A/N: The truth is that I wanted to write a painstakingly wholesome KankuTen story because I love that pair for no apparent reason and because they have very few stories out there to their name, but I kept getting stuck on the first line even though I have endless ideas for them. Plus it's also really hard for me to write romance, ironically. So I tried my hand at an inherently awkward couple (at least imo). Please enjoy what little I could produce xD

For an idea of the setting, I'm not really sure where this little story falls in the canon Naruto timeline, but definitely sometime after Ino saves Sai. They're not like…a couple yet but feelings are brewing frfr -insert Debbie Ryan hair tuck eye blinky thing-

Obligatory disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. A fact obvious by the lack of excessive shipping.

A Genuine Smile for Pretty Flowers

Sai smiled as Ino showed him another picture of a flower arrangement she had in sun filtered through the windows of her family flower shop as she leaned over the counter and he sat on a long legged chair diagonally across from her on the other side of the counter. The picture was actually sketched by her and was lazily dotted with colours at where the petals would be. She had said that it was just to get an idea of what the combinations would look like, but Sai honestly still couldn't see the intended effect. Mostly because she had just barely sketched the flowers, and for all his art knowledge and interest, even to him they all just kind of looked like lines. Sai learned a long time ago not to bring up any of Ino's…less than strong suits though.

They're friends. And friends often consult each other on different matters, especially if they respected one another and held their opinions in high regard. But Ino seemed to seek him out a lot. Not that he minded all that much. Actually, Sai thinks he prefers when she asks him about things opposed to her other male friends. Shikamaru is smart, but he lacked interest in many things, so she stopped asking him about anything opinion-related a long time ago. Sai is thankful Shikamaru is so uninterested. Chouji pays attention and definitely tries to keep up with Ino and whatever she brings to him, but even he tends to lose interest in favour of different things. Sai is grateful Chouji didn't like all the things Ino liked. It's not because he gets jealous, because he doesn't, obviously. It's just that it's nice to be sought after. He's happy when other people seek him out too. Granted he isn't as enthusiastic, but Sai chalks that up to bad timing. He might be a borderline super ninja, but even he gets tired.

It's at this point Sai realises he hadn't been listening to what Ino had been saying. His smile never faltered, but he can tell that even she noticed that he wasn't paying attention. She frowns a little and lowers her hand that held the picture.

"I've given you too many options, haven't I?" She looks a little disappointed as she puts the small card to the side with the others.

Sai shakes his head, "It isn't that."

"Then what is it?" She asks immediately, leaning forward with an almost panicked flash of her eyes.

"Well-"

"Well?" The panic is in her voice now and she's gripping the edge of the counter.

Sai doesn't understand why she's suddenly so anxious. He had given his opinion when she asked him about flower arrangements before, even though he knew absolutely nothing about their meanings. Ino had kindly explained some of the symbolism before which certainly helped him to give her a more informed opinion, but he still didn't know that much. Ino had even told him that she wanted his insight more as a person who knew nothing but might still feel as though a meaning is there.

He was just about the answer and possibly dig himself a grave when someone else entered the shop. He sighed thankfully as the person made their way to the counter and Ino shifted her attention to them instead. The person came right up to the counter. It was Shino.

Sai was now not so thankful for the interruption anymore. It was no secret that Shino is definitely attracted to Ino, though he never actively did anything about it.

Yet.

Sai couldn't even blame him. Most guys their age (and even many younger and older ones) found Ino extremely attractive. Apart from her physical appearance alone, she is good company and she also smelled really nice. If you could avoid making a bad first impression and curtail her wrath that was seemingly spurred by the most random of things, that there was almost close to a seventy percent chance that you might find yourself a little infatuated with her after all is said and done. Many Yamanakas boasted of their infinite charm, and people had a hard time denying their claim.

Sai had taken to observing Shino very carefully over the course of their last few interactions, and he knew Shino had noticed and was observing him too. They weren't sizing each other up, that would be ridiculous. Instead, they were merely being excellent ninja.

And excellent ninja are always alert.

"Shino, hey," Ino gave a weak smile and a small wave.

"Ino," the Aburame merely gave a slight polite nod to Sai in greeting before turning right back to the blond kunoichi.

Sai's smile faded.

"I came to check up on the order. Why? Because I haven't received any updates," Shino spoke pointedly. There was no malice in his voice.

"I know I know I'm sorry," Ino rushed around the counter to stand right beside Shino. It was here that Sai was reminded of how physical Ino is with her expressions and communication. She quickly placed a placating hand on Shino's shoulder as she rattled off why the order was taking so long.

Sai had never seen Ino so flustered before. It was so unlike her to tumble over her words over virtually anything, so to see her here just barely stringing together a sentence to explain herself was a little jarring. But that did beg the question: why? What was so special about Shino's order that had Ino so unlike herself? Had Shino placed the order in such a way as to infer something more than just needing a simple arrangement?

The Aburame in question had moved now, raising the hand of the shoulder Ino was touching to gently pull at her elbow and guide her hand away. Sai didn't like how comfortable he was with making contact. It wasn't exactly hard to learn certain aspects of the 'Konoha 12'. When Sai had first integrated into their unspoken group, he spent a lot of time learning them in a basic sense. He had primarily been learning their movesets and fighting skills just in case he had to combat them, but he also wound up learning little things about them and their personalities. For Shino, one of the main takeaways had been that he wasn't fond of physical contact. Kiba said that that had developed from years of rejection by other people who were repulsed by the bugs. But whatever had caused it, the Aburame had always shied away from it, almost to the point of deliberately moving out of reach whenever someone looked like they were about to touch him. So to see him now not only letting Ino hold onto him for such a long time through her rambling, but also to reciprocate the touch in the slowest possible manner was a bit…upsetting.

"It is okay," Shino said softly, bringing Ino to a halt in her words, still holding her elbow as she let her hand drop and a pouty expression formed on her face. "I was simply checking up."

"There there," Sai interjected, forcing the most pleasant smile he could muster, "no need to become so upset." He moved to stand now, closing some of the small distance between Ino, Shino and himself. He saw the other man stiffen slightly and was pleased as Ino seemed to turn more towards him, inadvertently pulling her arm from Shino's light grasp.

"This is an important event, Sai. How can I not get upset when I don't even have a concept in mind," she sighed as she pinched her nose.

"What is the event?"

"A wedding," Shino answered immediately, his voice gruff and he seemed almost displeased.

Sai isn't bothered by that.

"Not just any wedding. A wedding that is going to act as a merger for two smaller villages," Ino whispered, looking away from Sai in hopes that he would sense her distress more so than see it.

"Why not have the concept be love?"

"All the concepts are about love, Sai," she grumbled. Now he's seriously regretting not fully listening to her as she showed him her drawings. It wasn't that he was uninterested, he had just been distracted. Even now as she looked up at him, eyes focused solely on him, he found himself losing track of the situation and a smile formed on his face.

Shino cleared his throat. He had taken a few steps back at some point and now had his hand shoved deep into his pockets.

Good.

"You still have a few days to go. I know you will come up with something good," Shino nodded, bidding a silent farewell and leaving the store almost as quickly as he had come.

Ino waved to the Aburame's back as he left, moving back around the counter to slump herself against it once again. This time, Sai followed her around to her side, leaning slightly against the counter as he watched her bury her face in her hands with a loud groan.

They stayed like this for quite some time; Ino buried in her hands and Sai just watching her, smiling softly, questions of Ino's concern for the perfections with the flowers partially answered and his initial concerns regarding Shino effect and involvement forgotten. Minutes go by before Ino suddenly pulls herself upright, turning towards the pale man with her pouty expression from before back in place.

Cute.

"How can you just stand there smiling all the time?," she says, eyes full with an emotion he couldn't quite place.

Sai's smile widened.

"Doesn't it hurt to smile all the time?" her face was turning red as her eyes darted between his own and she was becoming flustered again.

"I don't feel it anymore," he admitted, moving to push some loose strands of hair from her face.

This time the emotion that fills her eyes he can easily identify. They watch each other quietly for what feels like hours, the flowers and the event temporarily forgotten before she speaks up again.

"What's the point in smiling if you don't mean it?"

It was an almost childish question. But Sai understood her point of view. Or at least he believed he did. Ino was the type of woman who inadvertently spoke with her face. If she didn't say it out loud you would certainly see in flash across her face. It didn't help that she had a tendency to be rather judgemental at times. For Sai it was more amusing than anything else to watch her eyes go wide in disbelief as she strained a smile to remain polite. It was the kind of expression that was difficult for him to draw accurately because it was full of so many thoughts and deliberations all at once that he feared he wouldn't portray them all correctly. But he considered her question seriously.

"It is…a reflex," he answered as honestly as he could.

"Ah…" is all she says, looking away after a while. It seems that she is disappointed again. Sai thinks he knows why this time.

"I do mean it though. Sometimes anyway," he gives a partial shrug as his lips curl upward slightly again.

"Mean what? That's it's a reflex?"

"No, not that," he chuckles, "I mean the feeling that smiles are generally supposed to imply. I do feel happiness."

"Shut the front door," she feigned shock as she dramatically threw a hand to her chest.

He chuckled again at this, "like right now."

"Right now?" and her face is turning red again.

"Yes, like right now." This time, his smile is genuine.

End.

A/N: I'm not a big fan of pitting characters against each other for someone else's affection, but I do love a good little jealousy moment XD Guilty as charged. Plus I did go through a faze where ShIno was all the rage for me. I still like it sort of, so consider this just my way of helping myself to all the spoils I could get my hands on within the time period xD