AN: Hey looks like it's time for awkward apology mode again

Yeah, so I know it's been a long time since my update but I have had one hell of a month, a not a fun one at that. Unfortunately exam session is upon me so my time to write is really limited. Originally this chapter was going to be much longer but since I haven't put out anything in so long I figured I'd split it in half.

I also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has reviewed/ favourited/ followed/ read this story, I really can't express how happy it makes me so please enjoy this next chapter :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji


The new product has a cost value of 20 pence per unit. However with our current trajectory we estimate a trade price of £4.99, so we are looking at a profit…

My eyebrow twitched in irritation as I paused from reading for the third time in a row only to go back to reread the last sentence. I may have read the words three times, but I had yet to actually understand any of their meaning. Once again I listlessly tried to force my attention back on to the report I was supposed to be proof reading but found myself still too distracted by listening to my surroundings to take the words in.

It wasn't that there was any noise in the room distracting me, rather the completely lack of it. It was irritating and slightly disconcerting to know that, despite the fact there was someone else sitting in the room, I could only hear the sound of my own breathing.

After attempting to reread the sentence for a fourth time, I gave it up all together and leant back in to my office chair, surveying the room. There had been a new addition to my office in the last week. Sebastian was sitting at a slightly smaller desk than my own; head slightly bend and appeared to be entirely focused on his own work in front of him. Although, unlike me, he was astutely aware of his surroundings and would already be fully aware that I had paused from what I should be doing. He must just be ignoring me on purpose, I thought to myself, possibly in an attempt to wind me up. I frowned slightly to myself; it appeared that it was working quite well for him.

I sighed and shook my head slightly. Overall, it had been one of the oddest weeks of my whole life, consisting of both highs and most definite lows.


After that first night I spent in, what I have now come to call the room of mirrors, I must have passed out some time before my hours was up; perhaps due to blood loss but more likely from the damaged caused from hitting my head against the glass. All I know is I had awoken the next day in own my bed, completely healed and with a regained grasp on my sanity.

Although Sebastian had been present in the room when I awoke, he made no mention of the night before and since I had no wish to bring it up; neither of us said anything on the matter. I had inwardly recoiled at the thought of the state the demon must have found me in but forced myself to keep my mind of the matter. Out of sight out of mind, isn't that the saying. In the end, the only conversation between the two of us on that first morning was of the plan for the day ahead.

Having gotten confirmation that I would be attending work that day, Sebastian had instructed me to arrange an interview process for the position of a personal assistant. At first, I had stared rather blankly at him, until he so flippantly reminded me that I needed a cover story to explain his presence. At first I had argued that since we could communicate mentally, there was no need for his physical presence but after a heated discussion in which the demon kept calmly insisting and I reluctantly acquiesced. After that, he instructed me to stress that I wanted the position filled immediately and to set interviews for two days' time and I was left on my own to dress and go down to breakfast.


Breakfast was usually a quiet affair in the Middleford household but that morning we all seemed that much… brighter. Elizabeth was ecstatic about how the party had gone and was positively gleaming over her morning toast. Almost as soon as I had reached the table, she had exactly pushed me down into my chair in front of a copy of The Times newspaper to show me that they had printed an article about us.

"On the second page, no less", she had said excitedly.

Reading an article about myself was something of an oddity for me. If anything was printed about me in the papers it was always unpleasant and usually hidden away from my view by everyone in the house. Although most of the articles eventually found their way into my hands one way or another and even if I didn't see them myself, someone was bound to tell me what they contained. This time however, it was quite refreshing to see one that showed me in a somewhat positive light.

The whole thing portrayed me as some sort of tragic hero; the type who had suffered greatly but was now doing their utmost to turn their life around. I couldn't help but smirk slightly at the cruely irony of the whole situation. The reporters really didn't have any idea how close they were to the truth on that matter. Hero I may not be but it was certainly astounding the lengths I had gone in order to change the life I had previously been living.

The rest of breakfast passed happily enough, with Elizabeth animatedly chatting away to me and her father. Alexis also seemed to be ecstatic at how things were going, or maybe he was just putting on a happy face for his daughter. Even Aunt Francis, although still not uttering a word to me, did seem to have a slight smile on her face. In the end I headed out to work in a better mood than normal, even going as far as to promise Elizabeth that I would meet her for lunch.

The morning's work passed quickly and pleasantly enough. After stopping by human resources first thing to organise the PA position, I spent most of the morning heading up a variety of different meetings and press reports but managed to excuse myself in time for my lunch date with Elizabeth.

Reflecting back on that time, I couldn't help but smile. Elizabeth tended to avoid going out in public with me and I had never asked her for fear of putting her in an uncomfortable position. On the few occasions we had done anything together on our own in the last few years, it would always be Elizabeth doing the talking. However, I found that Elizabeth and I were not technically alone in this situation as Sebastian had once again stepped in to act as the mediator in my head. Ignoring all his sarcastic asides and taunts, Sebastian had proved to be extremely useful in providing the right words and subtle pushes that allowed me to engage in a full conversation with my fiancé for the first time in years.

The rest of the week passed in a similar fashion. Aided by Sebastian I had begun slowly, but never the less resolutely, to break down the barriers that existed between us. Elizabeth and I grew closer by the day, they were small gains but they were bigger than I ever could have imagined.

The last few days had been some of the happiest I had ever had. Work was going well, my relationship was going well and the interviews for PA had also been a surprising success.


Looking back over at Sebastian, he still seemed to be engrossed in his work. Still ignoring me I guess. I wonder how long it will take before he comments on the fact that I'm not doing anything. His expression may have been neutral and focused, but I could see his eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly in annoyance. I slightly cheered at my victory, after Sebastian's constant teasing over the last week I savoured every small thing I did that annoyed the demon in any shape or form.

I thought back to the day of the interviews. Although I knew Sebastian was a demon, after two previous glowing candidates who would be ideal for the role, I had questioned whether he would be up to the challenge of looking proficient enough. I had questioned Sebastian the day before why I had even needed to interview other candidates; the position was mine to fill so there was no need for it too look so official. But, Sebastian had once again insisted that others in the company would want to ensure that their leader was being helped by competent hands.

Much to my annoyance, Sebastian had been proved right when the next day Diedrich had all but insisted that he sit in on the interviews with me.

With the interviews being posted on such short notice there were only three candidates, Sebastian being the last of them. After sitting through the first two, I had felt slightly worried that Sebastian would match up to them, they had glowing CVs and recommendations and had both interviewed well. Yet as it turned out I needn't have worried…

Sebastian had put the other two candidates to shame. Whereas their answers where good, his were flawless. He had excelled at every point, avoided falling every time Diedrich had tried to trip him up with a particularly taxing question and left me with an easy justification in giving him the position.

From them on the pair of us had been sharing an office and I had found my work load halved.

"He hem", a cough interrupted my train of thought. Looking up it seemed that Sebastian had finally grown tired of my slacking and had chosen to put it to an end.

"You know" he snarled "as per the terms of our contract; I have no obligation to be working for your company, especially no completing all your tedious paper work."

A week ago I probably would of shied away from a statement like that and returned back to my work but not now.

"It may not be part of our contract but I do in fact pay you for this don't I. Knowing how much you demons enjoy contracts, I would have thought you would understand that since I pay you for this job then you have to do whatever I order you to do. Besides, you were the one so eager for the position, were you not?"

The previously held sneer of the demon quickly morphed back to his usual smirk. "Oh it seems your so much braver now, unlike last night when I found you cowering in a corner unable to face your own reflection."

That was the cue for my own dramatic change of facial expression. Yes, in some ways the week had been one of my best, but also one of my worst.


I still found myself spending each and every night in that room. I idly wondered how long it would take before Sebastian tried of this form of punishment because although the ordeal still badly affected me every night, it was becoming easier. Last night Sebastian may have found me cowering in a corner but at least hadn't attempted to unknowingly kill myself. I may have felt fear but it was controlled fear.

Looking back over at Sebastian I could see he was smirking, probably taking some pleasure idea of me painfully reminiscing. Yet I found myself determined not to give him the satisfaction of believing he was causing me pain. Smirking back at him, I took great pride at the fact I was able to glare my own death squarely in the eye and for once in my life not back away in fear. With that pleasant thought set in my mind, I turned back to my work with a new gusto enjoying the newfound calmness I had finally achieved.


AN: R and R 3