{"sf1_id":1686018,"sf2_id":"dmWN5ARe","title":"Naoku: Sengoku Era Kitsune","author":"r3dw0lfspRit","words":1387,"posted_at":"2021-02-16T23:30:00.000Z","tags":["Bear","Incomplete","Kitsune","Plot Development","Raccoon","Weapon"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1686018-naoku-sengoku-era-kitsune","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/dmWN5ARe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/d9/25/d925561c-81d3-4867-869a-26f3dd84f697","description":"#5 of Written Word\n\nTemple maiden Naoku wants to take up a blade to defend her lord and land. Will she succeed, or will the village weapons master have her calling it quits?","content":"A screenplay I've been working on for about a month or two, and is a work of fiction:\n\nNaoku: Sengoku Era Kitsune\n\nOVER BLACK:\n\nTitle appears in stylized Japanese characters\n\nEnglish subtitles appear under underlined Japanese characters.\n\nTITLE\u0026nbsp;\n\nNaoku: Sengoku Era Kitsune\n\nThe text fades to black.\n\nEXT. YAMAHATA VILLAGE SQUARE--NIGHT\n\nSFX:\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Music\n\nSFX:\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Chatter\n\nText appears in Japanese characters.\n\nThe Japanese characters morph into English subtitles.\n\nTITLE\n\nSENGOKU ERA, YAMAHATA VILLAGE, JAPAN\n\nSlow fade to a lively street parade in mid-procession at night. Closeup on various anthropomorphic animals dancing and performing in period clothing. A temple's outer facade looms in the background as the camera pans up to the village's skyline.\n\nSFX:\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Ten gong?\u0026nbsp;\n\nTEXT:\u0026nbsp;YAMAHATA TEMPLE\n\nINT. YAMAHATA TEMPLE\n\nA naginata rests on a set of display hooks. Along with the naginata, other weapons sit on display: swords, daggers, spears, sickles and still more, both bladed and blunt.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;A roaring fire lights the display room from a stone fire pit set into the floor.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;A single inhabitant, NAOKU, a white bipedal kitsune with three tails wears a simple gray robe.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;She tends to an ornate pot occupied by a Japanese maple tree sapling.\n\nNAOKU\n\nHow about some water, Kiiko-chan? Wouldn't want Lord Aotsuna thinking I don't water you, would we?\n\nThe plant stands silently.\n\nNAOKU\n\nThat's okay, no need to answer. I know you're the strong and silent type....\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Now what did I do with that watering urn?\n\nCloseup on a clawed hand clapping on Naoku's shoulder. The hand's owner, a large brown bear, laughs.\n\n\u0026nbsp;AOTSUNA (O.S.)\n\nTalking to the tree again, are you, Naoku?\n\nNaoku flinches, gasping in surprise and embarrassment.\n\nNAOKU\n\nL-Lord Aotsuna--! F-forgive me, I-I didn't hear you come in.\n\nAotsuna waves dismissively.\n\n\u0026nbsp;AOTSUNA\n\nHeh heh heh, not to worry, not to worry.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I simply came to check on you. Tell me, how are you doing?\n\nNaoku looks taken aback.\n\nNAOKU\n\nH-how am I doing?\n\nLord Aotsuna nods.\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nYes.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;How. Are you. Doing?\n\nNaoku rests a hand on her hip while brushing her silver hair out of her eye, swishing her three tails absent-mindedly.\n\nNAOKU\n\nMay I speak freely, my lord?\n\nLord Aotsuna nods.\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nYou may.\n\nNaoku shifts uncomfortably.\n\nNAOKU\n\nI--I have served Your Lordship faithfully for years now. Yet... yet I must ask, my lord....\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nYes?\n\nNAOKU:\u0026nbsp;\n\nI... I wish to learn how to wield a blade, my lord. A...a proper blade, as Your Lordship wields.\n\nLord Aotsuna walks over to the weapons display, selecting the naginata with an air of reverence.\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nI do not see any harm in your request.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\nAotsuna performs a horizontal spin with the naginata, followed by a diagonal uppercut to the right, an overhead twirl and an overhead slash directly in front of him.\n\nAOTSUNA (cont.)\n\nHowever, I must ask, why?\n\nNAOKU\n\nWhy, my lord?\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nYes. Why do you wish to take up a blade?\n\nCloseup on Naoku as she closes her eyes in thought. Her silver hair falls across her left eye, her posture relaxing.\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nHm?\n\n.\n\nNaoku breathes deeply, slowly opening her eyes.\n\nAOTSUNA (cont.)\n\nYou will answer your lord. Why do you wish to take up a blade?\n\nNAOKU\n\nTo further serve Your Lordship, and to defend this temple from those who would seek to dishonor and desecrate it and what it stands for.\n\nLord Aotsuna nods, returning the naginata to its display.\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nHmph.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I must meditate on this. But I am not unsympathetic. Until I have reached a decision, you may take up the staff.\n\nNaoku reaches out for the naginata.\n\nNAOKU\n\nMy lord, if I may--?\n\nAotsuna eases her hand down, smiling.\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nI have spoken.\n\nPair shot of Lord Aotsuna and Naoku.\n\nAOTSUNA (cont.)\n\n\u0026nbsp;Until I have fully made up my mind, you may train with the staff.\n\nAotsuna presents Naoku with an elegant staff.\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nYour training shall begin tomorrow morning. For now, rest; gather both your strength and resolve, for you will need both if you wish to survive our weapon master's training.\n\nNaoku bows deeply.\n\nNAOKU\n\nThank you, my lord. I will not fail you.\n\nAOTSUNA\n\nAh, you honor me, but I am the final step on your path. First you must be shown the way.\n\nFocus in on Naoku eying the elegant staff before cutting to black.\n\nTITLE\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe following morning...\n\nEXT. YAMAHATA TEMPLE--EARLY MORNING\u0026nbsp;\n\nSFX: Six gong strikes.\n\nEstablishing shot of sunrise against the village foreground.\n\nNAOKU (V.O.)\n\nToday's the day! Time to give it my a--\n\nNaoku is heard falling head over heels.\n\nNAOKU (V.O.)\n\nAaah! Rrrrrr...I'm gonna be late! And if I'm late then I won't be able to give it my all, and if I don't give it my all, then I'll be letting down the weapon master and more importantly Lord Aotsuna, and that--CANNOT--happen!\n\nSFX: Running.\n\nEXT. YAMAHATA TRAINING FIELD--DAY\n\nTITLE\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;YAMAHATA TRAINING FIELD\n\nA black flag billows in a gentle wind. The flag is adorned with a stylized white paw print and three claw marks; two are crossed at the bottom, and one is in a center line.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Naoku stands below the flag, her hands on her waist, hair disheveled, wearing a battle dress and underskirt.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;An elegant staff is slung on her back.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;A bipedal raccoon wearing a wakizashi and katana at his hip clad in cloth robes and leather armor eyes her with an air of superiority.\n\nNAOKU\n\nFurumi-sensei?\n\nThe raccoon stays silent, folding his arms over his chest. He nods.\n\nNAOKU\n\nLord Aotsuna said I needed to report here for training?\n\nThe raccoon smiles a tight-lipped smile.\n\nFURUMI\n\nYou must be the new girl I was told about late last night, yes? Well, listen up, newbie. You will address me as\u0026nbsp;Sensei\u0026nbsp;or Master. I will not hold your hand, nor will I give you any special treatment because of your being a woman. Do I make myself understood?\n\nNAOKU\n\nYes,\u0026nbsp;Sensei.\n\nFurumi holds out his hand.\n\nFURUMI\n\nYour staff. Give it here.\n\nNAOKU\n\nWhat?\n\nFURUMI\n\nYour staff.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Let me see it.\n\nNaoku removes the staff from its sling, passing it to the raccoon with both hands.\n\nFurumi inspects Naoku's staff, turning it in his grasp.\n\nFURUMI\n\nYou would use one of our lord's weapons to train?\n\nNaoku frowns, looking down to the ground.\n\nNAOKU\n\nYes.\n\nNaoku looks up quickly.\n\nNAOKU (cont.)\n\nBut I have a good reason for it, honest!\n\nFURUMI\n\nHmph....\n\nFurumi presents the staff to Naoku, pulls back, then strikes Naoku's calf muscle, making her fall.\n\nNAOKU\n\nOw!\u0026nbsp;Kuso...! H-hey! What was that for?!\n\nFURUMI\n\nYou are not ready for weapons yet. You need to get stronger.\n\nNAOKU\n\nAnd...\n\nNaoku lifts herself up to standing.\n\nNAOKU (cont.)\n\n...how might I get stronger, master?\n\nFurumi points with the staff to a pair of buckets next to a well.\n\nCloseup on a pair of wooden buckets.\n\nFURUMI\n\nI am glad you ask. You see those empty buckets? You can start by filling them up a quarter of the way full each, and carrying them to the bathhouse. If you get tired, report back to me, and I'll let you try again. Do you understand?\n\nNAOKU\n\nYes, master.\n\nFURUMI\n\nGood.\u0026nbsp;Hajime!\u0026nbsp;\n\nNaoku fills each bucket a quarter of the way full before returning to Furumi.\n\nNAOKU\n\nSensei?\n\nFurumi is asleep underneath the shade of a tree.\n\nNAOKU\n\nMaster?\n\nFurumi's ears perk up. Yawning, he blearily opens his eyes.\n\nFURUMI\n\nHm? What is it?\n\nNAOKU\n\nI, er, had a question about your lesson.\n\nFURUMI\n\nYeah? What?\n\nNAOKU\n\nUm, how should I carry the buckets?\n\nFURUMI\n\nHowever you want...\n\nFurumi points a finger at Naoku's chest.\n\nFURUMI (cont.)\n\n...so long as you're the one carrying them. No cheating. No asking someone else to do this task for you. Now go on. Remember, if you get tired, report back here and I'll let you try again. Now, off with you.\n\nNAOKU\n\nHai, Sensei!\n\nNaoku grabs one of the buckets and tucks it under her arm. Furumi watches with a smirk.\n\nFURUMI\n\nOh, and before I forget... Lord Aotsuna likes his bath water steaming. You might want to remember that little bit of information should you wish to be in his good graces.\n\nNAOKU\n\nYes,\u0026nbsp;Sensei.\n\nFURUMI\n\nAnd one more thing. He usually takes a bath around noon. So...tick-tock.\n\nNaoku's eyes go wide in horror.\n\nNAOKU\n\nBut! But! But that means--!\n\nNaoku runs off with inhuman speed.\n\nFURUMI\n\nHeh, heh. That oughta get her motivated.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Written Word","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1642013-the-looking-room.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1858268-avatar-poetry.json"}}