As a weapon he had placed her within his box sheath, a tant­o hidden in the crowd of katanas. Just like any other sword he had thrown her into the sky to land blade first in the earth, standing alone, independent, like any other.

Independence was a phenomenon few Weapons ever experienced in combat. Those few moments standing unaided and poised for battle had reminded her of the duel against her brother. Memories that she held preciously deep in her heart of a time when the silent, scentless camellia had struck out and roared. A time when she had shown Masamune who she truly was, a powerful and strong-willed adult, and he had finally agreed.

She honestly wanted to relive that feeling. Life under the constant judgement of her peers and superiors, questioning her and damning her for the obnoxious, egotistic, clashing personality of her meister; it had all served to drain her of energy and confidence. None of them seemed to realise that partnering with Black Star was a freely-made decision that she stood by with pride. That she admired him because she wanted to be capable and worthy of the same high recognition, whether self-proclaimed or no.

With such thoughts as these in mind, the Nakatsukasa heir decimated three of their opponents before her temporary comrade even lifted her in his hand. And once they joined forces, the pair moved with such speed, dexterity and skill that the rest of the enemies were destroyed in a matter of minutes.

Tsubaki returned to human form, still in his grip, hilt still clasped in his dry, whispery hands. When the yellow light of her soul altering her shape died down; her body was just against his, gently touching his torso within the circle of his arms. Her eyelids were half-closed, relaxed, she breathed in the muted scent of his skin whilst reminding herself that she was named for a flower without fragrance. She made no move to kiss or embrace him, nor to press in closer; just with that barely-meeting of their bodies asserted that her maturity had developed beyond the faltering false-passes of adolescents.

Mifune seemed to realise that she was experiencing some manner of important contemplation, doing nothing to break the hushed tension of that moment until she sighed deeply in fulfilment and stepped gracefully out of his unresisting embrace.

"No Soul Resonance?"

"Why would I Resonate with you?" She put the question with a small smile. "I'm not trying to kill anyone right now."

Somehow the blunt depiction of the purpose of Soul Resonance failed to jar either of them. Mifune had read the tranquillity and clarity in her eyes and somehow adopted it himself even after many years of a mercenary existence. What a sweet gift to give, somehow. It occurred to him that the young woman might have a soul as strong as his own was rumoured to be, yet assuredly purer.

That was the first day.