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‘But daimyo Kamakura’s bound to the terms of the peace agreement by his own blood,’ noted the third daimyo.

‘Yes,’ replied daimyo Takatomi, ‘but you’re also aware he left a battalion of troops behind, demolishing the castle’s outer wall and filling in the moat. In light of the treaty, their captain said, there was no longer any need for the defences to stand!’

‘But they were eventually stopped, weren’t they? Repairs are already under way.’

‘And that’s when the trap was sprung,’ said Emi’s father with a weary sigh. ‘By ordering the walls to be rebuilt, his lordship played right into daimyo Kamakura’s hands…’

Jack strained to hear their conversation as the three daimyo rounded the corner.

‘… our enemy will proclaim that we’ve broken the spirit of an inviolable agreement… He’ll declare war again, but with Osaka Castle now dangerously weakened…’

Jack couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. If Emi’s father was right, then this false peace was merely the calm before the storm.

‘Spying, are we?’ hissed a voice in Jack’s ear.

Dropping his haiku in shock, Jack spun round to be confronted by the malignant face of Father Bobadillo.

‘N-no,’ stuttered Jack, trying to get away.

‘It looked like it to me,’ said the priest, grabbing Jack by the scruff of his kimono. ‘Skulking behind a tree. Listening in on private conversations. Do you make a habit of poking your nose into places you shouldn’t?’

Father Bobadillo glared into Jack’s eyes, hunting for a glimmer of guilt. Jack shook his head.

‘You do know spying is punishable by death?’ uttered Father Bobadillo, emphasizing the last word with relish. A thin smile formed on his thin lips. ‘I’m afraid I’ll have to report this.’

Jack realized he had little chance against the priest. Father Bobadillo would do everything in his power to discredit him, using the excuse of spying to have him killed or, at the very least, banished. It would be his word against a retainer of the ruler-in-waiting.

‘Jack!’ called a voice merrily.

The smile dropped from Father Bobadillo’s face at the interruption. Over the priest’s shoulder, Jack glimpsed Takuan striding through the trees towards them. He’d left his friends upon a bridge watching the carp in the pond.

‘There you are!’ he exclaimed. ‘We finished playing kakurenbo ages ago. Thank you, Father, for finding him. Jack always wins hide-and-seek!’

Father Bobadillo eyed Takuan suspiciously, then glared at Jack.

‘My pleasure,’ he muttered, letting go of Jack’s kimono collar.

The priest marched off in the direction of the tea house.

‘Thanks,’ said Jack, breathing a sigh of relief.

‘What did that man want? I saw him follow you into the trees. It looked like you were in trouble.’

‘It’s nothing,’ replied Jack, not wishing to involve Takuan. ‘We just have a conflict of religion.’

Takuan nodded his understanding. ‘Well, come and join the party. You’ve been missing all the fun.’

Jack glanced over to where Akiko still sat in darkness. He’d have to give her the poem another time.

‘What’s this?’ asked Takuan, bending down to pick up the piece of paper at Jack’s feet. ‘A haiku!’

Jack snatched at the paper.

But Takuan was too quick. He danced out of reach and read the poem out loud:

‘In my own garden

English rose, sakura flower

growing together.’

‘Is this yours?’ asked Takuan.

‘Give it back,’ Jack pleaded, embarrassed.

‘But this is wonderful! I didn’t realize you were such a poet.’

‘I’m not… it’s nothing like your haiku.’

‘No, this is better. You must have been very inspired –’

Takuan stopped in mid-sentence. He’d spotted Akiko on the bench. Looking at Akiko, then at the haiku and finally at Jack, an enlightened smile formed on his handsome face.

‘Rose? Sakura? This is you and Akiko, isn’t it?’

‘No…’ protested Jack feebly. He felt horribly awkward and exposed. Takuan was surely going to taunt him about it and tell everyone. This was worse than being caught by Father Bobadillo.

‘I must apologize to you, Jack,’ said Takuan, handing him back the haiku with a low bow. ‘I’ve been