Choji was glad for Shikamaru, one of the only things he'd ever really wanted was for his best friend to be happy, and there was no question that marrying Temari made him so. Still, he couldn't deny that it also broke his heart so he was taking a breather from the celebrations, trying to pull himself back together so that Shikamaru would never suspect the truth. It had been tough hiding such a huge secret from a genius all these years, but somehow Choji had managed to pull it off. Shikamaru had no idea that Choji was completely and madly in love with him and had been since the day they met.

Choji sighed. It wasn't as though he hadn't known this day would come, still it was hard to accept that the final sliver of hope he'd been holding onto was dead now. He would never ever be with Shikamaru.

Choji's thoughts were interrupted by a deep, raspy voice. He looked up and recognised the Kazekage who also happened to be the bride's brother.

"May I sit?"

Choji didn't really feel like being around other people at the moment, but he didn't really think he could refuse a shinobi leader either.

"Sure," he said, sliding over to make room on the bench. They were out in the garden and the sun had set. Choji could hear the sounds of celebration, he could even see a few people mingling, but he felt so seperate from it and he just couldn't keep up the lie that he was totally fine, for hours on end without taking a break.

Both his teammates had found love now. Shikamaru was married and Ino was happy with Sai. Even Asuma sensei's old girlfriend Kurenai had found love again.

Why am I the only one who has to be alone?

"It's difficult, isn't it?" Gaara observed.

Choji wasn't sure what the sand ninja meant and turned to him curiously.

He can't possibly know how I feel about Shikamaru…

"Watching everyone else find happiness," Gaara elaborated.

Choji's first instinct was to deny it, he'd been lying about his feelings for so long now, but somehow, when Gaara said it, it felt like his words were coming from a place of true understanding.

"Yeah…" he agreed.

"You love him," Gaara stated. "And yet you never said a word about it for his sake."

Choji froze, suddenly feeling like the most shameful part of him had a spotlight turned upon it.

What do I say? What do I do?

"Unrequited love is a painful thing to bear," Gaara continued.

Somehow, Gaara seemed to know everything.

"How did you…"

Gaara finally turned and fixed those haunted green eyes on him.

"Once, years ago, someone recognised my pain and showed me I wasn't alone in it. After that, I began to heal."

He's telling me I'm not alone in this. So then who…

Just then, their attention was drawn by the sound of laughter, and they both looked across the lawn to see Naruto grinning widely, and Neji with him, sweeping him up and kissing him passionately.

One glance at Gaara answered Choji's question.

Naruto…

Gaara looked at him too, their eyes connecting, and he was right, it was hard. Choji didn't want Gaara to be in pain, but somehow, having this to share between them, did make the burden slightly easier to bear.

"I need to get back to the festivities, people take note of what the Kazekage does, and it is my sister's wedding after all. Will you join me?"

Gaara was asking for support, asking for a friend, and Choji couldn't say no. He didn't want to.

"Okay," he agreed, rising to his feet, feeling a bit better than he had before. Now that he had a friend beside him, he might make it through this night in one piece after all.