I wrote this last week for Jiraiya's birthday, I guess. It's sad, though, not like my other Jiraiya birthday story, "The Best Present." Let me know if it makes any sense.

Ever since Jiraiya could remember, there had only been one thing that he had wanted for his birthday. Actually, it wasn't a thing. "Person" would be more accurate. "Tsunade", even more accurate.

There's only one thing I want for my birthday. You, Tsunade!

You creep! Don't you dare touch me!

He never got her, though. She would always turn him down, a look of disgust on her face, no matter how much he pleaded with her.

It's my birthday. You have to be nice to me.

I'll be nice and not punch you into next week.

He never gave up. He kept persisting, pestering.

Why don't you just say yes already? I'll leave you alone.

If I say yes, it will only be the beginning.

Then she met and fell in love Dan. His chances of winning her love went from slim to not a chance.

You really love him, don't you? But what about me? About us?

Don't be stupid. There never was an "us."

But then Dan had died. He had tried again after giving Tsunade some time to grieve.

I know I'm not Dan, but-

You're right! You're not Dan, and you never will be. Leave me alone.

She had left the village, and he had gone off to research for his books. And to spy on the Akatsuki. Years later, their paths had crossed once again as he tried to convince her to become Hokage. She accepted, but not without some hesitation. But she still refused his advances.

Oh, come on, Tsunade. Just one date.

I'll never change my mind about you, Jiraiya.

He always knew he would die without ever truly knowing the love of a woman. He supposed he was okay with that, though. He had his books, his research. Having a wife, much less a woman, in his life would have proved disastrous with his research of the females.

Funny, it wasn't her name that was on his lips when he died. He had died thinking of Naruto, and his next book. He had given up hope of ever catching Tsunade.

But in death, he accomplished what in life, he could not.

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