Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters from the anime/manga.
A/N: This will be a 3 chapter story. No I do not have a set schedule for updating. I write when inspiration strikes me. This chapter here was started June 16th and finished today . if I try and churn out a chapter just to make an update, it'll be crap soooo understand this and if you like, read it as a one-shot. It works either way. Passing that, I really love the pairing and there isn't enough of it (in my humble opinion) so please read and enjoy. Oh and review if you like, it never hurts to have encouragement. Flames should be directed at the pile of brush I have set up for the bonfire, S'mores anyone?
"You know, y-you could always tell him" Hinata twirled her dark locks around a finger, avoiding Sakuras eyes. The blade of grass she was staring at so intently would not yell at her, as her rosy haired companion was apt to.
"yeah right, Hinata, if I told him the universe may implode upon itself leaving us to float in the ether for all eternity" Sakura hugged her knees to her chest and sighed. It would be easier to tell Tsunade she wasn't allowed to drink ever again.
"…"
Sakura glanced at her confidant and grinned, "Okay, maybe that was a little bit dramatic there. Nevertheless, he's so stoic, so completely impassive to almost everything, you know? What if he laughed at me? I couldn't take that!" Sakura fell backward on the grass, in a mock faint. "I die a little inside when I think about it"
Hinata rolled her eyes "Now you are being dramatic. Look, if you like him just go say it. I've known him most of my life now and he's not a bad guy once you get past that quiet exterior." She poked the other girl in the ribs, eliciting a giggle from the prone form.
"Hinata, I came to you because I needed help with this problem and you are essentially saying the same thing Ino said…well without the graphic descriptions of how to please him in bed" Sakura stood up and brushed the dust from her backside. Holding out a hand to Hinata, she gave a half smile. "I guess it's worth a shot"
They headed down the path to the village chatting about nothing, both keeping an eye out for the man who had been the focus of their previous discussion. They wandered through the village, parting ways when Naruto bounced up to Hinata and offered to treat her to lunch. Waving good-bye to her friends, Sakura strolled down the streets leisurely window-shopping while simultaneously watching for the man who had caught her interest. She saw him in the bookshop; he was perusing the horticulture section, frowning at the cover of a thick tome.
Coming up the aisle, she stopped short when a book entitled The Complete Rose Handbook caught her eye. She picked it up and flipped through it, staring in awe at the full color illustrations that graced every other page. A shadow fell across the drawing of a Playboy rose and a quiet voice quite close to her ear spoke
"That rose wouldn't do well here, the climates too wet." Her eyes followed the long finger pointing to the adjoining page and the line Prefers dry, arid conditions. She turned her head to the left and found his face only inches from her own. Her breath caught in her throat at his close proximity. Her cheeks went bright pink with a blush and he stepped back, as if he had realized She was uncomfortable with him crowding her.
Sakura reined in her wildly beating heart and stammered out a reply
"o-oh, right…thanks I-I wouldn't want to try and grow something that wouldn't like it here" Sakura mentally slapped herself. 'what the hell did I just say? Was that even a sentence?'
He did not seem to mind as he lifted the book from her hands and flipped through the pages before handing it back.
"this rose, The Empress, this one would do nicely around here, and it climbs so if you wanted to put it near a trellis, it would grow to cover it."
She stared at the drawing of a lovely flower, the petals golden yellow fading into almost crimson tips. 'he's showing you a flower, not an engagement ring woman, control yourself!' Inner Sakura yelled, beating her fists on her thighs.
"You seem to know a lot about this, I appreciate your assistance" once again she gave herself a mental beating for sounding so formal, but something about him almost forced it out of her. It was as if she had never ignored all those etiquette lessons her mother tried to put her through as a child. she spoke before her brain had a chance to catch up, the words being ones she was appalled to have spoken aloud
"would you like to come have tea with me? We can discuss this further." Indicating the book, "I know it is short notice but I would be honored to have your input"
It may have been a trick of the light but she thought she detected a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. His nodded agreement led to her purchase of a book that cost more than she had made on her last three missions, and was now going to have to occupy her in lieu of eating for the next week. He waited while she bought it, and held out his arm for her to take, his other gently removing the wrapped book to tuck under his other arm.
As they walked in silence, she could hear the old biddies cranking up the gossip machine. He looked over at Sakura and indulged in a rare smile bestowed on the woman who walked beside him. She missed the glance he gave her and the resulting happiness she would have felt. Her attention was focused on fighting the deep blush spreading across her face from the hushed words of the villagers. As they arrived at her house, she quickly unlocked the door and led him inside, swiftly closing the door against the prying eyes and loose lips of Konoha.
A chuckle was heard from within the foliage of a large maple tree. Kakashi laughed to himself as he picked up his book, finding the page he had lost when his pink-haired student had walked past. Focusing his attention on the place he last read, he spoke softly to himself
"Sakura and Hyuuga Neji huh?" he smirked and resumed his reading "Stranger things have happened"