A/N: So sorry for the wait! This chapter is longer than usual, so I hope that makes up for it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"That eager to avoid me, eh?"

He'd foiled her plan; well, did she really expect anything less? He was the village genius, after all. Here she was, thinking if she just got up early enough, she could leave Konoha without having to see him at all. But if there was one thing she'd learnt about him over the years, it was that when push came to shove, he'd step up and see it through.

"You didn't have to see me off."

He was leaning against the open gate, hands in his pockets. "Believe me, I didn't want to. Just carrying out a mission."

"You've been pretty lax with your escort duties as of late."

"I was waiting outside your apartment at six. You must've been pretty desperate to escape me if you were already up and out by that point."

She rolled her eyes. "And yet it didn't work."

He assumed a normal standing position and walked a few steps towards her. She didn't dare move.

"Sorry for exploding at you last night. I don't know what came over me."

That surprised her. The last thing she expected was an apology; she knew deep down that she was in the wrong here. "No, I'm the sorry one. You were right about everything. Well, not everything, but most of it."

He raised an eyebrow. "This is new."

"Huh?"

"You. Apologising."

"Don't make me take it back."

He sighed. "I stand by what I said. I want the truth, Temari."

She shook her head. "The truth wouldn't change anything."

"Well, I'm not letting you run off again without an explanation."

"Gaara's told you everything you need to know." She turned to move past him.

"That-", he caught her by the arm, "-is not the truth. Or at least, it's not the whole truth."

"Let me go, Nara."

"No."

"I'll tell the Hokage you're-"

"How old are you, six?"

"Your mission was to see me off, so carry out your damn mission and see me off."

Exasperated, he released her from his grip. "You shouldn't have come back."

Hurt flashed in her eyes, though she kept them fixed on the path ahead of her. "It wasn't up to me."

He watched her walk away into the slow dawn. Every other time this situation arose, he'd wanted to chase after her and tell her to stay. But this time he could tell himself he honestly didn't care if he ever saw her again. It became clear that just seeing her was like a trigger. If they were apart for long enough, maybe he'd forget eventually. But she was like an unresolved plothole, where each time he was reminded of her, he became confused and frustrated and obsessed over it, all over again. He didn't want to deal with that anymore.

She walked away into the slow dawn. None of it was up to me.

"Lord Sixth, may I speak with-"

He stopped dead in his tracks. They were not alone.

"Gaa...I mean, Lord Kazekage."

"Good morning, Shikamaru."

Well, this was a turn of events indeed.

"What is it, Shikamaru?" Kakashi asked.

"Uh...I can come back later."

"No, stay," Gaara insisted. "I was just giving my thanks to your Hokage before I leave."

"Really, it's not important..."

"Please, Shikamaru, go ahead," Kakashi nodded.

He sighed. "I wanted to speak with you about my escort duties."

The Hokage raised an eyebrow.

"As I imagine preparations for the next Chunin Exams are fast approaching, I need to consider this in addition to the rest of my workload...and I believe in order to manage everything effectively, I'll need to drop my escort duties."

Kakashi rested his chin on his interlinked hands. "Are you sure about this, Shikamaru? It only makes sense for you to be the escort for the Suna ambassador, since both you and Temari-san will be involved in the organisation of the Chunin Exams."

"I just don't think I'll have enough time to do everything else; that's all."

"Interesting," Gaara murmured. "It isn't like you to shirk your responsibilities nowadays, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru frowned. He was about to counter that point, when he realised Gaara was right.

"Very well, Shikamaru," Kakashi muttered, completely aware of the real reason behind Shikamaru's decision but choosing not to comment on the matter. "I'll find another escort for Temari-san. However," he held up a finger, "I will need you to escort Lord Kazekage to the gate when he leaves."

Shikamaru was somewhat taken aback but quickly readjusted. "What about the Kazekage Guard?"

"I sent them on ahead to the border," Gaara replied.

"I see," Shikamaru murmured.

"Shall we get going, then?"

"Of course."

"I haven't heard anything from my sister."

Shikamaru shrugged. "Is there a reason you should have?"

"You tell me, Shikamaru."

He sighed. "This is what you wanted to talk about?"

"I'm just confused as to why you're dropping your escort responsibilities," Gaara murmured. "I hope you're being professional about this."

"Like I said, I just don't think I have the time anymore."

"Very well," the Kazekage said simply, before veering off to the right.

"Where are you going?" Shikamaru questioned. "The gate's this way."

"I'd like to take the scenic route," Gaara replied without looking at him.

Troublesome. Looks like it runs in the family.

"Listen, Shikamaru," Gaara finally spoke. "I've spoken with the elders."

The jonin said nothing.

"I've made an agreement with them," he continued. "I'll be getting married next spring."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Congratulations."

"So...you and my sister haven't worked things out yet?"

"Were you expecting that to happen?"

"I thought it was a possibility, since the question of a suitable heir is out of the window."

"What do you mean?"

"I told you before that the elders didn't approve of you together; the reason for that is because if you were to marry and live in Konoha, any children you'd have would have a claim to the Kazekage position."

He paused. "That's why they didn't approve?"

"Did you not work that out?"

"I thought it was just a simple case of 'he's from another village'."

"No, they were thinking further ahead."

"Huh," Shikamaru nodded.

"Aren't you supposed to be the one who thinks further ahead?"

"I suppose. I just don't understand why she was so evasive about it. Surely if someday we married and I moved to Suna rather than the other way around, there would be no issue?"

"You're the heir to Konoha's Nara Clan, Shikamaru, that wouldn't be plausible."

"Right." He looked down at his feet as he walked. "Still, that's not scandalous enough to hide from me."

They were fast approaching the border. Gaara turned on his heel and looked Shikamaru squarely in the eye.

"Do you still love her, Shikamaru?"

He was silent.

"Then just trust her."

"Oh God, I'm sorry," the man apologised profusely.

Shikamaru's drink was all over the floor and the glass was very much broken.

"Really, it's fine," Shikamaru assured him.

Suddenly a woman emerged from the toilet, ready to usher out the glass-breaker. "Right, I'm ready to g-"

They froze, staring at each other.

"Temari?"

"Shikamaru..." she mumbled.

"You know each other?" the man asked.

"You could say that," Shikamaru nodded. He turned to her. "What are you doing here?"

"The first of the Chunin Exam meetings is tomorrow. I'm not proctoring so it's just paperwork and formalities on my end. Explains why you won't be sitting in on it. Nothing important."

"Still, I'm surprised I didn't know you were around."

"Well, it's become apparent that you're not my escort anymore," she said, eyes hard. "That's what Ren here is for. Ren, this is Shikamaru Nara."

"Nice to meet you," Ren nodded towards Shikamaru. "Sorry about your drink again."

"No worries. This is Choji, by the way."

Choji grinned at them. "Hey. Nice to see you again, Temari."

"And you, Choji." She looked at her company. "We should get going."

"There's no hurry," Shikamaru insisted. "Sit. Let's catch up. Ren and I can get to know each other, too."

"I'm sure Ren has better things to-"

"I'm fine with it if you are, Lady Temari."

He calls her 'Lady Temari'? Shikamaru thought. What a kiss-ass.

"Fine. We'll stay for ten minutes, but then we're going," she muttered curtly, taking a seat next to Choji. Her escort followed suit, sliding in next to Shikamaru.

"So Ren, you like yakiniku?" Choji said to break the ice.

"Well, Lady Temari enjoys it," he explained. "I'm just accompanying her as her escort."

Awkward silence.

"I'm going to the men's room," Choji said abruptly. "Back in a sec." Temari got up briefly to let him out.

When she sat back down, she crossed her arms in frustration. "Why, Shikamaru?"

His eyebrows quirked. "What?"

"Last time I saw you, you made it pretty damn clear you didn't want to see me again. In fact, you went out of your way to ensure you weren't my escort next time I came to Konoha. What's with the sudden hospitality?"

"Should I leave you two-"

"No," they said simultaneously. Ren kept his mouth shut.

"Just trying to be civil, that's all."

"Bullshit."

The expression on Ren's face made it seem as though he had been personally attacked by her profanity.

"Why do you deserve the truth and I don't?"

"Don't be an ass, Shikamaru."

"Seems I keep bumping into your brother these days, and learning second-hand information from him."

"You should be glad. It means less face time with me, doesn't it?" she shot back.

"Just tell me the goddamn truth and I'll leave you alone. You won't hear from me; I won't pester you. No grudges, no secrets. Just the truth."

She considered this ultimatum; her escort, meanwhile, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Before she could make a decision, Choji reappeared.

"Don't worry about getting up," he assured Temari as she made a move to let him in the booth. "I need to get going," he said, giving his best friend a knowing look as he slid a few bills onto the table. "That should cover it for my meal. It was nice to meet you, Ren. Good to see you again, Temari. Shikamaru, I'll chase up Ino and we'll hang out as Team 10 again soon, okay?"

He nodded, gulping his water. "Later, Choji."

"Bye, Choji," Temari smiled.

"Pleasure meeting you," Ren shook his hand, then Choji vanished. The man turned his attention to the blonde. "Lady Temari, it's getting late. Shall we call it a night?"

Shikamaru growled internally. How audacious...he thought bitterly. His tongue's practically dragging along the floor.

"Not until I get my answer," Shikamaru interjected bluntly.

"Ren's right. We should be off."

"Well, he can go on ahead. We're not done talking."

"I'm afraid that's not possible," Ren countered politely. "As her escort, I'm responsible for accompanying her to her accommodation."

He's gotta be doing this deliberately, Shikamaru thought. No one is this suggestive by accident.

"Hm, don't you remember, Shikamaru?" Temari said pointedly. "You were once my escort, no? Same rules apply." She stood up to leave and gestured for Ren to follow.

"In that case," Shikamaru said, also sliding out of the booth and putting down his half for his meal with Choji. "I think I'll take her home, if you don't mind. We have a few things to discuss about the upcoming exams which are confidential, and I'm sure I can get her back in one piece."

"Technically it's not-"

"We can make an exception for tonight," Temari conceded. "Don't worry, I will make it clear to the Hokage that you're doing a very proper and thorough job of escorting me. Shikamaru and I just need to confirm something about the exams with each other."

"Of course, Lady Temari," Ren said, defeated. "I'll see you tomorrow at the usual time. Goodnight, Nara-san."

"See you around."

When Ren was out of sight, they started towards Temari's apartment. It was odd walking side-by-side with her now; they maintained a distance that hadn't been necessary since they were fifteen and eighteen respectively.

After some time, she spoke. "You're already aware of the elders' views."

"Yes."

"I'm sure Gaara told you why."

"Mm."

"What he may not have mentioned to you is...it could mean war, Shikamaru."

"Eh?"

"They were threatening to cut off diplomatic relations with Konoha if we were to continue our relationship and potentially have children. Konoha-born children."

His eyes bugged. "That's a little dramatic, isn't it?"

"What's a hidden village government without some drama, right?" she sighed. "They would never accept a citizen of Konoha as a Kazekage, even if the possibility is slim. They couldn't take that risk."

"But your brothers could have children, and that would settle their worries."

"Like I said, it's the risk. The elders need certainty, security, something I couldn't promise them."

"Well, they have it now."

"What?"

"Gaara told me he'll be married in the spring."

"What?!" she repeated incredulously. "To whom?"

"He didn't say. I assume the elders are scouting a spouse out for him."

"He's not the type to-" she paused when the realisation hit her. "Oh my God. That...that was...so selfless of him."

"But I guess the truth won't change anything, huh?" The way he reiterated her words hurt her, and he knew it.

She shook her head. "I can't let Gaara do that. I can't let him make that kind of sacrifice for me. And it's not like that's the only reason we broke up; him getting married wouldn't equal us being together, anyhow."

"Care to clarify the other reasons?"

"You know as well as I do why it didn't work out."

"No, please enlighten me, Temari."

She sighed. "I truly am sorry about the things I said that night, Shikamaru. The night we broke up, I mean. I meant none of it at the time. But now that we've been apart for a little while...I've come to think, maybe we are incompatible. We're very different people, leading different lives. The timing was never right."

He stopped walking. She noticed and turned to face him, anticipating his response.

"Thank you, Temari."

She was confused. "Why are you thanking me?"

"I told you, all I wanted was the truth. I appreciate you finally telling me."

She smiled to herself. "I see."

"I still don't get why you had to hide it from me."

"Did you not hear my mention of 'war', Shikamaru? It may seem dramatic, but it would have caused many more problems had you found out about what the elders thought from the get-go. We have never wanted our relationship to cause a big storm of any sort, and I wasn't going to create one where it wasn't necessary."

"So you thought our own personal Cold War was better?" he mused.

She shrugged. "If keeping the peace between our villages and our governments meant bearing the brunt of your hatred, it had to be done. I belong to Suna before I belong to anyone else. Dragging everyone else into my personal affairs would have been unbearably selfish of me."

He exhaled slowly. "I could never hate you, Temari."

She smirked. "Didn't you just drop your escort duties?"

His face flushed slightly in embarrassment. "I'm busy these days...and petty, apparently."

"It doesn't matter. You are being handed more responsibility all the time. You couldn't be my escort forever, even if you wanted to."

"It wasn't the worst of my duties."

"I'm glad to hear that."

They walked the rest of the way in silence, glancing at the moon and the houses and the ground but never at each other.

When they reached her door, he said, "We were friends before we were together, you know? Surely we can make it work the other way around, too?"

"Are you asking if we can be friends?"

"Something like that."

"I don't see why not." She smirked at how innocent the suggestion was. It reminded her of how he awkwardly first asked her out, and although this was far less monumental a step, it seemed just as intimidating for him.

"So, how long are you here for this time?"

"Just tonight, then the meeting tomorrow."

"Then back to Suna?"

She nodded.

"You belong to Suna before anyone else, huh?"

"Mm," she smiled, unlocking her door. "Home is where the heart is."

He shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped back. "Night, Temari."

"Night, Nara."

As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel the slightest trace of disappointment that her heart wasn't with him.