Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [79]
Kiku was immediately by his side. ‘He’s dying!,’ she cried.
‘No, he’s only bleeding,’ said Yamato, ripping a strip from the spare kimono and applying pressure to the wound.
‘What’s she doing here?’ exclaimed Akiko.
Jack looked over to see Moriko, the Yagyu Ryū girl, standing beside the flaming Hall of the Hawk with her bow in hand. With no sense of urgency, as if still competing in a Yabusame competition, Moriko reached for another arrow.
Akiko hurried to string her own bow, but stopped to stare in horror at her arrows. ‘These are jindou!’
‘That was my archery prize,’ screeched Moriko above the noise of battle. She took aim at Akiko and fired.
Dropping to one knee, Akiko drew back on her bow and released the blunt jindou. Moriko’s arrow skimmed past Akiko’s ear, catching a lock of her hair as it shot by. The jindou, however, didn’t miss. It struck Moriko squarely in the chest. She stumbled backwards under the blow.
Akiko withdrew another jindou. Moriko, winded but unhurt, went to nock another steel-tipped arrow. Jack watched, powerless, as the two of them raced to shoot first. Akiko was ready a second before Moriko. She let loose her jindou. It flew straight and true, striking Moriko directly in the forehead. Stunned, Moriko reeled towards the blazing Hall of the Hawk before collapsing, unconscious.
‘No, it was my prize,’ said Akiko, allowing herself a smile of satisfaction at her shot.
Before any one else attacked them, Jack grabbed his swords from the weapon pile, then passed Yori, Kiku and Akiko the three remaining katana.
‘It’s time we rejoined the fight.’
In the far corner of the courtyard, Takuan and Emi were surrounded by enemy samurai. Takuan, weakened by his injury, could hardly lift the sword he’d found. Akiko immediately let loose a jindou, knocking his attacker to the ground.
Yamato, staff twirling, hurried to their aid. Akiko was right behind him, stringing her bow as she ran. Jack was about to follow when he noticed Moriko getting to her feet. She swayed unsteadily as she nocked an arrow.
Jack ran to stop her, but he knew he’d never make it in time.
‘Die!’ shrieked Moriko, targeting Akiko in the back.
34
HANGING
The Hall of the Hawk finally surrendered to the flames. The roof fell in and the wooden superstructure disintegrated with a resounding crack.
Moriko had little chance.
The building suddenly collapsed sideways, consuming her in an avalanche of fire, blazing wood and scalding ash. Jack saw her pale face stricken with fear as her hair burst into flame, her blackened mouth opening in an unheard scream. Then she disappeared beneath the smoking ruins, her bow and arrow still in her hands.
Beyond the remains, Kazuki stared in anguish at where Moriko had fallen. Through the haze of smoke and fire, Kazuki locked eyes with Jack. His face consumed with hate, Kazuki stormed off in the direction of the Butokuden.
Jack would not let him get away this time. Leaving Yori and Kiku tending to Saburo, he skirted the remains of the hall, evading several ongoing fights as he made for the Butokuden’s back entrance.
Peering in, he found the dojo eerily deserted. The light from the fires chased shadows round the pillared hall and the noise of battle echoed in the high-vaulted ceiling like the spirits of warriors past.
Kazuki was in the ceremonial alcove. He was splashing lamp oil over the walls, clearly intent on burning the whole school to the ground.
Drawing both his swords, Jack crept inside. Carefully stepping over a couple of weapons discarded by students in their haste to arm themselves from the Weapons Wall, he crossed the dojo floor and approached Kazuki from behind.
Now was his chance to make Kazuki pay for all the bullying and harassment he’d suffered these past three years. In just a few more steps, he could run his rival through with his sword.
But his hand was stayed by the memory of Masamoto’s words of welcome that first day at the Niten Ichi Ryū.
The Way of the Warrior means living by the samurai code of honour – bushido – at all times. I demand