Noriaki stood frozen following the assault from Yuki, the one armed wonder, and simply watched with a blank expression as strands of her hair fell to the ground, their descent seemingly taking an eternity from Noriaki's perspective. She couldn't make a move, didn't know what to think, was this a threat or an invitation? Playful banter between comrades, or a warning? It was so hard to tell sometimes, and harder still now that she was departing, [i]without[/i] the others. Noriaki bent down and picked up a few strands of her hair, sighing and releasing them again on the wind, smiling dimly. 

"Your Highness," Noriaki said, turning to face the princess and the others before they departed, "I shall join you upon returning from the procurement of supplies with my sword-happy friend. Think of me. Miss me. Keep a place in your bosom warm for my return, and that goes double for you, my fellow warrior maidens. It goes triple for you, Flame Hair." Noriaki gave a quick bow and a blown kiss and turned on her heels to follow after Yuki. 

"Hey, Yuki," Noriaki called to the tall back of the warrior, her own jogging just barely enough to catch up. Noriaki reached a hand out to grab Yuki's shoulder but thought against it. Hair could grow back. Hands could not. "I was serious about buying sake together! Come on, it'll be fun, the two of us buying sake, buying supplies. A little one on one time. So..what kind of sake do you prefer? Me? Thanks for asking, I enjoy it when it is sweet, a lower san-do, though have you ever had sake rich with [i]umami[/i]? It's quite the treat."

Noriaki stopped speaking, a rarity, and turned her head to observe Yuki, gauging her reaction and how likely it would be that she would draw a sword and draw blood this time.