A/N: Hello again lovely followers/readers/reviewers. We hope you're enjoying what we have written so far. We have planned out everything that is going to happen and warning, things are going to get violent, steamy (not full on steamy, but hints) and gory. We're hoping that this story will be no longer than 30 chapters but it might be less. We will have to see when we finish planning it all out. Anyways on with the show.
"Welcome to the Phantomhive residence Orihime and Sora Inoue." Says a voice as they walk through the large double doors. The polished wood gleaming in the sun light, matching the pristine flaw of cleanliness that the garden has. Musing, Ulquiorra noted that whoever sorted the garden out also did the polishing of the doors. As the door closed behind them he took a glance around the room, they stood in a large hall with rooms either side and in the middle a grand staircase that split into two at the middle going opposite ways to one another. The carpet that covered the staircase had been a vibrant red that was beginning to fade ever so slightly to a softer pink, obviously from the amount of people walking over it every day. The same red led a strip of carpet to the doors that were behind them and underneath and surrounding were blue tiles, shined up so that one's face is they looked down would stare back at them.
The walls were lined with portraits of a young boy and flowers sat in vases all around, giving off a flowery scent that to Ulquiorra's notice was not unpleasant. His eyes wandered to Orihime's face, she was in awe at the mansion and everything in it. Her eyes lit up and shined with a brightness he was unsure anything could match. Straight ahead of them stood six figures, four in work uniforms and the other the boy from the portrait. Sora walks over and bows with respect.
"You must be Ciel Phantomhive, it is an honour to make your acquaintance at last." He says politely and Orihime follows suit curtsying but not speaking. Sora had warned her not to speak unless she was spoken to, so not to weird Ciel out and the business partnership to be ruined.
"That I am and it is a pleasure," Ciel responds. "I do hope you enjoy your stay here, this is Sebastian my head and personal butler, if either of you have any problems you may report them to him. The two other men on my left here are Finni and Bard. Finni is the gardener here and Bardroy the chef. To my right is Mei Rein who is the maid around here, she will be providing you with clean bedding and cleaning your rooms. Finally is Tanaka…he does not speak much but will help with any requests."
The five that were just introduced all bow chanting "Yes master."
"I see you have brought some of your own personal servants with you," Ciel regards.
"Yes," Sora replies. "This is Ulquiorra he is the head servant in our household and our most trusted. He has been in our service for ten years now and has our respect as well as the other household members." Ulquiorra nods taking a small dignified bow. His eyes taking in the appearance of the five in front of him. Ciel was rather small with dark blue hair and an eye patch over one eye, a blue ring adorned his hand and he had with him a walking cane. Beside him were two blonde men, one more feminine looking than masculine who wore clothes Ulquiorra would associate with a gardener; that and the other buff and masculine he presumed was the chef. Mei Rein had large glasses framing her face and her pink hair was tied back, her outfit resembling that of some of the lower servants in the Inoue mansion. Tanaka was a small gentlemen with silver grey hair and a monocle.
Finally was Sebastian the personal butler of Ciel. He had dark hair similar to his own, but not as long. His brown eyes resembled what Ulquiorra could only picture as melted chocolate. A brown so rich and shiny that it seemed impossible for them to be that shade. He was also taller than Ulquiorra and skinnier, but Ulquiorra came to the conclusion it was because his muscles were not as defined as his own. He did not question that the man had muscles though, because from his appearance it was clear he did, Sebastian had that deadly look about him that Ulquiorra did not trust.
"And then this is Hannah, Orihime's personal maid. She has been in our care the longest out of all our staff," Sora says and with that Hannah goes forward and does a small curtsey. For a moment, it looks as though Sebastian looked shocked and Ulquiorra observed how he quickly maintained that confident and controlled look he had about him before. Hannah however was not as quick to recover and it was evident there were shock, sadness and fear playing over her face and eyes all at the same time. No one other than him and Sebastian seemed to have noted what had just happened.
"Come," Ciel says "I shall show you your rooms and then Sebastian will fetch you when I am ready and bring you to my study." With that Ciel begins walking up the stairs followed by Sebastian; the other three just stand there whilst Orihime and Sora follow. As Ulquiorra and Hannah begin to walk up the stairs too, Ulquiorra in a hushed voice addresses Hannah.
"What was that about?"
"It was nothing; I just thought I recognised him that was all." Hannah replies
"Woman, do not mistake me for some idiot. I recognised the emotions that you let slip onto your face. You are hiding something and you will tell me,"
"Not at this precise minute Ulquiorra," Hannah says and with that she quickens her pace slightly to show she was not going to go on with the subject any longer. Orihime is deposited at her room first, her face glowing bright again and twinkling as she gazed around.
"It's amazing," she said spinning around and giggling. Hannah followed Orihime into the room not looking up from the floor as she did. With that they leave the girls and continue their journey to Sora's quarters.
"Your sister lacks the elegance and formality that is required within a family so noble and refined." Ciel states bluntly.
"My sister has all those things when they are needed; unless it is necessary for them qualities to be present she will lack them and be herself." Sora states protecting his sister "You will see once social events are attended by her."
"If I might add something," Ulquiorra says in his low voice. Sora nods and Ciel stops to listen. "Miss Inoue is at times unpredictable and childish. Her normal behaviour is always unexpected and low of requirements however, once in the role and representing the Inoue family in no matter what social occasion, she has the highest regard for elegance and formality. She does not let her own nature intervene with the expectations she should provide."
"We shall soon see," Ciel says before turning to Sora and continuing on the journey to Sora's room. "Is you servant always like that?"
"Ulquiorra is the best we have ever hired. He speaks the truth as he believes not in telling what people want to hear but what they should hear." Sora replies aware of his servant listening in. Behind them Ulquiorra from the corner of his eye regards Sebastian as they walk on. Then deciding to address him he speaks in a low tone he knows Sebastian will hear.
"May you share the shock you perceived upon the introduction of my mother," Sebastian glances down his eyes also regarding Ulquiorra. His eyes seem to glare as if the news of the relations between him and Hannah came as a shock.
"My business is my own, it is nothing you should concern yourself with," Sebastian says his eyes facing forward again.
"It is my business if it is in relation to my mother." Ulquiorra all but growls out, "She's a disappointing bitch most of the time and a failure as a mother but she is still part of my business."
Sebastian stops and puts a hand out in front of Ulquiorra causing him to stop to. Ciel too stops and looks back. "You go ahead master," Sebastian says "Ulquiorra was merely enquiring about something and I will gladly show him," Ciel nods his eyes letting Sebastian know to inform him as to what's going on later. With that Sebastian opens a door, his eyes narrowing as he motions for Ulquiorra to enter. Glaring back he does and then Sebastian follows closing the door.
"I find it appalling you should address your mother with such a lack of care," Sebastian says "and I will say it will not be tolerated in the Phantomhive manor. If you refer to her in such a way again I will ensure there will be consequences."
"I would highly like to see you try," Ulquiorra replies, his tone portraying boredom his face still as emotionless as ever. "I can speak about my own mother in any way I wish. It is of no concern to you how I treat her,"
"It is every bit my concern how you treat her," Sebastian says glaring. Glaring was an ugly thing to do but the shorter man in front of him, was deserving it all. As Sebastian continued to argue with the smaller man he found his temper growing shorter and shorter…he was beginning to worry when he might erupt.
There was a thick tension in the air during dinner, a silence covering the group up. Orihime sat uneasily playing with her food. The tension was making her nauseous and she was unsure if anyone else had picked up on it.
"May I please be excused?" she finally asks breaking the silence. "I'm afraid I do not feel at all well."
Looking up she sees Ciel nod and gets up making her way towards the garden. Once outside she sat on a bench and took deep breaths. The nausea began to leave after a while and she sighed. The cool air blew her hair around her face and the fragrance of the flowers helped her relax. When she had been younger and her parents had come home from long business trips she would often be given flowers. Different every time so she could only guess what might appear. The fragrance of the flowers always helped calm her because they were specifically of her to remind her of specific things.
A daffodil to represent the sunshine from a holiday on a beach. A violet to represent the fields in which her parents first met. A rose. To represent the love that they all shared will never die, even when the last petal has wilted away. Breathing in deeply the scent of the roses in the gardens around the manor Orihime lets a single tear fall. It was hard to think of a love never dying when there were two members of her family already dead. She missed both terribly. No matter what she did they were always in her thoughts. She had been lucky to survive the accident that had claimed her parent's lives. Sora was too, although he hadn't been nearly injured enough for him to die. She could of, but she didn't.
In her voice she can still remember a voice telling her to hold on, if not for anyone else but for him. He needed her and wouldn't lose her. Of course, she didn't know who he was, but she imagined he was her prince and it was because of him she survived. The doctors had disagreed saying it was more the drugs they had given her to help her heal and wake up from her coma but you know. Slowly she felt her eyes begins to close and sleep claim her. She was exhausted and the day had been awfully long. As she finally drifted off small snores erupted from her mouth.
"Hehe, now looky here. This has to be my lucky day, and I'm sorry darling but don't take this personal or anything just business," As this is being said a shadow walks towards Orihime's sleeping form.
"Ah Miss Inoue there you are," Ulquiorra says as he walks forward only to notice her asleep. He sighs gently and goes over to her stroking her hair. Carefully lifting her in a bridal carry hold he walks off with her to put her into her bed. The shadow curses and retreats still watching the two walk away. As Ulquiorra carries Orihime to bed he smiles and absorbs the heat from her body. A soft rumble vibrates through his chest as he bites his tongue to stop it from happening again. Although controlling it was getting harder and harder. The closer it got to his twenty first birthday the harder it was to reign in control. He knew he would have to talk to his mother about this soon, otherwise the consequences could be deadly.
After laying Orihime on her bed he walks out the room to be greeted by an agitated Hannah.
"Mother," he says politely. After he walked away from the argument with Sebastian he had been a little wary of the butler and what he was truly capable of. It had been clear he was hiding something and holding something back.
"Mrs Cifer?" Sebastian asks walking over. Speak of the devil and he shall appear Ulquiorra thinks rolling his eyes. "I believe we need to talk"
"You have no right to need to talk to my mother," Ulquiorra says.
"I have every right as much as you do!" Sebastian says
"Oh really?" Ulquiorra says narrowing his eyes. "Would you care to explain how?"
"Sebastian please this isn't the time nor the place," Hannah says her voice a few octaves higher than usual. Panic was clear in her eyes.
"Stay out of this mother, it has nothing to do with you," Ulquiorra says addressing her.
"As a matter of fact," Sebastian says "It has everything to do with her, she is after all my mother too,"
A/N: OOOOOOO cliff hanger I know, and yes they are related, that was the whole reason we decided to do a cross over because we literally felt like they would be brothers. Anyways I hope you enjoyed this and maybe review? ;)
