A moment of uneasy silence passed until the tension left her brother's shoulders. He picked up his gun and as he did so, Cheshire's body tightened and he tried to move into a crouch, but Sienna held him upright and felt her shake her head. Her brother turned back to them and he pocketed his gun. "I'm sorry, Nia. You're right, that was out of line." He spoke apologetically and nodded at them.
"It's alright. Just let me explain before you pull that thing out." She relaxed a little and moved her arm from Cheshire's chest to around his arm. A scent of fear mingled in the air around her now as she clung to him. She had mentioned before that she had family, but now both of them were aggressive toward Cheshire.
He had heard their greeting at the door and he had resented their affectionate exchange. She'd said she had missed this person and it was obvious she cared for him. This is what had kept Cheshire from attacking when the gun was drawn, but he hadn't been in the right frame of mind to teleport out either. He didn't like this situation at all.
Cheshire watched her brother closely as he approached. If the man tried anything else he'd have no choice but to remove Sienna's grip on him and defend himself. Just as the thought crossed his mind her grip on his arm shifted to her other one and there was a hesitant touch on his back. He didn't feel the need to flinch away and let her. As if encouraged her palm flattened against his back and she started to run her hand in small circles over him. It was similar to when she had comforted him earlier, but this time he didn't think he was the one that needed the comfort. Her fear wasn't very strong but it was enough to sting his nose and he didn't like it.
"Of course. Cheshire, right? I hope you can forgive my actions. It was uncalled for and I'm sorry." Her brother bowed his head a little at them. Cheshire stared at him hard for a moment. There was something he didn't like about this person, even before the gun had been drawn. The feeling didn't lessen with the situation dissolved.
"You seem important to Sienna so Cheshire won't hurt you unless he has to." Cheshire felt the woman's grip tighten on his arm and her hand on his back stilled as he spoke, but soon she relaxed.
"Thank you boys. Now, how about that tea? Cheshire, my room is down the hall and the door on the right if you want." She let go of his arm and went to her brother.
Cheshire watched her leave the room into what he assumed now was the kitchen. He didn't feel as tired as he had earlier and the excitement had cleared the fog in his mind. He still felt a little unsteady though, but the idea that this man could have the advantage if Cheshire were to rest unsettled him.
"Cheshire will stay." His gaze didn't leave her brother for an instant, but her brother gave him his back as he moved to sit in the chair. So trusting, he would have been a perfect target for Cheshire. Thinking for a minute he wasn't sure why the man wasn't more cautious, but then Sienna's claim over him jumped out at him. They had no contract, but if they had he would have to listen to her therefore the man should be safe to let his guard down. He wanted to ask her why she had lied, but as he moved toward the kitchen the man's voice sounded behind him.
"Wait Cheshire, I want to ask you about some things. Please, sit." The man stopped him and when Cheshire looked at him he had his hand held out in invitation toward the couch. Questions? Cheshire didn't want to answer anymore questions, he wanted some answers of his own.
Sienna's head appeared around the corner and she smiled at them. "Now Corwin, no interrogation either." Her voice carried a note of warning and then she disappeared around the corner again.
"I'm just curious, no harm meant." Corwin nodded at Cheshire. Cheshire forced himself to sit on the couch and face the man.
"I suppose I'll start by asking why you would seek a contract. I work for Pandora and I've heard about you. You're unique and powerful and a contract isn't necessary like it is for others." Corwin leaned back into the chair as he spoke.
Cheshire's hands curled into fists at the mention of that organization. A clatter from the kitchen startled him. "Are you alright, Nia?" The man looked toward the kitchen as he asked the question. A moment later Sienna appeared with a tray in her hands with an smile on her face.
"Yes, I'm fine. It was a result of circumstance." She replied to his question hastily. She set the tray of tea on the table and cast a glance at Cheshire as she poured a cup. Was she really going to stick to such a foolish lie? He had no reason to want a contract with anyone as it'd only keep him from Alyss more than anything else. He already had a master and he had no interest in finding another.
She turned and handed the cup to her brother before moving to the couch to sit beside Cheshire. He didn't understand anything about this woman. There had to be something she wanted to be doing all that she had for him already. "It was pretty recent actually, but we figured we could help each other out. That's between us though and I'd rather keep it that way." Sienna looked at Cheshire and he nodded.
"Cheshire's reasons are his own." He put in curtly. His tail flicked now in irritation. Pandora was always so pushy with their questions about the Intention and he never really knew the why behind that either. In fact he didn't really care. They wanted her for their own ends and that was enough reason to deny them any information he holds. The people that had entered his dimension without being part of his plan for Alice had tried many times to find out more from him, but he avoided it then and he had every intention of avoiding it now. The past was a painful thing and he didn't wish to remind either of them of their loss or the freedom they have lacked.
"Alright fine, just one other question. You were reported killed by Xarxes Break and his Chain. How is it that you're here now? You must be seriously lucky or stronger than we gave you credit for." Corwin conceded.
Cheshire felt Sienna's eyes on him now too. He met her curious gaze reluctantly. She hadn't asked questions quite like these, so she was as clueless as her brother. Now he just felt put on the spot with them both staring at him expectantly. He knew they would be disappointed with his answer so he did so honestly.
"Cheshire doesn't know. Cheshire shouldn't have survived and barely did." He looked away from Sienna. He definitely couldn't stay here much longer or she would have more questions for him than he would be willing to answer.
"No wonder you were out when I found you. So, how's work been treating you brother?" She changed the subject and looked back to the man. Cheshire fidgeted uncomfortably as they talked and didn't pay much attention to the exchange. The aggressive air was gone now and the humans were relaxed.
Cheshire stood up abruptly. He felt so out of place here and he envied this intimate bond they shared. "What's wrong, Cheshire?" Sienna looked up at him and he returned her gaze. He stared at her for a moment before looking away.
"Nothing. Cheshire doesn't want to sit anymore." He moved away from them to stand off to the side. Their conversing resumed as though his presence was quickly forgotten. He resented all of it. They seemed...happy. He would give anything to make Alyss happy again and he didn't doubt that in her happiness he would find his own. Unfortunately the only person that was able to make her happy no longer existed in this world.
Wanting to distance himself from the siblings, he made his way over to the kitchen. He still hadn't seen it yet and the building was quite small so there wasn't many places to go. The area was compact, but it wasn't uncomfortably so. It was still unfamiliar to him though, his dimension and the Abyss were very spacious. Here he could probably stretch out each arm to their fullest extent to span the width of the kitchen.
His mind wandered aimlessly until his gaze landed on one end of his scarf and the large bell attached to it. It was very similar to the one he had had around his neck. He brought a hand to his throat; wishing by some miracle it was no longer gone. Unfortunately no matter how much he hated it, the fact was that his precious item was gone and that vile human called Break had it now. He could remember the man's face clearly as he had stared down at Cheshire with the bell in his hand. It was all coming back to him except what had happened after his last ditch effort to take it back.
"Hey, Cheshire, are you here with us?" The man's voice reached his ears. The man filled the frame of the entryway.
"Of course." Cheshire turned to face him and dropped his arm. He looked at the man with a bored expression. The sooner all of this was over, the better.
"Good, I have a favor to ask of you. C'mere," Corwin closed the distance between them and Cheshire considered backing away. He didn't want the man to come any closer, but given that he had a gun the distance wouldn't make a difference if he really meant him any harm. He cringed as the man slid an arm over his shoulders and spoke closer to him.
"Now, I know with a contract you are obligated to protect her, but I want to hear it from you. Will you protect my sister while I'm not around? I agreed with her not to report you to Pandora for now, but with you around she's already likely to be a target. She get's into enough trouble as it is." The man asked in a low tone so Cheshire was the only one that could hear him. Protect her? He already had a role as a guardian...at least he did until recently. The pain of his loss stung again at yet another reminder. It was likely to haunt him forever more.
"Cheshire owes her, so for now he will." He agreed reluctantly. Few Chains would dare to attack him so he believed the assumption was misplaced, but he didn't correct him.
"That's good to hear. Who knows, you might get stuck protecting her from herself too. She's...reckless to put it lightly." He sighed and let go of Cheshire. From herself...that sounded familiar. He had failed to do that for Alice. He wondered if that Break person was cruel enough to give her the bell filled with her worst memories. It had torn her apart before and likely would again.
"Why? Why would she do something that would hurt her so much that she needs to be protected?" Cheshire asked quietly. The answer might have a double meaning for him. Maybe this Sienna was similar to his Alice.
"You'll see what I mean. You know...I didn't really believe many of the rumors about you, but I don't think they do you any justice. Maybe. It surprised me to know my Nia took on a Chain. She had a chance to make a contract with one before, but she refused." Corwin nodded at Cheshire as his green gaze scanned over him. "Maybe she see's something different about you that I don't." He shrugged nonchalantly.
It was strange talking like this about something that isn't remotely true. They had no obligation to each other at all and after today they were unlikely to run into one another again.
"Cheshire has never talked much to members of Pandora so Cheshire doesn't know about the rumors." He nodded at the man who seemed to be waiting for a response. Seeing something he doesn't? Cheshire didn't understand the woman, but there had to be something that motivated her to help him. He wasn't sure he could believe she cared for him just out of the goodness of her heart, but so far she had proven to be kind...
"Oh, Cheshire~" Sienna said in a sing song-like voice. Her brother had just left and Cheshire was moving back to his place on the couch when she spoke to him.
Turning to look at her he was surprised to see her expression. Her eyes were narrowed and she had a small smile that made her look devious. Suddenly he felt the need to run from her.
Deciding to act on it he jumped away from the couch and reached for the screen door. Suddenly he felt something wrap around his left ankle and yanked him back out of reach of the door. He yelped in surprise as he hit the floor.
He could feel the impression of a foot on his lower back before he could recover. "Now where do you think you're going? You still have some healing to do so you're still my patient. I already told you, you aren't going anywhere without my say so." Her voice sounded malicious to Cheshire. Moving his hands to the floor on either side of his torso; intending to shove her off. Following his movement he felt something catch his hair in a firm grip but it didn't pull. "I had to lie to my brother for you and I don't make a habit of it without good reason. You better be a good reason, my feline friend!"
Author's Note:
First of all, thank you very much for your comments so far! I'm very happy that it's been going the way I had hoped and I'll try to keep it up ^^.
Who doesn't enjoy being a little dramatic sometimes? Adds a little entertainment to otherwise plain situations does it not? It's really been too long since I took the initiative to actually write something outside of random snippets for an original story I've been working on here and there. It's a shame how hard it can be to work in the time and to get the aspiration to accomplish something; yet it's so easy it is to fall into a rut (or in the way of writing-writers block). Anyway I'll stop babbling. I hope you enjoy the story~
*Constructive criticism is very welcome here and I would really appreciate it.
Please comment and let me know what you think.
Pandora Hearts © Jun Mochizuki
Writing & Original Characters © Fukisako