Eight: In Pursuit of Happiness

Featuring: Pandora Hearts

Watanuki found a golden locket on one of his explorations of the warehouse. It was golden and antique with a unique song that played whenever he opened it. The locket was pretty but it gave him a sense of fear. Sometimes beautiful things were more terrifying, in his opinion.

One day the heavy door opened to let in a pre-adolescent girl. She had long, thick black hair that fell to the backs of her knees and defiant eyes. Her carriage was slightly arrogant but flawless, as though aware of the weight of power. Watching her from behind the screens made him tremble in terror.

His mistress was the greatest witch, as far as he knew. Her seat of power was an old antique shop that granted many wishes, big and small. People- and creatures- of all kinds visited her or gravitated towards her. It was a profitable business and his mistress remained unchallenged.

Yuuko Ichihara was in her element as she received the Black Rabbit. "You found me."

"I didn't know the shop existed," Alice said idly. She looked around the Oriental design of the house with vague interest. "I've heard talk inside the Abyss but I didn't realize it was true."

"I've visited the Intentions of the Abyss once to remind her," Yuuko said slowly as she tapped her elegant pipe into a heavy crystal ashtray "that granting wishes doesn't need heavy prices."

"The Intention of the Abyss is stubborn." The Black Rabbit said sharply. "She lures humans with promises of power and of change but she doesn't give it."

Yuuko's brown eyes were lit with interest. As the Witch of Dimensions, she was aware of the existence of the powerful Abyss that lived in one of the worlds. It was very old magic and very evil too. The darkness that swallowed a city offered power to mortals before dragging them down into its bottomless pits. It was a breeding ground of monsters known as Chains. It was a vision of hell.

She knew that the Black Rabbit was the strongest Chain of all. (Lewis Carroll wouldn't have thought that his characters existed in a dimension with wholly different personalities. It might have been something he'd dreamed of if he was on mushrooms.) So she treated her exactly as she'd treat other customers.

"What is your wish, B-Rabbit?" the Witch asked calmly.

"I want to find my memories," she answered quickly.

Watanuki dropped the locket by accident. He was eavesdropping so hard he didn't realize that he was poised to enter the large sitting room. A haunting beautiful song filled the air.

Alice tensed. She listened to the music with alert eyes and bared teeth. It was summoning old feelings of delight, nostalgia and the vaguest sense of terror. Her eyes flicked sideways to take in the servant reaching forward to take the locket.

"Where did you get that?" She demanded. That was the locket that Oz Bezarius used when he summoned her. That was what bound them together.

Yuuko pretended indifference. "It's a payment for an old wish."

Alice got up and picked the locket up. It sat at her palm, playing its beautiful song. Her forehead knitted together. Oz?

It had been years since she last saw Oz after their many adventures together. She had left the country to get away- far, far away from the tragedies of Sabrie…

The last thing she heard was that Oz was happily settled as the new Grand Duke with faithful Gilbert Nightray at his side. Lady Sharon Rainsworth , Xerxes, Elliot Nightray and even Reo were in his merry court. They had all survived.

Only Alice went away. Only Alice-the last Chain, the greatest Black Rabbit- was left.

She was still missing memories. Her soul felt incomplete. Even if she put up a façade that she was perfectly fine, she was aching everywhere. She had released Oz from his contract because she couldn't bear to see the person whom she cared about most stay because he was bound to an impossible quest. She was kind enough to be cruel; she loved him too much to hurt him.

"What wish?" Alice demanded. "What did Oz wish for?"

"Your happiness," Yuuko answered softly. "He wished only for your happiness, Alice."

Watanuki stared at the women. Then his eyes widened.

He had not forgotten the young lad with golden hair and a smile as bright as the sun. He wore fine but archaic clothes with fine flair. He was accompanied by a taciturn young woman with handsome dark looks. They had talked and flirted with Yuuko as though she was a queen before presenting her with the locket.

"For your service," the blond boy had said with a flourish. "You're a gentler mistress than the Intention of the Abyss."

The dark-haired boy had never forgotten the bittersweet smile that was on his face. It was brave and sad. Behind him, his servant looked on with a resigned expression. Yuuko had received the locket before giving it to Maru and Moro.

Then they went away.

Watanuki forgot what their wish was but he was sure that it was very important. The locket seemed like a very important thing.

He was brought back to the moment when he heard a soft laugh.

Alice was laughing.

"He paid for me?" she said, shrieking with mirth "What will he get from that? Our relationship is no more! He is not my contractor any longer!"

The dark-haired lad adjusted his glasses. He smiled wryly at Alice's weird behavior. She was as weird as they come. (Even if he saw a young girl, he knew it was just a disguise. She was definitely a powerful creature that wields a large scythe.)

Yuuko looked on, amused.

"I am searching for my memories," Alice continued, wiping her eyes. Watanuki saw tears falling from her eyes. "I'm not looking for happiness."

The Witch of Dimensions made no reply.

"I… I don't understand," she murmured as she sat down. Staring at the golden locket, she held it up to the golden lamplight. "I'm not whole. I'm not perfect. I don't have anything to me except the few memories that we've made. Stupid kid… He's such a stupid kid. He wasted such a beautiful thing."

Watanuki decided to intervene. Casting a tentative look at his employer, he approached Alice slowly. "It was done in the best of intentions," he said carefully.

Alice turned to him, staring curiously. "Oz paid with my locket. This was what drew us together. Hear that? It was that song that called for me from the Abyss. I've let go of Oz, it's been many years since I last heard that melody and I've got no intentions of binding us together again… But it's rather odd of him to wish for my happiness."

"Lots of people want happiness," the dark-haired lad replied cautiously.

"I don't remember happiness," the Black Rabbit retorted. "That's why I want my memories back."

Watanuki smiled gently. "Happiness is being with a person you care about. Don't you remember?"

And realization dawned on Alice's face.

She remembered saving Oz, teasing Oz and sleeping next to Oz. There was a rush of clear memories that was full of Oz, Gil and a full feeling of warmth in her chest. Tears leaped up to her eyes. Happiness was the best thing that she felt after he brought her into the light. Happiness was the contentment and delight she had with him.

"Why did you leave him?" Yuuko asked quietly. She smiled at Mokona.

"I didn't want to remind him of the darkness," Alice answered sadly "I didn't want to attract misfortune. I left because of I'm a part of the Abyss under the pretense of searching for my memories."

"Are you happy with your decision?" the Witch continued in the same hypnotic voice that coaxed even the darkest truths from the most tight-lipped of customers.

The Black Rabbit shook her head, hair flying.

Watanuki smiled tenderly at this dark creature that was probably older than he was but still very young. He wanted to smooth away her hair and take away her cares. "Oz wants the best for you."

"I want to find my memories." She was still stubborn.

"Didn't you find them?" Yuuko's smile was oddly gentle. "All of your memories had Oz."

Alice looked at her, slightly surprised. "Oz and Jack and Glen… Gil, Xerxes and even Sharon-neesan too. My memories contain them."

Watanuki grinned. That was the truth. Alice didn't realize that what she was searching for was inside her all along.

"I shall take that back," Yuuko said and gestured for the locket. Alice returned it. "And your payment will be your rabbit pendant."

"It's mine," the Black Rabbit said petulantly. "It's me."

"Therefore it's a good payment," the cool and calculating businesswoman answered. Alice gave it to Watanuki who realized that it was an exquisite rabbit pendant with real sapphire eyes. "It's great doing business with you."

"I have to go," Alice said, rising. There was a new sparkle in her eyes. She was smiling brightly too. "I've got to go back to Oz."

Watanuki and Yuuko watched her leap into the portal with characteristic impatience. There was a flash of light. The last thing they saw was thick black hair disappearing and the sound of boots. Watanuki was the first to smile.

"She's going to him," he said simply.

"And he's expecting it." Yuuko rejoined. "He's waiting for her to come back."

Watanuki remembered the smile on Alice's face. Beautiful things didn't need to be scary at all.