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: GenRai (new), OroIru (non-con), KakaIru, SasuNaru, ShikaKiba, GaaSaku, NejiHina

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


Chapter Twenty-Two – White Hot New Year's

Kakashi was now wishing he hadn't had the TV removed. He sat on the floor at the foot of the bed, staring mindlessly at the wall where the box of entertainment had been. He groaned and knocked his head against the mattress. "I have Adult ADD!"

"For the first time, I can say with ease that I believe you." Iruka swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Why don't we just go turn on the tree and open the presents?" He stood, wrapping the sheets around himself, and strolled by the sullen man after ordering him up; the sheets trailed behind him.

Kakashi grabbed hold and the brunet jerked to a halt. He stood, taking an end from Iruka and wrapped it around his own shoulder. "What do you want to eat?"

"Coffee."

"You can't eat it."

"Freeze it."

"Why are you so difficult?" Kakashi mumbled, stopping.

Iruka stopped also and glanced over his shoulder. He glanced upward then dropped his head with a sigh as his hair was pulled into a ponytail. "You're obsessive and possessive."

"It's cuter this way but I'm glad you realized that!" The brunet couldn't help smiling and Kakashi's heart soared. He wanted to grab Iruka by the same ponytail he'd created and drag him around like he'd heard cavemen did their women. He laughed goofily and opened his eyes to reality and found Iruka and the sheets missing. "Iruka! Why'd you leave me?"

"You were standing there like an idiot. I'm hungry."

"You'll catch on fire wrapped in that thing." Kakashi rushed into the kitchen and started to remove the cotton cloth but thought against it as he saw the state the younger man was in underneath. "They also say don't fry in the nude. How did I miss that?"

"I steal the sheets for myself at night," Iruka said with a smirk. He moved about the kitchen with Kakashi clinging happily to the sheets. "What are we making?"

"Let's check the fridge and icebox." The silver-haired man relinquished his hold and headed for the corner while Iruka took the refrigerator. "Hamburgers!" Kakashi exclaimed.

"That'll take too long to cook. But tell me something, Kakashi, why do you have Oreos in your fridge?" Iruka held the container over the door for him to see.

"What do you mean 'why'? Oreos are… Do you want me to sing the song?"

"Dear, God, no." Iruka put the cookies back in the fridge and pulled out a pumpkin pie that he placed it on the counter. An involuntary shudder ran through his body and he slowly straightened himself to glare at the singing veterinarian. He replayed the conversation in his head and ended up on the last words spoken: Dear, God, no, meaning he hadn't wanted to hear that annoying song. "Kakashi…"

"Yes?" the older man chirped, breaking his tune. Kakashi ended up sitting at the table, his face abnormally swollen from the severe beating he'd received from the small man.

Iruka had prepared the meal for them after placing his significant other in "time out" and was now heading out to the tree with his arms full. "Get up," he ordered. "Bring the rest of the food."

"Yes, sir," Kakashi mumbled, slowly standing. Shuffling his feet, he reached the counter and picked up the pie, a small bowl of ice cream, and some potato salad. There were two separate plates of food set out and his had considerable distance between Iruka's. He set down what he had in the middle and took a seat by his food. He tried inching over but the brunet shot him a deadly glare. "Iruka…! You love me, we shouldn't be apart."

"I can't believe I actually told you I loved you. Frankly, I think it's impossible for anyone to love you."

"Iruka!"

"Stop whining!"

Kakashi grinned, catching the present heaved at his head. He noticed his name was on it and shook it before he began unwrapping it.

Iruka watched from the corner of his eye as the man's face brightened and slowly smiled. "I called Kurenai—you left the number in my phone—and asked her what made you happy, other than me." An eyebrow rose as Kakashi began crying. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," the older man sobbed. "It's just… some of these books aren't even out yet!"

"Jiraiya did it for me as a favor," the brunet explained nervously. Kakashi's cries increased as he hugged the many installments of the Icha Icha novel series. "You're an idiot," Iruka muttered, reaching under the tree. He removed an irregularly shaped present with his name and unwrapped the paper. A tick appeared in his jaw. "Hatake Kakashi."

"Don't you like it?"

"It's something you give a child." Iruka pulled from the wrapping paper the exact replica of the snow sculpture dolphin Kakashi had made at the cliff the other day; it was vibrantly color, blushing cheeks and all, and appropriately stuffed. He closed his trembling fingers around the dolphin's neck and squeezed. It wasn't that he hated it—quite the opposite; it was adorable. He stopped strangling the plush to stare at its forehead. "What's that?"

"A hitai-ate headband." Kakashi was now kneeling directly behind him. "Ninjas from long ago wore them. This symbol…" He traced his fingers over the leaf-like emblem. "Means this particular ninja was a part of the Hidden Leafe Village, the largest, most powerful ninja village."

"You think… I'm strong?" Iruka whispered.

"I think you're extremely strong. I admire… and love… you."

He turned and wrapped his arms around the older man. "Kakashi, thank you."

"I'm glad you like it, considering it's not really your present." Kakashi rubbed his stinging cheek and raised his head as the one who had given him the painful blow came back. 'I should've kept my mouth shut.'

"You're not going to believe this," Iruka sighed. "It's started snowing again."

"You're kidding!" Kakashi sprung to his feet and yanked aside the curtain drapes. Standing on tiptoe, his face pressed against the freezing glass, he watched the heavy snowfall. "We're never going home."

"Isn't home where the heart is?"

Kakashi turned to stare at the smiling young man. Iruka's expression became fearful as the other began a slow advance on him. He had brought it upon himself—opening his mouth to speak warm affections. He was pinned against the wall, Kakashi's arms on either side of his head. "Is your heart open for me alone?" Kakashi whispered, touching his forehead to the brunet's. "Only me… let me in."

Iruka inhaled softly and stepped closer. He pressed his lips lightly against Kakashi's. "I'll only welcome you."

Kakashi smiled and literally swept Iruka off his feet.

§§§

Iruka stared into the beady black eyes of the blue dolphin plush and shook his head. Kakashi had retrieved it from the living room. "You said it wasn't my real present."

"Mm-hmm," the silver-haired man sighed into the bronze shoulder. His own back had been covered with fierce red fingernail marks. "You want it now?"

"If you have it."

"You have it." Kakashi reached for the dolphin's hitai-ate headband and the metal face snapped open. The deep brown eyes blinked and stared curiously at the object that had fallen out. Kakashi held up his hand, a chain dangling from his fingers. The pendant was that of a dolphin leaping from waves that were also evident.

"You're never going to let it go, are you?" Iruka scoffed. He raised his hand to touch the cold gold as it landed on his bare skin.

"Never," Kakashi laughed, kissing Iruka's neck. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." Iruka smiled, closing his eyes.


A/N: Nyaaaaaaaaaao! (purrs) If you want to see Iruka and Kakashi consummate their love—finally—just head on over to AdultFanFiction . net. If you don't know how to get there, I'll provide a link for you in my profile. (sniffles) But alas… this fanfic has come to an end. Following this chapter will be two Epilogues. They might seem related, but they really aren't, I just couldn't decide which one I wanted. But I'll let you, the reader decide, which one is best. (waves happily!)