Asuma made a mental note to keep his back to the wall around Ginta--at least until he found out what "interested" really meant. Then he turned his attention to his new quarters. The apartment wasn't big, but compared to a single bunk it was huge. Bed, closet, cupboards, kitchen. And that door had to lead to a bathroom.

He crossed to the window, uncaring about shod feet on the carpet, and trailed his hand briefly over the slim wooden ledge. Good place for pictures, if he ever got any. And the view...

He paused, stared, then leaned one elbow on the ledge and cupped his chin, long fingers pressed over half a dry smile. The old man's big stone mountain face, outlined against the starry sky--go figure.

His rucksack slid down his shoulder; he caught it before it hit the floor and tossed it onto the bed. Metal clunked as it landed, stirring up the faintest cloud of dust. There was more on the bare kitchen counters; the last occupant had been gone for a while.

Tsume was just past the threshold, offering--blankets. Not really what he needed, but nice anyway. He turned away from the window and its view, and padded back across the carpet. She wasn't giving out many signals, but she was dropping a few, here and there. And she was standing right inside his doorway, wearing nothing but shadows and skimpy clothes.

With a weapon still in her hand, but he was a good dodger.

He reached her and tilted his chin down. Found a smile that was easy and lazy and full of promises, if she decided to say the word.

"Planning to help me break in the place, or do you have somewhere you need to be?"