Language of Flowers
Hi everyone. Thanks for all the reviews! Loved receiving them. Here's the third chappie. Sorry if this chapter is kinda messy... I'm running out of ideas... hehe.
Disclaimer: once again nothing here's own by me. neither are the flower meanings. so don't sue.
Chapter 3: Friends of Flowers
"Hey, don't you find Sai a little weird?" Sakura asked, just as the named disappeared after the meal at Ichiraku, like yesterday...
"Maybe. Why?" Naruto said and turned to look in the direction Sai disappeared to. Just like yesterday, Naruto was rather glad that the Anbu decided not to follow them.
"He would always come along with us after mission..." Sakura said, her voice trailing off.
"Well, isn't that good? Then we both can go on date!" Naruto switched the conversation back to the topic Sakura finds most annoying.
A clenched fist sailed the air and hit the noisy ninja right on the head, causing him to fall onto the ground, clutching his head and moaning in pain.
"Well, at least he isn't out attacking anyone." A voice came from behind. Sakura and Naruto turned around to see the village's number one lazy yet genius and his love.
"Shikamaru, Temari-san." Sakura addressed the two as they approached. Naruto pivoted in his sitting position to face them.
"How did you know he's not attacking anyone?" Naruto pouted, rubbing the bum on his head.
"I saw him going to Ino's flower shop yesterday." Shikamaru said with a small blush.
"Ino?" Sakura and Naruto turned to each other and questioned.
Sai took a pail to the back of the shop and filled it with water. He stood there waiting for the pail to be filled and glanced back into the shop. Ino was standing at the counter, wrapping a bouquet of lilies for the customer at the counter.
Here he is, back in the shop once again to learn about the language of flowers. Having bothered her for twice, Sai decided to repay her, and the very least he could do is to help her out at the shop, since she seems to be the only one tending it most of the time.
The look on her face tells Sai that she's happy. He couldn't explain why, but he knew it is because of the flowers. Somehow, the past two days were the most enjoyable days he had in years. All thanks to the power of flowers, and something else...
The sound of water filling became sharper and Sai revert his attention back to the pail. He turned off the tap and carried the pail back to the shop. Then with a smaller container, he watered the potted plants that are dominating the undergrowth of the shop.
Ino bid the customer who wanted lilies goodbye and saw Sai watering the plants. The former Anbu looked weird with the apron on, but the expression on his face eliminated all the unusualness. She saw the concentration of a little child told to do work, the gentleness of a lover, the strength of a hero...
Ting-a-ling
The bells rang as someone opened the doors to the shop. Ino snapped back from her daze and turned in the direction of the door.
"Hello Ino-chan!" a loud and clear voice punched the air and startled Ino once again. Standing at the door is someone clad in green, striking a pose with a thumbs-up sign and a glint in the smile...
"Oh, hello Lee," Ino said, realizing who the person is. "Need something?"
"Uh, yes." Lee took several steps forward, his face falling deep into thought. Then on the way to the counter, he spotted Sai's crouching figure.
"Hello, my name is Sai, and please don't worry about using any name suffixes with me." Sai said with a smile.
"Oh, you're the new member of Team 7. Hello, I'm the beautiful green beast of Konoha, Rock Lee." Lee struck his pose once again. Ino laughed and shook her head in submission.
"Lee," Ino called. Lee turned and made his way to the counter. Sai found the arrival of the guest interesting and emptied the leftover water from the pail into a nearby pot of Birds of Paradise. He swiftly made his way to the back of the shop to put away the pail and took his place beside Ino.
"I need some flowers that say 'you're beautiful', 'you're elegant', 'you're lovely', 'you're sweet', 'you're ..." Lee started to describe in a dazed manner. Ino turned to Sai and raised her eyebrows. Sai shrugged and turned back to look at Lee.
"Ok, ok, I know what you need." Ino hurriedly said to stop Lee's list from going on. Goosebumps are starting to form on her skin.
"Really? Thanks!" Lee smiled and struck the thumbs-up pose. Ino crossed the couter and over to the racks. While she picked out the flowers, Sai took out the stack of papers that were used to wrap the flowers and some other tools and placed them on the counter.
Ino thought it was rather sweet of Sai to help out at the shop and the little gestures he does are rather heartwarming.
"Thanks." Ino smiled at her student and began work. The variety of flower types were turned into a beautiful and presentable bouquet enhanced by the ribbons and colored wrapping papers, under her well-practiced hands. In his heart, Sai felt a strong admiration for Ino, how she's capable of handling a shop by herself, how she's well-versed in the language of flowers, how she's proficient in posturing good interpersonal relationships with others…
"Here." Ino handed the beautiful bouquet to Lee. "Sakura is sure to like this."
"Sakura?" Sai asked.
"This bouquet is for Sakura, right? Lee?" Ino smirked.
"Hehe, yes…" the green beast blushed and laughed softly. "Oh how much are these?"
Lee paid for the bouquet and struck his usual pose before leaving. Ino smiled weakly while Sai put on a confused look. Seeing that, Ino laughed heartily.
Since the day he stepped into the shop, Ino had seen many faces of Sai. Serious, inquisitive, gentle, curious, happy, confused…
On the other hand, whenever she looked upon Sasuke's face, it's either expressionless or a stringent face. Sure, it looked cool on him, but it only reflect the vacant heart within. Compared to Sai, who had a vacant life and is trying to improve it, Sasuke is someone who had an occupied life but threw it away in search for a vacant one…
She wondered sometimes, if Uchiha Itachi was that dangerous of a person, and Sasuke trained to avenge his family, was it necessary to go to someone who is equally dangerous? He lived in Konoha for so long, doesn't he know the Konoha's way of becoming strong? Wouldn't the approach of protecting those important to him from Uchiha Itachi a much more constructive way of becoming stronger?
"…hello? Beauty?"
At the sound of the nickname, Ino snapped back into reality. She turned to face the confused ninja.
"Are you all right?" Sai asked, face still confused as ever.
"I'm fine." Ino said. "Ok, you're confused about just now right?"
Sai nodded.
"Ok, the thing here is, Lee likes Sakura, but she likes Sasuke." Ino said with a snicker. She thought about the times Lee tried to court Sakura… well, he wasn't the only one anyway…
That brings her to one thing. Sakura has got two guys after her, and Ino has none…
"Oh, then what does those flowers just now mean?" Sai asked.
"Oh, those." Ino remembered. "Well, ready for lesson number three?" she glanced at him.
"Anytime." Sai smiled.
"Ok, here goes." Ino took a step forward and tucked her hands behind her back like a teacher.
"Just now, Jasmine flowers say 'you are cheerful and graceful'. Then variegated Tulips would say 'you have beautiful eyes'."
Sai nodded as he mentally took down whatever she said. Ino looked back and saw the concentrated look on his face. She was glad to be back doing what they enjoy...
"Now, for beauty," Ino continued. "To say 'you have a delicate beauty', Hibiscus is the one. For 'splendid beauty' or 'with pride' you have Amaryllis. Then 'you posses a refined beauty' or 'you are delicate' Orchid flower is the best. Got that so far?"
"Yes." Sai nodded with a smile. Then his eyes darted around the shop, looking for more information. Seeing that curiosity, Ino went back to her 'lecture'.
"Then to compliment 'you are young and lovely', use red rosebuds. For 'youthful innocence', 'modest and pure emotions', use white lilac.
"To say 'your loveliness equals your purity' or to symbolize a marriage you use Orange Blossoms. Then 'you're sweet or pure', white lily would be best. Then again, there are loads of flowers for pure and sweet. Give me an example?" Ino suddenly turned around and asked with a hint of playfulness. Well, since she is the teacher here, wouldn't hurt to play the role to its best, would it?
"To represent 'pure' you can have White Roses, basically white colored flowers. Then for sweetness it's pink roses." Sai answered proudly, having done his homework of revision.
"Nice." Ino said, applauding before turning back to lecture.
"You can have Angelica to say 'you are my inspiration', Camellia to say 'I admire you' or 'you're perfect in every way'.
"To say 'I adore you' or 'I am proud to be with or know you', use Sunflower, and to say 'you're a perfect lover, use red tulip."
Ino turned around and look at her student. Gone was the look of confusion, and now is inquisitiveness and understanding. She was glad that she can be of help; he was the first to come to her for help willingly after all…
She couldn't help but notice the delight of sharing the language and joy flowers bring. Happiness is doubled and sadness is halved when shared with someone else. Her happiness with flowers is doubled; his sadness of being emotionless is halved…
Sai found himself enjoying the 'lessons' and in the company of flowers, and there's something he noticed about Ino. The feminine beauty of the kunoichi was augmented by the presence of flowers. And for the first time, he realized that the nickname he gave her suited her very well…
They both looked at each other for a while before knowing that they have been staring at the other. The two ninjas turned red before one faked a cough and turn away and the other scratched his cheek.
"Ehem, well, let's move on shall we?" Ino coughed.
"Yes." Sai answered softly.
Ino looked around the shop to find new things to teach. She needs it fast to break the awkward silence in the shop and she needs it now.
"Uh, beauty?" Sai started, a little tongue-tied. Ino turned around abruptly. "Are there any flowers for 'Friendships'?"
Ah, good. Friendship! Ino mentally sighed in relief and looked frantically around for the flowers.
"Here's one." She said, with the teacher's tone back in the instant. "Blue periwinkle symbolizes the first stages of friendship."
"To wish a friend good fortune, you can use Apple Blossoms, then wishes for prosperity or hope, use red leaved roses.
"To say 'take care of yourself', Azalea is a great choice.
"Then if you want to say 'our friendship is true', you can use Oak leaved Geranium."
Sai nodded to himself as he took down notes mentally. The atmosphere was instantly backed to how they first started. But there's something different… something he wasn't quite sure about…
"Also, if you want to say 'I'm sorry, please forgive me' you can send purple Hyacinth."
"Apologies?" Sai asked.
"Yeah. I usually have guys coming here to buy those to apologize to their girlfriends…" Ino laughed.
"Then you can have Zinnias to show you're thinking of an absent friend. Then white hyacinth to say 'I'll pray for you'. Iris would say 'don't give up hope'. Sweet pea can say 'goodbye'."
"Next you have Water lily to represent silence or purity of heart, fern to represent sincerity, violet for modesty, and yellow hyacinth for jealousy."
"Flowers have negative meanings?" Taken aback, Sai asked.
"Yes. That's why when you choose flowers, you must be careful." Ino said, pointing to a particular orange flower in a pot at the side of the counter. "Like marigolds, they mean grief and cruelty."
"Buttercup means childishness, horseshoe geranium represents stupidity, then you have all your flowers for rejection, example?" Ino asked again.
"Striped and yellow carnations." Sai answered with pride.
"Good!" Ino complimented. "Looks like you've been doing your homework."
Sai smiled shyly and shrugged.
"Let's move on." Ino said hurriedly, in case the awkwardness returns…
"Adonis can mean sad memories, cypress represents death and despair. Bilberry means treachery."
Ino turned around and took several steps towards Sai.
"So, be careful about sending flowers."
"Why do flowers have negative meanings?" Sai asked off-handedly.
"Well, a human has positive and negative feelings, happy and sad, optimistic and pessimistic, same goes for flowers." Ino shrugged. Sai nodded, gradually understanding.
"Thank you." Sai smiled. "Gratitude… Pink roses!"
Ino nodded and laughed. This is the first time someone thanked her, and the first time a guy made her laugh so heartily. Then suddenly, she felt something she had never felt before. Her heartbeat skipped a few beats, she felt butterflies in her stomach, she's starting to turn red on the ears and cheeks…
"So is there anything else to do around here?" Sai looked around the shop. "I've finished watering the plants, swept the floor, and arranged the pots…"
"No more." Ino chuckled. "You've done a lot today. Thank you."
"You've taught me so many things, these work is not enough to repay you." Sai scratched his cheek again.
"No need. I'm glad to be of help." Ino smiled.
The village is dyed orange and brown by the sunset. The village's shops which count on daylight for business began to retire one by one. Sai wiped the windows of the shop and flipped the sign on the door to show 'closed'.
"Thanks for your help." Ino said as she finished wiping the counter.
"You're welcome." Sai smiled. "So, bye beauty."
"Bye handsome." Ino replied.
Sai stepped out of the shop and breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't help but feel his heartbeat skipping many beats, butterflies in his stomach, turning red on the ears and cheeks when he was in Ino's shop…
He reached his apartment and turned on the lights. There, standing on the drawing board is a painting he just finished not too long ago. In the painting was a girl with long blond hair, surrounded by flowers and smiling in bliss…
He brought out the four leaf clover Ino had given him before. It is now resting in a small clear case suspending from a chain. Sai smiled and looped it around his neck, wearing the four leaf clover as a pendent.
So how's it? It's a little off color and lack of standard I know. But keep your flowers, I mean reviews coming. Any ideas of how to end the story??? hehe...