The next morning Jake woke from his dreams, and lowered his gaze when he remembered that his mother was gone. He rolled out of bed, and not remembering that the bed had legs he fell face first onto the floor. He hit with a small thud, and was partly covered by the sheets.

He pushed himself up, and shook his head. “Alright bed has legs I got to remember that,” he muttered, and stood up.

He was starting to pull the sheets onto the bed when DuCaun rushed in. “Mr. Jake did you fall off the bed?” he asked concerned.

Jake smiled. “It’s like I said yesterday, it’s a little taller than what I’m used to,” he said.

DuCaun smiled. “Well leave the bed to me I’ll attend to it later, and I’m surprised it’s barely sunrise and you’re wide awake,” he said then covered a small yawn.

Jake smiled, and looked out at the rising sun. “I’m just used to waking at this time, and I also have some… private matters to attend to. So would you be so kind, and leave me to it,” Jake said, with a bow.

DuCaun looked at him for a moment, and then bowed back. “As you wish young sir,” he said, and then left the room.

Jake sighed, then walked into the sitting room, and stripped off his pajama top, and did a full split with his ankles resting on the sofa, and coffee table. He held the split taking deep breaths, and exhales making various signs with his hands that had different meanings and purposes. When he was finished he was back on his feet, and moved the coffee table to the side, and practiced his style until the sun had completely risen, and he heard people move in the other rooms.

He had barely gotten the coffee table back in its original spot when DuCaun knocked at his door.

“Come in," Jake said, politely wiping some sweet from his face.

DuCaun came in with a smile. “Mr. Jake I hope that your private matters went well?” he asked.

Jake smiled, and bowed. “Quite well thank you,” he said.

About ten minutes later Jake stood in front of his mirror wearing his uniform, and he kept tugging at the collar.

“Not quite what you’re used to sir?” DuCaun asked watching him as he finished making the bed.

Jake looked at him, and shook his head. “No I’m used to something a little more… loose,” he said.

DuCaun frown, and walked into the sitting room standing straight with his hands crossed behind him. “I thought Japan had taken steps to become a civilized country?” he asked.

Jake froze lowered his gaze with memories of home, and the conflict between those who want to preserve the past and the ones who want to modernize.

“Japan is like the lotus flower in the darkest of times it will always find a way to bloom. Even though there are some things that I disagree with the country of my birth in the end what has been wronged will be made right,” Jake said, after a moment and DuCaun’s frown deepened.

A few moments later after making sure that the bonsai had enough water for the day Jake left his room. As he was still slipping a finger into his collar he froze half way down the stairs, and listened.

“He must have arrived late last night,”

“I hear his mother is friends with the Emperor of Japan,”

“Did you see all his things?”

“They must be really rich,”

“I heard his mother met his father on a trade mission,”

“Ha well I heard that he, and his mother were thrown out of Japan because he was a half breed,”

“Half breed?”

Jake lowered his eyes before turning them to the ceiling honorable father help me stand tall he thought, then as straight as an arrow he silently descended the rest of the stairs, and faced the dining room.

The other thirty or so students sitting at a long oval linen covered table turned to face him as he stood under the center of the arch, and he gave them a small bow. Then he walked down the right hand side, and took a seat in an empty chair on the right hand side of the of the head. He looked down at the empty plate before him, then at the sliver ware before picking up a fork, and looking at it closely missing chopsticks slightly, and some of the foods of home.

He closed his eyes thinking of the Kobbie Beef, Sweet Rice, Sushi, Nikujaga, Ramen, Sashimi, Gomaae, Korokee, and all the rest of his favorite dishes. He was jarred from his thoughts when he felt vibrations in his feet, and he opened his eyes, and he looked back at the arch, and he saw Sir Abraham, and his brother come into view. He sat straighter, and the rest of the students fell silent.

Jacob smiled at the students, and sat at the far end while his brother walked around, and took his seat next to Jake. Jakes eye’s darted left, and right looking at the faces of the other students. He felt someone coming to his right, and he turned, and a moment later the door swung open, and a boy about Jake’s age came out his back to them carrying a bowl almost too big for him.

He turned to face them, and Jake saw that he had slightly darkened skin almost like some of his friends back in Japan but not quite. He also had long black hair that he wore tied back, and over his shoulder. Before his eyes were turned down Jake saw that they were narrow slightly like his, and were dark brown unlike his ocean green.

Jake frowned at the ash and soot covered clothes he wore with an apron around his waist. Jake knew the station of this boy, and his eyes narrowed a little more when he also took note of the smallest smell of horse.

Jake’s eyes looked at Sir Abraham that boy may look strong but he’s exhausted working both in the kitchen, and the stables if this keeps up he could die Jake thought.

Keeping his face bowed the boy started down the right hand lane first pouring porridge in Sir Abraham’s bowl.

He, then turned, and poured some into Jake’s bowl. “Domo Ari-Gato Gozimuse,” Jake muttered.

There was an immediate intake of breath, and everyone looked at him some confused some shocked. Jake looked confused from one face to the other, and then looked at Sir Abraham who wore a stern face.

“Jake there is no talking at the table,” he said, and Jake heard a slight edge to his voice.

Jake looked at him, and then in politeness lowered his gaze. “Forgive my not knowing Sir Abraham Sensei,” he said.

Sir Abraham’s head whipped to look at him. “What did you call me,” he demanded.

Jake looked him in the eye a slight frown on his face as the boy continued, and other servants came out carrying other food.

“’Sensei’ it means teacher a title of honor sir,” Jake said.

Sir Abraham narrowed his gaze. “Well from now you will not address anyone in that tongue. You are in England not Japan, and you will conduct yourself as an Englishman is that understood,” he said.

Jake’s mouth opened I’m to forget my father’s blood, heritage, people, and clan he thought.

Jake turned to face the student in front of him. “I will sir but I will not forget my father’s people, customs, and clan sir,” he said, and he felt Sir Abraham’s eyes boring into him.

Jake turned, and looked at the boy who glanced back at him before continuing on to the next student almost at the end of the table. The rest of them meal was continued in silence from everyone.

Throughout it Jake looked at everyone I’ve had cheerier meals at funerals, and at least at my old school we were allowed to talk to each other at meals he thought.

At the end of the meal there as a knock at the door, and the boy reappeared, and walking in a dignified fashion walked under the arch, and bowed. Then he turned to the door, and walked out of sight, and Jake heard him open the door, and talk to someone. Then a moment later a well dressed man came in , and after looking at Sir Abraham walked up to stand between Sir Abraham and Jake.

Sir Abraham smiled at Jake. “Jake in light of your mother hiring a French manservant, and a Spanish man to take care of your horse Monsieur Chevalier here will educate you in both French, and Spanish,” he said.

Jake suddenly felt very uncomfortable. “I believe Sir that she hired them believing that I would like them,” he said, hoping not to sound rude.

Sir Abraham smiled but Jake saw the ice in his eyes. “Well you are a little boy who has been allowed much leniency. Is it that you do not like the idea of learning French, and Spanish” Sir Abraham said.

Jake shook his head. “No it’s not that its just well... I never really learned... French or Spanish... I just,” he said, trying to figure out how to explain politely.

He saw a vain throb in Sir Abraham’s neck, and then he looked at Monsieur Chevalier. “’Please forgive him he was raised in the nation of Japan, and they can be somewhat stubborn, and proud,’” he said, in French.

Jake shook his head. “’No it’s just that I’m trying to explain that I can speak fluent French, and Spanish sir my mother taught me,’” he said, first in French, then half way through switched to Spanish.

All eyes were on Jake in a heart beat, and Monsieur Chevalier looked at him his hand cupping his chin. For a couple of minutes the two talked in both French and Spanish in various degrees, and skill.

When he was finished he laughed a little. “Well measure Abraham from his dialect, and pronunciation there is very little I can teach him. Maybe if I can suggest he can tutor some of your younger students, and maybe help with your pronunciation,” He said, looking at Sir Abraham who looked slightly red.

Jake, and the other students then left for their first class of the day: history. The day went smoothly for Jake with a couple people staring at him, and he heard a few muttering about his appearance, and some of his clothes that weren’t part of the uniform.

They were entering the courtyard with their horses waiting for them and for their riding lesson. Jake was adjusting his riding gloves next to his black mustang when a boy approached him in fancy riding clothes. Jake had watched him through their classes, and had noticed that he had a rough time in remembering facts, and was picked on by both teacher and student alike.

The boy looked quite shy which showed as every step he took he shuffled his feet, and wrung his hands. He had a slightly round face with bright blue eyes which kept looking at him, then at the ground.

Deciding to take the initiative Jake stepped forward. “Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?” he asked.

The boy turned brick red. “Ah my name is Henry Merrick,” he said.

Jake smiled, and extended his hand. “Jake Tanaka of the clan Tanaka,” he said, and Henry shook it.

Then Henry jumped, and whipped around as the instructor yelled. “HENRY MERRICK HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU THAT YOU SHOULD NOT LEAVE YOUR HORSE UNATTENDED,”

Just before Henry rushed back to his horse’s side Jake lightly grabbed him by his upper arm. “Come to my room later if you want to talk,” he said, and Henry nodded.

When the class was assembled the instructor looked at the students around him. “Now today Alexander will be continuing with yesterday’s lesson while I will work with the new student Mr. Jake. Now mount your horses everyone,” he said, in a strong American accent.

Jake thinking that meant him as well after turning his back to the teacher took hold of his reins, and the base of his horse’s mane and after taking a step back swung on to the saddle. He was slipping his feet into the stirrups when the instructor came up as the other students, and a boy who looked a few years older than Jake rode away.

He smiled up at him, and patted the neck of Jake’s horse. “Well quite impressive Mr. Jake. Do you do a lot of riding back in Japan?” he asked, and Jake nodded.

“Yes Mr. Averon,”

He smiled. “Well, then I think it will be my duty as your instructor to see for myself the extent of your skill,” he said, and then entered the stable.

Jake turned his horse, and a after a little while he watched as Mr. Averon came out with a grey stallion. He brought it next to Jake, and mounted up, and the two rode out of the courtyard, and into Nottingham. Jake smiled at the difference in the sun light. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mr. Averon watching him.

“Is it different here than back home?” he asked.

Jake nodded. “Somewhat different Sir but there is a lot of similarities,” he said.

Mr. Averon nodded as a few people looked at them as they rode down the street in a light trot. “You shouldn’t blame yourself for what happened at breakfast young Sir,” he said.

Jake looked at him. “Just Jake sir as I told Monsieur DuCaun yesterday I am no man’s master. As for this morning I should have been more forward. And one last thing sir , and I’m sorry if I’m offending you but I think Henry would respond better to a lighter hand than a firmer one,” he said.

Mr. Averon nodded. “Yes he told me this morning , and you trying to be polite , and Sir Abraham can be somewhat… presumptuous , and perhaps you are right about Mr. Merrick it’s just that sometimes he can be frustrating,” he said.

Jake shrugged. “Aren’t we all?” he asked.

Mr. Averon looked at him for a moment, then smiled, and nodded. “I guess so. Now how do you feel about a light gallop? But for not too long, you still have a fencing class in about an hour,” he said, as they rode out of the city.

Jake nodded, and they dug their heels in, and took off toward the forest in a pounding of hooves. When they got back forty minutes later some of the other students looked at them as they rode back into the courtyard, and dismounted. The students left soon after that to prepare for their next class.

Jake stood in front of his mirror again as DuCaun put on the final touches of Jake’s fencing uniform.

When he was finished, DuCaun smiled at his reflection. “You do look wonderful Mr. Jake,” he said.

Jake smiled. “Thank you Monsieur DuCaun, I hope that… well…,” Jake said, trying to find the right word to explain.

DuCaun smiled at him. “You studied fencing in Japan?” he asked.

Jake shook his head. “No, a form of Kenjutsu, the way of the Japanese sword. It was part of my old Sen … ah teacher’s classes of my father’s Clan’s style. I just hope the sword master understands,” he said, walking over to pick up his old practice boken.

DuCaun smiled. “I think he will understand, young Sir,” as Jake weaved the boken around from one technique to the next, and smiled when the uniform did not hinder him.

Jake then picked up his fencing mask, and left the room with his boken in his hand at his side, and joined the rest of the students. The fencing room was a large room with tall windows, and hard wooden floors. Along the walls was a series of racks that held thin swords with a cup guard along with wooden swords with thick blades, and a straight guard but he couldn’t see the cleaning tools for the students to prepare for class.

The sword master was waiting for them in the middle of the room wearing the same thing as them, and he frowned slightly in seeing Jake’s boken.

Then he smiled at the assembled students. “Welcome everyone, now before we start today I would like for us all to welcome our new student Mr. Jake Tanaka,” he said, and gave a few claps, and the class quickly followed suit.

Jake stood, and bowed to the Sword master. “Thank you Sen… Sir,” he said.

The Sword Master smiled. “You can call me Mr. Nicolas if you want now, from the way you carry that wooden sword you’ve handled a sword before. Am I right?” he said.

Jake bowed. “Yes Mr. Nicolas, I have been training in my father’s clan style since I was a small child Sir,” he said.

Mr. Nicolas smiled, and nodded. “Would you mind giving us a small demonstration then, for even in England we have heard of the mighty Samurai,” he said, and then went to the wall drawing a practice broadsword.

Jake bowed again. “It would be an honor sir, but my father’s clan was Shinobi,” he said.

Jake stepped into the middle of the room slipping his mask on, and got into a fighting stance the sword blade next to the side of his head.

“Sir is there a limit to the contact?” he asked.

Mr. Nicolas smiled. “Only taps to the head ok,” he said, and Jake nodded.

They faced off against each other, and then Jake threw an attack to Mr. Nicolas’s head whose arm was a blur to parry it. The next thing Mr. Nicolas was doubled up as Jake faster still twirled the sword in his hand, and threw the pommel into Mr. Nicolas’s gut. He fell to one knee his sword still extended, and Jake side stepped, and brought his sword down hard onto the blade knocking it out of his hand.

Jake looked at him concerned, and twirled the boken until the blade ran along his arm, and he saw the other students gasp, and point at him.

“Sorry sir if I was being too strong…,” he started but Mr. Nicolas shook his head.

“No it’s ok with the padding, and I can take a hit. Don’t worry. Let’s try this again,” he said, and Jake nodded, and put his sword to his side as they faced off again.

After a moment Jake attacked again, and Mr. Nicolas parried the blow, then in a flash Jake tapped him on the side of the head. Stunned by the blow Mr. Nicolas stumbled a little. Then Jake used the handle of the boken on Mr. Nicolas’s shoulder, and his foot snaked behind him. Jake swept him on to his back hard onto the ground and thrusted the tip of his sword under Mr. Nicolas’s neck.

Jake heard a couple people gasp, and after a moment helped Mr. Nicolas to his feet. “Again sir?” he asked, and after a moment Mr. Nicolas smiled with a nod.

The two faced each other, and after a moment Jake charged forward throwing blows. Mr. Nicolas parried the blows easily, and then Jake spun around. Mr. Nicolas charged forward. Jake nailed him with a turning side kick to the chest, and then Jake continued with the spin knocking Mr. Nicolas off his feet with a blow to the back of the legs, then in a flash Jake’s sword was at Mr. Nicolas’s throat.

After a moment Jake lowered his sword, and help Mr. Nicolas to his feet. “Sorry if I was a little rough sir,” he said.

Mr. Nicolas smiled, and shook his head. “Think nothing of it. I like someone to best me every now and then. It gives me an opportunity to learn something new. And I’ve just learned that the Japanese swordsmen are true to their legend,” he said.

Jake smiled, and bowed to him. “Thank you sir,” he said, then rejoined the class, and he pretended not to hear their muttering excitedly.

For the rest of the class Jake either kept to himself, practicing his Clan’s sword style or helping out some of the beginner students. At the end of class he stayed behind to help clean up. When he returned to his room and he put on his kimono, and took his father’s sword out of its hiding spot with its stand, and placed them on the coffee table, and sat down on his knees.

He sat there for a while occasionally muttering a few words honoring his ancestors. His eyes darted to the door when he felt someone coming. He stood up, and picked up his father’s sword, and hid it again, then returned to the living room.

“Its unlocked, you can come in,” he said.

There was a moment of silence, then the knob turned, and Henry stepped inside, and looked at Jake. He looked at him for a moment then; Jake looked at himself, and smiled at his Kimono.

He looked back up at Henry. “Sorry I didn’t know this would make you feel uncomfortable. Allow me to change. Please make yourself comfortable,” he said, and he slipped into the bed room.

Ten minutes later he came out wearing a casual button up shirt with rolled up sleeves, jeans, and western boots and Henry looked at him from his seat.

Jake spread his arms. “Is this ok?” he asked.

Henry nodded. “Yeah it’s very nice. You look like a rancher or someone from the American west,” he said, as Jake took a seat in the chair by the fire.

“Is that good or bad?" Jake asked.

Henry shrugged. “No it’s just from what I’ve heard of you that you would be more formal,” he said.

Jake smiled, and nodded understanding where he was coming from as Henry looked over his shoulder at the book shelves.

“I guess one rumor was true; you have your own personal library,” he said, getting up to look at the titles.

Jake followed him. “Yes my mama requested it from Sir Abraham because sometimes my head gets so full of my own stories that sometimes it feels like my head is going to explode. “Jake said, pulling a book from the shelf, and tapping it in his hand.

Henry stared at him. “You make up your own stories?” he asked in awe.

Jake nodded. “Don’t you use your imagination?" he asked.

Henry lowered his gaze. “My father doesn’t believe in imagination,” he said.

Jake frowned. “Why?” he asked.

Henry turned, and walked to the fire to look into the flames. “He doesn’t think imagination should be indulged because it has no use,” he said.

Jake laughed a little, and walked over to stand by him. “But imagination is part of the magic that helped people like Thomas Edison make his light bulb, or Beethoven to make his master piece, or DaVinci to be the man he was,” he said.

Henry looked at him. “’Magic’?” he asked.

Jake nodded. “Yes Henry, magic. You can't touch it, tame it, or see it but it will always be there to make sure things turn out right. “Jake said, and Henry looked at him deeply.

“What?” Jake asked.

“Is that an old Japanese saying?” he asked.

Jake looked at him for a moment. “No it’s just something my mama told me once, and another thing she told me, above all else magic has to be believed for it to be real,” he said.

Henry looked at him with a skeptical look on his face. “Ah I noticed that you struggled a little in your studies today” Jake said, and Henry blushed.

“My father is like a walking library, and he’s almost embarrassed to say that I’m his son when I can’t even remember a few words in French. He would love to have you as a son,” Henry said.

Jake laughed a little. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We all learn differently. I can help you if you want,” he said, and Henry beamed.