Tsume took half a step away as smoke bloomed. It obliterated even the lingering scent of blood. West, North-West and South, huh? She eyed him, trying to read body language in the suddenly lack of smell and failing almost completely. She got 'relaxed,' which wasn't hard.

"Years," she said in response to his own question. She grinned briefly. "I think I'm getting pretty good at it."

"When people don't butt in," Kuromaru added, circling around them both to put Tsume in between. "You know, girls don't like it when you stin--"

Tsume stepped into him.

Kuromaru huffed and pointedly looked elsewhere. "And if they're in heat they don't respond like they--"

Tsume stepped into him again. "You grow up around here?" She glanced at Asuma again. Big, broad, moved well--ninja. Had to be. But a ninja here wouldn't be begging lunch off people; it wasn't like they couldn't use every hand they could get, these days. "Or you just here for work?"