Craig Maimsworth stood outside his room, idly polishing his sword.  He still 
wasn't quite sure just what to think.  He held up his sword to a nearby 
painting of one his ancestors using a sword similar in appearance to 
decapitate another man completely tied up in thick ropes.  It seemed like 
revenge had always come so easily for his forefathers.  Someone gets in your 
way, eliminate them.  Someone challenges you, crush them.  Someone dares to 
mock you, torture them until death.

Craig knew he was capable of the same acts.  His basic "attack to kill 
without warning"would have worked, he was sure, if that damned bandaged 
meddler Balabalalde hadn't gotten involved.  'Darkness knows, it's not easy 
to get used to coming up with simple plans, not when I had to spend the 
entire day as an equipment manager"

His day had been incredibly long, and as boring as watching a titanium 
gargoyle being water tortured.

'Who would have guessed that being equipment manager would take so much 
effort? And it was so insufferably boring! Well, at least I had time to 
think about Yuri's weird invitation.'  Craig shrugged and stretched.  "I 
suppose I'll still go to her party.  Maybe she's just inviting everyone.  Or 
maybe... maybe she meant something else by it.  Yeah, I'm sure that's it.  
Hmm, I bet that everyone there will be so impressed with my new persona, 
they'll all declare me their undisputed lord and master!"  Craig began a 
laugh that he hoped was so evil it would decimate the ears of angels.  He 
sighed.  "Well, maybe not.  But regardless, I can't believe it! Invited! Me! 
To a party! When I think of it that way, it's like a first for me!"

The young Maimsworth clenched his fist and waved it above his head.  "I 
swear I will be so spectacularly charming and cool that by the next sunrise, 
I will be the most popular boy in the entire high school!"

"Sir?" The magistrate cleared his throat.  "I believe it is time for you to 
proceed to your gathering.  You are adequately prepared, I assume."

Craig nodded.  "Yeah, Klein, I am.  I'm as prepared as I'll ever be."

Klein smiled slightly.  "Excellent, sir.  I have the directions clearly 
written on this card.  Try not to get lost, sir."

Craig chuckled.  "Don't worry, Klein.  I wouldn't want to miss this party 
for the pits of hell themselves."

                          *** *** *** ***

           *********************************************

                          Dark Heart High

              Netherworld Educational Institution for
                 The Universal Propagation of Evil
                          started by Mads

*********************************************
Part Twenty Four: Exhortations!
by Jeremy Fogelman
*********************************************

           *********************************************

                          *** *** *** ***

Ki Tamaida paced angrily on the roof of a house.  Yuri's house was just down 
the road, and she was having her girls-only party this very night.  Girls 
only.  That had presented a problem, for how could the heir to the Steel 
Thorn Clan take advantage if he was not present?

Of course, for one of Ki's immeasurable skills, the solution was easily 
found, if not too pleasing.

"Well, well, what a perfectly boring neighborhood."  Midori grinned widely 
at Ki from the shadows.

Ki glared balefully at his cousin.  "I don't wish to drag this out any more 
than necessary.  You remember our arrangement?"

Midori laughed.  "Indeed, cousin.  Spy on the Mikagami girl, in exchange 
for-"

"Don't say it!" Ki held up his hand.  He glanced around and saw no one, but 
one could not be too careful.  "Clearly you remember.  I will require a full 
report.  I will remain here the entire time – in case of a problem.  I 
will-"

"Got it, got it," Midori said, holding up her hands.  "Your infatuated talk 
is getting tiresome.  Answer me this before I leave.  If spying is your only 
desire tonight, why not merely hide in the shadows of the house.  The 
parents are not there, you have nothing to fear.  Unless you lack the skill 
to break in..."

"Midori, enough of your foolishness, please.  It is not that - as you well 
know.  If you are caught-"  He grinned nastily.  "Unlikely as that may seem 
to you, it happens.  A girl will not raise nearly as much suspicion as my 
intense male presence."

Midori snickered.

Ki frowned.  "And besides, none of the girls will recognize you, in all 
likelihood.  You could impersonate one of the foppish neighborhood girls, no 
doubt."

Midori grimaced.  "Don't be such a fool, cousin."  She shook her head and 
smiled.  "Enough of this, you keep your end of the bargain, I shall keep 
mine."

Ki nodded.  "As always."

* * * * *

"Reika!" Atsuko tapped her foot impatiently.  "How many times must we go 
over this?"

Reika mumbled.  "Until it makes sense."

"I heard that!" Atsuko leaned back against a telephone pole and sighed.  
"Come on, girl! We're literally a block away from her house! Don't get cold 
feet on me now! We've come too far for that!"

Reika grumbled and frowned deeply.  "I just really don't want anything... 
weird to happen."

Atsuko rolled her eyes.  "Oh, not this again.  I thought we agreed NOT to 
talk about it! And come on, what's the big deal? Her, uh, dad, won't be 
there, right? Just us and some girls from Yuri's new school.  She _did_ say 
girls.  I can't imagine a girl, even from _that_ school, could be as weird 
as... HIM."

Reika turned suddenly and jerked her head around frantically at a small 
noise.  A passing car, most likely.  "There it is again.  Did you hear that? 
I thought I heard something moving in the shadows.  What if it's one of 
those 'girls'? AAIIEE-"

Atsuko clamped her hand over Reika's mouth.  "Oh, seriously, Reika.  Grow 
up.  This is a very nice neighborhood.  Don't disturb the nice folks here 
with any unreasonable screaming, okay? Now, are you going to calm down?"

Reika nodded.  "Mmm hmm."

"Good," Atsuko said, and let her friend go.  "Reika, you really need to cut 
down on the coffee!"

Reika reared back and closed her mouth.  Suddenly she whirled around and 
scanned the nearby streets.  "Atsuko, did you see that? I thought I saw 
something fly across the sky.  Something... dark and mysterious.  Oh no, 
we're done for!"

Atsuko gritted her teeth and buried her head in her hands.  "Reika, please! 
You're driving me crazy! There's nothing dark and mysterious flying across 
the sky.  There's no one creeping around the shadows.  There's no..."  
Atsuko used the most ridiculous idea she could come up with on the spot.  
"No giant spiders attending the party.  There's absolutely nothing to be 
worried about.  Okay?"

Reika frowned thoughtfully.  "Well, okay, I guess.  I suppose so."

Atsuko grinned.  "Great.  So let's go."

"Um, give me a minute or two to prepare myself."

"Argh!"

* * * * *

Yasuko looked around nervously.  Where was she? 'I don't mind being late to 
Yuri's little thing, but I can't go at all if I don't know the way.  Where 
is that Leilei?'

"Hey, Yasuko! Here I am! Ready to go!" Leilei jumped out of nowhere and 
bounced up and down.  She let out a high pitched giggle.  "Surprised? Come 
on, let's go!" Leilei grabbed her arm and started to pull Yasuko, who pulled 
back and untangled herself.

"Leilei, what's wrong with you? Calm down, little girl!" Yasuko frowned 
disapprovingly at the small girl.  "Let me go this instant.

Leilei sighed happily.  "Just excited about the party, I guess.  I'm getting 
a little anxious, nervous, you know? I haven't been to a party like this, 
small get together and all, since - well, for a long time.  You got all your 
stuff?"

Yasuko rolled her eyes but nodded begrudgingly.  "Yeah, yeah, I've got 
everything."  'Wait until you see my nightgown, it'll show all of you little 
girls exactly how superior I am to all of you.'

Leilei nodded and motioned for them to start walking.  "I've got some really 
good ideas for games, maybe you'd like them, hey, you know, I bet we could 
have a really, really, great time if we played Incubus and Victim! Wouldn't 
that be so much fun? I bet you'd think so.  Oh, oh, guess what? I heard some 
great gossip about one of the girls Yuri invited.  Oooh, it'd knock your 
socks off! Hey, you know, I just realized something!"

Yasuko frowned and she started to tune out Leilei's excited chatter.  'I 
can't help but feeling a little, well, regretful about my little plan 
earlier.  What was I thinking?' Yasuko shivered as she felt an odd 
sensation, a vague feeling of regret, wash over her.  'Perhaps I made a 
mistake deceiving the Maimsworth boy.  It might be a good idea to find out 
how Yuri would react.  Leilei would assuredly, but how to broach the 
subject? I had better be careful what I say.'

"Say, little girl," Yasuko interrupted.  "Um, what do you think of Craig?"

"Craig?" Leilei raised an eyebrow.  "That's an odd change of subject.  Why 
would you bring him up? Unless... you don't LIKE him, do you? Wow, who'd 
have thought it? You and armor-boy, and right after he got his butt kicked 
by Bala-kun-"

"What?" Yasuko's cheeks turned crimson, which was strangely uncharacteristic 
of succubuses in general..  "That, that, moronic BUFFOON?!" she sputtered. 
"I'd sooner date a cockroach demon from the Excrement Pits of the Fifth 
Circle! The very idea! Ridiculous!"

Leilei grinned wickedly.  "Oh, sure, right, I believe you.  Don't worry, I 
don't think you'll have much competition.  I don't think any _other_ girls 
like him."  She laughed teasingly at the succubus.

Yasuko growled and sneered at the shorter girl.  "Fine, fine, we'll talk 
about something else.  Why, the very thought of him makes me sick to my 
stomach! Ridiculous!" she said again.

Leilei smiled knowingly.  "Uh huh."

Yasuko bared her teeth and snarled.  "Enough! Can we talk about something 
else?"

"You seem to be the one who's so hung up on him," Leilei pointed out.

Yasuko's face turned a blotchy purple color.  "Mmpargh! Never mind!"

Leilei laughed.  "Okay, okay.  Besides, they'll be plenty of time to discuss 
boys at the party.  Speaking of which, I think there's a little rivalry 
forming between Ki and Bala for Yuri's attention! And I don't think she has 
any idea what to do! Wow, it's so exciting, don't you think?"

Yasuko sighed and was glad for the change of subject.  Liking Craig? 
Ridiculous! No, more like pure unadulterated insanity! And yet...  Yasuko 
couldn't help but wonder what would happen when-- IF Craig showed up at the 
party.  Darkness knew that the boy couldn't get a clue.  What would Yuri say 
if she found out?

* * * * *

Craig stood nervously in front of Yuri's house.  He checked his directions 
again.  Yes, he was at the correct place.  "I'm not sure I can go through 
with this," he muttered.  "But on the other hand, she invited me.  That 
means something.  What it means exactly, I'm not too sure about.  I mean, 
she can't, well, like me, can she? I mean, she's already got Tamaida and 
Bala wrapped around her finger.  Could she have invited me to take revenge? 
No, that's ridiculous, all those witnesses.  Unless...  Eh, who am I 
kidding? There's only way to find out for sure."

Craig shook himself and cracked his knuckles.  "Let's do this."  He strode 
over to the door in what he hoped was a confident swagger, and rang the 
doorbell.

"Coming!"

'Yuri! Um, maybe this wasn't such a good idea.'

Yuri opened the door with a smile... then stopped short and started to close 
it.  She held it open just enough to see out.  "Craig! What are you doing 
here?"

"Um, I mean, I'm here for, uh, the, um party," Craig stammered nervously.

"The party?" Yuri asked confusedly.  "But Craig, this party is for girls 
only.  Well, I mean, I invited Ryuji, but only because he - um she uh.... 
well, see what I mean?  Ryuji's in a girl's body right now."

Craig's jaw dropped.  "B-but Yuri, y-you said... Um, I mean, Yuri, you 
invited me just yesterday! Right?" Craig's expression became slightly shaky. 
  There was a moment of silence.  A moth flew by.

"Um, Craig, I didn't invite you."

Craig's face paled and became frozen in a apathetic expression.  "Perfectly 
understandable," he said in monotone.  "I'll just be leaving then.  Sorry 
for the mixup."  Craig turned and walked steadily away from the Mikagami 
household.

Yuri eyes followed Craig's slow exit and her mouth opened slightly.  
"Craig..."  She watched him walk out of sight, then slowly closed the door.

* * * * *

Ryuji smiled happily as she gazed at her expression in the window of a car.  
'Wow, this makeup idea of Yuri's really works all the time! I look as normal 
as any old human! Hmm, I hope I can stay held together for the entire party. 
  Yuri seemed to really like this Merkla lady's body.  Maybe I should 
consider a backup.  Hmm, I can't quite recall the proper protocols for this 
sort of thing.  Eh, I don't suppose there'll be any problem if I just wing 
it.'  He spotted an young woman walking nearby, accompanying a small boy.

Ryuji grinned and rushed over to them.  "Excuse me," he said to the woman.  
"Are you dead?"

The woman's mouth dropped.  "Young lady, I most certainly am not! Honestly, 
such rudeness! I'm with my son! What an awful question!"

Ryuji held up her hands.  "No, no, you don't understand.  I just wanted to 
know if you were dead, or perhaps dying soon, so I can use your corpse in 
case this one falls apart.  I guess what I'm asking is, may I use your body 
when you've finished with it?" Ryuji smiled hopefully at the woman.

The woman looked at Ryuji with a dumbfounded expression.  She picked up her 
son and yelled shrilly, "Police! Police! Help!"

Ryuji's eyes widened and he ran away from the crazy woman toward Yuri's 
house.  "What an odd woman.  What was her problem?" Ryuji stopped and looked 
around.  "Wait, which street did Yuri live on again? Oh, dang it, I can't 
remember."

"Maybe I can help, missus."

Ryuji looked up, recognized the newcomer after a moment as a Dark Heart High 
schoolmate, and grinned.

* * * * *

Craig skulked down the road, his face dark and angry.  "How dare that girl 
toy with me like that? I'll show her! To ask me so rudely in the first 
place, and then, to just act like she... never... invited... me... at all."  
Craig's jaw dropped as he remembered.

- - - - -
"Shut up, twerp." Strange. Craig didn't remember Yuri's voice sounding like 
that before. "I'm having a party tonight, and I want you to come."
- - - - -

Craig's eyes widened.  "That's it! I knew it seemed weird.  I wasn't Yuri at 
all! But who-?" Craig stopped short as he realized he heard voices nearby.  
He quickly slunk into the shadows.  The Maimsworth heir frowned as he 
recognized the voice of that tiny girl that always hung around Bala and 
Yuri.

"Ooh, and maybe then we can have some real fun! Like maybe we can play Who 
Ate the Last Cannibal Goblin? That's my favorite game, Yasuko."

"Yasuko?" Craig repeated to himself.  'Why would that insane succubus hang 
out with Yuri's faerie groupie?'

"Um, yeah, sure," Yasuko said uncertainly.  "I guess."  She looked around 
nervously.  'Maybe I shouldn't have invited the crazy armor boy after all.  
After all, what good would it do me?'

"What are you thinking about now, Yasuko?" Leilei asked with a sneaky tone.  
"You look awfully distracted.  Thinking about someone?" She snickered.

"Um, say Leilei.  What do you think would happen if a boy crashed the 
party?" the succubus asked hesitantly.

"A boy?" Leilei repeated.  She grinned.  "You don't happen to have a 
particular boy in mind, do you?"

Craig frowned as he followed the two in the shadows.  They were clearly too 
busy conversing to bother looking for anyone who might be listening.  Who 
could the little girl be referring to? Who did Yasuko have an interest in? 
Ki, perhaps.  Or perhaps that odd boy, that Doombringer, Sakazashi.

"Hmm..." Leilei held up a few fingers.  "Well, I suppose it'd depend on the 
boy, I guess.  Now, I suppose it could be..." She began to recite, 
retracting a finger with each name.  "There's Bala, I can't imagine he'd be 
much fun, he doesn't get out much, at least when he's not playing sports.  
There's Ki, he might try to do something ninja-like, like you know, with 
shadows.  Oh, and of course."  Leilei looked at Yasuko with a devilish grin. 
  "There's big bad old Mr. Craig Maimsworth."

Yasuko's face colored and she snapped angrily, "Shut up, twerp! I already 
told you, I hate that armored pile of rotting stupidity.  Okay? Got me? I 
just was wondering what might happen if someone like, well, him, showed up.  
I assume he'd probably try and attack Yuri with some ridiculous hair-brained 
scheme as per usual."

Leilei looked at Yasuko oddly.  "I don't know, I guess.  Why do you bring 
such an odd possibility up? It doesn't seem very likely.  What are the odds 
that Craig would even know Yuri was having a party?"

Craig leaned back against a house, unable to really react.  'It... it was 
Yasuko who asked me? But why would she do that? Did she really think I'd 
attack Yuri or something? I-I can't figure it out.'  Craig straightened as 
he watched the succubus and short girl walk away.  "Or perhaps it's all too 
clear.  She was trying to manipulate me.  How dare she?! I-I'll destroy that 
vile creature," he swore.

He frowned and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  "No, no, not now.  She'd be 
expecting that.  I'll deal with her tomorrow.  What in the world could she 
possibly be thinking? I thought she wanted to become more than a minion.  
Well, I'll show her.  There's no way I'm becoming a minion.  I'm not gonna 
let her drag me down to that level.  I'll just bring it up with her 
tomorrow."  Craig smiled slightly and his eyes glinted darkly.  "I'm sure 
she'll be happy to discuss it."

* * * * *

Amy grinned and checked her nightgown again.  Perfect.  With that mummy 
taken care of and without that crazy samurai to distract her Yuri, Amy knew 
her plan couldn't fail.

"Yuri Mikagami, tonight, you will learn the truth about us!" Amy laughed 
hysterically.

She sighed happily and rang the doorbell.

Yuri rushed to the door, but made sure to check the peephole.  "Amy! One 
second, let me unlock the door."

Amy practically bounced up and down in excitement.

Yuri finished unlocking and swung open the door.  "Amy, I'm so glad you 
could - oof!"

Amy grabbed Yuri in an extremely tight hug.  "I'm so glad you invited me, 
sempai! This party will be great! Great great great!"

"Fine, fine, just let me go! You're choking me!"

Amy blushed deeply and let go of Yuri.  She bowed deeply.  "I'm so sorry, 
dearest Yuri-oneesama.  I would never want to intentionally or accidentally 
hurt you.  You're my one and only true friend!"

"Ah right," Yuri laughed nervously as she locked the door.  "Um, well, Amy, 
you're the first one here.  I haven't quite finished setting up.  Mind 
helping me a bit?"

Amy Angeleye clapped her hands in excitement.  "It would be my greatest 
honor in the world, Yuri-oneesama!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Uh, thanks a lot," Yuri smiled weakly.  My, the girl got excited easily.  
"Just put your things over in the main room, and then come to the kitchen.  
You know where it is."

Amy nodded and grinned widely.  "I sure do, Yuri-sama! Just wait until you 
see what I've brought! You'll just love it, I know you will!"

Yuri smiled, catching a bit of Amy's infectious mood.  "I'm sure I will, 
Amy-san."

* * * * *

Atsuko groaned as Reika whirled at some random noise.  "Reikaaaa! Come on! I 
told Yuri we'd come!"

"Did you see that? I think I saw Something fly over us."  Reika glanced 
around nervously again.

"Aaagh! That's it, let's go!" Atsuko grabbed Reika's arm and began to pull 
her toward Yuri's house.

"Wait!" Reika yelled.  "Okay, I'll go, let me go!"

Atsuko let go of her friend and sighed.  "Very well then, get your stuff and 
let's get a move on! We can't be there early to you know, check out everyone 
else, if we're there late."

Reika nodded.  "Good point.  All right Atsuko, I'll go with you to the 
party."

Atsuko shook her head in relief.  "Good."  She stood there while Reika held 
her bags close.  "Well?" she demanded.

"Just give me one more minute."

"Aargh!"

* * * * *

"I must thank you for your help, Miss Amanda.  I never would have found my 
way if you hadn't found me," Ryuji grinned happily at his rescuer.

"Call me Mandy."

"Sure, whatever you want," Ryuji responded.  "I'm just happy to be going to 
a party.  I can't go very often, you understand, what with the body issues 
and all."

Mandy smiled slightly.  "Of course.  As you might imagine, I have similar 
problems with the standard social scene."  She brushed back her long dark 
red hair.

"I don't believe that," Ryuji retorted.  "You're so beautiful! I wish I 
could have hair like that, but dead people's hair doesn't stay so shiny."

Mandy laughed.  "It's not my face, or even my torso, that's the problem."

Ryuji frowned.  "What, the legs? Don't tell me people have a problem with 
the legs? I can't believe people would be so shallow!"

Mandy raised an eyebrow.  "Commendable attitude.  But my species has certain 
- well, issues with dating.  Our kind tends to devour the male after mating. 
  As I'm sure you can imagine, this keeps most males far away."

"I don't really understand it," Ryuji said with a shrug.  "But I can easily 
believe it, I'm afraid.  People are so shallow."  He looked around.  "Wait, 
did we just take a wrong turn?"

Mandy frowned.  "It appears so.  Hold on a moment, I shall determine the 
best route to Yuri's web."

"Web? Oh right, the spider thing."

Mandy looked at Ryuji with an odd expression.  "Quite."  She turned in a 
circle then stopped.  "I have determined the best direction.  You will 
follow?"

"Of course," Ryuji agreed.  "Let's go! I can hardly wait!"

The giant spider-girl gave a toothy grin.  "Neither can I."

* * * * *

Yuri sighed and watched as Amy jumped around the room, setting up various 
decorations.  It was sort of nice having someone else do all this work for 
her really.  And Amy really was such a sweet girl, if a little weird.  But 
then again, who at the school was anything close to normal?

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it, Amy!" Yuri got up and ran over to the door.  "Who is it?"

"It's us! C'mon, let us in!"

Yuri giggled.  "Leilei? You sure it's really you?"

"Let us in Mikagami! I tire of waiting for you!"

Yuri smiled brightly.  "Yasuko! You came!" She flung the door open wide and 
grinned widely at the two girls standing there.  "Well, don't just stand 
there, come on in! I'm so glad you could come! Do you have your sleeping 
bags and nightclothes?"

Leilei nodded happily.  "Yeah, I've got everything, don't worry?"

Yasuko smirked.  "I've got some very styling nightclothes.  I think you'll 
clearly find them superior to any of your garments."

Yuri shrugged.  "If you say so."

Amy poked her head out of the kitchen.  "I think the popcorn is done! Is it 
okay if I set it out in the room? Oh, look who's here!" Amy rubbed her chin 
thoughtfully.  'I don't think I have too much of a problem with those two, 
really.  Although that short girl has an attachment to that sneaky mummy 
boy.  And I think that succubus has tried to kill Yuri-oneesama! Well, as 
long as she's willing to behave herself, I'm okay with it - for now.'

A knock sounded.

Yuri turned to see Reika and Atsuko waiting at the door.  Reika looked 
nervous, but Atsuko had a firm grip on Reika's arm.  Atsuko smiled warmly at 
Yuri.

"We're both," Atsuko glared at Reika.  "Glad to be here."

Yuri beamed.  "I'm so glad you made it.  Hey, let me introduce you to 
everyone! Amy's in the kitchen, cooking something.  Leilei and Yasuko are 
setting up their stuff over there.  Hey everyone say hi!"

Leilei called out, "Hi!"

Amy appeared with her hands full of bowls and looked the two girls.  "Hello 
there."  She bowed slightly and quickly turned back to the kitchen.

Atsuko smiled and shouted, "Hello, everyone who's here!"

Reika looked around cautiously.  'Maybe this won't be so bad after all.  
Everyone seems perfectly normal.'

* * * * *

Midori yawned as she moved into position.  'From this vantage point, I will 
be able to easily spy on these girls.  But what a boring group! Can't they 
do anything interesting?'

She crawled across the ceiling and silently melted into the shadows.  Midori 
kept an ear carefully open for anything and everything.  'Hmm, it appears 
that the succubus and the short girl who assists Balabalalde are fitting in 
well.  Bags to sleep in? How utterly low-class.'

The door bell rang.

* * * * *

Reika's eyes widened and she stumbled back, knocking herself and Atsuko 
over.

"Reika!" Atsuko complained.  "Watch your step! What's with you?"

Reika shakily raised an arm and pointed at the doorway.

Mandy stood there with arms crossed and a condescending grin on her face.

Atsuko rolled her eyes.  "Reika, it's just more of Yuri's high school 
classmates.  What's the big deal?"

Mandy chuckled and stepped forward into the house, followed by a smiling 
Ryuji.

"Hi, everyone!" Ryuji said with a wave.

Yuri got up and laughed nervously.  "Um, hey guys! Um, Mandy, Atsuko, these 
are my old friends Reika and Atsuko.  Reika, Atsuko, this is um, Mandy and 
Ryuji.  I'm sure you guys will get along great."

Reika instantly dropped her gaze and began to stare at the floor.  She 
mumbled, "If I don't see anything weird, there is nothing weird.  If I can't 
see it, it isn't there."

Atsuko peered at Ryuji.  "Aren't you a little old to be attending high 
school?"

Ryuji looked at Atsuko with a puzzled expression, then brightened.  "Oh! 
Nah, this isn't my real body, I don't actually have one, you see.  I take 
the bodies of folks when – "

"Well, why don't you two put your stuff down in that room over there?" Yuri 
interrupted.  "We're about to change into our nightclothes, so just lay out 
your sleeping bags or whatever right there."

Leilei laughed and shook her head wistfully.  "Wow, I haven't been to a 
sleep over party in so long.  This is gonna be great!"

* * * * *

Ki Tamaida paced impatiently on the rooftop.  'Maybe I should check on my 
cousin.  As much as she vaunts her own skills, she has screwed up in the 
past.  Then again, I suppose I can trust her just this time.'

The heir to the Steel Thorn clan walked to the edge of the roof and sat 
down, confident in his abilities to remain hidden in the shadows.  Suddenly, 
Ki's eyes widened and he leaned forward.  'Is that the Maimsworth fool? Why 
yes, it appears it is.  Wait a minute, what is _he_ doing here? Plotting 
Yuri's downfall, no doubt.'  Ki nodded at the obvious answer.

He frowned.  'Then again, he's going the exact wrong direction.  Perhaps it 
would be a good idea to monitor his actions.  Just in case."

Making no noise at all, Ki dropped to the ground and began to slink in the 
shadows behind Craig.

* * * * *

"Let's play Truth or Dare," Leilei suggested with a mischievous gleam in her 
eye.

Atsuko spoke up.  "I know that I for one would love to play a normal game 
for once.  And I'm sure Reika agrees with me! Reika, snap out of it!" Atsuko 
grabbed Reika's shoulder and shook her slightly.

Reika glanced up from being engrossed in the floor.  "Eh? Oh right, sure, I 
guess.  Normal.  Right."

Mandy grinned from her web on the ceiling.  "An acceptable choice, I 
believe.  I have played the game far too infrequently."

Yasuko leaned back and stretched, causing her nightgown to stretch in 
interesting ways.  "A little kid's game."  She leaned back forward and 
grinned widely.  "But a fun one.  Count me in."

Leilei beamed.  "Yay! Yuri? Amy? What about you guys? Come on, it won't be 
any fun without everyone playing."

Amy glanced at Yuri.  "If you play, Yuri-oneesama, then I will as well."  
She blushed.  "All sorts of um, interesting things can happen during Truth 
or Dare."  She giggled nervously.

"Hmm, I don't know," Yuri frowned thoughtfully.  "I mean, I feel bad about 
leaving about Ryuji.  He - she's been in the bathroom for almost two hours 
now.  I hope he's okay."

Leilei jumped up and ran out of the room.  She yelled out, "I'll go check on 
him!" The sound of footsteps echoed through the house.  Leilei knocked 
loudly on the bathroom door.  "Hey, RYUJI! You still _alive_ in there?"

"I'm just fine, thanks!" Ryuji called back.

Leilei raced back into the room and jumped back to her sleeping bag.  "Okay, 
let's play the game now, okay?"

Yuri sighed and shrugged her shoulders.  "Well, okay."

* * * * *

In the basement, a vile creature growled in frustration.  It could 
practically taste the delicious flesh of young humans It knew were parading 
about only a floor above.  But It was stuck.  Contained in a damned trap by 
Its captors.  It would have roared in frustration if the ward did contain 
all sounds.

Then suddenly, the thread of an idea, small but real, crept into It's mind.  
A plan to lure one of the humans to Its imprisonment.  And once there, 
devour them.  No, wait, trick them into breaking the ward! Much better.

The dark creature laughed horridly, causing the walls nearby to glow in 
protest.

Soon.

* * * * *

"Okay, Yasuko, Truth or Dare?" Leilei asked with a gin.

Yasuko sneered.  "It matters little.  Hmm, I suppose a Dare would be more 
amusing."

Leilei frowned thoughtfully.  "Okay, I dare you to kiss Mandy on the lips!"

Mandy's eyes widened in alarm.

Yasuko snickered.  "That's the best you could come up with? Watch and learn, 
little girls."

Yuri could barely contain her laughter at Mandy's frantic expression as she 
held up her two front legs to ward off Yasuko.  The wily succubus merely 
twisted around the spider-girl's defenses and grabbed her face.  Yasuko 
leaned forward and grinned widely at Mandy, who paled.

"EW!" The other girls, except for Reika, cried in unison.

Mandy started swatting at her face.  "Damnation! My face!"

Yasuko broke into hysterical laughter.  "Too much for you, Legs?"

Leilei snickered again.  "Okay, Yasuko, it's your turn to ask someone."

"Hmm," Yasuko pursed her lips thoughtfully.  "All right.  Yuri! Truth or 
Dare, which do you choice?" She grinned viciously.

Amy frowned deeply at the succubus and crossed her arms.

"Well, I don't know.  Okay, truth!" Yuri looked at Yasuko nervously.

Yasuko began to laugh a high-pitched, evil-sounding laugh.  She quickly 
settled down and wiped the tears from her eyes.  "Very well.  Yuri, which 
male at our school do you prefer?"

Amy bristled in barely contained anger.

Leilei whistled.  "Nice, Yasuko, that's the question I wanted to ask too."

Yuri blushed deeply.  "Wow, I don't really know.  A lot of the boys are real 
nice, but I can't really say I have a favorite.  Really!"

Leilei shook her head.  "No, no, that's not a good answer.  Yasuko, ask her 
something else.  The rules say you have to eventually answer a question with 
a direct answer."

Yasuko frowned and rubbed her chin, thinking her head.  She nodded in 
decision.  "All right.  Yuri, how many boys do you like?"

Yuri blushed even redder.  "Oh, um, let me see."  She giggled nervously.  "I 
guess I'll say, um, three?"

Amy quickly counted in her head.  'Three! One of them must be me, then! Oh, 
Yuri-oneesama, I knew it!'

Leilei burst into laughter and eventually all the girls joined in.  She 
wiped her nose and chuckled.  "Okay, Yuri, it's your turn."

Yuri grinned.  "Okay, I'll choose Reika.  Truth or Dare?"

Reika froze in shock.  At Atsuko's forceful prodding, she managed to get 
out, "truth."

Yuri smiled gently at her friend.  "Reika, what's your favorite kind of 
shampoo?"

Reika looked at Yuri and silently mouthed "Thank you".

Yuri grinned and blushed.  "So let's hear it?"

Yasuko rolled her eyes.  "What a terrible question."

* * * * *

Midori whirled, thinking she had heard something out of the ordinary.  She 
realized she was facing the basement door, and began to turn back to her 
eavesdropping.  Suddenly she realized something.  'Something seems sort of - 
odd about that door.  Maybe it would be prudent to investigate.  After all, 
these girls won't do anything worth listening to now, they're too busy with 
their ridiculous peasant games.  Yes, investigating the basement.  It seems 
a better idea every minute I think of it.'

Midori slowly unlocked the basement door with one of her throwing knives and 
quietly opened the door.  She crept into the doorway and closed the door 
shut behind her.  The basement was completely black, except for a few 
glowing wards scattered throughout the room.

'Now, what could it be that intrigues my interest so down here? Perhaps they 
will appear if I throw some knives at those wards.'  Midori didn't stop to 
think about the oddness of her own thoughts.  'Now let's see, which one 
should I use? Ah yes, the Dragon Slayer knife.  Always served me well.'  
Midori held up her blade, took careful aim, and stopped short.

'No!' the creature thought.  'What is wrong with this human?'

"I sense you now, whatever you are," Midori said.  It seemed odd to her that 
she hadn't noticed before.  "I may release you from what I am sure is your 
imprisonment - for a price."

It growled.  "A price? You dare to offer ME a price? I've destroyed entire 
empires with but a mere thought! I will not give you anything!"

Midori grinned, feeling that she was in a situation similar to many times 
before, where she had always been able to take control.  "I don't think you 
have a choice - whatever you are."

It growled again, but knew It had no take any chance it could to escape, 
even if that meant cavorting with lowly humans.

"Very well, human slime, what are your terms?"

* * * * *

Craig sat at the edge of the bridge, idly fingering his sword.  'Tomorrow, 
Craig.  Tomorrow.'

-------------------

Author's Notes

It's been a interesting ride, this debut chapter of mine.  First DHH chapter 
of mine.  And I have anything to say about it, not my last either.

I know that plenty of people have very specific opinions about what needed 
to be done in this part - and I hope most of them were accomplished.

I'd like to thank the following people:

Madsman - for not only starting it all, but helping me capture the "spirit" 
of DHH.
NinjaDebugger - for being a prereader who not only offered ideas, but actual 
critiquing.
Sharyna Tran - for being a friendly improgal who provided quite unique 
commentary.
Brian Stricklin - for being the voice of reason.
Kenji Murasaki - for helping me come up with ideas.
Jacker Somebody - for writing the previous chapter, and offering his own 
take on DHH.
Lawrence Chu - for being the best DHH admin there can be, and letting me 
take an extension to hear from my prereaders.

and....

Why me, for actually staying up late to finish it - but I'm sure anyone 
could do the same.

Thanks for reading,
Jeremy F