The Way Of The Dragon by Chris Bradford Page B

down at his desk, embarrassed. ‘I couldn’t think of one.’
    ‘You’ve had all afternoon, yet not managed a single word?’ she said, dismayed. ‘Well then, let us hear from your friend.’
    Saburo looked shocked. He clearly hadn’t thought they would have to read out their
haiku
to the class.
    ‘Do I have to? It’s not very good,’ he excused himself.
    ‘Let me be the judge of that,’ insisted Sensei Nakamura.
    Saburo reluctantly got to his feet, his paper trembling in his hand. He cleared his throat, then began:
‘Letting out a fart –
    it doesn’t make you laugh
    when you live alone.’

    There was a burst of raucous laugher from the back row. Most of the students, however, tried to hide their amusement when they saw the icy look Sensei Nakamura gave Saburo.
    ‘Very amusing,’ she noted. ‘In fact, it’s
so
good, I think you should write it out a thousand times.’
    Immediately regretting his rebellious act, Saburo bowed and sat back down.
    ‘I trust other attempts are more appropriate for the classroom.’
    ‘Sensei?’ invited Emi, putting her hand up. ‘I think this one’s good.’
    ‘Very well, let’s hear it,’ agreed Sensei Nakamura, nodding.
    Emi passed the
haiku
back to its owner.
    Takuan graciously accepted it and stood. He gave a humble bow, then in a honeyed tone read:
‘Evening temple bell
    stopped in the sky
    by cherry blossoms.’

    There was a hushed silence as the students nodded appreciatively, then everyone started to clap.
    ‘Very perceptive,’ commended Sensei Nakamura, ‘but if it had been anything less, I would have been very disappointed.’
    Takuan appeared a little downhearted at his mother’s damning praise. He bowed and sat down.
    ‘We will continue next week. In the meantime, I expect everyone to have composed at least one more
haiku
.’
    The students all bowed and made their way out of the
Taka-no-ma
, leaving the lone Saburo to write out his poem a thousand times.
    ‘He’ll be lucky to finish before bedtime,’ observed Yamato as he slipped his sandals back on.
    ‘Serves him right for being disrespectful,’ Akiko declared.
    ‘But you have to admit, it was funny,’ replied Jack. ‘And you can’t deny he captured a moment.’
    ‘But he didn’t suggest a season!’ argued Akiko.
    ‘Does it matter what time of year you fart?’ asked Yori innocently.
    Jack and Yamato burst out laughing.
    ‘Excuse us,’ said a less-amused Akiko, beckoning Kiku to join her as Takuan emerged from the Hall of the Hawk. ‘We must congratulate Takuan on his fine
haiku
.’
    Takuan, despite already being surrounded by several other admirers, bowed at their approach. Jack saw that Akiko had opened her fan and was gently wafting herself with it while talking to Takuan.
    ‘How can one poem make someone so popular?’ exclaimed Jack.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ consoled Yamato as they headed towards the Hall of Butterflies for dinner. ‘I bet he can’t wield a sword like you.’

12
TWO HEAVENS

    ‘Masamoto-sama and Sensei Hosokawa are fighting!’ exclaimed a student, hurrying in the direction of the Hall of the Phoenix.
    Jack and Akiko, already heading that way for their first morning lesson in the Two Heavens, ran after her. As they neared the
Hō-oh-no-ma
, Masamoto’s personal
dojo
, Jack could hear the clash of
katana
. Pushing his way through the students crowded round the entrance, he could see the samurai engaged in brutal combat. To his surprise, they
both
wielded two swords, their
katana
and
wakizashi
flashing through the air like steel birds of prey.
    Hosokawa seemed to have the upper hand and drove Masamoto back on to the wooden dais. But Masamoto now gained a height advantage, his retreat clearly a ruse to get Hosokawa to over-commit to his attack. Masamoto retaliated with a double strike, almost cleaving in half the silk-screen painting of the flaming phoenix that hung on the rear wall. Hosokawa blocked Masamoto’s
wakizashi
but was caught out by the longer blade