AN: Whoop! I am on a roll today. Now I am back from my holiday I have managed to update both my fics in one day! Both chapters are a decent length too. Yosh! I hope you enjoy this chapter. I think it was a bit obvious what was coming with this confrontation but I hope it is enjoyable to read all the same. Let me know what you think. The main question is where will it go from here...?

Chapter 5

He knew exactly where to find Kakashi without trying to sense his chakra. Gai had always known where to look for the elusive silver ninja. Sure enough, as Gai stopped at the gates of the graveyard, his love stood watching the memorial stone. But this time a new name had been added for him to mourn over.

After watching Kakashi for a few moments, his heart aching and his head pounding, he slowly approached. Kakashi didn't turn. He just stared at the names on the cold stone.

"Hello rival."

Gai had his attention now. Kakashi whipped around. He gasped and clutched his hand over his chest as if in pain. "No," he breathed. "You're-...You're-"

Gai smiled and held out his arms. He was about to say "No, I'm not dead" but Kakashi suddenly lunged forwards.

"You're a genjutsu!"

Kunai ready, he charged. Shuriken flew at him, and a lot of them. Gai yelped and ducked. He barely had time to jump away before Kakashi was in front of him, swiping with his kunai. "'Kashi, calm down. Stop! It's me."

"Who's there?!" Kakashi shouted to their surroundings. "You had better have an explanation ready for sick joke."

Distracted as Kakashi was, Gai was able to kick him, his foot hitting him hard on the left cheek. Kakashi was knocked to the ground. He rubbed his face and stared at Gai perplexed.

"That felt..."

"Real?" Gai offered.

Kakashi stared at him, blinking back the tears. He nodded. Then he shook his head vigorously, as if trying to dispel a trick, a nightmare. "No," he whispered. Then he spoke louder and firmly. "No, this can't be real. Gai isn't here anymore. He left me, he's- he's dead. He has been for over a year!"

Kakashi stood now and shouted at Gai. He should have expected this. If Kakashi wouldn't let himself cry he would have to deal with the rage.

"I'm not dead Kakashi. I'm here. With you. I never left. Well, not really. You were always in my hea-"

"Oh cut the corny crap! Gai is dead and no illusion, no matter how damn cheesy, could ever replace him. He is dead. And I'm still here. Without him. And I have been for a while." He seemed to zone out and started muttering to himself. "He is gone. He had been gone for one year, four months, one week and one day...He won't ever come back. So don't you dare try to impersonate him!"

Kakashi charged again, an emotional wreck. He was sobbing as he ran and couldn't control his breathing. Gai was prepared this time and caught him easily. With a sharp knock to the his wrist, Kakashi dropped the kunai. Gai held him.

Kakashi struggled in his arms for a bit, trying to punch him, trying to get away. Gai worried he would never be able to convince Kakashi it was really him. But then the sounds of struggling were replaced by something else entirely. Sniffing. Inhaling. Kakashi was smelling him.

Of course! Kakashi had a keen nose, how could he forget?! He breathed in Gai's musky, sweaty scent (Gai was a little embarrassed he hadn't taken the time to shower before rushing here- but then again Kakashi had got a whiff of him plenty of times after working out) and then Kakashi froze. Gai moved a hand under Kakashi's chin and tilted the man's face up towards his.

"Yes, 'Kashi, my love. It's really me."

Kakashi broke down. Completely broke down. Gai had never seen it before. Not to this extent. Kakashi's face was wet with tears; he choked on his own sobs. His hands tightened into fists, pulling on Gai's civilian shirt.

Kakashi could barely speak. But he tried. "It's- Is it-"

He cried some more.

"Re- Reanimation Jutsu?" he managed to get out.

Gai, also crying (though he was a lot better at handling his emotions than Kakashi) shook his head softly. "No. I never died Kakashi. Tsunade never found my body. She just wanted to spare you the pain. But she was wrong- I wasn't dead. I was lost to this world though; I was in a coma this whole time. I couldn't wake up."

Kakashi looked up at him, studying Gai through his tears. He still looked as if he thought this was a dream he would wake from.

"Although," Gai smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "I am sure one kiss from you would have woken me Prince 'Kashi."

Gai laughed. Kakashi managed to roll his eyes at the lame joke and pull on a vaguely bored expression. He wasn't fooling Gai though. He still loved him. Gai could feel it. Kakashi was broken without him. Something dark inside Gai was happy at the thought that his rival had been miserable without him; though he would never admit that. He couldn't believe Kakashi knew the exact day since he had "died".

Gai thought about their last time together. The last words they had spoken to each other:

"Kakashi, please be mine. Forever."

"Forever," Kakashi agreed and wriggled up to kiss Gai. "I will be yours always, until death."

He knew in his heart without a doubt that Kakashi had stayed loyal to his memory. It was one of the most youthful tales of passion, rivalry and love. And they would finally have their happy ending.

Gai was about to tell Kakashi so. The younger man had managed to calm down a bit in the midst of his revelation. He had gotten some sort of grip on himself. Gai should have expected such a strong reaction from Kakashi though- after all Kakashi's loved ones dying around him was a horrifyingly common thing. Minato-sensei being rived with the edo-tensei and then leaving again had brought on Kakashi's old brooding again. Gai had feared that Kakashi would go back to his teenage ways once again. No wonder he had feared Gai being alive was too good to be true. If Kakashi had joined ANBU again then that couldn't be a good sign...

"It's OK, Kakashi, you don't have to worry anymore. I'm back now. And I'm here to stay. By your side. Forever."

Kakashi gulped back his tears. He opened his mouth to say something but Gai put a finger on his lips. Whatever he was worrying about could wait. Gai leaned forwards to kiss his long time and only love.

"Gai-san! So it's true!"

Gai froze. He knew that voice. Why the fuck did he have to appear now, of all times.

Gai moved away from Kakashi but all he wanted to do was hold the man tighter and take him away from the newcomer. Gai had been gone a long time, but this situation was all too familiar. He sighed. "Yamato," he put on his best nice guy smile.

"Wow, I can't believe it. I thought Sakura-chan was crazy when I caught her running round the village looking for you. But I see that she is correct: you're alive."

Sure enough, Sakura came up behind Yamato, clearly out of breath.

Gai wanted nothing more than to say "wow thanks, captain obvious. Wood really can be dense ,eh?" He had to hold back a chuckle at his own lame joke. Instead he put on a sincere expression.

"Yes, I survived. I was in a coma in a small village this whole time. But I am here now. Things can go back to the way they were." Gai looked pointedly at Kakashi as he said this. He was about to walk put his arm around the man, when he saw Kakashi squirm slightly. He knew when the silver ninja was more than a little uncomfortable. But what about Gai's comment had inspired this reaction, he wondered?

Yamato took a step forward smirking. There was something predatory in the man's eyes. As much as he and Gai disliked each other, he was certain that Yamato had never wished anything bad on Gai, nothing like this. But Yamato's stance was defensive and his eyes had a glint in Gai couldn't read. He moved protectively towards Kakashi.

Gai stiffened as Yamato's arm came to rest around Kakashi's shoulder. What the hell was going on?

"Kakashi and I are both so glad to have you back," Yamato said sweetly. He wasn't hostile towards Gai, but there was a warning there: keep your distance. "If there's anything we can do while you're settling back in..."

"We...?"

Yamato looked uncomfortable but determined. Kakashi couldn't even meet his eyes.

"Gai-sensei," Sakura spoke. "While you were away..." She was trying to be gentle but the sheer horror of what she was trying to say had already taken hold of Gai. His mouth gaped open, his face drained of colour. He couldn't move. He couldn't take his eyes off Kakashi. It couldn't be true...

"Kakashi and I are together now," Yamato finished for her.

Gai's world fell apart all over again.