A blooming relationship
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
To say that having Sakura's Jounin instructor walk into the Yamanaka Flower Shop was a surprise to Ino, would have been understating things a little. After all, Jounin tended to go in for more practical shopping. Like weapons. Still, Ino had been doing this for years and called out a cheery welcome as usual.
Since this was one of the top level nin, she offered to help, but didn't leave the counter and went back to her magazine. She'd found that ninja, in general, didn't like someone looking over their shoulder or offering advice. Besides, it wasn't like they'd be too nervous to ask questions.
There were times Ino thought it was a great advantage, running a shop. She got to see and talk to people from all over Konoha, and it was hard to be nervous around someone who you'd seen spending over an hour trying to choose flowers for a first date. You also got used to some of the weird behaviors, so when a single long-stemmed rose was shoved under her nose without a word, she simply took it.
"Would you like the thorns removed for your girlfriend?" The answer was probably yes, but it was good to give a ninja a little warning before you pulled out a knife.
"Girlfriend?" It was the first thing the Jounin had said so far. Big forehead girl said his name is Kakashi. I hope that wasn't some stupid nickname she gave him.
"Kakashi-sensei, right?" The Jounin nodded abruptly. Oops, should have let him introduce himself. Now he's all tense. "Every plant has a meaning. Roses traditionally mean 'I love you'. If you take the thorns off, it means 'I'll protect you' also."
"That's not right," muttered Kakashi tiredly rubbing at the back of his head. He looked, in Ino's humble opinion, like he hadn't slept in a week. "Well I would, but…"
"Well, if you tell me the message, I'm sure I can find the right gift, no problem. It's my specialty," she said with a bright grin to hide the sarcastic comment she wanted to make.
"Message? Well, I guess that it's… 'I screwed up and I'm sorry…but I do that a lot so you should get used to it…And even if I had another chance, I'd probably do exactly the same thing anyway.' " Weirdo.
The Jounin stared off into space before focusing on her again. "Yeah, that's about right. Do you have that one?" There was an edge to the gaze that made her think that maybe she hadn't been quite as successful at covering up her feelings as she'd thought.
Nevertheless, Ino prided herself on the fact that her smile only faltered a teeny bit. "Of course," she lied breezily. "Well, fairly close to that. It's in the back though; I'll go pick a nice one out for you."
And before the socially inept, and possibly also deranged Jounin could say anything further, she'd slipped into the back and closed the door behind herself.
After miming a screaming fit to the shelves of plants, she started passing between the rows. He obviously doesn't know anything about flowers, but as socially handicapped as he is, he's a teacher and a Jounin, so probably pretty good at bullshit detecting. I could just tell him we're out, which is kind of true.
Ino didn't like that idea. Aside from the lack of income, it reflected badly on the shop, and more importantly, on her status as a social leader. And it was a chance to outdo big forehead girl. After all, Sakura hadn't been asked for her advice, had she?
There has to be something that…AAH! PERFECT!
She quickly repotted her chosen victim into a nice kitchen themed flowerpot and brought it proudly out to be placed on the counter. The Ninja stared at it blankly for a minute before reaching out to poke at one of the fleshy, spiky, green leaves.
"Here you go Kakashi-san. An aloe plant is perfect. The leaves are good for burns, so it has a healing sentiment. It's practical for a kitchen, so an unobtrusive gift. Also, for a plant, they're difficult to kill."
And, Ino thought triumphantly, it kind of looks like your hair, so if all else fails, she can mutilate the plant instead of you, the next time you screw up.
Kakashi-san was gently running fingers across one of the leaves, he nodded slowly.
Ino cheerfully rang up the sale and waved at Kakashi as he walked back out into the street, aloe carefully tucked underneath his arm. She turned back to her magazine.
Being in a relationship with someone so insensitive must be awful. That's certainly a mistake I'd never make.