I do not own Pandora Hearts in any way!
Speech Key:
"The" – Oral/Normal Speaking
'The' – Thoughts
'The' - Telepathic Speech
AN: I don't want anyone to be confused so, I'll just state this once more. I'll be alternating the use of the names 'Jack' and 'Oz' for Oz except when he's talking to Jack himself. And of course you know that I'll be alternating the use of the names 'Raven' and 'Gilbert' for Gil.
Enjoy!
The Altered Rotation
oO~Family Reunion~Oo
"Vincent kidnapped Sharon-san, didn't he?" Oz asked as he walked alongside Break. "He had you destroy the memory in exchange for her life."
Break looked at Oz seriously before nodding.
"I have to go and explain everything to Uncle Oscar and Liam!" Oz whined. "I hate talking about the same things more than once! And not only that, but Uncle will have a fit!"
Break laughed. "Well, you can't blame me for that, since you took it upon yourself to do what you did last night."
Jack only grumbled as Break entered Sharon's room to check up on her.
(AN: Unlike in the anime where it shows Breaks past with the Rainsworths a bit and Sharon's kidnapping and such, I'm not going to elaborate on it nor will I broach the subject unless I have to.)
"Actually it wasn't my fault, it's was Jack's idea," Oz muttered, as he continued walking.
Jack kept walking until he stopped outside of the room where his uncle and Liam were in. He composed himself before opening the doors and walking in.
Oscar and Liam were discussing whatever Jack was going to speak with them about, and therefore were slightly startled when he made his entrance and stood by the window, his back to the two men in the room.
After what seemed to be hours of silence, Oscar spoke up. "What did you call us here for, Jack-san?"
"I came to explain," Jack said, "Thought it is difficult finding a place to begin."
"I find the beginning the best place to start," Liam stated.
"Ah, but I have more than one beginning," Oz said, "So it is difficult to explain, but nonetheless, I shall begin."
"Ten years ago a young lad fulfilled the prophecy of the Silent Clock Tower at his Coming-of-Age Ceremony," Jack began. "Unfortunately, on that day, the Baskervilles had broken their one-hundred-year silence. They sent the lad into the Abyss for a sin he didn't know of. There in the Abyss, he met someone; someone who helped him live in the Abyss and taught him many things. For what seemed to be only days for him, the lad grew as the years went by in this dimension, and went about exploring the dimension he was trapped in. He learned many things while wandering around the dark world, until the one who'd helped him told him it was time to leave.
"The lad managed to find the B-Rabbit and form a legal contract with her, with help, of course. They appeared at the chapel where the lad's Coming-of-Age Ceremony was held. Three people were there and saw him, but didn't recognize him because he didn't look like a fifteen-year-old boy any longer, he was a full grown twenty-five-year adult. He and his Chain then joined the three who'd seen him arrive. What they never knew, until he revealed it, was that the name he used was a false name that was true in a way."
"Where are you going with this?" Oscar asked before the door opened to reveal Alice with Cheshire in her arms.
She looked around the room and when she spotted Jack, she ran over to him.
Jack, seeing Alice out from the corner of his eyes, turned to her with a gentle smile as he ruffled her hair, causing her to giggle.
"The lad had lived with two identities for a while now and has never spoken of it to anyone except a few. Then one night, he crashed into the Pandora Headquarters in the middle of the meeting between the Four Dukes, causing quite the reaction. The lad introduced himself using the name of his incarnation; the one was proclaimed the hero of the Tragedy of Sabrièl," Jack finished.
Both men sat in silence, digesting everything that they'd heard.
Oz turned and left the room in search of Alice, Gilbert, and Cheshire. He walked down the hall until he reached the second to last door on his right.
He opened the door to Gilbert leaning on a sofa, smoking a cigarette, Alice was eating a few pastries and Cheshire was drinking some cream, in his usual form, of course, not his feline one.
They all looked up at him when he entered the room.
"You told them, then?" Raven asked.
Oz only nodded.
Oz, then, saw Cheshire's one arm, and remembered that Break had taken the other out. "Cheshire," he called.
Said Chain looked up at the call of his name.
"Cheshire," Oz repeated, "I can give you your arm back, if you'd like. I'm sure it's strange not to have both."
Cheshire mulled the idea over before agreeing to let Oz do whatever he was going to do.
Oz placed one hand on Cheshire's left shoulder as it glowed a bright white.
Everyone watched in fascination as Cheshire's hand slowly regenerated.
"There you go," Oz said cheerfully, "Your arm's back and now you won't be a three-legged cat anymore!"
The next thing he knew, Oz was massaging a large bump, courtesy of Cheshire.
"What as that for?" Oz exclaimed.
"Cheshire was getting annoyed-nya," the Chain said simply.
Jack only glared at the cat Chain.
But that was before Oscar barged into the room.
"Oz!" Oscar called as he made his way to his nephew and gathered him in a strong embrace.
Oz stiffened unconsciously before relaxing into his uncle's embrace.
Pandora~Hearts
"Why didn't you ever say anything when you first came back?" Oscar asked as they all sat down for a cup of tea and some sweets that were provided.
"It was originally not my plan to show up where I did," Oz said, "I didn't plan on telling anyone who I was, until I felt that it would be for the best if only a few people know."
"But what about your real identity?" Oscar asked. "What'll you do if it leaks out?"
"I'll probably admit it or I'll make up some story," Jack shrugged.
Jack felt a tug on his coat. He looked to see Alice pulling on it slightly. "What is it?"
"Who is he, Oz-ni—" Alice began before cutting herself off and flushing.
But Jack had caught what she was about to say and smiled gently. "It's alright to call me that."
A brilliant smile spread across the brown-haired girl's lips.
"And to answer your question," Jack said, "This is my uncle, Oscar Vessalius. Uncle, this is Alice, or otherwise known as the B-Rabbit. The other Chain you see is the Cheshire Cat."
Oscar had been watching what was going on between Alice and Oz and smiled at the way his nephew treated the young girl.
"Uncle," Oz asked, "What's that in your hand?"
Oscar looked down at his hands to see a letter.
He stared at it.
And stared at it.
"AHHHH!" Oscar burst out. "This was the original reason I came! I need your help! PLEASE!"
"What's the matter?" Oz said, but was ignored as he, Gilbert, and Alice were forced into what looked to be uniforms of some sort.
Pandora~Hearts
The male version of the uniforms consisted of a pair of white flat-front pants, a white ascot-collared dress-shirt, a black waist-coat, a white bowtie, a white tailcoat, white gloves, and a pair of white dress shoes.
The female's version consisted of a white pleated thigh-length skirt, a white dress shirt, a black waistcoat, a pair of white mid-thigh-high stockings, a pair of white Mary Janes, and a white bow tied around the neck.
Pandora~Hearts
"Yeah, they suit you quite well," Oscar commented.
Oz looked to Alice and saw her hair had been tied up in two long pigtails with white bows and Cheshire was in his feline form with a white bow around his neck.
'I have a feeling that this isn't going to turn out well,' Oz thought, alarmed.
'Ah, don't be that way!' Jack exclaimed. 'Though I would take a change of clothes…'
'I'll keep that in mind,' Oz said.
"What is the meaning of this, Oscar-sama?" Raven exclaimed as the carriage moved on. "Just where are you taking us?"
"This is a mission," Oscar replied, "an important mission that only we can accomplish."
He held up the envelope. "This is letter from Latowidge Academy."
"Latowidge Academy?" Alice asked.
"It's one of the three only dormitory schools for nobles in this country," Oz explained to his Chain as she stroked Cheshire, who was curled up in her lap.
"Yes," Oscar said, "But anyhow, right now, our little Ada is studying there!"
Jack froze at the name; a name he hadn't heard in a long time, but had thought about constantly.
"Who's Ada?" Alice questioned.
"Ada is my…little sister," Jack replied, before turning to Alice, "She's only a year older than you are, actually."
"You have a sister?" Alice asked.
Jack just smiled in reply.
"The problem, however," Oscar said, "lies within this letter."
Jack took the envelope from his uncle and began reading it.
"'To my dearest uncle'," Oz began.
"Mhmm," Oscar hummed in reply.
"'Today's a beautiful day."
"What day is 'today'? She could have at least put a date in."
"'The beef kidney pie I had in school is still delicious.'"
"Ah! I love that as well."
"'Somehow it made all of the boys cry.'"
"Haha! Those boys are stupid."
"'P.S: I've found someone I love.'"
When he gained no response, Jack looked over to see a dark aura hanging over his uncle while Gilbert cringed away.
"So you found someone you love," Oscar said darkly, "UNCLE WILL NEVER ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN! That's why this is an emergency!"
"Then…don't tell me…" Jack began weakly.
"The reason for dressing up like this is…" Raven continued equally as weak.
"Exactly!" Oscar exclaimed, finishing the statement. "We are going to sneak into the school and confirm the contents of the letter!"
'I knew I would need to do this,' Oz thought as he snapped his fingers and his clothing as well as Alice's and Gilbert's became their usual clothing.
(AN: Alice's normal stuff; Gilbert's black coat, black hat with gun ensemble; and the clothes that Oz is wearing are described in the chapter labeled "Escape". But the coat Oz is wearing will be dark-green with gold lining and fastenings. I don't know if I mentioned this either, but the boots Oz is wearing will be heeled; about 1½ inches at the most.)
Cheshire, however, was still wearing the white bow around his neck.
Alice and Gilbert looked gratefully at Oz.
"WHAT?" Gilbert exclaimed, panicking, "You want us to sneak into the school? Why can't we get in the official way?"
"We don't have much time!" Oscar said, causing everyone to look at him as though he'd grown another head. "And besides, that's not exciting at all!"
Everyone, including Cheshire, did an anime-fall at that.
Oscar pressed two hands on two different blocks on the brick wall and pressed them in.
While he was doing so, Jack, Alice, and Raven as well as Cheshire snuck past him to the gates of the school, where they walked through until they found the front desk and were given small slips of paper, identifying them as visitors.
Oscar looked back at the quartet, only to find them gone. He sighed and decided to do what they did and get a visitor's pass as well.
Oscar met up with the quartet outside of the building and glared at them.
The group of four only shrugged as they walked around the school…at least they tried to until Oscar pulled a rather stupid stunt.
Oz and Gilbert looked at Oscar in shock and complete horror when they saw him, a grown man, dressed in the males' uniform!
"Hey everyone!" Oscar said cheerfully to a few female students that were walking in their direction.. "What's up? It's such a beautiful day, isn't it?"
"Who's this old man?" one of the girls whispered.
"Maybe he's…a pervert!" another girl screamed, before they all screamed and ran away from Oscar.
"Uncle, that looks positively ridiculous on you," Jack said, shaking his head while Raven nodded in agreement.
Just, then, a whistle, blew, alerting the group that they were either in trouble or were going to be very soon!
They all started running away but get separated after a while.
"What's with all the noise?" a boy asked.
"It seems that there's an intruder on campus," another informed, "Elliot."
"Hn," the one known as Elliot grunted.
Gilbert and Oscar sat on the floor of the library, Oscar lighting a cigarette and Gilbert trying to catch his breath.
"We got separated from Oz and the other two," Gilbert said.
"There's no need to worry about them," Oscar replied, "Oz is the kind of person who'd enjoy a situation like this, that is, if he hasn't changed too much."
"He hasn't changed that much," Gilbert muttered, "But would he even like being in a situation like this, now?"
"Really," Oscar responded, "it's alright if he'd be a little happier. From what I've heard and learned, Oz, really hasn't had the chance to have fun in a long time."
"Is that the reason why we came here?" Gilbert asked.
But instead of answering his question, Oscar only said, "Look, she's found us already."
Before Raven could think about his statement, a little white cat with a red ribbon around its neck pounced onto Gilbert's head and hung onto him with his bangs.
"NO! N-NEKO!" Raven cried out, flailing his arms around like mad fish.
"No smoking on campus!" a sweet voice called, "You can never escape Snowdrop's nose, even if you hide and smoke!"
Gilbert was still flailing, but eventually gave up and slumped to the ground, tears still sliping down his cheeks.
"Yo! Miss Prefect!" Oscar greeted the young girl.
"Uncle Oscar?" the girl questioned in shock.
Alice, Oz, and Cheshire wandered into an empty classroom.
"Cheshire," Jack said, "You can turn back for a while now, if you want, no one will come."
And so, Cheshire did just that. He switched back into his humanoid form.
"My, it seems that we've lost both Uncle and Gil," Jack said in his usual happy-go-luck tone, "It's alright, though, they'll find us sooner or later."
Jack took a seat on one of the windowsills, one leg up and on arm propped up on that leg's knee, while the other was hanging down with his other arm resting on the thigh of that leg.
"It's been quite a while since I've have fun like this," Jack stated, looking out the window, the sunlight making his only visible emerald eye glow.
"But you don't see really happy," Alice said, perching herself on a desk across from him, Cheshire sitting on the ground as a cat does and groomed himself.
Jack turned to Alice and looked at her.
"Oz-nii-chan, do you hate seeing you little sister?" Alice asked.
Oz blinked. "You can be quite sharp when you'd like to be," Oz commented.
"Oz-nii is mean!" Alice exclaimed hitting Oz on his head repeatedly.
"It's a comment!" he said quickly to avoid getting hit any longer.
"I don't hate her," Jack said turning back to look out the window, "I'll be happy to see her. But…I must admit that I am a little frightened."
"You said Onii-chan is here…?" the girl asked. "How…? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Ada, dear, I only found out today," Oscar said.
"I'm not ready yet!" Ada exclaimed.
"I know this is very short notice, but we needed to come today," Oscar said, scratching the ear of a little brown cat that was lying on his head.
Snowdrop mewed from Oscar's shoulder at Raven who had immediately blanched and slumped to the ground once again at that.
"Y-Yes, but I've grown," Ada said.
"And for all I know," Jack continued, "she may feel scared to meet someone she hasn't had contact with in over ten years. She may even think that I'm still a fifteen-year-old boy, that is if anyone has explained the time-warp concept of the Abyss."
"She was very young when we were separated," Oz said, "She may have forgotten about me by now."
"It's been ten years!" Ada exclaimed, trying to make both men understand. "I've changed and grown, and I don't look anything like I used to…what if…what if he say 'this isn't Ada!'?"
"Oz would never do that," Gilbert comforted, "You should know, you're his sister, just as I'm his servant and friend. Therefore, at least accept the chance to meet him."
No one noticed the little brown kitten run off in another direction.
Cheshire stood up when he heard something coming their way.
He stood a few feet from the door, only to see a little brown kitten sprinting over. Cheshire picked the little creature up and started to coo at it as he sat down once again and gently scratched behind its ears and played with it.
"Oz-nii," Alice said, "Sorry, but: You're really starting to act like an idiot! I don't know much about relationships and family, but I know that she's your sister and if you just be yourself, then everything will be just fine!"
Jack looked at Alice in surprise before she skipped off to play with Cheshire and the kitten.
Jack turned back to the window as he mulled over what Alice had said.
Cheshire than heard another sound, this time a voice along with footsteps.
"Snow! Where are you going?" the voice called.
Ada entered the room behind a little white kitten.
Pandora~Hearts
She had waist-length gold hair, emerald eyes, and the figure of a maturing fourteen-year-old girl.
She wore a females' uniform of Lutowidge Academy, and her hair was tied up on two sides with thin red ribbons with the rest of her hair down.
Pandora~Hearts
Ada stood in shock as she watched a girl, and what looked like a human cat play with her kittens.
Oscar and Gilbert panted as they ran to catch up with Ada. They looked around the room before they spotted who they were searching for.
"Oz!" Oscar exclaimed.
Ada looked to where her uncle was looking and was shocked at what she saw.
Oz's head whipped around at hearing his name and the gasp, making his hair fly around him a bit. His eye widened as he took in the slightly familiar features of the girl.
Jack stood up and walked to where Cheshire and Alice were, standing a few feet behind them.
Ada's eyes widened as she took in the sight of her older brother, who stared right back at her.
"Onii…chan?" Ada asked.
"A…da," Jack said, almost as though the name were foreign.
By now Alice was looking at the two, while still playing with the kittens of course, and watched what happened.
Neither said anything until Ada broke the silence. "I was shocked," she said, "You don't look like the way you did anymore."
"Time does that to us, love," Oz chuckled.
Meanwhile, behind Ada, both Oscar and Gilbert were making motions for her to keep going, although she couldn't see them.
"You still remember me, then, Ada?" Jack asked.
"Of course I do!" Ada exclaimed. "Onii-chan was always so tall and gentle!-a flash of Oz holding Ada's hand as they walked flashed through her mind-And more handsome and cool than anyone else!"
Oz smiled slightly. "It seems as though I am a bit exaggerated in your memories."
"But I think that Onii-chan is just fine!" Ada said. "You're taller and look much different than in my memories, but you're here and that's all that matters! I can talk to you and I can touch you!"
Jack's eye widened.
"I missed you Onii-chan! I missed you!" Tears cascaded down Ada's cheeks. "I still love you as much as I did and even more!"
"Onii-chan!" she cried out as she threw herself into her brother's arms, her face buried in his chest as much as she could (she only came up to just below his chest). "Onii-chan! Onii-chan!"
"Finally!" Oscar wept, as Raven supported him to stand, smiling all the while.
Oz was surprised at her actions, but smiled once he realized something. 'She really hasn't changed as much as I thought she'd have. Thank you, Ada.' He wrapped his arms around his younger sister and let her cry as much as she needed to.
"Jack-nii?" Alice asked as they both parted.
"Oh that's right," Oz said, "Ada, this is Alice, she's only a year younger than you."
Ada nodded and smiled at Alice while the brown-haired girl flushed and gave a stuttered hello.
"Jack-nii is an important person to me!" Alice told Ada. "He's doing something for me, just like I'm doing something for him, but you WILL NOT interfere with our mission!"
Jack blinked at Alice's complete emotional 360 while Raven and Oscar stared slack-jawed at the usually nice girl, Cheshire was still playing with the kittens, and poor Ada was blinking in confusion.
"Oi! Baka-Usagi!" Gilbert spoke up. "Oz is MY Master!"
"Shut up Seaweed-Head!" Alice shot back at the black-haired man.
Both, then, proceeded to each pull one of Oz's arms, tugging him back and forth between them.
"Ah," Oscar said, "This is quite the surprise. I never knew that Alice was like that. But no matter, it seems like they're getting along."
He walked up to the three and grabbed Alice's head first, then Gilbert's and said, with a threatening aura behind him, mind you, "You didn't forget the reason we came here, did you?"
"Wait," Ada said, "Then you're the intruders in the school causing all the chaos?"
"Actually," Jack said, "We have visitor's passes-everyone took out their slips of paper and showed them to Ada before putting them away-, but Uncle decided to act like a pervert, and thus causing the alarm to sound."
Oscar glared at Jack, but he only smiled and waved back.
"We really wanted to see you, Ada," Oscar whined.
"Actually," Oz spoke up, "Uncle was the one that wanted to see you so desperately. Gilbert, Alice and I were dragged into this mess. I didn't even know that you went to this school until we arrived here!"
Oscar threw Oz another dirty look, to which Oz just responded by waving.
"Oh well, it can't be helped," Ada said, "Gil, too, I haven't talked with you like this in a while."
"Yeah, you're right," Raven said.
Oz and Oscar looked at each other.
"Do you wearing the hat I gave you?" Ada asked.
"Yes! Of course I am!" Gilbert answered eagerly.
"Hat…?" Oz and Oscar said together, before they realized which hat the two were talking about.
"That was…" Oz began, going into 'overprotective brother-mode'.
"…Ada's present?" Oscar finished.
"Uncle…please don't tell me…" Oz began.
"Stay calm!" Oscar whispered to Oz. "I know what you're going to say, but first, stay calm! If this is true…"
Gilbert looked at the two Vessalius males and started sweating as he felt the dark aura emanating from both of them.
"Ada," Oscar said in a sing-song voice, "we came to ask you about the 'P.S' in the letter."
Gilbert was looking at Oscar wondering just what the hell he was doing, before he remembered just what his master's uncle was doing.
"Eh? The 'P.S?'" Ada asked. "That's…" she glanced at Gilbert before looking at him and giving him a dreamy look that he was completely oblivious to.
Oz and Oscar felt like the life was just sucked right out of them.
Gilbert was wondering what was going on, and when he looked at the two Vessalius males, he immediately regretted doing that.
Oscar shouted menacingly as he popped in front of Gilbert's face with his own dark expression that promised pain. "I knew it was you! You better be prepared!"
Oz, on the other hand looked calm. He smiled at Gilbert with his eyes closed and said, "You won't get away that easily, Gil. Be prepared to die!" 'Even though I know it isn't Gil, there's no reason not to mess with him!'
And with that, Oz and Oscar began chasing Gilbert out of the classroom. Cheshire became a cat again and hopped into Alice's arms as she and Ada followed the two Vessalius men.
"Wait!" Ada called after them.
"It looks we lost them again," Alice commented as she and Ada caught up with Oz, Cheshire napping in Alice's arms.
Jack began laughing. "I haven't had this much fun in over ten years, now! It feels just like when we were younger again, right Ada?"
Ada smiled and agreed.
Just then Oz's eyes snapped open.
Both girls looked at the gold-haired male curiously, but he shushed them with a shushing motion.
He then, took off up the stairs, the girls following right behind him.
"Onii-chan?" Ada called as she followed her brother.
'Who is it?' Oz thought as he continued running, 'No one should know this song except the few who…but even so, although some parts are rearranged, the song is the same, it's still Lacie!'
"I look forward to meeting up with you again, Jack," Lottie said maliciously.
Oz kept running until he burst through a pair of doors to fin no one int the room besides two pianos.
"Jack-nii?" Alice called. "Was that…?"
Oz nodded. "It was…but how do they know that melody? No one should have known about it unless they were…"
"Ne, can you play it and sing it again?" Alice pleaded with puppy-dog eyes.
"Onii-chan, you play and sing?" Ada asked, surprised.
"Actually, surprisingly, yes," Oz answered, "the tune we heard has a song that goes with it, but only little to no people know of it. The few people who know it and its origins are myself, and few others that won't be named."
"Please can you play it and sing, too?" Ada pleaded as well, copying Alice.
Not being able to resist the wide watery eyes of both girls, Oz sighed and relented.
Both girls squealed and sat down on the piano bench that wasn't going to be used as Cheshire switched back to his humanoid form and sat on the ground.
Ada screamed.
Oz looked at his sister and saw what she was pointing to.
"Ada, this is Cheshire," Oz introduced, "A Chain. He is known as the Cheshire Cat and an old friend of Alice's. He won't hurt you, but there is one thing I need to do before I play or sing."
'Jack is there a way to form two contracts?' Oz asked.
'It's rare, but it isn't impossible,' Jack said, 'Why? Did you want another Contract with Cheshire?'
Oz gave a mental nod.
'I can make sure you have a Legal Contract, but you'll need to concentrate really hard on Cheshire and I specifically. And hold Cheshire's paw, will you?'Jack instructed.
"Cheshire," Oz said, "I know you may not have much time left in this world without a Contractor, so would you like a Contract with me? You can still stay with Alice, though."
Cheshire immediately jumped at the proposition.
"Alright I need you to hold my hand and you must concentrate on me and only me, alright?" Oz instructed.
Cheshire nodded and held Oz's hand within his own and thought of Oz as Oz held Cheshire's hand and thought of Cheshire and Jack.
A light yellow glow enveloped both beings before it died away.
"What did you do?" Alice asked.
"I formed a Contract, Legal mind you, with Cheshire," Oz stated simply, "Now shall I begin?"
Both girls nodded eagerly as Cheshire sat on the ground as usual and listened.
(AN: Oz is playing Elliot's version of Lacie while singing this.)
Jack's smooth baritone voice filled the room as he played and sang to the girls the same song he sang for Alice not too long ago.
Everytime you kissed me
I trembled like a child
Gathering the roses
We sang for the hope
Your very voice is in my heartbeat
Sweeter than my dream
We were there, in everlasting bloom
Roses die
The secret is inside the pain
Winds are high up on the hill
I cannot hear you
Come and hold me close
I'm shivering cold in the heart of rain
Darkness falls, I'm calling for the dawn
Silver dishes for the memories for the days gone by
Singing for the promises
Tomorrow may bring
I harbour all the old affection
Roses of the past
Darkness falls, and summer will be gone
Joys of the daylight
Shadows of the starlight
Everything was sweet by your side, my love
Ruby tears have come to me for your last words
I'm here just singing my song of woe
Waiting for you, my love
Now let my happiness sing inside my dream…
Everytime you kissed me
My heart was in such pain
Gathering the roses
We sang of the grief
Your very voice is in my heartbeat
Sweeter than despair
We were there, in everlasting bloom
Underneath the stars
Shaded by the flowers
Kiss me in the summer day gloom, my love
You are all my pleasure, my hope and my song
I will be here dreaming in the past
Until you come
Until we close our eyes…
Sometime during the song, Alice had gone over and sat by Cheshire, but now at the end, both were fast asleep against each other.
"Onii-chan?" Ada asked. "Why does Alice-san call you 'Jack-nii'?"
"Ada," Jack asked, "What were you told when you found out I was gone ten years ago?"
Ada thought hard for a minute before answering. "Everyone told me that you were kidnapped, but after I was older, they finally told me that you were sent into the Abyss. Why?"
"It's true I was sent to the Abyss," Oz replied, "But do you know why?"
Ada shook her head.
"Have you heard of the Baskervilles?" Oz questioned.
"Vaguely," Ada responded.
"The Baskervilles were once one of the four Archduke houses," Jack explained, "a hundred years ago, they were the cause of the Tragedy of Sabrièl. After Jack Vessalius had been proclaimed the hero of the Tragedy, only then did the Vessalius' become one of the Archduke families by taking Baskerville's place. For a hundred years, the Baskervilles remained silent, no one heard not a word nor rumor of them, until then years ago when they decided to break their silence," Oz took a deep breath before continuing, "On the day of my Coming-of-Age Ceremony, I fulfilled the prophecy of the Silent Clock Tower by setting it back into motion.
"It was then that the Baskerville decided to attack me and send me to the Abyss. There I met the living soul of Jack Vessalius. For ten years he taught me swordsmanship among other things. He'd probably been the closest thing to a father, besides Uncle Oscar, that I've ever had. And just a few weeks ago, it was time for me to come back here, so Jack helped Alice and I to form a contract, mind you it was legal," Jack said before Ada stopped him to answer a question.
"How can you have a contract with a girl?" Ada asked. "You couldn't do that unless…"
"That's correct, imouto," Jack answered, "Alice is actually a Chain, though she never used to be at first. Alice is the legendary notorious Blood-Stained Black Rabbit, or the B-Rabbit for short."
Ada could only stare at her brother and the two Chains in shock.
"Now, when I came here, I used the name 'Jack Vessalius' only because Jack and I planned it that way before leaving the Abyss," Oz resumed his story, "But technically, I wasn't lying about being Jack, seeing as I'm his reincarnation. Alice calls me 'Jack-nii', but other times, it's 'Oz-nii'."
"Onii-chan," Ada asked, "Where did you learn how to play like that? And sing?"
"When in the Abyss, after wandering around, you need to at least entertain yourself somehow or you'll be bored to death," Jack smiled at his sister.
"Now," Oz said, "Shall we go?"
"What about Alice-san and Cheshire-san?" Ada inquired.
"I'm waking them up now," Oz stated.
"Alice, Cheshire, time to wake up," Oz said shaking both of their shoulders.
Neither moved nor stirred.
Oz sighed, "I really didn't want it to come out to this but…" he went over to the piano and play as horribly and as loud as he could.
Both Chains' eyes snapped open and covered their ears from the noise.
"What was that for?" Alice screeched.
"Neither of you would wake up," Oz shrugged.
Alice only grumbled as she picked up a shaken Cheshire, who was back in his feline form, into her arms.
"Now," Oz said, turning to his sister, "Why don't you give a tour of this place? I haven't had the opportunity to go, but you have, so if you have time, can you?"
Ada nodded as she beamed at being able to spend time with her brother.
"Ada," Oz said, remembering something, "I need you to call me either 'Jack' or 'Jack-nii', if you prefer, when we're around others. No one can find out about Oz Vessalius being alive until I feel it's right."
Ada nodded and began showing the trio around the school.
But it was when they came upon the library that things became tense.
"And this is the library!" Ada exclaimed quietly as they walked into the large room.
"Oh dear," Oz said amazed, "This is definitely much larger than the Vessalius library back home, but then again, it's also larger than Jack's library. You come here often, then?"
Ada nodded with a cute flush on her cheeks.
"Jack-nii?" Alice asked, tugging on his sleeve. "What is this place?"
"This, Alice, is called a library," Oz explained, "This is a place where people store books so others can read them, unless it's your personal library, of course."
Alice slowly nodded her head as she understood what Oz was saying.
But unfortunately, at that moment a strict and hard voice cut in. "You there! What are you doing in the school!"
Everyone turned to see two boys that looked just about a year or two older than Ada.
Pandora~Hearts
The first boy had pale-taupe-coloured hair that was slightly spiky and hung just below his chin, a fraction above his shoulder with one side being slightly longer than the other. He had Glaucous-colored eyes (it's a sort of grey-ish blue that's more blue than grey) and pale skin. He also had a piercing in each ear.
He was wearing the mandatory males' uniform.
Pandora~Hearts
The second was a little shorter than the first and had black hair that went to just below his shoulders and had a messy quality about it that looked neat. He, too, had pale skin, but no piercings, and his eyes were hidden behind a pair of large circular-framed glasses.
He also wore the same uniform.
Pandora~Hearts
"Elliot! Leo!" Ada smiled.
"Hello, Ada-san," the black-haired boy known as Leo greeted.
"I've told you many times, Ada Vessalius: Never address me like that!" Elliot shouted at Ada, making her flinch.
"And you," Elliot said, turning to Jack, Alice and Cheshire, "What are you two doing here? You must be one of the intruders that were discovered!"
"The first one was your uncle wasn't it," Elliot spat out disgustedly.
Ada cringed.
"Those are the Vessalius' for you!" Elliot said sarcastically. "The descendants of the Hero get to do whatever they want whenever they want to!"
"And you two," Elliot began, "You're coming with me to the dean's office right now!"
Jack glared at them with his only visible emerald eye.
And that was just about enough to stop them in their tracks.
"I assure you," Jack said, "None of us, nor is Oscar Vessalius one of the intruders discovered. We have explicit permission from the dean himself-Alice and Jack show their slips-. You might want to clear your attitude, as no one, not even a Nightray, would be foolish enough to insult a duke and his family in front of them."
"Why you…!" Elliot began in a threatening manner as he charged towards Oz.
Seeing the attack, Jack leapt up into the air and flipped over everyone and landed on his feet a few feet from the door.
"And I would like it if you didn't speak to my little sister in that fashion," Oz glared coldly.
That said, Jack, Alice, and Cheshire went out the doors of the library, Ada behind them.
Meanwhile, Gilbert was a little…busy, shall we say.
"Kyaa! You're so handsome sempai!"
"Will you be my boyfriend?"
"When is your birthday?"
"Are you free anytime this week?"
"Um…no…" Gilbert managed to choke out weakly to the numerous girls that surrounded him.
'What do I do now…?' Gilbert thought frantically.
'That boy,' Jack thought as he leaned against a wall, 'There's something about him that's a bit unsettling, besides the fact that he's a Nightray. Could he have something to do with Sabrièl? Or is something happening to him?'
Just then, the trio heard a sound. At once, Alice with Cheshire by her side (still feline form) stood in front of Jack.
"Who's there!" he demanded.
"It's me," came a familiar voice, "Ada."
All three visibly relaxed.
"Onii-chan," Ada began nervously, "Please don't be mad at Elliot. Leo's always been nice to me, but I for some reason, Elliot has always hated me. But he really is a gentle and dependable person."
Oz looked at his sister.
"Ada," Oz asked, "Just how much do you know of the history between the Nightrays' and Vessalius'?"
"Not much, why?" she answered.
"The Vessalius House has never gotten along with the Nightray House for unknown reasons that may stay unknown. But one reason why most Vessalius' of this generation or time hate the Nightrays is because…they might have been responsible for mother's death," Oz explained.
Ada stood in silent shock.
"We might want to go ahead and start looking for the others," Jack said, getting off of the wall. He extended one hand towards his sister, "Here, take my hand so you won't wander off, alright?"
Ada looked surprised.
Jack froze. 'My sister isn't that little anymore! She knows better than to wander off, and she practically knows this school better than I ever would! What the hell am I doing?'
"Sorry," Oz sighed, "it's become a habit abd as you know some habits are harder to br—"
Oz was cut off as his sister took his offered hand. "Thank you, Onii-chan."
Just then, two pairs of hands grabbed Ada. One hand covered Ada's mouth; another two grabbed her around the neck and two arms pulled Ada away from Oz towards where four figures stood in the shadows.
"Hello, Jack," Lottie said, dressed in a slightly tight version of the school uniform that revealed a bit if not more than enough cleavage, "I think it's time we had a little heart-to-heart, don't you?"
The last thing he saw was being tackled by maroon robes.
Links:
Shoes for Girl's Uniform: www . costumeshoes images/ . jpg
A bientôt,
TsukiyoTenshi