Chapter 3: The Hatter's Tea Party
She reached a fork in the road. "Which way should I go?" she turned her head one way then the other. She just stood there, wondering which direction to head in. I perched myself on top of a post. It had two arrows pointing in the opposite directions.
"To the left is the Hatter," I plainly remarked. "To the right is the Hare."
"How do you know this?" She looked up at me, curious on my knowledge of the land.
"This is my home, my land." I slid off the pole. "Plus there is a sign pointing which road leads to where."
"That wasn't here before, was it?" She studied the sign. Tapping it, rapping on it, but alas she found nothing unusual about it. "Well, one of them might help me get home."
"Well best of luck to you." I started to disintegrate.
"Wait. What do you mean?" I was a translucent ghost, only truly visible parts were my eyes and grin. She looked at me with horror.
"They are both stark raving mad." I laughed. "But I recommend seeing Isamu. Since Kenshin is at the Hatter's home, whom is having a tea party."
"So head to the..." She pointed to the left. I nodded my head, and disappeared. She headed towards the left. Like before, I followed at a safe distance. She didn't have to walk long, the Hatter of our land loves to remain within a reasonable distance from his party goers. Legend has it, that one day a child attended one of those tea parties and slipped something into the drinks. That's the day everyone who attended went mad. I don't believe the stories like that, because if that was true then everyone would have the same bloodlust the queen has. But that does explain a lot why Isamu is obsessed with tea. Laughter could be heard, soon she reached the gate to the mad party. The mouse, Naoki, was asleep. His brown hair plastered on his face, someone must have poured something onto him. The Hare, with his dirty blond hair slightly messed up, was sitting across from the two. The ring leader of the small circus, with his trade mark top hat, was drinking a cup of tea. The brim of the hat covered his face.
"There are no seats here, child. Keep going." He didn't even look at the girl. He knew as well as I that he had enough seats to keep the citizens of this land, and still have enough room for the lost ones.
"I wasn't going to join your party anyhow..." He stood up, making the tea pots tip.
"Are you to good for our little soiree?" He walked over to her. Even at the distance I was at, I could tell his violet eyes were burning. I should have warned her about insulting him. Oh well what's done is done.
"No, I wasn't invited. Plus I am just trying to get home," Hikari explained. A dangerous smirk danced across the Hatter's face.
"You are now." He took her by the arm, and shoved her into a chair next to Kenshin. He handed her a cup of tea. "Drink."
"I don't have time for this! I just want to go home," she screamed at him. She took out something golden, that was hung around her neck. She took it off, and opened it. I went to get a closer look, it was a locket. She was showing them the reason why she wanted to get home. "The two pictures in there are of my parents. My mother is ill, and my father won't last long if she dies." She put the heart-shaped necklace back around her neck. "I have to decline your request. If I come back, I promise I'll join you and your companions for some tea."
"Not 'if'. When? I'm going to hold you on that promise." He took off his hat, reveling midnight black hair. "But just have one cup of tea. Just one cup, and I'll let you go on your way." She nodded her head. She took a sip, apparently it was too hot for her. She set it in front of her.
"Why did you say 'when' I return? How do you know that I might be coming back?"
"You have a strange aura about you. You have a combination of the two types of lost children, that come here." He leaned forward.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Mean by what?" Isamu had the tendency to forget things now and then. Hikari stood up.
"I'm leaving." She tried to leave, but forgot she didn't finish her tea. "Sir, please let me leave."
"Isamu..."
"What?"
"The name's Isamu, dear." The dishes disappeared, leaving no trace of a party. She slammed her hands on the table.
"Let me go. I need to get back home."
"You're breaking our deal, you know that young miss. I'll let you go, but the next time you're going to be drinking an entire pot." He beamed. She was able to move her feet. She stormed out of the yard.