Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Jack.

Author's note:

I'm not a fan of OC's, but I do want to practice building strong characters and developing personalities that aren't created for the soul purpose of pairing with a canon character.

I personally like developing friendship, it makes the small hints of affection even more meaningful.

Inspiration: I wanted to create a story promoting diversity and acceptance. My two biggest inspirations were the show itself and my own background. One of the most admirable aspects of "Samurai Jack" was taking a character who was born and raised in a land rich in tradition and honor, and had him travel, train, and learn from cultures different than his own. It really speaks of a person who is so honorable that they keep their own traditions and customs, but still respect and honor those that are different then their own, as strange as they maybe.

I come from a multiracial background, so I wanted to create a story where he comes across someone who is once again different then himself, but not completely. Someone who's family stems from the same ancestry as his own, but yet still very we are told is the norm and what it beautiful, might not always been the eyes of all, and even those who are deeply rooted in tradition, might think the most beautiful thing in the world are the things most different then themselves. Almost like a breath of fresh air. I wanted to do this through genuine friendship other then anything forced or out of character.

Oddities: 1

The first few moments of morning's arrival were always the most calming.

His nostrils twitched in anticipation as he welcomed the fresh aroma that lingered in the thick mist of the approaching day. Watching the colors bleed from sacred darkness to blessed day had become his personal form of entertainment. One must please the mind when traveling alone. It calmed him in the sense of no longer being in foreign lands. No longer traveling aimlessly across lands un-familiar to him, in a time that is not his own.

Yes, the morning holds memories. The sun still rises. The foreign species of bird still sing in chorus. Another night has ended. Another day will pass.

But how many more shall pass?

Twigs snapped under wooden footwear, beaten and worn from years of use.

The day is blessed. He remembered. Welcome each day as the infant child, with curious eyes and a hopeful heart.

He nodded, agreeing with the lesson he had learned many years ago as a young boy. Although he must never allow himself to fall un-ware of the possible danger that surrounded him, he knew that if he was not thankful for every morning that had been given to him, then he was no man, but a fool. And he was no fool.

So it is with in the mind of the lonely Samurai, whom travels across foreign lands with aching hands and sleepless eyes. Who find peace in the in the arrival of yet another day.

Eyes. Eyes had been watching him for a while now. Up in the trees is where they lingered and peaked through the multicolored leaves. However, under the shade of his straw hat, Jack's eyes darted to their corners in anticipation. Waiting to see what this overseer's next move will be. This morning should prove to be interesting. The sound of the rustling leaves and creaking branches caused the Samurai to halt.

He waited a moment, staring up into the trees that were canopying the forest so that only a few strands of light pierced through. Jack listened to the sounds of the odd forest he had been walking through for the past several hours. He had reached it earlier that morning after a short rest outside a passing village. The feeling of "oddity" is usually felt when confronted with something out of the norm; however, ever since he stepped into the forest nothing bizarre seemed to happen. No strange creatures begging him for food. No surprise attacks from robotic bounty hunters. Nothing. So it isn't too difficult to understand why he felt that this forest was somewhat "odd". He had grown too accustom to the ways of this world.

Setting his attention back to the trees, Jack noticed how the rustling seemed to "bounce" from one area of tangled trees to another. He didn't feel threatened, but Jack was not the one to let his guard down. His fingertips tapped against the black material that covered the handle his sword. Eyes darting back and forth, the rustling in the trees seemed to grow louder and louder with each passing second.

Lowering his head, he finally gripped his sword in his hand, slowly drawing it from it sheath. And suddenly it stopped just as quickly as it had begun. All was once again silent.

Raising an eyebrow, Jack looked around the forest in confusion. Seeing that the forest had returned to its peaceful state, he sighed and pushed his sword back into its sheath. Perhaps he had overreacted. This was a forest after all. There is bound to be some sort of commotion with in the trees.

THUD!

Before Jack even had a second to think, something heavy landed on the top of his head, and peered over the edge of his straw hat so that it was face to face with him. He was greeted with bright golden eyes and the toothy grin of a small simian. Startled, Jack reached behind him and pushed his hat off his head, causing the small creature to fall to the ground in a thud. His large straw hat covered the creature completely. After several motionless seconds, Jack then slowly leaned down and gently lifted the edge of his hat off the ground, trying to peek underneath. A pair of small pink hands grabbed his suddenly, and the simian emerged from under the hat and began to crawl up Jack's arm.

Completely taken back by this action, Jack stood up straight as the small monkey reached his face and began to sniff him. Not exactly sure what to do, Jack allowed the creature to gather his scent in confusion. As the small monkey studied Jack, Jack was quickly doing the same. He noticed the piercings in the simian's earlobes and the strand of beads it wore around its neck. Jack had seen this style of attire before during his time training in the continent of Africa. The Shaka warrior wore those in battle. But why would this simian be wearing such a thing?

Before he had time to think, the small monkey placed his hands on both sides of Jack's face. Feeling the nerve to finally speak, Jack blinked his eyes in confusion.

"Is…there something I can help you with, my furry little friend?"

Not expecting a response, Jack crinkled his nose as the small creature raised its head to smell Jack's hair. It's eyes opened wide when it saw his extended bun in the back of Jack's head. Growing a little weary, Jack slowly reached his hands up to grab the creature's sides.

"I do not mean to be rude, but this is not a very comfortable position."

As Jack pulled the monkey away from him, he felt his hair suddenly become loose and fall to his shoulders. Still in Jack's hands, the monkey used its long tail to pick Jack's hat up from the ground and place it back on Jack's had, snickering as it did so.

Seeing that this amused the creature, Jack forces a few chuckles as he placed the monkey on the ground.

"Alright. That is quite enough." he said, reaching behind his head to fix his hair.

Right as Jack finished speaking, the monkey then set his attention to the strap of Jack's sandal. Focusing in, he began to pull on the black material.

Jack stepped backward. "No, my friend. That is not something for you to play with. It would be very bad if that were to break."

Seeing that his protest did nothing, Jack continued to step backward. The monkey fallowed his every move, grabbing hold of the straps of his sandals and pulling.

"I do not wish to yell at you. Please stop." Jack said sternly, taking a long step backward. Just as his foot hit the ground, the monkey suddenly reached up and grabbed the bottom of Jack's gi, lifting it upward to peek underneath.

Jack's eye grew wide in shock.

"NO!" He said grabbing the material of his gi and snatching it out of the simian's hands. As Jack clung onto his gi, the devilish little creature grabbed hold of the black straps of Jack's sandals and pulled with all of it's might, snapping both of them. This all happened in a matter of seconds. Jack furiously reached down to grab hold of his sandals. The monkey then ran in the opposite direction towards Jack's hat. Looking up from his feet, Jack's eyes were filled with anger.

"You are a mischievous little simian and I do not appreciate your behavior." He stated coldly, fumbling with the torn straps of his only sandals. " Now leave me be."

In one ear and out the other, the monkey took no interest in Jack's anger. Instead it simply placed Jack's straw hat upon it's head and screeched loudly, pointing a long boney finger towards Jack as if laughing at him. As Jack was about to stand up, the monkey charged forward, leaping high in the air and landing on Jack's back. This caused Jack to buckle downward to the ground, causing a big cloud of dirt to form around him and fill his lungs. Coughing, Jack waved the dirt away from his eyes and began to slowly stand up.

He knew that he would never bring harm to an animal unless necessary, but this was just the foolishness of a playful little monkey. He really shouldn't be angry. A little frustrate, yes, but not angry. Brushing off his gi, he slowly stood up and adjusted his clothing. He looked down and frowned at the broken straps of his sandal. Tying them should get him to the next town where he could possibly have them fixed or purchase new one. Yet another obstacle keeping him from his goal. Little as it may be, the little things begin to add up. Looking down on the ground, Jack noticed the strand of beads the monkey had been wearing was now lying there broken. Jack picked them up and studied them.

Yet another ruffling in the trees caught his ear. Jack looked up to see the monkey swinging with its tail on a branch. It was wearing Jack's hat. Jack smirked. He then raised his hand and tangled the strand of beads, assured that he had the upper hand on the small creature. The monkey swung back up on the branch and stared at Jack for a moment. Jack smiled, knowing that he would not be out smarted by this small spider monkey.

The monkey then reached down into a small cluster of branched and pulled out a long, black object. Jack focused his eyes and nearly turned pale when he saw what it was. It was his sword.

Jack looked down to his left side in a panic. Seeing that nothing was there, he looked back up to see a bright smile on the simian. It raised the sword high above it's head screeched loudly, before it stuck its tongue, mocking the Samurai. In a flash, the monkey was gone, screeching down the forest in what seemed like hysterical laughter. Jack was speechless. Positively speechless. He should have moved then. His instincts told him to move. But his feet were frozen. Just how far could he get with broken sandals anyway. Shaking away the shock, Jack picked up his broken sandals and took off barefoot.

Never underestimate what the day may bring, though right now, he sure wished it were a different morning that greeted him.

Feedback appreciated. I really hope I didn't sound out of character.