Akane circled around to the other side where Yuki's invisible opponent sat. Yuki's tale sounded very familiar. Maybe more impressive, but she has heard this from many a samurai or Ronin she talked to. Veterans were generally rather indifferent or noticeably sullen to their own battles. "A simple harsh tale as expected. Veterans like you generally don't have glorious stories, but that is to be expected." She sat down on the opposite side watching her compete with herself in this game. "At least you survived...well most of you anyway. I'm sure the poet would say 'The beauty you have is something that can only be gained through the red hot fury of war! Only someone like I my dear can fully appreciate your divine existence.'

Her impersonation was merely jest on her part. Akane was either so bored or exhausted that she merely wanted to see a grin on Yuki's face."Of course she may have died already or fell into the lap of some maiden. Either way I don't believe the rest of these Guardians are as useless." Akane scanned the area for the others and found them all absent for the moment.

"Other than our apparent need to run off how do you like our chances? Horrible death by poison, torture, digestion by Demon?

"Gomenasaii, Hime-dono..." She said shyly, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red when the tip of Mizuki's nose pressed against hers. She blinked twice, her blue eyes meeting with Mizuki's big golden ones in an uncomfortable stare. Why was she so close?!

Hanami closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief when the Princess backed up, but only for a second. She sunk down into the water to almost eye level, wrapping her arms around herself when she heard Mizuki calling to Asuka and Kaede. There was no use in hiding her body, the water was crystal clear and if they wanted to look they would, but to her somewhat relief, Kaede was the only one undressing. Again, she blushed at how...full everything was on Kaede. All this time she thought her own breasts were big, but Kaede's put her's to shame.

Being the good Miko that she is, she made sure not to stare at the half-demons body, glancing over to where Asuka was seated. Her eyes widened when they fell on Mizuki, crawling and revealing everything she had in that...position! She wanted to go over and yank her back into the water. Why was she trying to get Kushiami to come in the hot spring anyways?! Swirling around, her long inky hair created a little cloud as she turned her back to them, contemplating whether or not to go over there or find somewhere where she relax alone.

"Hanako, go make friends. It's okay..." Chihomi's soft voice echoed from beside her, like she was right there again telling her, pushing her in the opposite direction away from solitude. Feeling defeated, she swam over to where everyone else was until she met with the slick stone edge. She lifted only half of her body out of the water, tilting her head to the side as her blue eyes met with the black-haired ronin's.

"Asuka-san, you really should listen to them." She smiled, gently lifting her hair off of her neck and picking some long strands that had settled uncomfortably on her chest, tickling her. "You will feel much better in here with us, don't you think?"

Meditation for a samurai was indeed an utmost important aspect of their daily lives, such as was the hallowed art of kenjutsu, the way of the sword, but the meticulous yet beautiful art-form was reserved for times of war, of battles, and bloodshed, where the samurai of the old days proved their mirth and their honor upon burning fields with their blades glinting red from the blood of their fallen foes. However, these were times of peace, maybe not for some, but for Asuka indeed they were, and meditation was so, a time to relax her troubled mind, to reflect upon herself and her past experiences, let her troubled mind drift into a state of tranquil nirvana, a place within the confines of her heart where she could find such peace and relaxation, but....with all these women egging her on to join them in the blissful relaxation of the Onsen, peace was certainly farfetched from the ronin.

Try as she may to keep her eyes shut and take minute, shallow breaths inward to her aching lungs, Asuka indeed found it a daunting challenge to ignore the enticing lulls of her fellow travelers, their jovial laughter and such only serving to tempt the peaceful ronin evermore. Your meditation is important, that it is. She foolishly kept reminding herself over and over, clenching her eyes tighter, about as much pressure upon her eyelids as there were the two fists she balled up against her ears in a failing effort to drown out the women's calls to her, calls such as...

"Asuka-San, you should join us as well. I think you need it the most. So get in or I'll make you."

"Oro?" Her eyes fluttered open at the familiar and sweetly laden voice, but immediately they were concealed under two swift hands to her face. "Hime-dono?!!" Did the girl have no decency? She was nobility for Amaterasu's sake! And Asuka dared not to look upon a noble woman with the very eyes she once laid upon the fair miko, for such offense to this would be to have them plucked out of her head and eaten by ravens. "I-I-I would love to join you and the others, that I would, Hime-dono." She managed to stutter out from her parsed lips, never once attempting to remove her hands from her eyes. "But...but I find it intolerable of me how I have acted around the honorable Princess and Miko-dono, indeed I have, and Kaede-dono as well. I don't believe it is best for me to join you and the others, that I do not, so I-" Her rather honor-saving speech though was cut short when another voice begged the ronin to the spring, Kouko's, claiming that Asuka's immoral feeling would only grow worse should she refrain from confronting them.

And then....she chimed in. Her peaceful whisper set the warrior's heart a flutter, that wonderful and enchanting voice belonging to only one woman, the very same Asuka immodestly had set eyes upon here recent. Instantly Kushiami's cheeks were aflame and burning bright, the heat of her mortification seeping through the crevices from where her hands met her face. She dared not to look upon the lovely figure who waded near her, not again with those same lusty eyes she displayed to the woman of peace. "Miko-dono...." Quietly and hesitantly the black-haired woman replied to the maiden, still keeping eyes affixed forward, and definitely not unto the disrobed Hime-dono at her side. "I-I'm honored, indeed I am, that you and the others show concern for me, and yes I would feel better if I were to join you and our fellow companions in Onsen, that I would, but....I...I would feel dishonorable were I to look upon you with licentious gaze as I have before. Please, forgive me if I have upset you, for in no way was I intending to do such, that I wasn't." The embarrassment of herself, she needed to get away from here quick.

Heaving a deep and burdened sigh, the samurai gently rose to her feet, but the sight that caught her eyes indeed caught her off guard, and it was neither of the beautiful women who frolicked so immodestly undressed around her. Off to the distance, in the thick of the surrounding forest where light was consumed by shadows, she spotted him, and immediately, her hand went to her sword, but she rested that frantic grasp upon the ornately wrapped hilt, not yet drawing her sakabato, but preparing in the event of attack. Those eyes that gazed upon her from beneath the brim of his wide, conical hat, they were a pair Asuka recognized no less, as she once upon a time displayed such a ferocious and insatiable hunger in hers, the eyes of bloodlust. "Hime-dono..." Now Asuka's eyes were upon this malevolent character, not once removing her sight from him, even when addressing the matter to Mizuki. "We are being watched, that we are. Warn the others. I shall stand guard, that I will." She soon noticed the shift of his eyes, away from her and onto...the Princess. This only urged Asuka to draw forth her blade, but only by a hair from the polished black saya, until his eyes were back on her, now meeting the woman's vicious glare towards him.

He was amused no less by this show of anger within Asuka, his lips parting to exhibit the most vile and decadent of grins to the ronin, his teeth glinting as sharp as the blades he carried to his side. He extended his thumb forth, bringing his hand to his neck, and in a defiant maneuver mimicked the stroke of a killing blade across his throat before tipping his hat in a mocking more than courteous gesture and tarrying away into the thick cover of the forest brush. Despite him leaving without any attempts however, Asuka was sure he would return, and her hand never once would leave her sword.

Eyes narrowing as she practically stared into the Ronin's face, as if attempting to magically command this human girl to get in the spring. Mizuki noticed the Ronin's discomfort, but was unsure why she was so resistant. Why? Was it because of her? How she looked? Was she ugly? Mhmm maybe that's why father locked her away, because to others she was just hard to look upon. Sure she had odd striking white hair, gold eyes and odd fox ears and a tail.. But she thought she was at least decent looking. Or maybe her silver hair made her look like a elder? Mhmm what a blow to the ego, if the princess had one.

A frown crossed her lips in thought. Her fellow companions haven't mentioned her odd looks, despite supposedly being the Princess and daughter of the Emperor. Father had warned her of people misjudging her... Loathing her... Fearing her so much they would kill her. None of them had tried to slice her head off, and they protected her even after they discovered her secret. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if they would act like her family.

Always within reach, but always distant. Leaving her to be trapped behind the bars.

Snapping out of her memories, her ears perked as she felt someone touching her tail. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled as the small warrior pawed at her tail. However, she looked up at Asuka as the tall black haired woman stood, when suddenly gripping the hilt of her sword.

Curiously, Mizuki's ears perked, her nose sniffing as she caught whiff of a stranger. A more musky smell meaning probably a man.

Glancing to Asuka who whispered to her to warn the others about the spying man, she slowly nodded. Moving to her clothes and dressing, she moved to the others.

"There's somebody hiding in the woods.. Watching.." Mizuki whispered though guessed Kaede knew this, since she was apparently a demon as well... The princess didn't know why, but she just knew. Perhaps demons just could tell who was a demon.

Just then, she remembered Yuki and Akane back at the clearing. They didn't know about this man and neither of them had senses like her or Kaede. If this man was one of Hanzo's ninjas, they could get the drop on them. Worry overtook her sight of her own safety and she stood as well, ears twitching gingerly. Although she knew the warriors could handle themself, Mizuki just couldn't sit still and just let them possibly get hurt.

"I'm going to tell the others..." The Princess whispered before she suddenly sped out of sight through the trees. Not waiting for the others to answer or try to stop her.

A dark haired woman, feverish from her battle, walked slowly up a path towards the nearest village. She had been attacked by bandits, whom had sprung onto her in her sleep in the middle of the forest. While she had on her armor and had been battle ready, they had nearly taken her life. If it hadn't been for Ida.... sending out her fire... No, she can't think of the possibility of death. Not until she had the heads of the men whom had scorned her father. Even so, with the death of the bandits and Ida gone, her body was weak. The fever that always came after Ida fought for her came on strong this time... and it seemed to be progressively worse. The medicine she needed was gone, used up as she had planned to purchase more when she got to this village.
A cold sweat chilled her in the night air, Ida in her mind spoke words of anger, pushing her forward to safety but didn't dare possess her once more; fearing it would be too taxing on the weak Ronins form. And struggle the dark haired woman did. She could see the village over the rise, but it was still too far. She saw, up ahead, a woman resting beneath a tree... and it was all she caught a glimpse of before collapsing. Her armor making loud, clanking noises as she fell to the ground.

Licentious? Hanami blushed slightly, looking down at her fully nude self in question. She never suspected Kushiami to be open about being into that, and she couldn't quite figure out how she felt about it. It was a common thing with male samurai, but it wasn't as spoken of as with female warriors, though she was sure it happened often. And perhaps, if she was looking through the eyes of someone else, she would prove to be an enticing individual underneath her usual attire. It's not like she had never been approached before. The village people had often praised her on her beauty, both inside and out, but they did the same for other Miko as well so it never really crossed her mind that she might have that type of effect on someone like The Wind of Death who had no doubt seen many beautiful people in her lifetime.

Only for a fraction of a second did she display the disappointment she felt by frowning at Asuka's refusal to join them in the hot spring. She just really wanted Asuka to heal faster from her injuries... It wasn't that she wanted to see what she was hiding, at all. It was unfit for a Miko to express her interest in those types of things, and they had an important task at hand.

She watched curiously as the visibly flustered ronin got up from her seat to leave, but when Asuka stopped in her tracks and reached for her sword, Hanami turned to look at where Asuka's eyes were fixed. Eh...? Whatever was there, she couldn't see it from where she was, and if it were a demon he must have been a master of disguise because she had could not see an aura either.

"There's somebody hiding in the woods.. Watching.."

Hanami looked at the Princess, her face flushing at the thought of a peeping-tom having been watching them the whole time. But, no... It had to be more than that, Asuka didn't seem to the type to draw her sword on a simple pervert hiding in the bushes. That seemed more like Kaede's area. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, feeling uneasy all of a sudden.

"Princess! Wait!!" Hanami quickly pulled herself out of the hot spring without a second thought, ready to go after Mizuki in the complete nude, but she had already disappeared into the thick brush surrounding them when she managed to get out. However noble it was she should have let someone escort her. Why didn't she understand how dangerous this was?! Hopefully her demon speed could get her to safety before anything happened to her...

Shaking her head and sighing, she walked over to her belongings, not concerned with whoever saw her naked at this point. "Asuka-san," She said, shrugging her arm through the other sleeve of Mizuki's Kimono. It stuck to her body like glue, revealing more than she would like for a Kimono, but what other choice was there. "Should I... go after her?" She asked as she tied her quiver and bow onto her back. Had she known what was going on she wouldn't have needed to ask, but she was still in the dark and the woods still seemed like a very safe place. Plus, with how fast Mizuki moved she seriously doubted they would be able to catch up to her. Guess it will be a test of the Demon Slayer and Demon of Satsuma to make sure she's okay this time.

"Huh?" Hanami looked behind her quickly when she heard the rustling of bushes. Whoever Asuka saw earlier had come back to make an appearance. Without hesitating, she drew an arrow and shot it into the tree next to the bush, hoping to draw them out. The bush rustled again when the arrow hit the tree, causing her to draw another arrow, aiming it at the bush...until a small fox leaped from it and skittered off. The Priestess smiled at the sight and retracted her bow string and turned to regroup with Asuka and the others.

Noriaki let out a sigh as she looked up towards the sky. She was suddenly concerned for the others she left behind, well, partially. Yuki was rather...blunt, Kaede was, of course, the one she was missing most of all, but they all had their charms. There was that one demon slayer...Akane, was it? She had a charm all her own, and a face that was missing Noriaki's lips pressed against it. With another sigh, the regret was setting in, regret that she left them behind, she wasn't even sure if they were safe. She was even less sure that they had even noticed that she was gone. Perhaps she came on a bit too strongly? Her feelings expressed were genuine...even if no one seemed to notice. Maybe she would make a course back for Kyoto and hope to pick up their back trail. It was a plan. Not a great one, but it was all she had to go on.

The sound of clinking and clanking armor rustled Noriaki from her mental state. Searching the immediate area, her eyes picked up on a figure passed out on the grass, not too far from where Noriaki was currently sitting. She rose to her feet and, with a slight jog, approached the body. Noriaki's face went slightly blush as the armored figure came into view. And suddenly the guardians were pushed from the front of her mind.

"Is this an angel that has fallen to ground before my eyes...an angel of battle, fallen from the heavens above for my benefit. My, just...look at these immaculate thighs...surely they can belong only to one from divine origins. Oh, what separates my gaze from her inner beauty, but a piece of cloth...do I....do I dare lift...do I dare gaze...do I dare caress this fine, angelic skin?"

Noriaki's hands hovered above the fallen warrior's thighs. Her hands were shaking, fully aware of the..immoral slant of her actions, or the actions she was considering.

"I do dare. One peak, one touch, one caress, and then aid." Noriaki nodded. She reached her hands down and placed a palm onto the woman's thigh. "This skin...this feeling...heavenly. Truly, I have been blessed this day."

Noriaki left her hand on the woman's thigh, a smile full of lechery on her lips, disappearing for a moment when some village children stumbled across the scene; Noriaki told them to seek the innkeeper and medical advisor and some cloth so that the woman could rest and recover. But as soon as the children ran off to complete their task, Noriaki's hand returned to the thigh and the smile to her face.

"I am blessed, indeed."

Even after the mysterious man in the hat had fled the scene with his parting snide gesture towards the ronin, Asuka's eyes forever remained affixed to the very spot where that wicked individual had once stood, still recollecting over and over that same vicious set of haunting, glaring eyes that stared back at her. It was as though she couldn't shake the image of that man from her head, no matter how much she attempted to discard the recent vision of him. It was strange to her, as though once in her lifetime she had seen those eyes before. Of course there were her own she remembered, a gaze of such enmity and anger that struck paralyzing fear into the hearts of the many samurai that fell to her blade. But this particular evil glance upon, it was literally paralyzing almost. What ill sorcery be behind this foul eye? Asuka felt strange, she could barely move an inch after her eyes locked with his for that tense and harrowing moment, not even able to budge once after the Princess had fled towards the Onsen to warn the others, where later she ran off to warn Akane and Yuki no less, but on her own? No! There was a madman about, and Asuka could since his malevolence was far from gone in this once peaceful forest. That familiar smell wafted towards her nostrils, a scent so naturally aware to her, the metallic and wretched scent of dried blood upon an unsheathed blade.

Finally, after a heavy dosage of concentration against this unknown and ominous force that locked her in place, Asuka broke free of the trance just as Hanami had called for the Princess to wait for her, but the ever rambunctious and cheerful Hime was too far from the grasp of the Miko or the bewildered and apprehensive ronin who stood firmly with her blade drawn, unaware of such afterwards as she sheathed her sakabato and approached the maiden, thankfully dressing herself since Asuka needed no more...tempting views of the lovely woman. Just in the way her voice came across to Asuka, she could tell Hanami was as concerned deeply as she was of the Princess' safety. Though as cute and heartwarming as Hime-dono was, Asuka had to wonder how could she be so reckless, indeed in this recent time where peril could strike from any shadow, any brush, any tree of this intruded forest. Calmly though, the black haired warrior spoke to the miko, "It would be best if someone did see to Hime-dono's well-being, indeed so, but...." Her voice however trailed off into thin air when her eyes....met with the shrine maiden's, "But I fear for your safety as well, Miko-dono, and of the others, that I do." Kaede was with the women of course, but she was unarmed, not that it seemed terribly indefensive, but still Asuka dared not to take that chance, the one of losing her companions to the blade of a sadistic samurai who prowled upon them.

She tensed suddenly at the instant rustling of the nearby brush, her hand back upon her blade and ready to draw, the same as Hanami brandishing her bow in haste and nocking an arrow, an arrow Asuka presumed was more intended to falter the enemy than to kill him. The priestess let the arrow fly towards the rustling, and upon later the report of the arrow skewering a thick tree trunk sounded. Another arrow was readied, but...their assailant had revealed himself to be not the man, but a fox scurrying away in fear of the attack. Asuka sighed with relief at the sight of the tiny, adorable forest critter scampering off towards the forest, but once the fox had gone, the real terror revealed his self to the warrior. From the bush he emerged fearsomely and abrupt, his weapon drawn and glinting with the abhorrent smile of Death, as were those eyes, those dreadful gleaming eyes. "Die miko!! Ahahahahaa!!" That horrid cackle he gave signaled his target. He was going for Hanami! "Miko-dono!" Asuka, in seconds, was towards the woman as well, shoving her away from the madman's blade and taking the swift, burning cut to her cheek. Blood trickled from the fresh abrasion in a fine red line down the woman's face, now hardening and frosting over with the cold spirit....of the Wind of Death.

"Ahh...that speed." The samurai mused with a bit of pleasure upon gazing terribly into Asuka's grim and fiery eyes. "I knew it was you all along. I've heard many a tale of a woman who could move about the battlefield with the speed and ferocity of a god. She was a master of the forbidden and powerful Kazeryu no Tsurugi style of kenjutsu. She was fabled by many a fearful warrior that her blade could cut down a thousand men in one draw. Shi no Kaze, The Wind of Death, Kushiami Asuka!" Now that she had a better view of this man, she recognized him, the features never once marred by time's unfair grace, especially those legendary eyes. Nonchalantly, she wiped the blood from her cheek and flicked it off her fingers in addressing the hatted samurai, "And I have heard many a tale of a warrior who sold his soul to a demon for the ultimate power. A samurai whose fearsome gaze could render his foes helpless and leave them to be quartered mercilessly by his blade. His power they called the Serpent's Glare, whereupon the samurai was given his ill title, Kurohebi, the Black Serpent, Masataka Gankuro!"

At the true mention of his name, Gankuro snickered, his grin ever present as he sheathed his katana and bowed, once again in insult of the ronin rather than due respect to Asuka, "I'm amazed you remember me, Kushiami. It's not everyday I come across my bitter foes, though most of them now rot forever in the torment of Hell, except for you that is." Asuka growled to Kurohebi in reply, "What are you doing here, you violent fiend? Why has one such as the infamous Black Serpent come to haunt me from my nightmares? Answer!" Kurohebi, he was indeed amused with the woman's ever notorious rage, Asuka's relentless fury and her strife towards him only feeding him a bountiful feast of pleasure. "Simple." He retorted, another vile snicker. "I have come to call upon a favor of a past friend. I, The Black Serpent, challenge you, Kushiami, The Wind of Death, to face me in bitter combat to the very end. Should you decline....then I guess my blade shall taste blood yet again." As with many of Asuka's forsaken origins, Kurohebi had returned so that her blood may stain his blade, as with others she assumed. How typical of the bastard to put others lives at stake for his own selfish gain. But....Asuka would not oblige. "I decline, that I do." She stated boldly to the murderer. "On the grounds that I may forfeit my honor by declining a challenge, I have made solemn vow that my blade shall never taste blood again, indeed I have Masataka-san, and as such, I have adopted the life of a peaceful wanderer rather than the fearsome samurai I was once known as."

"You lie too much, Kushiami, that you do." Still persistent, Gankuro mocked her vow in lieu of everyone. "You may have sheathed your blade for these past few years, but the heart of a samurai still beats within your chest, and with that heart shall come your rage! Heh! It would be boring for me to strike you down in this pitiful state anyways, no challenge whatsoever, and so, what I want from you is the old Kushiami, the Wind of Death to grace the battlefields yet again with her harrowing presence! I want you to cast away this pitiful excuse of a pacifist's vow and draw your sword to kill me! I will await your challenge upon the ruined temple of this forest, but should you not show face nor blade upon the stroke of the midnight hour.....then you will die along with all these women you accompany....although...I may keep a few alive for...company."

And then he was gone....his horrendous laughter echoing and fading forth into the thick of the forest, leaving only a bitter glare upon the ronin's face...and her hand clenched to her sword in such infuriated manner. "Kurohebi....never show your face around me or these women...ever again....."

Kaede had JUSt got really comfortable, really settled and calm and ready to regain her strength. Asuka was being difficult and repressing her own obvious desire, Kaede knew someone of like mind as herself straight away. However she did not get too involved in that, it was important to let others go only so far as they were comfortable in such things. She leaned over to the little Miko, hushing her with gestures. "If Asuka-dono does not feel comfortable then, no matter how much we may want to know more of her, we should respect her limits and sensitivities." She said the words in a slow and sleepy manner.

However her comfortable moment was broken by the sense that something with great malicious intent was watching them closely. She was suddenly tense, the demonic presence and aggravation on her mind and senses and she turned in the spring towards the source. She petted Mizuki's head gently, agreeing with her judgement and letting her leave, keeping a close watch on where her sixth sense told her the presence was, ensuring it did not follow after Mizuki. She recognised this feeling, a demon deal. One of her bretheren had given this one something in exchange most likely for his soul. She always looked badly upon those who would do such a thing, demons did not need human souls, it was just a power play and a childish one at that. It also caused no end of trouble. Quickly she jumped out of the spring and grabbed her sword lying on the ground nearby, standing between where the princess had fled towards and where the evil emitted from. She still wasnt clothed but to be honest that was how she would normally go if not for the sensibilities of others so it was no skin off her back.

She watched the exchange between Asuka and the man carefully, he was a disgusting sort and she dearly wanted to slice him a few times over but she also needed to make sure he didnt slip past her and attack their princess. So she stood and watched and waited, hearing the stupid and frankly childish challenge and making a tired and angry face, rolling her eyes in annoyance. So much 'honour' and 'spirit' and other concepts flying around, why did people want to make killing other people more complicated than it actually was? Kaede would never understand. Once he was gone she cautiously approached Asuka, keeping his position in her minds eye. However he did seem to be leaving and the princess was far away from him so she began to relax.

"He's leaving, I can smell his stench a mile away. The Princess is safely away. I dont think you should worry Asuka-dono, he's got a demon stench all over him but I can still take him with a few wounds I'd say. Or I could call my brother, see what he can do about the demon? Killing it or making it revoke its deal shouldn't be too hard... depending on the deal and the demon." She was very well versed in demon politics and policies. Her family was one of the highest ranking in the region and mostly whatever they said went as law amongst the other demon rabble. Her brother was a powerful individual and could definately help if a demon was involved.

It really shouldn't take long for Mizuki to reach the others, her speed easily able to outrun most of her Guardians if she really wanted to. However, the Princess found herself no longer in the lush green forest, but a dark grey wasteland of stone and ash. Curious, she glanced behind her to see the forest gone. Confused, she slowly wandered further, her feet pressing against the cold earth. Sniffing the air, she smelled the similar scent of ash and rot. Her gold eyes scanned the area, searching for any signs of life or her comrades.

"Akane-San? Yuki-San? Asuka-San? Kaede-san? Kouko-san? Hanami-San? ....Noriaki-San? Shouko-San?" Mizuki called softly, even calling to the two missing guardians, her gold gaze flicking around for any signs of them. Her nose sniffing for any whiff of them, but to no avail.

There was only silence. Odd.

Slowly, her body trembled with worry, as she realized she was alone. Panicked, she started to run as fast as she could. Yet the land seemed never ending, with little sign of change. The only thing that seemed to change, was the growing darkness in the sky.

"Please? Anybody? Father! Brother! Don't leave me...." The Princess called, ears twitching more as she slowed to a halt before jumping as bars shot up from the earth, blocking each side while covering the escape above.

Crying started to shriek in the air, and with it the smell of rust. Blinking, the halfbreed looked up before gasping as large drops of bloody rain fell. Covering the land in blood, creating a sea instead of land. Yelping, she tried tackling the bars, reaching between them in a attempt to get out as the bloody sea rose to her waist. Despite her calls for help, they only landed on death ears as she tried prying open the bars above her head. Coughing as the blood reached to her throat, she kicked and squirmed, desperately trying to get free only to scream out as a dark shadow appeared before her eyes. Teeth snapping at her as if to devour her whole.

As she closed her eyes to prepare for the impact, she found nothing happening. Hesitantly, she cracked a golden eye open and saw she was back in the forest, in the stream. Was that all just a illusion? Or a dream? Such a terrifying dream... Alone... Trapped... And drowning in blood. Why now?

Shaking her head, she decided to worry about it later.... It must have only been a nightmare... She probably just passed out again. Well, good news was, she was at the stream so that means she was close to Akane and Yuki. Scrambling out of the stream, she jetted into the clearing with the others.

The Tree Spirit was relaxing beside the hollow of the tree while the two Guardians seemed to be conversing. Sighing in relief, the Princess wandered over to them with a soft smile though it was slightly less cheerful then usual.

"Akane-San, Yuki-San.... He may be gone now but.. There was a man watching us back at the springs. I'm glad you two are alright." she said honestly.

The sound of rustling and the look of horror in the Asuka's eyes prompted Hanami to do a double take over her shoulder as a...a disgusting, cackling demon lunged from the bush and rushed towards her with his sword glistening in the moonlight. She thought to move out of the way, but before she could even try, he had already made his way over to her, ready to cut her down and paralyzing her with that hate filled stare. Fear chilled her to the bone when Asuka called her name, she knew the ronin knew exactly what was about to happen, but just as the metal came down, a flash of black hair whirled in front of her and the priestesses small body was shoved out of the way and sent off to the side somewhere.

She knew someone saved her, but...how? It happened so fast... She'd never seen a human move that fast in her twenty three years of life on earth. Hanami looked up from where she landed on the grass, completely unscathed thanks to... "Asuka-san!" She yelled to the ronin, her eyes widening when she saw the blood sliding down her cheek where the demon's blade was pressed. She was different...Worse than before. She could feel the cold change in Asuka as she exchanged words with Kurohebi? The demon was wrong, Kushiami was really a better person now, and it burned her up that that demon was trying to pull her back into her dark past. She couldn't let that happen! She feared that the ronin might try to sneak off and settle things on her own, and if she did... Hanami would make sure to be there too.

"A-Asuka-san!" She rushed over to where Kaede and Asuka were, grabbing the ronin's hand in her own and staring into her eyes. "Why did you do that? You could have been killed..." Her voice drifted off at the last word, and she dropped the ronin's hand, taking a few steps away from them. She knew why she had jumped in the way, but... it was foolish! Her allegiance was supposed to be to Mizuki! Nobody really cares if a Priestess dies in this type of situation, right? They would need all of their fighters if they wanted to protect the Princess and make it to Mt. Fuji.

Relieving a rather shaky sigh, images of the demons glowing, hate filled serpent's eyes replayed over and over in her mind. She had never felt this way before. Demons were certainly no laughing matter, but... she had spent years training with Chihomi and then some slaying the demons that entered their village. Even if they were just minor demons, nothing like the infamous Kurohebi, but they were still demons. She placed her hand lightly over her pounding heart, turning away from the half-demon and Ronin before walking away. She needed to calm her soul.

Kouko was out of the water and getting dressed when Asuka mentioned someone watching them. As much as she had wanted to relax, it didn't seem as though now was the time. Their trip to this hot spring had been swiftly ruined. It put her in a foul mood. The Princess takes off into the woods, and Kouko is not far behind her, only taking the time to ensure her garments were arranged properly on her body. The Princess was fast...

Once she reaches the clearing, the little fighter slowed in her steps before spotting the woman and picking up her speed again. She fell in the stream...? Such cool water, immediately after a dip in the hot spring, couldn't have been good for her. "Hime-sama." She runs up to the Princess and wraps her in a sheet of cloth. "You should be more careful to remain dry, if you are not bathing. Swords and arrows cannot shield you from illness." She pats the Princess dry as best she can, looking over her shoulder with a bit of worry. She'd left the others to deal with the problem, but... as she was, she wouldn't have been much help. Though she was skilled with the sword, Kushiami seemed to be more so. She would have to be the one to handle it.

She hadn't even properly relaxed. She felt even more tense than before...

Akane couldn't help but giggle at Yuki's response. "Well then I guess that is also a mark against your abilities. Taking a job as a protector when you can't even stop a little ninja." she glanced at Yuki then back at the Shougi board. "I guess we all have our faults, and your right she isn't protected. Putting a bunch of people together who barely cooperate tends to do that."

When the princess was coming over Akane stood up realizing that something was wrong. Her warning did seem intriguing, but Akane mainly wanted to pester Yuki some more. "Fine fine Hime dono, but this is really a bother. I was having fun watching Yuki play with herself." Akane's eyes scanned her surroundings wandering if something was amiss. She went over to her Naginata that was imbedded in the ground and ripped it out of the dirt. "Stay with us for now. Some man skulking in the woods could actually be dangerous."

SailorMoon said
The demon was wrong, Kushiami was really a better person now, and it burned her up that that demon was trying to pull her back into her dark past. She couldn't let that happen! She feared that the ronin might try to sneak off and settle things on her own, and if she did... Hanami would make sure to be there too. "A-Asuka-san!" She rushed over to where Kaede and Asuka were, grabbing the ronin's hand in her own and staring into her eyes. "Why did you do that? You could have been killed..." Her voice drifted off at the last word, and she dropped the ronin's hand, taking a few steps away from them. She knew she had jumped in the way, but... it was foolish! Her allegiance was supposed to be to Mizuki! Nobody really cares if a Priestess dies in this type of situation, right?

Asuka's cheek resumed to bleed from the savage abrasion left by that nefarious bastard Kurohebi, not too deep of a cut into the woman's embittered features but enough to draw forth a steady stream of the warm,crimson liquid, a red line that was soon to be another battle scar to add to her ever growing collection. Even if the samurai did lay down her sword in favor of peace, the bloodstained memories of her former self still haunted her to no end, and now they were taking on physical manifestations unfortunately. It began when those three men attacked her in Kyoto over revenge for their slain brother, and now this grim and tainted recollection had to rear its hideous head upon Asuka, a face with eyes that spelled death upon the thin, blood-scented air she continued to inhale and exhale with such harsh breaths taken into her lungs, ablaze as with the rest of her battered body in such anger she had never felt in over ten long years.... What enraged Asuka most of this malicious assault was that it was not upon her at first. Kurohebi wished to incite such fury within the woman by what else, endangering the lives of those she held dear to her.

Even if it was the first day of their journey, Asuka indeed felt drawn to this eclectic band, their many quirks sparking a glow of happiness within her, happiness that long since she yearned to feel again. This group of warriors and honorable women, she became so naturally acquainted with them all, including the young miko...embarrassingly in more ways than one. And if it were so, Asuka would indeed give her life in place of theirs. Her grip upon her blade eased when she felt the touch of another hand, soft and serene, fall upon hers. It was Hanami's, and just by the look again, Asuka could tell that her recent actions had troubled the maiden so. "Miko-dono....." she whispered, her cold demeanor slightly fading from across her face and the warm visage of the lowly ronin returning as she listened to Hanami's scolding of her, noting her slight pause in her words, directly after Hanami said that Asuka could've gotten herself killed. She let go of the ronin's hand, and in a flash, she could see the tick of a sort of frustration in the woman's eyes before Hanami parted ways with her. What could honestly be the meaning of that?

The ronin then heard her crimsoned companion behind her, still in undress as ever. It must've been a natural custom of her kind since Kaede seemed to freely obliged to parade about in the nude, even-so among her once rivaled foe. But ignoring the half demon's naked exterior so blatantly exhibited to her, Asuka merely listened to what she had to offer in this abrupt and harrowing matter, the one of a madman that had returned to claim Asuka's life, in a duel no less where the woman would be coerced to cast aside her vow and adopt that once killing life she had so forsaken. "Kaede-dono, your voice in the matter is welcomed, that it is." Rather factually she spoke to her comrade, her sister of the blade, "But your hand is not needed, indeed it isn't. I shall face Kurohebi alone, for I do not wish to absorb my fellow companions into the blood-soaked cloth that is this fray the demonic one seeks with me. And as such, I must prepare alone, my body....and my mind to accept this challenge he bestows upon me, that I must indeed."

If they were to follow her, it would be a distraction, and distractions to the sharpened and honed mindset of a warrior could prove deadly, indeed so in the heat of battle. It pained the woman however to forsake her friends as such, but it was all in due to their safety that she had forgotten them, just for this moment. She could not allow Kurohebi, this sadistic fiend, to prey upon her any longer, or anyone else for that matter. With deep and somber eyes, she sighed regretfully, resting a trembling hand upon Kaede's bare shoulder. "My friend, I must ask you to tell them not of my whereabouts, but to protect them with your sword as I have done before. I cannot have them worry for me, indeed I can't, so it is best they know not of me obliging this bastard who dares to call himself a samurai, that they shouldn't. I take my leave now, Kaede-dono, and I entrust the lives of the honorable Princess, Miko-dono, and the others into your hands." Asuka gave one last look to the warrior before her hand slipped from Kaede and she tarried away into the thick of the forest, following the trail Masataka had so obligingly laid for her. Was his desire to kill or to be killed?

Walking along the meticulous passage through the trees and the heavy brush, Asuka closed her eyes, the rest of this known world was gone to her, even if the sounds of the meadowlarks and the cicadas chirping their lovely melodies persisted, they would soon be drowned out by the rancorous cries of war echoing through Asuka's mind, as reminiscence and reflection upon that dark past took root in her conscience. Upon opening her eyes, she could see the familiar and grim visage yet again of Nakasawa Castle burning into nothing but ashes and blackened timbers, and there she stood amidst the towering flames and the thick plumes of soot and dark grey smoke rising to a blood red sky, her blade already crimsoned by her fallen foes who laid about her sandaled feet in a festering pile of death and mutilation.

"The Wind of Death is among us, men! Retreat! RETREAT!!"

But no quarter would be given to the cowardly samurai who dared to flee her fleeting blade, for the samurai was to pledge honor, even unto death. In a matter of seconds of flourishing her bloodstained tachi unto the battalion of fearful warriors, hundreds had fallen by her blade in a mist of red, coating her once fair skin and dotting her armor of the same shade. The men, they shivered ever so terrified in their own armor, being forced to watch as their fellow comrades were slaughtered in quick succession, one by one falling upon the ground soaked and soggy with their own blood. Not one warrior even posed a challenge to the vicious woman, easily cut down, her blade gliding gracefully through their armor as though it were thin air. The last of the men were slain, leaving him with the corpses of his murdered companions, a sight the Wind of Death admired so licentiously and disturbingly as she sheathed her macabre weapon of terror and cast a torch unto the mound of bodies, setting alight another flame upon this scarred land riddled in fires and smoke, and upon those flames, she made remark to her men, the hardened life takers who assembled before her, all donning her blood red armor the same.

"Men, today we are victorious! Today, the winds have blown forth and toppled yet another lord unto this bloodstained soil and ash! We have suffered our share of casualties, that we have I will agree, but....for the lives of our fallen, the enemy has paid forth with their own blood shed from their bodies! Rest this very night, my brothers of the blade, for at daybreak, we march for Edo, and we shall bathe the city in blood and fire! KATSU!!"

"KATSU!!" The roar echoed from the ferocious mouths of her warriors across the land, victory, they cried forth. Asuka looked upon her men, indeed pleased by their devotion, their will to slay any and all who stand before the dreaded Shi no Kaze.

Just that memory alone....it sparked the flame within the ronin's heart, a flame....that dared to consume...

Mizuki frowned at Yuki's disinterested reply but said nothing against it. That man smelled like a demon, and mere Samurai had a hard time with regular demons. This man smelled dangerous, and not one to take lightly. Still, she respected Yuki enough to let her continue drinking and playing her game. Akane didn't seem as worried either, but she still stood and understood the need to be a little concern.

At the mention of the Princess staying here however, the half demon shook her head. "But he may be after the others... Asuka seemed tense, rhthey may know each other..." she said her concern, blinking a little as the smaller Guardian Kouko wrapped her in cloth.

Mizuki just smiled and waved her hand a little. "Awe sorry Kouko-san... I must have slipped as I rushed here." she spoke though frowned when she remembered that odd dream. Her body shivered a bit at thought about it.

Still, the Princess started to head back to the springs, with or without her guardians.

"Hn..." The dark haired woman groaned slightly, her hazier shaded eyes cracking open to see the woman from the tree sitting over her, speaking warmly about her body. Somehow, she felt safe... yet she was still weak. In her daze, the light color of the womans hair shone brightly to her, like starlight... the kind she would see when she gazed up at the night sky, camping under the stars while travelling with her father. "Beautiful..."
The word that slipped out of her mouth was a sigh. Time seemed to blur, feeling something cold and wet, but soothing pressed to her forehead as she was taken, perhaps by the woman or some helper, into faceless arms to somewhere she might find refuge. Her armor was heavy. She thought, fleetingly, it may be too heavy and burden whomever carried her, but the ronin woman was silent.
'Sleep' Ida hissed gently into her ears, unheard to all but her. 'Sleep....'

"Asuka-san..." She pushed aside the thick branches and emerged from where she had been patiently hiding, waiting for the ronin to pass her by this whole time in hopes to stop her. It was no easy task getting up to this point, and she wasn't sure she had made it past everyone without being unseen or followed, but that didn't matter. Once she overheard Asuka's instructions to Kaede, she'd had to act like she didn't hear a thing, and headed back to camp, but really... She slipped by, grabbed her things, and got dressed in her usual Miko attire somewhere along the way. It wouldn't be such a bad thing if the others knew where they were going, but hopefully Kaede would be able to keep things under control... Mizuki would definitely try to follow if she knew what happened when she left, but she really hoped not. That would just be another worry hanging over their heads. The guardians would have to keep an eye on her.

No doubt the ronin would be irritated to see the Priestess standing there, but...Hanami wouldn't let Kurohebi get the best of her again. Now that she had the chance to experience his deadly gaze, she could somewhat anticipate it and keep her distance and keep him at bay with her arrows if it came down to a fight... Which, it probably would.

"I know you probably don't want to see me here, but..." She smiled softy and walked over to the ronin. "You shouldn't do this alone, Asuka-san." That was all she could say, really. She hadn't done anything earlier to show the ronin that she could do more than just get in the way, and stand there like a scared animal when danger presented itself, ready to slice her down when she least expected it, but she could be strong too. Nothing would satisfy her more than ridding the world of the demon that hunted and threatened their group.

"So, we should probably go before the others catch up. We've already come this far, and I think traveling side by side will be better than hiding in the bushes, don't you?" She almost laughed when she said that, and picked a few leaves off of her kimono, though there were probably still a few hiding on her somewhere.

Noriaki's hand continued to rest on the woman's thigh, even as the woman regained consciousness for a brief moment. And that moment was all it took for Noriaki to remove her hand with authority, silently cursing herself for giving into such morally dark and questionable temptations. But then the sighed phrase, the sighed word from the woman caused Noriaki to widen her eyes, to lightly shake the woman as if needing confirmation that she had heard what she thought she had heard. Noriaki placed her hands on the woman's shoulders, first slightly lifting her back, cradling it against Noriaki's knees. She shook the woman lightly. No response.

"I must be dreaming...or this really is some kind of divine being...she called me...no...impossible. Had to have misheard...is this...can this be what is known as fate? Lamenting my loss, deeply missing the voluptuous, the short-tempered, and the demon slayer, as well as the shrine maiden and the...the others...and here before me falls one just as beautiful as the others...who, even in her weakened state shows a clear eye. This must be fate!"

Noriaki moved her hands down, cradling her arms under the woman's thighs and, with an audible grunt, lifted, getting to her feet while holding the girl in her arms. A village child came running over with a wet cloth, which was applied to the woman's forehead. The woman was made heavier by the armor she wore, and it showed in the expression on Noriaki's face, But she was determined, she would shoulder this burden and she would play nurse to this instrument of fate.

She carried the woman to the room Noriaki had rented out for the night and set her down on the flat mattress. "I...I do not know if I should remove the armor, as much as I would love to see this angel in her natural garment, it..it wouldn't be proper...would it? Oh, such quandaries. Why do you have to be unconscious? The women I bring back to my room are all of sound mind and body and cannot wait to disrobe...but you...you cannot rightly give consent...but...you might be wounded..."

Noriaki decided to simply let the woman rest. She would most likely come to regret it, not removing the armor, not stealing a glance...but even she had her limits, and unconscious women were one of them. So instead she sat in the corner of the room, watching the woman for any response.