The tears slid down his cheeks, prompted by the immediate nod of his head at Kakashi's tentative query.

Of course he did, he wanted to say, but the words stuck in his throat, blocked off by emotion and salt water.

He'd forgiven Kakashi the moment he'd stayed; not a day back into the village and he'd been drunk and hurting just like now and the older man had brushed slim fingers through his hair and for the first moment since he'd left..everything had felt okay again.

And that was it, wasn't it? Yamato had never once had to justify himself around Kakashi, not how he felt or what he thought, he could be foolish and weak without fear of reproach, even as far back as their first mission in ANBU and it was probably why he was finally able to admit this now.

A watery smile touched his lips and he drew up enough courage to meet the other mans eyes, ignoring the tear tracks down his own cheeks and the broken state of his voice.

"..I forgive you.."