I know I haven't been posting at all in the past few months, and I'm sorry. I've been extremely sick and in the hospital the whole time. I'm still there, but now I'm well enough to have a laptop and my brother brought me my flash drive. They're not sure what exactly is wrong with me yet, but I'll try to keep y'all posted. Enjoy!

By the time the young master came down and sat at the table, we were prepared. I took a large silver platter out myself and served him. I set the dishes full of food and the glasses full of assorted beverages in front of him. He looked down at the alien dishes and stared.

"What… is it?" He asked putting his napkin in his lap. Sebastian just then walked in with the morning paper for Ciel and taunted me with his eyes, for Ciel appeared disappointed. I smiled. Ciel continued.

"It looks… so good." And with that, Sebastian's smile deflated. Chalk up another point for team Lankana! Ciel went on. "And the smell is divine! Please, Holly, what is this… this thing?" He said pointing at the entrée.

"Today, Master, I have prepared a provolone omelet with sautéed onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers, seasoned with salt and pepper."

"Amazing!" He said after cutting himself a piece and trying it. "And this white substance, and this pink thing. Just tell me what it all is!" He demanded as he began sampling the other things, each time achieving a higher state of ecstasy. By modern-day standards, he was having a food-gasm. I explained the dishes as he ate.

"The 'white substance' is scalloped potatoes in a cream sauce. The 'pink thing' is what Americans call a 'ham steak'. The piece of bread is part of the American culture; its something called 'toast'. Nothing more than a thinly sliced piece of bread browned in the oven quickly and then spread with preserved strawberries. To drink, we have a glass of freshly squeezed orange-juice, something I learned of in my travels to Spain. The taller glass is my own invention, iced-coffee. It is made from beans in South America, freshly ground this morning, brewed directly over ice and then with cream and sugar added."

He sampled everything and then paused only long enough to turn to Sebastian and say, "Keep being shown up like this and she'll take your place as head butler in this house…" Sebastian looked genuinely furious for a split moment, and then recomposed himself.

"Yes, Master." He responded. I smiled, not looking at him at all, and then I turned slightly towards the master, beaming brightly.

"Master, may I take this as a sign that you like the food?" He stopped eating and turned to me. I simply continued smiling as he was frowning at me. I brought my brows together slightly. "A problem, Master?"

"Indeed! Very many things are out of balance in this scene! First, Sebastian now appears as a second-rate cook! Second, the food is so delicious that I am unable to control myself! And third, you dare to doubt your incredible culinary skills? The cosmos must be out of alignment! What am I to do with you? The food is simply scrumptious, Ane!" Sebastian's eyebrow raised, confused at the Japanese word. We offered him no explanation.

While the master continued, the others and I returned to the kitchen eating the rest of the food. We were all laughing at the look on poor Sebby's face when Master had said he loved it. Suddenly, he walked in. We all quieted as he sulked over.

He took a plate and fork and began to eat with us. We were all silent. I was the first to break the awkward silence. I was never one for beating around the bush… Ah, there's the irony.

"May we help you?" I huffed.

Sebastian smiled. "Ah, I was simply interested in sampling the food that has so captured the master's attention."

Bard made a dismissive noise. I left, without a word. I had better things to do.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Around 11am, it was time for the master's lessons. I headed to his study upstairs. I was about to open the door, when I heard quiet arguing inside. I remained where I was, listening.

"Do you dare to question my decisions, Sebastian?" I heard Ototo say sternly.

"Of course not, master. I only wonder if we truly need this new servant…"

"Considering how she's been doing much better then you have, yes we do need her. And I'll ask you to keep your tongue in check!"

Ooooh! Sebastian just got slapped in the face with shame!

"I apologize, master, I find her untrustworthy."

Sebastian used explanation!

"Just because she hasn't fallen head-over-heels for you doesn't mean she's untrustworthy. You'll see."

Explanation was ineffective! Ototo used truth!

I heard Sebastian sigh and pick up a tray. "Yes, master."

Haha! Truth was super-effective! Sebastian has lost the battle!

I knew Sebastian was heading for the door, so I flipped onto the ceiling again, silent as ever. Sebastian stepped out of the door with the tray of tea. He paused underneath me and I was sure the jig was up. I held my breath and didn't move. But he didn't look up or anything; he just resumed his course and headed down the hall.

I suppose his skills had weakened over the years.

When I was sure he was out of hearing range, I dropped down again and opened the door. Ototo looked up.

"Good day, master. I thought it was time for your first lesson!"

The master smiled. "Did you overhear your boyfriend's argument?"

I smiled back, with a slight twitch of irritation with the use of that word. "Indeed I did, master. But, that is unimportant. Let us discuss your current educational parameters…"

We spent an hour or so talking about what he knew so far. He was up to speed in all the normal academic fields: math, sciences, history, and literature. What he lacked were language skills and demonic skills.

Ciel huffed. "Sebastian has tried and tried with me, I just can't seem to shape-shift. I'm over 100 years old and still look like a child! We'd be able to stay in one place longer if I could make myself appear older."

I took mental notes, nodding. "Mmm-Hmm. Let's work on that, all right? What about a language?"

Ciel seemed to be considering it. "What about Japanese?"

I nodded my approval, grinning, and we began. I taught him the beginning of Japanese basics for a few hours until I sensed Sebastian coming. We quickly switched to violin lessons. Sebastian came in with a tray of tea and scones. He mentioned something about the "young master becoming quite proficient in violin playing."

But I wasn't listening to dipshit's mutterings over there. I was too distracted by the hour. It was nearly time for the day's events to unfurl. I tried to return to the conversation, determined to remain calm. Ciel was suggesting a mock symphony, him on violin, me on piano and singing, Sebastian doing whatever the hell else.

Ciel stood to stretch while Sebastian cleaned up the tea. I felt the skin on the back of my neck prickle. The world seemed to move in slow motion. Michaelis' proverbial ears had perked up as well, sensing something. There was a high-pitched sound streaming outside. I interpreted it as an explosive whizzing through the air, towards the large window Ciel was situated in front of.

There was a crack, the ignition of the incendiary. I leapt between Ototo and the window, my back to the explosion, my body shielding the young boy. As the projectile took the desired effect on the window, Ototo was shielded by my figure. He flinched at the whole ordeal; it had gone by so quickly. Sebastian had leapt up onto the wall, avoiding the major shards. I was forced to appear human for this charade, and received large fragments of glass in my back. I winced and Ototo frowned slightly. I saw Sebastian out of the corner of my eye, staring at me with shock and a look of… pain on his face? No, I must have been imagining it.

I kept with the plan. "Sebastian! Protect the master, stay here with him. The others and I will take care of this!" I told him, purposefully cracking my voice to appear in pain.

He opened his mouth to argue, but I leaped out the window to the garden below. There was an explosion just beyond the tree line. My face hardened from my usual smile and my eyes frosted over. This was battle-mode. My hair whipped around me, I could feel power coursing through my veins. I could feel life and water pulsing all around me, feel it responding to my will. No, I couldn't use them; my abilities would give up my identity to Michaelis. So instead, I sensed for May-Rin and the others.

Bard was guarding the inside of the house with a machine gun. Finny was riding Pluto around the front. May-Rin was sprinting towards me, armed with two guns. Her glasses had disappeared, as had her smile.

Grell and Will ran from the forest's edge, hundreds of yards off, wielding their respective death scythes. Grell shrieked with laughter and cried, "I'M COMING FOR YOU SEBBY!" Will thwacked him in the back of the head with his death scythe.

Grell frowned. "Oh yeah, AND WE'RE HERE FOR THE CIEL BRAT'S SOUL TOO!"

I smiled on the inside, Grell was a great actor and the sight before me was hilarious.

Behind me, I could sense that Sebastian and Ototo were watching out the window. My turn to play actress…again. May-Rin tossed me a gun and I armed it. I could hear Sebastian mutter to the master, "What a foolish girl. She won't be able to hit them…her reflexes aren't nearly fast enough!"

I'd show him. May-Rin and I ran towards them. I whistled loudly for Pluto, who came running with Finny on his back.

"You two take the redhead!" I shouted. They dashed for Grell, who swung his scythe at them and battled. I sprinted to Will, leaping at the last second to kick him hard in the chest. He anticipated this and crossed his arms, scythe and all, over his chest. I landed there and used him as a springboard, ricocheting off of him into the air. I flipped backwards and shot him in the arm with the gun I was still holding. I heard Will take a deep intake of breath as he dropped the scythe.

I was instantly filled with regret. I'd hurt Will! That was not part of the plan. I kept up my act, though. I clicked the gun again towards him, knowing full well that it only had one bullet in it. I pretended to be pissed and flung the gun behind me. I ran towards him as he clutched his arm gracefully. I picked up his scythe and swung it at him, ninja style. He dodged and took off running into the forest, I followed.

I ran after him until I was sure we were alone…

Yay! Will is back!

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