Chapter Ten
Deadly
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Chilled, his back hurting, Iruka opened his eyes with a groan. Uncurling from around the base of a tree, he wondered if the night before was just a drunkard's dream. He looked down to find his trunks were back on. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, he stood and gasped in pain. I guess it wasn't a dream, but where is Kakashi? Muscles he hadn't thought existed burned and cried out in abuse. He needed to bathe feeling the stickyness still clinging to his skin. The water would help to ease the aches he was experiencing as well. Getting his bearings, Iruka carefully made his way back to camp.
A few minutes later, he found the camp. All was quiet except for the snores emanating from Genma and Asuma's tents. Even asleep, Genma could be loud. Still to early to wake anyone, Iruka gathered a pair of old jeans, a shirt, and a towel, then headed for the river. It would be cold, but he was in sore need of a bath. Grimacing, he picked some stray leaves from his hair. Ten minutes later he was washed and dressed. Laying on one of the larger rocks near the water, he let the slowly warming sun dry his wet hair. As he gazed up at the slow moving clouds, he thought over his encounter with Kakashi the night before.
Granted it was his first time, still he had expected more. Making a face, he sat up, propping an arm on a knee. Why should he expect more from Kakashi? The man was a virtual hermit. No one really knew anything about him. He kept to himself and didn't have very many friends or any that Iruka knew about. He could have at least stayed with me the whole night! Scowling, he tossed a rock into the river, watching as the ripples disappeared.
Why had he left and where was he? I'll make myself crazy if I keep thinking about it. Maybe I should just head back to camp and get something to eat. I'm cranky and sore. I just don't know what to think anymore.
After his little inner tirade, Iruka went back to camp. As he arrived, he heard Gai grumbling from the left. Raising a brow, Iruka watched as he weaved back and forth.
"Good morning, Gai," he called, watching the big man wince. He tried not to laugh at the twigs and leaves sticking out of his hair. He looked as if he had a fight with a bush and lost. "What happened to you?"
Gai held his head for a moment, lifting blood shot eyes to stare at his tormentor. "I fell over root."
Iruka snorted in laughter, but quickly clamped his mouth shut. "A root did that to you?"
Moaning, Gai lifted a bottle of water to his lips. "A root. Then somehow I ended up in some bloody damn bushes. Woke up with ants and a very hungry looking racoon staring at me."
Iruka couldn't hold it in anymore. He laughed until his vision blurred. "A racoon?" he gasped in between breaths.
Gai glared at Iruka but smiled. "It looked hungry and it was big." A few seconds later he joined Iruka in his laughter, thinking about the picture he presented with his story.
Thier laughter waking the others, they built up the fire and set about cooking some sausages and noodles. The men waited in companionable silence as the water boiled, noodles dancing through the water. After sharing thier adventures from the night before and the subsequent return to camp after not being able to find the elusive Iruka, they turned to him and stared at him.
Noodles hanging from his mouth and his hair threatening to fall into his bowl, Iruka looked to each of the expectant faces. A light blush stained his cheeks as he swallowed the noodles. "What?"
Genma sidled up to him, a smile playing around his lips. "Well, did you?"
Frowning, Iruka blinked. "Did I what?"
Rolling his eyes, Genma tried again. "Did you get caught last night?" Blushing even redder, Iruka nodded. "Well, what happened?"
"Not telling." Iruka put his bowl down with a little tink.
"Aw, come on, Ruka! You have to tell!" Genma whined. He gave the younger man his puppy dog eyes. "Pwease?"
Crossing his arms, Iruka stated firmly, "No."
Genma nearly sat on him as he got closer. "Pwease?" He blinked a few times and whined.
Pushing the man away, he growled, "No!"
Genma tackled him. It didn't take long to find Iruka's ticklish ribs and have him screaming in laughter. Wrapping his legs around one of Iruka's he clung to him and threatened, "If you don't tell me, I'll tickle you to death!"
Raidou wiggled over to Asuma and whispered, "I don't think Iruka can break that hold."
Asuma's eyebrow shot up. "And you know this how?" Raidou raised his own. "Ah, nevermind. Too much information." They turned back to the wailing Iruka and clinging Genma. Of Gai there was no sign.
Gasping for breath, Iruka gave up trying to break Genma's hold. If he didn't tell him, he would never be rid of him. "You're annoying, you know that?" He dropped his arms and fell back. He grinned as Genma gave a squawk.
"I knew you'd see it my way," Genma crowed. He loosened his grip enough to slide onto Iruka's stomach, keeping his leg locked with one of his. "Now spill it."
"I got caught, I passed out, and I woke up wrapped around a tree," Iruka declared, lifting a hand and picking some dirt from under his fingernails.
Genma slapped at his hand. "That isn't all. I can tell."
Iruka tried to hide the blush staining his already flushed cheeks. "That's all."
"Tell."
"That was it!" Iruka nearly screamed.
"Tell." Genma let a scary look cross his face as he stared down at his captive. "If you don't, I know a little jutsu that will make you want to tell me."
Cringing, Iruka smiled carefully. "Well, Kakashi caught me, got his boon and left me wrapped around a tree." He looked away as he said the last.
Genma leaned down and whispered lightly in his ear, "I knew he was going to fuck you. Did you enjoy it?"
Anger built in the pit of his stomach as he watched Genma lean back up, a smile painting his face. Hadn't Genma invited Kakashi to begin with? It had to have been. And what was this with 'knew he was going to fuck you' bit? With Genma's careless words and the morning he had suffered through, Iruka was immediately in a really bad mood. A fury he hadn't let show since his breakdown a few weeks earlier exploded behind his eyes. Red eclipsed him, bathing him in a ruby light. Gathering his chakra, Iruka blasted Genma away from him with a whispered air jutsu. Leaping to his feet the glared at the man sprawled across the fire, not letting his chakra fade.
"You go to far, Genma!" Iruka ground out, his teeth barely opening to let the words slip through. Hands on his hips he continued to glare. "What I do and what happens to me is my own problem. It's not for you or anyone else to know about. If I want things to be known about me, then I will tell everyone." Turning away from the staring group he jerked his pack up. "I'm leaving. Do whatever you want, but Genma, you open that big fat trap of yours and you will live to regret ever being born." He looked over his shoulder tossing hair out of his eyes. "Understand?"
Genma nodded, terror glazing his wide eyes. Raidou gathered him into his arms and watched as the enraged man left the camp. He had never seen Iruka do anything remotely dangerous to Genma before, but the fury that had surrounded him as he gave his ultimatem to Genma had him rethinking his opinion. He wouldn't let Iruka hurt his Genma, but maybe Genma had pushed him to far.
Carefully, he turned Genma's still terror filled face and shaking body to him."What did you say to him, love?"
Shuddering, Genma huddled in his lover's arms. "Nothing. I only asked him if he enjoyed himself last night."
Raidou looked to Izumo and Kotetsu, but they shrugged. Like they would know anything, but give them time and they would. He turned to Asuma and shared a look. The other man nodded slightly. Raidou sighed and looked down on Genma again. "Please tell me you didn't say anything stupid, Genma." Genma sniffed as another shudder shook him. Was he crying? Shit. "What did you say to him, Genma? Tell me exactly."
Genma shook as a silent sob shook him again. "I told him that I knew Kakashi was going to get him and asked if he enjoyed it."
"Dammit, Genma!" Raidou cried.
Genma looked up, a tear sliding down his face. "I know, Raidou! I know! I went to far! I was only joking with him." He stopped and took a deep breath, wiping the tear away.
Asuma stood and lit a cigarette. "Well, I think I may know why he exploded the way he did." Everyone turned to him, the question in thier eyes. "Has anyone noticed that Kakashi hasn't shown his face since last night?" They all shook thier heads and he sighed. "I'm assuming that Kakashi had his fun and left Iruka alone in the forest. I have some choice words for our fellow Jounin, but we should really just focus on how we are going to calm Iruka enough to apologize." He stared at Genma. "Meaning you, Genma." Gai popped up from nowhere and glared at Genma. Asuma sighed, but knew there was no helping it.
Everyone agreeing that it would be best to stay for the next day and a half, the men shared a quiet afternoon going over how they were going to make up the ruined weekend to Iruka. And how Genma was going to mend his long time relationship with his old friend. Gai decided to spend the rest of the time getting drunk and didn't feel like talking to anyone.
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Holding his fury in check was hard. He didn't dare slow down for fear he might turn around and go after Genma, possibly killing him in his retribution. He needed to get away from the village for a while. He couldn't be around his friends for a while. This rage was warm. It was so familiar. He was terrified. He hadn't let it out in a very long time and to let it take him so easily twice was a warning sign. He had to leave.
Flying through the forest with almost supernatural speed, he made it to his apartment and slammed inside. Tossing the pack onto the bed, he scurried around the bedroom gathering a few uniforms and stuffing them into his pack. Tossing old clothing out of his way, he snatched his sword from the back of the wardrobe as well as several kunais and shuriken. Grabbing a small medical kit, the small tin of money he had stashed under his bed and what little he had left in his fridge, Iruka zipped his pack shut and left the village. He thought of telling Tsunade-sama of his departure, but she would want to have someone tag along with him and he just wanted to be left alone. Looking back once more to gaze at his beloved village, Iruka took a breath, and turned away. For the time being, there was nothing for him in the village.
Deciding to steer clear of Stone and Sand, he headed for Grass Country. There were many places for him to hide and it would take a long time before the ANBU or hunters could find him. He had to deal with his rage again before he was able to face his friends again. He didn't think that Genma would forgive him anytime soon or Raidou for that matter. He had threatened his life. He choked on a sob. What have I done? I left that part of me behind me years ago, why did it come back?
He could still feel the fury nestled in his stomach. It hadn't completely left him. It never would. All he had done was bury it deep inside, keeping himself weak. He was such a fool sometimes. He had felt the fury building months ago, but had thought he could control it by working with the kids. If only the girl had not picked that day to miss her targets, none of this would have happened. He felt the rage build again as he thought of that day. He pushed it down with a struggle as he flew through the forest and reached the edge. Catching his breath, he found a suitable perch and sat watching the wind play in the tall grass. He needed to find something to alleviate the rage. It was the only way to make it go away.
But that would mean killing again. Could he do it? Could he kill another human being again? He raised his hands to his face. Could he take another life with these hands? Could he watch as the blood emptied from the still breathing bodies as they struggled to take air into thier lungs? Could he?
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Oh lovely chapter, this. It was time to get a little serious. Kakashi has decided to leave the scene for a while, but I promise that he's around. I just have to figure out what to do with him. Iruka seems to be having problems, but I'm sure they'll work out. Or at least I hope they will. Ohhhh...cliffy.
I'll be posting a couple of links to some artwork for this fic that I've been working on the last couple of weeks. They should give you something to drool over while you read the story. As I might be in Florida next weekend for MegaCon, I will try to post as many chapters between now and then. I think I can get two or so in before then.
Thanks to all those still reading. Arigatou! And don't forget to R&R. I love to hear from everyone. Letting me know what you think helps in the development of the next chapters and for later fics in the series.
Ja!