A/N: Konbanwa! Good Evening from the UK! Luckily for you, my lovely readers, I have been on fire with this story so I have another chapter for you, fresh from my head! The chappy's no especially long BUT it does contain the fighting/violence goodness that I promised. Yes, indeed, there is a fight at Pandora P. Academy for our poor Oz, because I'm just that mean XD. Okay then, enough yappering. As always, this is an UNBETA-ED EDITION, as I still haven't gotten myself an editor for this yet (If you want the job, just PM me and let me know ASAP 'kay? I'll be happy to hear from you!) Gomen in advance for my bad grammer and I hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pandora Hearts, it's characters or yada yada yada. All rights are to the magnificent Jun Mochizuki. My only claim is to this plot and the AU it's based in as well as any OCs that might/might not pop up along the way!

Chapter 4

Oz

The blonde gave a grimace, "Good afternoon…Charlotte."

Oz gritted his teeth. He'd felt that something had been off and he'd known -just known- that it wouldn't be possible for him to have but a single day's happiness, uninterrupted. It was sort of crazy. He'd completely brushed off his paranoia and now it seemed, karma was getting it's own back, in the form of the Baskervilles. Reaching into his pocket for his cellphone, the teen weighted up what he chances were of him being able to call for help. They weren't good, but neither were the odds in front of him. Four against one -he'd never win.

Falling back a step, then perhaps another, the fear clutching his chest could only amplify. All of his nerves were on high alert, sparking and sending jolts up his spine like a live wire. One thought kept playing in his mind.

This is not. This is so not good.

"Look, guys, I don't wanna fight." Oz said in an attempt to quell the agitation and sadistic enthusiasm that burned in his enemy's gazes. All of them gave sarcastic chuckles.

"Really?" Charlotte asked, putting a finger to her lips before dropping it and leaning in. Her eyes were full of hatred, but at the same time, she was excited, the pretty magenta colour shining with anticipation. Her eyes narrowed, intensifying her look to something rather mocking. "Well, that's a shame, because we do."

Oz leapt out of the way just in time as one of Charlotte's followers lunged for him -a pretty girl whom could have been no older than fourteen with short brown hair and blue eyes. She made for first strike, pulling a kick that was so high her underwear was clearly visible. The blond dodged expertly, curving his form around a stone cylinder quickly. However, his opponent was fast and Oz found himself ducking once more as another swipe was given, one after the other, and then again. Damn, she was fast! Oz circled her the best he could, trying to avoid her every attempt by doing what he could but he knew that the chances of him getting away from this were slim -he wasn't like Gil who had one of the best aim's around and knew just all the right spots to him. He wasn't like Alice, with her martial arts skills, capable of taking down the strongest of people. He was just…Oz. he had no special skills, really, except his determination and he was sure as hell going to hold to that, if nothing else.

Avoiding another blow, the blond ducked behind the stone cross, having been drove to the centre already, taking a second to breath and do what he could. His hand whipped inside his messenger bag in a hurry, finger's clasping what he was looking for and drawing it forth. He turned, jumping to his feet in immaculate time.

"Extend!" Oz ordered the object, relieved when he felt it's cool circumference expand, lengthening to the span of a decent five or six foot and becoming warm in his hands. It met the girl's boot with a sharp thwack, narrowly stopping it from plummeting down on his head and knocking him unconscious. For a second, the eyes of his opponent went wide with shock, but they did not stay that way. Instead, the girl turned her features into a dark and deceptive grin, rapidly kicking her other leg up and catching the staff between her boots, twisting mid-movement.

Oz was send rolling, ripped off his feet and thrown onto his back. He hit the ground hard, seeing stars and feeling a little disorientated. It was enough that the girl got the upper hand and ended up atop the blond, her knees on either side of his waist. The youngest Vessalius fought for control, shoving up his weapon in defence -clearly the wrong move. The brunette giggled manically, planting her hands on the staff and pushing with all her might, forcing all her weight onto the metal. Oz's hands were shaking. She was strong, really, really strong and he was getting breathless from trying to hold her back. The staff was at his throat, being pressed down on his windpipe and leaving him gasping for air and he kicked desperately for some form of relief. Mustering all he could, he did the only thing he thought might work and flipped them, trading position with her suddenly. The girl gave a grunt, growling under her breath as the two proceeded to roll in the dirt, fighting the hold of the other. She clawed him and slashed, angry cuts welling on the blonde's pretty face and neck where they caught by her nails in a desperately bid to escape. Oz almost had her -she was going blue from the lack of oxygen in her lungs when he unexpected felt himself be hoisted off, brutally yanked by the scruff of his collar and cradled in a hold of concrete force, crushing his arms and sending shooting pains all the way up.

The blonde cried out in pain, losing his grip and dropping his weapon, listening with sinking in his heart when it clanged to the ground out of his reach.

Echo

Echo watched the scene below play out with a sort of wonder, tilting her head this way and that. Fighting -it was such a pointless thing, especially when the one who was fighting could not fight. She could see the way it had taken it's toll on the boy and had been a little confused. What was the point? Why did he still fight? He couldn't win. He couldn't possible beat his enemy, and yet…

Why?

Echo felt as if she asked that question a lot and it only made her want to ask it all the more, because Echo was a good girl -Echo did as she was told and never asked questions of those who asked her to do things for them. It was a waste of time when she never got an answer that made sense.

Pointless. Everything is always so pointless. People…they always do and say pointless things. Why?

Dark rings had formed under the eyes of Oz Vessalius and his brow was pooling sweat, his chest heaving in and out heavily. Echo shifted in the tree she was sat in, trying to understand what drove the boy. Echo knew only what drove her -Echo did what she did because Vincent-sama told her to. That was what Echo was supposed to do and she would do nothing else, because it was not Vincent-sama's will. It was the only reason.

Drawing a notebook from within her uniform jacket -one that was plain and blank and blue, and an unmarked pen, she noted down what she was witnessing.

3:56pm - Oz Vessalius is attacked by Baskervilles. Echo does nothing.

Echo's eyes travelled up her own baby-blue pages and she noticed that she had put that same last line beside every note. She cocked her head to the side and stared at it precariously. It seemed more like an order to herself than actual fact, though it was just so. She had done nothing while she followed Oz Vessalius. Echo had just watched, like Vincent-sama had told her to, and she had written everything down, just like Vincent-sama had told her to. That last line though…Vincent-sama had not told Echo to write that -yet, she had.

Why? Why did Echo do something so pointless?

In true, Echo did not know, and it made her eyebrows furrow as she slid the journal back into her jacket and rose from her perch. She stood on the edge of a branch, hands interlaced behind her back and poised like a bird. Bending her knees and applying pressure, she pounced, gracefully gliding through the air in a series of figure-righting movements and landing behind huge figure of a male, muscular and broad with hair of a silvery-red. Her feet touched down elegantly without a jolt or a sway, in perfect balance and precision. She didn't know why she had jumped down the moment that the face of Oz Vessalius had changed. Why did it matter if he had his chin up or down, or if his eyes were light or dark? Yet…the moment they had become overcome in defeat, Echo had decided she couldn't watch anymore, because that too would become pointless, should Oz Vessalius become unwatchable. Echo didn't want to do pointless things, so had allowed her body to proceed without due thought, uncallously tossing herself into the point of danger, where the eyes of two others were upon her and they were glaring furiously.

Echo will save this boy just once because he knows Alice, and only once. Alice is not like them, because she doesn't not say pointless things and says what she wants instead. Alice does not do pointless things because she doesn't care. Just for Alice… Echo will ignore Vincent-sama and she will help Oz Vessalius.

Bending elegantly to pick up the staff the blond had dropped, Echo clutched the cool and sturdy weapon in her tiny hands before she plunged it mercilessly into the foot of the burly teen holding Oz, achieving the reaction she had wanted. The boy yelped in pain, dropping his breathless victim instantaneously and rearing his head sharply in her direction, his eyes full or anger. They glowered at her, but Echo didn't care, using the weapon once more without a brief thought.

The metal connected with the silvery-crimson head with a satisfying crack, being twirled and manipulated expertly in said tiny hands. Echo's target went flying, a purpling bruise forming on his flesh as he collapsed, colliding with the ground some feet away, his eyes closed and unreasoning. The rest of the gangly bunch -a pink haired girl, another boy whom had a hood encasing his face and a shorter, more petite female had begun to regroup, the pink-haired one eyeing her fallen comrade hesitantly.

"Doug! Lily!" She barked sharply, her pink eyes darkening to brilliant red.

Oz

Oz was gasping for air, clutching his chest and trying to clear his head. His vision was blurred and the edges were tinged with red and black and deep, deep lilac. Dragging himself to his feet, his thoughts were a muddle. Something had made the big guy holding him release his grip suddenly, so suddenly that he'd made the blond land in a rather agonising way, squealing in shock. His ribs were burning and his arm felt like it would be a huge eggplant-coloured mess by this time tomorrow. Blood still ran down the side of his face and speckled his shirt, dried in some places and just damp in others. Everything hurt. Oz had to get up though -he had to carry on and get through this. Those stupid Baskervilles were crazy if they thought he was just going to sit there and let them drag him away or hurt his friends. He wouldn't allow it. He could never allow, but…were his eyes betraying him, or was there someone here helping him?

The blonde urged his eyes to focus, to see what was there and reveal to him what was going on. He begged himself to shift through the haze and present his saviour to him. When at last it did clear, he could hardly believe what he was seeing. There was someone standing over him, a girl with hair like newly-fallen snow and sporting the Pandora uniform of blue and white, however, this uniform wasn't like the common ones. This uniform was that of a boy's, made up of a jacket and trousers, but it had been significantly modified so the trousers were cute short-shorts instead and the jacket was tailored to hug the girl's figure while the sleeves were left to be long and full. The only part of the uniform that was female were the thigh-high frilled socks and the brown ankle boots Oz had seen so many times on Alice.

Luckily for him, he recognised this altered ensemble, for he had seen it on certain girl that liked to followed Gilbert's stalker of a brother, Vincent. Oz knew this uniform belonged to Break's twin, Echo, and that filled him with sweet relief. She was wielding his staff in her hands with a fierce expertise, but betrayed nothing on her face. Her silvery eyes were completely blank of any emotion.

"Echo-chan." Oz breathed, opening his arms on either side of himself to steady his shaking body. His legs felt like they were going to give out.

Echo tipped her head back. "It's only Echo." She reminded him in a quiet, flat tone. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed his staff into his own hands, earning a yelp of surprise from the blonde when it slipped right through his fingers and clanged to the ground.

Trust me to drop it, He sweat dropped, bending to pick it up. As he did, Oz saw the scene that Echo was currently blocking through her legs, and his eyes widened in shock. One of the Baskerville group was flat out cold on the ground and Charlotte's eyes were blazing, flanked by the brunette that seemed to enjoy kicking Oz, and the other boy that so far hadn't even moved. The blonde's eyes widened, straightening slowly, all the while staring at Echo with a curious shock.

"W-what happened?" He asked.

The white-haired girl had stripped off her jacket whilst Oz had been preoccupied, revealing a white, frilled blouse that had laid underneath, a sky-blue ribbon tied into a bow around her collar. The sleeves were just as long so Oz didn't really understand why she'd taken her jacket off, but once he looked closer, he noticed something -the ends of the sleeves had splits in them, parting the material over her hands to her ashen wrists.

"Echo is a good girl. Echo helped Oz Vessalius for Alice -that is all."

Oz smiled, bowing in thanks. "Thanks Echo-chan, but somehow I think this is all going to get worse. Charlotte really has it in for me today."

Folding her jacket and placing it on the cross statue, Echo said, "Echo will protect Oz Vessalius, if it is for Alice."

Oz didn't get to say anything else because at that moment, the brunette from before chose to attack them once more, charging at full throttle and swinging her leg into a high kick. Echo grabbed Oz swiftly, pulling him back as she skilfully dodged the blow and leaving him reeling. Her elbow ploughed into the ribs of her opponent, the brunette doubling over and clutching her middle.

Bloody hell, Oz swallowed, I had no idea Echo could fight.

Oz didn't have the time to just sit and watch though, because there was another coming at him -the boy that had been contented to watch…until now. He went straight for Oz whilst Echo was preoccupied with the girl, throwing a punch he had to quickly parry with his staff, but this guy was a brute! He was huge and scary with a hood masking his face and he just kept on coming one blow after the next without a breather on any sign of repent. Ducking just in time, the youngest Vessalius found himself back to back with his comrade, panting away, their enemies circling them.

"Damn." Oz cursed, "They've never been this determined before."

Echo's cheeks were flushed and she nodded a gentle bob of her head. They both winced when they heard the girl giggle, picking up a run and heading right for them. Oz felt Echo tense beside him, shifting her weight onto one leg -the other had a cut on it- in preparation.

However, the girl never came, for only a second or so after, a loud cracking sound filled the air and suddenly the brunette was on the floor, face-first in the dirt. It was almost as if she'd simply tripped with the unparallel shock that painted her features. Oz wondered what the hell had happened because the guy that he had been fighting had begun to slowly back up and his eyes were wide too. The dark pupils were round with irritation and a masked fear for something or someone that was clearly past the fallen girl. Oz lifted his lashes a little more through the haze of pain that was thumping in his head. It was then he saw the reason why the Baskervilles had stopped.

Lacie.

The blackette had a whip in her hands made of electrum. It was silver, slashed with gold and shimmered under the afternoon sun beautifully. Her hair was pulled up into two sleek, long ponytails tied with scarlet ribbon, matching her Abyss uniform. She wore a black blouse with a red tie and waistcoat. Her skirt was also credulously short, but admittedly, it was longer than the pink-haired girls and she had sometime like that of a chain clipped to it that had a key dangling from it. She also had on dark stockings and shoes and an even darker expression. Her red eyes were glowing with anger and intolerance. Snapping her weapon once more, it curled around her waist like a belt, hanging loose and glistening.

"Charlotte." She grimaced, her lips folding into a harsh line. "What the hell is going on? Tell me! Now!"

Oz noticed the demeanour of the pinkette instantly change. Her eyes narrowed and her body went stiff, rigid like board. Everything about her just turned sharper and intolerant, showing her obvious displeasure with Lacie.

"Glen's orders." The girl answered curtly.

"You're supposed to be in class." Lacie warned.

"So are you." Charlotte retorted.

Lacie slapped her, the girl's head whipping to the side and her eyes widening in shock. The power the blow made her stumble and the grips that had been holding her hair came loose, cherry-blossom-pink locks spilling over her shoulders.

"Imbecile." Lacie growled, smiling a little at her classmate. The action made Oz think that somehow she enjoyed the suffering of her friend, and it made him shiver. Seriously, what was his brother dating? A Psychopath? When Jack sat and talked to Oz about his dates and described his girlfriend, she was the very body of cheerful happiness and sweet independence. Jack made her sound wonderful. Somehow, based on that, Oz was disinclined to believe that Jack's Lacie and this Lacie were one and the same, but given the description, it was impossible to deny it. The blackette turned her back on Charlotte, grinning as she watched her from over her shoulder.

"Alyss has already been informed about what you morons were here doing, so if I were you, I'd think about heading back before she really punishes you. That brother of mine has no ruling over the Will of The Abyss. I had to get pulled out of class just to come and fetch you. Do you have any idea how irritating that is?"

Charlotte's magenta gaze shimmered with anger and hatred and disappointment as she cast a longing gaze at Oz. With a sharp tsk of breathe, the pinkette righted herself before leaving, barking commands to the others. They all followed her with the exception of Lacie, who remained behind until they had gone, making her way over him and Echo. She glowered at Oz even more than she had at her own classmates.

"Dumbass." She called him, "What were you doing just letting them walk all over you? A true Vessalius can fight his own battles -not accept help from a girl."

The blond smiled pleasantly, "Thanks, Lacie. I owe you one."

The blackette made a pfft sound under her breathe. "Whatever." She said, "But don't think I did this for you. I was just here on orders like them."

"Sure." Oz grinned, just happy she had come along at all.

Lacie made the noise again. "What is with you and that idiot brother of yours? Both of you…you both do that annoying grinning thing. Why? What's the point when there is clearly nothing to smile about. You got your ass kicked and now Jack will have to pick up the pieces for you, you scum -he's gonna be worrying about you every minute and not focusing on me." She grimaced, but behind those stubborn and bitter crimson eyes, Oz thought he could see a softer side to this girl, the side his brother often saw, and it was every bit as lovely as he had described. Behind all that cruelty, she truly did care. "You Vessalius punks really are annoying."

Oz just kept on smiling, finding joy when her eyebrow jerked and she span around to strut out of the pavilion after her comrades. The muscles in her back were soft with relief, making her walk look simply hilarious. Awkward and uncoordinated and determined. She reminded Oz so much of Alice.

Alice…

His emerald gaze slowly shifted to the girl stood beside him, to the head of white hair that was shoving her arms into her jacket once more and had a look of utter complacent blankness.

Echo helped Oz Vessalius for Alice -that is all.

That was what she had said. That was the reason she had given for jumping in and saving his skin. Such a simple thing, yet it held a thousand other thoughts behind it. It made Oz wonder why she would use Alice as her excuse -as far as he knew, they never talked. Both had their own lives -Echo followed Vincent and Alice…well, she was just Alice. It was odd that they even knew each other, considering. Oz had been a little surprised to hear that name come from this girl's lips, and wondered what it could mean. Before today, Echo's only reason for doing anything was Vincent. Surely that meant something had changed in her, right? Oz wasn't sure, but it did make him curious.

"Alice…" He mumbled, arching an eyebrow when his savoir suddenly looked up and stared at him, as if she was waiting on him to tell her something, something crucial and important. Her gaze was intense and the silver within took on an odd and alien light Oz didn't know how to interpret, having never seen it in the girl. Echo looked away abruptly when he said nothing, but this time, her cheek and blossomed with a cute shade of pink. It was like rose petals against alabaster. It was…pretty.

She should blush like that more often, Oz thought, It makes her look adorable. Almost…approachable -like a doll that just woken up after years and years of sleeping. Maybe…Echo isn't as emotionless as she looks. I wonder…does she… like …Alice?

Oz mulled it over in his mind, then cracked a whole new smile. For some reason, thinking this made him happy and incredibly pleased for his friend. Alice may have actually found herself a true friend, whether she knew it or not, one who could quell her loneliness and understand the lost feeling Oz knew she sometimes had. One who could dull the cold and sharp edge behind everything the brunette did, just to protect herself. In time…maybe Alice could also teach Echo. She seemed to bring out a warmth and a light in Break's twin more than anyone else ever had and that, Oz thought, promised great things for both parties. Just before the world faded to black and the blonde passed out from exhaustion, he made himself a secret pledge to both Alice and Echo.

He would bring them together. He'd see them friends, if it was the last thing he did, because they both deserved it. Both had saved him from certain unhappiness and allowed him to live another day with his cherished friends and family and true love. For that, he would give them his very best and give them the happiness they had given him back.

It was only fair after all. As Sharon put it sometimes, an eye for an eye.

There we have it! Another chappy all done! Some action for you there and a bit of subtle romance too. Next chapter: Oz wakes up!

I hope you enjoyed that and as always, I will try and update ASAP, but that is all down to you guys reviewing for me! You have to R&R people or else I can't continue, 'kay? I just want to make that clear. No review, no story! So...leave a comment and/or questions if you are confused and I will try to answer them in the next chapter. If you're that impatient, just PM me and I'll answer more or less right away, 'kay?

Thank you for reading! Now, for my E...

Lazy Gaga- Thank you for your review and your Story Alert! I really appreciate that you took the time to do that for me. Look! I did continue! I'm really glad you enjoyed and I hope you carry on reading

Peppermint Twertle - Thank you for the review and Story Alert! That was cool for you to do that when really you didn't have to me and so many haven't. Thank you, I'm really happy you are enjoying my story and I have you intrigued. It's not really that good... XD However, I did update, just as requested!

Sanluris- Thank you for the review, Fave Author and Story Alert! It's okay you didn't review the first two chappies, really! You reviewed now and that's all that counts. I followed your advice and POOF, we have AlicexEcho hints in this very chappy! I hope you liked them and the the romance will be up and coming, I promise! If you so wish it, it will happen! I agree -Vincent is a derp and he needs a smack! I hate Vincent! Thanks for the compliment about the scenery, I try to make the world appear as I see it and I'm really glad you appreciate it. Lol, yeah...Charlotte ruined it completely, but she got her butt kicked, so it's all good and help did arrive, in the form of Echo ;) Lol, I like uniforms too, hence why these ones are so so cool, they look freaking awesome! Your review was very good and I hope to see another one like it in the future because it really helped and don't worry about rambling -I do it too...^^^^ see?

SilverDecoy - A big thank you to this girl! My Imouto-chan! You are my guardian angel and I thought you deserved a mention! You truly are wonderful, hun. Carry on reading and digging that OC Box ;)

Thanks to all the above ^^^^ You're time was truly appreciated, more than I can say!