This chapter is set directly after Jiraiya's flashback in Chapter 382.

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TWO

Kushina lowered herself gingerly into the chair that Jiraiya had just vacated. Minato was showing his old teacher to the door, so Kushina used his chair to prop her feet up under the dining room table. The Sannin's visits were always entertaining, but they did wear Kushina out. These days, everything seemed to wear Kushina out.

She heard the front door to the apartment click into its frame and she let out a sigh. The suite in Hokage tower was an improvement over her old accommodations, but it didn't allow for much privacy. She felt, rather than heard Minato approach and place his hands on the back of her chair. "I thought you didn't like the name Naruto – now you're telling Jiraiya it's 'a beautiful name'?" Minato's voice was gently teasing.

"I don't like it, but I've resigned myself to it." Kushina chuckled and tilted her head back to receive a soft kiss from Minato. "Just make sure you teach him how to stand up to bullies, because you better believe he'll get it for being named after a fish cake."

"Hey, hey – it also means 'maelstrom'. We'll just have to keep reminding the kid that he can be a storm instead of a fish cake, it's all up to him."

"You'll just have to, you mean."

"Hm?"

"You'll just have to keep telling the kid he's not a fish cake."

Minato frowned. He didn't like being reminded of Kushina's plans to leave, but she did it anyway – in little hints throughout the day. She couldn't let him get too comfortable; it would just make it harder a few months down the road. Minato didn't object verbally anymore, he just flinched whenever she spoke of their son's future—one that didn't include her.

Minato circled the table and drew back the chair that contained Kushina's feet. He glanced down, chuckled, lifted her feet, eased into the chair, and placed the feet in his lap.

"No tickling," she warned.

"Fine, fine."

"So will Jiraiya-sama make a good godfather, do you think?"

"I'm sure he will. Sensei will be a good example to the kid." Minato paused, a secret smile toying with the corners of his mouth. "He reminds me a little of you."

"What?!" Kushina sputtered for a beat. "I'm not a PERVERT!"

"Heh, I mean, you're both so sure of yourselves." Minato began massaging her feet and Kushina closed her eyes, mollified. "You're both persistent, both brave, both prone to… wandering."

Ouch. She wasn't sure if he had intended that jab about wandering, but it hurt nonetheless. Kushina opened her eyes again and cast around the room for a change of subject. She looked down at her hands clasped on top of her turgid belly.

"Y'know, I really hate maternity clothing."

Minato chuckled. "Why is that?"

"Well, it only comes in boring colors, it's dowdy, makes me look fat, never fits right, and it makes me look like a housewife. I mean, the huge pockets are useful for kunai, but where's the sexy in an outfit like this?"

"In the legs, my dear, in the legs." Minato paused in his foot-massaging and trailed a finger up Kushina's leg in a playful manner. She gave an involuntary twitch, kicking Minato in the gut. "Ooofh – okay, okay, no tickling."

"Damn straight."

Minato chuckled, but his smile seemed wistful. "What's wrong with housewives, anyway?" His tone was still teasing, but Kushina's insides sizzled with guilt. She pulled her feet away and got off the chair. This had to stop.

"What's your problem anyway?"

"What?" Minato couldn't quite make his expression innocent.

"Why do you keep sniping at me like that – you know I'm still going. You've known for the last seven months, but still you insist on sneaking in your little guilt jabs like it will make a difference. Like it will change my mind! Just stop it!" Kushina heard her shouts reverberate off the walls of the apartment but didn't bother reeling it in. "All you're doing is making it harder for the last few months we have together. Stop it!"

Minato's expression was stony, he pushed himself up from his own chair, hands flat against the table. "Shh—Kushina lower your voice!" Even his hiss radiated authority, but Kushina was having none of it.

"Don't shush me like I'm a disobedient child or one of your adoring subjects! Besides, we're in Hokage Tower! No one's going to overhear us!" Kushina was boiling now. "You're not going to guilt me into staying – I'm not going to be housebroken!"

"Kushina-chan, come on. Get a hold on yourself. You're doing the same thing to me, and you know it." He didn't shout, but his tone quieted her. "You've been rubbing in this whole 'leaving' thing for months. I know you don't want to stay, I know you don't want to get married – you can't blame me for getting a little defensive at times. Now, can we just drop the subject?"

Kushina huffed a sigh. "Fine. I need a snack." She circled the table and re-entered the kitchen. On the hunt for something starchy and sweet, she began to rifle through cabinets, certain there was a box of pocky hidden in there somewhere. She was contemplating baking a pan of microwave brownies when Minato came up beside her, calmly reached into the top cabinet, and pulled out a box of graham crackers. He set them down in front of her then turned to lean back on the counter and face Kushina, arms crossed.

"Marry me."

"It's customary to offer a ring on these occasions – not a box of cookies."

"Crackers," he corrected.

"Whatever – it ought to be shiny."

"Well, what do you say?"

"Minato," Kushina sighed, "you know we're already married – or we may as well be. There's never been anyone else for me – and there never will be again."

"Same here." Minato looked at the floor then back into her eyes. "So what's the problem?"

"It wouldn't change anything."

"Yes, it would." Minato kept his eyes level.

Kushina threw up her hands in exasperation. "People would talk if the hokage's wife just up and left you for some crazy quest!"

"You think people aren't talking already? Come on! It would give the kid a shred of respectability, at least."

Kushina didn't respond, she seized a graham cracker and began to nibble on a corner of it.

Minato smirked a little. "Plus, it would save us the trouble later – you don't want to come back from your mission all banged up and have to get married in the hospital."

Kushina shook her head. Minato took a deep breath and was about to start into another argument when she cut him off. "Okay, fine."

"F-fine?" He had an adorable bewildered look on his face. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, okay, I'll marry you." Minato eyebrows twitched and a grin bloomed on his face, but before he could launch into paroxysms of glee, Kushina cut him off. "After Naruto's born."

The glee melted into bewilderment again. "Wh-why?"

"Because bridal maternity wear is even worse than every-day maternity wear." Kushina scowled. "It's a whole new level of tacky, and I'm supposed to look fabulous on my wedding day."