When the two got back to Julius', they had a harsh lashing for making him worry so much. Ace, however, pointed out that he was more concerned about Alice than him.

"Why is that?" he wondered. Thinking back, he had always been over protective of her. That surely couldn't mean that even Julius had also fallen in love with her?

"Ace? What's wrong?" asked Alice.

He blinked in surprise, being called back to reality. "Nothing? Why would you think otherwise?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Was that a question or an answer?"

A smile crept onto his face. Really, how much did she know about him? "Remember what you were saying earlier about answering a question with a question?"

"Yeah," she pouted, puffing up her cheeks. "..But, this doesn't count. You're not being straight with me."

"So, it only counts for you then?"

"I–"

"SHUT UP!" screamed Julius as loud as he could, banging his hand on his desk, everything on it vibrating from the force.

The two flinched, Alice having more of a reaction than Ace, who only flinched the slightest bit, if even.

"Let me work in peace, would you? Every time you come over it gets too noisy for me! Get or or be quiet!" He pointed to the door, having no faith his "friend" could be quite enough for him to work in peace, Alice, however, was a completely different story.

"Sorry, Julius. We'll be quiet so you can get back to work."

"Sigh...That's not the problem. You two are always loud. You're just being more a distraction than usual, especially now with your disappearing act."

"Isn't it the same?"

"That's not it...Alice...it's..."

"Do you want some coffee? You look really tired. I think it'd be best if you took a break. Did you even sleep at all? Really, Julius, as much as you worry about me, I worry ten times as much!"

"Yes, yes. Coffee's fine."

"Then come on, Ace." She looked at him before walking to the kitchen. "If you have something to say, make it quick."

His eyes narrowed down at the place she stood. There was something different about her. Something much, much too different. And he didn't like it, not one bit.

"I'm going out. Tell Alice that for me." The man stood up, placing his glasses on the table. "I have to go meet with Gowland. I probably won't be back for a couple of days at least." He glanced nervously at the door then back at Ace. "As much as I hate to say this, make sure she's not alone, and above all, don't do anything weird while I'm gone."

"Can do!" He smiled.

Julius sighed. What had he gotten her into. When he came back he'd have to apologize to her. This, however, was just the same as her going on another "adventure" with him. He'd be worry nonstop about her.

Ace leaned against the wall, arms folded, watching her. There wasn't anything to say to her. He didn't know what to say to her. There was something different about her. She was changing.

She was changing.

They were changing.

Everyone was changing.

But, him, he was the same. He hadn't changed since meeting Alice. Nothing had changed about him. Everyday he had to watch as everyone slowly changed. It made him mad.

It mad him mad at himself, mad at her, mad at everyone who was changing. Everything was different. There was nothing the same. Why? Why?

He didn't like it. He didn't want things to change. Why was he the only one who couldn't change. It wasn't fair. He wanted to change too. He wanted to...wanted to...what? What did he want?

Alice?

Did he want her so bad? Did he want her so bad as to hate so much? Hate that everyone could be around her except him? Why did he want her so much? What was it about her that he wanted?

"Ace? Ace, what's wrong? Your face doesn't look good."

The man opened his eyes. She wasn't the same Alice that had come here before. Slowly...slowly but surely, she was turning into an adult all on her own. She was becoming a woman. Not a child. She could no longer be called a child and be pushed to the side out of range anymore.

"Ace?"

Gentle eyes that show the concern that no one had ever shown him. More and more things that no one had ever done for him, she could and was doing that. But he...what was he doing for her. He couldn't love her, that he knew.

Pain. It wrapped around him like his skin. Always there, never there. Which was it?

Pain. Numbing pain. It took away the hurt, the discomfort, the grief he felt until he felt nothing.

Pain...it hurt.