"Oh how convenient…" Ino sighed as she picked up and read aloud the note that Yoshino had left them that Christmas morning, "Going shopping. Food in fridge! –xoxo." Shikamaru stuck his bottom lip out and scratched his messy bed hair as Ino handed him the note.

"Well…at least this means we can face Temari first…" he sunk his head in defeat.

"We?" Shigemaru sneered, grabbing an onigiri from the fridge, "Last time I checked, you two were caught about to do the nasty. No invite, no ménage a trois , no-"

"We get it!" Ino clenched her hands, "Not like you coming would help in any way!" Shigemaru made a fake sad face and leaned his head against Ino's shoulder.

"As troublesome as this is…" Shikamaru started while plucking his cousin away from Ino, "I think I should go alone…" Ino and Shigemaru both looked at each other and back at Shikamaru.

"Are you sure?" Ino replied cautiously, "I don't want her to resent me or think I'm a coward for not showing my face…"

"You're gonna leave her with me?" Shigemaru licked his lips at Ino, "That sounds like a great plan, cuzzo, take your time!"

"Ugh…" Shikamaru was visibly stressed. "Look…I don't know yet how she's going to react or if she'll forgive me…and I have to be a man and take responsibility for this."

"What?" Ino looked around and then said, "Can we talk privately for like two seconds, Shika?" She made her way towards the door and Shikamaru followed.

"Oh okay, I'll just be here feeling like a third wheel again, no big deal!" Shigemaru called out bitterly as they went outside the house.

"Shikamaru…" Ino took a breath, "Its not fair for you to take all the heat for this… After all, it was my faul-"

"No it wasn't." Shikamaru said sternly. "Right now I want to talk to her alone. Maybe we can still work things out." That last part made Ino's stomach drop. What did he mean by 'work things out'? "So…I'm gonna go. I don't trust you here with Shigemaru though, maybe you should-"

"Don't worry about me, I can handle it." Ino reassured. Shikamaru hesitated for moment but then nodded and turned on his heel to find Temari.

"How did you know I was here?" Was the first thing Temari said as Shikamaru found her in his apartment, gathering the few belongings she had there. They weren't making eye contact.

Shikamaru shrugged and took a step towards her – she took a step back.

"I'm leaving now." Temari stated, she tried to get past Shikamaru but he blocked her path with his arm. "Get out of my way!"

"Babe…"

"No! You're NOT doing this right now!" Temari exasperated, trying to knock Shikamaru away by force but he wrapped his arm tightly around her. "Are you a fucking retard? Go back to your little slut, Shikamaru!" She tried to squirm and writhe her way out of his grasp but he was stoic.

"Can we talk about it, at least?" Shikamaru pleaded, relaxing his grip once she finally stopped struggling.

"What is there to say? You fucked her. That's why we're over. End of story." Temari was about to leave again when Shikamaru stood in front of her.

"I didn't…fuck her…" Shikamaru gulped.

"Oh, my bad!" Temari barked sarcastically, this time, escaping to the front entrance. As she was about to pull the door open, Shikamaru reeled her into an embrace from behind, his hands clenching the fabric over her stomach. "What are you doing?" Her voice shook a little but she was determined to keep her composure.

"I know that I messed up…" Shikamaru whispered into her ear, "but I don't want it to be over, Temari. I want to be with you." Temari inhaled and exhaled very deeply, and she turned slowly to meet his gaze that almost physically stung.

"What about her?"

"She's my friend…" Shikamaru put his arms around her again, "she was just upset and confused…I tried to comfort her and things took a turn…I didn't think that would happen…I never planned…'

"Yeah but it did."

"I know…" Shikamaru stuck his hands in his pockets, "I know that it was wrong and stupid of me. And I'll understand if you choose to break up. But, me and Ino, we're never going to be together." Temari swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I'm going to leave Shikamaru." She turned again for the door. As she was about to close it behind her she added, "I'll think about it, okay?" Then she slammed the door.

"Do you usually not eat anything or are you just freaking out?" Shigemaru asked as he and Ino sat at the table eating breakfast, "Is that how you maintain that amazing figure?" Ino was completely ignoring him at this point, lost in her own thoughts. She stared off into her untouched black coffee. "I don't get why you're so upset. He picked you." Ino looked up at him curiously. "Is that really a surprise?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well," Shigemaru swallowed, "He has or had a girlfriend but he didn't hesitate to get all frisky with you." Ino's face turned a little red and she bit her lip.

"He did hesitate." She admitted.

"That's only because he's a pussy." Shigemaru assured, reaching over and grabbing her hand. "He likes you. I know him, he's my blood, remember?" Well, it was hard to forget that, sometimes… "If you ask me, he was only going out with you because he's a settler."

"A settler?" Ino raised her blonde eyebrow.

"A settler. He settles. Instead of taking a risk with the girl he actually wants, he'll settle for what's easy and comes his way." Shigemaru nodded as he spoke, "In other words, going after you is too 'toublesome', so he chose that weird scary person instead." Shigemaru finished, proud of his explantation. Ino banged her head against the table.

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard." Ino groaned. But she secretly wished that it were true.

Sorry... I could have made the conclusion simple and clean...but I'll let you guys sweat a little... *evil laughter*