Chapter 1- Konoha's Beauty Leena Kasuna
Leena Kasuna walked down Konoha's dirt path with a basket in her hands. The basket was a light brown, weaved tightly and held various green herbs in it. The girl worked at her mother's medicine shop in downtown Konoha right by the flower shop. Leena brushed her bangs out of her eyes and smiled at the people she passed, her chestnut hair was tied up in a loose bun and strands fell down to frame her face. She kept a slow pace so she would not reach the shop too soon and enjoy the sunshine. Her kimono was loose and resembled a miko's robes. It was in her favorite color a light purple, almost like a color of a lily. Leena lifted her face towards the sky to let the sun shine and warm her face. It was the beginning of spring there and the weather was just warming up. Birds chirped happily in the trees, the occasional squawk of two fighting. Leena waved at Hatake Kakashi as he sat in a tree reading Icha Icha Paradise.
"Good morning Hatake-san" she called in a cheery voice.
"Oh Leena hello, how are you?"
"Just fine, thank you for asking, how are Naruto and Sakura's training going?"
"Well……." She let out a laugh understanding. Naruto was very difficult to work with and Sakura was all depressed about the Uchiha leaving to concentrate on training. Leena empathized with the both of them, she knew what it was like having someone you depend on leave you. Her father left her mother with her when she was five. She had vivid memories of him and she preferred it that way. She didn't feel the sting of his absence like her mother did; Leena called them episodes, the times when her mother just moped around and cried. She dug out old photo's and ate ice cream all day. Those days were the hardest to face. Some mornings she wouldn't get out of bed.
"Shouldn't you get going Hatake-san?" Leena asked.
"You're right…" Kakashi stood up and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Leena shook her head and continued on towards the shop appearing in front of her. It was a small shop next to the Yamanaka shop. White walls with flower murals painted on the side. Most of the flowers were from the flower shop and Misumi Kasuna had told Ino she could hang the flowers over on the medicine shop. Hanging flowers and a terrace full of lilies and petunias. A smile crossed her face; she loved flowers and herbs more than anything else…well almost more than anything else.
Leena stood bent across the counter propped up on her elbows. She let out a sigh and stared at the door, the floors were clean, left untrodden by customers. It was noon now and Leena suspected some genin training would be over soon, and hopefully someone would come to get herbs for injuries or stock up before a mission. She had turned to rearrange some poppy seeds and Lime Blossom when she heard the chime of the shops bell.
"Oh welcome to….Hi Neji-Kun!" Leena's face brightened up when she saw her boyfriend. He stood at the counter, arms crossed and staring at her as though he could see right through her. She walked over opposite of him and leaned forward on the counter.
"Did you need some herbs?" she asked. He leaned on the counter copying her.
"When do you get off?" he asked looking into her eyes.
"I can close up anytime, but someone might come in and require medicine" she explained straightening up and walking around the counter. Neji took a hold of her wrist and pulled her into a hug.
"They'll be fine" he said. "Close up and let's go to a quiet place" Leena stared at him. Neji only asked to go to a quiet place when something really annoying happened.
"Did Lee-san or Tenten-chan beat you?" she asked, face sober. He shook his head and Leena began to wonder what other reasons would there be to go to their quiet place. Outwardly she shook her head then smiled at him.
"I really wish I could Neji-kun but I must watch the shop, I could meet up with you a little later…let's go out for ramen tonight" she said. Neji nodded and started to leave, until Leena grabbed his wrist and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"See you soon then Neji-kun" she said. When he left she sat up on the counter and kicked her feet back and forth. Something was wrong, Neji never acted that distant. Sure he was….well distant but not to the point he just left without a hug or something. Leena began to think about it which always made her worry.
"Leena….Leena"
A hand waved in front of her face. Vision refocusing Leena stared at Kiba Inuzuka's face. She slid off of the counter and smiled at him.
"I'm so sorry Kiba-san I was only thinking no need to worry, what can I do for you?" she asked cheerfully. Akamaru wagged his tail and barked happily at Leena who pulled out a dog bone treat and gave it to him.
"Oh Akamaru you are sooo cute!" she squealed. After he finished the treat Leena picked him up and carried him behind the counter.
"So really what are you here for?"
"My mother needs some Feverfew"
"Oh the headaches again?"
"You know how it is"
Leena laughed and pulled out a small vial, filling it with the citrus scented leaves. She clipped a lid on the vial and turned to face Kiba.
"Here give this to her and don't worry about the bill, It's on the house"
"I can't do that Leena take the money"
She shook her head and handed him the vial, watching Akamaru bounce over to his companion. He pulled at Kiba's pants sleeve as if to tell him it was time to go. Kiba looked down at his friend and then back at the blue eyed girl.
"Next time, you're going to take the money, thank you Leena" he said, turning, and running out the door. Akamaru was right on his heels barking the whole way out. Leena let out a sigh.
"I was hoping for someone to talk too" she muttered. She sat back up on the counter and began to think of Neji. Thoughts lead to other thoughts and soon enough she was worrying again. Someone must have made him mad, either beaten him or in a debate. Maybe someone had questioned his whole destiny thing or maybe it was another family problem. Another sigh came out of her mouth. The Hyuga family was stranger than her own. Of course technically the Hyuga family was a clan and hers not so much. Leena Kasuna moved to Konoha when she was five years old with her mother Misumi Kasuna. They got a small house right in the middle of town and opened up the medicinal shop. Leena was tending to some herbs when she first met Neji and Hinata Hyuga. Hinata's father had come for some medicine and Hinata had fallen on some Comfrey. Leena had been so mad she had yelled at the poor girl. Hinata had almost cried until Neji had told Leena to knock it off. That was the nicest thing Leena had ever seen Neji do for his cousin. Leena had fallen in love with Neji's willingness to stand up for the girl that she had told him straight up one day she would date him. Not one for going straight for the gold and telling him she was going to marry him, Leena had made it clear it was only dating she intended. Marriage wasn't sacred to her; Seriousness in relationships was not sacred to her. At least not then. Even though a year separated their age, Leena studied hard to par with Neji's intelligence. She couldn't make it as a ninja as he had but she could be a healer. Not one of the Medical ninja either. She was a good old fashion Apothecary. Leena had found herself later, to be infatuated with Neji beyond belief and she realized she did want a serious relationship with him. She wanted to be with him, if not forever than for a long while in the future.
Leena closed up shop at 8:00 pm. The sun was setting somewhere off into the distance but the trees had long hidden it away leaving her to bask in street lights. She headed towards the center of town where Ichiraku ramen stood in the open. Walking into the familiar smell and sound, Leena hopped up onto her favorite seat.
"Can I get Miso please!" she asked. A hand found it's way onto her shoulder and she peered behind her at the lilac eyes. "Hi stranger" Neji sat down beside her and ordered Miso for himself. Leena smiled at him.
"How was training?"
"Same"
"That's good...Neji-kun…is something wrong you seem like your upset about something?"
"I'm fine"
"Kiba came into the shop with Akamaru today, I love that dog, he's so cute" She knew she was babbling but she always had a problem keeping a conversation with Neji. He never seemed interested in what she had to say and that bothered her tremendously. He let out a grunt; Leena knew it was the worldwide language of guys. She let out a sigh.
"If all you're gonna do is grunt, I'm gonna go, I want to talk to a regular person" she said with another sigh.
"Leena…" he said trailing off. She looked at him concerned now.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it Neji-kun" she apologized quickly. Neji looked at her then stood up.
"We're over Leena" he said before walking away. Leena Kasuna was left in Ichiraku Ramen alone to pay for her food and figure out what she did wrong.
