Wanted to write more after my last astrology-inspired Tenten x Kisame fic.

TW: sexual situations, teacher-student affections

When the Tide Comes In

|Flushing|

"I'm peeling. I'm peeling."

Flakes of dead skin snowed onto the end of Tenten's bunk. Face contorting in repulsion, she jabbed the the mattress above her with her fist.

"What the hell, Ino?" she griped. "Can't you do that in the bathroom?"

"I'm trying to aim for the trash can."

"Well you're missing. By a lot," Tenten said as she watched more shavings land on her comforter. "Ugh, gross."

"Hey, lay off! It's not my fault my usually flawless and supple skin is so sensitive!"

"I told you to wear sunscreen," she replied, remembering how just a couple days ago her vivacious blonde friend had been a luscious apricot bronze. Now she looked like a scarlet reptilian beast.

"Omigosh, rude!"

"Sorry." Tenten hadn't realized she had spoken the last part aloud. Island time made a girl get hazy. The "mission" Lady Tsunade had assigned them was on a remote island in Sea Country, and consisted of the two ninja overseeing a construction job funded by some Konoha bigwigs. Tenten might have put her best effort into anything requested of her, but this task was honestly something she could have done with her eyes closed, and she figured that had been the point; i.e., the mission was really just an all-expense paid tropical leave courtesy of their Hokage. Of whom, she believed, must have been feeling unusually gracious upon tasking it to her and Ino. Tenten figured that she had amassed some good karma for the stars to shine down so kindly unto her. A week of refreshing salt breeze, beach aerobics, and organic papaya-mango cleanses had her feeling detoxed and down for anything. She was totally rejuvenated and game to run five marathons alongside her sensei when she got back to Leaf. She tapped her chin. Okay, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration -but she did feel amazing. Unlike her poor, unfortunate, molting roommate.

"Are you going to stay in bed? You haven't left the room since morning, and the sun is going to set soon," Tenten said.

"Uh, yeah?" answered Ino as if it were elementary. "I can't go out like this!"

"I was just joking about the reptilian thing," she soothed. "it's really not that noticeable at all. And I think some fresh air would do you good."

Tenten heard a sharp intake of breath from above, followed by some shuffling and creak of the metal bedframe. She saw strands of flaxen hair dangle over the edge of the top bunk. Slowly, Ino's face descended into view, and boy, was it a…view. Tenten winced.

"This is unnoticeable to you?"

Yeah, the reptilian thing was totally inaccurate. It looked more like a baboon's ass had exploded. However, this time Tenten kept her thoughts to herself.

"I mean, you could wear sunglasses…and a headscarf…"

"Oh, what's the point," bewailed Ino, thrusting her head back over the top. "of being out in public if guys won't be able to see my gorgeous face and tell me I'm pretty."

She knew Ino was only partially serious, but Tenten was saddened by her friend's miserable tone. They had been having so much fun over the past few days, and it was a shame that their mission-slash-surprise-vacay would have to end on such a dispiriting note. Though, she considered, there were two days left. Maybe Ino's face would heal faster if she got her morale up?

"I think a nice evening beach stroll would put you in a better mood," suggested Tenten. "we can go to a more secluded side of the island where there's not as many people."

"No."

"I'll buy you a Mai-Tai."

"No."

"Two Mai-Tai's?"

"No!"

She sighed. Clearly, the girl was inconsolable. Tenten had stayed cooped up with her for nearly the whole day, and it had made her stir crazy. She wasn't like Ino. She needed to feel the earth under her feet and the expanse of the sky overhead, and she needed to be active. It didn't feel right to just sulk all day doing nothing but be lazy, even on vacation. Tenten blamed that mentality on her robust sensei. The image of his face strong in her mind for a split second, with its prominent features, sturdy lines and edges and blinding smile, caused Tenten's chest to tighten.

"Okay. Do what you like," she said. "I'm going to head out for a bit."

"Oh, am I putting your equilibrium off balance, or whatever?" scathed Ino.

Tenten swung her legs to the side and got up from the bed. Looking up at her miserable friend with teeth gleaming in a manner that would have made her ex-sensei proud, she replied jovially, "No, no. Of course not." Yes. Absolutely. Tenten's aura was becoming dimmer with each passing second and would continue to do so unless she got the hell out of there.

"I just," she continued. "want to check on how the construction has progressed for today."

"Whatever."

"It'll get better in no time," she assured, grabbing her knapsack and slipping her sandals on, "and even if it doesn't, you're still the hottest girl I know."

Ino didn't respond nor falter in sour expression, even though she knew Tenten was being honest. Damn that girl's constant positivity. It was actually kind of working.

"See ya later," Tenten said, exiting the room.

.:.

Kisame sipped his beer as he stared into the coalescing pinks and oranges of the sunset. Business had been slow today, but he had only recently relocated to the northern side of the island. Perhaps it would pick up in the next few days, and if it didn't, he knew he had many other ways to acquire money, albeit they were much less beneficial to the general populace. This had been a relaxing break in routine, but he knew his time was limited. Being a wanted felon, it always was. With a bitter gulp, he mused on why he couldn't have been a different type of criminal. Why couldn't he have been a drug dealer, sitting in a Jacuzzi full of filthy gold and silver coins on a yacht full of bikini-clad women? He sneered to himself. What idiocy. Kisame chastised his brain for being prey to the hypnotic rustle of palm leaves and faint acoustic guitar melody in the distance. He answered his own question: he could never be that type of criminal because he wasn't a shallow, weak-minded man able to be satisfied by such pointless conceits. For his one and only lifetime spent in a world polluted with falsehoods—because he didn't believe in rebirth or reincarnation or any of that trash—he was content to continue serving his assigned purpose until death, as he had deemed it a worthy purpose.

He took a long swig, finishing off the bottle. Still, he was pleased to adopt a casual alter-ego on his off time. It wasn't so debasing, right? It felt nice, being out there on the beach everyday, kicking back under a large straw umbrella he had woven himself, next to a sign that read–

"Cheap Surf Lessons?"

Kisame had impassively watched the corpulent teenager with bad tan lines approach. He stood in front of the relaxed man, pointing to his sign with an eager face. Without any consideration at all, Kisame said, "It's just a prop. Boards in the back are as well."

The boy's brow knitted together. "Huh?"

"I'm not an instructor. These are just for decoration." Sure, he lied. So what? He wasn't going to put up with that nasally voice for an entire teaching session. Bitch, he was self-employed—he could do what he wanted.

"Oh," he replied, expression crumbling. "I really wanted to learn surfing so I could impress this girl I met."

Kisame lodged the empty beer bottle in the small sand dune at his feet. Looking back up at the wishful customer with marginally more sympathy, he reclined back in his chair and cushioned the back of his head against folded hands.

"Listen kid," he said. "Do you really wanna learn how to surf?"

The boy held his head low. "Not really. I just thought she'd think I was cool if I knew how. It's dumb, I know…"

He shut his eyes to the ensuing pity-party. Taking a deep breath, he felt like he could spare some kindness on this single dweeb, since he didn't do it very often for anyone.

"It's a waste of time to try and be a different person for someone," Kisame advised. "we already live among so many lies. Just be yourself. And if she isn't impressed with that much, forget her. The affection of women is ultimately frivol—"

"Damn, she's so hot!"

He frowned. How dare this ungrateful dolt interrupt him? Kisame was imparting some priceless wisdom unto his worthless existence; the least he could do was let him finish. So disrespectful. Grumbling, Kisame opened his eyes to see the teen looking away, completely mesmerized. He followed his line of sight and nearly jerked forward. Pushing his sunglasses up, Kisame took in the sight of a long-legged brunette stretching her left hamstring. Her profile was strong and diamond-jawed with a button nose, and her black bikini bottom was skin-tight on her ass. It was a tiny, spandex-y scrap of fabric with athletic stripes down the hips, and it hugged her sculpted glutes like a dream.

"That's the girl you like?" he asked.

The guy shook his head, mouth still agape. "Nah, she's way sexier than the girl I was talking about."

"Hey you!" some other, less attractive girl called over to her.

She tilted her face upwards and said in a high-pitched voice, "Yeah?"

"We're down a right side hitter for volleyball—interested?"

"Oh, sure!" she answered in bubbly sing-song. Straightening her posture, Kisame watched as she jogged away.

"I have to watch this!" declared the boy, who had started to sweat with perverted anticipation. Kisame wanted to ridicule his repulsive adolescent fervor, despite the fact that he was getting up to do the exact same thing. Flipping his sign around to the "BACK IN 5" side, he pushed the kid aside and started hurrying over to the bleachers a few yards from his spot.