Tea Time

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Shikaku Nara leaned back lazily on the windowsill bench, trying to not eavesdrop at the heavy flirting Inoichi was doing with the new shopgirl. He rolled his eyes when he saw the hand sign Inoichi had flashed at him while tucking the girls hair behind her ear. He just slumped further back into the bench. The only good thing about covering for the store while Inoichi was playing juvenile, was that the store was usually empty.

The bell chimed and echoed throughout the store.

And there goes the peace.

"Welcome." He drawled as he leaned his head on his right hand by the tips of his fingers, elbow resting on the windowsill, legs loosely crossed.

The woman faced him, a quick assessment with her bright green eyes, and an amused smile on her pretty pink lips. "Hello." It was a soft cheerful voice that greeted him, before turning her attention towards the flowers, her braided red hair swaying with her.

He watched her with mild curiosity. The accent was something he had never heard before, even with his long years in service as a shinobi travelling the world. The material her dress was made of, was a high quality silk. He couldn't figure out if she was just wealthy or she was of nobility, because even if the signs were there, it was a little sloppy: he saw it in her elegant stature, with her shoulders back and head straight; she walked like she was dancing, with precise and smooth steps. But it would all crumble away when she stopped and studied a flower, hand on the petals, head tilted to the side with her bottom lip delicately held with a canine, and her back curving as she shifted her weight to one hip and leg.

"Do you work here?" And back again in the tone of her voice ― used to being listened to and giving orders.

He hoped she was just gonna look for a dozen white roses. He was pretty sure that was what was in.

"I'm covering." He waved a hand, gesturing obscurely towards the hall that Inoichi had scampered off to, but not like the woman would know the significance.

She pursed her lips, accepting the answer with a little hesitance. "Alright."

Troublesome. "Is there anything you wanted help with?"

"I can find my way around." She turned from him again, her profile showing a hint of a frown on her lips.

He sighed, and if he made it a little loud, it was intentional ― probably made this whole mess worse, but he was trying to help her in leaving early and away from each other. Women. "I'll help you."

"You don't have to." He could clearly hear the unspoken doubt of his expertise in flowers.

"Just tell me what you want."

She pouted, an indignant way that was just a tiny bit cute, with the way her brows furrowed to meet the furrow of the bridge of her nose. "Peonies, bluebells, and sundrops ― but I want the bluebells as seeds." Her eyes were darting around the store as she said her order, trying to find the plants she was looking for and cut off his helping hand.

Like he would let her. In a speed that he would usually reserve to shinobi duties ― like getting to a meeting with the Hokage ― he picked out the flowers before the woman could even change her mind.

He ignored the shock on her pretty face, but thoroughly enjoyed the sheepish expression that took over once he started ringing in the orders.

"So you do work here."

Well he really didn't, but was here enough to know where things were. "I said I was covering."

"It was very hard to believe, you didn't look like you did."

"Convinced now?" He rang up her order. "60 ryo."

She quickly fished out the cash from her compact purse. "I'm sorry by the way." The uncertain smile on her lips and that apologetic look on her eyes were a little too much. Especially when he was also rude on his part.

"It's alright."

"I apologize in advance, but you really creeped me out with your staring ― it's intense and I just found it a little intimidating, especially when I thought you didn't work here."

He understood that, Nara men were serious thinkers.

Shikaku rolled one shoulder to loosen a kink. "I was just trying to figure out your accent." Among other things.

"Oh, I come from across the ocean, long way from here. Probably haven't heard of it." The girl tucked a rebellious red strand of hair behind an ear.

Shikaku arranged the flowers in a half box, mindful in distributing the weight evenly, so it was easier for her to carry home. "What brought you here, so far from home."

"Probably because it is far away." Her smile was a mix of excitement and melancholy.

"Why stay if you miss home so much?"

"Homesickness is temporary, and I've already made friends ― should keep me busy." She looked at him then, a little uncertainty in her green eyes before resolve settled in. "We were off on a bad start, but until I have my own garden we'll be seeing each other a lot more."

She held out her hand towards him. "Harianna Jamily Potter."

He stared at the hand. Mind made up once he took it in his own. "Shikaku Nara."

"Pleasure."

Not for long.

He leaned back, shoulder loose, hands tucked in his pockets. "I don't really work here."

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What do you think of Shikaku Nara? He is a little difficult here, I know. But if you think about it, his laziness, his aloofness and his rugged look, it could make a bad impression especially with the reluctance in doing anything. But he will get better. People aren't just one layer.