TL: Oh yeah! I am done with that thing they call to measure our potential to learn! Anyway, sorry for the wait.
Also, thank you to those who left a review, favorite and follow! It makes me happy to finally reach 50 on favs!
I also like to mention about the little spin-off. Yes, it is underway but you better keep your eyes open cause it doesn't have a fixed time. Wait...all my fanfic doesn't have a fixed time. Ah, well. You know what I mean.
Enjoy!
Allen yawned as he watched the scenery surrounding him passed by in a blur. Lunampy was in his hand, enduring his abuse but even that didn't get Allen out of his boredom or grumpiness.
Since the rat incident, time had passed by peacefully- well, for Allen that is- and before he knew it, it was already August. A very hot time of the year. Great. Not that he hate it but it's just too hot.
Allen glanced at the other occupant to find his mother checking her flawless red nails. Why would she check it when it was already flawless? He couldn't help but groaned, remembering the time his mother had to wake him up for her usual mother and son outing. Why does it always have to be at the most inappropriate time?
"You shouldn't groaned, Allen." She said from behind her nails.
"Considering how you woke me up at a deathly hour, I can't help but to be a bit grouchy."
"Allen honey, it's already in the afternoon." She reminded the boy.
Allen pouted at her logic. Be damned logic. " Where are we going in this hot weather?" He asked. "I would rather stay in my cold lab."
She sighed, snatching Lunampy away from his abuse to pet her affectionately. "That is one of the reason why you need to get out. You can't just leave your skin to crumple with no sunlight to bathe in," She said in a serious tone. Allen rolled his eyes, like he would care for his skin. It's fine as it is, thank you very much. But he didn't voice it, to avoid his mother's wrath. "Secondly, Ciel will be there too and I hear he'll be investigating an interesting case."
Allen raised his eyebrow at his mother. "Really? Isn't it because you just wanted to see him?"
M. Red pouted at her son unwillingness. But she dropped the facade and answered him honestly. Nothing could get through that supposed to be thick head of his. Even if heis in a bad mood. "It's been a long time since we've seen him. Might as well give him a visit since he's close by, " She shrugged, releasing Lunampy and left her to Allen's mercy as she got back to her nails. "Anyway, don't you miss him too?"
Allen stared at her before giving her his usual sweet smile. "You're right. I do miss him now that I think about it." he said, releasing Lunampy from her torture and placed her on his head. Her favorite spot, which she was grateful for.
M. Red returned the smile. "I knew you would," She said before the smile turned into a devilish smirk. "Investigating a case is just a cherry on top." She added which got an amused eye roll from Allen.
"I couldn't care less on who sent that letter..." Ciel said grumpily. "I hate walking into crowded places."
The master and bulter continued their kind-of-argument as they walked into the small mansion. When Sebastian finally conceded with his young Master's argument, the conversation turned towards being away from the hyperactive, clumsy and crazy servants that would do the master some good, but what they didn't expect was another group of troublemakers behind the door that they we're about to open.
When the duo walked into the room, their dream of having a peaceful evening doing their investigation crumbled to pieces. Ah, how fair is life.
Before them stood a chaos that could even compete with his incompetent servants that Ciel left behind. And the reason for the chaos was because they couldn't find the... the... TEA LEAVES?!
Snaping himself out of his frozen mind, Ciel addressed the cause for the room demised. "Madame red?! Lau?! Why are you here?" He exclaimed in shock and anger. Aren't they supposed to be nobles? Where have their courtesy gone? In the ditch?
Sebastian on the other hand was still recovering from the sudden surprise. Why can't he ever escape from cleaning up after these people's mess? God just loves to ruffle his feathers doesn't he.
"Ah. He came back pretty quickly." M. Red said dissapointely. Was she actually purposely making a mess? She then proceeded to answer her nephew's question. "Since my little nephew was nearby, we thought of coming for a visit. It has been a long time since we last saw each you." She said, giving him a brief hug.
When he got his answer from M. Red, Ciel turned to Lau to get his explanation with one brow raised. "I've heard rumours about the interesting things that's been happening around here." He said with a smile, not opening his eyes at all.
"So in the end, both of you are just bored." Ciel concluded dejectedly. Dealing with these two were like dealing with uncontrollable monkeys. Of all the people he didn't want to see, they all came.
Not wanting to waste time chattering in a messy room, Sebastian went to work to clean the room and to prepare the tea. He wondered why M. Red would even keep that butler of hers if he doesn't even know how to find the tea leaves properly. How incompetent.
"Today's tea is Jackson's 'Earl Grey's." Sebastian announced as he brought the four cups to to serve to M. red, Lau, Ciel and placed another if the other occupant wishes to join them.
"It's the same kind of tea but the way you make it shows the difference," M. Red said with a satisfied hum. She then turned to glanced at Grell who was standing behind her. "Grell, you should follow his example." She added.
"Y-yes, madame." He said with an embarrassed face.
Sebastian gave him a look of disapproval. How can a butler not satisfy their master? Honestly.
M. Red stared at Sebastian appreciatively. "Everytime I see you, you're more handsome than before," She purred as she groped his butt. This made Ciel and another froze in disgust. "Why don't you simply stop working here and serve me!" She suggested which was the final straw for two occupants.
"Madame Red/mother!" The two children exclaimed in anger and disgust.
M. Red turned to stare at the redhead on the couch with a grin. "Oh, don't worry, Allen. You'll always be my number one angel!" She said happily. Oh, the irony.
Allen pouted at his mother. "Really, mother..." He said exasperatedly, while palming his face. "Witnessing my mother invading someone's personal space after waking from my nap is not something that I would like to see." He deadpanned.
M. Red's grin was still in place as she waved away her son's accusing eyes nonchalant.
Ciel should have expected that if M. Red was here, then Allen would be too. But the fact that he had almost forgotten about the other teen made him startled by his casual appearance. Though he did a good job of hiding his suprise.
"Have you been napping the whole time?" He asked the older teen, noticing the fluff ball on Allen's head that was showing its vicious teeth.
Allen's eyes were still in a daze, so the teen rubbed it to wash the sleep away. He stifle a yawn as he glanced at Ciel with droopy eyes. "Hm-mm, yeah. Mother woke me up quite early today." He replied, hanging lazily on the couch while hugging the fluffy ball.
Ciel raised his brow at the teen. "It's already in the afternoon." He pointed out which got a stifle laugh from M. Red and Lau.
"Told you so." M. Red interjected. As a result, she got a pointed look.
Not wanting to waste anymore time -Ciel doubted that they could move forward with the conversation if he were to care for all the little things these people were to brought upon him- Ciel turned serious.
"Let's talk serious matters now, have you heard of the recent kidnapping?"
This got Allen's attention as he made his way towards the empty seat. "You mean the one on the news lately?" He ask while sipping his tea. He had to admit, it's good. But the name itself was quite ironic. He hid a small smile behind the cup.
"Yes."
"Then what are you planning, my little nephew?" M. Red ask with a challenging smile.
"This is no ordinary case," Ciel continued, picking at the dessert before him. "The kidnappers are very picky on who they kidnapped. That's why she is so concerned about it."
"What do you mean?" Lau ask from behind his teacup.
" The victims were both from the upper and lower class. All of them are either beautiful, talented or unique. If the victims were only those of the lower class then it's normal but this case has dragged in the upper class as well," Ciel took another bite from his dessert. "What's more, a noble or nobles are involved with this kidnapping. More reason to investigate it."
"The queen's watchdogs have been dispatched and I'm quite interested in this case," Lau smiled from behind the teacup. Put the damn cut down already. "However, do you have the guts to go to the crime scene?" He ask, making his way towards the younger teen.
M. Red watched the scene in worry while her son was at ease. M. Red didn't voiced out her opinion yet, but she worried for her nephew of the path he has chosen. It was dark and full of horror. She doesn't want him to brake when the time would come for everything he had taken upon himself crashing down upon him. The boy was still so young. She worried for Allen as well. Because she sense that her son is almost the same as Ciel. Ah, why does everyone she cares for always follow the path of destruction?
"What do you mean?" Ciel ask in genuine confusion.
"I sense a wild beast in this case. A person who does not care for another human life," Lau reached for the Earl's chin. "Are you scared? You will finally be able to witness what the underworld really have to offer, Earl Phantomhive."
Ciel glared at the man for his insolent. "I came because I was worried for my fiancee's safety. I don't need your worry or do I have to answer to your questions." He replied firmly.
Lau smiled at the look the child was giving him. "Not bad, the look in you eyes are good."
Allen finally glanced at the two's interaction from the dessert he was served. The Chinese man must've been crazy if he thought that the look was healthy for a child. Ciel was broken. But so was Allen. It's one of the reason Allen didn't try to stop his adopted cousin. Because when the heart has been engulfed in darkness, it is hard for it to reach the surface. He could only help to prevent the darkness crumbling Ciel's heart to pieces.
As sudden as the atmosphere had turned dark, it quickly vanished by Lau's next statement.
"Then let's take a stroll with me!" He excitedly exclaimed as he pulled the younger teen by his wrist.
M. Red slammed her hands on the table. "Wait just one second!" She shouted at the retreating man. "Geez, both Allen and I have come here to have a peaceful afternoon tea with the Earl, but we can't even have that?" Allen looked at his mother with narrowed eyes. Liar. "At least don't leave us hanging after we've took the time to visit you. Let us come as well," She said with her hand on her hip. "So, do you know where the last crime scene was?" She questioned the man as she made her way towards Allen side to urge him to come along.
Allen seemed reluctant to leave the delicious tea (So was Lunampy) but followed his mother either way. He stood beside Ciel as his mother and Lau argue about the pettiest things.
"Maybe you should stop them." Allen said to the younger teen.
Ciel flash him a glance before getting the attention of both of the adults. "Calm down, I know one person who would know a little bit about the case. It's better then nothing anyways." He sigh, before paling at the thought of that person. "It's too bothersome to ask the police, since those wretched nobles must have forced them to cover it up. It's also a waste of time."
"...Earl, you can't mean..." Lau muttered as though realization struck him like thunder. Even his eyes were about to open. But alas, it stayed closed.
"There's no other way..." Ciel sigh dejectedly. "It's bothersome but he works fast."
M. Red looked confused but Allen seems like he doesn't want to take part in the case anymore.
Please, tell me it's not him-
-it is him, Allen examine the shop dejectedly.
"So, what is this place?" Lau asked the master and butler duo. Allen gave the man a weird look. He seems so sure when they were at the mansion. The guy sure walk in stride.
"Why are you familiar with this kind of place?!" M. Red questioned the Earl. The others ignored her while was Grell had his hands full of with stopping his mistress from scolding the boy.
Ciel walked into the shop with the other following behind him. The place was as shabby as ever. There seems to be new coffins but Ciel tried to not think about it. He wondered who was the unlucky guy.
"Are you here, undertaker?" Ciel called, as loud as his dignity would allow.
Suddenly, a creepy laugh echos in the shop. The occupants paled at the sound. Four of them seemed like they do not want to be there in the first place, while the other two seemed exasperated.
"Hihihi~ I knew that you would come~" The source of the sound came from one of the coffin. The occupants turned to find a creepy man grinning widely behind the coffin. This however scared the hiby-jiby out of M. Red, Lau and Grell. "Welcome, Earl~ would you like to know how it feels like to sleep in my custom made coffin~?" He asked the child happily.
Still a creep, Allen thought. He was about to show himself out, thinking that he could avoid any interaction with the silver man if he were to escape now but he should've known that he wasn't that lucky.
Suddenly, Allen was tackled by the said person and was swung around by the man.
"Ah~ what a cute child! That dirty fiery hair and mercury eyes are priceless!" He stopped on their twirling session and took both of Allen's hands. He didn't even notice the ball of fur biting his head off. "How about it. Would you like to sleep in my coffin?" Allen didn't immediately retort as he waited for his world to stop spinning.
The other occupants in the room was speechless. Well, except for M. Red whose mother instinct kicked in to save her child. She snatched Allen from the undertaker's grasped and hugged him possessively, away from him.
"He will do no such things." She sneered at the man with venom in her tone. This however startled all the occupants in the room, except for the man receiving the grunt of it.
"Mom, it's okay. He was just joking," Allen turned to glare at the man. "Right?" He said sternly. His eyes for a millisecond turned gold which only undertaker and Sebastian noticed.
Undertaker gave a sheepish laugh. "Joking~Joking~"
Ciel who had finally been able to regain his composure got back to business.
Undertaker did have information about the case but the price was to give him a first rate laugh. What a difficult price indeed.
The first to go was Lau, he made a very bad and dry joke which got an instant reject. Second to go was M. Red, and her joke was for some reason had caused both Grell and Sebastian to cover Ciel's and Allen's ears. Before they knew it, Lau and M. Red had both of their mouth sealed. Personally by undertaker himself.
Not feeling satisfied, undertaker turned to Ciel and Allen. Allen really didn't feel like making a fool of himself to make the crazy guy laugh and he could tell that Ciel was too. Noticing the young Masters discomfort, Sebastian took the stage.
He dragged the silverhead to another room and warned them not to look inside with a devilish sweet smile. Soon, laughter was in the air. Allen and Ciel looked at each other in puzzlement.
When Sebastian and undertake finally exited the room, the silverhead man was left breathless with drools dripping down his chin. Allen tried to ask Sebastian what he had just done but his mother forbid him from asking.
When undertaker finally caught his breath, they began to talk about the case and how the victims weren't only the upper or the lower class women but prostitutes as well. The prostitutes were mostly killed on spot for their organs. There was a similar case before but Jack never appeared in a murder scene after the warning. They thought it was Jack's return but Allen pointed out that Jack mostly ripped out the womb not their eyes, heart or lungs. For now, Jack was off the list. But not completely.
But they did discover two crucial info. One was that the kidnapper was indeed a noble. How undertaker found that out was beyond Ciel, it was like trying to questioned how Sebastian found information within minutes. Second was that, the noble was an expert at holding the knife or sharp objects because of the clean cuts on the corpse.
When they've received the information they have come for, they took their leave but was stopped by undertaker's statement to Ciel on whether he could kill the perpetrator.
Ciel told him that there were rules, even in the world of darkness. "...I won't be scared, no matter what tricks the Queen's lackey want to use, I will solve them." He said with determination before turning back to look at undertaker. "Sorry for intruding, undertaker." With that, he was gone.
Undertaker watched as the Earl and his underlings existed the shop, leaving him and a boy behind. "Are you not going to go with them?" He ask, looking down at the red-headed teen beside him.
Allen glanced at the man beside him, a little irritated by the difference in height. "I need to ask you for a favor." He said.
Undertaker brows arched in interest. "Oh, and what would that be?"
Allen then began to walk towards the exit. Knowing that his mother would panic if he's not there by her side. "There's movement from the family in the east, Japan. It's not big yet, but I want you to find out what they are up to," He stopped in his step and looked back. "That's where the ark sleeps." He then bowed and took his leave.
Undertaker watched the last of his customer leave the shop. His face then broke into a wide smile. "Seems like the war is almost at its climax, hihihi~" He said as he skipped away.
He then noticed something on the coffin that doesn't belong to him. "What's this?" He reached to grab the small bottle and read the note that was left with it.
To: Undertaker.
You're still creepy.
As compensation for the favor that I ask of you, I give you this potion. You can only use it once and you have to drink it in one gulp. It'll make you sleepy but that is a small price to pay to meet the one you wish. So yeah, do your job properly.
Sincerely,
Allen Dalles-Burnett.
Undertaker's eyes widened in shock behind his bangs. His cunning smile turned genuine. "That little master, I don't deserve such payment." He chuckled.
TL : Thank you for reading! Please leave a favorite, follow or reviews on your way out. Stay tune!
