Hi!

I'm really proud of myself - I've gotten a chapter out in less than two weeks since the last one! I know this used to be habit but I haven't done it for a while. Perhaps it's a good omen for getting chapters out sooner in the future too!D

Ok, anyway, since nobody suggested a name for chapter twenty I'll think of one myself and post it up sometime.

Hope you enjoy it!

In the diluted moonlight filtering through the glass into the room it was easy to see that, despite the effects of the blood, it had pink hair. Then there was no doubt about it.

It was Sakura.

Evening was a time for thoughtful silences and reminiscing, Shikamaru decided as he slowly ambled along a deserted street. He was in a quiet part of town, having spent several hours walking beforehand. He wasn't sure where he was going but that didn't really bother him. All he wanted was to be alone and think anyway - and his mother was at home (he had been too lazy to find his own place).

Ino…what were you thinking?

Shikamaru had never considered Ino to be very clever although he had enjoyed her company and it frustrated him that he couldn't understand why she had left. Had she been forced? It was the only logical reason he could think of, but why would they take her? It also frustrated him that he hadn't been able to stop them.

He wasn't like Naruto - blindly running after people based solely on his feelings - because he preferred to think things through first and was normally on the back line, making the plans and coming up with tactics. Now though he wished he was more impulsive. If he had gone to see her earlier instead of thinking so long about what to say to her then he might have been able to prevent her kidnapping.

'Kusou,' he hissed through his teeth, clenching his hands into fists. He really didn't want to lose both team members. What if Ino died? Just like Chouji and Asuma…

…I would be the only one left of team Asuma!

The thought scared him. It made him feel as if he was living a new life, somewhere very far away. His past was drifting further and further away from him and yet he was powerless to stop it.

He halted his steps for a minute or two to calm himself down, gradually relaxing his muscles until he was confident that the feeling of despair and insecurity had vanished.

Lifting his head Shikamaru realised that he wasn't far from the graveyard where Asuma had been buried. Face blank, he decided to pay him a visit; and then I'll tell Kurenai about Ino. I don't want to hurt her but I hesitated with Ino and lost her. I don't want to lose Kurenai too.

It didn't take long to reach the cemetery as his pace was brisk now he had an idea of where he was going. Whilst he walked his mind turned to Temari and how he hadn't seen her for a while. They hadn't spoken lately either, not even on the phone. Was that his fault? It wasn't as if he was desperately busy, but he supposed that he had been occupied with trying to find a part time job; something his parents had suggested as he hadn't been on many missions lately.

I wonder how she is, he thought pensively, smiling as he remembered her face. Maybe I should pay her a surprise visit in Suna sometime. That bought him back to Ino though and how he couldn't leave in case something else happened. The smile faded.

Asuma's grave didn't have many flowers on it although it had done soon after his death. Gradually, over time, people had stopped visiting him and now it looked pitiful. Surprisingly though, as Shikamaru had expected a private chat, there was somebody already there, kneeling beside the grave. It was Kurenai, and in her hand was a fresh bouquet of flowers. It looked as if she had picked them herself.

Shikamaru froze when he saw her there. He couldn't see her face but he could see from the way her shoulders were shaking that she was crying. Inwardly he swore. He wasn't very good at being 'the shoulder to cry on' and he always found situations like this awkward. Then again, he wanted to talk to Kurenai and he didn't want to wait in case something happened to her.

Maybe I'll just hide and wait for her to stop crying. I can come back to see Asuma another day.

Thus thinking Shikamaru took a step back, intending on turning and finding somewhere to stay until Kurenai had calmed down. Before he could even turn his head though he saw Kurenai's head jerk up and snap around to look at him. Her eyes were wide, glistening orbs staring at him in surprise. Seeing that it was only Shikamaru though they softened and she managed a shaky smile.

Now that he had been spotted Shikamaru decided it was expected of him to stay and so he walked forward until he was standing by the grave. Then he knelt down to her level, trying not to look at her face. It was obvious she had been crying because her cheeks were stained and her eyes still wet and diluted.

It was easier than he thought it would be to comfort her though because it seemed as if his very presence had quietened her. No more tears flowed now and she sat in silence, staring at the flowers she had bought. Shikamaru didn't have any flowers but he never had done when visiting Asuma. Instead he could still see the line of cigarette butts he had left at the foot of the grave.

Realising that Kurenai might still be a while as she showed no sighs of moving Shikamaru seated himself properly before taking a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting it. It had been a while since he had last smoked one - generally he only smoked in Asuma's presence - but the feel was so familiar that it didn't matter. Kurenai, of course, didn't object; she never had worried about second hand smoke.

Asuma…I'm sorry I haven't been for a while. I should really get myself sorted out - but you knew I was lazy anyway. Shikamaru glanced at Kurenai out of the corner of his eye. It felt weird talking to Asuma with her there - he always talked to him alone - but he knew that she couldn't hear what he was saying.

Ino has been taken by the Akatsuki. Chouji is dead. I feel as if I'm the only one left, Asuma. What should I do? Am I next? Why are they targeting us? Am I just being unreasonable? I really don't understand.

Shikamaru sighed, removing the cigarette from his mouth and exhaling one last time before extinguishing the slow-burning fire on the grass at the foot of the grave and withdrawing his hand.

I wish you could help me. Shikamaru mused but stopped before he could wish that Asuma was back with him, alive, in this world. I would wish that - for you to be alive with me here - but this world is bleak. I wouldn't know, but yours is probably much better.

'Shikamaru…' Kurenai's soft voice spoke up and Shikamaru tilted his head to look at her. She didn't say anymore but her eyes were enough to tell him of her intentions; it was time to go.

Until next time, Asuma.

Shikamaru rose with her, after she had lain her flowers on Asuma's grave, and they walked in silence out of the graveyard. It was not an awkward silence and so Shikamaru didn't feel tempted to break it. Instead he revelled in it; it was less effort this way anyway.

Kurenai hesitated at where they would usually part ways but Shikamaru shook his head slightly, not wanting to return home just then.

'I'll walk you home,' he offered, finally breaking the silence. Kurenai didn't object and the quiet blanketed them again as he walked beside her for the next five minutes to her house. He had intended to talk to her about Ino but somehow he couldn't bear it. She was already hurting and he wasn't sure if he would be able to make it worse for her. He wasn't that heartless. Thus, reluctantly, he prepared to leave her at her door, rebuking himself for hesitating like he said he wouldn't.

'Would you…like to come in?' Kurenai finally managed to ask, her voice barely a whisper, but she was smiling the same soft smile she had at the graveyard and so he nodded.

Over a cup of tea Shikamaru thought it might be easier to talk but he could only breach menial subjects such as the weather.
'How's your son?' He inquired after another long pause.

'Oh? Good,' she answered softly. 'He's sleeping.'

'Getting on well at school?'

'Mm. I think so.' She sighed though and averted her eyes after that. Shikamaru wasn't sure if he should pursue the topic and so didn't.
'Shikamaru…have you, ah, checked on Ino yet?'

It was as if he had been given an electric shock; the hairs at the back of his neck rose and he dug his fingernails into his palm to keep himself quiet. What was he to say? Was he supposed to tell her now? How would she react? Even though Kurenai was a temporary captain they were still like team-mates to her. Team-mates and friends.

'I couldn't reach her today when I phoned so I tried knocking, but she still wouldn't answer,' Kurenai continued, solving Shikamaru's problem temporarily whilst she talked. 'I-I went to the Hokage's building to inform her but I met Shizune on the way.' Here she stopped altogether, her eyes closed and breathing a little faster.

Could…could it be that she already knows?

'I-I know,' Shikamaru finally spoke, hoping that he was right about her knowing. He wouldn't have to tell her then. Maybe that's why she was visiting Asuma - or maybe that was just something she did anyway.

'Why?' She gasped, a fresh set of tears flowing forth. 'Why me? Why does everyone I get close to die? Why me?'

Shikamaru hadn't thought about it that way. He had wondered if he was going to die, but he hadn't thought that it was his fault. It was a wretched way of thinking and he was by her side in seconds, staring down at her worriedly as she sat in the chair, hands covering her face and sobbing. It was exactly the kind of awkward situation he had been trying to avoid.

'It-It isn't you, Kurenai. No more so than it is me. No-one has a grudge against you - against us. No-one hates us. It's just fate. It's just chance.' He crouched so that he was lower than her and not so intimidating. She took a deep, shuddering breath and for a moment she was able to stop her tears.

'That's not it,' her voice was cracked. 'I think fate is against us, against me. You - You'd better not get too close in case it k-k-kills you too!'

Shikamaru frowned and twisted his hands together in front of him. This was worse than he'd expected. Why couldn't he have just kept quiet and let her cry? His reassurances had only made things worse.

'You have a child. Fate is definitely not against you. In fact you're blessed.'

She shook her head, the volume of her sobs increasing and Shikamaru wondered what he'd said wrong. Was it because he had mentioned her child? Or perhaps she was disagreeing with his last statement? He had truly meant what he said though. Children were a blessing, even if it was bothersome to look after them.

In the end Shikamaru spent the night there, sitting with her until she wore herself out with crying. Then he helped her to her room before finally taking a spare blanket and falling into a troubled sleep on the couch.

Asuma - I promised you I'd protect Kurenai and your child, but I never thought it would be this difficult. I don't think I'm cut out for this, but I'm not going to back out now. I…I want you to be proud of me, Asuma. I want to be someone who you can be proud of.

She had already called the hospital and requested immediate assistance. They had sent a group of five; three nurses and two doctors. They were on their way. Tsunade sighed, sitting on a wall in front of Ino's house.

Why? It was all she could think of, the only word that she could remember. Calling the hospital had been autopilot and she remembered the surprise of the secretary on the other telephone at how she hadn't examined the body herself. Tsunade hadn't explained her actions because she didn't wanted to admit that it was Sakura who was dead.

It was childish, she thought later, the way she was acting. Why couldn't she accept a truth as hard and cold as that? Then again there was no way she could walk back in that house now. No way she could have stood getting any nearer to that decaying flesh. Even the picture of it in her mind repulsed her. The smell had made her vomit, although she had managed to stagger outside first.

It had been a while since she had been this hands on with anything so horrible. As Hokage she spent a lot of time in her office and although she was used to bodies in the morgue and illness and blood in the hospital it was always kept within that sterile atmosphere. She had forgotten how much more disparaging it was outside of those whitewashed walls. Especially when you were alone.

Always people close to me die. First Dan and Nawaki, then Jiraiya…and now Sakura. I used to blame the necklace - but Jiraiya and Sakura never even touched it. So is it just me? Am I cursed?

She traced the lines on her palms carefully with her eyes.
Which is the life line? Is it that long one there, or this short one here? I hope the latter. I'm not suicidal but fate would be cruel to let me suffer much more. I'm not sure I could take much more either.

'And at a time like this!' She spat out angrily, her voice low so that no one would hear her. 'When the town is in the state it's in. When Ino is missing and Chouji dead. When Akatsuki are roaming and when I'm at such a loose end…'

She bared her teeth and clenched her hand into a fist.
'Hey you really do pile it on thick, Fate, don't you?'

Being Hokage I have a lot of responsibility. People die because of my decisions. Do my ninja sleep peacefully, knowing I'm in charge? Do the citizens sleep soundly? Sometimes I wish I'd never taken this job. It was stupid of me to do so, but Naruto persuaded me with his honest earnestness. Would someone else have been better? I wondered before but…would Naruto have been a better Hokage? At least he always wanted to be Hokage - unlike me.

Before she could think further on the subject a mixed set of hurried footsteps approaching caused her to looked up and over to her right. The five medics she had asked for quickly joined her and Tsunade stood up from the wall to greet them. She must have looked pale because she noticed some of them giving her worried glances. She faked a smile but couldn't find the words to speak.

'Hokage-sama - the body?'

'Ah? Oh, ee…second floor, second room along the landing.'

'Right, I understand,' one of the males replied and bowed before beginning to walk towards the door of the shop. The other man and one of the females also bowed and turned to leave but Tsunade called after them to wait.

'Ah - also, there's blood on some of the flowers downstairs. I don't think it's the same so, if you could get some samples…' her voice got progressively quieter until it finally petered out. The same man as before nodded, bowed and then left, entering the shop without the chime ringing as it now laid abandoned on the floor.

The rest followed him except one who hesitated, sending Tsunade a worried look.
'Ah, I know it's probably not my place but…are you okay? Um, I'm sure they'll be okay without me so, if you want to talk, I'll listen.'

Tsunade gave her a blank stare back. She was fairly certain that the woman was just trying to be nice but she didn't have the enthusiasm to return her kindness.
'You should help your colleagues,' Tsunade replied instead. 'Or they might think you're doing this just to get out of working.'

Surprised because the thought hadn't even crossed her mind the woman nodded and left, biting her lip because she thought she'd upset the Hokage.

Ohh, Tsunade inwardly groaned. Maybe I piled it on a bit thick, but I'm really not in the mood for being tactful.

'That really isn't an excuse for hurting someone though, is it?'

As he ran Deidara thought back to the argument he had just had with Ino. He didn't want to admit that he had been a major contributor to it because it took two to have an argument and he didn't want to be responsible for hurting Ino.

The guilt was clawing at him though, especially as he thought about the shadows he had seen at the edge of the forest; could they really have been who he thought they were? Ino had assumed that he had seen ANBU troops but he feared much worse; the shape of the cloaks were all too familiar to him by now.

How could I be so stupid? How could I leave her like that, knowing that she was in danger? I really am an idiot.

Even the reminder that it had been Ino's fault he'd left her because she had refused to let him carry her didn't console him. He could easily have forced her to come with him - and wouldn't that have been the best considering the circumstances? Even if she would have hated him at least she would have been safe - and she hated him as it was now anyway, right?

His running slowed and he considered turning back and forcing her to come with him but before he could turn he felt someone's chakra approaching and then heavy footfalls on the hard earth. For a moment Deidara wondered if it could possibly be Ino but the footsteps sounded too heavy and the chakra felt too powerful. Thus what he considered as an irrational fear overcame him and he ran; I never used to be this cowardly - why don't I wait and see who it is?

His last encounter with an Akatsuki had left him very near death though and he still wasn't fully recovered from it - thus he wanted to avoid another attack; are they all against me now, hm? Do they all know what I've done?

He was nearing the start of the mountain range now, a steep rock wall less than a hundred meters in front of him only partly hidden behind a couple more small rises. There was a short stretch of open ground between the last mound and the cliff face and Deidara, seeing an opening in the rock, sprinted this last distance as fast as his remaining energy would allow him.

He was sure that his pursuer had been gaining on him but he managed to reach the crack and squeeze inside before he was spotted, not stopping to rest until he had shuffled a few meters further in.

It was dark in the cave and he knew it would take a while for his eyes to adjust but he thought he could see that the crack widened out to his right after an initial narrowing. Thus, sucking in his breath so that his chest thinned, Deidara pushed on until he managed to squeeze through the smaller gap into the wider section. The passage continued still further and so, glancing back at the entrance which was still empty, he continued to walk further into the mountain, reaching out with his right hand in case it was a dead end.

A noise behind alerted him to his pursuer's arrival and he stopped dead in his tracks, slowly turning his head to look back at the entrance. The light was blinding compared to the darkness of in front, even though there wasn't much of it. It was immediately obvious that someone was standing at the entrance and, even though his view was limited due to the narrower section of the passage, Deidara could tell straight away that it was Hoshigaki Kisame, Uchiha Itachi's partner.

At first he thought that Kisame must be able to see him and his heart beat faster, wondering whether he should stand and fight as he was at an advantage (Kisame would have to squeeze through into the wider section before he could fight properly and Deidara would easily be able to kill him whilst he was hindered by the rock) or if he should continue along the passage and hope it led somewhere (as unlikely as that was).

'Deidara-san? Deidara-san - is that you? Are you in there?'

Deidara could see that Kisame was squinting and it suddenly struck him that, due to the great light difference, it would be a lot harder for Kisame to see him than for him to see Kisame. He grinned. His joy was short lived though as he realised that his chakra must be recognisable as he had forgotten to mask it. Doing so now wouldn't be much of a help but it might stop Kisame from tracking him further if the crack actually led somewhere useful. Truth be told, he was getting a little claustrophobic.

'Oi - there's no point in masking your chakra, Deidara-san. I know it's you. Come out now and I won't hurt you,' the shark nin called in response to Deidara's chakra disappearing.

Whose orders are you under? Leader-sama's? Did Zetsu spread the word? Where is Sasori? Where is Ino? What have you done with her?

Teeth clenched angrily Deidara carefully continued his journey into the mountain, turning his back on Kisame and making sure to be as silent in his travelling as possible. Surprisingly, within five meters or so the passage took a sudden turn before opening up into what felt like a large cavern.

Is this man-built? I thought it weird to start with that the crack went on for so long. Normally they close up a few meters in at best, but this is just perfect. Is luck on my side?

Listening carefully Deidara thought he could hear voices from outside but he didn't think Kisame was talking to him because the sound didn't echo as it had before when Kisame had called into the cave. Had someone else joined him then? Either way Deidara knew that he still had the placement advantage and, to add to that, his eyes were beginning to adjust to the poor light. Not that he could see much, but at least he could trace the faint outline of the wall near him now.

He didn't know how big the cavern was but the air had the same cold tinge you can only find in large, open spaces. Did it used to be a mine? And, if so, was there another passage leading out of it? That, Deidara thought wistfully, would be useful.

Due to his hindered sight it seemed as if his hearing was enhanced and Deidara tensed as he heard the sound of someone moving through the passage he was standing next to. It was more obvious when they reached the narrower part because something metallic they were wearing or holding scratched against the rock, the sound echoing long afterwards. Deidara thought he heard someone swear.

Even though his arms weren't completely healed Deidara knew he had to take advantage of his placing and so positioned himself so that he could easily hit anyone coming out of the passage into the cave. Unfortunately, when his adversary did arrive, Deidara had to pull his hand back with a hiss of pain, a sharp cut from a metal kunai drawing blood.

I guess I should have seen that coming, Deidara thought dryly to himself, still tensed in case his enemy attacked again. Not for the first time he regretted leaving his weapons pouch in the woods near the gates of Konohagakure.

'Oi, Sasori-san, have you found him? Is he in there, Sasori-san?…Sasori-san?'

Deidara only just stopped himself from emitting a small, surprised sound when he heard Sasori's name mentioned. He had thought it was Kisame who had attacked him but he realised then that Kisame would have had a lot more trouble fitting through the crack.

'S-Sasori-no-danna? Is that you, yeah?' Deidara added the suffix to his 'master's' name out of habit, not thinking anything of it, but he heard Sasori's breath hitch for a moment when he talked.

'Oh?' The familiar, slightly softer than normal, sound of his partner's voice answered Deidara's question for him. 'Am I still your 'danna', Deidara?'

A shiver ran down his spine after Sasori had spoken because there was definitely something wrong with his voice. Deidara had heard the dangerously soft tones before but couldn't remember ever having them directed towards him - especially not with such intensity as now. He gulped, not sure what to do or say back.

'Sasori-san? … Oi! Are you there, Sasori-san?' Kisame called gruffly, his loud voice echoing painfully. Deidara realised that Sasori's and his voices probably hadn't echoed because they had been talking so quietly.

The sound of someone else shuffling along the passageway told Deidara that Kisame was following them - he was surprised he had fitted through the crack, but he must have taken Samehada off first and dragged it through afterwards.

Whilst Sasori stayed still Deidara decided that he should remain stationary too. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to say something back but he figured that, if he waited, Sasori would make a move eventually. Hopefully he would find out soon whether they really were hostile or not; Sasori's kunai could just have been out of self-defence.

A string of curse words told the two Akatsuki standing inside the cavern that their fellow had gotten stuck at the narrowest part of the passage and Deidara couldn't help smiling slightly. It was better that it was one-on-one whilst he wasn't sure what their intentions were. His relaxed attitude didn't last long though as Sasori's clear footsteps approached him, quickly closing the small gap between them.

'S-Sasori…?' Deidara whispered uncertainly, taking a step back and making sure he didn't add the suffix this time. His speaking had given away his exact position though and a moment later he felt something cold touch his face and lips. It wasn't metal because that was colder and pressed against his neck – but it didn't hold the same heat that a human body would have; Deidara finally decided it must be the puppet master's hand – wooden and lifeless.

He acted instinctively by grabbing Sasori's wrist and retreating another step, following the curve of the wall, but before he could react further Sasori forced him back against the wall and the cold metal of the kunai Sasori had cut his hand with returned to taunt his neck.

Deidara felt the first twinges of fear grip him and immediately he felt insecure; was Sasori going to kill him? Zetsu had almost killed him by slitting his neck and he didn't feel up to having it done again. He remembered how he had held Ino in a similar position on Sasori's orders to dispose of her and how he had let her go instead, not able to follow his master's instructions. Was Sasori angry because of that? Was he angry enough to kill?

'Sasori-san?' Kisame called once again, his swearing and shuffling having ceased for now. When he didn't receive any answer- why is Sasori ignoring him, hm? – He swore once more before continuing angrily; 'Oi! If you don't answer me this time I'm going to have to use Samehada to break through this stupid tunnel to come and get you!'

Deidara's eyes widened at that because he wasn't stupid and knew that using Samehada to smash up the rock might well set off something much larger – like the cavern collapsing.

Although Sasori still refused to answer Kisame as he wanted he had definitely heard him because Deidara heard him hiss quietly under his breath as if he was annoyed. Then, so quickly that Deidara didn't have time to evade the movement, he felt himself pulled forward, both the hand and the kunai gone, and he stumbled. As soon as he had righted himself he felt something sharp and cold press against his back through the thin pajamas he was wearing, silently ordering him to move forward, following the curve of the rock wall again.

'I'm cutting my way through,' Kisame shouted almost desperately, his voice loud enough to create a rock fall in itself – or so Deidara thought jokingly. It struck Deidara though that Kisame could just be threatening Sasori so that he would answer and didn't really intend to use Samehada at all. Unfortunately, as appealing as this thought was, it was disproved not long afterwards as a loud crash was heard and the sound of rubble falling to the ground.

'Sa-' Deidara started, not altogether sure what he was going to say, when he was cut off by a cry of triumph from their shark companion. This cry of victory though soon turned into one of defeat as an ominous cracking was heard and the sound of more small rocks hitting the hard floor. A larger one than the rest signaled the beginning of something more than just a small-scale rock fall and Deidara's fear began to grow bigger, his annoyance at Sasori for not answering more than doubling.

Just when he felt dust from the roof of the large cavern lightly sprinkle itself on his hair though and he wondered what it would feel like being crushed, he was pulled backwards and hurriedly pushed to his left against the wall again. He had been too caught up in his pessimism to notice the kunai had disappeared and now he was doubly surprised to find that the wall he had been shoved against was not solid. There was a hole not dissimilar to the one he had entered the mountain with to start with and, suddenly filled with hope, he began to shuffle himself sideways through the crack, the dust of before turning into gravel and small stones.

'Hurry up!' Sasori barked angrily from his right and gave him a helping push inside before following close behind, swearing as a sharp stone caught his elbow and scratched the wood; it didn't hurt, but it would be a bother to sort out aesthetically.

As Deidara continued to press onwards he closed his eyes, practically useless anyway, to enhance his kinesthetic senses and he automatically started mapping out a plan of the cave system in his head. This passage was similar to the first one but was narrower at the start and wider later on, whereas the first one was narrow in the middle. Mostly the measurements were the same though – about three feet wide and five foot high – only enhancing Deidara's suspicions that it was man-made. With the roof being low though it meant that he had to duck his head although Sasori, who was still less than a foot away from him, didn't seem to have the same problem.

He would have moved further in but a second later and Deidara felt as if his eardrums had exploded. There had been a large crash, much larger than the others that had passed by at least ten times, and after that he hadn't even been able to hear the echo. Everything went silent although he was sure that it shouldn't be until, a few minutes later, his ears popped and he heard a rushing sound inside his eardrums. His hands immediately jerked up to cover them and he could hear the pounding of his heart very loudly, as if he was completely set apart from the world.

Then the small sounds came back and he could hear his breathing and Sasori's next to him. His was more labored than his partner's (although, am I still counted as Akatsuki? Then, is he still counted as my 'partner'?). It seemed as if most of the rock fall was over and now there was just the distant sound of pebbles knocking against each other. There wasn't even an echo.

At first Deidara wondered if he should continue along the passageway because Sasori made no move to return to the cavern and he was fairly certain that the tunnel they were in then must lead somewhere – preferably to the outside world, at some point at any rate. But when he shifted and took a step to his left once more he felt something cool brush against his arm and then latch onto him, firmly gripping his hospital pajama-top's sleeve.

'Deidara…' Sasori whispered quietly, his voice holding something which Deidara wasn't familiar with; was it fear, insecurity, a plea for help? The tone of his next words however banished the feeble image from Deidara's mind for they were full of authority and ice although his voice was still low.

'Why are you still alive?'

!End!

Ok, what did you think? I'm really tired and have been ill again which is how I managed to finish this in a few days. Any comments will be very welcome - perhaps more so than usual - because I'm home alone all of tomorrow and will be lonely with little to do.

Oh dear, it sounds as if I'm trying for the 'sympathy vote' or something. Ah well. I love reviews, so even if you don't normally review it'd be really nice to hear from you and what you thought/think of this chapter/the story.D

Love'oo all!
WfCP
xxxxx