Chapter 8: Ciel (Second part)

From that day on, their relationship changes. Ciel knows that he hinders him, that the other must strive to adapt to his constant presence... but he can not help it.

During the day, he spends the hours in his room, trying not to be seen by customers. In the nights instead, he does not move away from his side. He adapts his senses to the horror of bodies and death, and observes him working. He does not like it, of course. In spite of that, he tolerates it in order to remain with him.

Undertaker is particularly happy at that time. His hands travel carrying instruments, suturing, making up, producing an almost hypnotic effect.

"His skull has been particularly damaged Mr. Smith, but we can fix it ..."

"This dress will suit you very well, Miss Patton .."

Ciel notes that he often speaks to them. He always uses their names and although his clients never respond to him, he does not stop doing it. In spite of his strange mannerisms and his singular personality, in his dealings with the bodies he shows a respect, almost reverential.

It is so much that one day, when a particularly damaged young woman enters to the preparation room, he finds himself comforting her.

"Don´t worry, you're going to look great. You're in good hands."

The loud laugh that comes from the gravedigger at the sound of his words, almost seems to make the store tremble.


The days pass and between them a kind of routine is installed. They do almost everything together. Even sleep.

After a particularly hectic night, Undertaker seems to opt for that solution. It was that, or have the boy checking all the coffins until he finds him.

Ciel feels especially grateful for that. Every time he huddles next to him and plays with his hair until falling asleep, he is at peace.

However, he can not avoid the distant echo of his father's voice reproaching him ..

"That behavior is not proper for a Count .."

But he can not do anything about it. He needs to sleep, rest, and the presence of the silver-haired man drives away the fears and terrors of his dreams. He has no choice.

It is during one of those nights that something unexpected happens. He wakes up at dawn. It's strange. It is always Undertaker who gets up at dawn to prepare their breakfast and open the store. But not this time ...

Unable to go back to sleep, he dedicates himself to observing and thinking about him.

Throughout those months, he had done so much for his person ... and he does not even know his name. Despite his insistence to know, he could only get a mysterious answer.

"It's been so long, I've forgotten it."

Ciel does not understand how something like that may be true, but he does not press it either.

Even asleep, the hair conceals his features. Ciel continues with his sight the path of the scars in his skin. He focuses on the brutal wound that cuts across his face, continuing through the mark that surrounds his neck to his hands. All the skin in sight seems to be traversed by signs of old wounds.

When he realizes that, he feels overwhelmed by an immense empathy. How did he get them? How much has he suffered? He thinks of his own scar. Just a few points, and yet it has been the result of countless headaches. He can not even imagine what he must have felt.

That night a promise is made.

No matter how, no matter what it costs, I will not let anything hurt you again.


The subject with long red hair arrives one day when they are about to close. He cautiously remains hidden behind the curtains that separate the store from the apartment. He must be careful. Nobody can know that he is alive.

Ciel does not like him. It is not only his shrill tone that bothers him, but his way of addressing him. He gets too close and his hands do not seem to be still. He speaks to Undertaker with a confidence that can only be gained after a long time and he allows it. He smiles and maintains the conversation naturally, as if his closeness was not a problem, as if the obvious love intentions of the other character did not displease him.

Ciel hates him. He has hardly seen him once, but he already hates him.

Who is he to get so close?

What right does he have to talk to him in that way?

Ciel can only hear snatches of the conversation, mostly from the stranger. Undertaker's voice is barely a whisper in comparison. He can only clearly hears a word.

"Distraction."

He does not understand, but apparently the newcomer neither. He makes a scandal. He says that he does not serve for that, that he can´t do it.. and a string of other things, in an exaggerated and melodramatic tone.

From his range of vision, Undertaker seems to enjoy the little show, since he does not stop emitting that little giggle so typical of him. Given this, the other seems to be offended and makes a move to leave the place and that is when everything changes ..

The jocular atmosphere disappears when Undertaker holds the redhead by the wrist, preventing his exit. In a second, he stops being the carefree man he knows to become something else. Ciel does not understand exactly what changes, but suddenly there is something ominous about him when he approaches the visitor's stupefied ear and tells him a few words. The effect is so powerful that he instinctively steps away too.

Danger, says a voice in his mind.

After that, the redhead blushes heavily and nods, to finally leave the place.


Ciel does not mention the meeting until two days later. It is evident that the other suspects that something is happening to him, since his humor has been dismal.

Ciel does not understand what is bothering him so much, but he feels somewhat disappointed.

There was so much he did not know about Undertaker. He could not even know his name, but that red-haired man seemed to has all the luxury of addressing him so familiarly ...

The gravedigger is writing down something in his order book when he is interrogated.

"Who was he?"

The boy's posture, with his arms on his hips and demanding air, makes him smile. The question takes him by surprise and at first he does not know what he is referring to.

"Who was who ..?"

Ciel sighs with exasperation. He is not for games.

You can save your name and your past to yourself, if you so desire. But this time, I need answers..

"The guy who entered the store two days ago. The one with long, red hair, with strange clothes. He knew you. Who was he?"

"Oh."

Undertaker´s mouth draws a gesture of surprise while closing the notebook, giving him all his attention.

"So that's what happened to you? Grell is a dear friend. Did it bother you that she came?

Ciel perceives the condescension in his words and that alters him even more.

"He did not look like a woman."

Undetaker must have been joking if he thought he would believe that. Despite his feminine appearance, it was obvious that the happy Grell was a man.

Undertaker remains a few seconds in silence. Then he makes a gesture with his hand to tell him to come closer. Ciel doubts. At that moment he wants to be angry and can not be angry if he is so close to him.

They are like that for a while. One with one hand extended and the other hesitating, until the boy finally gives up and sits on his lap.

The tone of the gravedigger is gentle and conciliatory and he can already feel that he regrets having been angry in the first place.

"Grell claims to be a woman. Sometimes, people need to be, what they say they are. No matter that reality may be different .. "

At that moment, Ciel listens to him but can not understand what he means by that. It is only at night, when he places his head on his chest, preparing himself to sleep, that the words acquire meaning for him.

Sometimes, people need to be, what they claim to be ...

With a touch of guilt, he thinks he would want Undertaker to be his real father. That what happened to his parents and his brother was just a bad dream and that his life had always orbited within the limits of that little shop. A life without great titles or riches, but also without enemies.

It is a silly and selfish idea ... but he can not deny that he has thought it and wanted it.

After that thought, Ciel was no longer so angry at Grell.


The symptoms begin that summer.

Tiredness, fever, lack of appetite. He does not know what it is, but Undertaker is still at his side as always. Undertaker brings him concoctions, herbal remedies and other substances.

He drinks everything with the blind trust he has placed in him. At times, his health improves, but then it decays again. It is unfair. His wound was closed and scarred, so why ...?

At the end of the summer, Ciel makes his decision. He must contact Astre.

To be continue..