Adam sat in front of his large television screen and pushed a button on the remote to change the channel. "Nothing new... This is starting to become boring." He watched as scantly clad women walking around cars with a person talking about how to become wealthy quickly, by following their program.

He shook his head and stood up, raking his fingers through his hair, and went to turn off the television, when his phone started to ring. He looked at the caller id. "Agent." He smiled. "He better have some good news for me, before I lose my mind in boredom."

"Hello Grant. What do you have for me?"

"How's your collection in the warring Japanese factions going?"

"Its still missing a few pieces before I can call it completed."

"Well... What if I told you that Hanzo Hattori's spear will be on display for the next week in Tokyo?"

"Continue..." He felt his heart rate increase. "You better not be trying to pull another prank on me. You do remember what happened last time when you told me about Ceasar's gladius?"

"This time, I'm serious... His spear is on display. You need to book a flight to Tokyo, if you want to get your hands on it."

"How much would they be willing to sell it for?"

"They don't want to sell it. If you want it, you have to use your other skills to acquire it."

Adam nodded. "Understood. I'm booking the flight now as we speak. Will you be in Tokyo?"

"No... I'll be at the usual place.." Adam scratched his chin. "What's in it for you? Why are you telling me about this?"

"I'm telling you because I know you need to add this to your collection, and that you have a desire to follow in his footsteps. Call it my way of apologizing, since the last lead wasn't good."

Adam nodded. "I'll be taking it then. Thanks for the info. I need to pack. See you."

"Good luck..." He heard the line go dead and dropped his phone on the sofa. He picked up his laptop and typed in the details buying a ticket to Tokyo Japan. "First flight tomorrow. First class. The only true way to fly."

He turned the television off and walked through his large house. He stopped at a room, and looked inside at the samurai armor and swords, shinobi gear and their tools. "Hanzo's spear will be a perfect addition to this collection I have here. Japan here I come."

He left the room and walked to his room. He put a bag on his bed, and started to pack it with his usual clothing, plus things he would need to take the spear. "I'll have to be careful how I get it out of the country. I don't want to damage it further, since it got wrecked already during the bombing raids. It'll lose its value if I damage it more, so I'll have to use Grant's contacts to get it out. I hope he isn't lying to me..."

He laid on his bed and closed his eyes, listening to the start of a storm beating against his large house.

Adam dreamed of shinobi running around, killing samurai, while he stood protecting someone in a carriage. He looked at the spear with a smile, and used it against the enemy ambushers. "You can't reach my lord until you pass through me." He smiled as he saw the enemy fall thanks to the blades of shinobi hiding out in the bamboo forests around him.

Darkness took over.

"Dinnnnnngggg. Please put your seat belts back on, we're about to land in Tokyo, Japan. We hope you've enjoyed flying with us, and will fly with us again soon." He smiled as he looked out of his window watching the cityscape of Tokyo come into view. "What a big city. I hope I won't have too much trouble." He felt the slight bump as the planes wheels touched the ground, and smiled as the plan came to a halt.

"Please remain seated until the plane has come to a full stop."

He smiled placing his hands under his chin as he waited for the plane to reach the gate. He stood up and put his business jacket on, and walked off the plane, up the gate towards the immigration. "I'm lucky I still have a few pages left in my passport for this sudden trip. I'll have to order a new one when I get back."

He stood in the immigration line, and smiled at the immigration staff. "Business or pleasure?"

"Pleasure. I'm planning to visit a few shrines, and see the sights. You know bath houses, and all the fun things."

'Stamp!'

"Welcome to Japan. Enjoy your stay. There's a lot of things happening in the next few days. I suggest you go pay a visit to Sainenji Temple. Its a good start to your sight seeing." Adam nodded and flashed his toothy grin. "I will. Thanks for the advice."

He picked up his bags from the bag carousel and entered the back of the closest taxi. "Hotel Chinzanso."

"Yes. Please relax. I'll take you there." Adam nodded and stared out the taxi window admiring the city and amount of billboards around the city. He looked up at the night sky. "No stars. Tokyo's lights are too bright."

"First time to Tokyo sir?" Adam nodded. "Yes, it is."

"You'll enjoy it. There's a lot to see and do. We're almost there." He nodded and stared out the window in silence.

He saw the hotel come into view, and waited for the door to open, before paying the taxi driver. "Thank you." He watched as the porters picked up his bags and walked into the hotel. He handed his passport to the front counter. "Name please?"

"Adam Schniver. I wish to pay for a week. I prefer a room near the roof of the hotel."

"Very good sir."

"I'll pay this for now, and if I incur charges, I'll pay the remainder when I check out."

"As standard. Would you also like to purchase breakfast?" Adam nodded. "Also I want to take a trip to Sainenji Temple tomorrow morning. Is it possible for you to order a taxi for me then?"

"That's not a problem sir. Thank you. Here's your key. Please enjoy your stay." Adman smiled and walked to the elevator. He turned and saw the porters putting his bags on a trolley. "They'll be up shortly."

'Ding.'

He entered the elevator and pushed the button that took the elevator up to his floor. He walked down the hallway and stood at the double doors to his room. He put the key in, and smiled as the doors opened revealing a beautiful room. "If I was here for company. This room would be perfect." He closed the door behind him and turned on the television, while also opening the curtains and staring at the city lights outside. "There's a lot of people who live here. I better map my path well. I don't want to be seen at all."

'Knock... Knock...' Adam went to the doors, opening them and allowing the porter to carry his bags inside. He nodded at the porter as they closed the doors behind them as they left. He looked back at the window again, and pulled out his laptop turning it on.

'Rrrrriiinnnnggg. Riiiiiinnngg.'

He smiled when he saw Grant's face appear on the screen. "Adam. You must be in Japan now?" He nodded at Grant's face. "Just checked in. There seems to be a lot of traffic around the area. I'll have to make a map of the area. I'm planning to go see it in the morning."

"Yep. When you get it, let me know, and I'll have my guys send it out to you." Adam nodded. "Good. Usual fee for them?"

"Correct." Adam nodded. "That's fine. Since I'm getting the spear for this, its worth your usual high price."

"Hahaha. Glad to hear it. I'm going back to bed. Call me when you get it." Adan closed his laptop and stared at the television in silence. He turned it off, and got changed. "Time for sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day indeed."

"..."

Adam woke up to the sound of the hotel phone and answered it. "Morning sir. We can send the breakfast to you now if you like?" Adam looked at the time, and nodded. "Yes. Thank you." He put the room phone back on its hook and went to the bathroom, quickly washing his face and sat at the edge of his bed staring out the large window.

'Knock... Knock...'

He opened the doors, letting the breakfast cart come in and place his breakfast on the table. He looked at it over, smiling, and started to eat, while listening to the television. "Time for a shower and than to start my research."

Once he finished his shower he left his room with his camera, and phone, he went downstairs and up to the counter. "Hello sir. How can I help?"

"I was told you can book a taxi for me to Sainenji Temple?"

"Yes sir. That's correct. Please have a seat. We'll have someone take you there." Adam nodded and sat in the lobby reading a newspaper, while waiting for the taxi to arrive. He smiled at the first page, which had photos of the spear. "Its coming out. I'm excited just to see it in person."

"Ahh... Hello sir. Your taxi is here." Adam put the newspaper down and walked to where the taxi was pointed out to him and got in the back. He saw the door close by itself, and the driver started driving. He watched in silence enjoying the morning streets. "Not as busy in the morning. That's good news."

He felt the taxi slow down and stop. He looked out the window at a silent temple grounds with countless headstones. "I thought this place would be busy with many people around here?" He smiled, and paid the taxi driver before stepping out and into the grounds looking at the locked gates to the shrine. "So the spear is behind those doors... Soon it'll be in my hands." He took a photo of the doors, and walked around the gravestones in silence. "These tombstones are beautiful, and looked after well." He stopped at one of the tombstones and felt his heart rate increase. "This is it. This is his tombstone. Hanzo Hattori. The demon himself." He took a picture of the elegant tomb and bowed towards it. "I'm the one who shall carry your spear forward. It isn't supposed to be worshiped. Its a weapon that needs to be repaired and used. I'll use it for you. Its a pity the weapons your were buried with no longer are here. I'd look after them all."

"Hahahaha... Many try to wield it and fail. We shall see." He looked around trying to figure out where that voice in the wind came from. He shook his head when he couldn't find the source, and looked back at the stone.

He felt pressure from his back and looked down at a blade sticking out of his chest. He turned and saw Grant's face staring at him. "Whhhyyyy?"

"Money. Power. All of it. Farewell. You can die in front of his grave since you idolize him so much." Adam fell to the ground and crawled to the gravestone, to use it to get up. He felt his body start to go cold, and shivered.

"He l l p p " He looked around and saw no one around him. He grasped for the gravestone and tried to pull himself up.

The voice he heard before in the wind blew into his ears. "Lets see if you're really worthy to hold my spear and carry the name of demon..."

Adam felt his body fall through the tombstone, and darkness surrounded him. He looked up "Is this death? If it is. Its a lot quieter than I thought it would be."

He saw a speck of light and rubbed his eyes. He looked down at his hand in confusion. "That can't be my arm. Also I seem closer to the ground. What's happened to me?"

"Masanari... You need to focus. How can you be a samurai and not focus. That's key, especially if you're going to be serving clan Matsudaira's young lord."

'Bang!' He felt the pain of being hit on the wrist with a wooden sword. He felt a tear fall onto his cheek. He took a step back and lowered his wooden sword.

"Ouuuuch! That hurt father."

He heard his voice. "That can't be my voice..." He looked at the blurry figure and saw their body come into focus. "How can you climb the mountain when you can't even focus now?" He felt his face heat up and bowed at the figure. "Sorry father... I'll never again lose focus. I won't let the name Hattori go to waste."

"Good. Now go eat, and say farewell to your mother. We have a mountain to climb."