Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh, Rurouni Kenshin, and Yu-Yu Hakusho.

To be the Strongest

Chapter 10: Gathering the troops…

"But must we suffer the wolf? Can't we just skip to after the Olympics and spending the summer with Sensei, Night and Tokio? I like that part better," Sano complained. Victoria chuckled.

"No Sano, all the players must be introduced," Victoria advised. She nodded to Aoshi so he could continue. Sano shrugged accepting grumpily his fate.

"I was actually disappointed when I participated in the Olympics. I had hoped to find a powerful opponent like Kenshin did but my competition fell shorter than I had hoped," Aoshi began as he placed his next stone on the board. Seto looked up surprised.

"But you took four gold medals! And you broke every record in each style you participated in, how could you be disappointed? You demolished your opponents!" Seto insisted shocked. Aoshi shook his head.

"Now after all that I have seen and done I understand how strong I was then. However, the fact that I defeated them so easily made my victories feel hollow," Aoshi countered. Seto thought about it for a moment and nodded.

"I guess a victory does feel better when it's harder to achieve," Seto agreed thoughtfully. Aoshi nodded solemnly as he made his next move. He explained Sano had defeated the Cuban favorite and won a gold medal in the welterweight category.

"I promised them I would take them to Disneyland if they won so we went to Sensei's home in California where she held a big party for Olympic athletes," Aoshi continued. He explained that most of the attendees were celebrities who were friends with his Sensei and a lot of American Olympians. His cousins Mai and Hana had been there because his Aunt Oume could never pass on his Sensei's newsworthy galas.

Aoshi sat in his Sensei's game room playing a game of chess with Kenshin. Kenshin was losing badly but he didn't seem to care. Aoshi had already told him he would be taking them to Disneyland with all expenses paid in the VIP tour! Kenshin could care less about whether he lost or won now! In the large game room sat Sano eating a tray full of snacks a nice maid had brought up just for him while his little cousin Mai sat on their new – shall he say friend? – Hajime's lap watching a movie.

"Ugh! Why doesn't she kick her evil stepsisters' butts!" little Mai protested. They were watching Cinderella and it came to the part where the dress the mice make for her is torn to shreds by the two jealous sisters.

"No good…she's outnumbered three to one with no possible back up…those are bad odds. She would need a really good strategy and some firepower wouldn't hurt either," Hajime pointed out in a solemn critical tone adding she obviously did not possess proper training. He said so in such a serious tone that it made Aoshi stop for a moment and watch the movie. Mai giggled and Aoshi understood that the man was probably teasing to get Mai to laugh. He succeeded of course.

Mai had really taken a liking to him! This surprised Aoshi. Mai was rather picky about the people she liked. At school she was popular only because she was richer than everyone else there. She liked bossing people around; she was never this charming or adorable. And yet there she was batting her little eyes at Hajime looking like little Shirley Temple. He - in turn - was far more charming and tender than Aoshi would've thought.

Of course their new friend was an impressive person. He was a highly decorated officer already and that dark blue uniform sure made quite the impression. Mai had never really been around people like him before. His mother – Mrs. Emi Davila – sat at an armchair reading far in the corner. She looked up from her book and smiled every now and then.

She was an interesting person too. She had the oddest gift. She could make you feel comfortable with barely a word. Aoshi had instantly felt at ease with her. That made it odd! It took time for him to feel anything but suspicion around people he didn't know. He turned back to his game idly wondering if she could be the kind of person who could make his dad smile again.

'Oh no,' Aoshi said to himself rolling his eyes. His pretentious cousin Hana – Sapphire as she was known in Japan's pop music world – sashayed into the room interrupting his quiet thoughts. She planted herself between Mai and the TV screen.

"There you are! Just because your cousin likes to commune with the riff raff doesn't mean you should! Come on!" Hana snarled at her sister gesturing angrily with her hand. When Mai wouldn't move, she crossed her arms and glared at Hajime. Mai glared back at her and held on tight to Hajime. Aoshi knew Hajime didn't speak Japanese – despite having a Japanese name – but he frowned just the same. He obviously understood the tone. Calmly, he paused the movie.

"You know it's rude to stand in front of the TV when someone else is watching," Hajime pointed out calmly, completely unfazed by Hana's rude behavior.

"Shut up! I'm not talking to you, you worthless peasant!" she shot at him in English. To Aoshi's surprise he merely smirked.

"A peasant I maybe but I'm not the one acting like a foul mouthed little street punk," Hajime countered calmly. Hana bristled, Mai giggled and Sano guffawed. Kenshin snickered a little and Aoshi couldn't help a tiny smirk. He liked it when Hana was cut down to size. She was a selfish mean brat who abused everyone around her. The very rare occasions when she got what she deserved was worth seeing.

"How dare you speak to me like that you filthy rat? You're not fit to even be in the same room as me!" she shot back sputtering angrily.

"You're right on that count. Kid's like you are usually more at home down in a cell at the juvenile detention center. Not partying with the law," he added pointing to himself still smirking calmly. Hana was so angry her mouth opened and closed but nothing came out. Sano laughed loudly. Aoshi shot a glance at Hajime's mother but she frowned in deep concern as she watched.

"Only good, respectful little kids get to do that!" he added cheerfully smiling at Mai as he stroked her head. Mai smiled bashfully and she snuggled up against him. Aoshi smirked again; he liked this guy more and more. He was good at messing with people's heads. Aoshi watched with fascination smirking evilly as Hajime showed him an interesting way to defeat an enemy. It was quite the revelation! He utterly defeated her without ever moving from his seat or raising his voice or even making threats!

'I want to learn that!' Aoshi thought. Sano was laughing so hard now he could barely breathe. Kenshin continued to snicker amused. Aoshi could understand their enjoyment. Hana always took her bad moods out on his friends and they were always powerless to defend themselves. For the sake of their not so rich families they swallowed their pride; Aoshi's Aunt Oume was a petty and vindictive woman. Hana sputtered incoherently unable to find a mature enough rejoinder.

"Now if you would get out of the way please. We're trying to watch the movie," Hajime added with a dismissive wave of his hand then picked up the remote. Hana's face was red from the effort of containing her anger. She turned on her heel and stomped away. She went straight to Sano's chair near the door.

"What are you laughing at you idiot peasant?" she yelled at him. Sano was laughing so hard he couldn't answer. Finally at her wits end she slapped his tray dumping his snacks all over his lap. Sano was up from his chair, his eyes flashing angrily but he turned away quickly wiping food off his clothes as he stepped away. There was nothing he could say or do. Hana smirked triumphantly and Aoshi responded for him.

"Can't win against a superior opponent so you pick on the one whose bound by his friendship to me not to defend him self. You're a stain upon our family's honor!" Aoshi spat at her with utter disdain. She responded by walking over to him and knocking over his chess set. Aoshi simply glares at her. Hajime stepped in once more.

"Gee, here I thought you were supposed to be a well educated debutant but it turns out you're nothing but a foul mouthed little brat who throws tantrums when you don't get what you want. How pathetic…" Hajime mocked and spoke again before she could say anything.

"Go do what bratty little kids like you do when they don't get their way: Go tell on me to your mommy," he concluded in a derisive tone shooing her away with another dismissive wave of his hand. He turned away finally and turned the movie back on ignoring the insults she threw his way as she marched out angrily. Aoshi smirked for a second. He really liked this guy! Remembering his discomfited friend he turned to Sano and found Mrs. Emi comforting Sano and helping him clean his clothes.

"Don't worry Sano…we'll get you some more snacks… Such an immature little girl…" Emi soothed advising Sano in a tender tone to not be bothered by such displays. She continued telling him he was the bigger person for not sinking to her level. She insisted he should be proud of himself. Sano's face changed and he suddenly didn't seem angry and frustrated anymore.

"When the maid comes back, we'll ask her to bring more snacks up, ok?" she added finally helping dust off his chair. She went in to the bathroom to throw away the trash she had collected. While she was gone Aoshi growled softly as his Aunt came in the room. Kenshin was picking up pieces of the chess set and did not pause at Oume's arrival.

"Mai, what are you and Aoshi doing here communing with these worthless peasants? I'm tired of it! Come with me now! You should've come with your sister!" Oume scolded standing in front of the TV as Hana had done. Mai looked upset and she turned her face away not willing to relinquish her spot on Hajime's lap, but knowing she would have to obey her mother in the end.

'I don't care what she says…she won't order me around ever again!' Aoshi seethed, his Aunt just loved to ruin his and Mai's good time. She always did it and he was sick of it! Mrs. Emi returned to the room then and while Aoshi struggled with something to say Mrs. Emi was ready!

"Now wait just a minute! These boys are hard working young men who have earned the highest athletic ranks in the world! Nothing gives you the right to speak of them like that!" Emi defended quickly.

"Furthermore, they are well mannered, well behaved young people! I can't say the same for our last visitor!" Emi threw in with just the right touch of scorn in her voice. Oume's face turned red and her eyes flashed with anger. Aoshi smirked coldly. Emi had hit her right where it hurt. Hana was an out of control teen and Aoshi always suspected that Oume hated that his friends were better behaved and more respectful than Hana.

'I see where he gets it!' Aoshi thought listening avidly. He looked at Hajime and he smirked, his face full of pride and triumph.

"Listen you dirty little whore. This is a private conversation between me and my family!" Oume replied sneering. Hajime's face changed instantly. He clenched his jaw tight and there was so much deadly anger in his eyes that for an instant Aoshi feared for his Aunt's life! He voiced his objection to his Aunt's dishonorable and immature comment as he got up from his chair, knocking over the chess set again in the process. Kenshin and Sano quickly joined him.

Oume paid them no attention but when she saw the look on Hajime's face the smirk of satisfaction vanished from her face. She looked away from him and took a step away from him. Her eyes flashed fear for just an instant. Aoshi was astonished! No one but his father could ever make his Aunt cower like that! Emi called for calm once more.

"General rules of etiquette demand that if you're going to have a private conversation with someone you are supposed to politely summon them away from the group, allow that person or persons to properly excuse themselves, then have your conversation once you are in a more private location," Emi countered in a calm condescending tone. Sano laughed derisively and Kenshin snickered. Hajime smirked again with pride and satisfaction but the promise of danger in his eyes didn't quite go away.

"Don't you dare tell me how to act peasant!" Oume countered at a complete disadvantage casting angry glances at the amused boys. Aoshi was thoroughly enjoying this! For once it was her Aunt receiving the public humiliation and not his friends! It was about time!

"Oh but I think I should! After all, though I may be just a peasant, I am not the one spouting obscenities in the presence of small children," Emi replied smirking triumphantly. Aoshi knew that his Aunt had been thoroughly defeated. There was nothing she could say that wouldn't make her look even more weak and foolish.

"How dare you speak to me like that? You filthy –" Oume began bristling with barely contained fury.

"For someone so high class your mouth is filthier than a sewer! A poor example you're setting for the fine young people in this room," Emi cut her off with a haughty tone. Oume glares angrily and opens her mouth to respond. However, she was spared further humiliation as Aoshi's father finally arrived.

"Please come with me now little sister," Hannya ordered calmly. He leveled her with a look that never failed to make Oume cower. Aoshi smirked in triumph. His aunt was surely going to get it good this time! His father would see to it. Emi stood very straight and still for a moment and glared right back at Oume as she stormed out of the room after her brother. She was tense for a couple of seconds then relaxed and turned to Sano.

"Why don't I go look for that maid?" Emi suggested in a sweet soft tone patting Sano on the cheek. Sanosuke grinned with maniacal glee and merely nodded. Mai was staring at Emi with awe. Kenshin on the other hand looked pensive and smiled just a little then he bent down to pick up some of the fallen pieces of the chess set. Emi left the room then.

"I like your mom Wolf!" Sano laughed. Hajime merely smirked proudly and nodded. He rewound the movie to the point before the disruptions and he and Mai continued to watch in uninterrupted peace. Aoshi settled the pieces back to their start positions and told Kenshin they could start their game over.

"You know Kenshin…it occurs to me that it's time for my father to start over too," Aoshi thought out loud. He wondered if it would be possible to bring his father and Mrs. Emi together.

"You know…I was thinking the same thing!" Kenshin agreed cheerfully as they began their game again…

"Oh momma is awesome!" Sano chuckled playing with his keychain. Kenshin took something out of his pocket and began fiddling with it too.

"You know…from what you've told me I thought you would have tried to set him up with Kenshin's mom first," Seto commented. Kenshin shook his head with amusement.

"My mother always thought of Hannya as a brother. She always says he reminds her too much of my Uncle Hiko! We gave up on that idea fairly early on. Besides my parents ended up getting back together," Kenshin explained cheerfully. Aoshi added that Kenshin's father had not appeared after the kidnapping because his plane had crash landed in Baharavia during a bad storm. He was badly injured and by the time his airline located him they decided not to relay the message of his son's condition because there was no way he could leave Baharavia in his own condition.

"Plus, all flights in and out of Baharavia had been canceled because the international airport was practically destroyed. The airline lied to us and told us they had relayed the message and they would call us when he returned," Kenshin added bitterly. Victoria put in her two cents then.

"I have a lot of friends in Baharavia though so eventually I did find out what happened to Toshizo. I dare say Hannya was less than pleased when he found out the truth," Victoria added with a smirk of amusement. She explained Hannya had stormed into the airline director's office and demanded answers. When he became less than cooperative Hannya simply did a hostile takeover of the company and fired him – along with anyone else who had willingly gone along with it.

"His girlfriend apparently didn't bother trying to tell him either so Toshi had no problems kicking her out of his apartment the instant he was able to come home," Victoria added. Kenshin explained his father's near death experience – added to Kenshin's tragedy – changed him. Slowly, through their mutual concern for their son's welfare, he and Chizuru drifted back together.

"It was a good ending…all things considered," Sano added distractedly still intent on the little device in his hands. Seto could now see that the little device was a very small figurine that looked familiar to Seto but he couldn't quite remember where he'd seen it.

"True…so where was I?" Aoshi asked himself as he placed his next stone.

"Ah yes…father confronted my aunt and apparently so did momma," Aoshi recounted with a smirk. Victoria listened quietly thinking of her own recollections of that day.

"I told you to leave the kids alone!" Hannya yelled at her as he dragged Oume into a reading room two doors away from the entertainment room the kids were in. This was the first time he had managed to put Aoshi, Mai and Hajime in the same room. There was no way he was letting his overbearing sister ruin it.

"I will not allow my flesh and blood to be seen consorting with filth! It is beneath their status!" Oume snarled at him. Hannya seethed but with visible effort he managed to reign in his anger. Oume was still spitting out the same old outdated nonsense! Nothing ever changed with her!

"I'll remind you little sister that those ridiculous notions nearly cost you and father our family's fortune!" he spit back at her. He smirked in satisfaction as Oume looked away angry and ashamed. Failure was something she despised especially if it was her own. Before he could say anything more a new voice joined them.

"What is wrong with you?" Emi Davila shot at her angrily. Hannya did a double take! He had not expected her to show up for another round with Oume! To his delighted surprise the woman did not allow Oume to respond.

"You have everything you want! Money, power and prestige…Why can't you be happy and leave the rest of us alone?" she yelled at her angry and frustrated, her fists clenched tight in anger.

"I'll be happy when you and your bastard child crawl back to the sewers where you belong!" shot back Oume but her rebuttal was obviously immature and weak to Hannya. Hannya himself was speechless! Out of Ms. Davila's mouth had come the exact same words his Rinoa had spat at Oume when she tried to prevent him from marrying Rinoa.

"My son is an honorable man! He has earned his right to stand tall among the best! And he is a better person than you and certainly a greater man than his father has ever been or will ever hope to be!" Emi declared proudly. Emi scored again! Kamo – Oume's husband – was a womanizing drunkard whose illicit affairs were constant headlines on the Japanese tabloids. Emi's fiercely proud declaration utterly humiliated Oume and snapped Hannya out of his reverie.

"That is enough Oume! You have no right to talk to her like this! You dishonor our family with your vulgar behavior and I am sick of it!" he added forcefully. Hope was now renewed in Hannya! If Ms. Davila was willing to stand up to Oume like this it meant there was a chance he could bring her and Hajime back into their family! When he first met Hajime, the boy asked him to stay away for fear of his mother's safety. Obviously now neither Hajime nor Ms. Davila felt fear of Oume.

"He's absolutely right! It is in poor taste to insult your host's friends, Oume," added Victoria cheerfully as she elegantly made her way into the room. She smiled evilly at Oume. Oume opened her mouth to rebut but thought better of it and said nothing.

"Hannya, Emi…I need a word in private with Oume please," Victoria announced. Emi nodded looking flustered and shaken, without a word she left the room. Hannya hurried after her hoping that with Emi's show of force he could bring them back into their family…

Victoria listened as the boys now talked about getting Hannya to get Hajime to teach them to surf the next day. Aoshi talked about the circumstances that made Mai and Hajime brother and sister. Seto listened avidly to Aoshi's stories hoping out loud for a chance to meet Hajime. He talked about the time Hajime had humiliated another of Aoshi's pretentious cousins without much effort during a family gathering in California that summer. Aoshi enjoyed it whenever Hajime stomped one of his pretentious cousins. He talked too about how he and Hajime had conspired with their Sensei to set Emi and Hannya up on their first date. Playing matchmaker was one of Victoria's favorite pastimes!

"Momma will be coming soon to visit; you will like her when you meet her," Aoshi promised adding a verbal invitation for him and Mokuba to come to his family reunion party in two weeks. His brother and his sister in law would be coming too. Tokio was on maternity leave and the reunion had been moved to accommodate her and the new baby.

As they talked now about Tokio and about earning her trust, Victoria's mind stayed fixed on her conversation with Oume and the incident they had discussed. An incident that Victoria – for now – was able to keep secret from Hannya and Aoshi. Hajime had found out eventually. He made an effort to maintain the secret as well but Victoria still worried that Hajime's barely restrained hostility might prompt Aoshi's curiosity.

Victoria smiled coldly as she approached Oume. The look on her face reminded Oume of a lioness stalking a cornered prey.

"You know…I was going to wait until after the party but…what the heck… Now is as good a time as any!" Victoria began grinning with wicked glee. Oume was paralyzed by fear.

"Remember that incident with Kamo a few years back? Remember that I told you that in exchange for my silence and that of my people I would one day ask you for something and you would give it to me…no questions asked…remember?" she continued in a smooth elegant tone as she walked slowly past Oume towards the couch by the window.

"In fact it happened in this very room," Victoria pointed out not trying this time to block out the psychic impression left in the room by her little protégé. She had gotten rid of the furniture that had been in the room at the time and remodeled the whole room but the impression was still heavy in here. She let the silence stretch to allow Oume to fill with dread.

'How can the impression still be so strong?' Victoria thought. She was transported to Tokio's state of mind almost three years ago. Her mind automatically coupled it to the security tapes she had retrieved later and stored. Tokio had been alone in Victoria's study concentrating on the thick book she had opened on the desk in front of her. Kamo walked in staggering …he was drunk as always.

Through the connection she could feel Tokio's mild disdain as she glared at Kamo. She closed her book and gathered her notes to leave. Kamo blocked her way so she glared some more at him as she tried to push past him. He did not let her and pushed her back against Victoria's giant oak desk. Horror and utter disgust replaced disdain as Tokio struggled to free herself from his grip. She finally seemed to manage when she bit him on the arm.

Fear and disgust screamed out of her mind as he caught her again and slammed her this time on the couch. Her throat could produce no screams as Kamo put all his weight against it with his hand. His other hand pulled at her shirt and stuck itself under it pulling at her bra. He squeezed her breast in the cruelest manner as she struggled to get him away from her. Despair gripped her and her vision blurred as her brain was deprived of oxygen. She continued to struggle in fear and despair hoping to at least be unconscious until after it was over.

'It was that fear that called me in to the room,' Victoria thought working hard to keep her face neutral. She had saved Tokio and Kamo had not really been able to cause any more physical damage. Victoria still worried about her though. The girl spent way too much time alone since then and she was severely distrustful of not just men but people in general. She was polite but always on guard. Perhaps the fact that Night was her constant shadow whenever she had to come here wasn't helping like she thought it would.

'But she doesn't come very often anymore,' Victoria thought regretting most of all the loss of the lovely simple lunches she used to share on Sundays with Tokio. Tokio claimed to be too busy with school but Victoria knew better. She didn't even take many catalog assignments anymore – just the bare minimum to pay her school and living expenses. At least she did still travel and train with Nightraven. There was still some hope left. She had a feeling that Aoshi, Sano and Kenshin could help her reclaim her lost child.

"You see Oume…I finally figured out what I want from you," Victoria finally announced enjoying with wicked glee the terrified look on Oume's face. There was more to it of course. Tokio was the last survivor of a very prestigious old family. She had all the class and charm of a well trained debutant – in fact – when compared to Hana and her so called society friends, Tokio was clearly superior. Her father was descended from a noble high ranking samurai family. Should the Japanese tabloids ever hear of the incident Oume would be ruined.

"What do you want from me?" Oume asked in a fearful whisper. Victoria smirked evilly. She turned to look at the door through which Emi had stormed out followed closely by Hannya. She turned back towards Oume grinning like the Cheshire cat.

"No…no…no! Anyone but her!" Oume pleaded in vain. They had this conversation before. Aoshi needed a mother figure in his life – Oume's own attempts at that had failed miserably – and Hannya should not continue to be alone. However, Oume's attempts to connect her brother with one of her high society friends had failed time and time again. Hannya hated her "society" friends.

"Aoshi and Hannya need her," Victoria insisted her face now commanding and stern. Victoria knew this with absolute certainty! If anyone could rebuild Hannya and Aoshi's broken souls it would be Emi. She was only too happy to help that become reality. After all, there was only so much she could do for her boys.

"But he has you! You're perfect!" Oume countered desperately hoping to avoid the worst of scenarios. Victoria's eyes bore into Oume with unwavering conviction and her knees weakened. Slowly the woman sank into the chair in front of Victoria.

"No Oume…they need a warm place where their hearts can find refuge from their cold world. I know that sounds cheesy but neither you nor I can give them that," Victoria pointed out feeling the sting of grief that she never failed to feel when her children were hurting. Oume's mouth opened and closed but nothing came out. Silence stretched out as Oume's despair hung heavy in the air.

"Emi is perfect for that!" Victoria insisted with renewed energy as she got up from her chair. Oume looked up pleadingly.

"Please not her," she begged softly but it was futile. Victoria's mind was set…she would show Oume no mercy!

"Well I can always show the tapes to your brother…or better yet I can sell them to the tabloids in your country. I know they would love it!" Victoria threatened with wicked glee.

"No…please…" Oume replied in an utterly defeated voice. Victoria smiled. This would be a hard lesson for Oume but one that was very necessary. She was certain that in the end even Oume would benefit from the schemes she was about to set in motion.

"Now come along Oume! There is much to do!" Victoria ordered as she beckoned Oume. Without a word the defeated Oume followed her out…

"Well at any rate Sano's resemblance to Tokio-dono's deceased brother helped immensely, that it did," Kenshin added. He explained some more about Tokio and her tragic life circumstances. She had lived under the constant abuse of her cousin who enjoyed much protection from the law. It wasn't until Tokio began working for the Air force that she finally managed to free herself from his abuse and find a way to end his protection.

"The fact that she managed to succeed in spite of the constant physical abuse from her cousin and the mental abuse from his parents is what made her our greatest ally," Aoshi added. Sano pointed out that Tokio had been living on her own since she was 15 and she had to struggle through some really harsh years to enjoy the happiness she now revels in.

"Sis's awesome! You'll see when you meet her," Sano pointed out cheerfully "but I still think she just felt sorry for him! Damn wolf…" Sano grumbled mildly annoyed still playing with his little keychain. Seto nodded glad that he would soon get to meet this Tokio and her Wolf. They were definitely people he would like to get to know. Finally curiosity got the better of Seto.

"What is that thing you're so intent on Sano?" he asked finally. Sano grinned widely and held up a small blue and red truck.

"Optimus Prime! Tokio gave it to me! It belonged to her brother," Sano proudly exclaimed. He took it in his hands again, fiddled with it and then held up the transformed tiny robot keychain. He looked at Aoshi and then smirked mischievously. Seto frowned but before he could ask anything Kenshin spoke up.

"Just so you know, you're not the only teenager to kiss a beautiful older woman, that you are not!" Kenshin added in a teasing tone as he and Sano cast quick glances at Aoshi. Aoshi didn't look up from the Go board.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Aoshi commented throwing a cold glare at Kenshin and Sano. Of course Sano and Kenshin were unaffected. Quite the opposite! They giggled mischievously but said nothing.

"You're right! You should continue that you should!" replied Kenshin with a big grin on his face. Seto narrowed his eyes in suspicion. As Aoshi continued Sano pointed to his little figure then winked giving Seto a direct clue as to who it was Aoshi had kissed when he was young…

A/N

Slowly we continue! I have to put-put my way through this one because I want to keep all the timelines consistent. It's easier to review chapters when they are shorter. I have not abandoned my stories. I've just been a little busy. Hopefully, I should be able to update more often.

Thank you for your patience.