Insomnia outtakes Part 2:

Takes place after chapter 11 of Insomnia. If you haven't read that far, you probably won't understand this.

Dedicated to Adi-sensei, just because, and also to Omasu-san, who loves outtakes and kindly reviews everything I write :) Thank you, both.

Summary: A small discussion between Shishio and Houji.

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"We have seventeen candidates, all of whom are rather willing to cause chaos in your name… I have been looking for a place suited to be our Headquarters but no luck so far… this weeks food supply has arrived and next week's has been ordered. Everything is going relatively well and according to the plan… However…"

"Yes, Houji?"

"Shishio-sama, I was just wondering… the job you gave to Itachi-kun…"

"Are you contradicting my orders?"

Houji looked almost insulted. "Of course not, my lord! I was just… In all honesty, I don't think it is a good thing to give such a challenging job to a boy barely over four."

Shishio smirked. "But Houji", he drawled, leaning lazily against the back of the sofa and motioning with his hand Yumi to refill his wine glass. "I think it's an excellent idea. The boy is a genius. He needs inspiring work. He needs trust. He needs free hands – "

"But… Forgive me for interrupting, but will he really be up to such a demanding job?"

"He will be up to it. I'm sure he'll figure out some… ingenious way of doing it."

"… If you are sure…"

Shishio glared at him. "You ARE contradicting my orders."

Houji flinched. "My deepest apologies, Shishio-sama. It won't happen again."

"Better make sure it won't."

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Houji was on his way through his daily report the following week, when the door abruptly opened and the small, black-haired frame of one Uchiha Itachi came in. The small boy approached Shishio with dead eyes and quiet steps, and Houji could see it made his master amused.

"Itachi-kun", Shishio almost purred. The way his voice sounded, at the same time malicious and yet expectant, like a godfather ready to greet his favourite godson, was enough to make Houji shiver and Itachi to stop dead on his tracks. Shishio's smile widened, and this time his voice was filled with amusement. "Have you finished the job already?"

"Yes", the boy replied impassively, yet still refusing to come any closer.

Shishio lifted his eyebrow. "Well?"

Itachi was forced to step forward as he raised his hand and trusted Shishio a stack of papers. Then the boy dipped his head in a way that one with selective eyesight could have defined as a bow, and excused himself from the room. He refused to run, though, and only after the door had closed after him did Shishio hear the boy rushing away. He smirked.

He then turned his attention towards the stack of papers, and stared at it for a moment before passing Houji the topmost paper. "Well? What do you think of my plan now, Houji?"

Houji involuntarily took the paper and unwillingly looked at it.

It was a picture made with child's unsteady yet somewhat schooled hands: a big, black, rather shapeless cloak with… red bulky clouds on it.

Houji breathed a small sigh of relief. It could have been so much worse. "It… it is decent enough."

"Is it not?" Shishio replied casually, twirling the wine inside the glass with a thoughtful expression on his face. "I especially like the symbolism in there: my new era will paint even the clouds red!"

Houji shifted nervously. "It is decided then? This will be the uniform of our new organisation?"

"Naturally", Shishio replied. His red eyes glanced at his helper. "Told you it was going to be fine. Have some faith."

"Yes, Shishio-sama."