There will be 3 more chapters or maybe 4 more then this will be done. I've never written a fic this long before and frankly speaking I've enjoyed every bit of writing I've done for this fic. I'm so happy for it. And I hope you guys like it too.

This has been beta-read by b4k4girl. Thank you liao!

First of all, I blame my sappy personality for writing something like this chapter. You'll know what I mean.

Enjoy!

WHY NOT 30

Kakashi made his way towards Naruto's apartment. On his way there, he found Sasuke leaving the hospital, a brown paper bag in hand, Sakura trailing behind him. Kakashi glared hotly at the boy and made his way towards him. He looked at Sasuke and fought the urge to just yell. "We need to talk." He gritted out.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura blinked. "Hey you guys. Everything ok?"

"Peachy. Now, if you don't mind, Sakura, Sasuke and I have some things to discuss - in private!" Kakashi said again and Sakura actually yelped a bit.

"Ahaha! Thank you for helping me out in the hospital Sasuke-kun! I'll see you tomorrow! Bye sensei!" Sakura grabbed the bags Sasuke was carrying and disappeared.

"Come with me." Kakashi ordered and led Sasuke to the bridge where they used to assemble back then when they were still a team.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke said, suddenly blushing and trembling. "There's something I have to tell you."

Kakashi sighed. No matter how angry he was with Sasuke, he couldn't really blame him, nor could he stay angry at the boy for more than five minutes. He was still his favorite student. "What is it?"

"Umm - about that night." Sasuke stammered. "I - I want you to know that I won't forget it."

"Sasuke, we were both drunk."

"I know. But it was - different!" Sasuke said.

Kakashi hadn't planned this at all. "Sasuke, it was an accident. Plus, you can't afford to have me as your lover, because I won't allow it. You have your clan to rebuild, remember? That was your ambition."

"It still is." Sasuke said, sighing. "But - But I really like you."

" And I like you too. As a student. Don't mix that night up with something other than sex. Really, Sasuke, I thought you knew better than that." Kakashi said, narrowing his eyes. "Does anyone else know?"

"Kiba does." Sasuke said. "I trust him. He won't tell."

"Yeah?" Kakashi asked, sounding sarcastic. "I don't suppose you'd mind telling me how Naruto found out, hmmm?"

"Naruto?" Sasuke asked and shrugged. "No idea. I certainly didn't tell him. What does it matter anyway?"

"Everything." Kakashi hissed. "You know something Sasuke? I made a mistake! I made a mistake for losing control of myself that night with you. I shouldn't have!"

"But you enjoyed it!" Sasuke pointed out. "Don't lie! You did!"

"And still I regret it! Sasuke, you're a great lad! You're my favorite student and you know I'll always be here if you ever need help. But us? There can be no us! It's - I can't!"

It dawned upon Sasuke. "Naruto! It's him isn't it?"

"Always has been Sasuke. Always has been." Kakashi turned his back on Sasuke and closed his eyes. "You know the difference between you and Naruto? Naruto has a big heart and he always thinks of others first before himself. Something that brings him closer to being a Hokage than any of you here in the village thinks." Kakashi faced Sasuke again. "He's not a dobe anymore, Sasuke. He's - He's someone fit to be the sixth." Sasuke stared at Kakashi wide eyed. "He told me to come to you. To start a relationship with you because you were so lonely and he said that perhaps you being with me would make you happy. He felt that it would make you happy." Sasuke stared at the ground, suddenly ashamed. "He loves me Sasuke. Enough to eat expired food that I made without my knowledge and now he's at home with a horrible stomach ache. And yet, he told me to go to you. And he doesn't hate you! He couldn't hate you. Because he knew you were lonely and he did not want to stand in the way of you and me having a relationship." Sasuke's lips opened to say something, but they trembled and no words came. "But I'm not as generous as Naruto. I will not start a relationship with you because first, you don't love me. This is just an infatuation that you are grasping desperately to. Second, I cannot love you that way. I just can't."

"Naruto said that?"

"Yes. He did. And that's one thing you and I both know that you will never be able to do. There is no way in hell you could do what Naruto just did. You don't have the heart to do that." Kakashi said, and placed a hand on the boys' shoulder. "It makes me wonder why up till now you haven't tried to be good friends with Naruto. Rivalry does that right?"

Sasuke stared at the ground. "Yeah. I guess."

Kakashi nodded and turned to leave. "Take care Sasuke. You'll find someone you'll love. You never know, they might just be around the corner and have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke called out. "I hope - I pray it turns out okay. You and Naruto."

"Me too." Kakashi said, and did a few seals with his hands. "Me too." He whispered and with a poof, he was gone.

Kakashi stood in front of Naruto's door. He had a little speech planned in his head. He thought it was a good speech and he was quite proud of it. He knocked on the door which was answered by Iruka, who quickly stuck his head back in and hollered out. "Naruto? I'll be back in a second okay?"

"Okay." Naruto called back.

Iruka stepped out, closed the door behind him and glared at Kakashi. "Yes, Kakashi-sensei?"

"I'm sorry."

"You BETTER BE!"

"I need to talk to him."

"Oh I bet you do."

"I love him."

"Oh you think?"

"Let me in."

"You're an asshole."

"I know."

"Lower than dirt."

"I know."

"I'm tempted to kill you right now."

"You have every reason to."

"And what took you so damn long?" Iruka hissed.

Kakashi smiled. "I had to sort things out with Sasuke."

"You sick excuse for a human being."

"Icha Icha Paradise does that to you." Kakashi shrugged. "You should try it sometime. I've got a whole collection at home."

"Try anything stupid and I swear, I won't listen to Naruto. Naruto told me not to hate you and I don't think I'm doing a good job. We do have an understanding, yes?"

"Crystal clear." Kakashi said and slipped in to the apartment, closing the door lightly, while Iruka paced the apartment corridor. Kakashi found Naruto sitting on the couch, staring at the TV screen.

"What a pleasant surprise. How are you today Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, clad in white pajama bottoms only.

"Forget me. What about you? How's your stomach?" Kakashi asked.

"It's all right. Better." Naruto turned to look up at him and smiled. "Something I can do for you, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Yes. In fact there is." Kakashi said. "I want you to listen to me."

"You know I always do." Naruto said softly, turning his attention back to the TV. "What is it you want me to listen to?"

"I'm sorry." Kakashi whispered and sank onto his knees in front of Naruto. He peeled his mask off and pulled the hitai ate off as well. "I should have stopped you last night. I wanted to tell you that what happened between me and Sasuke was an accident. We were both drunk. And on Sasuke's side, he was just infatuated by the sex." Naruto kept staring at Kakashi, no words leaving his lips. Kakashi felt hurt - too hurt. He sucked in a shaky breath. "Do you remember back then? When I told you I had someone here?" Kakashi took Naruto's hand and placed it lightly on his chest, just above his heart. "It wasn't Sasuke, Naruto. It was you and it always has been. I am hurt. So hurt. And I know you are too. What you did last night was something I wouldn't be able to do, no matter what. And - And the idea that you are more than willing to stay away from me for someone else hurts! It really hurts!"

"I'm sorry for your pain." Naruto said sincerely.

"I love you Naruto. I love you so much. I am not such a generous person as you are, Naruto. I'm selfish. I don't want you to give up on me." Kakashi kissed Naruto's hands. "Because I'm not giving up on you."

Tears trickled down Naruto's cheek. "But Sasuke loves you."

"No he doesn't. He's just infatuated. I sorted it out with him before coming here, to you." Kakashi said, and stared at his tears. "And I don't ever want to see you cry and I don't ever want you to sacrifice your happiness because of me or Sasuke. You, of all people, deserve that happiness."

"You don't understand Kakashi-sensei. Forget me. I want you to be happy, sensei."

"And the only way to do that is if you let me love you. If you let me in there." Kakashi traced a circle on Naruto's chest, above his heart. "Just like I let you in here." He pressed Naruto's hand even more onto his own chest. "Please Naruto. Trust me. Trust me like you did before." Kakashi straddled Naruto and gently pushed Naruto's head against the back of the couch. "Trust me. Please." Kakashi placed a kiss on Naruto's closed eyelids trailing his lips down the tear tracks before doing the same to the other eye. "Please trust me." Kakashi's lips loomed over Naruto. "Trust me."

Naruto's lips trembled under Kakashi's ghosting one. "I - I'm not selfish."

"Be selfish. Just - Just this once. For me. Be selfish, for me." Kakashi whispered. "Just for me."

Kakashi continued to loom over Naruto's lips until blue eyes met his and they closed again. "I trust you."

Kakashi placed his lips over Naruto, and kissed him deeply.

TBC