The Ring Of Water Part 12

'What does the metsuke metsuke look like?' Jack asked Hana, once the proprietor left to attend to his other customers. look like?' Jack asked Hana, once the proprietor left to attend to his other customers.

Hana was sharp-witted enough as a thief not to look directly at their observer. Instead she pretended to admire her surroundings, while casting a casual glance across the street. At first she didn't see anyone. Then she noticed a figure lingering outside the entrance to the temple. He appeared to have little interest in praying. Nor was he in any rush to go elsewhere.

'Young,' replied Hana. 'Thin as a chopstick, with eyes that look a little too close together. He's wearing a black kimono and a pair of samurai swords. The odd thing is he can't be much older than you.'

Jack felt a chill run through his body. Hana's description was worryingly familiar.

'Where is he now?' asked Jack.

'Over by the lion-dog statue.'

Jack warily peeked from beneath the brim of his hat. A steady flow of traffic crossed the square, but no one wore a black kimono. 'Where?'

'In front of the ' Hana looked around. 'He's gone!'

'We should leave too,' said Jack, reaching for his staff.

'Why? It's got to be a good thing. He obviously doesn't think we're a threat.'

'Perhaps,' replied Jack, thinking they should head towards Nijo Castle. 'But it could also mean trouble.'

'But we can't leave before Ronin gets back. How will he know where to find us?'

Jack pondered this a moment. They hadn't arranged an alternative meeting point. Nor did they know in which direction the metsuke metsuke had gone. They could run straight into him. And if Jack's hunch was right they'd need the protection of Ronin's swords. had gone. They could run straight into him. And if Jack's hunch was right they'd need the protection of Ronin's swords.

'All right, we'll stay a little longer.'

The pa.s.sing minutes were excruciating. Even though it wasn't a particularly warm day, Jack began to perspire. He felt as if everyone was watching him. They all all knew he was a knew he was a gaijin gaijin. They could tell by his manner, smell smell his foreignness. his foreignness.

Jack thought about leaving a message with the proprietor, but there was no guarantee they could trust him.

'Let's move to the temple,' said Jack, the uneasy feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. 'We can keep an eye on the tea house from there.'

'Wait!' said Hana, pointing down the road. 'I see Ronin.'

But Jack didn't look round. His eyes were fixed on the four figures clad in black kimono, headed directly for them from the opposite direction. Leading the pack, a red sun kamon kamon emblazoned on his left lapel, was the person he'd feared most to encounter in Kyoto. emblazoned on his left lapel, was the person he'd feared most to encounter in Kyoto.

Kazuki.

The last time Jack had seen his old school rival was on the Tenno-ji battlefield, Akiko having shot an arrow through his sword hand. But this traitor the student responsible for the downfall of the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry appeared to have recovered from his injuries, looking stronger than ever. With a shaved head, fierce dark eyes and a grimace of hate that marred an otherwise handsome face, he cut a formidable figure as he strode across the square towards them. appeared to have recovered from his injuries, looking stronger than ever. With a shaved head, fierce dark eyes and a grimace of hate that marred an otherwise handsome face, he cut a formidable figure as he strode across the square towards them.

He was accompanied by the surviving members of his Scorpion Gang. n.o.bu, even larger than Jack remembered, was barrelling people out of the way like an irate sumo wrestler; Goro, muscular and broad, a born warrior, marched behind, his hand clamped upon the hilt of his sword; and by Kazuki's side was Hiroto, the person Jack had suspected to be the metsuke metsuke.

Jack felt his chest tighten at the sight of them. The Scorpion Gang had been the bane of his life at the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry. Even as individuals they'd bullied him from the moment of his arrival. But the formation of the Scorpion Gang had given a focus for their persecution of him. It had been organized under the leaders.h.i.+p of Kazuki, in honour of daimyo daimyo Kamakura's campaign to rid j.a.pan of foreigners. All members were tattooed with the emblem of a black scorpion and swore an oath of allegiance 'Death to all Kamakura's campaign to rid j.a.pan of foreigners. All members were tattooed with the emblem of a black scorpion and swore an oath of allegiance 'Death to all gaijin gaijin!'

Jack tightened his grip upon his improvised staff. Though he stood little chance against the entire gang, he wouldn't give in without a fight.

25.

BY ORDER OF THE SHOGUN.

'We have to get you out of here!' cried Hana, grabbing his arm.

'Too late,' he replied, their opportunity to run long gone.

The Scorpion Gang was converging on them fast. As they crossed the square, a man suddenly stumbled into their path. His arms reeling, the drunkard knocked into the hawker, scattering his wooden spinning tops everywhere and halting the gang in their tracks. The resulting chaos brought the entire square to a standstill. Barely keeping his feet, Ronin then lurched into Kazuki and grabbed hold in order to steady himself. Kazuki furiously shook him off, sending his bottle of sake sake slos.h.i.+ng into n.o.bu's face. Goro and Hiroto rushed to disentangle their leader from the inebriated samurai's embrace, but kept falling over the spinning tops. slos.h.i.+ng into n.o.bu's face. Goro and Hiroto rushed to disentangle their leader from the inebriated samurai's embrace, but kept falling over the spinning tops.

'Sooo sssssorry,' slurred Ronin, more rice wine flying as he reeled away into the crowd.

All of a sudden the proprietor was by their side. 'This way,' he whispered, leading them inside the tea house.

With no choice but to trust the man, Jack and Hana followed him through the kitchen and into the back alley.

'Please tell the ronin ronin, we'll meet him south of Nijo Castle,' instructed Jack hurriedly. 'And thank you for your help.'

'A fellow Christian cannot see another lamb suffer,' whispered the proprietor.

Jack was taken aback by the man's confession. Not only were foreigners being persecuted in the Shogun's new j.a.pan, but j.a.panese Christians too, many being sought out and burnt at the stake for their beliefs. This man had taken a great risk in aiding them.

Checking no one was watching, the proprietor made the sign of the cross. 'May G.o.d be with you.'

'And you too,' replied Jack.

'Come on!' urged Hana.

Criss-crossing their way through Kyoto, Jack led Hana towards the castle, its tall majestic keep visible above the city's rooftops. Deep down, Jack harboured hopes he'd find daimyo daimyo Takatomi and his daughter Emi still residing there and be able to seek refuge. But as they approached its outer fortifications, Jack realized what a grave mistake he'd made. Takatomi and his daughter Emi still residing there and be able to seek refuge. But as they approached its outer fortifications, Jack realized what a grave mistake he'd made.

Guarding the main gate and patrolling the high walls along the moat were the castle's sentries none of whom bore daimyo daimyo Takatomi's Takatomi's kamon kamon of a white crane. All were emblazoned with the red sun crest of Kazuki's father, Oda Satos.h.i.+. For his family's service in the war, the Shogun had evidently rewarded him with the governance and prestige of Kyoto Province. of a white crane. All were emblazoned with the red sun crest of Kazuki's father, Oda Satos.h.i.+. For his family's service in the war, the Shogun had evidently rewarded him with the governance and prestige of Kyoto Province.

Jack cursed his error of judgement. Nijo Castle had seemed the easiest and safest place to meet, but this was also where Kazuki would return.

'We'd best keep moving,' said Jack to Hana, explaining their predicament.

With no real destination in mind, he kept his head down and allowed his instincts to guide them. Rounding the corner, they made their way along a wide boulevard and were crossing to the opposite side of the street when Jack stopped.

'Where now?' asked Hana.

Jack looked up to get his bearings and felt his knees almost give way at the sight before him. An entranceway of dark cypress wood and white earthen walls greeted him. Carved above the gate was a large wooden crest of a phoenix, its flaming wings broken but defiant.

'We're here,' breathed Jack, emotion choking him and his eyes welling with tears.

Without thinking, he'd led them straight to the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry.

'Are you all right?' asked Hana.

Jack swallowed and nodded mutely. With hesitant steps, he approached the outer gate. The wood was battered and weatherworn and in places splintered. His fingers traced a set of kanji kanji characters carved into a large wooden board hammered across the entrance: characters carved into a large wooden board hammered across the entrance: 'What does it say?' asked Hana in a hushed tone.

'Ummm...' Jack racked his brains, trying to remember all the kanji kanji Akiko had taught him. 'Closed. By order of the Shogun.' Akiko had taught him. 'Closed. By order of the Shogun.'

He pressed an eye to one of the cracks. On the other side lay his school, just as he remembered it, with the grey pebbled courtyard that was the hub of the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry, and the awe-inspiring Butokuden Butokuden, the celebrated training hall for kenjutsu kenjutsu and and taijutsu taijutsu. To his right, up a flight of stone steps, he could make out Sensei Yamada's Butsuden Butsuden, the Buddha Hall where he'd taken Zen meditation cla.s.ses and inside which hung an immense temple bell, the size of a mountain boulder.

Behind the Buddha Hall, Jack could just make out the pale russet tiles that formed the roof of the Cho-no-ma Cho-no-ma, the Hall of b.u.t.terflies, so named for the exquisite panels of painted b.u.t.terflies and sakura sakura trees that lined its lush interior. On the far side was Masamoto's residence and personal trees that lined its lush interior. On the far side was Masamoto's residence and personal dojo dojo, the Ho-oh-no-ma Ho-oh-no-ma, where the priviledged few were taught the secret art of the Two Heavens. Next to it was the Southern Zen Garden and over to his left the s.h.i.+s.h.i.+-no-ma s.h.i.+s.h.i.+-no-ma, the Hall of Lions where the young samurai slept...

Jack blinked in amazement. It was all there, just waiting for his return.

But then he began to see the truth. In his excitement, his mind had been playing tricks on him. The courtyard was unraked and strewn with debris, leaves littering all four corners. The garden was overgrown, filled with weeds, a standing stone toppled on its side. The doors to the Buddha Hall were hanging off their hinges. Beside the Butokuden Butokuden, like an unfinished grave, lay the charred foundations of the Hall of the Hawk the first building Kazuki had set fire to. And beyond that, the Hall of Lions, only one wall left standing, was no more than a crumbling burnt-out wreck.

There was no movement. No students. No sensei. No life.

Surely the place hasn't been entirely entirely abandoned abandoned, prayed Jack.

'The proprietor said the south side of the castle. This is east!' pointed out a rather breathless and irate Ronin.

Jack spun round, both surprised and relieved. 'You weren't arrested...'

'I merely pretended to be drunk. And that that isn't a crime... yet.' The samurai stared at him with eyes that were stone-cold sober and Jack knew his earlier intoxication had all been an act. Ronin looked back over his shoulder. 'We should go. That troublesome troop of young samurai are headed this way.' isn't a crime... yet.' The samurai stared at him with eyes that were stone-cold sober and Jack knew his earlier intoxication had all been an act. Ronin looked back over his shoulder. 'We should go. That troublesome troop of young samurai are headed this way.'

The three of them ducked down the first side street they came to, and Ronin led them in silence across the city, only slowing when they reached a narrow ca.n.a.l in a quiet residential district. They followed it north, walking at a leisurely pace so as not to arouse suspicion.

'Now, who were they?' demanded Ronin.

'The leader's Kazuki,' replied Jack, the name leaving a bad taste in his mouth. 'An old school rival. A traitor.'

'He's very very dangerous. I saw it in his eyes. What about the rest?' dangerous. I saw it in his eyes. What about the rest?'

'They're all part of his Scorpion Gang. Their sole purpose is to hunt down gaijin gaijin like me and kill them.' like me and kill them.'

'The skinny one's a metsuke metsuke,' added Hana helpfully.

'That explains it,' said Ronin. 'They suspected you were a foreigner but, as I staggered off, they were arguing over whether it was actually you you or not.' or not.'

'We must leave Kyoto now,' said Jack, feeling the city closing in on him like a noose. 'If Kazuki thinks I'm here, he'll tear the place apart looking for me.'

'This is a big city,' rea.s.sured Ronin. 'And I have good news we won't need to stay much longer. I've found Matagoro Araki.'

'Where?'

'We're headed there right now,' replied Ronin. 'In keeping with what you seek from him, he's at the renowned sword school the Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry.'

26.

YAGYU RY.

Jack felt as if he was jumping from one fire into another. He had a history with the Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry and the last place in Kyoto he wanted to go was the samurai school founded by the Shogun himself. Especially one he'd so publicly disgraced two years before by defeating their students in a and the last place in Kyoto he wanted to go was the samurai school founded by the Shogun himself. Especially one he'd so publicly disgraced two years before by defeating their students in a Taryu-Jiai Taryu-Jiai, an inter-school martial arts contest.

'Araki's the eldest son of the Matagoro clan. He's revered and feared in equal measure,' explained Ronin, oblivious to Jack's alarm. 'But, from what I can gather, he values his integrity and is essentially honourable. I'm confident we can persuade him to return your swords.'

'That might be more difficult than you imagine,' interrupted Jack. He retold the events that led up to the Taryu-Jiai Taryu-Jiai and of his part in the and of his part in the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry's controversial victory over their rival school.

Ronin grunted with amus.e.m.e.nt. 'You're right, the Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry will will never never forgive you for that! But it's a bit late to turn back now,' he said, approaching a large wooden gate set into a walled enclosure. 'We're here.' forgive you for that! But it's a bit late to turn back now,' he said, approaching a large wooden gate set into a walled enclosure. 'We're here.'

'But what's to stop Araki turning me over to the Shogun?'

'Nothing. Just keep your hat on, your head bowed and let me do the talking.'

Ronin reached for a rope attached to a bronze bell hanging above the door and pulled. 'Hana, stay here. Keep an eye out for the Scorpion Gang. If you see anything suspicious, ring the bell three times and run. We'll meet you back at the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry.'

Nodding obediently, Hana hid from view in a nearby alley.

As the bell's chime faded away, the sound of shuffling feet could be heard on the other side of the door. A slat opened and two brown-flecked eyes peered out. 'Yes?'

Ronin bowed. 'We have come to seek an audience with Matagoro Araki.'

'Does he know you?'

'No, but he may have heard of my father, Obata Torayasu.'

'Wait!' The slat snapped shut.

Several long moments pa.s.sed and Jack began to worry that word of his arrival in Kyoto had already spread, that the Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry were preparing their reprisal and about to greet him, swords drawn. were preparing their reprisal and about to greet him, swords drawn.

Then the shuffling feet returned, followed by a click of the latch, and the gate swung open. A wily old man impatiently beckoned them inside.

'Leave your swords,' he rasped, pointing to a rack in the entrance hall.

Ronin glared at the man. 'This is a sword school, isn't it? Surely you don't expect me to walk around without mine.'

The old man looked Ronin up and down, and clearly decided the argument wasn't worth the ha.s.sle. 'Please yourself. It was for your own safety. Those carrying weapons can be challenged to a duel at any time by anyone. No refusal allowed. School rules.'

Ronin didn't even blink at this veiled threat. The old man, glowering at the samurai's brazenness, ushered them along a corridor, not even bothering to ask Jack to remove his hat. Through a latticed window, Jack glimpsed lines of young samurai in a courtyard, training with their bokken bokken. As their wooden swords rose and fell in unison, cries of kiai kiai echoing off the walls, he felt a wave of nostalgia for the glory days of the echoing off the walls, he felt a wave of nostalgia for the glory days of the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry.

The old man led them into a reception room, carpeted with fawn-coloured tatami tatami mats and a polished cedar dais at one end. Hanging from a wall was a calligraphy scroll, each mats and a polished cedar dais at one end. Hanging from a wall was a calligraphy scroll, each kanji kanji brushstroke looking like the slash of a blade. brushstroke looking like the slash of a blade.

'Wait here,' instructed the old man, closing the door behind him.

Left alone, Jack began to raise his head. 'Do y'