Author's Note: Okay, sorry for the really long delay. This is shorter than I thought it would be but I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Menacingly, the clock hands ticked; the night otherwise silent – no one wandering the streets. No soul appeared to rescue the silver haired failure. Restless though he was he stayed seated on the edge of his bed. His eye wandered relentlessly; silently searching for a source of salvation; burning with the threat of tears. His eye lid was heavy with the expectation of eternal slumber. His leg jumped; jostling as he channelled his emotion through it into the floor below. His chest heaved; constricting in anticipation or fear. His lip quivered, yearning to scream or shout or sob. Minutes ticked by, the sands of time drained from the hourglass of life. Battle raged in his mind: one side wanting to live, the other fought to die.

Killing yourself is selfish.

Remaining alive is selfish.

Think of those you'll leave behind.

Think of those you've killed.

Ending it is cowardly.

Backing out now is cowardly.

To every thought the opposition had a retort. There would be no winning this war, for neither side would relent. If he lived, then his guilt would forever nag him. If he died, then all his conscience stated would come true.

Though he had no right to be shocked – Kakashi felt hollow as his assumptions were proved correct. He was worthless. No one cared. The self-imposed deadline passed with no interception. He couldn't help but feel a little hollow at the thought of no one caring: he had wanted to be proven wrong. He stepped up to his end with shaky movements. Knocking the chair from beneath him, he finished the deed; finished his life.

His last breaths dragged through his lungs. Silence echoed deafeningly. The room felt a million times larger than it was. His eye fluttered closed for the final time. His dying moments: lonely. No one was there to watch him die. Just as no one was there as he lived.

BANG!

The door ripped from its hinges. Worry etched on their face, the figure lunged into the apartment. Upon seeing the lifeless body dangling before him, Gai crumpled. Tears streamed down his angular face as he gazed at the friend he cherished. Why had he not seen the extent of his friend's pain? Why had he been so blind? So naïve had he been, believing Kakashi was fine and that he would pull through. He was such an idiot. He could not save his friend when he had needed him most. Kakashi was not one to take death lightly, always had he cherished life. Therefore Gai felt so pathetic for not helping his friend.

"I am so sorry my friend. I failed you." Standing slowly, his knees shook with grief. He plucked the silver haired man form his home-made gallows, laying him on the push carpet. Gai gripped the pale hand that was so unlike his calloused ones. Even in death, Kakashi was perfect in his eyes. His visible face was much less strained in death, as if the man had finally escaped the plagues and demons that had haunted him throughout his life. The dark haired man sat there for hours, clutching his dead friend's body as if it would bring him back. He was found in the morning by his students who had gone out looking for their Sensei. Kakashi's students were no where in sight, having left the silver haired man for new teachers. Gai only then realised how alone his friend had been. Too late.

The rain hammered down into the unsettled earth at his feet. He looked at the fresh grave, heart heavy. Yet another of those close to him lay to rest. Another empty void created in his heart. Another echo in his mind, of what could have been: preposterous premonitions of a stolen future. Why couldn't I save you? How could I not save you? Because I was too late. Because you were always the better of the two of us. Because you burned so bright, inevitably you would die first. He crumpled to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. All those years, I thought you were weaker than I. I was wrong; it was I who was weak. I could not live like you did; I could never hide my sorrow so deep as you did. I have learnt so much from you, my friend. You showed me not to fear the world but to embrace it and to live. Not just exist. Your sarcastic comments, your subtle presence, your contagious air of intelligence - changed me. Thank you. I am only sorry I could not tell you my feelings before. I do not know what I shall do with my days now you are not there to fill them. No more heated sparring sessions. No more youthful challenges. No more comforting annoyance that was you. I am so very lonely without you. I feel as though I will fall to pieces. I am hollow without you. I keep wishing that this is a dream; keep expecting you to make some dynamic entry. I keep hoping to see your hunched shoulders and blinding orange reading material again - to feel your arm wrap around my shoulders in comfort, lulling me into calm's sweet embrace. I keep longing to see you again. Alas, such dreams cannot become reality; because for them to occur would be selfish of me. You deserve your paradise, your Shangri-La, your spring meadow that you always deserved. Please wait for me in your home up high - I know you went to heaven - that is where angels live after all. Goodbye and good luck my angel, my rival, my Kakashi.