Chapter Text
“Can I,” he whispered, his voice almost gone, his windpipe mere seconds away from turning into ashes, “kiss you?”
As soon as the last vowel escaped his mouth, he regretted asking instantly. His last breath was wasted in exchange for this. This look in Kakashi's eyes that gleamed a whirlpool of hesitation, of being put in a difficult position, not knowing what to say to an unreasonable request for a man with one hand already holding Death's. The reluctance went as fast as it came, but Gai knew he would remember this moment forever, if forever was still a possibility for him.
He slipped into unconsciousness, half hoping he would never wake up again.