Dreamcatcher
By Airyo
An Absurd Proposal - 3
Itachi poured tea for Hiashi as a sign of respect.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me again, Hyuuga-sama," he said. Hiashi nodded from across the low table, eyes curious. Itachi set the teapot down. A strand of steam from the spout unfurled between them, reaching for the ceiling.
"It is unusual that the heir of Uchiha requests two private meetings with me within a week. You mentioned my daughter, Hinata."
"Yes, I did," Itachi confirmed. "I already explained the circumstances surrounding the incident at the market place."
"Hinata may be difficult at times, but she is not unintelligent," Hiashi said. "She understands your actions. I told you it was unnecessary, but did she not accept your apology?"
Itachi shook his head. "No, she did. But another aspect has come to my attention. Namely, Hinata's reaction to genjutsu. I was hoping that she would agree to some investigation of it."
"You wish to experiment on her," the Hyuuga head translated cooly. He took a sip of tea, purposely making Itachi wait for the rest of his words. "Why should I agree to subject my daughter to something we all know will cause her great distress?"
"Let me ask you, Hiashi-sama: What is the key ingredient in the antidote for a snake's poison?"
The Hyuuga's eyes narrowed as his fingers tightened minutely around his cup. "If you are suggesting that inundating Hinata with genjutsu to desensitize her is the solution, I must personally see you to Tsunade's office at the hospital."
Itachi suppressed a triumphant smile. A reaction. He's found his foothold.
"I do not take you for a fool, Hyuuga-sama," he soothed. "Nor I am not a believer in excess. I wish to explore the most subtle aspects of genjutsu, and Hinata's mind amplifies it. And in turn, she does not have an adverse reaction to all genjutsu. You mentioned that her symptoms were less severe than usual after I'd erased her direct memories of the genjutsu and left only her impression of the event itself." Hiashi was turning his cup in his hands, a sign of thought. Itachi summarized with a final statement: "Ultimately, I believe it could be beneficial and provide some answers to both of us."
Hiashi took another sip of his tea. He took another. He looked at Itachi, and the Uchiha merely smiled politely. Decisions like these can't be rushed, and he was willing to wait.
Then the older man place his cup down the table with a soft clink.
"I will inform Hinata to meet you at the usual intersection. Is that acceptable?"
The Uchiha heir almost chuckled. So Hiashi had been aware of his little meetings with Hinata all along.
"Thank you." He bowed and let himself out of Hiashi's office. He nodded respectfully as he passed Hanabi, who had been waiting at the door.