AN:

Emijonks- Kakashi, although a genious shinobi, can be pretty dense sometimes with normal human emotions. Or I like to think so anyway! heehee.

Guest1- Thank you :) That's very nice to hear as I have been told the opposite about my portrayal og Gai before! But I just loved the concept of him taking cliche advice from the teenage girls and turning it on it's head! GaiKaka is sooo adorable too :D

And now onto some more silly antics from apparent professional shinobi...

Chapter 9

"What an-"

"Oi! That's my sensei you're talking about, Ino-pig!"

"That doesn't mean he isn't really annoying! Errgh! I just wanted to see the gift, no need to be so RUDE!"

"Ah, my rival can often provoke that sort of reaction." Gai nodded solemnly, looking reminiscent of a wise sage. "It is what I call his 'hip' and 'cool' attitude. It is really quite youthful, you know."

Ino sighed and flicked her hair out of her face. "Whatever. Anyway, what did you get him Gai-sensei?"

Gai crossed his arms now, looking smug. "I chose a flower truly worthy of our honest and passionate love."

"Yes?" all four girls said, leaning closer. They were trying not to the let the cuteness of the situation take over, and start squealing. Gai being in love was really quite sweet, and Kakashi was kind of cute, in his annoying hip way.

"I got my eternal rival something that represents just that... my eternal love. I got him... a cactus."

All three sweat dropped.

"What the hell?!" Ino, Sakura and Tenten demanded.

"A cactus?!" Ino roared. "Seriously. A cactus? Out of all those beautiful flowers...you chose a cactus."

"It's perfect, don't you think?"

"No!" the three chimed.

"Well actually," Hinata piped up. "It is actually a nice idea."

Ino and Sakura rounded on the Hyuuga. "What?"

"Erm well... Ino I thought you would know..." The girl jumped when Ino shot her a scowl, but Tenten nodded encouragingly at the shy Hyuuga to continue her explanation. "The cactus as a flower symbolizes endurance and a love that will never fade. It's unconditional so no matter how harsh the times might be this love will always endure and stay strong."

"So when Gai-sensei said that it is for his eternal rival and love..." Tenten continued.

"I am offering a gift that represents only the purest and lasting of loves to my eternal rival. It also symbolizes warmth, bravery and affection, something I think a shinobi like Kakashi will appreciate."

"How clever," Tenten said, smiling.

Sakura's eyes were watering. "Gai-sensei," she sniffed. "That... that's... SO FREAKIN' CUTE!"

"I wish someone would get me a cactus..." Ino mumbled dreamily.

Tenten pulled her sensei into a hug. "Well done, sensei," she whispered.

Gai smiled and hugged her back. "Thanks. I just hope Kakashi likes it."

Kakashi placed his new cactus next to his Mr Ukki plant in the bedroom, and then stood back to admire them, side by side on the window sill. He smiled to himself. The cactus actually looked good in his flat.

However he still didn't understand why on earth Kotetsu would give him one... if it was indeed him, of course. There was no way of knowing for sure, unless he asked him outright.

No, he would never do that! He wouldn't give him the satisfaction of thinking he is interested. If Kakashi wanted to know he would have to be sly about it. He would need to 'bump' into the chunin and see if he acts any differently, or gives anything away.

But how? He didn't have any missions coming up, having only just got back from one recently, so he had no need to leave the village or be anywhere near the gate post. Unless...

Come to think of it, Gai went for a morning jog around the whole village every morning. All he had to do was join him, and when they finished at the gates, it would be the perfect excuse to be there and gauge the chunin's reaction.

If- and this was a big if- he could wake up early, and by that he meant 'Gai early', and not be late. Gai's daily routine was a bit extreme, even if the man had proved that hard work pays off.

Decided on his course of action, Kakashi headed to the mission room to check the rotas for the morning gate duty, to ensure the chunin was working.

It was 5am and Gai had already downed one of his super-healthy-smoothies and finished one hundred stomach crunches. He felt good this morning, as if he were weightless. His recent discovery of his own feelings, with the help of those charming teenage girls, had relieved a burden he hadn't known he'd been carrying.

Suddenly everything made sense. He finally knew what he had wanted all along, but for some reason hadn't spotted the signs himself. He loved Kakashi. He always had. He always will. Almost every good memory he had involved the silver shinobi. Even the bad ones were made more bearable by his presence. He wanted to spend the rest of his life by the man's side, as more than friends and rivals. If Kakashi would let him, he would spend every day proving just how much he loved him.

5:05- damn he was running late! That's what he got for being lost in his thoughts. Gai hastily stepped outside into what he was sure would be another insanely hot day. Just as he began his jog, a voice glued his feet to the ground.

"Gai!"

Gai nearly went into shock.

"Rival! You're up...early?"

"Of course! We haven't trained together in a while, you know."

"But... you're up early! And on time!"

"Well... actually I'm late. I was supposed to arrive in time to eat breakfast at your's, therefore saving some money..."

Gai's jaw nearly dropped.

Then he recovered. What was wrong with him, this was the perfect opportunity? This is just what he wanted. Kakashi had most likely worked out who the cactus was from, understood it's message entirely, and come to confess his ardent and burning love!

But just in case he should try to bring it up subtly. If he referenced the cactus he could work out Kakashi's thoughts from his reaction. Yeah!

"Well, in that case- good morning my eternal and constant rival! It will be a pleasure to train with you today and always, regardless of the obstacles ahead! Our friendship is one of youthful passion, and may it continue to grow even in the harshest and most unyouthful of environments!"

Kakashi blinked. He should have thought through this plan. Gai's talk of youth was probably something he should avoid in the mornings, or at least until he had fueled himself with enough strong coffee.

"Err, yeah sure. Shall we get going?"

Gai beamed. "Let us begin our journey of manly triumph in the rise of the morning sun!"

"We are just jogging right? I think I'll need a nap before any serious training."

"I challenge you rival! To a morning race around the village, first one to touch the gates wins! The loser has to buy the other dinner tonight."

Kakashi thought about it. He didn't have any plans tonight and he hadn't hung out with Gai for a while. "Deal."

Gai couldn't believe it- it would be just like a date! Whatever the outcome he would win. Although in all seriousness, he could never allow his rival to claim a victory in their rivalry willingly- that was was madness, he had a winning score to maintain.

They shook hands. Gai's grip was its usual enthusiastically firm and over the top, but this time it seemed to linger.

Kakashi pulled back his own hand. Gai really was a handful in the morning. He yawned.

"Alright, on the count of three?"

Gai nodded intensely, as if they were going into battle against Madara.

"One."

"Two."

"Three!" they both shouted together. And they were off. If Kakashi had been hoping for a relaxing morning jog, he certainly didn't get it here. Gai was taking this very seriously, bounding ahead and calling out mockingly to Kakashi.

"I'll definitely be working up an appetite for my free dinner, rival! Brace yourself and your wallet."

That does it. Kakashi had to step on it, so to speak. He lunged forward with a burst of speed, over taking Gai. Laughing, he called over his shoulder, "Well, I'll be sure to pick somewhere you hate. And that's really expensive! When I win!"

"Ha! In you're dreams rival!" Gai couldn't help but smile. He had been missing their challenges and the banter. Kakashi always brightened up his day.

They began playing dirty, hiding round corners only to jump out at each other, throwing various objects they found and trying to trip or distract each other. It was so much fun that their laughter rang out wherever they ran, causing the villagers to shout out their windows at them angrily for waking them.

"Oi! Do you brats even know what time it is?!" one old woman snapped.

"Apologies, my good woman!" Gai called back, waving. "But there is a challenge at stake!"

Kakashi used this chance to barrel roll himself into Gai's legs from the front. He didn't manage a smooth get away though as Gai fell down on top of him with a scream of "riiiival!" The old woman shouted even more at this and threatened to come down their and beat their loud, annoying asses with her broom.

Gai pushed himself on his elbows, only to find his face inches from Kakashi's. Kakashi was smiling, finding the situation very amusing. Since Naruto and Sasuke had both left, he hadn't been laughing as much anymore, so he was happy he had Gai to mess around with and relieve some of the tension of being a shinobi.

Gai stayed where he was for some moments. If he just leaned in a little more their lips would touch... Kakashi's smile turned mischievous. Could it be... Gai wondered for a moment if the younger man was going to kiss him.

Kakashi suddenly flipped Gai onto his stomach, and tied his arms together with chakra wire, that he kept in the pocket of his flak jacket. With a quick "see ya!" he was off running into the distance. Although disappointed at the true cause of Kakashi's mischief, Gai couldn't help but laugh. So that's the way Kakashi was gonna play this game. Well Gai wouldn't allow him the upper hand for long.

Gai released the first gate, and broke the wire. With his hands free again, he could run faster and he used the power of the first gate to catch up with, and overtake, his rival.

"Oi, that's cheating!" Kakashi called.

"No, you're use of a shinobi weapon was cheating. I am merely evening the odds."

"Hah. Smart ass." Kakashi grinned at him. "You'd better stop that, before you run out of energy and can't even move. Using a technique like for a challenge isn't worth it, Gai."

"Fair point." Gai stopped himself using the gates before things got out of hand. Using it any longer could cause some damage or tire him out. He had already gained the lead now anyway. But he must admit, it was good to hear his rival telling him off, and worrying about him; it was a sure sign of affection.

They were just coming up to the village gates now, marking the end of the race around the village. Despite needing to concentrate on the challenge to save his poor wallet later, Kakashi glanced towards the gate post where the two chunins were.

They were used to seeing Gai around at this time, as well as shinobi returning or leaving for missions, but Kakashi was never up so early. That in itself was reason enough for them to stare, open mouthed. Add to this the insane speed both were running at, and Gai's battle-style intensity, and you could understand their shock. This incident happening the day after Kotetsu's 'conquest' was the cherry on top of the cake.

When he recovered from his shock, Kotetsu smirked at Kakashi seductively and licked his lips suggestively. Kakashi's visible eye widened in shock and embarrassment, and in his distraction he failed to notice Gai's flak jacket being flung in the direction of his feet. Instead of coolly jumping over such an obvious obstacle, the silver haired jonin tripped right over it and fell flat on his face. He looked up, dazed, just in time to see Gai touch the gate and give a loud victory roar, and heard the two chunins laughing together at his expense.

"He had better not pick that fucking curry house again..." Kakashi groaned to himself. It wasn't even 6am yet and his wallet was about to take a huge hit, and he had made a fool of himself.