Chapter 25—Trust

"I won't see you for a while," Jiraiya said to Tsunade that night. They were standing together outside the hideout's concealed entrance watching clouds roll in and consume the stars along the horizon. "I'm going to take this chance to travel some more. Maybe write another book."

"Of course you are," Tsunade groaned, forcing a smile. "Well, at least try to keep yourself out of trouble."

"Where's the fun in that?" he laughed.

Silence fell between them, a frequent occurrence over the past few hours they'd spent talking as Jiraiya fought with himself over a topic he was afraid to address. But he knew he'd be leaving soon and he did not want to go without an answer. He stumbled a little with the words, unsure even now about how to broach the subject.

"Tsunade, Orochimaru told me something… about what happened with Inko."

At first, Tsunade remained still and silent. For her, the question had come out of nowhere, and she wasn't prepared for it. He waited and eventually she said calmly, "As shinobi, our world is riddled with battles and wars… and death. I think… I had made my choice even then, and as soon as I did, the fight with Inko became a battle between opposing villages, nothing more."

"You can't mean that…" Jiraiya said, desperate for Orochimaru to be wrong. "Konoha is still your–"

"You can't say it's my home, Jiraiya. You can't say it's my village. Konoha is… just the past. This isn't even the first time I've left it behind. I do wish the best for everyone there, but I will defend my new life if necessary."

Jiraiya looked away to stare up at the stars. There wasn't anything left that either of them could say about it. They said their goodbyes and Jiraiya left, heading back to Konoha to carry out their plan.

[X]

Tsunade went back down into the hideout. "So," she said, meeting Orochimaru in the hallway outside their room. "Are you going to tell me what the two of you talked about?"

"No," Orochimaru said lightly. "It was very dull."

"Orochimaru…"

He smiled and pulled her closer by her hips. "What?"

"Tell me," she said.

"No."

"Then tell me where you went."

"No."

"Tell me why you won't tell me," she tried.

"I already did."

Tsunade sighed. "I meant the real reason."

"Why don't you tell me something instead?" he suggested.

"I – What? Why should I?"

Orochimaru leaned down and whispered, "Your decision, Tsunade. You never actually told me." He drew back again so he could meet her eyes. "Tell me."

Tsunade hesitated very briefly but she knew this was not something she should use as a bargaining chip against the information he was withholding. "Orochimaru," she answered confidently. "I'm staying with you."

She had barely finished speaking the words when Orochimaru caught her up in a kiss so intense and sudden that Tsunade was left breathless and slightly stunned. She clung to him until her heart calmed but he kissed her again, lightly pressing his lips to her forehead.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Tsunade rolled her eyes. The question was getting old. "Good," she said simply.

Orochimaru smirked and slowly kissed her neck. "How good?"

"Mm, very good," she breathed.

"I'm glad." He pulled her with him into the bedroom and Tsunade didn't hesitate to follow. When he moved to sit on the bed, she crawled onto the mattress after him and settled herself into his lap, her thighs pressing against his hips. Her hands tightened on his shoulders as they kissed and she was almost lost in the sensation. It was as though every kiss before then had been through a shroud that was now, finally, torn away. It felt reckless and thrilling and she never wanted to go back.

Neither really registered it when Orochimaru's hands slipped around to Tsunade's back, undoing the sash at her waist and letting it fall silently to the floor. He pulled open her shirt and Tsunade let go of him just long enough for it to also fall away. Her fingers crept under the hem of his shirt and pressed against cool skin. She had to concentrate to make her hands move up to remove his shirt instead of letting them wander down.

Orochimaru leaned closer. His breath brushed Tsunade's cheek lightly before he brought his lips to the side of her neck just below her jaw line and pressed them softly to her skin. He could feel her pulse jumping furiously under his touch and laughed a little. She's so excitable.

His arms wrapped around her, pressing their bodies closer still. With the lightest of touches, he dusted the tips of his fingers down her back and felt her shiver. His smile widened. Too easy. His hands continued down, slipping under the waist of her pants, and he could almost feel the heat of the blush that touched her cheeks. Breathing out a light laugh, he continued his trail of kisses down her neck.

Tsunade slid her hands down Orochimaru's chest slowly. His skin had warmed rapidly with their closeness but that wasn't the change she was interested in. She let her hands drop into his lap and pushed them between his legs. Her fingers worked against the clothing that separated them from what her body now ached for. Orochimaru groaned quietly against her neck as her hands continued to rub against him.

"I know you like to be teased, hime," he murmured. "But you forget that you end up teasing me, too." He grinned. "And I don't like it."

"Hm." Tsunade rested her head on Orochimaru's shoulder with a quiet smile and brought a hand up to trace feather-light fingers up and down his arm. "Then why don't you do something about it?"

He didn't need the invitation. His hands glided around to the clasp of her bra and in a second it joined the pile on the floor. He grabbed Tsunade and rolled her onto her back, dusting quick kisses across her chest, his hands already unfastening and pulling her pants away. He was gentler as he slid her underwear away as well, and took a moment to run his hands down the sides of her body, over the uninterrupted expanse of skin from her chest to her legs.

"Mm." She sighed when his hands passed over her hips. So close. Now who's the tease?

Orochimaru brought his hands back up to Tsunade's chest, caressing her softly at first, but as she pulled him down and kissed him again he became more eager, his touch more fervent. Her fingers fumbled at his pants and he helped her remove them. They removed everything standing in their way and pressed closer together to share another kiss as though they would never have enough.

When they paused to catch their breath Orochimaru took the opportunity to study Tsunade. She met his eyes, her face flushed, her lips parted as she drew in quick breaths, and he could see no reservations there. No regret. Just trust.

The word occurred to him suddenly and settled in place as if it were obvious. She trusted him completely. Probably more than he deserved, but that didn't bother him. He saw now that it was this trust that had allowed her to accept his plan—allowed her to be in his arms, not just tonight, but every night from now on. Complete victory.

Orochimaru grinned and Tsunade, oblivious to his thoughts, looked at him like he was crazy. "Are you that excited?" she laughed, pushing her fingers into his hair briefly to draw it away from his face.

"That depends, do you still intend to tease me?" he asked.

She gave him a sly smile. "I'm over it."

"Good." Orochimaru's hands slipped lower and Tsunade leaned back slightly, allowing him to part her legs. He began kissing down her body again, taking his time. He knew what she liked, and as long as he was the one in control he didn't mind the teasing. A hand slid slowly up her thigh and she gasped softly when his careful fingers could climb no higher. His touch was soft, so light that Tsunade shivered and squirmed under him. She knew he was trying to get a reaction out of her, but she'd never let him win easily. She swallowed a whimper with an effort and instead gripped at the sheets. Orochimaru smiled.

"Hime," he murmured softly, kissing her hips. "I want to hear you moan…" His fingers pressed against her, rubbing gently, but she bit her lip and closed her eyes.

"Nn…"

Stubborn woman, Orochimaru thought. His tongue slid out and slipped down between her legs, the tip flicking quickly against her clit.

"Ah–!" Tsunade gasped. "Orochimaru!"

"Hmm… closer," Orochimaru murmured. He lowered his head and licked at her with more force and she quickly abandoned her pride, rewarding him with a high moan and slipping her fingers into his hair.

"Mm, hime…" Orochimaru groaned. Without warning, he pushed a finger inside her and she moaned again, pleading for more.

The wet heat within her had already chased all thought of further delay from Orochimaru's mind. He pulled his finger out and repositioned himself between her legs. She kept her eyes closed to magnify every sensation and gripped again at the sheets when she felt the hard tip press against her.

"Ahn…Aah!" He pushed inside and she begged for him to go deeper. With a smirk, Orochimaru complied, watching her face, watching her body shudder with pleasure. Eager to see it all again, he drew out and plunged back in with more force. She was unreserved in her responses now – moaning, repeating his name – it only served to encourage him and he continued to thrust into her, his mind clouding with the feeling as she tightened around him.

"Mm… Tsunade…" he whispered.

"Orochi… maru… aah… yes…" Tsunade gasped.

Her head was swimming with pleasure, her nerves alive with the awareness of him, and a small, distant part of Tsunade's mind exalted in the knowledge that Orochimaru had found her freedom – that he would be the one she could rely on and that she could now be the one upon whom he would rely.

The thrill of that night was like none they had known. Absolute freedom. Absolute trust. Unobstructed love.

[X]

The Breaking Point—Author's Note

Well. This is an embarrassing place to have to put my author note lol.

So Breaking Point is finally over. The next story in this series will be called Return to Konoha, and it will also be a chapter story rather than a one-shot, but it should still be shorter than Breaking Point.

Thanks again to everyone who reads and supports this series. I really appreciate it!

~DS