Demon's Imminence

by Skullfrost

When Ciel runs into the the lone, smartest detective in the world known as L, his life- and the lives of many others, take a sharp turn from the path that their lives could have been. What is it like, living with a dead man, who has returned as a god of death, along with an entire mansion filled with supernaturals? It can get... hectic.

1. Jack The Ripper

Untitled

Summary: When Ciel runs into the the lone, smartest detective in the world known as L, his life- and the lives of many others, take a sharp turn from the path that their lives could have been. What is it like, living with a dead man, who has returned as a god of death, along with an entire mansion filled with supernaturals?

This is heavily based on a roleplay between myself and another person. In fact, almost the entire thing is copy/pasted directly from the roleplay. Due to this, there may be errors with character POV or thoughts not being italicized due to formatting not copying over. However, I enjoy this roleplay a lot, and find its plot interesting- so I decided to show it to others.

A small guide to character thoughts: If anything is written in first person and is not in quotes, it is a character thought. If it is not surrounded by ' ' or / /, then it is L or Near. You should be able to understand which one through context- also, Near doesn't show up until later chapters.

Now, why did I put this in the Kuroshitsuji section instead of Death Note/Kuroshitsuji? Because this is not just Death Note X Kuroshitsuji, and includes many other characters from other media, even though they are different when it comes to background, and the 'main' world of the rp is Kuroshitsuji's.

Also, the entirety of season 2 of the Kuroshitsuji anime was completely changed in this rp. You will see how it and its characters were changed and made better as the chapters progress. Also, title suggestions are welcome!

CHAPTER 1

Ciel and Sebastian had just exited their carriage, heading towards the large doors of the London townhouse.

"Ugh, there are just too many people in London!" Ciel huffed, looking annoyed as he climbed the steps, with his tall, raven-haired butler by his side. The tall man chuckled at the comment, a small smirk gracing his face.

"From the country manor to the London townhouse... It's traditional for the nobility to move en masse during the season," the butler stated, holding open the door for his master as the young boy entered the building.

"The season, eh?" Ciel remarked, rolling his eyes. "These cretins have too much free time."

"Getting away from the estate occasionally might provide a nice change of pace," Sebastian then said, looking amused. "For one thing, those four aren't here. We should be able to spend some quiet time, my lord."

"Quiet time, hmmm?" Ciel casually huffed, stalking over to another pair of doors and opening them... to reveal a bunch of clothes strewn all over the floor, with a man and a redhaired woman in the room.

"Lau?! Madame Red?! What are you doing here?!" Ciel exclaimed, gaping at them.

"Goodness, you're early!" the woman remarked, standing and sending a wide, bright smile towards the boy. Another man then poked his head up from behind the couch, with soft brunette hair tied back in a ponytail.

"You being here can only mean one thing," the first mentioned man, Lau, remarked, grinning.

"The queen's guard dog is making a move," the woman then finished the statement, also grinning.

Meanwhile, Light had finished his class and had just picked up the strange, black book. Huh? What's this? He opened it and read the first page of rules before smirking. "It must be a hoax of some sort," he commented to himself.

But nonetheless he found himself carrying the book under his arm as he walked down the busy streets. I must be crazy to consider this!

About an hour had passed, and Ciel now sat at a desk, lightly sipping at a cup of tea.

"Another prostitute was murdered in Whitechapel, yesterday," he then stated, expression deadpan. "These aren't ordinary murders. They're bizarre. No.. you could fairly call them aberrant."

"A special blade was used on the victim, Mary Ann Nichols," Sebastian added, standing beside his master. "And she was torn apart beyond all recognition."

"Here's what Scotland Yard and the press are calling them criminal..." Ciel then began, eyes narrowing. "Jack the Ripper."

"Jack the Ripper, eh?" Lau remarked, also sipping a cup of tea.

"So I hurried to London to ascertain the situation," Ciel continued, ignoring Lau.

Lau chuckled lowly at that, a small smirk on his face. "Do you have the guts to see the scene of that crime?"

"What do you mean?" Ciel questioned, eyes narrowing further.

"The darkness and bestial stench that pervade the scene eat away at those who share the same destiny," Lau responded, standing. "If you set foot upon it, you may be consumed by madness... Are you prepared for that, Lord Phantomhive?"

"I came here to dispel her worries," Ciel responded plainly. "Don't ask foolish questions."

"Very nice, I like the look in your eye," Lau chuckled, smirking.

At that exact moment, Light Yagami tested the Death Note, writing down first the name of a biker who tried to assault a young girl, and next the name of a lesser criminal.

He was sitting in his bedroom when a large, towering figure approached, melting out of the shadows.

"You've taken quite a liking to it."

Light yelped in surprise, falling out of his chair as he did so.

"No reason to act surprised. I am the Shinigami, Ryuk. That used to be my notebook. Judging by your laughter you've already figured out that what you have is no ordinary notebook."

Light smiled. "Shinigami, a God of Death, huh? Well, I'm not surprised. In fact… Ryuk, I've been waiting for you."

"Oh?"

"I've already figured out that this Death Note that I've found is real, it didn't take me long. And now that I've witnessed the proof of its power I only feel more confident in what I'm gonna do."

"That's interesting. I certainly wasn't expecting this. Several Death Notes have made their way into the human world in the past. But you're the first to have written this many names. Look at how many people you've killed in only five days. Most are reluctant to write this much."

"I've already prepared myself, Ryuk. I used the notebook even though I knew it belonged to a Shinigami, and now that Shinigami has come. So what will happen to me? You're here to take my soul, right?"

"Hmm, what do you mean? I that some fantasy you humans came up with? I'm not gonna do anything to you. The notebook becomes part of the human realm from the very moment it touches the earth. In other words, the notebook is now yours."

And so the exchange continued.

Finally, after quite some time, Light smiled. "At first, I wrote the names of the worst criminals I could think of. Like I was cleaning up the world, one name at a time. So that eventually no one will ever do anything evil again. And while the truly guilty ones who deserve to be punished for their crimes die of heart attacks. The people who are less guilty but who still make trouble for others will slowly be erased through disease and accidental death. Then and only then the world will start moving in the right direction. It'll be a new world, free of injustice, and populated by people who I've judged to be honest kind and hardworking."

Ryuk tilted his head at that. "But if you did that, it would make you the only bad person left."

"Huh? I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm a hard working honor student considered to be one of Japan's best and brightest. And I… I will become the God of this New World."

Ryuk chuckled. "It's just as I thought. HUmans are so interesting."

Ciel, Sebastian, Lau, and Madame Red now walked through the streets, approaching an alleyway that was filled with a couple of men, who were members of the Scotland Yard.

"Hey, what brings you here?" one of the men questioned, staring Ciel down. "This is no place for a child. Go on home."

"Where is the victim's corpse?" Ciel then asked up-front, staring at the man with a deadpan expression. The man's eyes widened at the question.

"Corpse?! What are you saying?" he exclaimed, stepping backwards.

"Abberline!" another voice then called. Another man then approached, glaring lightly down at Ciel.

"What are you doing here, Lord Phantomhive?"

"You know him?" The first man, Abberline, questioned.

"I came to clean up after the slow-moving hounds working on this case," Ciel then stated with a smirk, holding up an envelope. "Sir Arthur Randal."

The man glared down at the young boy even harder, growing annoyed. Ciel then opened the envelope, looking at its contents.

"Looks like you haven't gotten many clues.~"

The older man then quickly snatched the documents from the boy with an annoyed huff. "We of Scotland Yard will solve this case. We don't need your interference."

"Excellent. Let's go, Sebastian," Ciel then stated, walking right past the man, with his butler following behind, muttering a quiet "Yes, my lord."

Madame Red, Lau, and Madame Red's butler followed suit.

"What are you going to do?" Madame red then questioned, cocking her head.

"I believe the best thing would probably be to visit /him/."

"My lord, you don't mean-!" Lau protested, dumbfounded.

"In fact, I do."

L, meanwhile, was investigating the same case Ciel was, for no purpose other than to cure his nasty bought of boredom. He had not yet learned of the Kira murders and was preparing to dress up to go undercover for the case.

He put the slutty 1800's dress on with a frown, disliking the tight fit of the corset and the overall feel of the dress itself. It was black and red, and had laces.

Watari finished buttoning up the back and stepped away, awaiting further orders with a passive expression and his hands held together.

"Watari, please make sure that you keep this room secure until my return," L said in his normal, bored manner, adjusting his blonde wig and adding a puff of makeup to his face. "I'm afraid I may not return for longer than normal."

Watari agreed, and L stepped out of the apartment, quickly making his way downstairs and effortlessly walking onto the streets boldly.

Soon, the group now stood outside of a building, with a huge sign labeled: "UNDERTAKER".

They soon entered, looking around the building.

"Undertaker, are you here?" Ciel then called out, staring around the dark building, filled with coffins. They were soon greeted by creepy, eery laughter, and one of the upright coffins slid open to reveal the widely grinning face of a scarred man with long silver hair.

"I thought you'd drop by before long..." he crooned as the coffin slid open. "Welcome, my lord... Is today the day you'll condenscend to enter one of my special coffins~?"

Ciel snorted. "Certainly not, today I-"

He was soon cut off by the man, known as Undertaker, placing his hand onto his mouth, grinning widely.

"You don't have to tell me, I know," he chuckled, his grin only growing. "That wasn't the type of customer fit for respectable people... I'll have you know, I made her beautiful.~"

"I want to hear about it," Ciel responded plainly, expression his usual deadpan.

"Ahh, I see," Lau then commented, a knowing smile on his face. "So the funeral parlor is only your cover-up business. How much is the info?"

Undertaker immediately leapt at the man, still grinning wildly.

"I have no desire for any of the Queen's coins!" he exclaimed, eyes glowing an un-natural green underneath his long bangs, which covered them. He then dashed over to Ciel, getting very close into his personal space. "Come on, my lord, give it to me~! Give me prime laughter! Do that, and I'll tell you anything!"

Ciel stared at him with a deadpan expression as he said all of this, being extremely unamused. "Freak.."

"Leave it to me," Lau then piped up. "Behold the genius of the man that Shanghai called... the Sleeping Tiger of New Year's Parties!"

He then grinned, holding up one finger, as he simply said: "Every calendar's days are numbered."

When not a single person laughed, he gave a small "huh?" followed by a very confused expression.

And then Madame Red stepped up.

"If I must.. Madame Red, the belle of fashionable society, will tell you her special story!" she chirped, grinning. "So his [CENSORED] was completely flaccid and [CENSORED], but when I [CENSORED], the tip started bobbing like [CENSORED]-"

Not a single person laughed as her 'story' went on.

"Now, my lord, you're the only person left," Undertaker remarked, cocking his head to the side, as Lau and Madame Red now stood with red X's on white paper taped to their faces. "I gave you a special discount last time, but I won't do it again.~"

"Bloody hell," Ciel hissed, looking aggravated.

"I see there's no help for it," Sebastian then stated, stepping forward. "Everybody, please wait outside. You must not peek inside on any account."

And so, everyone stood outside, and very soon, could all hear wild, voracious laughter from inside the building, and they all stood there with deadpan expressions.

Sebastian then opened the door, a smile on his face. "Please come in. It appears he will tell us everything."

And with that, everyone entered the building again.

Undertaker was at his counter, his head lying on it as if he looked like his head was convulsing, when in reality he was laughing still. "Ahah... I've seen my Utopia.."

A while later, all of them sat together, with Ciel holding a glass of tea in his lap as Undertaker explained the circumstances of the prostitute's death.

"These days I often get customers who are... /incomplete/," the silver-haired man stated, with a small grin.

"Incomplete?" Lau then questioned, cocking his head.

"Yes, incomplete... The wombs are missing," Undertaker responded, petting a plastic human head. "Though the killer makes quite violent splatter, the wounds themselves are neatly cut out."

"It was done on a public road, even if it was not a high-traffic one," Sebastian commented, looking thoughtful. "Wouldn't such an excision have been difficult for an amaeteur, particularly in the middle of the night?"

"You're a sharp one, butler," Undertaker chuckled. "That's my opinion as well."

The man then stalked over to Ciel, kneeling down and getting in his personal space, putting a hand near his throat, lightly scraping his long fingernails across the boy's skin.

"First the Ripper slashes their throats with a sharp hand weapon," he began with a grin, lightly brushing his sharp nails over Ciel's abdomen with the other hand. "And then cuts /this/ part open... and takes what's precious to them.~"

He then stood, still grinning as Ciel looked very annoyed. "I am sure there will be others killed. People like that don't stop until someone stops them... Can you do it, o villainous noble Lord Phantomhive~?"

"On the honor of my family crest," Ciel responded, looking up at the man. "I eliminate anyone who defiles the Queen's garden, without exception... and by any means necessary."

Soon, the group had exitted, boarding the carriage. After a short discussion regarding the case, Sebastian then leaped right out of the moving carriage, much to the surprise of Ciel's 'assistants'.

And when they got back to the townhouse, he was already there, waiting for them. "Welcome back, I've been awaiting your arrival," he stated with a bow, smiling. "Your afternoon tea is ready."

"How did you get here?!" Madame Red suddenly exclaimed, staring at him.

"I finished my errands, so I came home ahead of you," Sebastian responded with a grin.

"You already finished your suspects list?!" Madame Red exclaimed, bewildered.

"No... I merely created a list of names based on the criteria which we've discussed, contacted them all, and directly collected their statements," the butler responded, pulling out a bunch of rolled-up sheets of long paper.

"Come now, Sebastian, even for you that would be impossible..." the red-haired woman stated, rolling her eyes.

Madame Red was then stunned into silence as he unfolded one very long sheet, and began reciting names of numerous people, along with their alibis.

"Through this investigation, I've narrowed it down to one person who meets the criteria," the butler then stated, as he finished the last name.

"Are you really just a butler?" Madame Red then dreamily questioned, staring at him. "Are you sure you're not a military intelligence officer?"

"No, I am merely one Hell of a butler," Sebastian responded, smiling and holding a hand to his chest.

Later that night, the group was in a carriage, on their way to a ball, hosted by their suspect.

"Aleister Chambers, the Viscount of Druitt," Sebastian stated from the driver's area. "He graduated from medical school, but has not gone into practice. He's thrown several parties at his home. However, people say he simultaneously holds secret parties that only his intimates may attend."

"I've heard rumors that he's into black magic and that sort of thing," Madame Red commented, cocking her head.

"So you suggest that at these underground parties, they perform rituals and sacrifice the prostitutes?" Lau questioned, smoking a pipe.

"Tonight is the last party of the season," Ciel then stated, stepping out of the carriage... in a dress and very long pigtails, disguised as a girl. "We only have one chance."

L brushed past the 'woman', tripping up in his black boots and falling flat onto his face on the grey concrete. "My apologies," he said quickly, righting himself and continuing on inside.

Something was off about his makeup, and dark circles were visible under his very masculine eyes. It was a poor disguise, but the detective did not plan on doing anything but sticking to the shadows and observing.

That's what he did best, after all.

It seemed like a regular-enough ball; L quickly found a corner and positioned himself there, pulling a pen and small pad of paper out of his bag and leaning against a pillar as he did so. His grey eyes were narrowed as he observed the party, taking notes as he did so.

Light, meanwhile, was asleep in his bed, resting peacefully. One night without writing names wouldn't hurt.

"Ciel will play my niece, visiting from the country," Madame Red chirped, inside the building and talking with the rest of their little group. "And Sebastian will play Ciel's tutor."

Sebastian was dressed in a teacher's outfit, with a pair of glasses on his face.

"Why do I have to play your niece?!" Ciel then exclaimed, red-faced and looking both embarrassed and annoyed.

"I always wanted a girl~!" Madame Red responded with a wide smile.

"That's your reason?" Ciel hissed, eye twitching.

"You can't let them know you're a Phantomhive, can you?" Madame Red then chuckled, easing up beside Ciel. "What's more, I'm told Lord Druitt is a ladies' man of catholic tastes, so this is to your advantage!"

Ciel was very, very disturbed by that statement, and it was visible on his face.

"Didn't you say you'd use any means neceassary?" Sebastian then said with a smirk, bending down close to Ciel's face. Ciel merely glared daggers at him.

After a few minutes, they were searching for the Viscount, exploring the huge party room. Ciel was quite surprised to find out that Elizabeth was among the party guests, and this resulted in him having to duck and hide quite often to escape her, as he certainly could not have her seeing him dressed as a woman.

Not only that, but they ended up having to pretend to dance among the other couples, to get closer to Viscount Druitt.

This ended with Ciel becoming exhausted from doing so, as he sucked at dancing, and also didn't have the endurance to keep it up. And so, he found himself panting on the floor for a few moments, until he and Sebastian were suddenly greeted by a man with shoulder-length blonde hair: Aleister Chamber, the Viscount.

"You danced like a lovely little robin, miss," the man purred, staring down at Ciel. Ciel then stood, facing him, with an unidentifyable expression.

Sebastian then bowed lightly. "Miss, I will go get you something to drink," he then announced, before stalking off, leaving Ciel alone with the other man.

Ciel was not amused.

"...G-Good evening, Lord Druitt!" Ciel greeted, trying to pretend to be a happy little girl, though it was very hard.

"Are you having fun~?" Druitt then questioned, extending a hand to him, grabbing one hand, and then lightly touching his lips to the top of his glove. "...my dear little robin?"

Ciel internally groaned at the action, but a smile remained on his face as he then responded: "It's a wonderful party, I'm so very impressed... But I've been wanting to talk with you, my lord.~"

"Oh?" the Viscount questioned, tilting his head.

Ciel's gaze turned bored. "I'm sick to death of dancing and eating," he then stated, putting on a very convincing act.

"What a pampered princess you are, little robin," the Viscount then purred seductively, wrapping one arm around Ciel's waste and pulling him close. "So you want something more amusing to do~?"

At the last comment, the man's hand then slid down... and groped Ciel's ass. Inwardly, Ciel was extremely disgusted, and it took all of his restraint not to kick the man's ass right then and there. And so, he forced himself to keep up the sweet little girl act, thinking: 'Endure it, Ciel... Endure it... This is the whole reason you let them do all of those horrible things to you...'

And then he had a flashback of being put in a corset, an experience which was very unpleasant.

"Do you know of something more amusing, my lord?" he then questioned, looking up at the Viscount with a sweet smile.

"But of course... and I'm willing to tell you, my darling little robin," the man responded in a seductive, low voice, cupping Ciel's chin.

'The moment this is all over, I'm going to kill this guy!' Ciel inwardly seethed.

"What is it?" he then asked sweetly, blinking up at the older man with his wide, deep blue eye.

His gaze then flashed to Elizabeth, who was standing a bit of a ways off, staring straight at them. 'What? She's looking this way!' he thought in alarm, desperately hoping she wouldn't come over.

"Do you want to know~?" the Viscount then questioned, smiling down at Ciel.

"I'm very interested," the younger of the two responded, looking interested but in fact inwardly seething. 'If Elizabeth comes this way, everything goes down the drain...'

"You might be a bit young for it," the blonde-haired man then stated in a teasing manner.

"I'm a lady, not a child," Ciel responded, still smiling up at him.

Panicked thoughts then ran through his head as suddenly, the dancing ended, and Elizabeth came running straight towards them... But thankfully, she was stopped in her tracks when Sebastian then shoved a large magician's box right in front of her, and began performing a magic show thing as a distraction.

"Huh, I don't remember ordering any parlor tricks," Druitt then commented, tilting his head and looking confused. Ciel then looked back at him, blinking.

"I'm sick of parlor tricks, too, my lord... pretty please?" he chirped, all while thinking 'gag me.'

"Alright, my little robin," the Viscount chuckled with a grin.

And he then stalked away, with Ciel following behind him.

L's expression darkened as he wrote down one word on his notepad: Pervert. He moved in the shadows, carefully avoiding the other 'women' and men and making sure he remained unseen. It was difficult; the dresses at that party were all large, and poofy, and L was a complete klutz in laced boots.

Soon, however, he had caught up to the two, and followed them silently, hoping they would not sense his presence. He scribbled down notes and words without removing his grey stare from the back of Ciel's head.

His gloves were making the tiniest of scratching noises on the paper, but he ignored it easily and continued to write notes about the Viscount and his poor victim.

The Viscount led Ciel into a dark room, and the younger male followed closely behind.

"We're going to a very nice place... quite amusing," the man stated, sending a perverted glance at Ciel. As they went farther into the room, Ciel was practically slapped in the face with a strange smell. 'What is that sickly sweet smell...?' he thought internally, eyes narrowing. He then suddenly became extremely dizzy, quickly falling over. 'Bloody hell..' he thought, as he then drifted off into unconsciousness.

"Yes... it's a very nice place, little robin," the Viscount hissed, smirking.

A while later, Ciel soon awoke, blindfolded, and in a cage, on a stage, in front of multiple people, though with a curtain down.

"And now, what you've all been waiting for... Tonight's crown jewel," came the voice of the Viscount. The curtain was then lifted, and Ciel was shown off to the crowd.

"You may enjoy her as a pet, or make a decoration of her," the Viscount chuckled darkly, smirking. "I imagine she'd even make an attractive part of a ceremony... or if you want to sell her parts individually, that's up to you."

He then gestured to the cage, staring down at Ciel. "Her eyes bear the contrasting colors of a deep forest and the sea reflecting a blue sky."

'A black market auction?' Ciel thought inwardly, confused, yet attentive.

"I shall show you now," the Viscount then announced.

'So he sold the organs of the prostitutes he killed here...?'

Someone then began to untie the blindfold, and a bunch of bids began to be shouted. Ciel's gaze darkened when his blindfold was removed.. and he called for his butler.

"Here I am, Sebastian," he then calmly hissed quietly. At that moment, the lights in the room went out, and the sounds of many people dying could be heard. When the lights returned, everyone was either dead or knocked out, and there was Sebastian, approaching the cage.

"Good grief..." he muttered, staring down at Ciel. "You're really good for nothing but being captured.."

"As long as I have the contract, you'll follow me anywehere, with or without my summons," Ciel then said quietly, expression deadpan.

Sebastian smirked lightly at that. "A 'contract' is a mark demons place on their prey to keep track of it," he stated quietly, looking amused. "The more noticeable the place you put it in is... the more executable it is. In exchange..."

"The prey can never escape the demon," Ciel finished the sentence, staring blankly at Sebastian. Sebastian then bent down, bending the bars.

"Yes, I shall accompany you anywhere, right up until the end. I shall never leave your side... even if I perish. I shall go with you even to the far reaches of Hell... I do not lie... unlike humans."

And with a snap of his fingers, the ropes binding Ciel's hands fell right off.

"Good. Never lie to me, no matter what anyone else may do. Never," Ciel then commanded, eyes narrowed.

"Yes, my lord..." Sebastian chuckled in response.

"So... this solves the Jack the Ripper case," Ciel then stated, glancing down at the unconscious Viscount. "It was unexpectedly easy..."

"I imagine Scotland Yard will be here before long," Sebastian then said, reaching down and lifting Ciel up. "We shouldn't stay here... Well, shall we go?"

And with that, Sebastian leaped right out the window, carrying Ciel in his arms.

L stared from the shadows with wide, grey eyes. He glanced down at his notes and gave a frustrated sigh. I'm a bit confused, but I'll get over it. I'm rather upset though.. He shook his frustration off and walked slowly to the window, maneuvering around bodies as he did so and glaring down at the man and, from what he knew, woman. I am awfully curious as to how they pulled off such a stunt.. Without another word, he, too, jumped out the window, kicking off the wall and landing on his feet in the center of the sidewalk.

The man began following the two, trying to maintain a careful distance. Unfortunately, he ended up glancing down at his pad of paper to see if he was writing in the correct language. This caused him to smash into the young woman, and he reeled back, holding his now-throbbing head and gritting his teeth. Ouch.

What had happened clicked in his brain, and he glanced up with wide, grey eyes. His expression was somewhat fearful. Did I just reveal myself? I think I did. Perhaps looking down was not my best idea, especially not while working on a case involving prostitution.

He quickly held out a black gloved hand to shake. "We meet again," he said simply. He made no attempts to mimic a woman's voice, as he suspected that the young 'woman' in front of him was actually yet another male, in disguise. "I apologize sincerely. I'm afraid I was not looking where I was walking."

Ciel glanced up at the other 'woman', surprised to hear a man's voice. He thought nothing of it, however, and retained his deadpan expression.

"It's fine," he said simply, blinking. He then took the other 'woman's' hand, lightly shaking it before then letting go.

L glanced behind his back, his eyes narrowing significantly. A strong wind blew the skinny man forward, and he braced himself against the nearby wall as it tried to slam him into it. His notes flew off, and he tried to reach out to catch them, once again tripping in his boots and falling face-first onto the sidewalk.

Luck is not with me tonight.

He stood carefully and brushed off his black and red dress, a small frown coming to his face as he held up the splintered pencil.

Of course, he held it the way he held all things- using a thumb and a forefinger.

His expression grew downcast. "Pity; I rather needed those." He was, of course, referring to the notes he had taken that had flown away.

Ciel continued to stare at him, expression deadpan.

Then, at that moment, a bird suddenly flew down, crashing into the hat that his wig was attached to, causing it to fall off... exposing the fact that he was male.

"Shit!" he hissed, quickly dashing to hide behind Sebastian.

L cocked his head to the side. "Ah, so my assumptions about you were correct." His grey eyes were slightly victorious. "You are, indeed, a male." I don't wish to reveal too much to him; he is still a stranger, after all. However... he seems intelligent enough, and may know a thing or two about the prostitute cases. Now, wouldn't that be surprising?

Without knowing it, he had brought a slender finger up to his mouth and was chewing on it with a wide stare in his eyes.

Ciel gave a hiss from behind Sebastian, sounding very aggravated now.

"I apologize for my master's behavior," Sebastian then stated, bowing lightly. "You see, if he was seen dressed as a woman, his family name would be tarnished."

Ciel poked his head out, eyes narrowed. "Don't tell anyone."

It was not a question. It was a command.

L held his hands up in defense. "Ahh, I'm not telling a soul." He rolled his black gloves up to his elbows and smoothed out the silk. "I have no reason to, nor will it benefit my personal interest." He slowly reached down and began picking shards of pencil off of the dark sidewalk.

Oh, dear; something tells me you're not an ordinary tranny, sir. And, family name? You must be of high importance... to some degree.

"Good," Ciel then sighed, finally stepping completely out from behind Sebastian. "Now, may I ask, why were you following us and writing notes on us?"

L froze, his grey eyes slowly making their way up to stare at Ciel. I certainly wasn't expecting that. Now I have a bigger problem on my hands: do I lie, or do I tell the truth?

"I saw your performance in the ballroom," he replied slowly, choosing his words carefully. "You see, I'm an investigator of sorts. I heard about the party and thought that it may supply valuable leads. When I saw the man behind it all taking you into the back room, I decided to follow." He paused. "Selling organs on the black market was certainly unexpected, but... I do not think that he was the killer." L held up a finger. "But that, my friend, is classified information." The man reached up and pulled his wig off, revealing his black, spiky hair. The blonde headpiece was starting to make his neck itch, which he scratched at half-heartedly. He then put the pencil shards into his dress pocket and stood, allowing his shoulders to slouch. "My notes are just that- notes. They're unimportant." They're very important, and I need help getting them back.

"He was the only man who fit our criteria," Ciel then stated. "We went to see the Undertaker, a funeral director, but also an informant associate of mine. He had examined the bodies of the prosititutes... all of their wombs were removed neatly. Such a surgical feat, expecially in the dark, could not be performed by anyone without medical knowledge. And so, my butler made a list of all those who fit the criteria, and contacted them all. Every one of them had alibis on the night the last victim was killed, except for Aleister Chamber, the Viscount. He's got to be the one."

A knowing smile formed on L's face. "Is that so?" he asked. This must be Ciel Phantomhive, the Queen's Watchdog. He's the only one I can think of who would be in danger of ruining his family name. "Ciel Phantomhive, please tell me: were any other body parts removed, or was it merely each woman's womb?" I wish I had my notes to write this information down.

"Only the womb," Ciel responded. "The rest... was torn up beyond recognition. But the wombs were always neatly removed."

He then exchanged a glance with his butler. "Come on, though; If you want to speak with us, please come to the townhouse, where I can take off these wretched women's clothes and put on my own. I'd rather not be seen like this in public."

L thought about the offer for a moment before finally accepting. He put the wig back on and nodded. "Alright, but... may you please help me gather my notes first? I'm afraid I don't want all night's work to have been lost in the wind and end up in the wrong hands." These are the wrong hands, but.. still.

"Sebastian," Ciel then simply said, and the butler immediately dashed around all over the place, and within only a minute had collected all of L's notes, neatly arranged and stacked the same way they had been before he dropped them. He then held them out to L with a small smile on his face.

L accepted the notes, once again holding them in his unusual manner.

They were written in several different languages, all of which L was fluent in. He neatly placed them back into his pocket and brought a finger to his mouth, chewing on it intently. "Please, lead the way. I'm afraid I don't know this city all that well."

Ciel gave a nod and set off, leading the way towards the townhouse. They stuck to the shadows, as Ciel had no desire to be seen in a pink frilly dress, and after a while of walking they finally made it to the townhouse. They then entered, and Ciel made his way up to his room.

After a few moments, he was dressed in his normal attire, and then led the way to a living room-like area, where he then sat in a chair, gesturing for L to do the same.

L followed, kicking off the boots and revealing his bare feet. He also took off the blonde wig and crawled into the chair Ciel had gestured to. He pulled his legs up, sitting in an almost crouch and resting his arms on his legs.

"The wombs were always neatly removed, and the bodies were always torn beyond recognition." This makes my suspicions true; the man we encountered tonight was not the killer. The man pulled out the shattered pencil and carefully removed the slip of graphite before writing down notes. He kept his grey eyes fixed on Ciel and Sebastian, writing without looking and once again writing in different languages.

"What are your thoughts on this, Mr. Phantomhive?"

"I believe Aleister Chamber is the killer," Ciel responded with a deadpan expression. "He's the only possible candidate left on the list Sebastian made... Sebastian, show him the list."

And with that, Sebastian whipped out the huge scroll, unrolling it and beginning to read out over 300 names, along with their alibis, finally narrowing the list down to one person.

L was grinning again, his finger on the edge of his teeth. "You do not seem very open minded," he commented. "Please re-evaluate your evidence based on what you witnessed tonight."

"What we witnessed tonight only confirms it," Ciel responded plainly. "Unless you're talking about the fact that he didn't kill me. In that case, that does not hold any evidence because the only people murdered were prostitutes... and I am most certainly not a prostitute. He was selling organs, however."

"Selling organs. Organs, Ciel. Organs. Do you happen to have any pictures on hand of the bodies?"

"No, I don't," Ciel responded. "And for all we know, the organs he was selling could have been wombs."

"If you want pictures of the bodies, I'd suggest seeing Undertaker," Sebastian then added. "Though, if you have a bad sense of humor, that would probably get you nowhere. He has a very.. /odd/ price to pay for things."

"Odd? I like odd." L continued chewing on his fingernails. I happen to know a thing or two, Ciel Phantomhive. However, I think seeing the bodies first would be a wise move on my part. "Mr. Phantomhive, do you recall what you told me earlier? Only the wombs were removed, and yet the man in the ballroom was quite clearly intent on selling other organs, not just the wombs. So, tell me now, Mr. Phantomhive: were any other organs removed from the prostitutes' bodies?"

"As far as Undertaker has told me, no," Ciel responded, eyes narrowed. "And I do not remember any such statement from the man. Again, for all we know those organs could have very well all been wombs... it's not like we looked."

L nodded, writing down everything being said at a breakneck speed. "I thank you for the information, Mr. Phantomhive," he said, standing and pocketing the notepad and holding out a hand to shake. "Your information will come in handy." He made sure he had the gloves tightly rolled up to his elbows; I do not want my DNA on Ciel's hands, in case he begins to suspect me of these heinous crimes. "I'm off to see the Undertaker; if you need me, simply call for L." And without another word, he left, putting his shoes and wig back on as he did so. I just revealed my identity to you, Ciel. It is both a loss and a gain; you are intelligent, and you will be useful in the future.

Ciel blinked as the man left, staring after him.

"That's L?" he murmured, looking up at Sebastian for a moment. "Well, that wasn't expected.."

L hurried along the streets, his red and black dress flowing behind him. He hurriedly took a makeup box out of his pocket and applied a few extra layers on the go, disguising his face completely and making him look like a legitimate, pretty young woman.

He arrived at the gates of the cemetery and entered quickly, making his way towards the building where Undertaker dwelled.

He knocked twice on the door and waited patiently, a small smile on his face.

Undertaker soon answered the door, staring at the woman in front of him, cocking his head to the side. It was past midnight by now.

"Ah, hello there, little lady~!" he greeted, chuckling. "May I ask, what brings you here at this hour? It's quite late, you know."

"I would like to see the bodies of the prostitutes," L replied, his voice disguised as a woman's. "I was hoping I might be able to hold vigil over my sister."

Undertaker brought a hand to his chin, looking thoughtful for a moment. "I was not aware any of these women had a sister. Usually, when funerals are arranged, I'm given a list of family members... May I ask your name?"

"Maria Shepherman," L replied. "Annie Shepherman's older sister." He was playing the part of a dumb blonde, but he'd done his research; he knew the victims' names by heart.

Undertaker frowned at that. "You know, young lady, if you were a detective seeking information you could just ask. Your name is not on the list."

"Ah, but female detectives seem to be frowned upon these days," L replied, his voice still masked. His expression darkened. "I need to see the bodies so I can come to a conclusion. Is there a fee I need to pay in order to do so?" Undertaker snorted at that, moving to the side and holding the door open. "Honestly, I see no issue with a woman playing detective," he chuckled, rolling his eyes. "That's all just a bunch of gender nonsense."

He then gave a large grin, getting in L's personal space. "But yes, my dear, I do in fact have a price... but I have no desire for the Queen's coins!"

He then pulled back, looking amused. "Give me prime laughter~! Do that, and I'll tell you, or show you, anything~!"

"Prime laughter? Hmm..." Judging from his personality, I would say he's a sucker for tasteless, crass humor. Luckily I know quite a few things about that.

"What's the similarity between American alcoholic drinks and a couple having sex in a canoe?" He lowered his voice. "They're both f*cking close to water."

Undertaker did not react, simply staring at the 'woman' with one eyebrow raised.

So, not a fan of making fun of things? That's actually rather surprising; most people who hear that joke laugh quite a bit. "If you aren't amused, then I'll try again. I must not be that funny a person." He thought for a little bit before coming up with the next one.

"Roses are red

Nuts are brown

Skirts go up

Pants go down

Body to body

Skin to skin

When its stiff

Stick it in

The Longer its in

The Stronger it gets

It goes in dry And comes out wet

It comes out dripping And starts to sag

Its not what you think...

Its a Teabag."

That should be crass enough. I'm disgusted with having to stoop so low, but I'm willing to say anything for information.

\Undertaker then burst out laughing at that, and continued for 5 fucking minutes. Finally, he ceased in his laughter, grinning and stalking over to his group of coffins.

"They're in these!" he chuckled, still laughing a small bit. "Feel free to examine as long as you'd like!"

L nodded his head, having quite suddenly lost any and all respect he had once held for the gray-haired man. He walked over to the bodies and began looking at them, poking and prodding.

"Well, isn't that interesting?" he commented, his voice lowering as he discovered vital information: the other organs were still there.

"We're not dealing with somebody who sells organs on the black market because if we were then these would not be here." His voice had lost its disguise. "This is an act of somebody who holds pure, unmitigated evil in their souls... or perhaps, somebody who wants revenge for something uncontrollable. Perhaps an abortion gone wrong? Perhaps she had an abortion, and it failed, and so she's taking her anger and envy out on other women who had abortions that were successful."

Undertaker cocked his head at that. "Now where did you hear anything about abortions?" he questioned, blinking.

"Just a crazy thought I had," L replied quietly. "It would make sense, though, wouldn't it? Children are removed from the womb during an abortion. The womb was removed from the women. Or... perhaps I'm overthinking things, and need to re-evaluate."

Undertaker chuckled at that, grinning at the other man. "Ah, you're a sharp one, aren't you?" he said with a grin. "I think you just might be onto something.~"

He then glanced out the window. "Though, I think it's time you should go now; It's quite late, you know. I'd rather like to sleep.~"

L nodded. "Very well," he replied, gathering his skirts and holding them above his ankles as he carefully stepped out of the building. "Thank you for your cooperation." Tasteless cooperation, but cooperation nonetheless.

He left without another word, headed back towards his temporary living quarters. He quickly scribbled down everything he was thinking.

Soon, he had reached his apartment and enlisted Watari's help in undressing. He pulled his jeans on and sat down in front of his monitor, chewing intently on his thumb and thinking about all that he had learned. Watari, meanwhile, helped him into an oversized white shirt, his usual attire.

Light Yagami continued to write down names and converse with Ryuuk, and before long the case reached Interpol.

"L is already on the move," Watari announced, appearing from the shadows and opening a laptop to display the cloister black L.

"Greetings to all of you at the ICPO. I...am L."

"The difficulty of this case lies on its unprecedented scope. And make no mistake. We are witnessing an atrocious act of mass murder, one that is unforgivable. This case cannot be solved without the full cooperation of the ICPO. That is all of the police organizations you represent throughout the world. You need to make the decision to fully support the investigation at this meeting. Also I require additional cooperation from Japan's National Police Agency."

Light's dad grunted. "Huh? What? Why Japan in particular?"

"Whether this guilty party is an individual or a group, there is a strong possibility that they are Japanese. And even if they are not, we can be sure they're hiding in Japan."

"What exactly is all this based on?" Soichiro asked.

"Why Japan, you ask? I think I will be able to provide you with proof of that after I directly confront the culprit."

"A direct confrontation?"

"At any rate, I would like to set up the investigation headquarters in Japan."

The broadcast was live, and was being broadcasted all over the world. A man named Lind L. Tailor spoke.

"Criminals around the world are being murdered by a serial killer. I consider this crime to be the most atrocious act of murder in history. I will not rest until the person or persons responsible are brought to justice. Kira, I will hunt you down. I will find you."

He continued to speak while Light did his thing.

"Kira, I've got a pretty good idea what your motivation might be and I can guess what you hope to achieve. However, what you're doing right now is evil."

A few seconds later, and the man clutched at his heart, hitting the desk with a loud thud. Two men approached and carried him away... and the screen switched to L.

"Ah. I had to test this, just in case, but I-I never thought it would actually happen. Kira...it seems you can kill people without having to be there in person. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't just witnessed it. Listen to me, Kira. If you did, indeed, kill Lind L. Tailor, the man who you just saw die on television, I should tell you that he was an inmate whose execution was scheduled for today. That was not me."

This enraged Light. "What!?"

"The police arrested him in absolute secrecy, so you wouldn't have heard of him on TV or through the internet. It appears not even you have access to information about these types of criminals."

Ryuk laughed. "He got you there."

"But I assure you, L is real. I do exist. Now...try to kill me!"

Light's eyes narrowed. "You... you bastard."

"What's wrong?! Go ahead! Come on, right now! Kill me!"

People in streets all over the world were murmuring among themselves. L continued to challenge Kira.

"Can't you do it? Well Kira, it seems you can't kill me after all.

So there are some people you can't kill. You've given me a useful hint." He paused.

"A dealer to a saver. I'll tell you something that I think you'll find interesting. Although this was announced as a worldwide broadcast, the truth is, we are only broadcasting in the Kanto region of Japan. I had planned to broadcast this message around the world until we found you, but it looks like that won't be necessary. I know now where you are."

Ryuk laughed again. "This L guy is pretty good."

"The police treated your first killing as an unrelated incident, but in actuality, the first of your victims was a suspect in Sinjuku. Of all the criminals that recently died of heart attacks, this one's crime was, by far, the least serious. Furthermore, his crime was only ever reported inside Japan. I used that information to deduce this much. You are in Japan and your first victim was little more than an experiment, which means you haven't been killing for very long. We decided to broadcast in Kanto first because of its large population, and, luckily, we found you. To be completely honest with you, I never expected it would go this well. But it won't be too long now before I'll be able to sentence you to death. Naturally, I am very interested to know how you're able to commit these murders without being present...but I don't mind waiting a little bit longer. You can answer all of my questions when I catch you...Let's meet again soon, Kira."

The broadcast shut down, and L stood, making his way towards the large window overlooking London.

"Kira... I will hunt you down wherever you're hiding and I will eliminate you. I am justice."

Ciel had been watching the broadcast out of boredom, with Sebastian by his side.

"Seems that L guy's already on another case as well," he remarked in deadpan. "And in Japan... I've heard that place is really screwed up."

Sebastian smirked at that comment and nodded.

By now, Madame Red, her butler, and Lau had returned to the townhouse as well, and were casually lounging in the living area.

The next day soon came, and Ciel was in the middle of a chess game with Madame Red, staring down at the headline if the newspaper: Jack the Ripper strikes again.

"This is no time for chess..." Ciel huffed, looking aggravated.

"Working excessively at it will do you no good," Madame Red responded, moving a chesspiece. "Why not leave everything to Sebastian?"

"He's just my chess piece," Ciel stated. "I'm the one who moves him by giving him orders... But he's not an ordinary chess piece. He can advance as many squares as he likes at once... Like this."

And with that last comment, he grabbed one of his own pawns, and moved it all the way across the board, knocking one of Madame Red's pawns down, much to her surprise.

"That's against the rules!" she exlaimed, grabbing her pawn and putting it back on the board.

"Yes.. if this were a game, it would be," Ciel responded with a light smirk, resting his chin on folded hands. "But rules have no meaning in this world. There are always knights who break the rules, and pawns who betray. If you let your guard down, before you know it.. it's checkmate."

L had put aside the Kira case to work on the Jack the Ripper case. He enjoyed multitasking; it was challenging, which he desired more than anything else in the world. He frowned as he reviewed his notes.

Watari set a plate of strawberry cake down in front of him, which he began to nibble on half-heartedly. "Watari, have there been any more deaths as of yet?"

"One," Watari replied. L's expression darkened.

"The Kira case is going to inevitably bring us to Japan, so I would like to solve this case as soon as possible; however, Mr. Phantomhive is in the way of that." He paused, biting his nails. "I will need to contact him shortly. But... maybe later."

"You must've had other choices in life besides being the underworld's guard dog," Madame Red commented nonchalantly about an hour later. "My sister... your mother must have wanted something else for you, too.. And yet, you returned to the underworld. Is it because you're trying to avenge your parents' murders?"

Ciel had been sipping a cup of tea as she spoke, and as she asked that final question, he set it down, calmly looking up at her. "Revenge won't bring the dead back, and it certainly won't make them happy. But... I didn't come back to the house of Phantomhive for my predecessor's sakes. I did it for me."

Madame Red stared at him, and didn't speak. Ciel then continued. "I just want to make the people who betrayed and defiled my family suffer the same humiliation and pain that I suffered."

"I still remember the day you were born..." Madame Red then commented, staring down at her lap with a small smile. She then stood and stalked over to Ciel as she continued to speak. "You were so tiny and cute, and I thought, 'I have to protect him.'.. I wasn't able to have a child, but I think of you as my own son."

She rested her hand on top of Ciel's head, smiling softly down at him. "I wish you'd leave the under-"

She was cut off as Ciel grabbed her arm and lifted it off of his head.

"Being here now is something I wanted, and something I chose. I don't regret it, and I can't let anyone spoil me," he then said, looking up at her.

And the Death Note characters did Death Note things.

A while later, Madame Red was by the door, with Sebastian by her side.

"You don't have to excort me, Sebastian," the red-haired woman chuckled.

"But, my lady," Sebastian responded, about to protest, causing her to look up at him.

"Please don't leave that boy's side," Madame Red cut in. "Make sure he doesn't stray from the path and get lost."

Sebastian gave a small grin, and got down on one knee, bowing to her. "Fear not. I shall stay by his side and protect him to the end."

A while later, the door opened, with Madame Red's butler outside with an umbrella, with a carriage pulled up.

"I've come for you, my lady," he stated, and Madame Red gave a nod, stepping out into the rain.

The next morning, Ciel was resting on his bed, until Sebastian then entered.

"Well?" Ciel prompted, as Sebastian stood in the doorway, shifting through papers.

"No matter how many times I examine it, the result is the same," Sebastian responded plainly.

"The viscount had nothing to do with yesterday's murder," Ciel then sighed, sitting up.

"Indeed," Sebastian responded with narrowed eyes. "And none of the humans inside of his mansion could have done it."

"Quite... no humans in there.." Ciel murmured then sighed and rested a hand on his head. "Anyway, tomorrow we'll..."

He then looked up at Sebastian. "Sebastian... don't tell me you..?"

"I've told you over and over: I do not lie," the butler responded witha small smirk. "Involved in medicine, ties to secret societies or black magic, and no alibi for the nights the bodies were found: The only human that fits those criteria is the Viscount Druitt."

"Was your investigating a farce, then?" Ciel questioned, eyes narrowed.

"You see, I am simply one Hell of a butler," Sebastian answered, still smirking, as he then rested a hand on his chest. "I simply faithfully carry out my master's orders and instructions."

Ciel growled at that, scowling at his butler, as Sebastian then tossed the papers into the air.

"With one order from you, I could become your pawn or your sword," he said with a grin, eyes flaring. "Now... put the villain in check, master.~"

Later that night, the two of them were hiding out in a dark alleyway, talking quietly among themselves.

"He'll show up if we stake out this place, right?" Ciel questioned, looking up at Sebastian.

"Yes," the butler responded, without looking at Ciel.

"It's true that the murdered prostitutes had other things in common besides having their organs removed," Ciel then murmured, looking thoughtful.

"Beautiful, glossy black hair," Sebastian then commented offhandedly.

"But. why should he have to kill them?" Ciel pondered, looking ahead.

"Sinfully lovable..." Sebastian continued, going off on his own tangent.

"And I-"

"So soft... yes, so soft..."

Ciel then growled lightly and glared at Sebastian, who was snuggling a fluffy black cat.

"Listen when I'm talking to you!" Ciel snapped, looking very aggravated. Sebastian then turned to glance at Ciel, blinking.

"My apologies, she's a rare beauty," the butler then apologized. "...So soft."

They then heard a loud scream, and immediately jolted, turning their heads in the direction of the scream.

"No one could have gotten past us..." Ciel muttered, quickly turning and rushing towards the sound, Sebastian following quickly after.

Ciel then came to a door, and immediately opened it, eyes widening in horror at what he saw: The dead body of the woman who was just murdered. Sebastian then suddenly lunged, grabbing Ciel and pulling him back, a hand over his eyes.

After a moment, Sebastian then spoke, still covering his master's eyes.

"That's quite a mess you've made, Jack the Ripper," he stated, glaring at the doorway with a large smirk. A figure then stepped out of the shadows of the doorway: A man with long, brunette hair tied back in a ponytail, and broken, bloodstained glasses: Madame Red's butler.

"Or should I say... Grell Sutcliff?"

The butler reached out one hand, trying to feign a look of innocence. "You... you have it all wrong!" he protested, trying to look weak and shaky. "I heard the scream and ran over here, but... she was already..."

"I think you can stop playing innocent in that body, Grell," Sebastian then hissed, staring the other butler down. "This is the first time I've met someone like you in the human world... You performed the role of 'harmless incompetent butler' quite adeptly."

"Adeptly?" the other man then responded, as he suddenly looked up at Sebastian, his face contorting into a huge, psychopathic, sharp-toothed grin. "Do you think so~?"

He then pulled the ribbon out of his hair, and it dropped, becoming long and flowing. "That's right..."

He changed his glasses, at that moment, and grabbed a comb, brushing it through his hair. It quickly changed from brunette to bright red, and he grinned wildly at Sebastian. "But you're not 'Sebastian' either, are you~?"

"That's the name I recieved from my young master, so yes, I am..." Sebastian responded plainly. "...At the moment."

"My, so you're a 'faithful dog' character," Grell chuckled, smirking. "Though for a fine-looking man like you, that's fabulous, too.~ Well then, Sebastian... no, Sebas-/chan/, let me re-introduce myself. I am Grell Sutcliff, butler to the Burnetts... I'm sure we two butlers can get along marvelously.~"

At that moment, the other man blew Sebastian a kiss, much to his disgust.

"Ah, I finally get to meet you in my true form!" Grell then exclaimed, still grinning. "I'd never seen a demon playing butler before, so I was surprised when I first saw you!"

"That's my line," Sebastian responded, unamused. "I never imagined someone like you would play a butler.. Someone who stands neutral between man and God... a grim reaper. Shinigami.."

He then narrowed his red eyes, staring the shinigami down. "Why would a divine being such as yourself bother to play a butler?"

"Good question," Grell chuckled, looking amused. "Perhaps I should say I fell in love with a certain woman."

Sebastian's gaze grew cold, and Ciel's as well beneath the demon's hand.

"And that woman would be?" Sebastian then hissed, eyes narrowed.

"You don't need to ask, do you?" Another voice- a woman's- asked. Then, out of the shadows, stepped none other than Madame Red, approaching Ciel slowly. Ciel then slowly lifted Sebastian's hand from his face, staring at the woman with a deadpan, emotionless expression. "Madame.."

"I didn't calculate on anyone being able to see Grell for what he is," the woman then commented.

"Naturally, you were on the initial suspect list," Ciel then stated, eyes narrowed. "But your alibi was perfect."

"You even suspected your own aunt?" Madame Red then questioned, tilting her head.

"If you had the potential to be Jack, then any blood relations would be irrlevant. None of the humans on the suspect list could have committed all of the murders. But if one had an /inhuman/ accomplice, that could change everything. If he could enter the room in an instant without our noticing, he could also instantaneously get from the viscount's to the East End. You two are the only ones who could be Jack the Ripper... Madame Red, and Grell Sutcliff."

Impressive.

L, of course, had once again gone undercover, in constant contact with Watari. He had a headpiece and microphone on and was recording everything he saw and heard. He scratched half-heartedly at his blonde wig, his grey dress flowing to the ground.

Mr. Phantomhive, I am impressed by your performance. Unfortunately... it may or may not be enough to convict the criminal. You're going to need far more evidence.

"Jack the Ripper's victims had other things in common," Ciel then continued, eyes narrowed as he spoke. "They all underwent a certain surgery at London Central Hospital, where you work." He pulled out a slip of paper. "The only patient on the list who hadn't yet been killed was Mary Kelly, who lived in that flat. I thought you'd show up here if I kept an eye on the place... I couldn't save her, though..."

"This is unfortunate, my beloved nephew Ciel.." the woman responded, staring down at him. "If you hadn't figured it out, we could have played chess together again. But.." She clenched her hands, her eyes going wild. "I won't give anything up this time!"

Grell then suddenly whipped out a chainsaw-like machine, fully intent on slicing Ciel in half. He was quickly stopped by Sebastian though, who held the revving end of the blade in his two hands, away from Ciel. He tried pushing it back towards Grell, and the shinigami flipped backwards, snatching the blade out of Sebastian's hands.

"Wh... What is that thing?!" Ciel then exclaimed, staring at it with wide eyes.

"Grim reapers possess tools for harvesting souls," Sebastian then responded, glaring at Grell. "That is a reaper's sickle."

Grell then frowned at that, an indignant look on his face. "Sickle is such a dull name, don't call it that!" he snapped, looking annoyed. "Not after I've customized it to my personal specifications!"

He then grinned again, holding the blade vertically in front of his face. "This is a 'death scythe' only I can wield, and it can hack any being to pieces!"

He then pointed it down to the ground, striking a strange pose. "I've behaved myself so much lately, I'm out of shape now! I want to get some real excersize for a change... with you~!"

"Could I ask you not to say such repugnant things?" Sebastian snorted, disgusted. "I am on duty."

"Ah, how stoic you are!" Grell exclaimed, waving his scythe around dramatically. "Yet another thing that makes you irresistable!"

He then pointed the blade towards the ground again, taking a step forward. "You see, I love the color red," he began, smirking. "Red is my favorite color for hair, clothes, and lipstick. So I paint those ugly women with pretty, pretty red blood.~"

He then pointed the blade at Sebastian. "Sebas-chan... I'll make you even finer looking than you already are! I'm really going to tear you up inside... and make you red like beautifully scattered rose petals.~"

"A grim reaper quietly harvests the souls of the dying. A butler subserviently follows his master like a shadow. Your vulgarity violates the aesthetics of both," Sebastian then hissed, disgusted at Grell's behavior. "And quite frankly, I find it sickening."

L stepped further back into the shadows. Oh dear... well done, Mr. Phantomhive. But.. shinigami?... that cannot be... He continued to scribble notes down.

"Oh Sebas-chan, you wound me," Grell chuckled, grinning with his sharp, shark-like teeth. "I'm a more /deadly/ efficient butler than I look!"

And with that, he struck a pose, sticking his tongue out between his teeth, and making the rock sign with one hand near his face.

Ciel then brought his hand to the eyepatch over his eye, and slowly removed it, revealing the contract seal on his eye.

"In my own black name and that of the Queen, I order you... Put an end to them!" he then growled, as the seal began to glow.

"Yes, my lord..." Sebastian responded, smirking, as his red eyes began to glow. He gripped the bottom of his glove with his teeth, slowly pulling it off, and then bgean to stalk towards Grell.

L wanted to step forward, but he didn't. He instead stood right where he was, writing down in explicit detail everything that was happening.

A fight soon started, with the shinigami revving his chainsaw and swinging it at Sebastian, sending multiple taunts. "Ah yes, run more~! We'll play tag, Sebas-chan!"

Sebastian could merely keep dodging as Grell continuously slashing at him with the scythe, a maniacal grin plastered on his face. He was soon pinned to a wall, his hands on the blade, keeping it pushed away from his face as Grell attempted to slice him with it.

"Now, now, if you don't escape fast, you'll get cut," Grell chuckled, smirking. "It's so much more stimulating when it hurts a little, isn't it~?"

"We've now become a guard dog and his prey," Madame Red then stated casually, away from the two fighting beings. "If it's hunt or be hunted... there's only one choice!"

She then suddenly drew a dagger, charging at Ciel. She then slashed his arm, drawing blood, and he staggered backwards, clutching at the wound. Sebastian's eyes widened as he watched that, and he still struggled to push the shinigami away.

"You're a doctor!" Ciel then exlaimed. "Why do this?!"

"A kid like you would never understand, even if I told him," the woman responded, slowly turning to face Ciel again with a cold glare. She then lunged at him, gripping him by the throat and slamming him violently against a wall. "You... You... You should never have been born!"

She then raised her dagger, about to stab Ciel. She was quickly stopped, however, by Sebastian, who quickly dashed under Grell's blade, which dug itself into his shoulder as he passed, nearly slicing his arm off, and lunged for the woman, almost about to actually kill her, if it weren't for Ciel.

"Stop, Sebastian!" he yelped, eyes wide. "Don't kill her!"

Sebastian then paused, pulling his hand back, from where he was about to strike and kill her. Madame Red then stepped back, dropping the dagger, and Sebastian pressed a hand to his shoulder, panting.

"Sebastian..." Ciel then murmured, looking over at the injured demon. Grell then suddenly ripped his scythe free from the wall in which it had ended up embedded in, and once again turned to face them.

"Oh, Sebas-chan, you've got a backbone," he teased with a smirk. "To think you'd sacrifice an arm to save that kid... But how poorly you compare, madam!"

He then stalked towards them, eyes deadly. "Hurry up and kill the brat!"

Madame Red had buried her face in her hands, eyes filling with tears. She then slowly pulled them away, looking down at Ciel. "I loved my sister... I loved him... I loved their... I can't.."

She then hugged herself, squeezing her eyes shut. "I can't do it after all... I can't kill him."

"You're saying that /now/?" Grell scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You've sliced so many women to bits! If you don't erase him, he'll erase you!"

"Madam..." Ciel murmured quietly, eyes wide.

"But... But..." Madame Red stuttered, staring down at the Ciel, before spinning to face Grell. "This boy is my-!"

She was suddenly silenced by Grell's death scythe plunged right through her chest.

"I'm disappointed in you, Madame Red!" Grell sneered, smirking wildly as she fell to the ground. "I have no interest in you if you're just another woman!"

As the woman fell, her cinematic record then shot through her body, playing the many scenes and memories of her life.

"This is..." Sebastian began, staring.

"Our job as grim reapers is to replay and examine the memories of those on the To Die list distributed by the Powers that Be," Grell began to explain, grinning. "We determine what kind of person they were, what kind of life they lived, whether they should be killed or left alive..."

"In other words, you make their life flash before their eyes," Sebastian stated, glaring lightly at the shinigami.

"Ugh, don't call it something so dull!" Grell exclaimed in aggravation. "This is the grim reaper's true ability: dramatic pain. This is the Cinematic Record!"

And then Madame Red's cinematic record played her tragic life story of how she hated the color red, which was the color of her hair, met Vincent Phantomhive who enjoyed it, and made her like the color, but he married her sister instead and she hated it again, then she got married and was going to have a child, but in a carriage accident she ended up getting a miscarriage and her womb had to be removed, and a bunch of other dramatic and sad shit.

L stared in horror at the woman, his grey eyes wide and glowing. This is awful. He continued to write down what he saw in graphic detail, however; the grey dress helped to disguise him, and he remained unseen... for now.

"I loved you when you were dyed crimson with your victims' blood," Grell then sneered, glaring down at her corpse. "Madam Red. I'm disappointed you turned out to be such a trite woman! You don't have what it takes to wear red."

And with that, he stalked up to her, pulling off her red coat, and putting it on himself. "Your cheap little melodrama ends now.. Farewell, Madame."

And with that, he turned his back, beginning to stalk away.

Ciel then bent down, brushing a hand over his dead aunt's eyes, gently closing them.

"What are you doing Sebastian?" he then said quietly, turning to look up at the demon. "I told you to put an end to Jack the Ripper. It's not over yet. Don't dawdle, hurry up and kill the other one!"

Grell then stopped walking, chuckling a bit. "I was going to be nice and let you go, but if you insist..." he began with a grin, then revving his scythe and turning towards them. "I'll send you both to heaven!"

L continued to take notes, his pencil rapidly moving as he scribbled notes on the notepad. A part of his grey skirt became visible, but he quickly pulled it back into the shadows, hopefully before the others caught sight of it. That was close. I'm afraid I'll have to be more cautious. When this fight is over, I will escape through the window. Escape plans are always a good idea, despite the fact that everything I do is improvised.

"Heaven?" Sebastian then chuckled, looking vaguely amused, as he then leaped into the air. "Heaven and I are strangers."

Sebastian then aimed a kick for Grell's face, which the shinigami quickly dodged.

"You just went for a lady's face!" the red-haired reaper yelped dramatically. "You're a /fiend/!"

"Of course..." Sebastian responded with a smirk. "I am merely one Hell of a butler."

"Do you think a demon can beat a divine being?" Grell then huffed, slicing his blade through the air.

"An interesting question," Sebastian murmured, still smirking. "However, if my young master tells me to win, I shall win."

"You're quite keen on that puny little brat," Grell snorted, rolling his eyes and resting a hand on his hip. "I'm jealous... Even demons cease to exist when I reap them with my death scythe.~ Aren't you afraid?"

"Not in the least," Sebastian responded coolly, resting a hand on his chest. "I belong to my master, body and soul... even down to the last hair on my head. As long as the contract is in effect, I follow his orders. That's the butler aesthetic, you see.~"

Interesting loyalty. L paused in taking notes and held a hand to his head, feeling a little woozy. I must be dreaming, or vividly hallucinating; shinigami and demons do not exist, and never will.

And then the fight began, between the demon and shinigami. Both of them leapt into the air, fully intent on killing eachother.

"I suppose a meeting of the minds is impossible~?" Grell said with a smirk, staring Sebastian down. "Our feelings for eachother are forbidden... It's just like the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet~! Oh, Sebas-chan, Sebas-chan~! Wherefore art thou, Sebas-chan~?"

Sebastian then aimed a kick at Grell's face, which he dodged easily. The two then both ended up on a rooftop, staring at eachother.

"If you'd refuse that appalling name your master gave you, and focus on me alone..." Grell started to speak smirking over at Sebastian.

Sebastian merely smirked back. "From the moment my master called me 'Sebastian', that word became my new baptism and contract. I've been Sebastian since that day... By yonder moon I swear it."

"What an insincere man you are, to swear by the inconstant moon," Grell purred, grinning. "Your eyes are impure eyes that love no one. You are a devil who profanes innocent souls with your unworthy hands and lips.."

He then dramatically spun around, grinning wildly. "Oh, it's so good~! You thrill me, Sebastian~!" he cackled. "I feel as if I could bear your children~!"

"Please stop, that's repellant," Sebastian then snorted, looking extremely unamused.

"Oh, you're so cold," Grell stated, looking like he was thoroughly enjoying this. He then revved up his death scythe, charging straight at Sebastian. "Beautiful tryrant!"

As he swept his scythe at Sebastian's legs, the demon quickly lunged into the air to dodge it.

"Fiend angelical!" the shinigami slashed his scythe at Sebastian's head, and the demon quickly bent backwards to avoid it. "Dove feather'd raven~!"

Sebastian then kicked out, an Grell and the demon were soon interlocked. "Sebas-chan~!"

The shinigami's scythe was soon stuck in the pavement of the roof.

"Oh, Sebas-/chan/... Would that morning never come!" Grell said dramatically. "Then the two of us could live in love like this forever!"

Sebastian had one leg propped up on the shinigami's scythe, and Grell leaned in to his face with a grin. "But our amorous adventure ends now."

He then grinned and violently headbutted Sebastian, causing him to stumble backwards. "We part with a passionate kiss~! A thousand times, a million times good night~!"

He then whipped his scythe out from the roof, and promptly slashed Sebastian right across the chest with it, drawing blood and causing the demon to gawk in surprise.

"Now, show me a drastic and dramatic Record!" Grell exclaimed, grinning psychotically. The cinematic record then shot out from the demon's body... and only showed some parts from his time with Ciel.

Needless to say, Grell was /very/ unamused.

L stared at the battle from the window. He now sat on the window ledge, dangling his feet from it. Hmm... He continued to write notes, coming to the conclusion that nobody would see him since they were all preoccupied with the fight. The moonlight shone on his grey dress, but he ignored it, focusing his wide, grey panda eyes on Grell and Sebastian.

"W-wait... Wait, wait, wait, wait!" the shinigami exclaimed, looking /pissed/. "Who are these people?!"

Sebastian, who was still standing, gave a small choking noise, before smirking at the shinigami, blood dribbling from his mouth. "That's been my everyday life for the past year, after all," he stated, voice slightly hoarse.

"I'm not interested in a domestic Record like this!" Grell hissed, waving his scythe around dramatically. "Come on, show me the good parts!"

The Cinematic Record then disappeared, and Sebastian remained standing, despite his wound.

"I'm afraid I charge admission to view the rest," he then teased the reaper, smirking. He then aimed a kick at Grell, who then leaped backwards.

"Oh no, my clothes are ruined again," Sebastian then nonchalantly remarked. "This is past mending."

"You're pretty confident, worrying about your clothes at a time like this," Grell huffed, holding his scythe readied to lash out again. "But I like a man who's careful about his appearance, Sebas-chan..."

Sebastian then whipped off his coat, expression deadpan. "This is the one technique I didn't want to use..." he then remarked. "But there's no help for it."

"So you're finally going to get serious with me, then~?" Grell chirped, amused, as he revved up his chainsaw again. "Shall we close the curtain on this with the final blow~? Say your farewells to this world.. Let's be joined in the hereafter, Sebas-chan~!"

He then lunged at Sebastian, and Sebastian also lunged. As Grell moved to swing his scythe, Sebastian then swung his coat... effectively jamming the engine on the scythe. They soon then landed back on the roof, with Sebastian standing, and Grell on the ground.

"What?!" the shinigami exclaimed, growling.

"That tailcoat is made of high-quality yorkshire wool," the demon then stated, smirking. "Wool has one of the highest frictional forces of all cloths."

Grell was desperately trying to pull the fabric out, as Sebastian continued to speak. "Once it gets enmeshed in something, it is very difficult to remove."

"WTF?!" Grell exclaimed, speaking in acronym.

"That coat was supplied to me by the estate, and I didn't want to use it," Sebastian then continued, staring down at Grell. "But you had ruined it already, after all."

He then approached the shinigami, pressing a fist into his palm. "Now, in a normal fistfight, I feel a certain amount of confidence."

"W-wait!" Grell then squeaked, backing up. "Please! Not the face!"

Needless to say, Grell got his face beaten in. Sebastian kicked it, punched it, and slammed it into the rooftop numerous times. Grell was, as you could imagine, not a happy camper. He then was punched off of the top of the building, falling the ground below them, followed by a weak little "please stop!" from Grell.

As he was just about to hit the ground, on top of Ciel, Sebastian quickly caught up to him... and kicked him once again, sending him flying and painfully crashing to the ground.

"Please excuse me. I misjudged the distance," Sebastian then commented, staring at Ciel.

"You look awful," Ciel stated, staring back at him with a deadpan expression.

"I had a bit of trouble with him," the butler responded.

"I'll get you for this..." Grell then groaned from his place on the ground. Sebastian then looked to Grell with a smirk.

"Oh, dear. I suppose one can't kill a grim reaper with bare fists," he remarked, approaching him. He then gripped the death scythe, which had also fallen to the ground. "But what about with this?"

Grell was now struggling to get up, as Sebastian continued to approach. "A grim reaper's scythe, which can cut anything..." He then ripped the fabric out from the blades, smriking. "Shouldn't it be able to cut even you~?"

"W-What are you thinking? N-N-No.." Grell protested, staring up at Sebastian with fear in his eyes, as he then turned and tried to escape... only to have Sebastian's foot slammed down on his head.

"I don't enjoy being kicked, but doing the kicking feels rather nice," Sebastian said with a smirk.

"That hurts, Sebas-chan, it hurts, it hurrrts!" Grell whined, struggling to escape.

"Young master, hideous though he may be, he is still a divine being," the demon then stated, looking over his shoulder at Ciel. "Are you prepared to shoulder the heavy crime of killing the divine?"

"Are you trying to make me repeat my order?" Ciel scoffed in response, staring at his butler with a deadpan expression.

"Very good, my lord..." Sebastian chuckled, looking down at Grell's terrified form, who was whining and trying to escape still.

"You scream very nicely," the demon teased, smirking as he started up the scythe. "As a reward, I'll kill you with your favorite toy!"

"Please, stop!" Grell begged, still struggling.

"No," Sebastian bluntly responded, beginning to bring the blade down.

"Don't you want to know who killed his parents?!" Grell then exclaimed, hoping it'd save his life. Ciel's eyes widened at that, but Sebastian quickly brought down the blade... but was intercepted by a long pole, a garden grabber/clipper thing. It was held by a tall man in a suit, with black hair, greenish-yellow eyes, and a pair of glasses, standing on top of a building.

Sebastian and Ciel gawked, turning to look up at him.

"I apologize for interrupting your conversation," the man then stated emotionlessly, retracting his pole-thing. "I am William T. Spears, an administrator at the Grim Reaper Staffing Association." He then pushed up his glasses with his clippers. "I came to take charge of that reaper there."

"Will! William!" Grell then exclaimed, grinning up at him. "So you came to save me!"

His face was then promptly slammed into the ground by William's foot.

"Temp worker Grell Sutcliff, you have violated regulations," the man then stated, looking at a clipboard. "Firstly, you killed people not on the To Die list. "Secondly, you used a death scythe for which a permission form was not filled. And finally, you attempted to leak information about the cause of death and the identity of a murderer."

He then stepped off of Grell, giving a small bow to Sebastian. "I am sorry for all of the trouble this wretch has caused," he then stated. He then handed the demon a card. "Oh, here's my card."

Sebastian took it from the shinigami between two fingers, looking very unamused.

"Really, I never thought I'd see the day when I'd have to bow my head to a noxious beast like you," William then hissed under his breath. "This is a disgrace to the profession of a grim reaper."

Sebastian stared at him for a moment, before then responding. "Then please keep close watch over your staff," he then said, staring at the shinigami. "So that they don't cause trouble for us 'noxious beasts'."

He then smirked, lowering his head a bit. "Humans are very susceptible to temptation... When they are placed within the Hellish bowels of despair, if a spider's thread appears before them that could get them out, they will cling to it without fail. Any human will."

William then stood up straight, staring at Sebastian with a deadpan expression. "Aren't you demons the ones who take advantage of that to decieve humans and prey upon them?"

"I won't deny it," Sebastian responded with a small smirk.

"Though you seem to be a tame dog with a collar; that at least makes you lesser evil than the unprincipled, rabid dogs," William then stated, turning to his red-haired subordinate. "Come, Grell Sutcliff, we're leaving. Honestly, we're already shorthanded, and now we won't be able to finish during regular hours today, either. The Board is going to scold us again, and we'll have to work more overtime."

And with that, he dragged Grell away by the hair.

"Inshō-tekina pafōmansu. Shikashi... Anata no engi wa, kanari no sagyō o shiyō suru koto ga dekimasu," L then stated, his voice flat and his eyes heavy. He hopped down from the window ledge and stuffed the notepad into his skirt pocket, buttoning it closed. "In case you cannot speak Japanese, I will translate myself. Impressive performance. However... your acting could use quite a bit of work." He adjusted his blonde wig with both hands and smoothed out the ruffles in his grey dress. "I would applaud you, if I were amused enough to do so."

Ciel and Sebastian then quickly whipped their heads around to face L, gawking.

"How long have you been there?!" Ciel exclaimed, glaring. "How.. How much did you see?!"

L put a finger up to his mouth, chewing on it. His expression remained bored. "Hunny, I saw alllll of it," he replied in a Southern belle drawl. "Every sin'le bit of it."

I need to inquire about demons and shinigami... that was rather unexpected.

Both of them scowled, with a dark aura beginning to surround Sebastian, and the demon approached L, eyes menacing.

"So then, you know the true nature of my butler," Ciel stated, eyes narrowed dangerously, the contract seal on his eye clearly visible.

Best to play along.

"Yes. And, if you're initial plan is to kill me, then please re-evaluate. I'm working on the Kira case currently, and... if I don't solve it, you could both easily end up on his list of victims." He glanced down at his finger, which had started to bleed. "Oops." He carefully wiped it on his grey skirt, nearly losing his balance and tripping over literally nothing in the process. "Mmm, corsets are difficult to get used to."

Ciel glared heavily at the man dressed as a woman, and Sebastian did as well.

"You are not to tell a single person," he then hissed, eyes deadly. "Or else... you should understand what would become of you, if you did."

L tilted his head to the side slightly. He once again held up both hands in defense. "That's the second time you have kindly asked me not to tell someone of information regarding you two," he commented. "But who do I know to tell? I walk my path in this world alone, keeping secrets and lying to innocent bystanders. It is how I work, and I do not plan on changing any time soon." He paused. "I was initially here to tell you both information regarding Jack the Ripper, but... that's unnecessary now." He turned and began to walk away. "Perhaps I should tell somebody I met a demon butler, though, and that Mr. Phantomhive dresses as a woman?" That would be hypocritical. I do not plan on doing anything of the sort; I'm curious, however. What will they do to me if they see that there is a suitable threat placed upon their shoulders? Will they attack me, or..?

Sebastian immediately lunged at L, grabbing him by the arms and pressing him up against the wall, eyes flaring red and teeth sharpening.

"You will not tell a soul," he hissed, eyes narrowed threateningly. "Or I and my master will not hesitate to get rid of you, as well as anyone you dare tell."

This was certainly unexpected... but not 'good enough' of a reaction. I will not rest until my curiosity is satisfied.

"Oh? And what leads you to believe that the threat of death will stop me from telling my associates?"

"Then I suppose I will have to dispose of you," Sebastian stated emotionlessly, tossing L over the side of the windowsill they were in, causing him to plummet towards the ground below.

L immediately reacted, grabbing at the wall and hanging from it. He crossed his legs tightly; being a perfectionist, he had of course worn accurate pantaloons... and he did not want that displayed to any possible passerby. His fingers were scratched and bleeding, and it took him a few moments to gather his thoughts together before looking up at the windowsill with wide, grey eyes.

And he was grinning.

"Splendid performance," he commented. "Absolutely splendid! And convincing, as well. Though, if you're aiming to convince me that you really are a demon, then it will take much more than simply throwing me out a windowsill." Go on, then; play your part. You aren't a demon, that much is obvious.

He frowned slightly, his eyelids growing heavy. "Though, I could have died just now. You must be very dedicated to your role."

Sebastian exchanged a glance with Ciel, and the two were thinking the same thing: 'He thinks it's a joke.'

Sebastian then gave a small smile, extending a hand to help L back up. "You're correct," he responded. "It was in fact just a stage performance of sorts. I am not actually a demon... but Madame Red and Grell Sutcliff were in fact Jack the Ripper."

"Well, yes, I know," L replied, accepting the hand gratefully and- once again- smoothing out his grey dress. "May I advise you, though, to please not try and kill people while playing your part? I'm afraid that's not a very wise thing to do." He reached into his pocket, pulling out his notes and carefully looking through them. "Yes," he said quietly, confirming to himself that he had not lost his papers in the fall out the window. "I shall have Watari review these for me later." He paused, glancing up at Sebastian. "Once again, I applaud you for your part. It was very convincing, especially when you and the 'shinigami' were battling on the rooftop. How splendid." He cocked his head to the side. "Are you in the local theatre?"

Sebastian smirked and gave a sweeping bow, looking very amused.

"My apologies, sir, for throwing you off like that," he chuckled. "You see, Ciel down there was going to catch you. And no, we are not in the theater, actually, it's merely a hobby of ours.~"

Ciel stared up at them with a deadpan expression.

L was grinning now. "Oh? I have quite a few eccentric hobbies, myself." He paused, taking mental note of Ciel's expression and Sebastian's lying. A reaper to a sower, demon. "I thank you for giving me a chance to participate in an act such as that; it was amusing, to say the least." Something about this scenario is not adding up. I will review my notes once more when I return to the apartment. "Though... if you plan on acting out that particular scene again, make sure that Ciel is faster than that, or your victims will actually end up deceased."

Sebastian gave a light chuckle at that, straightening. "Again, I apologize- my master will need to practice his speed," he stated, smirking. "Anyway, let's get down from here, shall we~?"

He then scooped L right up bridal style, leaping down from the windowsill, or rather using parkour to make his way down, and when they reached the ground, the demon set the man down. He then stalked over to his master, resting a hand on his face.

"Young master, you're cold as ice," he then said with a light frown. "We should head back... I will make you some hot milk."

"Yes... that would be a good idea..." Ciel murmured, slowly standing up from his sitting position on the ground, but nearly toppling over. He was quickly caught by Sebastian, but the demon was then lightly shoved away. "..I can stand on my own."

And with that, they began to make their way home, with Sebastian lifting Madame Red's body and carrying her with them.

L began walking in the other direction, the pieces of evidence finally adding up. So he IS a demon, after all! But... he's willing to kill a person if they were to find out. If it weren't for my quick thinking, I would surely be dead.

Light, meanwhile, continued to do his work, working towards another trick on L.

The next day soon came, and it was also the day that Madam Red's funeral would occur. Ciel was now currently on his way to the funeral home, carrying a bright red dress with him as he walked, his eyes turned towards the ground.

L was dressed in a black funeral dress, a black tophat on top of his blonde wig. Watari had come to assist him, and was dressed in black Victorian clothing, as well. A black scarf hid his face.

None other than Light Yagami was there, as well. He had simply wanted to attend a funeral, so he had looked up the soonest one and had immediately flown across seas to London. He was getting used to Victorian clothing.

L had not yet learned of Light's involvement in the case and therefore did not recognize him. The man wore three layers of makeup; the only way Ciel and Sebastian could ever identify him would be from either his frown, his unique eye shape, his sharp jawline, or, most notibly, the pad of paper he scribbled notes in different languages on.

The funeral soon started, before Ciel and Sebastian arrived. As the pastor began to speak, everyone listened in silence, grim looks on all of their faces.

And then suddenly, as the pastor was mid-sentence, the large oak doors opened, and none other than Ciel Phantomhive entered, alone. He stalked down the aisle, carrying a bright red dress.

"That's... the Phantomhive boy?" one person quietly whispered.

"A scarlet dress?"

"How improper!"

"But Madame loved the color red.."

Ciel quietly walked up to his deceased aunt's casket, staring down at her solemnly. He then gently draped the red dress over her, bending down over her face, smiling slightly. It was a small, sad smile.

"White flowers and plain dresses don't suit you.." the boy murmured. He then reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a bright red flower. "...What suits you is a passionate red." He gently laid the flower in her hair. "The color of spider lilies blazing in the fields... Aunt An."

He then bent his face down, lightly touching his nose to hers. As he held that position, red petals then filtered through the building, coming from a little cart just outside, with Sebastian and Undertaker standing beside it.

Ciel soon pulled away, staring down mournfully at the red-haired woman. "...Sleep well," he then murmured, standing. "...Madame Red."

L and Watari both respectfully bowed their heads. L was not amused by the performance. How bland. He tries to peacefully lay her to rest, but he fails... horribly.

The funeral was soon over, and Ciel and Sebastian were now in the graveyard, with Undertaker beside them. They stood beside a grave, which Ciel merely stared down at.

"This is..." he murmured, eyes lightly downcast. Undertaker gave a tiny grin.

"My final customer from the Jack the Ripper murders," the scarred man confirmed.

"Apparently she was an immigrant..." Ciel stated quietly. "They couldn't find anyone to claim her body."

"So the kindhearted Earl here hired me to pretty her up," Undertaker chuckled, lightly poking Ciel's face. "And even erected this gravestone for her."

"I'm not kindhearted," Ciel responded plainly. "If I had given her life first priority that night, there would have been plenty of ways to save her. But instead, I prioritized catching Jack the Ripper. I knew she wouldn't be saved. I knew, and I let her die... My own flesh and blood..."

"Are you having regrets?" Undertaker then questioned, bending down over Ciel.

"No. Jack the Ripper is gone, and Her Majesty's anxieties are resolved," the boy responded quietly.

"Victoria, eh?" Undertaker snorted. "I don't like her... She forces all the misery on you, while she just sits back and watches."

"This is my family's lot in life," Ciel responded, raising his thumb, with his ring on it, towards his face. "It's been passed down for generations with this ring."

"That ring is like a dog collar," Undertaker remarked. "It connects you to the Queen by the chains of 'fate'."

"I'm the one who chose this!" Ciel then snapped, shoving the older man away. Undertaker then grabbed Ciel's tie, pulling his face close.

"I pray you're never hung by that collar," he then stated, eyes narrowed. He then let go, and Ciel fell back against Sebastian. "That would be so /boring/."

He then began to stalk away. "Come by the shop whenever you need something. You and your butler are always welcome."

L was, as usual, watching and taking notes. He was now in a tree, leaning against the main trunk and tucking his feet up in his normal position. He wrote quickly and quietly, observing with wide, grey eyes. I like Undertaker. He seems intelligent enough.

There was no mistaking it now: L suspected Ciel of being Kira, but for which reason he could not tell. He had taken to watching the boy (as well as the Task Force's families) and was constantly writing down everything he saw. I don't normally take notes physically, but I have no choice; measures must be taken in order to solve this case.

Night soon came, and they remained in the graveyard.

"You are kindhearted," Sebastian then suddenly commented, glancing over at Ciel.

"Don't make me repeat myself, I'm not kind-"

"Yes, you are kindhearted.. If you aren't, perhaps that means you're weak."

Ciel turned to glare lightly at Sebastian. "Why, you!"

"Why didn't you shoot?" Sebastian then questioned, gaze hard. "'I let my own flesh and blood die'? I take a dim view of lies, you know. If you had wanted to shoot her, then you could have. But you wavered, and even when I urged you, you refused to draw your gun. Why? Were you afraid to kill Madame Red yourself? Do you mean to tell me you can kill a stranger, but not your own kin? Because it was your job."

"I thought you would protect me even at the cost of your own life," Ciel then responded in deadpan. "That's why I didn't shoot. Our contract demands that you serve me, that you protect me and do not kill me until my goal is achieved. I imagine a demon has no 'principles' or 'loyalty'... All you have is aesthetics. And so for the sake of your own aesthetics, you will protect me no matter what. Am I wrong?"

"Why did you stop me then?" Sebastian questioned, tilting his head.

"There was hesitation in her eyes as she moved to kill me," Ciel responded. "I thought she wouldn't be able to kill me... her own kin. One wrong move costs a person her life... it's just like chess. She hesitated and lost sight of her next move. That's all there is to it."

He then turned, and began to walk away. "So I won't hesitate."

Sebastian's eyes widened at that, and he turned to look at Ciel, with a small grin forming on his face. "That's what I like to hear. Always skillfully manipulate your chess pieces, and survive. Use me, and Madame Red, and any pieces within your reach. Even if the bodies of your pawns pile up at the foot of your throne... because if the king falls, this game is over."

"I won't stop moving, and I won't regret the steps I've taken," Ciel murmured. "So this is an order..."

He then turned around, facing Sebastian. "You are the one man who must not betray me. Don't leave my side. Ever."

Sebastian gave a small smile, giving a sweeping bow and kneeling down before the boy. "Yes, my lord."

/I will accompany you anywhere you wish me to./

They then both stood, and began to walk off.

/Even if your throne crumbles, and your radiant crown rots, and a mountain of bodies pile up... I shall stay beside your small form as you lie atop your fallen pawns... Until I hear the final call./

L finally jumped down from the tree, falling head over heels as he did so.

"Mmm, that hurt a lot." He stood, holding his head and turning his grey eyes to stare at Ciel and Sebastian. "You two never fail to surprise me. But, I suppose, that's how a chess game works; the goal is to surprise the other person with bold moves, and then to take their king." He paused, a frown coming to his face. "...I actually don't really know how to play chess, so disregard what I just said."

Ciel gave an annoyed sigh and turned to face L with a deadpan expression. "You're following us /again?/" he huffed, rolling his eyes. "Get a hobby. Your stalking us is starting to get creepy."

"But this is my hobby," L replied, his expression slightly sad and slightly shocked. "You know very well that I am working on the Kira murder cases. I just so happen to suspect you and your demon butler." He frowned. "I have every right to follow you until I receive proof of your innocence. Also, before you say it-" He held up a hand- "I do not plan on releasing the fact that I suspect you to anybody, for any reason. Nor do I plan on releasing the fact that your butler is a supernatural being, or that you once dressed as a woman for a ball. As I said previously, I have no reason to, nor is it in my personal interest to do so." He began chewing on his nails. "Your performance at the burial was mediocre, at best; am I correct in suspecting that you did, in fact, care for Madame Red in some way?"

"So you do actually believe he's a demon?" Ciel huffed, turning his gaze away for a moment. "...Hmph. For one, I am most certainly not Kira. For two... Yes, of course I cared for Madame Red. She was my aunt."

"Even though she tried to kill you," L stated plainly. Simply denying something doesn't make it 100% true, Ciel Phantomhive. Kira is childish, and hates losing; he also must hold himself above others.

Ciel averted his gaze for a moment. "Yes. I will not lie. Although she tried to kill me, I do still care a bit about her. Now, please, do not scold me on that, I am not in the mood."

L held up his hands in defense. "I prefer to call it constructive criticism.. but if you do not want it, then I will not offer it."

You appear to think of yourself as hierarchical over others... which likely means that there's a 30% chance of you being Kira. However, you do not appear to judge others, and you have far too many flaws to be hiding something like mass murder. Perhaps... perhaps I'm wrong.

"Perhaps we can meet for tea tomorrow? It's getting awfully late, and I have several other suspects to follow," L said, faking a yawn. "Don't think of yourself as special; I'm a well-known lady around here." He began to walk away, trying very hard not to trip in his boots. "Thank you for the pleasant talk."

Ciel gave a small nod. "Alright, just drop by the townhouse... and please, dress as something other than a woman."

And with that, he and Sebastian also left.