Why think of him now? - Tsunade
Who: Tsunade
What: From the Edelverse - Thoughts of an old friend who was always there for her, Tsunade lays in her cell actually wishing he were there then too.
When: Sometime after demotion and 3 therapies later
Where: Mental Institution Cell
Rating: Pg-17ish for blood and violence?
Status: Unedited and not beta’ed, cus I lazy
She wasn’t exactly sure what time of the day it was, or how long she had been out, but one thing was for sure, her head still hurt, her room was still cold, and there was still blessed silence because of her broken intercom. Laying in her bed, one swollen eye glancing up, open to the intercom she saw with a grim satisfaction that it was still dented in so severally that the wires on the inside were sticking out. As much as she knew it was one of her only forms of communication with anyone, it also brought her pleasure to finally find herself in a room with silence.
She’d been here for a few months now; here as in this cell, alone. She’d been at the asylum for just slightly longer then that. Nearly nothing surprised her anymore, not even visits from one of the other of her old team mates. Though one was much more desired over the other, none the less it never surprised her when one showed up.
Yesterday, at least she believed it was just yesterday, she had seen both of them. The first was a pleasant visit, a snuck in drink or three, some light conversation, and a new deck of old cards for her entertainment reasoning. Talking and seeing Jiraiya was something that actually, for a change, brightened her day. On the other hand, when he had left and the other man showed up is where having a broken intercom was an issue. Having Orochimaru show up at your door, giving orders to take her away for yet another therapy was not something she considered a pleasant thought at all. It was bad enough that she had shared a room with him, but now she had no power over him?
It was a wild horror that ran though her mind.
Unable to tell Jiraiya what was going on, she ended up having to go with the Snake Sannin to a therapy room On return? Well… she had no idea when she returned, having only just woken up now. Running though a mental listing of her status, she found that she had received a fairly good work over, though she was unsure weather or not it was all on Orochimaru’s part, or if that thug guard he had working with him had helped some on the way out, or if it had been the assistant. Truly, there was no memory over any of it. She just knew she… for a change, hurt.
To have a lack of Chakra right now really pissed her off. These simple little wounds should have been easy to mend, in a blink no less, but here she had to deal with them. Groaning, the Sannin managed to roll over in her bed, looking out into the small level two cell room. It was dark and dingy, with just a bit of light coming in from under the door. No window in her room. Not that it matters but it would have helped figure out how long she was out.
Amber brown eyes stared out, at the open cell door, cracked just enough for the light to come through. It seemed early, but she couldn’t tell, and she didn’t feel up to getting up to see either. Nothing felt good right now, and rest would help, so why bother? Because you’re being weak Tsunade. You’ve handled worse then this. If Jiraiya shows up and sees you like this he will have a fit. She reasoned with herself, suddenly thinking on her friend.
Jiraiya. He’d been such a relief and help since showing up. A support system she didn’t have the month before while she was here. For some reason seeing him had her so over a loop and utterly lost that first night that she was nearly sick. It didn’t help that Naruto and Orochimaru were both getting on her last nerve. Toss in Hige and Sasuke and she had herself a breakdown. Since then though she had gotten herself put back together, or well, mostly. Sure, she had gone off and fixed the Uchiha at one point, attempted to strangle Orochimaru with his own tongue, and put up an utterly destructive fight with security, even Jiraiya. Sure she fought the system when they informed her she was demoted form doctor right down to patient, stating her mind was unstable. And sure… she regretted it a bit, seeing that she couldn’t do anything to help anyone at this level, but at least she was supported still. Jiraiya could keep an eye on the kids, keep Naruto out of trouble.
That left her to cause trouble on this level with out too many worries. At least until a therapy was called upon. It seemed, to her, that she was now on one of Orochimaru’s list Projects. Projects she knew most of the doctors had.
At the moment though, she tried to convince herself to get up, to stretch it out, and to work things over till she wasn’t so… so weak anymore. It was a matter of pride really, to appear so weak like this. She was the Godaime Hokage of a god damn village, even if it could possibly be completely destroyed, she was still it’s leader! To lay here and be this weak was a disgrace, even for her.
Giving herself another moment to collect her mind she drew her arms up and together, slipping them under her head, wincing as she let her head lay heavily on her battered hands. Thumb was broken, she just realized, left hand. None the less she lay there, body curled up on it’s side, hands under her head, and staring out at the door. SO much for getting up.
”Tsunade! Slow down! There’s no point in killing yourself, so why not relax a bit?” his stupid voice had called out, all drawl and calm, a hand waving at her from a short distance. She’d been young then, but determined to prove herself. She was the granddaughter of a Hokage after all, and was being trained by THE Hokage! To disappoint any of them would to bring dishonor to eveyrones name. --- Beside, the boys were annoying and she had to prove she was the better, even at 11 years of age.
They had been on a mission, out in the far reaches of the Fire Country, still among the trees but near a large cesium in the country side. Sarutobi Sensei and Orochimaru had gone off on their own to scout out their target. Jiraiya was left to gather wood and water for the evening, leaving Tsunade to watch their camp site. They had been here for three days, and so far nothing.
Having nothing to do she trained, which to her displeasure Jiraiya had returned form his own errands, and was board like she was. But instead of doing the sensible thing and train, he instead plopped down on his large rear and watched her, smirking. She was oh so sure he was thinking something perverted, as he always did! Throwing a kunai harder into a tree trunk it zipped through it and into a bolder behind it.
There came an impressed whistle from the boy, and a laugh. “Come on, Tsunade-hime. Slow down and relax. Hey, I know you didn’t sleep last night. Thinking about be is good, but you have to get rest. Here, you can use my lap as a pillow if you like!” He pated his knee.
“AS IF I WOULD WANT TO!” she had yelled out suddenly, with a determined stance of annoyance, both hands grasping kunai, fists clenched. As if she would think of HIM, in or out of her sleep, EVER!
“Then can I use yours?” He called out, sounding serious and looking at her with a tilted head and flat but cute expression. He barely had time to move his legs before the ground exploded right in front of him, between his legs. When the dust settled there was a good sized hole in the dirt just a foot away from his groin, a kunai half buried in the hard ground, and chipped rocks and soil scattered all around, having covered the boy in it as well. Jiraiya coughed, trying to dust himself off, calling out “Hey! Take it easy!” but she had already stormed off.
Huh, why was it she remembered that situation? Laying in her lumpy bed in her cell, she let her mind wander, remembering some strange old memory from way back when. Way back when it was nice to be on a team that she trusted. Even if that team was broken now, half dead and missing, it was nice to remember it now. But why?
She thought back on it, trying to remember what happened next. It wasn’t exactly a huge moment in any of their lives, was it? Just a simple mission while they were Genin so very long ago. Before any of them had control over things like they did now. The mission was more a stake out then anything and while they took turns running with Sensei it was just… well it was simple. Why remember it now?
It was then, with the pain she felt in her side and neck that she realized why. There were a lot of times that she felt helpless on a lot of matters. Her brothers death, Dan’s death and the fact that she couldn’t save him, battling with the council for rights for the village, the academy and ridiculous testing. Just… there was so much. But this one memory was one of the first really bad moments of feeling… helpless. Not only helpless but also one of the few that the helpless was tied into Him taking care of her.
With a bit of a groan she closed her eyes again, letting her mind wander more.
“Well, aren’t you a little fighter.” The mans voice said, close to her ear, his breath hot with a putrid stench of smoke and coffee. Some ninja she had turned out to be, being caught by surprise and disarmed so damn easily. It all happened in a blink, more then her young Genin mind could handle it seemed, obviously.
The man had been watching them from time to time, staking out the stake out team. A ninja too, obviously, and very good with hi environment. He had gotten the jump on her as she stupidly wandered off away from the camp, away from her team and alone. No, stormed off, in one small, ridiculous fit of annoyance with that perverted Jiraiya, again! The man had managed to grab her, turn her around, wrap… something around her wrists and held her back to him.
She had lost her knives, her wrists were bound with, it looked, and felt like roots! He held her hands high stretched above her head with one hand, and had her pulled against him some how. Simple really, she would have gotten out of it simply… normally. But when she made to break the binds, they cut at her wrists, and as she made to stomp at his foot, with a power only she had started to learn, she found she couldn’t. Any time she moved there was a pain in her side, in her back and neck.
He had her there, trapped, and talking. Why did they always monolog? But he mentioned why he was following them, and how the Leaf Ninja were useless, sending children to do their bidding.
Helpless. She hated it. Her face burned with anger at her situation, and her stupidity. She was a Ninja though, and so she would just have to sacrifice and not care, to get out of it, to take him down, or to go and get the others. This was their target, she was sure of it, and she felt into one of his traps. Moving against her will, she felt something stab into her back, her side, and slowly something cut her neck, in the back. He warned her not to move, but she did anyhow, raising her foot to kick back, up into the man.
Her plan didn’t go so well, has it? She found herself twisted around, kunai drawn out of her back, the man had four arms, two of which were holding the sharp objects. He lashed out at her--- only to drop her, stepping back. She hadn’t caught exactly what happened, but knew she fell, knew she heard someone yell something ridiculous, and that… that she hit the ground rather hard.
When she woke again a softly smiling yet concerned face of a young Sensei was looking down at her, having just finished bandaging her up. “Ahhh, there you are. Good to see you awake. We were getting worried.” He said with an odd twinkle to his eye even in all his seriousness.
Blinking her eyes she looked up at Sensei, then past, looking to a dark haired pale skinned boy who was watching her as well. He stood at the older mans side, leaning over, and holding a half spent roll of gauze. It was as she moved to sit up that she realized she just HURT. Wincing, she balled up again, eyes closed tight and feeling a hand reach and touch her shoulder, Sensei’s words soft as he told her to just relax, and that the poison would neutralize soon enough.
The annoying voice of Jiraiya popped up soon after. “So she’ll be fine, right? Ha, if I hadn’t have shown up when I did, she’d have really been in trouble.” That made her move again, an angered look on her face as she looked to see that Jiraiya was on her other side. He was holding her blue and maroon over robes, cut and bloody as they were.
Her eyes widened and she let out a sudden scream, reaching out to grab her clothing, gasping as it hurt to move, and falling back again, arms crossing over her bandages and shirt. She was covered sure, but it hit her that she was bandaged under her shirt, and Jiraiya was there and---
“Don’t worry. I didn’t look.” His voice was cool, letter her have her clothing, smirking as he drew back and away. “You haven’t got nothing to look at anyhow!” he teased and wandered off. Sensei had chuckled, tugging the sleeping bag back over her. Orochimaru stood, passively behind him still, a brow raised at this commotion, then turned to walk off as well.
It was explained that because of her and Jiraiya, they had managed to capture their target, the one they hadn’t managed to find just yet. She had figured it out, that Jiraiya had told the other two that he AND Tsunade had taken the man down, and she had gotten wounded through battle, though at the time she didn’t know that. Instead she spent the night balled up, hidden in a sleeping back, embarrassed and hurting and feeling utterly helpless.
Jiraiya had taken care of her and she was helpless to do anything about it.
Today the thought just made her smile. Laying in the bed, finding that the places she hurt the most resembled the same spots form long ago. “But you weren’t there this time, Jiraiya.” She mused to herself sadly, though through smiling lips as she whispered it.
It was almost stupid, she felt, to think about the man so fondly. Especially considering everything that had gone on lately. Or… perhaps that was why she thought of him more now. He’d always been there for her, hadn’t he? Except for those years she had disappeared on her own, he’d been there for her. As a Genin and up through the ranks of Shinobi. As her brother had been found dead, he was there for her then. With Dan’s death she had become a mess but he stuck around, even if at the time she couldn’t remember it. He searched out to find her, though that was only because the village asked him to, but when the three of them battled, he once again protected her when he could. He checked in on her as a Hokage, and did jobs for her that she couldn’t.
Now here. He kept an eye on her here as well.
“Stupid old man…” she mumbled to herself, opening her eyes to stare at the door again. For some reason she wanted to see him standing there, hands on his hips and smiling at her. “Another lost game, Tsunade-hime?” But he wasn’t. Only for a moment did she feel sad about that. Really, she should get used to the fact that he won’t be there for her. After all, she knew he was dead back home. Who says he would stay live here, right? Bitterly she tried to separate the idea of him always being there. It was easier to do with the booze, but she had none now.
Stretching, she tried to force herself to get up. “That a girl, up we get.” She told herself, pushing with am arm on eh bed, forcing herself to sit, her head swimming and body aching. Her eye was swollen, her thumb broken, she was sure there were a few other things a miss, but over the years her body had become numb to extreme pains. Just as she sat her feet down to stand, she felt one of them had been twisted, fairly badly, and so seated she stayed, dropping her head to internally whine at herself. Helpless again. Heh, story of my life.
In just a small stooper, she sat there, head down, her mind wandering again. For some reason returning to the stupid smiling white haired old man she called a friend. The more she thought of him the more she felt weaker. Weaker to the point that she let out a soft chuckle, her right hand rubbing over her sore bruised face. “You’re such an idiot.” She told herself with a mumble. “He can’t be there for you all the time.”
“Tsunade?” came a bewildered voice at the door.
Dropping her hand, she looked up to see the tall man standing there, a openly worried look of surprise on his face. She hadn’t even heard his geta coming down the hall this time. What was wrong with her. Giving a sudden groan she slumped. Damn it, he had to show up now?
“What happened?!” She asked, but she didn’t have to answer. The way he trailed off on that question and the look that settled across his face, she knew he figured that out, at least enough fo it to not need a real answer.
He had come to her side, reaching out to help her lay back down, to which she… let herself be guided into. Curling up on her side again, a position that was comforting for her, she lay there, looking up at the mans painted face, his eyes careful, watching her.
“Jiraiya…” she said simply, sounding almost relieved to have him there for a change. She was smiling, her right hand having come out to close on his wrist, holding it, letting her eyes close. He was sure to be confused about the smile, but she didn’t care. She let herself relax, having him sitting there beside her on the bed.
“I’m here now.” He said in a low tone, watching over her. She was sure that he would go and take care of Orochimaru, or at least talk to him about this in one way or another, but for now he was here, and that was just fine with her.
Weak and embarrassed, it didn’t matter. This time she wanted him there.
What: From the Edelverse - Thoughts of an old friend who was always there for her, Tsunade lays in her cell actually wishing he were there then too.
When: Sometime after demotion and 3 therapies later
Where: Mental Institution Cell
Rating: Pg-17ish for blood and violence?
Status: Unedited and not beta’ed, cus I lazy
She wasn’t exactly sure what time of the day it was, or how long she had been out, but one thing was for sure, her head still hurt, her room was still cold, and there was still blessed silence because of her broken intercom. Laying in her bed, one swollen eye glancing up, open to the intercom she saw with a grim satisfaction that it was still dented in so severally that the wires on the inside were sticking out. As much as she knew it was one of her only forms of communication with anyone, it also brought her pleasure to finally find herself in a room with silence.
She’d been here for a few months now; here as in this cell, alone. She’d been at the asylum for just slightly longer then that. Nearly nothing surprised her anymore, not even visits from one of the other of her old team mates. Though one was much more desired over the other, none the less it never surprised her when one showed up.
Yesterday, at least she believed it was just yesterday, she had seen both of them. The first was a pleasant visit, a snuck in drink or three, some light conversation, and a new deck of old cards for her entertainment reasoning. Talking and seeing Jiraiya was something that actually, for a change, brightened her day. On the other hand, when he had left and the other man showed up is where having a broken intercom was an issue. Having Orochimaru show up at your door, giving orders to take her away for yet another therapy was not something she considered a pleasant thought at all. It was bad enough that she had shared a room with him, but now she had no power over him?
It was a wild horror that ran though her mind.
Unable to tell Jiraiya what was going on, she ended up having to go with the Snake Sannin to a therapy room On return? Well… she had no idea when she returned, having only just woken up now. Running though a mental listing of her status, she found that she had received a fairly good work over, though she was unsure weather or not it was all on Orochimaru’s part, or if that thug guard he had working with him had helped some on the way out, or if it had been the assistant. Truly, there was no memory over any of it. She just knew she… for a change, hurt.
To have a lack of Chakra right now really pissed her off. These simple little wounds should have been easy to mend, in a blink no less, but here she had to deal with them. Groaning, the Sannin managed to roll over in her bed, looking out into the small level two cell room. It was dark and dingy, with just a bit of light coming in from under the door. No window in her room. Not that it matters but it would have helped figure out how long she was out.
Amber brown eyes stared out, at the open cell door, cracked just enough for the light to come through. It seemed early, but she couldn’t tell, and she didn’t feel up to getting up to see either. Nothing felt good right now, and rest would help, so why bother? Because you’re being weak Tsunade. You’ve handled worse then this. If Jiraiya shows up and sees you like this he will have a fit. She reasoned with herself, suddenly thinking on her friend.
Jiraiya. He’d been such a relief and help since showing up. A support system she didn’t have the month before while she was here. For some reason seeing him had her so over a loop and utterly lost that first night that she was nearly sick. It didn’t help that Naruto and Orochimaru were both getting on her last nerve. Toss in Hige and Sasuke and she had herself a breakdown. Since then though she had gotten herself put back together, or well, mostly. Sure, she had gone off and fixed the Uchiha at one point, attempted to strangle Orochimaru with his own tongue, and put up an utterly destructive fight with security, even Jiraiya. Sure she fought the system when they informed her she was demoted form doctor right down to patient, stating her mind was unstable. And sure… she regretted it a bit, seeing that she couldn’t do anything to help anyone at this level, but at least she was supported still. Jiraiya could keep an eye on the kids, keep Naruto out of trouble.
That left her to cause trouble on this level with out too many worries. At least until a therapy was called upon. It seemed, to her, that she was now on one of Orochimaru’s list Projects. Projects she knew most of the doctors had.
At the moment though, she tried to convince herself to get up, to stretch it out, and to work things over till she wasn’t so… so weak anymore. It was a matter of pride really, to appear so weak like this. She was the Godaime Hokage of a god damn village, even if it could possibly be completely destroyed, she was still it’s leader! To lay here and be this weak was a disgrace, even for her.
Giving herself another moment to collect her mind she drew her arms up and together, slipping them under her head, wincing as she let her head lay heavily on her battered hands. Thumb was broken, she just realized, left hand. None the less she lay there, body curled up on it’s side, hands under her head, and staring out at the door. SO much for getting up.
”Tsunade! Slow down! There’s no point in killing yourself, so why not relax a bit?” his stupid voice had called out, all drawl and calm, a hand waving at her from a short distance. She’d been young then, but determined to prove herself. She was the granddaughter of a Hokage after all, and was being trained by THE Hokage! To disappoint any of them would to bring dishonor to eveyrones name. --- Beside, the boys were annoying and she had to prove she was the better, even at 11 years of age.
They had been on a mission, out in the far reaches of the Fire Country, still among the trees but near a large cesium in the country side. Sarutobi Sensei and Orochimaru had gone off on their own to scout out their target. Jiraiya was left to gather wood and water for the evening, leaving Tsunade to watch their camp site. They had been here for three days, and so far nothing.
Having nothing to do she trained, which to her displeasure Jiraiya had returned form his own errands, and was board like she was. But instead of doing the sensible thing and train, he instead plopped down on his large rear and watched her, smirking. She was oh so sure he was thinking something perverted, as he always did! Throwing a kunai harder into a tree trunk it zipped through it and into a bolder behind it.
There came an impressed whistle from the boy, and a laugh. “Come on, Tsunade-hime. Slow down and relax. Hey, I know you didn’t sleep last night. Thinking about be is good, but you have to get rest. Here, you can use my lap as a pillow if you like!” He pated his knee.
“AS IF I WOULD WANT TO!” she had yelled out suddenly, with a determined stance of annoyance, both hands grasping kunai, fists clenched. As if she would think of HIM, in or out of her sleep, EVER!
“Then can I use yours?” He called out, sounding serious and looking at her with a tilted head and flat but cute expression. He barely had time to move his legs before the ground exploded right in front of him, between his legs. When the dust settled there was a good sized hole in the dirt just a foot away from his groin, a kunai half buried in the hard ground, and chipped rocks and soil scattered all around, having covered the boy in it as well. Jiraiya coughed, trying to dust himself off, calling out “Hey! Take it easy!” but she had already stormed off.
Huh, why was it she remembered that situation? Laying in her lumpy bed in her cell, she let her mind wander, remembering some strange old memory from way back when. Way back when it was nice to be on a team that she trusted. Even if that team was broken now, half dead and missing, it was nice to remember it now. But why?
She thought back on it, trying to remember what happened next. It wasn’t exactly a huge moment in any of their lives, was it? Just a simple mission while they were Genin so very long ago. Before any of them had control over things like they did now. The mission was more a stake out then anything and while they took turns running with Sensei it was just… well it was simple. Why remember it now?
It was then, with the pain she felt in her side and neck that she realized why. There were a lot of times that she felt helpless on a lot of matters. Her brothers death, Dan’s death and the fact that she couldn’t save him, battling with the council for rights for the village, the academy and ridiculous testing. Just… there was so much. But this one memory was one of the first really bad moments of feeling… helpless. Not only helpless but also one of the few that the helpless was tied into Him taking care of her.
With a bit of a groan she closed her eyes again, letting her mind wander more.
“Well, aren’t you a little fighter.” The mans voice said, close to her ear, his breath hot with a putrid stench of smoke and coffee. Some ninja she had turned out to be, being caught by surprise and disarmed so damn easily. It all happened in a blink, more then her young Genin mind could handle it seemed, obviously.
The man had been watching them from time to time, staking out the stake out team. A ninja too, obviously, and very good with hi environment. He had gotten the jump on her as she stupidly wandered off away from the camp, away from her team and alone. No, stormed off, in one small, ridiculous fit of annoyance with that perverted Jiraiya, again! The man had managed to grab her, turn her around, wrap… something around her wrists and held her back to him.
She had lost her knives, her wrists were bound with, it looked, and felt like roots! He held her hands high stretched above her head with one hand, and had her pulled against him some how. Simple really, she would have gotten out of it simply… normally. But when she made to break the binds, they cut at her wrists, and as she made to stomp at his foot, with a power only she had started to learn, she found she couldn’t. Any time she moved there was a pain in her side, in her back and neck.
He had her there, trapped, and talking. Why did they always monolog? But he mentioned why he was following them, and how the Leaf Ninja were useless, sending children to do their bidding.
Helpless. She hated it. Her face burned with anger at her situation, and her stupidity. She was a Ninja though, and so she would just have to sacrifice and not care, to get out of it, to take him down, or to go and get the others. This was their target, she was sure of it, and she felt into one of his traps. Moving against her will, she felt something stab into her back, her side, and slowly something cut her neck, in the back. He warned her not to move, but she did anyhow, raising her foot to kick back, up into the man.
Her plan didn’t go so well, has it? She found herself twisted around, kunai drawn out of her back, the man had four arms, two of which were holding the sharp objects. He lashed out at her--- only to drop her, stepping back. She hadn’t caught exactly what happened, but knew she fell, knew she heard someone yell something ridiculous, and that… that she hit the ground rather hard.
When she woke again a softly smiling yet concerned face of a young Sensei was looking down at her, having just finished bandaging her up. “Ahhh, there you are. Good to see you awake. We were getting worried.” He said with an odd twinkle to his eye even in all his seriousness.
Blinking her eyes she looked up at Sensei, then past, looking to a dark haired pale skinned boy who was watching her as well. He stood at the older mans side, leaning over, and holding a half spent roll of gauze. It was as she moved to sit up that she realized she just HURT. Wincing, she balled up again, eyes closed tight and feeling a hand reach and touch her shoulder, Sensei’s words soft as he told her to just relax, and that the poison would neutralize soon enough.
The annoying voice of Jiraiya popped up soon after. “So she’ll be fine, right? Ha, if I hadn’t have shown up when I did, she’d have really been in trouble.” That made her move again, an angered look on her face as she looked to see that Jiraiya was on her other side. He was holding her blue and maroon over robes, cut and bloody as they were.
Her eyes widened and she let out a sudden scream, reaching out to grab her clothing, gasping as it hurt to move, and falling back again, arms crossing over her bandages and shirt. She was covered sure, but it hit her that she was bandaged under her shirt, and Jiraiya was there and---
“Don’t worry. I didn’t look.” His voice was cool, letter her have her clothing, smirking as he drew back and away. “You haven’t got nothing to look at anyhow!” he teased and wandered off. Sensei had chuckled, tugging the sleeping bag back over her. Orochimaru stood, passively behind him still, a brow raised at this commotion, then turned to walk off as well.
It was explained that because of her and Jiraiya, they had managed to capture their target, the one they hadn’t managed to find just yet. She had figured it out, that Jiraiya had told the other two that he AND Tsunade had taken the man down, and she had gotten wounded through battle, though at the time she didn’t know that. Instead she spent the night balled up, hidden in a sleeping back, embarrassed and hurting and feeling utterly helpless.
Jiraiya had taken care of her and she was helpless to do anything about it.
Today the thought just made her smile. Laying in the bed, finding that the places she hurt the most resembled the same spots form long ago. “But you weren’t there this time, Jiraiya.” She mused to herself sadly, though through smiling lips as she whispered it.
It was almost stupid, she felt, to think about the man so fondly. Especially considering everything that had gone on lately. Or… perhaps that was why she thought of him more now. He’d always been there for her, hadn’t he? Except for those years she had disappeared on her own, he’d been there for her. As a Genin and up through the ranks of Shinobi. As her brother had been found dead, he was there for her then. With Dan’s death she had become a mess but he stuck around, even if at the time she couldn’t remember it. He searched out to find her, though that was only because the village asked him to, but when the three of them battled, he once again protected her when he could. He checked in on her as a Hokage, and did jobs for her that she couldn’t.
Now here. He kept an eye on her here as well.
“Stupid old man…” she mumbled to herself, opening her eyes to stare at the door again. For some reason she wanted to see him standing there, hands on his hips and smiling at her. “Another lost game, Tsunade-hime?” But he wasn’t. Only for a moment did she feel sad about that. Really, she should get used to the fact that he won’t be there for her. After all, she knew he was dead back home. Who says he would stay live here, right? Bitterly she tried to separate the idea of him always being there. It was easier to do with the booze, but she had none now.
Stretching, she tried to force herself to get up. “That a girl, up we get.” She told herself, pushing with am arm on eh bed, forcing herself to sit, her head swimming and body aching. Her eye was swollen, her thumb broken, she was sure there were a few other things a miss, but over the years her body had become numb to extreme pains. Just as she sat her feet down to stand, she felt one of them had been twisted, fairly badly, and so seated she stayed, dropping her head to internally whine at herself. Helpless again. Heh, story of my life.
In just a small stooper, she sat there, head down, her mind wandering again. For some reason returning to the stupid smiling white haired old man she called a friend. The more she thought of him the more she felt weaker. Weaker to the point that she let out a soft chuckle, her right hand rubbing over her sore bruised face. “You’re such an idiot.” She told herself with a mumble. “He can’t be there for you all the time.”
“Tsunade?” came a bewildered voice at the door.
Dropping her hand, she looked up to see the tall man standing there, a openly worried look of surprise on his face. She hadn’t even heard his geta coming down the hall this time. What was wrong with her. Giving a sudden groan she slumped. Damn it, he had to show up now?
“What happened?!” She asked, but she didn’t have to answer. The way he trailed off on that question and the look that settled across his face, she knew he figured that out, at least enough fo it to not need a real answer.
He had come to her side, reaching out to help her lay back down, to which she… let herself be guided into. Curling up on her side again, a position that was comforting for her, she lay there, looking up at the mans painted face, his eyes careful, watching her.
“Jiraiya…” she said simply, sounding almost relieved to have him there for a change. She was smiling, her right hand having come out to close on his wrist, holding it, letting her eyes close. He was sure to be confused about the smile, but she didn’t care. She let herself relax, having him sitting there beside her on the bed.
“I’m here now.” He said in a low tone, watching over her. She was sure that he would go and take care of Orochimaru, or at least talk to him about this in one way or another, but for now he was here, and that was just fine with her.
Weak and embarrassed, it didn’t matter. This time she wanted him there.