Okay, I'm just saying right now that this might be my last update for a while because I'm having a bit of writers block. I will try to get the next chapter up tomorrow though, and if not, well, please be patient with me.

I do not own Pandora Hearts in any way.

Chapter 20: Out On The Plains

"Hey, Sasha." I yawned as I walked into the kitchen, my sister making breakfast.

She nodded and handed me a plate. "Here's some bacon and eggs."

"Thanks." I took it and sat down at the table.

"At least you've got time to get ready before you leave." She said, a mocking tone in her voice.

"Don't remind me." I said, cutting into the egg. I seriously wasn't looking forward to school, and after a weekend such as this too. "Hey, have you seen Leo today? He's usually up before me."

"No, I haven't."

"Oh." To not see him up by now was very strange indeed.

"Carrie," I turned my head up from munching on bacon to face her. "I...me and Leo talked last night."

The piece I was eating hung limply from my mouth until I realized it and put it on my plate. "Huh? I thought he would still be asleep."

"Not at all. He was sitting by the woodstove." Sasha then got a plate of food for herself and sat down across from me. We were both quiet for a moment before she spoke up again. "He told me that he didn't really trust himself anymore."

My eyes widened slightly. "Why would he say such a thing?"

"I think it's because of what happened yesterday."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Thinking back, I could see why. I mean, it wasn't entirely his fault, it was that fragment inside him. However, he seemed to think differently. But, still, this wasn't because of him.

"Ah, that's right." I was snapped out of my wondering when she spoke. "I did see him in his room earlier."

"Really? Let me guess, he was reading."

"No. He was just laying in bed." She answered. I stopped cutting up the egg and looked up at her. "I asked him if he wanted anything to eat, and he just had me bring him a piece of toast."

"Just toast?" I asked with concern. "Is he alright?"

"I guess so. I asked him the same thing, but he said he just felt really tiered and wanted to sleep."

"Okay then." I then glanced over at the clock, the time reading 7:35. "I have to get ready to go."

I got up from the table and rushed upstairs, going into my room and grabbing my book bag, then putting on my coat and combing my hair. After I finished and left my room, I stopped when I passed the door to Leo's room. I really had to leave, but I wanted to make sure he was really okay.

Slowly opening the door, I stepped inside and found Leo, sleeping just like Sasha said. I smiled lightly and approached him, letting out a sigh at the plate of half eaten toast on the nightstand. He lay on his side facing away from me with the covers limply laying on him, peacefully sleeping. I gently reached down and pulled the covers up over him, letting them lay at his neck.

"Sweet dreams." I whispered before I left the room, closing the door behind me. My pace picked up again as I continued on to the stairs.

"He still sleeping?" Sasha asked me as I walked down the stairs.

I nodded as I hopped down the last step and she handed me my lunch box. "I'll see you later."

"Carrie, wait!" I turned back to her just as I opened the door. "He also told me last night that he would protect you if needed. I think he's a pretty decent guy."

There were no words to describe that feeling of hearing that. "I, uh...I gotta get going!"

"Carrie."

Someone was calling me.

"Carrie."

'Ah, they sound so annoying.' I thought to myself.

"Hey, Carrie!" Someone then took to shaking my shoulder, officially snapping me out of my daydreaming. I saw that it was Grace who had been calling my name.

"Oh, sorry about that."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her frown. "What's with you girl? You've been looking dazed and gloomy all day."

"Huh?" I offered a light smile. "Is that really noticeable?"

"Enough with that fake smile." She said, punching my arm lightly. "Let me guess. You and that boy, Leo, got in a fight."

"Eh? No nothing like that." I hopped that was enough to convince her. My mind was clouded with thoughts, like what Sasha said about Leo wanting to protect me, and...that kiss.

"You've got to tell me!" Nope, she wasn't buying it.

"You really want to know?" I said, becoming more irritated. "I'm dazed because we kissed yesterday!"

I quickly slapped my hand over my mouth, realizing what I had just said. I hadn't really meant to say it, but the words just slipped out of my mouth in an instant. I could feel my face heating up as her smile grew wider.

"You two...kissed...?" I nodded slowly and she let out a laugh. "That's great, Carrie! You're in love!"

"What?" I exclaimed, my face getting redder. What had happened back then, I was trying to snap him out of that unresponsive state. There was no way I could tell her that though. "N-no way! That's not t-true!"

"You can't deny a thing like that. He saved you, you saved him in return, plus he's been living with you. I saw you at the dance, and during that slow song, you looked totally happy. If you kissed him, you must be in love!"

"I, uh..." I had to admit, that day when it happened, my lips against his own, it felt like time had stopped. The feeling is hard to describe, but, it was like I was floating on air, and I felt so warm inside. It had been something more that just an effort to get him back, it was my proclamation of love, addressing my feelings.

'It...is true. I want us to be more.'

"I...guess I...I do like him." I nervously said. I then thought back to what Sasha had said to me this morning. Her words sounded as if she was aproving the concept of us being a couple, even though I never talked to her about that before.

"Then tell him how you feel."

"What?" This conversation was getting to be a little too much for me. "Okay, so I may like him, but what if he doesn't feel the same for me?"

"Carrie," Grace sighed and put a hand on my shoulder. "That guy, he seems perfect for you, and I'm sure he likes you too."

"Yeah." I closed my eyes, my mind drifting back to him. "I'll think about it."

It was true, I had taken a liking to Leo. Ever since we had met, deep down, I had felt something warm about him, making me feel at ease. It was a light feeling that made my heart beat faster every time. Maybe this was the truth, but if so, how was I supposed to tell him, and would he understand my feelings?

The silence between us lasted for what seemed like forever, but Grace soon broke it.

"Oh, I just remembered. You like that scripture stuff, right?"

"Of course." That was another interest of mine. Right now, I was even more interested in them because of a new development. Maverick, someone who works alongside me at Pandora, told me of a scripture that could possibly bring back my ancestor, who was also Leo's master and friend; Elliot Nightray. It could work, requiring my blood as a descendent, if this scripture actually exists.

"Well you know what I just found out?" She looked really excited about this. "There've been rumors going around that the plains that are in the back of your house used to hold a small library that stored scriptures, including one weird one for revival."

My eyes widened at the mention the very last word. 'A revival scripture? Could it possibly...?'

"Those plains?" I've been out there many times before, and I've never seen anything like that, not even ruins. "That's odd. I've never seen even ruins."

"Oh well, it is a rumor after all." I wasn't about to tell her that this could be the truth, but, I was thankful for her insight. If I could find where these supposed ruins are, then there's a good chance of finding the scripture along with it.

If I could find it, I could bring back Elliot.

I threw my book bag into a chair when I got back from school, not thinking about anything else except what Grace had told me earlier today.

'If even the slightest possibility of those ruins existing, then there's the chance the scripture will be there too.'

"Carrie, I'm off to work." Sasha's voice interrupted out of the silence.

"I thought you left this morning."

"Nah. I didn't have to go in till the afternoon."

I rolled my eyes, the answer being obvious. "Okay then. Hey, wait. Is Leo up yet?"

"He was earlier." She answered. "He came down to get something to drink and then went back upstairs."

"Good to know." I said, getting a glass out of the cupboard so I could get a drink for myself. I watched as Sasha grabbed her pocketbook, mumbled something I wasn't paying any attention to, and walked out of the house. Even though I had walked over to the fridge, my eyes had watched her the entire time. I stopped all movement when I saw her disappear out of sight, and I smiled.

"Alright, now's the time!" Ah, saying that again, it was deja vu for me. Memories of that day flashed across my mind as I rushed out the door and headed for the plains. Weird how a day that had started of with that led to me and Leo to meet each other. Everything felt like it was repeating itself, but this time it would be different.

Quickly making my way through the grove of trees, I soon came into the middle of the plain, looking out into a clear blue sky. I took one look around and sighed.

'Just as I thought, no ruins.' I concluded. I knew it, but I couldn't give up just yet.

I started walking around, looking for any sort of clue, but there was nothing here to give me any sense of direction in finding it. I let out a sigh and continued to look around.

I soon lost track of time and didn't know how long I'd been searching and going around in circles.

'I should go back.' I thought as I continued to walk along. 'I mean, I don't even know how-'

My words were cut off into a yelp as my feet tripped up on something. I let out an annoyed growl as I turned around to see what my feet had tripped on, and what I saw looked very similar to a manhole cover that you'd see in the city, but this one seemed larger and had symbols written across it.

"This is..." I ran my hand across it, wondering about these symbols. I wasn't able to understand it, at least until I suddenly felt a pulse of energy run through me.

Then I knew what this was.

"This is the entrance." I breathed, realizing it. "Underneath here is the library!"

"What is it? Is there something here?"

There it was again, that strange far away voice. Ah, forget it, there's no time to ponder this.

Taking a deep breath, I got a grip on the covering and lifted it. Underneath reveled a latter, and I knew this would lead me down into the library, to the scripture, and the key to bringing back Elliot.

Let's hope she finds it. Like I said, I will try to have the next chapter up by tomorrow. I'll work as fast as I can. Until then, feel free to leave a reveiw.