People are strange things. It's so weird how one can make you laugh despite you despising them, or how you can think them enjoyable one minute and then you can instantly find them royally annoying the next. We're such fickle creatures, of thought and of deed. I guess that's because everyone has their good points, even the ones that have a lot more obvious bad ones. And there's also personal preference to consider. You know, like who you like to hang around. That's just an observation I made today.

Now, let's get to the story!


Ciel claps a hand over my mouth, hissing, "Don't scream. It'll just cause more casualties." He then lowers his hand, his eyes having never diverted from the assassin standing in the entryway. I chew on my lip, unsure of what to do. I hadn't been about to scream, but isn't that what you're supposed to do in these situations? Draw in bystanders? Assassins don't like being seen, so they flee, right? That's what it's like in the movies, at least.

"I'm not so keen on killing girls, but," the man shrugs, "whatever. I'll just demand a larger payment. No harm done."

"All I did was drive two hours to see my idol," I groan quietly. "All I did was take advantage of a contest. What did I do to deserve this?"

"You can regret everything later," Ciel snaps, crouching into a position that suggests he's ready to flee. I copy the motion. Okay, in the movies, what did the characters do when they faced their assassins? All I can think is that they fought, but I can't do that! I've never boxed, or done martial arts, and I don't even work out! Plus, the guy's got a knife!

The assassin steps towards us and we both take a step back. Sighing, he wields the knife tighter and slings the rope over his shoulders. "Come on, let's do this nicely. If you struggle, it'll hurt. If you listen to what say and put this noose around your neck, we won't even have to break skin." Ciel continues to retreat and I match him, under the assumption that while I certainly don't, he may know what he's doing. So the space between us and the assassin doesn't close, but this can't go on forever. There's a wall behind us, after all.

When we pass by the kitchen, I spot something dark out of the corner of my eye, but Ciel hisses under his breath, "Don't look!"

I tense and force myself to keep my eyes on the attacker, and we continue backing up. As he follows us, our assailant wonders, "So where's that butler of yours? Sebastian, was it? We can't leave him out of the fun, now can we?"

Suddenly, there's a knife at the man's throat.

"How kind of you to think of a lowly butler like me," Sebastian smiles beside him, no different from usual. "I would be delighted to take part in the fun."

The assassin smirks. "Is that a butter knife you have at my throat? Surely you don't think you could kill me with that."

"Oh, the capabilities of the utensil should not be underestimated, sir. You'll find they're surprisingly versatile and efficient."

"Let's try it, then!"

I can hardly process it at the speed with which they move, the assassin falling back and Sebastian pushing after him with his simple weapon. The only thing that I'm sure of as they take jabs at each other is that I was right to think Sebastian was terrifying. The way he matches the assassin step for step, it makes me shudder. What sort of past does he have to be able to move like that?

"Sebastian!" Ciel calls out beside me abruptly. When my eyes fly to him, I'm startled to find that all the anxiety he'd previously shown has dissipated. Instead, he crosses his arms in a way that actually suggests he's irritated.

"Yes, Young Master?"

"Quit messing around. We don't have time for these antics."

"Yes, of course."

And then the assassin stills, both of his weapons dropped and both of his hands dripping with blood. Then with a forceful kick to the shins, Sebastian has the man kneeling on the ground.

"Now," Sebastian smirks down at him, "if you drop your remaining weapons and answer our questions, we'll promise not to maim you so terribly."

"Maim? Why don't you kill me?" the man pants.

"Because we need you to deliver a message for us. But there a parts you don't need to do that. Your nails, for example, or your fingers. Your nose is also quite useless for such a task, and if speaking is all you need, I don't think reproductive capabilities matter all that much, either. Of course, we could also leave that all intact. What do you think?"

"Do it, then. If you can."

I swear Sebastian chuckles. "Certainly."

I flinch when the demon of a man tears the thumbnail off of the assassin's left hand, the man himself grunting in pain. Then comes the forefinger. By the time Sebastian is gripping the middle finger, the man's face is distorted in silent agony. After ripping off the entire hand of nails, Sebastian asks, "Feel like talking?"

Grimacing, the man snarls, "Depends." When Sebastian grabs his other hand, though, he rushes, "Fine! I'll talk! What is it you want?"

As Sebastian interrogates the man, my eyes drift to the crimson stained floor. "Are we going to have to clean up all that blood?" I mutter.

Ciel laughs and I jump, staring at him in wide-eyed surprise. "You're handling this rather well," he comments. Then as an afterthought he adds, "For a girl."

"Would you please stop pointing that out," I wince. It seems like half the time he opens his mouth, he's saying something about me being a girl.

"What, your gender?"

"Yes. It's like you're looking down on girls." There, that's a convincing substitute for the real reason I'm annoyed, right? That's something a girl would say, yeah?

"Whatever. I'll admit that a partially expected you to retch, though. You really are taking all of this surprisingly well."

"Would you rather I kicked and screamed and complained?"

"Of course not, but it's a little strange that you aren't."

I sigh, averting my eyes from the pathetic, babbling assassin. "I was kidnapped by my favorite idol. I'd say I have no right to complain, because this sort of scenario is the stuff that fans all dream about, you know? It's just my own terrible luck that I'm getting dragged into yakuza business at the same time."

Ciel casts me a glance that clearly questions my sanity. "You like me that much? I'm not even an actor, or a singer. I was shocked that anyone at all responded to that stupid contest my company proposed."

"How could I not admire you so much?" As I speak, my hand raises to rub the back of my neck out of embarrassment. "I mean, you may be a guy, but you're beautiful! Your eyelashes are long, your body is slim, and your eyes are piercing...of course I like you that much. I've...liked you ever since the first time I saw your picture." Oh god, it feels like I'm confessing my love for him.

Ciel doesn't respond. Puzzled, I draw my eyes that've wandered back to him. Then I'm unable to help pausing. He's met my eyes, his sapphire orbs wide with surprise, and I spot pink creeping into his cheeks. Is...is he...blushing? Almost as soon as we've made eye contact, he whips his gaze away and purses his lips.

"You don't have to tell me that," he snaps, panic hiding in the undertone of his voice. "I became a model because I knew all of that already!"

"Well, isn't this a touching scene," Sebastian observes as he uses a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his hands.

Ciel immediately commands, eager to change the subject apparently, "Shut up and tell me what he said."

I raise an eyebrow at his contradicting words and Sebastian visibly withholds his laughter. "Didn't you hear, Young Master? He was sent by Riichirou, like the last one, and was paid well over a million yen for your head. Of course, I made sure that he intends to return it, as that much money is a hefty sum for a small group like yours to give up. Also, Riichirou is not in hiding. He is at the main house, and has allegedly said that he will not move from it because of the threat of some naive english child. I do believe we will have no trouble finding him there."

Finally seeming to gather himself, Ciel clears his throat and asks, "And have you given him a message to return with?"

"We will be coming for Riichirou's head tomorrow, of course," Sebastian replies, returning the now stained cloth to his breast pocket. "I might have also said that you would cut it off with one of their heirloom katanas."

Ciel stiffens, then with a grim tone, states, "Fantastic. I suppose that little show will prove my worth in the eyes of those thugs. I will not forgive you, Sebastian, if you let those words end as lies."

"Yes, my lord." Then Sebastian turns back to the trembling assassin, his smile morphing into a disgusted frown. "Now, be on your way, vermin. Go show your hands to your employers and deliver our message."

With a small squeak and the scrambling of limbs, the man rushes to his feet and out the door. I gape after him in astonishment as the door swings shut behind him. Sebastian then returns to the kitchen and begins cleaning up, Ciel seating himself back at the bar and gulping down his first spoonful of miso soup. It takes me a few seconds to snap out of my stupor, but then I stutter, "W-was it really a good idea to let him go like that?"

Sebastian dunks the used ladle into sudsy water as he explains. "The underworld is a world of power, Tyler. By not killing this assassin, it shows our opponents how sure we are of ourselves. We didn't run, nor kill him out of fear for our lives. Sending him back portrays confidence, and confidence is a destructive weapon in any game. Confidence inspires fear."

"You'll learn quickly," Ciel comments flippantly, continuing to eat his meal. "Now sit down and eat so we can go to sleep. We're going to the Naoto main house tomorrow, and if you lack energy, you could very well get yourself killed. I'd rather not have a body on my hands so soon after my arrival.

"R-right." I push my joints into motion, returning to my seat next to Ciel and eyeing the bowl in front of me. I'm going to have to get used to this, aren't I? Going from eating dinner to dealing with someone trying to kill me. I guess the sooner I get used to it the better.

Exhausted, I pick up the spoon and slurp up the broth. I quickly find myself drinking the soup with a surprising amount of vigor. Sebastian may be a terrifying, brutal man, but damn! He knows how to cook!


This chapter is kinda short, but meh. This story has me a little worried, though. I'm really into this story. I'm fascinated with the idea of writing Tyler, and the interactions between him and the others are interesting for me to write. The whole yakuza thing is also something I have a huge interest thing, so I was super excited to write about it! But I'm not sure if you guys are enjoying it or not. It's just that I haven't heard from you guys at all, and with such a low amount of favorites and follows, it makes me wonder if I'm somehow writing this wrong. I hope not, but you can understand my concern, yeah? Well, I plan to still continue the story though, even if it's just for me and the few of you who are enjoying this. So I'll see you at the next update!

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!