Fanning the Flames

Chapter Sixty-Five

Kakashi stared at the scroll suspiciously, rolling it under his palms and listening to the faint click the seal made as it rocked against the desk. He gave in with a sigh, cracking the wax and unrolling the short message. The wry smile that spread across his face spoke volumes about his feelings in the matter, yet he shut the scroll decisively and rose to his feet, quickly beginning to gather his personal possessions from around the room and tuck them into his waiting pack.

“What are you doing?”

The copy-nin looked up, surprised he hadn't noticed the Hyuuga patriarch entering. “I'm packing. Neji and Yamato will be back soon, I need to move out before then.”

“He wouldn't want you to go,” Hiashi remarked quietly. “If this is about me, please don't take it out on my nephew. I don't want him hurt.”

“I don't want him hurt either. Take a look at the scroll and you'll see why I'm leaving.”

The older man took a moment to read the short paragraph. He huffed softly before turning understanding eyes on the jounin. “Just because they're attracted to one another doesn't mean . . .”

“But it should,” Kakashi interrupted. “I'm not a good choice for Neji and we both know it. I never should have even considered moving in here.”

“Where will you go? Back to Ibiki?”

“No. I'm not ready for that. To be honest, I may never be ready for that. I guess it will be back to the hospital until the baby is born. After that I thought, perhaps, an apartment over the shop.”

“Utterly ridiculous,” Hiashi fussed. “You have to know that isn't acceptable for someone of your stature.”

“I'm a retired shinobi who sells books,” the copy-nin grumbled. “Before that I was a whore. There's no status to uphold.”

“On the contrary. You're head of one of the most talented families in the village. One of the most celebrated ninja in the five countries. Like it or not, you're part of the village elite, it's important that you live up to that.”

“No, what's important is that I try to give my children a sane childhood. They will not be entering the Academy at five. They most certainly won't be doing assassinations before they're ten. I want my children to have a chance to be children. If I have to I'll go back to running missions to take the pressure off of them.”

“I'm sure that won't be necessary,” Hiashi chuckled. “Although we'd love to see you at the council meetings.”

“I really doubt the council wants my opinion,” the copy-nin retorted drily. “In fact, more than a few of them wish I would just disappear altogether. Akimichi-san does, I know. Aburame-san too, probably, after the other day. I'm content in my retirement. Perhaps my children won't be ninja at all.”

“You know the council will fight you on that. Besides, they may want to serve. You certainly did.”

“I was raised to know nothing else,” Kakashi reminded him. “My father never even considered a different future for me. I plan on concentrating more on their welfare than the welfare of the village. I think I've earned that right.”

“If I were in your place I would have turned my back on Konoha years ago,” Hiashi admitted. “Still, I would be remiss if I didn't try to convince you to change your mind.”

“We'll have to finish this some other time,” the copy-nin realized. “You have a visitor.”

“Shibi?”

“No. I'm afraid I've meddled just a bit,” the jounin admitted. “I asked my counselor to come and talk with you. Take my word for it, you need to talk about what happened, the sooner the better. Once you've figured out how you feel, then you'll be able to talk to Shibi.”

“I really don't think I need to talk . . .” he trailed off as Kakashi went to answer the door, knowing that the copy-nin knew far more about the repercussions of assault than he ever would. A shudder rippled through him at the thought of all the other shinobi had endured. His one experience on the receiving end of that kind of brutality had already made him wary. He couldn't imagine how painful life would be after years of such treatment. He reluctantly came to the realization that, in this area, at least, Kakashi was the expert and he would be wise to take his advice. That decided, Hiashi squared his shoulders and headed out to meet the stranger he was going to tell about the worst day in his life.

* ^ * ^ *

Iruka paced his office relentlessly. He was, after all, a Hokage with a mission, one from which he refused to be dissuaded. When his husband finally returned from his errand he pounced, pulling the senbon sucker into a deep needy kiss.

“What happened?” Genma demanded.

“Nothing, I just missed you.” The former teacher's voice was raspy and lustful, and immediately had the tokubetsu hardening in his pants.

“I missed you too,” his husband assured him. “Even if I was only gone a few hours.”

“I want to start now.”

“You want to start what now?” Genma's head tipped to the side like a curious puppy as he studied his long time partner's face for clues.

“Our baby,” the Rokudaime whined. “I hate that we have to wait so long. Do you think Itachi could help us?”

“You could ask him, I suppose. You aren't close, he'll tell you if the answer is no.”

“What do you think Kakashi would say?” Iruka continued to prod.

“I think he'd tell you to cultivate your patience. It's an important quality for a shinobi.”

“How can I be patient when we're talking about our child? All I can think about is whether it will be a boy or a girl. If they'll have your hair or my mother's eyes. I never realized how much I wanted a child. I guess because I wasn't willing to give you up I never allowed myself to think about it.”

“I love you too,” Genma assured him. “And I understand that you're anxious. But we have Kakashi's promise, and he's already got enough reasons not to help us. I think going to Uchiha-sama would be considered a valid reason for him to renege. Besides, if Itachi could perform the jutsu himself Hatake wouldn't have spent all those months in Oto right after his wedding.”

“But that was because he was the other parent. Itachi needed him and his chakra in order to complete the jutsu,” the Hokage ventured hopefully.

“Or maybe it was because they needed the sharingan, we really don't have a clue.”

“I guess you're right.” Iruka's shoulders slumped in defeat. This wasn't like peeking at your presents before your birthday. If he messed this up they wouldn't be given another chance.

“Ru, are you alright?” Genma noted with some alarm how fragile his lover appeared and he pulled the teacher into his arms. “I know it's disappointing, but believe me, we'll make this happen. If we can't have a child of our own then we'll just adopt one. One was or another we'll have a family.”

“I can't believe I'm being so silly,” the Hokage mumbled. “I never even used to think about children. Now it seems everywhere I look I'm reminded about what's missing from our life.”

The usually easy going tokubetsu pulled back, holding his husband at arms length while he studied the familiar features. “That hurts,” he admitted. “In all our years together I've never thought there was anything missing as long as I had you.”

“I didn't mean it like that,” Iruka tried to dissemble. “What I meant was that now I know it's possible I think about it all the time.”

“This side of you worries me. Once we have a child are you going to care about me at all?”

The plaintive question received only a laugh in response. “Of course I'll still care about you, silly. I'll love you both.”

“Will you?” Genma wondered. “Lately I'm not sure if you love me at all.”

“What are you talking about?” The Hokage glared at his husband. “Why on earth would you think I don't love you?”

“Since you've become Hokage you've changed. The man I fell in love with would never have tried to take someone else's child, no matter how much he wanted one of his own. Power has brought out an ugly side of you. That side doesn't give a damn about me as long as you get your way.”

“Don't be an ass,” Iruka snapped. “If I didn't give a damn about you, you wouldn't be here.”

“Maybe I shouldn't be,” the tokubetsu snarled back. “Right now I don't like you very much.” He turned on his heel and headed for the door, freezing with his hand on the knob when his husband fired back one last jab.

“Fine, go run to my brother then. Or would you prefer his husband?”

“What?”

“I know you, you'll run to one of them. Which one will it be, Ibiki or Kakashi?” the Hokage sneered. “You can't stand to be alone for very long.”

“And you can? Say goodbye to the child you wanted so badly, Ru. Hokage or no, you'll have trouble finding someone to help you.” With that parting retort the senbon sucker wrenched the door open, slamming it behind him and storming off blindly in search of a place to spend the night. The farther away the better, he decided bitterly.

* ^ * ^ *

“You don't want to marry me,” Itachi insisted. “I'm going to die.”

“So am I,” Jiraiya reminded him. “That doesn't stop me from loving you now.”

“You love me?” the Otokage repeated in a daze.

“Yes, silly. Would you like me to prove it to you?”

“There's no way to prove love,” Itachi scoffed. “Although I appreciate the offer.”

“Before you I never would have even considered having sex with a man. Now every woman I see, I compare to you.”

“Hnn.”

“I even let you top me,” the sannin continued obliviously. “If that doesn't show you I love you, what would?”

“So you think you proved something by letting me top you? What have I proved by being subjected to your passions then?”

“That you love me?”

“Hardly,” Itachi replied with a disdainful sniff. “You are an unrepentant old lech who'd sleep with anything willing. All I proved was my ability to seduce you. Frankly it wasn't much of a challenge, for all your protestations to the contrary.”

“Why are you trying to start a fight?” Jiraiya asked reasonably. “If you don't want to marry me just say so. There's no need to destroy what we have.”

“I'm mad at you.”

“Now what have I done wrong?”

“You're being so good to me after I used you,” the Otokage admitted. “I didn't think you'd come back.”

“So you're mad that I didn't abandon you?” The sannin had always thought women were fickle, but this was ridiculous. “I'm not going to let you push me away just because you're scared. I'm scared, too. I want to spend the time we have together. I think you do too, even if you don't want to admit it.”

“Don't be so sure you know my mind, old man,” Itachi growled. “I'm not afraid of dying and I'm just fine with being alone. I've been alone for years, after all.”

“You are not fine with being alone.” Jiraiya grabbed the slighter man by the shoulders, pulling him close and kissing him passionately. When he felt the frail figure relax into the kiss he deepened it, not pulling back until he was dizzy from lack of air. “Now, enough talk. I want to take you to bed and show you just how much I appreciate you.”

Itachi mumbled his agreement, burying his hands in the sannin's hair and kissing him violently, teeth clicking together in their haste. Before he had a chance to protest Jiraiya found himself stretched out on the bed, wrists securely bound over his head with chakra wire, while the Uchiha carefully cut away his clothes.

“Hey, I liked those pants,” the sannin tried to protest.

“Are you telling me to stop?” The Otokage put his hands on his hips and glared down at his bound lover. “Because you said you wanted me. If that's true then shut up and enjoy the ride.”

“Hai.” Jiraiya gulped when deft hands began to wrap him tightly in silken rope, elaborate knots making a pattern across his chest and abdomen before his hands were unbound and resecured. “Shibari?” he asked shakily.

“You look beautiful like this,” Itachi assured him. “Wild and angry and so very helpless.”

When the silken coils began to wrap around his cock and balls a whimper escaped the sannin's throat. He pushed down the terror threatening to rip through him and reminded himself that it was just his lover, he was in no danger. As frightening as the scenario was, it was equally exciting and Jiraiya's cock was oozing precum from the moment the rope touched it.

A muffled squeak slipped past his lips when his legs were bent and secured, leaving him helpless and completely exposed. The sannin had to admit, he'd never felt this needy before. His entire body seemed to be straining toward his lover, eager for his touch.

“Oh fuck,” he groaned when Itachi's plump lips wrapped around the tip and began to suck.

Just as he was about to come a skillful hand squeezed his erection. “Do you trust me?”

Jiraiya eyed his lover's trembling hands and rapt expression. He should be wary, probably, but he had no desire to push this man away. “You won't hurt me,” he said confidently.

“That's not necessarily true,” Itachi replied with a wicked smirk. “But I promise it will be the good kind of pain.” He reached into the drawer and pulled out a metal rod. “Have you ever tried this before?”

“Tried what?” The sannin tried to sound nonchalant, but his voice cracked embarrassingly at the end.” He couldn't tear his eyes away as lubricant was smeared over the rod.

“Just relax, this will feel good,” Itachi crooned as he slowly began to thread the rod into the slit of his lover's penis. “You're doing so well, baby. Almost there.” When the rounded tip of the sound bumped against Jiraiya's prostate he let out a startled whine.

“Now, don't you look pretty all bound and stuffed for me.” Itachi dropped his head to lick across his lover's pucker, smiling to himself at the lusty moan it dragged out of the sannin. He slid two lubed fingers deep inside the taller man, scissoring them to stretch the passage for what was to come. When a third finger slid alongside it grazed Jiraiya's prostate and every muscle in his body clenched.

The sannin blushed when he realized the loud moaning sounds were coming from his traitorous mouth. Of course, he'd never felt anything quite like this before. His cock felt hugely swollen and insanely heavy, like it might explode at any instant. When the fingers teasing his entrance disappeared he tried to gather his wits, but the sight of the Otokage lubing himself sent a cold spike of reality running through him, and he couldn't avoid tensing as the head of Itachi's cock pushed through the hastily stretched entrance.

When he was fully seated the Otokage paused, smiling down at his larger lover. He wrapped a hand around Jiraiya's straining erection, blunt nails scraping over the shiny swollen flesh peeking between the cords wrapped so tightly around it. He pulled his hips back until only the tip remained inside, then slammed forward, striking the sannin's prostate.

Jiraiya twitched and shook, unable to move as wave after wave of pleasure streaked through him. Itachi read the tell tale signs, squeezing the base of his lover's erection and blocking his orgasm yet again.

“Please,” the sage whined. “I feel like my dick is going to explode. I'll do anything you want. Just let me come.”

“Anything?” The hoarse chuckle sent frissons running up Jiraiya's spine. “What if I want to have you like this more often?” He came to a halt, pressed firmly into the sannin's prostate, then reached down and carefully tapped the tip of the sound.

“Oh sweet Kami, anything you want.”

Itachi started a slow rocking motion, lip caught between his teeth as he concentrated on the feeling of his lover's tight sheath rippling around him. “You're mine now,” he growled. “No one else has ever been inside of you like this. No one else could ever make you feel this way.”

Jiraiya abandoned himself to the feeling, concentrating on the pleasure coiling inside himself until his world exploded into a series of sparks, muscles tightening erratically as the sound shot out of his penis and seed splattered across his chest.

The sound of his lover crying his name in ecstasy proved to be more than the Uchiha could resist. He let out a deep groan as he filled the sannin's ass with his come. He flopped on top of the larger man, sucking in huge gasps of air.

“Still want to marry me?” the Otokage asked.

“Are you gong to untie me?” Jiraiya countered.

“Just answer the question.”

“Yes, I still want to marry you. I even want to do that again,” the sannin admitted with a blush. “Although maybe warn me next time.”

“Hn. Alright then, I'll marry you.”

“Then you're going to untie me now?”

“Oh no, we're just getting started. I need more time to explore my blushing bride to be,” Itachi teased. “I don't want to take any chances of you getting cold feet on our wedding night, after all.”