Episode 20: THE HANDPRINT FROM THE BATHHOUSE (ONNA BURO IHEN, NAZO NO TEGATA) *****
Directed by Ota Akikazu
Two Iga are attacked in the night by the Negoro clan, but kill themselves before revealing the location of the Shadow Warriors. Later, the same killers capture Oyoshi, a prostitute who is also an Iga agent. Preferring not to kill a woman, the leader wishes for her to unveil the Shadow Warriors hideout. Like the others, Oyoshi kills herself. However, the mysterious Negoro group plan to use her corpse as a decoy. Hayate Kid watches from the trees and ends up fighting with the killers. He escapes to report back to Yamabiko.
Meanwhile, doctor Gennai is reading Orin's palm. Curious about her love life, she is interested if Shin will be her lover. He lets her know that he "has no such intentions." She leaves angered. Hayate Kid arrives and tells of the incident in the woods. Orin returns and tries to coax Hayate into becoming a bathhouse boy by examining his body from head to toe. Otoki is greeted with an arrow that narrowly misses her. A message is affixed to the weapon detailing the location of Oyoshi's body.
Having not known she was a prostitute, Ryukichi wishes to bury her, but Shin refuses stating that, "We ninja have no graves!" His only cousin, Ryukichi finds it hard to deal with his grief. Disobeying yet again, Ryukichi heads into Crows Woods to give his cousin's corpse a proper burial. The trap sprung, the gang watches nearby.
The next day, Orin and Okei have a conversation about men. She divulges to Orin that she's going about it the wrong way. If she wants to snag Shinpachi as her husband, she should show affection for another man which is supposed to make Shin jealous. At that time, a man named Yakichi enters the bathhouse looking for work per the sign outside. Okei tells Orin that this man would be opportune for her plan in making Shin jealous. Examining the weapon Hayate Kid brought to him from his fight the previous night, Shin figures the Negoro of Kishu are responsible. He sends Tsurozu to investigate.
Later in the afternoon, Shin and doctor Gennai are fishing when Orin brings Yakichi by to introduce him. Gennai, of course, is on to her scheme. During a busy day at the bathhouse, a drunk man enters and Yakichi begins to beat them up. However, when Shin enters the room, Yakichi feigns knowing how to defend himself and allows the drunks to get the better of him. Shin is on to the mysterious Yakichi. That night while enjoying a dinner, Orin becomes drunk and calls for Shinpachi to join them in their meal. In her drunken state, Orin makes mention of a basement which stirs Yakichi's interest.
The next day, Tsurozu returns with information regarding the Negoro. Their clan leader, Yatoji, as well as ten clan members were away. Shinpachi surmises they are in Edo and know the Shadow Warriors are hiding in Yamabiko. Meanwhile, Orin recovers from her night of drinking. Yakichi is by her side and pledges his love for her. Taking her by the hand, he asks for her hand in marriage. Suddenly, her headache is gone. But then, Yakichi begins asking questions about Shinpachi and his friends. It is now known that he is Yatoji, the leader of the Negoro. That night, an emissary of O'oka, Ide-dono, visits Yakichi (Yatoji) and discuss the Shadow Warriors. Yatoji asks that once he and his men quell the Iga threat, that the Negoro are made Shogunate guards.
Late that night, a Negoro agent penetrate Yamabiko and search its basement. Ryukichi is there and battles the invading Negoro warrior. He is captured and he and Shinpachi interrogate the man. Knowing that the Negoro desire more than just Shin's head, the Iga bide their time till the others decide to force their hand. The next day, Orin goes to Gennai to tell him his prediction came true and that she is to marry Yakichi. Meanwhile, Yakichi (Yatoji) happens upon Shinpachi fishing on the pier. Both know who the other really is by this point. Ryukichi appears and details to Shin that the captured Negoro has managed to successfully kill himself. Assured the Negoro seek the copy of the pact he has in his possession, Shin believes the Negoro won't attack till they know that he in fact carries the list.
At that time, Orin asks for Shinpachi to see her. Upon meeting with her, she says she is going to marry Yakichi. Of all times, Shin has a look of concern on his face. He tells her she should most definitely think this over. He leaves and Okei appears from behind a bush overjoyed that Orin's plan to make Shin jealous has worked. Meanwhile, the younger Iga follow close behind Yatoji. He meets with his group and tells them that once they eradicate the Shadow Warriors, the Negoro will replace the Koga as Shogunate guardians. But first, they must obtain the copy of the pact. Later, Shin asks Otoki to tail Orin since the Negoro are using her to get to the Iga.
Meantime, Yatoji makes a handprint and asks Orin to give it to Shinpachi. Ignorant to what it means, Orin thinks it has to do with Gennai's palm reading skills. Shin and Ryukichi match this new print with the copy they have. Asking why Yatoji would do such a thing, Shin says, "If we unmask him, he'll know the pact is here." Otoki returns with a note from Yatoji that states, "If you want to save Orin, bring the pact to Crows Woods." Now is the time for the Shadow Warriors to strike.
That night, Orin is taken away and tied up with ropes. Yatoji explains to her that she "will die as crow bait, without knowing why." She is then blindfolded and Yatoji continues, "Orin, crows attack the eyes first. Yakichi's kindness provided the blindfold." As Orin is lifted into the air, Yatoji gives orders to kill her when the Iga arrive. Noticing the Negoro hiding in the trees. Shin has a back up plan-- the Hayate Kid. Saving Orin from the clutches of the Negoro, the Shadow Warriors battle the ten members to the death.
Some time after, Gennai and Shin talk about how depressed Orin has been since Yakichi (Yatoji) betrayed her. Shin gives her some sake and she cries before bringing the cup to her lips. She calls herself a fool and a laughing stock. She looks to Shin and says, "Shin-san, aren't you laughing, too?!" He replies that she is wrong, and that because she loved the man deeply, "No one laughs at a person's true feelings." She then asks about the man that rescued her from certain death, "...he was so terrific!"
Shinpachi asks if she got a look of this man's face, to which her answer is 'no'. Happy that she didn't gaze upon her savior, Orin beckons Shin to "Stop being so jealous. You should show your stuff sometime...." Shin agrees with her muttering a limp 'Hai'. She then commands sternly, "Not haiiii...hai!! HAI!"
Action drama specialist Ota Akikazu returns to present one of the best shows of KAGE 2. It is here that the Shadow Warriors hideout is discovered and is a turning point in the series. Here, at episode 19, the time draws near and the Iga get closer to their goal. The enemies get tougher and the Negoro are one of the most formidable groups they have yet faced. Amidst all this, program 19 belongs to Orin's character and her continuing journey to make Shinpachi her lover. Her plan to make him jealous by pretending to fall for another man proves near fatal. Not only that, but she begins to have feelings for this man whom is only interested in getting close to the Iga.
What's ironic, is that once Shin knows who Orin's faux suitor is, she mistakes his concern for her life for actual jealousy. The ending is a true 'Superman' moment when Shin asks Orin if she got a good look at the face of the man that saved her. She talks of how wonderful he was and that Shin should be more of a man like that.
One of the best sequences has both Shinpachi and Yatoji fishing together. Both men know who the other is and their thoughts are conveyed through voiceover. If Ryukichi hadn't appeared, it would seem the two would have eventually fought right there. This is an all around excellent episode filled with lots of suspense and some funny moments courtesy of comedienne, Kiki Kirin. A great program that will please the action crowd and those that want some character interplay to hold their attention.
Continued in Episode Twenty-One: THE GIRL WITH THE JAMISEN!!!
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