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Hojo's House
Miroku was having a good day. Not the sort of good day one might spend at a market in a strange town with many beautiful and receptive women, no good in a pleasant way. The weather was fine, the sun was slowly sinking, and Sango was positively radiant.
They sat together with Shippo having a picnic in the shade of a short hill. It had been his idea to go out together. He'd suggested this outing to cheer the other two after Kagome left them early yesterday morning. Originally, this was going to benefit only Sango and Shippo, but as the kitsune played and the slayer giggled girlishly, the monk reflected on what it might be like to have his own little family some day.
He pictured his lovely wife by his side where Sango sat now. His sons and daughters might frolic around them; they would be less hairy than Shippo, but hopefully just as charming. He had decided, however, that there was no room in this fantasy for a family dog.
Just as the monk was marveling at his current good fortune and bright future, the more sullen member of the group made himself known. It was difficult to ignore someone who sat down huffily and picked mercilessly at the fruit destined to be your early evening meal. Little more than an aggressive stray in human form, Inuyasha had lost no time in snapping at them and making it very clear he wanted to be left alone. No one bothered to mention that he had been the one to seek them out.
It was generally understood, since Kagome had explained it, that the hanyou did want to be included, he just didn't know how to go about it. Regardless of this understanding, Miroku was still silently wishing him away. Upon the intruders' appearance Sango gave the monk a doleful look that seemed to say she would be sorry to end their time together. There was no help for the antisocial Inuyasha now, the monk decided, not while his pretty companion was giving him a look like that! If Sango wanted their pleasant evening to continue, the half-demon would have to be sent on his way.
Now to be rid of him. Surely he could be convinced into seeing Kagome, that shouldn't take too much effort….
"You Know," Miroku announced rather loudly to gain the groups' attention, "There's something I've been wondering about Kagome." Sango's eye brow quirked up. He was toeing the line with a comment like that. Thankfully, Inuyasha was on hand to sum up all her thoughts.
"Whatever's worth wondering about Kagome is none of your business." was his stern reply.
"Mmm. Still," the monk waved his hand as if to dispel his friends' sour mood. "Have you noticed how closely she sticks by you? You must be aware that when we travel she is almost always at your side, whether on the road or in the villages. And she always tells you before going through the Bone Eaters' Well, even though she knows you'll argue. She makes a point of telling you when and where she plans to be. Have you ever wondered why?"
The half demon rolled his eyes irritably. "I protect Kagome, she should stay close to me."
"Exactly, she lets you protect her and follows you willingly. Don't you think that's strange, Inuyasha? Under the circumstances I mean?" Miroku knew, as soon as he said this, that his companion would take his question the wrong way.
Sure enough, the half-demon in question snarled at the perceived insult. "What circumstances, monk? Because I'm a half demon? Is that why you think it's strange for Kagome to like being with me?! Is it strange that she likes me at all?!"
"You know that isn't what I meant," he said soothingly. "What I'm trying to say, is that Kagome's in love with you, in case you haven't noticed."
The half demon grunted and looked the other way. "Shut up, she is not."
Shippou made a small noise of protest from beside Sango, but the slayer's firm touch on his shoulder kept him quiet. She gave the demon child a silent stare that told him to wait. The monk was up to something. Trust Miroku to come up with a plan; he couldn't be trusted with much else.
"You know she is. She makes little attempt at hiding it." Miroku paused upon making this point to let it sink in, calmly sipping his tea. His friend blushed outright before looking hard at the grass beneath them. "And doesn't it strike you as odd that the reincarnated soul of a woman who loved you once, has returned to love you still? It has to be more than mere coincidence. Inuyasha, have you considered that Kagome may be your destiny?" For a moment, Miroku thought he might get a sensible response, but instead-
"Feh, destiny," the hanyou mocked. "Do you hear yourself? Me and Kagome, don't make me laugh. No body falls in love with a half-demon." But his secretly hopeful heart was listening, and his ears couldn't help but hear.
"Ah, so you don't believe she would have you?"
"I never said that."
"I thought as much. She's lovely after all. Fair of face, bright eyes, and a generous figure with ample," he began to gesture at his chest, but halted when Sango pursed her lips and cleared his throat instead. "But recall that Kagome has a great inner strength as well as outer beauty. It can only be your fear that keeps you from… such…….pleasures…as…" A familiar expression came over Miroku's face then that Inuyasha did not trust. The monk stared away at nothing and began to grin a little. Shippou crossed his little arms and huffed impatiently. Sango scowled.
"Oi," the half demon punched him arm. "Quit thinking about Kagome like that!"
"Right, sorry," the monk blinked rapidly, trying to get his mind back on track. "What were we talking about?" Inuyasha's glare turned murderous. "Oh yes, Kagome's body -er- beauty," There was a low, feral growl from the hanyou. "But that wasn't the point. The point was that the virtue of her heart will keep you safe."
"From the rejection you obviously fear. Better to hide and hope than to know and risk your own feelings, right?"
"Wait. You think I'm afraid of Kagome?" Inuyasha was incredulous. "You've been hitting the sake too hard. I'm not afraid of anything."
"Except loosing her." Miroku's voice was challenging. "You don't want her to go home, when she does you harass her into coming back. You don't want her to fight even though we can't do this without her, and you won't willingly leave her alone with another man. You guard her like a bone, that's as plain as the ears on your head. Come to think of it, you don't even leave her alone with me."
"That's because you can't be trusted! And enough with the dog cracks, Miroku. I'm Inu, we get it."
"You're afraid she'll run away from you." The monk said, pointing an accusatory finger. "It doesn't do you any good denying it. Everyone already knows. She has a power over you, and I'm not talking about those beads." The half-demon looked mournfully at the subjugation beads on his neck. "You said it yourself, no one falls in love with a half demon. You don't trust Kagome to be any different from everyone else, do you?"
"Why the hell should she be different?!" the half demon exploded.
Silence reined over the small group on the meadow. Sango began to gather up the remains of the meal. Whatever Miroku had been trying to accomplish wasn't going well in her opinion. "Shippo, help me get our things inside and we'll start a fire at Kaede's." The demon child nodded at the slayer's chipper suggestion and helped her to pack. As they left, the slayer turned briefly back to look pleadingly at Miroku. He wouldn't let her down.
"Listen," Inuyasha began, somewhat annoyed. "You don't know what it's like. People who don't even know me, wish I didn't exist. Most of them try to kill me on sight. It's like that for humans and demons, Miroku. You have it easy. You walk through a strange village and people come out to greet you. When they see me, they take their women and children indoors. You see a pretty girl and all you have to do is smile. I'm lucky if she doesn't scream. You rob innocent people blind, fondle their wives, and they still want to put you up for the night, free of charge! I have to save an entire village from a natural disaster so the headman will keep a civil tongue when he asks me to leave." The monk watched his friend's pointed ears droop as he made a little sigh. "I'm not like you. I won't ever be able to take someone's daughter to wife, and I'm not gonna have a demon mate. Filthy half breeds just don't have that option." Miroku contemplated this. His companion's view was fairly accurate, if a little embellished. Even so, the monk knew himself to be right and pressed on, crossing his arms seriously.
"And what does Kagome do in all this? She sees it too you know. Don't think she can't hear them whisper, she can. But she keeps walking, right next to you. And she's always the first to defend you when things turn sour, right?"
A vivid recollection of Kagome holding his hand gently floated to the surface of the hanyou's memory. It was more common in her era of course, because she had to lead him everywhere they went. But once, when they had been traveling, there had been an innkeeper who had taken one look at him and refused to allow him indoors. When his friends protested, the man had turned them all away with an ugly remark about half-breeds and the women who followed them. Without warning, Kagome had pushed Miroku aside and raged at the unsuspecting man, shouting that their money was as good as anyone else's. When curious villagers began to emerge from their huts, Inuyasha had taken her wrist to try and stop her. To his surprise, she'd simply clasped his hand and continued her theatrical tirade.
First she berated the innkeeper about minding his own business. Then she told the man that if he were really so afraid of the damage a single half-demon could do, he should be damn grateful when a Monk, Miko, Slayer and Hanyou, didn't bring his grimy inn down around him. Then, pronouncing herself to be finished with, "that despicable cheat!" she had loudly continued that a priestess of her standing wouldn't be seen dead in such a hovel, and if the man were ever so rude to a black miko, his entire family would likely be cursed for generations. Still holding on to him, Kagome had suddenly pointed to another, smaller inn where the owner and his wife stood outside watching the spectacle. The couple stood frozen as Kagome had not only demanded that her entire party be given a room, she had insisted on the price as well. The innkeeper had meekly agreed, the service had been impeccable, and the evening meal conspicuously large.
Inuyasha understood later that she had been proving a point to the entire village populous, but she'd held his hand firmly the entire time. For everyone to see. Maybe the pervert was right. Maybe it wasn't so hopeless after all.
"Come on," Miroku prodded. "You know she's different. Go to her. Sweep her off her feet. Even if Kagome refuses you, it would be Inuyasha she refuses, not the half demon." The monk smiled at his friends' bemused and hopeful expression, making a shooing motion with his hands. "Go on, go."
"I'm sorry Kagome, but they really do miss you." Mrs. Higurashi really had meant to show her the invitation the minute she got home from the feudal era. Unfortunately, between Souta's Friday football game, Kagome's need for modern amenities, and cooking family meals, Hojo's birthday invitation just hadn't made it to the spotlight. Now after her Saturday make-up tests, Kagome had been about to go off through the well again before her mother remembered she'd already R.S.V.P.'d for her daughter. The poor girl just had to see her friends sometime! "They come over to see you all the time. I knew you'd be home this weekend, and I just got tired of telling them 'no'. Please go out with them."
"I'd like to Mom, but"-
"I'll handle Inuyasha, so you can go out and have fun."
"Well, I guess I could be a little late"-
"Great! Eri said the party starts at seven, so you hurry and get ready. I got your friend a gift card, so you'll have a present to take with you. Get going now, they'll be here in twenty minutes." Kagome's mother waved her up the stairs.
The schoolgirl sighed and trudged up to her room. It was nice of Hojo to invite her to his birthday party, but sleep would have been infinitely nicer. Still, she knew she had been neglecting her friends for her "other responsibilities". It wasn't right, she told herself sternly. I can sleep any time and a birthday is only once a year. Besides, someday I'll have to stay on this side of the well for good and I won't want to be friend-less!
But even as she changed into a casual skirt and blouse, Kagome couldn't shake her reluctance to go to the party at Hojo's house. Inuyasha would be furious when her mom told him she was going to a party of any kind. She was always telling him school was business, not pleasure, and that her occasional attendance of school was mandatory. Which of course, was completely true, but if he thought for a single second that she had ditched him to have fun elsewhere… Kagome let that thought trail off as she used the curling iron to revive her hairstyle.
"Maybe someday, I'll have a life that doesn't revolve around other people." She muttered spitefully. She was just finishing a light make-up job when she heard the distant sounding of Yuka's car horn.
"A party?" The half demon tried to remember if Kagome have ever used this word with him. "Does this have anything to do with school?"
"Oh, goodness no!" Kagome's mother laughingly replied. "Parties are just for fun. This one is for Hojo's birthday. He's such a nice young man."
"Hmmph." Inuyasha glared at the clean counter of Kagome's kitchen. This Hoho person again. Stupid girl, stupid monk! Stupid hanyou. He should know better by now. There was no pretty destiny for half-breeds. They all died alone.
"Are you very mad? Kagome said you would be, but I told her to go. It's good for her to be a normal teenager now and then."
"You mean she didn't want to go?" Her mom made her? So, maybe she did want to see him?
"She didn't even know about it till this evening. Poor thing, she was up and on her way to school this morning before I could tell her a thing. Oh!" Mrs. Higurashi's eyes widened suddenly. "Why don't you go to the party too? Hojo's such a nice boy, I'm sure he wouldn't mind, and Kagome would be so surprised!" She clapped her hands together with joy.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea." The hanyou replied doubtfully. "Kagome"-
"I'm sure Kagome would want you there with her, given the choice. Don't worry, just come upstairs with me and I'll take care of everything."
An hour later, his heart flooded with new hope, Inuyasha was bounding through the streets of Tokyo on the trail of a particular girl. After a little coaching on using his "inside voice", Mrs. Higurashi had proceeded to make only minor changes to his appearance. His silver hair had been combed carefully over his flattened ears and tied back. This was a little uncomfortable, but at least this way his ears could remain hidden in a natural position rather than being squished in to submission with a ridiculous hat. His fire rat hoari had been discarded and left in Kagome's room; he wouldn't be needing it anyway. With his hakamas tied lower on his hips, his clothing appeared less bulky, more modern, and more flattering to his physique Kagome's mother had said. Hopefully, Kagome herself would be just as pleased. She hadn't really wanted to see that Hobo boy, and her mother said Kagome would want him with her. So maybe everything would be alright.
Kagome was in a difficult fix. As expected, Eri, Ayumi and Yuka had lead her straight to Hojo as soon as they arrived. Almost instantly, said friends had then completely disappeared into the throng of teens dancing to the loud music. Happy to see her, the birthday boy was now filling her in on all the school related gossip she'd apparently missed out on. The girl did her best not to sigh. She'd been trying to give him his present for some minutes now and just couldn't get a word in edgewise.
"I couldn't believe it," he was saying, "when your name was fourth from the top. I think I only saw you in class four times! And I'm there everyday and I only made the seventh highest score." He paused and looked briefly at the card in her hand. "Oh, is that for me?"
"Yes, it is." Kagome snapped to attention and handed him the envelope. "Happy Birthday Hojo," She said with an almost-genuine smile. His charmed expression hit her full force, so that she barely registered him taking the card at all.
"You're really something, Higurashi." It registered in her mind immediately that she was suddenly caught in a romantic moment. What rotten luck! He had such a tender expression on his face, and she couldn't think of anything to say. Before she could do any more than blush, there was suddenly a warm body next to her, and an arm around her shoulder.
"You certainly are something, Higurashi." Though he'd been addressing her, the young man who appeared beside her grinned expectantly at Hojo. "Aren't you going to introduce us?" Hojo sighed a little, looking suddenly nervous.
"Uh, this is my cousin Toshio. He-"
"Cousin Hojo is usually so polite," Toshio cut in, "but I see he hasn't even offered you a drink."
"Oh, forgive me. I've just been talking to you all this time. Can I get you anything?" Kagome blinked. He did realize he was being led, didn't he?
"Er, well I guess I am a little thirsty."
"Alright," her schoolmate said kindly. "I'll get you a soda and be right back."
Once he'd turned away, Toshio lost no time tucking Kagome against his hip. "Now that he's gone, does pretty Higurashi have a pretty first name?"
"Well, you're definitely more forward than your cousin," she responded warningly. This boy was much too smooth for Kagome's liking. Her tone apparently didn't ruffle him however.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Miss-"
"Higurashi, will be fine." Her small smile was only a polite gesture, but Toshio laughed undeterred.
"One of those, huh? Alright, I can deal. Let me show you where the drinks are and I'll introduce you to my friend before the boy scout comes back." He smiled down at her disarmingly and Kagome allowed him to lead her through the kitchen toward the back of the house.
Now that they were farther away from the music and dancing the number of people around had lessened. 'Still no place to sit though,' Kagome thought ruefully, there were only five chairs around the kitchen table and all were occupied.
"Here's the man we want to see," her escort proclaimed as they neared a table of various snacks and refreshments. Another boy of medium build turned in their direction, his wavy hair bouncing with the movement.
"Hisato, I'd like to introduce Miss Higurashi." Toshio made a flourishing bow.
"Oh, one of those," Hisato said laughingly. "Well it's nice to meet you." He took her hand in a limp handshake.
'Inuyasha wouldn't like either of them,' Kagome mused. 'Toshio is too forward, and Hisato has a weak handshake. What was it he told Shippou? That the way you take someone's hand reflects what kind of man you are? Yes that's right. "Be firm so they know who's in charge."' She'd been so proud of him, making Shippou grin like he'd learned some close-kept secret. 'No!' She reprimanded herself. 'Stop thinking about him! He'll give you plenty to think about once he finds out you went to a party. He'll probably be waiting at home to chew you out as soon as you get there, so have fun for once!'
"Here, try the pickles." Hisato put a stop to Kagome's thoughts when he handed her a plate.
"Thanks." She smiled.
"I can see what Cousin Hojo likes about you Higurashi. You have a beautiful smile."
"Yea, she does. How'd you like the food? I thought the sauce was a little too salty."
"I- thank you," Kagome said, willing her face to remain a neutral color. "I think the food is fine."
"I agree with the pretty girl, fine, but not the best. Do you usually blush every time a guy compliments you?" Toshio queried.
"Because it's cute." Hisato added.
"Sorry, er, thank you." Boy, these guys could give Miroku lessons! "I just don't get a lot of compliments like that."
"Really?" Hisato looked surprised.
"That doesn't sound like my Cousin Hojo."
"Oh, well I don't really spend much time with Hojo. I'm usually with, ah, my other friends." She nearly slipped up on what she said and shoved a rice ball into her mouth to keep it from happening again.
"Well, I guess girls don't go around calling each other pretty, do they?"
"Higurashi, my sweet!" Toshio affected the poetic tone of a prince. "I would love to take you dancing, but I fear my boring cousin would steal you away!" He kissed her hand dramatically, and Kagome knew she was blushing again.
"What are you guys up to doing next?" Hisato grinned at his friends' play acting. "There's not much else to do here besides dancing. And stuffing yourself."
"Cousin Hojo has a game room down the hall." His friend nodded over his shoulder. "It's off limits to party guests, but I'm sure Miss Higurashi can be trusted not to harm a deck of cards?" He looked at her with mocking suspicion. Kagome allowed his charm to make her smile.
"The cards are safe with me," she said raising her right hand as though swearing to it.
"You heard the lady, lead the way Toshio."
"Come on Higurashi, if your friends see us leaving, they'll think we're going to make out." He flashed her a smile. "Or maybe you want them to see?"
Kagome hesitated, framing something polite in her head. "I don't think so Toshio, you're not really my type. But I'll dance with you later."
"Yea," he said softly. "Maybe later." He brushed past her then and opened the door to a room of brightly colored amusements. At the back was a dartboard of blue, orange and green. A ping-pong table was folded against the wall to the left. A small table for two with three different card games to the right, and various board games filled a shelf that went all the way around the room. To Kagome though, the best feature was a plush rug tacked to the center of the floor that looked like a twister mat. When Toshio closed the door behind them, she was happy to spot the twister game spinner hanging from the back of it.
"So what should we play?" Hisato shrugged.
"Ping-pong?" The other boy smiled solicitously.
"No way man, not after last time!"
"Higurashi can decide then."
"Me?" Kagome smiled. "Okay!"
"Don't get too excited," Toshio chuckled. "Give me your handkerchief, Hisato, I know your Grandma makes you carry one." His friend looked embarrassed for a moment and grudgingly began digging in his pocket. "There's only one fair way to decide this," He continued, looking at Kagome. "You're going to be our spinner."
"I am?"
"Sure are," he smiled. "I'll blindfold you, and Hisato can spin you till you get dizzy. Then whatever you point to, we'll play."
"That's pretty creative!" Kagome laughed.
"That's what makes me so fun to be around," he said, slipping the white cloth over her eyes.
She felt Hisato's hands on her shoulders as he spun her counterclockwise. "Tell me when you get dizzy, okay?" She nodded and he spun her a bit faster for what felt like a full minute.
When Kagome felt herself getting truly disoriented she asked Hisato to stop the spinning, but before she could point her finger in any direction, something heavy slammed into her from behind. The impact of her head against what she thought was a wall made Kagome see stars. It wasn't until she tried to struggle that she realized she was being pinned there. The handkerchief was ripped away and when she slowly slanted her eyes open, Kagome saw the black wire of the dartboard, marking the point values of green.
"Think I'm you're type now, Higurashi?" The menacing voice hissed right behind her ear.
'It's Toshio!' her mind screamed with sudden clarity. 'He's holding me here. Was this a trap? Hisato-'
"Hisato, unfold the table."
'They're in it together? Oh god, this was a trap.'
Inuyasha tucked the page of directions Kagome's mother had given him into a planter on the porch, approaching the dwelling with confidence. As soon as he came through the door though, he realized that finding Kagome wasn't going to be as easy as he'd first thought. He was near deafened by the music that vibrated the floor beneath his feet. The main room of the house was poorly lit with strange colored beams of light that moved on their own. Didn't these people from the present want to see each other? Perhaps they were all ugly, his logical mind supplied. Perhaps Kagome was the strikingly beautiful flower amidst a sea of hideous people in stupid clothes. He noticed a few grossly unattractive people here already.
He began to, gently, push through the throng of young people and nearly gagged. The ode of adolescent perspiration was making his stomach turn. Why would anyone come here willingly? The hanyou skirted carefully around one rather large girl and found his answer. It was a dancing couple; a shapely girl with her arms around the neck of a greasy boy. The girl was grinding her hips against her partner in an explicit and extremely shameful manner. Inuyasha scowled. This was why these humans, and possibly Kagome too, came to this loud, smelly place. To degrade themselves with anyone willing!
Inuyasha couldn't help the burn of anger and jealousy that welled up in him. 'Not Kagome!' his mind protested. 'She would never, she's better than this!'
He turned briskly from the humans disgusting him, only to sight that weakling Hoho that was always panting after Kagome. Only he wasn't with her, he was talking to her three friends. Where was that stupid girl? Hoping for a hint, he made his way casually closer to the foursome.
"What do you mean 'where is she?'" the girl with the headband shouted over the music. "We left her with you."
"She asked for a drink and when I got back, she and Cousin Toshio were gone." The boy looked around nervously. "I hope they didn't leave. My Dad said not to leave him alone with any girls."
"What?!" the girls exclaimed in unison, but Inuyasha had heard enough. He already new Kagome hadn't left, or he'd have caught her scent at the door. And if the idiot had been looking for her she wasn't any place obvious, so he could forget about this room and the dancers. He left through the nearest doorway and found himself in a kitchen and dining room. Raking the area with his eyes, the sight of Kagome eluded him. The thumping and vibrations from the music were strong here too, he noted. If Kagome were in trouble some place, and calling for help, would any of these humans be able to hear? He had to find her. Now.
Like a tracker, he checked points of entry first. Beyond the kitchen was a door that led outside. A moment to check for her scent was all he required. Kagome had not been this way. He did smell sweet rolls though. At a table with food, cups, and drink bottles. Might she have come here? Yes, it was her! And another, a stranger he didn't recognize. That Cousin Toshio perhaps? Who shouldn't be left alone with-!
The half demon followed his nose from the table to the adjoining hall. Faced with five closed doors, he weighed his options. To his way of thinking, a man willing to take a woman for his own ends would take the shortest route to victory. He tried the first door on the right. The knob didn't turn. Why was it locked? He put his ear to the door and thought he heard a little whimper. Fearing the worst and praying he was wrong, he knocked.
The voice of a frantic girl sobbed back, "Hojo, help me please!"
"Get lost Cousin," a male voice called derisively. "I can beat your girl at 'ping pong' on my own!" Someone else laughed in the background. There were two of them.
"No, don't Toshio," Kagome pleaded. Inuyasha's mind reeled at the sound of Kagome begging. Prey only begged as a last resort. She had already called out for Hojo to help her, didn't she think help was coming?
A few curious party guests from the dining room peered down the hall when they heard the doorknob being crushed. They watched in still shock as a silver haired stranger used a powerful push kick to fell the door with seemingly little effort.
For a few short seconds, Kagome thought she might be able to escape her captors. Toshio had twisted her left arm behind her back to hold her. But as soon as he'd tried to back her away from the wall and dartboard, she whirled in his grasp, striking his temple as hard as she could with a closed fist. This did not free her wrist however, and he used his grip to fling her into the arms of his accomplice. Upon catching her, Hisato shoved her against the ping pong table, which was still half folded upright. He pushed her so hard the back of her head rebounded off the hard surface.
The brief sensation of pain was followed by the unwelcome feeling of wet lips against her own. Kagome pushed at Hisato to little avail as he left her no room to gain any leverage. She was still trying to free her face when she felt his sweaty hands moving up the back of her blouse. Indignant that this pig was heading for her bra strap, she did the only thing she could think of to get him to stop. Kagome opened her lips to his clumsy kissing and bit down on the unwelcome tongue that entered her mouth.
Hisato grunted and shoved away from her making her head bounce against the table a second time. "She bit me!" He exclaimed in surprise wiping his mouth on his sleeve.
"Don't be a bitch Higurashi." Toshio sounded truly angry now. Gone was all the smiling charm and flirtatious humor. He lunged toward her without warning, his arm raised and holding something shiny. Bracing herself for a blow, she reflexively put her arms up to cover her face. Nothing hit her, and when the boys laughed unexpectedly, she hesitantly brought her arms down. Or tried to. The long sleeve on her right arm was pinned to the table with the dart Toshio had thrown at her.
Before she could yank herself free, the two rushed her and within moments, both arms were tacked to the table above her head. The ping pong table unfolded behind her, sweeping her off her feet. They allowed the table to fall open for the last few inches, jarring her head against it one more time, when she thought she heard some one jiggle the knob at the door. But there was precious little time to consider the small noise. Hisato had pulled the hem of her shirt up and over her lace covered breasts. Kagome gasped at the intimate contact, horrified to see the boy smiling at them. At the other end of the table Toshio's hands were moving up her legs to her skirt when someone knocked.
"Hojo!" Kagome cried out desperately. "Help me please!" The idea of his cousin seemed to push Toshio over the edge. He yelled for Hojo to leave and then climbed up on the table, placing himself between her thighs. Now too close to be kicked off, his hands disappeared beneath her skirt. The other boy fingered the exposed cups of her bra and watched his friend intently. Kagome heard nothing from the other side of the door. Frightened tears began to fill her eyes. "No," she choked. "Please stop."
"You gonna do her Toshio?" Hisato asked in excited undertones. The boy at her hips nodded and tugged at her panties.
"Don't Toshio, Hisato please!" Kagome begged again.
The door had come down with the ease Inuyasha expected, but the scene inside the room made him pause. The sight of the lovely miko pinned by two males attempting to ravish her was not an easy thing to behold. Inuyasha could barely breathe looking at her wide eyes, fearful and frightened.
The boy to the left, with his mouth open and his hands hovering over her chest didn't seem too far into his crimes, though he would still pay. But the second! He would be first, the hanyou decided. His hands were up her skirt, already touching her softest places, and aiming higher to what should only be touched by Kagome's intended. Clearly he was the scum in charge, with his greedy hands gripping her under things as though he had some right!
In two long strides, Inuyasha closed in on them. Sweeping his claws up the boy's torso, he caught all the fabric up to his throat. The ruffian cried out at the attack and the hanyou happily noted he'd opened the flesh just a little. He hesitated not at all before hurling his captive headlong into the second assailant. The two crashed together in a heap and did not move. This pleased the half demon too, since he had taken special care to knock their heads together, but they weren't worth another glance.
Kagome trembled where she lay, saying nothing. She turned her head to one side, eyes closed against grateful tears until Inuyasha pulled her blouse decidedly down. She saw a strangely gentle expression come over the face of her rescuer as he brushed the darts away from her arms.
Kagome reached for him and he embraced her, sweeping her slowly off the table. He thought briefly about kissing her, just lightly, but the stench of another man on her breath made him quiver with rage. He tried to keep his face schooled in detachment so he didn't scare an already stressed Kagome, though behind that mask was a need for blood. Hopefully, no one would come between them and the front door.
"Come on Kagome, I'm taking you home." She nodded mutely and Inuyasha led her into the hall with a hand on the small of her back. The hallway was crowded with people attracted by the commotion, rumor already circulating about just what had been interrupted. No sooner had the pair stepped around the battered pieces of the doorframe, than Hojo rushed to the front of the group.
"Kagome, are you alright?" He tried to reach for her, but his hands were roughly batted away by the mysterious silver haired stranger.
"You don't touch her." Inuyasha said accusingly, purposely stepping in front of the miko to hide her from view. The half demon loomed over the schoolboy. His menacing posture combined with that bright, yellow-eyed glare had the desired effect; Hojo quailed.
"Look, I didn't have anything to do with this, I was looking everywhere for her. " Their host held up his hands as if in surrender. "I didn't do anything." Hojo was glad she had been found apparently unharmed, but this guy with weird hair looking out for her was apparently trouble. He looked like a fighter, and mad enough to throw a punch any second. Hojo shot a worried glance at Kagome, who looked like she might be sick. If he was expecting her to say something in his defense, he was going to be disappointed.
"That's right, you did nothing." One clawed hand gripped the boy by his shirt collar and shook him. Hard. "You were the only one who knew what your cousin was like, and you left Kagome with him anyway. She came to your home, under your protection, and I find her trapped in there with those animals! She trusted you with her safety, and you failed her. Now you got lucky this time, because Kagome isn't seriously hurt, but there won't be a 'next time', got it? Either you're gonna man up in a big way, or you stay the hell away from my girl!"
Still trembling behind her savior, the girl could only reflect that her hanyou was right. She had come here thinking she was safe and protected. Instead, she'd been sexually assaulted. Her mind cringed from the ugly words even as she thought them. She felt exposed and dirty, more than ready to crawl under the nearest rock. It was hard not to blame Hojo for this. He couldn't keep her safe, even in his own home. She would never look at her school mate the same way again.
Inuyasha shoved the boy away from him without waiting to hear the pipsqueak's response. He came to Kagome then and embraced her lightly, his aggression gone. He nuzzled the side of her face affectionately. "You ready to go?" She nodded silently against his neck. "Then let's get you home." Leading her by the hand, Inuyasha made his way out of Hojo's house and into the darkened streets beyond.
Once they returned to the shrine, Kagome was all false cheerfulness to her mother. All she said about anything was that the party 'wasn't very much fun', and that she had 'barely seen Hojo'. Watching her make all the big smiles she didn't feel made Inuyasha uneasy. She wasn't lying exactly, just glossing over everything, but he was still uncomfortable being an accomplice to her 'not-lies'. Especially after how kind Kagome's mother had been to him earlier.
"I was really glad Inuyasha came." She said suddenly looking at him. Feeling himself blush, he tried to return her grateful expression with a smile, but wasn't sure he'd actually managed it. His ears flicked nervously. "We'll probably leave early tomorrow Mom, so I'm going to get ready for bed."
"Alright Kagome. Come down for breakfast, won't you Inuyasha?"
He started to attention under Mrs. Higurashi's direct gaze. "Uh, yes ma'am." She smiled back at him and nodded her dismissal of them both.
Unbeknownst to the hanyou, Kagome had been intent on thanking him properly for his actions since they'd left the party. When they got to her room the girl threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Unused to physical contact as he was, he stood rigid and silent.
"Inuyasha," Kagome breathed against his shoulder. Hearing his name on her lips like that would have been enticing if not for the lingering scent of men in her hair. In fact he could detect the nervous male sweat on the arms encircling him too. It was probably all over her. His lip curled in disgust. She needed some fresh clothes, and a bath wouldn't be a bad idea either.
"I don't know what made you come for me tonight," Kagome choked with emotion, "but I was so glad to see you." Inuyasha mentally cursed the pair of ruffians who'd cornered her at Homo's. Try as he might, he couldn't bring himself to touch her. If she latched on any tighter, he would gag. Ugh, she was going to get this stink all over him too. Unwillingly, he thought of all the places on Kagome's body their hands might have been and all the places he knew they had been. He growled. Those bastards.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome drew back from him. "I'm sorry. Did, did I do something wrong? I, just wanted to thank you."
"Keh." He wanted so badly to kiss her, to let her know that she was safe with him. But the stench of sour cologne that clouded her scent was slowly filling him with rage and disgust. "Why don't you just get ready for bed. Go bathe or something."
Kagome felt chilled by his sudden rebuff. He was sending her away. He'd barely said anything to her all night and now it seemed like he didn't want her touching him. Didn't he want her thanks? Or maybe he blamed her for what happened?
A far away trip to a lakeside village filled here head. "Only a fool refuses a woman who offers herself." It was filth then and still was, she'd told him so, but he'd said it then without hesitating. Did he really believe that? Could he really believe that of her? That must be it; what other explanation was there?
With tears threatening, she gathered her robe and some fresh underwear. She wanted to leave as soon as she could. She just had to convince him he was wrong, and crying wouldn't help.
Her sobbing could be heard from the hall, even over the running water. Inuyasha hoped he was the only one to hear. He had wondered if Kagome might cry. After all, if he hadn't come they might have- Well, it was a lot for a girl to through.
It had been hard to send her away earlier. He'd tried to be gentle with his suggestion but he could tell she didn't like it. Maybe he shouldn't have interrupted her. She only wanted to thank him. If she had smelled a little better, he never would have stopped her. Hell, she could go right on thanking him if it meant squeezing him like that. He allowed himself to imagine Kagome against him once more, her lush curves and soft skin. She might even kiss him.
His ears twitched. The sobbing had stopped with the water. Standing at the bathroom door, he counted to ten before knocking.
"Kagome?" he called.
There was a rustling of fabric, a sniffle or two, and then, "Come in."
She stood wrapped in her towel in the middle of the white tiled floor. Her hair was still dripping iridescent beads of water, warm clouds of steam curled in the air framing her in their mists. Entranced by her ethereal appearance, Inuyasha knew he was starring. What broke the spell was the redness rimming her sad eyes.
"I didn't want them to do that."
What did that mean? She sounded almost like she was mad at him. He saw her emotions harden with her lower lip, her posture now rigid and challenging. The half demon watched her warily, unwilling yet to comment on what he didn't fully comprehend.
"You said once that only a fool refuses a woman who offers herself." Inuyasha's gold eyes widened as the old memory struck him. "I want you to know that I didn't offer," her voice broke and the collected façade crumbled.
"I know!" Half panicked, the hanyou closed the bathroom door before he moved in to hold her. The last thing he needed tonight was for any of her family to walk in on them. He had really been hoping she would be finished by now, but damned if the girl wasn't crying again. Why did this always have to happen? He'd come here with a mission, finally ready to say what he needed to, to fill the many silences between them. And there was so much needing to be said. Those few precious moments he'd ever had his arms around her and hadn't been able to breath for her closeness. The loaded silence that followed them like a storm cloud after every visit from Kikyo. The unspeakable heat in his chest every time some pig farmer, rice harvester, headman, inn keeper, or even Miroku looked at her a little too long. All the married men and mangy, flea-ridden demons, who shall remain nameless, that took too much interest; damn them all anyway! So he'd come to her today, tonight, to tell Kagome that… well he didn't know exactly what. Destiny maybe. But it was such a fight just to get to her. Why did everything he wanted have to be such a fight?
"Kagome, I know that. I know you didn't." He loosened his hold on her to draw her bathrobe from the hook on the back of the door. "Look, just quit cryin' okay? You don't want your mom to find you like this." Nodding resolutely, she accepted her robe. He turned his back while she exchanged the robe for the towel, trying hard not to think about her state of undress. White ears, now free from the confines of his hair, swiveled back to detect the movements of the girl behind them. When she was ready, Kagome lead them back to her bedroom. Thankfully, there was no one else around to take any notice her bathroom theatrics.
When they were safely enclosed in her bedroom, Kagome took up her brush and after sitting comfortably on the bed, began combing through her tangled hair. Her half demon still hadn't worked out what to say to her though, and stood restlessly by the door. "So, did you have a good time, at that party?" he tried. "Before, uh, the rest happened?"
She gave him a half-hearted smile. "No, not really. I wouldn't have gone if my mom hadn't told them I would. How did you know where I was?"
"Oh, your mother told me about the party. I was just going to wait for you to get back, but she said you might want me there, so." he shrugged.
"And so you showed up when I needed you most." The emotion in her voice had him rushing to kneel at her side.
"Kagome, you shouldn't feel bad about what happened." He took a deep breath and decided now was as good a time as any. "I know you're not stupid enough to go for a pair of grabby humans when you've already got a demon falling at your feet." She flinched and looked fixedly at her hairbrush.
"Please, Inuyasha… Don't bring up Koga tonight. I don't want us to fight."
To his credit, the half demon tried not to scowl. "I'm not talking about that stupid wolf." The miko met his serious gaze confusedly.
"What other demon is there?" But now that she was looking her friend in the face, she thought maybe she knew. "Why did you come through the well today?"
"I, I was talking to the houshi. Well, he was the one talking, you know how he is. When he's on to something, and you can't shut him up?" Kagome giggled, bolstering his confidence. He started again with a little more surety. "You know how Kikyo and me were separated by Naraku? He said it was like your soul found its' way back in time just to find me again. And that's not normal you know? He was saying that was too big a coincidence to happen to just anybody. And you still like me, even after being reincarnated, and even thought you grew up being some one totally different."
"I guess that's not something that happens everyday, huh?"
He watched her calm reaction uncertainly. "I wouldn't think so. Anyway, Miroku thought it was destiny. Us meeting and all."
"Wow." She was looking a little dazed. Maybe it was too much to hit her with tonight.
"Yea, pretty dumb, right?" He scoffed, switching gears to his usual gruff demeanor. "Keh, Destiny! What I let that monk talk me into some times. Who believes in that stupid stuff anyways?"
"I do, and I don't think it's stupid." Gleaming violet eyes told him she wasn't buying his 'I-don't-care-act' for a second. "I think it's beautiful." She patted the bed next to her, inviting him to sit closer.
The half demon obeyed without thinking, making an effort to comprehend his good fortune. However it came about, he was almost certain to scare it off. By that logic, it would be better not to hesitate.
"It's kind of a nice thought," Kagome went on. "To think that this was all meant to be. Like everything had to happen just the way it did so we could be here now."
This was too good to be true; Kagome really did want him around, just like she always said. She believed they were destined to be together, sounding so sure about it too. Could it really be this easy?
He kissed her, cupping her jaw in one clawed hand as he did so. It wasn't the kiss of a lover, or one about domination. Inuyasha thought of himself as a man of actions. In his mind, what you did was just as important as how you did it. It was a nice kiss. He was pointedly gentle, as tongue and fang had no place here, but made himself felt enough that she would know he wanted to be here. This moment was supposed to be about the connection between them, and it was.
Easing slowly back, he opened his eyes. Her expression was tender. Kagome leaned into him, neatly tucking her head under his chin, and he found his arm fit magically around her slim waist. They cuddled for several minutes before Kagome broke the comfortable silence.
"I'm sorry you didn't get to have any fun tonight. I mean, it was your first modern era party. I'm sure we both would have had a better time if we'd gone together."
"You think so?"
"Sure. How about this, the next time we come back to my time on a weekend, I'll take a night off school work and you and me can go dancing. Would you like to?" She looked up at him hopefully.
"Go dancing with you? I mean, just you?"
"Yea, like they had at Hojo's house."
He blinked at her and swallowed. "You. Want to dance like that. With me."
"Don't look at me like I have two heads," she laughed. "It's not weird to want to dance with you. You can say no, if you think you won't like it." Thinking back on the lewd, rhythmic nudging he'd seen done earlier, the hanyou weighed his options. Kagome seemed to think it was normal enough. Perhaps in a few weeks, if he could keep anyone else from touching her, if she only 'danced' with him, and if she would still permit him to kiss her, maybe they would go. Whether or not he would like it was not even a question.


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This is what happens when you don''t have fair play
Valencia isn"t really one of my favourite teams, but I must say that after seeing this video, I was really shocked with Inter. That really isn"t fair play! I"ve never seen something like that…In my opinion, Inter"s 10 (I think his name is Burdisso) should be banned from football since he was the main responsible for what happened there. Look at what he"s doing after the game finished…he started pushing Valencia"s players. What did he expect? that they lowered their arms and offered the m the other cheek?
According to Publico, Mancini (Inter"s coach) said that Navarro (Valencia"s player which broke Burdisso"s noise – yeah, he did"nt really behaved well too) is a coward. hello, anybody home???? And I ask: Inter players are what? heroes? btw, I"m really interested in seeing how this is going to end…I want to see if UEFA is going to do the appropriate thing (though i really doubt it!)

subset: commoncrawl


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After a creditable but ultimately fruitless performance in their opening match of Euro 2012 against Germany, the requirement for Portugal is simple when they face Denmark in Lviv. A win is imperative, "so we'll only need to depend on ourselves," as Nani put it earlier this week.
What is less simple is working out where the goals to fashion this victory will come from. Portugal have not only failed to win in four games so far in 2012, they have only scored once in doing so – an individual effort by Nani in a recent home defeat by Turkey.
It is a perplexing situation, especially considering the freedom with which Portugal have generally played since Paulo Bento took over in October 2010 after Carlos Queiroz's ragged reign. Real brio had been required to rectify a desperate situation in one of the short qualifying groups. Subsequently, Portugal scored 37 times in Bento's first 13 games, including a 6-2 play-off thrashing of Bosnia-Herzegovina to clinch a place at this summer's tournament, a 4-0 beating of Spain and a resounding 3-1 win over today's opponents, Denmark, on Bento's debut as Portugal coach.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal captain, was one of the major beneficiaries of the Bento bump. The Real Madrid man had endured a miserable spell under Queiroz, scoring just twice in two years – a penalty in a friendly against Finland and another against North Korea in the 2010 World Cup – but sparked immediately under Bento, hitting nine in the new coach's first 10 competitive matches.
Ronaldo has been an ebullient presence at Portugal's training base in Opalenica, near Poznan, speeding around with his customary feverish commitment. He is a far happier man with the national team now than the one who stalked off the pitch, long-faced, after elimination by Spain in Cape Town two years back. He has known Bento for more than a decade, when the coach was a senior pro at Sporting Lisbon and Ronaldo was a youth player. Bento is straightforward and forthright – qualities that Ronaldo respects – and immediately positioned his skipper in his preferred position on the left side after taking over.
So where were the fireworks against Germany? There is little doubt that Portugal's caution left Ronaldo a little marginalised. "We had to respect Germany – they're one of the best teams in the world," insisted midfielder Miguel Veloso, like Ronaldo and Nani a product of the legendary Sporting academy. "Defending is an important part of the game."
If Ronaldo's performance was encouraging rather than explosive, he was far from the isolated figure he had been under Queiroz, and he almost set up a late equaliser for Nani. Ronaldo hasn't, of course, become any more accepting of defeat, and was criticised in some sections of the Portuguese media for not running over to greet the travelling fans after the final whistle. Nani stood up for his team-mate, claiming Ronaldo had rushed off to see the physiotherapist after feeling "a small back pain," though Nani's subsequent comments were more telling: "Everybody reacts differently [to defeat]. He's an excellent captain."
Many in Portugal believe the real problem is in the centre, and would like Helder Postiga replaced by Nelson Oliveira after the latter's excellent cameo against Germany. "I'm used to the critics by now," the former Tottenham striker, Postiga, said yesterday. He also has the backing of Bento, who confirmed "Helder will play". Postiga can point to an international goalscoring record comparable to that of Wayne Rooney. Yet, ultimately, it will come down to which is the better foil for Ronaldo, and Postiga is under pressure to prove it is him.
- More about:
- Carlos Queiroz
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Portugal
- Real Madrid
- Spain


text:
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The Mission of Leadership Burbank is to identify, educate, and motivate current and emerging leaders in Burbank to develop ideas and solutions that make Burbank a strong, sustainable and vibrant community.
Leadership Burbank is a community-based organization that offers a nine-month leadership training program for people who live or work in Burbank. Through a hands-on curriculum, leaders and emerging leaders have the opportunity to enhance their personal and professional skills, gain a deeper understanding of community dynamics, and build a network of colleagues and associates throughout our city.
It is hoped that graduates will use the insights and contacts they develop through this program to enhance performance in their current endeavors and to enrich the community by involvement with local civic, government, business, faith and/or nonprofit groups.
Board of Directors
Mike Thomas
MT Commercial Cleaning Services, Inc.
Vice Chair
Nerissa Sugars
Manager of Branding, Customer Experience, & Air Service Development
Hollywood Burbank Airport
David Escobar
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UBS Financial Services
Board Members
Tom Engman
King, King, Alleman, & Jensen
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Georgino Development
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Warner Bros.
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Burger Law Group
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text:
Facing Burnside Drive, this property has excellent exposure on one of Burnside's busiest thoroughfares. 51 Raddall is suitable for retail, office and light industrial with 18' of clear height. Dock and grade options.
|ROMOR Ocean Solutions Natural Feature
|Liteco Store
|Maritect Investigations & Security Ltd
|PF Collins Intl Trade Solutions
|Total Fall Protection
|BELFOR Property Restoration General Contractor
|Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc Store Car Repair
|OITS Canada Inc
|Sperry Marine Canada
|Honeywell Limited
|Goodlife Fitness Gym Health
|Chisholm's Kaby Cabins LTD Lodging


text:
I read El Sombra while on vacation in the Okanagan Valley last summer. It's the second book in the Pax Britannia series, which appears to be Jonathan Green's brainchild. Those who are familiar with my assessment of the first book in the Pax Britannia series will know I have little good to say about it. I read it while on that same vacation, and put it down in exasperation. Because El Sombra was written by a different writer, I decided to give it a chance. From the opening lines I was hooked. At risk of some copyright infringement, I'd like to quote it in its entirety:
The man walked across the desert.Now, some of you may be thinking, "but it's so pulpy!" And you'd be right. But it's good pulp, unlike Unnatural History, which began with the line, "The jangling of the doorbell rang through the echoing space of the entrance hall" (5), and then proceeded to describe said doorbell ringing, rebounding, and reverberating through a massive house. Nothing wrong with it per se...but by comparison?
And the desert destroyed the man.
The sun was a dragon that breathed fire on his neck and his back. Each grain of sand beneath his feet was a branding iron. He wanted to cry, but the desert had stolen his tears. Instead, his eyes wept blood.
In his left hand, he clutched a sash of silk, red stained black with spattered gore. His right hand gripped a sword. The knuckles on both hands were white and straining, almost bulging through the burned skin. He couldn't have opened his hands if he'd wanted to. But he didn't want to.
All the man wanted to do was die.
The wedding had been three days before. (5)
El Sombra is pulp, and it makes good on the promise made by the gorgeous covers of the Pax Britannia books - you are about to read some high-adventure, and it will be grand. Unnatural History was high-adventure, but its writing was so low-brow that it obfuscated my enjoyment. El Sombra, on the other hand, makes no literary pretensions, but is a far better-crafted narrative. Jonathan Green's writing is like the steampunk equivalent of a charming-but-sleazy car salesman - his hero, Ulysses Quicksilver ogles women and sees them as trophies, and he achieves success without serious harm in the way of Roger Moore's take on James Bond. To carry the Bond metaphor another step, Al Ewing's writing is more like Daniel Craig's James Bond - brutal, intense, and gripping.
As I've already implied, El Sombra is a book you can judge by its cover, which features a barefoot, shirtless man with disheveled shoulder-length hair squaring off against a huge, clanking automaton with nothing but a sword in his hand. If you look very closely, you'll notice the swastika on the automaton's shoulder...because this shirtless sword-weilding hero is battling Nazis, the darlings of people-seeking-villains-no-one-will-complain-about-in-a-political-sense. In the universe of Pax Britannia, not only has the glory of the Victorian Empire lasted into the 1990s, but so has the monstrosity of the Third Reich: ridiculous as this is, requiring no small amount of suspended disbelief, Al Ewing plays admirably with the idea. This is not a deep book - there are no Big Ideas within its pages - it is an homage to pulp-fiction. It is a mashup up Zorro, Batman, V for Vendetta, and WWII adventures from the days before Tarantino problematized hating Germans with swastikas on their uniforms unilaterally.
That's El Sombra in a nutshell - evil Nazis vs. shirtless sword guy. The steampunk elements are mainly on the Nazi end of things: they have steam jet-packs and the aforementioned automaton, Der Zinnsoldat, which is described by its smell, with the same sort of pulp-poetic-prose the book opens with:
Blood and steam and the smoke of the terrible automated processing factories that clanked and belched human fat into the sky in the heart of the Fatherland. The conveyor-belt monstrosities that carried corpses to the fire--the dead bodies of 'them', the 'others', the different ones with the skin, their faith, their love that could not be allowed. (163)
Al Ewing also provides a very positive Catholic priest as the hero's mentor and aide, which makes for some good moments of philosophy over what will really bring about change, violence, or passive resistance such as the secret school members of the oppressed Mexican community engage in? There are genuinely touching moments in the spaces where Ewing's hero nearly fails to rescue a child because he's hell-bent on revenge.
However, due to its comic-book/pulp roots, the conclusion of the book is that it may be a good idea to instill hope by educating children for the future, it's effing necessary to stomp Nazis first. Ewing is not only a poet of pulp, but a poet of beating-to-a-pulp. Deaths don't just happen in El Sombra - they are related to us in gore-splattered detail. Ewing knows what he's writing, and goes so far as to insert a self-reflexive moment when El Sombra is about to be tortured, and the evil doctor, Master Minus ruminates, "If this was a scene from a pulp novelette, doubtless I would be cast in the role of the villain" (228).
There's also a love-story, a Rupenzel-esque girl-in-the-tower who acts as El Sombra's damsel-in-distress for the climactic battle. There's no great strides for gender representation here, but at least it isn't the straight up misogyny of Green's Ulysses Quicksilver. El Sombra is a subtler hero in his sexuality, and the ending is anything but cliche for an action hero, unless you catch the numerous nods to Clint Eastwood's man-with-no-name, who was never much for getting the girl either. While I doubt it's going to appeal to the most excellent Katie Casey or Jha Goh based on its rather typical treatment of its female character, those looking for a blood-soaked, action-packed page-turner can do a lot worse than El Sombra. For those who want to check their brain at the door and see some furious ass-kicking rendered with some really good writing, check out Al Ewing. He's got the goods.


text:
In Tasmania, It's Teatime
By MARY CANTWELL;
Published: April 26, 1992
NO one knows what the world smelled like before cars, incinerators, factories and the effluvium that arises when millions of people are concentrated in a few square miles. But I can guess. It smelled like Tasmania. The air, in fact, is what I cherish most about the place: air that seems to scour the lungs, polish the skin, rub the eyes to brightness.
I went to Tasmania because I was visiting a daughter in Australia, and New Zealand was too far away for us to tour. It was as simple as that. Our only booking was for the plane tickets, and our only information was garnered from Robert Hughes's "Fatal Shore" and some brochures from Tourism Tasmania. Which is why we spent our first night in Hobart sleeping in two little rooms over a pub. Dire Straits, the British rock group, was in town and the audience -- as eager for entertainment as Jane Austen's Bennet family was for the ball at the assembly room -- had come from miles around.
One thinks of Austen in Tasmania because one thinks of 19th-century England there. The grandest of the old houses, four-square sandstones, evoke Georgian architecture; and the oldest government buildings -- all of them deep brown and brooding -- seem Dickensian. When driving through the Midlands area, one expects to see coaching inns, even though the landscape is more reminiscent of the Napa Valley than it is of Dorset or Devon.
Too, Tasmania is very white. The last full-blooded aborigine died over 100 years ago, and what remains are the colonizers. They are, in a determinedly classless society, all sorts nonetheless, and distinguishable by their accents. A telephone lineman, for instance, used a Strine (the classic Australian Cockney) piled upon Strine that defied interpretation. A smiling, jolly woman in from the country and puzzled by push-button phones sounded like a character in Noel Coward's "This Happy Breed." A saleswoman in a fashionable shop employed Maggie Smith's pinched vowels. Mainland Australia is increasingly multiethnic, but Tasmania remains as unmistakably British as Brown Windsor Soup.
Hobart, which has a population of about 180,000, is set on a harbor that is bounded by enormous, mist-shrouded hills. (The sun may often shine on Hobart, but the weather while we were there, late in the Australian spring, was reminiscent of Seattle's: cool and often overcast.) There are two luxury hotels, the Sheraton Hobart and the Wrest Point, which has a casino, but I see no point in staying at either unless one finds room service irresistible. The pub at which we spent our first night, the Good Woman Inn, was perhaps too bare-bones for most tastes, but neither of us could have asked more of our suite at the Waratah Motor Lodge. Approximately $50 a night covered two bedrooms, a decent bathroom, color television and two lavish breakfasts. There are many such places around Hobart, along with many bed and breakfasts, and cabs come quickly on call.
Downtown has the usual stores and the usual pedestrian mall and the usual goods for sale. But what was more fascinating than anything we saw was something we felt: that we were not only in a place but also in a time we had never experienced. The buildings are low, the pace is poky, the shutters come down smartly at 6 o'clock. This might have been Reading, England, say, in 1938.
As for Battery Point, however, a mile or so from downtown, that couldn't be anywhere but Australia. The houses Australians built for themselves while the country was still sealocked (until not so many years ago, in fact) constitute some of the world's most beautiful and eccentric domestic architecture. Terrace houses were as apt to get the full treatment -- elaborate ironwork, stained glass, curious cupolas, deep verandas -- as isolated mansions, and I have never seen any two alike. Battery Point, some of which was built from the rubble of Port Arthur, 62 miles away, has hundreds of those houses, along with roses that grow with a weed's flamboyance; and we stopped to sniff the flowers as often as we stopped to stare at odd doorways or striking windows.
We also stopped for tea, at one of the sweet if undistinguished little cafes in the neighborhood, and strolled through a park where small boys were playing rugby and big boys -- elderly, red-cheeked men who looked like Colonel Blimp -- were escorting their wives on slow hikes. We went antiquing, too, and I still mourn the stinginess that made me pass up a butter keeper made to resemble a loaf of Hovis bread.
About antiquing. Seven years ago, in Sydney, I bought some 1930's English tableware that neither I nor any but the rich could have afforded in New York. In Sydney those days are gone forever, but they aren't in Tasmania. Australia's colonial furniture, which is of more historical than esthetic interest and probably only to Australians, is as expensive here as it on the mainland. But the English imports that were the stuff of any middle-class home are still reasonable. I remember, for instance, a rich and gaudy dinner service in Mason's Ironstone for about $1,300, and an 87-piece service of Royal Doulton, circa 1936, for less than $700.


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Myriam Ferreira MBACP (Registered); AC; AICTP; ANLP
07963 441455
About me
It is said that every journey starts with a single step. The first step starts with YOU ...
- Is anxiety or depression stopping you from getting the most out of life?
- Are you finding it difficult to process your thoughts / feelings?
- Do you feel overwhelmed by little things?
- Do you have relationship issues? Do you feel lost?
- Have you found yourself at a crossroad, lost or faced with redundancy?
- Are you finding it a struggle just getting through the day?
- Are you going through a separation, divorce or feel communication has broken down in your relationships?
Perhaps it is time to take control and counselling can help you do that.
Taking the first step is the hardest part of any journey and seeking help might be the first step for you. It can be very lonely in troubled times and hard to turn to family or friends, perhaps you feel they will not be able to understand; you might be a burden to them. Perhaps you do not have anyone with whom you can speak openly and freely.
There can be great value in having someone to support you while you give voice to your fears, hopes and anxieties - or talk about your depression, a bereavement, relationship issues; or you could talk about your anxiety disorder. Someone you can trust, someone who is compassionate, warm, fully accepting/understanding of you and professional. To be listened to, valued, respected with sensitivity, heard, and care by another, is central to my work.
In a relationship of this nature, you will find the support you need that will help you resolve your difficulties and move forward with your life. Exploring your concerns together can help you gain new understanding and insight into your life, safe in the knowledge of confidentiality.
Sharing your personal world may be difficult to embark upon. But in my experience it may help you find your own answers, healing, growth or it may simply give you a huge sense of relief to share your troubles.
I am also a trained Life Coach
Whereas Counselling seeks to heal psychological or emotional issues, coaching can be seen as a way to optimize your life from a more stable ground.
You may be that you have found yourself at a crossroads and perhaps you are feeling trapped, dissatisfied or full of energy but just not sure where to point it.
Life coaching is about action and bridging the gulf between whom we are and where we want to be. I will encourage and enable you to identify your personal challenges, dreams and goals and work alongside you to help support and achieve those aspirations. Our partnership will involve powerful questioning, tools and exercises to help you gain clarity, get unstuck and find joyin your life.
It may be that your needs fall somewhere the spectrum between counselling and life coaching. I will propose an integrated approach - Personal Consultancy (Integrating Counselling & Coaching) which may assist you with the process of internal as well as external harmonisation and development within a safe and confidential environment.
Initial meeting:
At the first meeting I will ask some questions about you and your hopes and aims for coming to the session. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions of me and find out if I am the right Counsellor/Life coach for you. Assuming we decide to work together at this first session we will make a contract to work together for an initial period e.g. for 6 sessions, before reviewing our work together and then deciding how we continue.
Training, qualifications & experience
- I am a humanistic and integrative counsellor, grounded in person-centred. I am registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) adhering to their Ethical Framework, and working towards full Accreditation.
- I also hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Integrative Counselling and Coaching (I am a qualified Therapist-coach)
- I am also a trained NLP Coach Practitioner
- I have been counselling adults and young people since 2013, for charities and voluntary agencies.
- Prior to training as a counsellor I worked for many years in Education
Areas of counselling I deal with
- Abortion
- Affairs and betrayals
- Anger management
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Bullying
- Cancer
- Career
- Carer support
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Emotional abuse
- Family issues
- Feeling sad
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Internet addiction
- Learning difficulties
- Low self-confidence
- Low self-esteem
- Miscarriage
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I am also a personal consultant use a combination of counselling and life coach
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
First meeting: Face to face Initial meeting £45 from HA2 Location
Face to face sessions from £50*. These sessions are 50 minutes from the HA2 location. This weekly time slot is yours for as long as you find therapy useful;
Skype/telephone sessions, between Mon-Fri are payable at £45* per session
*Sessions paid in block of 4 are cheaper via a bank transfer
I offer a limited number of low cost sessions for those who are in receipt of benefits or on a low income: Concessions £35
Sessions are payable at the end of each session by cash or prior to sessions via bank transfer
Further information
To ensure I offer a professional service to all my clients I have regular supervision, undertake regular i.e. Continuing Professional Development, and hold Professional Liability Insurance.
Free local parking is available, as well as good public transport links.
If you would like further information or wish to ask any questions, I would be pleased to answer them.
Please call 07963 441455 or send me an email, both of which will receive a prompt response. If you do telephone me, you are likely to get my voicemail or I may not be able to speak to you personally. Please do leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I am available.
I offer daytime and early evening appointments during the week.
Maps & Directions
Type of session
|Online counselling:
|Telephone counselling:
|Face to face counselling:
Practical details
|Sign language:
|Other languages:
|I am also a french native speaker
I offer daytime and early evening appointments during the week / Saturday morning 9-12
Types of client
|Young people
|Older adults


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Fashion meets function with this ¾ tight's flattering fit and stylish side stash pocket.
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- Fun design.
- Food-safe.
- Makes a great gift for kids.
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How do you create the ultimate Mexican – Caribbean getaway? Start with bold juicy colors, natural wood furnishings, add a little "don't worry, be happy" vibe into the mix and top it all with a grand palapa roof. At the end you will have the amazing Nah Yaxche beach house.
Conveniently located on the white sands of Soliman Bay, between Akumal and the world-famous Tulum ruins, this 2-bedroom beach house is a perfect retreat for couples and small families seeking sun, sugary sand and sky-blue sea.
Just entering Nah Yaxche will make you feel adventures and evoke images of hidden pirate treasures and the laid-back Caribbean lifestyle. Where else will you see large columns made of tree trunks, comfortable hand-made furniture and a cool wooden loft/balcony, furnished with a cozy futon couch to give you a whole new perspective on the living space? There is even a hammock hanging in the living room to give you a taste of a true Caribbean vacation.
Despite its unique and relaxing feel, Nah Yaxche beach house still has all the amenities and features of a private villa, including 2 beautifully-decorated bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, a cozy dining area, and a large stretch of sun-kissed Caribbean beach as your back yard.
When the large wooden shutters and French doors are opened the house takes full advantage of the refreshing sea breezes and paradise-like views of Soliman Bay.
Just imagine what it would be like to wake up every morning to the rustle of the palms leaves in the breeze and the quiet murmur of the ocean in the background. At Nah Yaxche you can! Whether you choose the spacious king-size bedroom or opt for the lovely queen-size room that has a private entrance from the beach, a good-night sleep is guaranteed.
And during the day, you can always relax in one of two hammocks, strategically positioned under the shade palapa on the beach or check out snorkeling and kayaking. Especially since numerous tropical fish, including occasional rays and sea turtles populate the calm and clear waters of Soliman Bay.
For other cultural and dining experiences visit the charming town center of Akumal or drive to Tulum for more restaurants, bars, grocery stores, dive shops, and sightseeing tours. Both are only 20 minutes away.
Just don't forget that the core of a Caribbean vacation is about ultimate relaxation and bonding with your loved ones.
If it sounds like a good idea, here is what to do: click add to my inquiry on this page. Fill in your name, mentioning any special requests or any questions that you may have and we will take care of the rest!
NOTICE: Just like the sand on our beaches, availability shifts constantly. We coordinate reservations and availability with local people here. Add Nah Yaxche to your inquiry so we can reconfirm that your preferred dates are still open.
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"Nah Yaxche is undoubtedly a fantastic house. Beautiful architecture (one of the nicest on the bay), spacious and clean and very well appointed. And that is just the house. The beach front with luxuriant vegetation, clear sand and the palapa and its..."
New York
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By: Nicolas
From: New York
About me: Looking for Quiet & RelaxationInterested in Cultural & Nature ActivitiesSeeking a Family Vacation/DestinationEnjoys Beach & Water Sports
Nah Yaxche is undoubtedly a fantastic house. Beautiful architecture (one of the nicest on the bay), spacious and clean and very well appointed. And that is just the house. The beach front with luxuriant vegetation, clear sand and the palapa and its hammocs is what really makes the difference.
We came to Soliman Bay looking for a quiet, private place on the beach with good snorkeling to spend our first holiday as a family with our 3 months old baby. Nah Yaxche made it work for us. The shade of the palapa and the breeze flowing through the house providing a well-needed respite from the heat and sun for baby and parents alike. The kayaks and the reef just in front of the house allowed us to take turn in the water and share parental duties. And the beach was perfect for sunrise walks, shell collecting and late afternoon margaritas. Note however that there entry in the water in the entire bay means walking through a few yards of turtle grass. We didn't care at all (turle grass means a chance to see turtles and flourishing marine life) but not an ideal setting for those who want to swim very close to shore.
The local caretakers were fantastic and brought the service close to that one would expect of an hotel, raking the beach, cleaning the house and washing the dishes daily and changing the sheets several times a week.
Soliman Bay is further extremely well located, off the beaten track but still only 15 minutes drive from the busy Tulum beach, Tulum town and its restaurants and shops, and of course the beautiful ruins.
We only had two small criticism. First, we thought the price of the house was a little steep. Not that the house is particularly overpriced compared to others: the whole area of Tulum has seen prices skyrocket and the only way to visit it on the cheap like one could do 10 years ago is to opt for run down shacks without electricity or water south of the pueblo. Yet, and based on experience travelling the Carribean, we found it expensive overall. With food, travel and care rental it quickly gets much more expensive than some of the top line all-inclusive resorts in the area. But then again, the experience you get is entirely different and so much more enjoyable than in a resort.
The second cricisim is not directed at the house itself but at Soliman Bay in general. Sadly, there seems to have been a lot of development on the Bay. No less than 5 new "mansions" where in the process of being built while we visited, leaving little undevelopped space. Nah Yaxche itself is directly next to a rather big house on one side and a smaller one on the other side. We were lucky enough that both these houses were unoccupied during our trip. Had they been occupied I fear we would have seriously lost the sense of privacy we cherished so much, enjoyed so much and were looking for.
By: Minnjim
From: Minnesota
About me: Looking for Quiet & Relaxation
We had a great, relaxing time at Nah Yaxche. (Pronounced Nah Yah-shay') Soliman Bay is beautiful and quiet. It's nice that they now have 24 hour security at the entrance. It's a smaller villa, great for two couples. The casita is very romantic, although the main bedroom has the king bed and a little more spacious bathroom. Only complaint I can think of...REALLY dull knives and no microwave or toaster.
By: LD
From: Boulder Colorado
About me: Looking for Quiet & RelaxationEnjoys Beach & Water SportsInterested in Cultural & Nature Activities
Awesome Place
By: Jen Zazie
From: San Francisco, CA
About me:
I rented this little place for just one night for a few extra guests that were visiting while I had my 40th birthday celebration at Casa Yardena a few doors down the beach... I was so pleasantly surprised by this little gem! It's adorable, clean, great kitchen (which was better stocked and more workable than the one at the 9 bedroom house I was staying in). Super reasonably priced, too. The only downside is there is no pool, but the blue waters of the Caribbean are right outside your back door. The people who manage the property were incredibly sweet- like most of the other properties on this stretch of the bay, they live in a small house at the front of the property. Anyway, for the price it was remarkable... enjoy your time there!
By: Doug
From: Boulder, Colorado
About me: Looking for Quiet & RelaxationEnjoys Beach & Water Sports
The property was well kept and very clean. The caretakers were wonderful and very attentive. All communication was in Spanish which made the experience even better. Learned a few Mayan words as well. We were there the first week of Dec so the surrounding area was pretty empty. Met very few people on the beach. Tulum is very close and the few times we left the property, its was always a relief to be back sitting on the beach. Nothing negative to say. The neighbors were great and very friendly. We'll be back.
By: Fig
From: Portland, Oregon
Peaceful & relaxing. Enjoy the kayaks and snorkeling within steps out the door.
By: Famila de Cinc
From: Boston, MA
About me: Family Vacation
We are a family of five with three teenage children. It was the perfect setup for us with the three teens in the main house and the two adults in the casita/suite with privacy. The kids felt like they had their own vacation house and we could sleep-in while the kids made breakfast (this actually happened). The house had everything like we were in a resort, but with the privacy and seclusion of our own home. There was a blender to make daily pina coladas and a juicer to make fresh squeezed juices. Our house and rooms were cleaned daily so we had all the amenities of a resort hotel without the noise and strangers around! All five of us want to return. We've traveled a lot as a family and a lot in Mexico and rented a lot of properties and this was the most perfect one yet!
By: Mark
About me: Enjoys Beach & Water SportsSeeking a Family Vacation/DestinationLooking for Quiet & RelaxationInterested in Cultural & Nature Activities
We have rented Nah Yaxche four of the past five years. (Would have been five out of five, but it wasn't available one year.) Nah Yaxche has several features that make us want to return. It's location is ideal, situated almost in the middle of Soliman Bay with easy access to the reef. The house is a fine example of the vernacular in the area, though with just enough mod cons to make for easy living. The decor is tasteful and appropriate to the setting. If we could own a place in this part of paradise, it would be Nah Yaxche.
By: Mark Reber
Soliman Bay is a worthy destination whether you are camping or staying in a rental. For a taste of a traditional, palapa-roof rental, Nah Yaxche is wonderful. Add to the experience caretakers Obdulio, Flor and their family and this is a property hard to beat. It has everything you need in the kitchen and on the beach and the things you do not--phone, television and air conditioning.
By: James Shinnick
Nah Yaxche is a great spot. Saw a couple rays jumping out of water and had pelicans diving into water right out front for several days. The property was very clean and comfy. Bed in loft and extra casita with big bed were nice additions. Everything worked and the caretakers, F. and A. were always available and helpful. Had loud neighbors on one side, but it was a big family get together and they were quiet at night so barely registered.
By: Beth Bergman
The place looked just like the pictures. The first time in we had a hard time finding the turn off the highway, not alot of signs, but thats mexico! The place was clean, beach was right out the door, hammocks and chairs available. We used the kayaks every day! Flor and Abdulio kept our place clean and tidy and washed dishes every day...how nice is that. We had Flor cook for us one night and i would highly recommend that! Her meal was the best dinner we had and quite reasonable, we got 4 meals out of that one! Rosa (property manager) was great! She stopped by a couple times and gave us great ideas of things to do that we may not have otherwise known about... places to stop, see and eat. The location was great, quick drive to Akumal or Tulum for dining. I would definately stay here again. The only negative comment was our friends said the bed in the smaller casita was not comfortable. Really contemplating a move!
By: Maricela Salas
The House is wonderful! Roas, Abdulio and Flor do an amazing job. Can''t wait to go back!
We''ve stayed at Nah Yaxche many times and will do so again. If you want a traditional house with just enough modern conveniences to make you comfortable, this is the property. Caretakers Obdulio and Flor are marvelous, welcoming and great cooks, too.
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I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
Washing dishes is a task that we all participate in daily. Luckily, I have a dishwasher (other than my husband) that I can load and start so that I don't have to put a lot of time and effort into washing the dishes. I wouldn't be able to do this if it weren't for my Cascade dishwashing products.
Cascade has recently come out with a new product, the Platinum Pacs, that use triple-action to bust through even the hardest of stuck-on foods. I personally hate pre-washing dishes. No one has time for that. The new Platinum Pacs eliminate the need for pre-washing and even help prevent hard-water build-up within your dishwasher. That's a pretty tough little package!
I have personally used Cascade for years in my dishwasher. It is a brand that I trust and that has worked very well for me. We have very hard water here in town and it is nice to be able to have something that is easy to use and that helps break through that calcium in the water to keep the dishes free of film.
Since I am a Cascade "My Platinum" Ambassador, this will be my first blog post of four letting you know more about this product, and my experiences with it. Cascade is launching a "My Platinum" Instagram contest that everyone will have a chance to participate in. I'm really excited about this because I love sharing via Instagram, so this will be a fun contest! I hope that you will all join me in participating. During my ambassadorship, I will also be sharing more information with you about Cascade's new partnership with Top Chef Judge, Gail Simmons!
For more information about Cascade, please visit the Cascade Facebook page.


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By DAN KARELL
A short weekend in action culminates in one of, if not the most, exciting rivalries in Major League Soccer.
In their past two matches, the Seattle Sounders have lost by a combined score of 9-2, and in their third match in seven days, the Sounders will have to dig deep to produce a winning performance against their arch-rival Portland Timbers. Caleb Porter's side sit just one point behind the Sounders and a win would go a long way towards determining playoff positions for both teams.
Elsewhere in MLS this weekend, a short-handed Philadelphia Union side visit D.C. United, Marco Di Vaio and the Montreal Impact host the youth-infused New England Revolution, and FC Dallas host Mike Magee the Chicago Fire at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening.
Here's a look at this weekend's slate in MLS Week 34:
MONTREAL IMPACT vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (Saturday, 2:30pm, MLS Live/TSN/RDS)
Two teams at opposite spectrums of the age chart face off in a key late-season match that could determine whether the Revolution make the playoffs or find themselves on the outside looking in.
For all the goals that 37-year-old Marco Di Vaio has scored (19 this season), the Impact have looked their age since the middle of June. Watch as 18-year-old Diego Fagundez, 20-year-old Juan Agudelo, and 21-year-old Kelyn Rowe run at Impact veterans like 37-year-old Alessandro Nesta, 33-year-old Matteo Ferrari, and 34-year-old Patrice Bernier. Both the Revolution's Andy Dorman (red card) and the Impact's Hassoun Camara (yellow card accumulation) miss the match due to suspension.
D.C. UNITED vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION (Saturday, 7pm, MLS Live)
D.C. United don't have much to play for this season but they can help a number of other teams trying to get into the Eastern Conference playoff picture with a surprise result against the Union.
The Union have won the last two MLS meetings but Dwayne De Rosario, who is away on international duty, scored a hat-trick for D.C. United in their U.S. Open Cup victory over the Union. The Union won't have at their disposal either of their wing backs, Fabinho and Sheanon Williams, due to suspension. John Thorrington unfortunately misses out for the hosts with defender Ethan White questionable due to knee swelling.
FC DALLAS vs. CHICAGO FIRE (Saturday, 8:30pm, MLS Live)
With speculation over FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman's situation with the club, the veteran coach can do wonders towards keeping his job with a massive result against the Fire.
Mike Magee and the Fire though will likely expect that the Union will take care of business at RFK Stadium, meaning they'll have even more ground to cover on the road as they hope to keep pace and squeeze into the playoffs. Both teams are hurt by international call-ups, with the Fire losing Joel Lindpere and Arevalo Rios, while FC Dallas lose Blas Perez and Je-Vaugn Watson.
Anything but a win for FC Dallas eliminates them from playoff contention.
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS (Sunday, 9pm, ESPN)
The Cascadia Cup is still up for grabs when the slumping Sounders head into Jeld-Wen Field to face a top-notch Timbers side that are unbeaten in their last five games.
Maximiliano Urruti has been an instant success since joining the Timbers in early September, starting the last three matches and scoring his first goal in a huge win against the LA Galaxy. On the other side, the Sounders will hope that Leo Gonzalez can return to shore up a defense that will be missing Zach Scott again due to red card suspension, and Clint Dempsey could feature after playing 40 minutes last Wednesday.
The Sounders will be missing Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans while Portland loses Rodney Wallace, Ryan Johnson, and Alvas Powell to international selection. The Sounders can also secure the Cascadia Cup with victory in Portland.
It's bad enough they play any games during the international break but it's pretty dumb to schedule one of the league's marquee fixtures during this time, ensuring that both teams are missing key players. Come on MLS!
I think Schellas Hyndman has to be at the top of the "coaches that will be fired" list. Despite a strong start, no team has such a gap between potential given the talent on the field and their position in the standings.
If Valeri is healthy that game will get ugly fast. Only took Colorado 14 second to score on Seattle last week. That will be hard to beat but it is certainly possible that Portland can score faster than that. I'd look for the Timbers to build up a 3 or 4 goal lead by the half and then to sub Valeri off.


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Delhi: 5 fast track courts for cases of sexual assaults
The decision came after Sheila Dikshit urged Chief Justice of Delhi HC to immediately make functional five fast track courts.
New Delhi: The government has decided to set up five special fast track courts in Delhi to deal with cases of sexual assault on women. Amid massive outrage over the brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old girl, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday decided to set up the special courts as suggested by the city government to deal with cases of sexual assault on women.
The decision to set up the courts came a day after Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit urged Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Darmar Murugesan to immediately make functional five fast track courts. The Registrar General of the Delhi High Court on Wednesday sent a letter to Delhi Government communicating the court's acceptance of the recommendation by the Delhi Government, officials said.
Dikshit, in a letter to Justice Murugesan, had urged him to take urgent action in making the fast track courts functional to deal with the cases of sexual assault on women and to provide speedy justice to the victim and conviction of the guilty.
The Delhi Cabinet in October had approved the proposal to set up the courts and later the decision was conveyed to the High Court so that it could make functional the courts. In her letter, Dikshit had suggested to Justice Murugesan that bail should not be given to those involved in heinous crimes against women.
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- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- Big Sur Spirit Garden
- Bixby Bridge
- McWay Falls
- Point Sur Lighthouse
- Jade Cove
- Big Sur Station
- Limekiln State Park
- Andrew Molera State Park
- Pfeiffer Beach
- Henry Miller Memorial Library
- Sand Dollar Beach
- McWay Falls
- New Camaldoli Hermitage
- Big Sur Discovery Center
- Partington Cove
- Salmon Creek Falls Trail
- Point Sur State Historic Park
Make your trip to Big Sur
Hotels in Big Sur, United States of America - Hotels.com offers great last-minute Big Sur hotel deals and discount room rates. You can easily book your online room reservations in Big Sur today. With our fast online search facility you can:
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Big Sur travel guides
Your Essential Guide to Big Sur - Jewel of California's Golden Coast
Juxtaposed between the cobalt Pacific Ocean and the verdant Santa Lucia Mountains, California's Big ...