Part 11 (1/2)

Over the past two weeks, Jack had not only continued practising evasion and escape tactics, but had been introduced to the ninja's version of taijutsu taijutsu. Initially surprised at how different the unarmed combat training was from that of the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry, he now appreciated the effectiveness of their style and found it appealing. The aim behind their taijutsu taijutsu wasn't necessarily to kill, but to fight their way through to a means of escape. And while the samurai rigorously drilled their moves to perfection, the ninja rarely practised a technique more than five times in any session. wasn't necessarily to kill, but to fight their way through to a means of escape. And while the samurai rigorously drilled their moves to perfection, the ninja rarely practised a technique more than five times in any session.

'A rigid system is open to attack,' the Grandmaster had explained in their first taijutsu taijutsu lesson. 'Any formal structure has weakness inherent within it. That's the flaw in the samurai's fighting art. Take the foundations from the house and it collapses.' lesson. 'Any formal structure has weakness inherent within it. That's the flaw in the samurai's fighting art. Take the foundations from the house and it collapses.'

Soke had demonstrated this on Jack, asking for a cla.s.sic samurai attack. Neatly evading his cross-punch, Soke had stepped on Jack's lead foot, then knocked the back of his knee to take away his balance. Jack was so distracted by this that, before he could retaliate, Soke had him in a painful armlock and was sweeping him to the ground.

'There's no right or wrong way in ninjutsu ninjutsu,' the Grandmaster had gone on to say. 'It only has to work. Each attack you'll encounter is unique in terms of distance and timing, so each response should be unique in its own way. Learn the basic principles, then apply them with a flexible mind.'

Every taijutsu taijutsu lesson so far had been a painful experience. But none more so than today when Soke had partnered him with Miyuki to run through the most crippling locking techniques. lesson so far had been a painful experience. But none more so than today when Soke had partnered him with Miyuki to run through the most crippling locking techniques.

Jack stood up, ma.s.saging his throbbing thumb. The morning sun was now filtering through the trees into the glade, but the lesson was far from over. The other students were tirelessly practising different hand-to-hand strikes.

'Good work, Miyuki,' said Soke, nodding with approval at her execution of the thumb lock. 'I think it's time you taught Jack the Sixteen Secret Fists of the ninja.'

Miyuki stared at Soke, taken aback by his suggestion. 'Does he really really need to know them all?' need to know them all?'

Soke nodded.

'As you wish, Grandmaster,' she said, reluctantly bowing to his request.

'Jack,' said Soke, 'you may be familiar through your samurai training with a few of these techniques the use of the fist, edge of the hand, elbow or knee to strike with. But the ninja don't limit themselves to this. We see the whole body as a weapon. Miyuki, please demonstrate Demon Horn Fist.'

Without warning, Miyuki charged head first into Jack. Her forehead struck his ribcage, knocking him to the ground. Jack landed heavily, wheezing for breath.

'I admire your eagerness, Miyuki, but that may have been a little too too hard,' cautioned Soke. hard,' cautioned Soke.

'I held back,' she protested, raising her hands in innocence. 'I didn't break his ribs, did I?'

You weren't far off it, thought Jack, knowing Miyuki was trying to a.s.sert her dominance again.

'It's all right,' said Jack as he took a breath and brushed himself down. 'I should have been in a stronger stance.'

'Very well,' said Soke. 'Continue demonstrating the rest of the techniques. But be careful, especially with the Eight Leaves Fist.'

He gave Miyuki a stern look before wandering off to check on the other students' progress.

'What's the Eight Leaves Fist?' asked Jack.

Cupping her hands, Miyuki slapped Jack either side of the head on his ears. Even though the attack was relatively soft, Jack reeled from the unexpected strike. His legs buckled momentarily and he lurched to one side.

'Done properly properly,' Miyuki explained, smirking as Jack had to lean against a tree to steady himself, 'the Eight Leaves Fist can cause loss of balance and and deafness in your enemy.' deafness in your enemy.'

'I can understand why,' said Jack, his ears still ringing.

'This one's called Extended Knuckle Fist.'

Folding her fingers at the second knuckle, she raked them down the centre of his chest. In spite of himself, Jack cried out. The attack was excruciating. Before he could recover, she went on to the next.

'This one's Finger Needle Fist.'

Standing in front of Jack, Miyuki closed her right hand to leave only the little finger protruding.

'What are you going to do with that that?' asked Jack warily. The digit appeared too fragile for any meaningful strike.

'It's for soft targets. Like the eyes or ...'

Reaching over, Miyuki inserted her little finger into his left ear and pressed deep into the ca.n.a.l. Before he knew it, an arc of pain like lightning coursed through Jack's body.

'That hurts!' he exclaimed, standing on tiptoes to relieve the agony.

'It should do,' she said calmly. 'I've targeted a kyusho kyusho point.' point.'

'Please, that's enough!'

'But how are you going to understand the effectiveness of these techniques if you don't experience them for yourself? Some samurai you are!'

She removed her finger, releasing the nerve point, and the pain instantly stopped. 'Perhaps we should end the lesson.'

'No!' shot back Jack.

'Then stop complaining.'

'I just have an aversion to unnecessary torture, that's all,' argued Jack.

'Well, you're clearly not man enough to be a ninja,' she retorted.

Riled by the implication, Jack did did stop complaining. But by the end of the session, he felt bruised and battered all over. Miyuki hadn't held back in her demonstration of any of the Sixteen Secret Fists even to the point of knocking him temporarily unconscious with Fall Down Fist. Yet, in a single session, her phenomenal skill had helped him understand how to apply the different fists and their effectiveness in combat. stop complaining. But by the end of the session, he felt bruised and battered all over. Miyuki hadn't held back in her demonstration of any of the Sixteen Secret Fists even to the point of knocking him temporarily unconscious with Fall Down Fist. Yet, in a single session, her phenomenal skill had helped him understand how to apply the different fists and their effectiveness in combat.

'Excellent work, both of you,' commended Soke, drawing the training to a close. 'Jack, you've been extraordinarily fast in grasping the principles.'

'I've had a very dedicated dedicated teacher,' Jack replied, smiling coolly at Miyuki. teacher,' Jack replied, smiling coolly at Miyuki.

'I'm sure she was,' said Soke, a knowing smile on his face. 'Why else do you think I chose her!'

As the Grandmaster went to dismiss the cla.s.s formally, Miyuki whispered out of the corner of her mouth, 'Soke may be pleased, but I'm not so easily impressed. Don't outstay your welcome, samurai. You're not not a ninja, and you a ninja, and you never never will be.' will be.'

Miyuki turned and strode off in the direction of the village.

Jack was taken aback by her continued animosity. The other ninja were beginning to accept him and he couldn't think of any reason to deserve such spite. Recalling his training with Akiko at the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry, Jack wondered how two warrior girls could be so different.

Akiko and Miyuki were like fire and ice.

Training had been a pleasure with Akiko. With Miyuki, it was a trial. If Soke hadn't held her in so much esteem, Jack would have sworn Miyuki was the ninja sister of Kazuki. Though a gifted martial artist, Miyuki acted as hard and unforgiving as a rock and was almost as malicious as his old school rival.

Akiko was equally talented, possessing an inner strength like the steel of a samurai blade. But she had a gentle side, a warmth and a compa.s.sion for others that knew no bounds.

Jack missed her deeply.