Mistakes

Sasuke is trying to come up with an idea for Sakura's birthday and asks Ino for help. She gives him the perfect idea and helps him prepare for it until they do something that wasn't in the plan… (Sasusaku and Nejiten, slight Shikaino)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters.

Chapter 1: Asking

It was late afternoon in Konoha; the sun began to set and bathed the village in orange and gold light. The flow of people in the streets had increased as everyone loved going out on a Friday. The streets were loud with talk of weekend plans and nights out with friends. The mood was very lively in the streets of Konoha.

Ino Yamanaka just helped her last clients of the day and took off her yellow apron and put it away. She walked around the counter and picked up one of the roses and took in its aroma. She carefully observed the rose. It had sharp thorns on its stem in order to protect itself. In Spring when this beautiful flower bloomed, it often took a while for it open up completely. She observed the flower with a smile on her face as she compared it to her close friend and teammate Shikamaru.

"Hmm…sharp intellect to protect himself on the battlefield and it takes a while for him to truly open up. Yup, out of all these flowers, Shikamaru is definitely like a rose." She spoke out loud. She remembered the day she told him that he was like a rose. It was two months ago. It was team Asuma's day off, Ino and Shikamaru were in an open field. The sun was hot that day and Shikamaru was lying in the shade of a large tree. Ino had just picked a rose and sat next to him. She spun the flower between her two fingers as it had no thorns yet.

"You know Shikamaru, you remind me of a rose." He looked at her with a raised eyebrow and waited for her to keep talking.

"If I were to compare you to a flower, you'd be a rose."

"Why is that?" he asked

"Because, just like the rose has sharp thorns for protection, you have a sharp intellect. And the petals open up slowly, kind of like your emotions. But once you and the rose open up, you become something truly amazing." She finished. Shikamaru looked at her differently; he'd never heard Ino say anything like that to him.

She swung the keys around her index finger as she walked to the front door. Ino closed up the 'Yamanaka Flower Shop' for the day and started walking home. Just as she began her ten minute walk home, she passed someone leaning on the wall of the flower shop.

"Yamanaka." The person addressed her. Ino turned around and found none other than Sasuke Uchiha leaning casually on the wall with his eyes closed.

"Oh, hey Sasuke." She greeted and walked towards him. "What's up?"

"I need to ask you something."

"I'm great too thanks for asking." She sarcastically said

"As you already know its Sakura's birthday in seven days. I need to do something special for her and no one knows her better than you." he explained

"Do my ears deceive me? Is theSasuke Uchiha asking me for help?" she teased. He shot her a death glare.

"Oh relax, I'm just teasing you. Of course I'll help. Actually I remember her saying that she wasn't expecting much, but that doesn't mean that you don't have to get her anything." Ino thought for a while then finally came up with an idea.

"Hmm… you can take her on a date to her favourite restaurant. She'll be so tired after working her shift at the hospital, a night out would be perfect. You'll start off with dinner, give her a gift, go for a walk and stop at her favourite place in the whole village." She had the entire date planned out in her head.

"But the night has to go perfectly. Meet me back here in an hour in semi-formal clothing." She instructed as she began walking away.

"Why?" he asked in a monotonous tone.

"Because were going on a practise date."