Moving can be hard on anyone. You have to go to a new school or start a new job, make new friends, and adjust to a new community. However, when you move to a different country, you have the added strain of learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture. For Jack McCoy, an average 15-year-old American teenager, the idea of moving to Okinawa was insane. But despite all of his pleas not to go, they went anyway. Jack is starting high school, and his usual freshman troubles are compounded by a different schooling system, uniforms, and worst of all, bullies. These are not just any bullies, however.

These bullies are advanced students in Okinawan Karate, and proceed to make his life a living hell. At its worst, there seems only one man that can help, Junji Shimabukuro, a fisherman and flower arranger that may be more than he seems. With his help, Jack has a chance of defeating his bullies and ending his problems. But are either of them prepared for the men who will do anything to turn their vision of Okinawa into reality?

This roleplay is intended for multiple people to play the many characters that will encompass it. However, at this point, there are no others to take roles. So, the roleplay will remain a two person unless a role is requested. The role of Jack will be played by JayZeroSnake, and the role of Junji will be played by myself. If anyone would like to join the roleplay, please PM one of us, and we will get you started.

It was a bright and beautiful day in Okinawa. The clouds traveled lazily through the sky as the sun gently warmed the beaches below. The tide began to come in, gently washing away refuse it had put up only moments before, and a gentle sea breeze would cool the air and leave any nearby with the pungent smell of salt. On the still water floated a small fishing boat christened 繁栄 (Prosperity), which had been out since early morning. The lone Captain, Junji Shimabukuro, cast his net and sighed with contentment.

When it came to fishing, Junji was casual, but productive. He rose at 6:00 AM and greeted the new day with meditation and prayer. He would do this until 7:00 AM and then fix breakfast. His son Shoyo would rise at 7:30 AM, have his breakfast, put on his uniform and head for school. Junji would then take the boat out and fish at one of the best spots on the water. He was one of the earliest out there, and while that gave him a slight advantage, there was usually plenty of fish to go around.

After fishing until 2:45 PM, Junji would take his catch and go into the market. He would trade in most of it for money, keeping part of it for themselves for dinner. After that, he would go shopping for different spices, and every now and then he would invest in crab or lobster, depending on the occasion or the bounty of the harvest. By the time he was finished, his son would be getting off of school, and the two would arrive home minutes apart. Shoyo would go upstairs to study, and would not come down until it was time for dinner. In that time, Junji would go into his workshop near the boat and work on his floral arrangements.

In Okinawa, people like everything in the house to have a purpose. This technique was called feng shui, and Junji did his part by creating beautiful floral arrangements for use in their homes. There were many a variety of flowers growing in the wilderness between the relatively unpopulated north and the urban south. On weekends, he and his son would walk out there and pick any that were not poisonous. Even flowers that were not beautiful in appearance could provide great contrast when paired with another of surpassing beauty. Great floral arranging was not about picking the most beautiful flowers, but about picking the combination that could make any flower beautiful.

Junji would do work for hours, sometimes days to find the most beautiful combination of flowers. When he did, he would place them on the market on the condition that they be sold free of charge. For Junji, flower arranging was not about making money, but about putting smiles on people's faces when they found the perfect flowers to brighten up a room. Fishing fed his body, but flower arranging fed his soul.

When it was time for dinner, Shoyo would emerge from his room. Junji would prepare the meal, and they would make small talk while he did so. When the meal was complete, the two would sit and talk over dinner. Shoyo had always spoken about wanting to be a fisherman like his father. Junji had always wondered if that was enough anymore, or that if his son would have a better future going to work in the city. More than anything, Junji wanted his son to be happy, and whether that was in the confines of the Prosperity's Captain's Quarters or the offices of a gleaming skyscraper in Naha, only time would tell.

After dinner, Shoyo would return to his room, change out of his uniform, and study for an hour before heading to bed. Depending on whether he had thought of a combination of flowers, he would return to his workshop and give it a try. If not, he would retire to his bedroom and read before becoming too tired. Before going to sleep, he always prayed for a safe tomorrow for himself, Shoyo, and all of Okinawa.

The next morning, after meditation and breakfast, Junji was headed out to the fishing boat. As he was, he noticed smoke curling up from the chimney of the house just down the street. The house had belonged to the Amuro's, a happy couple that had moved overseas five years ago to be closer to their children. Wanting to do his neighborly duty by welcoming them to the neighborhood, he took a stroll down to the house to see. As he was approaching, he saw a woman exit.

He could tell right away that she was American, so he resolved to speak in English. Like most of his classmates in high school, he had done poorly in the subject, managing to pass the course with a "D", much to his parent's disappointment. While his mastery was still pidgin, he had worked on his accent, and was better at being understood. When she caught sight of him, he bowed to her.
"Welcome to neighborhood. My name Junji Shimabukuro."

He approached, a cheerful grin on his face. He could see the flowers that he had made for the Amuros, and realized that they had left a few behind for the enjoyment of the next family to own the house.
"Pretty flowers, yes?"
He could see a tired-looking young man in the back who looked about the same age as Shoyo. Today would be his first day in an Okinawan school.
"You live here with boy?"