A/N: You may wonder, why another Kuroshitsuji? Simply because this story has pushed it's way into my crainium.
Disclaimer: I dont own any of the Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler characters or the plot. Just my own creations. Now thank you, and I hope you like the choppy enquirer!
Warning: OCs, only enough to make a plot. Some possible blood and bad jokes. I dont know if people will really like this or not, but I must give it a chance! SebastianxMaleOC, Possible CielxMaleOC
Chapter 1: For Gossip and For Gentry
Ilk in ink, may make you think,
What may linger on the brink,
Because our minds may see,
Much more than we believe to be. -Hesper
{{{{{{{{A Month Earlier}}}}}}}
"Checking on me?"a low voice sounded from behind the printing press. The cracked walls peeled with rusted copper and iron. Old pipes lay dangerously on the cold floor that consisted of grimly colored stones. A crystalline chandelier was the pride of the room. It sparkled the light of it's single bulb through prisms that spread the warm glow about the monochrome scape. The high windows showed the sun setting slowly, but surely into the west. A few birds entered through them and rested on the beams above the men's heads precariously.
A man with jet black hair and jade eyes nodded before approaching the ink-dyed countertop beside the press. He was tall for an average being, yet quiet for one of his status.
"You have once again gotten yourself covered with the black dye Felix."he sighed to the low voiced man. Said man chuckled lightly and turned to face him.
"I'm sure you dont mind Michael."
Felix was a thin man with nothing to his name but an old printing press, an abandoned factory, and the clothes on his back. His firey red hair was one of his most prominent features, but not the most flamboyant. No, that would be his golden eyes that rivaled a lion's mane. He wasn't flat broke. In fact, he had a job. A good one at that.
"Just dont touch me with those filthy hands."Micheal scowled,"And how many times have I told you to call me Mr. Gibbs?"
"Sorry, then you should be calling me Mr. Nhell right?"
The obsidian haired man scoffed and gave a growl to the ink-covered man.
"Just because you're one of their favorite publishers doesn't mean you get to act cocky."
Felix just grinned before holding out the finished copy. The first copy to their name.
"Hn. The Choppy Enquirer, what a dumb name."
{{{{{{Victorian Era-London}}}}}}
"For the gossip and gentry!"a boy shouted through the streets,"Get the Choppy Enquirer to keep up with the latest taboo and sightings!"
People crowded the streets of London. All were bustling. Going to here, then there, perhaps everywhere. But what traveled faster then men was the new gossip.
An anonymous group of writers had made a newspaper filled with complete and utter rubbish!
Demons de Pendragon, the well-known, yet, still unknown writers and publishers behind Choppy Enquirer. The peculiar articles had utterly fascinated and intrigued both the commoners and the wealthy. Tales of seamstresses who drank the blood of their customers. A mortician that never grew a day over 30. Nights of frolicking angels atop the roofs of London. Walking dead in toy stores, and a chainsaw massacre in Big Ben. "Such foolish stories can hardly be real..."a baker mused. "Oh, I wish I could see the minds behind the magic!"a woman stated in awe. "They must surely be mental, whoever they are..."The butcher growled. Then came the paperboy who claimed he knew nothing. Ciel Phantomhive watched the scene in utter distaste. The buzz of the city was always the dark storm of his missions; and this one was hardly what the Queen should consider an emergency.
"Such utter nonsense!"Ciel said angrily,"I've barely read this fool's paper and already I know that this has no relation to reality! Her Highness is just as curious as the people themselves of the writers of this monstrosity!"
"Perhaps, but you yourself should believe these tales more than anyone Young Master."Sebastian smirked in amusement at the boy's mild tantrum.
Ciel's cobalt hair blew in the wind like leaves in autumn; precise and sharp. Leaving behind only a memory of the well-combed form of wispy blue locks. His single blue eye made up for his messy hair as it provided a striking blue that instantly drew all eyes to it's beholder. However, hidden beneath the patch on his right eye lay an azure iris tainted by a demon's contract; promising to avenge Ciel's pain and suffering.
The demon in question stayed behind his master like a shadow. Always there and encased in black cloth. Sebastian's stature suited a higher status than his current position as the Phantomhive's head butler, but he played the modest servant well. Obsidian locks that never ceased to strike into the hearts of all who saw along with the dangerously seductive crimson eyes that reminded one of blood freshly spilt, made for a dominating beast of both beauty and pride.
"What are you getting at Sebastian?"Ciel asked in reply. Sebastian's smirk grew wider.
"Well, for someone who's seen both a demon and a grim reaper, one would think that you would believe this the most."
Ciel scoffed and continued down the street before abruptly turning down the dark alley. A running child flew past the Phantomhive and brusquely ran into the Earl's shoulder. The boy faltered before clumsily falling. The butler caught Ciel as if on cue and let the cane fall to the damp ground
In shock the child quickly ran back to see the damage possibly inflicted. Ciel grumbled incoherently as Sebastian helped him regain balance. Who would dare to run into him? Who would be in such a hurry down here?
"I'm so sorry!"the boy quickly apologized and handed Ciel the cane.
The young earl instantly snatched it and looked closer to get a better look at the face. He blinked as bright green eyes blinked back at him in concern along with curly brown hair concealed mostly by the pale bandanna around the boy's head.
"Are you in a hurry?"Ciel questioned as he dusted himself off. The boy nodded at him and flashed a grin.
"You bet! I just got a great piece of information, I did!"the boy nodded his head slightly in respect before turning away. The boy's eyes caught Sebastian's for a brief moment before fear washed over the green orbs and the boy dashed out of the alley even faster then before.
"Felix! Felix!"a boy ran through the weed covered drive to reach the man with bright red hair,"You'll never believe this!"
Felix Nhell leaned against the harsh metal of the factory with a puzzled look on his face before he saw the boy approach. The publisher smiled and waved to the child with a hearty laugh as Michael Gibbs stepped outside.
"Woah! Relax kid!"
The boy stopped with labored breath in front of the leaning man before abruptly dragging his arm towards the road.
"Hey! You can't take him!"Michael shouted,"He still has work to do!"
"What are you, his wife or something?"The boy yelled back indignantly.
That shut the black haired man up after a loud cry of rage. Felix didn't have trouble keeping up with the young kidnapper, but his arm was beginning to hurt. He dug his heels into the dirt and watched as the boy in front of him practically tripped over himself.
"Where are you dragging me Kurt?"Felix smirked,"Not like I want to work, but..."
"I saw them Felix! I saw the ones from that story you told me!"Kurt grinned victoriously,"He had blue hair and an eye patch, with a butler behind him; crimson eyes and everything!"
Felix mused at this and ruffled the child's hair. "That, my lad, was Ciel Phantomhive."he dove into the story,"The Queen's Watchdog that strives for revenge upon all who oppose him-"
"I know the story! You've told me it since I was, what, two?"Kurt huffed and crossed his arms; unimpressed.
"Hmmm, did I?"Felix rubbed his chin in thought,"Guess my brains getting weary with old age."
"Screw the 'old' crap."Kurt threw gentle fists at Felix's abdomen,"Your not a day over 25!"
"Touche !"Felix gave him a 'Eureka!' face and snapped his fingers at him. Kurt fumed.
"I'm serious! I saw the demon and his contractor!"the brown haired boy stated determinedly.
Felix was silent before giving a groan and dropping into a crouch and grasped the boy's shoulders.
"Think for a moment. How could you see a boy who doesn't exist?"Felix raised a brow,"It was just a silly dream I had. Nothing of reality."
Kurt scowled, but accepted that it was Felix's story and that the older man was probably right.
"Now then,"Felix stood back up with a grin,"...How's your sister?"
Kurt smiled sadly and pretended to not have heard. Felix just chuckled.
"I thought so. But I like to know that she's doing well."
The little boy sat on the dusty ground with a half-smile.
"He's such a jerk that I leave constantly,"Kurt complained,"I still think she should've married you."
Felix grinned before hoisting him upon his shoulders. "You know what? Let's go get some cake!"
Kurt smiled and his crooked teeth showed proudly,"You mean it?"
"Yeah, I just got my paycheck and that damn Michael is such a demon when it comes to work."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Why if it isn't the young Earl?"a twittering voice sounded from behind a coffin,"I'm curious to what you require from me this time."
The shop was littered with unorganized beakers and hopefully hollow coffins, but Ciel had to begrudgingly accept that some of them couldn't be empty as he wanted them to be. Sebastian chuckled slightly at the face on his young master. Entering this shop was truly entertaining.
"I'm sure you've heard of the latest trend Undertaker."
"You bet I have!"the coffin creaked open and out came the tall black-clad mortician with a chilling smile. Eyes remained concealed behind silver hair. One might think that he was old, but his smooth skin said otherwise.
"That paper made me famous!"Undertaker grinned,"A mortician who never ages a day over 30 indeed!"
Ciel blinked before clearing his throat. "So you know the writers?"Ciel asked curiously.
The mortician smiled even wider and drooled slightly. "The payment-"
"Yes! Yes! I know, the payment..."Ciel grumbled and pulled out a thin quill,"Let's get this over with!"
Undertaker chuckled. "Though I am curious of how you would use that Earl, the last customer was more than enough for me at the moment."
"The last customer?"Sebastian cocked his head to the side.
The mortician held up a dog biscuit and chewed it lightly.
"Indeed. He was a small thing, no older than 12 or 13."Undertaker nodded,"He wanted to know if I was the famed 'immortal' mortician."
The man laughed and nearly doubled over.
"Of course, I told him that I was a grim reaper retired from my casework."he shrugged,"Surprised the lad believed me, but he seemed convinced."
Sebastian and Ciel exchanged glances. So that child had been here?
"And for your information, no, I don't know anything about these Demons de Pendragon." Ciel scowled at the denial of information.
"He he he. Well, that boy claimed to know one of the publishers personally."Undertaker mused at the Earl's face,"At least that's what he said. But he didn't know much about the writers."
Ciel nodded and turned towards the door held open for him.
"You should've said that in the first place."he sighed in annoyance and turned to Sebastian,"Find that boy. I want to know his connections to this case."
A/N: Terrible? Yeah, I know. Arrgh! But it gets the point across for the plot line I was going for.
Felix: So Im a penniless publisher who got dumped by a boy's sister?
Michael: Get back to work. And FYI i'm not that quiet.
Me: Dont hate on me. I made you!
SubMe: You did terrible...
Me: R&R please!