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tion。 History； ethics； the very concept of law itself depend for their existence on this one crucial underpinning。〃
Akutagawa…san's long； melancholy face with its wide lips； rather sharp nose； and Mandarinesque eyes； was even more serious than usual。 Among the students…who； in the tradition of students the world over； had created nicknames for their sensei in order to regain at least a semblance of the control that the ryu took from them…he was known as 〃the smileless man。〃 Perhaps it was not so unusual then for these two to have recognized in one another an aspect of themselves and be thus drawn together。
Both in their own way were outcasts in a ryu of outcasts； for the legend of the ninja had it that they had evolved from the hinin； the basest level of Japanese society。 And； as in many levels of Japanese society； legend often became history。 Whether or not those origins were true now seemed irrelevant； since existing ninja had taken that legend and turned it to their advantage； using it to further their mystique among people already steeped in mysticism。
Akutagawa…san was half Chinese； it was rumored among the boys； the initiates always curious about why he was allowed to be a part of such a secret society within a society。 Their question was answered when they found out the origins of aka…i…ninjutsu were to be found in China。
〃The fact is；〃 Nicholas remembered Akutagawa…san saying； emerging into the light； 〃there is no such thing as civilization。 It is a concept the Chinese confected…or； if you prefer the Western mode； the Greeks…simply in order to give a certain moral credence to their attempts at dominion over the other peoples of the world。〃
Nicholas shook his head。 〃I don't understand。 What about all the minute aspects of Japanese life that set us apart from everyone else： the plexity of the tea ceremony； the arts of ukiyo…e； ikebana； haiku； the concepts of honor； filial duty； bushido； giri。 All the things we are。〃
Akutagawa…san looked in that young open face and sighed。 He had had a son once who had died in Manchuria at the hands of the Russians。 Every year he made a pilgrimage to China to be closer。 To what or to whom he had never been sure。 But now he thought he knew。
〃What you speak of； Nicholas。。 。'all these things are an accretion of a culture。 They have no relation to the word civilization save what today's conditioning superimposes on them。〃
They moved out along the hillside； the thrush keeping a stuttering pace； expecting perhaps that his breakfast might be strewn in the wake of these mighty shadows。
〃If a society were truly civilized；〃 Akutagawa…san continued； 〃there would be no need for the samurai； and it would surely not abide warriors such as we。 There would simply be no need； do you see？ But the concept of civilization is like that of munism。 Pure in the mind； it nevertheless cannot exist in reality。 It is too absolute a concept for man。 Like the theory of relativity it is best thought of； food for contemplation； for a civilized man would
harbor no warlike tendencies。 He would not spy on another； he would not be an adulterer； a slanderer； a destroyer。〃
Akutagawa…san put his hand on Nicholas' arm to stop him。 Together they stared out at the partially hidden valley； the tops of trees protruding through the sinuously winding mist like the stones on a Go board。
〃For most people； Nicholas； this is what life consists of： the clear and the hidden； the knowable and the arcane。 But for us here； it is different。 When we set the concept of civilization aside； we free ourselves。
〃And in plunging into the mist； we learn to ride the wind； to walk on water； to hide where there is no hiding place； to see where there is no light and hear when our ears are bound。 You will learn that one breath may sustain you for hours； and you will learn how to deal with your enemies。
〃None of this is to be taken lightly。 You understand this； I know。 Yet it must be repeated。 For with the knowledge of how to take life es the responsibility of a god。 Control is the essence of it all。 Without it there is only chaos； and given a chance； that kind of malignant anarchy will voraciously engulf our culture。 。 。all culture。〃
Nicholas was silent； his body still and attuned in his attempt to understand all that Akutagawa…san was saying。 Much of it seemed beyond his ken for the moment； larger than life and thus unknowable。 But he stored it all in his memory； understanding that if he showed patience all would be made clear to him。
Akutagawa…san stared out at the ancient countryside； inhaling its sharp； clean odors as if they were the mingled perfumes of the country's most acplished courtesans。
〃What you must understand now…now before it is too late； while you still have time to make the decision…is that aka…i…ninjutsu is just one form of an entire discipline。 And as in all such disciplines； there are the negative aspects。〃 His head turned and his black stone eyes gripped Nicholas'。 〃In donning our mantle you may also bee a target for these negative。。。 forces。
〃One of the reasons I am here is that I am sennin in a number of these。 Have you heard of Kuji…kiri； the nine…hands cutting？〃
Nicholas might have stopped breathing。 Kuji…kiri was the discipline with which Saigo had defeated him in Kumamoto the year before； defiling him and taking Yukio away from him； then disappearing with her as if the two of them had never existed。
His lips were dry and he had to try twice before he could articulate it successfully。 〃Yes。〃 It was a harsh sibilant whisper。 〃I have。。。 heard of it。〃
Akutagawa…san nodded。 He was careful not to look directly at Nicholas and thus be exposed to the inner struggle of emotions； causing his student loss of face。
〃Fukashigi…san suspected as much。 He believes you may need this； er； unorthodox training in order to survive。 And survival is what is taught here at the Tenshin Shoden Katori ryu。〃
Akutagawa…san's head turned； hawklike； and his obsidian eyes struck Nicholas with the force of a physical contact。 It was not a blow as such； but the electricity of the force behind it caused all of Nicholas' muscles to tense； the reflex of a more primitive and physically aware creature。
Oddly； his mind was at peace； perfectly clear for the first time since he had returned from his journey across the Straits of Shi…monoseki； his river Styx； to seek out Saigo in the underworld of Kan…aku na ninjutsu。
Akutagawa…san smiled slightly。 〃There are many Chinese origins here。 But you know the Japanese。 Everything must be altered； refined to fit their own cultured sensibilities。〃 This would be the only time that the sennin would ever speak this way to Nicholas or to anyone； a sign that he recognized their kinship： their mixed heritage。
〃You now know the dangers； the risks。 Fukashigi…san was quite adamant about giving you these caveats。〃
〃And you were not；〃 Nicholas said； responding to an ephemeral shading in the sennin's tone。
〃Do not think that I am not careful。 Fukashigi…san and I think alike in many aspects。 However； I did not believe you required these warnings。〃
〃You were correct。〃 Nicholas took a deep breath。 〃I want you to teach me； sensei。 I am not frightened of the Kuji…k