Title: Young and Beautiful
Author: Tuliharja
Summary: "Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful?" -Lana Del Rey or Mito wonders if Hashirama still loves her, now that she is very old, and he is still so young. One-shot
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I'm merely writing fan fiction about it.
Author's note: Thank you Pyrite for betaing this!
-Young and Beautiful-
Leaning forward, Hashirama kissed his wife's shoulder where an almost invisible scar could be seen. Slowly, he lifted his hand to touch the other one from behind. Palm against Mito's shoulder, he started to gently massage it.
"I still love you," He muttered against the pale skin that was given an ethereal glow due to the direct moonlight.
"Even when I'm already so old?" Mito questioned in a raspy voice. She moved her head ever so slightly to see a glimpse of her husband. The moonlight was kissing her husband's dark skin which only added to his handsome body.
"All the more reason to love you," Hashirama answered as he lifted his face to look at Mito. His dark eyes full of love and admiration for his wife.
Shifting, Mito turned fully into Hashirama. Her look was full of wonder, and she studied the familiar lines on her husband's features. Over the years there were still so little of those, while Mito herself was already gathering more. She was full of lines of lived life that displayed its sorrows and joys.
"I'm old, Hashirama," Mito breathed out, lifting her wrinkled hand to caress the cheek that was still as smooth as when she had first met him. A warm hand covered her tinier one and squeezed it softly.
Brilliant dark eyes flashed to look once again at those eyes that seemed to suck her into the depth of something wild and dangerous, something untamed, but something she loved so deeply.
"I still love you Mito. I do and will always," Hashirama vowed, his voice thick from emotions. This earned laughter from his wife who merely pulled her hand away from him, which in turn earned an adorable pout toward her.
Shaking her head, Mito lifted her hand to pat Hashirama's head like he was an adorable puppy. Perhaps he was in moments like these while at times he was wild like a wolf.
"You'll forget me," She sighed out, closing her eyes. She was growing weary of things. The years were catching up to her, but there was still so much to see and do. The most pressing matter was that of teaching Kushina more about their homeland. About the dangers of managing the Tailed-Beast. About filling the void with love that would surpass time and space.
"Never." He spoke fervently, making Mito open her eyes suddenly. Eyes growing big, she watched how Hashirama was staring at her with such passion, she was sure she would be set aflame. Grabbing onto her hand, Hashirama leaned forward, their lips almost touching but never meeting.
After all, Mito hadn't met those lips in many years and wouldn't still meet, until she too would venture into the Pure Lands. Shaking her head, she pulled away from her husband or what tricks her mind was playing on her.
"I'm tired, Hashirama," She told him softly, making him quickly let go of her and organize the pillows in such a way that it would be comfortable to sleep.
"Then, rest. I'll watch over you," He answered, earning laughter from Mito. Shaking her head, she rested her head on the soft pillow.
"Of course, you will. You're only a figment of my imagination," Mito stated as she closed her eyes. Because of this, she couldn't see her husband's pout as she soon fell asleep.
Sighing, Hashirama leaned forward and kissed gently Mito's forehead. He brushed her hair for a while then shifted his position to lean his forehead against his wife's while still brushing her hair with his hand.
"If only I was a figment of your imagination…" Hashirama muttered before he finally pulled away and looked up to the full moon. The moon was casting its beautiful light from the window into the room, giving everything an almost ethereal glow, except Hashirama who was naturally glowing. A sigh escaped his lips as he turned back to his beautiful wife. Her chest was rising and falling slowly, her breathing raspy. Gently, Hashirama took Mito's hand into his again, it already felt cold.
Blinking his eyes, Hashirama felt tears starting to rise in those. It felt so wrong Mito was facing this all alone without anyone by her side. Despite the fact he was there, it wasn't the same. Mito should be surrounded by her family and loved ones, not by him who had already crossed the shore to another side.
Hashirama could still remember how he had fought against the currents that had almost drowned him, but he had felt so tired. Oh, so tired of the living and everything else. He had bent and bent until he had finally snapped and sunk down like the dead man he was. The only regret he had back then was the fact he would leave his wife alone.
Closing his eyes, Hashirama let out a shaky breath. He had been grateful for this opportunity to help Mito move across the shore, as he could only imagine how hard it probably would be because of the Tailed Beast. Eyes opening, he sucked in a sharp breath. In his self-pity and sadness, he had almost forgotten the beast. Even though he wanted to watch Mito move peacefully, he knew Mito wouldn't forgive him if he wouldn't wake her up.
"Mito…" Hashirama whispered, his hold on her hand tightening. "Mito, you've got to wake up. Please."
Slowly, Mito opened her eyes, her look unfocused and dazed. For a moment it seemed she would just close her eyes again before they opened fully. A clear look appeared in those as her look shifted to Hashirama whose hold of her hand had slipped now away.
"How strange…you're still here," She mused, making Hashirama chuckle a bit to this.
"Just like you, my love," He breathed out. It was obvious from Mito's look that she wouldn't yet join him in the Pure Lands.
"In that case…" Mito started as she slowly rose into a sitting position. Her long, dark red hair cascaded around her like a bloody waterfall, the look mesmerizingly beautiful. Eyes, that had been just moments ago unfocused, were now shining brilliantly as those looked at Hashirama.
"Will you accompany me?" Mito finished her question, making Hashirama blink his eyes. He opened his mouth to decline his wife's request but then quickly closed it.
It was obvious to Mito that her husband was having an internal battle over the fact if he could stay or not. Mito couldn't help but frown slightly at this while her gaze turned a bit more pointed. Her lips pursed as she let out a quiet click with her tongue which in return made a pout appear on Hashirama's features as he knew that look all too well. It was a look of no-nonsense.
"Did you get a time limit?" She questioned, having already caught the bizarreness of this all and accepting it. After all, she was carrying a huge monster fox inside of herself, so her husband appeared to her as a ghost didn't seem that odd. Though Mito had a feeling if Tobirama was still alive, he would have told her flatly she was hallucinating.
"Well, no, but…"
"In that case, to make up the time when you've been gone, you can stay a bit longer, right?" She questioned, making her husband tip his head down.
"But what if my presence will cause problems for you?" Hashirama questioned softly, trying to pull away, just to freeze as Mito leaned forward toward him.
"Hashirama, I'm old, and apart from little Kushina, no one cares what I do or don't do," She answered back, earning a frown now in turn from Hashirama. Shaking her head, Mito lifted her hand to brush Hashirama's knuckles to make him relax but she stilled herself. Something inside of her was grumbling at her not to do that, or Hashirama would disappear. Was it Mito's consciousness telling her that or perhaps the Kyuubi?
Mito wasn't sure but decided to trust this feeling. It didn't matter even if she wouldn't be able to touch her husband. What mattered was the fact Hashirama was now here, with her. Her loving, beautiful husband had finally managed to come back to her. That was all that mattered. She could tomorrow or technically today's morning worry about the fact her supposedly dead husband was back. But now, now, she would enjoy his presence.
Slowly, she closed even further the little distance between them. Lips barely touching, she sighed in contentment. Even without the physical closeness, she felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt ever since Hashirama had left her.
"I do care," Hashirama breathed back, his look filled with love yet something else. Something, that made Mito melt from inside as tears appeared in her eyes. "From now on, I won't leave your side. I'll stay by your side, no matter what. I'll stay, even when it's time to cross the border." Hashirama vowed in a passionate tone, earning a tearful smile from Mito.
"You better keep that promise, or the next time we'll meet, I'll smack you."
A rumbling chuckle escaped from Hashirama's lips as he merely shook his head in an amused manner. "I wouldn't expect anything less from my gorgeous, stunning wife," He answered back, earning already a playful smirk from Mito.
"Stop it," She laughed now as Hashirama merely stared at his wife who looked now as young as the day he had first met her. All the years seemed to melt away as Mito's melodic laughter filled the morning, turning it warmer than it would have been without her laughter.
A smile and low hum escaped from Hashirama's lips, him feeling more alive than in many years. Yes, everything would turn out just fine now that he was back on Mito's side. He was sure of it.