Ohayo! Kimiko desu!
What you see here is my first Kuro fic (the first I ever planned, actually). If you ever know the classic fairytale this was taken from, enjoy! To those who don't, it's better if you research on it first so that you can get the highlights! 0w0

Anyways, hope you like it!

Lot's of love,
Skiko da Superior

Penury

Once upon a time, there was a young boy who had looks as enchanting as any pure cherubim would have. His name was Ciel, named for the sky. But he was the youngest in a very poor family with three brothers and three sisters, so the hand-me-downs he ended up wearing were more like rags by the time they reached him. Still, it would not change the fact that he had the looks that only perfect artists could paint. His pale but silk-smooth skin, his big cerulean eyes, and his soft black-blue hair caught everyone's attention instead of the poverty.

As simple as he was, he never thought that anything extraordinary would ever happen to him.

It was a cold day in mid-autumn when his life changed forever…

Ciel's POV

"Well that's the last of it." Alois, my older brother, rubbed his hands together and picked the last apple from the tree just so that he could eat it. I whacked him in the head. "You could have put that in the basket."

"Oh come on, Ciel. I'm veeeery hungry." He bit the apple again. I sighed. "Well, at least share."
Alois grinned and he got his knife to cut the fruit in half. "Well, we better get going. Father and Mother must be waiting for us."

I sighed as the autumn wind blew across me. I could still feel the coldness, as my clothes were nothing but fabrics pieced together. But still, I had to put up with it so that I would not burden my parents. They already had so many problems. I put down the basket of apples I was carrying and Alois looked at me.

"Hey, you tired already?" he asked, stopping to wait for me catch my breath. My eyes were set on his shorts. How could he wear them on a cold weather like this? I rolled my eyes at his stupidity.

"No, I'm not. Let's go." I carried the heavy basket and walked home with Alois. Today, we had to go in the woods to pick apples as we couldn't buy food at all anymore. But home was not that far, we lived in a small village where all its inhabitants were poor enough. But I must admit, it's amazing that our parents are able to keep are house standing even with destructive brothers like Bard and Finni, or a very clumsy sister like Mayrin.

"Alois, Ciel, if that's you, please put the baskets in the eating room." our mother, Rachel, called for us as we entered our home.

It was more like a cottage that was falling apart from the outside, but it was worse in the inside. It looked like a pigsty, as all of us slept in one small room on cots, and had dinner in the next. We only had two rooms. Our laundry was done and dried outside, as we couldn't fit them in here. But then again, I must put up with it as we had no money.

Lizzie and Paula were already fixing the table when we got in, as expected. They were responsible ladies unlike Mayrin, who was older than us. Lizzie smiled and hugged me as I put down the basket.

"Hi, Ciel! Wow, you found so many apples!" she squeaked. "Can I have one, please? I haven't eaten anything all day."
I sighed, but seeing her face begging as it was, I didn't want to look like a selfish person, so… I ended up giving in.
"Hmph, okay then. But just one. That's part of our dinner." Lizzie giggled as she got a red apple from my basket. Alois glared at her.
"Haven't eaten anything my foot." He muttered to himself. I ignored that and asked Paula where our father was. She pointed out to the lake at the back of our house and good enough, I could see him fishing. I ran outside.

"Do you need any help with that?" I asked him. Father smiled. "No, I don't need it. But if you can keep me company, I'd like that very much."
Of course, I sat down beside him. My father was the person I looked up to most in the family, as he was the one who was able to raise us all. Mother was only able to do household chores. I seemed to be also favoured by him; I was the one who looked most like him.

"Did you catch anything yet?" I asked him. He shook his head.
"Fish are kind of hard to catch in this season…the water's too cold, so they hide."
"Is that even possible?" I asked. My father laughed. "I guess so. But that's just a guess."
I laughed with him. "Alright then. But when I'm older, I'll go look into that matter so that I can give you the answer." Father patted my head.
"I wish I had money…if I did, I'd pay good money for all of you to go to school, with nice clothes and shoes." He gave me a warm smile.
Days here were always like this, we were always so relaxed. My father and I waited for a catch until soon it was night time and we could see the moon in the sky. But we caught nothing.

My father sighed. "We better go back before your mother gets angry at the both of us for being late for dinner."
At that moment, we could hear Mother calling for us already. "VINCENT AND CIEL PHANTOMHIVE, IF YOU MEN DON'T GET HERE THIS INSTANT, THE TWO OF YOU WON'T GET DINNER AT ALL!"

We looked at each other and laughed, going back home.

XxXxX

"Alois, can you pass me the bowl of soup?"
"No, you already had one piece of that!"
"Finni! Stop, you're getting too much of the water! Leave some for me!"
"Mother, Lizzie took my piece of bread!"
"I did no such thing!"
"My plate! It fell!"
"Paula, help me get my mushroom back!"
"What are you talking about? It's my bowl of soup!"
"Mayrin, stop getting my apple! It's MINE!"
"Stop arguing! Ration the food, there's enough for everybody if we do that…"

And those are the things that you would usually hear when you eat supper with us. Everybody tries to get what they want, but then they can't because of the food shortage. Lizzie was trying to keep her piece of bread safe from Alois. Bard and Finni were fighting over a bowl of soup, and Mayrin was trying to talk Paula into giving her last apple. Mother and Father were trying to calm everybody down. Tying to be oblivious to all the fuss, I was trying to eat my bread in peace under the table. Then all of a sudden, in the middle of all the mess—

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Everybody fell silent, stopped what they were doing and looked toward the door. I went out from under the table and sat in my chair.
"Were you expecting somebody, dear?" Mother asked Father. He shook his head and stood up. He went to the door and opened it slowly; trying to make sure it was not some thief or a murderer. And what was behind the door? It was a crow.

A gigantic crow at that, bigger than my father by about two or three feet.

Everyone tried their best not to shriek or panic…or actually attack the bird that interrupted our dinner. It also took me a while to see that the bird was staring straight at someone…and that someone was me.

The bird looked at my father and began to talk in a calm voice. "I mean no harm to your family."
Using all the strength he had at the moment, Father tried to stand up without being afraid. "W-what do y-y-you want from u-us?" he stuttered.
"I told you already, I won't bring harm. Why are you still stuttering? Well, that doesn't matter. I came here for your youngest son."

Everybody froze, and the bird was staring straight at me. It was…observing me.

"Well, everybody seems to be right about your looks. You almost seem like…an angel."

I stood up and swallowed. I had to be strong. "So everyone likes my looks. Not like I'm special other than that. What do you want of me?" the bird's red eyes seemed to twinkle as I spoke to him.

"I came here to ask for your hand in marriage."

Father looked at the bird wide-eyed. Mother's face went pale. Paula held Lizzie close, as her eyes began to water. Alois held my arm tightly, like he didn't want to let me go. Bard almost dropped his carving knife on the table. Finni let out a little yelp. Mayrin blushed a bit at this.

"W-why…me?" I stuttered. "And why do you think that I would even accept an offer such as that? Even if I'm just a young boy, I do know what marriage is!" I slammed my fist down at the table.

"Well there is a reason why I picked you of course, but I won't be telling you quite yet. That includes acknowledging you being a boy."

"Well, whatever reason, I won't be accepting it. I don't want to marry…whatever you are. I don't even know you until now, and you swoop in and—"

"Well, I did not say you should accept now, did I? In fact, you have a week to decide. And oh yes, I almost forgot. If you do marry me, you shall be rich as you are now poor, and your life shall obviously be easier to bear."

Everybody stared at the bird with big eyes. Mother and Father paled.

And with that, the giant crow flew away. "Remember my young, little boy. One week to think about it, and all the riches shall be yours."

Everything was quiet in the room as all of my family members stared at me, their faces pale. I felt my body shake as all the emotions that I held back flooded my nervous system. And in a few seconds, everything went black.

XxXxX

It was morning.

"Ciel, are you okay?" Finni asked me as I woke up, a bit dizzy from whatever happened.
"More or less…what happened, Finni?" I asked him, sitting up. Finni frowned.
"You fainted last night after a giant crow went here last night and asked you to marry him. He said that if you did, we—"
"We'd all be rich. Right..." I sighed. "Where is Father?"
"He's outside chopping wood. He seems pretty angry…he's confused if he should be sending you off with the crow to lift us from our poverty, or let you stay here. He wants you to stay here, you know." Finni patted my head. "He's angry at himself, so don't worry."
I stood up and went outside with Finni. He pointed to where Father was. "Go talk to him, Ciel."

I sighed as I went over to my depressed Father.

"You don't have to, you know." he patted my head as he chopped wood, after I asked him if he wanted me to marry the crow for the riches. If that is what he wanted, I'd be able to do it for him.
"That crow is probably just saying that so you'd fall in his trap. For all I know, he might a well just eat you up when you get into his nest or something."

I sighed. "But what if he's telling the truth? What then, Father?" he paused, and then continued chopping.

"I don't know, son."

XxXxX

Three days later

"CIEEEEELLLYYYY!"
"What do you want Alois?"

Alois pouted. "I want to take you to town! Come on, I found this thing I want to show you real badly…."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Why would I bother?" He then hugged me, though I tried to shake him off."Besides, I still have to go get tonight's dinner."
Don't be such a killjoy, Ciely. Now let's go before it's gone!"Alois laughed and dragged me out of the house.

I had no choice but to go in this.

Town was busy as expected. I've only been to town maybe three times, and that was to get medicine when someone was sick.

"What exactly are you expecting me to do here? It's not as if we can—"I started to tell Alois off, but he dragged me to a small building. It was a candy store, and at the window on display was a huge gingerbread house with all kinds of sugar and candy and colors all around.
"See it? That looks soooo good…" Alois whispered in awe. "If by chance we came across more money, that gigantic thing would be the first thing I'd buy. That'd be so delicious…"
"What a waste of money if you're not going to share." I said, staring at the pastry house as well. Alois laughed at me.
"It wasn't for me, Ciely; it was going to be for you of course!"

I blushed at that. "Really now, you don't have to, Alois."
My brother frowned. "You don't want it? But I thought you liked pastry…I guess I'd get you something different if ever."
"Alois, look at the state we're in. I doubt any money would even try to come our way. That would be impo—"

All of a sudden after I said this, a rock hit Alois in the head. I froze in terror as he fell to the ground. He was gasping in pain and shock as blood trickling down the side of his head. A group of rich boys (who apparently were the ones who threw the rock) laughed at my older brother as he tried to stop the blood by holding his hand to the wound.

"What do you think you're doing?" I angrily asked the blonde one who was in between them all.
"How revolting, the tramp actually talked to me!" he chortled. "What are you going to do to me? Contaminate my clothes? Or perhaps call your miserable parents? Oh, I don't think you can afford to have parents at all!"
That was where I drew the line. I was about to hit the boy when his friend hit me first. I fell to the ground as I felt the pain in my cheek. The boys laughed at me as I stood up and went over to my injured brother.

"Let's go, Alois." I helped him stand up. "We don't have to stay and beat them up. They're not worth it."
"Sorry, Ciel...I was older, I should have stood up for you, not the opposi—"

"MONEY DEFICIENT! MONEY DEFICIENT!" They called out to us as we headed for home.

When we got home, Alois was taken by mother so that she could bandage his head and clean the wound. She understood the situation and went off to find Lizzie and Paula so that they could get food from the woods in our place. Father on the other hand…

"THOSE BASTARDS DID WHAT?"
"I'm sorry, Father."
"It wasn't your fault, son. Now tell me who those spoiled brats were and I'll—"
I tried to calm him down by massaging his back. "No father, the authorities will just get to you. They're nobles so…"
"Well, 'noble' my foot!"
"Don't do something you'll regret in the future." I warned him sternly.

He sighed. "I can't let them just…do this. Not only to my children but to everyone as well. Someone should stand up to them—"
"Father, stop. You know that's nearly impossible."
Father sighed again. 'You're right, Ciel. I guess I should calm down for a while."

I nodded. "What happened was just…normal, Father. Just let it go. We won't go into town anymore alone."

Father nodded then he stood up and went out of the house, into the woods. I knew that he was chopping wood again, like he always did when he was enraged. I wished I could help him, just grow up quick so that I could find a job that pays good money. I sighed and thought to myself that maybe…I could do something for my family…

End of Chapter One.