Note: If you're reading this, then I've already posted my next story in my 'Heart' series, Baroquen Heart. I have decided to make one change, however. It will center around Yuffie Kisaragi, as I have said before. However, it will no longer be a prequel. I have decided instead to make it a sequel.

So if any 'Psych Heart' fans are still wondering, 'Why was Tifa the Headsman at Sephiroth's 'execution'?', 'What part does the new girl, Sakura, really play in this story?' or 'What happens now?' concerning any of the characters, then prepare to have your questions answered with the third story in the 'Heart' series: 'Baroquen Heart'.

(Okay, I know what you're thinking: 'Third story? I thought you only had two!')
Not so, kind fans! I have posted the first chapter of a side-story, 'Bleeding Heart'. Bleeding Heart contains some references to Psych Heart, but it delves even further into the dark world of Tifa and Cloud's broken relationship. Bleeding Heart is in what I like to call 'Sketchbook Format', which switches between poems, diary entries, and other memorable occasions within the life of Tifa Lockheart. (Warning: Bleeding Heart is rated M for graphic scenes of violence and abuse, as well as some scenes of mild Sexual Content.)

Chapter 25- The Final Chapter (The Last Days of Marlene)

(Never has so much chaos been caused through so little fault)

When I woke up, that phrase was pounding in my head. I could not transfer it to the back of my mind, and a dose of Aspirin could not help. It shouldn't be this way, you know? It's the day before Christmas, so what should a 15-year-old girl be worrying about? It's not like Barret is low on money. We always have a fairly good Christmas, meeting up with all of 'daddy's' friends. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, we're the only ones in the party that get more than one Christmas. The others just celebrate together, but every year, 'daddy' and I have our own little Christmas celebration in the afternoon.

It strikes me as odd that, over the years, I have become so accustomed to calling Barret my dad. Really, he was just a friend who took care of me when my parents died. Still, I suppose the role of 'parent' should never be left unfilled.

I'm pretty sure he's getting me a cell phone this year. I've always wanted one, even if I don't have too many people to call.

"Marlene, do you want to help me put the decorations on the Christmas tree?" Of course I did. When I went down the steps and into the living room, I noticed that the tree, in its current state, looked like something from downtown Las Vegas: lots of lights, but not much else. Under the tree, there were 4 presents, 2 for Barret, and 2 for me. That may not sound like much, but I knew that this year, our few presents were really worth a lot. It's like I always tell him, 'one computer is better than ten pairs of pants'.

As I helped him place decorations onto the tree, I asked him: "Daddy, will you let me open one of my presents today?"

"Naw. Then you'll only have one left for tomorrow."

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

That evening, the same phrase kept flowing through my head:

(Never has so much chaos been caused through so little fault)

I really do wonder what it could mean. One thing is clear: I'll have to take some of Barret's sleeping pills if I want to get a wink of sleep tonight.

So that's exactly what Marlene did.

You may ask yourself, how do I, Elena, know everything that happened in the house that night? Well, no one can know every detail. I don't know that the conversation about the presents ever took place. No one can know the thoughts that were going through Marlene's mind during this time. But what I do know are the facts. And how do I know these facts? This kind of knowledge comes through a process that Reno and Rude, your appointed public officers, know absolutely nothing about:

Crime Scene Investigation.

The evidence tells us that Barret must have had a change of heart that night, because he did indeed allow one of Marlene's gifts to be revealed that night. Of course, she couldn't know what it was because she was asleep. But at approximately 9:00 PM, Barret Wallace placed one of Marlene's gifts on the dresser beside her bed.

Unfortunately, this wasn't your normal everyday gift. The present that Barret had given Marlene was acquired through a friend, Yuffie Kisaragi to be exact. On Marlene's dresser sat a small box, which contained an assortment of brand new Materia.

(How Reno missed this in his investigation is beyond me. On a side-note, I would personally recommend that he be fired.)

The evidence also tells us that sometime in the night, one of the Materia orbs fell out of the poorly-constructed box, and onto Marlene's bed, where it came into contact with Marlene's skin.

Now, let me stop for a moment to explain how Materia works. Materia is activated when it is absorbed into a human's skin. Yes, when someone forces the Materia orb into their own arm, the move is activated instantly, and there are no physical signs of the absorption on the user's skin.

However, there is a downside to Materia that is seldom seen.

When placed in contact with human skin, the orb will sit for a few minutes. If contact is not terminated within 5 minutes, the Materia will absorb into the user's body, whether it was wanted or not. In this case, it was obviously not wanted.

After five minutes of contact, Marlene was still sound asleep. She never saw her destruction coming. You see, there were some Materia in that box that were brand new, straight from the factory: Hojo's factory.

Of course, Hojo is dead, but does his work live on? I believe this case is living proof that it is.

The Materia that was absorbed into Marlene's skin was so sinister that I promise you, I am sweating bullets as I write it, knowing that there may be more like it still in circulation.

Ask yourself, when Sephiroth returned to this world again, why was he so good and 'seemingly' harmless compared to his former self?

The answer is easy: his evil was placed elsewhere, into these orbs.

I am confident that he knew precisely what the factory was doing, because I believe that Sephiroth allowed it to happen. Was he being nice to make up for his actions? Not intentionally. Once you strip Sephiroth of all of his evil, there is a layer of goodness still left inside.

This 'Sephiroth Materia' is exactly the kind of orb that absorbed itself, into Marlene's skin, violently tearing her apart with sword slashes from the inside out.

I realize that in this kind of tragic, unfortunate case, one does not really want to place blame onto anyone. However, I have talked with elders in the community about the leadership of this city of Midgar, and there is now legislation in the works that will turn our government completely onto its head.

In the aftermath of the Marlene tragedy, President Rufus conspired with Reno, Rude and Sakura in an attempt to wrongfully kill Sephiroth. Since that event did not come to its expected end, ShinRa cannot be held criminally liable for any actions against Sephiroth under Midgar law. However, starting today, ShinRa will be disbanded. Its members will still be required to hold public service positions, but our government will no longer be made up of corporate nutjobs.

I submit to the public a very noble idea for leadership: The Midgar Parliament.

I will be the head of this Parliament for the first two years of its existence. Afterwards, my successor will be chosen by the people, as will everyone that occupies this Parliament.

As my first royal duty, I hereby declare all instances of 'Sephiroth Materia' to be banned from the city of Midgar.

As for liability in the death of Marlene, I declare the following:

(And I hate to do this to you, since you're a good friend, and you just gave birth to a child, but you know that justice you love so much? It must still be served.)

Yuffie Kisaragi is hereby guilty of gross negligence in the act of providing a minor with a deadly weapon.

Therefore, through the liability laws of the land of Midgar, Yuffie Kisaragi is guilty of murder.

The punishment: Death.