Cam placed the teapot on the stove after lighting the burner. Gas flames licked the bottom of the pot in shades of blue and green. Cam pulled his eyes away from the hypnotic pulses of flame and dragged his feet over to the fridge. He pulled eggs, milk, bacon, and butter out and balanced them in his arms as he stumbled back to the counter. It had been a long night� a long night that had consisted of several more beratings of his father, a couple more instances of Hiro�s near omnipotence, and a pair of Watanabes escorting the tired, old Takeda back to their home at the Academy, because it would just not do to have him stay at a hotel where he could possibly take out all his anger and frustrations on housekeepers and bellboys, when it was really Watanabes that were to blame. Or at least, that was how Cam was choosing to see it for the next few precious minutes he had alone before he had to tie back his witty tongue and swallow back his pride again.

Cam broke the eggs into the pan. Hiro had mentioned wanting a traditional breakfast, if possible. Cam had decided that since he did not specify whose tradition, then it wouldn�t matter that when in Rome� or America, do as the natives do. He measured out the flour and added the shortening and milk. He rolled out the dough and suddenly sensed he was not alone. He glanced over his shoulder and winced. �What are you two doing in here?�

�Uh, good morning Cousin! We were going to see if we could borrow a cup of raisins, because all we can seem to find is corn flakes for cereal here, and corn flakes are just� soooo � booo-oorring.�

Kapri�s inflections in her last three words pounded his head like a headache. Cam pointed to a cabinet. �Take as many as you need. Just take them and go, please.�

�Cam,� Marah�s voice was sweeter, and yet still trying after the night he had just had, �that�s a lot of eggs in the pan. Are you making a breakfast feast for some� you know, like teachers?�

�It�s a family dinner.� Once again, Cam regretted his words. He really needs to get a better control on his phrases, and especially around these two, he thought to himself.

�We�re family. Hey, yeah� Maybe we should just forget the raisins and have breakfast with you?� Kapri winked hopefully.

�Who�s this?� The words rung out. It was short. It was curt. It was grandfather. He stood, once again immaculate, in a long silk house robe of fine jade and gold patterns accompanied by traditional wooden sandals, with a folded newspaper under his arm.

�Wow� you brought an old guy home. Cam that�s so nice of you.� Kapri nudged him.

Cam corrected his posture and fixed his robe. �Grandfather, these are my cousins, somehow thanks to my father�s disowned brother, Kapri and Marah.� Cam gestured to each of them. �Kapri, Marah, this is my grandfather, Hiro Takeda.�

�If he disowned his brother, how can they be family?�

Cam�s mind raced. �Because his brother all but disowned them. And the enemy of my enemy is my ally?�

�Hmm. I�ll consider that.�

�So, grandfather � � Kapri began.

�I�m not your grandfather. If you are Kanoi�s nieces, then I would be a great uncle� if anything... but through marriage only, young lady,� Hiro quipped. �Now, what do you want?�

�Where do you come from?� Kapri started.

�Are you going to stay long?� Marah added just as Kapri finished.

�Did you bring any gifts?� Kapri shot back.

�Are you a ninja too?� Marah retaliated.

Cam shot forward with spatula raised high. �Cut it out. This is not the time.�

Hiro looked at Kapri, �Japan.� He turned to Marah, �It depends.� He glanced back at Kapri sharply, �No.� He returned to Marah, �Hardly.� Finally he shifted his gaze to Cam, �What are you making?�

�Biscuits, eggs, bacon, orange juice and milk.� The girls swooned and licked their lips. The elder man simply watched with distraught face.

�A traditional breakfast?� Hiro opened the newspaper he had carried in.

�Blue Bay Harbor tradition, unless you�d rather have a smoothie?� The girls launched into a series of giggles.

Well, if dinner last night wasn�t the albatross for this day, breakfast was. Cam had barely managed to remain calm as well as maintain the balance in conversations by not disorientating his cousins while not enraging his grandfather. His father was noticeably absent. Cam couldn�t blame him. Hiro was very loose with his criticism and displeasure over Miko�s marriage. While Cam had been washing the plates, his greatest hopes and worst fears about his grandfather�s visit came to pass and surpassed his concern for his father. Hiro had asked to spar with Cam this morning after breakfast. Here was a chance for Cam to prove himself to the elder Samurai. This is the man who had trained his mother. Cam was determined to make a good presentation. He had agreed to the sparring.

Immediately after cleaning up, Cam managed to check in on Skritches. She purred at his approach and licked his hand to thank him for the saucer of tuna and the cup of water. He then changed into his sparring attire as she ate. He removed the dishes from her pet crate and grabbed a practice sword. Waving to Skritches, he strolled swiftly towards the grounds where he had directed his grandfather to meet him.

En route, he saw three figures walking away from the practice field. They were busily rating their students� performances.

�I just don�t know if he�s committed.�

�That�s funny, coming from you, Shane,� Cam shot out as he approached. �Who are we talking about?�

�Hey, Cam. It�s Eric. The one you and Hunter met at the Action Games. He�s got the moves and the skill, but sometimes he lacks the motivation.�

�Nah, he�s doing alright in my Earth classes.� Dustin added.

�Maybe he�ll come around. You three did,� Cam smirked.

�Are you ever going to let that go?� Tori chuckled.

�No. How�s Blake?�

�He�s better. I went to see him as soon as he called. The drugs are making him a little weird, but Hunter swears he has improved since he first saw him in the hospital. I think the doctors may have got carried away with the pain meds, not knowing we ninja are used to the pain.�

�Pain meds alone tend to make one loopy,� Cam nodded and smiled, as he remembered Hunter�s message. �I�ll stop by and see him.�

�Who�s the old dude that�s been lurking about the training field?� Dustin�s head nodded back behind him.

�My grandfather, the samurai. I should probably not keep him waiting.�

�Dude, you never told us you had a grandfather! Later dude,� Dustin beamed as Cam began to pass them.

Shane shook his head, �Yeah, later dude.�

�Good luck,� Tori snickered as she joined the other two and they walked toward the stream.

Cam was not surprised to break the brush line to the practice field and find his grandfather observing his arrival.

�Friends of yours, Cameron?�

�And teachers at the Academy, grandfather.�

�You are friends with ninja?�

�My father�s a ninja.�

�Well, everyone has their faults.�

�Are we going to spar, or are you going to criticize me?�

�Both.�

At that Hiro raised his practice sword. Cam bowed and raised his. Both samurai took stance. Hiro waited. Cam waited.

�Me first?� Cam lunged toward Hiro and swung his sword. The maneuver was good, but the execution was lacking. Cam cursed his own impetuousness. As Hiro countered the attack, Cam exhaled and tried to focus. He didn�t want to try too hard to impress his grandfather and fail. He swung again, this time more centered and more graceful. Hiro countered again and Cam was struck by sheer grace and art in Hiro�s movement.

�You have the rudimentary skills, but you strike like a ninja. Did not Star teach you anything?�

�Star?� Cam was caught off balance and ducked.

�The amulet.�

�I was much better when I had it.� Cam winced that he actually was giving excuses. He pulled his arms in and centered himself. Once again, he struck out.

�Better. Flow with the energy.�

Cam countered Hiro�s attack, but missed one strike.

�Hai! Focus! Where are your thoughts?�

Cam did all he could not to retort.

�Ah, you spend too much time with computers. Kanoi told me about your expansive computer station. He said it with pride. I only could shake my head. You don�t need to be fidgeting with computers, you need more practice!�

Cam cursed under his breath. The sparing continued, physically and vocally. And for once the vocal sparing was echoing the physical. Was it wrong to wish he was dealing with his uncle? At least then he�d have a few ideas what to do with him and not feel guilty about doing it.

�Kanoi also says you don�t leave anymore. You spend all of your time here. You come back from college, no friends, no dates, and you stay here.�

�So first I�m supposed to practice more, and then I�m supposed to get out more?� He could hold his tongue no longer. �Make up your mind!�

�You must control your anger.�

And he knew that was going to be his grandfather�s response Again, he centered himself.

He launched his attack. �I have friends. I go hang with my friends, when I have time. I train, but I only have what I have to learn from. I grew up in a ninja academy so I fight with some ninja techniques. My samurai training comes from study of texts, what I learned from possession of the amulet, and what I saw of mom�s technique when I visited her in the past. I work on the computers because we need them to maintain operations and defense. It�s not like I use them for video games.�

�That is a relief.� Hiro took a holding stance, sword poised in front of him. Cam mirrored his pose. He regarded Cam once again. �You were the stranger, as I had assumed, that she gave the amulet to. So you met your mother before she had become your mother.�

�Yes. I wish I had known more about her, had more time to spend with her, either then or in my youth.�

�Hmm. We will take a break. I am desiring more tea.� Cam started to walk back towards the buildings, but Hiro held up his hand. �I�ll get it. I wish to meditate on things.� Cam nodded and then bowed to his grandfather. His grandfather smiled slightly and returned the bow.