Cheshire Cat Tsukasa Ebisu/Bond Story

*Sensing Alice's curiosity, the Cheshire Cat leads her down an interesting path from up his tree. Knowing what would await her, he laughs and disappears, leaving only his laugh behind.*

* Chapter 1
* Chapter 2
* Bond Level 15 Talk
* Bond Level 30 Talk

The Cheshire Cat Laughs

 **Tsukasa:**Aaand...there!

 **Tsukasa:**\*sigh\* (When did it get this late...? Maybe I binge read too many books...)

 **Lalafin:**It looks like you're in a pinch, young lady! I'll help you carry those!

 **Tsukasa:**Oh my... You're so kind!

 **Lalafin:**Don't mention it! Helping someone in trouble is what a hero is born to do!

 **Tsukasa:**All right then... Take this, and this, and this.

 **Lalafin:**Huh? W-Wait a minute!

 **Tsukasa:**Heh heh. I'm just joking. Thank you. Can you help me carry these ones?

 **Lalafin:**Sure! I'm on it!

 **Lalafin:**These are all from our library, aren't they? "All about Alice", "Life of Lewis Carroll"...

 **Lalafin:**I get it! They're for the next play! Did you borrow them to get into your Cheshire Cat character?

 **Tsukasa:**Something like that. I have the original at home, and I've read it many times, but...

 **Tsukasa:**When the wardrobe girl asked me what I thought about the character, my mind went blank, so I was trying to learn more.

 **Lalafin:**Hmm... The Cheshire Cat is quite the strange character.

 **Tsukasa:**Yeah, he really is someone from Wonderland.

 **Tsukasa:**Alice in Wonderland has been studied through different lenses, but the Cheshire Cat still hides many mysteries.

 **Tsukasa:**For one, it's still unclear where the author got his inspiration for the character.

 **Tsukasa:**Some say he got it from the waxing and waning of the Moon, and some from a carving in a church...

 **Lalafin:**What do you think about it, Tsukashire Cat?

 **Tsukasa:**Ahaha! Tsukashire Cat, that's good!

 **Tsukasa:**...Hmm. I lean more toward the theory that says he got it from the phrase "Grin like a Cheshire cat"...

 **Tsukasa:**Doesn't that sound very appropriate to the character?

 **Lalafin:**Definitely! His grin is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of him. He's very elusive.

 **Tsukasa:**Right? But that's all I could grasp of his character...

 **Tsukasa:**Every time I think about him, I just can't understand his motives.

 **Tsukasa:**He helps Alice for no apparent reason.

 **Lalafin:**True... It looks like he's tricking her, when in fact he's sneakily helping her!

 **Tsukasa:**He leads her down the right path, and even chats with her when she's killing time.

 **Tsukasa:**..When you think about it, there must be a reason why his role wasn't played by another character in the story.

 **Tsukasa:**The Mad Hatter could've helped Alice, and the Cheshire Cat could've tricked her more.

 **Tsukasa:**But that's not the case. I wonder why he helped Alice...

 **Tsukasa:**Hrmm... The more you think about it the less you know...

 **Lalafin:**Mrrgh... It's so difficult!

 **Tsukasa:**True... Alice in Wonderland is nonsense literature, so maybe it's wrong to search for a meaning in it.

 **Lalafin:**Hmm... I know! How about you ask Alice directly?

 **Tsukasa:**What? What do you mean?

 **Lalafin:**If you don't understand something, just ask her straight up! "Alice, why do you rely on the Cheshire Cat?"

 **Lalafin:**You said Alice in Wonderland has been studied under different lenses, no? So how about you try to think about it through Alice's perspective?

 **Tsukasa:**Alice's perspective...? I see. I hadn't thought about that...

 **Tsukasa:**Wait, if that's a possibility, then...!?

 **Lalafin:**Uh? What then!?

 **Tsukasa:**Thank you, Lalafin! Your help saved me!

 **Lalafin:**U-uh, no problem, but...

 **Tsukasa:**I'm just gonna go back and talk to the wardrobe girl!

 **Lalafin:**W-Wait, Tsukasa...

 **Lalafin:**...And there she goes with her books and all. I wish she'd have told what helped her and how...

Alice's Special Friend

 **Lalafin:**Yay! This is so exciting!

 **Tsukasa:**Okay, Lalafin. You can look now--

 **Lalafin:**Okaaay! ...AAAAAH!

 **Tsukasa:**What do you think...?

 **Lalafin:**It's super cute! No, actually...

 **Lalafin:**It's super cool and stylish!

 **Tsukasa:**That sounds like you're describing a superhero...

 **Tsukasa:**A cat should be more like this... Meow♪

 **Lalafin:**W-Wow! That was so cute! Do it one more time, pleeease!

 **Tsukasa:**D-Don't make me blush...

 **Lalafin:**You look cool when you blush...! So this is the Cheshire Cat you've come up with, Tsukasa.

 **Tsukasa:**Yeah... The Cheshire Cat is a tricky character whose behavior is very hard to predict.

 **Tsukasa:**So I tried to express that aspect through this magician outfit...

 **Lalafin:**I see! That must be what I picked up on then!

 **Tsukasa:**Another feature I'm particularly proud of is these ears on the hood...

 **Tsukasa:**These are not false ears, so I can change from being a cat into something else very smoothly.

 **Lalafin:**Wow! You've got it all under control! Plus...

 **Lalafin:**Hmm... It kinda reminds me of Alice's costume somehow... It wouldn't feel out of place next to it at all!

 **Tsukasa:**That's exactly right, Lalafin!

 **Lalafin:**Oh yeah!

 **Lalafin:**W-Wait! What do you mean?

 **Tsukasa:**I specifically had Alice in mind when I made this costume.

 **Tsukasa:**You remember I was wondering why the Cheshire Cat helped Alice, right? The solution to that problem is what helped me finalize my outfit.

 **Lalafin:**Finalize your outfit...?

 **Tsukasa:**Indeed!

 **Tsukasa:**"Mrowow, meow! Answer this riddle. Where is Wonderland?"

 **Lalafin:**What!? A sudden riddle from the Cheshire Cat...!

 **Lalafin:**Hmm... Wonderland is inside Alice's dream!

 **Tsukasa:**You're right again! Every character in the story is born out of Alice's imagination.

 **Tsukasa:**What helped me realize that is when you asked me why Alice relied on the Cheshire Cat.

 **Tsukasa:**You see, there's actually another cat in Alice in Wonderland.

 **Lalafin:**It's, um...

 **Lalafin:**Ahh! Alice's pet Dinah!

 **Tsukasa:**Exactly. Alice even says Dinah is her favorite cat in the whole world. She must have really liked cats.

 **Tsukasa:**That's why she put so much trust into another cat...the Cheshire Cat.

 **Tsukasa:**Unconsciously, of course!

 **Tsukasa:**And that's ultimately why I designed this outfit to make Alice feel safe around it... The big ribbon, the frills around the sleeves all remind her of herself.

 **Lalafin:**Ohhh! I see!

 **Lalafin:**Now I get it! You've led me down the correct path, Tsukashire Cat!

 **Tsukasa:**Ahaha! You really like that nickname!

 **Tsukasa:**...Anyway, I'm glad. I guess mulling over it bore fruit.

 **Tsukasa:**During the performance, I'll become Alice's special friend...

 **Tsukasa:**...make her feel safe, and trick her and everyone else! Make sure you don't miss it!

 **Tsukasa:**Among all the characters in Alice in Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat is quite popular. I'm sure I had a lot of competition, so since I've won, I should give it my absolute best!

 **Tsukasa:**The performance is getting closer! I'll shroud the stage in mystery!

 **Tsukasa:**Just thinking about how the audience will react at our performance is making me excited.

 **Tsukasa:**I'll make sure they're bewildered by the Cheshire Cat's "grin without cat"!