But little does the shinigami know that the demon butler intends on making his day with him dissatisfying as he has a few cunning tricks up his sleeves; then again there is also some other-worldly trickery at play and the two must work together in order to find out what exactly is going on.
Alternate Title: Eindeloze uur Butler, Ora nesfirsita Butler
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Dementi / Disclaimer: Black Butler teken behoort © Yana Toboso / Square Enix
Ch.001 Ostinato, Refrain and Reprise
Sebastian Michaelis entered the Phantomhive dining hall to see that his master the young Earl, Ciel Phantomhive had just been finishing up his meal. "How was your dinner this evening my young master?"
"It was fine." The boy replied after he had just finished the last bit of his chamomile tea.
"I'm glad to hear that." The butler smiled as he began to clear the table.
"Sebastian do you remember that promise I told you about the one I made to that shinigami friend of yours?"
Sebastian's brow furrowed at the question but he regained his composure before his master could catch him."Vaguely, I try to put anything concerning that man out of my mind. Hm? Why do you ask me this?" He just had to ask though he had a feeling he would not like the response.
"I think it's about time I repay him for his aid."
"Feeling in a generous mood today are we?" Sebastian asked now with somewhat of an irritated expression not wanting to have anything to do with said shinigami.
"Not really, I just figure he can become to be a useful pawn in the near future so it would be best to stay on his good side that way he won't have any excuse to betray us later on."
"Hm, While I will admit that he is rather powerful despite his outward appearance I don't think you need to worry about him bet―
"Then there is nothing further to discuss concerning this, I'd like you to spend the entire day with him tomorrow; you know get to know him a little better."
"Yes my lord..." Sebastian bowed before heading into the kitchen with the dishware.
"Looks like it will snow tomorrow Sebastian. Be sure to bundle up and stay warm." Ciel added as the butler made his way out of the room.
Sebastian could almost see the cynical smirk on the child's face despite his back being faced the opposite direction. "Understood," he said before completely exiting the room.
Sebastian who had just finished washing the dishes put a foamy hand to his chin as he contemplated, I should prepare meals to compensate for my absence tomorrow and perhaps extras in case Mey-Rin or the other servants manage to muck it up somehow... Come to think of it... I will also leave a note telling them this is specifically for the young master.
After Sebastian bathed and put Ciel to bed he had also finished the preparations for tomorrow so for leisure he stared out the window where a lustrous glow of the full moon met him. He found the moon to be quite a splendor unlike the sun it was pleasant to look at; although being a demon he could very well stare at the sun if he so pleased but there wasn't much to see it always stayed the same. The moon could blanket itself in the clouds making itself scarce to human eyes; conceal itself partially in the shadows, appearing as though it had changed shape; the very aspect had always piqued Sebastian's interest. His thoughts of admiration were interrupted however when he heard a racket coming from the young Phantomhive's bedroom.
"Young master?" Sebastian entered the room to find a screeching Ciel. He hurried to the boy's side and shook him just rough enough to snap him out of his trance.
Ciel in turn gripped onto his butler's forearms for support but assured, "It was nothing I just thought there was someone else in the room for a moment..."
"Are you quite sure about this arrangement young master?" Sebastian sighed, helping the boy get settled back into bed. "Your night terrors seem to be reoccurring more than the norm lately."
Ciel gave his butler a look of contempt, "I gave you your orders Sebastian."
Sebastian almost wanted to ask why on earth his master wanted someone like Grell Sutcliffe on his side but he did not wish to aggravate the already flustered teen. "Very well. Would you like me to stay here until you fall asleep?"
"No, you may go." Ciel said in a brusque manner he didn't seem to even consider the question in length.
"Alright."
"Sebastian you might as well try and track down that reaper now, I imagine he won't be very easy to come by in the morning."
"I imagine you're right." Though he really did not want to admit it Ciel had a point as Grell seemed to appear most frequently at midnight.
Sebastian stalked down the fleecy streets clad in his thick black overcoat. It was nearly the wake of dawn yet he still hadn't found the reaper he had been seeking. There also seemed to be not a single soul else out as there usually would be, he didn't mind though since he hated running into people.
He stopped when he found himself at the docks now faced in front of a body wading in the water; he was confident the redheaded shinigami was to appear. Since the one killed was a good looking young gentleman in a moderate sense, the butler figured Grell would jump at the opportunity to reap the youngin's soul. He took a swift look round before stepping into a shadowed alleyway.
"Hm, I was quite certain he would appear in this location."
The demon butler turned round upon noticing that a lapdog was trotting up to him and growling though not at him directly but rather his pant leg. To an extent he was surprised the thing had the nerve to approach him at all; most if not all dogs could sense his demonic emanation several yards away but the very animal before him approached with an almost courageous manner about it. Oya oya ... what's this now?The man scowled as the pooch began to nip at his heel. "Let go of that you nasty beast so help me..." Sebastian hissed while he attempted to shoo the persistent mongrel away but to no avail; the stubborn animal just refused to let go of the trousers.
"Ah...?" Sebastian ducked when an outstretched hedge shear nearly decapitated him. He turned round to be faced by a familiar face. "Oh why hello there Mr. forehead..." he greeted with an irritable smirk.
William T. Spears stepped forward looking cross as usual."What pray tell are you doing out at this late hour without your master, demon?"
"It was none other than my master who gave me the order to do so but I am not here for the reason that you think I am." Sebastian scooped up the tiny dog in his arms and jumped rearward again narrowly avoiding another of William's attacks. "It is quite unfortunate that things turned out this way but I shall take my leave of this place if you don't mind."
"Then hurry up and leave my sight vermin." William sighed as he retracted his death-scythe. "This is a busy night for me and I'd rather not waste any time or exuberance on the likes of you."
"I could say the same to you seeing as how you were the one who assaulted me."
Ciel burst into the cruel cognizant world in a clammy mess. He found that his breathing was shallow and uneven, his hands were quivering uncontrollably perhaps from shock and to top it all off he had absolutely no feeling in his legs. His eyes had not yet become adjusted to the light, for the time being all he could make out were cloudy white blurs dancing before him.
"Young master please lie down and relax, I just checked your temperature and your fever is running quite high. I guess you passed out earlier because you overdid it, if you move round too much you might overexert yourself and it will be bound to happen again so be careful.."
Ciel rebelled mentally but physically he was powerless to. He felt his own body betray him, obeying his butler's request to lie back down. "H..how long was I out?" he managed to speak despite how painful it was on his throat.
"About four hours now. It's already a bit past noon." Sebastian placed a hand to Ciel's forehead which was moistened with sweat. The boy in turn smacked the hand away though in a feeble manner.
"You're burning up... I'll go get you some water."
"Why are you even here?"
"Well I wouldn't be here unless you summoned me."
"Maybe I did without knowing it... confound it all getting sick like this is the worst," there was irritation burgeoning in Ciel's tone despite how raspy his voice had become.
Sebastian frowned, "So which is it young master? Do you wish for me to go and search for Grell-san or stay here and tend to your illness?"
"You mean you haven't found him yet?"
"No, it looked as though that William was covering his shift for him I can only assume he has faced another demotion or has gone off rogue somewhere. Here drink this."
Ciel hadn't been the least bit parched but although his vision hadn't quite returned to him yet he could "feel" Sebastian gazing at him; he took a few chugs out of the glass simply to appease the older male.
Sebastian observed Ciel more closely, taking note of his condition, it had changed quite drastically in those past four hours. His breathing grew deep and uneven, his face was more pallid and now drenched in sweat. The only visible colour in him were his cheeks which held a worrying reddish tint. "Young master if it is your command for me to head back out in search for that shinigami then I am obligated to your decision."
"Yes," Ciel motioned for the butler to take his cup away, "but continue your search tomorrow night I'll probably be in bed all day anyway in the meantime you will stay on stand-by."
"Very well my lord."
"By the way Sebastian, what is that dog doing in here?" Ciel gestured to the little red bundle of fur at the foot of his bed.
The butler examined the little red mutt confounded on how such a tiny animal could climb such a height, "Oh yes I forgot, when William attacked me I guess I must have brought it here unconsciously, not to worry I will dispose of it right away." Sebastian approached the bed and picked up the dog by the scruff of its neck causing it to growl at him.
"No wait, I didn't tell you to get rid of the thing."
"Sir?" Sebastian questioned.
"Give him a bath then bring him back here to me."
Him? "...Yes, my lord."