TotW -11
Author's Note: Poor Jiraiya...
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The next day Sakumo woke up in the morning, actually before his son next to him did. He sat upright, which was a bad idea again. The stitches stayed in place, but as he leaned back on the cabinet; he couldn't shake that dizzy feeling. He really wished he hadn't woken up his son's sleeping form—he didn't really want him to see his father this way.
"Otou," Sakumo heard him murmur.
"Kakashi," he smiled. Sakumo didn't know what else he could say.
"Do you need anything?"
"No."
"Oh!" He seemed to remember. "Tsunade-himé said I should check your temperature."
Oh really…Sakumo lowered his head. He felt a small hand under his un-cut bangs.
"Mm…not as warm as yesterday."
"That's good," said Sakumo, hiding the pain of talking. It must have worked because Kakashi then asked, "Otou…where's the blade?"
Sakumo's eyes widened.
"Chikusho!!" He cursed.
Wrong question…Kakashi feared.
--◊--
Tsunade came over later that morning, dis-pleased with Sakumo's need to sit upright. She listened as he talked about his missing blade. "Please," he said. "Just ask Jiraiya to come by."
"He's already in a fowl—no, no…" Tsunade knew Kakashi had to have been accustomed to all sorts of dirty cuss words by now. "He's pissed."
"Dammit…" Sakumo murmured.
"Jiraiya's already started poking at the elders."
Sakumo glared at the floor.
Tsunade looked down as well. "I swear he's just as immature as ever."
"Jiraiya—" Sakumo paused in pain. "Is no fool; please—just find him," he said. "I'll tell him."
Tsunade nodded and gathered her medical bag. Before she left the room, she eyed Kakashi. "Make sure your father sleeps today—by any means necessary."
Kakashi half-smiled. "Yes ma'am."
She smiled and left.
Sakumo sighed. He closed his eyes and stiffened at the hell-hole of pain circling his stomach. He didn't like what she said, but it was true, regardless. The dizzy feeling just wouldn't go away.
"Otou…" came a murmur.
Yeah, yeah…
Sakumo slept until Jiraiya came a few hours later.
--◊--
It was a beautiful day outside, so why not enjoy it?
Sakumo was sitting up (fairly) straight again. "You heard me," he said. "This is a private conversation."
"But—"
"No 'buts' Kakashi, go outside."
Reluctantly, the young boy left.
Sakumo gathered himself for all he had to say.
"He's certainly growing up," Jiraiya remarked, also seated.
"Too fast," Sakumo gritted, trying to sit and lean back a little straighter.
"Whoa, take it easy Saku—"
"I don't need your help!" he snapped.
Jiraiya blinked and instantly retreated.
"Sorry…" said Sakumo, coming to a new lean against the wooden cabinet. "I'm sorry."
"I don't blame you…" said Jiraiya, watching him. "I've never…Well—you've never…" Jiraiya shook his head of the stammering. "It's never been this bad before."
Tell me about it… "Jiraiya," Sakumo focused on breathing and talking. "Listen carefully; I'm only gonna talk once."
"I'm listening," he said, suddenly feeling anxious.
"You are not…not to get involved with this."
Jiraiya blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Do not talk to the elders," he said. Sakumo stopped looking at Jiraiya. He looked at the floor, instead. Breathe and talk, breathe and talk; that's all…"Do not talk to anyone—anyone a part of that mission," he breathed. "Do not defend me."
Jiraiya's eyes had widened beyond the point of expansion. It was like some bad nightmare he kept waking up to. Was this even Sakumo? Jiraiya's voice was a mere whisper in disillusionment. "…Why?!"
"D'you…you remember when you wanted…wanted to be known as…Hatake Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya only looked at him in star-eyed wonder; it seemed it hurt for him to speak too.
"Same reasons."
Jiraiya stared. After a while, he found a small fraction of his voice: "Not good enough."
Sakumo grimaced in the uneasy feeling; without his mask, it was too plain to see. "It will have to be," he said.
"No…" Jiraiya shook his head, trying not to feel anything. "I can't let them—"
"You will."
"I refuse."
"You. Will," said Sakumo, as forceful and low as he could get. "Jiraiya, please stay out of it, no—No matter what."
His younger brother stared.
The room wouldn't stop spinning. "Jiraiya…I—I only ask of you…just one thing."
"Anything," he said. It was a fact and not a statement.
"Find the blade for me, please."
Jiraiya leaned in. "Where might it be?"
Kakashi couldn't hear.
"All right," Jiraiya stood. "I will do it immediately."
Sakumo wanted to laugh, but it came out as a cough and a grin. "Wow…thanks," it was all he could say.
"Rest, Sakumo—we'll talk later."
Looking forward to that…
Jiraiya went out the window and stumbled over something that looked like Sakumo. Kakashi suppressed any noise and rubbed his head. Jiraiya looked dumbfounded, but said nothing and went on his way.
When Kakashi returned to his father's room, he saw that he was already asleep.
--◊--