Story Adapted by & Screenplay by : Jameal Jordon & Sharome Jordon

EXT. PRIVATE TRAINING ROOM – DAY

Rikimaru is kneeling before Sekiya, & Sekiya stands & is about to speak. Setsuro approaches from another part of the castle. He stands away & alone from the crowd near Sekiya. Ayame looks over at him, but then looks to Sekiya. At her second glance Setsuro is talking to a young guard.
TOWER GUARD : Well it is cruel but the men in the dungeon were going to be executed for crimes against the Gohda family & failure for neglect of their posts.
SETSURO : So the men inside were tricked to coming here? Rikimaru is going to use them for practice????
TOWER GUARD Hai. And also on the side of the training room are darkened holes so we can see in & how the ninja is performing. I’m guessing that Lord Gohda himself & the other lords as well as Sekiya will be watching him. I’m not sure what happens if he fails
Setsuro walks off from the area.
SEKIYA (loudly): From the decree of our lord, Lord Gohda. I Naotada Sekiya shall adminster this test. Our Lord Gohda shall assess your skills as grandmaster of the Azuma ninja, Rikimaru. In this final test you must be cunning & unmerciful for Lord Gohda expects much of you. The enemy will be skillful & ruthless. You must fo-cus. You must train hard & train well.
Rikimaru nods & each sides of the door is opened by a guard. Rikimaru forward flips inside of the training room & the doors are swiftly shut closed & locked. Sekiya walks to the side of the training room & looks into a hole by the first guard. Lord Gohda is there watching as well. They exchange no words here & watch for the execution of the men inside.
LORD GOHDA : Hmm Sekiya do these men deserve to be executed this way? Even for their crimes??
SEKIYA : My lord this is the best way for them. If Rikimaru does his job, they will die quickly for there crimes. Conspiracy, & other rather despicable, undesirable traits, my lord. This is for the best, I assure you (looks into the peep hole)

INT. PRIVATE TRAINING ROOM – DAY

[*the training music from stage zero in Tenchu: Stealth Assassins is played here as Rikimaru takes his first few steps inside of the training room, it is dark for the most part & he sees far off that a guard lazily walks aimlessly around the immediate zone he
is supposed to be guard attentively. Rikimaru pulls ‘Izayoi’ from its sheath. Rikimaru looks to the blade, remembering the first time he received & touched its sacred handle.

FLASH BACK TO 7 YEARS AGO

EXT. THE “FIRE DEMON” BATTLESHIP – NIGHT

A younger 14 yr. old Ayame shrouded in red fabric is standing over Tatsumaru’s body. The blood pools under him from the wounds inflicted from her kuni, & a sharp deep stab from ‘Izayoi’, he is dead. A younger Rikimaru draped in a dark green bodysuit runs behind her. He looks to Tatsumaru’s defeated form. Ayame picks up the sacred blade. She throws ‘Izayoi’ back, he catches the sword, holding it, gazing at its shining, steel blade.

FLASH FORWARD TO PRESENT

INT. PRIVATE TRAINING ROOM – DAY

[*in this scene the training music is played here & the camera moves as in the game*]
Rikimaru flips forward over a large square-like hump in the pathway, he spies the first guard with his back turned. He makes his way to the wall & begins to slide upon it. He turns to side, looking to see the guard. Rikimaru croutches & rolls out from the corner. While croutched he rolls forward & strikes the guard upward, deep in his back. The guard flies forward in pain, his blood streams thru the air, almost like thin skywriting. He falls dead, & slumped against a short incline. The guards arms flailed up Rikimaru uses the body as a ramp & walks up the body to the next higher inclination.
A guard walking into a unseen part of the next path is visible to Rikimaru. He then uses his grappling hook to go up the next path, he zips up the wall & hangs on with his hands. The guard is roaming & not paying attention really.He hears the guard walking away, he lifts himself up quickly & dashes behind his next target. He sneaks behind the guard, grabs his head, & cuts his jugular. The guard’s blood sprays the walls as he falls trying to gasp for air.
Rikimaru moves on stealthily to the edge of another corner. A spear guard wades thru a tranch filled with a small pool of water next to a large wall that leads to the next path. The guard is distracted a bit, actually he is playing & splashing the water a bit intentionally. Rikmaru looks around the corner after seeing the guard turned around. He leaps out & runs forward with ‘Izayoi’in hand & strikes as the guard turns to face his direction, unprepared. He strikes the arm, cutting, searing the arm off & then stabs the guard deep into his gut, ‘Izayoi’ can be seen poking out of his back, Rikimaru pulls up, forward, the guard’s life ebbs away as the happens, his blood decorates the wall infront of him as Rikimaru moves out of the way in time, so he isn’t soaked in blood by his vicious execution methods. The guard falls, the small wading pool of water, turns from a deep blue to a crimson red. Rikimaru sheathes ‘Izayoi’ & wastes no time in zipping up the wall with the help of his grappling hook, to move on to his next victim.
It is dark & dank as Rikimaru walks down a darkened path, he sees the dark holes in the side of the hallway wondering if Lord Gohda is watching his every move. He leans against a short wall & spies another guard treading the path back & forth in the near pitch black hall. He gets closer & closer to the lighted area near Rikimaru. Rikimaru simply walks out with ‘Izayoi’ in hand. Rikimaru taps the guard’s shoulder, the guard turns around with his weapon unready, as he turns around Rikimaru grabs & holds the guard’s head & stabs him deep in the chest, the sharp blade can be seen sticking out thru his back, the guard is the only thing keeping the blood from escaping. Rikimaru pulls back hard & that force makes the guard fall face forward as his essence pools under him. Rikimaru stylishly poses a bit, & then creeps forward to a large chasm.
Two guards can be seen at the bottom of the chasm & a shadow of another leering the final guard, he is way off in the distance above the other guards, nearing a large source of light, most likely the exit to the training room. The two guards one an archer, the other a swordsman walks about the lighted chasm aimlessly. Rikimaru reaches for his bag behind him, the only thing inside are 5 sharp, silver shuriken. Aiming at the archer, with both hands he launches all 5 shuriken, 2 in one hand, 3 in the other. The zip & almost sing thru the air, they separate & the hands, legs, & the neck of the archer are struck seemingly simultaneously. The swordsman back is turned & the archer falls to the ground without a scream, his jugular & windpipe pierced by the shuriken. He slides against the wall, his blood shoots & pools near his body. Near the edge of the chasm the swordsman was oblivious to the action that took place. He turns around to see his fellow guard dead riddled with shuriken, he runs over to look at his body. Rikimaru leaps from the top of the chasm holding ‘Izayoi’ with both hands & aims for the watchful guard, Rikimaru streamlines the guard from head to crotch with the force & power of ‘Izayoi’. The guards to halves fall to the ground. Rikimaru looks up towards the end of the training room & sees a drowsy, yawning guard off in the distance.
Rikimaru sheathes ‘Izayoi’ & makes his way up the short walls & then hangs from the last one. He pulls up to see a yawning, slow pacing guard, he dashes across to get to his final target. With precision he approaches the tired guard from the side stands & grabs for his arm & breaks his hand, then his arm, next his shoulder, & finally flips him over & kneels quickly to break his neck. Rikimaru stands over him & poses.
RIKIMARU : Those poor fools But I cannot show any mercy, again

FLASH BACK TO SEVEN YEARS AGO

INT. AZUMA MASTER’S HOUSE/ SHIUNSAI’S HOME – DAY

Rikimaru holds his original blade to Tatsumaru. He looks to his fallen master Shiunsai, as he lies dead. Tatsumaru holding ‘Izayoi’ looking down at him.
YOUNG RIKIMARU : NOOO!!!!! (He charges forward towards Tatsumaru with his original sword in hand)

FLASH FORWARD TO THE PRESENT

INT. PRIVATE TRAINING ROOM – DAY

Rikimaru looks to the light that leads out of the training room. He exits the training room.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

As Rikimaru exits, large bulleye targets can be seen, for maybe archery & other aim related events & sports training. Lord Gohda & Sekiya sit ouside in the area, some guards are posted here.
LORD GOHDA (smiling & overjoyed with Rikimaru’s performance) : EXCELLENT!!! YOU WILL BRING ME GREAT HONOR!!! (coughs) But Rikimaru you already have succeeded many time before this test & you have brought honor to your clan & to my family with every success. Sekiya told me about the ninja that attacked you, & that they were highly skilled in their methods & training. Not every kill will be a perfect one. But it is good to strive for perfection. No shame has come to you, or upon the Azuma clan.
SEKIYA : You showed great skill today Rikimaru, you have proved yourself as a servant to the House of Gohda & as the master of the Azuma ninja clan.
RIKIMARU (bows before Gohda): Thank you Lord Gohda. I needed to prove myself to you. I need to excuse myself, sire. (walks slowly away)
SEKIYA (to Lord Gohda) : Sire it seems sometimes that Rikimaru has no heart or even a soul. Heh I remember when Shiunsai told me once long ago, that him & ‘Izayoi’ were bonded not as killers but a kindred spirits as if the blade was only an extension of himself. It seems that Rikimaru & the same sword have a similar relationship. He never waivered even once about killing these criminals for you my lord. Rikimaru is a great ninja.
LORD GOHDA : I wonder, Sekiya. Was there ever a time when Rikimaru ever waiver his blade, hmm..I guess we will never know.
Rikimaru stops walking.
RIKIMARU (not looking back) : Once, sire. But never again

FLASH BACK 7 YEARS AGO

Rikimaru is standing over Tatsumaru. As we look closer Tatsumaru is a sleek young man, dark brown to black hair in a pony tail, he is an extremely attractive man. He is a ninja wearing a green shirt & loose pants with soft soled boots. He is lying on the floor, Rikimaru is standing over him with his sword held high. Tatsumaru slowly reaches to the back of him, ‘Izayoi’ is sheathed behind him.
TATSUMARU : What are you waiting for??? Do it!!
RIKIMARU : I I can’t.
A voice from the outside the house calls to someone inside the house. “SEIRYU!!!!!” At that instance Rikimaru is distracted looking towards the voice, & then he sees Tatsumaru lifting up his mid-section pulls out ‘Izayoi’ from its sheath & then strikes at Rikimaru. Rikimaru strikes also a mere ? of a second later he also pulls back, but the damage is done, Tatsumaru strikes Rikimaru over his face, the right side is struck & blood forms from the area where the blow was dealt. Rikimaru can be seen bleeding from the cut.

FLASH FORWARD TO THE PRESENT

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

RIKIMARU (walking off): Never again (he touches the scar slightly) All that oppose Gohda & the Azuma are my enemies I will die to protect them all
Meanwhile Elsewhere in a cave, not too far away from Gohda’s territory upon a beach.

INT. BEACH/ ONIKAGE’S HOME/ CAVE – DAY

Entering a darkened cave only torches light the way to a large, round futon in the middle of the floor. Onikage & Ai lay together sweaty, Ai is just getting off him & she rolls to the side, nearly naked only the black covers hides her flawless form. Her blonde hair lays across the chest of Onikage, as they lay in the afterglow of a hearty bout of sex. Onikage strokes her hair, his mind now focuses upon the tasks that lie ahead of him.
ONIKAGE : Who was the ashigaru who killed Bronzo??
AI (drowsily) : Setsuro was what he called himself.
ONIKAGE : And what was the name spoken by the ashigaru Setsuro?
AI (tired & drowsy): Riki-mar-u. Yes that’s is Rikimaru who is this Rikimaru?
ONIKAGE : Heh..I do not know this Setsuro But the second name, heh, heh an old friend who should have known better than to leave me for dead upon.. (pauses) well .

FLASH BACK TO 7 YEARS AGO

Out at a harbor Gohda Castle can be seen. Gohda’s army gets ready to take aim at 3 massive ships dead in the water in the harbor. A masked man lays in his own pool of blood. Lord Gohda can be seen wearing armor & leading his troops.
LORD GOHDA : ARCHERS!!!! READY FLAMING ARROWS!!!! (archers take aim) FIRE!!!!!
Archers standing to the side of Lord Gohda fire flaming arrows from the harbor to the massive battleships. A slew of them rise high into the air, too, too many to count. They hit the ships within seconds, one flies into a box filled with explosive, from the harbor the explosion of the ships is the end of the battle. The man’s body is flunf out to sea with a piece of the ship under him as his only floatation device. He lies near death. A spirit gathers around him & begins to enchant his body with a green mist.

FLASH FORWARD TO THE PRESENT

AI (rubbing Onikage’s chest) : So who is this, Rikimaru??
ONIKAGE : Heh A friend I owe A die for a die. Soon I shall meet my old friend once more, heh, heh , heh, heh, heh, mwahahahahaha!!!
He turns over to Ai, & pounces on top of her turning over. She gets closer & he laughs as he gets ontop of her.

EXT. TRAINING AREA – DAY

Meanwhile Setsuro sees Rikimaru walks back to the room inside Gohda’s Castle he was staying. It is the afternoon Sekiya walks on to find Setsuro standing alone in a secluded part of the castle training area, he is training alone here, practicing kata & other related tasks with his kurikama & sword. Sekiya looks on, he sees Ayame off in the distance looking at Setsuro. He enters training area once more.
SEKIYA (taps Setsuro upon his shoulder) : Who are you?
Setsuro stops swinging his chain weight & turns around to look at Sekiya.
SETSURO : By whatever do you mean??
SEKIYA : Do not play dumb with me. Last night any average ashigaru would have never survived that assault. I should have known what you were then, you were too cocky & brash to be a real ashigaru.
SETSURO : Sire I am only the son of a farmer that is all.
SEKIYA : We shall see, ashigaru. I will be watching you much closer, Setsuro .(walks off)
SETSURO (bows) : Yes, sire (to himself) Hmm..Imagine that, he actually called my by my name!
Sestsuro looks on to finally see Ayame watching him. She quickly leaves her place of seclusion. Sekiya leaves the training area. Night falls & now the scene opens to a forest near Gohda castle.

EXT. GOHDA FOREST – NIGHT

A river & forest at the edge of a clearing reside here. The forest seems quiet here, but that is to the contrary. Many are watching or being watched in the shadows of the night with unseen eyes & hideous intentions. An unarmed Rikimaru can be seen sitting upon a worn tree stump, a bottle of age ol’ sake rests in his hands. Rikimaru’s mask hangs lower by his face & he pulls it down to consume the drink. His body & reactions become more slumped as he reminisces of the days when he was a younger man with his brother & comrade in arms, Tatsumaru. Princess Kiku & a teenage boy can be seen holding hands & running deep into the forest.
BOY (kisses Kiku & tells her softly) : Kiku I love you, I want to have you in every way tonight.
KIKU (kisses him again & speaking softly) : And you shall (giggles)
BOY (smiles wide but looks on to find Rikimaru sitting & drinking): Shhh!!! Kiku (kisses her) isn’t that your father’s ninja??
KIKU (turns around to look in the direction he’s looking in) : Hey!!(softly)You’re right. I wonder what he is doing out here?
RIKIMARU (drinks his sake & rubs his scar): Master .
FLASH BACK TO 7 YEARS AGO

EXT. AZUMA MASTER’S HOUSE – DAY

The gang is all here, Master Shiunsai, Ayame, Rikimaru & Tatsumaru are all present they represent the next set of graduating ninjas. Rikimaru & Tatsumaru can be seen sparring with & without weapons [*fight sequence*] Rikimaru almost wins, but Tatsumaru puts his all into his technique & floors Rikimaru. Tatsumaru smiles at Ayame looking at him, & Rikimaru uses this opportunity to bring him crashing to the ground. Ayame laughs & Master Shiunsai finds it hard to keep a straight face. Master Shuinsai is an elderly man, sill limber in his advanced age & is the grandmaster of the Azuma Shinobi-Ryu style & the current trusted bearer of the master sword ‘Izayoi’. It is by his side as he looks on. Ayame runs on to rush near Tatsumaru.
MASTER SHIUNSAI (chuckles) : Children. You have done well to prove yourselves & you are all on your way to becoming masters.
TATSUMARU (gets up & stands before Master Shiunsai, then helps up Rikimaru) : Not bad, Rikimaru.
Rikimaru is helped up & they stand before Master Shiunsai.
MASTER SHIUNSAI : Children. Soon I will pass the mantle of master. I am getting older & it is time to now name my successor, children. I name you (pointing) Tatsumaru. You represent the essence of the Azuma ninja & you have trained hard & well. I know you will accept this honor well.
RIKIMARU : Master, since Tatsumaru will become the next master How long before we become masters?
MASTER SHIUNSAI : Rikimaru the pressures of being a master is harder than you will ever know. It is not an easy task, bearing the weight of this honored blade is tougher than any task that I have ever known in my years. It will be the biggest for Tatsumaru as well, & one day it will be tough for you.

FLASH FORWARD TO PRESENT

EXT. GOHDA FOREST – NIGHT

As Rikimaru remembers many fond memories & Kiku with her friend kissing in the woods, a large figure watches & waits for the right moment to strike. He is a horribly ugly, fat & balding man. He carries many weapons, as if his solid girth wasn’t enough to kill mere men, he has an array of weapons behind hid back, a hammer, 2 broken spears, & 2 other weapons that look like standing blades. He is half naked only wearing a dirty brown & white sumo like loin cloth, even in the cold of the night. His large lard gut apparently keeps him warm. Behind him are his two true friends, two wolves & a huge bear surprisingly bigger than he. He is carrying a large, heavy steel beam pole in his hands.
KIKU (kissing the boy & looking at Rikimaru drinking) : It seems Rikimaru is unarmed, hmm I wonder why?
BOY (caught up in the passion) : Un-huh Unarmed, yeah ok..(kisses Kiku harder & more frequently)
The large figure now takes this time to leap from the woods. He stands tall & even looks larger than when he was croutched. He pounces, if you could call it that over to Rikimaru.
FAT MAN (GOO) : Hey you. You’re the one the master wants You’re here just like he said you would be. This makes Goo’s job easy.
RIKIMARU (looks over to the man, still drinking) : I am in need of no company tonight. Be on your way.
FAT MAN (GOO) : So..The mouse can speak? When I am done with you .(pauses) Uhhhhh I forget what will happen when I’m done with you. BEAR!! WOLVES!! COME TO GOO!!!!
RIKIMARU : Goo? (goes into fighting stance, but wobbles a bit)
KIKU (looking on & stopping the boy from mauling his lips & hers together, & become quite silent) : Shh something is wrong, we’ve got to help him!!!
BOY (softly) : Help him? He’s a ninja master! What am I supposed to do? Jump out & watch him die? That guy is huge, there is anything I can do, Kiku. We must tell your father & the others before something happens!!!
GOO (to his bear & wolves) : GET HIM GOOD!!!
Suddenly the bear roughly tackles the drunken Rikimaru from behind & the wolves pounce on him afterwards. The Bear & wolves are now standing over him.
RIKIMARU (looks up) : Uugghhh (faints)
GOO (loudly) : You were no match for Goo, Bear & Wolves!!!! Master be proud of me, I go now to secret caves deep in the woods nearing Toda’s lands where nobody knows of, it only takes a little while to get there, I know when I get there. Causeeee .(pauses & rubs his head slightly) there’s an (pauses & rubs his head trying to remember) en-cir-kul-ment that looks directly at the moon, 3 caves are false, but the real one go deep to the torture chamber, that’s where you meet other ninja, heh, heh, heh. (picks up Rikimaru & carries him off into the dark woods)
KIKU (softly) : Did you hear that?
BOY (sarcasticly) : There are people in China that can’t help but to hear that.(rubbing his head & looking around) Its stuck in my mind!!! I can’t help but to remember it all!!!
KIKU (kisses the boy again) : We must tell Ayame & my father of what has happened!!!!
BOY (worried) : We weren’t even supposed to be out here Kiku!! How can we tell Lord Gohda without getting executed in the first place?? And he’s going to Lord Toda’s lands!!!
KIKU (smirking) : Silly..I’m not going to get executed..(runs back towards the castle)
BOY (quietly) : Actually my dear I was talking about myself, anyhoo.. (runs after Kiku, back towards the castle)
The loving duo make a mad dash back to the castle. They enter the compound & run all over the castle looking for Ayame.

INT. GOHDA CASTLE/ HALLWAYS/ AYAME’S ROOM – NIGHT

Kiku & the boy run thru the hallways to the servants quarters. The door is locked as Kiku tried to gently open the door. The boy tries to knock it down but the door is heavy.
KIKU : Hey! I got an idea!!! Why don’t we get that new ashigaru, he’s down the hall!!!!
BOY : Ok!! Ill get him!! (runs down the hall, to see Setsuro’s door ajar. HEY!!!! PRINCESS KIKU NEEDS YOU’RE HELP!!!
A half sleep Setsuro awakens. He has no shirt on ,but only his pants, & is barefoot. His kurikama & sword sit beside him He leaps from his bed instantly after hearing those words uttered, with kurikama in hand. He exits his room & runs down the hall seeing Kiku.
SETSURO (bowing furiously): My lady. What is wrong?
KIKU : You’re the ashigaru, they call Setsuro.
SETSURO (nods) : I am. What service do you require of me?
KIKU _ Ayame’s door is locked & I need to speak to her & from what I saw happen I fear she is in danger!! PLEASE BREAK DOWN THE DOOR, ASHIGARU!!!!
SETSURO : Yes, my lady!! (attacks the solid wooden door with a standing jump kick)
The door is busted down, Setsuro’s foot is in pain. He hops into Ayame’s room & falls down as he enters. Ayame is startled by the door’s fatal blow. She picks up some shuriken & throw them at Setsuro, an outline is patterned around him, as he falls she throws another at him he catches that one between his fingers as he hits the floor. He sits up & smirks. Ayame is startled by his hidden skills. Kiku & the boy enter her room after kissing a lot more outside in the hall. Kiku steps over Setsuro, the boy steps on Setsuro trying to get to Kiku. Kiku soon finds Ayame half-awake in her room.
AYAME : Kiku!!!! What’s wrong? I wondered why this fool busted down my door!!!
KIKU : Ayame!!!! (calmly) Rikimaru has been kidnapped.
SETSURO (on the floor) : Heh Imagine that Someone kidnapping a ninja It’s something out of novel, or a
AYAME (interrupting him): Silence!!! Our lady speaks, ashigaru!!!!
SETSURO (shaking his head) : Here we go with that again
KIKU : Ayame, me & er (pointing to the boy) we’re outside of the compound to get some privacy. And we saw Rikimaru drinking some sake by himself quietly.
BOY (interrupting Kiku) : Well Some would be modest
SETSURO (looking at Ayame, then fickles with the shuriken) : Er…How modest???
BOY (calmly): He was putting it away, like a drunken master. (makes a drinking motion with his hands) I do emphasize on the drunken part.
KIKU (almost crying) : We need to save Rikimaru!!!!
SETSURO (gets up) : You can’t do that. It’s against the code of the ninja No rescues. It forbids it.
AYAME (putting her hands upon her hips) : And how do you know this??
SETSURO (brushing himself off) : Uh Everybody knows that! Heh, heh. (walks out)
BOY : Hmm well it’s been great, its been fun but hey I gotta run! (takes Kiku into his arms & kisses her passionately) I’ll see you later, Kiku. (walks out & snap his fingers in Setsuro’s face as he leaves)
AYAME : I wonder what you’ve been up to. We must inform Lord Gohda, I will tell him nothing of your nightly outings, Kiku.
KIKU : THANK YOU, SISTER!!!!!! (leaps over to hug Ayame, afterwards she writes down what was said by Goo & hands it to Ayame) This is the way to where Rikimaru is!!!! Find him, Ayame!!! One more thing, Ayame He’s going near Lord Toda’s lands.
AYAME (clutching the note): Lord Toda???

FLASH BACK TO 7 YEARS AGO

INT. GOHDA CASTLE/ LADY KEI’S ROOM – NIGHT

The castle is burning, smoldering fire, black choking smoke envelops all a dark figure leaves a room in a rush, he holds something moving & screaming. It is Motohide Gohda, he is just leaving from Lady Kei’s room. He holds a young princess Kiku in his arms, she squeals & kicks as he runs faster & faster. Motohide is an older man, about 50 or so. He is clad in expensive black, ceremonial armor. His sword in his other hand now stained with the blood of the beautiful Lady Kei, the wife of Lord Matsunoshin Gohda. She lies upon the floor, her long black hair fetching & lay strewn about the floor, her solid, bright white silken clothing now horridly stain with her own red essence. It flows out, almost gushing from the singular stab, for she tried to stop Motohide from taking her only daughter, a 6 year old, almost 7 Kiku who is now in Motohide’s grasp as he leaves the burning castle. A young, 14 yr old. Ayame clad in tight red & black clothing, with her kuni behind her, is at the side of Lady Kei.
YOUNGER AYAME : My Lady!!!! Lady Kei!!!
LADY KEI (breathlessly) : Ayame
YOUNGER AYAME : Yes
LADY KEI : My .Ayame .a ninja
YOUNGER AYAME : My lady, don’t try to speak, I will get Kiku back
LADY KEI : Wait .take these (gives her two green bells that make a pleasant charm) .please take care of Kiku (her head falls to the side, her life is no more)

FLASH FORWARD TO THE PRESENT

AYAME (looking to the bell Kiku gave to her): I will, Kiku!!! I will, sister (She hugs Kiku once more)
Hugs & pats are exchanged & almost as fast, the nobles are assembled in a few minutes in the throne area. Setsuro is now fully dressed, armed & ready. He stands beside Kiku while Ayame with ‘Izayoi’ upon her back stands with Kiku on her other side. They plead their case before a rather sleepy Lord Gohda. Sekiya comes out from a hallway not fully dressed. Setsuro comments.
SETSURO (folding his arms & looking at Sekiya he speaks gently to Kiku) : Ah, the demons never rest, do they?
LORD GOHDA : What is so important that this cannot wait until morning Ayame??
AYAME : My lord, Rikimaru has been (pauses) kidnapped. He was outside & attacked by a team of forest warriors, & dragged off. He was unarmed, sire. And the warriors had many weapons. I know this may bring shame but I want to rescue him.
LORD GOHDA (looking concerned) : It may indeed. But under the circumstances, I allow this rescue of Rikimaru, we need not lose anymore good & loyal people so with that, Setsuro!!! (points to him) You shall accompany Ayame on this rescue!!!
SETSURO (softly) : Once again I see where my favor lies with my lord. (loudly) Yes sire!! I shall join her. Find & bring back Rikimaru.
AYAME : My lord we shall bring back Rikimaru!
LORD GOHDA : Then Ayame I release you from the ninja code, it is the least that I can do for Rikimaru who has proved himself to me time & time again. Go now & go quickly time is of the essence.
Sekiya walks over & giver her again the key to the secret Azuma Shinobi-Ryu stash room. She runs inside grabbing grenades, shuriken, a couple of heal bottles, a poison rice ball, & finally a super shuriken. She exits the room once more & locking the room.
AYAME (looking to him, staring at him more closely) : Are you ready, ashigaru???
SETSURO (nods & exits) : Let us go then (Ayame & Setsuro exit)
Sekiya moves back towards Lord Gohda & speaks.
SEKIYA : My lord do not worry Ashigaru are cheap labor. Setsuro can be replaced just like his superiors, if he fails in his duties.
LORD GOHDA : I do not know This one is different, some how. I will watch him, hey may prove himself, Sekiya.
SEKIYA (is speechless for a second) : My lord you’re patience & wisdom, match even the gods.( walks away)