Fanning the Flames

A/N Sorry for the sparseness of the updates of late. Unfortunately, real life intruded on my little bubble for a bit . . . hopefully things are now back on track!

For those interested in reading more of Shinobi, the first two major sections (approximately 145 pages) are available for viewing online at Authonomy (http://authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=14506).
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a non-mainstream genre like this reach the editor’s desk!

Chapter Ten

The next morning Kakashi looked a lot healthier, although his stomach still protested at the mere thought of food. Still, he decided, I'm feeling a lot better. Obviously the hospital wasn't necessary.

“Senpai, the doctor called.” Itachi's soft monotonous voice broke into the silver-haired man's thoughts, “Apparently the test results were inconclusive. He needs you to swing by the hospital today and give him another sample.”

“I'm a lot better this morning 'tachi.” the copy-nin demurred, “I was just exhausted from teleporting here on an empty stomach.”

“Your health is nothing to trifle with Kakashi.” the raven-haired ninja insisted, “After all, we have a child on the way. You need to take care of yourself for his sake, if nothing else.”

“Fine.” the pale shinobi grumbled, unable to argue with the younger man's logic, “But only to ease your mind . . . I'm really feeling much more like myself today.”

“Then I'm sure you'll be in and out in just a few minutes.” the Uchiha soothed, “I'm glad you're feeling better by the way, you had me very worried.”

“I'm sorry 'tachi, I didn't want to upset you. How are you feeling this morning? I must say you look much cheerier today.” the white-maned jounin murmured solicitously. “I hope my illness didn't cause you any discomfort?”

“Don't be silly senpai.” the Otokage scoffed with a careless flip of his hand, “You're the one who had his head in the toilet, not me. You worry too much.”

“We have a child on the way, as you were quick to remind me.” the copy-nin insisted, “I traveled here to visit you because I was concerned about you, after all. And, I'm afraid, it appears I had reason to be.” Kakashi pursed his lips and wrinkled his nose as he searched for the right way to explain what he meant. “Your emotional state contributes to your health 'tachi, you know that. The more stress you're under, the worse the pain from your eyes becomes. You should have gotten in touch with me long before this. I can take you away from here, if you like,” he continued sincerely, “you don't need to do any of this if you don't want to.”

“You're the one who came here, remember?” the Otokage responded wryly, “I'm fine with the way things are. We have a strong healthy child on the way, the village is growing faster than I ever expected, and now you've come to visit me and fill up my nights. I'm not complaining.”

“You were last night.” the silver-haired jounin was quick to point out, “As I recall you were feeling neglected 'tachi. You even went so far as to ask me to spy on Kisame. All I'm suggesting is that, just maybe, he's not a healthy influence for you right now. Besides, if you moved back to Konoha I'd be able to see you whenever you wanted.”

“Your husband may be a patient man, senpai . . . but even a saint would balk at what you're proposing.” the dark-haired ninja scoffed, “It sounds to me like you want to set me up like a mistress in some little apartment on the other side of town.”

“I resent that.” the copy-nin growled, “I have nothing but your best interests at heart. Fine, stay here and be miserable, I can't stop you. I can, however, prepare for a peaceful transition of power when you do end up killing yourself.”

“I don't need your help, Kakashi.” the Otokage retorted sharply, “I have no intention of dying anytime soon.”

“Still, I believe you should start training your successor. I'll send a scroll, he'll be here in a few days.” the silver-haired man insisted stubbornly. “That is, of course, assuming you don't change your mind and decide to come back with me.”

“I thought you promised to stay with me as long as I needed you.” Itachi argued back, “Running out on your responsibilities already?”

“That is enough. What did I just say about stress?” Kakashi barked threateningly, grasping the frail figure by the shoulders and propelling him into a chair, “I'm not running out on anything. I said I'd stay and I am, I'll even go see the doctor, just let me get dressed first.”

“I don't need a watchdog.” the Uchiha muttered bitterly, “I already have one of those.”

“Trust me, please.” the copy-nin insisted, bending to place a light kiss on the raven-haired nin's pouty lips before heading toward the door. “I'll be back as soon as I can. Do you need anything while I'm out?”

“Senpai, if I did there are people whose job it is to run my errands.” the Otokage chided with a tentative smile, “Just listen to the doctor and come back here when you're done, please.”

“I'm just trying to take care of you.” the silver-haired jounin insisted, “You are the mother of my child, after all.”

“That's hardly an excuse. After all, I don't see you running around taking care of Suki.” Itachi prodded, “I'm sure she could use some help.”

“Well, she isn't going to get it.” the copy-nin snorted, “She's unnatural, what kind of woman doesn't want her child?”

“It isn't her child 'kashi, it's ours. The whole point of using a surrogate is that the woman carrying the child agrees not to claim it after the birth.” the dark-haired man explained carefully, “We wouldn't want her to decide to keep the baby, after all.”

“She'd better not try.” the lanky jounin bristled, “She'd make a lousy mother. No normal woman would be willing to give up a child she'd carried for nine months. Just the fact that she agreed to this arrangement makes me not trust her.”

“You're being silly.”, the Uchiha retorted, “Go to the doctor please and stop wasting time with pointless arguments. I'll be waiting for you when you return.”

The silver haired nin just “Hmmphed” before heading out to the hospital. Loathe to report to such a dreary place, his feet happily wandered through town, easily detouring as new distractions popped up to amuse him. A bookstore, he thought excitedly, I'll just stop and see what the competition's doing. He headed merrily across the square, ducking into the shop and striking up a conversation with the proprietor.

Eventually he remembered his promise and hastily made his goodbyes, finally meandering into the hospital four hours after setting out. “Ah, Hatake-san, I was beginning to think you weren't showing up.” the doctor quipped.

“Can we please just get on with it.” the copy-nin grumbled, “I have better things to do than waste time here.”

“We ran every test imaginable.” the worried medic explained, “Some of your hormone levels are way off, and, of course, there's the question of your blood pressure.”

“I'm sure it's fine now.” Kakashi insisted, “I just passed my annual physical a few weeks ago. Obviously they were looking for anything like this. Besides, I feel much better today, no nausea at all.”

“Let's just check your pressure, shall we?” the doctor continued inexorably, “Then we'll take it from there.” He wrapped the cuff around the impatient jounin's arm, pumping the little bulb and squinting at the dial for much longer than the silver-haired man thought he should, finally clucking his tongue in what seemed to the copy-nin to be a very condescending way before repeating the entire process.

“I'm afraid your blood pressure is even higher than yesterday Hatake-san.” the medic informed him with a smug look, “You need to check in to the hospital so we can figure out why.”

“You said all my tests came back fine.” Kakashi argued almost frantically, “I'm sure it's just a side effect from the flu.”

“I highly doubt that. I'll send someone to let the Otokage know you'll be staying here.” the doctor pushed, continuing as if the silver-haired man wasn't protesting at the top of his lungs. “Once you're settled in to your room I'll start some blood pressure reducing medication through the IV, then we'll take a quick look inside you.”

“No IV and no surgery.” the copy-nin almost whimpered, “I want to go home if I need all of that.”

“No, no surgery . . . we're going to give you an MRI, you just lay quietly while the machine scans your body.” the medic explained patiently, “I'm afraid travel is out of the question until we figure out what's causing your blood pressure to run so high. You could die if we don't get it under control. Now, how's your stomach doing today?”

“Better.” the pale jounin admitted, “Although I haven't tried to eat or drink anything.”

Fifteen minutes later Kakashi was tugging the back of his hospital gown together as he fidgeted on the MRI table. “Now, now, none of that.” the technician scolded, “You need to stay completely still until the test is completed.”

When the table finally emerged from the tube half an hour later the copy-nin breathed a sigh of relief, quickly sitting up and swinging his legs over the side. “Not so fast . . . something isn't right here.” the operator explained, “We need to try it again.”

“What do you mean something's not right?” the jounin asked with alarm, “What do you think is wrong with me?”

“There's a mass in your abdomen where your kidney used to be. It's probably nothing, just some scar tissue.” the technician soothed, “Still, I need to take a closer look.” He coaxed the skittish ninja to lay back down and slid the table inside the machine again before sitting down behind the controls.

Kisame woke with a start, growling angrily as he leapt out of bed and started pulling on his clothes. “Damn it Zetsu, I told you I needed to get back before dawn.” he grumbled angrily.

“Now, now.” the swordsman's lover cooed, “I know you don't want to leave me so soon. Not when you can have this.” The green-haired man wriggled lower on the bed, engulfing Kisame's massive erection in one gulp before enthusiastically beginning to bob and suck.

“Stop it.” the Mist-nin demanded, yanking Zetsu roughly up by his hair, “What is wrong with you?”

“Pussy.” the Akatsuki assassin taunted, “Afraid of what that useless excuse for a partner of yours is going to think if he finds out about us?”

“He is not going to find out.” Kisame rumbled threateningly, “If you contact him I swear I'll . . .”

“You'll what, piss yourself? Beg for forgiveness?” the dark half of the hunter's personality jeered, “I don't know why I even bother with you . . .” Zetsu's rant was cut off when a large hand grabbed his hair and the swordsman jerked his lover back to his knees.

“Fine, is this what you want?” Kisame growled, tearing the zipper down on his pants and pulling out his impressive cock, stroking it a few times before forcing the green-haired man's mouth open and shoving his erection deep in Zetsu's throat. “Not complaining now, are you? That'll shut your yapping mouth.”

The Mist-nin continued muttering angrily as he feverishly fucked the smaller man's face, eyes lighting and a wicked smile crossing his visage when Zetsu started to struggle for air. “Be careful what you wish for sweetheart, you just may get it.” the swordsman muttered as he picked up the pace, pistoning into the warm wetness a few more times before coming with a roar.

Zetsu twisted and struggled, eyes rolling up in his head when Kisame's orgasm caught him by surprise, filling his nose and throat and cutting off his oxygen. Finally the large hands opened and the green-haired nin fell to the ground, coughing and hacking as he tried to draw a breath while the tall swordsman watched impassively. “Next time do as I say.” he ordered before roughly pulling on the rest of his clothes and heading back home.

As soon as the door shut behind him Zetsu rolled over, a wide smile plastered on his face. “As if.” he scoffed before rising gracefully and brushing himself off, heading to the shower as he plotted the next phase of his plan to permanently separate his lover from the Uchiha.