Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [613]
“Granny! Jōtarō!”
They came down the bank slowly, Jōtarō asking, “What is it, Otsū?” “I heard you talking.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. But I’m not going to cry about it anymore. I’ll go to Kokura. I’ll see the bout for myself…. We can’t take it for granted Musashi will win. If he doesn’t, I intend to receive his ashes and bring them back with me.”
“But you’re sick.”
“Sick?” She’d pushed the very idea from her mind; she seemed filled with a vitality transcending the weakness of her body. “Don’t think about it. I’m perfectly all right. Well, maybe I’m still a little sick, but until I see how the bout turns out—”
“I’m determined not to die” were the words that nearly escaped her lips. She stifled them and busied herself making preparations for her journey. When she was ready, she got out of the boat all by herself, though she had to cling tightly to the rail in order to do so.
A Falcon and a Woman
At the time of the Battle of Sekigahara, Kokura had been the site of a fortress commanded by Lord Mōri Katsunobu of Iki. Since then the castle had been rebuilt and enlarged and acquired a new lord. Its towers and glistening white walls bespoke the great power and dignity of the House of Hosokawa, headed now by Tadatoshi, who had succeeded his father, Tadaoki.
In the short time since Kojirō’s arrival, the Ganryū Style, developed on the foundation he had learned from Toda Seigen and Kanemaki Jisai, had swept over all Kyushu. Men even came from Shikoku to study under him, hoping that after a year or two of training they would be awarded a certificate and receive sanction to return home as teachers of this new style.
Kojirō enjoyed the esteem of those around him, including Tadatoshi, who had been heard to remark with satisfaction, “I found myself a very good swordsman.” In every quarter of the extensive Hosokawa household, it was agreed that Kojirō was a person of “outstanding character.” And when he traveled between his home and the castle, he did so in style, attended by seven lancers. People went out of their way to approach him and pay their respects.
Until his coming, Ujiie Magoshirō, a practitioner of the Shinkage Style, had been the clan’s chief sword instructor, but his star dimmed rapidly as Kojirō’s grew more brilliant. Kojirō treated him magniloquently. To Lord Tadatoshi, he had said, “You mustn’t let Ujiie go. While his style is not flashy, it does have a certain maturity we younger men lack.” He suggested that he and Magoshirō give lessons in the castle’s dōjō on alternate days, and this was put into practice.
At one point, Tadatoshi said, “Kojirō says Magoshirō’s method is not flashy, but mature. Magoshirō says Kojirō is a genius with whom he cannot match swords. Who is right? I’d like to see a demonstration.”
The two men agreed to subsequently face each other with wooden swords in his lordship’s presence. At the first opportunity, Kojirō discarded his weapon, and seating himself at his opponent’s feet, announced, “I’m no match for you. Forgive my presumption.”
“Don’t be modest,” replied Magoshirō. “I’m the one who’s not a worthy opponent.”
Witnesses were divided as to whether Kojirō acted out of compassion or self-interest. In any case, his reputation rose still higher.
Kojirō’s attitude toward Magoshirō remained charitable, but whenever someone made favorable mention of Musashi’s growing fame in Edo and Kyoto, he was quick to set him straight.
“Musashi?” he would say with disdain. “Oh, he’s been crafty enough to make something of a name for himself. He talks about his Two-Sword Style, I’m told. He’s always had a certain natural ability. I doubt whether there’s anybody in Kyoto or Osaka who could defeat him.” He always made it appear that he was restraining himself from saying more.
An experienced warrior visiting Kojirō’s house one day said, “I’ve never met