Ciel nearly gagged as the musty, dirt-chemical smell filled his nose as his eyes tried to focus enough to see into the darkness of the small room.
Everything seemed familiar. The smell, the lighting, the coffins littering the floor as well as the walls, along with the various jars full of strange colored liquids on the shelves that appeared in the back. It was all too familiar, though Ciel knew he'd never stepped foot in this place before.
"Young Master, are you alright?" Sebastian asked from behind the boy, who was oddly still and silent as he observed his surroundings. When there was no response, he reached out to grab the child's shoulder but he sensed something, instantly igniting his demon senses, though a little too late.
Barely having time to let out a gasp at what he knew was about to happen, Sebastian was tackled to the ground with force, a loud screeching sound filling the once eerily silent room. The demon cursed the world as the color red swarmed his vision.
"Bassy! Darling! Oh, how I've missed you so!"
Ciel watched, nearly being tackled himself, as his butler was struggling to free himself from the hold of a long red-haired man, clad head to toe in a vibrant red. Taken aback, he stepped backwards and tripped, falling into a casket that sat opened behind him with a slight 'umph!'
Sebastian heard his master fall and sighed, kicking with all his might the very heavy death god and standing up. "I did not think you were still around," he said, voice laced with disappointment.
Grell Sutcliff hastily got up from his spot on the opposite side of the room, still squealing like a small school girl. "Sebby darling, you're so cruel! Making my body all hot and then disappearing for so long! I feel like the Princess Bride~~!" He swooned, clasping his hands together and giggling. "How about a passionate red dress for our wedding?" the redheaded reaper winked. "Or I could go in a birthday suit."
"You are truly disgusting," Sebastian sighed, rubbing his temples. Grell wailed happily.
"You're the same as ever, my little demon!" he squealed. . "The fire in your eyes is the perfect thing to set our love ablaze!"
Ciel was listening from his spot in the casket, struggling to get up due to his position. His thin legs were still dangling over the sides and the narrow sides made it difficult to push himself off of the cushioned bottom. However, a chuckling could be heard from above him and Ciel froze, stopping his efforts and looking up above him.
A man, silvery hair covering half his face, was grinning down at him. "You've returned, Earl."
Luckily, Ciel managed to salvage what was left of his pride after falling in the casket and hold back his scream.
Sebastian and Grell turned to see the Undertaker hovering over the casket Ciel was laying in, Grell's smile faltering as he caught a glance inside and saw the very familiar boy, blue eyes and all, and then turned back to the demon, a questionable look on his face. Sebastian merely smiled as he walked up beside the long, gray haired, retired death god.
"Who are you?" Ciel asked the man, who just laughed in response.
"Kukuku... I suppose not all of you, though," he answered cryptically , twirling around, the black robe that hung over his shoulders twirling with him. "My, how that casket suits you, though you're just a wee bit early to be in it."
Ciel was scooped up in Sebastian's arms before being set gently down on the dark, wooden floor that creaked under his weight. "Who are you people?" he asked, eyeing the two suspicious characters before him. Grell looked the boy up and down and frowned deeper.
"That is the Undertaker, the man you came to see," Sebastian calmly replied, his trademark smile displayed on his flawless face. And the man over there is Grell Sutcliff, a death god, or grim reaper."
"I'm a lady," Grell retaliated but didn't say anything more, while Undertaker walked up and leaned against the counter in the back, smirking wildly.
Sebastian was surprised that his master barely batted an eye at the mention of the death god. Surely, the boy would have shown something—the previous Ciel did, though, when Sebastian thought about it, it wasn't under the best circumstances since there was a murder just a moment or two before finding out. "You do not seem surprised that there are beings like this in your world," Sebastian mused outwardly. Maybe the child didn't hear him correctly?
Ciel froze in brushing his wrinkled clothes off, his gaze drifting to the reaper and back to the floor. "I've met one before," he answered in bored tone, , though Sebastian could hear traces of sadness and regret in it.
Sebastian was the one surprised at hearing this.
However, before he could question his master, the Undertaker began to laugh again, his hand reaching into a jar and pulling out a bone shaped biscuit. "Ciel Phantomhive wants to see me?" he asked. "It's been far too long~~I'm overjoyed," he said, snickering again.
Ciel raised an eyebrow. "It's the first time I've been here, unless you're referring to my father."
The Undertaker didn't say anything, looking over at Sebastian's smiling face. "I know why you're here, yes I do," he said, changing the subject, but it was unnoticed.
"Young Master, may I have a word with Grell outside?" Sebastian asked, feeling the intense stare from the death god. However, at the mention of his darling Sebastian wanting to talk to him alone, his stern expression disappeared and he gave another girly squeal.
"Of…of course you may, darling! The children don't need to see things get hot and steamy in here," he smiled, his shark-like teeth glistening from the little light there was leaking into the windows.
Ciel shrugged. "I don't care," he replied, turning back to the strange man in front of him. Sebastian smiled and headed outside with Grell.
"Sebby, honey, you're a bad boy~!" Grell cooed, as Sebastian beamed.
"Thank you," he answered. . "I am sure by your expression earlier that you are aware of the situation I am currently in."
Grell's smile fell and he crossed his arms. "Ciel Phantomhive should be dead without the chance to reincarnate. His soul was fated to be eaten by you."
"And yet here he is," Sebastian stated, his face growing more serious. "I refused to eat his soul for a strange reason and now he has reincarnated."
"And it doesn't look like the kid's got his memories either," the reaper observed. . "You've broken so many rules, darling." Emerald eyes focused on ruby ones.
"I am well aware, breaking a contract and then pursuing the same human's reincarnation. And not to mention, I plan on making a new contract with him once he allows it."
"You haven't made one yet? Then why follow that brat around?"
Sebastian smiled. "It is so I can be sure he does make one, and that I am the demon he will make it with." He paused. "I also want to help him regain his past memories, but I can only do that after he makes a contract, which is why I wanted to talk to you and to ask that you do not bring up the past in front of him."
If Ciel knew of his past before making a contract, then he might not want to do it again knowing what befell him the first time.
Grell gave a contemplating look before shaking his head. "Do you know why souls reincarnate?" he asked, and Sebastian's smile fell. He never really did think about it, no demon did. They never had to, because the person they contracted with shouldn't be able to reincarnate in the first place due to their soul being eaten. "It's because they want to."
Sebastian, once again, stayed silent, and Grell gushed. "Oh, your face is so cute right now!"
"What do you mean about them choosing to reincarnate?" Sebastian asked, ignoring the comment, and Grell smirked.
"I'll tell you for a kiss."
"No."
"Wahh~~ So cold, yet such a fiery response! My blood's boiling!" Sebastian shot him a warning look and Grell stiffened, sighing in defeat and getting serious again. "You've heard of ghosts sticking around after death because of unfinished business, well reincarnation is the same. Stronger souls who still feel like they have something they have to do have a chance at being reincarnated. Of course, it takes some persuading to allow the reaper who was sent to get them let them go, but it happens often. After all, it's not like we'd never get the soul, just at a later time then planned."
Sebastian listened intently as Grell spoke, his mind frantically racing. "So my master is here because he wants to be?" he clarified , as Grell nodded.
"Reincarnation happens often, but in this case it's a bad thing," Grell continued. "Phantomhive was never supposed to have a place at the library, he was always meant to be eaten by you, the lucky—" he stopped himself and sighed. "Honestly, he always gets the good men," he mumbled, shaking his head. "Anyways, the kid is proof that you broke the laws that angels, reapers, and demons have agreed on. That's bad for you, by the way," he added. "And in the end when we do get his soul—"
"You will not be getting it, because I am going to eat it," Sebastian interrupted darkly. Grell smirked.
"Whatever you say, Bassy," he replied. . "Ciel Phantomhive's soul is very valuable now, especially since it escaped a demon. Watch out for the reapers who don't want you to get your hands on it again."
Grell was being a little cryptic, which annoyed Sebastian. What did he mean? Did he not believe Sebastian would eat his soul? The only way that could happen would be if the boy died suddenly, and there was no way that that was happening with him around.
"Don't be sad, Sebby darling! You can put your hands on me!"
Sebastian darkened. "Yes, I would very much like to put my hands on you. Around your neck, to be precise," he said darkly, causing Grell to shudder.
"I always knew you liked it rough, Sebby darl—" he was cut off as Sebastian really did put his gloved and contract less hands around the thin neck of the annoying reaper.
After a few minutes, Grell agreed to stop talking dirty.
"So is there a way to find out why my little master agreed to be reincarnated?" Sebastian asked, a smile on his face as he stood above the battered death god who was lying on the ground. Grell shook his head, whining at the pain he felt.
"You'd have to ask the reaper that was sent to claim him. Will makes everyone file a report when they let a soul go, and they'd have to explain the soul's reason for wanting to live."
Sebastian sighed. Oh well, he could figure it out later. He'd just have to put his curiosity on hold for the moment. It wasn't like he could ask his master anyways, the boy didn't remember anything. "Do you at least know the reaper?" he asked, as Grell stood up and brushed his clothes off.
"Alan Humphries, I think."
"So if you know why I'm here, why aren't you saying anything?" Ciel asked, huffing in annoyance as he crossed his arms and looked towards the door Sebastian had exited out of. The light was getting dimmer and dimmer as it got later in the evening, and Ciel really didn't want to stay in this creepy place too long.
Undertaker laughed some more, crunching on another biscuit. "You really don't remember," he said, more to himself than to Ciel. The boy was confused. "Though I guess it's understandable, reapers have to erase the records."
"What are you talking about?" Ciel asked, as the man shrugged.
"Nothing about you yet, of course." He smiled. "But go on, ask me about the case you're working on," he continued , as Ciel sighed, letting the conversation drop there. He was running out of time.
"Were you here when the body was stolen?" He asked. Undertaker nodded.
"Kukuku…I was, but not a peep was made. The body I made all beautiful was stolen while I was working on another customer. Drowned in a lake, suicide I think. She looks much better now," he said, bringing his hands together. Black, eerily long fingernails caught Ciel's eye and he stared at them for a few seconds before glancing at his own hands.
"So you don't know who did it? No evidence was left?" he asked, as Undertaker laughed again.
"The thief moved so fast, it was demon like," he explained , stressing the word demon, as Ciel's thoughts flashed to Sebastian.
Was it possible? Did Sebastian steal Arnold Tracy's body? What reason would he have to?
"As for evidence, well…" he trailed off, grinning madly, which really made Ciel uneasy. This guy didn't seem to have his head screwed on all the way. "There was one thing that the Yard missed that I found oddly interesting."
Ciel raised an eyebrow. "What was it?"
More laughing. Honestly, that was all the man seemed to do. "It was a new coffin. It was ordered especially for that man. However, when the body was gone and I examined it closer… I found a spider web in the corner of it." He crunched on another biscuit before standing up from his seat on a closed casket and walked closer to Ciel. "Very odd indeed," he smiled.
"That is odd," Ciel agreed halfheartedly, focusing intently on the Undertaker who kept getting closer to him. He was uncomfortable, and a little terrified, but he wouldn't show it on his face.
"It really is nice to see you again, Earl," the Undertaker said with another eerie smile. "Let's not let our next meeting be when I'm decorating you up for your funeral, shall we?" he asked, and instantly Ciel stood up, walking away from the man and towards the door.
"I make no promises. Exactly one month after my birthday, January 14th, I'm not supposed to be here anymore." He turned back towards the Undertaker. "If you're associated with grim reapers, and you claim to know me, surely you know that fact already, right?" he asked, as the Undertaker nodded.
"Of course. However, nothing says you can't stop by again and pick out your own casket. Something glorious that befits one such as yourself."
"No thanks," Ciel replied flatly. "I don't deserve to be glorified after death." And with that, he turned back around to leave, having even less information than he needed before he arrived, and not just about the missing body. Though he really didn't see how a spider web was any evidence, so he was slightly frustrated. Especially at the fact that the Undertaker seemed to know him without his knowledge of it.
The laughing heard in the background ceased once Ciel shut the door behind him, instantly focusing on the weird guy and Sebastian standing in front of him. They both turned towards him, the demon giving his trademark smile. "Have you finished, Young Master?" he asked.
Ciel eyed the two suspiciously. Obviously if Sebastian had brought Grell out to talk privately and away from him, it was important. However, he had more important matters to think about at the moment.
However, as he thought that and his gaze drifted from the reaper back to his demon, he couldn't help but think of the red coat, the one slung across the elbows and blew slightly in the winter breeze, was very familiar looking. Vintage, Victorian styled, and a very vibrant shade of red, one that looked oddly familiar and Ciel couldn't help but think about his aunt. It looked like something she would wear.
Ciel shook his head. "The case is far from solved, but talking to that guy in there is useless. Let's go," he said, brushing past Sebastian and heading towards the parked car.
"I'd be careful if I were you, Sebastian darling," Grell said with a sigh. "With this discovery, don't think you're getting off easy. If the time comes, I won't hesitate to color you in red," he smiled, his shark like teeth gleaming. Sebastian smiled back.
"I wouldn't want it any other way," he replied, turning to follow Ciel who had stopped and waited for him. The boy didn't hear the exchange of words, maybe because they were talking too quietly and the wind blew past his ear too loudly, but he didn't know what was said.
"What was that about?" Ciel asked, as Sebastian smirked.
"Young Master wants to know?" he asked, as Ciel rolled his eyes.
"Not really, just curious. Both of those guys are suspicious. I don't trust them."
Sebastian just smiled and opened the back seat door for the boy. "Of course, but Grell Sutcliff and I go farther back. He proves useful when I want to get some information."
Before Ciel slid in, however, he was stopped by a voice shouting his name.
"Ciel~~!"
Both Sebastian and his master turned at the sound, seeing a familiar blond boy running towards them happily, waving his arm around wildly. "Ciel! What are you doing here?" Jim asked, coming to a stop in front of the shorter male. Ciel mentally groaned, crossing his arms and scowling.
"It's none of your business. What are you doing here?" he asked. Currently, they were on the side of the street right in front of the morgue, and Ciel really didn't feel like dealing with the annoying child.
"You're mean, Ciel. I was just taking a walk and I saw you! Want to come walk with me?" he asked.
"No."
Jim pouted, nonchalantly turning his gaze from the boy towards the tall man clad in black.
Their gazed locked, and almost instantly Sebastian's senses flared. Maybe it was the look in those icy blue eyes, or the sadistic looking smirk that appeared for less than a second, but Sebastian didn't like him. There were hidden motives behind this child that he sensed. This boy was not to be trusted.
However, the feeling disappeared once their eye contact broke and Jim smiled back at Ciel. "Well, maybe next time! I really want to hang out with you. We'd have a bloody blast!"
Ciel didn't say anything, answering with a shrug before turning and climbing into the car, Sebastian bowing as his master did so. "Please excuse us," he said, happy to finally be getting his master away from the strange child. Once the car was moving and Jim Macken was slowly receding, Ciel sighed.
"I don't like him," he muttered. Sebastian gazed out the back window, crimson eyes narrowing as the watched the boy smirk once again, his pink tongue wetting his lips as he swiftly turned and walked away.
"Indeed," he replied, the car falling silent as the butler and master both turned to gaze out the window, fresh snow falling to the ground.
A/N
I hope you like this chapter!
Undertaker and Grell appeared! Grell was a surprise for everyone. If you're wondering what he was doing in the shop, he was probably just flirting with the Undertaker. :)
Kind of a filler/plot forwarder. I hope I kept Grell and the undertaker in character! Poor Ciel, he's soo confused haha XD but I chose to spare him from learning about his past life. I've got something special planned for that. And what happened to the body? Why is Jim so creepy? Heck, even Sebastian was a little freaked out! And what is Ciel's reason for wanting to be reincarnated?
Can't wait to see you next chapter!
