Into the Fire

A/N This one is for the lovely Achillona . . . who encouraged me to explore this pairing further and who so graciously planted this vicious little plot bunny in my head. Prepare for a bumpy ride folks!!


Chapter One

At least it’s late enough that everyone should be gone, Kakashi thought as he slipped into ANBU headquarters undetected and headed for the locker room, his only desire to scrub off the taint of his mission. The last Hatake warily checked the entire area, scanning for chakra signatures, before quickly disrobing and heading into the shower.

None of this was unusual behavior for the reclusive copy-nin, but tonight his reasons were different . . . this time it wasn’t his face he wanted to hide. He turned the water as hot as it would go, scrubbing his skin vigorously with the brush until it was red and raw and his agonized whimpers had turned into anguished sobs.

I am shinobi, I cannot show emotion. The words kept running through Kakashi’s brain . . . but tonight he couldn’t seem to summon his legendary control. Eventually he dropped to his knees, hot water searing his back even as hot tears seared his soul.

Morino Ibiki stood and stretched, his current guest had taken longer than usual to break and all he wanted was to fall into bed and sleep for eight hours. Better clean up first, he decided as he glanced down at his gore streaked form. He pulled a spare uniform out of his closet and headed to the locker room, figuring he’d take a quick shower here and spare himself the mess at home. Once inside the interrogator stripped off his uniform, deciding after a quick appraisal that it wasn’t worth salvaging. After dropping it in the incinerator bin he grabbed a towel and headed for the showers.

Ibiki slowed as he approached the door. Someone inside was screaming in agony, chakra flaring wildly in response. Should I go in, he debated silently. Fuck that, he decided, I’m head of ANBU, I need to know if something is wrong with one of my men.
The scarred man quietly pushed the door open, peering inside cautiously. “Hatake-san.”, he yelped in surprise, so riveted by the hate filled mismatched eyes that swivelled to meet his that he missed the hand signs the copy-nin quickly made, leaving him staring dumbly at the swirl of smoke left in his wake.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, Kakashi’s internal monologue droned, Ibiki of all people, shit, shit. How the hell am I supposed to hide anything from him?

The copy-nin reappeared in his bathroom, quickly flipping the shower to hot and climbing inside, coating a rough sponge with antibacterial soap and scrubbing his already red skin frantically. When the hot water finally ran out Kakashi slumped to the bottom of the shower floor, unwilling to bother moving himself any further.

“Boss, you can’t just sit there.” Pakkun argued from the doorway, “You’re bleeding, you need to take care of it.”

“It doesn’t matter any more Pakkun.” the copy-nin replied tonelessly, “He saw me . . . and once one person in the village knows something, everyone does.”

“He, who, saw you, where?” the pug replied in confusion.

“Ibiki, in the showers, at headquarters.” Kakashi murmured before flopping onto his side and shutting his eyes in an attempt to block out the world.

Pakkun huffed in exasperation, they weren’t playing Ninja Clue . . . a real answer would have been helpful. He trotted out into the bedroom and tugged a pillow off the bed and into the bathroom. He nudged silvery strands until the unresponsive man shifted his head onto the pillow before dragging a blanket over the shivering form. Calling the rest of the pack he left them standing guard while he went to look for the source of the problem.

“Hey, you Morino.”

Ibiki peered out his door in search of the person calling him, there weren’t many nin who would bang on his door and then have the balls to run away.

“Down here.”, the gruff voice continued, “I have a bone to pick with you.”

“Indeed,” the torture specialist rumbled as he eyed the tiny pug in surprise, “and it is . . .?”

“I need to know what you did to the boss. He’s bleeding and he won’t take care of it. He’s just laying in the bottom of the shower staring at the wall.” Pakkun replied, worry apparent in his tone.

“Who’s your boss?”, Ibiki asked drily, “I tend to have that effect on people.”

“Hatake Kakashi, now what did you do to him?” the nin-ken demanded.

“I didn’t do anything to Hatake-san . . . I ran into him at headquarters, but we didn’t even speak. He was already upset when I got there.” Ibiki growled defensively, “I don’t know why you’re blaming me.”

“The boss said you were the reason he wasn’t getting up . . . I asked and he said ‘Ibiki, the showers, headquarters’ . . . you know, I don’t have a lot to work with here, a little cooperation would be appreciated.” Pakkun grumbled.

“Why don’t I go with you and talk to him.”, the interrogator suggested, “Maybe I can figure out what the problem is.” Technically Kakashi was ANBU, even if he did report directly to the Hokage, that made him Ibiki’s business.

The pug disappeared with a pop of displaced air, Ibiki following in his wake. They appeared just outside the bathroom door, Pakkun nosing it open to check before motioning for the scarred man to follow. “Hey boss, I brought Ibiki here to straighten things out with you. Please get up.”

The copy-nin didn’t even attempt to cover his face, much less move. “I’m fine Ibiki, I’m sorry Pakkun bothered you.”, he rasped hoarsely, “Thank you for humoring him.”

“He said you were bleeding.”, the scarred man replied cautiously, “I can assist you now that I’m here.”

“That won’t be necessary.”, Kakashi responded frostily, “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

“Capable and willing are not the same thing.”, Ibiki growled, bending down and scooping up the startled copy-nin. Kakashi panicked when large hands brushed against his bare flesh and he struggled to push away from the contact.

“Don’t touch me.”, the copy-nin wailed as he twisted himself out of the interrogator’s arms to land hard on the bathroom floor, “Please, I’ll do anything.”

“It’s alright.”, Ibiki whispered soothingly as he cautiously scooted closer, unwilling to make the mistake of underestimating the damage Kakashi could do if he so chose. He swept an appraising eye over the huddled form, stifling a growl at the sluggishly bleeding whip marks artfully cross-hatching cracked, reddened skin. “Why didn’t you go see Tsunade when you got back . . . she would have healed this for you while you gave her your report . . .”, the interrogator paused before continuing in a barely audible whisper, “How long did they torture you before you escaped?”

“Tsunade has no desire to see me like this.”, the copy-nin spat fiercely, “You don’t understand.”

“Well then, you need to explain it . . . or I’ll have Tsunade explain it.”, the interrogator threatened, “I’m not just going to leave you like this.”

“I don’t see why not.”, Kakashi retorted petulantly, “I outrank you . . . don’t make me make it an order.”

“You may outrank me,” Ibiki replied logically, “but as head of ANBU I’m technically your boss. Don’t make me order you.”

“This was my mission . . . now do you understand,”, the copy-nin rasped hoarsely. Ibiki flinched as the meaning hit home, “I’m Tsunade’s favorite bargaining chip . . . just like I was Sandaime’s.” Kakashi concluded bitterly as he studied the tile floor intently, unwilling to meet the interrogator’s hard eyes.

“How long?”, the scarred man finally gasped, “How long have they been doing this to you?”

“Since I made jounin.”, Kakashi answered mournfully.

“That’s almost twenty years.”, Ibiki exclaimed in horror, “You were just a child.”

“I was never a child.”, the copy-nin rasped, abandoning the last vestiges of his pride and rising defiantly to his full height, heedless of his nudity. “Now if you don’t mind, I believe you’ve snooped into my life enough.”

“I mind very much.”, came the growled reply, “You’re a talented shinobi, not a common whore.”

“That’s right, I’m a loyal shinobi of Konoha . . . and that means I bow to the will of my Hokage and complete the missions I am assigned to the best of my ability.” Kakashi whispered, as much to himself as to his unwanted guest.

“At least let me treat your back.”, the interrogator said after a long silence, “Then I’ll leave you in peace.”

“It will heal on its own . . . it always does.”, the copy-nin responded acidly, “Right now I’d just like to be left alone. Oh and Morino-san?”

“Hmm?” Ibiki rumbled.

“I’d appreciate it if you kept this to yourself. I value my privacy . . . for reasons I’m sure you understand. Now, if you’ll excuse me . . .” Kakashi trailed off as he urged the large man toward to door, “I’m sure I’ll see you around headquarters. Thank you for your concern, I’m sorry you were disturbed.” With that Ibiki found himself standing on the copy-nin’s stoop with the door firmly shut, locked and warded behind him.

I’m not just going to let this go Kakashi, the interrogator thought angrily, you haven’t seen the last of me. With that he made the signs and teleported home. Only when he was back in bed and nearly asleep did he realize he had seen the mysterious face behind the mask, and he drifted into dreams haunted by the copy-nin’s unmasked features.