People couldn't believe that Maka was the missing princess. Chatters filled the room and Maka uneasily fidgeted. Queen Victoria glared at some doubtful people who were politely whispering in each other's ears and looking at Maka.
Maka fidgeted and looked at the Queen whispering, "Maybe I should go back?"
"No," Queen Victoria said, "You are staying here."
Maka opened her mouth to protest. But her grandmother silenced her with one of her looks. Suddenly the crowd moved out of the way and Maka looked to find that blue haired boy and his stoic butler behind him. Maka recognized him as the 'not happy camper' that she saw when going to the palace.
But the boy's eyes widened when he saw her. Maka tilted her head in confusion but remembered to keep her face pokerface.
The boy respectfully bowed to her and Maka became confused.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, princess," his soft monotone voice fluttered.
Maka gave a small curtsy and replied in formality, "Pleasure to meet you, Lord Phantomhive."
"Well!" Queen Victoria slapped the both of their backs, making Ciel and Maka flinch, "Why don't you start to dance?"
Maka gave the Queen a weird look for being such a matchmaker all of a sudden when she got a slight tap on her shoulder. Maka looked around to see Ciel offer his hand for a dance.
"Would you like to dance?" Ciel softly asked.
"My pleasure, Lord Phantomhive," Maka said softly and reached for his hand and let him lead her to the middle of the dance floor.
"You look stunning tonight," Ciel softly blushed. Maka smiled.
"Same as you," Maka whispered and the familiar waltz filled the room and Ciel and Maka took this as the queue to put her hand on Ciel's shoulder and hand.
Ciel twirled Maka around and smiled, saying, "I see you know how to dance very well."
"Thank you, you are very good," Maka smiled.
"No, as you can see, I can only waltz. If I dance any other dance then I might step on your foot," Ciel blushed, and thought Maka would squeal like Lizzy would.
Maka only gently smiled and giggled saying, "Then I can help you practice. There is nothing to be ashamed about. I stepped on my friends' foots all the time."
"Who taught you to dance?" Ciel asked.
"All of my friends that were girls," Maka giggled, "Guys didn't know a thing about how to dance."
"That's not true!" Ciel chided Maka. The blonde girl rolled her eyes and laughed. The waltz ended but they went to the side to talk.
"Boys in two hundred years can become awfully unsophisticated," Maka smirked.
"How so?" Ciel prodded her.
Maka thought for a moment. Boys kicking off their shoes. Boys sneezing in their hands and not bothering to wash their hands. Them rolling around in the mud. And the list goes on and on.
"Let's just say…" Maka slowly said, "They become so unsophisticated, that you can't take their laziness and unhygienic habits apart from a primitive cave man."
Ciel shuddered in disgust and asked, "What about girls?"
"Don't get me started on those," Maka sighed, "Some wear clothing that do not look like undergarnments."
"That is a world I can't believe you lived in for most of your life," Ciel said.
"Most of my life?" Maka asked.
"You don't remember?" Ciel asked sadly.
"I really don't remember anything, except my life in the twentieth century and then suddenly being here," Maka sadly said.
Ciel looked down and somehow Maka hated seeing her fiancé down. Then an idea popped into her mind. She grabbed Ciel's hand and led him outside. She looked and saw her grandmother too busy with socializing to notice her right now.
"Wh-Where are we going?" Ciel stuttered at the cold.
"You want my jacket?" Maka asked starting to unbutton the long trench coat on her gown.
"No it's fine," Ciel somehow thought of Maka offering him her jacket was romantic.
Maka pulled him to one of the closed shops. She stared at the reflective surface. Ciel gave her a confused look and Maka grinned at him.
"This might be absurd, but I am one of Shinigami-sama's top-notch meisters. Meisters can contact him. But since I have gone back 200 years I still hold a doubt. But it is better to try than do nothing at all," Maka grinned and Ciel nodded his head.
Maka fogged up the glass and traced the number and said the pneumonic, "42-42-564, whenever you want to knock on Death's door."
The window began to glow and it became fuzzy like a TV being confused by loss of signal. Then as if the screen gained signal it cleared and she came face-to-face with Death the Kid.
"Kid? Where's Shinigami-sama?" Maka asked. Ciel glared at Kid at the thought that the young reaper could take away his fiancé. He possessively latched onto Maka's right arm that made him blush but he didn't let go.
"Honorable father is right here. Who's that right beside you- OH THAT ASYMMETRICAL HORRID BEING!" Kid yelled and pointed at Ciel.
"Excuse me?!" Ciel yelled.
"You heard me, you asymmetrical trash!" Kid yelled back.
"Lord Phantomhive, don't say it!" Maka harshly whispered but Ciel didn't hear Maka.
"Like my eye patch is that disturbing! Your stupid stripes in your hair are worse!" Ciel yelled. Then Kid froze and Maka slapped her forehead.
"You said it…" Maka sighed miserably.
"He's right…" Kid paled. Maka groaned.
"Kid, you're not trash…" Maka started.
"HE'S RIGHT! I DO NOT DESERVE TO LIVE ANYMORE! I AM GARBAGE! LEAVE ME OUT ON GARBAGE DAY!" Kid wailed face-flat into the floor and Ciel looked away to spare the reaper's dignity being lowered below the ground.
"Is he like this?" Ciel asked.
"Well, if people aren't the same on both sides, then he becomes like this," Maka whispered, "Then again, anything that is asymmetrical makes him break down."
"Wait, but your hairstyle is done on one side. Surely he recognized that?" Ciel asked.
"I could have one pigtail up there and another pigtail down there and he would still act as if nothing had happened," Maka shuddered, "Somehow I do not know why I am the exception."
Because he likes you, Ciel said in his mind. His hands clenched. He knew her longer than Kid had ever known. He is not getting near his fiancé.
"Shinigami… CHOP!" A loud voice yelled and a huge hand pounded into Kid's head. Maka sweat dropped and Ciel paled.
"Shinigami-sama, why would you hit your son?" Maka asked, incredulously.
"Well, for one thought, he is being loud and obnoxious," Shinigami-sama said happily and Ciel hid behind Maka.
"Oh come on out. He won't call you asymmetrical," Maka laughed.
"My sanzu lines are connected. When Kiddo gets his connected he will stop being such a perfectionist," Shinigami-sama beamed.
"Well that is probably a reliever for everyone else," Maka said.
"You mean those backstabbers?" Shinigami-sama asked incredulously. Ciel looked at Maka in surprise.
"Tell you later," Maka whispered.
"Maka I thought I would lose contact with you!" Shinigami-sama beamed.
"I thought so too!" Maka smiled very big.
"I guess you can still be one of my meisters?"Shinigami-sama asked hopefully.
"Meisters?" Ciel asked, coming out from behind Maka.
"Oh who is this little cutie? He almost looks like a girl!" Shinigami-sama grinned.
Ciel blushed and deemed it unsafe to communicate with the death god. He hid right behind Maka and buried his face in her back making Maka flush.
"My fiancé, Ciel Phantomhive. And I believe you might have something to do with my amnesia?" Maka asked skeptically.
"It was the only way," Shinigami-sama sighed and rubbed his head.
"What was the only way?" Maka asked.
"Maka, you do realize your soul shape is rare? Only you and Gopher in this world have Grigori Souls. Your soul is delectable in the eyes of everyone else. To save the attacker from killing you I had to grab you," Shinigami-sama asked.
"Soul shape?" Ciel murmured.
"Shinigami-sama then what about my memories…?" Maka asked.
"That is one of the down sides of abrupt time travelling," Shinigami-sama sighed remorsefully.
"What is?" Ciel asked, coming out from behind Maka and hoping to lord may he bless him that Shinigami-sama would go on 'moe-moe' mode.
"There was a high chance of losing memories when going to the future or the past. Fortunately Maka didn't lose her memories the second time around," Shinigami-sama said seriously.
"Oh that is because you did it, right?" Maka asked.
"No because I can't keep you in a time division that you don't belong, forever. Some point in time you have to return to your own time. And looks like fate decided that now," Shinigami-sama said sadly.
"Oh," a lump arose from Maka's throat, "I see."
-x-
Queen Victoria had pushed Maka to go to her fiance's house and spend a few weeks with him there. Ciel blushed as he had to sit next to Maka in the carriage. Why does he have to do this?!
"Lord Phantomhive," Maka's soft voice broke Ciel out of his trance, "We reached your manor."
"It seems so," Ciel said in a curt tone and he got out of the carriage. He was about to turn around and help Maka down, when Sebastian beat him to it.
"Be a little quicker next time, young master," Sebastian smirked as Maka glided down the footsteps with the aid of the tall butler.
Maka looked at the manor. She felt a little twinge at her memory.
"Hey Ciel, let's play!"
Maka stiffened. Ciel eyed her in curiosity.
"But you're a royal and I am just a noble! We can't mix!"
"Maka… CHOP!"
"What the bloody hell was that for?!"
"For thinking that status can prevent us from being friends! Ciel, you could be a mere commoner and I will play with you!"
"Let's… play," Maka murmured so softly. Ciel's voice sounded so light, so soft and so carefree and childishly happy. Although his voice is still soft and light, he doesn't sound happy at all.
"Pardon me?" Ciel asked. Maka eyed him and shook her head.
"Nothing. You have changed," Maka sighed and followed him to inside of his manor.
"What do you mean by that?" Ciel demanded.
"For someone who knows something I do not know, you sure are dense. Go figure it out yourself," Maka sighed at Ciel and politely turned to Sebastian.
"Show me to my room, please?" Maka curtsied.
"Yes, My Lady."
When Sebastian led Maka upstairs, Ciel had to sit down. He couldn't think about anything else other than Maka's words.
How did he change?
"Are you thinking about it too much?" a smug voice came from his left. Ciel turned to see his butler.
"Thinking about what too much?" Ciel snapped, "You didn't know me when we were toddlers."
"True. But I am not as dense as Young Master is," Sebastian said softly. Ciel scoffed.
"What am I missing?" Ciel scowled.
"Young Lady is right. You are so slow. Shall you retire for the night?" Sebastian asked, hoping to revive some sense into Ciel.
"You didn't answer my question!" Ciel yelled.
"And while we are at it, please tell me what you would like for breakfast tomorrow," Sebastian smoothly said.
Ciel grumbled.
-x-
Shatter!
"CIEL HOW COULD YOU?!"
Crash!
Maka grumbled and got up. She slipped on her heirloom ring and her princess crown. She fixed her hairstyle and tidied up her nightgown.
"What is the commotion?" Maka evenly asked when she got to the bottom of the stairs.
Elizabeth's face drained of color when she saw she was pointing at Maka.
"What is so annoying about me that you decided to point your index finger at me?" Maka asked with a dangerously calm voice.
"I bet that crown is fake!" Elizabeth went forward to rip the crown off Maka's head.
Maka reached out an arm and used it as a force against Elizabeth couldn't go against. Maka turned her emotionless eyes and said, "Elizabeth Middleford. Lord Phantomhive's cousin and a replacement fiancé when I disappeared. Although I completely forgot you I can call from your data that you are skilled only in swords. Though do know I am also skilled in multiple weapons and arts of fighting all over the world."
"What is your weapon of choice?" Elizabeth got off Maka.
"Scythe, seeing swords are too much of a joke to handle," Maka sighed, "But I had to. I was not able to touch a scythe without wielding a sword. Stupid instructors!"
Elizabeth paled and even shivered. She had to give up the fact that she is not Ciel's fiancé anymore.
"Where are your parents?" Elizabeth smirked. Ciel glared at Elizabeth.
Maka's eyes hardened, "That's none of your business."
"Oh is tough little Maka trying so hard not to cry? Come on, we all know you aren't strong…" Elizabeth taunted and Maka snapped. Maka didn't care if Elizabeth was Ciel's cousin.
"Lord Phantomhive, please forgive me," Maka whispered. Ciel nodded.
Maka raised her hand and slapped Elizabeth hard. So hard that the blonde hit the ground and a loud sound could be heard.
"S-She hit me!" Elizabeth stuttered in shock.
"I know," Ciel stated coldly, "And you insulted my fiancé."
"S-She's…?" Elizabeth started to fake cry.
"Oh don't play dumb with me," Maka's deep emerald eyes flashed with anger as she deeply glared at Elizabeth, "I saw you at my ball."
"Y-You probably set this up from the start, right? To take away my Ciel from me!" Elizabeth sobbed in order to get Ciel's affection.
"I was never your property to start with," Ciel glared.
"You don't know the pain of not having parents," Maka shook her head, "Until you lose yours. Until then you are some naïve girl just foolishly wasting life because mama and papa are there to spoil you. But when they are gone, you have to work hard to uphold yourself. You have to keep strong against all the insults you get. 'Foolish parentless child, spoiled brat, monster, demon child, heartless killer, selfish bitch' are only a few of the insults. Now do you think you can handle that?"
"I don't think you can. After one day, you will snap like a twig," Ciel glared at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth got up, and then ran out of the manor crying her head off. Ciel rubbed his head in annoyance. Dealing with Elizabeth caused him to work up a migraine. Suddenly a gentle hand started rubbing the crown of his head.
Ciel looked up in surprise and Maka shrugged, "When you start to get a headache, a massage alleviates the pain. Some rest can do you good. Have you had breakfast?"
"No," Ciel shook his head, "I was about to, when Elizabeth came barging in and breaking things."
Ciel softly sighed under the magic of Maka's thin fingers working magic on his scalp. Maka nodded and gently smiled.
"Then go up to your room and take a small nap of half an hour. Trust me; your head ache will be much better. After thirty minutes, I will ask Sebastian to send up your breakfast," Maka gently rubbed the sides of Ciel's forehead. She gently kissed it and pushed him up the stairs.
Ciel blushed furiously but nevertheless did what Maka asked him to do.
When Ciel was out of sight, Sebastian started laughing. Maka turned to him and gave him a skeptical glance.
"What?" Maka asked.
"Young master seems to have taken liking towards you," Sebastian smirked. Internally Maka turned red.
"So? Is there a problem of us getting closer together? It most certainly is not a taboo," Maka sighed.
"I never said anything," Sebastian put on an innocent face and walked away.
"I am just gonna watch the clock and wait until thirty minutes are up…" Maka grumpily mumbled.
In his room, Ciel couldn't sleep. Although his migraine was gone, he traced all the finger patterns Maka made on his head and outlined the place where she kissed him on his forehead. That thought made him turn deep red.
.
.
.
TBC