And so began the fellowship's long and fateful journey to Mount Fuji as the red-headed oni ushered Asuka and the beautiful miko onwards through the majestic palace gates and forward into the sun shining down over the crowded and bustling market streets of Kyoto. My how the city felt as though in-tact, even after the bloodshed of the early period. Even when Asuka laid eyes upon the grand city, she couldn't discern a single difference from when she sauntered through these streets years ago, still lively and full of such colorful spirits as ever. The sights and the smells, they all seemed to bring a sense of wondrous joy to the former samurai, the many shouts of merchants who have traveled far and wide to sell their goods to the people of the imperial city, the delectable aroma of Japanese delicacies wafting ever so temptingly in the breeze, and indeed the laughter of small children scurrying about the markets, like songbirds chirping their lovely melody as they played their youthful games, [i]"Kagome kagome / Kago no naka no tori wa / Itsu itsu deyaru / Yoake no ban ni / Tsuru to kame ga subetta / Ushiro no shoumen daare"[/i] The Princess herself even appeared to be enjoying the splendor of Kyoto, but for a woman of nobility, who had spent nearly all of her days within the palace walls, this was no unusual manner.

A smile was all the ronin could register at this moment, however that smile quickly subverted into a gawk of astonishment and worry once Asuka laid eyes upon....a...a tail?! "Oro?" She breathed hesistantly before making a few steps towards the Princess, but the demon slayer Akane-dono was already miles ahead in covering the....[i]obscurity[/i] of the honorable Princess. Asuka gave a sigh of relief, wiping her brow. "Indeed a close call, that it was...." [i]Hmmm....so there is more to the honorable Princess than meets the eye, that there is.[/i] She pondered shortly as Asuka strolled alongside her companions, stopping yet again as the old woman approached Hanami, making notice of how the miko so diligently offered her services, such a generous soul she was. The samurai looked onward intently studying the miko, observing her talent at work. The old woman was right as rain within a few seconds, yet again reason for the ronin to smile. "You are indeed a kind heart, Miko-dono, that you are." 

But it seemed other eyes were upon them as well....

"That's her! That's the killer!" It didn't take long for Asuka to register who these ruffians were referring to. "I'd recognize that face anywhere!" The men approached her, two or three maybe, their swords already drawn. Judging by the scars, they've had their share of violence, either veterans or just a couple of street urchins who've come to pick a fight for a cheap thrill. Nevertheless, Asuka humbly obliged them, "Oro? Is there something the matter?" One of the men, such a vicious growl he gave, confronted the samurai...albeit a bit too close for comfort, "You're damn right there is, you cold blooded bitch! You're Kushiami Asuka, the dreaded Slayer of a Thousand! I wasn't expecting to see your face around Kyoto again! Now you're gonna pay!" Pay? For what? Asuka raised an eyebrow to the man, indeed confused by this vengeful revelry, "Whatever could you mean? Honestly, I have no quarrel with you, that I don't, so if you would be so kindest to sheathe your blades, I would be very-"

"Shut up!" Another man spat in her face, such vileness these men emanated. "You should've thought of that before you decided to take our brother away, you heartless bitch!" So that's what this was about. These men were relatives, possibly close relatives, to a warrior that Asuka had slain in her past life. She never remembered much of the names and faces of those she had killed, but she could certainly understand the rage these few must've felt coming face to face with their brother's killer. "All Inishi-san wanted to do was appease our father's dying wish by becoming a samurai of the Emperor. He was barely thirteen and not much stronger than us, but he was ambitious and held on to his dream, but you! You, of all, had to murder him! Now it shall be your blood for his! Draw your sword, Kushiami-san, and prepare to die!"

Their pain, their anger, Asuka could feel every drop of it within their venomous words, and now in return for her taking away Inishi's life, they wanted hers. Asuka however would not oblige their blood-soaked offer. Somberly, the samurai bowed her head and whispered calmly to the men, "I understand the agony you must feel from this overwhelming loss, that I do, and greatly I am indeed sorry that it was my blade who cut down your brother's life in the prime, but spilling my blood will not bring peace to your guilty hearts, indeed it won't. So I must ask of you again, please sheathe your swords and let my companions and I pass."

Her message however, was barely taken by the rage of these swordsmen. "Sorry?!" they barked at Asuka. "All you have to say is that you're sorry?! You don't realize how sorry you are, murderer! Quit stalling and draw your damn blade, or better yet, we'll slaughter you right now, you and these other women?!" On that note, one of them attacked, raising his katana high and screaming headlong as he charged towards Asuka, but in the blink of an eye, his chin met with the pommel of Asuka's blade, sending the bastard skyrocketing and crashing to the ground. Something changed in the samurai, her casual demure....now a cold and bitter scowl, her voice even matching this frozen and harsh demeanor, "I can understand your anger towards me indeed so, but when you begin to drag innocent lives into this fray, then you are certain I am going to be angry. Your quarrel is with me and that is all, understand? You will leave these women out of any retribution you have. Now, I have asked you time and time again to let us pass, but if you will not allow us safe travel, then I will have no choice then to intervene."

Now there something definitely changing in the men. At first, they were fired up to spill Asuka's blood upon the ground, but...now they were frozen stiff, shivering in absolute terror of the woman and replying hesitantly and shaking, "W-w-whatever! W-we'll let you go!" And then they scurried off, carrying their unconscious friend with them. Asuka watched as the cowards darted away, sheathing her sakabatou and sighing rather relieved she didn't have to fight, but...she still made quite a spectacle before the others...