Iteration

‘Iteration’ is part of the space saga that began with ‘In the cold of space you find the heat of suns’ and continues in ‘Tales in Tarrasade’. There is also a one-shot ‘Silver Leaf Tales: Tying the knot’.

Thanks to Small Fox for being my beta. For this story he has also been my muse, suggesting a number of the ideas that have evolved to create this arc.

Thank you to those readers who have written a review and particular thanks to angelj232000, disembodiedvoiceofthedying, richon, Dorkchic, Aflyingmonkey123, Tati, v, cynaga, sadie237, YamanashiOchinashiIminashi, satterb and Prism0467 who reviewed chapter 107.

Hearing from reades keeps me writing this story and encourages me to tackle a sequel.

Apologies if the characters have grown differently in their new environment.

This is posted in the Naruto/Sasuke section because it is part of a Naru/Sasu/Naru space saga. However, it does feature many other pairings (and a few threesomes). Apologies to those hoping for Sasuke/Naruto or Naruto/Sasuke action in every chapter.

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Chapter one hundred and eight: Makeover

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Naruto turned his buggy, controlling the speed so that the door to Sasuke’s office would have time to respond to his approach. If he got it wrong the wheels would catch on the doors as he entered.

Sasuke was sitting at his desk. The display frame was showing the new picture of the family, with the babies sitting on Naruto’s lap, Sasuke standing behind his chair and the children clustered close. Sasuke had wanted him to wear the orange super-pants but Naruto had selected the Uchiha-blue pair.

It was the first time Sasuke had chosen a picture with himself in it for his office. Naruto knew that it was a statement of solidarity; whatever known space threw at them they would face it together.


Naruto paused at the desk. He ran his fingers along the edge. Only a small depression marked the position of the damage. Sasuke had intended to leave it, but Naruto was concerned about what Haru would think. They had settled on this, the best restoration an artisan could manage without replacing the wood. It was enough to remind Sasuke not to lose his temper.

“I’ll be with you in a moment, dobe,” Sasuke told him.

Naruto was not in any rush. He put the kettle to boil before parking his buggy next to one of the comfortable chairs and transferring into it. He could have stayed in his buggy but he wanted Sasuke to be focused on him, not his disabilities.


Sasuke deactivated his desk, made the tea, placed the tray on the low table and kissed Naruto on the lips before sitting beside him.

“Why here dobe?” he asked.

Naruto understood the question; they usually talked in the bath. He smiled. “You get distracted in the bath.”

Sasuke leered at him. “I can get distracted here.”

“Be good,” Naruto reprimanded him, although he did not mean it. It was wonderful that Sasuke could not keep Little Sasuke in his pants. They had spent the last twenty days exploring Naruto’s erogenous zones and coming up with creative ways to make Sasuke climax.

Sasuke poured tea and placed a cup where Naruto could reach it easily. “If you insist, what do you want to discuss?”

Naruto took a deep breath. “I saw Rin yesterday.”

“Without me,” Sasuke observed.

“Without you,” Naruto confirmed. “I needed to think clearly. That’s easier when I don’t have to worry about what you are thinking.” He took Sasuke’s hand and squeezed it. “This way I could think about what Rin was saying then and concentrate on you now.”

Sasuke accepted it. He brought Naruto’s hand to his lips and kissed his fingers.

“They have a new strategy,” Naruto continued. “Inryoku suggested a line of enquiry to Shi-chan and then Klennethon Darrent gave Shi-chan documents he could find no way of getting. Rin and Kotohime have worked all day every day since. They think they can modify the tissues they have grown from the umbilical cord stem cells so my body may not reject them. Tests are promising.”

Sasuke’s eyes lit up. “That’s wonderful, dobe.”

“Yes it is,” Naruto agreed, “but we need to be cautious. If they replace my spinal cord and it does not take, I could end up paralysed from the neck down.”

He watched all the joy drain from Sasuke’s face. Even his body slumped. Naruto felt guilty; complete paralysis was an unlikely outcome. Even so, he wanted Sasuke to consider it. It would make it easier for him to accept the depressingly slow timetable.

“Rin has come up with a treatment plan that reduces that possibility to nigh on zero,” he reassured him.


He carefully explained Rin’s plan. They would implant a kidney and monitor it for three divs. At the same time they would implant nerve fibres, unconnected, at various points in his body to test for rejection. If all went well they would implant the second kidney and replace one of the major nerves in his leg with a grown version. After another three divs they would review all the data and make the decision about replacing his spinal cord.

“Rin thinks she can keep my damaged spinal cord and the healthy leg nerve in stasis,” Naruto told him. “If my body ever rejects the grafted versions, she thinks she will be able to put me back the way I am now.”

“Thinks,” Sasuke echoed.

“She was over eighty percent sure,” Naruto told him. “That will only be necessary if my body rejects the grafted tissue. We won’t be proceeding with replacing my spinal cord unless the kidneys and the nerves are functioning perfectly and there is no sign of rejection.”

“Six divs,” Sasuke observed.

“And then up to two divs tanked while the connections to the grafted spinal cord are made,” Naruto informed him. “After that there may be divs of rehabilitation.” He considered whether he had mentioned everything. “Even each of the first two operations will involve up to five days in a tank. It will be hard on you and the children. And on Kiba.”

“But you could be fully functional at the end of it,” Sasuke reminded him. “The triplets will be able to experience dancing with To-chan.”

Naruto’s eyes filled with tears. Sasuke could have picked any one of the many activities he could no longer do. It was sweet of him to mention that one. “We tell Rin yes,” he suggested.

“We tell Rin yes,” Sasuke confirmed.


Naruto was pleased. He felt that had gone well. Sasuke understood the risks and why they must proceed so slowly. He hoped that the other issues he wished to raise went as well.

“Good. Now the other things,” Naruto told him.

Sasuke frowned. “There are other things?”

“Inryoku and Enerugi. Shi-chan insists that he would not have thought of this new approach without them. We also have to thank Inryoku and Enerugi for identifying Deidara as the bomber and linking him to Orochimaru. They also took down the security when Shi-chan and Haru were escaping. They are Shi-chan’s friends and Haru is very fond of them.” Naruto stopped and studied Sasuke’s response. It was thoughtful rather than negative so he pushed on. “I want you to think about allowing them to swear to Uchiha or, if that is not possible, to allow them to swear fealty to you.”

Sasuke frowned. “Surely he is sworn to the Akatsuki, or Pein. We don’t know that Pein is dead.”

Naruto smiled. “Inryoku was sworn to Pein but Pein released him from his oath. He was never sworn to the Akatsuki. Enerugi has never sworn fealty to anyone or any organisation.”

“We really have to treat him as two people?” Sasuke asked.

Naruto was not sure what he thought about it but Shikamaru, Haru and Kiba were convinced. “Yes.”

Sasuke sighed. “I shall consider it. Anything else?”

“Three things,” Naruto continued.

“Three?”

“Three. One, you need to think about Nagato-chan. The current situation is an improvement over what went before but it is not a permanent solution. Time passes quickly. He will need the company of other children.” He thought about pushing more but decided against it.

“And the second thing?” Sasuke asked.

“Moegi,” Naruto stated.

“Moegi?” Sasuke queried, surprised.

“Yes. Shizune says she may be developing a fondness for Udon-san. It would be wise to look forward. I worry that Udon-san is not safe. Even if he is safe in Sublevel C he would not be safe travelling between here and there. Moegi would most definitely not be safe making the journey alone, knife or no knife. Uchiha is too much of a target.”

“We could not give permission for the relationship,” Sasuke responded with a scowl, which was unexpected. “That would solve the problem.”

“Is this part of the anti-Scavenger thing you and Kono-kun have?” Naruto asked.

Sasuke flushed. “I do not... Maybe,” he admitted. “I shall ask Itachi to consider the security implications and come up with suggestions. The third thing?”


Naruto produced the small box. Sasuke studied it for a few moments before realisation dawned. “Naruto, is that what I think it is?” His gaze did not leave it as Naruto lifted the lid.

“I asked Shi-chan to get you a thingy,” he announced.

Sasuke’s eyes did not leave the prostate stimulator nestled in dark blue silk. “Yours works off your collar,” he observed.

Naruto produced the activator. “It’s a button. This ring slides over my finger.” He demonstrated. “It only works when pressed by the pad of my left thumb. It’s fingerprint specific. Otherwise it might go off all the time by accident.”

“What’s the range?” Sasuke asked suspiciously.

“Ten paces maximum,” Naruto reassured him. “Don’t you like it? Shi-chan added the Uchiha crest in gold because you are Uchiha-sama.”

Sasuke actually blushed, which was adorable. “Dobe!” he complained. “Thank you.” He stared at it for a little longer. “At least I think so,” he added.

---

Inryoku tried to stare at Shikamaru while Enerugi was squealing with joy and dancing a jig.

“Uchiha-sama is going to offer us the opportunity to swear to Uchiha?” he checked. “En-chan, will you calm down? Please?”

En-chan was quiet and only danced on the spot, which was some help.

“No,” Shikamaru clarified. “He is going to offer you both the chance to swear to him personally. It means he is taking personal responsibility for your conduct. It also means he does not have to fight Kakashi-san about it.”

“It is very kind of him,” Inryoku acknowledged. “Did you ask him?”

“I would not dare,” Shikamaru admitted. “There are some lines even I can’t cross. Naruto asked him.”

“Just us?” Inryoku asked and En-chan stilled.

“You two,” Shikamaru confirmed. “Konan was a fully fledged member of the Akatsuki. I know she is willing to revoke that oath but no one is going to believe that she does not feel personal loyalty to Pein. If we had confirmation Pein was dead it might be different, but we don’t. Hana is loyal to Konan.”

“Will we be able to visit them and Nagato-chan?” Enerugi whispered.

“Yes,” Shikamaru assured him. “Every day. But Sasuke-sama wants you to live in Haku-san’s crew room. He thinks that there is a better chance that the crew will accept you that way.”

“Not your crew room,” Inryoku queried.

“No, I am in Iruka-san’s crew room. It is nearby and we all eat together. It’s the right place for you. Haku-san is good at looking after people.”

“Haru-chan says he is scary,” En-chan added.

Shikamaru smiled. “He is a little strict, but it will be fine.”


Inryoku was not so sure once Haku-san was in their apartment. No one had told them that he would be so beautiful, or that he would wear such magnificent clothes, or that he would sniff with disapproval at the state of everything; the apartment, their clothes and even them.

Haku-san indicated that they should sit down and produced a small note book and pencil from the sleeve of his kimono.

“Sasuke-sama is going to offer you the opportunity to swear fealty to him. Are you going to accept? Inryoku-san? Enerugi-san?”

“Yes, Haku-san,” they replied in turn.

“Very well. I shall have your rooms ready for you. I understand from Shika-san that you are both conscious at the same time. You do not timeshare the body.”

“Sometimes In-chan falls asleep,” En-chan answered. “He sleeps much more than me.”

“But usually we are conscious at the same time,” Inryoku clarified.

“So we will connect your two rooms, so you can share them,” Haku-san explained. “You can have one as a bedroom and one as a sitting room.”

That sounded nice. Inryoku nodded and En-chan smiled.

“Do you have a favourite colour?” Haku asked.

“Gold,” En-chan answered immediately. “I like red and blue as well. And green is nice.”

“That was Enerugi-san,” Haku checked and waited for their nod of confirmation. “What about you, Inryoku-san?”

Inryoku-san shrugged. “En-chan does colour and clothes and...” He thought about it. “En-chan takes all the decisions about what is around us.”

“In-chan needs a comfortable chair to sit in when he reads or listens to music,” En-chan added. “He likes a firmer mattress so we have one because I don’t mind so much. He likes rugs with a dense pile so his toes sink in when we walk around barefoot. He needs plants around him. Will we be able to have a laboratory? In-chan really misses our laboratory.”

Inryoku was touched; En-chan knew more about what he liked than he did.

“That is very useful, Enerugi-san, thank you. I believe that the issue of the laboratory will be addressed once we get you settled into the crew room. What about clothes?”

Inryoku was expecting En-chan to say it did not matter; they had never bothered much about clothes.

“I would like us to look nicer,” En-chan answered.

Haku-san’s eyes lit up in the most alarming way. “Would you, Enerugi-san? May I ask why?”

Inryoku realised that their face was flushing and that he was looking at Haku-san through his eyelashes.

“I would very much like to have a boyfriend, Haku-san,” En-chan admitted.

“A boyfriend?” Haku-san queried and then he smiled, which was even worse than the glint in his eye. “Oh you mean a lover, Enerugi-san.”

Inryoku felt their cheeks burning.

“I expect you think that is silly, Haku-san,” En-chan suggested.

“Not at all, Enerugi-san. I think it is very healthy,” Haku-san assured him.

Inryoku’s mind boggled at the notion of homosexual lovemaking being healthy; Pein had always insisted it was perverted.

“What do you think, Inryoku-san?” Haku-san asked.

“I don’t know, Haku-san,” he admitted.

“We don’t usually fancy the same men,” En-chan admitted.

Haku-san smiled at them. “Well at least you both like men, so that is a good start. There are two threesomes within the crew. There is Hamaki-san, Terai-san and Fu-san. They have a little girl called Naomi. I have two partners, Itachi-san and Kisame-san. We have two children, Mai and Shou.”

Inryoku remembered Itachi-san and Kisame-san very clearly. Thinking about them with Haku-san gave him the types of strange feelings he usually tried to suppress.

“What you need,” Haku-san was saying, “is a makeover.”


Before Inryoku knew what was happening Haku-san had left with a promise to come back that afternoon for the ‘makeover’. As soon as he was gone, En-chan dragged him into the bathroom and made them look into the mirror.

“You first painted your side of our face black for me,” En-chan reminded him.

Inryoku struggled with what En-chan was suggesting.

“We could ask Haku-san to suggest an alternative,” En-chan added.

An alternative; that was less scary than looking like a mirror image of En-chan. Inryoku found himself thinking about how scared Ran-chan had been when he first saw them. Did he really want to frighten children?

“We will ask,” Inryoku agreed.


Haku-san returned that afternoon with a hover platform loaded with supplies and Itachi-san.

“Ita-san has impeccable taste,” Haku-san told them.

Inryoku was not questioning Itachi-san’s qualifications as a consultant, he just hoped En-chan did not start drooling.


It took a long time but Haku-san finally finished. En-chan was turning this way and that, trying to catch sight of their back view in the large mirror Itachi-san had propped up at the side of the room.

Inryoku skimmed over the new clothes and concentrated on their head. Haku’s approach had been to create two halves, as before. En-chan’s side had highlighted hair, eye paint and a dangly earring. His side had darker hair, an ear stud and dark liner around his eye and his half of their lips.

“You could add a vertical line,” Haku said gently. “Maybe in gold rather than black.”

En-chan did not answer. Inryoku knew that he would prefer them to forgo the line. He studied at the image. Their eyes were still different; neither Haku-san or En-chan had suggested he give up his lens. His eyes went to their hands; the fingernails on their right hand were painted black and those on their left hand gold.

He took a deep breath. “It is excellent, Haku-san. Thank you.”

En-chan looked so happy; Inryoku knew he had made the correct decision.

---

Shikamaru knew it was going to be a good day when he caught himself humming in the bathroom despite it being far too early in the morning.

They had moved forward with Naruto’s treatment plan. The first surgery had gone smoothly, Naruto had recovered after only two days in the tank and, so far, there was not even the slightest suggestion of rejection. One functional kidney was a step in the right direction; no more dialysis.

He had heard from Klenn, a long letter that included an apology for being a poor correspondent. He was coming to Tarrasade; Shikamaru was looking forward to some face-to-face meetings.

Also, today was the day Sasuke was going to allow Inryoku and Enerugi to swear fealty to him. Haku had spent a good chunk of the day before preparing for their move to the crew room.


Sumiko picked up on his mood. She picked bright yellow leggings and top with silver bobbles in her hair. When asked for his approval, Neji winced slightly, acknowledged the cheerfulness of the outfit and managed not to shield his eyes.

She ran through into the kitchen and Shikamaru followed.


Kakashi was there, sitting at the table. Shikamaru slowed. Kakashi was almost never up this early. The coincidence was too great.

There were two cups of coffee, one in Kakashi’s hand and the other waiting for him.

He sorted out a child’s chair, crockery and cutlery for Sumiko while Tayuya asked her what she wanted. Then, with no more reasons for delay, he sat down and picked up the coffee.

“Thank you, Kakashi-sensei,” he acknowledged.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow and just looked at him.

Shikamaru knew he should say nothing but the urge to babble was overwhelming. “It’s for the best, Kakashi-sensei, truly it is.”

“Did you ask him to do it?” Kakashi snapped.

Shikamaru felt himself flush. “No, Naruto did and, no, before you ask, I did not ask Na-chan.” The pleasure of the day was draining away. He wished Sasuke had insisted that the Zetsus be allowed to swear to Uchiha. Moments like these were a consequence of avoiding the confrontation.

Kakashi was opening his mouth to say something else when a pink, plastic cup, travelling at high velocity, hit him in the chest. Milk sprayed up and hit him in the face. Kakashi’s coffee cup was collateral damage, spilling its contents into his lap.

“Bad man!” Sumiko declared. “Nasty to Nii-san. Bad man!”

Kakashi jumped to his feet swearing.

“Bad word,” Sumiko observed. “Bad man go to naughty corner.”

There was a sound suspiciously like a smothered laugh from Tayuya. Kamatari’s eyes were sparkling and his whiskers twitching. Shikamaru, somehow, found parental mode and moved. He picked Sumiko up, carried her through to her room and placed her in the punishment corner.

“No, Sumiko-chan, you do not throw things at people,” he scolded.

She scowled at him and then sat down. “Nasty Kakashi-san,” she insisted.

“What happened?” Neji asked from the doorway to their shared room.

“Su-chan threw her cup at Kakashi-san,” he replied, endeavouring to keep his tone neutral. “It was full of milk and Kakashi-san spilt his coffee.”

“Half-full of milk,” Sumiko clarified from the corner.

Neji, being Neji, managed to keep a straight face. “I’ll supervise Su-chan. You had better get back there.”


Kakashi was still patting himself with a towel while Kamatari mopped the floor. Shikamaru sat down and resumed drinking his coffee. He had been planning on apologising but decided against it. Sumiko would have offer an apology later and Kakashi did not deserve two.

He did not look up as Kakashi resumed his seat.

“She has an impressive throwing arm,” Kakashi observed. “Remarkably accurate and powerful for a child of three.”

“Ma played handball,” Shikamaru replied. “She was in the national squad as a junior.”

They sat in silence for a while. Tayuya came over, replaced Kakashi’s cup of coffee and refilled Shikamaru’s.

“I should not expect you to be what you are not,” Kakashi admitted. “Your strengths far outweigh your weaknesses.”

Shikamaru decided not to comment. He suspected that Kakashi was far more annoyed at Sasuke than at him, but Sasuke was Uchiha-sama; once a decision had been made, Kakashi felt unable to criticise.

“Iruka insists on attending,” Kakashi grumbled.

Shikamaru suddenly understood. It was not a formal Uchiha event, so crew members had been invited rather than their attendance required. Kakashi had probably been intending to illustrate his disapproval by staying away.

“Neji and I could take Iruka-sensei,” he suggested.

Kakashi scowled at him and Shikamaru flushed.

“It was just an idea,” he muttered, defensively.

“Not your best, Shika-kun,” Kakashi complained.

Perhaps they would have discussed it further but, at that moment, Kazuki came through the door with his brothers and sister following.

---

Kakashi had known it would be a bad day and, so far, his fears had been well-founded. He had argued with Iruka and been bested by a child before he had finished his first cup of coffee.

Worse, Tayuya had witnessed Sumiko’s magnificent throw and subsequent remarks; both would be described in excruciatingly accurate detail to Iruka.

As he often did when he had to think, Kakashi decided to go to the gym and train.


He pushed himself to his limits and then sat thinking in the steam room. In retrospect, it would have been better if Zetsu had sworn to Uchiha than to Sasuke himself. Deprived of a formal ceremony, Haku had ended up planning something that was suspiciously like a celebration.

It was as if they were welcoming Zetsu to the family; Kakashi loathed that.


He decided to forget Zetsu for a bit and concentrate on the good things. Iruka was healing. It looked like Naruto’s paralysis would be reversible. Asuma had not fallen apart, although it had been close.

His relationship with Ran was improving; if Shikamaru could adapt to parenting Sumiko, Kakashi could be a father to Ran.


Thinking about Shikamaru brought him back to the present. Zetsu would be one of the crew by the midmeal. He needed to accept defeat and concentrate on supporting Iruka.


Tayuya was visiting when Kakashi entered Iruka’s room pushing the hover platform Izumo had adapted. She and Iruka exchanged looks before Tayuya excused herself.

Iruka waited until the doors slid closed behind her. “I understand Shika-kun has a new protector,” he observed.

Kakashi settled for an exaggerated sigh. “She clobbered me, Ir-chan.”

Iruka started to laugh. “I wish I had seen it,” he admitted. He nodded at the hover platform. “Does that mean you have changed your mind?”

“I am not allowing you to go alone,” Kakashi conceded, “nor letting anyone else take you.”


Once Iruka was washed and dressed, Kakashi carefully manoeuvred his stand and upper-body support onto the platform. He locked and fixed the wheels so that neither stand nor support could slide. Then they were off; Iruka’s first excursion in ninety-four days.


The large meeting room was full, which was hardly surprising since the crew numbered thirty-three adults, two youngsters and twenty-two children.

Kakashi scanned the room. Everyone was present except Terai and Fu, who had volunteered for the watch, Ran, who could not cope in a crowded room and Itachi, who was presumably fetching Zetsu.

“Oh my,” Iruka murmured.

Kakashi followed his line of sight to one of the three doors. Itachi had just entered, accompanied by someone that Kakashi utterly failed to recognise as Zetsu.

He remembered a two-tone freak cowering in over-sized shabby clothes, not this delicate, exotic creature.

“I think the Zetsus have been Haku-ed,” Iruka observed.

“But...” Kakashi began and then trailed off. He did not know what he thought.

“Haku did mention that Enerugi, that’s left-hand Zetsu, wants a boyfriend,” Iruka whispered.

That zapped Kakashi’s last hope of logical thought. He wished it wasn’t midday. There was no way Iruka or Haku would condone alcohol at a daytime event where the children were present. Maybe he and Asuma could sneak off and share a bottle of whisky later.


Enerugi went first. Sasuke took Zetsu’s left hand and asked him if he was willing and able to swear fealty. Zetsu, Enerugi, replied that he was and then spoke the words of the oath.

It was a more complicated with Inryoku, because Sasuke had to address the issue of him being previously sworn to Pein. Sasuke took Zetsu’s right hand.

“Inryoku, previously known as dark Zetsu, have you ever been sworn to another?” Sasuke began.

“Yes, I was previously sworn to another but he has released me,” Inryoku replied.

“I accept that you have been released and are at liberty to swear to another. Inryoku, are you willing to swear fealty?”

“I am, Sasuke-san.”

Sasuke nodded that he should proceed.

“I, Inryoku, formally known as dark Zetsu, give my life and my service to you, Sasuke Uchiha, from this moment until my death.”

“I, Sasuke Uchiha, accept your service. I thank you, Inryoku-san.”

“It is a great honour, Sasuke-sama,” Inryoku acknowledged.

Kakashi sighed. It was done.


Then the cloths were whipped away from the food and Kisame was pouring fruit punch into cups from a huge jug that no purebred could ever hope to lift.

Kakashi went to fetch a cup, a straw and a plate of tasties for Iruka. On his way back he saw that Haru was introducing Zetsu to Iruka. He hung back, reluctant to become involved.

He could not hear what was being said, but he could see Haru’s happy excitement.


He looked about. This was the new Uchiha. Occasionally it felt uncomfortable, often it was worryingly vulnerable, but he would not swap a day of it for a decade of his old life.

Haru was moving away, taking Zetsu with him. Kakashi completed his journey across the room and began arranging the cup and plate where Iruka could reach them.

“Move a bit to your right, Kashi,” Iruka instructed. “You are blocking my view.”

Kakashi did as requested and then turned to see what Iruka was watching. Zetsu and Tatsuji were heading for each other. Haru was towing Zetsu and Yoshimi was leading Tatsuji.

From this angle, Kakashi had an excellent rear view of Zetsu. Whilst he was too lean for Kakashi’s taste, Tatsuji liked skinny. Thinking about it, those pants could have been selected with Tatsuji in mind.

Which they probably had been, given it was Haku who had chosen them.

Kakashi groaned; the sooner he could get up close and personal with that bottle of whisky the better.

---

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Tales in Tarrasade, Tale 17, Wallflower, begins directly after this chapter.

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