From: "Dark Schneider" 
Subject: [Fanfic][Devil Hunter Yohko/LBG][LEMON] Dark Queen's Reign - Chapter 2



Hello again.  Here is part two of my little lemony story.  As before, this
story contains scenes with graphic sex and of an adult nature, so please
don't read it
if that sort of thing offends you, or if you are not of your local age of
consent.  Also, 
standard character disclaimer applies, and this fic should not be taken
internally or stored 
at temperatures over 100 degrees.
	That's all, folks.  Have fun, now.


Featuring characters from Devil Hunter Yohko and La Blue Girl:

Last time:  Reiko, the Dark Queen, returned with the help of a succubus named
Liliss.  She used a spell so that her reappearance would seem natural to
Yohko, and then set out to befriend the young Devil Hunter ... but for
unsavoury purposes.  Also, a mysterious ninja woman named Kamiri lurked about
...

Dark Queen's Reign
Chapter two: Ensnared

by Dark Schneider


     Reiko stood in front of the mirror, a wicked smile playing at
the corners of her lush mouth.
     "Liliss," she said softly.  "To me."  The surface of the mirror
roiled and churned, and soon the shadowy outline of a shapely female
form appeared.  It stepped gracefully from the mirror's surface,
resolving itself into the form of the beautiful, tawny succubus.
     "You called me, Mistress?" she asked.  Reiko nodded,
reaching out to stroke Liliss's cheek idly.
     "How goes the search?" she asked.  Liliss's lovely eyes fell to
gaze at her feet.
     "I have narrowed the location of the writings to the university's
special projects building.  The security is quite high there, however. 
Could they know what they have?"  Reiko smiled, slipping her fingers
under Liliss's chin and pulling the succubus's gaze back to her own.
     "Unlikely, my sweet golden girl.  The shipment from the dig
contained many other artifacts, and there are rumours of delicate
research being carried on in that building.  No, they don't know what
they have, and if they did, they would have no idea what to do with it. 
You've done well."  The succubus squirmed with pleasure at the
compliment, and Reiko slipped her hand around the beautiful
creature's head, stroking her hair lightly as she leaned closer.
     "Thank you, Mistress," Liliss murmured.
     "Here is your reward," Reiko whispered, pressing her mouth
gently against the succubus's own.  Liliss's lips parted under the gentle
pressure, and Reiko flicked her tongue into the demoness's hot mouth,
drawing the kiss out until Liliss groaned with pleasure.  Then she pulled
back just far enough to break contact, breathing her words into Liliss's
beautiful face.
     "This matter will keep for the moment.  I don't want you retrieving
the writings until after dark.  I have something else I want you to do for
me."  Drawing the unresisting beauty against her, she moved her mouth
until it was nearly touching Liliss's ear, then gave her her instructions. 
Liliss nodded.
     "Yes, Mistress," she smiled.  "I understand."
     "She is not to remember afterwards, Liliss," Reiko cautioned. 
"I want her kept out of the way tonight, but I don't want her arousing
Yohko's suspicions.  Not now, not when I'm so close."  A hungry
gleam came into Liliss's gorgeous honey-gold eyes.
     "You will take her tonight, Mistress?" she asked breathlessly. 
Reiko's answering look was one of a woman who knows her desires
are within her grasp.
     "No, sweet.  Not tonight.  Tomorrow night.  The alignment of
forces will be favourable, and everything will be in place.  Tomorrow,
I make her mine."  Liliss frowned slightly.
     "Then what of tonight, Mistress?"  Reiko gave the succubus a
look that made her shudder all over and long to fall at the raven-haired
beauty's feet.
     "Oh, tonight ... tonight is foreplay, sweet.  Tonight I play. 
Tomorrow I feast."  
     Then she threw her head back and laughed, a wild mad sound,
and Liliss DID fall to her mistress's feet, her heart pounding with
excitement.
     Dark pleasures were about to be loosed on the human world.

***

     Yohko flopped down on her bed, clamping the handset to her
head.
     "You can't come?  Chi, why not?"
     "I'm sorry, Yohko," Chi's voice replied from the phone.  "I
didn't know you were making plans.  I have to watch my cousin.  My
parents volunteered me, and I do owe them one after they bought me
that new camera ..."
     "Can't you bring your cousin along?" Yohko asked hopefully.  
     "Yohko, he's three!" Chi laughed.  Yohko sighed.
     "Aw.  I just wanted you to come.  It sounds like it'll be a lot of
fun."
     "Next time, I promise.  Hey, you can tell me all about it next
time I see you.  Deal?"  Yohko smiled.
     "I guess that'll have to do."  She sat up, dropping her towel as
she walked toward the chair where her new dress was hanging.  "By
the way, wait till you see my new dress!  You'll just die!"
     "Can't wait.  Hey, Yohko, I'm glad Reiko turned out to be
okay, y'know?"  Yohko smiled.
     "Me too, Chi.  Me too.  Well, I've gotta go.  I'll talk to you
tomorrow.  Bye."
     "Bye.  Have fun."  Yohko hung up and tossed the phone on
the bed.  Have fun, huh?  She picked up the dress and ran her fingers
over the material lightly.
     Oh, yes.  THAT was definitely on the agenda.

***

     Liliss set the phone down, smiling at it evilly.
     "Yes, Yohko," she said in Chi's voice.  "Have fun on your last
night as a free woman."  Then she sighed happily, straightening up and
turning back to the bed.  Chi lay there, struggling weakly.  The busty
red-head's clothes were in shreds, but she was unmarked.  After all,
Liliss's mistress wanted her unharmed.  At least until after tomorrow
night.  Then Liliss might ask if she could have the little tart as a pet. 
She hadn't been able to indulge herself for a while because she'd been
so busy serving her mistress, and this girl was not without her charms. 
     Chi moaned and tried to roll off the bed as the lovely succubus
swayed over to her.  She easily flipped the exhausted girl back onto
the bed, bending over her to gaze deeply into her eyes.
     "Oh come now, my dear," she purred kittenishly.  "Surely
you're not spent already?  I've barely begun, after all.  I'm allowed to
have you to myself for hours yet, and the only restriction is that I may
not kill you.  Isn't that wonderful?"  Chi struggled weakly, her
sweat-soaked limbs thrashing ineffectually against the hungry sex
demoness.
     "Yohko ... help ..." she croaked.  Liliss smiled broadly.
     "Oh, no, my dear.  Sweet Devil Hunter Yohko can't help you. 
Very soon, she won't even be able to help herself."  Then she lowered
herself so that the red-head was pinned lightly beneath her lush body,
running her long nails teasingly over the girl's flushed skin and stiffened
nipples.
     "Now, where were we ...?  Oh, yes."  Liliss let her fingers slip
down between Chi's legs, finding the girl's cleft already soaked. 
Smiling in anticipation, she let two of her fingers slip inside, smiling with
pleasure as Chi arched upwards with a gasp.  She buried her fingers
deeply, and then began to plunge them in and out, sometimes twisting
her hand as she moved in so her outstretched thumb grazed the red-head's
nub lightly.  The seductive rhythm overrode Chi's feeble struggles, and soon
her
body was writhing in time to Liliss's gentle thrusts, animal groans tearing
loose 
from her throat. 
     Liliss enjoyed making the girl wait, but soon she'd had enough. 
She bent her head to take one of Chi's erect, tormented nipples in her
mouth, using her tongue and teeth to good effect.  That, as she'd
expected, proved to be too much for the girl's lust-soaked body, and
she came with a high sweet cry, her body tensing and twisting before
falling back on the bed, limp and exhausted.  Liliss crouched over her
girl-toy, framing Chi's sweat slicked face in her hands and giving her a
full, lingering kiss.
     "Well, Chi.  That was a marvelous start," she whispered,
seeing the girl's eyes widen as Liliss's words sunk in.  What should we
do next?  Not that it matters; we've plenty of time."  She grasped
Chi's wrists and pulled them over her head.  Chi barely resisted, and
soon Liliss knew even that token resistance would fade.  She smiled.
     "Yes," she crooned.  "The night is young.  Come, let me show
you ... real pleasure."
     And she smiled.

***

     "Reiko!"  Yohko trotted up, grinning.  Reiko smiled back.
     "Yohko.  There you are."
     "Have you been waiting long?" she asked anxiously.  Reiko
shook her head.
     "No, I just got here myself.  Your friend hasn't arrived yet,
though."  
     "Chi can't make it," Yohko apologized. Reiko raised an
eyebrow. 
     "Oh?  Then I suppose I have you all to myself tonight.  Come
on, Yohko, it's Friday night.  Let's cut loose and have some real fun!" 
Caught up by Reiko's enthusiasm, Yohko felt a sense of exhilaration. 
She glanced around at the lights of the city at night, thinking to herself
that there did seem to be a sense of anticipation in the air, a feeling of
reckless abandonment.  She was tired of the restrictions placed on her
life as a Devil Hunter.  Just for one night, she was going to let go and
get a little wild.
     "I'm with you!" she responded.  Together, they walked down
the narrow flight of stairs and entered the door under the neon sign that
read, "The Siren's Lair".
     Inside, Yohko wondered if they were going to have trouble
with the imposing doorman.  However, he just looked at Reiko for a
moment and waved them in.  They moved through a second door and
stood on a small landing above the club.
     Yohko stared in amazement.  It was quite spacious, and the
party seemed to be in full swing already.  The dance floor was full of
gyrating bodies, and the long bar and scattered booths were already
half full.  Multi-coloured lights strobed hypnotically and music that
seemed to consist mainly of a throbbing beat reverberated through the
hot, smoky air like a primal heartbeat.
     "Isn't this great?" Reiko grinned.  Yohko agreed wholeheartedly.  It
was magnificent.
     They went downstairs and checked their coats.  Reiko's dress
looked as daring as Yohko remembered.  Hers felt intimate and
revealing as it clung tenaciously to her body, hot air feeling strange on
her bare belly and back.  Reiko grabbed her hand and they moved
through the crowd.  She led them to a plush, velvet-lined booth set
back from the dance floor on a small platform.  It was small and cosy,
offering a good view of the action.  A waitress appeared immediately,
and Reiko gave her an order while Yohko was still distracted by the
sights.  There were all different sorts of people in the club, but she and
Reiko were not overdressed by any means.  Yohko felt her heart race
as she watched the unbridled energy exploding all around them.  She
looked up as the waitress reappeared with the drinks.
     "You didn't pay her," Yohko frowned.  Reiko winked at her.
     "I'll run a tab.  They know me here," she said simply.  Yohko
tasted her coke, then noticed that Reiko's drink was a strange colour.
     "Reiko, is that alcohol?" she asked.  Reiko stuck her tongue
out in a strangely playful gesture.
     "Relax, Yohko.  I can handle my booze.  Anyway, after we
dance the night away, this drink'll mean nothing at all."  Yohko
watched in amazement as her friend downed the drink in one shot,
then slammed the glass back on the dark table.
     "C'mon, Yohko!  Let's dance!"  Yohko glanced at the table.
     "You shouldn't leave your purse there," she said.  Reiko
laughed and grabbed Yohko's hand.
     "Relax.  Nothing will happen to it.  Trust me.  Now let's GO!" 
With that, she pulled Yohko out onto the dance floor.
     They bounded into the crowd eagerly and joined the party.  Yohko
quickly lost herself in the insistent beat of the music, bouncing happily
through the milling crowd.  Reiko closed her eyes and gyrated in time
to the music, always moving in a lazy graceful manner that drew
envious stares.  She tossed her head, wove subtle seductive patterns
with her hands, and undulated her lithe body like a creature that fed on
music and heat and light.  She was wild grace and sensuality
personified, and Yohko was quite in awe of the easy way her friend let
herself be caught up in the music.  She found herself following suit,
trying to keep up.
     She was having the time of her life.
     When the music sped up, Reiko held her long slim arms over
her head and shook her body in a hard, hungry rhythm, her hair flying
in a dark cloud as she flung her head from side to side.  When the
music slowed, she beckoned the unwary with enticing feline motions,
slow and languorous.  And always, Yohko followed suit, enjoying the
sensation of recklessness and release, enjoying the attention they were
garnering from others in the crowd, including not a few good-looking
hunks.  She'd lost all track of time when Reiko finally pulled her from
the floor during a minor lull in the action.
     They made their way to their booth, and Yohko was
astonished to see that not only was it still unoccupied, but their purses
were indeed still there.  Reiko just smiled, seeing her confusion.
     "I have friends on the staff," she explained.  "I used to come
here often."  Even the noise from the dance floor seemed muted here,
and they could talk without shouting.  Weird.  Yohko shook her head,
her heart finally starting to slow, as the waitress appeared with another
round of drinks.  Reiko was halfway through hers before Yohko had
even sipped her Coke.
     "Your an amazing dancer, Reiko," Yohko said, looking at the
other girl with admiration and a little envy.  Reiko cocked her head
slightly, brushing at her dark forelock with the back of one slim hand.
     "Thanks.  You're pretty good, too."
     "Nowhere near as good as you are, though."  Reiko gave a
low, throaty laugh.
     "You just need to learn to loosen up a little more," Reiko
assured her, long almond-shaped eyes narrowing slightly.  "I can help
you with that, if you like ..."  Yohko smiled.
     "Sure!"
     "Okay.  First, let's make a pit stop and get touched up."  She
finished off her drink, then snagged her small purse and grabbed
Yohko again.  They headed off along the edge of the dance floor,
heading back into one shadowed corner.
     "Where are we going?" Yohko shouted over the din.
     "The little girl's room!" Reiko answered over her shoulder. 
Yohko frowned.
     "But aren't they back there?"  Reiko didn't answer, leading
Yohko to a small alcove with a plain, unmarked door.  She opened it
and they went through into a dark tiled hallway.  When the door shut
behind them, it cut off the music totally.  Yohko blinked nervously.
     "Hey, are we supposed to be back here?" she asked, looking
around.  Reiko smiled reassuringly.
     "Will you relax?  You're such a straight girl!"  She pulled Yohko
after her, the stiletto heels of her high black boots clicking sharply on
the floor.
     "But ..."
     "I'm a preferred customer, Yohko.  The other bathrooms are
always jammed.  This one is much nicer, and much more private." 
She led Yohko down the hall and around a corner.  Sure enough,
there was a door marked Women.  Reiko pushed through, dragging
the reluctant Yohko in behind her.
     Once inside, Yohko's reluctance vanished.  The place was
absolutely gorgeous.  Black and white tiles covered the floor.  The
walls were dark veined marble, and the fixtures were gold and
spotless.  There was a long vanity along one wall, with a well-lit full
mirror behind it.  Plush towels hung next to the sinks, and the facilities
....
     "Back there," Reiko said.  "They're very nice.  I think you'll
like them."  Yohko had to agree.  Padded seats, spacious cubicles,
and a bidet.  Heaven.
     Afterwards, she washed her hands and dried them on the
dark, clean towels and dropped them in the marked linen slot.  She
was quite impressed with this set-up;  she'd never seen anything like it. 
She'd known Reiko's family was well off, but she hadn't imagined
anyone could get service like this!
     She joined Reiko at the vanity, watching as the other girl
regarded herself critically.
     "Hmmm.  Perfect," she announced finally.  Yohko had to
agree.  Reiko's outfit was nearly the same as it had been in the
boutique, with the addition of red rose earrings and some silver
bracelets.  Her dark hair cascaded down her back, and she tugged at
the long sleeves, smoothing out a tiny wrinkle, then reached down to
run her hands down her long, glossy boots.  Finally, she turned to
Yohko and frowned.
     "You know, Yohko, you look great.  Really.  But ..."
     "But what?"  Reiko frowned at her a moment longer, then
sighed.
     "Do you trust me?" she asked finally.
      Sure," Yohko replied without hesitation.  She was surprised
to find that she did trust Reiko, without reservation.  She wondered
when that had happened.
     "Okay," Reiko said, as if reaching a decision.  She reached
out, taking Yohko by her bare shoulders, and moved her so she was
leaning back against the vanity.  Yohko reached down to grasp the
counter top with her hands, startled.
     "Hey!  What ...?"  Reiko moved closer, straddling Yohko's legs,
and those deep violet eyes locked onto hers, peering out compellingly
from behind that lush forelock of hair.
     "Let's do something to tweak your look a little," she
murmured throatily.  "Like your hair, for starters."  Yohko blinked.
     "What's wrong with my hair?" she asked indignantly.  Reiko
gave her a tolerant smile.
     "Nothing, sweetie.  But that style is just a little young for this
look."  Yohko considered that.  Her glossy brown hair was done up in
its usual style, two thin braids held in loops above her head on either
side, then hanging down in twin ponytails.  Maybe Reiko was right,
though.  That wasn't a look for a night out on the town.
     Reiko saw Yohko's acceptance and nodded, reaching up to
remove Yohko's hair ornaments, which she set on the counter. 
Yohko's hair collapsed in a silky wave to the small of her back, and
Reiko leaned a little closer, combing her fingers through it slowly. 
Yohko swallowed as Reiko's scent washed over her.  Damn that girl's
habit of standing so close!  Yohko began to feel a sense of relaxation,
however, at the sensation of being pampered.  Reiko toyed with her
hair for a few moments, spreading it with her hands, then sighed.
     "Oh, yes.  Yohko, you should definitely wear your hair down
and loose."
     "You think so?"
     "Oh yes, it suits you much better.  Now, let's see ..."  She
fished in her purse, having to lean into Yohko to reach it, the contents
clicking and clattering quietly.  Yohko suppressed a gasp as Reiko's
body pressed against hers.  She was suddenly reminded that she'd
been having strange, erotic dreams all week, and hadn't been able to
find any release since that night ...
     Since that night in the tub when Reiko had appeared in her
fantasy.  She cursed herself for thinking of this now, at the most
inappropriate time.  Her she was, leaning back against the counter
while Reiko straddled her with her long, booted legs ... it might appear
a little ecchi if anyone walked in, even though it was perfectly innocent.
     Perfectly.
     Reiko came up with a red ribbon, smiling with satisfaction. 
Then she gripped it between her lips as she gathered Yohko's hair in
her hands, combing through it a couple of times before she gathered it
up high on the back of Yohko's head.  Satisfied, she held it in place
with one hand while she retrieved the ribbon with the other, then tied it
around the gathered hair.  She pulled back a little, smiling, then started
fishing in her purse again.  Yohko squirmed, trying to turn so she could
see herself in the mirror behind her, and Reiko clamped her legs tightly
to hold her in place.
     "I'm not done yet," she smiled.  "Now hold still."  Yohko did
so.  It was easier just to let Reiko do what she wanted, after all.  and
she was curious to see what the other girl had in mind.
     "I'm thinking," Reiko said, regarding her critically, "that you
don't need much enhancing.  Maybe a more dramatic colour of
lipstick."  She uncapped a small cylinder and leaned in again, cupping
Yohko's chin in one hand and tilting her head back.
     "Purse your lips, sweetie ... yeah, just ... like that.  Goooood ..." 
Yohko closed her eyes as Reiko's soft voice soothed her.  She
felt the other girl's hot breath fan across her face, then something cool
and silky smooth was gliding across her lips.  First the upper, pulling
gently as it moved, then the full lower lip.  Reiko's bare stomach
brushed lightly against hers as she moved, neither of their dresses
having any material there.  Finally Reiko blotted them gently, and
Yohko started to try to push herself up, even though her body felt so
heavy and relaxed.  Reiko's hand on her chest between her breasts
stopped her.
     "No," she murmured.  "Keep you eyes closed for a moment,
sweetie.  I just want to ... okay, there.  Now ... just hold still ..." 
Yohko felt deliciously decadent as Reiko traced a soft line around her
eyes, then brushed at it with something feathery.  She was drifting in a
sea of sensations, the tension in her body being replaced with a
delicious lassitude.  Then she felt slim hands grasp her shoulders gently
and she was almost disappointed that it was over.  
     Reiko pulled her upright, whispering in her ear to keep her
eyes closed, then slowly turned her around.
     "Okay, Yohko," she said huskily.  "Take a look."  Yohko
opened her eyes and gasped.
     It was almost as if she'd been replaced with an older version
of herself.  Her hair was pulled up loosely to the crown of her head,
cascading down in a long, lush tail that swayed enticingly as she
moved.  Her lips were a dramatic slash of crimson against her fair skin,
and her eyes stood out, seeming larger and more defined.  Reiko
leaned in behind her, crossing her hands on Yohko's shoulder and
leaning her chin on them with a sly smile.
     "You like?" she asked, the vibration of her voice travelling
directly through Yohko's shoulder and into her chest, tingling
pleasantly.  Yohko could only nod silently.
     "I look ... different," she said at last, raising her hands to her
face and hair with an expression of wonder.  Reiko chuckled and
stood up. 
     "Yes, hot.  Hotter, I mean," she grinned, giving Yohko's hair
an insouciant flip.  "Come on, I think we're ready for round two, don't
you?"  Yohko grinned back.
     "Oh, yeah," she said.  
     Together, they headed back out into the chaos of the club.

***

     Reiko watched with satisfaction as Yohko's defences
continued to erode.  She'd infiltrated the girl's personal space
constantly, to the point where she easily accepted Reiko's habit of
casual touching, rationalizing the unsettling sensations those touches
sometimes brought.  She was her own worst enemy, refusing to accept
what was slowly happening because it was unthinkable, explaining
away every anomalous feeling Reiko's presence caused.
     It was nearly time.  In fact, Reiko had nearly taken her in the
bathroom.  Having Yohko under her that way, her back arched, eyes
closed, so totally in her power, the temptation had been great to lean
down and drown the girl in a soul searing kiss.
     But no.  She'd planned so long, she would wait one more
night.  When she took Yohko, it would only be after Yohko finally
realized the truth.  It would be sweet to conquer the haughty little Devil
Hunter, to look into her eyes and see her realize that she could not
resist, that she must surrender to the Dark Queen at long last.
     She watched Yohko move, her body looser now, her
movements more natural.  The music surrounded her, moved her,
made her its own.  Reiko slowly moved closer to the girl.  One last,
delicious tease, one last twist of her already tight desire, needing but
finding no release ...  By the time they had their final confrontation,
Yohko's young body would be begging for release from its torment,
the sweet hot torment that had been building in her all week.  Yohko
would have to fight not only the Dark Queen, but also her own urges.
     There would be no way for her to win.
     Reiko slid easily behind Yohko, watching her hair snake in a
sensuous rhythm as she twisted with the throbbing music.  Reiko
moved up behind her and gently wrapped her arms around the girl's
narrow waist, feeling the surprise in the sudden tensing of her body.
     "Yohko," she shouted into her ear, "let's dance together! 
Give the folks a show!"  She sensed Yohko's hesitation, and gestured
into the crowd.  Two other girls were dancing together, getting a warm
reception from the crowd.
     "Come on, we can do better than that!  We'll show them! 
Let's make all the Shins out there wish they were your boyfriend!" 
That did it.  Yohko grinned at her, all hesitation vanishing.  
     "Okay!  Let's do it!" she answered, taking up the challenge.
     Reiko started slow, undulating her body against Yohko from
behind, making the other girl mirror her movements.  She kept her
arms around Yohko's waist, guiding her as they moved, a study in
sensuality.  Then, with a slow smile, she released the other girl, dancing
in a tight circle around her.  She swayed in and pulled away, always
coming almost into contact with Yohko.  Yohko picked up on the
game, leaning back as Reiko leaned in, then following Reiko's lead. 
Reiko turned, lacing her fingers into her hair before flinging it out in a
curtain, spinning around again.  She beckoned Yohko with her long
fingers, and Yohko came willingly.  She drew the girl in close, then
turned and edged backwards into Yohko's arms.  Yohko, startled at
first, began dancing as Reiko had in her place, and again they moved
together, as one, hips swaying enticingly as they moved.  Reiko
brushed her hips back against Yohko's heat, feeling a sweet tension
take the other girl's body at the brief contact.  Another "accident",
Yohko dear, she thought with a smile.  She placed her hands over
Yohko's, lacing her fingers with her partner's. They writhed together,
the music increasing in tempo.  Then, as Reiko sensed the song about
to end, she whirled in Yohko's arms and threw her own arms around
the startled girl's waist.  As the music crashed to a crescendo, she
threw Yohko back in a deep dip, holding her there as the music
climaxed, staring deeply into her eyes as the moment held, and
stretched.  Their bodies were pressed tightly together in this posture,
Reiko easily holding all of Yohko's weight as the music stopped and
the crowd cheered.  Finally, she drew Yohko back to her feet, noting
with pleasure the look in Yohko's guileless brown eyes.
     "Wow," she breathed as Reiko smiled at her.  "Sexy!"  Reiko
grinned.
     "I'll bet that gave those boys something to dream about
tonight," she teased.  Yohko blushed with pleasure, and Reiko knew
Yohko enjoyed getting some revenge after all her romantic failures.
     "Reiko," she scolded, "you are soooo BAD!"  Reiko
chuckled, leaning forward to drape her arms on Yohko's shoulders,
crossing her wrists behind Yohko's neck.
     "Yohko, sweetie," she said with a sultry smile, "you have no
idea."  Then the music started up again, and Reiko drew her back into
the crowd.  
     Yohko didn't resist.
     Reiko had known she wouldn't.

***

     Yohko sighed happily.  The night was over, but it had been
wonderful.  She had cut loose completely, and she felt great!  For one
whole night, she hadn't thought once about being a Devil Hunter, or
the responsibilities that her life had saddled her with.  For one night,
she had been just a carefree girl out for a night of fun.
     She blushed again as she remembered sexy dancing with
Reiko.  That girl was so daring!  But she'd been right, after all.  Yohko
had seen the looks they'd gotten while doing that, and her
self-confidence had been buoyed greatly.  Those men had wanted her,
and many of them had danced close, offering to buy her drinks.  Reiko
had laughed and told them to get their own dates, Yohko was hers,
which made them all the more intrigued.  
     Reiko sure knew how to handle men, Yohko thought
enviously as she neared her house.  She teased them and flirted
effortlessly, and they ate it up.  Of course, when she was around
Reiko, Yohko felt like she could do that, too.  In fact, tonight she'd
felt that way, following Reiko's lead, enjoying all the attention without
worrying about anything.
     Reiko had told her that she should just enjoy herself, but not
let any one of these men monopolize her.  She should hold out for
someone great.  And Yohko had realized she was right.  She would
enjoy the adulation of these strangers, and she would use her
new-found confidence to snag the man she really wanted.  
     Of course, she'd spent most of the night with Reiko.  She felt
safer with her.  Reiko knew her way around.  She was mature beyond
her years, sophisticated and sexy.
     Yohko was glad Reiko wasn't her enemy this time.  She
wouldn't have wanted to have to fight her again.
     She opened the front door, then stepped inside and let it shut
behind her.  She had only taken two steps inside, though, when she
froze, something cutting through her pleasant haze.
     Someone was in the house.
     No sooner had she thought that than a light flared, blinding her,
and footfalls raced toward her.
     Damn!  She raised her ring hand, preparing to transform.
     "Yohko!  There you are!  Where have you been, do you
know what time it ...?"  The other voice cut off sharply and Yohko
sighed, lowering her hand.
     Azusa.
     The smaller girl stood in the hallway, dressed in her pajamas,
gaping at Yohko.
     "Hey.  I see you're back," Yohko said.  Azusa continued to
stare, and Yohko frowned.
     "What?" she asked.
     "Yuh.  Yuh.  Yohko.  That DRESS ..."  Yohko had slung her
coat over her shoulder because of the warm weather, and her new
dress was revealed.  She blushed.
     "And your HAIR!  And make-up ... WOW.  Yohko, were
you on a date?"  Suddenly, the bouncy young apprentice Devil Hunter
was in front of her, practically vibrating with excitement.  "Tell!  Tell!" 
Yohko laughed.
     "Hey, come on!  Let me get cleaned up, okay?  Then you can
tell me about your trip and I'll tell you about my night.  Deal?"  
     "Okay!" Asuza chirped, following Yohko all the way to the
bathroom.  Soon afterwards, Yohko reclined on her bed, clad only in
her striped nightshirt, and Asuza lay on her mattress on the floor.  She
related the news of her family, whom Yohko had never met, in eager
breathless tones.  Yohko smiled as she listened, still able to feel the
throbbing pulse of the music pounding in her body, its siren call
beckoning her to movement, to reckless abandon.  As she
remembered the night, her blood seemed to heat toward boiling ... the
noise, the crowd, the heat, the music.  She felt a warm, pleasurable
tingle in the pit of her stomach as she replayed the events that had
beguiled her senses.
     And strangely, she couldn't stop thinking about how it had felt
to have Reiko preening her, standing over her and looking down with
those bottomless violet eyes ...
     "So, Yohko, now it's your turn!  Tell me about your date!" 
She started, realizing how easily she'd become aroused just thinking
about ... the club.  She'd had such a strange week, and the wild
atmosphere of that place seemed to have seeped into her, stirring
sharp longings in her that she would usually have kept under tighter
control.  And now, with Asuza back, it would be hard to find the
privacy to ... deal with her growing frustrations.
     She sighed, then turned onto her side, showing Asuza a
tolerant smile.
     "It wasn't a date.  I was just out having fun with a friend."
     "Chi?"
     "No, not Chi.  She was busy.  This was someone else."  
     "Who?  Do I know her?"  So Yohko had to explain about
Reiko, since that whole thing had happened before she and Asuza had
met.  Then she explained why she'd been concerned, and how Reiko
had decided to repay her kindness by taking her dancing at the club. 
She left out the details of what they'd done, though.  In the heat of the
moment everything had seemed quite natural, but she realized that in
the cold light of this quiet room Reiko's joking flirtations might be
taken the wrong way, and she didn't want to have to explain THAT to
Asuza.
     "Wow, that place sounds really wild!" Asuza said when
Yohko had finished her edited version of events.  "And you're sure
that Reiko doesn't remember ever being this Dark Queen?"
     "Almost positive," Yohko said, rolling onto her back again. 
"I'll keep an eye on her, of course, but it looks like her dreams were
only a faint echo of what happened.  I think she's okay."
     "Good.  If she's Yohko's friend, then I want her to be my
friend too!"  Yohko smiled at the ceiling.
     "I'm sure she'd like that," she said, stifling a yawn.  Asuza
heard, though, and scolded her.
     "Hey, it's late.  You should get some sleep, Yohko.  No
matter how quiet it's been, you have to be rested for tomorrow."
     "Why?  What's tomorrow?" she asked sleepily.  Asuza
groaned.
     "A bad night for Devil Hunters, maybe.  Strange astral alignments
are expected, and several lesser forces are in conjunction!  It's called
the Blood moon in spiritual circles, and you just never know what'll
happen on a night like that!" 
     "Oh, yeah," Yohko said as if she'd known all along.  "No problem. 
G'night, Asuza."
     "Night, Yohko."  Yohko rolled herself in her blankets and
closed her eyes.  Her hair, unbound and loose, spilled across her
pillow, and she frowned slightly as she breathed in a half-remembered
scent.  She turned her head a little, touching her nose to the silken
spray and inhaling again.
     Ah.  Reiko's perfume.  She smiled.  For some reason, having
Reiko's scent on her made her feel warm, loose.
     With that thought, she drifted off to sleep.

***

     "Ah, there you are, Liliss," Reiko said.  She stood gloriously
naked in front of the mirror which was, for once, actually reflecting
what was in front of it.  She turned and regarded the succubus lazily.
     "How is Yohko's friend?" she asked.  Liliss gave her a sated
smile.
     "Exhausted, but unhurt.  I used a minor spell to make her think
she was actually babysitting tonight.  It won't hold up for more than a
couple of days, though."
     "That will prove sufficient, Liliss.  By this time tomorrow,
Yohko will be a bride of darkness, hopelessly ensnared in my web.  I
hope you enjoyed yourself tonight, but now that you've had your fun, I
need you to continue your search for the whereabouts of the hidden
shrine.  It is in this city, I can feel it.  Those writings will tell us
exactly
where to be at midnight on the full moon to open the way.  I need that
artifact if I am to regain the power I desire."  Liliss nodded, her tawny
mane slipping down over her shoulders.
     "Of course, Mistress.  The university should be quite deserted at
this hour.  The human scholars have been unable to translate the
ancient texts, but they should prove no problem for me."  Reiko
smiled.
     "Excellent.  Everything is going so well.  Soon, all will be in
readiness for my ascension to power."  Liliss looked uncomfortable,
and Reiko walked over to her, brushing the succubus's hair back with
her hand.
     "What is the matter, my golden girl?" she asked.  Liliss looked
up slowly, her expression carefully neutral.
     "Mistress.  I am only a rogue succubus.  Were I a more powerful
demon, I might have found the location of the hidden shrine by now. 
And these portents, they augur ill-fortune around the Tome of Craxus
itself.  I believe someone else is seeking it, but I can not see ..."  Reiko
brought her hands up to the succubus's face and drew her into a
savage, passionate kiss.  Liliss gasped and answered her mistress's
passion with her own as Reiko thrust her naked body close.  After
long, delirious moments, Reiko pulled back, looking deep into Liliss's
golden eyes.
     "Liliss, my sweet," she murmured into the happy succubus's
open mouth.  "You are loyal.  Without you I would have nothing.  I do
not begrudge you your limitations.  You have gone beyond what you
were when first we met, and you shall go further still.  Merely do what
I command of you, and I shall never be disappointed.  Disappointing
me, after all, would be a very bad idea."  Reiko noted that Liliss's eyes
were lidded, her breathing heavy, and she knew she had best turn the
lush beauty loose or neither of them would get any work done that
evening.  She pushed Liliss lightly away, turning back to her bed.
     "Go now, Liliss.  Events are moving quickly now, and we had best 
be prepared.  Make me proud, my sweet."
     "I will," she promised, bowing deeply before leaving.  Reiko
moved through the shadows, making her way to the sideboard where
she poured herself a goblet of blood-red fluid.  She lifted it to her lips
and sipped gently, sighing with pleasure.
     Ah, she had missed the pleasures of the senses when she'd
been trapped, a mere essence, within Liliss.  Yohko had been
responsible for that, of course, and Reiko's defeat should have been
the end of her.  But the unexpected had happened.  Liliss had fallen in
love with her and, instead of consuming her helpless essence, had set
about stealing energy from her own kind so that Reiko could live
again. 
     And now she did.  She could touch, she could taste, she could
smell.
     She could seduce.
     She thought again, as she did often lately, of Yohko Mano, her
own private obsession.  It had been so hard to put off her pleasure,
but it would be well worth it.  She had brought the girl so far, and now
Yohko was ready.  Ready for the betrayal which would bring her to
her knees.  After her defeat, she would have given anything for the
chance to kill the girl but, during her slow recovery, her obsession had
grown, changed.  Now she wanted to possess the girl, to ensnare her
and corrupt her and break her to the will of the Dark Queen.  Oh,
how she lusted to see the girl at her feet, a collar of submission around
her proud neck, an expression of helpless lust in her pretty eyes.  That
would be a hundred times better than merely killing her.  She would be
Reiko's toy to do with as she pleased.  And she would please to do
many, many things.  
     It would take her quite a while to run out of humiliations to
heap on the girl.
     That night had been perfect.  She'd gone as far as she could
go without tipping her hand.  Tomorrow night, under the light of the
Blood moon, she would claim her prize.
     But first, one last task.  Sweet, suffocating dreams of erotic
need that would wind the poor girl's frustrated desire to a quivering,
fever pitch.  At the club, she'd practically vibrated like some sexual
tuning fork, and it had taken all of Reiko's guile to deflect the men and
women drawn to that subconscious signal.  But Reiko could raise
Yohko's trembling need one more notch, one more sweet maddening
level.  She walked over to her enchanted mirror, touching it and
watching as Yohko's sleeping form appeared.  Then she pursed her
full lips and placed a tender kiss upon the image of the sleeping girl,
smiling wickedly as she began to thrash in her sleep.
     "Until tomorrow, Yohko," she whispered, "this dream of me
to keep you warm."

***

     Yohko wandered through the strange house.  It was dark, and
she held her soul sword in front of her cautiously.  Something was
here, of that she was certain.  Something dangerous.
     She approached a door, easing it open and slipping inside. 
The room was large, but seemed close and claustrophobic somehow. 
As she crept through the shadows, she saw a large mirror against one
wall that reflected nothing.  A huge bed with a canopy and dark sheets
was across from it, and a high backed chair sat in front of the
fireplace.  As she approached, a figure stood up from the chair, and
she tensed, expecting an attack.
     "Yohko.  Welcome, I've been expecting you."  Yohko felt a
chill rush through her.  
     It was Reiko.  She was dressed in the tight black pants, high
boots and unlaced white shirt she'd worn in Yohko's fantasy, and her
appearance sent a bolt of electric pleasure though Yohko's body. 
Reiko gave her a sultry smile, as if she knew what affect her
appearance was having on the Devil Hunter, and strutted slowly
towards her.  Yohko, gripped by some nameless fear, backed away.
     "Why are you running from me, Yohko?" Reiko asked in a
teasing voice.  "You came here looking for me, didn't you?  Well, here
I am."
     "Stay back," Yohko warned, her voice unsteady.  Reiko kept
advancing.
     "Or what?  What will you do?"  Yohko backed into a wall,
and Reiko stopped just out of reach.
     "I don't want to hurt you," Yohko breathed.  "Please, Reiko." 
Reiko just reached out and touched the blade of the soul sword lightly. 
To Yohko's amazement, it melted, slipping to the floor in a molten
silver puddle.  As she stared at her empty hand in shock, Reiko slowly
closed the remaining distance between them, bracing her hands flat
against the wall on either side of Yohko's head.  Yohko stared at her,
disarmed and helpless, as she leaned closer.
     "Yohko," she murmured.  "Dear, sweet Yohko.  Dance with
me."  With that, she swept the unsuspecting girl into her arms, spinning
her out into the middle of the floor.  A low, throbbing beat started up
somewhere, and Reiko held Yohko close, so close, forcing her body
to mould itself against Reiko's.  Reiko wasn't wearing a bra, and her
stiff hard nipples scraped Yohko's own through the thin sheer material
of her shirt.  Her eyes captured Yohko's, their dark violet depths
drawing her in, drowning her, swallowing her resistance, sapping her
will.  Reiko's smile widened, and one hand moved up to the back of
Yohko's head as she began to move her face closer.  Yohko knew
what she intended, knew that if Reiko kissed her she was lost.
     "No," she moaned softly.  Reiko ignored her.
     "Nuh ... no.  Please s-stop."  Reiko's lush, blood-red lips
parted, and she drew even closer.  Yohko's whole body was melting
in molten pleasure now, and she trembled with helpless need.
     "Reiko ... don't ... stop ..."
     "Don't stop?" Reiko asked, gently mocking.  Her moist lips
came ever closer, and Yohko's heart hammered wildly in her chest.
     "No ..."
     "You're mine, Yohko.  Say it."
     "No ... I ... NO ..."
     "Say it."
     "Nuuuh.  No.  Oh please, don't ..."
     "Say ... iiiiiiit ..."  The lips closed to hers, brushing against her
mouth oh so gently ...
     "NO!"
     "Yohko!"  She took a shaky breath, then another, pushing
frantically at the hands on her shoulders.  Someone cried out, and she
looked up, confused.
     She was in her bed, sitting up.  Her body was trembling,
soaked with sweat, and her nipples poked arrogantly at the thin
material of her nightshirt.  Her arousal was exquisite, and for a moment
she thought she would come just from breathing.
     Then the moment passed, and the cursed need that had
maddened her all week subsided into the background once again,
albeit with incredible reluctance.
     Only then did she remember the hands she'd pushed away.
     "Azusa!" she gasped, looking over the edge.  A very cross
Azusa was picking herself off the floor slowly.
     "Geez, Yohko," she winced, standing slowly.  "What was
THAT all about?  First you start thrashing around, saying "no, stop",
then you deck me?"  She stared at the dishevelled girl, and her anger
faded quickly.
     "That must have been some nightmare, Yohko.  Are you all
right?" she asked, sounding truly concerned.  She perched tentatively
on the edge of the bed as if afraid that Yohko would lash out again. 
Yohko crossed her arms over her chest to hide the evidence of her
arousal and nodded, feeling the hot flush of her cheeks.
     "I'm okay.  Sorry, Azusa.  You startled me."  Azusa smiled.
     "That's all right.  Hey, you wanna tell me about it?"  The
dream returned full force, and Yohko's blush intensified.
     "No!  I mean ... no.  Please.  It's okay, it was nothing." 
Azusa looked at her critically, clearly not convinced but not knowing
what else to do.
     "Well, okay.  If you say so.  Are you SURE you're okay?" 
Yohko nodded.
     " Fine.  Listen, I'm sorry I woke you.  It's been a weird
week.  Go back to sleep, okay?  We'll talk in the morning."  Azusa
nodded.
     "Well, okay.  Good night, then."
     "Night."  Yohko flopped back down on her bed, trying to will
her heart to stop racing.
     She remembered more of this dream than she had of the
others.  Unfortunately.  Why had she dreamed of Reiko that way? 
Was she turning into a pervert or what?  And how the hell was she
going to stop these damned dreams before they drove her insane?
     That's it, she thought desperately, pulling her blankets over her
head.  On Monday, I'm gonna go talk to Shin and get him to go on a
date with me before I die of sexual frustration!
     Of course, she would probably see Reiko before then, and
she had no idea how she'd look her friend in the eye after this.
     Her body singing with unreleased sexual tension, she buried
her head under her pillow and groaned.
     It was going to be a long night.

***

     Kamiri moved down the dark corridor with easy stealth. 
Ninja training was very useful when one wanted to break in
somewhere, after all.
     The place was nearly deserted this late at night, but because
the university had some valuable artifacts there was a guard in the
building.  An armed guard.
     Like that mattered.  Kamiri was actually looking forward to
dealing with him.  It should be fun.  She could use her ninja skills, of
course, but her sexcraft abilities would be much more ... diverting.  
     She stopped at an intersection of hallways, remembering the
layout of the building.  The special projects area was to the left.  That
was where the writings she wanted were being kept, according to the
young clerk she'd left exhausted and smiling in his bed.  Those writings
should hold the clues to where the shrine containing the Book was. 
Kamiri knew it was her best chance.  If this lead didn't pan out, she
wasn't certain where to look next.  The damned thing had been lost for
so long, she wondered if there really were any clues left as to its true
whereabouts.
     She slowed suddenly, her senses alert.  Something was wrong. 
That smell ...
     The musky scent she detected on the air could be only one
thing.  Her sexcraft informed her that someone was exuding very 
powerful sexual smells, far too powerful to be human. 
     Shikima?  Whatever the case, she wasn't alone.  Someone
else WAS after the Book, and that someone was here.
     Her suspicions were borne out when she spotted the young
guard sprawled on the floor.  His clothes were torn badly, and thin
bloody scratches covered his muscular chest.  Her eyes narrowed as
she scented the attacker's musk, much stronger now.
     A succubus.  Very interesting.
     Unlike most humans, she would be able to hold her own
against such a creature.  Her sexcraft would serve her well in that way,
but she was puzzled at the presence of a succubus here.  Such
creatures generally lacked subtlety, seeking only to sate their lusts on
unwary humans.  Why would one be seeking such an obscure artifact
of arcane power?
     Well, no matter.  Kamiri had to make sure that she didn't
succeed.  She crept closer to the open doorway that lay beyond the
unconscious guard, easing her head around the corner.
     The room was full of tables and desks, and in the dim light
Kamiri didn't see her at first.  Then she moved, and Kamiri caught her
breath.  The succubus was a thing of beauty, all right, all gold-tinged
skin and tawny hair, her wings fluttering lightly in the still air of the
cluttered room.
     But it was what was in her hands that interested Kamiri the
most.  Several sheets of parchment, clearly the writings that Kamiri
had been seeking.  But if she had them, why was she still here?  
     Well.  Kamiri had been cheated out of her fun with the guard,
and now this demonic tart had the writings she was after as well.  That
didn't sit very well with Kamiri.  No, that didn't sit well at all.
     She slipped into the room.  Stealth would be the way to go,
here.  She crept silently through the shadows, until she was directly
behind the distracted creature, who appeared to be reading something
in the sheets of parchment.  Smiling thinly, she spotted a mummy
wrapped in loose bandages in one corner.  Perfect for her purposes. 
She clasped her hands together, index fingers raised, and began a low,
guttural chant.  Instantly, the succubus straightened, whirling around.
     "Who's there?" she challenged.  Kamiri finished her spell, and
watched with satisfaction as the bandages spun away from the
mummy, snaking out to entrap the succubus's wrists and ankles.  The
creature howled with rage as she lost her grip on the pages, which
fluttered to the floor.  She tugged angrily at her bonds as Kamiri
emerged from the shadows, walking slowly toward her.
     "Well, well.  Caught so easily," she taunted.  Many sexcraft
spells centred on binding one's opponent.  In this case, though, Kamiri
thought it unwise to attempt to get too close.  The succubus's nails
were wickedly long and sharp-looking, and even strengthened by her
spell those bandages would not hold for long.
     Fortunately, they didn't have to.
     Kamiri scooped up the pages and glanced at them briefly
before rolling them into a tube and tucking them into her sash.
     "Bitch!  Those are mine!" the succubus spat angrily.  Kamiri
gave her a maddening smile.
     "They're mine now.  Tell me, why do you want these
mouldering old things?  What use are they to you?  Or ... do you serve
another?"  The succubus thrashed angrily, and Kamiri's eyes
narrowed as she had a sudden inspiration.
     "Reiko, perhaps?" she asked smoothly.  The look on the
succubus's face gave her away as she howled with rage.
     "My Mistress will flay the flesh from your bones for this
outrage!" she screeched.  Kamiri smiled.
     "Perhaps.  But not if I find the Book first."  She wanted to stay
and play with the lovely creature, but if the mysterious Reiko was
behind this, then she was dealing with something she didn't
understand.  She didn't intend to make the same mistakes she'd made
before, the ones that had very nearly cost her her life.  She judged she
had very few minutes before the creature broke loose, and she didn't
want to be around when that happened ... although it WOULD be an
interesting struggle for dominance, succubus versus human sexcraft.
     Another time, perhaps.
     "If you or your Mistress are foolish enough to get in my way,
I'll destroy you," Kamiri told the furious creature.  Let them wonder
just how powerful Kamiri really was.  That would be to her benefit,
after all.  She turned and walked away, ignoring the creature's angry
screeches.
     So, now she knew.  She had competition for the Book.  And
the opposition knew, too.  But she knew more about them than they
knew about her, and that gave her the advantage.  An advantage she
intended to make the most of.
     She reached the doorway, then turned to sneer at the
struggling succubus.
     "Give my regards to Reiko," she said insolently.  "I hope she
won't be too upset with you for your failure, my dear ... although if I
was her I would be.  Be seeing you."  With that, she slipped away into
the shadows, leaving the enraged demoness far behind.

***

     "Ahhh!  Yohko, look at this kitchen!  It's filthy!"  Yohko
grinned sheepishly.
     "I, uh, was gonna get around to cleaning it," she said.  Azusa
glared at her.
     "You haven't cleaned since your mother and grandmother left,
have you?"  Yohko sighed.  Well, that was true enough.  She'd had
other things on her mind.  Azusa handed her something.  Yohko
looked at it with a sinking feeling.
     An apron?
     "Azusa ..."
     "We're going to clean this mess before we do anything else! 
Got it?"  Yohko scowled.
     "Hey, you're the apprentice, remember?"  Azusa kept glaring
until Yohko gave in.
     "Okay, okay.  We'll clean the house.  On a SATURDAY." 
Azusa sniffed in a superior manner.
     "That's better," she said.  "Once we're finished, then ...
maybe we'll go out shopping."  She peered at Yohko out of the
corner of her eye.  "Maybe you could show me the store where you
got that dress ..."  Yohko made a strangled sound.
     "You little rat!  Those clothes are too mature for you!" she
lectured.  Azusa pouted.  
     "I just wanna looook," she wailed.  Yohko pretended to
consider it.
     "Maybe," she said at last.  "If you do the dishes."
     "I will, if you do the laundry," she returned quickly.  Yohko
sighed.  There was no getting out of it, apparently.
     "Deal," she grumbled.  Placated, Azusa turned her attention to
the kitchen while Yohko dug into the neglected laundry.
     This wasn't the way she'd envisioned spending her Saturday,
that was for sure.

***

     Reiko paced slowly the length of the room, stopping at one
end to slowly turn and walk back the other way.  Finally she stopped
in front of Liliss's bound form.
     She was wearing a tight leather corset and panties that were
cut high over the thigh.  Her arms were adorned with long black
gloves, and her wrists, ankles, and neck all bore studded circlets.  In
one hand she held a coiled whip.  Her high heeled boots, the same
ones she'd worn to the club, clicked menacingly on the cold cement
floor.  She glared down at her succubus, her expression severe.
     Liliss was kneeling on the floor, her limbs bound tightly against
her body by criss-crossing leather straps.  Her arms were fitted into a
supple sheath that was laced tightly from her wrists to her shoulders,
and her long legs were bound tightly to metal spacers that held them
apart.  Liliss quivered in her bonds, magicked so that she could not
escape without Reiko's aid.  A ball gag was strapped tightly into her
lush mouth, keeping her from talking.  Reiko stood in front of the
helpless beauty, legs apart and hands on her hips.
     "So," she said at last, her voice stern.  "Let's hear what you
have to say for yourself, Liliss."  She waved her hand imperiously and
the gag fell away, leaving the girl gasping.  She stared at Reiko's
booted feet submissively.
     "Look at me, girl!" Reiko snapped, and instantly Liliss shifted
her gaze to her mistresses eyes.
     "I'm sorry, mistress," she whispered again.  Reiko's
expression didn't soften at all.
     "I'm very disappointed, Liliss, and I warned you about
disappointing me, didn't I?  I needed those writings, and you lost then
to a mere HUMAN."  Liliss opened her mouth to speak, and Reiko
uncoiled the whip in her right hand.
     "You will not speak unless I tell you to," she commanded. 
The girl shut her mouth instantly, and after a moment, Reiko nodded.
     "Better.  Now, then.  Tell me about this woman that surprised
you and took the writings."
     "She was human, but not like any I've encountered before,"
Liliss said in a low, meek tone.  "She seemed unaffected by my
power, and she used an unfamiliar magic to trap me."
     "And she knew my name," Reiko said slowly.
     "Yes, Mistress."
     "Did you tell her?  Did you let it slip?" Reiko asked
dangerously.  Liliss paled.
     "No, Mistress!  I swear it!"  Reiko stared at her, then nodded
once.
     "Go on.  What else?"
     "Two things, Mistress," she breathed, obviously glad for the
opportunity to finally talk.  Reiko had flown into a rage and bound and
gagged the succubus after hearing of her defeat at the hands of a
human, and dragged her down here.
     "First," she snapped.
     "I brought back a scrap of the cloth she magicked.  It may tell
you something about her."  Reiko's expression didn't change, although
she was impressed that the succubus had shown that much initiative.
     "Good," she said shortly.  "Second."
     "I read through the pages quickly before she arrived.  I believe
I know how to find the shrine's entrance, even without the writings." 
This time, Reiko's expression did soften.  A bit.
     "I see," she said.  "That is fortunate, but the fact remains that
you were beaten by a human.  I can't let such a lapse go unpunished,
Liliss.  You realize that, don't you?"  Liliss bowed her head, her
lustrous hair obscuring her face.
     "Yes, Mistress," she whispered.  Reiko nodded, and walked
over to the far end of the dank stone chamber.  A red pentagram was
inscribed on the floor, and she held her hand out to it, closing her eyes
and concentrating.  Finally, a reddish light flared and something
appeared in the centre of the pattern.
     She heard Liliss's gasp of dismay and smiled.  The thing she'd
summoned was a low-level fiend, much like the one she'd sent against
Yohko in the park that night.
     Only this time, it would find its prey much less ... troublesome.
     Liliss whimpered as it slithered toward her unerringly, leaving a
thick trail of slime.  Such a disgusting, low level creature could
normally never get anywhere near a beautiful succubus.  The encounter
would be quite humiliating for Liliss.  Which was the idea.
     "Think well on your failure, Liliss," Reiko admonished as thin,
whip-like tentacles snaked out towards the helpless beauty.  "I'll
return later to see if you've learned your lesson."  Then she strode
briskly out of the chamber, the last sounds she heard a soft whimper
and the heavy, sucking sound of a slimy body moving over the cool
stone floor.

***

     When the house was finally clean, Yohko called Chi to see if
she wanted to go downtown with them.  Chi begged off, saying she
felt incredibly tired and thought she might be coming down with
something.  So, it ended up being just Azusa and Yohko for the
afternoon.  
     That was quite pleasant, though.  Being around her perky
young apprentice took Yohko's mind off of the disturbingly erotic
dreams she'd had the night before.  She was starting to wonder if the
half-remembered dreams that had been tormenting her all week might
have been similar.  If so, what could they mean?  There had to be a
rational explanation for why she'd suddenly started having sexy
dreams about other girls!  Well, so far, just about Reiko, actually. 
And she still figured that her preoccupation with Reiko and whether or
not she would remember her role as the Dark Queen was responsible
for her inability to get the girl out of her mind at the most ...
inopportune moments.
     God, she REALLY needed to go on a date.
     Azusa caught her not paying attention on more than one
occasion, and naturally demanded to know what the problem was. 
Yohko just laughed it off, saying she was a little tired.  Azusa seemed
mollified by her explanation, but Yohko resolved to try to stay
focused.
     "Hey, Yohko."
     "Hmmm?"
     "Will you show me the clock tower?"
     "What?"  Yohko tried to follow Azusa's conversational flitting.
     "You know.  The one where you fought Reiko ... I mean the
Dark Queen."  Yohko was puzzled.
     "Why would you want to see it, Azusa?  When we fought it
was during the Convergence of the Moons.  We weren't really in that
old clock tower, we were in some sort of dead zone between realms. 
Reiko was going to sacrifice Hideki and open the path between the
Dark Realms and our world."  Azusa seemed disappointed.
     "So if we went there now, we wouldn't see anything
interesting?"  Yohko smiled.
     "Afraid not.  I'll still show you sometime, if you want, though. 
It's kinda creepy."  Azusa brightened.
     "Really?  Like it might be haunted or something?"  Yohko
winked.
     "Well, you never know."
     "All right!"
     Laughing, the two girls went looking for someplace to eat as
the afternoon slowly wore on.

***

     When Reiko had judged Liliss had learned her lesson, she
returned to the underground chamber.  She hadn't really wanted to be
harsh with the succubus, but she really couldn't give the impression
that she would tolerate failure.
     She was certain Liliss had gotten the message.
     She sent the bloated fiend back to where it had come from
easily, then turned to the succubus.  Liliss was lying on the floor, her
skin and hair soaked with thick viscous slime.  There were tiny bite
marks on her buttocks and breasts, but Reiko knew they would heal
quickly.  She stood regally over the exhausted beauty and spoke in a
cool tone.
     "Well, Liliss, have you learned your lesson?" she asked.  The
succubus nodded her head as much as she could, and Reiko sighed.
     "I don't wish to be stern with you, Liliss, but failures of this
sort could jeopardise everything I am working for.  Do you
understand?"  Liliss nodded again.
     "I ... am sorry, Mistress," she croaked, slime running from
between her stained lips.  Reiko made a gesture and Liliss's restraints
fell away.
     "Get yourself cleaned up," she told the bedraggled demoness,
"and then report to my bedchamber.  I have a task for you, a very
delicate one.  I won't have anything spoiling my wedding night.  Now
go."  Liliss rose slowly, painfully, to her feet, and moved toward the
door.
     "And Liliss," she added sternly, "don't touch anything."  The girl
muttered a meek reply.  Reiko watched her go, satisfied that she had
disciplined the girl sufficiently.  The next time she assigned her to do
something, she would not be taken off-guard by a mere human.
     Although perhaps "mere" was not the proper term.  Reiko
walked through the secret chambers beneath the house, heading up the
stairs to the main floor.  Her examination of the magic used on the
scrap of cloth Liliss had retrieved was most revealing.  It had been a
form of sexcraft, a powerful magic practised only by two rival ninja
clans, the Suzuka and the Miroku.  Both clans used sexcraft
techniques and magicks to combat and control both human and
demonic opponents.
     Reiko had to admit that this was a clever strategy.  Those of
the demon realms had voracious and perverted hungers.  Any human
who could use sexual skills to their advantage could control almost any
demon.  Of course, if the human lost, they would end up being
enslaved by a denizen of the demon realms, hardly a pleasant fate.  At
any rate, it appeared that her opponent was not a demon, which
would make her harder to find and anticipate.  Also, she might even be
strong enough to resist Reiko herself.
     That notion intrigued Reiko.  She would like very much to
match wills against such a female ninja, each struggling for sexual
dominance.  It would be exhilarating, even though she was quite
certain she would win in the end.  She smiled at the thought.
     Perhaps she would have to hunt the bitch down after she had
the Book.  After all, the woman HAD thwarted her attempts to
retrieve the sacred writings.
     But her efforts were all for naught.  Those writings were in an
ancient demonic text, one which any demon could read, but no human
knew.  Even though she possessed the writings, they were useless to
her.  Liliss, though, had read enough before she was attacked that
Reiko could figure out where and when they needed to be to get the
Book.
     And of course, even if her opponent had the ability to translate
the texts, Reiko knew a secret about the Book that would make even
that information useless to her.
     So, in reality, no damage had been done to her efforts after all. 
That made her happy.  And night would soon be falling.  Her wedding
night.
     That made her even happier.
     She entered her bed chamber, striding across the room to
stand before her mirror.  She idly traced one hand down her body,
letting her touch ignite tiny flames of desire in her flesh.
     Soon, she thought triumphantly.  Soon, Yohko, you'll be here. 
You're being drawn deeper into my web;  already you're too
entangled to escape.  Soon you'll be struggling, helpless, in my
embrace.  And then I'll finally make you mine.
     Soon.

***


Next: Reiko springs her trap!  It's Yohko vs. Reiko in a battle for
dominance!  Also, things get more complicated as Ayako and Azusa 2
show up, and Kamiri proposes an alliance.  And, of course, lots more
fan service!