Ino's day started off normally.

No missions for the blonde beauty today. It was a miracle! Her team mates were otherwise occupied, Shikamaru off courting Temari in the Sand Village. She doesn't know what Shika-kun sees in the older shinobi, but who was she to judge? She had been with some pretty questionable guys (and girls) in her dating history.

Choji is off on a mission with Naruto, Sasuke and Kiba, which would usually mean that the girls would be around, but with Tenten so far along in her pregnancy, she couldn't do much anyways. Sakura is probably with her. Neji was so paranoid, he'd all but paid Sakura to follow Tenten around, in case she went into labour unexpectedly.

She doesn't know where Hinata is, but the raven haired girl would show up if she wanted to hang out. So for now, she is utterly, absolutely, blissfully alone. She had just curled up on her bed, to read the latest issue of Icha Icha Paradise (a very secret guilty pleasure), when she is interrupted by a knock on her window.

She damn near jumps out of her skin.

Shoving the dirty novel under her pillow quickly, she turns to scowl at whoever dares to intrude on her private time. She is more than a little surprised to see Sai crouched on her window sill, head cocked to one side. Why is he here? She doesn't know the shinobi very well. He's really picky about who he chooses to associate with, and aside from a few missions, she has never really spent any time with him.

He knocks on the widow pane again, startling her out of her musing. She hurries over to the window, unlocking it, and stepping back to let him slip in.

"Ino," he says as a way of greeting.

"Sai?" she replies back, somewhat confused. "What can I do for you?"

His eyes dart around her room, taking in the cerulean walls, and white furniture. She lives on her own now, thankfully. She painted this room herself, in fact, and she wonders if he likes the colour. While he's looking around she takes the chance to look at him. She's always had a soft spot for boys like him. Mysterious, handsome, brooding. They're such a challenge. She licks her lips absently.

Sai focuses his attention back to her, his dark eyes piercing her. She feels a blush rise in her cheeks.

"I'm here to ask a favour. I'm doing some research on flowers, and what the colours mean when you give them to people. I'm fascinated by the emotions you can conjure with such a simple gift. Someone mentioned that your parents own a flower shop, and you might be able to help me…" he trails off, leaving the question hanging there, like a fruit ready to be picked.

She sighs. Of course he'd be here for something so mundane. She sits down on the bed, pats the empty space next to her.

"Sit down Sai. I'll tell you all I can."