Into the Fire

Chapter Sixteen

When the pair woke again the sun was high in the sky. “Shit.” Ibiki muttered as he leapt out of bed, “Kakashi wake up.”

“Mmmmm, sleep now.” the copy-nin hummed as he dragged the covers over his head, “Come back to bed.”

“I need to check in, and the Hokage wanted to see you today.” the interrogator fretted as he quickly pulled on clothes. “You need to get up and get dressed.”

“Don’t wanna.” the jounin whined as he bunched the covers tightly around himself, “Want you to come back to bed.”

“I would love nothing more” the scarred man replied seriously, leaning over to nuzzle the pale column of the copy-nin’s neck, “than to stay here with you forever . . . but duty calls. Look at it this way, the sooner we get this over with the sooner you get your wish.”

“Do you regret it?” Kakashi asked quietly, sitting up and fiddling with the bedcovers.

“Last night?” Ibiki asked in shock, “Oh no, no . . . how could I possibly.” he demurred as he perched on the edge of the bed, gently pulling the worried copy-nin into his arms and cupping the back of his head as he buried a hand in ragged silver strands, bending to deliver a soft, chaste kiss. “‘kashi, I’m thirty-five years old . . . and last night was the first time anyone ever wanted me. How could I regret that?” he asked wryly.

“Because it’s me?” came the nearly inaudible response.

“That makes me doubly lucky,” the interrogator replied with a broad smile, “because I want you, too.”

Mismatched eyes studied him warily, searching the scarred face for hidden answers. “Fine, I’ll get up.” he suddenly groaned, throwing off the covers and stretching wantonly.

Ibiki felt his willpower desert him at the sight of all that alabaster skin laid out like a feast in his bed. “Maybe we could wait . . .” he hedged.

“Too late.” the copy-nin declared flatly, “I’m up now . . . you’ll just have to hurry home when you’ve finished.”

“Aren’t you coming with me?” the interrogator asked in confusion.

“I think I should at least shower before going to meet our new Hokage.” Kakashi replied seriously, “Just because I am a whore doesn’t mean I need to smell like one.”

“You are not a whore.” Ibiki growled, “Don’t speak that way about yourself.”

“For the last three years my only job has been to be a plaything for other men . . . what term would you prefer?” the copy-nin replied bitingly. “Look, I’m just being honest . . . and now that the secret’s out I’m sure everyone will be saying the same thing, hopefully not to my face, but I’ll know. Does it bother you . . . the fact that everyone will be talking about what I’ve done?”

“They won’t talk about it.” the interrogator husked, “Don’t even think about it . . . if it gets out I’ll take care of it.”

“No.” Kakashi replied flatly, “You won’t. I don’t need to be protected. Go to work Ibiki, I’ll see you later. . . I promise.”, he added when he saw a flash of pain in flat black eyes.

The scarred man didn’t reply, instead pulling the copy-nin in for a deep, wet kiss. “I’ll look forward to it.” he rumbled, running the back of his hand across a perfect cheekbone before stepping back and jutsuing away.

The copy-nin hummed happily as he headed into the bathroom, setting the water to comfortably warm before stepping under the spray and quickly scrubbing the traces of the night’s activities from his skin.

Kabuto slid between two stalls in the market, idly taking in all the conversations around him, listening for any mention of the new Hokage, Ibiki or Kakashi. He had quickly gathered a lot of information about the chuunin academy teacher who had defied all odds and been chosen as Rokudaime. He’d even seen the man himself, flanked by two guards, of course, slurping down ramen at the stand near the tower. It was rumored that the smaller of the pair, the one who always had a senbon in his mouth, was the Hokage’s lover . . . but he hadn’t seen anything to confirm it.

Just then he heard someone say, “You have items stored for Hatake-san? Please deliver them to this address as soon as possible.” Kabuto peeked around the gap between the stalls, trying to get a glimpse of who had been speaking. Then he saw a jounin striding away while one of the merchants loaded some boxes into his cart.

The medic slid unnoticed to the rear of the cart, checking the labels on the boxes to be sure before climbing inside and henging himself into another box. Not long now pet, he thought lovingly, we’ll be together at last.

Kakashi dawdled in the shower until the water ran cold, enjoying the feeling of warm water on his sensitive skin. He quickly dried off and wrapped a towel around his waist, wandering back into the bedroom in search of something to wear.

Five minutes later he came to the conclusion that he wasn’t going anywhere, he had no clothes of his own, and Ibiki’s were too big . . . so much so that he looked like a child playing dress-up. He found a pair of sweat pants that at least stayed up, even if only barely, and gave up his search for now, heading into the kitchen and turning on the kettle.

The copy-nin had just poured water over his tea bag when the bell rang. “Who is it?” he called as he headed for the door.

“Delivery for Hatake.” came the muffled response.

Kakashi opened the door on a haphazard pile of boxes. “Sign here.” the deliveryman said as he shoved a paper in his face.

“Who sent these?” the copy-nin asked.

The man studied the papers intently before finally saying, “Looks like Sarutobi Asuma. Do you want them or not?”

“Yes, of course.” Kakashi replied as he began shifting boxes inside. Once he had the last one moved he absently locked the door and started rifling through the contents. Clothes, he thought with glee, yanking out a uniform and heading to the bedroom to change.

He was halfway there when a voice stopped him in his tracks. “Hello beautiful, happy to see me?”

The copy-nin whirled, eyes wide, to face the intruder. He stopped in shock when he saw a man with glasses and hair a few shades darker than his own. “I promised I’d rescue you, don’t you remember?” Kabuto said with a genuine smile.

“That was a long time ago.” Kakashi replied flatly, “I no longer need rescuing.”

“Of course you do . . . you just don’t realize it.” Kabuto soothed as he moved closer, surreptitiously drawing a senbon, keeping it hidden in his sleeve. “I’ve been searching for my opportunity all this time, and now we’re finally together.” The medic suddenly surged forward, jabbing the senbon into the side of the copy-nin’s neck and then holding him tightly as he fought to free himself, finally slumping unconscious in the grey-haired man’s arms.

“Time to take you home beautiful.” Kabuto whispered to the limp form, even as he ran his fingers possessively over Kakashi’s naked torso. “Oh the fun we’re going to have.”

Almost done, Ibiki thought with glee as he picked the last report out of his in-basket. He was just starting to read when his door banged open and Iruka marched in grimly. “Where is Hatake-san?” he gritted out.

“He didn’t come to see you?” the interrogator asked dumbly.

“If he had do you think I’d be standing here?” the Hokage replied in frustration, “I know he’s always late, but this is just insulting.”

“Let me go check on him.” the scarred man temporized, “I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll go with you.” Iruka decided, grabbing Ibiki’s arm as he made the hand signs. They reappeared in the interrogator’s lounge . . . which was now filled with tumbled boxes.

“Kakashi,” Ibiki called in concern, heading toward the bedroom, “where are you?” His worry escalated when he found the discarded uniform, morphing to near panic at the sight of the forgotten tea cup. “‘kashi.” he bellowed as he tore open the bedroom door, rushing across the hall to the bathroom to do the same thing before finally slumping against the wall and staring into space. “He’s gone.” he rasped in a hoarse, broken voice.

“What do you mean he’s gone?” Iruka demanded, “Gone where?”

“I don’t know.” the interrogator said mournfully, “He left in a hurry . . . apparently he didn’t even dress.” he added as he indicated the abandoned uniform and underwear, stomach clenching at the thought of his copy-nin naked somewhere. He grimly began to search the area, finally finding a few drops of blood splattered on the nearest carton. “There’s some blood here, not much. Of course, ‘kashi can’t put up much of a struggle chakra blocked.” he concluded dully, refusing to actually consider what he was suggesting.

Iruka quickly summoned a squad of ANBU. “Spread out and search for Hatake Kakashi . . . he’s chakra blocked and may be held against his will.” As soon as the masked nin dispersed the Hokage turned his attention to Ibiki once again. “Who do you think would do this?”

“I don’t know.” the interrogator shook his head in despair, “Any of his so-called ‘clients’ certainly, the Daimyo in Grass seemed particularly upset to lose Kakashi so soon after his arrival . . . I’m sure he’s not the only one.”

Iruka studied the large man with concern. “I’m sure we’ll get him back Morino-san.” he said in a attempt to soothe the distraught nin, “I swear the full resources of the leaf will be out searching until we get him back.”

“I promised him.” Ibiki muttered under his breath, “I swore no one would hurt him again. Now he’ll never trust me.” He stood to his full height, towering over the Rokudaime, “What would you have me do Hokage-sama?”