Fanning the Flames

Chapter Forty-Three

Jiraiya left the hospital at a run, heading for Hatake house. If Ibiki didn't remember his marriage it left his nephew alone and vulnerable. Normally he wouldn't care, but the last thing he wanted was his lover giving him grief.

The sannin tentatively pushed open the door and tiptoed inside. “Brat, are you here?”

“We're Back Here Jiraiya,” Gai boomed, and a shudder ran down the sannin's spine.

“Keep your voice down,” the Toad Sage muttered as he headed toward the bedroom. “You're gonna wake up the ba . . .by? Where's Obito?”

“Iruka-Sensei Plucked The Infant From My Rival's Arms And Teleported Away. Kakashi Sent The Pack After Them. He Hasn't Spoken Since,” the worried taijutsu master explained.

“First Ibiki, now this,” Jiraiya mumbled. “Hey brat, if this is the best you can do maybe I should take the kid back to 'tachi.”

The copy-nin lifted his head and sent a death glare in the sannin's direction. “Keep your hands off my son, old man. If Itachi wanted to raise him you wouldn't have sent the baby to me in the first place. Everyone needs to give me a little bit of credit. I'm not an invalid, nor am I insane. I'm preganant, it's hardly a terminal condition.”

“I'm just saying . . .”

“You're just meddling,” Kakashi retorted with a ferocious scowl. “I have the situation well in hand.”

“The pack will rip Iruka to shreds. Last I heard killing the Hokage was treason,” the sannin offered.

“Last I heard kidnapping was a crime, even in Konoha,” the copy-nin spat back. “I'll worry about the consequences once Obito's home safely.”

“ANBU won't wait to hear your explanation,” Jiraiya remarked drily.

“I trained most of them. I would be very surprised if any of them could manage to capture me, even in this condition.” The copy-nin stood and crossed his arms over his chest in what was meant to be an intimidating gesture. However, the way those corded arms rested on the bulge of his abdomen, coupled with the dark look he was sending in the sannin's direction, made him look more like a petulant three year old than one of the top entries in the Bingo Book.

“Ha, ha, ha, ha.” Jiraiya knew laughing was probably a bad response, but the longer he looked at his nephew, the more he saw the stubborn toddler Kakashi had been, not the man he was today. “You had the same look on your face when your father told you to wait another year before entering the academy.”

“Yare, yare,” the jounin snorted. “Who won that argument?”

“That's not the point.”

“I don't see a point old man, except, perhaps, picking on the pregnant man,” the copy-nin replied softly. “Do you have something helpful to add or not, Jiji? I'm sure 'tachi is anxious for you to get back.”

“I can't go back and tell him about this,” Jiraiya argued. “He'd kill me for leaving you alone.”

“Then don't tell him. I'll bring Obito to visit as soon as I can travel. Tell Itachi thank you for me.”

“I'm not leaving until you get this resolved,” the sannin insisted. “Call the pack and let's see what they've come up with.”

“You aren't my father Jiji. Stop telling me what to do,” Kakashi growled. “The pack is just fine where it is.”

“No they aren't. Unless you want to shame the name of Hatake all over again you'll summon them.”

“Perhaps You Should Listen To My Rival Jiraiya-Sama,” Gai ventured. “He Is A Difficult Man To Win An Argument With.”

“He's a spoiled brat, is what he is,” the Toad Sage spat venomously.

The copy-nin's scowl grew, but he bit his thumb and formed the signs, slapping his palm against the floor to release the jutsu. “Now what?” Pakkun groused. “Honestly, make up your mind.”

“We haven't found them yet, boss,” Bull added helpfully. “But we've narrowed it down.”

“Jiraiya here,” Kakashi grumbled angrily, “believes you are committing treason. I've called you back on his behalf.”

“I don't answer to him,” Bull decided. “I'll go back to hunting. We'll find the pup and bring him home. Don't worry about it.”

“I have total faith in you,” the copy-nin assured him. “I'm not the one who thought you'd attack the Hokage.”

“Has he been drinking?” Guroku asked. “We may look like dogs but we're not stupid.”

“Hello . . . Hatake-san, are you here?” Genma's voice floated back from the entrance. “May I come in?”

“Everyone else has,” the jounin sighed. “Yeah, we're in the back Genma. Did you find your asshole of a husband yet?”

“Someone here wants his father,” the tokubetsu cooed as he slipped into the room with Obito in his arms. “There you go little one, safe and sound.”

“Where's Iruka?” The copy-nin snatched his son from the senbon-suckr's arms, holding him close and murmuring words of comfort.

“He's at home now I think,” Genma replied softly. “Please, don't hold this against him. It's my fault, I just never realized how much he wanted a child of his own.

“What Does That Have To Do With Stealing Kakashi's Son?” Gai wanted to know. “The Council Needs To Know Of Hokage-Sama's Actions. This Is Not The Sort Of Behavior They Expect From One Of Our Leaders.”

“Let it go, Gai,” the copy-nin muttered. “I just want him to stay away. Can you assure me of that Shiranui?”

“I think he understands. He'll want to know how your pregnancy is progressing. May I come and check with you?” Genma asked gently.

“You can come. Not Iruka, I don't want him anywhere near my children.”

“What if the baby is his?” the tokubetsu wanted to know.

“It isn't, it can't be.” Kakashi shut his eyes and sighed, nuzzling Obito's head while he struggled for the words to explain. “It has to be Ibiki's. I don't have him anymore, at least I'll have his child. I refuse to even consider any other possibility.”

“Why don't we have the paternity test?” Genma suggested. “If it rules Iruka out it will be a lot easier for me to keep him away.”

“What if it doesn't?” the copy-nin shot back. “If Iruka's the father you won't be able to keep him away. What if it's you? He'd see that child as his, too.”

“If it's me we won't tell him.” The senbon-sucker knew his husband would never forgive him for what he was about to say. Still, he thought he was making the right decision. “In fact, don't bother testing me at all. As far as I'm concerned this is Ibiki's baby, plain and simple.”

“What do you want in return?” Kakashi asked suspiciously.

“Help us have a baby of our own. You've done it, twice in fact. With one of our own on the way he won't feel the need to be so obsessed with your child.”

“That Is A Lot To Ask Of My Rival,” Gai interrupted yet again. “I'm Sure He Won't Want To Get Pregnant Again Right Away.”

“You're getting pregnant again?” Jiraiya exclaimed.

“Not in this lifetime,” the copy-nin assured him. “Gai, Genma just wants help manipulating their DNA. I'm not going to be having the baby for them.”

“Are You Going To Carry The Child Genma?” Gai asked curiously, studying the tokubetsu in a way that made him distinctly nervous.

“Hell no,” the senbon-sucker barked. “I'm not a woman.”

“Neither am I,” Kakashi reminded him drily. “Watch what you say Shiranui.”

“Why don't you just use a surrogate? Suki did a wonderful job for Itachi and the brat,” Jiraiya suggested.

The copy-nin merely sniffed, cuddling Obito closer. “If she was so wonderful why do I have her baby? I don't see why you'd trust any woman willing to give up her baby.”

“I'm not you,” Genma admitted. “I don't think I could stand being pregnant. Ru might enjoy it, but that isn't feasible for the Hokage.”

“That's ridiculous,” Kakashi decided with a snort. “If it's what will make him happy, then what's the problem? Send him to see me in a few days and we'll talk about it.”

“Are you sure?” the tokubetsu worried.

“I said talk,” the copy-nin reminded him. “Other than that no contact for a while.”

“I think I'm going to go and give him the good news. Thank you for being so understanding Hatake-san.” Genma gave a low formal bow, following it up with a tight embrace. “Don't worry, I'm sure Ibiki will be home in a few days. I'll check in onyou tomorrow. Call if you need anything.”

“Privacy,” the jounin decided. “Just go already. I need to put Obito down for a nap.”