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Authors: Jon F. Merz

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Jimmy frowned and then held it up to the light.

Nothing.

He checked the other two scrolls. But they were as blank as the first one. He put them down in his lap and looked at Goro. “Is this some sort of joke?”

“It is anything but a joke,” said Goro. “You have uncovered the secret of the Scrolls of Fudo Shin.”

“Yeah, but there’s nothing here.”

“Exactly.”

Jimmy frowned. “I’m sorry but I don’t get it.”

Goro smiled again. “Do you know what ‘Fudo Shin’ means?”

“No.”

“Immovable spirit. It refers to the concept that one must develop an indomitable attitude toward achieving a goal; that regardless of the challenges or obstacles, nothing will deter you from achieving that goal. That is fudo shin. And that is what those scrolls represent.”

“Yeah, but-“

“Jimmy,” said Goro, “in this case, the relic was not what mattered most. It was the development of the concept of fudo shin within yourself that was most important."

"But why would Kotogawa care about the scrolls then if they were blank all along?"

Goro grinned. "Kotogawa has no idea what the scrolls contain. Nor would he understand their true essence."

"Which is what?"

"In reality, the recovery of the scrolls was but a test to determine if the seeker is qualified to take on the next mission. Without the recovery of these - the first relic - there would be no hope of ever recovering the other relics that were stolen from us centuries back.”

“And you want me to recover them?”

“What I want,” said Goro, “is for you to assume your rightful place in this family. You are the last of our kind. You are the inheritor of our entire lineage. The mantle of Matsuda-ryu Ninjutsu rests with you, provided you want it.”

"I want it," said Jimmy. He paused. “So, is that it? Now, I’m the head of the Matsuda-ryu?”

Vanessa grinned. “Not bloody yet you’re not. You’ve still got training to go through, bugger. And a damned lot of it.”

“But one day you will be,” said Goro. “The path is long. And it is difficult. Like nothing you have ever experienced before. There will be much danger." His eyes softened. "Heartache, even."

Jimmy thought of Merlin. She was recuperating in a private medical facility in upstate New York. He hadn't seen her since she'd been flown back to America after the doctors in Katmandu had pronounced her fit for travel. She'd looked less bruised by that time. But she still held a sadness in her eyes. And Jimmy wondered if she'd ever be able to let it go.

Goro shifted in his seat, subtly drawing Jimmy's attention back to the present. "But you will play a crucial role in helping keep the evil that Kotogawa spreads, in check.”

"Kotogawa won't stop, will he?"

Goro shook his head. "Tragically, no. And now that he has met you in person and knows the very real threat you pose to him and his plans, he will no doubt be even more aggressive than ever before. You are, unfortunately, out of the shadows that once afforded you some measure of security."

Jimmy nodded and thought of something. "I have a question, Goro-sama."

"Ask it."

Jimmy reached into his bag and brought out his sketchbook. He flipped it open and turned it around. "I've had this image in my head for months now. Every time I got close to completing it, something happened and I'd lose the sketchbook, but I finally got a new one and last night, this just seemed to jump out of me."

"And your question is?"

Jimmy pointed to the elaborately drawn castle. "What is this place?"

Goro smiled. "Do you recognize it?"

"I don't know. I mean, it feels familiar somehow, but I'm sure I've never seen it before."

"Not in this lifetime, anyway." Goro smiled. "That is the castle the Matsuda-ryu once resided in. It was the seat of our power."

"I thought that was the gorge on Matsuda Mountain."

Goro sighed. "The gorge is all that is left of where the castle used to stand. We drew our water from that spring. But one of Kotogawa's ancestors led a mighty army against us and they destroyed the castle utterly. Not even a stone was left untouched. Every inhabitant in the castle - men, women, children - they were all killed. The only reason our lineage has survived until now is because several Matsuda-ryu agents were in the field at the time of the attack. Had they been at the castle, we would not be having this conversation now. It would not have been passed down to your father. And now...to you."

"You never told me much about how my father died."

Goro stayed quiet for a moment. "I told you he was betrayed."

"By who?"

Goro eyed him. "Understand something, Jimmy. Sometimes, the answers you seek will tempt you into action better left to the universe itself."

Jimmy frowned. "I'm sorry, but I don't know what you mean."

"I speak of vengeance," said Goro. "If I tell you who betrayed your father...and your mother, for that matter, then you may be tempted to hunt them down."

Jimmy stayed quiet. He couldn't argue with Goro.

"But by doing so, you may do more harm than good."

"But they killed my parents."

Goro nodded. "Indeed. And I have no doubt the flow of the universe will see to it they are brought to justice. In time, that justice may indeed be at your hand. Or it may not be. But to seek it, to impose your will upon the universe, goes against nature." He sighed. "You must - we must - all be patient."

The fire crackled and popped in the fireplace. Jimmy thought about everything he’d gone through and how distant all of the danger seemed now that he was sitting here talking to a ghost of one of his ancestors.

His hanbo rested in his lap, its smooth wood gleaming in the firelight. He hefted it and then smiled as he looked at Goro.

"This is my family now, Goro-sama. I won't do anything to bring dishonor upon it."

Goro's eyes shone bright with moisture. "In that case, I believe it would be only appropriate to call you by your rightful name: Jimmy Matsuda. I do not think that name Dolan is necessary any longer."

Vanessa smiled. "I like Jimmy Matsuda. It has...a certain ring to it."

Jimmy smiled. But deep down he wondered if he would ever find out who had betrayed his parents. And would he be the one to bring them to justice?

The fire crackled again, spreading warmth and light in the room. Only time would tell, Jimmy decided finally.

For right now, he had a ton of work to do just to live up to his name.

He grinned. Bring it on, he thought.

Bring it on.

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The Lawson Vampire Series

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THE FIXER

THE INVOKER

THE DESTRUCTOR

THE SYNDICATE

THE PRICE OF A GOOD DRINK

THE COURIER

THE KENSEI

ENEMY MINE

THE RIPPER

THE SHEPHERD

INTERLUDE

RED TIDE

OATHBREAKER

A FOG OF FURY

RUDOLF THE RED NOSED ROGUE

FROSTY THE HITMAN

DEAD DROP

SIX TIMES DEADLY

The following adventures take place before the events in THE FIXER, although they were written afterward.

THE ENCHANTER

THE INFILTRATOR

MISSION: MALTA

About Jon F. Merz

As a writer, Jon has penned over two dozen novels for various houses like St. Martin's Press, Kensington/Pinnacle, Harlequin/Gold Eagle, and many more. He is best known for his critically-acclaimed Lawson Vampire series of hardboiled supernatural espionage novels that are current ebook bestsellers on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Check out his ebooks here for Kindle:
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As a producer, Jon formed New Ronin Entertainment with his good friend Jaime Hassett in 2007 and they are starting production on THE FIXER (based on Jon's Lawson vampire series) in 2012, an entirely independent television production.

As a ninja, Jon has studied authentic ninjutsu for over twenty years with Mark Davis of the Boston Martial Arts Center in Boston, MA. During a trip to Japan in February 2003, Jon earned his 5th degree black belt shidoshi license directly from the 34th Grandmaster of Togakure-ryu Ninjutsu, Masaaki Hatsumi. Jon has taught defensive tactics to a wide range of clients, including members of the US State Department, Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Prisons, as well as other agencies, military units, first responders, and more.

Prior to becoming a writer, Jon served in the US Air Force, worked for the US Government, and handled executive protection for a variety of Fortune 500 clients.

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