Into the Fire

Chapter Thirty-Two

Kakashi tossed and turned restlessly, mumbling under his breath as he relived his time in Stone, finally screaming “Ibiki” before falling still again. Orochimaru watched with guarded eyes, gently stroking the long pale back until the copy-nin relaxed and slid into deeper sleep. The sannin, however, opted to remain awake, pulling on a robe and slipping out of the room to go in search of their guests.

“How is he?” he asked Kisame when he arrived at their apartment.

“Sleeping, for now.” the swordsman answered bluntly, “What do you want Snake?”

“Now, now, no need for such hostility.” Orochimaru replied soothingly, “I have no intention of hurting him. Kakashi wanted to see him . . . he’s struggling with the fact that others suffered just as he did. I had hopes that Itachi could help him heal, but it’s obvious that’s the furthest thing from his mind.”

“Do you blame him?” Kisame replied angrily, “Why do you care anyway? I would have thought Hatake was high on your hit list for elimination . . . the last thing I expected was to find you shacked up together.”

“In the first place, we aren’t ‘shacked up’ as you so pithily put it . . . I love Kakashi, very much. It’s a feeling I haven’t had much experience with, but I’m trying very hard to help him as he’s helped me. I only have a few months left . . . I was hoping . . . I don’t know what I was hoping for. Despite everything I’ve done Kakashi was able to look past it and help me. I’m afraid of what will happen to him when I die. He’s planning on returning to Konoha, not withstanding the fact that they’ll probably treat him as a traitor.” the snake summoner haltingly explained.

“Wait a minute . . . how can you be dying?” the swordsman asked in confusion, “I thought you had that body transfer jutsu?”

“Unfortunately it requires a trained medic and a donor body. Tsunade graciously deprived me of both before her death so now . . . I have less than two months left in this body, without the ability to transfer to another I will, regrettably, die . . . and when I do Kakashi will be alone.” Orochimaru answered honestly, “I’m just trying to do what I can for him before then.”

“I understand.” Kisame whispered, “I have tried to do the same thing for Itachi. Unfortunately, there is very little I can do . . . the headaches grow worse by the week. I fear I will lose him soon.”

“I am sorry I summoned him.” the sannin replied, “I did not know he was so ill . . . it certainly wasn’t worth causing him more pain.”

“You really have changed.” the swordsman gasped in astonishment, “You never cared about anyone’s pain but your own before.”

“We are alike, Itachi and I.” the snake summoner stated decisively, “But Kakashi is different . . . he took all the pain and the humiliation and the deceit they threw at him, and kept going back for more. His dedication to Konoha in the face of all that . . .” Orochimaru paused, searching for a way to explain, “it takes an inner strength that I greatly admire. Do you know how the great war ended?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Kisame asked in confusion.

“Sensei used Kakashi as barter to cement treaties with the other nations and facilitate the release of prisoners. He spent many months as a guest of the kages and daimyos in Sand, Rock and Mist . . . they did unspeakable things to him. Even though he was still a teenager he accepted the assignments, again and again. Even today he claims that he would do it again if ordered to. In all my years I have never met anyone who truly lives the principles of shinobi the way he does.” the sannin explained, “I cannot help but admire him.”

“Does he know why Itachi slaughtered his clan?” the swordsman asked anxiously, “I know ‘tachi is worried about his reaction.”

“Your lover has nothing to fear . . . Kakashi understands why he did what he did, he isn’t out for vengeance. In fact, he carries a heavy burden of guilt . . . he believes if he had said something about what was happening Itachi, and hence the entire Uchiha clan, might have been spared.” Orochimaru frowned at the thought, “I’ve told him it was not his fault, but I don’t think he believes me. I had hoped Itachi could convince him otherwise . . . but judging from the nightmare Kakashi was having before I left, I fear it’s doing more harm than good to have you here. Nevertheless, you are welcome to stay as long as you want. Perhaps we can find some way to ease Itachi’s symptoms.”

“If you could do that you would have my eternal devotion . . . both of you.” Kisame rumbled, “But for now . . . I need sleep, and so do you. We will see you in the morning.”

The sannin headed back towards his quarters, intending to slip quietly back into bed . . . only to be met by an angry copy-nin. “Where were you?” Kakashi hissed venomously.

“Speaking with Kisame . . . why?” Orochimaru answered cautiously.

“Don’t lie to me.” came the growled retort, “I saw how you looked at him when they arrived.”

“How I looked at who, pretty?” the snake summoner asked cautiously.

“Itachi.” the jounin bit out, “I know you were with him, don’t lie to me anymore.”

“I went to check on him, it’s true.” the sannin replied placatingly, “But he was asleep, I spoke with Kisame about his condition.”

“Stop lying to me!” Kakashi screamed, “I know you want him . . . why wouldn’t you? He’s far prettier than I’ll ever be . . . and less well used.” he concluded with a choked back sob.

“Oh, no, no koishii.” Orochimaru breathed, “Never, ever will I want anyone else as long as I have you.”

“So you say.” the copy-nin replied coldly, turning his back on his lover in an attempt to regain his composure, “But your actions speak otherwise.”

“Kakashi,” the sannin pleaded as he wrapped his arms around the rigid jounin, resting his face against the broad back, “What can I do to prove it to you? Do you want to speak with Kisame? Should I send them away? Please answer me.”

“It doesn’t matter.” came the defeated reply, “Of course you should do as you wish . . . I have no right to dictate to you.”

“Yes, you do.” Orochimaru insisted as he turned Kakashi to face him, gently lifting his chin so their eyes met. “I will do anything you wish that is within my power.”

“Stay with me?” the copy-nin husked, “Please?”

“I will never willingly leave you.” the snake summoner promised, kissing the forlorn jounin passionately to seal the bargain.

Ibiki paced his house restlessly. Iruka had been right, the longer he looked at the boxes of Kakashi’s possessions, the worse he felt. This is pointless, the interrogator decided, there’s no point keeping this stuff here . . . who knows if he’ll ever come back. The scarred man pulled on his coat and headed for the tower.

“Iruka?” he called when he entered, “Can I ask you a question?”

“He’s not feeling very well.” Genma responded, sticking his head out the apartment door, “Could it wait?”

“Of course, I was just wondering what happened with Kakashi’s house . . . I was going to send his things over.” Ibiki said blandly, “It can wait until tomorrow.”

“No it can’t.” a haggard Iruka declared when he appeared at his lover’s shoulder, “Hiashi was taking care of it . . . go check with him.”

“Is everything alright?” the interrogator asked cautiously, “You look like someone died.”

“I’m just tired.” the Hokage insisted, “I’ll be fine after a bit of rest.”

“If you’re certain . . .” the scarred man demurred, waiting for a protest. “Then I’ll be off, my apologies for intruding.”

Ibiki easily located Hiashi in the Hyuuga compound, quickly getting to the point. “Rokudaime-sama says you looked into the matter of Kakashi’s house.” he stated bluntly.

“I used some of the village’s discretionary fund to repurchase his family home.” the dark haired man replied, “Why?”

“I wish to get his things moved in before he returns.” came the dry, dispassionate response, “Do you have the key?”

The Hyuuga disappeared inside, quickly returning with the object in question. “Thank you.” the interrogator replied politely, “I will return it as soon as I am done.”

“You might as well keep it.” Hiashi replied knowingly, “You’re more likely to see him when he returns than I am.”

“I seriously doubt that.” came the bitter retort, “However, I will do as you wish.” Ibiki quickly made the hand signs to jutsu home, grabbing the first boxes he came to and heading for the copy-nin’s house.

“Good Morning Ibiki . . . How Wonderful It Is To See Such A Dedicated Shinobi As Yourself. Have You By Any Chance Seen My Eternal Rival? I Have Been Looking For Him Everywhere.” Gai thundered, effectively blocking the scarred man’s path.

“Why are you asking me?” the interrogator rumbled darkly.

“You Are Carrying A Box With His Name On It.” the green beast pointed out, “Despite What Everyone Thinks, I’m Not Stupid.”

“He’s out of the village.” Ibiki reluctantly admitted, “His things were delivered to me by mistake . . . I was just taking them to his house.”

“I Will Be Honored To Help You With Your Task.” Gai declared, snatching the boxes out of the scarred man’s arms and setting off determinedly as Ibiki scrambled to catch up.