Whew! I'm still having problems with building the Shigure site, but here I am, already having an idea on another Furuba site…this time, it's a fanfiction archive! Anyway, more details on that later. ^^ But I already have the basic blueprint of my site. As for my Yukiru one, I'm still on the process of updating the sections. They want more images, so I, the Graphically-Challenged One, am practicing my skills on image editing.
Um, enough chat. On with the story!
"Maid Diamonds," said Tohru while the Kana look-alike was serving her dinner. "May I ask of you a favor?"
"Sure," said the woman, smiling brightly. "Serving the Queen is my pleasure."
She fiddled with her skirt. "C-Can you permit me to see the Jack of Hearts?"
The smile was immediately wiped off the face of the woman. "Oh." She looked down and continued to serve her food.
"Please, Maid Diamonds?" she pleaded.
"T-That is such a huge thing to ask of me," said the Maid softly. "Milady, defying the orders of my brother-in-law is an unthinkable thing to do in this kingdom!"
"B-But…" Tohru was on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry, but I'll still see him whether you will permit me or not." She stood up and headed for the door.
"W-Wait!" The Maid Diamonds stood up. "You are too stubborn, you know. Alright, but we have to be very careful, ok?"
Tohru's eyes lit up. " Thank you!"
The Jack of Hearts watched wearily as the Mad Hatter and his lovely assistant played a mean game of poker.
The Hatter stood up, utterly dismayed. "How could you? You were cheating! I saw you!"
"I wasn't! You were!" retorted the lovely assistant, standing up. She reached over the Hatter's jacket and pulled out the Ace. "See?"
"I'm not the only one who's got a trick in his sleeves!" The Hatter reached over and pointed to the card peeking out on the cleavage of the tight maid outfit of the assistant.
"It's not a card!" said the assistant, blushing. "It's…um… a recipe for salad."
"Does a recipe for salad have black clubs on it?" asked the Hatter.
"Those aren't clubs! Those are…um…cauliflower!"
"I still say you're cheating! Take out that card and prove that it's a recipe card!" dared the Mad Hatter, who was right.
"Then I dare you to get it!" said the lovely assistant, leaning forward to show off her proud cleavage. "Come on, take it!"
Both the Mad Hatter and the Jack of Hearts blushed profusely. "What do you think are you doing?" yelled the Kyo look-alike.
"I'll resolve this," said the Jack, standing up.
The lovely assistant looked stunned. "A-Are you serious? You're really going to get it?"
The knight knelt in front of her, his eyes on the card.
The lovely assistant tried to cover the card with her hands, but the Jack held her hands imprisoningly with his left hand. The other he used to draw out his sword and use its pointed edge to poke the card out of the assistant's chest.
"Way to go, Damn Jack!" cheered the Hatter.
The Jack couldn't help but smile when he saw the three of clubs facing them. "A recipe card, huh?"
"G-Gee, how did that get there?" asked the lovely assistant, eyes blinking innocently.
"Jack-kun!"
The knight's eyes widened. I know that voice.
He turned around and saw the Queen heading for their prison cell, a fearful woman behind her.
"Jack-kun!" cried Tohru. She went to his cell, but discovered that it was locked.
"Honda-san!" He quickly came to her and clasped her hands that were able to slip through the iron bars. "Did they hurt you?"
She shook her head and smiled tearfully. "How about you? Are you alright? How is your wound?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine, now that I see you're safe."
The Mad Hatter went to the bars too. "Your Highness, I told you before not to go with him anymore. Now look, you're in danger! If you would have stayed in the tea party with me, I could have you as my assistant rather than this worthless cheating pathetic excuse for a lovely assistant." He glared at the Uo look-alike, who in turn, glared back at him too.
The knight was enraged. "Will you behave yourselves in front of the Queen?"
The Maid Diamonds smiled sadly. "The Jack of Hearts."
The prisoners stopped talking.
"I just want to ask…does the Ace of Hearts already have a wife?"
The knight bowed politely. "No, he does not have a wife yet."
The woman's eyes lit up, then welled up with tears. She turned her back on them shamefully to wipe the tears streaking down her face.
Tohru stood up and patted the woman. "Since you helped me see Jack-kun again, I will help you see the Ace of Hearts once again."
"R-Really?" gasped the Kana look-alike, then blushed embarassedly. "I mean, I know it's such a huge favor-"
"I'll help you!" said Tohru, pulling her arm. "We must get out of this place first though."
"But how?" asked the Maid. "The royal Diamond guards are very powerful!"
The Mad Hatter stood up. "Not to worry, everyone. I have a plan."
The Jack looked skeptical. "Is it safe?"
"What an absurd question from you, Jack of Hearts!" said the Hatter, laughing.
"Answer my question!" yelled the knight.
The Hatter stopped laughing. "Um…". Everyone sweatdropped.
"I knew it," sighed the Yuki look-alike.
The Mad Hatter took out a chunk of dog food. "Here is the answer to our prayers!"
The Jack's forehead creased. "Where did you get that?"
"From my jacket. But it was just a coincidence, of course."
"Of course," agreed the knight sarcastically.
"We open the can…" The Hatter took out a can opener from one of the pockets of his jacket.
"Another coincidence?" asked the knight, groaning.
"Yup!" said the Hatter proudly.
"Wow, that's amazing!" said Tohru, starry-eyed. "Fate must have dictated to have you bring a can of dog food and a can opener in your pocket all this time!"
The Jack sweatdropped. "Your Highness…"
"Anyway, now that the can is open, we wait," said the Mad Hatter.
"What?!" exclaimed the knight, face dark. He turned to his companions, but they were all doing what the Hatter was instructing them. He groaned before he imitated them.
Minutes have barely slipped when a face appeared. "Hello? What's this dreamy aroma I smell?" The Cheshire Cat's entire body materialized. "Dog food! Wow, my favorite!" A bib appeared magically around its neck before he started to dig in the food.
Everyone sweatdropped as they watched the Shigure look-alike devour the food hungrily.
And you call yourself a cat?" asked the knight incredulously as he looked at the clean can of dog food then back at the Cheshire Cat still licking its paws.
"My culinary taste is diverse," said the cat.
"R-Right," agreed Jack, sighing.
"So…now that you have eaten," began the Mad Hatter. " Will you help us with something?"
"Got a toothpick?" asked the Cheshire.
"Here." The Mad Hatter took out a pack of it from his jacket and handed it to the cat. "So, like I was saying…"
"How about a breath freshener?" asked the Cheshire again.
The Hatter took a bottle from his jacket. "Here you go." He then continued talking. "So, where are we? Ah yes, you-"
"It's not the flavor that I want!" whined the cat.
The Jack was about to lunge on the Cheshire and tear him apart had not the lovely assistant restrained him.
"It's the only flavor available," interrupted Tohru quietly.
The Cheshire perked up. "Oh, the Queen is here!" The Cat licked its paws and ran them through its fur. "Hi there!"
"Cheshire Cat, can you help us escape this place?" she asked.
"No problemo!" said the Cat, wagging its tail for emphasis. It suddenly howled. "Awoooooooo!!!!!"
Everyone sweatdropped.
"Ignore it, ignore it, ignore it…" muttered the Jack, a vein popping on the side of his head.
Suddenly, they could hear something move from afar, then it was nearing them.
"What the-" Jack got the shock of his life when he saw the ground beneath them open and out came…
"Ahahahahahahaha!!!!" The Fashionable Caterpillar sprung from the ground. "You call, Cheshire Cat, my old man?"
The Cheshire nodded. "The Queen needs our help."
"Sure!" The Ayame look-alike turned to the onigiri. "What can I do to help?"
The Cheshire Cat winked at the Caterpillar Man. "Distract the guards."
The Caterpillar Man saluted. "Aye, aye, Captain!"
A few minutes later, they could hear the guards outside crying in extreme agony.
"What is the Aya-san doing?" asked Tohru, freaked out.
"Oh, you mean the Fashionable Caterpillar?" asked the Cheshire. "He's tickling them. That is my friend's favorite hobby you know."
The knight's face was dark. "Oh God…"
"No….please! Stop! STOP!!!" echoed the voices of the poor guards, followed by the Caterpillar's delighted laughter.
"I think they're distracted enough," said the Mad Hatter. "Now what do we do to escape this place?"
"We ask the help of some other people," said the Cheshire. "First, Mad Hatter, pretend that you're choking."
"I can't!" protested the Hatter. "My acting is not just realistic enough!"
"Realistic? We'll fix that!" Suddenly the Cheshire lunged on the Hatter and choked him.
The sound of the Hatter choking seemed to trigger something, because now, they could all hear some sort of tornado-like noise fast approaching them!
Suddenly, the bricks of the cell wall exploded, and in came the heavily gasping March Hare and Ex-Lovely assistant Haru, both in their dominatrix form.
"Wow," said the Maid Diamonds, eyes wide. "The Hearts Kingdom surely has a lot of very strong fighters. We will never win in a war against you!"
The Jack of Hearts had to nod in agreement.
"Let's go?" said the Mad Hatter.
"Wait," said the Jack, holding his hand up. "I'll stay here."
"Huh?" Tohru was shocked. "Jack-kun?"
His soft, violet eyes turned to her. "Honda-san, I'm sorry, but I'll have to stay and talk some sense to the Lord of Diamonds."
"But…" Tohru looked down.
She gasped when she felt his hands clasp hers tightly.
"Honda-san, I'll catch up with you guys," he promised. "As the knight of Hearts, and a representative of the Kingdom, I must speak in behalf of our kingdom to oppose war with the Diamonds kingdom."
"T-Then I'll stay with you too-"
"No, it's dangerous!" said the knight. He turned to the Mad Hatter. "Take care of her for me, will you?"
"No prob!" said the Hatter cheerfully.
"Jack-kun…"
He smiled at her. "I'll be back at your side in no time at all."
She nodded, then followed the Cheshire Cat and the others outside.
"You sure are very brave," said the Maid Diamonds while she and the Jack waited for the Lord Diamonds in the throne room.
"I have something in mind that he must know," said the Jack simply.
The Maid looked at him for a few more moments, then looked down.
"The question is…will he listen?"
Silence.
tsuzuku
