Chapter 4

Ibiki spent the remainder of the day puzzling over Akane-sensei's proclamation. Was the daycare owner – someone from outside his normal sphere – really able to see something he had over looked? Am I making this too complicated? He wondered, rubbing his head. Running over the information he had, he was easily able to pull out the key facts he had collected: Ko had emotionally suffered during one or multiple missions, she had little social experience – meaning little social contact, she became a ninja before seven years of age, and she lost her mother when she was very young. There was one fairly obvious blank, but it was one he was already aware of it. Who was it that had trained her?

Ko's academy record showed her enrolling just in time to take the exams and then disappearing again. There were no records of a Genin team until the Chunin exams in which she participated with underwhelming results. Once she was promoted, her name disappeared from the records again. There was no record of her Jounin promotion at all. The reason for the secrecy and hidden talent was not difficult to discern. Clearly, Ko had been trained from an early age to be an assassin of the highest calibre. All of this did little in explaining who had trained her. Ko claimed she hardly ever saw her mother, so it could not have been her. Was it the non-existent father figure?

Perhaps it was time to ask Ko some straight forward questions. His plan of waiting and listening could only do so much. He did not want to interrogate the woman, but there was no way to avoid the questions. Hopefully she would understand his need to know. In the end, it was all for her sake.

Ibiki had a new plan of action, but that did nothing to ease his mind. Akane had clearly implied he had overlooked something involving him, not Ko. The older woman had not mentioned Ko's father, so he knew Ko had not spoken of such a man to her. It had to be something else. Something I need to ask myself? He pondered. What the hell is so obvious? Ibiki starred around his office, hoping the answer would come to him, but waiting proved fruitless. Shoving back his chair, he stood and stretched. He was exhausted, and his old injuries were beginning to ache. Sitting getting stiff was doing nothing to help him think. Before leaving, he closed up the empty bento and placed it into one of the massive pockets inside his jacket. He needed to take it home with him so that he could fill it for Ko tomorrow.

The tired man stalked out of ANBU headquarters to head home, but stopped when a thought came to him. It had been awhile since he had stopped by to talk with the Hokage. Perhaps she would have some useful input. Changing his intended course, he quickly headed toward the Hokage's tower. He really needed to talk to someone.

Tsunade was almost glad when Shizune let Morino into her office. It was late in the day, and she was bored to tears with the mountains of paperwork still covering her desk. Judging by the weary look on his face, the master interrogator had suffered a trying day as well. "Have a seat," she said. "You look exhausted."

"If it doesn't bother you, I'd rather stand Hokage-sama," Ibiki replied, awkwardly.

"Your back again?" Tsunade asked. "If you'd actually come in for checkups on occasion, we could help with that."

Ibiki cringed. "I'll think about it."

"And your favouring your left leg again," Tsunade added, ever the medic.

"I didn't think it was that noticeable," Ibiki muttered, frowning.

"Not to most, but I can tell," she said sternly. "They're old injuries, but you need to take care of them if you want to remain functional. You're not that old, but you're not getting any younger either. You need to look after yourself."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Ibiki sighed in resignation.

"Glad to see you know not to argue. I'd better see you at the hospital tomorrow," the Hokage said, leaning back in her chair. "Now, what do I owe the visit?"

Ibiki rubbed his hand over his covered head.

That's a nervous habit I don't see very often, Tsunade thought, intrigued. This will prove interesting.

"Akane Oto, Ko-san's new employer came to see me earlier this evening. It seems Akane-san is worried about her," Ibiki said, but did not elaborate.

"She only started her job two days ago," the blond said with concern. "Is she already having problems?"

"No, the opposite I think. It seems the woman is very fond of Ko-san. I felt like I was being berated by an angry mother," he huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh?" The corner of Tsunade's lips twitched. It seemed the man's reputation had preceded him yet again. "Well, we both know how much mothers care for you."

Ibiki rolled his eyes. "They do seem to be my number one nemesis," he agreed wryly.

"I assume she had some complaint with you, Morino, but I doubt that's why you're here," she said. Tsunade knew that Ibiki was more than capable of handling an overprotective civilian woman.

"You're right, of course," Ibiki agreed with a nod. "It's something she said that's been . . . bothering me." He started to pace.

"That's unusual," the Hokage mused. "Not much can stump you."

A long breath escaped the man's taunt lips. "I admitted to my current lack of progress with Ko-san's situation, and she claimed I was missing something obvious. She said I need to ask myself what it is." He paced the back the other direction, his body tense with barely contained agitation.

"Are you sure she wasn't just playing with you?"

"Of course I'm sure. I could easily see if she were lying, Hokage-sama," he snapped.

Temper, temper, the hokage thought to herself with a tsk. "It seems this woman has you quite upset, but I wonder if that's all there is to it."

The Hokage calmly watched as the man clenched and unclenched his fists. Normally he was an unmovable rock, but now his emotions seemed to be smoking like a volcano ready to burst.

"Someone else might be better suited to this particular job, Tsunade-sama. If a civilian can see something I can't, then I'm obviously too close to the situation to see things clearly."

"If anyone can sort out Ko-san, I have no doubt it will be you, Morino," she assured. "I'm not willing to give up on her just yet."

"I'm going to let her down," he said, both his voice and face tightening up. "Again." The tension in his body was doing him no favours. His leg finally won over his back, and he resigned himself to sitting down in a chair before the Hokage's wooden desk. The bento jabbed him in the side, and he pulled it out and set it on the edge of the desk.

Tsunade eyed the bento box curiously. The expensive box hardly seemed to suit the man who was carrying it. "When did you decide to start eating lunch?"

Ibiki let out a tired laugh. "It's not for me. Ko-san wasn't eating right, so I decided to make her lunch," he explained casually, shrugging.

Moving her eyes between the box and the pre-occupied man, the realisation reached her. "That's thoughtful," she said slowly, "but I'm sure she can take care of herself. You don't need to feel pressured into looking after her. You should worry about feeding yourself properly."

"I feel better knowing she's not living on her stock pile of nutrition bars," the man retorted. "I never remember to eat anyway."

"It's quite an expensive box," she said, trying another angle. "One of yours?"

"Hardly," he snorted. "I couldn't send her something that looks like it's . . . that has gone through a war zone."

"Ah huh."

"Permission to speak freely, Hokage-sama?"

"Granted," she said with a wave of her hand. Ibiki was one to speak his mind anyway.

"Why all the questions? I was hoping for some insight," he said, not enjoying being questioned.

Tsunade could not help it. She started to laugh. Getting Ko a job, making her lunch when he hardly bothered to feed himself, spending all day worrying about her – of all the things to happen, this was what the intelligent man was struggling with? "Never mind," she said, her body shaking. "All I'll say is that I understand what Akane-san meant. This is something you'll have to figure out for yourself."

Ibiki stared at her, dumbfounded. "You know what she means, but you won't tell me," he said blankly. "Tsunade-sama, what the hell is it?"

"I've said all I'm going to, Morino. I have no doubt you'll continue to work hard, so I'm not letting you back out of this job. You'll thank me for it later," she finished, standing up. "I'll see tomorrow for your treatment."

Having already stood when the Hokage did, Ibiki could only bow and leave the room. He shoved the bento under his arm and stalked out of the office, jacket whipping behind him.

Tsunade watched his large form leave the room and smiled. She figured it was better to let things play out the way they were. They lived in a hard world, and she did not want to severe a budding relationship when doing so would give them no real benefit. Besides, she had a feeling someone in Konoha would have some bets running. "Shizune, I'm going out," she called, a grin on her face. A good person to start with would be Anko.

Ko enjoyed a homemade lunch every day for the rest of the week. Every morning she found a bento waiting on her doorstep. Having been scolded by Akane for sending Anko to the daycare, Ibiki opted for delivering the bento directly to Ko's apartment. Every day after work she would fill the bento with rice balls and return it to him. Akane had insisted Ko would be fine if she delivered the box herself, so Ko went to the headquarters and left it at the front desk for Ibiki.

It was Friday evening. Ko had finished early at work, so she made it to ANBU headquarters a little closer to dinner time. Ko greeted Rooster with a pleasant smile. Her pleated skirt fluttered playfully around her calves as she walked toward the front desk.

Rooster gave her a friendly wave. Ko's arrival was already becoming routine. "You're early today, Ko-san."

"I was done my cleanup duties early, so Akane-san sent me home," she replied. "I can't believe I've already been there a week."

"Don't all those kids drive you crazy?" he asked her, leaning back on the back legs of his chair so he could put his feet on the desk.

"Of course not! I love spending time with them," she grinned infectiously. "They're wonderfully fun children." She bounced once on the balls of her feet, sending her ribbons and hair aloft.

"Well, as long as you're happy. I think I'd go mad within minutes," he said.

Ko laughed, her voice light and sparkling. "Morino-san said something similar. Is that a condition for being in ANBU?"

"Don't know. Maybe," the ANBU shrugged. "You were in ANBU though, and you're managing."

"But I didn't manage with ANBU very well, did I?" Ko replied, her posture tensing a bit.

"Is that why you quit? None of us were really sure what happened," tipped his head, as though to get a better look at her. "It was like the Panther just up and left."

"Something like that," she said vaguely. "Can you make sure Morino-san gets this?" She placed the bento on the desk.

"I don't mind, but did you want to deliver yourself?"

"Is that alright?"

"Well, Morino-san is the one in charge around here, and I doubt he'd have any problems with you walking in. I'm sure you know the way," he tipped his head in the direction of the hallway.

"Yes, I remember. Thank you, Rooster-san," she said politely, but still did not move. "You're sure it's okay if I interrupt him? I know he's busy."

"Go on," the rooster-masked man said emphatically. "Please? He's been cranky for days. Maybe you can cheer him up?" he sounded desperate.

Ko laughed uneasily. "I'll see what I can do." Maybe Morino-san just needs someone to talk to, she thought. I wonder if it's something he can even tell me about? He had certainly listened to her often enough, so she would gladly reciprocate the act.

Ko easily remembered the way to Ibiki's office. Most of her previous memories of the man took place in his office, likely before and after missions. She did not remember the majority of the content of their conversations, but she did remember the feeling – it always felt like a sanctuary. It was a safe place where she could relax. While she was there, she knew that she would not have to... have to do what? Ko wondered, unable to remember what exactly she had not wanted to do. Fight? Kill?

After a few minutes, Ko found herself in front of a familiar metal door. There was a new dent in it, and she wondered whether it was from Ibiki's fist, or someone else. Now that she was here, she felt a little anxious. Hopefully he would not be angry at her for bothering him at work. Raising a fist, she gently knocked. "Morino-san?" she called softly. There was no answer from inside the office. Maybe he was elsewhere in the compound. I'll just leave it on his desk, she decided, pushing the unlocked door open. There was no real point in the door ever being locked in a building full of topnotch ninja.

Ko peeked into the room, and squeaked with surprise. She saw Ibiki leaning back against the side of his desk, his face turned from the door. Flushing, she saw his shirt and jacket tossed onto the desk behind him. His head covering and gloves were missing as well, leaving him completely bare from the waist up. "Sorry! I thought you were out!"

Ibiki was rubbing a medical cream into his forearm, and continued as he looked up to identify the intruder. "Ko-san?" he said, a bemused smile briefly forming on his lips. "It's fine. Come in."

Doing as she was told, she entered the office and closed the door behind her. She stood inside, and stared at her feet. "Sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I, um, brought you supper!" Thrusting the bento in front of her, she was glad when he took it without further prompting.

"Thank you, Ko-san. I tastes better every day," he said encouragingly. "Did Rooster send you in here?"

She could hear the bento being set onto the desk. Pulling at a strand of woven hair, she attempted to look up and meet his eyes, but had to settle for the wall instead. "He said you've been . . . irritated about something. He was hoping I could help," she explained timidly. "Can I?"

Ibiki snorted. "Mostly, I've just been in pain. The Hokage has it in her mind that I need some physically therapy, but I swear it's making things worse." He rolled a shoulder, cringing as the joint popped painfully.

Ko's alarmed eyes immediately latched onto the man, embarrassment momentarily forgotten. "Did you get hurt?" She saw him lathering on some of the cream onto his shoulder.

"No, nothing recent. Just old wounds acting up," he replied casually, with an air of fatigue. His gaze returned to her, and her timidity returned with it. "I'm making you uncomfortable. I can do this later," he said upon noticing her continued aversion. Standing up, he reached for his shirt and pulled it on. "I know my scarring is horrible to look at."

Ko felt ashamed. "Don't think that," she said, causing the man to stop half way into his trench coat. "I'm - I was just –"

Ibiki shook his head, and finished pulling his jacket onto his shoulders. "Don't worry about it, Ko-san. That's almost everyone's reaction," he assured her.

Her brows burrowed together and her fingers tighten into fists. "I was just embarrassed," she said reluctantly. "I wasn't expecting to find you half dressed." Or half naked, she added internally.

Ibiki rubbed at his head absently, but did not respond.

"It's not like I don't have a few souvenirs of my own," Ko continued. She stared him straight in the face. Slowly, Ko stepped forward until she stood directly in front of him. Reaching up a hand, she gingerly traced the damaged tissue marking Ibiki's head. He was a fair amount taller than her, resulting in her close proximity. Ko could feel the heat radiating from his body.

"My artist was a bit more creative than yours," he laughed darkly, running the back of his disfigured hand down the side of her exceedingly scarred face.

"How did it happen?" she asked, moving her hand down to rest on his cheek. Her fingers following the scars she found there.

Ibiki paused, and Ko wondered if he would answer. Perhaps it was an event he would rather not discuss. To her relief he trusted her enough to explain.

"I was captured; interrogated. Most of the damage on my body is from that mission," he said, his eyes staring through her to a place and time she could not see. "I prefer psychological methods myself," Ibiki added, offhand. "It's much more effective, although I doubt the mental scarring is any kinder." He frowned deeply.

Ko blinked up at him. How could someone who had suffered something so horrific be able to continue on as he had? "How can you be so strong after all of that? How can you even do your job?"

Ibiki raised his arm and covered Ko's hand with his own. The space between them lessened. "If I do my job well, fewer Leaf ninja will be subjected to the tortures I went through. The information I collect assists and protects everyone in the village. That's more than enough incentive." He briefly closed his eyes, and leaned into her touch before lowering Ko's hand from his face.

Ko searched his eyes and easily found the determined dedication that she respected now more than ever. She blanched, considering how she must look in comparison. "I ran away from my duties," Ko said, the sudden realisation leaving her mouth before she could stop it. "I'm such a coward." The thought made her feel empty and she felt her mind grow fuzzy. "You've been able to continue so fearlessly, but I- I" A stifled sob escape her lips and she quickly covered her mouth with her free hand, finding Ibiki still held the other. Don't do this. Not now. She could feel nothing but shame – shame for the resignation she did not remember; shame for her weakness, but mostly shame for how badly she had let the man she respected down. He had shown perseverance and she had only . . .

"You don't know that, you can't," Ibiki broke in. "Don't judge yourself until you know everything that happened."

"You have such faith that I acted justly, but I worry the truth will disappoint you," she said sadly. Ko gave Ibiki's rough hand an affectionate squeeze before she pulled away. "I'm sorry. I should go." She fled the room and followed her feet out a back entrance. The week had gone so well, but it seemed like a lie in the face of the heavy truth she found within herself. The loathing that burned inside her felt painfully familiar. Ko did not need to remember her past to recognise the feeling of failure in her heart.

Ibiki could still feel her warmth on his palm. He squeezed his hand close and brought it to his chest. Ko was so accepting of him, faults and all, that it was easy to open up to her. Without thinking, he had spoken of his own past, not meaning to burden her with the expectations he placed on himself. His on expectations gave him strength, but they would easily have broken a lesser ninja in his shoes. Seeing the woman fall back into despair before his eyes caused him to worry that her past emotions had broken through her mental barrier again – or perhaps they had never returned behind it. He knew he could not leave her alone like this. Ko`s current instability made her vulnerable to the self destructive tendencies she was known to possess. She would hate herself for decisions she could not fully understand, and act accordingly.

Using a transportation jutsu, Ibiki was at Ko`s door within moments. Knocking on the door rewarded him with silence, so he tried the door knob and found it unlocked. The apartment was dark when he entered, so he kicked off his sandals and let his eyes adjust to the near darkness. The living room looked identical to the last time he had visited over a month ago, except that the pile of ninja equipment was gone and many thick rugs were scattered over the wood floor. Walking to the couch, he found Ko laying on her side, arms hugging her knees tightly. Ibiki knelt down beside her and heard her soft breathing. She was asleep. She was alright.

The tall man slumped against the front of the couch and watched her body rise and fall as she breathed. Bringing his hand up to her face, he softly stroked her cheek. Even in the dim light he could see the wet streaks that crossed her scarred face. Ibiki wiped the tears from her uneven skin.

When Ko did not stir at his touch, he felt it safe to loosen her arms from around her legs. He knew that sleeping in such a way would cause her pain in the morning. Noticing she was still wearing her sandals, he gently took them from her feet and silently carried them back to the front door. Finally, he removed his coat and covered her sleeping form with the mass of warm leather.

The next day was Saturday and he was due for a day off. He would make it up to her then. Finding a paper and pen in the kitchen, Ibiki left her a note on the coffee table and headed home for the night. Tomorrow would be a better day.

Ko woke in the morning to the smell of leather and medical ointment. The sun struck her face through the uncovered front windows, making her blink fiercely. There was a weight on her body she could not place in her semi-conscious state, causing confusion about where she had fallen asleep. Pushing herself up on the cushions of the couch, the heavy covering fell off her shoulders. It was a large leather trench coat. There was only one person it could belong to: Ibiki Morino. "He came to check on me . . .?" she mused out loud. Her feet were bare, and she wondered if he had taken off her sandals as well. Looking around the room her gaze stopped on a piece of paper laying on the smooth surface of her coffee table. Swinging her legs off the couch she reached and picked up the paper.

I will be taking the day off tomorrow

and will be by in the morning to pick you up.

The message was not signed, but there was only one person who would have left it.

"Morino-san," Ko whispered. She set the short note down and took up his jacket in her arms. Holding it against her chest and burying her nose in it, she closed her eyes. She took in the smell of the worn in material. Warmth filled her heart – warmth that only Ibiki could make her feel. She sat for a long time, buried in the comfort and strength the coat symbolically provided. Eventually hunger began to gnaw at her stomach and she was forced to set the coat aside. Sighing, Ko stood and trudged to the bathroom. If Ibiki was coming to get her, she should at least have a shower. She could eat later.

Ko was sitting in her favourite sundress eating left over rice balls when Ibiki knocked on her door. Hopping to her feet, she flew to the door and pulled it open. Even after the emotions of last night, she felt a large grin spread across her face that seemed to reach every corner of her body. "Good morning, Morino-san!" Although she had pulled up her hair, loose tendrils still slipped out to hang around her face, as uncontainable as her joy. She had felt such agony, but Ibiki easily made her anxiety evaporate like mist in the warm morning sun.

"Good morning, Ko-san," Ibiki replied.

The two simply stared at one another, unsure of what to say after the events of the previous day.

Eventually, Ko reached to his coat folded neatly beside the door, and held it up for him. "Thank you," she said, warmly. "Sorry for running off yesterday."

Ibiki nodded and took the coat without a word. He set down a large bento box, and quickly shrugged on the leather apparel.

"You don't look right without it," Ko said, giggling a bit.

"Hmph." Ibiki collected the bento off the step. "Hopefully you haven't eaten yet."

"Just a bit," Ko admitted, slipping on her pink sandals and pulling the door closed behind her. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," Ibiki replied, handing her the bento. "Hold this for a minute."

Ko took the box, and felt Ibiki slip an arm around her waist.

The man quickly formed some signs with his hands and they disappeared in a puff of smoke.

The pair reappeared on a plateau above the village. There was no obvious path up to the grassy spot, but it provided a wonderful view of Konoha and the surrounding forests.

Ibiki released Ko from his hold and took the bento from hands.

Ko spun around in astonishment, taking in the scenery with wide eyes. "This is amazing! How did you ever find such a place?"

Ibiki shielded the sun from his eyes with a hand and looked out over the village. "Sometimes I find it necessary to get away from everything. I came across it one day while I was out clearing my head. I doubt I'm the only one who knows about it, but only ninja can get up here. It's not very big, so it tends to be a quiet spot."

"The view is beautiful," Ko said airily. She flopped into waving grass and gazed up at the sky. A light breeze played with her hair. "How do you always know what to do to make me feel better?" she asked the man standing behind her.

Ibiki set the bento down and sat in the grass beside her, resting his arms on his bent legs. "A lucky guess," he replied with a shrug. "I'm not exactly a therapist."

"I hardly deserve it, but you always look out for me," Ko said as she watched a scattering of puffy clouds float by, the soft shapes seeming to match the warm morning perfectly.

"I look after all of my ninja," he stated, still looking out across the waking village.

"Really? Doesn't that make you awfully busy?" she turned her head to look up at the man through the tall grass. She doubted he made lunch for or spent as much time with the other ANBU, former or not.

"Well, you're a special case," he admitted.

"Especially pathetic," Ko said sourly, flipping her head to look the other way.

"Ko-san, I spend time with you because I feel compelled to do so, not because you can't take care of yourself," he said sternly, turning toward her. "Your cooking is improving."

The troubled woman rolled over onto her stomach and rested on her elbows. Her feet kicked in the air, causing her sandals to fall into the grass. She tugged at the green blades beneath her fingers. "What do I need to do, Morino-san?" she asked softly. "What do I have to do to be like you?"

Ibiki leaned back on an arm so that he could see the woman's face. He looked at her – really looked at her. Her hard muscles had softened somewhat over a month removed from action, giving her a softer look that suited her current personality. The form fitting dress hugged her figure in an appealing fashion that ninja garb could never hope to replicate. Unfortunately, the cheerful smile he found so mysteriously soothing was missing, replaced with an expression of pained determination. Her dark hair, usually loose and carefree, was tied up on her head, revealing the tension hidden in her scarred shoulders. Removing her memories had done little to diminish the pain that lingered in her soul.

Maybe unravelling the woman's past hardly mattered, when it was the future Ko wanted to be strong enough to face. He believed that she would be stronger if she faced it, but what if it was better forgotten?

At least Ibiki finally knew what to tell Ko. It was something that he had known all along – something he had failed to properly explain the day before. The truth was, that under his frightful persona and terrifying exterior, Ibiki cared about people. That was how he continued to do his job and protect those around him. Whatever she had been specifically implying, Akane had been right – the answers were within him.

"You just need to find something or someone you care about," Ibiki said, lifting her chin with a finger so that she looked at him. "You don't have to be a ninja to be strong. If there's someone you want to protect, you can be strong for that person, knowing that you have their back and that someone has yours."

"All this time I've felt like I was missing something – like I needed to be connected to something," Ko said pensively. "Is that what I've been looking for all along? Someone I want to protect?"

"Perhaps you already have the strength inside you, and you were just looking for a reason to use it," Ibiki replied, his voice low.

Ko smiled, a wave of relief washing over her. Maybe she could handle things after all. Working at the daycare was already helping her make friends and as well as teaching her what it meant to care about people. Crawling to her knees, she wrapped her arms around Ibiki's sturdy chest. "Thank you," she whispered.

Ibiki put his hand around her back and gave her a gentle squeeze.

At that moment, Ko's stomach rumbled. "I think I'm hungry," she said into his shirt.

"Well, I did bring breakfast for a reason," he said with a hearty laugh, laying his chin on the top of her head. "Why don't we have something to eat?"

"Sounds like a plan," she said, adding a happy laugh of her own to his.

Their cheerful duet soared over the waking village.

EDIT: Sorry about the lack of section breaks. I've corrected that now.

A/N: "So, what was Akane seeing, Ibiki? Have you figured it out yet? No?..." He'll figure it out eventually. ^^

Sorry to anyone who thought a shirtless Ibiki was going to lead somewhere else... XD Poor guy can't imagine someone would feel embarresed seeing him that way for reasons other than his scars.

But a hug! Yay! :D

Thanks for reading! (reviews? Yes?)