*****[/center
"Oh, Marisa, how are you?" Alice flew over to Marisa's side, as they flew over the Bamboo Forest of the Lost. Marisa smiled, and Alice swooped closer to their faces were on the same level.
"Pretty good, on a mission, ze!" nodding, Marisa skidded forward on her broom and invited Alice on. Alice delicately sat down, holding onto Marisa's shoulder for balance.
"A mission? Oh, off to borrow more stuff from Patchouli, are you?" Alice sneered. Marisa borrows so much from Patchouli, she thought, that Patchouli has to hate her a
little for it, right? That'll give me some extra space to make Marisa
mine!! Alice looked at Marisa, raising an eyebrow as Marisa's eyes dimmed a little.
"You could say that, I guess, ze. Alice, I need you to do me a big favour, okay, ze?" Marisa looked over her shoulder, a look of almost desperation in those mesmerising golden eyes, as Alice would describe them. Alice went a little hot under the collar, forcing her to look down and watch the occasional youkai pass underneath them.
"S-sure... anything for you, Marisa." Alice stuttered, and began to flush a deep crimson.
"I'm gonna be gone for about a week, probably more, and I need you to look after my house. Don't let no youkai come in an' start borrowin' my hard-earned borrowed stuff, yeah?" Marisa smiled, and lowered down to in front of Alice's house. Alice leapt off first, and Marisa turned to face her.
"Marisa.. why? Where are you going?!" she began to panic. Marisa never usually went anywhere that made her feel this way about it, especially this serious.
"Patchouli's missing, Alice, and I've got this note telling me where to go to find her, okay? She's a sick girl, Alice, I can't let her get into anything that may cause her serious injury or even DEATH, ze!!" Alice began to go red with fury. Marisa cared
this much about one little magician that could beat anyone up with the vast amount of books she has. She ought to invest in a broom or let that maid Sakuya clean her library, it was so dusty. And she ought to start eating some vegetables.
"W-what? You want to go look for her?!" despite not wanting to annoy Marisa and ruin her chances with her, Alice said this anyway.
"Alice. Really? You think she's a contender for you?" Marisa burst out laughing, only making Alice more distraught.
"B-but, Marisa, you don't...
like this Patchouli girl, do you? And by like I mean... proper
like like!" Alice began to display the same frantic attitude as Koakuma this morning.
"Not as much as I care for you, Alice, ze. Patchouli's good, but a bit quiet, ze, but she never objects to letting me borrow some books!" Marisa smiled and held out her hand. "So, you'll promise you'll look after my house? I'm setting out tomorrow, so I'll give you a quick knock on your door and the keys to my house when I go, okay?" Marisa twitched her hand, spurring Alice to shake it to seal the deal. Alice looked at her hand, then up to Marisa's confident gaze. Locking her hand with Marisa's they shook hands and smiled. Marisa placed her hands on her hips and let out that trademark grin.
"I promise, Marisa. Now, you go home and get yourself sorted. If you're gone for a week, you best take food, a blanket, some water, and not to mention an armful of spellcards-"
"Bye, Alice!!" Marisa's distant voice let Alice know that she had already taken off to return to her own house. Alice sighed, retreated into her own house, and began to silently pray for her friend's safety.
*****
That night, curled up under her duvet and about half a ton of clutter, Marisa began to worry about Patchouli. This girl, despite being strong, was frail as a toy in the hands of Flandre. Sighing, she turned over and was met by a picture of her and Alice. Resting her fingers on the picture frame, Marisa lowered it. It felt as if Alice was watching her from the picture, and she began to feel guilty for wanting to help Patchouli.
"Goodnight, Alice. Goodnight, Patchy. Stay safe for me." whispering useless words to herself, Marisa drifted into a deep, revitalising sleep.
A/N: This chapter is one of many. As you can guess, I will be uploading a one-day chapter every day. Why does Marisa have to look for Yuugi's flower-studded sake dish? What does it have to do with Patchouli? Why will it take her one week? The most important question: where is Patchouli? Stay tuned!