"Hmmm...this looks to be the place." Clad only in a few scraps of dingy and dusty robes, with her katana sheated to her side in a black polished saya, the young ronin woman stood outside the massive palace gates, admiring the elegant splendor of the carved redwood doors standing majestically before her eyes and the bright autumn sun glinting off the bronze columns. This was definitely the palace of a feudal lord, no....the emperor himself. Such an honor it would be serving a man of such wealth and nobility, yet the ronin was not darkening the doors of royalty for any restitution, no matter the sum of yen or any riches the empire could bestow upon a lowly wandering samurai. This was merely to her a man who was in desperate need, and it would be dishonorable to the woman if she did not offer her hand in the matter.

Gently clutched in her hand was one of the many fliers she had witnessed plastered all over the walls of several villages, even all throughout Edo and Nagasaki. Written upon it in the most exquisite calligraphy she ever noticed was the Emperor's plea, warriors needed to guard his beloved daughter the princess on her harrowing journey to Mount Fuji. Though....the woman was not much of the warrior she used to be, however, she offered her helping hand to the emperor....but that also meant offering her sword. [i]Even if I must unsheathe my blade, it will be to protect the princess and my companions, that it will.[/i]

She did run into a bit of a snag though when she tried to pass through the gates, already being halted by the guards, "Halt! State your business with the honorable Emperor."
Her eyes peered into the shadow of the samurai's helm, his glare casting an ominous light from within the dark. "Oh, how rude of me." She chuckled lightly before bowing to introduce herself. "I am Kushiami Asuka. I am only a wandering ronin, that is all I am, but I have come to assist the honorable Emperor in his time of need."

"Oh, you're here to guard the princess." The samurai returned sternly, nodding to his other guard to open the gate. "Follow the path to the courtyard and don't go anywhere else, understand?" Asuka nodded, "Indeed I do. You will not have any trouble from me, that you won't."