A/N: Finally! Here is the final chapter of Work Days! I hope all those who've read this have enjoyed it.

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Shizune was bouncing about the hallways of the Hokage Tower, having nothing to do in particular. The past two weeks had been so busy with patients and papers that needed signing, that when she had no work for the third day in a row she was beginning to get worried. Although she was convinced Tsunade-sama was actually doing her paperwork and not throwing it under the rug, she still found it a little unbelievable. For the fifth time that day, she popped her head into the Hokage's main office, eyes bulging at the sight of newly arrived paperwork. Ah ha!

"Tsunade-sama!" She cried dramatically, rushing into the room to find Tsunade with her head down on her head. The woman rose slowly, blinking her eyes sleepily and wondering what all the noise was about until her eyes rested on a hyped looking Shizune. The brunette clasped her hands together a little too enthusiastically. "Allow me to help you with all the papers!"

The blonde woman blinked, before smirking and leaning back in her chair.

"What?" Asked Shizune, feeling slightly worried at the other woman's smug look. She was up to something...

"What papers?" She asked casually, closing her eyes and turning her head away as if disinterested. "Oh, those?" Her tone was that of someone who seemed like they'd rather be sleeping than talking. But her smirk remained. "I finished signing those."

Shizune's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. Tsunade-sama? Signed all those? Without needing to be told fifty billion times? It was simply too good to be true! Could she really be stepping up to take full responsibility of her appointed job? Even though she was too thrilled to speak momentarily, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt. "But... I checked up on you an hour ago and you had nothing. How could you do all this in such a short amount of time...?"

"I'm a busy woman." Boasted Tsunade, standing up from her desk and walking around it to face the other woman. "Shouldn't you be doing something?"

The brunette looked flustered, averting her eyes, she answered, "Well, there hasn't been anything to do lately, so I thought I'd stop by for a second. You know, to see what you were doing..."

Tsunade looked unmoved, but simply sat back on the desk and folded her arms over her chest. "You checked up on me five times."

"Well, uh..."

"Don't tell me you're bored." Tsunade looked down on the smaller woman with a smug expression, feeling in rather high spirits. Now Shizune had nothing to complain about! She had her in a corner. "You only come and talk to me when you're bored? What a shame. I'm doing a good job, aren't I?" She made a false expression of displeasure, at which Shizune began to fidget.

"Uh, Tsunade-sama..."

The taller woman went on, not wanting to stop her advances. "So you have nothing to say to me?"She sighed wearily, getting up from the desk and pacing back and forth, proclaiming her achievements, "I've done everything you asked me to, I sign everything that comes in through that door, I give out missions to everyone who asks, I go to meetings whenever it's required of me, I even do extra jobs at the hospital, and you have nothing to say to me?"

"Tsunade-sama..."

"Well?" Tsunade cracked open an eye to peer at Shizune, who was looking very nervous and reluctant, and she suddenly felt a bit angry. Was it really that hard to admit she was doing such a great job?

Shizune blushed slightly, a bit out of embarrassement. "...you've done well Tsunade-sama."

"What?" Both of them knew she had heard the mummble ofpraise, but she couldn't help but take advantage of the moment. This was just too sweet. Although to be honest, Shizune was never this reluctant to praise her. If anything, the woman wanted to find reasons to give praise. Something must be troubling her... In all her musing, she didn't notice the other woman until she heard her outburst.

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune beamed, suddenly looking a bit too happy. "G-good job! Tsunade-sama!" With that, she ran out the door, feeling mortified for apparently no reason at all. Tsunade just stared cluelessly after her, 'What just happened?' The woman walked slowly over to her chair and sank into it, resting her chin on her hands and her elbows on the desk. Had she maybe... overdone it? Or maybe Shizune just wasn't in the mood for a little horsing around... Either way, she was deeply confused, as she couldn't tell whether the younger woman was frustrated or happy or sad or what.

She blew a few strands of hair away from her eyes, her brows knitting together. "What did I do now?" Eventually, she fell asleep in that position, not waking up even when one of the workers came to pick up the stack of papers.

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Shizune walked slowly up a flight of stairs, her thoughts returning to ealier events. Why did she react that way?

She wondered briefly if she should go and apologize to Hokage-sama for such strange behavior, but deciding against it. It had only been three hours, and the event was still fresh. For some reason, she felt really embarrassed, or at least more so than usual. At times like these, she was thankful she had no tasks to complete. Considering the fact that most of them had her seeing Hokage-sama quite often.

"Tsunade-sama..." She whined unconsciously.

"Yes?"

That... sounded... like... "Tsunade-sama!" Shizune wailed, jumping at the sudden discovery that said woman was right beside her. It took her a moment to notice she was right in front of the main office... She probably walked there without really realizing it. How... embarrassing. Taking in the impatient stare, the brunette bowed slightly, "Um, I know I've been acting strange lately, but-"

"Don't worry about it." Tsunade had cut her off along with a wave of herhand. She'd already predicted this was going to happen, and she wasn't in the mood for some drawn out apology. "Anyway, I just got some new paperwork. You going to help me or what?"

Shizune looked up at the woman, slightly dazed before nodding.

It wasn't very often at all that Tsunade had to hussle her about work. It almost made her... sad. What if... Tsunade-sama truly became independent, not needing her anymore? Though she knew Hokage-sama was already very independent, it still... She followed the older woman soundlessly into the office, taking her place at Tsunade's right side as the latter took her seat, drawing before her the first slip of paper. "Oh, by the way." Came her nonchalant voice, her eyes still on the sheets of paper. Shizune looked at her searchingly, but couldn't find a trace of expression until the woman lifted her head and smiled sweetly, "Don't forget, I still need you."

"Wha..." Shizune shivered, looking bewildered. A smile crept to her face, "Yes Hokage-sama!"
And soshe began to feel a little warmer inside.