Chapter 20

Kakashi and Iruka had rushed to the Hokage's office; the number of ANBU guarding the door should have been warning enough. They froze when they saw who Yamato was holding; the pained cry from Iruka's mouth made him get a hold of his emotions and grip his lover's wrist to stop him from collapsing as they stood by the open door. Boar appeared by his side from the shadows reporting on the mission. "I don't think his compromised but his in shut down. You need to pull him out so we can get the child from him".

Kakashi nodded in understanding as he watched Yamato posed against Shizune clinging to Yasahiro "Possible trigger?" he asked.

"Not sure sir, the enemy Nins was examining the boy and Cat reared up in pain gripping his head, I felt no foreign chakra. He broke protocol, when we found him he was surrounded by dead enemy medical Nins, all covered in ice crystals, Cat and the boy too". Boar noticed the slight tensing in Kakashi's body, his former leader was a genius and would know how to bring Cat back, but the tensing indicated something was wrong, very wrong. Kakashi knew Yamato's Jutsu's and all its variances and not a single one of them included ice crystals. That could only mean one thing, but he wasn't prepared to share that information now.

Iruka's wrist was still in Kakashi's tight grip, he saw Boar and Kakashi exchange information; to the unknown eye it looked as though they were just greeting one another whilst passing by as Kakashi's mask stretched the bare minimum under his lips. Iruka watched wild eyed as both Yasahiro and Yamato appeared to be bleeding and Shizune was struggling to administer her care. He shook Kakashi's hand off him and entered the room ignoring Kakashi's cry of wait. "Ya…" Iruka began but before he could finish he gasped for breath as a sharp thud against his flak jacket knocked him back against the wall. Iruka had no time for comprehension as another tendril came at him and he felt arms wrap around his midsection dragging him from harm's way. Iruka watched Boar defend against the branch with an earth barrier as he struggled against the hold around his waist "don't hurt them" he shouted in vain.

"Iruka, stay back" the voice he knew so well was now muffled at the shell of his ear. He looked up into the face of a porcelain mask with red markings. The hound looked at him, sharingan exposed through the slits and trained on the subject in front, Boar was shouting at Yamato that Iruka was a friendly and not after the child. Iruka held back a whimper and swallowed the tight ball in his throat. Hound squeezed his shoulder "it'll be OK" he whispered as he left Iruka slumped against the wall.

A deep cold tone cut through Iruka as he stared on not believing his senses, "ANBU! Roll Call!" Hound shouted.

"Boar Sir! 1468 Sir!" Iruka snapped his head around to see Boar finish his call and at Parade rest. He turned back around and waited, waited to hear the voice he knew so well, that whispered sweet nothings in his ear as they slept and brought warmth to him throughout the day. But there was no answer.

"ANBU!" hound growled "Roll. Call" he repeated and at his subordinates. Iruka held his breath as he watched both his lover's face one another down, his heart pacing. Finally, he heard Cat answer but it wasn't what he had expected. The porcelain mask turned once his way and then at Shizune, he cocked his head and gripped Yasahiro tighter to his chest. The mask then turned back towards its leader and responded in a dangerously low voice.

"Cat Sir! 3522 Sir!" The harsh tone sent a shiver up Iruka's spine. He watched Kakashi's back with wide eyes and saw his lover straighten into a broader stance right hand now fisted at his side. "At ease ANBU" Kakashi called out contradictory to his current stance; "remove your masks" he continued and Boar did as he was told. Cat however was looking at Iruka and again at Shizune. Iruka gulped, the gaze causing his chest to tighten further at the realisation that his soft and gentle lover didn't trust or recognise him "Yamato" his mind screamed.

-oOo-

Kakashi knew this was a bad idea, bringing Iruka with him when he had had to grab the Hound mask but he had no choice. Yamato was Iruka's lover too and even if he didn't understand the ANBU ways, there was no way he could stop the stubborn Chunin sensei without hurting him. In all honesty, Kakashi had hoped the sight of both Iruka and himself would bring Yamato out without him having to wear the mask. Yamato was a stickler for rules and Iruka being here meant removing his mask was breaking one of ANBU's fundamental rules. He knew Boar would follow his orders as a former team mate. He also knew Iruka and Yamato were dating as he'd walked in on them kissing at the academy. Yamato however hadn't removed his mask, which meant he was further in shut down then Kakashi had wished, outright denying the orders of his superiors. "ANBU!" he shouted again "we suspect you are compromised" he hated this but there were rules against these things, he pulled out his kunai and took a fighting stance "at ease" he continued but there was no reaction. The next step would tell him how far gone his lover was and if he would have to be subdued. He knew Boar was on alert even if his body language was now relaxed and the Shizune would be able to immobilize Yamato in a blink of an eye if he was to fight. Yama Kakashi whispered to himself taking his next step please.

-oOo-

Iruka watched panicky, they needed to get Yasahiro medical treatment; the boy was out cold in Yamato's arms. Yamato seemed to be putting up some sort of fight against both Shizune and Kakashi and it looked like it was Iruka's fault that he was denying orders. He heard Kakashi's voice ring out in the evening light, Yamato still made no move to take off the mask and then to his shock Kakashi was behind Yamato, Kunai in hand now aimed directly at Yamato's throat. "Remove your mask" Hound growled. Iruka made to step towards them his legs shaking gasping "Kakashi…" in shock but was cut short by Boar signalling for him to stay back. He watched on in fear as he thought Yamato was getting ready to attack but to his relief he clutched Yasahiro tighter.

"The boy" Yamato said "I need to get him to the Hokage".

"Why" Hound asked not taking the Kunai away from Cat's throat.

Yamato answered some of the edge in his voice now lost "he was experimented on. I won't hand him over to anyone but the Hokage".

Hound angled his face so he was now nearer to Yamato's ear "The Hokage is currently unavailable, I am next in line". Yamato's body shifted "his safe Tenzou" Kakashi said comfortingly "his safe in Shizune's hands, she's Tsunade Sama's assistant". Kakashi repeated the order "Remove your mask".

As the porcelain came away from Yamato faces, Iruka saw the jittering of Yamato's dilated pupils reveal themselves. The walnut eyes scanned the vicinity seeing everything and nothing all at once.

Yamato now turned to face hound "Sempai?" he asked questioningly looking down at the Kunai and Kakashi removed the mask and hilted the kunai all in one smooth move. "Sempai" Yamato said again looking down at Yasahiro "Hiro, his hurt, we need to get him help". Kakashi squeezed Yamato's shoulders and finally managed to take Yasahiro from him "It's OK Yamato" Kakashi whispered "Shizune's here, you're safe".

Yamato looked around spotting both Boar and then a wide eyed Iruka standing on shaking legs. Yamato lowered his eyes and swallowed the bile that threatened to rise as it all came gushing back to him. What had he done? He held out his hands in front of him and fell to his knees in exhaustion "I broke protocol sir" he said to Kakashi in a voice that bore no emotion as he surrendered himself for punishment.

Kakashi looked down at his lover torn at what to do; he glanced quickly at Iruka who was in complete shock and then at Yasahiro who was now being taken care of and stirring. "Yamato…" Kakashi breathed and lowered his eyes what do I do?