Guys, this story has been entered in the Naruto WATTYs. It would meam a lot to me if you would vote since voting is now open :3 vote here: http://www.wattpad.com/26598607-vote-here%7E-nwa-2013-open-kiba and thank you to everyone who already voted omigosh I've got thirteen votes already :O

Read on, my Pretties! :D

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CRASH!

Kiba immediately bolted up off of the couch and over to where Hotaru was in the bedroom. She'd managed to knock a cluster of perfume bottles and other such like to the ground, and was swearing repeatedly while picking up the pieces of the ones that had broken.

"Hotaru, are you all right?" Kiba was more than a little worried. She wasn't normally a clumsy person, but she'd been somehow distracted lately and as such had become consequently unable to walk across a flat, stable surface without knocking something over.

"Hm? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." the redhead piled the last of the glass shards into the plastic bin they kept in their bedroom, then stood up. "Anyway, I'm heading out. I'll see you at the Hokage's office in a bit."

"What? Where're you going?" he asked her, and she frowned.

"None of your business." then she left, grumbling about her lack of privacy. Kiba sighed.

"But we have that mission to report in for..." it was an escort, so they couldn't be late, or it would tarnish the Leaf's reputation. Gaining no reply from the empty room, Kiba sighed again, wandering off to pack a few things for the mission.

"Hotaru, you're early..." Tsunade said, noting the pensive look on the girl's face as she quickly hid her Sake cup under the desk. Hotaru frowned, folding her arms, her grip on her elbow tightening.

"Actually, Tsunade-sama, I wanted to speak with you..." the redhead chewed her lip, and the blonde rested her chin on her hand. Hotaru wasn't usually one to hesitate in saying what she wanted to say. Something had to be troubling her.

"What's bothering you?" Tsunade asked, and the younger girl's expression set in determination.

"After this mission, I don't think I should participate in any missions above a C-rank." Hotaru was anxious about going on the B-rank escort that she and Kiba had been assigned, "I have another life to think about now."

Tsunade chuckled slightly, "That's what's troubling you?" Hotaru looked down, feeling ashamed that she would be unable to help the village as much as usual, "I completely understand, Hotaru. You are with child, you can't put yourself in danger."

However, the redhead didn't appear to be appeased.

"Was there... something else?" Hotaru flinched and quickly masked her emotions, cursing herself. She wasn't usually so easy to read.

"Nothing much, Hokage-sama... just... don't tell Kiba about... you know. I don't want him fussing over me on this mission." she looked slightly irritated at this- she was imagining how her spouse would act if he knew she was carrying his child. He treat her as though she was made of glass, unable to protect herself. And although it was sweet to know he cared, it was also quite annoying.

"Of course. That's your decision." the older woman smiled, "I don't mind as long as you complete the mission to your usual standard, Hotaru."

At this, they exchanged a somewhat humoured smile- and then Kiba and Akamaru pushed through the door.

"Oh! Hotaru, you're here!" Kiba said, sounding surprised.

"Of course I am." Hotaru said, irritable, "Did you think I'd be late or something?"

"Well, no, but-" Kiba scratched his head, "Where'd you go, anyway?"

"None of your business where I went."

"I'm only worried, jeez!"

"Well, now's not the time to be worried, is it?"

Both grimaced, then sighed. Kiba let it go and turned to the Hokage, who had been watching them with an amused smile, "Well, we're both here, Tsunade-sama. Where's our Escortee?"

"That'd be me!" A head poked through the window, wearing a large grin, before dropping back out of sight with a large giggle. Both Kiba and Hotaru's eyes widened in shock, and they rushed to the window, only for Kiba to get headbutted as the head reappeared (Hotaru had fast enough reflexes that she managed to dodge). Kiba crumpled to the floor of the office, while the head- now seen as a girl- dropped down to the ground outside. Hotaru returned to the window, seeing that the girl was sprawled atop a giant frog. That was obviously how she kept appearing in the window.

"Itaii..." Kiba muttered, rubbing his head. Hotaru offered her hand and pulled him to his feet while Akamaru braced his head against his master's back. Tsunade sighed.

"Hotaru, Kiba, the girl on the frog outside is Midori Takahara; your escortee." Tsunade said, a tone of deep pity in her voice. The two sweatdropped- they had to protect such a weirdo?

"Hey! I am not a weirdo!" a voice yelled, and Midori bounced through the window, jumping off of the frog at the last second. She landed on Kiba, but seemed unbothered. She frowned down at him, and said in an accusatory tone, "You're a weirdo."

Midori appeared to be around twelve or thirteen, with large yellow eyes and short, plum coloured hair. she wore a much-too-large blue kimono embroidered with green thread and tied using a red sash- all of the bright colours made Hotaru's eyes hurt.

"You've got to be kidding me...." Kiba muttered as he was finally allowed to stand up (he could have easily knocked her off but knew Hotaru would be pissed if he harmed the escortee) and seeing her outfit. "Seriously, what's with the crazy get up? Enemy ninja could spot you a mile off!"

"You're the one with the crazy get up, Dog-breath! What's with the triangles on your face?!" Midori exclaimed in reply, "You look like someone drew on you while you were sleeping! And do you even know what a hairbrush is?!"

Kiba twitched a few times, "You brat...!" Hotaru immediately grabbed him by his collar to stop him attacking the small girl.

"Kiba, don't hurt the client or I'll hurt you." The redhead said sternly, and he cooled himself, then pointed at Takahara.

"Don't piss off the people who could be saving your life in a few days time!" he snapped, "t's not a good idea!"

Midori just stuck her tongue out at him, causing more veins to throb on his temple in his rage.

"Anyway..." Tsunade cut in, bringing attention back to her, "Midori-san is to be escorted back to her home in the Land of Rivers, about a week's travel from here. Make sure she gets there completely unharmed, or we'll have some serious problems."

"What? What kind of leverage can a brat like this have?" Kiba grumbled, earning a punch to the head from Hotaru.

"She's the Feudal lord's grand-daughter, so a lot." Tsunade said, and Hotaru folded her arms. Kiba blanched.

"This kid?!" he exclaimed in shock.

"Yeah, that kid." Hotaru replied irritably, "Can we get going now?"

"You knew about this?!" he demanded, feeling betrayed. Hotaru rose her eyebrows.

"Isn't it obvious?" she said simply, then turned to Midori- effectively turning her back on Kiba- and bowed, "Takahara-san, you are in very good hands. Kiba may be an idiot, but I assure you that neither of us will allow any harm to come to you."

They left soon after, setting off at a fast pace. Kiba was used to Hotaru's way of doing things, so kept speed with her easily. Midori hopped along on her frog, so they could travel through the trees. They made good progress before nightfall, coming to the border of the Land of Fire.

Kiba was still sulking, even as they set up camp. The frog- which turned out to be a summon- disappeared in a puff of smoke, and Midori and Hotaru left to find somewhere to bathe, for Midori had decided it would be fun to roll in a dust pile and became quite dirty.

Once clean, the two returned to camp, Midori dressed in a yukata of Hotaru's while her kimono dried. Hotaru, being wide awake from the cold water of the river they bathed in, took the first surveillance shift of the night while Kiba and Midori slept. She traded off with Kiba and Akamaru at midnight, and fell asleep quickly.

When she woke, she was oddly warm, and strangely comfortable.

Because, rather than the thin sleeping bag she'd fallen asleep in, she awoke in Kiba's arms. She sat up abruptly, and saw that Midori was staring at them, subsequently flushing red. She felt her pride shatter at being seen in such an embarrassing situation by the client, and immediately bolted out of his grip.

"What the hell, Kiba?!" she snapped at him, and he blinked at her. He grinned.

"You looked cold." she smacked him over the head, fuming.

"We're working, BAKA! And not in front of other people, anyway!" she yelled. She then stomped away, starting packing up camp irritably. After a while of jamming her sleeping sack into a bag angrily she managed to calm down, and they began walking.

"You two are married, aren't you?" Midori asked, tilting her head. Hotaru blinked, then smiled, seeing no point in lying.

"You're perceptive." she answered, and the plum haired girl grinned.

"You act like it, and you're both wearing rings." she pointed out.

"Perceptive that you noticed, then, Takahara-san." Hotaru amended.

Midori laughed, "I know." she squinted at Kiba, "Not enough that I see what you see in him, though. You could do loads better."

"Hey!" Kiba protested, but Midori ignored him.

"And anyway, I bet he's got nothing down there." she said offhandedly, causing the male to blush.

"Oi, that's inappropriate, you brat!" he exclaimed. He turned his gaze to the stoic Hotaru, going to beg her to put an end to this, but she spoke before he could.

"Actually, that's not true, Takahara-san." the redhead said bluntly, causing Kiba to flush further. She wasn't usually the type to say such things. "He's moderate in that department. I've seen bigger, though."

"WILL YOU STOP DISCUSSING THIS STUFF?!" Kiba yelled finally, fuming. He then stalked away in a huff. Hotaru's eyes gave a somewhat evil glint, deciding that she had sufficiently avenged her pride.

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Complete! Lol, that part at the end makes me laugh. Only a few more chapters to go! No sequel for this book, either. I don't think it really needs one.

I keep forgetting how old Hotaru is OTL

I'm a bad creator

KILL MEH

Well, don't kill me.

Yeah. I forgot what I was going to say. Vote and comment! :D