*Author's notes:

Before the start of this oneshot, I want to give a shoutout to this one amazing book "When you're gone. KakaIru." https://my.w.tt/n9G91ZB9X0 and it's author The_Sweetest_Thing. This book was just amazingly written. I really loved the plot, the heartwarming, yet, in the same time heart tearing story and the style of how everything was written. The idea of mixing in the past elements as some sort of pieces of memory flashbacks that were falling into place of the main plot made the story even more impressive. Therefore, it really inspire me to try and write my own story while trying to use this method. I'm not sure of how well I managed to do that for this one shot since, I realize it follows a bit of a different recipe, but even so, I think I'm satisfied enough for now seeing as it was the first time I actually tried talking such a route with the story.

Now another shoutout I want to give is to this person~~
Bangtanz566543!
I really appreciate your support and love for my Kakairu stories. It truly inspires me to keep writing more for this book. I do hope you'll keep enjoying this book as new parts come out since I already have few more ideas that I'm working on.

Now, with that said, without further ado, let's start the story!

*Btw, any pic used in here is found on Pinterest and don't belong to me.
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Iruka was walking to the library to return all the books he had borrowed when suddenly he started to loose balance and was about to fall. Yet, suddenly someone grabbed him in time.

As Iruka turned to look at who is was, he realized it was Kakashi.

"Oh. Kakashi! Thank you so much for helping me out." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"It's fine. Don't worry about that, just be careful next time, okay?" Kakashi gave a smile through his mask, but it was clear he was smiling because of the look his eyes gave off.

"Oh, okay. Well, I gotta go so, see you later, Kakashi, and again, thanks." After saying bye to Kakashi and thanking him for the last time, Iruka went inside the library. Once he was done, he started to head back home. Yet, somehow he didn't feel like rushing to get there so, instead, he decided to take a detour by going the long route. As he was walking, he suddenly came across a familiar bench where he used to sit when he had a lot on his mind. This bench was kind of a special place to him, even more so because this is the place where he met Kakashi for the first time. Therefore, a warm nostalgic feeling washed over Iruka's chest as he sat down on the bench to reminisce.

It was quite a beautiful and warm summers day, yet, the day didn't feel as beautiful to Iruka at all, as he was getting bullied by a bit older kids then he was.

"You're such a weakling! No one wants to be friends with someone like you!"

"Leave this playground, cause you're not worth being here! This place is only for kids who are strong!"

The kids were throwing rocks at Iruka as they made fun of his inability to fight back because he was lacking the skill. This truly hurt Iruka physically, but even more so emotionally. His little heart couldn't stand all of this unfairness that he was receiving, making him get a blurry vision as tears started forming in the poor boys eyes. That's when suddenly all the rocks stopped hitting him. Due to this, Iruka slightly wiped his eyes from the tears to see what was going on when he noticed a white haired kid standing in front of him and taking all of the rock that were ment for him.

Noticing this white haired child cutting in between their bullying object, other kids stopped throwing stones.

"Get out of the way, Kakashi. Or we'll hurt you too!" The kids commanded the white haired boy.

"No. I won't get out of the way." Kakashi bluntly answered.

"Fine, you asked for this." The kids again picked up the stones, ready to throw them at Kakashi, but before they could do anything, the white haired boy already had thrown one of the kids stomach flat on the ground and was sitting on top of him while holding onto his arm, which was twisted in unpleasant way.

"What exactly did I ask for?" Kakashi smuggly asked the kid who he was holding on.

"Nothing, nothing at all! Please, let go!" The kid was now shaking from fear as the only thing he wanted now was to be set free. Therefore, Kakashi did just that and all of the kids immediately ran away.

That's when the white haired kid walked over to the brown haired boy who was still slightly sobbing. "Are you okay?"

"Mhm." Iruka sniffled.

"Come, let's sit down." Kakashi took Iruka by the hand and lead him to a bench where they both sat down.

As the white haired boy let go of his hand, Iruka quickly backtracked it and grabbed it with his other hand as if it was in pain.

"Does you arm hurt?" Kakashi asked.

"A little bit. But it's fine..." Iruka replied while lowering his gaze at the ground and hoping that this new kid also wouldn't think he's weak.

"Show it to me." The white haired boy commanded.

Iruka was hesitant at first, but soon he carefully stretched his arm towards the boy.

"Oh, it's just s scrape. Luckily it's not deep so, you'll be fine." The kid said as he examined the brown heads wound while reaching over to his pocket and grabbing something from it. Then he placed a bandaid on the boys injury. "That should help for now."

"T-thank you." Iruka sniffled again.

"What exactly happened between you and those guys?"

Iruka stayed quite as he stared back down at the ground.

Kakashi signed. "It's fine. You don't need to tell me. Just don't let their words get to you. They are just looking to pick fights with someone and I'm sure you're pretty strong. It's just that there was more of them and they were older then you so, of course they had more skills. It was quite a weak move on their part to choose an opponent who clearly had had less experience. It obvious they were doing that to make themselves look 'thougher'."

"W-what about you? Aren't you younger then them too?.." Iruka asked nervously while feeling slightly bitter.

"Don't take me as an example. I'm an exception. My skills are above most of my age kids and even a bit older then me so, there's no point for you to compere yourself to me."

"Oh.."

"Well, what's your name?"

"It's.. Iruka.."

"Then, it's nice meeting you, Iruka. My name's Kakashi." Kakashi tried to give a small smile, though he had a mask covering half of his face.

"Oh.. I see.." Iruka didn't notice the white haired boys attempt to look friendly because he kept staring at the ground with his eyes still being slightly teary.

That's when Kakashi bent down and picked something from the ground. Then, he extended his arm, that held a little flower, towards Iruka.

"Here. No need to be upset anymore. I hope this flower makes you feel better."

Iruka hesitantly took the flower from Kakashi. As he looked at what he had received, a calming feeling enveloped the brown haired childs heart making him slightly confusled about the unexpected gift and turning his cheeks a slight shade of pink.

Noticing the innocent and cute Iruka's reaction, caused a chain reaction of making Kakashi slightly blush as well. The white haired boy definitely didn't expect the kid to have such a pure reaction to his gesture of trying to chear him up, nor did he imagined to be thinking of how cute Iruka is, making him have a similar response.

Suddenly a voice called out making them both come back to the reality. "Kakashi! Come. Let's go home!"

Kakashi looked over to see who was calling him. "Oh, my father is here. I'll better go now. See ya." And with that Kakashi left while waving a goodbye to Iruka.

"Bye... Kakashi..."

Iruka smiled at his awkward first encounter with Kakashi, as he looked around the area that has definitely changed so much over the years. Then, he leaned back more onto the bench and slightly raised his head to look at the floating clouds.

Iruka was crying while standing next to a monument where his parents names were engraved. Suddenly, a hand on his shoulder startled the young boy. As he looked to see who dared to do that, he recognized the same white haired boy from a while ago.

"Hey. What happened this time?"

Iruka tried wiping off his tears. "My.. My parents... were just killed..."

"Oh.. I'm sorry..."

"I hate that monster! It's because of him my parents had to die! I wish I could have done something..." Iruka clutched his hand into a fist.

"Yeah... But your parents didn't die in vein. They helped to protect the village and now the ninetail's is gotten rid off and everyone is safe including you."

"Of course I know that! Everyone keeps saying that, but no one truly understand how I feel! I wish they never were part of it if they ended up leaving me all alone!" Iruka was shaking as tears again flowed from his eyes.

That's when Kakashi suddenly hugged him. "I'm sorry. I didn't meant to say something insensitive..."

The warmth from the hug made Iruka slightly relax his muscles as his anger subsided. Yet, he still continued crying but more softly.

"It's going to be okay. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Suddenly Iruka was snapped back to reality as someone sat besides him putting his arm on top of his. Before Iruka could turn his head to look at who it is, this person already had pressed his lips to the brown haired males cheek.

Soon, realizing what had happened and who was this person, Iruka got flustered. "Ka-kashi?!"

"Oh, sorry about that. It's just that you looked so cute being deep in your thoughts" Kakashi smiled through his mask again while scratching the back of his head. "So, what were you thinking about?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just about the past and how we met."

"Is that so? I guess no wander I felt the need to come here. Your thoughts of me might have been the ones that brought me to come." The white haired jōnin joked.

This little tease though made Iruka flustered again.

"Kakashi!"

"Ha-ha! Just kidding. Though, you are truly cute especially when you're embarrassed."

"Hey! This is not funny Kakashi!"

"I'm not trying to be funny now. I'm telling the truth, Iruka. But hey, if you feel offended, then how about I take you out for dinner to make up for this?"

Iruka got quite for few seconds as he thought over the suggestion before speaking up. "Sure. Why not. Though, you're paying." He smirked a bit as he decided to make a slight joke to get back at Kakashi for teasing him so much.

"Well, of course. There's no need for you to tell me that. I already had all the intentions for paying. After all, I need to properly make ou-up to you."

"Oh. I see."

"Well, then I'll come pick you up tomorrow around this time here, is that okay?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Well, then. I'll better go now. See ya!" With that Kakashi stood up from the bench and walked away while waving to Iruka.

This brought a warm smile on the brown haired chūnins face as this felt like he was seeing the image of the past.