Blonde Love (DeiIno)

The first time she met him she wasn’t on her shift; she had just been arranging flowers and chatting with her mother, watching the few customers they had mill about and look at the flowers. He had pushed open the door, and stepped in with a strange cautiousness around him, which was oddly contrary to the way the corners of his mouth tilted upwards.

Ino instantly thought to herself, shinobi. They way he walked was controlled, and his footsteps were quiet. She saw no hitai-ate anywhere on him, but there was no way he was a civilian. His clothing was simple and a shade of dark green. It looked comfortable, but too thin and casual for a ninja. As she watched him take a look around the shop with what she labeled as artists eyes, Ino decided he was most likely on vacation in Konoha from another village, and if her conclusion was true, he was some sort of artist.

She snapped out of her thoughts as she noticed his eyes were on her. They made eye contact, and Ino saw that his eyes were blue, like hers, but a shade darker, like the sky at twilight. His hair was almost like hers; blond, but it was brighter. He had it pulled back into a low ponytail, and his part suggested that even though they were pulled back, he usually let his bangs down in front of one of his eyes, like her, but on the opposite side.

Then, she watched as he started walking toward the aisle she was standing in. Ino felt embarrassed; he had obviously noticed her staring, and he looked amused. She hoped he wouldn’t say anything about it and that he just wanted some help with finding some flowers…

“Hello.” His voice was rather deep, but quiet. After he spoke, he let out a strange little humming noise, which reminded her of something, but she couldn’t put her finger on what.

When he gave her a questioning but amused look, his twilight eyes boring into her dawn eyes, she flushed in embarrassment and greeted him, forgetting she wasn’t working today.

“Hi! Welcome to The Yamanaka flower shop! Can I help you with anything?”

Ino’s question hung in the air, and they stared at each other. As she let the image of his face sink into her mind, she felt her knees shudder. Her heartbeat sped up, and her breath came out quicker. She felt her face flush, and the urge to babble about the flowers in the shop rose up from inside her as the stranger stared into her eyes. Fortunately, he saved her from even more embarrassment.

“…I’d like some roses.” He let out the strange hum again, and one of the corners of his mouth rose.

“What color?” She breathed.

He paused, then replied with a strange look in his eyes.

“Red, blue, light pink, lavender, and coral.”

Ino’s eyes widened slightly and she swallowed. True love, mystery or attaining the impossible, desire or passion, love at first sight. She wondered if he knew what those flowers meant.

“O-Of course. Just give me a minute, please!”

She rushed off into the back of the shop, desperate to get away from him for a even just a moment. When she neared the area were they stored the roses, she realized that he never said how many of each he wanted. But then again, there was no way she’d be going back just yet.

Ino sat down on one of the crates that they used for shipping the flowers and put her hands over her mouth.

He had walked in, and looked around. She’d never seen him before, but he seemed familiar in a way. If he happened to know the language of flowers, as she did, and he felt that way about her…

Ino sighed to herself and bit her lip, trying to suppress her excitement of the romance of it all, and let a huge smile spread over her face.

I think I’m in love.