"Yaaaaayyy!" Ino cheered in an annoyingly, high-pitched note while she hopped up and down. "We did it Shikamaru! We hit the 100 review mark! Oh, I'm just SO happy!"
"Yeah, yeah." Shikamaru waved her off with what seemed to be his less enthusiastic face and began reading the sheet of paper that the authors had prepared for him. "The writers of YukiTenVianey Team would like to thank all the readers…" He made a pause to yawn. "… for supporting this story with their reviews."
"You could at least sound thankful too." Ino pouted.
"Whatever."
"Anyways! Our thanks and a HUGE hug for ShikaIno1, mysticXdrops, ShikaInoInuKikIchiHime36, Shizuka Taiyou, Just a reader, AshesOfMyLife90, MahoShoujo, Crow's Gamble, silverokami2009, Yoki2cool4you, Misslaly19, RosieWinterMoon, Wild'nFree, MidnightNinja777, Hitsuhina Fanatic, Guest, Shikainoisthebest, iluvninjas, Haaai 3, BananaBabe903, inamehyuuga, What. , Serene Grace, Cecilia Glass,RAIKIM4everlover, I'm Not A Princess, Reverence of the Night Rain, Anie 92, kimochichokimochi, Syn'ri, nufze,
Fire of Snow, The Clawed Butterfly, zielavienaz96, cozieatbrains, Sayaka M, TheAngelDevil17x, Laura, Why U no Update, Sesshomarus'Luver, AKATSUKIANDTEENWOLFLUVER, sumtyms, cheery1129 and JustAnOrdinaryReader for showing your support with your wonderful reviews!"
"Wait, what?" Shikamaru held Ino's page to his face to check if she hadn't made up any of the names there. "Oh, well… and lots of… I'm not reading the "lots of kisses" part! A special thanks to ShikaIno1, ShikaInoInuKikIchiHime36, Shizuka Taiyou and MahoShoujo, for always being there, and to cheery1129 and JustAnOrdinaryReader for being so loyal and kind to us."
"If you have the time, please show your support in review form for this chapter as well, we would really appreciate it!"
"Just shut up and let them read the chapter already!"
Chapter Eleven
Confession
He could tell she was behind him even before she called his name. He was so used to her scent and the way the fan bounced against her back as she strode forward with bold steps.
'I can't do this.' His jaw was clenched so hard that it felt as though his teeth had receded into his gums. 'I really can't do this.'
"Sorry I'm late." She hugged hi from behind. "I had some trouble getting rid of my brothers."
He felt her pressing against him… felt her warmth…
And for a second, he was tempted to forget about everything else. To just melt against her as he always had and disregard his promise completely.
But then he remembered about Ino's suffering, and the way she had clung to him the same way Temari was doing it then.
The way he had pushed her away… his future wife…
'Thank you Shikamaru…'
"Please don't thank me." He mumbled as hot tears ran down his cheeks.
"Hm?" Temari walked around to face him. "Did you say some- what's wrong?" She frowned up at him at the sight of his tears. "Are you ok?"
"Yes… no… Temari…" He shook his head. "Temari, I…"
"It's ok." She wrapped her arms around him and rested his head on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. "Tell me what happened."
Her concern for him was unbearable, because he knew he didn't deserve it.
"I'm sorry Temari." He unwrapped her arms from around him the same way he had done with Ino and stepped away. "We can't be together anymore, I'm sorry."
"W-What?" Her tone instantly changed to indignation. "Is this some sort of joke?"
"I wish it were." He said, lowering his head to hide the tears that kept flooding his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" She straightened up menacingly, hands on her hips. "Seriously Shikamaru, I demand an explanation!"
"This…" More tears ran down his face. "It's just…"
"No!" Temari shook her head furiously. "Don't tell me it's not working out Shikamaru, don't!" She reached out and clang to the front of his vest. "Why are you doing this?! Don't you love me anymore?!"
There it was, the question he had been fearing the most.
'I don't!' He wanted to say. 'I don't love you Temari, I never have!'
But the magnitude of the lie was so big, that it took too much of his already drained spirit and thus, he couldn't bring himself into saying it.
"That's not it." He saw the tears welling up in her eyes and, if he could, he would have jumped the railing and thrown himself down the cliff that was behind them.
But of course, that was impossible because then… who would take care of Ino?
"Are you in love with someone else?!"
"No!" Now it was his time to feel indignant (even though he knew he didn't have the right to). How could Temari possibly believe that he could love anyone but her? That there existed someone else who could even hope to be what she was for him? What she meant for him? "That's not it! I would never… could never love anyone but you!"
"Then why Shikamaru?!" Temari stomped her foot and sobbed with a mixture of rage and despair. "Tell me why you're doing this because I just can't under-"
"Ino's pregnant!" He rushed out, almost spitting the words as though they were venom. And then, because judging by the look on her face Temari couldn't work out a connection between Ino and them, he forced himself to add "It's mine…"
(Loves Me… Loves Me Not…)
This is NOT going to be pretty…
PREVIEW
'Plaf!'
He was cut off short by Temari's hand connecting hard against his cheek and, as the stinging pain spread over the left side of his face, he couldn't help but to feel glad for it.
At least he didn't have to keep on babbling stupid half-explanations. Temari had heard enough.
Chapter Twelve.- "Sorry"
