Kuroba Asashin's Arc

Chapter 21 of 44

The dust from the herd was still settling when a man walked down the stone path toward the gate. He was big, dark-skinned, with long dreadlocks and a thick beard. His boots were caked in the same dust as the cattle. He carried nothing at his belt. He stopped at the foot of the porch and looked up at the old temple, at the kanji framed by jasmine and eucalyptus, at Kuroba standing with the odachi across his back. "I saw it," he said. "All of it. Followed those cattle down here from the north scrub. I know an angry herd when I see one… barely see one ‘cause no one’s stupid enough to anger them…" He looked at Jackie, then at Ona, then back at Kuroba. "Name's Bobby. I want to spar you." Kuroba read the man's stance. Weight even. Shoulders loose. Hands hung open at his sides, not curled. No shame in the hips. A body that had taken hits and stayed standing. Kenji opened one eye on the porch and closed it again. Kuroba stepped down into the packed earth square and set the odachi against the post. "No blades," he said. Bobby nodded and rolled his shoulders once “I have none anyway”. He came in flat-footed, jab first, the way a boxer opens a door. Kuroba slid off the line and let the fist pass. Bobby did not chase. He reset. He threw the second jab to measure, not to land, and stepped his lead foot inside Kuroba's stance. Kuroba felt the ground shift under him. He gave it up and moved. Bobby followed with a low hook that clipped Kuroba's ribs before Kuroba pinned the arm and swept the front leg. Bobby went down on his back in the dirt. He stayed there a second, breathing. Then he laughed once, short. "Yeah," he said. "That's what I came for." Kuroba offered his hand. Bobby took it and came up. "Teach me," Bobby said. It was not a question. Kuroba looked at Kenji. Kenji did not open his eyes, but he nodded once from the porch. "Room off the back hall," Kuroba said. Bobby wiped his mouth and looked at the temple again, at the peace kanji weathered above the door. "Alright," he said. Ona picked up the odachi from the post and handed it back to Kuroba. The dojo had another student now.