Entry no. 33: Forgotten

I am so utterly much sorry for not updating again, but I'M BACK! And you can check out the Day One of Naruto FanFiction Month 2015 on my profile, it should be up by the time this will be updated. So gomen, hope this will make up for it. (It probably won't.)

And to answer LilyVampire's review (thank you for reviewing again, so much!): Yes, exams do suck. They suck very, very hard. I feel for you. I'm glad that you liked the 1-shots, I never realized they could be in one AU, but you're right... hm, I wonder if I could make a longer fic out of it... ;) The NaruHina unfortunately IS that bad... I suppose I can post it tomorrow. The problem is it's not that much NaruHina-ish. But hopefully I will write better soon, I'm currently watching Pain Assault Arc and it's pretty NaruHina-inspiring.

But, without much further ado, enjoy!

OroTsu, because life is about changes. AU where they were in love... (Even though JirTsu is my OTP now...)

Moving is so much easier when all you own are two suitcases and a pet pig.

Tsunade sat in a chair in her apartment, downing one glass of sake after another.

She wasn't depressed or stressed; she was just used to it.

Staring at her scarce belongings, she thought she might have to unpack one day.

She wasn't looking forward to it.

Bored out of her mind, she scrolled through a mental list of what was inside the suitcases.

Her clothes, few scrolls, maybe even some photos.

Nothing of real importance, though.

Of her belongings, there were five things she cared about.

First was the cursed necklace, but this one she gave Naruto to keep.

The second and third were pictures of her brother and Dan she kept stored in her bosom.

The fourth was a kunai, the first one she ever had.

And the fifth was a letter.

A letter that has been written years ago by a person she once cared about, even loved for some time, a person she didn't give a shit about now, or tried to convince herself that she doesn't.

But she still treasured the letter.

She wasn't sure why, maybe because it meant that he had once felt the same, maybe because it meant he felt at all.

Perhaps she saw a way to lead him back home one day in it.

No.

She wasn't foolish enough to believe that.

Jiraiya would be, but not her.

Placing a hand over her heart, where she kept the letter safe, she took another swig from her glass.

Perhaps that was why it hurt so much, knowing he left, seeing him again, having to fight him...

Maybe it was that hard because she still felt that he could be redeemed.

And maybe she felt that way because she still loved him.

But he tried to kill her. To kill her, to kill Jirayia, to kill Shizune, to kill Naruto. To kill Konoha.

To kill everything she cared about.

Why?

Because he wasn't acknowledged?

Because he was jealous of Minato?

Because he was angry?

Because after he would destroy everything, kill everyone close to her, the only one who would remain would be...

Him?

She pulled the letter out, staring at the folded paper for a long time before drinking deeply again and flipping it open.

Dear Tsunade, the first line read.

I'm sorry, read the last.

And in the very bottom of the letter, a signature.

Orochimaru

A single tear.

That much she allowed herself.

I never wanted to leave you, but I can't force you to leave the village. You are too stubborn for that.

She folded the paper again, standing up and putting her glass down.

I can't tell you where I'm headed, either, because I know you can't keep it from them.

Wobbling around the room, she searched of a hiding place.

Sometimes you said I'm too smart for my own good. Well, maybe I am, but I know you love me that way.

And finally she found one, a little crevice in the floor.

Anything you do when I'm gone, don't become a gambler, dear.

She dropped on her knees and inserted the folded letter into it.

Even if we never met again, please do not forget about me. I love you, Tsunade-hime.

Then she sat down, her back against a wall, assuring herself she won't cry.

I'm sorry,

Orochimaru

With every calming breath she drew in as she stared out of a window at the star-specked sky, she felt a bit calmer.

With every breath she let out, she felt like something was pouring out of her.

Old pain, repressed sadness, regret.

It was all gone.

Long gone.

She closed her eyes as she breathed out the ashes, the remains of the old flame in her.

Her love for Orochimaru shall lay forgotten, hidden in the floor beneath her feet, along with the letter, which was the last thing that remained of it.

Um... Oro's incredibly OOC, I know.

And those were just fragments of the letter, not the whole thing, okay?

I'm sorry,

Moya