Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [124]
‘Keep going!’ hissed Sensei Kyuzo, roughly pushing them on.
The enemy ignored the three of them as they thundered by.
Not stopping for anyone, Sensei Kyuzo escorted Jack and Akiko all the way to the ground floor entrance of the keep. They were almost through the gate, when a gold-horned Red Devil stepped into their path.
‘Traitors for execution,’ barked Sensei Kyuzo, by way of an explanation.
‘It would be my pleasure,’ said the Red Devil, reaching for his sword.
‘No!’ Sensei Kyuzo replied firmly.
The Red Devil glared at him. ‘Are you challenging my authority?’
‘These are for daimyo Kamakura,’ explained Sensei Kyuzo, bowing his head respectfully. ‘Our lord has requested any students of the Niten Ichi Ryū. He wishes to punish them personally. In particular, this gaijin.’
Sensei Kyuzo cruelly shook Jack by the arm.
The Red Devil backed down, glowering with disappointment.
‘Very well,’ he grumbled, waving them on.
Sensei Kyuzo didn’t look back as he led them out of the gate.
Pockets of fighting were still going on throughout the courtyard. But he walked them straight across, taking a sharp right through the trees, past a dead samurai whose armour was missing.
‘Masamoto-sama’s holding off the enemy near the tea garden,’ he whispered, taking off his helmet and menpō. ‘By daimyo Takatomi’s command, we’re to get all surviving young samurai out of the castle –’
All of a sudden, he unsheathed his tantō and threw it into a tree. A second later, a ninja fell from the branches and crashed to the ground, dead.
‘We don’t have much time,’ said Sensei Kyuzo, his eyes scanning the canopy. ‘There’s a hidden passage. Sensei Kano will guide you through –’
‘Sensei Kano’s alive!’ exclaimed Jack.
‘Yes,’ snapped Sensei Kyuzo impatiently. ‘The passage is how he got back in. We’ll find you some weapons on the way.’
He stopped as six ninja dropped from the trees.
‘Go!’ ordered Sensei Kyuzo, pushing them in the direction of the garden.
‘But it’s suicide,’ said Jack, realizing their sensei intended to fight the assassins single-handedly.
‘Don’t think I’m fighting for you, gaijin,’ spat Sensei Kyuzo. ‘My duty is to Masamoto-sama. Now I order you to go!’
Jack was astounded by his sensei’s sacrifice. Bound by the code of bushido, Sensei Kyuzo didn’t question his duty to protect the young samurai with his life, despite his personal hatred of Jack.
Risking a final glance back, Jack saw his taijutsu master encircled by the ninja, his fists raised, calmly beckoning them on.
58
THE LAST STAND
Breaking from the treeline, Jack and Akiko ran through the tea garden and headed for the island. Masamoto and Sensei Hosokawa were protecting the bridge on the far side, their katana and wakizashi flashing like shooting stars in the night as they cut down any Red Devils who dared approach.
On the island, Sensei Yosa was launching arrow after arrow at enemy archers on the ramparts, while the surviving Niten Ichi Ryū students hurried across the bridge to the tea house. Inside, Sensei Kano was urging them through a concealed trapdoor into a secret passageway below.
Almost all the young samurai were safely through, as Jack and Akiko now crossed the bridge. Cho, the last of the students, was heading for the trapdoor, when a ninja on the battlements threw a fist-sized black ball into the tea house. It landed heavily and rolled to a stop next to Cho. The fuse on the round iron explosive crackled and burnt bright red in the darkness.
‘Bomb!’ she screamed, her eyes widening in panic.
Sensei Kano grabbed Cho and dragged her into the passage, slamming the trapdoor shut behind them.
A second later the incendiary device exploded and the tea house was blown apart. Sensei Yosa was blasted off her feet. Jack and Akiko dived for cover, as wood and rocks rained down on them.
Masamoto dashed over, his eyes fiery and alert. ‘Are you hurt?’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Jack, getting to his feet with Akiko.
‘Where’s Yamato-kun?’ Masamoto