Chapter 25

Kankuro lost track of time as he matched twirling steps with his father, letting their momentum carry them in a circuit around the ballroom. The music seemed to flow in his veins and pump in his ears like blood. He could taste his father's chakra. It arced and tingled down his arms. He felt as though they were interconnected, almost like sex, and wondered if his father felt the same way.

Everything around them was a blur. Kankuro knew there were other people dancing around them, a whole crowd of partygoers in fact, but he couldn't see any of them. They were watercolor smears behind a foggy window.

He was okay with that. His father was breathtakingly beautiful.

By the end of the dance, they were both blushing, though Kankuro was going to play it off as the warmth of the room if anyone asked. It was warm in the ballroom; in spite of the windows being open along the walls, it was not much cooler outdoors, being Konoha in the peak of summertime.

As the music ended Jiraiya eased to a halt beside them with Baki. "Hey, wanna switch?" He grinned.

Baki laughed. "Yes, give me a break and torture someone else."

"I'm not that bad," Jiraiya protested.

"You're not bad at all," Baki retorted. "In fact, I think you're a little too good."

Jiraiya blushed. He turned his attention to Yondaime, and his blush faded. "How about it, Kazekage? You wanna go once or twice around the room with a Sannin?"

"Certainly," Yondaime said, taking Jiraiya's hand. He smiled at Kankuro. "I wouldn't want to cause a diplomatic incident."

Kankuro chuckled. "It's okay to enjoy yourself with other people, Tousan."

Yondaime relaxed and nodded. "Of course it is."

Kankuro grinned wryly, knowing that his father had needed the assurance that it was alright to dance with Jiraiya. Kankuro wasn't about to be controlling and possessive; his father was loyal without being browbeaten into place. In fact, his father had such a gentle personality that any 'discipline' was likely unnecessary. One only had to point out a possible mistake or wrongdoing for his father to get shaky.

Jiraiya bowed and pitched his voice in what sounded suspiciously like an impression of Baki. "Allow me the honor of dancing with you tonight, Kazekage-sama."

Yondaime grinned and bowed in response.

Baki glared at his cousin.

Jiraiya chuckled. "Well, I'm off." He pulled Yondaime into a wide waltz, and they spun off into the crowd.

Baki bowed to Kankuro. "I would be honored to dance with you as well."

Kankuro bowed in return. "Likewise." He gave Baki his hand. "So, who leads?"

"How about we take turns?" Baki asked.

"Sounds fair to me," Kankuro said. "You go first."

Baki led him into the steps of a waltz, his free hand coming to rest on Kankuro's hip.

xXx

After Yondaime got used somewhat to the exuberance of Jiraiya's dancing, he remembered something he'd meant to address over lunch, but never got a chance to. "Ah, Jiraiya, that's right. I wanted you to look at Gaara's seal and make sure that everything is as strong as it could be."

"No problem," Jiraiya said. He led Yondaime into a graceful foxtrot, long, striding steps broken by turning this way or that. Then he mischievously twirled them, waltz style, and dipped Yondaime.

Yondaime laughed, blushing. "Don't."

Jiraiya grinned. "Why not?" He behaved himself, though, going back to the simple foxtrot steps.

Yondaime caught a glimpse of Kankuro and Baki dancing a waltz together as the two pairs passed each other. Baki, unlike Jiraiya, was being very sedate. Yondaime wished briefly he'd gotten the less energetic dance partner. He saw embarrassment in his future in the form of being ribbed by Sandaime Hokage.

"Wanna tell me why? Or is there no reason?" Jiraiya asked.

"What?"

"Why you want me to check Gaara's seal," Jiraiya said. He let Yondaime out wide and twirled him.

Yondaime was flustered again by the unexpected move, but he couldn't deny that Jiraiya was a good dancer. He was effortlessly pulled back into Jiraiya's arms, and followed Jiraiya's lead into a mock waltz, swirling steps in one direction followed by swirling steps in the other. He struggled to gather his thoughts. "Gaara's always had headaches. Especially around the full moon. Sometimes they're like migraines; immensely painful. If you can shore up the seal somehow, or improve upon it, then the headaches may stop. I would be grateful."

"Of course," Jiraiya said, looking concerned. "Naruto doesn't have headaches that I know of. The full moon increases the strength of all bijuu. I'll see if there's something I can do. In theory, Kurama is stronger than Shukaku, so I don't see why I can't figure out a solution to Gaara's problem."

Yondaime nodded. "Thank you."

xXx

Kankuro watched Jiraiya gracefully fling his father around with amusement, enjoying the way he was nestled in Baki's arms. Baki was a good, gentle dancer, sure of himself, but not a forceful leader. Kankuro liked that. "He's always got energy to burn, doesn't he," Kankuro commented, knowing that Baki was keeping an eye on Yondaime and Jiraiya as well.

"Always seems to," Baki said wryly. He glanced at Kankuro. "And, if I don't miss my guess, he flirts with anything on two legs."

Kankuro laughed, surprised. "Flirting?" He took a second look at the way Jiraiya was dancing with his father. "You think he's flirting with my dad right now?"

"Wouldn't be surprised," Baki said.

Kankuro snorted. "You know…that doesn't mean anything."

Baki flushed.

Aha, Kankuro thought. "He's interested in you."

Baki's expression transformed into one of alarm. "What are you talking about? You can't mean that he's interested in me sexually. That's very –" Another couple on the floor passed close to them. Baki lowered his voice. "That's very serious."

The couple moved on.

"Why?" Kankuro asked. "You're second cousins. You can do whatever you want. Legally speaking. There's nothing wrong with having a relationship with a man who is your second cousin."

"I'm calling him my brother," Baki protested.

Kankuro wasn't deterred. He gave his teacher a look. "I'm aware of slang."

Baki stared at him for a moment in shock, then looked away.

Kankuro didn't count himself as a busybody, normally, but he didn't want to ruin Baki and Jiraiya's budding romance by not divulging his relationship with his father. To Baki, Yondaime looked single. In other words, Jiraiya's flirting seemed to Baki as if it could start something. Especially given that Jiraiya was older, and had known Yondaime a long time. He didn't want to tell Baki he was sleeping with his father. That seemed like a bad move.

But he had to do something. "I'm aware of what it means to be called the older brother in a romantic, male on male context," Kankuro pushed. "I know that normally Jiraiya would be called the anibun because he's older than you…but I bet you're using it as a substitute for terms like seme and uke, because those have weird connotations."

The terms seme and uke literally meant 'attack' and 'defense'. They had evolved from martial arts terms. Because of that, Kankuro had heard that most gay couples were uncomfortable with using those words; it was mostly a staple of yaoi, or gay love stories written for girls.

Baki looked at him helplessly. Kankuro was amazed that Baki could keep dancing under these circumstances. But then, he was a jonin. He'd learned how to keep his feelings from affecting his performance. Finally, Baki said, "Are you going to tell anyone?"

Kankuro shook his head, looking at his teacher in concern. "Who would I tell? I just want you to know that I know what's going on, and Jiraiya's not making a pass at Dad. I think Jiraiya really loves you." And Dad loves me, so he's not going to let Jiraiya charm him into something. He had every faith in that.

Baki looked away uncertainly.

"He does," Kankuro said. "Just ask him."

"I know what he'd say," Baki said in a low voice.

"He agreed to come train Naruto in Suna with us," Kankuro said. "Father's going to talk to Sandaime about it tomorrow. Everything is going to work out."

Kankuro was almost tempted to tell Baki his secret. But he couldn't. He couldn't do that to his father, firstly. He'd promised that it was no one else's business and that it would remain private.

"How do I know he's really coming to Suna for me?" Baki mumbled.

Kankuro narrowed his eyes. Now, none of that. "If he doesn't, as soon as he's in range, grab him. No one said you couldn't practice a little seduction. If he needs to have his attention grabbed, grab it. Nothing's stopping you."

Baki was silent, thinking about that advice. Then he gave Kankuro a small smile. "Wise advice."

"Hey, I've been around the block a few times," Kankuro said.

"Have you?" Baki raised an eyebrow. "How precocious."

"Not really," Kankuro demurred. He was amused by the image of hitting on people when he was eight or nine, which was what the word 'precocious' conjured up for him. Baki had graduated around that age. "I bet you started earlier than me."

"No, actually," Baki said. "I did not." He wove twirling steps gracefully. "That is partly why I am so uncertain now. I seem to have found the one…but I might be the only one who thinks that."

"Stop that," Kankuro said. "I know that's not true. Jiraiya gave you two hugs, because he 'missed you extra much'."

Baki blushed. "Okay, point. That's fair. I give in."

Kankuro smiled. "Good. Now enjoy your night. Don't worry so much about what Jiraiya does or doesn't think." His smile widened to a grin. "And if you want to be sure, kiss him goodnight."

Baki's blush flared.

Kankuro laughed.

"You don't seem to mind this at all," Baki said.

"I don't," Kankuro said. By mutual silent agreement, Kankuro took control, playing at leader and spinning them the other way, waltzing back the way they had come. Briefly, he saw Gaara and Basa by the punch bowl, talking to Naruto.

"I would have thought you'd be shocked," Baki said. "Two men, two men who are related to each other, being in a romantic relationship together. Or trying to be. Never mind your teacher and the legendary Sannin. Why, that would be the same as…the same as Basa-ji and I being in a relationship together."

"That wouldn't bother me either," Kankuro pointed out.

"Why not?" Baki asked.

"Because it's all about love," Kankuro said. "If you love and need each other that much, that you're attracted to each other and need to be there for each other, then it's alright. I don't see anything wrong with it if both parties are willing. You're adults. That's like saying it's wrong to be a swinger, or a wife-swapper, or whatever they call it these days. If it's an arrangement between two adult couples that everyone agrees with, then where's the harm? Feelings don't get hurt, trusts aren't betrayed, and it's not any more risky than anyone else's relationship. Every relationship contains the potential for hurt. It's not true to say some consensual relationships contain more potential for hurt than others."

Baki seemed stunned.

Kankuro smiled wryly. "Too much? I blew your mind?"

"A little bit," Baki admitted. "I've always played everything by the book. I suppose that's why I've never been in love. It's not very shinobi-like to be in love."

"But it is human," Kankuro said.

Baki nodded. "It is that."

Kankuro said softly, "There's really nothing wrong with it."

Baki seemed to take some small amount of comfort in that. He nodded.