Disclaimer: I do not own Black Butler

My apartment isn't that large, seeing as my needs do not include massive living quarters, and I wonder briefly where to put them before deciding to set them down on the couch. I run into an obstacle there. Rebecca lets go and consents to be lowered to the seat, but the other one clings steadfastly to my neck, refusing to be put down. Eventually I unhook her and toss her down before collapsing into a chair across from them. I tilt my head and study them. The little one buries her head in Rebecca's neck, but the girl stares back at me. We stay like this for a time, then the little one lifts her head and looks at me hesitantly. I lean forward and open my mouth,

"Who are you?"

She cocks her head and thinks about it. Then her eyes widen and she smiles,

"Izzie!"

Izzie?

"Is Izzie your name?"

She giggles slightly and claps her hand,

"Izzie!"

I turn to Rebecca, who looks at Izzie and nods sagely before turning to look at me,

"Izzie," she says in a sage-like tone that makes that name seem almost reasonable. I sigh and turn to Izzie again,

"Are you Isabelle? Isabella?"

Her little brow furrows as she thinks about it, then her face brightens and she says,

"Izzie!"

I groan and drop my head into my hands, this is getting nowhere. Then I look up again and ask Izzie,

"Where did you come from?"

She thinks about it, a puzzled expression on her face before answering me,

"Blue!"

I massage my temples and wonder. If I killed them I would rid me of these annoying children?

"What do you mean blue?"

Her face falls a bit as she remembers something,

"Momma and Dada not here anymore. Cousin here. Across the blue."

Her words are confusing, but I find the meaning behind her childish wording quickly,

"Your parents died and you have family here?

She cocks her head slightly before nodding slowly. Hmmm. Perhaps if I could find this relative...

"So you came across the blue?" She smiles in response to my inquiry,

"Blue! Lots and lots of blue!"

Lots and lots of blue? That could be,

"The ocean? Did you come across the ocean on a ship?"

She beams at me,

"Ship! Ship! And blue was like this!" With that she begins rocking back and forth, I assume copying the sensation of a ship rocking. Then I turn to Rebecca,

"How did you get here?"

She shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders,

"Blue. But not..." She rocks back and forth a few times before stopping and shaking her head.

"Not the ocean?" She shakes her head,

"Blue like this." With that she begins snaking her hand through the air. What?

"A river?"

She shakes her head, no. Her face crumples,

"Can't remember. Blue all around."

Tears run down her face as her shoulders begin to shake. No, no, this won't do,

"Don't cry little one. Blue, hmmm? That's all right. You can remember later."

She sniffles but scrubs her eyes with the back of her hand and stops crying, her eyes red and puffy. Bothersome child. Now what about those chains?

"Rebecca. The chains. What do you know about the chains?"

She shrugs,

"They're there. On you, on me, on Izzie. Who are you?"

I start at the question. So many possibilities. I discard anything to do with my, er, true nature, and decide to simply tell them the name that my young master Phantomhive gave me,

"My name is Sebastian Michaelis."

She blinks a few times, then a smile flits across her face, softening her features,

"Nice to meet you Sebastian Michaelis."

She seems happy, peaceful now. Odd, her moods change so quickly. Then beside her Izzie whimpers slightly, and Rebecca turns. I look at Izzie and she whimpers again, then looks up,

"Hungwy! Hungwy!"

My eyes widen in surprise as a strange feeling rises within me, focused in the area where my stomach is. It is like my need for souls, but...different. She's hungry? A horrible thought strikes me, the note, what if?

"Rebecca, give me your hand."

She walks carefully over to me and holds out her hand. Her eyes are confused, but unafraid. I reach out a grab her hand, pulling her towards me. I quickly pinch the inside of her wrist, she shrieks slightly and pulls away. Her hand falls to her side and she looks at me accusingly. Unfortunately for her I am much more interested in the sharp pain on the inside of my wrist. In the same place I pinched her. Then the sensation in my stomach becomes much sharper, and I sigh softly. These two might just be as much work as my young master. Well, at least they aren't overly demanding, or demons. But still, at least with Ciel I never feel what he is feeling. What a miserable existence that would be. This could be most troublesome, whoever the woman was, she knew how to make sure I'd take care of the little ones. I put this out of my mind for the time being as I feel a slight pressure on my lower leg causes me to look up in time to see Rebecca kick my leg again. When she sees my eyes on her she stops and glares at me,

"Meanie. Izzie's hungry."

I glare back at her and she pales nicely,

"I know. I don't have any food so you'll have to be patient."

Hmmm. I can't leave because I'd have to take them with me, though perhaps that could... no. Young children do not make good companions when forced to walk for any amount of time on a shopping trip. I obviously can't just leave them behind, and I can't refrain from feeding them. One last option... I walk over to the phone and dial a number. Ah, these telephones, wonderful devices, especially when one cannot leave a certain place. I've used this gentleman's service many a time. It's so bothersome to go and get food when all you use it for is show. But I am glad that I am prepared for this eventuality. Though, if I had not been, what kind of butler would I be? I chuckle slightly at that, I am still in service to my young master Ciel, and therefore still his butler, but he has decided that he would best be able to explore his new skills if I was not in the immediate area. Something about not always taking the easy way out, though I am still required to come to his assistance whenever he orders. Whatever it is I am most glad, for it may allow me to make separate contracts if I receive express permission, though I have not asked him yet. I am quite ravenous, it is very annoying. I have not seen him since the his marriage to the Lady Elizabeth a few weeks ago, and I am quite happy with the reprieve. So far he has kept up the facade of being human quite well. He has even simulated the natural aging process of a human in the four years he has been a demon, though he has made a few entertaining mistakes, such as the overnight three-inch growth spurt. Finally, someone picks the phone up and I bring it to my ear, on the other end a voice says,

"Hello? James's Market."

Ah, good,

"Yes. This is Sebastian Michaelis."

"Mr. Michaelis! Of course, what can I get for you today."

I sigh, I'm not entirely sure what young children eat, but I suppose that both of them are old enough for solid food,

"The usual Mr. Arrano. Please deliver it post-haste."

"Yes sir! Now I have a few orders in front of yours..."

Greedy fool, but I suppose it can't be helped. Luckily money is not in short supply as I have taken a few odd jobs in order to earn enough for this flat and the things necessary to keep up my human facade,

"Ten pounds extra for prompt delivery."

He laughs, the sound distorted by a sudden rush of static on the telephone,

"Hungry fellow aren't you? I'll have it up right away Mr. Michaelis."

"My thanks," I say before slamming down the telephone. Then I turn and walk back to where the children before sitting back down, leaning forward, clasping my hands in front of me and studying them. They are sitting on the couch again, Izzie leans against Rebecca, and has her little arms wrapped around the girls neck. Rebecca appears unruffled, but after a few seconds she yawns and rubs her eyes with the hand not wrapped around Izzie. All in all, a rather adorable scene, but of course such things hold no interest for me. Children. Ugh, I only deal with humans in general for their souls, but it appears that I will have to care for these little ones for nothing. Unfortunately, as I the note said, I cannot harm them, abandon them, and I imagine that neglect will not improve my plight, a point driven home by another sharp pain in my stomach.

I look more closely at the girls. Rebecca, despite the fact that her mother abandoned her here, appears well cared for. Her brown hair is clean and untangled, which is impressive given that it falls halfway down her back. Her clothing is similarly clean and fits her, a simple brown dress that falls to just below her knees, appropriate for her age. She is slender, but not overly thin and appears quite healthy. Izzie is quite different, it appears that she has not been cared at all. I believe she may be the girl I've seen in that box across the street. One child or another has occupied that box for the past few years, though I imagine that there have been children there before I moved in three years ago, but I don't think that she has been here more than a few months. Hmm, I suppose that Rebecca's mother fancied herself a good samaritan, or she was just confused and crazy. Izzie's blue-black hair is dirty and matted, falling to her waist. She herself is also quite filthy, she'll need to be bathed later. That shouldn't be too hard. I am a demon after all. If I can deal with Ciel and his picky habits, I can deal with these two children. I turn my attention back to Izzie, and I sigh slightly. She is thin, much thinner than she should be at her age. Most likely she has not eaten well for a very long time. Perhaps ever. A troubling thought if I am going to be the one to care for her. Her plain white dress is far too large, stained and hangs off her thin frame pathetically. I may have to get a few more supplies for the both of them.

A knock on the door interrupts my inspection. Both girls look up, Izzie expectantly, Rebecca in surprise. I get up and begin moving to the door, but am forced to stop suddenly halfway there. I sigh, exasperated, and turn around. The girls are now sprawled on the floor, the hands that the manacles are attached to outstretched in front of them. Rebecca struggles to her feet and picks Izzie up. The younger girl clings to her, but begins to walk when Rebecca does. I measure the distance quickly, ten feet. We can move ten feet from each other. This will be troublesome.

They move towards me and stop a few feet away. Rebecca stays there, but Izzie lunges forwards and latches onto my leg. What? I close my eyes and purse my lips as more knocking resounds through the flat,

"Anyone there?"

"Yes. Please, wait just a minute sir."

I gesture to the Rebecca, and she follows me down the hall. Izzie simply wraps her legs around my lower leg and refuses to let go. I shake my head but allow her to hang on. We move towards the door much more slowly than I am used to, but I suppose it can't be helped. I reach to open the door, then stop and look down, considering what to do with the little ones. I deliberate for a moment before ushering Rebecca to the side and handing her Izzie, who protests being torn off my leg quite a bit, but stops when I glare at her. Then I compose myself and open the door. I am immediately greeted by the delivery man falling backwards into my apartment, making all sorts of noises as he plummets to my floor. He picks himself back up with a low groan and then sees me standing there. He grins sheepishly and says,

"Er, delivery for Mr. Michaelis?"

I roll my eyes and sigh,

"Yes yes Ian, just leave it there as usual and put it on my bill."

I begin to usher him out the door but am waylaid by Izzie jumping out and latching onto my leg again. For a moment everything freezes, then Rebecca darts out from behind the door and removes Izzie from my leg. They both stand there, watching us impassively, Rebecca even goes so far as to lean against the brown hall of my apartment and look bored. I step back and massage my temples gently, this will be irritating. My prediction almost immediately begins to come true as the delivery man begins to stammer and stutter before finally producing a coherent sentence,

"Mr. Michaelis, you have children!?"

He gulps and takes a hesitant step back as I glare at him menacingly. Killing him would be a solution, but dumping the body would require me to take the children along as well. Of course I could just frighten him into silence, but humans are so unreliable..

"Actually, these are my sister's children. I am to care for them until her return. Unfortunately she did not give me anytime to prepare so I was forced to call your employer for supplies."

He gapes at Izzie and Rebecca for a few moments more, and I begin to think that perhaps the dump would not be as unpleasant as I had originally thought. Well, it may scar the children mentally, but that- no it might affect me as well. Then he laughs. I look up, surprised and annoyed,

"Excuse me?" He shakes his head,

"Sorry sir, it's just..." I stifle a growl. I have no time for this,

"It's just what?" He looks at me again, differently this time. Appraisingly,

"You have no children?" "Yes." "Any experience with children?" "I'm a quick study." He laughs again, but quickly stops when my eyes narrow. He smirks and says,

"Well if you need advice, I've got six of my own..."

I incline my head and smirk at him,

"Very kind, but I am sure that we will be quite alright."

Then I grab him by the arm and all but throw him out of my apartment,

"Good day Ian." With that I grab the food and walk back inside. Behind me I hear him chuckle slightly and murmur,

"Poor fool has no idea what he's getting into."

Maybe the mental scarring would be worth it. Hmmm.

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