Gai, Part 1
“RIVAL!” Gai shouted boisterously as he opened his door (ignoring his neighbors’ sleepy cries of 'Not again!' or 'Shut up and go to sleep, Gai!') He’d sensed Kakashi’s chakra hovering nearby for at least two hours but it was three in the morning and the man needed to stop haunting his flat.
“Maa,” Kakashi chuckled anxiously, pulling at the fabric that was oddly constricting against his throat. Normally it didn’t bother him; normally it was comforting. He eye-smiled and waved an apology at Gai’s neighbor peering out her window, an old retired kunoichi who had been a friend of Kushina’s original guard. The ancient kunoichi still had a mean left hook. The woman’s face pinched; then she flipped him off. “No respect,” he sighed. Probably justified.
Exasperated, Gai jerked his friend into his cozy apartment, flipping him over him and his wheelchair and onto his couch, having the feeling that Kakashi was once again thinking something self-deprecating. For some reason when not in battle, Kakashi always reminded him of a beat-up blue donkey who would drawl, “Thanks for noticin’ me” before his poorly attached tail fell off. Not that he would say such a thing: no. That would be highly unyouthful. “What can I do for you, Lord Sixth?”
Kakashi shot him a look that told him he didn’t appreciate being called a “Lord” or a number. Gai smiled even bigger and more genuinely.
“Maa, Pakkun said I should talk to you.”
“Ah! Pakkun has always been very wise! A Fine Testament to your Impeccable Skills and Leadership!”
Well spotted, Kakashi thought sarcastically. Pakkun had “wisely” lambasted him for being a buffoon for not recognizing Naruto’s affections earlier. He'd also made fun of him again for being what the pug called a “Super Virgin.” He pulled at the material against the neck of his mask again. “I… got a confession today.” I think. Although Naruto was pretty clueless. Maybe she’d just been being friendly. Really friendly.
Kissy-friendly!
Gai gasped, wondering if someone had finally fessed up. “Congratulations. But do not think this means you’ve finally bested me,” he said slyly, unintentionally glancing only for a fraction of a second toward his bedroom as he continued to grin.
Kakashi jumped off the couch as he finally realized that Gai wasn’t alone. Oh, he felt so foolish. It was terrible to intrude and to have simply assumed he would be available. He should have tried to sense if the Fresh Green Hell was busy or… use his damn nose. Not that he wanted to, mind you. “So—” Tongue-tied when his nose did finally tell him who was present, he bowed and then vaulted over Gai and his wheelchair. “Sorry to trouble you two!”
Moments later, Shizune came out and rubbed her tired eyes. “So what happened?”
Gai stared at where his rival had just disappeared. It seemed this time Kakashi wasn’t coming back. He sighed, feeling that he’d seriously let the man down. But tomorrow - or rather in only a few hours - the sun’s rising would bring with it a New Opportunity! “Kakashi has received a Confession.”
Shizune blinked her bleary eyes. “Doesn’t he get those all the… OH!” She grinned maniacally, knowing that she might need to enlist help. Naruto would probably need it, either way. “Tell me everything.”
Gai grimaced. "There's not much to tell..."