The day started with the black sun rising, as prophesied, and flame and ruin swept across the land as a plague. Noone was spared, and by the time the black sun had fully risen, the land was no more. But that was somewhere else entirely, and not at all related to the current setting, the Maimsworth castle. Inside, Craig Maimsworth was ordering around servants, and the servants were busy moving back and forth, and setting stuff here and there. >From the appearance, it looked like Craig was setting up a party, complete with punch and cakes and balloons. Although it would take a while to set up the dance floor, and make sure all the deathtraps were disabled on it..... <(o.o)v Dark Heart High Netherworld Educational Institution for the Universal Propagation of Evil founded by Mads the Impaler. ******************************************* Part Forty: Pheremones! by Jexer the commamonster. >(o.o)> Yasuko sat in the library, catching up on her homework, perusing through several novels, trying to decide which one to do a book report on. 'The Death of a Hero' and 'Call of Cthulhu' sat on the table, currently closed. Aside from classwork, she was also on the hunt. The hunt for a man, a man with a soul, a black priest named Shaft with a soul, baby. But, really, just for any poor shmuck with a soul. The hunt consisted mainly of looking innocent and bookish in the library, and waiting for some poor sucker to hit on her. The 'bait' for today was a DHH jock jacket, her hair ribboned up in a pink ribbon. She wore an unflattering purple-pink sweater-shirt on underneath. Yasuko felt a tug 3.9 seconds later. "Hey, baby. What's a nice girl like you doing in a library like this all by yourself?" the local jock asked, his macho tone of voice giving away his complete self assurance, and further making the pick-up line seem more stupid. Yasuko grinned to herself, and put down 'The Black King.' Time to have some fun. <(o.o)< The second day after the sports meet, and the school was still abuzz with the gossip that follows such events. As Yuri made her way to her Basic Villiany class, she couldn't help but hear Bala's name over and over, and hers occasionally, through the throngs of students she passed. Everyone was still talking about Balabalalde, what he had done and what happened to him, except for those who had been close to the event. Namely; Leilei, Yuri, and Sakazashi's (few) friends. Poor Sakazashi's fate was almost completely forgotten, drowned out by the immense popularity of Bala's part in the incident. Except for by those who had already hated Sakazashi and couldn't badmouth him before, due to the the risk of being pounded. Leilei was waiting for Yuri at the door. "Yuri! There you are! Hurry up, you're going to be late!" she said quickly, but without the emphasis of her usual hyper energy. Yuri blinked. "What are you doing here? Bala ....." Leilei sighed. "He's going to be back, and I've still got to get his assignments for him. Besides, I wanted to stick around in case you wanted to talk." Yuri nodded, then smiled a little. "After all, what are friends for?" added Leilei, smiling widely. /(o.o)\ Basic Villainy went by quickly enough, the words blurred by, and for some reason, she couldn't remember the teachers name. The bell rang, signifying the end of the class, and she got up and left, Leilei falling in behind her. "Yuri, I've got notes from the classes you missed, too," offered Lelei. "Thank you, Leilei," she responded, tiredly. "Oh? Are you okay? You sound tired," queried Leilei, a hint of worry in her voice. Yuri blinked. "I'll tell you at lunch, okay?" -(o.o)/ Lunch rolled around, and saw Yuri and Leilei at a table to themselves. Yuri sighed, settling her head in her hands. "Well, yesterday, Bala visited me. He seems different, and he said he was sorry." Lelei thought back to what she knew of his home, thinking it should have been impossible for him to get out without permission, but decided not to comment. Yuri's eyes glazed over a little, remembering her thoughts that night. "But I couldn't sleep last night because of that. Which is why I'm so tired." She stifled a yawn, taking a bite out of her lunch. "Well, my mom would always give me a home remedy whenever I couldn't sleep. I'm sure I could get my mom to make some for you, if you wanted me to," offered Leilei. Yuri shook her head. "It's okay. I don't think I'll lose more sleep over it," she lied. She stifled another yawn, and ate some more. A warning shout, and Yuri and Leilei jumped back from the table, as a wolfman got slammed into the table they were sitting at . The table cracked into two, sending their trays flying in random directions. The wolfman snarled something in Aklo, brushing himself off, and leapt back into the fray. They looked around, at the casual food fight which had gotten out of scale without their noticing so. Almost everyone was fighting with each other, although it seemed to be just the guys who were in the thick of it. One of the tentacled students flew high in an overhead arc, landing with a meaty thump on the hardwood floor in the spot where Yuri had been .03 milliseconds before, out cold. The chaotic brawl promised to send more their way, as hectic as it was. Without further ado, the two girls nodded at each other, and mutually retreated to the safety of the hallway. |(o.o)_ Liza was grinning like a maniac, as Yuri and Leilei exited to the hallway, followed by several others, and Yasuko. The riot agent she had slipped into the lunches had worked great, but it was only working on the males, for some reason. Ah, well. Science waits for noone. She'd try again once she figured it out. "Harumph. Stupid guys." Yasuko pouted, arms crossed. A short while later, there was a loud *whump*, and Craig dashed through the doors in pursuit of one of Dark Heart High's ghoul students, everyone else moving to the sides of the hallway to accomodate them. "You damn ghoul! You insulted my father! I'll never forgive you! I'll kill you again and again and again and again! Come back here!" Yuri watched Craig dash by, wondering how he could move so fast in all that armor. After they had passed, the (now-awake) Yuri asked, "What's going on?" "All the guys are fighting with each other. Somebody said something to someone else, and a fight started, and all the guys decided to be stupid and macho and join in," narrated Yasuko, disgustedly. They all leaned torwards the wall again, as two teachers and Vice-Principal Akurei strode on by, into the chaotic lunchroom. Yuri waited for the sound to immediately die down, and was disappointed. Instead, there was a shrill shriek, followed by several more screams (of ungodly eldritch pain far too overwhelming for any mere mortal), and *then* silence. A moment later, she spotted some bile-colored smoke seeping under the door, and caught a whiff of it, suddenly feeling lightheaded. "Careful, don't breath too much of it. One of the teachers cast a sleeping bile fog spell, it'll knock you right out," warned Liza. Yuri leaned aginst the wall, deciding to take a nap. "It's pretty strong stuff," said Liza as she watched Yuri slump. "Oh. You already did." /(-.-)\ ..zzzz Vice-principal Akurei surveyed the still lunchroom, his vision unhindered by the thick, bile-colored smoke filling the sizable room. Picking up one of the students, and sniffing him, Akurei detected an odor. He was very good at detecting scents, a side effect of his long experience with poisons. It had an interesting scent to it, like something that would drive a normal man mad. He mosied on over to the kitchen behind the cafeteria, ignoring the grunts of pain as he stepped on assorted students. Making his way past the unconscious kitchen staff as well, he arrived at the big pot of gruel that they had been serving the students from. Dipping one scaley finger into the gruel, he sniffed it. His nose confirmed the definite, but slight scent of what he had smelled earlier. And just for kicks, he took a bite. Of course he wouldn't be affected. /(-.o)\ The P.A. activated, and everyone who hadn't woken up, was forcibly woken up by the shrill shriek emitting from it. This continued for a good five minutes, before abruptly stopping and switching to the smooth, chilling voice of Principal Amakusa. "Attention all students. Class is dismissed for today. All students will leave via the front gate, single file." The P.A. cut off just as suddenly as it activated. The impression lingered, however, that you *really* didn't want to leave any other way. The suddenly-awake Yuri held her head, trying to supress the splitting headache she now had. Regrettably, it wasn't working. As she looked around, she realized someone had moved her into the nurse's office, along with a throng of other students in a big pile. She squirmed out from under two other male students, who were also groaning and holding their head. Once there was sufficient room, Yuri exited the office. And none the sooner, as Nurse Sybil sneezed twice, quickchanging from the old woman to the deepthroat nurse. The voluptuous incarnation of Sybil grinned, 'Ooh'ing throatily. "Everyone's having an orgy and leaving me out? That won't do." Yuri blushed, and quickened her pace, making her way to her locker. \(@.@)/ Arriving at her locker, she opened it, getting her books she'd need for her homework, and was interrupted by Amy. "Hi, Yuri," Amy said simply, looking at Yuri sympathetically. Amy could see how much of a headache Yuri had, she didn't envy her. "Hi, Amy." Yuri grabbed the bag holding it all, having stuffed everything she'd need into it, and closed her locker, leaning back against the wall. "Say, Yuri, did you want to go out for ice cream after school?" Amy asked. Not waiting for Yuri to respond, she further offered, "I know this good place, and I can help you with your classes that you missed." Yuri smiled. "Sure. I could use some help with my homework, this headache is making it hard to concentrate." She really wished she had an ice pack right now, her headache was killing her. Although she definitely wouldn't allow it to put her in a bad mood. And Yuri T'glath Mikagami cheered, for ice cream was good. "Ice cream! Wai!" |(o.o)| Liza got in line, humming happily. She'd been checking her notes, and she thought she had it figured out. Ooh, the prices she could sell gender specific riot agents for! She looked ahead, the principal and vice-principal were at the front gate, checking each student for something in turn. Her mind quickly put the pieces together, and she realized she was screwed if she got caught. But mad scientists never got caught, unless they did something stupid. Just play it cool, and you can walk off, she told herself. The line crept forward, one by one, until it was her turn. Akurei looked at her with his beady eyes, got up close, and *sniffed* her. Liza jumped back, surprised, not expecting that at all. Akurei turned to Amakusa, and nodded. Seeing this, Liza gulped. Akurei must have smelled the agent on her hands from when she mixed it earlier.... "Liza. Come with me," Amakusa said, ever so plainly, having no need to sound menacing. "Eh, heheheheh," Liza laughed nervously. "Whatever for, Principal Amakusa?" "You know perfectly well what you did. Normally, I approve of your acts, but you've gone too far this time. Now, come with me. You're smart enough to know you don't have a choice in this," the definitely-not-amused, flat voice of Amakusa responded, without a trace of emotion. Liza opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by Amakusa. "Unless, of course, you would like to challenge my authority," he added, with a thin smile. Liza glumly nodded, and turned around, heading back to the school. Well, damn. /(x.x)\ "I wonder what'll happen to Liza? Principal Amakusa seemed more interested in her than other people who mess up." Amy pointed at which ice cream flavors she wanted. "I don't think that's a good thing." Yuri nodded, pointing at the triple fudge, and then the banana cream. "Yeah. Do you think she was responsible for the incident in the lunchroom?" "Well, yeah. She was too happy about it, even for a Dark Heart High student," said Amy, firmer in the knowledge due to what she 'seen' in Liza in the hallway during the incident. They sat down at one of the mini-tables, setting their ice cream down. "She is a sophomore, though," added Yuri. "I don't think he'll cut her any slack for that. I mean, you know. It's Amakusa." Amy almost flinched while saying his name, imagining being in Liza's place. Yuri shuddered, remembering her recent talks with him, how cold and menacing that man could be without even trying. "Yeah. Poor Liza." <(o.o)\ Poor Liza, indeed. Poor Liza, who was seated in Principal Amakusa's office. With Principal Amakusa. Smiling thinly from the other side of his desk. "Well, Liza, what *are* we going to do with you?", he asked idly, more of a statement than a question. Liza stayed silent, trying to get the deer-in-a-spotlight look out of her face. "You're a smart kid, and could make your way anywhere. Your greed, and lack of morals is impressive." Amakusa paused, pretending to think. He looked at Liza casually, but to her it seemed as if he was staring into her soul. "What shall we do? I think, you will tithe all of your profits torwards this school, out of the generosity and greatness of your heart." Liza nodded. "And any futher incidents seriously involving this school will be dealt with accordingly." Liza nodded again. Almost seeming as an afterthought, Amakusa snapped his fingers, and Liza's notebook containing all her notes burst into eldritch flame. "You may go now." Liza nodded glumly, watching the instant ash slowly float to the floor. 'So ...close... almost..... rich....' /(-.-)\ Yuri waved to Amy, and went her separate way. Surprisingly, her headache was gone. She hugged her backpack, to reassure herself she still had it, looking up at the sky. She wondered if Bala was watching the same sky, wherever he was. >From what she had heard by rumors, though, she doubted it. As her gaze turned back earthbound, she was surprised by Ki running up normally and waving. "Yuri! Wait up!" he called out. Yuri blinked, then blinked again, to make sure she was seeing him right. Ki wasn't in his usual all black garb, but was instead wearing a grey shirt, some blue jeans, and plain 'ole name-brand sneakers. (Nike, unsurprisingly enough.) "...Ki?" She meant to say more than that, but that's all that came out due to her surprise. 'Just don't mess this up, and it'll work,' he thought to himself. "Yuri. I was hoping to catch up with you," Ki said quietly. Yuri sniffed the air. There was something funny about it, but she couldn't place it. "Hai?" 'Stay smooth. Let the cologne work.' Ki took a breath, pretending to be nervous. "Well, I was wondering if you would go with me to this restaurant I know of tomorrow night," he said, just fast enough to further the 'nervous' impression. Something about the air, and the gentle breeze, made it feel right, and she was not at *all* happy with Balabalalde. 'His,' she heard Bala say, in that twisted voice that wasn't Balabalalde, at the sports meet. 'I'm sorry,' she heard Bala say again, at the swings, just last night. "Okay," she heard herself say just now, softly. Ki grinned, seemingly genuine. 'Right. Now the place.' "Great! I'll meet you at your place tomorrow at seven!" Yuri blinked, and Ki was gone, and the feeling of 'rightness' left the air. "Why did I agree to that....? And why do I feel so bad now?" she asked herself slowly, trying to shake the spook she had. The wind rustled, playing with her hair and fuku idly, before dying down. /(c;.c;)\ Ki ninja-sped his way back to his lodgings, mentally tracing over his actions, from start to finish, figuring how to best proceed. The charm cologne had worked perfectly, and the moment of mental stress couldn't have been better placed. And of course he had enough skill and charm to pull off the rest. Now, to keep up the act, tomorrow, and his plan would be in motion. Unholy gods, he really did hate that outfit, though. [(().())] And elsewhere, a young man recieved a letter. Written in plain, unfettered words, it read simply, 'Sakazashi the Fifth has fallen. Honor his death.' The young man clenched a fist, angrily, causing a shockwave of rage-fueled power to erupt around him, causing no small amount of property damage to the already blackened and desolate building. "My... brother..." He calmed himself, and uncrumpled the envelope, noting the sender's address. Dark Heart High. He should have known his weakling brother would have picked on something too big for him eventually, though. Much too arrogant for his own good. Well, as family traditon would go, to honor his younger brother's death, he'd have to sacrifice the slayer. Whomever that might be. He picked up his few belongings, and casually incinerated the hotel in the outer realms. Seichorou really didn't like the place, and destroying the letter and evidence of its existence was a perfectly good excuse, anyways. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Authors notes: Eh heheheheh. I like Liza, so sue me. Which is my excuse for attempting to start something involving her more, trying to get her to be something besides just a side character.... Although I did manage to touch on every main character! Wai! And um.... Fuggit. Just read the thing, and yell at me later. ^^; Just don't yell at me for Seichorou, he was originally inspired by Squall. Thank god that didn't stick. X_X And no, I don't expect him to last long against Bala when he does finally confront him, but who knows? Although he is noticeably more powerful than Sakazashi. :/ So its now Sei hates Bala hates Ki! ...eventually, maybe. ^^; And no, I had no idea or faintest intention of actually having the letter to Sei being sent by someone in specific, it just sorta magically appeared. But hey, it's Impro! Major Dankies to Sharnya and Doublemint. And minor dankies to Segev, Apprentice, Smlee I love shoujo, but I hate writing it. X_X Ah well. Whatever dosen't kill me, only makes me stronger! And I'll eventually be the best writer ever ever! Wai! But I'm still a commamonster. o.o; *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Balabalalde sneezed, as if someone was talking about him in some faraway place. He thought for a moment, wondering if he was sick, then shrugged it off, returning to his state of angst regarding his impending rewrapping.