AN: Hello again, and welcome back to the story! It's the chapter I know a few of you have been waiting for, the confrontation of Grell and Sebastian! This is my first fight scene, so I apologize if it doesn't live up to expectations! We also had quite a few more followers after last chapter, though I'm sad to say not many reviews D: But perhaps we can change that with this chapter?
Warnings this chapter: Violence
Chapter Four: Demonic
Grell was happy. It had been a while since he had been able to say that. Just last night, Grell had stumbled upon the seemingly cold William entangled with the ladies man of the office, Ronald. Of course, after his bout of hysterical laughter over the hilarity of the situation, Grell had granted them both his blessing regarding the secret romance.
Grell giggled to himself as he remembered the embarrassed looks and the flustered explanations of both men. Of course, he ignored them. Despite what they would have him believe, there was really no reasonable explanation for making out with your boss after hours in his office.
Grell hummed a tune to himself as he filled out his paperwork, smiling happily. Things had certainly improved as of recently! His boss and friend were having a scandalous romance, Grell still had an open tea invitation with a beautiful wanted man, and today was the day he had been awaiting. Today was the day he would not only get to take the soul of the Phantomhive boy, but also get to see his favorite red eyed demon again after years and years of being apart!
'Oh, it's almost time! I just cannot wait! Sebastian, how I've longed for you! When I see you today, I'll be sure to cover you in your beautiful crimson blood~! How lovely you will look at we let loose the passion we've been holding in since our separation!' Grell thought to himself, grinning widely.
Grell felt his excitement and anxiety grow with each passing paper he completed. Soon he would be heading out, on the way to a day willed with passion, love, and violence! Better yet, the young Phantomhive boy was his only reap for the day due to the distance, the rest of his shift had been filled with paperwork.
Another paper down, and the stack was getting smaller and smaller with each passing minute. The boring paperwork had captured his attention, Sebastian motivating him enough to do what he had to do to leave.
A light hearted laugh caught Grell's attention in the mist of the paperwork, and a large predatory grin graced his features as Grell was met with the sight of William and Ronald. Ronald seemed to be teasing William about something, and William seemed to be ignoring the younger male. Noticing the stare, Ronald turned his attention to Grell for a moment to stick out his tongue, wink, and give a silly wave.
Grell couldn't help but snicker. Who would have thought? William was so cold and technical, always playing by the books and ignoring the existence of others as often as possible. Ronald was a social butterfly, and had a reputation for being a ladies man. He liked to goof off, though not as often as Grell did, and had never even shown interest in men that Grell had noticed.
Turning his attention back to the matter at hand, Grell grabbed another paper from the pile of work. Within minutes, Grell had finished, much to his joy! A nostalgic feeling came over him for a moment. The last time he had felt so passionate about his work had been a few years ago. He would always finish his paperwork as quickly as possible, egger to return to the mortal world and possibly see the handsome Sebastian.
'Oh, but Sebastian has always had the ability to set my heart ablaze! Fair skin, eyes the color of drying blood, silky black hair…' Grell shivered with excitement, 'Hand~some!'
"Um, Grell-sempai, you're drooling…'
Grell startled slightly, his head jerking upward to see a curious and slightly worried Ronald staring back. A rush of embarrassment filled Grell at being seen in such an undignified state, and he quickly brought his hand up to wipe away any drool that he found.
"Oh good! I was worried that you had gone into William's office, you see! I do have to turn in my paperwork before I can go on my reap today after all~!" Grell teased, watching as the other man flushed a lovely shade of red at the implications.
"Shhh! Someone will hear you!" Ronald said, slapping a hand over Grell's mouth before he could speak more. "Grell, William-sempai and I will get into a lot of trouble if someone finds out," Ronald whispered, "Please be sure to keep quiet about it? If you do, next time we hang out I'll give you all the details on how this all started. Deal?" Ronald asked, removing his hand from his sempai's mouth.
Grell considered it for the moment. His silence in exchange for all the passionate and juicy details regarding how William and Ronald had began a secret affair? Though the reactions of his coworkers would be hilarious, Grell was very fond of both his boss and coworker. He would never intentionally do something to hurt them, and if he could gain the details of how their romance began…
"Oh course, Ronald-darling! My lips are sealed! But I do expect details soon~! "Grell sang happily, standing up and gathering up his paperwork. "But right now I'll have to take my leave! A certain someone had a date with death after all, and I simply cannot be late~!" Grell exclaimed, brushing past Ronald and heading down to William's office.
Wish a gentle knock on William's door, Grell was granted invitation to enter the room. William sat behind his large cherry oak desk, mounds of paperwork surrounding him from both sides. William looked up, his narrow eyes catching Grell's own and holding a silent threat. Apparently, William was not in a good mood.
Grell shifted uncomfortably. Normally he would casually flirt and tease William in an attempt to escalate the man's bad mood, often earning him a passionate response. But now that Grell knew Ronald was with William, Grell was unsure of how to act. He didn't feel comfortable making a move on William now! He certainly wasn't some hussy!
"Hello William, I've finished my paperwork for you! Why the bad mood, did something happen?" Grell asked curiously. Surely William wasn't still upset over being caught by him last night…
"Just turn in your paperwork Mr. Sutcliff. You have a reap today that is almost an hour or so outside of London. You'll need to make sure to be there on time." William said in a cold, firm voice as we returned to his paperwork.
"Oh, I'll be sure not to be late, William~! But you're avoiding my question, Will, what's wrong?" Grell asked, a look of concern gracing his features.
William rolled his eyes slightly, obviously knowing that Grell wouldn't leave until his question had been answered. He set his pen down with a deep sigh, leaning back into his chair as he met Grell's eyes again. 'He looks tired.' Grell thought to himself.
"Ignoring the fact that I'm obviously stressed by the fact that you caught me in such a compromising position last night, there has been a series of murders not too far from here." William stated, taking a quick glance at the papers scattered over his desk.
"How is that any different than the usual?" Grell questioned. Murderers were common after all, at least, they were in their career.
"Don't worry about it now. You'll get the details soon enough. After I finish outlining this information, Mr. Knox and yourself will be investigating. You will get more information then." William said sternly. "Now, you have somewhere you need to be, do you not?"
Grell watched as William once again turned back to his paperwork, obviously disinterested in giving any more information than necessary. Grell sighed to himself. He could only assume that the murders must be mysterious, considering the fact that William was investigating.
"Fine, fine! I do have places to be, and people to kill~! Goodbye, Will! Be a good boy until after I come back this time?" Grell coo'd before dashing out of the room, fearing any repercussions that he may receive from his boss.
After retrieving his scythe, Grell went to the portal area. 'I have quite a ways to go to get to the designated area of death, how annoying! But, the best things in life take time they say. Perhaps the same could be said about death~?'
It had taken an hour and twelve minutes, but Grell finally arrived at the town where Ciel Phantomhive was destined to die. The town was small and rickety, and looked as though a war. The buildings were rubbish, and parts of them littered the ground.
No noise sounded from the town as Grell entered. No life was present that he could sense. The weathered town was deserted, and properly so, as Grell was sure that no one could sustain life in such a place. The aura of the town had him looking over his shoulder at every turn, feeling as though eyes were on him at all times, though he could see nothing however hard he searched.
Grell traveled farther into the town, ignoring his paranoia. As the breeze blew by, Grell could have sworn he heard faint, though terrified, screams. They sent a shiver down his spine. Something about this town was wrong. So very wrong.
Finally, Grell heard what he had been waiting for. The sound of voices, real voices this time, sounded faintly from up ahead. Grell sped up, egger to reach the pair he had been searching for. As he approached, their voices became louder in the silent town, though muffled.
'Perhaps they're inside a building?' Grell wondered to himself. Ahead there lay a large, thoroughly devastated building. Two lone pillars looked as though they were the only thing holding the building upright. Grell hesitated, but the sounding of Sebastian's voice beckoned him onward into the barely standing building.
Through the doorway lay a large room filled with rubble that had fallen from the ceiling, leaving a gaping hole above his head. Voices bounced off the broken walls, and Grell heard Ciel hiss something towards Sebastian. Moving onward, Grell traveled further into the room and towards the left, where another doorway stood.
The voices were definitely coming from inside, Grell was positive. Grell cracked the door open and peered inside, almost squealing at the sight of not only his target, but a very handsome demon. The pair were searching a cabinet, reading though papers and inspecting for hidden compartments.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Grell threw the door open, startling the child and his demonic butler and drawing both sets of eyes to himself. Grell gave a wry smile and blew a kiss towards Sebastian, who winced and narrowed his eyes at the gesture.
"Found you~!" Grell called out silkily, his smile showing off his sharp white teeth.
"Grell Sutcliff. And here I thought today was going so well." Sebastian said flatly, granting an annoyed look to grace his features.
"Oh, so cold of you Sebastian! No need to be shy, I know you've surely missed me just as much as I have you~." Grell said, advancing forward and into the room, causing the pair to tense.
"How did you find us?" Ciel questioned, his eyes reflecting both annoyance and frustration at the arrival of the reaper.
Grell laughed airily.
"You mean you don't know yet?" Grell teased, pulling a paper out of his coat and holding it up to show the pair. "Today is the day you die, Ciel Phantomhive~! What a joyous occasion, don't you think?"
A look of shock appeared over both Ciel and Sebastian's faces as they studied the paper from a few feet away. Then Grell was met by a cat-eyed glare, red eyes narrowed in an almost feral anger.
"Surely you must recognize the mistake you've made, reaper. This child's soul is mine, so even if he was to lose it today, you would not be needed here." Sebastian snapped, glancing back at his young master.
Ciel stood frozen in place, confronted with his own mortality and devastated by the thought of lose his soul before his goal of revenge could be accomplished. Sebastian approached the boy, kneeling down and whispering into his ear.
"He will not have your soul young master," Sebastian whispered as he pulled his gloves off before removing the boys' eye patch. "This seal is the proof on the contract between us. You will not die on this day. Not even death will take you from me, young master."
Grell watched as a look of determination graced the child's features, his focus turning back to Grell as Sebastian stood again and took his place behind his master. A smug look graced the man's lovely features, and Grell fought the urge to pounce on him.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you Grell Sutcliff, but I can't die today. I've promised my soul to another you see, and I have yet to fulfill my revenge against those who have wronged my family. Leave, now." The boy ordered, and Grell was assaulted by the feeling of annoyance.
"And should I refuse? William would be so~ upset with me if I didn't complete a reap." Grell purred, his acidic green eyes turning predatorily.
"Then your own soul will be reaped in place of mine." Ciel replied coldly, a beautifully cold smile gracing his features.
A lovely, almost kind smile graced Sebastian's features as he gazed down upon his master.
"Your orders, master?" The demon questioned cheerfully as Ciel turned to look at him over his shoulder.
Ciel turned back to Grell yet again, his seal beginning to glow, brightening his eye to look a lovely violet color. Grell watched as the child stood proud, and he could feel his heart flutter in his chest. He knew what would come next. He had anticipated it.
"Sebastian, this is an order! Do whatever you must do, but do not let me die today! Protect me!" Ciel cried out, his eyes filled with anger.
"Yes, my lord."
"Finally," Grell exclaimed as he revved his chainsaw scythe, "It's been so long since you've last let my heart ablaze this way, my love! Come, let me paint you as red as a rose!"
Sebastian reached inside of his coat, pulling out shimmering silver silverware. Flicking his wrist, he sent four butter knives slicing through the air and towards Grell. Grell pulled up his scythe, using the wide side of its blade to easily block the attack.
"Is that all you've got, Sebas-chan? My, how you disappoint me! All those years away from me must have left you passionless." Grell cried out in mock pity, rushing forward to take a swipe at the demon with his scythe.
Sebastian easily dodged, spinning behind the reaper and hitting him firmly with a heeled boot to Grell's lower back. Grell gasped at the pain, stumbling slightly before regaining his balance.
"As you can see, I've not slacked off in the least. If I had, what kind of a butler would I be?" Sebastian mocked, his smile turning vicious and his eyes glowing a demonic glow that made Grell shiver with excitement.
Grell spun to face Sebastian yet again, a twisted smile gracing his features. Rushing forward again, Grell came at Sebastian. Grell swung his scythe again, and Sebastian's face betrayed his surprise at not being the target of the attack. Grell ripped into the wall to his side, causing the partially destroyed wall to begin to collapse, taking out part of the roof with it was well.
Ciel, who had been watching not far from the attach, cried out as the wall and ceiling began to fall around him, scurrying to get out of the area before he could be hurt. Sebastian, seeing the danger quickly went to rush to his master's side, only to be stopped by a hard blow to his gut as Grell sprang on his from the side, using both of his legs to kick Sebastian hard and propel himself backwards away from the demon.
Grell landed on his feet easily, his heart beating quickly at the angry glare he received. Just as Grell was about to tease the beautiful demon again, Ciel cried out Sebastian's name. The pair looked over, spotting Ciel on the floor not far away from the collapse. A large piece of the ceiling had landed on the child's leg, immobilizing him.
"Young master!" Sebastian called out, instantly making his way towards the boy.
Again, Grell rushed Sebastian, this time swinging his scythe at the red eyed man.
"Keep your eyes off him, I'm the one fighting you!" Grell cried out in anger as Sebastian leapt into the air, successfully dodging the attack.
Now was Grell's turn to be surprised, as Sebastian closed the distance between them with malicious intent in his burning red eyes. 'Beautiful,' was the first thought that appeared in Grell's mind. A vice-like hand reached out for his neck, and Grell's eyes widened as the tight grip closed his airway almost completely off. Although he had no need to breathe, it hurt!
The blood flow to his head was beginning to slow from the strong grip, and Grell felt his head getting fuzzy, dizzy.
"You're such an annoyance." Sebastian hissed out, "One that I do not intend to deal with after this day."
The grip on his throat intensified, and Grell could feel the man's nails biting into his skin through the gloves the demon wore. His free hand grabbed onto Grell's scythe, and a sense of panic rose up in Grell. A death scythe was the only way to kill a reaper, and if Grell let his get away from him, he had no doubt to his fate.
With all the strength he could muster, Grell struck out at Sebastian with his legs, kicking the demon in the face and sending the demon flying. Scythe successfully out of reach of the cold hearted demon, Grell felt his light headedness get the better of him as he fell to his knees. His neck would be bruised, no doubt about that.
"Stand up, Grell. Is that all you've got?" Sebastian called out from across the room.
Grell looked up as his head cleared a bit. Sebastian's nose was bleeding, his lip split as well and dripping blood. Grell couldn't help but wonder how that blood would feel on his hands. Standing with just a bit of difficulty, Grell met Sebastian's gaze.
"As lovely as this is, I've simply got to ask. Why not just let this child die? He's demanding and bratty. There are much easier meals for a demon to have, so why not let me kill him and free you from that damnable contract?" Grell questioned and pleaded, smiling a charming smile towards the demon. "Once you're free, you'll be able to do what you want again. I'd for certain allow you to have me~! So won't you just give him up? I could make it worth~ it…" Grell coo'd.
His response was a flat look followed by an irritated glare.
"Don't say such disgusting things to me. The only one I have any interest in here is my master. You have never held my interest, nor will you ever." Sebastian snapped, his cold gaze and words tearing into Grell.
Grell felt himself bristle at the words. 'Is that so?' He thought bitterly, 'Then I guess I had better stop playing around.'
Grell allowed a vicious smile to grace his features, one filled with hate and malice. He moved forward, a red blur, causing Sebastian to leap out of his way in surprise. With a rev of his chainsaw, Grell tore through the wall of the building again, causing the structure to quake over their heads.
Grell ran, pieces of debris hitting him as he structure began to collapse completely. A large stone piece slammed into his shoulder as he made his escape, causing a cracking sound to echo in Grell's ears, followed by radiating and throbbing pain. A smaller piece sliced into Grell's head, and blood gushed down his the side of his face.
Grell dashed through the entrance of the building, stumbling and rolling along the ground as he escaped the falling building. Walls crashed down behind him, the sound deafening. As Grell picked himself up off the ground, the rubble had began to settle, the structure completely devastated by his attack.
Glancing around, Grell saw no sight of Sebastian and Ciel. Ruin surrounded the entire area they had been located in. A moment later though, Grell heard the sound of shifting gravel. Turning his attention towards the location of the sound, Grell watched as a large slab of the ceiling was lifted in the air, a bloody and bruised demon standing beneath. Under Sebastian, Ciel laid silent as the dead.
Tossing the debris to the side, Sebastian knelt over his master, calling out the child's name gently at first, and then stronger. The boy was pooled in his own blood. 'A piece of concrete must have struck him in the head,' Grell thought to himself. He could still feel the faint pulse of life within the boy's body, though it was weak. 'Time to finish my job.'
Sebastian stood over his young master in shock before gathering the child up in his arms, surveying the damage dealt to his fragile body. As Grell approached, those shocked eyes turned towards him, almost hauntingly large. Then a dark look filled the demon's eyes.
"I will not lose my prey to a reaper." Sebastian snarled, his demonic eyes glowing vibrantly.
Pulling off his blood-stained white glove, Sebastian activated his seal. The seal radiated heat, and underneath the closed eye of the critically injured boy, his own seal glowed just as heatedly. Soft chanting filled the air, and Grell ran forward.
It made sense now, why Ciel's cause of death hadn't been listed. When Sebastian had said he would not lose Ciel to a reaper, he had meant those words. He would give up his own prey before he would grant Grell the pleasure of knowing he had won.
As Grell ran forward with his scythe raised in the air, he received a hard punch, sending him flying backwards and into a large chunk of cement, his head making a sickening cracking sound as a result. Just as Grell began to black out, Ciel opened his eyes, their demonic glow captivating Grell before darkness overtook him.
Undertaker sat on a weathered building, munching quietly on his bone shaped cookies. His narrow eyes gazed out upon the scene before him. The demon butler cradled the body of the late Ciel Phantomhive to himself, staring as glowing demonic eyes slowly faded back into cerulean blue.
The late Ciel Phantomhive, dead but not, stuck in the demonic middle ground between the two. How pitiful.
An old source had been searching for the duo as Undertaker had requested upon his return. A few days ago, the man had made contact finally, saying that not only had he found the demon and young lord, but that they would be traveling to an area nearby within the week.
Originally Undertaker had planned to ambush the pair and catch up, for old times' sake. It had been years since he had last encountered the young Lord Phantomhive and his delightfully funny demon butler after all. The day hadn't happened as planned though, that much was for sure.
For example, he hadn't planned on spotting a certain red headed reaper in such a deserted wasteland. He had no clue that the boy was destined to die today, nor did he know the child true fate. What a hilariously amusing day.
Undertaker watched with a grin as Sebastian lifted his young master, standing and giving one last glance at the unconscious red headed reaper. For a moment, Undertaker thought the demon might attack the injured man, and that he would have to intervene. After all, Grell was highly amusing, it would be a shame to lose his company. But the demon stood firmly rooted for a few seconds before flickering away with inhuman speed, his young master in tow.
Undertaker picked up the urn that carried his cookies, slipping it into a hidden pocket inside his coat, and leapt down from the tall building. Landing easily on his feet, Undertaker made his way over to the unconscious reaper.
The red head lay as silent as the dead, arms to his side and head turned to the side. Blood dripped from his mouth, and his neck was darkening with a bruise from being strangled. His right shoulder was sliced open down to the bone. Had he been human, Undertaker was positive the man would be dead. But his unmoving chest only proved that the reaper was sleeping deeply.
None of his wounds had been a result of a death scythe, and a death scythe was the only thing that could kill a reaper. Though he was badly injured, he would heal within hours.
'Now,' Undertaker thought to himself, 'Do I leave him here, or take him with me? Hehe, it is a bit far from home. But if someone comes upon him, they'd think him dead. I could only imagine their shock if he awoke as they moved his seemingly dead body, hehe! What a sight that would be!'
Undertaker knelt down next to the beaten body, reaching forward and allowing a long, black nail to trace along a blood stained cheek. The smile on his face drifted into an indifferent, emotionless look. It looked as though he would have a guest for the evening.
Undertaker shifted his black clad arm underneath Grell's back, sitting him up slightly as he adjusted his grip on the smaller man. His free arm hooked beneath the reaper's thin legs, drawing them upward. Standing, Undertaker cradled Grell to his chest.
"I'd best be on my way," Undertaker mumbled to himself, "It'll be a long trip back after all, hehe."
AN: -nosebleed- Goodness, I wish the Undertaker would carry my ass around like that XD Hey, a girl can dream right? Anywho~, what did you guys think of the chapter? Lots of things coming up within the next few chapters! William has a new mission for Grell, we get some fluffy Undertaker and Grell moments, and we get our first lemon (with William and Ronald) within the next chapter or two! Not exactly Undertaker and Grell, but cute enough for now ;) -Leaves cookies- Review~!