Thanks for the reviews! Here's the next servant in the spotlight: Tanaka. Given what little we know of him, I really hope he was somewhat in character. This chapter was kind of surreal for me because it was from his view. I tried to make his views on whatever's going on between Sebastian and Ciel as ambiguous as possible. And since Snake's chapter took place in the recent Kuro timeline, Tanaka's takes place in the past- specifically, when Ciel is still ten.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji

Five times Sebastian Michaelis saved the Phantomhive staff and the one time they saved their demon butler.


IV. The Predecessor

Tanaka was conflicted over the new servant. The man named Sebastian Michaelis had an odd air about him, something that the older butler instantly distrusted. Tanaka had his suspicions, but given all that had transpired, it would do no one any good to bring it up... at least as of yet. But on the other hand, Michaelis had been the one who brought Ciel Phantomhive back in one piece and on some level, the man reminded Tanaka of himself.

Michaelis was flamboyantly diligent, tall and proud in spite of a servant's trademark humility, a walking mystery of the darkest sort, and yet strangely incompetent at certain aspects, as if he had such little contact with human life the simplest of things evaded him. Tanaka had once been as grand and strange as Michaelis in his younger days- he remembered them well. There were customs he did not completely grasp, a past he kept guarded, a burning desire to please his English masters, and an even greater need to outdo every Westerner who frowned on his heritage.

Yes, Tanaka was grateful for Sebastian Michaelis and all he had done. The Phantomhive heir trusted him enough, but there was a darker bent on the young master's demeanor, something that went hand-in-hand with the new butler's appearance. And by all accounts, Michaelis was a hero. He had every right to demand an award for returning Ciel Phantomhive and saunter off to spend his riches.

Yet here he was instead, taking his place as the head butler. Michaelis should have known what kind of things this job would entail. Tanaka could think of no logical explanation other than an obligatory loyalty to the young Phantomhive. Next to that, Tanaka knew nothing of the man. He had lived long enough to know that it was not his place to ask.

So it was with a wayward suspicion that he returned to the manor. As long as he could be of some use, Tanaka would continue to serve- the fact that his position had been succeeded mattered not. The young master wanted him there and that was all the convincing he needed.

And it was to his surprise that his services were barely needed, if needed at all. Ciel now had a total of two servants in his strangely restored manor, an injured elder and a black clad man who somehow managed to take care of the entire mansion on his own.

"Mr. Michaelis, surely there's something I can do," the old man found himself saying on the fourth day back. Michaelis was busy polishing the manor's many dining items.

The new butler only inclined a head in Tanaka's direction. He delivered a small laugh, one that seemed far too warm for an appearance so cold. "The young master wishes for you to rest a bit longer, Mr. Tanaka. We would not want to aggravate your back. And please, call me Sebastian."

"I'm afraid such formalities are a habit," Tanaka sighed, "then what should I do in the meantime? I don't want to burden you with every little task."

"In that case, please wait for me in the kitchen. I shall meet you soon enough."

Tanaka excused himself with more pleasantries, ending in his habitual laugh (ho ho ho) before slowly making his way out. He should have known better than to trust Michaelis. Because when the butler arrived, it was with a tray in hand. Tanaka watched, stupefied, as Michaelis removed the cylindrical cup from his hand and placed it in the older man's hands. Michaelis' next move was to pick up the clay teapot and pour fresh green tea into it.

"I heard you were quite fond of this," the butler said.

"It has a calming effect," Tanaka replied, "Mr. Michaelis- your job is to serve the young master. The two of us are equals..."

"Where I come from, Mr. Tanaka, rank and age are very important. You are my predecessor and should be treated with such respect."

And with that, Michaelis returned to tending the manor, leaving the clay pot by Tanaka's foot. It was a miracle the pot hadn't burned with the rest of the manor. Perhaps it was a replica. He sipped the tea, pondering Michaelis' words- where you come from. It was a good sign, if not a vague sign; wherever Michaelis had hailed from, he was conditioned not to betray his superiors. The young master would be safe.

Tanaka loitered around the manor for the rest of the day, lazily tending the gardens and mixing tea. Michaelis was a fast worker, from what he could observe, and the young master had spent the afternoon locked in his room. The old man wondered if this would be life at the manor from here on out. The sun soon turned red before it faded altogether and night fell. He was in the middle of massaging the scar on his aching back when Michaelis came knocking.

"Come in," Tanaka invited, taking his hands off his back and replacing his jacket.

My, my, you almost look human, Michaelis. The butler, for the first time since Tanaka had seen him, looked flustered. Michaelis had his head hung rather low and a sheepish twitch plagued his mouth.

"Mr. Tanaka, I need your help."

So now you do, ho ho ho. "What is it?"

"The young master has a fever. He's had it since the afternoon and it hasn't gone down." To prove his point, Michaelis flipped open his watch, the same one that Tanaka had bestowed upon him those few weeks ago.

But those words were all Tanaka needed to hear. He stood up, adjusted his monocle, and walked right past Michaelis. There was a time for pleasantries, but it was not now, not when the young master needed tending. Michaelis walked in stride with him, seeming oddly subservient. When they arrived at the boy's room, Tanaka gestured for the butler to open the door. He did.

Ciel was pale, a tiny shivering blip in the large bed. A thin layer of gauze surrounded the boy's healing eye and his chest was rising in steady, shallow rhythm. Tanaka approached him, removing a glove and placing his hand on the young master's forehead. It was warm and not healthily so.

"Young master," he said softly, "can you hear me?"

"S- Sebastian?" the boy mumbled weakly.

"I'm here, young master," Michaelis said, looming over Tanaka's shoulder, "Mr. Tanaka is here as well."

"He has chills," Tanaka said.

"What-"

Before Michaelis could finish the question, Tanaka had removed the covers and proceeded to rub at the boy's arms. His fingers glided past the boy's neck and over his body, pressing at any nerve points he saw fit. To the butler's astonishment, the shivering lessened.

"I've tampered with his body a bit. Don't worry, Mr. Michaelis, it's not the first time I've done this."

Michaelis continued staring in awe. He stroked his chin. "The human body... I never knew."

"Now, the effects are only temporary. We need to get him in a lighter cover- and open the window, Mr. Michaelis. At this rate, he should cool in an hour's time. We're lucky, you know. This is only a small fever, likely from exhaustion and malnutrition."

"It makes sense. Now I must admit to being rather surprised at how long he avoided illness."

Once more, Michaelis showed confusion over what Tanaka deemed obvious details. But again, it was not his place to ask. Whatever suspicions he had, he would have to deal with them on his own. What he took from this was that Michaelis was willing to humble himself for the young master's sake. Tanaka had detected genuine concern in the middle of the butler's frustration.

But watching Michaelis nonchalantly change the covers and open the window, Tanaka also noticed an awkward calm, as if Michaelis was indifferent toward the boy now that he was out of danger. But Michaelis had still set Ciel in bed as gently as one could. It was with professional diligence, not affection.

Then it hit Tanaka at last. Michaelis seemed to lack a "heart" when it came to his job. The affection did not run deep enough. He left the young master's room soon after, this detail troubling him.

Could he really entrust a man who did not love the young master with this job? If there was no affection, how long would it be before Michaelis tired of obligation? Perhaps he should confront the butler about it later.

Tanaka prepared to descend the stairs, then. A pang chose that moment to shoot through his back. It was a light irritation that soon turned into breath-taking pain. It was as if the muscle there chose to close in on itself.

He missed the second step.

His body frozen, Tanaka failed to grab onto the rail. He shut his eyes, knowing what to expect. There would be pain and perhaps blood, then nothing at all. It never happened.

Instead, a strong weight latched onto his chest and Tanaka found himself pulled back into an embrace from the back. The figure behind him braced them both for impact and Tanaka felt them move backwards before a distinct thud hit the wall.

He opened his eyes, finding himself leaning against Michaelis, the latter's arms wrapped around him. The descending stairs were a good few feet away. It didn't take long to figure out what had happened. He had been in the middle of a fatal fall when the butler caught him from behind, pulling them both back with such speed that they collided with the back wall. It was a remarkable feat.

Tanaka slid to his knees, unable to keep the pain in his back at bay. Michaelis still kept a steady grip on the old man's shoulders.

"My word," he muttered, "that was going to be a tumble."

"Indeed," chuckled the other man.

Tanaka craned his neck to look at Michaelis. The butler was pressed against the wall, a relieved smile on his face, and a stream of red seeping into his collar. Tanaka frowned, squinting at the shadow behind Michaelis. It was no shadow- it was a splatter of blood that had erupted from the man's head when his body slammed into the wall.

"Let's return to your quarters. Allow me to tend your back," Michaelis made to say, but Tanaka waved his words off.

The former butler rubbed at his own back, bruising skin and poking at nerves until the pain had dulled to a tolerable degree. He rose without Michaelis' help. Tanaka motioned for the younger man to move forward the latter obeyed. The blood splatter was even worse once his shadow left.

Michaelis turned from Tanaka to the offending stain and back again. "I apologize for the mess. I can clean-"

"Why?" Tanaka interrupted. He had a feeling Michaelis wouldn't try to weasel out of the question.

"You are a valuable member of our staff."

It was a wonder that Michaelis was still standing with that injury. But then again, Tanaka had been judging him by average standards. His gaze remained on the butler, refusing to leave. Michaelis almost looked away when he uttered the next words.

"The young master would be upset."

There were a number of meanings here. It would shame Michaelis greatly if he allowed Tanaka to die on his watch and that would no doubt anger the young master. Tanaka had no doubt the young master would literally be upset if yet another death occurred at the household. There were many things Tanaka alone could manage in regards to the young master- his death would greatly inconvenience everyone. But judging from the hint of an embarrassed blush on the man's face, there was one more reason: for a split second, he had been concerned about the young master's well-being.

For a split second, there had been affection there. To the point where Michaelis was willing to crack his own head open in order to ensure the safety of an elder who might as well have been dead. That was all Tanaka needed to know.

"Thank you."

Tanaka placed a hand on the other man's shoulder before saying, "Sebastian."

Michaelis- Sebastian- stared at him in surprise, caught off-guard. Tanaka's hand left his shoulder and pressed the back of his head. It was sticky with blood, but Sebastian's face showed no signs of distress. Tanaka detached himself from the butler's person and bowed.

"Please, Mr. Tanaka-"

"Pardon me for interrupting you again, Sebastian, but Tanaka is just fine. These formalities need to stop somewhere."

Part of Tanaka wanted to guide the butler back to his own room and bind the wound lest Sebastian collapse soon after. But a greater part of him suspected that the injury would have little, if any effect at all on someone like Sebastian Michaelis.

So he settled instead for saying, "Join me for tea, Sebastian? We return to the young master in half an hour's time."

The question seemed to catch Sebastian off guard once more. "It would be an honor, M- Tanaka."

"Ho ho ho."


Thanks for reading! Hope that was enjoyable and that you liked my take on Tanaka. Feel free to review and let me know your thoughts.

Next time: The Gardener (Finnian) and a possible reaper cameo