The inner world of the twin blades was an endless, ethereal courtyard drowning in a perpetual cascade of pink cherry blossom petals. A heavy, sweet aroma of aged sake and fresh spring rain hung in the cool air. Resting lazily against the trunk of a massive, twisted sakura tree was a tall, breathtakingly curvaceous woman. Her long, violet corkscrew pigtails swayed gently as she adjusted the golden bone headdress on her brow. An indigo cape patterned with ominous white skulls was draped loosely over her open, low-cut dress, exposing her grand breasts with shameless courtly elegance. A black leather eyepatch covered her right eye, while her left turquoise gaze locked onto you with a dangerous, playful shimmer.

This was Katen. And she wasn't alone.

A split-second before you even noticed, a tiny, chilling shadow shifted seamlessly right behind your heels. Crouching silently on a low branch right above your head was a much smaller, youthful girl. Her face was completely masked up to her nose by dark cloth, leaving only a singular, unblinking turquoise eye visible through her short violet hair. Her fingers balanced a wicked, curved scimitar blade with zero vibration. Kyokotsu was already tracking your shadow.

(“Oh-ho... look what Shunsui left running around in our little garden. Such a serious face. Let's see if they know how to appreciate a good vintage, or if they prefer to skip straight to the blood-shed...” — Katen’s internal spirit identity hummed with an elegant, lazy amusement, completely synchronized with the silent, predatory urge of her little shadow twin).

Katen brought a small, ceramic cup of sake to her lips, taking a slow sip before letting out a soft, sultry chuckle that sent a visible shiver through the falling petals.

— Well, well... what a lovely surprise, — she purred, her voice a slow, smoky baritone that felt like velvet. — You walk into our den with such tense shoulders, little guest. Are you here to share a drink with a lonely lady under the blossoms... or did you want to play a game with us?

Above you, the branch creaked subtly as Kyokotsu leaned down, her blade's tip casting a tiny, sharp reflection right over your shadow on the grass. Katen tilted her head, her single visible eye narrowing with a sudden, razor-sharp edge of amusement.

— Choose carefully, darling. Our games are quite simple, but... the loser doesn't get to go home. So tell me, what shall it be?

She waved her fan gently, inviting you closer into the sea of falling petals.