His fingers glided up the railing and he smiled.

"Much improved," he muttered, looking down at Mey-Rin who lit up in pride.

His eyes took her in quickly and his mind calculated faster. He could kiss her and calm her blush before the young master came down the hall and stepped foot on the stairs. An acceptable risk.

His lips danced over hers and he wrapped his arms around her, knowing she would not see clearly him coming down to her. Her startled gasp, step back into his arms to catch her from stumbling off the stairs, and the gentle moan was reward enough as the soft lips of his now steady lover parted.

They had a routine, something manageable they both could predict and prepare for. The beginning weeks had been a frenzy of tumbling emotions, and Sebastian had successfully pulled them back, institute boundaries, and what was acceptable both in and out of their private quarters. It was what made their normal, before becoming lovers, lives work. They knew their positions here, on the stairs, head butler and maid, and they had discussed they needed the same behind doors.

"Sebastian," she scolded softly even as she captured his lips quickly once more.

He brushed his fingers over her perfect face and turned to meet his young master at the head of the stairs. He glanced down and saw Mey-Rin back scrubbing the dirt out of the carpet. The bobbing head shook her hair lightly as she moved her whole body into the removal of the dirt and her knitted brows betrayed nothing of their quick intimate moment.

"My lord," he said smoothly as the young master moved past him.

"I want eggs Benedict, in the garden. It's actually nice today," Earl Ciel Phantomhive said swiftly.

"Yes, my lord."

He moved past the maid, her swift curtsy and "good morning, sir," was normal and expected. He watched the small movements only his eyes could detect. Flawless. Like always. His heart pulled at him and he walked down to the kitchen, relieved that Baldroy was not in the vicinity. So he flashed around the kitchen, his speed put into the whipping of the sauce, the cooking the eggs to perfection, and pouring the morning tea with the same ease he did in breathing or relaxing in his lovers arms.

He plated the meal and walked out the back door, the silver tray balanced in his right hand and the tea pot in his left. A tickle passed through him as he entered the gardens and he cocked his head, listening around for what had pricked them. He smoothly placed the breakfast before his master, who was reading the London paper, delivered to him in his bed an hour before. The tea was placed in front of the boy and Sebastian stood and turned as a spear came for his head.

The super reflexes of a demon took over and he caught the spear in mid-flight and turned it and scanned for where he should return it.

"Sebastian - find that man!"

"Yes, my lord," he breathed even as he dashed across the lawn, spear in hand and launched himself and it into the forest area where he had seen movement. He darted around another spear and dug into his darkness to find the threat. A scream pierced the suddenly still woods. He stilled as well. The scream was agony. It was Mey-Rin's scream. He changed his position and ran toward the scream. He knew it was perhaps a stupid move, but, Mey-Rin, he needed to see her, find her.

She was in the tree, or more accurate, pinned to the tree. A spear was shoved into her left shoulder, holding her off the ground slightly. Her eyes were wide in panic as Sebastian came around the trees and into the small clearing. He stepped a bit into the pooling light from above and looked around for any sign of the perpetrator.

"He-he left," she said, gasping through the pain. Her glasses were askew and one of the lens was cracked and a bit of it had fallen, her light brown eye peaking through. "Sebastian."

And as quick as lightening, he had pulled the spear out, covered her mouth with his as she screamed in blinding pain, and pulled her back to the shadows. He laid her down in the fallen leaves and kissed her deeply, wishing he could heal the gap that was pushing sweet smelling blood all over her uniform, his gloves, and the ground. He lifted her glasses off and pocketed them, a flash of rage passing through his body and extending out to sense the person who had done this.

"Sebastian, the young master! He needs you," she said, trying to sit. A small gasp and she was on the ground, obviously in pain. He lifted her into his arms and ran his normal fast speed back to the manor, into the entry hall, and up to his bedroom. Laying her gently on the mattress they had made love on early that morning, he kissed her, a deep promise in the act - the person who had hurt her was as good as dead.

"Go," she urged him as he stood and took off his ruined gloves. He laid them down and looked at her.

"My love," and he left.

He had to find his master and protect him. Mey-Rin, Baldroy, and Finnian had almost super-human abilities, his young master was a boy, a human, simple, boy. He knew where he was from their connection. And Sebastian also knew he was safe and would not miss him as he once more ran into the woods, the smell of Mey-Rin's blood around him as he pushed it away and found the one he did not recognize.

Crashing through the woods, about two miles away, was something large, and as Sebastian started running, something soon to be very dead. The sounds of a person - human! - breathing came closer as he slowed to a casual stroll. Just a smartly dressed butler having a nice stroll through the woods, murder on his mind, Sebastian smirked.

"Oi, what's you all about, sneaking here and there?" a man asked.

Sebastian winced; the improper speech would be enough to kill this one.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir," he said instead. "But my lord's house was attacked. Unsuccessful of course, however one of the most important members of the staff was hurt quite badly."

"Sorry about that, but I'ms not a doctor," he said, turning and walking again.

Sebastian reached out and smelled Mey-Rin's blood on his hands, most likely where he had shoved the spear in deeper perhaps. He left the man's limp body as he felt another presence. Ah yes, a strong young demon. The fear and jealousy rolled off this one in a delicious fashion. Sebastian had let himself indulge in his human feelings toward Mey-Rin for three months now, and had not properly unleashed his true demonic needs on anything in about twice that long. A smile, wide and full of dangerous intent spread into his now glowing eyes. He picked the lithe creature up from its hiding spot among the trees and slammed it's demonic body into the ground, feeling it shake a bit, and let his form and destructive nature rip into the softened form and also left the body as a warning to other demons.

"The Phantomhive soul is mine," he roared. "I will protect all who live within as well."

And he raced back, his fast pace made a touch faster by his unleashing of his destructive deed, and his longing to make sure his lover was all right.