Staring after the jetting yellow headed ninja as he made his way to the shy little Hinata, one couldn't be mad for long.
… Until she realized the cost of the fancy flowers and toy he had stuffed under his arm.
"Damn you, Naruto. My father is going to kill me."
Ino grumbled, slamming the door angrily until she heard a yelp from the other side. She jumped to open swing it back open, hoping she hadn't hurt a costumer.
"Oh, I'm so s-"
She started only to be looking up at Shikamaru, her teammate and friend.
"Damn woman, you smashed my hand."
He muttered, shaking off his hand as a small red line already began to show on his light skin.
Feeling bad for a second, she walked away, back to her desk.
"You shouldn't have stuck your hand in here anyways."
Shikamaru shot her a dirty look, closing the door behind him.
"Excuse me for wanting to be a costumer. I can go else where."
"And find deal as good as here? Ha! Who you kidding?"
She remarked with a wicked grin, returning to her book as Shika paced around the aisles.
"Care to share what you are doing here anyways?"
"My mom."
Ino looked up a moment to look at him since his response was softer than usual and he caught her look before turning away, snatching up a few carnations.
"It's valentines' day, okay? She got me a box of candy and I didn't get her anything and she likes flowers. So sue me."
He grumbled at her, pushing the flowers in front of her, casting his eyes to a corner of the store as he scratched at his head shyly.
"She likes carnations?"
"I… I don't know her favorite flowers…"
"Seriously?"
Ino exclaimed but bit her tongue as Shikamaru showed an embarrassed and shamed look. She quickly covered her tracks the best she could.
"W-well, my mom loves these flowers and I think they're pretty so you should have no problem."
"What is your favorite flower, Ino?"
He asked, curiously, watching her carefully.
Ino blinked while she stopped mid-wrapping of the carnations.
"I, uh… Well, I never really thought of it… nor have I been asked before. I really don't have a favorite."
She replied quietly, ducking her head from him to hide her light blush working its way of her cheeks.
'What the hell am I blushing for?'
"You okay?"
"Yea, yea. I'm fine. Here!"
She presented him the wrapped flowers.
"So what do you like then?"
He asked again, taking the flowers though not really paying attention to them.
Ino drew a blank, just staring back at him, hoping the wheels in her head would turn.
"… "
"Well?"
Shikamaru tried again but tilted his head closer to her making her blush and jump back.
"Bears!"
'Bears?!'
"Huh?"
"B-bears… yea, bears. I like bears!"
She blurted out and he cracked an amused smile.
"Bears?"
"W-well, yeah. I mean, they're cute and… big."
Ino mumbled, trying to cover her tracks but at this point, Shikamaru's shoulders shook as he held in his laughs.
"Whatever you say, Ino."
He passed his money onto the counter and walked briskly to the door.
"I'll see you later, 'Kay? And, thanks for the help."
He gave her a nice smile and ducked out the door leaving her to drop her head to the counter.
'Such a moron. What is your problem?'
Ino growled to herself, brushing her thick hair piece from her eyes, rolling her head to the side without lifting it.
"What do I care what Shikamaru asks? I don't care. He can ask all he likes! Go ahead! He could bombard me with questions. I'll take it. Bring it on!"
"Bring it on? My order isn't that large…"
Ino whipped around to see Kakashi blinking back at her, confused. Ino blushed and gave off a nervous chuckle.
"Oh, n-not you! I was… just talking to myself. Welcome!"
Kakashi gave her a smile, forgetting what had happened and browsed around for a moment.
"I only need a few flowers."
"Not a bouquet?"
"No. Hm..."
He paused, fingering a few petals of a Daffodil thoughtfully.
"How about just three of these? Is that okay?"
He asked, lifting three and holding them out to Ino who took them.
"The costumer is always right. So, who's the lucky lady?"
She asked with a wink but Kakashi blew it off with a shrug.
"I'd like to keep my secrets to myself, if you wouldn't mind."
"Ah, that's no fun, Kakashi-sensi."
"Sorry to disappoint. How's your valentines' day?"
He asked and grinned when Ino rolled her eyes.
"I'm working. It's like heaven."
"What a meek idea of heaven you have."
Kakashi commented as he took the flowers back after the exchange of money and stared at the flowers a moment before taking out one and presenting it to her with a flourish of bowing, holding it out like a gentleman.
"For you. I hope you find a better heaven for Valentines' day."
Ino smiled brightly, taking the flower and holding it close to her.
"Thank you very much, Sensi. Good Luck with your mystery woman."
Kakashi was to the door before he responded.
"Good luck with your mystery man."
"Huh?"
"You'll see. Bye!"
Gone as fast as he came.
Ino was left yet again with a confused cloud swirling in her mind.
'What is up with the world today?!'
Ino sighed, taking her place at the counter as other costumers came and went with gifts for their valentines.
At closing time, she stretched in relief and moved to close up the shop. As she left, flipping the sign and locking the door, a rock flew by, bouncing of the ground at her feet, hitting the wall. Ino turned around quickly, tensed and ready but was only met with darkness.
"Who's out there?"
Another rock, this time flew a little farther off down the street that hit something just beside the shop. Curiosity, which wasn't always the best thing, got the best of her and she cautiously walked to it. When she thought she saw nothing, another rock flew and hit a box just off to the right of her.
It was a small white box, dusty from the dirt it sat on with her name scrawled across the lid in somewhat sloppy handwriting. She gave a glance around her surroundings before picking it up and removing the lid carefully and a large smile broke out on her face, lighting her up dispite the darkness.
Inside was lined with yellow tissue paper with a small brown teddy bear nestled in the middle of it holding a single rose and had a forehead protector on it with a purple ribbon.
"Oh…!"
She took out the bear and nuzzled it affectionately as she turned back to the direction the rocks were coming from. She stared into the darkness before letting out a mischievous smile and disappearing behind the store and then appearing on the roof, now looking at the back of the one throwing the rocks.
"So, you like it?"
He asked, hearing the smile in his voice and Ino smiled at that spiky ponytail of his.
"You're smart, what do you think?"
"Bears. Who'd of thought?"
He remarked sarcastically, turning to look at her now.
"Were you really that shy?"
"I wasn't shy! I just… I've never been asked something like that before. I blanked."
Shikamaru chuckled.
"So, if you really didn't like bears, I'd be pretty much screwed. I'd have to try and be Temari's Valentine."
That pushed a button, which she was sure his intent was.
"Oh, well, then here! Give her the bear then."
She snapped, holding the bear out to him but he stood up and walked to her, taking the bear in his hands, with her hands still on it and pulled her closer, holding their hands to his heart as he smiled down at her. His smile not affected by the dwindling light.
"I don't want her as my valentine."
He replied, leaning to kiss Ino quickly on the mouth then pulled back, incase he had gone too far.
She froze then smiled, throwing her arms, with the bear still in hand, around his neck for a deeper kiss.
When they pulled away, Ino stared up at him lovingly.
"A better heaven…"
She murmured, thinking of what Kakashi had said.
"Hn?"
"Nothing."
She glanced at the bear.
"Would you really have taken this to Temari if I didn't like it?"
"No. She doesn't like bears."
He joked and Ino didn't take it to heart.
"You're such an asshole."
She commented with a smile as she shoved him playfully in which he took the hit then grasped her hand again.
"But, I'm your asshole."
Ino grinned, looping her other arm around his neck, pulling him down for another kiss, sinking into it like a gentle dream.
"Lucky me."