AN: Thanks for the review, this chapter is a longer one than last time Here is another chapter... so under two months til Christmas, and that is my goal to finish this fic! Let's hope I can do it :D

To those who asked me to update A Mask through Time and Servant of the Uchiha, I will try and take a look at those soon.

Chapter 17

The moment Gai paid the bill and left the restaurant, he was pounced on by his matchmakers.

"What the hell was that?!" Ino screamed, oblivious to the rest of the Konoha population. "You actually just let him go?! I can't believe you! I can't believe him!"

Gai was looking off somewhere in the distance, eyes bright but unfocused. "I had to," he declared solemnly.

"What on earth are you talking about? He freaked out and you just let him walk away! And you," she wheeled around to point at Sakura. "What the hell is wrong with your sensei?! How rude was that! Gai-sensei just poured his heart out. Totally disrespectful of Gai-sensei's feelings!"

"It's not my fault!" she screeched back. "Kakashi-sensei has always been like that, he just comes and goes as he pleases. The man doesn't even use doors! Do you think I want him to behave like that?!"

"You've known him all these years and you can't even teach him some manners?" Ino asked disbelievingly.

"HE is supposed to be teaching ME- not the other way around!"

"You guys, SHUT UP! You're causing a scene," Tenten interrupted, standing between them. Sure enough members of the civilian population who were out for a walk in the pleasant cool of the summer evening, were watching the little exchange with mild interest. "And besides, what's happened has happened. There's nothing we or Gai-sensei could have done, he was always a flight risk."

"He's supposed to be a jonin and he's scared of a little love confession or something! It's crazy!"

"Well it must have been a big deal to Kakashi-sensei anyway. We just need to work out a new strategy," Tenten said trying to sound positive.

"Erm, Gai-sensei, are you alright?" Hinata said quietly, placing a hand on Gai's elbow.

The other three looked to the green clad man. Underneath those bushy brows, his eyes were moist and lost, his jaw clenched as if he were in great pain.

"Sorry girls, I just need to be alone for a while."

"Bu- but you need to go after him!" Ino pleaded. "You can't just leave it like this!"

"No, he may be right, it is not good to push Kakashi-sensei when he doesn't want to face something," Sakura conceded sadly.

"Well then what's the next step? If you leave it too long it could cause a rift in your friendship…"

"Fear not young ones," Gai said attempting to sound like his cheery self even as his eye leaked a single tear. Gai had always been the type to put on an overly happy brave face, trying to shake off his inner hurt so the others wouldn't have to see it. "I shall go to reconcile with my rival first thing tomorrow morning. Once he has had some time and space to think over whatever it is he is worrying about…"

All girls shifted guiltily. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Gai-sensei was supposed to swoop Kakashi-sensei off his feet based on their advice. They had watched so many films and read so many dating magazines in preparation for this. Yet it seemed all they had been able to achieve was to ruin a friendship and set Gai up for unrequited love…and kami only knows what they done to Kakashi.

"Gai-sensei…" Tenten began, unsure of what to say next. "I'm sorry if we caused trouble…"

Gai reigned in his sad emotions and knelt down to rub her head. "You did nothing of the sort, my fine student. In fact you have helped me greatly, by showing me my true feelings and passions. One should always be honest, even with themselves. I am proud of you for getting someone as hot-headed as myself to stop and find what is underneath the underneath.

"Now if you'll excuse me girls I need to rest before tomorrow. If I am to confront my rival again I will need it!" He forced a laugh, but it sounded sad and hollow.

Despite his positive words to the girls, the moment the front door shut behind Gai, he slid to the floor and cried unashamedly. He was used to being mocked, laughed at and even scorned for his enthusiasms and the way he conducted himself, but Kakashi's indifference always hurt a bit, despite his comedic berating of the man for playing it so cool. However Kakashi's running away from Gai after he had poured his heart out was nothing but painful. The felt as if his heart of ripped from his chest. How would he ever be able to put himself out there again like that?

After all they had been through, he couldn't believe Kakashi could just deny his feelings like that.

But then again, this was Kakashi, and Kakashi had never been one for confronting his feelings or anyone else's for that matter. He had to force himself to think of all of the other socially awkward things Kakashi had done over the years, all the times he had disappeared mid-conversation or shoved that orange book in front of his face like a shield.

Kakashi could be incredibly stupid for a genius and difficult, even harmful to himself; yet it was Kakashi's hidden weaknesses that made him human, and that made him Kakashi. In all honesty Gai should have anticipated such a reaction from a man who had closed his heart off years ago.

Gai headed to him bedroom and flopped down on the bed, pulling a brightly coloured pillow to him. Maybe it would have been better if he had never said anything. But then, knowing his own heart, could the Green Beast have lived with himself?

It was very late, with the stars glittering in the dark summer sky by the time Kakashi had finished talking with his departed loved ones. Usually coming here made him feel better, helped him to see things about himself more clearly. Yet this evening he still left feeling unsure.

Gai had been a great friend to him, better than he deserved. He had seen him at his lowest and continued to stay by his side. Even when Kakashi had been purposefully arrogant and mocking to him, showing him no respect. Now it was one of Kakashi's biggest regrets, falling only behind the deaths of his comrades.

Was this really why Gai had stuck with him all this time? Because he loved Kakashi?

Kakashi didn't know what to think. What to do. What to say in the inevitable confrontation he would have to have with his best friend.

He knew how hard it must have been for Gai to make that move, to bare his soul like that, yet Kakashi couldn't deny that he wished Gai had never said anything. That things could continue as they were.

Things were simple this way. Safe. Well as safe as can be for a shinobi anyway. And now Gai had gone and complicated things. Sure, Kakashi had been feeling lonely since his team disbanded, but that he could handle because he had always been lonely. It was the promise of intimacy that scared him most. He had shut himself away for so long, why did Gai have to do this now and reopen old wounds? What if he let Gai in only for something to happen to the man?

What if he lost Gai as a friend?

These thoughts swirled around the copy nin's head as he wandered back to his home through the dark and bustling streets of Konoha's nightlife.

Once Kakashi made it home he changed into some baggy PJs and plonked himself down on the sofa absently. He reached for Icha Icha out of habit, yet he didn't even glance at it. Instead he looked off into the distance.

"Yo boss, that you?" he heard the call from the kitchen. When Kakashi didn't respond the little pug came to investigate. "Hey, how did the date go?" The dog hoped up beside his master.

"Date? Why would you even say that? It wasn't a date!"

"Woah, someone's feeling touchy tonight. I saw those puppy eyes on the green one. He has it bad boss."

"Has what bad?"

The little pug sighed, clearly irritated with his brat of a master. "I'm not gonna spell it out for ya."

"Well if you have nothing useful to say then you are relieved," Kakashi snapped.

"Tch. Fine. And they say I'm grumpy." And with a small poof of smoke the little dog was gone, leaving Kakashi to his confused thoughts.

After an hour of drinking tea and attempting to distract himself (and failing) with various different books, for he couldn't sleep, a loud knock came at the door.

Kakashi froze halfway through turning a page: who the hell could that be at this hour? Was it Gai? Shit shit shit, he wasn't ready for this yet, he needed more time before he faced his rival again.

Kakashi sneaked towards the door again as another loud knock sounded. Looking through the peep hole, he sighed with relief. It wasn't him after all. But confusingly he also felt a slight pang that Gai hadn't come to try and repair the damage to their friendship or see if he was OK… but he guessed he deserved for Gai to ignore him after running away like that… he sighed again.

"I know you're in there Hatake, I can hear you sigh."

Shit. Now he had to open up to the intruder. With only a moment's hesitation, he opened the door without bothering to hide his irritation.

"What the hell do you want?"