Fanning the Flames

Chapter Thirty-Nine

“What are we going to do about Kakashi?” Genma asked on the way back to their apartment. “We can't just leave him in that house all alone.”

“Hopefully Kurenai will arrive tomorrow. Maybe she can convince him that staying alone is dangerous.” Iruka frowned suddenly. “On second thought, I don't think we should wait. Let's go over there now.”

“I left a guard. He'll be fine for one night. I think we need to go home and talk first.”

“What's there to talk about?” the Hokage asked impatiently. “That could be my baby, or yours. I swear you act like you don't care.”

“Even if it is mine Hatake is the one who'll be raising it. I hope it is Ibiki's, they deserve some luck.” The senbon-sucker cursed to himself as a dark look crossed his lover's face. “Don't glare at me Ru. How frustrated will you be to see your son or daughter raised by other people?”

“If it's ours I intend on getting joint custody,” an equally grim Hokage retorted. “There's no way I'm going to be shut out completely.”

“Do you honestly think Kakashi will agree to that?”

“It's not up to him. He's not the only one with a say in all of this,” Iruka protested. “He already has one child on the way. He can share this one.”

“If you try and take that baby away from Hatake I'll leave you,” Genma declared. He crossed his arms and studied his lover rather peevishly. “I want us to have a child of our own, not a child that already has two loving parents.”

“Kakashi's alone, with two children to raise.” The Hokage was known for two things, his stubbornness and his love of children, and Genma reluctantly concluded that this might be a long and bitter argument.

“That's only temporary, I'm sure,” the senbon sucker shot back. “I know you don't want to split the two of them up. Why don't we concentrate on doing everything we can to help Ibiki get his memories back. After all, I doubt Kakashi will be too comfortable around him, or anyone else for that matter.”

“Why?”

“It's getting pretty obvious that something's going on. I watched him, Ru. He waddles. He'll end up as the town laughingstock if people figure out what's happening. I don't think he can handle that on his own.” Genma stopped, struggling with just how to say what he meant without incurring his husband's wrath. “Besides, we have no idea how many people saw the DVD. He needs our help, but he'll only accept it if we don't totally alienate him.”

“He'll hate you for treating him like a child,” Iruka stubbornly insisted. “You know he doesn't like to be coddled.”

“Then he hates me. I'm not running the risk of pissing off Ibiki when he realizes we didn't take care of his pregnant husband.”

“So where does that leave us?” the former teacher asked.

“I don't know,” Genma whispered. “I love you like crazy Ru, but I can't support what you want to do. I'm going home. Hopefully you'll join me. Then, in the morning, I'll go check on Hatake.”

“I'll be home soon. I'm at least going over to update him on Ibiki's condition.” The Hokage made the signs and faded away. Genma's shoulders slumped and he slowly dragged towards the tower, wishing just this once, that he had somewhere else to stay.

*^*^*

“Otokage-sama.” The messenger's entrance had roused Jiraiya and he glared at the hapless chuunin, although the fact that his hair was fluffed into a massive cloud around his head certainly diluted the effect..

“What is it? Can't you see we were asleep?” the sannin asked peevishly.

“Otokage-sama's son is being born. They want him at the hospital.”

“Fine. Tell them we'll be there shortly.” Jiraiya waited until the door shut before gently shaking the slumbering Uchiha. “You have to wake up, koi,” he whispered. “Your baby is coming, we need to go to the hospital.”

“I don't want to see the baby,” Itachi muttered. “Call Ibiki and tell him to come. That was the deal.”

“I don't understand. Why wouldn't you want to see your child?”

“I'm not a fit influence for a child. Better he never hear of me.” The last Uchiha sighed, pursing his lips as he tried to find a way to explain what was going on to his new lover. “I feel a need to continue my clan's bloodline limit. I feel no urge to be a parent. In fact, I think I'd be spectacularly bad at it. I'm staying away to ensure I don't do anything foolish.”

“Seeing your child is not foolish,” the sannin argued.

“You're right . . . but keeping the child would certainly be a mistake. I'll go and visit once he's settled with Kakashi-senpai.” Itachi grimaced at the thought of returning to his childhood home. “Probably.”

“That's not good enough,” Jiraiya insisted. “Ibiki is in the hospital and Kakashi can't travel. Someone needs to be there to greet this child and it should be you.”

“For someone who's always avoided family entanglement, including his own child, you're being awfully pushy about this.”

“I regret my decisions where Minato was concerned. I messed up with Kakashi too, and I'm just his uncle. At the time I thought it was the right thing to do. I've only recently realized I was horribly selfish, not selfless as I'd tried to pretend. I don't want you to have my regrets.” The sannin pulled some clothes out and began dressing. “Hurry up koi, babies don't wait.”

“I'm not going, sorry.” The Otokage climbed back into bed and pulled the covers to his chin. “You can oversee the birth and take the baby to senpai. Tell him I'll come and visit soon.”

“I'm going, I'm going,” Jiraiya grumbled as he hastily pulled on some clothes and scraped his tangled locks into a sloppy braid. “I wish you would change your mind and come with me.”

“I'll see you when you get back from Konoha.” Itachi turned his face toward the sannin, smiling as the older man leaned in for a passionate kiss.

“What name should I give the baby?”

“Call him Obito. Senpai will like that,” the Otokage decided. “Now go, I'll be here when you're done.”

*^*^*

Iruka tapped gingerly and waited impatiently for Kakashi to appear and let him in. When he'd waited five minutes with no copy-nin in sight he tried again, banging loudly to assure he was heard. When he was still waiting ten mintes later the Hokage gave up and teleported into the lounge, looking around for any sign of the jounin.

“Hatake-san, are you alright?” he called tentatively. When he got no response he headed deeper into the house, following the sounds until he ended up in the bathing chamber. “Oh, sorry.” Iruka covered his eyes as a blush bloomed on his cheeks at the sight of a naked and visibly pregnant copy-nin lounging in the furo.

“What brings you here Iruka?” Kakashi never even looked up. “I told your husband I don't need a watchdog.”

“I was worried about you,” the Hokage admitted. “It's been a stressful day.”

“You have no idea.”

“Would you like to talk about it?” Iruka offered.

“I'd just like to be left alone for a while.” The copy-nin looked up and locked eyes with the Rokudaime. “I need to think about some things.”

“I would like to know what happened.”

“I can't tell you what I don't know,” Kakashi muttered. “Kisame and his lover Zetsu are dead. Ibiki was badly injured because of his relationship with me. I'm a selfish person, but I have a chance now to make it right.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” The Hokage studied the pallid jounin, concerned by how utterly fragile he suddenly appeared.

“Don't tell him about me. Don't remind him of our marriage. Let him start a new life without the drama and scandal.”

“He loves you. I can't do that, it will break his heart,” Iruka protested.

“You don't miss what you don't remember. Let him move on, please.” Kakashi studied the slender figure. “Where's your other half? He'd understand.”

“We had a disagreement,” the Hokage admitted. “Nothing worth getting bothered over.”

“Why are you really here, Iruka?” the copy-nin asked warily. “What is it you want from me.”

“I'm just worried about the effect all this stress could have on the baby,” the Rokudaime admitted with a blush. “I hadn't realized before this how much you've changed. May I?” Iruka tilted his head to indicate the taut bulge of the copy-nin's expanding waistline where it peeked out of the water.

“Certainly Hokage-sama,” Kakashi acquiesced with a tilt of his head. The Hokage cautiously sidled closer and gingerly laid his hand on the water-slicked flesh. He jumped back with a nervous chuckle when the surface rippled beneath his touch.

“She knows you're there,” the copy-nin purred. “Talk to her, she likes that.”

“Hello little one. Your mother is awfully tired. Do you think you could settle down and let her get some sleep.” Iruka carefully stroked the satiny skin beneath his fingers, sending a small pulse of chakra through them to 'feel' the unborn child. “She seems happy.”

“I think so. It's harder than I anticipated. I'm tired all the time and my emotions are all over the place.”

“That's normal,” the Rokudaime assured him. “You're going to be an excellent parent. Your children will be very lucky.”

“Then why do you want to take her away from me?” Kakashi countered. “I'm not stupid. Your intent is easy to read.”

Iruka opened and closed his mouth a few times, unsure of what exactly to say. “I was worried it would be too much for you to raise two children on your own.”

“I'm a Konoha jounin, I think I can handle a couple of babies,” the copy-nin said coldly. “You should go now Hokage-sama. Genma will be waiting for you. You'll see yourself out?” He turned his head and shut his eyes, relaxing when he felt Iruka's chakra disappear.