The Ring of Earth - Chris Bradford [92]
‘Shonin?’ called out Jack, as Miyuki was tying off his bandage.
‘What is it?’ said Shonin tersely, unaccustomed to being interrupted.
‘Am I right? The sparrow never lands where the tiger roams.’
Every ninja stood up – but one.
Realizing his error, this ninja lunged at Shonin, a blade drawn. The attack was so unexpected none of the other shinobi could react in time. But Jack was ready. He flicked his hand, sending the shuriken flying.
The needle pierced the outstretched arm of Shonin’s assassin. The man yelled in shock, almost dropping the knife. He took a second swipe at Shonin.
By then the clan leader had rolled safely out of the way. The assassin dived after him, but Zenjubo leapt into the fray. The assassin fought back as they wrestled for control of the knife. Zenjubo, more skilled at hand-to-hand combat, broke the man’s wrist, twisting his arm up and into his body. The assassin doubled over in pain as his own knife cut into him.
Collapsing to his knees, he let the bloodstained blade fall to the ground. Zenjubo ripped off the assassin’s hood.
Blood oozing from his lips, his eyes wild, daimyo Akechi spluttered his last dying breath. ‘You can never trust a ninja …’
56
THE RING OF EARTH
‘How did you know?’ asked Miyuki as she continued her daily healing, her hands hovering over Jack’s wound.
Their escape, two nights ago, already seemed like a bad dream as they sat beside the village temple, letting the early morning sunshine warm their bodies.
‘A ninja without observation is like a bird without wings,’ grinned Jack, giving the same response he’d been giving everyone since Akechi’s death.
‘Stop teasing and just tell me!’
Jack finally relented. ‘I wouldn’t have known if Kajiya hadn’t said Kato was dead. With Shiro gone too and you healing me, I couldn’t work out why there were still five ninja in full shinobi shozoku.’
‘It was lucky you were counting. Otherwise Shonin would be dead by now.’
‘I was surprised it was daimyo Akechi himself,’ Jack admitted. ‘He struck me as a coward. But his obsession with revenge must have made him desperate.’
‘You were right, by the way – revenge doesn’t solve anything,’ said Miyuki, her expression becoming sorrowful. ‘Even though Gemnan’s dead, I still miss my family just as much.’
‘I miss mine too,’ replied Jack, the void opening up in his heart as it always did when he thought of his mother and father.
For a moment, neither spoke, consumed by their grief, but comforted by each other’s presence. Then Miyuki lowered her hands.
‘That should do for now,’ she said, forcing a smile back on to her face and gently touching his shoulder. ‘It’ll still be stiff for a few days. But as long as you rest, you’ll be performing the Two Heavens in no time.’
‘You definitely have healing hands,’ said Jack as he took hers in his.
A forced cough alerted them to Tenzen walking over, a large pack on his back. ‘It’s time to go. Shonin wants to move before the sun’s fully up.’
‘Are you certain you don’t want to come with us?’ asked Miyuki. ‘It’ll be peaceful in the mountains and I can finish tending to your wound.’
Letting her hand go, Jack shook his head. ‘You’re very kind, but –’
‘No … I understand,’ she replied as Akiko appeared. ‘Of course you can’t.’
Miyuki stood and bowed at her approach. Akiko returned the greeting. Though there was no love lost between them, Jack saw there was now at least a sense of mutual respect.
‘This is goodbye then,’ said Miyuki, turning back to Jack.
‘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, flashing an embarrassed 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. ‘These are for you,’ he said,