I DO NOT OWN NARUTO, OR CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

All rights go to Masashi Kishimoto, and Dan Fogelman.

Never Gonna Give You Up

The bartender finishes wiping down the last few glasses before walking over to the depressed lump of man to her right. "Can I get you another?"

Gai sighs, rubbing his stubbled grief stricken face. "What time is it?"

"2:30," she pauses. "In the afternoon."

"2:30 would have been sufficient but thank you for the judgmental comment, cocktail servant...ugh I'm..." He hangs his head in shame. She returns with another vodka-cranberry sporting a wimpy red straw.

"That was uncalled for. Sorry for being a dick," he mutters.

"Nice sweatsuit." Gai turns to look at the male who uttered those words. He glares at him. "What do you want?"

"Can I sit?"

Gai focuses his attention straight ahead. "I don't know, can you?"

"Okay, are we going to be adults about thi-"

"Are we going to be adults about this?" Gai mimics.

There's a long pause before Kakashi sighs and sits beside Gai without his permission. "It would mean a lot to me if we could talk."

"Are you still seeing my daughter?" Gai gets right to the point.

"Yes."

"Then I have nothing to say to you."

"Gai." No response. "Gai, look at me." Kakashi earns a heated glance from Gai. Despite his feelings, Kakashi still has that power over him.

"You been hanging out here a lot?"

"...Sometimes."

"Must be missing a lot of work."

"I have a lot of vacation days. You know what? You have a lot of nerve-"

Gai starts to raise his voice just as the bartender arrives with a shot. He falls silent, and they both wait for her to walk away before continuing their "conversation".

"You gonna drink that?"

Gai pushes the it away. "She probably spit in it, so no, thank you." Kakashi with raised eyebrows nods.

"Your kids miss you."

"You're hanging out with my kids? That's great. You can teach Lee how to objectify women, he'll love that," Gai retorts with disgust.

Kakashi ignores his comments coolly. "His eighth grade graduation is next week. You coming?"

Gai looks at him quizzically. "Of course I'm coming."

"Well you haven't exactly been around lately."

"He's not my biggest fan right now. He thinks I stole his soul mate."

"He worships you, Gai-"

"Okay," Gai waves him off. "Are you done with the parental advice?"

"I'm in love with her." Kakashi interjects, making direct eye contact with Gai. "I love her. I don't know what I was doing before...before this." He shakes his head. "And I don't know what to do about it. It's not something I can really..stop."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"You love her? You love Sakura?"

"Yes."

"Tell me about it. Tell me how much you love her." Gai's stare was burning into Kakashi.

"I'm just...look Gai, this isn't something I wanted, okay? It's not something I-I looked at people who were in love, and I thought the way they were behaving and the things that they were doing and saying-they just, they appeared pathetic. Honestly. I spent all this time with you and I'm trying to make you more like me, and it turns out, I just wanna be...aghh." Kakashi pinches the bridge of his nose. He is not used to explaining his feelings. Especially like this since he's never felt this way. "I need that drink." He looks back at Gai. "You're gonna do this?! You're really gonna make me do this?"

pause

"I had Sakura when I was seventeen. I taught her how to ride a bike, how to drive a car, and...I'm glad for you. I'm happy for you, that you've changed. I think it's fantastic that you're a better man, but I've seen too much already. I've-I know too much-"

"I know, I know."

"Sakura is too good for you."

"I agree."

"I'm never going to give you my approval."

Kakashi looks down, defeated. Why did he even come in the first place? He stands up slowly. "You're a good dad, Gai," he says with a pitiful half smile and turns to leave.

Gai looks skeptically at his shot. He downs it. "Yup. She-she spit-cough-she spit in that."

About 150 people fill the intimate middle school gym. Kurenai, Emi, and Sakura are seated in the front row; Hinata and her family a few rows back. Gai trickles in with the rest and manages to snag a seat in the back sandwiched between random parents. He's well put togther-a fresh shave, a suit, but he wears misery on his face. His eyes search the seats in front of him until they land on his family. His eyes brighten for a moment as he notices an empty seat between Kurenai and Sakura. He leans forward, are they saving it for him? His view is suddenly obstructed as Kakashi fills the space, kissing Sakura. Gai feels nauseous.

"...and now, to introduce the first student speaker: our very own English teacher Shizune Kato! Gai's former conquest steps onto stage. Kurenai looks away, clearly uncomfortable at the teacher's presence. Shizune accidentally catches Gai's eye. Awkward.

"Our next speaker is not only the class salutatorian, but he's also one of the most..." She searches for the right word. "-Spirited...young man, I've ever had the pleasure of teaching. Ladies and gentlemen: Lee. Lee takes the stage to applause. There's something different in his face. He's been broken. He spots Hinata. "Thank you, Mrs. Kato. Welcome, Class of 2015. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to talk about today. Mrs. Kato said it might be good to talk about growing up and getting older and stuff. So I guess I'll talk about that."

Gai watches, concerned.

"I grew up a lot this year, I think. I used to think that growing up meant really growing. Like getting taller and bigger. But now I think that growing up just makes you smaller. Your dreams get smaller, and what you want gets smaller. I grew an inch and a half this year, but I feel a lot smaller."

Gai fidgets in his seat.

"I was in love. And I know that makes parents laugh because I'm only thirteen but whatever, I was. I believed that there was one true love for everyone, and if you fought for that person, your one true love would always work out." He continues to ramble on. "But that's not how it works. It sounded good when I was younger, but... it's just not how it works. There's no such thing as one true love for everyo-"

"Stop!" Lee looks over to Gai who is now standing from his seat. Everyone turns to look at him.

"Dad?"

"Hi." He raises a hand. "Hi, everyone."

Silence.

"May I have a word with my son? It'll just take a second." Gai tries to extricate himself from his row. He steps over people, squeezes by people, almost trips. Finally clear, he gathers himself, and tries to keep his dignity as he marches down the aisle - past his family. Lee comes to the front of the stage, and bends down.

Lee whispers heatedly, "what are you doing?"

"I don't know. What are you doing?" His eyes filled with concern and guilt.

Lee's eyes well up with tears. "I was wrong, Dad. There's no such thing as-"

Gai turns toward the crowd. "My son's graduation speech sucks." Gasps can be heard from some. He looks behind him at the panel of teachers. Shizune casually gives Gai the finger.

"In fairness, I don't know where he was going, but I think we can all agree it was heading in a pretty depressing direction. And I basically wrote it for him. I mean, I didn't literally write it but I sure as hell influenced it, and the kid's already a spitting image of his mother and I'll be damned if this is what he's going to get from me."

People squirm, uncomfortable.

"My son-not him, my actual son-he believes in grand romantic gestures. He believes that people have soulmates. And we always want to tell our thirteen-year- olds that they're wrong, that 'one day you'll understand, young man.' But maybe it should be the other way around." He looks at Kurenai, out in the crowd. "I met my soulmate when I was fifteen years old. Our first date, we went for ice cream. After, my dad started teasing me about my 'first date' the way dads do. And I told him: 'stop making a big deal, Dad. I'm going to go on lots of dates with plenty of girls.' That was the first time I ever lied to my father. I met my soulmate when I was fifteen years old. And I have loved her with everything I had for every minute, of every day, ever since she let me buy her that first mint chip ice cream. I have loved her through the birth of our three perfect children, and I have loved her even as I've hated her - only married couples can truly understand that one. And I don't know what will wind up happening with us - I don't, Lee, I'm sorry I can't give you that - but I promise you this: I will never stop trying. When you find 'the one,' you never give up trying... and I love you, my amazing boy, for reminding me of that."

Lee hugs his father as the crowd cheers. Gai kisses his son on the head, then motions towards the microphone. Lee grabs it with newfound gusto.

"I still love you, Hinata! I've loved you since the first time you changed my sister's diaper!" The crowd laughs and cheers as Lee continues. Gai stands back and smiles. His boy is back.

Author: Last chapter will be up soon! Thanks for reading this mess ^^