Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Rating: T
A/N: A prequel to the Shino/Ino story "Flower Patch" I wrote for these two. I'm way behind on stories, so I apologize ahead of time for any errors as I type furiously to catch up. Anyway, please enjoy.
~ Sowing the Seeds ~
Chapter One: Ino and the Greenhouse
"Sakura! Sakura, look," Ino said, pointing with her head to the side. "Is that Shino?"
Sakura spared a glance in Ino's specified direction. "That's Shino all right. Why? What's wrong?"
They huddled together at a small café table. Between them were two palm-sized cups with green tea and sticks heavy with dango on the plate in the center. An umbrella shaded them from the blazing Konoha sun. They had settled down minutes ago to enjoy their treat, but a flutter from an overly long trenchcoat had caught Ino's attention. He stood apart from the crowd, propped against a wall, half-hidden behind a corner at the hat boutique diagonal to them.
"Nothing's wrong. Just a feeling"- -a sneaking suspicion he'd been following them. There was no evidence to prove it, but Ino's gut was reliable, much to the chagrin of her closest friends.
"What kind of feeling?"
Ino swept her bangs behind her ear. "I'm sensing that his presence here is not coincidental. Oh, no!" He had straightened from the wall. Those dark shades he hid behind were set on her, and she could only assume he knew she saw him. "He's coming over, I think! What'll we do?"
"Ino, calm down. It'll be perfectly fine. We can invite him to our tea," Sakura replied. "At least he's not as weird as Lee is."
"No, but much more closed-mouthed. I've never had much luck in a conversation with him," admitted Ino. She blew steam off her tea. "Which, let's face it, he's not the easiest person to talk with."
And let's face it, she thought, you'd have an easier time talking with a brick wall. But that would be rude to speak out loud. Shino never struck her as personable, but he did get on with carefree and easygoing Kiba and Hinata. By proxy, she'd interacted with him on missions. Each time, she received the distinct impression that he spoke with her out of necessity, not out of any sense of companionship or friendship.
"I wonder what's going on. Oh! You don't think it's an emergency, do you?" As usual, Sakura leapt to the worst possible conclusion. Her fingers had even tightened around the cup.
Ino sighed. "It's not going to be that, I'm sure." Shino was within speaking distance, now. "Shino! Hi, how are you?"
"I am well," he replied in that aloof monotone that hadn't changed since their Academy days, "and you, Ino? Sakura?"
They replied that all was well. Then there was an awkward pause in the conversation. No one seemed to know how to continue. "So," Sakura said, chirrupy, "did you want to sit down with us, have some tea?"
"No, thank you."
Again, an awkward pause swelled up between them. Sakura pleaded at Ino with her eyes. Ino freshened her smile. She sensed his hesitance to state outright what was on his mind. "Was there something you needed, then?"
"Yes. " He paused, and it seemed he was shoring up strength to speak at length. "I wish to familiarize myself with the greenhouse. When would be a convenient time to do so?"
All this was directed at Ino. She blinked, agog that he actually addressed her, and framed her response. "Are you available today? Maybe in an hour or so?"
"That is acceptable. I shall meet you on location in one hour. Goodbye, Ino." He did a shrug with his shoulders like an informal, shallow bow to her and Sakura. "Goodbye, Sakura."
The girls returned the courtesy and watched, speechless, as Shino walked away and disappeared from sight in the crowd.
"What in the world…?"
"I know," Ino answered. She'd forgotten the dango and so took one morsel between her teeth, sliding it from the stick. It was soft and sweet; very delicious. "I can't understand him. Why didn't he ask one of his cousins to show him around? They all have access to the place. It's very…"
"Weird," they both said in tandem.
They sat a moment longer, in contemplation. Then Sakura helped herself to the dango as well, making little pleasurable hums as she chewed. When she swallowed she said, "I keep forgetting that the Aburames and Yamanakas are in business together."
Without the Aburames' help with pollinating the Yamanakas' flowers, the flower shop would've gone bust long ago. Luckily, Dad struck a deal with Shibi and they entered into a contractual agreement to upkeep a communal greenhouse that supported healthy insect and floral species. Even though the Aburame insects did not eat pollen, the clan had an uncanny ability to control bees, ladybugs, and other pollen-spreading insects. The agreement was win-win for both parties.
Forty minutes later, Ino said her goodbyes to Sakura and the two girls went their separate ways. Ino threaded her path towards Yamanaka Flowers. The greenhouse was in a lot behind the shop, fenced off and protected. When she rounded the corner to the shop's block, she stopped. Shino waited for her, back and foot flat on the shop's door, hands deep in pockets.
She did say an hour or so, right? Flustered, she hurried up to him. "Shino, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize you were waiting. I didn't keep you long, did I?"
"It was no trouble," he replied as he stepped to the sidewalk. "Please. Think nothing of it."
Gesturing vaguely to the shop, she said, "The greenhouse is around the back. There's a gate lock and then a lock for the actual greenhouse. I can have a copy of both keys made for you. Follow me."
She covered up any pauses in conversation by taking charge. Around the side of the shop was a wooden privacy fence with a wide locked door. It opened to an outside work area with trees, bushes, houseplants, and other various flowers that were sturdy enough to survive the sun and night. Sitting behind this squarish, neat area was the glass greenhouse.
"You see that area over there?" she gestured to a white wooden frame with hanging slats. "That's where we keep the bees. Beekeeping equipment is inside."
They had reached the door, which she unlocked and opened for him. "Here we are."
Muggy air clung to her skin, the rich flavor of verdant leafage comforted her. Various grow lights, suspended from the ceiling, rocked slightly under the blow of fans. Situated in a corner was the workstation. She told Shino about the records and schedules that were written on the chalkboard hung behind the workstation, how there were set meetings once a month to discuss findings and supply and demand. Lockers were in the back, along with a supply cabin. Everything had a place.
Throughout her monologue, Shino remained silent and distant. He looked where she told him to look, stepped where she told him to step, but otherwise she felt as if words left her mouth only to crowd the air. It threw her off guard to interact with someone who never changed emotions.
"Do you have any questions so far?" she asked. All her talking had left her mouth dry. "We run a pretty simple outfit here."
"No. Everything is well organized. Thank you."
It was then she noticed a dry, dead bud on one of her flower plants. Deftly, she reached out and plucked free the dead bud. When she withdrew her hand, she noticed a beetle on her knuckle, black and blue shining exoskeleton and pinchers. Without a second thought, she held aloft her finger and opened one of the windows to the side. There, she blew on the beetle so that it would take flight.
She closed the window, smiling at Shino. She felt as though his gaze was heavy on her and the intensity of it prickled on her skin. What had she done that merited such…concentration? "You're welcome. I'd say that's about it. You can come here whenever you like, but be sure to lock up afterwards."
"I'll do so." He followed her out of the greenhouse doors to the sunlight and cool breeze. While she locked the door, he stood near her elbow. "Ino."
"Hm-hm?"
There was a long hesitation, long enough for her to cast a glance at him. His tallness towered over her, so that she had to crane her neck. Up there, he had on a frown, a grave curve of his lips, and she wondered what caused it. Finally he said, "What are your hours this week?"
Strange. "This week? Uh…I'm working evenings, six to ten. I've got a cousin coming in to work the day shift. Master Ibiki called me in mornings to work a case for the T & I squad." She didn't know why she had to add that last part, but it had to do with feeling like he judged her behind those sunglasses.
"I see." He shifted as they reached the gate and held it open for her. "I shall leave you then. My team and I have a training appointment. Thank you again for seeing me around."
"Sure. Any time. Tell Hinata and Kiba I said hello."
"I will do that. Goodbye."
She told him goodbye. Once more, he turned, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and walked away, not hurrying but not sauntering either. Ino wasn't sure quite what to make of it, and decided that because it was Shino, there was no reason to make anything of it. Her mind fluttered to other necessary business and soon, forgot the entire interaction.
A/N: Lite revisions & edits 07/16/15. Thanks, Ioga.
06/02/18: Light editing & revisions
07/26/18: Thanks, fanofthisfiction. Typo corrected.