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Nicholas； on his feet； swung his head around。 〃Who the hell are you？〃
〃Nicholas Linnear； this is Tachi Shidare； the new oyabun of the Yamauchi clan。〃
Shidare bowed； but not； Nicholas noticed； very deeply； being careful to limit the respect offered in the gesture。
〃I know how you feel about Yakuza；〃 Seiko said。 〃But I was desperate。 I needed to call on someone I could trust； someone without a hidden agenda。〃
〃You are Tomoo Kozo's successor；〃 Nicholas said to Shidare。
The oyabun smiled thinly。 He was young； perhaps only in his midthirties； tall； and had the avaricious black eyes of a crow。 His long and narrow face had a deeply defined nose with flaring nostrils that were disturbingly feminine。 There was about him the air of controlled menace； as if he were a fully stoked furnace carefully locked behind an iron door。 Something told Nicholas that whoever sought to open that door did so at his peril。
〃Already I feel the sins of my predecessor scourging my flesh。〃 Shidare's expression indicated he did not mean a word of what he said。
He appeared to Nicholas as if he was one of the new breed of Yakuza … brash； arrogant； as secure in his license beyond the law as he was in the privilege of his formal education。 In his manner and bearing it was clear that； unlike Chosa or Akinaga； he had not e from the streets； but was the product of a major university； perhaps even Todai … Tokyo University … and therefore could not share their peculiar outsider's sense of isolation from society。
〃I see you've e through your ordeal in remarkable fashion。〃
〃Nicholas；〃 Seiko said； 〃you saved us both； but I still don't know exactly how。 I felt your body on top of mine； and then a kind of liquid warmth； almost as if I'd been dipped in wax。 For a moment； I couldn't breathe； I couldn't see。 I panicked。 I tried to squirm away； but the percussion came and I thought we'd be blown to pieces。 I heard a howling as if from a long distance away； then I lost consciousness。〃
Shidare was moving elegantly across the polished tile floor of the large sun…lit room。 He wore a handsome off…white linen suit in the voluminous Italian fashion。 Nicholas was finding it increasingly difficult to ignore him。
〃I used Tau…tau；〃 Nicholas said softly。 〃I projected my ki outward to form …〃
〃A kind of shield〃
〃Not really。 Think of the design of an aerodynamic vehicle … a car or a plane。 The force of wind is encouraged to slide up and over the vehicle。 Think of us as that vehicle。 I did much the same thing with the shock wave of the blast。〃
Shidare was close now。 His glossy black eyes focused directly on Nicholas。 There was nothing there； not a hint of emotion nor a glint of intent。 He cocked his head to one…side。 〃I am told； Linnear…san； that you study aikido；〃 he said in the old formal manner。 〃Tell me； are you familiar with jiyu waza？〃
〃Tachi …〃
〃It's all right； Seiko…san；〃 Nicholas said。 〃The oyabun has spoken and so has chosen his path。〃
But she did not want her warning to go unheeded。 〃This is not what we agreed upon； Tachi。 I beg you not to flex your muscles。 Not here。 Not now。〃
〃Please be still； Seiko。〃
Nicholas regarded Shidare with increasing interest。 He had silenced Seiko with a simple phrase。 Was she intimidated by him because of his stature as one of the three Yakuza oyabun on the Kaisho's inner council； or was she merely respectful of a man she admired？
〃I regret that I have no gi or hakama to offer you as traditional garb for aikido； but your bathing suit will do。〃 Shidare gestured with a long…fingered hand。 〃Shall we go outside onto the sand？〃
〃He's been asleep for thirty…three hours； healing。〃 Seiko's tone was more accusation than plea。 〃What is the matter with you？〃
Shidare glanced at her briefly。 〃I told you to be still。〃
They went outside； into the red sun that squatted just over the horizon。 A late…afternoon breeze stirred the palm trees and cooled the humid air。 The sky was that yellow…blue hue Nicholas associated with Vietnam； blue…green waves crashed onto a wide； white beach。 He tried to calculate exactly where they might be。 Then there was no more tune for contemplation as Shidare； gliding forward in a blur； delivered a vicious mune…tsuki； a low blow to the abdomen that Nicholas only partially deflected。
Nicholas went down； and Shidare locked onto his right wrist； twisted it； and using Nicholas's own rising momentum； spun him over and down。 He felt some pain e into his body； but he weled it as a wake…up call。 He had been asleep too long； the intense projection of tanjian energy that had shielded him and Seiko from the brunt of the small antipersonnel explosive had drained him to the point of total exhaustion。 It was good to feel alive again。
He rolled； avoiding a kick that would otherwise have struck him in the ribs。 He scissored his ankles； but Shidare danced away。
In what seemed like the same movement； the oyabun grabbed Nicholas's right wrist with both his hands。 Nicholas； still off…balance； took a chance； beginning a tenkan； pivoting on his right foot； dragging his left backward； putting enormous pressure on has lower back and thighs； reducing the leverage in his arms。 But now； as he spun back and to his left； he had Shidare stretched out and vulnerable。 Nicholas pleted the turn； went into isugi ashi； ing across in front of the oyabun's body； sliding under his extended arms。 Dropping to his right knee； Nicholas flicked his wrist； launching Shidare up and over him。 At the apex of the arc； his left fist shot upward； burying itself in Shidare's right side just above his kidney。
He could hear the oyabun's surprised grunt of pain even before he hit the sand and skidded away。 Nicholas rose； but Shidare was already regaining his feet； the grimace of pain quickly wiped from his face。 He came at Nicholas with his right hand dragging behind him； the shoulder slightly lower； as if he were struggling to regain sensation。
He was very close when his right hand whipped in front of him and the miniature naginata swept toward Nicholas with appalling speed。 The short； curved spear that the oyabun had somehow concealed beneath his baggy Italian suit was an instant from cracking Nicholas's forearm。
Nicholas was left no other choice。 He opened his tanjian eye and； projecting his psyche outward in one violent push； caused the oyabun's arm to falter just long enough for Nicholas to counter the unexpected strike with a tegatana。 Using the outer edge of his massed fingers as a sword blade； he chopped at the inside of Shidare's wrist。
Shidare stepped back； a look of stupefaction on his face。 His weapon fell to his side as his black crow's eyes focused on Nicholas。 Then the world seemed to shift on its axis； colors bleeding like neon in the rain； gravity and perspective warped out of time； and the space around then darkened with the fall of an unnatural night。
In disbelief； Nicholas saw the blank rock face of Shidare's eyes cracking open。 He had the sensation of spiraling downward。 Beyond； swimming in the depths； he recognized the color … no color that established the astonishing kinship。 Then： he felt the projection from Shidare's psyche； and a moment later their tanjian minds met i