A Slave and a Noble

Yako let out a loud, tired sigh, falling onto the couch. She stared up at the ceiling, struggling to keep her eyes open. She had spent the entire day running back and forth with Neuro, trying to solve another mystery. They hadn't stopped for food once, and she was famished. Not to mention that she almost got killed about ten times.

It was just another day at work.

"I need a union," she muttered under her breath, beginning to doze off.

"I hope you're not planning on sleeping, slave," Neuro's voice came from behind his desk. "The office is filthy."

Yako yawned, shaking her head. "Godai can clean it. I have a test tomorrow that I need to study for."

"Why do I have to do it?" Godai cried out. "You can't make me clean this pit!"

Yako's eyes continued to wander across the ceiling, falling onto a random bloodstain on the ceiling. She cringed, reminded of what the office had been for before they had taken it over. "Perhaps you're right…"

Akane took up a broom, wrapping her braid around it as she began to sweep the space around her laptop.

Yako sat up, glaring over at Godai, who was sitting at his desk with his legs propped up on its surface. "If Akane can do it, you can at least help me, Godai!" Yako insisted, forcing herself off of the couch. She stood up on her tired legs, balancing herself as she turned to face him. "Anything that will get the job done with sooner."

"Like hell," Godai retorted, stubborn and lazy.

Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, one of his desk's drawers suddenly forced itself open, hitting him so hard that he fell out of his chair backwards, falling roughly onto the tile floor. Yako cringed, not having to look at Neuro's demonic expression to know he had just activated one of his traps.

"I don't need lazy slaves," Neuro reminded him.

"Then can I leave?" he asked hopefully.

"If you're leaving, it's out the window."

Painful memories flashed back to Godai. Reluctantly, he pulled himself up, cursing under his breath as he opened the broom closet, dragging out a mop and bucket. Yako walked up behind him, and he shoved the cleaning supplies into her arms, yanking out the vacuum cleaner. "Let's make this fast," he hissed under his breath angrily, shooting an angry glance over at Neuro, who looked more than amused.

"I'd prefer if you put on an apron and rubber gloves," Neuro added.

Godai began shouting back at him. "First you make me clean your mess, and now you want me to dress like an idiot?"

An innocent expression fell over Neuro's face. "What are you saying? I just want you to protect yourself, so you don't get hurt!"

Godai rolled his eyes. "Yeah, if I got hurt, then who'd clean up your mess?"

"Slave #1, of course."

Yako fell onto her knees, trying to ignore the fact that Neuro was watching her as she scrubbed the floor. Not only was she exhausted, but annoyed as well. All day long, Neuro had pushed her around, tauntingly dragging her past several restaurants on their way to their various destinations throughout the mystery. At this point, she was looking forward to studying.

Of course, Neuro only made matters worse by setting his 'pets' lose, claiming that they needed 'exercise'. Some left trails of slime, others left acidic footprints, and one even set Godai's apron on fire. Every time the two 'slaves' came close to finishing cleaning the room, Neuro would 'accidentally' kick something off of his desk. Eventually, he became bored, and left his desk.

"I'm going on a walk," he announced, "in search of a new case."

Yako stared at him in disbelief. "Another case? Today?"

"You're a famous detective!" Neuro reminded her with a smirk. "You should be looking forward to solving mysteries!"

And yet, here I am, scrubbing your floor, she thought bitterly.

"And don't think about taking any breaks," Neuro continued, dropping one of his demonic eye-creature-things onto his desk. "You're under surveillance."

Both servants let out a groan as Neuro left the office, in a cheerful mood. Yako had missed dinner and Godai had missed the latest episode of one of his favorite soap operas.

Godai glanced up over his shoulder at their window, letting out a sigh. "Damn it, I really need to find a new job. Or go into hiding or something."

"You can," Yako pointed out. "I'm a famous detective. I'm stuck with this job. No vacations for me." She yawned again, but the growling of her stomach drowned the sound out.

"Someday I'll get back at that creepy asshole," Godai promised, dusting off the surface of Akane's laptop

You'll be free once he lets you go, she thought to herself, otherwise, you're stuck here, just like me.

Of course, there were things Yako enjoyed about her job. She got to meet all sorts of interesting people, and she felt like she learned at lot as well. Sometimes, it just didn't seem worth it, though. Especially when she couldn't eat. A few times, she had considered buying a small fridge for the office, but thoughts of what Neuro could do to poison the food had scared the idea away.

For the first time, she wished with all her might that Neuro wouldn't' find a new mystery.

---

Nearly two hundred years in the past, a boy not much younger than Yako was living a life that was very similar, and yet very different. He, too, had made a pact with a demon, and often times, his job called him to solve cases. However, rather than being the demon's slave, the demon was his butler.

Ciel Phantomhive was seated at his table, scanning over his notes on a strange case the Queen had asked him to take care of. He was dealing with another serial killer, but none of the clues seemed to add up. The last murder had been of one of the Queen's guard, but he still couldn't figure out a solution.

Of course, he could just order Sebastian to figure it out for him. However, he could tell from the smirk on his butler's face that he was waiting for Ciel to cave, and the young Earl's pride kept his mouth shut. Silently, he continued to look over the notes, inwardly begging them to offer up an answer.

"Everyone always has an alibi," he muttered under his breath in an irritated tone.

"Did you say something, young master?"

"No," he quickly lied.

Sebastian stood behind Ciel, pouring him a glass of tea. "You should know, Lady Elizabeth is stopping by in the afternoon."

Ciel let out an aggravated sigh. "Can't you tell her to come another day? I'm busy."

"You'll have to accept your guest," Sebastian insisted in a calm tone. "Besides, I'm sure you'll have solved the case by then."

Ciel shot a glance over his butler, but turned away the moment he looked to meet his eyes. He had less faith that he'd solve the case so easily, and had the feeling Sebastian was subtly trying to provoke him.

A thousand thoughts raced through Ciel's mind. His family all says he was running errands. I checked with the baker, and he said he came in and didn't buy anything. He must have known something was wrong. Perhaps he was stalling, while thinking of a way to approach someone who had been following him? He died only a block away, after all…. His brother holds a grudge against him over their father's inheritance, but he has an alibi…

He kept reaching dead ends. Sitting up, he asked, "What's been prepared for lunch?"

Just as Sebastian opened his mouth to respond, the kitchen went up in flames.

"Lunch may be delayed," Sebastian responded calmly. "For the time being, enjoy your tea."

Ciel let out a sigh. "I really need to get new servants."

It was just another day at work.

---

It was nearly midnight when Yako collapsed onto her bed. It was too late to study, and she wouldn't have been able to keep awake even if she had tried. Her stomach continued to growl, louder than the hammering in her aching head, but she was far too exhausted to even think of walking to the kitchen.

I wish I had someone to bring me something to eat, she thought with a yawn. Too weak to so much as pull her covers over herself, the young schoolgirl rested her head against her pillows, allowing her eyes to drift shut without bothering to change, let alone close her window.

A cool breeze drifted into her room as she slipped into a sweet, relaxing dream. She dreamt she was sitting on top of a throne, with ten chefs carrying trays and trays of food up to her. A smile crept across her face as she dreamt until she fell into a deeper sleep, her mind going completely blank.

---

Around the same time, Ciel was still racking his mind over the mysterious case he had at hand. He read over his notes by candlelight, sitting at his desk in his pajamas. He hadn't gotten anywhere with his research, and Lizzy's visit hadn't helped. Especially since she had had such a good time that she was returning again the next day.

Hearing footsteps in the hall, he immediately cast his notes to the side, ready to leap into his bed. Unfortunately, his butler was far too fast for him, and was already knocking on the door, gently opening it to check in on his master.

"Is everything all right, my Lord?" he asked, trying to keep innocent curiosity in his tone. He glanced at the notes, as if he didn't already know what Ciel was up to. "Don't tell me you're still working on the case still?"

"I'm almost there," Ciel insisted. "I just need a little more time."

"Sleeping on it may help," Sebastian suggested. "Or, perhaps, I could offer my assistance?"

"That won't be necessary," the young Earl insisted in an unpleasant, abrupt tone. "I'll manage myself."

"Of course." Sebastian didn't sound convinced, but was amused by Ciel's proud persistence. With that, he left him to his notes, shutting the door with a soft clack behind him.

Ciel turned back to his papers, cringing at the thought of looking them over again. Perhaps sleep would help. He blew out his candle and made his way to his large, canopy bed, pulling the sheets over his head. He didn't bother removing his eye patch as he closed his eyes, immediately drifting into a dreamless sleep…

---

The young noble awoke the next morning feeling awfully cold, considering the fact that he had his large, comfy blankets over him. He rolled over, reaching to secure them around himself, and found that he was lying on top of his sheets rather than under them. Since he wasn't used to topping things, he was uncoordinated and awoke immediately, sitting upright.

Sunlight streamed in through an open window onto the small, twin sized bed he was lying in. It wasn't his usual canopy bed, and it certainly wasn't his bedroom. It was a small, crammed room with several empty bags of food flowing out of the trash barrel, and closet full of strange, colorful clothing. The desk caught his eye as well. A strange, flat rectangular piece of equipment had replaced his usual notes. What was that black…screen-like thing, with a board of numbers attached to it?

For the first time in his life, Ciel had to ask himself the dreaded question, What happened last night?

"Yako!" a voice called from downstairs. Ciel jumped, goose bumps rising on his arms. Who was Yako? Where was he?

"Sebastian?" he called out in a whisper. No response. He pressed his fingers to his eye patch, tearing it away. "Sebastian!" Still, nothing.

He quickly tied his eye patch back on, rushing to the open window. He peered out of it onto one of the strangest streets he had ever seen in his life, full of tall, flashing green and red lights and strange carriages that moved without horses whizzing back and forth.

"I must still be in a dream," he murmured to himself.

"Yako? Are you sick? You're never late for breakfast!" the voice called again.

Ciel backed away from the door. Where in the world was Sebastian?

More important, where in the world was he?

---

Yako rolled over contently, burying herself under the warm, thick blankets. Her body sunk into the large, soft mattress. In the distance, she heard the faint chirping of birds. Sunlight streamed in through her window, gradually trickling onto her face as a gentle notice that morning had come.

Yako snuggled deeper into the bed. After such a hard day at work, she was in no rush to wake up, especially with that test waiting for her.

The sound of footsteps came through her door. Something was set down on her nightstand. Yako's stomach growled. Was her mother giving her breakfast in bed as a treat after a long day of work? A gentle hand clasped onto her shoulder, giving her a small shake.

"It's morning, young master."

Yako's eyes flew open, but she remained as still as a rock. That deep, soothing voice definitely wasn't her mother. She rolled over, nearly banging heads with the butler leaning over her.

Sebastian's eyes grew wide with shock. "You're not the young master."

Unable to help herself, Yako let out a loud scream.

Author's notes: It kind of starts off slow, but I hope you liked it and that you'll continue reading it!

Please drop me a review and let me know what you think of it so far!