Because I was told every good story has a festival scene.

Chapter 19

Out on the town

Ino had been tending the counter of the Yamanaka flower shop that morning, filling orders for countless dates for the Bon Odori festival that afternoon. She sighed and tapped her finger on the counter, impatiently awaiting the end of her shift. She and her boyfriend Sai were planning on attending the festival and she only had so much time to get home and get ready before he came to pick her up.

The door bell chimed out the arrival of another customer. Ino stood from her slouched position to greet them with a strained smile but was instead startled into silence and a shocked expression.

"Shino-kun? Is that you?"

Behind the counter, Ino stared at his new appearance. Today he had forgone his usual jacket and hood for a more formal yukata, therefore, revealing more of his face and neck.

"Yes," he answered as he pushed his sunglasses farther up the bridge of his nose. He had forgotten how revealing it felt to go without a hood. It had been years since he had to reveal so much of his face to others and even then it was a rare occasion when the situation called for a change in attire.

"I guess you look pretty nice under that jacket. What's the occasion?" Ino said with a smile.

"I'm sure you have heard of the festival today," Shino said filling the space in front of the counter.

Ino rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Yeah, yeah. I've got that. But you wouldn't have dressed up and come for flowers for no reason right?" She pointed a long finger at him with a winning smirk. "You must have a date!"

"Yes. I do," he stated far too plainly for Ino's taste. It always bothered her how unflappable her former classmate was. Most easily caved to her subtle information gathering about the latest gossip but Shino never revealed more or less than exactly what he wanted you to know. For a woman that benefitted from the loud outbursts of her friends or even the candid speech of her boyfriend, she was upset that Shino finally had information she wanted. She was determined to get it.

"Oh!" She clapped her hands together happily. "Who is it? Anyone I know?"

"Sachi Hara."

Ino's brief success was overshadowed by her failure in recognizing the name.

"Who's that?" Ino asked.

"She is a civilian."

Ino put a finger to her cheek and looked away, racking her brain for the name. "Hmm, doesn't ring a bell. You'll have to introduce her to everyone. What's she like?" Ino leaned across the counter, pressing him for more details. He did not even flinch.

"I came here for flowers not small talk."

Luckily for Ino, she had already anticipated such a line.

"Ah, but Shino-kun," she began airily, "I have to know what kind of girl is receiving the flowers to know what kind of bouquet to make." Ino smiled, surely he couldn't wiggle his way out of that reasoning!

"I need one bouquet to thank someone and another that smells nice."

Ino cocked an eyebrow at the strange request. 'Thank you's were common reasons for gifting flowers but just a group of flowers that smelled good?

She stood upright again and waved her hands in the air in a negative and frustrated manner. "No, no, no, no, no! That's too generic. You need to tell me about her so I can use the right flowers. Every flower has a meaning and if I don't have the right idea then there can be miscommunication."

Shino considered his options. He knew that giving into Ino would be exactly what the woman wanted. It was on general principal as a reserved man that he had refused her so far. But even so, to continually refuse her would seem as if he were ashamed to talk about his relationship with Sachi, which was far from the truth. Perhaps it was best to give in, just this once.

"Sachi-chan is kind, curious, cheerful and attractive. She is vibrant and endearing."

The blonde's eyes sparkled at her victory. "Is that so? Where did you two meet?"

"On the street."

"Hmm. So, are you two official?"

"Is she my girlfriend? Yes," he answered. He didn't see how she could even pass this questioning off as part of her bouquet information.

"That's so great. I'm happy for you! How long have you two been dating?"

"About 2 weeks."

"That long?" Ino nearly shouted her surprise. "And I haven't heard about it?"

"I had a mission during that time."

Ino's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Do you love her?" she asked teasingly.

"It would be foolish to make such declarations so early in a relationship. I care for her, yes. But we have not known each other long enough for that."

Ino hummed in disappointment. She really shouldn't have expected much else from Shino. Ino turned to the array of flowers.

"So which one is for Sachi-chan? The one that smells nice?" He nodded. "Who is the other one for?"

"Sachi-chan's mother."

"Really?" she said absentmindedly as she sniffed two flowers together. It seemed she approved of the combination and picked several more to accompany it. "What are you thanking her for?"

"She has been very supportive of our relationship. Despite other sources disapproving."

Ino nodded knowingly. "Yeah, dads will be like that," she said wistfully, wishing her own father would have been around for Sai to meet properly.

There were several moments of silence as they both remembered the losses of the last war. It was the most unfortunate circumstance that their victory came at the cost of so many lives.

"Well, anyway," Ino broke the silence not wanting to linger on unhappy thoughts on a festive day, "I'm sure they will love these." Ino finished wrapping up the bouquets just as the transaction finished.

"This one is for Sachi-chan," she pointed to the left one, " and this one is for her mother." He took both bundles just as she spoke again. "Don't forget, you have to introduce Sachi-chan to everyone today."

Shino had the distinct impression that by 'everyone' the blonde really meant 'me'. He nodded either way and left for Sachi's home.

He knocked upon his arrival and was met with the excited face of Noriko.

"Shino-kun, lovely to see you as always!" she beamed. He proffered the bouquet in his right hand to her.

"I wished to thank you for your approval in mine and Sachi-chan's relationship. You have remained an invaluable source of support from the beginning."

The woman's eyes lit up in admiration. "Oh, Shino-kun, you didn't have to so this." She beamed more and took the flowers in her small hands. "My, they are lovely, thank you, Shino-kun." She ushered him into the house with a guiding hand. "You make my little girl happy and that is what matters, despite what my husband may say, you are a good man."

"Thank you, Noriko-san."

"I'll get Sachi," she said, laying the flowers upright in the sink until she could deal with them properly. "She's probably listening to music and didn't hear you arrive."

Just as Noriko bustled up the steps, Aoi, who had been previously been sitting quietly at the table, cleared his throat loudly.

"Sit," he commanded with a hard glare. Shino did as he was asked, mentally preparing himself for the inevitable talk. "Now, my wife may think you are a good kid and from what I've seen that may be true. But you are a young man and my daughter's boyfriend and I know what that means." His tone lowered to an impossibly dangerous level as he leaned forward on his largely muscled arms. "If you dare to force yourself on her or get her pregnant, mark my words, there won't be enough pieces of you left to hold a funeral."

"You needn't worry. Why? It is because it is beneath me to ruin a good relationship by moving it too quickly. And any man that forces himself on a woman can never be considered a real man."

The hulking redhead pointed a finger at him from across the table. "You keep those things in mind and we can remain somewhat civil."

"Here she is!" Noriko announced extravagantly as Sachi entered the kitchen with little fanfare compared to her mother, who seemed to have retrieved two vases in the time she had left. "Doesn't she look beautiful?"

Sachi's look rarely changed. Her hair was not a cut that could easily be styled differently and she never bothered herself with makeup. But thanks mostly to her mother her clothing was rather varied. At the time of a more formal night such as this, she wore a mint green yukata with bright floral print.

Despite the lack of significant change Shino had to agree as well as disagree with Noriko.

She did look beautiful, yes, but she always had.

Though she lacked a certain natural understanding of visual concepts he knew she still held a fascination for them and he felt the need to voice his thoughts for her benefit.

"She looks beautiful every day. Today she looks exquisite." His efforts were rewarded with a stunning smile and he knew in an instant he would have to compliment her more, purely for the selfish reason of seeing that smile again. "These are for you." He held out the flowers, the plastic lining crinkled slightly in his hand.

She lifted the package from his hand to her nose, breathing in the scent of the purple and white lilacs.

"Thank you Shino-kun these smell wonderful."

"I'll put them in your room for you, dear. You two should go or you will miss all the fun."

Aoi filled the space next to Sachi as Noriko left to tend to the flowers. He held her chin with his hand and placed a kiss on her forehead. "You look amazing my little Chi-chan. You two go have fun. Not too much fun," he amended with a harsh glare at Shino.

"Tousan, Shino-kun is a perfect gentleman. You don't have to worry about me." She reached up to pat her father's arm comfortingly.

"I'll always worry," he grunted.

"Go on you two, enjoy the festival," Noriko ushered them out the door rather hastily.

Next chapter will actually be the festival.

As always please review. A writer can never improve without feedback.