As the men fell to their knees around the chosen one - There was the occasional cheer, but it was mainly just a transfer of power! - Saeko didn't quite heave a sigh of relief. She'd guessed right...That<em>had</em>gone down well. Or perhaps not<em>well</em>so much as it'd been<em>expected</em>, even welcomed - If left to their own devices, the outcome would likely have been very much the same.<br/><br/>Well...Perhaps not *quite* the same. There would have been a lot more bloodshed, for one - And the lovely samurai-ko wouldn't have had quite as much fun!<br/><br/>The gates were heaved open, the mismatched but now-united force taking in their new abode...Which still bore scars from Saeko's recent banishment of the<em>evil</em>that'd taken root here. She descended from the battlements, running slim fingers through her midnight hair - Her calm gaze meeting Hattori's, before she bowed her head in a gesture of respect!<br/><br/>"I'm sure you'll rise to the occasion, Steward Hattori," she said, in that formal lilt of hers. "The Daimyo, I feel, has full confidence in you...And he expects the castle to be returned to it's former glory."<br/><br/>Her lips curved in a little smile - Half-turning, to take in the destruction that'd been wreaked on the area! "Indeed it was," she said - Slim shoulders lifting in a little. "It seems that fortune was with me, in the end. Though what might have caused this...I've yet to ascertain."<br/><br/>Something told her she might be seeing that presence again, soon...If it'd found a foothold here, what else might it have corrupted-?<br/><br/>"With your permission, I'll take my leave - I must make a full report to the Daimyo, as soon as I return."<br/><br/>Her full lips curved in a smile, as she straightened, s-l-o-w-l-y...Her hands clasped behind her back, the gorgeous samurai-ko's lovely form silhouetted against the setting sun!<br/><br/>"Perhaps we'll meet again, under less...formal...circumstances."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Upgrade!</div><div class="spoiler_body">She'll put that one point into Willpower!</div></div>