A/N: Did anyone order more JiraTsuna?
The night was still young as Jiraiya slipped into Tsunade's tent once more. Unlike last time, however, she was ready - bottle of sake at the ready, along with two cups.
A mischievous gleam was in her eye as he sat before her. "Ready to get smashed?"
"In any other situation, I'd suspect you were coming onto me," he winked.
Tsunade laughed and nudged him with her arm. It was just hard enough that he had to wince. "Ha-ha, you lech. Now c'mon, before I change my mind."
Jiraiya was all too eager to oblige, settling in with his legs crossed and accepting a heaping cup of sake from his friend.
"To another day of life," he toasted, raising his cup.
"To another day of work," she said a little less enthusiastically, returning the gesture.
Both threw back their drinks, Tsunade letting out a delighted sigh of content.
"Man, that hits the spot," she murmured, relaxing against the tent wall. "It's been a really long day, y'know?"
"Don't I know it," he agreed with a heavier sigh that seemed to weigh on his chest. "Na- oh, 'scuse me, Pein is really stressing about his men. Can never really get used to his new name…"
"Pein…" Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she poured them both another shot. "Oh, Piercings."
"Yeah." Jiraiya shook his head mournfully. "Neither of 'em were the same since Yahiko died. I wish I could've been there."
The blonde frowned, placing a gentle hand on his bicep.
When he looked up, she squeezed gently. "Hey," she chastised. "You know it wasn't your fault."
"But I made those kids a promise, Tsu," he replied, staring into her eyes desperately. "And I wasn't there. I told them that I'd always come to their rescue and I failed them."
Tsunade didn't say anything for several moments. Her eyes searched his, looking around and searching his for a good while.
Finally, she let out a breath through her nose. "We all have failed our students. All of us have caused at least one to suffer."
"Orochimaru doesn't count," he retorted, narrowing his eyes. "He had impure intentions all along with Anko."
"No, he didn't in the beginning." A faraway look came over her face as she absentmindedly sipped her sake. "It was right after we split from Sarutobi. I remember he was unusually eager to take her on as an apprentice. Said it would help him in his research. I had hoped she would fill the void that his parents left in his heart."
Jiraiya's gaze minutely softened. "We were so hopeful for him, Tsu. What happened to him? What happened to us?"
"Times have changed, and so have we," she replied heavily. "Hey, aren't you gonna drink? Lighten up, get drunk!"
He shrugged and tipped his back. The familiar burn of the alcohol was comforting, even moreso was the sight of his teammate and good friend drinking just a foot away. They were so close, their knees touched.
Wordlessly, he held out his cup and she refilled it again.
And again.
And again.
Before either of them knew it, they were drunk and giggly as they swapped slurred stories back and forth; stories of their youth, of the shenanigans their students had gotten up to, whatever complicated love dramas were going on in camp (Tsunade had her fair share of those, and they were quite entertaining).
She was halfway through a story about one of her recruits and a longtime childhood friend of theirs when she paused, noticing his gaze.
"What're you lookin' at, Jiraiya?" She questioned, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Is there somethin' on my face?"
"No," he replied, blinking slowly with a smile on his face. "Just lookin' atcha."
"Well don't be weird 'bout it!" She declared, accidentally spilling some sake as she refilled her cup with shaky hands. "I know 'bout your past with your women! I ain't gonna be a statistic!"
"I'd never do you like that!" He replied earnestly. Then he paused, snickered at the double-entendre, and continued, "You're my only friend left, y'know. After that guy left I don't have nobody."
The mood seemed to somber once more as they sat there.
"I… I miss him," Tsunade quietly admitted. "I shouldn't, but I do. For all his creepy research, Orochi was a pretty chill guy sometimes. He let me cry on his shoulder after Gramps died… and my brother. And… and Dan."
"Yeah, me too." The white-haired man nodded slowly. "He was my first best friend. And… and then he went off and betrayed us all…"
The blonde heaved a heavy sigh, her entire body wilting with the effort. "I'm worried 'bout Sakura. And Naruto. Heaven knows those kids have their work cut out for 'em."
"They'll be safe and sound with Kakashi watchin' 'em," he tried to reassure her.
"I'm not worried 'bout other people," she said pointedly, staring him in the eye. Even with the heavy flush across her cheeks, she still somehow managed to look stern. "I'm worried 'bout Sasuke."
Jiraiya took a moment to pause. "You don't think he'd…?"
"After all that kid's been through, hell yeah I do." She nodded firmly. "For all we know, that snake's already got his fangs in 'im. I'm worried he'll give into the temptation and turn on them both."
After a pregnant pause, "We both know Naruto and Sakura aren't strong enough to stand up to him if he goes berserk."
Jiraiya weighed this for a moment, sloshing around his drink. "It's true, I suppose," he mumbled, "but the kids've been workin' hard. They might have a chance if Naruto made the toad contract. Does Sakura…?"
"We signed the contract years ago," she confirmed. "She was about… fifteen, I think? Maybe fifteen."
"She is alive and well?" He asked gently.
"Of course she is, she's got me!" Tsunade snapped in a split-second of anger. Then she relaxed and stared solemnly at the floor. "I just hope I don't gotta be the one to bury her in the end. I've already buried too many."
For as youthful as Tsunade designed her appearance, the flickering lamplight and the sake seemed to age her beyond her years. Not quite to the withered old woman he knew was underneath, but the bags under her eyes were accentuated, her eyes themselves downcast and devoid of their usual shine.
He hated seeing her like this. It was reminiscent of too many agonies, of heartbreak and agony and funerals for people that were still too young. He knew she carried the weight of her loved one's deaths close to her heart, but try as he might he could not get her to release them. Their ghosts would surely haunt her until her dying day, and he did not want to have to live to see that.
"Tsuna," he uttered in the quiet, and when she looked up, he smiled softly at her, reaching to cup her rosy cheek.
When she clasped a hand over his, he continued, "You've still got me. You've always got me."
A hesitance flickered across her expression for a moment.
"I promise I'll keep your kids safe," he said, ignoring the twinge in his heart and the name on his mind. "Together, remember? Sarutobi really drilled that one in hard enough to stick."
Thankfully, the mention of their old teacher made a wistful smile grace her lips. She fondly shook her head at the memory.
"That silly man," she replied. "He looked out for us so much. Even now I swear he's got an eye on us."
"Knowing him, he'd do just that." Jiraiya smiled, rubbing a thumb across her cheekbone.
The two stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Alcohol or not, his heart began to beat faster as Tsunade scooted over until they were thigh-to-thigh, though her eyes never wavered.
A long time ago, Jiraiya had decided that honey was his favorite color. A rich honey-brown hue only to be seen on one person, the person he cherished most.
That same hue shone back at him now, shiny with drunkenness and emotion and everything that was Tsunade. Even now, he could hardly believe he could fall more in love with such a woman.
Yet here he was, heart racing in his chest as she moved in closer, her pretty lips parted and her eyes half-lidded. Whether she realized it or not, this moment was a blessing only the gods could grant him.
"Jiraiya," she breathed, and he could practically taste the sake on her breath she was so close. "I... "
His eyelashes were fluttering, willing her closer by his hand on her cheek.
"Don't hold back," he whispered, watching as the distance shortened between them. Inch by inch, centimeter by breathless centimeter.
Her nose brushed against his daintily, her eyes nearly shut now. His own were still half-lidded, wishing to commit this moment to memory so that he could never forget the night of his first kiss with Tsu-
"Lady Tsunade," Rin's voice just outside the tent made them both startle away, staring at each other in shock before she scooted away, not noticing the disappointment in his eyes. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Hyuuga Neji has come for our meeting tonight."
"M- meeting?" She stammered, frowning to herself as she wracked her brain. Finally she realized, eyes lighting up in horror as she scrambled to her feet. "Oh, the meeting! I completely forgot!'
The brunette's easy laughter from outside permeated the awkward silence between them as she dusted herself off, casting Jiraiya an apologetic glance.
"Sorry to cut things short," she said, pulling out her water bottle to chug. "I may not be back for a while. Uh, good night?"
Jiraiya let out a silent little sigh, but nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, I get it. We can continue another night."
"You're the best," she gushed in relief as she pulled on her overcoat and opened the tent flap. "Good night, Jiraiya."
She rushed out so quickly she almost didn't catch his quiet reply. "Good night, Tsunade."
A/N: Boy do I love teasing the Big Kiss. "Between SasuSaku or JiraTsuna?" you ask. Yes.
Please tell me what you thought!
