If you didn't know, I don't own Naruto
...

Hotaru sat in the hall a couple hours, saying nothing and watching the guards as steadfastly as they were watching her. At one point, she heard yelling and arguing, but it didn't last long. They brought her water, though she declined an offer of food. Feelings of impatience were beginning to build. Then the door creaked open, and Temari motioned her to come in.

Hotaru entered at Temari's beckoning. She only felt the barest twinges of self consciousness as the appraising eye of the two people looked over her sandy and sweaty form. They knew what she had been doing after all. Their glances quickly left her as they spoke to Temari and Kankurou, continuing a half finished conversation relating that Gaara had seen Giji outside the city gates. I thought I heard his name mentioned when they were talking about the falcon's scroll... Hotaru's hand twitched a bit at the news, but knew that they had waited for her presence to test her reaction. She kept a mask of stoic indifference.

As they related what had happened, Hotaru took in her surroundings, something she did out of habit now. Bounty hunting wasn't any safer than being a ninja. The slightest over sight could spell trouble. The office had one small window, directly opposite of the heavy doors that were behind her. The meeting table in the center of the room, where the two, who she realized where the leaders of Sand and Fire, were sitting facing each other, was large enough for about a dozen people. Shelves with files and books lined a wall, and on the other was a desk.

Having analyzed her surroundings, she moved to who were considered the two most powerful leaders of the continent. The young man, who looked only slightly older than her eighteen years, had dark red hair, pale green eyes, and a kanji tattoo for love on his forehead. He was a bit taller than her, and had a lean but strong build. Hotaru eyed the gourd by him, nervousness creeping into the base of her spine. She'd heard the old stories of the Sand youth, and though she also knew they didn't apply as they used to, she preferred to err on the side of caution.

The woman had long blonde hair pulled back in pig tails, and a curvy form. The youthful features didn't hide the truth completely; the Hokage's eyes showed she had seen much more than most. Hotaru knew more of her- who didn't know about the legendary trio?- than she did of the young man. Despite her serious and intent features, she cast off the distinct aura of boredom, as if she had other things she'd rather do. Her idle posturing contrasted sharply to the Kazekage's stiff feeling formality. She pulled back to full attention when a silence indicated the end of the story, most of which she had caught.

Tsunade rested her chin on folded hands, eyes narrowing a bit to form calculating slits. "So, you are the one who has brought in half of the captured ninjas involved in the Hidden city of Energy's downfall?"

Hotaru kept every answer carefully calculated. Her motives were her own, and she would not reveal what she did not want if she could help it. "I know not how my hunting compares with that of your ANBU's. I bring in those I find, take the bounty, and move on to my next target."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed a bit more, and she sat studying the girl for a moment, looking past the grime to her features, and using masked chakra to help her investigation. She blinked then put on a more bland expression as she leaned back in her chair. "I see. Temari said you are from Balance."

Hotaru flicked her gaze to the silent leader of Sand, knowing he was assessing her by her posture, expression, and gestures. His eyes were cold and calculating. She refocused on the Hokage. "I am."

"You've captured some high rank criminals. Your skill suggests some sort of tutelage. Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling us where in Balance you're from and what kind of training you received while you still resided there?"

Hotaru licked her lips, trying to alleviate the sudden sense of dryness in her mouth. She immediately felt like kicking herself for even that small gesture, knowing green eyes were watching for such things, analyzing her like some scholars analyze text. "I've found that what I've learned on the field has helped me most. On the job training, if you will."

"Of course." Tsunade said simply. Hotaru felt suspicious. Obviously the woman saw through her answers, but wasn't questioning them. Then out of the blue: "Do you know what Akatsuki is?"

Hotaru cast a questioningly look. Let the Kazekage take note of her confusion. She had no idea why they were asking her about that group. "I've heard they are a band of run away ninja's, all with fearsome power."

"Correct. Did you know that you pursue one of them?"

Hotaru quickly put two and two together. "Giji joined, didn't he?" At a nod from Tsunade, she continued. "That would explain why he's been hard to find. Also explains why everyone gets afraid and quiet when you ask about him."

"Everyone?" Tsunade questioned.

Hotaru realized she'd let on a little too much. Shrugging, she figured tell the truth. Temari and Kankurou had probably already told her what she'd told them in the oasis. "Everyone in the 'under world'. Lowlife bars and back allies where black market deals occur. Those are the best places to find information. Guarded strictly from ninjas and other law enforcement. Bounty hunters are just barely accepted, and only if they aren't reputed to be lap dogs of the law. I don't advertise what I do, so I manage to move around without suspicion."

Tsunade nodded, muttering something about good intelligence gathering. Hotaru noticed Gaara shift, his attention more on what she had said then what she was doing now.

"I have a question myself. Is there any particular reason I'm here for questioning?"

Tsunade brought her attention back. "In the past two years, you've collected more high class bounties than several teams of ANBU combined do. We were beginning to assume you might be a double agent, working on Giji's orders to have those involved brought in. We could only make assumptions as to motives. Our fear: there they would wait in mass and stage some sort of break out. Something like that happened several years ago, so we've been weary since. However, based on your approach on Giji Kouken, and other intelligence, we have concluded you are indeed hunting and not helping him."

An anger boiled from somewhere in Hotaru. She wasn't sure exactly where it stemmed from, but it erupted from her just the same. Her voice, which had been calm and void of emotion, suddenly became loud and harsh. "HELP THAT TRAITOR? NOT EVEN IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT!" She blinked, as the others scrutinized her. She heard Temari whisper to Kankurou, almost jumping at the sound. They'd been so quiet she'd forgotten they were still in the room.

Tsunade, a delicate eyebrow raised, held up a scroll. "This is the scroll you picked up outside of the gate today. The seal is an Akatsuki one. It is addressed to Giji. It contains orders for him to assassinate Gaara." Gaara shot her an angry warning look, but she ignored it, going on relentlessly. "It turns out the attacks on other Kages have been cover ups to hide it is really him they are after. What would you do to foil Giji's, and ultimately Akatsuki's, plans?"

Hotaru answered without hesitation. "Nearly anything."

Hotaru heard a voice pipe up behind her. "In that case, you may just have landed yourself a new job."

Hotaru turned to face Temari. "What do you mean?"

She wasn't the one who answered. Hotaru hadn't heard his voice yet, but she knew it was the Kage of Sand who had hissed. "I said I don't need a personal bodyguard."

Next time: ...by the time he could force the words of refusal out, everyone in the room had already made up their mind..."Yozora Hotaru is not who we thought she was"..."but if she faces him alone, we might find out the hard way if those suspicions had any foundation to them"...

To:
Bell, MankindD, Malink64, and Kira: Thanks for the reviews! Glad you find it interesting so far.