Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [77]
Jack ran back to the entrance and waited for what seemed an age. Masamoto and his sensei were now engaged in heavy combat with the intruders, trying to break through the lines so the rest of the school could reach the Weapons Wall in the Butokuden. Many students, however, had been forced into hand-to-hand combat, relying solely on their taijutsu training to survive.
The door scraped open and Yori’s face appeared. Jack burst in, pushing past him to retrieve his swords. But glancing down the girls’ corridor, he caught sight of a figure enter a room at the far end. A flame flickered in the darkness.
‘Yori,’ Jack whispered. ‘Get Yamato, then collect as many weapons as you can!’
Yori, terrified by the sudden turn of events, could only nod.
‘Go!’ urged Jack and pushed his friend out of the door.
Jack ran silently down the girls’ corridor. As he approached the last room, he slowed and peered round the door. Inside, a shadowy figure was bent over an oil lamp, about to set fire to the paper walls. Jack had discovered the culprit. Preparing to attack, he crept closer but the intruder spun round.
‘You’re too late, gaijin!’ snarled Kazuki. ‘The Scorpions have struck.’
Jack was stopped in his tracks and stared open-mouthed at his rival.
‘Kazuki? What…? Why burn down your own school?’ Jack exclaimed.
‘As daimyo Takatomi said, the Hall of the Hawk should be a beacon of light in dark times,’ Kazuki mocked, imitating their lord. ‘And it’s now daimyo Kamakura’s time!’
‘But your father’s on our side!’ said Jack urgently.
Kazuki laughed. ‘That’s what Takatomi is meant to believe, but my father’s always served daimyo Kamakura.’
Jack felt his temper rising at the betrayal. ‘What about your loyalty to Masamoto-sama?’
‘He lost my respect the day he adopted you,’ spat Kazuki, standing to face him. ‘But he’s still the best swordsman in Japan, so my father ordered me to stay to learn the secret of the Two Heavens.’
Grinning, Kazuki raised the oil lamp. ‘Now I know it. School’s over!’
‘NO!’ screamed Jack, lunging to stop him.
He collided with Kazuki, but the lamp was already sailing towards the wall. It smashed open, spilling burning oil across the room. Jack drove his shoulder into Kazuki’s chest. They both crashed to the floor.
Jack, having the advantage, landed a solid hook punch across Kazuki’s jaw. Spitting blood, Kazuki retaliated with a series of devastating body blows. Jack grimaced, trying to absorb the punches so he could stay on top. But Kazuki’s skill at grappling meant Jack was soon dislodged.
They both scrambled to their feet amid the burning room. Smoke clogged their vision and Jack didn’t see the roundhouse kick until it was too late. It caught him in the ribs, sending him staggering sideways. A moment later, Kazuki front-kicked him in the chest. Jack flew against the burning paper wall and crashed through to the next room.
Jumping after him, Kazuki aimed to land a stomping kick to the head. At the last second, Jack rolled out of the way. Turning back, he drove his body into Kazuki. Grabbing hold of his rival’s leg, he twisted it and swept him to the floor. Jack was up first, kicking Kazuki in the back as he tried to stand. It was only then that he noticed the sleeve of his kimono had caught fire.
Panicking, Jack slapped at the flames to extinguish them. But the momentary distraction allowed Kazuki to recover. Flipping to his feet, he backfisted Jack in the nose. Then, grabbing Jack’s smouldering arm, he executed a seoi nage, throwing him through the next wall.
Jack lay there dazed, staring up in a blur at the burning ceiling. The Hall of Lions cracked and creaked under the strain of the spreading fire. Kazuki stepped through the flames, his fists clenched, his eyes blazing with hatred. He looked down at Jack.
‘I’ve waited a long time to finish you,’ he said, kicking Jack several times in quick succession.
Jack doubled up, trying to protect himself, but a kick to the head took all the fight out of him. Crippled with pain, he could only watch helplessly as the room became consumed