Cam slipped past the practicing ninja and into the structure he eternally seems to call home. A quick rehearsal of those he had seen told him two things. First, Dustin’s class, as well as Dustin himself, were too engrossed in the latest of the Earth Ninja Studies to notice him. The second was that old adage ‘the more things change, the more things stay the same.’ He had seen a class just over a year ago, and though Dustin had been the student then, Dustin’s class was quite impressive just as before, though he probably would not have found himself saying as much then. He might have to actually comment now, however, since Dustin’s the one teaching and the one inspiring their progress.

One of the other things that hasn’t changed, Cam was able to sneak by undetected, just like he used to do. Growing up at a ninja academy has its advantages. Cam smirked to himself as he jogged down the way to his room.

Cam darted in the room. Slowly, but gently, he withdrew that which he was protecting from his jacket. Her leg was at an odd angle, he knew he’d have to set it. He set her down on a freshly folded towel he had snagged from the laundry. Gently, he stroked her head, “See I told you that you’d be alright.”

He pulled out his own first aid kit. Hunter had snickered at the sight of it once, Cam recalled out of the blue. It was really more of a mobile surgical unit and less of a box of band-aids, he had said. The memory of Hunter’s comments made Cam shake his head. “I’m betting that you’ll appreciate this more than he did. I’ll have you feeling well in no time.” Cam examined the wounds more closely.

“Well, I don’t know your name…” Cam glanced at the patient who seemed to purr suddenly. “So I guess I’ll just have to make do.” He winced at naming his newest rescue, for fear that he might end up building a menagerie if he made it a habit. He glanced across the room to the aquarium where Copernicus, the three legged snapping turtle warmed himself under the heat lamp. He had saved him too, and named him because he knew Copi would never be able to survive on his own. He absent-mindedly started petting the her as he pondered her situation. She would recover, but there was something more about her than just a helpless road catastrophe. “So Skritches, you sit there, and I’ll get you taken care of. And then, we’ll investigate dinner.”

He finished cleaning Skritches’ wound and something drew Cam’s eye to the answering machine, as his view shifted back toward his medical supplies. The light on the machine blinked. Cam reached over and tapped play. He began to bandage the patient’s leg as he listened nonchalantly.

“Beep. Hey, Cam. Hunter. Sorry about not getting back to you. Blake’s bike blew. He was on it – “ Cam’s eye darted to the machine as one hand reached for the phone. “ -Don’t worry, he’s going to be fine. I had to go get him and bring him home from the hospital. He’s a bit doped and - Hey! Cut it out! Can’t you see I’m on the phone! – Sorry, the half-drugged Kneivel wants to call his girl. I’ll call you back later.”

So that’s why he didn’t return the calls. It had been nearly a week. Cam had just decided Hunter was indignant about losing that last round of the game. It was his fault for letting Cam choose something other than that frustrating racing fiasco of a game. He filled the syringe with antibiotics as he continued to listen to the machine.

“Beep. Kanoi Watanabe. This is Hiro Takeda. Meet me in town at Oshiro’s Sushi, 5pm sharp!”

Cam finished injecting the now not-so-patient patient. He hit the play button again and wrapped up Skritches in the towel. Why did that name sound so familiar?

“Cameron?” Cam almost dropped the kitten. Slowly he turned to face his father. As good as he knew his skills were, it sometimes amazed him to see how much better his father’s skills were. “I’m going out to meet someone. I’ll probably be back late in the evening. Another helpless victim?” His father gestured to the squirming fur ball.

“Um. Yes. I was walking along the road back to the academy and saw the logging truck clip her. She’ll recover in no time. Who’s Takeda? Why does that name sound familiar?”

“You have a kind spirit.” His father smiled as he watched the kitten. “Perhaps you would like to come along and meet him if the kitten is able to be left for a while. You might enjoy meeting your mother’s father.”

“Grandfather? I have a grandfather. Isn’t this the one who dissolved all ties? The one who disowned us?”

“He did not disown us. We merely do not keep in contact. Your mother did not wish to maintain contact because it tended to lead to long, difficult discussions. Discussions that helped no one.” Cam watched his father bow his head. “I have hopes that this time we will find peace. We have not spoken since your mother’s passing.”

Cam set the kitten into a pet crate and latched the door. She purred and began to make a nest of the towel. Cam watched her settle in and then reached for his coat, knowing that his father waited for his answer, and that his father knew that there was no way Cam was going to resist meeting more family. “I’ll come along.”

Meeting estranged family is a Watanabe pastime.

Kanoi walked over to the edge of the table, Cam at his flank. “Hiro-san, welcome to Blue Bay Harbor.” Kanoi and Cam bowed slightly in unison toward the elder figure.

“I’ve been here for a week looking for you. Why are you not in the phone book?” Wise but tired eyes stared back at them. His face was stern. His eyes were active, a piercing dark brown. His hair was pure white and combed perfectly in place. He wore a light gray, linen business suit with a dark crimson Asian style shirt, buttoned completely to the neck. He sat in a rigid, upright position that exuded the essence of unbendable stoicism. “I had to pool my resources in Japan in order to locate your cover number, the address was impossible.”

Kanoi did not answer immediately. Cam’s patience broke. “The Academy is a secret.” Cam snapped. Hiro’s gaze shifted to Cam and Cam suddenly regretted his words as those piercing eyes hardened.

“So this is Cameron? Well, Cameron, your mother chose to go to the Wind Academy. I gave her my blessing, but I have never understood why I was not allowed to know the Academy’s location. Perhaps your father would like to explain why your grandfather was not given directions.”

“Because I was not aware that you wished to visit, Hiro-san. If I had known…”

“It is difficult to announce a trip when one is unable to contact the other party.”

“I was not the one who ended the communication.”

“No, I did as per Miko’s wish,” Hiro whispered as he bowed his head.

The emotions were thick, the atmosphere was tense, and Cam was beside himself with apprehension. “This is a circular argument, “ Cam dared to interrupt again, “Perhaps we can leave it and move on to other topics. Maybe even sit and discuss things…”

“Like adults?” Hiro’s eyes narrowed. He regarded Cam for much longer than Cam was comfortable with. “Please, sit.”

Kanoi and Cam chose seats. Hiro whispered an order to the waiter. Cam began to interject his own preference when Kanoi touched his shoulder.

“Let him order. We are his guests. We will do him the honor.”

Cam sighed, and then nodded. He was being too brash. He was acting like Hunter, trying to force a trade agreement before the peace talks had begun.

Hiro turned back to the pair. He lifted his teacup and sipped calmly. A Zen-like atmosphere flowed across the table. He lowered the cup. “I came here because my presence was requested. It seemed there was a great battle? An heirloom was lost?”

Cam studied his grandfather, and then glanced to his father. This man knew everything. Everything except how to get to the Academy. “Mother’s necklace was lost a few months back. How do you know?

“Have you ever felt any connection to the amulet outside of sentimental value?”

“It got warmer a couple times when good things happened and froze solid when I was on a site that radiated with evil,” Cam whispered.

“Ah, you have only begun to tap into your inner Samurai.”

Ok. Now this guy was unreal. Cam nearly swallowed his tongue. He would know about the Academy. But how could he know about the battle, about the amulet’s demise, and about Cam’s becoming a Samurai? Cam inhaled sharply, “How do you know I’m Samurai?”

“When Miko told me she gave the amulet to a man apparently from a different time, I was curious. The amulet should only wish to grace our line. Others can corrupt it but only we can release its true potential. When I sensed the amulet a little over half a year ago, I also sensed it had found our line again. Miko had told me of her desires that you would be Samurai. It was the only thing she did right since she chose Kanoi, besides giving birth to you.”

Cam reached for his tea. His father was right. This was going to be a long night.