His Butler, Typical
A mysterious kidnapping, a shady businessman, and a trip to America… Young master, what have you gotten yourself into?
"Oh, they're back!"
"Sebastian!"
"Young master!"
The three servants ran to meet the black carriage pulling up to the manor.
"Sebastian, it's terrible!" MeyRin was unusually flustered, her face wet with tears. "While you and the young master were gone, someone- they- please don't be mad!"
"W-We're sorry!" Finnian bawled.
Bard stood back, looking embarrassed.
Sebastian stepped down from his seat above the horses. "I see that the grounds are in complete disarray. Did something happen while the young master was away?" He turned from the servants to open Ciel's door. The young Earl stepped out onto the drive.
"What happened?" Ciel demanded, glancing at the burnt grass and trees surrounding the mansion.
"Oh, that was Pluto," said Finny, fidgeting. "He found a cat and wanted to chase it. And because he was busy chasing the cat, he wasn't able to…"
"We were busy too!" MeyRin said quickly. "I was going to clean the young master's office, but Bard and I- well, perhaps you should come see for yourself."
Sebastian inclined his head in agreement. "This way, my lord. Finny, please begin replanting the garden. You can start with the roses by the main hall. MeyRin, show us what has happened."
...
"Someone must have broken the window." Ciel walked over to his desk, stepping gingerly over the pieces of glass on the floor.
Bard nodded. "He certainly did. I was just about to come in and see if MeyRin needed any help. I heard a loud crash and thought she'd broken something, but instead there was this weird guy standing in the young master's office. He'd turned the desk completely inside out looking for something." Bard kicked at some scattered papers with the toe of his boot. "Apparently he found it, because he ran back to the window with a folder of some sort. He used the big ladder to get up here. We were using it earlier to wash the windows." Bard rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess we should have put it away when we were done instead of leaving it out like that."
"You say it was a man. Did you see his face?" Ciel asked.
"I don't think so," Bard said.
"He might have had brown hair," MeyRin said slowly. "I'd know him if I saw him. We're so sorry, young master, this shouldn't have happened while you were away!"
Ciel sighed exasperatedly. "Never mind that. Sebastian, find out what's missing. And I want tea." He sat behind the desk.
"Maybe I can help with tea," Bard said hopefully.
Before anyone could respond, there was a loud noise from the grounds. Bard and MeyRin ran to the window.
"Pluto, no!" Finny shouted. He was clinging to the demon dog's collar, his feet leaving two deep gashes in the dirt. Pluto ignored him, completely focused on the small black shape running away from him. He blew a stream of fire at it, setting the remaining grass ablaze.
"It's that cat!" Bard said, breaking away from the window. "Come on, let's—"
"Sebastian, take care of that thing," Ciel said.
Sebastian bowed and left the room. Outside, Finny was dragged out of the servants' sight.
Ciel picked up one of the few papers still on his desk, glanced at it, and set it aside. The room grew quiet.
Bard and MeyRin suddenly became very aware of the fact that the young master was staring at them.
"Er, come on, MeyRin, maybe we should go," Bard said, prodding her toward the door.
"We've got work to do, yes!" MeyRin agreed hastily.
The two servants slipped out and Ciel was left alone. What could that man have wanted? He picked up another sheaf of papers- old Funtom shipping records. Suddenly he noticed something odd. The date was several months old. He grabbed the rest of the file and shuffled through it. The most recent records were gone.
In another part of the house, Bard was busy trying to prepare tea. "Erm… Sebastian was planning some sort of 'Black Forest gateau,'" he muttered. "I guess he hasn't gotten around to making it yet." He glanced around the empty kitchen, then smacked the counter with his hand. "Wait, what am I standing around here for? I'm the chef, after all! I should be able to make some sort of Forest thing. Here's the recipe." He grabbed a card off the counter and started to read ingredients. "Let's see. I'll need six eggs… a cup of sugar… some vanilla… half a cup of flour and half a cup of cocoa powder… and some butter. Melted butter." He glanced at the stove. "Um, I really don't want to spend time melting it. Oh! I know." He ducked beneath the counter and emerged holding his trusty flamethrower. "This should do the trick."
MeyRin, passing by the kitchen, heard a small whoof and the crackling of flames. The smell of burnt sugar filled the air. "Bard, what did you do?" she cried. Her armload of dinnerware crashed to the floor and she stumbled through the doorway, falling rather ungracefully at Bard's feet.
Surprisingly, the kitchen was intact.
"You all right, MeyRin?" Bard asked, helping her to her feet. "It's fine, I was just melting some butter. See?" He pointed to the slightly scorched counter. Bard had, in fact, melted the butter, but he had also managed to burn the sugar and fry the eggs.
"Oh. It's just— I thought I heard— "
"Come on, MeyRin, I can cook too, y'know," Bard grumbled. "Just because I burn things sometimes doesn't mean I can't do anything right."
"Yes, well done, but I'll take over from here," Sebastian said from the doorway. He smiled. The two servants broke apart nervously.
"Oh no! S-Sebastian! I dropped the china again! I'm so sorry!" MeyRin grabbed a broom from the corner, blushing bright red, and began to sweep up the broken dishes.
"I suppose I'll have to order a new set," Sebastian said. He removed his tailcoat and measured the un-burnt sugar into a bowl.
Bard twisted his hands together. "Um, Sebastian, if there's anything you want me to do… you know…"
"Please butter the cake pans before the batter is poured in," Sebastian said. "…The butter does not need to be melted."
"I was afraid of that," Bard grumbled, grabbing a pan and a new pat of butter.
A light breeze ruffled the remaining trees on the grounds. Finally finished with Pluto, Finny was continuing to replant the spaces that had been scorched by Pluto's breath. He reached for another handful of soil, but was distracted by a small yellow bird that had hopped onto the wall nearby.
"You're so cute!" Finny exclaimed.
The bird chirped and ruffled its feathers.
Finny propped his elbows on his knees. "I'm so glad you're here. I haven't seen many birds recently. Pluto must be scaring them all off."
The bird cocked its head at him.
"Haha, but you're not scared of Pluto, are you?" Finny said. He gave the bird a big smile. "He's really not a bad dog, you know." He opened his eyes. "Hey—where did you go, little birdy?"
The bird had ruffled its feathers and flown away. In its place was a hastily folded sheet of paper, which shifted a little in the breeze.
"Got you!" Finny said, pouncing on the paper before it could blow away. "Er. Earl… Earl Phantomhive? Why did you have a note for the young master, little bird?"
Reviews and suggestions are always welcome!