Finally, chapter four is here! Sorry for the delay! ^^;
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Kuroshitsuji in any way whatsoever ^^
Rays of sunlight streamed into my eyes making me blink in annoyance. When I opened them fully, I was back in the manor enveloped in soft whiteness. 'It was...a dream?' Just as I was figuring out the dream I heard a knock at the door. "Y-yes?" I stuttered. Sebastian came in the room followed by a delicious aroma of tea and pastries.
Smiling gently, he said, "You are awake. Breakfast has just been prepared." I started to get up with embarrassment. He chuckled. "No need to rush. I have yet to wake the young master." He saw me eye the bundle of clothes in his arms. I turned away, blushing. "I came to leave these here. If they are not to your liking, please do not refrain from saying so." After placing the clothes on the vanity, he stalked out the room, closing the door behind him. I shuffled to my feet to examine the clothes.
'It doesn't look like dress,' I thought thankfully. Though I found them pretty, I kept a distance from dresses and skirts. The ensemble included a pure white silken blouse with a dark gray blazer adorned with dull silver buttons and decorated with thin strips of black velvet. The sleeves stopped at my elbows when I buttoned the two pieces on. The trousers were darker gray yet not quite black which stopped at my knees. Sebastian had also provided a black silver studded belt, a pair of knee socks and a pair of dark chocolate boots that enveloped my entire calf in supple leather. Lacing up the boots, I stood up and gave myself a once over in the vanity mirror.
'Not bad,' I thought, admiring the clothes. Then I saw my hair. It was a tangled mess atop of my head with strands standing up on end. Quickly snatching up the silver comb on the vanity I started to attack my head in an attempt to tame it back to its usual stature. After a final combing, my hair was once again long and straight, free of any tangles whatsoever. I sighed with relief. Sometimes my hair would have cowlicks here and there even after brushing it hundreds of times. 'I should really get it cut...' I looked around the vanity for something to tie my hair up with. 'Perfect,' I thought as I pulled out a gray velvet ribbon from a drawer. I carefully gathered my hair into a long ponytail, keeping it tight as I wrapped the ribbon around it. Tying the ribbon securely in place, I tied it into a neat bow on top of the ponytail. 'That's better.'
The door creaked open making me jump in surprise. When I turned around, a red-headed maid with thick round glasses stood timidly at the doorway. "Um...Sebastian-san asked me to escort you to the dining hall," she said, her voice cracking and squeaky. I smiled. 'Mei Lin...' I stood up from the vanity and followed the clumsy maid into the hall. After several wrong turns and dead-ends, Mei Lin finally brought us to the dining hall where a figure clad in blue was waiting.
Ciel was spreading jam on a scone when he said, "Please sit down. You must be hungry." My stomach growled at the sight of all the food. Grateful, I sat down at the table and selected a warm buttery biscuit from a large tray. "You slept well?" Ciel bit down on the scone.
I swallowed. "Yes. Thank you for asking." I blushed as I wiped the crumbs from my mouth. He smiled and continued his breakfast. I did the same as Sebastian placed a plate of poached salmon and fragrant greens in front of me. He poured steaming tea from a silver pot into an intricately designed teacup which sent a soothing odor to my nose. I inhaled deeply. "Earl Grey?" I asked as I breathed in the citrus-y smell. Sebastian's eyebrow raised slightly.
"Indeed. I am quite surprised that you could detect such a subtle scent." I blushed slightly.
"I worked in a cafe, so I became accustomed to the different scents of teas." I sharp pang went through me. 'That's right,' I thought. A wave of homesickness came over me, tears welling up in my eyes. Frustrated, I blinked them away. 'Today would be Saturday. I'd be getting the cafe ready by now...' I thought of all the scents that I would be smelling, Akira-san yelling at me to get back to work, Yuki-kun-the guy I have a crush on-washing the mugs;everything that should be happening right now. I bit back the tears that were threatening to fall. Suddenly, the dining room doors flew open, shocking me out of my homesickness.
"Good morning, everyone!" Grell leaped flamboyantly into the dining hall. He gave a sly wink to Sebastian who in turn shuddered slightly.
"Must you make such noise so early in the morning?" Sebastian shut the doors. "Now that everyone is here, shall we begin, young master?" I looked at Ciel. 'Begin what?' I thought. Ciel put down the knife he was holding and wiped his hands on a napkin.
"First, I believe our 'Alice' would like to have a proper introduction." He stood up and walked to where I sat. "I am Ciel Phantomhive," he said, shaking my hand.
"I know," I said, blushing. "Actually, I already know who you all are." I pointed to everyone in the room. "Sebastian, Grell and Mei Lin. There should also be Finny, Bard and Tanaka-sa-" I immediately stopped talking as everyone's eyes turned to me. They probably didn't even know they were a manga.
I was about to take back everything I said when Grell said,"Ah, yes. In her world, we are nothing more than pictures in a storybook. It's natural that she would know all about us and our world." He glanced back at Sebastian. "Yes, just about everything." Everyone's gaze softened and the anxiety left me.
Ciel cleared his throat. "Well then. I suppose only one introduction is in order here." He gestured to me with his hand, nodding his headed slightly at me. "If you would."
Suddenly flustered, I swallowed. Glancing around the room, I said, "M-my name is Haruko Ryuusaki. Pleased to meet you!"