Hello! Long time no see once again! I hope you all forgive me ONCE AGAIN for this belated update, and as payment expect another chapter WITHIN THE WEEK. Also to remind you, we're almost 200 reviews! That means soon I shall give you guys characters!
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Devin's PoV:
Kagamine stared at me as I came out, then at the bandages on my arm. His eyes narrowed. "What were doing in there?"
I refused to meet his gaze as I replied, "None of your concern," and proceeded to walk past him.
He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, and I stiffened, as he had yet to actually put any clothes on and was still naked. His mouth pressed slightly against my ear. "Were you injuring yourself?" he whispered, voice stern.
I yanked myself out of his arms and turned to glare at him. "None of your concern," I repeated.
His face showed he was genuinely worried about me. "Devin," he prompted in a gentler voice.
I looked away from the soft, caring look and shrugged. "Yeah….It's fine though…Alex stopped me before I got too far…" I murmured awkwardly.
The Hatter smiled and stepped forward to hug me, no sexual intent evident in the embrace, and I relaxed some, hearing his whisper of "I am so glad…"
Suddenly, I remembered we were both naked and pushed him away, earning a confused and hurt look from Kagamine. He rubbed the back of my neck and blushed. "Um…w-where…are my clothes?"
He brightened as he realized he hadn't done anything wrong, smiling in an understanding way and gesturing around the room. "Oh, here and there. I am going to go use the restroom while you dress. You want privacy, yes?" he said, chuckling.
I looked away and nodded. He grinned and went into the bathroom, and I collected my clothes from around the room, dressing quickly. When I was done, I scanned the room and found Kagamine's clothes neatly folded on the bed, his hat sitting on top.
I walked closer, staring at it. "Lucifer…" I murmured, looking at the object.
It seemed like the air around it pulsed slightly with power, a faint glow surrounding it. My mouth dropped open.
"It seems like it's taken a likin' ta ya," I heard from behind me.
I spun around to see the naked Hatter, eyes that sick rusty yellow and a wide grin that could compete with Ches's on his face. I bit my lip and backed up as he started walking towards me.
"Kagamine…." I said in a warning tone.
He stopped inches in front of my, still grinning. "Mhmn, yes that's right. Now bend over, ya little slut."
I released my lip from between my teeth, glaring angrily at him before promptly socking him in the face. His eyes widened and the grin left his face immediately, his eyes unclouding and once again an almost pure gold. He blinked down at my stupidly, as if he didn't know how he had gotten there, before realization flashed across his face.
"D-devin…I am…sorry…I cannot control it…."
I nodded shortly and set my hands on his chest, pushing him back. "Back off please," he stated firmly.
He nodded and quickly backed away, and I took a shaky breath, looking back at Kagamine's hat. "A-anyway…Lucifer. It…pulsed…and glowed when I said its name. Why?"
The Hatter set the hat to the side as he began dressing and explaining. "It is true that a weapon only has one true master, but a weapon can like someone enough that someone would be able to use it freely, with permission from its current master. They can also dislike someone enough as to not change at all for them, and be indifferent enough that they will partially transform for them."
I stared at the ring on my finger as Kagamine finished dressing and began messing with his long silver white hair. "Are they alive?" I asked warily.
He was getting tangled in his own hair. "In a way. They have a consciousness, though the metal itself does not live, it is the element spirit inside of it that does," he muttered, still tangled.
I came over and grabbed his hands, stopping him from entangling himself any more. He smiled shyly at me. "This is why I always keep it in a braid. March usually puts it back for me after I shower," he said in an embarrassed tone.
I smiled gently at him and untangled his arms from his hair, then sat down behind him. "Sit. I can braid it for you. Why grow it so long if it's this hard to deal with?"
He sat down on the bed and turned his back to me once more, though he looked back over his shoulder at me before turning around again. "Julus used to love to play with it when he was younger…so I grew it for him…and then I just never felt like cutting it," he answered quietly as I began braiding, leaving his shorter strands out near his face like he had been wearing it before.
"Mnn…interesting. So, these element spirits? What ARE they?" I asked, humming slightly as braided.
He rolled his shoulders. "Well, our Weapons are made by the Tweedles, who forge and use blood magic. Their magic summons a willing Weapon element's spirit, which is informed of the type of person the Weapon is going to be made for. The Weapon then is forged by the Tweedles, and merged with the spirit. The spirit takes on the form it feels best suits its master. They have a consciousness, though they are not considered living beings."
I nodded. "And their names…?"
"They stay the same. You feel the Weapon's name; it is a part of you once the Weapon is yours. Weapon's spirits die with the owner, and therefore there are no Weapons that are exactly the same, and none will ever have the same name as yours. It gives you the illusion you choose the name…but really, you knew the name all along," the Hatter explained.
Almost finished with the braid, and smiled and nodded in understanding. "I see. So…you and March…how long have you lived together?"
"Oh, since we were kids! We have been best friends for a long time, and we were always having sleepovers. When I became Hatter and inherited Hatter Mansion, we just naturally moved in together," he said happily.
I chuckled some as I finished braiding. "That's nice. Where's the tie for the end?" I asked.
He held it up and handed it to me, and I thanked him, tying the end. "All done!" I said in a cheery voice, standing and smiling proudly.
He stood as well, grabbing the braid and inspecting it before smiling. "It is perfect! Just as good as what March does! Forgive me, but you don't exactly seem the type to know how to braid…exactly how did you learn this?"
My smile faltered some. "My mother made me braid her hair and didn't like mistakes."
The Hatter stiffened and his eyelids lowered. "I wish I could have been there for you."
I stared, detached, at the floor. "Nothing you could've done. I'm alive, that's what matters."
He nodded, and we headed down to dinner, a silent mutual agreement that what had happened last night would never be mentioned again. Because…I liked Kagamine…but I loved Alex. Everyone turned and stared as Kagamine burst happily through the doors to the dining room, me trailing behind.
"Good morning everyone!" he sang cheerfully.
Uhg…morning people. I refused to meet anyone's gaze at the table, taking a seat next to March as the Hatter sat at the head of the table.
"Good morning," Ches and Julus answered, while I could feel the Hare glaring at the side of my face.
What was that look for? He had been worried about my safety before and now I could feel his hazel eyes burning a hole in my face. I turned red and looked down at my plate, with food already on it.
"Devin…" Julus started in a bored tone.
I raised my eyes to his and mine narrowed at seeing the smirk on his face.
"You owe me an apology for punching me in the face last night," he said calmly, picking up his glass and swirling the contents.
I gave him a look of hard anger, even as the rest of the table gaped at the fact I had apparently punched the Caterpillar in the face. "No, I don't. You insulted him to the point of crying. The only thing I'm wrong for is thinking you're anything other than a manipulative, cold, heartless bastard," I replied icily.
Julus's gaze remained calm. "There are reasons for everything. I have mine. There are things going on that you can't even comprehend."
I clenched my teeth and continued to glare. "Then please enlighten me! Dammit Julus! You're getting on my fucking last nerve! Quit with the secrets!" I shouted.
Julus's calm green gaze was really starting to piss me off. Like he knew I was going to do this…which, knowing him, he probably did. "So many things I know to be true. Who is Alex…? Devin, who are you…? When you can answer who you are, maybe I'll answer the other part."
There was a loud bang as my fist hit the table. "Again with that damn riddle!" I hissed.
March put a hand on my shoulder. "Calm down, Devin. He's a Caterpillar. They have always been enigmatic." His soothing voice calmed my anger some, enough for me to take a deep breath and calm myself.
But I turned still angry eyes on Julus. "I'm not sorry. I won't apologize."
Julus nodded, eyes seeming to be almost proud. "Understood," he murmured quietly, going back to eating.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Faster than the Cheshire Cat...
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Some time later, we were all back in the training area. This time, Kagamine calmly took off his jacket and handed to a stunned looking March Hare before stepping out onto the tiled floor. He tossed his hat in the air, still calm while saying, "Burn, Lucifer."
As the hat caught on fire and turned into Kagamine's black and white dueling sword, the multi-colored gems gleaming, Julus, Ches, and March all stared.
I raised an eyebrow at them. "What?"
March turned his still shocked eyes to mine. "He's in the dueling arena, holding his weapon, and is still lucid. He hasn't been able to even consider doing this without the madness taking over for years…"
My eyes went back to Kagamine, who was smiling sweetly at me. I grinned and stepped onto the tiles. "Whisper and Slither, Revenge." The smoke snaked from the ring in elegant streams, enveloping me and then solidifying into my swords.
"I cannot get over how interesting it is to see your weapon summoned," the Hatter complimented.
I blushed and gestured to his. "Yours too. The fire thing rocks."
We both paused as Lucifer seemed to pulse once more, and Revenge answered to pulse with one of its own.
Kagamine and I raised eyebrows in sync and grinned. "Want to?" I asked, chuckling.
He nodded, still grinning. "Hell yes."
We tossed each other our weapons. I caught his dueling sword easily, and he did the same with my short swords. The Hatter twirled my sword in his hands a moment before falling back into a fighting stance.
I lashed the air a couple of times with his dueling sword. "I don't know how to fight with a single sword," I said a little shyly.
Kagamine just smiled. "Then will it to change."
I looked down at the warm Lucifer in my hand.
Hello, Alice. Call my name. Hear my voice.
"Burn, Lucifer," I said hesitantly.
The sword burst into flames which surprisingly didn't hurt, and the flame spread to my other hand. When the fire ceased, I stared at my swords. They were the same in design, but were now black and white, the red gems now sparkling with colors I didn't even know existed.
"Niiiiiice," I said, smiling.
The Hatter smiled back and looked at Revenge. "Whisper and Slither, Revenge," he murmured in an almost reverent tone. The smoke curled out of the blades, and condensed into a silver version of Kagamine's dueling sword.
With an unseen cue, we both began to duel, rushing each other. This went on for several minutes, and I still never landed a hit on him.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
A better swordsman than the Hatter...
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Julus was watching us very closely every time I saw him out of the corner of my eye. At one point, we got very close to the edge of the arena, right in front of Julus, and while the rest of our observers backed up a bit, Julus didn't move, and I got within inches of him.
Quietly, so low I couldn't even be sure I heard him say it, Julus whispered, "You aren't the Alice yet…"
I blinked, about to say something back, only to turn and have to block the Hatter, forcing him back some, yet not once did he even look like I was straining him.
"You are getting much better," he commented as I swung at him yet again.
"Not really. I haven't even once made you step back out of surprise or actual skill. You're backing up to give me more room, not because I'm making you," I growled as he blocked yet again.
"True," he said, smiling in amusement. "But no one can do that."
I stopped fighting. "No one?" I asked eyes wide.
He nodded slowly, as if he was confused as to why I didn't know this. "Yes. It is my family's special skill, just like fighting is the Cheshire's, and healing is the Hare's. No one can surpass a Noble at their family's skill…except…" His yellow eyes stayed steady on my face. His tone was not arrogant, merely stating what he knew to be a fact.
"That's a bit scary…" I said back, nervously. "You…were trying to kill me that first day. Why am I not dead?"
The Hatter smiled at me. "You have amazingly good defensive reflexes. That fact that you could block it was in itself a feat. Most would have been decapitated."
I gulped. "Decapitated?"
He nodded. "I feel bad for it now, but that day I figured if you lived, then you would be worth training." I stared at him even more, but he just smiled sweetly at me. "You will definitely be one of my best students. Perhaps you will beat my current best?"
I raised an eyebrow. "And they would be?"
Kagamine pointed his sword at Julus, then March. "Those two."
Julus smirked, while March blushed and looked away. "H-honestly Kaga," the brown hare said, clearly flustered.
Kagamine could only grin, and I rubbed my temples as if getting a head ache. "Those two? Julus I can understand, but March?"
The Hatter smirked, nodding at me slowly as if I had some kind of mental problem. "How about we give you a demonstration?" he asked, beckoning March with a hand to step into the arena.
March shuffled back and forth nervously. "Um…Do I have to, Kaga?" he asked, eyes drifting to me.
He only got a nod in response as the Hatter made his way out of the arena, taking March's place next to Julus. March sighed in defeat, taking off a silvery necklace I hadn't noticed before. The delicate silver chain contrasted with the gold crescent moon charm on it.
"Shimmer, Stardust," he murmured warmly, as if he cared for the Weapon like he would a dear friend. And I tried not to giggle at the name of his 'Weapon'.
The necklace exploded into a shower of gold and silver dust around the Hare, and when it settled, I couldn't stop my mouth from dropping open at March's Weapon. The man held a coiled silver chain draped over his right hand, the links looking thick and heavy. In the other hand end he held had a large, crescent shaped, golden blade. I followed the length of the chain until I found the other end, and saw a knife-like blade on it.
March twirled the crescent end around expertly, as if he could do it in his sleep, before stopped and smiling shyly at me. "I'm a bit out of practice…I don't fight unless I have to…"
I stared at him for a moment longer before shaking my head and smiling. "You're a pacifist? And its beautiful March," I replied, my voice containing a good amount of awe.
March blushed and stuttered out a thank you before we each fluidly went back into a fighting stance; March's looking a hell of a lot more graceful than mine. I looked at the soft look in his eyes, and mine grew serious and hooded.
"Don't you dare go easy on me, March," I said sternly.
His eyes widened, apparently shocked I had picked up on the fact he was going to be soft on me, but his face grew serious as well and he nodded. Kagamine's shout of begin had March twirling his weapon once more, as if trying to get a feel for it again, but I wasted no time darting at him.
March's eyes suddenly took on a sharp tone, and he shot the crescent blade forward, where it curved and wrapped itself around my right arm. Faster than I could blink, March uncoiled the other bit of chain and tugged sharply on the chain, jerking me towards him. I pulled against the chains as the knife-like blade came at me.
The brute force pulled March forward as well, a shocked expression on his face, be he quickly recovered as I slashed with my right sword, arm still wrapped in his chains. He dodged quickly, ducking down and swiping a sweeping kick at my legs. I jumped, dodging it but also losing the hold on his chains I had when he retracted them.
The recoiling of his weapon was quick and suddenly he flipped backwards and away from me, landing lightly and making it look almost like a dance. He began twirling the knife blade this time.
"You're fast," he said quietly.
I gave a short nod, eyes scanning over March as I tried to evaluate his strengths and weaknesses. "Training with Ches. You're rather fast as well," I replied.
March's eyes widened. "You trained with Cheshire? How did you do?"
Ches's voice echoed over to us from the other side of the dueling arena. I hadn't even realized we'd somehow moved to the other side of it. "He kicked ass! Put me on the ground once, and he almost beat Julus!"
March's jaw dropped and stopped spinning his blade in utter shock. I took advantage of his let down guard and rushed forward, swinging down. But March snapped quickly back into action, expression a little scared as he brought his chain up to block my blade, then ducked away, backing up more.
I knew his weakness then.
Every time I tried to get close, he backed up, and he avoided being close to me at all. He always threw his weapon, never manually attacked with it. The Hate can't fight at close range.
Advantage: Me. If I could get close.
March seemed to notice I had figured it out, and a delicate curse left his lips as he suddenly began moving too fast for me to follow. This was Ches-like speed. I glanced around, trying to see where he had gone. I heard the sound of chains behind me and ducked. Just in time to see the crescent blade go flying over where my head had been.
I straightened…a mistake. Suddenly, the blade and chain curved, coming right back at me, and before I could organize a coherent thought; the chain was wrapped tightly around my neck. I dropped my swords, another mistake, and I clutched at the chain, trying and failing to loosen it and pull it off.
"Good try, Devin," March murmured right in my ear as he tightened the chains to the point of pain. As my sight blurred, I continued to fight and try to get away. No, I couldn't lose again. I would notstay at this level of weakness.
Alex. I had to get to Alex.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
And a power that rivals the Caterpillar's.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Something inside me snapped, and my eyes burned as I opened them, the ground turning blue as the neon glow emitted from my eyes. Strength flooded my limbs and I growled, reaching behind my head and grabbing March's wrists.
I earned a surprised yelp from him as I flipped him, colliding his body with the ground with an audible thud. Faster than I thought possible, so fast not even Ches saw me move, I grasped my swords once more and thrust them into the ground on either side of March's head.
Once the Hare realized what had happened, his hazel eyes widened in shock and terror that he had almost died then, and then widened even more when he saw my eyes were still neon blue as I stood.
I turned my head to a shocked Hatter and Cat, and a very pleased looking Julus.
"I win," I stated in a power laced voice, promptly passing out and not even feeling it when my body hit the marble ground.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
That will be the Alice who saves Wonderland.
~Amadeus Caterpillar
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Julus grinned as he caught my body, not letting it hit the ground. "Almost there…" he murmured.
