The Himeno parents listened politely to the proposal, thinking it over. Mandate both girls a test to prove if their love was real or not, hm? An interesting idea. "We might accept." Her mother agreed. They would have to work out the nature and contents of each individual test, but, of course, that would have to come later. As for retrieving Alice, the pair gave synchronized nod.

"Of course, miss McKnight."

The Himeno lord started to get up, but was stopped when the large ornate doors were suddenly forcefully thrown open. Alice herself stood in the center of them, framed by two rather frightened and trembling maids. Her stance resembled that of an enraged snow-white tiger and her narrowed blue eyes were glossed with enough malice-laced ice to freeze even hell over twice. A crumpled white dress held to her form along with her tall white heels and white stockings. Light and shadow waltzed across her hair and skin, making the fanned-out snowy white locks look like albino serpents and highlighting the stormy expression on her pale face. She had no real target as she stepped off into the spacious room. Her anger at everyone guided her to the first person she saw in the room, and that happened to be Jessie.

" Fille stupide!" (Stupid girl!) She rose an open-palmed hand and slapped her girlfriend across the face. The sharp impact resonated about the spacious room. "Vous-! Vous.... . (You-! You.....)

She was mad. Mad that Jessie had gone without her. Mad that her parents would have call for such a meeting. Mad at her rival. She saw nothing but the blind fit of her anger. The overflowing forge of fury sparked the dormant embers of sudden passion, and in the tense moment it took for her to process what she had just done, she seized the girl by the collar of her shirt and yanked her into a passionate kiss, contradicting her previous action. The other hand that wasn't occupied glided up to administer a more loving variance of the icy touch against the curve of the cheek she had just struck as if to apologize. A thread of moisture connected the pair of lips once the kiss was broken but it itself broke once the snowy widow pulled away in a swirl of white fabric. Her icy gaze pinned on to her slightly shocked parents. An expression akin to that of a silent growl contorted her snowy features.

"Alice--" Her father started.

Alice took a challenging step towards the table, but her mother suddenly rose up quick to her full height from her chair, freezing her daughter in her tracks. The snow queen was no match for the glacier authority of her monarch mother. "Let us disarm our hostilities for tonight, my dear daughter. We all need to rest on what have the matter for now." The woman ordered. Her tone was kind, but her own features had tightened to a far more stern icy authority.

Her father looked to his regal wife then at the ice demon that right now was his daughter. "We will explain this further in the morning, Alice, but please, calm down for now."

The soft order to calm down from her angry high didn't effect the snowy spider. She still felt seething with anger on the inside; angry at everyone, including Jessie and Kutsumari. Her narrowed gaze shifted to each person in turn. Her parents allowed for a moment of silence, albeit it was uncomfortably tense, for the moment to calm and for everyone to collect themselves.

She nodded in thanks as the father stood though just as he did a noise an unexpected one at that happened. She could tell from Alice's parents it was a bit of a surprise for them as well and that only meant one thing..shed found out on her own. Jessie turned slowly to find a hand rising to struck her pink sunset eyes shook slightly but she didn't move , she deserved it. " Ali-"

- Thwaap!!-

The sound echoed so did the angry words of the other girl, If Jessie hadn't seen the rises hand from corners of her eyes as she had turned shed be on the floor, she was sure of it. Her cheek burned in pain it tinged across her face causing hairs stand. She didn't dare speak...not yet. Though what happened next had her a bit perplexed she was taken close to the other harshly might she and pink hair had no time to catch up to her body still floating across the thickened air . Shed been pulled close to be kissed, though Jessie had almost expected to be bit. Jessie figured Alice would see shed bitten her own lip as a way to punish herself. The kiss was passionate and had her slightly forget where she was she began to kiss back even step into it. Feeling a cool hand touch now throbbing cheek she only leaned into it as if saying its ok..or rather I deserve it.

Just as her arms rose to embrace the girl slightly lost in the moment it broke. Eyes just looked at Alice in surprise. She watched what unfolded fear never entering the girl that still gripped her caller. Both father and mother rose to calm there daughter and Alice seemed to not hearing either though she was frozen in place . Carefully Jessie rose a hand to take Alices gently. " Alice...you know how I get lost at your home...why not take me to your room...so that we may rest..or talk...."

She took the frozen hand off her caller and held it .

Iced eyes flickered to her girlfriend. They were cold and hardened by anger and didn't soften. Jessie's words were barely registered through the clutter of her mind. She allowed her hand to be taken and held although her fierce expression voiced otherwise. Part of her, entangled in the web of her anger, just wished to leave the girl to find her own way. Shooting one last angry glance at her parents, she shifted her hand in the warm one so that she could take hold of it. She turned on a heel and stepped off without any words, pulling Jessie along with her. Her parents just watched their daughter depart, still not sure what to think about this whole outcome. But they couldn't dwell on it any longer for tonight. Rest would be best for them all right now.

Alice walked quickly through each room on her way to the foyer then up the stairs to the west staircase. The rather aggressive clicking of her high-heels against the tiled floor only reflected the storm within her right now. A few maids pursued her, but she dismissed them with nothing more than a passing glare. Once she had reached her room, she unlocked the door and pushed through it. Her grip dropped from the other's hand as she moved into the cold room; the signature chill of it doing nothing to cool the flames of her exasperation. She stopped near her bed, not facing her lover.

Half of her wished to just frost over like her old self and ignore her much like a cat would. The other half wished to succumb to the passion that wanted to distract from the anger and kiss her passionately once more. The complicated internal war was so frustrating. She hugged herself and closed her eyes. The silence was nice for the moment but it felt so tense. She didn't know what to do with her anger; how to channel it or what to even do right now. She didn't really trust her voice, either. Snowflake lashes fluttered open to look at the large circular mirror on the vanity off to the side. Her frosted gaze lingered on Jessie's reflection.

She felt like a small child being pulled along by Alice.


Flash back. -

Darian pulled the young pink haired tomboy by her arm the little ' boy ' could only manage to trip along with the older male . A base ball cape shadowed the Childs face as the left a base ball game. " Sorry we lost..."

The man only grumbled in response..as her tugged the boy closer

End -

She was tugged into the room and let go of as she looked at the ice figure before her it was colder then last time shed been in Alices room and the tomboy could only stare and think of what to say...biting her lip again she parted quivering lips but they soon closed. Today had not been the greatest of days to speak. Unbeknown by the pink haired girl she was being watched by the snow white girl before her.

Finally words left though seemed slightly forced that and a little unplanned it was like they were leaving against the pink haired girls wishes. " Alice ...i .. I should have not come with out you... It was a selfish desire to protect you...knowing how you hate to be protected..."

Sighing she only spoke one last line. " It was stupid ..."

Taking off her jacket she let it slide down bare arms which had been hiding the start of a rather surprising article of clothing it was black with trims of reds and pink lacing across the chest of the young woman. What could be seen as she unzipped the pants was the start of a rather short skirt with what appeared to be kitty designed leggings.

' so much for the surprize dinner plans...so much for me having anything..how I messed things up...'





( thought it would be a interesting surprize that and brake off a tad of the tension)

Frosted orbs never left the mirror as the girl spoke. It was true, she hated being protected. She hated the vulnerable label it supplied her, and the feeling as well. But it wasn't Jessie's fault for wanting to protect her; she knew that... Alice blinked in surprise next as the girl began to remove the boyish clothes only to find more girlish clothes underneath. How intriguing... She could feel a chuckle of amusement ignite in her chest, but she iced it over before it could form. 'Jeez' echoed in her mind.

She still said nothing for the moment, but took a few steps towards the vanity, gaze never leaving the mirror. A drawer was opened and a small ornamental brush was withdrawn. Perhaps this would help ease her anger and melt some of the tension. The widow let the curtain of her snowy lashes fall half-way over her eyes in a more or less relaxed-looking state. She wondered if Jessie knew she could see her in the mirror. The thought made her feel much more in sync with her predatory nature. Yet being a predator right now was not the first thing on her mind.

"May I braid it?" She asked suddenly. Her voice was quieter than usual, almost sounding forcefully suppressed. "Your hair, mon cherie?"

By this point, the widow had turned around, her expression an unreadable one and her gaze slightly thawed. She had asked because while she did owe her a braid, she just wanted an excuse to be near her in a calmer manner, should she be allowed to touch the girl's hair. The cherry pink silk had grown so much in length since the spider had first met the tomboy. It looked lovely on her. Alice wondered what the girl thought of it herself. With arms crossed across her chest, she awaited coolly for an answer. Her stance had unconsciously angled out into a 45 degree angle start of the second position in ballet.

The mirror had gone unnoticed especially now for a surprise outfit was now more embarrassing then it would have been with a happy Alice , but yet with how Alice was now she felt naked. She almost felt as though that was how she should be venerable especially seeing as how Alice had because of Jessie lost the control of the situation, it only felt rich to give her some control.

Yet what Alice unknowingly chose to take control of was the idea to braid Jessie hair. The question rolled around and around in the pink haired girls mind. Part of her was afraid part of her felt as though Alice should be able to . Jessie couldn't answer instead she walked up to the girl allowing her hand to trace over the edge of the bed until it reached the edge. Lifting up her hand danced in the hair until it touched one of Alices braids. Her eyes where child like..almost eyes like a Five year old.. Yet the rest of her features almost looked more mature then she really was..

Words left quietly yet still not an answer" like yours ? "

Shifting her body she sat down on the edge of the bed this led her hand to slide away from the snow white braid.

The widow was still mad, but she tried to keep her anger from getting the best of her. Had she not been riddled by anger, that outfit would have kick started her playful nature a bit. But she wore only her usual poker face. Icy eyes narrowed slightly when one of her braids was contacted though she didn't break from her original position. Jessie seemed timid; childish, almost, in a way. Not to say that she generally wasn't, but this seemed different.

"Yes, if you would like..." She focused her still frozen gaze on the carefully decorated back of the fancy brush. "...But if you wish of me not to touch your hair, then that is alright."

It was difficult to speak when the forage of exasperation was still running hot within her. She had said too many words, and felt wearier than usual after the fact. She knew well Jessie still disliked having her hair touched, still was probably in fear of it. Possibly more so when it was long like this. She remembered when the girl had told her how her father had pulled on it and cut it. That recollection didn't help her simmer down at all.

"I wouldn't..." Remnants of the spider's still prevailing anger were still clear in her voice. "I wouldn't hurt it."

"I "

She was about to say she didn't mind if Alice touched it as long as shed do it not angry but what left her came out with a flood of childish tears. " i Just - hic- don't want you to hat-hate me "

Like a child she tried to brush her tears away as fast as they fell knees belt on either side of her so that she didn't fall off the bed as she cried , she couldn't hold it in any longer all day she held back her tears . Held them so long that her eyes were burning from dryness. Today had been dramatic for all included especially Alice and Jessie. They were the main topics of this all and Jessie body finally gave up, after standing so tall so brave she just couldn't fight it any longer.

" I was so - hic - scared ! And and I missed you..."

Hands kept flashing across her face to try to stop the tears until a tired force pulled them down to hold her skirt. " and I am sow-sorry...Alive please dont ha- hic - te me ! "

Jessie was....crying. Much like a child, the girl had begun crying. It surprised Alice at first. The poor pink haired girl had been through so much today. Facing both the Himeno and Kakura households alone, having to try and be brave through all of it... And the snowy widow's anger only augmented the strain weighing down on the tomboy. Alice felt a tight discomfort in her chest at this realization. Her heart was...well, it was...hurting. It internally pained her to see Jessie like this.

Setting the brush aside carefully, the ivory widow eased herself on to the bed next to the crying girl and hesitantly pulled her in to a hopefully comforting embrace. She held her like that for a little while before letting her icy hands find their way to Jessie's face to rest on either side of it. Frosty lips parted as she pulled back to look at her.

"Why would I hate you, my dear?" The question was spoken in a whisper. Alice didn't expect an answer to it so she continued without pausing for long, "You were very brave to come here by yourself, even more so to be able to speak before both households. Lashing out at you after all that was not right of me." A motherly side of her the ballerina didn't know she quite had had emerged and she ever so gently planted a kiss on the crying girl's forehead, brushing away the pink bangs first with an almost unnoticeable ghost of a touch. "You went through so much pressure on your own today..."

The widow's tone was monotonous as always, but didn't sound quite as angry anymore. She felt tired from speaking but needed to make sure one more phrase was said, "If there is anyone who should be apologizing, it should be me."

Jessie wasn't sure how she felt...about any of this . The embrace how Alice spoke to her , it calmed her and she felt a tad better knowing Alice did t hate her, she even questioned on why Jessie would say such a thing. Yet her heart beat a tad harder thinking of her mother. Mixed memories filled Jessie's mind but she soon just blinked looking at Alice much like a deer caught in head lights.

Though soon tiredness made that look disappear as well to fair into her usual gentle look as she leaned into the embrace. Allowing her head to rest back on the others shoulders she moved to leg her legs bend beside her rather then on either side. Her lips where left to hover over child skin of the others neck. " I...was worried...i didn't like lying to you...after you had put your trust in me..i guess..if blame is to be anyone's... And knowing you..we both deserve to be sorry."

A slight weakened chuckle left her , the warm air trickling by Alices neck as lips leaned in to kiss the bareness. Slowly her body reluctantly moved to sit up. Her gaze looked down before rising to meet a natural iced gaze. She snuggled before speaking again " If..you'd like to brush my hair...you..may..but ..only you"

She leaned on all fours on the bed to reach over Alice to grab the brush sitting at a slight angle so that pink silk hair brushed over Alice's lap she held the brush lightly. " I trust you touch..Alice"

The words came out almost a ghostly whisper but not out in fear more like trusting kindness. Once Alice would start shed realize how soft the pink locks really were, for though it was often not tested as far as scissors were used to sculpt hair it didn't go untreated, Jessie actually to very good care of her hair..it was the last physical thing she had of her mother..she brushed it her self one it had turned long every night... Almost as a physical therapy. It was soft every inch was like feathers of a new born bird, the think strands of silk looked and had the gentle thickness of the gotten candy rolled around the white cone. Its why it fluttered so lightly in the wind as she moved or why it was easily shredded as scissors skimmed threw it.

They both were at aim to apologize. Jessie for going without her, and Alice for her unbridled rage. She felt a bit...discontent at making Jessie worry. Granted, the widow was still angry at the girl, but she didn't hate her. A silent breath left her lips, and the tightness in her chest tightened a little more with it. She disliked that alien feeling in her chest; what could be called "pain" emotionally; but knew she could do nothing in wake of it. The kiss that was next laid to her neck received no reaction from the brooding spider.

The tomboy soon moved and pink hair ghosted over Alice's lap. How soft it was. Jessie granted her permission and had stated she trusted her. Yet as the icy ballerina took the brush, she hesitated. Was Jessie truly alright with this? She had said she was, but the snowy spider wasn't entirely sure.

"If you start getting nervous or I do something wrong, do not be afraid to stop me..." The white widow left those words to hang in the other's mind before she began.

She shifted her position slightly and raised the brush. An uncertain hand reached out to just ghost over strand of the surprisingly soft silken pink hair. It was so soft. So nicely taken care of. The thought of Jessie's father forcefully taking scissors to it ignited a spark of anger once more, but she distinguished it before it could flare up again. The brush ran through very lightly, gliding through the pink tresses with ease. She hesitated after each stroke, making sure the girl was okay with it. She knew how Jessie felt about her hair, the panic perhaps that could be instilled by a wrong touch. Fortunately there were no knots for the brush or her gently combing fingers to snag on.

Finally, the brush was set aside and Alice shifted her position again, turning Jessie to face her the rest of the way. A thick strand of hair in the front gently glided through careful fingers and was separated into three smaller strands. The center piece served as a base as the other two were twirled securely around it. Alice's face was mildly close to Jessie's as she worked, but she was focused on fashioning the braid. The long twisted adornment held tight on its own though it could still be tied with a bow if wished. Ivory fingers soon drifted away from the braid, leaving it to rest among the rest of the pink hair.

"Beau..." (Beautiful...) She commented quietly in French. Moving off of the bed, she approached the vanity and angled the adjustable mirror so Jessie could see and evaluate it herself.

Breath was held at first as words left Alices lips. It had been determined that if she wished to stop this she could.. Yet Jessie just sat quietly as the other took the brush in her hands. For Jessie had already made her choice, to trust Alice.

Alices touch was soft and gentle almost ghostly but it was there...jessie closed her eyes to try and enjoy the moment she still had mixed memories from when her mother in her mind.

- flash back -

A hum was coolly let into the room as a gentle sound to wrap around to add the cherry to the top of this moment

A little voice piped in" mommy why do you do 100 brushes it takes so longggggg"

A slight chuckle left the lips of the older pink haired woman as she spoke. " It could be more, silly. "

This quieted the girl but a secret smile held to the little girl lips she liked when her mom brushed her hair, she just had wondered why her mom did it.

" I do it so much because I love to . "

Yet soon the brushing ended and the older woman took her little girl in her arms from behind kissing her forehead. " And I love the little girl its connect to "

" mommy! Your gonna mess up my hair "

Small giggles left a little body .

" oh? "

A chin was tapped as the older woman sat up " guess I get to brush it more, my beautiful girl "


- end -

Eyes opened as the braid began to be made she blinked when she found Alices face so close. Soon though Alice had left from across her to stand and turn a mirror so Jessie could see...yet beau..beautiful.. That stayed with the girl as she looked into the mirror she seemed a tad frozen and hands carefully glided over the braid, she nodded a thank you before she let one hand drop to pat the bed. " please.."

Please what sit ? Sure.. But ..really what was Jessie asking then a few words left like falling puzzle pieces. " I ..want to ..thank you."

Alice leaned against the vanity a little as she watched the girl touch the braid, resting her head on the large mirror's ornamental ivory frame. One of her own icicle braids draped slightly over the outer frame. The frozen pose made her look much like a snowy doll. She wondered what Jessie thought of the braid. What was going through her ever-intriguing mind. She remembered Jessie telling her that her mother used to brush her hair. Perhaps, was that what was playing in her mind? If so, did the memory make her happy? Sad? The spider couldn't make an official conclusion.

Braiding the tomboy's hair had let the ice of her being overwhelm the anger and frost it over for the moment. The flame of the exhausting emotion still flickered, not yet extinguished to a glowing ember, but it was not as intense as it previously was. Snowy lashes blinked at the words that were spoken. Please? Please what? Alice just stared for a moment, looking at the girl from her head's tilted angle. She gradually broke from her frozen stance and walked back over to the bed, grabbing a small black bow from atop the vanity. The tall white heels clicked quietly as they glided across the floor. Easing herself gracefully on to the edge of the bed, she slipped the black adornment gently into the tail of the pink braid, leaving it loose in case Jessie wished to remove it at any time.

"Thank me?" She echoed quietly. Did she mean for the braid?

Icy eyes remained on the braid before shifting to let their ghostly blue light intervene with sunset ones. She still didn't quite like looking others directly in the eyes, but sometimes she forgot that when around Jessie and didn't notice too much when it happened. Eyes were the window to the soul, and she believed that.

Alice now sat next to her , the tomboy had actually thought of kissing the girl as Alice had earlier, though a bit more gentle.. Yet Jessie's instincts told her it was to soon, at least for the moment. No instead Jessie looked around for it, she spotted it by her clothing ; which shed pick up in a moment. Picking up the leather book she made sure it was still as nice as it was when she first made it. Carefully her hand skimmed over the cover and touched the bell causing it to ring.

Jessies eyes had looked away at the ones that had been looking back, she knew Alice was uneasy about eye connect but soon both pink and icy eyes met again. " I...made this for your birthday... Sadly I am a little early... But.. I wanted to have you see...what I saw... "

Nibbling her lower lips she glided the book over and set it carefully in the porcelain dolls lap. " I..know now may seem odd for a gift.."

Blushing now and feeling a tad uneasy about if Alice would like it she pointed at the words on the cover. " ill let it tell you the rest.. "

Her voice was unsure and it showed but another glimpse and her eyes told that she was a bit excited to see what Alice would think.

Azure blue eyes followed the girl's movements. A slight stir of curiosity blossomed at the quiet jingle of a bell. Then a sort of book was set in her lap. Alice scanned her gaze over the cover. So this was to be a birthday present of sorts. One that Jessie made, too. This was... She lay a hand ever so gently atop the leather cover as she translated the title in her mind. Letting it drift through her thoughts, she proceeded to open it.

When they first met, the practice at the rose garden, the beach, and the fair. Each photo was like a window into a cinema stream of memories. She analyzed each individual one respectfully. They had been through quite a lot together. From starting off as nothing but mere dance partners to now something much more complex... And to think it all started from a simple answer to a dance partner request on a flier Alice was certain would go unnoticed. The photos also conveyed to the widow something she had not quite noticed before. They were like a timeline; in each one, the icy ballerina looked less confined by her ice. One could even say angelic, although knowing of her own collection of sins, Alice would have to argue otherwise. Her facial expression remained the same frozen monotonous state in each one, yet it was the ones when she was with the rose haired girl in which she appeared happiest. Not necessarily in expression, but just in the aura the albino girl gave off in the photo. It was all so...so...

Drip.

"Ah..."

A droplet splashed on the back of an ivory hand. Before she could even fully react, another struck just a few centimeters from it. The snowy spider reached up curiously and brushed a few fingertips across one of her own cheeks. Tears...? She blinked slowly, sending another glistening pearl down a cheek. Her face held no expression except for the few droplets that trickled down in gradual, varying intervals. 'Why am I tearing up?' It frustrated her. A hand was still kept on the book as she tossed a fleeting glance at her partner.

"This is...very lovely." For the second time she had known the pink haired girl, the start of a ghost of a smile graced her pale lips. It felt strange to smile, even if only just a little. "Thank you, my dear..."