Again, Alice 19th Does Not Belong to Me.

the characters are (c) Yu Watase

The plane's engine rumbled and a bumpiness shook Alice in her seat. The Norway Lotis Clan had paid for Alice and Kyo to have first class. Kyo sat next to Alice in the seat and gripped her hand. "Are you okay, Alice? You seem a little down," Kyo questioned, giving her his sweet smile. Alice blushed and managed a tiny smile.

"Yeah, I'm okay..." she said. Alice turned towards the window. The plane started to ascend from the runway. It lurched forward and pointd up diagnolly. Alice slid back till her back touched the seat. Kyo ditto.

The plane lifted up and they had taken off. Alice could feel a bit of pressure on her, pushing her backwards. She continued to look out the window and saw that they were entering the sky. Clouds passed by the window, along with bugs, birds, ect.

Kyo looked over at Alice. He couldn't help but think that she looked sad. He leaned towards Alice and pecked her on the cheek. Alice turned around and blushed. "Kyo, I love you," she murmured in embarrassment. She could feel herself once again turn red. She drew closer to Kyo, and he drew closer to her. Alice blushed and stared off to each side. Not many people were on first class, and no one was watching.

Kyo looked at Alice. She could see herself reflected into Kyo's eyes. Alice drifted closer to him, and he kissed her. Alice's eyes closed and she got caught up in the moment. They didn't start making out or anything, it was just one of those sweet kisses.

Alice and Kyo pulled away from eachother. "Kyo," Alice whispered as she knelt against his shoulder and drifted off to sleep.

Kyo grabbed Alice's shoulder and shook her. "Alice, wake up, wake up! We're in Norway!" he said. Alice's eyes opened up. She stood up, swaying a bit. Kyo grabbed their bags down from the rack and he grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's go," he smiled.

Alice walked out in the aisle. Kyo and her went out the door, with the stuerdos following them close behind with their bags. Kyo grabbed Alice's bags and they walked out of the noisy airport. When Alice took a step out of the door, the Maram word that had had appeared at school throbbed.

She gripped it, and Kyo looked down at her. "Are you okay, Alice?" he said. Alice sighed.

I really should tell him... she thought. "Um, Kyo...I should tell you that I, I..." All of a sudden, a hand grabbed Alice's shoulder and twirled her around. She caught site of a blonde beaded braid. And the feeling of a pair of lips against hers. Her eyes widened as she saw Frey.

Pushing herself away, Alice looked up and saw him smiling down at her. "FREY! WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING, KISSING HER LIKE THAT?" Kyo yelled as he yanked her away. Frey smirked and he hugged Alice and Kyo. "It's just my way of greeting her, or would you prefer me to kiss YOU, Kyo?"

Stiffening, Kyo looked Frey right in the eye, "I'll keep my shame and dignity thank you very much!"

Hours later, Kyo, Alice, and Frey arrived at the sanctuary. Introducing Kyo and Alice to the other Lotis Masters, Frey put his arm around Alice's shoulder, and whispered into her ear: "Alice, what's the matter? It sure seems like something is troubling you." Blushing, Alice glanced up at Frey.

"Um...y'see, I, uh..." she was interrupted when another Lotis Master walked over to her. "Alice Seno, are you not? I have a favor to ask you. There is still one last Lotis Master to partner with you to find. Luckily, I hear she lives in Japan. Can I ask you and Kyo to seek her or him out?" Alice smiled.

"Of course. It'll be our pleasure," Alice returned, after getting over the slight shock from hearing that there was another Lotis Master (in Japan, to boot). She turned to Frey. "Nothing is bothering me, Frey. Thanks for your concern." She walked over to Kyo.

Don't lie to me, Alice. I know when something is bothering the person I love. Don't lie to me...please.

Alice and Kyo walked out of the sanctuary. "Kyo, I think I'm gonna go over to the river, do you wanna come?" Kyo thought about it for a moment. "Sure, why not."

The rushing clear water sprang onto Alice's ankles. She sat down on the bend and took off her shoes and socks. Stuffing the socks inside her shoes, she set them off to the side and put her feet in the warm water. Kyo mimicked her, and touched her feet with his.

"Alice, Frey told me that something was bothering you. Please, don't lie to me. Tell me. I want to know, so I can help." Alice stared painfully into Kyo's eyes, seeing her reflection his brown glass-like eyes.

"Kyo, I don't want to hide things from you. I don't. But I...I...Ugh! I don't know," Alice put her hands over her face, not wanting Kyo to see her frustration. He put his right arm over her back, and his left hand he used for lifting up her chin.

"Alice, you can tell me. I love you," he said soothingly drawing closer to her. Alice did the same, closing the distance between them. The river's sound of rushing waves was soothing. Alice felt at peace in the sanctuary's campus. Hugging her closer to him, Kyo could hear Alice's heartbeat. He kissed her gently. Nothing was going to tear them apart...at least that's what Alice and Kyo thought.

During the middle of their kiss, Alice's body all of a sudden seemed to have a million jolts of electricity run through it. Breaking away from Kyo, Alice let out a blood curtling scream. "ALI CE? Alice, what's wrong?" Kyo hugged Alice closer to himself. "Hold on, Alice. What's the matter? TELL me, please!" Kyo squeezed Alice so tightly that he could hurt her himself. Screaming out, Alice bit into Kyo's shoulder to contain her pain. Bearing it, Kyo did not loosen his grip on her. "Alice, it's okay! Please, hold on."

Alice's eyes welled up with tears. She opened her eyes, and saw on the outside of her hand, the Maram charectar for SPOIL. It was Ramito. Alice cried out. She didn't know what was happening to her body.

Several minutes after the pain had started, Alice's loosened her grip on Kyo's shoulder. Small specks of blood covered her teeth and his shoulder. Kyo grabbed Alice's hand and waded her into the creek. Alice hung her head and sniffed. Kyo cringed from the pain in his shoulder, but his concerns focused more on Alice.

"I think I've got an idea," Kyo suggested. "Since the Lotis words might be a little more powerful in the sanctuary, they might be able to lessen your pain more than they did in Japan."

"Jiva." Alice's pain was beginning to disappear. Pullin up her hand, she noticed that the Maram charectar, was still there. Tears welled up in her eyes. Lifting herself up from the creek, she dashed away, water splashing behind her. Kyo hesitated, then chased after Alice.

The next day, Alice walked into the Lotis Sanctuary. She walked up to the oldest one in the chair near the murral of the Lotis Mirrror. "What is it, Seno? Is something troubling you?" Alice nodded. She had to finally tell somebody the truth.

"Um...well, something has been happening to me. Something horrible." The man looked up. "Sorry Seno, but when it comes to your PMS, I--"

"NO! That is NOT it!" Alice screamed, blushing. "Creepy old pervert..." she mumbled.

"What was that dear?" the old man asked. "Um...well, Maram words have been...um...have been...appearing, on me."

The old man's eyes widened. "Let me see!" he demanded. Grabbing Alice's wrist, he looked at her hand. "How many are on you, now?" he questioned. Alice thought. "Three or four."

The master shook his head. "Jessie! Come here!" A red haired woman came from the door. She must have been a Master because she had on the Lotis robe. "Take Alice to the healing waters. I need you to study her." Jessie nodded and took Alice's hand. Alice looked back at the old man and caught a regretful look in his eyes. "Of course, I would go, too, but--" He was cut off as Jessie hurled a vase from a nearby stand at his head, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Creep."

"C'mon," she motioned. Alice walked with her.

They entered into a humid room. Walking Alice over to a pool with herbs in it, Jessie began to strip Alice. "H-HEY. What're you doing?" Jessie looked calmly up at her. "You have to be nude to enter the waters." Alice blushed. Sure, other girls have seen her body, and Kyo and Frey have, but asking to strip was a completely different subject!

Alice took off her clothes and she went into the pool. Jessie did the same, except for the fact that she had a bathing suit underneath. She hopped in and looked over Alice's body. One Maram on her hand, on her knee, and one on the high part of her leg. She shook her head. Taking off her Lotis mirror, she touched it onto Alice's chest in her heart area. Alice blushed. This was highly uncomfortable.

Jessie stared into the mirror. A faint image started to glow. And then--what anyone would despair the most--was a faint image of Darva.

To be continued in Part 4...