He shouldn't have come.
Hell, he didn't know why he bothered.
From what Orochimaru had told him, she was refusing to speak to anyone.
She hadn't even left his apartment in four days.
One look at the place though and he knew exactly why he did it.
Whether or not he wanted to, Jiraiya cared.
It took him three attempts at trying to pry the door open before he just let himself in through the window.
Everywhere was a mess – clothes strewn here and there, dirty dishes piled in the sink...
A vase of wildflowers, untouched upon the nightstand, were already wilted.
"Shit, Hime." He drew in a deep breath as he gazed at the figure hunched over in the corner. "What's happened to you?"
Tsunade sat on the floor with her arms drawn protectively around her knees.
"You can't do this to yourself." He kneeled beside her, touching her tearstained face as gently as a giant could.
Golden eyes, once so full of fire, seemed empty.
Never, could Jiraiya recall seeing Konoha's Slug Princess appear so hollow.
Even when Nawaki had died, heartbroken as she had been, there was still life there.
"I know it hurts, but you're stronger than this."
She didn't look at him, didn't even openly acknowledge him when she spoke.
"What would you know?" She questioned. "I lost the man I loved; I couldn't even save him."
Silence.
"Once I lost the woman I loved."
Onyx eyes wavered as yet another petal fell from a single white flower.
Slowly it floated downwards, coming to rest against the aged wood of the table.
"I watched her die, helpless. I saw her light go out, knowing there was nothing I could do. Yet still, I'm trying to save her."
Neither of them said a word after that.
Neither knew how.
Years later they would discuss the incident.
One still mourning the loss of a bright, promised future.
The other wondering how a girl, so young and vibrant, had grown so bitter.