Fanning the Flames

Chapter Sixty-One

Gai knocked on the door and waited for a minute before politely knocking again. He could sense the chakra of the man he sought, but he was willing to be patient, after all, his mission was an important one. When several minutes had passed without any response the green beast tentatively pushed open the door and stepped inside, mindful of the fact that he was technically trespassing, but too intent on his goal to be deterred.

The low but steady chakra was easy to follow, so he headed down a corridor towards its source. He assumed the other man was probably meditating and was ready to wait until he could have his undivided attention. Gai knew if he left now it would be hard to summon the determination to come back. Never let it be said that Maito Gai was a coward but, still, this was different than battle, and much more important.

When he rounded the corner and spied the crumpled form the green beast began to panic. “Hyuuga-sama, are you alright?” he whispered urgently as he carefully turned the battered man over. “I'll go get Hinata-chan, you're injured.”

“NO,” Hiashi rasped. “I need to see Hatake-san.”

“You need a healer,” Gai insisted. “You're bleeding. Who attacked you?”

“I do not want my daughter to see me like this. Please,” the stoic clan head entreated, “just bring me Hatake-san.”

Unwilling to get on the bad side of the man he hoped would one day be his father-in-law, the taijutsu master rushed out of the building and across the compound. He dashed into Neji's house without knocking, yelling for Kakashi as soon as he crossed the threshold.

“What are you bellowing about?” the copy-nin stormed into the lounge to confront his friend. “I just put Obito down for a nap.”

“It's Hiashi,” the green beast gasped, as he bent over and tried to pull air into his lungs. “He's been attacked and is calling for you. He won't let me get Hinata or call a medic.”

“Stay here with the baby.” Kakashi skidded through the open door, heading unerringly for the chakra source pulsing weakly in one of the bedrooms. “Hyuuga-sama.”

His hoarse whisper spurred the battered man to raise his head and focus on the new arrival. “Thank you for coming, Kakashi-san.”

“Who did this to you?” the copy-nin demanded as he carefully lifted the clan leader and settled him on the futon. Without waiting for a response he began to push chakra into the older man's injuries, knitting the torn tissues of his anus before turning to the dark ring of bruises circling Hiashi's neck like a cruel collar.

“It doesn't matter,” the clan head insisted. “I deserved it.”

“No one deserves this,” Kakashi growled. “I didn't hear any alarms, your attacker can't have gotten far.”

“I need to talk to you.” Hiashi grabbed the copy-nin's arm like a life-line. “I have a confession to make.”

“What you need to do is tell me who did this to you. Whoever it is needs to be punished.”

“You don't understand . . .”

“Of course I do. I know it's embarrassing. Trust me, I won't let anyone know exactly what happened. I'm glad you sent Gai to get me instead of Hinata-chan, she shouldn't have to see you like this.” Kakashi pursed his lips and studied the Hyuuga patriarch, carefully choosing his words before continuing. “You know my history, obviously. Believe me, you can't just shrug this off. It will eat at you if you don't face it.”

“I've been watching you,” Hiashi whispered. “Ever since you made jounin. I'm no better than Sandaime.”

“I don't understand.”

“I wanted you in my bed,” the older man admitted. “I can't count the number of times I fantasized about it. Then, when you moved in here . . . well, I couldn't resist. I've been walking around with an erection, masturbating three or four times a day. I even spied on you and Neji. I'm so ashamed. Can you ever forgive me?”

“What does that have to do with you being attacked?” the copy-nin pressed.

“Shibi caught me.” Hiashi buried his face in his hands and let out a strangled sob. “I've ruined everything. He demanded to know how long and I couldn't tell him. I was too embarrassed. He was . . . distraught.”

“That's no excuse,” Kakashi hissed angrily. “Would you accept that if Ibiki did the same to me? I'm going to go have a talk with him.”

“No.” A strong hand wrapped around the copy-nin's arm and held him in place. “That would be a very bad idea.”

“I'm not afraid of Shibi,” Kakashi snorted. “He needs to be set straight. That's exactly what I plan on doing. You did nothing wrong. You've never so much as looked at me cross-eyed. What goes on in your head is your own business . . . not his.”

“Don't hurt him,” the proud Hyuuga pleaded. “I don't want him hurt, not because of me.”

“I promise not to lay a finger on him. We're just going to talk.” The copy-nin forced a pleasant smile onto his face. “You need to rest now.” He carefully pulled a blanket over Hiashi, smoothing long chocolate strands with a surprisingly gentle hand. “I'll be back very soon . . . I promise.” With one last look at the older man's tear-streaked face he strode out of the room, mouth compressing into a rigid line the minute he was out of sight.

* ^ * ^ *

“Sweetheart, where are you going?” Ibiki's calm question stopped the furious copy-nin in his tracks.

“I need to go have a talk with Aburame-san,” Kakashi explained. “Could you get out of my way, please?”

“You aren't supposed to be out of bed. That includes storming through the village scaring half the civilians into hiding.” The torture master grabbed his husband's arm, refusing to let him continue until he got the explanation he was waiting for.

“It's none of your business,” the copy-nin snarled. “I'm afraid you'll just have to trust me.”

“Of course I trust you. But I'm worried about our child. Getting this upset is bad for your blood pressure, that means it's hurting Katsumi, too.”

“I'm not a child.” Kakashi yanked his arm free and wheeled on the startled interrogator. “This is something that has to be taken care of. Once I've finished I'll go home and get back in bed . . . happy?”

“I'd be extraordinarily happy if you'd come home,” Ibiki whispered. He carefully smoothed tousled sliver out of the copy-nin's eye. “I'm there whenever you want to talk. I miss you so much . . . “ He studied his husband's rigid form longingly before finally dropping his hand. “In any event, I'm around if you need anything. Would you like me to go with you?”

“I have it under control . . . but thank you.”

The smile that lit Ibiki's face would have rivaled Gai's best. “I love you, 'kashi. Please be careful.”

* ^ * ^ *

Aburame Shibi was systematically destroying everything in his private apartments. He ignored the pounding on the door and the frantic voices demanding entry. His hive buzzed furiously, reacting to his state of mind and filling the room with a buzzing cloud.

When Shino finally arrived he took one look at the mayhem and ordered everyone else out. When the corridor had finally cleared he tapped once and announced, “It's me father, I'm coming in.”

He forced the door, his hive hovering around him protectively as he took in the chaos before his eyes settled on Shibi's slumped form. “What happened? I've never seen you lose control like this.”

“I'm fine,” the Aburmae patriarch replied coldly. “Everything is just fine. I'd like to be left alone, please.”

“I can't just leave you like this,” Shino argued. “Obviously something has upset you terribly. Is there something I can do?”

“You can leave us alone.” The copy-nin's deadly quiet reply startled both men, heads whipping around to see the infamous nin standing grimly in the open door frame.

“My father is upset at the moment Hatake-san,” Shino explained. “If you could just come back later . . .”

“I'm afraid that won't be possible. We need to talk, and it needs to be now,” Kakashi insisted. “It won't take long.”

“I'll be fine,” Shibi assured his son. “Hatake-san and I have important matters to discuss.”

Shino looked from one to the other, skepticism clear. “I'll be right outside if you need me.”

“So, why are you here,” Shibi demanded as soon as the door closed.

“You hurt the man you're supposed to love. Why?”

“Didn't he tell you? He doesn't love me,” the Aburame spat. “He's obsessed with you.”

“He's never acted on it,” the copy-nin hissed back. “Are you telling me you're so perfect you've never been attracted to someone? Never gotten turned on by anyone else?”

“No, of course not. But this wasn't just a one time occurrence.”

“So? How does that give you the right to attack, to rape, someone you claimed to love? It seems to me that you're the dishonorable one. Hiashi-san has never touched me, never propositioned me. Yes, he has an unhealthy obsession. That's something you should have helped him get over. Instead you behaved worse than any of the so-called clients I serviced. I think you need to take a hard look at your behavior . . . and then crawl back and ask for forgiveness. Not that you deserve it.”

“I'm not the one who was jerking off to thoughts of another man.” Shibi's harsh condemnation had the copy-nin crossing the room to stand noses to nose with the agitated bug wielder.

“You're a fool then,” Kakashi decided. “If you really love someone you forgive them and try to work things out.”

“Like you're forgiving Ibiki?”

“As a matter of fact, I have,” the copy-nin admitted. “I'm just not ready to risk being hurt again. That's a whole different matter. I never said you had to like what Hiashi did. You have every right to feel hurt. But hurting him in return was petty and childish. Now you're in the wrong. I think he's a better man than you, because I know he's forgiven you already.”

Kakashi turned and headed for the door, stopping with his hand on the knob to add, “Just think about what I've said. Don't throw everything away because your feelings were hurt. Believe me, in the long run it leaves you just as alone.”

The minute the copy-nin left Shino rushed back into his father's room. “Are you alright? Hatake-san looked awfully angry.”

“I've behaved disgracefully. Hatake-san had every right to call me on it,” Shibi admitted. “I'd like to be alone for awhile. I need to figure out how to make things right.”

* ^ * ^ *

Kakashi smiled at the sight that greeted him on his return. Gai had fallen asleep feeding Obito. The sight of his son held so tenderly in the green beast's arms, coupled with the stress of the day, had tears rising to his eyes.

“Hello precious on,” he murmured as he lifted the infant from his perch. “We need to go check on Hiashi-sama. You should help cheer him up.” The copy-nin scribbled a note for his friend and headed toward the main house, Obito snuggled comfortably on his shoulder while bright eyes studied everything intently.

“I'm back,” he said softly before sliding the door open. “How are you doing? Do you need anything?”

“You don't have to take care of me,” the Hyugga patriarch replied stiffly. “I brought this on myself.”

“Nonsense. Obito and I thought we'd come keep you company for a while. It gets lonely at Neji's now that he's off on a mission,” the copy-nin admitted. “It's nice to spend time with another adult.”

“I would think you'd want to get as far away as possible after the shameful way I've behaved toward you,” Hiashi admitted. “I don't deserve your kindness.”

“You haven't done anything to me,” Kakashi chided. “And I enjoy your company. Why don't I fix us something to eat and we'll talk over dinner. You'll feel better with something in your stomach.” He carefully laid his son on the futon next to the older man. “Keep an eye on Obito for me, I'll be back in a few minutes.”