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not fight any of my students. No.” He shook his head, his expression unreadable. “Instead, you will fight me.”
    I heard Hana gasp, and struggled to hide my own surprise as I bowed to him. “Thank you, sir,” I said, barely able to breathe. “We will not disappoint you.”
    â€œThat remains to be seen,” the Master replied. “We will fight hand to hand, and I will test yourreflexes, your speed, and your ingenuity. Please remove your swords and sandals.”
    I swallowed hard. “Now?”
    Master Goku nodded. “Immediately,” he said. “I see no reason to delay. If you fail to convince me, then it is only fair to give you the rest of the afternoon to make your way to another dojo.”
    I thought I saw the ghost of a smile curve his lips as he slipped off his sandals and folded back the wide sleeves of his kimono. I remembered my father talking about his own training, many years ago, and how skilled Master Goku was in the art of hand-to-hand combat. He had once defeated ten of his top students, taking them on all at once during an exercise of a simultaneous attack. Ten students! I wondered what Hana and I had let ourselves in for.
    But there was no more time to ponder, because my sister and I were both shedding our swords and following Master Goku to the center of the courtyard. As one, we all bowed and assumed a wide-legged stance, knees soft, to show that we were ready. Hana and I mirrored Master Goku, curling one hand into a fist in front of our stomachs while stretching the other arm out in front of our faces, palms flat to the floor and fingertips aimed for our opponent’s throat.
    Attack first, like the wind, and show him what youcan do . The thought came to me like a breath of something fresh and pure blown in from the pine forest that surrounded the dojo….
    I took a deep breath, emptied my mind of all thought, and attacked.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    I took a step forward, then shot out the fist near my stomach hard and fast, aiming straight for Master Goku’s chest.
    He blocked me with his forearm and before I had time to blink the back of his hand was heading straight for my face. At the same time his other hand was punching toward my stomach, fast and low.
    I quickly twisted away, and then hit back with a chop of my own, channeling power from my turn through my arm and into my hand.
    Master Goku defended my blow easily, his stance strong and balanced. My next strike was wild and when Goku stepped to the side, I stumbled forward.
    Hana darted in. Her outstretched hand swung around and became a chop to Goku’s head. Goku deflected it effortlessly and stood with his feet spread wide, knees bent, giving us time to think about our next moves.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the lone studentin the corner suddenly dash across the courtyard, the soles of his bare feet flashing white as he disappeared through a carved wooden archway. “Combat in the main courtyard!” he cried. “Come and see!”
    Other students took up his excited cry, and soon the words echoed from rooftop to rooftop. As the news spread through the dojo, boys of all ages came jostling through the archway, surrounding us and elbowing one another in order to see.
    I tried to ignore the audience and focus on Master Goku and his movements. There was no time to think or feel, but only to act. Limbs moved in a blur. Fists flashed left and right. I struck, blocked, struck again, and sent a hard fist flying. Goku shoved me away, and instantly Hana leaped at him with a high snapping kick. He blocked her and when she landed, he immediately swept her legs out from under her. She broke her fall with a roll that left a track in the sand…and for a moment she was out of the fight.
    Master Goku spun around to focus on me. He stood firm, totally centered, a towering pillar of strength and calm. I whirled toward him, unleashing one attack after another, trying to keep my hands and feet