Warlord

Chapter Thirty-Six

Kakashi walked through the bustling encampment on his way to the command tent, greeting the men he passed even as his thoughts turned to the coming engagement. His intelligence hinted at dissension in the enemy’s ranks . . . if that were really the case he had a clear advantage.

“Report.” he said briskly as soon as he walked in, slouching lazily in a chair as his generals updated him on the latest information coming in from their scouts.

“There have been a steady trail of defectors heading north commander. Apparently the men have been out in the field too long and are fed up with the losses and poor conditions. The ones leaving are heading home as far as we can tell.” Raidou finished his report tersely.

“Any hint they may be massing to flank us . . . swing around and attack from the rear . . . anything like that?” the warlord drawled.

“No, they’re slinking off in ones and twos and heading north as fast as they can.” Asuma replied, “We’ve followed a few of them to be sure . . . they want nothing to do with this battle. The camp is too quiet . . . their men are afraid. We need to strike now.”

“No.” Kakashi countered calmly, “Let’s give them a few days to stew . . . fear will make them weak, they’ll make mistakes.” He turned a knife in his hand contemplatively. “How’s our morale these days? Do the men resent my actions?”

“Quite the contrary,” Raidou said with a leer, “they love their new toy . . . the medic is patching him up as we speak. I told them he’s off limits until after the engagement . . . then they can celebrate.”

“Aaaa, it’s good to know he’s being useful for once.” the warlord remarked laconically, “Tell them to keep him out of my sight, will you. It’ll be better that way.”

Both generals shuddered at the implications behind the mild request. Asuma thinking of Kurenai’s mission to bring Iruka here with her. Good luck sweetheart, he thought, can’t be soon enough. Raidou studied his friend with concern. Although they saw each other daily, they had not been alone together since that ill-fated night. The night I raped my best friend, the general thought with a groan, he looks like shit and I’m probably only making things worse.

“I’m going to go get some rest while I can.” Raidou announced, rising to take his leave.

“Hold up a minute, I’ll walk with you.” Kakashi said as he stood, moving towards the door, “See you later Asuma . . . and stop worrying, ‘ruka will take care of your girls.” he finished with a smile before turning a serious face to Raidou. “Let’s get going Rai, we have things to discuss.” he said slowly.

Oh shit, today is not the day I wanted to die, the general thought as he followed his friend out, sweat running down his spine. “What did you want to talk about Kakashi.” he asked nervously, glancing at the unreadable face for any clues as to how this might go.

“Let’s go to my tent so we can talk privately.” Kakashi said after a long pause, “I have no desire for this information to go any further than it already has.” he finished tersely.

Raidou followed the warlord, looking exactly like a condemned man on the way to the gallows. When they finally found themselves in the relative privacy of Kakashi’s tent Raidou just stood there, his mouth opening and shutting like a goldfish out of water. Finally he just began to blurt his thoughts out “Shit Kakashi, what am I supposed to say, I’m sorry . . . oh hell yes I’m sorry, was it stupid . . . stupid doesn’t even begin to describe it, am I ever going to do something like that again . . . not if you let me live.”

“And if I kill you?” the warlord inquired in a politely clinical tone.

“Then I’ll haunt you and make faces while you and Iruka are having sex and you’ll start laughing and he’ll throw you out of bed.” the general said with a snort of nervous laughter.

“You went way too far.” Kakashi said seriously, “I thought I could trust you Rai . . . hell, I do trust you, but things can never go back to the way they were . . . and I kind of hate you for that.” he continued sadly as the general hung his head in shame. “I need you with me Rai . . . but I need to know nothing like that will happen again.”

“It won’t, I swear. I’m . . . seeing someone. I really am sorry Kakashi, I miss the way things were too. If I could go back and undo it I would . . . but that isn’t going to happen. I’ll do whatever you want, whatever you need, to make things better.”

“Give me some time.” he finally answered before raising his head and fixing the general with a sly grin, “How is Genma anyway? I haven’t seen him since Asuma’s party.”

“He’s good . . . really good.” Raidou replied with a dreamy grin.

“Gods, you should see yourself, talk about a love struck fool.” the warlord chortled, “Next thing I know you’ll be batting your eyelashes.”

“You should talk.” the general retorted, “You were making googly eyes at Iruka all night at the party. Oh Iruka,” he mimed in a simpering voice, “you’re soooo beautiful, I just want to hug and kiss you all night.” He jumped to the left to avoid the warlord’s fist.

“I do not.” Kakashi bellowed, “At least I know when I have it good.”

“Yeah, I really am an idiot.” Raidou said mournfully, “I just never realized I was attracted to men until I saw you with Iruka that first day . . . you’re really good-looking, you know.” he said almost angrily, “It just seemed to build and build and then I just snapped.” he looked down at the ground in embarrassment. “Just so you know, I do love you.” he muttered, “You’re my best friend and I can’t imagine my life without you . . . but I’m happy with Genma. I care for him and I won’t jeopardize that again.”

“As long as we understand each other.” Kakashi said with a small smile. “Now, let’s go get something to eat, I’m starving.”

“Sounds good.” the general replied, internally sighing in relief at the outcome of their confrontation. It was good that things could return to near normal for them. He swore that one day his friend would trust him completely again before turning with a smile and striding out of the tent, chatting easily with the warlord about supply lines and pack animals.

“General Namiashi.” a medic called as they passed, “May I speak to you a moment?”

“Certainly.” Raidou said, “What can I do for you?”

“It’s about that whore the men brought in . . . should I actually waste supplies on him?” the medic asked, “I mean, shouldn’t I be saving it for the men?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” the warlord cut in coldly, “I’d say Kabuto deserves a long life to pursue his craft . . . after all, he’s getting such a late start.” He sneered openly, causing the medic to pull back in alarm, “Do everything possible to keep him alive and pleasing the men. No arguments.” he snapped to Raidou when it looked like he was going to say something.

“You heard the commander.” Raidou said sternly, “Patch him up and get him back in the barracks.” He shuddered at the thought of what Yakushi had been through over the weekend. “You have until after the battle, they’ll need stress relief then.”

With a curt nod the medic scurried off, leaving the pair to continue silently on towards the mess.