Hiashi
"Look at her." The woman cooed. "Isn't she the most beautiful thing to have ever been born?"
The infant cooed back, raising a small, chubby hand toward her beautiful mother. Said mother placed her own long fingers within reach of those tiny hands, letting the tiny girl grip them between her tiny fingers.
"Hinata-chan. Mother loves you." There was a pause as a brief kiss was planted onto the infant's little fingers. "Mother loves you very much."
Hiashi smiled. Both mother and daughter were beautiful. He prayed that the girl would be strong.
He saw her coming from the other side of the compound, his Byakugan tracking her every step as she ran. Minutes later, the girl paused outside their room, composed herself, and then slid open the door. He should get her a tutor soon. The girl wasted too much of her free time picking flowers. The elders were already pressing him. They wanted to evaluate her. He'd promised them their evaluation. In one year, he'd promised. Surely his wife would understand.
"Mother. Father…" The girl said quietly, a faint blush glowing on her cheeks from obvious exertion. "I have something for you."
"Hm?" The mother smiled down at her child. "Let me see?"
"Ko helped me pick these." The girl drew a small bouquet of flowers from behind her back. "Um. Would mother like to share some? It tastes almost-yummy…
"Almost-yummy? Hinata… have you been… eating them?"
"Yes mother. Would mother like some?"
The mother shook her head, a smile creeping on her lips. "No thank you."
"Father? Does father want flowers?"
Hiashi frowned. He'd get her a tutor tomorrow. She was too coddled, too behind and nowhere close to the level of intelligence or skill that she needed to be at. "Hinata… those flowers aren't for eating. Throw them away this instant."
"Oh…" The girl looked down at her flowers forlornly.
Looking down at her daughter, Hisayo felt an urge to bundle the girl into her arms. "You can't eat flowers, Hinata, but they're really good for decorating. Mother thinks these flowers are very pretty; come here, let me show you how to decorate your hair with them!"
The girl brightened. "Yes mother!"
"Father will help!" Hisayo looked to her husband.
Hiashi gave his wife a pointed look. "I have business to attend to." He stood and left.
His daughter's voice trailed out from behind him "Does father not like flowers?"
"No, Hinata." His wife replied. "Father just has a lot of things on his mind… next time don't eat the flowers OK?"
"Ok mother."
"Hiashi… don't do this to her."
Hiashi paced the bamboo mat as his wife tried to protest his decision.
"She'll never satisfy the clan's expectations, and that's ok. You just have to tell them the truth. There's no rule stating that the children of the main branch must all be like your brother's son. That's completely unreasonable."
Hiashi glared out the walls. He could see his father, watching them carefully. Did they never have any privacy?!
"Hiashi… please."
"I cannot… we have no choice."
"She's only two! Hiashi! You must be able to do something."
"You don't understand."
"Of course I do. The clan expected me to birth a perfect heir, but Hiashi, there is already a Hyuuga child who meets their every expectations. Why does it matter that he's a branch member?"
"Hisayo.. you know not of what you speak."
"I know that our daughter's future is at stake." Hisayo argued. "Isn't that enough? If you can convince the elders to wait for our next child… I know I'm asking a lot from you, but please… for our family… for us."
"I will think on it."
Facing the Hyuuga Council, Hiashi looked a veritable leader as he spoke passionately on the clan's 'broken' traditions. The actual leader, Hiashi's father, clucked in disappointment. "Not only has that wife of yours failed to give you a worthy heir, it seems she's corrupted your mind as well. Tradition is what holds us together. Tradition is the reason you have been made my heir and your brother, Hizashi, marked with the Seal. I am disappointed in you Hiashi. There will be no vote on this issue. Sit down, son."
Hiashi ground his teeth and sat as seven pairs of eyes looked on him with condescension.
"Father." The girl wrapped her little arms around his waist.
"Hinata. What have you been doing?"
"I've been… I did my training father, so I went to play with Hanabi. Is she going to be doing training too?"
"Perhaps."
Hinata frowned, her arms tightening. "I don't want Hanabi to do training. I wish no one has to do training. Granpa is mean."
"Granpa means well. He wants you to become strong." Hiashi petted his daughter's hair. "Father needs to go to a meeting. Will Hinata let him go?"
"No." The girl denied seriously. "Hinata heard that hugs are really important to making people happy, and father is the most serious and not happy person, so he needs hugging the most. Hinata won't let go until father says he is happy."
"Hinata." Hiashi said quietly. Then, gently, he pushed his daughter away. "Who taught you such nonsense.. about hugging?"
"Mother did." The girl looked down at his foot. "I-is father happy?"
"Hinata. Look me in the eye."
The girl complied, wavering at her father's admonishing tone.
"As Hyuuga clan heiress, you must carry yourself with dignity, that includes keeping a respectable distance from your peers. No more hugs."
The girl ducked her head and nodded. "Yes father."
As he stepped towards the meeting room, Hiashi couldn't help but smile at his wife's obvious ploy. It'd almost worked too.
How adorable.
"Hanabi has been showing amazing development. I'm sure she will pass the evaluation. Just two more years and she'll be ready!" He pleaded.
"That is what you said to us with your first daughter. Hiashi. Take another wife. This one will not produce an acceptable heir."
"My choice of wife is mine alone. Hanabi will be strong. I swear it."
"I see." The former clan leader sitting across the table shook his head. "Let us discuss other matters then. Hyuuga Neji will be enrolled in the Academy soon. We must ensure that he can present himself correctly to the public..."
"Where is she?!" Hiashi stormed through the compound, his Byakugan fully active as he made his way to the one man he knew would have the answer. "What have you done to her?!"
The old man stared at him blankly. "What is your trouble, son? Of who do you speak?"
"My wife… what have you done with her?!"
"Be careful with your words Hiashi. It almost seems as if you are accusing me of having caused your wife harm." The man quickly activated and deactivated his own Byakugan.
"It seems she is not in the compound. Let us conduct a search. We must mobilize the clan." The old man stated calmly. "The Hokage should also be notified as this could qualify as a search mission. I'm sure she will be found."
Even as his father spoke, Hiashi felt a chill of horrible certainty that the search would be fruitless, that no matter how much they looked, they would not find her.
White eyes and blank, emotionless faces surrounded him, meaningless words coming out of their mouths.
"You have my condolences son. It seems she has disappeared, run off no doubt in shame of her inability to produce a real heir. Perhaps to ease your pain, you could take a new wife? Your daughters will need a mother. Your cousin Miyako has been waiting to be wed for years now. She is a strong, capable Shinobi of great talent."
"Father." Hiashi ground out, barely able to keep the anger from his voice. "I will not marry another. The only clan heirs you will have shall be the ones available to you now."
The former clan leader was silent for a moment as Hiashi seethed inwardly. "I see. That is a pity. Again, you have my condolences. The search will continue, but if we don't find her, I suggest you take another wife. You are the leader now, Hiashi. The fate of the clan rests on your shoulders."
With a last, blank look, the old man departed.
"F-father? Are you hurt?"
"Hinata..." Hiashi stared at the little girl, his daughter. The girl who'd failed the clan's evaluation. The girl who'd failed her mother. "From now on, you will spend less time with your sister. Every minute you waste is a minute that can be spent training. I will schedule increased hours with your tutors for you. You are to become the clan's leader, Hinata, and I will expect nothing but the best from you."
Hinata looked down at his feet as she was wont to do. "What about mother?" She asked with a muted voice.
"Look me in the eyes when you speak." Hiashi commanded.
The three year old girl quivered her lips as she fell on the brink of crying. Her own watery eyes lifted and settled. "H-have they found mother?"
"No." Hiashi softened. "They have not. Go to your room now. Ko will be there to give you instructions. Go."
The girl began to leave, and stopped. "Does father need a hug?" She squeaked hesitantly in a tiny voice.
"Hinata. Your room. That is an order."
"Y-yes f-father." The voice trembled and sniffed before its source finally pattered away on her small, child's feet.
Stop venting your anger on your own family! Do something about your clan you idiot!
Something gentle smoothed over her cheeks, something with the texture of skin. Hands. Fingers. Palm. It was the hand of a man. There was only one person it could be. Hinata opened her eyes. "Ko?"
But it wasn't Ko. The man stared down at her with a look of sudden fear.
"Father?"
The man stood silently, looking like he wanted to run away.
"Wait…" She pleaded quietly. It was strange. As much as the man had scared her for the better part of her life, this moment of softness, rare and previously unseen and unfelt, made her want to hold onto and cherish it. "Don't go."
Silently, the leader of the Hyuuga knelt on his daughter's bedside. Finding words, the man stumbled. "It is late. You should be asleep."
"I was, father. You should be sleeping too."
"Indeed." With a nod, Hiashi stood and stalked toward the exit. His hands reached the door.
"Good night, Father. Sleep well."
"Good night, daughter" He slid open the door and paused. "See me at the dojo at 5 tomorrow morning. You will be training with your cousin under my watch." Then, walking out into the hall, he quickly slid the door shut behind him and left the premises of the room.
Sakura
Every step was torture. What was worse, no single step provided any real sense of progress. The village was massive. There was no way she could do this.. no way she could keep up.
One hundred laps around the village… that was just completely insane. The village had a four and a half kilometer circumference. That was 450 kilometers. 450 kilometers every morning was insane, even for a Ninja with Chakra-enhanced stamina. Team Gai was insane. The team's leader, Maito Gai himself, was insane. They were all insane. Out of their minds. Delusional. Over-the-top, crazy exercise freaks… all of them.. even Tenten, the only girl of the Team.
Heart bursting and lungs giving out, Sakura pelted forward mindlessly. This wasn't training. This was torture. Damned that Kakashi for making her do this!
"UOOOOHHH!" A deep voice boomed from behind. With a jolt of fear, she jumped forward, unintentionally quickening her pace. "Seeing a weak and thin little girl try to keep up with my AMAZING and YOUTHFUL team fills me with ENERGY! It fills me with DETERMINATION!
Sakura shook her head weakly as she maintained her pace. Weak and thin little girl… On any other day, those words would have driven her forward. On any other day, Inner Sakura would have loudly decried anyone who dared look down on them in such a way. On any other day, when it wasn't so painfully obvious how weak she was compared to these other Genin… Sakura would've proven them wrong. But today she was tired and the only thing she wanted to do was to stop running. She slowed, almost begging for them to notice how tired she was and stop the insane exercise.
"Keep running girl! FOCUS! Let the YOUTH course through your veins. Let it DRIVE you forward! Let your life burn brilliantly with PASSION!" The voice yelled loudly. Sakura turned a pleading look behind her; the sight of the muscular, overbearing man in green, form-fitting spandex running after her on his hands would remain emblazoned in her memories for a long time... Crazy. Completely crazy! Inner Sakura noted
Up ahead Tenten slowed her pace, allowing Sakura to catch up and reach her side. The older girl offered the younger Genin a sympathetic look, the twin buns of her hair bouncing as she jogged.. "It was like this for me too when I first started. You can do it, Sakura. I know it."
Sakura wanted to cry. Her lungs were expanding and retracting at a pace she didn't think possible. Her legs were almost literally jelly. They rounded into another long stretch of road, and Sakura felt her spirit sink into the soles of her sandals. There was no way she could keep going. Tenten was wrong. She couldn't do it. This was just too much. She was done..
Resistance completely destroyed, Sakura stumbled forward a final step and stopped in place to breathe and try to capture whatever air she could get into her body. "I can't!" She gasped. I'm such a failure. Inner Sakura lamented.
A firm hand rested on her shoulder. "You did well." Maito Gai said, his gentle voice contrasting greatly with the loud, unforgiving taskmaster that he'd been only moments before. "Get some rest."
"But you…" Sakura wheezed. "you said..."
"I said to run at least fifty of the hundred laps around the village didn't I?" Gai put a hand to his chin. "Tenten. You've done well. Run ahead now. I'll be right behind you."
Sakura looked up and met the eyes of the older girl. Tenten smiled. "You're doing alright. Don't worry." She said kindly. And then, turning on her heels, the budding weapons mistress jogged down the forest path after her teammates. Sakura let her eyes drop back to the path ahead of her. They were so strong, and she was so weak… it was terrible.
"My star pupil, Lee, was the only one to run all fifty laps the first time he tried.. Even Tenten and Neji couldn't do that." Gai remarked. "You pushed yourself to your limits.. pushed yourself to grow. That's all that mattered."
Too tired and out of breath to reply, Sakura nodded.
"Walk now. Your training with us is done. Walk and don't stop walking until your heart has calmed, then walk a bit more. Let your blood recover its normal circulation."
"Yes sensei." Sakura said in between breaths.
"Well! Until later!" Gai grinned, showing his almost blinding white set of teeth and giving his temporary student a thumbs up. Sakura watched as Maito Gai sped away. Even for a Ninja, the man was amazingly fast.
Standing alone in the outskirts of the village perimeters and still breathing hard, she picked up her feet and began the long trudge back toward her home. She didn't exactly know where to go because Kakashi had just dumped her off with Team Gai and told her to do whatever they told her to do. That lazy good-for-nothing pervert...
"I want you to tell me why I'm having you train with Team Gai."
At the voice, Sakura looked around for the source and found her Jonin leader standing behind her with a book titled "Icha Icha: The Castle of Dreams Part II" held open in front of him. The cover featured a man with a pained expression surrounded by what could only be described as a clump of very eager-looking women.
Cha! Inner Sakura cried angrily. That lazy creep! Getting someone else to train us while he stands around reading that garbage!
"This is an important question. I suggest you answer it." Kakashi said, his eyes never leaving the pages of his book.
"Um.." Sakura said tiredly. "Physical training?"
"Yes… and?"
"But Kakashi-sensei…why can't you train me? You could've told me to run a hundred laps around the village too. And what were you doing the entire time?!"
"Ah-ah. I'm the teacher here. I'm the one asking the questions. Why do you think I'm only making you do physical exercise first before training you in any of the other Shinobi arts? That's a big hint by the way. If you answer this question correctly, I'll answer one of yours."
"...Well since.. Um." Sakura thought back to her academic studies, sifting through data that she knew about "You want me to get physically stronger… because Chakra is a fusion of physical and spiritual energies, and it'll help me expand my Chakra capacity."
"Hmm." Kakashi turned another page. "As expected of the girl who graduated with a perfect score on the written portion of the graduation exam. Well carry on then. Gai told you to keep walking right? Why are you stopping?"
Sakura's glared in disbelief at her infuriating team leader, exhaustion forgotten. "Wait-wait! Hold on! You said you'd answer one of my questions, so what've you been doing while I was running my butt off?"
"Well…" Kakashi briefly let his eyes leave the pages of his book. "To answer your earlier question, Gai is the best Taijutsu master in the village. Honestly, if it had been me instead of him pushing you, you would've quit before you even ran half the distance that you ran today. Besides, wasn't it more motivating to be running alongside other Genin and see how far behind you are in comparison?"
Sakura frowned. Motivating? More like embarrassing. "Kakashi-sensei… I'll have to run every morning won't I?"
Kakashi smiled. "Maa.. it won't be as bad as what Team Gai does. We'll start light; twenty laps around the village"
"Eeeeh? That's more than today!" Sakura griped.
"Yup. And you'll keep running until you get used to using your Chakra to enhance your muscles and your movement better. Then we'll increase the distance gradually. Before you know it, you'll be running one hundred like the cute little Genin from Team Gai! Well, better keep walking. I'll pick you up for lunch."
"Yes sensei..." Sakura responded gloomily. The prospect of repeating this morning not appealing to her in the least.
With a nod, a smile and a two fingered wave, Kakashi vanished under a cloud of smoke and swirling leaves.
Walking back into the village mainground, Sakura steeled her determination. If the Genin from Team Gai could do it, then so could she; if she were to become the village's strongest kunoichi, then she could expect no less. Would Kakashi be running with her? What did Kakashi plan to do when she was running anyway? And pick her up at noon? Noon was more than three hours away!
…
"Aaaah!" Inner Sakura yelled angrily. "He didn't tell us where to go! Stupid Kakashi!"
Flower Shop
"Ino."
The blonde hummed, her ponytail swishing as she moved from counter to counter.
"Ino-pig."
Ino picked through a bouquet, fixing some flowers in place, frowned in dissatisfaction, then added a few more blossoms.
"Ino!" Sakura yelled, losing her patience. "Fine. I'm leaving."
Just as she turned around, her friend's cheerful voice finally spoke. "Oh! Forehead! I almost didn't recognize you! What are you doing here?!"
Sakura continued walking. If Ino-pig was going to play the 'pretend-to-not-notice-or-hear-the-person-in-front-of-you' game, then she would play along.
"Wait, Sakura!" Ino called. "I was just kidding. Sheesh. You don't have to take everything so personally. What's up?"
Sakura whipped around. "My stupid Jonin-leader is literally the worst! I mean seriously! He left me with Team Gai so that he could run off and read porn. Can you believe that?! And then so I ran the entire morning with that crazy team, and then I was told to walk off and rest. Literally Kakashi told me he would pick me up at noon. Do you even know what time it is?! I have like three whole hours! I have the laziest Jonin-sensei ever!"
"Pft. Forehead. You're exaggerating." Ino licked her lips as she fixed a bouquet, somehow always seeming to know what was 'wrong' and what was 'right' with the flower arrangements.
Sakura scoffed, and Ino turned her attention away from her flowers. "Now don't laugh, forehead. You don't know lazy 'til you've seen my team. You do know that Nara Shikamaru is in my team right? You've seen him! He's like the definition of lazy. And my Jonin-sensei, he just plays along with Shikamaru. I mean, look at me, Forehead. Some of the other teams are freaking training and doing stuff this morning, and I'm here working the flower shop because that old fart Asuma told us that we can have today off. To do what?! I swear. When I tell Dad about this, that guy's gonna have way more problems than just the cancer that he's totally gonna get. Anyway, that's besides the point. Yeah you have that annoying Naruto, but you also have Sasuke on your team. You're so lucky. Tell me what he's like? Did you make any moves on him yet?"
Ino finally stopped to breath as she allowed her friend room to reply.
"I don't have a team." Sakura said quietly.
"What?" Ino uttered incredulously. "But I saw you get assigned to a team, what do you mean you don't have a team?"
"I can't really tell you, but Sasuke and Naruto aren't part of my team anymore. I'm being trained alone."
"What? That can't be right!" Ino cried with righteous anger for her friend. "They can't do that! Awe Sakura! I'm so sorry…"
"Ah yeah. It really sucks, but there's nothing I can do about it."
Besides! Sasuke gets married to me! Suck it Ino! Inner Sakura rambled. Sakura, ignoring her inner voice as usual, began pacing back into the shop. "Well since I have nothing to do 'til noon, why don't you show me how things work around here. I've always wondered how you know which flower to put where."
"Oh!" Ino said chirpily. "Gladly!" She turned away, drawing a flower and passing it into her friend's hand. Sakura took the flower gingerly, avoiding the spikes on its stem. "Let me see how you arrange that. Oh and also, I know you're not supposed to be telling me all of it, but I still want to know why you're on a solo team. I mean, it's not that bad since you get a lot of one on one time which should help you improve..." Ino trailed off and Sakura laughed.
"Hah! As if. Who knows where that Bakashi-sensei has gone off to?" She stuck the flower carefully into a bushel, keeping the arrangement symmetrical and the variance in color consistent. "How's that?"
Ino grinned. "Just perfect! It almost feels like we're friends again."
"Ew Ino. Don't get mushy on me too." Sakura complained with a bright smile.
Ino's grin widened. "'Too'? Who else has been mushy with you, tell me."
"Ino..." Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Oh and while you're at it, here." The blonde picked a bucket of random assortments of flowers and set it on the counter. "You can help me sort these. Do you know that each flower has a special meaning attached to it?"
Sakura nodded. "The red rose is for romance, the white rose is for innocence and devotion, stuff like that?"
"Yup! But do you know all of them?"
"Well… not really. I mean, I know that cherry blossoms represent youth and spring."
"Sakura... cherry blossoms don't count. OK let me tell you each one. You have a good memory, so you'd better remember all of it because you're gonna help me fill some orders by the end of this morning. And when some of the customers come by, leave the talking to me, got it?"
Sakura stood to attention and saluted. "Yes! Ino-sensei!"
Ino giggled, her voice deepening slightly as she tried to do an impression of the Hokage. "Well my little student! Allow me to pass on this knowledge to you! You are the next generation of Shinob- ahem! - I mean, floral designer. The fate of the Yamanaka flower shop rests in your hands!"
"But Ino-sensei!" Sakura raised her voice. "That's boring! Teach me some jutsu!"
Ino gaped at her friend and then covered a hand over her face. "Oh my god Sakura. Please don't do Naruto. That's just gross."
"Not really."
"You think so?" Ino winked playfully. "Sakura-channn! GO out with me!"
"Ew! Ok." Sakura blanched. "I get your point."
"But Sakura-channnn!" Ino managed to cry through fits of laughter.
"Oh my god Ino! Stop!"
"So this flower means jealousy. Usually you'd put it with the yellow tulips and the primrose, but sometimes, people don't really care about the flower meanings at all. You know, I used to be so jealous of you scoring higher than me in all the tests. Now that I think about it, I feel kinda bad for feeling that way. I mean, you're like, crazy smart you know that?"
"Not really." Sakura sighed. "Like, I was doing team training yesterday and.."
"What? And?"
Sakura shook her head, pointing to the flowershop entrance at an approaching customer.
"Oh." Ino said offhandedly. "That's Sasuke… what."
The girls shared a look, and Ino suddenly distanced herself. "He's mine. Watch and learn."
Sakura shook her head as her future-husband walked in through the front door to the sound of bells.
"Hi! Welcome to the Yamanaka Flower Shop! What can I do for you, Sa-su-ke-kun?" Ino greeted, drawing the boy's attention from Sakura.
"Ino." Sasuke nodded curtly and then turned his attention back to Sakura. "What are you doing in a flower shop?" Sakura frowned. Sasuke looked unhappy.
Ino narrowed an eye and pulled Sakura to the side. "Did you see that?" She whispered.
"See what?" Sakura whispered back, flicking a glance at Sasuke who shifted his weight impatiently.
"He's actually talking to us." Ino continued. "I mean, doesn't he usually ignore us? And why does he care about what you're doing? He's not your teammate anymore right? What is he doing here anyway?"
Sakura shrugged. "I dunno."
"Are you done?" Sasuke asked. "Why aren't you training?"
Ino turned around and smiled at the boy. "Why do you care, pretty-boy? Sakura isn't on your team anymore right? And if you're not here to buy flowers, I might have to ask you to leave."
"It's ok, Ino." Sakura interceded. "Um. Kakashi-sensei kind of just left me about an hour ago after he had me do a run with Team Gai. He said he'd pick me up at noon so, well, here I am. Visiting my best friend."
Ino wrapped an arm behind her friend's back and around her shoulders, pulling them close. "That's right! She's here for me! What business do you have with my Cherry Blossom anyway?"
Sasuke tilted his head and smiled with a look of amusement. "I'll be back." And then he was gone, vanished in the blink of an eye.
"Wow." Ino let her arms fall to her sides. "Did he just… smile at us?"
Sakura shrugged.
A moment later, Sasuke re-appeared in the middle of the shop, accompanied by a silver-haired man in a Jounin vest. The man looked around, slightly bewildered.
"Train her." Sasuke commanded, gesturing toward his future-wife.
Kakashi sighed. "You know. I have my reasons-"
"I don't care about your reasons. All I know is that as a teacher, you are blatantly neglecting your student. I've also taken your books from you. Your performance will determine whether or not I burn them."
"This is an infringement of my freedom. You are acting outside your authority, Uchiha Sasuke"
Sasuke smirked. "Really? I seem to recall that it is perfectly within my authorities to report your… activities this morning to the Hokage and the general public."
"Maa… hard to reject a woman like that, wouldn't you agree?" Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck and smiled. "Besides, threatening me will only get you so far. It actually makes me feel… less motivated to conduct any sort of training... why don't you train her? I'm sure you'd love to."
Ino looked confusedly from her fellow academy graduate to the Jonin being pushed around by said graduate. "What." She muttered.
"That... is acceptable.. on one condition." Sasuke looked blandly at his former Instructor. "I take up training her. You get a few weeks of break. When Naruto and I leave, I expect you to act your part as her Jonin Instructor; I pray, for your sake, that I don't find any signs of you having neglected her when we get back."
"Hmmm. Sounds reasonable. I accept your proposal." Kakashi turned a smiling eye at Sakura. "I almost feel bad for you. He'd make for a terribly overbearing husband. You know: the kind that wants to control every aspect of your life?"
Sasuke frowned. "That's not true."
"Maa, that remains to be seen.. Bye."
With a wave, the Jonin left the shop and was gone.
"Sakura. Let's-" Sasuke started to say and then paused as if rethinking his words. "Do you want me to train you or would you like to stay here?"
"Oh he's so considerate!" Ino squealed.
Sakura smiled and patted her friend's shoulders. "I'll see you around ok?"
"Wait!" Ino put a hand to her hips. "Hold on! What did he mean by husband?! Are you two dating?! I mean, even if you're dating, wouldn't he only be a boyfriend? 'Husband' is taking it a bit far isn't it?"
Ino stared wide eyed at Sakura who smiled smugly and waved as she walked down the aisles of the shop. "Bye Ino."
And then they were gone. After a moment of gaping, Ino turned on her feet and began pacing from counter to counter. Finally, she stopped, staring down at the lovely bouquet that her friend had put together.
"I'm telling everyone."
Author's Note: Hello again everyone! So I was looking through a list of skeleton puns that I could post here in the Author's Note section to show how much of an Undertale junkie I am. As I looked through the list, however, I realized that skeleton puns weren't very humerus, so I decided against it.
...
Well anyway, after writing such a long chapter, I'm feeling kind of boned. I'm going to go lie down and listen to some relaxing skele-tunes from my favorite artists.. like Jon Bone Jovi.
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..
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Buhbye now.