Into the Fire

Chapter Forty-Nine

The next couple of months passed quickly as the couple worked to turn the long disused house into a comfortable home. Days were filled with contractors and decision making, while the evenings found them cooking dinner together as they traded heated kisses. Kakashi, however, never seemed to relax completely, so Ibiki struggled to give the copy-nin the space to move on, watching with wary eyes as he spent more and more time at the memorial, coming home only to sit and stare blankly at the koi pond, his mind a million miles away.

“Kakashi,” the interrogator began tentatively, waiting until a piercing grey eye locked with his before continuing, “I think I’m going to move home for a while, give you some space.”

“If that is what you want.” the jounin replied softly, breaking eye contact to study his hands. “Is this it then . . . are you done with me?”

“No,” the scarred man replied sadly, “I’ll never be done with you. But you’re not ready to be loved. I’d hoped . . . “ he trailed off despondently for a moment, “I guess I hoped you’d fall madly in love with me, forget everything that’s happened and our life would be perfect. Who’d have thought I was a closet romantic?” he continued with a derisive snort. “I understand though . . . I really do. I’m not particularly lovable, am I?”

“You’re totally lovable.” Kakashi whispered, “There’s nothing wrong with you . . . I’m the problem. I’ve made so many mistakes . . . and every time I screw up, someone I care for dies. I can’t help but wish I could somehow make it right, but I can’t do that either. The amazing fucking copy-nin, a thousand worthless jutsu and I can’t seem to do anything for anyone.”

“Boss, you’re being awfully hard on yourself.” Pakkun growled from behind the interrogator.

“He’s right ‘kashi . . . besides, I disagree, you do a lot for me.” Ibiki insisted, “You’re the only person to even try to get to know me in more years than I care to remember. When I’m with you I feel alive . . . vital . . . important. I laugh and I smile and I’m actually happy.”

“You’re leaving me because you’re happy?” the copy-nin prodded sarcastically, “I’ve never heard that one before.”

“I’m leaving because you aren’t happy.” the scarred man corrected him, “What would you like me to do?”

“You’ve already decided.” Kakashi declared, standing and turning his back on the interrogator to stare into the shifting water.

“When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting for you.” Ibiki assured him, “No matter how long it takes.”

“You might as well go back to Iruka and Genma.” the copy-nin declared bitterly, “They’ll make you happy.”

“No, they won’t . . . and I’m not going to make the mistake of giving it a try to be sure.” the interrogator growled angrily, “I have no intention of doing anything other than waiting for you to come back to me.”

“And if that doesn’t happen?” Kakashi queried pointedly.

“Then I’ll be alone . . . it won’t be the first time.” the scarred man replied decisively, “You’re worth waiting for.” He slowly moved forward, wrapping his arms around the rigid jounin, pulling him into a tight embrace and kissing him passionately. “I love you ‘kashi, and I always will . . . just remember that.” he declared when he broke away, reluctantly pulling back and heading into the house, leaving the copy-nin to stare after him pensively.

“You’re making a mistake whelp.” Bull rumbled warningly, “Talk to him about what’s bothering you . . . and none of that ‘I’m bad luck’ crap either . . .”

“I can’t,” the copy-nin admitted reluctantly, “I’m afraid of what he’ll think.”

“You have to.” the hound insisted, “Trust me on this, he’ll listen and try to understand.” Kakashi glared at his nin-ken, sighing in frustration when Bull just glared back, eventually giving up and wandering into the house in search of the interrogator.

“There are things about me you need to know.” Ibiki turned to stare in shock at the man addressing his back.

“You can tell me anything ‘kashi.” the scarred man declared.

“Just promise you’ll let me finish without interruption.” the copy-nin insisted.

“Of course.” Ibiki promised, only to be graced with a disbelieving look before Kakashi reluctantly opened his mouth to speak.

“When I was very young Sandaime began to send me out to visit the outlaying nations . . . and the first place I went was Mist. The Mizukage,” he pursed his lips pensively, straining for the right words, “became enamored of me, so much so that he insisted that we formalize our relationship. Sandaime agreed . . . but only on the provision that I be allowed to return to Konoha for as long as he had need of me.” The copy-nin began to pace restlessly, unable to stay still and unwilling to see Ibiki’s reaction. “Rokudaime-sama received a message from the Mizukage several weeks ago demanding my return. We can’t afford a war with Mist . . . not over me . . . so I told the Hokage I would comply.”

“You’re going to Mist?” the scarred man gasped in horror.

“Actually, I’m going to Oto . . . ‘tachi will let me stay there and Hokage-sama can honestly say he doesn’t know where I am.” Kakashi explained carefully.

“You’re married?” Ibiki roared angrily as the realization hit home.

“Technically I guess that’s true . . . although I’m really more of a pet,” he husked bitterly, “I was only fifteen at the time and Sandaime arranged it.” the copy-nin elaborated, “I certainly didn’t consent.”

“When were you planning on telling me this?” the scarred man whispered, stopping dead when he realized Kakashi’s true intentions, “You weren’t going to say anything, were you?” the interrogator hissed, “You were just going to leave me.”

“I didn’t want to.” the copy-nin tried to assure him, “But I don’t know what other choice I have. I can’t drag the village into a war over one man, it goes against everything I believe in, so I certainly can’t stay here. If I were stronger I’d go and face the situation . . . but I can’t stomach going back to that . . . perhaps in Oto I’ll be safe. You, on the other hand, are crucial to the running of Konoha, you can’t leave, no matter where I end up. Do you have a better solution?”

“There has to be one.” Ibiki declared, “I’m not giving you up.”

“In any event it’s silly for you to move out when I’ll be leaving in the morning.” Kakashi continued inexorably, “I know it’s a lot to ask . . . but could you stay with me tonight. I’m going to miss you so much, I just . . . I just want a few hours more. I’m sorry . . . it’s so selfish of me . . .”

“I’ll stay.” the scarred man agreed, “I don’t want to leave you.” He pulled the despondent copy-nin into his arms, kissing him repeatedly, until the tense form slowly began to relax into his hold. The interrogator scooped Kakashi into his arms, continuing to kiss him tenderly as he navigated into the newly completed bedroom and stretched out on the bed with the jounin in his lap.

“Is this alright with you?” Ibiki husked uncertainly as he slowly unbuttoned the copy-nin’s shirt and pushed it back to expose the tempting planes of his chest to the interrogator’s gaze.

“Of course.” Kakashi murmured, “I’ve been trying to get you to move on for ages.”

“I refuse to rush this.” the scarred man muttered as he kissed his way across a prominent collar bone. “We will see each other again.” The interrogator followed a twisting scar from the side of the copy-nin’s neck down his chest to a soft pink nipple, flicking it with his tongue before blowing gently and watching it harden. “Mmmmm, I love the way you respond to me.” Ibiki rumbled before repeating the action on the other nipple, drawing a startled gasp from the silver-haired jounin when he licked down the length of a broad ribbon of scar tissue to his navel and kissed it softly.

Kakashi shivered when large hands carefully thumbed open his pants, slipping under the loosened waistband, fingers delicately stroking sensitive skin. “Shirt off please.” he husked, desperately trying to work the tiny buttons with the scarred man was doing such distracting things with his tongue. “My turn.”

“Not yet.” Ibiki insisted, sliding the copy-nin’s pants off to land haphazardly on the floor as he took the straining length deep in his throat, growling excitedly at the taste. “You taste so good.” he mumbled around his mouthful, causing the lithe jounin to moan wantonly and arch into the hot confines of his throat. The interrogator’s tongue traced circles around the head, flicking in the slit as he drew back before sliding the length deep in his throat yet again.

“Please.” Kakashi whined, pulling the scarred man’s head off his length, “It’s too much . . . I don’t want to come yet.”

“And why not?” the interrogator chuckled as he immediately dove back down on the copy-nin’s weeping erection.

“Because I want you inside me.” Kakashi groaned, thrashing his head when the scarred man cupped his balls and began to roll them while his tongue continued to tease his throbbing length.

“Un uh.” Ibiki grunted with a shake of his head, “Not until you’re mine.”

“I want to feel you.” the copy-nin pleaded, “Please.”

“That can be arranged.” the scarred man husked, quickly standing and stripping off his clothes before rejoining his lover on the bed. The interrogator carefully positioned himself over the slighter man, bending to capture his lips as he slowly lowered himself to press the full length of their bodies together, frantic whines erupting from Kakashi’s throat as their engorged lengths rubbed against each other.

“Oh gods, more.” the copy-nin whispered, nipping and sucking on a hard shoulder while his hands scrabbled for purchase on the interrogator’s broad back. Ibiki abruptly sat up, lifting the jounin to sit perched straddling his massive thighs. He wrapped an arm around Kakashi to steady him before licking his hand and encasing both of their erections, rubbing and massaging the heated flesh, both men eagerly thrusting against each other as their tongues battled for dominance.

Before long the copy-nin broke the kiss to throw his head back and groan, hips snapping of their own accord as he chased his release until he finally came with a long warbling cry of the interrogator’s name. The sight of Kakashi, beautiful face lost in pleasure, caused Ibiki’s balls to tighten warningly, and after only a few more thrusts he joined his lover, shooting his seed between them and letting out a deep grunt of satisfaction before collapsing next to the slender figure.

“I love you Kakashi.” he whispered to the drowsy copy-nin, “I promise I’ll figure this out.”