Ciel Phantomhive was on his way to the hat shop he catered to because the last top hat he was accustomed to wearing had been damaged in his last assignment from Queen Victoria. One pace behind him and to the left strode a black haired man with chocolate brown eyes in a black tail coat. In the last couple years, it had become very common to see him shadowing the young Earl. Outside of his estates, you never saw one without the other.
After only fifteen minutes in the hat shop, they both emerged with a new black top hat with a dark blue ribbon at the base that matched perfectly with the majority of his clothing that he wore out in public on Ciel's head.
When they exited the shop Ciel noticed that an entertainer had begun a roadside show across the street. He paused to watch for a moment, remembering that he used to love to watch the entertainers.
He noticed that the entertainer was a young boy, he looked to be about Ciel's age. He wore a typical outfit of the commoners; tan breeches, with a loose cotton shirt, bare feet, and a gray herringbone hat that covered the boy's hair.
The child was juggling three wooden balls, which wasn't all that impressive since juggling was an easy enough task for entertainers. But then he threw them high jumped back into a back flip then caught the balls, juggling again. Before then only children were watching him, but with that move even adults were watching him, and then threw a few coppers into another hat on the cobbles of the sidewalk in front of him.
About that time the child looked at his audience to bow a thank you to the crowd, then noticed Ciel with Sebastian standing behind him. Even though there was shock, and perhaps a little fear, in his hazel eyes, he didn't stop his performance. Obviously the child was surprised to see a noble watching. Then Ciel tipped his hat with his left hand, turned and started walking away.
"Sebastian."
"Yes Master?"
"Is there anything else that could be completed today?"
"Why yes Master, there was the matter of trying to find something for Lady Elizabeth for when she is visiting at your mansion to keep her occupied so she wouldn't deface the manor."
"Ah yes, that is right. Do you have any suggestions?"
"None at all at the present Master. But I might suggest we look around to acquire ideas."
Ciel sighed, "I guess it can't be helped."
A couple hours later, Ciel still had not been successful in finding something that would occupy Lizzie's attention for very long. They had tried many different kinds of stores, but he knew that toys, candy, or even dresses wouldn't turn Lizzie's attention from him and her absurd decorative tastes for very long. They had been walking amongst a large crowd, and nothing to show for it, and that grated on the young Earl's nerves.
"Well, this is a waste of my time, let's go back to the estate."
"Yes, My Lord." Sebastian bowed humbly and turned with his young master back towards the carriage that would be their transportation home.
During the walk there Ceil felt a slight breeze from his left, and also felt a little pressure against him as well. But he thought nothing of it. He was obviously amongst a great crowd and couldn't expect not to be jarred a little. Besides, Sebastian was there and he would be able to sense anything that might be a danger to him.
When he arrived home, his four servants greeted him in the Hall.
"Welcome home Master," they chorused.
"Go about your duties," he borely commented to them barely looking at them and turned to go to his Study.
"Yes Master," they each gaily bounced off to different parts of the mansion. Except for Finni, who went outside, and Tanaka, who knelt on a thin cushion drinking from a Japanese tea cup.
"Ho, ho, ho."
Cole was looking through papers for his toy and confectionery company called Funtom when Sebastian knocked, then walked in with a rolling tray.
"For lunch I present to you Pork Belly Bistro with the Souchong tea, Master."
"Thank you Sebastian," Ciel cleared an area on his desk and Sebastian set the plate with the proper silverware beside it. Ciel took the instruments and was about to eat when he heard Sebastian's voice.
"Master, where is your ring?"
Ciel started a little, then looked at the thumb of his left hand and stiffened as his dark blue eyes grew a little wider, for as Sebastian pointed out, his family heirloom ring was gone.
Several hours later Mey-Rin came running back to the Study panting, followed by Bard and Finn, who were also panting, "We didn't find it, no we didn't."
Sebastian sighed, "Oh dear, I suppose it isn't here then."
"How can you stand there and act so calmly Sebastian? You know the importance of that ring." The ring of Ciel's, with its large blue diamond was a family heirloom that had been passed down for generations. It should not be lost. Especially when Sebastian had made it whole after Elizabeth had shattered it. Plus, it was just dangerous for someone else to wear it. Ceil hoped that they could find it before something happened.
"Yes, of course Master. Shall I call Scotland Yard?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Those imbeciles would just leap at the chance to see me at a disadvantage. Besides, how are they supposed to help?"
"A very good point Master. What do you propose we do then?"
Ciel paced a little as he thought, then said to Sebastian, "Get that demon hound that seems to be fond of you. I'm sure he could help."
Sebastian looked a little pained, "Are you sure that's a good idea master?"
"Yes, he was an immense help when I was looking for Elizabeth. I'm sure he could help now as well."
Sebastian sighed a little, "Very well then Master. Pluto and I will go to London and search…."
"No," Ciel interrupted. "I shall go along with you."
"Are you sure that's wise?"
"Yes, I remember putting the ring on this morning. The only time it could have been stolen was when we were in London. I want to look into the face of the one with the audacity to steal from the head of the Phantomhives."
Sebastian bowed with his palm over his chest, "Yes, My Lord."
Fifteen minutes later saw what appeared to be two men, and a boy in a carriage arriving in London. The only thing odd about it was that one of the men was on a leash, that indicated that there was something strange about him, or the other man was into something most proper ladies and gentlemen looked down upon. In reality the man was a demon hound named Pluto that really shouldn't be let loose in any kind of city at all, let alone London. And as a demon hound, he could change his appearance from a giant wolf-like white dog, to that of a man with long silver hair, and if you looked closely enough, you would see his eyes were red and with slit pupils.
Pluto's head and shoulders hung out the window of the carriage with his tongue lolling in between his jaws and his hands holding onto the side of the carriage when they came to a stop in a deserted street of London. The occupants of the coach stepped out and the Ciel turned to Sebastian, "You sure he knows what he's looking for?"
"Yes Master, I've explained to him to the best of my abilities."
"Then it shouldn't take too long to find my ring," he turned to Pluto, "Now go find me my ring."
Pluto barked his human bark and dashed off into the night on his legs and arms, leaving the two others to follow in his wake on their two legs.
Ciel didn't know how long they had been chasing the hound through London. The dumb demon hound chased after cats, rats, and sniffed through garbage, and so when he turned down an alleyway, Ciel expected more of the same. But then Pluto stood still and started growling softly. Then Ciel really looked into the alleyway and saw to his surprise a small figure leaning casually against the wall of a building, gently moving their arm up and down, as if they were tossing something into the air and catching it again.
"Who are you?"
"Well, well, well Lord Phantomhive. You seem to be looking for something you lost. Is it so?"
Ciel slimmed his eyes in speculation, the speech of the figure was not one he expected to hear from someone from the streets of London, "Are you the one that stole it?"
"Stole? That is not a word to be used so lightly sir. I prefer to say that I saved you from it. It's a dangerous thing to be wearing so casually."
"I know full well the dangers of that ring."
The figure stopped their arm suddenly, as if catching the object and then moved their head towards Ciel, as if truly looking at him for the first time. "So, you know the properties of the ring? And still want it back?"
"It is an important heirloom of my family."
"Even so. Well, you are an odd character, though I should have guessed it, since you have a demon as your servant."
Ciel started at that statement and then glared up at Sebastian, he should have known that there was someone who would be able to recognize him as a demon and then told him about them, especially if he had seen them today. But even Sebastian looked a little surprised. Then the person started talking again.
"Not only that, but you also seem to have a demon hound for a pet."
Ciel glared at the person, "Who are you?"
The figure hesitated a little, then leaned away from the wall and started walking towards them. Pluto growled a little, and Ceil and Sebastian prepared themselves for a possible fight.
Their actions didn't seem to disturb the figure, which as they walked closer gained the obvious shape of a child, and then as they stepped into the moonlight glow, became the entertainer boy that Ciel had seen earlier that day. He raised his hand to his gray herringbone hat and pinched it a little in a polite salute. "Joseph Butcher, at your service."
Ceil glared at the young boy, "Well then Joseph Butcher, if you're at my service, then hand my ring back to me."
"I'm afraid that is something I cannot do. While I said I was at your service, it is my self proclaimed duty to protect others from dangerous magical objects. Even if it means, as you had so tactfully called it, stealing. And just because you know how dangerous this ring is, doesn't mean you should still keep it."
"I've had enough of this nonsense. Sebastian, get the ring back from him."
"As you wish Master."
"But don't kill him, I want to know how he knows about you and Pluto."
"Indeed, I am mightily curious about that myself, since all my senses are telling me he is a simple human."
With that statement Sebastian stepped in front of Ciel and offered a small bow to the lad. "I am terribly sorry Joseph Butcher, but you stand in between me and what my master wants. And my Master has ordered me to apprehend you. Please make this easy on yourself and give it up willingly."
"I can't do that demon, and I'm surprised at you. You're supposed to protect the one you are bound to; at least I'm assuming that's why a demon is acting as a butler to a young nobleman. You should know the dangers of this ring."
"I do, but my Master has become rather fond of it and also has overcome many of the dangers that it presents. So without further ado, I shall be taking it back from you." With that statement, Sebastian shot forward with a speed that was usually beyond human abilities. But even with that speed the boy jumped and flipped to the side.
"I may be a human, but you're going to have to do better than that to get me demon."
"Yes, I have underestimated you. You are an acrobatic young lad after all; I should be a bit faster."
Once again Sebastian rushed at him, and the child dodged. To call what ensued next a battle would not be accurate, but Ciel was amazed all the same. The boy seemed to be just as fast as Sebastian, but he wasn't acting offensively towards the demon at all, just dodging. And when he was dodging, it didn't look like he was trying to get away. What was he up to?
Then an attempt to catch Joseph seemed to at least be partially successful, Sebastian's arm actually touched Joseph's head and he had to turn to try and avoid Sebastian, then his hat fell off and light chestnut hair flowed down to his shoulder blades.
Ciel gasped a little, and when Sebastian landed, he stayed there, both males looking at the girl in surprise.
The soft blow must have knocked her off balance since she landed on her buttocks. She rubbed it a little painfully, then glared at Sebastian. When she realized how Ciel and Sebastian were looking at her, she gasped a little and felt for her hat, which was obviously missing.
She then offered a swear word of the lower class and raised her right palm at them and a bright light erupted from it, accompanied by a strong wind blast.
When their blindness past and the air stilled, she was gone.
A/N: Well, how is it so far? This is my first fanfic with an OC, so hopefully the story will be fun.
For dedicated fans, it should be painfully obvious that I am basing this off the anime. I haven't had to time to actually read the manga, though I dearly want to. So maybe my next Kuroshitsuji fanfic will be based off the manga and will be better
I know you haven't gotten much of a look at my OC, but you will next chapter. Any speculations on who and what she is?
I've been really really busy lately (I've also had a few other stories to write) so I'm not entirely sure on how often I'll be able to update this story. So anyone who likes this well enough to follow it will have to be a little patient with me.