In The Blood

By: Ryu Katanna

Beta:

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Seventeen

"Legend tells of a Guardian of the Shikon No Tama who traveled to put the shards back together after the jewel had been shattered. It never did tell what had become of her." Genkai's gaze was focused on Kagome as the room grew silent for several minutes at her revelation.

"Legends only give a look at the main events. People never remember the true story. They make them into lessons about morals. Things you shouldn't do because they are wrong and have consequences." Kagome's voice explained absently.

"I don't remember anything about the Shikon being shattered five hundred years ago." Kurama spoke with some puzzlement as he glanced at Hiei.

"Hn." Hiei shook his head; letting him know that he didn't either.

"Even a shard of the jewel could more than double a demon's power. What was more; the jewel shards were tainted by touch as the jewel reflected the darkness of the holder's soul. Magatsuhi fed on the darkness in the soul while Midoriko on the purity. My touch would purify the jewel by touch. Just as Kikyo's did before her death. I was born with the jewel inside my body, and so I could sense when a shard was nearby. I could see the shards no matter how well a demon or human thought they were hidden on or in their body." Kagome spoke as she ignored the two since they would know the answer the unspoken question by the time she was finished

"Only once the jewel was whole could a wish be made. I started traveling Japan with Inuyasha as my protector as we gathered the jewel shards. I did so out of duty as I was the one who had shattered it, and he protected me so that he could make a wish to become fully demon. We could never have known what or who we would encounter. What we learned." Kagome clasped her hands together tightly in her lap.

"It didn't take long to find out who our greatest enemy was. You see, fifty years before I arrived in that time, Inuyasha had sought the jewel. That was how he and Kikyo met and fell in love. During that time, Kikyo had found an inured human bandit named Onigumo. He had been badly burned and disfigured, but he too desired Kikyo as she tended to him in a cave outside the village. The darkness in his heart grew as did his desire to possess her. This drew lower level demons to him. He struck a deal and allowed the demons to devour his body so that he would be reborn with a new body. This is how the hanyou, Naraku, was born." Kagome said as she couldn't keep the growl leaving her.

"Naraku, who still held his human heart, sought out Kikyo and found her to be in love with Inuyasha. It was also then that he learned she possessed the Shikon No Tama. Out of his jealousy and greed for both Kikyo and the Shikon, Naraku tricked the two into believing the other had betrayed them. Kikyou was mortally wounded just before she sealed Inuyasha to the tree. Kikyo had the Shikon burn with her body, and this kept its power from Naraku's covetous grasp. At least it did for fifty years until the jewel returned with my appearance. He killed many over those years in his lust for power and his own amusement." Kagome's voice and expression were both emotionless as she told them of Naraku, but they could be seen in her eyes for any who cared to look closely enough as she became lost in her memories.

"We made friends and allies in our fight against Naraku and to gather the shards during our travels. We made an ally who became a friend in a human Monk named Miroku. His line had been curse by Naraku with a hole in the palm of his hand that would devour anything when not contain with beads that held a very special blessing. The Wind Tunnel was passed down from father to son since his grandfather. It was a powerful weapon, but like with most things, there was a cost. The wind tunnel would expand in size over time and use until eventually killing its user by devouring them whole. The only way to end the curse was for Naraku to die." Yusuke and the others shifted as she started talking about her friends.

"Another we met was a young woman named Sango, and her companion, a nekomata named Kirara. She was a Taijya; a demon exterminator. Her entire village had been slaughtered by Naraku mostly for his own enjoyment while he had also implanted a jewel shard into the body of her little brother after killing him. The power of the jewel revived him just enough the make him a weapon. With no memory, Kohaku became a pawn to Naraku that he enjoyed using just to see the pain it caused Sango. In the end, Kohaku couldn't be truly saved, and he died once more once Naraku had torn the shard from his back during a battle. Kohaku was little more than a child starting to mature into a teen." Kagome said as she remembered Sango's screams at the second death of her little brother.

Those screams would be with her forever.

"Lord Sesshomaru was an enemy who became an ally. He despised Inuyasha for his human blood and believed that their father had disgraced their noble bloodline when he sired a hanyou. He tried to kill us many times, but we always managed to survive. He had his own reasons to consider Naraku an enemy, and so eventually he allied with us. Lord Sesshomaru and Inuyasha came to tolerate each other, but that didn't stop Inuyasha from growling all the time when his brother joined us. It was Lord Sesshomaru who trained me after I had managed to earn his respect." Kagome said; not telling them of Rin as the little girl had been Sesshomaru's ward.

She respected Sesshomaru too much to tell them something so personal to the Lord. He had seen that little girl as a daughter. Kagome would honor his memories of her and not give anyone the information the could potentially be used against him in the future. Sesshomaru deserved to cherish the memory of the girl as privately as he wished.

"Even before any of the others, we met Shippo. He was a kitsune kit who was orphaned after his father had been killed by other demons who wanted the Shikon jewel shards he had found. He was only a small child, but he was determined to avenge the death of his father. Inuyasha and I helped him to achieve that goal, and so he began traveling with us since he had no one else. I came to love him as a mother and adopted him as my son through demonic ceremonial rites after Lord Sesshomaru had joined us." Finally, the mention of Shippo brought a small smile to her face.

Hiei knew then that he would look for the kit. He had a mother that did love him which was rare enough for any demon. She was holding up her end of the bargain, and so he would carry through with his own. If the kit was dead then he could at least provide her that information so she would not search endlessly for a child that was already gone.

"We met many others during our travels. Demon, human, and hanyou alike. I witnessed many ways in which each and every one of them lived their lives. It was because I had the knowledge of what the future would become that I could see how the two races balanced each other." Koenma flinched at the tone her voice took as she glared up at him before continuing.

"All the shards were eventually gathered. The final battle with Naraku came. I was killed during the battle, and Naraku took the shards I had on me. He completed the jewel and it reflected the very darkness of his twisted soul as Magatsuhi feasted upon the evil and malice within his soul. That was when my Mazoku blood woke. It sung in my veins as our father took control of my body as he did with Yusuke. Unlike Yusuke, I was more concerned that he would not attack my friends. In fact, I am grateful for what he did. He ripped Naraku apart. and I got the pleasure of feeling his blood on my claws as he did so." The fanged grin was almost feral as it took over her expression with the memory, and sent shuddered up the spines of everyone except for the other demons in the room.

They knew the feeling that caused such a feral grin at the death of an enemy. It was the satisfaction of the victory. The bloodlust for the death of a threat to themselves and those who were viewed as theirs by their bestial sides.

"What about the jewel? It should be kept safe in the vaults in Rekai." Koenma spoke for the first time, and Kagome's eyes bled red as both Kurama and Yusuke moved to restrain her at the snarl that left her lips.

"You dare!" The ground shook with her emotion as her mark seemed to glow as her youkai enveloped her and spread out.

"Dumbass!" Yusuke growled with a wince as his arms started to burn with the combination of reiryoku and youki that crackled along his sister's skin.

"Kagome. Kagome, calm down. Please!" Kurama gritted his teeth as he tried to stop her from lunging over the table to wrap her clawed fingers around the Rekai Prince's neck.

Neither of them blamed Kagome for being so emotionally charged right now. She had just explained the pain and death wrought by those who tried to claim the jewel, and then Koenma opens his big mouth. Her ears were deaf to Kurama and Yusuke's words as her eyes locked on the one across from her.

"Do you intend to kill Kurama and Yusuke?" The voice was cold and flat with the inquiry, and Kagome's attention was drawn to Hiei who raised a brow.

It was then that what he had said started to dawn on her. Kagome jerked as she looked down at where they held her. Their arms were blistering with burns that spread up to their shoulders before being hidden by their shirts. Kagome gasped as she drew her energy back into her body with an almost violent snap though her Mark remained glowing upon her at the outburst of power.

"Stupid! Are you two okay?" She asked as she started examining their arms in horror.

"Yeah. Just fine. It'll take more than that. Don't worry about it." Yusuke tried to answer in his usual cocky manner, but couldn't really manage it as it came out almost breathlessly.

Kurama didn't say anything at all, but just gave her a smile that held an edge of pain. There was no use in denying they were hurt. She could see it enough for herself. He knew her well enough by now to know that she would fuss either way.

"Yukina, can you heal them?" Botan asked worriedly as she edged away from Kagome.

"I don't know. When I tried to heal Kagome it just made it worse." Yukina said as she looked them over, but hesitated after the last time.

"It was my reiryoku that clashed with your youki, Yukina. This was damage caused by my reiryoku. Your healing would affect them the same way it did me at the moment. Could you and Keiko get two bowls of clean warm water? I will have to clean the open wounds before I heal them." Kagome said before checking to see that the damage did go under Yusuke's shirt.

"Okay you two. Shirts have to come off can you raise your arms?" She asked seeing Yusuke wince.

"Yeah, don't think so." He replied when he tried and her eyes shifted to Kurama who shook his head.

"Alright." Kagome replied before using her claws to shred Yusuke's shirt down the one side just as Keiko and Yukina came in.

"Thank you. Can you two work on cleaning Yusuke's burns while I get Kurama?" Kagome asked looking at the two girls.

"Yeah. Of course." Keiko responded before kneeling to help Yusuke remove the rest of his shirt as Kagome turned to Kurama.

Once again she used her claws to tear a slice down the side of his top before gently pulling it over his shoulder, head, and the other arm. She winced at seeing the damage that spread across his chest. Taking to wet cloth from the bowl, Kagome gently cleaned the areas that had broken open on his skin.

"What were you thinking?" She mumbled as her brow knit and she threw the cloth back into the bowl before slowly setting to work with both hands that lit with the soothing blue of her healing reiki.

"You're trying to prevent fighting with Rekai. Attacking him now would start a war between the two worlds." Kurama murmured with a sigh of relief at the feel of her healing ki.

"I am sorry. You are correct. I should not have lost my temper. Thank you. For stopping me." Kagome said as she moved to the other side of his chest and on to that arm.

"Hey. You lost and suffered through so much trying to do the right thing. He had no right to say what he did. Just keep calm. You have a lot riding on your shoulders right now." Kurama said reassuringly; getting a small smile from Kagome as she finished healing him before turning to her brother.

"Thank you, Keiko, and you too Yukina. I'll take it from here." She said before concentrating on healing Yusuke before speaking again without looking at the others in the room who had been watching the whole time.

"The Shikon No Tama is beyond the reach of any being; living or dead. To be rid of the jewel forever, one would have to make a pure wish, but that is impossible. Selfishness and want are the basis for any wish. I was willing to sacrifice anything. I wished that I alone would pay whatever cost so long as the jewel could never be used for the greed of others, and for its exitance to remain only as a legend. It is out of your reach, Prince Koenma." Kagome said as she finished one side before working on the other.

It was once she had finished healing Yusuke's burns after a few moments that the silence was broken once more.

"What was the price you paid?" Genkai's voice was almost gently as she watched the young demoness with comprehension.

"I am cursed as the Shikon was cursed. Death comes to all through violence, sickness, or age. I am cursed never to know that final rest. I am cursed as I am forced to one day lose those I care for. I am cursed to watch as even those of my own kind will age and fade around me. I am cursed to remain unchanging until the end of all. I am forever cursed for the wish I made, but I would do it all again. This is the price I have and will continue to pay for the Shikon be out of reach to any who desire it." Kagome said before looking back up at Koenma who had gone pale; his pacifier slackened as his jaw gaped.

As the Prince of the Spirit World, he knew well the magnitude of what that meant. Even gods and reapers would die. All souls needed rest, and they found that withing Rekai before they were reborn. That she couldn't die meant that her soul would never know rest. It was a curse beyond comprehension.

"Time acted to correct itself in the only way it could once the Shikon was forever sealed away. I was returned to this time without enough time to say goodbye to my friends. Sango, Miroku, Kaede, and a human child I had grown close to, I knew as soon as I woke in the well house, were lost to me. I clung to the hope of finding the others still alive. I had been returned to my human family; a demon. I knew even before then the difference between demons and humans. I could not stay and endanger them and so I left when my father sent for me." Kagome explained as she turned back toward the table and used the cloth to clean her hands of blood.

"I found Lord Sesshomaru after Lord Yomi had entrusted Gandara to me during his absence. It was from him that I learned of what he knew of the others. My best friend is gone, but Lord Sesshomaru had taken in my kit when the last of our human friends had passed. I was told that once he was old enough Shippo would leave for a few years before returning. He has not returned for a few decades. I have been looking for my son since I came to Makai. I have also discovered the fates of others." Kagome's eyes were intense with hatred as she glanced up at Koenma again.

"I knew the humans would be gone, but your barrier has resulted in the deaths of many I cared for Prince Koenma. Jinenji was beaten by the human villagers since he was a child, and still, he possessed one of the kindest and gentle souls I have ever known. Little Ai was still so young. She had just started to experience life. Shion, Moegi, and Asagi were just children. Inuyasha... They were all hanyou. They were all innocent of any crimes, and they were still locked away in Makai. You saved the humans, but condemned them and many others to die just because they had demon blood in their veins. Their blood is on Rakai's hands. I will never forget that Prince Koenma. I will never forgive it, but I will do what I must to save the others of my kind. Even if that means working with Rekai to make that possible." Kagome growled before taking a breath to calm herself as her gaze fixed firmly on Koenma.

"You claim that Rekai has made sacrifices? You do not know the meaning of the word. Rekai does not make sacrifices; they make concessions. Luckily, King Enki, Lady Makuro, the council, and I have made our own concessions." Kagome said as she finally got back on track for the reason for this meeting.

She'd had an idea of what Koenma would say when the subject for the meeting had come up. She knew that she'd have to lay all her cards on the table by telling them her past, and the nature of her curse. She had done it regardless. Rekai liked to make excuses to justify the deaths caused by their barrier.

Kagome, however, would make no excuses for her actions in either the past or present. She knew that it was her actions that had killed so many. That had caused so much pain. Naraku and others shared the blame, but she had been the one to shatter the jewel. There was blood on her hands that would never wash clean. She knew that and had accepted both the blame and responsibility for her part in the events.

Rekai didn't.

She could never forgive them, but she could push her anger and hatred to the side if it meant stopping Rekai from repeating their mistakes.

"What concessions, Kagome?" Yusuke asked curiously knowing that her patience had already been tested.

"We replicate the cloning process. Humans use cloning in their food. We can grow humans like the humans grow their produce. Souls are Rekai's jurisdiction; we will return them to you so you can direct them on to another body. We just need the meat. They would be mindless without the concept of pain or thought without a soul though they will be alive. Demons will not starve. Humans will be safe from all but the rogues who don't follow our laws anyway. We just need Reaki's co-operation to take and return the souls, and the get DNA from humans with different blood types to suit the palette. Human farming is the best concession we can make." Kagome explained like it was simple, and really, it wasn't a complicated plan.

"You make it sound so civilized if we ignore the fact that you're farming humans like cattle." Shizune muttered and Yusuke couldn't help but snicker.

"Yeah, but Kagome is right. It's also a lot less work for Rekai than maintaining and protecting the barrier. The demons would be doing most of the work." Yusuke said before looking at Koenma for his opinion on the solution that had been proposed.

"What about the rogues who hunt the humans anyway?" Koenma asked as he looked to be thinking.

"If they're found hunting humans then they are breaking both Makai as well as Rekai law; kill them." Kagome replied with an uncaring tone and Hiei smirked at that response.

"The next tournament is coming up, isn't it? What if the next King or Queen decides humans should be hunted and they over-rule King Enki's law?" Koenma asked as he watched the demoness on the other side of him.

"Plan B." Kagome said with a small smile.

"What's Plan B?" Botan asked curiously as Yusuke looked at his sister in suspicion.

"I am responsible for the demons living within Tourin and Gandara until Yusuke and Lord Yomi return. If Yusuke decides he never wants it then as Raizen's remaining heir it will fall to me. Did you think I would allow Yusuke's thoughtless plan risk endangering those I am responsible for or to destroy the plans I had to make things better for our people?" Kagome asked with a small smirk at the dumbstruck look Yusuke was giving her before looking back at Koenma with a devious look in her eyes.

"No, there is a by-law to the tournament that says that any of the Lords or Ladies from either the Cardinal or High Houses may contest the rulership with very specific stipulations. If they can provide reasonable doubt to any law the new ruler proposes; they can fight to claim the position of Ruler." Kagome replied before explaining more.

"There must be a consensus of opinion from the Houses. If two High Houses object then the motion stands by the majority. If one High House objects, but the other two do not then the High House much have the support of three of the Cardinal Houses; one of which much be from one of the other territories. If it is a Cardinal House who objects while the High Houses do not then they need the support of one Cardinal Hose from their own territory as well as the support of two Cardinal Houses each from the two other territories. This by-law also applies to any King or Queen who tries to keep the rulership instead of holding another tournament to choose the next. The ruler has the option to fight to the death for their leadership or to withdraw the proposed law." Kagome said as her pointed teeth glinted in the light of the room.

"I have spoken with the Cardinal Houses of Tourin and shared my views for our world. I also have the support of Gandara's Western House in Lord Sesshomaru. If it is a law I protest then I will fight. They can be killed. I, however, can not." Kagome told them of the measures she had taken to be sure there was a backup plan in case it was needed.

"This by-law was written into effect and was signed in blood by myself as High Lady of Tourin as well as High Lord Yomi of Gandara and High Lady Makuro of Alaric. That paper every contestant must sign with a drop of blood at the beginning of the tournament is an acknowledgment of the by-laws they must adhere to. This by-law is binding for any King or Queen as well as the Lords and Ladies of Makai. Any effort to demolish the law is punishable by dishonor, the loss of rulership, and death."

Koenma couldn't help but almost gape at the demoness in front of him. He hadn't gotten to know her the way he had Yusuke. All he had to go on about her character was what he had been hearing from Makai these last two years, and what she had told him of her past. She was powerful, and yet she had not competed in the tournament for a chance to become the Queen of her kind. Instead, she was content with the station of the High Lady over the Tourin territory. She had acknowledged that she would be relinquishing control of Gandara to High Lord Yomi upon his return. Even with that, she was willing to step down from the Tourin seat if Yusuke decided he wanted to succeed their father in the future.

Lady Kagome had also made some valid points in all of her arguments today. She had boldly stated that she hated all of Rekai, but that she would put her personal feelings to the side if it would help her people. She had acted every bit the part of a high born demoness; with the exception of when he had angered her and she had unknowingly injured her brother and Kurama. Then she had dropped her anger to heal those she had hurt before going right back to business.

She was a ruler in her own right and cared for her people. She had come here today to fight for their future. To attempt to come to a solution with the co-operation of Rekai. She wanted to save them from starvation while allowing them to continue to have the freedom of the last two years.

"Alright, Lady Kagome." Koenma found himself giving her a small smile behind his pacifier as he nodded once.

"Prepare the set-up for these... farms of yours and I will see what I can do to provide assistance on our end. You were right in what you said earlier. I will speak with my father about all you have told me today. Perhaps it's time for Rekai to take a closer look into exactly what consequences our interference with the other worlds are creating. You have given us a lot to think about." Koenma said and he noticed Kagome's eye soften a bit as she bowed lightly.

"Thank you for seeing me today, and for listening, Prince Koenma." Kagome said formally as Koena stood and left through the portal Botan opened for him.

"Would you like me to open a portal back to Tourin, Lady Kagome?" Botan offered kindly as Kurama stood to offer his hand to help Kagome stand; his torn shirt had been put back on even as it showed the exposed skin of his side.

"That would be lovely Botan, thank you." Kagome replied as she stood only to have her attention drawn away from the reaper by her brother.

"Hey, Kagome? I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I was being an ignorant jerk the last time I saw you. Thank you; for everything you've been doing for me. You had my back, and I kinda just threw it back in your face without thinking about how you were feeling." Yusuke admitted as he apologized.

"Yusuke... It is alright. I know you thought you were helping. Your impulsive, and you do not think passed what is right in front of you. I have always known how you are. I have missed you, but I have been making friends while you've been away. I am not alone. Just... promise me you will be happy until you decide to come back to me. You will have to meet your nephew upon your return." Kagome said as she tried to be confident in that last statement.

"I promise. Wait, you've found Shippo?" Yusuke perked up at the thought only to frown when Kagome shook her head.

"No, but with some help, I am hoping he will be home with me soon." She said as she glanced at Hiei meaningfully; causing Yusuke to look and smile as he understood.

"Thanks, man." Yusuke said as he nodded to his friend.

"Hn. A deal's a deal. I will let you know what I find." Hiei said with a nod to the siblings before he disappeared through the portal back to Makai.

"Deal? What kind of deal did you make with Hiei?" Yusuke asked in curiosity which caused Kagome and Kurama to chuckle.

"You know Hiei. He wanted to know what she was." Kurama's amused reply was met with laughter from his old friend.

"I have to be going, Yusuke. I was allowed admittance to Ningenkai only for the meeting." Kagome said before hugging him tightly.

"Yeah. I'll be back before you know it." Yusuke said as he squeezed her tight in the hug before letting go of her as Keiko came up to him.

"I suspect this will be the last time I will meet many of you. You take care of Yusuke for me Keiko. I truly do hope you are both happy together." Kagome said as she stepped away from the couple.

"I will, Kagome. Yusuke explained to me what had happened while he was in Makai. Thank you. At least with you, I know he'll have someone waiting for him." Keiko responded as she wrapped her arm around Yusuke's next to her.

Kagome nodded first to her and Shizune and Kuwabara before looking to Yukina with a smile.

"It has been nice seeing you again, Yukina. Please remember you are welcome as a guest of my House should you ever find yourself in Tourin." Kagome smiled as she looked at the koorime.

She truly did hope that Hiei would tell her someday. He just wasn't ready right now, but they were demons. They would have centuries yet provided nothing happened to either of them. That was what scared her the most in her search to find Shippo. She could sympathize with Yukine, but she knew Hiei must have his reasons. It was not her place to tell Yukina what she knew.

"Be safe, Kagome." Yukina smiled at the offer, but Kagome knew it would likely be a long time until she saw her again.

"Genkai. Thank you for your hospitality. I apologize if I've caused any damage." Kagome said; feeling a bit sheepish for not having better control of her temper.

"Don't mind it. I'm used to it with that idiot. I swear; sometimes it's hard to believe you two are related. Then you go and prove any doubts wrong." Genkai chuckled as she pointed at Yusuke who spluttered indignantly.

"Are you coming through, my lady?" Kagome looked toward the portal as Kujou peeked through curiously and she chuckled.

"I am just bidding farewell to a few people, Kujou. I will be home momentarily." She answered as she waited for him to pull back out of the portal.

"Is it good news?" He asked after seeing her smile more brightly than she had in months.

"It is. Very good. Call a meeting with my advisors, and have them waiting for me when I return. We have much to do before I depart for Gandara tomorrow." Kagome told him only to laugh as he pulled back through the portal with a cheer.

"Kujou is staying with you in the stronghold?" Yusuke asked with a raised brow.

"King Enki decided that I was overloaded with work while trying to deal with the affairs of Tourin and Gandara without a second for either territory as well as my responsibilities to the Council. Kujou and Natsume volunteered to assist me. Natsume is just waiting for either Lord Yomi or Kurama to return. She has said that she may join us in Touirn after that. Kujou has been a good friend to me. He has told me he will remain with me at least until your return. Saizou visits often to spar with me as well." Kagome told him knowing that he had been worried she would be alone when he left.

Their father had shared that same worry with her once. It still hurt her to think that he was gone, but she liked to think he would have been pleased that his old friends had taken to watching over her since his death. She had told him she was content to wait then. Now, she could say that she was enjoying the life she had. Her work on the Council and in the two territories was satisfying. The only thing that could make it better was finding her kit and bringing him home.

"Hmph. I'm glad dad's old buddies have been there for you." Yusuke smiled at seeing that she was happier now than last he had seen her.

"I'll write to you soon. The next tournament is coming up. Yomi may be back. I wish you luck with him if he does return. Let me know once things settle down." Kurama said as she turned back to him.

"I'm sure I will be fine with Lord Yomi when he returns. I just hope he is pleased with what he finds. Thank you so much for your help, Kurama. I will be sure to let you know how things progress." Kagome told him as he clasped her hand and bent to graze her knuckles with his lips.

"Until next time, my lady." He said sweetly only to laugh as she pulled her hand from his and gave him a gentle swat on his arm.

"Ugh, kitsune. Incorrigible charmers." She chuckled before stepping away and toward the portal.

"I wish you well." She called to the group before stepping through and back into Makai.

Kagome smiled up at the purple-red sky of the Makai afternoon.

"They are waiting for you, Kagome." Kujou's voice called to her from the door to the central tower.

"I am on my way. I have good news to share with you all, and we have a lot of work to do."

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Well here is the most recent installment. Still working on the next chapter, but I don't know when it will be ready for pasting. Let me know what you thought!

~Ryu