Hiroko led him through the front gate, where a troop of samurai and their horses was gathered. Final preparations were being made for the journey and Jack could see Yamato mounting a horse at the head of the column, next to Masamoto.

‘Just a moment, Jack-kun,’ said Hiroko, disappearing back into the house.

She returned almost immediately with a neatly wrapped kimono made of a deep burgundy-coloured silk.

‘You will need this for ceremonies and festivals. It bears the phoenix kamon, the family crest of Masamoto,’ she said, small tears welling in her eyes at his departure. ‘You will be safer under Masamoto-sama’s watchful eye in Kyoto than you can be here.’

‘Arigatō, Hiroko-san,’ said Jack, taking the gift with both hands and admiring it. ‘It is truly magnificent.’

A heavyset samurai, with dark, bushy eyebrows and a large moustache that appeared to grow directly out of his nostrils, approached on a horse. He was dressed in a dark-brown kimono and riding coat. As he drew closer, Jack recognized him. It was Masamoto’s trusted samurai. Kuma-san.

‘Jack-kun! You are to ride with me,’ he commanded, patting the back of his saddle.

Jack placed the new kimono in his shoulder bag, together with the bonsai tree, and secured them in an empty saddlebag. Kuma-san offered his hand and Jack mounted the horse. He passed Jack a thick cloak to ward off the cold.

‘And remember to bathe!’ admonished Hiroko, giving the departing Jack a rueful smile.

As they trotted to the front, Jack’s eyes suddenly burned and he had to blink back tears. He would be sad to leave Toba. This had been his home since arriving in the summer. He had no idea when or if he would ever return. He waved goodbye to Hiroko, who bowed back. Then he realized he had not seen Akiko. Where was she? He had to say farewell. Jack desperately looked around, unable to get down from the horse.

Eventually he spied her behind a group of mounted samurai. She was riding her own white stallion, the same one Jack had seen her with that first morning in Japan.

‘Akiko!’ called Jack, ‘I was worried I wouldn’t see you to say goodbye.’

‘Goodbye?’ She gave Jack a perplexed look and trotted over. ‘But Jack, I am coming to Kyoto.’

‘What? But we’re going to train to be samurai warriors.’

‘Women are samurai too, Jack,’ said Akiko, giving Jack an affronted look, and spurred her horse onwards before he could reply.

There was a cry of ‘Ikinasai!’ and the column of horses set off.

Jack became aware of someone sprinting up alongside his horse.

‘Bye bye, Jack Fwesher!’ shouted Jiro enthusiastically.

‘Goodbye, Jiro,’ replied Jack, waving back.

Then the samurai took off up the hill, leaving the little boy lost in a flurry of snow.