Warlord

A/N Alynaes Fleirevi - while everything you are saying is true, it's also true that I don't worry over much about reality . . . if I did I wouldn't be writing a story about jutso wielding ninja characters after all . . . I often compress time and have people do things to soon, it moves the story along. Sorry if my lack of attention to realism bothers you!!

Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing!!


Chapter Forty-One

Kakashi stared hard at the trio. Genma was practically licking his lips as he leered at him, Rai looked like he might pass out at any moment and Asuma tottered unstably between them waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Can I help you with something?” the warlord snarled, upset at having his ‘ruka flee so abruptly.

“Dear gods in heaven Kurenai’s gonna kill me.” Asuma wailed, effectively derailing everyone else’s thoughts. “I might as well just bolt the couch to my ass now.”

“What are you babbling about?” Kakashi asked in confusion.

“If Kurenai finds out I interrupted you two she’ll have my balls.” The general moaned, “Getting you back together is all she can talk about.” He slumped to the floor awkwardly, cast sticking straight out in front of him, and dropped his head in his hands. “You don’t know what she’s been like . . . one minute she’s crying her eyes out, the next she’s ready to take my head off. I didn’t care if it killed me, I HAD to get out of there . . . and please gods don’t tell her I said that.”

The other three men just stared at him in shock. “You ran away from home?” Raidou jibed, “I never thought I’d see the day . . .” he trailed off in shock when Iruka’s voice suddenly cut through the tent.

“Sarutobi Asuma . . . did you leave Kurenai and the baby all alone? What in god’s name were you thinking, you’ve probably set your recovery back by weeks.” the scribe headed toward the trio, causing Raidou and Genma to cling together while Asuma tried to scoot across the floor, unable to get his cast under him and stand.

The warlord collapsed in laughter, thoroughly enjoying the sight of his powerful generals cowering in the face of his scolding lover. “And you,” Iruka rounded on Kakashi, causing him to try and compose himself, “just woke up last night . . . do you want to end up in a coma again?”

“I think if that was going to happen it would have been while you were sucking his. . .” Genma’s voice cut off abruptly when Raidou’s hand slapped over his mouth.

“Shut UP Genma. I don’t want to end up like Yakushi.” the general hissed in his lover’s ear.

“Yakushi Kabuto?” Iruka said in surprise, “What about him?”

“Nothing at all ‘ruka.” the warlord interjected coldly, “Raidou was just babbling again.” He gave the general a pointed look, guaranteeing he wouldn’t be contradicted.

“Hey Hatake,” Genma spoke up loudly, “don’t take it out on Rai just because you didn’t tell Iruka what you did. That’s hardly fair.”

“You,” the warlord stated through gritted teeth, “have a big mouth Shiranui. Perhaps I should find something better for you to do with it.”

“Don’t you threaten him.” Raidou jumped in front of his lover, “Just because I screwed up is no reason to punish Genma.”

“So Iruka,” Asuma cut in, trying to get the conversation back on safer ground, “when Kakashi’s able to travel I figured we’d all go back together . . . Lord knows if I try to ride back my wife will certainly kill me.” he muttered the last to himself.

“That will be a few days,” Iruka said slowly, glancing fondly at the warlord as he considered, “Kakashi just woke up, we need to make sure he’s stable before we attempt a trip like that. I need to be sure nothing will happen to him.”

Kakashi’s heart lifted when he heard the scribe’s concern. I did it, he thought triumphantly, I got him back. He smothered another snicker when he heard his lover sniff the air around their ‘guests’. “Have you three been drinking?” Iruka asked incredulously, “It’s only ten o’clock. What kind of an example are you setting for the men, waltzing around camp drunk in the morning.”

“A confident one?” Raidou slurred, leaning heavily on Genma.

“Confident my ass.” the scribe retaliated, “Ridiculous is more like it. I’m going to make a pot of coffee, you two” he pointed at Genma and Raidou, “sit down. And you,” he pointed at the cowering Asuma, “sit in a chair please, you look like an idiot. Wait until I tell Kurenai what you were doing.”

“Oh gods Iruka, please don’t tell her” the general implored, wrapping his arms around the scribe’s leg and resting his forehead against his thigh, “she’s already mad at me.”

“I don’t blame her.” he replied tartly, “A father needs to show more common sense than you’re using right now. You will get checked out by the medic when he gets here . . . and then Genma will take a message to Kurenai letting her know you arrived safely and when we should be returning.”

“Can’t someone else take it?” the courier whined, not wanting to ride so far after drinking so much.

“No, the fresh air will do you good.” Iruka snapped before turning on his heel and disappearing into the kitchen.

“Ouch, Hatake, he’s brutal . . . how do you put up with that?” Asuma groaned, cradling his head in his hands, “He’s worse than Kurenai with PMS.”

“Watch it.” the warlord growled, “It’s not like you don’t deserve it. After all, you’re the ones that burst in here and interrupted us . . . he’s embarrassed.”

Genma decided that was his cue “I’ll go talk to him.” he declared as he stood, swaying slightly, and headed towards the kitchen. The commander and his generals watched him go, silently commending his bravery as they turned their conversation to what had been happening on the front since the rockslide.

“Hey Iruka.” the courier called as he slipped into the kitchen, “Are you okay?”

The scribe turned, keeping a tight grip on the counter. “I’m alright.” he said softly before, blushing a deep crimson, “I just wasn’t expecting visitors so early.”

“There’s really nothing to be embarrassed about.” the courier said kindly, “Kakashi walked in on us a while back . . . I was so worried about what he’d think of me, but he didn’t seem to even notice.” He stared at the ground pensively before looking up and gracing the scribe with a wide smile, “I can tell you when a good time is to walk in on us . . . then you can even the score.”

Iruka blushed even brighter at the thought, covering his eyes as he squealed “No thank you Genma, although I appreciate the offer.”

“Anything to help a friend.” the courier replied cheekily before pulling out cups and condiments and putting them on a tray. He nodded at Iruka and took his tray into the main room, placing a cup in front of each man before plopping into his chair. “Crisis averted.” he said smugly and Kakashi and the generals all sighed in relief.

A little while later, after the medic had come and gone, Genma was dispatched with a letter for Kurenai while Raidou dragged Asuma back to his tent. Once they were alone Iruka turned to the warlord and fixed him with hard eyes. “What about Yakushi Kabuto?”

“He trained Hajime . . .” Kakashi replied slowly, “He spent five years feeding him poison with the intent of killing me, not to mention what he did to you . . . to all those young boys . . .” he was cut off by the low voice of his lover.

“Kakashi,” the scribe ground out, “what did you do?”

“I cut off his balls and gave him to the men as a plaything . . . I almost cut out his tongue as well.” the warlord turned sad eyes on his lover, “He hurt you ‘ruka, I could never forgive that. He more than deserves his fate.”

“You mean he’s still alive?” the scribe barely voiced the question.

“Last I heard . . . apparently the men are pleased with his performance.” the warlord said coldly while Iruka stared at him in shock, unsure what he felt about this new information.