Author's Note: Wow, time flies by so fast. 3 Christmas...ah~ And once again Buon Compleanno, Bel on his Dec 22nd birthday! And I luv every one of all my readers and reviewers!~ You guys motivate me so much! Those praises are getting to me~ *huggles everyone* I luv long reviews *winks*

This chapter is based on the Vocaloid, Trick and Treat.

"Alice Human Sacrifice" ~ Vocaloid

"Trick and Treat" ~ Vocaloid

Love Makes War

Chapter 7

Moonlight Sonata didn't relent in its grief, continuing to vibrate under the moonlit illumination. The pianist's long fingers trailed over the ivory keys, his face hidden in the darkness. Tsuna raised his voice as he stepped in tentatively, "Gokudera-kun? Is that you?" This time the silver-haired man did stop, if only for a split second, to glance at the brunet as he shuffled across the stone floor. He came close to the sidelines of the grand piano, his wide eyes traceable under the pointed hat.

"Gokudera – "

"The second Alice meekly sang a song in Wonderland. Spreading out countless notes, he gave birth to a mad world." These words echoed eerily as they bounded off of the walls, but they appeared to not be Gokudera's doing as the pianist was suffused in the second movement of Beethoven's masterpiece. Tsuna stumbled back a step at the intrusion of the monotonous voice. "H-hiiie! Where did that come from?!" When he didn't receive a reply, he looked at the oblivious Gokudera with apprehension. This haunted mansion was really strange...everyone was acting out of character. The brunet trembled as he stepped closer to his silver-haired friend who was in a trance-like state, ending up lingering beside him on the chair.

"Jyuudaime..." a hoarse whisper escaped Gokudera's lips. Tsuna leaned in with surprise etched into his face, trying to hear better.

"Gokudera-kun?" he tried again, hoping to ease his friend into acknowledging his presence. He thought he had heard something, but the moonlit piece must've drowned it out. He almost gave up, but then a hand withdrew from the keys and tugged him gently into the unoccupied space beside the pianist. Tsuna flopped down with a gasp, and, looking at his friend, he could see the ghost of a smile on his face, made almost inconceivable under the pale light. The brunet himself sported a chaste smile in response, sitting awkwardly beside Gokudera. If his normally disruptive friend was feeling out of character in this forsaken mansion, he would just wait patiently and listen to the feelings expressed throughout this sorrowful masterpiece.

"That Alice was a rose..." Tsuna jolted, his eyes widening. That voice again! He glanced around at the intruder, a silent gasp hanging on his open mouth. He jumped out of his skin when an ear-splitting bang! sounded from nowhere. The brunet yelped at the abrupt noise, looking at his friend for assistance. What met his eyes was not his loyal self-proclaimed right-hand man of the Vongola, but rather a space of nothing occupied by a burst of crimson red roses drifting lazily onto the seat and the piano. "G-Gokudera-kun?" Tsuna spluttered, his body decreasing in warmth. Everything felt cold. Where was his silver-haired friend who would always be waiting for him? "Gokudera-kun!" He shouted this time, his hand unconsciously slamming the keys, the different notes colliding and creating a nonrhythmic piece.

"Shot down by a madman, he makes one bright red flower bloom, admired by all as he withers." The roses were turning into a crisp brown, withering as soon as they had bloomed. Tsuna sprang up from the chair, a fear-inducing grief and loneliness creeping down his spine. The area where Gokudera was just a few minutes ago was now covered with shriveled roses, and among the flowers was a spare card. The brunet picked it up cautiously, his fingers trembling. It was a Diamond card with a "Gokudera Win" stamped over the symbol, rather like the one he got from Bel.

"N-no way..." Tsuna murmured, clenching the card with a tight, quivering fist. His face was downcast, his figure an irresolute stance, and his shoulders drooped. What had happened? Where was Gokudera? What was going on? There were tons more questions he wanted answered, but he was wallowed up in misery and the mansion wasn't helping any bit. Suddenly there were warm hands covering his eyes, and with it, the sounds of fluttering clothes. Tsuna jerked, gasping as he spun around in his snow boots. There was a short girl attired in a strapless, lavender dress, her bright wide eyes smiling. A tiny club mark was noticeable on her cheek.

"Tsuna-kun?" the girl inquired, her head cocked to the side and her lips curved in a smile. The brunet stared at her in shock, his pulse quickening.

"U-um, you are...?" Gokudera had disappeared in a bloom of red roses, an unknown voice was following him, and now there was a young girl standing before him who knew his name. It was all too abrupt and puzzling.

The girl continued to smile cutely, her voice a happy chirp when she answered, "I am the Third Alice."

This was the first time anyone ever announced himself as an Alice. Tsuna looked at her questioningly. "Third Alice...?" Then, he felt a cool breeze drift past his shoulder, carrying with it the scent of spring. He gasped as he realized that he was in a garden of some sort, the flowers vibrant in color and the grass a perfect green. The Third Alice smiled warmly at his expression of wonder.

"The Third Alice was a young girl, a beautiful figure in Wonderland. Deceiving countless people, she created a strange country. That Alice was the country's queen." Tsuna was starting to get accustomed to the technical voice, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of palpitation at the words. This girl looked innocent enough...what did the voice mean by 'deceiving people?' He blinked when the young girl took a hold of his hand gently, still smiling as her hair fluttered in the spring scenery. Tsuna blushed slightly, a tentative grin tugging at his lips. It felt like they were in another world, away from the horror of the haunted mansion and the sudden disappearance of Gokudera...The brunet was brought back by the thought of his friend, and all of a sudden the garden was gone, warped into the same dark room which occupied the grand piano. Tsuna looked about confusedly, realizing that the girl was no longer there.

"Third Alice-san?" he called, his voice trembling. The sound bounded back to him, resulting in an ominous echo. He squeaked frightfully when a faint giggle sounded from around the room. "W-who's there?" he yelped, inching backwards and nearly tripping over the hem of his robe.

"Possessed by a warped dream...fearing her decaying body, she ruled from the summit of the country." The uncanny, girlish giggle melted into a hollow rebound. Tsuna looked around wildly, fear gripping his every sense. Then, a thud! behind him made him turn with a hypersensitive squeak. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the mass before him, a rickety cry for help hanging on his tongue, and eventually his eyes clenched tightly shut as he gave off an ear-splitting scream. He could see the silhouette of a young girl in a familiar lavender dress bloodied on the ground, the metallic red seeping into the stone floor, her mouth agape in a horrified manner, the whites of her pupils impossibly wide, a barely visible maniacal slash across her neck...Tsuna took an awry step back, hands like shutters over his eyes, displaying only minimal vision. There was an uncomfortable lump in his throat, his mouth parched and aching from his outburst, and his thought process stuck on low battery.

Something fluttered downward from the ceiling and grazed his cheek. The brunet blinked, causing the tears frozen around his wide, brown eyes to slither down his jaw. His quivering fingers grasped the envelope, and all of a sudden everything in his surrounding gave way to a whirlwind. Tsuna squeaked, clinging to his scepter and the letter as the ground he was standing on whirled into an earthen floor, ridden with leaves and dirt. The girl who was mysteriously murdered was gone, much to his relief. Tsuna observed the green canopy of the new enclose, his surprise decimated to a zil. He was just glad that he didn't have to face a bloodied body. With a frown, the brunet parted the envelope and took out two things, a card of Club with a "Uni Win" stamp, and the other an invitation note.

"I wonder what happened to the Third Alice," Tsuna murmured, and as his voice came back to him in the dead silence, he shivered. It was too scary, this enclosed wood and his being by himself. He was definitely going to have a long talk with Reborn once he got home. Yes, when, and not if. With this determination as his motivator, Tsuna proceeded to read the context of the note after he stuffed all of the other Alices' cards into the envelope. The letter in scrawls read: "Following the small path through the forest, having tea beneath the rosebush, the invitation card from the palace was the Ace of Hearts." The note made little sense, but as Tsuna flipped it to the other side, he saw the symbol Ace of Hearts.

This is only a game, he assured himself, but the comfort didn't stop him from yelping when a company of birds shot out from their nest, squawking as they raced the blue sky. Gah! This is embarrassing! Tsuna berated himself, sighing as he trudged onwards by following a path of stones lining the earthen ground. This was like the story of...what was its name? Anyhow, the story of two kids lost in the woods and eventually became meal to a hungry witch. Tsuna shuddered at the thought. What was he thinking? Scaring himself in the middle of nowhere, and even worse, when he served solitude in the woods. He secretly wished that there really wouldn't be any sort of dangerous specimens (such as witches) in this forest.

Tsuna came to a stop as iron gates protruded from the leaves and trees. He gulped as he saw an eerie mansion not unlike the one he was supposed to be in for the Halloween Event rise from beyond the gates. The brunet considered running, but even he knew the outcome of this plan. This was something he must finish, whether he wanted to or not. As he approached, he leaped back when the gates steadily creaked open, dragging across the leaves-ridden ground. Taking a deep intake of breath, Tsuna assured himself that no harm would come his way and he was as safe as a sound. Urgh, who am I kidding? He shook his head, took a deep intake of breath, and cautiously stepped inside the gates. They clang shut behind him.

"W-wait!" Tsuna insisted, turning around. They were tightly shut, and there was no way out. He sighed, facing the humongous doors of the mansion with dread. His white cloak swayed to an autumn breeze. The entrance complied upon his intrusion, and Tsuna almost danced in relief when he saw that it was just like a rich estate and darkness was nonexistent. He didn't resist when the doors trapped him in this time, deeming it hopeless to relent in this horrific rendition of fun. At least the chandeliers swaying were brightly lit, the paintings along the walls were not Mona Lisa and company, and he was allowed the courtesy of sight.

"Welcome, our guest," a sweet but monotonous voice endeared from the top of the staircase. Tsuna looked up and saw a familiar purple-haired girl wearing a pretty, sky blue, spaghetti-strapped and belted linen dress. She wore an eye-patch over her left eye. His cheeks were painted a light pink at her presence, and he tried to speak coherently.

"A-ah, you are?" Besides the female, someone else had appeared attired in a formal, all-black tuxedo. With his mismatched eyes, one a crimson and malicious red, and the other a deep blue, Tsuna knew right away who he was.

"Oya, oya, Chrome. What have we here?" Mukuro's smooth voice said from the staircase. He was smirking at the brunet's white magician attire, and Tsuna blanched visibly, not fully liking the predator glint.

"H-hiiie! Mukuro-sempai!" squeaked Tsuna as he inched several steps back. The duo descended the stairs gracefully in unison with the girl named Chrome holding the length of her dress by her fingertips and Mukuro guiding her with his hand. They were coming closer, Tsuna thought anxiously. Yet he was also relieved that he was no longer alone, despite the weary companions he was sure to gain.

"Kufufufu...so our adorably lost guest has finally endeared us with his presence."

"Eek! Don't come any closer!" Tsuna cried, enforcing the boundary with his scepter. To this, the upperclassman merely chuckled at his antic, and the girl also had a barely noticeable curved smile. The brunet sweated. To think they would be intimidated by his irrational self-defense was more than humiliating.

"I am glad you've made it through the other Alices, Sawada-kun," the soft murmur of Chrome's voice calmed him.

Tsuna smiled with mild embarrassment, but when he remembered his encounter with the Third Alice, a frown formed. "U-um, are you the Fourth Alice?" he asked apprehensively, looking to and fro.

"Correct, Tsunayoshi-kun," Mukuro said, and with a flick of his wrist at the staircase just like a host would to his guest, he suggested in his sultry, barely condescending voice, "Shall we head upstairs?" Seeming as there was no other choice, the brunet nodded tentatively, and followed the formally attired duo up the steps. They passed the many paintings lined along mahogany walls, strolled across the European-styled hallway, and finally came to a stop in front of a door.

"I-is this it?" Tsuna voiced apprehensively as Mukuro unlocked the door with a gold key. The brunet didn't catch the sly exchange between Chrome and her counterpart. "Wow," Tsuna admired as he came inside, looking around at the exclusive silver armors of the Medieval Ages that stood erect with their faces hidden behind iron clasps, their palms resting on sheathed sabers and blades. There were four lifeless soldiers in each corner of the room, and in the middle of the chamber was a round table. On it rested layered vanilla cakes with strawberries decorated on top, cream puffs of different delicacies, tea sets, and other desserts fit for a miniature tea party. The brunet was led to the table by the gracefully ecstatic duo.

Mukuro dipped his finger into a cake, brought it up to his lips and licked it cleanly off. He smirked at the honest display of strained courtesy on the brunet's face.

"T-that's..." Tsuna began, but he couldn't find anything to describe the teen's actions. Unsanitary? Yes. Unhygienic? Naturally. But they weren't at all nice words.

"Do you want to try some, Tsunayoshi-kun?" asked Mukuro coyly, already dipping his finger in for another taste.

"N-no thanks," he said quickly, shaking his head. His rebuttal went unnoticed by the sadist as he leaned in, trailing a fingertip over the brunet's bottom lip and smearing white icing over it. Tsuna squeaked in protest, bringing his hand up to wipe it away, only to have Mukuro restrict his movements with both of his hands. All this time Chrome had not said a word, instead she was busily setting up the tableware and pouring tea into the china cups, a flickering light reflected on the glass by chocolate-scented candles.

Mukuro smiled all too politely. "Oh my, what a mess you've made, little one. Do you need help, Tsunayoshi-kun?" he offered, gesturing at his cake-smeared lip. Tsuna gawked in disbelief.

"I-I'm all right, Mukuro-sempai." The brunet blushed and struggled against the grip on his hands, and he became surprisingly free. Mukuro had turned at the smell of elegant and organic tea, the aroma casually drifting from its destined containers.

"Kufufu, what splendid aroma this is, my dear Chrome," the older teen commended. Tsuna firmly wiped off any trace of cake on him, swiping his tongue across his lips and finding the taste sugary-sweet. The brunet had therefore missed yet another exchange between the duo, this time with Mukuro smirking slyly and Chrome bearing a rather secretive smile. The brunet sighed as they beckoned him to take a seat, vying to stay as far as possible away from the perverted upperclassman. They each took a sip of his or her cup, and with his companions sporting very animated conversations, Tsuna was starting to feel somewhat drowsy. Maybe the anxiety and fear of this game were starting to creep up on him. But he couldn't sleep here...! Why was he feeling so sleepy? As his head drooped onto the lacy covering of the table, he was aware of eyes devoid of emotion watching him.

Mukuro set his teacup aside, leaning into his palm with amusement. "Oya oya, he succumbs rather quickly...it makes me wonder." There was a chuckle.

"Yes, Mukuro-sama," agreed Chrome. She dug into her plate of cake with a silver fork.

"The Fourth Alice was twin children, entering Wonderland out of curiosity. Passing through countless doors, they had only just recently come," Mukuro recited with closed eyes, an ironic smile playing on his lips.

Chrome nodded, continuing the verse monotonously, "A stubborn sister..."

"...and an intelligent brother," finished her sibling.

"They came the closest to being the true Alice, but..." The two turned to look at the brunet in slumber, each with an eerie smile that flickered into something dark in the candlelight.

"They won't wake from their dream..." Tsuna groaned, reaching to rub his eyes tiredly, only to find that his hands were bound tightly by something. The brunet stirred, straining against the thing, and voices in unison faintly tugged at the corners of his conscience. "They're lost in Wonderland...land...and...nd...d..." Tsuna immediately shot awake, his vision coming back fully. Except all he saw was pitch black. Pitch black darkness.

"HIIIE! W-what's going on?!" Tsuna yelped, trying his hardest to see through the blackness. At the sound of cheerful laughter, he tensed, noticing how raggedy his breathing had become. He also realized that he did not become blind, but rather a blindfold was placed over his eyes. At the thought he became unnaturally still, listening for any other movement.

"Kufufu, Chrome, is that cake really that sweet?" Mukuro's lone voice protruded from the darkness, ignoring the awakening of the kidnapped one. Tsuna twitched, trying to feel around with his feet. The girl didn't reply, but the clattering of knives against plates did the talking for her. All of a sudden a gasp escaped, and the brunet strained his ears for better idea of the situation. Tsuna winced when something shattered on the floor, and with his luck, the blindfold that was restricting his vision came loose, loose enough for him to peek through his one eye. The brunet saw a knife accidentally dropped from the table and came slicing through a chocolate cake, cutting the strawberry in half. He gulped.

"Awake?" Mukuro said, and instantly Tsuna became hyper-alert.

"W-w-what happened to me? Why am I tied up?" the brunet cried, yanking his wrists for emphasis. The notion hurt, actually, and he grimaced in pain.

"Kufufu...please do calm down, Tsunayoshi-kun," the baritone voice of Mukuro almost made him relax. Almost.

Tsuna shook his head as he tried to make the blindfold loose. It was really uncomfortable looking through one eye, and he wondered how Chrome managed it. A chuckle followed by footsteps froze him in place, and with delicate procedures, Mukuro severed the ropes and untied the blindfold. Tsuna let out a sigh of relief, rubbing his wrists, so overwhelmed by the liberty of having his sight and freedom back that he didn't even mind the close proximity. It was when a finger tilted his chin up and he was looking into mismatched, fraudulent eyes that he became alarmed.

Mukuro smirked. "What a nice expression, Tsunayoshi-kun."

The brunet paled considerably, hands itching to push the male away. "Y-y-you!" he stammered instead, and at the quirked eyebrow in response, he continued in a shamed voice, "You put something in my drink!" Tsuna was met with a surprisingly genuine laughter, and his wide eyes must've expressed the bewilderment in them, for even Chrome gave in to giggles. He blinked, wondering what was so amusing.

"Kufufu, nothing of the sort," Mukuro finally replied, his laughter dying into a low chuckle. Tsuna stared at him suspiciously, and he looked like he was ready to go off into another round of merriment had it not been for Chrome.

"Sawada-kun, you have gained entrance to the final stage of the Halloween Event," she said.

"The final stage?" Tsuna inquired, looking up at the duo from where he was sitting on the floor. They each outstretched a hand for the brunet, and he complied tentatively by placing his into their warm ones. He thanked Chrome as he received his scepter from her. Mukuro had procured a card in between his index and middle fingers, and he handed it over to Tsuna. The brunet took it and saw that it was card of Hearts with a Mukuro & Chrome stamp. He was on his way. Tsuna was about to thank the duo, looking into eyes of mirth and tricks, at the whimsical smirk and smile, when he felt the area he was standing on give way. His eyes widened and his mouth formed an "o."

"EHHHHH?!"

And Tsuna was free-falling through the trapdoor, his scream echoing all around him. He clenched his eyes shut as he landed on something soft with an "oomph!" The brunet glanced around wearily, noticing the white interior walls and the comparably white bed with orchid petals lying scattered across the fluffy sheet. He pulled himself up, observing the opaque, glass window that separated this junction of the room to another. He looked at the wide closet doors and at the comfortable and tidy furniture such as the comfy sofa and the leather armchair next to a worktable. What now? Tsuna's attention reverted to the glass frame as it slid open. The brunet dreaded anxiously as to who would appear this time, but then his whole body froze and his blood refused to circulate properly when an all too familiar white-haired upperclassman emerged. He was wearing a casual, wool robe for after-showers, the water drops steadily dripping down his neck, and he seemed to have been as unexpected to Tsuna's arrival as the brunet was to his entrance.

"B-B-Byakuran-sempai?!" Tsuna cried, his appearance still disheveled from his earlier incidents and adventures.

Byakuran's piercing lilac eyes looked as surprised as he felt, although much more welcoming than his own internal churning. "Tsunayoshi-kun?" The brunet nodded, pinkish tints painting his cheeks at the rather exposed and well-toned – did he really just note that? – chest made visible by the low v-neck of the robe. He was forced out of his reverie, though he claimed he never was in one, by the next question asked by a seemingly very amiable Byakuran. "What are you doing in my house?"

Author's Note: Are you ready...for - beep!

Anyway, please do expect the mush and mash of 10027 =3. And thanks everyone for teh encouragement! But really, I surprise myself with my weekly updates.