Auhtor's Notes: Thanks again for all the glowing support and a very Merry Christy-mas to everyone! Hope you're enjoying the holidays, me, I'm just happy I got my 80gig PS3! Finally! I'm sick of sharing with my brother.

Warnings: Some mild language and hints of a sexual nature.

De-briefing

One of the main reasons Kakashi was such an incredible Ninja was because of his ability to distance himself from everything and everyone when he is called for a mission. He rarely, rarely let's his heart get in the way of his head, and while that is most-of-the-time a good thing, those exceptional moments of emotion were usually in the forms of retribution or murder.

So when something so stupid could make him so emotional, he definitely knew his heart was getting in the way of his head too much.

For the past day and a half, that independent muscle bringing blood to all his organs seemed permanently lodged in his throat with every sordid attempt Gai made at speaking to him.

Right now, Kakashi was leaning breathlessly against his apartment door after slamming it shut in effort to convince Gai he didn't want to see him.

But of course, he knew that wasn't the best plan of action because Gai was the type of person who wanted to get along with everyone, and for some unknown reason that Kakashi; his long term rival and friend didn't want to talk to him, it gave way for some serious explaining.

The only problem was, after bumping into Gai the day previous, Kakashi realised that every time he looked at the man, all he could see, feel, hear was that kiss. That long, drawn out, passionate kiss. That beautifully exquisite, well executed kiss promising so much more and then… failing miserably to deliver.

Kakashi sighed in disgust and slid to the floor. Right now his heart and his head were intertwined. The heart wanted to grab Gai and do it all over again, but it also wanted to keep his sexuality under wraps. His head knew Gai was as straight as they came and wouldn't dare risk his reputation as a Ninja because of some idiotic, one-time thing, nor Gai's status as a fearsome warrior.

Then there was the case of his students. What if they found out? What if Gai told Naruto after Kakashi bolted from Ichiraku's? Naruto couldn't hold a secret to save his own skin, and if Naruto knew…

What would they think of him, if they knew?

Perhaps he was getting a little too worried and paranoid. He could get over this, couldn't he? He could keep his brain and his feelings far apart, right?

However, the thirty-nine times Gai happened to suddenly appear/teleport/poof/walk up to/jump out of water at/or climb down from roofs to see him sent the two organs into overdrive, so that kiss was all Kakashi could picture when he looked at the man.

He just couldn't shake him off! Gai was too stubborn and too oblivious and was probably pissed off at the fact that he and Kakashi kissed and now Kakashi wouldn't even look at him!

So when the heart and the head were both on the same track, it's was impossible to choose. So what was he to do?

Kakashi didn't know, and could only pray it would all blow over.


"Sensei, is everything alright?" Lee asked worriedly behind him, big eyes the picture of innocence.

They were nearly identical save for the obvious height and age difference, but Gai liked to think they were more alike in mind than in matter. Sometimes Gai didn't even have to say anything, Lee would be there courteously asking if he was alright and if there was anything he could do. It was like a… clairvoyance they shared.

But Gai couldn't think of any way Lee could help him with this particular problem. Kakashi wasn't speaking to him, and was going to incredible lengths to avoid him completely. And all because of… what, exactly? What did he do?

He did ask Asuma about it, but the man just shrugged, having no idea what might have set Kakashi off either. "Seemed fine to me," he said, his smoke threatening to fall from his mouth, "he didn't say anything to me about it."

Neither Iruka or Kurenai could tell, so what was it that Gai did?

He sighed heavily, slumping over the railings he was leaning on before looking out over Konoha, "No, it's fine, Lee."

This was affecting him far worse than he expected. If he ever did anything wrong, Kakashi would make doubly sure to tell him and Gai never did anything bad enough to incur the Copy-Ninja's fearsome wrath…

So what must he have done to actually frighten him? Each time, the jounin looked positively terrified!

Lee said nothing, worriedly glancing at him every so often, crestfallen. He put a large hand on his head, ruffling the identical black locks with affection.

"C'mon Lee, what do you say to some dinner?"

Any doubts or negative emotions at that point were immediately wiped clean from the boy's face with an ear-splitting, glitteringly white grin and a thumbs up. It wasn't long before the two were attempting to consume their own bodyweight in food at a local restaurant, the pretty waitress smiling bemusedly at their haste.

Rather like Naruto, Gai always felt better after eating something, and for a moment his troubles were minimal. Lee was matching him in the amount of bowls stacked to his left, chopsticks moving with the speed and grace of hummingbird wings (and in truth, only Lee and Gai could make something as simple as eating look graceful).

Satisfied, he slumped back, Lee a bare three seconds after him, patting the corners of his mouth with a napkin in a motion that was purely ineffectual. He taught him well.

The waitress looked horrified at the amount she would later have to clean and re-set; Gai threw her an apologetic smile. One that was short-lived however, when an ANBU member promptly appeared in a haze of smoke beside their table, and laid a scroll down in front of the jounin.

A mission. Finally!

Nearly all of the jounin of Gai's rank had been called away on missions lately, bar Gai himself and he was starting to feel a little forgotten and inadequate.

"The Hokage requests your presence for briefing on this mission, sir," he said, courteous but dead-pan underneath his hood. He was glad he never had to go back to that again.

"Good thing too, I was getting worried they forgot about me," Gai chuckled; the ANBU member said nothing, obviously too emotionally hardened to allow any humour. Instead the jounin turned his attention to his student, passing him the money for the bill, "My apologies to cut this short, Lee, but I'm afraid the Hokage summons my presence."

The boy couldn't have looked more proud of his sensei if he tried. Tears welled up in his eyes, he clenched a fist to stave off the onslaught of emotions.

"Very well, Gai-sensei!" He cried. "I know you will return safely and triumphantly from your mission!"

The visibly uncomfortable Black-Ops member waited patiently for the hugging, epic backdrops and tears to end before following the taller man outside the restaurant and teleporting with him to the base of the Hokage's tower.

"The Third will be in the library, awaiting your arrival."

"Thank you," Gai bowed to the man before he disappeared in a wisp of smoke and trudged up the steps of the building, feeling much better than he had for the past couple of days.


"Ah, Maito Gai," The Third seemed to age every singe time Gai saw him, his hoarse old voice cracking against his eardrums, but spared a smile for him nonetheless, "I'm sure you have been eagerly awaiting news of a mission fitting your specialties."

It was true, he had been waiting for one considering that every other available jounin had been trapped under the wave of S ranks that recently hit Konoha.

He nodded his head in his bowing position; the Hokage gestured for him to stand and he did without a moments hesitancy. The library was old and dusty, but the aged man spent most of his time in here, digesting the information from books twice his time, taking notes, handing out important missions and so on. The Hokage riffled through the papers on his desk, swivelling around a sheet for Gai to examine.

"We have complaints of a small terrorist group of rogue Ninja forming alliances outside the Grass region," he croaked, indicating the map on the sheet.

"Apparently," he continued, "they have been causing quite a stir in the surrounding villages. We have reports of them setting up camp here, in Katsuie city."

"Would the Black-ops not handle this from their own villages?" He rose a questioning brow, picking up the sheet in front of him, examining it for a second and laying it back down.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. We believe they are working in shifts, returning to their villages and leaving when they have spent enough time there to throw themselves out of the radar."

"You want me to gather information?"

"No," he replied, entwining his long, calloused fingers on the table in front of him, a grave look descending over his face, "I am afraid their activities in the neighbouring villages have been far too violent to let by with simple information gathering. I want you to eliminate their leader; by any means necessary."

Gai nodded, the epitome of seriousness.

The Hokage gestured to the brief once more, "I chose you because, even if you make a spectacle, once their leader is dead there is no reason for concern anymore. Your style is suited best for open combat, and the sooner this mission is completed, the better."

The compliment was apparent, and he smiled at the elder for holding him in such high regard.

"I suggest you study the mission brief before you head out at dawn tomorrow morning. I want a full report of every Ninja you happen to find there. Our sources from Katsuie say they are of low ranks, mainly chunnin and some jounin who haven't made it to ANBU level yet."

"I will be alone?" He asked, taking the folder from the desk.

"I was getting to that," the old man chuckled, passing him a second folder, "I would strongly suggest that a jounin accompany you. Genma would be an excellent-"

"Kakashi." Gai managed to cut the man off with a sudden burst of inspiration, before he could go any further.

"Hmm?"

"Hatake Kakashi."

Grey old eyes narrowed at the request, "Why would you ask for Kakashi? He is much more suited for espionage and quiet assassinations."

"Exactly," Gai said hurriedly, trying to get his point across before his excuses slipped beneath his fingers, "We work well together, and I would think this mission calls for much more than brute force. Kakashi is sharper than I am, his tactical approach would suit my open combat skills, would it not?"

The Third remained suspicious for several seconds, before nodding. "True, your styles will work well together during this mission. Very well, I will send for his presence at once. Dismissed."

"I will not fail you." Gai said, taking the brief and exiting.

He had nothing against Genma, but this whole ordeal with Kakashi had gone on long enough. It was time to get serious, and if he couldn't get the man to talk to him on his own, he would just have to use other methods of drawing them together.

If Kakashi didn't agree with it, fine. At least this would give Gai an excuse to get some real answers.


Author's Notes: Wow, I didn't think that many people would be supportive of Asuma/Kakashi or Gai/Kakashi. Being the submissive suits him, no?

Also, and don't take this the wrong way because I'm obviously new to this whole thing, but what in the name of all that is good and holy is a SEME and an UKE?

How do you pronounce them?

And what's the difference?

Anyway, read and review if you like. Thanks again for reading. May be a delay in the next few updates due to college work and so on.