Preparing for the festival.

[youngesthokage]

He had a neat pile next to him on the counter, black and silver leather rabbit god mask at the very top. It was a bit morbid, the story of that, but it seemed like everything about this festival was morbid, so that was actually appropriate, in a way. He had the pale off white and frost blue kimono pulled most of the way up his shoulders, and he turned carefully one way, then the other as he examined himself in the mirror.

The reason? He was playing around with Oiroke, but he was doing it behind a closed door in the bathroom, and he sincerely hoped no one came to see what was taking him so long. He was just... curious. After all, he'd never spent much time in the shape and he had a memory of doing so.

Still, did it really change so little about his appearance?

Comments

[itachi_san]

"... The kids haven't seen you like that, yet... have they?"

[youngesthokage]

He shook his head, making sure he could feel the motion. "You were the first to catch me at it, why?"

[itachi_san]

"Just... hoping they don't."

He didn't want to know what they would think of it now, or later. Especially them using it one day. (Though, they'd never understand his aversion to the technique. Itachi would make sure that was something they'd never understand.)

[youngesthokage]

"...It's a technique they've seen before you know, if not on me."

[itachi_san]

It didn't take him long to realize where the kids had seen it.

"Naruto..."

[youngesthokage]

He nodded slightly. "He is the originator, at least of the version I know. Henge is just an illusion, here."

[itachi_san]

"I know it's just an illusion. But that doesn't mean I like it."

Illusions, of course, were just as real as reality. Itachi specialized in that.

[youngesthokage]

"That wasn't an illusion." His voice was soft. "It was a Kinjutsu."

[itachi_san]

Itachi raised an eyebrow, but it couldn't be seen under the bandages.

"... what?"

[youngesthokage]

His tone was a little amused. "That was a physical modification using chakra. It would have eventually defaulted back when the chakra fed into it was used up, but it was actually me as a female."

[itachi_san]

"I think I preferred to believe it was merely a very skillful illusion." he scoffed.

He should have known, should have been able to tell the difference. His sharingan would have, of course, but they were still very well covered.

"You don't need to be a female. And the kids never need to learn what criminal organizations do to the young pretty ones."

[youngesthokage]

He huffed a soft almost laugh, almost sigh. "Itachi, I was looking because I wanted to look, not because I had any desire to go out and have anyone not you touch me."

[itachi_san]

"And whether you liked what you saw or not, you will never convince me to do it." he added, without hesitation. "... I will do a great many things for you if you want me to. But that isn't one of them."

[youngesthokage]

"And you'd decline if I asked you to touch me while I was like that as well I gather?" He asked in a rather gentle tone this time.

[itachi_san]

Itachi's head tilted away.

"Please don't ask that..." he whispered. There was shame in his voice as he imagined putting himself in the role of his targets (because 'clients' was far too nice a word for how most of them ended up).

[youngesthokage]

"Then I won't." It was a murmur, and he sighed softly. "Don't worry."

[itachi_san]

"I hope you're not disappointed..." he whispered back. "I'm sorry."

[youngesthokage]

"One can't be disappointed when one had no expectation in the first place." He cupped his face and kissed him softly. "Put it out of your mind."

[itachi_san]

Itachi nodded, leaning into the kiss.

"You're perfect, you know. Just the way you are."

[youngesthokage]

He gave a soft laugh, and humor colored his voice. "You only say that because we look just alike."

[itachi_san]

Itachi couldn't help but laugh at that.

"For all I know, you could have changed that fact. It's been several weeks since I've seen you."

[youngesthokage]

"Which means I look -more- like you, not less. It's not as though I'd cut my hair just to spite you." He smirked, pressing his lips against his cheek.

[itachi_san]

"I'd hope not." Itachi reached up to stroke his partner's head. "I like running my fingers through it."

[youngesthokage]

He hummed and tipped his head into his hand. "I always liked it better this way myself."

[itachi_san]

Itachi let his hands run through his partner's long hair. It was so silky, so smooth. It always looked shinier than his own, and he pictured that vividly in his mind as he felt the strands falling through his fingers.

He kissed his partner gently on the lips.

"I'm glad."