Fanning the Flames

Chapter Sixty-Three

After wandering around town aimlessly for a few hours Jiraiya decided to go visit his old hangout, the bathhouse. He hunkered down in a familiar spot just outside the women's pool and took a look through his long disused peephole.

As usual, there were some truly beautiful women lounging around the steaming pool. Even the ones that weren't pretty had the sexy, well-toned forms typical of kunoichi. Yet, for the first time since puberty, the toad sage was unimpressed. Every time he spotted one he found attractive, his mind would immediately start comparing her to the Uchiha . . . and the women were coming up short.

After a few more wasted hours Jiraiya finally admitted to himself that he wouldn't be happy until he made things right with Itachi. Even though he's the one who misled me, the sannin's wounded pride crowed.

He reluctantly stretched and made his way out of his hiding place. As unpleasant as the idea was, talking to Kakashi would probably be a good place to start. The sannin shuffled toward the Hyuuga compound, his mind toying with how he felt about the copy-nin's relationship with Neji. His nephew was as much an enigma to him as ever. He was so lost in thought he never noticed the jounin approaching from the opposite direction.

“What do you want, old man?” Kakashi was tired and his back hurt. The last thing he needed was a confrontation with his uncle.

“I need to talk to you about Itachi.”

“What did you do?”

“Why do you automatically assume I did something?” Jiraiya asked. “I'm not the one playing games with his emotions.”

The copy-nin studied the normally jovial sannin. His uncle looked every year of his age, and a brief flicker of concern tugged at the jounin's conscience. “Well come in then. You'll have to wait a minute while I collect Obito, I left in a hurry and he's still with Hiashi.”

“What were you doing with Hiashi?”

“Getting ready to have dinner.” Kakashi glared at the sannin. “Do not even go there, you old lech. He and Shibi had a nasty fight. I'm living in this compound under his protection. What am I supposed to do, ignore it?” He turned and leveled a particularly vicious glare at the nearby vegetation. “Owl, show yourself, now.”

“Hai, senpai.” The ANBU stepped out of the shadows and reluctantly approached the pair. “Do you need something?”

“I need you to get the hell away from me,” the copy-nin growled. “I do not care what kind of squilly hair my all-too-paranoid husband has up his ass. But if you and your partner in crime aren't outside the walls in the next 30 seconds, you'll be reporting back to him from a hospital bed. Any questions?”

“No, senpai.” The ANBU slipped back into the night, but Kakashi maintained his rigid posture until he sensed their chakra was well outside the boundary he'd set.

“What the hell was that about?” Jiraiya pressed.

“Ibiki thinks Hiashi, Aburame Shibi and I are planning to overthrow the village.”

“You've got to be kidding?”

“That's his excuse for having me followed, at least. In reality, he's just nosy and his position makes meddling way too easy. Wait here,” the copy-nin ordered when they reached Hiashi's door. “I'll be out in just a minute.”

“Oh, you're back.” Hiashi struggled to sit up, but a pale hand firmly settled him back against the cushions.

“You are supposed to be resting,” Kakashi scolded. “You look a bit better. I hope Obito wasn't too much trouble?”

“No trouble at all,” the Hyuuga replied with a hint of a smile. “He's very well behaved for such a tiny thing.”

“He must take after Itachi then. I've been told I was quite a brat as a child.”

“Hmm, I remember you as being a very solemn little boy. Very worried about maintaining your demeanor and living up to expectations.”

“I didn't fit in very well, did I?” the copy-nin muttered wryly. “I was an insufferable prat, no wonder the other kids hated me.”

“If they did it was their loss,” Hiashi insisted. “You've always been worth the effort to get to know.”

“How long have you been watching me?”

“I . . . uh . . . you see . . . too long,” he finally admitted. “Since you made jounin. I know, you were still a child, but even then you were compelling.”

“It's alright,” Kakashi assured him. “I'm not upset. A little surprised, perhaps, but not upset. I almost wish I'd known. I felt very isolated back then, it might have helped if there was someone here in the village I could have been close to. Then again, I was angry and moody, so you probably would have ended up hating me.”

“I could never hate you, “ the older man replied sincerely. “I've admired you far too long for that, I'm afraid.”

“So,” the copy-nin smoothly turned the conversation in another direction. “Do you need anything? I left Jiraiya waiting for me outside. I'm afraid I need to go talk with him. I can come back later though, if you'd like.”

“I'm fine,” Hiashi insisted. “But I always enjoy your company. You haven't had much rest today, I'm afraid. You should probably turn in after you finish with your Uncle.”

“I'll be happy to come back.”

“No, I'll see you tomorrow.”

Kakashi lifted Obito to curl up against his shoulder, sending one more worried glance toward Hiashi. He'd gained a whole new perception of the repressed clan head this evening. It was probably best that he take time to assimilate it before they spent more time together.

“In the morning then,” the copy-nin agreed. “You try and get some rest. The ANBU are outside the compound, they'll prevent you having any unwanted guests.” The lanky jounin bent and placed a tender kiss on the older man's temple. “Don't worry. These things have a way of working themselves out.”

“Took you long enough,” Jiraiya muttered sullenly when Kakashi and Obito finally emerged. “Did you get Hiashi all tucked in for the night?”

“You know, old man, one day you're going to push your luck too far.” The conversational tone of his nephew's voice did nothing to hide the wave of killer intent emanating from his rigid form.

“I'm just teasing you, brat.” The sannin scowled, remembering, yet again, why he hadn't wanted to go to Kakashi in the first place.

“My apologies,” the copy-nin said stiffly. “It's been a long day and my back is killing me.”

When they reached Neji's house he pulled out his key and opened the door, only to fall back into a defensive position when a distraught Gai leapt into view. “My Eternal Rival, I Am So Relieved To See Young Obito Is With You. When I Awoke From My Shameful Nap, He Was Gone. I Have Been Searching The House For Hours.”

“You shouldn't have fallen asleep,” Kakashi chided. “He could have rolled out of your arms and been hurt. We're home now. Hiashi's asleep, you should go find Hinata and spend some time with her.”

“I Am An Idiot,” Gai decided mournfully. “I Have Put My Only Godchild At Risk. Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

“Just go,” the copy-nin insisted. “Everything's fine. Obito's fine. I'll see you in the morning.”

As soon as the door shut the exhausted jounin dropped into the nearest chair. “So, talk,” he muttered as he shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Itachi is dying,” Jiraiya managed before his voice cracked.

Kakashi's eyes shot open. “Excuse me?”

“He just told me his condition is getting worse. I didn't know he was so ill. I certainly didn't know he was dying. I'm so angry at him for not telling me. I never would have gotten involved if I'd known.”

“You sound like you actually care.”

“Of course I care. But I was upset when I found out. I said some hurtful things. I need to know what to say to make it right,” the sannin explained.

“Just tell him the truth, Jiji. You love him, just admit it. Besides, we all die. Ninja easier than most. Treasure the time you have and don't ruin things by focusing on the future. Things have a way of working themselves out.” Kakashi smiled sadly. “I know how you feel. When Oro-sama died I didn't come out of our room for two weeks. But life moves on and we do as well.”

“Lot of help you are,” Jiraiya muttered. “Fine, I'll go home and talk to him. You get some rest, you look worn.”

* ^ * ^ *

Gaara cast his husband a frustrated glance. In the two weeks since they'd arrived, he and Raidou had tried everything they could think of to bring Neji and Yamato closer together. Unfortunately, none of their carefully thought out plans was working.

“What do you think Kakashi would do if he was here?” the Kazekage whispered in his husband's ear.

“Probably what he did with us,” Raidou admitted. “I don't feel comfortable suggesting it myself though.”

“Do you think I should?”

“What, exactly, are you thinking of saying?”

“That they should stop with the moony-eyed looks and just have sex, of course,” Gara almost spat.

“Well that's never going to work. They feel guilty enough about their attraction to begin with,” Raidou explained. “We need to get them drunk, like Kakashi did with us. Then we dump them in a bed together.”

“Fine,” the redhead agreed. “Hey you two, I think it's time to introduce you to Suna's nightlife.”