Part 5 (1/2)

So much had changed since then. As far as he knew, the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry was no more. When the students had left for war, half the school was already in ruins, the Hall of Lions just a burnt-out sh.e.l.l following a surprise attack by Kamakura's supporters. But even if it was still standing, there was no one left to teach there. Many of the sensei and students had died during the battle for Osaka Castle. And those who'd survived had been banished by the Shogun. was no more. When the students had left for war, half the school was already in ruins, the Hall of Lions just a burnt-out sh.e.l.l following a surprise attack by Kamakura's supporters. But even if it was still standing, there was no one left to teach there. Many of the sensei and students had died during the battle for Osaka Castle. And those who'd survived had been banished by the Shogun.

How Jack missed their friends.h.i.+p and guidance. And, even more, the bond that was forged between him, Yamato and Akiko in those dark times. Forever bound to one another Forever bound to one another had been their motto. They'd stood side by side, three friends prepared for any challenge, ready to lay down their lives for one another. Which is exactly what Yamato had done for Jack and Akiko. had been their motto. They'd stood side by side, three friends prepared for any challenge, ready to lay down their lives for one another. Which is exactly what Yamato had done for Jack and Akiko.

But now Jack was all alone and had to make his own decisions.

Tomorrow he would leave.

Jack found himself back at Soke's house. As he turned to go inside, he noticed movement in the paddy fields. Three shadows flitted through the night towards Shonin's farmhouse. For a moment, Jack thought his eyes were deceiving him. Camouflaged in black, swords strapped to their backs, the three figures moved swiftly and without sound.

Ninja!

9.

THE H HIDDEN E ENEMY.

A combination of fear, anger and determination swept through Jack. Ever since the horrific attack on the Alexandria Alexandria, ninja were his worst nightmare. Cruel faceless killers, they had no honour, no loyalty and no mercy. They cared only for payment for their services and nothing about the pain and suffering they caused.

Jack knew the Iga mountains were the stronghold of the ninja. But what were they doing here in this little farming village? Had the Shogun employed a.s.sa.s.sins to find Jack? He wouldn't be surprised. Kamakura had sunk to such depths during the war. The Shogun had even been in collusion with Dragon Eye.

But these ninja ignored Soke's abode where Jack was staying. They were headed straight for Shonin's farmhouse. It seemed the trouble the village was in with daimyo daimyo Akechi was enough for the samurai lord to hire a.s.sa.s.sins himself. Jack had to warn Soke. Running back inside, he knocked on the old man's door. Akechi was enough for the samurai lord to hire a.s.sa.s.sins himself. Jack had to warn Soke. Running back inside, he knocked on the old man's door.

'Soke?' he called, but got no answer.

Sliding opening the shoji shoji, he found the room empty, the futon futon unmade. Hanzo wasn't in the house either. They must be with Shonin still that meant unmade. Hanzo wasn't in the house either. They must be with Shonin still that meant both both were in danger. were in danger.

Grabbing his swords, he ran out into the night. The pathway between the paddy fields was narrow and wet, and in the darkness proved treacherous. He cursed as his foot slipped into the muddy waters. Why couldn't the farmers make proper-sized paths?

Stumbling on, he reached the road. The three ninja had already entered the square and had disappeared from view. Jack dashed up the slope and through the gate. The square was deserted, but oil lamps, burning inside the farmhouse, cast orange bars of light across the hard-packed earth.

The main door to the building was ajar. Jack carefully approached and placed one eye to the crack. The corridor was deserted. Drawing his katana katana, he slipped inside and headed for the reception room. He could hear voices and prayed he wasn't too late.

As he pa.s.sed the first shoji shoji, it opened and a ninja stepped out, eyes wide with alarm. In an instant, the a.s.sa.s.sin had drawn the sword strapped to his back. The ninjat ninjat, with its trademark straight blade and square handguard, flashed through the air. The speed with which the a.s.sa.s.sin struck took Jack by surprise, but his years of samurai training kicked in. He deflected the attack and retaliated with a cut across the chest.

The ninja leapt aside with cat-like agility. But Jack kept up the pressure, driving the intruder down the corridor. Their swords clashed and locked against one another. In that moment, the ninja attempted to throw something into Jack's eyes. Jack, familiar with metsubis.h.i.+ metsubis.h.i.+ blinding powder, turned away and managed to avoid the worst of it, but realized he'd been compromised. In a desperate move to regain the advantage, he didn't retreat. Instead he drove forward, pus.h.i.+ng the ninja back and cras.h.i.+ng through the double doors. blinding powder, turned away and managed to avoid the worst of it, but realized he'd been compromised. In a desperate move to regain the advantage, he didn't retreat. Instead he drove forward, pus.h.i.+ng the ninja back and cras.h.i.+ng through the double doors.

The framework cracked and the paper ripped as they tumbled into the reception room. Shouts of alarm broke out from the a.s.sembled villagers. Through eyes streaming from the metsubis.h.i.+ metsubis.h.i.+ powder, Jack spotted Hanzo in the corner. powder, Jack spotted Hanzo in the corner.

'Get out of here!' he screamed.

But he was too late. The other two a.s.sa.s.sins were already in the room, ninjat ninjat drawn and making for Shonin and Soke. drawn and making for Shonin and Soke.

Before Jack could do anything to save them, he was flung head over heels by the a.s.sa.s.sin pinned beneath him. He crashed to the floor, losing grip of his sword. Jack scrambled after it, but the ninja was already to his feet, bearing down on him, sword raised high, aiming to plunge the steel tip into his back.

'NO!' he heard Hanzo shout.

The ninja hesitated, and in that moment Jack rolled away. As he did so, he kicked the ninja's ankles, sweeping him to the floor. In a final bid to defend Soke, Jack s.n.a.t.c.hed up his sword and confronted the other a.s.sa.s.sins.

The first ninja, flipping back to his feet, closed in from behind.

Jack was surrounded. But why weren't Soke, Hanzo and the others escaping while they had the chance? But why weren't Soke, Hanzo and the others escaping while they had the chance?

Outnumbered, Jack knew this was his last stand. Blinking away the remains of the pepper powder, he withdrew his wakizas.h.i.+ wakizas.h.i.+ and raised both swords into the Two Heavens guard. and raised both swords into the Two Heavens guard.

'STOP!' commanded Soke.

Immediately, the three ninja backed away. Jack, swords still in hand, stared in astonishment at the old farmer.

'But ... they're ninja!' he exclaimed.

Soke calmly stepped forward and laid a hand on Jack's shoulder.

'So am I.'

10.

MIYUKI.

Jack stared at Soke in disbelief, his blood running cold at the idea. Meanwhile Shonin, sitting on the dais, was quietly chuckling to himself, enjoying the shocked look on Jack's face.

'Put down your swords,' urged Soke. 'We're all all ninja here.' ninja here.'

'But I thought you were just a farmer,' said Jack.

'I am that too.'

The realization hit Jack. The old man had been playing him like a puppet all along. Enticed by the promise of escape, he'd let himself be led straight into the heart of the ninja's domain. He was now trapped in their secret village, caught like a bug in a web. Jack tightened the grip on his swords. The ninja may have tricked him, but he wouldn't surrender without a fight.

'There's no need for that,' said Soke gently. 'You're our guest.'

'Our guest?' exclaimed the ninja standing behind Jack.

The girl's voice took Jack by surprise. The a.s.sa.s.sin he'd been fighting pulled off her hood. The girl was perhaps sixteen, pretty with a spiky bob of black hair. She stared indignantly at Jack with eyes as dark and deadly as the night.

'Yes, Miyuki. Our guest. So please treat him like one.'

Ignoring the request, she pointed the ninjat ninjat at Jack's throat. 'He's no guest. He's a samurai!' at Jack's throat. 'He's no guest. He's a samurai!'

'He's a tengu tengu!' corrected Hanzo, running to Jack's defence. 'I caught him. And he's my friend.'

Miyuki shook her head in disbelief. 'I should have guessed you'd you'd be involved. Why didn't anyone tell me?' be involved. Why didn't anyone tell me?'