Title: December

Author: Cheza-chan

Rating: R

Summary: Fired from his job, his world freezing around him, Umino Iruka must try and cope with the fact that he no longer has anything else left. Hatake Kakashi, owner of an animal clinic, proves that there are things worth living for.

Pairing: GenIru, OroIru (non-con), KakaIru, SasuNaru, ShikaKiba

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto—sadly. I'm just using the characters to express my mounting love for the show.

A/N: (sets off noisemakers) Iceheart, you're a winner! Come on down! XD I was wondering if anyone else knew what I was trying to do. Truth is, I haven't really sat down and watched Sweet November, but I've seen enough of it to know what was going on. I didn't want to give Kakashi cancer—(dies)—so I made him a vet. See, I hurried and updated just for you! (twirls)

The snow was just a small flurry, just in case anyone begins wondering where it is; why no one's playing in it.

Also, I'll begin to apologize for any typographical and grammatical errors from here on out. I know there are quite a few… (hangs her head in shame)


Chapter Eight – Doctor's Orders

Kakashi woke the Saturday morning to the sounds of retching. He rolled out of the spare bed in his guest room and rushed for the bathroom in his own bedroom. He stood in the doorway and listened to the young man heave violently into the toilet.

Iruka weakly raised a hand to brush aside his hair. He immediately noticed the other man out of the corner of his eyes. "Who are you?" he asked hoarsely, spitting into the toilet one final time. "And where the hell am I?"

"Hatake Kakashi. This is my place."

"Why am I here?" Iruka groaned as he stood. He unconsciously tugged on the tail of his shirt, still trying to regain his bearings. All he could remember clearly was being torn open by the devil's serpent.

"Are you cold?" Kakashi asked as he backed out to let the shivering man by.

"I'll like to leave." Why did he look so familiar? The glare wasn't meant for the silver-haired man, but glaring at inanimate objects would incite no reaction. "Where's my coat?"

"You didn't have a coat," Kakashi replied. "I don't think I can let you leave, either."

"Why? Are you some kind of serial killer?" His tone was a little too eager. It was the easy way out, but maybe death was what Iruka needed. "You should have done me in during the night," he chuckled with a dry smirk. The young lawyer passed by the man to head through the open bedroom door. He quickly descended to the bottom floor in his socks and searched for his shoes at the entrance. He needed his wallet, which was in his coat, which was probably at Orochimaru's office. Iruka's knees buckled at the thought of going back there and the veterinarian found his crumpled form before the door.

"You're malnourished and lacking proper amounts of sleep," Kakashi stated in a serious tone. "I can't allow you to leave in such a condition."

"Are you a doctor?" Iruka scoffed, glowering at the man.

"I'm a vet," Kakashi said with a bright smile, a slight hint of humor audible in his tone.

The brown eyes widened as he remembered where he'd seen this man before. "You… You were at the office. Tapping on the fish tank!" He would never forget those eyes and they somehow made Iruka felt as though he could relax. "Can I use your phone?" he whispered when he realized he would be going nowhere.

Kakashi nodded and disappeared into the kitchen for the cordless he knew was sitting on the counter.

Iruka hadn't wanted to make the call but he knew he had no other choice.

§§§

Genma smirked to himself as he smoothed down his tie. He hadn't worn a three-piece suit in so long and his missing toothpick made him feel incomplete. He hadn't expected to set foot in the law office building either, but it was a request.

The receptionist smiled brightly as she saw him coming and rose to greet him excitedly. "Mr. Shiranui, it's a pleasure to see you here again. Do you need a lawyer?" she giggled.

"I can represent myself," Genma said with a heartthrob's smile. She was putty in his hands. In just a matter of moments, he was on his way up to see Orochimaru. The man shuddered, remembering the last time he'd been on this hall. He'd barely escaped the serpent's lair with his dignity intact.

Kabuto was just leaving the office at the end of the hall when he encountered Genma. His eyes widened slightly and he stumbled a bit on his words as he spoke. "Do you wish for me to introduce you?"

Genma shrugged and stood behind the younger man as they faced the large double doors. "Orochimaru, sir," Kabuto started after once again opening the doors. "Genma Shiranui is here to see you."

Orochimaru's eyebrow rose in a bemused fashion and a smirk tugged at his lips. "That's what I was told, but I couldn't believe it," he drawled, turning in his chair to completely face them.

Genma resisted the urge to loosen his tie for air. He stepped by the boy and entered the office, the door closing behind him.

"Genma," Orochimaru chuckled. "To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing your handsome face again?"

"I'm here to collect Iruka's personal belongings. He said he left his coat here and I wanted that before going to his office."

"Ah. That's right. He did stop here before leaving."

Rage made Genma's eyes turn a deeper brown. "Why do you do it?" he snapped.

"Do what?" The golden eyes blinked innocently.

"Take pleasure from other people's pain! Iruka told me you fired him."

"That's all he told you?" Orochimaru laughed, his latest victim's coat hanging from his arm. "I did more than fire him."

Genma's entire frame went lax, his eye wide. "Wha… What do you mean?"

Orochimaru's eyes lit up as his twisted smirk widened. He licked his lips with a soft sigh and raised the coat to hand it over. "Oh. There seems to be a stain on here. Looks like… blood."

"You sick… piece of shit," Genma forced out through clenched teeth.

"Careful," the brunet whispered. "If you lay a finger on me, well, I can sue." He chuckled and tossed the coat at the younger man. "His office was already packed. You can pick up his things at the security desk."

Genma backed up to the door, not wanting to turn his back to the other, and quietly slipped out.

Orochimaru sighed contentedly and fell onto the edge of his desk. His partners warned his numerous times not to play with his employees, but it was too much fun not to. He knew Jiraiya was doing modest work on the side—writing a novel of some sort—but he could pay Tsunade a visit later on at her law offices to see how things were going. The ebony-haired man reached behind him and pressed a button on his phone.

"Sir?" a shy voice spoke through the intercom.

"I'd like to see you in my office, please." The serpent felt far from being replete after letting his best toy go.

§§§

Kakashi opened his front door to find a flustered man standing there with a box. Genma, he presumed; he'd listened in while Iruka had the conversation on the phone. Stepping aside, he allowed the well-dressed figure entrance.

"Where is he?" Genma rushed out.

"Upstairs lying down," Kakashi replied, closing the door. "He fell unconscious again just like yesterday. He refuses to eat." He glanced outside and sighed. The snow that had fallen didn't stick. He hoped more came tonight.

"I'm not sure who you are exactly, but I'm glad you found him. I'm sure if you hadn't…"

Both men's heart clenched at the thought of what might have happened and they headed upstairs.

Iruka faced the opening door. He clutched at the sheets and avoided Genma's gaze. "I told you to drop my stuff somewhere, didn't I?" he scoffed.

"Bullshit," Genma snapped, standing over the brown-haired young man. "You always try to push my away, why? I only want to help you."

"Why? Because you think you know what's best for me."

"I do!"

Kakashi could see this conversation had nothing to do with him, so he quietly slipped away. With a hand tangled in his hair, the veterinarian gave an ironic laugh as he leaned against the hall wall. Here he was, thinking he actually stood a chance, when there was someone else still in the picture.

But Genma didn't stay long. Apparently Iruka would divulge no further information on why he could only remain conscious for only several hours. The orders to keep a close eye on the lawyer and keep him eating healthy were given to Kakashi before Genma headed back to the orphanage. He loved Iruka, yes, but he hated his stubborn streak.

Kakashi would be able to stay with Iruka tomorrow, Sunday, but Monday through Friday would be no good. "You can't go back to your place?" he asked for a second time, trying to piece together the little things he'd been told.

"That's what I said," Iruka sighed, staring at the five goldfish. Even though they were simple creatures, he found them more exquisite than the tropical fish at the first Sannin Law Office branch.

"If I go to work Monday, will you leave?"

"I have no where to go," the brunet scoffed, placing a finger to the cool glass.

Kakashi smiled as his fish swam to the digit then dispersed just as quickly. That's when he noticed the harsh red marks on the lawyer's wrist. He reached out slowly but Iruka jerked away, his glare fierce.

"Don't touch me," Iruka hissed.

"I'll go make you dinner."

"I'm not hungry."

Kakashi nodded solemnly as he stood and exited his own bedroom. He sighed and crossed the hall to the spare quarters. The sad thing was, no matter how rude the young man was, it wouldn't lessen the unrequited love he had for him. "I'm pathetic…" Kakashi fell face-first onto the bed.


"Sasuke, right?"

The dark eyes coldly regarded the boy now walking beside him. They were being put to bed for the night and it was the first time anyone had approached him since his arrival.

"You're Sasuke, right?" the grinning blonde continued, tucking his arms behind his head. "I've seen Genma with you. Did you really kill your family?"

Sasuke snapped and turned sharply, pinning the boy against the wall, his hand clamped around his throat.

"Sasuke, let him go!"

"Sasuke!"

He couldn't hear them; all he could hear was his and the other boy's racing heartbeats pounding in his ears. He wanted the neck in his grip to snap for such an accusation.

"Sasuke!"

The ebony-haired teen stepped back at that particular voice, arms at his sides. He stared at Genma from under his bangs.

The man walked through the crowd of adults and orphans and knelt beside the wheezing blonde. "Naruto, are you okay?" The boy nodded and slowly raised his head. He managed to grin at his teacher. Genma smiled wearily and helped Naruto to his feet. He then turned his attention to the brunet.

Releasing the blonde, he grabbed Sasuke by his upper arm and dragged him down the hall and outside. The man reached deep into his pockets after releasing the appendage and pulled out two things as the heavy door swung shut. Genma lit the Newport positioned between his lips and took a long drag. "What did Naruto do?" he sighed, falling against the outside wall.

Sasuke remained silent, tugging at the end of his sweater.

"It was obviously something about your family to get you so worked up. But do you know what you just did?" the man laughed. "You proved to them that you damn well could have killed your family!" Genma crushed the cigarette in his hand and pounded against the side of the building. "God, we're trying to help you. You're just as stubborn as Iruka."

He removed the pack of cigarettes once again, along with the lighter. "Naruto's not a bad kid. Thing is… he never even knew his own parents. Some of the children here haven't, so you're lucky. I try not to pick favorites, but the little brat picked me. You obviously want Iruka to recognize you, but I'll tell you right now, he has no heart. Go back inside," he muttered, dismissing the boy.

The silent Sasuke turned and disappeared into the building.

Genma slid down the wall and sat back on his haunches, arms balanced atop his knees, and then lowered his head to stare at the concrete beneath his feet. He sighed and the unlit cigarette fell from his mouth. "I'm too young for this…"