Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto

Give me love like never before,
'Cause lately I've been craving more,
And it's been a while but I still feel the same,
Maybe I should let you go

You know I'll find my corner,
Maybe tonight I'll call you,
After my blood turns into alcohol,
No I just wanna hold you,Give a little time to me or burn this out,
We'll play hide and seek to turn this around,
All I want is the taste that your lips allow,
My, my, my, my, oh give me love

Artist: Ed Sheeran

Chapter 10: Give Me Love

Kushina walked on the bus with a very uneasy feeling in her stomach, the bus was usually one of her favourite things about her day but today she was dreading it because instead of just her, today Kinoshita stepped on too.

"Let's sit in the back" she suggested thinking that maybe with a bit of luck if they were sitting in the back Minato wouldn't see.

"Here's fine" Kinoshita said firmly pointing to the middle seats. Sighing she sat down beside him as he held her hand too tightly for comfort. Did it used to feel like this? She tried to remember.

"What time will you be back home today?"

"I don't know, you know everything's different today"

She nodded her head in reply knowing that today wasn't his usual day at work. He was going to a convention event related to his field, which was why he was taking the bus with her for part of the way. He could have traveled by car but parking was usually very busy around there so he had decided to take the bus instead.

They sat in silence, Kushina trying to rack her brain for something that they could both contently talk about but nothing came to mind. The complete opposite to her and Minato, who could always spark up friendly conversation.

It wasn't long until a certain blond haired blue-eyed man walked over with two coffees in his hands and a wide smile on his face, which naturally faltered as he looked upon Kushina and a man who he assumed was her fiancé. Not knowing whether it was best to act like strangers or approach them, the bus made a decision for him as it rolled into motion, pushing him into their direction.

Unfortunately the bus also pushed another stranger into their direction and that person managed to snag the seat right beside Kushina, meaning the only other seat near Kushina was the one right next to Kinoshita. Sighing in annoyance for his bad luck he walked closer towards them and greeted Kushina, handing her the coffee and then introducing himself to her fiancé.

She looked surprised that he had approached and he could sense worry in her eyes, which unsettled him, maybe this was the wrong decision he thought but there was nothing he could do about it now.

"Hello I'm Minato a friend of Kushina's, you must be her fiancé it's nice to meet you" he said politely as he took a seat beside him. Kinoshita narrowed his eyes at him and in a bitter voice replied, "Kushina doesn't have any friends, except for the ones I gave to her" as he grabbed the coffee cup out of Kushina's hand and took a long sip "but thanks for the coffee although it's a bit lukewarm".

"It wasn't for you it was for Kushina" Minato replied in a harsh voice, a hardened expression on his face.

"Kushina doesn't mind, right babe?" he said looking at Kushina with narrowed eyes.

"I don't mind" she replied in a quiet voice as she bit down on her bottom lip.

"See" Kinoshita said smirking at Minato before turning away and leaning into Kushina forcing a long kiss onto her soft lips. That was his way of marking his territory and showing off to Minato; proving that Kushina was undoubtedly his.

Minato looked away a glare on his unusually angry face and his fists clenched. What a horrible guy, he thought to himself. He had every desire to roughly pull him off her and hold her against him but he didn't know how she would feel about that. No matter what he thought, that guy was still her fiancé after all.

When Kinoshita finally pulled away from Kushina, Minato looked at her their eyes briefly connecting, hers sad and his frustrated until she averted her eyes downward. It upset him, her unhappiness, just from looking at her eyes he could tell. But he didn't know what to do or say to make it go away. So he just sat there quietly fuming, eyes cast downward deeply observing the scuff mark on his shoes. Maybe the silence was just too much for her or maybe she just wanted to pretend that everything was okay as she began to try talk to Kinoshita.

"I hope you have fun today at your convention" she said trying to sound lighthearted but it came out sounding forced that whole sentence did as well as the meaning behind it. She didn't really mean any of that or at least that's how it looked to Minato.

"Kushina it's work, it's not supposed to be fun" he replied in an irritated tone shaking his head as if what she said was completely idiotic.

"I'm sorry I just ...never mind" she murmured.

"You don't have to apologize Kushina you said nothing wrong it's just him being a selfish brute". Minato said his voice harsh but his gaze on Kushina soft as she looked at him with surprise.

Kinoshita glared at him a cold expression on his face and opened his mouth to say something but by then Minato had moved a few seats away from him, not feeling able to deal with her fiancé any longer without having his fist colliding in that jerks face.

Luckily though the next stop was Kinoshita's and as Minato heard Kushina's soft voice saying goodbye he also heard Kinoshita's ugly response. "Just make sure you have a nice meal laid out for me when I get back home, I don't want to be waiting around like yesterday."

Before Kinoshita had even stepped off the bus, Minato had swiftly moved into his seat next to Kushina his hand resting on her knee. Mostly to support and comfort her but partially to piss of her fiancé. It seemed to work because when Kinoshita turned around and saw he stomped back towards them and practically growled, "You don't touch her".

Minato looked at him coolly an icy tone in his voice as he replied, "Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you"

"I'll touch her all night long" Kinoshita said with a nasty grin on his face. "She's mine after all!"

That's it, Minato had had enough of this guy, clenching his hand into a firm fist he prepared to punch when he felt Kushina's hands on his arm, subtly pulling it back from swinging.

"The doors are going to shut any second now, you have to leave Kinoshita" she said firmly before he quickly pushed through people to get through the door.

"What a nice guy" Minato couldn't hold himself from sarcastically saying as the doors shut, finally blocking him out.

"That's not funny" Kushina said quietly with watery eyes as she looked away from him.

Minato wrapped his arms around her shoulders both angry and sad that her fiancé had nearly managed to reduce her to tears. "You're right, I shouldn't have said that" he replied softly. His voice became firmer and more serious as he said "But he's not a nice guy, in fact he's a horrible man and he does not deserve you at all".

"Let's not do this, especially not here" she said her voice quivering with sad emotions.

"We have to" he said as he waited for the bus to stop before standing up, pulling her with him, taking her hand and leading her off the bus.

It happened so quick that only upon hearing the bus roar to life did she even register what was happening. As it slowly began to move away from her picking up speed she looked at Minato with anger and confusion mixed in with the sadness from before on her face. "What are you doing? I have to get to work".

"Do you really think you can go to work in the state you're in? Do you think either of us can work properly when everything's unsettled and things left unsaid?"

"Everything's fine, except for the fact that I'm going to be late now and I have no idea where I am" she said with frustration in her tone.

Minato sighed deeply as he led her over to a bench he had spotted nearly obscured by the trees. This was perfect here it was a silent place with a pretty view and more importantly away from prying eyes and the bustling people of Konoha.

"Kushina why are you with such a horrible man?" he asked, honest confusion and frustration laced into his voice.

"I love him" she said so clearly trying to keep her voice steady as she looked away from him.

"You're lying " he said firmly.

"I'm not, I love him, I love him, I love him" she said stubbornly and angrily.

"Don't Lie!" Minato yelled causing her to slightly jump, his voice lowered as his voice full of pain said, "Please don't lie to me but even more so don't lie to yourself".

"How do you know I'm lying?" she said quietly.

"Well first off, when I called him a horrible man you didn't defend him. If you were in love I'm sure you'd say something like; he's not bad he's just a bit rough on the outside but when you get to know him better you'd see why I love him. But no, you can't even justify your love for him with a stupid excuse like that. But mostly I know you don't love him because of the way he treats you, there's no way a smart, funny, kind and beautiful women like you could love a man who treats you so horribly. You deserve a man that will love you endlessly; someone that will treat you with respect and someone that can make you smile and laugh for the rest of your life. You are way too good for Kinoshita, he doesn't love you he just hurts you and uses you. You're much too clever to be reeled in by the likes of him."

He looked at Kushina a soft look in his gaze as well as a softness and strength in his voice when he talked. Taking her cold hands in his, he warmed them up, stopping the subtle trembles that were causing her body to shake. Breaking one hand free he lifted it up to her face swiping his thumb across her upper cheek to catch a teardrop that had slid down from her eye.

"Stop please" Kushina said her voice pleading and cracking with emotion as more tears dropped down her face.

"I love you Kushina, I can make you happy, I can care for you; take away your pain, protect you and each and everyday you're with me I'll make you feel special, you'll always feel my love."

Kushina looked at him, a glint of hope in her eyes as he confessed his love to her and her breath caught in her throat before he slowly neared his lips to hers causing her to feel lightheaded. When his lips touched hers, the first thing she noticed was how soft they were and how gentle his kisses were compared to Kinoshita's. Despite her whirlwind of emotions as he kissed her, cradling her head and gently stroking her soft red hair all she could think about was how sweet his lips were and how beautiful his kisses were. But as he slowly pulled away another thought crossed her mind, how if she wasn't careful she could easily get lost in the rhythm of his love. When their lips finally parted he rested his forehead against hers "Kushina, let me love you" he whispered gently.

"I-I...I have to go" she said choking on her own words as she pushed herself away from him. Walking away with tears in her eyes she felt a firm grip pulling her back.

"Kushina wait, I"

"Don't Touch Me!" she screamed her voice louder and tone much harsher than she had intended, as she shook off his grip.

Rapidly walking away with hot tears sliding down her eyes stinging them endlessly and blurring her vision she heard his voice. It pained her she could so clearly hear the hurt in it even from this distance as he yelled.

"Please, even if you don't love me back, don't go back to Kinoshita, you are not happy with him and he hurts you I can tell that much just from today."

Minato watched her walk away, his eyes trailing her back as she got farther and farther away from him and he desperately hoped that she'd turn around, look at him and come back but all she did was eventually disappear from his sight. It broke his heart he had confessed his love to her and in return she had shattered his heart. He sat down distressingly on the bench, slumping in an uncomfortable position; back leaning forward, head down and his fingers roughly raking through his spiky blond hair. He didn't understand, it didn't make any sense at all. He could understand if she couldn't reciprocate his feelings of love, they had only met about a month ago. And he knew that he had definitely messed up confessing to her so soon especially when all she probably wanted was a friend. But it had just come out in the spur of the moment, it wasn't like he had meant to. Anyway he couldn't fight the feeling and when the two of them were together on the bus he had thought she felt the same. They had a spark, was it so wrong of him to want to be able to ignite it into an eternal flame?

But what he absolutely could not comprehend was why in the world she was with Kinoshita, he was a horrible, selfish man who didn't even respect her. Could she really love such a man? Maybe he overreacted he didn't know the whole story and he had only met Kinoshita for one bus ride while Kushina had probably known him for years but still…

Minato sat on the bench alone, hurt, confused and angry as he so desperately wondered why, until his phone rang which bitterly reminded him that no matter how he felt the world would not stop for him. Looks like he'd be going to work in an even worse state than if he had stayed on the bus with her.

When Kushina had turned the corner she slumped against the wall, collapsing on the floor out of pure sadness. Why did he have to do that? Why did he tell her he loved her? All she wanted was a friend and them calling whatever they had friendship was the only way to justify her constantly growing feelings for him. But now he had just shattered that illusion and she was too weak to face the reality. So she had run away from him knowing that telling him she loved him back would have been much too scary.

She was afraid; she knew that she loved him and that he could make her happy but she also knew that if he changed his mind or became sick of her, he could crush her heart into a million little pieces and that was truly scary because with a wound like that she'd never recover.

He had told her he loved her but so had Kinoshita once and now look at where she was. She was damaged and full of blemishes, how could she open up herself to such a flawless, wonderful man like Minato? And if she did, what would stop him from turning away.

Kushina had been hurt by the man that was supposed to love her too many times and now mistrust filled her head. It was a lot easier staying with a man who she knew what to expect from, than to take a leap of faith and fall madly in love with a man who could break her already fragile heart.

After all Kinoshita wasn't all bad and it's not like he could break her heart anymore, because although his attacks still hurt, her heart had become resistant from breaking at the cause of his constant jabs.

By the evening time, Kushina was already in bed. Needless to say her day was absolutely dreadful and in her somber mood she felt absolutely exhausted. She had put Naruto to bed straight after dinner not able to keep up her happy façade for a minute longer. But even in bed she couldn't sleep so she lay there restlessly in the dark all her tears already cried out until Kinoshita came home.

"You're in bed already" he stated as he turned on the bedroom light blinding her momentarily until she became accustomed to the light.

"I have a bit of a stomach ache" she replied quietly.

"That's not good, you must be pregnant… with Minato's baby" he said with a devilish smirk on his face.

"I didn't sleep with him" she replied without the energy to even be angry at his accusation.

"Did you kiss him?"

She mumbled something incoherent so he took it as a yes.

"Slut" he said jeeringly as he asked, "Do you love him?"

"I don't love him, I love you" she replied monotonously.

"Good, then I forbid you to see him again".

"Would it even matter if I said I did love him? Would you let me be free? Would you think to try harder to treat me right?" Kushina asked circumspectly as she felt her heart begin to crumble for she could foretell the probable answer.

"What nonsense are you on about?" he said dismissively, "You're mine Kushina and I have no intention of letting you go. I told that to the blond twat after you're body and I'm telling it to you."

Mine, mine, mine, mine, how could he just decide that for her? How could he so selfishly take all of her and leave her with... a crumbling hearrt?

"Why" she whispered.

"What?"

"Why am I yours?" she said speaking a little louder.

"Because you love me" he said firmly "and because you're my fiancé, soon to be dutiful wife."

"Do you love me too?" she asked, her voice sounding small, broken.

"Of course babe, that's why I'm keeping you away from that blond twat and thats why you're mine." he said gruffly, clearly wanting to end the silly topic.

You don't even know what real love is she thought to herself and wanted to spit out but instead she ignored the sharp pain in her heart and said, "I don't even want to see Minato again anyway, don't worry I won't even be taking the bus anymore."

Kushina would be taking the train from now on, it would mess up her whole morning routine and cost her more money but she could not face Minato, she just didn't have that kind of resolve. She wouldn't be able to stand the hurt in his eyes as he pretended for her sake that they were only friends. Seeing his pain she wouldn't be able to stop herself from confessing her love to him or if she could resist it would probably break her inside, so she was going to avoid him at all costs. She really was horrible, she knew what she was doing was selfish but there was no other way. Anyway whether she avoided him or pretended they were just friends it would probably still hurt him the same because she knew that either way would hurt her just as much as well.

So she would take the train, which would require both her and Naruto to get up earlier as it was a farther walk than the bus stop and then because the trains stop didn't align properly with her work location. She'd have to take the train partially and then get off and catch a bus to take her to work.

"I'm glad" he replied pulling her in for a hug. Her mind couldn't help but compare his hug to Minato's so she unfortunately noticed the vast difference." I hope your stomach feels better" he said as he kissed her on the forehead and got up to leave.

The next day Minato stepped on the bus empty handed, he had a strong feeling that Kushina wouldn't be on the bus today so he didn't even bother with the coffee. As he scanned the whole bus for her, his prediction was right although it didn't make him feel any better, it just made him feel worse. The second day he came on to the bus again to find no Kushina. Then the third, fourth and fifth day she still wasn't there which both pained and worried him. By the next week she still hadn't come back, not even for one of the days and on the Friday of that week he became scared; scared that he might never see her again. They had only really talked on the bus and he didn't even know her phone number.

Stupidly when he had handed her his own he forget to ask for hers. He didn't know her house number or her exact workplace location or even the name of the business she worked for, he only knew that she was a family portrait photographer who worked somewhere in the city. By the beginning of the third week Minato had given up hope on Kushina riding the bus with him so he resumed his old way of traveling to work; by car. The only reason he had stayed on the bus was because of Kushina's presence but now that he had foolishly pushed her away, being on the bus alone only intensified the feelings of pain he felt from her absence.

Kushina and Minato went on with their lives, the absence of one another dampening their own spirits and a feeling inside that made them feel as if they were missing something dreadfully important.

But that changed when one sunny Sunday afternoon while Minato was catching up with his father, he received a call. Picking up his phone, his thumb hovered over the decline call button, knowing that Jiraiya hated to be interrupted especially when he was talking about his research. But something stopped him, he didn't know what but he felt this desire, this urge to pick up the phone and see who was on the other side and so that's very much what he did.

As promised this chapter was longer than usual, tell me what you think. I know you guys really wanted a happy MinaKush moment and instead you got the complete opposite, so sorry. But I just couldn't make it so easy, not yet at least but don't worry it'll be coming.

Thank you all for the support for this story I can't believe we made it to chapter 10, i'm so pleased =D

I pasted the lyrics from Ed Sheeran's song; give me love, above because it seemed to fit in with this chapter so well and honestly I just couldn't resist (My favourite singer and fav song of his). It's a beautiful song especially with his lovely voice and I highly recommend that you listen to it as it inspired some of what I wrote today. Unfortunately YouTube links won't show up on here when I post the chapter but you can just type in his name and song into YouTube and it will pop up if you want to listen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I really hope 2014 is prosperous and good to all