She asked him to stay with her that night. He'd nearly choked on the ramen he was eating when she said the words. Jiraiya wanted to ask if it was out of pity. Did she feel guilty for not arguing more and going with him? He titled his forward in acceptance, not trusting himself to speak. In truth it didn't matter, five years in hell he'd take whatever pity scraps she'd toss him.
The tab was paid. In the five years he'd been gone Tsunade, keeper of his estate had simply collected his royalties and set up stipends for Naruto. He was a rich man for all that it cost him.
Her apartment smelled like tea and her perfume. It was a heady combination.
"I'll just-" He trailed off looking down at her in question. He was with her in her bedroom, the rumpled blankets a foot away and he was terrified out of his mind. What if he messed this up? What if she changed her mind?
"Lay down Jiraiya."
"I'll just lay down then."
Stiffly, not even removing his kimono top that smelled not surprisingly like the ramen shop, he laid down on his back. What was she up to?
The bed shifted as she crawled across it, still dressed. The scent of perfume got stronger as she curled up against him, arms around his neck and cried, deep harsh sobs that shook her small frame. He took it, took every bit of her tears. His arm, tanned and roped with lean muscles curled around as he stayed resolute; a lighthouse to guide her back.
When the sobs quieted to small whimpers and then nothing, Tsunade spoke. Her voice was rough and it halted as she told her tale of the last five years. She talked of the Pein invasion and of grabbing Katsuyu for dear life and pouring every bit of chakra she had into the slug.
She talked of thinking she was going to die, of expecting to die when she stepped down into the gully the rebuilt village sat in to face off. Her voice held a tinge of wonder when she spoke of Naruto stepping in front of her and telling her to go drink tea and then waking up six months later to find they were going to war and the sacrifice she made to save who she could meant nothing.
Her arms tightened then and there was a small silence before the Sannin spoke of war preparation and the coming together of the five Allied nations to fight. She spoke of her fight with Madara haltingly as the memory haunted her nightmares nearly every night.
Her voice brightened as she recalled Orochimaru of all people showing up and putting her back together and then of nearly killing herself again to summon as much of Katsuyu as she could along with her pupil to provide a foothold for the Shinobi alliance.
Tsunade lapsed into quiet after that. The war over had been and she'd come home after healing the wounded. The Leaf quietly buried its dead and rebuilt.
What could he say to her? He was a master of word craft, a bestselling author, but what could he say to the shattered woman holding on to him?
"Hime, I wish…I wish I had made it back sooner. I wish I had two arms to hold on to you and the ability to be strong, to be your shield so that you never have to face anything alone again." His tongue came out to wet dry lips. "I'm a broken man, but these pieces of me. There yours if you want them. I give you my shoulder to cry on as long as you need it. I give you my hand to wipe away the tears. I give you-"
The words were cut off as she moved and sealed her mouth over his. It was a kiss a lifetime in the making and he wouldn't sully it by trying to speak more. She tasted of noodles and the tea she'd drank with dinner along with a deeper flavor reminiscent of honey. It reminded him of being a child and finding the combs in one of the Leaf's towering redwoods. He'd been stung a half dozen times but it had been worth it for the sweet reward.
When they broke for air and she curled back up against him, relaxing in sleep, and worn out from her breakdown, he kept his arm tight around her. He had her now, had this Senju princess and enigma of a woman. He wasn't going to let go.