Kuromaru stopped, stepping away, his smile fading. "It's me!" He spread his arms to show himself off. Really, now, how many half-blind Inuzuka did Ginta know? Who else could it be?

"This is the guy you've been waiting for? He doesn't even remember you. C'mon, handsome, I'll buy you another--"

Kuromaru snarled over his shoulder, exposing one over-large incisor. The man at the bar silenced, leaning back to fold his arms over his chest.

A lot of men were folding their arms over their chest, it seemed. Over Ginta's shoulder, Kuromaru leveled a flat, single-eyed stare at the man who'd walked up with Ginta and was now glaring. Or sulking. It was so hard to tell with humans. When the man didn't respond, though, Kuromaru realized everyone here recognized him as alpha, and allowed the gaze to break. He looked back at Ginta, wilting a little at the still baffled look. Slightly helpless, he gestured toward the bar and Ginta's drink. "I saved your drink for you. I even bought you another one."

"I bought that, and not for him!" the man at the bar protested. "I thought you--"

This was getting old. He really didn't appreciate the uprising from the omega back there. He swiveled his shoulders to look back, snarling this time, trying to pull it from deep in his chest. Stupid human bodies.

The man rocked away and, cursing, shoved through the crowd. That was better.

Kuromaru put his sad-puppy face back on and turned hopefully to Ginta.