Matchmaker, Matchmaker

And In The End

Chapter One

Ten days after Ibiki strode off into the night there was a knock at the door. Katsumi had just returned from a mission and was playing cards with Gai while Iruka finished his grading. “I’ll get it.” she shouted as she leapt up and barreled for the door, throwing it open to reveal Tsunade.

“Hokage-sama.” Katsumi said respectfully, hand over her heart, “How may I serve you?”

“Hatake Katsumi,” the Godaime began in a quavering voice, “I regret to inform you that Morino Ibiki was killed in the line of duty. His team is returning the body for disposal, the memorial will be tomorrow. I’m so sorry for your loss.” With that she turned and disappeared into the night, leaving the last Hatake to cope with her first loss.

“Chichi.” she whimpered before running into her room and slamming the door, Gai and Iruka stumbling to their feet and racing after her.

“Oh angel, I’m so, so sorry.” the teacher soothed, gathering the young girl into his arms and gently stroking wild silver strands as she sobbed against his chest.

“Don’t worry Katsumi, we’ll take care of you.” Gai added, heart aching at the sight of his two precious people so badly hurt. He easily scooped up both his husband and the slender girl, climbing onto the bed and settling them in his lap as they cried in each other’s arms until they both exhausted themselves and fell into restless sleep.

His left arm and both his legs had long since fallen asleep, and his bladder had been urgently reminding him of its presence for the last hour or so . . . but Gai was a Konoha elite shinobi, he’d suffered far worse. He idly stroked his husband’s hair as he pondered over what to do next. The way he saw it there were three options: Katsumi could stay here by herself . . . no, he decided, she’s too young, chuunin or not; of course she could move in with them . . . but his place was small, barely large enough for two; or he and Iruka could move into the teacher’s old room until Katsumi could live on her own.

I guess we’re moving, he decided, whispering to the sleeping pair, “Don’t worry my loves . . . we’ll all stay here together, I promise I will take care of you.” He gently rocked back and forth, humming a lullaby from his youth as he slowly relaxed the spent forms into a deeper, more restful sleep before slipping out from under them and tenderly covering his beloved chuunin and the bereaved girl with a blanket.

After a quick trip to the bathroom he made some hand signs and disappeared in a swirl of leaves, reappearing just outside the Hokage’s office and banging on the door. “Hokage-sama.” he greeted her deferentially when she answered.

“Gai-san . . . what can I do for you?” she asked in a raspy voice, “Is Katsumi alright?”

“She’s as fine as she can be at the moment . . . that’s why I’m here.” the taijutsu master continued, “I wish to retire from active duty. Iruka and I are going to move into his old room until ‘sumi-chan is older . . . they need me, I won’t make them suffer another loss.”

“I could use you at the academy.” Tsunade said finally, “Come talk to me next week. Now go back and take care of them.”

“Thank you Tsunade.” Gai whispered as he jutsu’d away.

The next day dawned grey and damp, mist hanging heavy in the air and covering everything with a slick silvery shine that reminded Iruka of Katsumi. He watched proudly as she stood with her teammates, back straight, uniform perfect, eyes dry . . . the picture of shinobi control, determined to do both of her fathers proud. He leaned into Gai’s comforting embrace and squeezed the hand at his waist briefly as Tsunade made her way to the podium and began to speak.

“We are here today to honor one of our own who has fallen in the line of duty.” she began, reminding the teacher eerily of the copy-nin’s funeral.

Hard to believe it’s been over eight years, Iruka mused as he sent up a silent prayer that Ibiki and Kakashi would find each other on the other side.

“Morino Ibiki served this village long and faithfully.” the Hokage continued, “He suffered greatly at the hands of its enemies and sacrificed much of himself in the performance of his duties. As head of ANBU and my chief of information his skills will be sorely missed.” Her voice broke and she paused for a moment before going on. “He is survived by his daughter, Hatake Katsumi.”

Tsunade stepped down and headed over to the tiny chuunin, hesitating briefly at the deep warning growl vibrating in Bull’s throat. “No Bull.” the silver haired girl stated firmly, “She’s our Hokage, be nice.”

“Katsumi,” the Godaime began, taking the girl’s hands in hers, “Konoha, and myself personally, appreciate your sacrifice. If there’s anything you need . . .” she trailed off at the steely resolve in those grey eyes.

“I am shinobi Hokage-sama,” Katsumi’s melodious voice rang out, “Loss is to be expected. Chichi missed Otousan for so long . . . now they can be together. I will be fine.” She walked to the stone, brushing her fingers over the newly carved kanji even as her other hand sought the long familiar carving of her father’s name. “I’ll miss you Chichi.” she whispered, “Say hi to Otousan for me . . . I’ll come visit you tomorrow, I’m kind of tired right now.” She paused as if to leave before adding in a voice thick with restrained tears, “Take care of him Otousan, love you guys.”

Gai and Iruka moved forward to enfold her in loving arms when she turned away from the stone, but she just trudged past them, eyes fixed on an unseen objective. Her team moved to flank her, but she seemed oblivious to their presence, continuing her measured pace all the way to the front door where she calmly informed her teammates that she’d meet them for training in the morning before opening the door and slipping inside.

Ibiki opened his eyes on a featureless landscape. What hit me, he wondered as he rubbed his head and checked himself for injuries, must be a genjutsu. He raised his hands and quickly made the signs to release the illusion, whispering “Kai.”, but nothing happened.

“Finally.”, an all too familiar voice rang out behind him, “I can’t believe you made me wait this long . . . you know how impatient I am.”

“‘kashi?” the interrogator gasped as he turned, “Sweetheart is it really you?” he gasped, tears streaming unnoticed down his face.

“Who else would wait so long for your slow ass?” the copy-nin quipped, “You should be glad I memorized all the Icha-Icha . . . otherwise I would have gotten bored and given up years ago.”

“Katsumi needed me.” the scarred man rumbled, “I couldn’t leave her.”

“Oh,” Kakashi said, face falling, “of course you found someone else . . . I guess it was silly of me to wait like this.”

“No, no ‘kashi,” Ibiki replied almost frantically, “Katsumi’s your daughter . . . I could never replace you, I thought of you every moment of every day.”

“My daughter?” the copy-nin asked rather disjointedly, “How the hell could I have a daughter?”

The interrogator quickly explained the circumstances of Katsumi’s birth, “You’d be so proud of her sweetheart . . . she’s a true Hatake.”

“Kiss me.” Kakashi husked suddenly, “I don’t know what you and Iruka have been up to . . . but it’s been far too long since I’ve felt your hands on me.”

“There was never anything between Iruka and I . . .” the scarred man retorted, “he’s been an amazing friend and I don’t know what ‘sumi and I would have done without him but . . . I never got over you ‘kashi,” he paused briefly before continuing, “Iruka and Gai got married a couple of years ago, shortly after ‘sumi graduated from the academy. I told you I’d wait for you, no matter how long you were gone . . . didn’t you believe me?”

Ibiki barely had time to register the hot possessive look in the copy-nin’s eyes before his lips were captured in an aggressive kiss, eight years of pent up lust causing them to come together hard, both men fighting for dominance as calloused hands wandered over all the flesh they could reach. They slammed into the ground, scrabbling to remove their clothes without letting go.

When they were finally, blissfully, naked hands stroked and squeezed, refamiliarizing themselves with contours long faded into memory. Ibiki slowed, then stopped completely, pulling back to peer into Kakashi’s eyes. “Can we go see her?”

“Huh?” the copy-nin replied eloquently, leaning forward to recapture the interrogator’s lips.

“Katsumi . . . can we go see her? You came to me.” Ibiki broke the kiss to continue urgently.

“We can . . .” Kakashi began reluctantly, “but, it’s not a good idea. Time is . . . different here. How much time passed between my death and when I saw you?”

“A few weeks, why?” the scarred man replied impatiently.

“To me it was only a few seconds later. You’ve been here for at least an hour . . . years may have passed. Are you sure you want to do that to her?” the copy-nin explained with a sad smile.

“I need to see her one last time,” Ibiki said sadly, “I told her I’d come back . . . I need to let her know how sorry I am, I need to know she’s alright.”

“If you’re sure . . .” Kakashi trailed off uncertainly, “You’ll come back to me, won’t you?”

“You need to come with me, she needs to see her father.” the interrogator declared firmly, “Besides, I have no desire to ever be separated from you again. I cried myself to sleep every night I spent without you.”

“How long has it been?” the copy-nin asked curiously, “I have no concept of time anymore.”

“Over eight years . . . ‘sumi-chan made chuunin last year when she turned seven.” Ibiki replied wistfully, “Eight very long years. I don’t think I would have stayed sane if I hadn’t had Katsumi . . . we visited you at the memorial every day, I told her all about you. People thought I was crazy,” he barked a hoarse laugh as he wiped tears from his eyes, “I used to talk to you all the time sweetheart . . . I hoped you could hear me.”

“I’m so sorry ‘biki.” Kakashi murmured as he pulled the scarred man into an embrace, “I wish I had heard you . . . I’ve missed you terribly.”

“Well, let’s go visit our daughter then, shall we. Once I know she’s okay I’ll be able to let go.” Ibiki said shakily.

“Alright.” the copy-nin declared as he began to pull his clothes back on. Once Ibiki was dressed Kakashi slipped a pale hand into his and they set off together.