Into the Fire

Chapter Thirty-One

Iruka was sitting behind his desk, doggedly working through yet another stack of backed up paperwork when the door burst open and Jiraiya strode in. “I found some information in Sensei’s papers that you need to see.” he stated without preamble, shoving one of the bound journals into the surprised Hokage’s hands.

“Is it about Kakashi?” the Rokudaime asked hopefully.

“No . . . just read it.” the white-maned sage insisted, so the former teacher turned his eyes to the page in front of him, mind shying away from the meaning of the words in front of his eyes.

“This must be a mistake.” he declared in a trembling voice, “There’s no way this could be true and I didn’t know.”

“I’m sorry Iruka.” the sannin replied in a comforting tone, “But there’s no reason for him to put it in his private papers if it wasn’t the truth.”

“I need some time alone please Jiraiya-sama.” the Hokage responded in a noticeably shaky voice, “Could you come back later please?”

“Are you sure you’re alright alone?” the toad sage asked with concern as he peered into unfocused eyes.

“I’ll be fine . . . besides I’m not alone.” the former teacher croaked brokenly, “Genma’s here.”

The honey-haired man appeared immediately when his name was mentioned. “What did you do to him?” he asked the sannin threateningly.

“I meant him no harm.” Jiraiya answered warily, hands spread wide to indicate his intentions, “I just thought he needed to know.”

“Know what?” the senbon sucker pressed, “He’s got enough to deal with as it is.”

“Sandaime-sama was my father.” Iruka said in a small, hopeless voice, “He never said anything, even when I was so lost after my parents’ deaths . . . he let me go to the orphanage with all the other unwanted children. When I was older though . . . we played shogi together, and I helped him with his paperwork . . . I thought we were close . . . gods what a fool I’ve been.”

“It’s alright Ru . . . he’s the one who missed out, not you.” Genma soothed as he pulled the lithe figure into his arms, “It’s all moot now anyway . . . they’re all dead, you’re safe here with me so just relax.” The honey-haired man turned his head to address the white-maned sage. “Get out of here Jiraiya . . . he’ll talk to you later when he’s had time to adjust.” With that abrupt dismissal the senbon sucker carefully wrapped an arm around quivering shoulders and guided his lover back to bed, climbing in with him and pulling the shivering form tight as he whispered words of comfort.

“Do you think that’s why I wanted to be a teacher?” Iruka croaked when his tears finally stopped, “Am I a pedophile like my father?”

“Oh, no, no Ru . . . you are the sweetest person I’ve ever met. You would never, ever, do anything like that. Be honest, you know you never had urges towards any of your students and we both know it. This doesn’t change who you are and you can’t start second guessing your life because of it.” Genma replied soothingly even as his mind plotted increasingly painful tortures for the deceitful bastard who‘d ruined so many lives.

“Asuma.” the Hokage gasped, “He needs to know . . . we’re half brothers . . .”

“Do you want me to go find him?” the senbon sucker suggested, “I’ll snag him and bring him back here.”

“No . . . I really don’t want to be alone.” Iruka replied in a tiny voice, “Send an ANBU . . . make sure Asuma knows it’s important.”

About twenty minutes later Sarutobi Asuma cautiously opened the doors to the Hokage’s office. “Hello, Iruka . . . you wanted to see me.” he called when he found the room empty.

“We’re in here ‘suma.” Genma said quietly as he poked his head out the apartment door, “Come on in . . . would you like some sake?”

“Sake in the daytime . . . I thought that was more your predecessor’s style, Iruka.” the bearded man quipped as he looked around for an ashtray, settling for flicking his ashes in his hand for now.

“Jiraiya found something in your father’s journals that I think you should know.” the Rokudaime stated shakily.

“Are you alright?” Asuma asked, concern obvious in his voice, “You’re very pale and your hands are shaking. Whatever it is I’m sure it can wait for a better time.”

“There won’t be a better time.” Iruka replied with a shake of his head, “You deserve to know.” He pushed the journal into the bearded man’s hands, indicating the section in question. The jounin easily deciphered his father’s familiar writing, mouth dropping open in shock when he read the revelation contained within.

“We’re brothers?” he gasped, cigarette falling, unnoticed, from his lips only to be snatched up and snuffed out by a wary Genma.

“Half-brothers.” the Hokage replied absently, “But I guess that’s a moot point. Do you have any idea why he kept this a secret for so long?”

“Besides the fact that my mother would have killed him, you mean?” Asuma replied angrily, “I can’t believe that bastard did this to her. Sorry Iruka, no offense.” he added with a shake of his head, “It’s just a little overwhelming.”

“Tell me about it.” the Rokudaime replied raggedly, “I honestly thought I’d heard all of the nasty secrets surrounding Sarutobi-sama . . . but this one really threw me for a loop . . . I never, ever anticipated anything like this.”

“So now what?” the bearded jounin asked quietly, “Are you planning on telling anyone?”

“No . . . like all of Sandaime’s other secrets, this one would ruin his reputation in the village, and that is something we can’t afford to have happen.” Iruka decided reluctantly. “I probably should have kept it to myself . . . but I thought you had the right to know.”

“I’m sorry he never told you Iruka.” Asuma said honestly, “You’re a good man and I’m proud to have you as a brother . . . even if it is a little late in life when we found out. I’d like to tell Kurenai, if that’s all right.”

“Of course.” the Hokage replied, “Tell her I said hello.”

“Thank you. Call me if you need anything.” the jounin replied as he fumbled out and lit yet another cigarette, “By the way . . . when is Kakashi coming back, I really need to speak with him.”

“We got a message from him a few days ago . . . he’ll be back in a couple months.” Genma responded, grateful for the change in topic as he could feel some of the tension leave his lover.

“Oh . . . well then, I guess I’ll just see you guys later. We should all get together for dinner sometime soon. Let me talk to Kurenai and then we can work out a time.” Asuma suggested.

“That would be nice ‘suma.” the honey-haired man replied easily, “I’m always up for dinner . . . especially if Kurenai’s cooking.”

When the doors shut behind Asuma the Rokudaime flew into his lover’s arms. “I love you Gen . . . so much. You aren’t going to leave me now are you?” he whispered sadly.

“Why would I leave you Ru?” the senbon sucker asked in surprise.

“Everything’s so complicated now . . . and everyone knows about our relationship . . . it’s just so different now . . . and I’m not the person you thought I was.” Iruka stammered through his tears.

“Oh baby.” Genma whispered as he pulled his lover close and stroked his hair, “I don’t care about any of that. The only reason I kept us a secret was because I was afraid you might lose your job if the Academy found out about us . . . I was never ashamed of you. I have every intention of spending the rest of our lives together.” He pulled the former teacher into bed and wrapped him in his arms, crooning comforting words until he finally cried himself out and fell into a restless sleep.

Asuma walked home on autopilot, his mind a million miles away as he pondered all the facts about his father that had come to light recently. “Kurenai, I’m home.” he called as soon as he unlocked the door, “I need to talk to you.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” she replied sweetly as she kissed his cheek, “Dinner is almost ready. Get cleaned up and I’ll get it on the table.”

“We need to talk.” he mumbled, “There are things you need to know.”

Kurenai’s widened slightly in surprise, “Sweetheart, does this affect us?” she asked nervously.

“Well . . . yes.” he decided, “I shouldn’t have kept it from you as long as I have.”

“Are you having an affair?” the dark haired woman asked with trepidation, “Are you leaving me?”

“Oh no, no.” Asuma replied in surprise, “Nothing like that . . . it’s about my father. He . . .” the bearded man trailed off, unable to say the words.

“Well, whatever it is it’s gotten you tied up in knots.” Kurenai stated bluntly, “So just spit it out.”

“My father, Sandaime-sama, he . . . had a thing for boys. He abused Kakashi when he was younger . . . and gave him to other leaders for the same reason . . . and Hatake wasn’t the only one.”

“Oh ‘suma, I’m so sorry.” his wife cooed, “I can see where that would be terrible news . . . are you sure of the source?”

“It was in his papers . . . and that’s not all.” he continued, eyes firmly fixed on the carpet, “He had an affair . . . Iruka is my half-brother.”

“But Iruka grew up in the orphan . . .” she trailed off as realization hit, “He never even tried to . . .”

“The man I thought I knew, the one I called father, it’s like he didn’t exist at all.” Asuma choked out as he wrapped his arms around his wife and held on tight, “I’m not even sure who I am anymore.”