Noriaki, in my haste to finish our lesson last night (and I do apologize for how swiftly it came to a close, I had a meeting with my fellow brothers and our lord) I forgot to mention how much you have improved, both in your stances and in your growth as a woman. You are still young, you have youth on your side, and as you undergo your unfortunate role as mistress, you must be akin to a lone flower in a wilted field. Were you not in such a position, I know you would be the prize of your village, the prize of any city, of all villages. I am almost regretting teaching you our ways, for a woman of your stature would not find happiness on the field of battle. Of course, I do not presume to know what makes you happy, Noriaki, but judging by the way you smile as I correct your hands on the hilt of the sword, the way you beam at me when I compliment your ability, perhaps your happiness can be found there, in the midst of combat. Happiness is such a rare thing among us, so it warms me to see you finding something to cling to, something to make yourself happy, to remain optimistic in spite of your circumstances. If you will permit me to offer you more advice: do what brings you happiness, and never let anything take your happiness away. If you are happy composing your poems (and your latest one was your finest work, and that is high praise - all of your poems are mesmerizing), then by all means pursue that. If you are happy following the way of the samurai, so be it. Either way, it makes me happy knowing that I am contributing to your happiness. Ours is a friendship that comes around as often as the moon blocking the sun, and just as blinding. Do you remember that, Noriaki? It is a line from one of your poems. It stuck with me. It makes me happy. - Mifune

Upon hearing her muse call her by her new moniker, Noriaki folded the letter and placed it into the pouch on her waist. Noriaki stood from her bench and turned, lifting her head to the source of the voice, her muse, Ariiko. Peering up towards her caused Noriaki to smile, the previous look of sadness in her expression gone in an instant. Noriaki waved up towards Ariiko before cupping her hands around her mouth.

"My muse, from down here you look every bit like the divine being I thought you were upon our first meeting. If you were to fall from such a height, I would catch you, or else I would use my body to cushion your fall. I would join you up there, but to do so would diminish your gift for standing tall, for ascending to heights meant for no mere mortal such as I. But as I have your attention, I thought it best to inform you that I am constructing a poem dedicated to you, to our meeting, and it would do me no greater honor than to have you read it once it is put into words. But tell me, my beloved muse, how fare you since last we spoke? Well, I hope."

Noriaki dropped her hands back to her sides, placing one on her waist. It was probably pointless to shout, or even to pantomime shouting, but Noriaki didn't mind if others heard. It was as close as she could come to shouting from the rooftops.

SailorMoon said
Once on the ground, Hanami walked towards where she saw Asuka heading, picking up the pace once the tall ronin was in sight. "Consult Noriaki-san about what, Asuka-san?" She asked calmly, but with a puzzled look on her face. When she made her way in front of the Ronin, she took notice of her unusually sad face, and frowned slightly. "What's wrong, Asuka-san? If it's about earlier..." She swallowed, pressing her lips into a flat line before speaking again. "It's really okay. I promise." Hanami gingerly rubbed the Ronin's arm as she said this, but stopped afterwards. She hoped her words would cheer her up, and that Asuka wouldn't beat herself up over it anymore.

"O-oro?! M-Miko-dono! I didn't expect you, that I didn't!" Just at the lovely woman's voice sounding from behind her, Asuka felt as if she could've vaulted nearly twelve feet into the air above. At least that's what her heart had done, nearly skyrocketing from her chest with that frightening jolt of being so taken by surprise frazzling instantly every nerve end of her body and coercing every hair to stand erect with the brief but tantalizing tingle of electricity zapping her. Again distracted was the ronin with her own thoughts, again troubled by what....but the sight of Hanami with another woman other than her. Why...why did it bother her so much if the miko wished to be in Ageha-dono's company or even Ariiko-dono's presence...despite that secondary persona issue with the demon inside her, but still? Why did it have to be so burdening to her to witness this? "I umm...I just wanted to speak to Noriaki-dono about-" Asuka managed to give a reply to Hanami, despite her shocked state, but the miko had cut her short, speaking about...that moment. "Oh....that...." She sighed. Of course the moment in question...was when her lips met the beautiful miko's. The kiss...it was an accident of course, but....the feel of it....it was still tingling upon the ronin's lips, even minutes after they had left Hanami's.

"Miko-dono....." The feel of the miko's soft hand against her bare skin, it sent a shiver through Asuka, albeit a pleasant shiver as she closed her eyes for a moment, another sigh leaving through her lips. "I....I still apologize greatly for what I have done, indeed I do...but I am glad that you are not upset with me." Somehow, a smile was once again able to find its way to the ronin's face, a light curving of the lips to show the beautiful maiden the ronin was okay now and no longer troubled....but still inside she was flustered. "To be honest, I....." Then the miko's hand left her arm, disheartening the samurai a little, but the feeling still seemed to be there for her. "I.....I'm actually quite surprised you are not angry with me, that I am." Those few words she managed to give to the miko in a light chuckle. What she really wanted....desperately wanted to say was how much she enjoyed the kiss, how much warmth it brought to her heart...but to say such things...it just wouldn't come easy to her. "I mean...it was a little besmirching of me to steal a kiss from a woman of purity such as thee, even if it was an accident. But again...I'm happy that you are not upset, Miko-dono." Looking into those wonderful blue eyes of the miko, Asuka smiled even more, her hand gently resting upon the woman's slender shoulder as always.

A woman of purity? Hanami was starting to think she didn't deserve such a title after all of things she'd done. It wasn't as if she didn't enjoy the kiss they shared, even if it was accidental. She just didn't want Asuka feeling like a criminal for something so innocent, and she didn't want Asuka to think that she didn't like what happened between them either. Well, maybe for now it was best - that's what her intuition told her. It seemed there would be plenty of opportunities to somehow tell The Ronin her true feelings. Perhaps when they completed their mission... If she survived.

"Of course I'm not upset..." She said with a smile, looking up into The Ronin's eyes and sighing. Her hand came to close over Asuka's. "Asuka-san, where is Mizuki-dono? I'm starting to miss her." Wanting to change the subject, since she was feeling mighty tempted to kiss the Ronin's smiling lips again. Plus, it had been awhile since she last saw Mizuki. There wasn't a second that went by without the Princess somewhere on the Priestess' mind, especially since she felt that spike of demon energy in the area. Hanami had figured it was Ariiko, but the possessed woman remained unchanged even as they were on the roof. Something told her it had something to do with the only other demon in the area.

It did not take long for someone to come after her, and it was expected. Still, as the princess stood on the hill over looking the village under a mighty large tree. Her left hand's fingers gingerly brushed over the bark as her ears twitched. It seemed only one had bothered to follow. Pitiful.

"Is there something you need, Kouko?" Mizuki asked, her voice remaining its oddly calm and mature but stern sound. Perhaps if it was someone else, she would of bothered scolding them. But Kouko was one who was not present when she ordered her followers to stay. Wasn't a real reason to get mad, nor was asking the question. The answer was quite obvious after all.

"Something I need...?" Kouko thought on the question for a moment. It didn't take long. "To keep you safe, of course." Even if she said that, though, this person seemed completely different from the Princess. It wasn't hard to tell, really. She couldn't imagine the Princess sounding so stern. "Why no one else is here, I've no idea, but at this point, I couldn't well leave your side to retrieve them, now could I?"

The tiny woman moved to find her own position of rest, leaning against a nearby rock. "Now, if I might, Mizuki-chan. What brings you out here all by yourself? Even if you can take care of yourself to an extent, it still isn't safe..."

"You! Woman! Fight me!" Slowly Nagiha turned her head towards the person who just exclaimed that right in the middle of the inn. A drunkard... how typical... She slowly stood up to her impressive size... well, actually, she was impressively small. Sighing she drew a wooden sword from wherever and threw it to the man who had challenged her before pointing to the door.
"Not in here. Outside."
She turned around on her heels and slowly made her way to the door taking her katana and her yari with her. Arriving outside, she sheathed her sword and dismounted the blade of the yari.
"You want to fight with that long thing? You're only gonna hurt yourself kid", the man laughed full of himself. One has to notice, though, that a yari is about two meters long. Nagiha was just about one fifty tall. All in all this made her look ridiculous and it was understandable that her challenger laughed.
"Don't underestimate the Owari soujutsu, Owari's yari ahigaru and samurai are renown all over Japan", Nagiha huffed and whirled her yari around her body and then moved into combat position.
With her yari in front she yelled and ran straight at the combatant. As soon as he dived out of the way she grabbed her yari shorter and whirled it around.
In a stroke of luck her opponent could block the strike to the head, so Nagiha had to jump backwards. A feint left, a feint right, then she hooked upwards right onto the sword letting it fly backwards and lodging it into the ground a few feet further away. Still the man was absolutely speechless at the speed at which his sword disappeared and couldn't even react when the wood of the yari poked his throat.
"I win", Nagiha stated matter-of-factly. "What exactly did you try to achieve with this?"
"I... I always thought females, especially your age, shouldn't be allowed to fight. To fragile... but... you don't seem to be that kind of girl."
Nagiha removed the yari from his throat and mounted the blade back on. "What a stupid reason... if it were for revenge or whatever, I'd happily fight again. This is just ridiculously stupid..."
She turned around.
"You should stick to harvesting your fields or whatever you do. You are not suited as a warrior, except if you want to be one of the first to get killed"
The short girl marched onward completely forgetting she had payed for a room at the inn.

"It's been but less than a day Starlight." Ariiko jumped down from her spot on the roof, landing on the ground nimbly and with her armor in hand. She walked to the light haired warrior with ease and stopped beside her. "What were you reading?"

[moar filler]

Silently, Mizuki listened to the smaller girl, only making a almost silent grunt at the question along with its reasoning. How foolish they truly were..... for they did not fully understand the truth of this mission. Perhaps they would find out soon enough, but for they will follow the orders they believe to be following.

"I wanted some fresh air from the noisy crowds. You don't seem to quite understand what your protecting. Perhaps you will in time. I do wonder how you lot will react to it so?" Mizuki mused softly, seeming to pause briefly before her eyes reverted to her normal pure gold. Blinking a few times, she suddenly fell over in a dizzy drowzy state. Suddenly feeling so exahausted as she briefly passed out once more.

They were red, weren't they? Just a moment ago, they'd been red. Ominous... Kouko shook her head and quickly rushed to Mizuki's side, to catch her before she hit her head or something from falling in such a manner. Her presence was back to normal, now, too... Was she feeling alright? Whatever that was must have been exhausting. Well, whatever the case, she'd have to sit here and watch over the girl. She was a little small to be able to carry her easily, after all. She sits with Mizuki's head in her lap, leaning back against the tree with her sword propped up against it, next to her. She doubted the princess would be comfortable with her head on the ground... and if she was tired, her comfort was at least a little important.

She'd wait for her to awaken, before finding that Inn again.

Ageha watched a woman walk in and pay for a room, as well as drinks for everyone. It seemed pretty normal... not that Ageha needed anymore sake. But that thought just brought her more pain. She almost felt bad. Hanami-san who had once been a source of infatuation and warmth for her was now a symbol of pain... She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She let herself relax as she sat quietly. It wasn't like she wanted to be this way or that she'd wanted these things to happen to her. And maybe she needed to move on but something inside of her kept her from doing so. She couldn't look at another person quite the same way she did with Cherry-sama. Then again, was that even love? Now that she was older, Ageha had to wonder. Was it love or was Ageha looking for the first warm and welcoming chest she could find. Cherry-sama had been the only person she'd cry to but probably not the last. She'd cried to her because of her brother, because of her situation. She'd... She'd never done something to change her situation. Well, that was until she decided to become someone else.

She opened her eyes when she heard wild shouting. Some drunkard had challenged the woman from before to a fight. Intrigued, Ageha got up and walked over to the doorway to watch from afar. To say she was impressive, was an understatement. Though, fighting with a drunkard really wouldn't be that hard. Still, Ageha found her show of swords play very nice. It even managed to bring a slight smile to her face as she knock the man down a peg. She snorted. It was what he deserved. As she leaned against the door frame, she watched the woman walk away. Wait... Hadn't she paid for a room? Where was she going? Ageha looked back at the inn then in the direction of the woman. Sighing, she ran after her. "Hey! Ma'am, you bought a room, didn't you? People don't usually buy something and then walk away from it." She shouted as she approached, her eyes clear and emotionless as she walked up to the woman. A small smile appeared on her lips as she continued, "And I must compliment you on your swords play. You certainly showed that idiot."

Akane was still in the Inn not the least bit worried about the princess. Maybe it was because she knew the Princess was actually pretty powerful, or it was the bottle of Sake she was emptying to the last drop. Either way her red face and smile was enough to tell anyone she was enjoying herself. Another woman came in who was rather short, but since she got everyone a drink that didn't bother Akane. "Free sake means more fun and more fights."

Speaking of fights the young woman was confronted by one of men in the inn who seemed to be bothered by her. Since they were taking it outside Akane went out and invited herself to the fight. It was over rather quickly which wasn't surprising. The woman's stature wasn't nothing impressive, but something about her emanated skill. As she walked away from the still frozen farmer Akane approached her while carrying her Naginata. Before Akane could do anything Ageha began talking to her. She frowned kind of hoping to start a fight. The sake was already affecting her a little too much.

"Well she is right. You certainly don't seem like the normal rabble when it comes to teaching idiots a lesson. I however am a cut above the rest. Would you like to test your blade against a real challenger?"

It did not take long for Mizuki to awaken, though deep inside her darker self was disappointed in the martial artist lack of understanding, deeming the fact humans were just plain idiots. The Princess's golden eyes opened, blinking softly as she curiouly looked up at Kouko before smiling happily once more.

"Oh hello Kouko, did I fall asleep again? Mhmm weird." Mizuki murmured, seeming to have no recollection on what just happened. In fact, she could only remember back to when she spoke to that woman speaking with Asuka. Everything else was a blank. Mhmm she probably just fainted again.

Yawning a little as she stretched out cutely before standing up once more. "Sorry about that Kouko-san." she smiled before pausing as her ears perked straight up as there was a large crash and screams of terror from the villagers. Looking out, she saw a large white ox with strange red designs across its body. Yet to those who have little faith, these marks are not visable at all. It charged around making war cry snarls as its large dangerous horns easily sliced through houses. The same beads from the bear glowed darkly around the ox's neck.

On top of the ox was a large rat as big as a human child, being the same color of white with crimson red invisible to the naked eye designs. But in its two forepaws were two giant blades, swinging them around in ease to get things out of the way. The beads wrapped tightly around the tail.

"More captured spirits? These ones seem more dangerous then the Tree Spirit. Come on Kouko-san we have to help!" Mizuki called before once again dashing off and jumping high. Soon, without hesitation or thought, she jumped onto the ox's back listening to it roar in rage while the rat stood and slashed at her quickly with its dual blades. Seeming very inent in killing her.

Mizuki quickly unsheaked her sword and parried the attacks while ducking and dodging. Almost falling a few times as the ox charged all over the village.

Nagiha turned around when she was stopped by a woman who looked as if she belonged to the class of artisans, probably because she was one.
Nagiha huffed. "I might not need it yet. I feel, the person I am searching for is not far away"
When the artisan commented on her fighting a grin formed on Nagiha's face. "Naturally. Owari's spearmanship is well-known and feared all over Japan. And I can say, my katana skill is pretty much equal"
Unconsciously she started her bragging again, like usual.
Suddenly another woman appeared, this time, obviously older and considerably larger than Nagiha. A challenger! The grin already planted on Nagiha's face broadened even more for a second, just to completely disappear afterwards. "Naganita, eh? You want to test your skills against someone who fought in wars already?" She shrugged.
"You want to fight against a katana or a yari? I have used both in battle frequently" A smirk enlightened her features as she mounted the sashimono, the little banner, on the back of her armor. Then she drew her katana and quickly whirled it around her body spinning it like crazy sheathing is again in a fluid motion.
Her smirk even widened now that she could finally show off to someone again after her long travels.

Sometime during the conversation about the Princess, a loud crash and screams suddenly filled the air to alert Hanami of the danger nearby. She shot Asuka one last look of worry and bolted off without saying anything, figuring the Ronin would instinctively follow behind. All she could think about was Mizuki since everyone knew that one had a habit of putting herself into harm's way, and just making rash decisions in general.

Running as fast as her short legs would take her, Hanami passed the restaurant where Noriaki and Ariiko were last seen, and then the village inn. She could tell that she was in the area where the disturbance took place, because the amount of demonic energy in this opening was overwhelming her. Looking around frantically through the dust cloud that had risen from all of the broken down houses in the village, her eyes caught glowing red characters moving through the debris. It wasn't until the brown cloud diffused that she could truly make out the ox and the giant rat riding it. Almost immediately she recognized the same dark beads that corrupted the tree spirit yesterday, and then... A flash of silvery white hair before her eyes.

"Mizuki-san!!! No!" She shouted from afar, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow, aiming at the rat. She was hesitant to shoot for fear of hitting The Princess, but after some careful planning, her arrow whizzed through the air.

"Its no matter to me. Human weapons are nothin compared to the creatures I often face." she smiled glad someone had not only the skill but also the will to fight. Asuka never seemed as if she was the demon everyone said she was. Maybe she could see if this one was made up of anything tough. The short ones were usually the most fun. "Ageha san please observe how a Demon Slayer defeats a mere human opponent." slowly Akane moved to an open spot that was perfect for her to use her main and favorite weapon. Akane spun her Naginata around the back of her neck and soon held it in both hands in a combat stance.

"Lets g- what the?" A loud crash and roars came from the town. In the distance debris was flying up in the air somewhat concealing the cause of it. The princess still wasn't with them which meant she was a priority in this chaos. She looked to Nagiha and sighed. Her excited face now merely held furrowed eyebrows and pursed lips. "I...apologize, but I must go and find someone first. Ageha since you are new in the group you may not realize that our special girl is a little too brave for her own good." she was mentioning the princess, but didn't necessarily want to say anything too important while Nagiha was around. Akane knew there were people still after her.

"Can you tell me your name little warrior?"

The Rat had not expected a arrow to be shot but its quick reflexes made it dodge back, though the arrow managed to cut through the chest. Blood seeping out of its body before returning to its very quick and precise slashes. Mizuki dodge or blocked the attacks quickly, her eyes narrowing in confusion. She hadn't known spirit's to actually bleed. Were these creatures demons? No, the only demonic energy she sensed were from the beads. So what exactly are they? Perhaps they are just a advanced type of spirit. Their aura alone were powerful.

Desperately, Mizuki tried grabbing at the beads around the long lithe tail of the rat but only got whipped in the face by it. Just then the rat lept, its smaller body engulfing the half demons face causing them both to slip off the Ox's back. With a heavy grunt, Mizuki landed flat on her back and on the ground before she yipped, rolling side to side as the rat repeatedly attempted to stab her face. She tried rolling away but the rodent latched onto her and bit at her with its powerful teeth as they rolled and tussled on the ground. All the while she tried grabbing the beads.

"Please snap out of it! There are innocent people in danger because of this!" Mizuki hissed with cooncerned, grabbing the rat by the throat to avoid being bitten.

The Ox stopped its charged and turned to face where the arrow came from. Rearing up, it slammed its hooves down and the ground started turning into ice, large sharp chunks jetting out of the ground as the ice moved rapidly where Hanami was.

Hanami knocked an arrow as soon as the first one left the bow string. She was prepared to fire again, but when Mizuki fell from the Ox with the rat on top of her, she hesitated to shoot. It was just too risky now, but what could she do? The Princess was in trouble!

"Hime-dono!" A look of alarm on her face as she rushed forward, but quickly stopped in her tracks as the Ox turned it's attention toward her. She took several quick steps backwards when the Ox stood up on it's hind legs before slamming down with it's hooves. What came next surprised her even more, evident by the look of confusion and fear as the chunks of ice jetted from the ground and raced for her. The Priestess fired off her arrow for the rat, and stumbled backwards in an attempt to escape the oncoming attack. She'd tripped over her own feet, but managed to leap out of the way.

There was a medium-sized gash on her arm from where the tip of the ice had punctured her forearm and dragged as she moved out of the way, but it definitely looked worse than it felt. The blood dripped down her arm and out of the kimono sleeve, but she ignored it for the time being. Hanami nocked another arrow, this time infusing it with her spiritual energy, and fired it at the angry Ox.

"Special girl...?" Slowly Nagiha started to connect some dots and pulled out a scroll with a picture of a woman on it out and showed it to the alleged demon slayer.
"By chance, could it be this one here?" The picture donned a nicely drawn portrait of the princess. Nobody, not even the daimyo himself, asked how the artist got a good look at the princess, but apparently this was what she looked like.

"My name is Miyoshi Nagiha, Samurai Retainer of Kiyosu, the court of Daimyo Oda Tashikeda, at your service." Nagiha bowed by about 25°.

"I have been ordered to follow the Emperor's request for companions and guardians for her. So, I would be very honored if you could lead me to her..."
Nagiha heard the noise and whatever was going on somewhere in the village.

"Actually, you know what...? I don't think I need you to lead me. I'm pretty sure, I can find her on my own... Why is she even causing such a ruckus if she is that important..." Nagiha wondered out loud.

Ageha let out a long sigh and stepped back as the two women grinned ready for a challenge. She had to suppress a small chuckle as the older woman, Akane-san, told her to watch a Demon Slayer. Ageha herself had never had any interaction with demons or spirits or the like. She'd seen enough of the kind of evil in the humans in this world, much less the demons that walk on it. She was even a bit skeptical as to their existence. If they did, she only saw them in the eyes of humans and it made her blood boil. If it weren't for the money this job got her, she'd probably still be out cleansing this world. Maybe she was wrong but it was the only way she knew how to cope. Her mind went to the bag slung over her shoulder, the wolf's pet that lay inside of it. At least while doing these things, she felt like she was worth something. She didn't feel like she was useless or dead weight. Fighting gave her a reason to keep going, a goal to accomplish. Without it, her life would be nothing.

She turned her head at the same time Akane-san did, alert to the noises coming from the other side of the town. From Akane-san's reaction, Ageha could only assume they should hurry and from her words, the princess seemed very fool-hardy. Then, maybe that was what made Ageha seem to like her. The young woman shrugged. It was no matter. She had a job to do and she wasn't about to lose. Ignoring the newcomer, Ageha bolted for the source of the noise, no longer interested in staying around.

She arrived on the scene just in time to see a rather hurt Hanami-san firing an arrow at a rampaging Ox in the middle of the town. The princess was nearby fighting with a... rat? Ageha blinked, a bit shocked. The rat was holding knives, trying it's best to stab and bite the princess. For the first time since meeting these people, Ageha pulled one of her Sai from her thigh and bolted for the princess. She wasn't aiming at anything, she just wanted to get the attention of the rat off of the princess and on to her. She looked around and found a small pebble. Grinning, she yelled, "Over here, fat rat." She chunked the pebble in the rat's direction.

Kouko groaned inwardly as the princess ran ahead. Dammit, girl! Even if you can handle yourself, don't go running off...! Kouko was gard-pressed to keep up with that kind of speed, but she would manage.Those were quite the curious animals that were attacking, however. With more of those troublesome beads, even! She didn't want to let Mizuki hand it yet again, but other methods had proven themselves less than effective. Now was not the time to be experimenting.

When she arrived on the scene someone else had already gone to Mizuki's aid. Good. Especially seeing as the Priestess was injured. "Miko-chan." The little woman jumps down from a rooftop nearby, drawing her sword slowly after she landed. "You shouldn't agitate a gash like that. Certainly not with the stress of archery. Do you think you could, instead... charge my sword?" She holds her dominant sword arm out, eyes watching the Ox and never leaving it. She hoped the Priestess would at least be able to power her sword the way she does her arrows...