A/N: Hello! Quite a bit goes on in this chapter, I hope you'll stick it out.

Thanks for the reviews as always - both positive and constructive. It means a lot for you to take time out of your day to comment on my writing! FYI this whole story I wrote months ago, it was the first time I'd attempted to write fanfiction, and reading it back as I'm posting now has made me very aware of all the flaws and OOC moments etcetera so I do apologise. It bothers me as much as it bothers you haha. But I can't really go back and edit it now...anyway, I'll be posting some other stories as well while this one continues so hopefully those will be much better, both plot-wise and writing-wise.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

More than two months had passed and although the devastating impact of the heartbreak had subsided, there was still a dull ache in his chest that never really disappeared, even if he managed to forget about it at times. He knew the truth, and yet he had no idea what to do about it. He didn't know if the physical distance between them made things easier or more difficult; initially, he was relieved he didn't have to face the source of his pain for some time. But now, he was unsure if the three-day trip to Suna would change anything. He wanted to try, knowing full well she would most likely stall visits to Konoha for the foreseeable future. However, what if she wanted to be left alone? What if she had moved on? After all, she was oblivious to the fact that Gaara had inadvertently let slip the real reason for their breakup. For all she knew, he had every right to never want to see her again. Maybe she truly believed he didn't.

He was a man of logic; why was he leaving it all to chance, when he could do the smart thing and get a second opinion? A way of either confirming or disproving his rationality surrounding this particular situation.

He hated to admit it, but this meant a trip to the Yamanaka flower shop. It was nearing eight in the evening; the shop would close soon if he wasn't careful. He quickened his pace to get there.

"Ino," he called as he swung the door open. "Can I talk to you for a-"

Suddenly, he was stopped in his tracks. This was indeed the flower shop; it was definitely still open; and Ino was certainly behind the counter, but she was not alone. Leaning against the table was another familiar blonde, whose conversation with his former teammate had halted abruptly as she turned to look at the interruption with visible shock.

"Temari?" he said slowly.

"Shikamaru," she breathed, eyes still wide as she registered his presence. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he replied, genuinely confused at the sight before him. He looked to Ino for an explanation, or at least a way out of this awkwardness. She merely responded with a helpless raising of her eyebrows.

"I think you came in to talk to Ino," Temari said quickly to break some of the tension. "I'll let you guys have some space." She turned for the door.

"Don't be silly," Ino chimed, fixing an uncomfortable smile on her face. "I'll go. I've got to sort out some orders in the back before we close for the night. You guys probably have some catching up to do, anyway!"…and as Ino always did best, she vanished.

"Tch," Shikamaru grunted. "Typical."

Temari chuckled. "She means well."

He sighed. "I know."

"So…how are you?"

He was slightly taken aback by her question, torn between being honest and putting on a brave face to protect his own dignity. So he shrugged nonchalantly, as she remembered he always did.

"Same old, same old," he replied, smiling a little. "Still have my hands full with work. Still just as troublesome as ever."

"Welcome to the life of a jonin," she grinned. "Sorry if it's not what you signed up for."

"Like you said, it would have happened sooner or later." He looked at her, more seriously this time. As soon as he did, her gaze dropped to the floor. "You're back in Konoha? What for?"

"I couldn't exile myself to Suna indefinitely," she admitted. "Like you, I have responsibilities. I didn't want to let my own affairs affect the villages as a result. I realised I was being childish, so here I am."

He nodded. "When did you arrive?"

"Only this evening. I haven't even been to my apartment yet, actually…" she trailed off, looking around the room.

"I wasn't told you were coming, otherwise I would've met you at the gates."

"It was organised pretty last-minute. The Hokage isn't very happy with me...he's expecting you to see me off tomorrow."

"So you've been to see Lord Sixth and now you're here?"

"Turns out I'm more cowardly than you," she half-smiled. "I figured Ino would be a good person to ask about how you're doing."

He sighed. "I guess I should ask what she sai…"

"She told me you were doing better. That's all," she cut him off, trying to put him a little more at ease.

"Better than what?"

"Better than before," she responded sympathetically. Then she added, "Better than I was, probably."

He found it strange to hear her admit these things. To open herself up like this, when this was the first time they'd spoken or even seen each other after that less-than-pleasant night…did she really feel this guilty?

"I don't know if I'd put it like that..."

"Sorry guys," Ino said as she breezed back into the room. "I've gotta close up now. So, I'm gonna have to kick you out!"

Temari laughed lightly. "I'll see you, Ino."

"Bye, Temari."

"Later, Ino," Shikamaru called.

"Night," Ino acknowledged, smiling to herself as she watched the two of them walk out of the shop together.

"So," Shikamaru began as they were back out in the street. "You must be starving. Wanna grab a bite to eat?"

She looked at him uncertainly. "It's not too much trouble?"

"I'm not paying for your meal. Well, you wouldn't let me do that anyway before."

"I wouldn't dream of it," she smirked.

As they chatted over teppanyaki, it was as if nothing had changed; they laughed and joked in equal measure and bickered as they always did. The months apart had done nothing to dull their conversation; talking to each other felt natural, effortless, something they both missed much more than they could have ever imagined.

Shikamaru simply listened to her and remembered how much he enjoyed every little thing she did: the musical, if not rather sardonic laugh she released whenever she found something truly funny; the way she expressed everything she was thinking and feeling through her curved teal eyes; how she would sit up straight when she was trying to make a point. All these little details that somehow became lost in his memory of her, overshadowed by hurt and heartbreak.

As he focused his attention fully on her while she recounted a story from her childhood, she noticed there was no food in front of him. "Wait, has the waiter still not brought you your order?"

"I didn't ask for anything," he admitted slyly.

She rolled her eyes. "Not this again…"

"It's a system that works," he shrugged. "You know you always order way more than you can reasonably finish, so I end up eating your leftovers, which usually amount to quite a bit. I'm still paying for my half, aren't I?"

"Doesn't that defeat the purpose of going out to a restaurant? We're supposed to eat at the same time, you know."

"Well, I like it," he said. "It makes the evening last longer."

She smiled, feeling all warm and sentimental. Then a crushing wave of guilt washed over her.

He frowned. "What's wrong?" he asked, picking at her food with his chopsticks.

She pushed her plate towards him, indicating it was his turn to eat. "I'm full up. Have at it."

He complied, but knew she was still mulling over something. "Tem, what's wrong?"

Tem. He was the only one she allowed to shorten her name in that way, and she loved it. Kankuro had always called her 'Tema', but that was different. This one, 'Tem', was reserved solely for him, and to hear him say that to her for the first time in what felt like forever only tore at her heart even more.

"Aren't you supposed to be angry with me?"

His eyebrows furrowed for a minute, then he shrugged. "Don't worry about it."

"No, what I did and the things I said…it was all awful. I didn't handle it in a very tactful or mature way at all...you should be calling me rude names and storming away angrily, you shouldn't even be talking to me. I don't know what we're doing eating together, of all things."

"Tem," Shikamaru looked at her seriously. "Really…it's fine. You had your reasons..."

"Damn it, Shikamaru, react the way you're supposed to! If it were me, I'd be livid!"

"FINE!" he snapped. "I'm angry. I'm furious. I'm not over it, and it was stupid of me to pretend I was over it. What the hell, Temari? What ridiculous thought process did you undergo that led you to this conclusion? The idea that dumping me and slapping a bold-faced lie on it was the way to go?"

Everyone was looking at them. It was like the break-up all over again.

"You...know?"

"I don't even know what I know anymore," he fired back. "The truth is so twisted by this point. Who knows, maybe you're just using the elders as an excuse to get me off your case. After all, you're hardly the kind of person who's gonna listen to anything those old geezers have to say."

"Don't make assumptions, you-"

"I'll assume whatever I want! You don't get to be the scorned one, here. I'm supposed to be angry at you. All this bullshit you've put me through, did you really think you could drop everything and run and I could talk to you now like we're friends?"

"Well, you gave me that impression at first, Nara! Hell, if I didn't prompt you, would you even have discovered this anger within yourself? Maybe you would've just continued to pine after me."

"I wouldn't bet on it," he hissed. "So? Do you have another excuse ready as to why you broke up with me? Are you gonna 'confide' in your brothers, or lie to them as well?"

"You know what? I'm glad I ended it when I did. Clearly you're still the cocky, immature kid you were when we first met."

"I could tell you the same thing."

"God, you're an ass," she spat out, then stood up to leave.

"Hey! Aren't you gonna pay your half? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you like to dine-and-dash."

She tossed a few bills into the air behind her and stormed out.

Sorry, Gaara, Shikamaru thought to himself as he wandered home afterwards. I think I'm giving up.

"Shikamaru!" a voice chimed. He turned to spot the other troublesome blonde woman in his life.

"Ino, I'm-"

"How was it?! Are you back together?"

He merely resumed walking. He cursed his luck when he heard her footsteps quickening behind him.

"Hey, don't ignore me," she griped, catching him on the shoulder with her hand. "That's rude."

"Leave it, Ino!" he said, his tone more malicious than he intended. He shook her off. "It's none of your business."

"You're my friend, and you're clearly upset. It is my business."

"Why did you do that, then?" he snapped. "Why'd you have to push us together the minute I walk into your shop? You knew we'd broken up. It wasn't exactly on good terms. God, you just made things worse."

"Don't blame your shitty love life on me," she retorted. "I wasn't the person behind your break-up."

"Whatever, it doesn't matter. It never would've worked, anyway."

"Hey, don't say that-"

"Bye, Ino."

He strolled further away from her. She crossed her arms indignantly.

"Don't you have to escort her to the gate tomorrow?"

Shit. It was just his luck.