Fanning the Flames

A/N - My sincere wishes for a most joyous Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year to all of you!!


Chapter Nineteen

“What did you do to Kakashi?” Jiraiya asked the interrogator pointedly.

Ibiki raked his eyes over the sannin currently lounging against his door frame. “I should ask you the same question old man. You two don't have the best record as far as compatibility.”

“We talked this morning.” the white-maned sage explained, “He wants me to take over from Itachi. He's persuasive, that's for sure.”

“He didn't tell you what was going on then?” the scarred man asked cautiously.

“You mean about the brat?” Jiraiya wondered nervously. “I swear, it didn't come out the way I intended . . . I tried to explain that I really had no idea whether you liked kids or not.”

“What did you say?” the torture master gritted out as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

“I agreed with him that you might just have said yes because you knew it would make 'kashi happy.” the sannin admitted, “I told him I didn't know one way or the other. I just reminded him that you wouldn't have said no in any event.”

“No to what?” Ibiki bellowed, the vein in his forehead pulsing ominously.

“To his having a brat with the Uchiha. To your husband sleeping with another man. To all of it.” Jiraiya spat back. “Then he had the nerve to try to coerce me into sleeping with Itachi. He's a master manipulator, that's for sure. Maybe Tsunade was exploiting his assets after all.”

“Take that back.” the scarred man growled threateningly, “If you ever again imply that what she did to him was acceptable I'll kill you.”

“You can try sonny.” the toad sage taunted, “You aren't the first to threaten it and you certainly won't be the last. I'm just acknowledging the fact that mt nephew does indeed have . . . hidden talents.”

“That's it.” Ibiki bellowed, “Enough of your snide digs at 'kashi's expense. Get ready to die you old bastard.”

“What on earth is going on in here?” Itachi's mellow, mildly amused, voice broke in.

“This prick keeps implying that 'kashi deserved what Sandaime and Tsunade did to him.” the torture master husked dangerously, “So I'm going to shut his mouth for him.”

“Senpai would not approve.” the Uchiha reminded him quietly, “He would not want anyone punished for their attitude towards him.”

“This idiot is 'kashi's only living family.” the scarred man reminded the Otokage, “I don't think his support is too much to ask.”

“I agree.” the raven-haired nin concurred with an eerie grin, “Why don't you let me talk to Jiraiya-sama for a few minutes . . . perhaps I can convince him to change his mind?”

“He went too far this time.” Ibiki rumbled threateningly, “I have no more patience to waste on him.”

“I understand completely.” Itachi agreed readily, “But senpai asked him to become my successor. I feel a certain duty to try and save his life.”

“Five minutes.” the interrogator hissed, “Then he either apologizes or I kill him.”

The white-maned sage opened his mouth to retort, only to find it covered by a small, soft hand. “Now, now Jiraiya-sama,” the Otokage chided, “Let's not exacerbate the situation. Come into my quarters and we'll discuss this rationally.”

“You better not try any of your sharingan tricks on me.” the toad sage warned, “I'm on to your methods of persuasion.”

“So suspicious.” the Uchiha retorted with a husky chuckle, “I just want to talk with you Jiraiya, I promise.” he wheedled, dark lashes fanning over porcelain perfect cheeks as Itachi peered up at the sannin seductively through the inky curtain of his unbound hair. “Ibiki why don't you go look for Kisame . . . he should be back by now.” the Otokage urged as he tugged the reluctant sage into his quarters, shutting the door firmly behind them.

“I'm bored.” Genma announced dramatically. He pulled the senbon out of his mouth and began to flip it from finger to finger as he continued in a wheedling tone. “Everyone we know is out of town and there's nothing exciting going on at all.”

“Thank goodness.” Iruka replied tartly, “I am Hokage after all, I really don't need any problems. Especially if the only reason for them is to keep my husband occupied.”

“We should get away.” the honey-haired man attempted to tempt his husband, “Maybe to the hot springs, a kind of, second honeymoon.” he exclaimed in delight.

“We just got back from our first honeymoon Gen.” the former teacher retorted, “I need to get some work done before I take another vacation. If you're really that bored why don't you take a mission?”

“Just because I'm bored doesn't mean I want to leave you Ru.” the senbon-sucker replied sweetly, “I'm just tired of the inside of this office.”

“Why don't you take this scroll to Suna for me?” Iruka suggested. “You can take some time and catch up with Raidou. I know you've been missing him.”

“You should come with me Ru. It would be a lot more fun.” the honey-hair man suggested mischievously.

“I wish I could koi, but I'm swamped at the moment. You go and tell them I send my best. I promise I'll be here when you get back.” he concluded with a smirk.

“I'll be back in a week.” Genma assured his husband, pulling him into his arms and kissing him passionately. “Do you have time to come back to bed and give me a proper goodbye?”

“I wish I could. It's only a week Gen.” the Rokudaime demurred, “The anticipation will make it sweeter. I'm afraid the clan heads will be here in five minutes.”

“Fine.” the senbon-sucker pouted, “So much for the honeymoon phase.” he headed into their private quarters and quickly filled a pack, returning to the office to say his goodbyes just as the first of the clan elders arrived.

“This is Fujiko.” Gaara declared solemnly as he introduced a wizened old woman to the puzzled copy-nin. “She has delivered all the babies in the palace for the last fifty years.”

“Never lost a single one.” the tiny grey-haired woman cackled.

“I don't know about this Gaara.” Kakashi replied tentatively, “Maybe I should wait until I get back to Konoha.”

“You're pregnant, you need pre-natal care.” the redhead continued relentlessly, “Fujiko will examine you now. As long as you are staying here she will be in charge of caring for you and your unborn child.”

“Never treated a pregnant man before.” the old woman declared suspiciously, “Are you sure that's what this is?”

“Feel for yourself.” the silver-haired man insisted, grasping the midwife's hand and pressing it hard against his abdomen.

“Will wonders never cease.” she remarked mildly as she felt the strong pulse of chakra, continuing in an unruffled tone, “Take off your clothes and lay down so I can examine you fully.”

“Why do I need to be naked?” the copy-nin yelped, “I don't see any reason for that.”

“Just do as she says Hatake-san.” the Kazakage insisted, “I don't want to have to force you.”

“You would never . . .” the jounin tried to protest, only to be cut off.

“I will do whatever I need to. Your health is of the utmost importance. I will not let you endanger both your lives because you are uncomfortable.” Gaara insisted.

“I promise she won't do anything you don't want.” Raidou added helpfully.

The copy-nin continued to grumble unhappily but he ducked behind the screen and pulled off his clothes, yanking on the supplied robe and clutching it tightly together as he slid onto the examining table.

“You have no birth canal.” the midwife stated in shock after carefully completing the external exam, poking and prodding the jounin's genitals unmercifully.

“I could have told you that.” the silver-haired man snapped, “I need to have a cesarean birth.”

“You need to stay off your feet.” Fujiko continued implacably, “Otherwise you'll miscarry. Your blood pressure rises dangerously when you're active. Now, let's see if we can figure out when your due date is.”

“What do you mean stay off my feet?” Kakashi asked worriedly, “I need to head back home at some point.”

“No, I'm afraid not.” the midwife insisted, “Travel could kill both of you. I'm afraid you're stuck here until after this baby is born. In fact, you are confined to bed until we figure out a way to get your blood pressure down.”

“I guess I need to get in touch with Ibiki.” the copy-nin decided ruefully, “He isn't going to be happy about any of this.”