Title: Touch the Sky
Theme: #15, Perfect Blue
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
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I've always had this nagging little wish to soar through the flawless azure oblivion far above. I've always wished I could dance high above the earth and kiss the clouds. I've always wanted to touch the sky.
A long time ago, when I was still young, I asked sensei privately if there was a jutsu to help me defy gravity; he smiled and said that there was, but not one that could be preformed with mere seals and chakra. I didn't quite understand him but—
"Tsunade?" I jump slightly, not expecting the sudden interruption.
"J-Jiraiya?" I stutter, my mind slowly returning from where it had been gliding in the open, sapphire expanse above, "What…are you doing here?"
He studies me a moment, as if he's trying to figure out some great mystery, then shakes his head slightly, "Nothing." He smirks and turns to the sky, "I thought you stopped your habit a long time ago…appears I was wrong."
My eyes widen slightly at his comment before I close them and turn away, "My habit?"
"Don't lie, Tsunade…I can't count the number of times I noticed you watching the sky like it was a lord's feast and you were a starved peasant," he chuckles slightly, "Tsunade, don't look so shocked…anyone would have noticed."
He turns to me and grins. I smirk, trying to hide my previous surprise, before letting my gaze turn upwards yet again, "We all have our dreams, Jiraiya…"
He's silent for a moment, but I feel his eyes searching me for something. I refuse turn to acknowledge his attention and the silence quickly becomes thunderous in my ears. He steps forward unexpectedly, cups my chin in his hand, and forces my eyes to meet his. "I know, Tsunade—" he stops himself from saying more, his eyes soften and too suddenly for me to react, he pulls me close to him. "Believe me, I know…" he whispers into my hair.
My arms return the embrace of their own accord, and my face instinctively nestles into the crook of his neck. I don't say anything—I don't need to—because in that moment I suddenly understand what sensei meant those many years ago.
Thank you, Jiraiya, for helping me touch the sky.