First I will answer some guest reviews! Thanks crownymars for your kind words. I actually did not write for a while for this story and I am still sorry for that, but I will never abandon a story! So if I ever not update for more than a month, send me a message and I probably will work on it right away :)

Rei: I thought so as well and many people do decide on doing that when they start losing their hair :) And I might do some chapters outside of the hospital, but Naruto won't come out. I do have a plan for at least one chapter outside of the hospital! And thanks for the tip :) I'll go check it out ^^ Haven't read it yet, so I should ;)

I also wanted to mention that I don't know how long this story will be yet. I don't think I can make it a really long story, but we have some weeks to go yet! I'm finishing up some other stories, so at some point I might even update faster :)

Now I am sorry... This was planned, but yeah I am sorry. Read on!

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'What do you mean you're going home?'

When Sasuke had woken up this morning he hadn't anticipated on anything like this to happen. He actually had gotten up in a good mood. It was Saturday, so he could sleep in a little and then decided he would do some grocery shopping. No need to hurry to get to Naruto. First the blonde would have some examinations Sasuke couldn't be part of anyway. Of course he wanted to be there and support his lover as he was treated, but Tsunade would have his ass if he spend any more time there. He had been called an idiot already for not doing anything else with his life. Maybe it was about time to give Neji a call again and see what the brunette was up to…

At the supermarket he just got his usual stuff, tomatoes and some other stuff that he liked and then stopped in front of the noodle section, picking out some ramen that Naruto would love. Of course he wasn't really allowed to eat it with the strict diet he was on, but Tsunade and Sakura had sneaked in several things that the blonde wasn't supposed to eat. He was sure they wouldn't mind it now. Next time he would make some on his own and see if that would taste even better.

And then he just drove him, put everything away and made the ramen, poring it in some Tupperware. On his way to the hospital he stopped by a flower shop and bought some orange bouquet he knew Naruto would love.

Sasuke was in a good mood to say the least. Even the drive towards the hospital went smoothly and in the hospital itself he wasn't bothered by slow walking people or elevators that just didn't want to come down and actually bring him up towards the right floor. This was just an amazing day and he started to wonder how he had deserved this. Sakura smiled kindly at him as he walked by and then went on with some paperwork. Also quite nice that she didn't talk to him about something troublesome.

With a smile on his face he walked in the hospital room, kissed his bald Naruto on the lips and gave him the flowers and the ramen the blonde loved so badly. But Naruto's attention wasn't focused on him, which irritated the raven slightly. So his eyes moved along towards Kiba, who was standing next to his bed, in normal clothes, packing a suitcase.

'What are you doing?' Sasuke asked, denying the obvious as long as Kiba didn't say what he was doing. Maybe asking wasn't so smart, but he couldn't be sure. Maybe he was packing for a different reason. So many things could be going on…

The other bald guy in the room turned to look at him, no emotion on his face. Then he focused on the packing again, not wanting to look the other two in the eyes. 'I'm going home,' he said simply.

How could Kiba say that as if it was the most normal thing in the world? The dog lover was supposed to be here to support him and he had been such a good friend to Naruto. And what about the fact that he had cancer and should be treated? How could he just go up and leave like that? 'What do you mean you're going home?' Sasuke spat, walking over to the packing patient, snatching some of his stuff back out of thing. 'You're sick. You should be in the hospital.'

Angrily Kiba took back what Sasuke had taken out and forced it back in before zipping the suitcase closed. 'I am going home whether you want me to or not,' he shot back, taking the suitcase of the bed and settling it beside it, glancing around to make sure he got everything.

'W-why?' Sasuke eventually asked, his tone a little sadder than before, his eyes softened slightly as he stared at the person he had been growing closer to over the weeks. 'Why would you leave?'

A soft sigh escaped his lips, finally meeting Sasuke's eyes square on. Shifting uncomfortably on his feet, Kiba decided it was time to tell the truth. He had granted Naruto with it already and Sasuke deserved to know as well. 'I, uh, I've been named untreatable,' he started out, making Sasuke's heart race in his chest. 'The last time they did a check they discovered it has spread out through my body. It is not just long cancer anymore.' Silence settled between them and Sasuke could only stare at Kiba, hoping that this didn't mean what he thought it did. 'So now that they can't do anything for me anymore, I'm going home. I'd rather spend my time there and live my life as happy as I can than rot away in a hospital.'

Sasuke's lips parted to say something, but he wasn't sure what he wanted to say. He should give Kiba some support now, but he just couldn't. The brunette was really leaving him here and letting him deal with this on his own. 'And what happens there?' he suddenly said, even shocking himself.

'I die.'

And there was the last bit of truth. Sasuke knew that it was going to happen. He knew what it meant when cancer was said to be untreatable. Blame all those hospital series they have on TV nowadays. 'But if you stay here, won't you live longer,' he responded, desperation clearly in his voice. He just didn't want Kiba to leave, because when that happened, he was never coming back.

'I don't care if I live longer,' Kiba said plainly, a crooked smile forming on his lips as he looked down at the neatly made bed. 'I-I want to spend time with my family. I want to be run in the fields with Akamaru for as long as I can and I want to see if I can get my crush to kiss me just one time. It's really all I want out of life now. I know I only have a few months and my last months will be awful, but all my months would be awful if I stayed, knowing I didn't do more with my life.'

A soft sob came from the corner and Sasuke looked over at a crying Naruto, seeing that his own eyes were shimmering with tears. Why was this happening? Kiba was such a good man and now he would leave life behind and die at a far too early age.

And then suddenly two arms were wrapped around his shoulders, pulling Sasuke into an unexpected hug. His eyes had widened, but without even thinking about it, he responded, holding Kiba close. 'I'm sorry for leaving. I know I promised to stay and help you through this, but things changed,' he whispered. 'I need to make this decision for me and I know you will pull through this. I know how much you care for the crazy blond kid and you will not leave. Because you will promise me that, won't you?'

Pulling back out of the hug, Sasuke nodded, a single tear slipping down his cheek. 'I promise,' he murmured, keeping his head low to hide his red eyes.

'Take good care of Naruto,' Kiba said sternly, putting his hand on Sasuke's shoulder and giving it a squeeze before turning around and walking over to the blonde, pulling him into a hug as well. They shared a moment and Sasuke could hear another sob bubbling up out of his lover's throat. It made Sasuke's heart clench, closing his eyes to try and ignore this whole situation. Of course he understood why Kiba was leaving, but it didn't make him feel better about it. He seriously needed the brunette, but now there was just no way. He would not bother him while he was home. His life should be peaceful and he shouldn't be bothered by questions and help the raven might need. But who was going to support him now?

The two cancer patients parted and gave each other a smile. 'Good luck with the girl. I'm sure she has been waiting for you to get back home,' Naruto said to Kiba as he grabbed his suitcase, ready to leave now.

'I hope not,' Kiba admitted. 'I'll be fine with just the one kiss.' With a smile he walked over to the door and then turned around one last time. 'Take good care of each other. It will make me feel better if I know you two have each other,' he ended and then with a last wave and a smile he left the room, closing the door behind him softly.

Complete silence settled in the room, both men just staring in front of them, contemplating life. How could this have happened so sudden? 'Did you know?' Sasuke asked softly, looking up at the sad bald guy. In response Naruto just shook his head, lip trembling a little to keep in another sob. 'Why didn't he tell us sooner?' That was the only question now left really and they couldn't ask him anymore. Why hadn't Kiba told them? Maybe they should've realised. Sasuke had noticed how closed off Kiba had gotten over the last couple of weeks and how he had given such a strange answer about the treatment he was receiving. But you deny these things. You don't want your friends to die.

'He wanted to get through this on his own and make his own decisions without having us meddling in,' Naruto responded. 'If we had known earlier, we would've tried keeping him here. We would've searched for something to make him better and eventually he would've suffered longer and we would feel guilty for making him go through it all.' A soft sigh escaped Naruto's lips as he leaned back on the bed, glancing out of the window to his side. 'He did this for himself, but also for us. He'll have a happy end now.'

Silently Sasuke walked over to Naruto and sat down on his bed, pushing him to the side to create enough room for him to be as close as possible. 'Promise me nothing like this will happen to you,' he murmured as he kissed Naruto on top of his head, still needing to get used to the hairless scalp. It felt so strangely smooth and hard.

'I can't promise something like that. What if something does happen? I don't want you to resent me in the end when I couldn't keep my promise,' Naruto mumbled absentmindedly. Sometimes it amazed Sasuke how smart the blonde really was. Maybe not book smart, but he understood people somehow. And he was right, Sasuke would be angry at Naruto if he were ever to die and leave him behind. His breath hitched in his throat as he thought of that, not wanting anything like that to happen.

Rubbing his nose against Naruto's, making the blonde face him again, Sasuke responded. 'At least promise me that you will not ban me out of your life at any point. You will stay with me till the very end.'

A smile formed on Naruto's lips as the blue eyes stared up into charcoal coloured ones. 'I promise,' he murmured, scooting closer to Sasuke and wrapping his arms around the raven's neck. 'And will you promise me that you will support me through everything and stay as close to me as possible. I heard a bed just opened up,' he teased, trying to make the mood a little lighter. Although it didn't quite work, the smiles disappearing as their thoughts went back to their leaving friend.

'I promise,' Sasuke answered, leaning down for a kiss and trying to forget everything that had just happened. And Sasuke's day had started out so good…

Characters © Masashi Kishimoto

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