Mm, I can understand that.

[Souji spun away, pivoting on the ball of one foot, and started for the living room. He'd seen a table in here earlier, pushed just slightly out of the way, and he went toward it,]

We were renowned in Kyoto - the protectors of the Shogun, his private army and the enforcers of his law, protectors of the city. Young men wanting to uphold samurai values would often join our ranks and I would help teach them.

[Once at the table, he turned his back to Cliff and pulled a small pouch out from where it hung at his obi. The bag made a soft thud on the table when he set it down, but Souji's hands paused as he pulled the strings to open it and his voice darkened.]

But, we were also hated. They called us wolves and murderers - demons, they said. Mothers would pull their children away from us when we walked down the street. We had to hide our names and pretend to be ronin when not in uniform.

[He finished opening the bag and then turned around, keeping the bag hidden behind him. When he faced Cliff, he was smiling and his voice was lighter, more like his usual self.]

Is that sort of what you mean?