WHOOOOOHOOOOO! MERRY X-MAS GUYS! I got:
90$ in Book Money
Soul Eater Book 16
Hellsing Books 1,2, and 3
A LAPTOP! (with mouse)
I AM SO HAPPY! I have never had my own computer before in my life! And now both me and my sister have our own laptops!
December 25, 2013 (Christmas Day)
Rāta's POV:
I paused outside Ciel's door, my ears twitching slightly as I saw Ceil Sebastian walk out. "How did it go?" I asked smoothly, and I saw Sebastian stiffen, as if caught off guard. He opened his mouth to answer, but Soma's voice cut him off. "Ciel!" We all turned to see the prince, standing with an aura I hadn't seen from him before. "I am seventeen, but you're right, compared to you I am still only a child. I am nothing more than a spoiled brat!" He looked down, biting his lip. "I know there was something that had been bothering Agni, but I did not bother to ask, did I? Now I want to know, I want to see them in person and ask why they left me!" he said stubbornly, and I nodded slowly. Perhaps there is hope for this one yet. "I'M BEGGING YOU! LET ME COME!" he cried, and Ciel held up his hand.
"Don't think so. You're a naïve idiot, I don't want to chaperone you. Of course, it's not like I'm going to go to the locking you in here." Ciel said ruthlessly, and Soma grinned. "THANK YOU!" he shrieked, hugging the Earl as he panicked and thrashed, screeching "GET OFF!" Soma clasped his hands together, looking hangdog. "I am sorry I lost my temper earlier and destroyed your tea set. Please forgive me." he said sincerely, turning slightly as Sebastian stepped up behind him. "Eh! Oh yeah, and you too! I am very sorry!" he squeaked nervously, hiding behind Ciel. "It's alright. I find you entertaining." Sebastian said with a cold smirk, and I rolled my eyes.
A few moments later, I was sipping tea again, listening to the Earl chatter. "I didn't realize West was after a Royal Warrant. Though, given his obsession with status it does make sense." he mused quietly as Sebastian poured Soma and Ciel their own tea. "I was wondering, what exactly is a Royal Warrant?" Soma asked as Sebastian set his tea down, squeaking and edging away from the demon as I rolled my eyes. "It's an endorsement bestowed by the Royal Family upon their favorite vendors. Royal Warrant holders are official purveyors to the Crown." Lau said in explanation as I took another long sip. "Yes, indeed. And in one week a curry exhibition will be held as part of the festivities at the Crystal Palace; I am told am told it should be quite the event." Sebastian said neutrally as Soma blinked. "Curry?"
"What's more, from what I've heard Her Majesty, who is widely known to be a lover of curry, will be in attendance that day." Sebastian added with relish, and Ciel snorted. "Nothing more than a rumor. Ever since her husband, Prince Albert passed away, Her Majesty rarely condescends to make any public appearance." he said bitingly, and Soma broke in. "What do the curry exhibition and the recent crimes have to do with each other?" he asked, and Ciel put a hand to his cheek. "The connection is the curry; it's the specialty at West's coffeehouse. If he obtains a Royal Warrant for his curry his sales are sure to increase dramatically. My guess is he was using Agni to target specific men. They were probably his rivals for the Curry Exhibition. When he hanged the men he included notes that were insulting to the English, that was done to make it seem as if the attacks were carried out by a bitter Indian. Likely, Meena was West's bait. She's probably the only reason Agni got involved. " Ciel said wearily as Sebastian handed him a note. "I'm guessing he did it all for you."
Soma started as Ciel placed the paper in front of him. "You worship Kali, the goddess who is depicted with her tongue sticking out. Agni worships you as his god along with Kali. The connection seems obvious." the Earl said coldly as Soma picked up the note. "He clearly signed those letters as a way of apologizing to you." Sebastian broke in. "He may have left, but everything he does is still for you, no one else. Agni lives only for you. He is a fine butler." he said proudly, and Soma's face darkened. "Agni…" I jumped as Lau suddenly interrupted my train of thought. "My my, I do love a happy ending. It looks like everything's wrapped up, no need to get more involved. I'm sure the Yard can handle all the rest." he said happily, and Soma hurriedly stood. "Wait, no! There's Agni and Meena! What will happen to them?!" he asked frantically, and Ciel waved him down as Lau chuckled mischievously. "We know the criminal underworld isn't involved in this, which means it has nothing to do with us." Ciel told him coldly, and Soma clenched his fist on the crisp white note.
"You're right…this is my problem…I need to be strong and find a way to handle it on my own." he said bravely, and Ciel lazily cracked his knuckles. "That's the right attitude. And it affords me the liberty to look after my own agenda." Soma blinked. "I was called to the city during WINTER for this idiotic case. I think I deserve to be compensated for the inconvenience don't you?" he said with a smirk, and I saw Sebastian grin slightly. "Thanks to West's nefarious activities, the competition at the Curry Exhibition this year will be considerably slimmer than it normally would be. So perhaps the Phantomhive Company should enter its own curry. We would only have to beat West. Then the Royal Warrant would fall into our hands." Soma started as Ciel bowed his head with a smug grin. "I was already considering expanding into the food industry anyway. Winning a Royal Warrant for our curry would generate some buzz. It would be an excellent way to get started." Ciel said smugly, and Lau leaned forward to stick in his oar. "But you only have a week before the contest; can you find an adequate curry chef and gather equipment in time?"
"I don't think that will be necessary. Isn't that right, Sebastian?" Ciel chuckled, looking up to his demonic servant. "If I couldn't make a good curry for my master, then what kind of a butler would I be? I shall secure the Royal Warrant." Sebastian purred, holding a hand over his heart. "Impossible!" We all looked towards Soma. "There's no way you can win. They have Agni cooking for them. And his hand was blessed by the goddess Kali." Ciel snorted. "Yes, I'm willing to admit that Agni is a remarkable fighter, but this is a cooking competition. It's not combat." he said disdainfully, and Soma shook his head. "That is what I am saying! None of you have even glimpsed Agni's true power yet! You don't know real curry. NO." Ciel blinked. "What is this "real curry"?" he said in confusion as I stifled a giggle. "The key to curry is a mixture of spices. The possibilities are Infinite. Choosing the right one is a very difficult task. It is like trying to find one truth in a vast universe! But Agni can do it. He creates worlds out of nothings! His power is on the same plane as the gods'! That is why he is known as the Godly Right Hand of Kali. Never in my life have I tasted a bowl of curry that could even begin to compare to his." Soma said worshipfully, falling back against his seat.
"How interesting! Agni's true power is creating the Curry of Kali!" Lau said as he started to laugh, and Ceil ignored him, looking up at Sebastian. "Well, what do you think?" he asked, and the demon put a hand to his chin. "Fascinating indeed. Sounds like a challenge." he purred, and I sighed, putting my empty tea cup on the table. "My apologies Lord Phantomhive, but cooking and curry are not my field of expertise, nor in the powers of any of my sisters. I'm afraid we must leave this to you." I said with a pout, bowing slightly before rising. "Best of luck though." I added with a tiny smile, before ghosting through the open doorway and pattering lightly across the floorboards to the open freedom of the outdoors.
Ciel's POV:
I glared at my paperwork, blinking as I heard Sebastian's familiar voice and knock. "Pardon me sir. For today's tea we have Gateau au Chocolat." I ignored him, still staring absently at the note. "I'll need proper dress for a Royal Audience." He smirked a little, I could feel it. "You insist she won't come but you dress up anyway. How amusing, the Queen's Guard Dog is a well-trained little pup eh?" I glared over my shoulder at him. "Have you concocted a curry better than Agni's yet?" His smirk did not abate. "No. According to Prince Soma something is still lacking." He made to set the cake at my elbow. "Then get back to the kitchen and stop wasting your time baking cakes. You have more important things to do." I snapped, picking up a pen as he withdrew the platter. "Yes, I understand my lord." I glanced over my shoulder again, scowling. "And anyway, I'm not in the mood for chocolate right now. Drop it into the curry or something." I grumbled, looking back down. "Indeed, my young master."
I blinked as his footsteps neared the door, putting the pen down carefully again. "Those four cat-women. Have you found anything about them?" I asked quietly, and he paused. "I have. Would you like to hear it?" I sighed. "Yes." His footsteps turned slightly, clicking on the carpet as he came back in the room. "They are followers of Neela Almaas. It is an Urdu phrase; it means Blue Diamond. I have traced all their roots and so far can only find the alias of their leader, Cītā. It is a rare form of spell that traps a soul and binds it to a certain purpose, one that will free it from the curse. It is unspecified just what type of curse it is, but all accounts verify it is not a very pleasant one. Combine that with their interest in the Hope Diamond shards, the reason they are always popping up in our shadow, and the fact that one of them is able to catch me off my guard all point to one thing. Master…" I jumped as his cold fingertip lightly tapped the blue gem on my thumb.
"They want your piece of the Hope Diamond."