Into the Fire

Chapter Ninety-Two

Ibiki paced the floor of the teahouse nervously, appreciating the symmetry of once again meeting with the council in this out of the way place about Kakashi. This is will be a lot more pleasant conversation . . . I hope, the interrogator fretted as he anxiously awaited the first arrivals. When Hiashi and Shibi appeared together he took a huge breath of relief, both men pulled a lot of weight with the council as a whole, their support could only strengthen his chances.

The scarred man murmured greetings to the various clan heads as they arrived, smirking inwardly when he realized that Jiraiya was present this time to stand for the Hatake clan. He better cooperate or I'll sic Bull on him, Ibiki thought spitefully.

When everyone was finally seated the tall man stood and respectfully addressed the elders. “Hokage-sama, elders,” he began with a polite bow, “I have asked you here today for personal reasons. I need your help in order to accomplish my goal.”

“And that would be?” Hiashi asked with a smile.

“I wish to wed my most precious person . . . but I cannot unless you change the marriage laws.” Ibiki explained, “We already share a home, a business, a life . . . I just want to make it official.”

“Who is this lucky person?” Inuzuka Tsume asked drily.

“Hatake Kakashi.” the interrogator replied, “I want to marry another man . . . and I need your help to do it.”

“No.” Genma's voice rang out from behind the Rokudaime, “You can't marry him.”

“What is your problem Gen?” Iruka growled back at his lover, “Just because you don't have the balls to stand up for your relationship doesn't mean Ibiki can't.”

“That was a low blow.” the honey-haired man insisted, “You asked me not to bring same sex marriage up with the council, you didn't want to rock the boat.”

“You never cared about what I wanted before.” the former teacher insisted, “Usually you just ignore me and do whatever.”

“This isn't about us.” Genma retorted implacably, “I'm not going to let you sidetrack me . . . this is about Ibiki marrying the man who tried to kill him. If you all agree to this it will be like acquiescing to murder.”

“Watch your mouth Shiranui.” Ibiki threatened, “Insult Kakashi again and you and I will have to take this outside.”

“I understand your concern, but I'm afraid that is between Hatake-san and Morino-san. I think you should leave now.” Hiashi declared frostily, “You're an unnecessary disruption to these proceedings. Lord Hokage will be fine with all of us here.”

“Ru?” Genma asked uncertainly.

“Just get out of here.” the honey-haired man's long-time lover snapped, “I'll deal with you later.”

“Genma's wrong.” Ibiki implored, “'kashi didn't realize it was me . . . he's much better these days. I think I can make him happy . . . if you'll let me, that is.”

“And if we do not?” Akimichi Chouza asked placidly.

“Then we shall go to Suna, or Oto for that matter.” the interrogator declared crossly, “We're Konoha nin, I'd prefer to do it here, in our home with our friends . . . but you won't stop me in any event.”

“I think it's time we discussed it.” Nara Shikaku added, “Troublesome as it may be. The other nations have long realized that, among ninja in particular, same sex relationships are very much the norm. We should be encouraging as much stability as we can among the ranks.”

“But it's immoral,” Tsume barked, “and disgusting. We can't encourage such behavior.”

Ibiki leaned over to whisper in her ear, “Shino told me what Kiba and Akamaru get up to . . . don't you dare lecture me about morals you old bitch.”

The Inuzuka matriarch opened and shut her mouth several times indignantly before wisely deciding that the interrogator would follow through with his implied threat and sully her clan's reputation if she didn't back his proposal. “Fine, forget the moral question, I'm worried it will affect the birth rate . . . we don't want the strong bloodlines to die out.”

“That is no longer an issue.” Shibi stated softly, “Artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, surrogate mothers . . . these things are already commonly used by infertile couples. There is nothing preventing same sex couples from utilizing the same methods. Besides, we already have far too many orphans . . . we should respect the wishes of our comrades who don't want to risk leaving more children without parents. Who knows, maybe some of our orphans will find new homes because of it.”

“I still don't see any reason to change the status quo.” Chouza insisted stubbornly, “No one is preventing them from living together and doing whatever questionable things they want in the privacy of their own home. I don't want my children and grandchildren growing up to think such things are normal.”

Ibiki watched warily as Jiraiya finally joined in, standing and holding up a hand to silence the babble before starting to speak. “All of you know me . . . and my reputation.” he began, watching as the assembled elders relaxed and a chuckle ran around the room, “I, personally, find great joy in the opposite sex. My nephew, however, is a different matter. I resisted his choice . . . vehemently, to the point where we couldn't even be in the same room.” The sage paused and locked eyes with the worried interrogator before going on, “I think you will all agree with me that Kakashi has had a particularly nasty career, he's earned the right to be happy . . . and Morino-san makes him happy. I, for one, would back the proposal for that reason alone. Beyond that, however, I look around just this room . . . almost half the people here are in a same-sex relationship. These are your friends and colleagues, people you've been on missions with, how can you deny them the right to any happiness they can find?”

“So,” Iruka declared almost grimly, “does any one else wish to express their opinion?” the Rokudaime carefully raked his eyes across the assembly, unwilling to move on until everyone who wished to speak had been heard. “Fine, shall we put it to a vote then? Morino-san, if you could wait outside for a few minutes?” the former teacher said with a smile.

“Certainly.” the scarred man replied with a deep bow, “Thank you all for your willingness to hear me out.” He slipped out of the council room . . . and ended up face to face with an agitated Genma.

“Ibiki, I'm sorry if I upset you in there.” the senbon sucker stated mournfully, “I just . . . I don't ever, ever want to find you like that again. You . . . are important to me. I may talk a good game, but that's all it is, talk. Ru and I have been exclusive ever since we were teenagers. Despite what people may say I have never, ever cheated on him . . . never even considered it. You are the only person we've ever actually shared intimacy with. You allowed us to try something so risky and make it completely safe, and I'll always be grateful. I just hope . . .” he swallowed hard before squaring his shoulder and continuing , “I hope we can still be friends.”

“Of course we're still friends Genma.” the interrogator rumbled sympathetically, pulling the smaller man into a tight embrace, “But I love 'kashi every bit as much as you love Iruka. Would you like it if I tried to force you apart?”

“No.” the honey-haired man retorted sullenly, “But Ru never tried to kill me.”

“He might now.” the scarred man quipped, “He's pretty pissed off at you.”

“Yeah, he really went off the deep end.” the orally-fixated man admitted, “I see punishment in my future.”

“You wish.” Ibiki managed between chuckles, “I see the couch in your future.”

“Ha, ha, very funny.” Genma retorted wryly, “So, Mr. High and Mighty . . . do you have a plan?”

“A plan?” the interrogator repeated, raising his eyebrow questioningly.

“To propose O Dense One.” the honey-haired man snickered, “You do have a plan, don't you?”

“You get no details.” the scarred man answered in a cold voice, “You're against the idea, remember?”

“I said I was sorry . . . I want you to be happy, really I do it's just . . . I don't trust Kakashi.” Genma finally admitted, “But I want you to be happy, too, and you won't be happy unless he says yes . . . that means, as your friend, I have an obligation to make sure you don't screw this up.”

“I'm not going to screw anything up.” Ibiki stated sourly, “I have a perfectly good plan and I'm not giving you the details. How do I know you won't do something to jinx it? No, you'll just have to wait like everyone else.”

The two men found themselves locked in a staring contest, only breaking their heated glare when the door to the council chamber opened and a smiling Iruka called Ibiki back inside.

“Morino-san,” he began formally once the council was back in session, “I am delighted to tell you that the council has agreed to your request. The marriage laws will be amended . . . you are free to wed Hatake-san.”

“Thank you all.” the interrogator cried with a wide smile and a deep bow, “You have done me a great favor.”

“No,” Hiashi replied, “you have done us a favor by forcing this issue. It is long past time for us to join the other nations on this point. I think I speak for the entire council when I say I hope you both find many years of happiness together.”

“Take care of my nephew.” Jiraiya added as he moved forward to shake the scarred man's hand, “Or I'll have to hunt you down.”

“I treasure him above all else.” Ibiki replied soberly, “Never doubt I would give my life for him.”

“Let's hope that never becomes necessary.” the sannin smirked, “You'd have to fight him for the privilege of martyrdom first. You're a strange pair, that's for sure . . . but you make him happy and I'm grateful for that. Now get out of here . . . you've got a wedding to plan.”