SORRY FOR THE DELAY! IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR! Okay, maybe a little but, NOT IN THE WAY YOU THINK! RAQUEL AND HARRIET HAVE A CRASH THEORY HISTORY 1 COURSE. RAQUEL ALSO HAS A BASIC HARMONY COURSE TO TAKE AS WELL. SO I HAVE TO WORK ON THIS ALONE AND I BARELY KNOW THE STORY!

Of course I think it's awesome now that I've read it. But just for sakes IF YOU THINK FANTASY SUMMER HOLIDAYS OF GOING TO THE BEACH, SUNTANNING, AND PARTYING TILL SUNRISE ISN'T ALL THAT TRUE, (and that you're busy at home writing fanfics, gaming, texting, or stressing yourself out with summer school) FAVOURITE AND FOLLOW!


It was sunset once the carriages finally entered the outskirts of town and the samurai had just started to open their neatly wrapped boxes. In each of them was a set of clothes that were newly tailored and an knights badge. At the back of the badge, carefully folded was a note for each one to read. Obviously in English.

Dear Yori,

I have seen you fight your ways to save your friends and family, taking care of them when needed. I even saw your bravery down in the dungeons. It is an honour to give you this badge as one of my men. If you accept, you will wear it with pride and loyalty. I highly recommend you do. It truly has been an honour watching such a young soul at work. I wish you all the best and until next time, stay and fight well, as your family shall follow into your footsteps.

Sincerely,

King James I

Dear Saburo,

It has been long since I have seen such an appetite. I'm surprised that you're a samurai who can move fast as well. I saw you help Jack into finding his way to Kazuki who I had purposely set free for you to meet. I could see your confidence in Kazuki as he helped you earn your way into saving your fellow samurai friends. I believe that you earn this badge as a true knight of London, England. Your strength is welcome to us.

Sincerely,

King James I

Dear Akiko,

Through struggle and perseverance, I have seen no loss in faith in you. Your work alongside your friends is unimaginable. The way you battle is unlike anyone I have ever seen. For a woman, you fight with more strength and technique than a man. I can see where your heart is with your training and how loyal you are to Masamoto. As someone who willingly took the risks on leaving their family at home in Japan, I welcome you to a new home in London, England, if you wish to accept it. You will be able to live among us, and even place your heart with a man in know you love. With this badge, I grant you citizenship in England, and I grant you the name of the first female knight of England. When you wear this badge, people will know that you have authority, and I know you will use this power wisely as you do with everything else. So, until we meet again.

Sincerely,

King James I

Dear Jack,

It's been long since I've seen such talent from a young Englishman. Masamoto has trained you well. I know your friend Silas has turned down my offer of becoming a wealthy knight, but maybe with you, he won't decline. Your father was a great man and as someone who has known him since back in the day where we both had no clue who we truly were, I can say that it is a tragedy of his passing. We were close, and we both had our hopes and dreams. Speaking of hopes and dreams, I know you and Akiko do have something. Masamoto had told me over our talk at the gazebo. I know that if your father were to know Akiko more than just seeing her as a random girl in the forest, he'd approve of such a relationship. Masamoto approves, and I approve. If one day, you two were to be together, I would gladly arrange the wedding at the palace with your friends and family from across England. To everyone, they would think this an honour, but to you, I can tell that you find this rather normal and well expected. Once that day passes, I won't see you as just any man anymore. I will see you as a wealthy man with wonderful company, and a man with nobility, loyalty, and love for everyone in his heart. And as every letter I have written to you ends, our secrets will always stay hidden until we want found.

From the man you'll take the throne away from one day,

Uncle James


Jack's box was the only one that had two badges in it. It was sudden, to hear such words from his uncle, but Jack had thought it would happen soon. He knew that once he saw him with Akiko, he'd do something. What he hadn't known was that he'd approve, not disapprove.

"Jack, what's wrong? You've turned as white as an oni!" Akiko almost yelled.

"It's oh, it's nothing." Jack waved Akiko off and let her hands rest against his neck and shoulder.

"Let me see," Akiko insisted. Jack looked up to Akiko's dark brown but amazingly wide eyes in amusement. Oh, he just couldn't resist.

"If you promise you won't tell a living soul about this, I'll let you. Oh, and you let me read your note as well, that is." That sounded just about fair to Akiko.

"Deal." The couple switched notes and each read over the fancy writing. Minutes past and they were about to head into town.

"Uncle?"

"Citizenship?"

"Marriage?"

"Knight?" The two cried turn after turn. As in Japan, the lady spoke first,

"You're a Prince?"

"Not technically. My father gave up his throne to become a captain. Not a pirate, but a captain. But by law, the next heir to the throne is me." Akiko blinked blankly though her mind was turning in circles. "He's granting you citizenship to England?"

"Well, that's because he wants me to become 'the first female knight' in history."

"You are going to take it, aren't you?"

"Of course!" Now, it was Akiko's turn again. "But what about that 'friends and family from across England' thing." Akiko just couldn't bring herself up to say any word related to the words 'marriage,' 'engagement,' or 'wedding.'

"I… I don't know."

"Tell me when you figure it out, okay?" Jack blushed with embarrassment. Akiko flushed in utter love. Their faces were red, but they managed to hide it somehow.

"I promise I will, one day."

"I'll count the days," said Akiko, as if she were taking an oath. The two pecked each other lips for a moment then went through the rest of the box. They dressed in the fresh clothes in the box and looked at each other. Akiko wore a female pirate outfit with white sleeves, a brown leather corset over the white shirt that laced at the front and back to tighten the loose shirt. She wore dark pants that were slightly loose, but fit just perfectly as she tucked them into her knee high brown leather boots. Neatly against the left side of her chest, she pinned on the badge and smiled at how finished the outfit seemed. She found a picture of what she was meant to like like at the back of the box. Her hands managed to place the thick belt of golden patterns around her waist and tie her hair into the side ponytail that was painted in the picture. To finish the Japanese part of her, she fit her katana and wakizashi into the insides of the belt. She felt awkward not having the feeling of her swords by her sides.

Jack wore something quite similar to his younger days. A dark navy pair of loose pants with a belt round it to make his body looked taller, and tucked them into his boots that were a leathery black. His shirt was white and loose as well with a few yellow or golden embellishments around the curved V neckline like a curve next to the beginning of a bar on a keyboard score. He too had put the badge on and tucked his swords into his belt with a prideful grin.

"Well, this is different," said Jack pointing out the obvious.

"I like it. I barely see any woman wear such beautiful attire and I like it. It's unique."

"You're unique enough," Jack muttered with a smile spread across his face.


"How do you get this stupid thing on?" Yori asked, flipping over the belt in different angles. Kamakura rolled his eyes and forced Yori to turn around so he could buckle it on.

"Thank you." Yori bowed and turned to Saburo who just finished zipping up his boots.

"What do you think Akiko and Jack are doing now?" Saburo pressured Yori. The whole carriage shuddered in groan and complaint.

"Saburo, you've asked the same thing three times in the past two minutes." Kazuki was under stress now.

"Sorry, sorry," Saburo mumbled back dipping his head down. Yori patted his back and stared out the window. The sun was just about to reach it's halfway point across the ocean. Beautiful.

Another ten minutes later, the carriage stopped. Oddly, people were gathered around the carriages, eager to see what royal status had come to visit.

"Hm..." Kazuki hummed in small delight, "show time."


Jack got off the carriage first, then stepped to the side to help Akiko step down from the carriage as well. There were tons of murmurs from woman who stared at Akiko in her pirate attire. It wasn't anything new to her, but it was all new to the citizens of London.

"It's alright," Jack reassured Akiko as they got off the carriage. They held each others hand and met up with the rest of the Japanese immigrants.

"Please, lets get out of here before we draw any more attention." Saburo was pleading in Japanese. Jack could understand why.

"You can go home first, just down there. You'd be able to see Jess. She's always out on the steps." Jack pointed down a road that led away form the town square. The four Japanese nodded and walked towards the road and stepped up on the path. Jack looked up at the sky, peeking occasionally to check whether people were still shocked at his Japanese reply. And yes, they were.

"You're taking me to that wall again, aren't you?" Akiko said back in English. It was easier for her to transfer from Japanese to English than Jack could. He, as always, was still stunned at how different she was as the girl from Japan and the girl from England.

"Yes," Jack replied with a smile. Walking through the crowd that naturally made way for them, they went all the way down to the wall where it had cut off the beach' ocean. They went through the alleyway, continuously drawing attention but constantly ignored it.

Together, they sat by the wall, watching the orange burning sun drop below the horizon and the white moon rise up among the stars. Akiko let her head rest against Jack's shoulder as he talked about the constellations. Akiko couldn't find anything more fascinating. She enjoyed listening to Jack and the wonders behind everything she just saw as dots in the sky. The constellation she loved the most was the Archer and how it always pointed east. This was common sense for a navigator, especially for one who was travelling from one end of the earth to the other.

"They say the star is another word for the heart," Jack smiled. Akiko had never heard this line before and became intrigued to listen. "I wouldn't know why, but I have my assumptions."

"And so, what are they?"

"Well, out of such a long time, I've only thought of one." Jack looked down at the ocean surface as Akiko pointed her finger and lifted his chin. Knowing this gesture, Jack looked straight into Akiko's eyes and began to explain in a soft voice, "I would say the star is another word for the heart because a star is always there, but not everyone can see it unless it's in the dark." Akiko smiled. This reminded her so much of haiku's and her Japanese culture. She had been assimilated to another culture because of Jack, and she knew there was no way to turn that around. After all, she enjoyed being two of the same person.

"You're deep, do you know that?" Akiko smiled, gradually leaning closer and closer to Jack.

"Yes, I know." It was natural, the way they slowly kissed. It never lasted too long, too short, or too greedy either. Everything about the two was natural. They weren't desperate seeing as they were destined to be together. They weren't going to hold themselves back like they had since they were twelve. Their surroundings felt like home, the people they spent their time with felt like home. There was nothing out of place. Nothing.

"So," Akiko began again, "do you plan on going back to school?"

"I'm still thinking about it. Not many of my old friends can see me as the Jack they thought I'd still be when I returned from Japan. They barely thought I was still alive." Jack wanted to sulk, but Akiko prevented him from doing so.

"I could go with you," Akiko offered, but Jack just smiled and shook his head.

"Remember, England, not Japan." Akiko smiled at the memory of the sexism different between Japan and England. Another home conflict debate had started to fight in her head but soon died down when she realized that Jack was asking her a question.

"If one day we return to Japan, what do you think will be the first thing you do?"

"I'd go home of course." Akiko felt homesick now, but couldn't really pinpoint where it was anymore. She could understand Jack this way now. At first it hadn't felt right, but now it did. Everything around her was all familiar now, she needn't feel out of place.

"Which one?" Jack asked. Trick question, she thought back.

"Eh hem." A very well purposed cough came from the alley. The unmistakeable Silas, again.

"Yes?" Jack replied, his head down by the ocean surface again.

"Could we uh… talk to you for a second?" Jack looked up at the moon and down to the horizon.

"Well it is getting late…" Jack turned to Akiko, "why don't you go ahead first. I promise I won't be long."

"Fine with me," Akiko grinned. Her heart didn't ache to be around Jack like most couples would have said when they left their beloved. The truth was, Akiko spent very second of her life around Jack. There was no need to miss him so much. She pecked him on the cheek and jumped up to the roof of the building with her ninja training swiftness. Jack didn't have to turn around to know what she was doing. He could hear it.

Akiko look down on Jack's friends and waited for Jack to turn around before she left. She could see him smiling inside, but not because of seeing his friends who finally understood his Japanese relationship, but because he knew that she would be his. Darting her eyes in the direction of home, she ran. All the way her grin kept in place, Jack's constellation line running through her head. a heart is always there, but not everyone can see it unless it's yours.


"So," Damien smiled walking forward first, "did you propose yet?" Jack was taken aback. He was being so straightforward, why?

"Um… No, I haven't." Jack shrugged it off. Akiko said she was okay with it, and Jack knew she would never say something she never meant.

"Oh, why not?" Anthony asked for Damien. Jack couldn't feel any less ganged up on.

"Well, we just got back so… don't really want to rush into things." Jack turned away from the wall and turned around to face his friends. They were wearing their old clothing. White shirt, black pants, and boots. Nothing but plain.

"Well, you do plan on it?" Silas tipped in. They were hinting him, Jack noticed.

"One day, maybe." There is no such thing as maybe.

"What about school?" Anthony stepped forward and patted his friend on the back. They were talking about the exact same things that Akiko and Jack were talking about just before they intruded. Jack was sure that they had been eavesdropping for a while.

Jack repeated everything over about his opinions on whether he should go to school or not and about the whole marriage thing since the conversation would always have an awkward silence which could be filled in with other questions about the proposal.

"So, why don't we just get out of here, talk like old times at the docks?" Jack couldn't resist Silas' offer and gestured his hand for him to lead the way.

Silas led the group to the docks where Jack had taken his first step back on England soil after seven years. Jack could feel all the sentimental times they had shared right on this very dock. The four of them would often come here at night to have friendly battles of swordplay. There were marks on the wooden planks of the docks where their swords had scraped the ground. It was fascinating seeing them again. He could remember every mark that he had made on that very dock from when he was 10 all the way up till now.

"Remember this one?" Silas pointed to a sword mark right at the edge. Jack remembered. He made it the day Silas was offered the position of a knight. Of course, he had turned it down.

"Of course," Jack replied with a smile. "That reminds me," he paused, taking out the second badge he had found in the box his uncle had given him, "this is for you." Silas was shocked. There they were, standing right at the very spot Silas had turned the position down and there he was again, in that spot, accepting the position.

"You're wearing a badge too," Silas noticed quickly. "What is the meaning of this?" His voice sounded surprised, not negatively, but positively.

"Well, the King has kindly given us the honour of being loyal knights of England. What other meaning is there?" Jack chuckled, his hopes rising that Silas would wear the badge just as he did.

"Thank you," said Silas in a soft whisper. He quickly put the badge on, his hand shaking in excitement. "Now," he said, his voice going serious, "why don't we battle it out like old times?" Silas pulled out his English sword. And just like always, Damien and Anthony followed.

"Woah," Jack stumbled back, almost dropping off the edge of the dock. "Three against one, I hardly think that's fair."

"You've already got the advantage of proper training from freaking sen-things." Damien smiled with eagerness in his eyes. "Well you've got two sword right there chap, what are you waiting for?" Jack didn't want to use his training as an advantage against them, it was brutal. He had been taught that doing things with swords had consequences. There was no way he was going to use it that way.

"Um… I'm not exactly a swordplay kind of guy anymore. I've seen what these swords can do and I don't think you'd be very happy losing an arm with them." Jack was shaking, afraid his friends would turn away from him as they had before, but they just stood there and smiled.

"Well, you don't have to use them if you want but… okay…" Silas was already beginning to advance on Jack. As soon as he realized he had nowhere else to go, he knew he had to defend and somewhat attack his way out. Silas's hand was already moving towards his shoulder, his sword aiming straight for his neck. Jack had stepped aside just in time to slide his hand along Silas's sword arm and thumb lock him into dropping the sword to the ground.

"Oh, you did not just do that." Jack stared solemnly into Silas's eyes, not able to find the boy he had once played with as a kid. Silas was on his knees, open to Jack's left leg for a harsh kick in stomach, or a side kick to the head. But no, Jack just couldn't bring himself to.

"Damien! Anthony! Jump in at any time!" Silas yelled. Jack's attention turned away from Silas though he kept his grip on his tight. Damien and Anthony exchanged glances of kiddish evilness and began to charge with their swords at hand. Jack swore in Japanese and let his grip on Silas go. He kicked his sword aside and brought his up.

"Alright, if that's how you're going to be…" Jack shoved Silas down with the sole of his left foot and got him out of the way of the fighting duo's silver swords. He made his way forward, doing a perfect Autumn Leaf strike on Anthony as he did a low side sweep kick to Damien's knee. The two fell down with as much as a groan and rested there for a bit. But just then, Silas had managed to retrieve his sword and gain back his energy to charge. "You've got to be kidding me!" Jack moaned. With his katana, he his the right side of Silas's sword making a loud bang through the scarce streets. He began to put pressure on it while Silas was losing his strength as he bent lower and lower. Their hands acted as elbows while the blades of their swords acted as their fists colliding, fighting each other to see who was the strongest.

With Silas's hands both on the sword, Jack could easily aim his right leg and perform a spinning wheel kick without him blocking it. He just needed the distance. Quickly, before he lost too much strength, he brought up his wakizashi and released his katana, blocking his body so his wakizashi could do the work. Silas stumbled back with one blow of the sword. There was just that part of him being so weak already that Jack didn't want to harm him. But to stop this madness, he had no choice. They were too interested in seeing his new talents. Before Silas gained back his balance, Jack inserted his swords back into the sides of his belt and waited for the perfect opportunity.

Silas began to come forward again. He was so close… and…. Now. Jack held up a stance, his fists mimicking the arrangement of his feet. He brought his right foot back, spinning around. His left foot turned about on his toes at a 180 degree angle while his right leg was brought up and kicked him on the side. Instantly, Silas fell, only half conscious.

"Wow…" Damien said in the background of the night.

"I second that 'wow.'" said Anthony in return. Jack ignored them and helped Silas to his feet, helping him up and tucking his sword back into his belt.

"You're good Silas, I would have lost in a second if I hadn't gone to Japan." Jack was joking about, but Silas seemed to be still dazed and angered.

"Yes. If you hadn't gone to Japan, you wouldn't be this way, a lethal weapon. If you hadn't gone to Japan, your father wouldn't have died and your sister wouldn't have suffered so gravely." Silas was blurting out everything he had wanted to say but couldn't since he didn't want to hurt Jack, but now, he just couldn't help himself. "You've changed, Jack. You've become the person I thought you'd never be. Dangerous, and… Japanese! You may wear the mask of a true blooded Englishman but on the inside, you're as black hair and eyed as all the Japanese in the world!" Silas' face had become as red as fire. Jack felt like bursting into tears and running away like a little girl but as Masamoto had said, face your fears. That is not what only samurai do, but everyone who walks this earth.

"Do you think I enjoy beating people up? Do you think I really have changed that much? I may be able to fight better than any of you and I may be able to speak another language, but that means nothing. I've told you before that I've been kidnapped, beaten up, bullied, and injured at almost every single part of my body all because I was a foreigner in Japan. I have only some injuries of which have fully healed into leaving no mark. I have plenty of scars that will haunt me forever, all because of some samurai training I was put up with. Of course I hated it at first, but you grow to enjoy something once you're good at it." Jack lowered his voice, straightening up his clothes and staring Silas right in the eyes. "Think about it. If you had blonde hair and blue eyes and were surrounded by people who have black hair and dark brown eyes, how would you feel? You'd want to fit in, wouldn't you? Why do you think I at least tried in my training? Why do you think I respect the Japanese so much? It's all because of trying to fit in and be someone you're not. After growing up with them and learning their ways, you may see me as one of them. But that's on the inside. I'm a Japanese at heart, but couldn't you at least try to see me as both?" Jack paused to catch his breath, eyes his two other bruised friends behind him. "Remember, Silas. Scars leave marks and I have plenty. There are many more reasons to why I hold these swords. They weren't gifts. To the Japanese, honour is earned, not given. I was given these swords because I had followed the samurai code of bushido meaning honour, loyalty, and many more morals which clearly, you don't have."

Jack began to walk away, turning his back on his friends and walking back home.

"Jack, wait." Hm. Silas. Jack knew he would come around. "I apologize. I shouldn't have said those things. I just wanted to have my brother back. My English brother, back." Silas looked at his feet and waited for Jack to reply. Jack just stood where he was, underneath nothing but glowing torches. He didn't turn his body around, but his head turned to the side just enough for him to see his friends.

"The Japanese forgive each other instantly once an apology has been given. My Japanese half accept your apology. However, I am still an Englishman. And as you know yourself, we are not like the Japanese and we do not forgive as easily. Therefore, I shall wait until that bond between yourself and I has healed. and hopefully, there will be no scars."