AN: Hello, I am back to some more Gai fluff and cuteness :D I am hoping to push on with this fic and finish it soon.

I feel a bit uneasy about this chapter, can't put my finger on exactly why, but I hope it doesn't disappoint at any rate. YOu definitely won't guess that happens anyway heh. But things should pick up in the next few chapters *smiles evilly*

Thanks for the anon review ;D Anyway here marks the start of the 'date'.

Chapter 12

It was 6:59 and Kakashi was still drying his hair in his dressing gown, in his usual lazy manner. Pakkun sat on his bed watching bored. The little pug often kept Kakashi company, what with master being quite anti-social most of the time. He looked over at the civilian clothes Kakashi had laid out. A blue t-shirt and light jacket, with some black jeans. He was curious- Kakashi had said he had lost a bet to Gai and going for food as usual; so why the need to civilian clothes?

"Boss, what time did you say you were meeting him?"

Before Kakashi could answer, the clock hit exactly 7:00 and almost instantly there was a loud banging on the front door. Kakashi merely smiled mischievously at his companion without his mask and the little pug sighed.

"Fine I'll get it," he plodded out of the bedroom to the door muttering, "Always bloody late" under his breath. Kakashi's door had been designed to respond to the little dogs chakra, so with a mere paw pressed to the door and a release of chakra, it opened.

Gai stood proudly holding out a small box covered in brightly coloured wrapping paper. When the door opened and he saw no one, he blinked in confusion. Pakkun cleared his throat and drew the gaze of the green beast downward. Pakkun couldn't hide his surprise at seeing Gai's outfit for the evening. The man was wearing a full suit, complete with green bow tie. The trousers were slightly too short, revealing a sliver of orange and confirming that Gai had actually chosen to wear his orange leg warmers under the black trousers. Pakkun sighed; he had a feeling this wouldn't be a normal night in any case.

"Err, why don't you come in Gai-san," Pakkun said, still slightly bewildered. "Kakashi is late again."

"What?! But I have booked the most youthful of seats, we only have twenty minutes to get there!" Gai said, taking off his shoes and slipping to some of Kakashi's guest slippers.

"Can't you both jutsu there quicker? Or race as your always so fond of?"

"But that isn't proper! We cannot ruin our most elegant attire either! And besides," Gai pulled a face as his hopped from foot to foot. "These smart clothes really aren't strechy." Pakkun snorted at Gai clearly pining for his jumpsuit.

"Please make yourself at home Gai-san, I'll just go check on Kakashi." With Gai deposited in the living room, Pakkun headed back to his master. Kakashi had finally finished his hair, which fell over his face since he wasn't wearing the head band, and was finally pulling his blue t-shirt over his head.

"Off," Pakkun barked at him. "You need to get those off while I pick out some new clothes."

"Huh?" Kakashi said as he pulled it off again; he could rarely be bothered to argue with the little dog who had a terrific attitude when he wanted to show it. "Why?"

"Because if you don't dress up more Gai-san will stand out even more."

Kakashi sighed. "He said dress smart so I'm guessing it isn't a jump suit?"

"Oh, it definitely isn't a jump suit," Pakkun said he jumped onto the self in Kakashi's small wardrobe and started rummaging through with his nose. When he had settled on something he threw it out on the bed and then began hunting some more.

When Kakashi turned in nothing but his boxers and saw what Pakkun had put together he raised his eye brows. "Really?"

"Yep. Don't worry you still won't outshine Gai."

Gai was shifting around uncomfortably in his full suit and pouting. Why on earth did people wear these things? He much preferred his clothes to hug his body, not hinder it. The green beast was busy practicing nice guy poses in his outfit and the bedroom door finally opened and Kakashi called out, "Sorry I'm late, Pakkun ate my outfit." Which caused the little mutt to growl defensively.

Gai turned and felt that his breath was taken away. Kakashi approached him smiling, dressed in tight black trousers and and a grey shirt with silver strips that matched his hair perfectly, and glimmered slightly in the light. It was tucked in, probably under Pakkun's instructions, though Kakashi had rolled the sleeves up to his elbows. Gai could clearly see the nosebleed inducing outline of his body in this outfit. Only briefly did Kakashi ever remove his flak jacket and jonin shirt, and Gai was immensely happy that this was one of those times. It was too bad that Kakashi chose to wear his usual mask, but at least the headband was removed, allowing his hair to flop about sexily. All this combined actually achieved the impossible; Gai was speechless.

"Wow, Gai," Kakashi said on seeing his friend's full suit. He had never seen Gai dressed so... formal. Though he smiled affectionately at the green bow tie and slither of orange where socks should be; he was glad that despite his elaborate clothe, Gai was still Gai. He wouldn't have it any other way. And despite the looser clothing (and anything was looser than that jump suit) Gai still maintained a hint of his shinobi presence, the graceful outline of strong muscles that could break a man's bones with a single hit.

"So," Kakashi continued, aware that Gai was staring at him. "Shall we get going? I believe you said we had reservations..."

This seemed to snap Gai out of his dreamy daze. He yelped and jumped towards the coffee table than shoved a package into Kakashi stunned hands. It was a small box wrapped with ghastly looking paper. "Erm, thanks," Kakashi said. "But it isn't my birthday for another few months."

Gai shook his head beaming. "This is just a token of my eternal devotion."

Eternal devotion? Kakashi hadn't believed Gai could take their eternal any further than they already had. Was this some sort of eternal rival related anniversary he wasn't aware of? If so he had better play along to spare Gai's feelings, even though he did usually try to play it cool in the face of Gai's passionate eccentricities.

He tore open the paper gently, while Gai was practically bouncing with impatience. Pakkun was watching all this avidly, realisation dawning on the pug. That love-sick-puppy look on Gai's face told him everything he needed to know. Kakashi, as usual for the shinobi genius with little common sense when it came to personal life, hadn't picked up on it. The idiot. How can the young man be such a prodigy if he couldn't see what was right in front of his face. Paukkun would be having words with the brat later.

A card box was revealed when Kakashi finally finished unwrapping it. So Kakashi lifted the lid to find what could only be some sort of home made chocolates. They had been molded into various things like kunai or shuriken, but Kakashi spotted the best one a mile away. He held what had to be an interpretation of Pakkun's glum pug face, next the little dog's head, smiling teasingly at the dog.

"Look's just like you!"

Pakkun scowled. "Impossible! That face is clearly too fat!"

Kakashi burst into fits of laughter and couldn't stop for a while. He was clutching his stomach and hunched over, enjoying the pug's angry glares immensely. Gai had a big grin plastered on his face, delighted to hear such a carefree, real laugh from his rival. Kakashi didn't often let himself go like that. The messy afternoon melting chocolate bar after chocolate bar had been worth it, just to hear the joy pouring from Kakashi now. He could have bought chocolates of course, but Gai felt that was too easy- he needed a challenging gift to woo someone as talented as his rival! Gai never took the easy route after all, and that's why Kakashi respected him and his youthful determination.

"Thank you, Gai," Kakashi said, wiping a tear from his eye. "I needed that. But I didn't get you anything."

"My pleasure, my rival. Don't worry, you don't need to give me anything, just the pleasure of your most youthful company."

Despite tonight feeling a bit different from their usual meals out, Kakashi couldn't help smiling at Gai's unreserved warmth. Even in Kakashi's darkest moments, it had never failed to win him round. He rarely admitted it, even to himself, but he needed Gai's friendship to keep him sane.

Kakashi placed his gift on the table and turned back to Gai, beaming. "Where are we going?"

Gai proudly put his hands on his hips, puffinf his chest out. "I, Maito Gai, have acquired us a table at the most prestigious new attraction in-"

"So the new restaurant?" Kakashi said, impressed but a bit shocked to be going somewhere so different from their usual, sushi, curry or ramen bars. He glanced at the time and decided that his questions were for another time; "Hm so since Pakkun made us late," here the dog barked at his master, "Race you there?"

And in a blink Kakashi had poofed away.

"What?! But I can't run in this!" With a hearty laugh Gai pulled off the jacket and rolled his trousers up above his knees, fully revealing his orange leg warmers. The next second he was hot on his rival's trail.