A/N: Okay, I'm taking a pretty big chunk out of the manga for this chapter, well dialog wise, so don't kill me. I think I did that for chapter two or was it three, too. So… anyways, I just thought that my writing might be a little confusing so to clear up things,
"blah" is talking
'blah' is thoughts
Blah is flashbacks and emphasized words.
DISCLAIMER: I know I said I wouldn't do another one but…sue me. *Sigh* Look, if I owned Inuyasha OR Kuroshitsuji you would know. Just saying.
Chapter 7
It had been a few days since her little temper tantrum and they hadn't spoken of it since but Kagome was just itching to know more about Ciel's relationship with Sebastian now that she was more prone to hear things out and not snap at everything and anything. She fingered the jewel around her throat and her thoughts shifted to What Sebastian had said to her.
"I know what you are…Ka-go-me."
Just thinking about it still sent shivers up her spine and a blush to her cheeks. For the love of all things living, she wasn't some hormonal school girl anymore. To make matters worse, she didn't know if he was just bluffing or meant to say he knew she was just a priestess or that she was the shikon no miko who still had the jewel in her possession. If he knew the latter, well, she was in deep shit. She tightened her hand around the jewel; she would have to make the barrier around it stronger. They couldn't know. Not if she could help it. Lucky for her she had been able to argue with Ciel to let her wear trousers and a shirt. A shirt that could hide the jewel from prying eyes while still being on her neck. Kagome sighed looking back down at her book that she'd forgotten about. So many problems.
A loud smack was heard as a newspaper was slammed onto the table. Kagome blinked, startled out of her reading. She got up from her seat and walked over to the seething noble.
"What's up? What's got your knickers in a bunch?"
The miko read the headline of the paper "Jack the Ripper Returns" and her mouth fell open.
"What? But we caught him!" She exclaimed.
She read more and found out, in horrific detail, the victim was another prostitute named, Annie Shepherman. Ciel clenched his fists, crumpling the paper in the process.
"The viscount didn't go anywhere." He said with a narrowed cerulean orb and sat back down while Kagome stood over him trying to smooth out and read more of it. Lau entered and approached the subject.
"Perhaps it was not the suspect but an impersonator who carried out the murder, or maybe, there were others all along?"
Madame Red decided to inject her opinion and said with an air of finality. "The viscount isn't involved."
Ciel decided to ignore both of them but took their opinions into account and wondered what to do. "Sebastian, come up with a new list and narrow down the suspects again."
Sebastian placed his hand over his heart and replied back, "This humble servant is at your command."
The pint-sized earl took on a pondering look as his gazed fell back onto the paper in Kagome's hands.
"There are 4.5 million people in London alone, add that to how many people are here during the season and that's even more, and if we relax the requirements, the suspect pool increases."
As Ciel sat pondering and Sebastian sat working on the list, Kagome also took her turn to think about it. The requirements had to be with someone who could surgically remove an organ and only a doctor had them. Again, it all led to the viscount, but whom else. She then remembered Madame Red saying she had all the credentials needed to be a suspect, then again, she had a plausible alibi so who could it be? This was all so confusing. Then it hit her, what if the killer wasn't human! There was a reason she looked into this murder mystery. The killer was never found. It could only be the work of someone nonhuman.
Kagome was brought out of her musings as Madame Red entered the sitting room with a chess board. She stood in front of Ciel with a grin.
"Still working? Take a break and play chess with me."
Ciel glanced at her and eyed the chess board. "Ah, this brings back memories."
Kagome blinked, isn't he too young to be saying that? She watched as the game was set up by Madame Red and each player went to their respective places. Grell came in to the room with a cart of tea and stood shyly.
"I prepared an herbal tea."
He handed the tea out to them without spilling and Kagome was impressed. Kami knew the guy was more prone to clumsiness than she was. When he was finished handing out the tea Kagome took a sip and almost gagged. She then decided to swallow it because she didn't want him to feel bad about his rather poor tea making skills. Madame Red on the other hand had no qualms with that. She spluttered and spit the tea back out with a look of disgust.
"This tastes horrible!" She exclaimed and Kagome watched as Grell paled and got into his, I'm-going-to-commit-suicide pose.
"Why would an herbal tea taste salty? And you call yourself a butler." The redheaded woman turned her head slightly to glance at Sebastian. "Speaking of butlers, yours is either extremely capable or a workaholic."
Ciel also glanced at Sebastian who was still working on the list. "This is nothing."
"Well then, if he's so capable why don't you just make him do the investigation himself?"
"Because he is merely a chess piece in my game, which is my power, hands and legs. Without me he is unable to move. If I won using a free moving chess piece then it would not be to my credit. The one who gives the commands is the master and he will not move unless I command it. The only difference between the two is that he can single-handedly take down all the other knights," Ciel then moved his chess piece and knocked over Madame Red's, "just like that."
Madame Red frowned, "Doing that is against the rules though."
Ciel smirked. "That's right, if this were a game of international chess. Unfortunately, there is no situation where you can win by just following the rules. There will be knights that break the rules and even chess pieces that betray the king. So, in order to keep the balance, I too must break the rules in order to win."
Madame Red took on a faraway look and her eyes became sad. "You should have another lifestyle besides watching the dark side and being the watch dog. Why do you insist on returning to this darker side of society? Is it because you want to take revenge on my sister's murder? She would not have-"
Ciel's face became stony and he interrupted her, "I never thought of taking revenge. Even If I took revenge it would not bring the dead back to life and I would not gain any satisfaction from it. Revenge is just a pretty word and merely a show of selfishness."
Her voice became quiet, "So then, is it just a matter of comfort?"
A sigh escaped him as he answered, "I did not do this for the Phantomhive name, I did it for myself." The raven-haired boy's eye narrowed and his voice took on a tinge of hatred and bitterness, "I want those who betrayed us to experience the same amount of humiliation and suffering I did." He glanced down and moved his king.
"Checkmate."
"Gah, this makes forty-six consecutive losses! Huh, you were always good at chess."
'Good? He's a prodigy' mused Kagome.
Madame Red smiled wistfully, "I remember the day you were born. I was just a new nurse at the time and didn't know what to do. You were so small at the time I felt I had to protect you. Although I've never had children of my own, I treat you as if you were my own son, and that's why I want you to leave this society."
Ciel sat back in his chair and looked at his aunt tenderly, "I am here because I wish it and because I choose to. So, I won't regret anything and I won't rely on anyone." He stood then and leaned over the game to kiss her on the cheek.
Madame Red smiled and declared, "I won't lose next time."
Ciel smiled gently back and murmured, "Good night."
"Ciel…"
He turned around and it was Kagome who called him.
"Even a king needs someone to share his empire with."
His single sapphire eye widened at her but he chose to not say anything and only minutely gazed into her own sapphire orbs so like his before he turned around again and exited. Grell came in at that moment and announced he was here to serve tea but stared in puzzlement. Madame Red gave a long suffering sigh.
"Why must that child bear that kind of pain and coldness at such a young age?" Kagome silently agreed with that statement.
Sebastian stood and gathered the papers he was working on. "The young master is the type of person who works tirelessly towards something once he's made up his mind. Even if the path he chooses is long and dark or cold and merciless. That is the reason I will remain by his side."
A rueful smile graced Madame Red's lips, "I guess even if we wanted to stop him it would be useless." She leaned forward and clasped her hands and rested her chin on top. "During that time, I was not by his side. Sebastian, Kagome," The miko blinked, her? "It may seem strange to ask this of strangers, but please stay by his side. Don't let him lose his way, don't let him get lost."
Sebastian bowed and said to her with a promise deeper than she could understand, "I will always remain by his side and protect him."
Madame Red turned to look at Kagome and she realized she wanted confirmation that she would not leave or betray him. Kagome didn't know if she could make this promise. She belonged to a totally different time and also, she had made a promise similar to this one to a very different person. Although she could say their pasts were shrouded in the same darkness. She sighed and said the words that would chain her.
"I promise."
Grell walked into the room, "Madame?" His eyes widened, "Madame."
Rain poured outside and Lau stood leaning against the window as he looked out. His eyes were opened to reveal the attractive oriental shape of his eyes.
"What a pitiful night, as though there will be a storm."
An obsidian-haired miko was just coming back from the library when she passed Ciel's room.
"What is it?"
"I've considered various possibilities but it seems, apart from the viscount, no one else could have been involved."
Kagome moved closer to the door to hear the conversation better. Now why did this feel like déjà-vu?
"Then change the conditions of the investigation. The situation yesterday had nothing to do with the viscount."
"You're right, there is no one else at the viscounts that could have done such a thing."
Kagome heard a sigh leave the earl's lips.
"Anyhow, tomorrow…Sebastian, could it be?!"
The miko went to lean against the door. Luckily for her, this time it wasn't open.
"I've said it many times haven't I? I won't lie and furthermore," his voice lowered and she had to strain her ears, "I will become your power, hands, feet, chess piece."
The time-traveler just knew Sebastian was smirking at Ciel and she felt the strongest urge to wipe it off with a 'sit' for Ciel. If only she had some subjugation beads.
"That day, that is what you said. At the end of the day though, I am only a butler, so I won't express my opinion too much. I will only loyally follow you."
"So those others couldn't have done it."
"Correct."
"So that's how it is…you…"
"One of your orders is for me to be your chess piece, to become your sword. Come, make your checkmate…"
"My lord."
Kagome sighed, this conversation got her nowhere. She was just about to push off the door when suddenly she went flying onto the ground. 'How the heck? My hands were nowhere near the door knob.' She looked up at the two and narrowed her eyes at the amused smirk she saw on the butler's face. 'Stupid demons and their stupid powers.'
"Eavesdropping again are we, Miss Higurashi?"
She sputtered and turned pink, "Wha-what? No!"
His infuriating smirk just grew, "Really? Then what were you doing?"
"Well I, I…" Kagome trailed off and bit her lip. Shoot she was caught.
Ciel wanted to roll his eye but refrained and decided to get back to their previous conversation.
"So," He said interrupting the two's staring contest. Miko and demon snapped their attention to him, "As we were discussing…"
Kagome wondered if they were going to kick her out, but to her surprise, they didn't even seem fazed by her interruption.
"Humans are incapable of it." Sebastian informed Ciel.
"Is that so?"
He went on, "I've been telling the truth all along. Knowledgeable in medicine, human anatomy and has connections with secret societies or black magic and doesn't have an alibi. The Viscount meets all the requirements."
Ciel's blue orb narrowed at the butler's simpering form.
"You did not lie, however your investigation is this cheap joke?!"
Ciel seethed and threw the pile of papers at Sebastian's head.
"Oh dear, are you taking this out on me? You know I'm like this that is why you keep me by your side." Ciel pouted minutely and Kagome wondered when they would come to the conclusion that she had.
"Is this person…the same as you?" He ventured.
"No, I do not think so. The fact that someone like him exists is surprising."
The adolescent furrowed his brows, "If he's not human and not demon, what is he?"
The miko blinked, not demon? Well, now she was stumped. She had also thought the culprit was a demon but now that Sebastian confirmed it not to be true she would have to go back to the drawing board.
The smirk gracing his face grew, "That is…"
Three bodies shrouded in shadow were standing guard to the entrance to the next victim of Jack the Ripper. The shortest of the three shivered with a murmured, 'It's cold.' A deeper more masculine voice sounded.
"Hm, though mine attract enough attention, yours is not warm enough." His hands went to undo the buttons on his coat but the boy held up his hand refusing and instead changed the subject to their current situation while the third person sidled up to the boy for added warmth. She was cold too.
"If we stand here long enough the guy will come right?"
"Yes because this is the only entrance and the only path to her."
"So then the murderer's next target is Maria Gale who lives in that room?"
"Sebastian gave an exasperated sigh, "Yes, I've told you many times, I haven't gotten it wrong."
Ciel peeked around the corner to the victims housing while he tried to adjust to the loss of heat as the miko moved away for some reason or another.
"These victims, besides getting their organs cut out, all have something in common, but is it really that big of a deal to go around killing them?"
"Also…" He turned to look at his companions whom had a cat in their clutches and his eye twitched while he whisper screamed, "Are you guys even listening?!"
They both blinked and Sebastian apologized while Kagome gave a sheepish grin.
"Anyway-"
"AHHHHHHH!"
All three froze and Ciel wore an expression of confusion as did Kagome who was thinking along the same lines.
"Wha-!? But no one came through." He was frowning now, "Tch, let's go."
They rushed to the door and Ciel threw it open. His eyes widened at the gory scene and he stumbled backwards into Sebastian who covered the earl's eyes with his hand.
"Don't look."
Ciel then took a step to the side and vomited onto the cemented path. Kagome on the other hand stood stock still. This was like nothing she had ever seen. Blood splattered the interior of the room and bits and pieces of flesh littered the ground. The woman's face was etched with agony and a pool of blood that looked black surrounded her form. This was worse than the feudal era. Even the battle fields did not look like this. She was grabbed by the arm and hauled back. Sebastian studied her form to see if she was alright. She seemed to be in shock but other than that he didn't see any other sign of discomfort from her. Sebastian held a darkly amused face.
"Well, that was a bit over the top wasn't it? Jack the Ripper, or should I say…Grell Sutcliff."
Kagome's eyes widened further. Grell? How? She didn't sense anything from him, but he was covered head-to-toe in blood. He was obviously the inhuman counterpart. The shocked and saddened miko was morbidly impressed with his acting skills. All this time and she had never suspected him. He stepped out of the room and his face was pulled into a horrified expression.
"N-no, I heard screams but when I got here it was already-"
"Already what?" Sebastian asked dubiously, "We were standing right outside the only route. Just how did you manage to get past us?" There was a pause and he continued.
"Are you still going to pretend Mr. Grell? No, Even Grell Sutcliff must be a fake as well. Please stop the act. I've never met someone of your kind acting as a butler before. It was almost convincing."
Suddenly a maniacal grin split his face and sharp pointed teeth were barred at the trio. "Heh is that so? Well, that is correct. I'm an actress, and a top rate one at that!"
Kagome raised a delicate eyebrow, actress? He's got a screw loose she concluded. She moved closer to Ciel to see if he was recovered from his earlier bout of sickness and then turned her attention back to Grell. She watched as his hair turned a bright crimson as he pulled the ribbon holding it back out. He then closed his eyes to place fake lashes? Onto his eyes before depositing a pair of glasses onto his face. The twenty-first century miko blinked. This just got weirder.
"But aren't you the same "Sebastian"?"
""Sebastian" is the name the young master gave to me. Thus making me Sebastian at present."
"Oh," He swooned, "A faithful dog, but even being a faithful dog is attractive." He pulled a hand through his long locks.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself Sebastian, no, Sebas-chan! I, am the butler of the Barnett family, Grell Sutcliff." The now green-eyed man said with such passion that a flowery background bloomed behind him. "Were both butlers, so hello~" He blew a raspberry at Sebastian and the heart that took physical form bounced off his head as he held a horrified and disgusted look.
"Ah, I can finally appear before you in my true form. It was embarrassing appearing before a handsome man without make-up." He stood with his hip jutting out as he went on. "It was my first time seeing a demon as a butler. I was surprised at first."
Sebastian smirked, "Aren't you the same though? I've lived long enough and this is my first time seeing someone like you becoming a butler, someone who is supposed to be neutral between humans and God, a-"
"Shinigami."
Both males turned to face Kagome who had interrupted their conversation with her realization. Wide cerulean eyes stared and she put two and two together. She would have to pay a certain grey-clad man a visit soon. Right now though, there stood a bigger problem and it came in the form a one Grell Sutcliff. It seemed they finally remembered that they had company because soon the crimson-haired death god cut to the chase.
"If you really want to know, it's because I've been captivated by a woman."
"And that is?"
The click of heels could be heard on the cobblestone and a familiar voice echoed through the alley.
"Do you really have to ask that, Sebastian?"
A/N: Okay so, I really wanted to end the Jack the Ripper arc in this chapter, but it looks like it will be ending in the next chapter instead. I have two really lame excuses for not updating as quickly as last time.
I told you I wasn't…JK, really I was sick all through winter break and I'm still sick.
I had two cold days off of school so I did not have access to the computer.
BUT, here you are and I hope you enjoy. Though, I'm a little disappointed in this chapter. *sigh* I'll do better next time, promise!
