Warlord

Chapter Twenty-One

Raidou kept shooting glances at the scribe walking by his side. Something had happened between him and Kakashi, of that much the general was sure. What he really wanted to know was what. He couldn’t imagine the warlord giving Iruka up voluntarily.

“Iruka,” he began tentatively, “what exactly happened between you and the commander? If you tell me maybe I can talk to him and straighten it out.”

The scribe sighed deeply. “Not that it matters, but the council gave him a pleasure slave. . . he’s beautiful and perfect and I’m ugly and tainted, not to hard to figure out now, is it?”

“A pleasure slave . . . he has no interest in pleasure slaves, that’s how he ended up with you in the first place. I mean, someone suggested that he could use one . . . said he was too serious, don’t remember who though . . . anyway when we took him to the market he didn’t even glance at them, he bought you instead.” Raidou looked at the scribe appraisingly, “I don’t know about tainted, but you’re hardly ugly,” he reached out and ran a finger along Iruka’s scar, starting on the right cheek and slowly tracing over his nose to the other end, “even this only makes you seem exotic . . . not like my scars.” he finished morosely.

“How did you get them?” the scribe asked quietly, “You must be very strong to have survived . . . and very brave.”

“There was a fire in the mess,” the general said in a far away voice, “I was trying to get the injured out when I was trapped in the burning canvas . . . I don’t really know what happened after that. I woke up a few days later . . . I didn’t know anything could hurt like that. Kakashi visited every day while I recovered.” He thought for a moment, “It’s always been like that. He can be very thoughtful, but he doesn’t open up and he never lets go. You’re the first person he’s ever wanted more with, and I’ve been so jealous . . . I never once thought about his happiness the way he’s always thought about mine.”

Iruka paused for a moment and then continued in the same low thoughtful voice, “He doesn’t hate you, you know. What you did confused the hell out of him, but he could never hate you.” he shuffled his feet nervously as he continued “I hated you for what you did . . . but at the same time I understand it. It’s just . . .Kakashi . . . and he’s totally oblivious to the chaos he leaves in his wake. I knew this was going to happen,” he said morosely, “I knew I’d get my heart broken and I tried to keep my distance . . . but I just couldn’t.”

Raidou stopped and turned to the scribe, grabbing his arm to hold his attention. “Are you sure you want to leave. We can go back right now . . . I’m sure that this is all some ridiculous mistake, I KNOW he cares about you.”

“That’s very sweet of you to say,” Iruka replied in a soft voice, “but things have changed and it’s better for him this way . . . no one would have accepted our relationship, it could only hurt him.” He turned to the general and forced a smile, “Genma really likes you, you know . . . he doesn’t mind your scars. Maybe you should give him a chance, he’s a really nice guy.”

The pair walked on in silence, each thinking about what the other had said, until they reached the Umino estate. “Are you sure?” Raidou asked one last time.

“This is best for everyone.” Iruka said firmly, “At least until I get a job and find a place of my own.” He turned toward the general and in a serious voice continued, “Don’t tell him where I am, please, this is painful enough without dragging it out.” With that he rang the bell, speaking quietly with the man who answered before disappearing inside.

Genma paced while he waited for Kakashi to return. After what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was probably only about ten minutes, he heard the sound of barking. Finally, he thought, now we can get somewhere. Suddenly a pack of dogs was flooding past him into the tent, snuffling around the bottle and spilled tea before racing toward the gates, the warlord hot on their heels. “Wait for me.” he called as he hurried to catch up.

The dogs raced across camp and out the gate, pausing occasionally to snuffle the ground before taking off again, the two men impatiently following. When they stopped outside the gates to the Umino estate Kakashi cringed, knowing how upset Iruka must be if he came here rather than stay in camp.

He motioned for Genma to stay with the dogs while he headed for the door alone. When someone finally answered he asked for the scribe, then waited. To say the warlord was less than pleased when Toyo appeared instead of Iruka would be an understatement. “I need to speak with Iruka immediately.” he snarled.

“I’m so sorry,” Toyo replied in an oily, patently fake, voice, “my cousin does not wish to see you. He says you should go back to your pleasure slave and leave him be.”

“I can’t do that, his services are vital.” the warlord replied in a clipped tone, “He needs to come with me now.”

“I’m afraid not Hatake.” the nobleman replied drily, “He’s neither a slave nor a soldier . . . you can’t make him do anything. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my cousin needs comforting.” he finished with a smirk before shutting the door in the warlord’s face.

Kakashi stood outside the door with clenched fists. I’m going to kill that son of a bitch, he decided, right after I get ‘ruka back. He pounded on the door, but no one responded. Fine, he thought, I’ll come back in the morning with troops, I will get back what’s mine.

He slumped at the realization that there would be no warm welcoming body to cuddle with in bed that night before dejectedly returning to an impatiently waiting Genma.

“He won’t see me.” the warlord whispered in an agonized voice, “What the fuck did I do?”

“Come on, let’s get you back to camp.” Genma said softly as he slung a comforting arm around the warlord’s shoulders and began guiding him in the correct direction, “We’ll come back in the morning and straighten everything out after you’ve both had a good night’s sleep.”

Iruka, unfortunately, was oblivious to the turmoil he was causing. The cup of tea his cousin had given him had been laced with a powerful drug. Right now the scribe was locked in a nightmare, reliving his rape over and over again, made even worse by the distortion the drug induced.

Toyo watched with a slowly spreading smile as the scribe writhed and shrieked in agony, reveling in the tears tracking down bronze cheeks. “Sorry, cousin,” he hissed sarcastically, “but you got in my way yet again . . . don’t worry though, you and your beloved will be reunited on the other side soon.” he chuckled to himself and took another sip of wine, relaxing back in his chair to enjoy the show.

Raidou contemplated Iruka’s words as he headed back to camp. I need to support my friend, he decided, I have to talk to Kakashi and straighten this out, they should be together. He headed towards the warlord’s tent, a tentative plan starting to form in his mind.

“Oi Kakashi,” he called as he strode into the tent, “I need to talk . . .” he trailed off at the sight of the bound and blindfolded slave. Shit, he thought, maybe Iruka was right. Angered at the very idea he roughly shook the bound figure. “You, slave, where’s the commander?” he asked roughly.

“Untie me and I’ll tell you.” was the gentle response. Raidou quickly cut the bonds and removed the blindfold, blinking as the beautiful young man gracefully unfurled himself to stand naked before him. “My hero.” the slave breathed before embracing the general and capturing his lips in a long passionate kiss.

Hajime watched in amusement as the general slumped to the floor unconscious before quickly donning his clothes and slipping out of the tent.