Shikamaru's job kept him from going to their place mainly during the day, but he made sure to go as soon as he was done working. Temari usually got off work the same time but she went drinking with her friends so it's not like he had anywhere else to be. He had started thinking about their engagement and found he was no longer certain they should go through with it. They had now been engaged for a little longer than a year and he decided he wasn't happy with her. There was one person he was happy with and if it was with his best friend, not fiancée, then something was wrong.

He voiced his thoughts to Ino, who was currently dangling her legs in the lake.

"Well, have you guys been fighting much anymore? That used to be all you spoke about." She kicked her legs to make a splash and made sure to throw her boots further away so they wouldn't get wet. Her legs had a bluish tint to it and he wondered why she was even in the water.

"Actually no… It's been mainly quiet." Shikamaru rubbed his neck and thought more about what was actually a new revelation. Ino recognized the sound in his voice and turned to look his way.

"Is that bad?"

"… I don't know," he confessed, eyebrows furrowed. "I think it is."

The blond turned more and took her legs from out of the water. Her jeans were rolled up and she didn't bother unrolling them when she made her way over to sit next to him.

"What do you think you should do?" Her voice was quiet and all she wanted was for him to be happy. She had started to think that since he hadn't been complaining any more about her yelling that things were getting better. Obviously not.

He shrugged. "Nothing sounds easiest."

Ino couldn't help but smile at that, though she still rolled her eyes. "Lazy ass. You should talk with her about it. You guys could work it out or… Well, I don't know. But it's kind of serious, you know."

A sigh. "Yeah. I know."

She was quiet for a while before poking his side. "You wanna go up?" She looked up at their usual lounge spot and he smirked at her; his usual smile.

"Nah."

"Geez, Shika, you're so chatty!"

His smirk deepened and he closed his eyes, crossing his arms under his head. Ino followed his lead and ginned at him. It was nice to see something other than indifference or a frown on his face. He deserved to be happy.

On his walk home, Shikamaru felt at a loss; going home was something he dreaded now. He wanted to spend all of his time in that one spot. It made him happier than actually being at home. His stomach dropped and he knew Ino was right: He needed to talk to Temari. There was no way she was happy, either. And if neither of them were happy… Well, he just needed to talk to her about it first.

Face-to-face with the front door and he hesitated before going on. He knew she'd be right on the other side, waiting for him. Or was she waiting for him? He sighed and turned the doorknob, going inside. His eyes connected with hers and he could see the same discontentment in her eyes that he felt. She didn't move from her seat on the couch, but her eyes followed him. He slipped off his jacket and draped it over the side of the sofa before sitting down beside her, almost a full seat away.

"I think you know what I have to say," he started quietly, eyes downcast.

She looked away and her hands balled. "I think I do, too." Her voice was equally quiet.

He tried to see her face, to read her expression. "I care about you. I know you're not happy. I know I'm not, either." He heard a sharp intake of air and from the side of her face he could see a tear glistening. His heart pumped painfully and he hated what was happening, and he was sure she hated it, too. For a moment he thought about bringing up way they could try to fix it, but then he remembered how it felt with Ino at their spot. It was the happiest he had felt, almost ever.

Very slowly he reached for her hand, afraid she'd take it away, but she didn't. He held onto her hand and she gripped it tightly.

"I want you to be happy. You will be happy," he took a deep breath, "Without me."

A sob escaped her lips and she turned away from him even more, hating that he could see her so vulnerable. She couldn't deny his words, because she knew it was the truth. They could work and work and work to try to make them okay, but it wouldn't be okay. Even from the beginning it wasn't okay. But it was easy. And easy just wasn't enough.

"I love you," she whispered, tears in her eyes and a squeak in her voice.

His heart lurched. "I love you, too," he told her, "But we both know our love isn't the same."

Slowly she turned to look at him. She was the epitome of heartbroken.

"I know."

She leaned into him and he welcomed her, his arms wrapping around her shoulders while hers snaked around his waist. What seemed like hours went by before her grasp lessened and he knew it needed to be final.

"Want me to go?" His voice was muffled by her hair but she heard, and she nodded, though reluctantly. Neither had wanted it to end, but both of them knew it had to. He sent one final glance in her direction before taking his jacket and heading out the door. Only one of them could stay in the house tonight and he knew she needed it more. He had been coming to terms with their end, but he wasn't entirely sure she had.

When he made it to their spot, Ino was waiting for him. Hearing the shuffle of the leaves of the bushed being pushed apart, her head snapped in his direction and she immediately jumped up and walked over to him, eyes full of worry and concern. She put her arms around him and felt him doing the same.

"Are you okay?"

His grip stiffened, "I'm okay."

She nodded into his chest. "How is she?"

"Less okay."

His voice was strained and she knew he was less okay than he let on. She held on tight and when their legs began to hurt they sat on the boulder, hands clasped together. Time went by and the slowly setting sun had already disappeared. Ino stifled a yawn and looked over at Shikamaru, who was practically sleeping on her. Giving a little smile, Ino prodded him. "C'mon, we need sleep."

He looked at her groggily, blinking back sleep. "Know of a good place?" She smiled bigger.

"Of course. My place."

Shikamaru gave her a weird look. "I'm not sure…"

Ino rolled her blue eyes. "Oh come on. What? Think I'd try to get you in bed right after that? I do have class, you know." She smiled and pulled him off the rock.

"Don't worry; there's a spare room."

Shikamaru hadn't had much of a choice so he followed her, trailing about a step behind because of his sleep deprivation. The girl stopped in front of a small flower shop and he waited curiously as she took out a key and unlocked the door. She let him inside before locking it up again and leading him around the counter to a door that led to a bigger room full of flowers and a staircase.

"I'm up here," she told him, face dusted in pink. "Sorry that it's a bit small…" She trialed off and flicked on the light when they reached the main floor.

It was decorated with a medium gray couch with two purple pillows, a coffee table, a small T.V., a small round table with two chairs, and on the far side of the room was a tiny kitchen.

"It's not much," she shrugged, "But it's just enough." She threw off her jacket and pointed down the small hall. "Bathroom's right there." She walked to the hall and stopped at the first door, "And this is where you'll be staying."

It was a small room with a bed, a dresser, and a desk with a laptop and a chair.

"Sorry it's kind of bare…" She glanced around the room with a less than pleased face.

"It's just enough."

Ino smiled and gave Shikamaru a hug. "Go to sleep, okay? I'll be here when you wake up." She kissed the side of his head and walked to her own room. Shikamaru caught sight of a lot of purple and smiled weakly with a shake of his head.