Tsumi let her eyelids fall shut as she felt herself swimming through the gravitational pull. Air wipped around her, and her hair constantly slapped her cheek and neck, leaving small pink marks. She enjoyed the feeling, but she knew as well as anyone else that if she didn't do something soon, she'd be dead. Her eyes snapped open and she turned onto the flat of her stomach, squinting against the air. Blades of oxygen blasted at her eyes, and involuntary tears flowed across her cheeks, but she ignored it. The closer to the ground she got, the closer to the wall she came. Her eyes scanned the heavy cement until she had only a few meters before hitting the ground. Below her, a ledge hung from the side of the wall, suspended in the air. The moment her sandals touched stone, she let her feet slide against the wall, before kicking off, and rolling onto the ground into a crouching position.

Worried, she lifted her shawl, and her pupils instantly floated to the hilt of her sword. It was nearly moon-coloured, but still clung in one piece. Her right abdomen had a few bleeding scratches, but nothing too dangerous. Silently, she stood, raising her head toward the top, but was unable to make out any of the little ant-like features that swarmed above. Running a hand through her hair she pushed strands in the correct place, before turning to walk back into the city. 'I am free...but not for long...' Ayamaro and Ukyo would be after her, and it would not be pretty.

"Walking is such a pain..." Tsumi moaned, and pulled a hood over her head as she strolled through town once more. If there was a time she missed riding in Ukyo's coached now would be it. She passed a few vendors offering her several exclusive goods, but she shook her head remembering she was out of money, and continued. However, as she found payment for a rice cake, she was stopped by a woman. She wore an orange kimono with bright blonde hair, her face was heavily coated in assortments of makeup, red eyeliner bright against her blue yes.

"What is it Yukana?" Tsumi asked bitterly, disregarding the whore. She was a personal assistant of Ukyo, one of his favorite to be exact. Tsumi couldn't even count the amount of men that had been between her legs and beyond. Yukana knew of her reputation and loved it, treasured it.

"Hmph. I've been told to deliver a message. Go to the south end of town, Ukyo is still after that girl." Turning, Tsumi began walking toward the general southern direction, when Yukana whipped out a sun umbrella. "Oh, and they said don't be late. If you miss this battle or fail in any way, the young master will have your head." Tsumi froze, taking in the girl's words before jumping onto the roofs, heading South as fast as she could.

"Looks like you've caught Ayamaro's attention." Kirara looked toward old man Masamune who had repaired Kikucho's arm in confusion. She frowned and stepped behind the wall and out of the range of the men attacking her.

"Ayamaro?" He nodded.

"He's the magestrate, and basically the man that run's this city. He won't stop and isn't a very good enemy to have. Looks like you've got another battle to fight first." Her lips parted about to ask another question, but Kirara soon turned her attention to her bracelet. The water had began to stir once more, and was pulling toward the exit of their hideout. She stared at it, and ran outside, ignoring the danger around her. It was calling to something, possibly someone, and in her position, she could have used all the help she could get.

"Lady Kirara!" Katsuhiro shouted after her, making an attempt to grab her clothing but missed. As she stepped out, the bracelet soon turned upward. Kirara's eyes followed until she spotted it's target.

"It's her!" Everyone slowed their actions, including Ayamaro's men, to look the same direction. Kambei lowered his sword for a moment, his eyes caught on the girl that seemed to be hopping roofs.

"Ah, that's Tsumi." The old man spoke, walking out of the hideout as well. No one dared to ask who she was, they knew he was beginning to explain. "She is Ayamaro's third best and only female samurai. Rumour is: she's there against her will, but no one knows the real reason as to why she continues to work for the man." Kirara watched the girl with a slight frown. Her demeanor was laggy and lazed. 'Tsumi..'

"She saved me."

Tsumi raised an eyebrow as she felt glances on her. Looking down, she met two men, one dressed in crazy pinks. She glared at him, and crossed her arms. 'Aku and Asai.'

"You came at the right time, didn't you? Scared to lose your position?" She growled, and glared down at the two henchmen.

"Quiet. I could care less about my position. When you feel you can amount to me, then the stones will be thrown, in all other cases, Shut. Up." Tsumi hissed toward the men quietly, and smirked when they began to grind their teeth angrily. She knew her words were correct. They'd never get to her status anytime soon. Standing, she stared at Kirara who was smiling very brightly toward her. Tsumi couldn't help but feel awkward. Ever since she'd been under the magestrate, she'd never had to react to any of the public. She barely talked to anyone but the whores and the samurai that stayed with Ukyo, but even the whores thought themselves better. She watched the girl mouth words that amounted to a 'thank you'. She merely shifted her weight, and broke eye contact as quickly as possible.

"Well anyway. You know the objective." Aku spoke. She looked over at his wardrobe and couldn't help but fail to understand his obsession with pink. Even so, Tsumi nodded and listened, her left palm resting on her sword hilt.

"If I fail to catch any of your needles before they hit my head, then you have can have my neck." A man, Gorobei they called him, wagered could feel her eyes widen in shock. He had to be crazy...'Or skilled.' Narrowing her eyes, she stepped forward excited to see who would win.

"I want all the heads of the samurai." Asai spat, and she already knew what would happen. Tsumi kept her eyes on the man below her. He wore a bundle of different white robes, and had scraggy hair that was neatly kept in place.

"Sensei?" The teal haired boy from before had spoken, facing the man Tsumi had been keeping her eyes on. Before the deal was agreed upon, five needles were already going at Gorobei. Everything seemed to go slower, but she watched as each needles was caught in in his hands, and the last in his mouth. Asai launched into the air aiming his detachable arm at him. Tsumi sneered, but caught movement out of the corner of her eyes. At the very last moment, she felt the ground vibrate below her, as a giant sword was slammed into the floor.

"Now, Tsumi!" She didn't need to be told. She had already seen him coming out fo the corner of her eyes. As the ground began to crumble, she drew her sword meeting in a fiery dance with their leader. He stared at her nonchalantly, and held her stare for a moment, before pushing back, and jumping over her to Aku. Unphased, she kept in time with him, heading for Aku as well. He landed on the tip of a few metal poles, and kicked himself up, as she landed on a broken rooftop, but kicked up nonetheless.

Everything seemed to slow as she made eye contact with the man. She wouldn't make it in time unless...pulling her arm back, she launched her sword toward Aku. The henchman hadn't even seen it coming, as the blade pierced through his throat, Tsumi kicked off the stone she stood on, and landed on Aku's shoulders, and pulled the sword , before jumping away. As she passed the man dressed in white, she whispered.

"Impressive." With that, she kicked herself off the edges of the building. As she accelerated through the air, she grabbed onto a metal pole, slamming it down across two buildings, like a bridge, and ran across, keeping her distance from the whole commotion. Standing, she turned in time to see the other get a sword through his skull.

However, she wasn't sure what to do, because now they all stared at her.

"Let's go back to my place?" Old man Masamune grinned, an amused twinkle in his eyes.