AN:

Ladies and gentlemen, they're over! Finals are over,

This so far is one of my most complicated stories to write, and that's why I like it so much. I've already got an ending planned out, THE ENDING, and it's going to tie everything together. I won't spoil too much, but I will work on some fanart later. Also, if you want to see how the Medic looks, before I post this there should be a DA link on my page with two pictures of him. Tell me what you think. He's one of my OC's that I doodle on during classes. I'll draw a picture for the last chapter, and I will post that before I finish the story. Also, if I havne't mentioned it before, read the poem by Robert Frost, it's called Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening. I think by reading it, it'll be easier to relate, as the poem will be tied to the story will slowly start alluding to the poem as well. The picture, at least the last picture should help you understand the story a bit more as well.

Oh, check out my new story: Definition of Lust: Hellfire, it's M for a reason. Hope you like it, please read it! It has nothing to do with The Love that Binds us though.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or it's characters, just my one and only Medic ):
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For the hundredth time, Iruka straightened the sheets on his guestroom bed. He'd been cleaning the moment he had been able to walk again, cleaning every square inch of his house, organizing medicine cabinets,scrubbing the floors...He wanted it to be perfect.

He wanted his home to be perfect when Kakashi arrived.

Ever since Iruka had been younger, his memories were wrapped around hospital IV's and the smell of latex. Despite the fact that he was a sick child, he never forgot the doctors who worked hours to assure that he'd be awake the next morning. And his parents, his parents poured so much love into his body. For the strength he didn't have, their love replaced it tenfold. He'd even developed a friendship with the loner of the century at the time, Tenzou, and was one of the only one's to notice he had disappeared.

Iruka had followed him, despite his ailment at the time and despite the dangers the adventure possessed. But, needless to say, he left a trail for other ninja to follow him and eventually Tenzo had been found. But his adventures in Orochimaru's newly found lair and his exposure to certain chemicals had terminated Iruka's body permanently. Despite his already bleak ending, he'd also gained a newly traumatized friend, he'd still receive healthcare from his doctors, and though he'd be weak in strength received more love from his parents then ever.

Perhaps the care he received had been a main factor that inspired him to become a counselor. He watched how Tenzo's psychiatrist rehabilitated him into society again, as his ordeal with Orochimaru had traumatized him. And suddenly, as he got older, he went from watching to helping along side the doctor.

As Yamato become better and Iruka's health remained stable, he found himself assisting Yamato's doctor for other patients. Even after his parent's death, he felt himself healing as he helped heal others. And of course, later in life, being a teacher required some counseling skills as well, and naturally Iruka had the tendency to care for others anyway.

So, as he stood back and appreciated his work once more, he felt a sense of satisfaction rise up in his gut. Kakashi would arrive later in the afternoon. Suddenly, that feeling of satisfaction melted into a sudden feeling of dread and despair.

Someone, something was in his house.

Iruka quickly whipped himself around towards the open door of the room, quickly jumping when he saw a darkening form near the door.

"Medic.."
He took in his features, his surprisingly not so happy features. A hand rested in the pocket of his lab coat pocket, while another one dangled with bags.

He smelled like smoke.

"Have you been smoking?" Iruka asked suddenly, then quickly turned his attention to the bags, "What's that?"

"Oh, it's for Kakashi," slowly replied the Medic as he slowly took in the room, "they're medications. Oh, and you've really straightened this place up."

He attempted to be civil. "Oh, thanks_How did you get in my house?" Iruka suddenly realized that he had been the only one in his house, as Yamato had left to go buy groceries hours ago.

"I have my ways," Medic dropped the bag by the door, the stench of smoke arising again. Suddenly, Iruka was reminded of the hospital fire the Hokage had spoken of that displaced the Medic. He had remembered reading about it the day before, as he wanted to become familiar with his "co worker", however, there was very little information given. Apparently no one survived and all graves were labeled with something other than actual names. What was it? Numbers. Letters. Labels...

"You smell like smoke," he contemplated on questioning him about the fire that apparently only spared him, but thought against it. More serious questions would be answered later.

"I smoke...occasionally," the Medic replied casually, now both of his hands in his pockets, "but not by buildings or plants, never plants."

Before Iruka could question him, in came Yamato with his arms full of groceries.

"Thought i'd just get a "few" things for Kakashi Sempai," Yamato exaggerated the "few", "and you_why do you look so nervous?"

Iruka looked around for a sign of the Medic, as his eyes had left him the moment Yamato had arrived.

"Medic, he was just...nothing," the chilling sensation, the feeling of dread and despair, the smell of smoke all disappeared.

He was there, Iruka knew he was. The bag of medicine was proof, perhaps he had teleported with some jutsu when Iruka's attention had turned towards Yamato. But he hadn't heard anything, he hadn't felt any chakra.

"Iruka?" Yamato questioned again, sensing the strangeness of his friends.

"Oh, it's nothing..."
OOOOO

"Your house is huge," Naruto stated blandly as he eyed the many rooms Sakura had in her home. She blushed slightly as she carried his_ their things, to the rooms they would be staying in.

"Yeah, Mom and Dad like to take a lot of people in," she said slowly as her tone suggested she had no intention of pressing the conversation.

Sensing a chilling aroma from Sakura, Naruto continued to follow her.

Behind the two, Sasuke looked at pictures on the wall and took notice of two who appeared to be her parents. They looked nothing like her. The features were all wrong. However, Sasuke said nothing and caught up with the two. His mind was still in a haze after Kakashi tried to kill them. He hadn't seen much, and honestly, he felt sick to his stomach.

Anger, betrayal and agony were all emotions that he had associated with the ultimate demise of his family and his brother as the suspect. He never dreamed to associate them with his Sensei, the only one he felt could actually understand him.

Something about Kakashi had screamed that he too could understand Sasuke's pain, and despite the little words exchanged between the two, Sasuke felt himself growing on to his Sensei.

Kakashi had ruined it though, Sasuke would convince himself that he hated the man just as he had done for his brother.

He was thankful Sakura was allowing them to stay with her, Sasuke didn't need to be alone. Not anymore, he couldn't bare the sensation of loneliness for much longer.

OOOOO

"Well, I guess it'll be time soon," Yamato breathed as he rested on Iruka's couch. Meanwhile, Iruka surveyed his home once again.

What would Kakashi think of it? Was it too warm, was it too homey? From it's wooden floor to it's beige walls, would it be too much like a normal home for Kakashi? Even his room was inviting like the rest of the house. Kakashi's room was void of the white latex smell provided by the hospital, no, Iruka took care into his room. The bed was large enough for Kakashi, and it's sheets were a creamy brown, wow the walls were beige.

The window was large too, large enough to allow natural light into the room.

He sighed and submitted to his completion. Slowly, he made his way to the living room and took a seat next to Yamato on the couch.

"I saw him today," Yamato straightened his posture and turned towards his friend, "though he wasn't awake. They've been drugging him."

Iruka nodded and fiddled with his fingers.

Why was he so nervous? He'd done this before, what was the difference? Was it that he had a time frame, that he had to finish this before he died? The feeling of chakra buzzed outside of the door, mismatched and hazy chakra. Iruka sighed loudly, it was Kahashi.

"You looked puzzled," they both turned towards the door, and weren't as nearly as surprised as they should have been to see the familiar wide eyed medic starting at them. His untimely appearances were becoming more and more frequent.

"Again, how did you get in?" Iruka questioned wearily slightly noticing the absence of smoke.

With his back suddenly to the pair, the Medic fumbled with the doorknob. "Like i said earlier," he reminded the teacher, "I have my ways, and Kakashi's already here."

Iruka braced himself and stood up, "I can open my own door you know," he slowly strided towards the door and took notice of the Medic fumbling with the door knob.

How hard was it to open a door?

"I've got it," Iruka said as the man continued to struggle, taking the knob into his hand.

An exchange was passed.

The doorknob burned with a white hot sensation and extinguished just as fast, faster than Iruka could remove his hand.

Suddenly startled, he gasped silently.

He attempted to pass it off as exhaustion, some distant symptom. Shaking his head and pushing the Medic aside (glaring at him), Iruka opened the door and shook of the chilling feeling that came with it.

Outside, a group of "normal" medics waited, each holding some medical device Kakashi would need. And, as if on cue, Iruka's eyes wandered to the tired looking Sensei.

His head was down as he sat in a wheelchair, and his clothes were changed into something simular to a house kimono and robe. His mask was still in place though, while his sharingan eye was covered with a bandage.

Iruka moved to the side to allow the medics to wheel him inside the house. A tired eye wandered to Iruka.

"Hello Kakashi san," he attempted, knowing fully that Kakashi would not respond.

"He's medicated," Medic replied sadly with the obvious, "he won't be speaking to you for a few hours. He just needs a lot of rest."
Iruka considered making a remark, but their exchange mere seconds ago was hot on his mind. "What was that with the doorknob?" Iruka asked as he began to lead the entourage of medics. From the couch, Yamato eyed him suspiciously. The act had not gotten past the ANBU Captain.

Medic cast a smile as they slowly walked.

"The past is never far," as if trying to "beat around the bush", he replied silently, only loud enough for Iruka to hear, "and when we tamper with it, even if we try to make things right, ghost of our past will always follow us. Am I right, Iruka Sensei?"

Iruka blinked slightly taken aback, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't tell me you don't know," the Medic explained curiously, "It's like you seeing that student of yours, the one who holds the nine tails. Does his presence not ca_"

"Be quiet," Iruka harshly whispered as he reached the room,images of his prized student flooding his brain "I don't know what you're talking about and I really don't care to!"

Shoving past him, Iruka walked into his guestroom, not even looking back to see if the Medic was still there.

They wheeled Kakashi in behind him, and the medic's began setting up medical equipment in his room.

Pushing back the eerie feeling that was associated with that shady man, Iruka looked towards Kakashi as they gently lifted him onto the bed and placed him on the soft fabric. Looking confused, Kakashi cast a quick glance towards Iruka. Iruka returned the gesture by smiling.

"Iruka Sensei," one of the medics called out, walking towards him with a clipboard, "This is everything you'll need to know about Kakashi, his dosages, what he can eat, etc. I believe a medic brought his medication over earlier."
"Yeah, the crazy guy," Iruka remarked as he took the clipboard.

"Crazy guy?" the man questioned suspiciously.

"Yeah, with the hair and the eyes, you should really check him, I think he needs a doctor," Iruka replied jokingly.

The man before him quickly jumped to a defensive position. "It's in our procedure not to allow our hair to be shown, that's why we wear full body suits. Especially medical doctors, only the mental doctors wear their hair out and usually they aren't ninja. Also, we're short on staff with the mental doctors as the psychiatry building burned down years ago, our staff is incredibly small and we have dispatched no mental doctors to your home. I think you need some rest tonight, Sensei."

Iruka gulped as the same feeling overcame him again,"Yeah, I just need some sleep," he replied.

And all the while, a sleepy Kakashi stared at him.

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Kakashi's finally here! I know the ending seemed kinda rushed, but I needed to squeeze that part in. Like i said, i'm DONE with my finals DONE! I passed all my classes (though i missed honor role by like a pinch D:) anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. I'm trying to get into depth with my characters/ Also, if you're a Sai fan, check out Yamiga's story, "Sleep Until the Sun Goes Down", it's pretty legit. Hope you all have a wonderful week, check out my page in the next few days because i'll be updating my other stories. Also, have you seen the controversy with the cheerious commercial? Some people really are arrogant, i thought it was one of the cutest things ever. If you want to know what i'm talking about, just google controversial/ interracial cheerio commercial. As always, sorry for any spelling mistakes, have a nice week and God bless ;D