Chapter 10

It took a while before Marik was able to stand in the chariot without falling back on his ass. Luckily for him he didn't fall out, although he came pretty close when the harpies had to swerve to avoid someone shooting at them from below. Marik had the proceeded to throw one of the knives he's found hidden in the wood down at the person who'd fired the shot. With the pleasant scream of pain the followed Marik wondered if he could give Bakura a run for his money at knife throwing.

Eventually he got the hang of keeping his balance, and once he could safety look over the edge without the fear of falling Marik gasped at what views he could see. The night had nearly fully taken over, and the last of the daylight was fading on the horizon tinting the sky lilac where they met. The moon shone full up above once more, creating a slightly eerie glow on the fields below. Marik wished he had a camera, or that someone was there to share it with him. At that thought he shook his head violently. The damn place was making him romantic!

The blonde was shoved back once more when the harpies took a sudden dive only to land extremely roughly on a bare patch of land just before what Marik guessed was the Spades Forest border. He practically rolled off the chariot, quite disorientated from the landing and the flight itself. Before he had chance to thank the creatures for the ride, they took a running leap and flew off again. Watching them sore away, he wondered if they didn't like him for some reason. But then he shrugged, and realised he didn't actually care.

It took him a while to find the path nearby, and when he did the lion hoped he was going in the right direction and was heading towards the other forest and not back to the Duchess's estate. He knew he'd taken the right turn when the path suddenly turned blue and the forest changed completely. He had no time to play with the switch at that moment, but promised himself to come back later, preferrably with someone like Malik. They'd both get a real kick out of the pink and blue paths.

But for now Marik kept on walking. He was no where near as tired as he was before and had to thank the Duchess for her hospility, even if it was slightly suspiscious and she nearly made him have a bath. The tanned blonde was getting slightly used to the nonsense of the place. In fact, the sanest person he'd come across was the Cheshire Cat, who, by the sounds of anyone who mentioned him, was considered 'mad' by most people. He wondered if everything was opposite in this crazy land.

Watching the lion walk from afar, high up in a tree, was once again the Cheshire Cat. He'd taken a liking to his mirror image, who was so defiant and dominant that he wondered how he'd fare against the Queen. Grinning at that thought, he decided he would adore it if his new friend had a fight with the Queen of Hearts in some shape or form. Knowing 'Queen Bitch' (as the March Hare called him), the closest thing to a fight that the two would get into would be some sort of game, which while fun was also quite a lot more boring than a good old fashioned fist fight. Or claw fight in Marik's case.

Pulling his little disappearing act, the Cheshire Cat jumped from the tree and landed gracefully on the floor, proceeding to follow his new toy silently.

With his heightened senses Marik could smell the distant scent of lavender and cinnamon. He smelled tea as well but he smelled that everywhere in the god-damn place. The lion immediately recognised the scent and had to smirk to himself. He knew for near certain that the Cheshire Cat was following him. He didn't mind, although he hoped that the coy cat wouldn't distract him from his mission to find the Ringleader again.

Marik's feet were beginning to hurt when he chose to take a break under a skinny and dead looking tree. As he rubbed them to ease the pain he wondered how many steps he'd taken in the past two days. Hell, he wondered if Bakura, Malik and Ryou were missing him back home. With that thought, the blonde lion knew they had to have missed the Ringleader. They had shows booked solid for the next two months, so there was no way the Ringleader could take two days off.

He slumped back against the tree and sighed. Everything was just too much to think about really. Maybe time worked differently in Wonderland than in what he guessed he should call the 'real world'. But there was at least a passage of time, as proven by the sunsets and moon. Although the tanned lion had to admit the moon was full twice in a row. Was it possible that they repeated the same day?

Marik growled in frustration, picking at his teeth with his claws when suddenly his old accquaintance just appeared in front of thim with no warning. He flailed and screamed, nearly jumping a mile because he was so startled. When he noticed who it was the blonde sighed with relief before grumbling. "Don't fucking do that, you crazy cat." He warned, glaring at the other feline.

The Cheshire Cat just grinned and sprawled out over Marik's wide spread legs. "Awh, where's the love, Marikky?" He teased, showing off his teeth with his trademark smile. "Didn't you miss me?"

"Not a damn bit." Marik told him, trying to ignore the black and purple cat's wandering claws scratching the inside of his thigh. "And quit that."

"Nyaawwh." The Cheshire Cat pouted, sitting up and slithering into Marik's lap. "Don't you want to play."

"Not right now." Marik glared at him. It was pretty half-hearted however, because as vain as it sounded the cat in his lap was quite damn attractive. "Leave me alone."

"So mean, little lion." The cat sulked, deciding to maneuver himself around so he was curled up with his head in Marik's lap. "Well, not so little." He giggled, beginning to purr.

Marik sighed to himself. He wasn't going to get rid of the cat any time soon so he might as well just put up with him. He idly started to stroke the Cheshire Cat's blonde spikes, which were surprisingly soft considering how menacing they made him look. Then again, he supposed he was the same.

"What exacty are you here for, Marik?" The cat asked, not moving from his position, perfectly content in being petted.

"What do you mean?" Marik questioned. He leant back again against the tree and closed his eyes. Stroking the cat's hair was an oddly soothing gesture.

"You're not from this world. Why are you here?" The Cheshire Cat questioned again.

"It was an accident. I fell in and can't get back." The blonde explained, his mind flashing back to playing with the Ringleader's hat and suddenly getting sucked into this kooky land.

"What are you searching for?" The other feline queried, curling up a little tighter, tail lazily twisting with Marik's own.

"Akefia." Marik answered instantly.

"The King?"

"My King."

"He's everybody's king."

"Mine isn't."

"Possessive much?"

"Only of him."

"Awh, how sweet."

"Don't make me kill you."

"I'm too pretty to kill." The Cheshire Cat twisted around so he was looking up at Marik's face. "And killing me would mean killing yourself. What happens if I die? Would you die?"

Marik looked down, cocking his head to the side with a slight glare in his eyes as if daring the Cheshire Cat to go any further. The cat just smiled that cocky smile and sat up, disappearing before Marik could even protest.

The blonde sighed for what seemed like the fiftieth time that day. He both liked and loathed the Cheshire Cat at that moment. Liked him because he was pretty fun and rather good looking. Loathed him because he fucked with his mind and made him think about things that never usually got thought about and were pretty good without him doing so.

With that in his mind, Marik stood up and pushed the confusing and aggrivating thoughts to the back of his mind. He had to get to the March Hare and Mad Hatter's house before Akefia decided to wander off without him again. He set off once more down the blue path, finding that with his mind half occupied by thoughts of his master and of the Cheshire Cat the walk to the shared hosue of the tea-partiers was half as long as it was when he was leaving it.

He hopped over the fence, striding along the path between the two houses to the garden at the back, hearing the voice of the Ringleader and his heart leaping that he'd finally found him. Marik almost, just almost, got down on all fours and ran towards him, but he felt he needed to have a little dignity and not seem to damn submissive.

And he was glad he didn't run, because he surely didn't want to see the sight he saw in front of him when he reached the tea party.