Chapter 5

The mansion he's seen in the distance was further away than he thought, Marik realised, either that or he was getting really unfit. He paused for a break, sitting under a large oak-type tree to catch his breath, remembering the last time he ran that fast was when he'd accidentally spilled the King's coffee while chasing Bakura for stealing his favourite chew toy. Akefia had been pretty violent the entire morning after that, and merciless for a whole week.

His tan ears drooped slightly while thinking of his beloved home, his dark carnival playground. He would never, ever admit it out loud, but Marik was beginning to miss his fellow circus freaks. Ryou with his Britishness, Malik and his annoying habits, Bakura's completely strange ability to get on everyone's right and wrong sides at the same time, and Akefia's grumpy over-controlling but twistedly caring personality. In their own strange ways they loved each other, and were like a family. He was beginning to wish he'd never touched Akefia's hat.

Then the blonde began to wonder how in the world the Ringleader had managed to keep that hat a secret. He'd had it for as long as he'd known the white-haired master of ceremonies, so Marik was pretty sure that if one of them had touched it before and been sent to this strange and creepy world that they wouldn't be able to keep it to themself, either because Akefia would seriously whip them for touching his hat, or because they couldn't keep secrets.

Just in his hearing range, the lion heard the bushes rustle in the distance. Silently tensing up and on guard, he turned his head to see what had caused the noise, only to see the greenery move once more. He stood up slowly, claws ready to strike should it be a threat. When the bushes moved even more violently the blonde crouched on all fours, violet eyes narrowing as he concentrated. He crept closer, keeping low on the ground.

When something leapt out of the leaves Marik pounced, pinning the attacking creature to the floor. At least he'd assumed it was attacking. Looking beneath his hands he saw a little white rabbit struggling to free itself, two of his claws buried in it's flesh. Wincing slightly at his mistake, Marik ran a swift claw over its throat, killing it instantly. No use letting good (and free) food go to waste. He pulled as much of the fur off as possible before tearing into the poor animal with its teeth.

With his belly fuller from his quick meal, Marik thought it would be best to try and reach the Duchess's mansion again. He only set off at a jog this time, giving his stomach time to settle in case he threw up like that unfortunately incident after a marshmellow eating contest with Malik. Although he suspected that more to be the overwhelming amount of marshmellows he consumed rather than the subsequent chasing of Malik around the big top tent.

Still unknown to him, a silent creature was following him in the trees, darting from branch to branch swiftly and without much problem. It's grin shone in the low sunlight, eyes shining as they gazed upon its next victim. "Such a pretty little kitty cat." It whispered to the wind, "I want to play."

Marik kept on jogging until he reached yet another large field on the other side of the trees. This one had a relatively lovely looking house in the middle, surrounded by a fancy looking garden and a swing chair to the side. He could still see the bug mansion in the distance, and thought that it definately was further away than he thought, and he cursed Wonderland for being to god-damn deceptive.

Still looking upon the house, he noticed a pale boy come outside with a tray of what looked like tea and cake. Instantly recognising the waistcoat and long white rabbit ears, Marik realised that he was looking at the White Rabbit who he'd bumped into before. Deciding to take another short break, and possibly find out more about this Duchess lady, he began to make his way over to the soft spoken rabbit.

The White Rabbit immediately looked up in alarm when he saw someone approaching, and was clearly both a little shocked and scared of his new arrival but still managed to stand up and bow with politeness.

"N-Nice to meet y-you again Mr Lion." He greeted, stuttering a little with nerves. Marik actually found that adorable. This Ryou was a lot shyer than his, that was for certain.

"Hello again little rabbit." He grinned, showing off his sharp fangs. "Mind if I rest here for a while?" He cocked his head to the side as he asked, almost trying to be cute.

"Of c-course you may!" The White Rabbit smiled, turning straight away to pull out the chair of the garden table and pour another cup of tea for his guest. Marik sound down thankfully, marvelling at how comfy the strange metal chairs were.

"Can you tell me about that Duchess?" Marik asked, flicking his head slightly in the direction of the mansion when the Rabbit was sat down looking at him.

"Do you not know?" The White Rabbit asked in confusion, blinking almost owlishly.

"No. I'm not from Wonderland." Marik replied, a little annoyed but trying not to let it show. He didn't want to frighten the probably skittish rabbit who was the only one currently able to give him the information he needed.

"Well she's the Queen of Diamonds. That's only a title though." The Rabbit sipped delicately at his tea. "Only the Queen of Hearts has the 'official' title of Queen, so to speak. The Queen of Diamonds is technically a Duchess, just like the Queen of Clubs is a lady."

"What about the King of Spades?" The lion asked. He really was curious about the mirror version of his master.

"The King is technically a Lord, but since there is no King of Hearts anymore to lay claim to the official title, he's earned it as a nickname." The White Rabbit smiled, "I don't think he'd drop that even if the Queen were to marry again. Which would obviously get him beheaded, but he'd escape, as always."

"What? Beheaded?" Marik raised an eyebrow, "For having King as a nickname?"

"Oh yes. The Queen is very strict on titles." The White Rabbit explained to him, this time offering him some carrot cake, which he declined. "Only the suit of Hearts can have 'official' titles. So they're the only ones who can be King, Queen, Knave, and so on. Everyone else is only called that because of their status, but it isn't their 'official' title."

Marik shook his head. It was all way too confusing for him. "So, the Queens of Diamonds and Clubs aren't actually Queens, and the King of Spades isn't actually a King but is called that as a nickname?"

"That's correct." The Rabbit smiled again. "If there was a King of Hearts, then the Queen would behead Akefia for stealing his husband's title. But since there isn't right now, he gets away with it."

"Woah, did you say he?" Marik asked incredulously. "The Queen is a he?"

The White Rabbit studied him curiously with a little shock and confusion evident on his face. "Why, yes, of course he is. The titles of King and Queen are gender neutral and are only based on if you married into the status or not. The Queen married the King but the King mysteriously died a few years ago." He took another sip of his tea with his eyes closed. "Rumours say he killed her but I dismiss them. I am a mere servant of the Queen and am not made to judge."

"The King was a girl then?" Marik asked, his own tea abandoned now.

"Yes, the great King Rebecca, god rest her soul." The Rabbit put his hand on his chest for a moment before reaching for another slice of carrot cake. "The rumours say the Queen only married her for the position of power, and then poisoned her with rose thorns, but it is just a rumour. Nothing has been proved.

'Not as if they'd do anything even if it was true.' Marik mused in his head. He supposed the Queen had enough power to behead anyone who dared even try and accuse her of such a thing. "So," He said out loud, "Tell me about the Duchess then."

"She's a strong lady." The White Rabbit explained. "She has her faithful Harpy servants who protect her and her estate. She's a very kind lady too. She lets me live on this land for no charge at all." His smile was fond as he thought of her. "I don't get paid much for being a messenger for the Queen, and my pay is always cut because I'm late a lot of the time. This house used to belong to her King, but she died from the Cardias epidemic two years ago. The King, Akefia, gave her a pet to help her mourning, the Cheshire Cat. He's not much of a pet. More like a friend she calls on for comfort."

"He sounds nice." Marik said softly. He's heard that name mentioned back with the March Hare and Mad Hatter. He'd been mistaken for him. "What's the Duchess's name?" He asked, something sparking a little more curiousity in his heart.

"Mai." The white haired boy answered. "Duchess Mai Kujaku."

The name rang a bell. Mai had been a tamer-in-training at the circus a few years back. She had been good with a whip, and as far as he knew she was now running her own carnival of terrors somewhere.

The White Rabbit checked his pocketwatch out of habit, and at once stood up when he realised the time. "Oh dear, oh dear!" He cried. "I'm late again! Oh dear, the Queen will have my hide!" He whimpered, dashing inside to grab his jacket before rushing out again. "i'm sorry I have to cut your visit so short Mr Lion."

"Marik." The blonde interrupted. "My name is Marik."

The pale boy stopped in his tracks. "Marik? Really?" His eyes looked the lion over, and he shifted uncomfortably under the gaze. "Well you certainly don't look like Marik, but if that's your name, I bid you farewell, Mr Marik." And with that the White Rabbit raced off at quite a fast pace.

Shrugging, the blonde lion downed the last of his now cold tea, and proceeded to stand and continue his journey to the Duchess's mansion. If he was lucky, he would be there before night time. If this place had a night time. He guessed it did judging by the sun slowly turning the sky pink by dipping gently below the horizon.

The shadow that had been following him once again appeared, peering out from the rose bushes in the garden. Marik walked right past it, not noticing the slight rush of wind as the creature darted onto the roof to watch him below. The sharp toothy grin flashed in the sunlight, and was gone.