The Way Of The Dragon (8 page)

With the formal offering made, the Shinto priest invited the
kami
to leave the ritual site, scattering water at the entrance. There was a brief moment of silence, then the doors to the Hall of the Hawk opened.

‘What did our
daimyo
mean by a beacon of light in dark times?’ asked Kiku, Akiko’s good friend, a petite girl with dark brown hair and hazel eyes.

‘I’m not sure, but it
was
a very strange thing to say,’ Akiko agreed, as they all slipped off their sandals and entered the
Taka-no-ma
to view its grand interior.

Once inside, they gathered at the edge of the training area, a beautifully polished wooden floor empty save for a stack of small tables in one corner. Upon the rear wall was a raised shrine, which the students would bow to before commencing their training. Apart from that, there appeared to be little decoration.

Until they looked up. The ceiling had been painted with a mural of a huge hawk in mid-swoop, its wings spread wide, its talons splayed. The strength and swiftness of the bird was apparent in every brushstroke. Standing beneath it, Jack realized the students were meant to be the hawk. Otherwise they would be its prey.

‘Maybe the
daimyo
thinks there’s going to be a war,’ suggested Jack.

The previous year, Jack had overheard his school rival, Kazuki, talking about Kamakura, the
daimyo
of Edo Province, planning to wage all-out war against Christians in Japan. Since then, there had been increasing cases of persecution and a growing prejudice against foreigners, but the campaign itself had yet to amount to a full-blown crusade.

‘Jack could be right,’ said Yamato. ‘We all know what
daimyo
are like. They’re always fighting over one another’s territorities.’

‘But the Council of Regents have held the peace for almost ten years now,’ Kiku replied. ‘There’s not been a war since the Battle of Nakasendo. Why should there be one now?’

‘Maybe
daimyo
Takatomi was referring to the martial art we’ll be taught here?’ proposed Yori, his eyes wide and fearful at the talk of war.

‘But what exactly are we going to be learning?’ butted in Saburo, a round-faced, jovial boy with thick bushy eyebrows. ‘I can’t see any weapons in this
dojo
. And who’s going to teach us?’

‘I believe that’s our new sensei,’ said Akiko, indicating a tall, thin lady talking to Masamoto.

Dressed in a black kimono with a stark white
obi
, the woman had ashen skin and colourless lips. Her eyes were the deepest brown and, despite their warmth, spoke of a great sadness. Yet the most striking aspect of her appearance was the waist-length mane of snow-white hair.

‘Who is she?’ asked Saburo.

‘Nakamura Oiko,’ breathed Kiku in awe. ‘My father once talked of her. She’s a great female warrior who became famous when her husband was killed during the Nakasendo War. Her hair turned white with grief overnight, but she still took over his battalion and led them to victory. She’s legendary for her skill with the
naginata
.’

‘
Naginata
?’ queried Jack.

‘It’s a long wooden shaft with a curved blade on the end,’ Yamato explained.

‘It’s a woman’s weapon,’ dismissed Saburo.

‘Not if you’re on the wrong end of it,’ snapped Akiko, irritated by Saburo’s remark. ‘The
naginata
‘s only favoured by women because it has a greater reach than a sword, allowing us to overcome a much
bigger
opponent.’

She stared meaningfully at Saburo’s well-fed stomach. Saburo instinctively placed a protective hand over his belly, his mouth falling open as he tried to think of a suitable reply.

‘Who’s the boy next to Sensei Nakamura?’ Yori asked quickly, aware the conversation was in danger of becoming an argument.

They glanced over to a good-looking boy with dark hair tied into a topknot. He appeared to be a couple of years older, but his physique was slight and he possessed the soft cultured features of a nobleman. He stood quietly beside Sensei Nakamura, seemingly at ease in his new surroundings.

‘That’s Takuan, her son,’ said a voice from behind.

Jack turned round to see Emi,
daimyo
Takatomi’s elegant daughter, a slender girl with long straight hair and a rose-petal mouth. Either side of her were her two friends, Cho and Kai, both of whom seemed transfixed by the new boy.

‘Emi, how are you feeling now?’ asked Jack, bowing.

The last time Jack had seen Emi she’d been unconscious after the female ninja
Sasori
had struck her in the neck and knocked her out.

‘Fine,’ she replied coolly, ‘though it took over a week for the bruising to go down.’

‘I’m sorry,’ mumbled Jack.

‘Not as sorry as my father was for having invited you into his castle.’

Jack didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t expected such a prickly reaction from Emi. He thought they’d become friends. Emi gave Jack an icy stare before turning on her heel and gliding away in the direction of Takuan.

‘I don’t think you’re her favourite samurai any more,’ commented Saburo in Jack’s ear.

‘Thanks for pointing that out,’ replied Jack, irritably digging Saburo in the stomach with his elbow.

‘
I’m
not the one who almost got the
daimyo
‘s daughter killed!’ Saburo complained, rubbing his injured belly.

‘That’s enough! Jack’s already made his formal apology to the
daimyo
,’ interrupted Yamato, seeing the shame in Jack’s eyes. ‘The new boy does seem to be making rather an impression, though.’

Jack looked round and saw that the girls in the hall had their attention turned towards Takuan, many whispering and giggling behind their hands. Takuan, who was engaged in conversation with Emi, glanced over in their direction and spotted Akiko beside Jack. He gave her a broad smile and inclined his head, inviting Akiko to join them. Akiko returned the greeting, her face blushing at the attention.

Still smarting from Emi’s harsh reception, Jack was surprised to find himself irritated by this exchange. ‘He looks more poet than warrior,’ commented Jack. ‘What’s he doing in a samurai school?’

Akiko frowned at Jack. ‘I expect that he’s going to train with us.’

‘
Us?
‘ said Jack.

‘Yes, he probably knows a lot more than just poetry considering his mother’s reputation. We should go and welcome him.’

Jack lingered behind as Akiko, Kiku and Yori went over to greet Takuan.

‘Hey, the
gaijin
‘s back!’ mocked a familiar voice.

Jack groaned. Of all the people he didn’t want to see the first day back at the
Niten Ichi Ryū
, it was Kazuki.

His sworn enemy strode over, arrogant as ever. His head recently shaved, and wearing his jet-black kimono with its red sun
kamon
emblazoned on the back, he looked every bit the son of a man supposedly related to the Imperial Line. His dark hooded eyes glared at Jack as if offended by his very presence.

Kazuki was flanked by the core members of his so-called Scorpion Gang: Nobu, who by his huge girth appeared to harbour hopes of becoming a sumo wrestler; Goro, a tough-looking boy with deep-set eyes; and Hiroto, thin and wiry as a stick insect, with a cruel, high-pitched voice. The only one missing was Moriko, the black-toothed samurai girl, who studied at their rival school, the
Yagyu Ryū
. The gang, formed in preparation for
daimyo
Kamakura’s supposed crusade, were firmly against the idea of
gaijin
settling in Japan. Since Jack was the only foreigner in the
Niten Ichi Ryū
, he was their primary target for harassment.

‘We were trying to decide whether you’d been roasted, boiled or burnt alive!’ said Kazuki.

Jack stared impassively back. He was determined not to give Kazuki or his gang the reaction they wanted.

‘Go away, Kazuki,’ said Jack. ‘That’s old news.’

‘Is it?’ Kazuki taunted. ‘The last I heard,
daimyo
Kamakura was offering rewards to those who brought Christians to justice. You do realize, Yamato, that these
gaijin
are spreading an evil religion. They’re trying to convert samurai to their alien beliefs in order to overthrow all the
daimyo
and rule Japan for themselves.’

‘If that was the case, why would
daimyo
Takatomi convert to Christianity?’ challenged Yamato, stepping between Jack and the approaching gang. ‘He serves the Emperor and is no fool.’

‘He doesn’t realize the true extent of their plans,’ replied Kazuki, lowering his voice, ‘Unlike
daimyo
Kamakura who’s passing a law that will banish all Christians from Japan. And good riddance to them!’

‘That may be
daimyo
Kamakura’s will in Edo Province, but it’s not here in Kyoto,’ retorted Yamato. ‘Now back off!’

Kazuki took a step closer.

‘I’ve no quarrel with you, Yamato. My issue is with the
gaijin
only. There’s no need for you to be involved.’

Yamato stood his ground, eyeballing Kazuki.

‘You pick a fight with Jack, you pick a fight with me too.’

Kazuki and his gang closed ranks against Jack, Yamato and Saburo.

The Hall of the Hawk was busy with students and the confrontation passed unnoticed amid the crowd.

‘Why do you always insist on protecting the
gaijin
?’ demanded Kazuki.

‘Because he’s family,’ replied Yamato.

Kazuki stared at him dumbfounded. Even Jack was taken aback by his friend’s statement. Yamato had never before declared their relationship in such a binding and familiar manner.

‘I remember a time when you hated him,’ Kazuki spat. ‘You despised your father’s decision to adopt a
gaijin
. He’s taking your brother’s place! Can’t you see he’s even replaced you in your father’s affections?’

‘What do you mean?’ retorted Yamato.

‘Unless I’m mistaken, it’s Jack, and not you, who’s being taught the Two Heavens. He’s not even samurai! How can you stand by and let a
gaijin
be taught your father’s secret sword technique?’

Yamato’s face went taut as he fought with his emotions. Jack knew Kazuki had hit a raw nerve. Yamato was always struggling to gain his father’s respect. His failure to enter the Circle of Three and warrant learning the Two Heavens was still a sore point for him.

‘Doesn’t it bother you that you’re not considered good enough for the Two Heavens? And
he
is!’

Jack immediately rose to his friend’s defence. ‘Yamato doesn’t need the Two Heavens when he could defeat any of you with his
bō
.’

‘I doubt that,’ said Kazuki, raising his eyebrows sceptically.

Saburo now stepped into the fray.

‘Think again. Yamato’s so skilful with the staff,’ declared Saburo, patting his friend firmly on the shoulder, ‘he could take on all of your stupid Scorpion Gang at once.’

Kazuki gave an incredulous laugh. ‘Is that right?’

‘You could blindfold him and he’d still win!’ added Jack emphatically.

Yamato stared aghast as Jack and Saburo made their boasts.

A sly grin spread across Kazuki’s face. ‘Perhaps we should put your claims to the test. Are you up for some sparring, Yamato?’

‘What are you suggesting?’ replied Yamato cagily.

‘A knockdown match. Exactly as the
gaijin
said: you, blindfolded, with your staff against me and my gang, weapons of our choice.’

‘Doesn’t sound fair,’ stated Yamato.

‘You’ve only got the
gaijin
to blame. It was his idea.’

‘No, I mean
you
won’t stand a chance.’

Kazuki nodded appreciatively. ‘Now that’s fighting talk. I propose a match tomorrow evening at the Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei.’

‘I’ll be there,’ agreed Yamato, his face impassive.

Saburo, caught up in the heat of the moment, squared up to Nobu. ‘Bring a priest. You’ll need one.’

Nobu growled back but Kazuki, laughing, indicated for them to leave, and the stand-off between the two groups of boys came to an end. Yamato turned to Jack and Saburo. He grabbed them both by the lapels of their kimono.

‘What have you two got me into?’ he exclaimed, shaking them angrily.

‘
You
agreed to the match!’ spluttered Saburo.

‘Yes. It would have been dishonourable to back down after all your bragging.’

‘Kazuki had no right to say those things about you,’ replied Jack in his defence.

‘That may be the case, but I can fight my own corner.’

‘It’s going to be a great fight too,’ enthused Saburo. ‘Five against one. You’ll be a legend in the school.’

‘I’ll be dead more like,’ shot back Yamato. ‘Blindfolded! What were you thinking, Jack?’

‘Sorry, I got a bit carried away. But you won’t lose,’ Jack replied, with as much gusto as he could muster. ‘With all our
chi sao
training and your extra
bō
lessons, you’re by far the best in Sensei Kano’s class.’

Yamato shook his head in despair. ‘I’m no Sensei Kano. Against five opponents, I’ll be annihilated in this match!’

‘What match?’ demanded a gruff voice.

Sensei Hosokawa, the school’s
kenjutsu
teacher, a fierce man with a sharp stub of a beard, stood behind them, his arms crossed and his two swords tucked into his
obi
.

Yamato let go of Jack and Saburo and bowed an apology. ‘Just a training match, Sensei.’

‘To test Yamato’s
bō
skills,’ added Saburo, putting on his most innocent smile.

‘Sounds intriguing,’ said their teacher, eyeing the three of them suspiciously. ‘But you should be getting ready for Sensei Nakamura’s first class this afternoon. Don’t be late!’

Sensei Hosokawa strode off and began to usher the students out of the
Taka-no-ma
.

‘Sorry for getting you into this,’ said Jack as they put on their sandals outside. ‘I’ll go and tell Kazuki the match is off.’

‘NO,’ replied Yamato, grabbing Jack’s arm. ‘Kazuki was looking for a fight. If we pull out now, I’ll lose face.’