This is a lovely, bittersweet, heart-wrenching little piece. It sort of reminds me of the song "Starring Role" by Marina and the Diamonds; supposedly about love, but at the same time, not. Deeply moving, thanks for sharing. :)

It is beautiful how you weave your words and use direct precise language. I love the italic lines at the beginning. It is interesting that Shikamaru is homesick at searches in Temari's eyes for his green. I really feel bad for Temari and Ino (especially Temari) because Shikamaru cares so little and can be so...annoying at times. I like how Temari likes the girlie things and sand is everywhere in Suna, but Shikamaru ignores it. I love how Shikamaru does have a shrunken, blackened heart somewhere, but he smokes it smaller every day and how Temari loves it all.
I found this very sad, even though I am a Shika/Ino fan, something about how his heart is too small for two is incredibly heart-wrenching: "But someone else loves it as well, just as much, as perfectly much, and that heart is too small for two.
It is a shame there really was only ever one owner." I like how you said that ninjas are always terrible at farewells, I loved the entire last couple sections you wrote, especially the last line.:) This fanfic is bittersweet and thought-provoking and always leaves with a sort of clenching anger/sadness feeling for Shikamaru's little heart, and all the blood spilt from Suna and all the lies and the predetermined war between Ino and Temari, but I feel like they thrive on the war and, for some reason, my mixed feelings just make me love it more.
Thanks!

I really like what you did here. You have a really unique way of writing. I like it.

I cannot stop reading your fics. dammit, you write so good I want to devour your beautiful mind. XD just kidding! lol!

amazing :3

I'm slowly eating my way through your fic list, and each one is absolutely satisfying! I feel bad for Temari, but also in a way Ino, because this is Shikamaru and he can't be troubled to give it his all. Only the portions that can be teased out; perhaps that is part of the fun of it though, given her temperament.

Hmmm

Actually, I love Ino/Shikamaru most, but this Temari/Shikamaru story of yours was brilliantly done and absolutely ensnaring. So perhaps I might have fallen in love a tiiiiiny little bit with Temari/Shikamaru/Ino...

Your writing style gets me hooked every time I read another story of yours. It's amazing - what I especially noticed this time were the repetitions, and the way you changed from Temari's point of view to something akin to a observing story-teller who points out she can fight and struggle as much as she like but Shikamaru never really will belong to her.

Also, this was a perfectly interesting piece regarding the view on Shikamaru's character. I have read stories in which he was torn between two lovers and didn't (couldn't?) decide, but you draw up the image from a completely different view. Perhaps Shikamaru is unable to love anyone since a piece of his heart went missing. Perhaps he is just too lazy, or too disillusioned? Perhaps. I like the way he cares ever and only for Konoha and, at the same time, for absolutely nothing. Or seems to care for nothing. I like the way he is described as a brilliant shinobi, a genius, a skilled diplomat with all his lies ready to deliver and all his fake paper facades ready to be thrown up as soon as someone gets too close. I like almost everything about him, except for the fact that he seems a little bit dead on the inside. I hope someone will be able to bring him back.

And the taste of flowers in Temari's mouth after he leaves and the green Shikamaru longs for and looks for desperately in her eyes were the two things I loved most. Plain perfect, again. Thanks for sharing!

This is simply beautiful! And I knew it was a Shika/Tema/Ino without begin told. I don't mind this at all despite being a Shika/Tema shipper because honestly, you have both Shikamaru and Temari so damn perfectly here that I am left speechless. Oh the angst and the brilliant writing is making me envy your skills. I particularly love how Shikamaru has gotten, with smoking and his small heart and being a bastard. All too often, being a shinobi is romanticized in Naruto but it is the most self destructive thing ever.

And the last bit, about both of them being unflinching in exactly the same way. It broke my heart, and rang so true. Oh I really do love this piece of work. Brilliantly executed.

Shikmaru! This is lovely. I like the way that his laziness applies to his love life as well, as well as the similarities and differences between Ino and Temari. Also, I liked him liking to shock Suna villagers and Temari trying so hard to be memorable and win him over.

Your stuff deserves more reviews! I'd suggest advertising/notifying the livejournal community chuunin, because there must be a collection of Naruto fans still lurking around.

Lines I liked:

because he is homesick for green and can sometimes find it in the blue of her eyes. - at first I thought it was leaves but I realized it was Ino afterwards.

because she must at least be memorable - I like the whole paragraph.

Definitely an enjoyable read as are all your fics!

It's beautifully written and incredibly realistic but that's why I don't like it, lol.

I think it would be one of those stories that I would love if I didn't ship people but since I'm Shika/Tema all the way I can't help but grimace at the mentions of Ino. But you seemed to get that in your A/N.

In all other stories like this I wouldn't leave a review probably because of the feelings I'd get at the end but this was just so beautifully crafted and the last line hit me like a kick in the stomach so very well done. You're a great writer- just next time, some pure Shika/Tema pretty please? :P

SP7 :)