Genre: Angst, Romance
Status: WIP
Summary: Iruka plans a pleasant surprise for Kakashi to take his mind off training ... of course, the best laid plans of dolphins and men go oft astray... and angst ensues
Warnings: yaoi, coarse language, violence, steadily building angst, will eventually have NC-17 lemon. Specific warnings posted for each chapter.
Disclaimer: You know Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto, because if I owned them, yaoi pairings would be canon… "Wintersky" lyrics belong to Big Country
Hatochan, you're always there with the mental equivalent of a backrub (and a mint julep). Thank you for two lovely months of writing partnership : ) Here's to many more… Occurs several weeks after the end of "Odd Admiration" within the Tolerant Intolerance universe, (early November) with permission from Hatochan. Story title comes from Big Country's "Fields of Fire" ; Sorry for the long delay, my husband just returned home from Iraq, so I was, you know uhhh busy… researching the final two chapters, as Jiraiya would say… yeah that's it… :)
Between the Journey and the Rest: Chapter 5
Wintersky
The stories of the world are sung
In places that were never young
I have counted every one
All the clouds will come to you
So the sun never comes through
And we will hide
From twenty years of winter sky
The faces of the world are hung
In places I was never born
Some will smile while others moan
All the clouds will come to you
So the sun never comes through
And we will hide
From twenty years of winter sky
Pictures of the world are shown
In places I have never known
Who will know who shaped the stone
All the clouds will come to you
So the sun never comes through
And we will hide
From twenty years of winter sky
Still it turns and says to me
In words that come uneasily
Answers are not meant to be
All the clouds will come to you
So the sun never comes through
And we will hide
From twenty years of winter sky
The crackling of the fire was loud in the house. In another situation, it might have been cheerful, but the room's current occupants were too preoccupied with other concerns. Iruka sat cross-legged on the floor beside the possibly cheerful fire, his sable gaze never leaving the silver haired man laying on the futon beside him. There was very little to watch, however. Kakashi lay pale and still, the only movement the faint rise and fall of each shallow breath.
The scritch scritch of pen on paper was almost as loud as the crackling fire. A quiet, dark-haired young woman sat in a chair in the corner of the room, intent on her writing. "It shouldn't be much longer, Iruka-sensei. She's probably poring over a stack of reference books and old scrolls as we speak. You're not normally one to let your friends lose faith, don't lose faith yourself."
"I haven't lost faith, Shizune-san. Tsunade-sama and Kakashi are both so willful and strong-minded he has to get better soon."
A tiny chuckle escaped the dedicated assistant. "I believe the word you are looking for is stubborn. Do you have a word for their apparent laziness as well? Or one for their perverse sense of humor?"
The chuunin's eyes widened, hearing the Hokage described so, before the truth in the statement became apparent and some small glimmer of amusement and agreement replaced the incredulity. "They do have a few similarities, don't they, Shizune-san?"
"At least a few, which means I don't need to remind you that she won't give up, especially not in Kakashi's case. She's known him too long to ever abandon him to the vagaries of fate. These two seem to make their own fate."
"Hmm. I suppose they do."
The pale shinobi stirred in his sleep. The already rapid breathing quickened and the body tensed, although he remained silent. A tinge of pink appeared on the high cheekbones, and the eyes moved rapidly behind closed lids.
"Fever?"
"It appears so. I had hoped he maybe he could have escaped this, at least. He's already weaker than I like to see him. Go get a few bowls and place them outside to collect the rain. It's cold enough we can use it for compresses and try to get this under control."
Iruka nodded and jumped up to acquire the requested items, sending one last, worried glance at the fevered jounin.
Shizune used the privacy to quickly examine and reevaluate the patient. Definitely a fever, coming on quite rapidly. Rapid, shallow, breathing, occasionally uneven. She eyed the angrily spreading bruise marring the pale flesh of the chest. Cracked ribs? She leaned forward for a closer look and saw the rough jagged imprint of bark, both abrading the skin and imprinted into the bruised flesh. Well, that answers one question, at least. She tentatively pressed skilled fingers along the line of the chest and heard the sucked in breath as she touched where the crack must be.
Ahh. That's why he's having trouble breathing... wrapping would help with the pain, but could restrict his breathing... hmm... ok, elastic bandages, they will support the break, but move as he breathes. Shizune rummaged through her pack and pulled out a roll of elastic bandages, carefully raising Kakashi to a sitting position as she wrapped the bandages around the bruised torso. The flushed face grimaced even at the careful movements, and Shizune heard the quietly voiced complaints, but soon realized they were not directed to her.
"Don't. Stop, please. You're hurting me. No!!! Keberu-san, please, no!" The soft cries from the impossibly strong jounin went straight to her heart.
She stroked the anguished face as she lowered him back to the futon. His skin seemed even paler against the brightly flushed cheeks. Oh, Kakashi, what have you done to yourself this time? She murmured comfortingly, trying to soothe the fever dreams, brushing the limp hair back from his forehead. "Shh, shh," she murmured, as if comforting a young child, not one of the most feared shinobi in the five countries. Hmmm. I think his breathing is a little better, but it's hard to tell now that his fever's rising. The only thing we can do is wait.
Iruka sat huddled on the dwelling's walkway, beneath the overhang, waiting for several bowls to fill with the rainy, sleety mix. One, two, three... He counted the seconds until the bowls filled, trying unsuccessfully to distract his mind from worrying about the man lying inside. Ten, eleven, twelve... He gazed through the trees at the glow from the main part of the city, watching the vague haze of light shift in the worsening weather. Clouds were low overhead, reflecting the glow of the hidden village in a quiet way that promised snow before morning. Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven...
The bowls weren't even half-full and he stopped counting, giving in to his distraction. Everything had been going so well, and then Kakashi spent those two long weeks where he seemed to do nothing but train, and those back-to-back missions... and now this. With all the weight he's lost lately, this is going to hit him hard. He's overworked, I just don't know if it's his own doing or if they are just using him up. Maybe it's a bit of both. He sighed, worry returning full force with the inactivity. He checked the bowls again, almost two-thirds full. That will have to do for now. I'll fill one bowl full and leave the rest by kitchen door to finish filling and stay cold.
He shed his shoes just inside the door, placing the damp blanket he'd worn around his shoulders on the back of a chair before the kitchen fireplace. He retrieved the nearly full bowl and carefully carried it down the silent hallway of the old house. "Shizune-san, I have a bowlful. It should be cold enough to help," he announced as he opened the door. He frowned as he looked closer. "Shizune-san? Was I gone longer than I thought?" Kakashi was no longer the still, pale jounin of minutes before. This Kakashi was flushed, eyes fever-bright and unseeing, thrashing and moaning on the futon, mumbling incoherently.
"No, Iruka-sensei. Fevers have a way of coming on fast, sometimes. He appears to be generally worn down. He also appears to have a cracked rib. The rib or the exposure in this weather could bring on a fever. Both of them on top of this exhaustion have almost guaranteed it. We need to try to keep him calm and keep his as cool as possible, without letting him get chilled again. I don't want him injuring that rib anymore, either. I wish I dared trying to chakra-heal him, but Tsunade said he fought too hard against her when she tried. Bring the bowl over here and use these cloths. I'll make some weak tea and see if we can get some fluids into him." She exited the room, leaving Iruka alone with the feverish copy-nin.
He dipped a soft cloth in the cold slushy liquid and wrung it out before placing it on the other man's forehead. Shhhh, Kashi. I'm here. Just relax, love. Shhhh. He began reciting a string of meaningless words and endearments, as much to let Kakashi hear his voice as to have something to do. Lie still, love, you'll hurt yourself like this. Shhhh. I'm here. He replaced the warmed cloth with a new, colder one and repeated the process again. He was on his fourth fresh cloth when Shizune returned.
"If you sit behind him, Iruka-sensei, we can prop him up for a few minutes so he can drink."
Iruka complied, sitting with his legs on either side of the jounin. Kakashi moaned and tensed at the pain the movement caused, but then relaxed limply against Iruka's chest. Shizune offered a small amount of the week green tea. As much seemed to dribble down his chin as made its way into his throat. Nevertheless, he was attempting to swallow. That was one of very few good signs tonight. She offered a few more sips of the tea before letting him rest again.
"Iruka-sensei, if you'll stay with him a few moments I'll get something warm for you, as well. The last thing we need is for you to come down sick too. You can let him stay propped up for a few more minutes as long as he seems to be doing well." Iruka nodded as she left the room again.
He began talking and soothing again in that low, soft voice. "Kashi, love, I'm here. You need to try to relax so you can get better quicker. I know it's difficult, but just relax... shhhh... Lie still, love, just like that. Shhhh." The silver haired man seemed to be listening. He quieted almost immediately, relaxing again against the chuunin. "That's it Kashi, love. Shhhh, just lie here with me and relax. I'm here with you." He got another fresh cloth, wiping the older man's face and hands, leaning in to kiss the forehead resting against his chest.
What? Had he imagined it? He felt the forehead with his hand. It really did appear cooler. And the red flush was a little less hectic. His heart soared. His Kashi would be better soon. He couldn't wait to tell Shizune the news when she returned.
"Ru... ka..." The voice sounded nothing like its normal light careless tone, but Iruka delighted in it anyway.
"Shhh, Kashi. It's ok. I'm here. Just rest. Shhh, I'll stay here, but you need to rest."
Mismatched eyes closed as he settled into sleep and Iruka laid him back against the futon, tucking the blankets securely around him.
Iruka threaded his fingers through the damp silver hair, smiling. He was still smiling a few minutes later when Shizune returned.
"How is he?" she asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the slumbering man.
"He was awake," Iruka smiled the words. "He was awake and talking and calm and he's cooler. He'll be better, soon, right?" He sounded so hopeful.
"Iruka..." her voice trailed off. She didn't want to ruin his joy, but she knew Kakashi couldn't be recovering this quickly. She knew his fever would most likely spike even higher very soon. But he had had at least a short moment of lucidity, and that was good news. "Iruka, it's too early to get your hopes up for his recovery this soon... It's a good sign that he was awake and talking... but I don't think he's out of the woods just yet."
Kakashi's face had gradually been flushing darker over the last minute. Iruka was abruptly brought out of his high spirits as the older man groaned. Iruka's eyes met Shizune's, the crushed hope evident in both his gaze and the slump of his shoulders.
"Iruka… I know it's very difficult to accept, and even more difficult to just sit there and watch… but this really is the normal course for a fever. Kakashi will most likely alternate between intervals of consciousness and fever, with the fever spiking and dipping several times until it has run its course. Fever is actually a normal mechanism the body uses to reset its internal temperature regulation or fight infection. It's frightening to watch, sometimes, but it can be beneficial as long as we monitor it closely and don't let his temperature get too high. In Kakashi's case, we also need to keep him as calm as possible; thrashing about in a fevered state will not help his ribs…"
Iruka nodded silently.
"Would you like me to take over for a few moments while you eat?"
Iruka shook his head.
"You could go to the bathhouse for a bit… a soak in the hot spring?"
"No. I'll stay with him."
Shizune sighed but nodded. She hadn't really expected any other answer. "It's going to be a long night. I'll go nap in the kitchen so I'll be rested and ready to take over for you in a few hours. You will wake me, if for no other reason than so I can monitor his condition." The woman's voice lowered, but gained a new level of intensity. "Iruka, if you get too tired you make mistakes. You're shinobi, you know this. I know you wouldn't risk making a mistake with Kakashi in such a state right now…" She let her voice trail off meaningfully. "Wake me by midnight or if his condition worsens or even if you just get tired or are in need of company."
Iruka's gaze was stony and Shizune's legendary patience snapped; the years spent in Tsunade's company became evident. "I know you love him, damnit, but this isn't helping anything. I'm doing all I can, and so is Tsunade-sama. By now, I'm sure she has half of ANBU on alert and the other half ready to be. We're doing our part, now it's time for you to do yours. If I tell you that you need to stop and sleep or eat or anything, you're damn well going to do it! You won't help Kakashi any if you work yourself into a state and get sick as well. I don't need to take care of both of you. He seems to stay calm for you, reacts well to your presence, even in his condition. If you get sick, you'll deny him your presence, putting his life at risk, as well as his mental state..." Shizune covered her mouth, shoulders slumping, as she realized what she had unwittingly let slip to the academy teacher.
He paled but settled visibly, the harsh words and angry tone getting through as nothing else could have. Iruka made a small half bow to the Hokage's assistant. "I am very sorry, Shizune-san. I didn't mean to make your work more difficult. I know how much you're both doing to help him. I'll take a small break to eat and then come back to watch him."
"Oh, Iruka, I'm so sorry I snapped at you. I never wanted you to find out like that." Shizune paused, "Actually I didn't want you to find out at all until we learned a little more about what's wrong… I won't lie to you. His condition is serious, but with a little time and research, Tsunade-sama will find out what has happened to him, and fix it. This is a stressful time for all of us. I know how much Kakashi means to you, and Tsunade-sama, and to so many other people in the village. We will do all we can to help him through this, and you as well. You're as important to the village in your own way as Kakashi. Over half the shinobi in the village would revolt if we let anything happen to you; your students and their parents would be up in arms."
Iruka smiled a little. It was probably true. Then he frowned. He seemed to get some of the most troublesome and stubborn students the village had. He swallowed with difficulty at the thought of what a raging Naruto could do if provoked… and Kakashi… He knew the jounin wasn't a model patient at he best of times, hell, if the man could help it, he wasn't a patient at all, even when he needed to be. In his current confused state… he knew he would be very difficult if not near impossible to handle for someone who didn't know him well. "I'll do all I can to help, as well."
His stomach rumbled and Shizune smiled, all tension gone now. "There's soup and tea in the kitchen, and some sweet bean cakes. Nothing fancy, I'm afraid, but it's warm and filling."
"It's more than enough for me after a night like tonight. Uh… maybe I will take just a short soak in the hot spring. I think I'm starting to stiffen up after a run like that and then sitting in the rain and sleet. A few minutes shouldn't make a difference, I suppose. You will come and get me if anything changes?" he asked hopefully.
"Of course, now off with you. The sooner you leave, the sooner you'll be back. Go…" She pushed him out the door with a fond smile.
Iruka hurried off, stopping by the kitchen to quickly polish off a bowl of soup and a few of the cakes, washing it all down with the hot sweet tea. He hurried to the rear of the house and into the attached bathhouse for a quick soak in the soothing waters of the hot spring.