Hey there! Here's chapter 4. :3

Well now it looks like the twins are going to be used for a while. *yawns* *5am* XD

Ahh so thank you readers and reviewers! I love you all so much. XD

Please enjoy the chapter~~

Disclaimer: I don't own Joker/Clover/Heart no Kuni no Alice. If I did, I'd add in more evilness. *evil laughter*

-Chapter Four-

-A Promising Deal-

I awoke in a foul mood. For some strange reason my body was aching terribly. While sitting up, I started to remember the events that took place before I fell unconscious. Leaving through the window. Finding out about the mafia. Being slammed into by something red and scary. Yes. I had learned my lesson. Do not fall victim to the demonic twins.

I looked out the window to see that it was dark. If I left now, it would either be morning or evening later on. Perfect. I'd figure it all out myself.

Leaping out the window, I headed towards the gate.

Once reaching my destination, I crept slowly alongside the wall and looked around carefully.

Not a demonic child in sight.

I ran past the gate, feeling relieved. Finally I could explore. Finally I could- Forest…

I froze in my tracks as I stared at the forest before me. It looked too dark and spooky right about now. An owl hooted which caused me to jump.

"This is just great. Those stupid twins gave me a new phobia," I whispered to myself as an eye twitched. Just what was I supposed to do now?

I took a few steps back then felt myself bump into something.

"What are you doing sister?" asked a familiar voice. I gulped and turned my head slowly to see none other than Dee standing there with a grin on his face.

"None of your business," I answered with a forced smile.

"You weren't trying to run away were you?"

"No… I just wanted some fresh air."

"Mhm~"

For some reason I could tell he wasn't convinced. Oh how I wanted to punch him.

"Did you find sister?" asked Dum while running towards us.

"Yes brother, she's here," Dee said merrily.

"Great! C'mon sister. Big Sis wants you to eat."

"Not hungry."

"But you have to eat," said Dum.

"No I don't. There's no law."

"But you'll die."

"I'M NOT GOING TO DIE!" I balled up a fist in anger.

"Hmm."

"Hmm."

"Please sister… We don't want you to die," said Dum with big red orbs and a frown.

"Won't you eat sister?" asked Dee with tears in his eyes.

They were obviously acting. But… But why do they have to look so cute! ? My anger melted away instantly. Normally I wouldn't fall so easily, but to see a person with red eyes tear up only made me think of the hardships in my past life.

I sighed in defeat.

"Okay… I'll come," I said with a frown.

"Yay~" said the twins merrily as they each took a hand and pulled me back towards the mansion. On our way there, I couldn't help but glance at Dum. I wondered if he ever had any hardships. Or maybe this was something that only happened in my world.

"We brought her Big Sis~" said the twins. They ran to their seats quickly to eat their meals.

"Good to see you young miss," greeted Blood.

"I'm glad to see you," said a relieved Alice. She looked like a really kind-hearted person. Kind of like Aura.

"Now come sit down and eat," she said while motioning me to a seat across a man I haven't yet met. As I sat down, I couldn't help but notice the furry long ears attached to his head.

"Hey there! So you're the new outsider," said the man in a cheery voice. "My name's Elliot March. What's yours?"

"Alex Garsel. It's a pleasure to meet you." I smiled as he went back to stuffing his face with what appeared to be carrot cake. I continued to stare at the ears.

"Are those real?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Hm?"

"Ears," I said while pointing at them. "Are they real?"

"Of course they're real. What kind of question is that?"

"My mistake," I said while laughing nervously. It's obviously normal for grown men to have animal ears. Though having ears like that. I wonder.

"So are you a rabbit?"

"N-no! I'm no rabbit. Can't you tell?" Elliot seemed to take the question really personally.

"Well I was asking because I couldn't." I sighed.

"I'm a dog," Elliot said proudly. I stared at the man in confusion.

"I… see…" Exactly what kind of dog had long ears like that?

"No you're a stupid chicken rabbit," said the twins.

"WHAT WAS THAT?"

"You heard us you dumb chicken rabbit!"

"YOU DAMN LITTLE BRATS!"

I ate my food silently while trying to pay no attention to the twins and mister rabbit/dog/whatever he was argue with one another. Soon gunshots and blades clashing were heard which caused me to jump.

"Ah, tea is always best when served at night," Blood said while sipping his tea. He was completely ignoring the scene between the twins and Elliot. Alice for one looked like she was getting fed up with it.

"That's enough," she finally said. "Stop arguing and eat your food before it gets cold."

"Okay Big Sis," the twins said cheerfully and ran to the table. Dee sat to her left while Dum sat to her right, both hugging her dearly. Elliot cursed under his breath while walking back to his seat.

I couldn't help but watch the twins as I started to discover something interesting. They looked really attached to Alice. Actually… Come to think of it, when Ace and I first arrived here, they looked as if they'd rather die than hand her over. Could it be that they were possibly in love with her? Or maybe they just treasured her too much as a sister. But still…

I continued to watch the twins snuggle a poor Alice who only wanted to eat her meal in peace. This gave me a good idea.

After the meal, I waited a while before going after the twins.

"Hey wait," I said, running up to them after I spotted them in the hallway. They gave me questioning looks.

"What is it sister?" asked Dum.

"I have a question," I said then looked around. Nobody here.

"What's the question?"

I was starting to feel stupid for doing this. What if I was wrong? I'd be a laughing stock for sure… But I couldn't back out now. I had to be confident.

"Are you guys… like… you know…" Yeah this was definitely becoming harder to ask.

Dee gave me a bored expression.

"Are you going to ask or not?"

"Ugh, are you guys in love with Alice?"

"Yeah we love her."

"We really, really love Big Sis."

I felt like collapsing after hearing them confess such a thing so easily. Too easily!

"For real?"

"Mhm~"

"Yeah~"

"Wow."

"What is it sister?"

"Well it's just that I'm surprised. You just admitted your love to someone and you don't look shy or embarrassed or anything."

"Why do we need to be shy? We love Big Sis. That's it," said Dee.

"An' we're gonna make her love us too~" Dum said excitedly.

After regaining my composure, I thought to myself. Yeah, maybe this could work out after all.

"Hey you want to make a deal?" I asked.

"What kind of deal?" asked Dee while raising a brow in suspicion.

"Something that could work for all of us. So how about this. If you guys agree to act as my guides in this world, then I promise I will do everything in my power to help you guys win Alice's heart."

It looked like the plan was working. The twins looked surprised and excited to hear this.

"You'll really help us sister?" asked Dum.

"Yep. I give you my word."

"How do we know you're not going to cheat us in the end?" asked Dee.

"Because it's a promise. I'm strictly against breaking any promises I make. Even if it killed me, I'd never break one." That was the truth. I had always taken all my promises seriously. Which sometimes made life a whole lot harder for me.

"Hmm~ Oh well. It's a deal," Dee finally agreed. Both boys grinned then gave me a hug.

"We're keeping you to your word sister."

"Don't let us down."

"R-right…" I laughed nervously. I really didn't want these two little demons hugging me right now. Oh well. At least I could finally go where I wanted to starting tomorrow.

After a forced breakfast from Alice, I left the Hatter Mansion with very happy twins.

"So where to first sister?" asked Dee.

"Hmm how about the Clock Tower?"

"Why do you wanna go to such a boring place?" asked Dum.

"Because I want to say thanks, and there's something I want to check out?"

"Oh?"

"And what are you checking out?"

"I want to know if my vial is there."

I remembered Alice telling me about a vial. How it was the only way back home, and I was supposed to have one. But for some unknown reasons I didn't. There was a chance the vial was dropped at the tower then.

"Oh yeah! You never got one," said Dum.

"That's right. When I first arrived in this world, I ended up at the Clock Tower. The vial has to be there." I'd find it no matter what.

"But is that mortician gonna let us in?"

"Mortician? Is that what Julius is?"

"Yeah. Sister's not very smart."

"Shut it! He'll definitely let us inside," I said while pouting.

*SLAM*

"And don't come back! I have too much work to do," said an angry Julius after slamming the door shut on us. HOW RUDE!

"Knew it wouldn't work."

"SHUT UP DEE!"

I started banging on the door repeatedly.

"I just want to find my vial! Please!"

Julius opened the door and looked furiously angry.

"I'm busy right now. Come back another time."

"No! I promise not to bother you!"

"You're bothering me now! Besides, it's not you I'm worried about. It's them!" Julius said while pointing at the twins. I looked back at them and agreed that those two did seem like a huge menace.

"They don't have to come in."

"HEY!" shouted the twins.

"That's mean sister."

"Come back another time," Julius said again.

"If you don't let us in now, I'll scream at the top of my lungs. I swear I won't stop. Even after I run out of breath, I'll just scream some more."

Julius and I glared at each other for quite some time. After a while he sighed and gave in.

"Alright. You may come in. Just don't bother me." With that said, he walked away and went back to his room to work. I sighed in relief.

"We're coming in," demanded the twins.

"Yeah, yeah whatever."

I started searching from where I was saved by Ace. I checked every corner, behind and under every object I came across, and places high and low. Nothing.

*twitch*

"So uhm… You boys aren't going to help me are you?" I asked while on the floor. This entire time all Dee and Dum ever did was stare at me with bored expressions.

"Looks like too much work," Dee said flatly with Dum agreeing. How was it that they were perfect angels around Alice and treated me like crud?

After hours of searching, I gave up. The vial was obviously not here. I sat down in dismay, thinking of where it could possibly be.

"Well it's obviously not here," I said to the boys.

"So what now?" asked Dum.

"Well we've been here a long time, so I guess we can head back…"

The twins agreed, and we headed back to the Hatter Mansion together.

"Well that was boring," said Dee.

"Yeah, no fun."

"Sorry to ruin your day," I said in a low voice. I didn't really feel like picking a fight now.

Dee and Dum looked back at me then slowed down their pace for me to catch up.

"Why do you need the vial?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with staying here?"

"My sister… I'm worried. She's had this illness since birth. Well before I arrived here, my uncle was telling me about a way to fix her. I'm thinking he found a cure, but I'm not sure."

"Well if she's cured, then you got nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, so forget about that vial."

"I can't," I argued. "What if there really wasn't a cure all along? I'm telling you that I think he might've found one."

"If there's no cure, then wouldn't it be better if she died?" asked Dee.

"Mhm~"

"Are you boys crazy! ?" I shouted in disbelief. I couldn't believe they asked that.

"Why would we be crazy? If she died, then there'd be nothing to worry about."

I wanted to retort something back, but the word death kept repeating itself over and over in my mind. Something about that word.

Suddenly I was remembering the dream. The dream of the dead girl laying on the ground covered in blood. A warm liquid was felt in my hands. As I looked down, I could see them covered in blood.

Why?

I shut my eyes tight as the world turned black around me. The voices of the twins calling my name slowly faded away.

"Don't remember," said an unknown voice. "Don't worry. Everything is alright."

I opened my eyes to see a man with silver hair standing before me.

"Who are you?"

Thank you all for reading!

This ended up being longer than the others. Yay~

Take care everyone~ And voting is still in process.