ChibiKit- So after getting some really good feedback for my first Kuroshitsuji fic "Wrapped In Sin" I thought I'd try my hand at a second one, and then this little plot bunny hopped into my head. I do not plan on giving anything away or giving hints on why the summary is the way it is. You're just going to have to figure it out on your own. (grins)
I hope you guys enjoy this little random idea that came into my head and please tell me what you think.
Warnings- this story will contain gore, horror, suspense, violence, and angst as well as romance and yaoi. Please do not flame me because I did warn you. Enjoy!
Disclaimer- I own nothing, sadly (looks longingly at Sebastian) T_T!
"Bocchan, it's time to wake up," a silky voice cooed, casting away the shadows of the once dark room as soft curtains were pushed aside, allowing the new days rays to fill the room and bath it in their glow, causing the small lump huddled under the bed's warm linens to groan in protest and burrow further into the dark cocoon it had woven around itself during sleep.
"Go away Sebastian," the lump moaned, pulling the duvet higher over it's head, trying to fight off the morning light and surrender itself back into the world of dreams. It was a rare incident for the lump, otherwise known as Earl Ciel Phantomhive, not to be plagued by nightmares during the dark hours of the night and he wanted to savor the moment.
The demon by his side thought otherwise.
"Now young master you know I cannot do that. My duty as your loyal dog is to follow you no matter where the young master may go, even to the ends of hell," Sebastian chuckled, grinning when an angry sapphire eye glared at him from under the blankets, crackling with the child's short temper.
So it was going to be one of those mornings.
"Hn." Ciel grumbled before finally deciding he would rather get up and get on with the day then argue with Sebastian over nonsense. He never did like to waste his breath.
Sitting up in his bed the young Phantomhive stretched out his tired muscles, the cooling linens pooling around his waist as he yawned and rubbed his left eye before taking the warm tea cup that was offered to him, allowing the soothing scent to wake his sluggish body.
"This morning tea is an herbal mixture imported from London, mixed with a Jasmine fragrance that's been known to sharpen the mind," Sebastian explained as the young Earl sipped from his cup, the black butler gathering his young master's attire for the day as he spoke. "Not that the young master's mind isn't sharp already."
That commented earned him a glare and a sneer from the child sitting on the bed.
"Tch."
With his classic smile in place Sebastian quickly stripped Ciel of his nightshirt after he had finished his tea and began the routine task of dressing the child, nimble fingers working quickly and elegantly. Ciel knew one day in the future he'd have to learn to dress himself, but for right now he'd let Sebastian do it.
After all, everyone knew he was a rather lazy child. And having a demon butler to do his bidding didn't help with his lethargic behavior.
"Today after breakfast the young master has a stack of paperwork that need his approval and signature for the companies upcoming toy selection. Then the young master has a lesson with Madam Roslyn and Madam Grace over literature and art, then afternoon tea will served at-"
As Sebastian went through the days schedule, his glove encased fingers slipping on the young Earl's shoes, Ciel's mind began to drift, not focusing on what the demon kneeling before him was saying, but rather the wall past his butler's shoulder. He had a strange feeling in his gut that something was going to happen today. He wondered if Sebastian felt it too.
"... and later tonight the young master shall be attending a masquerade ball held by Lady Elizabeth at her estate-"
"Pardon?" Ciel interupted, quickly snapping out of his wanderings to glare into the grinning red eyes of his demon, dark brows furrowing as Sebastian stood, reaching over to the nightstand to grab the black eye patch that had become a part of Ciel's life, the black material dangling in Sebastian's gloved fingers.
"Lady Elizabeth has requested that the young master attend. It would be rather cruel of him to decline such an offer from his betrothed."
Mismatched eyes narrowed, focusing in on the smirking demon before them, tiny fist clenching before petite arms were crossed over a small chest, Ciel huffing in defiance.
"I refuse."
"Now Bocchan, attending public gatherings is something a respectful noblemen must due if he wants to keep his good reputation. And refusing an invitation from ones fiancé would smear the Phantomhive's good name" Sebastian chuckled, watching the way his little master seemed to get even angrier with the realization that he was not going to be getting out of this situation.
Unfortunately.
"Fine. Have my costume prepared by dinner," Ciel grumbled, allowing Sebastian to tie his eye patch in place before the tall demon stood and bowed at the waist, his grin still in place, eye closed with his classic smile.
He really hated that smile.
"I will await the young master's arrival in the dinning hall when he is ready," and then Sebastian was turning and walking away, leaving the young Earl to his own devices until he was ready to go down for breakfast.
Ciel was already regretting his decision of getting out of bed.
Walking across his room Ciel grabbed his cane and a few darts that rested on the nightstand, stuffing them into his jacket pocket before opening his door and heading down to breakfast. He could just tell today was going to be a long, stressful day, and he would need some form of entertainment later.
And it was always fun to keep Sebastian on his toes.
"Ohayou Bocchan!" Finian, Bard, and Meirin cried in unison as Ciel walked into the dinning room, bright smiles on their faces before they were scurrying away due to the "scary" look Sebastian gave them, crying about whatever they had ruined or not finished and asking for the perfect butlers help.
After sending the crying three away with one of his famous glares Sebastian tended to his master, helping him into his chair before serving him his breakfast.
"Those three are idiots, why do we keep them around?" Ciel asked after watching the three servants scamper away, taking his seat once Sebastian had pulled his chair out.
"They serve their purpose from time to time," Sebastian chuckled, placing a napkin in his master's lap before pouring him a cup of hot tea, his mysterious smile in place, causing Ciel to arch an eyebrow.
"And what purpose might that be?" he asked, taking a sip from his cup before looking over to the man beside him who was rolling cart over to the table that was full of trays, a grin on his face.
"Nothing the young master needs to worry about, I assure you."
"Hn."
"Today breakfast is brioche with strawberry jam," Sebastian explained after stopping beside the child, handing his master a plate with warm golden pastries and a small serving saucer full of strawberry jam. "I've also prepared some fresh fruits for the young master, seeing as all he ever eats is sweets, I thought it'd be beneficial if he had some healthy choices in his diet as well."
Another glare.
"What are you trying to say Sebastian?" Ciel sneered, glowering at the demon out of the corner of his eye, huffing when he saw the devil's classic smile in place.
"Nothing at all Bocchan, just that I want to keep the young master healthy and around for years to come," Sebastian cooed, grinning when Ciel shot him a nasty look.
"Tch. Why is it that I don't believe you…?"
"As I've said before young master, unlike humans I do not, and will not lie to you, I speak nothing but the truth," Sebastian purred, bending down at the waist to speak into his master's ear, smirking when Ciel glared at him.
"A cold-hearted demon speaking nothing but the truth, hard to believe," Ciel chuckled darkly, taking a bite out of his breakfast, looking into the red eyes of his pet.
"Now who said I was cold-hearted Bocchan?" Sebastian asked, a hurt look coming across his handsome face, ""I may be I demon but I too have a heart, and feel just like any human can." But Ciel just scoffed at him, turning his head away from the saddened look. For the mocking red eyes told him everything he needed to know.
Sebastian felt all right, but the feelings he harbored were things Ciel would most likely never understand. Getting inside the head of a demon was a very dangerous route to try and walk, even Ciel knew that and he had no desire to ever understand Sebastian.
"Again, hard to believe." Ciel huffed, finishing his breakfast before standing and turning to his once again smiling demon.
As long as the demon stuck to his "principles" and kept his end of the contract Ciel didn't care what he felt.
"I'm going to go to my office, do not disturb me unless Madam Roslyn has arrived. If those three manage to destroy something take care of it," Ciel ordered, looking up at the taller male and glaring (because he did not pout) at the fact that he would most likely never be as tall as Sebastian, or even come close.
Placing his hand over his chest Sebastian bowed, raven hair framing his porcelain face,
"Understood."
o - o - o - o - o - o - o
"Why am I doing this again?" Ciel asked later that night, tipping his head back as Sebastian tied the front of his costume, gloved fingers working gracefully with the outfits many ties and buttons.
"Because the young master's fiancé requested that he attend, and the young master, being ever so kind, decided to give into Lady Elizabeth and her desire to get the young master to be more social." Sebastian chuckled, tying the last ribbon before standing and fetching Ciel's mask.
At the moment Ciel was dressed in an elegant blue outfit that matched his one visible eye and complemented his pale, fare completion. Silk and lace made of the top and bottom of the ensemble and ribbons and strings tied the front, making the young child look like the perfect nobleman he pretended to be.
Well he would have if it weren't for the sour look on his face.
"I do not recall that being how things happened this morning," Ciel snarled, frowning when Sebastian just smiled kindly while handing Ciel his sparkly blue mask that would complete the ensemble he was currently wearing.
"Yes but that is how Lady Elizabeth will see it."
Ciel couldn't help but groan at that. Now Lizzy was defiantly going to be all over him tonight, holding him and hugging him, gushing about how she was so happy he was there and how "cute" he looked.
Ugh. He was getting a headache just thinking about it.
"I wonder if it's too late to cancel..." Ciel mused, staring off to the side, thinking of ways he could possibly get out of this horrible situation and retain some of his dignity and pride.
"Now Bocchan, you're already dressed and the carriage is waiting outside. Moreover Lady Elizabeth has already gotten word that you would be attending. It would hurt her greatly if you did not show."
"Not like you'd care whether she was hurt or not," Ciel muttered to himself, but if the bright grin was anything to go by, he knew Sebastian had heard him.
"Fine." Ciel huffed, walking past Sebastian and heading towards the carriage, deciding that dealing with Lizzy and her overly girly antics was much better then having to listen to her cry because he did not attend her stupid party,
Watching his master with laughing red eyes Sebastian quickly followed after the irritated lord, holding back his chuckles with his hand so as not to anger the child further. Though seeing Ciel angry was always a rather amusing sight to the demon.
It seemed as if the young master's sour mood had only escalated from that morning. Though that could be due to the fact that Sebastian hadn't gone along with being Ciel's personal dartboard earlier that afternoon. He may be one hell of a butler but that did not mean he wanted a dart in the back of his skull because his young master had gotten bored and could think of nothing better to do then to play "pine the dart on the butler".
The closer you get to skull the more points you receive.
After helping Ciel into the carriage Sebastian gracefully hopped onto the front and grabbed the reigns making sure his master was situated before taking off towards the Middleford estate.
Passing by building after building in the dark night, Sebastian allowed the rhythmic clicking of the horse's hooves to ease his mind. He didn't particularly wish to attend this party either. The young girl was far too bubbly for his taste and her obsession in girlish things was rather annoying and an eyesore for a demon such as himself.
Bright, frilly, pink objects were not things he predominantly enjoyed. Especially when the girl was trying to make him "cute". He had to suppress a shudder at the memory of the pink bonnet incident.
Inside the carriage Ciel was mentally preparing himself for the night, trying to drain himself of all the annoyance and irritation he felt. The last thing he needed was to lash out at Lizzy and have the girl start crying and make a scene. He really wasn't in the mood to deal with her tears or her parent's disapproval.
On top of that he couldn't shake the feeling that had been haunting him all day. He had a twisting feeling deep in his core that something was going to happen, something bad. And he couldn't shake the feeling that it had something to do with him.
Clenching his hand on his cane Ciel gritted his teeth, glaring out the window, watching the scenery the outside world provided pass by the window like a memory. He was being paranoid and needed to focus on the task at hand. Tonight he was to attend a social gathering he did not want to go to, be around people he couldn't stand and have to dance, which he hated to do.
Ciel gritted his teeth once more, his left eye beginning to twitch in irritation.
Maybe he could order Sebastian to turn around and take him home…
Suddenly the carriage came to a halt, causing the young Earl to jolt forewords before slamming back into his seat with the force of the stop, monetarily knocking the wind out of him.
He didn't need to look out the window to know they had not reached their destination, and only slightly grateful for the prolonging of the inevitable Ciel wanted to know why the hell Sebastian had stopped.
"Sebastian!" he growled once he had regained his breath, slamming the door open to peek around it and glare at the stiff sitting butler. "What the hell do you think your-"
"Bocchan, I smell blood."
Ciel fell silent.
"Where?" he finally asked after regaining his composer, no longer thinking about Lizzy or the party. If Sebastian smelt blood it meant-
"Over there, deep in the alleyway... it's fresh..." Sebastian explained, pointing his glove encased finger towards a dimly lit alleyway before hopping off the carriage and moving towards Ciel, stopping before the silent child.
"Shall I investigate?" he asked, red eyes looking into Ciel's one blue, hand held over his heart lightly.
"Go."
Inclining his head Sebastian gave a curt nod before moving towards the alley, nearly disappearing into the darkness that surrounded it.
Once Sebastian was out of sight Ciel began to feel anxious and uneasy in the middle of the road, and after making sure his gun was in easy reach he stepped out of the carriage and made his way in the same direction Sebastian had disappeared.
"My, my…" he heard his butler say in the darkness and he quickly began to make his way towards the voice, stepping around a corner where a lantern high above his head illuminated the area.
"Sebastian what are you-"
"Bocchan no!"
Ciel stopped dead in his tracks.
Blood was splattered everywhere, across the dirty ground, over the filthy alley walls and covering the body that lay sprawled across the alleyway, creating a crimson pool that surrounded it, soaking it.
"Sebas-"
And then Ciel saw no more as a gloved hand was placed over his eyes, shielding him from the gruesome scene that the body offered, hiding him from what the demon felt he was unprepared for.
"Bocchan… you should have awaited my return…" Sebastian sighed after some time, pulling Ciel's now trembling body closer, his hand still covering the child's visible eye, red eyes focused on the limp body that lay only a few feet in front of them, the stench of blood assaulting his demonic nose.
To him carnage was nothing new. He was a being of hell and fire. Death and blood was something he was accustomed to, something he loved and enjoyed, but for his young master…
He had seen death before, had witnessed it with his own two eyes, and had even begged for it before he had come into contract with the demon… and still to this day the child fell ill upon the witnessing of such a gory site.
It was the Jack the Ripper case all over again.
Sebastian thought his young master would get sick like he had done when he had come across the body of the prostitute in the Ripper case over a year ago, but he was shocked when a small hand came into contact with his own, little fingers trembling as they touched the gloved fingers of the demon.
"Enough Sebastian, death is something I am used to... I am not a child… remove your hand..." He ordered, his small frame still shaking in the demon's grasp. His voice held authority, but his body trembled like leaf in an automn storm.
"But Bocchan-"
"Remove it."
Sebastian did as he was told, taking his fingers away from Ciel's eyes, allowing him to see what he had tried to shield him from.
"It's a young boy." Ciel said after some time, looking over the body that lie near his feet, taking in its features before turning to his butler.
The body was indeed that of a young boy. Unfocused, dull green eyes were staring up at the sky, blood dribbling from the corner of the child's mouth, oozing out and staining an innocent face in red. His throat was torn from his body, crimson blood gushing from the open wound, creating a pool under the young boy's head.
His right arm was twisted in a very unnatural way and his wrist appeared to be broken, as if someone had snapped it, white bone peeking out from torn pale flesh. But the worst part was the open chest of the young child. Someone had split him open and exposed his heart to the chilly air.
Which was missing.
"Yes. He's about the young master's age." Sebastian nodded, moving away from Ciel's side and stepping up to the body, kneeling beside it, taking the thin, unbroken wrist into his hand.
"He's slightly warm, so he was killed recently young master…" Sebastian said after some time, looking up to see Ciel looking in another direction, anything to keep his eyes off the dead boy.
It made Sebastian want to smirk at the weakness his contractor was showing him right now.
"Leave him. There is nothing we can do about it." Ciel ordered, turning to leave, his coat lapping at his legs with his movement.
"Bocchan, there is something you must know…." Sebastian called, dropping the limp wrist, letting it fall to the ground with a soft "splash" as it landed in a pool of blood.
"What is it?"
"This body is lacking a soul…."
Ciel knew today was going to turn out bad.
ChibiKit- well that's the end of the first chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed. I tried to make it flow better by adding little snippets of scenes from the manga and show. I wanted to keep them in character and I hope I didn't epically fail.
Tell me what you think and inform me if I made any huge, glaring mistakes ok? Constructive criticism is very welcome just please be nice about it. Remember it's only my second try at a Kuroshitsuji fic. Thanks!!!!
Review!!!!!!!!!