Sumimasen for the fucking longest fucking brake (NEARLY A YEAR!) and the use of the word, 'fucking,' twice and I want to post this asap so the AN is gonna be short because I wanna post this asap, which I already mentioned, and because I hate ANs so if I offend anybody, then fuck off- I mean, SORRY FOR MY ABSENCE. But I swear that after scoring 92.8% in boards I am glad I did so and you're gonna kill me so HERE IT IS! The awaited chapter! Love you all!

Replies to your amazing reviews, thy guests!

Guest (July 4, 2014): Oh, kill me for that date. Thank you! I read gray-centric stories too!

Guest (July 23, 2014): He is on the top of the church because Gray is secretly a girl and has mood swings and read the story to find out!

Guest (July 28, 2014): Here I am, continuing the story!

Guest (Aug 3, 2014): I love love love you too!

BeautifulWonder: Thank you for your review! Much appreciated!

Tsubasa: I don't believe the story is well written, but thank you! And here's the much awaited update!

Guest (Aug 15-16-16, 2014): My amazing deduction skills tell me you are the same person. Here's the update!

Guest (Sept 21-21; Nov 17, 2014): Here's the update!

Please continue: At last. You are my favourite one. XD That's because you are literally the one who instigated this procrastinator to move her ass and write. Thank you so much! And btw I would love to read your version and the ending of the story! :)

Warning: Wrote this in a hurry. Proofread only once. Sorry for mistakes!

Disclaimer: Fuck you.

Enjoy!

Chapter – 9

Full Possession?

"Gray?" Natsu started hesitantly. He went to the top of the Kardia Cathedral, with Happy's help. Black clouds surrounded the sky, making the surroundings dark. It had started to pour a while ago. Gray was standing below the structure that was supporting the church bell turned around, not meeting Natsu's eyes. Natsu sniffed the air. He couldn't distinguish Gray's smell.

Was it another clone? No, the clones happened to smell like Gray's ice and mint. And since the past two days, Natsu had observed enough to realize that he couldn't smell Gray anymore.

He was certain. This was the real Gray.

"Natsu," Gray started hesitantly, "W-what are you doing here?"

Natsu's anger flared up. "You idiot! I had been searching for you for the whole day! What were you thinking, running off like that?" Natsu glared at Gray, while the latter stood there, still not meeting his eyes.

"You know why I ran off." Natsu gritted his teeth. Of course he knew why.

Suddenly, Happy said, "I'll… just go and inform the Master that Gray is safe." Happy tried to fly off but Gray's voice halted him. "Don't tell them we are here. Please."

"W-why?"

Gray's bangs covered his face, "Because… I don't trust myself anymore."

Happy glanced at Natsu and then hesitantly looked back at Gray. At last, He flew off.

"Gramps!" Laxus barged into the guild hall. Master Makarov looked up from the bar. "Laxus, you're back. Did you get any information from him?"

"Yes, and sadly, it's not good news."

Master looked at him anxiously, "What happened?"

"I caught Jean Luc Neville right in time before he could escape from Emzorde. He said he met his father just before midnight. Will, or should I say Drake, met Jean just before Gray was possessed." Master's eyes widened.

Flashback

In the Forest, Outskirts of Emzorde, Fiore

"That night," Jean nervously started, "just before midnight, my father, sort of, materialized in front of me. I was terrified of him. I thought he came back to avenge himself. I thought I was gonna die!" Jean paused, and took a deep breath to calm down.

"I didn't realize that my father was long dead by then. The person I was talking to wasn't my father. It was Drake. It was Drake from the moment he stepped out of the ruins. My father was long gone." He sobbed, "As I stood there petrified, he laughed maniacally and said, 'At last, I will get a worthy vessel! Those years I spent struggling are finally over!' I couldn't speak. I couldn't run. I was terrified of this man who looked like my father.

"At last, he turned towards me and said, 'I'll finally be free. I'll finally have my revenge. I will massacre this worthless village.' He grinned towards me, 'And I will start with you.'

"That very moment, the clock chimed twelve. I had a sudden adrenaline rush and jumped out of the way of his attack just in time. But when I turned towards him, I realized he was lying on the floor. It was my father's body. He was dead," Jean gulped, "That was the moment I realized what he was talking about. The worthy vessel was none other than one of those Fairies. The moment the clock chimed, his vessel had reached him.

"That was the very moment he had succeeded to possess Gray."

Laxus finished his story. Master sat on the bar thinking. He gave a defeated sigh.

Laxus looked down. "Jean had thought before the encounter that Drake was after him. But that was not it. Something had happened to Drake in that place that had made him hell-bent for destroying it. He plans to slaughter Emzorde."

"What?" Master suddenly remembered. "Today is the third day, the day of slaughter. Do you mean Gray's off to Emzorde?!"

Laxus looked up with wide eyes, "What do you mean? He's not here?"

"No, he ran away from the infirmary in the afternoon."

"Ran away? What were you thinking, old man?!" Laxus gritted his teeth and turned towards his comrades. "Bickslow, Ever, let's go and find-"

"Miiiinnnaaaa!" Suddenly a blue fur ball collided onto Laxus' face. The dragon slayer held him at his arm's length, "W-what the hell?!"

Happy suddenly focused, "Natsu found Gray!"

"What? Where?!"

"He is on the top of the Kardia Cathedral! I told Loke and Lucy to go there too!"

"Good job, Happy!" Makarov said, "Freed, go to the Cathedral take Wendy with you. Levy, ask Porlyusica-san to come over. The rest of you, stay here, just in case."

"Understood, Master."

It was beginning to pour heavily. Gray went over to the edge and looked towards Magnolia. Natsu still didn't move from his place.

Natsu said, "Why were you here?"

Gray didn't meet his eyes. Come to think of it, Natsu couldn't see his eyes at all. "I don't know. I just felt like it, I guess."

"Felt like it? Do you have any idea how fucking worried I was? DO YOU?" Natsu went towards the raven and held him by his collar, "I had been searching for the whole day! It's been night already. And you're here telling me you felt-"

"The whole day?" Gray finally looked up. Something was wrong. "B-but I had been here since an hour."

"… What do you mean?" Natsu said hesitantly, still searching for the reason of his suspicion. "I came here an hour ago. I'm certain. And how could you not find me in such an obvious place. I mean… the Cathedral is visible from everywhere!"

Natsu finally spotted it. "Your left eye."

Gray looked at him warily, "What the hell? What about it?"

"It… It is green."

Loke looked up at the Cathedral. Even in the rain, there was no mistaking it. Those guys up there were Natsu and Gray. The heavy downpour couldn't allow him to focus though.

Loke quickly entered the Cathedral and made a beeline for the stairs.

"Hang in there Gray. I'm coming."

But what Loke didn't notice was that the Cathedral bells were chiming. It was already midnight.

"But how is that possible?" Lucy said, as the four girls ran towards the Cathedral, "We passed the Cathedral countless times! How couldn't we ever notice? And it's nearly midnight." Lucy shivered involuntarily.

"I don't know how," Erza said, "But I'm sure Drake has something to do with it."

Mira frowned, "But Erza, that means Drake was able to control Gray without being in the hour of possession."

"Yes," Erza bit her lip, "that was evident from the note itself."

Juvia stopped, her eyes wide in fear, "B-but then how would we know that the person we talked to in the morning was Gray sama? If Juvia is right about some kind of magic barrier keeping us away from the Cathedral, does that mean that Drake-san can use his magic as well?"

Erza frowned, "I am pretty sure that the person was Gray. After all, I know him since a long time. Only Gray would act like the way he did in the hospital. And you're right. Drake has somehow managed to use the Ethernano contained in Gray's body.

"Drake has become stronger than expected."

"And now you guys decide to tell me that my brother's life is in danger!" Gajeel groaned at the continuous whining of Lyon Vastia. They were running towards the guild hall, straight from the train station. Gajeel had decided. He wasn't cut out for such kinds of jobs.

"Look, Ice-block. When I escort you, I expect you to shut the fuck up. So do that."

"Oh yeah, metal-head? Gray is all alone, trapped in his own mind and you tell me-"

A loud crash halted the two. The flames burning the tower of the Cathedral told them their destination.

"Let's go."

"W-what do you mean it is green?" Natsu left his collar and looked around. "How long has he been using your magic?"

"Natsu…"

"It's not been an hour, Gray! Can't you see? It's fucking dark outside. And I came here when the sun hadn't even set!"

"How does that prove anything?"

"Look at your watch."

Gray looked at him and then looked at the time. "Why… why it moving so fast?" Then Gray realized with horror, "A Time Warp. No, more like a space and time warp. Runes are covering this place, shortening the time for me and warping the space for the outsiders, making them think that no one's here!

"But… but then how did you…?"

"I don't know. Happy was randomly looking around and pointing at people when I saw you. Maybe it was a type a blind spot."

"A blind spot… Either the runes don't work the way I think they do, or his magic isn't strong enough. But whatever the reason is, that means one could see us if they focus-"

Gray suddenly shivered and grabbed his hair. "It's… It's gonna be midnight… He's gonna take control… Natsu, you've no idea what he has told me. You have no idea what he plans to do to our nakama!"

Natsu was shocked. Did he just witness what he think he did? Realizing he was being addressed, he snapped out of it. "What… What do you plan to do, Drake?"

"W-What are you saying, Natsu?"

"At least learn some acting from Gray himself," Natsu growled. The raven looked at him with wide eyes, "There is no way that Gray would know about the doom of his nakama and then declare that he's randomly on the top of the Cathedral because he felt like it."

Raven bangs covered Gray's eyes. But Natsu couldn't miss it. Both his eyes had a tint of green in them. Suddenly, the raven haired mage smirked. "Oh well, that was quite silly of me, ne, Natsu-kun?"

Natsu's eyes widened as he dodged the incoming attack. Gray, or Drake, had a maniacal grin plastered on his face. "It's more fun like this, isn't it? Ah, it's been so long since I set my runes so perfectly!" He laughed again. Then suddenly, his eyes widened and he gave a slight gasp.

"N-Natsu…"

"Gray?" Natsu hesitantly stepped closer to confirm. Both of his eyes were dark blue.

"N-Natsu, I can't… stay for long… nngh!" Gray grabbed his head again, as if in pain, "Please… run… He would… kill you all-" He gasped again and fell onto his knees. "Gray!" Natsu approached the ice mage and kneeled as well, "Don't let him take control! I know you can do it!"

"N-Natsu," Gray spoke urgently, "He has become stronger. I can't control him after midnight, no matter how hard I- give up, ice mage." Natsu gasped and backed away as those eyes swirled into a sick shade of glowing green and the corona started to blacken. The church bell started to ring and the rain turned into a storm.

Natsu sat there, frozen at his place, looking at the ice mage with wide eyes. Gray got trapped inside his mind again right in front of him and he couldn't do anything. All he could do was stare at the ice mage's hollow eyes.

Then suddenly, everything became dark. Natsu frantically looked around to search for a speck of light when finally, he saw him. There was Gray in a pitch black void, grabbing his head, crouching. As Natsu saw, the scenery morphed into a thick black forest. The moon shone bright green. Gray got up from his position and looked around frantically, as if expecting something to attack him.

"Gray!" Natsu shouted, startling the ice mage. Gray looked at him and then sighed in relief. "Natsu? How did you end up here again?"

"I… I don't know." Natsu couldn't comprehend what was happening anymore. He had guessed that his previous trip inside Gray's mind was just due to their accidental contact. But this time, he remembered being on a completely different edge of the Cathedral than Gray. Yet how…?

"Graaay…"

Natsu and Gray quickly stood back to back, anticipating the moves of Drake.

"Oh, it looks like the dragon boy managed to slip in again." The disjointed voice laughed. "I wonder how you did it this time. What genes do you possess to achieve this feat without any contact?" The voice slowly became concentrated somewhere behind Natsu. He turned around, only to find Drake. His eyes glowed green, as he smirked at them. Both the boys took battle stances.

Then Drake's smirk morphed into a dark scowl. "Unfortunately, I can't even control you like the last time. You're not in contact with Gray-kun." Suddenly, a flaming fist collided onto Drake's face. Drake staggered back and fell. "I won't let you touch Gray! I have sworn to protect him and no one can stop me from doing so!"

Drake chuckled and stood up. "Boy, you are interrupting my process." He materialized a quill from thin air, "Dark Écriture: Pain."

Suddenly, Natsu felt a sharp pain at the back of his head. He screamed, grabbing his head futilely trying to decrease the pain. With his blurred vision, he could see Gray attacking Drake with ice lances and Drake deflecting them easily. Natsu panted, trying to minimize the pain to at least help Gray, but he couldn't even produce flames in this condition, let alone fight.

Suddenly, the pain in his head subsided. As he opened his eyes again, he saw a Drake inside an ice cage, kneeling and panting.

Drake chuckled under his breath, "I overestimated the amount of magic I could draw from you, Gray-kun. Looks like you haven't been broken enough." Drake glared at Gray and then at Natsu, his green eyes glowing through his dark hair. "You are a hindrance, dragon boy," Drake smirked, "And look! Our first audience is here."

"Loke," Gray whispered in horror. Natsu felt a tug at the back of his mind. Was Loke at the Cathedral? And was trying to wake him up?

He could not let it happen again!

"Natsu!" Gray looked at him with terrified eyes. Natsu looked down and saw himself fading away. Gray ran towards the fire mage, only to be stopped by runes. "Natsu, don't wake up! Please, don't go again!"

"Gray," Natsu could see the forest fading, Gray's voice fading away as he tried to break free from the runes. On the other side, Natsu heard the sound of the ice cage breaking and the Rune mage chuckling darkly. He heard a distant scream similar to that of Gray.

And the last thing that resonated in his mind was, "Goodbye, dragon boy,"

When Natsu blinked next, he was met with Loke, drenched to the bones in rain water.

"Natsu," suddenly, Loke flew backwards with the raging punch of the dragon slayer. "You… you… how could you!" Natsu knew he was crying by now. "Why did you wake me up? Why couldn't you wake Gray instead?"

"Natsu I… You were writhing in pain and… I couldn't even touch Gray I… I am sorry," Loke sat there, looking hiding his face with his palm. "I was late," he whispered.

Natsu looked away from Loke to focus on the main problem. Loke was right. Gray laid there, panting, with his green eyes open. Runes surrounded, shielding him from any form of external disturbance. But Natsu wouldn't have any of that.

"Fire Dragon's ROAR!" Natsu attacked the runes with all the strength he could muster up, but they didn't budge. Suddenly, Gray's body jolted. His eyes closed and scrunched up, as if in pain. Was Gray trying to fight back?

After what seemed like ages, Gray's voice was heard, saying the only word Natsu didn't want hear, "T-Tasukete…"

The dark forest seemed to be endless. The moon shone with the sick shade of green. Gray ran as fast as he could. He was desperate to get out of this forest. It was suffocating him. It was terrifying him. Because he knew what would happen in this forest, because he knew what would happen if Drake would catch him.

Leaves crushed under his feet. He was exhausted. His magic was depleted. He didn't have any energy left. But he had to keep on running.

He just could not stop. He just could not give up, because if he did, he would end up getting possessed.

'Today is third Day, Gray-kun. Do you know what happens today?' Drake said in his mocking voice.

'Leave me alone. I came to the Cathedral to NOT hear your voice.'

'Oh, but this day is gonna be fun, Gray-kun. At least, fun for me.' Gray could imagine Drake smiling. 'And after yesterday, you certainly won't trust your nakama anymore. I'm just doing you a favour,' Drake chuckled darkly, 'so, you might also enjoy as I… Slaughter them.'

Gray's eyes widened, remembering the conversation. He couldn't let that happen.

A maniacal laughter echoed through the forest. His heartbeat became faster, and breathing unsteady. The dark mist started to creep towards him. He didn't even dare to turn around. He knew he was being followed.

He couldn't stand those green glowing irises.

Darkness kept creeping closer from his sides, but he kept running forward, even if his feet screamed to stop. The forest was becoming thinner, and he could feel the familiar warmth around him. He could see his light among the darkness. He could feel Natsu's heat somewhere around him.

But his fate wasn't with him. He tripped. He tried to get up but he couldn't. He had twisted his ankle. And as he watched with widened eyes, his only source of light was slowly eaten away by darkness.

"Trying to run off, huh?"

His breath hitched. Reluctantly, he turned around to meet those green irises. He was frozen in place. Slowly, the runes crept up his hands, immobilizing him. A sword materialized into Drake's hand.

Gray knew that this was it. And all he could do was whisper under his breath, "T-Tasukete…"

Drake then looked right into his eyes and pierced the sword right through his heart.

Natsu watched in horror as Gray screamed at the top of his lungs. He could see a weak silhouette of a sword passing through Gray's heart.

"Gray!" Loke screamed in horror. "No… NO! He's killing Gray!" Loke desperately attacked the runes with his Regulus magic as Natsu stood there petrified. "He… lost?" Natsu whispered. Loke punched the runes in frustration. "Someone call Freed! These fucking runes… Gyah!"

Natsu saw the blood flowing out freely from Gray's wound, drenching his white shirt red. "Please," Loke sobbed, leaning onto the barrier.

And then, as if responding to Loke's pleads, Gray jolted. The runes disappeared slowly. Loke ran to Gray's body and held it close. "His wound is closing." Loke said, "Natsu, look he's-"

"Get away from him!" Natsu screamed.

"Nani?" Natsu ran towards Loke, in hope of reaching him in time "Get away from him! He's pos-" But he was too late. Everything slowed down. Gray opened his green eyes and smirked. Jagged ice materialized on his forearm. Loke looked at Gray with wide eyes as realization sunk in. Natsu couldn't stop the assault in time and the ice sliced Loke right across his chest and neck.

Natsu blasted off Drake with fire and caught Loke before he touched the ground. Loke was bleeding. He heard Loke's raspy voice as Loke chuckled, "S-Shit. I let… my guard down."

"Loke, please don't talk," Natsu pleaded the celestial spirit, trying to stop the profuse bleeding with his precious scarf. But it wasn't helping. "This would buy us some time."

At a distance, he could hear a maniacal laughter. Natsu turned to glare at the culprit of this chaos, in the body of his best friend. "Poor Leo is going to die! My condolences," Drake smirked.

Natsu stood up with a flaming fist. "What did you do to him?"

Drake looked at him, boring his green piercing eyes into his skull, "I used runes, of course." Natsu's eyes widened. He looked at Loke, only to find green runes glowing around him. "He can't return. He can't be healed. Poor spirit is gonna die in the human world!" Drake laughed maniacally.

"Why you… Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu punched Drake in the face for the second time. Drake stumbled back and summoned ice magic. Natsu noticed Drake used only one hand.

"What are you doing, dragon boy?" Drake faked a pout, "Do you wish to destroy your friend's pretty face?"

"I won't hold back to beat up a person who hurt my nakama."

"Oh, well, that's too bad." Drake glared menacingly, "because I can't have you destroying my vessel." Drake summoned ice and runes together. "Ice make…" Natsu shuddered at how different it sounded, "…Lance!" Multiple lances were fired towards Natsu. He dodged each of them with fire. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu attacked. Drake dodged barely, his shirt sleeve caught on fire. The attack ended up destroying one tower of the building.

"Gray!" Natsu said, as Drake's eyes widened. "Look at what he has done to Loke! Do you want this to happen to your nakama?"

Drake smirked, "It's of no use, dragon slayer. I am in control!"

"He would kill everyone, Gray! I know you are in there. I know you can fight him!" Natsu said, dodging another ice attack.

"Enough of these futile screams, boy!" Drake scowled. "No one has ever succeeded in stopping the Full Possession!"

Full Possession? Natsu didn't want to believe that. "GRAY!" He screamed.

Suddenly, Drake jolted with wide eyes. He gasped and grabbed his head again. His green eyes flickered and dimmed out and he looked at Natsu. Natsu couldn't believe it. It was Gray!

"I-Ice make… Bandage," Gray whispered. A thin layer covered Loke's wound. Gray turned towards Natsu, "I'm… sorry," He collapsed. "Gray!" Natsu nearly went to his aid but soon realized why he collapsed. Gray appearing in the possession hour, and also at a time which Drake stated as "Full Possession," Natsu couldn't be any more awed by the ice mage's will power.

He had to get Gray out of this.

Drake stood up shakily. "That petty ice mage won't be doing that again. I won't let him."

"Talk big as much as you want, Drake," the dragon slayer glared at him with his fiery fists ready, "You will never be as strong as Gray."

"You pathetic dragon boy…"

Drake appeared behind the dragon slayer, "Ice make: sword!" Drake sliced down at Natsu, but Natsu sidestepped easily. "Looks like you still cannot control him." Natsu mocked, "Because your ice attacks are useless."

"You might be right," Drake said, and suddenly runes appeared around Natsu, "But my runes never fail me." Natsu eyes widened. He had completely forgot! But it was too late. He had walked right into the trap. He blasted off Drake away from the building before the runes took effect. And the last thing he heard before blacking out was, "Dark Écriture: Suffering."

"Lucy-san!" Wendy waved at the four girls. The two groups approached the Cathedral together. "Freed, Wendy," Erza said, "let's go and-" A blast interrupted their conversation, followed by a scream. "Natsu!" Lucy ran inside, followed by the rest of the group. And when she reached to the top, she didn't expect what she saw.

"Loke, Natsu!" Erza ran to Natsu along with Wendy, while Lucy and Freed went towards Loke. "Loke, h-how did this happen? How is this possible?" Lucy sobbed as she removed Natsu's bloodied scarf only to find the blood flow stopped by a thin layer of ice.

"Gray… no, Drake d-did this. I c-couldn't…" Loke was breathing too heavily for Lucy's liking. "You could have returned to the spirit world, you baka!"

"There are runes covering him, making him unable to do so," Freed said, "I'll try to dispel them."

"Natsu," Erza shook the fallen dragon slayer vigorously. Wendy snatched Natsu away before he could die of a concussion. She started healing the pinkette.

"P-Princess," Loke coughed, "I'm sorry. Gray's completely out of-" Loke had a coughing fit. "Loke!"

Freed concentrated hard on unraveling the runes. Finally, the green runes dispelled. Loke started to dissolve into golden particles. "Lucy…" he said, "Please, save Gray." Loke returned back to spirit world.

"Gray-sama…" Juvia said. Mira looked at her worriedly. "What's the matter, Juvia?"

"G-Gray sama cannot do this. Juvia believes in Gray-sama." Juvia sobbed. Then suddenly, she ran away. "Juvia!" Mira called after her. "I'll go after her," Erza said. She looked at the scene for one last time and then she, too, went out of the Cathedral.

"Gyah! Where is that bastard! I would beat the shit outta him!" Needless to say, Natsu was awake. "Natsu-san," Wendy said, "Please don't move. You need to rest." "But Drake-"

Natsu flinched at the sharp pain in his head." Wendy gasped and forced him down. "You are not moving, Natsu-san," she said with a domineering tone.

"Natsu," Lucy whispered. Natsu looked at her worriedly, "W-what's it, Lucy?" Lucy sobbed. "Lucy-"

"How could you let it happen?" Natsu's mind became blank. What did she just say? "You went after Gray saying you were gonna bring him back. The why did he get possessed again?!" Lucy screamed. Then she realized what she had said and looked at Natsu with terrified eyes "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! I-I was being too emotional. It's not your fault-"

"You're right, Lucy," Natsu's bangs covered his eyes. "I managed to slip through Gray's mind again. But I failed to stop him. If I had been stronger-"

"Natsu-san!" Wendy cut in.

"She's right, Wendy." Natsu looked up in determination. "Gray was strong enough to break free, to freeze Loke's wound and buy him some time. I won't let that effort go waste. And I promise you, Lucy. I'll bring Gray back, no matter what happens."

Lucy looked at him with tears swimming in her eyes. "I believe in you, Natsu."

"We need to get there fast!" Lyon exclaimed, "Speed up, Gajeel!"

"I'm running ahead of you, ice block!" Gajeel retorted, irritated by Lyon's continuous rants. "Just shut up and run-"

"Gray," Lyon exclaimed.

"Nani?" Gajeel asked in confusion.

"Gray is right there, on the road. And he is walking away from us! Let's go!" Lyon ran forward, to catch up with Gray. And he came closer to his unavoidable fate, unaware of the green glowing eyes and a maniacal smirk.

End of Chapter 9

And there it is. Sorry for the cliffy! Also, not sorry. lololol.

In the story, I used the concept of trapping a celestial spirit inside runes to make him unable to escape to the spirit world. This idea belongs to Wild Rhov and has been used in her story, "I Leave You, My Pride." Go check her out!

Thank you for your continued support! Love to hear from you people! Stay tuned. And mind you, I am NOT abandoning any stories. I am too stubborn to leave a task unfinished. So, yeah. (Anticlimatic as fuck.)

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