After a rather 'eventful' evening, the day had come, and the Senju manor was the most lively building in the village during the morning.
"This is the most beautiful dress I have seen, as expected of people from another world. They do have better things," Hikari commented while fondling the dress that felt like it was made by mythical moon silk.
Tsunade was in a room where there were at least five ladies helping her tidy up. Hikari, Kushina and Mikoto, among them together with Shizune, and lastly, Grayfia.
"Tsunade-sama, you... you look like a Goddess from the heavens," Shizune commented with tears in her eyes when she could finally see the final product, the most beautiful lady of Konoha, the slug sannin, covered in a lustrous Western dress that reached far behind. She had in her hand a gorgeous bouquet of flowers with white perennials alongside one gigantic sunflower that signified union.
Only one thing was left to do: to fix up her hair, and that task was left for Grayfia to take care of. The Hokage had lipstick and a healthy blush of expectation. The wedding hadn't even started, and she already felt like she was hyperventilating.
"I-I shouldn't have made it into a public event", she regretted.
Grayfia began by loosening her hair and straightening it up in silence.
"It will be alright, Tsunade-sama, it is not as bad as you think", Kushina reassured her slightly, although recalling her wedding with Minato, back then they only had a handful of friends... less than ten. This time... the top members of the village, even the kages from the other villages, were likely to arrive before the wedding started... then there were more guests from other worlds.
Grayfia twisted the bride's head back in place, a bit impatiently, before she glared at the three succubi, "You all have done your task perfectly, now you may go and tidy up yourselves. Don't think because you're not in the group, I will allow you to show yourselves in front of others like loose women on rags".
"R-Rags...?" The red-hot habanero clenched her fists but let out a hot sigh and nodded, turning around. One night of passion was all she needed to know that when this maid speaks, just do it.
The red-hot habanero had already met the silver-hot maid.
Grayfia, for her part, was visually gratified when Kushina turned around just as she had requested.
'The newest addition to master's never-ending sea of flowers, of all of us... she may be the most wilful... and that's a lot to say'.
Compared to Mikoto and Hikari, who were very obedient... Kushina had a breath of maturity and rebellion that, funnily enough, reminded her of her young mistress, Rias. Both had crimson hair, and both were free spirits. She hadn't personally tested Kushina's strength, but one thing was for sure... Ray loved her a lot. So even when speaking harshly, Grayfia had to measure herself. Tsunade stared at both of them and couldn't help but scoff inwardly.
"Rather than being afraid of Kushina, you should be more afraid of me–"
"Hmph, what is there to be afraid of...? Your pussy is weak, Tsunade" Grayfia scoffed loudly. The girls all blushed and left the room, leaving both of them alone to their designs.
"H-Huh?! You!" An outraged Tsunade growled as well, embarrassed, blushing madly as the memories of the previous night resurfaced. Memories in which, in front of her husband, she was forced to 'reconcile' with Grayfia.
To make matters worse, they were watched by everyone. Ray and all his women stared at both troublemakers, who simply loved too much. It didn't matter how much Grayfia and Tsunade said there was no 'bad blood' anymore, Hasshaku-sama, as a bitch as always, said that she wasn't convinced and even riled everyone in.
'Master, those words of theirs sound insincere; let them show their regret with their actions instead~'
At that time, Ray had glared at Elysi,r who crossed her arms and snickered, 'Haku is right, they have to show us some sincerity'.
Still recalling the sea of pleasure that Grayfia, that devil maid, put her through, Tsunade would rather dig her head into the sand of the village than admit she enjoyed it. Let alone, when she looked at her husband for help, all she saw was Ray's thrilled eyes of enjoyment that sent her deeper into the abyss of lust.
"D-Don't touch me like that again..." Tsunade growled
"Stop moving your head!"
"Hai..."
Grayfia started doing her long hair in braids.
"You should get used to it. You saw Master's face yesterday. He deeply enjoys watching all of us play and get along. Besides, it is not like you didn't like it," Grayfia commented lightly, her voice like she was talking business.
"Y-You're a woman, how can you do those things to another woman?!" The Hokage retorted, but she didn't deny the last claim.
"I am a devil... and I am a married devil with a child... although we didn't use to partake in those things often, I have engaged in threesomes and orgies together with Sirzechs-sama, sometimes... even for the sake of politics"
"Y-You devils are terrible".
"It is a part of being a devil".
"How can you do it...? How did you move on from your husband so quickly?" Tsunade asked genuinely. One of the things she most criticised about Grayfia was that she was still married and yet dared to be in such an open affair with Ray.
"It is because I am a devil. There are many reasons. The fact that my son is intelligent enough, with a nice family... the fact that Sirzechs-sama already has lovers, the fact that I am so happy with Ray-sama. All in all, I feel if I were to be gone, it wouldn't destroy Sirzechs-sama. Such being the case, I'd rather chase my own happiness..." Grayfia smiled, then pulled a few strands of hair rather harshly, making Tsunade wince, "But he won't get a maid as good as me, a pity".
"..." Tsunade sighed and didn't say a word.
"What about you? Have you already moved on?".
"So much that it makes me afraid".
"Afraid? How...?"
"Afraid because I can't even remember what happiness was with Dan. Afraid because I can't find guilt within me... afraid I feel like I am slipping into an unknown world so willingly".
"Articulate..."
"L-Like what happened yesterday. You and I. Before, I wouldn't have even dreamed on touching another woman. It was far beyond my moral standards... and yet, just because I saw him enjoying it, I wanted to do it. I have seen how he looks at Kushina, my far niece... and I know they're actively having sex and loving each other... but just because he smiles with her... it makes me happy too... I don't know what is going on with me".
"It may seem tricky indeed, since humans' morals are quite complex. But you can look at it this way... You have fallen in love with someone with whom you will be for the rest of your life. And that is a VERY long life. The reason why you can't find fault in anything he does... is because you are throughly satisfied in every way, Tsunade".
"... am I?".
"Are you not?" Grayfia's brow tilted.
"I do feel satisfied! Like, I feel I am very loved, and the sex is the best it will ever be. Besides, sharing doesn't feel bad when we are all getting equity... it is not like I want to spend every second of the day with him, I am not that kind of woman, I have never been clingy".
"So? What is there to be afraid of?"
"I am afraid... if I get hurt, I won't feel it because I am so in love".
For Tsunade, this hurricane of feelings seemed to be a first. She couldn't conceive that she had lived the majority of her life without this love, and much more so, she couldn't conceive she was going to live the rest of her lifetime experiencing it.
It was a dangerous feeling. Grayfia understood, and she smiled lightly as a response, "You can rest assured. If you are hurt, we will know... and we will let him know. That is what a family is for, right?"
"... I am sorry", Tsunade finally said, her heart on her chest.
"Pardon?"
"I am sorry for the last time. Because I insinuated that someone should leave the family. I didn't think about how important this family is for me... and for you all as well. We have all been saved one way or another".
"Fufu~ apology accepted. Do you know? I actually haven't been saved by Ray-sama. No such thing has ever happened. I just grew to like him. It is not necessary to consider whether we have been saved or not, just... be aware that this place, this important spot, takes a huge chunk of our heart. No one is willing to leave".
'I also have my own reasons why I love him... just like you'.
Grayfia finished tying up two huge golden braids, then she put the veil on Tsunade who held her bouquet like a fairyland princess.
"..."
"You look breathtaking, Tsunade. Only Ray-sama may lift this veil... and when he does, you will be his wife".
"Thanks, Grayfia. Do you want to have your own wedding?" Tsunade asked curiously.
"I have already gotten married once. Besides, I enjoy being the master's maid and pet. That is my role. Now stop thinking nonsense and enjoy your day. I have to go and prepare, making sure everything is perfectly coordinated. In the meantime, I know there are more than a few people who want to come and see you".
Grayfia then kissed Tsunade's forehead and opened the main gate. On the other side, Grayfia saw Jiraya standing there with a proud Hakama. Her heart clenched once again. The maid was a bit skeptical to allow a man in, but Tsunade spoke.
"Please let him in, Grayfia. He's my friend... my best friend".
"Very well".
Jiraiya bowed slightly towards Grayfia, careful not to look too much lest his head roll before the main event even started. He had already been given a warning by Kushina. That he was going to see a lot of beautiful women dressed in floral kimonos with am embroydery of the sun and that, no matter what, he shouldn't be disrespectful to them.
Grayfia was not yet wearing it, but he knew she was not to be trifled with.
"How are you feeling?" Jiraya asked awkwardly, seeing her look this beautiful and with a veil on her countenance, with a dress he had never seen... he felt he didn't know how to even speak coherently.
"A bit nervous. Just a bit," Tsunade coughed and invited him to sit on the chair next to her.
"What about you, Jiraiya...? How do you feel?" She asked kindly, a bit conflicted. If possible, she would have wanted to avoid this meeting.
She was not cruel, she was not ignorant... she knew what this man had felt for so long, feelings she had chosen to ignore, but now it seemed, the time had come to address them. The best thing she could do for her best friend was to give him closure.
"I don't know how I feel, honestly. You look so beautiful... gone was that woman who would smack Orochimaru and me every day".
"Not gone, just on a break" Tsunade rolled her eyes. Then Jiraya smiled lightly... he didn't say another word, it was like there was so much he wanted to say but didn't know how.
"Jiraiya... I know what you feel... I have always known".
"Why then...? Is it because you thought of me as a pervert?"
"You're not a pervert, Jiraiya. I now know what a pervert is," She flinched a little and blushed. She was just about to get married to one.
"Besides, the reason why you became the way you are is precisely that you have unmet feelings. I am not ignorant, I have always known, but I just choose to ignore it. I am sorry for this".
"There is no need to apologise. I guess the fault was mine too. I didn't know how to treat you. You are right, I have loved you all this time, but... I feel like even though we have known each other so long, I actually never understood you," He said self-deprecatingly.
'While you were depressed, sad... I looked away, thinking you were a 'strong woman' who would be able to get back together. You were in reality a fragile soul, and he managed to heal you; he managed to treat you... He deserves you'.
Even if he wanted to hate Ray with madness, he couldn't because he could see the happiness and radiance of Tsunade. This woman was happy, fulfilled, and seeing his friend like this... how could he deny that happiness?
"It do happens sometimes", Tsunade giggled, something he had rarely seen her do.
Tsunade then reached and grasped his chin, much to his shock, "You deserve to be happy, Jiraiya. Stop fooling around, and look for a woman to settle just like I have done. You are a wonderful man, I am just not the woman for you".
Hearing those words felt like something cracked within. Jiraya let out one lone tear before he smiled warmly, "So this is what it feels like to be rejected..."
"You have been rejected countless times..." She rolled her eyes.
"Rejected by someone you love. I have only loved one woman my whole life".
Tsunade bit her lips when he said that, as much as she didn't want to admit it, she felt moved. Sadly, she couldn't even consider a timeline or dimension in which they could be together. She was grasped firmly by a multiversal Overgod, and neither of them was going to let go.
So she made some distance, still with that kind smile.
"I believe that with this, we have addressed our matters. Now we are Jiraiya and Tsunade, two long-known friends".
"You are right. I will see you later, be happy, Tsunade".
Jiraiya then kissed her forehead too through the veil and walked out of the room. She didn't see him again that day. He didn't attend the ceremony.
But she understood that's what heartbreak does.
That day, she also shed a single tear, saying goodbye not to the man but to the version of him who had loved her for so long. Nevertheless, that tear was not of sadness but of happiness instead, because she knew deep inside he would heal, and this would be exactly what he wanted to move forward as well.
"Goodbye, Jiraiya".