The chapter MAY look useless, but it's an important turning point for some characters ^^

Chapter 2

"If you let that foot come closer one inch, I'll break it!" Alice spat out as Gilbert relaxed in the carriage. He glared at her and defiantly put his feet on the opposite seat, too close for Alice's liking. "Argh, stupid seaweed head!"

"I'm NOT a seaweed head!"

Oz sighed. "Come on guys, try to hold it in. We're almost home." He tried to reason, but they would have none of it. Alice feverishly began bad-mouthing Gilbert and everything he stood for as Gilbert tried to give her one of his most dangerous looks; but she was never affected. He pulled out the gun dangerously and Alice snorted. "You're gonna hurt me with that tiny thing? OH PLEASE. I've fought creatures thirty times the size of that! It'll be a hundred years before you kill me, freak!"

"We'll see about that!"

Any outsiders would've seen the carriage bumping up and down as the rider of the carriage kept the horses calm. About five minutes later, Oz had put one hand on Gilbert's chest and one hand on Alice's shoulder. "Stop it!" He shouted, trying to hide his amusement. It was always fun to see his friends quarrel like that.

Alice, who'd been surprisingly compliant to Oz lately, sat down with a strangled groan and stubbornly stared out of the window.

"You better… oh forget it." She murmured, sighing a little tiredly. Not that she'd show it often; but even Alice could get tired of these kinds of situations. Was that seaweed head always that stupid to make her angry? The idiocy.

Gilbert, defeated by Oz's begging stare, pulled his hat over his eyes and gave out a cold aura, trying his best to ignore the outer world. Oz sighed. "Come on guys, I didn't mean it like that!"

A few curses and mutterings later, they arrived at Pandora Headquarters and both Alice and Gilbert jumped out so quickly, a normal human would've had his head spinning. Oz followed slightly grumbled as he hadn't been able to keep neither in tow, and gave Alice a light push.

"What do you say we head out to the city tomorrow?" He asked her with a playful glint and Gilbert sighed; knowing what that would do with his wallet. It had a good effect on the other though; Alice smiled lightly.

"That's all right; you're my servant. And servants buy food for their master!" She ordered, but already a sweeter tone to it. Oz grinned widely at her, before continuing to walk at the big building. Alice followed, slightly miffed that he had succeeded in lightening her mood.

"I wonder where they are." Oz murmured, mentioning for Sharon and Break. Normally, they'd be waiting in this same room with a mass of tea and pastries, and question them about their journey. However, they weren't here now.

Gilbert gave a reply which wasn't interested enough for Alice as she stared out of the window boringly, leaning on something close by.

"If you ask me, we should go ahead and start with dinner." Alice suggested.

"Stupid rabbit! It's not evening yet!"

"So what?! I don't see why dinner needs to be so late!"

"Guys…"

"Welcome home, everyone~"

Alice yelped – she didn't scream, or something! – when the 'something' she leaned on talked. Jumping back, the door of a large closet opened and Break stepped out graciously.

Oz laughed softly when he saw the faces of his two friends – because he got used to Break's antics a long time ago. Or at least he likes to make us believe that.

"Freak! What were you doing there!?" Alice wasted no time in harassing the man, and seeing Break had indeed just stepped out of the closet, Gilbert supported her.

Break chuckled and patted Alice on her head, before walking on. "Please not so loud, Milady Sharon has concluded she wouldn't be happy without Emily's hair torn off."

"Cruel, cruel!"

"Yes, yes, Emily, very cruel." Break consoled.

"Told you that the doll was a sick being." Gilbert murmured to Oz who grinned but didn't respond. Break turned around to Alice who had been inspecting the closet, wondering how exactly he could've fit between all the glasses and plates.

"Ah Miss Alice, you're looking as fine as usual."

The room fell silent as Alice turned around slowly and looked at him carefully. "…What do you want, clown?"

"Nothing at all, Miss Alice." He smiled at her and Alice felt the weird feeling she had earlier creeping up on her neck again, so she bit her lip and huffed in annoyance.

Oz leaned on a table, sighing. "Break, do we have anything scheduled tomorrow?"

"Not that I know. Why, may I ask?"

Alice grinned. "He's gonna take me out to the city."

"He's not going to take you out, stupid rabbit!" Gilbert shot back as soon as the words left Alice mouth.

Alice's eyebrows shut down. "Oh yeah? Well you're not coming!"

"Says who?!"

"Says I!"

Oz shook his head and looked at Break. "They've been at it all day." He explains and Break smiled wickedly.

"They seem like a married couple~"

To this, Gilbert began stuttering and Alice tried to kick Break, but because he avoided it swiftly she nearly crashed into the couch behind him. "Young love!" Emily chirped and Alice very much felt the need to, also, rip out her hair. Darn the doll!

Oz laughed delighted at all of this, and cooed at Alice when she walked over to him. He reached out to remove the dust from her hair when his eyes widened.

"Oz!" Gilbert nearly shouted when he fell down on one knee and clutched his chest. Alice, wide-eyed, staggered back quickly as she got pushed away by Gilbert. She bowed her head down a little, her bangs covering her eyes, waiting for Oz's soft groaning to stop, before looking up again. Gilbert helped the blonde boy stand up, watching Alice intensely.

And for once, Alice got slightly scared of him. He… did look rather murderously. For starters, Alice did care for Gilbert. Of course she did; he was her favourite punch-bag. He had to care for her as well, right? Wasn't that something human, that people would start to care for one another once they spend enough time? Then why did he look at her as if he wanted to roast her on a stick?

"Miss Alice?" She snapped out of it when she felt one of Break's hands on her shoulders, and shook them in order to get him off of her. Gilbert had already stationed his concerned look on Oz again, who was panting lightly.

"I'm all… right." Oz managed to say, grinning slightly. Gilbert shook his head in annoyance and helped the boy up.

"Miss Alice, come~" Break grabbed her shoulder again and gently tugged it. Alice, still shocked by what happened – truth be told; she never saw it from that close… did it hurt that much? She thought it was just something that was exaggerated. But he looked… in pain. She let herself get led out of the room by Break and into the hallway.

"Are you all right, Miss Alice?"

She blinked before noticing he had pulled her away from the scenery. "…Of course I am." She muttered. "Why wouldn't I be?" She continued, harsher. Break smiled again, that stupid smile that got that stupid feeling on her stupid nerves.

"It looks a lot more painful than it is."

"Are you saying that to comfort me or is that actually true?" Alice murmured bitterly.

"Both~" His voice turned serious. "Miss Alice, you can't do anything about it. Even if you were on the other side of the world, it will occur."

Alice looked down again. Why was she being comforted by the clown? And why, exactly, did she like it? She's getting more affected by these humans every day she lives here.

Break put his hand on top of her head and smiled, even though Alice couldn't see it from her point of view, and turned around to leave.

"I'll be in my office~"

"Whatever." Alice muttered before looking at the door that led to the room with Oz and Gilbert in it. "Just make sure you find that darn solution."

R&R! :D