Chapter title from the song Crystalized by the XX.

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Thanks for reading.

oOo

Chapter Nine: To Keep You Satisfied

Itachi smiled at the scene in front of him. Asuma's youngest clambered over his dad like a little monkey. His oldest child, Mirai, stood quietly beside her father with a serious look on her face. The rest of his team stood behind the family, their packs by their feet.

"My apologies Hokage-sama," Asuma chuckled.

Itachi shrugged. Kurenai, his heavily pregnant wife, was having a whispered conversation with Hinata. Hanabi continued looking grim and never glanced at the two women.

"I want to thank you all for your service. Long missions are usually very difficult," Itachi said.

Asuma grinned and held his giggling son upside down. "Thank you for approving the move, Hokage-sama."

"Of course." Itachi nodded. He then addressed Asuma's team. "And Yamanaka-san, Hyuga-san, I wish you a safe trip. Please let my office know if there is anything you need."

The two nin bowed. Hanabi kept her eyes on the floor as the Yamanaka clansman smiled. Had Hanabi looked so dour the last time he sent her to the Capitol?

He looked at Hinata, who handed Kurenai a little jar. Once Kurenai joined her husband, Hinata watched Hanabi. Hanabi ignored her. Even after they were dismissed. Hanabi simply picked up her pack and left, without interacting with her sister once.

Itachi chewed on this development carefully. He should ignore it.

It was none of his business. Or was it? Should he know in case it interfered with Hinata's work?

That seemed laughable. Hinata's work was always well done. But still… he could ask about her wellbeing, right? His job included making sure every nin and civilian under his command were as safe and happy as possible.

Sasuke would never leave on a mission without saying something.

But what if the girls said goodbye before Hanabi came to the meeting?

Carefully setting down his pen, Itachi decided to ask. It did not hurt. Hopefully she knew him well enough to know she could refuse to answer.

"I don't mean to pry, Hyuga-san. But is everything okay between you and Hanabi?"

Hinata's cheeks bloomed with color. She averted her eyes and hunched her shoulders slightly. Itachi immediately felt terrible for asking.

"You don't have to answer," he said hastily.

Hinata shook her head. Her voice came out softer and more hesitant than he had ever heard in her time working here. It reminded him of when they were children, and she hid behind her father's legs.

He blinked. He had not thought of their brief childhood interactions in years.

"Um, w-we fought. Hanabi and I. I don't think she likes me very much," she finally said.

Itachi sighed. "Ah, I know what that's like. I'm sorry."

Hinata looked up in disbelief.

He chuckled at her face. "You didn't know?"

She shook her head.

"We fight all the time. Sasuke tells me he hates me at least once a month, it feels like."

Her eyes widened and she stared longingly at the closed door. "Do you think she hates me? I wasn't very nice to her."

Oops. Itachi did not mean to make her feel worse. "I'm sure she'd never hate you. She still loves you. But if she doesn't like you right now, maybe an apology is in order?"

Hinata nodded and braved a shaky smile. "I think I'll have to wait for her to reach out to me. Thank you, Hokage-sama."

A knock sounded on the doors. Hinata stood.

"That's your 2 o'clock," she said, bustling over to let them in.

oOo

"What's this?" Sasuke asked, holding up a letter pinned between his index and middle finger. He sniffed then grimaced, putting it away from him as far as his arm would allow. "Ugh."

Itachi indulged in the urge to roll his eyes. Sasuke, finishing his small trip from the kitchen, handed Shisui another can of beer.

Shisui accepted it, then snatched the pink envelope from Sasuke's grasp.

Sasuke sighed and threw himself onto the floor next to the kotatsu. He lay flat on his back, flicking open the pop tab. From his spot on the couch, Itachi nudged his brother with a foot. Sasuke huffed and sat up, choosing to drape his upper body on the tabletop instead.

"That is a lot of perfume," Shisui chuckled.

He tossed the envelope onto Itachi's lap and rubbed his hand on the back of the couch.

"Is it a love letter?" Sasuke smirked.

"No. It's an update from Izumi," Itachi murmured.

Shisui, mid sip, spluttered and coughed. "Excuse me?" he asked hoarsely.

Sasuke groaned and threw his upper body back on the floor, covering his face with his palms. "You're kidding me," he groaned into his hands.

Itachi blinked in confusion. "Why would I be kidding?"

"What does she even talk about?" Shisui cleared his throat.

Itachi shrugged. "Her time in the Capitol. Married life. Her daily life."

Sasuke removed his hands to glare at Itachi. "She does not talk about her husband."

Itachi thought about it. He ran through the last few letters. "Hm. No you're right. Not really."

Shisui, also on the couch, leaned forward into Itachi's space. "Please tell me you don't respond."

"Of course I respond."

The two other men groaned again in unison.

"You're really stupid, big brother."

Shisui pointed at Sasuke. "Yes. This."

"I don't know why." Itachi frowned, stung.

Shisui picked up the letter and threw it to Sasuke. Sasuke opened it and began to read. While he did, Shisui grabbed Itachi's collar and shook him.

"You can't talk to your former fiancée, anymore. Do you understand me?" he growled. "Don't encourage her."

Itachi, still confused as hell, let his cousin manhandle him.

"Oh boy, Shisui, this is gross," Sasuke said.

"Gross? We're friends," Itachi protested.

Sasuke dropped the letter and knee walked on the tatami over to his brother. He clapped both hands on either side of Itachi's face. "Itachi, listen to me," he hissed. "She is not and will never be your friend. Don't encourage her. She'll think you have feelings for her and come back."

Itachi's brow's furrowed even as his lips pursed out with the pressure on his cheeks. "But she's married."

Shisui slapped at Sasuke's hands. Only to grab the back of Itachi's neck and make him face Shisui. "Itachi. My sweet boy. She was trying to make you jealous."

Itachi knew the words but could not understand them. "Why would she marry a Lord and move out of the village unless she was really in love? She told me herself how much she liked him."

Sasuke clutched at his hair. "She played chicken with you, and she lost! She wanted you to fight for her! She thought you didn't love her!" he exclaimed.

Itachi's brows furrowed. "I did love her. I thought we were going to get married until she said she was engaged to someone else. That makes no sense."

Shisui pinched the bridge of his nose. "She was very insecure and you're the only one who didn't see it."

"She was waging a psychological op on you, because she wanted you to be jealous," Sasuke said. "And it didn't work. But every time you reply to the letters, you give her hope."

All the pieces fell into place. Itachi understood mind games. His thoughts whirled as he analyzed the past letters and Izumi's shy invitations for him to come and visit.

"Why didn't you both just say that?" Itachi asked quietly.

Sasuke grabbed his beer and downed it all in one go.

Shisui rubbed his forehead. "Because my idiot cousin, neither of us thought we'd have to explain your personal life to you in nin terms."

"But that's what makes sense to me," Itachi said.

"Hopeless," Sasuke moaned. "Just hopeless."

oOo

Coming up: Itachi really, really should not be this distracted at work.

(Weekly updates will be resuming. Thanks.)