A bead of moisture whicked down Asuma's face when he lifted an eyebrow. "Don't tell me; you have a jutsu for that, too?"

Tsume opened one eye just enough to glare at him with a sliver of blue, then closed it again. Asuma snorted and folded down next to her in a tangle of limbs, bracing his back against the building, and tried to decide if it was worth risking another cigarette. Technically they'd run out of trail...

He left the distraction in his hip-pouch and fished out a canteen instead, throwing back a long swallow of skin-warm water. To his untrained nose, the air smelled of nothing but brine and salt, cast off from an ocean coastline he hadn't seen in years.

It looked mostly the same; all drama and high waves from the strong, heated currents sweeping up from the south. Lots of spray, a few high-wheeling seagulls in the distance. Fading light dancing on the highest crests...

He smiled, mostly to himself, and returned his attention to his highly entertaining partner. Tsume's head was tipped back, braced against weather-beaten wood, slender neck stretched out as she inhaled deeply, ribcage lifting. The high-cut ANBU turtleneck sliced a line of black straight across her jugular, cloth dyed even darker with sweat.

She flicked an eye open, caught him looking, and ducked her chin sharply. Asuma grinned.

"Minute's up. Let's frighten the locals."