I missed writing Kuroshitsuji and specifically Ciel Phantomhive. Ciel has been an interesting character I've grown to love writing. I took many learning points while I was writing 'Tainted' which I have loved and hated at the same time. After 'Tainted' was complete, I realized I really miss being immersed into the world of Kuroshitsuji hence here is my second one.
This one here is a modern AU but it is enough for me to get back into the world I keep looking back on. I kind of dislike my summary so it may be temporary.
Disclaimer: Kuroshitsuji is not mine but Yana Toboso-sensei's. Everything here are fictional except for the brands or anything from our world mentioned in the story.
Chapter 01 – House Rules
France, Paris.
Reporters from all over world faced their cameramen, addressing their country's viewers through the live cameras rolling. The huge posters of the different world-famous models hung high up in full view and a sea of people – fans, reporters and cameramen alike – crowded around the red carpet rolled out for the models that were about to walk down.
Today was one of the world's much anticipated grand event, The Pinnacle, ran by an influential, powerful figure in the fashion world nicknamed 'The Undertaker'. The various major fashion industries in the world – Prada, Chanel, Gucci, Burberry, Phantom, etc. – had brought out all their latest designs for the biggest show of the season.
For past weeks as the event drew closer, there was an intense coverage on the event – which famous fashion designer has arrived in Paris, which model was spotted strolling down the streets etc. The celebrity models were, naturally, always the hottest feature of their discussions.
Like how any similar events started, the special guests had to turn up first.
The eager chatters turned into uncontainable screams of delights when the first luxurious car entered the scene.
Great Britain, Brixton.
Her jade green eyes were glazed with disinterest as she watched her two friends continue squealing over the live recording of the Pinnacle before turning back to the device in her hands. Her unruly brown, almost dark enough to be black fringe fell over her eyes once more as she returned to the pictures in her camera, trying to pretend that her two best friends weren't acting like morons.
She shook her head incredulously. Geez, what was so amazing about those models that they had to scream their heads off and smacking each other like morons every fucking minute one step into the scene?
Now she had so much regrets agreeing to let them stay over at her apartment. She was truly an idiot for not realizing why they chose today out of all the other available weekends to have their sleepover. They had been gushing and fangirling more intensely about their favourite models ever since the media begun the countdown. How could she not notice?
Glancing up, she eyed the live show grudgingly and looked down with an amused snort when her friends let out another scream of delight. She thanked god that her mother and brother had gone out because she was pretty sure they were loud enough to wake the whole neighbourhood.
"You know, Erin, I'm seriously still jealous that you're going to London for university next month."
Surprised to be addressed by her obviously engrossed friends, Erin's face fell. Of course, only because of the commercial break right now. No wonder.
"Nahhh, I'd rather stay here. Why the hell would you be anyway?" Erin said, returning her gaze to the little screen of her camera.
A pair of exasperated sighs made her look up again and she quickly realized her mistake with a grimace appearing on her face.
"Oh god, don't start." Erin eyed them with a warning look, knowing they were about to open their mouths to 'enlighten' her with their continuous gushing and ranting, "I totally understand why."
How did they even become friends? She was all about photography, mangas and rock music while all they talk about was who they saw on the latest Vogue magazine cover and who was dating who.
"Hey Audrey, what if Erin bumps into one of them while in London?" They turned to each other, their eyes bright with excitement, and began to shriek.
Fuck, here they go again. Erin rolled her eyes.
"Shhhh," She looked between the two in bewilderment. "Shut up, for goodness' sake, the neighbours are going to think someone is getting murdered here."
The girls looked over with sheepish smiles.
One of them turned to her with an eager grin on her face and glittering green eyes, "If you were to ever meet the Ciel Phantomhive there, you've gotta get me his autograph okay?"
Erin blinked owlishly at her. "Erm who…?"
"That hottie from Phantom? Didn't you see him on TV just now?"
Silence.
"You mean the one with purple hair?" Erin frowned as she briefly recalled glancing up to catch one dark-skinned model waving at the camera earlier on.
"No, that's my Prince Soma you saw."
"Yeah, that was Prince Soma!" A vigorous nod. "I'm talking about the one who appeared on this month's People magazine cover!"
Erin stared back at them with a blank look and sighed.
She held her hands up as if to surrender with a bemused smile on her face. "You know what? It's okay, I don't want to know or care."
Robin blue eyes continued to gaze out at the sky through the little window by his spacious first-class seat. The hushed excited whispers from the stewardess going on somewhere behind him he had noticed earlier blurred into the background, an insignificant noise to his wandering mind. It was something he had grown so accustomed to, that he couldn't be bothered.
He let out a sigh and sank into the soft leather behind him.
Attending The Pinnacle was a pain, so thank god it was over. All that fuss. All those nosy reporters. And the unnecessary bother to mingle with those models.
"The tenant will be moving in tomorrow."
Ciel turned his eyes away from the window and met the eyes of his manager with an irritated frown. "It's something I assigned you to do so just get it done without bothering me about it, Sebastian, just lay out the rules for him."
The pair of brown eyes looking at him from the seat on the other side of the aisle had a meaningful gleam in them. "I'm still surprised you see the need to rent out that room. It's not like you need spare cash."
"Well if I don't get it occupied as soon as possible, "Ciel picked up the champagne glass by his seat and took a sip. "I'm going to end up having some uninvited people from India hanging around again." His voice went deep with annoyance as if he just remembered something unpleasant.
"Besides, I barely use that place anymore. It'll be a waste to let it be empty most of the time."
"Getting on the good side of the models could be a good thing." An amused smile crept across Sebastian's face. "You'd never know how useful connections can be. He may end up working for Phantom one day."
Ciel let out a scoff and plucked out the magazine tucked in the compartment beside him, staring dully at the picture of himself on its cover. "I hope not."
The slick tablet on Sebastian's lap that suddenly lit up with soft ping drew his attention back to the older man. "What is it? Has Undertaker gotten back to me?"
"Nope," Sebastian saw the expectation in his eyes dim away, "It's just your schedule for the new semester from the university."
"Oh right," Ciel turned back to the magazine, completely losing interest. "That troublesome place." A deep sigh.
The city of London moved as sluggishly as possible for a city of its size and caliber. It was one of those days when the sun was mostly hidden behind the clouds, with occasional breeze that carried a stifling sort of warmth. The incessant honking from the busy roads continued to rip through the air, and the inhabitants of the boulevards was constantly on the move.
It was the morning of a dreary Tuesday and no one had the time to spare a glance at the girl who had suddenly come to a halt outside a Starbuck café at the curt burst of vibration she felt.
Sensing more than seeing the impatience and frustration from the people trying to manoeuvre around her, Erin shuffled quickly to the side with her luggage and dug into her duffle bag for her phone. She leaned back against the cold glass of the café's window and read a new text from her landlord with a sigh.
Apologies, something came up. Can we change our meeting time to 5pm instead?
"Fuck." Erin muttered under her breath as she caught sight of the time on her phone and noted that 5pm was four hours away.
Grudgingly typing in a short reply of 'Okay sure', she glanced over to the tall glass building further down the street, somewhat still in awe that she would staying in such an expensive-looking building. She was lucky that her brother knew someone's friend who was looking for a tenant when she brought up the topic about accommodations with her family.
Suddenly, her phone rang. She returned her eyes to the screen – speak of the devil, it was her brother.
"What?" Erin said as she answered.
"What do you mean, what?" Her brother said sourly. "I'm checking on you, little sis. Have you found the place?"
"Yeah, I'm at the Starbucks near it." Erin casted another glance at the building. "But I can't go over until five. Landlord texted me that something came up."
"Then you should head down to your school to register yourself since you have nothing to do now."
"I already did. It was only ten minutes away so I decided I should just get the troublesome things done and over with."
"Wow, only ten minutes away?" Her brother's voice rang out with triumph. "You owe me big time, sis. Isn't it great to have such a wonderful brother?"
"Oh thank you so much, Adrian." Erin rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
A snort. "Seriously, what happened to that little girl who kept following to me? You were so cute last time!"
Erin groaned.
"Anyway, just call back home when you've settled into that apartment." She could faintly hear her mother's voice in the background as he spoke. "Mum is driving me nuts, man. She won't stop asking about you."
"Okay."
"Remember, you owe me big timeee." Her brother said in a sing-song voice. "You should treat me to a good feast if I go down there. Or maybe buy me a new–"
"Yeah yeah, whatever you want. Bye."
Erin hung up and entered the cafe with her suitcase rolling behind her.
Arriving at the apartment around five, she knocked on the door of 24B and waited, glancing around the hallway behind her once more.
"You must be Miss Erin Keighley, the new tenant?"
A deep, smooth voice made her turn her attention back to the door and she let a startled gasp before she could stop herself, completely unprepared to be greeted by a face that sent doubts clouding her.
Erin tried not to notice his common yet alluring brown eyes that seemed to hold something more, his perfectly cut jawline and the way his casual suit outlined his obviously fine body profile.
She was not boy-crazy like her friends and she gave no shit about her practically non-existent love life, but someone that looked like he just stepped out of a fashion magazine was kind of hard to ignore.
Bemused, Erin glanced down at the detail her brother had sent her again and to the door once more.
The man seemed to realize what she was doing because the gracious smile turned into an amused one on his handsome face. "No worries, you are at the right place." He slid out a phone from his pocket and angled it to her so that she could see him press the green 'call' button right next to her name.
Immediately, her phone in hand rang and vibrated. 'Landlord', a name she had used to label the contact number her brother had given her before she came, appeared on the screen.
"So you're my landlord?"
The amused look on his face changed into surprise for a while, and back to amusement again – in fact even more so to the point that she thought he looked like he was about to start laughing.
"No, but I'm Sebastian Michaelis and I'm stepping in for him today. Why don't you come in and get yourself settled?" He opened the door wider and stepped aside.
Still, Erin did not budge from her spot, feeling doubtful.
"You being able to call my phone doesn't really prove anything, you know? I don't know, you could be some kind of murderer waiting to ambush your next victim… aka me?"
Erin found herself listening to a short round of deep, velvety chuckles as she eyed the man warily.
Sebastian cut off his laughter with a clear of his throat. His brown eyes were dancing with amusement, almost incredulity.
"You have quite a wild imagination, Miss Keighley. I promise you, I'm definitely no murderer. Too dirty and distasteful of an occupation, I must say." Sebastian said, stepping out of the apartment to grab her suitcase, ignoring her protest as he made his way back in.
"Don't just stand there. Come in, I won't bite or kill you." There was a tone that sounded almost like a scoff in his voice as Sebastian mentioned the latter.
Watching his tall, retreating back, Erin suddenly felt like a dumbass.
The apartment flew way out of her expectation. Her landlord must be really desperate to find a tenant if he was willing to rent out a room of this way-too-luxurious apartment at such an affordable price. Or simply stupid.
The inside of the building had definitely lived up to its exterior – the floor was marbled and the walls looked like they were made of expensive wood. Anyone would have mistaken this as a super high-class hotel if not for the 'Westons Apartments' sign outside the building.
Erin fought to keep her jaw close as her eyes wandered from the huge living room to the second floor.
The apartment was mostly white-themed with some black and wood thrown into its design. It has walls made by windows which extended all the way to the ceiling and the stairs that led up to the second floor looked like it was made from the same wood that made the walls of the hallways outside the door. The kitchen adjoined with the living room was only separated by a marble-topped island bar.
The white doors she could see on the second floor made her wonder which of them led her to her room.
"While I'm really glad you like this apartment, we've got to get a move on and get you settled." Erin tore her eyes away from the apartment and turned her attention to the man who opened the door for her. The amazing sight of the apartment made her forget about him momentarily.
"But before that, I've got some house rules for you."
"Yeah okay, lay them." Erin turned to him expectantly.
"First, you are to submit full payment on the 25th of every month. No delays."
"Mmhm, I'm pretty sure that was on the email you or whoever the landlord is sent me."
"Second, the room at the end of the upper floor is to be left alone. That room belongs to your landlord and even touching its door is strictly prohibited."
Erin shifted her gaze to the second floor for a moment.
"Why? Something illegal behind that door?" She returned her gaze to find Sebastian staring at her somewhat impatiently. "Sorry mister, I'll shut up now."
"You can call me Sebastian, you're making me sound like I'm fifty."
"Right." Erin merely nodded as she studied him briefly, curiosity sparked by his words. "Speaking of age, how old are you?"
"Twenty-six."
"Hmm, then that makes you six years older than me." Erin commented unnecessarily, taking another look at the apartment again.
Sebastian's eyes briefly grew wide in surprise. A small smirk crept across his face as he mused over this information – the tenant is a female and of the same age. Someone was going to throw a fit and frankly, he was looking forward to see him do just that.
"Now, where was I?" Sebastian strolled over to the dark marble coffee table, drawing Erin's attention back to him.
"Err, rule number three?" Erin watched him pick up a black leather folder.
"You're to stay in your room when guests are here."
Erin scowled, opening her mouth and then closing it. It was a strange rule, but still a rule. Besides, she didn't really care. As long as she has a roof over her head and no one disturbs her, by all means she will abide to them.
"Okay, the fourth."
She eyed Sebastian who stopped before her in anticipation.
"That should be all." Sebastian turned the opened folder in his hand and extended it to her. "Sign here and we're done."
Erin glanced down and saw a paper, scanning its content with a curious look. "You're kidding me." She looked up at him with a raised brow, marvelling at his serious face. He didn't look like he was joking. "Is this a freaking contract?"
"Yes."
"For something as trivial as house rules? Can't we just do a pinky promise or something?"
"Contracts are important even for something as simple as house rules. Promises are so breakable and unsubstantial. A physical binding such as this paper is not." Erin stared at him incredulously, somewhat noticing how amusement was such a fitting expression on Sebastian's face. "Now if you understand why, sign it."
"Papers are substantial? Hmm, not really, anyone can just tear or burn this contract."
"Not when it's held by me."
There was something about the way his eyes glinted at her that made her hold her tongue. Like a warning.
Erin let out a sigh, swallowing the words she was about to speak and instead, picked up the pen. "Okay, I'll sign it. Over here?" She pointed to the lines at the bottom of the paper.
"Yes, there."
She brought the pen down to the mark.
"Wait, hold on."
Her hand paused and Erin looked up at Sebastian with a frown. "What?"
"I forgot one more rule, my apologies."
There was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes that Erin was not sure she imagined it up because it was gone in less than a second."You absolutely must not fall in love with your landlord."
Huh?
a/n: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I would really like to hear from you all about your impressions so far. Leave a review and let me know!