All My Ghosts are at Rest

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Several months later, Gai makes the first of what will be many visits to the Uzumaki residence while in search of his Eternal Rival.

Gai wishes to consult with Kakashi about potential joint training between their teams before the next Chunin Exam. That's the answer he gives to the few who dare ask why Gai is searching for the Copy-Nin, and it's not a lie. But Team Kakashi has just returned from their first mission outside the village after the unfortunate journey to retrieve Tsunade. And while Gai has heard nothing that would indicate a problem, post-mission decompression can be just as difficult to handle as pre-mission nerves, even if nothing went wrong.

Kakashi is not at his own apartment despite the hour, which Gai belatedly realizes most people would consider early morning. Neither is Kakashi at the Memorial Stone nor is he at his father's gravestone, which Kakashi visits whenever he has to choose between the successful completion of his mission or the survival of his teammates. (Gai does not imagine a C-Rank assigned to a genin team could go so horribly wrong as that, but the last time Team 7 went out together they brought back the Demon of the Mist, Momochi Zabuza. And now Gai's desire to check-in on his Rival is Most Urgent!)

Thinking of the Kiri-nin reminds Gai that Kakashi spent many nights at the home of young Naruto when Zabuza and Haku first came to the village. The pair of Kiri-nin have their own official quarters now. But it would not surprise Gai if Kakashi has stayed the night again to watch over two-thirds of his genin team.

Gai spends little time in the civilian district of Konoha, but he knows exactly where Naruto's house is. Every shinobi who was alive and serving twelve years ago made sure to know exactly where Naruto lives no matter how much Sandaime Hokage would have wished otherwise. With shunshin, it takes a bare handful of moment to reach the residence in question, and once outside Gai can sense the familiar chakra of his Eternal Rival coming from within the home.

Gai touches down outside the gate just as Ishida-sensei is leaving for work. Even in this unguarded moment, Gai notes that the man moves with perfect control over his body. Gai desperately wishes to know how long the doctor has been training and in what style. But despite Lee's effusive praise of the man, part of Gai fears rousing this sleeping dragon.

"Good morning, Gai-sensei," says Ishida-sensei. He is watching Gai very carefully. He is not deploying the intimidating stare from their first interaction at the bar, yet Gai still imagines the doctor's piercing gaze examining the depths of his soul. "What brings you here?"

"Good morning, Ishida-sensei!" says Gai brightly. He will not be deterred by a scary look or two. Most of his friends and acquaintances are generally considered frightening even by shinobi standards. Gai himself has a reputation as the (Beautiful) Blue Beast of Konoha. "I was hoping to find Kakashi here before I began searching the hospital."

Ishida-sensei relaxes. He looks almost fond. Gai keeps his expression as friendly as possible as the feeling of intent in the air eases. It wasn't intent to kill, but Gai knows the man would have tried to put him down if he felt Gai was a serious threat. Much of the village's gossip has been focused on Kurosaki, understandable after the situation with Sasuke, but Gai needs to find out what people have been saying about the doctor. Lee is not an unbiased source.

"No need to search the hospital. Come inside." Ishida-sensei turns around without complaint and guides Gai into the house.

"We're back," he calls at the entrance.

"Did you forget something?" responds a voice from within.

"No," says Ishida-sensei leading Gai deeper into the residence. "Kakashi-sensei has a guest."

Gai follows the doctor into the dining area. Kakashi is seated at a low table across from Kurosaki-san. They're both sipping from mugs of tea. The rest of their breakfast dishes pushed aside to be dealt with later. Naruto sits between them, ink and paper spread in front of him, scratching away at a design for some kind of modified exploding tag. The other occupants of the house have yet to rouse themselves after what was presumably a late night.

Kakashi is not wearing his face mask. It takes at least a minute for Gai process this information. Gai has walked in unannounced to Kakashi's apartment at any and every hour of the day and night and, barring that one year the entire village was struck by the flu, never found Kakashi without his mask and usually in his uniform.

Now Kakashi's mask hangs loose around his neck. He's wearing a standard undershirt but also a loose pajama bottoms with a rainbow of henohenomoheji stitched into the cloth. His flak jacket is nowhere to be found, though he does have a few weapons strapped to his person.

Gai has never seen Kakashi so relaxed in his life.

"Good morning, Gai," says Kakashi when the silence starts to stretch.

"Good Morning, my Eternal Rival!" declares Gai. He tries to keep his voice down for the sake of any children who are still sleeping but Kurosaki-san still flinches badly. It is difficult for Gai to remain quiet in the face of this amazing news. "I have come to ascertain for myself that your Flames of Youth burn with full vigor! And to discuss Joint Training between our Most Wonderful Genin Teams!"

"I'm fine," says Kakashi.

He rolls his visible eye to Naruto, who has perked up at the mention of joint training. Naruto is staring eagerly at his jounin-sensei's face. He does not seem surprised by the bare skin or to comprehend the rarity of the sight, which tells Gai his rival's unmasked face is a common occurrence in the Uzumaki household.

"Team 7 could use some practice against other potential chunin if they're going to compete in the next exam," admits Kakashi.

"WOO-HOO!"

A happy Naruto is much louder than Gai could ever hope to be. He leaps into the air and just avoids hitting his head on the ceiling, if only because he was fully seated beforehand. Upon landing, Naruto launches half-tackle half-hug that almost knocks Kakashi over.

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei! Wait 'til I tell Sasuke!" yells Naruto.

"Sasuke is still asleep—" Ishida-sensei doesn't even finish before Naruto races out of the room.

Gai can hear the boy's progress up the stairs and across the second floor. There's a bout of excited yelling, some much less excited shouting, and a loud crash followed by ominous silence.

"I'd better go check on them," sighs Ishida-sensei.

Kurosaki rises to his feet. "I'll take a look. You were on your way to work."

Gai finds himself suddenly alone with Kakashi, who is resettling himself after Naruto's well-meant attack. There's nothing to be done for Kakashi's hair but he straightens out his shirt, resets his weapons, and readjusts his eyepatch, worn for sleeping and much more comfortable than a hitai-ate. Gai sees the way Kakashi's fingers brush against the edge of his mask and then pass it by.

"Young Naruto's spirit veritably gleams with Flames of Youth!" exclaims Gai because otherwise he knows he will cry.

Kakashi isn't wearing his mask which means Kakashi feels safe. Gai can feel the tears of joy threatening to spill across his face at the very thought, and he struggles to keep them in check. Gai was not sure that Kakashi would ever feel safe again after losing so many precious people at such a young age.

"Naruto has inherited an excitable personality," says Kakashi. He sounds gruff but without the mask Gai can clearly see the fond smile on his rival's face. For once, remembering Kushina hasn't brought Kakashi more pain than joy.

It is entirely possible that Gai swoons, just a bit, at the sight.

"Sit down before you fall down," says Kakashi.

Gai drops as gracelessly as a jounin can into place at the table. He beams at Kakashi.

Kakashi eyes him suspiciously but doesn't send Gai away or reach for the mask again. "So, joint training? My kids don't have much experience against trained taijutsu users. But they're damned impressive with ninjutsu and traps."

Gai's smile broadens. Kakashi just referred to his team as his kids. Gai's Eternal Rival has most assuredly passed through the harsh Winter of Loss into the Springtime of Youth. Gai has no doubt his old friend Spirit of Fire will only shine brighter from now on! And Gai will be there to see it!

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End.

Gai is very excited for his Eternal Rival! I tried to reflect more of Gai's exuberancy in this chapter.

Also, there are a lot of things that happened between the last Gai chapter and this Gai chapter that I have not written about yet. I tried to reference some of them without being too obvious, but please understand that we have waved good-bye to the canon time-line at this point. (I may end up moving this chapter around as the relevant in-between chapters are written.)

Henohenomoheji is the derp-face drawn on Japanese scarecrows. Kakashi means scarecrow. Ishida hand-stitched Kakashi some novelty pajamas because he has mad skills and a lot of stress.

Thanks for reading! Please review!