Warlord

A/N mizukiruhoh, to answer your question . . . no, no Naruto in this one. I rarely write Naruto or Sasuke because I think they're really overdone (besides, Naruto reminds me of my son and he's just too young to have any part in my works!!)

I want to thank everyone who's read and reviewed this story . . . I can't believe it's gotten over 10,000 hits and it isn't even finished!! Your support is greatly appreciated.


Chapter Twenty

Iruka rushed mindlessly out of the tent, no destination in mind other than away. Halfway across camp he slowed as he realized that he had nowhere to go. He finally came to a halt, staring mindlessly, tears streaming down his face. He nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand landed on his shoulder.

“Iruka, are you alright? What are you doing over here?” Genma asked softly as he peered into the scribe’s face with concern, “Did something happen to Hatake?”

At the sound of Kakashi’s name the scribe dissolved into a fresh round of tears. “It’s . . .it’s. . . it” he stammered, unable to compose himself long enough to get the words out.

“Come with me,” Genma crooned soothingly, “you need to sit down and have a nice cup of tea . . . then you can tell me all about it.” He wrapped an arm around Iruka’s shoulders and propelled him a bit further until they reached the courier’s tent. “I’m afraid it’s not as nice as what you’re used to.” he said apologetically as he helped the scribe to sit and moved to heat some water for tea.

Soon he was pressing a hot cup into trembling hands “Just drink . . . and relax, I’m sure we’ll find a solution to whatever it is.”

“Why me?” Iruka finally asked in a soft voice laden with self-loathing, “Why did he choose me in the first place. I was alright as a tutor . . . I didn’t need this.” He shook his head before straightening and looking the courier in the eye. “The council gifted Kakashi with a pleasure slave . . . Hajime, they named him Hajime because he was supposed to be ‘kashi’s new beginning” he said bitterly, “They were going to execute the slave if ‘kashi didn’t keep him so I convinced him he had to. But . . . he’s young, beautiful, and the way he looks at ‘kashi . . .” the scribe trailed off into a fresh wave of sobs.

“He threw you over for a pleasure slave?” Genma asked in a tight voice, but Iruka only cried harder. “What the fuck is wrong with him? He lost his oldest friend over you, he whipped the men who raped you himself, hell . . . I thought he was going to kill me when I told him. He worships you . . . and he threw you away over a pretty boy.” By this point the courier was livid, right now all he could think about was how badly Raidou had been hurt by the warlord’s involvement with Iruka, and now that didn’t matter any more. He was going to go have a talk with his commander right now.

“I’m going to go talk some sense into his dumb ass.” the courier ground out before stalking out of the tent, fists clenched at his sides. Iruka, however, had stopped hearing the courier at the mention of rape. That’s it, he decided, I’m dirty, disgusting . . . that’s why ‘kashi doesn’t want me. He shuddered as a flash of memory assaulted him, jeering faces, blinding pain, rough heavy hands on him. A low keening wail escaped his throat as he realized that those men were still here in camp, watching him, knowing what had happened . . . who had they told, did everyone know what they did? I can’t stay here, I can’t he wailed, I have to get out.

Raidou paused outside the tent and looked at the bottle in his hand. Just apologize for being a total ass, he told himself, maybe he’ll forgive you. “Oi, Genma,” he called out as he lifted the flap, “I brought you . . .” he trailed off in shock. Genma was nowhere to be seen, the sole occupant of the tent was an obviously distraught Iruka.

The scribe looked up at the call of Genma’s name. When he spotted the general he almost gasped in relief. I’ll be safe with him till I get away, he decided. “General, I need your help. I need to get out of this camp and to my cousin’s house in town, can you take me, please?” he asked beseechingly, tears still streaming down his stricken countenance.

Raidou automatically asked “Where’s Kakashi?”, but his only answer was a fresh bout of tears. “Fine, fine, I’ll help you, please stop crying.” he fumbled, pulling out a rag for the scribe to wipe his face. “Who’s your cousin?” he asked, hoping that this, at least, was a safe topic.

“Umino Toyo.” the scribe replied in a soft sad voice. “I’m afraid I don’t know his address.”

“I know who he is.” the general growled, “Are you sure that’s where you want to go?”

“I have nowhere else.” Iruka supplied simply, “Can we leave now please, I really want to get away from here.”

Raidou nodded and headed out, holding the flap for the scribe before they set off for town.

Genma stormed into the warlord’s tent, fists clenched and eyes ablaze. “Hatake, I need to talk some sense into your sorry ass . . .” he trailed off at the sight that met his eyes. There stood the warlord, fully dressed and pulling on his shoes . . . and next to him on the floor was the pleasure slave, or at least that’s who the courier figured it must be, naked, bound and blindfolded.

“I can explain. . .” the warlord began as he raised his hands in supplication, “I had to tie him up” he was cut off abruptly when Genma’s fist collided with his face.

“What is your fucking problem Hatake?” he bellowed, “First you break Raidou’s heart, now Iruka’s. I’m gonna beat some sense into your sorry ass.” His first blow may have landed, but the second never had a chance. The enraged courier found himself pinned to the floor by a hard forearm.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” The warlord ground out, hard eyes pinning Genma in place, “What happened to Iruka, do you know where he is?”

“He’s in my tent, crying his eyes out because you rejected him for that.” he sneered the last, poking the clearly furious pleasure slave with his foot. “I get it, you’re tall, gorgeous, powerful . . . you can do whatever you want, but you need to start thinking of other people and not just yourself before you lose everyone’s respect.” his tone of voice clearly showing that Kakashi had already lost the courier’s respect.

“Reject Iruka, for that?” the warlord sneered, “Have you lost your mind Shiranui? I would never reject Iruka, especially not for some toy the council stuck me with.”

“Oh really,” the courier snarked back, “then why, pray tell, is he trussed up like that?”

Kakashi shot him a clearly puzzled look, “He kept touching me so I had to tie him up, and then I blindfolded him because I didn’t like the way he looked at me.” he shivered before continuing, “I tried to get rid of him but ‘ruka insisted I keep him. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” he ended sullenly.

“You mean you didn’t fuck him?” the courier asked in surprise.

“Ewwww,” the warlord’s face screwed up in distaste, “you have to be kidding me. I wouldn’t touch that thing with a ten foot pole.” The trussed slave wriggled and thrashed, trying to get free.

“I hate you.” Hajime yelled, “I’m not a thing, I’m perfect. You’re supposed to want me.”

“Well, I don’t,” Kakashi replied laconically, “and I never will. I will dispose of you in the morning. Genma, take me to ‘ruka now please, I have to straighten this out.”

The two left the tent, the furious slave still writhing impotently on the floor, heading for Genma’s tent. When they arrived, however, the tent was empty. “Is this some kind of joke Shiranui?” the warlord began threateningly, “Because I don’t have time for your crap right now.”

“No, he was right there.” Genma replied, indicating the overturned teacup and discarded rag. He then noticed the bottle sitting on the floor. “Someone else was here though and left that bottle. They probably took Iruka.”

“Took him.” the warlord swallowed around his suddenly dry throat, “Took him where?”

The courier just shook his head. “Away from here. We need to figure out who was here before we’ll know any more.”

Kakashi was already striding out of the tent. “Where are you going?” Genma called after him.

“I’m going to get the dogs.” he called back, “They can track them for us.” With that he disappeared into the deepening gloom, leaving Genma to fret and pace, unsettled by the events taking place and worrying about what it all meant.