AN: Beware- I was waaay too tired to proofread this. Hope you like it anyway.

Chapter 21

Gai kept walking, quickly as if he had a purpose. But in reality he had no destination in mind, he was just trying to put as much distance between himself and Kakashi as possible. Without even realising until he had arrived, Gai had ended up in the very same public garden that he had seen the girls in, where this heart breaking path had all began. If only he had never set foot here that fateful day. If only he had not realised his true feelings for Kakashi. It would have saved him the unbearable pain he was feeling right now.

But that mean he wouldn't have been entirely honest with himself.

Gai shook his head as the tears started rolling down his cheeks. One of the things he prided most about himself was his open and honest feelings. He always took the bull by the horns as it were. He may not have won the affections of the copy ninja, but at least he was no longer living in denial. He would just have to get past this to salvage their friendship.

"Gai-sensei!"

The green beast turned at the sound of his student's worried call. The girl gasped when she saw his tears flowing freely. He knew he should try to hide them for her sake, but one of his lesson's as a sensei had been that there was no shame in showing your true emotions.

"So you were watching then?" He managed to choke out.

The three girls nodded sadly.

"I'm sorry Gai-sensei," Tenten began, eyes also suspiciously moist and round with concern. She open and closed her mouth a couple of times, unsure how to proceed, but wanting to offer some words of comfort.

"Are you OK, sensei?" asked Hinata.

"I will be."

"What happened?" Ino asked.

"The best man won," Gai answered simply.

"But that's not true!" Ino said. "It can't be. We saw him leave right after you did. Kakashi-sensei didn't look happy."

"And of course he isn't better than you! How could he be? You are amazing sensei, and if Kakashi-sensei can't see that he is a, a ba-"

"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you, my dear student. After all, despite what happened, Kakashi is the one I love. It isn't a crime not to return my feelings, regardless how much I wish it were so."

"Well, it should be," mumbled Tenten, arms folded.

"But Gai-sensei what if you've got it wrong?"

"I doubt that very much," Gai said solemnly, not even allowing the smallest bit of hope. "I won't divulge my rival's personal affairs, but it was quite evident that I have come to the correct conclusions. As much as it hurts, I need to face the truth. And it is time I put my own jealously and selfish desires aside and do the right thing. I must apologise to Hagane-san and Kakashi, and wish them well."

"But-"

"It is the noble thing to do, Tenten-chan. If Hagane-san has honourable intentions and loves my rival as much as I do, and Kakashi has feelings for him, then who am I to stand in their way?"

"But that's not fair on you!" Ino said.

"Life isn't fair, my young students. You will discover this for yourselves someday. But all we can do is work hard, make the most of our youth, and face it head on when things don't go as we hoped."

"Sensei…" Tenten said quietly, wishing there was something she could do.

"Thank you for your concern, but don't worry about me, girls," Gai said, forcing a smile. "I still have my youth. Although I won't be needed these anymore." He threw something small and orange into a nearby bin.

"Right, I suppose I had better freshen up and then find Hagane-san. You said he left Kakashi's already? I want to let him know I am backing down and that he has nothing to be concerned about before I make amends with my rival."

They nodded and watched him go each with an aching heart. Was this really all their fault?

"This is a disaster," Ino moaned.

"Poor Gai," Tenten said, trying not to sob.

Hinata however had wandered over to the bin and pulled out the bright item Gai had thrown away. "Oh, it is a copy of Kakashi-sensei's favourite book."

"Eww!" Ino said. "Put that prevy trash back where you found it!"

"Gai-sensei, wow he really through a lot of effort to read that," Tenten said.

"Look, there is something inside," Hinata said, pulling out some folded paper, covered in bold flowing writing.

"Not more pervy poetry!" Ino said, recoiling in the memories of last time Gai had tried to read some to them.

"No…this is… this is different…"

Tenten made a grab for it and read her sensei's words thoroughly.

"We have to show this to Kakashi-sensei."