William groaned. The American dispatch had sent a request for assistance with their recent "demon" problem, the problem the London supervisor faced was, who could he send? He couldn't send Humphries because of the thorns, Slingby wouldn't go because it meant leaving Humphries behind, Knox was needed here, that left...
"Here's your reports sir!" a bright cheery young redhead dropped a stack of papers in his inbox, upsetting a nearby cup of pens. "Oops sorry, here let me just..." before she could do anymore damage, Spears caught her by both hands.
While he couldn't see one of her eyes because it was hidden behind a curtain like bang, the visible one of the two widened in fear. William swallowed hard.
"Sutcliff" he began calmly, "how would you like to go on a mission abroad for a while? Get out of London?"
"Gee Mr. Spears," she swallowed, "you sure you wanna send me? Wouldn't that mean more work for you and the others?"
William rubbed his temples "I've already decided, you leave tonight"
"but-"
"I don't care if you have plans, just be on the damned plane!"
xxxx
October was a fun month for Ryan. Halloween was on a Thursday that year though Ryan didn't dress up. While the humans dressed as monsters such as demons, vampires and werewolves; monsters they believed where fake. Ryan didn't have to dress up to be himself; a demon-grim reaper hybrid. Nick showed up wearing a large black cloak with a hood, and skeleton mask carrying a large plastic scythe. "Hey Ryan guess what I am"
Ryan looked over the costume again. "Not a clue. What are you?"
Nick swung his plastic scythe "I'm the Grim Reaper!"
Ryan wasn't sure whether to laugh or feel insulted. He wanted so badly to tell his human friend that reapers looked just like humans not this skeleton thing.
"Nick looked over Ryan who was dressed the same as ever. "what are you?"
"A demon"
Nick laughed "yeah right. Demons have horns and tails. You look more like a Goth kid"
Ryan couldn't disagree with that. All the demons he had ever met were in human forms. Even Sebastian was hiding his true form.
….
November was a boring month with thanksgiving break. Ryan did not want to be stuck with his father and Ciel the whole brake. He normal got up and despaired for the whole day. He would stay up in a tree until sunset being a cat demon he could easy climb a tree and if he fell he always landed on his feet. He always felt safe in trees. He closed his eyes as his mind drifted.
Ryan charged at the tree at full force. The seven year-old toppled backward with a cry of pain. The tree didn't even have a mark on it. Annoyed Ryan charged at the tree again. Falling back he felt a trickle of blood run down his forehead.
"What are you doing?"
Turning around Ryan saw Sebastian watching him. "Trying to knock down the tree, you can knock down a tree with one hand! I can't even seem to put a dent in it!"
Sebastian kneeled down taking out his handkerchief and wiping the blood off the boy's face. "Someday you'll be strong enough for that, but for now you're too young"
Sebastian had been right of course. Since Ryan had hit one-hundred, hit adulthood he had grown stronger. Though he was still know where as strong as Sebastian. Their fight had proved that. he sighed wondering why his father had just left him the way he had…
….
December came around and it began to snow. Ryan was used to snow from England but for some reason snow in Michigan was different. Before school the students threw snowballs and slid around on the ice. Showing off Ryan began to slide on the ice; not paying attention he slipped and fell on his ass.
Ciel burst out laughter. "You're the most ungraceful demon I've ever seen!"
Ryan laughed too "yeah I guess I am a bit clumsy"
The day was good until English when Nick came in wearing bandages around his left eye. He claimed that an icicle fell and hit his eye.
That day in English Ryan stared out the window watching it snow. His mind drifted back to a time long ago.
He was three and it was the first heavy snow of the season. Ryan was so excited about the snow he had dashed right outside. The servants had chased after him, trying to bring the small child back inside.
"Ryan come back!" Mey-rin had cried.
"It's too cold out here for you!" yelled Finny.
"Bloody hell! Slowdown!" that was Bard.
"Hohoho" Tanaka
Ryan hadn't heard them as his mind was in his winter wonderland. He raised his hands above his head closed his eyes and chanted. "Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow" as he ran.
He continued to run until he crashed into something and fell back. Looking up he saw Sebastian looking down at him with an amused smile on his face.
"Daddy! Look snow!" the hybrid gabbed two handfuls of snow and tossed them into the air.
"Yes I see that" answered Sebastian. He picked up Ryan and headed back to the manor, while the servants watched cold and out of breath. Ryan snuggled into his father's warm chest. That was the only thing that had mattered to him at the time.
THAWK
Ryan looked up drawn out of his memories.
"Mr. Michaelis you're not daydreaming in my class are you" asked Sebastian.
"No sir" answered Ryan still slightly dazed.
Sebastian frowned. "Stay after class. I would like a word with you"
"Yes sir"
As soon as class was over Ryan stood at Sebastian's desk his mind was clearly still in a fog. "What's wrong you're acting strange"
Ryan shook his head "I'm fine. I'm just thinking"
The crow demon sighed "fine than get to work. You're going to be late for your next class"
Ryan gave a cat like hiss "if I'm late it's because you held me back!"
Sebastian smiled. Now that sounded more like the Ryan he had gotten used to "good now hurry up"
xxxx
Ryan was laying upside down on the couch reading 'hamlet'. His legs were in the air resting against the top off the couch. Sebastian was in butler mode, moving about the apartment cleaning. Where Ciel was Ryan didn't know or care. Sebastian was annoyed sigh at the way Ryan was laying. He pushed the hybrids feet down causing Ryan to fall onto his stomach on the floor with a yelp.
"What the hell dad!" spat Ryan.
"No feet on the furniture" replied Sebastian with a smirk.
"Well you could have said something instead of knocking me on the floor!"
Sebastian smirked and Ryan growled. Ryan picked up his book and got his backpack and headed for school. He went to the library to return his book. The librarian was a black haired man with glasses and golden eyes. His name was Mr. Faustus. Ryan had a strange feeling he knew the man from somewhere. The golden eyed male didn't seem to like Ryan much. He was always glaring at Ryan's back. The small hybrid could feel it. He returned to book quickly and left. On his way out he noticed Nick talking quietly with Mr. Faustus Ryan wondered what they were talking about but when Faustus turned to look at Ryan the cat demon hurried away.
The hybrid was at a park thinking when he realized something felt off. He could feel eyes on him. Ryan sniffed unable to find a scent when the wind was blowing towards whatever was watching him.
"RYAN!"
The skinny demon was knocked backward as someone with red hair tackle hugged him "C-Cady?"
The reaper let go off her little brother and smiled showing off her fangs. She had changed a lot since they had last seen another. She had clearly matured into a woman; though Ryan was younger he was much taller than Cady. The female reaper swung Ryan around. "I haven't seen you in over one-hundred years! Where have you been hiding?"
Ryan pulled away trying not to fall over from how dizzy he was. "Around"
"Around? Ryan I haven't seen hide or hair of you in years!" Cady huffed.
"Yeah sorry 'bout that" the hybrid messed up is hair nervously "something's happened and I had to go into hiding"
