Too bad this episode number isn't 31...
This is quite a special episode. After this one, everything will change! So prepare yourself for the start of the next, and last, arc of Monster Mania!

Also, the meanest plot-twist yet. I'm sorry.

For once, Yuina had slept very peacefully and she still felt quite good when she woke up, which was really rare for a not-morning person like Yuina, but that good feeling instantly disappeared when she saw herself in the mirror.

Or when she didn't saw herself in the mirror. Just a floating pajama.

Normally, Yuina could laugh about how stupid her cherry-pink pajama's looked, just floating, but she couldn't even managed to force her lips into a fake smile.

She didn't know that this day would be forever haunting her for the rest of her life.

Op: 'Halloween Night' by Aya Ikeda

Episode 30: Aah! Tainted Roses! Yuina's moment of weakness!

''Oh, Yuina? Are you alright?'' When Yuina arrived in the living room, her mother, for once not in her garden, immediately rushed to her daughter. She seemed quite worried.

''You look a little...distraught,'' She placed her hand on Yuina's cheek but didn't seem to notice how cold her daughter was.

''Mom, I love you,'' She suddenly said, not sure why. Maybe because it could be the last time she would see her?

Yuina didn't know why, but she felt sick. Her stomach turned like a tornado and she was a little dizzy.

Her mother didn't say anything, her hand still on Yuina's cheek but her eyes seemed to stare right through her, like she was deep in though.

Just then she placed a hand on her forehead and frowned.

''I...'' Yuina's mother couldn't manage to utter a word as she stared around, confused.

Now it was Yuina's turn to be worried.

''Mom?''

''It's alright, dear,'' Mother shrugged, then smiled. ''You're up early, and it's Saturday. Hmm...Are you going to do something with your friends?''

''I'm not sure. They may be busy,'' Yuina answered. She didn't feel like seeing the others today and especially didn't want to tell them about...this morning. She hadn't even told Orlok, as he was still asleep. ''I think I'll get some fresh air. Can I leave my phone in the charger?''

''Of course, dear!'' Mother smiled again, glad that her daughter was going out. She was really pale lately and desperately needed some good, healthy sunlight.

But mother didn't saw Yuina taking a parasol with her, to protect herself.

Absolutely nothing will be the same once she returned.

''This is it,'' Kuroneko spoke out loud, standing on top of a fence, looking down on the garden of one of the houses, filled with all kind of beautiful flowers.

Just as the cat-girl giggles, a woman enters the garden and then all the flowers started to wilt at a frighteningly rapid pace, shocking the woman but delighting Kuroneko.

''I found you.''

''Oh, you are such a sweet, little boy~ I could just break you apart and put you together again!'' Kirika giggled, floating around a nervous Show Kabocha.

''Uh...thanks?'' He gulped while he, Zeta, Wisp and Tomoko were gathered around the table, having breakfast.

''It's a Ghost-term, dear,'' Wisp whispered softly to the boy. Show Kabocha was still as confused and not relieved at all.

''He is quite the cutie, isn't he? A lot of girls, and boys, like him and have long, dramatic fights on the this thing!'' Wisp gleefully said to her parter, floating above a laptop.

''People have fights all the time on the internet!'' Zeta shrugged with a frown. ''They have fights about literally everything.''

''Everything?'' Kirika asked, genuinely interested.

Tomoko and Zeta nodded in perfect sync. Clearly not that interested in the subject.

''OH MY! I'VE FOUND MY PLACE!'' Kirika squealed, pressing her hands against her cheeks as she looked at the laptop, starting it up.

''Oh, Wisp, dear! Let's start some drama ourselves and see how people react!''

''Oh my! That is a splendid idea!'' Wisp agreed as the two started browsing through some forums.

Kabocha, Zeta and Tomoko signed.

They really were the most perfect of partners.

Then Tomoko's phone beeped one time.

''Oh, a message!''

''I was finally sleeping! URG!'' Wakaba busted out of her small closet, which Larry had locked her in last night to prevent Wakaba from doing anything wild because of that blasted full moon. Larry awkwardly offered Wakaba the phone with his paws.

''A message form Yui? What does she want!?'' The girl growled, almost dropping the phone when she saw her hand was covered in short hair.

It wouldn't surprise Wakaba If she was actually turning into Bigfoot instead of a Werewolf. Hair, hair and more hair everywhere. Her legs, her arms, her stomach and now her hands.

[Hello,

Could you please come to my home right now? It's really important.

- Yuina]

Miku wasn't sure If she wanted to know what Yuina wanted to talk about. Her message was rather curtly and short. It worried Miku quite a bit.

She wasn't the only one. Jacky also seemed a little nervous about the message.

''I hope it's nothing bad,'' The small pumpkin wished softly.

If only they had known.

''Do any of you know what happened to Yuina?'' Miku had asked when the others had meet up in front of their friend's house.

They all shook their heads before Kirika playfully rung the bell in an annoying rhythm before Wakaba growled at the ghost as a warning, making the ghost giggle once again but remove her hand from the bell.

Surprisingly it wasn't Yuina that opened the door, but her mother.

''Oh..Are you Yuina's friends?'' She asked. She seemed little confused as she inspected the group (minus Kirika, who was invisible to the woman).

Silently, and politely, they nodded.

''Unfortunately, she just left. She went to buy some snacks or something, I think,'' Kotone Akagawa let out a short sigh before smiling kindly. ''And she was so sure she would be back before you all arrived. She can be such a slowpoke.''

''Ah~ A slowpoke~!'' Kirika laughed but her voice was unheard to Kotone.

Kotone politely let them inside, letting them sit on the sofa so they could wait for Yuina to return and offering to get some drinks for them.

''Just water,'' Miku said simply. The others nodded in agreement. When Kotone disappeared into the kitchen, Orlok suddenly poked his head from under the table.

''Hello everyone. Why are you all here?'' He whispered, as the fairies joined him under the table so they could hide easier when Kotone would return.

''Yuina messaged us. She said it was important,'' Tomoko said, holding up her phone with big eyes.

''She did?'' The bat asked, still a little sleepy. For once, he couldn't sleep during the night. He was tired but he couldn't seem to drift away into slumberland. Only until the sun was already setting, and when he had awoken, Yuina had already been gone.

What was she doing? Where was she?

Orlok wasn't the only one with this question lingering in his mind, everyone was quite worried where Yuina was at this moment.

When they heard Kotone's footsteps, they quickly hid under the table, as the woman returned with a small plate with four glasses on it. She herself sat down on a chair on the opposite direction, as everyone picked up a glass, except Kotone, who didn't touch the last one.

''I've heard some things about you. Thank you all so much for being so kind to my daughter. She has been shining lately!''

It was supposed to be a compliment but none of them felt good about it, since they had met and become Cures, a lot of things have been going downhill.

But, on the other hand, they were just so happy they had all met.

''Thanks... but Yui also d-did a lot of things f-for us,'' Wakaba said meekly, as she still hadn't taken a single sip of her drink.

''Yui? You're even using nicknames!'' Kotone beamed, clapping her hands together with pure joy.

But the atmosphere changed when Kotone, out of completely nowhere, turned to Kirika.

''Dear? Aren't you going to drink?''

Kirika gasped.

''You c-can see me?'' Kirika seemed shocked. She slowly started floating backwards.

''Of course I can! Because, after all...'' As Kotone leaned forward, dark vines started grow around the chair, engulfing the whole room. Behind each of the girls, a dark shadow loomed.

''I am not human.''

''I was just out for a stroll and I saw you!'' Was Kurenai's excuse for bumping into Yuina, who actually was out for a little walk.

She just happened to 'take a stroll' at the same time and place as herself? Hmm..

Yuina was 100% sure Kurenai had followed her again but was way too tired to comment on Kurenai's strange tendencies.

''Mistress, Is something wrong?'' The younger girl asked, cocking her head and staring at Yuina with a very worried expression.

And again, Yuina didn't even mind being called 'Mistress'. She just wasn't sure what was happening. She felt simply awful.

Maybe it was just a bad day? Hopefully.

''I...I don't have a reflection anymore,'' Yuina finally slipped. ''..Heh, now I can't see how beautiful my face is anymore,'' She forcefully cracked a lame joke in hope to lighten up the mood, even just a little.

''You do look beautiful. You always do'' Kurenai almost immediately stated, staring at Yuina with her crimson eyes as she put her hands her hips.

Yuina wasn't sure If she was serious or not but Kurenai's smile made her feel a little better.

Kurenai was a little afraid of the older girl's disapproval at her statement but seeing as she kept quiet and held the parasol above their heads as a shield against their dreaded enemy, the shining sun, it was safe to say, she wasn't that bothered by it.

''Mistress? Shall I get those injections from Ms. Eve again?''

''Oh Kurenai, I'll go with y-!''

''No, no! You should take a rest!'' Kurenai insisted. She held her fist on her chest proudly. ''Let your loyal servant take care of this! I'll be at your home soon!''

And she simply rushed off.

''What?''

The room, and probably the whole house, was wrapped in dark vines. The group couldn't even see the door and windows anymore.

''It's just as she said,'' Behind some vines next to Kotone, a familiar cat-girl appeared, wearing the most gleeful, yet frightening, grin they had ever seen.

''Kuroneko!'' Wakaba and Larry growled at the same time.

''I don't understand...what...?'' Miku asked with a high voice, confused and quite frightened.

''We'll explain it soon. It'll be so amusing to see your faces,'' Kuroneko giggled, licking her nails. ''We're just waiting for the last one.''

Without warning the girls, were grabbed by shadows-figures. Held in an iron grip, they were unable to move. Even Kirika.

''Do I know you?'' Kotone asked the cat-girl, who stood next to her chair.

''In fact, I do,'' Kuroneko answered simply. ''Don't you remember your old friend, Kurobara?''

Kotone still sat in the chair, which was also covered in vines and even pitch-black colored roses on the top. Her eyes grew wide.

''I remember now. I remember my true nature and my past.''

''It sure is dark. Maybe mom's asleep?'' Yuina said softly to herself as she arrived in front of the house of the Akagawa's. It looked the same as ever, although the windows were black. The lights were probably out.

When Yuina entered, the saw the hallway was very dark, they couldn't even see the living room.

Yuina closed the door behind her. She immediately regretted it.

''Yuina, dear?''

Slowly, she made her way to the dark living room.

Then she saw absolute hell in front of her.

The whole living room was covered in dark vines. Thorns and dark roses were almost everywhere, on the chairs, the couch, the table, the ground, the walls, the window...

And in the middle was her own mother, Kotone, sitting on a chair with a bright smile.

''Welcome home, dear.''

''Mom!?'' Yuina's jaw dropped. What was going on? What happened to her mother?

The only response she got was Kuroneko, appearing behind a few vines. She looked like she was holding back a huge laughter.

''You! What did you do to my mother!?'' Yuina cried, holding her Hollow Changer, ready to fend of some anger.

''Whoah, whoah, easy, vampy~!'' Kuroneko held her hands up with an innocent face. ''You wouldn't want your little friends to get hurt, would you?''

Just as the last word rolled over the catgirl's lips, Yuina noticed them.

Her friends. Miku, Wakaba, Tomoko and Kirika. Tall, yet humanoid shadows held each of them in a choke-hold, standing behind Kotone's chair.

''N-No!''

After a better look, she also noticed Orlok, Jacky, Larry, Zeta and Wisp being held against the wall by thorny vines. Due their small size their whole bodies were covered by the vines, with the exception of Zeta, whose head poked out. He looked really uncomfortable. Everyone did.

''This is your doing, isn't it!?'' Yuina hissed, pointing at Kuroneko, who let out a long, drawn-out laugh and turned to Kotone.

''It's not,'' Yuina's mother said. Her voice had an alien and cold tone Yuina had never heard before. Yuina felt simply sick as her legs started shaking.

''Ah, Yuina, my...'daughter','' She continued, not giving Yuina a chance to react. ''There is something I should tell you. All of you.''

Kuroneko wished she had brought some popcorn. She couldn't wait.

''For quite some time, I've felt...a strange feeling, let's keep it at that...I had the huge urge to create a precious garden to call my own. I had strange dreams. I heard voices...At first I didn't understand. I was just a simple housewife with a 'loving' husband and daughter...'' Kotone began, stroking some of the vines.

''But I remembered!'' She suddenly cried, making Yuina jump. ''I remembered my previous...my real life! I'm Kurobara!''

''You're Kurobara!?'' Kirika managed to cry, despite the a dark arm around her neck. ''Impossible. Kurobara was killed thirty years ago!''

''And Kotone Akagawa is also thirty years old,'' Kotone smiled. ''Coincidence? It's not.''

''You see, when Kurobara was killed...she was just merely reborn in the body of a human...the human that would be known as Kotone, who would marry Hideo Akagawa, give birth to a beautiful daughter and live a normal life like any normal human would,'' Kuroneko's eyes were filled with a sadistic cheerfulness, especially when seeing Yuina become even paler than she already was.

''Now, Kurobara. You're finally free from your imprisonment in a human body!'' Kuroneko laughed for quite a long time and Kotone soon followed her lead.

''I don't understand...did you mean Kurobara possessed my mother's body?'' Yuina asked weakly. She started to panic. She was trembling heavily and biting her lip, not caring about her sharp teeth hurting her lips.

''No, no. She is Kurobara! Just reborn. 'Reincarnated' may be a fancy word for it,'' Kuroneko said, leaning against Kotone...no Kurobara's chair.

After another look at her friends, Yuina decided it was time to act. She grabbed her Hollow Changer.

''Boo Boo Bo-!''

''Halt!'' Kurobara held up her hand, causing the shadows to tighten their grip on the four.

''Don't move, or your friends pay,'' A short pause. ''Got it?''

With trembling hands, Yuina lowered her necklace.

''Mom?''

''Don't call me that, you filth!'' Kurobara's harsh voice, which once had belonged to her own mother, made Yuina's spine stiffen. ''If only I had given birth to you while I was still a Demon. Too bad you're just a filthy human.''

A long silence fell.

''Wrong. I'm not a human. Not anymore,'' Yuina bit her lip. ''If only I still was human...Heh, I would give money for that.''

''Well, it's true that she isn't a human anymore,'' Kuroneko admitted simply.

Yuina licked some blood from her lips and dared to look into Kurobara's face.

Now she knew why Onibara's face had seemed so familiar.

As If she could read Yuina's thoughts, Kurobara turned to the catgirl and asked; ''Where is my dear sister Oni?''

''Oh boy...You know how desperately she's been looking for you?'' Kuroneko couldn't help but grin.

''Mo-...'' Yuina forced her mouth shut, then raised her voice. ''Kurobara! What do you want!?''

For a whole minute, Kurobara didn't say anything.

''What date is it today?'' She finally asked.

''Uh...September...29..?'' Yuina answered slowly. She felt her chest tighten when she noticed just how close Halloween was. It was barely a month away.

''Looks like Halloween will start early this year!'' Kurobara beamed. She extended her hand. ''I just want your necklace.''

She wanted the Hollow Changer. Of course. To open the gate. Apparently Yuina wasn't the only one who noticed it because immediately Tomoko weakly said; ''Yuina, don't.''

The shadow tightened its arm around her neck, making it harder and harder to breath for the girl.

''Shush! You're not supposed to speak,'' Kurobara said simply. She took a very quick glance at the alien, who, despite being breathing irregularly, stared bravely into Kurobara's dark eyes, without even a hint of fright.

''They will go free, safe and in one piece, If you give me your necklace,'' Kurobara held up the four Hollow Changer she got from the girls. ''I need one more to complete my set.''

Yuina took off her necklace.

''Nononono... Yuina...don't do it, please... everything we worked...we suffered for...'' Wakaba tearfully begged, desperately trying to get free from the shadow's grip.

Yuina shook her head. She wasn't going to let her friends die. Not like this. She wouldn't be able to live with that. She'd rather die.

''You shouldn't...….we have worlds to save!'' Miku spoke. Struggling against the shadow's grip ''Our responsibility...''

''Screw that!'' Yuina hissed and suddenly threw her necklace towards Kurobara, who swiftly caught it without having to stand up from her chair.

''You...stupid!'' Miku cried painfully. Forcing her eyes shut and gritting her teeth.

''Why, Thank you,'' Kurobara now stood up, holding the five necklaces in her hands.

The last thing Yuina felt was being grabbed tightly before losing consciousness while hearing some screams. She felt something touch her neck. Her hollow changer? Then heard some more voices. Chanting? To open the gate perhaps? But Yuina didn't care anymore. If she had to chose between the world and her friends, then the world could just be destroyed. Yuina had given up. What good could come from going on with this? She eventually would have lose to her father and mother anyway. Living in a fancy castle and becoming immortal sure sounded nice but Yuina rather fall asleep right here and now.

At least they were together in their final moment.

Sure they may have disagreed with her decision but Yuina didn't care anymore.

She didn't care for anything anymore.

ED: 'Endless Halloween ~Rose which blooms in the dark~' - Mai Nakahara (Kurobara)