(a/n: I am so so so sorry for the ridiculously long wait for this chapter...Oh the toils of working on way too many fan-fics at one time TTnTT...)
CHAPTER 2
MASTER OF THE SACRED WORDS part 2
"At last I've found you," said the hovering rabbit girl.
Alice leaned back a fraction and brought her slightly clenched hands to her mouth.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?!
The girl smiled at her proudly and said, "I was right about you, Alice. I knew I would see you again."
Alice still appeared shocked.
What is this…? Am I dreaming?!
The sky above the tower was almost clear except for a few clouds moving slowly overhead. Alice's right hand was over her mouth while her other hand was gripping her right arm. She was deeply confused.
I must have finally snapped…
The rabbit girl turned away from her and closed her eyes. She sighed and said, "I've been waiting so long to meet you. I know that you'll be a great Lotus Master."
Alice mentally gasped as she calmed down enough to have thoughts enter her mind.
Those ears…they're like rabbit ears! And she's talking…
Her heart started to race.
Bu-bump
Bu-bump
Bu-bump
Bu-bump
She suddenly became frightened and concerned for her own safety.
Is it human…? Or an animal? It leapt off the top of Tokyo Tower?
She suddenly started to sweat and appeared sick with fright and confusion. Her hand was clamped tightly over her mouth.
To self: Are they filming a movie? No film crew… She's floating in the air. Could it be…?!
She suddenly imagined being in a graveyard with a creepy dark temple behind her. The words 'A ghost!' were hovering on both sides of her head. An eerie wind whistled past overhead. There were three sweat drops sliding down on her blank face.
The rabbit girl turned back around to face her and said, "My name is Nyozeka." But Alice was already running away at top speed. Nyozeka quickly flew after her. "Wait," she cried out as she started to catch up.
"Kyaaah," screamed Alice, who was still running and flailing her arms as though she'd gone mad. Her eyes were scrunched tightly shut…it was a wonder she could see where she was going at all. "STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY!"
Still running blindly she said loudly and frantically, "I think I've heard this ghost story before! A child falls to her death from Tokyo Tower and comes back to haunt people as a cos-playing ghost!"
Nyozeka was becoming angry.
"There's no ghost story like that," she growled.
Alice ignored her and continued to babble.
"Why don't you go haunt some loser who likes cos-playing little girls," she screamed.
Nyozeka finally lost her patience.
"You FOOL," she screamed, kicking Alice in the butt.
RABBIT KICK
Alice slammed head-first into the cement ground.
Nyozeka regained her composure and put her hands together. But since her sleeves were so long you couldn't see her hands.
She gave a sob-like sigh and said, "All this because of the form I've taken? Fine. How 'bout this form then…" Tiny dazzling lights started to gather around her. A breeze wisped through her hair, revealing that she had human ears, too.
Then suddenly, poof she was the rabbit again. The necklace was still hanging loosely around her neck.
"You remember me, don't you?" said the rabbit.
"No," replied Alice in a trembling voice. But of course she wouldn't! She had her hands over her eyes. So, she didn't realize that Nyozeka was now the rabbit she had saved.
"Look at ME," shouted the rabbit angrily.
Alice finally obeyed and turned her head to look. There were tears in her eyes. Upon seeing the rabbit she had a flashback of when she had saved the white pink-eyed rabbit. She brought a hand to her mouth in shock and said quietly, "It can't be…!" She then pointed at Nyozeka with an irritated but nervous look in her eyes and said, "You're that carrot-snatching bunny?"
Poof
In a puff of smoke Nyozeka returned to her human form. She sweatdropped and said, a little embarrassed, "Yes! Except I wish you would have put it another way." She smiled as the sky exploded with color from the sun setting. She looked up and said, "You showed great courage when you rescued me," she winked, "Because of that, I left that bracelet for you."
Alice looked at the bracelet around her right wrist with wide eyes.
This…?
The red stone on the bracelet was glowing weakly and there was an upside down triangular symbol etched on the stone.
Nyozeka smiled sweetly and said, "The symbol inscribed on the stone is 'Rangu'." Her smile brightened. "It means 'Courage'. It is also the 19th 'Lotus'… It holds great importance…so please take good care of it."
Alice stood and started to walk away.
"I'm going home to bed," she said, quietly. A large sweatdrop slid down the back of her head.
"You can't run from reality forever," said Nyozeka.
Alice wasn't listening…she continued walking down the street.
Rabbits can't change form or talk. It's impossible.
"I must be hallucinating," said Alice to herself. "The shock of loosing Kyō to Mayura must have been too much for me."
Her eyes widened as she remembered what happened at the end of the school day.
I've… Lost him…
Mayura to Kyō: I love you…
But if I go home, sis will be there…
A tear formed in her eye.
I couldn't say those same words… But sis could.
Alice scrunched her eyes in frustration as the forming tear finally fell to the ground.
I guess I never had a chance.
She pictured Kyō's smiling face.
Kyō must be very happy with Mayura.
More tears slid from her closed eyes. She brought a hand up to wipe them away.
"I don't want to go home…" she said, quietly to herself. She sobbed quietly and said, "Seeing sis will just be painful… And I can't bear to see Kyō at school anymore."
"Okay. You can call me "Bunny" if you like," said Nyozeka, badly startling her.
"What are you talking about," shouted Alice in response.
Nyozeka smiled and said, "Do I not speak the truth? Are you going to run away again?"
Alice glared at her in irritation.
HMPH
Nyozeka ignored this and continued to smile.
"Don't worry, I can stay in this graveyard as long as it takes to solve your love problems," she said sweetly.
This deeply angered Alice who then turned and ran away.
That's enough! How dare you read my mind like this!
She ended up at the front gate to her house. She was still upset but now felt a little nervous. She walked hesitantly up to the gate.
"I somehow ended up coming home," she said to herself.
The gate door creaked slightly when she opened it.
Creak
What was that creature? Was she real?
An image of the small rabbit girl flashed in her mind.
But, I did feel like something called me to that place…
An image of the Tokyo Tower flashed in her mind. She frowned nervously as she wandered up to the front door.
"I better try to forget the whole thing. It's too weird," she whispered to herself.
"You mustn't forget, and I'm not weird," said Nyozeka, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, badly startling Alice once again.
"You Again?!" shouted Alice, a sweatdrop sliding down the side of her face. She grabbed the girl and said loudly, "What are you doing here?!"
The door opened and her mother looked at her, startled.
"Alice?!" she said in slight irritation. "Where have you been?! It's so late…"
Alice was suddenly nervous, worried that her mom would freak at the sight of the rabbit girl.
"What're you doing with that rabbit," asked her mother, slight confusion in her voice.
Alice looked down in shock at the white rabbit now in her hands.
"Huh?"
A plate of food and bowl of rice was on the table covered by a red cloth. The cloth had yellow leaves printed on it.
"You found it?!" said her mother, surprised.
Alice rose to her feet; rabbit still in her arms and said, "Y-yes. That's why I'm late."
Her mother covered her face with her hands, looking as though she were close to tears.
"Oh, dear. And your father's away on business, too…" she said. She regained her composure and added, "We better see what Mayura thinks."
Alice frowned at this. She sighed and her cheeks slightly heated up from irritation.
To self: So it's all up to sis, as usual…
She looked down at the bunny. A sweatdrop slid down the back of her head.
But this…creature… It's just pretending to be an ordinary rabbit…
Suddenly, the bathroom door burst open and Mayura, with only a towel wrapped around her, ran out toward Alice.
"Alice! You're finally home," she said happily.
Alice was shocked but suddenly remembered the rabbit in her arms. "Mayura, wait! Don't come near me!" was what she wanted to say, but it was too late. Mayura had already wrapped her arms around her.
"I've been waiting for you," said Mayura, not taking notice of the rabbit now touching her skin. "Just listen to this…"
Alice finally found her voice and shouted, "Sis, wait a sec…!"
Mayura looked down and spotted the rabbit. Her allergic reaction instantly spread up her left arm in the form of hives. She fainted and dropped to the floor.
"Oh no! Mayura!" shouted her mom.
"SIS?!" shouted Alice, helping her mom carry Mayura to her bed.
"Sis, I'm so sorry…" said Alice, rocking on the floor beside her sister's bed.
Mayura was lying under her covers. She looked absolutely miserable…but was it really because of her reaction to the animal? She moaned uncomfortably.
"Ungh…"
Alice frowned and said, "I'll give the rabbit away."
"No, keep it," said Mayura, looking up in an attempt to smile reassuringly.
"Huh?" said Alice in shock.
Mayura smiled warmly and said, "You have wanted a pet for such a long time…and it's my fault you've never been able to have one."
Alice looked down, Mayura, looked back up, "But…"
Mayura shook her head and said, "It's okay. I even thought about it." She coughed a little and quickly added, "If I talk with dad, he will let you keep it…Believe in me."
Alice stopped rocking and smiled back and said, "Okay."
But then she suddenly remembered that she really didn't think that keeping this rabbit would be such a great idea.
Duh!
Oh cool… But that bunny isn't even normal… "isn't that great?" she thought with a sick-to-stomach expression. But her sister didn't notice it since she had closed her eyes.
"Anyways, Alice, listen to this," said Mayura, somewhat bringing Alice back to this reality. "I told Kyō that I love him."
Well, that did it. Alice's attention was officially had, not to mention, her pass-for-mended heart was re-shattered as she was painfully reminded of the fact that she had lost Kyō – probably forever.
Ba-bump!
She clenched her fists and said as cheerfully as she could, "Uh…I see…that's great."
Ba-bump!
Ba-bump!
Failing to notice her sister's obvious failure to remain cheerful, Mayura continued, "And in response to my confession he said…"
This is it, thought Alice, becoming more depressed, I've really lost my chance of ever being with him…
Ba-bump!
"Can I have until tomorrow to think it over," said Mayura in her best Kyō-voice.
Alice's eyes shot wide open and she just about choked on a sob she had been holding in.
WHAT?! her mind screamed.
"Huh?! Are you serious?!" Alice screeched, almost failing to hide her excitement.
"Yeah! Can you believe it?!" Mayura replied, just as screechy. She sighed and ran her left hand through her hair.
"He turned down a birthday gift from another girl," she continued in a rush, "So I assumed he did that for me…"
Alice covered her mouth, hoping to hide her relief.
Maybe he doesn't love her! she thought as the clouds broke apart to let the sun shine on her world once again.
"I wonder what happened," Mayura sobbed softly, "I was so sure that he…"
Huh? Thought Alice, startled by the deep sadness in her sister's voice.
She looked down at her and when she saw the tears forming in Mayura's eyes, she couldn't help but feel ridiculously awful for being relieved.
Oh no… she thought and was suddenly determined to see Mayura happy again.
"It…" she hesitated, realizing that by doing this, she would truly be losing her chance with Kyō, but she forced that painful fact from her mind and continued in a rush, "It'll be fine! Kyō is no playboy. He probably just doesn't want to jump into anything!"
The tears vanished from her sister's eyes and a less defeated expression took their place.
"Maybe…" she said, not sounding too sure, "He is a decent guy. And that's a good thing."
Alice stood up, smiling and slowly backed away toward the door.
"Sure," she said, cheerfully, "Go get him, Sis!"
She stepped out the door and closed it behind her. She quickly walked the short distance to her own room. She entered, closed the door and leaned against it in major SELF-LOATHING, only then letting her tears silently fall to the floor.
However, her moment of despair was short lived.
"FOOL." said an irritating female voice.
Alice's head shot up in anger and saw the rabbit girl sitting on the floor next to a bowl of greens and munching on a carrot. This only angered her further.
"What do you want, Phantom Rabbit?!" Alice barked.
"The name's Nyozeka. And I heard everything," said the rabbit girl, continuing to munch away.
"You shouldn't eavesdrop," Alice groaned as she flopped down on her bed and buried her face in her pillow.
Nyozeka hovered above the bed and said, "This is fate, don't you see?" Alice was quickly becoming angry, but Nyozeka ignored this and continued, "You've been given a second chance!"
"But," said Alice, still muffled by the pillow, "I hate to see Sis looking so sad…" She turned her face slightly to the right and said in a sad tone, "She's always so outgoing and confident. Everyone looks up to her…" She choked back a sob of guilt and said, "But when I see her looking so anxious…"
She reached back behind her pillow and pulled her picture of Kyō out from under it. Her thoughts became those of guilt. She held the small photo against her pillow and stared at it in sadness.
I feel guilty because I'm glad Kyō put her on hold. I feel even worse than before… But if… If Sis gets rejected, do I have a chance? I wish I knew what he feels right now.
Nyozeka was becoming fed up with Alice's whoa-is-me attitude. She opened the patio door and said, "Okay, Alice. I'm going to go see Kyō."
"Okay…bye…" was Alice's reply. She continued to stare at her Kyō-photo in a somewhat daze.
Nyozeka glanced back in slight annoyance and said, "You know, for courage to count, you have to take action," and then turned to leave.
For some reason this got Alice's attention. She shot up with ridiculously wide eyes and screeched. "You're going WHERE?!"
Bunny Girl flew out the open doorway and said, "You've already got 'Rangu' but you won't use it."
"Wait," shouted Alice, but Nyozeka was already out of sight. "WAIT!" she screamed again.
She threw on her shoes and quickly ran out of the house ignoring the "Where are you goings?" from her mom as she rushed down the stairs and out the door. In a matter of minutes she was running down the city sidewalks.
What is she up to, she thought worriedly.
A goofy looking man wobbled out of a bar and said, "Hey, babe, wanna sing some karaoke?
She gave him her angry chicken face screaming, "BACK OFF!"
Heaving, she leaned up against the wall of a nearby building as the sudden surge of what she had thought was courage, quickly disappeared, leaving her feel, once again, depressed and hopeless.
She's gone, she thought, wiping the tears forming in her eyes, What should I do? I don't know my way around this part of town.
She dropped down into a crouching position and covered her eyes with the back of her hand as she fought back the threatening tears.
What am I doing? she thought, irritated with herself. This is foolish.
"I'll forget that rabbit and go home," she said quietly to herself. Though, she didn't really want to… So, she tried to think of reasons for why she should.
Well, Alice, she thought, there's the fact that you don't know where Kyō lives. And even if you did see him, it's not like you could tell him how you feel.
Then she started thinking of how especially nice he's been being to her. How he's been helping her with finding the rabbit – "I'll find that rabbit for you. So cheer up." – even though he knows Mayura is allergic. How he risked his life to save her from being run down by that crazy driver…and then didn't want Mayura to know about it, as though he wanted it to be their personal little secret.
Well, Nyozeka did say that for courage to count, I'd have to take action, she thought looking at her bracelet. Should I really give up and do nothing? Should I forget about Kyō?
She brought her wrist to her forehead as though trying to draw courage from the bracelet once more.
NO! I've got to see him… Just one more time!
The red jewel on the bracelet began to glow. She saw Kyō's face in her mind's eye. She quickly stood up, finalizing her decision.
I'll go… …right up to him…
Rangu, the symbol for courage, appeared and shined brightly in her bracelet's jewel. Suddenly a pathway, directing her where to go, opened up in her mind's eye.
I see the way! she thought excitedly, her eyes widening. And then, without warning, her legs rushed her forward in the direction she had seen in her mind. My feet are moving on their own, she thought slightly amazed. But I've never been in this area before.
A few more turns and blocks later, she slammed into someone's back. She gasped and rubbed her nose.
"Sorry," she said, bowing in apology.
But as the person turned around, she gasped again and then blushed from the embarrassment of feeling so happy.
"Kyō…!"
"Alice…?"
Oh my God! she screeched in her mind, It's really him! I really found him!
Kyō smiled at her and said politely, "What are you doing here at this hour?"
"I-uh…" Alice said, still blushing.
Kyō smiled warmly, "Well, your timing is perfect, whatever your reason." His smile brightened with excitement. "See, I found that rabbit you were looking for!"
She tried to hide her slight annoyance with the rabbit as she involuntarily shrieked.
"AHHH! That darn ghost rabbit!"
Instantly recovering her composure, she smiled nervously as Kyō carefully placed the sneaky rabbit in her arms, "Oh, uh... ...tha-thank you very much!"
She was so touched by this unexpected kind gesture she felt herself teetering on the verge of tears.
To self: Wow! He was still looking for it...
Kyō chuckled, gazing at her with kind eyes, "I'm glad I could find it for you. Imagine it being right here in my neighborhood!" Then he said something that caused her heart to flutter, "Well since you're here, why don't you come in for a minute."
Huh, Alice blinked, noticing they were standing outside some kind of cafe that sold cakes and other sweets.
Kyō casually walked through the front door as Alice nervously followed. "I'm home," he called out.
"Welcome back, Kyō," said a gentle looking woman. The man next to her turned toward them and said, "You're late," teasingly to Kyō.
Alice's heart began to race and she could feel her cheeks stupidly heat up.
Kyō set his archery equipment against the main table, "Alice, this way."
Alice, still holding the rabbit, joined him at the table and took her seat next to Kyō.
The kind woman then placed two cups of tea and a delicious looking slice of cake on the table before her, "Have some cake."
Alice felt flustered, "Oh...but I have no money..."
The young woman placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry... You're our guest!" She then smiled at Kyō before turning back to Alice, "Kyō baked that cake himself!"
Needless too say, Alice found this to be very impressive, "WHAT?!"
Unfortunately, Kyō had been taking a sip of his tea just as his Aunt had said this bit of embarrassing news. So, mid sip his tea sprayed across the table.
He wiped his face and turned on his Aunt, "Did you have to tell her that?" A sweatdrop slid down the side of his face.
His Aunt sighed and crossed her arms, "I know it embarrasses you, but baking is a fine and manly hobby!"
"But, I don't want it to get around that I spend my time doing this..." Kyō grumbled.
Alice giggled and then put a chunk of the cake in her mouth. There was a sudden explosion of flavor in her mouth; she couldn't believe how good it was, "It's delicious!"
Now he was really embarrassed. Kyō couldn't believe someone was complementing a cake he made, "...y-you think so?"
Alice nodded, taking another bite, "Aha! That's why you always smell so sweet!"
Kyō just about jumped out of his skin. He closed his eyes, still blushing, "Darn," and ran his fingers through his hair, "I shower every morning... But, you can still tell?"
Alice smiled, taking another bite, enjoying every second in his presence.
This is the first time I've seen him like this...all flustered and embarrassed...
"Um...Alice was it...?"
It took her a moment to realize she was being spoken to.
Kyō's Aunt smiled and then bluntly asked, "Has he kissed you yet?!"
You would think there had been an explosion from the way they both reacted to that simple question... Forks and tea flying... Kyō falling off his chair.
Alice put both her hands up, blushing profusely, "NO, I'm uh..."
Kyō lifted himself off the floor and sat back down, "She's just a friend... Why is she always embarrassing me..."
Never had Alice ever felt such deep sadness...she felt as though her heart might actually break in two. "...just a friend..."
Nyozeka glanced up at her wishing she could encourage her, Tell him, Alice!
In the background, Kyō and his Aunt were still squabbling.
"Oh, is that so. Then you aren't doing the nasty?"
"What?! Of course not! Will you please leave?"
Kyō's Aunt left humming to herself.
He turned back to Alice, still a bit annoyed, "I'm sorry..."
But Alice was looking down at her hands, "What...if..." her heart was racing, "If I were Sis...would you have said, 'She's my girl'?"
Kyō's eyes widened, not having expected such a bold question.
Alice's heart raced faster, There, I said it!
There was a dense silence before Kyō finally spoke, "Alice... Maybe...It might turn out that way."
Her heart panged as the realization that she truly missed her chance blew the door to reality wide open. She clenched trembling hands into Nyozeka's fir.
The ticking of the clock seemed far to loud.
"To tell you the truth..." Kyō rested his chin on his uninjured hand, "I really haven't decided yet. It's just hard to get used to the idea. The transition from friends to something more is difficult..."
Alice wanted to leave but she didn't want to let go of the peaceful joy she had felt just moments before. "Does it bother you because you love my sister?"
Nyozeka mentally cheered her on, Go Alice Go!
Kyō sighed and smiled sweetly, "You really get to the point, don't you, Alice?"
"It's just because...I care."
The white rabbit squeaked proudly, Good!
If Alice had been watching him she would have seen the sudden change in Kyō's expression and probably would have chosen her next words more carefully. "I mean...I care about my sister! After all, it took a lot of courage for her to tell you how she feels about you..."
Nyozeka sighed inwardly.
Alice started to sweat from the inner struggle over crying or not crying. She was at her wits end and before she could stop herself she found herself shouting, "Hurry and make up your mind!"
FOOL! thought Alice and the rabbit in unison.
Another dense silence enveloped them making the clocks tic-tocks much too loud. And just when she thought she might burst into tears...the jingle of her cell phone tore through the quiet, causing her heart to leap into her throat. Alice glanced at the screen and suddenly felt sick, "Oh no, it's Sis," she whispered frantically.
Her sister's voice pounded through the small phone speaker, "Alice, it's late! Where are you?! Everyone's worried about you!"
"Um...well..."
Kyō reached out to her, "Can I have a word with her?"
As she handed over the phone she could still hear Mayura's irritated voice, "Alice, are you listening to me?!"
"Hello? Mayura? It's me, Kyō."
Mayura gasped, totally not expecting this, "Kyō?" She didn't know why she suddenly felt jealous, she knew there was no way Alice would ever try to sabotage her chance with him, but, "Why...are you with Alice?"
"Well... Mayura, I told you I'd give you my answer tomorrow... But I've just made up my mind." He paused so long that you could practically hear the thudding of both Alice's and Mayura's hearts and then, "I will go out with you."
Alice felt as though her heart had stopped and Nyozeka laid her head down in shame.
Kyō snapped the phone shut and handed it back to Alice, oblivious to what had really transpired, "Thanks Alice... You helped me make up my mind." He cocked his head to one side and smiled, "The only way to know if it's right is if you try it."
Alice's lips quirked into a nervous smile of her own, What have I done?!
To self: NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nyozeka felt awful about the whole thing, but seeing as she was pretending to be a "real" rabbit she couldn't comfort her. Oh Alice... You did use courage, but it's important how you use it. I've got a lot of work to do if she's to master the Lotis Words.
XxXxXxXxX
Back at the Seno House...
Mayura was giddy and no longer worried about anything, "He said "Yes!" Yahoo!" She plopped down onto Alice's bed, "Oh, Kyō, you had me worried for nothing," she rested her phone-free hand near the pillow and felt something sticking out from beneath it, "But still, I wonder why Alice was with him..." she glanced at the pillow and saw that it was a photo, I wonder who it's of?
She carefully pulled it out from under the pillow and turned it over. A prickly sensation suddenly erupted all over her skin. It was a photo of Kyō...but...why would she have this...and why would she feel she had to keep it hidden?
"Alice...?!"
a/n: Well I hope that was enjoyable...