"Choji told me I could find you out here... killing yourself slowly."

Shikamaru sighed but otherwise ignored Ino. He continued to take slow drags on his cigarette as he leaned against the building, in the alleyway behind the venue.

"You know, I heard that you already agreed to hang out, so you're not getting out of this. Everyone is just heading into the bar area. It should be a good time."

"Too busy killing myself here, Ino."

"That so?" Ino stepped closer and grabbed his cigarette, then immediately dropped it to the ground, grinding it into the asphalt with her heel. "Oh, looks like you're done, now." she smiled sweetly. Shikamaru glared at her, but said nothing.

"What's with you, anyway? The show was great, and other than you spacing out mid show, you were really on tonight. I hear you even agreed to meet fans and hang out with everyone without anyone forcing you. But now, all of a sudden, you're pissy and just want to hang out with garbage cans... in the heat… in the alley." She wasn't impressed.

Shikamaru started to pull out another cigarette, but Ino swiped his pack. "No more cancer sticks for you. You don't have to tell me what's going on, but if you want them back you're gonna have to come back inside with me and be sociable, first."

"Fine." After so many years of knowing Ino, he knew she could be stubborn, and this just wasn't worth the fight. It's not like he could really avoid everyone indefinitely, anyway. Not to mention, the air was still and stifling in the alley, despite the sun having already set, and he did feel like he could use a drink.

She smiled triumphantly and headed to the door that led inside with Shikamaru dragging himself along behind her.

Shikamaru and Choji had took up a place at the bar, and Shikamaru leaned his back into it. "Un huh...yeah." He absently replied to the two girls talking to them. Their giggling eased any guilt about his lack of interest. He hated that he volunteered himself for this, but at least he got a nice view. He half listened and distractedly watched Temari, who stood near her brothers, as they spoke with several people. Most likely people they already knew from Suna.

Then, as if she could feel his eyes roam over her, she turned her head slightly and looked in his direction. Catching his stare, she held the look for a couple of seconds as a small smirk appeared on her lips. Shikamaru refused to look away and smirked back, before she turned back to her group.

A few minutes later, the girls wandered off (not impressed with Shikamaru's apparent lack of interest) and Temari was headed up to the bar, a bit to the right of where he and Choji still stood. Again Temari leaned over the bar while ordering her drinks. Shikamaru watched as the bartender once again did little to hide his stare at Temari's cleavage, and Shikamaru felt himself glaring at him for no other reason than annoyance that he wasn't in his position.

He was watching the happenings at the bar so closely that he didn't realize Kankuro had sidled up next to him until he bumped into his side, and Shikamaru jumped slightly at the surprise. Kankuro didn't appear to notice as he kept his focus on the bar, "The nerve of that guy just staring at her. I should fucking kill him slowly… or at least beat him up. That's my damn sister. He knows it too," Kanuro growled next to him.

"Oh?"

"We got our start here, a big part because that guy, Baki, over there." Kankuro motioned with his head to a tall older guy with part of his face covered. He was one of the people they had been talking to previously. "He's our Godfather and pretty much raised us. This is his place and we spent a lot of time here. We know everyone who works here. It's why we wanted to start the tour here, too. I have half the mind to go talk to him about a member of his staff eyeing Mari like that, but she can handle herself." He took a pause to take a drink before continuing on a little quieter than before, "She'd probably kill me if I did, anyway. She's too good for him..." Suddenly he smiled viciously and continued, "Bastard doesn't stand a chance."

The words hung ominously in the air for a moment before Kankuro returned to his chipper self and announced, "Enough of that. This is a celebration! Let's all take a celebratory shot together to kick this thing off! I'll round everyone up and we'll do this right."

Choji happily seconded the idea and Kankuro disappeared from Shikamaru's side to gather everyone together. Leaving Choji shaking with repressed laughter and Shikmaru cursing under his breath as Temari came their way.

"I'm not sure what Kankuro is up to, but from the looks on both of your faces, it probably isn't anything good."

"Kankuro is going to gather everyone and have us all do a celebratory shot together." Choji offered as he gained control of himself, but was obviously still enjoying Shikamaru's discomfort in a way that only a good friend could.

"My little brother actually has a great idea!? So, why do you look so grumpy, Smooth? I mean, Shikamaru," she teased.

Shikamaru shrugged, "This is such a drag. We're gonna get hammered and we have to be on the bus tomorrow morning. I don't know if it makes sense to be taking shots right now."

"The bus leaves at 11am. I wouldn't necessarily call that morning." She laughed, handing him a rum and coke. "And here, I even got you this."

Shikamaru accepted the drink, trying to calculate how likely he was to have a hangover on the bus the next day, while also contemplating if it meant anything that she had bothered to get him the drink.

It wasn't long before Kankuro was back and they all were being handed shots of tequila with wedges of lime and salt got passed around. Everyone gathered around Kankuro and during the trickly climb of the half drunk that Kankuro undertook to get to the top of the bar, Temari turned to Shikamaru.

"Have you ever done one of these?" She didn't wait for him to actually reply. "Don't worry, you can watch me and I'll show you how it's done."

Then Kankuro was standing precariously atop the bar. His shot raised in the air in a toast. "To the best fucking tour in the name of tours!" He proceeded to take his shot as everyone cheered before taking their own.

Shikmaru watched Temari. He watched salaciously as she drug her tongue over the salt on her hand. He watched her as she tipped the shot back exposing the skin of her neck that he desperately wanted to suck and bite. He watched her throat as she swallowed it, as all he could think of was having her swallow him. He watched as she bit down into the lime wedge that left it's juice on her lips and he held back from licking off with his own tongue.

The room felt hot and his pants tight as her teasing eyes fell on him now that she had finished. He quickly threw his shot back in an attempt to gain control of his thoughts. He knew actually doing anything with her would only cause issues, as it was apparent her brothers wouldn't appreciate it, and yet he still couldn't get himself to stop wanting her. How was she doing this to him?

He felt the welcomed burn of the shot down the back of his throat, not caring that he had skipped the salt and planned to skip the lime too. He wouldn't get the shot right, but he had gotten something else right. Trouble was just the right name for her.