Well it took me longer to finish this one then I would have liked, a 
combination of limited computer time and a job. Gomen nasai!

First I'd like to thank my prereaders who probably will think I still sent 
it out too early Christiphor Gwyn, Small PinkMouse, William Dix, Kichigai 
and Rebeka Thomas. Appreciate your time people.

For legal purposes most of the characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi except 
for two who belong to Monkey Punch. The setting ie Doozy Sack, Rimsides, 
Lazy Fair, Mama Prime and the remaining characters Governors, Monitors, 
Peace Robots, Lollygaggers, Polly the Tengu belong to me.

As always C&C is welcome and appreciated, so without further ado, Montanto 
Studios presents.

                             Shantyworld
                            A Ranma Fanfic
                          with Gratuitous Cameos
                                by
                             Bill Morse

                            Chapter 2
                          Clear Weather Day
The Monitor had orbited the gas giant that locals referred to as Mama Prime, 
since the Governors rendered its largest moon, Doozy Sack, livable thousands 
of years ago. Monitors were the largest form of Peace Robot assigned to 
watch over the trade lanes of space. This was a smaller model, a mere 50 
kilometers from end to end. Still, it dwarfed even the largest carriers in 
the imperial fleets it watched trickle past from the nearest warp gate to 
Doozy Sack's four starports. The Monitor turned its attention from the 
fleets to a small comet several thousand kilometers away. A picosecond worth 
of calculations showed that the comet would miss Doozy Sack by an acceptable 
distance, but there was a 100,000 to 1 chance that it could pose a threat 
within the next thousand years. Never one to take unnecessary risks, the 
Monitor shot off a single beam of energy, vaporizing the comet.

The Monitor increased its magnification on Doozy Sack's main continent. For 
once there was little cloud cover to hinder any of its instruments. If the 
Monitor had been capable of subjective opinions it would consider this 
phenomenon odd. It had been clear just four months ago. A most peculiar 
season.

The Monitor turned its instruments towards the system's F4 class sun. At 
this distance it was only discernable from the other stars by its incredible 
brightness. The Monitor beamed a weather report to the starports. Sentient 
life had to be warned on occasion.

				* * * * * * * * *  *

Akane stared at the girl standing at the entrance of the practice hall. 
"Well? Speak up Girl. What's your name?" She demanded.

The new bondservant paused, unsure of what to say, "I'm Ranko, Mistress." 
She said finally.

Akane walked slowly around the smaller girl looking her over.  For someone 
her size, she was very well built. Better then me, Akane admitted 
reluctantly. She was built like a dancer with hardly a gram of fat on her. 
Her hair was a shade of red that Akane had never seen before. Bright, yet 
strangely vacant, blue eyes darted everywhere taking in everything. Akane 
stood in front of her in a casual pose. Ranko glanced at the floor, unable 
to maintain eye contact.  "So, Kasumi doesn't think I can be trusted outside 
of the house alone, are you my body guard as well?" Akane asked.

For a moment Ranko said. "Lady Kasumi said I was to protect you with my 
life, Mistress." She said finally.

"Oh really. And just how do you intend to do that? Are you a martial artist? 
Or have you killed someone?" Akane asked, with a grin.

Ranko paused before answering "I haven't killed anyone, Mistress. At least I 
hope I haven't." Ranko looked slightly worried as if the possibility had 
suddenly occurred to her.

Akane reached out and held Ranko's jaw between her thumb and forefinger, 
slowly turning her head. She should have noticed. If she hadn't let her 
emotions get the better of her. "The void will take us all."  She whispered. 
"You've been born again." Akane stated this as a fact, the symptoms were 
easy to recognize.

Ranko paused to think. "I'm not a Christian, Mistress."

"Christian?" Akane asked, confused. "What's a . . . . Oh yes, one of those 
First Generation cults. But what does that have to do with being born 
again?"

"I don't know, Mistress."

"Nevermind, "Go stand over there."  Akane pointed at the center of the 
floor. Ranko walked to the middle of the dojo and turned to face Akane. 
Akane studied her again, this time concentrating on the way she bore 
herself. For all of her apparent shyness Ranko stood up straight, unafraid, 
and confident. This one can fight, I can tell. Akane thought to herself.

"We'll have a little match. I want to see just how good you are. After all, 
my life is in your hands." Akane smiled as she saw the look of concern in 
her servant's face. "Don't worry its just sparring." Akane assured her.  
Comprehension dawned on Ranko's face, she smiled and she nodded hesitantly.

Akane started with a simple round house kick. It was one that an amateur 
could see coming, and easily block. Ranko leaned back an instant before 
Akane's foot would have connected with her face. Akane followed up with two 
quick jabs. The first to the face, and the other to the gut, she finished 
with a low sweeping kick meant to take out the legs of the opponent. Ranko 
dodged both hits and hopped over the kick with seemingly no effort. Akane 
huffed, it was exhilarating to have decent competition for the first time in 
years, but at the same time it was damn frustrating. At least she had forced 
Ranko towards the far wall. Try avoiding me now, she thought to herself.

"Okay, no need to be gentle." Akane said with a smile, which showed a few 
too many teeth. With no warning she threw a devastating punch that could 
have crippled Ranko had she been in its path. Ranko however was no longer 
there. Akane smashed her fist into the wall. She stared at the hole her fist 
had made as someone tapped her on the shoulder.  Akane turned to see Ranko 
giggling hysterically. It was very contagious and Akane couldn't help but 
join in.

"Wow.  You're much better then I thought, but tell me, why didn't you fight 
back?"

Ranko blinked in confusion. "Fight back. Mistress?"  She asked.

"Yes. You know. Try to hit me."

"Hit you. Mistress?" Ranko looked slightly concerned.

"Of course. What good is a sparring match if you just dodge me all the time? 
I have to improve too, you know. Come on. Take a swing at me." Akane said in 
exasperation. Honestly, it was like trying to explain sprinting to a 
Lollygagger.

Ranko's face had turned an ashen gray. "I cannot harm you Mistress, I was 
told not to harm you, Kasumi ordered me to protect you, but you told me to 
hit you so I have to hit you. But that would harm you and I can not let you 
get hurt." Ranko clutched her head, gritting her teeth in pain. "Can not! 
Must follow orders! No. No! Please. MAKE IT STOP!!!" Ranko fell to her 
knees, sobbing.

"Oh no. Ranko!" Akane gasped, running to the smaller girl. "It's all right. 
Really. You don't have to spar with me if you don't want to."

Ranko looked up at her. Her headache fading quickly. "I'm sorry, Mistress," 
she whispered.

				* * * * * * * * *  *

Ukyou drove through the Rimsides like a woman possessed. To say she was mad 
was an understatement. Ranma had not shown up at the scheduled time and, 
because of this, the meeting had been a complete failure. If a Peace Robot 
hadn't been attracted to the sounds of gunfire, and removed her pursuers 
Ukyou was sure she would have been dead by now. She had left the city and 
fled to the Rim. She could not afford to believe the Peace Robots had gotten 
everyone. After all, if she had been able to escape someone else could have 
as well.

For a while she had considered heading south, to the Cliffsides. She had 
grown up there and, even now, had quite a few contacts. She thought better 
of it when she realized it would be the first place anyone would look. The 
last thing she wanted was to have the Cliffsides torn up beyond belief. Not 
that anyone would notice. The Rim Crater was a better choice. No one lived 
there except hermits and farmers.

She had been traveling through the Crater Plain for most of the week. If she 
hadn't been in survival mode she might have actually enjoyed herself. The 
Crater Plain was beautiful this time of year. At night it was quiet and 
tranquil, the darkness was uninhibited by city lights and only the blood red 
glow of Mama Prime above her to guide her way.

She drove past hundreds of greenhouse farms until she reached the Crater 
Lake at the far side of the Rim Crater. For a while she considered staying 
there. She could think of worse places to hide. The people were civil and 
she could probably find work easily enough. As time passed, her resolve 
began to waver. She stopped being afraid of her fate and remembered who was 
responsible for her situation. Concern for her life was slowly replaced with 
an overwhelming urge to give a certain pigtailed, first generation, jackass 
the beating of a lifetime.

				* * * * * * * * *  *

Genma Saotome enjoyed his feast. It was the best he had eaten for several 
years. In the past week he had paid off all of his debts and had hired an 
agent to find the best dwelling place in the Gentryways. He was beginning to 
believe he could get used to his new wealth. He could plan how he would 
rescue Ranma later. After all, it wasn't as if his son was going anywhere in 
the immediate future.

He was just about to doze off when the noise of a souped up motor generating 
several hundred horsepower woke him. It was drowned out by the crash of a 
large armored catering van driving down an alleyway one meter too narrow. 
The noise stopped just bellow the apartment.  For a moment it was silent 
with just the sounds of shattered bricks settling. If he had been sober 
Genma would have considered running.

All of a sudden his front door burst into several pieces. Ukyou stormed in 
carrying what looked like a very large spatula. "Where is he, Old Man?"  She 
demanded.

"Ah. Where is who?" Genma asked innocently.

"Don't give me that you stupid Effgee bastard! That no good inbred son of 
yours!" Ukyou growled.

"Ranma?" I'm sorry you just missed him. He had to go on an errand." Genma 
stammered, trying desperately to buy time.

Ukyou glared at the cowering man before her huffing in disgust. She sat down 
on one of the two chairs in the apartment. "We'll wait for him, " she said, 
leaning her spatula down on the table.

"Uh, That might not be a good idea. You see I haven't seen him for several 
hours and there is no actual guarantee that he will be home tonight. I think 
it would be best if�"

"Shut up! Do you think I care? Ranma nearly got me killed. I want my pound 
of �." Ukyou stopped as she looked at two bottles of wine on the table. One 
was empty the other nearly finished. Both looked expensive. So did the 
half-eaten truffles and the Oni tobacco. How was he able to afford all of 
this? She wondered. In all of the time that she had known Genma Saotome he 
had not worked an instant longer then he had to and was nearly always broke. 
Suddenly she remembered all of the stories that Ranma had told her about his 
father. She had thought they were just his idea of a joke a way of making 
her feel better. She should have known better. She should never have blamed 
him for her recent troubles. "What did you do to him?" She hissed.

"Do to Ranma?" Genma stammered. "Why, whatever makes you think I would 
possibly do something to my." Ukyou slammed the butt of her spatula into his 
stomach before he had a chance to finish. Her knee shot up as he doubled 
over sprawling into the wall.

"Let's try this again." She growled. "What did you do to Ranma?"

Genma felt fingered his jaw gingerly and spat out a gob of blood. Slowly, he 
climbed back to his feet. "I don't know what you're talking about." He 
stammered. "My son left just an hour ago. If you think some thing happened 
to him then," Ukyou slammed the handle of her spatula into his forehead, 
knocking him back into the floor.

"Don't give me that! That spread is worth 500 creds if it's worth one, and 
the only time I've seen you with that kind of cash is either when you've 
scammed it or if you've sold, indentured, or engaged Ranma! I'm amazed that 
people are still falling for it. The way you've lied, betrayed and thieved 
your way through life, it's a wonder the whole galaxy doesn't know your 
little confidence games. The Peace Robots should take you as a matter of 
principle! Now out with you old bastard! Who did you sell Ranma too?"

Genma mumbled something incoherently. Ukyo rose her spatula into a full 
swing. "The Governors! I SOLD HIM TO THE GOVERNORS!" Genma screamed in 
desperation.

The blade end of the spatula stopped just at his neck. A small drop of blood 
trickled down his throat. "If that's your idea of a joke, I'm not laughing." 
Ukyou said in a low, threatening tone.

Genma coughed getting his breath back, as he crawled back to his chair. 
Ukyou spun her spatula around and rested it on the table. The adrenaline was 
beginning to wear off and she felt very tired. She sat down overwhelmed by 
the new information. "How?" She asked. "If any of the Governors ever left 
the Ports I know I would have heard of it."

"The man said he represented the Governors. I suppose he could have been a 
Peace Robot. If I had known then what I know now"

"Oh just shut up. It sounds like someone conned you good. Even if this 
ridiculous story is true, are you out of your mind? What did you expect to 
do, steal him back? Renege on the deal completely? These are the GOVERNORS! 
A verbal agreement is binding to them! They don't forget their agreements 
and if, by some miracle, you find yourself in the position you claim you're 
in, you DEFINATELY don't screw with them!  I can't believe you actually 
think you can steal what's theirs."

Ukyou sniffed in disgust and glared at the cowering Genma. "So, what did you 
get for him?" She asked, her voice dripping with contempt. "A week's worth 
of food at the restaurant of your choice? A free ticket off of this rock? 
Bus fair?"

He told her.

Ukyou gaped in disbelief. "By the void." She whispered. "I know people who 
would sell their own," she paused and glared at Genma, "and I'm looking at 
one right now."

"Now Ukyou. You're being unreasonable. You have to understand my situation."

"Shut up!" Ukyou screamed. What I don't understand is why they paid you that 
much in the first place! A human bondservant wouldn't go for half a percent 
of that. What's so special about my Ranchan?"

"They didn't say," Genma said desperately. "All they did was offer me more 
money then I could possibly imagine.  I had to accept. What else could I 
do?"

"What else could you do?" Ukyou said, scornfully mimicking Genma. She slowly 
turned to leave the apartment. Genma breathed a long sigh of relief. 
Suddenly Ukyou spun around whipping the flat of the spatula straight into 
his face. Genma spun around spitting blood. Ukyou struck him again in the 
legs with a loud sickening crack. He fell to the ground screaming in pain. 
Ukyou was now on top of him hitting him again and again ignoring his cries 
of mercy and the sickening noise of breaking bones.

She finally stopped as exhaustion took the place of anger.  "You're a true 
candidate for saint hood I'll grant you that," she gasped looking down at 
the twitching wreck of a man. "Look on the bright side now you have 
something to spend your newfound wealth on." With that she turned and left.

Ukyou broke into tears as she drove away in the Ucchan. "Ranchan," she 
whispered. "I'll never see you again." Still there was whole affair that 
seemed fishy to her

				* * * * * * * * *  *

Kasumi walked into the center room of the Tendou townhouse after a fruitless 
search. "Kyoko?" she called.

"Yes, Mistress?" her assistant asked, appearing out of no where. She was 
only a few years older then Kasumi but the resemblance of the two women was 
almost frightening. It was if Kyoko was a fourth Tendou sister.

"Have you seen Nabiki anywhere?"

"No, Mistress, not since her meeting with Master Tendou. I could ask 
Yotsoya, or Akemi. They're more likely to have seen her then I."

"No, don't worry. I haven't seen her body guards either. She must have gone 
out already. This is awkward."

Akane walked into the dining room from her work out with Ranko close behind 
her. "What's awkward Kasumi?" she asked.

Kasumi turned to her little sister. "Oh hello, Akane. Nabiki left without 
the Kunou's payment. If we wait, the interest will begin to accrue. I'd go 
myself but the function is tonight and I haven't finished the preparations."

Paying the Mayors their share of the freeport's gross profits was no 
laughing matter. One could not simply send a bondservant to do it. For the 
sake of protocol, it was extremely important for the client, or a member of 
the client's family, to make the payment in person. Otherwise they could 
inadvertently show disrespect to their "patrons".

"Can't we pay them at the Function, Mistress?" Kyoko asked.

Kasumi shook her head. "I'm afraid it just wouldn't do. To start with, the 
day will be over when the Function begins. Also it does not follow protocol. 
By accepting our money in our home it will appear as if Kunou is abusing our 
hospitality and he must not appear to lose face, and, before you ask, 
sending it by electronic means would be equally rude. Thank you for 
suggesting though."

"I can go, Kasumi," Akane said cheerfully.

"Oh no. Akane. You mustn't," Kasumi said shocked.

"Kasumi! I'm old enough. I'll be safe. I have a bodyguard now! That's what 
you bought her for isn't it?" Akane said slightly exasperated.

"That's not what I meant, Akane.  It's clear weather, are you sure you want 
to go out? You and Ranko will have to dress appropriately." Kasumi said 
sternly.

Akane sighed. "Clear weather," meant the Star would be out in all of its 
searing glory. An unforgiving pinprick, burning, in the day sky fully 
capable of blinding anyone foolish enough to look at it unprotected or 
worse. There were many people who said that Doozy Sack was to far from the 
Star to really harm anyone with, high intensity ultraviolet radiation. Most 
people with sense still feared the Star, and honored the traditions of the 
past. Most people did not even risk the Star's wrath and simply stayed 
indoors. An unforgiving pinprick, burning, in the day sky fully capable of 
blinding anyone, foolish enough to look at it unprotected, or worse. Even 
with the goggles it was difficult to look directly at the Star for more then 
a minute. Only clear weather could make Akane miss Doozy Sack's perpetual 
gloom.

Akane's gear consisted of a protective body stocking that went under her 
clothes and changed color depending on the intensity of the light, and a 
white star mask.

The mask was the latest model. It looked like a Noh mask made of fine 
porcelain. What appeared to be porcelain was actually a soft, flexible 
polymer. It was white except for exaggerated rosy cheeks and red lips and a 
left eyebrow that was painted in a thin black arch trailing down the bridge 
of the nose. The eyeholes were covered with refractive lenses that looked 
like twin pieces of polished onyx.

Ranko's gear was nowhere near as impressive. It consisted of long flowing 
robes, a hat with a wide floppy brim, a basic face plate and sun goggles 
that were more appropriate for spot welding then going to the beach. This 
was standard wear for a new servant.

Ranko took the gear and put it on slowly and watched her mistress do the 
same. "Shouldn't you wrap up your pet as well?" she asked as she saw Akane 
pick up the small black piglet.

"P-Chan will be all right." Akane said in a matter of fact manner. P-Chan 
nodded in agreement. There was something Ranko didn't like about the pig. 
For one thing it had been staring at her since it had first seen her. If she 
didn't know any better she would have sworn that it didn't trust her. She 
shrugged and followed her mistress outside.

Kasumi and Kyoko waited for them at the door. Kyoko handed Ranko the Kunou's 
payment in a large leather pouch.

"Remember nothing is to happen to Akane." Kasumi said looking directly at 
Ranko. "This is your first and foremost responsibility. No matter what she 
says, protect her at all costs." Ranko nodded nervously. There was something 
about Kasumi that made her think that, even if she had a choice in the 
matter, she would never do anything so foolish as to disobey Kasumi.

Kasumi smiled and turned to her younger sister. "I want you to be careful 
Akane. People can get a little crazy in clear weather. And I thought you 
might like to help Ichinose a little bit in the kitchen to make some dishes 
when you get back."

"You really mean that Kasumi?" Akane asked with excitement and disbelief.  
Behind her Kyoko was turning pale.  Kasumi nodded. Akane rushed up and 
hugged her sister. "Oh thank you Kasumi. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! 
Just you wait you wait. I'll make the best dish ever! Come on Ranko!" With 
that she ran out of the house.

Kyoko watched the two girls run down the empty streets and turned to her 
mistress. "Forgive my rudeness, Mistress, but is that wise? Remember what 
happened the last time you let her into the kitchen."

"No, that's quite all right. It is a calculated risk. You see there are 
going to be several Lollygaggers at the function tonight and I want 
everything to be special."

"I'll warn Ichinose then."

"Yes, I think that would be a good idea."

* * * * * * * * * *

The walk to the Lazy Fair had been pleasant though quiet. Only the low 
rumble of imperial ships, landing in the Northport, broke the silence.  The 
locals had already become jaded to the fleet. The other day Akane had 
watched one of the Jurai's carriers descend. A two kilometers long it was 
easily the largest ship arrive. It no longer impressed.

"We will catch a cab when we get to the Fair." Akane said. "With any luck it 
won't take to long to get to the Gentryways after that."

"Mistress?" Ranko asked finely.

"Yes, what is it?"

"What is this function that Kasumi and the others keep talking about?"

Akane sighed. "Officially it's a celebration. Tonight I will be welcomed 
into the community as an adult."

"I see. What is it for, really?"

Akane turned and stared at Ranko in surprise. She had never seen anyone, 
born again, that cynical. For all of her innocence Ranko seemed incredibly 
streetwise. "The Void take us all," she muttered shaking her head. "In 
reality the function is a meeting of the business community to plan how to 
best exploit the coming of the fleets for the next few months as well as the 
increased population caused by all of the camp followers such as Mercenaries 
and Freetraders."

"That sounds very important," Ranko said impressed.

"Oh yes. I honestly don't know how we could possibly live without it," Akane 
muttered.

Ranko decided that her mistress did not want to talk about it any longer and 
remained silent.

There was a huge crowd at the Fair when they arrived, mostly human and very 
vocal. It was centered on a man standing on the buyer's platform shouting at 
the top of his lungs.

"Anarchists." Akane muttered to herself. There were many political groups 
living in the city. Worlds such as Doozy Sack attracted the disenfranchised 
in droves. Peace Robots only took those that presented a threat to the 
community. That was fair. After all the Governors believed in freedom, 
provided everyone did what they were told.

This was not enough for the Anarchists; they seemed to harbor the illusion 
that the Governors could be defeated. Akane had never understood this. What 
was the point of rebellion? To burn down the city out of spite? Even if a 
rebellion was successful, Doozy Sack was but a single grain in a bucket of 
sand to the Governors.

Today's speaker was no exception. He was a small wiry and very loud man 
going on about all of his grievances at the world. There was something 
familiar about him. It wasn't just the way that he bore himself on the 
podium it was the little things that just didn't seem right.  For one thing, 
his clothes, though the standard attire for the Rimsides looked a little too 
new.  He also looked a little too well fed. Adding all of these factors gave 
Akane a sense of D�j� vu.

Judging by the banner he wore around his chest he was a member of the 
Children of the Grak, one of the larger and more annoying groups that made a 
nuisance of themselves in the Rimsides.  Akane had seen enough of them 
passing out fliers over the years. For the most part they were harmless. Of 
course with Peace Robots around so were terrorists, thieves and murderers.

The Anarchist had chosen this day well.  The crowd would be his own and he 
would not have to worry about normal citizens objecting. He would only have 
to preach to his personal choir.

"For years we have believed that we lived under the heel of oppression." He 
said into his microphone.  "I come here to tell you that is not so." He 
paused to listen to the cheer of the crowd. "For too long we have let the 
Governors tell us what to do. And we have hidden when their servants have 
come to enforce their laws. Today that will all come to an end for today we 
will fight back!"

Akane gasped as she heard the anarchist speak. Stargoggles, wide brimmed 
hat, and a scarf over his mouth may have hidden his face but it could not 
disguise his voice. "I know who that is," she whispered to Ranko.  "I met 
him at a party once. He's the son of a first generation cloth merchant who 
lives on the edge of the Gentryways. Wish I could remember what his name 
was." Akane smiled in amusement, "amazing what people will do for 
attention." Ranko shrugged but said nothing.

Loud cheering drowned out Akane's comments.  The speaker waved for them to 
stop. "I stand before you today as a single man who is unafraid, a single 
man who knows that together we can stand our ground against the Governors. 
Together we can burn their blight on this land and bring their Starports 
down upon them. Together we can act in the name of Freedom!"

The crowd exploded into an uproar with chants off "Freedom!" and "Death to 
the enforcers! Death to the Governors! Power to our species!"

The Anarchist was on a roll and readied himself for his finale.  "The 
Governors have no hold over us! We do not fear them! And we will destroy 
them!"

The crowd was strangely silent.

"We do not fear the Governors!" The anarchist shouted louder with emphasis. 
He stopped as he heard a low humming sound. He realized just why his 
followers were so quiet.

A single Peace Robot hovered over the crowd. Everyone stood frozen as it 
passed above them. Slowly it drifted across the fairground until it stopped 
within a meter away from the speaker. The anarchist stood frozen as the 
Peace Robot slowly orbited around him. It's sensor cluster never turning 
away from him.  After what felt like an eternity it zipped away, seemingly 
unconcerned by what it had just seen.

It was at this point when someone decided to throw a rock at the Peace 
Robot.

The Peace Robot whipped around, with a loud snap, firing a laser that 
destroyed the rock before it even got close to its target. In the same 
second it fired a stun bolt at its assailant with pinpoint accuracy. The man 
fell to the ground. The Peace Robot flew off, responding to an unheard 
summons.

There was silence for the next minute as the crowd waited until they were 
sure that the Peace Robot was gone. The crowd turned to the Anarchist who 
was still unable to move.

"How dare you?" One demanded.

"Troublemaker! Shouted another. "You people are all alike! Keep it up and 
they'll punish you for sure."

"DO YOU WANT ALL OF US TO BE BORN AGAIN?" A woman shouted, throwing a bottle 
at the speaker. The Anarchist jumped off of the podium covering his head 
with his hands to protect himself from the rain of garbage and rocks.

Akane and Ranko watched in the far back of the crowd safe from any possible 
danger. "Well, that was entertaining." Akane said shaking her head in 
amusement. "But we really have to get moving. She looked around for any 
possible Taxicabs. The only one that she could see was a large Gaff drawn 
carriage driven by a Lollygagger. "Only in clear weather" She muttered to 
herself.

The Lollygagger gurgled an inquiry.

"Take us to the western end of the Gentryways and step on it." Akane said, 
climbing into the carriage.

The Lollygagger looked confused for a second, and belched a query.

"Just drive as fast as you can." Akane sighed.

The Lollygagger quivered in its equivalent of a shrug and shook the 
carriage's reigns.

"Mizunkoji! That's what his name is Tobimaro Mizukoji!" Akane exclaimed in 
excitement as the carriage moved slowly towards the Gentryways.

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com