Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [65]
Emi was outraged.
‘Leave Takuan alone!’ she shouted, palm-heel striking Hiroto in the chest.
Shocked by the suddenness of the assault, Hiroto was completely unprepared for tomoe nage, the sacrificial stomach throw. Emi grabbed him by the lapels of his gi and rolled backwards. Jack and Takuan could only gawp as Emi tossed Hiroto high into the air and sent him crashing on to the dojo floor.
Jack winced in sympathy for Hiroto. Emi’s foot hadn’t planted itself in Hiroto’s stomach. It had been much, much lower. Hiroto rolled around on the floor, his hands between his legs, whimpering in his high-pitched voice.
Jack realized he’d been lucky to get away with a kick to the face.
Emi flipped to her feet and shot Takuan another demure smile. A moment later, she was bowled over by Nobu who charged into her.
Jack, now defeated, looked around the hall to see who remained standing. Akiko had just leg-sweeped Goro, finishing him off with a hammerfist strike to the stomach. Meanwhile, Nobu was seeking his next victim. The only other samurai still standing were Yamato and Kazuki, who were battling it out in the centre of the dojo.
Yamato was putting up a strong defence, but over the course of two years Kazuki had received so much additional taijutsu training from Sensei Kyuzo that there was no one in the class to rival him. Jack could only watch as Kazuki systematically demolished his friend’s guard. A crippling roundhouse to the thigh dropped Yamato to one knee. Kazuki followed up with a crushing elbow strike to the head. Only a last-second block prevented Yamato getting a broken jaw, but the force of the blow sent him reeling across the dojo and on to the floor.
Nobu, sweating heavily from his exertions, was now circling Akiko. He kept a wary distance, occasionally feigning an attack so as to keep her attention on him, while Kazuki advanced on her blind side.
Jack, along with the rest of the class, held their breath as they waited for the outcome of this match. He knew Nobu was not the best fighter, his immense size having saved him from getting thrown so far. He’d also toughened up in recent months and so was able to absorb any blows that once would have floored him.
Despite the rigors of the battle and the threat Nobu posed, Akiko looked calm and collected. The real danger for her was Kazuki.
However much Jack disliked Kazuki for his bullying, he couldn’t deny the boy was a skilled and clever fighter. His innate talent at the Two Heavens was as impressive as it was annoying for Jack. His abilities at archery and horseriding were strong. He was good at the bō, lethal in unarmed combat and had proved his worth by conquering the Circle of Three. Kazuki was developing into a supreme samurai warrior.
Kazuki gave a subtle nod of the head to Nobu and as one they attacked Akiko. Kazuki going for the head, Nobu for the stomach.
Unfazed, Akiko stood her ground. Suddenly she exploded upwards, jumping clear of Kazuki’s front kick and Nobu’s roundhouse punch. Rising above them, she simultaneously kicked out with both feet and planted them into Kazuki’s and Nobu’s gawping faces. Taken by complete surprise at such an advanced and agile technique, the two of them staggered backwards then collapsed on the floor.
Akiko landed lightly in a fighting guard and surveyed the scene. She stood alone in a dojo littered with fallen and groaning bodies. The ones who’d been watching the final fight greeted her victory with stunned silence.
‘Who taught Akiko that move?’ whispered Takuan to Jack, an incredulous look on his face.
‘No idea,’ replied Jack, shrugging. But no one in this school, that’s for sure, he thought.
Sensei Kyuzo strode over to her. As he approached, she bowed her respect. Without stopping, Sensei Kyuzo brought his arm up hard across her chest and, twisting, threw her over his hip. She landed in a dazed pile beside Jack. Everyone stared in shock at the taijutsu