AN: Yes, The New World is back! Did ya miss me ;p thanks for the reviews, I am glad people are enjoying the development of the plot and characters. I do spend a lot of time thinking and working on the development, sometimes to the point that I sit on a chapter for ages, like this one, agonising over small details or a single line of dialogue. I am glad that readers are enjoying this still.

Chapter 38

"Can this really be happening?" Sakura breathed outside the door to the private ward, watching through the window at the still form of her once-captain.

"It is hard to believe that he is hear after all this time. I know how you feel." Kakashi's soft answer came from next to her.

"Oh, Kakashi just look how thin he is," she fretted trying to keep calm. She was torn between panicking as a friend, and keeping the professional head of a medical expert. "It will take a while just to recover from his malnourishment. I will have to speak with the nurses about the plans for diet and rest."

"I fed him last night and this morning…" Kakashi began. Sakura sensed he wanted to say more, and so she turned her attention to him. "At the mention of food his eyes looked… wild. He really must have been starved under his imprisonment."

"Yes," Sakura said, her eyes watering at the memory of Orochimaru throwing Yamato and some over prisoners a few scraps for them to fight over. They had been acting like animals. But she would never judge him for it. Any human could be reduced to that behaviour shinobi or not.

"Well," Kakashi said, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. "Shall we go in?"

Sakura watched the new arrival again for another moment, and slowly nodded. "Let's go."

Juugo was surprised at just how quickly Sasuke was getting through paperwork that morning. He was completely focussed, not shifting around looking for a distraction or taking his boredom out on anyone. Although Sasuke was passionate about his role as Supreme Hokage and was enthusiastic about right what he considered wrongs, he found great distaste in any more menial or administrative related duties. Yet he knew these were necessary evils. Once he allowed his staff- or in this case team mates- authority to sign things off in his stead, he started relinquishing his own authority. And that was something Sasuke was not keen on doing as he liked to hold complete control.

It was a trait he carried over to his personal life as well. He rarely relied on others, despite having a team. That is why he chose to keep as close an eye on Kakashi as possible, rather than trusting anyone else to help tame his prize. It made the reward that much greater.

Sasuke had given something very important to Kakashi- his friend's return. Juugo also knew that Kakashi's friend having a second chance meant the world to him, despite the Anko incident. He had not known the silver haired man long, but he had gotten a strong enough sense of who he was to know this, even if Kakashi didn't tell him himself.

And if Kakashi had been granted a little happiness, and the wretched Yamato had been given a new chance at life, then Juugo could also allow himself to feel a little happy. Sasuke's light mood also made things easier for the team. Their raven haired leader was even nice to Karin which made the girl pink with delight.

Yes, Sasuke was indeed happy with himself. He knew that now his sensei was so indebted to him, he was accepting his place at his side, as his lover. Kakashi was finally accepting that he belonged to Sasuke. And with this great favour granted, Kakashi would be grateful for it.

Yamato continued to stare out of the window on his right hand side, not even bothering to turn his head when the door on the left opened. It was still hard for him to believe that this was real, that he was really here after all this time; he was home.

The trees outside were real. That blue sky was real. Even the horribly bright white walls of the hospital were real.

He really was in Konoha.

His friends- or what was left of them- were here by his side.

The gentle footsteps stopped a moderate distance from the bed. He supposed that they were unsure what his reaction would be, how he would behave, so they were just being cautious. He had heard their breathing as they had approached him. The little intake of breath had to be her.

"So you brought Sakura with you this time."

Even without looking at her he could hear the overwhelming emotion in her voice; but he was in no mood to comfort her. He had always been the comforting type before- hell Kakashi and those kids had needed it- but he was no longer that person. Now he really felt wooden inside.

"Yamato-taichou," she breathed. "I am so sorry-"

However the recent captive cut her off. "What could you possibly be sorry for? You did nothing wrong."

"I saw you- and I did nothing."

"You got help, and I'm here now; that's more than enough."

"But I should have-"

"I don't want to hear it!" Yamato suddenly snapped. "It doesn't matter. It happened. It happened to me! And no one can take it back, no one can give me the time back that I suffered there! There's no point talking about it!"

Sakura was taken aback at the abrupt manner but said nothing. She was a medical ninja, she was used to such things, even though she had not expected it from Yamato. It saddened her greatly- Yamato was always so cool headed, with a calm and determined demeanour. To see how Orochimaru had shaken who is he had been in such a way broke her heart.

Yamato for his part hadn't wanted to hurt his friends who had rescued him, but his thoughts were so scattered he could barely focus on anything let alone control his emotions. He was not in the frame of mind for an emotional reunion. He was physically and mentally exhausted.

After some moments passed Kakashi patted Sakura on the shoulder and encouraged her to approach Yamato with him. Yamato wasn't making eye contact but mumbled, "I didn't mean to shout."

"We know," Kakashi said.

Sakura tried to smile in a way she hoped was reassuring. "Don't worry about it."

"What'll become of me?" Yamato asked. "What happens now?"

"Now it is time to take back your life," Kakashi replied. "It is time to move forwards, with the support of the village and your friends."

"If I can…"

"You will." Kakashi was firm, as if there was no doubt of this.

Yamato continued to watch the floor, but slowly nodded, putting trust in his comrade's words.

"Firstly, we need to ensure you have physically recovered," Sakura began. "You will stay in the hospital during this time while we monitor you. I will be able to keep you company during my breaks, and I will be helping with your recovery. You are very malnourished and dehydrated so we will need to get your weight back up to what it was on your file before the war. Once we are satisfied with your recovery you may go."

"To my apartment?"

Sakura and Kakashi glanced at each other uncomfortably here. "Unfortunately, your flat old is already occupied…but we don't want you living alone just yet anyway, or we'd find you a new one."

Yamato didn't have much of a reaction to the loss of his apartment, but to him anything was better than the hell he had been in since the war.

"Then where?"

Sakura and Kakashi looked at each other again, both unsure of the best solution: they both knew Sasuke would never allow Kakashi to live with another man, even platonically. Sakura was also too busy, working long, long shifts. She would barely be there and when she was she would be tired. Her varied shifts would mean that there was no routine for Yamato either, which wasn't good for his mental recovery and most probable trust issues. He needed to live with someone who could be there for him, who he could depend on, steady as a rock. Someone not worn down with life, but positive and optimistic.

"We don't need to decide that just yet," Kakashi replied. "The first step is your physical recovery here."

Yamato didn't like the uncertainty but tried not to dwell on it. Kakashi was right he needed to regain his previous physic. He wasn't afraid of being in hospitals like Kakashi was.

"Now then," Kakashi said, trying to lighten the mood. "I think we all need a distraction; who's up for a game?" He said as he pulled a pack of cards out from his pocket. He needed to try and focus Yamato's attention on something, anything else than his time in Suna. Which was OK, seeing as Kakashi wasn't good at comforting, and Yamato didn't wanted to forget for a while.

It was after another long day of training, followed by teaching at the academy, followed by more training, that Gai finally returned home. He was weary and in need of another shower, but was also hungry. After a quick wash, he dried off and changed into green and orange chequered PJs and made a start on a hearty, healthy curry. Good food did wonders for him, easing with tired body.

Suddenly there came a knock at his door. Moving the food off the hob, he went to answer.

Upon seeing who was there it felt like his heart had leapt into his throat and he nearly choked.

"Kakashi!"

He was so shocked, but also overwhelmed with emotion. Kakashi was the last person he had expected to see. He knew that his rival had been avoiding him. He had not seen him since that night… since that kiss. That wonderful, tender, passionate kiss.

And the heated argument that had followed.

What could this visit mean?

Did Kakashi come to apologise? To make up with him?

To confess with mutual feelings of love?

Gai's heart swelled at the thought; he wanted nothing more than to hold his love in his arms again. If Kakashi returned his feelings…

"Gai," Kakashi began, surprisingly urgently. "I am sorry to ask this, but I have no one else to turn to. I need a favour."