Fanning the Flames

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“What did senpai need?” Itachi asked as soon as Jiraiya reappeared in what was now their quarters.

“Apparently someone thought they'd do him a favor. They passed on Yondaime's birth certificate. I've been such a selfish fool. Now he believes that Minato never cared for him at all.”

“I don't understand. What does any of that have to do with you?” the Otokage asked curiously.

“Well . . . technically, I mean, on paper at least . . .” the sannin fumbled.

“Just tell me already,” Itachi insisted with a roll of his eyes. “Stop beating around the bush.”

“Yondaime was my son.” The white maned sage studied the last Uchiha warily, waiting for him to explode in anger.

“You kept it secret?” the Otokage pressed.

“Of course I kept it secret,” Jiraiya exclaimed. “The last thing I wanted was to be pressured into being a proper husband and father.”

“How could you turn your back on your family like that?” Itachi asked softly, brow furrowed in thought.

“They weren't my family, I barely knew Aoi. We spent a few nights together and that's it. I had no feelings for her.”

“I see,” the Otokage murmured. “What about me, do you have any feelings for me Jiraiya?”

“Uhhhhh,” the sannin stammered, caught off base by the question. “I find you totally delectable koi.” The white-maned sage smiled widely, slipping an arm around the slender Uchiha and pulling him close. He bent and nibbled the long column of Itachi's neck, grinning when the younger man shut his eyes with a breathy sigh.

“That doesn't answer my question,” the raven haired nin murmured without opening his eyes. “Do you care for me or not?”

“Look kid, don't get me wrong, I like you a lot. We have fun, in the sack and out, but beyond that I'm just not the kind to get involved. I'm sorry if that upsets you, but I respect you too much to lie about it.” Jiraiya watched the reserved nin closely, hoping to get some clue as to how Itachi had taken his confession.

“I see,” the Otokage whispered. “What about Hatake-senpai, he's your family, how do you feel about him?”

“My relationship with the brat is complicated,” Jiraiya hedged. “His father and I didn't get along. Minato certainly had no great love for me either, he didn't encourage me to get to know 'kashi. I'm almost embarrassed to admit he didn't even know we were related until about a year ago. I guess I'm just a lone wolf.”

“Lone or lonely?” Itachi asked. “There's a big difference between them you know. From my viewpoint you look like someone who's spent his whole life on the outside looking in, trying to convince yourself it's what you want.”

“I resent that, especially coming from you. At least I didn't slaughter my entire family.” As soon as the words left the sannin's mouth the last Uchiha grew rigid, turning sightless eyes away from the sage.

“I would appreciate it if you could take me to visit senpai,” the Otokage requested. “If you would rather not, I can get someone else to teleport me.”

“Now?” Skepticism was clearly written in the sannin's expression. “I think it makes sense for you to wait until tomorrow 'tachi. I'll be happy to take you after breakfast.”

“No thank you, I wish to go now,” the Uchiha gritted out. “You rest, I'll get a guard to take me.” he strode out of the room, leaving Jiraiya to try and figure out just how much damage he'd done with his honest answers. Should have lied to him like I do the ladies. I have a feeling 'tachi's going to be a lot harder to smooth things over with. With these ominous thoughts rattling through his brain the sannin decided to just turn in for the night.

Half an hour later Ibiki was startled by a knock on their door. He slipped quietly out of bed, careful not to disturb the slumbering copy-nin, and went to see who would be banging in the middle of the night. “Otokage-sama,” he blurted, “what are you doing here?”

“I need to see Kakashi please.” The normally reserved Uchiha was obviously distraught, his hair hung in tangles and his clothes were obviously pulled on in haste.

“Sweetheart, you need to wake up.” Ibiki gently shook a bony shoulder, smiling when mismatched eyes blinked open, fixing him with an unfocused gaze.

“What's wrong?” the copy-nin asked, immediately sitting up and scanning the room for danger.

“Itachi's here to see you. He seems very upset,” the interrogator explained.

“Send him in please,” Kakashi croaked as he struggled to throw off the last tendrils of sleep.

“Senpai, I'm sorry to disturb your rest,” the Otokage began tentatively.

“What do you need 'tachi?”

“I wish to speak with you about your Uncle Jiraiya,” Itachi murmured. “We had a most . . . disturbing conversation. If you could give me your opinion I would appreciate it.”

“You did not run here in the middle of the night just to get my opinion,” the copy-nin stated firmly. “What did that asshole do now?”

“He told me about his son, and how he's avoided all responsibility for anything meaningful his entire life.” The last Uchiha paused, unsure of how much he wished to share. “He didn't appreciate my observations . . . in fact, he even reminded me of why I'm not fit to give family advice.”

“He what?” Kakashi roared, leaping out of the bed and tugging on his clothes. “I'll teach that old shithead about family.”

“You are not going anywhere,” Ibiki declared when he walked in and found his husband out of bed and dressing.

“I need to have a talk with my Uncle.” The copy-nin refused to back down, standing chest to chest with the intimidating interrogator as he attempted to glare him into submission.

“You need to get back in bed,” the scarred nin insisted. “If you need Jiraiya I'll go fetch him, but you are going to stay put.”

“Stop treating me like a troublesome child,” Kakashi snapped. “I'm a grown man, I'll do as I like.”

“Senpai, you do not want to endanger your child, not for this. It isn't worth it,” Itachi insisted.

“I'm sorry if I'm smothering you sweetheart.” The interrogator pulled the silver-haired man into his arms, bending to place a kiss on a pale cheek. “I just worry about anything happening to you or our child. I promise that as soon as the baby is born I'll stop hovering. Besides,” he continued with a slightly sadistic grin, “I love an opportunity to rattle the old pervert's cage a bit. Give me five minutes to get dressed and I'll go snag him and pop right back. So, will you relax and get back in bed now?”

“I'm not tired,” the copy-nin insisted. “I don't do anything but sleep all day. Just go get Jiji so we can straighten this mess out.”

“Senpai, what's going on between you and your husband?” Itachi asked the minute the interrogator left.

“I don't know what you mean,” Kakashi hedged.

“I've never seen you snap at Ibiki like that. You've always bent over backwards to keep him happy. Even after that debacle at your wedding your weren't at all upset with him. All he did was remind you of your travel restriction and offer to get Jiraiya for you. That's quite a lot for someone rudely woken up in the middle of the night by an unexpected visit. Add in an the fact that the visitor is his husband's sometime lover and I think Ibiki showed a lot of restraint.”

“That's because he's biding his time,” the copy-nin muttered. “Once I relax then he'll take advantage of me.”

“Don't be ridiculous,” the Uchiha laughed. “Your husband worships you. He isn't out to hurt you.”

“I used to believe that. Now I'm not so sure.” Kakashi bowed his head as he contemplated whether or not to share this information with his raven haired friend. “The same person who told me about Minato and Jiraiya also had some interesting information about Ibiki. You'll never guess who his father is.”

“Obviously it's what has you upset. Why don't you just tell me, it will make you feel better to get it out in the open,” Itachi replied calmly.

“Ibiki is Sandaime's son. Apparently the old man was keeping him in reserve in case something happened to Asuma. Unfortunately after his capture he was no longer suitable to be the Sarutobi heir. Still, it made me wonder just how many of his father's traits Ibiki inherited.”

“You cannot possibly believe that he would hurt you.” Itachi bit his lip, worrying it between his teeth for a moment before elaborating. “Ibiki would die for you senpai, plain and simple. Don't throw that away because of your natural paranoia. Sometimes things really are just what they seem to be.”

“I'm not making any decisions about anything,” Kakashi retorted. “Merely keeping my eyes open. Surely you can't fault me for that?”

“No fault . . . I just worry about you,” the last Uchiha whispered. Both men pivoted to face the door when they felt the telltale displacement of ki that accompanied a teleport, quickly realizing the new arrivals were out in the lounge.

“Guess it's time to set the pervert straight,” the copy-nin declared before giving the Otokage a quick hug and heading for the door. “You stay here, I'll be back in a few minutes. And don't worry, everything will be fine . . . I promise.”