"Female ninjas must learn a wide range of techniques as a woman, not just shinobi techniques. If you cannot act like a proper woman in enemy territory, you will have trouble spying. Today's topic is flower arrangement," Suzume intoned.
"Oh yeah!" Ino exclaimed. Sakura eyed her shyly, her hands clasped around her knees.
The rest of the class groaned. "Again?"
"The art of flower arranging is a life skill," Suzume insisted, "and as I recall, the only kunoichi in the entire class that is able to master it so far is Yamanaka Ino."
She looked expectantly at Ino, who frowned. What did her sensei want her to do, stand up and take a bow? Ino stared resolutely forwards, determined to ignore her if it came to that. Suzume's mouth tightened into a thin line.
"No fair!" someone shouted, "She practically lives in a garden, sensei! Her parents own a flower shop."
Suzume acted as though the student hadn't spoken, but her mouth tightened even more. "Now run along, children. Go pick the flowers you want."
Ino was thrilled to be back in her favourite meadow, even though the rest of the class was here with her. Their loud, boisterous voices couldn't spoil her mood, not today. She ran off in search of some flowers, forgetting about Sakura momentarily.
"Ino-chan, wait up!" Sakura bounded after her. She waved frantically, trying to catch her attention. Halfway there, however, she tripped and fell into the grass.
"You're so clumsy," Ino teased, helping her up. Sakura blushed and stumbled to her feet. Together, they went off in search of pretty flowers. Ino kept her eyes peeled for roses, but her instincts told her that the one she found the other day was probably unique to this field, and such good fortune would never smile upon her a second time. Or would it? Nevertheless, she scanned her surroundings, still hoping.
"I'm no good at this," Sakura sighed after a few minutes. Ino glanced sideways at her friend. Sakura's hands were full of limp thoroughworts and her expression was grim.
"Hmm, there's a trick to these things," said Ino, smiling. She held out her hand to Sakura. "Here, I'll teach you. You first need to pick your main flower, and then add other flowers to accentuate it. Flowers shouldn't fight to be number one. Let's see…"
Sakura pointed to a patch of cosmos in the distance. "How about those, Ino-chan?"
Ino followed her gaze and her expression tightened for a moment. Cosmos…
"Yes, they're pretty," Ino nodded approvingly, "A cosmos would make a nice main flower indeed."
Sakura scampered over to the flowers and carefully picked a single cosmos. Then she came back and proffered the flower to Ino. She took it, and continued, "Then these thoroughworts you picked would accentuate it nicely. You know, cosmos are known as the cherry blossoms of the fall. It's also the most beautiful flower during the fall season."
Sakura nodded and stared, wide-eyed. "What does it mean?"
Ino looked away. Ami had told Sakura that the language of flowers meant a lot to Ino. "Harmony," she said quietly, "so it should fit in with any other fall flowers." She plucked a thoroughwort from Sakura's slack grip tucked it in her blonde hair.
"What do you think?" she asked mischievously. "Do I look good with this? Like a cosmos? Am I cute?"
Sakura gave a little start. She gazed at Ino, her eyes clouded.
"Well?" Ino prompted.
"Yes," she replied, smiling slightly.
"Took you long enough," said Ino, laughing, "What was that gap?"
Sakura giggled and hugged her knees.
"You seem to be having fun today, Forehead Girl."
Ino and Sakura both whipped around. The latter whimpered and cowered behind Ino when she realized who it was. Ino glared threateningly at Ami, who didn't seem to notice. She was too caught up in cornering her prey.
"You've been trying to look cute lately, haven't you?" Ami sneered, "Not that it's working. Don't flatter yourself, Billboard Brow."
Sakura's eyes filled with tears as Ami came forward prodded her forehead painfully.
That's it! She'll never insult my best friend and get away with it ever again! Ino deftly snatched some flowers from the pile Sakura had dropped and aimed it directly for Ami's mouth.
"UGH!"
"Ami-chan!" Fuki and Kasumi screamed in synchronization. They quickly ran over to their fallen leader.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Her mouth was open so wide, I mistook it for a vase," Ino said calmly, folding her arms in front of her chest.
Ami struggled to get up, pushing her friends aside. "Ino-pig!" she screeched, her eyes flashing murderously.
"Ninja flower aconite. It's a weak poison, but you should still spit it out," Ino said indifferently, twirling a hyacinth in her fingers. Sakura turned to Ino, her face full of undisguised shock.
"AHHH!" Ami, Kasumi, and Fuki shrieked, running away as fast as their legs could carry them. "Sensei…!"
Ino laughed in satisfaction. Her bluff had worked. Sakura continued to stare.
"Only the roots have poison in them, though," she explained. Sakura's bewildered expression changed into a huge, silly grin. Then it faltered for a moment.
"Sakura?" Ino asked, her eyebrows furrowing.
Sakura's eyes flickered to the thoroughwort still clutched in her hand. "If you're a cosmos, Ino-chan, am I a thoroughwort?"
What? No! Ino didn't want to be a cosmos. Ami was right, cosmoses had no substance. They were pretty to look at, but useless from the inside out. They represent harmony, Ino…
Comparing flowers to people was bad, especially now, when she had so much room to change. She had hoped to be a rose, and look where that led her? Now she was nothing but a worthless cosmos.
"And there I thought it was something different about me, something wrong with me…" Ino said softly to herself. "Maybe one day I'll prove to them, to everyone, that I'm not just an ordinary cosmos. I will be an exceptional cosmos, one that will live up to its meaning in the language of flowers!"
"What are you talking about?" Ino exclaimed finally. "Well, if you ask me, you're not even a flower yet, just a bud." A bud with so much room for growth, for change…
Sakura's eyes widened, and she smiled sheepishly. "Yeah…"
Ino wondered if she should have lied. Should she have told her that she was, say, a cherry blossom?
"Ino-chan?"
"Yes?" she asked, jolting back to reality.
"Why did you give me this ribbon?"
Ino blinked. "Because…I thought it would be a waste for you to wither away as a bud. It might turn out into a flower even more beautiful than a cosmos. Besides, we're friends, the best of friends! And that's what friends are for – to help and be there for each other."
Sakura's lips trembled, and she looked down at her feet.
"Come on Sakura! Let's go pick some more flowers," Ino suggested, standing up and motioning to her to do the same.
Sakura stayed unmoving, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears.
"What's wrong, Sakura?"
"S-something got into my eye when I tripped."
Ino laughed. "You're so clumsy. Come on!"