Assuming Can Make an Ass Out of U and Me

A little AU story. If you squint you might see some Raidou/Genma and a little Kakashi/Iruka, but you have to squint hard. Not too hard. Just a little hard.

I own nothing. Nothing.

Chapter Seven

"What's wrong?" Kakashi asked as the other jonin turned and stared through the observation window of Genma's room.

"I'm worried. Gen has only ever had one other panic attack," Raidou stated, watching his friend while Genma slept, "On the day his mother died and he was left completely alone. She lied to him, Kakashi."

"What?"

"Gen's mother told him that her illness was fine when she came back from a mission," Raidou sighed as Kakashi came over to watch Genma sleep too, "She lied. She had been poisoned and died less than a day later. Gen panicked and broke before my eyes for the first time. It is why I know his triggers and the warning signs of when it will happen. He knows me just as well."

"We all break at times," Kakashi admitted, "It is good that you have one another."

"But that's the problem," Raidou snapped, turning to glare at the Copy-nin, "Gen has a lot of trust issues leftover from his mother's passing and I've been trying to help him overcome them, but then I acted the idiot with the rest of you. Ikko has probably set Gen back more than you realize and he doesn't trust any of us any longer, Kakashi. He is sick now and shattered inside from what we put him through and will hold it all in until the shards break him completely. Genma's shinobi training gave him the tools to perfect a mask that hides his pain. I could get that mask off of him, but now…"

"We blew it due to jumping to conclusions and getting too wasted to see sense," Kakashi finished as he groaned, "Not good."

"No, it's not good at all," Raidou whispered.

It wasn't good. Genma's health proved to be more fragile than the Hokage had first realized and he dealt with a lot of weakness and terrible migraines. The man needed to eat properly so that his body could strengthen, but he was despondent and silent. He'd not said another word since the first day he had woke and flat out refused any food that was offered. Lady Tsunade had wheedled, ordered, bellowed, and finally pulled in a therapist, but Genma wouldn't speak or listen.

"That man is going to drive me to drink," Tsunade whined as she downed some sake while Raidou raised an eyebrow, "Don't start with me! This has been going on for a full week and it can't continue. You've known Genma the longest, Raidou, can you think of anything to snap him out of this funk he's in?"

Kakashi and Asuma listened from where they sat in Tsunade's office and leaned forward to hear the jonin's response.

"I need to see Gen," Raidou finally urged as the Hokage leaned back in thought, "He's hiding his emotional turmoil. Look, Lady Tsunade, I clean excessively until my fingers bleed when I break, Anko drinks herself into a stupor, Kakashi turns into a snarly bastard, Asuma plays with matches…"

"I do not!" Asuma interrupted.

"You do too," Kakashi and Raidou said together before Raidou continued, "Anyway, Genma either throws tantrums or he simply stops."

"Stops?" Tsunade questioned.

"He sleeps and sleeps and will not eat unless forced," Raidou explained, "I've always had to watch Gen to make sure he is eating properly. The man just forgets sometimes, but a little nudging and he remembers and eats like a pig on normal days. However, he just won't eat once broken and I know every method to get him to see reason. I need to help him release the emotions he's hiding inside. He'll only listen to me."

"Then go," Tsunade agreed, "Do what you need to wake that man up because the rate he is going…Genma's heart will weaken and stop if this continues any further. There is no denying that we will lose Genma at the rate he is going. Fix this, Raidou. It'll be a mission."

"Hell no!" Raidou hissed, making everyone stare at him in shock, "Gen isn't a mission. He's my best friend…practically family. I'm doing this because I care and not as a mission. He's not a task to carry out until completion. He's worth every effort to save, Hokage-sama."

"Then get to it," Tsunade chuckled with a knowing smile, "Get that senbon-sucking bratling to eat and stop giving everyone the silent treatment. Doesn't feel right to see that one silent. Not Genma. Go, Raidou."

"Hai, Hokage-same. Kakashi, Asuma, I need your help."

The two jonin rose immediately and then dashed off to complete the task that Raidou gave them. Raidou then went and bought what he needed and knocked gently on Genma's door before he stepped into the room. The jonin frowned at how thin and fragile looking Genma seemed, leaning against some pillows to help him sit up a just a bit. The ill shinobi hadn't turned his head to see who had entered the room and remained watching the clouds through the hospital window. Genma still had the breathing tube with the nasal cannula beneath his nose and hooked over each ear. The way the tube pushed his friend's hair back made Genma look younger than he really was.

"You look like shit," Raidou pointed out as Genma finally turned to gaze at him with dull eyes while the jonin set his bag on the nightstand to be able to sit in the chair next to the ill shinobi's bed, "I've missed you, Gen."

Genma blinked and turned away again. Raidou didn't miss that Gen's hands had fisted.

"I'd be pissed at me too," Raidou sighed, making Genma glance his way, "I'm sorry, Gen. We all know about the Anbu mission now and that you were not partying at all. It wasn't your fault that my mother fell and hurt herself and I shouldn't have taken out my anger on you or automatically jumped to conclusions. I'm not sure if you remember everything that happened clearly with what you've been through, but we all acted like total asses. I cannot begin to tell you how horrible I feel about the way I acted and treated you."

Genma growled as he scowled at Raidou and rolled over to face away from the other man. The scarred jonin actually grinned at this since this was the first bit of emotion Genma had expressed since that first day he woke.

"Hey," Raidou hummed, "I think you are going to be even angrier at me after what I've done now. I got everyone to help, but don't be angry at them since it was all my idea. Kakashi and Asuma are finishing everything up as we speak."

Raidou waited. Genma was like a cat, curious, and all one had to do was wait long enough. So the jonin waited, and waited, and waited. There it was! Genma rolled back over to face Raidou as he frowned.

"I've moved you in with me without your permission," Raidou stated at the unasked question as Genma choked in surprise, "I couldn't have you living next to where that perv spied on you. No sir, Gen. All of our friends have got your stuff packed up and at my house until you heal up and decide what your next step will be."

Genma breathed in harshly for several moments as Raidou watched the man's anger build. The jonin stood and caught one of Genma's wrist as the man twisted to claw at him.

"No right!" Genma cried, having his other wrist caught as he reached to scratch Raidou's face, "Not friends…not anymore!"

"I will always be your friend, but will respect you and stay away if that is your choice," Raidou pushed as he continued to try and contain Genma without hurting his weakened friend, "I was a fool to accuse you of things without proper evidence and gave you no chance to defend yourself. I am so, so sorry, Gen."

"Liar!" Genma snarled, continuing to struggle, "Not my friend! Friends don't turn on one another so easily."

"I know," Raidou agreed, "One of the stupidest moves I've ever made. I was angry that mother was hurting and coming off of mission stress. I assumed, got drunk, and listened to gossip that was untrue. I should have just asked, Gen."

"But you didn't," Genma hissed, "I would have asked. I would have trusted my friend. You threw me away like a piece of trash. I hate you!"

Raidou's heart cracked as Genma's head lowered so he couldn't see the man's face as a small sob could be heard.

"I hate you," Genma whispered as he sagged and hid behind his hair while the arms Raidou still held trembled, "You of all of them should have believed in me the most. You should have, but you threw me away. You left me all alone just like my father and mother. Did I really mean so little to you and the others? Have I not proved my loyalties to any of you? I hate you. I hate you all. Hate you."

Raidou released Genma's wrists and pulled him into a hug as the man finally broke and wailed in heartbroken cries. The jonin just allowed his friend to cry for a bit of time as Genma hit at him with fists that were too weak to cause any harm.

"Let it out," Raidou murmured as he rocked Genma, "Let it all out, Gen. I deserve your hatred, but don't hold the pain inside. You have certainly more than proven your loyalties to all of us. I was a creep of a friend and I will hold that shame until the day I die even if you do one day forgive me. All of us, Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, Aoba, Anko, Kotetsu, and Izumo feel like the shits we are and we should feel that way because you are correct…we know you and the Gen we know doesn't go back on his word. You are not trash and I will never leave you again, if I can help it. I'm so sorry. I'm an ass."

"Big one," Genma choked out as his sobbing quieted a bit, "Big, big ass."

"I'll buy a shirt," Raidou deadpanned and waited to be rewarded by some watery giggles as he held Genma closer, "Front will say 'Raidou-Big, big ass who hurts his friends!' and the back will say 'Kick me here. I deserve it.' with an arrow pointing down."

Raidou relished in the shake of Genma's chuckles and waited until Genma was calm to help his friend settle back against his pillows.

"I don't hate you," Genma sighed, looking out the window again as Raidou tucked the covers back over him, "I just don't like you right now, but I remember how hard you fought to save me from Ikko. Thank you, Rai, but I'm not living with you."

"Yes, you are," Raidou hummed as Genma scowled at him, "Just until I know that you are back up to your usual speed and then you'll find a new place. Preferably a rental house with no shared neighbors. You'll let Ibiki set up wards and you'll agree to a strip search every Tuesday by the shinobi of your choice."

"I will not!" Genma gasped, "What the hell, Rai?"

"Precaution to make sure no other perv tries anything like this again. No more damn cursed seals for you, Gen," Raidou continued as Genma's eyes widened, "Ah. I'll get your flak jacket embroidered with 'Hands the fuck off!' so that we can keep you safe. Good, ne?"

Genma blinked and then arched as he laughed the first good laugh he'd had in what felt like forever. Raidou snickered along as the two, old friends felt like something had clicked back in place between them. Genma closed his eyes as Raidou reached and held his hand tight within his. It would take time, but they'd be okay again.

"Sneak thief," Genma huffed, jerking on the set of dog tags that Raidou had taken from the box in his apartment a few moments later.

The scarred jonin nodded and undid the clasp of the chain for once, instead of jerking the tags over his head, so he could fasten the dog tags around Genma's neck. The both of them wore the other's spare set of tags since they had risen to chunin together. Genma blushed as he looked away. Raidou knew that too many emotions tended to embarrass his friend so he elected for a redirection.

"Time to eat now, Gen," Raidou urged while he pulled the rolling, hospital table over Genma's lap as he grabbed up the bag and began emptying the contents, "Here we go. Pumpkin broth and some nice ginger tea. Your favorite. Let's sit you up a little more."

Iruka watched from the observation window, just slightly to the side so the two men wouldn't see him. The chunin smiled wide, watching as Genma allowed Raidou to feed him the soup little by little. Genma's hands were too shaky to feed himself, but he was eating thanks to Raidou and finally allowing himself to heal.

"Took all of you enough time to fix this," Iruka chuckled as he turned to the surprised Copy-nin who'd come up silently behind him, "Don't screw up like this again, got me?"

Kakashi glanced at the finger in his face and then into the room that housed Genma before giving one of his trademark eye smiles and nodded.

"Stupids, the lot of you," Iruka teased as he walked off after bumping Kakashi with a hip, "I'll go alert the others that Raidou's got everything under control. Genma's going to be okay. Thank God for that."

Kakashi beamed again at Iruka's wide grin before the chunin strolled away looking pleased with the world.

"An Iruka thaw," Kakashi snickered, watching the sensei leave and glanced back in the window to watch Raidou blowing on the tea before holding the cup to Genma's lips so the man could take a sip, "Ah. That's better, Gen. Good job, Rai, good job. Now I'll deal with those rumors with Gai's help and things can begin getting back to what is normal for us. Thank goodness. Thank goodness for small miracles."

To be continued…