.. Misao: To that monster?Hiko: That stroke was pretty good, Fuji. You had a good grip at the moment of impact, in keeping with the methods of swordsm...nship. A monster or a demon, without a thought in his head, couldn't have done that.Saitsuchi: Don't listen to him, Fuji! Listen to what I say! When the whole province banded together to lynch you as a freak, who took you in? That was I! Don't think about anything else but the debt you owe me!Hiko: Old man! (Saitsuchi is shocked into silence) I'm. When we got old enough and had to go to school – at five, no nursery school for us in those days – we were isolated from the other kids in some way. Partly it was that we were so close, but partly it was the attitude of the other kids to Katy. I heard, but didn't understand, the word 'nigger'. Early on, one playtime, we somehow got separated in the playground; perhaps I was deliberately distracted, but I suddenly realised my sister was in the middle of a group of older kids who were pushing her. I got some reading done, then from my business class seat, I was one of the first onto the jetway. As I stepped into the departure lounge, my phone rang with a call labeled 'number blocked'. "Hello?" I said.A woman's voice responded, "Hello, is that Tom?" Yes - who's this?" My name doesn't matter, Tom, but I work with Janie. We're good friends." Janie? Is she alright?" I asked with alarm."Yes, she's fine. And tonight I'm afraid she will be feeling much, much better." I don't understand." Tom, I. "The rest I was saving for the weekend." She sat down beside Amanda. "I guess that is one way to spend your first weekend in town." She sipped at her wine. They spent the next ten minutes chatting about work. When the timer went off they moved to the table in the kitchen. The lasagna was perfect and there was French bread with garlic butter as well as a hand tossed Caesar salad. Amanda was very impressed. "This is wonderful." She raised her glass. "My compliments to the chef." Cindy smiled..