Note 1:I worked faster than I thought I would, and as a result, here's the fourth chapter. Thanks, Mari Falcon, for your tips, I will consider them in further writing. Yes, I didn't want the Son to look too feminine, and sorry about that.

Note 2:Hehe, yes, I am sure that English isn't my native language, and I don't find my writing that perfect. It needs to be improved, but for start, that'll do too.

Hope you like it so far, although this turned out to be a crappy chappy. But I can't write a substitue right now.

CHAPTER 4

„If this is madness, I should've gone mad a long time ago." Kushina smiled as she said that.

Despite his worries, he smiled in return.

„But... If this is really a gift from the Gods, then... why exactly us? Why not someone else, who has, well, more experience with that stuff?" he asked.

„I don't think we need experience for that. And I don't think there's someone who has experience exactly with that."

„So, we are on our own." Minato concluded.

„Not exactly." said a deep voice that made them both gasp.

The grey autumn day disappeared. Minato and Kushina hadn't sensed when, but they weren't in Konoha any more. The dark sky turned bright blue and were only a minute ago there were gravestones, now stood high trees, so high that they could barely see their crowns far up in the sky. Certain freshness was in the air, a smell of flowers and rain.

They were standing in the middle of a circle formed of five Men and Women, each of them had a halo of light around their heads. Their faces were indistinguishable because of their auras, but they made Kushina and Minato fall on the ground in front of the Gods' feet with astonishment.

„Here is the final test you will all go through." said the same God who spoke to them while they were still on Earth. He was wearing shining golden armour and his light was cold and grey. „Stand up"

They obeyed.

Another God turned towards them, a woman, and Her aura was green and her melodical voice reminded them of long summer days.

„Our task is to guide you on Earth, so when you face the demons, you will have Our Protection. Do not fall into despair or turn away from Us, because We shall be always with you. May Our guidance never fail you!"

A tall figure of another woman, probably younger, opened his mouth to speak. Blue light was surrounding her and Kushina recognized her as the Goddess that she had dreamt last night.

„Do not avoid your original assignment out of fear or a transitory feeling of hopelessness. Hope there will always be, for We are with you, and our light will illuminate your way and you will not fail with this or any other task. This is Our promise!"

The Son of autumn leaned down, the bright red light intensified as he said:

„Never again say you are alone, because we are always with you."

A white flash, and all was gone. Minato and Kushina found themselves standing on their knees in the grass, the graveyard in front of them and the rain above and all over them.

The blue and white aura around Kushina had become even brighter. Judging by her narrowed eyes, his halo was shining more strongly than before too.

Minato spoke first, overcoming his surprise.

„Okay, it seems that all was true."

She looked at him.

„You doubted that? I mean, even if we were going crazy, it all would be true, although happening only in our heads."

"Not a very comforting thought, you know." he said, as if to smile, but gave up that idea in the last moment.

"It's still something."

He sighed. „Never turn your back to your original assignment, eh? What exactly is it? I personally find it hard enough only to persuade myself I'm not a looney, getting visions of... Gods and stuff. "

Her eyebrows joined.

„Why are you acting like that? So... cynically. Don't you get it? It's an unique chance to see what's it like and you... you are just being ironic and selfish."

„To see what what's like?" he asked darkly, deciding not to answer the insults.

„All. We're a material host for three Gods, for God's sake!"

Since he didn't answer, awkward silence fell upon them. They glanced at each other.

„I'm sorry about that" they both murmured at the same time. More nervous glances.

„So... Goodbye" she said, getting up.

„Urm... wait!" he called indecisively after her, when she was already at the exit of the graveyard. She turned around almost gratefully, happy because of the delay. „Urm... Do you need company?"

She smiled nervously. „Okay"

He hurried to stand up and catch up with her.

They walked for some time in silence. Their pace slowened when they went out on the main street, passing by lit windows of shops and restaurants. Suddenly he said: „Pretty fascinating, eh?"

„What?" she asked, puzzled.

„This whole thing. You know, Gods and stuff."

„Look who said that."

„Yeah, okay, I'm sorry about that too."

„Don't be. We are all confused right now."

„What a confusion it is! But you are right, it's... it may be strange, but I sort of like it."

Silence. At this time of the day, there usually was a crowd of people on the main street, but because of the bad weather, few busy shadows were walking past them, not saying a word. The rain had made out of the dirt mud and it was splashing at their every step, leaving boot prints from their feet which were quickly filled with water. They both didn't feel it necessary to cover their heads in order to protect them from the rain, as they didn't even sense it, each one deep on their thoughts.

Kushina stopped at the threshold of her house and looked back at him.

„Um... I guess it's goodbye for now, then."

„Y-yeah"

Why don't I invite him in?

„Well, goodbye." he said.

Come on, girl! You want him to be... You want him! Come on, SPEAK! Open your mouth! Don't stand numb like and idiot there!

„Would you..."

He turned around, waiting with hope. „Yes?"

Her lips moved, as if to say something, but no sound came out.

Oh, God , I am going to ruin my chances like that.

As if there wouldn't be another chance to speak with him.

Yes, there wouldn't be. We are at war! He might go to the battlefield tomorrow, and you... you will have missed your chance out of stupidity!

This finally gave her the courage to continue.

„Would you like to come in?"

„I..." he stopped. Kushina suddenly panicked. What if he turns me down? Oh, no he really is going to turn me down!

They stood for a while in silence, Kushina trying to read his expression for a hint that he would like the idea.

A tricky voice in his head said: Remember how she embarassed you? You have the opportunity to return her the favour.

No, I can't.

„Okay, sure."

She smiled and opened the front door.

„Here, come in"

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His first impression of her home was that it was really neat and tidy. He remembered the chaos in his own office and smiled, ashamed.

„Leave your shoes over there, by the door. Let me take your jacket." she said.

He handed her his jacket and looked around. A comfortable-looking sofa was in the middle of the room, turned towards a wide-screen tv. A small round table was between the tv and himself with a tin of biscuits on its glass panel. There were several paintings on the walls, but he didn't look closely at them. He had never understood or appreciated art.

Minato was glad to take a peek at this little part of her personal life and absorbed every little detail of it. (except the paintings LOL) He was still where she left him when Kushina entered again.

„There are cookies over there and I made some tea earlier this morning because..." her voice faded away, choked by the still fresh grief. This morning I burried my mother and the same afternoon I am here with a man.

He turned around to look at her . Tears were running down her cheek again.

What do I do now? Minato asked himself nervously.

„Anyways" she started anew when she got control of herself once more. „ I'll go get the tea." And she ran downstairs to the basement, leaving him alone once more.

I don't want to leave her alone like this. I want to comfort her. But he didn't know how and he felt like an intruder right now. This wasn't his place to be at the moment. Why did I accept her invitation in the first place? To magnify her sorrow?Maybe I should leave.

But that was as equally insolent as being in her home. He sat on her sofa, his previous joy gone without a trace. Waiting for her to return, he stared blankly at one spot directly in front of him, feeling uncomfortable because of her.

That wasn't how I wanted it to happen. Remembering his childish dreams of his firts date, he smiled wearily, almost as if he was ashamed to feel nostalgic happiness in this house.

How long should it take her to bring the tea? Maybe she's in trouble. Should I go downstairs?

He stood up, made a couple of steps and stopped, hesitating. What if she doesn't want to see me right now?Perhaps that's why she's staying downstairs.

But would Kushina invite him in her house if she didn't want to see him? He began descending the stairs with more confidence. Minato was now able to hear quiet weeping from the kitchen.

She was on the floor, near the broken shards of a teapot and was crying. He walked towards her and Kushina raised her head and whispered weakly:

„I'm sorry I'll just..." but she couldn't continue. He kneeled beside her.

Now what? Damn, how did I decide to do this?

„I... It's okay, I'll clean it up" he reassured her. He made several handsigns and the pieces joined together to form the teapot, whole again.

„Th-thank you" she said between the sobs.

For a moment his goofy smile appeared on his face, then it went serious again. He leaned down beside Kushina and put his hand on her shoulder. As if this touch had given her strength, she stood up, wiping her tears, followed by him.

„I am so sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me" she finally was able to finish.

„I know" surprising mostly her, and partly himself, he hugged her.

For a moment she stood still, surprised by his action. Then, grateful for the warmth he was giving her, she hugged him in return.

„Urm..." he had expected her to repel him, not to answer him.

They let go, nervous.

„So, about the tea—"

„Don't worry about it." he interrupted Kushina. „We can live without it."

She smiled weakly. He smiled in return.

Come on, what are you waiting for? Kiss her!

Come on, what are you waiting for? Kiss him!

You want her, right?

You want him, right?

He was looking into her eyes, deep and black. She was looking into his.

„Urm.." he coughed nervously and almost immediately regretted for that. The magic of the moment was lost.

But she didn't take her eyes off him. And he didn't too.

There is still a chance he thought happily. They leaned forward a liitle closer to each other. Both Minato and Kushina didn't make a sound. They closed their eyelids...

At first the kiss was innocent, almost childish as their passions collided. Then it grew deeper and deeper when his hands found their way to her cheeks and the back of her head. She joined her hands behind his waist and moved his body closer to hers.

After a few minutes... or several sunny days, they let go. A sudden voice tore the silence apart.

„Kushina? What are you doing?" her sister had stopped in the middle of the stairs, leading to the second floor.

Kushina backed off and looked at the other woman fiercely.

„Nothing, Yoshino" she answered with an angry tone. Casting an apologetic look towards Minato, she walked to her sister.

I hope she tears Yoshino apart when I'm gone. Disappointment was struggling in him, but he only voiced his intention to leave this awkward scene as soon as possible.

„I was just leaving"

„Yes, you just leave, Hokage-sama" Yoshino said, narrowing her eyes.

He walked slowly towards the exit. He and Kushina glanced for one last time, and trying to read by her eyes something, he stopped at the door, When he found what he was seeking for, he smiled and left.

As he was splashing the mud under his feet, only one thought was racing in his mind.

We kissed. She wanted it too, I could see it.

With that, the guilty feeling for kissing her at the day of her mother's funeral was almost gone. Almost.