.:Rain Clouds:.

~Chaptire I.

.:Disclaimer:. So yah… we all know that I don't own the characters… Only the story.

A/N: So enjoy... ahaha what more can I say?

.:Summary:. At the age of seven, Oz meets the only daughter of the Baskerville family. The girl that was hidden away from society by her own father. They become fast friends and strike a promise that will tie them together forever.

"Master Jack and Young Master Oz... Master Glen is awaiting your arrival in the study."

A handsome blonde man was currently on the ground, a smile at his lips as he helped his 7 year old adorably cute son out of his black tailcoat.

"Daddy! Can I walk around Uncle Glen's house today?!"

Sparkles glowed in the boy's bright emerald gold flecked eyes, wide as he glanced around the room. His father, the handsome man, grinned and nodded.

"Sure! Only this time, please try NOT to break any of his vases an-- OZ!"

The man stood with a sweat drop and a sigh as he watched his short young son laugh while he ran away, looking back to hit the wall making Jack's eyes widen. He started to walk toward his fallen son who was currently rubbing his head painfully before he turned with a grin.

"I'm okay!!"

The maids and servants watched with amused expressions as the cute boy stood and brushed off his clothes, grinning wide with the print of the wall on his forehead. He laughed once again and ran off, disappearing into the many halls as his father watched with a small smile.

"Jack..."

Turning to face his dark clothed best friend with a frown.

"Right... let's get down to it then..."

"Where am I...?"

It didn't take long until the adorably cute 7 year old golden haired boy was lost, his emerald gaze scanning the huge back courtyard with wide eyes.

"Just when you need a maid they disappear..."

He walked down the open long corridor, his eyes catching on a tall tower that stood all by its lonesome self. One open door on top leading to a balcony where a petite dark haired figure sat with her dress around her. Oz grinned and walked toward the tower, happy the he had discovered a human being to talk to.

"How is it, Mr. Cheshire?"

An adorably adorable girl sat on the balcony, enjoying the sun and the company of her small black cat who meowed, lazily flicking its tail at her sketch of the open hallways. The girl pouted cutely, rolling her eyes at her cat.

"Fine! I don't need your approval anyways! I think my drawing is a masterpiece!"

She turned away from her cat stubbornly with the same cute pout before looking down at it as it continued to rub itself along her leg. Her amazing amethyst eyes blinked before she giggled prettily, taking the cat into her arms while standing up.

"I can never be mad at you, Mr. Cheshire!"

Smiling as she turned to go inside her tower, sketchbook in hand. Only the pained shouts and the cracking of branches made her turn back toward the balcony, she looked around before looking down, tilting her head at the figure of a boy who was currently groaning, his eyes closed and his mouth open. Aside from the weird noises and twitching movements he was making she would've probably thought that he was dead or something.

"Are you okay?"

His bright emerald eyes opened as their gazes met, emerald with amethyst. Then a smile came to his dirty cut face making her blink before giggling amusedly at the position he was currently in.

"If you wanted to get in there's such things called doors now!"

She laughed as he watched with a grin across his face.

"I knew about the door! I only thought if I climbed the tree it would be romantic and you would cling to me like in all those books that daddy tries to keep secret from me!!"

The girl blinked, looking down at him before bursting out in laughter, tears coming to her eyes.

"Come up! You look hurt!"

Oz grinned, sitting up from the pile of leaves and broken branches as he made his way toward the door, opening it and climbing up the marble spiral staircase. He reached the top and pulled back the curtain, blinking at the figure of the girl and her cat before marveling at the toys, dolls, books, and drawings that cluttered the floor.

"Nice place! Who decorated it?!"

The girl giggled, shaking her head, amused by his antics.

"I'm sorry it's a mess! Now come, sit down! I'll get the bandages and cookies!"

Oz grinned at his hostess, sitting down on the chair while holding up his head with his arm, he yawned. Sleepy... it was almost time for his nap.

"...Where is Alice, Glen...?"

Glen Baskerville and Jack Bezarius were both in Glen's office talking over matters of the future and past. Glen looked into the fire with saddened dark blue eyes.

"...She's in that tower... so I don't have to see her...--"

"Why?! Because she looks a little bit like Lacie?!"

Jack stood from his chair, shock and outrage clearly defined on his face. Glen shook his head gently.

"...No... It's because she looks EXACTLY like her... my beautiful wife......."

He turned to face his friend with a pained face.

"...Alice... she plays that tune named after her mother...... her favorite piece to play..... Jack... I can't... I just can't look at her...."

Glen walked to his table, sitting down to bury his face in his arms. Jack sighed, closing his eyes tightly.

"Glen... I came today with Oz to see how you were doing... but I also came to make you a proposition..."

The dark haired man sat up, biting his lip.

"...My proposition is for Oz and Alice to marry when Alice turns 18..."

Dark blue met emerald green as the men shared their thoughts telepathically through the air. It was a couple of moments before Glen nodded slowly; his gaze tired making him look much older than his original age.

"Very well..."

"So... you're not allowed to go outside... at all?"

The little 7 year old sat on the ground next to the petite 7 year old girl who hugged her cat with a sad smile.

"Yeah... daddy says that... no one should see me... so... I stay here..."

Oz watched the little girl sadly before shaking his head in refusal to give up.

"Oh-Kay!"

He grinned and stood up abruptly while Alice watched with a small tilt of her head, his bright emerald eyes looked down at her in happiness.

"I'll get you out of here! Come on! Find your jacket!"

The petite girl stood with a reluctant smile, watching as Oz ran happily around the room throwing around pillows and books as if her jacket was buried underneath. He turned to Alice with a grin as he cutely held up a pink blanket causing a pretty giggle to escape from her lips.

"Oz! Don't be silly! That's a blanket!"

Oz grinned at her smile as he continued to dig through the pillows while moving toward the beautiful black piano near the balcony, missing Alice as she started to walk towards a closet, opening the door to take out a soft pink petticoat. She turned to blink at Oz as he opened the little cover, his fingers stumbling over every tinkling black and white keys.

He turned toward her with a smile.

"Do you know how to play?"

Her lowered face lifted from the shadows with a sad smile as she walked over and sat next to him on the piano's bench.

"...Alice... What's wrong? I don't like that sad face on you..."

His small hands placed themselves on the girl's cheeks.

"Smile!"

The 7 year old gave a bright smile that caused Alice to blink before a smile of her own tugged at her lips. Her small hands traveled up to his cheeks as she pulled on them with a giggle at the weird noises Oz was giving out. She let go and they started to laugh together in that large room.

"Stay here, okay Oz!"

Pushing herself off the black piano bench to walk over to her small dresser, Oz watched amusedly as she struggled to reach the top dresser because of her height. She grinned when her small hands clasped around something, walking back to Oz and sitting down.

"Hold out your hands!"

The boy tilted his head and held out both his hands as Alice met his hands with hers, smiling brightly.

"It's a promise that you'll remember me!"

She removed her hands, smiling at him as he blinked down at the gold pocket watch, his fingers feeling the texture of the cover with interest. Looking back at her with wide blinking eyes.

"Alice... I can't-"

"Please Oz... Keep it and return it to me whenever we meet again!"

Her smiled reached her pretty amethyst colored eyes but Oz still looked reluctant.

"What if we don't meet again...?"

Worried emerald met soft amethyst but Alice just shook her head gently, her hands moving his hands to close around the gold pocket watch.

"We'll meet again... I'm sure of it! ...So please....?"

Oz looked down at the pocket watch before looking back up at his new friend, a soft smile moving his lips.

"Okay! It's a promise then!"

He moved closer to hug the girl tightly, the gold pocket watch glimmering from the light of the bright sun.

A/N: So that's the first chaptire of Rain Clouds :D if you enjoyed it please review! Thanks.

~Kyrii-chan.