“DEMON HAUNTED WORLD PART 2”
PILOT FIRST DRAFT
BY W HATHAWAY
-CHARACTERS APPEARING IN PART 2-
HANZO, the blademaster, leader of Squad 4.
KAJI, the apprentice monk, member of a cursed clan with a dark past.
KENMARI, the spirit magic specialist, twin to Kenmori.
KENMORI, the elemental magic prodigy, twin to Kenmari.
SONG, the monk, master of Buddhist martial and magical arts.
ICHIMARU, the weapons specialist, martial arts expert.
-PART TWO-
EXT: Beautiful day at a peaceful imperial castle in the forested hills outside Kyoto. There are storm clouds on the horizon. A lone rider is passing under a series of torii gates along the mountain path to the imperial villa. On the horizon is a large waterfall with a temple built next to it.
Cut to a peaceful room inside the castle. A young man is sitting across a table from Yoshi, playing Go, while another man, handsome in his midtwenties, fusses with an origami creation by a window.
YOUNG EMPEROR: Ha! Got you, old man!
YOSHI: Well played, Your Eminence. Your long term strategies are growing more robust…
The young emperor gives a satisfied grin and nod.
YOSHI: However…
Yoshi places a stone down on the board with a sly grin and the young emperor’s face drops, then grows into a look of stern determination.
YOUNG EMPEROR: Oh! Game on!
HANZO (placing his origami down): You’ve been at this for three hours…
Yoshi and the young emperor return their concentration to the game, but something draws Hanzo’s attention outside.
HANZO (seeing the rider coming up the path toward the castle): Huh? Someone is here…
The young emperor looks over inquisitively, then walks to the window. Yoshi follows.
YOUNG EMPEROR (in recognition): Ah.
YOSHI: Mutsu and Hyuuga will deal with it…
YOUNG EMPEROR: No, I know him. This is important.
The scene cuts back to the rider, passing between buildings into the villa. The camera takes a view from a window with a cat sleeping in it. The cat opens its eyes just enough to look down at the rider for a moment, then stretches out and goes back to sleep.
INT: The imperial hall. The young emperor, in resplendent robes, sits upon a simple throne on an octagonal dais. Before him are his closest companions and most trusted bodyguards: Mutsu and Hyuuga. To the side stand Hanzo, Yoshi and an old blind monk.
The rider enters, still wearing dusty travel clothes and immediately bows and then kneels to the young emperor.
MESSENGER: Your great eminence, please forgive my shabbiness. I-
YOUNG EMPEROR (cutting him off with a raised hand): We thank you for coming here straightaway. Your mission was to return here when news grew dire. It is with great trepidation that we have awaited your report.
MESSENGER: War is inevitable. The Asakura and Daigo clans are growing more hostile by the day. But more immediately, the borders between Lord Ishida’s fief and Honshu lands are contested and an army is on the move.
YOUNG EMPEROR: Where will they attack?
MESSENGER: My sources inside the Honshu forces tell me Maru.
YOUNG EMPEROR (nodding): You have our great thanks. Please stay and rest, but not overlong. Lord Ishida must not miss your presence.
MESSENGER (slyly): I have come to Kyoto on business for Lord Ishida and could not resist a visit to the most beautiful Jade Falls Temple…
The messenger bows and leaves. The young emperor looks to the old monk, who nods.
OLD MONK: Our duty is known.
Yoshi embraces Hanzo. Hanzo gives him a reassuring grin.
HANZO: It’s routine, at this point.
The old monk nods.
YOUNG EMPEROR: May Buddha and all the gods of the world protect you.
EXT: A small lake in the center of the villa. Two people, twins, are there. One is lounging against a tree, reading a very beat up looking book while a cat is curled up next to her. The other is practicing elemental magic, conjuring spinning wheels of water in the air. Yoshi and Hanzo are approaching.
KENMORI: Yoshi-sama, Hanzo-sama, good morning!
Kenmari places her book down and stands up, waving as she makes her way over to them. The cat walks over, rubbing itself against Yoshi and then Hanzo, who gives it a scratch behind the ears.
HANZO: Good morning, my friends. We have a mission. Meet up at the hall.
KENMORI: There is going to be a battle?
Yoshi nods.
KENMARI: How terrible…
Yoshi nods.
HANZO: You seen Kaji?
KENMARI: He’s supposed to meet us here this afternoon. We were going to teach Sora bird names today. But first they’ve all gone down into the city.
YOSHI (frowning): I’ll take Gin down to the city. That will be quickest.
HANZO (to the twins): Will you let Ichimaru know, while I go to the temple for Song?
KENMARI AND KENMORI: Hai.
Cut to the sky, dark storm clouds gathering in the distance. Cut to the waterfall and the temple next to it. Hanzo is a small figure walking up the cliff path. Cut to the twins in the villa walking past peaceful buildings. Cut to Yoshi on Gin riding down the road toward the city of Kyoto, sprawling below.
INT: A peaceful and simple home. A beautiful young woman, Chiyo, is sitting on a futon, petting a sleeping cat on her lap. On the other side of the room Aikiko and Ichimaru are discussing weapons. Another cat sits atop a shelf, watching them with bright eyes.
Aikiko is examining a sleek dagger while Ichimaru absently teases a cat with a string as she speaks.
ICHIMARU: I got that one in Nagasaki. Foreign design, but excellent craftsmanship. Perfectly balanced for throwing.
There is a soft knock and a call from the other side of the door. At the sound, the cat on Chiyo’s lap wakes up and jumps away.
CHIYO (trying to keep hold of the cat): No, wait…awww…
KENMORI (from the other side of the door): Pardon the disturbance…
Chiyo stands and it is clear now that she is missing her left leg and has a rough prosthetic. She grabs a walking stick and motions to the others that she’s got it. She takes the few strides to the door confidently, opening it to reveal the twins. They give polite bows.
KENMORI (blushing): Hello, Chiyo-sama…
CHIYO (brightly): Hi, guys!
Aikiko and Ichimaru turn inquisitively. The cat from the lake returns with the twins and all four cats greet each other.
KENMARI (to Ichimaru): Hanzo has summoned us for a mission briefing.
KENMORI (to Chiyo): So sorry…
CHIYO: I should start making my way to the temple, anyways. The children will be there soon for class. They will miss having the Genius of Kyoto to help them today – Please come back safe.
Kenmori blushes brightly.
KENMARI: Of course, Chiyo-sama.
Ichimaru embraces Aikiko and Chiyo, then gives a farewell bow.
ICHIMARU (giving a winning smile): Be back in no time.
EXT: A busy street in the city, full with morning traffic. Two figures stand in an alley, a third figure knelt in the shadows.
OFFICER KAI: Saetako Rin – heir to one of the richest clans in the land – Saetako Rin – commits seppuku, here, in an alley next to a ramen shop. Make it make sense, Jun.
Jun crouches down, examining the dead man knelt in a huge pool of blood.
JUN: With no second…
OFFICER KAI: Crazy son of a bitch just sat here and died…
Jun uses his jitte to test the corpse’s grip on the bloody blade it holds. It is tight.
JUN: Blackmail?
OFFICER KAI: Got to be one hell of a dark secret to off yourself like this..
Jun nods, straightening up. As he turns to look at Officer Kai, something draws his attention to the street beyond. A strikingly white horse, Gin, stands out brightly in the drab traffic.
JUN (giving a wave): Yoshi-sama!
Yoshi returns the wave but rides on.
JUN: Huh, must be important. I should go. Keep up the good work, Doshin Kai.
EXT: Busy docks in the city. A bustling market with shops and food stands. Tenshi, Kaji, Soto and the mule are walking carefree through the crowd.
KAJI (smelling the food in the air): Smells incredible!
TENSHI (doesn’t know the word): Incredible?
KAJI: It means good.
SOTO: Really good…
KAJI (clapping Tenshi on the shoulder): Relax, bro.
TENSHI (looking around tensely): Many people…
SOTO: Trust me, you’re going to love this.
TENSHI (nods): Trust you.
Soto gives a hearty laugh. The scene cuts to them sitting at a table outside a restaurant with dragon pillars holding up its red roof. A lovely serving girl in a red dress is nodding at Soto.
SOTO (in Japanese): Three of them, big ones.
The serving girl moves off and Soto yells past her, to the chef.
SOTO (in rough Korean): Don’t try passing off little portions on us, either!
The scene cuts to them eating. It all looks delicious.
SOTO (to Kaji): Thought you monks couldn’t eat this stuff.
KAJI: Apprentice monk. Let me enjoy it while I can.
The voices around the group grow quiet. Horse hooves are heard approaching over the din of the docks. Yoshi arrives. The team stands from their meals and all bow, then notice many others outside the restaurant are also bowing to the veteran samurai lord.
SOTO: Must be big news to bring you out here, boss.
YOSHI: There is going to be a battle.
TENSHI: Battle…
Kaji sighs, pops a last bite into his mouth and nods.
EXT: The grand gates of the lower temple. There are monks meditating by the waterfall as Hanzo passes. He enters the temple and the sounds of hand to hand combat drift through the halls. Hanzo lays his swords on a low table before the grand chamber and then enters. A great buddha statue between two towering dragons watches over as Song moves majestically, countering four opponents at once. An old monk sits cross-legged beneath the buddha.
OLD MONK: Good.
Kneeling monks are lined up to the sides. At a nod from the old monk, three more leap up and move to join the fray but are instantly dispatched, put back down by a whirlwind kick from Song.
OLD MONK: Very good.
There are children and teens in apprentice monk robes all around Hanzo, watching.
KIDS: Whoa…
HANZO: Sorry to interrupt your training…
SONG: Just a little fun before class, right guys?
KIDS (laughing): Yea!
FALLEN MONKS (groaning): Yea…
SONG (seeing a guy with a bruised eye): Oof, sorry…I’m trying to take it easy, really…
HANZO: I have news…
SONG: I can feel it on the wind. War.
Hanzo nods. The old monk watching looks sad.
INT: The briefing hall. Maps line one wall, shelves full of scrolls and books line two others. The last wall is slat windows overlooking the lake.
Squad 4 is gathered here along with an old one-eyed monk: Director Fungeki; and a younger man with bifocals: Densai the administrative assistant and record keeper.
FUNGEKI: If you follow the mountain road, Maru is less than a day away. Those roads can always be dangerous, but with all the samurai and their soldiers drawn to the battle at the border the mountains have filled with bandits and renegade ronin.
KAJI (shrugging): Not too worried about them…
SONG (looking troubled): Poor souls…this war makes monsters of us all.
HANZO: This battle…it is going to be big. Maybe the biggest in a long while. But the procedure is the same: we seal up any dangerous spirits, we eliminate any lingering yokai, and we’re home in a couple days.
SQUAD 4 (together): Hai, sir.
EXT: Before the dragon gate of the temple. Biwa the blind monk is giving blessings. Squad 7 and assorted members of other squads that happen to be present are gathered to see Squad 4 off.
BIWA: Buddha’s blessings and protections. Though you journey into darkness, you carry with you the light.
Everyone exchanges bows and farewells.
KENMARI (to Tenshi): Lesson about bird names as soon as we get back.
TENSHI: Be safe, friends.
KAJI (to Aikiko): Did Chiyo say anything about me?
Ichimaru hides a small laugh.
AIKIKO: She said she would be praying at the temple…for all of you.
Kaji smiles.
YOSHI (to Hanzo): Buddha be with you, brother.
Yoshi and Hanzo exchange formal bows.
As the small crowd watches Squad 4 depart, Jun stands with Yoshi, speaking quietly.
JUN: You served with Saetako Hiro?
YOSHI: For many years, long ago.
JUN: …What do you know about his son?
EXT: Squad 4 journeying through the mountains in the sunset. As they move, shadowy figures follow along, hidden among the trees.
SONG (stopping): You may as well come out, we all know you’re here…
KAJI (mouth full of leftovers): Huh?
Figures armed with simple spears and kamas begin to emerge from the trees and climb from a ditch on the side of the road. A hulking bandit leader in mismatched armor steps out into the middle of the path.
BANDIT: This is Onira crew territory and nobody passes without paying the toll. Nobody.
HANZO: We are monks from Jade Falls Temple. We have no money.
BANDIT (looking at Hanzo’s blades): You are well armed.
ICHIMARU (smirking): Very well armed.
KAJI: Guys…you don’t know who we are. You do not want to do this.
KENMORI: You face the Genius of Kyoto.
BANDIT: You are outnumbered. Give up the swords and you can go.
ICHIMARU: Come get them.
HANZO: Please, just allow us to pass…
BANDIT: Onira crew, show them who’s boss here!
At their leader’s command around 30 rough bandits burst forth, charging with spears and sickles. They are no real match for Squad 4. Kaji moves with precision, bringing the front few down with karate chops to the neck. Song sends his bo staff spinning and a sudden gust of wind bursts forth from it, sending a handful of attackers tumbling back down into the ditch. Ichimaru slashes forward at a group charging with spears, expertly slicing off the pointy ends.
ICHIMARU: Heh, cheap.
Kenmori, surrounded, takes a wide sumo-like stance and beckons the group to come at him. They laugh.
LAUGHING BANDITS: Dumb kid, get him!
Kenmori sidesteps their attacks and then stomps the ground and suddenly a dozen rocks shoot from the ground around him, smashing each attacker in the face, knocking a few out cold, knocking a few more down and putting all the rest off balance. Kenmori gives a two handed power punch to one, who tumbles over and knocks a couple others down into the ditch with him. Kenmari draws out her ring staff and with twirling blows knocks the rest of the attackers around her twin down.
As the fight rages around him, Hanzo is slowly stepping forward toward the bandit leader, hand on his sword hilt.
HANZO: It is never too late to turn back to Buddha…
BANDIT: You fucking samurai took everything from us!
A handful of bandits rush past their leader toward Hanzo, who lays each one out in turn with precise strikes. The fight with the rest of the squad has turned against the bandits and they begin to flee. The bandit leader, wielding a crude broadsword, roars in rage and rushes at Hanzo.
BANDIT: I’ll fucking kill you!
Hanzo dodges and drops the bandit with a perfect sidekick to the chin. The broadsword goes spinning into the air and lands point down, planting itself in the ground. Hanzo draws his katana and then slices the broadsword in half with one clean stroke.
The camera cuts to the downed bandit leader’s point of view, Hanzo and then the rest of the squad looking at him.
HANZO: Go home and rethink your life. All of you!
EXT: The squad crossing the bridge on the mountain path. Down below, in the distance, covering the land on the other side of the town is a great enemy host. Ranks of soldiers, cavalry and cannons.
The squad is approaching the mountain path town gate. There is a large group of orange clad samurai under orange banners guarding the gate. Hanzo approaches and speaks with them, but the camera lingers on Kaji in the foreground. In the background there is a samurai tapping his buddies and pointing out Kaji to them. Hanzo motions everyone to come through the gate.
GUARD: Okatsuki Kaji. Hey, Okatsuki Kaji!
Kaji is pointedly ignoring it, staring forward as the squad passes through the gate. The samurai calls out behind them before being quieted by a signal from his commander.
GUARD: You didn’t run far enough, Okatsuki! You can never run far enough!
ICHIMARU: Hell was that about?
KAJI: Lots of bad karma in my past…
SONG: Buddha doesn’t care about who you were yesterday, only who you are today and who you could be tomorrow.
The squad is approaching a large pagoda temple. There is a crowd milling about outside: soldiers saying goodbyes, people praying and making offerings. A line of mounted samurai under majestic banners is arriving as well, a rotund monk is bowing to them.
MONK: Buddha bless you, Lord Ishida. The Buddhas smile on your gracious protection. You have the goodwill and thanks of all in this town and the lands of Sakura.
As the head monk is speaking, other subordinate monks are gathering and chanting blessings. Lord Ishida ignores them all and turns his horse toward the squad. They do not bow to him.
ISHIDA: Matsugi Hanzo, the dragon of Kiro. Your blade would be better served in my army, defending these lands from our enemies instead of chasing fairies and goblins.
There is a smattering of laughter from the mounted samurai.
HANZO: We defend the living from vengeful spirits and the restless dead…of which there are sadly many, since the war has gone so poorly that it now sits at our doorstep.
ISHIDA: The wars will continue until this land is united beneath a great leader.
HANZO: May we all live to see the day. But first we must survive this battle.
Hanzo moves to lead the squad into the temple. Song turns and gives a polite bow.
SONG: Buddha’s blessings to you all!
The squad enters the temple. An older monk and Song greet each other warmly. Some raggedy kids come up to the squad and start marveling at Hanzo and Ichimaru’s blades and the twins’ fancy robes. As Hanzo surveys the scene, cannons roar out far in the distance. The camera cuts to a shot of the kids with big worried eyes looking up at the squad.
ICHIMARU: Hey, don’t worry. We got you guys, right, Kaji?
KAJI: Huh, yea, right.
Cannons roar out again as the scene fades with people piling into the temple. Fade to black to the sounds of cannons, gunfire, battle cries and blades clashing. Fade back in to the temple, gently lit by lanterns. Kaji is sitting in a circle with some children and peasants, telling a story.
KAJI: …but the fox demon was too smart for us and we lost it in the forest. We thought we found it, but it just laughed at us and said we would never catch it because it was running away to live in the clouds. However, I just so happen to be friends with a clan of Tengu and…
Their story is interrupted by cannons, still in the distance, but markedly closer. The temple shakes as something in town collapses with a rumble. The camera cuts to some scared kids looking at Hanzo.
HANZO: I’ll check it out.
Hanzo goes out front, onto the porch between two Nio guardian statues, where Ichimaru is keeping watch. The temple is dimly lit by hanging lanterns and the horizon glows with fire, but there is deep darkness in between. Between dark buildings on the outskirts of town, shadowy, spear carrying silhouettes appear. Just a few at first, then more and more, gathering into ranks.
HANZO (calling back into the temple): Squad Four!
Squad 4 gathers on the porch, facing off with the growing group of soldiers in the shadows. The ranks of soldiers form up, spreading back into the deep darkness. Hanzo draws his blade, followed by Kaji and Ichimaru, their swords reflecting the firelight. Song steps forward and takes a tai chi-like motion. A wind begins to pick up, blowing hard toward the soldiers and growing steadily. The twins step out to either side. Kenmori makes handsigns and flames from two lanterns flow out into the air, growing with the wind. The flames twist around into the forms of two dragons and then circle above the squad. Kenmari holds her ringstaff out, chanting, and a soft white light begins to glow in her eyes and then in the eyes of the Nio guardian statues, who creak to life and take combat stances, brandishing their blades.
There is a long moment of tension. The soldiers begin to mill about and then slowly file away. Hanzo nods. Kaji lets out a big sigh of relief. Fade out on an awesome image of the squad together, everyone looking awesome except Kaji, his cheeks puffed out as he exhales.
Fade in on the sunrise. A battered samurai and a handful of soldiers are speaking to Hanzo and the head monk. All around are monks, tending to the wounded along with the twins’ help.
SAMURAI: Thanks to Lord Ishida’s ferocity, the town stands. We have pushed them back into the field and our counterattack will soon see them routed.
Hanzo nods as cannon blasts continue to ring out, further in the distance now.
ICHIMARU: This evening then?
Hanzo nods.
EXT: Dusk before the temple. The cannons have fallen silent. Squad 4 is gathered.
SONG (to head monk): Please keep the priests away until we tell you it’s safe, okay?
The head monk bows to the squad and they move off. They pass a gate in the town wall and there are corpses spread around with the same design armor and spears as the soldiers from the standoff the night before. There is a scene of great grief in the town square, the weeping heard softly before turning the corner to see it. Crowds of people are here, searching for family members and others are crying at what they’ve found. Gathered families grieve over the corpses of fallen soldiers.
The squad exits town through the large destroyed gate where priests are gathered, offering purifying rituals and blessings to those coming off the field. There is still work being done here, soldiers digging through debris to find fallen comrades, enemy remains being tossed into big piles. The sun is low, casting everything in blood red light. As the squad passes into the battlefield proper, there is rustling in a pile of debris to one side.
HANZO: Hey, you kids get out of here! It’s dangerous!
Three teenagers abandon their rummaging, pop out and take off running back toward town, one of them carrying a dented helmet. The squad moves deeper into the carnage. A group of soldiers is passing the other way, dragging a captured cannon and leading a couple of prisoners.
HANZO: Seen anything strange out here?
One of the soldiers looks over at the question with deep bags under his empty eyes. He doesn’t answer with words, just lifts an arm absently and points over to the side toward a rise on the horizon where the enemy lines broke and the slaughter was the deepest. The squad begins to move that way.
HANZO: Song, do you sense anything?
There is a halo of soft white light around Song’s eyes.
SONG: Right beneath the surface…like it’s hiding.
KENMORI: Hiding where?
SONG: Everywhere…
The squad reaches the top of the rise, offering a view of death and destruction spreading in all directions. The ground here is still squishy with blood. Around them the ground very subtly shifts and heaves, but the squad’s attention is on the scene around them. On a ruined wall is a strange, demonic looking script, scrawled in blood. On the ground are corpses and body parts obviously arranged into a rough shape, a kanji: 力, chikara (power/strength).
KENMARI: Demon worshippers…
As she speaks, zombies begin to crawl over a low ruined wall to their side.
KAJI: Fucking ghouls!
Hanzo and Ichimaru fly into action, slicing up creatures that come near the squad. As they move, the ground around the rise begins to flow and form up into a mass that takes flight, a disgusting blob of blood soaked ground, dripping yellow bile as it rises into the air. Sharp protrusions of bone and rock run down its spine and atop its wicked yellow-eyed head, its face splitting open to reveal sharp yellow fangs and a tongue made of a thousand razor tipped ribbons spills forth. It takes flight around the rise and then dives at the squad. The twins stand forward to meet it. Kenmori takes a karate stance and flame from a small lantern on his belt flows out of the vents and flares into a large ball of fire as it hits open air, trailing a comet-like tail as it twists around. Kenmari plants her ringstaff before her and whispers a holy name. Six spirit arms rise up around her, giving her an asura-like appearance and drawing out sleek blades.
The monster lets out a powerful roar as it dives toward the squad. Kenmori does a power punch motion and the fireball rockets forward, flaring larger as it speeds though the air to smash the monster in its snarling face, checking its advance. The creature roars out in pain and flies upwards. Kenmari becomes a swirl of blades as she leaps at the monster’s exposed underbelly. The monster is chopped to pieces as she passes through its center mass.
ICHIMARU: This is a lot more than the usual ghouls and ghosts…
HANZO: We should get backup, fast.
Kaji nods emphatically.
As the quick fight raged, Song had been standing perfectly still. Everyone notices and looks to him now. The camera moves around him and, as it reaches his back, the scene shifts into a spirit world. It is a grim scene. The ground is skulls. All around are wailing red spirits. One side of the sky is a towering statue-like being, a goddess of mercy, weeping. The sky is outlined by shifting light at its very edges, but at its center is a growing vortex of darkness. As Song looks up at it, two red slashes appear in the sky and slowly expand into a set of huge triangular eyes of flaming red. A demonic laughter rises up as Song looks on in terror. Behind him now is a long line of spirit monks. One puts its hand on Songs shoulder. Song turns and the monk looks at him sadly. It seems like the monk is about to say something when the hand on Song’s shoulder materializes. It is Hanzo’s armored hand, shaking Song from the trance.
HANZO: Come on.
SONG (very softly): This is how it ends…
KENMARI: Song…what did you see?
SONG: Something has awakened.
Where the vortex of darkness was in the spirit world there are now roiling black clouds, darker black than natural. The stormclouds quickly spread, cutting off the last rays of the setting sun, covering the squad in deep darkness. Black lightning flashes in the clouds, washing the squad in black light.
HANZO: Let’s move!
Thunder rolls in response and black rain begins to fall. Song takes a few fluid motions, air shifts and then speeds around them and a twister shoots forth into the sky, but there is no effect on the clouds above.
SONG: It is unnatural.
KENMARI: Very unnatural.
As black rain begins to pour, the puddles begin to rise up, forming into shadow demon ghouls. Armored monstrosities surround the squad, cutting off their escape. Hanzo takes the lead, leaping at the mass of monsters, blade flashing. Song lets loose a battlecry and sends a flurry of rocks flying. Kaji touches his face and looks at his fingers, seeing the wetness is a dark red.
KAJI: It’s blood…
Suddenly he is knocked aside as a sharp mandible strikes at him. Ichimaru is there to protect him, a flurry of blades, dicing the creatures apart. Kenmari is a dance of swords through the monsters until, out of nowhere, a dark mandible pierces her through the back, out of her chest. Her ringstaff goes flying, landing by a nearby rise.
KENMORI: MARI! NO!
Kenmori rushes forward, a dragon of flame spinning around him. He lands next to his sister, bleeding on the ground. He kneels down by his fallen twin, holding her.
KENMORI (indescribable anguish): NO!
The dragon formed of fire settles over him, setting himself alight as more monsters close in on him and his dying sister.
KAJI (eyes wide): No, fuck no…
ICHIMARU (hauling Kaji up): Come on.
Kenmori unleashes a roar, his own body becoming fuel for the raging fire dragon. The flames build to white hot, burning him and his sister to ash and then exploding outward like white swords, burning a path through the creatures for the squad to follow.
HANZO: Move!
As the squad rushes forward a sludge-like creature begins to rise up before them and all around them. It is engulfing corpses and weapons, animating them. Headless torsos slash and stab at the squad with swords and spears. Song’s eyes begin to glow white, wind is picking up around him.
SONG: Run!
A tornado is forming around him, rocks ripping up from the ground to spin around him. The monster throws its sludge at this grinder, tearing apart, but slowly overtaking Song. Hanzo is moving ahead and Ichimaru is dragging Kaji along, who is looking back, eyes wide and crazed as he witnesses Song be consumed by the monster’s bulk. Ichimaru shoves Kaji forward and then darts toward shadow demon ghouls, slashing at them. Hanzo grabs Kaji by the shoulder, dragging him along as they run toward the big town gate.
HANZO: Whatever happens, I need you to make it. You must escape and send a message for help. You are a survivor, Kaji. That’s what I need you to do now: survive.
Hanzo shoves Kaji towards the big gate, looming large in the distance. Ichimaru screams defiantly.
ICHIMARU: Come on, then! Meet you ends on a mortal’s blade!
Ichimaru is slicing and dicing shadow demon ghouls until she is pierced by mandibles from three different enemies. Completely surrounded by them, she twists herself free before they can chomp their jaws on her, cutting all the ones around her to pieces as she falls to the ground, bleeding. The ranks of shadow demon ghouls close on her fallen form as Kaji looks back and then has to scramble out of the way as the sludge monster thuds its massive form down around them. Hanzo turns to face it, blade flashing.
HANZO: GO!
Hanzo slices the monster’s face clean off, but another wicked mouth forms instantly, jaws chomping down on Hanzo. The monster’s hulking mass crashes down, shaking the ground and knocking Kaji down onto his back. The sludge monster looms up over him, parts of Hanzo still caught in its fangs as it snarls.
KAJI: Brother, forgive me…
Kaji’s eyes close, preparing to meet his end. Instead there is a long pause, then a horrible crunching and spitting sound. The monster spits out pieces of Hanzo’s armored gauntlets along with the wooden team leader seal. Shadow demon ghouls gather behind the sludge monster, one lets out a screech. The scene fades out on the ghoul’s screeching skull face then fades back in on another screeching skull face as the scene moves to the current battle with Squad 7.
The camera focuses on the sludge that holds together the Horse-headed Demon Ghoul, the same sludge as the monster in the flashback. A furious attack sends Kaji down to the ground and he sees that dark clouds are spinning above them. Black lightning flashes inside the dark black clouds and small splatters of blood begin to fall.
KAJI: No…no, not again.
He rolls over to stand up and before him, sticking up out of the mud, is Kenmari’s ringstaff. Flash to Squad 4, together at the temple, laughing together in the villa. Kaji’s eyes grow hard with determination as he grabs the staff.
Tenshi and Yoshi are dueling the horse-headed demon atop the hill. It knocks Tenshi to the side and Yoshi leaps away from a lunging attack. The demon wheels about at a gallop, charging at Yoshi, who makes no motion. The sound of the monster’s crashing hooves is joined by another set of galloping hooves, growing closer. Yoshi reaches back as the demon leaps to attack him, and is carried off as Gin flashes across the screen. Gin wheels about and leaps, Yoshi slicing off an entire side of arms from the hulking demon. The sludge oozes out of the wounds, quickly closing them up.
The rest of the squad is standing among the smoking corpses of shadow demon ghouls as Soto unleashes blasts and throws explosives.
SOTO: Burn, motherfuckers, burn!
KAJI (looking at the horse-headed demon, speaking to himself): I can’t do this…not alone.
The camera turns, showing the squad standing to his side, looking at him. Soto gives a serious nod, smoke trailing from gun barrels.
JUN: Bro, you are not alone.
The bloodstorm grows as Yoshi and Gin lead the horse-headed demon around the field in a fast moving duel. The scene cuts to Tenshi, picking himself up out of the mud. In the shadows of the ruins around him, two small blue flames flicker to life. They are eyes glowing under the cowl of a ghostly cloak made of darkness that floats in the shadows before Tenshi. A soft, ghostly voice speaks to him.
ZALA (in English): Let me help you…
Tenshi suddenly finds himself in a realm of total blackness, ripples spreading out around him the only color, like he is standing on perfectly still black water. The scene cuts back to the battlefield, Tenshi standing up with blue flames in his eyes, a cloak of shadow settling around him. His blades glow softly as blood drips down his swords and armor.
The squad falls on the Horse-headed Demon Ghoul with a furious coordinated attack. The monster regenerates quickly, but the team pushes its healing to its limit with an unrelenting assault. Kaji is chanting, wisps of energy drawing out of the shadow demon ghoul remains all around. The horse-headed demon roars on, driven by pain and rage and hate. Tenshi moves into the center of the fight.
ZALA (in English): Get us closer…
TENSHI (attacking furiously): YAAAAA!
Tenshi is face-to-face with the horse-headed demon.
ZALA (in English, terribly sad): Nature’s child…what have they done to you?
The scene changes to quick flashes of horses in battle, horses being whipped, being blown away by cannons, being dragged from their parents, being sliced up by swords, being beaten, being shot.
ZALA (in English): Come with me…
The spirit whispers and suddenly the scene shifts into a spirit world, an endless plain of golden grain and green grass. Tenshi, surrounded by the shadow cloak, is standing among a herd of horses. Other spirit horses start to materialize out of the land and greet the newcomers.
ZALA/TENSHI: Leave behind that demon-haunted world. Leave behind all of its pain and hate.
The scene cuts back to the battlefield. The horse-headed demon has stopped attacking. It is staring eye-to-eye with Tenshi. The rest of the squad pulls up around, ready to attack, Kaji chanting and the priest intoning latin prayers. The monster’s horse head gives a final sad neigh. Gin answers it back as the horse-headed demon’s eyes close and the horse head sloshes off from the sludge. Black lightning rages in the storm above but the blood rain begins letting up. The sludge making up the creature is writhing, shrieking, as it rises into the air slowly, tearing bloodily from the corpse parts it had incorporated.
The camera centers on Kaji as he chants a demon-sealing sutra. The spirits of Squad 4 appear around him as the rings on the staff clatter from a spirit wind blowing through. A necklace of coins and amulets around his neck begins to glow and he strains as the energy burns him. All of Squad 4 grasps the staff together and the demon shrieks as its essence is pulled into the necklace. Sludge and body parts thud to the ground as the demon is sealed away.
Kaji sinks to his knees and begins to sob. The scene cuts to a dead and burned tree atop a hill to the side. An oddly garbed ninja stands on a branch, watching the squad gather up after the fight.
NINJA: Fascinating, just as the Master said.
The ninja’s shadow stretches out and he sinks down into it, a moving rectangle of darkness that slides down the shadowy tree trunk and into the dark ground below.
-CREDITS-
-EPILOGUE SCENE-
EXT: A bustling street before a makeshift church in the city. Beggars and peasants are massed out front, where priests are distributing food beneath a large crucifix. Brother M moves through the crowd, making the sign of the cross to people as he excuses himself past them, up to the stairs of the building. The priests passing out food eye him suspiciously as he passes. Brother M greets them wordlessly as enters the church. A few women kneel in prayer at the altar. Brother M doesn’t disturb them as he moves through the room and then up a flight of stairs. He walks down a dim hallway, pausing to listen for a moment at a door before continuing on to another door. He stops and takes a deep breath before knocking in a specific sequence. A voice answers from the other side.
VOICE (in Portuguese): Enter.
Brother M opens the door and closes it quickly behind him. A priest is sitting at a writing desk under a window at the end of the room, a few other priests are milling about at desks and bookcases.
PRIEST (in Portuguese, flipping through a book to find the words, incredulous): Do you have a report on the anomaly that…fell out of the sky?
BROTHER M (in Portuguese, in a sharp tone): My report is for the High Cleanser.
Brother M places a sealed envelope on the desk.
-END OF EPISODE 2-
天使物語 THE TALE OF TENSHI 