18.

"Well, now that these two are here, maybe I could just –"

Denzel jumped up. "No! Don't go! We're just getting to the good stuff!"

Shelke sighed. "Kid, I keep telling you, I only look like I'm ten. This really isn't my thing."

Denzel clutched the controller to his little chest. "But, everyone loves Kingdom Hearts!"

"Hey, are you coming back or what? I wanna see what's next!" Loz shouted.

"Be right there!" Denzel turned back toward Shelke. "Look, it's really cooler than you think. And I'm really good at it. Come on, hang out with us some more?"

"Loz, take his game control thingamajiggy and start playing before I get bored," Kadaj muttered.

Shelke considered her options, then asked, "Tell you what, how about you let me play and you watch?"

Taken aback, Denzel blinked at her. "Uh, okay?"

Shelke accepted the controller, then unhooked it from the console. She took a set of goggles from her belt, ran the controller jack to a port on the left earpiece, unspooled a narrow cable from the right earpiece, and plugged that into the Playstation. Then she settled down in front of the television and put the goggles on.

Denzel, Loz, and Kadaj all stared at the screen as Sora, Donald, and Goofy began defying not only the laws of physics but those of space-time as well, along with a few local ordinances. The music track condensed into a low, steady hum before rising steadily in pitch until it sounded like a swarm of hornets. Once-familiar faces became unrecognizable blobs of color as worlds blurred past, the Gummi ship a streak across the dizzying montage.

Loz leaned over the wastebasket and was thoroughly, noisily motionsick.

In bare moments it was over. Shelke removed her goggles, unhooked the wires, and handed Denzel his controller back with a smile. "See? Wasn't that better?"

Denzel stared at the screen, his mouth hanging open as his young mind struggled to recall the numerous tricks and cheats to no avail.

"I wanna try!" Kadaj stated, reaching for the controller.

"No!" Denzel cried, cradling his Playstation. "It's not made for this kind of abuse!"

Kadaj snorted derisively. "Weener."

As the boys began fighting over the video game, Shelke made her getaway. She edged past the approaching Yazuu and slunk down the stairs in search of her comrades. Maybe they're having a crappy time too and I can talk them into leaving early…

She caught up with Rosso in the main hall. The woman stumbled past, pausing every few steps to whirl around and snarl at the cats who were intent on playing with her butt-cape. The snarling had apparently become ineffective, as two Himalayans had made their beds on her avant-garde train. When Shelke asked if she were ready to go, Rosso shot the cats another dirty look and said it couldn't be too soon.

Azul would be more difficult. Shelke found him in the back yard, shifted into beast form and playing 'Tag!' with three large Chows and a miniature donkey.

"If it's okay with Weiss," Azul said after changing back to his more-or-less human shape, "Miss Martha wants to keep me. She said she's never seen one of me before, and the food's great!" He turned toward the dogs and told them, "Hang on, guys, I'll be right back."

Shelke shook her head. "Didn't you hear? She's been bought out by Shinra."

Azul turned his stricken gaze heavenward. "NOOOOOO!!!!!11!1!!"

Shelke left him to recover his dignity – or at least his pants – and ventured back into the house. She spotted a familiar lack of light by the buffet table and hurried to intercept.

Nero, meanwhile, had searched through the room and finally emerged triumphant with a long straw clutched in his fist. He stuffed one end up under his mouthguard, then lowered the business end into a punch-filled Dixie cup.

::YESSSSS!!!::

::…::

::NOOOOO!!1!!111!!::

The darkness shuddered and flexed, pulsing outward in a self-satisfied ripple.

Upstairs, Kadaj flinched and cried out, one hand rising to his temple.

Denzel took the opportunity to snatch his Playstation back and scamper out of the room.

Before Loz or the recently-arrived Yazuu could say anything, Kadaj whispered, "It was as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced."

"Are you sure it's not just a migraine?" Loz muttered, rubbing at his own head. "That game thing was messed up…"

Kadaj grabbed him by the front of his jacket and hauled him down to eye level. "Something happened to Mother!"

Yazuu cleared his throat. "About that…"