disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the characters contained therein, they belong to Masashi Kishimoto who is kind enough to let fans write fiction. I make no profit from this nor do I intend to.

Re-write as of 10/2012

Chapter 52

Can't Hang, huh?

They were a quiet bunch standing around the cabin's front porch. The two adults and the seven youths were either standing stock still or pacing nervously. It had been a little over an hour that the doctor had been in with Ayumu and still no word. Mrs. Akitada and Genma hadn't even come out, so there was no way that they could ascertain what was going on inside. More than once one of the boys had said that someone needed to go in, but Iruka or Anko always gently but firmly told them 'no'. If the doctor told them to wait outside then he meant it for a reason. He probably didn't want any one of them distracting him from the business at hand. Many times Iruka was about to send the boys elsewhere just to get them away and occupied in the hopes of taking their minds off of what was happening, but each time he thought better of it. He knew that they would never leave Ayumu's side. The first time that he had contemplated it he had looked up to find both Akira and Ryou staring hard at him, almost as if they knew what he was going to ask of them. The looks on their faces told him that he had better get that thought out, and quick. They were still slightly miffed that they had been ejected from the room. He could tell that it irked them to no end that Genma was in there and not them. Iruka knew that they felt that they had more right to be there with her then him. He wondered if maybe they weren't right...

Toshiro paced nervously back and forth, but as annoying as it would have normally been no one said anything or even tried to stop him. He was a nervous ball of energy and he needed to dissipate it somehow, so everyone let him wear a path in the ground in silence. Akira stood quietly off to the side with his head bowed down seemingly in deep thought. Next to him sat Ryou with Masahiro in his lap. The small boy was very tactile, and he always felt better when he had someone physically near him to help calm his fears. The twins and Daichi alternated between pacing and standing huddled together. Sometimes they would talk quietly amongst themselves, while other times they just stood silent and staring at the door and waiting for some sign of movement.

Anko watched all of them with vacillating emotions. She was worried about Ayumu, as she really had liked the woman the few times that they had been together. She found the other woman a warm and engaging person to be around. But her feelings for Genma slightly dimmed the concern. The worry and immediate depth of feeling that Genma portrayed when finding the sicken woman couldn't help but let a small bloom of jealousy arise. It had momentarily stunned and even hurt Anko when Genma had roughly pushed passed her to get to Ayumu. Her carefully planned trip alone with Genma to re-spark their dimming relationship had quickly been put on the back burner, if not out-right been thrown to the side. Now Genma's total concentration and possibly even feelings would be aimed at the other woman. Anko felt horrible at feeling the way she did; she felt like the lowest of the low to be having these jealous and self-centered moments while the woman in question was inside and possibly terribly ill. She felt almost ashamed of herself.

After what seemed like hours Genma finally came out. He stood momentarily in the doorway and then made for the small, impatiently waiting group. He was surrounded immediately but no one said anything. They all just silently looked at him and waited. Genma looked haggard from concern, but more importantly he didn't look shocked. He didn't have the look on his face that someone would have if death was present.

Genma smiled a tired smile and all around there were sighs of relief, and then he was immediately inundated with questions. All the boys voiced their concerns and fears in a tsunami of inquiries. A couple even went so far as to grab onto his clothing to try and shake some answers out of him. Neither he nor the other adults stopped them. They had earned the right to immediate answers.

"Well, first thing first: she will be fine. She is now resting comfortably and will be sleeping for a bit. I don't expect her to wake up anytime soon."

Sighs of relief swept the small group.

"What happened, Genma? What does the doctor think happened?" Iruka asked quietly.

Genma shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head in slight confusion.

"He thinks that it was a combination of maybe a few things. She seemed to have a pretty good sunburn so it was partially some sun sickness. Mrs. Akitada said that Ayumu had been eating a large amount of fish and maybe something didn't agree with her. You did say that she vomited a lot of food but ate no breakfast. It could have been sitting in her stomach all night and fermenting. Ayumu also had been drinking, so combine the sun sickness with maybe a bit of food poisoning and the alcohol, and it all made for a nasty accumulation. It was just one of those unlucky combinations of events..."

Akira nodded as if it all made sense to him. "Yes, she had been eating a large amount of fish lately. We don't readily get the type of fresh water fish back home that they have here, so she was making up for lost time it appears..."

"Part woman, part pig," Ryou said smiling fondly.

Akira rolled his eyes but didn't counter the comment.

"Shiranui-san, Sensei will be fine then?" Masahiro said timidly as he tugged on the man's sleeve.

Genma smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "Right as rain as soon as she wakes up."

Masahiro hugged Genma in appreciation, and Genma readily returned the emotion.

"Well, that is incredible news. I was worried..." Iruka said finally letting out a deep breath.

Ryou chuckled and smirked at the man as he poked him in the side with an elbow. "I bet you were worried having to tell Morino-san that his squeeze was sick due to some strange illness. Now you can just tell him that she just couldn't hang while living too much of the good life."

Iruka smiled nervously down at the young man. He was right. He had been partially nervous as to what he would have to tell Morino when he found out. Ayumu may be an independent adult, but Morino had firmly but tacitly let Iruka know that she was to be watched over. He had been so focused on Yuzuki that he had paid no mind to what Ayumu had been up to.

"What about Yuzuki, Genma. Is she alright as well?" Iruka looked nervous once again.

Genma smiled and waved a hand in the air. "Yeah, she is sleeping like a log. Never once woke up. The doctor also gave her a chakra exam and helped to burn a bit of the alcohol left in her system out. I think that both those girls will be sleeping a good portion of the day away."

Once again Iruka breathed a sigh of relief. Genma smacked Iruka on the back and grinned lasciviously at him.

"Don't you worry; you'll be back in the saddle before long..."

Iruka turned a deep shade of red as Genma and the boys all laughed at him. It was no secret to the boys that Iruka was hot after Yuzuki. He had made no bones about it. Iruka was just glad that all had ended well and that their worries were over.

Genma laughed and winked at Anko. "Honey, you should have really smelled those two...they reeked of booze and barf. No wonder they are in the state that they are in. They made me look like an amateur when I tie one on."

Anko laughed as well and walked over next to Genma, and in relief wrapped her arms around one of his. She was more that pleased as well when he took his arm out of hers only to bring it back and wrap it around her waist, pulling her in tightly next to him. She put her head down on his shoulder and closed her eyes in comfort. It seemed that they were back to where they had started.

"When can we go in to see her?" Toshiro asked impatiently.

"The doctor might let you look in briefly, but she and Yuzuki need some peace and quiet. Give them a chance to sleep everything off." Genma shrugged his shoulders. "When I left he and Mrs. Akitada were cleaning her up and putting her in the clothes that you left out."

As if to justify his words the doctor came out and headed for the group. He looked pleased that it wasn't as bad as he and everyone else had feared. He smiled and nodded to them in recognition.

"I think that Miss Tanaka will be fine by this evening when she wakes up. She just needs a day in bed and plenty of fluids. Too much sun and fun at one time and they didn't mix all that well together. She was very dehydrated from the alcohol- which compounded her other problems. All I really had to do was give her some fluids and burn off quite a bit of the alcohol left in her system. Once she threw up the food that wasn't agreeing with her she improved remarkably fast. I don't see any problems by tomorrow, but if there are any just come and get me. No matter the time of day or night."

Iruka and the boys all bowed humbly before the doctor, and he just smiled and returned the courtesy.

"Thank you very much doctor for coming as quickly as possible and on such short notice," Iruka said gratefully. "I am just so sorry that I had to interrupt your family plans."

The doctor waved the comment away. "No, no problems at all- that is the normal life of a doctor, and my wife and I are used to it. Emergencies are emergencies for a reason, and no one ever plans them in advance. Thank you for getting me here so expeditiously. Since I am not a Nin I have never experienced ninjutsu before, and I must say the way you got me here so fast was quite a surprise."

"One of the few benefits of the trade," Iruka said smiling.

Iruka left with the doctor to escort him home and talk about what was to be expected when the women woke up, and Genma and Anko left as well to finish settling themselves in as they had just arrived when they ran into the other Konoha group. They were able to luckily procure one of the remaining available cabins, and had yet to get their luggage stowed and themselves settled in.

As they walked away Ryou and Akira shared a secret look between them that the other boys were unable to decipher. It was a look that seemed partially smug and yet partially relieved as well. It was a very adult and knowing look, and if they hadn't had Sensei first and foremost in their thoughts they would have questioned the two about it, but it would have to wait for now.

"Akira, go see if we can look in on her- would you?" Kaziko asked expectantly.

Akira nodded and after tapping softly on the door hesitantly went in. He came back a moment later and motioned the rest to follow. When they entered they found Mrs. Akitada making a final clean up of the room. She was gathering all the used towels up to be laundered, and Ayumu and Yuzuki both lay in their beds resting peacefully. Yuzuki didn't look as ashen and Ayumu didn't look as red. In fact both women had a much more healthy sheen to their countenance then they had earlier.

Mrs. Akitada put a shushing finger to her lips, and spoke softly to them.

"You boys can have a peek but then you have to go. They are out of harm's way and need their rest."

Even remonstrating them she had a kindly air about her, and was considerate of their feelings and concerns.

The boys all nodded and sat gently down around Ayumu. Once they seemed to have convinced themselves that all was well they were able to finally smile and even quietly crack a few jokes at the sleeping women's expense.

"Shit, Genma is right- these girls reek! I don't think that anyone had better have an open flame around them- their breath alone would catch on fire..." Ryou snarked.

"Hmm, I agree. Whatever Umino-san gave them to drink last night must have been something else. They seem practically pickled," Akira murmured.

Almost in response both women started to snore lightly. Even on her stomach Yuzuki was able to snore. The boys couldn't help but laugh at their predicament.

"What do you think Morino-san is going to say when he hears about this..." Kichirou asked with a wicked grin.

Ryou grinned back and waggled his eye brows. "I bet that he'll laugh his ass of in public and rip into her in private. Too bad I can't be a fly on the wall for that one..."

"Ryou, you don't know any such thing," Akira shot back.

"Sure I do," he replied smugly. "That's how he is with her. Besides, what I really want to know is how he is going to react to hearing about Genma showing up. I bet he won't be too happy when he finds out about that."

Once again the two boys shared a look that the others couldn't fathom.

"Come on! What do you mean by that- the two of you have been giving each other looks and I want to know what it's about," Toshiro growled.

"Lower your voice," Akira severely admonished.

"Never you mind- none of your business what kind of looks we give each other or why," Ryou said frowning at the apprentice. His good humor was fading fast at Toshiro's continual insistence.

Akira was about to stop the fight because he knew that soon Sensei's need for peace and quiet was soon to be disrupted, as when the apprentice and journeyman butted heads everything else around was forgotten.

Just as he was about to come between them Mrs. Akitada beat him to it. She knew boys -she had two herself, and she didn't need any rough housing going on in here.

"That's enough you two- take it outside if you must. You've had your time here and I don't want you to disturb the girls. Get," she said quietly and shooing them all out. "You can come back later to check on them, but enough is enough. I just want to tidy up a bit and then I 'm also going to leave them in peace."

The boys grudgingly but quickly did as they were told, and any altercation that might have been was soon put to the side. They left the cabin and stood around out front, almost lost looking. They had spent the past few hours in hectic activity or standing around doing nothing but waiting expectantly. The adrenaline rush had dissipated and they now felt physically and mentally exhausted.

Ryou being the pragmatic of the bunch decided that if he felt tired then he was just going to go and take a nap.

"I'm going down to the water and snooze for a bit. Anyone wants me or anything happens then just come and get me down by the dock," and with that he just waved and ambled on down to the beach without even a backwards glance.

"Well, I for one am hungry- I never did get to finish my breakfast and now it's lunch time..." Kaziko said looking expectantly at his twin. Kichirou smiled and nodded in agreement. He was starved as well. All that worrying sure made for one, big appetite. So with Daichi and Masahiro in agreement the four boys made tracks for the Inn and the dining room.

That left Toshiro looking at Akira with consternation. He didn't feel tired or hungry. If anything he felt frustrated. He didn't like mysteries. He knew that something was going on and he wanted to know what it was about. He stared at Akira until the older boy sighed and closed his eyes in resignation.

"I am assuming that you want to know what Ryou and I were talking about?"

"Is it that obvious?" the boy replied icily.

Akira quickly snapped his eyes opened and stared back with an expression just as chilly, if not more so.

"Remember your place apprentice, though we are not as formal or as strict as dictates demand I have no problem adhering to the traditional protocols. My admissions are due only to the bond that we share and my own personal preference. I am under no obligation what so ever to enlighten you in any matters that I don't see fit."

Akira had no problems asserting his dominance over the younger boy, and his higher status and adult behavior made it very clear to Toshiro where he stood. He showed his submission by quickly softening his posture and averting his eyes. He nodded his head and even mumbled a low apology.

Feeling slightly mollified Akira motioned Toshiro to follow him to a nearby bench that was placed gracefully under a large tree. It offered shade and a certain amount of privacy for the two so they could talk in both comfort and with discretion

"You are probably wondering why Ryou and I feel a certain amount of trepidation around Genma. There are many reasons, but then again there are none. Ryou has always held a grudge against Genma just because he is a Shiranui, and for no other reason. He holds it because of slights that he feels that the clan has done not only to Sensei but to me as well. Ryou can't fathom why both Sensei and I were placed in Hiraku while Genma was able to live a perfectly normal -or what Ryou deemed as normal- life. He doesn't see that the lives we lead now are probably better than anything that we could have ever had outside Hiraku. All he sees are two friends that were given up by their families. Ryou is fiercely loyal to those close to him- even to you. I know for a fact that he has stood up for you on more than one occasion."

Toshiro looked down slightly abashed. Yes, he and Ryou always seemed to be at six's and seven's with each other, but it was the kind that went on between brothers. No matter how obnoxious one thought the other was they still knew that the other could be counted on at the drop of a hat and with no questions asked.

"So why don't you like Genma, Akira?"

Akira shook his head. "It isn't that I don't like Genma, in some ways I do. He is in many ways like Sensei – so you can't help but like him. He is hard working, amiable, loyal, and smart. All qualities that we like and admire. No, it isn't that we don't like him as much as that we wonder at his recent change in- habits- shall we say. He has always had a very amiable and congenial relationship with Sensei, but now...now things seem to have almost imperceptibly changed, and we can't figure out the what or the why."

Akira suddenly looked away almost in embarrassment. When he turned back to Toshiro there was a slight tinge to his cheeks.

"Ryou and I have not had any seriously close relationships with girls, so our knowledge of what goes on between men and women are not as detailed or thorough as might be expected."

"What are you trying to say?" Toshiro looked thoroughly confused

"We think that Genma might have certain designs on Sensei."

Toshiro looked at Akira with a stunned expression. "But she is with Morino-san, isn't she?"

Akira nodded. "Yes, but something like that has never stopped anyone before. So when he showed up not only here but with a woman we became confused ourselves. So you see? We aren't even sure ourselves as to what might or might not be happening."

Toshiro narrowed his eyes in disbelief. Personally he never thought too much of Genma one way or another. He never really had to, as his interaction with the man had been very limited over the years. But he liked Morino-san a lot, and he also felt a certain amount of loyalty to the man because of his Sensei's relationship with him.

"So you two think that Genma is trying to put the moves on Sensei, and all behind Morino-san's back? Is that it?"

Toshiro's voice was becoming louder and Akira had to put a hand up to tell him to tone it down. The last thing he needed was for the hot-head youth to build up a full belly of steam and make tracks for Genma. He wouldn't put it past the youngster to just walk right up to Genma and start an altercation of some sort or another.

"No, we don't necessarily think that. We just...I don't know what we think right now. All we are doing is just waiting and watching really. And we don't want you or the others to get involved in anything." Akira gave the boy a stern, no nonsense stare that showed his seriousness on the matter. "If any intervention is needed Ryou and I are more than capable of handling it, if not Sensei herself. You have to trust in our Sensei."

Yeah right- whatever, the boy thought to himself as he immediately disregarded the older boy's advice. He liked Morino-san, and he didn't like the idea of someone doing a run-around on him while he wasn't here. It wasn't right. Toshiro knew himself to be a smart and clever boy, and if there was one thing that he was good at it was gathering information. He could find out anything about almost anybody he thought smugly. People tended to treat kids as being invisible or inconsequential most times in the idea that they were too young to understand or comprehend things. But that was their mistake and his gain. Toshiro thought that now he was going to keep a closer eye on Genma from here on out.

To throw Akira off the scent he placed a placid and unconcerned look on his face. "Well, ok. It makes sense I guess, and I'll let you guys do whatever you are going to do without getting in your way." Toshiro smiled gamely at the journeyman.

Akira nodded and placed a hand on Toshiro's head in friendship. Akira got up and stretched a bit, and announced that he was going to eat lunch and then head back for a small nap, and would Toshiro like to join him?

"Naw, go on. I might ramble around a bit and catch up with the others maybe."

Akira waved and walked into the Inn to grab a quick bite before heading back to his cabin.

Toshiro watched him walk away and smiled a secret smile to himself. He hadn't lied to Akira; he just told him that he wouldn't get in their way. He never said that he wouldn't investigate on his own. He also never said that he wouldn't let the others in on anything as well. He was guiltless in his book. Besides, they were a family and family always looked out for each other, and no matter what anyone really wanted. Toshiro was broken out of his musings when he saw the twins, Masahiro, and Daichi leave the Inn on a probable course for the beach. He immediately whistled the secret whistle that the five apprentices shared only between themselves. It was meant as a heads-up among the five, and immediately four heads swiveled in his direction.

Toshiro got up and met the others half way. Once united they could be seen talking briefly amongst themselves, and then they all made a course correction and headed not to the beach but to the woods instead.


[Ayumu and Yuzuki]

It must have been early evening when Ayumu finally opened her eyes because she could see that shadows were crawling across the floor towards where she and Yuzuki slept. Very little sunlight was visible through the windows. She felt terrible. Her body felt sore and her throat felt dry and scratchy. She also had no recollection of how she got here or even how she got into these clothes. She was in her underwear and Ibiki's shirt. How did that happen? The last thing she remembered was being sick over the side of the porch at the Inn...

Oh hell...what the hell happened? She thought slightly panicked. She also became concerned as to how much time she had lost and what might have become of the others. She was even more concerned over where her boys were then being mortified at her behavior. Time enough for self flagellation later. Right now she needed to find out where her charges were.

When Ayumu tried to get up she felt like a wet noodle. She could barely roll over to try and get a look at Yuzuki. When she did she almost couldn't help herself from giving a hoarse chuckle with the sight that she was greeted with.

Yuzuki looked like shit. Her face was smashed into the futon, and her hair was partially obscuring it. Ayumu could hear snorts and whiffles as the woman slept peacefully on. Her arms and legs were akimbo and she looked totally relaxed. Ayumu couldn't recall even what happened to Yuzuki, just a slightly hazy remembrance of Yuzuki puking alongside her...

Oh Gods, we really did it, didn't we? She thought now feeling the mortification creeping back in. Did they really drink that much? All Ayumu could think about was the time that she had gotten drunk in front of Ibiki and Hiroshi, and spewed filth out about anything and everyone. Then she went back even farther and thought about the time that she and Hiroshi had gotten really drunk together and Ayumu had pee'd her pants after passing out- that was a bell ringer for sure. So what happened this time that not only hours had passed unaccounted for but that someone had obviously undressed and then re-dressed her? She couldn't see Iruka doing that, and Yuzuki was obviously in just as bad shape so she hadn't done it either. Her boys? Hmm, maybe...but she could see them just putting her to bed rather than going through the whole scenario of having to baby a drunk.

Ayumu finally took a real good sniff of herself and almost recoiled in horror.

Oh sweet, merciful heaven- I reek!

She had never smelled so horrific before, not even when she was in the hospital after that time...Ayumu could smell booze, vomit, old sweat, and just something else unnameable on her person. The smell combinations almost made her start to gag and want to vomit all over again. She hadn't even accounted for how her hair and skin felt. She had never been so glad in her entire life that Ibiki wasn't around to see the spectacle that was her right now. She couldn't even fathom how he would react...But she did miss him, she thought wistfully.

Oh Ibiki, I guess I really can't take care of myself without you, can I?

Ayumu started to struggle almost painfully up and out of her bed. She just had to get something to drink, at least to wash the cotton feeling out of her mouth. Her tongue felt five sizes too big. As she started to heave herself out of her bed the door opened, and Ayumu's mouth dropped open at the sight.

There stood Genma looking healthy, handsome, happy, and relieved to see. He winked and twirled his senbon around in his mouth.

"Oi Babe, you're finally back in the land of the living!"

Ayumu promptly fell back onto the bed.