Kazuki glared at Araki, then stepped back a pace and sheathed his sword.
"Don"t disappoint me by dying too soon, gaijin gaijin," said Kazuki. "But if you do I want you to go to your grave knowing that I will will find Akiko." find Akiko."
30.
WATERFALL DUEL.
"What a perfect day for a duel!" said Araki, admiring the sunlight glinting off the waters. "This will be a fight to remember."
Jack turned to Ronin and whispered, "If I lose, I die. If I survive, I die. Not much of a choice, is it?"
"You win a war one battle at a time," replied Ronin, his hand not leaving the hilt of his bokken bokken. "Focus on this battle first."
The excited crowd organized itself into a large semi-circle to create a duelling area, its boundary marked by Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry students on one side and the waterfall behind. students on one side and the waterfall behind.
"When you are ready!" said Araki, bowing formally to Jack. you are ready!" said Araki, bowing formally to Jack.
Putting aside his immediate concerns about Kazuki, Jack returned the bow. Araki drew his katana katana, slowly and precisely. The Shizu blade was like quicksilver in the sun.
Faced with a battle against his own swords, Jack felt his resolve momentarily give way. Only now did he truly understand the awesome power of the weapon. Victory seemed etched into the very steel itself and Jack knew his defeat was no more than a single sword thrust away.
Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Jack unsheathed both Ronin"s swords. In one flowing motion, he raised his katana katana to the sky and held the shorter to the sky and held the shorter wakizashi wakizashi across his chest as a guard. He across his chest as a guard. He only only had to get first blood, he reminded himself. A simple nick or cut would suffice. had to get first blood, he reminded himself. A simple nick or cut would suffice.
Araki seemed in no hurry to attack. He circled slowly and Jack kept in step with him, always maintaining a good sword length"s distance between them. Jack knew Araki was a.s.sessing his competence by the sureness of his footwork. The samurai then fell back into a side stance, his katana katana held low and the blade hidden behind his body. This made it very difficult for Jack to predict the direction of any impending sword strike. held low and the blade hidden behind his body. This made it very difficult for Jack to predict the direction of any impending sword strike.
All of a sudden, Araki stamped his front foot.
Jack jumped back, his swords primed to receive the attack.
But none came.
"Nervous?" laughed Araki, once again circling like a hawk over its prey.
Jack didn"t answer. The samurai was playing with him, but he wouldn"t give Araki the satisfaction of a response. Instead he waited patiently for the samurai to make his move.
From nowhere, the tip of Araki"s sword soared high into the air, catching the sunlight. Jack was momentarily blinded by the glare. Yet he still heard the swish swish of steel as it raced towards him. Calling upon the blind fighting skills he"d learnt from Sensei Kano, Jack judged the sword"s trajectory and stopped the blade with the back of his of steel as it raced towards him. Calling upon the blind fighting skills he"d learnt from Sensei Kano, Jack judged the sword"s trajectory and stopped the blade with the back of his wakizashi wakizashi, before swiftly retreating out of harm"s way.
The crowd gave a disappointed groan.
Araki glared at Jack, clearly astonished and incensed his first attack hadn"t brought him instant victory.
"Not many survive a Swallow strike," he commented coldly. "KIAIIIIII!"
Araki screamed, whirling in with a vicious slice across Jack"s chest. Jack leapt aside, barely deflecting the a.s.sault due to its immense force. He attempted a counter-thrust to the gut, but Araki twisted from its path at the last second and darted away.
"And fewer still, Strike Like Thunder," Araki seethed, wrestling to contain his frustration at yet another failed a.s.sault. "Now what skills do you you have, have, gaijin gaijin?"
Araki lowered his guard to tempt Jack in. Jack realized it was a trap, but he wouldn"t get a better opening than this. With lightning speed, he swung his wakizashi wakizashi at the samurai"s head. Araki went to block it, exposing his left-hand side, and Jack immediately thrust for the chest with his at the samurai"s head. Araki went to block it, exposing his left-hand side, and Jack immediately thrust for the chest with his katana katana. A moment of panic flashed in Araki"s eyes at being duped, but he managed to redirect his weapon to clash with Jack"s katana katana.
For a second, there was stalemate.
Then Jack drove his blade along the length of Araki"s sword, trying to force it aside and strike for the heart... just as Masamoto had taught him... but Araki"s katana katana began to rise and fall like a wave, dissipating the strength of his thrust. His attack failed and Jack had to spin away before he impaled himself on Araki"s blade. began to rise and fall like a wave, dissipating the strength of his thrust. His attack failed and Jack had to spin away before he impaled himself on Araki"s blade.
Araki grinned. "Great Wave meets your Flint-and-Spark strike."
There was a smattering of applause from some of the Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry students. Araki was now performing for his followers, trying to appear as if the fight was under his control and he was merely tormenting Jack. But Jack knew otherwise. The samurai was disconcerted by the Two Heavens and threatened by his unantic.i.p.ated skill as a swordsman. students. Araki was now performing for his followers, trying to appear as if the fight was under his control and he was merely tormenting Jack. But Jack knew otherwise. The samurai was disconcerted by the Two Heavens and threatened by his unantic.i.p.ated skill as a swordsman.
They fought on. Hana shouted encouragement, while Ronin observed in grave silence. But the crowd was distinctly one-sided, hissing and jeering every time Jack made an attacking move or defended himself successfully. Kazuki stood, arms folded, glowering. Meanwhile, Araki gave a running commentary on all his techniques. The lecturing was annoying, but Jack realized this was the point, to demonstrate his superiority and attempt to put Jack off his guard.
The duel grew in intensity. Jack"s heart beat fiercely in his chest and the roar of the waterfall now mixed with the rush of blood in his ears. He was tiring and knew he could make a mistake at any moment. Araki was so precise and his techniques so flawless that Jack struggled to find a way to beat him. He was driven back by a particularly vicious thrust and his foot splashed down into the river.
Of all the elements, a ninja should choose water to be his closest ally...
Suddenly Jack recalled the Grandmaster"s teachings of the Five Rings and how to use nature to his advantage. He ducked as Araki"s blade cut for him.
Not even the strongest may resist... It can be a weapon or a defence...
Retreating along the water"s edge, Jack let Araki come for him. Technically perfect as Araki"s sword-work was, Jack realized the samurai was too rigid in his movements.
Jack needed to use his knowledge of the Ring of Water.
Draw your enemy into a river... Force them to fight in the water...
It was a risky strategy. Jack could be taken by the current just as easily as Araki. He could lose his footing first, stumble in the shallows. But he had trained in water combat with the ninja clan. He knew to keep a low stance. To step high and slow. Araki, on the other hand, lacked flexibility and would struggle in the water without experience of the element.
The duel entered the river and the crowd rushed forward to line the bank.
But Jack had underestimated his opponent. Araki still proved strong in the water. Swords clashed and they edged closer and closer to the waterfall. The current grew in strength and it became harder to keep one"s feet. Hana and Ronin watched with increasing concern.
"Plum flower!" cried Hana, pointing to behind Jack.
He glanced round and spotted the stepping stones. Immediately he mounted the nearest. Araki, not wanting Jack to have the advantage of height, clambered on to another. He almost slipped on its slimy surface, but quickly recovered.
Jack jumped to the next one and Araki followed. They fought, tottering upon the uneven stones, the river rushing over the lip of the waterfall next to them. Parrying a thrust from Jack, Araki countered with a surprising diagonal cut. The only way Jack could avoid it was to arch his body away and over the cliff edge. For a moment, he appeared to hang in the balance, the slightest breeze able to send him over the cascade.
Find your centre.
Araki moved in to seal his victory as the crowd began chanting, "Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!"
"Time to end this duel," Araki declared breathlessly and raised his sword. "This is Heaven Crowns Earth."
"But we agreed first blood!" gasped Jack, still teetering on the edge.
"That was before before I knew you were the I knew you were the gaijin gaijin samurai," replied Araki, grinning maliciously. "I"ll go down in history for taking your head!" samurai," replied Araki, grinning maliciously. "I"ll go down in history for taking your head!"
31.
ON A KNIFE"S EDGE The blade cut down like a guillotine for Jack"s neck. In that instant, Jack righted himself and leapt to the next stone. The sword missed and, in his fervour to behead Jack, Araki over-swung and toppled forward. Jack drove his sword through Araki"s obi obi, stopping him just before he lost all balance.
Araki now teetered on the brink, his eyes wide with fear as he stared into the watery abyss.
"And that that was Drunken Fist," said Jack. "Strike when you appear most vulnerable." was Drunken Fist," said Jack. "Strike when you appear most vulnerable."
A small red patch, where Jack had caught Araki in the side, seeped through the samurai"s kimono.
"I believe that"s that"s first blood," noted Jack. first blood," noted Jack.
"Never!" snarled Araki, in spite of his precarious position.
Suddenly there was a sharp ripping sound as Araki"s attempts to right himself pulled the fabric of his obi obi against the back of Jack"s against the back of Jack"s katana katana. He lurched forward, his fate now resting on a knife"s edge.
"Looks like first blood to me," said Jack calmly, letting the petrified Araki hang over the waterfall. "But if you"re not sure perhaps I should pull the blade out and have a look."
"No! Yes! I mean... Agreed, agreed! First blood! You win!" cried Araki as the obi obi tore again. tore again.
Jack grabbed Araki"s collar and pulled him to safety. Fuming and trembling with outrage, Araki looked intent on continuing the fight. But, bound by the samurai code of bushido bushido, he sheathed his weapon and stepped away on to another stone, his head bowed in shame.
"My swords?" reminded Jack.
Araki wordlessly pulled them from his tattered obi obi and surrendered them. As soon as they were in his hands, Jack felt a new strength within him. Not only did he have Akiko"s pearl, he now possessed his Shizu swords. He was almost complete. Apart from and surrendered them. As soon as they were in his hands, Jack felt a new strength within him. Not only did he have Akiko"s pearl, he now possessed his Shizu swords. He was almost complete. Apart from daimyo daimyo Takatomi"s Takatomi"s inro inro case, which was more of sentimental value than anything else, just the case, which was more of sentimental value than anything else, just the rutter rutter remained essential to his journey. remained essential to his journey.
Hana came skipping over the stepping stones as Araki trudged back to the riverbank. Ronin was not far behind. Returning him his daisho daisho, Jack then hurriedly secured his own upon his hip, fastening the saya sayas with the sageo sageo cord round his cord round his obi obi.
"That was unbelievable!" cried Hana, the thrill of Jack"s victory making her forget their perilous predicament for a moment.
"It isn"t over yet," replied Jack, glancing over her shoulder.
The crowd of Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry students had turned into an angry mob at seeing their hero defeated. Kazuki and his Scorpion Gang were at the head of it. They stood upon the bank, swords drawn. students had turned into an angry mob at seeing their hero defeated. Kazuki and his Scorpion Gang were at the head of it. They stood upon the bank, swords drawn.
"Seize the gaijin gaijin and kill the two traitors!" ordered Kazuki. and kill the two traitors!" ordered Kazuki.
Raiden stepped on to the first stone, Goro, Hiroto and his brother, Toru, right behind. Taking one look at the baying mob and the beast that was Raiden, Ronin confessed, "This looks like one battle we can"t win."
"Why not surrender?" suggested Hana, desperation cracking her voice as Ronin unsheathed his katana katana.
Ronin didn"t answer. He just pa.s.sed Hana the bokken bokken and nodded to Jack to draw his swords too. and nodded to Jack to draw his swords too.
"But I"ve never used one of these!" she exclaimed.
"You"d better learn fast then," he replied.
The Scorpion Gang edged closer. Jack looked around for an escape route, but the stepping stones led only to the shrine and he knew that was a dead end. Returning to the riverbank offered no hope either. They might be able to fight off a few of their attackers, but inevitably they"d be overwhelmed.
Kazuki laughed cruelly at their plight. "Nowhere to run now, gaijin gaijin!"
Realizing the futility of putting up resistance, Jack sheathed his swords. If he was killed, he couldn"t warn Akiko of the danger she was in.
"What are you doing?" exclaimed Hana.
"Get ready to jump!" he replied, under his breath.
Hana looked over the edge of the waterfall at the seemingly bottomless drop. "Are you crazy?"
"I"ve done it before and survived."
"From here here?" questioned Ronin, incredulous.
"Not exactly," Jack admitted. "Halfway down."
"But I can"t swim!" said Hana, her eyes darting in terror between the approaching mob and the perilous jump.
"You can"t wield a sword either," reminded Jack as Raiden stepped within striking distance. "NOW JUMP!"
Jack grabbed Hana by the wrist and pulled her over with him. Ronin, shaking his head in disbelief at what he was about to do, leapt after them. Raiden"s sword sliced through the air, just missing his back.
They plunged downwards, Hana screaming all the way and Jack silently praying they wouldn"t hit the butai butai or crash on to the rocks below. The wind shrieked past their ears, the waterfall thundering around them. Suddenly they were engulfed by spray and a second later hit the water. The roar of the falls became a deep boom. The churning rock pool flipped and rolled them. Then the current s.n.a.t.c.hed Jack, and Hana was ripped from his grasp as they crested the lip of the pool into the river. Just at the point he thought he"d drown, his head popped to the surface and he sucked in air with relief. or crash on to the rocks below. The wind shrieked past their ears, the waterfall thundering around them. Suddenly they were engulfed by spray and a second later hit the water. The roar of the falls became a deep boom. The churning rock pool flipped and rolled them. Then the current s.n.a.t.c.hed Jack, and Hana was ripped from his grasp as they crested the lip of the pool into the river. Just at the point he thought he"d drown, his head popped to the surface and he sucked in air with relief.
A cry alerted him to Hana, who flailed in the waters. She disappeared back under and Jack kicked hard in her direction. Hana bobbed up again, weaker this time. He desperately swam to her rescue, but the river swallowed her again. Diving under, Jack blindly sought the girl who"d once been just a thief to him and was now a friend. His fingers clasped a sodden kimono and he pulled Hana to the surface. She came up spluttering and choking.
The river became calmer, though the current no less strong. Jack let it bear them downstream, holding Hana"s head above the water. A moment later, he spotted Ronin swimming towards them. Then he heard a shout.
From the top of the falls, Kazuki stood screaming his revenge.
"You cowardly dog! I"ll hunt you down, gaijin gaijin!"
32.
BROKEN.
The three fugitives kept up a brisk pace as they trekked south along a forest path and away from Kyoto. They had let the river take them out of the gorge and into the main valley, only dragging themselves from the waters when the current had eased. Ronin now took them on a circuitous route that avoided the main road and any settlements. Although their daring escape had given them a head start, they couldn"t risk slowing down or being spotted.