A/N: Who doesn't enjoy being flirty?
You taught me how to flirt.
It was one of those lazy afternoons with a comfortable warmth about it. The weekend had arrived, so Ino found herself back at the flower shop. She knew that she should be taking some time off between this and the division; however, her shop never truly felt like work. More so today because it was quiet due to the unseasonably hot weather.
Ino was not wholly alone either as Sai had taken up residence at one of the tables in the shop, and she had settled for watching him. Nothing made Ino more tranquil than seeing Sai caught up in his passion. His dark eyes became animated, and even his face became chid-like. Though there was one downside, and it was that Ino no longer received any attention. A mischievous grin pulled at her lips, then for Ino could be creative when needed.
Ino made it a point then to cause a disturbance.
"I was thinking about learning how to draw," She announced out of the blue.
These were the first words spoken all afternoon, so they had made Sai look away from his work. His features warped out of their neutrality as he was taken out of his process and was transitioning into communicating in the spoken word. It was more of a struggle to him; therefore, he responded some time later.
Sai regarded her with a nod, though he returned his gaze to the canvas. "It is a skill that can be learnt," he acknowledged her random statement though added, "However you also need a natural talent."
Ino congratulated herself for the former root member catching her bait. However, the most challenging step was reeling him in. She moved her hands off the counter in front of her and sat up properly.
Huffing but was still smiling, Ino went on. "True," she admitted, "You're right. I think I will take up photography instead then."
With this, Sai's brush never reached his canvas. "Photography?" He asked, and there was distinct disappointment in his voice.
Ino nodded in affirmation, though there was a tinge of guilt she experienced for breaking Sai's concentration. Nevertheless, she justified her actions knowing that Sai spent a disproportionate amount of time with his art anyway. In fact, it was whatever free time he had. Although knowing how important art was to Sai, she tried to rail against it. To distract him and encourage him to spend his time in another way. However, it hadn't taken many failed attempts for Ino to realise that she needed to change tack.
Ino stirred things up further. "Well, yes, because you made a good point," she continued, "Also, art requires talent, like you said and who has hours to spare to learn how to draw?"
The casualness of her words is what made Sai no longer able to concentrate on his painting. Instead, he set down his brush and palette in surprise, for he could not believe that she was taking such a skill so lightly.
Sai regarded her thoughtfully. "I believe everyone should at least be able to draw," he explained, "I don't think you understand the power of drawing."
Ino maintained a soft expression to ensure that she wasn't trivialising his pursuits because although she wanted to tease him, she was careful.
Ino propped her chin up onto her hands then. "How is it powerful?" she asked.
Sai's eyebrows lifted in response, and he merely stared at the woman in front of him for a moment. Could she honestly not know? Could she truly not understand? The former root member found it impossible because she must have discovered the power of art for someone who had so much emotion. Though noticing her lack of response, Sai was compelled to launch into a detailed explanation when the silence stretched on. First, he went through the history of drawing that it was the first form of communication. Then, he went through the psychological benefits and ended with the precise concept that drawings could capture anything and overcome barriers by being universally understood regardless of the viewer's language.
Despite being deeply moved by his prose (which only came to him with ease because it was again about art), Ino played down her appreciation.
"You make excellent points," Ino acknowledged then, "But I think it's hard to learn such an intricate skill as an adult, and as I said, I would need the time."
The lack of influence his words invoked caused agitation to stir within Sai's chest and brought with it a fierce determination.
"For something as important as drawing, you should make time," he pointed out then.
Ino pouted like a child. "Even if I did as you say, make time," she began, "It would be aimless without having proper direction."
By now, Sai was on his feet as the heat of being worked up had built in his chest. "I could teach you," he was suddenly offering.
Such a proposition caught Ino momentarily off guard, and she was now rethinking her desired outcome. After all, Ino didn't want to experience the humiliation of being considered an incompetent drawer by him. He was exceptional in this area, and when Ino embarked on something, there was a deep place in her that always wanted to do it well and perhaps achieve greater than she was capable of. It was rooted in her hate in being a perceived underachiever, which stemmed from her academy days. Furthermore, there was visceral jealousy on Ino's part as her skills had been entirely overshadowed by the famous trio and even Shikamaru, for that matter. She had never been in their league, so those with natural talents for the exceptional irritated her to no end.
Hastily Ino retreated from her plan. "I couldn't take up so much of your time," She pointed out as she came out of her thoughts.
"Photography will be easier to get into," She expanded, "Also, who needs art when you can capture everything in a picture?"
In her zeal to change the course of the conversation, Ino had become clumsy, and for the first time, she saw a look of offence cloud Sai's features.
"They're not interchangeable," he pointed out, "Those are two completely different mediums."
Ino tried again to deflect, "Are you saying one is better than the other?"
The exasperation to likes Sai had never experienced before was intensifying. "No," he made sure to add," But in my opinion, one is more important."
Ino shrugged then, "Well, camera work is probably the easier one for me," she countered.
Sai was so overcome that he quickly grabbed a set of nearby pencils and a random stack of papers. Then, he came immediately to her side and placed them in front of her.
Sai was shaking his head. "No. No. That won't do," he said, "You need to learn."
Momentarily distracted by his unfiltered care, Ino tilted her head to the side before looking up at him coyly. "Why do I need to learn to draw or appreciate this kind of art, for that matter?"
Sai, who had been so caught up in his mission, faltered at the question. He worked to avoid meeting her eyes because he feared that she would discover something. After all, Ino was too keen an observer and had a remarkable gift for sensing people. Though outwardly remaining calm, Sai tried to grasp for a practical reason other than exposing the growing seed of truth within him that he couldn't allow the woman he was interested in not to appreciate the art forms vital to him. He needed her to understand because to understand them was to understand him.
~ooOOOoo~
Despite her unwillingness, Ino became caught up in learning how to draw. Sai had been serious about their lessons and had gone as far as to clear out a desk space in his art studio for her. Never had Ino been in this private space, and when entering for the first time, she had protested as she felt like an intruder. It was the largest room by far in his house and likely should have been the living and dining area. But, instead, he had converted it, and Ino's eyes had to adjust to the sheer vastness of colours that had overwhelmed her. There were so many paintings whose canvases rested against the floor and lined the sides of the room. In addition, Sai had stuck concept boards to the walls that showed his potential future works.
The only clear area was the wall with the window where a desk was situated and an easel and stool next to that. However, a stone's throw away, an L-shaped workbench was covered by a mess of all things artists used. There were tubes of various used paints, scattered palette knives and jars of water that housed dirty brushes. The room was altogether too intimate compared to the rest of Sai's home, which barely looked like anyone lived there.
Even now, Ino kicked up a fuss.
"Sai," she argued again, "Spaces like these can be very private to an artist. I wouldn't want to ruin something so important to you."
He merely shook his head. "I am the one who decided on the location," he countered like he always did.
Ino took her customary position at the desk by the window with a defeated sigh. At the same time, the fear sensors in her brain became immediately activated by the sight of the blank paper and rows of different types of drawing pencils. Despite having no reason to feel so threatened, Ino couldn't help but wonder if this would be the lesson where Sai would think she was hopeless at the pursuit. Ino didn't realise how much taking on a new skill would make her vulnerable.
Though whatever ridicule she thought would come each time never did. Much to her astonishment, despite Sai's characteristically blunt nature, he was not so when it came to their lessons. She wondered if he could perceive her defensive mind state, for he efficiently managed to temper it. He was a gentle and attentive teacher.
"I think for today's lesson, we should focus on shading," Sai explained.
Ino took up the pencil of a specific graphite grade and began as she was instructed. She was to go back and add depth to the flower she had drawn the previous day. Sai had decided it best for her to draw things she was familiar with, and he had been correct, for she had spent half her life studying flowers, so depicting them against the page was easier.
Soon enough, though, Ino was finding it hard to pay attention. There was a particularly distracting part of their lesson, and that was how free Sai seemed to be with touching her. He often took her hand and guided her movements as if it was the most natural thing in the world. However, it wasn't as he never was so liberal in their interactions outside their lessons. Perhaps it was art that broke down Sai's boundaries. A theory Ino pondered on as she worked to disregard the tingling of her skin and pay attention. Unfortunately, the lessons were necessitating the two spend a considerable amount of time together, so she was coming to crave the physical attention instead of ignoring it.
For the most part, Sai would generally work on his project after Ino settled into her lesson so as to not put pressure on Ino. However, sometimes he did like to hover and watch her take on the task. It just so happened that on this particular day, he observed her, and without warning, Sai came up behind where Ino had been seated. He reached over to cover her hand, and his chest had become pressed against her back as he leaned forward to guide her drawing hand.
"You need to make sure that there is only one light source," he instructed as he leaned in close to the paper, "So the shading should be darker here."
So consumed was Sai that he only turned when he left a pair of eyes on his face. Sai came to find that Ino was mere inches from him. Sai could see her irises contracting as she stared up at him and felt the heat of her breath. Sai's gaze momentarily flicked to her parted lips which looked poised to speak. If he moved, he could meet them. When his eyes finally returned, Sai noticed that a healthy pink hue had sprung beneath her skin, and it was wholly beautiful. No words were spoken, for the pair became stuck. Sai could not move as he came to notice that he still held Ino's hand and felt her chest rising and falling against his back. The proximity was electrifying and mounting to the point where some resolution needed to be found.
The trance was finally broken through when Ino cleared her throat for no reason and pulled her hand away. The sound of the pencil dropping brought a flush to Sai's face, and his insides rattled. Instantly he retreated to his workstation without an explanation, and so shaken was he that Sai didn't approach Ino again for the remainder of that lesson. However, that didn't mean that the former root member didn't steal glances her way. By the time the sun was setting, Ino seemed tired and, therefore absentmindedly, took to holding her pencil between her teeth as she analysed her work.
At the moment, Sai had an altogether disturbing realisation that he wanted to be that pencil.
~ooOOOoo~
It had been a particularly trying day at the academy, given that Sai had only recently taken the position and the genin that had been assigned were challenging students. They were petulant and impossible to motivate, so they were taking all of his energy. With an inward sigh, Sai drew out the desk chair by the window and sat down to wait for Ino. He had thought of her a lot during his teaching period at the academy, for she was a stark contrast to his students. It was easy to teach her how to draw despite her fear. The effort she put in was exponential, and though she was only above average in drawing, her dedication was admirable. Finally, he could teach someone who wanted to be taught.
Just then, the sun broke through the clouds hovering above the horizon and freed its warm and natural light. Sai found himself bathed in the dying warmth, and the sensation sent his head sinking towards the wooden surface. He decided then that a quick rest was needed before Ino arrived. It was a welcome relief when his heavy head met his hands, and Sai bargained that he would only close his eyes for a few seconds.
Despite Sai's intention, Ino wandered into the darkened room half an hour later, only to stop in the doorway. She found Sai sleeping soundly at the desk she usually occupied. At a loss, for this had never happened before, Ino remained stuck in place and took to staring at the man who was only kept company by his art. Ino noticed that he must have been continuously adding to his existing works, for the space in the room was ever-shrinking.
Ino found herself at loose ends as her lessons with him had become a consistent part of her evenings. Although she could have slipped away, habit dictated she stay though her teacher was unconscious. So with a soft smile and a shake of her head, Ino tried to source a blanket from the nearby rooms. It was near impossible to find anything, for every cupboard she tried was empty, and Ino wondered how Sai lived. He couldn't be a starving artist because he had a job, so why did Sai not buy the things he needed? Then again, maybe he didn't know what he needed. Eventually, after much searching, Ino settled for grabbing a plain white sheet that Sai probably used to cover areas he didn't want to be touched by paint. It was the only option, for she didn't want to use his bed linens as they could become ruined.
Ino quickly returned to the art studio and skillfully navigated her way through the dark to reach Sai. She held her breath as she delicately placed the sheet over his shoulders. He didn't stir under the new weight, so Ino was relieved and became a little more daring to turn on a lamp on the other end of the room. The faint light was much needed, for the sun had all but set.
In the tranquillity of the present moment, Ino decided to perch herself upon the easels stool. She went on to lean her back against the workbench in an attempt to get comfortable as this was the perfect place to keep her teacher company, for she had an ideal view of his side profile. Sai appeared serene as his expression was entirely relaxed against the hands he used to cushion his head. There were shadows cast about everywhere, and suddenly Ino was feeling inspired.
Reaching around her, Ino picked up the pad of paper and pencil that she had clocked on the bench. It appeared Sai had moved them from their normal position, which was much to her benefit. Flipping open the first page, Ino poised her pencil and drew a rough outline. Her eyes continued to come up as she took in the sight of Sai and tried to capture the bend of his elbows and the arch of his shoulders as he slumped in the chair. Concentration took her, and Ino lips pursed as she soon began to add more and more detail. Though Sai had told her that drawing people was difficult, Ino wanted to try. Furthermore, her work had been cut in half due to his current position.
Eventually, Sai came to, and he first reprimanded himself for sleeping as he came back into consciousness. However, as soon as his eyes fluttered open and he was met with the sight of Ino cast in the shadows, he soon became distracted. She had her head bowed, so her fringe framed her face as she focused. The pencil in her hand was moving with purpose across the paper pad, which she had propped up on her crossed legs. There was a thin line that had formed between her eyebrows as she worked.
Soon he would no doubt be caught staring; therefore, despite wanting to remain still and watch her, he moved to sit up. As Sai stirred, he registered the weight around his shoulders which hadn't been present when he had taken a seat at the desk.
The sound of rustling and a groan is what drew Ino's attention off her work.
"You're up," She acknowledged out loud as their eyes met.
Sai had moved to catch the sheet that was threatening to fall to the ground and brought it back around his shoulders.
"I'm sorry," he said then.
Ino flashed a customary teasing smile then. "Don't worry about it. I'm just finishing shading, so you are free to move."
Sai didn't know why he experienced a rushing sensation at her words.
Deciding to ignore it, though, he settled for shaking his head. "I meant about not teaching you today," Sai clarified.
Ino moved the paper pad to the side before bringing up her now free hand to form a fist under her chin. She looked at him intently and with playful eyes.
"It wasn't a hindrance at all. You were the perfect subject, "Ino informed, "You were still and especially handsome when sleeping."
Sai was glad for the low lighting between them as his face heated up. He was incredibly flustered at being studied in such a manner because it was a rare occurrence for an artist.
Undeterred by his lack of response, Ino continued to smile. "How would I be as a subject?" she asked suggestively.
Sai marshalled himself but mirrored her behaviour. "You wouldn't be able to draw yourself," he quipped back.
It seemed to be the appropriate answer for Ino's nose wrinkled in amusement as her smile grew. She decided then to tear the paper's edge and free her drawing from the pad.
Sai took the outstretched piece of paper and then studied it. All the while, unaware that Ino's mood had suddenly changed as she tensed.
Sai wasn't sure if it was just because he had woken up, but he found her work exceeded his expectations. The foundation principles accurately represented his sleeping form, and the outlines were minimal but interesting. Ino's shading was in line with the light source, and her core and cast shadows were suitable. However, his form was broken by getting the halftones wrong. Overall though, Sai understood that his emotions clouded his judgment as he favoured Ino.
Sai's eyes came up then, and Ino met them expectantly.
"I like it," He said with a nod, "You've improved."
The statement was enough for Ino to smile brightly and altogether shock him.
Unable to face such attention, Sai stood. "Do you wish to eat?" he asked randomly.
Ino's eyebrows came up in response to a new development in their habit but nodded regardless. To which Sai gestured for Ino to go first. Unbeknownst to her, it was a ploy for Ino to leave the room so he could stash away her drawing and later pretend that he had misplaced it.
~ooOOOoo~
The art scene in Konoha had flourished after the great war as the peace had revived such activities. It was a remarkable discovery for Sai as he had been the only one at the root to appreciate such things. Finally, however, here, there was a community.
Spring had arrived quickly, and so Sai had forgone his drawing lessons with Ino in favour of taking her to places that housed works of art. By now, they had seen many exhibitions together, and the former root member had found that he enjoyed the viewing experience more when he wasn't alone. It was an astonishing revelation to find out the power of sharing.
Meanwhile, Ino couldn't help but fall more in love with Sai in the process because despite not fully understanding paintings unless he explained them, it was Sai's unbridled passion and genuine interest that she found attractive. She wondered if he would ever look at her the way he looked at some paintings. Then again, Ino was not so sure she could handle such adoration, so realistically, she settled for half his attention. Therefore Ino commented on a particular brush technique, and though making it sound like a throwaway comment, she had planned such a thing as she had been studying in secret.
It was the first time since entering the gallery that Sai's eyes were torn away from the paintings. He faced Ino then with eyes slightly widened past their natural setting. Sai's lips parted to speak as his mind raced.
"Since when could you identify brush techniques?" he settled for asking.
Ino shrugged lightly, "It seems we have similar interests," She casually commented.
~ooOOOoo~
For Sai to eventually figure out Ino's intention, it took months of their interplays. After coming to the realisation, he wondered why he hadn't seen it before though it was perhaps because Sai had been so taken to convincing Ino about art that he missed her signals. Yet, be that as it may, Sai had decided to respond to Ino as he had seen. To that end, he ensured their meetings continued, but during them, he increased his intensity when sparing with her with words, or he would take to distracting Ino from her work by getting her worked up. They were strangely enjoyable experiences that made Sai wonder if this is why Ino had displayed such behaviour.
While having Ino at his art studio and home, Sai also discovered that Ino was inquisitive, which was polite regarding her character. He truly meant that he knew she liked to get involved and was nosy. Therefore, he took it upon himself to purposefully leave picture books he made in places where she could find them. He pretended not to notice as Ino would slyly flip through the pages of the books he left lying around. The pages ran together to tell a moving story, and he was sure that she no doubt could see that the characters looked suspiciously like them.
Though when their dance still continued, Sai decided to make his stories bold and evident until he was finally confronted. Much to his relief, though Ino had been a bundle of nerves as she put to him the compiling evidence. For a moment, Sai had been shocked by the sheer number of picture books it had taken to get to this point.
Unwilling to carry on the charade any longer, Sai admitted that he was taken with her. It nearly earnt him a punch as Ino exploded into a rant that she had been tortured for some time over his inadvertent method.
Now with the front of his grey jacket caught in her hands, Ino held Sai tightly. Sai merely looked down at the beautiful woman with a ghost of a smile as she held him close. Her angry eyes were boring into his calm ones and their noses nearly touched.
Deciding not to highlight that she was being hypocritical, Sai instead quickly reminded, "But you were the one who taught me how to flirt."
It was an amused and gentle accusation, followed by Sai no longer being able to hold back. He spontaneously angled himself slightly to press his lips to her unexpectant ones.
They shared a brief kiss, and the look of pure shock on Ino's face when he pulled away was so priceless that he had to admit that photography would have been the perfect medium to catch such a moment.
The End
A/N: Gah, I believe I may have made this too fluffy *squeals internally*