The Ring Of Water Part 13

'Head down and be quiet!' whispered Ronin. 'They'll be watching us.'

Ronin respectfully gestured for Jack to kneel before the dais, then joined him by his side. They waited together in silence.

After a while, a shoji shoji in the far wall slid open and a man entered. Jack risked a quick peek. Young, fit and confident to the point of arrogance, the samurai knelt down on the dais, flicking the folds of his in the far wall slid open and a man entered. Jack risked a quick peek. Young, fit and confident to the point of arrogance, the samurai knelt down on the dais, flicking the folds of his hakama hakama to one side in sharp precise movements. The top of his head was shaved and his hair tied into a tight topknot as befitted a samurai of his status. He wore a crisp green and black kimono with specks of iridescent purple like a peac.o.c.k's tail feather. His face was handsome yet severe, his dark eyebrows being too dominant and the corners of his mouth permanently downturned. to one side in sharp precise movements. The top of his head was shaved and his hair tied into a tight topknot as befitted a samurai of his status. He wore a crisp green and black kimono with specks of iridescent purple like a peac.o.c.k's tail feather. His face was handsome yet severe, his dark eyebrows being too dominant and the corners of his mouth permanently downturned.

Araki glanced at Ronin, then eyed the hat-wearing Jack with suspicion.

'Welcome to the Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry the New Shadow School and home to the official swordmasters of the Shogun.' the New Shadow School and home to the official swordmasters of the Shogun.'

'We appreciate you taking the time to see us,' said Ronin, bowing his head. Jack followed suit.

Araki returned the greeting, his eyes never leaving them.

'I was sorry to learn of your father's fate,' replied Araki, without any hint of true remorse. 'I'd heard you you had died too.' had died too.'

The steely expression on Ronin's face barely flickered. For a moment, Jack wondered whether Obata Torayasu was was his father or merely a ruse to get an audience with Araki. his father or merely a ruse to get an audience with Araki.

'Don't believe every rumour you hear,' replied Ronin.

Araki and Ronin held one another's gaze, as if a silent battle of wills was taking place. The tension in the room grew and Jack realized one false move on either his or Ronin's part could result in their downfall.

'Have you travelled far?' said Araki, finally breaking the silence.

Ronin nodded. 'Your reputation has spread the length and breadth of j.a.pan.'

Araki smiled at this news. 'So you're here for a... duel?'

'Much as I'd be honoured by such a privilege, I'm here on behalf of my master,' he explained, inclining his head in deference to Jack.

'Your master master?' queried Araki, somewhat surprised at Jack's status considering his appearance. 'Can't he speak for himself?'

'I'm afraid not. Allow me to explain. An unfortunate incident resulted in his swords being stolen.'

Araki raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

'In respect of this, he's taken a vow of silence and keeps his head bowed in order to separate himself from the world, until the day his swords are back in his possession. As you'll appreciate, for a samurai they're his soul.'

Araki pursed his lips and nodded in approval of such a symbolic sacrifice.

'And how may I be of service?'

'We've been led to believe you have his swords.'

Araki's expression grew thunderous. 'Are you implying I I stole them?' stole them?'

'Of course not!' replied Ronin, his tone conciliatory. 'They've come into your possession by virtue of your esteemed duelling skills.'

The flattery went some way to pacifying Araki's indignation. 'I've acquired many trophies trophies in my time,' he bragged. 'But who's to say any belong to your master?' in my time,' he bragged. 'But who's to say any belong to your master?'

'My master's swords are unique. They're a family heirloom. Black saya sayas inlaid with mother-of-pearl, unusual dark-red woven handles and upon the blade is inscribed the name of its swordmaker, s.h.i.+zu s.h.i.+zu.'

An undeniable flicker of recognition pa.s.sed across Araki's face.

'Do you recall them?' pressed Ronin.

'Perhaps,' he replied carefully. 'Your description sounds familiar.'

'Then we humbly request their return to the rightful owner.'

'That won't be possible.'

Jack, who'd been mutely following the progress of the conversation, felt his heart sink at the news. But it was now that Ronin made his play.

'I'm sure you don't wish it to be known that you use stolen stolen swords?' swords?'

Araki laughed without humour. 'Spoken like a true samurai. A fine attack upon my sense of honour.' He paused, evaluating the threat posed by Ronin and his enigmatic master. 'You've judged me well. But you must appreciate that I can't be known for giving out daisho daisho to every samurai who's been careless enough to lose theirs.' to every samurai who's been careless enough to lose theirs.'

'They were stolen stolen,' repeated Ronin, his tone firm and even. 'We can prove they're my master's. Just examine the tang of the blade, there's '

'They may may very well have belonged to your master,' Araki interrupted, raising his hand to Ronin. 'Your description is precise and your word as Obata's son is more than enough. But I won those swords fair and square in a duel. By all rights, they belong to me now.' very well have belonged to your master,' Araki interrupted, raising his hand to Ronin. 'Your description is precise and your word as Obata's son is more than enough. But I won those swords fair and square in a duel. By all rights, they belong to me now.'

'That doesn't change the fact they were taken unlawfully by your opponent.'

Once again Araki and Ronin fell into a staring match, waiting to see who would break first.

'I'll return them,' declared Araki, much to Jack's astonishment.

Ronin remained deadpan, aware the samurai had yet to finish.

'On one condition. That your master defeats me in a duel.'

Jack's elation was instantly quashed, replaced with a cold dread.

'Surely no one need die over these swords,' countered Ronin.

'First blood will be enough,' Araki conceded. 'However, your master must prove prove he's worth such magnificent swords. My last opponent was a great disappointment, despite the promise of his weaponry. So anything less than an he's worth such magnificent swords. My last opponent was a great disappointment, despite the promise of his weaponry. So anything less than an impressive impressive display of swordsmans.h.i.+p display of swordsmans.h.i.+p will will result in sudden death.' result in sudden death.'

'Agreed,' said Ronin without hesitation, much to Jack's growing dismay. 'When and where?'

'The Sound of Feathers waterfall, tomorrow at dawn.'

Jack's consternation increased. Not only did he have to contend with the forthcoming duel, but they'd have to evade detection by Kazuki and his network of metsuke metsuke for another day. for another day.

Above the sounds of the students training, a bell rang out three times.

'We'll look forward to it,' said Ronin, getting to his feet and bowing respectfully. Jack did the same, doing his best to remain calm, despite the threat presented by Hana's warning.

The old man reappeared to guide them out.

'Oh, by the way,' said Araki, a smirk on his face, 'does your master need to borrow borrow some swords?' some swords?'

'No,' replied Ronin coolly. 'He'll use mine.'

27.

BACK TO SCHOOL.

'The metsuke metsuke were were huge huge! And very hairy!' exclaimed Hana as they hurriedly put distance between themselves and the Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry. 'They wore black kimono with red sun kamon kamon like the others. That's how I spotted them.' like the others. That's how I spotted them.'

'Our luck was in. We got out just in time,' said Ronin in amazement.

'Did these watchers look like overgrown apes?' asked Jack.

Hana laughed. 'Yes!'

'They're Kazuki's cousins from Hokkaido Raiden and his brother Toru both students of the Yagyu Ry Yagyu Ry.'

'Then it may have been a coincidence. They could have simply turned up for training,' said Ronin, leading them across a bridge spanning the ca.n.a.l. 'But with so many metsuke metsuke around, we need to find a place to lie low.' around, we need to find a place to lie low.'

'Why not Jack's old school?' suggested Hana.

'Because it's right next to Nijo Castle!' said Jack, shaking his head at her naivety.

'Exactly,' replied Hana. 'That's the last place they'll look.'

'Good thinking,' agreed Ronin, much to Jack's surprise that the samurai had even listened to Hana. 'Where better to hide than under the enemy's nose?'

Outvoted, Jack allowed himself to be led across the city and back to the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry. If he was honest with himself, Hana's idea wasn't a bad one. It was just that he was reluctant to return, preferring to keep alive his memories of the place as he'd known it.

'We can't go through the main gates,' said Ronin as they neared their destination. 'It's too exposed.'

'There's a side gate that the students used,' stated Jack.

The three of them cut through a network of alleys and reached the smaller entrance unopposed. Even at this gate a sign had been posted, declaring Closed by order of the Shogun Closed by order of the Shogun. When the street was clear, they approached and Ronin tried the handle.

'It's locked!' He backed up to shoulder-barge it open.

'Let me try first,' said Hana, stepping into his path. 'It'll be obvious someone's broken in if you do that.'

She pulled out a knife, tucked discreetly into the back of her obi obi. The blade gleamed, its edge honed razor-sharp.

'Where did you get that?' demanded Ronin.

'Off the gap-toothed bandit.'

'You stole stole it?' it?'

'No,' objected Hana, her mouth dropping open as if that was the last thing she'd ever do. 'He threw it away. Anyway, I left my old one for him.'

Slipping the tip of the knife into the lock, she carefully twisted and jiggled the blade until there was a sharp click. The gate swung open. Hana turned to them, a smug grin on her face.

Ronin grunted with almost a hint of admiration.

'Good work!' said Jack, pleased Hana had proved her usefulness to Ronin twice in quick succession.

They hurried inside and shut the gate behind them. Their feet crunched loudly as they crossed the deserted pebbled courtyard. Jack felt as if they'd entered a cemetery, the derelict buildings no more than tombs to the martial arts that were once taught here.

'I can see this was an impressive school,' commented Ronin, heading for the Butokuden Butokuden. 'Such a waste!'

They entered the great hall, its rounded pillars of cypress wood still propping up the immense panelled ceiling, with its criss-cross of beams like the skeleton of a beached whale. Shafts of late afternoon sun pierced the vast interior, catching dust motes in the stale air and illuminating the ransacked Weapons Wall. Stripped of all its equipment during the height of battle over the school, just a broken wakizas.h.i.+ wakizas.h.i.+ and a worn and a worn bokken bokken now remained discarded upon the floor. now remained discarded upon the floor.

Walking over to the ceremonial alcove, their footsteps echoed off the bare walls. Ronin picked up the wooden sword and casually tested its weight. He sighed. 'To have trained in a place like this this must have been a great honour.' must have been a great honour.'

Jack nodded in agreement. Yet his experiences hadn't been all all good. Sensei Kyuzo, the dwarf-sized yet lethal good. Sensei Kyuzo, the dwarf-sized yet lethal taijutsu taijutsu master, had spent many a lesson demonstrating excruciatingly painful combat techniques upon him for the benefit of the rest of the cla.s.s. And, as a punishment once, he'd forced Jack to spend the entire night cleaning every single woodblock of the master, had spent many a lesson demonstrating excruciatingly painful combat techniques upon him for the benefit of the rest of the cla.s.s. And, as a punishment once, he'd forced Jack to spend the entire night cleaning every single woodblock of the dojo dojo floor. But Jack would willingly suffer all that again to see the floor. But Jack would willingly suffer all that again to see the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry back to its former glory. back to its former glory.

They left the Butokuden Butokuden and made for the and made for the Cho-no-ma Cho-no-ma.

'It's beautiful!' gasped Hana, running her fingers over the exquisite silk-screen paintings of b.u.t.terflies and sakura sakura trees that lined the dining hall. trees that lined the dining hall.

Some of the tables were still set for dinner as if waiting for the students and their sensei to appear. Jack almost expected Masamoto to stride through the door, proclaiming his return. But then he caught sight of a dried bloodstain upon one of the tabletops. This was where Saburo had lain to have his arrow wound tended to and bandaged. That night had been the beginning of the end.

Jack wondered what had become of his friend, and of Kiku who'd stayed behind as his nurse. Were they still alive? If so, were they hiding like him? Or had they escaped the Shogun's purge of his enemies?

While Jack contemplated his friends' fate, Ronin found the kitchen and returned a few moments later with some dishes, three pairs of has.h.i.+ has.h.i.+ and a cooking bowl. and a cooking bowl.

'Time to eat. You'll need your strength for the duel tomorrow.'

Ronin led them outside and ordered Hana to collect some wood from the ruins of the Hall of the Hawk. Then he found a suitable spot in the Southern Zen Garden to make a fire, in the lee of an immense standing stone to s.h.i.+eld the light and beneath a tree to disperse the smoke, so that their presence within the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry wouldn't be detected. As the rice cooked, Hana cut up some vegetables and Jack gutted a fish that Ronin had bought earlier with their dwindling money supply. wouldn't be detected. As the rice cooked, Hana cut up some vegetables and Jack gutted a fish that Ronin had bought earlier with their dwindling money supply.

By the time dinner was ready, however, Jack had lost his appet.i.te. He'd been unable to shake off his sadness at coming back to the school and he was worried about the impending duel. Returning to the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry had reminded him that he'd not practised his swordwork, let alone the Two Heavens technique, since regaining consciousness several days before. had reminded him that he'd not practised his swordwork, let alone the Two Heavens technique, since regaining consciousness several days before.

'I need a walk,' he said, smiling apologetically when Hana offered him his share.

'And I need a drink,' replied Ronin, lifting a bottle of sake sake to his lips. to his lips.

'But you must eat, Jack...' said Hana.

Ronin silently shook his head at Hana, warning her to let Jack go.

Jack wandered through the abandoned school. With early evening settling in, the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry merely appeared to be asleep, not dead. Climbing the stone steps in front of him, he found himself outside the merely appeared to be asleep, not dead. Climbing the stone steps in front of him, he found himself outside the Butsuden Butsuden, the wide wooden doors hanging off like broken wings. He stepped inside its shadowy interior.

'h.e.l.lo?' he called.