Chapter 7

"Kakashi. Kakashi! Get off me man! It's not that kind of party!" The silver ninja regained consciousness after being pushed out of Gai's bed. Lying on his back on

the cold concrete floor of Gai's bachelor pad, Kakashi realized that it was all a dream. He hadn't run into Sakura, or passed out in her arms, or avoided her for days

after his nearly nude encounter with her in her bed.

"I am the winner and still champion of the Sake Drinking Battle Royale!" laughed Gai as her taunted the woozy ninja on the floor. "I don't know why you even

compete man! You know you could never hold your liquor." continued Gai jumping off his bed and leaning over to help his friend off of the floor.

"I don't know why I let you talk me into those stupid contests." said Kakashi as he tried to stable himself enough to stand unassisted. "HA!" laughed Gai watching

the usually cool Kakashi stumble around his room. "How did you end up in here man? I thought I left you on the couch." questioned the confused Gai. "I have no

idea." the silver ninja replied. "I had the strangest dream though." "Yeah? What about?" asked Gai while leaving the room and walking into his bathroom. Kakashi

could hear the precision of Gai's aim in the next room as he began to tell him what he had dreamt.

"Well I dreamt that I left the bar last night and ran into…" he stopped mid-sentence. Gai, who was wiping his freshly washed hands on a towel, came out of the

bathroom waiting to hear more. "You left the bar and ran into who?" Kakashi thought about his dream and all that happened during his dream. "Uh well I.." he

thought about his old friend Gai and what he might think about him fantasizing a former student of his. "I don't remember" lied Kakashi. Gai's jaw dropped before

he burst into laughter. "Man! You are really out of it! BEST GUY'S NIGHT EVER!" exclaimed Gai as he shook his friend and then walked out of his room to the

kitchen.

Kakashi sat on Gai's bed for a moment and collected himself. He still felt the effects of his night out, but he was starting to come out of it. After relieving himself,

the silver ninja made his way to the kitchen, fixed himself a cup of coffee, and sat at Gai's two man table. "We need to do this again next week." started Gai

sipping his coffee. "Oh no we can't next week." continued Gai. "Why not?" asked Kakashi even though he had already made up his mind to never drink with Gai

again. "Duh. Ino's big Valentine's dance is next weekend. I'm not going to miss my date with Kurenai." Kakashi had completely forgotten about Ino's party. She

had reminded him about it the other night at the bar. The silver ninja never actually planned to go to the stupid thing, but he kind of felt obligated to go since Ino

and Lee had made such a big deal about him coming.

"I need to go shopping." blurted out Gai interrupting Kakashi's thought. "This is my chance to impress Kurenai. I have to look perfect." Kakashi really didn't know

how to respond to what Gai had just said. So he said nothing. "So?" started Gai. "So what?" answered Kakashi. "What about you?" exclaimed Gai. "What are you

going to wear? Who are you going with? Do you have a date?" "Nothing. No one and no." "What?" said Gai. "You are going to the dance aren't you?" "I wasn't

planning on going." Gai looked at his friend. "Why not man? It's going to be fun. And plus the whole gang is going to be there. It won't be the same without you."

The silver ninja was touched. His friends really did care about his presence at the party. He didn't really think that it would matter so much if he came or not.

"It won't be hard for you to get a tuxe. The shop down in town is even having a buy one get one half off sale. When I go get mine you can get one too. So that's

not the problem." Gai was talking more to himself than his friend. "If it's finding a date you're worrying about, I'm pretty sure I could dig up someone for you..."

"Oh heck no!" exclaimed Kakashi. "What? I got girls." bragged Gai. "Yeah girls with paralyzing powers or some other crazy jutsu! I wouldn't let you set me with

another date if you paid me!" "Are you still talking about that date that one time? It was years ago and you didn't get raped! Shoot, if two girls were fighting over

me like that, that would have been the best day of my life!" Kakashi rolled his eyes as he stood carefully to his feet. "No thanks. I can find my own date." "So you

are coming to the party then?" said Gai excitedly. The silver ninja thought for a moment. He knew if he didn't go that Ino would be insulted and he would have to

hear all kinds of stories about that party for the rest of his life. He would always feel left out. Even though Kakashi never tried to fit in with the in crowd, he didn't

really want to be left out either.

"I guess I can make an appearance for a little bit. I think an hour of Valentines nonsense won't kill me." said Kakashi defeated. "Ok now that's more like it!" said

Gai jumping out of his chair. "But I can get my own date. Or maybe I'll just come alone. It'll be easier to leave whenever I want." "You can't come alone Kakashi.

You'll look pathetic." teased Gai. "Just be glad I'm coming." said the silver ninja as he neared the window. "I'll see you later." he continued as he leapt out of the

window and was soon out of sight. "You could have at least thanked me for dragging your drunk butt home and letting you fondle me in your sleep!" screamed Gai

out of the window drawing the attention of the passersby on the street below.