A/N: Well, this took ridiculously long. Some of the descriptions may be a little vague, but we see so little of Gil's house that I don't really know what it looks like D: And thanks, XxBlazingFuryxX, for reviewing!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

"There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will."
-Epictetus

The sensation of cold air on bare skin jolted Oz from his dreams. Still half asleep, he sat up in confusion, not quite sure what was going on. But when he caught sight of his blanket on the floor, he realized the reason for his rude awakening. Turning so that his feet rested on the floor, Oz pulled his arms above his head in a languid stretch. Blinking to clear the sleep from his eyes, he twisted to check the clock hanging from the wall. 6:45. There was still about a half hour before they would need to leave.

"Oz? You're up already?" Gil's semi-surprised voice drew his attention to the doorway across the room. He had come with the purpose of waking his master up, but apparently that wasn't necessary. Approaching the drowsy boy with clean clothes hanging off his arm, he tried to quell the worry that insisted on making itself known.

"Huh?," Oz accepted the clothes that were handed to him, "Oh, yeah...My blanket fell off, and it was cold..." He trailed off with a shrug and a wide grin, pulling on his usual green shorts before his legs froze. Pulling off his night shirt, he slipped the white dress shirt onto his shoulders and started buttoning it before Gilbert intervened.

"Here; let me do it," Oz hesitated, hands still in the act of buttoning until Gil pulled them away gently, taking over the task. "It's my job to do this kind of stuff; you should let me help once in a while." His words held a double meaning, although he hadn't consciously planned it.

By the time Oz's tie had been fastened securely around his neck, Alice had stumbled into the room, demanding food (meat). Gilbert 'politely' informed her that she had eaten/destroyed all the food he'd bought the other day, but Sharon would most likely have food for them. Oz smiled and watched his two friends bicker, although it was giving him a slight headache.

The spat lasted another ten minutes, and only stopped because Oz casually remarked about the time being awfully close to seven twenty. Gilbert overreacted as usual and herded his charges out of the door and onto the street, nearly forgetting his hat. Luckily, Oz had been kidding about the time, and the trio found themselves eating crêpes (or meat, in Alice's case). Checking his newly obtained pocket watch, Gilbert informed them they had about ten minutes before they would have to head outside the city. So, crêpes in hand, Oz led the others through the crowded streets of Lebleux.

Alice and Gil allowed him to walk ahead, although they didn't walk directly next to eachother. There was an uncomfortable tension-filled silence between them, and neither was willing to break it. Oz picked up on the hostility emanating from behind him, and turned to his companions with a too-bright smile.

"Come on, guys! You shouldn't be so moody! I know you don't like eachother, but at least TRY to get along. It gets kinda hard being the mediator all the time..." His face fell somewhat, and he looked a bit confused at his words, "But, just try, 'k?" And with that he swung back around and headed towards the fringe of buildings that marked the end of Lebleux.

"That was weird. What's wrong with him?" Gil turned to Alice, too surprised to remember to glare. But she had a point; Oz had actually asked them to stop arguing, and admitted being bothered by it. Alice asked him another question, "Was he acting weird yesterday too, or is it just today?"

"He was saying some interesting things last night," He confessed; it was better to have an aly in situations like this than deal with it himself, something Oz had trouble with himself. Besides, Oz had asked him to get along with the stupid rabbit, and he would do anything his master asked of him.

They followed the dusty road to where Oz waited, jumping around like the hyper child he usually was. The carriage came exactly on time, give or take a few minutes, and they clambered inside, eager to get to the mansion. The first fraction of the ride was spent in anxious silence, with both contractor and chain pressing their faces against the windows. Gil stared at nothing in particular, trying to come up with a way to ask the blond if anything was wrong. None of his ideas were very good so far.

When the two teens finally felt their exitement die down, the energy in the air seemed to mellow out. Alice fell asleep within minutes, and Oz leaned against her shoulder. Gilbert watched them, something resembling jealousy coiling in his stomach like a snake. His hand twitched towards the ciggarettes in his pocket, but he redirected it to straighten his coat. He turned to look out the window, only to jump up when something bumped his arm.

Oz glared at him from tired eyes, "Geez, Gil! You're so jumpy! I'm trying to sleep," Gil lowered himself back onto the seat, a small smile on his face. His arm went around the younger's shoulders, a gesture of acceptance and comfort.

"I thought you were sitting with her," He asked curiosly, nodding in the sleeping chain's direction. Oz shook his head, mussing his hair against his servant's chest.

"She's too short to lean on, and she kicks me in her sleep," He whined, but his voice held nothing but adoration for the girl. The snake writhed and coiled. Gil's arm tightened slightly around his young master, as if to keep him away from the monster-in-human-form that was draining his life. He had to protect him, make him happy. But how could he do both when the one destroying him brought him happiness? Everything was too confusing.

"Gil, why are you worrying?" He'd forgotten Oz was right next to him, and struggled to come up with an excuse.

"I-I'm not worrying," Was all he managed to stutter out. The half-asleep boy wrinkled his brow in annoyance, easily seeing through the obvious lie. Gil had never been the best at lying. Especially to Oz.

"Giiiiillll, yes you are. Don't lie," The way his name was drawn out in that childish manner brought back memories of other pleas from their days at the Vessalius mansion, "You get this angry look on your face when you worry...about me," The last part was in a guilty whisper.

Gilbert hastened to explain exactly what he was worried about before another incident like the last one happened, "No! Well, yes, I was worrying about you, I guess, but you don't have to sound like it's a bad thing! I was just thinking that maybe I shouldn't let you stay up so late if you get so tired." It was a lame excuse, but not entirely untrue.

On the other seat, Alice opened her eyes a fraction and took in the scene with a half-asleep mind. "Hey...seaweed head...you can't...can't have my manservant..." She lurched to the seat that Oz and Gil occupied, immediately claiming the poor man's other arm. With a half-hearted tug, she fell back asleep.

Oz's quiet giggles reverbrated around the carriage. Sighing in resignation, Gilbert let her have his arm and tried to keep his mind occupied on something other than the two sleeping teenagers clinging to him. Without their loud voices, the rest of the trip went by quickly.

The mansion grounds were quiet and bright, causing the two recently awakened teens to hide their eyes behind their hands at the sudden light. Gil placed his hat on Oz's head as he stepped out of the carriage, effectively silencing any complaints at the brightness before they could form. A maid greeted them and led them through the many hallways to a lovely sun room, where a small table had been covered in an array of snacks and confections. The one who had summoned them was sitting on a chair that was placed out on the balcony that overlooked one of the gardens.

Sharon smiled and rose from her seat, looking at something below the balcony before walking back into the room to join her guests. "I see you made it on time! I was worried I would have had to drag you here myself," Her smile chilled the atmosphere for a second before taking on a lighter feeling.

"I assume you understand from the invitation what you're needed for?" They nodded, "Good. Break is arranging transportation as we speak, and your lodgings have been taken care of. Did you bring any belongings you'll need?" Everyone stared at Gil, who blushed at the sudden attention.

"What? I forgot, okay? I'm sorry!" His tone was on the deffensive side, meaning he had obviously neglected the fact that they might need, say, clothes. Sharon shook her head in disappointment, and with the air of someone who always planned ahead, waved her hand at three good sized luggage bags.

"I knew you would forget, so I took the liberty of buying some clothes for all of you," Alice snickered, and Oz mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like 'predictably useless'. Sharon smiled in that eerily polite way, and waited for them to quiet down.

"Break is waiting in front of the gates, so I think it's best you get down there," Oz and Alice thanked her and rushed out of the room, eager to be on their way. Gil got up slower, feeling uncertain despite the lingering embarassment. Something that had been mentioned in the letter had bothered him.

"Miss Sharon, you, ah, mentioned disappearances in your note. What kind of disappearnces are they exactly?" The morbid gaze she turned on him made him feel nauseous.

"...The disappearances aren't directly linked to the deaths," She said slowly, almost cautiously, "They're more...kidnappings."

A/N: WOOT. I did it! Another chapter! If there're any grammar/spelling/plot problems, don't hesitate to tell me! Seriously.