Author's Notes: This so happens to be my first Naruto fic, and unfortunatly, for those of us not in America or Asia, some of us Europeans haven't quite gotten to the Shippuden series yet. I'm still BARELY halfway through the fourth series so please excuse any inconsistencies in regard to plot and so on.

Keep in mind that this is set BEFORE the third Hokage died, so Tsunade is not Hokage quite yet, give it before the Chunin exams.

Warnings: Yes, this is a Yaoi fanfiction. Later on it mostly likely will contain descriptions of a sexual nature, swearing and some moderate violence. Also, this happens to be a Gai/Kakashi, so if you're somehow offended by the notion of them, please go no further.

Coverlet

If sleeping were an Olympic sport, Kakashi was sure he would win the gold medal three times over and then some. The last mission had been difficult to the point where he spent the entire previous day resting in a vain attempt to regain his energy. It was with a silent thankful prayer that he managed to blearily open his eye, knowing he had nothing to do for the next few days. No training, no meetings, no trying-to-tear-apart Naruto and Sasuke; just sweet, sweet bed-linen and the worn old mattress that had grown accustomed to his shape and sank like a wrung sponge every time someone came within an inch of it.

He managed to entangle himself in a ball of one of the three coverlets thrown in no particular order onto the bed, and he didn't feel like getting up too soon either. By the clock he could tell it was mid-morning, funny that, he would have stayed on until afternoon at least.

A nuzzle into the old duvet. So soft, so bloody comfy… just another few hours or so.

Gently untangling a hand (from where it had previously been under his thigh in his contorted position) from the blanket, he scratched his unshaven jaw. His mouth was thick with sleep and possibly several various degrees of bacteria considering he didn't leave the bed yesterday except to use the bathroom. Brushing his teeth seemed like too much effort. A wide yawn, before deciding coffee was an immediate need, along with a shave and a long, long, long shower.

It was winter, and his hardwood floors were freezing, tempting him to return to bed, but the need for coffee was too great.

God, he was so happy to be home, he nearly had to refrain himself from hugging the walls of his small apartment as he padded into the kitchen. Coffee, an apple and some contented sighs later and he was standing under the shower, a razor in one hand and soap in the other. The sheer talent of being able to shave perfectly and wash oneself at the same time might have boggled some people, but it had become so monotonous now he barely even noticed what he was doing.

Another mission successful, and he just hoped he wouldn't be called away for another one for at least a week. This one had really taken it's toll; Kakashi needed the rest and solitude to sort himself out.

He found that sometimes, isolation was the often the most effective way to come to personal conclusions.

And he was just tired.

Right after training those three Genin, and already the teacher's three month holidays (emphasis on holidays) had been cut short with another S rank. There have been a lot of those popping up lately, most of which were calling for solo performances. At least he had Pakkun to talk to… sometimes…

Asuma had just come back from one of his S ranked missions as well, and most jounin were well informed that every time Asuma came back from a mission, every available jounin and a few chunnin were invited to the nearest bar to get off-their-faces drunk with the man. The reason became forgotten overtime, so much so it has almost become tradition.

In truth he was rather looking forward to it tonight. He always had a laugh with them, joking, drinking, singing lewd songs even if sometimes he let on he didn't want to go. He had a reputation to keep, after all.

Perhaps there would be another tequila-shot competition. He hoped so, Kakashi fucking loved tequila and Genma and Gai hadn't quite figured out how it sat so well with him yet.

But that can all wait. He would sit down and read for a while, maybe make dinner, read some more, go out to the monument and settle his dues with the dead.

It could wait, the entire day was just waiting for him to laze around his home.

Author's Notes: Thanks for reading. Any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, but keep in mind that most chapters will be short and updated regularly. Chapters such as this are usually small, chapters describing a fight scene or plot twist may be longer.