diff --git a/genomix/genomix-data/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/type/KmerBytesWritable.java b/genomix/genomix-data/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/type/KmerBytesWritable.java
index f14056c..65233d8 100644
--- a/genomix/genomix-data/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/type/KmerBytesWritable.java
+++ b/genomix/genomix-data/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/type/KmerBytesWritable.java
@@ -432,44 +432,9 @@
      *            : the previous kmer
      */
     public void mergeWithRFKmer(int initialKmerSize, KmerBytesWritable preKmer) {
-        int preKmerLength = kmerlength;
-        int preSize = kmerByteSize;
-        this.kmerlength += preKmer.kmerlength - initialKmerSize + 1;
-        setSize(KmerUtil.getByteNumFromK(kmerlength));
-        //        byte cacheByte = getOneByteFromKmerAtPosition(0, bytes, offset, preSize);
-
-        int byteIndex = kmerByteSize - 1;
-        byte cacheByte = 0x00;
-        int posnInByte = 0;
-
-        // copy rc of preKmer into high bytes
-        for (int i = preKmer.kmerlength - 1; i >= initialKmerSize - 1; i--) {
-            byte code = GeneCode.getPairedGeneCode(preKmer.getGeneCodeAtPosition(i));
-            cacheByte |= (byte) (code << posnInByte);
-            posnInByte += 2;
-            if (posnInByte == 8) {
-                bytes[byteIndex--] = cacheByte;
-                cacheByte = 0;
-                posnInByte = 0;
-            }
-        }
-        
-        // copy my kmer into low positions of bytes
-        for (int i = 0; i < preKmerLength; i++) {
-           // expanding the capacity makes this offset incorrect.  It's off by the # of additional bytes added.
-            int newposn = i + (kmerByteSize - preSize) * 4;
-            byte code = geneCodeAtPosition(newposn);
-            cacheByte |= (byte) (code << posnInByte);
-            posnInByte += 2;
-            if (posnInByte == 8) {
-                bytes[byteIndex--] = cacheByte;
-                cacheByte = 0;
-                posnInByte = 0;
-            }
-        }
-        if(posnInByte > 0)
-            bytes[offset] = cacheByte;
-        clearLeadBit();
+        KmerBytesWritable reversed = new KmerBytesWritable(preKmer.kmerlength);
+        reversed.setByReadReverse(preKmer.toString().getBytes(), 0);
+        mergeWithRRKmer(initialKmerSize, reversed);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/genomix/genomix-data/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/data/test/KmerBytesWritableTest.java b/genomix/genomix-data/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/data/test/KmerBytesWritableTest.java
index fbfbeeb..77b8462 100644
--- a/genomix/genomix-data/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/data/test/KmerBytesWritableTest.java
+++ b/genomix/genomix-data/src/test/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/data/test/KmerBytesWritableTest.java
@@ -257,6 +257,15 @@
         k2.setByRead(test2.getBytes(), 0);
         k1.mergeWithFRKmer(3, k2);
         Assert.assertEquals("ATAG", k1.toString());
+        
+        test1 = "TCTAT";
+        test2 = "GAAC";
+        k1 = new KmerBytesWritable(5);
+        k2 = new KmerBytesWritable(4);
+        k1.setByRead(test1.getBytes(), 0);
+        k2.setByRead(test2.getBytes(), 0);
+        k1.mergeWithRFKmer(3, k2);
+        Assert.assertEquals("GTTCTAT", k1.toString());
     }
     
     
diff --git a/genomix/genomix-pregelix/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/pregelix/operator/pathmerge/BasicPathMergeVertex.java b/genomix/genomix-pregelix/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/pregelix/operator/pathmerge/BasicPathMergeVertex.java
index 544d2f3..169d677 100644
--- a/genomix/genomix-pregelix/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/pregelix/operator/pathmerge/BasicPathMergeVertex.java
+++ b/genomix/genomix-pregelix/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/pregelix/operator/pathmerge/BasicPathMergeVertex.java
@@ -355,7 +355,8 @@
     public void sendUpdateMsg(){
         outgoingMsg.setUpdateMsg(true);
         byte meToNeighborDir = (byte) (incomingMsg.getFlag() & MessageFlag.DIR_MASK);
-        switch(meToNeighborDir){
+        byte neighborToMeDir = mirrorDirection(meToNeighborDir);
+        switch(neighborToMeDir){
             case MessageFlag.DIR_FF:
             case MessageFlag.DIR_FR:
                 sendUpdateMsgToPredecessor();
diff --git a/genomix/genomix-pregelix/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/pregelix/operator/pathmerge/LogAlgorithmForPathMergeVertex.java b/genomix/genomix-pregelix/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/pregelix/operator/pathmerge/LogAlgorithmForPathMergeVertex.java
index 16ea1cb..1309fba 100644
--- a/genomix/genomix-pregelix/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/pregelix/operator/pathmerge/LogAlgorithmForPathMergeVertex.java
+++ b/genomix/genomix-pregelix/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/genomix/pregelix/operator/pathmerge/LogAlgorithmForPathMergeVertex.java
@@ -217,7 +217,6 @@
                 voteToHalt();
         } else if (getSuperstep() % 3 == 2 && getSuperstep() <= maxIteration){
             processMergeInHeadVertex(msgIterator);
-            System.out.print("");
         }else
             voteToHalt();
     }