Change of Plans--A Heart no Kuni no Alice FanFiction

Chapter 09: Sugar High and Adrenaline Rush

Elliot and Alice both decided that it would probably be best just to keep our tour local, since it was really only my first day here and they didn't want to drag me around. Well, I was the one who said I didn't want to get dragged around, so Alice took my side. Poor Elliot was outnumbered, so he reluctantly agreed to hold off on the whole tour. I made sure to promise him that they could take me for the whole thing at a later time. Seeing as I didn't think I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, that promise would most definitely be fulfilled.

The center of town was a very interesting place, though by interesting I mean to say that it was a little...surreal. It was kind of unnerving to see so many people without faces walking around, especially in a setting that was kind of familiar to me. I can still remember walking around the center square of town back home as a little girl, holding Don's hand tightly so I wouldn't get lost. I felt a pang in my chest at the memory though and immediately pushed it aside. I didn't want to get sentimental and weepy in front of Alice or the trigger-happy hare.

As I'd said before, the center square's scene was very familiar. It was as if someone had taken one of the towns from home and made a copy of it to place here for my convenience. I found myself slightly comforted by the familiarity of the buildings and their merchandise. There were bookshops, clothing stores for men and women (I made sure to ask Alice about stores on the other side of the street to avoid her pulling me towards them), a few bakeries and cafes, and outdoor vendors selling various foods and material items. Alice knew a few of these vendors and greeted them with a wave.

After showing me some more highlights, Alice turned to face me. "What do you think?" she asked me eagerly, gesturing at the bustling square. Elliot, who had remained oddly quiet during most of the tour, glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, also waiting for my opinion of his home.

"It reminds me a lot of home, actually," I replied, stepping out of the way as two small children darted past my legs, obviously in the middle of a high-stakes game of Tag. "It's rather heartwarming to say the least." I caught a glimpse of Elliot's pleased smile and I felt my stomach do a tiny jump-it was as if I was happy that I'd made him smile like that. I snapped my attention back to Alice and gave her a little grin, focusing on her instead of the butterflies in my stomach.

"That's something I love about Wonderland," Alice told me with a grin. "Even though it can get really crazy here, there are some places that remind me a little of home." Her eyes suddenly lit up and she reached up and tapped Elliot's shoulder. "Let's take Ron to the sweets shop and get her some ice cream!" Alice said excitedly. My eyes lit up when she mentioned 'sweets,' and I got a big grin on my face when she said 'ice cream.'

Elliot opened his mouth to answer her, but he caught a glimpse of something over Alice's shoulder and his face fell. "I'd love to join you guys," he said, glancing over at me, "but I just saw one of Blood's business partners." I cocked my head quizzically at him and he sighed heavily. "Blood told me that if I saw him I needed to remind him of a business deal they're working on..." He was biting his lip nervously, glancing from me to Alice and back again.

I waved a hand at him airily. "Work comes before play, Triggy," I told him, the use of my nickname for him earning me a displeased glare. "Go on and talk to the guy," I rephrased, nodding my head at the man he'd seen. "You can meet us back here after you're done with your discussion, okay?" Elliot nodded glumly and I felt my insides twist a little bit. I had wanted him to come with us, but I didn't want him to get in trouble if he didn't follow Blood's orders. And yes, it was because I didn't want Elliot to get hurt or anything like that. I can be considerate sometimes, believe it or not.

"Alright then," Elliot muttered unhappily, his long ears drooping slightly. I felt my own mood dip a little bit when I heard the disappointed note in his voice. "I'll see you guys back here later then." He gave us a half-hearted attempt at a smile before walking around us and moving in the direction his target had disappeared to. I watched him as he moved farther away from us, trying to ignore the small knot of disappointment in my stomach.