Title: Breathe In, Bleed Out
Summary: Sometimes a kunoichi must acknowledge defeat.
Characters: Ino and Temari
Mood Music: Where I Stood by Missy Higgins
Note: This is me trying to reconcile my ShikaIno ship with the canon.
Disclaimer: Naruto, not mine since 1999.


Yamanaka Ino is not the kind of girl who likes to lose.

She's the girl with the sway in her hips and enough confidence to dethrone the Hokage. She knows what she wants and she gets it, no matter what it takes; the world is her rival and she refuses to let it get one up on her.

She doesn't deal in vulnerabilities, at least not her own. Real feelings are far and few between, and she locks them up like precious jewels for no one else to see. Her expressions and her body language are carefully crafted: her smile can break lesser men and weaker women won't meet her eye.

But today all of Ino's poise and polish are gone. She's all raw and full of things she hasn't felt since Asuma died. It's an unforgiveable comparison, she knows, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. The one person whose heart she can't abide losing has made a choice that isn't her, and for the first time in a long time she feels the sting of losing.

Her wounded pride she can mend, she has before. Rejection is not new to her, even if she pretends otherwise. But this time something far more substantial has cracked and broken, and Ino marvels that she has a heart to break.

She's never been a good loser, and her hot temper often gets the better of her. Those who know her would expect her to unleash it on him, to let him know exactly what he's missing out on.

But this time, she vows to be gracious in defeat.


"Yamanaka?"

Temari no Sebaku is a beautiful woman, with legs for miles and a face as regal as a queen's. Under normal circumstances, Ino knows she could match her asset for asset and consider herself an equal in the realm of physical beauty. But normal circumstances do not include Nara Shikamaru giving his heart away to this woman over her, and so today Ino feels inadequate.

Still, she stands there before Temari with puffy red eyes and no make-up, and manages a stiff spine. Some things are more important than her pride.

Ino wonders if this is how Hinata felt as she struggles to voice the things she promised herself she would say. The words she has rehearsed in her mind stick to her tongue, and her mouth is as dry as the desert that Temari hails from.

"Take care of him, will ya?" she manages stiffly. "He's a troublesome guy."

Temari's expression changes from wary to compassionate, and Ino can't stand it. She begins to babble.

"He watches those damn clouds for probably eight hours a day and he can't cook for shit. He's always losing his stupid hair ties and he needs somebody to iron his shirts, he's already enough of a mess as it is. His mother loves lillies, so when you visit her you should take those. He always acts like he doesn't care, but don't let him fool you, he's really a big softie on the inside and he's got a good heart. He just gets really dumb sometimes, like when he smokes, but he treats Asuma-sensei's daughter like his own so you'd better love her too. He's a real pain in the ass, but he deserves to be loved right."

It's the hardest thing in the world for Ino to keep a straight face, and she doesn't manage it. The tears leave scorching trails down her face as she speaks, and she screws her eyes shut so she won't have to see the pity in Temari's eyes.

There's silence when she's done speaking, and she hears a thud as Temari pushes herself off of the table she's been sitting on.

"I'm not your enemy, Ino," she says softly.

There's understanding in her voice, and it's a bitter pill for Ino to swallow. She nods and opens her eyes, her vision blurry from the tears.

"And I don't want to be," Temari continues, "We're both pretty headstrong women, and between the two of us we'll drive Shikamaru half way to crazy. You and me fighting would just make everybody miserable. I'm not here to break up InoShikaCho, and I'm not here to ruin your friendship with him. If you can respect our relationship, then I don't have a problem with whatever's between you guys."

A sigh shudders through Ino as she takes this in. "I'd like to be friends."

Temari grins at her and holds out her hand. "I'd like that too."

They shake, and Ino manages a smile. "You'll have to tell me how you do your hair."

It's a start.