End of Last Chapter:

Then a high-pitched squeal of protest from the forested area around the shrine made the kittens skitter to the newspaper inside the box to hide and left Kagome to run off toward the sound, she would have to come back for the felines. The teenager wishing silently she'd of brought her bow as she plowed into the underbrush.

Chapter Eight of Without Light

Acquaintancea person known to one, but usually not a close friend.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow! Not the face!" The high pitched voice complained animatedly as Kagome pushed her way toward the sound. What the heck was he doing? "Sebas-chan! It's you. What's going on? Why are you here? Where's Ciel?"

"I am no longer in Ciel's employ. Are you here for a reason Grell?" Sebastian remarked distastefully, frowning at the red haired shinigami he'd just kicked to the ground.

Kagome glanced curiously at the red haired man staring with stars in his yellow eyes at Sebastian – who looked annoyed nearby. The bright locks of hair weren't very well kept, going every which way and he had a strange coat and style of dress that seemed an older western sort of dress. She had studied enough history to know it was probably English but she couldn't be sure given it was almost as loud as the creature itself. The pointed teeth in his mouth alerted her almost immediately that the man was not human but he didn't have the same feel to him that Sebastian possessed. Was he another demon or something else entirely?

"Oh! My Sebas-chan! Then you are free to be with me! I knew you wouldn't cling to that immature little boy forever." Grell jumped up and was about to hug Sebastian when his face met the demon's fist instead.

"Uh, am I interrupting something?" Kagome wasn't sure if she should go collect the kittens and pretend she didn't hear or see this disturbing scene.

"Not at all my lady." Sebastian remarked. "Just a pest hiding the bushes, what do the shinigami want here?"

"You...your lady?" Grell glanced between them and then wailed. "Nooooooo! You were finally free and I missed it? My Sebas-chan! How could you do that to me?"

"Don't say things like that..." Sebastian remarked with distaste, rubbing one of his temples idly and muttering to himself. "Why can I never get a spare moment without fools like this?"

"I heard that! Why are you so cruel to me? Is it only to tease me? Yes that must be it." Grell protested then sighed. Reaching behind him suddenly more serious than only seconds before. Kagome wasn't sure she wanted to know where he pulled a chain saw from as his hands returned in front of him, starting the loud weapon with a rumble. "I'm afraid I'll have to apologize Sebas-chan."

"Oh?" Sebastian frowned and suddenly his expression had hardened as well, he was in front of Kagome a moment later and she stumbled back as he caught the unmoving part of the blade between two hands. "What would that be for?"

"Lady fate is too cruel, that I would be put against you like this when she knows how I feel about you." Grell stated with exaggerated sorrow. "Kagome Higurashi is in the top hundred of the kill list. I've been assigned to reap her soul."

Kagome blinked at the pair, suddenly aware of how dangerous a turn her day had taken. How did she go from possibly adopting kittens to being threatened by a madman in her yard in a few minutes time? She grit her teeth and pushed herself off the tree that had saved her from unceremoniously falling on her behind. She stared uncertainly, was this the cost because she'd made a deal with a demon?

"Souls in contract are not in a reaper's dominion." Sebastian snapped back.

Before Kagome could feel any relief from his correction she decided it was better to defend herself as well and began running back toward the house. If her bow worked on the other demon – hopefully it would work on this...thing whatever he was. She was nearly to the top of the stairs when several things happened at once. She heard a cry of warning from behind her at the same moment her foot caught on the last step. Falling forward she could feel and hear the sweep of a weapon overhead as well as hear the red-haired man man screaming.

"Show me your Cinematic Record...uh...wait..." Grell had flown past Kagome when she fell on the upper landing and he frowned as he turned toward her. "You won't get so lucky again."

She felt herself being pulled as dust flew into the sky when the weapon dug into the ground. The reprieve was short, this Grell appeared in front of them again. He was just as fast as any demon she'd ever seen, he was keeping up with Sebastian and that couldn't be a good sign.

"Take me to the house..." Kagome remarked as they ducked below another swipe of the chainsaw.

"I'd rather you not use your powers my lady." Sebastian stated, guessing why she would want to go inside easily enough. "I have dealt with this creature in the past, I can get the best of him."

"Then can you do that before he cuts off one of my limbs?" Kagome stated, frowning when some of her hair went away with the latest swipe. She had been meaning to get it cut but this wasn't quite what she had in mind.

"My apologies, I will put you down. Please remain still my lady. I will deal with him."

"Shut up and let me protect you..." It wasn't quite the same scenario yet the feel of it was so similar it gave Kagome a moment of pause. She was on her back as the demon ducked and swiftly moved up without her, a kick passing through the offensive swipe of the chain saw to catch Grell in the jaw – knocking him away from the girl.

Kagome bit her lip as she watched, demons were strong but she wasn't sure it was a demon – it definitely wasn't a human. Sebastian had called him a shinigami, a death god? Perhaps why he could keep up with the demon. She still felt the tug to go get her bow but she wanted to have faith in her new companion.

"You aren't playing fair Sebas-chan!" Grell whined as he rubbed at his face with his free hand. "Why do you keep abusing my beauty like this? Do you really think you can defeat me when you haven't fed well in a century? My death scythe will paint you red, it'll be a fitting color for your shroud."

"What the hell is wrong with this thing?" Kagome thought as she blinked at the creature, she hadn't moved from her spot. Watching the fight as they continued ducking, weaving, striking, and dodging about the area in front of her house. At least the streets weren't that busy or this would have been difficult to explain to any passerby.

"Care to fist fight again if you want to be on even ground?" Sebastian quipped, slipping to the side of the blade, it caught his cheek but he otherwise managed to avoid it. He frowned at the creature as he considered his options, perhaps he should have let the girl run for her arrows but she was there, waiting for him to complete his task.

"Stop looking away when you're fighting me or I'll have to remove that pretty head of yours." Grell half-screeched as he lunged again, only to cut through nothing, yellow eyes going wide a moment before he was kicked in the back of his knees, throwing him to the ground.

"Where did your death order for my lady come from?" Sebastian demanded, his own eyes seeming to simmer from within. His gentle tone replaced by a steely promise of death. Somewhere after he hit the earth Grell's weapon had been taken from him. Was the demon always this skilled? He hadn't had a real meal in ages...how could he possibly be this strong?

"Spears...Spears hands down all my orders." Grell replied, swallowing nervously when the chain saw was held uncomfortably close to his cheek. "But orders have been strange lately...reapers have been asked to kill people they didn't think deserved it."

"And...you didn't think to consider mentioning that after I told you my lady was contracted already?" Sebastian was considering if he should just remove the pest for good, but for as annoying as Grell could be he was easily manipulated.

"I was jealous Sebas-chan. I can mark her down as reaped and go about my business, since you have a contract with her her soul shouldn't show up in our system regardless." Grell remarked, eager to save his own hide now that the battle had turned with such speed.

Kagome wasn't sure how Sebastian had moved so quickly, it was as if he'd teleported behind the shinigami and taken his weapon while kicking him down. She took the chance to get up and dust off, the poor kittens were mewling piteously at the bottom of the steps – likely fearing they were going to be forgotten. She didn't know enough about what was happening to make a fair judgement call on he man's fate.

"Clearly something is amiss in your organization Grell, I'd recommend that you fix it before I have to do it myself. I know your own weapons will kill even you." Sebastian commented, turning off the loud machine before dropping it on Grell. Ignoring his squeak of pain as he walked back over to Kagome. "My lady, shall we continue what we were doing before?"

"Um...who exactly is that and why does he want to kill me?" Kagome asked, but obliged enough to start walking toward the protesting felines. She didn't want to just leave them and she didn't want to stay too far from her current protector.

"Grell isn't really someone you want to know too much about." Sebastian replied. "We're old acquaintances and he's a shinigami sums up much of the story. The Shinigami are supposed to keep balance in the world and judge souls when they're appointed to die. It's all a little boring but I wouldn't worry. Grell will keep his word and I'll keep you safe. Let's get these small fellows in the house."

Kagome couldn't help it, she giggled lightly despite the gravity of the situation. Sebastian with three kittens crawling on his shoulders was adorable. She just shook her head when he glanced up to her questioning and gestured back up at the house. "Alright, they must be hungry."

End Chapter

Heh, I at least think Sebastian with kittens crawling on him would be adorable. Oh Grell, always causing problems. Those that guessed not Grell were wrong. XD More cute fluff to come next chapter. Sorry if this was sort of off, my muse is mean to me.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Wow, you guys rock. I appreciate all the love for my little fiction here. I hope people continue to enjoy it as much as they have.

XquizitSimplicity – Heh Sebastian + Kittens = win. I need to find a pic of him covered in kittens.

Tinabug – LOL more Grell. Doubt I'll use Pluto, something about that character disturbed me... As for Kagome teasing Sebastian, it could happen sometime. She's at least giggling at him.

Paxloria – I could have waited til Grell attacked Kagome to end last chapter lol.

Tohru78 – Negative not shippo but still amusing I hope

Koukuei Kyoushu – Well I'm glad you like it. It was more of a crack fic idea that people seem to enjoy so I'm still working on it.