Chapter 13

Ibiki's Garden

Yos my freaky darlings. Did you know 13 is my favorite number? For some reason, the fact people say its unlucky makes me like it.

Anyway, thank you to the reviews last week; you're so marvelous I could kiss you! But now on to this week's rendition, another one of my favorite chapters.

….

Kakashi sprinted across the grass and slid to a stop, falling to his knees beside the younger man slouched against the rocks. Gently he reached out to touch the slender shoulders, almost sobbing in relief when the brown head slowly lifted and dazed chocolate eyes focused in on the masked face.

"Kashi?"

The gentle voice was low and slightly slurred. Giving in Kakashi felt the sob wrack his body as he grabbed the smaller man and pulled him close.

"Kami. Ruka, I'm sorry, we should have- we –"

A sleepy chuckle and a gentle hand against the cloth covered lips stopped him.

"is't not your fault, I was being stupid. Sorry Ibi" Kakashi turned slightly when he noticed the big Jounin standing behind him. "Didn't think I'd used that much. I didn't mean to scare you guys"

Ibiki made a shushing noise as he too leant down and reached out to check the younger man's pulse. "Don't worry about it Ruka, are you feeling ok?"

Smiling Iruka relaxed back in Kakashi's hold. "Ya, actually chakra isn't the problem"

Both Jounin exchanged a look at that before turning back when Iruka moved slightly to reveal a bleeding and twisted leg. Kakashi choked while Ibiki swore. Iruka looked at the two of them rather sheepishly as they leant in to inspect the damage.

"Ya, Mai's gonna kill me. I was hiding out over by the falls and I slipped. Somehow I managed to brilliantly land directly on my damaged hip then my leg got caught between two rocks under water. I didn't see the jagged edge until I'd already sliced half my leg open and by that point the only thing I could do was keep pulling. I don't think it's too bad, just looks messy, but my hip didn't respond to the cold water very well and I realized I wasn't going anywhere fast, so I pulled all my chakra back. I knew one of you would notice and come looking"

Kakashi let out a sigh of relief at the information and heard Ibiki do the same. Chakra depletion and cracked hips were not what they wanted to be dealing with, but a sliced leg was certainly manageable. On top of it Iruka had been relatively good and stayed where he was after it happened, rather than trying to walk.

"Iruka, how important are these pants to you?" Ibiki glanced up at the Chuunin who frowned, confused.

"Uhh, well, they're not a prized possession if that's what you're asking"

Ibiki nodded once before the big hands took hold of the soft fabric and pulled, ripping a line up the right leg so he could see the damage. Luckily it wasn't that bad, is just looked messy.

"Does your hip hurt?"

Iruka shook his head slowly, the dark eyes drooping slightly. "N-no, just cold"

Kakashi felt the slender body relax farther against his, the exhaustion and strain on his healing body finally catching up to the young man. Slumping back Iruka's breathing slowed and evened out in sleep, leaving the smaller man completely trusting in Kakashi's arms.

Kakashi could have cried with relief. Iruka still trusted him.

"Kakashi"

Ibiki voice pulled Kakashi back to the present and he saw the big Jounin had finished with a makeshift bandage.

"We have to get him somewhere warm, other ways he'll get sick on top of everything."

Nodding Kakashi started to shift the small form in his arms to a better position so he could pick him up when Ibiki leant over and gently eased the younger man from his hold. Kakashi considered fighting but let it drop, what he wanted wasn't important now. Taking care of Iruka was.

Ibiki paused a moment to settle the smaller male in his arms before he took off into the trees, leaving Kakashi to catch up as he headed out of the Training Area, taking a different route to avoid Iruka's remaining traps.

Kakashi chuckled to himself. The next team to train here would be in for something extra.

Putting on the quick burst of speed that brought him level with the Interrogator Kakashi easily settled into a matching pace, keeping himself next to the big man as they sprinted over the trees. "So we going to the hospital or Ru's place?"

"Neither"

Kakashi's head tilted curiously at the answer. Ibiki sighed and glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes.

"I don't know where anything is at his place and we take him to the hospital he'll just get shit from Tsunade. He's doing great healing and I'd hate for her to push him back just because of this."

Kakashi frowned, but saw the logic. There was nothing he hated more than getting dragged back to the hospital after a small stupid accident. It was how he and Iruka had become friend in the first place actually. Iruka had offered to take care of him to a certain extent if Kakashi promised to be more careful with himself. It had become a friendship Kakashi would never regret or give up, no matter what.

Silence feel between the two men as Kakashi wondered off in his thoughts, making his next words more abrupt than they normally would. "If we're not going to the hospital or his place just where are we taking him?"

Ibiki gave the copy nin a look over his shoulder "How much medical training do you have Kakashi?"

Kakashi frowned then shrugged. "The normal amount for field work. Why?"

"Iruka has advanced training, one more class and he'd be full mednin. He didn't take it cause he likes teaching and he doesn't have as much chakra as is liked, but it still gives him a very good base for incidents at the school and for patching a certain Jounin's sorry ass up"

Kakashi growled, but it was playful. "And this applies how?"

Ibiki smirked, continuing on as if Kakashi hadn't spoken. "I am a Torture specialist, the ironic side of that is I also had enough training to be a mednin. My point is that Iruka and myself are the capable ones in this situation, you have neither the skill or the supplies needed for this"

Kakashi felt his eye twitch at Ibiki's chuckle. The damn interrogator was playing with him, and enjoying it too. "So…?"

Ibiki chuckled again and shifted his arms slightly so Iruka's head slipped into the crease of the big shoulder. "So we're going to my house"

….

Most people would be surprised to find out that Ibiki did indeed own a house. It was a fact many know nothing about because of the rule 'never bother Ibiki if he's not in the office'. This rule was backed up by horror story's Anko took great pleasure in telling to every new intern and worker to enter T&I until they were quite famous outside of the big black building (Anko was also the only person to knew that Ibiki in fact was the one to start the rumors and come up with the horror stories. He gave her dango every week for telling them)

And so, the interns remained properly terrified of him – as did the rest of the village – and Ibiki got peace and quiet after work, something needed when you worked in tight quarters with a karaoke obsessed Anko.

When he was younger, Ibiki had lived in the T&I dorms as they were free, but after two months he'd just about had it with banging his head and legs and getting back and leg cramps from doing dishes in the pathetic excuse for a sink and had started the search for a place that he could actually fit in.

He'd found it in a little bungalow on the outskirts of town, backed by a cliff and the very edge of the thick wild forest that was Konoha's name-sake. It had been drab and in desperate need of repairs everywhere, which was why he'd been able to afford it easily on his salary. He'd fixed the whole place himself, including new shingles, paint everywhere and completely redoing the kitchen and bathroom to sizes an over average height person could use comfortably.

Ibiki love his house. The front was slightly rounded and was covered in light blue siding. It had lots of windows as Ibiki hated using lights when he didn't have to, it reminded in of the torture rooms and he didn't like to think about that when he was at home.

The front yard was small; a tall honeysuckle bush served as a fence and effectively hid the house from view to passerby's. A big willow tree shaded it from the afternoon sun well still giving enough light to Ibiki's pride and joy - the huge garden in the back yard.

It housed everything from vegetables, berry bushes and fruit trees to little patches of flowers and herbs. All of which were carefully tended and cared for. Another reason Ibiki didn't want people bothering him at home.

It felt mildly surreal, leading Kakashi through the tall gate hidden in the hedge and up toward the house. No one had ever been here but him, not even Anko – hell the Kounichi didn't even know where he lived. He was pretty sure only the Hokage and people who bothered to look at his file knew and honestly? Who was going to read his file besides an enemy? Anyone else would probably be too scared too.

Of course he had planned on taking Iruka here at some point, though this wasn't really how he'd pictured it. Iruka was supposed to be wake for one, and not in pain would also be a good change to the whole thing.

He could see Kakashi looking around, subtlety he noted, but the way the grey eye had grown wide gave away the copy nin's surprise to his surroundings. Ibiki watched out of the corner of his eye as a gloved hand strayed to the side to gently touch a huge hibiscus flower from the brush growing up the side of the kitchen window.

That made him smile slightly and relax a bit as he lead the way to the back of the house. He never used the front door. In fact there was a book case shoved in front of it. He always went in and out of the porch doors as they were bigger and then he could always check on things on his way out. Besides, then no one could see him leaving the house.

He heard Kakashi gasp softly when they turned the corner and the back yard came into view. Ibiki couldn't help the small bubble of pride in his chest at the other Jounin's reaction.

The back yard, quite literally, was a hidden paradise. The unusual cold days a week ago had taken their toll on the garden, as well as the fact Ibiki hadn't been around as much as he usually was, but they were still doing very well all things considered.

Little grassy paths led off different directions, winding their way through the big yard. The vegetable garden and berry patch stood off to the far right of the house, giving the big man easy access to them. The fruit trees were scattered around the yard, place just in the right places so they would get the sun they needed while not blocking the morning sunlight from the kitchen windows. Ibiki liked sitting in the sun with his morning tea.

Flowers, ferns and other forest plants were scattered around, bordering the odd edge of random order. The swing his mother had made hung from the branches of the willow tree, even though there was no way it would hold him up now; Ibiki couldn't get rid of it.

The soft tinkle of falling water drew Ibiki's gaze to his small waterfall, one he'd made by re-directing a small stream so it fell over the side of the cliff. He'd made a pond at the base and filled it with lilies, having thought of fish but deciding that while plants thrived at his hand, animals didn't and were best left out of it.

Glancing back at Kakashi Ibiki felt a smug sense of satisfaction when he saw Kakashi's jaw was hanging open under the mask as the Jounin stared around wide eyed. Still smiling Ibiki moved to his deck, ducking under a humming bird feeder on his way to the door.

"Kakashi"

The other Jounin jumped at the sound of his name and glanced around, a dazed look in the grey eye as he focused in on the bigger man. "Hu?"

Ibiki supressed a chuckle. "You coming in?"

Kakashi nodded numbly before following at a slowly pace, the grey eye still taking in the garden like he couldn't believe his eyes. Ibiki smiled at that as he entered his home and headed for the living room.

It was actually a little weird, just letting Kakashi in like this, weird, but – oddly good. It almost felt right, in some strange sense.

Settling Iruka down on the couch Ibiki hurried to the bathroom, collecting everything he needed before returning to the main room in time to see Kakashi enter and almost fall to the floor in shock. Ibiki smiled, knowing the inside of his home was just as strange as the outside.

The whole place was decorated in simple blues, greys and whites. There were more plants as well; ferns hanging from corners and ivy crawling along the ceiling, potted plants on the window sill and an herb box in the kitchen.

The main room was big and open; two wonderful things when you were Ibiki's size. The kitchen was tucked into the corner right next to the living room with its big bay windows and overstuffed couch. The real 'main' door stood in-between them, hidden from view by a huge bookcase that wouldn't fit anywhere else.

Leaving Kakashi to his gaping Ibiki moved back to the couch and quickly striped the remaining shreds of Iruka's pants from the slender body. Tossing the ripped clothing away he settled down to care for the sliced leg. He was relieved to find, after having washed it with a damp cloth, that the damage wasn't as bad as he'd first thought and had looked worse than it really was.

The cut wasn't deep, just wide. Some healing chakra and one more bandage wouldn't even leave a scar of the incident, something Ibiki was very grateful for.

"He'll be ok?"

Glancing over Ibiki saw that Kakashi had snapped out of his shock and moved closer till the tall man was hovering beside the broad shoulders, peering over at the younger man on the couch with concern. It was kind of cute actually.

"Yes, he'll be fine. With luck the doctors won't even notice the mark"

Kakashi nodded slowly and worried his lower lip beneath the mask. "You did a good job"

Humming Ibiki finished tying the bandaged before picking Iruka back up and moving him to the bedroom, settling him down gently in his big bed and slipping him under the thick covers. Heading out Ibiki flicked out the light and quietly closed the door after taking in the sight of the younger man curled in his bed. He returned to the main room, a big smile on the scarred mouth.

Kakashi was still standing awkwardly by the couch, looking very much like he didn't want to touch anything. Though from the nervous look in the grey eye Ibiki could see was from fear of doing something wrong and not an attempt to spite him.

Chuckling he decided to let the guy off the hook. "Kakashi, would you like some tea?"

The silver head snapped up before nodding hesitantly. The tall Jounin moved to hover behind him as he headed to the kitchen and started the water to boil.

"You can sit in the living room if you'd like. It's my place, nothing breaks easily"

Kakashi chuckled a bit at that but stayed where he was, shifting nervously by the edge of the tiled floor. "Who did the garden?"

Ibiki glanced up at the rather abrupt question. "Pardon?" he'd heard the first time but wanted to make Kakashi say it again.

"The garden, out back. It's really good"

Ibiki smiled as he fished his old tea set from a high shelf. "Mmm, you think so?"

Kakashi blushed slightly, the red creeping above the mask. "It's gorgeous. Whoever tends it is really talented."

Ibiki couldn't help but flush slightly with pride at the obviously sincere compliment. "That would be me actually. I'm glad you like it"

The grey eye snapped up, surprised. "You?"

"I told you I loved gardens. Though you're the only living person to have seen it now. Sandiame knew, he liked to sit out by the willow tree but after he died – well, people don't come here, most don't even know where I live. Not even Anko"

Kakashi looked like he'd been hit by his own chindori. The words 'I've never trusted anyone else' hanging between them and making Kakashi shift uncomfortably.

"W-well, it's – it's amazing"

Ibiki smiled at the stuttered compliment as he poured the boiled water into the blue tea pot, nodding and giving Kakashi a sincere "thank you" as he loaded everything onto a tray and headed to the living room. Setting it down carefully before collapsing back on the big couch with a sigh.

Kakashi shuffled after him slowly. Really it was the only word Ibiki could use for the copy nin's movements. After a moment's pause Kakashi gracefully slumped to the floor in front of the coffee table, the long legs crossed in front of him while the lean body slouched forward in a way that was both lazy and sensual.

Killing the small feeling of jealousy instantly, Ibiki leant forward and snagged his tea cup before pushing the tray closer to Kakashi. He may be playing host but the other Jounin could pour his own damn tea.

Hesitantly Kakashi did so, still looking a little uncomfortable with the tense silence. The grey eye flicking toward the bedroom every so often.

Ibiki sighed. "Are you staying because you think I'll pull something or Iruka will choose me if you're not here?"

The silver head snapped up, shock clear in the grey eye. "W-what?"

Ibiki sighed again and leant back against the couch. "You obviously don't want to be here, but you not leaving because Iruka's here. Which is rather ridiculous. Iruka's made it very clear it's both of us or neither."

Kakashi started stuttering at that, half formed nonsense stinging from one sentence to another till Ibiki got annoyed and flicked hot tea at him. Effectively stopping the words in change for a glare.

"Stop that, you look deranged, glaring with one eye and no face." Ibiki huffed and set down his cup, giving the younger Jounin a glare of his own. "I've already seen your face if you don't remember, so just take it off. You don't look like you father anyway, just the hair and he never wore it like that"

Kakashi blinked, startled. "H-how do you-"

Ibiki snorted. "I am four years older than you moron. I was young but I remember her. The only thing you got from your father is personality and hair colour but the styles straight from her. She had had this light brown hair she liked to streak with blue. Stood straight up like yours."

The astounded look of wonder in the grey eye had Ibiki frowning. "You didn't know that?"

Kakashi shook his head slowly, his mouth opening a few times under the mask before he decided to talk. "Sakum- my Father never talked about her and there were never any pictures."

Ibiki's frown deepened before he stood and moved to the bookcase. Searching for a moment before he found the box he was looking for. Sorting through he found what he needed and returned to Kakashi, handing the Jounin a picture of two women smiling brightly at the camera.

The one on the right had short curly brown hair and black eyes. She had her arms thrown lovingly around the other woman's, who looked like she was laughing, bright green eyes sparkling with fun. She had high cheek bones and a sharp nose that looked a bit crooked. Her hair was spiked out in every direction and had vivid streaks of blue in random places. She wasn't what you'd call gorgeous – if anything she'd be referred to as handsome - but there was something, something wonderful about her smile.

Kakashi stared at it for a long time before the gloved hands began to shake. Ibiki grabbed the tea tray and retreated to the kitchen when he saw a tear hit the photos surface. He stayed there, making a little more noise than necessary as he gave Kakashi some privacy.

He'd always known Kakashi had grown up hard, but he hadn't thought it went that far. He'd thought Sakumo would have at least told his child something of his mother. Though this certainly explained a good deal of Kakashi's personal issues. He wondered if Iruka knew, though he probably did. The Chuunin was ridiculously good at reading people and even better at keeping his mouth shut.

Maybe this is what Iruka had seen, that he couldn't help Kakashi the way Ibiki could. And possibly, just possibly, Ibiki needed something from Kakashi that Iruka couldn't give.

Absently Ibiki realized he'd been washing the tea pot for about five minutes and quickly turned the water off. Leaning against the counter Ibiki let out a deep breath. He was tired. Tired of being confused.

On one hand, he was starting to like Kakashi, even warming up to the idea of Iruka's crazy plan. On the other, part of him was still clinging to a deep dislike for the copy nin that had built up over years, and he had a feeling it would never ago away until he could actually talk to Kakashi about it.

The sound of footsteps had him looking over to see Kakashi once again standing cautiously at the edge of tile. The blue mask was off, resting like a scarf around the pale neck, the photograph still held gently in the gloved hands.

"Kakashi?"

The copy nin didn't look up. "The-umm" Kakashi's voice faltered and he cleared his throat before trying again. "The other women, with the curly hair – who is she?"

Ibiki smiled. "Her name was Ibci. She was my mother."

…

Mmm, Ibiki's garden home was something I've had in my head for a while now, so I was glad I got to put it in.

And I know I'm making up a bit of Kakashi's past here, but we don't really know much about his mother (do we?) and anyway, I needed this to make the next part work.

Hope you guys liked it! please review!