Duran-kun and Kiyo-chan's Omake Theater

(featuring the Kuga-Fujino family pets)

"Well," Natsuki Kuga said, turning around, "what do you think?"

Duran tipped his head to one side in an attitude of curiosity, then offered up a little "mrowf" sound. This reminded Natsuki that the CHILD, for all that he was as unique and unusual as a steel wolf with built-in artillery should be, was still a dog. Canines have not traditionally been known as having significant opinions on Halloween costumes unless said costume was festooned with meat.

Natsuki had eschewed the butcher shop for more traditional costuming materials. She was dressed as a stage magician, in a black and white leotard, black tailcoat, fishnets, boots, top hat, and walking stick.

"It's too bad you don't fit in the hat," she told Duran, checking her reflection once again. "It'd be more my style to pull out a wolf than a rabbit."

Although not exactly sure what was going on, Duran nodded vigorously, as he considered himself vastly superior to any rabbit.

"Well, I guess it's time to step out and face the music. I hope Shizuru likes it."

Duran made another "mrowf" remark.

"Oh, all right, yes, Shizuru would probably be fine with my costume if I put on my biking leathers and said I was Evel Knievel, lame as that would be. That's not the same as her actually liking it."

A cheery wag suggested that he followed her logic, but didn't think that she had anything to worry about. Or possibly it meant that he was happy just to get out of the bathroom, which was cramped and the humidity was hard on his rustproofing. With a dog it was hard to tell.

Nonetheless, Natsuki decided that she would count it as encouragement, opened the door, and stepped out into the hall, then went into the living room to meet Shizuru. Except that, somewhat anticlimactically, the living room was empty. Shizuru wasn't waiting for her; even Kiyohime's favorite purple pillow was unoccupied.

"Well, that was a lot of nervousness for nothing." Deciding that even despite the spooky season she probably hadn't stumbled into a horror movie with disappearing people, Natsuki walked over to the bedroom and knocked on the door. "Oi, Shizuru, have you finished changing yet? We're going to be late for the party."

Although in all honestly, the most entertaining thing about it would be if Nao really wore that "naughty nun" outfit and Yukariko threw her through a window for blasphemy.

"Just a minute, Natsuki."

There was a shuffling noise from inside the room, and the door opened. Natsuki supposed, belatedly, that she shouldn't have been surprised—Shizuru wasn't the type to blithely wait around the living around when she could instead make an Entrance.

The figure that emerged was hunched over, clad in a shapeless, tattered green robe that did not disguise the humped back. Shizuru's tawny hair was loose and wild, a ragged cloud around the head and shoulders, while her hands, face, and throat were not only painted violet, but whatever makeup she'd used had been dried or sculpted or something to give the look of serpent-like scales.

"Na-tsu-ki…" Shizuru hissed, extending one hand, its fingers tipped with claw-like black talons. Her eyes stared into Natsuki's with a feverish intensity, a kind of overwhelming focus that seemed to shrink the world to just the two of them, with nothing else being of any relevance whatsoever, its very existence denied. Natsuki wanted to move, to speak, but her tongue seemed to stick to the roof of her mouth and the spell would not be broken. Shizuru's face came nearer and nearer…

Then, suddenly, six purple serpent heads burst from the tangle of sandy hair, hissing and writhing furiously, and Natsuki jumped back with a yelp.

"Gah! Kiyohime, you nearly scared a year off my life!"

The hydra's second head gave her an apologetic look while the others continued with their aggressive postures. Shizuru, for her point, broke out into giggles.

"Kannin na, Natsuki, but you were truly adorable when you were so surprised."

"Yeah, well, that's a pretty great Medusa costume. It's not everyone who goes that extra mile for getting her snake hair right." The hunchback, she realized now, was caused by Kiyohime's backpack carrier, which Shizuru was wearing under her robe, so that the hydra could stick her heads up through Shizuru's hair. The color of Shizuru's makeup had been chosen, too, to match Kiyohime's scales, enhancing the effect.

"Why thank you, Natsuki."

"Though people with naturally red eyes have a totally unfair advantage at being monsters with magical gazes. You looked completely…I don't know what."

Shizuru's lips curved into a lazy smile.

"Well, it must be said that Natsuki's costume bears careful and close scrutiny," she observed, letting her gaze sweep up and down the length of her girlfriend's body in an openly leering fashion. It was interesting, Natsuki thought, how context changed things. Thee years ago such a look would have gotten her as angry as heck—and it still would now, if it came from a stranger. Two years ago, she'd have been furiously blushing, mortified to be the object of such open interest from Shizuru.

Now, it just brought a sense of pride that she so interested her girlfriend, and a quivering stir in her lower belly.

"Thanks. I'd hoped you'd like it."

"I do, very much." She had lifted her stare back up, so that when she'd said it she was meeting Natsuki's gaze once again. "I suppose that we should be on our way?"

Shizuru took a step towards the door, then paused when she realized that Natsuki hadn't budged.

"Natsuki? Are you coming?"

"My legs don't seem to want to move."

Shizuru's eyes widened in sudden, surprised worry.

"Oh, no; what's wrong?"

"I don't know. It feels almost like they're frozen in stone." Then, she gave Shizuru a smile every bit as wicked as any the older girl had ever favored her with. "Why, I'd be completely helpless against a legendary monster trying to make me her prey."

The speed with which Natsuki found herself pinned to the carpet stood as conclusive testimony that Shizuru Fujino could recognize her cue when she heard it.

And hey, was Natsuki's last coherent thought as Kiyohime squirmed loose to make her escape, interfering momentarily with Shizuru's ability to overwhelm such thoughts, even if we're late I'm sure we'll at least get there in time to see the Nao-shaped indentation in the wall.