Dreamcatcher
By Airyo
Lessons in Wishing - 6
They were waiting for the Hokage.
Itachi glanced at the clock, repressing the urge to tap his foot.
It was already 7:25 pm.
The whole ordeal was taking much longer than he'd hoped. He'd been called in for a Code Red early this morning. What should have been a simple search and capture for one of the lower-level interrogation prisoners ended up a marathon in the labyrinthine dungeons of the ANBU building. Somehow, the fugitive had managed to jumble the genjutsu that allowed for communication between guards, making it impossible for anyone but those who knew the layout to navigate. Namely Head Interrogator Ibiki and himself.
Itachi had sent Hinata a message notifying her that he will probably be unable to make it, but it still irked him that such a silly mission had encroached on his precious off-rotation activities.
They were only beginning to settle into a routine. And he was only beginning to understand Hinata.
She was a strange mix of traditional, noble pride and crippling self-doubt. When he was demanding, she crumpled before him like wet paper, and yet when he was too demanding, there was a reflexive indignation to her posture that revealed her Hyuuga blood. But if he waited, forcefully waited out her first moments of hesitance, she unfolded, and stepped out of that heavy, cumbersome shell.
They had made good progress as they'd settled into a simple routine of questions and small, subtle experiments. Hinata hadn't suggested Sharingan usage yet, and Itachi found himself reluctant to push it too quickly. Today might have been the day, though.
Ibiki, who was seated next to him, gave him a searching look. "Missed a date with the girlfriend?"
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "No. Why would you assume that?"
The large man smiled slightly, his scars pulling his expression into something more sinister than he probably intended. "You almost seemed restless tonight. And the only reason someone would look at the clock with so much emotion is if they're missing something important. Can't be something that happens regularly, either, so a special date with the girlfriend is usually a good guess."
"A viable guess," Itachi agreed easily, "but an incorrect one." He was restless because no one enjoyed mind-numbing busy work. He had been conscious of the time because he had already gone through much trouble to secure the meetings with Hinata.
Ibiki shrugged. "A potential girlfriend then. Either way, you seem more lively than usual. The logical conclusion is a nice girl." He eyed Itachi clinically for a moment. "Or boy. I don't judge. Though that would explain some of your more artistic utilization of fire jutsu."
The Uchiha tried not to glare.
He was mostly successful.
"I don't appreciate being psychoanalyzed when I'm off duty, Ibiki-san," he said sternly. "The nature of my techniques has little reflection of my personal life."
"It's my job," Ibiki said with a knowing smirk. "And you'll be surprised how everything is connected."
Itachi shook his head in a neutral gesture.
Talking to the Head of Interrogation always felt like a psychiatric exam. It was a sour way to end an already trying evening.