Konnichiwa. Arigato, to everyone who read the first chater of this story. In case you didn't figure out who the ninja is, it's Ryo, but for the time being, his name will be something different. You'll find out why later on. Anyway, on to the disclaimers. Disclaimers: 1. I don't own Samurai Troopers. I only own Shakalli. 2. As stated before, the armors will not appear until everyone is assembeled. 3. This is supposed to take place in the feudal period, but in a fantasy like alternate universe. Now on with chapter two.

Path of a Leader

Chapter 2 Failed Assassination

Seiji woke up early that morning. He had had little sleep, and choose to wake up and get this seemingly long day started. He could sense a dangerous force in or near the city. He could only wait and see what the force choose to do. As he was walking down a long corridor, he sensed someone trying to approach him very quietly. He smiled, and spoke,

"Satsuki-chan, you know better than to sneak up on me like that. If I had my no-datchi, I could have hurt you for doing what you were doing." Satsuki looked at the back of her onii-san's head and started to pout. "Don't start with that now. You're to old to be doing that."

"Onii-san, you're no fun since ojii-san died. We used to be able to joke around and play, well when we weren't in his presence. Now you just act like since you're the boss, that onee-san and I are supposed to act like mature adults. Onee-san is an adult, as she is older than you, but I'm still young. I don't want to grow up, or act grown up, until I have to."and with that, she turned around and went back to her room. Seiji turned to watch her disappear down the hall, looking a little depressed. Of both of his sisters, he was the closest to his younger sister.

Hearing Satsuki say what she had just said, made him feel bad. He knew that when his ojii-san died, he had to make sure everyone knew that he was the boss. And appearently, he had, he had been bossing both of his sisters around too. His older sister, Yayoi, had understood, as she was the oldest, and most mature of the three of them. She didn't mind being bossed around, of course she was not always there. She had been spending alot of time with the healers for the past three years now.

So that left his little sister to take the brunt of his orders. And that made him madder than anything else. He would have to apologize to her later. Now he had to speak to the guards.

A few hours after dawn, the young ninja was awakened by a sharp pain in his side. Suppressing a curse, he held his side in the hopes that the pain would go away. It didn't and it only got worse. However, now that it was light enough, he could enter the city. He mounted his horse, and left the safety of the thicket he had entered at dawn that morning. upon entering the, somewhat heavyly guarded city, he started towards the nearest inn that he could stay at while he was here.

Once he arrived, he once again dismounted, not even bothering to tie his horse to a post, and entered the inn. He was greeted by the owner and his wife. When they asked his name, he debated on wether or not to give his real name or not. Choosing to tell the truth, he told them his name was Sanada Keno. (In this story, his name will change from Keno to Ryo.) He asked where the livery stables were and went back outside. He grabbed the reins of his horses bridle and gently led his horse there. He went in, asked the attendant(?) if he could take good care of the horse. When the young man nooded, Keno, tipped him with a big chunk of change. Then he went back to the inn. He would need more rest before he could even begin observing what went on in the large castle in the center of Sendai.

Later that evening he started walking around. He began looking at everything that was going on around the castle, never once keeping his gaze on one thing for longer than a minute. His gaze was constantly shifting from one thing to another, as that was how he gathered information. His side began hurting him again, and he almost fell to his knees. After regaining the breathe he had lost, he quickly ran to a alley to hide. He knew her voice was going to ring through his head, and he didn't want anyone else to see what was going to happen.

"I thought you cared about family, young Keno. Or, should I kill more of your family members this time, hmmm?" Keno grabbed his side and clutched his teeth.

"I do care about them. I'm finally in Sendai, so please just give me one day extra. I need to make sure I know everything I can about Date Seiji before I can even attempt to kill him." at this point he heard another voice and knew this voice to be that of Badamon.

"You have no more time. If you don't kill the Date tonight, everyone else in your family will be slaughtered. Do you understand? Our employer want's him dead before the full moon. That is tomorrow. Do it tonight or else." and with that both voices disappeared. Keno once again had to bite back a curse as another wave of pain swept over him. Only then did he notice he was crying. His hand went to his eyes and furiously wiped the tears out of his interesting tiger blue eyes. He then went to the inn where his things were and proceeded to get everything out to make sure he had everything he would need to kill Seiji, and if things went badly, himself. Now all he had to do was wait until night time.

Seiji had been practicing with a few of the guards when he almost fell to his knees. It seemed that he could feel an even darker presence then he had the night before. He also felt someone in pain, extreme pain, and as sudden as it hit, it just disappeared. The guards went to Seiji when he started gasping for air, which is what he had done when the pain had hit him. When he realized what had happened, he waved the guards off, telling them he was suddenly overcome with dizziness. He told them that he just needed some air and he would be fine. He left, went upstairs to his room, and walked to the balcony outside of his room. He had no sooner walked out, when he saw a young man dressed in rather dark looking clothes. Seiji also felt some sort of pain that was bothering the young man. He frowned and shook his head, then turned and went back inside.

A few hours after dark had completely taken over the city, Keno waited until several people had disappeared from the streets, most likely into any of the several saloons or bath houses. He covered the distance to the castle rather quickly. He had managed to blend in with the shadows of the night, even though the moon was almost full. He quickly sneaked in with no problems. It was only once that he had to put a guard into premature sleep. He had decided not to kill any of the guards, as that might alert the other guards, but if a guard was asleep, he would be accused of having to much sake or of being irresponsible. He hid in the shadows of the corridors as he waited for the owners of the many rooms he passed, to either blow out the lamps or to close their doors.

It was thirty minutes after his entrance into the castle, that he came upon what looked like the room of a young woman. She was asleep, but her door was open. He looked in and saw Satsuki laying on her futon, and he almost started to cry. Seeing her lay there asleep, he was reminded of his little sister, Himeno. He looked away and decided to continue on his way. A few rooms further down the hallway, he spotted what seemed like the young Date's room. Upon quick inspection, however, he found the room to be deserted. Where was Date Seiji at this late hour of the night? He saw a sudden flash of light. While the flash of light was not bright enough to hurt his eyes, he had a feeling that the direction the light was coming from where Seiji was. Making sure that his hood was pulled over his slightly longer than shoulder length ponytail, he followed the direction he had seen the light.

He made his way to what seemed like a large sparing room. Weapons and practice weapons lined the room. It looked like it was deserted, except for the two combatants in the room. One of them was a woman with long hair pulled into a braid. The person she was sparring with was a young man, about Keno' s age. This young man however had hair that was golden blonde, and a duller version of the light he had seen earlier, was radiating from the young man. If this man caught him sneaking around the castle, before he could assassionate Seiji, he would be in trouble.

"To think, my little brother, Seiji-san, has gotten better at fighting, since I fought him last. I'm really impressed that he's gotten so good." So that was the eldest granddaughter, Yayoi-san. For a woman, she was exceptionally good.

"My thanks for your compliments, onee-san." Oh shit, that blonde was Seiji-san. He had wondered why Badamon and Shakalli had wanted Seiji killed. Now he knew why. He had always heard, that a person born with blonde hair or very light colored hair, was powerfully gifted. Sometimes spiritually gifted, sometimes physically, or mentally gifted. This was bad, he probally sensed him there already. He would have to move fast. He raised his blow dart to his mouth and aimed. Just as he was about to release a dart, Seiji turned toward the door and yelled.

"We're under attack." his sister turned as well and saw what looked like a dark clothed fighter running towards her brother. The fighter drew a katana and swung at her brother. She saw his face lean towards Seiji, and if she wasn't imagining things, she heard something being spoken. The two swordsmen backed away and Seiji told her, quiet urgently,

"Onee-san, get out of here and warn the guards. Get out of here, now." Yayoi started to say something but the look on her brother's face told her not to question him. So instead, she nodded and ran out the door. The ninja backed over to the door, took a real spear, and stuck it through the side of the door through the side of the wall. Now only the two of them were in there. Seiji dropped the practice sword he had been using and got a real one. He was surprised to see the ninja waited until he had a no-datchi in his hand and unsheathed it before he struck.

"You are a ninja, yet you didn't attack while my back was to you. May I be so bold as to ask why you did so?" he eyed his opponent as Keno jumped back. Seiji was the one to strike next. As he brought the no-datchi down in a swing, from the upper left to to the lower right, he noted this ninja seemed to be breathing heavier then he should be. The two seperated, and Keno was over come with pain in the lower left side of his ribcage. He almost fell to his knees, but kept from falling. Now however, it seemed that Seiji might know he was injured. He could hear the guards coming, and knew that time was short.

"I'm truly sorry, Date-san. But if I don't kill you, my family will be killed. It's a long story, but it is the truth. So I must do this, please find it within you to forgive me for this." and with that, he pulled out three kunai knives, and got ready to throw them. The guards had been trying to open the door for several seconds. Now they were almost in the sparring room. Seiji looked to see one of his guards nock an arrow and knew it was too late for the ninja.

The ninja in turn had turned 180 degrees and was aiming the kunai knives at the intruding guards. One of them hit a guard in the leg and the other two hit the wall on the opposite side of the hallway. The archer shot the arrow and the ninja was able to jump out of the way. Unfortunately, he landed on his left hand, which somehow had caused his side to start throbbing. The next arrow however, did hit him. It struck him in the exact same location as his previous wound. It caused him so much pain that he cried out.

He hit the floor, and as everything was growing fuzzy, he was aware of someone coming towards him. He heard someone yell something to Seiji, and heard Seiji shout something to the one who had just spoke. He knew he was going to pass out, and he thought that he was probally going to die and he just lay there, waiting for death to claim him. He saw Seiji standing over him, and wished with all his heart, that Seiji would just kill him. Seiji knelt over the wound, before he touched the skin around the arrow. That caused him more pain than he had felt in almost three weeks. He screamed, and all he saw after that, was darkness. And he was content knowing that he was probally dead.