Ino's birthday had been a busy one. She had always been popular with her classmates and one reward for this status she maintained with a constant smile and the lend of an ear was a barrage of presents and invitations on this day every year. In truth Ino had always loved the attention, she spent a large portion of her time trying to show others how they were special but even she had to admit it was nice that for once it was her who got to feel that way.
However, this year things were slightly different. This year there was only one person she wanted attention from and that was the one person who couldn't give it. Not today anyway.
Itachi Uchiha. She had loved him ever since she had set eyes upon him and this love had only grown with each precious second they got to spend together but Ino had always known he could never be hers. Even as a child he had always know what he wanted to do and the path he would have to take to get there - but Ino couldn't help wishing that path wouldn't take him away from her 9 months of the year for seven years.
Her feet dragged along the pavement as she made her way home from school that day, having denied requests of her company at the movies or at dinner with promises of tomorrow. She kicked at loose pebbles and cursed that stupid ivy league school and it's top grade medical programme and the thousands of miles between it and her home. Maybe if she begged her dad would trade in the clothes and make-up he had bought her for a set of plane tickets, half term was coming up after all...
Pushing open the door the familiar smell of flowers hit her and she was glad that for once she hadn't had to arrange her own bouquets because people had finally realised how unoriginal a gift that was.
"Dad, I'm home!" She called as she passed through the florist that fronted their small home, assuming he was out the back somewhere, before hurrying up the stairs trying to push down the hope that was building within her. Flinging open her bedroom door her eyes gave the room a once over before setting upon the small parcel in the middle of her bed, a gasp leaving her lips as she flung herself at it - he hadn't forgotten!
Ino barely registered the fine print of her name on the label confirming it's sender before ripping off the outer layer. The excitement she felt was so much higher than for any of the other gifts she had been given that day despite Itachi's stubborn admittance that he never had any clue what to get her with or without her assurances it was the thought that counted, and it was! After his consistant questioning she had finally told him to just find something pretty, maybe even something he would like - at least then she would get clue about what to get him for Christmas if nothing else.
Her curiosity peaked as she gently held the small box in her hand, heart skipping a beat as she noted her it was her favourite shade of purple. Tentatively she opened the small package, her fingers picking gently at the indigo shaded tissue paper covering the surprisingly weighty object. Confusion painted her features as she prised away the final layer, reflected light hitting her face as she stared down at her present.
It was a mirror.
Well, she had never pegged Itachi for the vain type. When she had told him to get something he would have wanted she had expected something elegant, understated. Maybe even a favourite book, not her first choice but it would have at least given her a little insight into her ever mysterious man. What she had not expected was this. It was pretty, she would admit that. The frame was woven strands of dark metal creating a pattern of leaves and branches that framed the small circle of glass. She traced the design with her forefinger wondering if it was perhaps this that had drawn him to the piece, it wasn't anything particularly special though. As she moved her hand a slip of paper fell to the floor, the neat spaced writing covering it giving away it's origin.
Setting the gift aside a frown graced her brow as she leant to pick it up. Perhaps this would give away just what he'd been thinking when he had picked up the strange present.
I'm sorry, Ino. I searched long and hard but there was nothing I could find to give you for this day.
If you look into this you will find the closest I can give.
What was this? Some sort of riddle? Her frown deepened, he was hard enough to figure out when he was being straight with her, how was she expected to understand him when he was talking like this. She did, however, follow the instructions - the small note discarded in her lap. Perhaps the mirror was engraved, she had seen a few like that before, but as she eagerly scoured the smooth surface with her eyes she came up with... nothing. It was blank. All she could see was her own reflection staring back at-
She almost dropped the mirror as the shock hit her. There was nothing, nothing in it but her own face one that was not stained a deep crimson - eyes glimmering as tears welled across large azure orbs. It was her. That was what she found looking into the mirror.
Surely that couldn't be right, could it? Her eyes frantically darted to the now blurred image but yes, she was sure there was nothing else. Clutching the mirror to her chest she blinked away the tears that had formed at the corners of her eyes. How stupid to be crying when she was the happiest she had ever been.
Oh Itachi, you really must find something else to want before your own birthday comes around. How could I possibly give you something that has long been yours already?