Adorable? Itachi allowed himself to look something between pole-axed and incredibly embarrassed. He hoped Ashiko was teasing and didn't actually mean what she said. At least she was saying it about Iori instead of him.

"Well!" Itachi cleared his throat and picked up his chopsticks. "Well, at least there's that." He took a bite of food to consider what he was going to say. Did he compliment her dance of bluntess with his own hints, or play it utterly safe. Did he see what he could draw out of her?

"I...am a little upset to hear you were in some trouble." And perhaps upset to realize he was upset by the thought of Ashiko being injured, no matter where her allegiance lay.

"And I was offered a permanent place in a very nice temple that could use a good scribe," Itachi added suddenly. "Which would put an end to my wandering days." If she thought this might be her last chance to catch him, what would she do? Their game, he realized, had probably gone on far too long now.

"I have been considering it."