Fanning the Flames

Sorry for the lengthy delay. Real life has thrown up some roadblocks of late and I've been having trouble concentrating. Hopefully things will settle down very very soon.


Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Ah, Jiji, I'm so glad you could join me again this evening,” the copy-nin drawled as soon as Ibiki left the room. “I need to have a little chat with you about Itachi.”

“Shit,” the sannin muttered. “What do you want to know, brat?”

“I'd love to know why you thought jerking 'tachi around was a good idea. I told you to take care of him, not make things worse. I must be out of my mind to have trusted you.” Kakashi growled.

“I didn't jerk him around. I tried to be honest with him . . . guess I should have lied.” Jiraiya decided.

“You are such a selfish . . . I give up,” the copy-nin ranted. “I think you need to just get your things and head back to Konoha. I'll come up with someone else to help Itachi out.”

“You can't do that,” the sannin argued. “It's not up to you. The only person who can throw me out is the Otokage. You need to realize everything isn't about you.”

“You hurt him Jiraiya,” Kakashi growled. “I told you very clearly not to toy with his feelings. Isn't it bad enough Kisame's been doing that all these years?”

“He came on to me, not the other way around,” the sannin insisted. “I never implied I had any special feelings where Itachi was concerned.”

“Bullshit,” the copy-nin insisted. “You never even looked at a man before. There has to be something that made you change your mind.”

“The sex is amazing, alright. Happy?” the sannin grumbled. “I never felt anything like it. There's no hassles either, at least not until now.”

“Your problem, not his,” Kakashi gritted out. “It takes a lot of balls to remind 'tachi of what he did to his family. You should be happy he didn't kill you on the spot . . . I would have.”

“Then I'm grateful you weren't there,” Jiraiya replied with a snort. “If you're done I'd like to get back to bed.”

“You self-centered, pig-headed, son-of-a- . . .” The copy-nin dropped like a rock, hitting the floor with a resounding crash.

“Not funny brat,” the sannin muttered. “Enough of this foolishness. Fine, you don't approve, I get it . . . now get up.” Kakashi remained where he fell, and Jiraiya felt a surge of resentment at the attempt to make him feel guilty. “I mean it brat,” he threatened, nudging the limp form with the toe of his geta. “You really don't want me to tell your husband how manipulative you're being do you?” He poked harder to no response, and a wave of unease rippled through him. The sannin knelt beside the crumpled form, pressing an ear to the copy-nin's chest to check for a heartbeat.

“Shit,” the toad sage muttered. He quickly flipped Kakashi over and began CPR. “I need help in here,” he called. Ibiki and Itachi surveyed the room from the doorway before the interrogator rushed to the push the emergency call button and dropped to his knees at the pale man's side.

“Don't you dare do this to me,” Ibiki whispered. “You've been through too much to let an argument with an old fool take you down.”

“Jiraiya, let the doctors do their job,” Itachi murmured. He pulled the sannin into a quiet corner out of the way of the arriving medics. “What were you two arguing about?”

“That's not important,” the sannin hedged. “We need to make sure the brat and the baby are alright.”

“I think you need to stay out of it,” the Otokage counseled. “Until senpai regains consciousness, stay out of Ibiki's way, please. I'd hate to lose you too.”

“He's my nephew . . . and this is my fault.” Jiraiya admitted. “I need to do whatever I can to fix things.”

“Right now that means getting out of everyone's way.” The Otokage pulled the older man into his arms and whispered in his ear. “Go home Jiji. I'll let you know what happens here.”

“I'm not leaving,” the sannin insisted. “I've spent too much of my life running away.”

“Now is not the time to change your ways,” the raven-haired man declared. Itachi pushed the older man back into the bedroom and shut the door. “Look, this isn't all your fault. Senpai was already very upset about what he learned about his husband.”

“What about him?” Jiraiya asked curiously.

“He's Sandaime's illegitimate son. Senpai is afraid he's going to hurt him when he least expects it,” the Uchiha explained with a shrug.

“That's ridiculous,” the sannin exclaimed. “Surely he knows how much Ibiki worships him?”

“Apparently not,” Itachi said. “He's under a lot of pressure right now. The baby is putting a huge strain on his body. I'm afraid not taking his medication is putting an equally large strain on his mind. Besides, if this is anyone's fault, it's mine. I set all this in motion when I asked Kakashi to have a child with me. That's what has Kisame, and hence his lover, so pissed.”

“This is shark-boy's fault?” the sannin growled, latching on to the end of the explanation.

“His lover, Zetsu, is the one who decided to have a little talk with senpai. I'm sure it was on Kisame's behalf, though. He hates Hatake-san with a passion.”

“Fine, I'm heading out then,” Jiraiya grumbled, forming a plan in his mind. “Please let me know how the brat is doing as soon as you hear something.”

“I promise.” Itachi leaned in and kissed his lover hungrily, pulling back to study him closely before continuing. “Please don't do anything stupid while I'm here. I do not want to arrive home only to have to plan your funeral.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” the sannin hastened to assure him. “I'll talk to you later.”

About five minutes after the medics arrival Kakashi responded, taking a huge gasp of air and struggling to pull himself into a sitting position. The flare of his chakra caused the room to explode in a flurry of bared teeth and rumbling growls when the pack appeared, surrounding the copy-nin protectively.

“What's going on?” Kakashi slurred groggily. “Why are you guys here?”

“You're not taking care of yourself,” Uuhei barked angrily. “We felt you die you stupid idiot. Will you give up on this ridiculous notion of having pups. Then everything can go back to normal.”

“Now wait just a minute,” the interrogator rumbled. “You have no right coming in here and threatening our child. You aren't qualified to have an opinion on this.”

“If the boss dies so do we, for all practical purposes. We'll go back to being in between . . . alone,” Pakkun explained.

“No you won't,” the copy-nin rasped tiredly. “Ibiki's pack now. You'll only go back if both of us die. So you see, your odds are better than they've ever been.”

“We don't want to lose you,” Bull chimed in. “They just don't like to say it.

“Hatake-san, we need to move you to the hospital now so we can monitor you and your baby,” the medic explained. “Your husband is welcome to come and stay with you. The rest of your . . . “ he eyed the milling pack with trepidation, “ . . . family will have to stay here.”

“I'm fine guys. Go do whatever you want, I should be back here in a day or two,” the copy-nin ordered.

“I wouldn't count on that Hatake-san,” the medic interjected. “I think you may have to stay in the hospital until the birth.”

“I will not,” Kakashi exclaimed as he attempted to get to his feet. “Ibiki, you need to tell them, I can't stay locked up for that long.”

“Sweetheart, they know what's best,” the interrogator murmured as he rubbed the copy-nin's back soothingly, feeling the tension thrumming through taut muscles. “I'll be right there with you the entire time.”

“No you won't. Iruka's week starts in two days,” the silver-haired jounin sulked.

“Then I'll call him and explain what's going on,” the scarred man insisted. “In any event, I am not going anywhere. You, and our child, need me.”

“Time to get going Hatake-san,” the medic broke in. “Please lay down on the gurney so we can transport you.”

“I can walk,” the copy-nin tried to insist.

“Don't be ridiculous, senpai,” Itachi whispered. “Lay down and we'll see you in a few minutes.”

“Where's Jiraiya?” Kakashi demanded. “I wasn't done talking to him.”

“Yes, you were,” Ibiki growled. “I want you to stay away from him . . . and anyone else who upsets you.”

“You can't tell me who to talk to,” the copy-nin yelled. Kakashi grabbed his head and at down hard on the gurney. “Fine, I'll go to the hospital,” he managed to grit out.

Ibiki studied his husband, noting the paler than usual sweaty skin and the worried frown creasing his brow. “Please try to relax sweetheart. I'll go get Jiraiya if that is what you want. Just don't slip away from me please.”

“Love you,” the copy-nin murmured hoarsely. “I'll be good, I promise.” The medics pushed the gurney out the door and the interrogator wheeled on the Otokage. “I'm going to kill Kisame if anything happens to 'kashi or the baby . . . just so you know.”

“Go take care of your husband Hatake-san. I'll handle Kisame,” the Uchiha assured him, pushing the tall man out the door. He sat quietly for a few minutes before pulling out his phone and calling Jiraiya to bring him up to speed.