Title: Flowers For Iruka-sensei
Author: SirenM
Category: Romance (definitely but the rest is unsure as of yet)
Keywords: Flowers. Secret Admirers. The wooing of Iruka-sensei.
Rating: Gen for now
Spoilers: none that I know of, anyway. It's AU set before the Chuunin Exams.
Summary: It happened one morning, Iruka finds a bouquet of flowers from a secret admirer. Then the next morning he receives yet another. Is someone hell bent on wooing everyone's favourite chuunin sensei? Or is it just some insane stalker? (pairing unsure as of yet) possible KakaIru or GaiIru or even GenIru or OroIru, who knows. (...maybe in another fic, read my profile. :o)
Disclaimer: The characters and world of Naruto was created and owned by Masashi Kishimoto. Honestly, if I owned this would I be writing fanfics? Oh, I forgot about this in the first few parts, I got the meanings of the flowers from these websites: Flowers and their Victorian Meanings, The Language of Flowers and Language of Flowers, by Meanings.
This part is exceptionally long, that's why it took so long and still not able to finish it. So I decided to put it into two parts. It focuses on Iruka trying to find out who sent him the flowers. And all the possible suspects... deliberately confusing. Don't lynch me. .
Chapter 4 - Confusion and Suspicion Part 1
Iruka had once seen one of his students wear a T-shirt that said: I HATE MONDAYS. Granted, most of his students probably felt the same way too, at that time, Iruka had not paid much mind to it. Now he fully understood how that felt because his Monday had just totally gone down the drain.
How could such a day that began so wonderfully end up so…horrifying?! He groaned into his hands.
It was still Monday evening, and he already felt like tearing his hair off by their roots. Or at least, he wished that he wasn't such a good guy after all so that he could go and kill Anko for embarrassing the hell out of him.
Because he was currently stuck in a class room in avoidance to a majority of people namely a certain messy haired Kunoichi who seemed to love to announce out loud the fact that he has someone sending flowers to him.
Iruka sighed.
"Thank you, Izumo-kun," Iruka felt like crying, partly in frustration, partly in relief. He didn't know why he was relief though. By all rights, he should be more of the former.
"Your welcome, Iruka-sensei," the younger man replied, looking out the door, "Sorry I couldn't help much though. Good Luck." Then he was gone.
Iruka sighed again. Then he leaned against the wall of the class room.
Izumo was the last person he wanted to ask about the Hyacinth that he had discovered on his table. He wanted to know if anyone had saw anything but so far, none at the office had seen anything (obviously, he can't ask anyone about it in the office, not if he wanted to be caught dead by Anko).
A room full of Chuunins and Jounins, and no one had seen anything…
Who could be able to do something like that? Iruka slumped against the wall.
Higher Jounins. Like…Gai-sensei?... If it really is him, I'm really NEVER going to live it down. But…Gai-sensei doesn't seem to be someone who does things like this. Sending flowers… maybe, I wouldn't put it past him to be romantic and all but to be so secretive? I don't think so. By what I've seen of his character he would most likely announce it out that he was sending me flowers or something like that.
Iruka stopped at that thought. He couldn't stop himself from shuddering.
Please let it not be him…I really wouldn't be able to live it down if he really did something like that…but…Who else…? Oh hell, why am I even thinking of all the possibilities? Why would Gai-sensei even want to waste his time doing something like this? On someone like me? There's nobody in their right mind will do something so…sweet for me. Maybe it's a prank…Arrgggh!!! Why am I thinking like this? If this really is a prank, all the more reason for me to look for the culprit.
So that I can kill him for giving me a headache, Iruka added, feeling a little better.
So who!???
Iruka thumped his head against the wall. He was a Shinobi and he couldn't figure out who was sending him flowers! How embarrassing.
Speaking of which…Iruka's eyebrow twitched.
Ever since Anko had let out that he had a secret admirer, he couldn't go anywhere without anyone smirking his way.
This reason was why he was still in the classroom.
Iruka sighed again. Well, I can't hide forever…
Making sure that Anko had left the office, he returned back to his desk. All the while wishing that he could put a bag over his face, he went on his work, not looking up when he received the files from the Jounins who were still there. He felt so embarrassed. Especially even more so when one of the Jounins, Gekkou Hayate, leaned over and patted him on the shoulder.
"Iruka-sensei," the sickly looking Jounin coughed for a bit, "there's no need to be embarrassed about something like this." The others nodded, smiling encouragingly.
Which, of course, made him blush even more.
But maybe, just maybe, it made him feel a bit better.
Morning after the horrible day where everyone found out about his secret admirer, Iruka found long stalks of purple and white lilacs lying on the front of his porch. He picked them up and brought them into his house, knowing better than to stare now.
It wasn't hard to find the purple card that seems to go with the colouring code. Iruka opened it after he had settled the new flowers into a long pitcher, having no vase that he could use since the only two vases that he had was currently housing the sunflowers and the little clovers. (Don't ask what happened to the hyacinth. Anko was having too much fun with it. The little white blossoms now lay either on their tables, inside the reports or in the depths of the rubbish bins.)
The card read:
I have the first emotions of love for your youthful innocence.
Iruka paused, contemplating the words inside.
… youthful…sounds like something Gai-sensei WOULD say…
Iruka stared at the card in horror.
GAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
The poor dolphin felt like hyperventilating as he tried to sort out his screaming thoughts.
Calm down… calm down… Maybe I can talk with him to tell him not to send me any more flowers…
Iruka, having calmed his breathing, nodded to himself. It seemed like a good solution.
Or at least, that was what he thought.
If anyone had told him yesterday that he would come across a weeping Gai, he would have just smile and nod, and possibly call the nearest asylum.
As it is, Iruka just stood there, staring as Gai held his hands in his own larger ones and cried manly manly tears. (XD SiM: I think I just burst a gut laughing)
"Oh, my lovely Iruka, I am so happy?"
You cry when you're happy?!! Iruka thought to himself disbelievingly but didn't say anything. In all honesty, at the moment, he didn't trust himself to say anything.
"Iruka-sensei, I am so glad you have chosen me!"
Sometimes, life has a way of slapping you in the face with a live wriggling salmon. At least, that was how Iruka looked and felt like at the moment. And because of this, Iruka felt the need to open his mouth and say something.
"Huh?" was Iruka's brilliant reply.
"Iruka-sensei, I've heard of your suitor," Gai said melodramatically.
Suitor…?
"Yes, oh my beautiful Iruka," Gai boomed, "I was so devastated to find out that someone else is vying for your precious affection."
"Wha-?" Iruka
"To think, that you've chosen me, instead!" Gai continued, "Oh, Iruka-sensei, you have made me the happiest man alive!"
Iruka couldn't think, his head felt blessedly empty and deprived of precious oxygen. Briefly, he wondered if he was hyperventilating again.
But he got this figured out, some how. Rumors have a very amazing way of working, didn't it? If one small little rumor started from one end of the village, it would end over the other side of the village totally big and horribly twisted. And to think, it was only less than 24-hours.
Iruka's left brow twitched. He felt light headed and somewhat, dare he say, annoyed? He then realize that Gai had not stop talking and now, he had absolutely no idea what in the world Gai-sensei was talking about. (Not that anyone does, most of the time)
"I will not lose to that scoundrel Kakashi!"
Kakashi…? What does Kakashi have to do with this? Iruka wondered dizzily.
"My eternal RIVAL! He will not win!"
Oh he thought to himself in understanding… He must have thought that Kakashi is the one that sent me the flowers... just because they're rivals... I think...
But all honesty, Iruka didn't know what to think of that. Could it really be Kakashi...?
Nah... he's... hardly...erm.. romantic... Iruka felt bad for thinking like that. But then again, I hardly know him... Then he was jolted from his thoughts by Gai-sensei.
"My Iruka-sensei! I have decided! I will not lose you to anyone! I will train to be the best so that I will not lose to any one, especially Kakashi!" Gai uttered grandly, and with that, he ran into the sunset…err, forest (it's afternoon, after all)
Iruka just gaped speechlessly.
Definitely not Gai. Not Kakashi either, why would he do something like that. I don't think it's him...
At least, he hoped so.
So, who else could have given him flowers…?
No one else in their right mind would give him flowers (he's implying something here). In fact, it'll be a total waste of time, money and effort especially on him. (Considering what a knuckle head he is, it kinda is.)
I mean, what's the point of sending flowers… to me…
Flowers…
How could he have been so silly? Why did he not think about this before? Obviously the flowers came from somewhere, a store. And the nearest flower shop in the mid of Konoha would belong to the Yamanaka family!
Iruka berated himself as he sped towards the mentioned flower shop. If the … person… (He just couldn't bring himself to refer the person as his secret admirer) bought the flowers from the Yamanaka Flower Shop so regularly, surely, Ino-kun could tell him who bought those flowers within these few hours.
He stopped as soon as he caught sight of the shop, slowing down to walk into the shop. Then the sight of Asuma Sarutobi buying flowers stopped him.
Asuma-san…?
The bearded older man stopped when he caught sight of the dolphin.
"Ah, Iruka-sensei, Good afternoon," he greeted through the perpetual cigarette that he had in his mouth.
"Good afternoon, Asuma-san," Iruka return cordially.
"Beautiful morning, isn't it?" Asuma commented, looking up at the sky.
"Ah, yes. It is," Iruka blinked at the subject at hand.
"Flowers are beautiful, aren't they?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. They are," Iruka gave a glance at the bouquet of yellow zinnias.
"Perfect for someone you like, isn't it?" Asuma asked, somewhat innocently.
"Yes, they are," Iruka answered again, completely oblivious. It was only later, when Asuma had left that he blushed like a tomato after he finally realized what the Jounin had meant.
"Yamanaka-san," Iruka greeted the woman politely.
"Iruka-sensei," the blonde smiled at him warmly, "What a pleasant surprise. Here to buy flowers?"
"Ah, no," Iruka replied embarrassedly. Now how can he put this nicely?
"Oh, yes, of course," Mrs. Yamanaka (. I don't know her first name) said somewhat impishly, "You already have fresh flowers given to you everyday, don't you?"
Iruka blushed as the woman laughed warmly.
The wonders of gossip… Iruka thought rather sulkily to himself.
"Ah, sensei," she said, patting his arm as she led him deeper into the shop. "I was just kidding. Come on, now," she settled him down on a stool and made him a cup of tea despite his protest.
"Sensei, you have no idea how happy we are for you," Mrs. Yamanaka told him over her cup of tea.
"Eh?" Iruka said eloquently.
Mrs. Yamanaka laughed, her voice tinkling in the morning air.
"Ah, Iruka-sensei. You're still so oblivious," Mrs. Yamanaka shook her head, bringing up her cup to take a sip. When she settled her cup, the subject was changed.
"You want to ask who sent you the flowers, didn't you?" the blonde said rather than ask. If anyone has said that women were by far more perceptive and intuitive, Iruka would have believed in that instance. He nodded in reply to her question.
"Has anyone, perhaps the same person brought a bouquet of white and purple lilacs this morning," Iruka asked.
"Lilacs…" the blonde mumbled to herself then shook her head, "I'm afraid I don't remember anyone buying any lilacs this morning. Maybe you should ask Ino, she guarded the shop last evening. Maybe whoever sent the flowers this morning came to buy them last night." She said, winking at the teacher as the Chuunin spluttered.
As if on cue, Ino's voice came from upstairs.
"MOM, I'm going out!" came the shout before Ino came running down, bright blonde hair trailing after her.
"Ino! Wait! Iruka-sensei is here to ask you some things," he mother shouted quickly before her daughter disappeared completely. She didn't have to fear because at the name of her ex-sensei, she stopped and turned back, a large smile gracing her lips.
"Iruka-sensei! Ohayo! How did you like the flowers?"
"Eh?" Iruka answered, "You were the one that sent me the flowers?"
"Oh, yes," Ino answered, "the sunflowers are very nice aren't they?"
"Yes, they are," Iruka replied, Wait, sunflowers...
"I think that whoever sent you the flowers are very sweet," his ex-student continued blissfully.
"You mean," Iruka stopped. Of course... she meant as in delivery service...
"Yes?" Ino asked the dolphin teacher.
"Can you tell me who sent me those flowers?" Iruka asked breathlessly.
"Uhm, sorry, can't," Ino answered. Then quickly amended, "It's not that I don't want to. It's just that I really can't. The order came in a letter with money, so there's no name or face that I can tell you of."
"Oh," Iruka said, shoulders slumping in disappointment. "Okay."
"Sorry, sensei," Ino apologised but was reassured by Iruka.
"It's alright," Iruka said quickly. "Uhm, did anyone buy any lilacs this morning?"
Ino thought for a while, then she shook her head.
"No, no one brought lilacs this morning," Ino said truthfully.
"Oh, okay, thanks," Iruka said dejectedly then he bowed to Mrs. Yamanaka and thanked Ino again.
Ino watched as her ex-sensei left the shop, smiling playfully yet in her heart, she smiled a sincere smile. Iruka-sensei is so nice, he should have someone nice to appreciate him. Even her mother had agreed on that when Ino had told her mother of the order when it came in. She twiddled happily at a pot of Basil flowers, smelling the sweet scent of the leaves.
No leads...
Iruka headed disconsolately to the administration office. He only had so much time during his lunch break.
"Hey, Iruka-sensei," Kotetsu called from the other side, "More flowers for you, eh?"
Iruka stopped and looked wide-eyed at him. How did he know?
Only then did Iruka notice that Izumo was pointedly looking at his table, a smile tugging suspiciously at the side of his mouth.
He looked down and felt his jaw drop. Yellow Zinnias...?!
There was a small yellow card in the bouquet which wrote:
Remembering You Daily.
Iruka settled in his chair, then in a fury of action, opened his drawer, dumped the flowers into it and shut it. Just in case, better to be safe than sorry. The other blinked, then smiling impishly went back to their papers.
Iruka opened his files, staring at it for a full ten minutes, stunned. He remembered what he had seen outside of the flower shop. Asuma-san brought a bouquet of yellow zinnias, didn't he? Could he... I mean... it couldn't be him. Maybe it's just coincidence. That's right. It's just coin-
"Iruka-sensei."
Iruka nearly jumped as his thoughts were interrupted. He looked up to see the team seven's infamous teacher, blinking at him, file in hand. Iruka recovered quickly, shaking his head as he tried to clear his desk and cluttered thoughts.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei?" he asked, looking up again.
"Just handing in my report for processing," Kakashi said, handing him the said report. Iruka stared at it.
How surprisingly that the first person to hand in his report to him that day was Kakashi. Unsurprisingly though, the report was supposed to be due last Friday.
Iruka felt like sighing out loud, but he didn't.
Iruka glanced up at Kakashi, who was still there, to find the masked Jounin staring at him. When the silver haired Jounin suddenly leaned on the table, Iruka quickly leaned back on his chair, finding himself intimidated by the scarecrow's height.
"I like what you did to your hair," the scarecrow said impassively.
Iruka blinked.
"Eh?" the dolphin lifted his hand to touch his perpetual pony-tail. His hand came across a cluster of flowers and leaves. Pulling it out of his hair, he found a small stalk of blooming basil.
"I think Basil are suppose to mean Good Luck, or something like that," the scarecrow said knowledgeably, then he nodded and left, blithe as usual.
Iruka stared at him after him, as did the other.
Who would think that copy-ninja Kakashi would know something like this?
Author's Note:
Yellow zinnias means daily remembrance.
Basil does means Good Luck.
White Lilac means Youthful Innocence while Purple Lilac means First Emotions of Love.
Author's Ranting:
GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Fuyuki: Sorry for appearing suddenly. I'm the author's cousin. (We wrote a fic together once) Just came out to explain why the sudden insanity that overcame that itoko no baka (stupid cousin) of mine.
SirenM: sniff TT.TT You so mean.
Fuyuki: Shut up.
SirenM: TT.TT Meanie…
Fuyuki: The idiot made PLENTY of mistakes in the last chapter.
SirenM: GOMEN NASAIIIIIIIIIIII!!!! GOMEN! GOMEN! GOMEN!
TWACK!
SirenM: O.O ...ouchie.
Fuyuki: returns Sanzo's paper fan back to the owner Idiot.
Sanzo: Hn.
Anyway, just to clear the biggest one up, here's the apologies:
p-sama7, I meant to ask about Growing Pains but I think I wrote the wrong title. Gomen. Side Effects belonged to Chibi-Risu-san.
Chibi-Risu-san, GOMENNNNNN! TT.TT
Fuyuki: Moron.
Sniffles So mean…
And for the reviews, I want to thank:
udonluvr13
p-sama7 (again, gomen)
Suke-san (YES, Haya-chan NOT dead.)
Isolde1 (I like your new ficcy btw :o)
Spirit and Essence (Wahhh, thanks for responding to my plea for comments for the new fic in planning, Naruto as Little Mermaid or so it seems, that's at my profile. Really appreciate the input)
Eikou (dang, you thought of that before I managed to write this part. You got it right! ;o)
Morien Alexander (Thanx :o) Love all your KakaIru fics btw.)
Yuen-chan (himitsu, heh heh heh. But you'll know soon enough)
danton (thanx for the flowers)
Can Hersey (:o)
Rui Yazawa (Hiashi and Iruka? O.O Pls don't do this to me. Now I can't get that image out of my head. I might just slip this in you know, for the heck of revenge snicker)
kei
AJ the Raven
Uzumaki Pryde
Naruke (on the verge of tearing hair out It's before Chuunin exams, no one is deadddddd TT.TT I was so sad when Sandaime died, I decided that I liked him better alive)
RavensHaelo
Ann Onymous
Renn (Honestly? I would probably run screaming in the other direction if Gai ever acts that way to me. Iru-chan is just too kind to do that)
Temari-chan (You like Ebisu??? Just kidding.)
afk
Iceheart19 (I dun think Iru-chan have any thing more important than getting out of there at that time)
Lainey-chan (You guys give me very very scary ideas. Ibiki/Iruka? Kisame? OMG… . Maybe in the next fic ;o) Read the fic in planning at my profile)
Squall Morpheus Leonheart (okay, maybe SasuIru is not so bad but not in this fic. Sorry)
cdkobasiuk (yep, he's very embarrassing…)
hotaruchan27 (wow, instant review. Thanx. But nah, no changie title ;o)
Nonie-chan (Genma sending him straws huh…. Snicker)
Evil Kasumi (Oh, no, you didn't confuse me. I was so busy with work that I confused all the dates. Sorry if I gave such an implication. I just wanted to say that you reminded me of Iru-chan's B-day, that's all.)
This chapter serves to eliminate Gai as one of the suspect. But don't just jump to conclusions too fast because there are more to come in the next chapter. Perhaps there will be more hints or possibly more confusion on who is the secret admirer. ;op
Me very happy person. So many ppl like the fic. The next chapter will come next week or the end of this week. I'll have to see how it goes.
Ps. Please read my fic in planning and tell me what you think about it. It's in my profile. Thanx
Luv, SirenM