Spice and Ice and Everything Nice

By TwinEnigma

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or make profit from this.

Warnings for chapter: AU, flowers

86. Zoning

Shino watched as Hinata and Karin sparred lightly under Sakura’s supervision. Nearby, Kiba and Naruto were laughing over a magazine and a few younger kunoichi from the Academy lingered at the edge of the training ground, watching raptly. Sasuke lingered silently next to Shino, his eyes fixed on the red-headed girl. It was far from his typical behavior and, had it been anyone else, Shino would say that Sasuke was certainly leering at the girl.

Shino adjusted his sunglasses as the spar stopped so Hinata could set aside her coat and Karin took the opportunity to check the hem of her stockings.

Sasuke leaned forward, smiling a little, and Karin’s hand lingered at the edge, her finger tugging teasingly at the elastic.

“Absolute Zone,” Shino concluded, raising his eyebrows in surprise. The elusive and perfect ratio of flesh between socks and short skirts – the sensual grade A! And Karin had mastered it.

Sasuke nodded, sighing happily.

“You are a lucky man,” Shino said.

“Oh yes,” Sasuke agreed, nodding.

87. Present

The kitten is scraggly and pathetic, the right eye a ruined mess of scars against the grey fur.

Karin holds it in the palms of her hands, a tiny gift.

Its whiskers bristle as it regards him and then it meows squeakily.

“Kakashi,” Sasuke decides.

Karin smiles and kisses him.

88. Heal Thyself

“I will not look,” Karin told herself quietly as she deliberately focused on shelving the medicines. “I will not look.”

Behind her, the bane of her hormones, one Sasuke Uchiha, was lounging shirtless and spread-eagle on the floor as he attempted to change his own bandages.

“Don’t touch the gauze,” she said, loud enough for him to hear, and tossed another box of it at him blindly as she tried desperately not to peek. It made a soft thwack as it hit something. “Just put more on. You don’t want to remove any clotting agents.”

He grunted and she could totally imagine how his face looked and how sexy...

She inwardly cursed her stupid hormones and that stupid sexy Sasuke. Did he even realize how good he looked?

“Karin,” he said and it was right in her ear – he was right behind her!

She stiffened, her mind repeating “Do not look, do not look!” But her traitorous neck was already turning and her eyes raising, a blush already on her cheeks.

“...You have good aim,” he said, a red mark where the box had hit his forehead glaring accusingly at her.

“You were supposed to catch it, idiot!” she exploded, her face immediately going bright crimson. “And you’re too close! What do you think you’re doing, sneaking up on people like that?”

He pointed at his forehead. “You have to fix it.”

“W-what are you? Five?” Karin sputtered, tossing some small band-aids at him.

“How about you? You’re acting awfully bizarre,” Sasuke said, giving her a mildly concerned look. He brushed the band-aids off his bare shoulders.

Karin sputtered again, turning away and heading for the doorway. “You’re the one who’s bizarre – running around like that! A girl could get the wrong idea!”

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“You are so clueless!” she shouted over her shoulder and slammed the door behind her. She slumped against it and groaned.

Sasuke’s voice drifted through the door. “What on earth just happened?”

89. About The Future

Sasuke can hear Karin’s heartbeat as he rests his head on her chest. Her fingers twine through his hair with an absent, soothing gentleness. His hand lingers on the small but slowly growing curve of her abdomen with cautious reverence.

“Do you think it will have my eyes?” he asks quietly.

Karin shifts a little and he wonders if she has that tiny smile she gets when he asks silly things. “Probably, but he’ll definitely have my ability.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he says.

The Sharingan is a curse.

“I know,” she says and kisses his head. “Don’t worry.”

90. Language of Flowers

Ino sizes up the red-haired girl in her shop, the one that was the talk of the town, the nigh legendary girl who succeeded where no other girl had and won the heart of Ice Prince Sasuke, last of the Uchiha.

She didn’t seem like much, but appearances could be deceiving and kunoichi were masters of deceit. It came with the job.

The girl’s eyes were closed, her hand outstretched as it drifted, and the girl sniffed. Her hand stopped, lingering near the lavender. She opened her eyes and picked a few, before closing her eyes and repeating the procedure. Now, she turned, drifting towards the Palargonium blossoms.

Strange choices for a floral arrangement, Ino noted, but not so strange for a perfumer. How curious!

The red-headed girl sighed loudly, taking her selections to the counter, and waited as Ino tallied the cost, looking a little down.

“Interesting choices,” Ino said, conversationally.

“It’s not the same,” the girl said, morosely. “It’s missing him.”

Ino didn’t need to be a mind reader to understand. She ran a finger along the lavender as she wrapped it and then smiled. In Hanakotoba, lavender meant faithful. Sasuke was lucky.

She paused a moment, drifted out from behind the counter, clipped a white camellia, and returned, handing it to the girl.

“What?” the girl, startled, asked as she adjusted her glasses.

“It’s him,” Ino said, dismissively.

The girl blushed, gathering the wrapped flowers, and paused, a mischievous grin on her lips. “I suppose I should hurry home then, lest he turn into a primrose.”

Ino blinked as the words sunk in and then burst out laughing. “My mistake – clearly, this is a cactus situation!”

“More like a red camellia. He’s not always a prick,” the girl chided. The girl’s fingers lingered on the white blossom as she smiled. “You know, you remind me of jasmine and violets.”

It was Ino’s turn to look surprised.

“My name is Karin,” the girl said and held out a hand.

AN: Oh gods, only 10 left. Holy hell.

"Zoning": Karin is the poster girl for this fetish (and a few others).

"Present": KITTY - exactly 50 words (not counting title). Holy fuck. I wasn't even aiming for that count.

"Heal Thyself": Sasuke really doesn't seem to get it sometimes that he's like catnip for women.

"About the Future": 100 words (not counting title). Sasuke is a worrier.

"Language of Flowers": The Japanese have their own flower meanings. The white camellia means "waiting". The primrose means "desperate". The cactus blossom means "sex" and red camellia means "in love." Jasmine means "friendly" and violets mean "honesty." The Palargonium blossoms are a type of geranium used in perfumes - rose geraniums, in Victorian flower language, mean "I prefer you." With this one, this means I've done Kiba, Hinata, Sakura, Shikamaru, Shino and Ino's outlooks on SK and leaves me to do Naruto and Chouji (and Sai, if he behaves).