[FFML] Re: [Fanfic][Naruto] Suiren, Chapters 1 & 2...

"That lazy bum?" Ino replied incredulously. "Yeah, right. I don't think
he's training at all- or at least not more than normal." She looked back
down to the fashion magazine in front of her. "Last time I asked, he said
it was too much of a hassle to get all worked up about it. I don't think
Asuma-sensei knows what to do with him."

"That sounds like Shikamaru, all right," Sakura replied, deciding on a
flower and standing up. "Could you cut this one for me?"

"Sure."

As Ino rounded the counter with a pair of shears, Sakura thought about the
slick-haired boy. She wondered how calm _she'd_ be, if she were in his
place. She'd probably be a nervous wreck. That Hidden Sand girl was
_dangerous,_ and it was no big secret that the Kagemane had a few
limitations.

Just wanted to comment on this scene. That was a nice bit of working real world culture into the fic.

For those who didn't catch it, certain actions are considered destructive toward spiritual cleanliness in the japanese mindset, among them are butchery (cleaning meat, killing animals), leather work, night soil (sewage) collection, and historically were done by the Burakumen (the "untouchables" in Japanese society). Flower cutting, while not as "dirtying" as these other tasks, is something that is considered "lower class" and left for the florist to do because in many cases it is considered to be an act that "kills" the plant.

For me, this is a pretty interesting subject. Ikebana "flower aranging" is considered a high artform alongside Chanoyu (tea ceremony), but the acts required of others to practice it are considered a spiritually "dirtying" act.

This also explains why flowering tree limbs are commonly used in Ikebana arangements, because taking a tree limb doesn't kill or harm the tree itself, and in fact the limb can be set in water to grow new roots and grow another tree...the flowers are seen as something seperate from the tree.

Having her ask Ino to cut the flowers for her is a nice little touch that really maintains the setting for me. It also shows that you recognized that it's not a western style florist shop with precut flowers, since in japan many flowershops keep their flowers with the plant attached and therefore alive until purchase, or sell the complete plant to the customer with appropriate ikebana vases.

Very nice touch... very nice indeed.