Asuka was quite astounded to say the least by the turnout of female guardians, all of them so valiant and courageous, yet also....quite attractive to the ronin. A light and humble smile crossed her pale lips when she felt the princess' hands clasp upon hers and met her face with an equally joyous smile. All of these women, they were very interesting to Asuka. Even the princess herself came off to Asuka as peculiarly astonishing. Yet as the wanderer's eyes scanned about the palace grounds noting all of her soon to be companions' faces, one familiar set of crimson eyes caught her eyes, along with the long flowing locks of red hair to match. [i]Is it...her?[/i] Kaede, the blood red half demon and the scourge of Okagawa Castle.

It seemed for a brief moment in time, Asuka was transported to those violent and harrowing times again, the thick, pungent aroma of burning timbers, the ominous clouds of black soot that hung in the sky, the hellish glare of the towering flames that engulfed the gargantuan fortress, and....the menacing stare of two blood red eyes staring into the cold ice of Asuka's bitter and determined features. She could remember when their blades had crossed, how Kaede was equally matching her blow for blow, that sneer of pride and confidence crossing her face, yet in one fell swoop, Asuka's blade met with that face and carved across the berserk woman's eye. She would've been sure to finish off the half-breed, had it not been for a wall collapsing between the two and the raging fires of the castle forcing her Shi no Kami to retreat.

Had Asuka been the same terror of the battlefield she was in those darker days, she would've been certain to unsheathe her blade and finish what Kaede and her troops began at Okagawa, but the time of Terrible Asuka and her Wind of Death were long forgotten. She was only a wanderer, the same as her past advesary. "I am Kushiami Asuka, honorable princess." Asuka humbly bowed in due respect to the noble daughter of the Emperor. "I am only a wandering swordswoman, that is all I am, but despite being without a lord, I am still bound to my duty to serve those whenever needed. I ask for no restitution in return, only the honor of guarding the honorable princess and my fellow warriors, be it with my blade or my life."