Chapter 1 - A different love

Alice, Gil and me... we have seen and experienced so much. We were chasing after Alice's memories, wanted to find out what the tragedy of Sabrie really caused and what the Baskervilles wanted. Sharon, Break, my Uncle Oscar, Reim and Emily were always really helpful. Our adventure isn't over yet, but at the moment we have a wonderful peace I started to miss already.

It was a nice and sunny day in Gilbert's house. Gil, Alice and me spent most of our free time in the capital city and enjoyed the peace. But since yesterday, Alice was with Sharon and Break, because they somehow managed to convince her to go shopping with them. That gave me a little time to think about my feelings, which have worried me for some time. Since these days, I was lying restless on the Sofa. What were those feelings that occupied me? Sometimes there was an uncomfortable pull in my chest, sometimes I felt like I burst from the inside, my heart increases its speed very often and sometimes I couldn't think clearly. All this comes up when I look into Gil's golden raven-like eyes. Have I fallen in love with Gil? But I'm not allowed to! He is my friend and my servant after all and he's also a man! Puzzled I grumbled to myself and put an arm on my eyes.

"Master..."

Gilbert's gentle voice broke me out of my thoughts. At the sound of his voice, my heart began to race again. I took my arm away from my head and looked at Gil's worried face. I tried to behave as normally as possible, but it became more difficult day by day.

"Is everything alright, Oz?", Gilbert asked.

Every time Gil says my name, I start to shiver excited.

"I'm fine," I lied and sat up.

I couldn't look into Gil's eyes any longer, because they make my heart beat even faster.

"But I can see that something's not right. Come on, tell me what's going on" Gil said insistent and tried to look into my eyes.

I turned away and jumped up quickly.

"I told you, that I'm fine!", I shouted energetic and regretted it then.

I knew that I had overreacted and sensitive as Gil was sometimes, I knew I certainly had hurt him with my actions.

"I'm sorry!", I cried and ran out of the house.

I ran and ran, but I didn't know where I even was. I ran until my legs couldn't hold me any longer. When I stopped, I found myself in a dark alley, but I didn't want to be among other people anyway.

"Damn!", I shouted angrily and slammed my fist against the wall.

"Why? Why? Why!?" I cried desperately.

"Why Gilbert? Why of all things have I fallen in love with him?!" I cried again.

I slowly slid down the wall and looked up. The sky wasn't clear anymore and it even started to rain now, but I didn't care. Everything was suddenly no matter, only Gilbert wasn't.

"I'm his master... I don't think he feels the same for me and I don't think he will", I cried with a hoarse voice and didn't notice that tears were running down my cheeks.

The cool rain felt good, very good actually and I was able to forget all the pain for a while. I closed my eyes and tried to shut down. Suddenly someone put something on my head. I opened my eyes and noticed that it was Gilbert's jacket. He stood in front of me, but he said nothing. But as he stood there ... with his back to me, hurt me more than to see his eyes.

"Gil!" I whispered softly and tears welled up in my eyes again.

Gil seemed to have heard me and knelt in front of me. He looked at me with fishy eyes, but then he wiped away my tears and asked me softly with a smile on his face:

"Come on Oz. Tell me, what's wrong"

"I'm in love! But if the person I'm in love with, gets to know that... then... then...!", I gushed out.

"Then what?" Gil asked.

"Then we won't be... friends anymore, if the person... doesn't like me how I do" I sobbed.

Gil was silent for a moment. "I don't think this will happen, because it seems, that Alice likes you too..." Gil said a bit angry and I could hear a slight jealousy in his voice.

I laughed sadly.

"Alice is not the person I love, you know?".

Gilbert cringed.

"Not Alice? Who do you love then?", he asked and I looked away sadly.

"Like I said, I can't tell that person, because that person likes me as a friend not as a lover" I answered.

Gil sighed and suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders, so that I looked directly into his eyes. What then came next... completely surprised me! Gil... kissed me! I was surprised and like petrified, but I enjoyed the kiss.

"Gil...?" I asked surprised and blushing, when he stopped kissing me.

Gil smiled sadly and said:

"If you want to tell the person that you love her, you will probably kiss each other, so I thought I should practice with you a bit...".

He scratched his head sheepishly and was also blushing a bit.

"You fool..." I murmured grinning.

Gil looked at me and I shook my head.

"You really are a fool Gil. The person that I love... this person was almost always with me. This person was there... when I needed her, that person was also the first person I saw when I returned from the Abyss... and even now this person is with me" I explained.

At first Gil seemed not to understand what I was saying, but then he did and turned more bright red.

"O-Oz-sama!" he shouted in shame and I laughed sadly.

I closed my eyes again and let the rain pour down on me.

"Oz..." Gil said, and wanted that I open my eyes, but I didn't respond.

"Oz!" Gil shouted forcefully, but I didn't respond again.

Suddenly I felt his lips on mine again and that forced me to open my eyes.

"Gil...? What...?" I tried to ask, but Gil stopped me with another kiss.

I gave up to resist and as we released us again, he hugged me tightly.

"I love you, young Master! I... I thought you like Alice more than me, so I didn't say anything because I didn't want to hurt you... but now...!", Gilbert stuttered and I laughed.

"I know what you mean Gil. I'm glad that you understand me and can reply my feelings, I can't imagine anything nicer!", I cried happily and Gil lifted me gently up.

"Master... allow me to change you, because you're all wet", Gil grinned malicious and I grinned back.

I clung tightly to Gil's shirt as he carried me and I inhaled the wonderful smell of him. How will things continue? I didn't want to think about that, because the present moment... was just too beautiful.