I'll be able to post a few chapters up as soon as I'm done editing them, so I hope to get to the WilliamxGrell part of the story sooner.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji.
A few hours later...
After chewing Bard out for scorching half the kitchen with his 'artful' cooking style, again, Sebastian managed to get dinner put together, so that even Bard could cook it and bring it to Ciel later at dinnertime. Sebastian shot a warning glare at the three servants, while more or less ignoring Tanaka. With that finished, Sebastian exited the mansion and found Ciel already in the carriage, eye closed, resting. The eye patch was likely off. Sebastian had suspected that Ciel might have taken it off, to try and order him. Sebastian nodded to the driver of the coach as he stepped into the carriage and closed the door behind him, sitting across from Ciel, whose eye was still closed. And he was wearing the eye patch.
The carriage began to move A few minutes passed in silence, as neither occupant spoke.
Ciel kept his eye closed, knowing that Sebastian wouldn't bother him until he made eye contact. Whether or not the investigation was successful...he'd let Grell have his day...perhaps starting tomorrow morning. Ciel had decided this because he hadn't liked it when Sebastian had cornered him earlier that day and seized his hand to prevent him from giving an order. Whether Ciel's decision would make Sebastian resentful to him later on...oh well, it didn't matter...it was worth it to see Sebastian uncomfortable.
"May I inquire as to what is so amusing, young master?"
Ciel was startled into opening his eye to look at Sebastian curiously. Ignoring the faint smile the demon wore, Ciel asked a question back, "What do you mean?"
"You were smiling not a moment ago." Sebastian prompted helpfully, his smile becoming a little more pronounced.
Ciel closed his eye again. "Wouldn't you like to know..." Ciel opened his eye again when he heard Sebastian move, and held back a gasp, leaning back in his seat. Sebastian was looming over him, hands resting on the seat on either side of Ciel's head. Ciel leaned back even further as Sebastian stooped slightly, bringing his face level with Ciel's, so that they were nearly nose to nose.
"I would like to know, young master. Are you perhaps hiding something?" Sebastian queried in a soft tone.
"..." Ciel glared at Sebastian, hand automatically reaching up to push the eye patch away. Sebastian was too close. Ciel was once again foiled as Sebastian seized the hand and offered a playful smile, "No need for orders...I'm merely...curious... as to what would amuse you. I was under the impression that you didn't have much reason to smile."
Ciel gave Sebastian a hard stare, before sighing, "Let go of me, Sebastian." Three days would be appropriate. One day with Grell wasn't enough.
Sebastian released the grip he had on Ciel's hand and sat back down, eying the other silently, "..."
Ciel stared back, "..."
Silence.
Ciel weighed his options, then..."I was thinking about what time to let Grell have you." Ciel answered after a moments pause. He saw Sebastian more or less freeze in his seat, smile fading.
"And...that amused you?" Sebastian sounded... appalled?
"No, that was only part of what I was thinking."
Sebastian's eyebrow twitched, but before he could say anything, the carriage came to a halt, the driver announcing that they had reached their destination.
Ciel quickly fled out of the carriage and headed for Undertaker's with brisk steps, confident that Sebastian wasn't going to try and stop him.
Sebastian slid out of the carriage gracefully and cast a casual glance up at the driver, "My lord will return shortly. Until then, please wait here."
"Y...Yes sir."
Sebastian flashed a smile, then followed after Ciel, who had already entered the building. Sebastian walked through the door, closing it after him, before taking a few steps into the room. He was immediately hailed by a voice.
"Sebas~chaaannnn~~!"
Sebastian braced himself to dodge the red haired shinigami, but nothing happened, "?" Sebastian glanced around the room. Ciel was speaking with Undertaker on the right side of the room, but when he glanced around the rest of the area, he didn't see Grell anywhere. Seeing that Undertaker and Ciel were engaged in conversation, Sebastian decided to take a look around. Perhaps Undertaker had tied Grell up somewhere...that would explain the lack of assault. Although...Sebastian didn't see any rope, and there weren't very many places to hide, so...that left the open coffin on the ground nearby and the upright, closed coffin to his left.
Sebastian frowned faintly, before approaching the open casket, deciding that it was the least threatening of the two choices. Sebastian came up alongside the coffin and as he leaned over to glance inside, a black-gloved hand wrapped itself around his tie tightly. The hand tugged with enough force that Sebastian had to catch himself by grasping the side of the coffin with both hands. Once Sebastian knew he wouldn't fall in, he turned a glare onto the shinigami. Who was currently grinning up at him coyly from where he lay rather comfortably in the coffin. How long had he waited in there?
Grell winked at the demon, twirling a finger around the tie as he tugged it lightly, "Hello, Sebas-chan~."
Sebastian, in response, braced himself more solidly on the coffin edge, as to prevent Grell from tugging him into the coffin. Sebastian wanted to avoid that at all cost. Sebastian attempted to get his tie out of Grell's grasp, but the other refused to let go. His grip was rather strong as well, Sebastian mused to himself, as he risked a glance over his shoulder at the other two. Sebastian saw, to his chagrin, that Undertaker and Ciel were still talking, apparently unaware that anything else was going on...
Sebastian scowled faintly. They could also be pretending not to notice, which seemed much more likely. Another tug, this time harder, nearly threw Sebastian off balance. Sebastian managed to steady himself once more, and turned his attention back to Grell, who was now smiling widely with his teeth showing. Sebastian was going to demand that the reaper let go, when he noticed that Grell's clothing appeared to be ripped and torn in some places, (though the red coat was still intact). Sebastian frowned. The exposed skin wasn't even bleeding...
Sebastian smiled lightly and it was Grell's turn to be wary. A smiling Sebastian usually meant pain for him.
"S..Sebas-chan?" Grell questioned softly, the hand grasping Sebastian's tie loosening its grip ever so slightly.
Sebastian smiled pleasantly, "No injuries? It won't be very convincing that way, will it?"
"W..Well...Undertaker said that he'd cover it up some more, so there is no need for real wounds..." Grell explained nervously, further loosening his hold on Sebastian's tie, as though expecting an imminent attack.
"Oh, is that so? I disagree..." Sebastian's smile was positively evil now.
Grell weighed his options. Either Sebastian was actually planning on attacking him, or he was threatening him to get him to let go...if it was the latter, then...
Sebastian saw Grell falter, and could feel the shinigami's grasp loosen even further. Soon, he'd be able to get his tie free and put some distance between them...Sebastian wasn't at all prepared for what happened next.
Grell's free hand reached up and grabbed one of Sebastian's wrists. Twisting the wrist and tugging sharply on the tie at the same time, Grell managed to succeed in throwing the demon off balance.
Sebastian, shocked at the turn of events, toppled into the coffin, landing on top of the delighted Grell, who had immediately let go of the tie to seize the butlers' other wrist in order to prevent him from retaliating.
Grell may have been ecstatic with what had just happened, but Sebastian, on the other hand, was horrified, aware that his head was resting beneath Grell's chin, and he knew that the reaper was aware of this as well.
Sebastian longed to lash out, but found that Grell's hands were clamped around his wrists, pinning them to the bottom of the coffin on either side of the redhead. Sebastian was frustrated by the fact that he couldn't break the grip the other had on him. Sebastian wanted to glare at Grell and tell him to let go of him at once or else, but decided that it would be a bad idea, as their faces would be too close for comfort. Sebastian sighed. Ciel and Undertaker were still talking, so Sebastian decided to deal with his immediate problem.
Grell, meanwhile, was trying to figure out why Sebastian hadn't tried to retaliate yet. Grell felt Sebastian's hands twitch, and tightened his grasp. He supposed that answered his question. Grell knew that Sebastian would probably overreact once he got free...so...maybe he shouldn't have been so forward. But...it was nice, having Sebastian's warm body on top of his. Grell winced when one of Sebastian's fists dug into his side, "S...Sebas-chan!"
Sebastian let out a growl of annoyance when Grell managed to move his fist away from his side. Sebastian was faintly surprised when Grell loosened his grasp on the right wrist, in order to get a better hold of it. Sebastian took the opportunity to free his right wrist all the way and quickly sat up. Sebastian used his right hand to keep Grell pinned down, putting pressure on the shinigami's chest, while he set about trying to free himself.
Grell's right hand was now wrapped around the arm Sebastian was using to pin him down with. It was rather uncomfortable. Grell let out a yelp when Sebastian's right hand moved away from his chest to form into a fist, as if to punch him in the face. Grell let go of Sebastian's wrist in order to shield himself from the blow. By the time Grell realized that he had let go of Sebastian, the demon was already standing up in the coffin, glaring at something other than him. Probably Ciel.
It was then that Grell realized that Sebastian hadn't actually punched him in the face. Smiling widely, Grell got to his knees and while Sebastian was occupied with other thoughts, Grell wrapped his arms around Sebastian's legs, resting his head against his waist, glancing up at him, "What are you looking at, Sebas-chan~? Are you leaving me already?" Grell abruptly let go and scrambled backwards as Sebastian loomed over him with a look of both annoyance and anger. Grell let out a choked sound as Sebastian wrapped his hands around his throat.
"I've had enough of you and your disgusting comments," Sebastian growled, starting to lose his cool.
Grell grabbed Sebastian's hands, trying in vain to get the other to let go of him, "Nnn...Sebas-chan~. I was...only trying out...seating arrangements." Grell let out a sigh of relief when Sebastian abruptly let go. Grell braced himself as he fell back down into the coffin, and managed to smile up at the horror stricken Sebastian. Grell tensed when Sebastian, eyes closed, smiled a chilling smile down at him, "...What was that you said?"
Grell moved his arms up to protect himself, "Undertaker said that it'd be easier to take one coffin to the graveyard...at least, that's what he said. About how one coffin was easier to fit on a cart." Grell braced himself for potential attack, but instead saw Sebastian step out of the coffin. Grell sat up and rested his arms on the side of the coffin, watching Sebastian stalk toward the seemingly oblivious Undertaker and Ciel.
Ciel noticed the obviously unhappy Sebastian first and spoke, "What's wrong, Sebastian? Undertaker said he'll only need a few minutes to get you ready. He was planning on leaving a little before dark, in an hour or so..."
Sebastian's eyes were narrowed, "Young master...why is there only one coffin being used?" Sebastian fell silent upon seeing the look of surprise on Ciel's face. Then, Sebastian gave Ciel a disapproving look when the boy smiled in amusement at the thought of Grell and Sebastian alone in a coffin.
Ciel ignored Sebastian's complaint, "I didn't make the suggestion of one coffin. Undertaker did." Ciel glanced over at Grell, who was lounging against the coffin, "Grell explained the reasoning, right?" Sebastian's eyebrow twitched, and that, along with the strained smile on Sebastian's face, made Ciel take it as his cue to leave, before the other could talk him out if it. Ciel had taken his eye patch off during his conversation with Undertaker, so he gave his order before Sebastian could try to stop him again, "Sebastian, this case will be resolved tonight."
Sebastian bowed, "Yes, my lord."
Ciel noted the reluctance in the demon's voice, but merely nodded to the Undertaker before taking his leave and getting back to the carriage that would take him to the mansion.
Sebastian wore an a long suffering expression as Undertaker sneaked up on him with a wide smile.
"Better hurry, hmm~? We'll need to leave soon."
Sebastian may have tolerated Undertaker to a point, but not Grell. Especially not when the redhead let out what sounded like a squeal of delight.
"Ohh~! I want to help!"
"Hmm...I suppose that would make it go more quickly...now, where did I put those scissors..."
Grell grinned, producing two scissors and approaching Sebastian, "I can do it, it won't take long. Hold still, Sebas-chan~."
"Then I'll go find something to cover the 'wounds' with. Hee hee."
Sebastian braced himself. It appeared as though it were going to be a very long hour. He could only hope tonight would pass by quickly.
121
Next chapter, Sebastian, Grell and Undertaker go to the graveyard, while William senses something is wrong and decides to check up on Grell, if he can figure out where to go.