That Butler, Interrogating

That evening, Kagome was lying in her spot at the foot of Sebastian's bed when the pain hit. It was excruciating, like being burnt alive at the Earth's core with oil as blood. She screamed. It was almost as bad as the mental pain she had felt inside the Shikon. But back then, she had hope that Inuyasha would come for her. Now there was only a hungry demon looking for souls and a cruel child wanting revenge. Neither truly cared for her enough to help her, she believed.

Then another wave of agony arrived. This time, the former priestess could only pant as all her energy was sucked out. She staggered her way to the window, but couldn't make it any more than dropping onto the ground some meters below. This will have to do, she thought, the Young Master needs his sleep. The exertion was too much for her small kitten body, so she passed out.

Sebastian was preparing the next day's breakfast when he heard a 'thump' sound outside the kitchen window. Naturally, being the curious being that he is, he went to investigate. He did not expect for it to be a black cat - Kagome - in obvious pain. He quickly took her inside.

The butler tried to think of something that might have been the cause. It couldn't have been food poisoning - he had prepared every slice of food personally. And there wasn't another nekomata around to impregnate her, either. So that left only one choice - there was another tail on the way. Nekomata were famous for having to endure blinding pain every time they gained power; namely, tails. It was the main reason why most were content to stay as two-tails. Only a select determined few chose to aim for six-tails. It seemed that, no matter what Kagome thought, she would get another tail.

Inside, Sebastian abandoned the meal for the moment to focus on the demon cat. There were no external injuries - the only thing to do was offer her comfort. She let out another screech. He rubbed her back, just the way she liked it. It was embarrassing for a human, but hey - cats like it and she was no different.

The door opened. Ciel stood there, rubbing his eyes. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Kagome's getting another tail, Young Master. It is quite painful for demon cats."

"Is there anything you can do?"

Sebastian shook his head. "This is why not many demon cats chose to move on to a third tail. They didn't have much contact with other species, so required no additional skills. All they needed was their battle form to protect themselves, their second tail."

"You actually came." Then, a few seconds later, "Eeargh!" she screamed.

"Hush, Kagome. You're fine."

"Tell... Ciel..." she panted, "That I'm sorry I woke him up..." Sebastian could only chuckle. Even now, when she must be feeling like she was at death's door, she thought of the Young Master first.

"What is it?" Ciel demanded.

"She wishes to tell you she apologizes for waking you up in the middle of the night."

He growled rather impressively. "Kagome! I don't enjoy repeating myself - you are not bound by any contract! You are not a servant!"

"But I want to stay, Young Master," she murmured.

For a split second, her entire body dissipated, and when it reformed, there was another bushy tail behind her. Both males stared. Ciel because Sebastian was telling the truth about the new appendage, and Sebastian because it was the first time he witnessed it. All nekomata secluded themselves when they were on the verge of gaining another tail - it was an instinct to protect themselves during their vulnerable time.

"I'm sorry," Kagome said, "I don't think I can stay awake..."

Ciel kept staring. Her words weren't hissed or meowed, they were spoken like humans do. So it's all true, then. He sighed. "Sebastian, put her to bed. You're free from your duties while Kagome is being cared for. I'm going back to sleep."

The butler bowed. "Understood." He turned to Kagome. Carefully, he scooped her up and placed her on his bed. Then he turned to go back to the kitchen - vacation or no, he was still a butler - but claws in his coat stopped him.

"Stay," Kagome said. Sebastian sighed but slipped into bed. "Even demons need sleep." She curled up against his neck. Within seconds, her breathing had evened and deepened, signifying just how exhausted she was. The ordeal didn't last any longer than ten minutes at the most. He stroked her back, contemplating how a little feline had changed his household so completely. She had, quite literally, lightened up the place. There weren't as many mistakes as before. Hell, Bard even got (a teeny bit) better at cooking! He made up his mind - Kagome's story needed to be told.

The next morning, Ciel and Sebastian were waiting for Kagome to wake up. They were in the study, watching her sleep. The earl tapped her once. "Kagome, it's time to wake up." Her eyes opened - an adorable shade of crimson! - to a boy and a demon staring at her. She yelped, startled.

"What is it? Can't I sleep anymore without someone intruding on it?"

Ciel sighed. "We want answers, Kagome. Explanations. No demon, according to Sebastian, gains a tail so quickly; you've only had one minor fight. It's only natural I'd be curious."

"You want the short version or the long version?"

Sebastian smiled. "Young Master, we need to leave for the city soon."

"Short, then," Ciel said.

"Very well," Kagome made herself comfortable. "I was a human born in the year 1994. On my fifteenth birthday I fell into the Bone Eater's Well and travelled five hundred years into the past. I broke a mythical jewel and spent another three years trekking all over Japan to fix it while trying to defeat a half-demon who was hell bent on getting the jewel. When I finished that, I was sent back to my time. Then, on my twentieth birthday, I fell down the well again. You know the rest."

"Then you are... Higurashi Kagome, Shikon no Miko, She Who Traverses Through Time, the One Who Destroyed Evil Incarnate?" Sebastian asked.

Kagome smirked. "I have been called that. Though I don't know about that last two... must be a new title. Sesshomaru's been busy."

"You know Sesshomaru?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah. We go way back. He promised to make my deeds known, too. Last I heard, he was trying to arrange a celebration on the anniversary of Naraku's defeat each year."

Sebastian was as awed as he could be. "He is the Lord of Japanese Demons. Each year, for one week, his palace hold a huge party. No one knows why. But if it is in honour of you..."

Ciel grew ticked off. "Sebastian! What are you talking about?"

"Forgive me, Young Master," Sebastian said, "Kagome almost single-handedly saved an entire country four hundred years ago. Even I heard stories about her; humans don't usually make their way to the minds of those of the Imperial Court."

Kagome hummed. "And who are you to be part of the English Imperial Court?"

"My formal title is Michaelis, Royal Prince, son of Great King Lucifer."

"The King Lucifer? The one hardcore Christians hail as Satan the Devil?"

"The very same."

"Wow."

Ciel snapped at this episode of worshipping. "As touching as this is, we need to get to the city. Her majesty has asked me to investigate the case of 'Jack the Ripper'."

The demons ignored him.

"In fact, Lady Kagome," Sebastian said, "I believe that's why you got another tail so quickly. Your body might be struggling to catch up with your human body's level of power - especially if you were a priestess."

The young Earl growled. "Sebastian! I need to go to the city!"

"Really? That's an interesting theory..." Kagome hummed.

"I'm almost certain of it."

"Sebastian!"