On Monday, Shikamaru brought Ino daisies.
Those were her favourite. He was never a "flower-type" of guy. But if it meant it would make her smile again, he would do anything.
"Ino?"
Ino was standing in front of the window, her back facing him when he entered the room. She didn't answer, didn't turn around; didn't do anything except staring into the unknown distance ahead as if she hadn't heard him.
"Ino, I bought you some daisies today."
And then there was another long pause. He used that time in between to replace the daisies in the vase with the fresh ones and change the water. But she remained silent and he waited patiently.
After an hour, he finally broke the silence and said, "I'll come and see you again yeah."
With that, he left and she didn't bid him goodbye.
On Tuesday, Shikamaru brought Ino daisies.
This time she took them from his hand graciously and smiled.
"Pretty," she said as she buried her nose in the flowers and inhaled its scent deeply.
"Yes, very."
Shikamaru had to agree. But he hadn't meant the flowers.
On Wednesday, Shikamaru brought Ino daisies.
Ino sobbed in his arms and asked, "Where is Sasuke-kun? Why hadn't he visited me?"
He flinched visibly but he recovered quickly enough. He patted her head and comforted her, "Soon, he will soon."
A moment after Shikamaru had left, someone opened the door again.
"Sasuke-kun!" she exclaimed as soon as she saw him. She threw her arms around him and hugged him so tight he could hardly breathe.
"What takes you so long?"
Sasuke-kun didn't answer. A tear escaped and slipped down his cheeks although she never did notice.
On Thursday, Shikamaru brought Ino daisies.
He watched her slept that day. He smoked one cigarette after another like a chain smoker, like his former teacher.
"You smell like… like…" she paused and thought hard, mentally searching for the right adjective to describe it. Asuma sensei, he added silently. After a while, she forgot what she was about to say entirely.
But he remembered well she said she liked it - the faint scent that lingered on his fingers. She also mentioned that she had been having nightmares but the scent seemed to comfort her as she fell fast asleep, holding his hand close to her chest.
"Sweet dreams." As the last cigarette burnt out, he left.
On Friday, Shikamaru brought Ino daisies.
But the room was empty. Shikamaru searched every room yet she was not found.
"Ino! Ino! Where are you?"
His heart was pounding wildly as he kept running and looking for her in every place that he could think of. At last, he found her in front of the monument.
"Chouji. Who is Chouji? Do I know him?" she asked softly as if talking to herself as her finger traced a name lightly on the black smooth surface.
"Yes, you do. He was our teammate, our dearest friend." Shikamaru answered with a heavy heart.
Startled by his voice, she turned to look at him. His heart sank deeper when she asked, "Who are you?"
On Saturday, Shikamaru brought Ino daisies.
He sat by her bed and told her, "You know, I will be sent for a mission tomorrow. I probably won't be back for a while…"
Ino was lying on her bed; her eyes were staring at the ceiling but her mind was somewhere else. He smiled wryly to himself. He knew she probably heard him but she didn't listen.
He kissed her on the forehead and stood up, preparing to leave. Just before he left, she caught him by another surprise.
"Goodbye."
She bid him farewell this time.
On Sunday, Sakura brought Ino daisies.
"Shikamaru told me to bring you these while he is away. You are the luckiest girl in Konoha, do you know that?"
Ino just said, "I wish today is Monday."