Shikamaru x Temari Distance (AU)

Chapter 3

P3- Chapter 3.

-          No.

Shikamaru shot up from his bed.

-          Why not?

-          I made myself clear. I'm not the biggest fan of heartbreaks. – Temari said and hung up.

She took down her phone away from her ears as her eyes were still on it, some part of her hoping it'll ring again.

"I'm not giving you that burden, I'm sorry." – she whispered to the dead line.

She shook her head. Who was she kidding with? She liked that boy, maybe more than she's ever liked anyone else. He made her feel like she wasn't in a play, she wasn't just a role, she was actually living in her own life instead. That she was still real, and everything around her actually still has a shape in them. That her old, clear, white soul still exists somewhere inside of her.

But the truth always seemed to haunt her. 

He will never see her the same way.

And she knows it. Even though at some point he finds himself puzzled about her, that curiosity won't stay for long because once he knows who she is, he will know that she isn't worthy.

And why does he have to bother?

She nodded to herself. "Be wise and look after the future you hold."

Shikamaru stared at the phone, thinking maybe it will ring again, and magically, she'll change her mind.

Not the biggest fan of heartbreaks... well who is?

But he hated himself for the fact that he can't promise he won't hurt her.

How badly he wanted to whisper "I'm not going to be another heartbreak".

But he knew better. One can break one's bones but not the heart. Because it is like paper, if you crumble it once, then there's no way it's going to be the same again.

And his heart too, was a crumbled piece of paper.

Maybe that's why he got her, he felt her. They were similar.

Shikamaru opened the locked drawer once again, and dug to the bottom of it to find a middle aged man's smiling figure looking right at him. He took the picture and stared at it emptily. Somehow he can almost smell the hint of smoke coming from the old photograph. His teacher's warm gaze was still locked on him, with an almost burnt up cigarette in his mouth.

"I hate smoke... it gets in my eyes" – he whispered to the picture as if he can still hear him.

"Asuma, you selfish bastard. Just had to go and die, didn't you?"

He threw the photograph back where it was, and napped back down but somehow sleep had left him, which he thought was impossible. After about 30 minutes of doing nothing he grumpily got up from the bed and glanced at the time. 11:30pm.

He grabbed his phone, dialing Neji's number.

-          Hyuga.

-          Hey, Neji. Where are you?

-          At home, obviously.

-          Are you guys done with the... ritual thingy?

-          It's a ceremony of my family. And of course it's over, do you realize what time it is?

-          11:30.

Neji rolled his lavender orbs. – Anyway, why did you call? Don't tell me you were worried. – he said sarcastically.