{open} It was a beautiful morning.

[youngesthokage]

He was in a wonderful mood. He'd gotten in later than intended due to the rather long talk with his mother, which had been oddly easier with this one than the one from home ever was anymore, and by the time he'd made it home is good mood had returned and he'd settled right to bed.

Morning, on the other hand, had brought the flowers and he found himself looking out the window in curious fascination at them, mussed from sleep and somewhat bewildered.

Since when did snow bring flowers?

Comments

[youngesthokage]

"Well, in that case, at some point before they're gone you should ask her."

[bunsofsteel]

It's a mutter, mostly to herself, as she starts to tug her own free out of curiosity. "She'll probably say they're good for tying people up, knowing her."

[youngesthokage]

He blinked a few times and looked over at her. "She has a thing for that does she?"

[bunsofsteel]

She blinked and flushed, not having expected Itachi to hear that. "Uh! Well, we were talking about... stuff like that... when I bought the tea. It's not important, though!"

[youngesthokage]

He blinked again, watching her. "You've interest in tying people up?"

[bunsofsteel]

Her cheeks held that flush as she yanked the flower completely out of the ground, bending the stem and staring down at it instead of him. "Well... I thought you might like something like that..."

[youngesthokage]

He paused, settling to just looking at her entirely, flower loose in his fingers. "That... is highly possible yes."

[bunsofsteel]

Her cheeks flushed darker at the shiver of anticipation when he answered, and she glanced up at him, trying to hide her embarrassment with a smirk. "Well, in that case, I could try doing it for you~ If you wanted! Maybe." She lost her confidence as quickly as it had started to show itself, glancing back down at the flower.

[youngesthokage]

He was quiet a beat. "I can think of nothing you might want to do with or to me that I would not be willing to let you try."

[bunsofsteel]

She glanced up at him, then back down again and muttered something inaudible.

[youngesthokage]

He blinked, then shifted over the snow to peer into her face. "What was that?"

[bunsofsteel]

"...Whipping."

[youngesthokage]

He blinked at her a few times, surprised. "You want to whip me?"

[bunsofsteel]

This sounded even more ridiculous than when she'd spoken to Ino -- she knew it couldn't be as easy as the other kunoichi had said it would be! "W-well... you like pain, and there's only so much I can do with my nails, you know? So I was talking to Ino, and I thought-- um. You would like it. Maybe."

[youngesthokage]

He considered this a moment. "I might. I really don't know, but you don't have to go out of your way to get things for me that you do not already own Tenten. A whip doesn't seem your style."

[bunsofsteel]

"But it's like I was telling Ino, my weapons aren't toys, they're for killing people!" ...And, apparently, for arousing Sasuke, but that was a different thing entirely. She groaned and dropped the flower, putting her head in her hands. "Just... forget I said anything, okay?"

[youngesthokage]

"...But I don't want to." He reached up and took her wrists in his hands, tugging them away from her face. "Unless you truly have no interest."

[bunsofsteel]

"I wouldn't even know how to use them for something like that," she muttered, glancing sideways. "If you think you'd like it, I would, but I don't... know... how..."

[youngesthokage]

"I know nothing about the topic at all." He hesitated a moment, looking at her. "Just... do what feels right and if you don't wish to, or do... then I will be happy you're pleased with me."

[bunsofsteel]

Great, and here she'd been hoping Itachi would at least know. She hesitated herself, the reached out to cup his cheeks, giving him a small smile. "Well... was there anything in... that place that happened that you liked? That I could do for you?"

[youngesthokage]

He immediately flushed. "I didn't... usually end up in such situations. Mine were more.... personal."

[bunsofsteel]

She let go of his cheeks to settle back on her heels, giving him another look. "What do you mean?"

[youngesthokage]

"I mean I... Usually it was just... just the- I... I." He stumbled to a halt and looked away. "It was a different approach."

[bunsofsteel]

"What kind of approach?" This isn't helpful, Itachi, and she frowned to let him know. "You know I'm not going to judge you. I mean, we're talking about something like this anyway..."

[youngesthokage]

"It was a lot of family situations." It was a murmur, and he leaned to pick another flower. "Many. Or village needs. I... was essentially sold off to other countries in more than one of the situations."