Pairings: GaaIno
Warnings: Blushing. Far too much blushing.
Author's Notes: Hello everyone! I am so glad everyone is liking the story! Really! It always made me kinda mad when I saw authors beg people to give them reviews and were like "review or die!", but it really feels special to get such nice reviews! Every time I get a new one I go "squee"! They get me kind of excited about the story. haahaahaa. Anyway, I decided to update reaaally fast this time. I hope you like this chapter.
Have fun! (waves GaaIno flag)
Chapter Four: Employee
After my fit of laughter, I peel myself off the floor and sigh heavily. So, Sasuke broke my heart. It's his job to break hearts and walk away with that same stoic "I don't give a damn" expression. I've known that for so many years. I should have seen this day coming. I'm so glad someone came to cheer me up. I don't know if he was trying to or not, but he did. I really was cheerful. It was a cheerfulness that burned all the brighter because of my sorrows. My heart felt light and empty like I had dumped out all it's contents and was starting anew. It was sad, but full of hope. It was also light with laughter.
I wipe down the front of my yellow apron from habit and inspect the store. My customer that doesn't want flowers is sitting right where I left him. He's holding a flower, of course, because Yamanaka Ino doesn't let anyone enter with out leaving with a flower and a smile. Well, I can pretend that's true, anyway. He is so shy. I didn't expect him to be this way. I thought he would be quiet, but in more of a threatening homicidal way. I guess we all change over the years.
The floor is a mess from that little girl that came by earlier. I walk to one of the sides of the store and grab a broom. I start to sweep up the mud littering the place. My guest is still there, but I don't mind him at all. He's a comforting presence that keeps me from feeling alone. He's like a cat. Everyone knows cats don't do anything but sleep all day and sometimes catch the occasional rodent, but just them being there is somewhat of a comfort. You know that if you pet them, they'll purr. I giggle silently to myself at the thought of Gaara purring - then I blush brightly because my teenage mind is taking the "petting" part the wrong way.
Suddenly, I am enveloped in a shadow and a pale hand moves to cover my own. I look up and see my kitty - Gaara - staring down at me. Staring down at me...fondly?
"Let me help you," he pleads softly. I blush and stutter at his touch and request. I look at his ghostly white face and can't help but find him handsome. His skin really is perfect and soft, just like Sasuke's. Unlike Sasuke, the rest of him is bright and exotic. His eyes have a piercing quality to them and they look almost like they are burning with cool green fires. His hair is vibrant red and messy. It's strangely attractive, despite it's wildness, or maybe because of it. He has a blood red tatoo on his forehead. Really. It looks just like it was drawn with blood, but that's not possible, is it? The kanji is interesting too.
Love.
"N-No! You don't have to! I can sweep perfectly fine by myself," I stutter out. He really is tall. He's only a few inches away from being Sasuke's height. He's looking at me oddly again. Then he turns away a little sadly. I hope I didn't say anything wrong. Damn it, Ino! You're rude even when you don't mean it! I try to rephrase myself.
"I really appreciate you wanting to help, and everything...but it wouldn't be right. You are the customer and I'm the employee. I'm supposed to serve you, ok?" I say with a kind smile.
"Then hire me," he says in a low seductive voice that makes me shiver.
"What? I can't hire you!" my voice rises.
"But I can!" a dramatic voice bellows and nearly knocks me over from fright. My dad is standing right next to us in a puff of smoke. He sure has a passion for the theatrics.
"What are you talking about, Dad? You're crazy! What are you doing here, anyway, popping out like that and trying to scare me to death? How long have you been here?" I yell.
"Long enough. Shh, Ino! Men are talking business!" he turns to Gaara and I can swear my jaw has hit the floor, "So Mr...?"
"Gaara. Sabaku no Gaara," he states blandly. I can't help but find his serious, emotionless tone of voice appealing. It reminds me of a certain raven-haired boy...Damn it, Ino! Stop thinking about Sasuke!
"So! Tell me why you are thinking of joining us here at the Yamanaka Flower Shop," my dad inquires in his friendly business voice. He can't hire Gaara!
He can't!
"I need money to pay for the medical attention of a certain pig...and I also want to help Ino sweep." he says, pointing to me.
My jaw drops even lower. Is that not the cutest thing you have ever heard? Part of his reason to get a job here is so that you don't have to sweep! Aww...
No!
It's not cute...because it's a lie! That can't be right. Men don't do things for me. Men are beastly creatures that break the hearts of poor innocent maidens, like me. I shake my head and my dad looks pensive. Gaara is standing firmly with the most serious expression on his face. Not cute!
"Hmm...Is that so? A pig...?" My dad inquires with his brows furled together. Gaara nods.
"For some reason your nurses work with a pig in the vicinity."
"Oh! It was at the hospital? Then that must be Shizune's pig! Oh, I heard about that incident...Shizune was heartbroken. Well, that seems like a good enough reason to want money, but this is a flower shop here. Do you know anything about flowers?" he raises a questioning brow.
Dad can't hire Gaara. He doesn't know a thing about flowers. He doesn't look like the type that would go within a mile of a watering can. Isn't he from the desert? The desert doesn't have flowers!
Gaara nods.
"I know a few things. I know that this flower here means 'humility'. That one means 'absence', 'mourning', 'indifference', 'disdain', 'winter, age' - "
I can't believe it. He's pointing out and naming all the flowers that I showed him off the top of his head.
" - 'pleasures of memory', and 'love at first sight'... I'm good at sweeping too."
My dad nods.
"Impressive! I am so glad to find someone like you! Ino probably doesn't know half of those meanings!" he says, putting his hands on Gaara's shoulders,"I like your passion for flowers! You're hired!"
He pats Gaara on the back. I can't believe my dad just hired Gaara.
"Ino-chan! Help Gaara out. He's under your care. Make sure he doesn't mess up! I doubt that he will...but from now on you are his boss!" he says a little too cheerfully. He vanishes in another puff of smoke. I'm left, holding a broom, staring at my new employee. He takes the broom from my hand and starts sweeping. I'm surprised that he actually looks like he knows what he's doing.
"Why...why did you do that?" I question him softly. I still can't believe he's going to be working here with me.
"I needed money. I told you I didn't come here for flowers," he states solemnly. I notice some nervousness gleaming in the back of his eyes and the way he looks down as he sweeps tells me something is off.
"You're lying," I say, placing a finger lightly on his shoulder. He flinches,"Tell me. Why did you really come here?"
"Temari."
"Temari!"
"Temari...she was mad at you from the other day and she told me to come here to scare you," he said standing up straight and looking down at me. That's pretty ironic. He came here to scare me, but ended up making me laugh and sweeping my floors.
"Oh, really?" I ask, narrowing my eyes. How could he be so sweet and shy, while his sister was so cruel and conniving?
"Aa." he looks away with a blush. He's so cute! I giggle like the fangirl that I am, but I'm surprised that for once it's not over Sasuke. He looks at me with the most bewildered expression on his face.
"I'm glad you decided not to scare me," I say with a smile and add bravely,"but I'm glad you came by, because now you know I don't think you're hideous. You're not hideous at all. You're...cute."
I lean into him and my smile brightens at the sight of his glowing blush. He really can't hide it with that pale skin of his. He nods and starts sweeping again more quickly.
I like my new employee.
So the next few days passed calmly. Gaara was a fast learner. I spent everyday teaching him new things about flowers and gardening. It felt odd for a while, but I quickly got used to seeing his face every morning and working together with him. I taught him how to transplant plants, how often to water them, how to trim thorns and leaves, and I taught him which flowers go best with which occasions. My favorite thing was teaching him the language of flowers. He still insisted that it didn't make sense to give them meanings because it made the flowers less attractive, but I told him it was important.
In between teaching him things, we had a lot of spare time. We would either sit and enjoy the peaceful silence or chat quietly. I asked him which flowers he liked to pass the time and he pointed out all the dark blue and purple flowers. Surprisingly enough, he also like a couple of the very brightest yellow and orange ones.
He's always waiting for me in the morning. It makes me wonder if he gets enough sleep. He always has those dark rings around his eyes like he hasn't slept in ages. One day I brought him a mug of coffee and he practically inhaled it. He makes me laugh without trying to and I find little things he does to be insanely adorable.
I look forward to seeing him everyday.