A/N: YAY FIRST AUTHOR'S NOTE OF THE STORY!

Really hope you're enjoying it so far. This chapter will be quite a bit different from previous ones in that while much of the last few chapters has been in Sebastian's head, our Sebby only appears in this chapter three times…and only says a sentence or so each time. Sorry Sebby fans…but I needed a time stealer, and this is the perfect time to get to know some of the other characters and see their relationships with our lovely little Seraph just a bit.

Hope you enjoy, and if you do ((or if you don't)) leave me a comment! I love hearing from everyone. =)

((as you already know, I don't own Kuroshitsuji or any of its characters…Aria's all mine though. ;] ))

~#*DS*#~

"MISS ARIA!" Finny's frantic voice came around the bend in the hedges. Aria dropped the shears she'd been using in alarm as she ran to meet the boy. The way he was screaming, something must be wrong. "MISS ARIA HE'S COMIIINNNG!"

Suddenly, though, the young tutor felt herself being lifted off her feet and carried in the opposite direction. From what little she could see of him, as she was facing backwards, Aria could tell that the one responsible for her current predicament was, in fact, Finny. Behind them, through the massive shrubs, ran Pluto, tongue out and tail flying madly behind him. The dog darted away down a side path.

"Finny," Aria sighed, seeing no danger, "WHAT IS GOING ON?"

Just then, though, Finny tried to stop too fast, and the world became a blur as Aria found herself tumbling through the air. She landed with a loud thud. When her vision came back from the fuzzy mess it had been in, Aria saw Pluto standing over her looking very pleased with himself.

"Aww!" Finny's voice came from beside her, "You beat us, boy!"

"I wasn't aware we were playing catch again," Aria sat up, rubbing the back of her head, "You should really warn a person…"

"Sorry, Miss Aria," Finny looked dejected, "we didn't know we were playing it ourselves until a few seconds before it started." Aria reached over and ruffled the boy's hair with a playful smile before standing.

"Don't be sorry," she winked, "but you'd better help me get these hedges done before Sebastian skins us both alive." Finny shivered despite the warm sun that beat down on them. He jumped up and ran back to the spot he'd been working on in the garden.

Aria laughed, and followed him. For a long while, the two worked silently, Finny furiously attacking the bushes to make up for lost time and Aria deep in her own thoughts.

"Finny," she said after some time.

"Yes, Miss Aria?" the sun-hat covered head popped through the shrub.

"What do you know," her tone was heavy, sad, almost, "about the history of this place? Before we all came here?"

Finny frowned, coming around the shrub and sitting cross-legged before Aria. She did the same.

"Not much, really," Finny continued to frown, looking down at the ground. "I know that the young master used to be happy. When his parents were alive, I mean."

"What happened to them?" Aria cocked her head sideways.

"There was a fire two years ago," Finny sighed, "Burned down the whole mansion, it did. Master's parents died in the fire."

Then why did Ciel make a contract with a demon?

"Did the authorities ever figure out what caused the fire?" Aria questioned.

"Arson was suspected," Finny's tone grew darker, "but they never learned who it was. Apparently, Tanaka was badly injured trying to protect the young master. That's why he's only able to stay 'Real Tanaka' for short periods of time."

Aria frowned. So that's why…

"Ciel went missing for a month or so," Finny went on, "and they say that when he returned, Mister Sebastian was at his side…and he's stayed there ever since…You know, I'm really glad the young master found Sebastian."

Aria looked at the boy.

"I mean, if he'd have been killed by whoever burned the mansion, none of us would have jobs…and I don't know about you, but my life would be A LOT worse if Sebastian hadn't pulled me out of that place."

The boy shivered, and Aria didn't press the matter. That would be a discussion for another day and on Finny's terms. Aria turned her thoughts to his last statement. I wonder what I'd be doing now if it weren't for Sebastian and Ciel's contract…I might not be on Earth at all…I might be by Father's side…She shook the thought from her mind before the sadness overcame her.

"Finny!" Sebastian's masculine voice came rolling through the garden, "Have you finished the shrub line yet?"

"Almost, sir!" Finny called back. He and Aria both jumped up and went back to work, both stifling giggles.

~#*DS*#~

"WUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Mey-Rin tumbled to the ground, the expensive china she'd been carrying flying down behind her. She landed hard on the ground and waited to be showered with broken glass, but the sharp rush never came. Mey-Rin opened one eye to find Aria standing over her, china balanced on her head, hands, and one foot. She sat up, wide eyed and open mouthed.

"I've GOT to learn that trick," Mey-Rin marveled, "Mister Sebastian can do it too, yes he can."

"Apologies for not arriving soon enough to catch you as well," Aria beamed as she emptied her hands and took the plates from her head and foot. "You really should be more careful."

"I know," Mey-Rin pouted, "It's just that I can't see very well…"

"Doesn't seem like those glasses help you very much," Aria laughed, sitting before the girl. Mey-Rin only stared at the ground.

"The master gave me these," she mumbled. Aria looked questioningly at the girl.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Before I came here, I was an assassin," Mey-Rin's voice fell even lower, "I'm terribly farsighted, yes I am. It's the only thing I was good at, shooting things. When I tried anything else, I got too distracted by what was happenin' in the distance to be able to function proper, yes I did. Then when Mister Sebastian found me, Master Ciel gave me these glasses to limit my far off vision. I might be clumsy now, but at least I can do my job a little bit, yes I can."

"Well," Aria nodded, standing and hauling Mey-Rin up with her, "I'm very glad the young master found you."

"MISS MEY-RIN!" Sebastian's voice echoed through the halls. "I need the table set for dinner!"

Aria picked up over half of the china and headed for the door.

"Impatient one, isn't he? Dinner isn't to be served for several hours yet," Aria giggled. Mey-Rin did the same as she looked apprehensively toward the rest of the china on the table. "Don't worry. Just walk behind me. I'll find you a safe route to the dining hall."

Mey-Rin smiled behind her huge coke-bottle glasses and followed Aria, chatting and laughing all the way.

~#*DS*#~

"You mean, you really think the flame thrower is a bad idea for this one?" Bard sounded incredulous.

"Definitely," Aria nodded certainly. "This dish needs to slow cook. I know that's a hard concept for someone like you, but I promise, our survival does not rest on the pace of dinner preparations…unless you're afraid of Sebastian…"

"You AIN'T?" Bard raised an eyebrow. Aria actually laughed aloud.

"As long as you stay on his good side, you won't have a problem…In fact, through him, you'll have some of the best protection you could dream of." Aria smiled.

"See, there's the problem," Bard sighed, "That man's good side is difficult to get on in the first place…much less staying on it." Aria laughed again.

The two of them stood for hours talking about the days before Bardroy became an employee at the manor. While they talked, Aria did most of the cooking, giving Bard advice every now and again about preparation.

Suddenly, that posh accent was heard just around the corner.

"BALDO! Whatever you're preparing smells," Bard braced for impact when Sebastian stepped around the corner sniffing the air, looking confused, "It smells…fantastic! Not sure what you did, but keep doing it." And with that, the butler was gone, mumbling "And where has Miss Aria gotten to? I've not seen her all day…" as he went.

"Whew! That was—" Bard looked around, but didn't see Aria anywhere, "Miss Aria?" He felt a tug on his pants leg. Glancing down, he saw Aria with her hands over her mouth to stifle the giggle building behind them. Bard suddenly realized what she'd done. She had prepared a magnificent dinner…then given Bard the credit for it.

"Good side, step one," she winked, "success."

~#*DS*#~

"The stars are beautiful," Snake said from his spot in the grass next to Aria, "says Oscar."

"Indeed they are," Aria smiled. Her voice was quiet so as not to disturb the snake sleeping on her stomach.

"Emily is very comfortable with you," Snake commented, "as we all are…says Wordsworth. Were you, by chance, born in the year of the snake? Asks Oscar."

Aria thought for a moment. She knew Snake was referencing the Chinese Zodiac, but to be perfectly honest, she had no idea when she had been "born" by the human calendar. She guessed it could be said that her human incarnation came about a little over a month ago, and that would mean she was born in the year of the Ox, but that concept would not go over well with her companion she guessed.

"I don't know, actually," she frowned, "I'm a lot older than I seem. I don't think the Chinese zodiac even existed back then." Taking her words as a joke, Snake chuckled. It was better that way. The humans didn't need to know what she was. They accepted her as Aria Meriwether, the new tutor for the Earl Phantomhive, and that was enough.

"Snake," Aria ventured, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Do you believe in divine beings?"

"Divine beings?" Snake raised an eyebrow.

"You know," she frowned again, "Angels…demons…" She felt silly for asking him this, but Snake seemed to be the most open minded of the servants…maybe one day he would learn her secret…ALL of their secrets.

"Of course!" Snake smiled. "The Holy Book speaks of them…you know though," he paused, "my favorite ones only appear once or twice in the whole Bible, says Wilde."

"Oh yeah?" Aria was very interested now, sitting with her chin on her knees, allowing Emily to shift to a spot around her shoulders.

"Yes," Snake hesitated, fearing sounding ridiculous, "The book of Isaiah talks of powerful beings with six wings…" Aria's heart stopped. "They're called Seraphim, and they stand at the Throne of Grace singing and shouting praises to God. I wish I could learn more about them though, says Oscar."

Aria blushed madly, thankful for the shading of the darkness around them.

"Maybe someday you will," Aria smiled at him warmly. Snake didn't understand her words, but smiled all the same. Something about Aria's expression told him he needn't feel discontented about anything in the world.

Aria looked back at the mansion. Most of the lights in the house were out already.

"Well," she stretched and faked a yawn, "We should be getting to bed. Tomorrow promises to be a big day." Aria was both excited and nervous about the party they would be attending the following night. She'd endured fittings and such all week to prepare her costume. Given the woman making it, Aria's only wish was that she didn't look too ridiculous.

Snake stood, bowing slightly to the young woman before him.

"Good night, Miss Aria," he said, helping her to her feet, Emily sliding up their arms to take her place with Snake, "and thank you…says Emily." Though what he was actually thanking her for was her unconditional acceptance. He'd found that with everyone here, but it was different with Aria. He didn't even mean just with himself. He'd seen her interact with everyone in the house, and with everyone, it was the same. No matter how dark the past, no matter how dark the present, Aria was there to shed a ray of light, making it seem like no one was too far gone to be loved.

Good.

That's what she was…Aria Meriwether was good.

"Good night, Snake." Aria smiled warmly before heading into the large mansion.

"There's something about her," Snake mumbled to his companions, "I don't know what it is yet…but I think…I know it's good."

~#*DS*#~

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