Rose [Shisui Uchiha]

Thorn #10

"I can't do what you requested, Koharu." Shisui had come in late after he finished his ninja duties. He was as normal as ever today, because he didn't want his personal life bugging him at work and everyday activities.

He always remembers to buy flowers for his home, though.

Or really, he just found himself making his way to Koharu's shop.

Wouldn't he find this awkward? After all, I technically destroyed his image of me and am not who I think he is, Koharu smiled at him, shaking her head and waving her hand in dismissal.

"It's fine. You can forget about that. It doesn't matter anymore. It was an unreasonable request to make, after all." She went over to the roses, but then stopped, turning to the lilies. "Today, do you want lilies instead?" There were different coloured ones that she was looking at, all very beautiful.

Shisui stared at them and then at her. He took a step closer, his brows knitting together slightly.

Ah, he's suspicious. Koharu caught on to that look.

Shisui had to think about everything a lot. After he took a look at the request that Koharu made, he was certain that something was happening behind the scenes that he didn't know about.

"Koharu." He stated her name almost like a demand.

"Have you decided which colours you want?" She asked, looking over her shoulder. She turned around just slightly to face him with a smile.

Shisui didn't say anything for a moment, but then shook his head, "No, this time I don't need flowers."

"Oh? But these lilies are very exquisite. They're on me, today. If you don't want lilies, that's okay. Really, I'd like you to go to the outskirts of Konoha and put this on a grave." Koharu just gave him another smile and went to handpick a few white lilies, "After all, my sister recently passed away, and I'll need someone to go and put these on her grave while I'm here tending to my shop to get ready for the next day."

Shisui looked at her with confusion, then he thought. He thought hard about what Koharu had said so far. If she wasn't a mystery, then he didn't know what she was. He had suspicions about who she was and what she really did, but that was only the surface.

Ever since he received that request from her, he wondered, what did she really mean? It was already suspicious enough that it was on the day that she confirmed his thoughts about her being part of ROOT ANBU, and by talking to her now, he knew that there was a lot more to the situation than what he's thinking.

"Will you do that for me?" Koharu turned to him, taking a few steps forward so that she was an arm's reach away.

"...when did your sister pass away?" Shisui asked, watching her closely. She had an overcast of orange, from the sunset coming in from the window. He could see the silvers of her hair, having come out of the high bun that she did today.

She really is beautiful, he found himself thinking. And, his chest clenched painfully when he realised it.

"Shisui, you look really sad." Koharu pointed out. She took his hand and put the flowers in them. "My sister passed away only a couple of days ago. Her grave is on the outskirts of the village."

"Why do you want me to do it? You're finishing work soon, aren't you?" Shisui held onto the flowers when she pulled her hands away.

"I am, but I have a few things I need to attend to. So, please, go in my stead." She gently patted him on the upper chest, near his shoulder.

He fell silent after a moment, then sighed gently. "Okay, fine."

"Sorry, Shisui. I'll explain to you when you come back." Koharu put her hands together in an apologetic motion, "My sister's name is Momoka, so look for a wooden grave with that name."