Jiraiya's Second Chance

Love and Misunderstanding

It took another week before Aikiko was allowed to leave the hospital.  When they reached home, Jiraiya was all over her, doing whatever she requested.  She never saw this side of Jiraiya, warm, gentle and very caring.  The cold aloofness was gone, in turn was just warm and gentle care. 

Aikiko didn't know Jiraiya can cook and was actually very apt with house chores.  He stayed out of missions and was just fully dedicated in her care and recovery.  Jiraiya carried her to her daily therapy and would buy her whatever she wants - clothes, food or whatever she mentioned.

Aikiko had to be very careful with what she says she want because otherwise her overly eager husband would try get it for her.  After all, she didn't want to take advantage of him. But she did enjoy the attention and the care. 

They talked a lot now.  When she does her daily walk, she will rest in his arms and he will tell her a lot of stories about his youth, his conquest, and his victories.  She started finding him as loud, funny, and a little comical but all these about Jiraiya made her love him more.   The funny, caring old man she envisioned in the bar long time ago was starting to be true.  She found her assumptions about him were not that off after all.  She couldn't understand why the coldness and suspicion took so long to lift but now they are gone, and she can't help falling more and more in love with this man with his heart on his sleeves.  All she ever wanted now was also to make him happy.

Jiraiya had finally given up on his suspicious, and with his all-out showering of affection to his wife, he found that it's easier to love her than to be defensive around her.  This woman asked for very little. It seemed to him that his very presence was just what makes her truly happy.  Her recovery would take some time as per Tsunade but that is alright.  He will make sure she is whole again.

"No sleeping with her yet.  Remember her heart was punctured and too much excitement might not be good for her." Warned the famed medic.

But he can wait, he has a life time to wait now.  He doesn't fear of his wife faking it.  After her selfless sacrifice for him, he knew now he has no reason to doubt her love.

It's been four months since the accident.  Aikiko sometimes wonder if her husband was only staying with her because of guilt.  He never attempted to touch her when she knows for sure that her husband want physically intimacy more than anything. To be honest, that seemed to be the only thing she can offer him when they agreed on the marriage.

But lately, she found him avoiding her.  Not that he has left for mission again or anything.  But when she makes advances to him he would change topic, laugh it off or literally push her away, albeit gently.

He has been spending more time writing his books when he finished his chores and finished taking care of her. 

The other night she even purposely waited for him with a loosely open kimono when he lay down beside her.  He wasn't able to resist the kiss but when he opened her clothes he suddenly stop. 

She remember him say, "Aikiko, no, not tonight".  As he tightly wrap the kimono around her before walking out to the patio and getting some air.

This confused Aikiko very much.  Does he find her scarred body repulsive? If he won't sleep with her then what else can she offer him?  Could it be what she thought was love was just simply guilt and penance? Is that why he is treating her this well after the accident?

No, this is not what she asked for.  She will never tie him down to a life of guilt.  If she cannot bring him happiness then there is no reason for her to stay with him.

Aikiko walked quietly to the market that day.  She knew Jiraiya will scold her if he found out he walked that far but she felt suffocated at home.  She skipped passing by the shop as she didn't want Obaachan to worry about her.  She quietly slipped in a danggo shop and ordered some. 

Suddenly, in front of her was a man finely dressed.  Before she could say anything, the man's eye flash and Aikiko can't remember anything anymore.