| [May. 28th, 2016|02:03 am] |
"You recognized, and eventually broke, most of the genjutsu at Tsurugahama," Kurenai pointed out. "All but the one that killed Katsuko."
"He wouldn't have, if they'd been Yuuhi," Benihime said, a trifle peevishly. Annoyed that Kurenai had broken her role of silent assistant to speak? Well, if she didn't want opinions, she should have asked for Kaede.
"As it was, he recognized the first genjutsu only when the caster strained credulity. Molten sword-blades as bonds?" Benihime sniffed in disdain. "If they couldn't kill within the genjutsu itself, they should have seized their opportunities to slit your throat, not left you to burn all unknowing. You have Kirigakure's shortsighted cruelty to thank for your life. The first three seconds of any genjutsu casting are the most crucial, and both you and they wasted them."
Annoyance flickered in Raidou's eyes. "And the thirty seconds after, I know. Do you actually have a solution for this, or not?"
Any Yuuhi grandchild, challenging so defiantly, would have been bound up in genjutsu before their next breath. Kurenai half-expected to see the weave of chakra settling over Raidou, glazing his dark eyes as it took hold. But perhaps ANBU captains merited more tolerance than granddaughters, because Benihime merely smiled at him.
Her smile had edges to it, but he was ANBU. He was used to those.
"Whatever you may have heard, not even I can devise a lesson plan within ten minutes of first meeting. You may demonstrate your patience. Kurenai will make tea."
Her hands folded in her lap. Her eyes hooded. The weathered lines of her face settled into a remote, meditative stillness Kurenai knew well. There would be nothing more, until Benihime was ready.
Well, at least she hadn't banished them to the garden to wait. And Raidou's mouth was tight, but his temper was leashed, for now. Kurenai caught his gaze. He grimaced at her.
"You're doing well," she murmured to him. "And it's not a full tea ceremony. She'd have one of my aunts here for that. It won't take long."
His brows tilted doubtfully. "What does doing badly look like?"
Benihime's index finger tapped lightly against the smooth silk of her kimono. Kurenai repressed a smile, and turned to light the portable iron brazier. "If she sends you to the Nightmare Grove, you'll know."
Aunt Taeko must have come this morning to prepare the utensils; all was laid out in perfect order, from the stoneware jar filled with clean, fresh water to the lacquerware natsume with its loose mound of powdered green tea. Kurenai poured water into the iron kettle, wiped bowls and the tea scoop with a linen cloth, and watched her grandmother. |
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