BK: I'm tired guys, but enjoy.

BK

Ino was a morning person. That was not what everyone thought she was. And she was also a gossiper. Something everyone knew she was. But at the very core, she was a great friend. And all her friends knew that.

Hinata was sick. She was helping Shikamaru and Sasuke put the roof shingles onto the houses when it started raining. Shikamaru had stopped by to tell her that Hinata got sick, that's why he couldn't spend the day hanging out with her and Choji. In her stead of getting sick, Shikamaru had to do a mission for her... even though it wasn't his fault.

Poor Shikamaru. Always getting stuck doing all the things.

Someone knocked on the door and Ino looked away from arranging the Get Well Flowers towards the knock. Sai waved at her and a little blush enveloped her face.

Running over, she opened the door, hearing the bells jingle in her family flower shop, and watched as Sai walked in, dragging her into his arms. Kissing her, he let go and asked her what she was doing so early. The shop hadn't even opened yet.

"Sai! Stop it! It's too early."

Sai said nothing as he merely smiled. Ino pouted cutely and moved over to the gift she was going to give to Hinata.

Sai was her boyfriend, something everyone knew, but he was still growing human. Naruto had taught him much and so had Sakura and Kakashi, but there was something between Ino and Sai that made them more special and made him even more human. He was genuinely in love with Ino.

"I'm making a gift for Hinata. She got sick."

Sai moved around and sat down on a chair, watching his girlfriend work.

"Hinata-san? Is she love-sick?"

Ino furrowed her eyebrows, "What makes you say that?"

Sai shrugged, "Well, Genma-san said he couldn't do missions today because Hinata asked him to stay and keep her company. He said he would do the later shifts. When I asked him why, he said it was because Hinata has love sickness. She misses him."

...Ino said nothing. Something which meant to Sai that Ino was storing the information away and hadn't decided if it was good or bad.

"Ino, my love?"

Ino looked at him and she smiled, "Is Genma a nice person? Is he strong? I know he's a bodyguard to the Hokage... but Hinata? How did they meet? How did they fall in love? Are you sure she isn't just a fling? He is an older man. Maybe she looks like an easy target because she rebuffed Naruto's feelings, but that doesn't mean - !"

Sai covered Ino's mouth and he smiled at her, "Genma loves her. You know why? Because he sounded like he had been up for two days without sleep."

Ino blinked and she touched Sai's hand tenderly. When Ino was sick... Sai watched over her too. That was when she knew that he loved her. Ino turned back to the flowers and finally added the bow.

"I'm done. Let's deliver the flowers to them. Genma needs a break."

ataniH 3 amneG

Genma looked at Hinata as she drank the warm soup. She was pale and her long dark hair made her petite body even thinner. Her delicate fingers seem fragile and her creamy eyes were more white than the suave color of the goldenrod paints.

He was so in love with her. He had even told her himself that he loved her. But she hadn't said anything back.

He wasn't entirely sure if she felt the same towards him... even if they had spend one special night together. After all, the one who got her sick wasn't Genma, it was Sasuke. What were they doing all day in the rain that got her sick?

He was tired and he knew he wasn't thinking straight. Even if it was one sided, Genma would still love her. But damn the Uchiha. Darn Naruto. Stupid Kazekage Gaara. Why was it that he had such fierce competition?

Hinata set the bowl down and she touched his hands. He looked at her and moved closer to the bed from where he was sitting. In a hoarse voice, she thanked him.

Smiling, but concerned, Genma told her not to talk. It wasn't good for her voice. He tucked her in and took the bowls to the sink.

Hinata's apartment... this was the first time he actually ever went inside, it was as proper and clean as he thought it would be. It was black and white themed. Even all her cups and plates were either black or white. The rugs, the paintings, the everything. The only things that brought colors were the oak wood furniture with a gleaming finished paint job and four picture frames.

The pictures sat on a table stand near the television set.

One of them was a picture of her squad. The frame was a flowered cutout. Kurenai, Kiba, Akamaru, and Shino stood with her in the picture, all smiling. She was so young and pretty back then. It would have been a crime if he kissed her then.

The other one was of the Hyuuga clan and her family. This one was a silver and gold finished frame. Neji stared out with quiet Hyuuga eyes and her sister Hanabi with a set mouth. Her father wasn't picture friendly either. The clan was behind her as she stared out at the picture as the only one with a smile. The picture was taken when she left the Hyuuga clan headquarters. She met Genma then.

Then the most colorful picture frame, colored with all types of colors from the palette was... Naruto. He threw the peace sign and was hugging Hinata closely as she smiled sweetly at the picture. They were grown in this picture for Naruto was wearing the Hokage robe. He was sure they took it right after the war. Genma had mixed feelings about it.

Then the last picture was in a simple frame. The colors ran into each other, but it was the color of amber and honey-colored wood. They were the colors of Genma's eyes. And the picture had Hinata and Genma, standing side by side as the Chunnin proctors. She smiled and he could see the blush. Genma wasn't even looking at the camera, he was looking at her.

Genma remembered this picture. This was the one he asked her to take with him. He was slowly falling in love with her then. He remembered when she thought he was flirting much too seriously. It brought a smile to his face.

Looking away, he went to the sink and washed the plates. Just as he dried them, someone knocked on the door. Debating whether he should open it or not since Hinata seemed adamant about keeping their relationship a secret, Genma looked through the peep hole.

It was Ino and Sai.

Yeah, Genma was not about to open the door to Konoha's number one gossiper. But then again, he had to because Ino continued knocking at the door and whispered through the mail opener.

"I know you're there Genma. Open the door."

Genma was glad he had shut Hinata's door. He was sure she was already asleep. Quietly, he opened the door and let them in. Genma gave Sai a hard look. If Ino knew about Hinata and Genma's relationship, it must have been through Sai. Sai merely smiled in response to Genma's look. Ino walked in and placed the flowers on the living room table and sat on the sofas, making herself comfortable.

She stared at Genma, "So... first things first. How's Hinata?"

Genma watched as Sai sat next to Ino and slowly laced his arm on the sofa behind Ino. He eyed their strange relationship. Genma wasn't one to talk much nor was he one who took serious situations seriously. He was a wisecrack.

So he decided to say nothing at all. Ino smiled and read the situation clearly. With a careful look around the clean and dusted room, she knew full well that Genma had been taking care of the sick Hyuuga relatively well. Clapping her hands, she knew that she wasn't wanted and that what Hinata needed most was Genma.

"I won't say anything. Make sure you aren't caught with her or else it will be my job to spread rumors."

Genma looked up at her and the curve of his lips tilted upwards. So Ino supported them. Just like Sakura. And Kiba. And Akamaru. And Kurenai. All these people supported them.

Ino smiled knowingly and she pointed outside the balcony window. Hinata's apartment was on the second floor and the sun was just starting to rise.

"It's almost morning. Be careful and keep our little Hyuuga safe. I know you'll do it even if I don't say anything. The flowers are for her."

Ino walked across the floor towards the door, hinting to Sai that they were leaving, and then gave one last look at Genma.

"... You must be something special if Hinata choose you over Naruto and Sasuke-kun. See you soon."

And with that, she exited out the door and took Sai with her. Sai followed like a puppy and gave Genma a nod.

With a quiet sigh, Genma smiled after Hinata's two strange friends. Hinata was something special. People loved her from the very bottom of their hearts. They trusted her judgment too. Locking the doors, he made it back to Hinata's room and watched her. The light in her room was still dark.

He saw her open her eyes and she smiled at him. He smiled back. She patted the spot next to her on the bed and pointed at him. He furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head.

No, I couldn't possibly sleep here.

Hinata smiled and patted the spot again. This time touching his hands and pulling them weakly towards her form.

It's okay. You're tired. Thank you.

Genma watched her eyes and smiled tiredly. Did they know each other so well now that they could read each others' thoughts?

What about the others? Our relationship?

He was already taking off his jacket and in his shirt and regular pants. Hinata just shook her head and looked at his amber eyes.

Don't worry about them. Just don't leave me. Stay with me Genma. Stay.

Her eyes stared into his and he chuckled. He couldn't say no to her. Never. But if he slept here, he would have to leave before someone else came. Even if he was deathly tired, he would still keep their precious relationship intact. Ino knew that he would. Women were just too perceptive and somehow he ended falling in love with the one that had none of the perceptiveness.

He slipped into the bed and laid his arm around her head, letting her rest on his chest. He made sure not to get too close. He still couldn't control himself very well around her since they shared that night at his apartment. He wouldn't know what to do if she got any closer to her. As of now, the head on his chest and the small hand that laid on his chest with his own hand resting on it, was enough.

I love you.

ataniH 3 amneG

When Hinata woke up, Genma was gone. It was dark, around 9 at night, and Hinata could see the set of flowers resting in a beautiful vase on her living room table when she turned on the dimmed lights. She smiled. Ino was here.

Looking around, the balcony was open and Hinata knew that Genma took that way to exit her apartment. Someone must be at the door if he took the balcony out. It was an extremely cold night. Who could possibly be here?

Walking slowly to the door, Hinata opened it, at first seeing no one, and then looked to the side.

Sasuke sat there. He said nothing as he turned to observed her. He just looked at her and saw that she was doing fine. Her pale face had gained color and her creamy eyes were looking lighter.

With a small smile of relief, he stood up and left. Hinata couldn't speak and she couldn't run either. She couldn't chase after him. Before long, Sasuke had already disappeared.

Hinata stepped out, feeling the cold night, and looked around. No one was here. What was Sasuke doing here? She moved to the spot and bent down, feeling the spot that Sasuke had sat at by her door.

It was warm. As if he had been there for a long time in the cold night.

Genma knew that Sasuke loved Hinata. He gave him a chance to see her. Sasuke was a person who didn't know how to show that he cared. He would have never knew how to take care of her. In Hinata's heart, she felt sad for the Uchiha, but thanked him for his feelings.

She rested her hands on the warm spot and closed her eyes.

Thank you Sasuke. Thank you Genma.

BK