Disclaimer: I own no one from the original Kuroshitsuji series. Series and characters belong to Yana Toboso
It wasn't long until everyone had vacated the shop and moved back into the carriage, already on our way back to the manor house. Ciel had a small frown on his face as he contemplated the new information. I could practically see the gears working in his head.
"Based on our earlier conversation, we can now simplify our list of subjects," he started, glancing over at his aunt and Lau.
"Yes, quite…" Sebastian started off, holding his chin in thought, "first, we have 'someone well-versed in medical science and anatomy."
"Among them, 'someone with no alibi on the nights of the murders'," I continued, crossing my arms and tapping my arm lightly.
"And as the perpetrator has absconded with the uterus of each victim, 'someone involved with a secret society or cult of black magic' is also a possibility," Sebastian finished, smirking some at me.
"Wait…you call this 'simplified'?" Angelina blanched, looking at both of us like we were insane, "just how many people do you think gather in London during the Season?! Not only must one consider the doctors of London, but also the family physicians that aristocrats have brought over from the countryside. Furthermore, medical school graduates who never became doctors. Not to mention Orientals like Lau who are skilled in the use of needles and are familiar with human anatomy," she gave a heavy sigh, shaking her head some, "the Season will be over in less than a week. And the physicians will return to the countryside—"
"Then we need only investigate before the season ends," I grinned, turning my attention over to the red clad woman.
"…Come again?" Lau questioned, looking at Sebastian and I in confusion. The butler smirked himself in response.
"We need only pay a call to each individual and verify his alibi prior to the Season coming to a close," he concluded.
"Verify their alibis?! Even though we don't know their exact numbers yet?!" Madam Red yelped, blanching again at me and Sebastian.
"Please, leave it to us," I answered, turning my attention towards Ciel.
"We are the maid and butler of the Phantomhive family. It goes without saying that we can manage something as trivial as this," Sebastian grinned, bowing some to Ciel as he smirked at the both of us. Angelina and Lau were in a stunned silence before we moved to stand in the cramped space.
"I'll just go ahead and make a list of suspects, yes?" I purred, looking back over at the young Earl, who simply nodded in answer. The raven haired man next to me slammed open the carriage door and leaned out, moving to tell something to Grelle that I didn't catch, but I did hear the shout of surprise when the other butler saw him.
"Now if you will excuse us…" Sebastian grinned, bending back to bow to Angelina and Lau, "Cassandra, if you please," he purred, holding out his hand to me. I rolled my eyes as I took it while Ciel made a shooing motion at us, and we exited the still moving box. I smirked at the shouts I heard from the flaming red headed woman.
"Now then, where shall we begin?" Sebastian asked, glancing over at me as we ran.
"I suppose with the nearest hospital?" I suggested, raising a brow at him. He smirked back at me before nodding, and we immediately started on the investigations.
It didn't take very long till we had interviewed everyone we needed, and we were soon back at the manor house, of course before everyone else, and with a bit of time to spare. I let out a heavy sigh, brushing some pieces of hair from my face. An arm looped around my waist, and I opened one eyes to see Sebastian looming over me. My expression contorted into one of annoyance as I looked back up at his smirking face.
"What do you want," I huffed at him, but made no moves to pull away. Sebastian's smirk only grew as he moved ever closer, brushing his lips over mine and making me shudder. I soon found myself pressed against the wall, our lips locked, and my hands gripping onto his shoulders tightly. He pulled away after what seemed too soon a time, a smirk still gracing over his features.
"It's been quite some time since we were completely alone. Might as well take advantage of it," he purred, moving his face down to my neck and grazed his lips over it.
"Ah, wait—S-stop!" I yelped, pushing at his shoulders weakly, "T-they'll be here any minute….!"
"Then we'll have to hurry, won't we?" he growled back as he pushed up the edge of my dress, grazing his fingers over my thigh and up to my hip. I squeezed my eyes shut and bit down on my lower lip, trying to squirm away from his touch, though it only seemed to egg him on.
I let out a gasp as I felt his fingers move away from my hip and stroke over my folds through my undergarments. My face flushed a dark red as the man before me chuckled darkly as the undergarments grew damp, a small whimper leaping from my throat as he stroked more, simply fanning the flames of my desire and lust. I dragged his face away from my neck and crushed my lips against his, kissing him like a starved person as I let out a needy moan. The raven male kissed back with equal force, pressing his body flush against my own as he continued to tease me. He pulled back after we both heard voices from the other side of the door, both us panting as they drew closer. I immediately recognized the hollering of Madam Red. Sebastian frowned as he drew his hand away from the wet heat between my legs, and I had to suppress the whine of protest building in my throat. He gave me another quick kiss before moving back and making his way to the door, changing the glove on his hand before anyone saw.
"Come come, Madam Red. Let us have a spot of tea and take a…break…" Lau started, his sentence dropping at he opened the door and saw the butler standing in the entryway with a polite smile on his face.
"Welcome home. We have been waiting for you," Sebastian greeted, bowing to the small group as they made their way inside. I quickly composed myself before making my way over, putting my own smile on my face as I began to lead the Young Master away from the other two upper class members.
"Your afternoon tea is ready," I said, still smiling as I took Ciel's hat, "a cornmeal cake of pears and blackberries will be accompanying it today."
"Nn. Sweets, sweets…." The boy mumbled in response, eagerly following me to the lounge to get his treat.
"Wait…why are you here?!" Angelina shouted, getting over her shock at seeing me and Sebastian there already. I stopped, looking back over my shoulder at the woman in red and put a hand on Ciel's to stop him from going without me and eating the entire cake. Sebastian glanced over at me before turning his attention back to the woman, smiling again.
"Hmm? We returned in advance because we finished our assignment," the man explained. Ciel started getting fussing as he tried getting out of my grip, but I kept a firm hold on him.
"On foot?! Your 'assignment'—so you already a list?!" the Madam gasped, her expression turning shocked again instead of angered.
"Not quite," I started, "you see, we simply compiled a list based on the characteristics we discussed earlier and paid each individual on that list a visit. That is all. However, it did take time because we investigated the aristocracy's family physicians as well," I finished with a small sigh, turning my attention back to the Earl, "Sebastian may explain the res. Now, come along young master, let's not let that cake get too cold—"
"Hold it Cassandra. Really, you two," the Madam scoffed, her shocked expression gone and replaced with a smug smirk, "that's impossible, even for you two—" Sebastian chuckled, cutting her off as he unfurled one of the scrolls in his hands.
"Earl Chambers's family doctor, William Somerset was attending a party sponsored by Earl Harwood when Mary Ann Nichols was killed. He has an alibi, and is not involved in any secret societies….has an alibi. Wale…was attending a meeting and has an alibi. Not involved in secret societies. Duke Bailey's family physician, Richard Oswal…spent time in the White Horse Pub with his comrades…has an alibi. Royal London Central Hospital…surgery, talking business and has an alibi…Alibi. Not involved with secret societies…Burt's family physician, Nicholas Anthony…bi. Is involved with secret societies. Physician at Royal London Central Hospital…Surgeon Adam Hayvitt. When Anna Harver was killed…had contact with a boy at Staple Inn and has an alibi…Wellington. When Mary Ann Nichols was killed…not involved with secret societies. Duke Russells's family physician J…not involved in secret societies…not involved in secret societies…Inton's family physician, Josiah Condor…the day before…cy Billow was killed, was at the Ten Foxes Pub…not involved in secret societies. Head of Baron Darsonton's family dav…surgeon at the hospital affiliated with London University, Simon E…physician at Saint Thomas hospital…o…was dining with parents and has an alibi…" The list continued on and on, and I couldn't help but smirk with Ciel as he read. Grelle had a small blush on his face as he listened, and Madam Red had a shocked look on her face again, her smile faltering and her hat slipping from her head.
"Based on these results," he stated after finishing with the list, glancing over at the young Earl, "we have narrowed down the list of suspects to but one individual. Let us discuss the details after tea," he concluded, turning around to follow me and Ciel to the lounge.
"How in the world did you manage such a thing, Sebastian and Cassandra?" Madam asked, a hesitant smile on her face, "are you really only a butler and maid? Are you sure you two aren't O.H.M.S.S. or something as well?" We looked over at her, glanced back at each other, then put polite smiles on our face as we bowed, turning back to her as we did.
"No," we started, "we are merely a butler and maid."
Everyone was soon situated in the lounge. Sebastian and I stood on either side of Ciel as he finally ate a healthy serving of cake, the two guests of the household drinking tea.
"'Someone well-versed in medical science and anatomy'," I started, looking down at one of the lists we had made, "'someone with no alibi on the nights of the murders,' and 'someone involved with a secret society or cult of black magic.' Only one individual fulfills all these conditions; the Viscount of Druitt, one Sir Aleister Chamber."
"He graduated from a medical school, but does not work at a hospital or practice medicine," Sebastian continued, taking over for me, "he has held several parties at his residence during the Season…but there are rumors that he also hosts secret parties on the side in which only he and his intimate acquaintances participate."
"The Viscount of Druitt, hmm…" Angelina mused, raising a brow in thought as she tapped her chin, "now that I think about it, I have heard rumors that he's into black magic or something. The Rose something or the Golden something…" she mumbled, her face scrunching up in confusion.
"So some kind of ritual is being conducted at those 'secret parties'," Lau started in, taking a sip of tea, "and the prostitutes may have been used as offerings."
"Yes," Ciel answered simply, taking the last bite of his cake.
"Tonight, there will be yet another party at the Viscount's residence beginning at 19:00," I stated, resting a hand on the back of the young Earl's chair, "as the season will soon be coming to an end, it is safe to assume that this evening will be our final opportunity to steal in." I finished, glancing over at Sebastian with a small smirk.
"Madam Red," Ciel ordered, setting down his fork, "that is where we stand. Can you do something about it?" he asked, earning a smirk from the Lady in Red.
"Really, who do you take me for?" she scoffed, flicking her hair over her shoulder, "I'm quite popular with men, I'll have you know. Obtaining an invitation or two will be child's play," she chuckled, still smirking at her nephew.
"Then it's decided," the Earl declared, leaning back once more in his seat, "we'll do whatever it takes to get into that 'secret party'. But make certain to never use the Phantomhive name. We may fail to catch them otherwise. This is our only chance!"
"This is rather grand, isn't it," Angelina mused, tapping her chin with the feathered fan in her hand as she glanced around the ball room placed in the home of the man we were hunting, "I wonder if indeed tonight marks the last night of the Season?"
"It would appear that this evening will be most delightful," Lau agreed, nodding slowly in response to the Madam's statement.
"We're done for if we arouse their suspicions," Ciel scolded, sending a glare towards the two, "listen up; we did not come here to amuse ourselves. Do not let your guard down!" He continued, crossing his arms over his pink dress covered torso. Lau and Angelina looked over at him before the red haired woman squealed, hugging him tightly.
"We understaaand! Ohhh my! You're just the cutest little thing, aren't you!?" she gushed, practically suffocating him with her bust.
"Let me go!" he gasped, trying to push away from her, "why do I have to wear something like this—?!"
"Eh? What's this? Don't you like your Muslin-Drenched French dress?" the boy's aunt sighed, a pout forming over her features, "Boo! Boo! It's the latest style and everything, you know?"
"How could I like this!?" the Earl shouted, his face turning a light shade of pink.
"Now, now," Sebastian scolded, stepping up to the grouping, "a lady never raises her voice," he concluded, pushing the glasses up his nose as they began to fall off.
"Sebastian…you bastard…" Ciel growled, staring daggers at his shadow.
"He's riiiight, you hear? You have to follow the script..." Madam Red chided, wagging a finger at her nephew.
"Sorry Sebastian, but I'm with the young 'lady' on this one," I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. I despised pink. At least on myself, and I was perfectly fine with the dress I was currently wearing; tight fitting corset with a lace frilled bottom, the entire thing pitch black, "pink is a retched color. Couldn't we have gone with a simple blue color?" I pouted, holding the boy close as I pet his hair.
"Cassandra, you dote on him far too much," the raven haired butler sighed, shaking his head slowly, "however, the Madam is correct. If we are going to complete this mission, we must follow everything to a 'T'," he explained, glancing over at the red clad woman.
"Right!" the woman agreed, nodding her head once to prove a point, "Lau is my lover. Ciel is playing my niece, who has come to London from the countryside. Sebastian and Cassandra are a married pair who are also your tutors. Oh, and Grelle is my butler, per usual," she finished, simply waving the flake of a man off. Ciel's face turned a bit pinker, and I kept a hand on his shoulder to keep him still. Thinking on it, she wasn't entirely wrong about me and Sebastian being married…
"So…! Why must I be your niece!?" he shouted, clenching his hand into a tight fist at his side.
"Well, you see, I've always wanted a daughter," the woman answered with a laugh, "a charming girl who looks wonderful in frilly dresses!" It would appear Grelle wasn't the only one who was a flake.
"THAT is your reason…?" the young earl growled, steam practically coming from his ears. He was positively fuming at this point.
"These will trouble me until I get used to them…" Sebastian mumbled, adjusting his glasses a bit. I smirked, keeping my voice low when I spoke to him so only he could hear.
"I think they make you look rather dashing," I chuckled. Good God, what in the hell was I saying? The butler smirked back at me, speaking just as low.
"I'll keep that in mind," he answered, making my face flush. I had completely missed what Angelina had whispered to her nephew, and jumped when she spoke at a normal tone of voice again.
"In any case! If people were to see a one eyed boy with a well dressed butler and busty maid, no offense Cassandra," she said, holding a hand up in defense.
"Some taken," I answered, frowning a bit as I crossed my arms.
"Anyway, they would know it was you on the spot!" she concluded, crossing her own arms, "so then it follows that this is the best disguise!" A grin grew back over the woman's face as she held her fan to her chin again, "and the Viscount or Druitt supposedly loves women of all ages, so it's better if you're dressed that way! 'Kay?!" She giggled, tilting her head a bit.
"Wha…?!" Ciel stammered, shaking with fury.
"Ha-ha-ha! Wouldn't it be a crime for him to lay a hand on the Young Earl?" Lau added in. knowing his usual behavior, he had no idea what was really happening.
"Were you not the one who said 'do whatever it takes'?" Sebastian asked, smirking at the Earl as he growled in response. I set a hand on his shoulder to calm him, a smirk of my own on my face.
"Then shall we go, my lady?" I asked, gesturing out to the steadily growing crowd. The boy blinked before letting out a weary sigh, giving up. My smirk changed into a polite smile before I began to wander about with Sebastian, attempting to locate the Viscount.
"I wonder if the Viscount of Druitt is a handsome fellow? If that is the case, I would be more than willing to do my paaart!" Madam purred, getting an evil glint in her eyes that made even ME flinch.
"I'm uncomfortable. This dress is heavy. My feet hurt. I want to go home," Ciel grumbled, a dark cloud hanging over his head.
"My lady, you'll grow mushrooms if you keep that up," I huffed, resting my hands on my hips.
"I do not want Elizabeth to see me like this…" he continued on his complaining, groaning at the mere idea of it.
"No, I suppose not," Sebastian agreed, a forced grin on his face as he too imagined what could happen.
"Kyaah, your dress is so cute!" a voice squealed. It sounded all too familiar…
"Oh no…I'm even imagining the sound of her voice now…" Ciel grumbled. The voice gushed again at a partier's hat, and the three of us whipped around with horror imprinted onto our faces, pinpointing the voice to be Lady Elizabeth's.
"There are just SOOOO many ladies in the loveliest dresses, I can't stand it!" the girl gushed, clasping her hands together as she squealed in delight, "they are all SOOO CUTE!"
"Se—! Se-Se-Se-Sebastian! C-Cassandra!" Ciel hissed, starting to shake in fear.
"Young mas—! My lady, please calm down, "Sebastian whispered back, taking Ciel's arm as we all flipped back to find an escape route.
"Let us go over there for a moment," I added, pointing over to one of the tables.
"Ah!" A voice called, making us freeze, "those girls over there are wearing AWWWWWFULLY cute dresses!" Elizabeth squealed, pointing at me at Ciel. I didn't even to turn around to know what she was doing.
"B-behind the table! DUCK!" I hissed, grabbing Ciel's arm and quickly hiding us both behind the clothed table. What was more fortunate was the large cake sitting atop it. I kept a hand over his mouth to keep quiet, though it seemed unnecessary.
"Oh? Where did they go?" I heard the young boy's fiancée question. I peeked over the table and watched her look around before running into a different direction. A weary left me as I removed my hand from the boy's mouth, letting him breathe properly. He lifted himself a bit, looking over the edge of the table with me.
"Why is Elizabeth here!?" The boy in drag hissed out, sitting a bit taller as he looked around the room, "I must at least get ahold of Madam and the rest—!"
"Uh…" I started, pointing over to the "lovers". Lau was fanning the woman in red while a crowd of men pressing to get to her, each one holding some kind of gift in their hands. Both I and the young Earl blanched at the sight of her blatant flirtatiousness. Fingers suddenly trailed up my spine, making me shudder, and I clamped a hand over my mouth to hold back the purr clawing its way up my throat. I whipped my head around and saw Sebastian with a serious look on his face, but the glint of mischievousness I saw I his eyes made me stare daggers at him.
"This is not good," he started, "I did not think your fiancée would be here."
"Even though I am disguised…if she were to catch a glimpse of my face…" Ciel stammered, a look of horror increasingly growing on his face.
"…She would recognize you right away," Sebastian continued, dragging a finger down my spine again. I quickly turned around and slapped his hand away.
"If she finds out, it would spell the end of our investigation!" the boy gasped, his face getting pale.
"Moreover…everyone here would discover that my lady is the 'young master'," the butler concluded, his expression unchanging. The Earl went deathly pale at the thought before falling back onto his knees, tightly clenching the table cloth as though it would offer some form of support.
"If it becomes known that the head of the Phantomhive family had the gall to dress like this, we will be shamed for all eternity!" Ciel gasped, starting to quake with fear, "I'd dare not show my face before Her Majesty again!"
"You're overreacting," Sebastian and I said at the same time, our expression unreadable.
"I would rather die than have that happen!" he snapped, flipping his head around to face us, "so she must neve—"
"The Viscount of Druitt is as handsome as always!" a woman sighed, a light blush on her face, "his platinum locks are like spun gold!" The three us snapped to attention, peering around the table to see the man the women were fawning over.
"So he is the Viscount of Druitt…!" Ciel said, his showing eye narrowed on the blonde male.
"He is quite young…" Sebastian mentioned. I smirked as I kept my eyes glued to the blonde. He would be a piece of cake to handle.
"We'll use a greeting as our front to get close to him," the young Earl ordered, his face serious as he rose to his feet.
"I will observe from here because the presence of another male may make him wary," Sebastian whispered, rising as well and bending to reach the boy's height, "please, behave like a lady, as we have taught you."
"Yes, yes! Alright!" Ciel huffed, starting to get annoyed at the reminder of what he was wearing. I rested a hand on his shoulder and smiled down at him when he turned his face upward.
"I'll be right next to you, young master," I said, smiling reassuringly at him. He gave a small sigh before his face became stern again, giving a single nod before making his way over to the Viscount. When we were both close enough, I kept a hand on his back between his shoulder blades as he gathered his skirts and curtsied, a forced smile pulling across his face.
"G-good evening, Viscount Dru—"
"AHHHHH! Found yooou!" A voice squealed, making both of us stiffen. I whipped my head around, letting out a curse as I grabbed Ciel's hand and pulled him away from his excitable fiancée.
"This way, my lady," I said, pulling him along behind me. I waved a hand at a nearby waiter and motioned him over towards Elizabeth as a distraction via lemonade, continuing to pull the boy along behind me until we reached the balcony, finally stopping to rest there.
"That was dangerously close…" I sighed, resting my hands on the railing.
"Why do I always have to be the one to suffe—" Ciel started, his sentence cutting short as the musicians began to play a waltz. We both whipped around to look into the room to see men and women beginning to dance to the music. I let out a curse with Ciel as we watched the couples glide over the floor.
"The hall is swarming with dancers," I muttered, a small frown pulling over my face, "we can't approach the Viscount like this…" My eyes roamed around the room again, and I let out a small sigh of relief to see the blonde girl was distracted by the dancers. Letting out another sigh, I placed a hand on the boy's shoulder again, making him jump at the sudden distractive contact.
"Seeing as how Sebastian is currently nowhere to be found, and the only to get across the hall would be TO dance, I will be your partner," I explained, grabbing one of his hands, "you can manage with what Sebastian and I have taught you, yes?"
"Are you telling me to dance here?! In public?! With the likes of you?!" the Earl blanched as I pulled him towards the floor, his face steadily getting paler.
"Have you forgotten?" I started, grabbing his hands, "we might both be women, but since I am your tutor for the time being, I could simply be helping my student practice, could I not?" I purred, smirking at him, "not to mention my current status this evening is not your maid, and that I am, for the time being, in a rank among the upper classes."
"R-right…" Ciel mumbled, glancing away from me.
"I will lead for now, so as not to collide with the other couples. Now, shall we dance, my lady?" I asked, placing one hand on his back before pulling him into the throng of people, "just listen to the music. Let it flow through you, so you may match your steps with the rhythm," I said softly, tapping the rhythm against his back lightly to help him, "we keep this up, we will be across in no time at all," I chuckled as I began moving, passing the lady Elizabeth as we danced. We finally made it to the other side, and Ciel collapsed onto his hands and knees, panting heavily.
"Really, how unsightly to be exhausted after such a trifle," I huffed at him, bending a bit so I could reach his current height as I scolded him. I let out a sigh as I moved to help him stand, shaking my head slowly, "really now. Ah well, I'll get you some water immediate—" My sentence cut short as the sound of someone clapping sounded near us. We both looked up to see the man we were after; the Viscount of Druitt, Aleister Chamber.
FINALLY! THE NEXT CHAPTER IS UP
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Thank you for reading up to this point~ The Jack the Ripper Arc is almost done!