There was guilt on Beni’s and Nori’s faces, buried deep underneath the anger; Katsuko could still tell, even after years apart. Maybe that was what blunted the edge of their killing intent and made it so easy to brush aside; maybe she’d surpassed them long ago, when she’d shut them out of her life and narrowed her world down to training, killing, and revenge.

Whatever it was, the wave of cold, burning fury that came from Ryouma startled her enough that she stepped aside, leaving the way to Nori and Beni clear. Katsuko saw when his killing intent hit them; Nori blanched and Beni rocked back on his heels, an instant before a second, stronger wave of intent dropped them to their knees.

Katsuko stared down at them. “And that,” she said, finally. “Is why you don’t piss off a jounin.”

“Katsu,” Nori got out, teeth gritted. “Make him--”

“Stop?” Katsuko smiled, pleasantly, feeling the cold knot of anger underneath her breastbone tighten further. “No, I don’t think so. You’re going to answer a few questions first, while Ryouma has you down there.”