Train Murders
Chapter 1

By Robin Gurl

(So this is my first fanfiction for Black Butler and I hope its alright. I posted it on tumblr and received good reviews so I figured I'd post it here. Part 5 is on the way after I update another fic of mine "Finding the Ceor". Um this isn't meant to be Sebastian x Ciel, but if you wish it to be - go on!)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea.

"My lord, the cabin should be this way, follow me."

Ciel only sighed already bored with this assignment but followed the tall demon down the tiny corridors of the giant train. "What is so special about this train?"

"It's apparently one of the first trains to have compartments for people to sleep in so the train does not have to stop over night," Sebastian explained as he counted the numbers each time they walked by a cabin. "Ah, here we go! Right this way." He stepped back and let the boy through then stepped in and shut the door and close the curtains before pulling out the letter the Queen had sent Ciel. "According to the queen's letter there have been a lot of murders happening while the train is in route. All of the victims are of rich back grounds and the murder happens so quietly and without a mess that no one is the wiser until the train reaches the destination and the said passengers do not get off."

Ciel sat down on the seat closest to him, looking out the window. "So it's our job to figure out who is doing it and stopping them? Very well, I suppose during the day I'll mingle and find out if anyone has any suspicisions…and at night," he smirked turning to his butler, "You will be making rounds."

Sebastian bowed smiling, his red eyes glowing, "Yes my lord."

"ahhhcchooo!"

Sebastian looked down surprised and waited for the next two to follow. Right after the first two more sneezes accompied the first. "Bless you, my lord. Are you feeling alright?"

Ciel blushed embarrassed but nodded, "I'm fine. It's this bloody train. They say it's supposed to be luxurious but it's so cold."

"Perhaps we should go back and change you into something warmer?" The demon asked trying to mask his own concern. He placed a hand on his master's shoulder holding onto him as the train took a sharp turn then he knelt down in the tiny corridor. As a demon, temperature didn't bother him. He didn't get hot nor did he get cold. However, being a care taker to a young human child he had learned quickly how to gauge temperature changes, lest his charge fall ill. He'd learned over the past two years that the boy got chilled easily in the winter and just as easily over heated in the summer. "After all I'd hate for you to fall ill on this train."

Ciel rolled his eyes, "Sebastian, I don't fall ill all the time. Besides even if I do you have been reading up on medical books apparently about my asthma…I've caught you many times."

"Yes, well, while that maybe true, I'd much rather not have to make use of what I read unless I can help it. Come now, my lord, would you like to go back and change or would you like to go into the dining car and get some tea?"

"I suppose a cup of tea would be nice." Ciel responded stubbornly. Even though he was feeling chilled to the bone he didn't want to admit that he was that cold. Besides it was freezing in the train cars, their cabin was freezing as well. He was beginning to wonder how cold it was going to get tonight after the sun went down.

Sebastian just sighed but led his young master into the dining car. There was a table free at the far end. He helped Ciel up onto the chair then stood by him looking for the waiter. Unknown to Ciel, Sebastian knew exactly what was going on. His eyes narrowed as he caught the boy's hands shaking. So his master was cold. He turned and gave a smile to Ciel, "Stay right here, master, I will go fetch you a cup of tea. Will Earl Grey suffice?"

The child didn't turn his head from the window as he watched the snowy scenary pass by. "Yes, that's fine."

Sebastian headed towards a group of waiters who were just coming out for their shifts. He could only hope that Ciel wasn't falling ill again. He had just finished nursing the boy back to health last month after a bad asthma attack. During that long month of having to stay by his masters bed all day and all night, something had changed inside him. He no longer viewed Ciel as only a soul to devour. He had slowly started to come to actually worry for the boy. He felt concerned whenever Ciel coughed or even sneezed. He had even found himself constantly checking his master's fever when he was asleep just to make sure it hadn't come back. The demon kept trying to convince himself it wasn't that he'd "softened" at all…his main motive was still to eat the boys soul …but being his butler and main care taker something had changed along the way and now he was doing all he could to keep the young master healthy in anyway that he could. "You there! My Master would like a cup of earl grey please!"

One of the waiters turned around and gave a creepy smile before bowing. "Aye, sir. We will have it ready in a few seconds. What is your masters name?"

"Ciel Phantomhive, he is seated over by the window on the far left. I will be with him." Sebastian explained, his eyes narrowing. The waiter bowed again before hurrying into the kitchen. Something about that man didn't feel right. He couldn't place it right away …he'd have to keep an eye on him. He made a mental note to check him out later that night on his rounds.

"Is the tea to your liking, sir?" Sebastian asked watching as Ciel drank it, holding the cup in his shaking hands. Some of the tea sloshed out onto the plate beneath it. "Oh dear, here, let me help."

Ciel's cheeks burned red, "I can do it myself."

"Now Now, your hands are shaking and you may accidently drench yourself in hot tea. I can't have you burning yourself." His larger hands took the cup from the smaller ones and held it to his masters lips.

"This is embarrassing Sebastian! Let me drink my own tea!" Ciel cried out. "What if someone sees us!?"

"My lord, there is no one else in here at the moment. And the tea is quite hot, you will burn yourself if you are not careful." Sebastian explained calmly.

"What is wrong with you today? You have been hovering around me all bloody day!" Ciel growled. "I am quite tired of it."

"Yes, well," The demon's eyes glowed red briefly and he gave a creepy smile. "I am quite tired of my young master lying to me when I ask him simple questions about his health. Your hands are shaking, my lord, your skin is chilled to the touch and you haven't stopped sneezing since we got on the train." Ciel blinked shocked momentarily but Sebastian continued. "As your butler it is my duty to make sure you are well and do not fall ill. I may not be human, my lord, but I am not blind. I have learned a lot about humans over the past two years while caring for you. You can not hide your illness from me."

"What do you care about my health? If it goes down hill then I will just perish faster and you will get my soul quicker." Ciel scoffed crossing his arms.

"While that maybe true, I would technically get your soul much quicker, however, with the terms of the contract you passing from this life too early would not benefit me. Unless you meet the terms of our contract, there will be no soul for me to eat. And besides, it pains me to see my master ill."

"Pains you?" Ciel smirked then he sighed and looked back out the window. "I wasn't aware that anything "pained" you."

Sebastian just quietly sat the cup down before leaning down to smile at Ciel. "It's nothing my lord, do not concern yourself. As long as you are in tip top condition, I see no need to worry."

Ciel turned his head glancing at Sebastian, then looked down at the table. A flash of guilt passed over his features before it disappeared just as quickly. "I think I'd like to retire to our cabin. Traveling has worn me out."

"Very well, my lord." Sebastian helped him get down from the high chair he was sitting in and then grabbed Ciel's hat before following his young master towards their cabin.

Sebastian glanced up from reading the notes that were in the file the queen had sent over. It had been four hours since Ciel had fallen asleep and he had seen no reason to wake him. His young master was still curled up on the opposite seat, covered up in Sebastian's over coat with his own coat as a pillow under his head.

He watched as Ciel's eyes opened slowly, "Good afternoon, my lord, did you enjoy your nap?" He smiled Ciel's way getting a gazed look in return. "Ah, you were sleeping heavily weren't you. Just lay there and wake up, young master."

"S-Sebastian?" Ciel rubbed his eyes laying back down. He noticed the sun wasn't in the same position as when had fallen asleep. "How long was I asleep?"

"About four hours, but you were sleeping so soundly I didn't see any reason to wake you." Sebastian answered putting the papers down and kneeling beside where Ciel was laying.

"Four hours!?" Ciel exclaimed his eyes widening. "We're supposed to be investigating!"

"Calm down, my lord. I've already done it for you." The demon pointed towards the stack of paper. "I've found some interesting information that you need to read once you are fully awake. How are you feeling? Still chilled?"

"…a bit." Ciel sighed turning on his side.

"Would you care to try that again?" Sebastian asked again an annoyed tone in his voice.

"Alright, you win! I'm quite chilled! My fingers ache and its almost painful to breathe through my nose because of the cold! Are you happy!?" Ciel cried out embarrassed.

"I'd be happier if it were warmer in here for your sake but since there can't be anything done, we will just have to make do." Sebastian sighed tucking his over coat tighter around the small body. "There, stay wrapped in that and see if that will warm your body up at all. Later I will go get you something warm to drink."

"I'm not ill, Sebastian, just cold." Ciel griped, though his body shivered. He looked up as Sebastian stood and took one of his gloves off, then easily put the bare hand to his forehead. Ciel sighed knowing he'd been caught at his own game.

Sebastian wordlessly pulled his hand away and sighed, "It's not a high fever, thank goodness. Please rest when you can?"

"I can't rest, I'm on a case. Now tell me what you've found out." Ciel grumbled sitting up. He didn't make any move to remove Sebastian's coat from his small body though. His body was starting to feel achy …this is why he hated admitting when he was ill. As soon as he admitted it – his body took that as leave to act as it wanted to.

"Very well." Sebastian sat back down and picked up the papers again. "I talked to many people on the train, all who have taken the trip before. It seems that they believe in a rumor that if you have a certain meal at dinner time…within six hours you will die. I dug into that some more and it seems that the rumor has some merit. Each of the seven victims all had the same meal the night they died."

"What was the meal?" Ciel asked, his voice softer than before.

"Apparently the house special: …"

Ciel's eyes narrowed as he thought a bit, looking down at his coat then looked up, "You don't think it's one of the waiters or the chef?"

"You read my mind, master."

"It would make sense. Only one of the waiters or the chefs would know who ordered what which would signal to them the passenger was rich because of the cost of the item on the m-men-" Ciel's thought was interrupted by a string of hoarse coughs.

Sebastian looked up eyes widening with worry. Too many nights had he heard that cough. Before he could say anything Ciel glared at him and he sighed. "Anyway, what do you think we should do?"

"T-That's easy. Order the meal and sees who tries to come kill me." Ciel tried to smirk but another coughing fit took over. He curled up on his side, wheezing and coughing.

Sebastian stood up and without any orders picked the young boy up and sat him in his lap then grabbed the waste basket by the door. "Forgive me, master, this may hurt a bit but it is for your own good."

"PUT ME DOWN!" Ciel shouted weakly. "What are you doing!?" Then Sebastian's hand hit his back hard between his shoulder blades, the boy's eyes flew open in shock. He had the sudden urge to vomit, his heart speeding up. He leaned over and bile flew fast out of his mouth into the waiting receptical. He just heaved wheezing – crying out as Sebastian did it a second time – more bile splashed into the waste basket. "S-SEB-ASTIAN..!"

"One more time, my lord, please bear with me." Sebastian sighed and landed one more targeted hit. A strangled cry of pain escaped Ciel's mouth as more of the bile from his lungs spewed out. This time however, the heaving wasn't as hoarse nor wet.

Tears streamed down the boys face as he sat up and fell back against his demon butler. His eyes were heavily lidded, a small stream of bile rolled down his chin as he panted. "W-Why..S-Sebastian..?"

"The medical text books said that if one with Asthma couldn't breathe to hit them between their shoulder blades with the side of your hand. It should free some of the liquid in their chests, as was done when I followed directions."

Ciel only continued to pant, his back aching now on top of everyone else. He weakly curled up in Sebastian's arms. Sebastian wiped the boy's mouth with a hankerchief and put a hand to his forehead, "Tsk, it's going up, my lord."

"Y-You hit me!" Ciel exclaimed sleepily, exhausted from throwing up that much. He just whimpered in pain as he saw Sebastian raise his hand again, burying his face in his butler's chest. "No more..p-please."

Sebastian's eyes widened and he looked at his hand that he had lifted, "…m-my lord. I was just going to remove your eye patch…you need to rest." He gently reached forward and removed the black eye patch setting it beside them. He felt Ciel slowly relax in his arms, his hands shaking though – this time he noticed it wasn't out of being chilled but…fear? Red eyes widened as he remembered and he gently pulled the young boy closer feeling a wave of proteciveness wash over him. "I'm sorry, master, next time I will be more considerate of your feelings…" One gloved hand dropped to Ciel's hair and he sighed leaning back into the seat. He'd been so bent on getting rid of his master's illness that he had momentarily forgotten what had happened to his master to get them both here to begin with. He knew when Ciel was truly frightened, there was a difference in actions …his young charge actually desired to be close to him and clung – like he was now.

They sat there like this for a good while, Ciel just kept his face buried as he tried to rid himself of the memories that came flooding back. He couldn't stay mad at Sebastian, if he did then the one stable person in his life would disappear and he couldn't have that happen. It was much harder to hide under a mask if there was no one there to help him with the charade. And whether or not he liked to admit it out loud, Sebastian was of great comfort to him.

The train bumped on the tracks and Ciel lifted his head from Sebastian's side revealing glazed eyes. He lifted his gaze to stare into Sebastian's red eyes that were looking down at him. His butler smiled at him, "There? Are we all better then?"

Ciel blushed with embarrassment and sat up unsteadily. "…yes. Quite." His hands were still clenching Sebastian's waist coat as if afraid to let go.

Sebastian only took it in stride and pulled his young master close, "Rest your head here, my lord. You need to regain your strength so we can investigate tonight."

Ciel lay down on his side, his head resting on Sebastian's thigh. His hands had reluctantly let go of the waistcoat, but one hand had just moved to his pants leg. His eyes slowly closed, his heart relaxing as he felt Sebastian's hand on his head again. He drifted off asleep knowing once he was recovered they would go investigate around the train for the killer.

Sebastian watched his young master drift off and looked out the window wondering just how ill his charge was. He hadn't prepared to have two things to worry about …but then his master was always his first priority and he always would be.

End Chapter 1