"Oro?" Even if the Princess was rather naive to the dangers of this new but harrowing world that lurked just outside the very majestic gates of her father's palace, Asuka couldn't deny how adorable it was quite frankly. She smiled lightly to the small body in her arms, giving a brief chuckle before answering their fair Hime, "That I am indeed, Hime-dono. How forgetful of me, that it is." She laughed briefly before setting down their noble Princess on her own two feet, her dark blue eyes moving from the young half-demon girl to the miko, the words and the touch of her reassurance still buzzing about the bewildered and suspicious mind of Asuka. [i]Still...this one shall keep her guard up about this Ariiko-dono, that she will indeed.[/i] And again another woman Asuka was keeping her wits about was the new arrival to the group, Ageha, already seeming to the ronin to have already taken a liking to Hanami...the very same feelings Asuka was apprehensive to reciprocate unto the beautiful miko. 

[i]Even so, this journey is not for finding the woman who shall fulfill my happiness for years to come, certainly it isn't. I must relinquish all thoughts towards Miko-dono, if I am to remained focused to the task ahead, that I certainly must do, but...Miko-dono....she is beautiful, her frailty more exuberant than any sakura blossom that flourishes in late spring...GAH! What am I doing? I must focus, that indeed I must![/i] Already again, Asuka could feel the burning sensation beneath the skin of her face, crystal beads of sweat pooling at the tip of her forehead and trickling down past her eyes. Quickly, the warrior wiped it away, along with any sort of longing ponders towards the lovely shrine maiden, but dammit all if she didn't take one look upon the girl and already was she smitten again, not to mention bearing a petty envy towards Ageha-dono. [i]Focus, you must! To distract the mind is to encourage Death, just as Natsumi-sensei has taught you.[/i] Odd how that name came to fruition. Then Asuka's thoughts wandered elsewhere. How long had it been since she had last seen her strict but honorable sword-master? A long time, that's for sure. And if so, then was Natsumi-sensei still alive?