The Rozen Maidens stared at the Diamantes a while, inspecting them with careful eyes. After a few moments of silence, it was quite evident that the boys would have to be the ones to introduce themselves first. Every one of them was nudging, pushing, and yelling at the other to begin; finally, they bullied Kouunshi into coming forward, though the poor puppet was trembling furiously.

He looked up, though his hat was still curiously hanging over his eyes, and quietly murmured, "Ano...ano...I'm...it's nice to...I'm..." he struggled feverishly, until Suiseiseki roared, "Get on with it desu! You've been keeping us waiting forever desu!" He stepped back so quickly that he fell on his butt, gasping for breath. "I'm...so...sorry, madam. I...I beg your pardon."

"Well you should desu. Now hurry up desu." He nodded, and then stood up, bowing meekly, and quickly saying, "I am Kouunshi, fourth of the Diamante Troupe. It...it is very nice to meet you all," he added, though his voice was extremely quiet.

Suiseiseki huffed. "Fine desu. You have to go on desu."

"Yes, continue if you will," Shinku addressed the brothers, not looking at anyone directly, but her tone was not unkind.

They all bowed together, save for Kyoushi (Go figure), and huddled up to see which one would have to introduce themselves next. "Apparently that brunette chick wants to kill us, eh? I say I stab her in the stomach, take that pretty little bonnet, and start a war with these frilly-dressed freaks. Are you with me?" Kyoushi was thwacked over the head with the following items: a paintbrush, a metal bar, a drumstick, another metal bar, a heavy literature book, and Kurotekai's fist. "Knock it off!" they all yelled at the same time to the now very unconscious brother. "Hmph. This is an extremely self-indulgent diversion. I'll do it." Retsukon coughed into his hand, bowed lowly before all the present ladies, and said in a rather condescending tone, "I am Retsukon, fifth of the Diamante Troupe. It is a pleasure to meet you, to be sure." Souseiseki suddenly narrowed her eyes, quite disliking the bespectacled one's manner of speech, and turning away for the moment. Suiseiseki was also not impressed and puffed up, crossing her arms over her chest and saying, "All right desu. No need to sound so pompous desu!" Retsukon held in a scowl and nodded understandingly, his gaze transfixed on Shinku, obviously seeing her as the most intelligent of the dolls.

The next to come up was Douyou, who had been waving to Hinaichigo the whole time. "Hi pretty maidens! I'm Douyou, the," he counted his fingers, "sixth of the Diamante troupe, and I like meeting you a lot, since Master wanted it okke! Hi!" The older twin began to laugh. "Oh ho ho, how childish desu!" Kanaria and Nori, however, squealed with delight. "Kawaii!" They watched longingly at the cute, tiny puppet, with the clothing that was far too big for him. Hinaichigo giggled and waved, yelling, "Hi Douyou! Remember Hinaichigo na no?"

"Yup yup, Douyou remembers you okke! Hi!" He giggled at that and pouted a little at Suiseiseki, but just hopped right back to the brother's side of the room.

Next to come forward was Hizashitaiko, and it was quite the presentation. He advanced, banging on his drum cheerily and yelling, "Good day, maidens! It is I, Hizashitaiko, the second of the Diamante troupe, and it is-

"Stop that stupid loud drumming desu! You're going to kill us desu!" All the people in the room had placed their hands over their ears, and were currently yelling along with Suiseiseki. The Diamante blushed, stopped drumming, and then laughed loudly. "Ha! Hizashi-sama's drum is too much for all of you then dearou!"

Kanaria returned, "Well, you haven't seen the power that Kanaria has in her violin kashira. Watch!" Everyone tried to stop her, but the doll went right ahead and began to play the pretty, deceiving violin. Sound vibrated through the walls as glasses broke and things fell from tables. Now everyone else was holding their hands over their ears; including Hizashitaiko. When it was over, and most everything and everyone were on the ground, the second brother stood up and clapped his hands. "Wai dearou! That was spectacular dearou!" Kanaria grinned, her hands on her hips in a self-satisfactory fashion. "Oh why thank you kashira! It was very good, yes kashira." Hizashitaiko just bowed and waited for another one of the brothers to make an introduction.

Eibetsu walked ahead, and then bowed to all of them. "I am Eibetsu, seventh of the Diamante troupe desu ne. It is nice to meet you." He gave one more bow, and went off. "Not too talkative, huh desu?" Suiseiseki whispered childishly to her twin. Souseiseki shrugged, and then shook her head somewhat. "I don't like him too much. The quieter ones are always very...strange."

Before she could ask what her sister meant, Kyoushi was shoved at them, and practically fell on top of Suiseiseki. He was on his knees for a while, trying to regain his composure, and then stood up. He said in an uninterested and cocky voice, "I'm Kyoushi and blah blah blah blah blah. Obviously you bitches don't care too much, so I'll leave it at that. Because you're bitches." He walked off as Suiseiseki was being restrained by Hinaichigo and Souseiseki, all the while screaming, "Let me at the bastard desu! I'll beat him to death with my watering can desu!"

Douyou added quite cheerfully, "He's the third brother okke!"

Jun laughed heartily at that, but was stopped when both Shinku and Suiseiseki hit him in the shin. He was on the floor for the next part of the performance.

Finally, Kurotekai was out, grinning in a very charming manner. He flourished a bow, and was the first of the troupe to come that close to any of the Maidens. When he immediately strolled towards Suiseiseki, all his brothers screamed for him to stop, not wanting in the least for their 'Nii-sama' to die in such a pathetic manner...Except for Kyoushi.

Strangely enough, he didn't stop, but rather took hold of her hand. Suiseiseki screamed, "What do you think you're doing desu! If you think I'm going to fall for that for one second, then you're-" she paused and blushed as Kurotekai gently kissed her hand, smiling up at the surprised Maiden attractively. "Ah, I must apologize for my stupid younger brother's behavior. I didn't know that even he, with his small intellect, could resist such a beauty. Please pardon us." He kissed her hand again. She blushed harder and stared down at him, giggling. "Oh, it's all right desu. I'm glad to see that someone around here still has manners desu!" she declared, holding her finger up pretentiously. Kurotekai nodded, pulled back, and asked politely, "Ah, if I may ask the name of such a lovely creature-"

"I am Suiseiseki, the third Rozen Maiden doll desu. It is very nice to meet you-" She tilted her head, thinking that the eldest puppet had already said his name. "Oh," he said, rather surprised, and then answered, "I am Kurotekai, first of the Diamante troupe." Kurotekai looked about at all the other sisters. "Please, your beauty astounds me, but your sisters are quite pretty as well. All...very beautiful. Please, if you don't mind; tell me what I might call you."

Kanaria stepped forward, and then said, "I am Kanaria, the second Rozen Maiden doll and the brains of the Rozen Maiden dolls kashira. It is nice to meet you, Kurotekai kashira," the doll added, sweeping a very adorable bow.

Suiseiseki gave a whimsical, mocking laugh. "Brains? Talk more about the lack thereof desu!"

Kurotekai, however, gave her a smile, winked playfully, and said in a friendly voice, "Ah then, it's nice to meet you, Kanaria-san. I'm sure you are quite intelligent."

Souseiseki stared doubtfully at the stranger for a moment, and then said, "Souseiseki, the fourth Rozen Maiden doll." Kurotekai grinned, saying nicely, "Ah, you would look quite lovely in female clothing, I'm sure. Have you ever tired wearing it?" The doll made no reply, and Kurotekai just went on to the next of the sisters.

Shinku looked at him, and then turned away, saying arrogantly, "I am Shinku, the fifth Rozen Maiden doll. It would do you no good to stare like that."

"Oh, I apologize. I shall stop now." Kurotekai nearly fell over when he was greeted by a sweet, childlike voice. "Hi! I'm Hinaichigo, the sixth Rozen Maiden doll. It's nice to meet you na no!"

"Uh, likewise, young miss. Could you please let go of my-" He fell over, the youngest of the dolls present staring down at him in a concerned, but friendly manner. "Oh, sorry na no. I...I didn't mean to make you fall like that na no." He waved it off and then stood up, smiling.

"So, now that we have been properly introduced, I think it would be fine for me to invite you all to our little...performance. I believe that this pretty young lady has told you about us and our reputation," he motioned towards Nori, who giggled. "Well, we're presenting a sort of concert at that old theatre nearby, I've quite forgotten the name, and so, would you like to come?" There was a talk amongst the dolls, but it seemed Nori had already made up her mind. "Oh, you mean the theatre a few blocks down? Oh, it's such a beautiful place, and I've always wanted to see what it looked like from the inside! Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for inviting us, Kurotekai-kun!"

"Ah, no problems miss-"

"Sakurada Nori. And this is my brother, Jun." She motioned toward the bespectacled boy, who didn't even look at them. "Ah, so I see. Well, thank you for inviting us into your charming home, but we don't want to intrude any longer. Come now." Nori stopped them for the moment, holding her hands up. "Oh no, you can't just leave yet! Where are you going to sleep?" Kurotekai smiled nicely, and then shook his head. "We will manage. Thank you again." He led his brothers along, but was stopped. "Are you sure? Because I think we still have room here..."

"Nori! What the hell are you talking about? We already have these crazy dolls to put up with, and now these psychos!"

"Hey watch it you four-eyed freak!" Kyoushi yelled back, disliking the part about being called a psycho. "What did you call me?"

"That is quite enough. Stop your bickering. The Diamantes may stay here for the night, but they must leave in the morning. That sounds like a decent arrangement, I believe." Shinku, who had not been talking for a while, surprised most everyone by her sudden speaking, but the Diamantes nodded, and most (you know who I'm talking about) bowed. "Thank you Shinku-sama; you are benevolent in your ways." She did not answer, though she smiled slightly on the inside, hiding it from the others with a faint frown.

"Well, I suppose we should prepare for tonight. Where can we sleep, Nori-san?" The girl smiled kindly and told them quite decidedly, "Ano, I believe you might be able to fit in the living room. Where-how do you sleep?" Kurotekai chuckled softly and called Retsukon forward, who nodded and produced seven small suitcases that all fit on his palm. In the middle of the top of each case was a crystal, diamond-shaped emblem, and it seemed very finely crafted; which was a wonder, since it was so small.

"I-I don't really understand," the girl said, looking at the small things curiously. Retsukon sighed and set them down on the floor. "Watch please."

Suddenly, the containers began unfolding themselves and in a few seconds, they were on the floor, perfectly in order. "Thank you again, Nori-san. Oyasumi nasai, mina-san." As if it had been rehearsed, they got into their boxes at the same time, and Douyou gave one last wave and a sweet little, 'nighty-night!' before closing the tops and disappearing under.

"Speaking of which, I believe it is time for us to be getting to sleep. Souseiseki, I suppose you are to be getting home now?"

The blue-clothed maiden nodded, and then smiled faintly. "I'll be seeing you soon, Shinku; everyone. Suiseiseki, come on." She got ready, and then paused when she felt Suiseiseki tug at her sleeve. "I don't trust these stupid pigs one bit, so I'll be staying here to guard Chibi-chibi desu. Come back early tomorrow desu!" She nodded and got into the case, flying out.

"Oyasumi nasai kashira!" Kanaria yelled, and laughed heartily. "Tomorrow Kanaria will be here to take your Rosa Mystica once again kashira!" She took out her umbrella, went outside, and then left the house, most probably getting back to her precious Micchan. "Night night everybody na no!"

Hinaichigo yawned, and then proceeded up the steps, readying herself for bed. "That Kanaria doll has got it all wrong desu. What an idiot desu. Good night Shinku, Nori, Chibi-chibi desu! And good-night Chibi-human," she said, looking over suggestively to Jun. He made no reply, and she just snorted and turned her nose into the air, walking up the staircase; but, not before making a large and unlady-like yawn. She blushed, and then stomped up. Shinku nodded at Jun and followed her sisters to his room, stifling a yawn herself.

To be continued...