Visit from a Tiger Lily

"Well if it isn't my favorite florist." The familiar voice rang over the bell of the door. It was tired and rough, but still every bit as warm as she remembered. Giving the tiger lily's one last dash of water, she smiled at them as though they were fully capable of registering her happiness. He had perfect timing. This man who was every bit as bright and orange as the tiger lily's she'd just watered. Heading towards the counter, she put the watering can down, her gaze immediately traveling to the wound on his wrist. Her lips drew into a frown, and without asking she took his wrist with gentle hands to examine it herself. She was no medical ninja, but at the very least, she'd see if he'd bandaged it himself or actually received proper first aid.

"How was your mission?" she asked, satisfied with how his wrist was bandaged and releasing his hand. Chiyo eagerly flew over head, flying around Tsukiya before nesting in his bright orange locks. The hummingbird had grown rather fond of him, what with his frequent visits to her flower shop.

Removing the apron that had been protecting her simple, white dress from the dirt and pollen of the shop, she neatly folded it before placing it in a cubby on her side of the counter. Compared to his rugged, worn appearance, she looked nothing like a kunoichi. And something about that bugged her. Not that she enjoyed returning with cuts and bruises, but, at least she'd have something to show for it. "It's been a while since we've been on a mission together." she thought aloud, "Perhaps I'll ask Hokage-sama for a mission. I can't play in the garden everyday." she laughed, looking around at the shop.

At the word 'burn' her brows furrowed and her lips pursed in clear dislike of the word. Despite her firm belief in the Will of Fire, Keiko greatly disliked the element of fire. The flames could never tell friend from foe, and they could only ever destroy. Besides, it only seemed fitting that a florist disliked fire. Flowers and fire never mixed well. Retrieving his wrist with a light grip, she used her free hand to grab a pouch from behind the counter that contained first aid supplies.

"Geez," she breathed, gently unwrapping the bandages on his wrist. "Your chakra is visible even to a newborn baby!" she said, pulling off the bandages he'd wrapped around the wound. This certainly hadn't been the first time his 'loud' chakra had given away his position, and unfortunately, it likely wouldn't be the last. Even as she looked at him now, without using any sensory techniques, she could feel his chakra radiating like a wildfire unleashed upon a forest. Untamed and wild as it combed through the area around him.

"You still haven't found a way to suppress it?" she frowned, popping the cap off a tube of burn ointment. "This may sting a bit." she warned softly before applying a small dollop of the ointment to his wound. Unraveling a fresh set of bandages, she took her time, slowly and carefully wrapping his wound. She lacked more advanced medical knowledge, but at the very least she could give him adequate first aid. Once she'd finished wrapping his wrist, she brought his wrist to her lips, gently kissing it like a mother would kiss their child's 'owie'. "There," she laughed, releasing his wrist so that she could put away her supplies. "Make sure you get it checked at the hospital." she said in a mock stern tone, smiling as Tsukiya interacted with Chiyo.

"It's not bad, necessarily. But what was the point in becoming a kunoichi if I was just going to spend all of my time running this shop? I'll never get any better like this." she said, her hand clenching into a fist. She'd never make ANBU like this. Though she wasn't exactly confident she'd make it with her current set of abilities, regardless. She still relied far too heavily on her genjutsu techniques and long-ranged attacks. "Besides," she said, perking back up. "Someone's got to watch you!" she laughed, nudging him playfully.