Warlord

A/N - Sorry for the delay . . . real life has been demanding lately, I'll try to get back on schedule!! Thanks for sticking with me, I know this one is dragging on a bit!


Chapter Fifty

Raidou wearily watched the last of the men assemble for muster. I’ll be so glad when this campaign is over, he thought wearily, anxious to have command back in someone else’s hands. “Hey Gen,” he called, “have we heard from Asuma or Kakashi?”

“Nothing yet . . . did you want me to go check?” the courier replied, willing to do whatever he could to bolster his lover’s confidence.

“Well . . . I don’t want you to, but I’m going crazy waiting for news.” the general mused.

“Fine.” Genma said with a smile, “I’ll leave now, I’ll be back tomorrow. Just relax and concentrate on what you’ve got going on here.” With that he turned and headed out with a wave, leaving Raidou to brief the men on the day’s strategy.

Iruka sleepily raised his head, someone’s knocking, he thought blearily. “Leave it outside the door.” he slurred, sure it was staff with their breakfast tray.

“I can’t.” Asuma’s voice came back, “I need to see him.”

“General Sarutobi?” Iruka queried as he struggled into a robe and cracked open the door, “‘kashi’s asleep.” he said primly.

“He’s making a huge mistake.” Asuma said sincerely, “I would never betray him. He has to know that.”

“I’m afraid he knows nothing of the sort.” the scribe replied slowly, “You did relieve him of command after all . . . and you weren’t honest with him about it. Why should he trust you?” he demanded.

“Because I’m trying to protect him.” the general practically spat. “Look Iruka, I like you . . . but you have no real understanding of the forces at work here.” he ran his hand through his hair before continuing, “Raidou and I are trying to balance what’s best for everyone, and taking the risk of possibly having the commander assassinated is not on our agenda.”

“Even if I believe you, that doesn’t mean ‘kashi will . . . or that I should for that matter.” Iruka responded slowly, “I’m sorry, but I won’t second guess him on this. He doesn’t want to see you . . . at least give him a couple days to wrap his mind around things before you confront him, then maybe he’ll be willing to listen. If you try now I guarantee it’ll fall on deaf ears.”

“I just hate the idea that he feels we betrayed him.” Asuma said wearily.

“‘kashi’s right, even if it wasn’t in the way he thinks you did betray him, you went behind his back and plotted all this out with Raidou. Go back to Kurenai and the baby General, I’ll tell him you stopped by when he wakes up.” Iruka finished coldly, “Right now though, I’m going back to bed.” With that he turned and shut the door on Asuma, slipping quietly back into bed.

“Thank you for standing up for me.” the warlord said quietly.

“You’re awake?” the scribe exclaimed, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“You were doing such a wonderful job defending me . . . it made me happy to hear how you stood up to him.” Kakashi said with a smile.

“He’s very upset.” Iruka replied seriously, “But that doesn’t excuse what he did . . . thinking about it for a few days will do him good.”

“My hero.” the warlord quipped, leaning in to capture the scribe’s lips in a tender, loving kiss. “How can I possibly fret over anything else happing to me when I’m lucky enough to have you?”

“You can’t.” the scribe breathed, “So just kiss me and don’t think about anything else.”

“My favorite idea yet.” Kakashi husked as he recaptured his lover’s lips. The kiss grew more passionate as he pushed Iruka onto his back, rolling on top of him and grinding their rapidly hardening lengths together. “Let’s see how distracted I can get.”

“‘kashi,” the scribe interjected, “you need to sleep, you’re still recovering.”

“Then help me relax so I can.” he whispered enticingly, rocking his hips insistently into the scribe’s, smiling in satisfaction when Iruka responded.

“You’ll never heal if you keep this up.” the scribe warned.

“Good, then I can stay in bed and have you dote on me forever.” Kakashi replied.

“No . . . then you’ll never be strong enough to do what I’ve been thinking about.” Iruka teased, “Wouldn’t you like to know what that is?”

“Are you going to tell me?” the warlord inquired, “Or should I guess?”

“Why don’t you demonstrate?” the scribe suggested, “It will make the game more fun.”

Kakashi husked a single word, “Alright.”, before capturing Iruka’s mouth again. The scribe writhed and squirmed as the warlord continued his ministrations, rolling him onto his stomach and moving down the smooth bronze expanse of his back to nip and suck pert buttocks. The scribe moaned loudly as a dancing tongue and agile fingers eased him open. When the broad head of his lover’s cock finally pushed inside, he wailed his pleasure and pushed back, reveling in the sensation of being filled completely.

Kakashi kept up a constant stream of endearments, bending his head to husk them into a delicate ear. That tender growl, coupled with overstimulation inside and out caused the scribe to rocket to new levels of arousal, screaming his pleasure as he shook, clamping down hard on the cock inside him, velvety walls milking the warlord dry.

Kakashi gently pulled out and rolled to the side, pulling the scribe with him, holding him close in the protective circle of his arms as their heartbeats slowed. “That wasn’t what I was thinking of . . . try again.” Iruka quipped.

“Sleep now, then I’ll be happy to.” the warlord mumbled, eyes already slipping shut. The scribe watched fondly, not even realizing when he, too, slipped into the realm of dreams.

Genma paced back and forth in the entryway. “So what, exactly, am I supposed to tell the General?” he inquired.

“Tell him Kakashi believes we’ve stolen his command, and he isn’t happy about it.” Asuma replied wearily, “I can’t even get past Iruka to try and explain.”

“Rai’s going to bust a gasket when he hears this.” the courier fretted, “He’s uneasy enough about the whole thing and under too much pressure.”

“We’re all under pressure.” Asuma snapped, “Believe me, I’d love to change places with him. Just tell him to keep up the offensive and you should break through in a few days . . . then he’ll be able to force the treaty on them.”

“Won’t that just lead to more dissent?” Genma asked in confusion.

“Yes and no . . . the rank and file won’t object, it will be the leaders. If Rai does his job they’ll lose the support of their own troops. And without your men behind you leadership is pointless.” Asuma explained, “That’s the lesson Kakashi’s forgotten. Hopefully this break will make the men realize how crucial his leadership is and make them appreciate him again, if not . . .” he trailed off, leaving unspoken the fact that the warlord would never return to power unless the men regained their trust in him. “Just tell him not to worry.” the general finished with a shake of his head, “I’ll see him in a couple weeks . . . and I’ll let him know where to contact me.”

“You won’t be here?” the courier replied.

“No, Iruka asked us to leave because it’s upsetting the warlord so Kurenai and I are heading out in the morning. I’ll send word once we’re settled. Is there anything else?”

“No,” Genma said slowly, dreading the delivery of this message, “I’ll tell him.”

“And Genma,” Asuma called after him as he turned to go “don’t let him do anything stupid.”