Till the Last One Dies

Ino had just finished watering the Tiger lilies, and was about to rearrange the the Water-Violets when the entrance bell chimed.
'Finally a customer,' Ino thought as she hurried to greet the person who had entered the store.
It was a normal Saturday, so business was regularly slow.

"Hello, and how may I help you," Ino asked with a smile.

"Oh, it's only you," Ino stated when she recognized who was in the store,"Naruto."

"Gee, it's nice to see you too, Ino," Naruto said with a frown.

"Sorry," Ino said as she walked behind the counter. She eyed him curiously, there was something off about Naruto today. He was looking around at the store in deep thought, and as far as she knew he never really thought about anything.

"Uhm, Naruto," Ino asked with concern, "are you okay?"

  Naruto looked up with a confused look as Ino's voice took him out of his thought.
"Huh? What was that Ino?"

"Are you okay?" she asked again," You seem a little off today."

He blinked twice before flashing her his wide tooth grin.
"I'm fine, but I was wondering....do you have any roses right now?"

Ino was going to ask for whom, but decided to just leave it alone.
"What color are you looking for?"

"Red, please."

Ino stared at him for a few seconds, but went and checked the catalogs.
"Yeah, Naruto, we have some red roses still. How many do you want?"

"Eleven."

"....Eleven?"

Naruto just nodded.

Ino continued to stare at Naruto, who stared back, and after a few minutes she grabbed a dark blue vase with lavender swirls. As she made the bouquet Naruto watched her nervously.

"Hey, Ino?"

"Yes."

"Do you sell plastic flowers?"

"Yes," she said as she looked up from her work, "do you want me to get you some?"

"Yeah, but just one. A red rose, please." Naruto replied with a grin.

Ino smiled back and received a plastic red rose for the bouquet. When she was done, she priced it.
"$27.43, please." And as Naruto gave her the money she asked "Do you need a card?"

As Naruto took the bouquet he replied with his trademark grin and said, " Nah, I already have one."
As he left, Ino yelled after him, "Good luck, with whatever you're doing!"

~LATER THAT DAY~

   Hinata walked down the main hallway of the Hyuuga residents' hall deep in thought. She had just finished sparring with Hanabi, and had won, when he father complimented her. Kinda.

"It seems as if you have finally started to live up to being the heir of the Hyuuga clan."
Everyone had told her that she was getting stronger, but she keep training harder, and longer always trying to be like him, now ever her father was starting to notice. Hinata was so caught up in her thoughts that she almost did not notice the roses sitting on her desk in her room. As she gazed at the beautiful bouquet and the magnificent vase, that just happened to be her favorite colors, her eyes fell on a seemingly out of place orange and black card that was sticking out of the center of the bouquet. After reading the card several times, and forcing herself not to faint, Hinata grabbed a rose and laid down on her bed with it and the card. She laid both down on her chest before drifting off into a peaceful slumber, dreaming about the boy of her dreams.

With a loving smile Hinata whispered," Naruto-kun."

The card read:

I bought you 12 roses,
11 real, 1 plastic
I'll love you till the last one dies.

~Believe It.