"Huh," Katsuko said, and lifted Ryouma's arm off her shoulder with a little pat. "Sounds good. I could really go for a wash right now."

She gave him a playful shove with one hand and kicked off her combat boots, looking around elegant interior of the old inn. Reaching out with her chakra, she dissipated her clones and drew her energy into herself, calming it down to manageable levels.

After a minute or so, the tiny landlady shuffled back into reception area. "Your private baths have been prepared, shinobi-san. Follow me, please."

The hallway the hostess led them down was lined with paneled sliding doors papered with white cloth. The bubbling sound of the hot springs outside the ryokan reached her ears and Katsuko took a deep breath, savoring the clean, well-tended atmosphere. She was aware of Ryouma walking just behind her, a wall of solid heat right at her back.

"Here we are, shinobi-san," the old woman said, and slid a door open at the end of the hallway. Steam rushed out, enveloping her in a thick cloud. By the time Katsuko had blinked to clear her eyes she was gone, padding away down the hall at a speed that belied her birdlike frame.

Katsuko eyed the old hostess's retreating back and wondered how, exactly, one ran an inn that catered to ninja without learning a little bit about the shadow arts oneself.

Ryouma trudged past her and ducked into the steam room. A few moments later a low, impressed whistle sounded. She raised an eyebrow and followed him in.

"Let me see that shoulder, first of all," Katsuko said after she'd closed the door and pulled her mask off. "You're not doing anything if you let that go untreated."