Legal: ::waves her hand dismissively:: You know the drill.
Chapter 14: Divided
The three Lords- Shumir, Baskama, and Kimitsu- had decided that Sesshomaru was too much of a liability to lead in the battle. Quietly and slowly, they began exerting their authority as defacto leaders while Sesshomaru was indisposed. They had 'taken care of' Jaken- locking his unconscious body in a guest room's closet- along with Kagome's plans for the castle and her useless notebook. Currently they were organizing troops the way the lords thought things should be.
They were in the yard, lecturing about loyalty- an irony in itself since they were plotting against their own ruler- and punishment for betrayal. As it was, deserters would be killed and then their families would also suffer the same fate. No more food would be given out until after the battle had been fought and won- Lord Baskama thought the troops were getting pudgy with all the sudden, though much needed protein. Lord Shumir had promptly agreed, feeling annoyed that the ration of one meal a week was not enough for these lowly scum. This statement had been followed with Lord Kimitsu's two cents; it was that bitch Kagome's fault this was happening- a more suitable concubine should be found for Sesshomaru. If the Demon Lord continued on this path, flirting and eventually fucking human trash, where would the nobility of the dog clan go? A proud breed such as theirs had already been sullied by that bastard Inu Yasha- any other mistakes had to be taken care of before they raged out of control.
It was while the three were discussing this topic in the foyer that Taomaru found them. The dark youkai was not amused with their reactions to his sudden appearance- or revival since he was supposed to be dead and sealed beneath the castle. As they groveled at his feet in fear and awe, he viciously kicked them all and ordered their immediate imprisonment. Before they could be dragged off, Taomaru had them brought outside and, in full view of the troops, savaging the lords until they could only twitch on the floor. Some of the troops had started forward, unsure if they should protect their dictators or leave them to the fate they had earned. Vengeance finally won out; in their respective lands, each lord had committed such atrocities upon those they should have been protecting that even Sesshomaru's blood would have curdled upon hearing the list.
Taomaru mauled them as only a truly angry dog youkai could, making them suffer as those beneath them had suffered. With vengeance for the lesser youkai over with, Taomaru threw back his head and howled, raising blood soaked claws to the sky. The primal side of the youkai was feeling the high of bloodlust and, even though there had been no actual killing, Taomaru still enjoyed making them submit to his superiority- to his family's superiority. As he watched the bleeding bundles of fur being carted off, he felt even better because he had also satisfied his own personal vengeance- these lords were the pathetic decedents of those who had turned against his family long ago. Back then, the families had escaped punishment on the grounds that they had been forced into subservience to the Dark Army. Since no one could prove that they had or had not been forced into attacking their sworn lord, no retribution had been extracted although each family had been watched closely while Momaru had lived.
The dark youkai found Jaken, picking the toad youkai up and cradling the small body. Taomaru also retrieved Kagome's notebook and took up the arduous task of reconstructing Kagome's battle plans. With Kagome, Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha preoccupied, Taomaru was the only one left to take charge of the degenerating situation of the palace and the impending battle. Kagome's notebook proved to be invaluable in preparing the soldiers for the fight, as well as creating a defense that would hold. In truth, Taomaru hadn't thought she had it in her being the kind soul she was. By the time the sun was setting, the castle's soldiers had been set right and a battle now wouldn't be as damaging.
Also in Kagome's notebook were plans for all the modern marvels the girl had brought with her. Taomaru looked over the emergency generator, finally finding it and the gasoline that would power the machine. He also found the bike Kagome had been worried over. The youkai gathered all the lamps Kagome had made servants bring and set them beside the stereo- the equipment for the sound box also having been found. Taomaru knew Kagome would need everything to complete her plans. Through out it all, Taomaru had carried Jaken, oddly unwilling to put the little youkai down until everything was done.
Rin and Shippo found him looking over Kagome's stuff, the two children riding around on the big white dogs Kagome had also brought along with her. Each child was dressed strangely and Taomaru assumed that they had also been doing their own snooping of Kagome's baggage. Keeping and eye on the pack of wolves that apparently had adopted both canines were Miroku and Sango. Taomaru had seen the last two out on the field, watching horrified as he tormented the lords. They watched him warily now; unsure of whose side he was truly on. He sighed but did not apologize or explain- he'd do that later when he wasn't as busy.
"Sesshomaru-sama and Kagome-onee-chan have been gone a long time." Rin said quietly, and Duchess –the dog she rode on- moved forward with a small whine.
"They didn't kill each other did they?" Shippo asked and Socrates shook his big furry head.
"All of them are fine," Taomaru frowned. "I think." He sounded worried on the last and rightly so; images, memories that were not his own flashed through his mind and none of them made sense. So far the youkai had gathered that Kagome and Sesshomaru had gotten into... a water fight? Taomaru's brows furrowed as he straightened up from crouching on the floor. He set Jaken on the floor in a corner, out of harm's way. What he received now was a bit darker, but nothing violent had happened. Footsteps sounded and Taomaru shook himself back to his surroundings.
Sango started as she paused nearby. "Kouga! What are you doing here?" She was genuinely surprised to see the scruffy wolf youkai in the castle; he usually was running around the forest somewhere.
"You didn't think I'd pass up a fight, did you?" Kouga smirked arrogantly. "Where's my woman and dog turd?"
Taomaru frowned and arched an eyebrow, looking at the new youkai. Miroku showed up and cleared his throat pointedly, getting both youkai's attentions. "Kouga is referring to Kagome and Inu Yasha."
Rin frowned. "Kagome-onee-chan is Inu Yasha-onii-chan's and Sesshomaru-sama's mate." Underneath her, Duchess barked and wagged her tail happily. Shippo nodded vigorously and Socrates did the same. The wolves following them however, wagged their tails a bit more hesitantly.
Kouga growled. "Mate? Kagome's my woman! She can't be anyone else's!"
Sango sighed and Taomaru looked at her, still frowning. "Kouga has become… quite taken with Kagome after meeting her a year or so ago. Inu Yasha and Kouga do not get along."
"We've never seen his reaction to Sesshomaru though…" Miroku scratched his chin absently.
"I don't care who this Sesshomaru bastard is!" Kouga raged. "I'll take him and dog turd on AND win! When I find Kagome I'm getting her out of here before this battle begins." He thrust out his chin angrily. "This is no place for her- it's too dangerous."
In front of him, everyone gave him a bored look. After a moment of silence, Taomaru turned his back on Kouga and ignored the boy's growling. "The threesome is fine." Taomaru felt his lip twitch as he saw Sango blush and watched Miroku's eyes take on a slightly lustful gleam. "I think they are all making up after the brawl you all got into. From what I can sense they're having a bat-" Taomaru abruptly broke off and clutched his head, falling to one knee as he did so. His body shuttered and both the monk and the exterminator had to steady him to keep the youkai from falling over.
"What is it?" Sango asked. "What happened?"
"Are Kagome and Sesshomaru okay?" Shippo asked urgently as Taomaru stood again. Taomaru opened a crimson eye, surveying everyone before him. Kouga sensed the change in the older youkai and pushed everyone back, taking point position in case Taomaru attacked.
Taomaru took deep breaths, calming the bloodlust that washed over him. "It's Kagome." His voice was a rolling growl, barely understandable for the humans present. "Something's happened." Breathing through his nose wasn't working; Taomaru opened his mouth, taking in great lungfuls of air and exposing long fangs. His tail whipped wildly behind him and the power he possessed was coming off him in waves- a sight similar to intense heat distorting the air around the source.
Kouga frowned. "How do you know what's going on? Where is she?"
"Kagome inadvertently linked herself to Taomaru, Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha. It's complicated but they can know what is happening to one another." Miroku said, turning and heading to the hallway that led underground and to Sesshomaru's den. Sango joined him, as did Taomaru. Kouga and the pack of canines followed, bounding forward with Rin and Shippo holding on tightly. The pack raced down the hallway with Kouga, finding Sesshomaru's den much faster than their followers. For all his speed, however, the wolf youkai found the doorway just in time to see the massive doors close and bolt into place.
A door was just a door though, and no door would ever best Kouga. He jumped and landed a high kick, the momentum and force insuring the wooden frame's compliance. He was very surprised indeed when the door remained shut and he was thrown back against the opposite wall.
"It's just like with Inu Yasha." Miroku remarked, watching Kouga stand up, the monk very unsurprised. "If Kagome doesn't want somebody inside, then they will not be able to enter."
"Taomaru," Sano began, eyeing the innocent looking door and Kouga both. "Maybe you can get inside since all four of you are linked."
The wolf dog nodded slowly, his single eye still a disconcerting crimson. He walked forward and touched the door, pushing on the old wood. He met resistance but was not thrown away. Taking that as a positive sign, Taomaru added more force to his push, digging deep groves in the stone floor as his bare feet pushed him forward. He didn't make any progress and finally shoved his shoulder against the unmovable door, being thrown across the floor. He stood and looked at Sango. "Next idea?" he asked, wryly.
"Can you talk to them?" Shippo asked, tapping his head.
"Hmm… I can try it, but it's hard to concentrate. I mean I'm getting bits and pieces about what's going on but no words. Something triggered Inu Yasha's demon side and I know Kagome is trying to control him, but I don't know what's happening beyond that."
"Whose eyes are you looking through?" Rin asked, a very brilliant question coming from the child.
Kouga frowned at the group. "Someone had better start filling me in about why dog turd is with my woman!"
Taomaru smacked Kouga absently, the light smack enough to knock the wolf youkai to the floor. "You should stop calling the price such awful names. If you don't, I'll be forced to show the error of your ways." He intoned darkly, his red eye on Kouga.
"Prince?" Kouga blinked blankly and stood again. "What prince? I'm the only prince."
"That's right," Sango said. "I'd forgotten Inu Yasha was a prince."
Miroku nodded. "As did I, but it makes sense with Sesshomaru being lord of this domain that his younger brother would be a prince."
Shippo sighed, crossing his arms. "Prince or not, that idiot never acts like anything more than a bully."
"Inu Yasha's a prince," Kouga said slowly. "He is Demon Lord Sesshomaru's younger brother."
"Correct, pup." Taomaru looked at the door again. "He, his brother and Kagome are all inside and something important is happening. Now that I think about it, I don't think Kagome's power is keeping the door shut."
"But if it's not Kagome," Shippo frowned. "Then who is it?"
"When Sesshomaru took Kagome here, he shouted a warning that the dream youkai was back. She may be causing this."
Sango and Miroku frowned simultaneously. "Her power dictated over someone's dreams." The monk said and the exterminator finished his thought. "This is reality- she shouldn't be able to do anything here."
"And that is where you are all wrong." Said a quiet voice behind the huddling group, making them all jump in surprise. The group eyed the caramel colored youkai, noting her long tail, tattered garments and not missing the fact she was transparent.
"Who the hell're you?" Kouga snarled angrily. There had been too many surprises for his taste and he wanted desperately to take his frustration out on something.
"A ghost." Miroku said quietly and stepped in front of everyone- this was in his realm after all.
"My name is Momiji." The woman held her head high, her eyes flashing angrily. "I am holding the door closed against you so that you will leave those within alone."
"Momiji…" Taomaru said, the name sparking a memory- one of his own and one of Kagome's. "Princess Momiji!?" The youkai nearly dropped dead of shock. "You're causing this?"
Momiji frowned, crossing her arms in front of her. "Yes, distant nephew, I am. I was the one behind the dream mesh's power as well." She stood at her full height, looking as regal as she had when she'd been alive.
"But, why the dream mesh?" Taomaru asked, his mind reeling from this new discovery. "And why this? Why and how are you here now?"
Momiji sighed. "Perhaps a more comfortable place is needed for this story; you all look ready to faint and that floor isn't soft!" To her surprise, Sango and Miroku sat on the floor, the dogs and wolves lying down near by. Taomaru looked at them and also sat, followed resolutely by Kouga. Shippo and Rin jumped off the two white dogs and into their friend's laps.
"Start talking." Miroku said lowly, pulling out a sealing scroll. The monk had had enough intrigue for the week and wanted answers to all the plotting. If the ghost didn't start sharing information, he would shove Buddha aside and seal her here and now.
Sesshomaru watched Kagome withering on the bathroom floor. In this field he didn't know what would help or hinder. It made him feel weak, powerless, and that made him very, very angry. He hated feeling this way- it reminded him of his childhood, running from his father at nightfall- and made him turn toward his now dark haired brother. Unconscious, the human Inu Yasha would be the perfect target for his rage but it felt wrong with Kagome in agony. Sesshomaru growled his frustration, snatching his brother from the water before the idiot could drown. Since his touch burned her skin, Sesshomaru could literally not lay a hand on Kagome so he instead picked her up by using his tail. He didn't know what to say as she roused long enough to touch his tail and then, puzzled, touched her eyes. They were closed but then she opened them, shocking Sesshomaru by revealing bright gold orbs.
"I can't see." She whispered with the edge of panic in her voice.
"Kagome," Sesshomaru said, his voice monotone even though his heart picked up speed. "Stay calm." He gingerly pulled off her remaining clothing with a free hand- the last scrap, her panties, making him arch a brow quizzically- and ignored her feeble protests. He was extremely careful not to touch her bare skin. He did the same with Inu Yasha, though with complete disregard for the hanyou's form. Perhaps he was a little rougher than necessary but this was Inu Yasha's fault and there was no way the bastard would escape unscathed.
Why, pray tell, was Sesshomaru stripping down his mind mates? He asked himself the same question. After all the trouble the two had caused him in the past year or two- forget the past couple of days!- he ought to leave them to themselves or possibly drown them in the bathroom. That's what part of him was saying, insisting that life would be better without the two, that they really weren't that important. But the voice was hollow at its core, as if it was simply going through the motions of being angry because it was supposed to be angry.
Damn, he thought. The bond between us all is solidifying. At this rate, we'll all bond to each other. On the heels of that statement followed an uninvited image of his future, eternally bound to Kagome and Inu Yasha. Being bound to the former wasn't what Sesshomaru was worried about- it was being linked to his brother that bothered him greatly. Forever tied to this mongrel. Sesshomaru chucked Inu Yasha onto the bed, the hanyou's body tumbling to a stop before hitting the pillows. Damn, thought he'd hit the wall. With a more gentle touch, Sesshomaru laid Kagome on the bed, promptly turning around and pulling three clean robes from his closet.
He pulled on one robe, a pale blue one and the longest of the three, as he walked back to the bed. He frowned, feeling his still wet tail slap against his bare legs, annoyed that he couldn't be dry. He leapt onto the bed in an angry, graceful movement and sat beside Kagome, touching her skin only with the soft cloth of the robe. He draped it over her, manipulating her arms through the sleeves of the robe. For Inu Yasha, he merely tossed the robe over the still form so that it covered his brother's body- the moron could dress himself when he woke. Sesshomaru pulled Kagome into his lap, trying to offer comfort while she convulsed against him. It was a strange role for the demon lord; comfort had been absent from his life for a very long time, not returning until after his father's death. It was then that Sesshomaru had felt safe and had begun to find and revel in the comforts life had to offer him.
Sesshomaru snorted to himself. Who would have ever thought that I, the great Sesshomaru, would be cuddling a human? The gods do hate me so. Contrary to popular belief, the youkai did not hate humans; he thought of them as nothing because they had presented themselves to him as nothing. Except for one, the humans he had met were stupid creatures, slaves to their own base desires and faults. He had tried in his own way to engage in a conversation with the insipid cretins, but it had been like trying to talk to a pet or a cow- he would have had better luck with a wall. Whether it had been because they sensed his power or simply because they were that stupid, humans had only babbled incoherently at him when he spoke- in the end shrieking in fear and running away or trying to attack him. Sesshomaru had tried talking to a farmer once for directions- not that he was actually lost; he was trying to establish a public relations network- and had immediately decided to never repeat the mistake after the man had fainted dead away.
No, Sesshomaru didn't hate humans, but he didn't like them either. The only human who had ever shown intelligence- aside from Kagome- had surprisingly been Inu Yasha's mother. Even now, decades later, that fact still surprised the demon lord. Lady Yui had shown remarkable intellect and compassion, even when it came to Sesshomaru. She had been very talented in music, strong willed and had also shown a small measure of power similar to Kagome's.
In fact, Sesshomaru mused, he should be grateful to her- with a new wife to tend to, there was no chance of being raped by his father again. Unbidden, a shutter racked the youkai's frame disturbing Kagome and making her sit up in his lap. Though she was in turmoil mentally, the girl still reacted to Sesshomaru's painful memories and wanted to offer comfort of some sort. Kagome turned toward him, wrapping her arms around his chest and laying her head against the cloth of his robe. Unused to this, Sesshomaru awkwardly rubbed her back as she convulsed and lost her hold. Heat radiated from her small frame, as if she were suffering from an out of control fever. On that thought came a memory, a collage of images from both Inu Yasha's and Kagome's point of view.
Through his brother's eyes, Sesshomaru looked at an obviously ill Kagome. As Inu Yasha, the youkai caught her when she could no longer stand and carried her fevered body downstairs. Sesshomaru watched as a sleeping Kagome tried to get comfy on her couch, as fascinated as Inu Yasha had been at the multitude of positions the girl tried in the pursuit of comfort. Sesshomaru felt as if he were displaced, simultaneously suffering through Kagome's cold with her and caring for her as Inu Yasha. It was a bizarre experience but educational. The demon lord knew very little about caring for an ailing human- a touch more than Inu Yasha did- but the fact hadn't been made an issue; after all, Rin was always healthy and she was the only human in his household.
In response to the heat Kagome was generating, Sesshomaru's body was cooling itself down- he frowned as he felt himself begin to sweat. It was widely believed that youkai were unaffected by external temperatures- that was a myth. Just like a human's body, youkai had an internal thermostat that regulated their body temperatures; depending on which type of youkai was in question, the 'normal' body temperature could be anything. As for Sesshomaru, his normal body temperature was around 103 degrees Fahrenheight. The normal human body temperature was 98.6 degrees- if Kagome was making Sesshomaru sweat by just being nearby, her body was producing a very high temperature indeed. His body being the cooler of the two, Kagome laid her head against his skin, shaking uncontrollably.
Sesshomaru tried to pull back, remembering how she had screamed at his touch in the bathroom. The girl convulsed, her fingers tightening on the cloth of his robe until her knuckles were white. "Don't," she whispered. "Don't leav-" Kagome's body spasmed violently and Sesshomaru could only watch in dismay. She was shaking hard, fits strong enough to make it seem as if she would break apart. The demon lord reached out to her mentally, attempting to throw her a lifeline, but he only ran into a wall- an unbreakable barrier created by Kagome to keep him and everyone else out of her head. Nearby, the semi-covered heap that was the remains of Inu Yasha groaned.
"Gods," the dark haired teenager rose, wrapping the robe around him reflexively. "What happened?" He shook his head, rubbing it and squinting in the dim light. Sesshomaru watched the former hanyou look about, his disorientation evident. "Kagome?" Inu Yasha's voice was rough and thick, as if he hadn't used it in a long, long time. Sesshomaru growled before he could stop himself, watching as lavender eyes met his amber ones.
"Sesshomaru," Inu Yasha said, confused. "What's wrong with Kagome?" He had noticed Kagome's shaking body, half out of Sesshomaru's lap. Inu Yasha crawled closer, coming within touching distance, but not closing the gap. It was at that moment that he saw a stray lock of his hair, the black strands very different than his normal silver. Sesshomaru watched warily, almost amusedly, as Inu Yasha sat back on his knees, pulling on his hair, as the hanyou looked himself over.
Oh my God. The panicky thought was as clear as day to the youkai at the other end of the bed. I'm human! More frantic hair pulls from Inu Yasha. But- I can't be! It's not the night! The dark haired youngster stared at Kagome. I've already changed for the month! Sesshomaru sighed- if his brother began panicking full out, all hopes for solving this mess were shot.
"Inu Yasha!" Sesshomaru said sternly. "Get a hold of yourself!" But again, he felt his brothers memories wash over him, submerging him in their swirling depths. Sesshomaru felt himself spasm, felt his body in the miserable agony that came from being ill as only humans could suffer when sick. The youkai felt himself shivering and panting from fever, unable to find comfort as he lay on the floor. He snuggled under the covers, holding onto a bright point nearby- a person's relaxed hand by his forehead that allowed him to rest his weakened body. Cold air bit along Sesshomaru's skin as someone pulled away his covers and gentle hands wiped the sweat from his face, a damp cloth placed over his skin to aid in cooling down. Deft fingers ran through his hair, brushing and braiding it. The same hands, so familiar and yet unplaceable, untangled the youkai from his sleeping clothes bringing more comfort. He felt his body relax, calm down, as the person continued. Sesshomaru wanted to thank this person, confused because there was only one person who had such a bedside manner and she was long dead. "Hahaue..." Sesshomaru was confused even more, his memories and Inu Yasha's were over lapping and it was hard to tell where one individual memory began and another started. He wanted to see, though, wanted to see this person with gentle hands because only one person was like this- just once more, to prove that she was really there and he had dreamed her death.
He hunted for the person with his free hand, the other being used to hold onto the fingers that caressed his forehead. Sesshomaru tried to use his nose, wanting to find the person's scent and being frustrated when his sense of smell refused to work. He fought to open his eyes- Inu Yasha's tired eyes- and after succeeding in a weary battle, he opened them half way, gripping the new person's hand. A gentle touch on his cheek, a soft caress of comfort, and a kind voice, telling him to go back to sleep- that he was safe where ever he was from those that would harm him and Kagome. Sesshomaru felt Inu Yasha's memories become less vivid as the youkai realized that it was Kagome's hand by his forehead, a precious thing that he clung to because danger was nearby. Sesshomaru looked up at Kagome's mother, Mrs. Higurashi, her image hazy because Inu Yasha's eyes refused to focus. There was something familiar about the woman that Sesshomaru couldn't name, but he was almost positive he had never seen her before. The youkai felt Inu Yasha's confusion and slight disappointment that it was Kagome's mother taking care of him and not his own; Sesshomaru felt the same and dismissed the familiar feeling absently. The youkai let the images of the past event parading before him fade as Inu Yasha was claimed by sleep once more and Sesshomaru slowly became aware of his den.
"Sesshomaru?" Inu Yasha's voice fully roused him, the youkai jerking upright and causing Kagome to fall fully onto the bed. Sesshomaru's head whipped around, disconcerted and confused on many levels; where he was, when he was, and more importantly who he was. The now human Inu Yasha watched his brother's odd behavior and was reminded of an instance long ago when his younger self, sniffling pitifully, had pushed open the heavy door to Sesshomaru's den and had walked to the bed, calling his brother's name softly. He had jumped onto the bed lightly, watching the sleeping Sesshomaru; the youkai prince had been lying on his stomach, head half on his pillow. A second after Inu Yasha's child self had landed, Sesshomaru had woken, raising himself upward in a push up motion. The youkai had whipped his head around, an expression close to panic on his face until he found Inu Yasha perched precariously on the side of the bed.
Inu Yasha shook himself and kept a distance between his body and his brother's. Sesshomaru calmed, his face going back to its usual bored lines even though the youkai's neck and shoulder muscles remained chorded with tension. Unable to think of anything intelligent to say, Inu Yasha posed a question. "What happened? Why is Kagome ill and I'm human?"
"Ill?" Sesshomaru asked, an emotion edging his voice that Inu Yasha did not recognize- somewhere between anger, sadness and surprise. "It's possible to call her that but not accurate." Sesshomaru looked at Inu Yasha, a weight and seriousness to his gaze that made the human boy squirm inside. "Kagome is ill and you are human because you changed. Even I, Sesshomaru, have no idea what she did to bring about such a radical change but I believe that your demon power- your demon blood- is inside Kagome." He looked at Kagome's shaking body, his face shadowed. "Kagome is a miko, a very powerful one and your untamed demon blood is fighting her, tearing her apart from the inside out."
Notes:
Phew! Another chapter over and by the time anyone reads this I'll be done with school! Yay! That means I can finish up this thing. ::Rubs her temples at the massive length of this story::: I think this is the longest piece of writing on any subject I have ever written. After this I am taking a break!
Okay, I know that some of you are getting a bit ticked that there isn't more on the Dark Army- you've gotten a taste of it and it apparently whetted your appetite for violence. I know, I know, I promised you blood and gore and you will get it- later. Its coming (I'm writing the battle sequence) but it's gonna be a bit before the Army pops back up again. In the mean time you can look forward to more plot twists and more loops.
As a heads up, there is more than meets the eye here on relationships involving Sesshou's and Tao's involvement. This will be explained later (much, much later) but being the author I am, little clues will be woven in along the way- after all, if I came out and said it, why would you bother to read further? Toward the end of this Part, keep an eye out for a few… diminutive figures to pop up and present problems. Don't ask- just be patient.
As a last note (because I know all of you are simply wishing I'd shut up), chapters may be posted more liberally from now on. I know a lot of you have complimented me on how punctual I can be with posting chapters and I really appreciate it, but…. I've been saying that I have been having internet access problems as of late and this summer is going to be interesting to say the least. Chapters may be late or posted helter-skelter and for that I am sorry but the choice was, try and post when possible or don't post at all. Considering how interesting this story is going to get, I think perhaps the former will be the best plan. By fall, hopefully the entire story will be written and ready for editing and posting (You have been warned Telos ~ . ^). Keep an eye out for new additions and thank you all for sticking around to read this strange piece of fiction. Have a good week!