The news struck her to the bone. Kurlos was laying waste to everything she held dear. First her mother. Then her father. And now her throne and her spellbound people. All in the name of petty vengeance, worthless grudges and a traitorous clutch for power. He would hand over all of Elfhame to hell and all because of a war almost a generation cold.

The idiocy of that kind of rage frightened her. It could not be met with diplomacy or restitution or any kind of appeasement to his sensibilities. This was an animal's offense. An animal's idea of balance. And it rang through her like a dull, throbbing chime.

She would have to leave her home, the only place she'd ever known--it was so utterly stupid and meaningless--for an alien world full of dangers in every mile. And all because some petty thug couldn't get over his stupid little bloodlust. His sick idea of parity. All because he had hated her from the moment she was born.

It was the inane betrayal of what he had done, what he would do, that broke her heart the most. He had been a friend of her father's. He had smiled at her and placated her family with kindness and gentle words for as long as she had known him.

Why this? Why now? Why so damned determined to drag her life into the fire?

Let it be known. I am a rabid Samurai Champloo fan. My friend Chris introduced it to me and, while still maintaining a kind of irrational hatred for anime (I think it's based on the poor narrative and lazy exposition that plagues most Japanese animation) I'm completely fascinated by the show, probably because it doesn't take itself seriously AT ALL.

And the character of Mugen reminds me so much of an island rat version of Bobby. Sour-faced, sour demeanor with a heart that beats for those he loves.

Wayne and I talked about Zuzu's age. And we got it moved up from 9 or so to 11. I want her to be preadolescent, but just barely. As Bobby's move into adulthood should coincide with her move into her teenage years.