Kindling

Clean up wasn’t as hard as it could have been with Madara Uchiha standing there alive with his burning red eyes- even if Kakashi had a time convincing Fugaku to come alone until he saw his ancestor and the burning eyes- and the security tapes to record every incriminating word as Koharu- who had been sent to wipe them- had been apprehended by a group of fearsome Uzumaki that looked a bit unnerving in their gold kilts and coral with the big fucking serrated spears and knives. Homura had apparently been sent to stage everything that made it look like Kakashi was robbing the place but the bijuu had snapped him up and was gnawing on him contentedly (which was why Pakkun had been able to leave) and all in all the entire museum was being run by Tsunade and Kagami with shocking order which allowed Fugaku to figure out how he wanted to spin this and who he wanted to let in on the secret of the not so dead Madara.

Eventually it was decided that the current mayor was probably not involved (Danzo had used his approval from Sarutobi to make it look like it was an old permission apparently and bribed the guard to ignore the age of the approval and let him in, that man was also in custody) but that special prosecutors would be needed till that was ascertained for sure which meant vice mayor Shizune was in charge until the mess was figured out and had to be called in and read in on not only the truth about Konoha’s history and founder and also that the mythical magical eyes were real, and really that powerful and – yeah, around then the sun was coming up and Kakashi was exhausted, Naruto had fallen asleep ages ago and Madara was absorbed in the skull (it was creepy) so he insisted that they fill Iruka in on it all (as the only person he knew here) (and also, he deserved to meet Kagami – and could maybe do something about Madara’s tomb and adding Tobirama officially as well as unofficially) and then took his kid home to fucking sleep. Well, he saw Madara to his coffin first and made sure that the scrolls weren’t back on top- he hadn’t missed the way the undead man hesitated at the sight of the stone- and added one last promise that he would bring the rest of the bones that night if he could.

Then, so tired he was aching, he tucked his kid and dogs in the sidecar again and dragged himself to the Senju crypt before anyone else could get there first and try to tip things in their favor. It took a while to get let in but with the chief of police backing him he was let into the wide cemetery and drove to the furthest back crypt; a great edifice of black and green marble with carven greenery covering it. Swallowing hard Kakashi swung his leg off the bike and headed through the locked gates with a press of his palm (something he had never understood how worked and was too tired to care about) and the key from the gate guard; it was cool inside, bordering on cold and deadly silent with the vaults around him seeming to weigh down the air. Shuddering a bit the Hatake walked deep to the very back wall where Hashirama Senju had pride of place in an ornate vault with his wife next to him and their three children just under and – oh. There, in the corner was a small plain vault nearly hidden in carven greenery with no epitaph, just the name Tobirama carved on cold stone; it was….cold, hidden, a dirty secret and honestly Kakashi felt no guilt in prying the stone off, especially since it was already loose from Danzo’s thievery.

Inside there was a shockingly small box of old, plain wood that had been closed sloppy showing a glimpse of shattered and cracked bones that showed alarmingly large amounts of damage (had – had all of that happened before death?). Kakashi swallowed hard, feeling sick and thinking of Danzo’s words about what state Tobirama’s body had been in; what if he didn’t revive? What if he did and it was in this broken state? What – no, no he was too tired for this, Madara could figure it out, Kakashi needed sleep and food before he faced this again and he was going to get it dang it! Tucking the modest box under his coat and zipping it up to keep it close Kakashi replaced the stone and exited the crypt, closing the gates behind him with a crisp clang and turning for home.

Reluctantly Kakashi approached Madara’s sarcophagus, Naruto left with the dogs, Iruka and Kagami- when he woke- doing a tour of the museum setting down the box of bones and taking a deep breath before heaving the stone lid off Madara’s mummy- ugh, Kakashi didn’t need to see that- enough to lift the skull off his chest and carry it to the box; taking a deep breath before setting about the horrifying task of putting together the bones in a skeleton as best he could and covering it with a sheet – just in case. After that the only thing to do was sit back on his heels and wait for the sun to finish setting and the light to spill out of the sarcophagus in waves of red-purple light; in the sarcophagus there was a gasp and Kakashi winced (yup, there was trauma there to deal with some day, he had no idea how he was going to do that) chewing at his lip and with his eyes fixed on the sheet.

Nothing was happening.

Nothing – shit, what if there wasn’t enough? What-

“Tobirama?” the low rasp was nearly plaintive and another flash of power washed out and – the sheet rippled, fluttering and lifting and – in the sarcophagus Madara shoved up to sit, head freed and turning to the sheet covered thing on the ground as he nearly dragged himself out of the stone with far less grace than he had shown before, clearly not ready yet to get up. “Tobirama, husband, beloved.” The not-quite-not-a-mummy nearly begged and the power pulsed, twisting as Madara’s eyes started to bleed again and then – another gasp, a pained whine and a pale hand scrabbling at the sheet – Madara all but fell to the ground next to his husband and clutched the hand, hauling the slender, living, shape out from under the fabric. Kakashi’s eyes widened as Madara’s hands framed a pale, vulpine face surrounded by a tangle of shoulder length white hair with red-violet eyes that latched onto Madara like a man waking from centuries of nightmares to find salvation. “Mad-“ a cough “’dara, m’ sun, dear heart” the words were choked out in a soft baritone so full of desperate longing that Kakashi – just – couldn’t – this was too private. As he turned to leave he caught a glance of the men falling into each other in a clutching, clinging, embrace like being away from each other was the worst hell they could imaging and they wanted to simply consume each other and be consumed; burning away as does fire in their passion.

Outside the tomb exhibit Kakashi leaned on the wall, far enough away to be called and still give them some privacy with his head ducked; he – he hadn’t -….he hadn’t realized until he saw them together – all this time. All this time Kakashi had avoided letting Gai in- if the other man even still wanted him after everything- because all he could think of was Kushina and her pain over losing Minato in her last hours, the agony that came with loving like that; giving yourself to someone like that – he hadn’t thought he could bear that. But now, seeing Madara and Tobirama reunited, all he could think was – already he was – he – h-e – oh fuck it, he already loved Gai and had for a long time; refusing to let it turn into something real didn’t stop him loving anymore than being dead had stopped Tobirama from longing for Madara, all he was doing was refusing the possible beauty of being loved in addition to loving and wasn’t – wasn’t that worth pushing past his fear for?

“Hatake?” Madara’s voice jolted him out of his thoughts and he looked up to see the Uchiha dressed as he had been the day before, the tall, slender Tobirama next to him wrapped in a recreation of one of Madara’s Uchiha emblazoned yukata and shivering a bit with what looked like lingering pain as he leaned on Madara, the Uchiha’s arm wrapped tightly around him. “Yeah?” Kakashi croaked and a small furrow appeared between white brows as Madara spoke “Do you have any pain killers? The power is strong but after so much time….” He trailed off and Kakashi swallowed, not really wanting to know honestly even as he nodded, “Yeah, stopped by and got some strong stuff from the hospital just in case, you want some water too?” he asked gruffly as he dug in his bag for the pills and water bottle, unsurprised that the pale man (albino?) was nodding when he looked up and held out two tablets and the bottle. “Fair warning, they might make you a bit woozy and floaty – especially on an empty stomach so if you can it would be good to eat too, I have crackers and things but take your time.” The grimace that had creased the fey face eased at the last words (Kakashi knew what it was like when you went hungry too long and eating got all twisted up in other things, it was covered in training) and Madara sent him a thankful look before focusing on helping his lover take the pills with his shaking pale hands, the look on his face so tender and adoring it nearly hurt.

“Do – do you need anything else?” Kakashi asked awkwardly, not sure he had a place in their world as Madara lowered the water and Tobirama sagged over him, tucking his face in the Uchiha’s neck and curling around him as Madara’s arm locked around his narrow waist. “Somewhere softer to sit?” the Uchiha asked softly, rubbing a hand up and down his lover’s spine and visibly softened with Tobirama’s return. Silently Kakashi nodded, leading the way to the break room and its sofas, awkwardly watching as Madara fussed over his husband until they were lounging on the soft couch with the albino draped over the broader man, pale face tucked in Madara’s hair as the Uchiha stared at his returned husband with eyes that just – Kakashi swallowed, licking his lips under the mask and slipping out of the room to leave them alone, flipping the Maglite in his hands as he walked; his thoughts a fuzzy buzz as he checked on the inhabitants of his new territory most of whom had been let out after some negotiation and sending Bisuke to guard the break room and keep others out for now – trying not to have a heart attack when he saw his pup riding the great skeleton of the Kyuubi through the halls. He – didn’t want to know how Naruto had managed that.

“How are they?” Kakashi slanted a look at Iruka next to him, well aware that the an was just itching to get the true story and talk to the mythic Uchiha and his forgotten husband, discomfited the Hatake shrugged, “Broken but better together. Lord Tobirama went through a – lot before – and I think that his return to life wasn’t the easiest thing, it’s different for them; they’re human, they eat and drink and feel pain and I think coming back from true death isn’t a comfortable thing at a guess. I know you are working on adding Lord Tobirama to the exhibit so he can stay close without being separated but give them as long as you can if you can, start with the mayor’s books if you can get them and then talk to them – and anyway I gave Lord Tobirama Hydromorphone so he’s going to be out of it for a while.” Iruka grimaced, looking a bit sick at the implications, “So, when Lord Madara wakes in the sarcophagus…..” Kakashi didn’t respond and the other man looked even more ill, feeling a bit vindicated the Hatake clapped him on the shoulder and sauntered off, patrolling the museum until it got closer to sunrise and he had to go get the Lords, knocking on the door before pushing it open at the low call to enter.

Madara was still laying on the couch, curled over his husband as the pale albino clung to him, “It's almost time” Kakashi said reluctantly, aching at the hard look that flicked over the handsome face “is it – does it hurt? I don’t know –“ but Madara shook his head, combing his fingers through the wavy white hair. “Not as such, death is easy for me, returning – not so much, but better when I don’t promptly suffocate in the box again. It was – I knew that he was being kept from me, our spirits weren’t laid to rest properly to go on to the afterlife and given the way we were separated – I have been without him so long. I know it hurt him to come back after the manner of his death” a flash of that world rending anger “but he did, for me he did it and now as long as we are not separated we can be together until I find a better way to move on through death the way we should have long ago, together. I just….fear that each return to life will hurt him thus…” the man trailed off and Kakashi ached for him, for both of them. “If it helps” he offered “the law is on your side, the law about the dealing with the graves and mortal remains of the clans- or any shinobi- is very strict and clear and falls on your side, the Uchiha will  do everything they have to to keep you together – and I think it is long past time that the truth came out about that time anyway, Minato would have agreed.”

Madara hummed and nodded, lifting his husband and nodding for Kakashi to lead the way as sunrise got closer and clearly turning it over in his head. “I hope you are right” Madara murmured as he set Tobirama down in the sarcophagus and changed back into his wrappings before crawling in with his beloved and curling around Tobirama in the small stone space. Kakashi watched from a distance, trusting Iruka and Kagami would get everyone else back into place as death crept over the two lovers and Kakashi slid the stone into place, leaving the bones tangled in the mummy where they belonged.

Exhausted Kakashi slipped into the apartment, letting the dogs in and setting Naruto in his bed before flopping to sit on the couch, mask hanging from one ear and a glass of something strong- he hadn’t looked at the bottle- in hand as he stared into the distance, aching in a way he couldn’t quite explain. The door opened and hurried footsteps burst into the living room where the late morning sun was stripping over the floor, slowly Kakashi lifted his eyes off the floor to look at a flustered Gai that looked sweaty and bloody and like he had come straight from debrief without changing or even disarming. “I came as soon as I was told, they said-“ the big man started and Kakashi just stared at him, not fixing his mask as Gai stumbled to a halt looking bewildered at the Hatake’s reaction, “Kakashi?” slowly the younger man licked his lips and slowly, methodically, Kakashi set the glass aside without finishing it or fixing his mask; standing and padding to stand in front of the man he had cared about for so long, examining his face as worry grew stronger in Gai’s bright eyes.

“Kakashi-“ Gai tried again and Kakashi – Kakashi had had a long time to think now and he would be damned if he was anything Danzo said he was so with a sharp breath the Hatake fisted his hand in the front of Gai’s uniform and hauled the other man in to him, slamming their lips together a little too hard for true comfort but – he was committed damnit and hauled Gai closer, turning his head slightly to ease the angle, pressing for what he wanted through the shock written in Gai’s body. Then all at once the other man softened, hands curling around Kakashi’s elbows as he carefully, wonderingly kissed back the sheer relief washing through Kakashi nearly overwhelming in its strength (he was right, what did he really lose taking a chance to be loved back? What was there to lose when the love was already there and only needed a place to go?).

“Hi” Kakashi breathed when they drew apart, feeling Gai’s breath brushing over his cheeks “welcome home.” And Gai – Gai smiled like he had never seen before, thumbs brushing soothing circles over Kakashi’s elbows, “It’s good to be home.”

Fin

Epilogue

Madara woke with the death of the sun as he always did, feeling the pull of the moon in his blood and waiting for the suffocating pressure of the wraping over his mouth, the dust of ages filling the small space, the thin air that had seeped in over the day just waiting to be used up until Madara died again and – something soft brushed his mouth and he heaved in a shocked breath as dead limbs slowly came to life, numbness melting away to tingling, prickling pain of the night-life, heart stuttering as a pained whimper sounded in the small space and his eyes snapped open. There was light (there was never light), fresh air brushing over his sensitive new skin (there was never fresh air, it always smelled of death), warmth where someone was pressed against his chest (there was never-) – Tobirama! Shocked the Uchiha craned in the small space to see – there was a white head pressed to his chest, a slender body tangled with his and long fingered hands fisted in his hair and clothing as – fuck, as his husband pressed into his chest, clearly in some pain but – whole and there and with him and, oh kami, the death. The dark empty space that filled the time the sun was in the sky had been different this time, Madara hadn’t stumbled through the dark endlessly searching for his lost love, this time the dark had been warm and soft and calm with the sense of someone breathing against him, restful.

Rinne Sharingan burning with tears Madara curled tighter around his husband, crooning to him and stroking at pale bare skin as best he could in the small space, hungry for touch and to sooth the clear pain Tobirama was in that lingered from his….horrifying, tortuous death (Madara hoped he was never shown his beloved’s bones or the reports on the state of his body when it was returned, he wasn’t sure what he would do if he knew). A hand appeared over the edge of the sarcophagus with two pills and a bottle of water and Madara grabbed them, hearing the Hatake pup mutter “I’ll leave you to be, come out whenever or not as you like” and pad away near silently as Madara coaxed his husband to take the pills, holding the albino tightly until the medicine took hold and Tobirama slowly relaxed in his arms, going soft and dazed as he had the day before under the medication.

“M'dra?” his beloved slurred into his collarbones and Madara crooned adoringly at his husband, tears dripping down his face at the simple feeling of having Tobirama in his arms after so long “wha’s wrong?” the albino slurred as Madara pulled him even closer. “When you – when I heard what Hashirama had done, that he had – and that you had done – when I knew that you were lost to me – Tobira, I always told you that I would go mad without you, that you were my sanity and kindness and I, kami the lengths I went to to have you back, to punish those that would throw you away-!” his voice cut off in a strangled noise and Tobirama crooned at him, shifting until he could press soft kisses to Madara’s jawline and neck, petting the Uchiha and singing softly to him until the agony eased. “’m here now, ‘m here, and I love you and I won’t ever leave you if I can stop it, not again.” He breathed over and over and over and Madara held on tight to his husband, swearing to take every second together that they had, moonrise to moonrise, for as long as possible; love was worth it, this love had been worth all of it in the end.

fin