Common Ground has tons of Story Alerts and Favorite Story… But only 3 reviews. Sniff. Tell if you like it, guys. Tell me the things I need to improve. Tell me! xD

Exams are done. I did fairly well in Organic Chemistry, I guess. I would've done better if this story hadn't been bugging me! Oh well, done is done.

O.o

The pleasant scent that kept Naruto in a daze was the flowers in the shop and Ino's perfume.

"Hmm..." he leaned forward and inhaled deeply. She was working behind the counter; constantly snipping away excess leaves and branches of her design, mumbling to herself from time to time with her slender fingers on her chin. He was sitting at edge of the counter with his head resting on one arm.

Sitting still wasn't in Naruto's biological order. It's something he finds so hard doing; let alone during his Sage training where he needed to draw chakra from the environment by being completely still. He was so glad that torture was over when it was done.

Frankly, he was so bored right now yet he didn't want to be rude. After all, this was something he could do for Ino who lost her Sensei too. Ino once complained that Asuma-Sensei favored her male comrades but of course, she still cared for him. She also stubbornly insisted that she becomes the godmother of her Sensei's child, something Hinata felt she lost.

Naruto cannot imagine how he would feel if he lost Kakashi-Sensei, the tardy fool who always favored Sasuke over him. Again, he felt a connection with Ino about favoritism. He was suprised that they have more things in common other than being loud, ego-centric and the stubbornness that could sink a ship. Even so, their common ground wasn't enough to keep him from being bored.

But the one thing Uzumaki Naruto is the best... he was resourceful.

Deciding to stall himself with what is available; Naruto stared at her hair that had grown the way it used to be before she cut it during the Chúnin exams about two years ago. The platinum strands were amusing to watch as they swayed from side to side with her movement. Though he assured himself that they would smell just as good, he wondered how it would feel like to reach out and play with her hair. "Why does she cover half of her face?"

With that said, Naruto averted his attention to her scrunched face. She was concentrating hard as of the moment and finding it so adorable, he couldn't help but smile. Her radiant skin seemed so soft and gentle that they could easily be bruised by a feather. Naruto again wondered what it would feel like to let his fingertips run along her features and..

"No!"

The Genin in deep thought gasped in surprise when Ino shouted. He also lost his balance on his chair. Naruto was on the brink of falling down when Ino grabbed his jacket and gave it a hard tug; something flew out and a metallic ringing sound on the floor followed.

His jacket opened and revealed a tight black shirt. Ino's pale blue eyes trailed the outline of her companion's chest and manly neck. A jolt of primal lust surged through her body making her shudder. She was in awe for a moment.

"Um…" he began to nervously scratch the back of his head and his face blushing furiously, "I'm sorry about.." embarrassed that she caught him staring at her like that.

"Ah! No!" her eyes widened and turned to a shade of red when she realized she's been starring at him, "Sorry I suprised you, Naruto-kun. I meant to say 'No! This wouldn't work!'". Then she bowed her head and made a small growl in her throat that sent chills in Naruto's spine.

"What's wrong, Ino?" after mentally slapping himself.

"None of them... I'm trying so hard..." she sat down on the floor leaned to the counter and hugged her knees; the miniskirt she wore was pushed way back," None of them are beautiful enough! Its for Asuma-Sensei... I have to make it..."

Ino unconsciously displayed her lean and feminine legs to Naruto. He might kill himself when he says that he isn't enjoying the effect Ino has on him. Surely, this isn't the time to take advantage of a girl's ignorance, no matter how sexy she looks. This sickened him, the things he picked up from that Ero-Sennin!

Naruto sat beside her, "That's the reason why your.. err.. what was that? Ikebonbon?"

"Ikebana..." Ino faked to sound insulted but was trying not to laugh.

"Right." laughing at himself, "Ino, the whole thing is a labor to you that's why everything feels strained. Stop ordering yourself to make it perfect... Asuma-san wouldn't like something you struggled so hard to do; he wants something you enjoyed!. Chill out and the rest will flow the way you want!"

Stuck by the honesty and simplicity of his words and its similarity to her Ikebana lessons with her mother.

"Ino-chan, if you work with a troubled mind and a disturbed heart, the plants will absorb the negativity and they will not emit their natural beauty.. Likewise, a tranquil mind and a serene heart will give the flowers more beauty than it naturally has."

The girl sat silently for a while and her eyes stared deeply unto his. The boy felt his face burn with the blood rushing to his face. She gave a light chuckle and stood up all pumped up and ready. His sights were at the level of her slender legs once again that caused his eyes to widen as much they could.

"You…" Ino said looking down at him, "really live up to your title; being as the most Unpredictable Ninja, Naruto-kun!"

"Heh!" he raised his head and made that deviant grin of his. She laughed at his funny features and turned to begin her new design. He stood up along side her and watched closely. She felt his warm breath on her skin and gave him a playful slap on his face.

"Ino is so much fun!" Naruto thought while rubbing while offended cheek.

Meanwhile, a silhouette outside the flower shop watched them like a hawk. She was supposed to meet her friend at the cemetery an hour ago and came here only to see, not only her, but her teammate as well.

O.o

Ikebana is something I didn't make up. It really deals with flower arrangement and its also kind of spiritual, being one with nature and all. A Japanese friend is really good at it and even tried to teach me. Key word: tried. She said I have too much negative energy. In other words, all I make is hideous. And Ino's mom's words are the exact thing she said to me... except for the 'Ino-chan' part.

She calls me 'Rox-san'. I don't see the point since my name is 'Roxanne' x3

Leave a review! :3