A/N: I hope I had made the story clear enough to get the actual message across. R&R!
Disclaimer: Kishimoto's work is not mine. It rightfully belongs to him.
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Ino Yamanaka was a well raised girl. Both as a fine kunoichi, and a girl-figure. She had a strong personality, with equally fair looks. It was jealousy that made her into something aside from her past-being. The constant competition with Sakura Haruno to "win" Sasuke Uchiha's heart had disrupted the two girls' friendship. Ino knew.
Yet, the terribly handsome Uchiha was so close in reach; it was just her that was in her way to work her charms on the boy. Not that they'll get through to him, but Ino liked to believe.
There were other boys in the village, the country, the world. But it was only this raven-haired boy that just spewed out a unique aura that differed from all the other boys. A unique aura that tingled her system, though she didn't know quite what it was. But she enjoyed it, and wanted to learn more about it. Seemed like Sakura had also noticed.
It was pretty chilly outside, and by far, the sun hasn't been seen once these past two days. Perhaps a mild glowing spot in the sky that represented the sun, a sheet of clouds would always be covering it. Ino hated November weather. The drastic changes in temperature was to be frowned upon, yet December was still incoming.
The swirls made in the lightly roasted Hojicha matched the circling swirls of dead leaves just outside the Yamanaka residence flower shop. Ino gazed longingly at the warm liquid, holding it in her hands as the illuminating scent calmed her features into a daze.
Today was particularly a lazy, hazy morning. Little motion was to be found on the damp streets of the village. It was quiet, perfectly isolated and still, besides the non-stopping winds that blew thunders outside.
It has been two hours since she opened the flower shop on this gloomy Saturday, and business was going slow, if not at all.
She had tended the flowers in the shop numerous times, going over every petal to stem, leaves and root. The tulips were the new arrival this week.
Ino had learned from her mother that tulips cannot be grown in the open in tropical climates, as they require a cold winter season to grow successfully. She had also asked why is that it needs a colder climate, for in her knowledge, most flowers were likely to bloom in warmer seasons.
Mother had only smiled and patted her on the head. "Tulips also represent friendship. And these flowers, in order to survive in cold weather, must have a strong will. I guess it will only make sense that in order to represent friendship, the flower should be influenced that it must be strong."
Back then, she didn't know exactly what her mother meant by those words. Now she understood.
Carefully, she took a single pink tulip.
The winds seemed to have ceased, and light snow had begun to fall. The air was cold, and she could see the clouds of her breath dance. Surroundings had made the average village look peculiar in its new blinding white coat.
Despite the gentleness of her footsteps, the silence echoed each individual step she made.
Ino opened the gate and climbed up the platform to the Haruno household. Still holding on to the tulip in mittened hands, she took a pause to take out a card that went along with the little gift.
She left the two items at her friend's doorstep, and hurried back to the flower shop.
Rays of sunlight shined dominantly through the cloudy sky and plunged holes through them. Like bits of heaven had shown down on the earth.
To: Sakura
You will always be my friend.
BFF xoxo
-Ino
