Okay Kiddies, here we are once again. Here's the next chapter of my fic. Sorry it's taken so long to get it uploaded. I hope everyone enjoys it. Thanks again to everyone who reviewed my fic. I so seriously appreciate it. PLEASE continue to review! Anyway, here's the next installment. Enjoy!
A low voice whispered,"Don't move and you won't get hurt. You scream an' yer as good as dead."
Miaka could only nod in response. After all, there isn't exactly much you can do when your hands are being tied behind your back.
"Come on, Genrou, hurry it up already. I don't want the Emperor coming in here after his precious priestess."
That voice! It had to be...but it couldn't be...Tamahome? Miaka turned her head to the side to get a look at the face that went with the voice, her heart tightening in her chest. She said a silent prayer that the face that would match that voice did not belong to Tamahome. Unfortunately, when she turned her head enough to see, it was in fact Tamahome that had spoken. Miaka felt her heart sinking in her chest, and tears sting at the back of her eyes. She had greatly underestimated this Tamahome.
"Not a word, you hear me,"Genrou replied," You make so much as a peep and I'll feed ya to the other bandits."
Miaka glanced at Genrou. He hadn't really changed much. His hair was slightly longer than she recalled, and on the left half of his face was a burn so badly healed that it made the flesh look almost like half melted candle wax. She dared a quick glance into his eyes only to find them filled with a firey rage that she had only seen directed at enemies. She had never once thought to ever have that gaze directed at her. It was the last thing she wanted. Genrou's behavior she could understand. This wouldn't be the first time he had kidnapped her, but this Genrou was much crueler than the one she had known before. Miaka's gaze shifted to Tamahome and looked him directly in the eye. She stared into those fathomless depths for so long that Tamahome forced himself to look away, and that was when Miaka asked the one question she had been wondering since she first arrived in this twisted version of the world she had at one time greatly loved.
"Why?"
Her question was met with only silence.
"Let's get a move on. Kouji's waitin' with the horses. We gotta get outta here."
Miaka was haulled roughly to her feet and taken through a passage that she hadn't even known was there. Once they entered the tunnel they were momentarily plunged into darkness, until Tamahome lit a torch and guided them through the endless seeming tunnel, until at last they stood just outside the back gates of the palace. Miaka looked around in bewilderment, and briefly wondered how long that tunnel had been there. She had never noticed it before.
"Ya just gonna stand there boss or are we gettin' out of this dump?"
Miaka looked upward to find Kouji staring down at her from one of three brown mares. He hadn't changed a bit. He was still the same bandit that Miaka remembered, though whether or not he was crueler than before she didn't know, and she didn't really care to find out.
Suddenly Miaka found herself being hoisted onto the back of one of the mares, with Tamahome sitting comfortably behind her, hands firlmy holding the reins. Which also meant she couldn't get away by throwing herself from the horse while they were riding.
"An' just to make sure you can't get away."
There was a heavy pressure on the back of her head and suddenly the world became dark. Gnerou re-sheathed his tessen and smiled grimly. He didn't know why but for the first time in ages he felt slightly guilty for knocking her out. For some insane reason Tamahome had insisted that they bring her along. She wasn't much to look at. She was kind of pretty in a peasant girl next door type of way, but otherwise she didn't seem particularly interesting. Oh well, it wasn't him that would have to deal with her when she woke up. If Tamahome wanted to bring her along, then he had to take responsibility for her.
When Miaka next awoke she found herself lying on a cold hard surface.She slowly opened her eyes and tried to sit up. Big mistake. Her vision swirled and she suddenly found herself lying flat on her back, her breathing slow and shallow. It felt as though all the bones in her head were shifting around and rearranging her skull. As slowly as she dared, Miaka moved to her hands and knees and lifted her head. She took a long, slow look around the room she was in. It was mostly solid stone except for the iron bars that let her know she was obviously in some sort of prison.
"Having some problems?"
Miaka looked toward the sound of the voice and quickly found herself hunched over, trying desperately to keep her stomach down out of her throat.
"What do you want?" she asked angrily.
"Just wanted to see how you were doing," Tamahome replied.
"Yeah. Right."
"I'm serious. Genrou hit you pretty hard, I told him he's got to be careful with that kind of stuff."
"Well unless you're here to let me out, I don't really care," Miaka replied coldly.
She wasn't exactly feeling particularly fond of Tamahome at the moment. Especially not after the way he had acted. Why had they brought her here? And since when did Tamahome work for Tasuki?
"Sorry. Can't do that," Tamahome said plainly," But I can bring you something to eat if you're hungry. It's the least I can do."
"I don't want anything from you. I hate you."
"Oh, well I guess that's just too bad, because I love you," he said, mocking her earlier statement.
"Shut up."
"Why? isn't that what you want to hear? I love you Miaka."
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! You're not him! You'll never be him! The Tamahome I knew would never do this to someone! He would never treat people like this!"
"What do you mean? Of course I'm Tamahome."
"No. No. No. No. No."
Tamahome walked away from the cell, leaving a very shaken Miaka to her soft whimpers and the constant repeat of her own voice saying," No.No.No." Over and over. But for some reason he couldn't help but feel guilty. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he was actually starting to like that girl. She didn't always make sense, but she wasn't half bad.
"Hey keep it down would ya?"
Miaka looked up from the corner of the cell where she sat, huddled in her own misery. Sitting nearly directly in front of her was a young man who she had never even noticed before. It made her wonder how long he had been there. Surely when she had opened her eyes she had been alone in the cell. Now here was this stranger, looking at her with a pitying glance. At least, she thought he was looking at her. Miaka, moved slowly toward the end of the cell where the stranger with the familiar voice sat, and the light was better.
"Who are you?" she asked as she moved.
"Just a wanderer you might say No da."
No da? It couldn't be....Chichiri? It took a moment for Miaka's eyes to adjust to the slight change of lighting, but when they did adjust, the sight that greeted her was not what she had expected. His eyes...oh Suzaku, his eyes! Where once a sinlge mass of scars had covered his eye, there were now only two empty holes. They had torn out his eyes.
"C-Chichiri?"
A look of confusion passed over the monk's face.
"You know me, but I don't recall ever meeting you before. Come closer."
Miaka moved that small distance that seperated them and did her best not to flinch as Chichiri lifted a hand to gently touch her face.
"No, I would remember meeting you No da. So tell me, how is it you know me?"
"I'm not sure you would even believe me if I told you."
"Try me, no da."
Once again Miaka re-counted the story of how they had fought, laughed, and cried together. Of a time different from this one, when they had all been such close friends. When it was done, Miaka looked up at Chichiri to try and figure out the reaction on his face.
"I admit your story is hard to stomach, no da, but somehow...I believe you."
"Really?"
Miaka's heart nearly lept out of her chest. He truly believed her? At least someone did.
"Really."
There was a long moment of silence between them.
"Chichiri?"
"Yes?"
"Um...what happened to your eyes? If you don't mind me asking, that is?"
"The Kutou army had been coming to my home village, pillaging and raping, and murdering. On their last raid, their General thought he could take my wife no da. He said their emperor was looking to remarry. My best friend Hikou and I fought him. I refused to let them take her. Hikou died within minutes. We were outnumbered, and we knew it, but I wouldn't give her up without a fight no da. When I was too weak to go on fighting, I was chained to a post and forced to watch as my wife and children were slaughtered. The entire village was destroyed and I was left to have my eyes torn out by ravenous birds. Sometime later these bandits came through the ruins of my home and found me. The one they call Genrou took pity on me. They broke my chains and brought me here, though I wish they had left me to die, no da. There's no sense in going on when there's nothing left to live for."
"How many children did you have?"
"Four, and one on the way."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. You had nothing to do with it."
Miaka looked up to find that from those two empty sockets, were tears. So much damage had been done because she had failed as Priestess. A part of her was deeply torn, wondering which had been a better time. In this twisted version of the world she had loved, Chichiri had known years of happiness with a wife and children only to have it torn brutally away and replaced with misery. No, the world she had first known was the better of the two. At least there Chichiri's pain had been replaced with happiness. He hadn't been forced to live alone with his bitterness and suffering.Tearing a piece of cloth from her shirt, Miaka tied it gently but firmly around the monk's head in order to keep out as much infection as possible from the gaping holes.
"Thank you."
"Anything for a friend,"Miaka replied.
That earned her a smile from the blind monk. It made her heart hurt to see the shape he ws in, but at least he was alive, and that counted for something, didn't it?
"Hey! No talking amongst prisoners, understand?"
Miaka and Chichiri both turned to the sound of the harsh voice. Even without eyes, Chichiri still reacted the way had when he had full vision. Some habits never change.
"I asked you a question. Do you understand?"
"Yes we understand!"
"I thought I said, no talking!"
Now she was definitely confused. Hadn't he just wanted them to answer him? The gaurd at the door was a big bear of a man. He had the shoulders of a qurterback and the arms of a professional wrestler. He wasn't someone you wanted to necesarily pick a fight with, and he was coming into their cell. He wore ragged clothes and had a beard that was dirty and knotted. Miaka definitley didn't want him coming in there.
"Now what do we do?" Miaka asked Chichiri, her eyes never leaving the gaurd.
"Try not to get hit," Chichiri replied.
Easier said than done. The gaurd had approached them and picked Miaka up by the front of her blouse, his rancid breath hitting her face.
"What's the matter girl? Scared?" he asked, with amusement.
"No, just wondering when's the last time you had a breath mint," Miaka replied, turning her head to the side.
"Stupid little bitch!" he replied connecting his fist with Miaka's abdomne before throwing her to the ground.
Miaka hit the floor of the cell with a deafening thud. When she next opened her eys, she found much to her amazement, Chichiri was fighting the gaurd that had hit her. Chichiri moved with a blur of speed that Miaka had never noticed before. It seemed like his skills as a fighter had increased.The glint of something shiny caught Miaka's attention. The gaurd was holding a blade too small to be called a sword and too large to be a dagger in his right hand. He held it just behind his back, trying to keep it out of sight until just the right moment. He brought the blade into sight and raised his hand to strike.
"NOOOOOOOO!!!"
Miaka rose to her feet, fighting the nausea that threatened to undo her, and shoved Chichiri out of the way of the gaurd's blade just as it came down for the strike. Miaka's screams of pain echoed throughout the prison as the large blade bit into her flesh, twisting as it sliced into her.
"Miaka!"
Suddenly there were angry shouts from the hall, and the room was quickly filling with bandits. Apparently her shouts had brought reinforcements, including Tamahome.
"What the hell's goin' on here?" Genrou demanded angrilly.
"Nothin' boss, jus' tryin' to keep these urchins in line."
Tamahome surveyed the room and his went wide with shock when he saw Miaka lying craddled in the blind monk's arms, bleeding heavily.Her chest rising and falling only just so slightly. It almost looked as though she wasn't breathing at all.
"Miaka!"
Tamahome fell to his knees beside her and unbuttoned the bottom of her blouse just enough to see the damage done by the blade that was still embedded in her abdomen. Most of the fabric of her shirt was already soaked with blood and spreading fast. Tamahome suddenly felt a deep grieving and desperation fill him. He didn't quite understand why, but something told him that he could not lose her. Whether he would admit it or not, this strange girl meant something to him. He just couldn't describe it, but he knew he couldn't let her die here. Not like this. If she died, it would be his fault.
"What have you?" he demanded angrily," What the hell have you done to her?!"
Tamahome was on the gaurd before anyone could so much as blink. Within minutes the gaurd lay on the floor, unmoving. From the slow rise and fall of his chest everyone knew he was still alive, but not by much. He was lucky Tamahome hadn't killed him.
"Oh no...priestess....," a familiar female voice said sadly.
Miaka turned her head as much as she could and saw the Korine stood just behind Genrou, her hand locked within his. What was going on?
"Tasuki, we have to get her help. We can't let her die. She's the Priestess damn it!"
Genrou looked at Korine and a look of tenderness passed over his face before being masked once again by that rough appearance of a bandit leader. Miaka expected to see nothing less from the leader of the Mt. Reikaku bandits.If anything, Genrou was a leader and a warrior above all else.
Suddenly she began to shiver with a cold that no amount of blankets could remedy. Her breathing was becoming too slow and shallow, and the ache of the blade was beginning to quickly disappear.
"Miaka! Come on, stay with me, don't give up!"
Tamahome scooped the nearly unconscious priestess into his arms, followed by Chichiri, Korine, Genrou, and the handful of bandits that had come running when they heard the screams erupt from the dungeon.
"Get her to one of the beds an' call the healer!"
"Boss....what about me?" the gaurd asked from his spot on the floor, holding his shattered nose.
"You can stay here and rot."
With that Genrou turned his back and locked the cell door. His bandits all knew the rules. You steal to survive and fight to protect your comrades. But you don't do it for the sake of fighting and stealing, and above all else, you NEVER attack a defenseless woman. It was the one rule you did not break. Other bandits had been killed for less.
For what seemed like only hours but was actually several days, Miaka faded in and out of a fevered unconsciousness. From time to time she would see a few faces. Some familiar, some not. For awhile she began to wonder if she was hallucinating. She thought that she had seen Hotohori, and Nuriko. At one time she could have sworn that it was Tamahome sitting by her side. When she next regained consciousness, she was still too tired to keep her eyes open for long. She felt a warmth in her hand, and it took a moment for her to realize that someone was holding her hand. She had a moment to wonder who it was that was sitting beside, when a vice spoke, answering her question.
"Miaka...I'm so sorry....It's all my fault that this happened to you. I had no idea this would happen...if I had known....If I had known the gaurd would try something like that I never would have left you there....I would have kept you with me. At least then you would have been safe. I could have protected you. I just didn't believe you. Everything you said...it sounded too much like a dream to be real...I thought you were lying...but...after everything I've seen...I...believe you...I believe you Miaka, just please....please don't die...I don't know why I feel like this but...but I don't think I could stand it if you died...please live....please....I'll do anything just....please....please...don't leave me....not when I've only just found you...."
The rest of the words were cut off by deep gutteral sobs. Miaka slowly opened her eyes and felt her own tears beginning to fill her eyes.
"Tamahome..."
Tamahome suddenly looked up, in shock, surprise, and relief. She was awake!
"Miaka...are you alright? How do you feel?" he asked, deep concern filling his voice.
"Everything hurts," she replied, her throat soar and dry.
"Here, drink this," Tamahome said, helping her to drink from a flask of water.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Miaka asked, suddenly suspicious.
"I don't know. Because I want to."
"Right. What happened? Where am I?"
"You don't remember?"
"I remember being stabbed but after that everything else is kind of a blur."
"After you were stabbed, the gaurd that did it was left in the prison. We brought you up here to heal you. That monk that was in the cell with you, what was his name...? Chichiri, he said he knew some healing, and then the strangest thing happened. Your body started glowing with this strange red light."
"Yeah, ya lit the place up like a fire work."
Miaka and Tamahome both looked toward the doorway where Genrou and Korine stood side by side. Korine had a solemn look on her face, as if she had done something unforgivable.
"Korine? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the palace? And where's Nuriko?"
"Nuriko is busy gaurding the emperor who is very worried about you by the way. Tasuki, would you two leave us alone for a bit? We need to have a little girl talk."
Tasuki? That was the first time Miaka had heard anyone call him by that name. She briefly wondered why Korine was allowed to call him by that name and no one else. Maybe they were closer than either of them let on. Maybe.
"Sure. C'mon Tama, let's go have a drink. You look like you could use it."
"You got it boss."
Once Tasuki and Tamahome had left the room, Korine seated herself in the wooden chair beside Miaka's bed. Her eyes were all for the floor, as if the stone pattern were suddenly very interesting. Yes indeed, that floor was downright spellbinding.
"Miaka, I need you to keep a secret for me."
"Sure, what is it?"
Korine took a deep breath and raised her eyes from the floor. The look in her eyes was so intense, Miaka had to fight the the urge not to look away.
"Gen-I mean, Tasuki and I, well...we're sort of...we're lovers. Nuriko doesn't know, well, he knows now, but...I had no idea they were going to take you. I swear I didn't. They were only suppossed to get Tamahome out of his cell. That's it. I'm so sorry about what happened to you. If I had known sooner, then maybe this wouldn't have happened, but I swear I meant you no harm. After tonight, I think we're all convinved more than ever that you truly are the Priestess of Suzaku...especially after seeing the way your body glowed with the light of Suzaku. Only the chosen Priestess and her warriors would glow like that."
"Is that why you came here? Because you knew they'd taken me?"
"Partly...but in truth...for the most part I was more worried for Tasuki's safety. I wanted to be sure he got away safely. It wasn't until I arrived here that I knew of your kidnapping."
"How did Hotohori and Nuriko get here?"
"They followed me. They thought I was coming after you alone, so they risked the danger of following me. It wasn't until we were nearly here that I realized I was being tracked. Nuriko always was better at keeping to the shadows than I was. I guess that's why Nakago was able to catch me. The truth is, when I was captured, I wasn't just there for the captured troops, I was there to save Tasuki. Nakago had taken him prisoner more then five months previous to our troops from Konan being captured. I thought I could kill two birds with one stone. I guess it didn't work too well. I know Tasuki still feels guilty for what happened. He's always being so carefull around me, like he's afraid that I'll break."
"Nakago wasn't the one who brought you back to the palace was he?" Miaka asked.
"No...Tasuki risked his own life to sneak back into the Kutou dungeon and free me. He carried me back to the palace. He was forced to leave me at the gates. A good deed doesn't change the fact that's he's the leader of the Mt. Riekaku Bandits. If he had brought me into the palace himself they would have thrown him in the dungeon."
Suddenly great shouts erupted from deep within the mountain hideout. Korine was on her feet, sword drawn, facing the doorway. The doors to the room had been completely blown off of their hinges. What was going on? Miaka seemed to be wondering that alot lately.The only thing that could be seen through the cloud of smoke in the door way was a small glowing blue light. Miaka gasped in shock, she would know that symbol anywhere. There was only one man who bore that symbol on his body.
"Nakago."
"So good to see you have not forgotten me Korine. I certainly haven't forgotten you."
"Damn you, Nakago, what do you want?" Korine demanded angrily, her eyes burning with a violet fire.
"I've come for the Priestess. I heard she was here. Although, I would be willing to make a trade...you....for the priestess."
"I'll die first," Korine replied.
Miaka could tell from the fine trembling along Korine's arms that she was using her anger to fight back the growing fear in the pit of her stomach. Korine was facing the monster of both their nightmares. This was the man who had tortured Korine and murdered so many of Miaka's friends and nearly destroyed her world.
"What do you plan to do with that sword little girl? Kill me?"
"I will kill you," Korine said through clenched teeth," For all you have done to me, for the lives you have destroyed, I swear, I'll kill you."
Somehow it was as if she were losing time. One minute Nakago stood at the doorway of the room, the next, he was standing directly next to Korine, a malicious look in his eyes. But it wasn't Korine the look was directed at. It was Miaka.
"I don't think so," Nakago replied, driving a large handled blade deep into Korine's stomach, twisting the blade as he stabbed her.
The blade of the knife had to have been sharper than it appeared, it had cut straight through Korine's armor as if it were made of paper. Korine fell to her knees, her body sliding along the length of the blade. She turned her head painfully slowly toward Miaka, eyes filled with tears, blood running down her chin.With the last breath in her body, she managed to utter a single word,"Ru...u......n."
"Korine..no....!"
Miaka struggled desperately to her feet, trying to fight against the blinding pain from the wound in her abdomen. She could feel the delicate stitches tearing as she scrambled from the bed. There was only one exit to the room and Nakago stood in front of it. There had to be another way out. There had to be. Miaka looked desperately about the room for some route of escape only to find none. There was only her and Nakago.
"Don't think I have forgotten you either Priestess. I remember you quite well. You should see the new changes I have made to your world since your departure. I think you'll like them, I know I do."
"You...you know me?" Miaka asked in confusion.
"Of course...and this time Priestess, I will finish what I started. You will join your precious warriors in death."
"That's not possible. It...It's not possible.....You did all this?"
"It took some time, but yes. To let you relive the murder of your precious warriors and your beloved Tamahome once more. It is a fitting end to your pathetic existance."
"No...no....You bastard!"
Miaka's body began to glow with a light as red as flame and just as hot. She was filled with a cold, unfeeling rage. So this was his doing. He had brought her back here. Just a final torture before he tried to kill her. If that was his plan she was going to take him with her. She would see to that. As quickly as she could Miaka tucked her body and rolled, picking up Korine's sword as she did so. When she got to her feet once more, she wielded Korine's sword.Nakago looked at her in surprise, then laughed, a harsh bray of sound.
"Oh, this really is too rich. Do you really think you can fight me? You, a pathetic failure of an excuse for a Priestess? You who couldn't even save her own world? Who failed to summon Suzaku and save her warriors?"
"I may have failed once Nakago, but I won't fail again. Even if I die here and now, I'll take you with me. I won't let you hurt anyone else. No one else will be forced to suffer at your hand."
This only brought another harsh laugh from Nakago.Nice to know she could be amusing.
"That's quite funny. I hate to break it to you, but you're going to hell Prietess of Suzaku."
"Save me seat."
Nakago drew his own sword and rushed Miaka with a blow that was almost staggering, but she managed to hold her ground and block the downward strike of Nakago's blade.
"Not bad Priestess. Not bad at all, but that was only beginner's luck. You won't outlast me."
"We'll see about that."
The battle that ensued between Miaka and Nakago would always be remembered as legendary. When the few gathered Suzaku warriors came upon the scene, Miaka and Nakago were already deeply immersed in the battle. Miaka was on the offensive and it looked as the the battle was going in her favor. Nakago was constantly having to raise his sword in defense. There were patches of blood here and there, and the sleeves of his shirt were torn where Miaka's blade had successfully landed. Just when it looked as though Miaka would win, the tides changed and Nakago quickly had Miaka defending herself. On and on it went, back and forth between the two. The turn of the battle would constantly shift, until finally Nakago had Miaka on the defensive again. He was merciless in his attack. Miaka's arms were tired and weak. Both Miaka and Nakago were soaked with sweat,but it was Miaka who felt the most battle fatigue. The wound in her abdomen had torn wide open and was bleeding heavily. The midsection of the robe she wore was already soaked with blood and spreading. The center was almost black and Miaka was pale from loss of blood. If the battle didn't come to an end soon, it was very likely that she wouldn't survive,though she hadn't really expected to in the first place. It was only then that the Suzaku warriors decided to step in. It was that show of strength by their Priestess that brought out the true warriors in them all.
"Mind if we cut in?" Tamahome asked, stepping in front of Miaka, blade drawn.
Where the sword had come from Miaka didn't know, but she was grateful for it. She couldn't take much more. That was for certain.
"Take a break Miaka, I've got this one covered."
Miaka leaned havily on the sword for support, terrified that she was going to pass out from fatigue and bloodloss. The last thing she wanted was to pass out in the same room as Nakago. It was definitly not one of her top ways to go unconscience.
"Hmph. This will have to wait until later Priestess. Your suffering can be delayed, but I will not wait for long."
And with that parting comment, Nakago was suddenly gone from the room, using energy from his life force to teleport away from the bandit's hideout. From the moment they had stepped into the room Nuriko and Tasuki had both searched for Korine, while trying to keep their attention on Nakago. It was only when he was finally gone that they saw her body laying face down on the floor in a pool of blood.
"KORINE!"
In an instant, Tasuki and Nuriko sat with Korine craddled between them. Tears ran down their faces in rivers. For one man, it was a much beloved sister that had been lost. A childhood playmate who never again would know the simple joys of family. For the other...an irreplacable love had been lost. It seemed as though as Korine's
life faded from the world so faded the light fron Tasuki's eyes. It was in that moment that Miaka realized that Korine had been so much more than tasuki's lover, she had been his entire world.
"NO! DAMN YOU NAKAGO!" Nuriko screamed, slamming his fists into the cold hard floor, deep gutteral sobs racking his frame.
Tasuki was still craddling Korine in his arms, whispering to the lifeless form of his beloved," I'm sorry Korine....I'm so sorry my angel....I love you ....I love you always....I'm sorry I failed you...forgive me....my angel....my love....I'm so sorry....I'll get revenge for what he's done to you....I swear on my life he'll pay for what he's done to you....to us....I love you....Korine...."
The sight of two of her warriors in such suffering, and the loss of blood was too much. Everything was finally beginning to take its toll on her. It was too much for me to take in. The world around her was beginning to shift and swirl in a pool of color. Until finally it faded to black.
"Miaka!"
Tamahome slid to his knees just in time to catch Miaka as her body fell to the floor. He craddled her gently in his arms and felt as though his heart would jump from his chest when he realized that she was very close to dying. There was too much blood. If it didn't stop soon, he might just lose her after all.
"Tasuki! Get the healer....Miaka...I....I think she's dying..."
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