scowled, gathering her brochures back into the envelope. "I'm going to go,
and there isn't much you can do to stop me."
	Akane looked after Nabiki wistfully as she strode off, package in hand,
and looked at Kasumi, "Boy, I wish I could go."
	-----
	The hotel was stunning on the outside, made in the European design out of
white marble and stone, with huge pillars bracing the outside. It shone
like a white gem against the blue sea, and Nabiki gasped, dropping her
luggage to her side. She had taken a costal train down from Nerima, and the
entire journey had been luxurious. First class cabin, first class service.
Then she had boarded a bus at the train station, as the rails didn't
actually go out to where the hotel sat on it's own personal cove.
	The drive from the train station had been as fantastic as the train
journey; they cruised slowly through fields of yellow sunflowers,
reflecting the mood of the warm summer day and cheering the pale blue
skies. There were several others on the bus, mostly wealthy patrons and
their children, making Nabiki wonder at the "singles" aspect of the
package. It was probably more likely that the Aiyoshima Bookstore had been
too cheap to pay for a double pacakge.
	Nabiki took in a deep breath of the fresh coastal air, and smiled one of
her rare genuine smiles. Alone or not, this trip had been worth it already.
Gathering back up her suitcases, she headed for the lobby.
	A man at a small desk sat with a sign, "Tendo Nabiki", in his hands,
looking expectantly at the incoming guests. Nabiki walked up to him and set
her baggage down, and dug in her purse for the voucher as the man smiled at
her.
	He gesutured that there was no need for her to produce the certificate.
"Welcome, welcome. You must be the contest winner, Tendo-san! We are very
pleased to have you at our resort. If you would follow me, I will show you
to your room," the desk attendant said smoothly, coming around the desk to
stand at her side. He snapped his fingers at a bell-boy, who scooped up
Nabiki's luggage from her side and then looked questioningly at the attendant.
	"The Empress suite, Doyama-san."
	"Yes sir," the bell-boy bobbed a quick bow to Nabiki and took off at a
quick pace.
	"This way please," the man motioned to her in the direction of the rapidly
disappearing bell-boy.
	"Ano.... Yes.." Nabiki said, and tried to draw her gaze away from the
luxury of the entry room.
	The room was perfect, with a wide balcony looking over the sparkling
ocean. The furniture and carpet were all white, and a huge canopied bed
braced the wall. A bowl of fruit had been set on a side table, and it's
color was a striking contrast to the pale room. There was a large spa-bath
in the bathroom and all several appliances, such as a TV, stereo, and
refrigerator.
	"I'm in heaven," Nabiki sighed, and sank down into a pillowed white chair.
	An hour later, there was a knock on her door, startling her from a cat nap
that she hadn't even felt herself slipping into.
	"Tendo-san?" The man asked at her door after she had opened it. He was
dressed in a hotel uniform.
	"Yes?"
	"Lunch is being served on the veranda, would you care to eat now?"
	"Yes. That would be perfect," she breathed, "May I change into something
more suitable?"
	"Certainly," he nodded, "We will expect you in..."
	"Ten minutes," firm.
	"Very good."
	She had carefully purchased several outfits for this trip, and slipped
into a short  blue form-fitting tunic. Turning to look at the large mirror,
Nabiki shuffled in her purse for lipstick, eyeshadow, and blush. Putting on
just enough to make her look older, but not enough to look cheap, Nabiki
looked approvingly at the result. She put a white hat on to cover her face
from the sun, and scraped up a pair of slim sunglasses.
	Knock em dead, she thought, and walked down to lunch.

------------

	"Miss? Excuse me, miss?" The woman's shrill voice finally reached Nabiki
through her reverie. She blinked up at the waitress.
	The waitress clutched a bill in her hand and pushed it down on the table.
"We will be closing in a few minutes, and I need to service this table. Can
you please pay your bill?"
	Nabiki plunked down some yen, and stood up, feeling groggy and tired.
Obviously her injuries weren't helping her state, and she figured Kasumi
and everyone were probably worried sick, so she left the restaurant and
found herself here, on the street where she had grown up, in the town that
had always been her home.
	Kasumi met her at the door, the worried look still etched on her face from
that morning. She gasped and hugged Nabiki as she walked into the house,
and held her close.
	"Nabiki, you had me so worried. Where have you been?" Kasumi mustered.
	Pushing herself away from Kasumi's arms, she said sharply, "Where I went
is my own business. I'm going to bed."
	Kasumi's face drained of color, and Nabiki almost imagined tears in her
sisters eyes, but she pushed aside any remorse for her words and climbed up
the stairs to strip into her nightgown and collapse into bed.
	Almost instantly, Nabiki fell into a deep and thankfully dreamless sleep.

****** End of Part I.