Into the Fire

Chapter Eighty-Six

“No, Hatake-san.” Iruka explained soothingly, “Ibiki's here in the village. You don't have to go anywhere.”

The rigid posture relaxed somewhat, the lanky jounin unfurling himself to gaze blankly around the waiting room. “Where are we?” the copy-nin finally croaked uncertainly.

“We're in Konoha Hospital, in the waiting room.” the Rokudaime continued in the same gentle tone, “The medic should be out soon to let us know how Morino-san is doing.”

“The Hokage isn't sending me to Rock?” Kakashi questioned suspiciously.

“No one is sending you anywhere Hatake-san.” Iruka confirmed sadly, “I'm sure Ibiki would like to see you when he can have visitors.”

“I think I'll just head home.” the skittish jounin proposed, “I'll check in at the mission desk in the morning.”

“I think you should have the medics take a look at you.” the Hokage urged, “You seem a little disoriented.”

“I'm fine Umino-sensei.” the copy-nin retorted dismissively, “I just need to get some sleep.”

“Where do you live sempai?” Bear asked conversationally, picking up the clues from Iruka.

“In the bachelor quarters, of course.” Kakashi replied with a snort, “Same place you live kohai.”

“Actually I moved out a few years ago . . . you moved too, sempai. Don't you remember?” the ANBU prodded.

“Why would I move?” the silver-haired man snorted, “I may be tired, but I'm not stupid.”

“You moved back to your family home.” the Rokudaime piped in, “You've retired Hatake-san . . . don't you remember.”

“No.” the copy-nin declared sullenly, “I don't remember . . . and I'm sure something like that wouldn't slip my mind. If you all will excuse me, I'm tired of being the butt of your jokes for this evening. I'll see you around the mission room.”

He turned to leave, and nearly ran straight into a visibly worried Kurenai, Genma by her side. “Kakashi-kun,” the dark-haired kunoichi entreated, “please let the medic check you over. You're worrying me.”

“Kurenai?” the silver-haired man puzzled, “Why are you here?”

“Shiranui-san said you needed me.” the obviously distraught kunoichi replied.

“I'm sorry he bothered-you Yuuhei-sama.” Kakashi declared formally, “Please accept my apologies. I am just fine, you can go back home.”

“You're not fine.” the dark-haired woman insisted, “My name hasn't been Yuuhei for almost five years now. I married Asuma, remember? We're having a baby . . . I asked you to be the godfather . . . does any of this sound familiar at all?”

“You're not old enough for that Kurenai-chan.” the weary copy-nin scolded, “You're barely eighteen. Besides, you can do better than a Sarutobi . . . you're really very pretty.”

“Thank you 'kashi, you're very sweet.” the kunoichi said with a smile, “How old do you think you are?” she asked curiously.

“I don't have to think about it.” the copy-nin replied crossly, “I'm fifteen . . . too young to know about love, I know . . . believe me you've all pounded it into my head.”

“Oh sweetie,” the kunoichi responded sadly, shaking her head at the response, “I'm afraid you're wrong. You're thirty-five 'kashi-kun . . . you live in the Hatake house with Morino Ibiki.”

The restless jounin went rigid, all senses turned inward as he tried to make sense of the confusing information he was being bombarded with. “This isn't funny.” he finally snarled in frustration, “I'd remember something like that. Why are you doing this to me?”

“No one's doing anything to you Hatake-san.” Genma added carefully, “But it appears you're a little confused. Perhaps you were hit by a jutsu?”

“I . . . I don't know.” Kakashi reluctantly admitted, burying his hands in his hair and sliding down the wall he was leaning against to slump in a dejected heap. “I really, really, don't like medics.” he continued in a small, forlorn voice.

“I'll go with you 'kashi.” Kurenai immediately offered, “It will be alright, I promise. I'll make sure they don't do anything to hurt you.”

Shortly after a visibly shaken copy-nin was led away, the medic finally reappeared. “Morino-san's awake and he wants to see you.” he informed Iruka, “But just you and only for five minutes . . . he really shouldn't be agitated.”

“Five minutes, I promise.” the Rokudaime agreed, following the young man down a corridor and into a room full of loudly beeping machinery.

“He's still on the respirator so he can't talk . . . we won't be able to remove the tube until the swelling goes down in his throat.” the medic explained, “So he'll have to write his answers.”

“He's going to recover though,” the Hokage asked worriedly, “they were able to repair the damage, weren't they?”

“He will recover, he should be out of the hospital in about a week and back to normal in about three weeks. It was a very close call though . . . five more minutes and he might not have made it.” the young nin explained soberly.

Iruka crept silently up to the edge of the bed, observing the interrogator's heavily scarred face in repose for a moment before clearing his throat to get the older man's attention and beginning to speak. “Before you panic, Kakashi's here in the hospital. He's talking to a medic right now because he's . . .” the Rokudaime paused, not willing to lie to his friend, but at the same time wanting to leave him with hope. “ . . . he's a bit confused.”

Ibiki gestured for a pen and paper and began to write frantically. My fault, he printed in huge letters. Woke him from a nightmare. Knew better than to touch him. My fault. My fault. He added again for emphasis.

“He thinks he's still fifteen, Morino-san.” Iruka declared formally, “He doesn't want to be sent to Rock to rescue you.”

Oh 'kashi, the scarred man thought mournfully, a tear making its way, unnoticed, down his heavily scarred face, how did we come to this?

“The important thing to remember,” the Hokage continued hopefully, “is that he's getting the best help available. You're both alright and in time, and with help, you'll both get past this.”

See him! The interrogator scrawled, stabbing the paper with his finger demandingly.

“Let me go find out what's going on.” the Rokudaime suggested,”Then I'll come back and fill you in.”

Twenty agonizing minutes passed while Ibiki stared blindly at the ceiling above his head, waiting impatiently for Iruka to return. He'll be fine, the interrogator kept repeating, he's the copy-nin for god's sake. Still, the seconds ticked by like hours and the scarred man was on the verge of simply ripping out all the tubes and wires and staggering off in search of the lanky jounin when the Hokage finally reappeared.

“He's alright.” Iruka declared soothingly, “I saw him, he's not upset. They're going to be keeping him here for a while, Morino-san. He needs help to deal with all the things that have happened to him. The doctor said to be sure to tell you that, with time, he should get back to his old self . . . and regain his memories, as well.”

SEE HIM!!!!! the interrogator wrote in massive block letters, stabbing the paper with the pen for emphasis.

“You can't see him now Ibiki.” the Rokudaime explained carefully, “No one can . . . not for a while. As soon as he can have visitors you'll be informed, I put you down as his next of kin.” Iruka's normally smiling face looked very different at the moment, and he released a heavy sigh before continuing, “You'll need to stay in the hospital for about a week . . . but I should warn you, Hatake-san's been admitted for a thirty day observation . . . you won't be able to see him until after that.”

A single tear rolled down the stoic torture master's cheek, and the Hokage bent to tenderly wipe it away. “It'll be okay, Ibiki. Kurenai checked him in and made sure he felt safe. She's going to bring some things by for the both of you tomorrow. Right now, the most important thing for you to do is rest and recover. You can't help Kakashi if you make yourself sick.”

The interrogator merely turned his head to the side and shut his eyes, wishing himself back to sleep in the rather desperate hope that, when he woke up, all this would have been just a terrible nightmare that he and Kakashi could laugh about.

“Gen and I will stop by tomorrow to see you.” Iruka whispered, “I'm really, really sorry Ibiki.”

As soon as the Hokage stepped outside he was accosted by his nearly frantic lover. “What the hell is going on?' he demanded angrily, “Where is everybody?”

“Kakashi's been admitted for thirty days observation . . . ” the former teacher began, but didn't get any further as tears of frustration began gathering in his eyes and he had to stop and wipe them away roughly before continuing. “Ibiki says it's all his fault, he woke him from a nightmare. I'm supposed to be Hokage . . . and there's not a single thing I can do for either one of them.” he finished angrily, “It just isn't fair.”

“No, it isn't fair Ru.” Genma crooned as he pulled his lover into a hug and rubbed his hand up and down his back, hoping to soothe tense muscles. “It also isn't your fault. Let's go home and get some sleep, maybe things will seem clearer in the morning.”