AUTHOR'S NOTE
I worked on this chapter for 3 days and I hope you like it a lot. I am really tired right now so I would appreciate it if you left a comment behind even if you have some sort of correction to make. Every review is highly appreciated and thanks to all of you guys that had already bothered to review. Currently I am working on some fan art for the story and you will be able to see it in a few days. I hope you enjoy!
CHAPTER 3
Being in the Varia meant being able to get along with all kinds of rude behaviors and lots of antagonism. Ciel had gotten a bitter taste of Bel's behavior that could be considered as violently antagonistic, which meant that not only did he try to be the winner and rub it in the others' faces he would go through the process of giving them severe injuries along the way and make them regret ever going up against him, the might royal heir. Ciel knew that but she wasn't willing to give up just because of that. Squalo was one of the members that knew how to handle Bel and fortunately it worked most of the times. The word "most" was used here because it indicates that there were times when Squalo's methods didn't work and those times included Ciel intervention. That just made things worse for everyone.
"VOOOOOOI!" Squalo barked angrily as he yanked Ciel by the arm dragging her away from Bel and Fran. When they arrived at his office Squalo sat on the couch motioning for her to close the door.
«Were we that loud?" Ciel said quietly feeling very anxious. She wasn't the one that had started it. Bel had provoked her and she just couldn't hold back.
«Damn right you were!" Squalo said as Ciel looked down on the floor.
«I apologize…" Ciel said.
«VOI…You two must learn how to be more professional but this is not what you are here for, brat." Squalo said standing up and walking in front of her.
«Then what is it?" She asked confused.
«You will receive your box weapon tonight together with your weapon of choice they were both forged by Lorenzini." Squalo said looking at Ciel.
«But I haven't chosen yet." Ciel protested but quickly lowered the tone of her voice seeing as Squalo glared at her.
«VOOOOOOOOOOOI! Stop complaining all the time!" Squalo yelled at her and Ciel just walked towards the door.
«Understood, captain." She said as she left the room quietly. Deep inside she was excited to see what her box weapon was. She had heard the term before but she didn't know what it was except from the fact that it involved a box. She just went up the stairs heading for her room until she saw Bel sitting on a red velvet couch in his room and doing nothing. She hesitated a bit and that was quite expected seeing as the atmosphere around them was getting more and more tense. Their relationship was something between hate and competition or maybe it was a bit of both. Ciel knocked on the opened door and didn't step in waiting for Bel's reply.
«Who is it?" Bel asked not bothering to look at the person.
«Ciel…" The girl said stepping in his room and examining her surroundings. It was still dirty but she ignored that thought as soon as the prince shifted in the couch in order to look at her.
«Ushishishishi…and may I ask what business does a peasant have with me?" Bel asked grinning at the snow guardian.
«First of all…" How would he react to that? "…I would like to say that we'd better start and treat each other as mere colleagues because that way-"
«I am not a mere colleague and you do not belong in the same level as I do so don't ask for the impossible to happen, commoner…did you come here to apologize?" Bel asked enjoying his victory for the moment.
«After what you said I have nothing to apologize for in fact I meant everything I said to you earlier…" Ciel said with a serious expression.
«Then what are you here for" Bel asked tracing the tip of a knife with his index finger, feeling the cold metal against his skin and moving it slowly.
«I just wanted to learn what a box weapon was….Squalo-san was angry and so I decided that I would ask somebody else…" Ciel explained.
«And what makes you think I will tell you?" Bel asked with a malicious stare.
«It is simple…if you don't I will find somebody else." Ciel said.
"Then why bother coming here in the first place, girl?" Belphegor asked.
"Che…you know just leave it even the sight of your room makes me feel horrible." Ciel said as she left without saying nothing more.
"Who do you think you are?" Bel thought as he threw a knife at her direction even if she was not there. "Insolent fool…"
Ciel hated people like that not to mention that she hated men that had this type of attitude. Ever since her father divorced her mother despite her efforts to keep the family together, Ciel started to dislike men with exceptions of course. They were all the same in her mind and as much as she hated the fact that this was no mature thinking she couldn't help it. Bel just proved her point and in fact it made it worse.
"They are all the same…arrogant liars…" Ciel whispered as she opened her wardrobe in order to find something appropriate for tonight's dinner. She was going to meet the person that forged her weapons. She had to look decent at least.
From the clothes she had put on her bed she decided that the best choice was the white short balloon dress. She didn't have many skirts and dresses mostly because her clothing should be more practical than girly and cute not to mention that she began to like the Varia attire a lot since she had a full collection of Varia clothes. She looked in the mirror sighing after realizing that the moments she would dress like a girl would be limited now that she belonged officially to the elite group of assassins.
"Well since I am an assassin I suppose it shouldn't matter…" Ciel said fixing the hem of the dress.
Meanwhile Belphegor found himself alone downstairs with nothing to do. Xanxus had left with Levi and Squalo whereas Lussuria was nowhere to be seen and Fran…well he didn't know where that frog was and that made him the only one that could welcome a very unexpected guest.
"Belphegor-sama." A Varia member said as he walked through the door to see the prince sitting on an armchair with his feet on the table in front of him.
"What do you want?" Bel asked and his voice hid a hint of annoyance and boredom at the same time.
"A member of the Vongola family has arrived and he claims that he wants to see the snow guardian." The man said with a worried expression on his face as Bel stood up his expression changing as a grin graced his features.
"Let him in then…" The blond boy chuckled sardonically as he realized who the guest was.
"Knife bastard…" Gokudera Hayato walked in the room holding a black bag with the Varia emblem printed on it.
"Ushishishishishi…Still the same old attitude, I see…" Bel said as he approached the storm guardian with a confident smirk. Gokudera glared at him as he looked away.
"Che, I am not here to argue with you right now…Where is this guy that has the snow flame….?" Gokudera asked. He had gotten used to Bel's behavior since he lost that match ten years ago when the ring conflict took place.
"Good evening." Said a third voice from the top of the stairs and both Bel and Gokudera looked up to see the girl that walked towards them with a smile that signified her excitement.
"Who the hell are you?" Gokudera asked eyeing the girl that stood in front of him.
"I am Ciel, Varia's guardian of snow and loyal follower of Xanxus." She said as she realized that the boy was pretty much looking the same age as her. So that was Lorenzini…
"You must be Lorenzini-san." She said slightly bowing.
"Ushishishishishi…" Bel chuckled in amusement and Ciel sent him a glare.
"No, woman I am not."
"Huh?" Ciel said quickly stepping back seeing as she was a taken aback by the unexpected reply .
"Che…I am the right-hand man of the tenth boss of the Vongola family….Tsunayoshi Sawada." Gokudera said feeling a tiny bit offended.
"Oh…I am so sorry!" Ciel said and then she understood why Bel was laughing behind her back the whole time.
"Yeah…listen girl this is for you." He handed her the bag he was previously holding and Ciel took it in her arms.
"Ushishishishi…so you became a delivery boy now?" Belphegor asked as he grinned at Gokudera.
"Shut up!" Gokudera said as he gritted his teeth. Ciel realized that those two weren't exactly in good terms with each other.
"So what is your name?" She asked blushing from embarrassment.
"Gokudera Hayato." Gokudera replied.
"So…Gokudera-san are you perhaps Tsunayoshi's storm guardian?" Ciel asked.
"Obviously…" Gokudera said glaring at her.
"Where's the obvious?" Ciel asked.
"Nowhere he just likes to sound tough shishishishishi." Bel laughed mocking Gokudera.
"You-"
"Could you perhaps help me open the box?" Ciel asked Gokudera.
"Fine but I will only demonstrate once, woman…I really don't think some of them will show you anyways." Gokudera said and Bel watched as the two of them went outside.
Gokudera was sure an unexpected guest but why was Ciel following him around like a lost puppy all of a sudden?
"Gokudera-sempai's charm seem to have an effect on Ciel-sempai." Fran said as he walked down the stairs heading for the kitchen.
"Of course peasants always end up with annoying peasants, frog." Bel said throwing a knife straight into Fran's back.
"How desperate can you get, sempai?" Fran asked as he ignored the prince.
"I am not nowhere near desperate, I am just bored." Belphegor said as he grinned.
"Can't get any more obvious than that, Bel-sempai." Fran said as he left the room.
In the meantime Ciel watched as Gokudera injected the storm flame inside the small red box which resulted in it opening and revealing a little kitten.
"Gokudera-san?" Ciel asked eyeing the small feline.
"Her name is Uri." Gokudera said.
"It is a kitten?" Ciel asked.
"Stupid female!" Ciel just watched as Gokudera went to hold Uri.
"It is a cheetah cub." Gokudera added but unfortunately for him Uri started clawing his eyes out. Ciel watched terrified and tried to get a hold of the small creature but failed miserably earning a few scratches on her face. Gokudera managed to stop Uri from continuing holding the small cub away from his body and yelling at it.
"Ushishishishishishi…" Bel appeared leaning on the door frame and chuckling at the sight before him. "What did you expect with such an awfully common box weapon?" he asked mockingly.
"Take it back!" Gokudera yelled.
"Che, at least mine knows how not to embarrass me shishishishishi!" Bel walked towards them giving Uri a smirk of triumph.
"With all due respect Belphegor-sempai why do you interfere?" Ciel asked and the prince suddenly felt his blood boiling. How dare she question someone with a higher rank than her.
"You wish you had never said that, peasant." And as the two of them continued to argue they did not notice that Gokudera had left them alone catching Uri by the fur of her back and walking away, towards the gates of the mansion.
"Nice going…" Ciel looked around unable to spot Gokudera. "Now he left due to your egoism." She added.
"I'll have you know that I was the victor when the ring conflict occured." Bel said with a giant smirk.
"So what? At least he bothered to help me." Ciel said sighing in utter defeat.
"I already told you with such a box weapon you are wasting your time." Bel said.
"It is not nice to talk like that…I think it is up to the owner and not the animal….I liked Gokudera-san's a lot." Ciel admitted taking her own box out of the bag. It was a small box that was curved with different designs and resembled the one that Belphegor was holding right now. He grunted as he walked towards her , lifting his hand so as to show her the storm ring he was currently the owner of.
"Now pay close attention commoner and stay back…We wouldn't want for you to get burnt to death now would we?" Bel asked half seriously half mockingly.
"So you are actually going to show me?" Ciel asked not really believing Bel.
"What do you think…? I should have imagined that you know."
"Imagined what?" Ciel asked crossing her arms in front of her chest, waiting for him to open the box.
"You are just like your breasts." Bel said making Ciel glare at him instantly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked clutching her box weapon tightly.
"Low in capacity…." Bel replied with a smug grin.
"You are so rotten to the core!" Ciel said calmly but deep inside she wanted to punch Belphegor that never ceased to display that unfriendly , egotistical side of his that resembled her father's nature in a way.
"You'd better watch what you say." Belphegor said repeating the process Gokudera went through in order to release a bright red light that circled Bel's shoulders and quickly turned into a fluffy white creature that sat on his owner's shoulder with its tail around Bel's neck.
"A mangust?" Ciel asked as she stared at the creature.
"Che…You idiot, that is Visona Tempesta!" Bel stated displeased by Ciel's reaction.
"A mink that has the same haircut as you?" Ciel blinked not really impressed.
"What do you mean you good-for-nothing kouhai?" Bel asked his lips forming a thin line curved downwards.
"Well…I guess it suits you…." Ciel said.
"Oi…don't talk like you've got something better. In fact silly peasants like you can't even open the box." Bel mused as he watched her put on her snow ring , determined to humiliate her.
"Talk all you want sempai…." Ciel replied as she managed to make the flame appear on her ring. It was a white flame with tiny snowflakes swirling around it. The girl injected the flames inside the box feeling her heart beating really fast at the moment. She saw the box opening and a white light swirled around her , finally landing beside her feet. She looked carefully waiting to see the creature that would appear I front of her eyes. Belphegor eyed the flame too.
"Ushishishishishishi…I bet it is an earthworm shishishishishishi…" He laughed, venom dripping from his sharp tongue.
Ciel kneeled in front of the fluffy ball that was curled on the ground.
"Hey there." She said trying to touch the mysterious animal.
"What the hell is that shit?" Bel asked as both him and the mink on his shoulders gritted their teeth. The small animal lifted up his head to look at the girl that looked worried.
"It's…"
"A stupid Fennec Fox?" Bel asked as he poked the small creature with his boot in order to see how it would react.
"Bel get your foot off of it!" Ciel yelled as she scooped it in her arms protectively.
"It's not like it is worth my attention anyway." Bel said glaring at the small fox and as he proceeded to grab it and lift it up the fox bitted his hand earning a slap from Belphegor that resulted in the fennec fox running away from Ciel and disappearing into the small forest. Ciel panicked as she saw the creature vanishing into the darkness. Bel just stared at the mark that the fix had left on his hand with a look of utter disgust.
"I won't let you gat away with this!" Ciel said going after her box weapon ignoring Bel's insults. She ran in the forest hoping to find the fox that had been scared to death by Bel's brutal slap. She would not let him escape from her. He would definitely pay for what he did to the defenseless fox. Ciel couldn't see in the dark so she tried calling out for it to come back.
"Please little fox….where are you?" She shouted hoping that it would hear. Nothing…
"Come out and we will kick Bel together!" She tried again but to no avail.
"I promise to get revenge just come out…" After a few minutes she was exhausted so she sat under a tree trying to slow down her breathing. She gazed up at the sky closing her eyes and trying to focus on finding her box weapon. She felt tears coming to her eyes as she remembered how excited she was when she saw the fox staring at her with those big questioning eyes. She had failed as its owner and probably as its companion. No, she should definitely find it, Ciel would not get a replacement for sure. And she would be damned if the prince didn't find a bucket of cold water landing on his head the next day. She stood up wiping her eyes with the back of her sleeve regaining her focus.
"Okay now were must you be?" Ciel asked taking a random direction.
Meanwhile Xanxus had arrived with Squalo and Levi only to see Bel standing in the doorway with the mink on his shoulder.
"VOOOOOOOOOOOI! Bel! Did the box weapon arrive?" Squalo asked as Xanxus and Levi went inside ignoring them both.
"Ushishishishi…it sure did!" Bel chuckled as he grinned.
"And where is that woman then?" Squalo yelled.
"The fox ran away and she is out looking for it." Bel and then Fran appeared behind them.
"Actually Squalo-san, Bel slapped the fox and it ran away." The boy wearing the frog hat said.
"Ushishishishishi…I'll deal with you later…" Bel threatened as the mink's tail was encircled by storm Deathperation flames.
"You punk!" Squalo barked swinging his sword towards Bel. "Go and find that fox! VOOOOOOOOOOOOOI!" Squalo ordered as Bel obeyed after five minutes of having Squalo going on about being an idiot and his irresponsible behavior. Needless to say he was not that pleased with the captain's order.
"Now where must that fool have gone?" Bel asked as he sent the mink to examine the surroundings. He would really get her for this. Now not only did he have to go search through the forest but he had also infuriated the second in command and all that was because of her. However as much as he wanted to throw curses at her and make her feel inferior to him , doing something like that would only make things worse but it seemed that things had gotten already out of hand as it also started to rain. It was quite normal for this month. It was September 27th and now that the autumn had officially arrived it was probably going to rain more often.
The ground started absorbing the water that came from the sky in such a quick motion that in a few minutes there was mud everywhere. It made the earth's surface very unstable and dangerous the more someone was heading for the forest towards the training grounds. Ciel tried to ignore the water that made her shiver but after a few minutes it was almost impossible to walk . She was losing her footing all the time and the path was perilous. Small branches and tree roots on the ground made it a struggle for her to keep going but when she heard small crunching sounds her hopes went up as she followed the source of the sound. She even tried to run but regretted it later when she fell against a tree trunk. The disappointment was even bigger when those sounds approached only to reveal that it was…
"Visone tempesta?" Ciel asked soaking wet and tired. "What are you doing here?" She asked as the creature showed her its teeth before flying away between the trees leaving her alone.
"Fine I shall rest for a little bit and then I will continue the search…" She coughed a few times due to the cold. God…that was surely going to turn into a first degree cold if not a second degree one.
However in a few minutes she found herself staring at a large shadowy figure that stood in front of her. When the storm mink flew above them to finally land on the person's shoulders then Ciel instantly knew who it was.
"Belphegor?" She whispered not using any form of honorific to address him.
"Ushishishishishishi…Be glad that the captain actually noticed you were missing." The prince said with an expression that was everything but happy . It wasn't even mocking…actually it could be considered a sign of displeasure and annoyance. She just glared at him standing up and pushing him out of the way.
"You have the nerve to even talk to me after what happened?" Ciel asked walking away from Bel.
"Ushishishishishi…You should know better than to irritate me any further…." The prince said as he grinned like a feline. Ciel bared her teeth at him that just kept on walking .
"That is totally my line." Ciel muttered pushing some branches out of her way and scanning the place….
"I can't see anything…" She said after a few seconds.
"Go, Mink." Bel said as the mink went ahead of them . Its sense of smell and hearing was quiet developed so in a few seconds it had found a small barely noticeable cave that was covered with tree roots. Ciel couldn't see well in the dark but the rain seemed to only strengthen and make things difficult to see.
"Is it...in there?" Ciel asked mostly herself as she approached the small cavern quickly hoping the search would stop there…she was mentally and physically exhausted.
"Most likely, the mink detected its disgusting smell." Bel stated with a look of disdain.
"Oh shut up!" Ciel said as she pushed some leaves out of the way. He eyes widened as she saw the little creature curled up in a ball in order to maintain its temperature. Fennec foxes are found in deserts and apparently the small creature wasn't used to the sudden change in temperature.
"Thank goodness!" Ciel exclaimed as she kneeled and tried to catch the fennec fox.
"You think you can actually fit in there?" Belphegor asked as he looked in amusement.
"And how do you suggest I put it out?" Ciel asked.
"Visone tempesta can be very persuasive…ushishishishishishishi…" Bel laughed sardonically as he put his arms in his pockets with his hood over his head to prevent his crown form getting wet.
"Keep that weasel away!" Ciel said.
"Fine then, suit yourself." Bel said sitting on a rock and leaning back.
"Come here fennec." Ciel said smiling weakly at the fox.
"Please….and I promise not to let Bel touch you ever again." Bel frowned at that but continued watching.
"Oi peasant!"
"What?" Ciel asked.
"Hurry up!." Bel said .
"I'll give you fried tofu! Or a bug…" Ciel said as the fox took a reluctant step towards her.
"Yes, that is right …I will even let you sleep next to me." Ciel said as the fox moved towards her.
"Ushishishishishi…still making dirty suggestions, cub?" Bel laughed as the mink sat on his lap watching with mild interest the scene before them.
"Here…" Ciel said as the fox was again scooped up in her arms. Ciel didn't put the animal back into its box but instead carried it back to the HQ nuzzling her face next to its ear.
They were finally back and Ciel took a hot shower with the fox. After that both of them were on her bed as she brushed its short fur feeling its smoothness as the fox leaned back into her touch between her arms that played with its cheeks. The door opened and Ciel looked up to see Prince the Ripper stand before her with a towel over his head and the mink being soaking wet.
"Hey that mink is dripping on my carpet." Ciel said raising an eyebrow at the mink.
"Che…lowly peasant you own me." Belphegor said smirking at her.
"No way! You are the reason why it got scared." Ciel said.
"Ushishishishishi…How is it my fault that your box weapon has the mind of a goldfish?" Bel asked.
"What do you want?" Ciel asked as Bel approached leaning down in front of her and taking her chin between his fingers. Ciel could feel his hot breath hitting her upper lip and nose as she brought her hands to grab his wrist and try to escape from his grip.
"Listen…" Bel said venomously yanking her face towards his now capturing her face effectively. " I was totally not in the mood to go fox hunting in the middle of the night with a peasant so you will go to my next missions instead of me." Bel looked at Ciel smirking at her glare. His lips brushed over the tip of her nose slowly going down but just then…
"Damn it you fucking fox!" Bel said as he grinned like a maniac after the fox bitted his hand again this time successfully freezing it . Ciel turned to smile at her fox before going into the bathroom and handing Bel some bandages.
" Here…I returned the favor now get out, sempai." Ciel said as she felt proud at the moment.
"That little soon-to-be-a-pair-of-boots fox has your attitude…filthy commoner…" Bel gave her a malicious , sadistic smirk before the mink gave Ciel a huge scratch on her neck. Ciel touched it with two fingers as Bel approached again this time pushing his long fingers onto the wound making the pain worse. Ciel didn't even flinch as the prince applied more pressure before leaving her alone with her new companion.
