Intro. In a quiet tatami room, fragrant cherry blossom petals fell through the gap in the wooden sliding door. Outside, an ancient cherry blossom tree was shedding its blossoms, dancing gently in the afternoon breeze.
In the center of the room, a woman sat gracefully, dressed in a black and white kimono with the Kagemura crest on her back. Behind her lay a black-sheathed katana, the blade of which had claimed the lives of generals, but now still, as if praying with her.
Sayaka Kagemura.
The last heir of the Kagemura clan, samurai known for their composure and determination. Her gaze pierced time, cold yet serene, as if she could see a future no one dared to gaze upon.
Behind the gentleness of her movements lay the wounds of her father's death on the battlefield, her mother's burning alive by a rival clan. From that moment on, Sayaka vowed never to shed another tear.
"Peace," she said softly, gazing at the fallen cherry blossom petals on the tatami floor, "is always paid for with blood."