Chapter 4


The following morning could be summed up with one word:

Awkward.

Exiting the bathroom, Baki heard running water in the kitchen and headed there, complete with hangover. "Ohayo," he groaned as he flopped down in a table chair. I only meant to get tipsy last night. How did this happen again? Oh, yeah, and let me not forget, he thought with some sarcasm. I kissed a man I barely know. He watched Ibiki, who was at the kitchen sink, washing dishes.

Ibiki mildly continued washing the same plate three times as he heard Baki approach and enter the room. "Ohayo." He rinsed the plate with extreme carefulness, eliminating even the tiniest of soap bubbles, watching water run off of the polished surface before setting it in the drain board. He'd had a few left over dishes from before last night, since he hadn't known he would be doing anything special. Like bringing a strong, built, mulishly honest Sand nin into his house to burst into tears in front of.

He wanted to make the dishes last.

"Breakfast?" he asked, as if nothing in the world was wrong, and they certainly hadn't kissed last night...for some reason.

Baki assessed his condition. "About all I could get down is rice. And a soda. If you got that, then sure."

Ibiki was acting as though nothing had happened, and Baki wondered about it. Well, they both had to be embarrassed, he figured, considering they cried all over each other in addition to kissing.

"I've got rice and soda," Ibiki said. He paused, and glanced in Baki's direction. Well, the sight of the Sand nin didn't burn his eyes out of their sockets or turn him to stone. Maybe he wasn't as embarrassed as he thought. "I've also got a hangover remedy if you want. It's like...hmm...fizzy tablets. I think. I keep them with the cold medication in the medicine cabinet."

In fact, he could look at Baki without blushing. I must have great self-control. Maybe it's denial.

Baki nodded. "Oh, yeah. Definitely." His head was pounding, and his mouth was so dry he'd actually had to cup his hands and drink water out of the bathroom faucet before exiting. Despite that, his mouth still felt like he was sucking on a wad of cotton.

"I'll get it." Ibiki finished washing the yakisoba bowls from last night and walked out of the kitchen, through the living room, and into the bathroom. He found the hangover remedy and came back, setting the packet of two tablets on the kitchen table in front of Baki and then getting the man a glass of water.

Ibiki stood by the table casually. "You know, I get drunk with everyone. It happens usually in the first week. It's freeing. Everybody has something they'd like to say that they can't get out unless they're less than sober. And I share things too, and it brings me and my guests closer. Builds a bond of trust. That sort of thing." Which is probably why I don't feel the urge to run away.

He waited for Baki to take the hangover tablets. "You just pop those in water. Then drink the water. You know. Once it dissolves."

Baki nodded, following the directions. Within moments he had refreshingly cold, fizzy water to drink. He didn't even care that it tasted of saline and slurped it down. He set the empty glass on the table and gazed at Ibiki. He's acting pretty business-like. Is this code for 'It's no big deal?' In order to save face, Baki was determined to match whatever attitude the man put forward.

"Thanks," he said. He paused, trying to figure out what to say next, and couldn't.

Ibiki paused. "I...ah...never kissed anyone before, though." He gave Baki a small, crooked smile. "That's new." He was testing the waters. If Baki didn't want to face what had happened, then he wouldn't press his luck.

So we are going to put it out there, Baki thought. He grinned. "Well, that's good to know, I guess."

Ibiki didn't know what to make of the grin, but he thought the man's response to his statement was pretty telling. So he's not ashamed. Just...hmm. Wary? Well, I would be, too. "Done with that glass?"

"Sure." Baki handed it to Ibiki and consciously relaxed his posture, dropping his shoulders. I promised myself I wouldn't be ashamed if he wasn't. And he's not apologizing or acting horrified.

Ibiki raised the glass, smiled, and walked it over to the sink, turning on the faucet. He rinsed it out and washed it, inside and out. Then he stopped and stared into the sudsy cup. "Um...well..." He glanced at Baki, suppressing a laugh. His instinct was to turn the question into a joke, but he wouldn't let himself. He needed to face this seriously. "I guess I've got a question."

Baki tilted his head. "Sure, no problem." He was intensely curious about what question that would be.

Ibiki bit his lip to keep his smile from becoming a self-conscious grin. "Are you gay when you're sober?" Either way, I don't really care. I just wanted to know, because, you know, it kind of...I'm gay, so...It's not something I share with...Oh, I'm glad I shut up when I did. He does not need to know this.

Baki laughed. He couldn't help it.

Ibiki's grin surfaced whether he wanted it to or not.

He waved a hand through the air. "That's - Um, yes. I'm one hundred percent gay one hundred percent of the time. Drinking's not going to change that, either." He hadn't quite expected that question, although it didn't offend him. "I tried dating girls as a teenager, but nope. It's men for me. So, you okay with that?" An awkward question to ask in return, maybe, but Ibiki had kissed back.

And hugged and held and stroked his cheek.

Ibiki found himself extremely and unaccountably relieved. That's not a 'yes' or anything. He still could say he doesn't want to date you. He might not even want to kiss you again. You might not be his type, he might be pragmatic enough - God knows I should be - not to start something with someone who lives in a foreign country he's not going to be in for more than a month.

"Ah..." He rinsed the cup and set it in the drain board with a vague smile. "I am...very gay." He hated to say it that way, but there it was. He grimaced. "I break all the stereotypes girls are mad about these days. I'm not small, thin, or young. I was young once, but I was never small or thin. Roly-poly, in fact, until I got past the age of fifteen. It was all baby fat with muscle underneath."

He snorted. "My mother called it 'Morino awkwardness'. She said she had a family album from my dad's side to prove it." He sighed and faced Baki, drumming his fingers on the edge of the sink. "She did. It was true. That didn't make it any more comfortable." He paused. "So. Rice? Soda?"

"I bet," Baki agreed. At the questions, he nodded. "Rice and soda, please." So we're both gay. That at least makes part of this less awkward and explains a few things.

Ibiki nodded and forced a smile, although he was horrified that he'd shared something about his image. He opened the refrigerator. "Lemon lime? Ginger ale?"

I really want this guy to like me. I am so screwed.

"Either's good. I guess ginger ale," Baki said. He paused. "I guess all guys like us go through an awkward stage, yeah? I went through the gangly, all arms and legs stage. Sensei assured me it would be all right and I'd grow out of it, but I wasn't much comforted. He was average height and thin - graceful, even."

It stung to have to talk about his sensei, but he remembered the way he'd been so awkward and clumsy and shook his head, letting himself smile.

Ibiki nodded, taking the ginger ale from the refrigerator. He shut the door and paused, his smile relaxing at Baki's return offering. Maybe he likes me, as well. He handed over the bottle of ginger ale. "Yeah. When you're destined to grow up big, your body does funny stuff to you in the in-between stages."

He'd seen pictures of the Kazekage. Had a dossier on the man, in fact. But he thought it best not to offer his opinions. This was another man's memory of a close comrade. Baki didn't need him muddying it with outside opinions.

Ibiki thought that Yondaime Kazekage had been beautiful. Unfortunately, one of the things Orochimaru looks for in a face.

He grimaced and turned away. "Yeah, rice. That was it." He crossed the kitchen and got his canister of dry rice down from the cupboard, scooping some of it into his rice cooker and turning it on.

Destroying sweet, gentle people seemed to be a bonus for the deranged Sannin.

Like Baki's beloved Sensei.

Ibiki found himself growing angry at the thought of the lives Orochimaru had ruined.

Baki had caught the grimace and wondered what it was about. Surely not about the trials of youth.

Ibiki took a moment to collect himself and turned around. "Orochimaru is going to pay," he said calmly. "And I have no doubt that you're going to help take him down."

Baki's eyes narrowed instantly. "You got that right. No one is going to murder my sensei, my Kazekage, and get away with it." He was going to aim every ounce of grief he had into helping take down Orochimaru. Right now, he was still half-way in shock. When he reached the anger stage, though, he was sure he'd have plenty of unpleasantness cooked up for Orochimaru.

Ibiki nodded, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in approval.

Baki took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and forced himself to relax again. If he got stuck ruminating on his sensei's death, there would be no helping him.

Ibiki crossed the room and squeezed Baki's shoulder. "We'll get revenge. For everybody. And then everything will be okay. You'll go home, rebuild your lives with your children...help them move on the way you'll be able to. Because you've got the life experience to help them. You're a good sensei and a good father."

Baki gave Ibiki a half-smile and tried to take the words to heart. "Thanks." I sure hope you're right about all that.

Ibiki squeezed his shoulder again before sitting down in the chair next to Baki's. "No problem. I'm just saying what you'll someday know."

And why it's totally stupid to grow invested in you. I can't leave my post and join you or anything. My people need me. Your people need you - especially those kids. And one of them is probably going to become the next Kazekage. You've got work ahead of you.

He hated being pragmatic sometimes. But then again, if he weren't pragmatic, he would never get ahead.

Baki nodded and opened his ginger ale, taking a healthy swig of it. His headache and sense of being parched were both slowly easing up. Ibiki's so friendly. It really would be nice to date the man. But I'll be gone in a month. Then what? Is it worth it to date someone for only a month? Do I even have it in me, considering how much pain I'm in? He paused, thinking it through. Well, dating does not mean marriage, although we'd have to be upfront about those things. And having someone at my side through all this is worth a lot...

He gazed at Ibiki, looking him over. Not to mention - "You really are a good guy."

Ibiki snorted and grinned. "Why? For saying the truth?" He paused and thought about that. "Well, maybe. I guess that's true. Not everyone tells the truth. Almost everyone becomes a notorious liar after spending time as a ninja for a while. The job breeds a lot of dishonest bastards." He thought of Kakashi, one of the worst. Loyal to a fault, self-sacrificing to an unhealthy degree...and pure dishonesty.

And for some reason, it was often his job to keep Kakashi in line.

That resulted in the kind of love/hate relationship Kakashi was infamous for creating with others. They pressed each other's buttons, yelled, argued...and in the end both got what they want. In a purely professional, nonsexual way. And don't think that's not disappointing to me.

Ibiki paused. "You know...why do I always do that?" Then he realized what he'd said would make no sense to his guest. "I was just thinking how I tend to throw myself in with people who either can't or won't stay put long enough for me to build something permanent." He shrugged. "Guess you have nothing to worry about, though. I won't try to sink my hooks in like a crazy person and do that whole denial thing wherein I actually expect you to stay up to the moment that you have to go home."

That answered the question Baki hadn't even gotten up the nerve to ask yet. "I know. I mean, I realize we only have a month here. And I don't expect either one of us to go into denial here about how it'll end. But if nothing else, we should be able to maintain a solid friendship after dating, don't you think?" He looked Ibiki over one last time. "So what do you think? Wanna date?"

Ibiki was shocked and bewildered. "You'd really wanna put yourself through that right now? Are you sure that's wise? I'll be your friend either way. You don't have to date me. You're - Well, you're extremely vulnerable right now, even if it's something you hate to hear. And I don't want to do anything to you that would cause you to feel pressure or obligation, or...Are you sure?"

It really came down to that one, simple, three word question.

Baki gazed at Ibiki in a bit of shock for a moment. Boy, he really is putting my welfare first. He was loath to admit it, but he supposed he was vulnerable, very vulnerable, right then. "You aren't pressuring me. And I realize..." I need to feel loved right now. Well, that was more honest than even he often was with himself. "I'm sure. If you're sure, I'm sure. After all, we both know we've only got a month."

"Baki..." Ibiki leaned forward, reached across, and cupped Baki's cheek with one gloved hand, running his thumb across Baki's skin in a stroking motion. He knew what Baki was thinking, even if the man wouldn't say it. "I am willing to offer all the comfort you need. I have no problems with that. I would like to comfort you during this time in your life. If only to know that I provided some kind of support to someone who needed it...I'd like to. Even if it doesn't go anywhere. Hell, you could go home and never even write me. As long as I can get you through this, that'd be okay. There's no reason to make you face the things that we're going to do in order to stop this invasion, without any support. I wouldn't. I wouldn't do that to you, or anyone else."

He swallowed. "And the support you want...is something I want to give you. I wouldn't do it, probably, for someone else. Not this kind. But I'd -" His eyes stung, and he was surprised at himself. "I'd do whatever you wanted me to do in order to ease this."

Good men just didn't cross his path. That was what it must come down to.

Baki felt a blush working its way to his cheeks again. For him, there was no reason to try to hold it back - not after those words and that touch. He took in the sheen in Ibiki's eyes, the offer to do whatever he wanted, and the hand on his cheek, and once again, he couldn't help himself. He leaned forward slowly, cupping Ibiki's cheek in his hand, and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

Ibiki gently kissed back. He tasted citrus from the hangover remedy and ginger from the ginger ale. He wondered if he'd ever get a kiss from Baki that wasn't flavored with something, but that was none of his business. He smiled at Baki softly. "So...I guess that's it, then. We seem to have decided on a course of action." He paused. "Do you want to visit the kids after you've had breakfast?"

Baki gave him a small smile in return. "Definitely." His lips tingled from their kiss.

Ibiki nodded. "Okay, then." He realized suddenly that they'd just kissed sober, and that eased some remaining tension in his chest. It wasn't a fluke. I can relax.

Baki felt the tension easing from Ibiki and took a deep breath, feeling stabilized. His morning hadn't turned out to be too awkward after all.