@miindwalker
Brown eyes skimmed over the vast expanse of the Leaf Village while the gate keeper made note of his return, scribbling silently as Sai looked through the crowds in search of a certain blonde nin. It had been over a year since Sai was dispatched on his assignment— over a year since he had seen or spoken to his lover, though he doubted he would have the honor of calling Ino that anymore. He’d left without word or warning, practically vanishing off the face of the earth for the sake of his mission, as it was imperative that nobody know where or when the young shinobi left.
So the stoic brunette disappeared as ordered, carrying out as his duties required. He was sure Ino would understand, though, being a ninja herself as well. What really made him doubt his place as the other’s partner was the amount of time that had passed with his disappearance. So many months had come and gone, the stealth force surely doing little to assure the blonde woman that the artist would ever return. Sai wouldn’t be surprised if he came back to find that she had moved on, though his chest tightened at the very idea.
He was pulled from his grim thoughts when the gate keeper spoke and the young shinobi was forced to return his stoic gaze, half listening to him prattle over the standard mission report instructions that he had long since memorized, but was still obligated to hear all the same. Once the other had finished talking Sai gave a curt, tense bow and dismissed himself, heading towards the Yamanaka flower shop despite the uncomfortable anxiety that had knotted itself in his stomach.
Sai thought hard as he made his way, gathering his courage and thinking up what to say as he rounded the final corner to the little shop, though his body stilled and he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight that greeted him. A man he’d never seen before stood too close to the florist for his own comfort, the stranger’s hand wrapping around her own as he stepped even closer still, pulling a bouquet of roses out from behind his back with his free hand and presenting them dramatically, which brought out a burst of giggles from the courted blonde.
Sai sucked in a breath and averted his gaze, clenching his fists tight before reluctantly, against his better judgement, looking back. His usual, apathetic expression faltered briefly as he made eye contact with the surprised mentalist, but he was quick to turn away, briskly turning the corner once more before breaking out into a light jog, and then a full run as he made for the training grounds, his exhausted and battered body protesting in its aches and pains, but the leaf nin ignored the sore joints and went into a full sprint, wanting nothing more than to get away and escape the uncomfortable emotions that assaulted him at the scene.
