Flowers For A Funeral

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto, or any of the characters affiliated with it, and this is merely a fan-based piece of work.

A/N: I've decided to work on a Yuri piece mainly centering on Ino and Hinata, because I just had a sudden urge to, after being without internet for more than a month. (Apparently I've been the one hogging the internet and therefore, had it confiscated from me, so yeah...injustice means I haven't been able to update any of my stories, and my inspiration had drained. o-o; ) Luckily, I'm moving to university soon, so hopefully this won't be much of a challenge...and by then I hope to get more motivated! ^^; I hope you enjoy this, since I think it'll be in chapters! Phew. XD

Note: "Ikebana" equals speech, Ikebana in italics equals thoughts, and that's all~! n~n

Chapter 1 – Younger Years

Flashback: Eight Years Earlier

A young eight year old girl with bright sapphire eyes crossed her legs as she sat on the lounge, the fan blowing her light, honey-coloured hair around her face as her mother fanned herself. Her name was Ino Yamanaka, and currently, she was at home while classes were cancelled at the Academy, due to a hot surge of heat which had overtaken all of Konoha and had spread to Suna. (Not that the villagers of Suna minded, it was always stifling hot there. Ino figured it was just a typical day for them). The fan, it seemed, aimed in Ino's direction, was rattling an awful lot, distracting her from the Japanese drama show which happened to be on television, on usually all day for housewives who stayed home. Ino's mother, Noriko, was a stay-at-home housewife, supporting the family and cleaning, while Ino's father, Inoichi, was out doing missions and leading a group of Chunnins.

There was a loud bang which had come from the television on the show which startled her mother, as she dropped the fan she was holding, and laughed at her own reaction. Ino giggled and tilted her head as she peered closely at the television, uncrossing her legs. The television show was about a mother and a father and their family, with a young baby, two teenage girls ready to go to high school, and another young man who was leaving for university. But Ino had noticed something. The mother and father were deeply in love, and they showed it by having playful banter, spending time together, and being intimate, as well. (Ino's mother said she could leave at these intimate parts, but Ino always stayed, transfixed and very curious). Even still, she somehow felt as if there was more to it. Why was there just a mother and father? Why not two mothers, looking after their children?

"Mother," Ino said, as Noriko turned her head and aimed the hand-held fan at her right cheek, "why is there only a mother and a father looking after the children? I don't understand."

Her mother tilted her head and creased her eyebrows a little. "What do you mean, Ino?"

Ino frowned and thought about it. Was that just how things were? She wasn't quite sure how to word it, and, hearing the laughter from the television, she pointed at the husband and wife in the show to help her clarify her thoughts."Um...well, there's a mother and a father there...plus their children. But I don't see why there isn't two mothers looking after the children, instead of a mother and a father...it's a bit confusing."

Noriko smiled softly. Ah...so she's wondering about that, is she? She turned the volume down on the television and turned to her daughter fully, giving her her full attention. "Well, sweetie, in the world, there are usually couples of a different sex, because that is just how it is. That's why there's a mother and a father looking after the children on the show, and if you look around the village, you'll see many mothers and fathers as well as couples just like them."

Ino pouted. That was true. She had seen many couples with a male and female, but she hadn't seen any of the same sex. Why was that? "But...why?" she wondered. "Why is it like that? Do they...not like girls being together, or men being together?" She crossed her arms, folding them across her chest as she looked at her mother stubbornly. "Girls should be allowed to be with girls, and boys should be allowed to be with boys."

Her mother chuckled lightly and stroked her cheek, still smiling at her daughter. "Well, yes, dear, but it's usually not that simple. You see...people call girls who like girls, and boys who like boys, gay. There's nothing wrong with them, and they're just as normal as you and me – they just have different preferences for what sex they like. It's a bit of a big topic to be discussing when you're very young, Ino, but since you have such an interest in it, I don't mind telling you. However, in our society, and even in Konoha, gay people aren't really welcomed."

"They're not welcomed?" Ino echoed, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, blinking.

"No," her mother replied slowly. "It's a thing called prejudice, dear. Some people just cannot stand the thought of people liking one another of the same sex. They have hatred in them towards people who they deem to be 'impure' and 'disgusting.' That is what they call gay people. Your father and I do not mind whatever sexuality anyone chooses; it is their free will. But there are some very narrow-minded people, even in Konoha," - Ino frowned at this, biting her lip - "that do not like gay people."

"That's stupid!" Ino exclaimed with a huff, shaking her head rapidly from side to side as she bounced on the lounge. "I don't understand those people at all..."

"Neither do I, Ino. They have their own reasons, just as we have our own to think what we what brought up this topic? How come you were thinking of that, dear?"

"Oh, I...I just...you know..." Ino whispered, scratching her cheek in embarrassment as she turned her head and shrugged as she blushed. "I was just wondering, that's all."

I wonder if Ino likes someone of her own sex...perhaps I could talk to Inoichi about it – I'm sure he would love to speak to Ino about it! Noriko giggled and ruffled her daughter's hair, hearing her whine about the attention she was giving her as she stood up and turned off the television. "I see. Well, perhaps your father would like to speak to you about it? In any case, why don't you go into your room for a bit, and do some of your homework? The weather forecast for tomorrow says that it won't be as hot, so classes will start as usual. I'll be making lunch soon, and I'll bring up some watermelon, as well, so make sure you get it done!"

"Yes, mother!" Ino said, as she walked up the stairs to her room, swinging her hands from side to side. She bounded up the stairs two at a time, a wide grin on her face. Now that she knew the truth, she finally knew that her feelings weren't so wrong. Her parents were supportive of her, so if she told them the truth about her liking girls, surely they wouldn't be disappointed in her? She sat at her desk with a new scroll and copied down the day's homework which was due, scribbling on it furiously, as the tock ticked slowly above her head.

Four Years Later

Ino had first noticed her when she passed the first part of the preliminary, and saw her standing near Kiba and Shino, while the others were talking amongst themselves, and Naruto was being a loud-mouth as usual, telling the rest of the villages' best that he would triumph over them all in the next challenge, and become Hokage. She had seen the way that Hinata looked at Naruto with admiration, clasping her hands shyly to her chest, shuffling her feet a little. Brash and outspoken as she usually was, Ino couldn't help but notice that the Hyuuga girl was the complete opposite of her. She had hardly spoken to her, but already, she could feel something in her growing for the girl. While Sakura had a stern talking to to Naruto about acting like an idiot in front of everyone else, and nearly getting them killed with his obnoxious behaviour, Chouji continued eating, and Shikamaru rolled his eyes. But Ino was paying no attention to them at all.

"...Oi, Ino-pig! Are you even listening to me?"

Ino blinked as she tore her eyes from Hinata, as Sakura huffed and put her hands on her hips. "What? Of course I was, Billboard Brow," Ino spat, rolling her eyes. "I was just thinking, that's all."

"About what?" Sakura asked, a vein popping in her head. "I don't have time for your daydreaming, Ino-pig! I've got this idiot to worry about!" she groaned and smacked her large forehead with her palm, rolling her eyes as Naruto scratched the back of his neck, laughing nervously.

"Hey, Sakura-chan, perhaps after I become Chunnin, we could go on a da-?" His question was left unanswered as Sakura stormed over to him and dragged him away by the ear, steam coming out of her ears. "Ow, ow, ow! H-Hey, Sakura-chan!"Naruto whined, flailing his arms as she scrunched her face up, shaking with anger, "that hurts!" A yelp was heard as she hit him over the head, and he muttered something under his breath, rubbing his temple.

"Hmph! I'm not going on a date with you in a thousand years, Naruto!" Sakura yelled, crossing her arms as she silently fumed. That idiot...declaring to everyone that he's going to beat them...does he want a death wish or what? For a second there, I thought he was actually going to not do anything stupid... I guess my hopes are up...

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair and looked at his best friend and rival disappointedly. "You idiot," he said, smirking lightly. "You couldn't go on a date with Sakura even if your life depended on it. You just blew it, you know."

"Shut up, teme! I'm pretty damn sure I have a bigger chance than you do!"

"Pffft. I don't see an interest in going out with anyone, so that's fine by me. However, you're still not going to be able to go on a date with her, dobe."

"Oh yeah?"

The two began bickering at each other like they always did before Sakura came over, and Sasuke withdrew his sarcastic comments, while she hit Naruto over the head again, glaring at him. Ino looked at Hinata again as the shy girl looked down, scuffing her feet in the cement. She doesn't deserve Naruto... Ino thought absentmindedly, shaking her head. Wait, where did that come from? I'm not thinking straight again... It's all this yelling that's getting to me... I mean, I'm kinda scared of what we next have to participate in, anyway...

Hinata held something in her hand, and dropped it. Her gasp was small, and couldn't be heard by anyone else other than Kiba and Shino who were directly near her. "U-Um..." She reached down to pick it up, when she looked up to see that someone already had. It was Ino.

"Here, you dropped this, Hinata-chan," Ino said with a smile, handing a small medicine container to her. It was brown and tiny – barely able to do anything but to fit in the palm of anyone's hand. Hinata's gaze fell on their fingers as they touched, and she blushed a little, her cheeks turning crimson.

"Th-thank you, Ino-chan," Hinata said quietly, as the blonde handed the medicine container to her, and she put it back in her pocket.

Ino felt her cheeks growing hot as she scratched the back of her head. "Don't worry about it, ha ha!" Turning away so she wouldn't embarrass herself even more, she ducked her head and gave a long sigh and walked over to the others, deflated. Who am I kidding...it'll never happen, ugh...

Kiba looked at Hinata and cocked his head. "What was that all about?" he asked, puzzled.

Shino remained silent, looking at Ino's retreating form, while Hinata fidgeted with her fingers. She too, remained silent. Little did Ino know, but that moment would leave something in Hinata's heart to not be forgotten, years later.