"Gai.. is difficult..." Kakashi began, his eye pointedly avoiding Yamato's face so he didn't have to look at the self-depreciating little smile that he wanted to smack off Yamato's lips. It didn't belong there. "He's stubborn, like me, and he's also my oldest friend. He was there before anyone else was, and he pulled me out of a rut I didn't let anyone else into. Without Gai's efforts, I wouldn't have let you in, Tenzou."

The name was barely an accident now, because it felt to Kakashi just like he was talking to his kouhai as if their relationship had never changed. Kakashi still felt those threads of closeness as if it had only been yesterday, and it hurt to think that Yamato didn't... But he understood.

"But he wasn't in the right with what he said. Our rivalry is something completely seperate to the friendship you and I have, and I treasure that. Gai is worried his toes are getting stepped on, but that's never been the case.. You were my only contact in ANBU, the only person I talked to about who I was while I was your Captain.. That's one section of my life that doesn't include Gai, and whether he feels threatened by that or otherwise remains to be seen, but you are a very dear friend to me."

Kakashi couldn't stress that enough, and all he wanted was for Yamato to believe him.

"I don't want to see either of you at each others throats over this, so I'll let you make your decision by yourself. I'm here to be your friend, but I won't force you if being close to me, or to Gai, leaves you feeling lost."