Chapter 1

A Clearing: Return to Konohagakure

*This is in line with the Episode 126 of Naruto Shippuden about Jiraiya and Tsunade.

*I do not own Naruto, credits to the great Masashi Kishimoto.

Setting: Six months had passed and the shinobi war is finally over. The village is in peace. There are few missions sent by the hokage across different villages. Many of those are only minor missions. Naruto and all of his the same team was out of the village for a week vacation. They are due to come back sunday morning. While all of their sensei's left in the village or in a mission.

The sannin Jiraiya is alive! Jiraiya went back to the village. It is Thursday evening. Jiraiya knew that everybody knows that he is dead. He managed to survive due to the help of some villagers on the Hidden Rain. There is a skilled medic ninja their enough to treat his fatal wounds. Thanks to the skilled medic, Jiraiya's arms were put into place and his throat backed into normal although his recovery was very slow. He slept, rest, and was everyday treated since his fight with Pain. He is just lucky to be found by a ninja who was searching underneath the sea for his particular mission. He only got well last week.

Jiraiya chose not to sent any messages to Konoha that he is alive for he got in his mind that everyone knew he is dead. He does not want to give them any distractions due to that their village was still recovering. Jiraiya wants his village to focus on rebuilding their territory. It sounds kind of excuse but he just wanted be alone by himself. He just feels not yet ready...to face Tsunade, what to say...due to their bets to one another that he turned joke at the end just to escape the seriousness of their conversation. Until finally, he is ready and already regained his strength.

Jiraiya then now enters the gate of Konoha without being noticed with the guards. Preferrably, he wanted to meet Tsunade first out of anybody though he also thought to meet Naruto. He missed the place's ambiance and so he slowly walks around the village to feel the air, ground and noise of it. He decided to meet Tsunade after he ate at some place but not at Ichiraku to make sure no one would really see him. Jiraiya is still the same Jiraiya.

Meanwhile, as the night takes over, Tsunade head to the village to take some sake. She thought three sakes only for this night and she'll go home after. She walks silently looking around the people passing by until finally arrived at the bar.

She ordered as soon as she found a place in the bar to sit in, "Give me three sakes".

"Here you go." The bartender replied.

She slowly drink the first sake.

One down...

two...

and then finally the last sake was finished.

She left the money on the table and left the bar. She seems to be in a hurry for she is not just on the mood to stay long drinking in public.

As she walks, she thought of the village. She is happy and relieved that the village is now finally safe from Akatsuki and Madara. They won the war. Thanks to all the shinobi especially to Naruto, their hero who fought at the very best to achieve the peace they are enjoying now.

Tsunade despite of the happiness she felt for the village, there is something in her heart that she longs. She feels empty within herself. Tsunade already moved on to the pain she had for loosing her both beloved, Nawaki and Dan.

Jiraiya now had done eating dinner and decided to have a short walk on the place where he and Tsunade had last talked. He remember the day they had last talked. Paused there in a while to sit, feeling the cold air of the night. He then for a few minutes stand to continue walking.

While Tsunade now thinks of her long time friend who died before the war during his infiltration mission to gather information about one of the Akatsuki. She misses Jiraiya. The man who had always been her friend. She started thinking of the memories she had with him when they were still a child until their very last conversation they had. Tsunade had clearly remembered on their last conversation that Jiraiya had said to her to bet that he would die on this mission since Tsunade always loses after all, Jiraiya reasoned. Tsunade hearing that from him was shocked because it was unexpected. Indeed now, she won because Jiraiya died. On the other hand, Jiraiya had not continued the conditions on Tsunade's bet and his bet that he will come back alive. He just said that it is only a joke.

Tsunade remembering that makes her feel blue and uneasy. As she walks, she looks so down and her teary eyes looks on the pavement. She suddenly stops at the side of a wooden tree near a light post. Tears comes out on her amber eyes and it swiftly falls on her cheeks. Weeping out all her saddest emotions, she stumble to manage steady. Tsunade lost her guard on this state. Until there is a man who stand a bit distance in front of him. Tsunade saw the feet of this man. It was quite familiar to her. Slowly turning her head with her face full of tears, she managed to see with her teary eye that it was Jiraiya.

There was silence for a few seconds.

"Ji..Jiraiya?" Tsunade uttered. She thinks that she is wrong because of her thoughts that filled her mind.

Jiraiya, wearing a serious face answered after a few seconds, "Tsunade". With a somehow surprised face for he did not expect to see her at that time.

"Jiraiya...why are you...how do you...ohh... I think I'm just..." She said with a shaky tone.

"I'll tell you everything." He interrupted.

He walk closer in front of her as Tsunade stares at him letting go of the tears stucked in her eyes for she can no longer manage to hold them. As Tsunade closes her eyes, tears fall on her cheeks. Jiraiya gently hold her shoulder with his right hand and Tsunade trembles. She feels his callous hand that gently touched her. Jiraiya feels Tsunade's shaking body. Jiraiya saw Tsunade seems to be vulnerable. He raises his other hand, placed on her waist running around Tsunade's back and gently hugged her. Tsunade responded, she wrapped her arms around Jiraiya's body. Tears still flow on Tsunade's closed eyes. Jiraiya had his straight look on his face and closed his eyes. They both feel each other's presence and stayed for two minutes on that place.

"Jiraiya, I am sorry, as a Hokage I haven't protected you. I should have not listened to you. I should hurry myself to help you on that mission or just sent anyone that could help you and survive."

"Tsunade, I am here and alive. Nothing to worry about that".

"But...the great Lord Fukasu..."

"Yeah he knows I am dead too, I had even wrote my message to his back because I wasn't able to speak because of my throat was cut ."

"You're right just as what he had said."

Silence filled the place until...Tsunade gently push herself from Jiraiya's embrace enough to see his face. Their eyes met, staring to each other, she whispers, Jiraiya...I don't know what to say... I did not expect this but thank you, you've come back to us...to me..."

"Ahhh... I see through it. Your gambling skills really sucks." Jiraiya said to lighten the mood. "You know Tsunade I am happy because I guess those tears are for me. Hahahaha. Jiraiya followed.

Tsunade wears a serious sad face and talks as Jiraiya also wears a serious face. "The day we last talked... I said that if I lost you, I...I would feel empty because you are the only man left in my life, you pervert...my friend. The man I deeply keep here in my heart. I am so sorry for all the things that I had done to you... making you feel bad or hurt. I know I had always hurt you. But... It is the least I can do for me to protect my sensitive feelings...I do not want to feel the same pain when I had lost Nawaki and Dan. . But...my actions did not cover my feelings.. I still feel the pain losing you... I closed my heart... I'm sorry for my selfishness Jiraiya."

"I think I had a good place in your heart huh Hime." Smiled Jiraiya. "Thank you for valuing me. I know you always do." He followed with his ever grin.

"You dummy" Tsunade cried.

"Why don't we drink? Hahaha. It has been six months since we had last one."

Tsunade seems not listening to Jiraiya but he is. It takes a few minutes for Tsunade to utter words: "It sounds different but I... I love you." Tsunade seems to be emotional now and some drops of tears manage to escape from her eyes.

Jiraiya touched her cheeks and wiped off the tears. "Anyway this is enough hahahaha.. Let us just continue to talk tomorrow morning.

Tsunade is somehow awakened from all of her emotions turning into her normal self but quite felt different towards Jiraiya's actions even she knows that it is the same Jiraiya she knows, the usual type... She just can't pinned down on her mind what is she feeling. Maybe because she is somehow had been rejected for Jiraiya did not respond.

Where are you going? Jiraiya asked.

Tsunade was awakened with her thoughts. "I am going home.. it just happened I came here. She answered.

Can I walk you home? It's already late."

Tsunade did not look bothered and said, "Do as you wish."

When Tsunade was already at her bed, she thinks of what is that feeling she had towards Jiraiya a while ago. It is very clear in her mind that she said the three words that she really mean. Why is it Jiraiya seemed not to show his reaction or any feelings when she said it. Tsunade was bothered all night and haven't got a good sleep due to that.

~Jiraiya broke their serious moment for the reason that he does not want to push any further his feelings for Tsunade already knowing the truth about Tsunade's deepest feelings. He thought that more than the love that Tsunade offers him, the most important is that Tsunade won't experience again all the pain of losing a lover. Jiraiya is presently contented to what he knew..that Tsunade loves him. Though the question that comes into his mind is when did Tsunade felt her love for him.

Next Chapter: The Two Common Places

Please review. This is my very first story ever written in my life and it is by sequel. I was able to write out of my admiration to Jiraiya and Tsunade vague pairing. They are my favorite characters aside from Naruto :D

Thank you so much for reading.