Fanning the Flames

Chapter Thirty-One

“I want to go home,” the copy-nin whined petulantly. “It's cold in here and it smells nasty.”

“I know you aren't fond of hospitals sweetheart,” Ibiki soothed. “But you almost died. Humor me.”

“I want to go back to Konoha, to our house,” Kakashi continued relentlessly. “Our child should be born there.”

“In a perfect world that would be my wish too,” the interrogator assured him. “But I don't want to lose either of you, and I'm afraid of what might happen.”

“I can't stand being cooped up here with all the nurses and doctors watching me like some sort of freak. Iruka won't chase them away, he's too nice to everyone,” the jounin fretted. “If you take me home I promise to be good and stay in bed. I'll let you and the ninken wait on me hand and foot. I won't even walk to the bathroom. Just please, please, find some way to get me out of here. This is killing me.”

Ibiki was sorely tempted to give in. After all, there had to be a way to move someone during a high risk pregnancy. “Let me talk to the doctors. If there's a way to do it safely I promise we'll leave tomorrow.”

“Get Kurenai to help you. If anyone can bully the doctors into letting me go, it's her,” the copy-nin babbled feverishly. “Can you go get her? I want to fill her in on what's happening.”

“Only if you swear you'll stay put,” the interrogator threatened. “I do not want to find you off on some crusade the minute I turn my back.”

“I swear,” Kakashi agreed. He raised his hand and placed it over his heart. “Just grab Kurenai . . . and maybe a sandwich, while you're at it. I'm feeling a little hungry all of a sudden.”

“I mean it 'kashi,” the scarred man pressed. “I could lose both of you if you aren't careful.”

About ten minutes later the door cracked open an inch and an unfamiliar face peeked in. “He's sleeping, be quiet.” The copy-nin let out the breath he'd been holding when he realized it was just a pair of doctors. “See, he's definitely the guy from the DVD.” Their whispered conversation held Kakashi rapt. “Supposedly he's pregnant,” the doctor continued. “But it has to be a trick, I sure as hell didn't see a vagina anywhere.”

The pair slipped back out of the room, continuing their back and forth banter about the possibility of the silver-haired jounin being a hermaphrodite. Am not, I'm all man, thank you very much, the copy-nin thought crossly. What DVD? His mind drifted back to the beginning of the conversation. He slid soundlessly out of the bed, padding barefoot down the hall behind the oblivious medics.

Kakashi slid behind the trailing doctor, slapped a hand over his mouth and yanked him into a vacant room. “What DVD?”

“Some new porn that turned up in the doctor's lounge,” the frightened medic stuttered.

“Which is located where?” the copy-nin hissed menacingly.

“One floor down at the end of the hall,” the doctor said. “I'm really sorry if we offended you. I told my friend he was mistaken. It must just be a look alike.”

“Because I look like so many people.” Kakashi abruptly released the petrified medic, leaving him to slide down the wall as the copy-nin stalked toward the stairwell.

He quickly located the lounge, casting a jutsu to hide his presence as he watched from the back of the room. He instantly recognized the scene playing out on the screen. The red cord and elaborate pattern of knots were a favorite of the old Mizukage.

The copy-nin watched in horror while the gathered doctors and orderlies leered and catcalled as the man on-screen was bound, whipped and eventually double penetrated. Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief when one of the watchers finally stood and turned off the television. “Break's over, back to work,” the doctor declared. “You can watch some more later.”

No they won't, the copy-nin decided as he snagged the disc out of the machine before heading back upstairs.

“I told you to stay put,” Ibiki rasped. “I was about ready to call out a search team.”

“We need to leave here now, tonight,” Kakashi insisted as he grabbed his clothes and started dressing.

“Kurenai will be here in a few minutes,” the interrogator soothed. “She's jut getting the babies dressed.”

“I'm not staying,” the jounin growled. “There's nothing you can do to keep me here. In fact, I don't ever want to step foot in this building again.”

“Sweetheart, what happened?”

“This happened,” the copy-nin snapped. “They were watching it in the doctors' lounge. I can't stay here now. I'll slit my wrists first.”

“Are you going to show it to me?” Ibiki growled. “Or am I supposed to guess why the doctors aren't allowed to watch movies?”

Kakashi stomped across the room and jammed the disc into the player, punching the button hard enough to crack the plastic. As soon as the picture appeared he averted his eyes, pressing his lips together in a tight line as the interrogator watched in silence.

“How did you find out about this?” the scarred man growled as he ejected the disc and snapped it in half.

“A couple of the more adventurous viewers decided they wanted to compare for themselves.”

“Compare what?” Ibiki bellowed angrily. “Did they touch you?”

“No, no, nothing like that. They were trying to decide if I was the man in the DVD. To be fair they weren't completely suicidal, I was pretending to be asleep.” The copy-nin studied his feet as he waited for his husband's response.

“Do you know when this was made?” the interrogator pressed. “We need to figure out where it came from.”

“I know where it came from,” Kakashi muttered. “Why do you think I'm so upset.”

“Are you planning on telling me?” came the frustrated retort. “Honestly 'kashi, you act like I'm the enemy. If you know who did this you have to tell me.”

“I have no idea who brought it here. It's from the Mizukage's collection. After Sandaime gave me to him he took great delight in amassing a library to amuse himself with while I was away. I'd recognize those knots anywhere.” The copy-nin studied the tall man warily, weighing his words before continuing. “Kisame was well acquainted with the Mizukage's collection, as were Zabuza and the rest of the Mist elite. Any of them could have gotten their hands on it after the old man died.”

“But only one of them has an issue with you. I think it's high time shark boy and I had a talk about his attitude,” Ibiki decided. “First of all, we need to get you out of here. I'll talk to Gaara and let him track down the source. When Kurenai and the twins get here I'll go find the doctor and tell him we're leaving. Hopefully Fujiko-san will come to the apartment to help us plan our trip.”

“Thank you,” Kakashi whispered. “I was afraid you'd be disgusted with me.”

“I could never be disgusted with you sweetheart. You didn't choose any of this. All I want is for you to relax. I swear I will take care of this and you will never be bothered by it again. By this time tomorrow we'll be on our way home. Do you want to call the pack to keep watch?” the scarred man asked solicitously.

“You don't need to fuss over me,” Kakashi insisted. “Just sit with me until Kurenai gets here.”

The interrogator pulled the forlorn copy-nin into his lap, nuzzling the tattoo on his neck before nipping at a pale ear.

“Get a room you two,” Kurenai teased from the doorway. “You'd think you guys were newlyweds.”

“We are newlyweds,” Ibiki retorted. He stuck his tongue out childishly before turning back to trace the long column of his husband's neck. “I need you to stay here with 'kashi while I go see Gaara for a few minutes. When I get back we'll be leaving the hospital. Tomorrow we need to head back to Konoha. I hope you'll travel with us, I could use the help.”

“Your travel restriction has been lifted?” the kunoichi asked shrewdly. “I'm amazed. Fujiko-san seemed so certain they'd keep you here.”

“Not exactly,” the copy-nin hedged. “There's been a change of plan. I find it impossible to stay here any longer. Ibiki understands why, knows the risks and still agrees with me. Can you just accept that and let it go?”

“No, I can't” Kurenai insisted. “You're planning on risking your life and your child's life. I think I'm entitled to know why.”

Kakashi fixed his eyes on the bed covers and filled his friend in on the events of the evening, waiting for the harsh condemnation he deserved for getting into such a situation in the first place.

“Why won't you look at me?” the dark-haired woman asked softly.

“Because I'm embarrassed,” the copy-nin muttered into Kiyoshi's hair. “Now every time I meet someone I'm going to be wondering if they saw that DVD. I just want to go home and forget all about it. By the next time I visit Suna it will have hopefully blown over.”

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about,” Kurenai insisted. “You did your duty as a Konoha shinobi. You can't be faulted for following orders. We've all had to do things we aren't proud of. I had a number of seduction missions when I was still a chuunin. You never have to be embarrassed in front of me 'shi-kun.”