And she was indeed correct as the blades of their unknown assailants sprung forth and tore through the air, gracing the honorable Princess and dicing her elegantly decorative kimono and her hat to pieces. "What cowards, that they are!" Of course so to attack so maliciously and from concealment within the shadows no less. Who were they? Hired assassins by a feudal lord? A sect of shinobi who held a violent and burdening grudge with the Imperial Court? It wasn't much in the matter of who they were, rather that they were attacking the band of women and the precious young woman they were guarding. Immediately, Asuka drew her sakabatou and joined the other women suit in guarding the princess, her eyes quickly deducing the position of the string close to them. Razor wire is more it seemed, given by the small glint of sunlight protruding off the sharp, slender surface.

While others scrambled in shock of what occurred, some villagers had remained to gawk at the...unexpected sight. Ears! There were ears atop the princess's head! It looked to Kushiami to be of canine variety, but she could ponder more on this later. They were still under attack. "Miko-dono!" She called to Hanami. "We should ferry the Princess somewhere far from these assailant's eyes, that we must! It would be unwise to keep her here in these streets for too long! Kaede-dono, if you can assist us, I would be much honored, that I would!" Suddenly, another volley of blades sprung forth, this time in a formation of sort, definitely meant to kill whoever was in their path. "Watch out!" Askua was swift in her defense, her sakabatou gliding fluidly through the twelve metal strings with such grace and precision only a samurai of her caliber could execute flawlessly, each bound snapping with a minute *twing* "Hurry, we must! There are more of them!"