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]

"Guess it is." she simply said.

He racked his brain for something to say, feeling suddenly inadequate. Normally at this point they'd be having sex. He didn't even feel like it. "Soah. How's.. how's your training going?"

"Better than before. All I've been doing, after all."

"Oh. That's.. great. Really great." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, his stomach feeling increasingly uneasy.

"But everything else's gone downhill." she sighed.

"So.. maybe you.. like, need somebody to - to help you with your homework?" Kushina shouldn't be sad. He needed her strong and capable. Brief panic set in at the thought of her acting like this for a longer time.

She shook her head. "No... I... I just need to know... That you'll be here." she grasped his hand firmly. "That... That you won't turn away again."

"Iah. I.. I.. I dunno, I - I'll try." He sighed and looked up at her, caught her eyes. "I wish I could say I won't make another mistake, ever, but it doesn't work that way. All I can.. can do is - is love you, and try not to hurt you any more."

"... Which is all I'm asking." she muttered, before she let her lips meet his again.

He kissed her very softly, almost carefully. Somehow, it felt much easier to make mistakes now than the first time - and then again, not.

"I.... I just need to know you're here. That... That you always will. I... I can be strong if I've got you. I... I just can't, without you, 'ttebane..." she muttered against his soft lips.

"You are.. you're the strong one," he said desperately. "Not me.. but.. but I'm not.. oh, damn, I..." he closed his eyes and tried to think. "I'm scared. I don't - don't feel like you should trust me with you."

"'Nato... I'm really not as strong as you think. Only when I know I've got somebody ready to catch me if I should ever fall."

"You do. You've got me," he finally promised her. "As long as you want me. I don't - I don't want anybody else. I won't. Just you."

"I'll always want you, dimwit..." finally, finally one of her grins returned as she pulled him close for another kiss.

"If you ever don't.. just - just tell me, okay?" He was still wondering about that whole sleeping with another girl bit. But he wasn't going there. Not when he was slowly recovering his grasp of his sexual orientation.

"Won't happen." she simply said, hugging him close. "I... I meant what I said out in the hallway."

A true smile for perhaps the first time that day spread on Minato's face. "Yeah - yeah. I want that too. With you. Nobody else."

When she saw that smile, her own returned, as she carefully, with just the tip of her finger, traced that smile she loved so much. "... Can't imagine a better life than one with you."

"No. Me either. I - I don't work without you, like I told you. You just.. you make things right." He looked up at her, then down, a litle shyly.

Just the weakest dusting of pink across her cheeks, a grin spreading to cover it up. "Guess that's just what I can, eh, 'ttebane?" some of the cheekiness returned, too.

"Yeah.. just that," he grinned back as his world slowly settled again. "Man. Kensei was so mad at me. It's - I've been so stupid."

"I doubt he's been as mad as you as he's been at me. I ruined two sandbags the day after... Y'know."

"I just never showed up. Then he came to get me and I was sleeping. Now I don't even know if he'll allow me back for training. I kinda.. said some things I shouldn't have."

"Hmm? Like what?" furrowing her brows slightly as she let her fingers play with his hair.