Shikamaru was just finishing his drink and thinking about what he had learned, surrounding the napkin signals and covert meetings. How were Kankuro, Temari, and Sasuke linked and why such secrecy? So far, tailing Sasuke hadn't really turned up much. The guy went to work, then to The Sound, then sometimes back to work or home, or to Sakura's. Shikamaru was deep in thought, trying to connect dots and form theories. So deep, he didn't notice her until she had bumped up against his leg as she leaned on the bar next to him, which caused him to turn his head and catch her eyes.

"Oh, excuse me. I'm so sorry about that!" Temari's wide teal eyes and her red painted lips fell open, working to sell the 'surprise' of bumping into him, and one of her gloved hands landed lightly on his arm.

"No problem." He purposely turned back to his drink. She wanted his attention, and he wanted to see what her next move would be to get it.

Her hand lightly trailed down his arm, "Let me get you another drink. It looks like your is almost finished." her pur was accompanied by flutter of eyelashes.

"Shouldn't I be the one buying you one? Men are supposed to buy the drinks for women, aren't they?"

He thought he saw a flicker of annoyance in her eyes at his statement, but she quickly recovered and bit her red polished, bottom lip and attempted a hurt pout. "I'm offering as an apology. You don't want to make me feel bad, do you?"

Shikamaru held back a laugh and kept his face neutral. Oh, she was good but not great. Had he been someone else, her act would have worked, but he had grown up with Ino. Ino was a true master who knew how to read and play people on a level that few could imagine. He was not new to the idea that beautiful woman could be as cunning, smart, and even more dangerous than any man.

Temari turned to signal Kankuro. But, to be honest, Shikamaru was sure Kankuro had already been watching everything from his peripheral. "I'd like to get my new friend another… scotch?" she looked at Shikamaru and he gave a slight nod in confirmation. "Yes, a scotch. And get me one of those, too." Kankuro headed off to get the drinks.

She turned fully back to him, keeping her hand on perched on his arm. "By the way, I'm Temari." He didn't offer his name, so he just waited and let a pregnant pause fill the space between her words, until she pushed on. "So, I've started to see you around here a bit, lately. Becoming a real regular. Why is a handsome fella like you hanging around a place like this?" she cooed.

Shikamaru kept his expression unreadable, but he smirked to himself. That was it, under the flattery and her seduction act, what she actually wanted to know. He looked her directly in the eyes and answered, "Must be… the people. I've noticed I'm not your only regular." She had caught exactly what he was saying. Her fake smile turned to a smirk and and her hand quickly disappeared from his arm. They both knew he was following Sasuke. He knew her and Sasuke were up to something, and he wasn't buying her act, not for a minute.

Kankuro came back with the drinks. He obviously noticed the change in mood between the two, because after setting them on the bar, he stood watching the two and glowering. Temari made eye contact with him, and motioned slightly to the customers to the right with her head, indicating that he should move off. It caused Kankuro to give a small huff and a one last glower before he moved off to his other customers.

She turned back to Shikamaru, but her voice was far less upbeat than before, her innocent act far gone. "Hmm, I'd mind my own business, and I'd be careful about the type of people you meet in a place like this, Detective Nara. You don't want to get caught up in anything that you really shouldn't."

He ignored her use of his name, and kept his bored expression. She had asked around and learned his name. 'Whatever.' He wasn't about to give her a reaction at its use, a reaction he was sure she wanted, so he decided to counter instead, "I'd say the same for you. A pretty girl like you should be out finding a good husband to take care of her, so she can have some kids and and become a housewife somewhere out in the suburbs."

Her glare bore into him, her eyes flashing with fire, but he enjoyed baiting a reaction from her. He decided to push it a little further, "And I think we both know Kankuro isn't going to be that guy."

All of a sudden she was laughing hard, and her anger was gone. Once she recovered, she leaned down to his ear, bringing her hand to rest on his shoulder while she whispered, "I should hope so, he is my brother." And when she stood back up to grab her drink from the bar. She had a huge grin on her face. It was blinding and a little feral, but somehow it fit her. It made him feel light and he couldn't help but feel a little dazed and to smirk in response.

"I had heard that Detective Nara is a genius, but, I suppose it's true, you really can't believe everything you hear." she taunted as she strode away with her smile still intact.

His shoulder could still feel the weight from her hand. This case was troublesome. She was troublesome. He had been wrong about Kankuro being a lover. 'Oh well, he was just trying out a possible theory, anyway.' But now, more importantly, he knew the connection between her and Kankuro, which could prove helpful. And he had learned more about the real Temari, the person behind her mask. The one she was hiding. He had felt the fiery anger in her eyes and was blinded by her smile. No, he didn't mind being wrong in the least.

But that's when more pieces, in his head, fell into place, and a dark mood washed back over him. Sasuke usually went back to his office on the nights that he got napkins. The nights he went back to Temari's dressing room. Temari involved herself with Sasuke over something related to his job as the Deputy District Attorney, and Shikamaru knew it wasn't going to be anything good.


Author's Note: I'm hoping to do weekly updates (or more often if I can), but it will depend on how life and work go. You know, those pesky things.

Special thanks to laellin and sylversmith for the wonderful reviews - it's nice to know people are reading, as it helps power my writing. I hope you both like it! :)