The Ring Of Earth Part 29

'Yes, I suppose it is.'

Miyuki hesitated. Jack sensed she wanted to say more, but couldn't in Akiko's presence.

'I never did apologize for throwing you in the manure,' she said, flas.h.i.+ng an embarra.s.sed smile. And she still didn't. Blinking away a tear, Miyuki bowed a hurried goodbye, then walked purposefully over to her parent's grave marker.

'Will she be all right?' asked Jack, watching her with concern.

'Don't worry,' said Tenzen. 'I'll look out for her.' Reaching into his pouch, he produced five gleaming shuriken shuriken. 'These are for you,' he said, putting them into Jack's hand. 'A small token of thanks for helping me.'

'What did I I do?' asked Jack. do?' asked Jack.

'You were the one who told me a s.h.i.+p that attacks the wave will rise and conquer. I realized if I didn't take control at the temple we were all sunk,' he explained. 'And now I know you can can hit a moving target, I'll challenge you to a hit a moving target, I'll challenge you to a shuriken shuriken contest the next time we meet. So you'd better practise.' contest the next time we meet. So you'd better practise.'

Jack laughed. 'I'd never beat you.'

'That's why I won't hold my breath!'

Tenzen bowed formally to both Jack and Akiko before joining the rest of the clan, gathering their belongings on the ridge.

Jack looked up at Akiko. Like Miyuki, she appeared to be on the verge of tears. 'Are you all right?'

Akiko mutely nodded, staring over to where Hanzo was playing with his friend Kobei, both thrilled at being reunited.

'Kiyos.h.i.+'s happy,' she said, with forced joy in her voice.

Hanzo, noticing they were both looking at him, came bounding over. Without thinking, he took Akiko's hand in his.

'Tengu, can you keep a secret?' he asked.

Nodding, Jack bent down close so Hanzo could whisper in his ear.

'Soke says I'm going to be the next Grandmaster!'

'Really?' said Jack, glancing up at Akiko and realizing she already knew this.

That was why she was upset. was why she was upset.

'Yes!' Hanzo exclaimed, too excited to keep his voice down. 'I'll be allowed to see the densho densho, actually read the scrolls with all our clan's secrets!'

'That's a big responsibility,' said Jack.

'I know. Soke says it'll take a few years of preparation and then a lifetime of learning.'

'When are you starting?'

'As soon as we get to the refuge,' replied Hanzo.

Jack nodded his understanding of the situation.

'Come on, Hanzo!' cried Kobei, waving at his friend.

Hanzo smiled apologetically, as if he'd suddenly matured. Pulling Akiko by the arm, he said 'You can be on my side.'

Hanzo ran to rejoin his friends. 'sayonara, Jack!'

Jack couldn't help but laugh.

'What is it?' asked Akiko.

'That's the first first time he's called me by my proper name!' he said, shaking his head in disbelief. He saw the sadness in Akiko's eyes. 'Are you not going with him?' time he's called me by my proper name!' he said, shaking his head in disbelief. He saw the sadness in Akiko's eyes. 'Are you not going with him?'

'No,' she replied in a quiet voice. 'Shonin says he can't risk any any outsider knowing the location of their final refuge.' outsider knowing the location of their final refuge.'

'Then you should play with your brother while you have the chance.'

As Akiko went and shared her last moments with Hanzo, Shonin and Soke strolled over to Jack.

'I owe you my life, Ninja Jack,' said Shonin and inclined his head in grat.i.tude. 'I wish there was more I could do for you, but we have to be gone before the samurai arrive.'

'You've done more than enough,' replied Jack, returning the bow.

Shonin clapped his hand upon Jack's good shoulder.

'You know you'll always always have a place in my clan,' he said, smiling warmly. 'You just have to find us first!' have a place in my clan,' he said, smiling warmly. 'You just have to find us first!'

With that, Shonin left Jack and Soke to say their farewells.

'I'll be sad to leave here,' admitted the Grandmaster, gazing out across the valley. 'It was the perfect Ring of Earth.'

'What about the refuge?' asked Jack.

'The mountains are not kind to the old. I won't have so many years left up there.'

Jack went to dispute this, but Soke stopped him, and he could see the weariness and strain of the past few days engrained in the old man's wrinkled face.

'Why hide from the truth? It always finds you in the end,' Soke grinned. 'Life has worn me down like a rock in a river. My time has almost come.'

'Time enough to prepare Hanzo to become the next Grandmaster?'

Soke raised an eyebrow. 'He told you? I'll have to teach that boy discretion first.'

'A frog in a well does not know the great sea,' reminded Jack.

'How true,' said Soke, chuckling. 'Maybe the fact he's really really a samurai will be good for all of us. Hanzo may be the saving of the ninja.' a samurai will be good for all of us. Hanzo may be the saving of the ninja.'

'Soke!' called out Momochi, rounding up the clan. 'Shonin's keen to leave.'

The Grandmaster held his hand up, indicating he'd be with them shortly.

'Jack, you've come a long way since we first stood on this ridge, but you have a far longer journey ahead. Be guided by the Five Rings, and you will will return home.' return home.'

'Your teaching has given me the hope that I will,' said Jack, bowing. 'You've also proved to me that a single tree doesn't make a forest. I swore the ninja would always be my enemy. Now the ninja will always be my friend.'

Soke nodded sagely.

'If you ever encounter a ninja, or believe they are one, then use this secret hand sign.' The Grandmaster clasped both hands together, middle fingers entwined, thumbs and little finger extended in a V shape. 'It's the Dragon Seal. A true ninja will recognize this and help you.'

Soke turned to go. 'A final piece of advice: to hide is the best defence.'

57.

A HAPPY F FAREWELL.

Akiko and Jack walked slowly back into the deserted village. They pa.s.sed through paddy fields, most of the crop trampled and unharvested. Thankfully, the clan had stockpiled food from previous years and hidden it beneath the temple. The smoky tang of burnt wood hung in the air, Shonin's farmhouse still smouldering away after five days. A number of other houses had been set on fire too, but most had just been ransacked for their rice and provisions.

Fortunately for Jack, Soke's house had been one of those pillaged but not set on fire. He'd found his pack safe and sound in the secret compartment beneath the floorboards, the rutter rutter untouched within its protective oilskin. Beside it, Soke had left several rations of rice and some essential clothes. untouched within its protective oilskin. Beside it, Soke had left several rations of rice and some essential clothes.

Jack got changed for the journey, then joined Akiko out in the yard. It was sad to see the once thriving village so bereft of life, and neither he nor Akiko wanted to stay longer than they had to. The samurai could arrive at any moment.

Akiko hadn't spoken a word since she'd said goodbye to her brother.

'I'm sorry,' began Jack. 'Sorry he had to go.'

'I'm not,' Akiko replied, her voice subdued but resolute. 'Kiyos.h.i.+ ... I mean Hanzo Hanzo is where he rightfully belongs. In the clan, with his friends. They're his family now.' is where he rightfully belongs. In the clan, with his friends. They're his family now.'

'But what about you?' asked Jack. 'You've spent the last five years looking for him.'

Akiko nodded. 'And you you found him for me. My found him for me. My kachimus.h.i.+ kachimus.h.i.+'s alive and being cared for. That's all I need to know. It was a happy farewell.'

She looked at Jack, her expression hopeful.

'Soke's promised that Hanzo can visit us in Toba once the clan's resettled. I know he's eager to meet his mother.'

Akiko reached out and touched Jack's hand. 'I owe you so much.'

'I'm the one who owes you you,' said Jack, gently taking her hand in his. 'It's the least I could do after all you've done for me.'

They gazed into one another's eyes, the connection between them more powerful than ever. This second farewell was proving even harder than the first. And now Jack knew what life was like without Akiko by his side.

'I should go,' she said, letting her hand fall away. 'My mother's waiting for me in Toba.'

'You could come with me,' Jack suggested, though he was well aware his journey took him in the opposite direction.

Akiko sadly shook her head. 'My mother needs needs to know about Kiyos.h.i.+. And I need to be there for her. It's a daughter's duty.' to know about Kiyos.h.i.+. And I need to be there for her. It's a daughter's duty.'

'I understand,' said Jack, knowing it had been an impossible request.

Leaning in close, Akiko kissed him gently on the cheek.

'Forever bound to one another,' she whispered in his ear. Then she turned and walked away in the direction of the rising sun.

Jack, speechless, watched her figure recede down the village road, past the devastated square, round the pond and beyond. He realized he felt how Akiko must have done that day in Toba he left her her behind. His heart reached out for his friend, begging her to come back. behind. His heart reached out for his friend, begging her to come back.

Akiko kept walking, not even risking a glance over her shoulder. Maybe she was scared to. Should he call to her? Should he call to her? But he didn't know what he would say. They were both leaves floating away on different streams. But he didn't know what he would say. They were both leaves floating away on different streams.

When she disappeared from view, Jack still stood watching, his hand to the cheek she'd kissed. He dearly hoped to see her just one more time.

But Akiko was gone.

Once again, he was on his own. Perhaps better equipped than before for the hazardous journey ahead but also more alone. He'd lost Akiko a second time. Then Jack reminded himself that, like Akiko, he had a duty to his family first. His love for his sister, Jess, while different, was equally compelling and she was waiting for him in England.

Gathering his things, Jack ensured the precious rutter rutter was cus.h.i.+oned by the two kimono within the pack. On top was the little was cus.h.i.+oned by the two kimono within the pack. On top was the little inro inro case containing Yori's paper crane and Akiko's pearl, the string of copper coins, and the straw containers of rice. Finally, he added a full gourd of water and Tenzen's five case containing Yori's paper crane and Akiko's pearl, the string of copper coins, and the straw containers of rice. Finally, he added a full gourd of water and Tenzen's five shuriken shuriken. Hanging from the strap was Sensei Yamada's omamori omamori. Jack rubbed the amulet, praying for its continued protection, then slung the pack over his right shoulder.

Securing his samurai swords on his hip, Jack felt like a samurai again.

Picking up the last of his equipment, he felt like a ninja.

Jack was determined not to be caught out this time. Having adjusted the wicker basket on his head, he raised the shakuhachi shakuhachi to his lips and gently blew. The faltering first notes of ' to his lips and gently blew. The faltering first notes of 's.h.i.+ka no Tone' echoed across the valley as he resumed his solitary pilgrimage to Nagasaki, each step taking him closer to home.

Books by Chris Bradford

The Young Samurai series (in reading order)

THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR.

THE WAY OF THE SWORD.

THE WAY OF THE DRAGON.

THE RING OF EARTH.

For World Book Day 2010 THE WAY OF FIRE.