When Dai got back from his training a few hours after his visit to the Hatake house, Gai was already home, doing handstands in the hallway.

"Sensei said she had something to do," he explained unasked, "and that we should go visit Genma at the hospital or something."

Instantly Dai's day brightened. While he had been running in the forest, his mind had been too preoccupied with Gai and the way his conversation with Sakumo had ended to properly focus on training. But going to the hospital would be a good distraction.

Not to mention that Samayako might be there…

"That's a great idea!" He clapped Gai on the shoulder, grinning. "I just need to take a shower first." With that he was out in the hallway, ready for a quick wash-up and then the hospital. "We're going to have to get Genma a present too!" he shouted over his shoulder at Gai who'd followed him to the doorway and was standing there looking like a pale paper cutout of his usual self.

Dai showered and trimmed his beard and put on some of the reasonably priced cologne he'd bought for special occasions. He was fighting for his good mood like it was enemy territory he had to retake. If Gai was sad, he had to work twice as hard to be cheerful and supportive!

He left the communal bathroom on their floor and strode back into the apartment, where Gai was waiting, a cute frown on his cute face.

"Can we go now?" Gai asked, already shuffling his feet as if warming up for the steps he was about to take.

"In a minute." Dai put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest. He steeled himself for judgment. "How do I look?"

"What do you mean?"

He puffed out his chest a little more and gave Gai his brightest grin. "On a scale of one to ten, ten being the best, how handsome and manly do I look, Gai? Be honest!"

Clearly not quite sure what was expected of him, Gai scrunched up his face. He studied Dai from top to bottom, perfectly coiffed hair to neatly trimmed toenails. Dai tried to look as impressive as possible.

"Umm… eight?" came Gai's hesitant reply.

Eight?!

It was a punch to the gut.

Dai stumbled, clutching his chest. He'd been hit right in the ego.

"Eight?!" he gasped. "Papa was aiming for twenty-nine!"

"But you said on a scale from one to ten…" protested Gai. He looked so anguished that Dai had to fall to his knees in front of his son and gently put his hands on his shoulders.

"Gai, on a scale from one to ten, you always have to aim higher than ten!"

"I see…"

"Tell me, in terms of rivalry intensity with Kakashi-kun, on a scale from one to ten, what's your goal?" he asked solemnly.

Again Gai scrunched up his face, his shoulders tensing under Dai's hands. Seconds ticked by as the wheels turned in the boy's head. Dai felt his own suspense rise. He had no idea what Gai's reply would be, but he couldn't wait to hear it!

Gai swallowed, gathering his courage.

Then, his jaw set, he looked Dai in the eye and shouted, "Three thousand!"

What a perfect, magnificent reply!

"Gai…" He couldn't have stopped himself, even if he'd wanted to! Deeply touched, Dai wrapped his arms around his son and smushed him against his chest. "You're the most inspiring son a father could wish for!" Tears were gathering in the corners of his eyes.

"Papa…" Gai squirmed a little in his embrace. "Can we go to the hospital now?"

"Sure." He let go of his son and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "Let's go."

Armed with chocolates and a brightly colored get well soon card, Dai still felt his heart flutter as he and Gai approached Genma's room at the hospital and they heard the kid's breathless voice floating down the corridor, "Ow, Mum, stop, don't make me laugh! It hurts!"

Through the closed door, Samayako's reply reached Dai's ears as a soft murmur with a high, playful inflection. He couldn't make out the words, but was instantly charmed by how lovely she sounded.

He had to gather himself before he could knock. Dai took a deep breath. He combed his hand through his hair, smoothing it, and then, finally, raised a fist to rap on the wood.

"Come in!"

When Dai pulled the door open, there was Samayako, smiling. She sat in a chair next to Genma's bed, her hand resting on her son's right wrist. With her hair pulled back into a stub of a ponytail she looked as lovely as ever. "Dai! Gai! Why, how nice of you to stop by!" She laughed again. "That rhymes; almost sounded like a poem, don't you think?"

"Don't be silly, Mom…" groaned Genma who was sitting propped up in bed. He looked at them and mustered a vague smile. Dai could see the white bandages peeking out from under his thin hospital gown. "Hey," the boy greeted them without much enthusiasm.

"Hey, Genma. Um, we brought you something." Gai slipped the card and the box of chocolates out of Dai's loose grip and brought them over to his teammate.

"Cool." After no more than a quick glance, Genma put his presents on the nightstand.

"Manners, kiddo!" Samayako punched her son lightly on the arm.

"Ouch," he mumbled, then nodded at his visitors. "Thank you, Dai-san; thanks, Gai."

"Better." Samayako grinned. Her white teeth seemed to light up the room. "Thank you for coming! Why don't you have a seat?"

"Ah, we don't mean to impose…" Of course, Dai was only being polite. He couldn't wait to spend time with Samayako. They'd never really had the opportunity before, despite their sons being on the same Genin squad. But now he was in her beautiful presence and planning to bask in it!

"Oh? Well, bye then!" Samayako's jolly exclamation almost made Dai's heart stop. She grinned at him and winked. "Just kidding! Come on, sit down!"

Relieved, Dai dragged another chair over from the far corner of the room. After a moment's hesitation he placed it next to the empty one on the left side of Genma's bed. Samayako was sitting on the opposite side.

"How are you doing, Genma-kun?" Dai asked as Gai plopped down into the chair next to him.

"Pretty much okay. My ribs only hurt when I laugh. Thankfully, my mom's jokes are so stale that that never happens."

"Hey! You were laughing, Mister, I heard you."

"Only because your jokes are so lame that it's kinda funny just how lame they are!"

"Please, we both know I'm hilarious."

Mother and son had slipped so easily into this exchange. Dai knew they weren't excluding their guests on purpose, but he did feel like Gai and he were intruding. He swallowed that feeling. It was only natural, after all, that single parents and their children formed this kind of impenetrable unit, he thought.

But then, it was nice to just sit and listen to them talk for a bit.

"How about you come with me tonight?" Dai asked once they were out on the street, walking back home at a leisurely pace. Gai was next to him, head bent, looking at his feet. The cloud of dark thoughts looming over him was almost palpable.

When he heard Dai's question, though, he snapped to attention. "With you? To Kakashi's house?"

"Yes." The idea had come to Dai while they were still in Genma's hospital room and he was watching the boy and his mother. The ease of their relationship, the fun, had painfully reminded him of Sakumo and Kakashi whose few interactions that Dai had witnessed so far had lacked just that. Maybe spending time with Gai would help draw Kakashi out of his shell. And what could have a bigger positive effect on a father than seeing his son happy?

"Is it really okay if I come?" Gai's face was a battleground for anxiety and hope. Dai was instantly touched by how much this seemed to mean to his boy.

"Of course!" he said quickly, already speeding up his pace. "We can go right now! It's practically on the way anyway!"

It wasn't, not really, but Dai was suddenly filled with boundless enthusiasm, a plan forming in his mind, mapping out the glorious evening they'd have with Sakumo and Kakashi.

The first ripple of doubt reached Dai when they came to a stop in front of the gate to the garden. A faint blush of evening light had appeared on the horizon and as Dai laid a heavy hand on the rusty metal he very nearly sighed.

Gai was carrying a bag of groceries they'd picked up on the way while Dai dutifully had the files pinned under his arm. He glanced at Gai, using the sight of his hopeful son to steel himself. If they were rejected today, Dai told himself, it would be a good lesson on perseverance for Gai.

Then he pushed the gate open and they walked together through the garden towards the silent house.

At the door to the house, that thin barrier of flimsy wood his bare fist could have penetrated without much effort, Dai felt the ripples at the bottom of his stomach, his guts pushing up against his heart. If Gai hadn't been right there next to him, he would have turned around then and there, but then, if Gai hadn't been next to him, he would have had no reason to be nervous in the first place, would he?

Cursing his weakness, Dai raised his knuckles for a powerful, energetic knock, imagining how the sound he would make would startle Sakumo out of his strange trance and back into life. His hand was still in the air when the door slid open and Kakashi peeked out.

"Oh, it's you," the boy said, his voice flat as ever. Then his gaze drifted past Dai to Gai and he sighed softly, "and you brought him."

"Kakashi-!" The name burst out of Gai's mouth, but Kakashi merely shushed him.

"Don't be so noisy. Dad's inside making dinner. He said to tell you to come in." With a slight frown directed at Gai he added, "I guess that means you too."

"Thank you," Dai said. He was only slowly recovering from the surprise and it took him a second to remember to lower his fist. The sky darkening around them, he and Gai were standing frozen in place, both of them somewhat in shock. He'd expected rejection and now they were invited in for dinner? Sakumo was cooking…

Come to think of it, Dai could actually smell the faint aroma of miso in the air. A father cooking for his son; it was heartwarming – it meant that Sakumo was better, that he would be okay in the long run, Dai was sure of that!

"Are you coming or not?" Kakashi had pushed the door open wide and was staring at them expectantly, his grey eyes darting over to Gai. There was the hint of a challenge in that look and that was enough to shake Gai out of whatever state he was in.

"Of course, Rival!" he shouted and grabbed his father's dangling hand. "Come on, Dad!"

As he was dragged across the threshold by his son, Dai had strangest feeling. All the while he'd thought that they needed saving, Kakashi and Sakumo, but now, as he entered the warm house, Gai's strong fingers wrapped around his, and breathed in the scent of Sakumo's cooking, it felt to Dai like they were the ones being saved.

Gai and him.