Chapter 4: escape attempts and powers exposed
Disclaimer: I don't own American McGee's Alice/ Alice the madness returns or any thing to do with Hakuouki.
While Alice was postulating about her possible escape an argument had broken out in the meeting room.
"What! Let her live!" Exlaimed Shinpachi in shock at Hijikata's decision about their new "house guest".
"Is that alright Hijikata-San, the girl witnessed them, she saw the failed ones" claimed Sanosuke, staring at Hijikata begging him for an answer.
"Last night we eliminated warriors who turned their back on the code, but the thing that disturbed me is that she managed to disembowel one of the three we were sent out to destroy, thus causing her be a witness to their death" Hijikata stated calmly as he sipped his tea quietly.
"So just going by that, Do you wish to say it friend?" Sannan said softly looking at Hijikata with calculating eyes.
"That is the extent of the poor child's grasp of this situation" Hijikata replied sternly glaring back at Sannan.
"Well if you say so Toshi" stated Kondo looking at his associate with concern.
"This was your plan from the start yes? Otherwise you wouldn't have brought her back to headquarters well not alive anyway, with that being said, This secret will have to be protected, we simply can't let her go Scott free," Sannan stated matter of factly.
"I'm well aware of that, there are things I still need to confirm" said Hijikata pushing himself up on to his feet heading towards the door.
Meanwhile Alice was brooding in her gilded cage, she knew if she stuck around she would certainly end up dead with in a week at the most, they even made sure to hinder her by confiscating her boots and the vorpal blade. However she had to get out regardless of the situation she's in, she knew that they were going to put the needs of the Shinsengumi above her circumstances.
As she reached her decision Alice got to her feet and went to the door and opened it. Carefully checking that no one was around, she made a break for her much cherished freedom only to grabbed by the back of her dress and raised up until her feet where no longer on the ground beneath her.
As Alice turned her head to tear into whoever was doing this to her, she saw Hijikata's amethyst purple eyes burning with anger.
"you idiot, did you really think that you could escape like that" he said in an angry tone.
"put me down!" Shouted Alice in frustration trying to get out of his firm grip.
"I told you I'll kill you if you tried this" he warned her sternly.
"you'll do that anyway, if I stay I'll probably end up being a whore for you until my use is at it's end, I refuse to end up that way, I've waited for way too long to have my freedom back, I won't let some one take that away from me" she stated angrily.
This statement caused Hijikata to put her down allowing Alice some leeway to run or at least make another escape attempt through her powers. At least until she felt his hand clamp tightly around her tiny wrist.
"If there's a reason for you to risk your life out there, I'm more than willing to hear it" he said primly, as he began to pull her towards wear she guessed were his quarters are.
As he opened the door he shoved her in causing Alice to fall to her knees.
"so what is this reason you want to take your chances out there" demanded Hijikata.
For Alice it was like a dam bursting and flooding the room. Every thing came out, the fire, her parents and sisters deaths, her time at Rutledge Asylum and her life in London thereafter, this caused Hijikata to see a different side to his prisoner, at first he saw a vicious woman capable of killing without remorse, but now he saw, a woman who had a life worse than anyone, she was small, vulnerable, delicate, yet strong and determined to survive wherever she goes. But he could sense that there was more that she wasn't saying, so he chose to be patient and wait till she was ready to tell him.
"there is something else you should know, I have some odd powers" Alice said looking down in disgrace, as she gave away her dirty secret.
"What powers?"he asked obviously curious about her abilities.
As a demonstration she used her butterfly swarm, shrinking and growing (not to a giant but big enough) and summoning weapons from hammerspace.
" You're right they are odd but they saved your life last night" said Hijikata not knowing weather to fear her or be awed at her abilities.
"I suppose, but my safety is not worth my freedom, this is a cage in the guise of a building, a cage now matter how gilded it is, is still a cage" she said sadly silently, wishing she was at her residence in town.
Knowing the sad predicament the poor girl was in he decided to carry on talking to her if only to bring some comfort to her.
" I never did learn your name" said Hijikata hesitantly knowing, for a fact while Alice has been living in the area for a couple of years, her clothes still practically screamed western girl, meaning she grew up with different ideas on what was considered good and proper.
"It's Alice, Alice Liddell" she said politely sitting up.
"well Alice, I can't take any risks with your safety, and if people where to find out of your abilities who knows what will happen, but we can try to make you more comfortable if you pull your weight" stated Hijikata in a bid to comfort his guest, well he couldn't call her a prisoner or hostage, now the situation has changed.
As he got up he head shuffling and whispers from behind the door only to have a group of curious soldiers fall in.
"so I'm guessing that you've heard everything, so I want two of you to go with Alice here, to her residents and help her collect whatever possessions she needs and help her bring them here, she is no longer a prisoner but rather a guest under the Shinsengumi's protection" Hijikata ordered causing multiple volunteers to do so, and all that Alice could think was that this was going to be a long day.