly, so that's what he did. Hot hands felt incredible on his back, his sides, kneading his muscles as he moved. He didn't want to stop but the pleasure was building way too quickly.
With a groan, he paused his movements, taking a breath, then began gently rocking his hips. Kakashi responded in kind, pushing his own hips up to bury himself even deeper in Iruka. They kissed slowly, savouring each other. He loved the way Kakashi's tongue magnetized flat against his own before gliding in long slow strokes. This sensation sent shivers to his brain to fully shut it down. There was no thought in his head other than to drink the man and feel him deep inside.
He broke the kiss to pick up the pace again drawing gasps and grunts out of Kakashi. He felt so good, and complete, and free. Their bond kept them honest, transmitting their feelings, the hunger without any barriers. He could tell when Kakashi was getting close and slowed down, then picked up the pace. The heat was growing inside him too, but still, Iruka wanted more. He arched his back before bending backwards all the way down between Kakashi's knees. His loose hair was touching the floor with the way he was stretched. His muscles ached pleasantly, but most importantly—
"Oh, gods"
— this way, Kakashi was hot and hard all the way inside him, on edge of the release but not quite there. When Kakashi's hands moved to the inside of his hips his breath heightened. The man teased him with thumbs so close to where he desperately wanted them before withdrawing. These same hands moved up his abdomen then around his waist to support Iruka on his way back up.
Kakashi kissed him hard then flipped them on the couch and proceeded to move at an unforgiving pace. Iruka writhed, pressing both arms into the cushions above his head for support, he was burning from each thrust, feeling the waves of pleasure travel up from the impact. His whole body throbbed and so was Kakashi's. Their chakra was just as wildly intertwined as they were. He couldn't say where he ended and where Kakashi began, it was all too much.
Iruka came to his senses with Kakashi breathing heavily into the side of his neck. He panted just as hard, clutching at the man's back. Kakashi was still inside him but it wasn't unpleasant. On the contrary, he—
"I don't want to let go," Kakashi finished the thought for him.
Iruka embraced the man even tighter and breathed in his scent. It felt amazing to be one with his soulmate, with nothing separating them.
"I'm not going anywhere but—" with his palm, he drew the man to look at him. "We don't need to decide anything now. Let's sleep on it."
"Together?"
"If you want to."
Kakashi responded with a slow kiss.
"What's this?" Tenzō looked at the cup suspiciously. Kakashi surprised him with a visit.
"It's coffee, what else can it be?"
"Are you here to tell me that I look like shit again?"
"No, you're actually glowing. Gai must treat you really well," the bastard dared to wink at him, so Tenzo kicked him in the shin. "Ouch! I just came to say thanks, that's all."
"What for?"
His senpai scratched behind his neck nervously before responding.
"Iruka and I—we, uhum, we haven't figured all of it yet, but we're getting there. I don't think I would've had the courage to talk to him if it wasn't for you. So, thanks."
Tenzō put the cup on the nearest table and grabbed Kakashi in a big hug. He was so worried for his friends. Especially now, when he learned what it was like to share life with a soulmate.
"I'm so happy for you, senpai."
"Yeah."