Fanning the Flames

Chapter Sixty-Six

Genma stormed across the village, considering and discarding one name after another as he tried to decide who to approach for a place to stay. Not Gai, never again, he told himself as he wished for the hundredth time that Raidou wasn't in Suna. Maybe I should go visit? He couldn't just leave though. He had obligations in the village. Besides, despite his harsh words, what he was really hoping was that Iruka would somehow change his way of thinking so he could go home.

The realization suddenly hit him that he was, for all intents and purposes, homeless. What have I done? Maybe I should just go back and apologize. He clamped down firmly on his traitorous thoughts. Going back wasn't an option, he was far too hurt and their argument was sure to escalate.

He continued to wander aimlessly through the village, watching as people went about their everyday tasks, completely ignoring the depressed tokubetsu. Eventually he grew tired of walking in circles and headed for the one person he knew would listen.

* ^ * ^ *

Kakashi finished packing his things and settled down to feed Obito before heading back to the hospital. As convenient as it was to have someone there to help, he hated being separated from his son and resented the staff's insistence on taking the baby for meals, not to mention having him sleep in the nursery at night. All too soon he'd have a second child to care for and he hadn't even bonded with the first one yet.

It's not like there was much choice. At the moment it was the hospital or the street, and he was smart enough to realize that neither he nor his son would last long without shelter. He bundled the watchful infant into his outdoor clothes and strapped him in the stroller before shouldering the heavy bag and leaving Neji's house for the last time.

It wasn't the direct route, but the copy-nin knew he wouldn't be walking these streets again anytime soon, so he detoured past the bookstore to take a look at the upstairs space. Once he had confirmed the feasibility of turning the unused level into a suitable apartment he reluctantly continued on his journey.

Kakashi turned toward the hospital, then had a change of heart and headed in the opposite direction. It was only common courtesy to let his husband know he was moving, after all. As they drew closer to the Hatake house, he began to wonder if it might be better to merely send a scroll and avoid the confrontation. He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, determined to at least remain civil with the interrogator, even if they were estranged.

As he neared his destination he came to a stop, watching with interest as Genma approached the house and rang the bell. He slipped deeper into the shadow of the large maple, not even noticing the possessive growl he released when the door opened and the senbon sucker threw himself into Ibiki's arms. The copy-nin watched with growing horror as the tokubetsu's arms slipped around his husband's neck to pull the torture master into a deep needy kiss.

When the door shut behind them the spell was broken and Kakashi jolted into action. Obviously it was pointless for him to tell Ibiki about his plans. It was painfully apparent that his husband had moved on, which meant he needed to do the same. With a heavy heart he started toward the hospital, but after only a few steps lost his initiative. What he desired was a change of scenery, the list of people whose happiness he was trying to avoid was growing by the minute. He really needed to leave the village, the thought of constantly being confronted with his failures was more than he could stand at the moment.

He'd gone about a block when it occurred to him. He knew the perfect place to get away from it all without putting himself or his children in any danger. Course now decided he changed direction and headed toward the gate, determined to reach his destination and get settled in before nightfall.

* ^ * ^ *

“This is a surprise.” Ibiki stumbled back a step as his friend launched himself into his arms. “Where's Iruka?”

“Can I stay here?” Genma asked, turning his best puppy dog eyes on the startled interrogator.

“I guess. What did you do?”

“Thank you.” The senbon sucker threw his arms around the startled man's neck and pulled him into a wet, sloppy kiss.

“Enough of that, we're out on the street,” the interrogator hissed as he pulled the slighter man inside and shut the door. “Now what's going on?”

“I've left Iruka,” Genma whispered mournfully. “He's completely obsessed with having a baby. He's changed into someone I don't even know, much less like.”

“I thought you both wanted a child. I don't see what the problem is.”

“He doesn't love me anymore.” The tokubetsu sounded like his heart had been ripped from his chest. “We've been together forever, I don't even know how to go about living without him.”

“I'm sure you're just over-reacting.” Ibiki patted his friend's back awkwardly. “I know he's crazy about you.”

“Was crazy about me. Now he's head over heels for a child that doesn't even exist yet. It's all he thinks about, all he talks about. Hell, he even tried to steal Hatake's baby.”

“He what?” the interrogator bellowed.

“Ru went to try and convince Kakashi to come stay with us while you were in the hospital. When he saw Obito he decided your husband couldn't possibly take care of a newborn while on bed rest, so my idiot of a husband snatched the baby in hopes of forcing him to go along. Of course, it was a stupid idea. All Hatake did was sic the pack on him and make the Hokage persona non grata with half the clans in town.”

“He's lucky he isn't dead,” Ibiki said flatly. “Anyone with eyes can see how much 'kashi loves children. The son of Sandaime, the man who abused and used him, stealing his child . . . your husband is very lucky.”

“He doesn't hold your father over your head, or Asuma's,” Genma grumbled. “Why is Ru the only one of you being penalized?”

“Why on earth would my father be a threat? 'kashi never even met the man.”

“You don't know.” The flatness of the statement startled the interrogator and he searched his friend's face for clues to what he was thinking.

“Know what?”

“Who your father is.”

“Of course I know who my father is,” Ibiki insisted. “What kind of an idiot are you, anyway?”

“Morino Itsuo wasn't your father. Idate's father, yes, but not yours,” Genma said flatly.

“I think you should be very careful about what you say, Shiranui.”

“Believe me, I thought you knew or I wouldn't have mentioned it.”

“Thought I knew what?” The interrogator's irritation was showing, he clenched and unclenched his hands, squeezing them until the knuckles turned white.

“Sandaime wasn't just Asuma and Iruka's father. He's your father, too,” the tokubetsu admitted warily. “You were a back up in case Asuma was killed. After your return from Rock you were no longer suitable though, so he had no reason to acknowledge you.”

Ibiki's eyes were shut and his jaw clenched. “How dare you imply that my mother . . .” He trailed to a halt, studying Genma with hurt eyes. “Why didn't anyone tell me?”

“We only found out recently. Hatake told Kurenai, who told Asuma, who told Ru and, well, you get the idea.”

“If Kakashi knew why didn't he say anything?”

“Who knows?” The tokubetsu shrugged artlessly. “Who knows why he does anything? I don't know how long he's known, or when he found out. All I know is what I heard while you were in the hospital.”

“He has to know I didn't know,” the interrogator mumbled. “He'd never let me do something so awful purposefully. But, he didn't know about the first time until I told him. Maybe he was just being polite. But then he encouraged me, he would never . . .”

Genma watched as Ibiki's confused mumbles ground to a halt, not sure exactly what was running through his friend's head.

“So, Iruka's my brother?”

“Half-brother,” the senbon-sucker clarified. “You have different mothers, but, yeah.”

“I slept with my brother,” the interrogator continued hollowly. “Not just once, either. And I would have done it again. Why didn't 'kashi tell me?”

“I don't think he knew then. He would have said something,” Genma assured him. “Maybe we can figure it out. Did he ever act like he didn't trust you?”

“Before he left Suna, we had a huge fight. He was so angry with me and I couldn't figure out why. It was right after he found out about Minato and Jiraiya.”

“What about them? No one tells me anything,” the senbon sucker grumbled.

“Because you're a gossip whore. No secret is safe with you,” Ibiki explained. “Jiraiya was Minato's father. Zetsu told 'kashi a bunch of lies about how the two of them were just trying to keep his disgrace from rubbing off on them.”

“Well, since he was trying to hurt Hatake, Zetsu was probably the one who told him Sarutobi was your father. I can't think of anything worse than suddenly doubting the love of your most precious person.”

The interrogator pulled himself out of his introspection for a moment to really look at his friend. He'd gotten so caught up in the news about his father that he'd almost forgotten why Genma was there. “Let's get you settled in the guest room. None of this is going to change and you look like you could use a good night's sleep.”

“Could I . . . I mean, would you mind if I . . . damn.”

“Just spit it out,” Ibiki said with a smile. “We should be well past the awkward stage.”

“Can I sleep with you?” Genma asked softly. “I'm not used to sleeping alone, I toss and turn all night.”

“I don't see why not,” the interrogator decided. “But just sleep. No sex.” He smirked when his friend's face fell. “Yes you're still sexy as hell. But I want to patch things up with 'kashi. Until I do it would feel too much like cheating. I was the one who hurt him, I need to prove it won't happen again.”

“Fine, just sleep,” came the muttered reply. “I'm not really in the mood for anything else anyway.”

Ibiki wrapped a massive arm around the senbon sucker's shoulders and planted a kiss on the top of his head before steering him down the hall and into the bedroom.

* ^ * ^ *

The wind was picking up fast, sand skittering across the dunes with an audible clatter. “We need to stop,” Yamato insisted. “It won't do us any good to get disoriented. If we take shelter now we'll be able to leave as soon as the storm dies down.”

“I think we can go a bit further,” Neji decided. He turned to study the storm that had turned the sky into a giant bruise.

“It will take time to prepare a suitable shelter. We stop now,” the wood nin insisted. He dropped his pack and made some hand signs. A palpable surge of relief flooded him when four walls began to rise from the sand. He'd been afraid there wasn't enough water underground here for the jutsu to work. His chakra may have supplied the impetus, but his wood needed the things any plant did. Without light, water and air the jutsu would simply fizzle.

Once the shelter had finished growing they headed inside and Yamato shut the door behind them. “Damn this sand itches,” he grumbled. He set about stripping off his clothes, shaking out the sand as he piled them off to one side. When he was down to his briefs he turned to eye his companion. “Hurry up and get undressed. I want to get the sand out before I finish sealing the door.”

Neji's eyes were firmly fixed on the ground, but his voice quivered slightly as he responded. “I'm fine, really. I want to be ready to go as soon as the storm passes.”

“Take your clothes off,” the older man insisted. “And hurry up, I need to get this opening sealed. The wind is really picking up.”

The Hyuuga reluctantly peeled off his clothes, shaking them out on the floor. He looked up into raptly attentive chocolate eyes and blushed crimson. He immediately dropped his gaze, and found himself blushing even brighter when he realized he was eye level with the thick erection tenting the front of Yamato's briefs.

“See something you like?” the wood user managed after a long pause.

“I don't want to hurt Kakashi.” Neji almost whimpered when a strong hand fisted in his hair and tilted his face.

“Senpai is in love with his husband, you said it yourself,” Yamato whispered almost bemusedly. “And you are so very, very, tempting like this, I'm afraid I'm having trouble restraining myself. You know, on second thought, I don't want to restrain myself. I want to ravish you.”

“You what?” The question left breathless lips and hung between them for a moment, before the wood nin rushed to fill the void.

Neji would have jumped when Yamato's lips collided with his if it wasn't for the hand still tangled in his hair pulling the two together. “I want you so much,” the wood user whispered when he broke for air. “Please tell me you want this too.”

“I'm afraid.”

“You don't ever have to be afraid of me.” Yamato rubbed a strong hand up and down the tense spine. “I want to give you pleasure. No one should be afraid of pleasure.”

Neji didn't protest when those hands continued rubbing, wending their way around to flick at perked nipples. He was shocked to realize the loud moan he heard was coming from his traitorous throat.

“Mmm, like that, do you?” the older man murmured before biting and nipping his way down taut abdominal muscles. Calloused fingers dipped below the waistband of Neji's briefs and a full body shudder raced through him when the tip of one of those fingers scraped across the head of his straining erection, smearing the sticky precum already gathering there.

Yamato watched as pale eyes fluttered shut and hips rose to meet his hand, seeking his touch. “Like that, do you?” he husked before wrapping his hand firmly around Neji's cock, stroking firmly from base to tip.

“Oh gods, more.” Neji scrabbled to reciprocate, hand plunging into the wood nin's boxers to stroke and squeeze, letting out a broken gasp as he pressed them more closely together. Teeth clicked as they crushed their mouths together in a wet, sloppy kiss.

Finally Yamato could stand it no longer, stopping his ministrations to impatiently tug down his boxers before pushing down the Hyuuga's. The moment the barrier was removed he clutched Neji tightly to his chest as they ground their hips together. When the wood nin wrapped a hand around both of their erections and squeezed the younger man threw back his head and arched into the sensation.

It had been far too long since Yamato had felt the touch of another. When Neji 's hand joined his, he knew he wouldn't last much longer. “I want you to come with me.”

The younger man just sped up the motion of his hand, forcing the wood user to keep pace. He reached out and swiped his thumb across the bulbous heads. When he lifted the sticky fluid to his mouth to taste, Yamato came with a strangled grunt, eyes squeezing shut as his seed shot between them.

Neji's hand never faltered, and with a few more strokes the coil inside him snapped. He went rigid, eyes staring sightlessly, then slumped bonelessly against his new lover.

“Are you okay?” the wood nin managed to gasp, hand unconsciously rubbing a soothing patter on the younger man's back.

“A lot more than okay,” Neji assured him. “At least, I will be once I can move under my own power.”

“No rush. The storm's still going on. Looks like we're going to be stuck here a while longer.”