Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Naruto or any of its trademarks, characters, places, etc.

Moving from a story about Sasori to one about Kankuro...expected isn't it? Don't worry, I won't kill everyone off again. I just wanted to stay canon so...

My Favorite Harlequin

-1-

Even with the Shinobi World War over Kankuro remained a busy man. Politics remained politics as usual and the stress of it all reined heavily on the puppeteer's mental state. So he decided one night after the council meeting had ended, to head to the high class Gentleman's Club in Suna to blow off some steam. He had never been to a Gentleman's Club before, so the experience was quite new to him.

The interior of the place was quite royal, red curtains wrapped around the walls up to the stage. All of the furniture appeared to be hand crafted and was beautifully furnished. As Kankuro sat up in one of the seats at the bar he could see his face in every piece of glass that surrounded him. Even the dancers wore eccentrically designed garments with masquerade masks that glittered in the spotlights that were shined on them.

Upon recognizing Kankuro, the bartender automatically poured him their finest alcohol in one of the most expensive glasses they had, "How are you doing this evening my lord?" Kankuro glanced up at the man who seemed to be somewhere in his forties with grey hair swept back and a thin beard.

"Just blowing off some steam," he answered, then glanced back over to the stage several men and women where piled around, holding out their ryo. It was quite empty in the club, which was something that he didn't expect, so he turned back to the bartender, "Do you usually get this many people here?"

"Yeah, this is the usual crowd on weekdays, it's pretty nice I've got to admit," the bartender admitted as he began to dry some of his cups, "Weekends are our busiest."

Kankuro glanced back at the stage where the curtain was just rolling up. Several masked dancers in a line filed onto the stage and began to perform. One of them caught Kankuro's eye; a curvy dancer dressed as a black and purple harlequin that stood in the back. "Hey can I get a private dance here?"

"Ya like something you see eh?" the bartender looked over to the stage where Kankuro was looking, "Don't tell me, it's the really slender one in the center, Ai? She's really popular around here."

"No, the one behind her," the puppeteer pointed to the harlequin dancer.

"The harlequin? She's the new kid around here, no one's requested a private dance from her, yet," he stood back up straight, "Look's like you'll be the first to break her in."

"I guess I will be," he turned back to the bartender and took a drink.

"I'll get the House Mama to set it up for you. Please take a seat in the first room on your right," the bartender pointed to a series of rooms blocked by curtains by the bar. Kankuro picked up his drink and walked over to the first room, pushing away the red fabric. Inside was a large wooden chair with red cushions, which he took a seat in. Moments later the harlequin dancer pushed open the curtain and walked in, standing by the puppeteer as he took another sip of his drink.

Now that she was closer to him, he could make out her very detailed dressing. A short cocktail dress with a corset, which had a black, purple, and white colored diamond design. A black masquerade mask hid her eyes and purple diamonds were drawn right below the mask on both sides of her face. She also had a purple and black jesters hat on which hid all but a few strands of her brown hair.

She put her hands on her hips and confoundedly asked, "You wanted a private dance, from me?"

"Yeah," he impatiently answered, taking another sip of his drink, waiting for her to make a move.

"You aren't really serious are you?" she continued to question him, moving to a spot on the wall and looking down at him. He noticed the piercing at the end of her tongue.

"I'm completely serious," he continued, patting the armrest of the chair, "Get on with it already."

"Listen, I'm sorry but I know nothing about giving private dances," she admitted.

He took another sip, "I know, the bartender mentioned I'm your first customer."

"Maybe we can just talk or something instead?" she brought out three kunai, "I can juggle if you want?"

"Look, do you even know who I am?" Kankuro asked with one eyebrow arched, sitting up in the chair.

"No one I recognize," she held her bent arms out sighing, "I don't get out much."

"I'm the Kazekage's brother," the puppeteer spat bluntly, watching the astonishment in the dancer's face.

"What? But why would the Kazekage's own brother come to a Gentleman's Club?" she dropped the kunai, "Shouldn't you have asked for Ai instead?"

The waiting was beginning to frustrate Kankuro, "Can you just get on with it!"

The harlequin dancer sighed and absently sat her leg up on Kankuro's thigh, moving a hand up to her thigh and pulling down her sock sexily and tossing them it the floor, then repeated the action with her other leg. When both were on the floor she got up onto his thighs with both knees and reached behind her back.

To Kankuro's displeasure, she brought out three kunai and began to juggle them in front of him, "I didn't ask you to juggle."

She let the three kunai fall to the floor around the chair, "What? It's part of the show!"

"I still never asked for them," he reminded her in an annoyed tone.

"What do you expect me to do then?" she bent her arms out in defeat, "Suck you off and send you on your way? I'm not Ai, you shouldn't have even requested me."

Kankuro sighed and lowered his head in defeat, "I'm sorry, I've just had difficult day so far."

The harlequin dancer swiftly turned so she was lying sideways on his upper thighs, holding her legs over one side of the chair and using the other side's armrest for her elbow. She used her hand to support her elbow; "Tell me about it."

"It's just, the usual problems," he sighed, "We lost numerous shinobi in the war and rogue mercenary groups are making it difficult to maintain order. Then there's dealing with the daily qualms of the important clans."

"So how are you dealing with it?" she questioned, looking up at him, "I'm not asking for you to spill any important secrets or anything..."

"Helping the Kazekage manage the problems, I had to lead a team to take down one tricky group of rogues," Kankuro continued to drink from his glass.

The green-eyed harlequin laid a hand at the top of his chest and seductively slid it down, "Oh you poor, poor man." She rolled off of Kankuro's lap and stood behind him, massaging his shoulders.

"It's not so bad," he admitted, "My brother's a great leader..."

"And I'm sure you're just as great a bodyguard," she replied sweetly as she continued to massage his shoulders and back.

He looked to his side and eyed her curiously, "So if you can't give a private dance, why'd you even become a dancer?"

"To make money of course," the harlequin answered, "The House Mama gave me the job as an act of pity. It's hard to live alone jobless these days."

He took another sip of his drink, "So you know the House Mama personally?"

She chuckled; "The House Mama's one of the only ones here who knows my true identity."

Kankuro was slightly intrigued by the thought, "So who are you under that mask? A kunoichi?"

She rolled her knuckles across his back, "I'm not kunoichi anymore, I'm too weak." She yawned, looking up at the clock on the wall, "And my shift also ended about five minutes ago, but I like you, so you can have me for another few more."

"I'm honored," he sarcastically remarked, holding up his glass to toast and then taking another sip.

"I'm serious," she replied, "It's interesting to hear about what it's like living in prominence. Being able to walk into a Gentleman's Club and be treated like royalty. You gonna come back here again?"

"Will you be back here?" the harlequin's green eyes looked at him expectantly.

He finally finished his drink and stood up from the chair, "If you continue to work here," he looked back at her and smirked, "And you learn how to give a private dance."

Her cheeks puffed up, "How about I just give you a sensual massage instead? I'm good at that."

"As long as you actually give me a massage," he chuckled as he walked out.

The harlequin grabbed her socks from off of the floor and followed him out, standing in his way, "You must be inexperienced or something, but you never tipped me."

"Maybe next time," he brushed her off and walked back to the bar.

She turned away and stomped back to the dressing room. There she took off her face mask and wiped away all of the face paint that powdered her face. When her face was clear, she shuffled around in her bag and pulled out several piercings. While staring into the mirror, she re-pierced her face with great precision. Then took off her hat, letting her long brown hair fall to her sides. She pinned it up with sticks, then quickly undressed from the rest of her harlequin garb and into a regular Suna shinobi uniform.

When she was finished she peeked out of the dressing room to see if the Kankuro was still there. There he sat, by the bar joking around with the bartender. She decided that she would try to sneak by them without being seen. But as she quietly walked by the bar to the entrance, the bartender called to her; "Night Maiko!"

Maiko turned her head away from the bartender and Kankuro so he could not recognize her face and breathed in, trying to change her voice then answered, "Night Daisuke." Then quickly, she hurried out of the club, with Kankuro watching her leave.

"Who was that?" he asked as she walked out.

The bartender chuckled to himself, "Oh, just one of our many patrons."