A/N - Chapter 9 is here! I am really sorry that this so late, but school, college apps, and personal bullshit have been taking up my entire schedule.
Neither Aurora or Sebastian could remember a day when they slept well. Sleep was a luxury that Sebastian rarely received while for Aurora, sleep was almost non-existent. She was an insomniac and that night was the first night in a year where she slept properly.
She would have slept until noon if she was not roused by the feathery touch of fingers dancing along her spine. She blinked at the feeling, then realised that she was not in her room, but the room of her favorite butler. She looked up at Sebastian's face in order to receive a small peck on her nose.
"Good morning, Aurora."
"Morning."
"I trust that you slept well?"
"Like a baby. How about you?"
"Wonderfully."
"That's great. So...what's the plan for today?"
"The Young Master has some errands to run, one specifically pertaining to you."
"Ah. More work. Don't you guys ever take a break?"
"With these recent killings, it's quite difficult to make time for leisure."
"I'm gonna be alone again."
"No, we will bring you along."
"Really?"
"Yes. I thought it would be nice to have you tour London while you are here. This would also make it easier to keep you under our surveillance."
"Protective custody."
"Exactly. Now, go back to sleep, it is only 5:45 am."
"Nah, I don't think I can go back to sleep. I'll help you around the place."
"I cannot allow that."
"Sure you can. If I don't have anything to do, I'll tear up the place."
He blinked at her, trying to figure out if she was serious. She was. "I will not be able to persuade you against it, will I?"
"Nope."
He chuckled. "Alright. Get ready."
Ciel and Aurora silently ate their breakfast as Sebastian stood watch. He and Aurora spent their early morning preparing breakfast, and were nearly late because they could not keep themselves from...distracting one another. Ciel was obviously keen on this, but decided to not confront them on the matter. He knew that he should expect this more often, especially since Sebastian was realising his feelings for their American guest. Now, he had to make sure that the two were respectful out in public, as well as in his presence.
"Aurora, I take it that Sebastian had told you that you were to accompany us on our errands."
"Yeah. Um...what type of errands are they?"
"I need to collect some information on the murders in light of new evidence-in other words, you-and what connections could be made with this."
"Oh, alright."
"If you are done with your breakfast, then we can leave for London."
"Alright."
The streets bustled with people that were trying to get to work or get some early shopping done. Aurora was so taken by the sights, that she forgot that her entire tour was just to keep her safe as well as collecting information. However, she could not stop herself from looking through the windows of various boutiques and pondered what she should bring home as souvenirs...if she got home.
"Aurora, if you remain on task, I promise you that the Young Master and I will personally buy you whatever you want. But...you must behave yourself."
She pouted, but her face flushed in embarrassment at the fact that she was looking like a child at a candy store. "Sorry..."
"Good. Now, we have one last stop. Come along, my lady."
Their last stop was the Undertaker's parlor, but Aurora did not realise it until they entered. "Who died?"
"No one died. This is where we get our information," Sebastian said.
"Oh. What's the Undertaker like?"
"A senile old bastard," Ciel grumbled.
"Oh, he's not that bad, Young Master. Actually, he may be a reliable ally in this. I understand your discomfort, yet there's no reason for you to think or speak ill of him."
"No, he's a senile old bastard."
"Now, now, little lord," a voice giggled. "That is no way to talk about a person." Aurora looked around trying to find the source of the bizarre voice, but failed...until one of the coffins opened and a pale face peered out, making her yelp and stumble backwards into Sebastian's arms.
"Sebastian, you better hold me back before I throw a shoe at him."
"Gladly."
The Undertaker stepped out of his confines and dusted off the invisible dust from his suit. "So it seems as though you have something you would like to ask me."
"Yes," Ciel mumbled, still disgruntled about the fact that he had to be here.
However, the Undertaker did not pay attention to the Earl as his eyes caught sight of the young lady in Sebastian's hold. "Who might this charming young lady be?"
"Aurora Simmons. She is the musical prodigy that Mrs. Preston had flown here for the Young Master's ball."
"Ah, you're that one! My, how much I've heard about you dearie. You've caught the eye of quite a few from the upper class."
Sebastian frowned at this, but caught himself before Ciel or Aurora could notice. However, he did not evade the Undertaker's eyes. "She is quite fetching, isn't she? That makes her all the more in danger."
"Is that why you've come to my humble abode?"
"Yes," Ciel said. "Thanks to Aurora, we translated the words that were carved into the bodies of the victims, and with that translation we discovered that she may be involved. The murderer knows her and wishes for her to be united with him. He may be a deranged admirer, but we cannot be too sure."
"What was the translation?"
"'Aurora is mine'. I don't know who else knows of her being here."
"Well, isn't that odd? A mass murderer searching for a young lady that he 'claimed'."
"It is rather...distasteful," Sebastian frowned. He really did not like the idea that there was someone running around believing that he could take Aurora away from him. He had just begun to explore those bizarre, yet pleasant feelings with her. There was no way he was going to have that snatched away from him.
"So," Ciel began. "Have you noticed anything else strange about the bodies?"
"Now, now little lord. You know that I don't just give you what you want without a little compensation."
He groaned, sending an annoyed glare at the silver-haired man, then turned to Sebastian. "Be quick-"
"Actually, I was thinking about having Aurora pay this time. If you don't mind, please kindly leave."
Ciel was going to protest, but Sebastian had beaten him to it. "I'm afraid not. She is to be under my constant supervision." His eyes flashed their bright fuchsia, and his voice held an almost violent tone that threatened to take over his body. "I will not stand for leaving Aurora alone with you, especially without me. If you haven't noticed, I am not in the mood to have someone else pursue her with an atrocious lunatic running about killing people just because he believes that are an obstacle to his taking her!" Once those words left his lips, he regretted it as all eyes were on him. Ciel smirked once he realised why his demonic butler had reacted so out of character...and decided to toy with him.
"Come, Sebastian."
Said man looked down at his master with a hard glare, daring him to test him. "Come again, sir?"
"Let them speak privately. If he wants us to leave, who are we to deny him?"
Sebastian saw the amusement in his eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to show him who he was dealing with. "But, sir-"
"Now." Silently, but seething, he obeyed. Once the two were outside, Sebastian growled audibly. "Really, now Sebastian? I thought you had more self-control."
"Not when it concerns what I consider mine. Aurora is her own person, yes, but I rather not have someone like the Undertaker near her."
"Do you really think that Aurora would fall for that senile old bastard? Especially when she has you?"
"Humans are vain. They would pursue anything that was beautiful in order to outdo one another. Aurora, however, is more curious about everything, which makes this all the more unpleasant and dangerous."
"She relies on her instincts. She'll know not to be too affiliated with him."
"She also wants to know why the murderer is obsessed with her, and how she knows the translation to the carving when we couldn't even guess what it said. She would quite possibly do anything for answers. She is still human."