To a god, time had no meaning. Yet when days turned into weeks, Hashirama's hopeful mood wanned. Talking with Kamui had eased the uneasy ache in his chest but as the days went on, it returned tenfold. Barring his normal duties, he often found himself staring at the sky in his realm and frequenting the other to look at the stars there. Sometimes he even went as far as to visit the Crossroads.

His anxiousness was no longer noticed just by his siblings. Many often asked if he was alright, most commenting on how the bright glow that usually surrounded him was dim. Others notices bags under his eyes and how unnaturally quiet he was these days.

He couldn't blame them for their worry and he did his best to ease their fears, but still kept what was bothering him to himself.

The only people he couldn't escape from were his siblings. And after much poking and probing, he finally confessed to all of them what was going on. Despite the situation, he laughed at their dumbstruck faces when he told them all. But then he became serious as they questioned him more about it. Tragically at the end of the questions, followed by a discussion on what to do, they all agreed that Hashirama had to wait for Obito's return.

Today found the sun god in his study, going over some documents. Normally he would avoid paperwork but it kept his mind busy so he didn't focus on... other matters.

He was just going over Yamato's report on the conditions of the humans when there was a knock on his door. "Come in!" he called as he turned to see who it was.

The door opened to reveal Tobirama as he stepped inside the room. "Apologize for disturbing you," the god of the water greeted as he closed the door firmly behind him. "But you have an unexpected guest."

The sun god eyed his brother as his heart jumped to his throat. "Someone I know?"

Tobirama pressed his lips together briefly. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "It's Obito," he announced when he opened his eyes, "the star god."

Hashirama jumped out of his seat so fast he knocked over his chair. "He's here?" he rushed out while he approached his brother. Then he stopped and stiffened. "Itama and Touka don't know, do they?"

Tobirama shook his head. "Kawarama and I just so happened to run into him. I came to find you while he took Obito to the pavilion in the furthest area of the East Garden. The one at the very edge."

The news made Hashirama sigh in relief. Many wouldn't think that Itama and Touka would be vindictive out of all of his siblings, but his younger brother and sister could be menaces if someone they cared for was harmed in any way. They had both remained calm when the sun god had conveyed his confession but he saw the inferno and tornado, respectively, in their eyes. Who knew what would happen if either of them ran into Obito.

Hashirama finished crossing the gap between the two of them and laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Thank you," he appreciated with a squeeze. "Do you think you could keep them away from the East Garden?"

A corner of Tobirama's mouth tilted upward slightly, so minuscule one could miss it. "Won't be an issue," he chuckled. "Kawarama and I will take care of it."

Hashirama grinned and nodded. Then with a laugh of thanks, he ran out of the room.

During the quiet journey, there were a few times he had to stop jogging just to slow his wild thoughts before he took a deep breath and moved on again. He only truly slowed down when he grew closer to his destination, panting lightly and nerves frayed.

When he turned the corner to the pavilion, he froze and his breath caught. Obito's dark figure made a striking pose amongst the garden flowers and sunlight. His back was towards Hashirama as he looked over the railing. The wind rustled the star god's hair and clothes but, without seeing his face, Hashirama couldn't fathom what the other was thinking.

Hashirama swallowed before he slowly closed the distance between them. He trained his eyes fully on Obito- willed him to turn around since his throat now felt too tight to call out in his usual cheerful greeting. And almost as if he heard, Obito turned.

Their eyes met and Hashirama almost hesitated to come further. Obito's face was blank, the sparkles in his hair not blinking rapidly. But the sun god pushed past his cramping stomach and stepped onto the pavilion. He did his best to smile and managed, "Hello."

Obito averted his eyes to the side and shifted on his feet. "Hello," he murmured quietly.

The sun god swallowed again. "It's... good to see you again."

There was a huff and Obito shook his head. "Considering how we met last time," he stated sarcastically, "that's a shocker."

"But I was really worried!" Hashriama reached out and snagged the other's hand. When Obito tried to pull away, the sun god held firm until Obito looked at him.

"I was so worried about you!" Hashirama repeated while he implored with a squeeze of their hands. "You were so upset and then Madara-" Obito made a face with a deadly glint in his eyes but Hashirama went on, "said it was because..." Hashirama licked his dry lips. "Because-"

"We're Betrothed," Obito hissed. The twinkles in his hair were starting to twinkle rapidly as his eyes darkened.

He violently tore his hand away from Hashirama's and took a step back. "And isn't that a fucking mess," he spat.

Hashirama's heart squeezed but his tongue seemed too heavy for him to move and he remained silent.

Obito closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The intensity of the sparkles in his hair lessened and only then did he open his eyes again. He lifted his head high. "I'm sorry," he stated abruptly.

Hashirama felt a wave of confusion rise in him and he tilted his head to the side.

Obito crossed his arms over his chest. His cheeks reddened while he grimaced. "For my behavior these past few weeks... and for this." He waved a hand between the two of them.

Hashirama let out a slow breath while his hands closed into fists. "You don't have anything to apologize for," he argued. "It's understandable."

The star god let out a sharp laugh. "Try telling that to my Aunt and Uncle." Hashirama suppressed a shiver unable to imagine dealing with the other two of the Infinite Trio. "And then my Mother's enthusiasm...!"

Obito sighed. And then he looked tiredly up at Hashirama. "So, I'm sorry for all of it."

Hashirama opened his mouth to reassure that it was fine but then the star god went on. "And you don't want any of it." He cast his eyes down, brows pinched together, and his folded arms tightened. "It was just thrown at you just as you were born..."

"I admit I was surprised," Hashirama interjected before Obito could continue. "But... who said I don't want this?"

The star god's gaze snapped to him, sparkles in his hair going a little rapid as his face reddened. There was something that Hashirama couldn't quite decipher in the depths of the other's eyes- something small and bright. "Do you?"

Hashirama bit his bottom. "Well, I..." His thoughts were jumbled as he tried to find the right words to explain his feelings.

But with his hesitation, the spark in Obito's eyes shattered and his face dropped. "Is it because my mother ordained it, isn't it?"

The sun god pressed his lips together. He didn't want to lie that it was a small factor but, after he thought of it these past few weeks, there was much more to it and he just wasn't sure how to make Obito understand that. All the words Hashirama had planned to say were now making no sense to him and he wasn't sure where to begin.

He stared at the other god to gauge a reaction but Obito had bowed his head. The only sort of an idea of emotion was that the sparkles in the star's deity's hair were dimmed, and that could mean anything.

Hashirama opened his mouth with an apology on the tip of his tongue when Obito stated, "We don't have to be Tied." He raised his face, expression blank but eyes hard. "We don't have to be anything."

Hashirama's throat tightened. The venom in the other's voice was palatable. Yet, surprisingly, he knew none of it was turned towards him.

Before he could get a word in, Obito went on. "It isn't like we know each other well." He frowned and one hand came up to play with his left earring as his eyes went distant in thought. "So you can still just go back to your life and, I guess, I can stay in the Star Realm. That way my moth-"

"No!"

Heart thundering in his chest, Hashirama drew closer to the star god until the tips of their feet touched. Obito jumped before he snapped his gaze up with wide eyes. The sparkles in his hair intensified as his face went red.

"While yes I was surprised," Hashirama began firmly, "I think it's unfair how you are trying to decide things and not ask for my opinions."

Obito's face scrunched together as he frowned. "I am merely putting out an idea so you don't have to be Tied to me!"

Hashirama shook his head. "Then let's do it together so that we can both still live in the realms. Something that we talked about and agreed on. That's fair, right?"

Rather than calming down, Obito bared his teeth in a sneer before he stepped back from Hashirama. "What would be 'fair,'" he snarled which was near shouting, "is if none of this ever happened! That my mother wasn't so hasty! That Madara had told me the truth after all these years! And that I didn't already fucking love you!"

Hashirama's heart stopped as it felt as if he ceased to breathe. "W-what?" he wheezed.

Obito opened his mouth before his face slackened. His face grew impossibly red while the twinkles in his hair went wild. He slapped a hand over his mouth before he turned away with a choked scream.

Hashirama became dazed as he thought about his limited interactions with the star deity. Suddenly, it all made sense.

Being avoided, the blushing, why Obito seemed so upset. The other god seemed rather shy so he might want to avoid someone he was interested in - let alone being in love with. And Hashirama would also be distressed if someone he loved would be forced to marry him.

This added a whole new layer to the situation.

The star god moved away to another area of the pavilion, leaving what felt like miles of space between them. Hashirama's heart clenched at seeing it and followed him from a distance, even though it all felt so surreal.

"You... love me?" Hashirama whispered.

He watched Obito's shoulders stiffen. There was a silence that stretched between the two of them but Hashirama waited patiently for a response. Then the other god's shoulders relaxed and he turned his head to peek over his shoulder. Yet rather than the look of fear or excitement, there was resignation and weariness.

It made Hashirama's chest tight.

At first, Obito didn't say anything. Then he turned away and took a deep breath.

He spun around with his head held high. But the confidence in his posture was a juxtaposition when his cheeks turned red and the sparkles in his hair grew bright. "I do," he confessed, his voice shaking slightly.

Even though Hashirama had asked, it still shook him to his heart to hear it again. He swallowed past the lump in his throat and sighed softly.

Before he could speak, however, Obito bowed his head. The shining in his hair dulled and his voice was hollow as he spoke. "So how is it fair to be in a relationship- let alone being Tied- when it is only one-sided."

"That's..." Hashirama raised a hand to but stopped as he thought about what Obito was saying. He lowered his hand as he looked down at the ground with a soft sigh. "...You're right."

He closed his eyes as something steely formed in his chest, something that now gave him a direction to explain to the other god what he felt and wanted. "It isn't fair to you," he agreed. When he lifted his head it was to see Obito looking at him with wide eyes. Hashirama took a moment to stare in them deeply while he closed the gap between them until they were only inches apart.

"But... shouldn't that mean you want to try harder? To want to know how I feel?" Hashirama quietly asked. "When we met the first time it was by chance. Don't you want to get to know me more? How," he licked his lips, "how can you be so sure I won't develop feelings for you?"

The star deity scoffed. "Because of the numerous partners you've had."

For a moment, Hashirama was stopped short. "Ex-excuse me?"

Obito cast his eyes aside and folded his arms over his chest with hunched shoulders. "I used to sneak into Solstices. It's... where I first saw you... Saw how you were with everyone... How everyone flocked to you...

"I wanted to approach but, for one, I had to stay hidden cause Madara forbade me from coming in the first place. But then everyone just surrounded you, many who you court or would court, and just couldn't find it in me to come and see you outside of the Solstices.

"And then you started courting Madara. The one person who is your equal. And even then- even after you went so far together- you didn't stay with him. Didn't want him."

Still not meeting Hashirama's eyes, he motioned to himself. "And in that case, what could I offer you?"

Silence filled the space between the two gods. Hashirama continued to star at Obito, mind trying to catch up with what he heard. The star deity, for his part, still refused to look at him.

When the silence went on, Obito finally sighed and his arms fell to his side. He finally raised his face and the dejected look in his eyes stabbed the sun god in the chest.

"I'll see myself out," he suddenly announced and then moved to bypass Hashirama.

Yet when Obito tried to pass, the sun deity snatched the star god's wrist. The act made Obito startle and he snapped his head towards the other.

Hashirama gazed into the other's wide eyes with a soft look. Although the sun god still felt turmoil in himself, he took a deep breath and said softly, "You can't know that unless you try."

Despite the apprehensive look on his face, Obito tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Saying you had nothing to offer me if I courted you," Hashirama smiled softly. "You can't say it won't work unless you try it."

It was adorable to see a lovely shade of red cover Obito's entire face. "Wh-what does that mean!?" he stammered as he tried to pull his hand away.

However, Hashirama wasn't having it and held it firmly. "What it means is that I am very interested in getting to know you. And as more than a friend."

The sun god giggled softly when the other deity began to sputter. His cheeks grew warm as he grinned widely at the display. And while he would love to see how far he could tease the other and see more reactions, he needed to finish what he was trying to say.

His smile dropped a little as he went on. "You're right that I have courted many people. But when I parted ways with them it wasn't because I didn't care for them and their feelings. It was because nothing felt right when I tried to think of going further with them. Even when Madara and I exchanged Essence Jewelry to be consorts, it never felt right to me."

He closed his eyes and brought Obito's hand up to rest it against his chest. He allowed his energy to encompass the hand to relate how truthful he spoke.

"It's true that I don't know how to feel about being Betrothed to you," he spoke softly while he opened his eyes again to gaze at the other god. Obito's face was very red and the twinkles in his hair were erratic. It made the sun deity grin. "But I do know that letting you go away and disappear would be one of the worst mistakes I would ever make."

Obito's eyes grew wide and his body slacked. Hashirama thought he could feel a slight tremble from the star god's hand but proceeded forward rather than give in to the urge to hug him. "I may not love you now. But if there is one thing I discovered when courting others is that I have learned many things I never thought I would if I hadn't tried.

"It can be the same for us too. There could be things you don't know about me unless we get to know each other and I certainly want to know you more.

"So, please, allow us to try together."

By now, Obito was visibly trembling. He looked down to where his hand rested against Hashirama's chest. The sun god took it as a good sign when he didn't pull it away.

Then the star god lifted his gaze to look at Hashirama dead in his eyes. "You're... you're not just saying that...," he whispered softly, "just because of what my mother said, are you?"

Hashirama smiled softly. "No, I'm not just saying these things because of your mother." He giggled. "Ever since I first saw you, I find you're very attractive," he admitted. "I have also missed your presence these past few weeks. And not just because I was worried about you."

By now Obito's face was bright red again with his hair sparkling wildly and he refused to meet Hashirama's gaze. But the sun god could see the beginnings of a smile on the other's face. It made Hashirama's own smile grow more.

Then he used his free hand to raise Obito's face so the two of them could look at each other again and added, "And if there's another thing I have learned in my life is that the future is never set in stone."

Obito blinked at him so Hashirama explained with a chuckle as he let go of Obito's chin. "Did you know your mother visited me?"

The star deity stiffened. "No."

"She did," Hashirama nodded, "and she said that I made you very happy in all the possibilities she saw for you. That we made each other happy.

"And she did get ahead of herself when betrothing us," he laughed, "but making you happy doesn't mean that we end up Tied and Life Partners. Do I make you happy as I court you? Or, if things don't work out between us, do I make you happy as a friend?

"But we will never know unless we give it a try!"

Obito was quiet for a moment, just staring at Hashirama. The sun god didn't mind and continued to smile and hold the other's hand to his chest and feel his energy to know he spoke the truth.

"So...," Obito's voice was quiet and small in a way that made it seem he didn't want to believe this. But the fragile light that was in his eyes before returned that gave his face a beautiful glow. "You really want to court me?" At his question, his hair began to sparkle brightly that accented the growing red in his face.

"Yes!" Hashirama laughed while he took Obito's other hand in his. "Very much!"

Another silence filled the air. Butterflies jittered in Hashirama's stomach even though he tried to remain relaxed. Yet he still held the star god's hands tightly and pressed the one against his chest more firmly.

Then Obito licked his lips and curled his fingers into Hashirama's shirt. "Then... if you're sure...," he slowly nodded as he averted his eyes and muttered, "I-I wouldn't mind, I suppose."

It suddenly felt like a weight had been lifted off Hashirama's chest and shoulders as he merrily laughed. Acting on instinct, he pulled the other closer into a tight hug. Only to immediately pull back and sheepishly chuckle when Obito protested with a sputter.

The star deity sent him a sharp glare but there was a definite warm light in his eyes as his hair shined. And the light grew even more beautiful when his glare softened as he smiled shyly. He then, taking hold of one of Hashirama's hands, he hesitantly maneuvered them until their fingers were interlaced together.

Hashirama's face warmed as he grinned and squeezed the other's hand.

"Have you eaten?" Hashiama suddenly asked as he tried to scramble his thoughts together on what to do now.

Obito lifted an eyebrow. "No."

"Great!" Hashriama laughed. "Then I would really enjoy having lunch with you, ah, if you want and aren't busy."

Obito's hair began to sparkle brightly even more despite how he merely shrugged his shoulders and appeared relaxed. "I'm not busy, so sure."

The sun god laughed brightly again. "Then let's eat! And afterward, I can show you around my realm since I don't think you have been here before."

"Um, only around the outer areas." the star god admitted. "And I haven't been in those areas for a number of..." He paused in thought. "Well, let's just say it has been a long time."

"Oh! It will be like you are seeing everything new again!" Hashirama chatted excitedly. He then whirled around and, leading by their interlocked hands, guided them towards the Sun Palace. "But depending on how long it has been, you might be in for some surprises!"

Obito just chuckled in response.

Hashirama cast a look over his shoulder and his chest grew warm by the bright look the other had on his face- all bright eyes and flushed cheeks. It made him even more attractive then he had seen him before and the sun god hoped to see it more.

As the two of them continued to chat and started to know more about each other, Hashirama silently looked forward to their unknown future. Because, despite what some might say, nothing was ever certain; that's what made life so interesting and fun. And the sun god was more than certain that there would never be a dull day with Obito around.