Welcome back fellow readers to the new and improved Red Record! Since chapter 105 of the manga came out and almost broke the reaper part of the fandom, I felt like RR was in need of an update, so I'm updating it regularly. I hope I can commit to this and actually finish it this time! So, welcome back if you've decided to put up with me again! BTW I kinda adopted the Eric being Scottish headcannon (I have no idea who started it but I think it fits him quite well). I really like the idea, so that's why he speaks weirdly. I tried! Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter One

A mansion that was once home to a powerful child with three eccentric, if not clumsy, servants and a mysterious, now lay abandoned. The servants had left when the master and butler disappeared, leaving dust to gather, and the garden to die. There was no one to fix the broken windows that young children had smashed, no one around to keep any of the old possession in the manor to keep from being stolen, no one to call this place home anymore. The only guest the manor used to receive were crows however only lately, another presence remind hidden in the shadows on the manor itself and overgrown trees.

Today felt as if it was going to be like no other as he waited for a being to show his face but just as he believed he should return to his master, a familiar sound could be heard, though it made him cringe, he was oddly pleased to hear it. Long, vibrant red hair and the familiar red coat slung around his elbows were even more giveaways to who it was.

Though he was pleased to see the Grim Reaper, his mind supplied the question, why couldn't Grell sense him? Surely being as infatuated as he was with the demon, Grell should have been on him in seconds, but instead he remained perched on the branch, staring longingly at the mansion. "Is this where you go all the times you've left me to collect the rest of our list?"

Grell's eyes hardly left the building, only noticing the fellow reaper from the corner of his eyes, Alan Humphries. "Darling, I can't help it." He sighed, patting the space beside him. "I try to keep alive my hope of one day coming back to see my dear Sebastian working away at the manor like he used too."

Alan took the offered spot, his scythe taking his place against the trunk of the tree. "I thought you'd given up on the demon."

"I can't." he wrapped his arms around Alan's, laying his head on the shorter reapers shoulder. "My love for him is stronger than time. I cannot simply forget him even if centuries pass."

Alan rolled his eyes. "…I still can't fathom how you're in love with a demon. A creature that steals our souls."

"Oh not Sebby dear. He was contacted to that brat of a child meaning he couldn't devour our souls."

"He's still a demon."

"And he's still attractive." He gave a dreamy sigh. "Such red eyes that burn through my heart, enough to heat up my body with passion! Hands so cold as they wrap around your throat and squeeze, a voice smooth but dripping with such hunger," he jumped onto his feet, spreading his arms as a wind picked up, running through their hair and clothes, "the forbidden force that drives us closer together! Without him to chase, to fear the law, my life has become nothing but a tedious day job. With him, I can defy the rules, push them aside to rush into my Sebas-chan's arms, kissing him with our desire combining until I lay on his bed, in nothing but a red silk robe as he slowly begins to-"

"Enough!" Alan called, hands pressed to his ears. "Please Grell, I don't need to hear your fantasies about a bloody beast."

"Oh, but Alan sweetie." Grell took his arms, lifting him up to stand as well. "You need to understand the love I feel for him! How we are forced apart by hate but our love is far stronger, bringing us together like-"

"Romeo and Juliet, yes, I know." Alan said with a sigh. "We've all heard you speak of them far too much and anyway, aren't you worried the trouble you'll be in if you ever live your fantasy?"

Grell waved his hand, brushing away Alan's concerns. "I've already said, without my Sebby, my life feels so incredibly empty."

Alan frowned, returning to sit. "Grell…I…you should know why our job isn't meant to be fun."

"Of course I do but he made my choice worthwhile."

"Can't you go back to fawning over Mister Spears?"

"As much as I can't refuse a cold hearted man, Will's still a reaper. Sebby was a forbidden fruit, a demon." He restored to sitting as well but did yank Alan into a hug. "If only you could have met him. Then you would have seen how wonderfully handsome he was."

"No thank you." Alan said trying to push himself away. "I've met plenty of demons and not once have I found any of them attractive, your Sebastian no doubt the same."

"For as long as I've known you dear, you've yet to find anyone attractive."

"Because I plan to serve my punishment without extra handicaps like a lover."

"Now you're starting to sound like Will. Always so, so, so very cold."

Alan pushed up his glasses as he allowed himself to remain in Grell's hold, seeing how the red head wasn't going to let go anytime soon. "I'm not cold just realistic, besides, I don't think you care about this demon as much as you say you do."

"Why's that?"

"You say that same things about Mister Spears."

After thinking a moment, Grell finally allowed Alan freedom. "Will and I have different chemistry dear. As I am able to show my love he's far more…introverted and cruel."

"Maybe so, but he also seems happy single." Alan said adjusting his skull bolo tie. "And if he is happy and you care about him as you say you do, shouldn't you let him be happy?"

Grell scoffed. "Happy? He's lonely darling. He needs a woman in his life to give him the attention he needs." He placed his hand over Alan's heart using the other to gesture to the manor. "William's is like this home. Broken, old, lost. He needs someone to enter those walls and give him all the love and attention he needs then, like the manor, he'll be able to shine again."

"You're far too hopeful on that front. Mister Spears won't let anyone behind his walls as you should certainly know."

"One day dear, he'll come through. I just have to keep showering him with affection." He removed his hand from Alan. "Wouldn't you want that?"

"No." Alan said with darkening eyes. "I want to live this punishment out how we were meant too. Alone and being forced to watch the memories of those killed, murdered. To watch humans die before they reach adulthood, to even watch the ones that don't make it past their first breath into the world. We are here because what we did was sinful and thus we should take our punishment like how we were meant to take it to begin with. Seriously and alone."

Grell blinked then shook his head. "Someone's off his medication again." He stood once more, hands on his hips. "Sweetie, you say these things but have you forgotten Eric? The man who you've said yourself is your closest friend?" when Alan didn't reply, Grell laughed. "It's alright dear; I know what you were trying to get at."

Alan's brow furrowed as he pushed himself to his feet, taking up his scythe. "Anyhow, we should return to work Grell less Mister Spears comes by. If he sees us taking an unscheduled break it's-"

"Overtime."

Grell squeaked at the sudden voice beside him causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground, landing harshly on his arse. "Oh, Will! How dare you frighten a lady so."

William crossed his arms, ignoring Grell in favor of speaking to Alan. "Why have the two of you decided to stop working?"

"We're sorry sir." Alan said with an apologetic bow. "I was simply following Grell to see where he ran off too during our reaps. It wasn't my intention to take this long of a break."

"Mm." the immaculate reaper jumped from the branch, landing softly beside Grell. "Do you do this often?" he asked yanking Grell up by his hair.

"Ow! Not too often!" he used the close proximity to smother William in an unwanted embrace. "However if I knew stopping like this would make you come out to find me, I would have done it more."

"Do so and you'll be cut thirty percent of your pay plus six weeks of overtime."

With that, he used the locks of red hair he was still holding to yank Grell away from him, causing Grell to stumble and fall back to the ground. "Oh, rude!" however with the way the sun was setting behind William, it gave Grell such a wonderful view of the handsome man, the way the fading light cast an aura around him nearly made Grell faint. "Such an attractive man." He purred, biting the tip of his thumb.

William averted his gaze, pushing up his glasses. "Mister Spears?" William turned his attention to Alan again. "I've never met the Phantomhive boy but I've heard he was quite the-"

"Brat." Grell offered up.

"Er, yes."

William eyed the red head before he spoke up. "Phantomhive was an arrogant and shrewd young boy though I think most of that came from having a butler that wouldn't put you in dire harm. I could have cared less for him but I'm sure the same could be said for him."

"Was he well liked?"

"By his family, perhaps. By his acquaintances, maybe. By us reapers? No. As I said, I could have cared less for him but it doesn't help he's was one of the lowest mortals to make a contract with a demon."

"Lower than us, sir?"

William's eyes narrowed. "Pardon me? Are you saying what we have done is worse than selling your soul to a damn demon?"

"Not at all. I was simply saying, we aren't angel's either."

"I never said we were." He summoned his scythe, using the clippers at the end of it to pick Grell up by his shirt collar. "Now off with the two of you. If one soul even slips out of your grasps, I'll be sure to reprimand you greatly for it."

"Yes sir." Alan said with a bow before bounding off.

Grell however stayed behind a moment more to lay a quick kiss on William's cheek, following Alan quickly before he was smacked over the head with William's scythe. "Honestly." The reaper grimaced, retrieving a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the red lip residue from his pale cheek.

After pocketing the cloth again he finally addressed the presence he had felt the moment he arrived. "Either I have somehow gained heightened senses, or my reapers have dulled else I cannot come up with an answer as to way they did not sense you, demon."

From the shadows, a familiar demon stepped into view. Even after being gone for so long, he still wore the exact same outfit and as he stepped closer to William, that damned smile spread just a little more though it couldn't mask the look of near fatigue on the demons normally arrogant face. "Mister Spears."

"My, my. Don't we look tried today?"

The demons lips nearly twitched into a frown. "I am not tired."

"Oh? Perhaps are you aging then?"

"Nor am I aging."

"Then what has you so agitated Mister Michealis? I was under the impression the powerful demon butler could do anything with a simple snap of his fingers."

Though the smile had been on the verge of falling, it returned full force. "My agitation comes from the fact that I have been starving for far longer than I should have."

"How so? Is this new master of yours that much of a burden?"

"I do not have a new master." He began pacing in front of the reaper, noting how William's eyes never left him for a second. "In fact, I am forever bound to Ciel Phantomhive."

It was hard to do, but he was able to hold back the smile that was trying to break free from his thin lips. "You're suffering, are you?"

"I suppose one could call it that."

With such news, William allowed a small hint of a smile. "Ah, to hear that the great Sebastian Michealis has fallen to such a low truly does bring a feeling of joy I hadn't felt in years."

"I had a feeling that would make you happy."

"Indeed it has. For once, thank you demon." He pushed up his glasses yet again. "Now, what brings you back?"

Sebastian did not answer right away. Instead, he approached the tree where Alan and Grell had sat upon. "Might I inquire about that brunette that was with Sutcliffe? I can't recall ever meeting him before. Alan, was it?"

William's face returned to that of a blank slate when his question was ignored. "He and Slingby have never had the pleasure of meeting you but only of hearing of you from Sutcliffe, Knox and myself."

"You speak of me?"

"Illy of you, yes."

"Ah, I should have known."

"Yes, now why have you returned? I won't ask a third time."

Giving a sigh, Sebastian turned towards the sunset, the beams casting a warm glow over his face. "I haven't returned exactly, but I've come to visit someone."

"Who might this someone be? Those bumbling servants of yours?"

"Oh goodness no." that received a chuckle. "Being rid of them is the only positive to come out of this disaster." He turned to William. "No, I've come to visit you."

William blinked, stunned for a moment. "Me? You came to visit me?" he groaned. "Oh, what do you want? I've no time for your antics and with you gone; Grell has actually been working a bit better despite him apparently stopping in every now and then."

"Now, now. All I ask of you-"

"Whatever it is, no. I'm not helping you."

Sebastian used his demonic speed to flash in front of William, hand snapping up to grip his chin. "If you don't even listen to my request, I will remain here to make your work hell."

William smacked Sebastian's hand away as well as taking three steps back. "Do not touch me demon."

"Then? Shall you at least listen?"

"Fine. Speak before I lose my patience."

"Thank you." He folded his hands behind his back, beginning to pace again. "I won't bore you with how all of this happened instead; I'll cut straight to it." He kept his eyes locked with William's. "A…certain artifact has been brought to my attention as of late. An item that resides in the realm of Reapers." He could see a flash of worry spark through William's eyes. "An item that is more powerful that anything we demons or those angels have. Certainly something a reaper cannot control alone. Do you know the artifact I speak of?"

"Not at all."

Sebastian stood still, cocking his head with a curious eye. "No? It resides in your realm as I have said. Perhaps Mister Spears is telling a lie?"

"I am not. I have not heard of the artifact you speak of." He turned his back to Sebastian, getting ready to make a portal back to the Library. "I'm glad you stopped by to visit me and now that we've had our chat, you can return to your master and leave us reapers alone." The portal had formed, glowing a deep purple and blue. "Good evening, Michealis." He stepped through the portal and was gone.

At least he was back in his environment. The Library was a grand oval shape; white stone building with a statue of the Undertaker, the Legendary Grim Reaper, erected in the entrance to the building. Past the two main doors was a long hallway which passed many offices and towards the end of the hall was two other branching halls left and right that were aligned with more offices. Through the grand door at the end of the main hall opened to the third floor of the grand Library with grand bookshelves placed against the walls of the Library on all six stories, filled to the brim with Cinematic Records, the memories of the dead. On the ground floor another hallway led out towards the Administrative, Glasses and Death Scythe department. It may have been difficult to learn the lay out for newly graduated reapers from the academy but William knew it like the back of his hand. "Damn demon." He muttered proceeding down the hall to his office which was down the left hall at the end. "I can't have him here, not now." He could feel a throbbing begin in his temple. She was due to come in a few days and the last thing he needed was a demon to ruin everything.

"Hey sir, you okay? Ya look, more stressed than normal."

William found his eyes on Ronald Knox, an odd look of slight concern in those boyish eyes. "There's simply a pest loose that may cause trouble for me."

"Demon?"

"As per usual."

"Well, I got some good news." He offered his lady charmer smile.

"Has Grell decided to shape up and actually obey the rules of reapers?"

"Er, okay, maybe not that great of news, but I did finish yesterdays paperwork. 's on your desk right now."

"Ah, thank you Knox." He nodded to the reaper. "Now you'll have overtime tonight to finish the paperwork you've yet to do today."

"Aw, c'mon sir! There's supposed t' be this awesome part t'night and Eric said I gotta go!"

"I don't care." He bopped Ronald on the head with his scythe then parted ways with the blonde.

"Ow." He muttered then heaved a sigh. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he entered the grand doors then took the stairs down to the ground floor where a bunch of tables and chairs were organized for reapers to do their paperwork in the company of others, despite William's disdain for that idea. "Hey guys." Ronald sighed.

"Where did you go Ron?" Grell asked while he filed his nails.

"Went t' tell senpai I did my paperwork."

"An'? Ye comin' tonight 'r wha'?"

Ronald slid onto the bench beside Grell, turning his attention to Eric Slingby. "Can't. Overtime t' finish the work I didn't t'day."

Eric shook his head, his hands kneading into Alan's shoulder where the brunette was sitting in front of him. "Knoxie, get yer shit t'gether."

"I know, I know." Ronald sighed then shrugged. "Oh well. Just one party right?"

"One party?!" Grell blinked. "Where's Ronnie and what have you done with him?"

"I'm still Ron, jus', it's one party. Not a big deal if I miss it."

Alan gave a quiet groan from where he set as he slowly fell forward onto the table. "I have a feeling it's simply because you're not looking for any women."

Ronald shrugged. "Why?"

"I've seen you spend way too much time in the Death Scythe department, chatting up one of the girls there." He shifted his shoulders a bit and Eric got the idea to move his hands down a little lower. "We all know if Ronald Knox wanted her, he would have had her by now."
Ronald laughed. "Oh, c'mon. She's, well, yeah, she's pretty but…" he glanced around. "You really think I got a chance with her?"

"Ye got a chance with everyone." Eric said with a smirk. "Could get Al into bed if ye wanted."

Ronald blinked and Alan shook his head, laying his forehead on the table. "You're awful."

"Aye, I know." He smirked. "Ye still enjoyin' this?"

"Mm hm."

"Anywhere else?"

"A little lower. Center back should be good." Eric obeyed and was awarded with another groan. "Ah, right there."

Ronald smirked. "Hey, when's my turn?"

"After me." Grell winked.

Eric chuckled. "I ain't a masseuse ye two."

"Then why's Al getting such a treatment?" Grell pouted.

"Looked tense."

"I'm tense."

Eric took one hand from Alan's shoulder to hold it out to both Ronald and Grell. "'ow much ye willin' tae pay?"

Ronald crossed his arms. "Was hopin' I was gonna get Al's discount."

"Well, I'll see how me fingers feel when 'm done workin' out these knots." He said returning his hand back to Alan's shoulders. "I mean, damn Al. Why the hell are ye sae tense?"

Alan sighed, closing his eyes and folding his arms underneath his cheek. "I normally am but I do thank you Eric."

"Ah, yer welcome lad."

Ronald smirked as he stood. "Well, since I got that overtime t'night, I'd better get started." He gave a short wave then left to do his paperwork.

So there, first chapter of the rewrite done. I hope it was enjoyable and the description of the Library was easy to follow. I sort of took the idea from the later parts of the anime in Season 1.