No time to be engaged...

~~~~~~~~~~

"Who's that, daddy?"

The persistent tug on his pant leg had Nadare Seiki looking down at his daughter. She was like a beacon in her brilliant white and peach kimono, the formal attire making her look more like a little doll then the energetic child he knew her to be. Her ebony hair pulled back from her face in a pretty bow at her nape opened up it up so that those wide eyes could be easily read. Like her hair they were black as pitch, voiding out the shape of her pupils; it always unnerved him a bit how they so resembled the predatory glance of a shark when shadowed by her thick hair, and that was the last thing he wanted this particular Jonin to think when they met. "That is Jiraiya; he's going to be taking care of you for a few days while your mother and I tend to some business."

The young girl frowned at this and lowered her eyes to the soft grey kitten plush she held in her other arm. "Why can't I stay with baba?"

Her father sighed as they crossed the training grounds, coming to pause near three fat stumps where there was a clear view of a group of Genin busy training. The trio closely watched by the little girl as she leaned slightly to look around the pair of legs the stood before them. Her hand slowly slipping off her father's pant leg before the tall youth crouched down into her view, and her grip tightened viciously once more.

Surprise melted away from her gaze and watching this, the warm smile that had been in his own dissipated until both were glaring at each other. Seeing this was not going as well as planned, Seiki's voice cut over them, "You can't stay with baba because he hurt his back, and you know that. Besides, with your sister's wedding coming up we will all be very busy. Jiraiya has promised to take good care of you."

"You look old."

"Ginkage!"

"What?" she replied innocently with a quick look to her father before glaring back at the stranger who's head had fallen with her comment, "he's old. He has white hair like baba, and he's wearing make up… I don't want him."

Seiki nearly chocked on her words wondering if there was any way she could possibly know the true fate of this meeting. Shaking his head at that absurd thought, he sighed and looked to the frustrated lift of Jiraiya's brow. "I apologize for her, she's always been… more willful then the others."

"It's not a problem, Nadare-san, I'm sure we'll get along fine once she's gotten to know me more," he said through a gritted smile.

Nodding the older man hefted his daughter up for a quick hug, his eyes serious as they stared into his daughter's, "you be a good girl and listen to him, alright?"

"Yes, daddy…"

"Good. I'll be back in a few days." With a quick kiss to her forehead, he handed her to Jiraiya, and without another word turned to go, missing the slight tremble of her lower lip before she staunchly sniffed and tucked away the tears in her eyes.

Admiration for the little girl's strength was clear in the Jonin's own gaze as he settled her onto one broad shoulder, his false smile warming once more when she set her tiny feet against his collar and lightly gripped his hair for balance even though he kept one hand lightly upon her knees. Glancing to his students for a brief moment, he turned his gaze to her and caught her own intent upon those training. "Are you going to the academy?"

She didn't look away, her concentration absolute for one so young, "I want to but my dad says that I have other training to do."

"Other training? Like what?"

"Oba-san started teaching me a tea ceremony and my mom is showing me how to put flowers in vases."

He chuckled at the bland look that had entered her eyes. So it seemed they were training her to be a perfect wife, he wondered if Seiki ever noticed how intent she was on watching the Genin before he left. Giving her a soft bounce on his shoulder to snag her attention, Jiraiya was a bit taken back by the age of her fathomless eyes as she focused upon him. "Would you like to train with them?"

Surprise registered in her gaze but within seconds, he was rewarded with a brilliant smile, "yes, please, Jiraiya-san."

"Just call me Jiraiya, alright, Gin?" She nodded enthusiastically, he slender arms sliding about his neck as she straightened her legs and began to slide down from his shoulder before he had a chance to fully register her actions. Snagging her as she hit his waist, he chuckled and eased her to the ground. "Slow down, squirt, we don't want you getting that kimono all dirty now do we?"

Frowning down at the sparkling white fabric, she nodded, her arms handing him the soft plushie she had been clutching. The confusion in his glance lasting only a moment before he watched her gingerly work the obi free, folding it neatly and handing it to him as well. Crouching down again, he could not help but smile at her. Beneath the fragile kimono, she wore simple capri's and a light tank top. The tiny smudges of dirt and faded grass stains drawing his hand forth to lightly poke her nose.

"Somehow, I think we're going to get along just fine, Gin-chan." Her blush was soft against her smile as she took his hand and together they turned back to his students. "Alright, let's take a break for a bit, I have someone to introduce you to."

Taking a few coins from his purse and held them out to a boy with brilliant blue eyes and messy blonde hair. Of the three, he was the only one that smiled at her first and looked to his Sensei next.

"This is Nadare Ginkage, and she's going to be training with us for the next few days. Minato…" Looking to the blonde youth, he handed him the money and gently ruffled his hair, "Why don't you take Gin, and go get us all some lunch..."

~~~~~~~~~~

When she looked up at the boy, all she saw was the soft white of her ceiling staring down at her. It had been awhile since she had thought of that day. It both warmed her heart and made it ache. Minato… He had been like a big brother to her, always playing with her whenever she was left with Jiraiya. When he became Hokage, she had made a point to be there, and when his son was born, she stood at Jiraiya's side as he was named the baby's Godfather.

Another good man whose life was cut short just a few short days later…

Forcing the memory of that day from her mind, she shoved back her covers and headed for the bathroom. Sighing, she splashed cold water on her face and stared at the young image that looked back at her in the mirror. He just had to show up again… Now she would be remembering things she had suppressed over the years and that was far more troublesome then the whole situation at hand.

Whipping the towel from the rack, she turned to get her clothes from her bed and screamed…

Well no, almost screamed was more like it as she found herself face to face with the very person she'd been dreaming of that night. The high-pitched shriek buried behind his hand as his other pressed its finger to his lips. His gaze shifting nervously to the door only to find her icy glare when his eyes returned to hers. Slender arms, well toned and tense, folded over her chest while she waited for him to take his hand away.

"You aren't going to scream?"

She shook her head no.

"Alright…" carefully he eased back his hand, watching her closely for any sign that she'd go back on her word."Sorry, I was on my way to the training grounds and figured I'd just pick you up."

"I have a door, Jiraiya."

"Yes, but it's early and I didn't want to disturb the rest of the house."

Bullshit was clearly written across her features, as she brushed past him to snatch up her change of clothes, "I'm not even going to ask how long you've been here you… you… Ero-sennin. You just better not be… researching, do you understand me?" The rough punch of her fist to his chest revealed her aggravation, as she passed by him again so she could turn on the shower.

"I wish you wouldn't call me that…"

Rolling her eyes, she just glanced over her shoulder at him from her perch on the tub, "you are the one sneaking into my bedroom all quiet like while I'm only in my night clothes."

The way his gaze suddenly took a dip down her figure actually had her mouth gaping. Could it be that he had not noticed she was only in a pair of simple blue panties and a short tank top? No, this was Jiraiya, the creator of Ichi Ichi Paradaisu… but as she continued to watch his sudden expression of surprise, she believed he really had overlooked that fact.

"I-I hadn't…"

"I can't believe you!" Rising she shoved at his chest, her voice a harsh hiss as she kept the rest of the house in mind, while trying to force him back towards the window he'd come in through. "What? I'm not good enough for the amazing toad sage? You prick! Out!"

Oh, she would fully admit that was a hit to her ego right there. Here he was, the very person she had caught eavesdropping on every bathhouse in Konoha while she was growing up, and she hadn't even registered on his radar! Shoving him again, she felt a certain level of pride as he wavered a bit when the backs of his knees hit the windowsill. Unfortunately, he finally decided that was enough and grabbed for her wrists, hauling them up above her head and pulling her to her toes.

"If I didn't know any better, Gin, I'd think you wanted me spying on you."

"Oh, get over yourself."

His brow lifted slightly at her response, "don't get me wrong, you're really rather lovely like this…"

"Watch it sage."

Holding up a finger to her lips, he shook his head and gingerly lowered her arms, ducking his head through their loop as he did so that she would be pressed against him. The action drawing a part to her lips even as he settled his touch to the small of her back holding her in place. "You are very lovely, Gin but I'd never use you in any of my novels."

A twinge of hurt entered her eyes but only for the most minute of moments before his finger fell to trace the line of her jaw. "So naive…" Her scowl brought a small tumble of laughter to his lips as he carried her back to the bathroom, "Why on earth would I want any other guy reading about you?"

She was confused, her legs stumbling slightly as she walked backwards before him until she felt the press of the vanity against the back of her thighs. Her eyes cut away, her head held still by the touch of his finger upon her chin but her glance was short. Widening at the feel of warmth replacing slight tingle of his touch, they shot back and remained open under his gentle kiss. His own watched her in return though it was heat, not shock, which filled the half-lidded orbs.

Suddenly she remembered to breathe and gently shoved him back from her. His chuckle deep, echoed in the small bathroom above the racing sound of her heart in her head. Sliding her from her tiptoes to her feet down the hidden lines of his form, Jiraiya kept his embrace light despite the delicate brush of his thumbs upon her hips.

"I told you I didn't agree to drop it, Gin."

She didn't miss the way his eyes fell to her lips as she licked the taste of the kiss from them, nor the slight lean of his head that was quickly blocked by her hand covering his mouth. A vibrant blush stealing across her cheeks despite the will power she had tried to force against it, "Alright… I get it. I don't understand it but I get it… Now out so I can get a shower and we can get going."

He didn't move for a moment, his eyes cutting to the shower before he felt the abrupt shove of her hands. His laughter again rumbling in his chest as he let his arms slip away from her, "I'll meet you there. If I stick around I just might be tempted to use you for more private research."

Narrowly missing the pop of her towel to his butt, he disappeared out the window leaving her glaring at his wake. The man was incorrigible, but there was no way of shaking that slight tremor that tickled her spine. Groaning, she splashed more cold water onto her face and stripping down stepped into the shower. A flicker of white captured in her mirror, drawing a soft curve to her lips beneath the deep blush.

How in the world could she possibly have fallen for that pervert…