Chapter Sixteen: Dread Pirate Hawk
"When love is not madness, it is not love."
- Calderon de la Barca
When the memories stopped, Itachi pushed himself away from Iruka abruptly. His face was flushed and he looked down at his hands as if he expected to see blood on them, and then back at Iruka. Then he and transported away with small puff of smoke.
Iruka began to make the signs to follow but he felt a warm hand on his arm stop him. He turned to look; Sandaime was shaking his head.
"Give him some time, Iruka." The Third said softly.
"But I have to explain…" He frowned, "Itachi won't understand. There is so much…more to the story. He shouldn't have just run off in the middle!" Iruka's voice was rising anxiously; it was like he couldn't get enough air into his lungs. He felt like he was hyperventilating.
The Hokage looked at him and then said: "You were only trying to do what you thought was right."
Iruka felt the chakra of the ANBU guards about to rush into the room and instantly preformed Jiraiya's Transparent Escape Technique; making himself invisible in the room, although he knew Sandaime was fully aware of his presence. Iruka moved towards the edge of the room and plastered himself against the wall, masking his chakra completely. And of course, his mask was lying there on The Third's desk, next to the man's hat.
"Hokage!" The first ANBU shouted as they burst into the room.
"Are you okay?" The second ANBU inquired looking around the room carefully. This one was glancing at the desk, spying the hat, the rumpled propaganda papers, the mask and the sake with the three cups. "Is everything…alright?"
Iruka was much more impressed with the second ANBU than the first one.
"I'm fine; you may resume your post." The Hokage said, nodding placidly. He shooed the ANBU out with a dismissive gesture.
After a few tense moments, the ANBU left the office and shut the doors behind them.
"I'm surprised Jiraiya's still using that old jutsu." Sandaime chuckled as he walked tiredly back to his desk and sat down heavily.
"Sometimes the simplest ones are the best ones, Sarutobi-sama." Iruka said with a smile as he became visible again. He resumed his seat in front of the Hokage with a sigh and dragged a hand through his hair.
"You need a haircut, young man." The Third said looking him over.
Iruka struck a rakish pose.
"Ryuu assures me it that it – along with my tattoo's it adds to my whole dashing swashbuckler thing I'm going for." Iruka said.
"And how is Ryuu?" The Hokage asked, a small chuckle emerging from his chest. "You don't hear of him alongside Harbinger…"
"Ryuu is doing well. And Harbinger doesn't need a dragon to scare anyone…he does just fine on his own, ne?" Iruka felt a no small amount of pride at the statement.
The Hokage tapped a finger on the propaganda papers on his desk. "I suppose that is true. And just what are you doing as…this persona?"
Iruka sighed and gestured, his arms widespread. "Trying to start a revolution of the mind, Sarutobi-sama! A war is coming. Madara is coming. He will start hunting the Jinchuriki down, one by one, killing them for their power. If the villages will not stand up to him – then the Jinchuriki must fight for themselves. Last time they all fell, one by one until it was just a few of them. I'm just doing what I can to give them a head start." He exhaled and looked around the room. "Knowledge is the ultimate weapon. It always has been. So I'm giving the people the power to fight against him. This village was leveled to the ground. I do not want to see that happen again."
Sandaime was staring at him again.
"Speaking of Jinchuriki…." Iruka said after a moment. "How is Naruto? I miss him. He needs to start training."
"He is doing well." The Hokage smiled. "He misses you a lot. You haven't written as frequently as you promised."
Iruka hung his head for a moment, and then spoke: "I'm contemplating moving back here with Jiraiya. Naruto will be taking his chuunin exams soon, and the old man needs to start training him in the rasengan."
There was a small lull of silence in the room.
Sandaime shook his head. "You can't have your cake and eat it, too, Harbinger."
"I'm sorry…but…what exactly do you mean by that?" The younger man asked…a hint of steel in his voice.
"You are a wanted man, Harbinger. I allowed you to leave Leaf on that terrible night. I said nothing of Danzō.And I will not stop you from leaving Konoha tonight, because I know you are an honorable man with best interests at heart." Then Hokage's voice hardened as he stood. "But you have killed many men in the pursuit of your goals and until you lay down your sword, set aside this guise, and simply be Umino Iruka – I cannot allow you to live in my village."
Iruka picked up his mask, bowed deeply before Sandaime and then he was gone.
He transported himself immediately to the Uchiha compound. He didn't give himself anytime to think about it – knowing himself well enough that if he did he might grow nervous enough, anxious enough that he might talk himself out of it. He danced over the rooftops and touched down the middle. The place was as beautiful and peaceful as he remembered. Iruka looked around, feeling out with small tendrils of chakra – he had assumed Itachi be here. But he only felt one small presence. Sasuke.
Iruka contemplated leaving and trying to find Itachi but he really didn't relish the idea of wandering all over Konoha looking for the man, and he did have to come back here eventually. He might as well wait for him. He stepped into the compound and slid open one of the fusuma doors open silently. Iruka found himself in a sparsely furnished, but well appointed living room. He happily pulled the mask off, dumped it on the couch and plopped on the couch. He closed his eyes and leaned back.
He heard the boy coming, his feet silent. But Iruka pretended not to notice. Actually the young man did a pretty good job masking his chakra. The only reason he knew he was coming was because he could feel the shift in the wind, and he had been his teacher once upon a time – he knew the boy very well, maybe not in this lifetime, but once upon a time.
Iruka didn't open his eyes but he held his arm up and caught the kunai a hairs-breadth away from his throat. "Is that any way to greet an old friend, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke tugged his hand away and made an impatient noise in the back of his throat.
Iruka opened his eyes and smiled up at the boy, who was scowling at him fiercely. It only made him smile broader.
"I've missed you." Iruka said warmly.
Sasuke looked at him and then down at the discarded mask on the couch. He folded his arms across his chest. "You've been gone a long time, ne, Harbinger?" He glowered. "What do you want?"
Iruka let out a harsh laugh. "I guess you don't want to reminisce, then." Iruka looked sad for a moment and folded his hands in his lap.
Sasuke's face hardened. "If it's a tearful reunion you wanted, you should've gone to see that dobe, not me."
Iruka nodded absently and he handed Sasuke his kunai back. The young man snatched it back and glared at him balefully. He closed his eyes and kicked his feet up on the decorative table in front of him. He might as well try to nap while he waited.
"Hn." Sasuke said after a few minutes. "Are you just going to ignore me!"
Iruka opened one eye and arched an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
Sasuke's fist balled angrily.
"You tried to cut me with a kunai, and then said you didn't want to reminisce. What else did you want from me, Sasuke-kun?" Iruka asked.
"I…I want a fucking explanation, damnit!" Sasuke shouted.
Another figure appeared in the doorway. Itachi was back, apparently. Iruka stared at the man with heat, desire and a little irritation. Damn he looked…good. Even after several years without any contact, it felt as if his forbidden feelings for this man was still there, frozen in his heart. Iruka swallowed, trying to squelch the fluttering feelings in stomach. Now was not the time to be nervous. He wondered to himself how much Itachi knew of his feelings. Iruka felt vulnerable, naked.
Iruka found himself chuckling softly instead.
"I see you're back to random laughter, Iruka." Itachi said finally.
He smiled, remembering their old banter.
"Are you back to questioning my lunacy, Itachi? I had rather hoped you gave up on that, Taichou." Iruka crossed his legs and settled himself more comfortably on the couch, causing Sasuke to scowl at him again.
"You know what they say…everyone has to have a…pastime." He heard Itachi say as he watched him.
Iruka's heartbeat skipped a few times and he licked his lips. Kami, why wouldn't Sasuke leave the room already? Iruka wanted and needed to be alone with the Itachi. The younger Uchiha kept turning his head back and forth watching them with interest, his eyes narrowed angrily.
"Must be awfully…boring." Iruka said idly swishing his leg back and forth, trying to appear wholly calm as he sat on the couch. How was it that possible for Itachi to look that good in regulation jounin gear? Iruka's body was burning up. Was it hot in here?
"Oh, I don't know." Itachi shrugged nonchalantly.
"Believe what you like," Iruka retorted cheekily. "I'm perfectly sane."
"Perfectly delusional, you mean." Itachi folded his arms across his chest.
"Go to bed, Sasuke." Itachi ordered suddenly. "We'll talk in the morning."
"No, Itachi. I want answers now, damnit. I'm not a child anymore!" Sasuke yelled.
Itachi finally entered the room, leaving the doorway where he had spent bulk of the conversation. He walked past Sasuke and poked his younger sibling in the forehead, which only pissed him off more.
"Then stop acting like a child. I have things to discus privately with Iruka. I will talk to you later. Go get some rest. Do I have to use a binding jutsu to assure that you will stay in your bedroom?" Itachi threatened, but there was no menace behind it.
"Hn." Sasuke snorted in contempt then stalked off irritably. "I was tired anyways!"
"And you say I'm a brat?" Itachi smirked.
Iruka chuckled. "Where do you think he learned it from, 'Tachi?" He paused. "You've actually used a binding jutsu to keep him in his bedroom?"
"Brat kept sneaking off to do pranks with Naruto last year..." Itachi sighed and ran hand through is hair as he sat down next to him on the couch. "It was a phase. Seeking attention, or so the books told me that I read."
Iruka smiled again. "I used to be quite a prankster when I was younger."
Itachi shot him a dark look. "Used to be?"
"Eh? Well…" Iruka smile grew bittersweet. Kami Itachi was undeniably attractive sitting there in the darkened room. His hair was longer, pulled back in a long pony tail. His pale features starkly attractive; dark eyes looking at him keenly, asking him some unasked question. Iruka fumbled around in his mind to think of an answer. He couldn't think of the question, his mind was slowly going numb as he looked at the younger man. He was so close; he could feel the heat of his body next to him. Iruka didn't realize it but his body was unconsciously leaning forward, unconsciously answering the question for him.
Iruka stopped himself short of kissing him. Kami he wanted to…so badly. But they needed to talk first. They had so many things to talk about first.
"And stop calling me Taichou." Itachi said with irritation.
"I've also heard that insanity and brilliance are often partners, 'Tachi." Iruka suggested.
Itachi muttered. "Are you calling yourself brilliant?"
"You must also realize I'm calling myself a little bit insane, too. I think it's the Uchiha blood." Iruka said lightly.
"Exactly how close are we…related, Iruka?" Itachi whispered.
"Ryuu assures me we're at best distant cousins." Iruka paused. "We could always get someone to do genetic testing if you wanted to know for sure. I'm sure Tsunade would be willing."
"Do you know her?" Itachi asked.
"Well, I did when she was the Hokage." Iruka waved his hand with knowledge. "Different timeline. But I could always ask Jiraiya to ask her to help me find her."
Itachi was nodding. He looked away. "What have you been up to?"
"Training. Lots and lots of training. First I sought more power, then I sought out training to learn how use it. That's about it. Jiraiya, the old pervert, he's helping me." Iruka laughed. "He's actually been really great."
"Hn." Itachi said, nodding again, but he looked vaguely confused.
"I don't suppose you've ever read Icha Icha Jolly Roger Vol. 1, have you?" Iruka asked suddenly.
Itachi shot him a look. "I think not."
"No, I didn't think so, but I think you might find it amusing. I told sensei about my life, you see, and that perverted old goat that he is turned it into a yaoi story." Iruka laughed and slapped his hand to his thigh. "You're in it! Wait a sec, 'Tachi, I'll go get you an extra copy."
Iruka blinked out of existence and went back to his apartment in Tanigakure. He walked into his bedroom and found Ryuu and Kokoro engaged in something he was pretty sure was illegal in three of the shinobi nations and definitely sure that was scar him emotionally. Especially since in the middle of it the little girl stopped to wave at him and ended up splatting him in the face with some sort of bodily fluid. Whose bodily fluid, he still wasn't sure.
Iruka shuddered, picked up his copy of Icha Icha off the nightstand and blinked back to Konoha. He sat down on the couch and tossed it at Itachi. He must have had a dazed look on his face because the younger man was looking at him curiously.
"What's the matter, Iruka?" Itachi said awkwardly. He pointed. "What's that on your face?"
"Oh, Kami!" Iruka shuddered again. "Sorry, I just walked in on Ryuu having sex. It was…disturbing."
Itachi laughed. "With…Jiraiya?"
Iruka gave Itachi a disgusted face. "Oh, you are a dirty one. No, not with that old windbag. No, he was with Kokoro…which was…rather…I'm sorry, I lack the correct adjectives." Iruka shook his head and looked around for something to wipe his face. "Where is the bathroom?" He gestured towards his face.
"How close did you get to them, Iruka?" Itachi looked amused.
"No, it was just flying in the air!" Iruka looked offended and then cursed. "I swear, I'm going to kill them for doing that on my bed."
Itachi led them down a long hallway and into a lavish bathroom. Iruka started pulling toilet paper off and wiping the mystery fluid off his face. Gah! Itachi was laughing as he leaned in the doorway, still holding the book.
"It's not funny." Iruka said.
"It kinda is." Itachi said mildly.
Iruka sighed. "I'm really glad you haven't lost your sense of humor, though."
"Sasuke claims I haven't one." Itachi said wryly. "He frequently claims I have a stick crammed up my backside."
"Heh. What does he know? He looks like he's still cornering the market on the angst-boy thing." Iruka leaned against the vanity after he flushed away the dirty offensive tissues. Iruka stared at his pale features and charcoal eyes. The man was really quite handsome.
"So, I'm in this?" Itachi started flipping through the pages of Icha Icha Jolly Roger Vol. 1.
"Yup, you're the dark, sexy villain." Iruka leered. "Dread Pirate Hawk."
Itachi arched an elegant black brow. He was smiling. "Hawk, ne?"
"Yes. Of course the cliffhanger ending is when you kill Captain Silver Wolf's Second Mate, Blowfish."
The minute he said it like that, he instantly regretted it because Iruka watched Itachi's features immediately freeze up into an emotionless mask. Itachi shoved the book at him, and he turned away, walking down the hallway.
"Damnit, Itachi, come back here!" Iruka called after him.
"Why don't you show yourself out, 'Blowfish'!" Itachi mocked.
For a second he was almost tempted to shout after the man a compliment for making a joke, but he held back, feeling that now was not the time to be sarcastic.
Iruka blinked using Space–Time Ninjutsu into Itachi's bedroom. He knew where it was, since he'd been there once before. He was waiting when the man arrived, perched sitting on his bed.
"I thought I told you to leave?" Itachi said coldly.
"I'd rather bark at the moon." Iruka said.
"Well, we know how much you like Hounds." Itachi said sitting at his writing desk, looking over some papers. He was trying to look disinterested and busy. It was a ruse. They both knew it. Iruka let him have it.
"I'm not going to apologize for my former life, Itachi." Iruka stood up and slowly took off his black silk haori. He tossed it over the back of a chair. "I don't think you want me to, either. It made me who I am today."
Itachi had stopped tiding his desk and he was watching Iruka fixedly. Iruka could feel the gaze of the younger man on his torso; his long tanned limbs were thick with muscle, and the curving black lines of tattoos framing his body were an enticing picture. He hoped Itachi liked his new look.
"But that was then." Iruka untied his black obi belt and tossed it on the ground. He now stood in only his loose hakama pants.
"That was a whole other lifetime ago. This is now, Itachi." Iruka paused.
"Remember when I said our lives are collisions of fate and our choices, Itachi? Love isn't a game of pick and choose. It will sweep you off your feet. You've had me since you apologized for killing me, I suppose." Iruka smiled crookedly. "Isn't that the stupidest thing I ever said? But I suppose it's true in a way. Now get over here and kiss me before I change my mind."
Itachi got up and stood before him, slightly trembling.
"What about Kakashi?" he asked, his voice angry.
"We're talking about us." Iruka said with a sigh.
"Damnit, I want to talk about him." Itachi demanded.
Iruka made a face. "I don't love him, 'Tachi. Not anymore."
Love was a horribly dangerous thing. He should have shielded himself from it. Remained distant and quiet…should never have dared to open that door. Love was like that. It didn't just capture…it overwhelmed. It didn't just tug at the heart, but made it a slave.
Itachi still didn't make any move forward. Iruka had miscalculated, apparently. He had been gone for Konoha too long? Perhaps he was too old, too foolish. Itachi didn't love him anymore? His heartbeat was thumping painfully in his chest.
"Oh, 'Tachi...I thought you wanted to claim that kiss?" Iruka's face fell. "I guess not? Has it been too long after all?"
"Stop." Itachi ordered and he looked away, running a hand through his hair, making the pony tail crooked. "Just…stop talking."
"Why?" Iruka asked.
"I'm…thinking."
"What is there to think about?" Iruka sighed. "I've been thinking about this for years. Apparently you haven't. I'll just leave before I make an even bigger fool of myself."
After a silent moment, Itachi took a step closer and placed his hands on Iruka's shoulders tentatively.
"Am I going to regret this, Iruka?" He asked.
"No, it'll be a romantic story to tell our grandchildren, Itachi." Iruka smiled.
Itachi rolled his eyes. "Don't be an idiot."
"Aishiteru yo, Itachi." Iruka said.
"Hn." Itachi said.
Iruka sighed. "That wasn't very romantic, 'Tachi. I've been waiting three years. Seriously? That's all you've got to say? 'Hn'…? This is what happens when you fall in love with an Uchiha apparently-"
Itachi interrupted his ramblings by leaning forward and kissing him. His soft lips reminded him of their first kiss all those years ago. It wasn't all that different. Gentle and unschooled, were Iruka's initial impressions. Itachi made a sound against his mouth, and then parted his lips for slowly. And Iruka curved his hands around Itachi's face - focusing all his attention on that beautiful pale visage and the slow movement of his mouth against Itachi's, on the taste of the sake they had drunk earlier and the muffled sounds of Itachi's surprise.
Itachi's hands rose, slow and uncertain, one of them coming up to grip Iruka's shoulder, hard enough that it ached a little, and the other coming to rest in Iruka's long hair. That seemed like a good sign. So did the heat that Iruka could feel at Itachi's groin, burning even through the man's standard jounin pants. Iruka closed his teeth on Itachi's lower lip, carefully, and got a gasp for it. He tried the same thing on Itachi's throat, and got a moan. That was good, too; so was the sound Itachi made when Iruka turned his head and brushed his mouth over the knuckles of the hand that was gripping his shoulder so tightly, which suggested something.
Iruka's hands slipped under Itachi's blue jounin shirt, tracing the entire length of the younger man's spine as he quivered underneath his touch. His body was hot, burning just like his was – hotter if possible and the fact that he was just as affected by this as he was just gave Iruka's mind a feeling of elation. He took his time feeling Itachi's body, trying to find the places which would elicit a very quiet moan from his lips. As he caressed his skin, Iruka couldn't help but notice how lean and delicate his skin was, how different from his own.
Then Itachi was pushing them onto his bed and Iruka was pleased that the younger man was finally taking some initiative, some aggressiveness. He may not have said the words of love, but he Uchiha heir wanted him, and that was something, right? He could content himself with that for now. Itachi was seemingly obsessed with kissing and licking his tattoos, mapping out the strange hieroglyphics with his tongue. He shivered, moaning unabashed beneath the younger man. His warm brown eyes were heavy lidded as he gazed up at Itachi lazily; he reached up and tugged out the band restraining his hair.
Waves of black hair fell around his shoulders and Iruka yanked the man down to his lips. When he parted to breathe, Iruka realized that he was quickly becoming addicted to his taste. He didn't want to let him go, not now not ever. This slender, pale, charcoal-eyed being was his now and his alone. Had always been his. He was such a fool.
"Fuck, 'Tachi…" Iruka moaned as he felt the younger man biting his nipples. Hard. Oh, he liked to bite, did he? Interesting to note.
"Why are your fingernails painted purple?" Itachi asked after a moment.
Iruka had to blink and look at him. He wrapped his legs around the younger man and flipped him over until he was straddling him and looking down at him. If the man had enough thought processes to be asking silly questions, then he was obviously not doing something right. Or maybe the man was just talkative.
"Kokoro did it." Iruka answered with a shrug. Then he grinded his erection into Itachi's, which elicited a quiet groan from the other man and he pulled the man's blue jounin shirt off. His pale chest was slim, and toned with a slight definition of abdominals as well as a sprinkling of hair down by the waistline. Iruka's eyes took it in greedily, not even aware that his sharingan's were swirling until he heard Itachi chuckling.
"Wha?" Iruka asked.
"I see you…" Itachi said with a smirk. He was pointing to his eyes, which were also whirling now.
Iruka blinked a few times and then realized he was blushing. "I still don't really have that good of control over them actually." He scratched at his scar sheepishly. "Can you show me sometime, if you don't mind?" Then he leered. "Not right now, of course…" He traced butterfly kisses to the column of the Uchiha's pale throat and then whispered a few dirty, ridiculous things in the man's ears that made him blush and flutter his eyelashes. But Iruka wanted him to pant and moan. He wanted Itachi begging for it. He wanted the man to fall to pieces. The stoic man had to break a part – and he wanted to see it, hear it, and taste it.
"Itachi…" Iruka sighed. He wondered if Itachi was a virgin. He couldn't possibly be – he was so very attractive. Although it hurt painfully to think of him with someone else. He wanted to ask, but he didn't have the right to ask, after leaving all those years ago. He swallowed his curiosity and shook his head. Iruka slipped his hands down and unzipped Itachi's regulation jounin pants slowly, causing the younger man's breath to hitch underneath him. He was wearing black boxers underneath it.
His arousal sprang up almost immediately and he shivered, his legs trembling as Itachi diverted his eyes away from him, as Iruka continued to remove them. Iruka's interest got the better of him as the desire to see more of that flawless skin took over him. His erection stood proudly, the head damp with pre-cum as it twitched slightly when he moved himself closer to it.
The younger man tensed when his skillful tongue found his nipple, letting out a trembling sigh as Iruka kissed the nipple, feeling it harden almost immediately, as his hand reached down to pump his erection, his thumb rubbing over the slit teasingly to make him squirm even more. Itachi cried out softly in pleasure as Iruka sucked and licked and bit on the sensitive nub, his body bucking mildly into his hands as he fastened his pace over his erection.
Itachi was panting now but in this controlled, calm way. It was a very collected way to do it. Maybe something the Uchiha's teach you, Iruka thought idly as he continued to suck on his nipple and bit him harder and continued to stroke his cock a little faster. It couldn't be in the DNA, because he certainly wasn't like this. Or maybe he just didn't have enough of the blood.
"Are you going to moan for me, 'Tachi?" Iruka whispered.
"I'm not some…common trollop." He said in an almost normal sounding voice.
"No, of course not." Iruka nodded. "I didn't think you were."
Iruka slid down his body and then he took the younger man's cock in his mouth. He just about thought Itachi was going to pull his hair out by the roots. But the Uchiha was gasping and letting out these delightful little breathy sounds as he sucked on his dick that was quite encouraging. He swallowed him and grasped the base, concentrating on the head, swirling his tongue around the tip and looked up at Itachi, who was watching intently.
He sat up a little and formed a few seals and there was a second Iruka. Itachi looked at him in confusion.
"Iruka?" The Uchiha started to sit up but Iruka pushed him back down.
"Shhh…just lay back." Iruka winked at him.
"But-" Itachi started to say.
"Just relax…" The second Iruka said then smiled.
Itachi's eyes went a little wild as he looked between the two of them.
"Oh, 'Tachi, you do remember how much I like games, ne?"
There was a small draft in the room, not enough to startle the papers on his desk, it seemed to be contained around his bed, and it was lifting Itachi off his bed. Iruka's tattoos were swirling and glowing and he was smiling.
Smiling wickedly.
Then Iruka was back to sucking on him again and Itachi forgot about the fact he was hovering three feet off his bed because it felt heavenly. He knew that the younger man momentarily forgot that there was a second Iruka spreading his legs because he jerked in surprise when he felt the probing fingers enter him gently. Then he moaned softly, his head thrown back. A third Iruka appeared and started sucking on that pale slender, graceful column of exposed neck. It really shouldn't be so exposed like that. It just invited him. Teased him.
Itachi was groaning a little louder now. Iruka was pleased with his results. The second clone licked a second finger and inserted it, finding that special spot inside of Itachi and nudged his prostate once, twice, in time with the sucking Iruka was doing on his cock.
"Are you going to scream for me, 'Tachi? I want to hear it." The third Iruka whispered; the one up by his head. "Scream for me when you come…"
The younger man was panting, his entire body trembling, but he was withholding himself from coming. He took a long shuddering breath.
"No, I want you inside me, Iruka…" Itachi managed to say a little breathlessly.
Iruka didn't have to be invited twice, still not liking that the man sounded somewhat unruffled. It just wasn't right. Damn Uchiha. He was so hard and eager he wanted to scream, it wasn't fair that the younger man could look so composed surrounded by him and his two clones while they were doing very naughty things to him. He would just have to try harder.
Iruka undid and finally took off his own hakama pants finally releasing his stifled erection to the air. They were still hovering in the air, floating on his manipulation of chakra when Iruka slowly slipped his cock into Itachi. The man was very tight; in fact, as soon as he started entering him, he looked up at Itachi in surprise. There were a few tears of pain in his eyes - the Iruka up by his head kissed them away.
Iruka melted into that hot, tight warmth. He looked down at the young, lithe body under him; Itachi was writhing now, bucking slightly as the second clone continued to suck him off and the third one was kissing him and pinching his nipples. He kept pounding inside him, loosing himself in his heat, his body, so hot and wet that it made Iruka's mouth dry. By now, Itachi was gasping softly at each penetration, his hips rotating against his as the sound of skin slapping against skin echoed in the room.
"Ahh-!" Itachi said softly, his chest trembling.
"What's that?" Iruka asked, leaning forward to hear.
Itachi's eyes were wide, wild with passion, on the brink of orgasm.
"Louder, 'Tachi!" Iruka leaning down as he continued to fuck the younger man, his hips undulating slowly, continuing to rub against his prostate. "I want to hear you."
Itachi's expression changed from an uncertain sort of grace to something akin to pleasure. He complied with Iruka's requests and thrust his body back against Iruka's in the same position, making him cry out once again as his body arched.
"Please, don't…don't stop!" Itachi said finally giving in. "Fuck me."
Iruka complied and he immediately dismissed the clones with a whoosh, and they fell to the bed in an elegant crash, still fucking. The wind was gone and with Itachi's cries edging him on, he used all his strength to continue plunging inside him, deeper and deeper as he felt his body practically suck him in when he brushed against something harder inside of him, his insides squeezing him to the extent that he couldn't concentrate on anything except the beautiful, pale man lying in front of him.
"Nngh-!"All coherent thought vanished as Iruka lost himself within him. He couldn't even think enough to control his strength and his hands tightened their grip on his slim hips as they grinded against him, creating delicious friction that left him seeing white from the blinding euphoria. Watching the stoic Itachi slowly becoming unraveled, his pleasure filled moans echoed in his ears, forced Iruka to drive into him faster, deeper as his thrusts became erratic – urgent.
Tears still cascaded down Itachi's cheeks and Iruka bent to lick them away, feeling how hot his skin was under his tongue. The Uchiha's arms snaked around his neck as he attempted to pull himself up, his nails digging into his skin during the process.
"Iruka…" Itachi whispered, shaking, looking up into his eyes.
He grunted into his ear, nuzzling his head at the crook of the younger man's neck as he felt his body tense. All of a sudden Itachi's luscious walls collapsed down on him, making him loose his breath as he finally, finally screamed, throwing his head back as he came onto both of our stomachs.
"Iruka-!" Itachi screamed as he climaxed.
Iruka smiled shakily at the man, but the stimulation from hearing the man screaming his name had sent him over and he was slammed one last time into the younger man coming into his tight heat, blinking rapidly his vision white with pleasure.
"Oh, fuck," he breathed unsteadily. "'Tachi…" Iruka felt his body quiver from the afterglow of the pleasurable experience they'd just shared as he gathered up the slighter man into his arms and rolled them into the covers, unmindful of the bodily fluids.
They lay like that for a long while, just holding each other and touching for a while. Neither of them seemed to want to sleep or disturb the peace of the night with conversation. Iruka nuzzled his face into the younger man's neck, wanting to memorize his scent. The feel of his skin, the texture of his hair, the color of it.
"I love you." He said again, enjoying the feel of it on his tongue. He nibbled on Itachi's shoulder. The Uchiha looked at him.
"You have always had my love, Iruka." Itachi paused. "Time did not change anything."
Iruka felt a soft guilty punch in the stomach, but he quelled it.
"May I visit you, Itachi?" Iruka asked finally, pulling the younger man closer to him almost forcefully. "It will have to be…at night. The Third made it obvious I was not exactly welcome in Konoha."
Itachi's fingers trailed a hand along his chest, tracing a hand along his tattoos. "You had better."
Iruka let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding, tension releasing from his shoulders as he melted a little into the younger man.
"Does it turn you on to have an outlaw lover, Itachi?" Iruka teasing him slightly as they cuddled. He could see dawn approaching. He should be leaving soon; Sasuke would be waking up soon. What an odd thought. And he would visit Naruto another night.
Itachi sighed. "Hero…outlaw…different sides of the same coin, Iruka."
"Is that how you see me?" Iruka asked, not knowing exactly what he was asking.
The younger man looked at his profile. "I see a conflicted man."
"The human mind is not a terribly logical or consistent place." Iruka shivered slightly. "Just…hold me."
"Anger is weakness, Iruka." Itachi sighed and looked at him. "You must learn to fight with your brain. If you wish to win this…whatever you're doing."
Iruka wanted to ask him to come with him, but he knew already the answer. He wouldn't come. He shouldn't ask. He had his life here, in Konoha. And Iruka was not finished with Harbinger. He still had things to accomplish. He gripped Itachi tighter.
"Where…how far away are you?" Itachi asked.
"Not far." Iruka knew Itachi wasn't pumping him for information but he also knew the information could be dangerous for Itachi to know. "With the jutsu I can be here in a few seconds from pretty much anywhere in the five nations." Iruka nuzzled his face into Itachi again, trying to memorize his scent, his feel, his warmth. "I can teach you if you want, 'Tachi, although I'm not sure if you have enough chakra for it."
"If I remember correctly…I had more chakra than you did, Iruka." Itachi said sniffing a little at the tone.
"Oh, well, that was before." Iruka said sitting up. "Didn't you wonder about the tattoos, Itachi?"
Itachi looked down Iruka's body as a blush stole over his features. "Well, I just thought…you liked tattoos…or well…you know…decoration…" He finished lamely.
Iruka laughed at him and then kissed his blushing face. "No." The older man shook his head. "Although I'm glad you like them. I was worried you wouldn't. Watch me perform this jutsu, I think you'll see." And Iruka started performing the seals for a simple lightening jutsu and the tattoos on his body starting swirling, shimming and dancing, like they were alive on his skin. Itachi gasped. He could see chakra, power shimmering and glowing along the man's body, emanating from him. The man probably hadn't been paying that close of attention when he had created the clones during sex. He activated his sharingan and he could see it now, the man was brimming with it - chakra poured of him along the lines of his tattoos in waves - and then it abruptly stopped…because he was no longer performing the jutsu.
Itachi blinked. "What...what is that? I don't understand?"
"When I came back…after I died…I made a vow to myself that I would use this life…as a second chance to make right all the things that had gone wrong. In that life Konoha was destroyed - there was war - pain - destruction. The Uchiha clan massacred by Uchiha Itachi, poor Sasuke bent on killing his brother and avenging his clan, the Akatsuki running around killing every Jinchuriki in sight, each of the nations just…letting them! The Third was dead at Orochimaru's hand. The betrayal of Danzō. Madara…There were so many things I could…fix! I knew so much…In my arrogance I thought I could change things easily…Ha!"
Itachi sagged on the bed, listening. Iruka continued.
"Danzō was easy. First real major victory for me. I befriended you right away, easy enough since they put me on your ANBU team. It was a little hard at first, since you had killed me. But I was honestly drawn to you. I had to admit it - you were smart and fun to be around even though you were terribly serious. I…look back on it now and I see I was falling for you from the beginning. You really are quite attractive you know. Remember that morning we woke up in bed after the party? Gah, I had such a hard on for you! I was so embarrassed! You were too young, I kept telling myself although it didn't keep me from jacking off to you in the shower."
Itachi's face reddened and he looked away, mortified.
Iruka laughed at this.
"You don't have to tell me everything!" Itachi sputtered, embarrassed but he elaborated more about that night of the party. "I had such a crush on you, though – I'm not sure if you knew. That's why I went to sleep in your bed in the first place. I was working the nerve up to kiss you." He paused. "Never did quite work up the nerve…well, that night."
The tattooed man smiled at him fondly.
"You still use my sword." Itachi said.
"Every day." Iruka gave him a meaningful look. "But…back to my story, as we are nearing daylight. Kisame. He tortured me for almost a month, that bastard. I admit it. That was revenge. I created the mission and slipped it into the Hokage's office." Iruka laughed.
Itachi looked a little shocked.
"Don't be so surprised, neko-chan." Iruka leaned over and kissed him. "Can't I do some forgery and sanctioned ANBU torture and murder?"
"I'm not surprised, Iruka, I already knew you had made the mission up. I guessed that during the mission. Just surprised that you're finally admitting it to me." Itachi crossed his arms. "And don't call me that."
"You don't like nicknames do you?" Iruka smiled and tugged on some of Itachi's hair. "Such a brat."
"I'm not a brat!"
"Anyways, after it turns out I wasn't able to stop the massacre, although I was able to prevent you from being the one to do it, which was nice." Iruka kissed the top of Itachi's head. "I am very sad about Shisui…I do hope to recover him…I've been having Kokoro look into it."
"Who is this 'Kokoro' again?" Itachi asked.
"I'm getting there in the story, neko-chan." Iruka licked Itachi's ear until he purred softly.
"Kokoro is the one who gave me the tattoos, you could say. She is my Chikara, my power. We have a sacred Saiken together, a bond. She is much like a..." Iruka explained.
Iruka searched for a good word, not wanting use the word 'demon' because he really didn't want to frighten Itachi off. "…Summon. She's another summon creature that I acquired. Ryuu found her for me in Suna."
"Hn." Itachi nodded. "I see." But you could see by the look on his face he didn't really understand, he was looking somewhat perplexed. He was frowning and starting to say something.
This was understandable. Summons did not typically give tattoos to their masters, or extra chakra. Probably because Iruka was pretty much lying through his teeth. Kokoro was a demon after all and had more in common with the Kyuubi than Ryuu. Quickly, Iruka distract Itachi with something. Think fast, Umino.
So Iruka went on with his story quickly before Itachi went back to thinking about the particulars of Kokoro.
"Yes, that's when I started Harbinger as training. And Iruka began training with Jiraiya." Iruka blathered. "Although I haven't told Jiraiya that Iruka is Harbinger yet. I'm not sure exactly if the old man would approve."
Itachi looked at Iruka. "From everything you've told me about Jiraiya, he sounds a bit like a maverick to me. Why wouldn't he approve of a man who goes around doing good deeds, but is also a bit of a rebel himself? And it's not exactly like Harbinger does bad things, right? From the ANBU reports I've read, you are actually doing a lot of good deeds. Giving money to charity. Killing rouge and missing nins. Rescuing priestess. Why would your sensei disapprove?" Itachi shrugged. "Even if he is a pervert."
Iruka looked at Itachi and smiled happily. "You're completely right! The old windbag would love it! What was I thinking? Of course my next mission is to kill Orochimaru so I can't exactly ask for his help with that, but I'll tell him after, maybe. You know, because they used to be friends and all…"
"What!" Itachi gripped his arm. "You're going to do what!"
"I'm going-"
"No, I heard you! You are certifiable!" Itachi exclaimed, sitting up in bed. "You're truly insane, Iruka!"
Iruka laughed. "Back to that, neko-chan…?"
"Don't call me that, damnit." Itachi growled.
Iruka waved his hand dismissively.
"I've already got his bunker scouted. I've got backup prepared. I have to take him out before Sasuke and Naruto's chuunin exam." Iruka said. "In the past he tries to kidnap Sasuke then succeeds in putting a curse seal on him, and then kills The Third. This is merely preventative measures, Itachi."
"But they're barely genin!" Itachi found himself shaking Iruka.
"They're to be on team 7 right? Kakashi's team?" Iruka asked.
"Yes." Itachi said with a sigh. He himself had been very tempted to quit ANBU and take on a team himself, to ensure his brother was trained properly but Sandaime had assured him that it would be better if he tutored his brother privately, and let Kakashi lead his brother. And the man did have one sharingan at least. He had worked very hard not to let his distaste for the man not color his perception of him as a team leader. "That is what The Third decided…did he tell you when you spoke?"
"No, that is also what happened in the past." Iruka nodded. "Team seven – Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura."
They paused and looked at each other.
"Take me with you, at least." Itachi suggested futilely.
"I'm tempted. You've very handy in a fight." Iruka appeared to be thinking it over.
"You're tempted but you're not going to take me up on my offer are you?" Itachi said, starting to get a little angry.
Iruka shook his head and sighed. "You have no idea how much I want to take you back with me to my apartment and wake up with you every morning. Fight with you by my side every day, Itachi. Nothing would give me greater pleasure. But the Hokage was right about something. I am Harbinger right now and you are…Uchiha Itachi. I am the voice of the voiceless and you are the leader of your clan. Right now you cannot fight beside me because unfortunately…it would not look good for you, my love, ne?" Iruka kissed him softly.
He continued: "What if someone saw you? What if the worst happens and you're captured? In that other future, let's just say that you wouldn't like what Orochimaru might want to do to you. Trust me, 'Tachi. I am truly a much more fearsome fighter since the last time we sparred." Iruka smiled a beautiful, feral smile. "I'll have Ryuu and Kokoro at my side. And some backup. Don't worry about me."
"When are you planning on doing this?" Itachi asked.
"Soon, waiting to hear back on a few things." Iruka kissed him silent.
And all of a sudden, Iruka wanted to bruise this fragile body in front of him. He wanted to mark him in such a way that every time Itachi looked in the mirror, he would be reminded of this moment; this night when they chose to completely alter the relationship they had shared for years.
He leaned down once again and bit down painfully on a sensitive spot on his love's neck, causing the man below to whimper softly. He licked the spot a few times before giving a sharp bite, startling the other and causing him to scream out in slight pain.
"Ouch." Itachi said.
"Good." Iruka with feeling, as he stared with satisfaction at the mark he made. "Now everyone will know you're mine."
A/N: please review...! How is everyone doing? I hope you're having a wonderful week! BTW, reviewers are the most awesome people in the world!
Let's see...okay, hey, I wrote a one-shot, if anyone is interested called "Mistaken Identity" - I think it's pretty damn funny. It's (Kakashi x Iruka) and you can go read it if you're curious - It's about Iruka getting all these bizarre deliveries that he didn't order. Also…I wrote another one-shot called "Chuunin Do It Better" - which is also (Kakashi x Iruka) - it's about Iruka singing in a cover band, and Kakashi finding out, and walking in on it one night, to see his favorite chuunin on stage, singing! Also, I'm writing a continuing story that is actually nearly over called "Icha Icha Matchmaker!" (Shikamaru x Kiba) - Kami, this is like a freakin advertisement or something? I really was meaning to just talk about what's going on my life and I just realized that I'm obsessed with writing these stories! Heh!
On a more fun note, you are all more than welcome to catch up with me on pm or twitter-! I am a ghost in the machine-! p.s. that means I'm always online!
Also, special shout-out to my favorite private messengers (doesn't that sound like something naughty?), who allowed me to vent during the writing process…
ShadowHeHaHo – Yes, look, I finally finished the chapter and thank-you for your suggestions-! Thank-you for letting me vent-!
Fred-the-Moose – Granted you haven't read this story yet, but I'm truly holding out the belief that you will one day. Or, better yet, we will have a challenge of manly vitality and youthfulness and you will (loose) and be required to read this story – Which wouldn't be a hardship at all – obviously! *strikes Gai pose with complete with thumbs up, smile and rainbow over shoulder*