The lotus of Konoha blooms twice!

gai did say he wanted some rare flowers to experiment for his shampoo. pakkun and the rest of the ninken had given kakashi a look when he said they were going foraging in the morning, and complained when they dipped in shady glades and marched through wetlands, a far cry from their regular cliffside training. but kakashi had found it.

the egret flowers were a beacon in the swamp. the strappy, deep green leaves and beautiful white flowers looked like birds in flight; and upon discovering them, the only thought in his head was: gai would like something like this. 

now in gai’s apartment, kakashi furrows his eyebrows.

is this enough? do i want him to forgive me like this? 

kakashi grimaces. this is a shit apology. everything he’s doing is him running away from just saying it. fuck. now he’s overthinking this. 

hooking one leg out of the window, kakashi gives one cursory glance at the plant, sighs, and heads out. maybe gai will come by to talk to him later. maybe then, kakashi will be able to verbalize something.]

Gai crosses Konoha’s gates long after the sun has gone down on the village. It’s fine though the moon shines just as brightly in the dark, inky sky; its gentle beams illuminating his path on his quiet trek to his apartment.

The usually busy streets are empty this late at night, and he finds comfort in the thought that Konoha’s people are safe in their homes. He knows this is only a false veneer of peace, but he cannot help but indulge in it. Especially now, when there are those he wishes he could spare from the hushed rumors that war is looming just around the corner.

Frowning, he shakes his head, attempting to banish these dark thoughts, but the action only serves to bring up the other topic he had been avoiding; Kakashi. Annoyance is dredged up from the deep pool of his emotions where it had been momentarily forgotten, dislodging a flurry of feelings inside of him. Gai had had time to think about what happened while on his latest mission, but he is still unsure of how to proceed. 

He lets out an uncharacteristically tired sigh as he arrives at his apartment building and begins to climb the stairs, taking two steps at a time as he makes his way up to his floor. Things between him and Kakashi had never been easy. The simple act of maintaining the relationship was a continuous uphill battle. 

He knows intuitively that his rival never intended to hurt him and so a part of him, the part that is highly defensive of Kakashi, wonders if he should just move past this on his own to avoid more problems between them. However, Gai also knows his rival is no longer the person who burned bridges in a misguided attempt to protect others by distancing himself. Things were different now; Kakashi is different now. He would do Kakashi no favors by accepting an apology where there was none, and Kakashi would hate being coddled like a child. 

Reaching the top floor of the building, Gai turns towards his door, makes quick work of his traps, and he enters the darkened apartment with a quiet, “I’m home.“ The habit is a remnant of childhood that he never outgrew, even if it has been years since there was anyone to welcome him back. Flicking on the lights, Gai shrugs out of his vest and tosses it towards a kitchen chair, and then he heads towards his bedroom. He’ll take a shower and then finally get some rest.

He is in the middle of a yawn when he spots a small clay pot resting next to his sunflower on the shelf above his bed; in it, a vividly green orchid with elegant, white flowers. He blinks at it in confusion for a second wondering where it came from before understanding hits him. No one else would risk entering his apartment when he wasn’t there, and no one else would choose to give him such a rare plant.

Gai moves closer to the window and picks up the pot in both hands. Under closer inspection, he finds that the plant definitely lives up to its name; its fringed petals look just like an egret mid-flight, and it’s one of the most beautiful things he’s ever seen.  He lets out a breathy, joyful, and relieved laugh as tears well up in his eyes. His heart feels renewed.  It’s not a proper apology, no, but he’s moved nonetheless. This gift is proof that Gai’s efforts to preserve their rivalry through all these years have not been in vain. Kakashi values it just as much. 

He sets the plant down and tenderly strokes the delicate petals with a featherlight touch. The gentle aroma tickles his nose and he smiles.  He’ll talk to Kakashi in the morning.