Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Poisoned Petals. Enjoy the 1000-word chapter. I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto and a few others do.

Mareo made no attempt to tear off the bandages that were busy getting replaced. He knew for a fact that he would be healing soon enough.

Whatever thoughts he currently had? Mareo had them interrupted by the sound of the door slowly opening and a familiar voice.

"I thought they were lying when they said you were being quiet." Ino said while she took a seat next to his bed.

"No, just deep in thought when it came down to it." Mareo stated and looked at Ino with interest. "I heard you signed some papers. Are you really considering this? You don't have to do this, you know you can just walk away, right? I'm sure there will be plenty of ANBU agents that want to question me and all that." Mareo said, turning to look to the side.

Ino shook her head. It didn't make a lick of sense to her why she put so much effort into trying to help Mareo… Maybe she was just as damn stubborn as he was.

Or maybe she was just stupid. Either way? She was invested in this despite every single bone in her body telling her not to be… But then again? When did she listen to common sense outside of missions and such?

Ino looked at Mareo who hummed and laid her head in her hands. She placed a hand on Mareo's chin, her manicured fingers tickling the light stubble under it as she tilted his head towards her.

"Most of your injuries seem to be gone." Ino said and tilted his head downwards. "Billboard brow is right; you will be out of here by tonight. Guess I'll stay until then, isn't like I got a lot on my plate to be dealing with." Ino muttered to which Mareo mentally chuckled.

He looked at this woman with interest. The same woman who didn't seem that concerned with his health… But her eyes gave away that YES, she was very concerned and simply hiding it in her mind.

"You're really going to stay here with an idiot like me?" Mareo asked, rolling her eyes as Ino dropped his head. "I must be pretty special, then." Mareo said while watching Ino shake her head.

'Sometimes I question just WHAT I did to get this screwed over in life…. Bah, I know. My parents seem to hate me simply for being BORN. It was pretty much written in stone from the day I was born.' Mareo thought to himself and shook his head.

He turned back to Ino who looked at him, seeming to pick him apart with just her eyes. Mareo had seen only a few people that observative. His mother for one… But his mother was a horribly wretched being who wouldn't hesitate to throw him under the bus.

"Ino?" Mareo asked which caught the kunoichi's attention to turn to him. "What's it like being a florist? I know you're a Kunoichi, but I think it's funny, putting life back into the world… I'm just curious what it's like when it comes down to it." Mareo added while he shook his head.

"I…" Ino stated while she looked to the side, not knowing what to say for a moment. "It's interesting. I haven't met many people who show much interest in that. I like it, there's been far too much death. I don't know how best to explain it. Not without a lot of time." Ino added to which Mareo chuckled and hummed.

Mareo smiled and looked at the florist. He slowly sat up before looking at her with interest. Mareo smiled despite the rest of his body being wracked pain once more.

"Well, I'm not going anywhere for a while." Mareo said and looked at his legs with more amusement. "I have plenty of time. I want to hear what it's like. Violence has been plenty of my life. I don't want to hear about war." Mareo stated before clearing his throat.

"I'd like to hear more about putting flowers back into the world." Mareo stated while leaning back in bed. "But if you don't want to talk about it…." Mareo said, earning an elbow from the woman at the moment.

Mareo could only ponder what would happen when he got out of the building. Would the ANBU even care about what they here? He didn't expect a trial if they found him, they had already branded him a missing nin… And Mareo was smart enough to know how that worked when it came down to it.

"You know, if I'm going to speak?" Ino questioned and looked to the side. "You might want to listen… Also? I talked to Sakura. Considering you've got nowhere else to go? Your coming with me… At least until they work out what to do anyway… Their looking into your case now." Ino added which caused Mareo to blink at her with confusion as he realized what she had just stated.

"Uh… Did you just?" Mareo started to say before seeing the smirk upon the florist's face.

He shut up, more curious about her story then he was about his own questions at the moment. The thought did nag at him, however… But he was almost UTTERLY curious as to what she could possibly mean when it came down to it.

"Continue…" Mareo stated, unsure at all what to say.

Then again? Considering how things had been so hectic recently? He could allow a brief moment of confusion.

Ino decided to save the flower talk for outside the hospital.

Author notes

Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out this story will be updated more when it comes down to it. Next chapter will hopefully be 1500 words or such. It will show more bonding and Mareo starting his stay at the flower shop. Until then? Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Next chapter is in 2-10 months. Sakura and Sarada are 900 words, Tsunade 1500 hopefully, Hanabi 900, and Delta 1200 at the moment.