The Mistresses of Murder

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Rozen Maiden. I found out about this anime and I absolutely love it, but, alas, I don't have enough money to purchase it and hurry along a 3rd season.

Author's Note – Hope you Rozen Maiden fans enjoy!

Ch. 1:

Shinku was sitting with Jun, quietly sipping her tea. Her golden hair fell over her maroon dress and her dazzling blue eyes were fixed unwaveringly on her teacup. Her forehead was furrowed with little creases as if she was thinking very hard. Which, in fact, she was.

"Jun." He looked up at Shinku.

"What is the matter, Shinku?"

"Something is not right." She set her teacup down with care. Jun gave her a hard look. "I've been trying to ignore the feeling for a while, but I cannot seem to shake it. Something is brewing, something that threatens my sisters and I." She stood up and flew to the window. "It is like a cold wind wrapping around my shoulders." To emphasize the fact, Shinku shivered slightly.

Jun put his hand on Shinku's shoulder. "Shinku, we have been through Suigintou and Barasuishou. Souseiseki and Hina-Ichigo's Rosae Mysticae are still not found, but I really feel that we are close to a breakthrough." He exhaled. "You still have your sisters and me."

Shinku smiled. Just like Jun. "I know, Jun. Thank you. I must be becoming a little paranoid after the Barasuishou incident." She turned away from the window. "Let us go watch Detective Kun-Kun. I'm sure Kanaria and Suiseiseki are already clamoring for the best spot on the sofa." Jun picked her up gently and carried her downstairs.

Nori smiled at them as they came down: she had always doted on the dolls and since they helped Jun recover from his trauma, she respected them. "Hello, Shinku-chan, would you like something to eat?"

Shinku gave a small smile back to Nori. "Thank you, Nori, but I'm quite fine." She settled on the couch with Jun beside her, moving Suiseiseki and Kanaria to the side. Soon all of them became engrossed in the TV show.

CRASH.

The sudden noise startled everyone in the house. Jun picked up Shinku and rushed up the stairs with the rest of the dolls scrambling up behind him – if Jun remembered anything about dolls, it was that they had a knack of crashing through his bedroom window. He threw open the door only to be greeted by shattered glass and gust of cold, damp air.

"What was that?" said Kanaria. She looked around the room. "I don't see a box."

"I wonder what it was, desu," added Suiseiseki.

"Look." All of them turned to Shinku. She was pointing to something in the wall. An almost transparent arrow was protruding from the dead center of Jun's bedroom door.

Quiet spread throughout the room. Each and every person (or doll) knew that this was not exactly a friendly gesture.

"May I?" asked Shinku with no quiver in her voice although Jun knew she was unnerved especially because she had predicted something like this earlier in the day. She grasped the arrow with her hand and pulled back with a gasp. "It burns!"

Suddenly the arrow started laughing. Laughing. A pure, maniacal cackle that permeated the room with unease. The dolls flinched – their Rosae Mysticae were responding strongly to the arrow. Jun looked at the arrow in horror as it began melting, trailing down the wall like a snake. It hit the floor and began to slowly meld itself into a shape. The shape of a doll.

"Hello, Rozen Maiden," said the glass object. "I see that my arrow certainly got your attention." She laughed, which sounded like grinding brakes coupled with nails on a chalkboard. "I am Kaede, the First Mistress of Murder. I have a proposition for you all." The glass face crinkled into a devious smile. "Meet me here in this room at midnight tomorrow. Just dolls." The face glared at Jun. "No mediums."

Shinku glared at the glass figure. "It seems that I have no choice. I agree to your request."

The glass doll laughed again. "Good choice, Rozen Maiden. But be wary: there's no telling when disaster will strike." The glass doll returned to the shape of an arrow and shot out of the window.

Jun turned to the dolls, all of whom seems a tad frightened. Shinku, however, kept her composure. "Let's get to bed, everyone," she said. The dolls immediately began pulling out their cases and climbing in. After everyone had shut their cases, Shinku walked over to Jun.

"Jun."

"Yes, Shinku?"

"I don't like these Mistresses of Murder. They seem to be like us Rozen Maiden. But not."

"How so?"

"The vibe from that glass doll was evil. Pure evil. All of our Rosae Mysticae have an inherent goodness in them. We can act evilly if we so desire, but we still have consciences. This representative had no such thing."

Jun shivered. He definitely did not like the sound of that. "Shinku, how about we talk this over in the morning? I think we both need time to think."

Shinku nodded her head. "Very well," she sighed. She climbed into her case and shut the lid tightly. Jun also got himself into bed, turning off the light and worrying about what the next night would bring.

And in the distance, very soft laughter could be heard.

Author's PS- Likey? Reviews welcome.