Into the Fire

Chapter Twenty-Four

“They’re all young and strong.” Orochimaru remarked idly, “Any one of them would serve us well.”

“This man is dead.” Kakashi announced with distaste as he bent to examine the first candidate.

“What?” the sannin almost yelped, “They were all fine yesterday.” He hurriedly moved to the second bed, frustration rising when he realized that the man in that bed was dead also.

“I think someone’s trying to tell you something.” the copy-nin declared flatly as he searched for a non-existent pulse on the third and final body.

“Hime.” the snake summoner growled angrily, reaching out with his chakra to locate her position before leaving the room at a run. Kakashi followed at a slightly slower pace, carefully sensing for hidden danger as he chased his lover through the maze of hallways.

“Tsunade,” Orochimaru hissed when they finally located the trio in the depths of the complex, “what did you do?”

“Forced you to come to your senses.” the blonde replied flatly, “You wanted Hatake’s body, remember? It’s standing not three feet away from you, so would you please just take it for god’s sake so we can move on to more interesting matters.”

“There’s always Kabuto.” the snake summoner whispered to Kakashi reassuringly, “We’ll figure something out.”

“Not Kabuto.” the copy-nin replied with a shudder, “That’s just . . . no.”

“Well . . . there’s not a lot of options.” Orochimaru explained, “You can take a look at everyone here, most of them are rather old and scarred though.”

“Why can’t you just stay as you are?” Kakashi whispered urgently, “I like this body.” he added huskily as he nipped at the long column of the sannin’s neck.

“I am growing fond of it myself.” the snake summoner replied dazedly, “But I’m afraid the jutsu has its limits . . . I must move every two to three years, if not I die.”

“Orochimaru-sama,” gasped a messenger as the door flew open, “a spy from the leaf has been intercepted snooping around outside the compound . . . he’s being brought in now for questioning.”

“Do we know who it is?” the sannin asked curiously.

“The Bingo Book identifies him as one Shiranui Genma, tokubetsu jounin specializing in poisons.” the runner responded instantly.

“Ah, the Hokage’s lover.” the snake summoner said with a wicked smile, “What absolutely perfect timing.”

“Genma’s not the Hokage’s lover.” Kakashi said in alarm, “I may be out of circulation, but even I know he’s been living with Iruka for forever.”

“That’s true.” Tsunade agreed, “I’ve watched them interact . . . Iruka’s just an academy instructor, not even on active mission status, you must be mistaken.”

“Umino Iruka is the Rokudaime Hokage.” Kabuto spat angrily, “I saw him in the robes myself. Shows how low the leaf has fallen, a chuunin school teacher is the best they could come up with.”

“Well, whoever he is, he’s just in time to solve my little problem.” Orochimaru decided, “Bring him here.” he told the runner, who was off as soon as the words were spoken.

“Is this Genma more to your taste pretty?” the snake summoner inquired anxiously, “I’m running out of choices.”

Kakashi merely shrugged, even as his mind desperately tried to figure a way out. The last thing he wanted was to hijack the body of someone he knew. “I never looked at him that way.” he finally mumbled, “Are you sure you want me to decide? You aren’t going to let me go in any event . . .”

“That is not the point.” Orochimaru snapped, “I want you to want me . . . that will never happen if my body isn’t attractive to you.”

“I don’t worry much about how things look.” the copy-nin replied softly, “Sometimes the prettiest packages hold the worst surprises. What I want,” he husked into the blushing sannin’s ear, “is for you to stop worrying and take me back to bed.”

The snake summoner groaned, gathering the lanky jounin into his arms and kissing him senseless. “That is a wonderful idea Kakashi.” he purred. “Tsunade, prepare this Genma for the transfer please . . . and make sure nothing happens to him, I’d hate to have to renege on my promise.”

The pair swept out of the room, leaving the medics to their tasks. As they were exiting a pair of guards arrived dragging a semi-conscious and heavily bound Genma between them. “Kakashi.” the honey-haired man wheezed, “Man am I glad to see you. I promised Ibiki I’d bring you back.” he rambled disjointedly, “I’m gonna get a foursome.” he started to sing, oblivious to the appalled look on the copy-nin’s expressive face.

“Well?” Orochimaru queried as he pulled the lanky figure possessively close, “Will he do or not?”

“Let’s see, shall we.” Kakashi murmured as he pulled a startled Genma into his arms and kissed him thoroughly before nipping at a sensitive ear, using the gesture to cover his nearly inaudible whisper. “I’ll find some way to get you out of here Genma, just cooperate for now.”

The copy-nin pulled back and turned to his lover. “He’ll do.” he told the sannin huskily, “But right now I’m more interested in you.” He drew the snake summoner in for a long, deep kiss, reveling in the way the feared ninja melted in his embrace.

“Bed, now.” Kakashi urged as he dove back in, firmly pinning his more powerful lover’s head while he ravished his mouth, only relenting when they were both breathless and panting.

As soon as they parted Orochimaru quickly formed the hand signs to move them to his quarters, already tearing at their clothes before they reached their destination.

“I believe it’s high time you return the favor and take me Oro-sama.” the copy-nin declared firmly as he sprawled out enticingly on the bed, legs spread wide, and beckoned the sannin into his arms.
“I’ve never . . .” the snake summoner whispered uncertainly.

“Do what feels good when I do it to you.” Kakashi suggested, “I trust you not to hurt me. Now kiss me.” he insisted, smiling when the sannin dipped his head to nuzzle the pale column of the copy-nin’s neck before biting down, worrying the morsel of flesh even as he hummed his enjoyment.
Orochimaru hesitantly slicked his fingers and slid one into the hot furnace of Kakashi’s body. “So hot . . . so needy.” he murmured as the muscles twisted and contracted around the digit, quickly adding a second finger and thrusting them in and out, stretching and slicking tight muscles as his lover groaned and pushed back against the intrusion.

“Hurry.” the copy-nin husked as the snake summoner hastily squirted lube on his leaking erection. Time seemed to stop as the sannin tentatively began to ease his way into Kakashi’s tight entrance . . . until the jounin finally ran out of patience and snaked a long leg around his lover’s waist, using it as leverage to crush their bodies together.
Orochimaru froze, buried to the hilt, and struggled to regain his composure. “So beautiful, so sad.” he whispered, “How can I make you smile, pretty?”

Let me go home, the copy-nin thought before forcing such ideas to the back of his mind. Summoning his memories of his night with Ibiki he smiled beatifically, eyes fluttering shut in pleasure as he breathed, “Move.”

The sannin was eager to comply, setting a brisk, erratic pace as he strove to massage the copy-nin’s prostate with every stroke. All too soon the lanky silver-haired jounin was keening his pleasure as he shot ropey streams of come between their straining torsos, shattering Orochimaru’s restraint. He thrust frantically into Kakashi’s suddenly too-tight passage, throwing his head back with a roar as he shot his seed deep inside his lover’s body.

“Thank you pretty.” the snake summoner whispered sincerely, “You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”

“Yes, I do.” the copy-nin replied in a tight voice. “Thank you for giving me pleasure.”

“That’s my one desire.” Orochimaru mumbled sleepily, “To please you enough that you never want to leave me.”

“Rest.” Kakashi husked as he combed his fingers through long dark strands, “I’ll be right here when you wake up.” As soon as the snake summoner fell asleep the jounin slipped quietly out of bed, heading into the relative privacy of the bathroom where he quickly made a few hand signs.

“Boss . . . where are we?” Pakkun inquired grumpily, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

“Orochimaru’s headquarters.” the copy-nin replied absently, “I need you to take a message to the Hokage right away. Tell him they’ve captured Genma and I’m working on a plan to help him escape.”

“And what about you?” the pug whined anxiously, “You need to get out of here.”

“Genma first . . . I’m okay where I am for now.” Kakashi insisted, “But Orochimaru’s going to take over Genma’s body if I don’t do something to stop it. Now get going.” Pakkun gave him a look that clearly mirrored his disbelief, even as he reluctantly obeyed and set off for Konoha.

Just after dawn Ibiki’s eyes popped open and he abandoned the pretense of sleep, rolling over and studying the lithe figure next to him intently. Last night had been enjoyable, certainly . . . it was a heady feeling having someone share themself with him so generously.

As fun as it was, though, it couldn’t compare with the few brief hours he’d spent with Kakashi. Maybe today, the scarred man concentrated, willing the idea into reality, maybe today he’ll come home to me.

With that thought running non-stop through his head he rose and showered, pulling on his clothes and fixing coffee before finally reaching out to shake the Hokage awake. “Iruka, it’s time to get up. Coffee’s ready, the clan heads will be here soon, and you need a shower.” he urged when sleep-fogged chocolate eyes finally blinked open to regard him with bemusement.