Warlord

Chapter Thirty-Three

Iruka woke flailing, trying to escape the circle of the warlord’s arms. He broke free and twirled around to face the tall man with a snarl. “Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me.” he screamed as he fought his way free of the covers to stumble out of the bed, grabbing a bottle from the table and brandishing it as he crouched defensively in the far corner of the room.

“‘ruka, it’s me . . . Kakashi.” the warlord crooned as he slowly approached the trembling figure, “I’d never hurt you ‘ruka . . . please, I swear I’ll protect you.” He very slowly extended a hand toward the scribe, making sure it was palm up so Iruka knew it was empty. “Come on, give me your hand, I’ll keep you safe.” he said in a soft voice, “I promise no one will ever hurt you again. Please come back to bed and rest.”

The scribe took the outstretched hand, although the look he cast the warlord was distrustful and his hand never loosened its hold on the bottle. “Sorry ‘kashi.” he muttered, “I panicked without knowing who you were. I’m not afraid of you.”

“Are you sure about that ‘ruka?” Kakashi asked quietly, eyeing the bottle still clutched in the scribe’s hand so hard his knuckles were white. “You can be honest with me . . . I need to know.”

“I don’t want to be afraid of you.” Iruka said in a soft voice, eyes trained on the patch of ground between his feet, “But . . . that doesn’t seem to matter much when I start to feel trapped. I’m sorry . . . did I hurt you?”

No you didn’t hurt me, Kakashi thought sadly, you only broke my heart. “No, I’m okay ‘ruka.” he said slowly, “I’m sorry I pushed you when you weren’t ready. . . I just missed you so much.”

“And I’ve missed you too ‘kashi.” the scribe said sadly, reaching out to stroke ragged silver locks tenderly, “You didn’t push me . . . I wanted it too. Come on, it’s late, let’s go back to bed and try to rest.”

“Are you sure?” the warlord asked slowly, “I can sack out on the floor, you take the bed.”

“I will not turn you out of your bed.” the scribe said crossly, “Just get in and stop complaining before I change my mind.” he said as he climbed back in and held the covers up for the warlord to join him, the gesture eerily similar to the one Kakashi had used earlier.

The warlord slipped into bed, being careful to stay close to the edge and well away from the scribe so he wouldn’t get spooked again. Iruka, however, only saw rejection where he had been hoping for comfort. “I think I’ll sit up for a while.” the scribe said sadly as he climbed out, “You go back to sleep.”

“No.” was the short reply, “You can stay up here in bed, now get in.” Iruka huffed but did as he was told, sliding carefully into the bed, staying close to the edge. The two lay there, each isolated, the thin strip of bed between them indicative of a much wider rift. Finally they both drifted back to sleep . . . and drifted back together, gravitating toward the other’s warmth until they laid, legs entwined, the scribe’s head pillowed on Kakashi’s chest.

“Asuma.” Kurenai called in a soft voice so as not to wake the baby.

“Yes dear.” the general jolted out of his light doze, “What do you need?” he slurred sleepily as he tried to untangle his legs from the bedding and get up.

“Stay where you are.” she said, placing a gentle hand on his arm, “I just wanted to talk to you.”

“Yes dear.” he said again, a little more coherently, “What did you want to talk about? Is something wrong?”

“No, no, everything’s fine.” she soothed, “I just wanted to ask what you thought about Iruka and Kakashi. They left together you know.” she continued slyly.

“Well, I’m not surprised . . . you should have seen the way they kissed after the baby was born. Man was it hot . . .” he trailed off when his wife smacked his shoulder hard.

“Asuma, don’t talk about them like that. I think they’re sweet together.” she said with a smile and a distant look in her eyes. “Do you know where they were going?”

“No dear, I didn’t know I was supposed to follow them and eavesdrop . . .next time.” he said with a chuckle, nudging her with his elbow, “You’re one to chastize me for watching them.”

“ASUMA.” Kurenai hissed, scandalized, “I can’t believe you’d say something like that to me. I only want them to be happy . . . I have NO interest in peeping on their private activities.”

“Private activities,” the general said with a smirk, “that’s one way to put it.” He wrapped an arm around his wife and pulled her close. “Want to try some private activities sweetheart?” he chuckled.

“I’d love to,” Kurenai replied sweetly, “but unfortunately I was nearly torn in two giving birth . . . thanks to you and your private activities, so I’m afraid we’re going to have to wait a few weeks.”

The general winced at the mention of the birth. He wasn’t proud of the fact that he’d passed out and missed his daughter’s arrival . . . but he’d never anticipated seeing Kurenai going through something so . . . alien. He shook his head, glad that women had the babies and he would never have to endure anything like that. He pulled his wife into a tender hug, kissing her sweetly. “Love you.” he muttered fiercely in her ear, “You did so well . . . I’m so proud of you.”

“I love you too.” she whispered back, reveling in the tender affection the usually gruff man was showing. “Papa Asuma, it’s so sweet the way you melt when you hold Aoi.”

“She’s so tiny.” the general said in awe, “I just can’t believe she’s real. She looks just like you, you know,” he said sincerely as he turned to his wife with a smile, “absolutely beautiful.”

Kurenai smiled and kissed her husband sweetly before snuggling down and pillowing her head on his broad chest. “Get some sleep dear.” she said with a yawn, “Aoi will be up and hungry before you know it.”

Genma and Raidou drifted back to the general’s tent after the party finally broke up. The courier noted Kakashi and Iruka leaving together with satisfaction. Good, he thought, they belong together. He glanced at the man walking beside him as his mind continued down the same path, like we do, he decided with a decisive nod of his head.

Once inside Raidou pulled the courier in for a deep passionate kiss. “Thank you.” he muttered when they pulled apart for air.

“For what?” Genma asked dazedly.

“For giving me another chance, I promise I won’t let you down.” the general replied fervently as he proceeded to strip the courier, laving each bit of revealed skin and drawing mewls and whimpers from the slender man.

Raidou scooped the smaller man up and moved them to the bed, stretching out over the courier and languidly rubbing against him, reveling in the satiny skin sliding against his. Both men let out throaty moans as their cocks slid against one another, wantonly thrusting their hips together as they continued to kiss languidly. “Genma.” the general whispered hesitantly, “Do you want to . . .” he trailed off uncertainly, “would you like to be on top?”

“You want to see me ride you baby?” the courier whispered hotly in his ear.

“No,” Raidou stuttered, “I want you inside me.”

The courier went very still. “Are you sure?” he asked anxiously, “We don’t have to.”

“No, I want it . . . I want you.” the general said firmly as Genma leaned in to seal their lips in another kiss.

“Well then lay back and relax,” the courier finally said with a smile, “I promise I’ll take good care of you.”