Chapter 12

"What did I do wrong, Kiba?" asked Naruto to his friend. "I bought the right dog foods, on time with his monthly check-ups, excercised. What did I do wro ng?"

Kiba looked at his friend sadly. No matter how many times he gave people this news, it was always hard, but this time it was the hardest because Naruto was one of his best friends and his family helped train Kyuubi. Naruto sat on a stool in Kiba's office with Kyuubi laying on the floor next to him. Kiba had asked him to come in for a follow-up test and to explain what was going on.

It was the one part of his job that he hated doing, especially to his best friend. He became a vet to help animals, and it killed him inside each time he let one down, but especially so for his friends.

"It's not something you did, Naruto," said Kiba. "It's one of those things in life you can't control."

Naruto was near hyperventilating.

"Can't you..can't you take it out?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, Naruto, but I can't." He took out a CAT scan and held it up to the light for Naruto to see. "See, that right there?"

Naruto nodded, looking at the dark spot on the sheet.

"The tumor's in a spot where it's impossible to get to," said Kiba. "Even if I could get it out, it would kill him."

Naruto looked down at his partner sadly. Even if he tried to save him, Kyuubi would die anyway. It was too much to think about. Naurto and Kyuubi had been partners since Kyuubi had been born. It was hard to think of Kyuubi not being around.

"What do I do?" he asked.

"Make him comfortable," said Kiba. "Give him some painkillers for his headaches, which is the cause of his lethargy. Over time, they'll make him irritable. I'll write a prescription out for you."

"How long will he have?"

"It's hard to say. Six months to a year is my opinion, but I can't be sure. It's like a time bomb, without the timer."

Naruto looked even more sad. He watched as Kiba wrote on a prescription slip and handed it to him.

"Give this to Hinata. She'll give you the right prescription. Give him on pill every twelve hours. It'll perk him up."

"Thanks, Kiba," said Naruto.

"We're still on for our hang out this weekend."

Naruto looked surprised.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked. "What if it's too much for him?"

"He'll be fine," said Kiba. "The fresh air and exercise will be good for him. He needs it."

"I guess. I'm just so scared." For the first time in years, tears fell from Naruto's eyes. The last time he cried was over his parents grave ten years before when his mother died. "He's the last thing connecting me to my mom. If I lost him..."

"Naruto, your mom was an amzing woman," said Kiba placing a comforting hand on his friends arm. "You know Kyuubi would die before you someday. It's just sooner than you think."

"I know. It's just so hard."

"I know."

They stayed together for a couple minutes in comforting silence before Naruto stood and picked up Kyuubi's leash.

"I better head off," he said. "I got to take Kurogane and Kyuubi to the park to let off some steam."

"Good idea. I'll see you later, Naruto."

"See you, Kiba. Come on, Kyu."

Both human and partner stood and left the office room.

XXXXXX

Sasuke sighed as he laid on the carpet. Since the call the day before, Naruto had been walking around with an air of grief. He paid close attention to Kyuubi and even allowed the older dog to sleep in the bedroom, not that Sasuke minded. He was human. He understood the need for comfort, but he wondered why Naruto was suddenly so sad. He was so happy the day before after passing the farce of a trial until that phone call. Sasuke knew it was from Kiba, so it had something to do with Kyuubi. Sasuke just didn't know what.

Sasuke thought back to the dog the day before. The smell that came off of Senbon wasn't just of shampoo or outdoors, but also of drugs. It wasn't uncommon for dogs to smell faintly of drugs, but not as heavily as Senbon did. It was surprising since he hadn't heard of any raids that day, so there was no reason why Senbon would smell so much of drugs.

Sasuke was surprised when he found himself excited when he heard about their upcoming mission. He had planned to only stay with Naruto until he was all healed, but that didn't go as planned. Remembering the attack and Naruto bleeding on the ground. Sasuke hated to admit it, but he had nightmares of that night. Afterwards, he was compelled to go into Naruto's room and watch over him as he slept.

Why did it feel like he couldn't breathe at the thought of losing Naruto? He felt so protective of him, and he liked that Naruto paid attention to him and went out of his way to make sure that Sasuke was comfortable. Being around Naruto made Sasuke relaxed.

Could it be that Sasuke actually cared about Naruto? Sasuke couldn't see how that was possible. After all, Naruto was human and Sasuke was canine.

But he wasn't all canine, Sasuke thought with a frown. His mind was still human. He still though like one, not that he knew what dogs thought like, but it obviously wasn't in mathematical equations. Maybe it was the human part of him that appealed to Naruto.

Before Sasuke could think any further on the subject, he heard the sound of a car pull up. His ear twitched toward the sound and he looked out the window to see Naruto's orange car pull up. He didn't know how Naruto could still drive the death trap. It stalled twice that week. Naruto should scrap it already instead of complaining about mechanics and overpriced parts. Sasuke knew that the department would give Naruto a car to use if he needed on.

Naruto sighed as he walked in and took his coat and shoes off. He placed his keys in the placeholder on the table infront of the door before smiling at Sasuke waiting for him patiently.

From the moment Naruto walked in, Sasuke could tell the man was upset about something, but he turned to Sasuke with a smile.

"Hey, boy," said Naruto. "Just let me check on supper and we'll head to the park, okay?"

'Fine, by me,' thought Sasuke and huffed in agreement.

Naruto went to the crock pot where he was slow simmering a beef stew and stirred it with a spoon. Sasuke watched patiently as Kyuubi attempted to play with him. When Naruto was sure that dinner hadn't burnt, he grabbed both leashes and put his shoes back on.

"Come on, boys," he said. The dogs went to his side and Naruto clipped the leashes on and they walked to the dog park.

Sasuke wondered what could have made the udually cheerful blonde depressed. It had to have something to do with Kyuubi since Naruto took the dog the see Kiba. He knew how much Naruto cared about Kyuubi. He treated the dog like a little brother and bought the best dog brands on a cop's salary.

Sasuke didn't know why, but he didn't like seeing Naruto upset. He wanted to find what was wrong and fix it, but he couldn't exactly ask. He hadn't spoken to a person in ten years.

Naruto lead the dogs to their usual bench and took out Kyuubi's ball. Kyuubi had a blast chasing after the ball and even Naruto had a soft smile on his face.

"Naruto."

Naruto looked up in surprise to see Sakura walk over to him. She sat on the bench next to him and wrapped him in a hug.

"I just heard," she said. "I'm so sorry."

"How," he asked in shock. Sakura laughed.

"Friendship Phone Tree, of course," said Sakura. "Kiba told Hinata, who told Ino who told Sai who told Shikamaru..."

"Who told Choji who told Tenten who told Neji who told Lee and you," said Naruto with a laugh.

He should have known. He had named it the 'Friendship Phone Tree'. Since the group got together, all eleven always had each other's backs be it a fight or personal emergencies. When one friend knew another was in trouble, they'd phone one of the friends and it would start a chain event through the line. It near guaranteed a friend or two, or even the whole group, would be there to help out.

Kyuubi ran back with the ball in his mouth and handed it to Sakura. She tossed it and Kyuubi ran after it.

"How long did Kiba say he had?" asked Sakura.

"Hard to say," said Naruto. "A couple months or couple years. He said it was like a bomb, only you can't disfuse it. Just got to wait for it to go boom."

Sakura gaped in shock.

"So, there's no hope?"

Naruto shook his head and took a shuddering breathe to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. He had forced himself not to cry all night and most of the day, and now it seemed like he couldn't hold it in. Sakura wraps an arm around him and holds him close as he silently cries in her shoulder.

Sasuke watches the entire exchange. Naruto had mentioned Kiba, who was a vet, so whatever was wrong had to do with Kyuubi, and whatever it was, was bad. Without realizing it, he moved closer to Naruto and laid his head on Naruto's leg and Naruto fisted Sasuke's fur.

Sakura watched the dog in a mix of surprise and curiosity. She had heard that the dog didn't act like a normal one from her friends, but she didn't think it was true, but now she didn't hadn't been around dogs as mch as Naruto or Kiba, but even she knew that dogs weren't as intuitive as Kurogane seemed to be. The dog didn't seem to run and play as the other dogs did. Everytime Naruto threw the ball for Kyuubi, Kurogane stayed next to Naruto's side. Normal dogs, even abused ones, didn't act like that.

The two friends spoke a little more before Sakura had to return home and Naruto went home as well. Walking inside, he served himself and Kurogane, and then made a dish for Kyuubi of premium dog food.

"Okay, boy," he said as he added the crushed painkillers. "Hopefully, this will make you feel better."

He set the bowl on the floor and Kyuubi started eating.

"That steriod shot you go did a lot of good," said Naruto. "You had more energy today than you did in a week."

He turned to Kurogane, who was watching him with an almost calculating look.

"We'll have to watch out for Kyuubi for a while," he said. "It's our turn to take care of him."

Naruto turned and went to serve their dinner and Sasuke knew then, that Kyuubi's condition was grave, and also Naruto's emotional stability.

TBC