Log: Complete

[crimsonmangekyo.livejournal.com]

When; December 27th, early AM (backdated)
Rating; PG
Characters; Uchiha Itachicrimsonmangekyo, Hoshigaki Kisameomgashark, Tomoe Hotarusilence_bringer
Summary; Itachi invites his young friend over for tea, and a 'special' gift.
Log;
Carefully pouring the tea into two small cups, Itachi pulled out a small envelope. Opening a corner of it, he poured the black powder into one of the cups, picking up the spoon and stirring until the dark swirls blended themselves into the deep blackish brown of the tea. With a smile, he sat down and waited for his "guest" to show up

Kisame looked up to the sky to check the time... should he walk into their building even a second early, it would all be for naught, and their plan would be ruined. Not yet time... Kisame thought to himself, before stopping only moments before the door. Kisame turned to face Hotaru. "Hotaru-san, would you like your gift?"

The girl stopped, slightly startled at his sudden conversation. Steadying her hands and the cake she held in them, she nodded. "O..Ok, Shark-san."

Reaching into his robe, Kisame slowly pulled out a long dark string, a grey hook hanging from the bottom. Carefully, he lifted the string over Hotaru's head, careful as she flinched. "This is a scale from Samehada, my sword. I thought you may enjoy it." Kisame stole a glace back up to the stars. Almost there...

She carefully lifted up the scale, turning it this way and that, studying the angles and curves of it. Her small face broke into a smile. "Thank you, Shark-san. It's beautiful."

Kisame formed a toothy grin to meet her own. And time. . "It's cold, and I'm sure Itachi-san is waiting to see you. Please, Hotaru-san, come inside."

She nodded and bowed slightly, following him into the lair.

Itachi looked up as they entered, effortlessly composing his face into a mask of warmth and caring. He bowed and picked up a cup of tea, handing it out to her as she entered. "Hotaru-chan. You must be cold. Here. Have some tea. I just brewed it." He picked up the teapot and poured two more cups, taking one for himself and handing one to Kisame with the slightest raise of an eyebrow.

Kisame caught the eyebrow, and understood. As he feigned drinking the laced tea, the shark man brought a chair up for their guest, before sitting himself.

Hotaru took the cup gratefully and sipped from it. With a smile, she took another sip and turned to Itachi. "This is wonderful. Is it a new blend?"

The Uchiha nodded. "Yes, it's one I make specially here." He got up and rummaged in a cabinet, pulling out several ornate canisters and boxes. Holding them up, he smiled. "I have such varied tastes in tea that I thought I'd try my hand at blending some of them together. I'm glad to see that you find the result to be acceptable."

Kisame took Itachi's weave in, savoring his ally's ability to decieve one so utterly and so completely, even without use of the kekkei genkai. "Yes, Itachi-san does brew a delicious cup of tea, doesn't he?"

Hotaru nodded, continuing to drink the tea. It had a pleasant flavor, almost like jasmine, but with a little bit of an extra cinnamony-like flavor. It really was like nothing she had ever tasted before. And beyond that, it was almost as though she could feel the tension draining from her body. Smiling, she set the half-empty cup down on the table and picked up the cake box. "Itachi-sama, I baked this for you and Shark-san. I...I didn't know what you'd like for Christmas, so I thought that food would be a good gift."

Itachi smiled at her again and nodded. "Thank you, it looks delicious. We'll have to all have a piece, won't we Kisame?" Casting a meaningful glance at the shark, he picked up the teapot again. "Here, Hotaru-chan. Let me refill your cup."

Kisame nodded quitely to his associate, and then to their guest. The cake did look good, afterall...

Smiling, she set her cup of tea down and pulled the cake across the small table. Picking up the knife that sat beside it, she carefully cut it into pieces. Placing a piece on each of 3 small plates, she handed one to Kisame and one to Itachi. "Here. I hope it's good."

Itachi smiled and took the offered plate, picking up a fork and taking a bite. "It's lovely Hotaru-chan."

Kisame nodded, indulging in the orange cake that Hotaru had brought her captors friends. "Yes, it's delicious."

As they finished the cake, Itachi stood up and retrieved something off of the shelf. He set the small metal tin down on the table in front of her. "Here. Consider it a gift for the holidays."

She paused in her sipping of the tea and picked up the tin, studying it. "What is it?"

Itachi smiled. "It's some of the tea you're drinking. Since you seem to like it so much, I thought it would be a good gift for you. Especially since I didn't get a chance to get you a proper gift. I only have one request. Keep it our little secret, alright? Don't tell Archer.

She frowned slightly, studying the canister. "But why?"
"Because I know that he does not think highly of me, and I wouldn't wish to cause any undue difficulties between the two of you. Afterall, he is your friend, isn't he?"

Hotaru smiled and nodded. "Yes, he is. Thank you, Itachi-sama." Standing, she bowed to them both. "I should be getting back now, or Archer will worry."

As Hotaru stoof, Kisame did also. "Hotaru-san, should you need an escort back to your apartment?"

She nodded, smiling at him. "Thank you, Shark-san. That would be nice."

"You're quite welcome. Thank you for the cake, and Itachi-san, thank you for the tea. We should take our leave."