Fanning the Flames

Chapter Sixty-Two

One of the advantages to being head of Torture and Interrogation was the ability to snoop into anything that caught his interest with impunity. Therefore Ibiki had no qualms about summoning a squad of ANBU and assigning them as watchdogs. “Rabbit, you follow Hyuuga Hiashi. Ox, you're assigned to Aburame Shibi. Owl, keep tabs on Kakashi. Something is going on with the three of them. I need to know what it is before it blows this village apart.”

“Why don't you just ask Hatake-senpai? I'm sure he'd tell you.” Ox insisted.

“Only if he wanted to,” the interrogator muttered. “If they get together I want to know about it. But at least one of you needs to keep an eye on them. Kashi's condition is delicate. Too much stress could kill him.”

Rabbit and Owl both headed toward the Hyuuga compound, slipping inside before trying to get a fix on the men they were searching for. “They're together, that makes it easy,” Rabbit whispered. “One of us should go let Morino-sama know.”

Owl headed back to the tower while Rabbit crept under the window to eavesdrop on the two nin.

“Excuse me Hyuuga-sama, I believe we have company.” The copy-nin threw open the window and grabbed the ANBU lurking the the bushes. “What business do you have here, kohai?” he growled.

“Boss sent us to keep an eye on you,” the frightened nin stammered.

“And who would the other half of us be?” Kakashi prodded. “I only sense your chakra.”

“Owl went back to report,” Rabbit admitted. “Because you were together.”

“It's none of Ibiki's concern who I'm with,” the copy-nin insisted. “Now get the hell out of here before I chidori your ass.”

“But, senpai, I'm on a mission. I can't just abandon it.”

“Yes, you can. It's ridiculous, I'm not going to betray the village, neither is Hyuuga-sama. Go back and tell my so-called husband to mind his own business.”

“He said something is up with the three of you. He's worried it will pose a threat to the village,” Rabbit explained. “Since that is the mission directive, I'm afraid you'll have to accept my presence or kill me.”

“You want to know where I am, fine. Now you know. But I will not allow you to eavesdrop on my private conversations. So, either retreat to the edge of the compound or I will have to take action,” the copy-nin growled.

“My order was close surveillance,” Rabbit said with a shrug. “Do what you must.”

Kakashi shuffled across the room and shoved his feet into his sandals. “I'll be back as soon as I finish dealing with my oaf of a husband, Hyuuga-sama,” he said with a deep bow. “Please keep an eye on Obito for me.”

Rabbit was torn. On one hand the man who was surely the real reason for this 'observation' was currently waddling away from him at high speed. But, he'd sent Owl back to report, and if he followed the copy-nin it would leave Hiashi free to do as he chose. The Hyuuga patriarch was his assigned target, so the ANBU settled back into the bushes to watch and wait.

* ^ * ^ *

“What is your problem?”

“Can I help you, sweetheart? You should sit down, you look exhausted.” Ibiki tugged his husband over to the worn leather couch in the corner of his office and settled him into its cushions before rushing off to get him a bottle of water.

“I'm fine, stop fussing,” the copy-nin hissed. He swatted away the proffered drink. “Why do I have ANBU eavesdropping on me?”

“You were very upset before. You're staying at the Hyuuga compound. Hiashi and Shibi are dating. You were on your way to the Aburame compound. I wanted to know what set you off. I'm worried about you, and our daughter.”

“If I tell you will you drop it?” Kakashi asked. “It's private, they don't need it spread all over Konoha.”

“Assuming it doesn't pose a threat, certainly,” the interrogator agreed. “Now, what's going on between Hiashi and Shibi? More importantly, what does it have to do with you?”

“Apparently Neji's uncle finds me attractive. Shibi returned early from a mission and caught him masturbating. When Hiashi called my name I'm afraid he lost his temper. Shibi raped and choked him, then left him for dead. Gai found him and came to get me. I went to remind Aburame-san that we don't hurt the people we love, even when they hurt us.”

“So why are you punishing me then?”

“I'm not trying to punish you.” Silver bangs flopped over the copy-nin's face and his voice remained inscrutable. “I'm merely trying to do the safest thing for my children. If you left me again, I'd break and there would be no one to care for them.”

“I won't leave you. I promise. All I want is to have you back in our home. To love you and take care of you. You don't have to do everything on your own,” Ibiki insisted.

“I'll think about it,” the copy-nin agreed. “But you have to do away with the surveillance. It's ridiculous and embarrassing.”

“Is it? What were you doing with Hiashi, anyway?”

“I was fixing us dinner. Not that it's any of your business,” Kakashi snapped.

“I had the misfortune of seeing you getting fucked by his nephew. I don't think I could stand to see Hiashi enjoying you the same way,” the interrogator admitted.

“What on earth are you talking about? I haven't done any such thing.” The copy-nin glared at his husband. “Look at me. Who in their right mind would want to have sex with this?”

“I certainly would,” Ibiki husked. “In fact, it's probably easier to say who wouldn't. Pregnancy doesn't detract from your sex appeal. If anything you're more alluring now that you've ever been.”

“I look like I swallowed a pig,” Kakashi stated flatly. “I don't know what you think you saw, but I haven't done anything of the sort.”

“You've had no sexual contact with Neji?” The interrogator was obviously skeptical. After all, he'd seen them with his own two eyes.

“I didn't say that,” his husband grumbled. “He has needs. But nothing more than a blow job. Certainly nothing I'd describe as fucking.”

“Perhaps I dreamt it then.” Ibiki shook his head and forced his mind back on track. “In any event I don't want you between the two of them when they're arguing.”

“My god, what kind of a weakling do you take me for?”

“Not weak, never weak,” the interrogator assured him. “But Katsumi is so vulnerable now. Your body's under a lot of stress. You have an infant who needs round the clock care. You won't let me help you, I'm doing the only thing in my power.”

“I'd love to let you help me. Assuming I could trust you, that is. Until I can I'd just as soon leave things as they are.” Kakashi studied his husband. There were lines in his face he hadn't had before, and an overall aura of defeat hung in the air.

“I know you have issues when it comes to trust, sweetheart . . .”

“I have issues? Who left who? I don't have issues, I have realities,” the copy-nin argued. “You forgot me. I've never, ever forgotten you. Not for a moment.”

“You left me . . . twice,” Ibiki was quick to point out. “I didn't punish you for it.”

“You knew I was coming back. My goal was always to come home to you. You discarded me. It's not the same thing, not at all.” Kakashi took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing pulse. “Just let me live my life.”

“No. I refuse to lose you again. I'm a patient man. You'll change your mind, one day. When you do I'll be right here waiting for you.”

* ^ * ^ *

“How long are we going to stay here, anyway?”

“I thought you'd enjoy being home, koishii,” Itachi murmured soothingly. “I feel bad keeping you locked away in Oto with me.”

“I used to while away my days in the bars, bathhouses and brothels. Now they just don't hold the same allure,” Jiraiya admitted.

“You could go visit your nephew,” the Otokage suggested. “I'm sure he'd be glad to have some company.”

“Why don't we both go? I'm sure Obito would love to see his other father.”

“I don't want him to get used to me. It wouldn't be fair.”

“What could possibly be unfair about knowing your child?” Jiraiya pressed. “I know the brat won't object.”

“I'm not going to live much longer, that's why,” Itachi hissed. “I don't want him to go through losing a parent. It hurts too much.”

“We've been skirting this issue long enough,” the sannin decided. “Exactly what is your prognosis?”

“I've permanently destroyed the chakra pathways to my eyes using the mangekyou sharingan. Now they leak constantly, which throws off my brain waves. That's what causes the headaches. Each attack is more destructive than the one before. Eventually I will not be able to control my chakra at all and my heart will stop.”

Jiraiya gaped at his younger lover, trying to process the fact that Itachi would most likely die before him. “Why didn't you tell me how serious your condition is?”

“Because I wanted someone to love me,” the Uchiha admitted freely. “I'd been lonely for so very long. I thought, if I could just make you love me, I wouldn't need to die alone.”

“So, you tricked me?” the older man declared hotly. “And here I was actually starting to believe it was love.”

“I do love you,” Itachi insisted. “But, I am dying. That's why senpai wanted you trained for the job. Does this mean you're leaving me?”

“I don't know,” Jiraiya mumbled. “I need to think. I'm going out for a while.”

The last Uchiha wiped the tears from his cheeks and settled down to meditate facing the door. He needed to be at his best for when Jiraiya returned. This was one argument he had no intention of losing.