Heroes Return VI: Book One London Chapter 31

 

31.

 

"There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, richer, stronger, or smarter. Everything is within." Ogata said of the words of wisdom from Miyamoto Musashi,  when he blocked the swing blade from Ito Matsuke. The two blades clashed when Ito Matsuke swung his katana blade from the overhead strike.

“Ono-ha Itto-ryu, Ito.” ("One Sword, One Blow.")The sensei voiced out. “I taught you that, but you had not learned.”

The sensei went for the Sanbon-me Uchi Otoshi (A downward strike performed in a diagonal motion.) with the katana blade, but Ito had retreated on the defence.

“Good defence, Ito.” The sensei smiled. “My teaching may not be all lost.”

“The great lessons from the master; Ono Tadaaki is one I shall not forget.” Ito Matsuke said. “Your lessons are not lost to me, Sensei. It was a Ippon-me Mae (A straightforward strike to the opponent's head.).”

“A striking move, but you had not prepared your move well. Your opponent is still in the defensive, and had anticipated your move.” The sensei looked to the one he had taught. “Do not let the enemy anticipate your move, strike when they are unsure.”

“Hai!” The Sensei went for another attack; the tsuki (thrust) is a lethal samurai attack where the practitioner drives the point of the sword directly into the opponent's vital organs (throat, lungs, or heart). The move is known for slicing; the thrust is devastatingly fast and difficult to defend against. The power comes not from the arms, but from a sudden, explosive rotation of the hips and waist. Both hands grip the handle tightly as the sword is punched straight down the centre line of the body.

The sensei accompanied his attack by body sinking or a lunging step.

Ito twisted and retreated but the sensei’ katana blade took the cut on Ito’s left rib, but it was a slight wound. He fell backwards and did a body roll to avoid the follow through attack. Hen then crouched up with his katana blade levelled at the sensei.

“You were distracted by my comments.” The Sensei told the other. “In a duel……”

“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means.” Ito cut in. “A lesson I heard many times from you.”

Ito then held out his right hand above his head. It was the pre-arranged signal for his warriors to be revealed. Three dark clothing covered stepped from the shadows.

“You are a disappointment, Ito.” The sensei looked to the three newly arrived assassins as he termed it then. “I was expecting an even match in the duel, but you wanted a street battle.”

“Sensei, I am not your equal, but to overcome you, I am not without resources.” Ito smiled. “Whatever it may take, I am to be alive at the end of this battle.”

“So be it.” The Sensei went into attack on the assassin to his left. The assassin drew out his katana in the manner learned in the dojo. The iconic samurai katana draw, known as Iaijutsu or Iaid; it needs mastery on the three core phases: batto (drawing), tsuihan (cutting), and notō (sheathing). The draw is not a single arm movement, but a synchronized push-pull of both hands using hip and core engagement.

“Hai!” The sensei had slashed at the other on the wrist when the assassin was doing the iaid. The assassin screamed out in pain, and did not see the thrust of the katana blade at its throat.

The Sensei pulled back his katana and faced the other assassin on the right of the one he had killed. The assassin charged at the sensei with the katana held over the head, and was slashed by the sensei on the torso. The remaining assassin took the fighting stance, but was called out by Ito.

“We will attack him together.” Ito Matsuke called out. “Now!”

The assassin charged at the sensei who turned to face him, and Ito who was on the right of the sensei remained standing. The sensei deflected the katana wielded by the other, and turned his body to deliver the side swing on the exposed left side of the assassin. He was confident that he made the correct attack, but the loud noise distracted him.

The bullet impacted on his left shoulder and the sensei retreated. He held onto his katana with the right hand and looked at the wound there.

“A cowardly weapon, Ito.” The Sensei looked at the other who shot him.

“Whatever it takes to win today, Sensei.” Ito said. “I cannot defeat you in the fair duel, but there are no rules in the move to kill you.”

“The Yomi is shamed by you, Ito.” The Sensei staggered backwards and it was then the surviving assassin charged at the sensei. He had his katana on an overhead swing but was stopped then by the sensei with the thrust of the katana at the groin.

“It is only you and me, Sensei.” Ito laughed.

“As it was to be.” Sensei Ogata drew out the small derringer from his vest. He aimed and fired at Ito who was then hit at the throat. The other went down on his knees, clutching the throat. The Sensei stood up and looked at the dying man.

“Ito Matsuke, I am not sorry to bring a gun to our duel. As you had said; whatever it may take, I am to be alive at the end of this battle.”

The Sensei stepped up to the student of his.

“I will end your pain. I will be your second man.” The Sensei drew on his katana and swung it at the back of the other’s neck. The katana blade sliced the man with a quick death.

“It does not end the Yomi Demons.” The sensei turned to look who was the one talking.

“Fu Manchu. I am ……. Should I be? You are the emperor. You must know all that is happening here.”

“I do, Sensei. As I know now, that you are a formidable exponent and the Oni Society is the one who are losing when one like yourself chose to be a ronin.” Fu Manchu stepped from the dark shadow.

“You do not understand the ways of the samurai nor of the Oni Society.” The sensei sheathed the katana, and stood there with his left shoulder bleeding.

“Bad wound that one. I shall not keep you long here.” The old man who is the emperor said. “However, I will tell you this.”

“Ito Matsuke is dead but not the Yomi Devils. His superior or shall I say, benefactor is on the way to Africa, to be enriched. The one who is the true leader of the Yomi Devils is Ian Masterson. The man is the founder of the Yomi Devils, not from your home land, but of mine.”

‘Ian Masterson is a master strategist. He had formed the Yomi Devils, when he was on my land to challenge the Oni Society, for he saw the fierce dedication of the warriors there in your land, and decided to recruit them. He met Ito Matsuke and convinced him on the new group and introduced himself as the adviser. He paid well, and was soon recruiting others. He did not want to be seen as the leader and had Ito be his proxy.”

“He had also tried to form a group on my territory, but I chased him away. He returned here soon after he sent Ito here. He was planning to get resources to strengthen his group, but I arrived to stop his expansion. He had sent Ito to see the crime lord, Professor Moriarty, but the latter was in two minds of the venture. After all, Professor Moriarty is rich beyond the levels of most, and yes, he was to retire ever richer ……. But who among us ever do less of that.”

“When you arrived, Ito Masterson was concerned. He was into a plan to get wealth but everything was beyond his planning.”

“I came to stop the Yomi Devils.” The Sensei said of his intention. “It had nothing to do with your, or the …… crime lord.”

“Yet you approached the local authorities here. You got the Holmes brothers involved.” Fu Manchu smiled. “Bad fruits for me there. I survived removing the bad fruits.”

‘What do you want, Emperor?” The Sensei was agitated.

“Stop Ian Masterson. You go to Africa to get the minerals rights, not for yourself but the Oni Society. Get yourself back on their trust.” Fu Manchu told the sensei. “Let me handle the crime lord, and his nemesis, Sherlock Holmes…… Or they will of myself. But I will say the current threat remains with Ian Masterson. Stop him, and one day…… we will meet once more as adversary. Today, enough deaths have been taken. Go to Africa.”

“I am ……” The sensei looked at his wound.

“It will be attended by healers, and more to that I am sending you reinforcements to assist you. They will fight in my name for you.” Fu Manchu smiled. “It was hard for me to imagine us working together, but Ian Masterson is a deadly enemy to grow. He will if he gets the mineral rights.”

“I will give you fifty of my best warriors, and my own ship for your travel to the Congo.” Fu Manchu smiled widen. “Rest well on the ship. It’s a long journey by ship. It departs Liverpool tomorrow at dusk.”

“What of yourself, emperor?” The Sensei asked.

“Our battle remains unless some others got the devil to take my life before you. For now, I am to return to my land. I will not fight the Holmes, and for Moriarty not today ……. He has his empire as I do. I only came to his ports to ease my shipments, but we were never meant to be adversary not today. I will match them that one day soon. But for now, your enemy is mine, and that makes you, my friend.”

“Go now, Doctor Ogata. You are bleeding on the wound.” The emperor smiled. “Do not die for now. Remove Ian Masterson first.”