Chapter Text
Ah, the sweet and long awaited Christmas season!
The start of that magic in life, one you didn't see in any other month, showed itself in the maple trees, in the ice rinks opened up for families, in the cocoa and ginger cookies, and in the reuniting of loved ones, smiles, and hugs.
With a steaming cup of lavender tea and her little flared dress and lilac apron embroidered with her surname, the florist walked through the doors and stepped out into the middle of the chatter and the jazz playing from the speakers.
Hinata was a woman who had always loved serving others. Being present, lending a hand, being kind to her community. Acts of service and affirming words were part of how she showed affection, to those she loved and even to strangers.
Life was her everyday delight. Some parts good, some bad, but she loved living and experiencing all the emotions that came with existing.
At the height of her thirties, after weathering a few hardships and losing her parents, she chose to take the better path, far from bitterness, and she carried with her the spirit and the mantra of making people happier through her gift.
The lovely morning, cloudless blue sky and mild sun, promised the charm of another productive day. Behind the counter, she spotted Sakura, all smiles in the greenhouse, explaining the difference between green tea and matcha to a trio of foreign college students.
Lee and Gaara, over in the pine tree section, mirrored the excitement of the children and their dream of a big beautiful Christmas tree.
In the flower and seedling area, Hanabi worked her usual fun and easygoing charm with customers, while Sasuke focused on checking the seedlings in the greenhouse by the zen pond.
"Looks like everything's moving at its own pace." Pleased, the florist set her mug down on the counter and got to work answering customers online. Orders for arrangements, seedlings, and herbs were the main requests on her list, mostly meant as gifts.
The Hyuuga emporium had existed in Konoha for more than thirty years, offering a wide variety of products for decoration, landscaping, gardening, flowers, and ornamental plants.
More than just a shop, this green refuge was a family dream. Her mother and father had invested everything they had, left the countryside, and built a legacy.
"...Perfect, Mrs. Hakashiro." Phone against her ear, she finished writing down the order. "Just to confirm: you'd like thirty sprigs of holly and juniper, correct?" She smiled at the confirmation. "In less than an hour I'll have it delivered to you. Thank you for your trust! Happy holidays!"
She set the phone back on its base and crouched down to put together the special holiday kit she gave to every customer who bought seasonal ornaments and plants. It was her way of building loyalty and giving back for their support.
As she assembled it, she lined the basket with silk leaves and added cookies, succulents, small jars of planting seeds, a homemade panettone, and sprigs of mistletoe.
In the distance, she spotted the blonde woman from a few days earlier, who had introduced herself as Tsunade, walking into the shop in an elegant dress and hairstyle, flanked by two other gentlemen in suits and dark sunglasses, as if they'd stepped straight out of Men in Black.
"That's strange." Hinata sent a message straight to Sasuke.
10:45am - Uchiha, remember that overly formal woman? She's back, and this time with a couple more stiff suits with her. Keep an eye out for me, please?
Almost instantly, she got a reply.
10:45am - Got it.
The two of them exchanged a little smile, and Hinata felt lucky to have him in her life.
Uchiha was a great friend, and in the worst moment of both their personal lives, they'd joined forces and turned the pain of grief into something productive.
Seeds that had grown into the path leading to Sakura and the others, and in a beautiful way, fate had brought them together in friendship.
She'd met the woman two weeks earlier, and their fruitful conversation had branched off into technical questions about her business, her supply chain, the origins of how the shop was founded. Digging into her expertise in her field.
And there she was again, with that strict blue gaze fixed on every last detail, sounding more intimidating than Madam Itagira from health inspections. Hinata had even tried to figure out where she came from, but all she'd managed to learn was that the woman worked for some important political figure.
The knot in her stomach tightened when she noticed four more gentlemen standing at the entrance with their hands folded in front of them, like bodyguards, and she bent down to grab her phone, ready with the security camera footage and the panic button.
"Good morning, most excellent lady. I'd like to buy some tulips. Might you grace me with your kindness?" The masculine voice, melodious in its manner of speech, made her lift her face, and she found herself charmed by two crystal clear blue gems, like polished sapphires, as he pointed toward the left side of the climate controlled shop.
Hinata furrowed her brow, noticing an unusual accent in the blond haired man, dressed in an almost military style suit with emblems, gold cufflinks, and a swirl symbol on his clothing and rings.
"Good morning, sir...?" She politely extended her hand to him.
"Menma the III, at your service." Charming, he completed the gesture, keeping his eyes on her face as he placed a light, restrained kiss on her hand.
Hinata broke into a shy smile.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Menma." She wasn't one to judge her customers, but Menma the Third? That was far from a pretty compound name. Though, looking a little closer, she noticed how he carried himself like a lord: hair neatly combed back, a fresh, resonant scent of pear, praline, and violets, and a captivating way of speaking. "Do you have a last name, or would you prefer I call you by your first name?"
"The first name is perfectly suitable for our conversation. I know we lack familiarity, but your manners are exquisite, and for that reason, I suppose it would be fitting to be a bit more casual. Might I?"
She let out a soft little laugh. It was interesting and amusing, the way he spoke and expressed himself. Notably, he was quite handsome and charming, and men like that were dangerous. Her experience with Toneri still lingered in her mind, a trauma of smooth talking men.
"Of course. Since you'd prefer we go by first names, I'm Hinata, owner of the shop." She introduced herself with a smile, reading the gallant man's expressions. "Welcome, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"I knew you were the owner the moment my eyes landed on you." He returned her warmth with his gaze, resting his hands behind his back in an impeccable posture.
"Do I really look that much like a boss?" She kept smiling.
"Your eyes are the only ones that look at this place with such a passionate expression. Besides that, you're the only one who knows exactly where everything belongs, lady." With every word exchanged, he never broke eye contact, his pearly gaze steady on her.
"I'm going to start thinking you're a stalker, knowing my movements with such precision." Hinata teased him, and the mysterious lord smiled, dimples showing.
"I'm simply very observant, my lady."
"You caught me on a good day. Thirteenth order today, how could I not be happy about that." Hinata joked, stepping out from behind the counter, and gestured with her head for Namida to take her place at the register. "Would you like tulips, sir?"
"Yes. It's autumn, and that's the season in which they show themselves at their most beautiful." Menma followed her, studying her thoughtfully.
"Excellent choice! Will it be a gift, or simply something to brighten up your own home?"
"It's a gift for my mom." He revealed, leaning in closer to her, almost whispering. "She's passionate about flowers, but tulips are among her favorites. Since I committed a small blunder, I believe a bouquet is necessary to soften her opinion of me."
Hinata looked at him, amused.
"Hmm. So you got yourself into trouble with your mom?"
"Trouble is a word that leaves room for many interpretations, lady Hyuuga. A blunder is a much more pleasant term." He smiled peacefully, showing off his straight teeth. "I got carried away playing around with my sisters and, unfortunately, broke one of the vases she treasures."
Hinata put a hand to her mouth, laughing.
"I think she's going to need more than tulips to forgive you, but before we go further, do you have any idea how much you'd like to spend on her gift?"
"Gifts are ways of expressing appreciation, and I can't put a price on affectionate gestures." He was sincere.
"I appreciate gentlemen who aren't afraid to spend on flowers. Especially for their mother. She deserves the best." The florist touched his shoulder, charming in return.
"We both agree on that, lady Hyuuga."
To her, flowers were more than just necessities, but she always liked to probe a little, to find out just how far a customer was willing to go for an arrangement.
Whether it was the simplest bunch or the most elaborate arrangement, Hinata put care and devotion into every step, and she picked out six white tulips.
"White is wonderful for expressing remorse. Tell me a little about your mother... is she more outgoing? Or reserved? Is she the star of the party, or does she prefer to stay behind the scenes?"
"Well... she's outgoing, lively, and fun." Menma described, with good humor. "She has beautiful long red curls. Red as blood. But she has a strong temper. She defends her beliefs and her children like a lioness. She's very protective."
Hinata looked through the wooden crates and picked up the stem of one of the flowers that stood out to her, matching what she was picturing:
"Strength, beauty, pride, and love... so, I have an option." She pulled a satin ribbon from her apron pocket, tying it around two lovely pink amaryllis stems. "Even though this plant comes from the Americas and has a subtropical nature, it's best to keep this arrangement near a window, but it should never get too much direct sun."
"It's a beautiful flower." He admired the way she handled the flowers and her instinct for choosing them. "It really does remind me of my mother."
Adding in another sprig of ornamental greenery, he followed her back to the counter, where she arranged the flowers perfectly in a lovely porcelain vase with wavy edges and gold detailing along its length.
"Given how I've noticed your elegance in dress and in speech, I imagine your mother is a mix of enthusiasm and sophistication." Hinata finished trimming the excess ends of the flower, grabbed a bag lined with red tissue paper, and tied a lovely gold bow around it. With a smaller satin ribbon, she wrote a message on a card bearing the shop's letterhead and stapled it to the bag. "I hope she likes it!"
Menma smiled, grateful.
"You're quite talented. Just as I suspected."
"Suspected?" Hinata smiled, not quite understanding, ringing up the order at the register. "Do you know me, sir?"
"Try not to find this strange, but I, hmm..." His cheeks warmed with a blush. "I've been following your work on social media for nearly three weeks."
Hinata smiled gently.
"Did you become a fan of flower arranging?"
"That's precisely the question, lady." Menma the Third cleared his throat and leaned over the counter as though he were about to tell her a secret. "I asked my advisor to help me learn more about your establishment, because I admired your work, and beyond this lovely arrangement, I need your help with another matter. Normally she handles external affairs, but I decided to take the lead on this particular negotiation myself, because I admire your work, and I came in person to request your services."
"Request?" Hinata looked even more intrigued. "What exactly are you referring to?"
"Could we have some tea, so I can explain it properly?"
𓏲⋆ ִֶָ 𓂃 ⋆
The place the florist knew well, the famous Pompi bakery, was about six blocks from her shop, and she'd buy a coffee and a croissant there maybe once in a blue moon, since she genuinely found it expensive.
She didn't consider herself cheap or out of touch for undervaluing what others charged, but she appreciated good value for money, and treated herself to fancier places only on special occasions.
"Would you like anything else?"
"The coffee is wonderful." She cleared her throat, feeling a bit out of place given the eccentric occasion, the brunch table set up entirely to his liking, and the security guards stationed at the entrance and at every point of traffic through the establishment. "I honestly had no idea Tsunade was a royal emissary."
"Yes, yes. She's worked with us for years." The prince smiled. "I hope our approach wasn't too invasive on our part."
"Oh, I completely understand." Hinata cleared her throat. "But if you could get straight to the point. My day's a bit busy."
"Of course. Forgive me." Elegantly, he wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin. "Are you familiar with Uzu, in the village of whirlpools, at the far east of Suna?"
"I've heard of it in storybooks, and sometimes in the newspaper." She nodded, a little embarrassed, but as she kept her eyes fixed on those pearl colored irises, a shiver tickled the back of her neck and crept up into her mind. The blond man was hypnotically charming.
"That's a good start, then. Allow me to introduce myself properly: I am Naruto Menma the Third Namikaze Uzumaki, crown prince, and I would like to hire your services to entertain my mother's friends, Queen Kushina, for the celebration of her fiftieth birthday."
Hinata's eyes went wide. That was a lot of information to process in just a few minutes.
"I thought your name was Menma the Third..."
"That's my middle name." He bit into a buttery little cookie, smiling mischievously. "I use it to disguise myself. I can't go around drawing unnecessary attention to myself, because the last few times I visited Konoha, a man stole my gold bracelet. I was disappointed, honestly, he didn't need to steal it, I would have given it to him if he'd simply asked."
He wiped his fingers, pouting slightly in offense.
"Are you a prince, or is that title just an exaggeration?"
"Happily, and unhappily, I don't deal much in exaggerated metaphors." Naruto used humor, though it did annoy him how he was often treated with excessive formality because of his noble title. "But I'm not very fond of labels, my lady. Think of me as a business partner."
"Forgive my boldness, but..." She coughed and gave a weak little smile, fueled by her restless, questioning spirit. "A prince, in a modern world like this one?"
The prince burst out laughing, and the sound of his laughter was contagious.
"That's a fair point, but the kingdom of Uzu has its own prime minister and a constitutional system. Don't worry, we're not tyrants. I can be removed from power if I fail in my duties. Or if I abuse my privileges."
"I hadn't thought of that, sir." Realizing her misstep, Hinata blushed even more.
"I'm not the least bit offended." The prince sipped his coffee, which carried notes of cocoa, nuts, and caramel. "Back to the matter at hand, let me continue: I need you to host a flower arranging workshop at Île Cerfs castle for the guests in the morning, and decorate the living room for an intimate family birthday dinner. Tell me what supplies or tools you need, and we'll provide them. Would you accept my request?"
"When would this be for?"
"Saturday."
Hinata picked up her phone and opened her calendar, packed full with barely any free time left.
"It's almost Christmas, my schedule is full, and I'm the official organizer of my family's Christmas Secret Santa. I don't think I can just travel like that." The florist murmured, lost in a fog of thoughts and responsibilities. "I would've needed more notice to plan around this."
"I would love it if you could come. It's a gift for my mother, and I, hmm, please, consider my request a priority in that kind heart of yours." He appealed to her feelings. "The queen will be forever grateful for your kindness, my lady."
Hinata wanted to laugh at his pleading look.
"People never tell you no, do they?" Everything about this made it harder for her, because despite how comical he could be, Naruto expressed himself with an adorable kind of self awareness.
"As I've grown older, that's become more and more consistent. It's irritating, but life isn't a... how does that famous saying go." He scratched his chin, searching for the missing word.
"Bed of roses?"
"That's the one!"
Hinata laughed, endlessly amused.
"A little frustration is good for you. Highly educational."
"I understand that frustrations can be great motivators, but it's almost Christmas, a festive season, and my mother's birthday. I wanted everything to be perfect and pleasant. So much so that I've cleared my schedule of every obligation for next year."
They smiled at each other, in perfect sync.
If she were to weigh things coldly and practically, she needed a certain amount to give a bonus to all her employees, who were also her friends, and to put something aside in savings toward the loan for the shop's expansion project. Besides, opportunities like this didn't fall from the sky every day.
"All right, I accept."
"Wonderful!" He broke into a wide smile and signaled to one of the gentlemen, who handed him a gold pen and a checkbook. "What's the cost of your services?"
Hinata lost her breath. Just like that, so direct?
"You can give me a deposit, and transfer the rest afterward, sir. I need to cover my trip to Uzu, food, lodging, and some of the ornaments I'll be bringing with me."
"That's the least of it. My driver will pick you up at the agreed time, take you to the airport, and from there you'll fly on my friend's private jet. When you land in Uzu, we'll be there to receive you."
Hinata nearly choked on her own saliva. This had to be some cruel joke life was playing on her, and she pinched herself just to make sure she wasn't in some induced coma, dreaming up a fairy tale.
"I don't want to be a bother, sir." Her embarrassment had reached its limit.
"The bother is mine, for pulling you away from your commitments, but your kindness will be well rewarded." Naruto smiled gently. "So please, tell me the price of your services."
Hinata licked her lips. She needed to calculate it properly, to be fair. Even if he was a prince, and even though the world belonged to the clever, acting in bad faith wasn't her style.
"Normally my workshops cost forty an hour, so you can charge for however long we spend on the workshop. For dinner decorations, I usually charge somewhere between one thousand and three thousand, depending on the size of the dining room."
"It's a large dining room. To give you an idea, the table seats more than twelve. I'm picturing something quite lush and lively. The table should be well arranged to match the sets of plates and glasses."
"Hmm, well, you can consider it three thousand eight hundred, sir."
He raised an eyebrow, suspicious.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, of course." Hinata scratched the back of her neck. "I think that's fair for both of us."
"If you say so..." He signed the check and handed it to her. The florist, catching sight of the number with four zeros, went speechless.
"Are you sure this amount isn't a mistake?"
"Not at all. That includes the cost of the flowers, seedlings, and ornamental plants you'll be bringing to the castle." Naruto smiled slightly to one side and pulled an envelope from inside his suit, handing it to her. "Inside there's a contact you can message to schedule the time."
"Oh, right."
"Also, you'll be sent a confidentiality agreement, meaning you shouldn't share the details of the conversation we had, nor anything you witness at the castle. All of this is to protect our privacy and your safety. Can I count on your discretion?"
"You can."
The prince rose, took her hand, and kissed the back of it with warmth. She nearly fainted from the blush brought on by such a gentlemanly gesture.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you, my lady. I look forward eagerly to our next meeting, on Friday.”