Chapter 3:

Exiting the restaurant, Kakashi doesn't even bother stopping at his suite, sprinting from the Inn as fast as his legs would carry him. He had to get away, had to get as far away as possible. This couldn't happen, he couldn't let Naruto be swept up in this. Crushing sadness and despair weighing heavily on his chest, he picked up more speed, fighting back the tears threatening to spill from his eyes. He had traveled for quite some time, putting miles between himself and the Inn, with no destination in mind. Just when he thought he had maybe gotten far enough away to escape Naruto, he felt his chakra reach him, a cool breeze of wind element whipping at his hair. Kakashi slowed his pace, although he could no longer feel Naruto's chakra, it was clear that the younger man was pursuing him. Dread washed over him, well aware he would not be able to outrun Naruto. Finally coming to a stop, Kakashi sits down heavily on a downed tree, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his thighs, pressing his face in his hands. All he could do was wait… wait and hope he could build back up the wall in his brain that locked out Naruto's emotions.

It wasn't long before Kakashi could sense Naruto nearby, the younger man's emotions pushing slightly at the wall he built up in his mind. Seeping through were feelings of hurt and confusion, Kakashi swallowed hard and focused on building the wall in his mind up stronger.

Naruto crashed through the woods, no longer needing sage mode to gauge Kakashi's position, he could very clearly feel him a short distance away. Vaulting over a dense patch of brush, Naruto finds himself standing in front of Kakashi. The Copy Ninja seated with his head in his hands, not bothering to look at him. Hurt twisted in Naruto's chest, his hands trembling at his sides, "Why do you keep fucking doing that? Why do you keep leaving without even saying goodbye?" Kakashi is silent, unmoving, "ANSWER ME!" Naruto's hands balled to fists at his sides, hurt and anger running rampant in his mind. Still unmoving or speaking, a long silence stretches between them. Naruto breaks, his anger replaced with only sadness, the emptiness he felt in his chest throbbing. Pushing back the tears forming in his eyes with his shaking fists, Naruto whispers, "You know… I thought… I thought for a second that we shared some mutual respect for each other. You were someone I always felt I could come to when I needed help, when I needed support. Turns out I was wrong. You care so little for me that I'm not even worthy of a simple fucking goodbye… Enjoy the rest of your vacation or whatever the fuck you want to call this shit your doing. I won't be bothering you again." Naruto quickly spun on his heels, tears finally spilling down his cheeks. He felt on the verge of panic, his chest tight, struggling to breath.

As he is about to dash away, Kakashi's strong hands come to rest on either of his shoulders, electricity crashes into his body carrying with it warmth and comfort. Naruto's body instantly relaxes, his sense of panic quickly being erased. Kakashi hastily snatches his hands back, taking a few steps away from Naruto. Slow to face him, Naruto searches his eyes, the electricity still lingering in the air around them. Kakashi averts his eyes, speaking softly, "Please don't say that. I very much care for you…" Taking a tentative step forward, Naruto reaches out to touch Kakashi, the Copy Nin quickly shrinking back, taking another step away. "...I'm sorry, Naruto." Letting his hand fall back to his side, Naruto askes, "Why did you leave Konoha?"

Kakashi was fighting an internal battle, it was clear to him that he wasn't going to be able to run from this any more. Naruto could clearly feel what was happening, to what extent he wasn't sure yet, but he wouldn't be able to keep it from him any longer. Taking in a deep breath, keeping his eyes trained on the ground, Kakashi spoke quietly, "I left because of you…" "Because of me?... What did I do?" Trying to better collect his thoughts, Kakashi closed his eyes to focus, "You didn't do anything… well not really. Do you remember toward the end of the war, when you healed me and gave me this eye?" He could hear Naruto's shuffling feet, but didn't dare open his eyes to look at him. "How could I forget?" Struggling to make sense of it himself, Kakashi continues, "I'm not sure if that is why or how but since that day I have felt a bond with you. I'm not sure if it's because you gave me a piece of yourself when you gave me this eye… but that's the only thing I can come up with. For the last 3 years I have been able to find you in a crowd without actively looking. I have been able to feel your chakra and your emotions within myself. It started off slowly at first, me noticing I could sense when you were approaching me. But over time the bond seemed to grow stronger. I could feel your every emotion, each day the intensity of it becoming harder to bear. I started trying to distance myself from you, eventually leaving the village entirely to avoid you. It didn't seem to me like you were having any of the same reactions as I was…"

Kakashi struggled to collect his thoughts, suddenly feeling Naruto's chakra wrap around his body. Jolted by the sudden crashing of electricity between them and the rush of warmth and light feeding into him from Naruto, Kakashi's head snapped up, eyes searching Naruto's. Naruto could sense the Copy Nins hesitation and forced restraint, holding back his chakra for fear of what may happen next. Pouring more of himself into his chakra, Naruto tried to channel comfort into Kakashi. A wash of euphoria crashed over the Copy Nin, the soft breeze of Naruto's wind element dancing across his skin. Unable to contain his longing, Kakashi closed his eyes and let his chakra bleed from his body. Naruto was hit with a wave of emotions. Desire, care, love, longing, need. Kakashi's chakra weaving its way within his own, sending lightning element coursing through his veins. The tangling of their elements was slowly filling that empty feeling in Naruto's chest, making him feel whole. Stunned and overwhelmed, Naruto suddenly pulls back, drawing back in his chakra. Kakashi's eyes flutter open once more, Naruto could feel his chakra withdraw, sadness quick to fill the Copy Nins eyes.

Taking another tentative step forward, Naruto reaches out to touch Kakashi once more. Shivering, Kakashi closes his eyes and allows contact. Naruto's fingers brushing his arm sends a wave of electricity through his body, the connection he feels to Naruto in that moment making his heart sing. All the longing ripping at his chest was slowly lifting, the empty void in him closing. Succumbing to the emotions flowing into him, Kakashi can feel Naruto's deep sense of longing, heat and desire welling in the pit of his stomach. Struggling to suppress the moan building in his throat, Kakashi is caught off guard when he feels Naruto press a soft kiss to his cloth covered lips. A wave of lust and arousal crashes between them, Naruto quick to pull back again with a gasp.

Shuddering, Kakashi tries to pull himself back together, the buzzing of their contact still dancing through his body and across his lips. Slightly breathless, Kakashi finally fills the silence, "Do you see? Do you see why I had to leave? You have had this effect on me for years, the feeling only getting stronger with the passage of time. It was getting harder and harder for me to hide it from you. Harder for me to conceal and ignore it… Your heart was not mine to have, so I left before I could become a burden to you. I wanted you to pursue what you desired without me pulling you from it."

Slightly trembling from loss of contact, Naruto took in a few calming deep breaths before responding, "You have been coming to me in my dreams… every night… the same dream. At first I would wake up and not remember them, all I could feel was a sense of longing and the buzz of electricity resonating in my body. Recently I woke up and could remember my dream… you were there, waiting for me on a path…" Naruto met Kakashi's eyes, the Copy Ninjas eyes were wide and unblinking, whispering, "I have had the same dream, every night, for the last 3 years… Even with the distance I tried to put between us we were sharing the same dream..."

Nodding slowly, Naruto cast his glance to the ground, kicking at the earth anxiously, "I wish you had told me… You have always held a special place in my heart. I have always felt a connection with you. The last few years were terrible, it felt like you were trying to close me out of your life. It hurt… it hurt thinking one of the few people I had ever cared about was pushing me away. Why… why wouldn't you just tell me…?"

Shaking off some of his disbelief, Kakashi replied, "You were to become the Hokage and you were with Hinata… I have only ever wanted you to accomplish your goals, Naruto… I didn't want to be a distraction… I didn't see a place for me on your path." Naruto looked up from the ground, meeting the Copy Ninja's sad gray eyes. Anger welling in him, replying, "That is bullshit! You were always part of my path! You helped shape me into the person I am today!"

Sighing, Kakashi looked away, "All the more reason for me not to tell you… to not pursue you. I was your sensei… it felt wrong of me."

Stepping closer to Kakashi, the buzz of electricity between them growing stronger, Naruto replies, "I am not a child, Kakashi. I haven't been a child for a very long time. What is not right is you trying to make decisions for me as if I am one still. That has happened my entire life, I've never been allowed to choose my own path. People always steering me in one direction or another. Steering me in directions I probably wouldn't have chosen myself."

A forlorn expression reaches Kakashi's eyes, replying, "You're right. I'm sorry. Your path is yours to find and to take."

Stepping closer to Kakashi, Naruto hesitates for a moment, replying, "I want to make my own path, not just walk the ones people have laid out before me…" Bringing his hands up to Kakashi's face, Naruto brushes his fingers along his cheeks, just above his mask. The electricity around them intensifies, Kakashi's eyes widening at the tingling at his cheeks. Closing his eyes, Naruto hooks his fingers under Kakashi's mask, pulling it down off his face. Cupping his face in his hands, Naruto brings their lips together. An overwhelming rush of emotion crashes between them, the electricity of their connection flooding their bodies. Chakra seeping from his body, Naruto embraces Kakashi, drawing him in tighter to him. Kakashi is unable to suppress the moan that rumbles in his throat, his arms finding their way around the younger man's waist, his own chakra spilling free and weaving around them.

Overwhelmed, feeling his knees going slightly weak, Naruto pulls back from the kiss. Keeping his eyes closed, Naruto sucks in a deep breath, pressing their foreheads together. Whispering, "Why is it like this….? It's like… being near you puts back a piece of me I didn't know I was missing… a piece that was missing all along. But now it aches… without you near me, I feel an emptiness in my chest. I don't feel whole." Eyes widening at the admission, Kakashi pushes slightly back from Naruto, whispering, "Open your eyes, Naruto..." Naruto hesitates, slowly opens his eyes, searching Kakashi's. "...that's what has been like for me for years." The hot sting of tears building in Naruto's eyes, he pulls Kakashi close to him again, resting his head on his shoulder, replying, "It hurts so bad, Kakashi. Why… why would you let yourself suffer like that?" Hugging Naruto tightly to his body, Kakashi drags in a shuddered breath, body humming with electricity, "I didn't want to pull you in, didn't want to distract you from your path. But I also couldn't bear the idea of you not feeling the same and rejecting me. It would have entirely crushed me… I thought it would be easier to deal with if I distanced myself from you."

Trembling slightly in Kakashi embrace, Naruto pushes himself back to take a good look at the Copy Nin. It was the first time Naruto had ever seen him without his mask, a deep longing building in his guts. Kakashi was achingly handsome, a strong sharp jaw, full pink lips and a small birthmark on his chin. Reaching up a hand, Naruto brushes his fingers along the side of his jaw, dragging a thumb across his lips. Kakashi releases a strangled breath, closing his eyes. Bringing their lips together once more, Naruto's arms find their way around Kakashi's neck, burying his fingers in his hair. The Copy nin goes tense in his embrace, restraining himself. A crushing wave of arousal pours into him from Naruto, electricity running through his body from his lips down to his toes. Unable to hold back any longer, chakra pours from his body, wrapping its way tightly around Naruto. Moaning at the embrace and feel of Kakashi's lightning element traveling across his skin, Naruto gives the hair in his fingers a gentle tug. Feeling himself spiraling out of control, Kakashi pushes back harshly from Naruto, holding him away at arms length.

Focusing on dragging in a few calming breaths, Kakashi pulls back his chakra before opening his eyes. Body still humming with electricity, he meets the eyes of the younger man, Naruto's eyes wide and pleading. Clearing his throat and shaking his head to try and regain some composure, Kakashi murmures, "It's getting late… we should head back to the Inn." Finally looking away from Kakashi, Naruto registers that night had indeed fallen. He had been so caught up in the moment that the passage of time and the darkness surrounding them was completely lost on him. Slowly meeting the eyes of the Copy Ninja once more, Naruto nods, stepping away from him.