I wrote it in a poem form. Enjoy.

I don't own Naruto.

It was just simple words.

A job that she was given even at her young age.

She was just a an nineteen year old woman, Ino was.

A girl with barbie blonde hair who most people viewed as shallow.

She had graduated early and was now a teenager therapist.

She let their pain enter in her and gave them the feeling of reassurance that they were not alone.

In truth she always felt alone in a sense that even she didn't understand.

She liked the feeling of peoples presence, but when they left sorrow had seeped into her immedietly.

--

Now Ino had a new person to mentor.

One she had not expected.

His name was Sasuke Uchiha and had recently tried to commit suicide by slashing his wrists.

He did not have bullies.

He did not have a reason in her opinion at the time to die.

He was good looking and was emo looking.

His hair was in the emo J-rock style.

His skin was pale.

His eyes were black like charcoal.

He was fourteen.

He only wore black and was always listening to his Ipod.

His parents were dead.

--

When they had first talked she tried to ask him questions that didn't mean much it would seem.

But in the world of a therapist it meant everything.

"Sasuke-san, what is your favorite color?"

"Black."

"Sasuke-san, how is school for you?"

"Fine."

"Sasuke-san, do you enjoy any sports?"

"No."

--

She couldn't get through to him like she did everyone else.

Most burst like a dam and told their painful stories.

He did not.

He didn't give anything, but one word answers.

She thought it pointless until she had began talking to herself during a session with him.

"Ugh. Mother wants me to come by the flower shop again."

"Why?"

Ino was surprised Sasuke was curious, but hid it with a smile.

"My mom owns a flower shop."

"....Huh."

"Do you like flowers Sasuke-san?"

"No."

"Not even the cherry blossoms that float from the sky?"

"I care nothing for them."

She smiled sadly and remembered what one of her patients had said to her.

"You say you care nothing for them, but once it's gone you care for them the most."

He looked at her.

A look that she didn't understand.

Since then she had saw Sasuke as not a patient, but a human being.

--

Another session and they went with their daily routine.

He did not seem as morose this time.

She asked a simple question.

"How was your day?"

"Hn."

He didn't give a clear answer.

"Not good?"

"I guess."

"So it was bad?"

"I guess."

"Take a candy. Maybe you'll feel better."

She had offered.

"I hate sweets."

"I made them."

"So?"

"Try one."

She smiled as she cast him a friendly glance.

"Tell me if you like them."

"No."

"Please?"

"Try them your damn self."

She didn't give up and only persisted him more.

He finally grabbed one, glared at her, and scooped the chocolate candies in his mouth.

"Is it good?"

She had asked. Curiosity obvious in her voice.

"They suck."

She chuckled, but was a little angry by his remark.

This was evident to him.

"Does it annoy you?"

He had asked while sliding the chair closer to hers.

"What?"

"When things aren't what you want them to be?"

She had looked at him.

For a while she said nothing as she thought over the double meaning in his voice.

"It hurts."

He nodded in understanding.

--

Another day.

The progress was better, but nothing special.

"How was school?"

"Fine."

---

One day she asked him a question that he answered.

A question that was answered with longer answers.

It was a most peculiar day.

"What annoys you?"

He looked at her and she saw disgust in his face.

"The way they look at you with pity, the way they only see your facade, the way they don't know me."

"Whose they?"

"Everyone."

"Including me?"

"Your not special. Your just like everyone else. Typical and only seeing the wrong angle of things."

It hurt to hear that, Ino admitted to herself.

"I see something."

His eyes looked at her, challenging her.

"I see a boy whose so sad and no one knows why, except him. I see a boy who wants to die, because life has been cruel to him."

"You see nothing."

"Wrong. I see you."

--

This time he asked the questions.

"How old are you?"

"Nineteen."

The answer didn't surprise him.

"Wheres your mother?"

"At the flower shop probably."

"Your father?"

At this she looked down.

"I don't know."

"Is he alive?"

"Probably. Just somewhere not here."

"Why?"

"He left me when I was a child."

"Why is that?"

"He found a prettier woman and a prettier child."

"Did you ever consider you were pretty too?"

"Not enough, apparently."

Sasuke was not the type to comfort.

He was not the type to cast pitiful gazes.

Instead he took one of Ino's chocolates that was sitting in front of him.

And he scooped it in his mouth.

----

Ino never liked the rain.

She preferred the sun.

However, today when she looked at the gloomy sky she smiled.

Because it reminded her of Sasuke.

---

The session was longer.

She decided she would get to the bottom of his pain.

"How was school?"

A typical question.

"Seriously?"

Ino nods.

"It sucked."

"Why is that?"

"Theres this dumb ass at school who keeps picking fights with me."

"His name?"

"Naruto Uzu-something."

Ino liked the way this was going.

Maybe this was another peice of his pain.

Or that of just an annoyance.

"Why do you think he does that?"

"He's jealous."

"Of what?"

"Things he shouldn't be of."

"And those things would be?"

Sasuke just looked down.

"I'm an no talented orphan."

"You are talented."

"That doesn't change the fact I'm an orphan."

Ino smiles.

Her arms open like wings.

She then gives Sasuke an embrace that makes him stiffin.

His cold body presses to her.

He doesn't speak.

She speaks.

"If a parent is someone who gives you life is a parent also someone who gives you a reason to live?"

"I...wouldn't know."

He says as he struggles out of her hug.

He murmurs softly.

"Get off."

She does not and only hold tighter.

----

Ino had brought him a flower the next day.

One that was wilted and was on the verge of death.

Its pink petals were darker.

It's stem was black.

It's leaves falling off.

He looked at her with bewilderment.

She looked at him with nonchalance.

He said.

"Is this a sick joke?"

She said.

"Not at all. Nurse it back to health."

"Why should I?"

"Why can't you?"

She looked at him with eyes of someone who believed he could do it.

He looked at her with eyes that didn't believe in himself.

Both with different views.

Yet a subtle hope.

He takes it without thanking her.

For a moment she saw him smile.

Simple.

Small.

And beautiful.