Thanks again to people who reviewed on the last three chapters, you guys are full of awesome. Updates now might be slower, just to warn all of you. I try to type as much as I can during the week, but the only time i have alot of time to work would be on the weekends, so that's when the updates will more than likely be.

Makes an unbirthday reference in this chapter, just because one is never made.

Once again, I don't own HNKNA, but I own chance~ (yes, he's still being mentioned.)

Chapter four: A Cat's Unbirthday

"Well, Boris, I wasn't expecting you back so soon." It was almost midnight in Wonderland, and Blood had just finished up his last cup of tea. His window suddenly opened, and a stray cat walked inside.

"I need to ask you something." The cat held a serious face, this couldn't end well for the Hatter. Blood put the blood he had been reading down as Boris walked up to his desk.

"Yes?"

"Where's the guy who killed Mister Gowland three years ago?"

"Oh? So Mary finally told you?" Blood smirked, leaning back into the chair.

"Yeah. And I want to shoot the bastard."

"Don't you think this is just your teenage emotions getting the best of you." Boris's cat ears twitched. "Chance's clock has long since been repaired. He's running around in the park for all you know. What's the point of shooting his killer?"

"I could say the same for you!" Boris slammed his fists on the Hatter's desk. "Three years ago the previous hatter died. You ordered the death of the person who shot him. That pressure made the madman go into the park and start a shooting rampage. " He growled. "I think it's fair that I shoot the man who killed the previous Cheshire cat, don't you think?" He smirked, and Blood stared at him for a moment before letting out a laugh.

"Looks like you caught that. Smart for a bratty teenager." Blood smirked, looking up at the cat. "Tell me, more than one important person was taken from you during that fight, wasn't there?"

Boris nodded. "My parents."

That seemed to strike a cord with Blood, and he gave a nod. "I will call the man for you. But please, let us head out to the garden. I don't need blood spatter over by books." Boris's ears perked up and he followed Blood out of the room. Boris sat on the large table that was set out for tea parties as he waited for Blood. He swung his legs back and forth for a few minutes before Blood walked back into the garden with a faceless man behind him.

"I believe this is the man you're looking for." Blood said, ordering the servant to stay put as he walked over to the cat.

"How do I know you're not lying and just giving me one of the lower guys?"

Blood chuckled. "Think of this as a birthday present. Trust me that the man before is indeed the one that killed the previous cat."

"It's not my birthday."

"Your unbirthday then."Boris snickered at the term, jumping off the table. "But shall I say one thing?"

"Yes?"

"His clock is just going to be repaired, the killer will be back."

"Was the same thing going through your head three years ago." The gun appeared at the end of Boris's chain again, and without warning the servant, a shot rang out. The shot hit the servant straight int he heart, blood spilling over the garden. Boris gave a sigh of relief, however Blood noticed his hand was shaking. "It's just a reliever."

"Was that the first man you've ever killed?" Boris slowly nodded. Blood smiled and patted the cat's head as two servants came out to move the body. "Well, you're always welcome here, Mister Cheshire."

"I swear Julius, I can't turn my back for that kid for a minute!" Gowland sighed, sitting at the table in the clockmaker's office with a bottle of wine. "One second he's going to bed, the next he's back at the Hatters!"

"He's a teenager, not to mention the Cheshire cat. It's natural he's curious." Julius pushed his long hair behind his shoulders, only for it to fall again. He gave a heavy sigh.

"Here, let me help you with that." Gowland grinned, pulling off one of the hairbands he used to keep his own long hair in a braid before heading over to Julius. The other looked at him strangely, but gave in and let the other do what he wished.

"Don't braid it."

"I know~ Just a ponytail." Gowland grinned, grabbing the long hair and pulled it back. "I'm surprised you let it get this long. I thought you said you didn't want it to go passed your shoulders?" He tied the hair back and walked into Julius's vision.

"I simply don't have time to cut it."

"Do you have enough time to drink with an old friend?" Juliu sighed.

"You're not giving me a choice are you?"

"Nope!"

The two sat down and shared a glass of wine. "Back to the subject on hand, what do you think I should do about Boris?"

"Honestly? Nothing." Julius took a sip.

"Nothing?"

"Yes, Nothing." The clockmaker put the glass down. "The more you try to restrain him, the more he'll struggle to try and break free."

"Speaking from personal experience?" Gowland's eyebrow raised.

"In a more literal sense." Julius sighed, but didn't go into that subject. "What I'm trying to say is, he's a teenager. He's not the crybaby of a kid that would cling to you every second anymore. Not to mention the natural curiousness - he's a walking time bomb. One day you two are going to fight and explode if you don't just let him go now."

Gowland sighed, downing the rest of his glass rather quickly before pouring himself another one. "I guess you're right.."

"I know why you keep trying to make him stay close. You don't want to lose him like you did Chance." Gowland looked away. "That's how Wonderland works Gowland."

"I know...but it's not just that..."

Julius perked up, this was new. "Then what?"

"Chance took a liking to Boris. I would notice them play in the park all the time. Boris was like a little brother to Chance - no. He was like a son..." Gowalnd took off his glasses and laid them on the table before putting his hands over his eyes. "And the look Boris gave me when I told him Chance was dead...I just don't want to see that again..."

Julius's eyes soften, so for once Gowland was actually trying to do the right thing. "I think he's in more danger exploring the world without your permission than with it."

"How do you think that?" Gowland lowered his hands to look over at his friend.

"Because if he actually has your permission, then he'll leave, but he'll always come back. If you keep restraining him then he'll just run away for good."

There was a moment of silence as Gowland thought over the other's words. Eventually he smiled and took a sip of his wine. "You're right Julius, as always." Julius sighed and he finished his glass before going back to work.

Gowland got back to the park later that night to see the workers packing up for the night. "Sir, Lord Boris is on the ferris wheel, and hasn't gotten off for the last hour." Gowland looked at the worker than sighed. He looked off at the park, seeing the ferris wheel still spinning.

"I'll handle it." Gowland told the worker, sending him off before walking over to the Ferris Wheel. At the controls was a young woman, looking over at Gowland as he walked up.

"H-He just telling me to make it keep going..."

"Stop it so that he's down here. I need to have a chat with him." The woman nodded, tinkering with the controls and the cart with Boris in it was now in front of Boris. The cat looked like he was about to talk to the worker, but saw Gowland and froze. He turned away as the duke got in. Gowland closed the small door behind him and told the worker to start up the wheel again. The cart slowly made it's way up, and Gowland slid over so he was sitting across from the cat.

"What do you want?" Boris asked, still looking out of the window.

Gowland crossed his arms across his chest. This was going to be harder than he thought. "Listen, Boris..." The cat looked at him. "I don't care if you leave the territory or not." Cat ears perked up. "I just want you to know that it's dangerous out there. And I can't always be there to help you out. If you want to go do dangerous stunts, that's fine. But don't drag blood all over my amusement park - and don't bring any of that danger back with you."

It took a second for what the duke had just said to sink into Boris's think skull. A grin broke out on his face and he jumped at the neck, hugging him tightly. "You're the best Uncle Mary!"

Gowlad sighed, but gave a small smile as he hugged the kid back ."Now another thing." Boris looked up at him. "You're older now, and you know full well I'm not your uncle. Just call me Gowland, okay?" Not to mention he didn't need anyone else in Wonderland finding out his first name. Boris eagerly nodded, smiling uncontrollably.

"Okay Gowland!"

"Good. Now let's get off this wheel, shall we?"

"Okay! I'm starting to get dizzy anyways."

Another year passed and Gowland realized Julius was right. Boris would leave some days, but he always came back, even if it took awhile. Gowland let the boy do what he wanted, and Boris seemed to enjoy it. So all was good in the park. Until one day the cat came into the park wounded.

Boris winced as one of the workers rushed over ot him. "I'm fine." He hissed, holding the bleeding wound on his arm. He thought it would've stopped bleeding by now. He smiled at the worker before heading to his room.

"Boris! I thought I told you not to leave blood everywhere!" Gowland scolded as he walked into the cat's room after hearing he was wounded from the worker.

"Shut it Gowland! Not in the mood!" The cat hissed, licking the wound on his arm the best he could. The man sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"When you feel better, clean up your mess."

"What? Why can't you just make the workers do it?" Boris whined.

"Because it's your mess." With the Gowland left the cat to mend his wounds. Boris huffed, wrapping up his arm before sneaking of his window. Like hell he was going to clean. He decided if he went away for awhile, one of the workers would eventually clean up the blood. So the cat started to head over to the hatters, maybe he would get to play with Dee and Dum again?

Within minutes he was standing in front of the large gates, instead of actually walking through the open gates, he jumped onto the wall and jumped over. He hadn't been here for awhile, he wondered if the twins would be bad at him.

"Mister kitty!" Boris broke out into a smile as the twins ran up to him.

"Hey guys! Nice clothes." He noticed the twins actually wearing the color that matched their eyes. It sort of fit them better.

"Thanks! Boss got them for us!" Dee smiled.

"Hey, Hey! You should come meet the hare!" Boris' eyebrow raised.

"Hare?"

"Yeah! Boss randomly brought a guy with rabbit ears. He's with the guy in his office." Dee said.

"He's huge! He's taller than boss!" Dum added.

"But Boss won't let us inside." They whined. Boris chuckled and patted their heads.

"Leave it to me~" Boris said,before walking along the building. The twins looked at each other and started to follow him. Boris looked back at them and gave them a sign to be quite before coming to the window that he knew was Blood's office. He silently pushed open the window and climbed in. The Hatter was sitting on one of the couches in his office, next to a tall blond male. The blond's rabbit ears perked up as Boris got into the room, and he stood up suddenly. The cat froze before giving a nervous chuckle. "Caught~"

"Calm down Elliot, he is no threat." Blood stood and pushed the blond back onto the couch before turning his attention to Boris. "The twins told you I assume?"

"Yup!" His cat tail swayed. "I wanted to see the new guy!" Blood chuckled before sitting back down on the couch.

"Then come over and introduce yourself." Boris nodded, running over and sitting on back of the couch that was across from the one that the other two were sitting on.

"Boris Airay! Nice to meet you!" The cheshire grinned, his tail swaying as he stared at the Hare. Elliot stared back for a moment before asking.

"When did Chance die?" That certainly caught both the cat and the Hatter off guard, the former falling off the back of the couch and onto the floor.

"Ow..."

"Are...you alright?" Elliot asked as Blood chuckled.

"He'll be just fine. The boy has a thick skull."

"Hey!" Boris popped up, jumping over the back of the couch. "Not funny."

"You didn't answer my question though." Elliot said, looking between the cat and the Hatter.

"You've been gone awhile haven't you?' Boris chuckled, trying not to think about that day. T much red for his tastes. "It's been a few years."

"Boris, do you mind showing elliot to a room? I need to deal with the two outside of my window." Dee and Dum froze, and quickly started to run away.

"What am I? One of your lackeys~?" He whined but stood up. "Fine, come on Mister Elliot!" Boris grabbed the older man's hand, pulling him up before dragging him to the hall.

"H-Hey! Blood-"

"You can trust him Elliot, for the most part." Blood said as he took the other direction in the hall.

"I guess you'll want something close to the boss's room huh?" Boris asked as he dragged the other. "Then I know the room for you!" It suddenly became very hard to continue walking, and he looked back to see the hare completely still. "Yo, elliot, you okay?"

"What happened to Chance?" Elliot asked, his eyes suddenly very sad. It almost looked like he was about to cry. Knowing this, Boris didn't want to tell him the truth.

"There was a shootout at the park, he was shot. So what?" Boris asked, shrugging. "His clock is probably already fixed any-" Before he could finish that sentence, he was slammed against the wall. He groaned, his ears pinning back against his head as he looked up at the tall blond. "What's your problem?"

Elliot seemed to stare for a moment while Boris was hissing at him. He let the boy go after awhile. "You lost someone in that shootout didn't you?" Boris froze. "You wanna know why I was gone for so long?" Boris had to admit, he was curious. So he gave a small nod as his ears started to perk up again. "I smashed my friend's clock." Boris stared with wide eyes, you could do that? "Both me and him didn't want to be reborn a different person. It's just...wrong, don't you think?" Boris had to say, he never really thought about it. "Who did you lose?"

"My parents.."His shoulders shook as he tried to hold in the tears. No, he was not going to cry again. Elliot seemed to give the kid a sad smile before patting him on the head.

"Sorry for your loss. Now, shall we get going?" Boris nodded, grabbing ahold of the other's sleeve without a word and started to drag him down the hall. Boris opened up the large door and lead him into the larger room. "Wow, I forgot how big the rooms were in this place." Elliot said before Boris let go of his sleeve to go jump on the bed. Elliot rolled his eyes, but didn't stop the kid.

"Hey, Elliot." Boris asked when he stopped jumped, and the hare looked over at him. "Isn't breaking a clock like, against the rules or something?"

"Yup. Got locked up by that stupid clockmaker..." Elliot hissed out as he explored his new room. It needed some color.."Blood got me out though."

"So does that mean that Blood's gonna get locked up to?" He asked, tail twitching.

Elliot laughed. "I don't think they could catch him." Boris laughed aswell.

"Yeah, you're probably right.." He said, sitting down on the bed and leaned against the headboard. It was quite for a moment before Elliot started to speak again.

"What did the duke do when Chance was shot?"

Boris was caught of by the question, absentmindedly stroking his boa. "Um...Dunno. I was kinda focused on my parents..." He said, pulling the boa off of his shoulders. "Apparently he had enough breath to say he wanted his boa to be passed onto the next cheshire." Elliot walked over, touching the boa before a smile broke out on his face.

"I knew this was firmilar. God, he really did love this thing. Did you dye it?"

"Gowland had one of the workers dye it for me. Since I like purple and pink better than teal and gray."

Elliot nodded. "Makes sense."

"So you knew Chance?" He asked, pulling the boa back into it's rightful spot.

"Yup. We were pretty good friends, you know, when the previous hatter was still around." He said, sitting on the bed next to Boris. "I was with him when he got that boa. He just saw and it ran off to buy it. It was completely white then he dyed it teal and gray." Boris just nodded, standing up from the bed and going over to the window.

"I need to get back to the park." They heard screams of 'Help us Mister kitty!' outside. "Not to mention I should probably save the twins from your boss."

"If you say so. Nice to meetcha Boris."

He grinned. "You won't be saying that for long~" Boris chuckled before jumping out of the window.

Elliot smirked and leaned back into the headboard. "You got a good replacement Chance..."