Masamoto laid a hand upon Jack's shoulder with firm affection. For a moment, the great warrior seemed choked with emotion. Then, with a nod of the head, he sent Jack on his way.

Jack headed across the harbour, aware of his guardian watching him all the way. As he walked towards his friends, a hatted figure slipped from the crowd and matched his stride. Jack's hand instinctively reached for his sword, but he relaxed when he saw the face. 'We made the rain fall, didn't we?'

The ninja smiled enigmatically. 'Tropical storms are common this time of year.'

Jack knew he'd get no more from Zenjubo, the ninja characteristically terse. Yet he was surprised to see one of Miyuki's clan in Nagasaki at all. 'What are you doing this far south?'

'Searching for you, and recovering the fallen.'

'You mean ... Miyuki.'

Zenjubo nodded. 'That was some battle by the looks of it. She defeated ten samurai before succumbing to her wounds.'

'I'm sorry,' said Jack, his heart heavy with grief and guilt. 'I should have done more to save her.'

'Don't be,' replied Zenjubo. 'She died a ninja's death. Feel only pride at her valour.'

He palmed an object into Jack's hand. 'Miyuki would want you to have this.'

Jack opened his hand to find one of her silver throwing stars. The steel gleamed like a jewel in his palm, and he felt a lump form in his throat as the tragic loss of Miyuki was brought home to him once more.

'Thank you,' he managed to reply. But, when he looked up again, Zenjubo was gone.

Wiping away a tear with the back of his hand, Jack tucked the precious shuriken into his obi and joined Akiko, Saburo and Yori at the water's edge.

'You look sad,' said Saburo. 'This should be a time for a celebration. We're all free!'

'I was thinking of Miyuki,' replied Jack, attempting and failing to manage a smile.

Yori bowed his head in respect and recited: 'Among flowers, the cherry blossom; Among men, the samurai; Among shadows, the ninja; And among stars, Miyuki.'

Jack was almost overwhelmed with emotion when he heard Yori's dedication to their lost friend, and Akiko gently took his hand in comfort.

'Like Yamato, Miyuki made the ultimate sacrifice for us,' said Akiko, passing Jack a paper lantern set upon a wooden float. 'We should honour her.'

Jack studied the lantern where Akiko had inked two kanji characters: Beautiful Snow. The meaning behind Miyuki's name.

'The Bon Festival ends with Toro Nagashi,' explained Akiko, indicating the crowds gathering around the moonlit bay. 'Lanterns are floated down rivers and out to sea to guide the spirits back to their own world. And Miyuki deserves a light of her own, one that burns bright.'

Jack nodded, touched by Akiko's thoughtfulness. Taking a smouldering taper from Saburo, he lit the candle inside. And with a silent heartfelt prayer he placed the lantern upon the water and pushed it out into the harbour. Then he lit a second lantern for his father, while Akiko launched one in memory of Yamato.

The four friends stood in silence, side by side, and watched the three flickering lights bob across the bay to join the growing stream of lanterns that slowly and peacefully floated out into the distant sea. An endless line of candlelit spirits, gone but never to be forgotten.

68.

Farewell The Hosiander sat low in the water, its hold packed to the gunwales with the finest silks, silverware and several tonnes of supplies for the long voyage ahead. While her crew made the last checks to the sails and rigging, Captain Spilbergen completed the necessary formalities with the bugy of Nagasaki.

Jack stood on the dockside with his friends, bathed in the golden glow of the rising sun. They'd gathered for a final farewell, but no one wanted to begin the goodbyes. After four years of training, fighting and surviving together, the idea that their paths were to separate forever was as unimaginable as it was heart-rending.

'You're welcome to stay as much as you're free to go,' Masamoto declared to Jack. 'The Regent has bestowed you with the rank of hatamoto. This guarantees your safety throughout Japan. And now you're of age, Jack-kun, as a samurai in the service of the Regent, you'll receive an income and some land. Your future here is assured.'

But Jack had already made his decision.

'I appreciate the honour, but I must go home,' he replied. 'With my father dead, my sister needs my protection.'

Masamoto bowed his head, as much to acknowledge Jack's duty as to conceal the sadness at his adopted son's departure. 'Then this is my last lesson to you, Jack-kun. Saya no uchi de katsu victory in the scabbard of the sword.'

Jack looked down at his katana, bemused.

'During my exile, I was enlightened that the ultimate Way of the Warrior is to achieve victory without fighting,' explained Masamoto. 'To win a conflict without unsheathing the sword.'

'Even though you could take down your opponent with one cut?' said Jack, surprised that such a benign philosophy was being proposed by a swordmaster.

'Absolutely. That is why I let Kazuki live,' replied Masamoto. 'True victory lies in forgiveness and understanding.'

Jack bowed deeply to his guardian, the lesson both understood and recognized to be Masamoto's official goodbye to him.

Saburo was next in line. His friend started to bow, then throwing all Japanese decorum aside, he opened his arms and embraced Jack in a bear hug.

'Take care, my friend,' he said, the words catching in his throat. 'And if you ever find yourself in the Pacific again, make sure you stop by. My-my-my ...'

'Hey, no tears, big boy!' cried Benkei. 'This is a happy time. Jack's going home at last.'

Wiping his eyes and sniffing, Saburo let go of Jack. 'Not much of a fearless warrior, am I?'

'Saburo, you're the bravest and most loyal samurai I know,' said Jack earnestly. 'Your father will be proud of you.'

'I really hope so. I've done enough courageous deeds on this musha shugy to last me a lifetime!'

Reluctantly parting from Saburo, Jack bowed his gratitude to Benkei. 'Without your guidance and scheming, I'd never have made it to Nagasaki.'

'The pleasure's all mine!' exclaimed Benkei with a grin. 'Boiled, stabbed, punched and almost burned alive. We must do it again some time!'

Jack couldn't help but smile. 'And to think when I met you, you were only going to be buried alive.'

Benkei laughed and with a flick of his wrist produced a fresh mikan fruit out of thin air. 'For the journey. Don't want you going hungry!'

Accepting the fruit gratefully, Jack noticed Yori standing quietly, awaiting his turn to say goodbye. He gazed up at Jack, his wide eyes pleading for him not to leave.

'Good friends ... are like stars,' Yori managed to say, clasping his shakuj tightly. 'You don't always see them, but you know they're always there for you.'

Jack now felt the tears welling in his eyes and pulled his dear friend into a hug. 'You've always been there for me, Yori. I'll miss you greatly.'

'Me too,' he sniffed.

'Time to set sail, Jack,' called Captain Spilbergen, waiting for him at the bottom of the gangway.

Nodding, Jack finally turned to Akiko. This was the one goodbye he'd dreaded the most. The first in Toba had been painful enough. The second in the Iga mountains had been almost unbearable. This third time would break his heart forever.

Their eyes met. But they said nothing, words incapable of expressing what either of them truly felt.

A single tear ran down Akiko's cheek. 'Sayonara,' she whispered. 'Don't forget us.'

'How could I forget you?' said Jack, wanting to hold her and never let go.

Akiko looked away. 'There'll be a world between us. Just like snow melts in the spring, so memories fade with time.'

'But we're forever '

Akiko put a finger to his lips. 'Don't say what can never be.'

Jack felt an invisible gulf open up between them one that he could never sail across, however strong and favourable the wind. This was their final parting and they both knew that their paths might never cross again.

With a heavy heart, he picked up his pack, his father's rutter secure inside. Bowing, he took Akiko's hand and kissed it, cherishing the touch of her soft skin one last time. Then, fighting the tears that threatened to come, he headed towards the gangway without looking back.

69.

Setting Sail.

Captain Spilbergen greeted Jack with a broad smile. 'Welcome back on-board. I promise, no guns this time. You're officially one of my crew.'

'That's reassuring to hear,' replied Jack.

He stepped on to the wooden gangplank then stopped, one foot still on the quayside. He felt caught between two worlds. One he knew that he must return to and the other he no longer wished to leave. Japan might have taken everything from him his father, his future and his hopes but it had also given him a guardian, new skills, fresh hopes and, above all, friends. This last bond was so strong that even now Jack questioned his decision to leave. He simply couldn't fathom a life without his friends by his side. Without Akiko.

'Forgotten something?' queried Captain Spilbergen.

'Yes,' replied Jack, and whispered a private request.

After a moment of serious consideration, the captain nodded once. 'I owe you that much.'

Jack turned back to his friends. Benkei, Saburo, Yori and Akiko returned his gaze, confused as to why he wasn't boarding.

'It's time for me to say goodbye,' he finally said. 'Unless ... you want to come with me to England?'

For a second, no one spoke. Their expressions were a mixture of astonishment and uncertainty, none sure if he was serious or not.

Benkei broke the silence first.

'I'd really love to,' he said, 'but I've accepted Okuni's offer to join her troupe. And I've also made a certain promise to Junjun.' He threw Jack a roguish wink.

Jack nodded his understanding, pleased that Benkei had finally found where he belonged. He now looked to Saburo who, to his dismay, regretfully shook his head.

'It's a tempting offer, Jack, but, as I said, I've had enough heroism to last me a lifetime. And two years of seasickness would be the end of me! Besides,' he added with a grin, 'I've heard the food in England is terrible.'

'At least we cook ours first!' Jack retorted, and they both managed a laugh.

With two refusals, Jack wondered if he'd overstepped the bonds of friendship in even suggesting they leave their homeland. He'd be putting his friends in the same situation as his own in Japan a stranger in an alien world. But he'd be their faithful guide and ensure their safety, just as they had protected him. So perhaps it was etiquette or duty, or the law of the land that forbade them from leaving.

Yori stepped forward, the metal rings of the shakuj jingling.

'I'll come with you,' he piped up, his eyes sparkling with excitement. 'Sensei Yamada's always telling me to expand my horizons.'

'You'll certainly do that on the voyage,' remarked Jack, welcoming his friend to the Hosiander.

That only left Akiko.

Jack felt his mouth go dry as he waited for her response. He was keenly aware that she was duty-bound to her mother, and realized it was beyond hope that she could come ... even if she wanted to.

Akiko glanced in Masamoto's direction, then she slowly approached. As she stood before Jack, her head bowed, the corners of her mouth curled into a smile. 'I thought you'd never ask.'

Jack felt his heart skip with joy. 'But what about your mother?'

'Kiyoshi's with her now,' she explained. 'They knew I might not return. My mother even gave me her blessing. And Masamoto-sama, as my uncle and guardian, has done so too.'

Jack looked over Akiko's shoulder at his adoptive father, who was finding it hard to suppress a smile.

'Take good care of Snowball for me,' Akiko called to Saburo as she retrieved her pack, bow and arrows from her horse's saddle. Giving the stallion a final affectionate pat, she followed Jack and Yori up the gangway.

Once on the quarterdeck of the Hosiander, Jack instantly felt the call of the sea. The crew couldn't raise the mainsail fast enough in his mind. And when the captain gave the command to cast off he shouted an almighty kiai in celebration.

As one journey ended, another now began. A new voyage, one potentially as perilous and uncertain as his days as a fugitive of the Shogun. But Jack had the skills of a samurai, the guile of a ninja and the knowledge of a sailor to help carry him safely across the Seven Seas back to England. More importantly, he had his friends by his side.

He might be leaving Japan, but a part of Japan was leaving with him too. The wisdom of the East in his firm friend Yori, and all that he'd come to know and love about Japan in Akiko its grace, its beauty and its strength of spirit.

Find your heart and you'll find your home, the Riddling Monk had said to him the year before.

Glancing at Akiko beside him on the deck, her hair billowing in the sea breeze, Jack realized that he was already home.

Haiku.

The murmuring of the summer grass.

All that is left.

Of the warrior's dream.