Into the Fire

Chapter Forty-Two

Hi, I’m home, Kakashi ventured, no, that’s assuming a lot, I’m back . . . that sounds flat . . . I’ve missed you, well that’s not entirely true and he knows it . . . the copy-nin’s mind whirled as he tried desperately to come up with something to say, hand frozen halfway to the bell.

“Can I help you?” Ibiki asked as he opened the door, “Oh Ka . . . Hatake-san, you’re back.” he blurted in surprise.

“My things are here.” the copy-nin mumbled as he examined his feet.

“I had them moved to your house.” the interrogator explained as he fumbled for the key, “Here you go.”

“I don’t have a house.” the jounin retorted suspiciously, “Where are my things?”

“Hokage-sama reacquired your family home for you.” the scarred man explained, “All your belongings are there.”

“Oh.” Kakashi breathed, “I’ll be going then.” He forced his feet to turn away from the one place in the village he’d expected to be welcome, trudging towards the tower in an attempt to delay his inevitable return to his childhood home . . . a place he hadn’t set foot in since his father’s suicide.

By the time he reached the tower he was debating the wisdom of just returning to Oto. At least I’m wanted there, the copy-nin thought mournfully, here I’m just an embarrassment. He slowly dragged his feet toward the Hokage’s office, knocking on the door and waiting for admittance.

“Hatake-san, you’re back.” Iruka exclaimed in delight, rising from behind his desk and coming forward to greet the jounin.

“Thank you for allowing me to return, Hokage-sama.” Kakashi replied deferentially, “I am reporting for interrogation.”

“Why?” the Rokudaime asked wryly.

“I have consorted with traitors . . . obviously I need to be debriefed to assure my loyalty.” the copy-nin said in surprise, “What were you planning on doing with me?”

“I thought we could sit down and talk about what happened . . . I don’t think you’ll lie to me.” Iruka studied the masked man carefully before continuing, “You, of all people, have more than proved your loyalty. So,” he went on as he seated himself in a comfortable chair, motioning for his guest to do the same, “would you like something to eat or drink . . . you must be tired, did Asuma go straight home?”

“I’m afraid I left Asuma along the way . . . he wanted to stop for the night, I was in a hurry to get back.” Kakashi explained, “I hope you aren’t upset. The treaty is signed, he has it with him. Uchiha Itachi is the new Otokage . . . for now, at least. I hoped you might let me act as ambassador between our villages. I promised to visit them.”

“It’s nice to hear you were in such a hurry.” the Hokage said with delight, mentally rubbing his hands at the thought of what it might mean for the interrogator. “What will you do now?”

“Go home, I guess.” the copy-nin admitted reluctantly, “Apparently I have one.”

“Did you not want it?” Iruka asked with concern, leaning forward to study the masked face carefully, “I assumed you were living there before you ran low on funds.”

“I haven’t set foot inside that house since my father died.” Kakashi explained earnestly, “I’ve lived in the bachelor apartments since Minato’s death . . . I never got around to moving back to the house. I guess I can’t put it off any longer.”

“If it makes you uncomfortable . . .” the Rokudaime began, only to be cut off.

“It’s fine, you went to so much trouble on my behalf . . . there’s absolutely no reason I can’t stay there.” the copy-nin was quick to assure him. “Did you wish me confined at home?”

“I don’t want to confine you at all.” the former teacher exclaimed, “You misunderstand me. You are free to do as you wish . . . I was actually wondering if you were planning on returning to active duty, I have some projects I’d love to have your input on.”

“Don’t you want to know about what happened?” the puzzled jounin asked.

“Well . . . we know you were drugged and kidnapped from Ibiki’s home by Kabuto. Genma and Inuzuka Tsume tracked you to Orochimaru’s . . . that’s where they captured Gen. Thank you so much for risking yourself to help him escape.” Iruka continued passionately, “I don’t think I could survive without him.”

“I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.” Kakashi muttered, “Unfortunately my plan backfired. Tsunade killed Kabuto thinking he was Genma . . . she wanted to force Oro-sama to take over my body. She pushed him too hard though and he killed her . . . I wasn’t sorry when she died.” he proclaimed aggressively, “But the knowledge necessary for the body transfer died with her . . .” he trailed off mournfully, staring off into space for a long time as he relived the last few days with his dying lover. “So in reality, I killed Orochimaru. I didn’t mean to,” he sobbed, tears running unnoticed down his face, “but that doesn’t change the result. I’m a very bad person.”

“No, no, you aren’t a bad person.” the Hokage soothed, patting the unruly silver mop as he held the weeping man tightly, “You couldn’t have foreseen the chain of events. You stayed with him, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did . . . how could I not. He needed me so . . . as I needed him.” the copy-nin said dully, “It was nice not being alone.”

“You don’t have to be alone Hatake-san.” Iruka exhorted sincerely, “Just give yourself some time.”

“That would be unwise Hokage-sama.” the jounin replied deferentially, “I bring bad luck to those close to me, it’s best if I remain alone.”

“I don’t believe that Kakashi.” the teacher proclaimed with an emphatic shake of his head, “We’re ninja . . . terrible things happen to ninja, and they have nothing to do with you. Your sensei died sealing the kyuubi . . . how was that your fault?”

“It should have been me . . . he was too important to sacrifice. I had volunteered, it was going to be me, I’d copied the jutsu with my sharingan, I was ready and then . . . he must have knocked me out, when I came to it was over and he was dying in my arms.” He turned his tear-stained face toward the dumb-struck Rokudaime, “It was my fault.”

“Oh Kakashi.” Iruka breathed, “How can we ever make up for what’s happened to you?” He pulled the miserable jounin close, rubbing comforting circles on his back until his ragged breathing eased before pulling back to examine him critically. “You’re nothing but skin and bones . . . how long has it been since you’ve eaten?”

“The last few weeks have been . . . difficult for me.” the copy-nin murmured, “I haven’t done much but sleep. I guess I’ve lost more weight than I thought.”

“Ibiki will have a cow when he sees you looking like this.” the Hokage continued thoughtfully, “He’s been worried sick about you.”

“You don’t need to lie to me Umino-san.” Kakashi replied softly, “I saw Morino-san before I came here . . . he couldn’t wait to get rid of me. Did he even answer my scrolls at all, or were you just trying to lure me back here at any cost?”

“I wouldn’t do something like that Hatake-san.” Iruka replied sharply, affronted by the underlying accusation, “Did you ask how he got injured?”

“Ibiki was injured . . . who hurt him?” the copy-nin rasped angrily.

“Gai-san . . . apparently Ibiki agreed to a competition in order to learn more about you . . . unfortunately the pair of them had been drinking heavily first . . . let’s just say he’ll think more than twice about challenging the green beast again . . . that and he probably won’t be drinking for a while.” the Rokudaime snickered as he recalled the morning in the hospital when he forced the details out of his master interrogator.

“Is that why he doesn’t want anything to do with me?” Kakashi’s visible eye radiated his confusion, “I don’t understand.”

“Just give him some time.” Iruka urged, “Everything will work out . . . now, shall we talk reparation?”

“I’m sorry Hokage-sama,” the copy-nin stammered in surprise, “I’m afraid I don’t have the funds for that . . . perhaps if I contacted Itachi he could arrange for me to borrow some money from Oto to repay the village.”

“What are you talking about?” the Rokudaime exclaimed in surprise, “You don’t owe us anything . . . Konoha, on the other hand, owes you a debt I don’t know how to repay. Obviously I’ve done what I could to restore your finances . . . I repurchased your house, and your bank account has been credited for missions and expenses for the last three years . . . at S-rank pay . . . but that doesn’t begin to restore what you have lost.”

“Why would you do that for a whore like me?” Kakashi asked in a very small voice, “I’m not worth all this.”

“Of course you are.” Iruka protested, “In all fairness, you’re the one who should be in this office, not me . . . do you wish my job Hatake-san?”

“Oh no, no Hokage-sama . . . I am not fit for the office. You are a good man, it will be my pleasure to serve you. I will return to duty, if that is your wish.” the copy-nin replied formally.

“Wonderful . . . report here to me in three days, you’re on leave until then.” the Rokudaime ordered, “We’re glad you’re back Kakashi.” he concluded, giving him a brief hug before watching the lanky jounin amble aimlessly out of the office. “Bear,” he summoned, “follow Hatake-san and make sure he gets home undisturbed. Keep watch on him . . . for his protection, don’t let him know you’re there and don’t interfere with anything he may choose to do . . . well, stop him if he tries to harm himself, otherwise no interference.”

“What the fuck did Ibiki do?” Genma’s voice rang out as soon as the ANBU departed.

“I have no clue.” his lover replied in frustration, “Obviously it wasn’t well received.”

“Should I go talk to him?” Genma asked, “He’s going to blow it.”

“In the morning.” Iruka decided, “Let’s let them sleep on it.”