~*BloodCraven*~
In Victorian-era Europe, a young girl loses everything she once held near and dear to a vicious plot. In her moment of death, she strikes a deal with a demon: her soul, in exchange for revenge. Sakura Haruno is now the head of the Haruno corporation, handling all business affairs as well as the underground work for the Queen of England. Her new partner is a demon butler, Sasuke Uchiha, whose powers as a butler is only surpassed by his strength as a demon.
The story follows the two along with their other servants, as they work to unravel the plot behind Sakura's parents' murder, and the horrendous tragedies that befell Sakura in the month directly after.
~O~
A/N: I've gotten into a new anime named, Kuroshitsuji or Black Butler and completely fell in love with the story and plot about it. Couldn't help but do a fanfiction. All the food that is mention is what I love.
~O~
~Chapter 1: His Mistress, Punitive ~
"I hate them, I hate them all! They've killed everyone I loved and killed me for their pleasure." Sakura opened her hatred filled green eyes and looked up into the dark abyss of the line between life and death. She bite into her lip hard and felt as the cold blood seeped down the side of her cheek. All of those prays she asked of God to help her. Faith...what her mother had always spoke of...was non-existent.
"Once one has rejected faith, it is impossible for her to pass through the gates of Heaven." A voice echoed. Sakura didn't even bother to even look around to found out to whom it belong to.
"Would someone who believed in God summon you?" She said. A laughter sounded from the left side of her. She looked over and saw a tall figure.
"Then I will ask you but once: Is it thy wish to form a contract?"
"Enough!" She said impatiently, "Form the contract and grant my wish!" Sudden the darkness all around her started to dissolve.
~O~
"Young Mistress, it is time for you to wake up." Sakura groaned when the bright light of the sun invaded through her eyelids. She opened her eyes and glared at him as he poured her tea. "A poached salmon with mint salad has been prepare for your breakfast. Toast, scones, and French pastries have been prepared as an accompaniment. Which would best suit your taste today?"
She lifted up from the bed, yawning and rubbing her eyes, "Scones." She answered back, hooding her hand over her eyes to block out some of the sunlight as she looked out the window.
"Today after breakfast, an authority on the Roman Empire, Professor Iruka, will be visiting. After lunch will be Mr. Mizuki from the Poseidon Company." After pouring her tea, he sat it down on the nightstand beside her bed and walked over to her closet and pulled out one of her fine dresses. He pulled out one of her corsets and looked at her.
"I don't think you'll be needing this, your waist it already so petite." He said placing back the corset and returned back to her. She ignored him, "Ah, the one who was left in charge of manufacturing stuffed animals at the Indian factory." She said taking off her silk nightgown and throwing on the dress. He stepped behind her and began to button it up.
"It seems he is Italian, and we are sparing no effort in order to provide the best hospitality for his satisfaction." After he finished, she sat down the bed and grabbed her tea as he began to put on her slippers. She took a sip then pulled it away inhaling its scent.
"This fragrance...Earl Grey?"
"Yes. It is Jackson's Earl Grey." He stood up and bowed to her. "I will await your arrival at the dining table. Well, then..." He said before turning to leave the room. Sakura sat her cup down before grabbing one of her sharp darts she kept on her nightstand and hurled it at him. Before opening the door, he paused and caught it with ease between his two fingers. He turned to her with a small smile etched across his face.
"How was that?" He said. Sakura looked into his deep black eyes, "Let us leave the fun and games for later, shall we?"
She blinked, "Yes. I agree, Sasuke."
~O~
"Ow, ow, ow!" Suigetsu cried when he felt her dart hit the back of his head. He ran to her, she looked up at him indifferently, "What is wrong, Young Mistress, for you to do something like that?"
"Nothing. That was to be expected." She said nonchalantly. That's when Sasuke bust through the doors, gaining everybody's attention. He looked at Suigetsu.
"Suigetsu, has the weeding been done in the inner garden?" he shook his head before giving him an apologetic grin.
"Karin," He said snapping her out her flushed appearance, "have the sheets been washed?"
"Juugo, were you not supposed to be preparing tonight's dinner?" Sasuke took in all of their expression upon addressing their duties. His eyebrow twitched in irritation, "If you have to be lazing around like this, get to work!" He yelled, scaring all three of them as they rushed out the room.
"S-scary!" Karin said. Sasuke sighed.
"Good grief." Sakura grinned as she bit into her scone.
After breakfast, Sakura began to head up to her studies. While going up the steps, she stopped to stare at the portrait of her parents. She frowned before continuing.
~O~
The silver is like a mirror without a hint of tarnish.
The tablecloths are as new, without a single stain.
The red roses of which the Young Mistress is so fond of are incredibly beautiful, without blemish.
The pinnacle of our hospitality, dinner, will be prepared from the finest and most luxurious hand-picked ingredients.
"This is indeed the first-class Haruno welcome." Sasuke said. He looked up hearing the bell. He sighed, "Even when it is so busy, the young mistress is..." He grabbed his black tail coat and threw it on. As he walked down the hall, six eyes watched him.
"This is our chance!" Suigetsu said.
"Huh?" Both Karin and Juugo said looking at him.
"You think I'll let myself be treated like an idiot forever? We'll get one step ahead of that Sasuke and make him go "Ah!" in surprise."
"Ah!" Both Karin and Juugo said.
"What good does it do for you to say it?" Karin smiled before pumping her fists in the air.
"But still, that's a wonderful idea! We can't simply rely on Sasuke the whole time, can we?" Karin said. Suigetsu smiled.
"All right, then. The plan is finalized!"
"Let's get to it!" All three of them chanted.
~O~
"I'm hungry. I want something sweet to eat." Sakura said.
"You cannot, Young Mistress. We're having a guest for dinner tonight, are we not?" Sasuke said. Sakura frowned.
"Come on, just do it. Something like a parfait."
"I cannot."
she clenched her teeth together in irritation in defeat. She stood up and walked toward the window, she looked down at the red roses that adorn her yard. "Oh, yes. About the portrait in the hall..."
"Yes?"
"Take it down. The head of the Haruno estate is now me, Sakura Haruno." Sasuke looked at her slightly shocked before smirking.
"Understood." He said bowing.
~O~
"So!" Sasuke said, "Just how did things end up like this?" He said taking noticed that all the food in the kitchen was burnt, all the flowers in the yard were dead, and all the dishes were broken.
"I thought it might be effective if I tried using the herbicides directly on the garden..." Suigetsu said.
"I thought we should bring out the tea set we prepared for the guests, but I fell and it all crashed..." Karin said giggling nervously.
"There was some raw meat left out and I thought I should cook it. So, with my flamethrower..." Juugo said.
Sasuke glared at all three of them like they were insects. All three of them felt the cold chill of the glare run up the their spines. "Ah! We're so sorry, Sasuke!" He sighed before turning his back to them.
He put his finger to his chin in thought, "Our guests will arrive at six." He took out his pocket watch, "That gives me a little over two hours. It would be impossible to get premium-grade meat or a tea set within that time. What should I do?" He turned back to them.
"Very well! Calm down!," He yelled, "Everyone, please listen to what I say and act immediately, just as I instruct. We will pulled through, somehow."
~O~
As the carriage arrived, Sasuke stood calmly. He opened the door and stepped out the white haired, Mizuki. He stopped and his eyes widen, "This is..."
"Welcome." All three of them said bowing.
"We have decided to implement a stone garden as seen in Japan." Sasuke said. Mizuki's eyes sparkled with astonishment. "Genius! How excellent! What an elegant garden!" Sasuke smiled.
"I thought it appropriate that tonight's dinner should take place out here. Please take time to relax in the mansion until then." Sasuke said, "If you would follow me." Mizuki nodded his head. As they walked the side of the mansion, he could help but gaze into the scenery.
"My, my. Just as one should expect from the Haruno family. I can wait for night to fall now." He said stepping himself inside. Suigetsu sighed in relief.
"We made it! To think the pebbles I rushed off to buy could become such an amazing garden!" Sasuke came back out.
"If those who serve the Haruno family shouldn't pull off something like this, then what would happen? There is still a long way to go. While the young mistress is negotiating with our guest, let us do what we can."
"Yes, sir!"
~O~
"The progression of East Indian jewel technology is really quite remarkable." He said as he watched her make her move on the board game, "Many brilliant people have also been raised there-"
"Entranced by the eyes of the dead." Sakura said. Mizuki's eyes grew slightly. Sakura sighed as she fell back against her chair and stared at the board game. "That's unlucky. I'm out for one turn, eh?" Mizuki blinked in confusion, he looked down at the game then back at her.
"It's an opportune time right now!" he said trying to gain her attention but noticeably failed, "I would like to continue to expand my company's business and secure a larger workforce."
Sakura closed her eyes, "It's your turn."
He again looked in confusion before looking back down the board game, "Oh, yes," He leaned forward and picked up the spinner, "Well then, excuse me." He said spinning it. "Yes, and five." He said grabbing his game piece. After he finished, he looked up at her. "About that, though. If I were to received assistance in the form of another 12,000 pounds..." Sakura opened her eyes and stared at him, "I'm sure this would not prove to be without benefit for you either, Countess. I would become the Haruno Company's legs in South Asia and leapfrog right into even more-"
"Lose your legs in the Forest of Confusion."
"Eh?" He said clearly perplexed by what she said.
"It's your turn again. I'm out for a turn, after all." He looked back down and grabbed the spinner.
"All right. Six." He said victoriously.
"Wait, that's three."
"Um, but..."
"You lost your legs, right?," He looked at her shocked, "From this point on, you can only travel half the distance."
Mizuki began to laugh, "Aha, this is quite the severe board game, isn't it? Is there no way to restore my legs?"
"Something once lost will never return." She leaned forward and snatched his game piece from his hand. She looked at the game, "Your body is burned within the crimson flames." She looked back at him to see he was frowning looking at the space she had placed his game piece on. It was the picture of a person burning at the stake.
~O~
"How are the preparations?" Sasuke said entering the kitchen. Juugo looked over his shoulder.
"I'm making them, but..." He lifted up the chunk of meat, "Is this all right?"
"Yes, it is perfect."
"Sasuke, I found them!" Karin said running toward him with a stack of wrapped boxes. She then tripped, throwing all the boxes in the air. Sasuke caught all of them before Karin fell into his chest.
"Really, now..." He said looking down at her flushed face, "This is why I always tell you not to run inside the mansion." Karin quickly back away from him, clearly embarrassed.
"You're right! I broke my glasses and now I can't see very far ahead."
Sasuke sighed, "Nonetheless, now I have no more worries about our main event. Good job, everyone. Now you can leave the rest to me and just relax. Please try your best to stay calm. Stay calm, as much as possible." He said, hoping they'd get the point.
"He said it twice." Suigetsu said, "Just now, he said it twice."
~O~
"The preparations for dinner have been made." Sasuke said, opening the door to her lounge. Mizuki looked at him.
"Oh, the dinner in that stone garden? I have been greatly anticipating it!" He began to get up.
"Well then, let's leave the rest for later." Sakura said. He smiled.
"Ah, even without continuing, it is quite clear that I am going to lose." Sakura stood up.
"I don't like quitting a game in the middle." She began to walk away.
"Child..."
She stopped and looked over her shoulder and glared at him. "Ah, I mean, having the flexible spirit of a child must be one of the requirements of being a manufacturer. That is why the Harunos are the number one toy manufacturer in this country." He stood up, "It is really admirable!" He said mockingly. Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him.
~O~
"Tonight's dinner is a beef Tataki-don prepared by our own chef, Juugo." Both Sakura and Mizuki stared down at it confused.
"Is this a dinner?" Mizuki asked.
"Yes, Don't you know? This is a traditional delicacy passed down since ancient times of Japan! It is a feast filled with appreciation for those who have completed a hard job. That is the power of the dish known as Donburi! This is just a small thank you we would present to you, Mr. Mizuki, for working so diligently on behalf of the Haruno Company."
"You're amazing, Sasuke!" Karin said, blushing.
"Nice follow-up." Suigetsu said.
"What a unique presentation!" Mizuki said, "Just what you expect of a first-class Haruno welcome." He said looking down the opposite end of the table to see Sakura was already eating.
"We have prepared wine that complements the fragrance of the soy sauce. Karin." Sasuke said, looking at her, "Karin!" Ushering her forward with the wine, when he noticed she wasn't paying attention. She nodded her head, "Yes, sir!" He leaned over into her ear, making her blush.
"Don't space out. Pour the wine into the glass."
"Ah, yes!" She said walking to the table, "Ah, y-you can't, Sasuke! Making a face like that..." She thought back on how close he was to her. She blushed even harder as she tilted the wine bottle and poured it all over the the table.
"Karin is spilling all the wine!" Suigetsu said.
Sakura looked down the table, clearly shocked. In a split second, Sasuke grabbed the end of the tablecloths and quickly removed it. Sakura looked up at him, "The old tablecloth trick." He smiled. Mizuki looked down, "Where did the tablecloth go?"
"There was a small stain on the cloth, so I had it removed. Please pay no mind to it."
Sasuke bowed, "I am sorry to have disturbed you. Please enjoy your meal at your leisure."
Mizuki began to laugh, "I am humbled, Countess Haruno," He looked at Sasuke, "He is really talented."
"He only did what was natural as my servant."
"Eh?"
"It is as my mistress says. I am but a butler."
~O~
After dinner, both Sakura and Mizuki returned back to her lounge. Sakura sat down, "My, I am awed by your proficiency." he also sat down, "Well then, about the contract..."
"Before that," She said, "we have to finish the board game." He froze before frowning at her.
"Indeed, there is that. However, I am very sorry, but my next appointment..."
She closed her eyes, "Children are very demanding when it comes to games, " She then opened her eyes and smirked at him, "You know that as well, don't you?" He bit the inside of his cheek to calm himself before answering back.
"Well then, would it be all right if I used your telephone for a moment?" She nodded her head and watched as he stood up and walked toward the door. Before opening, Sasuke walked through.
"I have brought you some tea."
Mizuki side stepped him. "I shall return momentarily." He said. Sasuke stared after him before shrugging his shoulders. "He seems a bit...uncomfortable." He said grabbing the tea pot and pouring it into the cup. Sakura ignored him and reached for it, before she took a sip she looked down at it.
"What is this? The fragrance is weak." She said with distaste.
"I brought out an Italian tea to match our guest's tastes."
"Italian?" She said looking at him.
"In Italy, coffee is the main aperitif, so there are not very many good after-dinner teas. Does it not suit you?" She looked back down at it and glared.
"No, I don't like it." Sasuke narrowed his eyes before placing the tea pot down.
"I shall bring the dessert."
"Yes. Be diligent until the end," She looked back up at him and smirked, "as befits the hospitality of the Haruno family." Sasuke smiled back at her before bowing.
"Yes, my lady." He looked back up to reveal his piercing red eyes.
~O~
"Really, I can't keep up with this babysitting. Yeah, I already sold off the factory," He struck a match and lite his cigar, "Now all that's left is to fatten my wallet up with the money that kid gives me. The workers? I don't give a damn about all that." That's when he got a sudden cold chill of fear in his spine as if someone was watching him. He turned around and stared out of the slightly ajar door into the darkness. He quickly shook it off, "Ah, Nothing. Anyway, I'll leave the rest to you. Yeah, there's no problem. After all we're dealing with a child."
After he finished, began his way back up to the lounge. But as he was walking, he got the same chill feeling his got when he was on the phone. He stopped halfway up the steps and turned around and looked up at the portrait of a man and woman. He looked at the man and saw a ghostly face that was leaking black liquid from it's eyes. He rubbed his eyes and looked back at it to see it was gone. He sighed in relief.
"Must be my imagination." He assured himself before continuing his way up the steps.
"Entranced by the eyes of the dead."
He stopped before shaking his head. "How ridiculous." He said, thinking it was his imagination speaking to him. As he walked through the hallway, he grew confused. He opened one door, "Huh?" He closed the door. He walked to another one and opened it, "It's not here either." He looked in another one. "Nor here. What a spacious mansion. I can't find my way back to the lounge!"
"Entranced by the eyes of the dead."
He stopped when he saw a shadowy figure ahead. He began to back slowly when he saw it coming closer. He gasped when he saw the ghostly face that was crying black tears. He turned and began running in the opposite direction, "D-don't come any closer!" He cried as it echoed throughout the halls.
~O~
"Was that our guest just now?" Juugo said.
"Hey! If you don't hurry up and carry it, you'll get another earful from Sasuke!"
"Right!"
"Ah! How embarrassing," She recalling what happened at dinner, "I messed up again!" She began to daydream, "Ah, but I was to get that close to Sasuke! Ah! What a shameless and lecherous maid I am."
~O~
"Out for one turn."
Not paying attention to where he was going, he fell down the steps. He hollered out in pain. Karin hearing him rushed toward him, "Are you all right?" She stopped and began to back away, "It's twisted! It's twisted halfway to Sunday!" She said as he watched him grab for his leg that was twisted the other way.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Suigetsu said.
"T-the guest!"
Mizuki opened his eyes and looked at the same painting his saw early, the ghostly face appeared above the man's face, "Lose your legs in the Forest of Confusion." It said to him. He gasped in fear as his eyes widen. He quickly turned over on his stomach and began to quickly crawl away. Karin reached out for him. "Gu-guest..."
As he continued to crawl as fast as he could, he stopped when he saw a pair of black trousers, he looked up clearly shocked to see the butler leaning over and smirking down at him, "Where are you heading?" Mizuki jumped back landing on his back, "The hospitality is not yet at an end. We still have dessert left." Mizuki turned and began to crawl as quick as he could away from him. Sasuke smirk widen as he began to follow him. "After all, you can only move half the distance once you've lost your legs, so why not sit back and relax?"
Mizuki opened the nearest door he could get to and closed it behind him, in a lame attempt in escaping him. He looked around as he wiped the cold sweat from his face, "Damn it! I can't see anything!" He froze when he began to hear footsteps approaching him. He crawled away from it and reached out for a handle. "Is this a storeroom?" He said. He opened it and quickly got in closing it behind him.
"Damn it! How narrow." He placed his hand down and felt a sticky substance on his finger. He lifted his hand back up and examined it, "What is this?" He smelled it, "It smells sweet." He heard the sound of someone locking something. That's when it started to heat up around him.
"My, what an impatient guest." He turned and saw blood red eyes peeping in at him. "To think you would even go as far as to lay your hands on the dessert that is still in the oven."
"O-oven?," He said, quickly noticing on how he could feel the flames licking at his skin through his clothes, "Open up!" He yelled before starting to bang on the door, "Please, open up!" Sasuke stood up and put his hand to his head
"Oh, do people from Italy not know? Here in England, we have many desserts that utilize meat tallow, like plum pudding and mince pie." Sasuke looked down and noticed the desperate eye that were staring at him. He reached down and slid the peep-in close.
"Have your body burn within the crimson flames."
Screams of agony erupted from every inch of the mansion and every inch of the perimeter outside.
~O~
"What was that voice just now?" Suigetsu said looking up into the night sky.
Juugo shrugged his shoulder as he throwing coal into the flame, "I dunno."
"Oh, Sasuke!" Suigetsu said.
"Thank you for all your hard work today. Won't you have a bit of lemon meringue pie. Sweet things wash away fatigue."
"Sasuke! I knew you weren't a cold fish! Such a nice person. We're so grateful." Sasuke sighed and handed the pie over to Suigetsu and turned to leave. He stopped.
"Oh, yes. Juugo, a merchant will be coming later. Please ask him to have our oven changed for a new one."
Both of them looked at him in confusion, "The oven?"
Sasuke continued his way, "Mr. Mizuki, I hope the Haruno estate's hospitality satisfied you to the very bone." He said looking out into the distant seeing a charred body struggled it's way down the dirt paved road.
"Mamma mia!" Mizuki yelled.
~O~
From inside the lounge, Sakura began to laugh at the hysterical cry heard from the distant, "What an unattractive cry; he sounds just like a pig put out for slaughter. To think he thought he could get away with staying quiet about selling off the factory, " She chuckled a bit, "then ask me to fund a larger workforce. The foolhardy fraud." She reached over and placed her game piece on a space saying 'Happy End'. She frowned and blinked as she stared at the words.
She knocked down her piece and fell back in her chair.
"Something once lost will never return." She said to herself.
~O~
Sasuke stared at the empty space where his young mistress's parent's portrait used to be, "The wallpaper will have to be restored, too." He looked out onto the huge foyer. He began to see his small mistress playing with dolls, giggling. She then looked up with a huge smile on her face.
"Mother! Father!" She said toward the female and male figures that sat on the sofa staring at her. He smirked before snapping his fingers, making it all disappear.
"The head of the Haruno estate, hm?"
