::PREVIEW::
 

Title: The Games We Play
Fandom: Naruto
Disclaimer: the characters do not belong to me.
Warnings: The usual, still needs editing.


Jiraiya peered at the handy-work. Cuts and bruises littered Kakashi's body like a cat's scratching post. The only area left unscathed was his face, which was covered by his mask, "Who did this to you?" Jiraiya inquired.

Kakashi sighed and regretted for not concealing his chakra signature better from within his own apartment flat. For if he had, he would of been left undisturbed and able, to lick his wounds in the confines of his bedroom in dark solitude, "Nice to see you too, Jiraiya."

Jiraiya let out a whistle of admiration, before putting down his sake jugs, so that he could better examine Kakashi's wounds and see if they were life-threatening or not, "Damn, they did hell of a number on you."

"Believe me, I know," chided Kakashi, in self-mockery, as if it wasn't humiliating enough but to credit his assailant for his misery (Gee, didn't Jiraiya have any sensibilities.) He supposed not, considering the sannins history with his own former teammates.

Still, Jiraiya could work miracles with his fingers and when he began rubbing him to search out his wounds, Kakashi had to admit his body was getting inappropiately hot (considering the circumstances he was in) and for once was glad for his mask, as his cheeks heated in a mixture of pleasure and pain.

Pleasure, from being touched (even though Jiriaya wasn't whom occupied his mind right now but a particular shy and sociable chuunin at the Ninja Academy - whom anyone would guess as Iruka-sensei (if they watched his nocturnal activities off-school hours), as well as the fact that whenever he was around, the rest of the school staff seemed like they had a stick up there asses. For what reason, he could not explain - - except they wanted him to have no part of there beloved sensei. Which, he, wasn't going to allow them to have their way. That's for sure)

Pain - - because at that very moment, as he visualized Iruka unzipping his vest, to take off his short and suck on his nipple, Kakashi's sight blackened and the image he invisioned vanished. Bringing him back to cold reality: pain and blood (let's not forget the blood), as Jiraiya fingered a particularly nasty wound, left by Itachi during their bout and Kakashi almost toppled over Jiraiya, in his heist to get away from the intensity brought on by the sannins probbing finger.

Grunting his disapproval, Jiraiya eased off and Kakashi relaxed in his arms. From what he could tell, an infection was beginning to set-in on that one and would need some cleaning.

************** come back to this part later ****************

although it was admitting a sign of weakness in front of this great man, Kakashi allowed a small complaintive groan to escape from his mouth to match how his body really felt during this handliinsult to injury and because Jiraiya didn't criticize him for his slip in character, Kakashi didn't fuss as Jiraiya looked him over. Instead, he took the moment for himself to flex his glove hand out, which was stiff from being crushed earlier in Itachi's grip and thought Not broken in a relieved sigh that escaped his parted lips. Before beginning the process of hoisting himself up from his floor and the sure blood stain he left by their encounter.

But nothing seemed to be going right for Kakashi on this grave night.

Differ than his assessment, he came up short in his effort to get up and instead, fell back down with a huff of aggravation.

No soon after, his head began to pound like a sledgehammer was brought down on his skull, and Kakashi let out a curse, "Fuck."

Upon hearing the curse, Jiraiya regarded Kakashi with empathy and asked in a soothing voice, "Are you sure you don't need any help getting up," he suggested. Wanting to be of some help instead of just standing around and doing nothing but oversee wounds that a doctor from the hospital should be looking at.

Kakashi raised a sharp brow, "I can do without you," He replied more testly than he had intended but clear enough for Jiraiya to know he was dismissing his offer. In a demonstrating of gall or 'stupidity' as others would call it, Kakashi pushed himself up off the floor with with only the strength in his legs and winced noticeably, when he went to straighten his lower back. Afterwards, Kakashi leaned heavily against his dresser and regarded Jiraiya with dissent.

Jiraiya waited for Kakashi to regulate his breathing before giving his opinion, "I should report this."

"But you won't, right?" smiled Kakashi, from behind his mask, taking another breath. He held a hand against his shoulder, idly, as his blood seeped from under his hand where he had been stabbed earlier by one of Itachi's kunai, that he failed to dodge in time.

"A jounin your level shouldn't easily be attacked," pointed out Jiraiya with a sharp eye, "So do you mind telling me who attacked you? Was it an enemy anbu or someone from withing the village."

Kakashi sighed, "I do mind." He looked up from his mess of silver bangs, "Why don't you make yourself useful and go get me a beer to wash the pain away."

Jiraiya shook his head and white mane in disbelief, "You're too much. Did anyone ever tell you that."

"Plenty but they all ended up dead one way or the other in the nearafter."

"Hopefully not from you,..."

"Actually no,...just not too strong enough to survive in this gloom of a world."

* * * * * *
A Skip in Time
* * * * * *

"Quit gawking. Geez, you act like you were never kissed before."

"Jiraiya, I know what it's like to be kissed but I never thought I'd be on the receiving end of one of yours."

"Hmph, for being revered as one of Konoha's sharpest prodigies while growing up from a small fry to a young man, you can be a real baka at times. Did you really believe I was going to let you go so easily. There's a price you must pay to keep me silent from telling the Fifth about this attempted assassination hit against you."

Kakashi's uncovered eye quivered in anger, "So your saying in return of your sworn secrecy, that you want sex from me?"

"Yep and I expect you to participate or I can't guarantee I won't slip and say something later on. It's your choice."

"The way I look at it, I don't have one."

"I suppose it is the way you look at it but really,  I'll be helping you out and you'll be helping me out. It's a win-win, if you ask me."

"You already know my answer."

"Does that mean I shouldn't signal the anbu med team to rush on over here."

"What do you think, Jiraiya?"

"Well for one thing, considering the position you are in, I expect a straightforward answer from you rather than an implied one. After all, these sort of 'offers' can turn ugly quickly if both parties involve don't come to a reasonable compromise. Your consent is necessary for us to continue our negotiations, if say you want to keep a low profile and any reprimandable information regarding your attacker from reaching the Fifth Hokage's ears."

Knowing defeat, Kakashi looked away, "Just get this going already or you'll be calling for the morgue instead of the medic team."

'Close enough,' thought Jiraiya, repressing a grim frown, "I knew you'd come over to my way of thinking."  and began stripping Kakashi of his anbu wear.

:: return ::