Alice slightly turned her body but fully turned her head so that she was looking at him directly. Her face was a mix of hurt and anger, but she refused to be rude. Remember what father once told you, she told herself. Always accept apologies. Only the fortunate receive them. She finally turned her body so she was now facing Ryu. The anger drained from her as she sighed, softly shaking her head as she looked at the ground. "I accept your apology...but I have no idea what I'm doing." She then laughed at herself. "In fact, I don't think I ever knew."

"I'm the one who should be sorry. I-I...I guess I'm letting my confusion control me. I've been told I feel things too much."

He smiled sweetly. "Don't apologize, I will help you if you want." He didn't know what he could do to help but he was going to do his best. Just hoped he didn't tweak out like Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit said he did. That would probably scare her away.

The rabbits just watched them through the window, curiously to see what would happen. "Thank she'll accept his offer?" The male rabbit said. "We'll see, love. We will see." She said soothingly, she believed it would be good for both of them. Ryu specifically, he needed to fix himself after the asylum.

Alice sighed and cross her arms over her chest. It was getting cold out as she shivered. "What...what should I do first?" she asked, looking around. She could look around for hours. There looked to be so much she wanted to explore. Maybe she'd be able to do that while her stay here in Wonderland was positive. But then again, how long would she be here in Wonderland? Surely her mother and sister would miss her. Then again, they might now. After all, she wasn't someone her mother would be proud of.

"What exactly...is there to do?"

Ryu notice her shiver and took off the vest, he held it out for her. It wasn't much but it was better then what she had. He stood still trying to think, he didn't know exactly what to do he had been locked up till a few days ago. He was waiting on her to come and normally time would pass by fast, but he never remembered it or what he had done.

"I don't know." He replied confusedly.

Alice gave him a small, shy, apologetic look as she accepted his warm vest, wrapping it around her and sighing. "Thank you," she whispered. She stood there for a moment, looking down at the ground as she furrowed her eyebrows, thinking very hard. And then, all of a sudden, she raised her head and looked up at Ryu once more. "I think I have an idea."

She opened up the door to the small house of the Rabbits and walked in. "I need a list of all the horrid and unfair things the Queen that I'm to take down has done. We'll start there." She held the vest tight, finding it as some sort of solace.

Fallowing her like a puppy dog, Ryu stood behind her. "That would take for ever." He said quietly. "I know!" He exclaimed excitedly. "The asylum, free everyone she put in there just for apposing her." He said smiling at her. He knew everyone there that she wronged, only a few that are like him. Two at the tops that went crazy, the others died from chemical poisoning.

The rabbits just looked at them, the asylum wasn't the easily one to tackle but that would give her allot of support. "Ryu, are you sure you want to go back?" The female rabbit asked and he nodded in reply. "I'm the only one that escaped from there, I know how to get in and out fast." He looked at Alice. "I could do it, if I get caught you'll still be safe." He said sweetly.

Alice just looked up at Ryu, her eyebrows raised in an impressed stature. She looked between everyone who spoke and then when it was her turn, she looked up at Ryu, placing a warm hand on his forearm warily. "That sounds like a good idea actually. But...I don't want you to get caught," she said with a now-worried expression. She took back her hand and tugged slightly on the vest she now wore. She looked down at the floor. "But if you're positive you can handle this, then I don't see why not."

Alice sat walked over and sat down at the table once more, looking at the Rabbits. "Is there anyone else you know who can team up with us? The more the merrier for sure. We'll need many numbers. There's no doubt that her army will be great in size." Alice said 'her' like it was some vile word to speak of.

Ryu nodded slightly. "I'll try not to get caught." He said happily. "What if you do?" The female rabbit asked scared of the thought he would. He shook his head. "There is nothing they haven't done to me before." He replied, it was all they had for a plan and it was a big gamble but it would be best to do it now before they tighten the guards around it.

The female rabbit nodded in agreement and looked at her husband, who didn't know what to say. He held his wife's hands, he didn't want anything to happen to Ryu either, he was like a son to them.

Alice nodded her head and kept a hopeful smile smacked to her lips as she looked between everyone. She then got up and took Ryu's hands carefully, leaning in close to murmur her words. "I promise you, Ryu. I will do my very best to see to it that you don't get caught." She kept her eyes trained on him. "I may be a girl, but you know what they say. Girls can do just about anything men can do."

She let go and looked at the Rabbits. "Now. How long of a day's walk do we have? Any dangers to the asylum we'll need to face? What about supplies." She felt so excited. She hadn't been able to plan something so big like this in, well, ever.

Ryu blushed big when she grabbed his hands, it was the first time a girl every touched his hand that wasn't his mother or mother figure. He smiled weakly when she murmured her words, he half to expect to get caught; there was a bigger chance of getting caught then him getting out again. However he wouldn't tell her that and the Rabbit's know this as well as he did.

The female Rabbit let go of her husband's hands. "I will make a pack with food." She said before disappearing into the kitchen. "It's about two days ride, three if your walking; which is the bast chance to sneak up on it." The male rabbit said while Ryu rubbed his hands. The blushing never left his face. "I know the way." Ryu said barely over a whisper.

Alice had to stop and think for a moment of how cute Ryu was when he blushed. Wait, was he blushing because of her? Couldn't be.

She waited patiently as she looked around the house. Then she was the one who was blushing. "Um, is there a way I could possibly find more...suitable clothing for the trip?" she asked as she looked down at herself. Her over-sized pale blue under dress sat tied in a certain fashion to her slim body wile she wore Ryu's rather comfortable vest. She suddenly felt embarrassed. And she'd definitely need some form of shoes for sure. She hated how this was turning out all of a sudden as she sighed, putting a hand to her face.

Ryu smiled at her. "I like how you are dressed." But the male rabbit swatted at him to hush. "She is in her under clothing Ryu." That just made him blushed hard before covering his face and turning away only to hit the door frame.

The female Rabbit came in with a bag packed of food and shook her head at the men. "Yes, come with me dear. I have allot of cloths, you can pick out something you like and maybe find you some shoes." She said jesting her to the backroom. "Besides I need to talk to you about something." She said waving her hand so Alice knew which way.

Alice couldn't help but chuckle at Ryu's words. They were endearing, as well as Mrs. Rabbit reprimanding him lightly about it. She put a gentle hand to his shoulder before she smiled to him and walked over to Mrs. Rabbit. "Oh really?" she asked her before cringing. "It won't be terrible, will it?" She didn't like constant negative talk within one day. It wore her out. She started imagining what she could find to wear. She wouldn't be picky so long as she'd be comfortable and fit for the journey.

And then a sudden feeling stung in the back of her mind. She didn't want to be left alone with anyone but Ryu, which caused her to begin to question herself. Maybe she was liking Ryu. After all, Alice was never one to like anybody for that matter.

He tensed lightly from her touch, which only made his face turn a brighter red. She nodded a no in reply. "It's not bad, but it is something you should be warned about." She said sweetly, she came to a room and opened a closet full of cloths. "Hopefully there is something you can wear in this closet here." She looked at Alice. "I'm going to leave you so you can dress but before I do, about Ryu. He tends to panic allot, sometimes worse then what you saw. It's from the chemicals they injected him with. Made him lose all sense." She looked down at the floor before she continued. "Watch him carefully at the asylum, he may not show it but he'll be scared." She asked her sweetly with a soft smile.

Alice had looked after Mrs. Rabbit with a thoughtful expression, her eyebrows furrowed in deep thought as she then turned her head to the closet of clothes. Everything looked so different...and yet the same from where Alice had originally came from. Everything varied from color to color. They must have costed a fortune, she thought as she decided to stick with her father's favorite color he always loved seeing on Alice -- Blue. She pulled out an outfit that had been kept together. Soft pale blue tights with matching satin capris with slits at the sides. It came with a matching blue tunic followed by a matching coat. All of the clasps were of a dark blue. Alice had quickly changed, finding it comfortable. With out second-thinking, she slipped on Ryu's vest over her tunic. It went well. I'll give it back to him when he wants it, she thought. She had a strange feeling of being connected with the vest. Like it was meant for her. She looked at the bottom of the closet at the shoes shown. She eyed black ankle boots. She slipped her feet into them, surprised at how perfectly everything fit her. She smiled as she combed her fingers through her hair, soon submerging back into where she was before, smiling at Mrs. Rabbit. "Thank you," she said softly.

She would make it her main goal a the moment to watch over Ryu. She needed to keep a close eye on him because frankly, she had a sense about her since she met Ryu that she needed to protect him with all she could give. It was no mistake that she had instantly felt attached to him. Oh no, she suddenly thought, her smiling falling. What if I fall for him? I mustn't do that. She soon shook those thoughts away and smiled, looking at Ryu and Rabbit. "Well? Are we ready?"

The boys looked at Alice and a big smile appeared on Ryu's face, she was wearing his vest; that made him happy. "You look good in blue, now you just need a hat." Ryu said out of habit. The male rabbit looked at him and shook his head. "Ryu, the hat store has been closed for years." Ryu looked at the male rabbit in shocked. "What, how can that be? I was there this morning." He told the rabbit, the female rabbit shook her head at them. They continued to argue about the hat shop while she looked at Alice. "Maybe it will be a good thing to separate them for a while." She plainly stated, it was clear they always gave her a headache with the arguing.

"Boys!" The female rabbit yell out of normal tone; more angry then anything. They both shut up and looked at her. "Ryu get your bag of food and lead Alice to the asylum." She simply stated in her normal voice again. "Yes Meme'." He quickly got the bag of food and held the door open for Alice. He wanted to leave, when she yelled like that it was best to do what she said before she got really angry.

Alice had found herself giggling as the boys argued. It was just so entertaining and it felt simply like a comic-relief on the kind of day it had been so far for Alice. She smiled at Ryu as he opened up the door to go outside. She turned around quick and ran over to gently hug Mrs. Rabbit. "Thank you for your hospitality. It means a lot," she told her as she then turned to Rabbit, placing her hand on the top of his head and letting out a short giggling. "And thank you for leading me here." She rubbed his head before she turned to Ryu, keeping a smile at her lips. "Welp? Let's get to it," she said cheerfully as she walked outside and into the fresh air.

Alice closed her eyes and sucked in her breath. "The air is so clear here," she whispered as she then turned to Ryu again. She then held out her hand to him, blushing. "I don't want to lose your or get lost. I can easily get side-tracked. And leaving me left to walk on my own in this place would easily result in me getting lost and us accidentally separating..."

Ryu closed the door behind him after saying he good byes the the married couple. He came a stopp and looked at her hand. 'Was she wanting him to hold it?' He never held a girls hand before, he never did anything with a girl actually. He was locked up for more then half of his life. He looked at her face then back at her hand afraid that it would bite him. With a deep breath he slowly reached out his hand and took hers lightly into his trubbleing hand, he waited a little before talking shyly. "It's this way." He said motioning to the left, his face hinting a shade of pink.

The sky was cloudy showing rain was going to come within a few hours, giant mushrooms traced long trees, and roar of thunder which made him jump lightly. He wanted to walk through the forest fast to get to the asylum, he hated thunder. They would offend pick on him at the asylum, leaving him in the yard when thunder storms hovered over him. He would always crawl in a ball and rock trying to hide from it.

Alice smiled and nodded her head, following Ryu as she slightly tightened her hold on his hand, fearing he'd let go. She had never held a boy's hand before. But Ryu was very much a man. Alice wasn't often shy around boys, surprisingly. She had a way about her to be able to swallow her pride and go with the flow. It's always best to do and say what you want first-hand so that you don't regret never doing or saying it later. At least, that's what she could remember from her father telling her when he'd notice she was holding back her words. Alice guessed that that was the reasons he was the bold and yet honest girl she was today. It was only from time to time when she held her tongue. Some things were wise to never say.

Alice looked around. "Wouldn't the storm slow us down? I think we should keep an eye out for shelter soon...I'd hate to be walking through it. I'm not my best when it comes to thunder," she murmured as she walked closer to Ryu, slightly fearful of the storm coming. Alice wasn't one for loud noises. Any loud noise would make her jump, become paranoid, and it would cause her to get very cowardly.

Ryu came to a full blush when she grabbed his hand tighter, he took a long deep breath before he could even look at her. 'She was scare of thunder too?' He nodded towards her in reply then choked out. "Okay." It wasn't much of a reply but it was all he could muster out. He kept walking looking for a place to stay til the storm was over, he smiled and looked at her. "Will that work?" He asked pointing to a large mushroom so big they both could fit under it. He didn't know if lightning would strike a large mushroom, but the rabbit's house was made from one similar. He loved the large mushrooms, they tasted horribly but they were fun to climb. It was the closest thing and by the look of the rumbling sky it would be the safest bet.

She looked up to where Ryu was pointing to just as rain began falling. It was cold and yet warm to the touch as she wrapped her free arm around herself out of habit. She hoped she wouldn't freak out when the lightening would come. She suddenly felt very self-consious for how much of a scaredy-cat she could be. She followed Ryu over to the mushroom and plopped down on the dry dirt. She pulled her legs up to her chest, letting go of Ryu's hand so that she could wrap that arm around his.

"This is going to be dangerous. I can tell. That means we're going to have to trust each other -- become good friends," Alice spoke sleepily as her body began winding down from the day. She sighed as she put her head on his shoulder, curling up beside him. "But I can also tell that something good is going to come out of this mission."

He sat there with Alice's head on his shoulder. 'Something good out of this mission?' He would hope so, she would help get the Red Queen off the throne what else would come of this that was better. He didn't understand what she fully meant. His face turn red realizing he hope that she would stay after that, he liked her but fully didn't understand it. "I would love to be your friend." He said innocently as he watched the rain fall, he jumped lightly when he heard a loud clasp of thunder. He enjoyed the feeling he got with her around, made him feel normal.

He tucked one of his feet under the other and pulled the other up towards him. "What do you mean something good will come of this?" He asked her confusingly, he looked at her with a innocent face. He really didn't understand.

At the clap of thunder, Alice had gasped and hid her face in Ryu's sleeve. And then all of a sudden, she felt safe, relaxed. The thunder didn't seem as scary as it once did before. She sighed and turned her head back around so she could watch the rain again.

At Ryu's question, Alice had felt her heart stop for a moment. She honestly didn't know what to answer. What did she mean by what she had said before? Suddenly feeling like a complete, idiotic fool, she quickly searched her mine for words to say. Anything. So she said the first that had appeared in her mind. "Um..." How smart, Alice, she teased herself, mentally slapping herself upside the head. Acting fast, her brain went back into motion. She shrugged. "Well...our friendship! I've never had a person to call my own friend before. Everyone back at home only befriended me for my money and breeding," she whispered as she closed her eyes. "Just to be close to someone...and besides," she said as her voice went back to normal, "I can tell you need someone new to trust."

Sleep began clouding her mind as her eyelids became heavy. "Can't we just stay here for the night? I'm exhausted..." she mumbled as she peered up at him in a half-lidded gaze.

Ryu's face turn red once again, he felt weird around this girl. Every time she grabbed onto him, he would feel the need to hold her to protect her. This was odd feeling to have but he was starting to enjoy it, with a shaky hand Ryu placed it over Alice's; the one over his arm.

'Breed her?' Ryu asked himself, she wasn't a farm or a prized animal. Why would they want to breed her, how would that even work. He thought on that for a while before being snapped out of thought. 'Someone to trust?' Trust, that word seem to linger within his mind. It was a word he never fully understood, everyone that used it wouldn't apply it. He simply nodded to her. "Yes, we can stay here for the night." He simply answered her, his mind rested on her words.

Alice could feel the sleep nagging at her, calling her name. "Is it okay if I use your leg as a pillow?" she asked as she moved down and let her body stretch out beside her, curling up in a comfortable position on the hard ground as she rest her head on his leg. It was warm and inviting. "If it's not it's okay," she said as she yawned.

If he was to be uncomfortable about it, she could always just use her own arm as a pillow. That was practically how she slept back at home anyways. She needed something hard and soft at the same time that involved putting pressure on her or any part of her body to feel comfortable enough to fall asleep. She guessed it was a secure-feeling her body needed for rest.