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Perhaps none of them should have been surprised when, as they exited the toilets, Malachite was cut down without ceremony.
"Malachite-san!" Kakashi gasped, dropping to his knees to try to staunch the blood. It was useless: the kunai had struck true, buried deep in his ribs and into his heart.
"Stay back!" Opal ordered, already standing over Malachite and Kakashi, her hands humming with offensive chakra.
But Opal was no match for Iruka and Shizune together, and almost too fast to believe, she, too, had fallen.
"Se— Selenite," Malachite gritted out, grasping weakly for Kakashi's hands. "I— I want you to know—"
"Don't—" Kakashi choked. "Don't speak. It'll be okay, Malachite-san, it'll...."
"My name—" Malachite forced himself to say, his voice taut with pain. "My name— is— Meruhen."
Kakashi bent, sharp and bitter tears leaking from the corners of his eyes.
"Meruhen-san," he said quietly, and Malachite — Meruhen — smiled softly, sweetly, before his hand and face went slowly slack.
Kakashi sighed heavily and released Meruhen's hand, letting it slip to the floor.
"I suppose that's that, then," he said, holding out his hands for Shizune to cuff. "You can take me back to Konoha."
Iruka reached forward and, slipping his hand in Kakashi's, pulled Kakashi to his feet.
Kakashi stumbled slightly, not expecting to be standing, and Iruka caught him in a warm embrace.
"What are you doing?" he asked, bewildered. "Aren't you going to arrest me?"
"What? No," Iruka replied, appalled. "Arrest you?"
"For defecting," Kakashi explained morosely. "You know."
"You didn't defect," Shizune said firmly. "You were captured and abducted. Tsunade-sama knows that, and she sent us to rescue you. It's time to get you home, now."
Kakashi blinked without comprehending for what felt like a very long time.
"Oh," he said finally. "Oh."
And Iruka smiled.
They collected Yurika and her pups — Shizune loaned Yurika a spare uniform — and left hurriedly. Running into Alabaster would be a disaster, after all.
But fortune was with them, and they managed to flee Ishigakure without seeing anyone else on the road.
Their journey took far longer than it ordinarily would be, slowed by Kakashi's kicking pup and Yurika's three children, but given those complications, they made rather good time. After the first seizure Kakashi had, Shizune was able to concoct a tonic with plants she foraged along the road, and she was able to manage all the side effects without much effort. They arrived back in Konoha within a week and a half, dirty, exhausted, and exultant.
It was wonderful to see Konoha's gates once more.
Shizune went to give the mission report to Tsunade. Iruka took Kakashi, Yurika, and Yurika's three pups back to the apartment, where Kakashi showered thoroughly and soaked in the bath as Yurika washed her three excited pups. There was a great deal of splashing and giggling, and Kakashi smiled to himself, because he found, unexpectedly, that he didn't mind the noise.
After he had soaked to his satisfaction, he left the bath to Yurika and the squealing pups so he could pad out to the kitchen to eat something before curling up in his nest.
"I was thinking Yurika-san and her children could stay in your room for a little while," Iruka said shyly, placing a bowl of steaming-hot ramen on the table in front of Kakashi before Kakashi could say anything. "Just until they get settled. If that's okay with you, I mean."
"That would be just fine," Kakashi said, humming with pleasure at the fragrance of the ramen. "You know, we should introduce Tenzō to them. I think, even if he's attracted to men, he would still enjoy her company."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea!" Iruka agreed. "Maybe I can reach out to Tenzō-san in the next day or two and arrange a time for him to come over."
"Mm. Not yet, though," Kakashi said, pushing away the empty bowl so he could sidle closer to Iruka. "First, I think I would like some time with an Alpha."
"Any Alpha?" Iruka teased, leaning in close to Kakashi and nuzzling his temple.
"Mah, I suppose any Alpha would do," Kakashi teased back, "but some might be better than others."
"Oh?" Iruka asked. "And which Alpha would you prefer?"
"Hmm. Maybe one who smells like the forest," Kakashi said, a low trill beginning to rumble in his chest. "One who believed in me even when I had forgotten how to believe in myself. One who fought for me even when I fought him. One who has given me a wonderful nest, wonderful opportunities, and what will soon be a wonderful pup. Can you think of anyone like that?"
"I could probably think of someone," Iruka said, his voice too raw to match his words.
"Oh, good," Kakashi said, nosing beneath Iruka's chin. "Let me know when you do."
And Kakashi smiled.