Fanning the Flames

Chapter Forty-Nine

By the time Hinata came out to the waiting room to give them a report a sizable crowd had gathered. She was surprised to see Genma and the Hokage off to one side, locked in a heated argument with Kurenai, Asuma and Gai.

“Uhm, excuse me,” she tried timidly. “You really need to take this somewhere else.”

“Fair Hinata,” Gai boomed. “I Was Most Impressed By The Way You Defended My Rival. Perhaps You Would Consent To Spar With Me Sometime? I Have Never Gotten A Proper Chance To Test My Skills Against The Gentle Hand Technique.”

“But you were Neji's teacher,” she protested.

“Alas, Neji Was Very Secretive When It Came To His Fighting Techniques. Although I Have Seen Him Fight In Battle, He Would Never Go One On One With Me.” Gai studied her intently for a moment. “I Will, Of Course, Keep Your Family's Secret. Wild Dogs Could Not Drag It From Me. Should I Divulge It I Will . . .”

“Enough, Gai,” Iruka insisted. “My head hurts as it is. Hinata, please, just say you'll go out with him so we can have some peace and quiet.”

“Go out with . . . oh no,” she demurred as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I'm sure that's not what Gai-sensei meant, Hokage-sama.”

“Just Gai,” the green beast assured her. “There Is No Need For Such Formality Between Us.”

“I would be honored to spar with you sometime, Gai,” the shy heiress whispered as she studied her feet.

“Hinata, what's going on with Kakashi?” Kurenai demanded.

“He and the baby are going to be alright. Hatake-san is confined to the hospital until after the birth though. We need to monitor them both very closely.” Hinata wrung her hands, unsure if she should bring up the issue that was bothering her. “He can't have any visitors until tomorrow. I think you should all just go home and come back then.”

“We'll take Obito then,” Iruka decided. “Just until Kakashi is well again.”

“Oh no you will not,” Kurenai snapped. “I'll take care of Obito. I'm the only one set up for babies. Besides, once you get your hands on him who knows if you'd give him back?”

“I'm sorry to disappoint you both,” Hinata said firmly. “Obito will be staying here with Hatake-san. We have a fully equipped nursery, after all. It would be unfair to keep them apart. They need time to bond before the new baby arrives.”

“A Wise Decision, Fair Hinata,” Gai said in a whisper heard in the next village. “I Would Have To Protest Any Effort To Separate My Rival From His Son.”

“But the nursery is so clinical,” the Hokage pointed out. “That's hardly a nurturing environment.”

“He won't be in the nursery unless Hatake-san is asleep, Hokage-sama. He's confined to bed, not unconscious. It will be important to keep his spirits high. Obito certainly does that. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get back to work.” She turned and headed back down the corridor, head held high, and refused to look back at the chaos that erupted behind her.

*^*^*

Ibiki finished his paperwork and pushed back from his desk. He wondered if perhaps he should go check on the copy-nin and his family. It had been a bit harsh locking them up when Ebisu was obviously the problem. He isn't well, a small voice in the back of his head piped in. You could lose them both.

He shook his head to clear it of the unsettling thought. Still, I better go check. He grabbed his keys and headed downstairs, never noticing the pointed looks he received as he passed. Eventually one of the silent ANBU could no longer hold his tongue. “I can't believe you did that,” Bear spat at the startled interrogator.

“What are you going on about?”

“You arrested your own husband and child. If he dies a lot of us won't forgive you,” the ANBU snarled.

“If who dies?” Ibiki demanded. “I have no clue what you're talking about.”

“Hatake-senpai you ass,” Bear spat back.

“I'm sure he's fine,” the interrogator insisted. “I'm going to check on them now.”

“Well you won't find him down there. We rushed him to the hospital hours ago.”

Once again Ibiki felt an unsettling lurch in his midsection. Time for some food, I guess. “Well then, I won't bother,” he declared coldly. He turned and headed back to his office, shrugging on his trench coat and heading out to grab something to eat before going back to his apartment.

He stepped outside and almost ran right into an agitated Genma. “I hope you're headed to the hospital,” he threatened. “Kakashi needs you right now.”

“Let go of my arm, Shiranui.” The interrogator pulled himself free with an exaggerated flourish. “I don't know what everyone is so angry about. How was I to know he couldn't teleport?”

“Because he's your husband, numbnut.” The senbon sucker punctuated his words with a hard jab to the chest. “Now you've broken his heart and put his life in danger. Even if he forgives you, there are lots of people who won't. He's planning on leaving Konoha after the baby is born, you know. Unless you want your son and daughter raised as Sound-nin you'd best work on making things right.”

“Look,” Ibiki gritted out. “I have nothing against Hatake-san. He's a good ninja and a credit to the village. But he isn't my husband and I don't have any children. I'm not sure why everyone keeps trying to push us together.”

“You should at least go apologize for arresting him,” Genma insisted. “You even arrested the baby. I don't know what is going through that head of yours, but it's time to knock some sense into it. Go visit him . . .now.” He gave the reluctant interrogator a push towards the hospital, adding, “Come by for dinner when you're done. I'm sure Ru would love to know how Hatake's doing since he's barred from visiting.”

“You're telling me the Hokage is barred from visiting one of his shinobi?” Ibiki asked. “How on earth do you expect me to believe you when every statement you make is more unbelievable than the last?”

“Ru is a little . . . how to put it,” the senbon-sucker muttered as he studied his shoes. The last thing he wanted was to portray his lover in a bad light. Especially if that bad light involved the very intimidating interrogator's beloved husband and children. “He's been a bit overly concerned about Kakashi's welfare. To the point where Ru pissed him off. Now he's kinda on Hatake's shit list.”

“But he's the Hokage?”

“Of course he's Hokage. But Hatake's retired so he says he doesn't have to listen. Just come with me,” Genma insisted. He grabbed the interrogator's arm and began towing him toward the hospital.

“People don't touch me,” Ibiki rumbled warningly.

Genma rolled his eyes but didn't loosen his grip. “I've touched a hell of a lot more of you than this. Now move your slow ass.”

“What do you mean you've touched more of me?” the interrogator asked as he dug in his heels.

Genma shifted his senbon from side to side, contemplating for a moment. Then he spit it out and pulled the unsuspecting torture master into a deep wet kiss. “We've had sex,” he whispered into the scarred man's ear. “You liked it.”

Ibiki just gaped. “I would never,” he sputtered.

“Oh, but you did. You slept with Ru, too. We even had a foursome. You guys gave it to us for a wedding present. I can't believe you've forgotten . . . so hot,” Genma purred.

“You're telling me,” the interrogator growled, “that I had sex with the Hokage and I don't remember.”

“Exactly.” The smug smile adorning the senbon-sucker's face proved to be too much of a temptation and seconds later a massive fist wiped it away.

“You sick asshole. Say something like that again and I'll kill you.”

“It's the truth. Sorry if it's too tough for your delicate sensibilities,” Genma muttered as he massaged his jaw. “Fine. Ruin your life. Ruin Hatake's life. Stay the hell out of mine. I've waited too long for what I have now, I won't let you or anyone else ruin it.”

“I don't want to have anything to do with your life.”

“This impacts my life more than you can possibly imagine. Believe me, I wouldn't be wasting my time arguing with you otherwise. Besides, you still need to go to the hospital and apologize,” the senbon-sucker insisted. “It's your fault Hatake's in there. Of course, he may not want to see you. I wouldn't after what you've done.”

“Of course he'll want to see me,” Ibiki insisted. “He's supposed to be my husband, isn't he?”

“So now you're admitting he's your husband?”

“No, idiot, but if he was he'd want to see me. Therefore if you want to convince me that he is, then of course, he'll see me,” the interrogator decided.

“You really don't remember him very well, do you?” Genma chuckled. “You're in for a rude awakening. Hatake isn't playing some game and he's not on a mission. You've hurt him badly. He might never take you back.”

“So, why am I bothering to go to visit then?” Ibiki pulled his arm free and teleported away, leaving the hapless senbon-sucker glaring at the pair of drifting leaves left in his wake.