Memories of Murder:

Chapter 12:

Undertaker was one of the most fitting names for someone suspected of covering up a murder. Sebastian was tempted to make a joke and tease Ciel, but ultimately decided he didn't want a sulking Ciel to share his room.

In the end it was Ciel who used the opportunity for a joke.

"I hope he was a good undertaker when I died."

Sebastian smirked. "Indeed. It's useful to know his name and what he looks like. However it does not get us anywhere. Knowing the names of the Weston Six would be better."

Ciel sighed. "You are new there so you aren't any use for that. You can enlist the other members' help for that one."

Ciel had a very good point. Giving Mey-Rin, Bardroy and Finny something to do would make them feel useful. It would also produce a beneficial team spirit to the club as well. Naturally that was not how he phrased it at the meeting the following day.

"So we need to find six teachers that have always been here," Mey-Rin summarised. "We know two so we just have to find the other four."

"Miss Blanc and Mr Landers were obvious because they look so old," Bardroy groaned. "The school isn't that old so it won't be obvious by their age."

Sebastian nodded. "Go for the older teachers to start with. We know they all became science teachers so look in that department first. There is a chance that they don't all teach the same subject now. You can eliminate any teachers in their twenties for obvious reasons."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ciel jump down from his perch in the corner and stand behind him.

"Tell them to split up and to not ask the same people. It reduces suspicion that way."

Sebastian knew Ciel had a very good point so he added it onto his instructions. It was only when Finny stood up and cleared his throat did he remember that the leader of the club was actually someone else and not him.

"I recommend that we all follow Sebastian's instructions," he paused. "Only on one condition though."

Resistance was something that Sebastian had not anticipated. He looked over at Ciel to see if he could guess what it would be. Ciel simply shrugged.

"Sebastian hasn't been on a social with us yet. We need to strengthen our relationships especially with the loss and addition of members."

Whilst he did agree that a strong sense of teamwork was needed so no one else would drop out or in the worst case scenario, sell them out, he wasn't sure that he wanted to go to anything with them.

"Just agree to it," Ciel advised. "They will never drop the subject if you don't. Just make sure to say you don't want to do karaoke."

He had no idea that was even an option.

"I will go to one at least. I have a condition though: no karaoke."

Finny looked a little disappointed about that but agreed to it nonetheless. The trio began to discuss options between themselves. Ciel sat down in the empty chair next to him.

"I have been the invisible members of lots of clubs so I know about their socials," he explained. "British people aren't confident enough to sing in front of others unless they are a bit tipsy. They all end up with hangovers afterwards."

One thing that Sebastian was sure of was that he didn't want to witness Mey-Rin, Finny or Bardroy singing out of tune whilst intoxicated. He was glad that Ciel had helped him avoid that. He watched the trio opposite him squabble about where to go. He heard the words 'cat cafe' and perked up. Finally he would have the opportunity to go somewhere he had only read about.

Beside him Ciel's face developed a scowl. "Not a cat cafe. A maid cafe would be slightly more preferable."

"Don't they wear cat ears there?" Sebastian whispered back to annoy him.

"If you get excited by synthetic cat ears that don't even look realistic, you are a complete and utter idiot," Ciel snapped.

"You said I was intelligent the other day."

Ciel glared at him. "You are an idiot when it comes to cats."

Sebastian was about to reply when he realised there was no other conversation occurring in the room and he was being stared out.

"We have come to a decision," Finny announced. "We were deadlocked between a butler cafe, a maid cafe and a cat cafe. In light of that we have decided to go for a normal one."

He could guess who had chosen each of them. Of course he felt disappointed about the lack of cats. Ciel on the other hand looked quite satisfied.

"There is this quaint place about twenty minutes away that just does English teatime fare. The selection of tea is really good," Mey-Rin said.

That sounded just as a good as a cat cafe to Sebastian. It would also keep Ciel happy.

"You English with your tea," the American member griped.

"You're outvoted," Finny said happily. "Besides you like crumpets and cream teas too. Don't deny it."

As was typical with Japan, the English name of the cafe was unique, although 'Black Butler' was nowhere as bad as some of the shop names Sebastian had seen so far. The interior was obviously Victorian inspired with the damask wallpaper and lots of lace doilies and tablecloths.

Sebastian took a sceptical look at the menu. As Mey-Rin had promised the choice was varied. The options were so wide he had to admit he had never heard of some of them before. New Moon Drop tea was completely new to him.

"We should get afternoon tea," Mey-Rin commented. "We'll get the full experience that way."

Sebastian was of the same opinion and they ordered two between the four of them. He was also very content when he noticed that the tea came in teapots. Afternoon tea would be worth the wait. After the meeting in the morning they had all split up for investigation and to go to lessons and had agreed to meet here to pool their findings.

He let his teabag steep a little before pouring the tea into his cup and added his preferred amount of milk.

"What did you find?" he asked.

The three of them pulled out notepads which Sebastian approved of.

"We know about Miss Blanc and Mr Landers so there were only four to find. I found Mr Kelvin," Finny contributed. "He's the creepy Chemistry teacher. He's really creepy."

"Ew, I know who he is," Bardroy shuddered. "I got Mrs Saxe-Coburg, the history teacher. Very posh sounding."

Saxe-Coburg was the former surname of the royal family before it changed to Windsor. However it was highly unlikely for Bardroy to recognise that. That added up to four members of the Weston Six. There were two to go.

He turned to Mey-Rin. "What about you?"

She grinned at him and he could tell she had found the last two.

"One is Charles Grey the Physics teacher. The other one was much harder to find."

Just as she was about to continue Bardroy pointed to something behind to Sebastian.

"That girl over there completely matches with this place."

Sebastian turned around to see a new customer enter the cafe. As Bardroy had observed she was wearing the perfect outfit for a Victorian inspired cafe. He also recognised who she was. It was Elizabeth Midford.

She spotted him and walked over to their table. He saw her glance at the others before speaking.

"Are you with the mystery club?" she enquired.

"You know who we are?" Bardroy asked.

"Well, I only know Sebastian," she admitted. "I know what club he is part of so you must be the other members."

"Do you want to sit with us? You can hear all about our exploration at school last night," Finny offered.

There was technically only one free chair at the table as the other one was being occupied by Ciel Phantomhive who was of course invisible to everyone except Sebastian. Elizabeth pulled out that chair and Ciel promptly stood up and moved along to the other empty chair.

"Are you having afternoon tea?" she asked.

"Of course," Mey-Rin replied.

Once everything had arrived the idiot trio launched into a dramatic renditions of everything that had happened the night before. Some accuracy was sacrificed for dramatic extra details.

"It was a dark and stormy night," Finny began.

"It was very mild actually," Sebastian whispered to Elizabeth who smiled.

"We climbed over the wall like ninja," Bardroy continued.

"No, you got stuck and needed help," Sebastian corrected.

For that he received a sulky look and he decided to let them embellish until it came to important parts. Elizabeth Midford had enough common sense to notice when she was not being told the complete truth. He took over once it came to the poster on the wall. He saw she understood the link to the 'Shelling Ford' hint.

She was silent when he told her about the hair he had found in the sink and when he told her about where the other hint led to, she looked a little upset. He couldn't work out why though.

When they had all finished Sebastian looked out the window and realised it was completely dark outside. He had enjoyed spending time with everyone else to the extent that she had lost track of time. They split the bill and grouped outside.

It was only when Mey-Rin said goodbye to him did he realise that she had never got a chance to tell him about the final member of the Weston Six. He reminded her and she told him and the answer was quite a surprise. Elizabeth who was standing next to him looked completely unsurprised and still looked sad.

Once it was only the two of them and Ciel standing outside she grabbed his arm.

"Come with me."


One week later:

Armed with the knowledge of who had killed Ciel, Sebastian knocked on the door of a room at Weston International School. Once he heard a faint reply he stepped inside.

He didn't hesitate to get straight to the point.

"Why did you kill your nephew, Dr. Durless?"