If anything, that was the first honest, emotional reaction he'd seen her display so far, and if she had some capacity to feel emotions somewhere, he could use it. He'd done it enough to get a few youkai's guards to fall, but she'd be far tougher---

There wasn't any time to use that against her just yet, because the woman moved at him, weapon swinging. And she was fast, faster than Homura. The monk tried to duck to the side, bringing the bonesaw up at her arm to try and block.

He grunted.

Sanzo felt the poker knock against the side of his shoulder, burning off part of the sleeve as it scraped a blaze of pain down his arm and hit his wrist.