Florist
Tobirama looked at the clock behind the counter where he was standing.
Had it really only been ten minutes?He thought to himself. Resisting the urge to groan out loud, he grabbed the nearby spray bottle and began wandering around his brother's flower shop.
His older brother had bought the store with his best friend shortly before he was born. Tobirama had never questioned why his brother had made the decision to buy the store because Tobirama simply didn't care.
"I wish our positions were reversed," he said to a budding rose. "I stay in the same place all day, basking in the sun and being watered from time to time."
The rose didn't reply, but Tobirama imagined it wouldn't be willing to trade lives anyway.
He heard the shop's front door open. He stared at the rose a little longer before heading into the main area to greet the customer.
"Anyone here?" the customer said, still waiting for Tobirama to appear.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Tobirama said. "What do you need?"
She was an old woman, someone Tobirama didn't recognize. She wore a light, white robe with a strip of green cloth around her shoulders. Her reddish hair was tied back in a knot on her head, except for her bangs, which were held back by a headband.
It must be from a coastal area,Tobirama thought, remembering a school lesson about coastal clothing. Although most cities and counties kept to themselves, it wasn't uncommon for a visitor from a foreign country to come by. For a moment, Tobirama thought she would ask him where he was, but decided he didn't care enough to find out.
"I'm Katara," the old woman said. "I come from Uzugakure."
I guess that answers my unspoken question. Tobirama's internal dialogue continued.
"Are you the owner of this store?" She asked.
"No, I just work here. My brother and his friend own the store."
"Are any of them nearby? I'd like to talk to them, if possible."
"I'm sure one of them will be here soon. I don't know when, though."
Katara smiled. "Guess I'll have to wait then, huh?"
He turned to examine the plants on display as Tobirama pulled out the nine-square-per-color Rubik's Cube he'd been working on. To his dismay, the old woman continued talking to him while smelling the flowers.
"What's your name? You forgot to introduce yourself."
"Tobirama Senju," he muttered without looking up.
"How cute. How old are you?"
"Twenty one."
"Oh, a young man. I have an honorary granddaughter who is twenty-four years old."
"How nice."
"Do you want to know why I'm here?"
"Mm-hmm," Tobirama agreed, though all his attention was on the cube in his hands and not on the conversation.
"I'm thinking about opening my own flower shop in Uzugakure. I heard good things about this shop and was coming to see if you'd be willing to open a chain in my town."
"Mm-hmm."
"Yeah, it would be nice to bring some spring life back to the coast. Don't you think?"
"Yes, sure."
"The only problem is that even if I open a store, I'm not sure I can hire staff right away... Do you think you or your coworkers would be willing to come work for me for a while? Just until I get things up and running."
"It makes sense."
"Do you think you could come work for me?"
At that moment the cube was fully formed into a cube in a cube in a cube (I based it on Felicity Smoak from Arrow), signifying Tobirama's triumph over the challenge.
"Yes!" he said, not realizing the question Katara had just asked him.
"Oh really? That would be wonderful!"
"Huh? What are you-"
The shop door opened again, this time admitting Tobirama's older brother.
"You must be one of the shop owners," Katara said, turning to him. "You don't look much like your brother, being dark-skinned, with brown eyes and hair, while he is pale with white hair and reddish eyes."
After all their introductions were complete (Tobirama had grabbed a box of puzzles to work on), the old woman told of her idea to open another flower shop in her desert town.
"So what do you think, Hashirama?" he said, turning to Tobirama's brother.
"I'd have to check with my partner, but I'm sure they'd be delighted to hear about this opportunity."
"One of your staff has already agreed to come and help me open the store!"
"Really who?"
"Well, your brother, of course."
Hashirama turned his attention to his younger brother. "I'm proud of you for stepping up, Tobi. You've finally done something right."
Tobirama's head snapped up, piecing together the fragments of the conversation he had overheard.
“Now wait a second…” he said, but to no avail. Katara and Hashirama had already begun negotiations, one of which included Tobirama’s job transfer.
---
"This is downright illogical," Tobirama said.
The sun was blazing, even in the shade of the cabin he was standing in. Surrounding him were all kinds of coastal plants, from orchids to palm trees.
"How can people live here?" he muttered under his breath. It had been a week since I'd been transferred to Uzugakure to help Katara open a flower shop on the coast. Tobirama watched the coastal residents walk by, amazed at how unconcerned they seemed about the heat during the day and the wind that swept through the village in the afternoons, not to mention the chill at night.
"You look horrible," said a voice to her left.
Tobirama turned to see one of these inhabitants, this was a woman of his same age.
"You must not be from around here," he continued.
Her voice sounded authoritative, mocking. Tobirama briefly wondered if she was here to argue with him, but decided he didn't care.
“If you don’t want a plant, I recommend you continue on your way,” he said.
"That's no way to talk to a beautiful lady."
Tobirama turned away, annoyed. She was a beautiful lady, but that didn't make her any less annoying.
"What do you want?" he said, not bothering to hide his annoyance in his voice.
"I just found out about the new flower shop and decided to come check it out." He glanced at the succulents. "I didn't think I'd see a foreign guy running the place."
For some reason, her words, which normally wouldn't bother him, aggravated him even more.
Maybe it was all this heat.
"Look, I'm just here to help Katara sell flowers until she can run this place on her own, okay?"
The woman smiled. "All right, all right. No need to get defensive, Siberian."
Tobirama thought her observation was logical, coming from a girl with two buns on her head. He almost commented before deciding against it. Why was he getting so worked up?
"Whatever," he said instead, fanning himself with his hand. This is really unnecessary and annoying, he thought.
"Well, don't die of heat stroke," he said, turning away.
"Have a good trip," he said softly. He took another sip of water. "He probably wants me to die of heat exhaustion."
The next day, Tobirama and Katara stand at the flower stand, watching the clouds pass by as Tobirama talks about the different plants and their specific needs.
After lunch, to Tobirama's disappointment, the mocking woman from yesterday passed by again. "Hey, Siberian boy," she said, standing in front of the booth. "Good afternoon, Katara," she said, bowing slightly to the old woman.
"Good afternoon, Mito. Have you met Tobirama yet?"
"Tobirama? Is that your name? I like the Siberian boy better," he laughed.
Tobirama pretended not to hear, focusing his attention back on a puzzle book. But it was hard to ignore her demanding voice.
"Well, I just wanted to bring you something, Siberian," said the detestable woman named Mito.
Tobirama looked at her, surprised to see that she was holding a small hand fan.
"You looked so terrible yesterday that I thought I'd help. Foreigners have a hard time in the heat," he said.
"Oh. Um- thanks. I guess," Tobirama replied.
"What, you don't like it?" she said, narrowing her blue-green eyes.
"N-no, I like it. Surprised, is the right word. I thought you wanted me to die." Gosh, why is it so hard to talk to this woman?
Seemingly satisfied with her answer, she left, walking down the street. Tobirama watched her go until she turned a corner and was out of sight. He opened the small fan and began to use it, surprised by how effective it was.
"You two would make a great couple," Katara said, making Tobirama jump. He'd forgotten she was there.
"What are you talking about? I barely know her, we've only met once before."
"Ah, but that's how it always starts," he said mysteriously.
Why do women like to complicate my life?He thought, fanning himself harder. He hoped Katara thought the blush on his cheeks was from the sun, not that he was embarrassed.
Another week had passed, and Mito was still visiting the stall from time to time. Business had started to pick up. It helped the day go by faster, helping the customers. But it was also work. Tobirama didn't know how to feel about it; he liked working but preferred puzzles and problem-solving, an exercise for his sharp mind.
He looked at his watch and was surprised to find it was almost time to close the store.
Mito hasn't come today, he found himself thinking. Maybe tomorrow.
He stopped dead in his tracks. Wait, why do I care if she comes?
"I wonder where Mito is," Katara said, as if she could hear her thoughts.
"I don't know. I don't care either. She's a grown woman, she can take care of herself."
"Why don't you ask her out next time you see her?"
Tobirama almost choked on the water he had been drinking.
"That would be inappropriate, I already told you, I barely know her."
Katara raised her eyebrows at his response. "All right, all right. No need to be so passionate," she said mischievously.
They continued closing the store in silence.
"It's not like she'd agree to go out with me anyway," Tobirama muttered aloud before he could stop himself.
"I'm not so sure about that."
Before Tobirama could ask why she responded with that, Katara handed him her daily wages.
"I put some extra money in there. You've really been helping me out, you've earned it," he said. "It should be enough for two bowls of ramen."
"Why would I need two bowls of ramen?"
Katara simply winked at him and walked away.
The next day wasn't any hotter than the rest, but Tobirama couldn't stop sweating. Katara looked at him worriedly as she reached for her third bottle of water.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," he moaned softly.
His thoughts raced through his head. Last night, he'd found out why Katara had given him money for two bowls of ramen. He also thought about Mito. About asking her out on a date.
I'd never been so nervous. What's wrong with me? he thought. Maybe she won't even come today. And what do I care?
Eventually, she calmed down, but every time someone came to the booth, she jumped. But the woman with the two bright red buns and violet eyes never arrived.
Tobirama was almost relieved when the store was about to close. She didn't come after all.
"Hey, stranger," a voice called. It was Mito.
"Hello, Mito!" Katara replied.
"Aren't you going to say 'hello' to me too?" Mito said, looking at Tobirama.
"What? Oh. Hello."
She looked at him, as if she expected him to say something else.
But Tobirama didn't want to say more, so he looked back at him.
Katara, looking at the two, decided it was time to leave.
"I suddenly have to go. You're in charge of closing the shop," she told Tobirama. Before he could reply, she left. To her annoyance, Mito sat in Katara's now-empty seat.
"Today is a good day," he said, now looking ahead.
"Yes," he said, looking down at his book. He hoped he looked calm on the outside because he certainly didn't feel calm on the inside.
Silence grew between them.
Finally, Tobirama sighed, giving up.
"Listen," he said, still looking at his book. "I have two bowls of ramen."
"That?"
"I mean, I have money to buy a few bowls of ramen. Enough for two people."
"How nice."
"And, well, you're someone else."
"I'm sure"
Tobirama closed his eyes in frustration. Why is she being so difficult? He opened his eyes again to see Mito stifling a laugh.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
His face returned to seriousness. "Nothing. Now, what were you saying? About me being a person?"
He let out a long sigh. "I mean, I want to take you out for ramen. With me. On a date."
"I'd love to."
Somehow, her response made his heart beat even faster and made him feel even more nervous. But now there was another feeling. Anticipation? Happiness?
"Perfect, well, I have to close the store first. Then we can go."
After closing up shop, Mito took him to her favorite ramen place. They entered the domed building and sat down. At first, Tobirama felt like he'd forgotten how to form sentences properly, but as the night wore on, his words returned and his nervousness faded. They spoke as if they'd known each other for years instead of days. When it came time to pay the bill, Tobirama discovered that Katara had actually given him the exact amount he needed for two bowls of ramen and a tip.
Tobirama offered to walk Mito home, which she refused.
"How about I walk you home? I don't think you'd know how to get back if you walked me home."
Not knowing how to answer (because she was right), he agreed.
They walked back slowly, enjoying the night. Tobirama had never realized how beautiful the stars were in the desert, though perhaps it was because Mito had told them they were beautiful.
"Are you going to take my hand?" Mito said, catching Tobirama off guard.
"Do you want me to hold your hand?"
"Yeah."
He complied, and they continued walking and talking, but now Tobirama had difficulty concentrating on her words with her standing so close, her hand in his. His nerves returned as he thought about when they would arrive at their hotel and have to part ways.
Will she expect me to kiss her?He thought, I'm worried he'll rip my head off if he doesn't want to kiss me and I try. I'm also worried he'll rip my head off if he wants to kiss me and I don't try.
He was grateful for more time to think, the hotel was still a few blocks away.
"This is your hotel, right?" Mito said a second later.
"Yeah, this is it." Damn.
She turned to him now, as they stood before the arched entrance. She became unusually quiet, which almost made Tobirama panic. What should he do?
"Hey, Mito..." he began, not knowing where his sentence was going to go.
"Yeah?"
"That ramen was good. It was especially good because you were there too." Tobirama tried not to flinch at the sound of his own words.
"And I think I might want to keep dating," he continued, the words now spilling out of his mouth. "With you. I want to keep dating... you."
Mito looked away. Was she angry? Flattered? Indifferent? Tobirama had no idea.
"Um, I hope you want to go out with me. Or just do anything, with me-"
"Are you going to kiss me goodnight or what?" She interrupted, the familiar fierceness returning to her voice.
"Do you want me to kiss you?"
"Yeah."
His heart hammering in his chest, Tobirama closed the already small gap between them. He cupped her face in his hands and leaned forward. Their lips touched in a warm embrace. He could feel Mito's smile beneath his own.
Too soon, in Tobirama's opinion, they broke apart. Mito placed her hands on Tobirama's wrists, her hands still cupping his face.
"I want to keep hanging out with you too, Siberian. See you tomorrow at the flower stand?"
"That would be nice."
They kissed again before saying goodbye. Tobirama headed to his room, feeling like he was floating instead of walking.
Maybe working in a flower shop in the desert isn't so bad after all... was his last thought before falling asleep.