Requested by Snowkid- thank you for choosing Jiraiya, because I adore him

Jiraiya, implied Nanao x Shunsui

Jiraiya, Toad-Sage and one of the Legendary Sannin, from 'Naruto'

Too long, too long, too long! I think I said 'screw a hundred words' a long time ago.

Introduction

Nanao liked this bar, because it was out of the way and had been unofficially labelled a 'Lieutenant' bar somewhere along the way. Unfortunately, today was the day that her Captain had decided to follow her, (she was sure that if he put as much effort into his work as he did into putting his nose into her life, her job would be a lot easier) and now was sat on the other side of the bar, as far away from her as possible, forbidden on pain of death from talking to her.

An arm wrapped around her shoulders, and she was about to turn to yell at her Captain before realising, with a start, that it wasn't him.

The man was smiling widely at her, and although his hair was pure white he did not look all that old. In fact, he was actually quite good-looking, and he waved a frog-shaped purse at her.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

She nodded, and smiled, although she had not meant to do either. There was something a little bit disarming about him: that, and the fact that perhaps she had had one drink more than she would normally allow herself.

"Cute purse."

He looked at it as if he had only just seen it, and grinned to himself, as if he was laughing at a private joke that she did not understand.

"I'm Jiraiya."

She nodded, and took a sip from the drink he had bought her, and did not offer her own name in return. He was of a similar build to her Captain, the build that, although she would never admit it to him, she found very attractive: tall, broad, strong armed. She swallowed as he rolled his sleeves up, and caught sight of tan skin, the line of well developed muscle, and a littering of scars. She shook her head: now she was sure she had had too much to drink.

He was smiling down at her, eyes bright, and she began to lean in a little, startled back when a heavy hand fell on her shoulder.

"Nanao-chan, are you going to introduce us?"

Shunsui was behind her, smiling as he normally did but leaning over her a little protectively.

"Nanao, is that your name? It's lovely."

She blushed.

"Thank you."

Shunsui's fingers tightened on her shoulder, and she could feel him press against her back. She swallowed again, harder this time, at the sudden warmth between them.

"Oh, this is my Captain. Jiraiya, Kyouraku."

He smiled easily at her, ignoring Shunsui.

"Oh, so are you a shinigami, then?"

She nodded, smiling.

"I'm Lieutenant of the Eighth division."

"Impressive. I'm a humble writer, myself."

She looked suitably impressed.

"Anything I might have heard of?"

"Nothing that would suit your impeccable tastes, I'm sure. I've not been here long, you know. Do you think you could show me around, some time?"

"I'm afraid I keep her rather busy. I'm not too good at deadlines, am I, Nanao-chan? You have to lean over my shoulder and make sure I get everything done."

She felt suddenly like she was unimportant to the conversation, in the way that a woman can when she is being overlooked in favour of argument. The two men were looking at each other with that frighteningly false look of ambivalent friendship that came when they very much disliked each other. Testosterone pricked her skin, and she rolled her eyes and downed her drink, slipping out of her Captain's hold and leaving them behind. She had no time for manly squabbles, and nodded to Rangiku as they passed in the doorway, who leant in to talk to her with a frown.

"Why's your Captain here? And who is he talking to?"

Nanao shrugged.

"Go ask him yourself. And he's quick to buy drinks."

She rolled her eyes again as the other woman exposed a little more cleavage, practised an already perfect smile, and sauntered into the smoky room. Nanao herself shuddered against the cold outside, and slipped away into the night. She was almost back to her rooms in the Eighth division before she felt the pressure of her Captain behind her: he had moved too quickly for her to notice until he was nearly touching her.

She did not turn.

"If you are this eager to run back to the division, there is paperwork still on your desk, you know."

There was a rumble of laughter from behind her, a warm sound that was amused, not at all offended, and so entirely masculine that it sent a dart of pleasure through her abdomen. She could hear him walking behind her, but knew she only could because he was letting her.

"Nanao-chan, if I'd have known you were going to run away from him, I never would have worried."

"I was running away from the two of you, you know."

His voice was suddenly serious as she reached her door.

"You run too much, do you know that?"

She did turn then, to look up at his face, half-shrouded by shadow. There was something unsaid in those words, something that made her want to do exactly what he was talking about: run away and run towards him at the same time. He was closing the gap between them until he was uncomfortably close, looking down at her. He leant closer, and for just a moment she was sure he was going to kiss her. Her abdomen tightened again, in pleasure at the thought, as a stray strand of his hair brushed her cheek.

Her eyes felt heavy lidded, hypnotised.

Then he patted her cheek and took a step back, so the shadow left his face and he was just her smiling Captain once more. That tightness had not left her though, and as he called his goodbye she watched him leave, and wished that, more than anything, she had the nerve to call him back.