Aiko wap 21 preview: Aiko lightly bullies a clan head

CHAPTER 21

She did, in fact, want to wait inside. It was yet another balmy summer day and getting out of sunlight would help a lot. Cicadas screamed from the garden. Aiko glanced out and caught a glimpse of one ghostly shell on a tree trunk.

Madara came back to the room on silent, bare feet. "Barley tea," he said. It wasn't an offer or an explanation.

She hadn't heard the sound of china being put down, but there was a cup when she turned her head back to the table. "Thank you," Aiko said.

The baby terrorist settled in at the head of his table, adjusting a casual home yukata around his legs. He looked like somebody's sleepy-headed brother, not like the de facto ruler of a powerful military faction.

"I hear that my brother has enjoyed his time with you." Madara was aiming for social graces. She sensed just a hint of teeth under the statement.

"You're kind," Aiko said blandly. "for sending him to our humble home. Izuna-san was very helpful to us. We are happy to share our harvests with his family."

Madara just looked at her for a moment. "That's good." He clearly didn't know what to say. The faint breeze through the open door ruffled his hair. That mane of hair had a surprising amount of curl to it. She wondered if she'd be able to pull her fingers through it, or if they'd get stuck.

He was still waiting for her response.

Aiko just looked back.

He looked down had a sip of tea to avoid talking to her.

'You're going to run out if you drink it whenever things are awkward,' Aiko thought. She didn't suppress the predatorial smile.

It seemed like a good time for her to make things worse. An awkward question would do it. "Saa, Uchiha-sama. Are you religious?"

He nearly choked on his tea.

She waited expectantly.

'The answer is obviously no,' she figured. 'He would say yes without hesitation if he was religious. But he's trying to be polite. How will he answer without lying?'

He put his cup down in a controlled motion. "I do not claim to be wise," Madara said cagily. "To manage my duties I must focus on the most mundane realities to sustain life. It is admirable that you provide solace to the souls of your people."

Hmm, not bad.

"Solace," Aiko repeated. She flicked her gaze upward, thinking of the samurai she'd killed to keep their harvest from being too heavily taxed. "I feel my main focus as of late has also been on the worldly needs of those I am responsible for."

Madara clearly wished she would leave.

"How's your war?" Aiko asked politely. "Ah, battle, sorry." She waved the mistake away. "It was quite rude of Senju-san to intrude so and call for such tedious business."

Madara's mouth silently moved through the syllables of "tedious business".