Completely new idea with some completely revamped situations.

The mistakes of the old one bothered me to no end.

Flame me, if you must, flamingo.

"Hey, you know how Shikamaru and Temari are sort of, ya' know… Together?"

Ino jumped when she heard the voice. She'd been busy arranging a bouquet in the flower shop, deeply engrossed in adding a sprig of baby's breath among an intricate combination of lilies and daisies, not even hearing the dinging bell as the shop door had swung open. Grumbling at the interruption, Ino threw the flowers down onto the table and turned around.

Only to crash into a tall teenager, clad in black from head to toe. "Would you mind backing off a bit?" she grunted at him, thoroughly appalled that the stranger dared to get so close.

The man rolled his eyes, the layer of purple face paint slightly creasing at corners of his lips. Ino couldn't help but find him slightly familiar, though the sand-nin's name completely escaped her memory.

Annoyance spread across the man's face as he recognized the look the blonde girl was giving him. It was that whole "I-don't-remember-his-name-but-isn't-he-the-teammate-of-that-psychopath" type of look he'd gotten accustomed to receiving throughout his life. With an out-of-control brother and a hot as hell sister (the village boys' words, not his), he was often the forgotten member of his team.

"Kankuro," he finally said, ending the girl's mental struggle for a name. "And you're Yamanaka Ino, right?"

Ino nodded slightly, turning her attention back to the flower arrangement from before. "Yeah. So?"

"Well, that Shikamaru punk is your teammate, right? I was just wondering if you could tell me how he treats his, uh, 'significant others'," Kankuro spat out. His eyes quickly darted around the shop, as if afraid anyone would catch him in the act of being a concerned for his sister.

Ino's face colored at his request. "What makes you think I'd know?" she snorted.

"I just assumed-"

"What? That I like to date all of my teammates? Like I'm some sort of slut who hooks up with every guy I'm familiar with?" she retorted angrily. Ino jabbed her long, pointed finger into Kankuro's chest, accusingly. "You know, just because I'm gorgeous, it doesn't mean I'm a whore!"

"Who ever said you were gorgeous?"

This was, quite obviously, not the right thing to say. Instantly, a perfectly manicured fist came hurling towards the sand-nin's face at an alarmingly fast speed. His reflexes kicked in at the last second and he dodged, barely avoiding the impact. Kankuro had even heard the low, swooshing sound of air as the fist swung past his right ear.

"No reason to be such a bitch about it!" Kankuro shouted. Leaf-nin's could be so annoying sometimes. "I mean, if it's not true and you didn't date Shikamaru, what's the big deal?"

Ino's face suddenly turned a vibrant shade of red. Glowering, she stared at her flower arrangement and smashed another sprig of baby's breath into it. Kankuro noticed her obvious discomfort and smirked.

"Yamanaka?" he called. The girl ignored him, violently jabbing a slightly crushed rose into the mass of flowers. "Is this your way of saying 'Yes, Kankuro! You are right! I did totally go out with Shikamaru, even though I was acting stuck up and offended by your completely correct assumptions!'" He snickered to himself as he mocked her with a high, girlish tone of voice. "I guess that means you can answer my question, then!" Kankuro grinned. "How did that Nara boy treat you?"

"Fine," Ino grumbled.

"You sure it was only fine?"

"Yes!"

"Did you guys fu-"

This time, reflexes weren't enough for the sand-nin. The now abused flower arrangement was thrashed across his stunned face, the thorns of the rose leaving long, skinny scratches across his face.

"What is your problem!" he exclaimed, wiping off a small spurt of red oozing from his cheek. His purple face-paint smeared, turning dark magenta as it mixed with the droplets of blood.

"One: You do not ask a girl that question! Ever! Two: We were fourteen!" Ino was screeching at him now. The six other occupants of the flower shop stared at the enraged girl, scrambling quickly to exit before an all-out brawl occurred. "Besides, did you ever sleep with your teammate?"

"Ugh! She's my sister!" Kankuro shouted, thoroughly disgusted.

"She's your sister?" Ino repeated skeptically. She let out a rather unlady-like guffaw when the man nodded. Kankuro stared at her, angered.

"What's so funny?"

"She's Temari!" Ino choked out, her laughter growing even louder.

"So, what!" he thundered.

"She's, like, every man's dream! And you!" Ino sputtered. "You wear a cat suit!"

"You obviously know nothing about culture," Kankuro muttered. Finally, Ino caught her breath after a minute or two of laughter.

"So, that's why you came here," Ino said, wiping a few stray tears of laughter from her eyes. "Playing the 'Protective Brother' card, huh? Well, you really shouldn't get involved with their relationship, you know. For one thing, your younger. I'm sure she could beat you up if she wanted too. And I can guarantee you that Temari wouldn't appreciate this visit." Kankuro rolled his eyes, feigning indifference. "You shouldn't worry, though," Ino continued. "Shikamaru was too lazy to get very physical."

"So, he never tried any funny stuff with you? No sex, making out, and stuff?" Kankuro asked, relieved by what he heard so far. Yay! He didn't have to kill Temari's boyfriend after all!

Ino raised one of her thin eyebrows. "I didn't say that. Of course we kissed and made-out! What do you expect?" A look of thoughtfulness spread over Ino's face as she remembered their brief relationship. "He was a really good kisser, actually."

"That guy?" Kankuro snorted. "A good kisser? I really doubt that."

"Like you'd do any better," Ino mumbled. She rolled her eyes as Kankuro scowled at her.

"Much better," he responded pompously.

"Whatever you say."

"I am!"

"Prove it." Ino smirked as she noticed Kankuro's face pale at the request.

"How do you suppose I do that?" Kankuro asked, trying to regain his composition with a grin, eye-roll, and a raise of the eyebrow. Unfortunately for the Sand-nin, the act of doing all of these three things at once did nothing but make himself appear even more foolish. Ino almost exploded with laughter at his attempt.

"Let's see…" Blue eyes darted around the empty flower shop, searching for the perfect victim. She cursed under her breath as she realized all the customers had left. She sighed, realizing that she might have to think up a more long-term idea. "Hinata and Sakura are two other girls who are part the original, nine rookies, though we could include Tenten just for the whole 'Three stikes, you're out!' sort of effect." Kankuro snorted at Ino's use of the phrase. "One week, okay? Three chances, three girls. At least one of them has to describe your skills as being as incredibly good as you think you are."

"That's easy!" Kankuro answered. "So, we wagering anything, then?"

Ino thought for a moment. "Three-hundred yen sound good to you?"

"I'd say that's good enough," he answered with a nod. He couldn't help thinking that proving the blond bitch wrong would be a lot more rewarding than the money. He stuck his hand out towards her, ready to shake on the agreement. Ino surveyed the small blood-stains on his palm with disgust before grasping his fingertips between her own and giving a small, quick shake.

"Which one is Hinata, again?"

Ino sighed at his question. Quickly, she shuffled through a drawer in the counter and pulled out a pen and a scrap of paper. Furiously, she scribbled something down before thrusting it into Kankuro's face. "This is Hinata's address, below it is Sakura's. Just ask for them. One has white eyes and the other, pink hair. Luckily, even an idiot like you couldn't mistake them for anyone else."

"What about the Tenten girl?" Kankuro asked as he squinted at the writing, slightly suspicious.

"Do I look like a phone book to you?" Ino replied in an annoyed screech. "Figure it yourself!"

"Fine, whatever," he replied as he shuffled towards the front door. "I'll come get my money next time I visit you, Yamanaka!"

"Don't make anyone throw up while you're at it!"

Ino grinned as the door swung shut. Easiest. Bet. Ever.

So there we go! Hopefully I'll actually get to finish this one...

Coming up next! Just a small chapter focusing on the Sand Sibs!

And yes, I do know where I'm going with this for once.