Shinku's eyes widened and she jumped back, raising her cane in preparation against any possible attack.
"Relax…" Katsutoshi sighed, and sat down, propping his head up on his hand. "You did want to find me, didn't you?"
Shinku lowered her cane, but was still on guard. She frowned and nodded slightly, casting a quick glance around whilst she did so.
Katsutoshi saw Shinku's eyes dart around and smiled. "Suigintou is not here right now," he said, making Shinku turn back to him.
Shinku briefly wondered where Suigintou went before she realised this was her best chance. But she had to ask first. "Why did you join Suigintou?" she asked.
Katsutoshi sighed. "I don't pair with the weak," he simply said with a small smile.
The fifth doll couldn't help but feel a little offended that he was subtly mocking her along with her other sisters.
"Hey, I don't mean to upset you," Katsutoshi raised his hands in mock surrender. "Suigintou simply gives off a more… determined aura, I suppose." He lowered his hands and smiled at Shinku again. "Now, why don't you ask me what you really came here for?"
"Will you answer?" Shinku replied, knowing that the blue doll in front of her already knew what she went there for.
Katsutoshi shrugged. "I suppose, Suigintou didn't say not to…so it's up to me."
Shinku narrowed her eyes at the doll sitting so casually in front of her.
"Well…can you tell me which dolls aren't participating in the Alice game as well as the time limit?" she asked.
Katsutoshi made a thinking noise and pursued his lips in a disappointed fashion. Shinku barely caught the expression before it disappeared and his grin replaced it. He proceeded to answer her question without another second of hesitation.
Shinku's jaw almost dropped open at how easily he answered her, along with the shock of the answers she received. Hinaichigo…Kanaria…and Kirakishou all won't be participating in the Alice game. Yet they all were somehow still moving. Perhaps they were blessed in a way of thinking.
"Is that it?" Katsutoshi's voice broke into her thoughts.
She was speechless for a few moments as she continued to run through her collecting thoughts.
"Fifth doll, are you listening?"
"My name is Shinku…" she only whispered, looking back up at the doll. "Didn't you know?"
"Maybe, I may have forgotten," he answered. "Shinku…"
They were silent for a few moments as they simply stared at each other, both with unreadable expressions despite Shinku's frown and his smile.
"Shinku!"
Both turned to face the sudden outburst. Shinku recognised the voice as Suiseiseki's, and she was right when the green gardener floated down with Mitsuru behind her.
"What are you doing here?" Shinku demanded.
"Ooh, target practice," Katsutoshi smiled, raising his hand at Suiseiseki. Before any of them could do anything, five sharp ice darts flew towards Suiseiseki.
The gardener cried out and raised her hands to take the impact, but somehow the ice crystals melted inches away from her and only dripped onto her dress.
"Was that your doing?" Katsutoshi asked with a smile, looking at the red headed doll dressed in black.
All eyes turned to the doll. Mitsuru was silent and only raised his hand, making everyone brace themselves for an attack, but he simply raised his hand and removed his gold-rimmed monocle.
His eyes were piercing, they all saw. They were rather narrow and were gold coloured, somewhat like a cats. Mitsuru ignored the others and tucked his monocle into his shirt pocket.
"My name is Mitsuru, and I will not tolerate those who attempt to harm-"
"I can take care of myself!" Suiseiseki broke in, flustered.
"Suiseiseki, what are you doing here?" Shinku demanded loudly, making every doll turn in her direction.
"I came because you were taking a while and I was worried," Suiseiseki retorted.
"Where's Souseiseki?" Shinku asked.
"With the old man," Suiseiseki frowned.
Katsutoshi sighed, looking at his feet as everyone's attention was elsewhere. He moved his right hand in front of him and slowly began to make a swan of ice out of boredom.
"Katsutoshi!"
"Hn?" he stopped making the swan, stopping before the head was created. "How do you know my name?"
"That's irrelevant," Mitsuru simply replied.
"Whatever. I'm bored," Katsutoshi said and went back to his swan, ignoring everyone.
Then all heads but Katsutoshi's turned at the sound of soft laughter. "What a gathering…"
"Suigintou!" Shinku and Suiseiseki cried out at the same time.
"Katsutoshi, what's the meaning of this?" Suigintou revealed herself and floated down beside said doll.
"They just came," he replied, abandoning his swan and standing up. "Want to get rid of them? They're bothering me."
"Wait!" Shinku interjected. "You don't have to fight to become Alice!"
"We know," Suigintou said, waving her hand dismissively. "But you can fight to become Alice."
"How did the mission go?" Katsutoshi asked.
Suigintou turned and smiled at the blue doll. "It was easy."
"What did you do?" Suiseiseki shouted with her water can in hand.
"Oh, you're the other gardener," Suigintou regarded the doll with a smile. "Your twin may or may not have severe injuries, but don't ask me how they got there."
"You!" Suiseiseki pointed her watering can at Suigintou and sent thick green vines in her direction. Her eyes widened when she saw Suigintou didn't even move. She's not going to dodge?
Then the vines hit something before exploding. Suiseiseki covered her eyes before turning back and seeing a wall of ice between her and Suigintou. Her eyes went to Katsutoshi who was waving with a smile.
Suigintou smiled smugly. "Katsutoshi, get rid of her for me, will you?" she asked.
"Stop!" Shinku cried out as she saw the blue doll bow and turn to Suiseiseki. "Stop fighting, we're sisters, we shouldn't-"
"Shut up, Shinku!" Suigintou snapped, flying over towards her. "You're just a weak doll, playing house everyday with your pathetic medium!"
Seeing Shinku's shocked reaction, Suigintou smiled. "Say…where is he?"
Suigintou wrapped her hands around Shinku's neck, taking advantage of the fact that she was without her medium. "I don't need a medium, not like you Shinku, I'm stronger."
"Shinku!" Suiseiseki cried, trying to aid Shinku. But then suddenly Katsutoshi was there, holding out a long blade of ice to her face.
"Your battle is with me," he said.
"I'll be the one to deal with you," a soft voice said. Mitsuru placed his hand on Katsutoshi's shoulder, and gently pushed him away from Suiseiseki. "You won't get past me."
"Hm," Katsutoshi murmured with a grin. "Let's see about that…"
A/N: It has been a while. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to review. ^_^
See ya next time.