Chapter 10: Terminal Gray
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"Teacher Kubo, I don't quite understand this part."
The sunny dojo wasn't filled with the shouts of people training, as most would have imagined. Instead, nearly forty sets of desks and chairs had been set up in the hall, where a group of twelve- and thirteen-year-old children asked about the parts of the lesson they hadn't understood.
A middle-aged man of about forty, wearing glasses and radiating an easygoing warmth, moved constantly from one child to the next, explaining what they didn't understand.
After making the rounds, the man known as Teacher Kubo returned to the lectern and clapped his hands with a smile. "All right, everyone, it's time for lunch. Zongcilang and Yi Feng should have lunch ready by now. Move the desks and chairs to the corner to make room for this afternoon's kendo practice, then line up and head to the cafeteria."
The hall immediately erupted in a clatter. Then the children, their faces full of anticipation, lined up and headed for the cafeteria beside the hall.
Teacher Kubo smiled at the sight and followed them.
At the cafeteria, two boys of about fourteen or fifteen leaned against the pillars on either side of the entrance, one sitting and one standing. They were the dojo master Kubo Yamato's personal disciples. The one standing was a little older, with a stern look: Hijikata Yoshitoyo. The younger one looked lazy, as if he'd just woken up: Zongcilang.
When the students arrived, Hijikata Yoshitoyo stepped forward and kicked Zongcilang, who was leaning against a pillar and sleeping. "You idiot, everyone's here. Get up already!"
"Now, now, what's the rush? They're still a ways off."
Zongcilang murmured without a care, not even opening his eyes!
"..."
Hijikata Yoshitoyo's mouth twitched. He ignored the lazy idiot and went straight inside, opening the cafeteria doors.
The students filed in. Only after the last student had entered did Zongcilang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, open them and stretch lazily.
"You're awake now?"
Teacher Kubo shook his head with a smile. He was at a loss when it came to this lazy disciple.
"Mm!"
Zongcilang flashed a playful smile and nodded, then turned to head into the cafeteria.
Just then, Teacher Kubo stopped and turned to look toward the dojo's main gate.
A dozen seconds later, Zongcilang halted mid-step as well. The laziness vanished from his face, replaced by a grave expression. He looked toward the main gate, his hand instinctively reaching for the long sword at his waist.
With a crash, the dojo's gate flew open from a violent blow. A figure rushed in behind it and stopped right in front of Teacher Kubo.
"Help... me... save him..."
A hoarse, childish voice rang through the Dao Academy. After Bai Ina finished speaking, he lowered Loxi from his back and collapsed unconscious.
"What happened?"
Just then, Hijikata Yoshitoyo rushed out of the cafeteria, sword in hand, where he'd been serving food to the students. He froze at the sight before him.
After taking a long look at Bai Ina's pale face, Zongcilang removed his hand from his sword hilt and went back to looking lazy. "Nothing. Just a little kid here asking for medical help!"
While they were talking, Teacher Kubo had already gone over to support Bai Ina and Loxi and began examining them.
"What a reckless kid," Teacher Kubo murmured after checking Loxi's condition. Then he turned to Hijikata Yoshitoyo. "Take the kid with the sword inside and give him some water and food. Never mind the other one; he's already eaten. I'll take him to the dojo hall. Come by later and pick up the herbs to brew for him."
"Yes, Master." Hijikata Yoshitoyo nodded.
Zongcilang opened his mouth as if to say something, but after a moment's thought, said nothing. He gave Bai Ina one last look, then turned and walked straight into the cafeteria.
"Cough, cough..."
Bai Ina slowly opened his eyes. The unfamiliar ceiling above him made his body tense at once, and his hand instinctively reached for the long sword at his waist—only to find nothing there.
"Kid, are you looking for this?"
A somewhat cold voice sounded beside Bai Ina. Almost as soon as he heard it, Bai Ina sprang up from the tatami mat, his eyes fixed like blades on the teenage boy walking in from outside.
"Where is this? Who are you?"
Hijikata Yoshitoyo had just stepped inside. Seeing how nimbly Bai Ina moved, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. "This is our dojo's resting room. My name is Hijikata Yoshitoyo. But don't you think that, as someone who came here seeking help, what you're doing is rather rude?"
Only then did Bai Ina remember what had happened before he passed out. He'd drifted at sea for four days without a drop of water, and the three or so miles he'd run had nearly drained him—especially since he'd been carrying someone. He'd made it here on sheer willpower, then collapsed the moment he relaxed.
"Sorry." Bai Ina paused, then asked anxiously, "What happened to the person who came with me?"
"Don't worry."
Hijikata Yoshitoyo smiled at the sight of his concern. "He woke up a little while ago. He drank some medicine, then fell asleep again. His fever's gone down, and he should be able to move around tomorrow."
Bai Ina immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Hijikata Yoshitoyo stepped forward and tossed him the long sword in his hand. "That's a nice sword. Are you a swordsman too?"
Bai Ina nodded, took the sword, and hung it at his waist. "Take me to Loxi."
Hijikata Yoshitoyo frowned, displeased by Bai Ina's flat tone. The dojo had saved him, yet he hadn't even said thank you and was already talking as if giving orders. Hijikata Yoshitoyo shook his head and turned toward the door without looking at Bai Ina again. "Follow me."
He couldn't be bothered to say more.
Seeing this, Bai Ina understood how Hijikata Yoshitoyo felt, but didn't care. He followed without explaining that this was simply how he spoke; other people's opinions of him were of no concern.
As he reached the doorway, a flicker of something strange passed through Bai Ina's eyes, then vanished. He didn't even break stride. But after stepping outside, he glanced at the boy leaning by the door with a sword in his arms, then looked away and continued after Hijikata Yoshitoyo.
"Hey, you!"
Hijikata Yoshitoyo and Bai Ina stopped abruptly. Hijikata Yoshitoyo turned toward Zongcilang, who was leaning by the doorway, and snapped irritably, "You idiot, what are you doing? You show up and don't help at all—you just stand there!"
Bai Ina didn't even look back. The cold aura around him once again warned everyone to keep their distance.
"Want to fight me?"
Zongcilang stared fixedly at Bai Ina's back, not even glancing at Yi Feng.
Hijikata Yoshitoyo froze, then looked in surprise at the child before him, who seemed not yet ten years old. Everyone else at the dojo knew the two of them were Teacher Kubo's disciples and assumed that he, the mature and steady one, was the stronger of the pair. But Hijikata Yoshitoyo knew that Zongcilang, that lazy bastard through and through, was the true kendo prodigy.
Even though Zongcilang rarely trained, Hijikata Yoshitoyo was no match for him.
Yet this kendo prodigy had, completely out of character, challenged the boy in front of him, who looked under ten. How could Hijikata Yoshitoyo not be shocked?
Bai Ina's brow furrowed slightly at the words. He still didn't look back, but took another step forward.
"You're... not my match!"
After the cold voice reached Hijikata Yoshitoyo and Zongcilang, Bai Ina looked at Hijikata Yoshitoyo before him, signaling him to keep leading the way...
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