Suigetsu desperately needed to shake off the overwhelming feeling of discomfort, shifting his weight from foot to foot. To have such a dumb idea for a planit seemed sowrong.

Suddenly, Kubikiribōchō was much heavier.

The overwhelming aroma of flowerswhich he had been forced against his will to become accustomed withwas beginning to make him feel nauseous.

He hated himself more and more with each passing second. And for what?

There was absolutely no reason for him to feel guilty about the way things played out. It was an awful familiar feeling.

That gentle look in her overbearing, feminine little eyes. That something he said had actually bothered her.. She didn't deserve what he said out of anger and spite. He just couldn't stand it. Outright rejection, while he still didn't know if she was actually being sincere.

He had to lighten his conscience somehow...

This wasn't where he was at his calmest, not by a long shot. It was becoming cruelly more of the opposite. He didn't know where anything was without a guide, the ninja there seemed weird (especially Konoha Eleven), and he knew virtually nobody. And on top of all that, he had foolishly cut ties with his one and only manageable acquaintance..

The Yamanaka at the counter thumbed through a portfolio pages thick, paying him little mind.

She obviously didn't have the greatest impression of him.

But he didn't care.

"May I help you?" Ino used a very artificial customer service voice.

"So.." He snuck an impatient glance at her material, "girls likeflowers, right?"

"It depends on the girl," Ino slapped the cover shut, teasing him because she was sure it would make him even more uncomfortable. Her nosy side took over. "wait, why? A flower shop doesn't really seem like your kind of party. Got somebody special here in the Leaf already?"

Suigetsu rolled his eyes and scratched his head sheepishly, considering a dash for the door. "Think of it more as ah.. A friendly gesture."

"Friendly, huh," The blonde eyed him suspiciously. "who for?"

He was sure that it was none of her business, but he had to pick his words carefully. He needed her help, after all.

"If it's Tenten," She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms and reopening the book, "I don't know if flowers are your best bet."

Suigetsu tensed at the assumption, turning away hastily. "Yeah, I'm not stupid. I know she isn't like other girls. It's just th"

"Guessing your smart mouth got you into some trouble," A dark look flashed across her face, assessing him rather eerily now. "I know Tenten can handle anything you throw her way, but just so you know.."

He hesitated, stifling his own snap back.

"If she ever comes crying to me about you," The kunoichi boasted warning, and he could tell that she was being dead-serious. "I'll make your stay here hell."

"You've done a pretty good job of that so far," He lost the war with his tongue, and something urged him to give up. This was a mistake.. he knew it.

"Let's get started, then."

"What?" Suigetsu asked dumbly, confused at the abrupt change in conversation. "Seriously?"

"You want her to like you, right," Ino smirked all-knowingly, shoving a variety of flowers in his face. "Allow me to explain the symbolism of each and every flower for you."

"No thanks, that's alright," He shrank away from the blonde, "I wouldn't know where to start. I'm not really sure it's like that.."

"Oh, come on," She turned pages in the portfolio impatiently, yet somewhat frantically. "Tenten's special. She isn't your average everyday girl, so you'd better start acting with some major class if you want to impress her."

Suigetsu doesn't budge. "I think you're taking it a little too seriously."

"A woman of her caliber shouldn't be expected to wait around. There's nothing more rude than making a lady wonder. Make a move and show her you're interested."

Suigetsu came closer, albeit reluctantly, "Fine. Whatever."

"Have you put any thought into colors she might like?"

"Not really," He stifled a sigh. "like you said, I'm not sure flowers are the best bet with her. She's really.."

"Colorful?"

"No."

"Bright?"

"No, none of that," The Mist shinobi returned his attention to the ground. He couldn't bring himself to look at them any longer. This sort of mediocrity was not him. "Different, that's all."

"Different," Ino repeated dully, unimpressed by his description. "Don't use that word to talk about a woman. Ever."

Suigetsu was about to argue it as a good thing. "I can't explain it so stop asking me. I don't know how to describe it. It's almost like.. she's one of the first girls I've ever had a connection with."

The florist beamed with fast energetic pride. "That's sototally sweet, actually. I never would've thought you had it in you. Tenten may not be like other girls, however.."

"You're in luck!"

"What do you mean?" Suigetsu was already past annoyed with her erratic behavior. He wondered if any poor guy was currently under her spell. The bastard had to have more homicidal urges than Jūgo.. He didn't know if he would be regretting this decision later on or thanking her. Either way, if she helped him get what he wanted..

"You're talking to Konoha's number one expert in floriculture," She wrapped her yellow apron around her back, "and one of Tenten's most personal friends. I'll set you up, and you'll owe me big time!"

He wanted to know if she'd ever stop talking. "Let's just get it over with."

"Don't be so impatient. The favor is helping you out," Ino brought them in the direction of roses. "what do you think of these?"

"Roses? Lame," Suigetsu could only imagine the damage to his cherished reputation. "I want something way less sappy."

"Despite how logical you seem to be, I doubt that you know the first thing about flowers," She immediately saw that he didn't like the idea of romanticism. "do you?"

He triggered a powerful sigh; like he would lie about something so stupid.

"Roses are not just a lovey-dovey marriage type of thing," Ino explained, forcing her words past his ignorance. "anyone can read the tag and know that."

"Okay then," He went over some of the symbolism listed before him. He didn't want to hang around her much longer.. "what about those?"

"Peach-colored," She reached for a few that were in a vase, "may also symbolize humbleness or modesty. Sounds like something you definitely need to work on."

"Or yellow," Suigetsu suggests, accidentally ripping off a petal. He ignored her snarky comment because they were actually making progress. "because they can mean friendship?"

"Not only that," Ino twines them together, "they can also mean feelings of optimism or an overwhelming joy. Think of them like the sunshine's warmth."

As terrible as that sounded, he agreed with the interpretation. Tenten probably wouldn't even care enough to read those dumb little labels.

"I would also consider adding these in for a nice pop of color."

She waved some horrendous-looking white tulips at him. "They can symbolize respect, purity, or in some situations.. an apology, even."

"Sure, sure, sounds good," Suigetsu wants to speed the process along. "what do I owe you?"

Ino had already made visible work on said arrangement, skillfully arranging colors into a dazzling pattern. She inhaled audibly. "Oh, wow, they're beautiful together. You owe me absolutely nothing."

Suigetsu was slightly put-off. "Aren't they.."

"Expensive, of course," She gave him a friendly smile, shrugging her shoulders innocently. "It's just something about the whole thing.. Tenten's such a nice girl and, well"

"She deserves somebody special. I like helping people out, that's all. If this pays off then.. I just can't put a price tag on love, 'ya know?"

"Love!?" Suigetsu nearly stammered, "slow down, blondie. I don't love the girl or anything."

"So you say.." Ino trailed off, winking and turning to face the counter once more.

"Whatever. Just make sure she gets them soon."

"You're welcome," She hollered after him loudly, wondering if he knew how ungrateful he sounded. "shop Yamanaka Flowers again!"


Ameyuri Ringo thrust Kiba into the water, aiming to taste blood or what he wasn't rightfully capable of. Whichever was fine with her, really.

He had definitely picked the wrong girl to fuck with. It was just his luck..

Suigetsu was the type she liked to kill right off the bat.

"You foul-mouthed cretin!" She would give him a much-needed lesson in decency and humility. "Were you not taught manners!?"

"To a lady, yeah," Suigetsu was just excited for all the attention. "but not to someone like you. Are you sure you're even a girl?"

"Why, you—" Ameyuri lunged for him, and he scrambled away at the last second. Those blades of hers.. they were amazing.

He wanted to gauge her experience with them, but unfortunately—she had quite the expertise.

Not only did they pose a potential and deadly threat to his weaknesses, but they were also said to be insanely sharp.. He might have been able to maneuver around that part, but the lightning element.. it was capable of killing him instantly. He had to see if he could outrun her. It was his best chance at survival. Nobody was around to save his ass this time.

"'Cuz, you know," Suigetsu continued provocatively, luring her after him. "it is called the Seven Swordsmen, not Swordschicks!"

"You're absolutely disgusting," She pursued him onto dry land, flipping her swords to an angle. Her hands were shaking with intent—pissed and ready to kill. "you're nothing like Mangetsu. At least he has some common sense."

"But you.. have no charm or any wit whatsoever. You have mere basic socialization skills. Not to mention, the audacity you have! Going around thinking you're good enough to be one of us someday? Pff.."

He reached for his belts in a panic, finding both bottles empty. This was looking worse and worse by the minute.

"You're a laugh, kid," Ameyuri smirked when she saw the reaction to her words on him. There was a deeper motive underneath his actions—and she must have caught it accidentally. "I suggest you learn some respect.. or die."

"If a girl like you can get in," He should have been running for his life by then, but she was sizing him up. He wasn't going to take that.. especially from a girl. He absolutely had to make another run for it. "anybody can get in. I didn't know the bar was that low."

He finally pushed her to the limit, and he knew he was doomed by the end. He couldn't bear the thought of his last moments being spent choking out meaningless apologies.

"It's a shame all your training turned out to be a waste," Ameyuri raced alongside him, inching dangerously close. "you're an impressive fighter. Determined, but your cockiness will be your downfall.. Your skills as a swordsman are weak compared to Mangetsu's. And with that attitude of yours—nobody would even want you around. You will never be on par with any of us. You will never master the Kiba, but I will make sure you feel its fangs before death. I hope you're ready to be fried alive."

Suigetsu collapsed from exhaustion, giving way to dehydration and breathlessness. She was relentless. He had to somehow pull himself into the nearest body of water.. and he still might not make it before the eletrocution. He couldn't let this be the way he went, for fuck's sake. He was young, and he had thought since she was too—he would win. To think he couldn't put up a fight better than this...

"Anybody with half a brain would never give you a chance." She stabbed the ground near his face, watching him writhe away from her like prey. "it's sad, really. Your future would only hold lonliness and despair. Think of this as me doing you a favor."

Suigetsu gathered his remaining strength for one final push toward the water. He had really fucked up. She was going to kill him.

This was his last opportunity to escape.. Get up and run, dammit!

When the harsh realities of her insults sank in, he refused to listen to them.. he knew she was right. That truth hurt. He didn't understand people. He hardly knew anybody he could get along with—much less a friend. The one person he could depend on was Mangetsu, by default. He was meant to be by himself. From a young age, he knew he was different. He wasn't like his peers.

Suigetsu swore, if he made it out alive.. he would reconsider everything he knew about girls—which turned out to be very little.

Ameyuri Ringo had been less than ideal. He had known better—but there was no turning back.

He remembered saying a short prayer internally, begging to make it out by the skin of his teeth.

He remembered the flash of blue lightning as he made his way through land and mist, the burning sensation hot on his heels. A scorching heat that he would never forget.. He remembered not being able to move afterward.

He remembered the smell of smoke roasting the wind as it rushed by him, the sound his body made when it finally hit the water...

Suigetsu didn't know how he had done it. He was so sure she had him in her clutches..

But somehow, he was let go.

He felt as if he died.

Panting on the riverbank and not able to keep liquids down scared him beyond any rational doubt. He had fled death, yet he felt oddly spared.

Why?

Suigetsu ordered himself to accept a slow recovery, and not to question what had happened that day. He was lucky.

The promises he made to himself were long forgotten.

A couple of days went by before he received word.

Mangetsu told him with almost no emotion. "Ameyuri—she died this morning. I can't say we expected it."

Suigetsu's eyes went wide, wondering if it had anything to do with their last encounter.. there was no way. He could only imagine the scolding from Mangetsu if he told him anything. "So, her spot's available?"

Mangetsu closed his eyes and uneasily tugged at the bandages on his neck. "Yeah, I guess, but Suigetsu.."

He spun around to face his sibling defiantly. "What are you trying to say?"

"Take it easy. Don't do anything stupid. You have time."

"Dude, I can manage myself. Come on. You don't have to act like a 'concerned' older brother all the time. The act's getting old, 'ya know."'

Mangetsu rolled his eyes so far north he must have seen the back of his own head. "You don't get it."

"Get what?" Suigetsu lost his temper immediately. "You're scared I'll show you up, huh?"

The older Hōzuki kept a straight face, displaying nothing but mild amusement in his tilted eyes. "You should really try to be more level-headed about these situations. Stop being so reckless."

As much as he wanted to tell Mangetsu that he was wrong.. to just fuck off. He had known he was right, somewhere in the back of his mind.

The fact he didn't even seem threatened by the suggestion—it was enough.

He had put his younger brother back into his place, like many times before.

Suigetsu needed that—he needed someone to tell him when he was acting stupid. Because he was the kind to rush headfirst into trouble.

"Let me tell you a little something. It can be our little secret.."

He succeeded in grabbing Suigetsu's attention, but to have him listen was another thing. They related to each other better than anyone else, obviously. It still didn't mean Suigetsu took his words to heart.

"This group may not be the perfect dream for you, one day. You may want to do something different. And I know, now—"

He felt like there was something Mangetsu could have been hiding. Some reason he was suddenly telling him all this.. so out of the blue. He couldn't believe how he overlooked it.

"I'm okay with that, Suigetsu. I want you to do something that makes you happy. Don't let the Hidden Mist tell you what your future should be. It could be so much brighter.."

He thought back to how ridiculous Mangetsu sounded at that time and never really understanding what he meant. He brushed him off, not caring enough to think about his advice or consider another path.

Suigetsu knew one thing for sure, and it was his future. He was going to be the best member out of all the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. He would surpass all of them—including his brother—and aim to become leader one day.

His hopes were set high for his future; he didn't want to be a disappointment to himself, more than anything.

"Be careful, Suigetsu. I know you're capable of doing whatever you set your stubborn little mind to. If there's someone who deserves it all, it's you."

"Take it from me, as someone whose been there.. I don't know if you'll ever understand, but.. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Will you just shut up, man," He had to shut this speech down somehow, "and help me with my training?"

"That's all you want from me," Mangetsu poked fun as he got into position, wielding his famous blade. "don't even play like you can outsmart me. I guess I'll have to pound my brotherly love into you."

"Oh, yeah?" He chose a durable sword used for their special training. "sounds kinda weird, dude."

"Don't bother with that outdated thing," He taunted back sarcastically, heaving Hiramekarei with practiced motion. "show me what you've got."

Suigetsu wished that his life in the Mist was something he could return to. He missed it, sometimes. He missed having a clan, a brother, a village, a place where he belonged..

But it would only make him realize his countless failures as a shinobi. The reason why he was at such a crossroads—living a life that barely seemed to matter..

During his time training to be a swordsman, he was never truly taught kindness or empathy.

He wasn't taught compassion or comradeship. He wasn't taught acceptance for other individuals, and most definitely not trust.. He hadn't trusted anyone for the longest time.

Suigetsu thought of himself. He relied on himself. He wanted things for himself. Considering others' feelings in the past.. it seemed pointless until now.

It seemed to be a disconnect between himself—and everyone else.

It was his fault for being so blind. He never realized how out of control he was.. that the world would constantly be doing him in, no matter what he wanted for himself.

That he was now the one looking for meaning.. and wondering if it was all meaningless.

Mangetsu had held his best interests, Suigetsu since realized—and he had never even acknowledged it.

He didn't want to. His painful reality was remorse and hatred for the way he behaved in Kirigakure. Never taking anything seriously, causing problems, never showing the least bit of gratitude to his brother. He really took having a brother for granted—until it was too late.

Painful.

Suigetsu was thrilled, however, to hear about Ameyuri's passing and eager to never face her again.

He had no idea this was only the beginning—that this was the first loss of many.. and it would eventually hit close to home.

All he could think about was his shot of becoming a true swordsman. They were better than ever, for once.

As long as they continued to drop like flies.


A/N;; Very surprised and pleased with Team Hawk's appearance in Boruto. It made me happy to think of how close they all became after Shippuden; they really are more like family and only inspire me to further Suigetsu's character development. Thanks to all of you who follow and review. ^^