Young Samurai_ The Way of the Sword - Chris Bradford [87]
He spat the last two words into Jack’s face.
‘Your accusation in front of the school caused me to lose face. I summoned you here to defend my honour. I challenge you to a fight. Submission or first blood wins.’
Jack didn’t reply immediately. As large drops of rain began to fall out of the thundering sky, he continued to stare at Kazuki, considering his options.
Jack was confident of his ability to fight hand-to-hand, especially since Sensei Kano’s chi sao training. In fact, the onset of dusk could only increase his chances of victory. On the other hand, Jack knew Kazuki had worked just as hard during his own private training sessions with Sensei Kyuzo and his strength and advanced skill in taijutsu meant he might still have the upper hand. Accepting Kazuki’s challenge could prove fatal, particularly in Jack’s current exhausted condition. To back down, however, would be seen as shameful and he was under no illusion that Kazuki wouldn’t hesitate to revel in spreading the word of such a spineless surrender.
When it came down to it, did he actually have a choice?
One look into Kazuki’s eyes told Jack his enemy intended to fight him regardless of his answer.
Lightning flared across the sky. The Castle of the White Phoenix was momentarily illuminated, a ghostly apparition against the horizon. As the storm rumbled angrily overhead, the rain became a downpour that drummed loudly on the nearby roofs and a chill wind blasted the cloth signs that hung from the shop awnings.
Seemingly oblivious to the storm, Kazuki waited for Jack’s answer.
Jack nodded his head once in assent.
Kazuki grinned.
‘Stop!’ cried Akiko, running through the rain towards them.
Close behind her were Yamato and Saburo. Although Jack had insisted he should go alone, he was relieved to see his loyal friends.
‘Didn’t trust me, did you, gaijin?’ spat Kazuki. ‘No matter, it’ll be good to have an audience for this. Scorpions!’
He signed to a darkened alleyway and the Scorpion Gang materialized out of the shadows. With a sinking heart, Jack realized this was going to be a fight, not to first blood but his last.
They closed in upon Jack and his friends. There was a tense stand-off, then Kazuki laughed and indicated for his gang to back off and join him.
‘This is a matter of honour, between me and the gaijin. No need for anyone else to get involved,’ he said, passing Nobu his bokken. ‘On my family’s name, I’ll follow the samurai code. No weapons. We stop at first blood.’
Akiko turned urgently to Jack and whispered, ‘Don’t do this, Jack. You know he breaks the rules during randori. You think he’ll be satisfied with first blood? Kazuki will want to finish you off, once and for all.’
‘He just swore on the honour of his family,’ Jack countered as he gave Saburo his raincoat. ‘He considers himself pure samurai. He won’t break bushido.’
‘Jack, you don’t get it, do you? Don’t you remember the rocks in the snowballs? The rules don’t apply to you. You’re gaijin.’
Jack was stung by Akiko’s use of the insult. Although he realized she hadn’t said it out of cruelty, it still cut deeply to hear her call him gaijin. He was reminded yet again that however accomplished he became at their language, however well he knew Japan and its customs, however perfectly he followed their etiquette and mastered their martial arts, for the simple reason that he was not born Japanese, he would always be perceived as an outsider – even by Akiko.
Unwittingly, Akiko’s comment spurred Jack on and strengthened his determination to fight. He would prove that he was more samurai than any of them.
Jack gave Yamato his bokken and stepped forward.
‘Destroy him, Kazuki!’ yelled Hiroto as Kazuki and Jack faced off in the pouring rain.
Keeping within the tradition of a formal fight, Kazuki bowed to Jack.
Jack returned the bow. But Kazuki had tricked him. He didn’t wait for Jack to finish, kicking straight for his face. Jack barely had time to react. He blocked the kick, but the force of the blow sent him staggering backwards.
Kazuki drove