Wow… it's been a while since I last uploaded. I had massive authors block and my families been so busy, I haven't even had to sit and think about the story… Until now, on the longest car ride of my life for my horse dressage show, 8 hours of either working on the story, or playing 'What Horse Is Your Favourite?' when we drive through country property with my 5 year old cousin… who has decided every single horse we drive by has been her favourite so far… mine will forever be my black Paint horse Harlequin.

Now, enough of my blabbering… just needed to get that out ^^' TO THE STORY!

Chapter Eleven

The black clad butler straightened when the large grandfather clock bonged 7 times, signalling 7:00, meaning time for Ciel to awake. Glancing up from the large bowl of cinnamon porridge he was mixing, he turned to Grell who was busy slicing fruits for the breakfast meal. The red reaper glanced at the back of Sebastian's retreating tailcoat before returning to the half-peeled apple, cheerily hacking it to pieces with the serrated knife as though imagining himself back in his "Jack The Ripper" days. His thoughts reeled for several things due to the nightmare and work that morning… he then sighed when thinking about that no matter how much he tried during his stay at the Phantomhive mansion, Sebastian had grown no closer to him, at least, that's what he thought. He suddenly felt the floor vibrate underneath him and large, neon green bloom of a cloud exploded in the garden through the window behind him. Now, Grell had never seen a massacre by Finny, and truly thought someone had thrown a bomb or something along the lines into the Phantomhive garden. Tearing from the kitchen, he dashed down the hall after the demon butler and nearly slammed into him, had Sebastian not caught his shoulders and stopped him.

"What is it?" He asked, slight worry painting his tone at the panicked look on Grell's face.

"The garden! I was cutting the fruit and then BANG, there was huge explosion and a cloud and then-" Sebastian quickly grabbed the rambling shinigami's shoulders and stared into those endless green eyes,
"Grell,"

"Yes?"

"Breathe."

The death god's breath came out in a large whoosh, allowing his racing thoughts and heart to calm slightly,

"Now, all you have seen is our gardener imbeci- Finny causing another one of his pesticide problems, I must go tend to that now, and the other servants several messes… If Bocchan needs your help at all, listen to him, I'll try not to take too long," Sebastian sighed, clearly disliking the idea of leaving Grell to fend for his young master, but he had no other choice. Ciel had ordered him to take care of it, and the devil forbid he go against orders! Grell nodded timidly at Sebastian's gruff tone, the servants always managed to play with his temper… It seemed the butler had been gone only a few mere moments when the ringing of a bell caught Grell's attention, turning, he rushed to the extreme sized master bedroom the young Earl occupied. Ciel was perched at the edge of the bed, eye patch already in its place, though his white night clothes signalled Grell would need to help the young earl for his morning routine. Grell simply stood in the doorway, unsure of what to do until Ciel's visible eye trailed from his dresser back to Grell.

"Oh, right! A morning outfit of course!"

It turned out Grell was quite efficient when he chose to be, quick in his work and not at all bothered by helping Ciel dress, but his mood dropped greatly when Ciel began the touchy topic…

"Is your stay at the Phantomhive residence well?" The tone the child was using didn't sound at all inviting, in fact, it sounded mocking, as though ready to say something terrible to grell at any moment,

"Of course, Milord," Grell nodded as he set the steaming bowl of the hearty porridge,

"It's certainly been keeping Sebastian busy… it's been causing quite an amount of inconvenience on the other servants and myself," Ciel's mouth twitched at the corners in a smirk at the look on Grell's face as the red reaper stood beside his chair.

"I apologize for any inconvenience…" Grell's gaze cast down to the floor, the little brat was just making him feel worse by the second, as though he was trying to make the reaper feel guilty and leave… unfortunately, it was working. Ciel's smirk formed completely when the slam of a door and Sebstian's muttering drifted into the room.

"I'll be… going now," Grell murmured, nodding his head towards Ciel before whisking himself quickly away… perhaps he really was a nuisance, and the light kindness Sebastian was showing towards the red reaper was simply to keep his trust for the favor he owed them later on… Grell shook his head at the negative comments that swarmed his thoughts; something tingled at the back of his eyes, threatening to fall at the final thought he confirmed to end his 'troubles' once and for all.

Sebastian sighed, pacing around the mansion in search for Grell… he wasn't in the spare room, he wasn't in Sebastian's room, he wasn't in the dining hall, not in the garden either…

"Bocchan, if I may request a simple question…" A simple, lazy wave of Ciel's hand signalled a 'ask away' motion, though he did not speak, "Has there been any sign of Grell this morning?"

"Ah, the reaper… he came a bit earlier after helping me this morning. He came to me again when you were tending the laundry and thanked me for allowing his stay…"

Allowing his stay?

"Thank-you, Bocchan," With a quick nod to his young master, Sebastian spun around, headed to the only place Grell could be left; the kitchen. Surely the shinigami couldn't be stupid enough to just leave, not with the curse… At that, he arrived at the kitchen.

'Stop it, Grell wouldn't just leave…' Sebastian tried to keep himself from doubting. He would open the doors to see Grell sitting cheerily at the table with an apple or something of the sort, nothing would be wrong…

But disappointment slapped him in the face as the ornate wood doors swung open to reveal an empty kitchen… Amber eyes scanning, Sebastian searched for a clue Grell had been there, before spotting something:

The sparkling crystal vase that sat on the table, that had always been empty, holding no flowers… now held a single, blood red rose that glittered with fresh dew. Below, a crimson envelope was tilted to lean against the vase, with scrawling, fancy letters that looked more like twisted ribbons than letters. Sebastian quickly snatched up the envelope with nervous hands, pulling the letter opener from his pocket (A/N: Anyone who's seen the Kuroshitsuji Musical 2 will note Sebastian seems to carry a letter opener with him at all times… lol) and placing a thin tear along the top of the folded paper before pulling the letter from inside to read.