Hi guys! Sorry for the late update! I'll be busy with work and the only free time I have is weekdays, plus I tried working on Gray Ringmarc's The Guardian Heart :P

Well, this is gonna be a longer chapter just for you guys! If you hate long stories... well... just bear with me ok :D Again thanks for tuning in to this story and reviewing it! It really helped! :)

Disclaimer:

Inky: I....donotownanythingHnKnAexceptmystories! *pant pant*

Ace: O.o That was fast! Aw... I wanted to do it again!

Inky: Like I'd let you after what happened the last time! -_-*

Ace: What happened last time? O.o Oh you mean this? :D *Moves in closer again*

Inky: What the-! Get away from me Ace! *Starts runnning for dear life* Someone pls start the chapter now! XP

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Chapter 4: Searching Always Seems Like Forever

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It's really like magic…Alice thought as she leaned her head on her folded arms on the desk as she watched the Clock Master at work. She smiled drowsily; entranced by the way Julius's nimble hands move over the clock he's repairing.

I really want to watch some more… but…Her lids feel heavy as she forces them open even as her vision begin to blur and close in.

Her head drooping slightly caught Julius's attention as he spared a few moments away from his task to glance to the girl beside him. A small smile formed as he sighed before continuing from where he left off.

"Go to bed Alice, it's already very late. Staying up is bad for your health." He tried to say in his harshest voice as he raised the clock in his hand towards the light to get a better view.

"But you do it all the time…" Alice replied, mumbling into her arms.

"My body is accustomed to it. You're not, so don't force yourself." The raven-haired reasoned without looking up as he began to delicately fix the hairspring of the clockwork. "And don't girls normally need their beauty sleep?" he inquired.

"Like Julius would know what girls really need." She said, giggling a little as she raised her head to see him frowning and muttering something about how women are so troublesome.

"Fine, fine, I'll go but try to get some early rest yourself okay." She gave in and chided him teasingly as she rose and walked to the door, knowing full well he'll be working through the night.

"Oh, I've been meaning to ask Alice, did you happen to meet Ace these few days? I was expecting him but he's taking longer than usual." Julius turned around in his chair while taking a sip with his cup of steaming coffee Alice had just made.

"Actually I did meet him… five days ago…" Her brows pulled in worry and exasperation. How can someone get so lost on a straight route? "I thought he'd have reached here already."

"Then I'm sure he'll be here soon. Don't think about it too much and go to sleep." Julius tried his 'best' to comfort the distraught looking Alice.

"…Okay… Goodnight Julius..."

"Goodnight." He bid her as he resumed his work curtly while she headed to her room, her thoughts already lost with the lost knight.

Did something happen to Ace? I knew I should have guided him back that time… Alice reprimanded herself, emotions weighing her heart down hard. Sitting on her bed, she clutched a pillow tightly to her chest. Alice couldn't understand why she was so bothered by it when Ace virtually gets lost on a daily basis.

But five days is too long…And the thought of him alone in the dark and not knowing where to go made it hard for her to breath. She walked to the window for some fresh air and looked out into the vast green forest that surrounded the Clock Tower, worry eating at her conscience.

"…Ace…Where are you?"

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"Huh? Where am I?"

Ace pondered as he looked at the trees that surrounded him. Night had just fallen for the fifth time and he was… well... nowhere, as usual. Hmmm, I was sure the short-cut would work; did I take a wrong turn? he thought, scratching the back of his head. In fact, in his calculations, the Clock Tower should be right in front of him but all he could see was the dense expense of vegetation.

"Ah… well, guess it's time to set up the camp again!" He smiled enthusiastically as he pulls out his camping equipment from… nowhere. He hummed to himself merrily while he assembled the tent, listening to the loud drowning music of the crickets' song, the light cackling of the campfire he had built and the soft howling of the wind as it passes through the forest.

Camping really is the best! Ace thought to himself happily as he sat down on a fallen log while pouring himself a cup of hot tea from his flask. The outdoors was his passion, his tent his favorite possession, besides his sword, since it was more of a home to him then living in the castle will ever be. That cold and red place always reminded him of his loss of freedom, and camping out was his other excuse of escaping the rigid and perfect control his life had over him.

The night always seem peaceful to Ace, allowing the serene darkness to embrace and overwhelm him and lulling his mind away from the actuality of his life. It was just the night, the fire, the outdoors and him. But he couldn't help thinking…

It would be nice if Alice was here…he contemplated, staring into the dancing flames and losing himself in it. He has never felt alone before since he always enjoyed his travels. Yet now, deep down, he yearned for…something else…

He has been wandering in the forest for five turnings and though he doesn't mind, he couldn't comprehend why he just could not reach the Tower when it usually took him around three days.

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If only Alice was here to guide me back…

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Surprised, he was abruptly snapped back to reality when he realized the words he had just admitted. What am I saying? Ace thought and lets out a low and dark laugh sadly as he covered his face with his hands. It's almost as if I need her…

Suddenly, he detected noises on his right and his body stilled with alertness. Training his ears on the crunching of gravel and the rustling of the low bushes, Ace determined only one person approaching his campsite, but there may be more laying in ambush. After all, no one in their right mind would attack him alone.

A night visitor? How nice... It would've been better if it was Alice but I don't mind having some company now… He grinned in eagerness as he kicked sand into the fire, dousing the light and plunging the area into darkness. Ace sprinted silently to the side of his tent and waited in the shadows, his fingers already itching to feel warm blood.

Adjusting his eyesight, he could barely make out the appearing figure since the canopy was quite dense for moonlight to reach the ground. The enemy moved warily and hesitantly around the site, as if in search for him. Ace readied himself as he laid low, making sure he was completely immerse in the dark.

The intruder then entered the shady tent cautiously, looking around at the seemingly empty place when suddenly Ace appeared from behind, towering over the shorter man. Rough hands immediately covered the mouth to prevent the intruder from alerting any others, and in a flash the knight drew out his longsword, pressing the blade close to the jugular vein… before realising the guy he was handling was actually a girl. One with a small figure, long straight tresses and a bow on her head...

"MMHPMM!" His victim's high pitched voice muffled against his hand, while weak and lean arms struggled to remove his hold.

"Alice?"

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"Ouch! Not so hard Ace!" Alice winced as she felt the stinging pain shoot through her, making her feel light headed as she squirmed against his touch.

"Ah, Sorry! I'm trying, but its Alice's fault for stalking me like that in the middle of the night!" Smiling playfully, Ace gently dabbed antiseptic onto the cut on her neck he had accidentally made. "I didn't know Alice was capable of such ulterior motives too!"

"For the last time, I did NOT stalk you!" she defended fiercely while trying to inch away from the wet cotton that was torturing her, but Ace's other arm held her firmly in place at her waist.

"Hahaha! Alice is such a pervert!" he laughed, obviously not listening to her as he reached for his emergency medical gauze. He hardly uses it but feels thankful that he still had it with him now.

"Argh! Don't make me sound like I'm you!" she gripped her skirt as she rode through the pain while leaning back against the log for support. Ace had started the fire again and they were both sitting on the cooler forest floor.

"Of course not." Ace suddenly said seriously as he concentrated on wrapping the bandage around her neck. "My bad, Alice should be an even BIGGER pervert than me right! Hahaha!"

"Urgh! I seriously don't want to hear that coming from you." Alice gave up arguing and chose to glare at the knight who was now chuckling at her expense. "If I'd known you'd be like this I shouldn't have come at all!"

This stopped his laughter as he finally secured the gauze and turned to look at her inquisitively. "That reminds me, what is Alice doing here? And how did you manage to find me?"

"I was looking out from my window when I saw smoke rising from the forest, so I figured it was you." She told him while gingerly touching the wound. How ironic, so he does know how to tend to himself...

"So you came out to look for me?" Ace's ruby eyes widened as he leaned closer to her even more. "Why? And why didn't you bring a lamp with you?"

"I did! But Julius's one died out halfway and I didn't bring any spare matches with me so I followed the trail of smoke from your camp instead." She explained and sighed. "I thought the distance was short enough to bring you back to the Tower at least. I'm… sorry I didn't lead you back the last time. If I did you wouldn't need to be lost for so long…" Alice said, her voice tinged with regret that Ace found unsettling yet heart warming.

No one really cared about him before till the foreigner came, and though the feelings he's experiencing now are strange to him, he's beginning to enjoy it, despite not knowing the reaons.

"It's alright Alice; no trip is too long or short for me! A couple more days won't hurt." Ace smiled genuinely for the first time in five days as he messed up her hair affectionately.

Alice pouted and readjusted her ribbon before returning the smile. "You're really too youthful even for me and I'm younger than you!" Darn it, now he's practically making me feel like an old maid… she thought dryly.

Though he may well be the most dangerous man in Wonderland and she was never quite comfortable with him, the Ace before her with his quirks and all made her feel happy. He was the first one that made her truly feel welcomed in this world. Or maybe that was because I thought he was more 'normal' then the others at first… she grimaced as she contradicted herself, scratching at her cheek.

"Ace, you really do love camping a lot don't you?" She asked, tilting her head to one side as she looked at his happy face, the one that she loved the most.

Ace scooted closer and, much to Alice's surprise, rested his head on her shoulders. A blush rose to her cheeks and she couldn't find the strength to reject him. At least he's not doing anything more, or so she hoped as she reassured herself to relax her shoulders for him as his soft wavy brown hair tickled her nose. He always did smell musky and woodsy… as if he was part of nature himself…she thought, smiling secretly to herself.

I've always wanted to try this. Well…this among many other things anyway…Ace thought, running all the more intimate possibilities in his head. And when Alice didn't object, he grinned even more and snuggled closer.

"Yep!" He agreed. "But…just as I thought, camping doesn't feel the same any more."

"Why?" Alice inquired to know what could possibly disrupt the man's only true pleasure in life.

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"Because it's missing Alice by my side…"

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Ace replied, closing his eyes and smiling as he allowed himself to enjoy this moment. Strange, I never knew just talking to her like this would be as comfortable. It was a sort of intimacy he has never felt before and he savored every second of her presence next to him…

Actually, it was only 5 seconds before a flustered Alice suddenly stood up, nearly causing his head to hit the log behind them.

"W-we have to go! J-julius must be worried and you can r-rest at the Clock Tower for the night!" Alice stammered out hurriedly as she grabbed a nearby oil lamp, glad that Ace wouldn't be able to see how red she was in the dark. Stupid Ace! Why did he have to say something like that! She frowned, wiping at her cheek in an attempt to reduce her face temperature.

Huh, did I say something wrong? He pondered innocently as he stood up along with her. "Alice knows the way back? That's great! So which way should we move?" Ace asked as he packed up his medical kit which littered the ground.

"Of course! It's this way-"she stopped short as she moved to the supposed direction from whence she came. Problem was…

It's too dark too see! Sweat drop began to roll down her forehead as she raised the lamp higher and further but was greeted with darkness so heavy everything was beginning to look the same! Which way was it?

Ace stood dumbfounded as he witness the foreigner panicky moving around the campsite, only to pause at the edge of the clearing before doubling back again. Then it occured to him…

"Alice? Are you by any chance –"

"Don't say it!" Alice cut him off abruptly while searching for the right path out, her face now flushed with embarrassment that she's desperately trying to hide.

"Say what?" Ace asked, having no problem trying to keep from grinning at the situation they're in.

"Whatever you were about to say! Just. Don't. Say. It!" she warned in irritation.

"Ok! I won't say that Alice is actually 'lost' then!"

This time his grin broke out, much to Alice's annoyance as she slapped her own forehead which was becoming a painful habit whenever she's around Ace.

That idiot said it! That 'L' word she didn't want to acknowledge as Alice finally deduced something…

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Ace is contagious.

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Alice is no escape now LOL! Hope you enjoyed it and that it wasn't too long :P Plus I thought no Ace-fic would be complete if he didn't talk about his love for traveling :)

Since the episode has come to the famous camping scenerio, I'm sure by now most of us will know what's gonna happen in the next chapter so I won't divulge any more then that if you get what I mean! XD If not then just be sure to expect more Ace and camping troubles for Alice lol!

Again reviews are always nice so DO let me know of what you think about this chapter and if you'd like it to continue :D Thanks again for reading!