YEEEEEEEEEEHAW!

I'm back after such harrowing past weeks. The worst part was I was hospitalized for stress and work overload -_- anyway, I'm back with the second chapter. It's a bit slow, but it's the foundation of the story, and of why William raped Claude in the first place, and what kind of activities lead him to such things.

Special shout to my supporters!

Story reviewers: oscarSWAGG, flippy-animegirl, Sabrina Bane, FireSenshi2, Tiger-nami, Clair V, Randomtaco

Story favorites: FireSenshi2, mikyzachibiakuma, Randomtaco, Sabrina Bane, Tiger-nami

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yuki-chan name is yuki-chan

Chapter 3 is where it gets really intense so, buckle up for that. And now on with the story!

Chapter II: Daybreak...

The night showed no mercy to the broken 'mother' and son. Images of tonight's past evens ran like film reel in Sebastian's head. He couldn't shake reliving that moment when he first saw Claude left bloodied on the wooden floors. Claude would have bled to death if it hadn't been for Sebastian. It was like William intended to leave Claude to die. Claude too was reliving his past. He had argued earlier that day with his master, Count of Trancy. It was a negative spell that grew worse and worse through out that day. But no one could ever foretell such outcome. Claude saw William coming for him, the image of his rape was haunting him, until...

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" The weary butler of Phantomhive awakes from the screams with his heart pounding, and looks to see Claude wide eyed in fright. Claude's heart was pounding even more so than his mother. Sebastian quickly calms himself, and scoops the young butler into his arms. "There's nothing to fear anymore. You're with me now..." Sebastian's words were soothing and reassuring... a little. The pain of being moved rouses Claude, causing him to wheeze and moan. Sebastian allows his ailed son to lean against him, while he had his arms securely around him. Claude closes his eyes and struggles to drift into sleep again.

As sad of a time this was for the pair, Sebastian was happy to have his son in his arms. The moment begins to reflect on the deep past of when Claude was born. Sebastian was very distant with him as he remembered, and even forced Claude on his own at a younger age than usual. Those times made Sebastian bite his lip mentally. He wasn't happy when the child was forced on him during his earlier years, and had regretted spending not even a moment of tenderness with his young. He and Claude had grown apart, all the way to where they've even confronted each other on a couple of occasions. True, the times the confronted each other were when obeying orders of their masters, but still, they didn't have a kind history between each other. Sebastian never wanted something like rape to bring them together. Perhaps... perhaps it was his fault too this happened. Maybe if he were on better terms with Claude, destiny wouldn't have brought this to his child. These thoughts made Sebastian begin to doubt himself unnecessarily.

Weariness, pain, and mental devastation was what caused Claude to fall into slumber again. Sebastian lies him back down, mentally apologizing for failing as a parent, so he feels he failed Claude. Sebastian too is claimed by sleep, due to stress and mental drain.

It was morning in London, and it couldn't have come sooner after such an emotionally rough night. Up bright and early was the butler of Phantomhive, on his way to his master's room with breakfast and tea. He is as he is every morning, doing early cleaning, preparing breakfast, readying the lazy house members. No one however, could detect the turmoil that was lurking within the infamous butler. He has displayed such little emotion through out the years, that it was easy for him to hide them from everyone.

Sebastian was passing by his own room, and couldn't help but feel a tug in his heart... that tug to him, it was Claude. Sebastian looks into the direction of his room, where he was secretly aiding the Trancy butler. He stops the food trolley and quietly peeks in, quickly checking on his son.

Claude was sound asleep under the covers, just as his 'mother' left him. Sebastian knew his duties well, but he had to check his son's well being. His excellent sight picks up Claude's trembling. The butler of Phantomhive first thoughts were a chill. He treads softly, and gently throws the thick comforter over Claude, hoping to warm him up some. Sebastian closes the door, making sure the young demon would not be seen. He then heads to the bedroom of his master, rolling the trolley of breakfast and tea he freshly prepared.

Ciel was awake and groggy as usual. In this mood the butler was well aware that the young earl didn't take kindly to any issues that would rouse irritation in the least. "Morning young master..." the dutiful butler starts, as he usually does. "I prepared toast of Sicilian Tuscan with black pudding, maple scones and to drink, earl of grey" "Fine, fine..." says the Earl pretty unamused right now. "Before we go over our schedule for the day, I want to know about last night..." "What would you like to know, master?" Sebastian asks, quite content for now. "At the Trancy's... what did you find out?" For the first time ever, Ciel detects a startle from his butler. Sebastian silently swallows trying to find an answer for his master. He had forgotten why he was at the Trancy Estate in the first place, all due to trying to save his son.

Sebastian turns to face his master, a subtle smile is seen. "I wasn't able to find anything... Count Trancy was speaking about some business between his cousin and himself..." "And what might that have been?" Ciel was not falling for it, and Sebastian knew. "It was issues concerning family... his past perhaps" "I expect you to know..." Sebastian smiles and sits the breakfast he made before the disbelieving adolescent. "My young lord, I was ordered to retrieve only information from Trancy in regards to malevolent activities directed to you. If you want for me to obtain new information tonight, that is possible as well..." Ciel was beat, and he hated when Sebastian did that. True, he only ordered Sebastian to obtain certain things, so... Ciel was a bit paranoid, and felt Alois Trancy would try to sabotage his duties to the queen in some way. Especially after a huge confrontation recently. "Fine... After breakfast, ready me for the day and I will decide what our next step will be..." "Yes master, your word is my command...".

Soon after Sebastian was in Ciel's office, ready obey whatever his master desired. Ciel had read an important letter from Buckingham Palace. "This an alert about espionage. Someone has confiscated some vital documents of government affairs that may threaten Parliament. Such thing would cause great unrest..." "Yes master, I can very well imagine" starts the butler while pouring tea. "Of course, I would expect better security in the palace that wouldn't allow something like this to happen. But speaking as a demon, I probably don't understand humans' way of securing what they hold vital or sensitive. On the other hand, this may very well be forged to aid the queen in her own malevolent activities..." "You make a point..." Ciel thought, "it makes no sense that the palace would allow something like this to happen" "Does it say what was stolen? What documents or, forms or such were confiscated?" "No..." Ciel starts blankly, "that rouses suspicion right there... hmm..." Ciel thinks, debates, then thinks, and debates again, coming to no clear solution. The queen sends him a letter about alleged espionage, and that vital documents were stolen from the palace. But there were no dates given of such happening, not even explaining what was taken, not even asking for assistance or anything. This story was too vague, and it took forever before Ciel decided on his first move.

"Bring me something to eat, something sweet... I think I know what we first must do..." "yes my master" Sebastian says with no hesitance. After about twenty minutes of time, the butler is returning to his masters office, pushing a trolley of multiple desserts. As he was passing his bedroom by, Sebastian remembers Claude. In an instant, Sebastian forgets about his duty and walks into his room and seats himself by Claude's bedside. Claude was lying as he was left earlier, in deep slumber. Sebastian notices he was still trembling, but also sees beads of sweat on his face. Just as the butler touches Claude's forehead, he draws back sharply. Claude had a fever. Sebastian immediately removes all covers except the sheet. His heart sinks some, seeing his son was hurt, and now ill. If the fever worsens, Sebastian would need to be by his son's side. But he also had his duties as the butler of Phantomhive, and he definitely couldn't let Ciel know he was keeping Claude in his room. What trouble that would insure.

A small, low whine is heard as Claude's eyes shifts open some. His eyes were reddened and dry. Fever was bad news. It meant inflammation or infection, which is serious for anyone experiencing physical injury. Especially like this. Sebastian sits with the young demon and strokes his face some. "Claude..." the butler says, hopeful for some positive response. Sadly, he wouldn't receive such thing. Claude just stares blankly at Sebastian, not appearing to even notice someone was there. "Claude..." Sebastian says again, but still no response. The butler didn't know what to do at first, but that fever needed to come down. Sebastian slowly gets up and quietly fetches a bowl of cold water and a towel. He returns, dipping the towel in and wiping the sweat away from his son's brow. He then folds the towel and lays it on Claude's head, and wonders about food. It comes to him, Claude must be hungry. Sebastian takes a lime confection he had prepared for his master, forks and offers it to Claude.

"This is a small portion... but, at least... at least it's something in your stomach" Claude just stares wordlessly, before closing his eyes again. Sebastian wanted him to eat something, and so gently pushes the fork against Claude's lips. "Eat just a little" Sebastian urges. Claude slowly nibbles, finding the confection to be quite flavorful. That encourages Sebastian to keep feeding it to Claude, and he eats it weakly, small bites at a time. It may have been something in the younger demon's empty stomach, but sugar and fever aren't a wise combination. Sugar inhibits healing and weakens the blood. It also encouraged infections. As a demon, Sebastian probably wouldn't have understood that, this confection being of the human palette. Claude can feel his heart beginning to increase its pace, causing him dizziness. He doesn't relate it to the confection he's fed and eats more than half of it. As he sinks into his pillow, he feels some discomfort in his heart, while his head was spinning.

Sebastian sees Claude weakly laying a hand over his chest, and lays his hand there as well. Taking in Claude's rapid pulse, Sebastian is mentally alarmed, but remains calm in expression. He looks and says before leaving, "Lie here and relax. I'll be back with something to soothe your heart..."

Ciel had fallen asleep in his office chair and hadn't realized how long Sebastian's been gone. The butler himself didn't know. He was lost in trying to aid his broken child. He returns to his room with tea. "This is chamomile... it will relax your heart. Here..." Sebastian tries to sit Claude up, but he jerks as pain from his lower regions shoots through his body, and he falls back whining. Sebastian didn't need anyone to hear him. "Shhhhh, shhh-shhh, I'm so sorry, I didn't know" whispers a very apologetic parent. Claude shifts some, wrapping his hand around his lower abdomen. Sebastian sits only Claude's upper body up, and let's him drink a little. Claude surprisingly drinks most of the tea, and then lies back and rests his eyes.

It worried Sebastian that Claude never said a word, only whined, and even that was hardly audible. "Sebastian! Where are you?" the shout came from a distant room, sounding much like young Earl Phantomhive. It startles the two butlers, but Sebastian quickly calms his son and tries to coo him back to sleep. "Shh it's okay. Claude, try to remain silent... Just lie still, try to rest and heal. I'll be back as soon as I can..." Claude finally shows a glimmer of emotion when seeing Sebastian was going to leave him. But he just leans to his side, his eyes fell closed. The sugar in his blood was still causing him problems, which would taunt him the rest of the day.

Sebastian leaves immediately, hoping that Ciel wouldn't catch him in the hallway and play 20 questions. As the butler approaches his master... "Where were you? Do you realize you went to prepare food for over an hour and a half ago?" Ciel was not amused, "my apologizes master, I promise it won't happen again..." Sebastian replies quickly, "Sebastian... you aren't hiding anything are you?" "What gives you that idea?" the butler was calm and spoke matter of factly, "*grumbles* never mind, where's my-" Before Ciel could finish, Sebastian furnishes his desk with delectable desserts he had prepared, minus the iced lemon torte. Ciel ate slowly, thinking about his next move. "Sebastian, prepare my carriage. I must see Undertaker today. I need some answers about any recent activities at the palace..." "Yes master".

Sebastian was on his way outside, but seeks one of the servants first. He had a secret that needed to be kept with the right person. Finnian was too squeamish and frantic to handle dire needs. Tanaka was just... Tanaka, you could trust him but in his chibi form, he maybe too naive to know how serious this was. Bard wasn't even considered, so that left Meyrin. She was a clutz no doubt, but Sebastian believed she could keep a secret better than the others, and was fairly comfortable with the idea of her handling such issue. Sebastian approaches and corners her, nearly sending her into slight panic. "I'm not going to hurt you, first off..." Sebastian starts, "I need your assistance and for you to keep a secret..." "You can count on me butler, what will it be?" says the young maid, "in my room, is Claude Faustus..." "What? you mean that pesky butler from Trancy's?" "yes..." Sebastian replies, "he's... he's in need. Something, something terrible happened to him and it's left him with internal injuries. I'm caring for him, but the master must never know, nor should the other servants. Please check on him and aid him in whatever way possible..." "of course Sebastian, anything you say! My lips are sealed!" Says the vocally hoarse maid, off to finish her cleaning...

Sebastian and Ciel were off to see the Undertaker. Ciel waited for their stop, while Sebastian drove the carriage. It didn't sit well with him that he left Claude practically alone. No matter who it is or how strong your being, any victim of great trauma needed round the clock care and attendance. He only hoped Meyrin would fair well with caring for Claude.

"... So that's when Gerald said that Cedric did want to ask Julia out... *chuckling* b-but she already was interested in Murphy, and I was about to took her from HIM! So you see, I had the heart of a girl that was in the hearts of six very different, high stat blokes!" "Oh that story gets better every time you tell it, Knox..." replies a very annoyed but emotionless Alan Humphries. It seemed that Ronald Knox had long over stayed his welcome, while talking to Alan... "And honestly I liked Julia you could say, but... she was no more than a bed treat for that night. Now let me tell you about Georgina! Now she's the real deal... One night, I took her-" "you know Ronald, I uh" Alan tries hard to literally, get rid of Ronald "... I think you should get to your um... I know you have something to do, as every reaper does. And I don't want to take anymore of your time-" "Trust me your good!" Says an overly enthused, young reaper "All I need is to hand something to William that's all... He might send me on another dumb assignment later but-... any way where was I?"

Alan saw William was never more thankful. "Ronald it's Mr. Spears, you go do what you need okay? bye!" Alan takes off before Ronald could get another word in. "Hey! You didn't hear about Georgina! I'm telling ya that story's the one!" "Getting kinky with the catalogers again are we, Reaper Knox?" William's voice was chilling and cold, causing the much younger reaper to stiffen in shock. "H-Hey boss! Eh uh, so how about that document!" Ronald quickly tries to change the subject by offering William the requested folder. "Very well Knox, very well..." William says with little or no emotion. "Please Knox, bringing this to me earlier was what I asked. I'll let you off... this time" "Thanks bro! You're alright!" Ronald says doing his trademark pose, which honestly puts a slight grin to William's face. If only Ronald knew what William was capable of and had done just the night before.

"Come with me to my office" "B-But, I thought you said you'd let me off... this time?" Ronald didn't like the sound of this. It sounded like a week of suspense with no pay. "That is an order, Reaper Knox..." Ronald sighs. He could only comply and so follows his boss into his office- no... the conference room. There were several officers working in there, and Ronald first thought, promotion. "Whoa look at these hotties..." Ronald mutters to himself, hoping to get a position in... well, whatever means working with them. However, William oddly orders everyone to leave as, he had other things in mind.

"Take a seat Reaper Knox" Ronald obeys his boss, siting cooly and nonchalant. "So, what'up boss?" Ronald asks, not knowing this meeting would mark the end of his energetic spirit. William sighs, then begins his statement, "For a short time, a racket that involves an unknown underworld of illegal political affairs is about to become exposed. Such a thing could lead to disaster for our world..." "Meh, do'cha mean the human world?" asks the young, half aloof grim reaper. "Besides, what do we care about some kind of political issues between human leaders? They have no affect on us..." "That's exactly what an inexperienced, rookie would say" William says coldly, finally rousing attention in Ronald, "The Shinigami are involved. Various members of the Shinigami are in the heart of it. This ensure a lot of chaos for us. I've been assigned to to discover all the names associating us with this political racket, and I've chosen you to be my partner"

Ronald's eyes grew saucer sized. He couldn't believe his boss invited him on such a case. "By the name of death, THIS IS SWEEEEEET! PI Ronald "To Die" Knox is on the case!" "Please keep quiet!" William hisses with a hint of irritation, "This is top secret information. The wrong ears picks up on this, and it's doomsday... only special officials are in the knowledge of this whole ordeal, and are addressing it" "Sorry boss, I've always wanted to be on an assignment like this. You chose the right guy, to have looks is one thing, but its all about brains in the end. So what's our first step?"

William slightly rolls his eyes at Ronald's display of egotistical eagerness, "Tonight is an important meeting. We have word that several Shinigami members will be there engaging in the assumed criminal activities. Our assignment is to attend a series of meetings, take down the names of all the attendees and search for patterns and consistency of revisiting attendants. We must dress appropriately for the occasion, so take this" William hands a suitcase to Ronald, and gives him a key. "This is my case, and has only one key, so do not lose it. Open it, once you reach your quarters. I'll meet with you tonight at 10pm and escort you in incognito" "Yes sir!" Ronald excitedly solutes and takes the case with him.

William watches the young reaper leave... a subtle devilish grin crosses his lips. Ronald was the perfect candidate indeed. The boy didn't even question William. Never questioned what kind of "racket" these supposed Shinigami were involved in, or questioned the crimes or why the other Shinigami couldn't know about it.

Ronald's youth made him so trusting of his boss and naive. William could never get away with asking Alan or Eric, or any other reaper. Even Grell would have questioned him. Of course William would never team with Grell on something so sensitive. Anything at all really. William leaves, and readies himself, planning a long date with the unfortunate young reaper. Poor Ronald, he was oblivious to the twisted plans William T Spears had in store for him. If only he knew... the skeletons hidden in William's closet...

WATCH OUT. The third chapter becomes very descriptive and graphic. So this is going to be potent.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think. PLEASE REVIEW! I LIVE OFF OF THEM! XD

Pe4C3!
~GNXmike