It was a warm peaceful day. It was eight thirty in the morning and Rune was having her breakfast as usual. She sipped the Earl Grey tea that Sebastian had brewed for her as she read the daily paper. The news about the murder case had spread. Rune wrote her report to the Queen a few days ago. She explained that the master was constantly abusing his servants over the years. Because of that, the servants pleaded the butler to help them. The butler, who wasn't fond of his master either, agreed. He killed the master and immediately ran away and disappeared.

What was written in the newspaper, however, wasn't that detailed. All that was stated there was that the case was successfully solved and the culprit has been found.

The girl folded and placed the paper on the table before turning to Sebastian who was standing to her right.

"Sebastian.. please clear my schedule for today." she said.

The demon raised an eyebrow. "Milady?"

Rune inhaled deeply before explaining. "My sister was killed in this mansion. Our security isn't perfect. Never mind a demon, even a measly human could infiltrate here without a problem anytime."

"….What are you trying to say, exactly?" Ciel asked. His mistress regarded him and smiled mischievously.

"We are going to hire some new servants."

xXx

"Are you really sure about this?"

The duo was sitting in a carriage. Rune stared outside the window as Ciel tried to convince her that it was a bad decision.

"If its capable servants we're talking about, I can't think of any that are better than those of the Phantomhive household." Rune replied, focusing her gaze to her younger butler.

"Capable my ass.." Ciel mumbled under his breath. "We can't even guarantee that they're still there," he reasoned. "Before I left with Sebastian, I told them to do whatever they want with the mansion." he said. "And I'm supposed to be dead."

The mistress smiled softly. "Its time they know the truth, don't you think?"

"Hmph.." Ciel folded his arms and leaned back on the seats. He couldn't really argue with his mistress. Besides, his mistress's wishes were absolute.

He gazed blankly at the scenery outside. For the first twenty minutes, everything seemed foreign to him. But slowly, they came across familiar roads and landmarks. Sebastian made a turn with the carriage and they drove into a path somewhere into the woods.

The trees parted and revealed the courtyard of a huge and old-looking mansion; the former home of Ciel.

Sebastian parked the carriage somewhere outside the gates and proceeded to help his mistress and master down. Then, they headed to the gates. The gates were chained shut and were locked with a huge padlock. The padlock looked rusted, as if it had been left there unmoved for years. Ciel shot a glance at his mistress. Rune's expression remained unchanged and the boy sighed.

"Sebastian.."

Rune need not say more. The demon bowed slightly and stepped forward. He slipped his hands between the metal bars and lightly tapped the padlock. The lock unlocked at his touch. Sebastian pushed the gates open and stepped aside for his mistress and master.

Rune gasped as they entered the courtyard. The whole land was far wider and bigger than that of Rune's home – though, there were some huge clumps of earth her and there. Ciel sighed when he noticed them but said nothing as he walked ahead to lead the way.

After walking for a while, they reached the front door to the mansion. Before Rune could reach the doorbell and ring it, a huge explosion sounded from somewhere in the mansion.

""Holy-" the girl jumped with a start. "What the heck was that?"

She glanced at her butlers. The two demons were rubbing their temples and slightly shaking their heads.

"That…" Ciel sighed again. "..was probably the kitchen. They're still here."

"What?"

Before Rune could ask more, the door opened and a maid looked out. She had dark purplish-red hair tied in twin-tails high at the back of her head. She wore a blue maid outfit with a white apron and a big pair of spectacles that covered half her face.

"..I thought I heard someone.." she mumbled as she poked her head out and adjusted her glasses. Then, she saw Ciel and Sebastian standing directly in front of her (Rune stepped aside on purpose to let her see them first) and froze.

"Maylene… is someone there?" a voice chirped from inside and another servant of Phantomhive looked out. He had messy blond hair and his fringe was clipped aside with a few red pins. He had emerald green eyes and a pale complexion that made him resemble a female. He wore a straw hat around his neck and a plain shirt with plaid pants. Judging from his attire, Rune guessed he was the gardener. He too, froze when he saw the demons.

"Oi.. what's taking the both of you so long just to answer the friggin door?" a deeper voice yelled and a taller and older man came out, shoving the other two aside. He was another blond, but he had blue-grey eyes. An unlighted cigarette hung in the corner of his mouth. He wore a chef's outfit with a pair of goggles hanging loosely around his neck. "Just tell them to get the hell-" he stopped abruptly when he realized why his co-workers were frozen. He stared at Ciel and Sebastian, not believing his eyes.

"B-Bocchan?" the gardener finally managed to stammer.

Ciel sighed a little sarcastically. "How long does it take you three to recognize me by sight?"

Sebastian smirked inwardly as if his master's behavior amused him – which, of course, it did. The demon turned to the servants and said with a smile;

"It has been awhile, Finnian, Maylene, Bardroy."

Without a warning, all three of them jumped on the demons, pushing everyone flat on the ground.

"Bocchan! Sebastian-saaannn!" they wailed as they attempted to give the squirming demons a huge group hug. "We missed youuuuu!"

Rune watched everything from the sidelines, not wanting to ruin the moment. But, it still didn't keep her from giggling and laughing as her butlers tried to untangle themselves from the crowd.

Finally, the Phantomhive servants calmed down and stopped trying.

"..But how..?" the maid muttered as she readjusted her glasses again. "Its been roughly four years.. and.." she paused. "..Bocchan and Sebastian-san still look the same as they did before they…left…."

Ciel shot an uncomfortable glance at Rune, but the girl merely nodded grimly. He turned to his butler, who did the same. He had no other choice. But then, his mistress was right in a way; the three were loyal to their jobs even after their master was 'dead'. They deserved to know.

"You three.." the boy stood up and patted some dust from his shirt before facing the servants. "There's something.. I need to tell you."

xXx

"So… Sebastian was a demon all along… and bocchan got turned into one years ago…?"

They were all inside the mansion, sitting across the kitchen table where the chef uses to lay out his ingredients to cook a recipe.

Ciel nodded. He'd taken off his eyepatch to show his ex-servants his sign of contract. Sebastian did the same with his gloves.

"Demons can take any appearance they want.. that's why Sebastian and myself look the same even after a period of time.." the young demon explained before putting his eye patch back on.

"I should've known.." the chef, Bard, mumbled. "Sebastian's a demon. That explains why it seems that nothing is impossible for him to carry out…"

"..Come to think of it… where's Tanaka?" Ciel asked as he looked around.

"Tanaka-san got very sick soon after you left, bocchan.." the maid, Maylene answered sadly. "So we sent him back to his family…so that…" she didn't finish her sentence. Ciel realized what she meant and nodded a little bitterly. So many things happened after he left with Sebastian…

"Ne, who's that boy over there?" Finny, the gardener asked suddenly, pointing towards Rune who was standing in the corner. She hadn't said a word ever since they entered the mansion and the demons almost (ALMOST) forgot she was there with them.

"Lady." Ciel corrected. "That is my mistress."

The servants stared at him like he was crazy.

"Bocchan's… mistress?"

"She's the reason we're here at all."

All of them turned their gazes to Rune. Rather reluctantly, Rune walked over and introduced herself.

"I am Rune Whitefield. Ciel and Sebastian's mistress… and contractor." She peeled her bandages and showed them the twin pentacles on her palm.

"Whoa.. I never thought that the Young Master would…" Maylene accidentally exclaimed out loud.

"Hunger, unfortunately.. is a powerful thing.." Ciel muttered under his breath.

"Anyway, I'll go straight to the point," Rune continued. "I would like the three of you to work for me in my mansion."

The servants exchanged nervous looks.

"You can still work under Ciel and your jobs will still be the same." The girl offered. "You can even continue calling him bocchan – I don't mind. And I'll allow you to return here maybe twice or trice every week if you want."

There was a moment of silence.

"..I'm sorry, little miss.. as much as we want to… " Bard started.

"Phantomhive manor is the only place we can call home.." Maylene said.

"And our job is to protect it at all costs.." Finny ended the sentence.

Rune caught a quick glance at Ciel. The young demon would probably never admit it, but Rune could've sworn she saw awe in his expression at that moment.

"Alright… if you do not wish to come, I will not force you." Rune stood up and smiled. "But if you ever change your minds.." she fished out a piece of paper from one of her back pockets and handed it to them. Written on it was an address. "..then you're all welcomed to my mansion any time." Then she headed to the door, with her butlers behind her.

-Some days later-

Sebastian knocked on his mistress's bedroom door before popping his head in. Rune had just been woken up and was getting off her bed.

"Pardon me for intruding, but you've got guests, Young Mistress."

The girl unsuccessfully stifled a yawn. "..Who is it?"

"You'll know soon, milady.."

Rune regarded her butler suspiciously for he had a smirk on his face. Shrugging it off, she threw on her robes and headed to the main hall.

Three people with bags of luggage were standing in the middle of the hall when Rune came. The mistress's eyes widened with surprise when she realized who they were.

"The servants of Phantomhive, reporting for duty, Young Mistress!" they shouted in unison, each beaming like there's no tomorrow.

Rune stared at them and blinked blankly. "..Huh?"

"We've decided. It doesn't matter what our jobs are, as long as we get to work for bocchan again, we'll go anywhere!" Finny said cheerfully.

"But we'll still go back to the Phantomhive manor once in a while," Bard grinned. "Since that was what you offered."

Rune was speechless for a brief moment before a warm smile crept onto her face.

"Very well then. Welcome to my home," she said. "I look forward to working with the three of you."


Okies... this chapter is finally done~ (sorry i took my own sweet time writing it... I've just finished my exams a few days ago T~T)

Aww man... I feel so down after hearing what happened in Japan.. I really hope everyone's ok...QAQ

Excuse my mistakes. Kuroshitsuji isn't mine. All views and reviews appreciated.