Belong

Part 5: Confrontation

She hated feeling like this and not knowing what to do about it only added to her frustration. She wasn't ready to face him either but it was to be expected. He was bound to come over sooner or later and the way Shikamaru held her, it was just like how he used to hold her.

"What're you doing?" Was all she could say. She felt it inside of her, those emotions returning and the memories flashing inside her head. She couldn't help but panic, she felt trapped again as she struggled to uncage herself. But even after she did, none of it went away.

Could it be because of him? Because of him she was overcome by these suffocating emotions again?

"What's wrong with you?" She asks, hoping to throw him off despite knowing how perceptive he is. Maybe he saw through her, maybe he can tell she's breaking down inside but she didn't give out.

She loved how her body felt like it was on fire every time he kissed her but this time it didn't feel like him kissing her. It did but it didn't, it was like even though it was him, it didn't feel like it but in a way it did.

"Shikamaru." She kept saying. The memories kept flashing faster as they kept kissing. She couldn't take it anymore..

"Stop!"

"Is something wrong?"

"Just stop."

She could feel her eyes getting watery and the tears attempting to escape from her eyes.

----------------

"If I had known what a drag this would be i wouldn't have gotten myself involved. Man, what are a pain."

What was wrong with her? What was it that was so bothersome that she was trying so desperately tried to hide? Then again she's never been the type to share, for as long he's known her. At least she could make exceptions now that they're together. When two people who love each other have problems, they talk it out, don't they? Or maybe it could be something he said or did. He thought he knew what he was getting into with her but this. It was beyond  what he expected. He'd never been in a relationship like this one before but he didn't think it would be this frustrating.

"This is exactly why I didn't want to involve myself with girls in the first place. What a drag. What did dad ever see in mom anyway? And what does Asuma see in Kurenai sensei or Naruto in Hinata? Anyway it seems like they got it easy. Why did i have to be with a troublesome girl like her?"

He arrived at his quiet apartment, he didn't even bother himself by eating something. He went straight to bed, feeling physically and mentally drained.

The next day, the sun shone through his window. The bright light forced him to wake up. He was feeling much better today, and rested. He got out of his sheets and did his usual morning routine. With Asuma being done with his errands, Shikamaru was to be at the Hokage's Office by noon so he still had a couple of hours left.

He sat down to eat. He looked at the other side of the table, reminiscing about the times he ate with her. As it seems his mind still lingered on what happened the day before.

But he knew the only way he could get answers was to ask her and it would probably be less distracting especially with him going on a dangerous mission he is going to go on with his team. He finished his breakfast and went straight to her place of stay.

He leaped from roof to roof of each building until he arrived to hers. But he still wasn't sure if it was a good idea coming here like this and not to mention it's only morning. "No!" He thought, "It's about time.. i got some answers." Without hesitation, he knocked.

"Temari. It's me!" He announced.

After a moment the door was answered.

"We have to talk." He says to her with a stern look.

"Good morning to you too." She says, forcing a smile and gesturing him to come inside. They both sat at the table in opposite sides.

"It's time we talked about... Yesterday." He states with his arms folded and looking at her in the eye. "What has been bothering you? And why can't you tell me what's going on?" He asks.

"Nothing.. I just miss being back home." She lies.

"We both know that isn't it. I'm not an idiot, i know when someone is hiding something. Look, I'm going on a mission today, this has been on my mind for a while now and i can't seem to stop thinking about it. I can't have any distractions. i need you to tell me the truth not just for me but for the sake of our relationship too."

Silence filled the room.

"Well?" He says waiting for her response.

"I already told you, I'm just feeling homesick." She says.

"I find that hard to believe." He states bluntly, giving her an annoyed glare.

"Excuse me? And what does that mean?"

"It means i don't believe you." He says firmly.

There was no way he was backing down.

"Are you calling me a liar?" She half asks, with venom in her voice and shooting glares straight back at him.

"You're not going to use that on me again. I know for a fact that you're hiding something from me--"

"No, I'm no -"

"Why are you always putting walls between us?!" He cuts her off. "If you weren't keeping something from me then you wouldn't be acting the way you've been acting recently!" He fires and gets up on his feet. "Is this not working out for you anymore?" He asks.

Her silence could only be taken as a simple "Yes" even though he didn't want to believe it.

"I see." He says,

"That's not it." She finally speaks.

"Then what is it? What is it that you're not telling me?"

She remained silent again.

She felt selfish and really bad doing this to him. How could she tell him without him thinking she just took him for a rebound guy or played with him and his feelings? The look on his face made it even more difficult to break it to him.

"Temari?!" He yells.

"I just don't think I'm ready for this!" She finally responds. "I think we should end it.''

He didn't respond or react right away, it was like he was processing what she'd just said.

"But why? We've been doing fine up until now. The least you could do is tell me why you want this to end." The tone of his voice was now slightly different, it was no longer just anger. It had a hint of desperation and sadness in it.

"I can't tell you." She responds after a  moment of silence.

"Are you serious?!" His enraged voice returned. "You're breaking us up and you won't even tell me why?!"

"I'm sorry." Was all she could say.

"Yeah, me too." He counters and leaves.

It was clear she had no intention of telling her anything but he didn't linger on the thought for too long. He didn't need any distractions for this mission, not for any mission for that matter. He made his way to the Hokage's Office just as his sensei instructed.

___________________

This is how Shikamaru felt: (ノ•̀ o •́ )ノ ~ ┻━┻

haha.