"Kawarimi no jutsu!" Iruka yelled in panic as he realized there was no way he could avoid the massive fireball coming straight for him. He appeared beside Gai and they both stood for a second watching as the chakra enhanced fire skimmed across the lake and went out.

"You're ready for it," Gai drew Iruka close to his side and half hugged him. "I'm proud of you."

Iruka grinned and flopped down onto the ground when Gai released him. He stretched out on the bank and waited until Gai had sat down next to him before he answered.

"Thanks. There's no way I would have made it without you."

Gai lay down next to Iruka and they shared a soft smile before turning to watch the sun set over the wooded sky-line. Just as the deep red rays dipped behind the horizon, Gai whispered to the chuunin, not looking at him, but straight up at the sky, "If you were gay, you wouldn't be alone."

Iruka nodded, not looking at the man next to him. "Yea, I kno- hang on, what?" He sat up sharply, looking down at Gai.

Gai sighed but repeated himself.

Iruka flopped back down onto the grass, suddenly aware of how close they were. He could feel the heat from Gai's body contrasting sharply with the rapidly cooling air around them.

"When did you decide that?"

"That night you asked me to kiss you, I realized my feelings for him went beyond friendship."

"Who?"

"Kakashi."

"Kakashi?"

"Don't know when I fell in love with him, but for a while now every time he went on a mission I'd get this pain in my chest when I thought he might not be coming back."

"Fuck. Does he know?"

Gai didn't respond verbally, but Iruka could feel him shake his head. "I hope he never does find out. There's not a chance he'd return my feelings. He's like, emotionless." He sighed deeply. "Anyone you like?"

"Not really. Gen's pretty fit."

"Genma?"

"Hm."

"Anyone else?"

Iruka could almost hear the teasing note in his voice, but decided it really couldn't hurt to tell him. "There was an ANBU I met a while back who came in to deliver a mission scroll and I stitched him back together. He had a really nice body, but a really crappy personality."

"ANBU?"

"Yea."

"What mask was he wearing?"

"A cat." When no response was forthcoming, Iruka continued. "What of it?" He rolled onto his stomach to look at Gai.

"He was in Kakashi's squad when he was an ANBU commander. If it is the same cat. You never can really tell unless you know the person behind the mask."

Silence reigned for a few more minutes before Iruka rolled back to his original position and said rather absently, "I wonder if Genma's gay."

Gai raised an eyebrow and laughed. "How do you plan on asking him that?"

"Alcohol. Works every-" He stopped short and shook his head. "I'll end up having to pour gallons of coffee down him in the morning. Not alcohol." He'd only seen Genma drunk once before. He'd spent the next day in bed with a pounding headache and had drunk several pots of coffee before falling asleep again. Silence, and then "I have no idea." He looked at Gai expectantly.

"Don't look at me!" He said defensively. "You're his friend!"

"Might not be for long if I ask him to fuck me."

Gai chocked back a laugh. "That desperate?"

"No! I just can't concentrate on anything at the moment. And I can't get that fucking cat-nin out of my head!"

Gai just laughed.