The metallic chime of a bell informed the quite shop that it's rickety door was being pushed open. Ciel Stepped in, his near flawless shoes causing several small, hallow thunks of the dark wooden floor. "Undertaker." He called promptly, confident in voice. Sebastian was in right behind him, easing the door shut with a high-pitched squeak as he gave it a disapproving glance. The tall, lean man was sometimes like the pantomime actors of silent films. He was dressed in sharply contrasting black-and-white from head to toe and and would express so much without a single word that you may be taken by surprise the first time you hear him speak. After a moment of stillness Ceil called again, eyes scanning the dusty shop lit by nothing but a few scattered candles and the grey, stormy light from it's windows. "Undertaker?" This time less command and more question. The boy turned and looked at his butler, who gave a gentle shrug and adjusted his bleach white gloves. As his master turned away, eyes searching the shop again, Sebastian's blank expression faltered slightly as if catching a whiff of an undesirable smell. His eyes selected the desk at the shadowy back of the room. The smallest of sighs escaped his pale lips,

"Evening..." he gave the slightest, most begrudging of bows as he muttered the greeting. Ciel looked at him in confusion and followed his gaze.

"Sebastian, who are you talking-"

"Well hello to you too~" A voice eased smoothly from the shadows, along with the lazy sound of someone shifting in their chair. Flustered, Ceil glanced to where Sebastian was glaring and made out the weak outline of a small woman. The pale lady leaned forward, bluish eyes and narrow face falling into the light of the nearest candles. Sebastian took a step forward, looming behind his master.

"Who the hell are you?" Ceil blurted, manors being temporarily hindered as the jittery beginnings of a strange sort of fear came over him, although he was unsure why. "Where is the Undertaker?" He demanded, finding some fresh confidence waiting for him in a more stern tone of voice. Sebastian stared down the woman, assessed her, calm and calculated. The woman toyed with a blush-colored strand of her long, tied back hair and eyed the other as well.

"The Undertaker is out. He'll be back some time this evening." she said with so little hesitation it almost seemed rehearsed. "Feel free to leave a message for him with me, if you like." She unloaded her words in monotone, blue eyes dull and shallow. Ciel looked at the pale, dull woman uneasily. She sat lifelessly still, slumped in her chair so that she looked more like she belonged in a coffin. He cleared his throat,

"Tell him the Earl Phantomhive needs to speak with him as soon as possible." He commanded, "Now may I-"

"The Earl Phantomhive?" The pale woman's eyes lit up, as if she was a big doll that had suddenly come to life. Sebastian inhaled softly and mumbled in a tone that was most likely only audible to himself, "Of all the pestilent vermin…" Ceil, not hearing his butler attempted to continue.

"Yes, The Earl Phantomhive. Now if you-"

"Why didn't you say so in the first place? Oh what a treat!" She leaped from her static pose and hit the desk with her hands palms-down, her tea-length dress making a rustling swish around her small ankles as she stood. "The Undertaker made a special note of mentioning you!"

"I'm sure he did. Now stop-"

"He said you were welcome guests at all times. The Earl Phantomhive~ Oh, and his peculiar butler! That must be you back there, hm? I have to say compared to his description you seem rather dull." Sebastian gave another stiff bow, mumbling,

"Your expectations seem to have been too high, I am but a simple butler…"

"Oh? Well I've heard your quite the riot, and from what the undertaker said-"

"Would. you. please. be. quiet!" Ciel shouted, capturing the woman's attention as if she had just suddenly became interested in him. Ciel cleared his throat again, "I've been trying to speak." He fumed quietly. The woman blinked her eyes, heavily darkened eyelashes nearly brushing her cheeks.

"Of coarse, how rude of me." she purred. Her eyelids drooped dreamily, her black lips inching into a grin Ciel found eerily familiar. "Yes, Earl Phantomhive?" She said respectfully, giving a dainty curtsy. Ceil let out a sigh, pressing his hands on his temples.

"Thank you. Now, may I ask who you are, exactly?" He watched the woman grow still for a moment, as if searching for the answer to the question. There was no doubt she was out of rehearsed answers for this line of questioning.

"Why, no one of great importance~" she chimed, waving her hand as if to dismiss the question. Ciel felt his eyebrow twitch in frustration.

"How do you know the undertaker?"

"Really now, I'm no one to be interested in~"

"It is not a matter of interest-"

"I am no one, I am nothing, I am simply me."

"You're starting to sound like Lewis Carol dreamed you up. 'What' are 'you' then?" He watched the woman grin at his comment as she rewarded him with her first straight answer. "My name is Gypsy."

"Gypsy?"

"Could you not hear me clearly? Yes, Gypsy Allgood, to be exact." Gypsy stated proudly. Sebastian let out a short, but particularly sarcastic scoff. Gypsy eyed him darkly. "I think your friend in black might have something he would care to share. He seems to find something funny about my name."

"Oh, no. Only a funny thought. Unrelated, of coarse." the butler replied cooly. "and I am no friend, I am just a humble butler."

"and what a prestigious title you seem to hold it as." Gypsy replied, sending a bit of his stinging sarcasm right back at him. She changed the subject, not much liking the signals she was receiving from the butler. "So Earl Phantomhive, you'er younger than I had imagined! Of coarse I've heard you'er quite young, but you must not be but twelve or thirteen~" Ceil moved to speak, insulted by her cooing. "Knowing you'er accomplishments I am still every bit as impressed with you~ You must be quite mature~" she added, causing the boy to blush pink at the unexpected complements.

"Well then Miss...Miss Allgood it was?" Ciel grew frustrated as his words neared stumbling, unsure of her suddenly mother-like tone.

"Gypsy Allgood. But you M'Lord, may call me whatever you like." Her eyes locked on Sebastian, "and while on names, what may I call you, master butler?" she asked, her voice dripping with unseen venom. Sebastian narrowed his eyes, but as he saw his master's expression turn harsh he gave in and responded politely,

"My Name is Sebastian. You may simply call me that." Gypsy put on a wide, eerie smile and slinked around the desk to him. Her dress was simple and black, a high white collar with black buttons and several stiff underskirts that gave it it's shape. The morbid, humorless dress seemed unfitting on such a lively, whimsical woman. She offered the butler a dainty white-gloved hand that peeked out from a ruffled sleeve,

"A pleasure to meet you…Sebastian…" she said his name as if trying it on the butler to see how it fit, her eyes glittering deviously. Sebastian gave in to a small shiver, as if in disgust, and gently pushed her hand away.

"Charmed…" he muttered. Ciel, becoming somewhat impatient, spoke again,

"So the wait will not be long to see the undertaker?" he asked. Gypsy smiled,

"Oh no, not long at all! Why don't you take a seat? I do apologize for the lack of furniture but I assure you these coffins here are unoccupied." she chimed. Ceil nodded and took a seat, dusting it off first.

"Not a problem, we are quite used to it." he said, examining his hand, surprised there had been no dust to brush off the coffin. Sebastian stood beside his master, shrugging off his heavy overcoat and folding it over his arm.

"May I take your coat, 'Sebastian'?" the small lady's voice rang next to him causing the demon to tense slightly. He glared down at her, noting just how short she was.

"I am content to hold my coat, thank you."

"Very well." Gypsy turned for the back door. "Excuse me for just a moment." she said, disappearing behind the heavy door. For a few seconds the master and butler remained silent.

"A curious woman." Ciel casually opened the conversation. Sebastian tried his best to look uninterested,

"That is a understatement." Sebastian replied simply.

"You don't like her?" Ciel turned and looked up at the lean demon.

"Shall I speak honesty?"

"Please do."

"I do not like her one bit. Young master I know it is not my place to say but I think you best-" he fell silent as the door heavy door was thrown open.

"What do we have heeere? My Dear, you were right! It is the little Earl! Hello M'Lord! Hello!" The Undertaker cried, rushing for Ciel. Both he and his butler looked at him in disbelief. Ciel tried to struggle out of the silver-haired man's arms.

"I thought you said he was out!" He fumed at Gypsy who came in behind the Undertaker.

"Oh! Did I?" She blinked innocently, "He asked not to be disturbed so I said he was out~ If I had known who you were I wouldn't have said such a lie~" she said grinning.

"What a trouble-maker you are, Gypsy! Oh yes, have you two met my darling Gypsy? She's been my little assistant the past month! She's a biiit of neat-freak but she's a gem! Funny too!" he cried joyfully.

" 'Assistant' you say?" Sebastian questioned, although he was not heard.

"And what has the little Earl come to see me for, hmmm~?" The Undertaker cackled, pressing Ciel's face between his cold, thin hands, "Come to try out the coffin I made you? Or did you just miss meee~?"

"I have some questions about a murder." Ciel snapped, pushing the hands away. The Undertaker turned somber

"Ah, I see." he managed to say seriously before breaking back down into an insane chuckle. "You know my charge for such services~" he added, folding his long leaves against each other. Ciel sighed heavily with frustration

"Yes, I know-"

"Oh let them have one free, Unny. For me? Poor little Earl Phantomhive looks as if he might just pop with stress from all the fuss I've been giving him~." Gypsy cut in, voice like velvet. The Undertaker looked at her and she offered him a gloved hand. He frowned a moment, then took her hand gently in his own hands and petted the back of it. "Fine, fine. But don't ask for any more favors of the sort, you hear me? Last one!" He scolded, wagging a finger in the small woman's still, smiling face. Ciel looked at her strangely, unsure how to react. He received only a sideways glance and a small widening of her smile in response. Undertaker quickly recovered from his disappointment,

"Now, what is it you wanted to know~?" He grinned at Ceil. Ceil and his Butler exchanged glances.

"Theres been rumors that the murder late last week was…another 'Ripper'-style killing… " He began, "Do you know anything about that?"

"Ah yes, a curious case. Not quite Ripper though, not the Ripper we know..."

As the two spoke Sebastian and Gypsy loomed behind them, quiet, removed, tentative. The presence of the other was causing both a good deal of unrest.

"The victim was a man, killed so cleanly he may have well done it himself!" The Undertaker muttered, searching around the room for his cookie jar. "Missing something, of coarse. That's the ripper bit of it~"

"And what was he missing?"

"His heart." the old gravedigger cackled, pulling out the jar and opening it. Gypsy gaged lightly, yet almost theatrically. Sebastian's eyes narrowed at her as if slapping her on the wrist and she eyed him defensively.

"Hearts don't just walk away." Ceil stated bluntly, "And that makes suicide unlikely."

"No signs of a struggle." Gypsy cut in.

"Yes, no signs of a struggle, at least thats what the policeman said~" Something about the memory sent the Undertaker into a fit of giggles. Sebastian blinked,

"It seems like we'er looking for some sort of calling card, not every killer is Jack the ripper. Maybe this isn't a cereal killer?"

"No signs of a struggle and taking the heart as a souvenir doesn't exactly say 'heat of the moment' though, dose it? This was something planned and deliberate." Gypsy replied, taking some quiet enjoyment from knowing she was starting to push the butler's patience. Becoming unnerved by the rising look of disgust on Sebastian, Ciel broke in,

"I haven't the time for an all-out debate on the matter, I only asked for any useful information for apprehending the killer. I'll come again later for any updates or-" He stole one last long glance at Gypsy before looking back to the Undertaker "You can always send a litter if it's urgent." He suggested half heartedly, then he turned to Sebastian. It was getting dark, yes, but that was really just an excuse to get out the door. For some reason he was feeling suddenly claustrophobic in the old shop.

"Will do, will do~" the eerie mortician chimed flapping his sleeves. Sebastian helped on the boy's coat and then his own, playing along with Ciel's suddenly urgent reason for leaving.

"Goodbye M'lord! Goodbye master butler! Say goodbye, Gypsy darling~"

"Goodbye Gypsy darling!"

"Eheheheheh! Oh you'er a riot, Gypsy! Goodbye you two~" Undertaker called after them, even as they were well out the door. "Sure you wouldn't like to stay for dinner? Gypsy is a lovely cook. Ehehehehe~!" his laugh seemed to follow after them even as the carriage pulled out.

Ceil leaned his head back, letting the air out of his lungs as if he had been holding it in for some time. His mind felt blank for a moment, numb from the cold air outside, but as he listened to the rhythmic sound of horse hooves and the creak of the carriage wheels he had to bring her back to the front of his mind…She seemed familiar in a way. He delicately avoided the thoughts of his mother that tried to shoulder they'er way into the mess of thoughts. One moment she was a thing of rising discomfort and unexplainable fear, like hearing a ragged ally cat yowling on a dark street…the next she was a soft-voiced mother. No, not quite though, something was...off… something unseen and unknown. Like his aunt? Like Madame Red? The boy's stomach tightened and the sting that comes before tears hit his eyes and threatened to burst. The loss was still to tender, despite the events prior to her death. Besides, that wasn't it, but that made him think of that obscene, red reaper… sorrow turned to a dull, throbbing kind of hate. Hate was something Ciel could handle. Was she like him? Theatrical, almost unbelievable. She carried a familiar sort of intentional femininity and a catlike smile, but not the same, no. He yawned and pushed his eyepatch up, rubbing his tired eyes. He looked out the now hazy window and sighed, home again. He fixed his eyepatch as he heard Sebastian move towards the door. The cold air hit him like a slap in the face and woke him up.

"Shall I fix you some dinner? It's late but I-"

"No, I'm not all that hungry." Ciel grimaced slightly at the look on Sebastian's face. He wan't sure what was more impressive; that Sebastian seemed to almost always know when something was bothering him, or that he almost always knew when Sebastian had realized it. "I'm fairly tired, I think I'll just go straight to bed." He looked down to avoid looking at the other as they walked. Watching the dark butler from the corner of his eye the unfinished warning from before returned to him, "Sebastian."

"Yes, my lord?" There was something funny about the phrase when it was spoken as a question.

"What was it you were going to say at the shop? About Miss Gypsy?" Ceil felt a fleeting urge to smile. 'Miss Gypsy' suddenly clashed with the eerie meeting and the title melded with the now sleepy memory of her blush-colored presence into a warm, motherly being.

"Oh." Sebastian's voice darkened notably in that one syllable. After a single, soft breath, he spoke again, "Well," his voice reverted to a more relaxed, impersonal tone "Nothing of great importance, I suppose."

"Don't you even try to act like you've forgotten. " Ciel quirked an eyebrow, not looking annoyed so much as curious. Sebastian hesitated before opening the door to the manor,

"I suppose it felt like she was hiding something. Some people just come off as secretive. But it was only a hunch off of a first impression." Sebastian swept the seemingly meaningless matter away with such ease that Ciel, feeling to tired to bother anyway, did not question why a simple hunch had been so urgent at the shop. As the two walked into the house they were bombarded by the overjoyed and babbling greeting they often received from the Phantomhive servants, asking if everything was alright and why they were out so late and reporting on their jobs well (or sometimes not so well) done. Sebastian set right to barking orders and giving instructions and as he turned back to look at his master all that remained was a tall, blue silk hat on one of the chairs by the stairway.

Clothes shed onto a dresser and nightclothes unevenly buttoned, the young lord Phantomhive was already sleepily staring at the dark corners of his large bedroom. His mind was redressing her, changing her hair and make-up, aging her, making her younger, trying to find the familiar element to her. He blinked heavily and closed his eyes tightly, trying to blot out the distracting shadows of furniture and focus on the memory. In the darkness of his closed eyes he was snapped back into reality by his butler's smooth voice.

"Already in bed?" There was the sound of surprise in his voice, Ciel wasn't sure if it was it was true surprise or not. With Sebastian it could be either, and it was hard to tell. The boy didn't bother looking at the door.

"Yes, I tolled you I was going to bed." He grumbled, rubbing his lavender eye. He always felt self conscious about it when he knew Sebastian could see it.

"Ah. Very well. Will you need anything before I leave you then?" Maybe it was just the vagueness things take on when one is half asleep, but Ciel heard something gentle in the demon's words. He sat up and looked at the dark doorway for his butler. He met the pale butler's face lit from below by the candle he held. As their eyes met Sebastian smiled. It was a mysterious sort of smile, it had a knowing…not just that but an understanding. A moment following the smile on the lips his eyelids, as if just receiving the news from his lips, draped partly over his eyes in a sleepy sort of smugness. Ciel marveled at it quietly, for only a breath of a moment.

"No, I'm fine." He commanded quickly and as if it was suddenly shy, the pale face disappeared as the candle was quietly snuffed out. Ciel watched the dark space until he heard the click of a door shutting before he returned his heavy head to the pillow. There was always something unnerving about the way Sebastian could sneak up on him like that… the boy took a long, deep breath and closed his eyes again. He started with Gypsy again, but the fresh image of Sebastian's lit face and dark surroundings kept casting it 's shadow on her. Then something came to him. What was so unsettling about his face face without the dark hair and broad, dark shoulders surrounding it? He fidgeted under the sheets, his smile. Drooped eyelids framed reddish and bluish eyes as black and pale the lips drew into similar, knowing smiles. Gypsy reminded him of Sebastian, her smile, her swift, eerie presence and her clear velvety voice all reminded him of Sebastian! This brought all new comparisons and questions to his mind, but trying his hardest not to, he drifted off to sleep...

Sebastian breathed in the cold night, tasting it as one would an expensive wine, his heavy boots he wore in wet weather crunching unsuspecting leaves as he walked along the ragged, untrimmed path around to the back of the Undertaker's shop. He looked around him and sighed, trying to shake some of the damp cold off his shoulders. "Careful dear, you might catch a cold." Gypsy nagged sarcastically from a barren tree beside the shop, who's branches she was delicately settled in. Sebastian turned and looked up at her as if he had known she was there all along.

"You didn't strike me as the kind to climb trees." He observed abstractly.

"I'm a bit of a tomboy." she replied, almost as distant. As if it had been communicated secretly in some telepathic way, they both turned toward the patch of starlight peeking from a temporary hole in the clouds. "A full moon coming in the next few evenings~"

"Seems like you don't see the moon often enough around here to keep track." The two grew silent again. Gypsy stole a glance at the dimly-lit butler, regarding him uneasily. To her surprise, he seemed less defensive and tense compared to earlier that evening and her words felt more welcomed than before.

"I'm surprised you waited as long as you did, I bet it was bothering you. I've been waiting almost two hours, I should have brought some knitting out with me." the small framed woman's words were like silk.

"I had work at the manor to attend to. That comes before anything."

"I see. You are dedicated."

"I am a butler."

"Indeed you are." Gypsy dawned a catlike smile and stretched languidly along her branch. "A demon butler. What curious thing." she marveled quietly, looking up at the clouds. She dropped her guard, feeling no threat from the other. "You'er awfully quiet… forgot your words?" She chimed mockingly, knowing the butler knew full well what he was going to say. She stood on her branch and jumped, landing on her feet so softly that the leaves hardly crinkled. She looked straight into the other's eyes, looked into them as if she could see every detail of his heart in them. Sebastian matched her gaze,

"I see it as if it was printed in words on your forehead." he stated, almost a little indigent. "It's a wonder you fool those around you so well. How could the Undertaker not see what you are? And dose the he not know it is his own 'assistant's' handiwork laying in that box?"

"You can't prove anything." Gypsy said airily. "I'll even tell you were the heart is, I have no use for it." she spoke a bit more boldly now. "Ah, but you know you can't prove it. Thats not why you'er here~ Why then, 'master butler'?" She took a step closer to him, her eyes narrowing smugly. It happened quickly, with a sudden start like that of a clap of thunder. Gypsy's small body slammed against the dead tree, her lungs cut off from air before she could hardly gasp. Her hands flew to the powerful arm that held her in place as her feet dangled several inches above the ground. Sebastian met her eyes with stinging coldness,

"I may not be able to bring you in to human authorities for some human murder but I can kill you here and now with more ease than you can probably imagine. And I would like to, on a personal level, but I know your blood on my hands would probably be more trouble than it's worth in washing the stains alone. Now I'm willing to make this so we can coexist but it will be on my terms and mine alone." He watched the woman gasp out her airless word,

"Talk." she was released and quickly refilled her lungs with air, smoothing down her hair and brushing off her dark dress. "It always ends in deals with us devils." she said coldly.

"I see no use in asking why you did it, but only that it dose not happen again. I'll have no known enemy loose and liable to cause the young master or her highness the queen any unrest. London needs time to heal from the fear imposed by Jack the Ripper." as he spoke Gypsy watched his body language return to a more proper, controlled state. "If this murder goes away and the newspaper keep clear of any mishaps by your hand- and believe me, I'll know- I'll take care of this little arts-and-crafts project of yours and sever any of it's remaining ties to you and to the Ripper." He brushed a dark strand of hair from his eyes as they stood quietly.

"I suppose it can't be helped~" Gypsy said after a moment. "I'll just have to behave myself from now on." she smirked, covering for the fact she was still shaken by the other demon's outburst. She leaned against the tree and smiled, "I shall trouble you no more." her voice turned playful, "and to show you your kindness has gone to a good cause, I'll offer any aid I can to you and your little master in the future~ Consider me an extension of the Undertaker's 'services', if you like. I'll be here whenever needed." she watched Sebastian half listen, half adjust his gloves.

"Very well, I will make Lord Phantomhive aware that your services are available to him." He glared into her eyes, "I will of coarse keep very close tabs on you."

"I bet you will, down to what I had for breakfast."

"Mm-hm." he turned to leave, "Oh, by the way, where was that heart you mentioned?"

"It's at the bottom of the park pond not far from here."

"Very well. I think I know the one. It was... interesting meeting you, Miss Allgood." he said uninterestedly.

"Charmed, no doubt."

"Enchanted." Sebastian called sarcastically and without turning to look at her he waved his hand as if to shoo her away.

After groping around in the dark manor, half-blind, May-rin located her glasses she had forgotten in the sitting room and turned to return to her room when the front door opened, spilling grey moonlight into the manor. With a start the maid yelped and then was silent as she recognized the figure.

"M-M-M-Master Sebastian!" She cried in a hushed voice, warping her robe about her partly because of the cold air from the outside air and partly out of embarrassment.

"Go back to bed, May-rin." he grumbled quietly.

"Oh dear!" she exclaimed at the puddle forming around the butler's shoes. "Y-Y-Your drenched! Did it rain?" The butler looked at her and said cooly,

"I went for a swim. The pond down the road is quite nice this time of night." he sighed, drudging past her. She tilted her head in confusion before calling to him in a hushed voice.

"Should I get some towels and-"

"Go. To. Bed." Sebastian hissed, "I'll clean the floors tomorrow." he added and then he was gone. In his room he removed his wet gloves and set them on his bare little nightstand along with his watch he had made sure not to get wet. He stood before his mirror and removed his damp coat, wet vest and dress shirt, and his tie. Sitting on his untouched-looking bed he loosened his black shoes and set them aside. Then he paused, taking advantage of the peaceful silence of his room and sat quietly looking at the floor and watching the drops of water fall as they came dripping off of his wet hair. In that moment he decided he would take a break from thinking about human murders and pestilent lesser-demons. London was recovering from Jack the Ripper, maybe he should do the same. However, there was still some 'cleaning up' to be done. He stood and walked to his desk where a lonely folder sat, looking somewhat out of place. The demon brushed back his damp bangs with his hand and flipped open the folder with passing interest. A drop of water hit the paperwork beside a photo of the tragic smile of Angela Duells. "At least we don't have to worry about a return from The Ripper…" The butler inhaled softly, "Then again…" He brushed the photo to the side to uncover another photo with wide eyes staring half terrified from round glasses, the supposed 'butler' Grell Sutcliff. The remaining half of Jack the Ripper.