Author's Notes
Aloha! Sixth chappie here! Sorry for taking a while to write this, but I'm quite busy at the moment. And sorry, but Lizzy isn't in this chapter, the chapter itself without Lizzy is already too long. So we'll have her on the next chappie~
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji, Yana Toboso does.
The Game of Chess | Chapitre 6: A Filler? How Uncool...
I'm not going to sit alone all day!
With that thought in mind, I jumped out of bed—and fell, realizing that I haven't got proper balance from the cracked skull. I groaned and managed to get up on my feet, and then I walked slowly out of the room to avoid seeing Sebastian or Madame Red—who might still be in the mansion!
"Where to go…" I pondered aloud to myself. I kept on walking with no direction until I passed by the doors to the garden. I may as well refresh myself there than walk around in the hallway waiting to be found by Sebastian, right? Well, no matter, because I've already opened the doors and went outside.
"Ah, fresh air…" I sighed contently, walking towards a rose bush. I eyed the roses before touching one; it was pure white and tended carefully. The gardener must be excellent to be able to produce such high quality roses. From sudden curiosity, I tried to pluck one of the roses off, which resulted to my finger getting pricked by a thorn. I pulled my hand back, drops of blood tainting the white rose I wanted to get.
So it is true, curiosity killed the cat—or at least, hurt the cat in this case. I sighed and walked towards a huge apple tree, looking from the top to the bottom. The apples were still green, but there was one apple on the top that was ripe colored in a brilliant red. A sudden thought of getting that apple crossed my mind—and being the hyperactive person I am, I climbed the tree with minor difficulties and reached the top branch, sitting on the tree branch. I cupped the apple which was right in front of me and plucked it gently, muttering a simple sorry to the tree which was 'freaky' some people might say, but I'm not that normal anyway.
I could see a reflection of myself on the apple, and I could see now that there was a bandage over my head—put as if I had a concussion, which I probably had. I stared at the apple blankly until I felt sleepy and somehow managed to drift off to sleep in that tree.
"She's up there!" shouted someone too loudly for my comfort, startling me up. I half opened my eyelids before closing them again—but of course was disturbed by other noisy shouts. I groaned and was about to try and go back to sleep before a gloved hand caught my head and I fluttered my eyes open, meeting a pair of amused looking wine colored ones.
"Young Mistress, may I ask what you are doing up in a tree?" the butler asked, smiling his trademark smile and somehow managing to place me in his laps on top of an unbalanced tree branch.
"I wanna sleep…" was all I said before leaning into his chest and closing my eyes without really knowing what's happening since I'm half asleep and nothing was getting through to my brain. As usual, my sleep was disturbed by the sudden feeling of falling down before two arms caught me. After a while, I still couldn't feel the ground under my shoes, so I decided to open my eyes lazily meeting a pair of wine colored ones—again.
I was too tired to blush, but my heart beat did quicken as I mouthed a simple "what". Then I heard someone clearing his/her throat and I turned my head to look at the person—it was Ciel. I waved my hand at him and did nothing else as I stood there—actually stayed there in Sebastian's arms.
"What were you doing up in a tree you idiot!?" he asked sternly, a vein popping out from his forehead. I could see that he's clearly angry, but really, there's no need to be such an as— I mean party pooper.
"Getting an apple." Was my blunt response as I showed him the undamaged brilliant red apple. He eyed it skeptically before turning his back on me.
"You should rest. The crack in your skull has damaged your brain." He spoke nonchalantly before walking towards the manor in an uncaring fashion. I contemplated his sentence for a while before it clicks on my brain that he just called me crazy.
"I'm not crazy you brat! It's the concussion's fault!" I screamed at him, flailing my arms about—all this while being carried to the manor in Sebastian's arms. He must think I'm crazy, I mean who wouldn't? Anyway, Sebastian carried me to my room and he set me down gently on the bed. I huffed and crossed my arms in a child like manner, refusing to eat the breakfast he had prepared.
"I don't wanna eat." I said simply, turning my head sharply away from the plate he handed me. It was hard to turn down the meal, but I simply have to! Oh, those lovely looking scones served with butter and Devonshire tea… It looked crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the soft bread made out of wheat practically screaming to be eaten. I almost drooled at the sight of it, but of course I didn't. There is no way that I'm going to afford loosing this game—hold on, since when was it a game?
"Young Mistress, you haven't eaten any breakfast. The Young Master has ordered me to take care of you, therefore I have no choice but to force you to eat." He spoke nonchalantly, placing the plate back on the silver tray he brought. I scoffed and eyed him skeptically, I mean, just how in the world is he going to force me—Luna Ven…I mean Phantomhive, the most stubborn person the world has ever known—to eat?
"Just how are you going to do that?"
The butler smirked and leaned in to me, making me blush furiously. I glared at him, but this only made him smirk even more. He leaned closer and blew at my ear. I shuddered as a tingling sensation went down my spine.
"I have my ways." He whispered maliciously on my ear, his hot breath making me shudder from a sensation I've never felt before. Seeing my red face, the butler could only chuckle before getting the plate of scones and pressing one to my curved lips. I shook my head in response and leaned back on the headboard. Sebastian could only sigh as he as he placed a hand to his forehead. I smirked in victory and opened my mouth to say something, but he took the chance to shove the scone to my mouth, so that now half of it is in my mouth, the other outside.
"I've told you haven't I? I have my ways." He smirked in victory, sitting down on the bed. I glared at him and was about to spit the bread out of my mouth when he held it firm with his palm. I tried to push his hand away but it wouldn't budge one bit, in the end I had no choice but to swallow the bread whole. As much as I hate to admit it, it was the best scone I've ever tasted—and I've eaten lots!
"I don't want—" As if on cue, I was cut off by another scone shoved into my mouth. I had no choice but to swallow it since the butler used the same method as the last. Once the food was swallowed, I grunted and glared at the butler, daring him to shove another one of those yummy—I mean horrid tasting scones into my mouth. I kept my mouth closed and averted my gaze to the window where I could see a scenery of the garden—Finnian, Maylene and Bard flailing about, looking like they're enjoying themselves. Suddenly a flash of memory from last night's events came to me and I tried hard to suppress the blush that is threatening to color my face.
"Young Mistress is there something wrong?" asked the butler faking worry, but amusement and mockery clearly seen—he was freaking smirking for God's sake! I swear, one day I would rip that mocking smile off his face for good!
"No there isn't."
Then there was silence.
Awkward silence.
"Okay, fine. I wanted to ask you about…" I burst out, trailing at the end and blushing furiously.
"About?" inquired the butler. Clearly, he knows what I'm about to ask, yet he just loves to embarrass people—especially me.
"Uhh… "
"Yes?"
"………"
"Milady—"
"About last night!" I cut him off—which seemed to tick him off a bit, but then again, I could care less. It's just that I prefer to care. The butler seemed to be in thought for a while before he opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again—this, ladies and gentlemen, pisses me off.
"You have something to say?" I inquired with authority in my voice—even though I had none in this case.
"Milady, I have recalled last night's events and apparently, I couldn't find anything out of the ordinary." The butler spoke with gestures, his eyes clearly spelled out mischief. It couldn't be a dream right?
"My lady, would you prefer to share body heat then?" asked Sebastian playfully, pressing me against him even more.
"The Young Master has ordered me to take care of you." He whispered on my ear, making me shiver from the contact.
"Hmm… Please go back to sleep milady…" he whispered softly on my ear, his velvety voice somehow intoxicating my brain to do as he commands.
I shook my head to clear out those vulgar thoughts of last night's events. It couldn't be a dream right? I mean, why in the world would I ever dream of him. I mean he clearly said that I've fractured my ribs, and earlier Madame Red said so as well, so it happened right?
"Are you sure? But last night, you… Uh… I… We…"
" Yesterday, you fell asleep when I unbuckled your restraints. We went back to the mansion and the Young Master ordered me to take you to Madame Red. You wouldn't let go of my coat, and so the Young Master ordered me to stay and take care of you." Explained the butler thoroughly, tapping his chin in remembrance.
I sighed in defeat and slumped to the pillows and comforters supporting me even more. So it was all a dream? Hold on, he didn't say anything about the…
"You mean take care by?" I inquired, raising a thin eyebrow to inspect his truthfulness.
"Since you wouldn't let go of my coat, I had to stay by your side as the Young Master ordered."
"So… you spent the whole night with me?" I asked incredulously, confused to where this conversation is heading. He's saying nothing happened, but then admitting that something happened the next?
"Yes."
That wasn't the answer I was looking for! I wanted to know if he really did that. How do I ask him? What if it's just a dream, and… Oh dear…
"Young Mistress, is there something troubling you?" the butler asked with fake concern, seeing that he is smirking. I know he knows what I want to ask, and he's using this opportunity to embarrass me. God, he's a sadist and someday he's going to give me a stroke.
"Yes, there is. What did you do when you were watching over me?" I inquired seriously, suppressing the blush that is creeping up my neck, threatening to color my face.
"I took a chair and placed it next to the bed. I sat there the whole night." Said the butler with that trademark mocking smile firmly etched onto his perfectly pale face. Damn, he's lying and I can tell. But how do I make him confess? I can't just blurt out 'Dude! You kissed my neck last night! Confess!', that would just be stupid.
"Are you positive that nothing else happened?" I asked to see if he would say anything about that particular matter. Who knows? Or maybe, he's also embarrassed? Nah, that's impossible. He's barely human, what made me think that he has such emotions? Then again… Oh! Second clue! He does feel human emotions—only a little bit though, and triggered when normal humans would've overreacted.
"Yes milady." Answered the butler with a deep bow, all this while sitting down on the edge of my bed. "Is there something bothering you about last night's events?" continued the butler, raising a thin eyebrow.
"No there isn't." I replied coolly, staring at him with dull eyes that shouted out 'could-you-be-any-less-oblivious-or-are-you-just-pretending?'
"Are you sure—"
"Shut up." I cut him off rudely, glaring daggers and wishing that I could really throw daggers at him. I don't know why, but this particular person or thing just pisses me off. After a while I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, resting my eyes from the glaring. Soon, I got tired and drifted off to sleep, ignoring the butler seated on my bed.
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'Tap Tap Tap' Echoes of distant footsteps was heard.
Where am I? Oh right, this is a dream isn't it?
The scenery was that of a room inside the Phantomhive manor—the room that I was locked in the first day I came here. It was dark, but there was a candelabrum placed on a desk beside what seems to be a book with a plain black cover.
'Tap Tap Tap' the echoes of footsteps was heard again, this time coming closer and closer. Somehow it sends chills down my spine—the bad kind. I crept to the door silently and pressed my ear to the tall mahogany door.
'Creak, Tap, Creak, Crack…' was the sounds emitting from outside the room. It sounds as if someone was walking with a sharp object, grazing it on the wall. It sounds almost as bad as a chalk grazed into a wall. I backed away from the door and shivered in fright, it really is getting creepy. Oh, this is a dream isn't it? I should be able to wake up.
I tried to open my eyes, but it wouldn't. It simply wouldn't.
'Creak, Tap' the footsteps and creaking noise was getting nearer. By now, I'm already hyperventilating, and panicking, biting on my nails and wishing that the sounds made was from something unlikely, like maybe…
'Creeaak…' the door knob was turned slowly, as a figure was slowly emerging from the other side of the door. I hyperventilated even more, and I swear I missed a heart beat or two, glued to the edge of the room, eyes wide in terror. The figure emerging wasn't really clear, but it was wearing a black hood—covering every single part of the figure's body. I scooted further away as a futile attempt to escape. The figure sauntered towards me and held out a long pale finger to my chin, tilting it up—by now I was so scared my whole body was shaking and I couldn't breathe anymore. Once my chin was tilted high enough to face the figure's face—which is hidden by the black hood, suddenly a face emerged from inside the black hood. Seeing that it has no eyes, nose, or any other facial features except for a wide mouth with sharp fangs and saliva forming a wide maniac grin, I screamed and covered my face with my hands.
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I screamed frightfully in the silent darkness, my screams muffled by a soft fabric. I fluttered my eyes in shock and searched frantically around the room for the faceless figure clad in a black cloak.
"Milady, please calm down. It's okay now, everything's fine." said a familiar voice with gentleness that slightly calmed my nerves down. I gripped on the soft fabric tightly and buried my face in it, inhaling the scent of cinnamon and lilac. I guess his scent changes each day. My body shook vigorously and I tried desperately to calm my hyperventilation down by holding my breath, all this while Sebastian held me tight and rubbed my back in a calming manner, whispering words like 'it's okay, calm down' on my ear.
"I'm sorry…" I muffled on his coat, shutting my eyes close and shivering from the cold. Sebastian pressed me even more to his chest, embracing me in a tight hug while he placed his chin on top of my head.
"Hm? Why are you sorry?" he asked, curiosity and a bit of laughter in his voice. I grunted, hating the fact that I just apologized to this annoying butler and having to explain why I'm sorry. I'm sure he'll somehow make me tell him about the nightmare I had with his sadistic—not to mention seductive—ways. Oh! Clue number three, he's very seductive and he could somehow manipulate the human mind!
"Forget it." I sighed, slumping down on him. He sighed heavily and pushed me a bit further away from him gently, tilting my chin up to the same level as his face. He stared at me seriously, his face inching dangerously closer and closer. I had every intention to push him away at first, but now even if I wanted to do it, I couldn't—his wine colored eyes has entranced me once again, dazing me so much that I forgot about everything. After a while, a chronic pain started to erupt in my chest as my head started to feel light. Sebastian must've noticed it because he grabbed my shoulders and shook me, mouthing something like 'breathe'.
"Lady Luna, breathe!" the said man spoke with urgency, still shaking me. Huh? Breathe? What is he—Oh! Breathe! I inhaled some air and coughed heavily, slumping into the said man's broad chest from lack of energy. He helped me calm down by patting my back gently and entangling his slender fingers on my long black hair.
"So, are you that easily dazed by me?" he asked mockingly, a mischievous smile playing on his thin lips. I grunted and pushed him away, glaring at him. He only smiled innocently, until my stomach growled audibly, earning a red flush from me. The mocking smile came back to his lips as he was about to say something, when I glared at him.
"Shall I get you some midnight snack milady? You haven't had any lunch or dinner." He coughed, hiding a chuckle. I nodded while glaring as he left the room to retrieve the snacks. I sighed audibly and lay down on the bed—resting my eyes, and before I realize it, I was already drifting off to sleep.
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The birds' melodic chirps were heard, as sunlight poured down into the vast bedroom awakening the occupant from her slumber…
I groaned in displeasure and rolled to my side to where the sunlight didn't reach me—but I knew that I'll have to wake up soon, or I'll get scolded by Ciel. In the end I opened my eyes slowly to see quite a scenery—well, one that would make normal girls drool…
Sebastian was lying on his side next to me, his white collared shirt unbuttoned from the neck to the chest—showing his muscular broad chest. His long sleeves were rolled up, exposing his forearms. His vest was unfastened and hanging loose on his body. He had his head placed steadily on his right palm, one knee bent and his foot resting on the bed beneath his thigh—just like the 'Cleopatra' position. I gaped slightly at the scenery and a blush streaked over my features without permission. He was staring off into the distance until he noticed my red face and smirked. Yes, you read right—smirked. I scoffed and turned my head sharply to the other direction.
"Good morning milady. What would you like for breakfast? I've prepared some—" Sebastian offered as he sat up and buttoned his shirt and vest, smiling his usual smile.
"Tea and toast." I cut him off shortly, crossing my arms and leaning on the headboard. Sebastian stood up and bowed, getting out of the room to retrieve the toast and tea. In a few minutes he came back—that was fast. Clue number four; he's fast! I noted that mentally as Sebastian handed me a cup of tea. I received it and sipped on it, enjoying the warm liquid sliding down my dry throat. I ate my breakfast peacefully until Sebastian informed me that he and Ciel are going out for a while to retrieve something Finny broke with his superhuman strength? Whaa?
"Right, never mind that. I'm coming too!" I told him, handing over the tea cup to him. It was quite an exclusive cup, engraved with vines colored in different shades of green and roses colored in white. Sebastian rejected my request at first, but I insisted—in the annoying way—and in the end he said I should just talk to Ciel about it. I begged Ciel and he finally allowed me to come with him, so I immediately took a bath and dressed myself in one of the simple dresses that Sebastian got for me. I chose the classic 'musical' dress colored in black with white collars and silver colored buttons. I borrowed one of Ciel's boots to go with the dress. After all, I'm Luna Phantomhive, the head of the leading fashion industry; Venus. I must be fashionable in public, even though I prefer simple dresses than overly exaggerated ones. Oh, and this is a secret; I don't wear corsets—never, well only a time or two, but I really hate it. Since the public goes with everything that was made by my company, I decided to see if they'll use everything I make, so I came up with an utterly ridiculous idea; a corset. Believe it or not, they actually use it! I'm actually shocked and speechless to see that, I mean could they be any more easily manipulated!?
"Luna, would you like to stay in the carriage or come with us?" asked Ciel monotone as he stepped off the carriage. Oh, did I forget to tell you? We're already heading for the shop and now we're here! I shook my head and stayed in the carriage, waiting for them while whistling the tune of the London Bridge nursery rhyme. Soon Ciel came back and we head back for the Phantomhive mansion.
"Ciel, can I officially change my surname to 'Phantomhive'?" I asked, starting a conversation that I know will somehow wreck the poor kid's mind.
"No." he answered simply, turning his attention away from me. Never mind him, if I want to change my surname I could always do it easily. There's really no reason for me to ask the Earl—since I'm free to do what I want.
"Please…"
"No."
"Plea—"
"No."
"Then can I help you with your duties as the Queen's watchdog?" I asked in a bored tone, knowing that this conversation will get us nowhere since he's as stubborn as me.
"Definitely no." he answered, raising his voice and focusing on me right now. It seems like he's baffled by my words, but didn't he know that I wanted to do it as well?
"But I'm a Phantomhive!" I protested, pressing onto the subject further.
"No you're not. You're a Venturine. End of discussion." He spoke with authority, clenching his fists together and gritting his teeth which I presume is a way to calm himself down.
"We both know that I'm a Phantomhive by blood. Stop denying it and just accept."I spoke calmly, clenching my jaws to prevent myself from saying the unwanted.
"I will not—"
"Why won't you let me help you!?" I shouted, irritated by the child's words. Ciel was about to respond with a shout when Sebastian opened the door of the carriage.
"Young Master, Mistress, we have arrived." Announced the intruder with a fake smile. Ciel closed his mouth and glared at him, getting off the carriage with ease and walking towards the front porch. I jumped out of the carriage with grace and followed him with crossed arms, fuming from the event earlier. Sebastian sighed and walked towards the front porch as well, opening the doors for us until—
Pink…
Pink frilly ribbons…
It's all pink…
I stood still, flabbergasted by the sight of… PINK and pastel colored frilly ribbons placed EVERYWHERE. Ciel and Sebastian must've noticed as well because no one moved an inch, it was as if time has stopped just for us three to take all of this in.
Please, Please, Please, Please, Please x Infinity, PLEASE review! I beg of you! I'm on my knees!! -- wtf?
Anyway, PLEASE review, and enjoy the rest of your lives!
-Yuki