Late one night in London, in the year 1855 a warm light shines from the study of the gracious Kinoshita home. A man, silhouetted in the window, was speaking with ardor. Mr. Kinoshita has just described his newest business venture to his friends, including Mr. Sugawa.

"Kinoshita, you have finally lost your senses." the man said. This was Mr. Sugawa.

"This venture is impossible." added Mr. Hasegawa.

"For some. Gentlemen," replied Mr. Kinoshita. "The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe that it is possible."

"That kind of thinking could ruin you."

"I'm willing to take that chance. Imagine trading posts in Rangoon, Bangkok, Jakarta…"He stopped when he saw his nine year-old son Hideyoshi stands at the door in his nightgown, clearly frightened.

"The nightmare again?" He asked. Hideyoshi nodded and Mr. Kinsoshita took his son's hand in his, before turning back to his guests.

"I won't be long."

After tucking his son back into bed, Mr, Kinoshita sat on Hideyoshi's bed, listening to his son with utmost seriousness.

"I'm falling down a dark hole," he says, "then I see strange creatures…"

"What kind of creatures?"

"Well, there's a dodo bird with glasses, a rabbit in

a petticoat, a smiling cat…"

"I didn't know cats could smile." he replied.

"Neither did I. Oh, and there's a blue caterpillar."

"Blue caterpillar. Hmm."

"Do you think I've gone round the bend?" Hideyoshi asked worriedly, and Mr. Kinoshita felt his son's forehead as if for a fever.

"I'm afraid so. You're mad. Bonkers. Off your head. But I'll tell you a secret...all the best people are." Hideyoshi smiled at that and leaned against his father in content.

"It's only a dream, Hideyoshi. Nothing can harm you there. But if you get too frightened, you can always wake up. Like this." He pinches Hideyoshi's shoulder who screamed before pinching him back.

TEN YEARS LATER

A horse-drawn carriage was careening down the road at a full gallop. Inside is Hideyoshi Kinoshita who was now on the verge of adulthood. Hideyoshi saw the world with different eyes than other people his age, and unlike most boys, wore dresses at his mother's request. He was very beautiful, so much so that he was thought in the minds of many to be female, and because of this paired his masculine personality was seen as slightly off-kilter. At that moment he was tired, having not slept well the night before and irritated by his mother fussing with his wild main of brown hair she refused to let him wear short.

"Must we go?"He asked, dryly, "I doubt they'll notice if

we never arrive."

"They will notice." His mother replied. "They will notice."