‘Masamoto once told me that true victory lies in forgiveness and understanding,’ said Jack, his mind drifting back to the night Akiko had almost been killed by Kazuki. ‘I now know what he means. I can understand Kazuki’s hatred for me – for any gaijin, for that matter. After all, he’d lost his mother to a disease contracted from a foreign priest. In his eyes, I was that disease. But only now that Kazuki is gone can I find it in my heart to forgive him.’

Akiko took his hand. ‘I know you tried to save him. But he was beyond saving. It was perhaps for the best Kazuki drowned himself.’

Jack nodded. ‘Better that than a drawn-out death from the plague. I hope, for his soul’s sake, that he has found peace at last.’

‘And what about you?’ asked Akiko, turning to him in the growing dusk. ‘Have you found peace?’

Jack gazed thoughtfully at the darkening sky, searching his heart and soul, but Akiko seemed to already know the answer. She produced a Daruma Doll, the one Jack had wished upon and given her for safekeeping when he first left on his journey to find his sister. The round wooden doll had one eye painted, the other still blank … waiting until that time when his wish was fulfilled. Akiko handed him a small inked brush. ‘You do it,’ she encouraged.

With a dab of black ink, Jack painted in the other eye. He set the Daruma Doll upon a flat stone between them, then wrapped his arm round Akiko. As the ruby-red sun sank behind the mountains, Akiko drew closer and rested her head upon his shoulder. In that moment Jack knew he was truly home.

The warrior had returned.

Bushido

Bushido, meaning the ‘Way of the Warrior’, is a Japanese code of conduct similar to the concept of chivalry. Samurai warriors were meant to adhere to the seven moral principles in their martial arts training and in their day-to-day lives.