Hey…turns out I will be able to write by late at night after my grandpa goes to bed. I can't believe how thin he is now. He's loosing weight so fast it's ridiculous…anyway I don't want to drown you all in my problems so I will let you read now! I hope you like this longer letter chapter!

Dear Temari,

I have come to a stammering conclusion that women aren't worth it anymore. Especially women scorned…or in this case women thought to be scorned. Either way, I'm done. My worthless attempt failed miserably.

Before I tell you how, I will add that I did in fact discover my error when I wrote that anonymous note…what are the chances she'd actually respond to a strange note left on her doorstep?? Too bad I didn't realize until after I sent it. So, I had to make a quick quip. I called up my old buddy Sasuke and asked him for a favor. I asked him to ask Ino out on a date in the park…start up a conversation…casually steer it towards myself. I'd be…let's just say "around" to hear what she has to say so I can find a way to fix things between us. He agreed, and later he told me she accepted. Perfect plan, huh?

Well, let's just say nothing's perfect.

At the time the date was, I hid behind a bush…yeah, I know your probably screeching right now "A bush???" but yes, it was my only choice. They were all along the path so they were easy hiding places. When I saw Ino I couldn't believe how she looked…I wasn't sure whether it was right to have my heart flip, or have it flop. She was so beautiful to look at. But she wasn't dressing like that for me…she has never dressed like that for me. She was dressing like that for Sasuke. I had such an urge to just jump out right there and confess to Ino in person, but I contained it with much difficulty. Having a sense of my reaction, Sasuke excused himself from Ino and came to where I was. He said, "You may have some emotions bursting, but you have to bottle them up for now or this plan won't work." I nodded, knowing he was right. Before he went back, he turned back to me. "Oh, by the way," he said. "Your nose is bleeding." He took out a tissue and wiped the blood away from my dripping nose as if I were a three year old, then went back to Ino. I saw her eyes go to the bloody tissue, and she blushed. Which was just great by the way, because this meant she was happy that she had seemingly made Sasuke's nose bleed with her ensemble (must've taken hours…probably Sakura's doing. She's been dying to tug Ino's hair out of that ponytail for the longest time.)

What happened later was the worst. They were going on a walk down the path, me moving swiftly along behind the bushes as they went. I couldn't help but notice Ino inch ever closer to Sasuke as they walked. I would have given just about anything to be in his place then. In anger, I didn't see where I was shuffling and accidentally walked through an overhanging branch out of a bush, creating a rustle. Ino heard it too. Luckily, I got through that without much difficulty, as Sasuke switched the subject. To me. He began asking questions, and I was afraid his digging became suspicious to Ino. But she still answered them. Anxiety ran through me like it was a race to a pot of gold around my stomach. To my VERY big surprise, not only did Ino claim she hasn't seen or talked to me in forever, but also insulted everything there is about me to insult, including my hair! I knew the first part wasn't true, but she obviously chooses not to have associated me to begin with. I could tell Sasuke was taken aback as well. This, I couldn't take. I let my tears run, and sobbed without trying to disguise it.

And she definitely heard it.

I decided to give in and stand. I could just see the look in Ino's eyes, transparent from the lunar light. She was surprised and for some reason…pained? What did she have to be hurt about? She was the one who insulted me, with much brutality I might add.

So…I turned and left. I had only made it half way across the lawn when I could hear feet clamping against the grass behind me. I didn't turn back. I wasn't about to face anyone.

"Shikamaru?" I recognized the feminine voice that belonged to Ino as she tugged me around by my shoulder to face her. My facial expression was not any different then it was when I heard her say the words "Life destroying" in regard to me. Embarrassingly tear stained and exasperated. "Let me explain…" she went on, but I broke in.

"Oh, don't bother. You've explained enough." I narrowed my eyes at her. Had I been wrong about her all along?

"No, Shikamaru, you don't get it, I was just-"

"Telling a lie? Or was it the truth? Do you really think I am all those things you said I am, and do you really choose not to admit that you have ever acknowledged my existence?" I took a step closer, assuming she would step back, but she didn't. So then we were even closer. I gulped. It was a bad move on my part.

"Hey, I'm not the one who eavesdropped on someone else's private conversation!" She said, changing the subject. I wasn't fazed though.

"You didn't answer my question." Is what I said back to her. She had been silently crying for whatever reason I will never know, since she didn't have her heart shattered into a million smithereens. But she was. After a short pause, I will admit, hardly long enough to give her a chance to answer, I turned. It was all too much for me to take all at once.

I parted with one last sentence.

"When you're ready to answer the question whole-heartedly…let me know."

And with that I walked away, hearing her sobs carry away in the night. I almost could have sworn I heard my name muffled in one of them.

Your roll-reversed friend,

Shikamaru

PS…You're lucky things aren't this hard with your girly boyfriend.

I hope you liked that one. I will see if I can write more tomorrow night…for now though, R and R! Thanks for the sympathy about my grandpa guys…you are the best. Cya!