Warlord

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kakashi shuffled dejectedly into his tent, loathe to even set eyes on the pleasure slave that had started this whole mess. He was shocked to find, instead, a pile of rope where the slave’s bindings had been cut, and an unconscious Raidou.

“Rai, Rai,” he called as he shook the limp form. Oh shit no, he thought, quickly dropping his head to the general’s chest to check for a heartbeat. Thank the gods, he sighed in relief when he sensed a very weak flutter. He scooped his friend into his arms and ran for the medical tent, calling for help as he raced in and deposited his burden on an empty table.

“He’s ingested some sort of poison.” the medic decided after examining the general, noticing some slight burn marks on his lips. “We’ll have to try and isolate it so we can prepare an antidote.” He swabbed the area and disappeared, leaving the warlord to pace.

The sun was starting to peek over the horizon and the medic still had not returned. Kakashi watched his oldest friend slipping away and felt a profound sense of despair. I need to do something, he fretted, I’m going to explode if this keeps up. He decided that he might as well round up some help to get Iruka back, since he couldn’t do anything for the general. “You hold on, I’ll be back.” he whispered in the unconscious man’s ear before giving his shoulder a squeeze and leaving the tent.

“Asuma. Oi Asuma,” he called softly from outside his tent, “I need you.” He was startled when Kurenai’s tousled head poked out instead of the general’s.

“He’s getting dressed Kakashi,” she said with a smile, “would you like some tea while you wait?” She studied the man before her critically, he was obviously exhausted, dark circles clearly evident under bloodshot eyes. “Have you been up all night?” she asked worriedly, “Come in and sit down at least,” she pulled him into the tent and to a waiting chair, pushing him into it before turning towards the bathing chamber, “I’ll hurry Asuma along.”

“Asuma,” she hissed as soon as she saw him, “something’s wrong with Kakashi, he looks terrible. He’s waiting for you, hurry up and get out there, I want to know what’s going on.”

“Yes dear.” he said distractedly as he finished pulling on his clothes and headed in to greet his friend. “Good morning commander, what can I do for you?” he asked with a broad smile.

“It’s ‘ruka.” he began, “he’s at his cousin’s and I need to get him back.” Asuma blinked and looked at him appraisingly.

“I think I deserve more explanation than that.” he said with a small smile, leaning back patiently as the warlord proceeded to fill in all the details of the previous day’s events.

He stuttered to a stop when Kurenai smacked him on the back of the head hard enough to rattle his teeth.

“Hatake Kakashi, I can’t believe you did that to Iruka.” she practically hissed, her face contorted in anger, “You are such an idiot.” She smacked him again, unmoved by the hurt look he graced her with. “And don’t try those puppy dog eyes on me, they won’t work.” she declared with a roll of her eyes, “You men are so hopeless, I’m surprised you get anything accomplished.” She began pulling on her cloak, “I’ll go get this straightened out . . . you just sit here and figure you how you’ll apologize.”

She turned and waddled out of the tent, dark hair streaming behind her. Kakashi turned to his general, astonishment clear on his face, “My gods, how do you deal with that on a daily basis?”

“Practice,” Asuma muttered, “I usually just say ‘yes dear’ and agree with her completely . . . makes it less painful at least. Seriously though, the woman’s a force of nature, I pity anyone who gets in her way.”

Kurenai rapped on the door to the Umino estate, tapping her foot in impatience until it finally opened and a servant peered out. “I’m here to see Iruka.” she declared, sweeping past the man and into the entry hall before handing him her cloak. “Please tell him to hurry, I don’t have all day.”

A few minutes later Toyo swept into the entrance hall. “May I help you?” he asked in an overly polite voice.

“I’m here to see Iruka.” Kurenai stated with suppressed fury, “And I’ve been kept waiting long enough, so go fetch him please. Tell him Kurenai’s here.”

“I’m terribly sorry,” the nobleman said with a sneer, “but my cousin is not feeling well. I’m afraid you’ll have to come back another time. I will, however, tell him you called.”

“He’s sick?” she said in a disbelieving tone, “Well, I’d like to see him then, make sure he doesn’t need anything.”

“I assure you my staff is doing an excellent job caring for him.” Toyo said coldly, “Besides, he could be contagious . . . you wouldn’t want to take any chances in your condition.” He grasped her elbow and began moving her towards the door.

“I’m not worried,” Kurenai said breezily, “I won’t get too close . . . but I’m not leaving until I see him.”

The nobleman ground his teeth in frustration. He needed to get this woman out of here before she ruined everything. “I really don’t think . . .” he began before he was cut off by the very irate, very pregnant Kurenai.

“That,” she said between clenched teeth, “is painfully obvious. You really shouldn’t agitate a woman in my condition, I could go into labor right here.”

Toyo recoiled in horror at the thought. “Fine, follow me,” he said coldly, “but just a peek and then you’ll really have to leave. Iruka needs his rest.” He led her up the stairs and into a small, rather empty, room where the scribe lay, sweating and thrashing on the bed, apparently asleep.

“As you can see, he’s quite ill.” the noble pointed out, “Now, I really must insist that you go home. I’ll be sure to tell him you stopped by when he recovers.” With that he ushered her to the front door, handing over her cloak before rudely shutting the door in her face.

Kurenai stormed back to camp, completely incensed. I’ll teach him to try and give me the boot, she thought angrily, just you wait and see. She threw open the tent flap and fixed the two men inside with a poisonous glare. “Why are you just sitting here?” she yelled at the hapless pair, “Go get Iruka back . . . now.”

The men scrambled out of the tent, unwilling to even ask questions in the face of the woman’s wrath. “You better hope to hell you fix this Hatake.” the general said in a sober voice, “Otherwise you get to explain it to Kurenai. I spend enough time on the couch as it is.”

“Oh, I’ll get him back.” the warlord ground out as they stopped to pick up some guards before heading into town, “Even if I have to raze the place to the ground.” he finished under his breath. Asuma shuddered at the look on the warlord’s face, I haven’t seen him this angry since Ibiki, he thought, gods help anyone who tries to balk him now.

The party soon arrived at the estate and the commander banged on the door. When it opened he pushed past the servant and hurried inside, calling the scribe’s name as he took the stairs two at a time.

He found Iruka in the third room he tried, unconscious, wringing wet, and apparently in agony. “Hold on ‘ruka, I’ve got you.” the warlord whispered tenderly as he stroked sweat matted locks. Scooping the limp figure into his arms he raced back downstairs, only to be met with an angry Umino Toyo.

“You can’t just break in here and take him.” the noble snarled, “I’ll ruin you for this Hatake.”

The warlord shot a hand out and wrapped it around the man’s neck. “You won’t be ruining anything Umino. My general is near death, apparently poisoned by the slave you sought fit to gift me with. And now Iruka is in much the same state . . .”

He turned to the waiting guards, “Arrest this man and make sure you bind him well. I will deal with him later.” he commanded before rushing back to camp with Iruka.