A cold mountain wind whipped the last faded sheds of autumn colour overhead, but in the shelter of the house it was still pleasant. Okamura Junzo sat in the niwa of his house powdering his blade and admiring the water pattern bought out by the weak sunlight.
A polite tapping bought his attention back to the house. Standing by the gate was Kamadai Senkei, one of the castle samurai and an attendant. Noting that he had Junzo's attention, he smiled and said "The Hatamoto has requested that you and the samurai Takenoshita Yabu meet him in the bujutsu hall in one hour. He wishes to observe the Tendo technique of the spearman and also desires your attendance."
Junzo bowed, conveying assent.
An hour later, the wind had risen, whining in the rafters of the bujutsu hall and rattling the shingles above with occasional heavy drops of rain. As Yabu and Junzo entered, the keeper of the bujutsu hall, Tendo Katsuiki, had just finished setting out several small lanterns, dispelling the gloom and adding a little warmth to the scene.
Behind him several figures were watching two men wrestling. As the two samurai approached, one of the wrestlers - a huge youth - drove his opponent to the floor with a resounding slap. His audience applauded politely and then, sensing the newcomers, turned.
Yabu recognised the burly figure and small pointed beard of the Hatamoto from their first meeting in the castle. Beside him was another samurai and a tall slim woman who, unusually, was wearing the daisho of a warrior. He bowed deeply to the Hatamoto, as appropriate to a superior, and again more shallowly to the samurai and the woman. In his travels he had sometimes seen female warriors, and had heard of some who had won notable duels.
The Hatamoto Renshin clapped his hands and shouted heartily. "Good! You are here. Tendo! Fetch some cushions!" Dropping his voice a little he addressed Yabu. "There are practice yari on the wall rack there. Choose two and prepare yourself for some exercise." Turning to Senkei, he added "You should prepare yourself as well. It is bad to fight with cold muscles."
Yabu bowed, his face impassive. Going to the wall rack, he picked out two matched practice spears. The long spear heads had been sheathed, and the point was covered by a ball, tightly bound down.
Renshi and his companion seated themselves. He indicated with his fan. "When you are ready, stand there" he pointed "and there. When I open my fan, commence."
Yabu took the two practice spears and handed them to Junzo while he went through a quick warm-up ritual. He stretched the long muscles of his thighs, twisted his back, loosened his shoulders, and finally centered his breathing. Taking one of the yari from Junzo, he swept it through a few strokes to get the feel of it, then walked to the position indicated and bowed to the Hatamoto to signify his readiness.
Junzo waited for Senkei to finish his warmup drill, then handed him the remaining yari and walked to sit in a position close to the Hatamoto.
Senkei lifted his yari above his head, the "blade" centred on Yabu's stomach, and advanced slowly. Suddenly, his yari darted forward as he pivoted on his rear foot, moving swiftly to Yabu's left.
Yabu parried effortlessly with a swift smack of shaft against the incoming shaft, knocking the point out of line as he stepped to the side. He followed it by stepping in, twisting his yari in a spiral around Senkei's, attempting to snap it out of his grip.
Senkei countered by swinging his yari up, disengaging the point, and snapping the butt of the spear at Yabu's legs, but Yabu stepped aside and the butt stroke missed.
Without a pause, Senkei shortened his grip and struck at Yabu's face with the head of the spear. Yabu blocked the weakened strike easily, but realised even as he did so that it had been a feint, and that the butt of the spear was sweeping towards his legs. He spun to meet the second attack, stabbing at the mat and deflecting Senkei's shaft upwards.
In that instant, Yabu saw his chance. He struck swiftly at Senkei, and was rewarded by seeing his spearhead dart past the other's guard. Only by a desperate lunge sideways did Senkei avoid the strike.
However, while this had bought him within the length of Yabu's spear, his own was similarly disadvantaged. Instantly he whipped his weapon down, attempting to trap Yabu's spear.
Yabu attempted to spin free, but his lunge had bought him too close, and Senkei's yari dropped behind his wrist, trapping the heads of both spears against the tatami. With both weapons momentarily useless, Senkei was brought face to face with his opponent. He grinned savagely, but Yabu noticed the thin sheen of sweat filming his heavily scarred forehead.
SMACK! With weapon trapped, face-to-face with Senkei, Yabu's response was to smash his forehead into his opponent's face. Senkei staggered, eyes glazed for a second with the impact, as Yabu darted back two quick steps. Yabu's padded spear licked out like the tongue of a snake while Senkei was still unsteady on his feet, almost caressing Senkei's chest.
Senkei whipped back, his weight moving to his rear leg, and he wearily lifted his spear overhead into the guard position.
Yabu stepped in, his spear flashing like lightning in a series of stabs, driving Senkei back.
Senkei countered, swinging the shaft of his yari to block the incoming strikes. Instead, the shaft of Yabu's weapon met his with a crack, then slithered upwards across his hands. With a cry, Senkei dropped his yari, and slumped to his knees grey-faced. It took him several seconds to recover - then he rose, cradling his hand and bowed.
"An interesting match, Yabu-san. Perhaps I will have the honour again." Bowing again, he retrieved the spear and turned to the racks to replace it.
Yabu bowed in response, breathing deep, controlled breaths to keep from panting after the heavy exertion. "We are evenly matched, Senkei-san. I have rarely seen a spearman of your caliber."
On the sidelines, the Hatamoto scratched his beard meditatively. "Interesting, indeed. I see you have expanded the Tendo style after Senkei's own fashion." Rising, he bowed slightly to Yabu and proceeded to the doors of the training hall. As Tendo hurried to open the door he turned and added, smiling "If it would not trouble you, I will send several bushi to train with you. It always does good to broaden one's experience."
Yabu bowed deeply. "It would be my honour, Hatamoto."