The talking rabbit patted my shoulder with her tiny paw to reassure me.
"It's alright, master-sir!" She said excitedly, jumping up and down on my bed, "You're still young, you are, we didn't lose that many years! And, and endless opportunities await everywhere!"
I peeked through the fingers I was gripping my face with, "Why take so long?"
Wait, that was right. It really wasn't my own fault!
"Sorry, I am. Truly." She bowed apologetically, her long ears drooped with the motion, "I only woke up a few years ago, then I trained and learned super super hard to help you!"
She sheepishly began rubbing the back of her head, "I thought I'd rush right over. But I got lost on my way. That rude dragon kept sending me away, he did!"
From what I could put together, this rabbit was supposed to be my travel companion of sorts, tasked with helping me in my journey after reincarnation and help me get new powers. Something like that, I hoped.
"Help me?" I asked curiously, sitting up.
"That's my purpose, the reason I was-was born, master-sir!" She hopped again, pressing a hand against her tiny chest, "I can take you wherever you want, and tell you what you want to know, yes I can. I was supposed to be able to help your growth... but I can't get my eyes to work no matter what."
Throughout our little 'talk', the rabbit's left eye would gleam like before, then impotently start blinking on and off like a broken bulb.
"That dragon hit me too hard, I believe." She sulked.
There was no point in holding her accountable for being 'late'. No, actually, I was too grateful that something like this had happened at all to even think about that.
The floorboards creaked as I dragged my feet around, searching for my slippers.
"Tell me about this world, then."
"Um-... er, I only have what can be considered common knowledge, master-sir! It would ruin your adventure if I knew everything. The unknown is exciting! Please understand."
I gripped my chin with a hand, nodding wisely.
"That checks out. But, if you only have general knowledge, and your eyes are broken..." I closed my eyes, stifling an amused chuckle, "Aren't you kind of useless?"
Again, I did not understand how a rabbit even had them to begin with, but she collapsed to her knees, paws raised in anguish. Tiny tears began slipping down her furry cheeks.
"Noooooooo! I-I'm sure I can get everything working in time, I am! Please don't get rid of me already, master-sir!" It clung stubbornly to my leg, flying around as I searched for my shoes. "You haven't even given me a name yeeeeet! I mean, I get it, every traveller outgrows their companion, they do, but-but... UWAHHHHHH!"
Instead of reassuring or telling her to keep quiet, I broke out in a series of chuckles and snickers at her exaggerated reaction, even as the rabbit wailed aloud. My dad was at work, and I cared very little for the convenience of the demonic aunt next door.
"Look, I can take you to wonderful worlds, I can-"
Suddenly, she let go of my leg and jabbed a paw through the air. I heard a strange grating noise. The one-armed clock on her funny hat began spinning furiously, then my room seemed to part. A purple tear in reality, the same as before, just a different colour this time. It felt like something invisible had gripped the very space from either side and torn it open like a piece of fabric.
I gaped in pure, unveiled awe.
"-Look, see! That's a world where you can find fantastic creatures walking around!"
Checking the time on my phone, I gently grabbed the rabbit by her collar and plopped her down on my shoulder. She rubbed her watery eyes.
"Will you keep me, master-sir?"
I grinned excitedly, "Yeah. You said I had to give you a name?"
"Yes-yes, but so soon-"
"Alice."
From Alice in Wonderland, after the talking White Rabbit that Alice followed into the hole. It was one of the first stories my late mother had read to me, and something I'd always wished to experience myself.
Though, in our case, this adorable little creature was the White Rabbit, and I was Alice.
"Ooh! I like that, I really do! Are we going this soon? I don't think that's a good idea." She shook her head fervently, waving her paws all over, "With my eyes not working, I think we should be cautious, we really should. You could get hurt."
I hummed, "Don't worry. I'm strong."
"Even if that is the case, you're still a beginner, master-sir. A human simply can't measure up to everything that's out there without help, not at all. If you wait, I can help speed up your growth-"
She seemed to notice how little her words affected my decision when I took a step forward, approaching the tear.
"Wait, wait! What if you get hungry on the other side? You should get some money to buy things first, you totally need it."
Her words were... reasonable. I really liked eating, and no one really liked or wanted to see me hangry. I craned my neck, gripping my chin in thought. She let out a relieved sigh.
"I don't think worlds share currencies."
"That one has the same as yours, it does."
"Yen? Or, dollars?"
"Both!"
I shrugged, "Then I guess I'll go grab both."
-
"Woah, master-sir! You're super rich, really."
On my way back from the bank, I came across a strange sight. There was a foreigner, around the same age as myself, looking all over like a lost puppy. The Japanese people did not take kindly to anyone who was not one of them, so everyone gave her a wide berth, which seemed to confuse her even more.
Not to mention, she was dressed strangely too, a dark teal nun's habit with light blue accents. She had a white veil over her head, accented by the same blue as her habit, and thick brown boots. The only reason I was able to tell she was a foreigner was because of the blonde hair peeking out from below the veil, and the bright green eyes that saw me staring.
She was dragging a heavy travel bag all over the sidewalk with both hands.
"Oh, she looks interesting, doesn't she? She does." Alice piped up excitedly.
The rabbit had assured me that no one without an affinity for the supernatural could spot her when she came along but... that strange girl was looking right at the rabbit on my shoulder.
"She can see you." I pointed out.
"What? That should not be the case, not at all."
That could only mean one thing. There was something fantastical about that young lady.
Clearing my throat and patting my pockets to ensure the cash was secure, I made my way over to her. She innocently stared up, glancing between myself and a curious Alice.
"Che uno coniglio carino." She said finally.
I'd seen the Godfather films enough times to understand that she'd just spoken in Italian. That was about all I knew, though.
"Buongiorno Mozzarella Burrata Ricotta Mascarpone?"
"Master-sir, t-those are cheeses."
"Hey, they're all the Italian words I know."
The Italian girl tilted her head in utter confusion.
"English?"
Having spoken it as the only language I knew for half my life, I did know English fluently enough. It was an utterly useless skill, but it helped in class at least so there was that.
"Ah... yes. I can speak... that." She spoke slowly, like she was going through the words in her head before she spoke them out, "Kind sir, do you know the way to the... the Church?"
I should have known from the silver rosary hung around her neck... or maybe the fact that she was dressed like a nun. Only one church came to mind, the old dilapidated one far uphill, tucked in an obscure corner of Kuoh. It had been abandoned nearly a decade ago, and no one really went around there anymore.
"Are you sure that's where you wanna go?" I asked curiously. "The place is trashed."
She nodded her little head up and down. "I-If you would."
I shrugged, scanning her for any oddities.
"Alright."
Finding none, I held out my hand. She stared at it strangely, before slowly reaching out with her own.
"Your bag."
She quickly pulled it back, "O-Oh. May God bless you, kind sir. Are you really sure you want to...?"
How was someone with superpowers supposed to look anyway?
I dragged her bag along, pursing my lips.
"Right, I'm Masa-..." I bit down on my tongue, "Julius."
"Oh. Asia. Asia Argento."
-
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