Chapter Text
Cold machinery. Too-bright white sheets, bleached clean. Linoleum floors. The whole room has a sterile atmosphere. In the background, there are electronic beeps, steady and consistent, betraying the fact that within the confines of this room, past that distinct smell of hospital, there was life.
Against all odds, he was there. He'd done the impossible for the who-knows-how-many time by looking death in the eye and saying "No, not yet".
Kakashi took a breath, looking at his partner lying there in those stark white sheets.
He was glad that the smell of burned flesh wasn't as ever-present on Gai's charred body as he thought it would be.
Through an open window, the curtains drawn to let in the life of the world outside, sunlight filters in nicely, the lights in the room turned off so that they could keep their eyes open without getting headaches.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Kakashi said it again.
"Thank god you're alive."
"Kakashi..." Gai's voice was hoarse, having been unconscious for so long, but he smiled tearfully at him.
Kakashi reach out his hand, hesitating before gently brushing his fingertips against the top of the other man's hand, which rested next to him on the sheets. He knew that, even though the medical team had done great work with his burned skin, it still wasn't comfortable for him to be touched.
"It's okay, Gai, you don't have to talk, especially not if it hurts."
"A little discomfort isn't enough to stop me from catching up with my eternal rival! Don't worry about me."
"Hey... how can I not, Gai?" Gai turned his hand over and took Kakashi's in his own, giving it a delicate squeeze, prompting Kakashi to interlock their fingers together.
It was sweet of course, to know he cared, but it was also a painful reminder of his state and the pity he faced from it. Better than mockery, he supposed, but then again, those two things felt similar.
"I'll be okay, Kakashi." He finally replied, and lifted his free hand to give him a reassuring thumbs up. His smile was slightly forced, not as big as it usually was, but Kakashi smiled right back at him. "I survived the gate of death, i can survive the rest of recovery that i have to face. It's no challenge that i can't overcome."
"I don't doubt that." Kakashi looked out of the window for a moment, letting another wave of comfortable silence wash over them, minus a feeling that Kakashi wanted to say something.
"Kashi-"
"Don't pull something like that again, alright?" Kakashi was still smiling slightly, but his eyes were giving his rival an unreadable look.
Gai felt a pang of guilt. "I know. It likely would've killed me. It was reckless, but it was the only choice i had. I... hope that you know that, rival. That I wouldn't leave this world if i could avoid it. And i hope you can forgive me."
Kakashi examines Gai's face. "There's nothing to forgive, Gai. I'm not angry with you." He paused, speaking softer now. "I was terrified, Gai, that I'd lose you. But I'm not angry."
"Oh, Kashi..." Tears well up in Gai's eyes, his lower lip pouting slightly.
"Besides, you really helped us out there. Don't feel bad. You've done enough." Kakashi smiles, his eyes squinting as he does so. It was the most
Gathering his strength, Gai sits up on his elbow and throws his arm around his partner, pulling him down for a hug as he lies back down with a grunt and a sigh. Kakashi's eyes widen slightly in surprise, but he allows it, is thankful for it, really. His arms wrap around Gai's back and he shuts his eyes, both of allowing the silence to stretch on as they share the tight, yet careful embrace.
They held onto each other in an almost desperate way at first, letting it devolve into a relaxed hold.
"Kakashi..." Gai started, the man above him able to hear tears in his voice. "I'm so glad I'm alive, too. I wouldn't want to leave any of you. Maybe I'm old for a shinobi, but I'm still in my springtime, and I love you all so much. I love you, Kakashi!"
Kakashi's breath caught at those words. He'd heard Gai say them before, to him, even, but... he wasn't used to hearing him say it in such a way. It was... intense, to say the least.
He froze, not knowing what to do in response besides hold him tighter and try to recover from his heart beating too fast.
He knew the truth, though.
His hand shaking slightly and his head resting on Gai's chest, he brought his hand up to his mask and pulled it down.
"You really are strong, Gai." He smiles and lifts his head to meet his gaze. Gai looks back at him. There were tears still in his eyes and on his cheeks, one rolling down his beautiful cheekbones. His cheeks were tinged with red from both tearful and bashful emotions. It had been what seemed like forever since he last saw Kakashi's uncovered face, and, right now, it seemed even more handsome than the last times. It was probably to do with that gentle look in his eyes and his lips quirked in a smile.
"I am Konoha's red beast, rival!"
Kakashi didn't answer, already moving in closer and pressing his lips to Gai's forehead, letting them linger for a second or so.
Gai can't help the grin that stretches across his face. "You're not losing me anytime soon. After all, we are eternal rivals."
Kakashi lets out a laugh, the level of stress and tension that was in him earlier having left. "Yeah, eternal rivals, Gai."
Gai's smile only brightens as he relishes in the sound. "Stay here for a while, Kashi?"
"As if I'd leave."
Gai pumps his fist in the air and Kakashi sits back up. His hand, however, stays touching Gai. He brushes his hair away from his face and allows himself to indulge in taking in the other man's features.
"I love you, too, Gai."
It slipped out, really, and Gai gasped. He didn't often say those words, as it was difficult for him. Usually, it came out in different forms: smiles, touches, hums, saying "i feel the same" or something about how he cares about him.
"Aw, rival..."
"Forever." His tone was soft, yet serious.
"That means so much to me, Kakashi."
"And you mean so much to me, Gai."
Tears threatened to spill from Gai's cheeks again. "I'll love you forever, too, Kakashi! And i have for a long, long time. You know that?"
"Of course I do. You let me know every day. You..." his face feels warm suddenly. "You're my most precious person, Gai."
"And you are mine."
Kakashi lowers his head, smiling a dopey smile now, his cheeks flushed.
After a moment, he spoke. "Come here."
"I'm already here, rival!"
"No, I mean... come closer."
Gai quirked an eyebrow, shifting closer and scooting back to sit up against his pillows a little more, expecting to maybe listen to something Kakashi had to say. Instead of speaking immediately, Kakashi leaned forwards, resting one hand on the other side of Gai as the other brushed Gai's shoulder.
"Would it be alright... if I kissed you right now?" Kakashi's voice was nervous. They had kissed before in a few passion-fueled moments, and it was clear to both that there was something other than platonic feelings between them, but... with life as a shinobi, things were difficult, to put it simply.
"I... I would be honored." Gai was surprised, yet delighted that he had asked. "I would love to kiss you. Anytime. A thousand times and more! Asking isn't necessary, I promise, Kakashi!"
Kakashi's heart tightened and fluttered in his chest, his eyebrows lifting in an affectionate expression, and he closed the distance between their lips. The kiss was soft, sweet, and earnest, lasting a good moment or so before broke the contact, though he met his lips again after a short breath. Their lips stayed connected as Kakashi cautiously moved his way onto the bed and leaned over his lover, sitting with his knees on either side of Gai's unhurt leg. It was a minute or so of kissing briefly, over and over again, before Kakashi pulled away.
"Kakashi..." Gai spoke in a dreamy tone. His eyes stayed closed for a moment afterwards as they both caught their breath. Kakashi wrapped his arms around the other's shoulders, ever so careful not to be too rough with his possibly tender new skin.
Kakashi breathed out a laugh. "Do you remember the first time we kissed...?"
"Hm? Yes, I do. We were so young. It was lovely, but... It was also scary."
"Was I really that bad?" Kakashi giggled, idly petting Gai's smooth hair. It had gotten longer in the hospital. Gai would probably want to cut it soon.
"No, your skills were fine, rival, and I wouldn't expect anything less than wonderful from you! I just mean... I didn't know exactly what it meant. I didn't know how we felt or what would happen..."
"Hm... me neither."
Gai was quiet for a moment, staring at his rival's face, clearly thinking hard.
"And you're still unsure?"
"I... yes..." he looked away.
"Gai, I love you. You're my best friend. My eternal rival. You're one of the most important people in my life. You don't need to worry about what we have. It's not going away."
"I- I never doubted that, Kakashi! But we... are we..."
"Are we together like that? Are we lovers?"
"Are we, Kashi?"
"I sure hope so. What do you want, Gai?"
"You." He responded immediately, his voice clear and sure. "Us. I'm not going to deny my heart by saying that I don't wish for us to make our most romantic of relations official."
Kakashi was nearly swooning. "Then we are... together." Gai brushes his knuckles against Kakashi's cheek and Kakashi takes his hand, leaning into his touch.
Now, Gai was crying again, overwhelmed with happiness. "Oh, rival! I'm so glad! Nothing makes me happier than knowing that you want the same as I do! Besides having it, of course..." he squeezed his arms around him again, ignoring the aches in his muscles and the pain that went down to his very core in favor of going with the youthful, love-filled wants of his heart.
Kakashi made a soft sound in his throat and shut his eyes. "I'm so happy, too... I know I don't express it well, but I really, really do love you."
"Kakashi, you're enough, I promise! Anything you give me is enough." He sniffed. "I do enjoy hearing you say things like that, though."
"You deserve it."
"And so do you, rival."
"You better stop being so sweet, or I'm gonna cry, too, you know."
"I will never stop!"
"Hm. Good."