Chapter 31

                                    

                                          
A/N: don't play the song until I say😊
                          
Kazu's POV:
                          
Even from the way back of the auditorium, I could see the fear in her eyes and it didn't take long for me to realize that she was taking panicked breaths. A few people laughed beside me, probably thinking this was apart of the play. 
                          
"Why is he taking so long to answer?" The twins ask. Both of their heads were tilted as they squinted up at the stage. "Is this a part of the act?"
                          
"I don't think so, guys." Haruhi says, a worried look on her face. "They look kinda scared..."
                          
Tamaki looks down at her, confused. "Why would they be scared? He wasn't so scared when he first preformed, so it must be part of the act."
                          
"But, the Mad Hatter isn't supposed to be quiet." Mitsukuni says, looking up at Takashi. "Right?"
                          
"Yeah."
                          
"I'm pretty sure this is part of the act." Kyoya says, his voice full of boredom. "It is a play afterall."
                          
I roll my eyes. "One you're not even paying attention to."
                          
He glances at me. "I didn't want to come here in the first place."
                          
"We didn't either." Kaoru says, his brother nodding beside him. 
                          
"The girls got kidnapped, so we had to come."
                          
"Feels like deja vu... L" Haruhi mumbles. 
                          
"Um... What?" My attention turns back towards the stage when Ashes speaks. There's no confidence in her voice like earlier. Just a breathless confusion. 
                          
Faith laughs nervously. "I-I said are you the Mad Hatter?"
                          
"O-oh! Yes! Yes, I am." Her voice cracks a bit as she tries to stay in character. She stands up and climbes onto the table before walking forward. The table shakes the silverware and tea cups as she walks and I can't help but grin at how their March Hare and Table Mouse quickly scatter to save them. 
                          
Once Ashes gets to the front of the table, she jumps onto the stage in front of Faith and bows before looking her in the eyes. "And you must be Alice~"
                          
She grabs Faith's hand and practically draggs her onto the table, walking over it again. "As you can see, we're in the middle of a tea party. You know, our specialty~"
                          
A soft giggle rises from the crowd from the ironic joke. But I just shake my head and just watch. I can't help but notice how Demyx is looking at Ashes. I frown, squinting my eyes to get a better look. Yup, he's definitely trying to study her face. I'm guessing she looks familiar to him too, but can't quite place her from obviously the make up. 
                          
... And the fact that he hasn't seen her face in almost four years. 
                          
Sadness flows through me like a huge wave as I think of this. Demyx, Jade Faith and I were very close to Zoe- practically family. Though, I'm not surprised they don't recognize her, she did always keep a low profile and have her hair constantly in her face. But even so, Zoe was Zoe. From first looking into her eyes, I knew it was her. There's no mistaking those eyes and scar on her right cheek. However... I have some doubts. This wouldn't be the first time I've mistaken someone for her. But, this just feels different. It has to be her. 
                          
I just need to see her back to properly confirm it.
                          
"But how...." I mumbled out on accident. 
                          
"How what?" Kyoya asks, breaking me from my thoughts. I glance over at him. 
                          
"Hmm?"
                          
"You just said something."
                          
I wave him off. "You're hearing things, four eyes."