Dedicated to Tailsdoll123.

I do not own Heart no Kuni no Alice.

Alex belongs to Tailsdoll123.

XXX

What the heck is up with that hat? It's a black top hat lavished with roses, playing cards, and raven feathers… Quite peculiar for my tastes…

"… Pardon me, Young Lady… but…"

I shifted in my seat, my eyes not leaving his emerald orbs, ignoring the violet orbs that focused on me from Elliot.

"You've been staring at me for a while now…"

Why am I having this sudden urge to burn his hat? Burn, burn, BURN! I can't stand it… I want to kick his gentlemanly ass!

I looked up at Blood and smirked. "Yeah, I have. It's your hat. It pisses me off! What are you, a magician?" Blood looked at me blankly, as though he was offended.

"A magician?"

Burn.

I leaned back into my seat and looked at him casually. "So, what's a gentleman like you doing in a third-rate restaurant like this? I sincerely doubt you came in here to have a late lunch or anything—" I almost jumped in my seat when Elliot got up and exited the restaurant quickly, his long legs carrying him, and re-entered the room with two unconscious faceless people.

They looked…familiar…With their white suits decorated in spades, diamonds, hearts, and clovers…

Blood noticed the look in my eyes and smirked. "Look familiar to you?" I nodded before snapping my fingers in realization.

"Oh, I remember those two! I beat them to a bloody pulp not too long ago!" Blood looked at me in surprise before saying, "You admit it so quickly…"

Dammit, did I get flamed for being honest? That is going to be the end of me… "Yeah, I did. So what? They pissed me off and I kicked their asses! Who are you? Their boss?"

"Why, yes, I am."

"Who the fuck are you, the freakin' head of a Mafia?!"

"I think the Faceless in the baby blue suit informed you of that, Young Lady."

I took this chance to slam my face into the table, shocking everyone in the room. "Why ~BAM!~ Am ~BAM!~ I ~BAM!~ Always ~BAM!~ Forgetting?! ~BAMBAMBAM~!"

No need to worry. I don't feel the pain. I'm used to it. Burn.

Quickly, I assumed the position for an arm wrestling match and grinned at Blood, shocking everyone in the restaurant. Again. "You wanna challenge me, right? Alright, pretty boy, I'll take you down! What do you have to put up at stake?"

Blood looked at me, his poker face, before smirking, assuming the position as well. "I do not think I have anything on me that would catch your eyes—"

"Burn your hat."

"…pardon?"

"Let me burn your hat, if I win of course."

"…pardon?"

I smirked. "Alright, now that that's done, what do you want from me?" Blood, not liking the idea of having his precious hat burned, glowered at me, "You'll join the Hatter Family."

"….what?"

"Meaning, you'll serve as a personal servant to me, as well as Elliot. Replacing those to goons you have attacked until they up and healed."

"….what?!"

It was now Blood's turn to smirk. "Now that we've reached an agreement in the wagering, let us begin this challenge." He rolled down his sleeve and pulled off his white glove before we clutched hands, resting our elbows on the table. I was seething in anger, Blood was glaring, and Elliot had ordered a carrot cake, watching us while nibbling on the piece he had on the silver fork.

"Ready…set…go!"

I tightened my grip on his hand and was about to quickly slam his fist onto the table, earning the win, when all of a sudden, his foot kicked me in the shin. Hard.

"OW!" I cried out, loosening my grip, and immediately he had slammed my fist onto the table. The cheating bastard… He won! I didn't like that at all. "You cheating buffoon! You cheated!"

Blood smirked. "Whatever do you mean? I have won fair and square. You, on the other hand, lost. That meaning, you are to serve me until the two of my men heal from the devastating wounds you had inflicted upon them." I stood up from my chair violently, glaring at him.

"I did not lose! You cheated! The bet is off!"

Blood got up from his seat violently as well, glaring at me. I didn't shake in my boots, instead, I glared back. Men think they can intimidate women sooo easily. Suck on that, bitch! "I won. You lost. Do not make me repeat myself."

I glared once more before glancing to the left and to the right. Exact carbon copies of Blood's goons quickly piled into the restaurant, the bystanders and customers trying to eat here had run off not wanting to stick around the Mafia's business. Why am I always in trouble…? I'm always fighting her fights and looking after her…

Not that I'm complaining.

Blood furrowed his brow. "Are you planning to escape? Naughty girl… As you can see," he gestured at his goons blocking every possible exit, "you have nowhere to run. Admit yourself, Miss Claire, you've lost—

"HIT THE FLOOR!" I shouted, flipping the table over, startling Blood and Elliot-as well as everyone else-and crouched to the floor, grabbing Batters. Abandoning the bag full of the wagers I had collected, I stood up quickly and raised Batters up. I ran straight into the crowd.

I knew what they were thinking. All the faceless people, Blood, and Elliot. I knew what they thought of me. They thought I was weak. Very weak. But they should have realized that I wasn't like other girls. I'm strong. I made sure I was.

And I was a terror. Changing, always.

Like the moon.

I threw a fist, hitting a faceless man straight into the face before grabbing him and pushing him forward, causing the people behind him to fall down in a domino-like effect. Everyone is shocked at my strength. I am enthralled. I love it when people are shocked at my abilities.

Sending a high kick at the faceless man who blocked the entrance door, I darted through, ignoring the shouts and protests from the faceless goons and their leader, Blood Dupre.

No faceless woman was harmed during my escape. Burn.

As I run through the crowds that had gathered on the street, I grunted at the frilliness of my stupid costume. God, when I find Maddie I am going to—

I slipped into an alley, jumping over the trash cans and random piles of cardboard boxes. Then, I stood in front of a dead-end. Bull.

"F-Finally, you stopped running…"

I turned around and faced Elliot, the rabbit bastard who practically worshipped the ground Blood walked upon. Even though I barely know the guy, I'm pretty sure I'm right.

And I'm never right. According to Alex and Matt. And sometimes Maddie…

I placed a hand on my hip and leaned onto my left foot, narrowing my silver eyes at him. "What do you want, rabbit?" I think I struck a nerve.

Elliot glared and huffed. "I am not a rabbit! I'm a dog! Blood's work dog!" I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Whatever."

"I swear I'm not a rabbit!"

"I said, whatever."

"Please believe me, Claire!"

"I said… WHATEVER!"

Elliot backed off before pulling out a golden pistol and pointing it at me. "Look, girl, I don't want to use unnecessary force, but you lost the bet—"

"I SO DID NOT LOSE THE BET! BLOOD CHEATED!"

"I-I wouldn't say cheated or anything, but—"

"AH-HA! SO YOU ADMIT THAT YOU SAW YOUR BOSS CHEAT! HEAR THAT BLOOD? BURN!"

Elliot ran a hand through his wavy orange locks before clicking the pistol, glaring at me. Though, on his face held a light blush and his violet eyes almost looked as though he didn't want to shoot me. "Listen, you need to accept the fact that you belong to the Hatter's now…wait, what are you doing?"

I had pulled off the cloak and tossed it to the ground and fingered the skirt of my dress, the petticoats underneath fluttering lightly in the soft wind. "What does it look like, stripping? Men, pfft."

"That's indecent! Stop undressing yourself!"

"Look away then."

"~~!"

I had raised my skirt up to my thighs, smirking at the flustered rabbit, er…dog man. "You shouldn't be too embarrassed. I'm a guy, too!" Elliot blinked before tilting his head.

"A guy…so, you're a cross dresser?"

Boy, this guy will believe anything, huh?

I shrugged. "I fight like a man, so I'm…a tomboy?" I sighed before swiftly pulling off my hip purse and pulled off my dress. Elliot's face burned a thousand shade of crimson, yet he didn't look away. Then…he realized I was wearing a shirt and shorts underneath. "Ha! You thought I was going to be naked in front of you, huh? Men! They're all the same!"

Elliot shook his head. "No, no! I wasn't thinking that! I swear!" I then tossed the dress onto the ground and put the hip purse back on around my slim waist. "A-Arrgh! I'm not a pervert! Look, just come over and give up! I'm sure Blood won't give you a major punishment if you come quietly."

I frowned and smirked. "Hm? Come quietly? To a cheater? You've got to be kidding…" Elliot frowned, almost crestfallen for some reason. "But…" He looked up, his ears perking and twitching up in the air. I grinned maliciously, resting my bat onto my shoulder and held up a fist. "If you can defeat me in a fist fight, I'll come quietly and dismiss your cheating boss. But if I were to win…you guys leave me alone, for good!"

I set Batters against the brick wall and held up my small fists, hopping and shuffling in place like a professional boxer. Elliot put away his pistol, yet didn't raise his fists. "I…I can't fight you…"

I blinked before scowling. "What?"

"I refuse to fight you."

"…why?"

"A man must never hit a woman."

"…" Elliot looked up and his eyes widened in shock as he saw me running towards him at lightning speed, throwing a heavy fist as if it were a club. He barely dodged my fist and I clicked my tongue before twisting around and throwing a high jump kick. He dodged it again and I felt anger boil up in my heart.

A man must never hit a woman. A man must never hit a woman. A man must never hit a woman.

What bull!

"A man must never hit a woman, you say? How ridiculous!" I seethed as I pushed his shoulder with the palm of my hand before jabbing him swiftly into his stomach, causing him to fall back. I forget what martial art that was. Whatever. Elliot fell back and hit the ground.

Stomping my booted feet right next to his head, I towered over him, glaring. "Your morals are admirable. Not. I hate men who treats woman like they're fragile statues. What are we to be? Trophy wives? I'll never understand why you men are always to be better than us woman!" I then clenched a fist. "What makes a man better than me?"

I was about to stomp his face until he had to open his damn mouth. "You say that with so much pain. Has someone hurt you? You hide your feelings with your fist…"

I growled before pulling my leg back, though I had no choice but to fall on my bottom, next to Elliot. I was tired of fighting and running. Plus, I'm in the mood for pudding. God, why am I so lazy to fight back? "You don't understand anything, you loony rabbit."

"I want to."

"And why is that?"

Elliot stood up, glancing at me with a smile. "I just do." He then gave me a sweet smile. "That's more than enough of a reason, right?"

"Tch. I think that's more of a ridiculous reason!"

"Besides, you'll love it at the Hatter Mansion. Blood's a great guy! He's my hero!"

I crossed my legs, looking away, with my chin propped into my hand. "Uh-huh…"

What's with this guy? We barely even met and he already acts like we're friends. He has a temper, that's for sure, but he's…sweet. Totally different than most of the boys I know.

When I mean boys, I mean Matt. Burn like a mothah-fuckah!

"Well, well, job well done, Elliot," A voice cut in, slicing me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see the cheating bastard. "My, my. You've done quite a lot to my men, Young Lady. I'll have to add to your debt, now won't I?"

"I hate you so much right now, Elliot."

"It won't be so bad."

"Shut. Up."

I watched Elliot get up and offered me a hand. I simply got up, rejecting his offer. Elliot sighed, his ears twitching. "You're so distant."

"Am not."

Blood quickly broke in and grabbed my hand, much to my disgust, and pulled me forward. "Now, Young Lady, I'd like to ask you… Where did you learn to fight like that? I have not seen such a style of fighting. Especially not from fragile young girls such as you."

The first thing that came out of my mouth was the smartest thing that will probably be from me in a long time. I dunno, I do terrible at school. I said, "Lolicon."

~Twitch~

"I know how to fight. I taught myself. End of story." I grabbed Batters from the wall. "Now, if I am to…serve you, I want to hurry up and get straight to work. It won't do me any good if I am stuck working instead of searching for her…"

Blood had the look of curiosity in his eyes. "You intrigue me…" He then turned away from me sharply and walked away in long strides, confidence in each step. Elliot followed, and soon, I did too.

We stepped onto the street again and a faceless woman ran up to Blood, they exchanged words, and she headed into the alley we had just stepped out of. My guess is that she was told to collect my clothes.

"You wear strange clothing, Miss Claire—"

"Claire's just fine."

"—are you not from around here."

I stopped and looked around.

"This is definitely not England." Blood and Elliot deadpanned at me.

"What…is England?"

…

…

"This is definitely not England!"

XXX

Month XX Year OO

Dear Yue,

Today, A lot of crazy things happened. I got into trouble yet again and had to take down a group of men in a game of arm wrestling. They wagered and I won. Then, the leader of the Mafia challenged me and cheated! After trying to run away, I'm now serving him as a right hand butler. I told him not to refer to me as a maid. Those are for girls! My duties…pfft, duties…consists only of tending to Blood, our boss, by serving him tea and following him everywhere. Other than that, I have to help out Elliot, the second in command of the Mafia. He's alright, though I already hate him. Oh, hang on, I'm being called out again, I'll write later. -Claire Triton

I closed the tiny diary and shoved it back into the hip purse before looking at the two twins who looked up at me innocently. I was sitting in front of a large gate and fence barricading large magnificent mansion, on the grass with the Bloody Twins. I was waiting for Blood and Elliot to come out. The forestry around us is making me paranoid…

No. NO. Do not look at me like you didn't do anything wrong.

They wore matching guard uniforms, though one in pink and one in blue, and they both had short black hair and big eyes, again, in red and blue. They carried large axes and big grins.

"Big sis! Big sis! We have another big sis!" They said. They said they were Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. They reminded me of my little brother, Darien, but I knew I'd like them much better than him. They quickly hugged my arms and clung to me, grinning. I sighed and watched as Elliot came into the picture and peeled them off of me. "Hey, you little shits! Leave Claire alone! She's my partner!"

Dee and Dum stuck their tongues at him, frowning. "We want to hang out with big sis!" Dee grumbled. Dum nodded, "Yeah, you and Boss always get Alex-onee-san to yourselves! Why can't we have Claire-big sis?"

My eyes widened and I quickly grabbed ahold of Dum, my eyes sparkling, "Dum, did you say Alex?"

Dum nodded, smiling. "Yeah, and she's cool!" I nodded, already thinking of her.

"Does she have dirty blonde hair?"

"Yup!"

"Pretty turquoise eyes?"

"Yeah!"

"Did she acted insane and stuff?"

"Yes!"

I let him go after giving him a quick hug and turned away from them sharply. "I have to find Alex—!" A hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back, causing me to fall back and hit the ground. "OW!"

Blood was the culprit and he did not look happy. He simply crossed his arms and looked down at me. "Were you just about to run off?"

I gulped and smiled sheepishly. "Uhh…heh-heh…no? I mean, yes. I, uh, just wanted to, uh…run off?"

Why am I so honest, dammit? Burn!

"…we're going into town to pick up a new brand of tea. I expect you to give me a decent cup of Earl Grey when we return to the manor. I expect your full effort. Nothing less or I will be forced to punish you. I'll take away your wooden bat."

Bull.

XX (To be Continued) XX