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Description
The room around you is dark. You get the feeling that it has been for a long time. There's a doorway a long distance away, wide open, providing the only source of light. You get the feeling that no matter how much you walk, you'll never reach the door. Of course, you're right. So, you don't even try. The dark isn't so bad. It isn't cold, and the doorway gives you just enough illumination to know when something is creeping around. There's nothing creeping around. You're all alone, so you're safe.

But you're not all alone, are you? There is something creeping around, isn't there?

When you finally notice where that something is, it's become too late.

POUNCE!

"Hiya!" You stare at me as I sit myself down on your thighs, watching you lie supine on the ground. "Aww, you didn't flail this time, Ama. What's wrong? Superbowl suck for you?" I blink a few times before smiling sweetly. "Happy birthday, by the way." I pull a handful of confetti from nowhere and throw it up over you. "I got you a present!"

After what seems like forever of being dragged, we finally make it to the doorway through which light is pouring fluidly. I pull you through without hesitation, not bothered by the change of light. You shield your eyes from the brightness, trusting that I wouldn't lead you into a pole or anything. I sit you down, then trot up a small flight of stairs, onto a stage in front of you.

Blinking weakly, you grow accustomed to the light and take in the surroundings. The walls are painted blood red, light bulbs peeking through at strange places and illuminating each and every crevice and corner of the room. There is a single row of five seats, of which you are in the middle. An oak stage is before you, complete with a black curtain and stage lights tinted a sickly green. A sign is hung from the ceiling, just low enough that you'd notice it, but hardly in the way. It's painstakingly etched with the words, "Our Little Black Parade."

When you catch sight of me again, I'm dressed in a black marching outfit, a baton in my right hand, while my left clings enthusiastically to a microphone. I clear my throat before speaking gently into it. "Come one, come all! Behold things of which you may never see again!" You look around to see if anyone else is watching. Apart from you, me, and several cloaked boxes on stage, we're alone. I glance at you and grin nervously. "Okay, I lied. Come one, not all, because this is ours, not yours! Ha ha!" I drop the microphone and move to the first box. "Under this length of cloth, I have a monster. A creature the likes of which you have only had nightmares about!" A whine comes from under the black cloak. "Oh, come on! Be convincing!"

"Demo, Ari-sama..."

I tear off the cloak and reveal none other than Kazuo. He's sitting in only his pants in the middle of a cage, clinging desperately to his tail and near tears. "Are you afraid of the dark, or something? I promised it would only be for a few minutes! Was that too long? I'm sorry." I whine myself and give you a stressed look. "This wasn't in rehearsal."

"Blankets not in re...re...eto...practice. Bion-sama call it practice. Blankets not in practice too." He frowns sadly at you with large, kitten-like eyes. I heave a sigh and unlock the cage. Kazuo immediately bounds off the stage and crawls into the seat beside you, hugging his tail, and mutters, "Ari-sama say wish you happy birthday now." He hands you a rose the color of polished sapphire and nods once, then turns back to the stage and frowns again. "Bion-sama say this shit of bull."

"Bion-sama can lick my feet, if he's got a problem with this," I mutter disdainfully before moving on to the next cage. "Now, for the horror of the experience...wait..." I peek under the cloak, confirming who was underneath. "Oops, wrong person." I give a nervous grin and twirl the baton a little. "Now, presenting one of our more docile creatures, a delectable creation of which our dreams are made."

"Excuse me?" came a soft complaint. "I don't believe this was in rehearsal either."

"Improv! It's improv, people!" I declare exasperatedly.

"Perhaps, but why rehearse if you're going to improvise?"

I stare to the wall far behind you for a long moment. "I...don't know." Shrugging, I tell the creature beneath the blanket, "You're supposed to be the quiet one, so kindly quiet down. I'm in charge of this show! No intention to be mean, but really." I rip this cloak away as well, revealing Constantine in his typical open, high-cropped jacket and skirt leaning against the bars at the back of the cage. His hands are held behind his back and he gives you a soft smile. I unlock his cage and, languidly, he makes his way down the stairs and to your other side. He hands a black rose to you from behind his back and softly wishes you a happy birthday. He seats himself, half-anticipating the coming attractions.

"Now, for the horror of the experience, I have taken it upon myself to procure a creature so devious, so dangerous, so amorous, that I might refuse to unlock his cage!"

"Then, I'll break the goddamn cage open and kill you," a smooth voice threatens from under the cloak. "And then rape our little 'birthday girl'," he continues with a little more than a little lust.

"On the other hand, Ari would like to stay alive at least until Ama's birthday is over," I utter a little fearfully. "And not get her raped. That would be a not good birthday present." Without any further delay, I tear the cloak from over this cage, revealing our favorite demon. He is sitting against the back of the cage, tapping a foot impatiently against the floor of his cell. His shirt and boots are sitting beside him, discarded for whatever reason. Drumming his fingers against his bare arm, Bion gives me a cold look, as if to say that I wasn't being quick enough.

I unlock the cage and take several steps away from the open door, getting myself well out of his path. Bion saunters from his cell, abandoning his boots, carrying his shirt indolently with two fingers. Giving me a smirk that told of pain that would come soon enough, Bion shoves the door until it clangs violently against its hinges and causes me to jump two feet in the air. His smirk gains a satisfied quality as he leaves the cage behind.

The demon doesn't care to go to the stairs, he saunters right off the center of the stage and approaches you immediately. Without a word, Bion tosses his shirt at you and turns to sit on Kazuo's other side, folding his arms across his chest and smirking to the stage. Kazuo smiles to think that Bion is happy about something, oblivious as he and Constantine are to the fifth and final attraction.

Unfolding the shirt Bion just threw at you, you find a Guns 'N' Roses T-shirt. No one had actually expected him to agree to hand you a real blossom.

Clearing my throat a second time, I regain your attention and beam quietly. I tap my baton against the next cage and declare, "Here we have a creature of hellish origins, of the ability to cause damage to thousands with little effort. A creature capable of destroying lives and diminishing hope...yet—" I give the cage a frown and a shake of the head. "—his actions mask his abilities all too well."

Throwing the cloak from over this cage, I reveal...an empty cage. "Gah!" I holler, banging my baton against one of the bars. "Where did Sin go?"

"I'm sorry," came a voice from Constantine's other side. I snap my gaze to the seat, just as everyone else does, to find Sin has already made himself comfortable. "But I'm not about to let you keep me in there. Those stage lights are hot, and I couldn't take it for much longer."

Frowning deeply at him, I reply, "There are snakes that live in deserts, Sinclaire."

"And they only come out at night."

"Touché." The human-demon hybrid grins with self-satsfaction, then leans over Constantine to hand you a second rose, this one the color of blood.

"Now! I give you the absolutely most difficult attraction to obtain! He ran, he hid, he cursed, he growled, he threatened, and he attempted murder multiple times to prevent this, but I wasn't a little deterred!" After an awkward pause, I mutter, "I was a lot deterred, but still."

Taking a hold of the cloak, I announce, "This is our most prized attraction, simply for the crime against nature that he is! A lot like a duck-billed platypus, and I know he'll try to kill me again for that remark. To give credit where credit is due, I have to thank Bion for this creature's making." The demon chuckled evilly. "Now, presenting our merger of two opposing forces, our yin-yang, our contradiction unto himself, our dämon-engel!" I whip the cloak off the cage, revealing Bittan growling vehemently against a gag, struggling desperately to break free of the chains, ropes, and duct tape that binds him.

"It took several tranquilizers to knock him out, and several more to keep him out until his capture could be considered complete. Whereas convincing the others that they would be aiding in making another smile, or that it would bring gain for them, was enough to ensure their participation, no amount of bribery or begging would earn me this attraction's agreement. Therefore, restrains became necessary. I will not be unlocking this cage. Instead—" I toss the key to Sin. "—I will trust that he won't open the cage until I'm out of the country." I grin nervously at Sinclaire. "Now, it is time for our other attractions to leave. Whatever I have agreed to give to you will be in a lovely gift basket on the other side of the door."

Lifting fluidly from the seat beside you, Constantine bids you a tranquil farewell and saunters to the door. Sinclaire wishes you a happy birthday before leaving as well. Kazuo tries to grin and say something, but Bion grabs him by the tail and drags him out before he could utter more than a syllable.

"So..." I begin, turning my gaze to Bittan as soon as the door had shut behind the others. He growls deeply at me as I smile at him. What I say causes the hybrid to stare unabashedly at me, stunned beyond all ability to argue. "What will it take to get you to strip for Ama?"

—Happy birthday, Ama. XD

Description
The room around you is dark. You get the feeling that it has been for a long time. There's a doorway a long distance away, wide open, providing the only source of light. You get the feeling that no matter how much you walk, you'll never reach the door. Of course, you're right. So, you don't even try. The dark isn't so bad. It isn't cold, and the doorway gives you just enough illumination to know when something is creeping around. There's nothing creeping around. You're all alone, so you're safe.

But you're not all alone, are you? There is something creeping around, isn't there?

When you finally notice where that something is, it's become too late.

POUNCE!

"Hiya!" You stare at me as I sit myself down on your thighs, watching you lie supine on the ground. "Aww, you didn't flail this time, Ama. What's wrong? Superbowl suck for you?" I blink a few times before smiling sweetly. "Happy birthday, by the way." I pull a handful of confetti from nowhere and throw it up over you. "I got you a present!"

After what seems like forever of being dragged, we finally make it to the doorway through which light is pouring fluidly. I pull you through without hesitation, not bothered by the change of light. You shield your eyes from the brightness, trusting that I wouldn't lead you into a pole or anything. I sit you down, then trot up a small flight of stairs, onto a stage in front of you.

Blinking weakly, you grow accustomed to the light and take in the surroundings. The walls are painted blood red, light bulbs peeking through at strange places and illuminating each and every crevice and corner of the room. There is a single row of five seats, of which you are in the middle. An oak stage is before you, complete with a black curtain and stage lights tinted a sickly green. A sign is hung from the ceiling, just low enough that you'd notice it, but hardly in the way. It's painstakingly etched with the words, "Our Little Black Parade."

When you catch sight of me again, I'm dressed in a black marching outfit, a baton in my right hand, while my left clings enthusiastically to a microphone. I clear my throat before speaking gently into it. "Come one, come all! Behold things of which you may never see again!" You look around to see if anyone else is watching. Apart from you, me, and several cloaked boxes on stage, we're alone. I glance at you and grin nervously. "Okay, I lied. Come one, not all, because this is ours, not yours! Ha ha!" I drop the microphone and move to the first box. "Under this length of cloth, I have a monster. A creature the likes of which you have only had nightmares about!" A whine comes from under the black cloak. "Oh, come on! Be convincing!"

"Demo, Ari-sama..."

I tear off the cloak and reveal none other than Kazuo. He's sitting in only his pants in the middle of a cage, clinging desperately to his tail and near tears. "Are you afraid of the dark, or something? I promised it would only be for a few minutes! Was that too long? I'm sorry." I whine myself and give you a stressed look. "This wasn't in rehearsal."

"Blankets not in re...re...eto...practice. Bion-sama call it practice. Blankets not in practice too." He frowns sadly at you with large, kitten-like eyes. I heave a sigh and unlock the cage. Kazuo immediately bounds off the stage and crawls into the seat beside you, hugging his tail, and mutters, "Ari-sama say wish you happy birthday now." He hands you a rose the color of polished sapphire and nods once, then turns back to the stage and frowns again. "Bion-sama say this shit of bull."

"Bion-sama can lick my feet, if he's got a problem with this," I mutter disdainfully before moving on to the next cage. "Now, for the horror of the experience...wait..." I peek under the cloak, confirming who was underneath. "Oops, wrong person." I give a nervous grin and twirl the baton a little. "Now, presenting one of our more docile creatures, a delectable creation of which our dreams are made."

"Excuse me?" came a soft complaint. "I don't believe this was in rehearsal either."

"Improv! It's improv, people!" I declare exasperatedly.

"Perhaps, but why rehearse if you're going to improvise?"

I stare to the wall far behind you for a long moment. "I...don't know." Shrugging, I tell the creature beneath the blanket, "You're supposed to be the quiet one, so kindly quiet down. I'm in charge of this show! No intention to be mean, but really." I rip this cloak away as well, revealing Constantine in his typical open, high-cropped jacket and skirt leaning against the bars at the back of the cage. His hands are held behind his back and he gives you a soft smile. I unlock his cage and, languidly, he makes his way down the stairs and to your other side. He hands a black rose to you from behind his back and softly wishes you a happy birthday. He seats himself, half-anticipating the coming attractions.

"Now, for the horror of the experience, I have taken it upon myself to procure a creature so devious, so dangerous, so amorous, that I might refuse to unlock his cage!"

"Then, I'll break the goddamn cage open and kill you," a smooth voice threatens from under the cloak. "And then rape our little 'birthday girl'," he continues with a little more than a little lust.

"On the other hand, Ari would like to stay alive at least until Ama's birthday is over," I utter a little fearfully. "And not get her raped. That would be a not good birthday present." Without any further delay, I tear the cloak from over this cage, revealing our favorite demon. He is sitting against the back of the cage, tapping a foot impatiently against the floor of his cell. His shirt and boots are sitting beside him, discarded for whatever reason. Drumming his fingers against his bare arm, Bion gives me a cold look, as if to say that I wasn't being quick enough.

I unlock the cage and take several steps away from the open door, getting myself well out of his path. Bion saunters from his cell, abandoning his boots, carrying his shirt indolently with two fingers. Giving me a smirk that told of pain that would come soon enough, Bion shoves the door until it clangs violently against its hinges and causes me to jump two feet in the air. His smirk gains a satisfied quality as he leaves the cage behind.

The demon doesn't care to go to the stairs, he saunters right off the center of the stage and approaches you immediately. Without a word, Bion tosses his shirt at you and turns to sit on Kazuo's other side, folding his arms across his chest and smirking to the stage. Kazuo smiles to think that Bion is happy about something, oblivious as he and Constantine are to the fifth and final attraction.

Unfolding the shirt Bion just threw at you, you find a Guns 'N' Roses T-shirt. No one had actually expected him to agree to hand you a real blossom.

Clearing my throat a second time, I regain your attention and beam quietly. I tap my baton against the next cage and declare, "Here we have a creature of hellish origins, of the ability to cause damage to thousands with little effort. A creature capable of destroying lives and diminishing hope...yet—" I give the cage a frown and a shake of the head. "—his actions mask his abilities all too well."

Throwing the cloak from over this cage, I reveal...an empty cage. "Gah!" I holler, banging my baton against one of the bars. "Where did Sin go?"

"I'm sorry," came a voice from Constantine's other side. I snap my gaze to the seat, just as everyone else does, to find Sin has already made himself comfortable. "But I'm not about to let you keep me in there. Those stage lights are hot, and I couldn't take it for much longer."

Frowning deeply at him, I reply, "There are snakes that live in deserts, Sinclaire."

"And they only come out at night."

"Touché." The human-demon hybrid grins with self-satsfaction, then leans over Constantine to hand you a second rose, this one the color of blood.

"Now! I give you the absolutely most difficult attraction to obtain! He ran, he hid, he cursed, he growled, he threatened, and he attempted murder multiple times to prevent this, but I wasn't a little deterred!" After an awkward pause, I mutter, "I was a lot deterred, but still."

Taking a hold of the cloak, I announce, "This is our most prized attraction, simply for the crime against nature that he is! A lot like a duck-billed platypus, and I know he'll try to kill me again for that remark. To give credit where credit is due, I have to thank Bion for this creature's making." The demon chuckled evilly. "Now, presenting our merger of two opposing forces, our yin-yang, our contradiction unto himself, our dämon-engel!" I whip the cloak off the cage, revealing Bittan growling vehemently against a gag, struggling desperately to break free of the chains, ropes, and duct tape that binds him.

"It took several tranquilizers to knock him out, and several more to keep him out until his capture could be considered complete. Whereas convincing the others that they would be aiding in making another smile, or that it would bring gain for them, was enough to ensure their participation, no amount of bribery or begging would earn me this attraction's agreement. Therefore, restrains became necessary. I will not be unlocking this cage. Instead—" I toss the key to Sin. "—I will trust that he won't open the cage until I'm out of the country." I grin nervously at Sinclaire. "Now, it is time for our other attractions to leave. Whatever I have agreed to give to you will be in a lovely gift basket on the other side of the door."

Lifting fluidly from the seat beside you, Constantine bids you a tranquil farewell and saunters to the door. Sinclaire wishes you a happy birthday before leaving as well. Kazuo tries to grin and say something, but Bion grabs him by the tail and drags him out before he could utter more than a syllable.

"So..." I begin, turning my gaze to Bittan as soon as the door had shut behind the others. He growls deeply at me as I smile at him. What I say causes the hybrid to stare unabashedly at me, stunned beyond all ability to argue. "What will it take to get you to strip for Ama?"

—Happy birthday, Ama. XD