CHAPTER 2
The next morning Belphegor walked in the kitchen dressed in a pair of black pants and a white T-shirt that revealed his strong arms. The first to notice him was Fran that sat on a chair in front of the table and the second one was Ciel that had woken up early. Fran seemed to be waiting about something and Ciel was making breakfast.
"Che…Why aren't the servants making breakfast?" Belphegor asked looking around hoping to find someone to make his meal.
"They are too busy catering to the boss's needs." Fran replied.
"Ushishishishi…Still the prince wants to eat." Bel continued.
"In a minute I will have finished and you can use the fry pan, just wait a little." Ciel said focusing on the bacon that would accompany the eggs.
"Then you should cook for the prince too." Belphegor said with a grin.
"Bel-san…I want to eat too so you will make it on your own." Ciel replied.
"Bel-sempai?" Fran asked looking at his upperclassman.
"What do you want frog?" Belphegor asked slightly irritated with the girl's previous reply.
"I was just wondering if the real reason why you want her to make breakfast is that you don't know how to cook…" Fran said.
"You un-cute kouhai*, the prince has others under him to do such things. Royalty doesn't cook." Bel said.
"Then royalty will starve." Ciel said before Fran could make a sarcastic comment.
"Do you know who you are up against?" Bel said , his fingers lightly touching the tips of his knives.
"I didn't mean to provoke you, okay…?" Ciel said glaring at the prince.
"Then make me breakfast." He said.
"Of course…" Ciel replied and Bel found that she had become strangely obedient.
Fran walked out of the room leaving them alone with each other.
Bel tilted his head to the side with a bored expression on his face.
"Are they ready yet?" He asked watching the girl move the fry pan up and down.
"Patience is a virtue." Ciel said seriously.
"And sloth is a sin…" Bel said smirking.
"Is that coming from you?" She asked knowing that Belphegor was the one that perfectly represented the sin of sloth.
"Whatever you commoner…hurry up…." Bel said in a rather rude and demanding manner.
"Why don't you come and watch for a while…Maybe you will learn something…" She sighed.
"Not a chance…" Th prince said turning his head toward the wall.
"Suit yourself then."
After she finished two eggs were on Bel's plate with the bacon forming a smiley face. Bel eyed his eggs that seemed to greet him. Then he looked back at Ciel that washed her hands in the sink.
"Ushishishishishi…they better not be poisoned…" He chuckled but Ciel walked out of the room with a single "bye" . And that was when Bel had finally begun to think that he had tamed another member although that was a creation of his imagination.
Meanwhile Fran and Ciel had been asked to go into their boss's office. After knocking on the door Fran stepped in and then Ciel followed. She was a little bit nervous that it would be the first time to meet with Xanxus. She didn't know much about the man but from his reaction when she first arrived here she could tell that he didn't care a lot about others even if they were his subordinates. Ciel despised such persons but the last one to know that would be Xanxus.
"Xanxus-sama?" Ciel asked quietly after a moment of silence. Her impatience was getting the best of her and when Fran looked at her it meant that she probably shouldn't continue any further.
"Listen both of you trash…" There was a pause and then he continued speaking. "You will follow that idiotic shark for the rest of the day…" He said eyeing Ciel "…and you will be with Bel…got that?" He asked and they nodded. However Ciel wasn't quite sure if there was a shark in the Varia HQ and why she had to follow it. With a rather puzzled expression she looked at Fran when they walked out of the room.
"Boss refers to the long-haired captain…Squalo…" Fran replied leaving her alone in the hallway.
"And where am I supposed to find him-"
"VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOI!" For some reason Ciel found that peculiar sound quite familiar. She turned toward the source of the noise and found out that it was the person she was waiting for.
"Uh…Hello, captain Squalo." She said.
"Well what were you waiting for?" He asked glaring at her.
"I was just about to begin searching for you." She replied looking straight into the man's eyes.
"Che…come on then…" Squalo said and Ciel followed behind him.
The training grounds weren't what she had expected them to be. It was a huge area a few miles outside of the mansion. That way no damage would be done to the HQ. Ciel watched as Squalo took out a small, light blue box and a rain flame appeared on the ring.
"VOOOOI! Do you know what that is?" He asked.
"The ring's flame?" She said examining it closer.
"Che…yeah and that is a box weapon, got that?" Squalo asked.
"Yes, I already know that Squalo-san…"
"Alright do it then!" He shouted and took a few steps away from the girl.
"Uh…" The snow flame successfully appeared but there was still a problem. Squalo watched the girl, that stood there looking at the flame, impatiently and after a few seconds he approached her again and this time he grabbed her wrist looking at the ring in her hand.
"Why the hell don't you put out the box?" He barked.
"That's the thing you see I don't have a box…" Ciel said trying to release her arm from Squalo's tight grip.
"VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOI!" He shouted. "That will be a problem but that is the perfect chance to see your fighting skills…" He said .
"Alright then…" She said looking at Squalo.
"What is your weapon of choice?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"I only use snow flames….sorry." She said preparing herself for a second outburst.
"I will ask you a question girl…" He said slowly as he frowned.
"Sure.." She replied and suddenly she felt like she wanted to go back to the mansion.
"Have you ever killed somebody?" He asked seriously.
"Yes…" She said feeling anxious.
"How come? You are a woman…you don't have a weapon of choice and you don't have a box weapon…" Squalo stated unsure about the reason why she was picked by Xanxus.
"I can tell you if you want…" She said.
"No…we wasted a lot of time already brat so let's get on with the training."
As Ciel tried to fight Squalo Fran and Bel trained too. Those too were always provoking each other and Fran's calm demeanor enervated the Prince that would hide his anger behind a smirk or a grin. Knives would fly to every direction trapping Fran that in the end would use an illusion to escape. Only a few scratches would remain on his body after the training whereas the prince would have minor injuries to but not from Fran's direct hits. Usually when it came to box weapons, Visone Tempesta would emerge from the box and sit on Bel's shoulder wrapping its furry tail around Belphegor's neck. Fran didn't use his box weapon often but when he did Bel would mock him and the fight would continue.
"You are not even trying frog." Bel said as Fran dodged a couple of his knives.
"Stupid sempai I happen to be mentally exhausted today…We illusionists use our brain much more than you do…" He replied earning a couple of knives aimed at his frog hat.
"Ushishishishi…yeah right!" He said mockingly as his speed increased.
"It is true…" Fran insisted examining a wound on his forearm.
"I bet it is but for a real illusionist not just some toad…" Bel chuckled as he managed to cut Fran again.
"Take it easy…" Fran said fixing his coat.
"So where is that newbie?" Belphegor asked.
"You mean Ciel-sempai?" Fran asked not caring the least bit about the girl. "She is with Squalo-san….They must be training." He said pulling a knife out of his back in a quick manner. "Che look what you just did , fake prince-sempai…"
"Who cares?" Bel said with a mocking smirk looking down at the frog that stood in front of him.
"Why did you want to know anyway?" Fran asked.
"I just want to know how many days that little cub will last here…" Bel said walking away from Fran.
"And just where are you going sempai while we are training?" Fran wondered as he followed the prince.
"I will go see the strategy captain for a while…" Bel informed with rather cruel intention.
"You could at least try to sound more normal sempai…" Fran protested walking behind the blond boy.
"Shut up!" Bel ordered.
While those two searched for Squalo, the captain found himself busy kicking Ciel lightly as to make her stand up.
"VOI! Stand up…" Squalo said glaring at her figure.
"Just give me a moment…" Ciel said supporting her weight on her arms and trying to stand up.
"Just to let you know…You might be trash at reading your opponent's moves but your stamina is admirable…" He said seriously grabbing her by the arm and hoisting her up, forcing the girl to sit on a rock.
"No, it is okay…going all out on me is going to be beneficial, captain." She said looking at her feet.
"VOOOOI! Beneficial only if you live…" He stated.
"No need to worry about that. I have the situation under control." She said.
"Che, right." He said sarcastically approaching her and that was the moment when two figures came close to them from behind.
"So how is the training going strategy captain Squalo?" Bel asked waiting for an outburst or a humiliating speech directed to Ciel.
"I don't think that is any of your business, Bel." Squalo said looking at the boy that was currently grinning.
"Just wondering seeing as I may have to deal with the consequences of your trashy training later." Belphegor chuckled.
"VOOOOOOOOI!" Squalo shouted and Ciel looked up at him and then turned her head slightly toward Bel.
"I think I'll go inside now." Ciel said trying to stand up.
"VOI…stay where you are." Squalo ordered as he lifted her over his shoulder.
"Wait…I can walk on my own!" Ciel said trying to get down.
"VOOOOOOOOOOOI! Stop moving like a fish, woman!" Squalo barked glaring at her.
"I swear I can do it, Squalo-san." Ciel moaned.
"You must be kidding." Squalo said.
"Uh…sorry tom interrupt but won't somebody mistake you for a pedophile if they see you like this, captain?" Fran asked.
"Ushishishishishi …she is spoiling your image." Bel said chuckling.
"Well what do you know? You are spoiling everyone's image so that must be way more serious than that." Ciel said adopting Fran's attitude which made both Bel and Fran react instantly. Fran just stared at her whereas Bel greeted his teeth in utter annoyance.
"You punks go train….NOW!" Squalo demanded as he walked away from the two boys.
It was time for lunch in the Varia HQ so most of the stuff was either in their quarters on in the kitchen. Ciel found herself wrapping a white bandage around her forearm after she had put on the medicine she had been given. Her ankle was bandaged too seeing as it had been twisted during training. She had to admit that Squalo had been a little bit soft towards her but things would change eventually. She eyed the medicines carefully reading the instructions.
"These are to alleviate the pain and I should take them before going to bed…Those must be to cleanse the wounds and they must be taken twice a day and both of them are for four days…Sounds good…" She said quietly to herself standing up from the bed which resulted in her falling against the counter.
"Oh…I forgot about the ankle…" She said slightly annoyed with herself.
"Ushishishishishishi. Peasants sure know how to fall clumsily." Said Belphegor that had just stepped in the small room grinning at the girl that stood up supporting herself on the counter.
"Don't you have anything else to do than call me names?" She asked gathering her things in her arms.
"You shouldn't talk like that in that state shishishi…the prince won't help if you behave like that." Bel stated with a smirk.
"It is not like I need your help." She objected and in a couple of moments she had managed to hit Bel in the gut and ran out of the room. Of course running was fine just as long as she remembered that she had a sprained ankle. Unfortunately for her and luckily for Bel she ignored that so a few meters away from the room she fell down.
"Che…Damn…" She said trying to gather her bandages and medicines when the blond prince appeared in front of her kicking them out of reach. She glared at him hatefully as she watched him taking the and holding them up to his eye level.
"Ushishishi…Someone went soft on you." Bel chuckled examining the prescription.
"Why do you care? Give them back, Bel-san." She protested pulling on his pants.
"Dirty intentions…shishishishishi…" Bel grinned knowing that the girl would most likely collapse again.
"You-"
"Don't support your weight on that ankle, filthy commoner." Bel said moving his leg back and releasing it from her grasp.
"Then give them to me…" She insisted.
"Ordering will get you nowhere." Belphegor said getting serious and just as he was about to leave Ciel tackled him on the ground gripping his wrist tight but it was not enough for him to let the medicines.
"Bel-sempai…" Came a monotone voice from the other side of the corridor. "Squalo-sempai said that you'd better not be late for lunch or else he would force you to eat the leftovers." Fran said approaching the two figures.
"Che…Such a short-temper…" The prince grinned standing up from the floor.
"Sempai?" Fran asked noticing the girl that was on the floor.
"…" Ciel didn't talk as Fran helped her stand up.
"Attacking a person that is already hurt is very low don't you think so Bel-sempai?" Fran asked.
"I won't be wasting my time any longer with a toad and a commoner." Bel said walking away.
"I appreciate that Fran." Ciel said dusting herself off.
"Now you'll have to use the walls for support because I want to eat, clumsy sempai." Fran stated walking away indifferently.
It took her almost 15 minutes to reach her room and she was relieved to find out that she didn't have to open the door in order to walk in. Slowly she left her things on the bed unwrapping the bandages in order to take a shower.
As the cold water ran down her spine she felt like the previous humiliation would stay there forever torturing her mind. The prince had seen her weak state and he didn't hesitate to take advantage of it. She knew that they wouldn't get along from the moment he opened his mouth to talk to her but that was just unexpected. Hot water was relaxing but she preferred cold water due to the fact that she believed that it purified everything it came in touch with. She had been born with a snow flame and unlike most people she happened to have gotten used to the cold.
She wrapped a towel around her body walking in the bedroom only to fall on th bed and close her eyes immediately after making sure that the door was closed and nobody would enter. She slipped inside the covers and finally drifted into an afternoon sleep. She loved those…
The five officers were all gathered in the living room after they had a small argument during lunch.
"VOOOOOOOOOOOI! It is up to me and Xanxus to judge if somebody is worthy or not!" Squalo said while walking in front of Bel that smirked at his captain's expression.
"Ushishishishishi…After that failure in training I don't think the boss will be pleased." Bel replied arrogantly.
"You don't even know if it is a failure!" Squalo yelled.
"Oh you loud kids need to calm down…the girl might not be cut out for the job but we should trust Squalo, ne?" Lussuria said cheerfully.
"I warned you from the start." Levi said.
"Who cares the girl is my responsibility and you punk…" Squalo barked pointing at Belphegor. "…will stop causing trouble! Baby officers are not supposed to bully rookies!" Squalo said irritated with Bel's behavior.
"Ushishishishishi I am not a baby…shishishishi." Bel said as Fran stared at him.
"What are you staring at you weird toad?" Bel demanded as he walked out of the room.
On his way back to his room Bel spotted Ciel on the other end of the corridor as she was ready to leave the room. Ciel…even the name sounded disgusting to him. He knew that it was not reasonable to take his anger out on the girl but now that he realized that she was going to be that way he didn't mind at all. In fact he thought that she didn't belong There and by any means necessary she should leave.
Ciel looked at Bel that just passed by hitting their shoulders colliding as Bel didn't bother to avoid this. Ciel just glared at his figure determined to stay there no matter what and make him suffer the same humiliation if not worse. Egotistic aristocrats were just the perfect warm up to taking up any foe.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Kouhai* = underclassman
Cub**: That is a nickname for Ciel that Bel first used in this chapter, it refers to the offspring of a carnivorous mammal but also to an awkward and inexperienced youth, Bel uses it with both meanings according to the situation.
The snow ring: The Vongola snow ring belongs to Gelaro a guardian only introduced in Fate of Heat III: Yuki no Shugosha Raishuu! Ciel possesses the Varia Snow ring.
Some information on Ciel:
Well she is older than Fran and has the same age as Belphegor . Her hair is described as a "bush" by Bel because of its shape and curls. When Bel said that she was "fat" he was referring to the fact that she wasn't skinny. I will let you decide on the shape of her body but just so you know I imagined that it would be an hourglass one. Ciel hates sushi (Bel's favorite meal) and she doesn't have a big bank account so she is waiting to receive her paycheck from Xanxus. She is not the type to waste money…. Please review !
