Dango and a date
''Yes, these roses are fresh, they arrived this morning,'' Ino explained to her customer, who couldn't decide on the present for his daughter.
''Will she like the pink ones?'' he asked while looking at flowers. ''Or maybe white ones?''
''Should I arrange them in a bouquet, combining pink and white roses?'' Ino suggested.
The sound of a wind chimes interrupted the man's reply. Both him and Ino looked towards the door just to see Hinata observing flowers at the stand.
''Good afternoon,'' she nodded to greet Ino, smiling.
''I'll be with you soon,'' Ino said to her former colleague, then returned to the uncertain father. ''Do you need some time to make up your mind?''
''Does it take long to make a bouquet?'' he asked.
''Less than ten minutes!'' Ino replied happily and went to the other counter to make a bouquet.
That counter was also closer to Hinata and Ino called her to check if she needed her for business or private matter.
''I don't know how to say this, Ino-chan,'' Hinata said as quietly as possible, pressing her index fingers together.
''So private?'' Ino whispered, smirking knowingly. There didn't exist a bouquet which was making shy girls embarrassed. In Hinata's case that would be the one coming from Naruto, but since she was the one at the flower shop, Ino assumed Hinata had something to share with her and that didn't include an order of flowers.
''Maybe you should finish with your customer first,'' Hinata shrugged, staring at the ground.
That only made Ino even more impatient to find out what was that important. They weren't close and Hinata has never visited to talk to her, meaning this time something huge must have happened!
''I can easily do two things at the same time,'' Ino said proudly, already half way done with the bouquet. ''Just say what you got to say!''
''Very well,'' Hinata shrugged, then looked at Ino, having the widest smile Ino has ever seen. ''For how long Uchiha-san and Sakura-chan date?''
Ino only smiled faintly, to hide her ignorance, excitement and anger. She was excited for sure, her best friend finally got a boyfriend she wanted since forever, but Ino didn't know and finding out from Hinata was making her angry. What kind of a friend Sakura was if she didn't share the big news with her best friend? And all of it after Ino agreed to learn to play that stupid game just so she could hang out with Sasuke more! The least Sakura could do was to tell her it worked.
In order to stay calm and not reveal anything, Ino remained concentrated on flowers, arranging them.
That confused Hinata.
''You didn't say anything, Ino-chan. Does it mean it's still superficial?''
''I don't know,'' Ino shrugged indifferently. ''What do you think?''
''I think it's surprising,'' Hinata said simply.
Surprising? Who was surprised to find out Sakura and Sasuke, who were best friends and spent more than enough time together to get to know each other, became a couple at last?
''I mean,'' shy Hyuuga continued, ''nobody was aware they knew each other so well.''
Was there a person who knew Sasuke better than Sakura? Maybe Naruto or Sasuke's family, but Sakura was the only girl familiar with all of his flaws and virtues, mood swings and bad days. And still she liked the guy.
''Hinata,'' Ino muttered, a bit annoyed, ''nobody knows Sasuke-kun better than Sakura.''
''Oh,'' Hinata whispered and started pressing her index fingers again.
Now that was totally unreasonable reaction for a simple statement. Or Ino has been too harsh.
''I'm sorry, but I don't see the big deal. It was only a matter of time.''
''You misunderstood, Ino-chan,'' Hinata said, staring at the floor. ''I asked you about Sakura-chan and Sasuke-kun's older brother.''
''What?''
That was the only word coming out from Ino's mouth and, still dedicated to the bouquet, she snapped off stems of the two white roses.
''I am so sorry!'' Hinata apologized, covering her mouth with her palms.
''Never mind,'' Ino smiled and quickly rearranged the flowers that remained. It was visible the two of them were missing, but she couldn't go to the storage now. She wasn't able to calm her trembling palms and she understood what had surprised Hinata. Sakura and Itachi?
''Who told you about it?''
''Nobody! I mean, it's a rumour and I-''
Hinata stuttered too much, so Ino interrupted her.
''How do you know?''
''Ahem,'' Ino's customer coughed pointedly, noticing his bouquet was far from ready.
''You will get a discount!'' Ino smiled at him, then asked Hinata: ''Itachi-san and Sakura were together? Did it seem as a date?''
''I doesn't matter, it's probably a silly rumour when you know nothing about it,'' Hinata said.
Apparently everyone else did. Hinata would have never come here and questioned Ino about it out of the blue. Hinata probably wanted to hear Sakura was now taken, so Naruto could give up on her and move on, preferably with Hinata who had a crush on Naruto ever since the first day she had seen him. And Naruto was the most stubborn fighter; he refused to admit defeat in any field, including romance. Especially against Sasuke. Hinata was hoping that Itachi might be a more challenging opponent for Naruto, since he was more appreciated than his brother, and eventually give up on Sakura.
That was why Hinata put on a sad face, thinking Ino denied Sakura's newest relationship.
''Before making any conclusion, you must know who started this gossip,'' Ino said comfortingly.
''Does it matter?''
''I meant if your source is reliable,'' Ino explained.
''Anko-sensei would never tell a lie!''
Anko succeeded to see Itachi and Sakura on the act? If they weren't alerted while somewhere in public, did they want to be seen? And what were they doing? This was getting more and more confusing.
''Where did Anko-sensei see them?''
''While she was having lunch.''
What kind of person was spying on lovers while eating her lunch and, more important, what she had seen while peeping?
''Doesn't Anko-sensei like dango?'' Ino asked.
''Uh-huh,'' Hinata nodded. ''She got back from that new place with the great news.''
''She saw them there?''
''Uh-huh.''
So Anko wasn't spying, but Itachi and Sakura weren't hiding! Now that was a completely different situation! They weren't seen while smooching secretly, but in public, meaning it was looking serious on the outside even if it hadn't been.
Ino sighed, confused and lacking information. Did they have lunch too, were they sitting next to one another, laughing and joking, or holding hands while being quiet? Hinata would reveal it all after an hour or more, but Ino was stuck at work any way. Right now her bouquet was missing two white roses, she succeeded to arrange the rest of it while listening to Hinata. Her patient customer waited long enough and she needed more flowers.
''I'll be back in a flash!'' Ino announced happily and disappeared in the storage.
Surrounded with flowers and alone with her thoughts, Ino was getting more angry with Sakura. What was going on, when practically everybody knew more about her freshest bond with Itachi than her best friend? And Itachi? She was certain he was also cheering for Sakura to end up with his brother. What was this then?
Ino was done with the bouquet at the same time she heard the wind chimes again.
She looked at the beautiful bouquet sadly, knowing she let the customer wait for too long. But part of her was excited to hear more details from Hinata!
To Ino's disappointment, the one who left the flower shop wasn't her customer, but the only source of information. She wasn't much of a business woman, when she was looking forward to gossips and not to income.
''I'm sorry you had to wait,'' Ino apologized humbly. ''I truly hope your daughter will like your choice.''
The man simply nodded and paid the price Ino had promised for making him wait. She put the money in the register and paid the difference from her own wallet, not really worried about the money issue. The more important event was occupying her mind and she couldn't do much but to return to the storage because she was busy. She didn't lie about the fresh flowers; there was a bunch of more flowers that had arrived earlier and she had to sort them.
While putting in order daisies, daffodils, tulips and more roses, Ino couldn't forget Hinata's expression when she entered the shop. Shy Hyuuga seemed embarrassed for being so happy. That was why Ino couldn't understand how she left in the middle of their conversation. Then again, Hinata wasn't a gossip, it took her a lot of courage to spill out what was bothering her and she only wanted a confirmation Sakura was now taken. And apparently, she was and her boyfriend was Uchiha heir, a formidable shinobi with whom rare could compete, whether it would come to battle or romance.
If Hinata knew, that meant everybody knew more than Ino and she was Sakura's best friend! If a date with Uchiha Itachi wasn't a big deal, then what was? Maybe Ino was blowing this whole thing out of proportion, since she also kept a secret her visit to Uchiha district, but those were different situations! She would have shared everything about her new boyfriend! Maybe Sakura assumed Ino had heard it, so she didn't tell. Or Itachi and Sakura made a deal about not sharing too much with their friends so they would stay out of their relationship. But Ino wouldn't interfere! She would definitely be supportive! A bit confused, because Sasuke was the one Sakura liked, but Ino's reaction would be encouraging anyway.
When Ino heard wind chimes again, she returned to the counter, hoping she would sell more fresh flowers. Or maybe forget about Sakura and Itachi.
Or maybe not.
''Hey, Sasuke-kun!'' she greeted her friend with a smile. ''What brings you here?''
The look she got from him told her he wasn't about to buy flowers.
''What is it?'' she asked, much quieter and less enthusiastically.
''Nothing,'' he replied absently, looking around the shop.
Ino knew it was something; if it hadn't been, Sasuke wouldn't have come to the flower shop. Either way, Ino didn't have time to waste on mysterious Sasuke.
''Do you need flowers? If not, I have a lot to take care of in the back and-''
''What's new with Sakura?'' he asked suddenly. ''I haven't seen in her ever since the game.''
''If your question is related to the latest rumour about her and your brother, I have no idea,'' Ino said flatly.
''She didn't tell you?'' Sasuke seemed shocked.
Now Ino chuckled.
''Two single people hanging out in public,'' Ino said dreamily. ''I see nothing unusual.''
''You don't?'' Sasuke frowned.
''Did it become forbidden?'' Ino asked, smiling widely.
Sasuke obviously wasn't in the mood for mind games, Ino concluded from his silence, but she couldn't help it. If somebody was to blame for this kind of outcome, it was definitely him. If he hadn't played hard to get, Sakura and him would have been in a happy relationship.
''So nothing?'' Sasuke repeated. ''You know nothing about the dango they had or where they went afterwards?''
Lunch and a romantic walk?
''I heard about it.''
Technically it wasn't a lie. Ino did hear about Itachi and Sakura together in public. Sasuke didn't have to know she found out a few moments ago.
''And?'' he asked, impatient.
''What? I don't know how it happened,'' Ino shrugged.
''How?'' Sasuke rolled his eyes. ''They set up a meeting, that's how.''
Ino couldn't argue with that. Both Itachi and Sakura were single and attractive, and the most important, they were behaving like adults. One of them must have proposed a lunch and the other one accepted the invitation.
If the initiator was Sakura, the mystery was why. The most obvious reason would be to make Sasuke jealous, but Sakura wasn't that kind of girl. Many guys liked her, but she turned them down as politely as possible, not to hurt their feelings too much. So if she was treating guys she didn't like with respect, why would she play this trick to hurt Sasuke, the guy she actually liked?
Another possibility was Itachi was the one who asked her out. Again, why would he? Ino was sure Itachi knew about Sakura's crush on his brother. He also knew the dinner Sakura had made was to impress Sasuke, not somebody else. Maybe that was the reason; Itachi and Sakura had a meal at the same place at the same time, it didn't mean it was a date!
Or, Ino sighed while thinking about the last possibility, Itachi wanted to spend more time with Sakura, not to play cards, but to talk to her, laugh with her, have fun with her and only her.
''How did you find out?'' Ino asked finally.
''It was impossible to ignore gossips,'' Sasuke shrugged. ''And I didn't have to ask who was included when I saw Naruto this morning.''
''Naruto?''
''When you see a morose expression on his face, everything is clear.''
Naruto discouraged, Sasuke gossiping, Hinata visiting her, this date was the story of a year! And apparently, had an effect on everybody.
''I get it now,'' Ino chuckled. ''Naruto was the reason for Hinata's enthusiasm!''
''Hinata was happy because Naruto was sad?''
''Hinata will be there for Naruto when he gives up on Sakura who is involved with your brother!'' Ino chuckled.
''So if Naruto's rival is Itachi, he should give up?''
''Competing with someone like Itachi-san is in vain and-''
''Thanks, Ino. You are the greatest support ever,'' Sasuke snorted.
''You didn't let me finish!'' Ino scolded him. ''If a girl, and right now we are talking about Sakura, made her pick, it won't be easy to get her attention.''
''But it was just one date!''
''That's what you heard,'' Ino smirked knowingly. ''What about their dates we don't about?''
''They barely know each other.''
''Maybe they are getting to know each other as we speak,'' Ino chuckled. ''And they are doing it in private,'' she added pointedly.
Sasuke muttered something under his breath and Ino was suppressing laughter. It was amusing to see him jealous and she was so proud of her provocations. She didn't intend to make Sasuke angry, only find out what bothered the younger Uchiha so much and, if possible, make him confess he disliked Sakura's involvement with other guys. It wasn't easy as it seemed because she also had a limit and that was not to give Sasuke idea Itachi had serious intentions with Sakura. That would make him retreat for good and Sakura would never forgive her.
''There, there,'' Ino was pretending to be comforting, ''maybe they were discussing the game.''
''Yeah, the game brought them together,'' Sasuke snorted. ''Serves me right when I let him play with us.''
''You let him?'' Ino repeated. ''Didn't you invite him to come with you?''
''I didn't, he tagged along.''
''Look, Sasuke-kun, I understand you didn't want to play the game alone with Sakura and me, but you don't have to lie your brother came up with the idea to join you.''
''Okay, I admit it,'' Sasuke sighed. ''I wasn't looking forward to the game.''
''See?'' Ino chuckled. ''Itachi-san made the game more interesting and saved you from two overly cheerful girl friends. He did you a favour because you asked him to!''
Now when she said it and gave it a thought, it didn't make sense. Sasuke was in the bad mood during the first round, too competitive and openly unfriendly towards his brother, therefore Itachi was feeling uncomfortable and was avoiding to be alone with his brother.
''You arrived separately,'' Ino said when she recalled it.
Sasuke nodded.
''And you didn't invite your brother,'' she whispered.
''I didn't.''
''So he came alone!'' Ino concluded.
''Yeah, he found the address on the paper you gave me and-''
''It doesn't matter!'' Ino interrupted.
It was true, it didn't matter how Itachi joined them to play cards. The question was why and now Ino understood completely. Itachi decided to spend his free time with total strangers because he had nobody to hang out with.
Then again, it was so expected for someone like him to get that kind of treatment. His own brother was jealous of him, of course everyone else were too.
It must have felt horrible to be left out. He was the busiest one, probably the most tired too every time they would play. That didn't stop him, the first spare moment he was ready to hang out with his brother's friends. It took him a lot of courage to ask his younger brother to let him participate, even though he didn't seem vain or proud, it sure wasn't a piece of cake. And Sasuke was certainly gloating about it, finally having something his big brother yearned to have. Friends.
''You know what, Sasuke-kun? We will stay out of this.''
''What do you mean?''
''We won't be nosy and question Sakura and Itachi-san about this. If they say something, fine. If not, we will keep quiet.''
''But why?''
''Because there is probably a reason why we don't know anything.''
Until now, Ino was a bit angry with Sakura for not telling her, but now she had a different perspective. Maybe Itachi had asked her to keep it a secret for awhile, maybe he simply needed a friend to talk to.
''It's not like I want to know everything,'' Sasuke shrugged. ''I had a feeling you would be on Sakura's place.''
''What?'' Ino opened her mouth in surprise. ''Me? Why?''
''First you visited him.''
''He said it wasn't a big deal!'' Ino protested.
''It was and yet he defended you and told you not to worry so you could do it again sometimes.''
This was not happening! Sakura went out on a date with Itachi and Sasuke was explaining why his brother liked Ino!
''Look, Sasuke-kun, if you are already plotting how to separate them, I am not participating!''
''I am not,'' Sasuke sighed. ''All I am saying is it surprised me.''
The emotion Sasuke was feeling was jealousy, not surprise, but Ino kept her mouth shut. She didn't need more insane assumptions.
''We will find out more during the last round,'' Ino said. ''I don't know when exactly, but-''
In the middle of Ino's sentence, the wind chimes made the noise again. A tall man entered the shop, looking worried.
''It's an emergency!'' the man yelled.
''What is it?'' Ino asked immediately.
''I forgot my wife's birthday! How many roses do you have?''
''Enough for one forgetful husband,'' Ino sighed, relieved it wasn't a medical emergency.
''Can you please hurry? I will pay extra if necessary!''
Instead of answering, Ino shrugged towards Sasuke.
''I was leaving anyway,'' Sasuke said.
''Okay. We'll see each other some other time.''
Sasuke smirked and headed to the door. As he opened it, he looked at Ino over his shoulder.
''Also, I would like you not to mention this conversation to either of them, not one single word I said.''
''Deal.''
With that, Sasuke closed the door behind him.
