Thank you to Butler of Death and the one named Idara for being my only reviewers. I appreciate it and look forward to future reviews, from you and others. I am working on as many of my stories as I can so please excuse the lateness of this update. I am so happy with how long this one turned out. I also hope you like learning more about Ouro. ENJOY! :-P
"I try and sleep so that I can recover more and what do I not get. You got it. Sleep," Ouro grumbled as she gently brushed a hand over her stomach wincing in pain.
"Are you alright Ouro?" Sebastian questioned innocently as he came up behind her, causing her to jump.
"Dammit Sebastian. Don't sneak up on me like that," she cursed before coughing up a glob of blood into an already stained handkerchief. "And don't pull that fake empathy crap on me you psychopathic demon," she hissed through her teeth as she straightened up before heading to the kitchen
"I am sorry. I will try to remember to announce my presence next time," he mocked as he followed her to prepare their master's meal, whilst she prepared a meal for the servants.
~~Time Skip~~
Grell's screaming broke her out of her reverie as she saw the tea cart come barreling through the doors straight for Finny. "Move!" she yelled as she ran and pushed the poor boy out of the way, only for the cart to hit her instead spilling the hot tea on her back.
"Frag on a Pit spawned popsicle stick!" Ouro screeched as she ran out of the room to find some cold water to splash her back with; however, in the process of running, she bowled poor Grell over causing his head to hit the ground with a dull thud. "I can deal with my own burn!" She yelled as she fled the room. The only place that she knew she could properly take care of it was her 'washroom' in the bathtub where she could strip and let the cool water run over her until the heat was removed from the burn.
While she was taking care of her burn, Sebastian was schooling Grell on the proper way to prepare tea.
~~Time Skip~~
When she finally emerged from the tub, the skin on her back was already blistered leading her to gingerly dry off before redressing in her corset, leaving it loose so as to not rub against the blistered skin. "I just hope that bastard doesn't pull a Peeping Tom on me," she grumbled as she bent over to put her shoes on. When she was finally able to spot the other servants in the gardens, she trotted out to meet them and assist with the pruning of the shrubbery.
It was a moment after the real Tanaka had to take on his smaller form because of his energy expenditure when Finny noticed her. "Oh! Ouro! How are you feeling?" Finny asked as he caught sight of her.
"Better," she responded with a smile before she caught sight of Grell. "And you. What were you thinking going through the manor in such a fashion? You're lucky that I pushed Finny out of the way or I may have given you a sound beating then and there" She growled as she stalked towards the poor unsuspecting man.
"Wha- Oh. I am so sorry. Allow me to atone with my death!" The high strung servant cried as he turned the gardening shears upon himself.
"None of that now," Ouro firmly stated as she grabbed the shears from his hands before whacking the top of his head with the handle from them.
"Ow!" The failing butler complained as he clutched his head.
"It serves you right. Now. I know Sebastian gave you a lecture, but allow me to give one of my own." She stated harshly.
"Who is she to be giving a lecture?" Bard whispered to Finny.
"Attempting to take your life on the grounds of your current master is not only undignified, but also a disgrace to our young lord. Next. If I see you run about the manor in such a silly fashion again, I shall have to take it out of your hide. Do you understand me?" She demanded as she concluded her lecture with a fierce glare, as she got right in his face. This caused the poor man to shrink in on himself.
"Alright Ouro. That's enough for one day." Bard soothed as he put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay for him to mess up. We do all the time," Finny nervously stated.
"Fine. But I do not like those who put others at risk with their antics. Got it?" Ouro sighed before going to see what she could scrounge for the servants' lunch. "I'll find us something for lunch then we can get back to work."
"Oh. And why do you get to decide lunch?" Grell asked as he looked at her curiously.
"Because I know what I'm doing, and Sebastian trusts me," she smirked over her shoulder as she headed in to ensure lunch for the servants and the young master, should he return early, was seen to.
"But she is so young. Why is she trusted as she is?" Grell asked dumbfounded. Before Mey Rin screamed causing Ouro to turn back around to see what all the fuss was about noticing all of the trees and shrubs looked like skulls.
"Well. Doesn't that just look downright cheerful," she remarked before marching back to the group. "Nobody panic. We can fix this if you just listen," she stated, but no one was listening as they all commented on the work.
"Why skulls?" Bard choked out.
"O-Once again, I have caused a great deal of trouble," Grell whined before running for a ladder. "I'll die! I'll die and repent!" He exclaimed as he grabbed a rope to hang himself with.
"Oh no you don't," Ouro growled as she ran over to the ladder and quickly climbed it making sure that it did not fall over. "What did I just tell you about offing yourself while you in this manor?" She demanded as she took the rope from around his neck.
"B-But, if I don't at least hand myself, how on Earth could I ever show my face again?" He cried as he looked at her with tears in his eyes.
"You start by living and doing you best to learn from your mistakes," she admonished as they began to climb down the ladder.
"I-I can try that," he stuttered as he looked at her. "But what can we do about the skulls?"
"I have an idea, but I think that the rest of you should go inside and wash up. Our lunch is the small sandwiches that have been left on the counter in the kitchen. Now go. I can deal with this," she stated as she shooed the others away. As she watched the others walk away, she noticed a carriage that was not their master's approach. "The others can deal with it, I have to fix this," she muttered before setting to work in creating Day of the Dead skulls.
When she was finally done, the master was just arriving back at the manor. "That worked better than I planned," she mused as she dusted herself off before heading inside to change and check up on the others.
When she entered the mansion, she nearly bumped into Sebastian. "What the-" she began before stopping herself from letting loose the curse on the tip of her tongue when she noticed the interior of the mansion.
"What on Earth is this?" Sebastian breathed dumbfounded.
"SEBASTIAN!" The other servants wailed as they came running out dressed in silly outfits.
"What is going on here?" Ouro demanded as she leveled a glare at the hysterical servants.
"More importantly. What on Earth are you wearing?" Sebastian asked.
"Ask that crazy girl!" Bard cried as he pointed to the room they had run out of.
"Crazy girl?" Ciel questioned before the sounds of Grell choking were heard.
"I swear. I tell him not to do something, and he does just the opposite," Ouro growled softly causing Sebastian to chuckle and her to turn and glare at him.
Sebastian, Ciel, and Ouro swiftly moved to the offending room to peek inside. Upon looking inside, Ouro discovered Grell hanging as a decoration and a bubbly, young, blonde girl around the same age as Ciel. "What the hell are you doing?" Ciel demanded.
"As you can see. I'm dying," Grell responded woefully as he swung by the rope.
"Take him down Sebastian," Ciel ordered as he sighed in exasperation.
"Understood," Sebastian responded as he reached up to remove the man when someone suddenly streaked past him.
"CIEL!" A young blonde girl cried happily as she ran up to him and gave him a huge hug. "Ciel, I missed you," she continued as she squeezed him tighter.
"Elizabeth!" He called out shocked as she pulled back from him a little bit.
"Aw. I'm always telling you. Call me Lizzy," she chastised as she held him at arm's length. "You really are the cutest thing. Aren't you!" She cooed as she squeezed him into another hug.
Watching the exchange, Ouro had to hide her smile, though a few of her amused snorts did not escape Sebastian's notice as he gave her a questioning look. "Later," she whispered so that only he could hear.
"Lady Elizabeth," Sebastian stated as he approached with the limp Grell.
"Oh my. Sebastian good day," she greeted with a curtsy before noticing Grell. "Oh. Did you take him down?" She asked a little disappointed.
"Yes. He ruined the aesthetics," Sebastian responded as he gave her one of his charming smiles.
"Really? But, I decorated him so nicely," she whined as she looked between Sebastian and Grell.
"Decorated him?"
"Yes, decorated him. See. Doesn't it look so much cuter?" She asked as she gestured to the room.
"It looks like a unicorn with diarrhea shat all over the manor," Ouro grumbled to herself catching Sebastian's eye as he gave her a disapproving look, which she returned with a glare daring him to say something.
"My mansion-" Ciel started.
"There shouldn't be anything but the cutest items in this mansion," Lizzy happily beamed. "Isn't that right Antoinette?"
Everyone looked at Tanaka as he sat there with a curly, blonde wig on. "Tanaka too?" Sebastian sighed.
"I have something for you too Sebastian," Lizzy stated as she pulled out a bonnet before placing it on his head. "So cute! You're always dressed in black, so I thought that the color might look good on you too," she exclaimed before spotting Ouro who was more successful in stifling her giggles than the other sniggering servants. "When did you get a new maid?" She asked confused by the presence of the other girl
"She arrived a little over a week ago seeking a place to work and the young master was kind enough to offer her a place in his staff," Sebastian supplied as he shot a glare at the other servants.
"Oh well. I think that I have something that will look cute on her," Lizzy mused as she pulled out an orange bonnet that matched her dress and shoved it over Ouro's head, much to her chagrin.
"Thank you Lady Elizabeth," she stated humbly as she shot a glare at the smirking Sebastian.
"Anyway, Lizzy. Why are you here?" Ciel asked tiredly. "Where's Auntie?"
"I wanted to see you so bad, I sneaked out," Lizzy responded excitedly.
"You secretly snuck out? What were you thinking Lizzy?" Ciel asked as she grabbed him in yet another hug.
"So who exactly is she?" Ouro demanded softly as she came up beside Sebastian at the same time Grell asked a similar question.
"She is the daughter of the Earl of Scotoni. Lady Elizabeth Esel Cordelia Midford," Sebastian answered as he watched Ciel and Elizabeth.
"Scontoni Elizaeth Easel Cordilia Midford," Ouro responded before slamming the palm of her hand into her forehead in frustration. "Well. Didn't I fuck it up," she hissed quietly as she mentally kicked herself for her own stupidity.
"Lady Elizabeth is the young master's fiancée," Sebastian responded ignoring her and Grell's failed attempts to pronounce her full name.
"Fiancée!" Ouro chocked out surprised that the sober, downright gloomy boy, was engaged to the bubbly little ball of energy before her. "Well. That does clear up some things," she mused.
"Lady Elizabeth is the daughter of an Earl after all. It is only natural for a noble to marry another noble," Sebastian explained.
"Oh yes. Since the mansion has been decorated so nicely. We should have a ball!" Lizzy exclaimed as she clapped her hands together in excitement. "Then you can escort your fiancée and we can dance around in circles," she continued, oblivious to the shocked expressions of the mansion's inhabitants, as she grabbed Ciel's arm.
"Hey! Who said it was alright to have a ball-" Ciel started,
"You'll wear the clothes I picked out for you. Right Ciel? I think they'll be really cute on you!" Lizzy continued.
"Listen when others talk to you-"
"Oh I have to do my makeup!" She exclaimed excitedly as her eyes became glossed over with dreams. "Come on. I'll make you even cuter too," she babbled excitedly as she grabbed both Grell and Ouro's wrists before attempting to drag them off.
"My lady. If there is to be a ball tonight, I am needed for preparations. May I suggest Mey Rin in my stead," Ouro stated pleasantly as she held her ground barely budging as Lizzy tried to take off with her.
"Okay!" Lizzy exclaimed happily as she grabbed the poor maid's wrist before dragging her off along with Grell.
"Glad I escaped that one," Ouro sighed as she slumped before casting a glance to Sebastian. "What? It's not Like Mey Rin minds. She loves stuff like that so I'm kind of doing her a favor here," she defended as she saw his disbelieving look.
~~Time Skip~~
It didn't take long for Sebastian to find her doing her duties, after changing out of her dirty clothes, when he set about it as fast as he could. "Ouro. The master wishes to know if you know how to waltz? If so he wishes for you to teach him." Sebastian questioned as he relayed his master's orders.
"Sebastian! Don't scare me like that!" Oro squeaked after stopping herself from hitting him as he startled her. "I do know the basics of a waltz and how to teach it," she responded. "It should be enough for this occasion," she mused as she looked at him. "Do you not know how to waltz? Or is our master just picky about tutors?"
"Believe me my lady. I know how to waltz. Our master is just unhappy with dancing with a man," Sebastian replied with a smile. "Now seeing as time is of the essence. Please do hold on tight," he advised as he picked her up bridal style, noticing her grimace as his arms brushed her back, before running to Ciel's study.
"My lord. She does know and is willing to teach you," Sebastian stated as he entered with Ouro still in his arms.
"Okay. Let's get this over with. Ciel come over here and properly ask me to dance before placing your hands in the correct positions," Ouro instructed as she strode up to his desk.
"Why do I have to ask you to dance?"
"Why do you not. It is polite. I also want to make sure you can approach Lady Elizabeth, or any other lady, and ask her properly," she stated as she looked at him. "I say again. Ask me to dance."
"Lady Ouro, will you permit me this dance?" Ciel asked in a deadpan, a bored expression on his face.
"Thank you my lord," she responded with a curtsy before he placed his hands in the proper positions. "It would not hurt you to smile," she chastised as she poked his face. "Now. Step forward and lead with your left. Heel to toe, then match it with your right foot," she instructed as she slid her right foot back with the timing of his left and matched hers with him. "Good. Now take a small step to the right with your right foot and match with your left," she continued.
"This is pointless," he muttered before tripping over his own feet.
"Perhaps a new strategy could work for this," she hummed in thought before Sebastian come over here. I want you to shadow Sebastian as he and I dance," she instructed a she motioned for Sebastian to join them.
"My lady. May I have this dance?" Sebastian asked with a bow.
"Certainly," she replied as she curtsied in response holding out her hand for him to take while his other settled on her shoulder, careful to avoid putting too much pressure on her burns. "Now. If you wish to practice only the footwork. You may leave your hands by your sides, or hold them in the proper position," she addressed Ciel. "Slowly for now, I will call out the counts," she instructed the males. "Ready. And a one, two, three. Two, two, three. Three, three, three. And a one," she began to count as she and Sebastian danced, making sure to watch Ciel's footwork. "Watch Sebastian, two, three," she called out sharply as she noticed Ciel beginning to go off count.
"You aren't a bad tutor," Sebastian commented as he watched her as she watched Ciel. "I wonder. What else can you do?" He questioned as he leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear.
"I think that we should take a quick break before I teach you how to do a turn," she called out loudly in Sebastian's ear to gain the attention of Ciel who sighed in relief at receiving the break. "Don't look so happy," Ouro snarked before biting her tongue at her own stupidity. "At least try to smile. If you do not look as if you are having fun, Lady Elizabeth will believe that she has to stay longer in order to cheer you up," she quickly amended.
After a few minutes, Ouro called to Ciel again. "It is time that we attempt a turn," she stated as she approached him. "Let us get this over with and then I will submit myself to becoming cute," she shuddered on the last part.
After much practice, and several failures, Ciel was deemed passible by Ouro. "I know that this has been torturous and therefore, I will not force you to continue. That is up to Sebastian," she stated as she left the males to join Lizzy in making everyone adorable.
~~Time Skip~~
When the torture of being turned into something cute had finally ceased, Ouro wished that she could murder something in order to let out all of her frustration. "It just had to be frilly," she hissed as she stalked through the halls in order to avoid being seen. When she rounded a corner, she collided with another body clad in black. "Oof," she grunted as she almost fell on her backside. Her only saving grace was a hand that had encircled her wrist ensuring that she did not fall.
"My my. Don't you do look quite ravishing in that gown," Sebastian smirked as he steadied her on her feet.
"Couldn't you have avoided this is you had, I don't know, used your exceptional hearing?" Ouro demanded as she glared up at him.
"And why would you be on the other side of the mansion from the ball? You wouldn't be trying to avoid it. Would you?"
"So what if I am. I do not do dresses. Nor do I do frilly girly stuff. I hate it. I want my old clothes back," she complained as she crossed her arms.
"If the young master is to be forced into this, then we as loyal servants are to be as well. Besides, I may like a dance with a lovely lady," he smiled as he held a hand out to her.
"Shove it up your ass demon," she retorted as she turned and stalked away.
"There was no joking about attending the ball," Sebastian stated as he ran in front of her. "We are all required to attend."
"Fine. The first one to piss me off is most likely going to be decked though," she conceded as she turned around yet again and headed towards the ball to arrive with Sebastian and Ciel.
Positively ignoring everything, Ouro unconsciously began barre warmups for ballet, until she heard Ciel's voice become very stern. "Give it back!"
"Woah. Guess I should pay more attention," Ouro muttered as she turned her attention to Ciel and Lizzy seeing what was going on.
"Give it back Elizabeth," he continued as he held out one hand.
"Why are you getting so angry?" Lizzy asked with tears in her eyes.
"Everyone calm down," Ouro called from her spot at the top of the stairs, in her mom voice. "Just what is going on here?"
"Ciel is being mean. I just wanted him to look cute. He didn't wear the ring I got for him," Lizzy defended.
"What she has there is my ring. I want it back now," Ciel countered.
"Alright. Ciel. Please explain the significance of the ring and why you refused to wear the one Lizzy has given you."
"This is a ring that has been passed down for generations to the head of Phantomhive house. Therefore it is mine, and I want it back," Ciel stated angrily.
"There Lizzy. Do you understand why Ciel would not like another to take his ring?" Ouro asked as she watched Lizzy's reaction.
"But-But. I just wanted to make everything cute. He got so angry. I hate this ring! I hate it!" Lizzy cried as she raised it above her head before throwing it to the floor, breaking the expensive ring.
Ciel ran at Lizzy intending to slap her; however, Ouro stepped in his way and blocked his arm with her own. "I am sorry master. But, I cannot allow you to hit a lady," she stated as she allowed her arm to fall back to her side. "Lizzy. Were you even listening to his explanation?"
"N-No. Why did he get so angry?"
"The ring was something incredibly important to our master. It was passed down through generation of Phantomhive family heads," Sebastian stated as he passed Ciel his cane before turning to Lizzy. "Please forgive my master's rudeness."
"Th-That's a precious ring? I- I," Lizzy hiccupped.
"This is why people should pay attention when others are speaking," Ouro quietly hissed as she turned around while Ciel picked up the ring before throwing it out of the window.
"Ciel…I'm- I'm sorry," Lizzy sniffled. Before gasping as he threw it out of the window. "What are you doing?!"
"It doesn't matter. It's nothing but an old ring," he stated brushing off her comments. "Even without it. I am still the head of the Phantomhive household."
"Oh Lizzy. If you keep up this crying, you'll become all red and blotchy," Ouro stated softly as she took out a handkerchief and handed it to the weeping girl. "He will be fine. As will you. Now get out there and have some fun with him as you two dance," she urged as he moved behind the girl to give her a gentle nudge. Hearing the sound of a violin, she looked to the top of the stairs to see Sebastian begin playing. "Typical Sebastian," she sighed as she gestured for Ciel to ask for the dance.
"I can help!" Grell exclaimed as he ran over to the base of the stairs and began to mimic the violin's tune.
"Not bad of a voice," Ouro stated a little surprised. Though it does make this whole thing a little too masculine. "Guess I have to bring in some femininity," she huffed as she positioned herself on the opposite side of Grell.
"Woah. They can both sing!" The other servants exclaimed as they watched the three musicians as well as their master and Lizzy dancing.
~~Time Skip~~
Not even bothering to see off Lizzy as Grell took her home. Ouro went straight to her room, changed into her nightwear, and promptly fell asleep.
