Bwahaha! I'm on a roll tonight! I love days off… *sniff* Hmm. So…about Vinny, as terra pointed out it's a bit sketchy…but it makes sense, I think. Or I'll try to make it so for my own convenience XD Gil's just lost his master, he's nutty, out of it, has no other friends or family to turn to and he's sensible enough to realize he can't just sleep in a cave forever XD so here's devoted little Vinny with his yummy blood (which is an unconscious factor) and whalah. Heartbreak over Oz rebounds him to Vinny. Or something. XD He's just kinda nuts right now, maybeh. XD Andddd. I thought I mentioned this, but this'll be a 'trilogy'. Once Gil's fixed the next story will start that is the sequel to this in which Oz…anyway! And then the last one, which I think involves saving Alice/Will Of The Abyss and discovering who the jingle-bell man is and what Oz really is XD I'm pretty proud of myself. XD For now. ;-; until Novel crushes my pride again. XD I'm not sure reviews translates to friendship, but it does wonders for my affection! XD So. Yay for friendshiP! With a capital P because I accidentally hit the button and choose to be that awesome. XD

Vincent Nightray stared silently at his older brother from the corner of his eyes. Now that he looked at the other with knowledge of who he was, he could see the resemblance even in his current form. But the behavior was another matter. His brother's cold, slitted eyes as he'd pinned Vincent to the ground and drunk his blood. True, a part of him had found the situation to be rather…pleasant. But it was also unacceptable. To delight in torment, to torture, to thrill in the crimson stain of blood…that was for Vincent, not for his sweet, dopey, devoted Gilbert. He picked up the pieces Vincent left behind, not the other way around.

But furthermore, (not that it didn't please him), but his treatment of Oz Vessalius had been…an astonishment to say the least. For the ten years that Gilbert had been back, it had always been Oz on Gilbert's mind. Every time he smiled, (which was rare), his thoughts were elsewhere, back to the days that his master had smiled with Gilbert at his side. When he pulled the trigger of his gun, it was with the conviction that it was for his master. Even when he'd risked his life to contract with Raven, it had been to save the master that he held so dearly, a master that he would-and had-chosen over his own brother…

So for him to now call Oz his 'enemy', to hold a gun to the head of his 'precious young master', was astonishing both by virtue of it going against what he'd come to see as Gilbert's nature, and was from an onlooker's perspective, rather…unexpected, to say the least. And he had done his little part to egg it on. The glare, the demand of what had been done to his older brother, he hadn't liked the way that Gilbert seemed to soften for the little prince in a way that they never seemed to soften for him. Even as children, even when Gilbert had been devoted to him, there was never that tender, sweet affection that he bestowed so charitably upon the Vessalius brat.

"Quit staring at me, Vincent." the cold voice thrilled him even as it sent a shiver of revulsion down his spine. Gilbert didn't turn his head, but he could feel the other's awareness of him and he smiled slightly.

"I'm just glad that you're alright, brother-"

Gilbert's next step faltered as he turned his cold, golden gaze onto Vincent with a snarl in his expression. "Do I look 'alright' to you?" his nails dug into the flesh of Vincent where he gripped the other's wrist and Vincent winced and covertly waved a negative to Echo when she seemed to tense.

"I think my brother looks like my brother, in any form…" Vincent said softly and Gilbert's eyes narrowed before he pulled away and released Vincent's arm.

The rest of the journey was finished in silence as they arrived at the Nightray manor. There was no one around at this hour. Once inside, Gilbert made his way to his bedroom and stormed inside where he sat down on the edge of his bed and buried his face in his hands. Not that he needed one, but the door had been left open and Vincent took it as an invitation. "Gil-"

"Don't call me that." That was what his young master-what Oz-called him. He never wanted to hear that endearment again. Not from anyone. Raven, that was his name, and didn't it just suit him perfectly? A black name for a black beast, a monster.

"Brother, then." Vincent said softly and Gilbert didn't reply. He slowly made his way over to the other where he sat beside him on the bed and gently put his hand on Gilbert's shoulder. Gilbert stiffened but he didn't move away and instead stared pointedly down at the floor.

"Tell me what happened.." he murmured as he brought his cheek to his brother's shoulder and looked at him with a concerned expression, although at the moment, he was feeling more calculating than concerned. Someone was going to pay for this, for making his brother so warped…someone would pay for the blood Gilbert had spilled of Vincent, in kind and thrice over…

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"I see…then he has Gilbert-kun now…" Break heaved a heavy sigh as he rubbed at his left temple. Oz and Alice had returned and found Break soon enough. They related as many details of the tale as the knew and Break listened without interruption. And he didn't like what he'd heard.

"Clearly, this…thing with Raven has affected his mind…although I'm sure it was shocking for him to think that Oz-kun wished to kill him…" Break mused.

"You're awfully calm about this, clowny bastard." Alice noted with a frown. She felt that the situation deserved a little more ado than that.

Break didn't bother to force a smile and his expression was faintly strained. "You would think so…" was all that he said, and vaguely at that, and Alice scowled, not really understanding although Oz seemed to but kept silent.

"Hey…Break?" Break tilted his mostly sightless gaze onto Oz. "Tomorrow…will you take Alice and I to see Duke Barma?"

Break's eye widened slightly before he sighed. "If you're seeking answers-"

"Maybe he doesn't know anything…but maybe he does…for Gil's sake, I have to try…I don't want him knowing about Gil's condition but he'll find out sooner or later anyway, if I'm lucky, this will be news to him to exchange for the information.."

"And if you're not…?" Break queried lightly.

Oz looked away for a moment as he said distractedly. "I'll think of something…"

"He what?" Alice was affronted and glared at Break as though it were his fault.

"As I said, Duke Burma denied Oz's request for a visit." Break said calmly.

They had taken to their beds although Oz found that he had little room for sleep when his mind was so full of the night past. So full of Gilbert's angry, tortured face and cold words, and the pain of his denial of their absolute. Break had sent a late message and come morning when they had been prepared to go, they had received Duke Burma's denial.

Oz frowned. He hadn't expected that, honestly. True, Burma denied visits rather frequently but as far as Oz was concerned, Burma considered him a useful 'pawn', didn't he? Perhaps he felt that he had no use for Oz at the moment, or another plan was up his sleeves…but either way, he wasn't about to take 'no' for an answer. "Will you have the carriage readied, Break?" Oz said quietly. "We're going to see Duke Burma."

Alice's expression brightened. "Good for you! We'll teach that strawberry brat to deny you!"

" 'Strawberry brat'?" Break repeated in obvious amusement at her nickname for the other. He desperately hoped that she would call the duke that to his face.

Oz offered Alice a faint smile, but it was strained and didn't reach his eyes. Even with the hope that he might be able to save Gilbert and bring his best friend back to his side, there was always the chance that they would fail.

"You're the darkness posing as the light."

And the possibility that Gilbert had spoken some truth that night…what if Oz asked Gilbert the question he'd wondered for so long…and received a cold answer? Oz was afraid again, to find out the truth, and this time there was no Gilbert to play hero for him…he would have to find the answer on his own, this time, Oz would rescue Gilbert from his darkness…and if he failed, then he wasn't sure if he'd have any strength left…

Alice could tell just by sight, and Break just by voice, that Oz was feeling far from himself. His heart had been broken, in a way, and Gilbert held the key to mending the pieces. And it angered Alice to no end. It wasn't fair…Oz was hers…she had claimed him, she had saved him from the Abyss, she…cared for him. So why wasn't she enough? Why did he need that stupid seaweed-head to feel whole?

"Because Gilbert Nightray is real and you are only a doll…because you will fade away into nothing, and Oz and Gilbert will remain…a Chain does not love…you are nothing…"

The words were not from a conscious presence, but were instead the ghost of a voice inside of her mind. The manifestation of her doubts and memories, of the cold, watchful eyes of the Will of the Abyss. The fact was that Oz and Gilbert had a bond that she couldn't touch and wasn't sure that she could ever have for herself, no matter how she yearned for it. But she did wonder…had she been that way with Jack? Had Jack been her 'precious' one?

"Alice…Alice?"

Alice was startled to realize that Oz had spoken to her. "Huh? Whad'ja say?"

"…Are you alright?"

Alice blinked and then scoffed as she pushed her thoughts away and crossed her arms. "Of course I am! No thanks to you, you've had your head in the clouds all morning…let's quit wasting time and go already! The sooner we find a cure, the sooner I can knock that seaweed-head around for being so stupid…" she grumbled and was pleased when Oz's smile actually widened a little, although it still seemed…sad.

Break clapped his hands together. "So be it then! I'm sure Duke Barma is going to be just thrilled." he chuckled, not at all bothered by a chance to irk that red-headed prick. Break wasn't vindictive, per se, but the incident with 'Kevin Regnard' hadn't sat well with him and he would be greatly amused to see someone finally knock Barma off of his high horse…such as when Oz threatened to use Jack against him.

Break had really, truly, utterly enjoyed that. The mere thought brought a faintly smirking smile to his lips.

(Next chappie, a visit to Duke Barma! All in one chappie…or not…I dunno yet. I might have time to write it tonight but…I think I'll end up focused on other things or maybe sleep…we'll see. XD Dunno when we'll see Gil again, but I think the first part of my 'trilogy' which I have yet to think of a proper name for shall be resolved…sometime…soon…ish…ly. XD *has much planning undone* Spontaneity is the spice of my life! XD Sort of. Anyway, huzzah! XD P.S. I've been getting a few PH items from Japan/China since they aren't really available here in the U.S. and it's simultaneously thrilling and depressing…for example, I love looking at the pictures in the guidebooks…but some of the little comics have amazing pictures such as one where Oz gets Gil all flustered and Oz looks smug…BUT I CAN'T READ THEIR COMIC STRIPS. And a one-shot manga sequel to Nora: Chronicles of Devildom called Surebrec that's not available in English. And I've been trying to teach myself Japanese (starting with the alphabet) but I've gotten so distracted that I haven't been able to continue…so now these things are just staring at me, taunting me with their delights that I can't read. It really is a special kind of Hell. XD but the pictures are pretty, which is some small consolation. XD although I think one of the sites I ordered from is a scam and hasn't contacted me although I paid…and one said in broken English to the effect of 'we're sorry, but the wallet you ordered is out of stock. We have sent another without your permission. We hope you appreciate our customer service' yada yada. Nuts. I got the wallet, by the way, it's pretty at least, I petted it for awhile XD but stuff like that…eh. XD 60K, yay! It's a small novel! XD)