Chapter Text
Kakashi cannot stand to look at the older man. Gai, on the other hand, cannot seem to stop. It is unfortunate that this only seems to upset Kakashi further, making him even more cold and standoffish than usual.
The older Kakashi from the future — Gai cannot understand why Kakashi does not seem to appreciate how cool this is, or how cool Kakashi from the future is — does not appear the slightest bit concerned or offended by his younger counterpart's ambivalence towards him. In fact, he appears to be delighted by it and casually provokes it at every opportunity. It is as if he finds a strange satisfaction in the way Kakashi bristles and tries even harder to pretend he doesn't exist, even though this mission to hunt down Konoha's erstwhile Uchiha wouldn't even exist without him.
It is strange to witness Kakashi having a physical target for all his self-hatred and self-flagellation. Occasionally, despite himself, Gai finds himself imagining what it would be like to meet his own older self. It gives him zero insight into why Kakashi resents his older self so much, because he's pretty sure meeting his older self would be amazing.
Gai-san, you're incredible! he imagines himself saying, adding the honorific because if Kakashi-san is Kakashi-san, then logically his older self should be afforded the same respect, even though it's kind of weird to imagine saying.
Gai! he hopes Gai-san would say, You're the incredible one! And then they would embrace, overcome by the brilliance of the mutual springtime of their youth!
Truthfully, Gai had unconsciously attached the honorific to Kakashi-san's name the first time, surprising even himself when he'd used it. Kakashi-san's eye had widened and his posture had tensed very slightly the way his Rival's does when he's surprised, but it grew on Gai quickly and Kakashi-san seemed to get used to it in the same manner. He'd even chuckled at it once, the sound of which had startled Gai so much that he'd nearly slipped off the branch he'd been about to land on. Kakashi has not expressed an opinion on it yet, which Gai has decided to take as tacit approval.
It is a convenient way to differentiate between the two of them, but also it just feels right, somehow. Kakashi-san is Kakashi in all the ways that matter, but he is also somehow more. More mature, more confident, more settled in his body. Quicker to laughter, kind in the way that Gai has always known Kakashi could be; Gai wants to present Kakashi-san to all of his friends who have doubted him when he's said this and say, I told you so! My Rival is a gentle and generous soul! Gai cannot stop marveling at all the ways Kakashi-san has learned to be soft where his Rival is still sharp edges of hurt and defensive cruelty.
Well, Gai thinks as he watches Kakashi-san needle teenager Kakashi, at least the cruelty is directed only towards himself, for better or for worse.
"Gai," Kakashi says sharply, pivoting suddenly in the air, his eye a stormy and cutting glance at Gai before it flickers away. "Be ready."
"Maa," Kakashi-san says mildly, his even tone a patronizing counterpoint to Kakashi's. "I'm sure he is."
Kakashi's eyebrows draw together in outrage, but all he does is disappear into the trees. Gai, who is indeed ready, is not left off-kilter by the whole exchange, but thinks he might have been if his mind hadn't already shifted to mission-alert.
Kakashi-san inclines his head towards Gai, his eye curving gently with the implication of a smile. "Shall we?"
Gai does not get flustered at the idea of Kakashi — any Kakashi — doing something so sweet as smiling at him, but it is a near thing. He nods, jumps to hide himself among the trees as well, and waits for Itachi to show himself.
Itachi is easy. Mostly it just requires a fight with someone whose name Gai forgets several times and a long explanation.
Obito is not easy. Obito fights Kakashi with intent to kill, vengeance and madness burning in his eyes. Kakashi does not handle it well and nearly dies.
Gai does not let him.
Later, bleary and exhausted from opening six gates, he hopes that is not the only reason Kakashi-san steps in and makes sure they all make it back to Konoha alive.
Obito is unconscious and tied up. Kakashi-san has placed a complicated seal on him that is beyond Gai's understanding. The pinched look on Kakashi's face might indicate that it's beyond his as well, but Gai pretends not to see it. Itachi and Kakashi are carrying Obito on a stretcher back to Konoha. Kakashi-san has assured them all that Obito will not wake before they arrive. Gai does not doubt this, but he is a little preoccupied with other things.
Kakashi-san is carrying Gai in his arms like he is a princess in distress rather than an elite ninja because Gai has already passed out twice. Gai is blushing and Kakashi is glaring.
They would have been back in Konoha hours ago if not for Gai.
Kakashi says something cutting about dead weight, which Gai would bristle and defend himself against, except a shudder rumbles through Kakashi-san's body and distracts him. It prompts Gai to look at Kakashi-san's face. His expression is terrifying.
Before he's fully conscious of it, Gai is out of Kakashi-san's arms and standing shakily between him and Kakashi.
Kakashi-san looks shocked, then sad. His eye curves. Gai knows, somehow, that his smile is fake this time. He braces himself.
But Kakashi-san doesn't attack them. Not physically. Instead, the killing intent seeps out of his body language and he slouches, sliding one hand into his pocket and pulling Icha Icha out to peruse. Gai is shocked again by Kakashi-san! Porn! In public! He thinks that nothing Kakashi-san could pull now would be quite as surprising as that.
He is immediately proved wrong when Kakashi-san indicates towards Kakashi and casually delivers two of the most shocking sentences Gai has ever heard in his life.
Kakashi ends up carrying Gai back to Konoha on his back. Kakashi-san and Itachi eye each other warily, but cooperate to carry Obito.
"Rival," Gai says carefully and very quietly, knowing that Kakashi will be able to hear him. Hopefully Kakashi-san will not. "Perhaps we should discuss this, later."
Kakashi grunts in response. Gai takes it as agreement and mentally begins composing a speech about the true and unfaltering nature of their Eternal Rivalry. He struggles to lay out the words this doesn't have to mean anything or change anything in a way that means he doesn't say it at all but Kakashi will hear it anyway, until he passes out again with his nose pressed against the back of Kakashi's neck.
By the time he wakes up again in the hospital, gets the medics to reluctantly release him from the hospital, reports to the Hokage, and then finds himself on Kakashi's doorstep, his speech is a magnificent creature certain to convince Kakashi of his genuine and ardent purity of spirit, as well as his complete lack of interest in anything other than what Kakashi has already given their rivalry!
However, it is completely wasted when Kakashi-san opens the door and Kakashi is nowhere in sight.
"Uh," Gai says, because this particular speech is not one-size-fits-all and he had not prepared another for this specific scenario.
Kakashi-san stares at him for a moment, his eye very dark and heavy with something that Gai feels drag down his body as Kakashi-san looks him over. Gai shivers involuntarily and blushes, to his own surprise and dismay. He tries to remember his genuine and ardent purity of spirit, but cannot seem to find the same conviction he had before. Kakashi-san smiles slightly, and then steps aside so that Gai can join him inside Kakashi's apartment if he so chooses. An invitation.
Gai has never been allowed inside of Kakashi's apartment before. He suspects that Kakashi, if he were here, would object very strongly to this, whatever it is.
Despite that, Gai hesitates only a moment before he enters.
He has questions that only this man can answer.