Even after the mysterious man in the hat had fled the scene with his parting snide gesture towards the ronin, Asuka's eyes forever remained affixed to the very spot where that wicked individual had once stood, still recollecting over and over that same vicious set of haunting, glaring eyes that stared back at her. It was as though she couldn't shake the image of that man from her head, no matter how much she attempted to discard the recent vision of him. It was strange to her, as though once in her lifetime she had seen those eyes before. Of course there were her own she remembered, a gaze of such enmity and anger that struck paralyzing fear into the hearts of the many samurai that fell to her blade. But this particular evil glance upon, it was literally paralyzing almost. What ill sorcery be behind this foul eye? Asuka felt strange, she could barely move an inch after her eyes locked with his for that tense and harrowing moment, not even able to budge once after the Princess had fled towards the Onsen to warn the others, where later she ran off to warn Akane and Yuki no less, but on her own? No! There was a madman about, and Asuka could since his malevolence was far from gone in this once peaceful forest. That familiar smell wafted towards her nostrils, a scent so naturally aware to her, the metallic and wretched scent of dried blood upon an unsheathed blade.

Finally, after a heavy dosage of concentration against this unknown and ominous force that locked her in place, Asuka broke free of the trance just as Hanami had called for the Princess to wait for her, but the ever rambunctious and cheerful Hime was too far from the grasp of the Miko or the bewildered and apprehensive ronin who stood firmly with her blade drawn, unaware of such afterwards as she sheathed her sakabato and approached the maiden, thankfully dressing herself since Asuka needed no more...tempting views of the lovely woman. Just in the way her voice came across to Asuka, she could tell Hanami was as concerned deeply as she was of the Princess' safety. Though as cute and heartwarming as Hime-dono was, Asuka had to wonder how could she be so reckless, indeed in this recent time where peril could strike from any shadow, any brush, any tree of this intruded forest. Calmly though, the black haired warrior spoke to the miko, "It would be best if someone did see to Hime-dono's well-being, indeed so, but...." Her voice however trailed off into thin air when her eyes....met with the shrine maiden's, "But I fear for your safety as well, Miko-dono, and of the others, that I do." Kaede was with the women of course, but she was unarmed, not that it seemed terribly indefensive, but still Asuka dared not to take that chance, the one of losing her companions to the blade of a sadistic samurai who prowled upon them.

She tensed suddenly at the instant rustling of the nearby brush, her hand back upon her blade and ready to draw, the same as Hanami brandishing her bow in haste and nocking an arrow, an arrow Asuka presumed was more intended to falter the enemy than to kill him. The priestess let the arrow fly towards the rustling, and upon later the report of the arrow skewering a thick tree trunk sounded. Another arrow was readied, but...their assailant had revealed himself to be not the man, but a fox scurrying away in fear of the attack. Asuka sighed with relief at the sight of the tiny, adorable forest critter scampering off towards the forest, but once the fox had gone, the real terror revealed his self to the warrior. From the bush he emerged fearsomely and abrupt, his weapon drawn and glinting with the abhorrent smile of Death, as were those eyes, those dreadful gleaming eyes. "Die miko!! Ahahahahaa!!" That horrid cackle he gave signaled his target. He was going for Hanami! "Miko-dono!" Asuka, in seconds, was towards the woman as well, shoving her away from the madman's blade and taking the swift, burning cut to her cheek. Blood trickled from the fresh abrasion in a fine red line down the woman's face, now hardening and frosting over with the cold spirit....of the Wind of Death.

"Ahh...that speed." The samurai mused with a bit of pleasure upon gazing terribly into Asuka's grim and fiery eyes. "I knew it was you all along. I've heard many a tale of a woman who could move about the battlefield with the speed and ferocity of a god. She was a master of the forbidden and powerful Kazeryu no Tsurugi style of kenjutsu. She was fabled by many a fearful warrior that her blade could cut down a thousand men in one draw. Shi no Kaze, The Wind of Death, Kushiami Asuka!" Now that she had a better view of this man, she recognized him, the features never once marred by time's unfair grace, especially those legendary eyes. Nonchalantly, she wiped the blood from her cheek and flicked it off her fingers in addressing the hatted samurai, "And I have heard many a tale of a warrior who sold his soul to a demon for the ultimate power. A samurai whose fearsome gaze could render his foes helpless and leave them to be quartered mercilessly by his blade. His power they called the Serpent's Glare, whereupon the samurai was given his ill title, Kurohebi, the Black Serpent, [url=http://wallpapers.free-review.net/wallpapers/18/Samura_Howdown.jpg]Masataka Gankuro[/url]!"

At the true mention of his name, Gankuro snickered, his grin ever present as he sheathed his katana and bowed, once again in insult of the ronin rather than due respect to Asuka, "I'm amazed you remember me, Kushiami. It's not everyday I come across my bitter foes, though most of them now rot forever in the torment of Hell, except for you that is." Asuka growled to Kurohebi in reply, "What are you doing here, you violent fiend? Why has one such as the infamous Black Serpent come to haunt me from my nightmares? Answer!" Kurohebi, he was indeed amused with the woman's ever notorious rage, Asuka's relentless fury and her strife towards him only feeding him a bountiful feast of pleasure. "Simple." He retorted, another vile snicker. "I have come to call upon a favor of a past friend. I, The Black Serpent, challenge you, Kushiami, The Wind of Death, to face me in bitter combat to the very end. Should you decline....then I guess my blade shall taste blood yet again." As with many of Asuka's forsaken origins, Kurohebi had returned so that her blood may stain his blade, as with others she assumed. How typical of the bastard to put others lives at stake for his own selfish gain. But....Asuka would not oblige. "I decline, that I do." She stated boldly to the murderer. "On the grounds that I may forfeit my honor by declining a challenge, I have made solemn vow that my blade shall never taste blood again, indeed I have Masataka-san, and as such, I have adopted the life of a peaceful wanderer rather than the fearsome samurai I was once known as."

"You lie too much, Kushiami, that you do." Still persistent, Gankuro mocked her vow in lieu of everyone. "You may have sheathed your blade for these past few years, but the heart of a samurai still beats within your chest, and with that heart shall come your rage! Heh! It would be boring for me to strike you down in this pitiful state anyways, no challenge whatsoever, and so, what I want from you is the old Kushiami, the Wind of Death to grace the battlefields yet again with her harrowing presence! I want you to cast away this pitiful excuse of a pacifist's vow and draw your sword to kill me! I will await your challenge upon the ruined temple of this forest, but should you not show face nor blade upon the stroke of the midnight hour.....then you will die along with all these women you accompany....although...I may keep a few alive for...[i]company.[/i]" 

And then he was gone....his horrendous laughter echoing and fading forth into the thick of the forest, leaving only a bitter glare upon the ronin's face...and her hand clenched to her sword in such infuriated manner. "Kurohebi....never show your face around me or these women...ever again....."