A/N: Ignorance is bliss. Or is it?

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

As Shikamaru was en route to his usual Monday morning meeting in the Hokage tower, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"Shikamaru."

He turned, and an apprehensive look crossed his face when he saw the Kazekage walking stoically beside him.

"Gaara," Shikamaru choked out. "I mean, Lord Kazekage," he corrected himself hastily.

"No need for the honourifics," he smiled. "This isn't a professional context, and we are old friends, aren't we, Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru didn't know how to respond to that.

"I truly am sorry things didn't work out with you and my sister," he said, in as heartfelt a tone as he could muster. "I may not have said it at the time, but I thought you two could go the distance. Literally and figuratively."

"Here I was thinking you would have my head if I ever tried to make a move on her," Shikamaru chuckled lightly.

"Well, I still would've been your worst nightmare had you hurt her at all during," he teased. "But you're a smart guy. It's just a shame that the elders couldn't see that."

Shikamaru looked perplexed. "What do you mean?"

"They weren't convinced of your suitability for Temari. At their request, I spoke to her about your relationship when you came to Suna, and after that discussion you had my support. But the Sunan higher-ups continued to disagree with me."

"Maybe it wouldn't have worked out anyway, then," Shikamaru mused.

Gaara nodded. "They are always interfering with our personal lives. I'm just surprised Temari complied so easily."

"Wait…they were behind our breakup?"

Gaara's eyebrows furrowed. "You didn't know?"

"No," he said flatly. "She gave me many reasons, none of which included being pressured by her superiors."

"'Pressured' would be putting it lightly," Gaara said. "From what I heard, it was more akin to blackmail."

Shikamaru's eyes widened. "This wasn't her choice? At all?"

"No," Gaara revealed. "And it takes a lot for Temari to back down."

"I can imagine," Shikamaru said through his teeth. "But aren't you the Kazekage? Don't you have some sort of overruling authority?"

"Unfortunately, that wouldn't be much of a democracy," Gaara replied pitifully. "Believe me, Shikamaru, I tried to put in a good word for you. But it was almost microcosmic of the Uchiha coup d'état all those years ago. They had talked about it among themselves, and offered her the ultimatum without my knowledge or consent."

"How did you find out about all of this?"

"When your sister returns to the village unannounced and completely distraught, one gets a little concerned," Gaara explained. "It took a while before she finally told me the truth, and not just this absurd cover story I assume she gave you."

"Absurd," Shikamaru murmured.

"Utterly absurd," Gaara rolled his eyes. "The secret is out, so I guess there is no use in damage control. But I can assure you with the utmost confidence that Temari loved you, and only acted in your best interests."

"My…best interests?"

"Yes," he said slowly. "I'm still not too clear on the exact details, but they must have directly concerned you, otherwise there would be no way my elder sister would concede such a frivolous battle. I'm only telling things you already know, Shikamaru. I have never known her to feel this way about anyone in her life. And judging by how she's coped with the aftermath so far…she still feels that way."

Hurt washed through Shikamaru again, but this time Temari was not the perpetrator. No, he only felt the deepest sympathy for her. Even nearing twenty, she was still treated like the property of the Sunan elite. He could only imagine the pain she had inflicted upon herself in order to make such a decision.

They entered the Hokage tower and walked down the long, winding corridor. After some time, Shikamaru asked, "Here for long?"

"A week or so," Gaara confirmed. "I'm very busy for the next few months, so we will try and discuss as much as we can in the brief time I'm in Konoha for."

"Makes sense," Shikamaru mumbled. As they approached the door to the conference room, Gaara paused and looked sternly at the tall, dark-haired jonin.
"Shikamaru…don't give up on her just yet."

He merely nodded in response.