Shikamaru x Temari Distance (AU)

2

- I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. - Utakata sighed as he leaned back his head.

- I'm sorry. - said Temari, pulling out a ring box from her purse. - I know it took a lot of courage for you to give this to me.

- Can I just ask why? You said you'd give it thought. What made you come to this decision?

- The fact that I had to think about it for this long. You shouldn't have to think about it with love, right?

- I don't think that way. I actually think love should be thought through. You don't fall in love instantly, that stuff takes time.

- I... - Temari stuttered. - just can't imagine my life with you.

- You shouldn't be able to. Life is unpredictable. - Utakata said as he grabbed her hand. - All I'm saying is... obviously I'm already in love with you. And you're not. But that's fine. Love isn't instant. Let's not break up over this, let's continue being together and see where it goes.

The sincerity in his voice seemed to cut her like a knife. Why was she hurting such a good person?

- Thank you for being a part of my life, Utakata. I hope when we see each other again, you will have forgotten about me. - she said as she removed her hand from his.

The reason she was ending it wasn't because she couldn't imagine her life with him. She could, quite clearly actually. That was the problem.

Everyone deserves to be with someone who falls in love with them every day. Someone who loves every freckle, someone who listens to every word, someone whose world lights up when they smile. She wasn't that someone. She could never be that someone for him, and she didn't need more time to figure that out.

She couldn't talk to him without starting to ignore what he was saying the moment his ideals started to crash with her own, and it was because she doubted he would think through whatever he was saying. Utakata wasn't the type to simmer in his own thoughts, or another's, while Temari had an intense need to prove someone wrong at every turn and she wasn't sure if Utakata had any real ideals for her to either prove wrong or respect. If she had agreed to marry him, they would've had a peaceful life. They probably would never have fought because she only fights when she cares and he's not the type to start fights. Everything will seem to go just fine until one day she breaks down like she always does about how alone she feels, and he wouldn't even come close to filling that hole in her heart even though he'd try. She won't listen to a word he says because she had stopped listening long before, and he'd feel the most confused he had ever felt. She'll pull herself together because she doesn't want to hurt him, but she won't stop feeling alone. Nor would he stop wondering what he did wrong. That wasn't the life she wanted him, nor herself, to have. If she has to have that life, she'd much rather have it alone without dragging some poor soul along with her who will live in her guilty conscious.

- I will never forget about you. - Utakata whispered.

"Yes, you will," Temari thought. She gave him a hint of a smile and slowly walked out the door. Even at the last moments, she couldn't bring herself to take his words seriously.

She got home and was instantly greeted by two of her best friends.

- So... did you do it? - asked Ino.

- Why are you here, did something happen? - Temari asked, looking around the apartment.

- N-Nothing happened, we just wanted to s-see if you were okay. - said Hinata.

- Oh... thank you. I'm fine.

- You gave him the ring back? - asked Ino.

- Yes. I gave it back.