Characters: Tsunade, Jiraiya (in spirit), Shizune (mentioned)
Summary: She only remembers it now.
Pairings: JirTsu
Author's Note: I used to be not so much a JirTsu fan, but I like it now if you take it from the angle that whatever it is Jiraiya and Tsunade had never really met fruition and never really worked out.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
As little water beads with eyes like diamonds slide down the night-darkened glass, Tsunade in her brightly-lit office decides that the rain must be very cold. It's nearly November, and though there hasn't been any frost yet there's been a noticeable chill in the air.
When is Shizune going to get back with those papers? Tsunade rolls her eyes. I can't believe I actually want to do paperwork. Her eyes shift to the rain droplets and Tsunade winces, pulling them straight back to her desk. Just give me something to do so I don't have to think.
It's not that simple, and she knows it.
Drinking sake doesn't help either, but Tsunade still does it, still tips the thin-necked bottle to her lips tonight until her throat burns and her eyes water until her vision blurs. Even half-blind, she can still see it when her eyes are drawn inexorably to the rain sliding off the window.
Funny… Jiraiya always had the nicest smile. She always said it was perverted, but really it was just…
Exuberant. He smiled like he could actually enjoy life instead of simply wading through it, trying to find ground on which to land.
It was such a beautiful smile.
Tsunade's only remembering that now.
And she wishes she couldn't.