[CLOSED Backlog] - Before They Were Pirate Lords, Part 2
Character(s): Tenten [Light Blue] and Kisame [Sky Blue]
Date: Mid-Spring 1657
Setting: Random town in China; blacksmith's shop
Summary: A chance meeting forges the foundation for a possibly EPIC reunion
Warning(s): PG/PG-13
"You don't need to change..." He pointed out before trailing off. Kisame would have just tossed his helmet aside on such a hot day and once returning to the ship, he would have placed it back on his head or moved it elsewhere. Nobody stole from the scout- t was the same as stealing from the captain, it would be foolish and would definitely reign a blackspot over your head for the contemplation of being cut adrift.
And even on the ship, when so close to harbour, it would be foolish to wear heavy armor to cover the body. It was too heavy, too hot and too tough; Something set for war and constant combat. Che.
Kisame once again looked over the boy with speculation, and sighed, no longer planning on teasing. He would turn his attention to the forger who had seemingly calmed down from his 'grief' of lax actions.
It was not that Tenten was a scout or held any ranking of importance on the ship...only she did, perhaps the most important one of all, at least when it came to Pirate Lord Shirou. Better known as the Dragon of the East, she was his daughter, his most precious treasure. No man could ever find a trinket or amount of wealth that he would see as more valuable. So much so that every crewman on the ship believed that she would inherit his legacy when the time came. She, on the other hand, would rather not think of such a time. There were better things to focus her attention on.
"By the looks of it, you've come a long way just to gather yourself a ship and a crew." She took over the details of his garments, obviously foreign to the Chinese culture that surrounded them. "Why go through so much trouble? Were there not suitable men in your homeland?"
"I haven't been there since I was a pup." He chuckled, looking at the 'boy' with a bored set of dismissing eyes. "I came here because this was as far as the other ship went." And on board, there had been a carpenter who was eager to please and interpret whatever the payers were willing to ask of him.
Her head tilted just slightly, but with much more interest than before. His was a story not so uncommonly heard among the crowds of citizens. Travel often meant an escape from the problems of an old life, a means of seeking new opportunities in places where one could start over again and perhaps have a better chance in achieving once forgotten goals. When she was younger, Tenten had heard such stories, whispers of tales from traders and merchants who happened to pass by in her mother's shop. They told of new lands being discovered and explored, great treasures to be found on every shore. And while some tales seemed too extravagant to be true, she knew them to hold some truth. After all, those were some of the principles of piracy.
"You would leave the place of your home so easily and so young? Hm..." Stepping around Kisame once more, she continued to glance around in a casual manner, a small smirk tugging on the corner of her lips. Tenten had stopped looking at the weapons long before, but still used them as a means of distraction to keep herself from staring at the foreigner. "In my experience, that sort of thing only happens under two conditions."
Kisame frowned at the young mans teasing interest and settled to ignore the first 'question'. It seemed to him that 'Tian' seemed far too comfortable with him already. It was funny, seeing as how Kisame had eventually accepted the offer of the refund, and had spent a good while of his waiting with him, but there was such daring risk from someone only half his height. And furthermore to question about Kisame's past, there must have been a few more screws loose in Tian than in Kisame.
"And what are those, boy?" He asked, looking down at him with an arched brow and almost playful grin. Tian had guts to mess with someone as fierce as himself, he reminded.
And perhaps Tenten was crazy to push her luck as she did with Kisame's patience, knowing that the more she spoke of the past, the more likely it would be before hers would be put up for questioning as well. It was nothing much to worry about, she supposed. The only real truth that needed to be hidden from him was her gender; any other detail concerning the young girl's past needed not to be altered drastically. If there was one thing that came from sailing the high seas with Shirou, the Dragon of the East, it was an endless string of adventure that would make any action-loving pirate green with envy.
"The first being that one wishes to seek new opportunities. The second, one wishes to escape problems of the past." Replying smoothly to the foreigner's question, her attitude was subtle yet unmistakable. Sarcasm dripped with her last words like blood off of a finely sharpened knife, and she did little to mask it as otherwise. There was no need for it in this conversation, and she would take whatever consequences that came from it. "But then again, what does a little whelp like me know?"
Kisame frowned from all three of the remarks; disliking each. "Not enough to keep His trap shut." He growled, stalking over to keenly glare at him. It was infuriating- not just funny, or ironic now- to think that a 'whelp' dared to try and seek out his passed. There were no great secrets that he was not a pedigree(which he could say he was pleased with; Someone from a pedigree often carried diseases which never left the family and often stewed its own set of issues. Issues that Kisame would rather separate from.) or that he was son of both a killer, a theif and panhandling peddlers. He had no shame in that, because poverty was not uncommon 'round the world.
"And far too much to simply be curious."
Pups like Tian made him angry.
Kisame was not nearly as interested in Tian as he was to himself, otherwise he may have asked some more questions, or refuted such sarcasm from the feminine boy. There was just all too much that he could play at; but such things seemed a sensitive issue, and at least he was mature enough to leave them be.
In cognito and much older in mindset than he should be, Tian was still an immature pigtail pulling brat.
Though her heart started to pound at Kisame's approach, Tenten stood her ground like any pirate brat would. His reaction had almost been instant, his patience quickly and noticeably growing thinner by the second. A typical response, an expected response. And it brought a sick little joy in her heart to know that she had been the cause of it. It told of a power she had lacked for a majority of her life while she was still bound within the social and gender laws of the Chinese culture. Women were meant to be silent and demure, meant to live a life of servitude to the men who ruled them. To speak out against it or undermind that kind of authority was hazardous to the woman who dared try such a thing. So it was of some small comfort that Tenten had been presented with an opportunity to escape such a world...even despite the sacrifices.
No longer confined by her gender, Tenten had been raised on her father's pirate code, a set of principles that placed pride and reputation above all else, right along side loyalty to those who deserved it and a sort of honor that defied normal conventions of delinquency. Her father was a rare breed, both ruthless but merciful, and a fine example of an honorable pirate, proving that there was such a thing in the world despite what people refused to believe.
As casually as possible, she gave a nonchalant shrug. "I was merely stating my observations gathered over the years. I meant no offense against you, nor did I imply that these were your reasonings."
"Yet you say that from what you have heard that 'that sort of thing only happens under 2 situations." he spoke, sounding calmer and more docile despite the firmness and harshness in his tone."You stated with such conviction that you knew so well into my past. I'm still surprise someone of your age would dare call to me in such a way." Man or woman being the brat he wouldn't resits reaching over and smacking Tian over the cheek or wrist to hush Him.
So demure and casual he was with him, again amusing and one side wanted to laugh at the situation; Kisame here had been taken pity on by a pup, received panhandled money and was now being so critically judged, but in such a way to be smooth.
However his language was off as well, so he didn't risk spouting nonsense- anymore so than he had before- and instead cursed in his native tongue.
"I do not claim to know of your past, Kisame-san. How could I when we have just met?" Easily strolling out of the stuffy space of the smithy where there would at least be a sea breeze to comfort them, Tenten looked to him as if waiting for an answer even though she was not expecting nor asking for one. The question had only been posed to give another little twist of the knife she had metaphorically stabbed into his pride, prodding it with just the right amount of innocent air that would limit his range of reactions, few of which would not attract unwanted attention from the people around them as well as the local authority. For a pirate, any attention from the local law enforcement was a danger to their lives and their hunt for adventure. Many tried to avoid it. She could only hope that he was one of those who did. "They were merely personal observations, as I said before. Who is to say that it applies to everyone?"
The sun was already making its way across the Western skies, noon quickly turning into evening and the day's errands long from done. It would be another day or two before her swords would be done, such were the constraints of ironwork and blacksmithing. Why she still remained was a lingering question that had been squirming in the back of Tenten's mind for some time now as she glanced at the foreigner again. And once more, why would he stay to endure the subtle insults from a mere 'messenger boy' when it had been clear, the man had other things to do? It was clear that their conversation had reached far beyond a friendly acquaintance between two people who would surely never meet again.
Perhaps it was just simply a game they were both willing to play to pass the time until something more interesting presented itself. And at that notion, she could only smirk while twisting the knife ever so slightly. "As you will no doubt know, the world is grand and holds a collection of different people. To simply generalize them all in any matter would be foolish of anyone, wouldn't you agree?"
"I would." he said, frowning at the first and second question, but not the third. At the third, he was too ready to throw his chances away, fingers itching to slide over the fine hilt of a sharply braided sword. "Tian..." Kisame started slowly, walking outside along him, staring far around the horizon, hands behind his back in a premonizing and docile manner. "Count your blessings that we are speaking now and not two days in the future, when I would not hesitate to leave my mark on you and this land before I leave it."
Kisame was not a particularly ruthless man; he found great pleasure in adventure and in fights, both worthy and vain. He cared not for making a name for himself, but it was hard not to when his kin was so well known in the northern countries of the world. The thrill of fighting, commanding and even schmoozing- when he knew he could make a twist of the wrist or a powerful lunge which would end the life of whomever was on the receiving end.
Ah, and there was the opportunity the both of them had been waiting for, presenting itself so cleanly and unexpectedly from the dark caverns of their idle words. Perhaps it was unintentionally suggested, but Tenten was the sort that would take any and all promptings to instigate something of interest, no matter how small. Raising a brow and fixing her smirk so that it conveyed a look of deviance, she regarded the tall man with a suggestive gaze. It was not necessarily something of more substance or meaning than this already bruising conversation. Between mere acquaintances, nothing seems of interest. But at the very least, it would give their fleeting patience and twitching fingers out of the cold air of civility and around the hard handle of a sword. "Was that a treat, Kisame-san? ...or a promise?"
Maybe she was insane to even consider it, and as she took on the great size of the man standing before her, the young girl had to admit that perhaps she really was losing her mind. But Tenten prided herself in her skill, had proven their worth time and time again. And if she could not defeat this foreigner in a fight of swords, then it only meant that there were still a lot of things for her to learn. "Because I assure you, whichever one it is, this would not be an easy win for you. I have fought against men twice your size and have come out the victor."
Kisame laughed quietly and looked at Tian again, suddenly taking a deep interest. "Egotistical aren't you?" He asked, looking over the black haired youth, standing to his full size. It was hard to believe that he had fought someone much larger than himself, when he was pushing 2 meters in height and his body was packed filled with slow and fast twitch brand fibers. He looked down and flashed a mouth fool of sharpened teeth, "You may take my words as a threat or a promise, I don't care of which. But if you'd challenge be I would only return with a scavard. We should make a bet as well." he said continuously, humming with a friendly tone, as if curiously trying to recall something of the past.
Instead, he reached into his tattered shirt and pulled out a little dagger. "Let's do it then. I'd like to see how you fight, it would be interesting Tian, if you fight the way you talk then you'll no doubt run circles around me." He smirked wider, golden eyes much more energized.
"What possession of mine would you have if I am beaten?"
A soft hum and a light scoff, Tenten smiled deepened, the smooth and innocent lines of her face contorting sinisterly to give the childish features a dangerous edge that told of her experience. "I speak the truth. A great many have challenged me, believing they can easily defeat me because of my size." Sharp eyes darted to Kisame at that, as if to make a comment on his judements. But whether it was a wordless warning or simply an idle gesture was yet to be seen as she kept a casual demeanor. "But they soon learn that appearance says nothing on a person's skills."
"As for possessions, I neither wish for nor want any material object that you may hold." The playfulness of her tone disappeared with that statement, sounding more serious and determined than before. She supposed Kisame would think her foolish for having such ideals and goals in a profession that only promoted freedom and deviance. But they were hers to have just as he was entitled to his own goals. And nothing either of them thought would change that. "My prize is only in improving my skill, and to do that I must fight against all who are willing."
Kisame smiled half-heartedly at Tian continuous speech and he nodded. "Alright." he said, pulling out of his shirt a dagger- Kisame always had blades on his person. The small sword and its elder, were his prized blades, but daggers were all over. Boots, shirt, pants, arm bands... He had plenty of surprises for someone who judged him without defense. "Then we'll begin, I'd like to see your skill."
Someone who taked so much and acted so serious at bipolar moments would definetly be amusing to him.
The glint of his dagger caught her eye, and she spent a short moment staring at the craftsmanship of it, admiring the foreign design before shifting all attention to Kisame. Straightening her back and keeping her arms to her sides, the young pirate in disguise gave a short bow of respect as she had been raised to do at the beginning of every match she participated in. "You are the guest in this country. The first move is yours."
She wanted to add in 'And make sure it's not your last' just as one final cut to his pride, but thought better of it, that it would have been too much. Against someone of his size and obvious strength, she would be at a disadvantage. To provoke their rage would truly be the end of her. And just as she was not one to be underestimated, she could not afford to make that same mistake. For now, she would keep all her cards hidden and reveal them one by one as the battle raged on. It was not through strength that Tenten had won all her previous battles, but through speed, skill, and strategy.
Killing children and leaving their bodies infront of smithing buildings was not often his style and so Kisame rolledhis eyes and stepped towards Tian. During the time he took to do so, he was rather stunned with curiousity. There was no reason to be repectful or to let him have the first move when it was obvious Kisame had the advantage. The asian honor syste, amused him to no end.
Standing infront of Tian, he lifted a leg and pressed the soul of his foot against his stomach and nudged him back. "You're a light-weight." He said, planting his foot back down, resheathing the dagger. Tian could just know that it was there.
He stepped back and stanced himself without originality, legs apart, hands up in guard. He grinned wildly and seemed suddenly rejuvenated and then he swept his foot under Tian's left leg and tugged swiftly to trip 'him' as he brought his leg back. It happened in one movement, but he was slow- unlike Tian. His bulk left him with good defense and powerful assault, but a lacking ofspeed and agility.
Caught off balance from Kisame's initial move, her body bobbled and shifted in adjustment to retain her footing. It was a simple move meant to knock a man off his feet and one that would have been most effective had she actually was one. But women were built differently for what their bodies must endure in a lifetime, and so would not likely be taken down in the same manner. Instead, Tenten used the backswing of her leg as momentum to add to her speed while pivotting on the heel of her foot in one swift motion. With a palm planted firmly against the ground, she stretch the limb to connect high against his stomach. "You may think so, but we shall see what this match shows."
Even with the bulky armour she wore, Tenten was light and swift in her movements. The way she shifted her weight, the effortless style in which the young Singapore pirate darted about made the layer of hard leather and iron plating not seem as cumbersome as few might have initially thought. "It is as I said before, the armour is quite comfortable once you've grown accustomed to the weight, and it has allotted me a small advantage over my enemies."
Kisame grabbed one of the kicks and and let the other hit him- which he smiled at. He was a very built person, tense and strong so taps of the foot didnt do all too much damage to him. "So It seems." He said, grabbing the other leg now in order to lift Tian two feet into the air.
Tian was very small- and freakishly flexible, it seemed- which had Kisame on guard. But he tossed the lad down again and watched him with a playful smile, eyes very much alive with a berzerk pleasure- always enjoying a fight when it bared itself.
The world turned on its head and her initial thought was to secure her helmet. In such a position, it would not take much for it to fall off and reveal her true identity, and after that, it would all be over for her and perhaps her father as well. A well-known pirate in the South Pacific waters, Shirou was by all accounts a wanted man, dead or alive. And Tenten was not sure if the laws in China had changed since she had left its shores (though she suspected not; rules set in place to keep the male dominance uncontested were generally never reconsidered or amended), but back then it had been a serious crime for a woman to dress as a man. She was more than capable of handling herself in such a situation, but the revelation of her true identity would only attract unwanted attention towards her father, and that was the last thing she wanted.
She struggled as best as she could to break free of Kisame's hold, only to find herself sailing through the air with the ground rushing up towards her. But with an easy flare of her legs and a slight shift in her body, she landed on her knees and palms, kicking up small clouds of dust in a less disheveled and embarrassing manner. And soon she was on her feet once more, poised and ready for anything that would come next. Not in power, but in strategy; that is how I will defeat him.
"However...considering your size and what it might take to bring you down, I suppose I could afford to lose some of it's weight." And with that, she took off the shoulder pads and chest plate of her armour to allow better movement and flexibilty. Without the added bulk, she looked even more lanky than before, though her form would still be covered and consealed with the fabric of her robes, while still retaining some semblance of protection with the remaining pieces of armour. But there was no reassurance of how long this sparring match would last and they would only prove to be a growing problem as the fight continued.
Kisame's eyes trailed down a small body and he chuckled to himself, admiring the flimsy build from affar. So strange it was to have such a tiny body. "How old are you, lad?" He asked and ignored Tian's comment of dominating him, finding it foolish to believe it as such. He was a grown man, and regardless of Tian's skill, he had plenty of his own. He could fight mercilessly when it called for it and he would not lose with a few sweeps of the foot and a swing of the palm.
Reaching out, he grabbed for the lad's shoulder and swung him one way where he could slam the heel of his hand into the unarmored chest and lifted his foot again, ever so lazily, to rock the body backwards. "You're experienced with swords, yes?" He asked, grinning quietly as he fumbled through his shirt and tossed the hidden dagger over at Tian. "Show me."
Swift of hand, she caught the dagger thrown at her before spitting out in response, “Old enough, I assure you.”
“Though his could hardly be called a sword, it will have to do.” But instead of taking her usual stance during a match of swords, Tenten charged forward, head-long and unexpectedly at Kisame, the edge of the blade gleaming in the afternoon light from between the top and bottom rows of her teeth. The swordplay would be placed on hold for now; at the moment she would prove her worth as a fighter, scrappy despite her size. More dust was kicked up with impressive flare as she slid between the stalks of his legs to pop up to her feet behind him. And just to add insult, she nudged him forwards with the front of her foot as he had done. Right after she spun in a heel kick, aimed high at the foreigner’s chin with surprisingly great strength and power from all the momentum she had built up from the spin.
Kisame tsked at the pain- the boot was a heavyy thing, steel plated he was close to callingit. "Oi, dont fight dirty now, tian." he smirked and kicked hard in the lads stomach region, nudging his toes over his ribs a while later.
She bent forward to shift her stomach out of the range of his toe, keeping an amazing balance over his outstretched leg as she put out her hands to further soften the blow. But Kisame's height advantage extended in his reach as well and even her best efforts could not prepare her for the hard hit of his heel connecting with her palms, pushing back into her abdomen, though not hard enough to knock the wind out of her lungs. She gritted her teeth against the pain, even managing to ground out a taunt from around the blade of the knife before she made her rebuttal. "As the saying goes 'All is fair in love and war.' Pirates are not bound by the rules of engagement, you and I both know that."
With that, she let the blade fall from her lips and into her awaiting hand as it swiftly shifted from under Kisame's boot to grasp at the hilt. A back-swing of her arm had her slashing at point-blank rage across the broad surface of his chest, only cutting through the top layer of fabric and barely missing the skin underneath when he tried to step away from the sharp edge.
Kisame hissed at the metal kiss, and his fingers went back over to soothe the warmed skin. He kicked his leg at the piking that went after his boot, smacking away Tian's hand with the back of his sole, eyes on Tian's dark head of hair. Kisame reached into his shirt and pulled out a dagger, flicking it into a position so the hilt was between his finger tips and he bent to pin Tian and leave a mark.
The sting of Kisame's boot against the joints of her fingers was like a jolt of lightning to the nerves, loosening Tenten's grip on the hilt and sending the borrowed dagger sailing out of her hand to leave the young piratess in disguise defenseless to his advance. And the glitter of the foreigner's blade caught in the fading sunlight, shining to a point at the very tip of the paper thin edge. Her only choice was to evade the clean slice of his knife and rush to regain her weapon without suffering fatal injuries.
So it was with a big leap in to the air and an artful twist of her body that she dodged the sharp edge of his blade, feeling the wind from its passing blow against her neck before she landed with a clump, kicking up a cloud of dust at her feet. Wasting no time, she rolled to avoid getting caught by the back-swing of his arm and reached out to take a firm hold of the hilt. With the same quickness that had won her many previous battles, Tenten brought the metal blade up just in time to stop the sharp edge of his dagger from digging into her skull, though her arms shook under the force, the sharp tip inching closer and closer with every passing second.
Kisame grinned wildly and watched the body below him, feeling the pure hand on his already worn skin. "So close!" He said, seemingly to himself, but it would not be hidden that he was mocking the opponent he knew as Tian as well. He could feel his skin itch with the need to flex and puncture the body he was sparring with.
His hunger for a fight was not merely appetite the thrill of live or die was a necessity for him to go on. He would sooner go without a woman in his bed than he would his swords or pistol gathering dust. Without fighting, he would not be able to drink or eat, or smile, or frown, or feel anything. The fight was a drug, adrenaline being his only release.
Here was a small body beneath Kisame, struggling to keep the pierce of his dagger from the occipital bone. He smirked and placed the dagger away again, and grabbed one of Tian's arms, pinning him back against the hard dirt once more. "So very close.. Tian, you move too much." He chuckled and pulled off, getting back up again after a call from the smiths office.
He was panting despite having done close to nothing. But it was all very exciting; he did not want to kill Tian, but he did indeed want a proper sword fight. It was useless to stake his claims now while his prized limbs were in repair.
For a moment as she laid there sprawled out on the ground, there was a moment of panic that streamed through the young woman's thoughts. Her arms ached from having to keep back the massive weight of the man standing before her, all directed at the point of his knife as it pressed closer inch by inch. Kisame could have very well kill her then and there as Tenten searched frantically for a way out, a solution that would save her. But it would be unnecessary she would find out as the burly foreigner eased off of his aggressive attack and took a step back.
Unwillingly, her lungs gave a quiet sigh of relief, while her pride took a hurtful blow. It was not how she had expected the spar to turn out. Tenten had known it was a risk to fight against Kisame, that his size and strength would have been a great disadvantage for her. This had been a man who hungered for battle, perfect for the pirate profession where plundering and scheming were part of the job description. But she had at least been hopeful of lasting longer than she had.
The disappointment did not last long though, her pride recovering quickly as his massive hand released her. Dark and intense eyes fixed on his retreating form, she dusted herself off before calling out to him with the utmost dignity. "It was still a good match. My potential has been seen, and my skill realized. That is all I ask." She waited for him to turn around and make his rebuttal before continuing, a playful smirk etched across her lips. "Had my reach matched that of yours, you would not even be standing there gloating over me."
Kisame bowed his head but smiled that same grin. It wasn't all too humble but it wasn't as cocky as before. "A prepubescant BOY like you should know what gloating is. I havent said a word to hurt your pride as miniscule as it is, until now." There was another call from the smithery. "This fight isn't about winning or losing, Tian." He said and fixed his shirt. "Its about the testing of skill. Nobody fights with weapons or with honour unless they are testing their skill." Kisame thought he had done quite well without 'cheating' as few would call it.
"Your skill is very well noted, enough for a twelve year old." Or so he would guess. "But mind you mine! My name is Kisame." He said and crouched infront of him and pat his head. "Do not forget."
Her lips tightened into a frown at his comment about her age in comparasion to her skill level, finding a great insult whether he had meant it intentionally or not. The pat on the head only added to the patronizing air he was giving off. However, picking a fight with Kisame on the matter after he could have just as well killed her was not the road to take. Thin brows knitted together while Tenten did her best to keep her rage in check. "I've lived seventeen years of men despite what my appearances show, Kisame-san. I know enough of gloating to have seen my fair share." Flashing a shadowed grin in return, she added. "But what harm is gloating among...acquaintances?"
With a few steps, she bent down and picked up her previously discarded armour, placing the pieces back on one by one until she was back to the oversized bulky form she was before when first the two had met. "Rest assured, you will be remembered...Captain." Tenten held our her hand for him to take, a shake of good faith to perhaps solidify the respect (however small or fleeting it may be) they held for each other. "I would advise you not to forget mine...but I've a feeling the circumstances will render you unable to recognize me when next we meet."
"Will it?" He asked and looked at the boy's hand, a curious notion he thought because he was from a place where brutal fighters had been bred for many generations and respect was never necessary. He considered that it was the place in the world where honor was held high in the head, so he took her hand, grinning widely. Kisame thought he had been more than generous, considering the circumstance. He liked Tian though, even though he had caused much trouble to his own pride. He did pay for expenses and he would hope to make this blacksmith understand the context of his broken language- The blacksmith should know he was in a rush by now.
"I believe so." She gave a light nod with her confirmation and ignored his hesitation to taking her hand, shaking firmly and heartily when he finally did. She had seen other sailors from foreign countries do the same and only assumed he would understand what it meant. She had thought that it would have been more appreciated than the traditional bow she was accustomed to giving, but it made no difference as long as the two left on good terms, or what could pass as good terms among pirates. "But only time will reveal that to be true or not."
Allies were hard to define, but at the very least she had gained some level of respect from him; one less man to convince of her worth when she took off this disguise and roamed the world of men as a woman worthy of their notice. "I leave you to your affairs then. 'Til next we meet, Kisame-san."
With that, adding an extra wave in parting, she was off towards the peer were her father's ship was docked. Tomorrow she would return to the smithy and check on the progress of her swords, knowing that the foreigner would be nowhere in sight if he were to have things his way. Tenten was not certain if she would ever see Kisame again...but sometimes the sands of time and fate worked in mysterious ways.
Date: Mid-Spring 1657
Setting: Random town in China; blacksmith's shop
Summary: A chance meeting forges the foundation for a possibly EPIC reunion
Warning(s): PG/PG-13
"You don't need to change..." He pointed out before trailing off. Kisame would have just tossed his helmet aside on such a hot day and once returning to the ship, he would have placed it back on his head or moved it elsewhere. Nobody stole from the scout- t was the same as stealing from the captain, it would be foolish and would definitely reign a blackspot over your head for the contemplation of being cut adrift.
And even on the ship, when so close to harbour, it would be foolish to wear heavy armor to cover the body. It was too heavy, too hot and too tough; Something set for war and constant combat. Che.
Kisame once again looked over the boy with speculation, and sighed, no longer planning on teasing. He would turn his attention to the forger who had seemingly calmed down from his 'grief' of lax actions.
It was not that Tenten was a scout or held any ranking of importance on the ship...only she did, perhaps the most important one of all, at least when it came to Pirate Lord Shirou. Better known as the Dragon of the East, she was his daughter, his most precious treasure. No man could ever find a trinket or amount of wealth that he would see as more valuable. So much so that every crewman on the ship believed that she would inherit his legacy when the time came. She, on the other hand, would rather not think of such a time. There were better things to focus her attention on.
"By the looks of it, you've come a long way just to gather yourself a ship and a crew." She took over the details of his garments, obviously foreign to the Chinese culture that surrounded them. "Why go through so much trouble? Were there not suitable men in your homeland?"
"I haven't been there since I was a pup." He chuckled, looking at the 'boy' with a bored set of dismissing eyes. "I came here because this was as far as the other ship went." And on board, there had been a carpenter who was eager to please and interpret whatever the payers were willing to ask of him.
Her head tilted just slightly, but with much more interest than before. His was a story not so uncommonly heard among the crowds of citizens. Travel often meant an escape from the problems of an old life, a means of seeking new opportunities in places where one could start over again and perhaps have a better chance in achieving once forgotten goals. When she was younger, Tenten had heard such stories, whispers of tales from traders and merchants who happened to pass by in her mother's shop. They told of new lands being discovered and explored, great treasures to be found on every shore. And while some tales seemed too extravagant to be true, she knew them to hold some truth. After all, those were some of the principles of piracy.
"You would leave the place of your home so easily and so young? Hm..." Stepping around Kisame once more, she continued to glance around in a casual manner, a small smirk tugging on the corner of her lips. Tenten had stopped looking at the weapons long before, but still used them as a means of distraction to keep herself from staring at the foreigner. "In my experience, that sort of thing only happens under two conditions."
Kisame frowned at the young mans teasing interest and settled to ignore the first 'question'. It seemed to him that 'Tian' seemed far too comfortable with him already. It was funny, seeing as how Kisame had eventually accepted the offer of the refund, and had spent a good while of his waiting with him, but there was such daring risk from someone only half his height. And furthermore to question about Kisame's past, there must have been a few more screws loose in Tian than in Kisame.
"And what are those, boy?" He asked, looking down at him with an arched brow and almost playful grin. Tian had guts to mess with someone as fierce as himself, he reminded.
And perhaps Tenten was crazy to push her luck as she did with Kisame's patience, knowing that the more she spoke of the past, the more likely it would be before hers would be put up for questioning as well. It was nothing much to worry about, she supposed. The only real truth that needed to be hidden from him was her gender; any other detail concerning the young girl's past needed not to be altered drastically. If there was one thing that came from sailing the high seas with Shirou, the Dragon of the East, it was an endless string of adventure that would make any action-loving pirate green with envy.
"The first being that one wishes to seek new opportunities. The second, one wishes to escape problems of the past." Replying smoothly to the foreigner's question, her attitude was subtle yet unmistakable. Sarcasm dripped with her last words like blood off of a finely sharpened knife, and she did little to mask it as otherwise. There was no need for it in this conversation, and she would take whatever consequences that came from it. "But then again, what does a little whelp like me know?"
Kisame frowned from all three of the remarks; disliking each. "Not enough to keep His trap shut." He growled, stalking over to keenly glare at him. It was infuriating- not just funny, or ironic now- to think that a 'whelp' dared to try and seek out his passed. There were no great secrets that he was not a pedigree(which he could say he was pleased with; Someone from a pedigree often carried diseases which never left the family and often stewed its own set of issues. Issues that Kisame would rather separate from.) or that he was son of both a killer, a theif and panhandling peddlers. He had no shame in that, because poverty was not uncommon 'round the world.
"And far too much to simply be curious."
Pups like Tian made him angry.
Kisame was not nearly as interested in Tian as he was to himself, otherwise he may have asked some more questions, or refuted such sarcasm from the feminine boy. There was just all too much that he could play at; but such things seemed a sensitive issue, and at least he was mature enough to leave them be.
In cognito and much older in mindset than he should be, Tian was still an immature pigtail pulling brat.
Though her heart started to pound at Kisame's approach, Tenten stood her ground like any pirate brat would. His reaction had almost been instant, his patience quickly and noticeably growing thinner by the second. A typical response, an expected response. And it brought a sick little joy in her heart to know that she had been the cause of it. It told of a power she had lacked for a majority of her life while she was still bound within the social and gender laws of the Chinese culture. Women were meant to be silent and demure, meant to live a life of servitude to the men who ruled them. To speak out against it or undermind that kind of authority was hazardous to the woman who dared try such a thing. So it was of some small comfort that Tenten had been presented with an opportunity to escape such a world...even despite the sacrifices.
No longer confined by her gender, Tenten had been raised on her father's pirate code, a set of principles that placed pride and reputation above all else, right along side loyalty to those who deserved it and a sort of honor that defied normal conventions of delinquency. Her father was a rare breed, both ruthless but merciful, and a fine example of an honorable pirate, proving that there was such a thing in the world despite what people refused to believe.
As casually as possible, she gave a nonchalant shrug. "I was merely stating my observations gathered over the years. I meant no offense against you, nor did I imply that these were your reasonings."
"Yet you say that from what you have heard that 'that sort of thing only happens under 2 situations." he spoke, sounding calmer and more docile despite the firmness and harshness in his tone."You stated with such conviction that you knew so well into my past. I'm still surprise someone of your age would dare call to me in such a way." Man or woman being the brat he wouldn't resits reaching over and smacking Tian over the cheek or wrist to hush Him.
So demure and casual he was with him, again amusing and one side wanted to laugh at the situation; Kisame here had been taken pity on by a pup, received panhandled money and was now being so critically judged, but in such a way to be smooth.
However his language was off as well, so he didn't risk spouting nonsense- anymore so than he had before- and instead cursed in his native tongue.
"I do not claim to know of your past, Kisame-san. How could I when we have just met?" Easily strolling out of the stuffy space of the smithy where there would at least be a sea breeze to comfort them, Tenten looked to him as if waiting for an answer even though she was not expecting nor asking for one. The question had only been posed to give another little twist of the knife she had metaphorically stabbed into his pride, prodding it with just the right amount of innocent air that would limit his range of reactions, few of which would not attract unwanted attention from the people around them as well as the local authority. For a pirate, any attention from the local law enforcement was a danger to their lives and their hunt for adventure. Many tried to avoid it. She could only hope that he was one of those who did. "They were merely personal observations, as I said before. Who is to say that it applies to everyone?"
The sun was already making its way across the Western skies, noon quickly turning into evening and the day's errands long from done. It would be another day or two before her swords would be done, such were the constraints of ironwork and blacksmithing. Why she still remained was a lingering question that had been squirming in the back of Tenten's mind for some time now as she glanced at the foreigner again. And once more, why would he stay to endure the subtle insults from a mere 'messenger boy' when it had been clear, the man had other things to do? It was clear that their conversation had reached far beyond a friendly acquaintance between two people who would surely never meet again.
Perhaps it was just simply a game they were both willing to play to pass the time until something more interesting presented itself. And at that notion, she could only smirk while twisting the knife ever so slightly. "As you will no doubt know, the world is grand and holds a collection of different people. To simply generalize them all in any matter would be foolish of anyone, wouldn't you agree?"
"I would." he said, frowning at the first and second question, but not the third. At the third, he was too ready to throw his chances away, fingers itching to slide over the fine hilt of a sharply braided sword. "Tian..." Kisame started slowly, walking outside along him, staring far around the horizon, hands behind his back in a premonizing and docile manner. "Count your blessings that we are speaking now and not two days in the future, when I would not hesitate to leave my mark on you and this land before I leave it."
Kisame was not a particularly ruthless man; he found great pleasure in adventure and in fights, both worthy and vain. He cared not for making a name for himself, but it was hard not to when his kin was so well known in the northern countries of the world. The thrill of fighting, commanding and even schmoozing- when he knew he could make a twist of the wrist or a powerful lunge which would end the life of whomever was on the receiving end.
Ah, and there was the opportunity the both of them had been waiting for, presenting itself so cleanly and unexpectedly from the dark caverns of their idle words. Perhaps it was unintentionally suggested, but Tenten was the sort that would take any and all promptings to instigate something of interest, no matter how small. Raising a brow and fixing her smirk so that it conveyed a look of deviance, she regarded the tall man with a suggestive gaze. It was not necessarily something of more substance or meaning than this already bruising conversation. Between mere acquaintances, nothing seems of interest. But at the very least, it would give their fleeting patience and twitching fingers out of the cold air of civility and around the hard handle of a sword. "Was that a treat, Kisame-san? ...or a promise?"
Maybe she was insane to even consider it, and as she took on the great size of the man standing before her, the young girl had to admit that perhaps she really was losing her mind. But Tenten prided herself in her skill, had proven their worth time and time again. And if she could not defeat this foreigner in a fight of swords, then it only meant that there were still a lot of things for her to learn. "Because I assure you, whichever one it is, this would not be an easy win for you. I have fought against men twice your size and have come out the victor."
Kisame laughed quietly and looked at Tian again, suddenly taking a deep interest. "Egotistical aren't you?" He asked, looking over the black haired youth, standing to his full size. It was hard to believe that he had fought someone much larger than himself, when he was pushing 2 meters in height and his body was packed filled with slow and fast twitch brand fibers. He looked down and flashed a mouth fool of sharpened teeth, "You may take my words as a threat or a promise, I don't care of which. But if you'd challenge be I would only return with a scavard. We should make a bet as well." he said continuously, humming with a friendly tone, as if curiously trying to recall something of the past.
Instead, he reached into his tattered shirt and pulled out a little dagger. "Let's do it then. I'd like to see how you fight, it would be interesting Tian, if you fight the way you talk then you'll no doubt run circles around me." He smirked wider, golden eyes much more energized.
"What possession of mine would you have if I am beaten?"
A soft hum and a light scoff, Tenten smiled deepened, the smooth and innocent lines of her face contorting sinisterly to give the childish features a dangerous edge that told of her experience. "I speak the truth. A great many have challenged me, believing they can easily defeat me because of my size." Sharp eyes darted to Kisame at that, as if to make a comment on his judements. But whether it was a wordless warning or simply an idle gesture was yet to be seen as she kept a casual demeanor. "But they soon learn that appearance says nothing on a person's skills."
"As for possessions, I neither wish for nor want any material object that you may hold." The playfulness of her tone disappeared with that statement, sounding more serious and determined than before. She supposed Kisame would think her foolish for having such ideals and goals in a profession that only promoted freedom and deviance. But they were hers to have just as he was entitled to his own goals. And nothing either of them thought would change that. "My prize is only in improving my skill, and to do that I must fight against all who are willing."
Kisame smiled half-heartedly at Tian continuous speech and he nodded. "Alright." he said, pulling out of his shirt a dagger- Kisame always had blades on his person. The small sword and its elder, were his prized blades, but daggers were all over. Boots, shirt, pants, arm bands... He had plenty of surprises for someone who judged him without defense. "Then we'll begin, I'd like to see your skill."
Someone who taked so much and acted so serious at bipolar moments would definetly be amusing to him.
The glint of his dagger caught her eye, and she spent a short moment staring at the craftsmanship of it, admiring the foreign design before shifting all attention to Kisame. Straightening her back and keeping her arms to her sides, the young pirate in disguise gave a short bow of respect as she had been raised to do at the beginning of every match she participated in. "You are the guest in this country. The first move is yours."
She wanted to add in 'And make sure it's not your last' just as one final cut to his pride, but thought better of it, that it would have been too much. Against someone of his size and obvious strength, she would be at a disadvantage. To provoke their rage would truly be the end of her. And just as she was not one to be underestimated, she could not afford to make that same mistake. For now, she would keep all her cards hidden and reveal them one by one as the battle raged on. It was not through strength that Tenten had won all her previous battles, but through speed, skill, and strategy.
Killing children and leaving their bodies infront of smithing buildings was not often his style and so Kisame rolledhis eyes and stepped towards Tian. During the time he took to do so, he was rather stunned with curiousity. There was no reason to be repectful or to let him have the first move when it was obvious Kisame had the advantage. The asian honor syste, amused him to no end.
Standing infront of Tian, he lifted a leg and pressed the soul of his foot against his stomach and nudged him back. "You're a light-weight." He said, planting his foot back down, resheathing the dagger. Tian could just know that it was there.
He stepped back and stanced himself without originality, legs apart, hands up in guard. He grinned wildly and seemed suddenly rejuvenated and then he swept his foot under Tian's left leg and tugged swiftly to trip 'him' as he brought his leg back. It happened in one movement, but he was slow- unlike Tian. His bulk left him with good defense and powerful assault, but a lacking ofspeed and agility.
Caught off balance from Kisame's initial move, her body bobbled and shifted in adjustment to retain her footing. It was a simple move meant to knock a man off his feet and one that would have been most effective had she actually was one. But women were built differently for what their bodies must endure in a lifetime, and so would not likely be taken down in the same manner. Instead, Tenten used the backswing of her leg as momentum to add to her speed while pivotting on the heel of her foot in one swift motion. With a palm planted firmly against the ground, she stretch the limb to connect high against his stomach. "You may think so, but we shall see what this match shows."
Even with the bulky armour she wore, Tenten was light and swift in her movements. The way she shifted her weight, the effortless style in which the young Singapore pirate darted about made the layer of hard leather and iron plating not seem as cumbersome as few might have initially thought. "It is as I said before, the armour is quite comfortable once you've grown accustomed to the weight, and it has allotted me a small advantage over my enemies."
Kisame grabbed one of the kicks and and let the other hit him- which he smiled at. He was a very built person, tense and strong so taps of the foot didnt do all too much damage to him. "So It seems." He said, grabbing the other leg now in order to lift Tian two feet into the air.
Tian was very small- and freakishly flexible, it seemed- which had Kisame on guard. But he tossed the lad down again and watched him with a playful smile, eyes very much alive with a berzerk pleasure- always enjoying a fight when it bared itself.
The world turned on its head and her initial thought was to secure her helmet. In such a position, it would not take much for it to fall off and reveal her true identity, and after that, it would all be over for her and perhaps her father as well. A well-known pirate in the South Pacific waters, Shirou was by all accounts a wanted man, dead or alive. And Tenten was not sure if the laws in China had changed since she had left its shores (though she suspected not; rules set in place to keep the male dominance uncontested were generally never reconsidered or amended), but back then it had been a serious crime for a woman to dress as a man. She was more than capable of handling herself in such a situation, but the revelation of her true identity would only attract unwanted attention towards her father, and that was the last thing she wanted.
She struggled as best as she could to break free of Kisame's hold, only to find herself sailing through the air with the ground rushing up towards her. But with an easy flare of her legs and a slight shift in her body, she landed on her knees and palms, kicking up small clouds of dust in a less disheveled and embarrassing manner. And soon she was on her feet once more, poised and ready for anything that would come next. Not in power, but in strategy; that is how I will defeat him.
"However...considering your size and what it might take to bring you down, I suppose I could afford to lose some of it's weight." And with that, she took off the shoulder pads and chest plate of her armour to allow better movement and flexibilty. Without the added bulk, she looked even more lanky than before, though her form would still be covered and consealed with the fabric of her robes, while still retaining some semblance of protection with the remaining pieces of armour. But there was no reassurance of how long this sparring match would last and they would only prove to be a growing problem as the fight continued.
Kisame's eyes trailed down a small body and he chuckled to himself, admiring the flimsy build from affar. So strange it was to have such a tiny body. "How old are you, lad?" He asked and ignored Tian's comment of dominating him, finding it foolish to believe it as such. He was a grown man, and regardless of Tian's skill, he had plenty of his own. He could fight mercilessly when it called for it and he would not lose with a few sweeps of the foot and a swing of the palm.
Reaching out, he grabbed for the lad's shoulder and swung him one way where he could slam the heel of his hand into the unarmored chest and lifted his foot again, ever so lazily, to rock the body backwards. "You're experienced with swords, yes?" He asked, grinning quietly as he fumbled through his shirt and tossed the hidden dagger over at Tian. "Show me."
Swift of hand, she caught the dagger thrown at her before spitting out in response, “Old enough, I assure you.”
“Though his could hardly be called a sword, it will have to do.” But instead of taking her usual stance during a match of swords, Tenten charged forward, head-long and unexpectedly at Kisame, the edge of the blade gleaming in the afternoon light from between the top and bottom rows of her teeth. The swordplay would be placed on hold for now; at the moment she would prove her worth as a fighter, scrappy despite her size. More dust was kicked up with impressive flare as she slid between the stalks of his legs to pop up to her feet behind him. And just to add insult, she nudged him forwards with the front of her foot as he had done. Right after she spun in a heel kick, aimed high at the foreigner’s chin with surprisingly great strength and power from all the momentum she had built up from the spin.
Kisame tsked at the pain- the boot was a heavyy thing, steel plated he was close to callingit. "Oi, dont fight dirty now, tian." he smirked and kicked hard in the lads stomach region, nudging his toes over his ribs a while later.
She bent forward to shift her stomach out of the range of his toe, keeping an amazing balance over his outstretched leg as she put out her hands to further soften the blow. But Kisame's height advantage extended in his reach as well and even her best efforts could not prepare her for the hard hit of his heel connecting with her palms, pushing back into her abdomen, though not hard enough to knock the wind out of her lungs. She gritted her teeth against the pain, even managing to ground out a taunt from around the blade of the knife before she made her rebuttal. "As the saying goes 'All is fair in love and war.' Pirates are not bound by the rules of engagement, you and I both know that."
With that, she let the blade fall from her lips and into her awaiting hand as it swiftly shifted from under Kisame's boot to grasp at the hilt. A back-swing of her arm had her slashing at point-blank rage across the broad surface of his chest, only cutting through the top layer of fabric and barely missing the skin underneath when he tried to step away from the sharp edge.
Kisame hissed at the metal kiss, and his fingers went back over to soothe the warmed skin. He kicked his leg at the piking that went after his boot, smacking away Tian's hand with the back of his sole, eyes on Tian's dark head of hair. Kisame reached into his shirt and pulled out a dagger, flicking it into a position so the hilt was between his finger tips and he bent to pin Tian and leave a mark.
The sting of Kisame's boot against the joints of her fingers was like a jolt of lightning to the nerves, loosening Tenten's grip on the hilt and sending the borrowed dagger sailing out of her hand to leave the young piratess in disguise defenseless to his advance. And the glitter of the foreigner's blade caught in the fading sunlight, shining to a point at the very tip of the paper thin edge. Her only choice was to evade the clean slice of his knife and rush to regain her weapon without suffering fatal injuries.
So it was with a big leap in to the air and an artful twist of her body that she dodged the sharp edge of his blade, feeling the wind from its passing blow against her neck before she landed with a clump, kicking up a cloud of dust at her feet. Wasting no time, she rolled to avoid getting caught by the back-swing of his arm and reached out to take a firm hold of the hilt. With the same quickness that had won her many previous battles, Tenten brought the metal blade up just in time to stop the sharp edge of his dagger from digging into her skull, though her arms shook under the force, the sharp tip inching closer and closer with every passing second.
Kisame grinned wildly and watched the body below him, feeling the pure hand on his already worn skin. "So close!" He said, seemingly to himself, but it would not be hidden that he was mocking the opponent he knew as Tian as well. He could feel his skin itch with the need to flex and puncture the body he was sparring with.
His hunger for a fight was not merely appetite the thrill of live or die was a necessity for him to go on. He would sooner go without a woman in his bed than he would his swords or pistol gathering dust. Without fighting, he would not be able to drink or eat, or smile, or frown, or feel anything. The fight was a drug, adrenaline being his only release.
Here was a small body beneath Kisame, struggling to keep the pierce of his dagger from the occipital bone. He smirked and placed the dagger away again, and grabbed one of Tian's arms, pinning him back against the hard dirt once more. "So very close.. Tian, you move too much." He chuckled and pulled off, getting back up again after a call from the smiths office.
He was panting despite having done close to nothing. But it was all very exciting; he did not want to kill Tian, but he did indeed want a proper sword fight. It was useless to stake his claims now while his prized limbs were in repair.
For a moment as she laid there sprawled out on the ground, there was a moment of panic that streamed through the young woman's thoughts. Her arms ached from having to keep back the massive weight of the man standing before her, all directed at the point of his knife as it pressed closer inch by inch. Kisame could have very well kill her then and there as Tenten searched frantically for a way out, a solution that would save her. But it would be unnecessary she would find out as the burly foreigner eased off of his aggressive attack and took a step back.
Unwillingly, her lungs gave a quiet sigh of relief, while her pride took a hurtful blow. It was not how she had expected the spar to turn out. Tenten had known it was a risk to fight against Kisame, that his size and strength would have been a great disadvantage for her. This had been a man who hungered for battle, perfect for the pirate profession where plundering and scheming were part of the job description. But she had at least been hopeful of lasting longer than she had.
The disappointment did not last long though, her pride recovering quickly as his massive hand released her. Dark and intense eyes fixed on his retreating form, she dusted herself off before calling out to him with the utmost dignity. "It was still a good match. My potential has been seen, and my skill realized. That is all I ask." She waited for him to turn around and make his rebuttal before continuing, a playful smirk etched across her lips. "Had my reach matched that of yours, you would not even be standing there gloating over me."
Kisame bowed his head but smiled that same grin. It wasn't all too humble but it wasn't as cocky as before. "A prepubescant BOY like you should know what gloating is. I havent said a word to hurt your pride as miniscule as it is, until now." There was another call from the smithery. "This fight isn't about winning or losing, Tian." He said and fixed his shirt. "Its about the testing of skill. Nobody fights with weapons or with honour unless they are testing their skill." Kisame thought he had done quite well without 'cheating' as few would call it.
"Your skill is very well noted, enough for a twelve year old." Or so he would guess. "But mind you mine! My name is Kisame." He said and crouched infront of him and pat his head. "Do not forget."
Her lips tightened into a frown at his comment about her age in comparasion to her skill level, finding a great insult whether he had meant it intentionally or not. The pat on the head only added to the patronizing air he was giving off. However, picking a fight with Kisame on the matter after he could have just as well killed her was not the road to take. Thin brows knitted together while Tenten did her best to keep her rage in check. "I've lived seventeen years of men despite what my appearances show, Kisame-san. I know enough of gloating to have seen my fair share." Flashing a shadowed grin in return, she added. "But what harm is gloating among...acquaintances?"
With a few steps, she bent down and picked up her previously discarded armour, placing the pieces back on one by one until she was back to the oversized bulky form she was before when first the two had met. "Rest assured, you will be remembered...Captain." Tenten held our her hand for him to take, a shake of good faith to perhaps solidify the respect (however small or fleeting it may be) they held for each other. "I would advise you not to forget mine...but I've a feeling the circumstances will render you unable to recognize me when next we meet."
"Will it?" He asked and looked at the boy's hand, a curious notion he thought because he was from a place where brutal fighters had been bred for many generations and respect was never necessary. He considered that it was the place in the world where honor was held high in the head, so he took her hand, grinning widely. Kisame thought he had been more than generous, considering the circumstance. He liked Tian though, even though he had caused much trouble to his own pride. He did pay for expenses and he would hope to make this blacksmith understand the context of his broken language- The blacksmith should know he was in a rush by now.
"I believe so." She gave a light nod with her confirmation and ignored his hesitation to taking her hand, shaking firmly and heartily when he finally did. She had seen other sailors from foreign countries do the same and only assumed he would understand what it meant. She had thought that it would have been more appreciated than the traditional bow she was accustomed to giving, but it made no difference as long as the two left on good terms, or what could pass as good terms among pirates. "But only time will reveal that to be true or not."
Allies were hard to define, but at the very least she had gained some level of respect from him; one less man to convince of her worth when she took off this disguise and roamed the world of men as a woman worthy of their notice. "I leave you to your affairs then. 'Til next we meet, Kisame-san."
With that, adding an extra wave in parting, she was off towards the peer were her father's ship was docked. Tomorrow she would return to the smithy and check on the progress of her swords, knowing that the foreigner would be nowhere in sight if he were to have things his way. Tenten was not certain if she would ever see Kisame again...but sometimes the sands of time and fate worked in mysterious ways.