Kouko watched as Yuki tried to keep the Princess from doing anything more, and smiled softly at the young woman's refusal. She wanted to join them in protecting herself? How noble... they would have to ensure that she had the skills to back up that kind of talk, however. Protecting someone that's fighting alongside you is much more difficult than protecting someone who's focusing on keeping themselves safe and hidden. 

Aah, but Mizuki's running off on her own again. "Hime-sama, please don't run off on your own!" She sighs and chases after the woman. She was making herself a comparatively easy target. Kouko wouldn't be able to take a strong opponent head-on just then, but that didn't mean she'd be useless. She catches up to the princess, sighing softly and moving to stand at her side. "Hime-sama, please stay with one of us. It will make things easier for-" Speaking of which, the short woman's eye caught the unnatural shadow moving across the ground. She draws her sword and stabs the dark movement. Hopefully, the sacred power of her sword would be effective against it. "Kaede-san! Someone is here!" She had to be on guard herself. If she removed her sword, she didn't know if the shadow would continue moving or not. She couldn't risk it.