"Ma-er…Souseiseki…" Shinichi was quick to correct himself. He pinched himself quickly on the arm to remind him not to refer to her as master. "What shall we do now?"
Souseiseki didn't like to pace. But she did. She paced around her room with her hands behind her back and her head bent low, thinking like crazy. She wasn't expecting this turn of events.
When Souseiseki didn't answer and only kept pacing, Shinichi walked over and tapped her on the shoulder. Surprised, Souseiseki spun around.
"What?"
Shinichi took a step back and began to look slightly timid again. "I've got a suggestion…"
"What is it?" Souseiseki was but for any suggestion at that point.
"Well since you want to become Alice so badly…" Shinichi hesitated and his face flushed, showing slight signs of a blush. Souseiseki narrowed her eyes, wandering what he was thinking.
"How about…we go on a date?"
Souseiseki's jaw almost fell open.
"I mean, if you want," Shinichi added, looking away. Souseiseki took a moment to process the offer before she dragged her hands down her face.
"You know what?" Souseiseki took Shinichi's hand. "Let's do it, let's go on a date."
Shinichi was surprised to say the least. He wasn't expecting her to agree so easily - in fact, not to agree at all. Perhaps it was a spur of the moment thing.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Souseiseki said firmly. Once her mind was made up, she wasn't to be swayed. She looked out the one window in the room and saw that it was still bright outside. It was only afternoon, and the weather was nice for once. "Let's go today."
"Uh…" Shinichi hesitated. "Where shall we go, though?"
Souseiseki freed her hand from his and patted her chin, thinking. "A park," she decided. "Humans should be mostly shopping at this time, even Nori."
"Who's Nori?"
"Jun's sister," Souseiseki replied before boldly taking her hands in Shinichi's again. "Let's go."
Shinichi took it as a command and obediently followed Souseiseki. He was bewildered. She was acting a little strange, but he guessed it was for the best.
Souseiseki stopped for a moment just to let the old man and woman in the house that she was going to go out for the afternoon before the two went out the door, hand in hand.
"Souseiseki…" Shinichi said as he flew next to her, hiding from human eyes above foliage filled trees. "Do you know where you're going?"
"Yes," she only replied before taking a sharp turn, pulling him with her. Before long the trees, shrubs and green blades of grass replaced buildings and humans.
"Here's nice," Souseiseki sighed peacefully before lowering herself onto the grass next to Shinichi. Sitting still, feeling the cool breeze on her face, she began to relax and her shoulders especially stopped behind tense. Shinichi noticed this and smiled inwardly, glad that Souseiseki was feeling better.
"Shinichi, can you tell me something?"
He turned to the doll next to him at the sound of his name. "Yes?"
"Do you think this will actually work, you know, this love thing?" Souseiseki asked, looking up at the cloud free sky.
"Hm, I definitely didn't think this was the answer till Shinku said it," he said. "But it makes sense."
"I guess it does," Souseiseki said before looking back down. "I wonder how Suiseiseki is doing," she said to herself as an afterthought.
Suiseiseki had actually left Jun's house, claiming to be sick of Hinaichigo when she actually had another thing in mind. She had promised Souseiseki just before she left, whispering it so no other doll would know. She was going to find the third doll.
Suiseiseki sipped tea with the old man and woman of the house, nodding every once when something was said. Her mind was clearly elsewhere, but the old couple didn't pry.
"Um… where did Souseiseki go?"
The man chuckled, even if it sounded more like a wheeze. "She went off with Shinichi… how about you go join them; she said she'd be at the park." The old man smiled kindly to her. Suiseiseki smiled back and placed her cup down with a nod.
"Okay, but we'll definitely be back for dinner!" Suiseiseki put in a brilliant smile to reassure the couple before she ran out the door and began to fly towards the park. She smiled as she flew towards the park she was very familiar with, the one she and Souseiseki used to go to back when the days were peaceful.
But as she flew above the trees, something red caught her eye and she stopped mid-air upon seeing what, or who, it was. It was a doll. She flew a back so not to alert him of her presence.
The doll had straight, long red hair that flowed in the wind. If it weren't for his black tail coat, she would have thought he was a girl. Along with that he wore a white undershirt and a red cravat. On his hands were gloves like Shinichi's. He wore a pair of black slacks and had on shiny black shoes and white socks.
His red fringe covered his right eye and on the left he wore a golden monocle that was reflective so neither eye could be seen.
He was a weird doll, but this was the doll that she had to love. She swallowed before flying over. The doll turned slowly towards her, finally noticing her. Suiseiseki hesitated briefly before flying over to face him.
"Uh…" Suiseiseki was at lost for words for the first time. "Hi?"
She didn't know what else to say. However, before the doll could reply, another doll called her name.
"Suiseiseki?" the disbelieving voice of Souseiseki travelled to her ears. Suiseiseki turned at the sound of her twin's voice.
"Souseiseki!" Suiseiseki flew down towards the couple. "I knew you'd be here!"
"You found the third doll?" Souseiseki raised an eyebrow. Suiseiseki looked up at the red doll who was simply floating in mid-air.
"Well of course!" she said, standing up straighter. "It was easy, desu." She crossed her arms proudly.
Souseiseki smiled at her twin and was about to speak again before another voice cut in.
"Hello."
Suiseiseki jumped back when the red haired doll appeared suddenly by her side, having not noticed him fly down.
"My name is Mitsuru," the doll said with a bow.
A/N: I was planning to delay his appearance just for suspense *giggle* but I decided not to make you people wait any longer.
I don't particularly like this chapter for some reason, but I hope you do. :D
See you soon. :3