Warning for some lightly described blood and injury.

For days now you've stayed at his side. It's hard. You can't do anything but wait. You hold Jiraiya's hand as he recovers. He hasn't woken since he got his head sewn. He had a bad reaction to the drugs the hospital used and it only prolonged his coma. But he's breathing. He's alive. His brain is still active.

A week ago he went on a mission. It ended quite unfortunately. He ended up in a battle that left him the loser. He nearly died. He fell back from a hard blow to the chest and struck his head hard. Heads got a lot of blood in them, but even though you knew that it was terrifying seeing him bleed so much. A pool of blood on the ground around him. His beautiful white hair soaking up and being stained red. He wouldn't wake up no matter how you shook his shoulder and pleaded for him to. He is far too big for you to pick up alone and you felt helpless. Stranded. Thankfully Gama was still summoned for the battle. That toad was just big enough to hold your husband on his back and didn't mind ferrying his master to Konoha.

Thankfully Jiraiya was stable upon arrival. The bleeding made it look much worse than it was. His skull only got a tiny fracture. One that's not deadly. The doctor said he was quite lucky. He struck the side of his head very close to his temple. If a few centimetres different he could've died.

Even though Jiraiya has a horseshoe up his ass, you can't help but fret over all the other details the doctors warned you about. He could have other complications. Ones that won't come clear until he wakes up. Maybe a motor issue. Possibly a sensory problem. Brains are tricky things. He already cracked his head open in his youth, before you had met him. He had temporary amnesia, which is common. He made a full recovery. Hopefully he ends up like that again. It must have been horrible for his friends when he didn't remember them for a few days. It's something you don't want to live through.

A quiet groan broke your worrying thoughts. You focus your gaze on Jiraiya. You watch as his shut eyes twitch. You grab his hand and rub your thumb over his knuckles. You can see his eyes moving behind his lids. He's waking up! A flood of excitement overrides your fear.

Finally he opens his eyes. They aren't that alert. They look confused and hazy. As expected for a man who was comatose for almost a full week. He looks around the hospital room until his eyes finally land on you.

"Hey baby." You greet with a smile. "How you feeling?"

Jiraiya smiles at you. He looks you over slowly. Then he looks you over again, as if the first time wasn't enough to really let the details sink in. His brows furrowed. It looks like he's not quite sure about something.

"I..." He trailed off for a moment. "Who are you?"

Those words are exactly what you didn't want to hear. It seized your body with fear. He took his hand away from you, mistrust in his gaze now as he looks at you. He frowns at you as he sits up.

"Who are you?" He asks again more sternly. "Where am I?"

"Calm down." You say. You put your hands up as if surrendering. "You're in the hospital. Y-You hit your head."

He considers your words carefully. Staring at you as he let it sink in. He relaxes and slumps back down. You relax as well. You put your hands down. You reach towards his hand again but decided against it. You swallow down the lump in your throat.

"Do you know who you are?" You ask.

"My name is Jiraiya." He said it like it was obvious.

You nod. Okay. At least he knows who he is. But the question is where exactly is his head at? How the hell do you even ask that?

"What's going on in the world?" You try.

He looks at you like you asked the world's dumbest question.

"We're at war."

You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding.

This had gotten very complicated...

You quietly help Jiraiya get his kosode on. He's got an arm injury from that battle as well that's restricting his movements. He can't quite reach backwards yet. You sweep your hands over his shoulders, smoothing out any creases that were in the cloth. At least he's clean now. His hair is white again and there's hardly a sign of his head injury. It's just a small cut that's been stitched closed, with his hair down it's hard to see. You look up to see he's looking at you. He's using the mirror in the bathroom to do so. His eyes aren't so mistrusting anymore. They're more curious and calculating. He's searching for something when he looks at you.

"I can tie it if you want." You offer.

He turns around. You reach behind him to wrap the sash from back to front. It feels a little strange. Jiraiya is much more affectionate normally. But it's not normal. Your husband doesn't remember you. The past twenty years are blank to him. He thinks he's twenty six. It's the second great war. He's just returned after doing something in Rain territory for three years. He's just released his first book and he's looking forward to settling this fight for good. These were the circumstances he was under when he got his first head injury. He had come home after those years he didn't explain to his superiors and on his first deployment after returning he got a concussion.

You met him after he recovered from his injury. Your post was hardly stumbled upon by ninja friend and foe alike. Hence why it took so long to meet your soulmate. You were skilled in long range attacks, which worked well for boarder watch. You could hide and neutralize hostiles just as they crossed onto your homeland. Not that you're all that proud, but you have the highest kill rate for snipers. Bowmen are rare in Konoha. Surprising considering your people live in the woods. Alas domesticating food animals had made the practice less necessary. But you were recruited by a sensei who was keeping the practice alive. She saw your potential to carry the torch.

You tie his shirt as he usually likes it. Jiraiya continued to stare at you. You know why. He's trying hard to remember you. He's looking for anything familiar. Everyone has told him that the reality he thinks he's in is long in the past. He's having trouble accepting it. He's happy that there's no major war happening anymore. But he doesn't remember anything beyond it. He's gotten frustrated a few times. He's argued with the psychiatrist that was trained for situations like this. Somethings just aren't making sense to him.

Fingers entered your vision. You flinch in surprise. You were totally zoned out, holding the ends of the sash in your fingers and staring at the lopsided knot you tied as if it fascinated you. You blink a few times and look up. Jiraiya froze in place. He was an inch away from touching your face. His expression is concerned. You blink again and it became clear why. You're crying.

"I'm sorry..." He said. "I'm trying to remember you."

"It's okay. I know you are." You reply. You lean into his stalled hand. "I miss you."

Jiraiya leaned down. You gasp as he kisses you. It's familiar. Yet he's a little stilted. It's not familiar to him. It broke slowly. You open your eyes and look at him utterly confused.

"I thought it would jog my memory." He explains.

"Did it?"

"No... sorry."

You sigh sadly. It's painful. The man you love doesn't know you. He doesn't remember you. He doesn't step away from you. He remains close, watching you carefully.

"Can I tell you something?" He asks.

"What is it?"

"When I first woke up, I thought you were the prettiest woman I ever saw." He said. He smiles bashfully. "I'm sorry I lashed out at you."

"It's okay. I know how confusing this must be." You sigh. Without thinking, you put your arms around him and embrace him. "I'm just happy you trust me."

"We're married. I must've trusted you with my life."

You look up at him. You search his face as you ask the obvious question.

"Do you still trust me with your life?"

He doesn't say anything right away. He holds your gaze for a long time. The fact that he has to think about it does hurt. Yet it does make sense. He thinks he's in a time where putting trust in the wrong person could lead to an immediate death. It's hard to blame him for really thinking it over.

"Yeah. I think I do. When I look at you, I can't help but feel like I'm in the company of an old friend. One I've trusted before."

You smile at him. Even when he's an amnesiac, he knows what to say.

"The doctors said that taking me to places that had something big happen to me could help me with my memories." Jiraiya said with a hopeful optimism. "Could you take me to these places?"

"Some of these places are far away." You say. "But I know a couple of them that are around the village. I just hope it's enough."

"I'm sure it will be."

You step back and grab his hand. You lead him away. Out of the dingy atmosphere of the hospital into the brighter air of the new morning. He's quiet. Following you silently. Where you are leading him?

Well it makes the most sense to start from the farthest point you can think of. Your first memory of him is how you met him. Which was in the woods away from the village. If you go to the earliest memory then maybe it'll be easier for him to recall it.

Jiraiya stopped at the gate. The journey through Konoha had surprised him. Things have changed, but not drastically. The biggest thing was that air of unease wasn't hanging around. People are happy. But he has a question.

"Why are we leaving?"

"I'm taking you to somewhere important." You explain.

He looks skeptical. You step closer to him and hold his hand tighter.

"You said you trusted me..." You said quietly.

"I do... Sorry." He replied. "There's nothing to worry about."

The way he said it was more to himself than you. Yes you understand his concern. He thinks he's in a time where even the forest didn't feel safe. With traps that had to be memorized as to not spring them and enemies that were always hanging around. This isn't the case anymore. This is a safe forest.

Jiraiya steps beyond the threshold of the gate and joins you on the other side. If you think it is important then he must. You're his wife. He trusts you. You lead him into the trees, towards the boarder that is shared with Grass county. You take him to your old boarder post. It's mostly abandoned now, with only one person stationed there. They tend to stay in the little house that was built there. The windows face the part where the boarder is. There's hardly any activity nowadays. Strange how different things are now.

"Stand right here." You say.

"Okay."

You pull on Jiraiya's shoulders to adjust him slightly. There's a certain tree you set him in front of. He's looking down at you trying to figure out what you are doing. You take a few steps back to make sure he's lined up properly. Then you back up more and examine thoroughly. Yes... He's in the exact same position.

"Where are you going?" He asks.

"Stay still! I promise this is important!"

He huffs and does as you say. You jump backwards until you are on the roof of the house. He's in the exact spot you remember. You can make the same shot twice. You are the best shot in Konoha. Faster than most can comprehend, you arm your bow and notch an arrow.

"Wha-!" Jiraiya just barely managed to squawk by the time you shot the arrow.

It flew right at him. He dodged in the same way, sidestepping as the arrow came flying at his face. It was still too slow. It imbedded into the tree, a hairline away from his face. There's a second of stunned silence.

Jiraiya blinks a few times. A stinging is in his cheek. He curiously touched the area and took a look at his fingers. Blood. Only a little. The thinnest of cuts had formed on his cheek from the head of the arrow. It had just managed to strike him.

He's done that before.

Staring at his hand in a stunned shock. Coming to terms that he almost just died. He looked up to see who just tried to shoot him. Only to be met with the figure of a gorgeous woman perched on the outpost roof. Her bow drawn to shoot him again. He tensed as he figured he had to fight. But he wasn't sure where to start. He never fought a sniper before. Long range isn't all that suited to his skills.

"Turn around!" You yelled at him. "Return to your land!"

"What?! This is my land!" Jiraiya retorted.

"Prove it!"

"What do you mean prove it?! You shot me!" He yelled and pointed an accusatory finger at you. "How do I know if you're a comrade or not?!"

At that point you leaped off of the roof and marched towards him. As you approached he could see the details of your face. Which can only be explained as pretty. Far too pretty to be stuck out in an outpost with no one to appreciate it. It took a lot of bickering but he convinced you that he was a comrade. You let him go, but he kept looking back. That sniper had left one hell of an impression.

Jiraiya moved to touch his cheek again. This time he was interrupted. You are already touching his cheek. Your fingers gentle and warm as you inspect the wound. You run your fingers over it and wipe away the trail of blood that's weeping from the cut.

"I... I figured setting up the circumstances of how we met would help you remember. I didn't scare you did I?" You ask.

"No. That's a pretty good idea." He answered. "It's the right one too. I do remember. I was coming back from a mission when I met the prettiest girl in the village."

You smile. You're blushing. You know you are. In a way you do feel twenty years younger. It feels good to walk down these memories. The next one you have planned will hopefully be just as pleasant for him. You take his hands and lead him to the next place.

The river has always held interesting memories for Jiraiya. Lots of fair young lasses come here to play in the water when it's summer. He often perched in the trees like a bird or in the bushes like a fox. The intentions the same. To stalk... or maybe it's easier to explain as people watching. He rarely came out to join. Mostly because it's not so acceptable for a man to waltz in on a bunch of ladies swimming around and not expect him to be a creep. They often leave when he made himself known. Which isn't what he wants.

Or did want. Even if he can't remember you, he can't imagine straying his gaze from the person he married. That isn't right.

Using chakra to safely and dryly walk above the water, you led him to a place he didn't expect. There's a small cave behind the waterfall. You manipulated the water into a shield, something akin to the water prison jutsu to keep both you and him dry while walking under the fall. Once in the cave you kicked off your sandals and curled your toes into the soft sand.

"Water jutsu?" He asks curiously when stepping around the sand, sweeping his feet to feel the softness of the fine grains as well.

"Yeah. Sometimes people slip through my range. I'm no good if I can't defend myself at close range too."

"I see."

How odd. It's rare to have water style here. You are quite the gem. From your fighting styles to your personal attributes. Rare and spectacular. He smiles to himself as he thinks about how lucky he is to have found someone like you.

"This was sorta like a hiding spot for us." You explain. You drag your fingers along the walls of the shallow cave. It only goes a few feet. There's hardly enough head room for your husband to stand. "After we met, you saw me disappear behind here and followed me. That was before we became friends. I was... rather annoyed that you found my secret base."

Jiraiya listened to you in complete silence. He was facing the other wall. There's markings on the soft wet stone. He traces the letters he recognizes as his name. It's scrawled in jagged points due to the nature of trying to carve rock with another rock. Beside his name is yours. At the beginning and end of the names are hearts and even a crudely drawn toad head below it. It's rather cute. He must have been rather smitten with you if he did that.

"As we grew closer, we hung out here all the time." You continued.

"Why here?"

"To get away from people. Your Genin team overwhelmed you sometimes. I didn't want to waste away at my outpost that no one bothered to care about anymore. So we met up here."

Where no kids or superiors could find him or you. The reverberating constant rush of water was oddly comforting as the only sound in the cave. Sometimes he brought his journal to write down ideas for another book. You often had your bow. Most times it was dead silent between you and him. Hardly a word exchanged. But there didn't need to be words exchanged. He'd write. You would restring your bow or fletch your arrows. Usually you and him would be back to back, using each other as supports while working on things for the simple pleasures of it.

Jiraiya slowly turned around to face you. You too are admiring the walls. Your back to him as you run your fingers over a faded message that has been worn down by the elements. It's code. It's a parody of a often used Leaf ninja message. One that only those born and raised in Konoha would know.

Paraphrased it's "To hide in the shadows of even a leaf to take the enemy by surprise."

This said "To hide in the shadows of my heart to take me by surprise."

A smirk grows on his face. A part of him cringes. A true poet he is not. But he tried. He was quite proud of it and showed it to you. Unfortunately... you didn't understand what he meant by it. You raised a brow at him and gave him the weirdest look.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" You brashly asked.

"Wh-What do you mean what the hell does it mean?!" He retorted, he was flooded with embarrassment and ire at your lack of understanding. He pointed at it. "I'm confessing!"

"Confessing to what? That you actually suck at writing?"

Embarrassed and flustered Jiraiya of twenty years ago only had one move left. He grabbed you by the collar of your uniform and pulled you close. You barely managed to get out a gasp before he pressed his lips against yours in a chaste and clumsy first kiss.

You clung to his sleeves and after a tense heartbeat you melted into it. Much like you are now. He moved just as swiftly and by surprise as he had back then. Nowadays it's much more natural to kiss him but you didn't expect him to twirl you around and grab the collar of your shirt. He kissed you with more poise this time around.

It broke slowly and with that satisfying moment where your lips stuck to his for a second before breaking. Where you could feel the slow pull of the top layer of your lips tearing away from his gently, as if wishing to hold on for more. It was good. The best kiss you and him have shared since he woke up.

"... Do I suck at writing?" Jiraiya asks quietly.

"No." You reply with a smile. The telling callback was enough to convince you that he remembered. "You are a best seller."

"What? Really? But... my first book did so poorly."

"It wasn't a bad book. People just didn't have good taste." You assure with a smile. That is something you had always told him when he mentioned the sales of his first work. "Want to see?"

He looks a tad hesitant at first, but nods. It's always intimidating to see how his work is accepted by not only the world but his peers. To think the people he works with have read something he wrote is a little scary. But if you say it is well received then he believes you. You take him back to the village. There's not many unique spots you can think of along the way. Make out against one tree and one has made out in against them all.

You lead him to the market place to the closest bookstore. You could take him to the furthest bookstore and it could be the same outcome. His eyes follow when you point to one of the books in the display window. Surprise struck him by the title and image of the cover.

"Make Out Paradise?" He repeats the title. A blush tinted his cheeks. "I write romance novels?"

"Romance is putting it lightly." You reply. You lightly knock your hip against his in a playful gesture. "You write some really raunchy stuff."

"Porn... I write and profit off of writing porn."

"Yup."

"And you're okay with that?"

You shrug. Then you smirk.

"Yeah, of course I am. Most of the stuff you write is from personal experience."

He turns red. Flashes of rather lewd memories fly around his head like a slide show. The exotic locations you and him have had sex. The exotic ways you and him have sex. That cave ain't so sacred... Hardly any place you and him have been is.

"Do you remember something?" You ask.

"Uh nothing that I should repeat with this many people around."

"That hasn't stopped you before."

He chuckles. Maybe so. Most of these people have inadvertently read about his sex life with his wife. Is there really a difference if he speaks loosely about it in public. He leans in and gives you a kiss. With each passing moment you are becoming more familiar.

"What else can you show me? I want to keep going."

"Yeah of course we can keep going."

"What's closest?"

That's a good question. You hum thoughtfully. The map in your head is a little rusty. It's been some time since you had to dig around for your memories by location. Then it hits you. The closest place is the cemetery.

"I... I don't know if you want to go to the closest place, Jiraiya." You speak your troubled thoughts. "It involves the death of our close friends."

"Oh..." His expression changed as expected. There's a hint of recognition in his eyes, but it's distant. It's as if the memory you speak of is on the tip of his tongue. "Death is apart of life. Not everything can be happy."

"These deaths were really hard for you. I don't want to upset you."

"Don't protect me... please. I need to know all I went through. The good and bad."

You hold his gaze. You hold it and search it. He does want to go through it. You squeeze his hands and lead him away. You know your husband. When he makes up his mind he doesn't change it. So you take him to the cemetery, where you and him know far too many people who are buried there.

Jiraiya looks over the names curiously as he walks by the headstones. He doesn't recognize any. It's still sad. So many people have died for this village. Hopefully they are at peace. You walk past them all.

Near the back of the cemetery on a raised platform that is made of tile and cement. In the centre of the platform is a monument. It's a statue in the shape of a flame. The statue itself is carved like how old art is drawn. The swirls and bold lines that define and lead the eye to follow the flame up. Quite cleverly in the centre of the flame is the Leaf insignia integrated into the design.

Approaching the statue began to fill him with dread. It's hard to explain why. It's just stone. But it feels like this statue is holding a heavy dark power to it. He stops on the second step that leads to it.

"We don't have to if you don't want to." You assure.

He raises his eyes from his feet to you. Why does he feel so scared? What's so horrible about a monument? Whoever died here must have done something grand to be buried with such a beautiful display of thanks from the people they saved.

But that's just the thing. He doesn't know why. He has to know. He can't just not go on not knowing who this person is that makes him feel such fear. He swallows the gathering saliva in his mouth and nods. He must know. No matter how uneasy it makes him feel.

"Okay." You whisper.

Jiraiya climbs the last step and walks with you to the plaque that's placed in the statue. Reading the words engraved there...

You remain silent beside him. You watch him, wishing you could help somehow. Jiraiya is going through it all over again. The wounds are still quite fresh. They died not that long ago. The colour drained from his face. His breathing became staggered. His legs wobbled before buckling. He collapsed to his knees and braced his hands on the ground to prevent himself from completely toppling. You sink to your knees beside him and rub his back.

Minato... his friend. His student. A boy that felt like family. Kushina... bright. Clever. A girl no better suited for the kind blond that fell in love with her. They were wonderful people that were stolen from the world far to early. Most tragic of all they left behind their newborn baby. They left behind so many people who loved them.

When you touch his hair, Jiraiya tunes back into his surroundings. He looks over at you. You are tucking back a section of his bangs. Your expression is just as sorrowful. Their deaths were hard on you too. They left so soon. Just when life gets good. It's not fair! He chokes in a sob. He just... can't keep it in.

You embrace him immediately. His hands clutch at your back. His face buries into your shoulder. He's a silent crier. You only know because his body is jerking with the occasional hard sob. The best way to comfort him is to hold him through it. He hates the hushing and and the sympathetic words. Your silence said enough.

It is all coming back. It's overwhelming him more. Jiraiya holds onto you tighter. There's so much he has to process! There is clarity among the horrible pain. You were there too. Plenty of times after Minato and Kushina had died you held him like this. When he was at his lowest and slipping you were his rock. The crazy bow wielding blunt woman he loves never left his side... even when everyone else did.

He mumbles your name. He lets go of you and sits back. Seeing him so sorrowful is squeezing your heart. You use your sleeves to wipe off his wet face. He grabs your hand and presses it more firmly against his cheek. You caress it like he wants, running your thumb under his eye to keep catching tears.

"I love you." His voice is raspy. His glistening eyes are focused on you. Through the sorrow there's an ever growing knowing in his gaze. "I know you... and I know that I love you."

"I love you too."

Jiraiya is relishing in your touch. He remains quiet for several moments as gathers his thoughts and focuses on the gentle touch of your hand. You were never hesitant to comfort him. Nor did you ever judge him for needing it. Everyone needs to cry every now and then, even him.

"What else can you show me?.. Is there a better memory around here?" He asks.

You nod. There is. No one likes to be sad for long. Nor does anyone deserve to be. You twirl your hand around to grip his and you stand. He gets up without much trouble. After a deep cleansing breath, he smiles and says he's ready to move on.

There's one last memory here that you hope he considers impactful. It was for you. There's a small dock in the village that is usually meant for small boats, a place for children to leap from, and the perfect place to perhaps reel in a fish or two.

"You were standing right about..." You trail off as you guide him to stand close to the edge of the dock. One step to the left and he'd be in the water. You shuffle him back another step closer to land. "Here. Okay. Stay put."

He nods and does as you say. You trot back to land and turn around. Hm... It's just not quite right. You search around and spot a patch of forget-me-nots. Oddly suited to the circumstances... aren't they? These flowers always bloom along streams since they love wet soil. They were a favourite of your mother's, since you always brought them to her. You pluck some and hold the tiny flowers as if they were as grand a bouquet any bride could ask for.

On that day there was little for music or fanfare. Your friend that worked with you at the outpost had taken up a hobby during all that free time. He had a secret talent for the fiddle and was willing to play for free... it fit the budget. It's hardly a sophisticated instrument but you nor Jiraiya are sophisticated people. It was a slow melodic tune that fit the mood for the situation.

Humming it now was a feat easier in theory than in practice. Still you try as you take slow gliding steps towards, at that time, fiancé.

Jiraiya tilts his head curiously at you. He knows what you're doing. You are walking down the dock as if it were a aisle. He looks around you. It's all rather plain without the additions he and you worked on. Back then there were petals and flowers that lined the dock. They didn't stay for long as the wind picked up. He remembers being comfortably warm while you were freezing. Your dress was more modern than traditional and your poor bare arms had goosebumps on them the whole ceremony. Even if you were freezing your ass off, you couldn't stop smiling. Neither could he. Along the banks of the the river were his and yours friends there to watch the simple but lovely service of a small outdoor wedding.

Why on the banks? Why along the dock? He shuts his eyes for a moment in concentration. There has to be a good reason he agreed to get married here. You have a connection with water of course. You are very rare around here. A bowman and water chakra. Two very odd things that made you an outcast. But you always found peace when by water. You told him stories of the time you spent by this dock. By this river. Your waterfall hide out and the stream you used to play in.

Jiraiya opens his eyes again as the specific reason remains a little foggy. You are right in front of him now. Looking just as pretty as you did when he married you. His gaze wanders above your head to the road above. He remembers it was a quiet day. Near dusk like it is now. The village was settling down for the evening. His eyes keep traveling up to the building on the other side of the road. It's a small old house. With the curtains pulled clear of the window. There's no one there. But... but back then there was.

Oh yeah... Your childhood home is right there. Hence why you loved the dock so much. It's where you always played. It's where you grew up. Your parents were sick and elderly by the time you and him got married. They were too frail and weak to leave the house. So this spot was perfect for them to see their daughter get married.

They were nice people. Good people. They welcomed Jiraiya into their home... into the family so warmly. Your mother was incredibly sweet. She was little smitten with him too. She often praised you for getting such a nice and handsome man. She made sure he gained several pounds too. Her cooking was so good she almost succeeded. Your father was a lighthearted joking type of man. Patted him on the back a little too hard often. Teased him about things as a father does to their daughter's boyfriend.

"Cut your hair, boy. I got some shears in the kitchen! Or how about my axe in the backyard? I can't guarantee I won't nick your neck though!"

It was all in good fun. You often scolded your father whenever he teased Jiraiya to no end. But he didn't mind. Actually he liked it. His own father never cared like that, or bothered to joke around with him. Your father filled a weird void. The old man's advice was good too. The day he asked for permission for your hand he was given some wise words to always remember.

"I give you my blessings on one condition, boy." Your father sternly said. He raised a shaky finger and wagged it at Jiraiya as if he were a naughty child close to getting caught. "Don't put your career above your love. There's lots of dangerous missions out there, plenty of which I've seen promising young men like you die to. Don't take them without considering my daughter first. I don't want to outlive you, boy. Nor do I want to see my girl widowed far too young."

That conversation did hold a heavy impact. Jiraiya does value his life more. Not just for your sake but his own too. His happiness is something he ought to consider whenever a dangerous mission is passed his way. He always does... especially when you are with him. It's hard sometimes. Accepting a mission with you beside him. He... He figured he could handle this one too.

He gently touches his head, feeling the bump and stitches. How could he forget? Everything? His miserable life before you isn't worth remembering. Nor is it worth being stuck in. You made everything better during a time he thought nothing could. You saved him from a painful future. A lonely future...

A future that never came to be because he had you. You came into his life at such a weird time. But how could he let you get away? This bold strange pretty sniper who took none of his crap. Beautiful and deadly... There's no better kind.

"Is your head hurting?" You ask with worry.

He turns towards you. You reach out and inspect his wound. He winced but didn't shy away. You smile to which he returns.

"I'm okay... We got married here, right?"

"Yes. Almost twenty years ago."

"How could I forget?" Jiraiya asks softly. He grabs you and holds you close. He presses his forehead against yours. "It was one of the best days of my life."

Tears began to fall down your cheeks again. He feels like him again. The unfamiliarity he had for you earlier is gone. You just... can't hold it in. A high pitched gasp leaves you as you fail to be a silent crier like he is.

"It's okay... I remember. I remember you." His voice had dropped to a whisper. "I remember everything."

You wrap your arms around his neck and raise on your toes. He met you half way. You kiss him and he's happy to return it. It's passionate and messy. Between kisses his hands rise from your hips to your face. He caressed your cheeks. He uses his thumbs to wipe away your tears. He can almost hear the crowd of guests from the banks cheering. The circumstances may be different now, but you cried like this too when tying the knot with him. Saying personal vows had turned you and him into sobbing saps.

"Stop crying. I hate it when you cry." Jiraiya spoke in hushed tones.

He keeps wiping away your tears. It's hard to stop. It's been scary. The time he didn't know you was terrifying. It gave you the horrible idea of a future where Jiraiya didn't recall any memory. He'd leave you and you'd leave him, unable to handle being close to the man you love who didn't feel the same would be too painful... Could you even do it?

No... No you couldn't.

"I don't want to live in a world that doesn't have you in it." You say.

"But I'm here. I'm not gone." He promises. He keeps wiping off your face. He holds your head in a gentle cradle, forcing you to look him in the eyes. "I won't ever leave, okay?"

"I know... but without your memories of me... it felt like you were gone. That I was alone and I didn't have the one person with me who could make it all better."

"I'm sorry... I hated that I forgot about you." He pauses to kiss you. "My life got so much better when I met you. Even when we lost our friends, I got through it as good as I did because you were with me... I don't think I ever told you that."

"You don't have to."

A smile grows on his face. You smile too. For a long time you and Jiraiya stay close to each other on the dock, holding each other in a warm embrace. The occasional sniffle cut the silence between you and him. Other than that it's a quiet understanding that's made out of years of knowing one another. It's dark out now. The crickets began to sing.

"This feels like our wedding." Jiraiya broke the comfortable silence.

"How?" You ask.

"I remember... we spent a long time holding each other. While the rest of the room danced we did this."

"That's because neither me or you can dance."

"Really? I think I'm a pretty damn good dancer."

You scoff. The most dancing Jiraiya has done around you is when he's feeling goofy. When stationary in Konoha and you lived together, you often came home to him dancing like a spazz in the buff. At first he turned bright red and flustered. When it became a weird habit to catch him doing chores or goofing off while trying to do chores completely nude he got used to it. In fact he'd try to get you to join him. It's hard to turn him down when he does his little sexy shimmy towards you. He still does it sometimes when in hotels.

"You don't agree? You've fallen for my smooth moves plenty of times before." He points out.

"You are just too sexy to resist, my love."

This time he laughs. It's the first time he's done so since woke up. It's the most wonderful thing you've heard. For a while you weren't sure you would hear it again. The cherry on top is the kiss he gives you after. If only all of your time with him could be spent like this.

When he pulled back a gleam of something mischievous sparkled in his eyes.

"You know, babe. I never got to do something I wanted to do on our wedding."

"Oh?" You encourage him to go on.

You jump in surprise when he gripped your hips tightly. It was a lot firmer than you expected.

"If I didn't know what you spent on that beautiful dress of yours then I would have."

"Jiraiya." You state his name sternly as a warning. You know what he's thinking.

"You would have drowned me if I did." He continues with a conniving grin. "But these clothes ain't so special."

"No! Gah!"

You cry out when Jiraiya lifted you up and threw you in the river. By the time you surfaced he was cannonballing beside you. When he surfaced his bangs are covering his eyes from being weighed down by water. That evil pleased grin is on his lips.

He wades towards you and lunges forward. He snatches you up before you could run away. You whine and cry in his grasp.

"You jerk! We're gonna freeze!" You complain.

"I can think of a good way to warm up!"

You squeak as he grabs your ass and raises you up. You comply and wrap your legs around his waist. He's a jerk... but you love him. Getting a little wet isn't so bad. Especially when he's the reason you're wet. You clasp your hands around the back of his neck and kiss him. He's eager to return it. As you and him kiss he waded through the water back to shore.

Jiraiya sets you down on your back and he crawls overtop of you. Drops of water fall from his hair onto your face. You reach up and push back his soggy bangs. Those dark beautiful eyes of his are still shining with mischief. But under that mischief is the love and affection he's been looking at you with for the past twenty five years. You won't take that familiar look for granted anymore.

"I love you." He tells you.

"I love you too."

He kisses you. You kiss him back. As you make out, he began to play with your clothing. It's been a roller coaster of a day. The vast number of emotions he went through has only made him realize how fortunate he is. He has you. He still has you.

He peels your shirt off and goes about kissing your newly exposed skin. There's something about you that he finds irresistible. You yelp when he blows a raspberry on your belly rather than a kiss. It's followed by giggles.

"Don't do that you dork!" You complain.

You grip his shirt and heave. You switch positions with him and smile. Jiraiya is looking you over slowly with a less conniving grin and more of a sweet one. His hands are stroking your thighs. He looks quite good at this angle. His head is framed by long untamed grass and forget-me-not blooms. You lean down and return to making out with him.

What was yo followed will remain between you, him, and the banks of the river. It's a memory you and Jiraiya won't forget for a long time.