Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji.
The raven looked down at what remained: blood and a single bell. The blood could be anyone's, but the bell was significant to him.
The bird flew down from his perch and pecked the bell with his beak. It rolled and emitted a sound, one that was both nostalgic and unfamiliar, perhaps since it no longer tinkled its familiar tune. The blood stained his thin, clawed feet and gave him a shuddering sensation that even had him ruffling his feathers.
Strange. This was not the first time his feet or any other part of his body was soaked in blood. But it disturbed him on a whole new level, even brought pain to a hole in his chest, where there would be a heart if he was not a akuma.
She was gone. That single fact made the pain worse. The neko was gone and left the karasu all alone. Sure, their life was not an easy one. They were akuma, after all. But she was strong, stronger than the others. The fact that she fell so easily, well, it hurt him. Hurt him deeply.
He had been the one who gave her life, after all.
Akuma, they were the creatures of darkness, whom formed contracts with the most damned of the human race. But that never meant that they were not damned as well. When they died, those left behind had to go on, no matter how much the pain numbed them.
He would not mourn, of course. He couldn't, nor would he. This stage of his life was ended, this chapter closed. Flapping his wings into flight, he said a silent, final farewell.
--
Footsteps walked steadily down the otherwise empty hallway, filled only with motionless persons of ancient past. They reached quietly at a specific door, before it was opened and the person came inside.
"My lord? It is time to wake up."
Curtains were drawn open to let in the bright sunlight of the London sky. The fact that there was not a cloud in the sky brought a greater shine that burned within the young man's eyes. He groaned in discomfort and turned his face away.
The female blinked, and then shook her head at her master's usual response in the morning. She came to stand beside the bed, giving one last warning.
"My lord, it is time for your daily duties. We must make haste if you are to make your appointment with the Duke of Kurosaki."
Again, there came a grumpy whine. "Let me spend at least one London morning in bed, Cheshire!" he groaned.
"I am afraid that I cannot do that, my lord. Your father's instructions were quite clear. Forgive me, Jeagarjaques-sama, for doing this."
Without warning, the female butler took off the covers from the bed, nearly throwing her master off as well. He sat up with a shock, breathing fast with the sudden exertion. Then, when he had calmed down, he glared with fierce blue eyes at the gently smiling woman.
"Damn it, Cheshire!" he growled.
Unperturbed, Cheshire asked once more, "Shall I help you get dress, my lord?"
--
"Remind me again why do I need to do this?" Grimmjow Jeagarjaques, Earl Pantera, asked his nonchalant butler, who helped him put on his jacket even as he rushed out of the house if he was to make his appointment with his "brother" in time.
"To discuss the details of Karin-sama's and Yuzu-sama's season," Cheshire responded, quite used to her master's disgruntled nature and reluctance to interact with his adoptive family. "It's their coming out this year and Kurosaki-sama wishes for you to help with procedures of the ball."
"Che! Yeah right!" he said in disbelief. "They don't need me for something as simple as that."
"Still, Kurosaki-sama specifically said for you to be there or else. He mentioned to picture your worst nightmare for the 'or else'," she reminded him, continuing with her smile.
"That bastard…!" Grimmjow growled and nearly stormed off. But no matter what he did, he knew Cheshire wouldn't be that far behind him. No matter how fast he went, she would always be there, right by his side.
It was both reassuring as it was annoying.
"It is not kind to talk ill of your relatives, Jaegarjaques-sama," Cheshire reprimanded softly, going through the written list she had done the night before, the schedule for today. "But first, you are to meet with the representative with the East Indian Trading Company, to discuss your stock and fundings. A breakfast of fresh roasted lamb with honeydew gravy and garden salad has been prepared for the two of you in the dining room."
Grimmjow gave her a look. "Please don't tell me the bastard's already here," he nearly begged.
Smiling, she nodded. "Sir Richards has been entertained within the pallor, yes."
He rolled his eyes heavenward and asked himself for patience. This was how his mornings began after all, in London, in China, everywhere. So he nodded grimly and continued his walk towards the pallor where his guest awaited, his butler right behind him.
Most had thought him mad when he announced (unofficially through the servants' gossip network) that he was taking on a female butler, many of his noble peers thought him mad. Others explicitly said not to make his conquests public or something to that effect. Grimmjow wasn't listening. Despite being an orphan taken off the streets by the noble Kurosaki Duke, Grimmjow lived by his own agenda, everything else be damned. He was a street rat first, a nobleman last.
Probably was why his family loved Cheshire so much. She kept him in place and brought him up to schedule. Also, she proved to be a very loyal and close companion, also his best confidant. Not one thing he has told her did he hear somewhere else.
So, Grimmjow put up with the rumors and the spiteful remarks, only responding when they got too far. But he usually didn't have to. Cheshire has proven more than one occasion to be able to take care of herself.
After all, she was a one hell of a "butler"
Waiting for the two maids to open the door, Grimmjow looked back at his butler. "Did you acquire what I asked?" he asked point blank, remembering last night's conversation. "If I'm going over there, I'm going to need it."
"I've placed it in your study, wrapped and ready to be given," Cheshire said, smiling serenely. Then she bowed her leave. "If you will excuse me, Jaegarjaques-sama. I shall go and prepare the table and the meal."
"Hey Cheshire." He frowned when she turned back to wait whatever he needed to say to her. He flicked her forehead in some irritation, making her blink in surprise. "It's Grimmjow. I don't want any of this Jaegarjaques-sama crap. Don't make me tell you again."
Rubbing her forehead with some mirth, Cheshire merely replied, "And again, Jaegarjaques-sama, I cannot comply with that request. Now, I shall be off."
She left and he didn't stop her again. Instead, he grumbled and went to meet with the old man who was the head of the company share that had been given to him.
Personally, he just wanted to work on something other than managing paperwork and having long drone filled talks with old men who apparently had nothing better to do than to talk shit about his manners and the scandal that he recently was involved in.
"Yeah, I know. Someone of my noble status shouldn't mingle with the common folk in the rakehell like that. I'll keep that in mind the next time I go in that direction. Hopefully, this time my social status will keep me from getting pummeled into the ground," Grimmjow said with disinterest, trying to at least be awake during the lecture.
The elder gentleman was an old friend of the late dowager of the Kurosaki dukedom, who had stayed close friends with her husband Isshin. Because of his sharp intellect and skill with numbers, Sir Richards had been placed in charge of Grimmjow's stock of the family business, looking over ledgers and the documented cargo with each ship that dropped anchor in their port.
When Grimmjow turned twenty-one, which was in a few months, he had the choice of whether to let Sir Richards go or to have him continue with his numbers. Of course, if the brazen earl decided to fire him, Duke Kurosaki had set up a nice retirement retreat for the elder man.
Of course, until then, Sir Richards was to continue lecturing the blue haired man on proper etiquette and manners that was supposed to be practiced with his station.
Sir Richards looked at the blue haired youth with strained patience. He often would think of him as the son he never had, due to his wife dying in childbirth with their first child. The boy was wild, reckless, and in need of a parent's gentle hand. Isshin had given it, given to all his children, adopted or otherwise, but the duke could not quite see the hurt disposition the street orphan associated himself with. Seeing all this finery and glory, it was like telling the boy that there was a better life than his own. Poor child couldn't fit in with the life their society expected from them.
So the old man has taken it upon himself to keep the boy in his place, to tutor him gently without the scorn his tutors would give him. But that did not mean that Sir Richards would tolerate such foolishness from the exotic young man.
Then an idea came to him, one that might solve both their problems. Oh yes, this was a fine idea, so fine that he wonder what took his old mind so long to think it up.
"Grimmjow, my boy, I think it's fine time that you got married."
He stared. For a while, that was all he could do with his mouth dropped wide open. Finally, he blinked and shifted in his chair.
"Old man, I think you finally gone senile."
--
SMACK!
Cheshire blinked in surprise at the loud noise just outside the door. Everything was prepared for their breakfast and she had come to tell the two gentlemen that it was ready. Coming quietly inside the door, she asked, "Is everything alright?"
"Ah! Cheshire, my dear." Sir Richards smiled gaily as he turned to the female butler. His attitude was that of nothing wrong, even though her lord sat doubled over, holding his head as though it ached.
From the loud sound, Cheshire could figure out its origin. "Did my lord say something to offend you, Sir Richards?" she asked lightly, out of curiosity than to reprimand.
"Ah, no. We are simply discussing the matter of his engagement," the old man told the female with a smile.
That brought the life back to Grimmjow, who stood up with a start. "What engagement?! I didn't agree to anything, old man!"
"Congratulations, my lord," Cheshire said, bowing. "To be honest, I hadn't thought such an event possible. How did you accomplish this, Sir Richards?" She turned to the elder gentleman.
"Damn it, Cheshire! Don't encourage him! There is no engagement!" Grimmjow fussed, glaring at his butler to which both of them ignored.
"We haven't set a date and there is the manner of finding a girl who will suit him," Sir Richards said to her. "Why, we can look around at the party tonight, held by the Countess of Zwei. You do remember your promise, Grimmjow? That you would escort your lovely sisters to this gala?"
He grumbled, but made no further comment on the subject. He had, forced of course, promised Yuzu and Karin to be their consort for the night while they parade on the Ton's finery and music and dance. Of course, he wanted nothing more than to skip this event, a desire fueled more so now that the senile old man sitting in front of him has gotten the idea that he needed a wife.
"Fuck it all."
"My lord, Sir Richards," Cheshire said, regaining his attention. "Breakfast is now served."
"Splendid. I was just working my appetite. Come on, Grimmjow! We need to discuss your preferences."
"Wha-what?!"
Cheshire followed the two men, the elder dragging along the younger, with a thoughtful expression. "Jaegarjaques-sama, getting married." She let that thought rolled around within her mind. Then she smiled mysteriously. "Ma, it would not matter. As long as he fulfils our agreement."
Her gold eyes gold and her pupils constricted into slits, as the only female butler in London followed her superiors so that she may serve them during the meal.