Ino raked her hands through her hair as she rested her elbows on top the counter. She wanted to crawl back into bed and sleep off the remaining thoughts swimming through her head. She didn't want to be at work, she didn't want to be awake. Sleep kept her from reality, and she was craving that more than anything at the moment. She looked around her flower shop, naming the flowers off in her head.
Magnolia, Chrysanthemum, Hydrangea, Orchid, Calla Lily, Blue Bells, Daffodil…
She set her gaze on the daffodil, a flower so bright in its sunny yellow colour that it could be considered obnoxious. Of course... it wasn't, it was beautiful. It held its own charm. A flower that primary symbolised rebirth, new beginnings, and hope. A man for every flower, and his just had to be that. It matched perfectly, he was a symbol of all three. He underwent such hardships in his life, coming out scathed but stronger, better…happier. He never lost that spark in his eyes, never gave up on his dreams. He was the epitome of hope and perseverance.
She didn't know when it had happened, falling for him the way she had. It was as if a switched had turned on. One second, he was just another body roaming around the village and the next, he had become something she wanted to grasp. It could have been his wide toothed grins, or his playful nature, maybe his will to help anyone in trouble, or how protective he was about everything precious to him.
She sighed as she moved from the counter to pick up the flower that kept haunting her this morning. It even looked like him, with those bright yellow petals and its orange centre. How could yellow and orange match so well together? How could two colours such as that, come together to form such a delightful image?
"I…need a drink."
Glancing at the time, she moaned in annoyance. It was only ten in the morning, a little to early for a stiff one. She stood in the middle of the room, looking around to find something to do. She did have a list of store chores she could start. She looked around once more to find something she would have rather liked to do. Flower arrangements would be nice. Ease her frustrations a little. She picked out a few flowers as she walked back to her seat behind the counter and went to work.
Not long after she finished, the bell at the front door chimed. She had just finalised tying a ribbon around the vase when she looked up to greet the customer.
"Good morning, most appreciated and welcomed customer. Are you here to end the misery that constantly creeps into my soul and haunts me at night?" Ino greeted with a smile.
"No, I'm actually here to feed it. It's been a while, and…I assume it's hungry."
"You are now un-welcomed. You may leave." Ino quipped calmly.
"Right after your inner misery tastes the salty tears of your agony."
They stared at one another before they finally broke out into fits of laughter.
"Tenten, you're terrible." Ino joked.
"No…yea I'm getting really good at that."
Ino basked in the after glow of her laughter. This was exactly what she needed, a good laugh. She could always count on Tenten for that. They had become quick friends after a training session a few years back. Ino had needed a training partner one evening and Tenten was eager to engage her. She found out that they flowed well together, they were both…weird, in their own ways. They shared a good bit in common but it was their differences that kept them close. They brought out something different in the other, and gave one another a different view on life.
"What are you doing here Ten? Don't you have a training session with your team to get to?"
"Nah, Lee pulled a leg muscle last week, so I'm playing hookie."
Ino gasped dramatically. "The great and powerful Tenten, skipping training…of her own free will?"
" .Har," Tenten glared. "People need to be recharged in order to stay functional." Tenten quipped back at her friend.
"Well, you're welcomed to stay here, I could use the company." She said as she adverted her eyes to the counter in front of her.
"Why, what's happening? Tenten quirked her brow at the blondes tone of voice.
Ino glanced up as quickly as she glanced down. Ino wasn't sure if she wanted to tell her. It wasn't just her business, it was a situation that consisted of two other people. Who was she to talk about their affairs, but mainly she was scared of Tenten's judgement. As she fussed, her musings were interrupted by the sound of Tentens wailing.
"Must you make such a noise."
"Must you always go into dreamy la la land," Tenten mocked, "Now opening a new attraction, spacey look in the eye as one looks into the distance to prolong a dreaded yet vital conversation…ride, turning into a trippy convoluted tunnel boat ride of self awareness."
Ino glared harshly at her friend. "Are you turning my life into theme park rides?"
"Yes, and don't change the subject. I know you little lady, I'm not gonna let you keep me in the dark," Tenten confessed full heartedly. "You only change subjects on things you find hard to say."
Ino sighed. Tenten was right, she was usually, always right. Tenten had picked up on those types of quirks and habits a long while ago. She wasn't sure why she was trying to avoid the conversation in the first place, she had brought it up. It was happening again, all these feelings she couldn't understand. It was starting to giver her a headache. As much as she wanted to tell her, she also didn't. Ino knew she wouldn't have been able to keep it to herself any longer, everything was driving her mad. She didn't care if Tenten would be pissed off or disappointed, she needed advice.
"Ten, I have something to tell you."
"Mmhmm?" Tenten encouraged.
"It's about Naruto…and Sakura…and me."
"Is this about your manasia twa?"
Ino's skin lost all colour at her friend's confession. Her body went stiff and her face turned expressionless. Her dirty little secret, wasn't so secret anymore.
"You know?" yelled Ino, quickly looking around the room for any strays.
"Oh, you sweet child, you," Tenten cooed. "Of course, I know. Who do you take me for?"
Ino sputtered for words. Her thoughts going in each and every direction. Her mind being crushed under all her questioning.
"How?" She managed to whisper out.
Tenten stared at her nonchalantly. She leaned onto the counter, placed her elbow on top and proceeded to rest her head onto her palm. "You smell."
Ino blinked rapidly at her response. She smelled? She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe in before opening them once again to repeat her question.
"Honey, you've got to be kidding me." Tenten groaned out.
"What? I don't understand."
"Have you just gotten use to the smell?" Tenten questioned, shaking her head.
Ino stared incredulously at her friend. What was she talking about? What smell? How could she smell anything but flowers in this shop. They were so overwhelming.
"Ino, you're a wild child," Tenten declared. "You've only ever smelt of flowers since the day I've met you."
"You're just proving the thoughts in my head to be true." said Ino.
Tenten could only laugh. "You went from lavender and lilacs to cherries."
Ino eyes widened a bit at that. She couldn't believe that Tenten had picked up on that scent.
"Then it went from the addition of cherries to this blend of pine and cinnamon," Tenten continued. "It took me a while to figure out who that smell belonged to."
Ino stood shocked. She hadn't realised that their scents had clung on to her. Her interactions with them were so fleeting at times that she couldn't have imagine smelling like either one of them. There were times when she didn't even partake, she just oversaw. How did she not notice their scents lingering on her skin? If Tenten could notice, anyone would be able to.
Ino gaped at her companion, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. She bit her lip and clenched her fists. How could she have been so stupid. Tenten seemed to quickly pick up on her distress.
"Hold on there, don't freak out on me," Tenten panicked, "I ain't ready for the water works ."
"How many people know?"
"Lets see…me...and um, oh…me," Tenten tried to reassure. "Hooker, I know you. I'm always around you. I pick up on the little things."
Ino smiled at the name calling. It weirdly came off endearing whenever Tenten called her names. It was always surprising to hear coming out of the weapon mistress's mouth, that it would jolt her out of herself, something she needed at times.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, and even if people knew, they wouldn't care," Tenten reassured. "Sexier things happen in this village for anyone to care about you three."
Ino smiled even wider at the thought. "Sexier, you say?"
"I shall not spill the secrets of the perverts that roam this village," Tenten declared. "But what's really bothering you? You seemed way to freaked out before to be acting normal now."
"I hadn't realised that I calmed down."
"You haven't, your knuckles are turning white." Tenten said pointing at Ino's hands.
Ino released the death grip she had on the air. She peered over the counter, looking at her flower shop.
"I was afraid."
"Of what?" Tenten questioned.
"Of being looked at as a fool."
Tenten's expression soured. "And why, do tell, would you end up looking like a fool."
"Cause I'm the idiot in love, fooling around with a couple who already have each other. In the end, I just look desperate."
As the tears began to fall, Ino could feel her body begin to tremble. All those thoughts she kept hidden in the back of her mind sprung forward. She shut her eyes and willed her frantic heart to steady. All that pain Ino was pushing down, came back up with a force that could knock her on her ass. She didn't want to face reality, she wanted to stay blissfully ignorant. She just wanted to be happy.
"How bout you tell me what's going on between you and those two knuckleheads?"