Lucia quietly read a book in her study; flipping through the pages with a bored expression on her face. A quiet knock sounded on her door, and she looked up. "Come in."

Darius entered the room; bringing a black teacup with a red rose imprinted on it. He gently laid the teacup on the table in front of her, bowing. "Hime-sama, Zane is waiting for you in the main room."

With a sigh; she slapped the book shut, and took a sip of the tea. "I sent him home at least an hour ago, what's he doing; still here?"

"He's eager to talk to you, Hime-sama."

"I talk to him every day! Darius, send him home. Lock the doors or something; call Duke and Duchess Bridge and tell them to lock their son in his room. I don't have time for pointless chitchat. I have lots of paperwork to finish, and I have to prepare to go on the cruise ship tomorrow."

"Yes, Hime-sama." Darius bowed again, and exited the room to go usher the excited Zane Bridge out of the mansion.


"What? Lucia can't talk to me?" Zane pouted.

"I apologize sincerely, Lord Zane, but Hime-sama takes her role as the Lady of the Koori household very seriously. After all, the Koori family are a very respected and well-known noble family, right?"

"Of course! Lucia is the best!" He exclaimed. His expression saddened. "But Lucia used to be really happy and stuff. Now, she seems…well, after her parents were murdered, she seemed to be spiraling down," Zane looked up to meet Darius' gaze. "But she's getting over it! Lucia is super brave, and Darius is helping her, right?"

Darius blinked, and smiled. His white-gloved hand over his heart. "Of course, Lord Zane. It is my duty to serve and protect Hime-sama. When she falls," He smiled. "I will be there to catch her. Now, Hime-sama has a lot of work to finish, so please visit another time. For now, Hime-sama will see you again tomorrow on the cruise ship."

Zane sighed, and hopped to his feet. "Alright, I'll let Lucia finish her work. Bye, Darius! Tell Lucia I love her!"

Darius smiled again. "Of course, Lord Zane."


Another knock sounded at the door of Lucia's study. She looked up from the papers. "Yes?" Darius opened the door and strolled in. "Lord Zane has returned home, Lady Lucia. He also asks that I tell you that he loves you."

Lucia waved her hand dismissively. "Good job. Now I can focus on my work."

"My Lady!" A voice cried, as Landon; the gardener, barged in to her study. In his arms he carried a bouquet of red roses. "My Lady, Lord Knight had a servant drop these off; they're for you."

Lucia blinked; her gray gaze staring at the red flowers. "Is that so?" She looked back down to her paperwork. "Burn them."

"W-What?"

"Didn't you hear me? I said burn them. I have no use for them."

"B-But my Lady—"

"Now, Landon. If you won't, then I'll get Darius to burn them."

"M-My Lady, why don't you want the flowers? They're very nice, and my Lady's favourite flowers are red roses…" Landon trailed off as Lucia glanced up with a burning stare.

"I'm not sure what Lord Drake is thinking; sending me flowers, but I don't want them. Crush them, burn them, throw them out, it doesn't matter to me." Lucia said curtly.

"Yes, my Lady." Landon said quietly; turning and leaving her study quickly. Lucia let a sigh slip out. "How troublesome." She muttered.

"Hime-sama, would you like a snack, perhaps?" Darius asked.

She blinked, and looked up at her butler. "Yes, I'd like that. Thank you, Darius."

Darius simply smiled. "Whatever your order is, Hime-sama, I will complete it."


"Hime-sama, I've baked you some chocolate-chip cookies." Darius said, as he entered her study. He carried a silver platter with cookies on it. Lucia's head shot up; her gray eye glittering. Darius stifled a chuckle as he saw her mouth water. He knew that one of his precious princess' weaknesses were cookies.

"Eh? Cookies?"

"That's right, Hime-sama." Darius smiled; placing the platter before her. She stared at the cookies; her gray eye gleaming. "Cookies…"She murmured. Picking one up, she nibbled on it quietly. "Darius makes the best cookies."

"Thank you for your praise, Hime-sama," Darius said. "It's very heartwarming to see my princess happy."

Suddenly, the large window behind Lucia shattered mysteriously. Lucia swiveled her head to look back to see Darius fending off a glossy red lawnmower with 'Death Scythe' on a brass plate on the front of it. "Hime-sama, please get away quickly." Darius said through gritted teeth; as the person with the lawnmower let a heavy sigh escape. "Geez, just let me kill you!" The person sighed.

Lucia quickly hurried away from where Darius was; her gray eye wide. Darius flung the person and the lawnmower to the side. The person; a blonde and black-haired young man; looking around Lucia's age, with yellowish-green eyes, glasses, wore a suit, tie, gloves, dress shoes and a watch around his wrist, landed neatly on his feet.

"Who are you?" Lucia asked; narrowing her eye at him.

"The Shinigami dispatch association, collection division; Ronald Knox." He said with a grin. "My senior will be here momentarily."

On cue; a being cloaked in red leaped in to the room through the broken window. In his hand was a chainsaw. "Grell Sutcliff is here!" He announced with a grin; showing off his sharp teeth. Starting up his Death Scythe; Grell swung at Darius with a crazed cackle.

"Hmph. You Shinigami think you can just break in to my manor and interrupt my work?" Lucia hissed icily. Slowly untying the bandage that covered her right eye, she let it dangle from her hand. "Darius, this is an order. Kill them." She said coldly; the contract mark in her right eye glowing vibrantly.

Darius grinned as his red eyes began to glow and glitter. "Yes, my Princess."

"Hey, give me your attention!" Grell pouted; swinging his chainsaw again. "Giving that little girl your full attention, it's not fair! ~" Grell grinned; pinning Darius against the wall with his chainsaw. Darius stopped the blade from coming down on him; holding tightly to the flat, non-moving sides of the blade with his gloved hands. Gritting his teeth; Darius couldn't move. "That cool, cold stare of yours…it sets me on fire!" Grell giggled; his yellow-green eyes gleaming.

"Tsk, Darius!" Lucia yelled; as Ronald sprinted towards her; his lawnmower roaring. "Ah, sorry little girl, but you'll have to die." Ronald said; looking at a small booklet.

Rearing the lawnmower up; the blades of it swished and turned loudly. "Die!" Her eyes flashing, she sprang out of the way; falling to the ground as the Shinigami's Death Scythe crashed to the floor. Grell's chainsaw slid down slightly; cutting in to Darius' arm.

"Oh, that pain that is on your face…so delicious!" Grell sang in delight; putting more pressure on his Death Scythe.

Urging herself to get up; she watched as Ronald swung around and aimed his Death Scythe at her. Her eyes widened. "Darius!" She cried.

"Princess!" Darius roared; desperately trying to get away from Grell to save his princess. Letting go of the blade; he leaped towards Ronald; his red eyes glowing demonically; as the chainsaw's blade sliced in to his arm; causing a splash of blood.

Ronald stared down at the girl; who was set to die. Her gray eyes…her misty, mysterious eyes seemed to pierce in to his heart. The contract mark in her right eye was easily visible. Her pitch black hair, her pale skin…

He couldn't kill her. He couldn't kill the girl who had suddenly stolen his heart.

Lucia saw his hesitation; the uncertainty in his yellow-green eyes; as Darius prepared to kill him from behind. "Darius, stop!" She screeched. "Stop, now!"

Darius abruptly stopped; as he was just about to kill the blonde and black-haired Shinigami. Panting; he pressed his gloved-hand to the wound in his arm. "Hime-sama…he tried to kill you. Why did you make me stop?" Darius asked her.

Ronald just stared at her; his lawnmower Death Scythe's roaring fading away. "He…I-I just…" She searched for a proper explanation to her butler. "I just didn't want you to kill him."

"Gee. ~" Grell sighed. "What was that name of yours? 'Darius'? How cute. ~ Darius-chan, come and play with me some more. ~"

Darius sent Grell a flaming death stare; which made him flinch. "A-Anyway, Ronald-kun, why didn't you kill the human girl?" Grell demanded.

"I just couldn't." He muttered.

"I hope you know that you'll get overtime for not reaping the soul!"

"I don't care! I can't kill her!"

"Why? Do you want me to kill her?"

Ronald's gaze turned serious. "Don't even go near her," He hissed. "She can't die."

"Are you thinking of turning against your senpai, Ronald-kun? Besides; if she's on the list, she's on the list. And whoever is on the list is to die. Now out of my way." Grell started up his chainsaw.

Lucia got to her feet; sweeping her black bangs out of her eyes. She was about to order her butler; when a pair of cold steel clippers attached to a steel rod flew in to the room and grasped the blade of Grell's chainsaw; stopping it. Lucia looked to the window to see another Shinigami standing there.

"Will!" Grell cried happily.

William leaped in to the room; tipping his glasses slightly with his Death Scythe. "What is all the noise here? Grell Sutcliff, Ronald Knox."

"We were just going to collect a soul!" Grell said.

"Let me see the page." William ordered; as Grell showed him the book. He glanced up a few times; before stabbed Grell in the head with his Death Scythe.

"Gyah! Will, what was that for?"

"You have the wrong person. Look; the last name is spelled differently. Not only that; the picture doesn't look anything like her!"

"That's what I told him!" Ronald sighed.

"What? Whatever, let's go then." Grell muttered.

"I apologize for any trouble that these two have caused," William apologized reluctantly. "We will be going now." Grabbing Grell by the hair, he dragged him away; Ronald following. He looked back. "Ah…your name is Lucia, right?" He asked her.

She nodded. "That's right."

"Sorry for the trouble; can I…um, I mean; may I, visit you again?" He asked; averting his eyes shyly.

Lucia blinked. "S-Sure."

He smiled widely. "Thanks! I'll be back later, Lucia-chan!" Ronald; carrying his Death Scythe; then leaped after the other Shinigami. With a sigh, Lucia looked around the room. Broken glass, blood and scattered papers. "Darius, please clean these up." She murmured. Her gaze filled with worry for a split second. "I-Is your arm okay? I shouldn't have called for you; then you wouldn't have such a deep wound—"

Darius silenced her as he placed a hand on her head; smiling gently. "I'm fine, Hime-sama. Even if you didn't call for me, I would've still rushed to your side; despite the wounds that would have been inflicted on me. Because you are my princess." He gave her another comforting smile; before strolling away to clean Lucia's study room.


A/N: Oh my gosh, that took a while. xP But I like this chapter. If you've noticed; it is influenced by events that happened in Kuroshitsuji; I just altered it a bit. I DO NOT own Kuroshitsuji; I only own my characters. And guess what? The Viscount of Druitt is making an appearance in an upcoming chapter! Oh my! xD So tune in. Hopefully this chapter didn't suck; 'coz I've been suffering from a little sleepiness. xD I was basically half asleep while writing this. x3