"Is this truly what you want?"
"I am nothing without my Haruhi. This is what I need."
"Then let the contract be formed."
"Master Tamaki, it is time to wake up." Tamaki's eyes fluttered open gently as he gazed at the mark on his forearm. "Do you wish to continue your search for vengeance today?" Sebastian asked curiously. A hint of a British accent still lingered in Sebastian's voice, and he still sometimes used old English expressions from the 1800s.
"Yes. Avenging Haruhi's death is my only goal now," Tamaki replied. His need for revenge was clear in his voice, understandably so. Haruhi had gone to America, and he had followed her. The two lovebirds were newly engaged when it had happened.
Haruhi had been taken, right from his embrace. She had screamed for him, calling out for him to save her, and he couldn't. Shortly afterwards, he had received a call from the police chief: they had found Haruhi's body.
Driven by his need for vengeance, Tamaki decided to sell his soul to Sebastian in return for revenge on her killer. So far, they had gotten nowhere. The police were no help, and to find a murderer in such a huge, bustling country was a real challenge that was only made harder with new technology on the killer's side. In fact, Sebastian often found himself wishing he were back in England, with his old master Ciel by his side, seeking to avenge his parents' deaths.
"There is a check in the mail, sent by your father. He called earlier to see how you were doing, and hopes you will call him back. Should I bring you a phone?" Sebastian said, in his practiced, even tone. Even if Ciel's soul had been the ambrosia of souls, Ciel was forced into a demon state, destroying his soul for eternity. Recently, Ciel had given Sebastian permission to go form other contracts with humans, simply because now that he was virtually indestructible, he no longer had a need for protection. And as far as souls went, Tamaki's was just as pure as his old master's. There was a drive for revenge in him that was just as strong as Ciel's had been, and even in a situation such as his, he would not give up. His friends from the Host Club were incessantly worried about him, and called just as often, if not more, as Tamaki's own father.
"Yes, please," Tamaki said, "And I need to speak to Kyouya and the others as well."
"As you wish." Sebastian left the room and reappeared faster than Tamaki could say "doppelgangers". Quietly, he dialed the phone number of the Suoh residence and passed the phone to Tamaki.
"Dad? It's me," Tamaki said tentatively. Although his father fully accepted his stay in America, Tamaki was forever afraid that he would say something that would reveal that not only had he quit college to avenge his fiancee, but he had also forged a contract with a demon to do it.
"Yes, college is going well. I've also started a boy in our building-I mean, my building- to play the piano recently. He seems to be enjoying it." His slight mistake bore all the pain of his loss, and there was no hiding it from his father.
"I'm fine. I promise. Just let me finish school and I'll come home," he said, trying to hide his sadness. "Love you too. Bye."
Contrary to the words of encouragement he'd given his father, tears shone in Tamaki's eyes as he tried to pull himself together. Blinking them back, he called Kyouya.
"Hey, Kyouya. What's up?" he asked, his voice devoid of his usual cheer.
"The customers are worried for me? Why?" This was unusual. There must've been news from the twins recently.
"What do you mean, they're waiting to talk to me?" he asked curiously.
"Al-alright, you can put one of them on the phone then, I guess," he said.
"Hello?" Tamaki said.
"I appreciate your concern, princess, but there is no need to worry, for in the court of love, I am but your court jester. And, indeed, it is improper for a princess to look upon a mere jester with such love and concern, is it not?" Once again, Tamaki was a host to the core. Even as he wasted away inside, he felt it was his rightful duty to feign happiness to the girls. Sebastian smiled. Yes, this soul was simply perfect, without any blemishes or impurities...quite like Ciel's had been.
"Yes, Kyouya, I'm fine. There's no need to worry."
"Mori-senpai? Sure..." Tamaki was evidently confused. Mori was a man of few words, and it seemed unlikely that whatever he had to say was only a simple word of condolence.
Tamaki was suddenly surprised. He furrowed his brow in worry and seemed to be at a loss for words. "What do you mean? How did you know? What's going on, Mori-senpai?" he asked after a moment.
"Okay. I will try. Good-bye." Tamaki hung up, and handed the phone to Sebastian.
"May I ask what worries you so deeply, master?" Sebastian asked.
"Mori told me to nullify our contract and to stop finding Haruhi's killer because I wouldn't like what I would find. He also said to ask you about your last master, Ciel Phantomhive. What happened with him, Sebastian? What is it that he wants me to know?" Tamaki, despite his usual calm nature, was now insistent and hungry for answers.
"It is, at the very least, a long story. Would you have me tell you now or after your breakfast?" Sebastian inquired.
Why does he seem to hold onto his past so fervently? Tamaki wondered.
"After breakfast. Can I have eggs today? Scrambled, please," Tamaki replied.
"As you wish." Sebastian left the room promptly, to go prepare Tamaki's breakfast.
"Ciel Phantomhive...what an intriguing thought. Tamaki will certainly make one hell of a feast for me," he mused.