Such deep concentration the ronin had put herself in, that indeed she was unaware of the ever-changing world around her, so much that anyone, even a small forest critter such as that tiny fox could take her off guard. Such had occurred to her, but thankfully it wasn't an imminent peril from the killing blow of Gankuro's katana. Actually, and strangely to the ronin, it was a very welcomed sight. "Oro?!" Immediately Asuka tensed, losing all color in her skin and becoming pale as a spirit when the miko took her by surprise by unexpectedly emerging from the twigs and the thick brush of the sacred forest, such bravery for the once infamous Wind of Death. "Mi...Miko-dono? What are you doing here? You should be back at the camp with the others, that you should indeed. It's dangerous to follow me where I am going." She must've overheard the samurai when she gave strict yet humble instruction to Kaede to not reveal her whereabouts, for Kaede would never betray the ronin's trust and her honor, unless.... No.

Hanami, she followed Asuka of her own regard, simply for the reason of asking the woman to turn back, telling her that she didn't have to face Gankuro, the dreaded Kurohebi, alone, and despite the warm and....well beautiful smile she showed to the samurai, Asuka could yet again pick out the features of the maiden's face that betrayed her false happiness and rather exhibited worry for the woman's life. Once again, Asuka's heart ached with that all to familiar guilt. What was she thinking forsaking everything and everyone upon this harrowed path she traveled towards an unknown and grim fate? But if only Hanami and the others knew why she must go alone. "Miko-dono.....I......I can't...." Lowering her head, the warrior exhaled yet another bothersome sigh. 

For some reason, some unearthly urge, she felt as though she...she needed to touch the woman, only by resting her hands upon the slim shoulders of Hanami and looking straight into the girl's eyes with her most sincere and apologetic of expressions, although the samurai's eyes contained behind their light blue irises....sadness and regret. "It is not that I wish to forget you and my companions, indeed it isn't. In all sense, it is for this reason I must face Kurohebi alone. I cannot risk you or Hime-dono, even Yuki-dono of all people, or anyone being drawn into the path of that madman's sword, that I can't. For you to follow me to this most perilous of challenges would be to place yourself in harm's way, and I cannot allow that, indeed no." She noticed a stray leaf had clung to the girl's long flowing hair, soft it had become from bathing in that wondrous Onsen no less. Asuka merely urged a small smile to cross her lips as her hand reached for the leaf and gently pulled it from Hanami's hair, flitting it aside as she continued to speak to the miko. "I do not wish you to think ill of me either for not allowing your company, Miko-dono. If these were different circumstances, your presence would indeed be welcomed beside me, that it certainly would, but for now......." What else could she say to make this easier for her to accept. She knew damn well the moment she accepted the challenge of this monster, there would be no turning back. She would return to her comrades not as the lowly ronin of peace and the simple pursuit of happiness, but....as the blood-spattered terror of the battlefield, forever known as the Wind of Death. Nay, she would not return to them....that part of her life would indeed be forsaken, her friends, her companions, only a fleeting memory to her as she returned to those dark and fearsome days of killing and bloodshed. Why was she daring to do such?

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[quote=Silver Fox]Stopping, she looked around for the others and sniffed the air. It seemed Hanami's and Asuka's scents had gone off. Odd... Her golden gaze then looked to Kaede questionably, her tail flicking from side to side. "Kaede-San, where are the others?" the princess asked the red haired half demon! her golden eyes wide with worry.[/quote]

Unaware was the young Princess of the eyes that gazed upon her ravenously from within the cover of shadows conjured by the full moon casting its pale light upon the forest greenery, the eyes of a hungry and vicious serpent watching her every move, her every quirk with such ill and frightening delight being brought to the bearer of those horrible, paralyzing, fearful eyes, Kurohebi. [i]Eheheheh....come to me, little Hime, bring forth the Slayer of a Thousand with your terrified screams as I drag you into the abyss of my design.[/i] The twisted fiend, his eyes glinted with such horrible glee, ever so intently observing Mizuki and the importance she held towards Asuka. Certainly if anything at all grim were to befall this young girl, it would indeed rile the samurai into a fury like no other, a legendary firestorm of hatred and anger fueled only by her desires to drive her blade through the wicked obsidian heart of the Black Serpent.

Speaking of such, it was his time to strike again, but instead of making a debacle of bloodshed out of this precious moment, Gankuro considered subtlety over his natural urge to slaughter and kill without mercy. From his shabby and blood-drenched kimono, as if by some ill sorcery indeed of demonic origin, his shadow stretched from his body so unnaturally, taking the visage of what else, a long and sadistic serpent slithering upon the grounds towards the feet of little Mizuki. [i]Once you've grabbed her, take her to the abandoned shrine of this forest. There, I shall await Kushiami's blade to come forth and strike me.[/i] With such a dastardly grin, he watched as his servant of the shadows readied itself to consume the unsuspecting child, and such violent rewards it would bring to the bastard.