A little bit after the Last Naruto the Movie
I don't own Naruto. Thank you Kishimoto for blessing us with Naruto.
Sai and Naruto had some down time, and like they planned, they spent the afternoon going through Sai's collections of books and magazines. It was of great importance that they get it right. At least to Sai, he wanted to really help his blonde friend, after all the things they had been through.
"What should I do?" Naruto knew Sai read a lot of magazines, so who else can he ask, right? Can't be Sasuke, hell that bastard went on another journey to only god knows where so he can somehow redeem himself.
"Ah, it says here women love flowers," Sai said. "It's simple, but it might do the job."
"Heh," His friend still had a confused face. "But Sai! There's like a bazillion of flowers, which is the right one?"
Sai was taken aback. Indeed, Naruto did have a point. It was starting to feel like it was truly a serious business, why were there so many things to consider when a man must convey how they feel? He alone has difficulty figuring out what he felt, but people who knew their feelings…and yet can't even formulate how to say it.
"We can go to the Yamanaka flower shop," Sai said. Naruto smiled brightly and hugged him, yelling multiples of thank you, as if Sai had saved him from a brink of death. "Ino is knowledgeable about flowers after all."
They were greeted by the beautiful Ino Yamanaka.
"Ino! Save me! It's important!"
"Hello, Miss Beautiful," Sai had greeted her and Ino squinted her eyes at him and frowned, but turned to face Naruto to give her attention. They had discussed what flower would be the best, and all the while Sai just watched the two blondes.
Ino had become animated talking about flowers, and even blushing as she seem extremely proud of Naruto for having some romantic bones in his body. Sai had read that women wanting the whole "package", the guy with an air of mystery and a bit of dare devil, but without failing to knowi romance. Or so those romance books seem to allude to that.
Naruto doesn't have any mystery, though he was reckless and romantic bone? While Sai had problems figuring out what feelings were, Naruto had a major problem of being oblivious.
"And what flower would you be, Miss Beautiful?" Sai thought to himself, since Ino had just said that Naruto should buy flowers that express his feelings, and if not, buy ones that reminds him of the woman he loves.
He pulled out his sketchbook and just leaned against the wall, while he quietly observed the other two. It was typical of him; honestly, he didn't mind that even with crowds he could find some solitude. But when he looked up from his drawing, he caught Ino staring at him. He smiled at her, and tilted his head a bit as a way of asking if she wanted something.
But she didn't seem to understand, or rather she ignored it. Instead she went towards him, and even grabbed at his sketchbook. Sai blinked in confusion.
"Why did you draw this?" Ino asked him as she handed back his sketchbook.
"Caught my eyes," He replied easily. He wondered why she had colored a bit, was it something he said? But Ino didn't pursue it anymore. Naruto, on the other hand, cleared his throat.
"If you guys…need some alone time I can go," Naruto suggested while giving a suggestive smile that left Sai more puzzled than ever. Why was it so suggestive? Was there something he was supposed to do? He looked at Ino curiously, who wouldn't meet his eyes.
Do something to Ino?
"What!? No! Agh," Ino cleared her throat and just shook her head. "Anyways, Naruto, I'm sure Hinata would love those flowers. Heck, she'll love anything you give to her."
Naruto claimed that was the problem with it, Hinata was so accepting of everything he does, that he can't truly figure out what she truly likes. For example, that one time they had gone on a date, and he was short on cash. Hinata had suggested getting ramen instead and claimed she didn't mind it. Perhaps, she didn't, but Sai had told Naruto that women love romance, which was like a wine and dine type of thing. Ino suggested that he should just be honest and ask her. Hinata wasn't the type to lie anyway.
The two guys bid Ino goodbye, and Ino closed the door quietly. She had tried her best to calm her heart. Sai, had been drawing her and he just stated it like it was nothing.
Caught my eyes.
She can't even assume he had feelings for her, because the guy was still working on his emotions. She sighed, she liked it better when she only saw him as a guy that was as handsome as Sasuke. But recently, she had seen him a little differently. There was that one time, when Sai and Naruto were walking and had pair of magazines in their hands, they were discussing whatever was in it.
Sai was smiling. He had smiled before, but this time it was genuine, and Ino had seen it, the warmth that comes out of his smile, and ever since then Ino couldn't help but wonder if those smile will ever be directed towards her. She will never know, Shikamaru had noted her taste in men, and well, he wasn't exactly wrong. She definitely knows how to pick them. First Sasuke and then Sai, seriously, these guys had some major troubles in their past and quite evidently damaged by it.
Naruto also had a troubled past, but he was like a bouncing Sun, here and there, giving light to everyone who needs it. But these days, it was more obvious whose Naruto's sun was. The light that sends him smiling a little bigger, and giving him energy than usual. Ino chuckled, who would have thought after everything that they had gone through that they can still hope?
Hope to find their happiness.
Naruto asked what made Ino blushed earlier, and Sai realized that's what happened. She had blushed, but why? He shrugged and said he didn't know and Naruto just said it was after looking at his sketchbook, she had become so flustered.
"You're welcome to figure it out, and tell me about it." Sai said as he handed his sketchbook to Naruto.
Naruto's eyes instantly widened and stared at his friend or more of gawked at him.
"What the hell, Sai!?" His reaction was so strong and he couldn't stop himself.
"Do you like Ino!?" Naruto quietly whispered as he looked around, making sure nobody heard him. "I mean, I have untrained eyes when it comes to these things, but hell anyone will take one look at this and be like…." He gave out a low whistle.
"Why would this mean I like Ino?" Sai examined his drawing; did he miss something? Why was Naruto able to decipher that he might like Ino, but he couldn't and he was the artist.
He looked back at his other drawings and he found himself surprised.
Caught my eyes.
How many times had Ino caught his eyes? According to his sketchbook, a lot of times, in fact, she had taken over his sketches. But Naruto and Ino hadn't even skimmed through his sketchbook. He felt a chill, but then he felt hot, and then his hands started getting all sweaty. He hadn't notice at all, it was ridiculous to be so caught off guard with his own work…what's wrong with him?
He must go see, Sakura, he thought. He was probably getting sick. But first he's going to the store and research about what's going on with him. Naruto had said he likes Ino? But what are the signs he likes Ino?
"Let's go to the bookstore, Naruto."
Naruto laughed sensing the shift in Sai and just put both of his hand behind his head as they walked to the bookstore.
Naruto went on how he was clueless that Hinata loved him all this time. Sai didn't make a comment about that. He had always thought Hinata was obvious enough for anyone and everyone to notice that she loves Naruto, except for the man himself.
Love.
That word.
He doesn't love Ino. He knew that.
Like.
That might be a possibility. Though there are different levels of liking someone. He learned, people are very careless with their words. They use like and love with anything. Was it like that?
Was it her appearance?
He had seen enough magazines to determine the concept of beauty among females. There are different versions of beauty, but he knew, Ino was beautiful. Even though years ago, he had nickname her beautiful, when he meant the opposite.
"She is beautiful," Sai said out loud.
"Ehh," Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Well yeah, but that's how Ino always looked."
"Is Hinata beautiful?"
"BELIEVE IT! Sai, don't even ask stupid question like that, just look at her man. I'm a lucky guy, seriously."
"What makes her beautiful…?"
"Sai, no offense, but…this isn't the type of talk…well it's kind of embarrassing you know. To talk about Hinata…" He cleared his throat, "This is the kinda stuff women do, gush about the love of their life and whatever!"
"So I should ask Hinata what makes her beautiful because you don't know?"
"AHHH! No! Shuttup already."
Two weeks has passed since he had seen Ino. He was sent on a mission shortly after buying all those books to figure out what was wrong with him, and now it was delayed.
He hadn't drawn anything new in his sketchbook. No, he just kept staring at his sketches of her. It was weird, he doesn't remember what he was thinking then, but his hand had moved and captured her, or at least…the way he sees her. Looking at his sketches of her, he felt warm.
Since it was his time to relax, he just looked for a new drawing spot. But then he found himself walking to the Yamanaka flower shop. He blinked at the sign and then his feet, was he under a spell? He was about to turn and walk away but then the store door opened and then it revealed the blonde woman.
She caught sight of him right away, surprised was evident on her face.
"Hey, Sai. Where you about to go in?"
"Ah…Yes, but I see you're heading out,"
"Yeah, I'm going to meet up with Shikamaru and Chouji, I haven't seen them in awhile since all of us are busy these days."
She smiled at him, and Sai couldn't help but stare at her.
"Sai?"
"Sorry," He looked away but didn't make a move to excuse himself from her presence. He actually wanted to stay with her, just to figure everything out. "I'll walk you to the place then." He said.
"Hmm? If you really want to, I guess." Ino said smiling as they fell instep walking to the Yakiniku Q. He had inquired about her job, knowing full well that Ino has been working with Sakura and then how she is ever since the war. He knew that Ino lost his father, and could only guess to how much pain she's feeling. The only person he lost was his brother, Shin and that was quite unbearable to him too.
He noticed some guys calling out to Ino and even waving to her, sometimes Ino would stop because they had wanted a quick word with her. But Ino kept excusing herself so soon after. She was, he realized, very popular with men. He felt a bit ridiculous, considering just a couple of weeks ago, he stated that Ino was beautiful.
Her beauty was better than the ones portrayed in the magazine. She was in a way, perfect. If perfection exists, but Sai knew perfection doesn't. But those other women in the magazines can't compare. She was all woman, he thought. She had beautiful skin to match with her long silky blonde hair, and to top it off her eyes were hauntingly blue that when you stare into them you feel like they're looking into your very soul.
My soul.
It was madness.
His eyes were drawn to her lips for a mere moment; he felt his twitch a bit.
He wondered, how many guys had kissed those lips?
He quickly dismisses the thought though, knowing it was none of his business.
"Ah, here we are, thanks for walking me here Sai." She said.
Sai nodded, and was about to take his leave but Ino stayed put.
"Would you like to join us?" She asked out of nowhere.
Sai knew Ino missed her teammates terribly and they barely spent time, so he declined. It should be their own private moment, and he doesn't want to ruin it for them. Knowing him, he might say something flatly, but others may find quite insulting.
"But Ino…if you aren't too busy, may I come by the flower shop tomorrow?"
"What for?"
"Ahm, research for my next…drawing."
"Ah, sure."
Research. For his next drawing. He shook his head; he was quite terrible at this. He would rather be sent to an S-rank mission than try to find some excuses to just be around Ino.
Sai, Sakura and Naruto at met up at Ichiraku ramen later on at night. They had discussed what's everyone's upto. The boys avoided the mention of any Uchiha guy because she might be thrown into a black hole once again. Sai had accidently asked about how they were before, as being polite, but he had received one of Sakura's punches and that wasn't even the worse part.
After punching him, she had started tearing up and then got herself drunk to the point he and Naruto had to watch over her and listen to her talk about Sasuke for hours. So he had told himself, NEVER say Sasuke's name. He should have known that the guy would forever be some type of…weird activation to his teammates.
"Oh, Sakura, I want you to examine me." Sai said.
"Heh, what? You're sick?" A look of real concern was actually plastered all over her face as Sai just simply nodded. "What's wrong? What are you feeling?"
Naruto guffawed and thrown his head back, "It's not anything serious, Sakura-chan."
"It is serious," Sai said seriously. "It keeps happening Naruto. It's driving me insane."
"What keeps happening?"
"My heart keeps beating fast and then my hands would get sweaty. Then I would find myself paralyzed then that would soon follow into a blank state."
"Did you take note of that, Sakura-chan? What else, Sai?" Though his words sounded like concern, Naruto was far from it. Instead, he looked like he was enjoying himself as he devoured his 2nd ramen.
"I'm having less sleep due to it and it would really cause me a lot of trouble. I go to missions frequently, so I need this settled right away. So if you can procure a medicine for me right away, I would appreciate it."
"Heeeh?"
"He's talking about Ino," Naruto informed Sakura and just the mere mentioned of Ino's name and Sakura seemed to understand everything.
"Sai, you're not sick. Trust me." She laughed and pats his cheek lightly. "You my friend are just…blooming."
"Blooming?"
"Into a man, Sai. A man that recognizes a woman…and well…I can't believe it's Ino."
He had done a little bit of research earlier, and some had mentioned what he was experiencing was indeed liking someone. At least signs that he liked her and one book noted that there was only one way to truly confirm it and he had decided since his friends had confirmed that he must like Ino….He had decided to seek the answer.
He will find out tomorrow.