Well... this is awkward. [Open to anyone who'd randomly walk into Minato's room; I get the feeling that's most of the school :P]

"S-sorry. That was stupid." He blushed. "It's just.. that's how I feel about you."

"Uh. Oh. Yeah..." a small, slightly awkward grin. "I... I guess that's kinda... How I feel.. 'bout you, too." she sniffled. "As... As you heard in... In the hallway. You... You've kinda flipped my whole world-view upside down."

"I ah. Still think it's important. Your training. Don't - you don't need to change for my sake." He was looking down at her hand, which he held between them.

She shook her head. "Forget my stupid training. You're more important."

"...oh." He was going to say something to argue with her, but finally, he just smiled. "Yeah. That's.. that's good."

"I should've realized from the start. Idiot." she muttered to herself, burying her head in his shoulder again. "I'm... Sorry. Sorry I never put you first when you so obviously deserve it. I've been so fucking blind."

"Uhm.. well.. youah. You told me from the start and - and - well. I never exactly asked it of you." He was a little taken aback, and confused, but most of all pretty okay with things.

And... When she looked at him again, a tear had betrayed her, sliding down her cheek.

"Aw, dammit.. c'mon," he stood and lifted her with him with little difficulty, carried her over to the bed and laid down, cradling her close to his chest.

"... Sorry." she muttered again and simply burrowed her face in his chest.

"Don't.." he said automatically and then stopped. "It's.. it's alright. We're gonna make this work."

"... Thanks, 'Nato..." she sniffled into his chest.

"And.. and you - you should still train. It's important. You're good at something, you gotta give it the chance. To get really good."

"I... I will. Later. Right now this's important."

"Well... much as I'd like to, we probably can't stay in bed all the time - gotta find something else to do," he tried to joke.

"I.... I know. 'S just. Hard to know what to start with, now, isn't it, 'ttebane?"

"Ah.. well.. you.." This new side of Kushina, he wasn't very comfortable with. He didn't know how to act when she was all - all broken like this. "You.. well, don't change too much. I - I still like you the way you are."

"... You shouldn't." she sighed, sat back up again. "I... I'm almost as much of a jerk as Kakashi used to be."

He frowned at her. "You're not.. You didn't.. Well, you never.. I mean, you're - I could've just said something if I weren't happy with things. I didn't."

She sighed. "I... I never took the consequences for you into consideration. I didn't. I should've."

"Ah.. well.. maybe.. maybe other guys are better at - uhm. Getting their own way.." Minato squirmed, obviously uncomfortable. "Or.. well. Demanding. I dunno."

"... Maybe. But... But I like you just the way you are. Just... Still. You should've stood up for yourself a few times."

"Heh... probably.." he blushed a little. "It's.. not something I'm used to. I know - I used to..." he sighed. "I used to get therapy for it. You always find the crazy guys, eh?"

A small shrug. "Perhaps it's because I want to help them along." she simply said, kissing the top of his head.

"That's dumb. You can't do that, it's something people gotta figure out for themselves. I gotta. Well.. at any rate.. I've spent more time arguing with people these months than in my entire life.." he chuckled dryly. "Guess that's a start."