In Which Kushina Sacrifices Herself

She had overreacted. Kushina knew that. She knew that her response to Minato trying to be a polite gentleman, was over the top and completely unnecessary. But she couldn't help it, she was stubborn and she was not afraid to admit it.

She regretted it, of course. The minute she had stormed out of Minato's office and locked herself in the bathroom, a strong sense of guilt washed over her. He did, after all, put her feelings first...he could have said yes to Chie immediately if he didn't care for her so deeply. Hot tears threatened to fall as Kushina realised that Minato was an incredibly good man and she did not deserve him. She was broken; an empty shell that could not be filled. Minato shouldn't have to pick the pieces up, and yet he did.

Suddenly feeling like the scum of the earth, Kushina buried her face in her hands and wept, but she also couldn't help but laugh at herself – the last time she had cried in the bathroom was in high school!

She was avoiding him. She still talked to him, but her voice was crisp and her attitude completely professional. Gone was the smiles, the secret glances and the laughter. Kushina buried herself in her work and had little time for anything else. Minato was starting to worry.

It was just pass five, and Minato was preparing to finish for the day. He bade goodbye to his last appointment and then slipped out of his office and to Kushina's desk. She was kneeling in front of a filing cabinet, her back to him. He cleared his throat to get her attention.

Kushina jumped, but she quickly regained her composure and stood to face him.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Can we talk? Prepare some tea and come into my office."

Kushina nodded, and then briskly walked to the kitchen. Minato watched her go and sighed. He hoped she would be able to be open with him. He did not like seeing her like this.

Ten minutes later, the two were seated in his office. Kushina looked extremely nervous, despite his reassurance that she did not have to be nervous at all.

"I'm sorry," was the first thing that left his mouth.

"No," Kushina said with a shake of her head. "I'm sorry. I overreacted."

"And I know you're uncomfortable," Minato interrupted. "I shouldn't even have mentioned the whole thing with your mother in the first place."

Kushina shook her head again. "No. You told me because that's what is expected – honesty. And I've not been very honest with you...I'm sorry."

Minato frowned. "What do you mean?"

Kushina was nervously fiddling with her skirt now. Her gaze was focused on the floor, and she was constantly biting her lip. Finally she seemed to gain some courage, because she looked up and focused her gaze right on him.

"Remember what I told you awhile ago? About my kidnapping as a child?" she asked.

Minato nodded.

"Well," Kushina breathed. "They did not just physically abuse me."

Minato immediately knew where she was going with this, so he stood up and moved around his desk to sit in the chair next to her. He took her hands in his and gently rubbed his fingers over her skin.

"How far?" he asked.

She was shaking, but he knew if he moved to embrace her now it would just smother her, so he waited.

Kushina breathed deeply before answering. "Police got there before it got too far. But they managed to get my clothes off. And they touched me...in places."

The shaking was uncontrollable now, and if Minato hadn't been sitting right next to her, he would not have heard her tiny sobs. He continued to rub soothing circles on the back of her hands as the information settled.

"I hate him," Kushina finally admitted in-between her sobs. "And I fear him. My father. He never dared to touch me in a sexual manner, but he was part of the Yakuza group that kidnapped me. How do I know he's never done that to others? How do I know that if I hadn't left when I did, he wouldn't started to abuse me in such a manner?"

Minato shook his head and pulled her flush against him. "It's okay. I'm sorry. You do not have to go see him. I promise."

Kushina sobbed quietly in his arms, his hands now rubbing circles on her back.

"Fugaku is always pestering me. 'Why don't I press charges?' Why don't I report him for domestic violence?'" Kushina sobbed. "He doesn't get it. I don't want to press charges. I just want to move on with my life. I don't have the energy for a court case."

"I understand. You don't have to."

"I do miss my mother sometimes," Kushina stated after several minutes of silence.

"How about we invite just her for dinner?" Minato suggested. "We can go to a restaurant, so it's out in public. And I'll make sure that she does not bring your father."

Kushina had calmed somewhat, and her arms were now wrapped around him tightly. She nodded to his suggestion, she could do that. It was still a daunting thought, but she had not lied when she admitted she missed Chie from time-to-time, and she knew Minato wanted to get to know the woman better. As long as Toshi stayed away, she could do it.

"You are a wonderful man, Minato," Kushina hummed. He blushed. "I'm so glad I met you."

"And I am glad I met you," Minato mumbled into her hair.

"You'd be a great father," Kushina whispered, thinking that Minato would not hear, but he did. Her words sent a strange sensation through him. He had never thought of children, not really, but he knew he'd love to have them in the future.

"And you would make a great mother," he whispered back, alerting Kushina that he had heard. She froze, but quickly relaxed again. Neither of them spoke another word.

In the few months they had been together, Kushina had never set foot in Minato's home. There was no particular reason, they just seemed to enjoy going out more and snuggling on her cheap couch. But after they locked up the office, Minato insisted she come over for a few hours – he even offered to cook.

She got her typical annoyed twitch when they stepped out of his car in front of a large mansion. She knew he lived comfortably, it came with the territory, but to come face-to-face with the obvious evidence of his riches was slightly off-putting.

"Don't frown like that," Minato laughed. "Your apartment is fine. I hate this place, way too big!"

"You musn't tell lies to the poor to make them fee better!" Kushina huffed.

"I'm not lying!" Minato retorted with a laugh. "Honestly, I only use a quarter of the space. It's wasted on me." Minato pulled his fingers through his hair, then laughed to himself and motioned for Kushina to follow him.

He inside of the house was even more lush than the outside. Kushina's gaze was immediately taken to a beautiful painting on the wall. She recognised the artist, and that just made it even more impressive.

"Is that yours or the does it belong to the house?" she asked.

"Mine," Minato replied as he emptied his pockets and took off his shoes. "I purchased it at an exhibition a few years ago. It is my favourite painting."

"Good," Kushina nodded. Minato raised an eyebrow, which just made her smirk. "The painting can stay. And if it is missing tomorrow morning, don't look at me."

Minato chuckled and tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear. "Are you planning a heist, my lady?"

"Maybe," Kushina retorted playfully. Minato chuckled again, and this time she chuckled with him. He was relieved to see the smile on her face. It pained him greatly when she was upset, so the fact that she was already feeling better was good. Besides, Kushina looked so much more radiant with a smile on her face.

Kushina noticed Minato was staring at her, his fingers absentmindedly running through her red locks. What was going through that pretty head of his? He was always an odd one to figure out, his face may say one thing, but his head says another. It was the curse all men with a baby's face had to deal with. The thought made her chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Minato asked.

"Nothing," Kushina hummed as she rested her head against his chest. His fingers playing with her hair was making her sleepy. "Just thinking your baby face can be very deceiving."

"Baby face? Really?" Minato asked, slightly insulted.

"Yep," Kushina said, popping the 'p'. "You cannot deny you have a baby face."

Minato pouted, but he knew he could not deny it. Kushina, on the other hand, had a very elegant beauty to her. Even as children, the little bit he remembered, she was always a natural beauty, despite the whole 'chubby' tomato thing. Her chubbiness made her special.

"You're so beautiful," Minato admitted before he was even aware what he was saying. A blush crept unto Kushina's cheeks, and she playfully hit his chest in response.

"Stop being weird and go make food, baby face" Kushina laughed. "I'm hungry."

Minato pouted again. "I'm being sincere here!"

"I know," Kushina whispered, a smile playing on her lips. "And I'm being overly flustered in response, you know! It's embarrassing!"

Minato laughed and pulled her flush against him. Her blush intensified, especially when he buried his nose in her hair.

"Thank you for trusting me," he whispered.

"Thank you for putting up with me," she whispered back. They stayed in each other's arms for a few minutes, just enjoying the warmth, until Kushina's stomach violently grumbled. With a laugh, Minato pulled away.

"I better go whip something up, eh?"

She nodded.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take you home?" Minato asked as Kushina pulled on her shoes. He stood behind her, apron still on. Their dinner had been lovely, filled with nothing but laughter and constant flirting. It had been the perfect medicine for Kushina's bad day.

"Yeah," Kushina hummed. "I'll be fine. We're in a safe country thanks to you."

"You flatter me so, Miss Uzumaki."

"Simply stating the truth, Prime Minister Namikaze."

Kushina stood up after her boots were on, then spun around to face her lover. She smiled warmly at him. Minato returned the smile.

"What about we get Ramen tomorrow after work?" Kushian suggested.

"That sounds lovely. Just please, no Ramen eating contests. I don't think my stomach could handle it again."

Kushina snorted. "Flake."

Minato shook his head and stepped down the small step that separated them, and pulled her into an embrace.

"I'm your silly flake."

"Hmm, yes. Now unhand me so I can go get some beauty sleep."

"Yes, dear," Minato laughed. He pulled away, but not before planting a kiss on her lips. She hummed happily, grabbed her bag, kissed him again, and then opened the door to leave.

"Be safe," Minato whispered.

"Always," Kushina whispered back. And then the door slammed behind her. Minato could not help but feel a strange ominous dread pool in his stomach, and he did not know why the feeling had suddenly washed over him when the door closed behind her.

It was probably just his imagination. That had to be it.

The air was crisp and cool, and Kushina was silently cursing herself for not wearing a scarf. She wrapped her jacket tightly around her as she stumbled down the pavement to the nearest train station. The streets were quiet, but that was to be expected at this time of night in the area. There was plenty lighting however, and many houses still had some lights on.

Kushina felt blissfully happy, despite her horrible morning, and it showed through the permanent smile on her face and the tune she was humming under her breath. Having told Minato everything about her past had really lifed a weight off her shoulders, and it felt good to have another human being understand why she just wanted to forget everything. Nobody had understood until now, not even Mikoto.

The train ride was short and quiet, since there weren't many people commuting. Kushina got off the station closest to her house, grabbed some Pocky from a vending machine and nibbled on it as she walked home. The streets were busier where she lived, so she saw more people, a few of them drunk from a night out. But other than that, it was peaceful.

Nothing was amiss at home. Kushina arrived, unlocked the door and entered as usual, not expecting anything unusual to happen. But the minute she pulled off her shoes and put down her bag, two arms grabbed her. She tried to scream, but a hand had been placed over her mouth and nose. She struggled, kicking in hopes to harm the intruder and get away, but she did not manage. Whoever had her was strong.

And then the floor creaked ahead of them, and Kushina knew that her capturer was not alone. Panic flooded over her, as flashes of memories of her previous kidnapping resurfaced. No, no, no, no! She could not do this again!

The second intruder stepped into the moonlight that shone through the window, revealing a scarred face and a very sickening smirk. The blood flowing through Kushina's veins froze when she made contact with his face. She recognised him.

"Hello, Little Kushina," he sneered. "My, my, haven't you grown?"

Kushina was struggling violently now. She knew these men. She would always remember their faces, no matter how many years have passed. No matter how much she tried to forget, no matter how much she tried to move on, the night she was kidnapped and tortured would never truly leave her.

Why were they here? She was frightened at the prospect of being kidnapped again, so she quickly swung her leg back, in hopes it would hit the man behind her in the crotch. He grunted and let her go, but before she could grab something to defend herself with, or even just scream, a third man entered the room, in his arms another captive.

"Ah, ah, ah," the man who had spoken earlier tutted. She did not remember his name, but he was the most vile out of the group and the de facto leader when the actual leader wasn't around. He smirked. "Little Kushina, you will be quiet and come quietly, or I cannot guarantee your little friend's safety."

Alarmed, Kushina glanced at the third intruder and the captive he held. Red hair, blue eyes, a low cut top and pencil skirt.

Fuka!

Kushina's heart was dangerously hammering in her chest, especially when she noticed that the man holding Fuka had a gun pointed at her head.

"Let her go!" Kushina demanded. "I'll go with you! Just let her go!"

"Now that's a good little girl," the de facto leader hummed. He nodded his head, signalling for the man to release Fuka.

But he didn't. Instead, the man behind Kushina grabbed her again and this time a cloth covered her mouth and nose. She struggled, but she could feel her strength leaving her as she lost consciousness. The last thing she saw was the fear on Fuka's face.

A/N: Very very late, I know. I'm not even going to bother making excuses. The next update won't take so long, I promise! I actually know where I am going with this now.