Kamiya Koshijirou hung his bamboo shinai on the wall of the Shobo Dojo. He picked up a towel he had brought and wiped the sweat from his face. He was a handsome young man, lean and strong with a hard face.
The lessons were over for the day. Students were leaving in small groups and talking happily. His friend Maekawa Miyauchi was talking with a group of students in a corner. All the boys were Koshijirou's friends, but he did not feel like joining them.
"Kamiya-kun," said a voice behind him.
He turned. It was his teacher, Shobo Arinori, the creator of the Shobo Shoumu School of kenjutsu. He was around forty. He was a small man; Koshijirou towered over him at just sixteen, and he carried not a single spare ounce on his wiry frame.
"Shobo-sensei," said Koshijirou, bowing deeply.
"Did you enjoy the lesson, Kamiya-kun?" said Shobo. It was the kind of question instructors asked students all the time, but Koshijirou sensed a stiffness in the teacher’s tone.
"Very much, Sensei," replied Koshijirou politely.
"Really? It seems to me more and more these days that you do not respect the teachings of the Shobo Shoumu School." There was a hint of accusation in his tone.
Koshijirou said, "I have respect for the teachings of the Shobo Shoumu School, Sensei."
Shobo sighed and looked down. He hesitated before speaking again. "There is something troubling you, though." He sounded more concerned than accusing now.
Koshijirou hesitated now. "I... do not fully understand the teachings, Sensei."
"What is it you do not understand?"
Koshijirou thought for a moment. "The Shobo Shoumu Style is meant to help us achieve personal glory, but that does not seem like a worthy goal to me."
"We do not seek glory for its own sake. It is only through stature that we can affect change on the world."
"'Only through stature?'" Koshijirou repeated. His voice rose involuntarily. "Surely strength can change the world as well."
"We do not shun strength, but it can only be considered a means to an end. It is not an end in itself." His voice was a shade louder now too.
"Surely the wise application of strength can achieve more than some arbitrary reputation!" said Koshijirou.
Shobo was definitely starting to look angry now. "The perception of strength can be far more important than strength itself!"
Koshijirou opened his mouth to retort. "Shobo-sensei!" said a loud voice right next to him. He looked over at Miyauchi.
"Maekawa-kun," said Shobo, his voice carefully modulated.
"Thank you for the lesson, Shobo-sensei," Miyauchi said, bowing deeply. "I must be going now." He shot a pointed look at Koshijirou.
"Uh, yes, I must be going too," said Koshijirou, bowing.
"Very well," said Shobo without the slightest hint of emotion. "You are dismissed."
Outside, Miya said, "It looked like you two were going to go at it again, so I had to step in and get you out of there."
"Thanks," said Koshi. "I never mean to get angry, but I just can't seem to stop myself."
"Sensei is a great man. You shouldn't speak to him like that."
"I know, I know. And I know the teachings are good. But somehow I just can't help thinking..."
"What?"
"I... don't know."
"Well until you do... I don't know, keep a low profile or something."
"Yeah, right."
They walked the rest of the way to Koshi's house in silence. Once there they played some dice and talked for a while, as they did most days. Miya had to go help his mother with the housework, and left around noon.
Koshijirou had lived alone for two years, since his own mother had died. He had no other close relatives, and Miya was his only real friend. He took care of the minor work to do at his own house. He was not working at the present time. He occasionally took odd jobs, but had not found what he wanted to do with his life yet. His expenses were low, so he did not have to work regularly.
That evening he was reading a book next to his little paper lamp when a voice sounded outside his door. "Hello?"
Koshi slid the door open. There was a young man, about twenty, standing there. Koshi did not recognize him. "Yes?" Koshi said.
"Kamiya Koshijirou?"
"Yes?"
"I am Amaya, a deputy of Constable Matoke Sessue. I was told to fetch you to the Shobo Dojo. Will you go?"
"Why were you to fetch me?"
"It is not my place to say. Your teacher has requested your presence, and I am to gather other students."
Koshi was confused, but he could hardly disobey his teacher. "Very well."
Amaya thanked him and left. Koshi dressed appropriately, though not in his training outfit, and went out into the night. It was still early, but it seemed there were not very many people about. Those that were hurried along with hardly a glance at him.
He went to the dojo. Shobo received him at the door and asked him to sit with a group of four other students. He recognized them all. All were older than him, and, like Koshijirou, were regarded as the better students in the school. Also present, seated facing the students, was Matoke Sessue. Koshi knew he was a local constable, but little else. He was a fairly large man, about fifty-five, with gray hair gathered into a mitsu-ori topknot. Koshi also noticed Shobo's son, Yukichi, seated off to the side. He was a friendly boy of eight, but he looked a little uncomfortable now.
No one spoke. After ten minutes or so the deputy, Amaya, came back. Miyauchi was with him. Miya nodded to Koshi and sat next to him. Matoke Sessue said to Shobo, "He was the last?"
Shobo said, "Yes, Constable." He sat at the head of the students, facing Matoke. Amaya sat next to and slightly behind Matoke.
Matoke said, "I have already spoken to your teacher about this matter. Some of you may have heard about a thug who has been terrorizing people in this city. His name is Fujimura Jakuchu. He has been accosting people at night, and occasionally stealing. He was not regarded as a major nuisance until last night. He was caught by two of my deputies trying to break into a restaurant that was closed for the night." Both Matoke and Amaya looked angry. "He used a simple staff but was very skilled. He beat the deputies severely. One of them was struck in the head so hard he has lost the hearing in one ear. The doctor is not sure it will come back.
"We still do not know what this animal's motive is. He robs but does not seem especially interested in money. When the deputies stopped him at the restaurant, he told them he was only looking for food. He smiled as he said it. Whatever his goals, we are committed to putting a stop to him. But as I said, he is a skilled fighter. I am not certain my deputies can handle him, and I have asked Shobo-sensei for assistance."
Shobo spoke up then. "I am happy to assist in whatever way I can, Constable." He shifted to the side and looked at the gathered students. "You are the best students in the school. I have asked you here to consider helping with this problem. I will not require it of any of you. I will ask you all to step outside now. If you do not wish to involve yourself in this fight, you may simply go home. I will come outside in a few minutes. Anyone who is there will have my thanks."
The students glanced around at each other. A couple of them stood to go, and the rest followed. Outside, Miya said to Koshi, "Are you leaving?"
Koshi was taken aback. "Of course not. Did you think I would?"
"Well, you and Sensei have been at odds recently. I thought maybe..."
"At odds is one thing. This is for the honor of the school and the safety of the city. I can't possibly leave."
Miya smiled. "Well, good. I wouldn't want to face something like this alone."
It did not look like that would be a problem. Not one student had left. A moment later Shobo came out of the dojo with his son, Yukichi, and Matoke and Amaya. Shobo smiled when he saw that all six students were still there. He distributed wooden swords, bokken, to each student. As he did he said to them, "I have discussed this with Matoke-san. We think the students should travel in groups of two and patrol some of the areas near the school. Of course, the constable and his deputies will also be out patrolling. I will remain here. Each team will have a route through the area, and will check back here each time the route is completed. If any team is overdue, a deputy or I will check on them. And of course, if you run into trouble and do not think you can handle it, come and get me. Are there any questions?"
There were none. The constable had a city map with him, and Shobo used it to figure out routes for the students to take. Miyauchi and Koshijirou were paired together and given their route. Koshijirou bowed to Shobo and said, "Thank you for allowing us to join this endeavor, Sensei. We will do our best to uphold the honor of the school."
Shobo bowed back and said, "I am sure you will, Kamiya-kun. Remember your lessons and fight well, and success is guaranteed."
Koshi and Miya left then, after waving goodbye to little Yukichi. They began to walk the route they had been given.
After a time Koshi said, "I must admit I was a little surprised to be asked to participate in something like this. I half-thought Sensei was going to throw me out of the school one of these days."
"He wouldn't do that!" Miya said. "No matter what disagreements you might have, he would never disgrace you that way. As for asking you to come tonight, he knows you are the best student in the school."
"I disagree with him all the time! How can I possibly be the best student of the Shobo Shoumu Style?"
"Have you ever been beaten in a sparring match?"
"Well, no..."
Just then they heard whistling. It was a tuneless noise, and spaced evenly throughout was a tapping sound. They were on a small side street. The night was dark, but their eyes had adapted so they could see well enough. They saw a man coming towards them.
Koshijirou tightened his grip on the bokken he carried. The man was tall, with broad shoulders. He wore a simple robe of dark fabric and sandals. His hair was long and sloppy. In one hand he carried a staff of thick wood, which he tapped on the ground as he walked. As he got close Koshi noticed a couple of oddly shaped pouches on his belt. They looked like stiff leather, but he couldn't be sure.
The man stopped about ten feet from them. He continued to whistle. At last Miya impatiently said, "Are you Fujimura Jakuchu?"
The man stopped whistling and smiled. "Still some people out at night? I guess I'll have to work harder."
Miya and Koshi had both raised their wooden swords. Fujimura did not react at all. Suddenly Miya burst forward, swinging his bokken from the left. Fujimura remained still until the bokken was within a few inches of him. Then he stepped to the side. He left his staff where it was, vertical with one end on the ground. Miyauchi's bokken smacked against it with a clack, but the staff did not budge. Miya pulled back and swung from the right this time. Again Fujimura stood still. When the bokken got close he stepped back to his right, and Miya's bokken struck the staff again.
Then the bottom end of the staff whipped upwards at Miya's stomach. Miya got his bokken down to block, and Fujimura said, "O-ho! You have a bit of skill!" Miya responded by stabbing at Fujimura's chest. Fujimura knocked the bokken aside and swung the staff at Miya's head. Miya jerked back to avoid it. Fujimura's smile became a little less broad. He held his staff in the center with both hands and did a rapid series of chest-level attacks, swinging with one end and then the other. Miya blocked each one, until suddenly, faster than the others, an attack came at his legs. He could not get his bokken down in time to block.
The staff thudded against his right thigh. He grunted and grasped the side of his leg in pain with one hand. Then the staff came in from his left and struck his temple. He dropped to his knees, dazed.
Koshijirou jumped over Miya's swaying form and attacked savagely. Fujimura's smile disappeared entirely as he checked the blows that rained at him. After blocking five times he countered with a quick jab at Koshijirou's face. Koshi moved his head to the side and countered with a swing that caught Fujimura in the stomach.
Fujimura's breath left him in a whoosh. Before Koshi could follow up, though, the other end of the staff came up and slammed into his left side. He felt ribs break from the force of the blow. He leapt backwards to avoid another swing.
Fujimura did not immediately follow; he was trying to catch his breath. Koshijirou tried to get his anger under control. Rage was no way to win a fight, but when he had seen Miya get hit he had not been able to help it. Remember your lessons, Shobo-sensei had said. He tried to do so now. The essence of the Shobo Shoumu Style was to achieve glory. With glory, one could change the world to match one's dreams. But what do I dream about? he thought.
He had no more time to think about it. Fujimura came at him again, and Koshi readied himself to meet him. Every movement brought pain in his side, though. Fujimura kept a wide grip on his staff, and thrust forward. No sooner had Koshi knocked that blow aside than another came at his chest. Thrust after thrust came at him, until finally he knocked one to his right, hard. He braced his feet to attack back, but before he could the other end of the staff came around. Too late, Koshi realized that Fujimura had used the force of his parry to propel this attack. The staff smacked into Koshi's already-broken ribs.
A small scream escaped him then, and he squeezed his eyes shut against a pain that seemed to consume his whole body. Then he felt another strike, a downward blow that hit his left shoulder. It was close enough to his broken ribs that the pains all seemed to join and multiply. Then he felt the staff strike the side of his head, and the world became black.
He woke in a strange room. It was about ten feet by ten feet. He was in a bed. He looked around and saw a man in a corner.
The man noticed that he was awake. Koshi did not know him. He looked about twenty-five. He was a little chubby, and when he stood to come over to Koshi it became apparent that he was fairly short. He had a kind face.
"Where am I?” said Koshi.
"You're at my office," said the man, in a friendly voice. "My name is Gensai, Dr. Gensai."
"You're a doctor?"
"Yes, just starting out."
"How did I get here?"
"Your friend Maekawa-kun brought you. Do you remember how you got hurt?"
A tide of anger came over Koshi then. "I was wounded by an unclear dream."
Gensai's brow furrowed. Then the door slid open and light poured into the room. Miyauchi’s head poked in. "Koshi? Are you awake?"
Koshi tried to sit up, but the pain was too great. Gensai put a hand to his chest and forced him down again. Miyauchi came into the room and said, "Don't try to sit up, Koshi. You were badly hurt."
"I... I was fighting him, but he hit me in the ribs, hard... and..."
"He knocked you out. I was still out of sorts, but I got you here so the doctor could take care of you."
"And Fujimura?"
"He got away. No one else saw him that night. He probably slunk away home. You got him pretty good there."
"For all the good it did me," Koshi said bitterly.
Miya shifted uncomfortably. "Well, ah, Shobo-sensei wanted me to come get him when you woke up, so..."
"Fine."
Miyauchi came back with Shobo very quickly. Koshi had managed to sit up by then. Shobo smiled when he saw him. He and Miya sat next to the bed.
"Are you well, Kamiya-kun?"
"As well as can be expected."
"I understand from Maekawa-kun that you were able to wound this Fujimura. You should be proud. The constable was impressed as well."
"So was the reputation of the school raised or tarnished by my defeat?"
Shobo's smile had gone. "You... You did well. I am sure everyone will hold you in high regard for this."
"Ah, good. Perhaps the reputation of the school will convince Fujimura to leave." His voice was sarcastic. "We had best hope so, since the teachings of the school certainly failed me."
Shobo's jaw clenched in obvious anger and he turned his face away. "Perhaps it was you who failed the teachings, and not the teachings who failed you."
Koshi felt ashamed of what he had said, but before he could apologize Shobo stood to go. Shobo said, with a hard voice, "I will be going tonight to face this lunatic personally. If I can defeat him, our school's honor will remain intact." Somewhat more softly he said, "Rest easy, Kamiya-kun." He left.
Koshijirou's head hung. Feeling sick, he stared down at his lap.
After a time, Miya said, "You... You should rest, as he said, Koshi."
"I shall have to leave the school, Miya."
"Wh-... If... If you apologize, I am sure Sensei will forgive you..."
"No, it has gone on too long for that. The rift between us is too great. I hope he will defeat Fujimura, but either way I must go."
Miyauchi had no answer for that.
Shobo Arinori patrolled the nighttime streets of Edo alone.
If last night had been quiet, tonight there was true silence. Word had gotten around very quickly that a swordsman had been defeated by Fujimura Jakuchu. No one was out now. Shobo damned himself for allowing his students to face this danger. He supposed he was being hard on himself; he could not have known how dangerous Fujimura was. But now his best student lay injured, and it was clear to Shobo that he would have to deal with this menace himself.
He thought of Kamiya. The boy was indeed the best swordsman among his students. But he was clearly chafing under the principles of the Shobo Shoumu Style. Shobo admitted inwardly that he might have to expel the boy soon. He would hate to do it, but it was for Kamiya's own good. Every day it was more and more apparent that his path lay elsewhere. Now Shobo could only hope he would find that path...
He heard whistling. He looked around the deserted street. Maekawa had mentioned whistling in his report of the previous night's action. Tonight there was a thick fog. Shobo lifted his bokken as he tried to peer through it; even the direction of the whistling was unclear.
Then he knew there was someone behind him. He whirled and saw a man. He carried a staff, and Shobo knew his name. He took in everything he could about Fujimura at a glance. He was young and physically strong, but not bulky enough to be slow. He twirled his staff easily in one hand. This told Shobo that his hands were not only dexterous but also powerful. The staff was thick wood, but it danced on Fujimura's fingers like a thin bamboo shaft. It will be difficult to break his grip on the staff, he thought. Shobo also registered the pouches on his belt. Maekawa had mentioned them, but Shobo could not see their meaning.
Fujimura stopped about ten feet away and smiled. "Bokken, eh?" he said lightly. "I heard those guys I beat last night were kenjutsu students. You another?"
"I am their teacher," Shobo said.
"I hope you fight better than you teach,” Fujimura said, chuckling.
He is baiting you, Shobo thought, trying to get you to make a mistake. He is not afraid, but he does not know what to expect.
Shobo advanced, and Fujimura's smile dropped. He raised his staff defensively, one end pointed at Shobo, and waited. Shobo began by knocking the leading end of the staff aside and swinging at Fujimura's chest. Fujimura danced backwards to avoid the blow. The rear end of the staff came around hard and fast. Shobo's left foot was closer to Fujimura, and he shifted slightly so he faced the oncoming staff. He held his bokken tightly in both hands and blocked the heavy weapon. His sandals skidded on the ground just a little from the force. Then the end of the staff he had just blocked whipped away from him and he knew the other end was coming around at his back.
Shobo flipped backwards, his left foot leading the way and his hakama pants swirling around his legs. The staff passed beneath him as he was in the air. His left foot touched down and he immediately saw that the staff had reversed directions to come back at him again. In an instant he calculated that the staff was going for his face, and leaned back far enough that it passed over him harmlessly. One advantage to being short, he thought.
Shobo read the anger on Fujimura's face as the man's attack missed again. Taking advantage of his opponent's momentary distraction, Shobo stabbed sideways with his bokken. He felt it connect solidly against the center of Fujimura's ribcage. Fujimura stumbled backwards and Shobo went after him.
Too late he saw the spinning movement of the staff. Fujimura was twirling it with his left hand, almost behind his back. With incredible speed it came forward, still spinning so Shobo could not predict exactly when the attack would come, or from where.
Then Fujimura gripped the staff, stopping its spinning, and struck. The staff came up and caught Shobo’s right armpit. The force of it lifted his feet off the ground and sent him spinning to his left. Then, while he was still in the air, the staff slammed into his back. He was launched against a nearby wall. His knees and forehead smacked hard against the stone.
He felt dizziness and pain sweep over him, but knew he could not give in to it. Knowing Fujimura would press the advantage, he sprang upward and landed on the tiled top of the wall. He heard a crack below him as Fujimura's staff hit the wall where he had been.
Shobo whirled to face Fujimura. The man was still on the ground, warily watching him. All his bravado was gone. Both men knew they could not let emotion take over. Shobo calmed himself and felt his breathing slow. "I dream of a world where no one is afraid," he whispered to himself.
Placing one foot on the edge of the wall, he launched himself down at Fujimura. Fujimura thrust with his staff to meet him. Shobo twisted so the staff passed over him. In a flash, he raised his bokken over the staff with his right hand and gripped the end of the "blade," on the other side of the staff, with his left. His arms and the bokken formed a loop around Fujimura's staff. The middle of the bokken came down on the staff, and Shobo used it to swing himself up. His right foot slammed into Fujimura's throat.
Fujimura stumbled back choking. Shobo was off-balance in the air. As his feet touched down he was leaning too far back. He thrust downward with his bokken, which struck the ground and righted him. He immediately got into a guard stance, which checked Fujimura as the man came forward again angrily. Both men readied themselves.
Fujimura came forward and jabbed with the staff, his left hand and foot leading. Shobo parried it to his right, but Fujimura's grip was tight. Fujimura planted his feet and shoved back against Shobo's parry. Shobo was forced to step back. He got himself balanced and held the staff away. Both men put their weight into it, trying to force past the other's weapon. Shobo knew he would lose the contest; Fujimura must have been fifty pounds heavier.
Shobo released his bokken with his right hand. For just an instant the staff began to push past his block. But then he placed his right hand, palm flat, against the back of his "blade," just above the hilt. The change in grip increased his leverage against the staff. He shoved the staff away, moved close to Fujimura, and shouted, "Shobo Shoumu Style... Kimirai!" With his right hand still on the back of the blade he brought the bokken down on the staff. It struck next to Fujimura's right hand. The added power of the Kimirai was enough to break Fujimura's grip there, and the staff was knocked out of his right hand.
Fujimura was off-balance and his staff, held only in his left hand, swung wildly out to the side. Shobo braced his feet and, maintaining the Kimirai technique, brought his bokken up into Fujimura's gut. Fujimura gave a choking gasp, but he was not finished.
With his free right hand he drew back and punched Shobo in the face. Shobo was forced a step back. Before he could right himself, Fujimura, with just his left hand, swung the staff around hard. It struck Shobo's right thigh, hard.
He gritted his teeth against the pain and stepped back again. He felt his leg cramping where the staff had struck. He knew he had to end this soon. He passed his bokken from his left hand to his right and shouted, "Shobo Shoumu Style... Eikouda Soku!" He stabbed down, forward, and left with the bokken at Fujimura's right knee. It was crippling move. If it connected the fight was over.
Fujimura planted one end of his staff against the ground and put his hands around the other end. He vaulted into the air, and Shobo's attack went right under him. He sailed over Shobo and landed behind him. Shobo turned as quickly as he could. Fujimura swung his staff with both hands in a huge arc over his head and back at Shobo. Shobo could not get his bokken up in time to block.
The end of the staff crashed into Shobo's head like a boulder. It lifted him from the ground and threw him to the other side of the road. He landed on his shoulder and tumbled to the ground.
Fujimura stood catching his breath for a moment. Then he started to walk over to the prone swordsman. "Very... Very good, Sensei. You are a better fighter than a teacher after all. I'm almost sorry this is over."
"It's... not over yet," said Shobo. Fujimura froze. Shobo got his hands under himself and got up on his knees. He looked at Fujimura, his face filled with pain and determination. Blood trickled down from his scalp where the staff had struck him. He struggled to his feet and raised his bokken again.
Fujimura gaped in amazement for a moment. He did not speak. Then he reached to one of the pouches on his belt. The pouch was broad and flat. He drew something metallic out of it. He put the metallic thing up near one end of his staff, and Shobo heard a small click.
Fujimura readied himself for battle again, but now he held a spear. The metallic object had been a blade, which was now secured to the staff.
Shobo had never imagined such a thing before. He took a deep breath and came forward. Fujimura stabbed with the spear. Shobo sidestepped to avoid it. Fujimura tracked him, throwing out quick jabs which Shobo avoided. Then, when one jab came, Shobo knocked it upwards and came in low and fast. He struck Fujimura's hip with his bokken. Fujimura swung the blunt end of the spear at him but Shobo ducked even lower to avoid it. He shouted, "Shobo Shoumu Style... Eikouda Tou!" He stabbed diagonally up and forward.
There was a quick spray of blood as Fujimura's nose shattered beneath the tip of Shobo's bokken. His head whipped back and he stumbled away, his arms flailing wildly. Shobo, avoiding the spear tip as it swung around, went after him.
Too late he realized the movements of Fujimura's arms were not so wild after all. Suddenly both of Fujimura's hands were gripping the spear above his head; it was pointed down at Shobo's throat. He hurled himself to the right as fast as he could.
It was not fast enough. The spear stabbed into his shoulder just below his left collarbone. His body convulsed with pain as he felt the tip of the spear come out of his back. With every bit of willpower he had he gripped the wood of the spear to try to stop its savage advancement. He looked with hatred into Fujimura's eyes. He lifted his bokken above his head and brought it down with all the strength he could muster on the closer of Fujimura's hands, gripping the spear. The bokken snapped in half and he saw the pain flash across Fujimura's features.
Fujimura shifted and braced his left foot closer to Shobo. With a roar he lifted the spear, taking Shobo with it. He brought the spear straight up above his head and, without turning, down behind him. Through the pain Shobo saw the street fall away and then rush back at him again. Just before he hit the ground he glanced at Fujimura's back. He could see that there were three pouches on the man's belt. He wondered what the other two held.
Koshijirou woke at dawn. It took him a moment to realize he was at home. He had come back the previous evening. Dr. Gensai had advised against it, but Koshi was too restless to lie in the doctor's office any longer.
He breakfasted on rice and straightened little things around the house. There was still pain in his ribs. Dr. Gensai had told him it would last a few weeks, and strongly implied that it would take longer the more he moved about. He tried a few stretching exercises but gave up when the pain became too great. He read a little, but couldn't concentrate on the words.
A few hours later he heard Miyauchi's voice shout, "Koshi!" He smiled and got to his feet, glad for any distraction.
Before he could get to the door it slid open, and his smile disappeared. One look at Miya's face told him something was wrong. The young man was out of breath and sweating, and his eyes had a crazed look. "What's wrong?" Koshi asked.
"S-Sensei..." Miya gasped. "Shobo-sensei... He fought Fujimura... He's badly hurt!"
"Where?!"
Koshi slid open the door to Dr. Gensai's office and went through. Shobo was there, lying in the bed Koshi had been in yesterday. He was pale and sweat glistened on his forehead.
Gensai was there, of course. Shobo Yukichi kneeled by his father, looking very small and afraid. He looked up at Koshi, but said nothing. The constable, Matoke Sessue, was standing off to one side.
"What happened, Constable?" said Koshi.
"Shobo-sensei fought Fujimura last night and was defeated," Matoke said gravely. "A patrol found him just before dawn. His bokken was found with him, snapped in half."
Koshi went over to the bed and kneeled beside Yukichi. The boy tried to smile bravely and failed completely. The ache in Koshi's heart then made the pain in his ribs seem tiny and unimportant.
"Sensei?" he said.
Shobo's eyes were shut, but they opened slowly and looked at him. "K-Kamiya-kun..." he said.
"Sensei, what happened?"
"A spear... He attached a spearhead to his staff..."
Gensai spoke up. "He mentioned that before. He was stabbed through the shoulder by it." The doctor noticed Koshi's hands gripping his hakama pants tightly. It did not seem that the boy was aware of it.
"What..." Koshi began, then had to break off to compose himself. "What are we to do, Sensei?"
Shobo had to take a couple of breaths before answering. "This fighter... is too powerful. No one is to engage him... anymore..."
The constable said, "This has gone beyond the capabilities of my officers. I am going to send a request for some samurai to aid us."
"Yes... good..." said Shobo.
Then his eyes slid shut again. The little boy, Yukichi, buried his face on his father's chest and cried. Koshi stood and left the room.
Miyauchi said, "Will he be all right, Dr. Gensai?"
"The spear wound was sever but it did not hit any organs. There were a number of heavy bruises but no apparent internal bleeding. He should heal, though it will take time." He put a hand on Yukichi's shoulder. The boy looked up through tear-stained eyes. "You father will be all right, my boy." Yukichi managed a nod.
Miyauchi went outside. Koshi was there, his back to the door. As Miya went around him he saw with surprise that he was crying, too.
"Koshi?" Miya said hesitantly.
"I... I have wronged him so greatly, Miya. All the times I refused to learn the lessons of the Shobo Shoumu Style... I was insulting him, spitting in his face... But I will make it up to him now. I will defeat that monster myself."
Miya was shocked. "B-But they're going to bring in samurai!"
"That may take time, time during which he will still be walking the night streets."
"But Sensei told us not to go near him!" Then Miya's heart fell. "But you were already planning on leaving, weren't you? I guess Sensei's orders don't matter to you any more."
Koshi looked over at him. His face was flushed but the tears had stopped. "I do have to leave the school. It is for the best, believe me, Miya." With that he began to walk away.
Miya called after him, "But how can you win? Fujimura defeated you already!"
Koshi looked back. “Yes, but now I know what I am fighting for."
Koshijirou walked the night streets alone.
His thoughts veered around wildly, but he found strength in them and his purpose became greater. By the time he heard the whistling he could no longer feel the pain in his ribs.
There was no fog tonight and the half-moon was bright. He was on a wide street with a number of small shops on the sides. All were closed. He stopped where he was and calmly surveyed the street.
Just after that the man came into view from a side street. He was carrying his weapon across his shoulders and behind his neck, both wrists on it and his hands hanging off. He stopped for just a moment, then saw Koshijirou, turned toward him, and continued walking.
He stopped about twenty feet away. His face was discolored from bruises and his nose looked misshapen and swollen. Koshi thought he knew why. There appeared to be bags under his eyes, as well. If he lurked the streets at night, he probably slept during the day. But it didn't look like he got much sleep today. There was another large bruise on his neck. And Koshi could clearly see the broad, flat spearhead mounted on his staff.
Fujimura smiled and said, "The people in this town sure do learn slowly. Don't you know it's not safe to walk the streets at night these days?" Then he noticed Koshi's bokken, hanging at his side. "Another kenjutsu teacher? Or student?" He leaned closer and peered intently at Koshi's face. "Wait a minute, didn't I already fight you?"
"Yes," Koshi said.
Fujimura chuckled. "You really do learn slow. I beat you and your teacher and now you want it again."
"This time will be different. I know what I am fighting for now, and I have you to thank for it."
"Oh?"
"It became clear to me when I saw my teacher, broken and half-dead. My path became clear to me. I must fight to protect others from people like you. Perhaps I will even teach others to do the same. That will give my life meaning."
Fujimura's face screwed up in amused confusion. "You're not making sense."
"I know," said Koshijirou. "Something done to help others, rather than hurt them, would never make sense to you. But it helps me to say it out loud. It makes my conviction stronger."
Fujimura's eyes narrowed. He lifted the spear off his shoulders and held it before him in both hands. "I am getting tired of you swordsmen. Let's get started."
Koshijirou raised his bokken as Fujimura came toward him. Fujimura stabbed at Koshi's stomach. Koshi swung his bokken down in a tight arc to knock the spear aside, but Fujimura yanked the spear back before the weapons connected. It had been a feint. Fujimura stabbed at Koshi's face but Koshi was ready for it. He ducked slightly and swung straight up with his bokken, knocking the spear high.
Then he ran forward and behind Fujimura. He skidded to a halt and crouched low. As he expected, Fujimura immediately spun backwards, swinging the spear in a wide arc. It passed over Koshi's head. He stood up straight and raised his bokken above his head at the same time. He brought it down on Fujimura's right shoulder. Fujimura grunted and grabbed Koshi's wrist with his right hand. He pulled Koshi toward him and then shoved him to the side.
Koshi's sandals scrambled in the dust. He could not seem to get his footing, and he was facing away from Fujimura. He knew he could not avoid a spear thrust like this, so he fell forward and rolled. He came to his feet and spun to face Fujimura, who was again advancing. But he was not stabbing. He held the spear as one might hold a staff, with each hand a third of the way from each end. Koshi got his bokken up and watched warily.
Fujimura swung with the blunt end of the spear. Koshi blocked, and the sharp end came around. Fujimura threw several similar attacks, and Koshi blocked each one. He did not know if Fujimura was trying to tire him, or if the simple attacks were meant to distract him from something else.
He got his answer. The blunt end came at him again and he moved to block. But before the weapons collided Fujimura rushed forward and raised the spear. The center of the shaft struck his forehead. He stepped back as the spearhead came around, this time lower, toward his belly. He blocked with his bokken pointing up, then forced the spear low. He stepped back close to Fujimura and brought his bokken fast to strike Fujimura in the cheek.
Fujimura stumbled back, turned, and ran. Koshi was so surprised that an instant went by before he thought to pursue. As soon as he started after him, Fujimura stopped and pivoted back, holding the spear far out in front to keep Koshi back. Koshi stopped, too.
Fujimura said, "You are skilled, boy. I underestimated you, and your teacher. But no one has ever defeated the Shuukai Buki." He reached to one of the pouches on his belt. It was a cylinder about a foot long. He opened it and gingerly took out what looked like a metal bar covered with spikes. He carefully held it to the blunt end of his spear. Koshi heard a click.
Fujimura returned to a fighting stance. Koshi could not help but be a little worried. Both ends of the spear were deadly now. He felt a rising panic. But then he thought of Miya on his knees, and Shobo-sensei unconscious in his bed. I fight for them, he told himself.
Then something occurred to Koshi. He is probably used to foes being intimidated by this bizarre weapon, he thought. He burst forward before Fujimura could ready an attack and threw a rapid succession of strikes. The other man blocked each one, but it kept him on the defensive and kept the terrible weapon at bay.
Koshi had to pause for an instant to get his footing secure. Fujimura immediately swung the spiked end of his weapon at Koshi's head. Koshi ducked and the strike missed. But as soon as the spiked end was past Koshi, Fujimura spun the weapon with just his left hand. The spearhead came up.
Koshi hurled himself backwards as quickly as he could. The spearhead caught the front of his right armpit and tore a gash in his skin there. He stepped back but Fujimura did not pursue. The man stood, twirling his weapon calmly. Even with the added weight of the spiked bar, he only needed one hand to do it.
Koshi again threw caution to the winds and leapt forward. Fujimura scrambled a bit to grasp his weapon firmly and prepare to defend, the spearhead pointing to his left. Koshi stabbed at his chest. Fujimura, both hands on his weapon, parried to his right. Koshi, using the force of the parry, whipped his bokken around behind his back and struck Fujimura’s left shoulder blade.
Fujimura's jaw clenched and he grunted. With only the slightest movement he raked the spikes of his weapon along the side of Koshi's left calf. Koshi could hear his hakama tearing and the spikes digging into his flesh. He could not allow the pain to distract him for even an instant, though. Fujimura swung the spearhead down at his head. Koshi spun to the right and swung his bokken into the back of Fujimura's head. Fujimura lurched forward from the impact and pivoted left, with the spearhead leading the way. Koshi caught the wooden part of the weapon with his bokken and knocked it high. Then he shoved his left foot into Fujimura's stomach and sent him stumbling back.
Koshi started to go after him but Fujimura got the spear up again and warded him off. Both men were breathing hard.
Fujimura said, "I don't understand you... boy. You're tougher than you were before, maybe even tougher than your teacher."
"I told you before... you can't understand."
Fujimura sneered. "Maybe not, but I can still win." He reached behind his back with one hand and Koshi knew he was going for his third pouch. Koshi let it happen. Somehow he knew the fight would not be over until he could demonstrate total superiority. That could not happen until Fujimura had used all his strength.
The man's hand came back around and he was holding a chain. He hooked one end to a ring below the spearhead that Koshijirou had not noticed before. He held a few loops of the chain in his left hand and the weapon in his right.
"I haven't had to use the full power of the Shuukai Buki in years, boy. You should be proud."
"I am proud of my teacher, who did everything he could to stop you."
Fujimura's sneer disappeared. He came forward and threw the loops of chain at Koshi. Koshi raised his bokken to block. Too late he realized that was wrong. The bokken got tangled in the loops of chain. Fujimura, both hands on his weapon now, yanked on it hard. Koshi stumbled towards him, knowing that if he lost his bokken he was finished. Fujimura stabbed with the spearhead. Koshi tried to get out of the way but the tip slashed his chest. It was not a deep wound and he tried to ignore it.
Koshi whipped his sword back and forth and got it free of the chain. At the same time Fujimura swung around with the spiked end of his weapon. Koshi got his bokken over but did not have enough time to make sure he blocked the shaft of the weapon. The sword held, but chips of wood fell from it when the spikes struck. Can't do that again --! he thought desperately. Fujimura pulled the spikes back and stabbed with the spearhead. Koshi parried the strike to his right, but the chain came flying, bunched up, toward his face. Too many weapons to keep track of --, he thought as the chain hit his face. For an instant he couldn't see anything. Then the spikes slammed into his side.
They struck right where his ribs had been broken the other night. He screamed and every muscle in his body snapped to iron rigidity. The spikes were not long; they would not penetrate deeply enough to damage any organs.
But the pain was unimaginable. It's too much, I can't beat him! he thought, fear seeping into him. Then he forced his eyes open and saw Fujimura's swollen, discolored nose. He remembered who had done that.
He slammed the pommel of his bokken into Fujimura's nose. It was so soft it collapsed instantly, as if it were dough. Fujimura's face contorted and he gave a choking gasp. He stumbled back and the spikes ripped out of Koshi's chest. A fresh blaze of pain tore through Koshi, but he forced it to the back of his mind. He swung his bokken as hard as he could at Fujimura's throat.
There was a crunch, and Fujimura's eyes opened wide. He struggled to breathe as Koshi raised his bokken and brought it down on Fujimura's weapon, the Shuukai Buki. It dropped from Fujimura's hands to clatter on the street. Koshi kicked it away and drew back his bokken once again.
He slammed the bokken into the side of Fujimura's head. The man fell to one knee, then collapsed to the ground.
Koshi set the tip of his bokken on the ground and leaned on it. He simply stood there, breathing deeply, for a full minute. Then he looked around himself. He was still on the deserted street, and it was still nighttime. It felt as if they had been fighting for hours, but had probably been no more than ten minutes.
He had to think to remember exactly where he was. He realized he was closest to Miyauchi's house, and started to walk.
It seemed to take forever. Every step brought terrible pain in his side, and his leg was almost as bad. He hobbled along using his bokken as a cane, and finally saw his destination.
He went through the gate and up to the door. "Hello?" he called, but it came out as hardly more than a croak. He banged on the door jam until he heard movement inside.
A moment later the door slid open. It was Miyauchi's mother. Her eyes opened wide when she saw his condition. "K-Koshi-kun?!" she gasped.
He fell to his knees. He felt arms encircle him as the world started to go black.
The next two days - he was told later how long it was - were very hazy. He knew he was at Miyauchi's house, and either Miya or his mother was with him constantly. Dr. Gensai was there most of the time, too, telling him that he would be all right and making him drink foul-tasting medicinal tea. The doctor did not touch his wounds unless he was asleep, he later learned.
On the morning of the third day he felt awake more so than any time since the fight. Miya and his mother told him he looked much better. Dr. Gensai came by and said his color was good, but that he should stay in bed. Constable Matoke came by to thank him for his heroism, and to tell him that Fujimura was in custody.
On the fifth morning he finally felt strong enough to go to his own house. He had to talk Miya into helping him do so early, before Gensai came, as the doctor would probably forbid it. Once he was home he fell asleep and did not wake up until the afternoon. Gensai was there. The disapproval was plain on his face, but he did not reproach Koshi. He redressed his wounds and left a packet of the awful tea, telling Koshi to drink it with supper.
On the sixth day Koshi was resting when a voice outside called, "Hello?"
Koshi knew whose voice it was. He had been half-dreading and half-hoping that he would come. He got to his feet and went to the door. When he opened it he could not help smiling, and Shobo smiled back.
Both of them had canes. They hobbled inside and sat. "How are your injuries?" said Shobo.
Koshijirou said, "Well... they hurt a lot."
Shobo chuckled, and Koshi joined him. "How are yours?" Koshi asked.
"Better," Shobo answered. "I would have come sooner, but Dr. Gensai advised against it, for both our sakes."
They were quiet for a time after that. Koshi felt as if there were ten thousand things he should say but he could hardly think of any of them. The ones he could think of he was afraid to bring up.
Perhaps that made Shobo the braver. "Maekawa-kun says that... you are leaving the school."
Koshi hung his head. "Yes. I am sorry, Sensei, but..."
"It is all right," Shobo said. Koshi looked up, and the man was smiling, just a little. "I knew you would surpass me eventually. I... only hoped I could teach you something before you did."
"You taught me everything I know, Sensei. And I would not have been able to defeat Fujimura if you had not fought him first."
"I think you could have, but I thank you for your words anyway." He was quiet again, until he said, "What will you do now?"
"I don't know. First I must develop my own swordsmanship. After that... I might open a school."
"What will you call your style?"
"Perhaps... Kamiya Shoumu Style?"
Shobo smiled broadly. "That is flattering. But... no. It must be your own swordsmanship, not some variant of mine."
"I will think about it."
"Good." Shobo rose to leave. "I think Maekawa-kun may follow your example. He speaks of you like you are the next Miyamoto Musashi." Koshi laughed at that. Shobo went to the door. "Come by and see me sometime if you want to spar."
Koshi was shocked. To duel the master of a dojo was the highest of honors. "S-Sensei..."
"I will see you later, Kamiya-sensei." With that, he went out the door and closed it behind him.
Koshi sat where he was for a while, then laid back and began to muse. "Kamiya... Kamiya Ka..."