Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler):
His Butler, Repentant.
(By Axel Ingleson)
Disclaimer: I am not the creator of the Kuroshitsuji series. Nor am I making any money from this story.
Author's Note: This picks up at the end of the first season and is an alternate universe continuation. Also, words in italics surrounded by tildes are pink-pen entries made by the Grim Reaper into a secret book he keeps around for rare emergencies.
-Chapter 11-
For the first time since any Reaper could remember, Grell fought against being kissed. He struggled against Divinity as the angel tore at his skin and clothing.
"We shall merge as one," Divinity promised. "That is what you've always wanted, isn't it? To make love and be loved."
"May I please ask that you not speak such things before my congregation?" the priest asked, scarlet with embarrassment.
"You and your congregation mean nothing to me," Divinity scoffed, attacking the priest.
"And you call yourself an angel," William scolded as he countered the attack.
"If the church had not married off that demon…"
"Ex-demon," Grim corrected him as he raced forward, just as Divinity suspended Grell in mid air above them. Grell's head was thrown back as though he were in pain, his long red hair trailing down his back like a blazing waterfall.
"Grell!" Grim and William called out in one voice.
"Who here will give their life to save this unworthy sinner?" Divinity suddenly asked as he looked up at Grell. "Who would trade places with him? Would you?" The question was directed at a woman, who cowered before Divinity and shook her head shakily. Divinity dispatched her quickly, then turned to another parishioner who drew back, only to be impaled by Divinity's sword moments before Divinity himself felt the sudden pain of William's clippers as they cut into each wing at a speed too fast for the terrified parishioners.
Divinity was distracted long enough to lose his hold on Grell. Grim leapt up and caught Grell in mid air as the younger Reaper fell, momentarily unconscious, into his outstretched arms.
Outside, the sun rose and a beam of light came in through the stained glass window, illuminating the carnage within the church. The priest was trying to comfort the families of those who Divinity had struck down. But how do you comfort a member of your parish when their loved ones have been killed by an angel?
Grell rose to his feet and moved over to the priest and those he was consoling.
"I'm sorry," he said, ruefully. "Please, try to understand, there are still renegade angels who deserve to be in Hell, just as there is an ex-demon who deserves happiness."
"Ex-demon?" the first woman's husband asked. "Is that what this is all about? Where is this ex-demon?"
"At home with his wife," Grim told him as he joined Grell. "And that is where he belongs. He is doing all that he can to repent for his past deeds. Let it rest at that."
"I won't let it rest," the distraught man vowed. "My wife is dead because of some demon who couldn't mind his business and stay in hell."
"She is dead because an angel couldn't put aside his hatred." Grell pointed out. "All the ex-demon did was find a good woman and get married."