Chapter Four

Dancing at the Circle was always fun. I had the opportunity to steal from new people and check in on old ones. Plus most of the guys were good-looking enough to flirt with.

However after this morning, I wasn't here for fun. My sister Anna had taken a job that paid really well and had been murdered. I didn't know who employed her and I intended to find out why my sister had to die.

The Circle was good on gossip but it also carried with it the chance of being seen as a threat or for others to bully you in to place. As was the case when three men cornered me at the bar after I'd stopped questioning various gossip mongers.

"Well hello boys." I greeted knocking back the tequila like a pro. "Care to share pity?"

"No." One grunted. I raised an eyebrow before shrugging.

"Your loss pal."

"A friend of a friend said you were looking for Tamani Hamada." The smallest and probably smartest of the mountains grumbled. "The friend we represent warns that you stay away from this unless you want to end up swimming with the fishes." Anger, dark and cold flared as I leveled a glare. They didn't react until I allowed a cold smile to spread across my face.

"That's a problem fella's." I leaned closer. "We all end up the remains of the day. But rest assured that Mr. Hamada has just fallen to the bottom of my list of people to find. I'll let you draw your own conclusions. Thanks for the drinks Ren." I called. The bartender tipped his hat. "Excuse me boys, a thief never rests." The blocks didn't move.

"Our friend has a job for you." The smaller one said. His face split into a smile like I was some random kleptomaniac. "It pays very handsomely."

"No thanks boys. I have a job of my own." I shoved my way through them before leaving the club. "Night Rory." I called to the bouncer.

"Night Sai." I walked across the street glancing around for any dangers. A girl never could be too careful. Not that anyone messed with the Uzumaki clan after what Naruto had done to the last guy who'd touched one. My eyes cataloged a sleek gray car that looked too clean and new for this kind of neighborhood. I mentally filed that away as cops.

Behind me I heard someone's shoe scrap the pavement. I didn't react when that person grabbed me and threw me against the wall.

"So you're Saiya Uzumaki. The great thief. You know you stole something from me a couple weeks ago. I want it back."

"That's gonna be a problem." I snarled. He pressed harder making my back hurt from the pressure he was applying to my shoulders. "I don't keep things I steal so unless you stole it first it wasn't yours to begin with." With that I brought up my knee and pressed it into his lower stomach as hard as I could in my awkward position. Thank god I was small enough otherwise it wouldn't have worked.

Once his grip relaxed I made sure an underhanded punch lodged into his gut before gripping his shoulders and kicking him between the legs as hard as I could. I took a step back before spinning to kick him in the head. He crashed into the ground and didn't get up. I huffed before kneeling down and patting his pockets finding a thick wallet and a burner phone. I pocketed them before turning and leaving.

I turned the corner looking at the sidewalk I'd come from to see two men following me. Great. Although they didn't look like thugs, more like well dressed civilians. Probably assassins or higher ranked criminals. Before I completely cleared the corner a car came down the street lighting up their faces and allowing me to catch a glimpse of something gold and shiny on the blond man's belt. Great, not just cops but detectives. Well they were down here for a reason that probably didn't include me.

Walking down Hyde street proved me wrong as the two men continued to follow me. They kept their distance though making me wary. Cops were usually no good down in these parts since most of them were corrupted and only cared about their own interests. I had pissed off some of them.

I crossed the street walking in a straight line for four more blocks before turning left across the street into an abandoned warehouse that was the entrance to one of Uzushio's underground tunnels. I knew this place but the cops didn't, seemed like a good place to confront them.

I slipped behind an empty propane tank before sliding under a wall of pipes big enough to fit three fat guys. I tried to circle around but the cops stayed near the entrance. They were smart.

"What now Danna?" The blond asked. The red head surveyed the abandoned wreckage with a glare.

"She can't have gone far. She's probably hiding in the shadows near us."

"Didn't look like she even knew we were following her, yeah." The red head didn't answer but he did call out.

"I know you're in here. I'm from Akatsuki PD and so is my partner. We just have a few questions about a woman you may know who died this morning." I tilted my head before answering.

"I don't talk to strangers." The blond whipped around to face me while the red head was slower. "'Especially strangers who happen to be model cops." I studied their faces intently making sure to memorize them.

"We're not gonna hurt you. We just have some questions, yeah." Blondie answered with a glare.

"What's your name?" I asked casually. Blondie looked startled before Red answered.

"Sasori Akasuna, this is Deidera Katsu. And you are?" I tilted my head.

"You said you had questions about a dead woman. My name doesn't count as a part of that." Sasori and Deidera shared a look before looking back at me.

"Fine." Sasori reached into his back pocket making me tense. But he only pulled out a phone. "Here." He tossed it. I caught it making sure to keep an eye on them before clicking the phone on. It was password protected but the background was one I shared on my own phone. A picture of me, Anna, Naruto, Sasuke, Nagato and Karin after we had fully reformed Uzushiogakure as our sanctuary and others who needed a home or were down on their luck.

"The woman in the middle with her arm around you. Who is she?" Sasori asked. I clicked off the phone before gazing at him and his partner.

"Do you know why she was killed?"

"Oi, we're doing the questioning here, un."

"I didn't say I'd answer." I pocketed the phone. "And I don't trust you."

"There's nothing we can do about that but we are working her case and in order to find who killed her we're going to need your help to do so." Sasori growled.

"Just help us find the bastard who killed her and we'll make sure he pays for it, yeah." Deidera pleaded. I considered their offer. They were from Akatsuki they said and while I knew Akatsuki was different I wasn't sure I could trust them.

"Alright." I nodded. "Give me a few hours to do a background check on you and if I find you okay I'll let you know about her."

"That's not a guarantee." Sasori noted. I smiled ruefully.

"No it's not. But I don't trust cops. How do I know you're trustworthy if I just take your word? That's stupid and naive."

"We're the good guys, yeah!" Deidera shouted.

"I don't know that. What's to say your not going to use me then do nothing once you find her killer?" Deidera spluttered like he couldn't believe what he was hearing while Sasori answered seriously.

"Alright. You have until seven tomorrow morning. If you don't show up we're taking you in for obstruction of justice." I snorted.

"Honey, you'd have to find me to arrest me." I licked my lips making a big deal of checking him out. "Although, I just might hunt you down to experience that." I turned around. "Oh, and the name's Saiya." With that I left the warehouse to circle around to the back where the sewer tunnel's were easier to access.

GM NASAI: I'm trying to combine flirtation with sarcasm and distrust. I failed didn't I? Ah well, I have some time to work this out. It would help if I got reviews but since I don't have to assume it's okay.