Chapter 27 : The Selection

'…never let your guard down!'

The words rang in Jack's head as painfully as the bokken that struck

him across the back of his neck, knocking him senseless to the floor.

The Gauntlet didn't finish at Sensei Hosokawa.

Sensei Hosokawa was the final trial.

Nursing a stiff neck, Jack now stood with the Circle of Three entrants in

three lines at the centre of the Butokuden. They all looked like they'd been

through a war, not one of them having escaped without injury.

While the rest of the school waited patiently in seiza around the edges

of the dojo, Masamoto and Sensei Hosokawa, Yosa, Kyuzo and Yamada sat

in a circle within the ceremonial alcove, quietly discussing the fate of the

students.

Sensei Kano knelt to one side, his white bō leaning against a nearby

pillar. As a visiting teacher to the Niten Ichi Ryū, he was not involved in the

selection process, but Jack could tell the man was listening intently to the

ongoing debate.

The selection process appeared to progress smoothly, until all of a

sudden the discussion became heated and voices were raised.

'I object!' protested Sensei Kyuzo, slamming a rock-like fist on to the

wooden floor. 'He didn't complete the trial.'

Every eye and ear in the dojo focused upon the quarrelling sensei and,

despite Masamoto's attempts to subdue the dispute, snatches of the

argument were still clearly audible.

'…your opinion is somewhat biased,' accused Sensei Kyuzo of

Masamoto, his annoyance getting the better of his discretion.

'Can you honestly say you're impartial?' interjected Sensei Yosa.

'That's beside the point. The boy failed the trial. You cannot bend the

rules for one individual!'

Masamoto held his hand up for calm. 'Enough. If my vote is

contentious, I withdraw it…'

The row nonetheless rumbled on, but in tense whispered exchanges so

that the students were no longer able to overhear. Jack's heart sank. Sensei

Kyuzo had promised he would do everything in his power to stop him

entering the Circle.

'What is your opinion, Sensei Kano?' Masamoto asked of the bō

master a moment later. 'We are in a stalemate situation and require your

vote.'

The great man leant forward to give his opinion. A few moments later,

the issue was apparently resolved as the teachers returned to a more

amicable discussion, though Sensei Kyuzo still looked sour as vinegar.

* * *

Like a cannon shot, a single handclap resounded in the Butokuden and

Masamoto announced, 'The time has come!'

The entire school stiffened to attention as the selection panel turned to

face the students, their expressions stony. Behind them, the school's carved

gilded phoenix kamon hung proudly above the sensei's heads.

'Young samurai! To all those who participated in the trials, we bow to

you.'

With a single sweeping glance, Masamoto took in the three lines of

students, the power of his gaze making it appear as if he had looked at each

of them in turn.

'We've carefully considered your performances today. The five

students selected for entry to the Circle of Three are those who completed at

least one trial and acted like a samurai in all by showing true bushido

spirit,' explained Masamoto. 'When your name is called, step forward to

receive our judgement.'

Jack let go of any remaining hope, biting back on the bitter

disappointment he now felt. Having not completed a trial, he realized the

Circle of Three would remain a distant dream, the Two Heavens technique a

mystery to him for many more years to come.

'Emi-chan,' summoned Masamoto.

Emi limped out of line to take her place in front of the judging panel,

the Gauntlet clearly having taken its toll upon her.

'You performed well. You're a fine kyudoka and although you were

frightened by the Gauntlet we were most impressed with the way you

regained your composure in the face of such danger. That took courage.

However, your overall result was not quite good enough to warrant you

entering the Circle. I'm sure your father would agree in this instance. Three

to two against.'

Emi-chan bowed to the panel. As Jack watched her hobble over to the

sidelines, it dawned on him just how challenging the Circle of Three must

be, if even the daughter of the school's benefactor was rejected.

A sense of disappointment descended over the school as the next six

entrants also failed to make the grade. Jack, however, felt a little better

knowing that the bar had been set so high.

'Tadashi-kun,' summoned Masamoto.

A strong boy with broad shoulders and dark half-moon eyebrows

stepped forward. Jack recognized him as the boy who had first entered his

name for the Circle.

Masamoto nodded once. 'Formidable spirit throughout, especially in

the tamashiwari. It was a shame you were knocked down towards the end

of the Gauntlet, but no matter. Four to one in agreement. You are through to

the Circle.'

The school gave a great cheer. At last one of the entrants was deemed

good enough. Tadashi, a broad grin on his face, bowed his respects before

taking up position in the middle of the dojo. The celebrations were shortlived, though, as the following seven contenders were all dismissed in quick

succession.

Then Masamoto summoned Akiko.

She approached the panel and Jack crossed his fingers behind his back,

silently wishing her luck.

'What can I say? The only one to kill the candle with their first arrow,'

Masamoto said. Jack could see Sensei Yosa beaming at her protégé. 'But

you only made it halfway down the Gauntlet. You appeared somewhat

distracted during the fight. We had really expected more from you.'

Akiko bit her lower lip, and Jack felt his own mouth go dry. Had his

offhand comment about his visit to the castle with Emi put her

concentration off?

'Still, you have shown such bushido spirit and inner strength in all

your other trials,' continued Masamoto, 'that it would be unjust for us to

deny you this opportunity. Three to two in favour. Please join Tadashi.'

The Butokuden filled with applause again. Akiko remained where she

was, astonished by the decision, and it took a few moments before she

regained her composure, bowed and joined Tadashi.

The next ten competitors, including to Jack's satisfaction Goro, added

to the growing number of failed students gathering on the sidelines. Only

one of them was passed: Harumi, the petite girl with the doll-like face who

had amazingly succeeded in the Trial by Wood. Two places now remained.

Kazuki was summoned.

Jack watched as his rival stepped up, the gash on his cheek now even

more swollen and his eye completely closed.

'An outstanding performance in every aspect. All in favour. You are

through to the Circle.'

Kazuki was the first entrant to be awarded a unanimous decision. He

had triumphed in the eyes of all the sensei and, by the cheers that erupted

from the hall, it was apparent that the school saw him as the favourite to

conquer the Circle. Despite the hostility between them, Jack was forced to

admit Kazuki had performed brilliantly and deserved his place.

This left only one place and three entrants: Yamato, Hiroto and

himself. Jack, assured of his own failure, silently prayed Yamato would

triumph over Hiroto.

'Yamato-kun,' called Masamoto.

Yamato stepped forward, clutching his side and breathing between his

teeth in short pained gasps. He glanced apprehensively at his father.

'I'm proud to say you fought like a true Masamoto in the Gauntlet, so

this was a tough decision to make. However, without a clear victory in any

of the trials, the committee voted three to two against. I'm sorry, but you are

not one of the five.'

Yamato's eyes widened in dismay. He looked as if he wanted the dojo

floor to swallow him up. Jack couldn't believe it. It must have been Yamato

the sensei had been arguing over, not Jack. That was why Masamoto had

deferred his vote to Sensei Kano. The decision must have been a great

disappointment for the samurai.

Yamato hung his head and crossed the dojo to the sidelines, his

frustration at his performance apparent in every weary step.

Masamoto then called out Jack's name.

Jack readied himself for the inevitable.

'Jack-kun, yours was a very controversial decision. I was of the mind

that you had shown true bushido spirit throughout the trials and therefore

proved your worth to enter the Circle of Three. Still, I had to be impartial in

all decisions, especially as you are my adopted son, and you did not actually

complete a single trial.'

Jack now knew for certain that Hiroto had beaten him. Now he just

wanted to get the formality over with so he could join Yamato on the

sidelines, but his guardian continued, 'You didn't finish the Gauntlet. Then

again, no one has ever reached the end of the Gauntlet as you did. Sensei

Hosokawa was most impressed with your performance. He passed you,

despite your error at the last stage. But there were opposing opinions. We

therefore agreed to defer the final decision to Sensei Kano.'

So it hadn't been Yamato the sensei had argued over. It had been him

all along. Jack felt the great grey eyes of the bō master upon him, and

although he knew the man could not see, Jack knew the sensei was

observing him with all his other senses.

'I need not remind you that the Circle of Three is not only difficult but

dangerous. It can even be fatal. Therefore we do not make such decisions

lightly. On balance, while Sensei Kano feels you are worthy, this is only on

his proviso that you undertake extra training sessions with him, in addition

to any Circle preparation required.'

For a moment Jack was unsure that he had heard correctly. Did this

mean he had gained entry to the Circle or not?

Then the students began clapping, though not with the enthusiasm

afforded Kazuki and the other successful entrants. But Jack didn't care. He

was in the Circle and Hiroto wasn't! Karma for the kick in the ribs, thought

Jack as Hiroto slunk off to the sidelines, glaring at Jack all the way.

'Now I want to remind all the entrants who didn't succeed that simply

by participating you've proved you have the courage to become a samurai

warrior,' reaffirmed Masamoto, and he personally acknowledged the group

on the sidelines by bowing his head to indicate the sincerity of his respect.

Then he faced the five successful students in the centre of the hall:

Tadashi, Akiko, Harumi, Kazuki and Jack.

'For the five who journey onwards, I have this advice. In a fight

between a strong body and a strong technique, technique will prevail. In a

fight between a strong technique and a strong mind, mind will prevail

because it will find the weak point in your opponent. While many of you

are approaching this understanding, only one student has embraced the

knowledge necessary to achieve this.'

Kazuki allowed himself a self-satisfied smile at the forthcoming praise

which he believed was his due. But the smile twisted into a grimace of

disbelief as Masamoto announced, 'Yori, step forward. You will join them

in the Circle.'

A gasp of astonishment arose from the school and everyone looked

around for the little boy. A reluctant Yori was pushed forward by the

students closest to him and he shuffled into the centre, as startled and

helpless as a newborn lamb.