So caught up in their embrace, neither ninja noticed the pair of teal eyes that widened in sheer shock— shock and hurt.

Gaara paced back and forth in the safety and comfort of his own bedroom, wringing his hands in anxious dread as a million thoughts floated through his head. He had dealt with wars, he had dealt with famine, he had dealt with tragedies beyond belief. But this… this was a brand-new level of messed up.

He didn't even know how to start processing this. This was the last thing he expected to see tonight when going to welcome his friends into his home. Catching one of his dearest friends in his sister's boyfriends embrace…

Well, that wasn't quite fair. Shikamaru and Temari weren't quite dating at the moment. But that was only a mere technicality in the grand scheme of things, a technicality that would do pathetically little to lessen his sister's pain. She didn't deserve to be hurt like this.

She had left on her short mission only three days prior and was quite vocal regarding her annoyance with Gaara for sending her on a mission, no matter how short it may be, right before Shikamaru was due to arrive. His sister was always private about her love life, never allowing her protective younger brothers insight into her personal affairs. The only sign that the boys would pick up on was a slight bit of sadness a day after a breakup, and a spring in her step the day of their makeup. But this time, this time was different.

Three months. The breakup had lasted three months this time around when before it would never go past one. With every day that passed without a word from Shikamaru, Gaara could visible see Temari grow more and more sullen. Her shoulder sinking in melancholy, her eyes downcast in confusion. He himself had wondered at the time why Shikamaru has yet to come and beg for forgiveness, but now Gaara knows that while his sister wallowed in pain, the Nara was getting his needs met elsewhere.

And out of all the people the lazy shinobi could have chosen to use to warm his bed, he had chosen Naruto Uzumaki. The ray of light in his life, the woman who had pulled him from the brink of madness. The only person who had seen the real him when he himself had only thought he was a monster. The one who understood his pain, the one who carried the same burden. The one he possibly—

No. He couldn't let himself think about that. Not now, not when his sister needed his attention more than ever. He wouldn't think of how his stomach fluttered when she launched herself into his arms earlier today, he wouldn't think about the small smile she would toss him every time he spoke, nor the way she would press her lips softly onto his cheek in greeting. He wouldn't contemplate how she felt pressed against him, how he felt when he saw her in the arms of that lazy ninja.

What did women even see in him? The two women he held in the highest esteem, his sister whose brilliance equals none and his friend, whom words cannot even begin to describe. Both have found themselves intertwined with the least respectable type of man possible. By his own admission, Shikamaru Nara wanted nothing more than to be mediocre. He wanted an average life, an average career, and most importantly: an average wife. Yet he chose to bed the two most unique women he knew.

Gaara felt like he was going to be ill. While he despised thinking about that man's hands anywhere near the blond container, the idea of him being near his sister was absolutely disgusting. But Temari loved him, so Gaara tolerated him. Or at least, he used to tolerate him, Gaara wasn't sure what he'd do next time he saw the womanizer.

Gaara sighed as he threw himself into a chair, his fingers squeezing the bridge of his nose as he attempted to halt the migraine that was pounding through his head. At the end of the day, could Naruto and Shikamaru even be faulted? Yes, they're idiots who hooked up despite the pain that would obviously be caused to others, but the fact of the matter is that neither of them could really be held liable.

Naruto for one was never too close to Temari, so it's not like she owes her anything. And frankly, despite… whatever it was that he felt for the attractive blond, he certainly has no claim on her. He has never once confessed his feelings for her, nor has he ever motioned to deepen their relationship. Naruto was an independent single woman, and frankly, free to be with anybody that she wants… even if who she wants is a lazy womanizer.

Now Shikamaru, that was a man Gaara wished he could punch. He wanted to cause the lazy Clan Head physical pain, despite fully knowing that the Nara couldn't be held at fault either.

Gaara sighed, he wished he could hate Shikamaru for the pain that Temari was about to go though. He wished he could rage and rave at the younger man and force him to apologize to Temari until his face was blue. He wished that he could blame Shikamaru for all of the problems that existed in his and Temari's relationship. But fact of the matter, Shikamaru cannot be blamed, and Gaara knows this better than most.

Shikamaru has always tried to be the best of boyfriends. Despite his many faults, Shikamaru loved Temari. Yet despite his obvious affection for her, their relationship continued to stumble on hurdles, and they continuously broke up for the silliest of reasons. Silly reasons that were usually dramatized by Temari herself. For as much as they were on and off, it was always Temari calling it off and Shikamaru traveling to Suna to apologize and call it back on.

Not that Shikamaru was blameless, of course. Temari had her reasons to be upset with the younger man. He was an apathetic romantic partner, and while it was obvious that he cared for Temari, he was fairly bad at showing it. Temari had her logic, but Gaara had to admit that despite all that, Temari was simply being unreasonable.

Gaara had asked her a few weeks before as to why she had not yet gone to Konoha and apologized to Shikamaru for her role in the breakup. She was the one who ended it, and it was incredibly obvious that she had deeply regretted it. But Temari was a stubborn one. In her mind, she held no fault, and thus it should have been Shikamaru's role to come and apologize… yet days turned to weeks which turned to months and Shikamaru still had not made the voyage to Suna nor sent a letter of apology.

Gaara's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knocking on the door. With a squeak, the door eased open, and a familiar blond popped her head through the door, "Hey Gaara, you busy?"

Gaara felt his heart clench softly, and yet while he tried to look angry, his teal eyes softened at the sight of the object of his affections, "Naruto, what can I do for you?"

Naruto awkwardly shuffled into the room, her fingers nervously playing with the cuffs of her orange jacket as she refused to make eye contact with the master puppeteer, "I wanted to… well… I need advice and you're the best person to ask."

The Kazekage crossed his arms in fake apathy as he quirked a brow, "Would this have anything to do with you bedding my sister's ex-boyfriend"

Naruto visibly winced, "How… how did you--?"

"If you want to keep your escapades a secret," Gaara spoke deceptively monotonously, "perhaps you should not have displays of affection in the halls of my home."

"Oh," Naruto grimaced, "I'm sorry you saw that."

Me too, Gaara thought with a sigh, leaning his head back onto the pillow, "Naruto… what are you even doing?"

"I don't know," she admitted meekly, "but I do know that it was my fault."

"Explain."

Naruto shuffled anxiously before taking a seat in front of her friend, her eyes glancing everywhere other than at the man she was currently addressing, "It was at a party. I was drunk, he was even drunker. It was right after their breakup, and he was hurting, and it was the anniversary of Jiraiya's death and it's not an excuse but—"

"Naruto stop," Gaara interrupted the girls rambling, "Just… stop. You don't have to make excuses for him."

"I'm not," Naruto sighed, her eyes downcast and shining with unshed tears, "I'm making excuses for myself. I was the one who threw myself at him, it was me who begged him to bed me. I was the one who took advantage of his drunk and hurt state, and it was me who convinced him that he wasn't doing anything wrong. I am the only one at fault here."

Gaara blinked, ignoring the sharp pain in his chest as his eyes widened in visible confusion, "You… you have actual feelings for him, don't you?"

"I— I don't know what I feel Gaara."

It looks like he had his answer. "He's going to break your heart Naruto. That's what he does. He's a skilled womanizer, and he's made it clear that you are nothing more to him than a willing woman to bed."

Naruto winced, "I know."

"You know all this… and yet still you love him." It wasn't a question.

"I know, pretty idiotic of me, huh?" Naruto chuckled self deprecatingly.

"You're not an idiot Naruto," Gaara spoke softly, "Shikamaru is very good at getting what he wants. You will enjoy your time with him, but it will eventually lead you to sadness."

"It's worth it," Naruto admitted with a grimace, "but now all I can think about is how I wronged Temari. It's all my fault."

With a large sigh, he reluctantly spoke softly, "You did nothing wrong Naruto. As much as I hate to admit it, neither did Shikamaru. But the two of you must tell my sister, she's under the impression that your little paramour is going to beg for her forgiveness during this trip."

"It'll break her heart," Naruto whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It will. But when the word is out," Gaara clenched his jaw, "I'll be there for her. I'll help her through this, one way or another."

"You're a great man Gaara, thank you."

"I'm not doing it for you, Uzumaki."

As he watched the sheepish blond slink out of his room, he couldn't help but place a hand on his heart. He wondered if this is what heartbreak felt like.

Shikamaru looked up from his scroll from where he lounged in his bed as his fake lover slipped into his bedroom, a brow quirked as he took in her utterly melancholic state. It was obvious that she had been crying, her large blue eyes were tinted red and streaks of tears were visible on her cheeks. Without a word, the Nara opened his arms, and Naruto didn't hesitate to launch into his embrace.

Her head nuzzled into his neck, and somewhere in the back of her head she realized that he was shirtless, "I spoke to Gaara."

"I'm sorry you had to do that," Shikamaru confessed softly, "but Gaara had to be told. We can't risk a diplomatic issue, especially if he thought that you were somehow being coerced into it."

"I know," Naruto nodded, her lips slightly tickling his collarbone as she speaks, "he thinks I'm in love with you now, I let him know that it was all my fault that we ended up together, and that you in no way took advantage of me."

Shikamaru breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you Naruto, it would have had serious repercussions for both the village, as well as my own family if the Kazekage thought I had mistreated you in anyway."

"I broke his heart, Shika," Naruto mumbled, "He tried to hide it but I could see it in his eyes. I hurt him."

Shikamaru ran his fingers through her hair, his chin resting on top of her hair as he whispered, "I know."

"Why is this so difficult? Why must so many people be hurt just so that I can be free?"

Shikamaru held the girl tighter, dragging her onto his lap as he spoke, "Naru, it'll only be for a short while. Regardless, you won't stay single forever, and it's time for these people to stop whatever crush they have on you. You're not obligated to love anyone, okay? Promise me that when you do enter a relationship, it'll be with someone you're truly crazy about."

Naruto moved her head slightly to look up at the man who had started to consume her every thought. His jaw was sharp, and the small smile on his lips combined with the kind look in her eyes once more reminded her how fortunate she was to have this man in her corner. And if she ever were to love someone romantically… well… only one lazy bastard came to mind.

Tsunade took a big gulp from the glass bottle as she examined the papers that were scattered before her. Why was nothing ever simple when it came to the excitable blond jinchuriki?

Shikaku sighed, leaning back into his chair as he spoke with a groan, "My son unfortunately saw this coming."

"He's perceptive," Tsunade grumbled, her eyes never leaving the letter in front of her, "Are we certain that this is the right move?"

The Nara nodded sharply, "It will end this nonsense once and for all."

"And the village will take a collective sigh of relief that we somehow managed the enormous political backlash."

"It won't end the charade, however. Naruto will not be truly safe until the Daimyo's son is married to another," Shikaku reminded her.

The Hokage took another sip of her sake, "But this will get her out of the fire, so to speak."

"Yes, yes it will."

"This is going to be such a pain," The medic groaned while picking up the pen before her, "Okay how should I start this letter?"

"The words, 'Dearest Esteem Fire Daimyo', might be a good place to start."

Naruto awoke with the sun, the soft streams of light peering from the window and nuzzling her awake. She was warm, unquestionably comfortable, and it only took a second for her to realize that it was due to being firmly grasped in the Nara's strong embrace. As Naruto watched the slightly older ninja sleep, his chest rising and falling ever so softly, she realized that this was a sight that she could never grow tired of.

His hair, which was usually pulled tightly into a neat pony tail, was free from the confines of a rubber band, loose tendrils of ridiculously soft hair covering his forehead and falling over his eyes. His face was smoother in sleep, more boy like and true to his young age, without the worry lines stretching across his forehead nor the perpetual apathetic frown his face naturally contorted to. His lips were slightly apart, softly breathing in and out air without a single noise, his ninja instincts kicking in even in sleep.

Naruto used the tips of her fingers to softly brush the hair out of his eyes, content to just lay there and watch him for hours on end. She was in trouble, she knew. Every small piece of ninja training told her that the feelings she was developing for her partner were dangerous, that the stupid butterflies that erupted in her stomach whenever he would direct a smirk in her direction was an idiotic reaction, and would eventually lead to the complete destruction of her mission. Not to mention her working relationship with her colleague, who was certainly not as handsome or mind-numbingly talented with his tongue as her sleep-addled mind was insisting he was.

He was a fellow shinobi of Konoha, and that was it. Sure, maybe she could admit that he was pretty gorgeous, but that didn't mean anything! Hell, Sasuke was stupid pretty, almost feminine really, and that didn't stop her from being his friend and nothing more! And fine, okay, maybe Shikamaru was a bit more her type, all tight and tan muscles, with abs you could use as a washboard, but hell all ninjas had a great body! And sure, maybe his frighteningly high intelligence was the biggest turn on, especially with his dark and passionate gaze that seemed to literally freeze her in place, but.. but..but…

Ah fuck. She has a crush on her teammate.

A totally inappropriate crush that was set to ruin the peace and tranquil life that she had finally built for herself. Yeah, sure, she was pretending to date Shikamaru currently, and so everyone important in her life already thought of her as a 'home-wrecker' so to say, but that was all a ruse! A mere fabricated lie, which she comforted herself by knowing that it will eventually end, people will know the full truth, and peace will be restored. But now… now real feelings were getting mixes up, which will only complicate the lies that she and Shikamaru were weaving…

Perhaps she was getting ahead of herself. It's not like she was in love with the guy, he was hot, that was simply it. A mere crush on a stupidly attractive and wickedly smart man who had spent the last few weeks devoting his entire attention, both literal and physical, on her and her alone. It was only natural for her to develop a crush in this situation! With that comforting thought, Naruto snuggled deeper into Shikamaru's arms, knowing that once the ruse ended, her "feelings" will certainly come to a timely end as well.

The four Konoha ninjas stood at ease in the Kazekage's office, with Shikamaru standing a foot closer to the desk as he gestured at several key pieces of information that were littered across the numerous pages of Trade Guidelines.

"With this route set in place, Kazekage-sama, we can bring more economic opportunities to both of our villages. Between your spices, and our produce, our people will never have to worry about financial hardships again," Shikamaru explained with a steady tone, as though he had no reason to be nervous or worried, "It is a wonderful opportunity. If you would like to take the time to look at the numbers and review them with the council, my party and I will surely be able to extend our trip for a few more days in order to iron out any details."

They had been here for hours, discussing various intricacies and policies and other mind numbingly boring topics that Naruto had zero interest in. She hoped that they will have wrapped all this up before she took the hat from Baa-Chan, or else she was gonna pawn off all the boring stuff to whoever was unlucky enough to be saddled with the job of being her assistant.

Gaara hummed a bit, his teal eyes quickly assessing the documents before him. He glanced up at the Konoha ninjas, Naruto and Kiba were glass eyed but trying hard to look as though they were paying attention, whilst the Nara and Hyuga were peering at him stoically and with rapt attention. Gaara had to try not to snort in derision.

"No need Nara," Gaara finally spoke after several minutes of silence, "you have obviously thought these through and presented them to me in a way that would prove favorable to me. As much as I would love to decline this agreement, my village comes first."

With a flourish of his pen Gaara signed the original agreement, as well as the copy for his own personal safe keeping. As he and Shikamaru were placing the final touches on the agreement, a nondescript ninja slid into the room to whisper something to his leader. Gaara frowned ever so slightly, "Well Shikamaru, my sister has arrived. You best not leave her waiting, her temper is not to be trifled with."

Shikamaru had to stop himself from grimacing, nodding sharply, "With your leave?"

"Please," Gaara gestured towards the door, "I'll finish signing the papers and hand them to one of your subordinates. Thank you for your time, Nara-san."

Shikamaru bowed stiffly before turning on his heel and walking out the door, as Naruto attempted to not watch him leave. She gulped as Gaara turned her gaze on her, "Uzumaki, I presume you can be trusted to take these files back to your Hokage?"

Naruto winced, he hadn't referred to her by her surname since their genin days, "Of course, Kazekage-sama."

She understood why he was doing this, she fully comprehended that Gaara had to protect his own heart, and in order to do so, he must keep her at arms length. That didn't help ease the pain in her chest.

Shikamaru took a deep breath before opening the door before him, "Temari."

His ex-girlfriend was still frighteningly beautiful, he had to admit as he watched her sit on the edge of her bed as she unstrapped her sandals. Her short strawberry blond hair was pulled into four pony tails, and she had switched her typical purple outfit for the standard Suna uniform no doubt required for her mission. Her teal colored eyes widened a bit as she looked at the man she had come to love over the years.

"Shikamaru, you're still here," Temari spoke softly, "I didn't know if you would be, the guards had said that you were wrapping up your meeting with Gaara."

The Nara nodded, walking into the room and closing the door behind him, he didn't exactly want many witnesses to the following conversation, "We are done with the negotiations, we're actually scheduled to leave within the hour."

The wind user hummed as she finished taking off her sandals, her voice still soft and strangely demure, "Hmm, funny that it took official business to bring you back to Suna."

Shikamaru leaned back on the wall, his fingers just itching for a cigarette, but knowing that his estranged lover would very well kill him for it, "The job called for it."

Temari scoffed, "Of course it did. It's always 'the job' with you Shikamaru. Kami, and you wonder why we broke up."

"I never wondered why we broke up Temari," Shikamaru reminded her, "I knew that you were sick of the distance, and sick of me working all the time, but I'm the head of my clan. I'm a jonin of my village. I have responsibilities."

"And where do I fall within those responsibilities, huh? Am I just the foreign girl who pops in every few months for a good fuck and a warm bed?" Temari spat out.

"You know that's not true."

"It certainly felt true. Shikamaru, I barely saw you once a month, and even then we would be too busy with our jobs to even fully enjoy our time together. Was I nothing more to you than an easy sexual partner?"

"Temari stop," Shikamaru frowned, "You know I never thought of you like that."

"Well you certainly never made time for me."

"You never made time for me either Temari, it goes both ways here. Yes, we were always busy. Sure, you're right I needed to make spending time with you more of a priority, but I was always busy. Hell, you were always busy. We just, didn't have time for one another."

"So I was nothing to you?"

"Don't put words in my mouth."

"Then what?" Temari sighed, her voice dropping and her anger releasing, "What was I to you?"

"A girl I adored," Shikamaru spoke truthfully, "One who I was honored to call my girlfriend."

"Then why did it take three months for you to come here? Why did it take official business for you to speak to me?"

"Because nothing has changed."

"If nothing has changed," Temari spat out, "then why are you here now?"

"Official business, you said so yourself."

"Yeah, I don't think 'official business' would have you in my bedroom. For once in your kami-damned life, just be honest with me Shikamaru."

Shikamaru sighed, "I just… couldn't leave without talking to you first."

Temari rose from the bed, her arms crossing beneath her chest, "Oh? You finally want to talk to me, even though you say nothing has changed? Why?"

"Because we both deserve closure," Shikamaru spoke, his eyes peering into her own so that she would know that he was serious.

"Closure?"

"We've been together for too long and cared for one another too much to end things the way we did. So yes, I believe we need closure."

"Holy shit, you're actually breaking up with me," Temari's eyes widened in disbelief.

"If you would recall Temari, we haven't actually been together in quite sometime."

"But that's just what we do! We fight, we argue, we take a quick break and then we have loud make up sex! We don't… we don't get closure." Temari yelled, her nose wrinkling in distaste.

"Don't you see how messed up that is Temari! Don't you realize that while we may always love each other, perhaps," Shikamaru had to brace himself, "perhaps we just aren't meant for each other?"

"So that's it, huh?" Temari laughed cruelly, "You decide we're not perfect together, so you end things?!"

"You broke up with me Temari!"

"Don't even start with that. Yes, I may have taken a pause on our relationship, but I didn't fucking end it for good! That's all you buddy."

Shikamaru groaned, "This is why we don't work Temari. We want different things! Yes, we have the same goals in life, we're both hard working ninjas who would do anything for our village. But your village is Suna, your loyalty is to your brother. Mine will always be to Konoha and to the Hokage. We would never be happy if we left our own respective village for the other."

"You do not get to make that decision for me Shikamaru Nara," Temari spat, "I can decide for myself which is more important to me, and before today, I would have always put out relationship first."

Shikamaru scoffed, "Are you kidding me Temari? You never put our relationship first, it was always the mission. But to be fair, I have done the same to you. This is no ones fault, but let's be honest, we were never going to work out."

Temari faltered, her eyes peering into Shikamaru's own, before her eyes widened in realization, "Who the fuck is she, Shikamaru?"

"What are you talking about?"

"There's someone else… isn't there?" She sounded defeated. Broken, almost.

"Temari… I—"

"Don't. Just don't. Forget I even said anything," Temari turned away, unwilling to let the man she loved see her cry over him, "If you managed to not only fuck another woman while we were on a break, but to fall in love with her too, then maybe you were right. We aren't meant for each other."

"Temari—"

"Get the fuck out of my room."

Later that night, Temari was unsurprised to have her youngest brother join her on the terrace of her bedroom as she stared up at the moon. She wordlessly took the box of tissues from the wise young man, wiping her tears.

With a bitter frown she asked, "Did you know?"

"I found out last night," Gaara admitted quietly.

"Do I want to know who she is?" Temari questioned sadly.

"No. No you really don't."

Temari hummed, turning her glance back up to the night sky, "I fucking hate him, Gaara."

"I know."

"I still love him, and I fucking hate him for that."

"I know."

"Was I—" Temari withheld a sob, she was better than that, "was I just not enough for him?"

Gaara gathered his elder sister into his arms, allowing her to cry on his chest as he stroked her hair, "He doesn't deserve you. He doesn't deserve either of you."

Shikamaru poked the fire, his mind a million leagues away as he tended to the flame. So into his thoughts, he barely noticed Naruto slide by and sit next to him.

"Dare I ask how it went?"

Shikamaru chuckled darkly, "Horribly. I didn't expect anything else though."

Naruto winced, "I'm sorry, Shika."

"You have been apologizing to me a lot lately," Shikamaru pointed out, "stop doing that. You know that none of this is your fault."

Naruto squirmed in place, "I know, it still doesn't make me feel any less guilty."

Shikamaru sighed as he pulled the beautiful blond into his arms, her head resting comfortable on your chest, "It's alright Naru, we just have to stick it out for a few more months."

"What if… what is Temari doesn't forgive you?

"She will."

"What if she doesn't?"

"Then maybe—" Shikamaru took a sharp breath, "Maybe we weren't meant for each other after all."

Naruto wondered if it made her a horrible person that she silently wished that it was true.