Curious
The crystal shard sparkles in her hand. Ino found it during a mission. She's in her bed looking up at it. A lot is on her mind. The accident, near death, pain, the new boy... Sai. His name is Sai. So far from what she heard, he's emotionless. His history is a mystery.
He doesn't quite understand feelings. It's confusing. He doesn't sound bothered. Not a sense of pain lies in his voice. It's rather calming. He's relaxed. What happened to him that made him like this?
Ino had so much questions, but knew best to do nothing about it. It was his privacy, and Ino respect that. But then,
"–beautiful."
He called her beautiful. Like she said, no one has ever called her beautiful. Just sexy or gorgeous, in a gross way. Only people her age call her cute. It's only the stupid brainless perverts that calls her sexy.
Ino closes her eyes, leaning her head back into the pillow, taking a deep sigh. She felt discomfort in her shoulder. She kept shrugging, trying to relieve the sore spot.
"Ino!"
Ino chuckled. Of course she's here. Ino smiles and got up to go downstairs to meet up with her best friend.
"Sup Forehead."
Sakura was already walking. Ino joined her.
"So. Anything new?"
"Actually yeah! I found out that Sai is an artist. He's so talented! Check this out!" Sakura pulled out a folded paper which she opened up to reveal a ink drawing of Sakura sitting. The ink was messy but it traced out Sakura's body. Curving and twirling. Tiny details was put into this. Ino was impressed.
"Seriously?!"
Sakura hummed. "And you know what else?" Ino shakes her head. Sakura had a smirk on her face. Which was never a good thing.
"I saw some drawings of you in his sketch book. There was so much pages of you on it. All different poses."
"EH?!" Ino exclaimed. Drawings of her? Bunches?! What the heck?!
"I find it sweet." Sakura giggled. Ino felt her cheeks warming up. She's annoyed. Ino doesn't like being all embarrassed around people.
"Aww you're blushing!"
"Am not!"
"Ino relax. It's okay! I'd feel the same thing if I was you." Sakura had her hands up. Ino doesn't say anything. She spent half of the day with her friend before heading back to work at her job as always.
The next day, Ino is currently bored, working at a flower job everyday with few customers is giving boredom that's killing her.
Till she noticed someone by the window outside. Out of curiosity, Ino stepped outside to see Sai drawing a sketch of the flowers outside. Ino and Sai made eye contact.
To be specific, Ino had orange shirt, dark brown leggings, brown heels, yellow apron that had flower patterns on the bottom, slightly dirty. She also had her hair into bun with a flower pin in her hair. Her bangs has been pulled behind her ears. So Ino looked different to him.
"Erm..." Sai blinked.
"Ah Sai right?"
"Yes. My apologies, but I came here to draw the flowers. They are full of colors and shapes, they all have meanings to them, and I wish to understand them." Sai explained. Ino smiles before crouching down to join him. Pointing at Asagaos.
"They mean brief love and bond of love."
Sai grabbed his notebook and started writing it down. Ino started naming the flowers in front of them.
She points at the pink cosmos.
"Cosmo mean order and harmony." Ino said. Sai wrote it down in his paper. "My father calls me cosmos. Cosmos are my favorites. I just find the meaning and looks beautiful."
"You... and Comsos? It's reasonable because you are beautiful." Sai smiles. Ino frowns. She playfully pushes Sai. Making him lose balance.
"Shut up." Ino chuckled. She pulled Sai up. "It was nice talking to you. I do hope we can hang out more. If Sakura hasn't beat you to shit yet."
"How would she make me into sh-"
"Context, Sai. Context. I meant it like just beating you up really bad."
"She has already done that. My testicles still hurts." Sai still gave her a smile.
"I... didn't need to know that." Ino sighs. "I need to get back to working. I'll see you again maybe?" Ino walked back inside. Sai starts drawing but mostly cosmos. Now that it had a meaning.
"Have a good day." Ino bowed down. Watching the customer leave. She sighed. More days goes by and nothing new happens. She wished a village was burning and a mission would be given to her team.
The days have gotten tough. Ino had to deal with rude customers before but this was by far the worst.
"No. 1000 yens."
"Ma'am, I can't go any lower then 2290. I'm sorry." Ino apologized. The woman scowled at her.
"So I'm not special to you? You are being disrespectful to your elders. I want a discount. What your cost is ridiculous. You're robbing me!"
Ino was irritated. "Listen, these flowers you want so badly are hard to find and grow. It takes precise watering and sunlight. It takes months to grow it. I can't just give it away at a cheap price. Either pay or leave."
The woman was offended. "You're a greedy bitch! I don't care about your job. You will listen to me because I'm the adult! I asked for a discount and you are refusing to your customers. Which is illegal!!!"
Ino gripped her hands. She took a deep breath. "Ma'am. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"I'm staying here till I get what I want."
"No... you aren't. You are getting put of my shop." Ino tried to get the woman out.
"DONT TOUCH ME!!! HARASSMENT!!! ABUSE!!! ASSAULT!!!" The woman then threw a punch. Ino was recoiled, knocking a vase over. There was dirt everywhere. She held her face groaning. Now she's pissed.
"Get the fuck out." Ino had a low tone.
"No. Give me that." The woman pointed at the flowers. Ino grabbed the flowers and threw it in the garbage.
"How fucking dare you!!!" The woman then got into Ino's face. "You are a retarded fucking whore!!! You deserve to go to hell!! I hope you die by getting raped!!!" The woman stomped off.
Ino glaced at her hands. Blood. Her nose really hurts. "Bitch..." Ino bit her lips. She can feel the tears threatening. Ino wants to cry. Which she did when she closed the shop to go to her room.
A hour goes by and she heard the door bell ringing. Meaning someone is inside. Ino groaned. She doesn't want to deal with anyone. Ino goes to check out who it was. Turns out it's team 7. They noticed the shop was closed which was odd.
"Ino?! What happened to your nose?!" Sakura exclaimed. Ino only gives a fake smile. She had tissues in her nose which was stained with blood. She still had dried blood on her hands.
"Some bitch punched me after not getting what she wanted. I'm taking the day off. I don't want to deal with any Karens today."
"Karens...?"
Ino and Sakura looks at Sai who was confused.
"Karen is... uh... people who are being spoiled and tries to get what they want by harrasing or yelling. Just rude people." Naruto explained. Sai's eyebrows furrowed.
"Who was this... Karen? I have a craving to punch her." Sai said.
"No no no no let's not do that! As much as I want to, it's against the law. Best thing we can do is report to the Hokage. Or our sensei." Sakura said. Sai didn't seem to be convinced but he nodded.
"Come here Ino. Let me help you with that." Sakura spoke in a soft tone. Ino did so and closed her eyes, feeling the warm tingling feeling in her nose. Soon there was no more pain.
"Thank you."
"Not a problem. Glad I checked on you." Sakura grins. Ino noticed that Sai had been staring at her. When he noticed that, he looks away. Nervous.
Ino was getting even more curious about him.
The next day was worse then yesterday. Ino expected an easy day but instead she's met with possible danger. The woman who punched her brought old looking man. He looked fat.
"Ma'am, please leave. You aren't welcome in this shop." Ino politely asked. The woman scoffed.
"So you know how I said I hope you die from being raped? Well..." She grinned. Behind her, she flipped the sign that said closed, soon locking the door.
Ino's eyes widen. Just as she was about to grab her nearby kunai, the man had already grabbed her and lifted her up. Ino was kicking and screaming.
"LET GO OF ME!!!"
"Shut her up will you?" The man asked. Ino was then gagged. She was pinned down, her wrist was held above her head. She stared in horror. This wasn't going to happen was it?
Ino saw him taking her shirt off and bra. Ino started to cry. She has heard of horrifying stories of girls being raped or sexually touched.
GRROOOWLLLLL
"The fuc-"
"GAH!!"
A white and black beast burst into the room, breaking the door into splinters and chips. It had tackled the man off of Ino. She immediately sat up and scooted up against the wall while covering her chest.
Then a figure showed up. Sai.
"Report. This is Team 7, Sai. I have captured two adults attempting forced sexual activities on a minor in the Yamanaka Flower Shop." Sai spoke into his radio. Ino felt breathless. Like she can't breathe. Then felt a coat around her. Sai had given her his coat. She held it tightly around her. Her bun was falling into strands. But now she has her hair down. Sai takes her gag off.
Her chest hurts. Ino wheezed. Sai noticed this. "The victim is wheezing. We might need a medic." Sai spoke into the radio. He then noticed water falling down Ino's cheeks. She's crying.
"I- I- ca-can't brea-the..." Ino cried. Sai didn't know what to do. Eventually shinobis arrives, taking the adults to prison. A medic arrives to check on Ino.
"There's nothing to worry. She's having a panic attack. It's normal after a situation like this." The medic said. Sai cocked his head.
"Panic... attack?"
"It's basically a sudden episode of intense fear or anxiety and physical symptoms, based on a perceived threat rather than imminent danger. Best thing you can do is comfort her."
"Comfort her, er... okay." Sai was not confident at this. The medic soon left. Sai sat next to Ino. He's seen friends do this before. When their friend cries...
Sai pulls Ino into his chest. To his surprise, Ino started crying more. But she doesn't move away.
Sai doesn't know what to do. So he just stays. Was this a good thing? Or a bad thing?
"She WHAT?!?"
"Ino nearly was raped. I came to her shop to sketch more flowers but I noticed the shop was closed. Plus I heard Ino yelling for a moment. Someone was in there as well. The door was locked, so I had to break in." Sai explained. The teams were flabbergasted.
"After the adults was taken away, Ino had what people call, a panic attack. She cried into my chest."
"Where is Ino?!" Sakura shouted.
"At the therapy-"
Sakura was already running off. Sai watched her run off.
"Was she–" Shikamaru felt uncomfortable. "touched?"
"From what I saw, just her chest." He answered. Shikamaru furrowed his eyebrows. He's obviously pissed off.
Sai can't wonder but why Ino cried into his chest even more. Was that a bad thing?
"Saiii!!!"
Sai heard his name and turned around to see Ino running towards him. Which she wrapped her arms around him. Making him confused.
"Sai, I never got the chance to say this. Thank you so much. You saved me. Again." Ino chuckled. She let go of Sai.
"Is there any way I can repay you? Discount for a year? Money? Anything? Well. Anything that doesn't involve sex."
"Actually... there is something." Sai said.
"What is it?"
"Can you be my model for my painting?"