The Mistresses of Murder

Disclaimer: I don't own Rozen Maiden. I would like to, but I don't. Now I make sad face.

Author's Note: Author's Note – I am very sorry for not updating in the longest time, but life has been a royal bitch. My friends think that I am battling depression, which would explain my lack of inspiration. Again, I'm very sorry and I hope this chapter makes up for the long wait. Thanks to Ancient Death, Phantomstrata, Gumdrops and 'Shrooms, and Kannalover for the reviews. In Jun's dream, the words not in italics are his thoughts. Enjoy!

Ch. 3:

Jun lay in his bed for at least an hour, thinking about all that had happened. He looked over at the three cases and sighed. Shinku. Kanaria. Suiseiseki. Such a difference in my life they and their sisters have made. What if these Mistresses of Murder prove too much? I…I couldn't bear to lose any more of them. He heard Nori return from whatever she was doing and start cleaning the kitchen. He exhaled slowly, reminiscing about their past adventures. He started wondering about Suigintou. After she was revived, she disappeared and did not make any attempt to contact the rest of her sisters. We actually could really use her now. She wouldn't be afraid to challenge those Mistresses of Murder head-on. As he was thinking of Suigintou, he slipped into a dream.

He was walking with Shinku in public. People were not staring at them; they thought nothing of a living doll now since the Rozen Maiden's existence had been broadcasted to the common people. Still though, he managed to catch some looks of awe that he was a medium of an amazing Rozen Maiden doll.

A girl ran up to him. She looked down at the ground, biting her lip in shyness. "Um, hello," she mumbled so softly that Jun was not sure if she even spoke at all at first. "Are you…? Is that…?"

"Yes, I am Shinku, the proud fifth doll of the Rozen Maiden. And yes, this is Jun, my medium," said Shinku irritably. The little girl gulped in embarrassment.

"I'm, uh, sorry." Jun felt bad for her. "I just wanted to make sure, because, it's, um, not every day that I see an actual living – " She broke off.

Jun saw Shinku open her mouth to retort once more, so he cut in. "It's perfectly alright to ask us questions," he said to her kindly while shooting a look at Shinku to be quiet. She shrugged nonchalantly and adjusted her bonnet. Jun studied he. She was pretty for a little girl, with big inquisitive green eyes and jet black hair. "Is there anything else you would like to ask us?"

The little girl laughed, a crinkly laugh that made Jun uneasy. He looked at Shinku, who apparently was unnerved by the laugh as well. Her blue eyes bore in his, darkly etched with suspicion. That laugh…it seemed so familiar…

"Well, there is one thing I am curious about," said the girl. For some reason, Jun felt like her voice became sinister, like her previous embarrassment was all just an act.

"Well, what is your query" inquired Shinku. "Ask."

The girl's face twisted into an ugly expression, her green eyes turning into sharp jade shards. "If you would be willing to fight me."

As Jun and Shinku watched on in horror, the girl held up her left hand. On her ring finger, there was a ring similar to one that he wore, except instead of a rose, a dagger piercing a heart graced the front. It lit up with a crimson color much like his lit up with a rose pink hue when Shinku was drawing on his energy. The girl's face contorted with an evil smile. "Kaede!" she called.

A glass arrow shot through the air, whistling as it almost struck Shinku from behind. Shinku turned and narrowly avoided the arrow, shooting the girl a dark look from her crouching position.

"You rang?" said a very familiar voice. Jun cringed.

"I did," said the girl. "I have found the fifth doll and her pathetic medium. You ready?"

"Am I ever," said the doll. "You should summon my two sisters."

The girl nodded. "Etsuko! Airi!"

Jun was bewildered. They have mediums, well, it looks like only one medium for all of them, he thought. And instead of the dolls holding the power over the medium, the medium holds the power over the dolls. That's odd. However, he couldn't think anymore since two more glass arrows whizzed past his head and landed next to the girl.

Jun watched in horror as the new glass arrows metamorphosed into two more dolls. He studied them. Kaede was the tallest, with long black hair and black eyes. She was wearing a black gothic dress, decorated with red and white jewels. She wore a thin veil over her head and face, but that did nothing to conceal her look of malice. Etsuko was the shortest, having shocking red hair piled up into an elaborate twist and weak, watery blue eyes. She was wearing a plain red dress that exactly matched her hair color and black shoes. Airi was a brunette with blond highlights, wearing bloomers and a ivory Victorian-style blouse, which contrasted strikingly with her violet eyes. Jun tore his eyes away from the dolls and reached for Shinku. "Shinku!" he screamed.

She sprung into action, whipping out her cane and sending a barrage of rose petals at the dolls. Jun's ring burned.

"Ah, you can do better than that," said the girl. "Go to town, my girls." The three Mistresses of Murder smiled and held out their hands.

Jun was thrown back at least twenty feet. He looked up to see a glass barrier that was easily deflecting Shinku's attack. Oh my God, the people! What if they were hurt? He looked around and almost had a heart attack.

They were in that same world that Shinku told them about. He was laying on a vast expanse of blue, now dotted with whispers of cirrus clouds. "How did we get here?" he wondered aloud.

"I transported us," answered the girl. "I am not so cruel to hurt bystanders." She paused. "Now, we can really let loose." She smirked.

"Shinku! Watch out!" yelled Jun in panic. Shinku looked back at the dolls, who were sending a barrage of glass arrows at her. They were about to hit her – She didn't have time to dodge – Jun yelled –

"Jun." Shinku's voice slid up to his ears.

He woke up with a start, trying to forget the dream, not wanting to worry her. "Yes, Shinku?" he asked her, trying to keep his voice steady.

"They're coming."

He shot her an uncomprehending look. "But…But" – he sputtered – "that arrow said that they were coming at midnight." Oh, no. OH NO! Not yet!

"Yes, they did," said Shinku calmly. "However, I'm assuming it is midnight where they are located, so they are indeed coming at midnight."

Jun shot out of bed. "Kanaria! Suiseiseki! Get up, get up!" he shouted. The dolls' cases opened in an instant and both dolls shot up, ready for battle.

"What it is, desu?" shrieked Suiseiseki. Kanaria just went pale.

"The Mistresses of Murder are coming," said Shinku.

"We're already here."

PS – I know it's short, but I wanted to give you guys a cliffhanger because I'm so evil. Reviews appreciated.