Akushujin chapter 14: Reclamation and Resolution
Hey everyone~! I know it's a long time since I last updated…things are going as usual, but recently I've been busy working on a Chibitalia cosplay, so yeah…I kinda' neglected this fic…but hopefully it's not crummy!
However, I did manage to paint-sketch a pic of Chubbs! It's here: http:/blackcat314[dot]deviantart[dot]com/art/Akushujin–OC–Chubbs–208362124 (just replace with actual dots, of course). I also managed to edit a screenshot and make it look like kitty Ciel~! It's here if you guys want to take a look at it: http:/my[dot]deviantart[dot]com/messages/#/d3g7dzx
Disclaimer: Yana Toboso owns all characters and official plot. I only own this plot and the OCs that appear.
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"Master!" Chubbs and company charged in, armed. Nothing could prepare them for the homoerotic scene that greeted their eyes. Namely, to see their master sprawled on the ground helpless and panting, in the arms of the one who kidnapped him. All the cat demons present gaped in shock, just as Sebastian stared back in slight surprise. 'Hmm? They managed to get in? I guess tese kitties are a little more playful than I—' "Oh my Lord! That weird man punished Master the way you punished me!" the high pitched squeak of Peter, or 'Coal', snapped Sebastian out of his thoughts as well as shocked everyone in the room. All eyes turned to Chubbs, who stared shocked at Peter, then at everyone, and back at the child again. Undoubtedly, the same thought ran through everyone's minds: 'C-Chubbs…you and Peter…really? I can't believe it…' with the exception of Sebastian, who felt enraged at the child's revelation. 'Tch…he already has his own, yet he insists on keeping me away from Ciel, this two-timing[1] bastard….take a look at your so-called "new butler", Ciel! He's been cheating on you behind your back! You're too good for him…only I can give you forever, unfaltering and unceasingly!' Sebastian thought angrily as he lashed out against Chubbs, launching a stream of dagger-sharp feathers at the blond cat demon.
Not being able to counter in time, Chubbs braced himself for the hits he was sure would come, but was surprised that there was no pain. Opening his eyes, he realized that Marie had intercepted Sebastian's attack with her enlarged, cage-like tea egg[2]. "M-Marie!" Chubbs exclaimed, surprised. "Don't dawdle, Chubbs! Whatever you have done with Peter can be explained later. But for now, let's focus on what we came here for: to recover Master Ciel!" She chastised as she drew back the chain with a quick whip of her arm, the feathers falling out from the speed. Instantly, the tea egg was emptied and ready again. "R-right! Our objective is to recover Master Ciel at any and all costs. Anything else is not of importance! Let's go, everyone! The usual!" Chubbs recovered quickly and directed the rest of the servants. With practiced ease, the cat demons seemed to move together in a unified strike before Sebastian could respond.
Marie launched her enlarged tea egg again, successfully enveloping Ciel in a protective barrier. She quickly reeled the tea egg back, taking her dazed master back as well. As soon as Ciel was within the group of demons again, René took off his mask[3] and placed it over the boy's eyes while he cast a spell of healing demon magic. Meanwhile, Chubbs and Peter kept Sebastian busy while Marie and René worked to recover Ciel. Pulsing with demon energy, Chubbs opened his pocket watch and pulled the hour and minute needles simultaneously. Instantly, said watch transformed into a flail[4], the hour hand enlarging into an ornate rod with a sharp, spear-like end. The body of the watch and the minute hand dangled from the rod as a heavy ball and a pointed blade. "Rrrraaaaaahh!" He dashed towards Sebastian as he raised his weapon, Peter on his shoulder. Eyes glowing with demonic aura, Peter peered closely at Sebastian, pinpointing his weak points[5]. "Chubbs, besides that gaping hole in his chest, aim for his shoulder blades! It's where his wings sprout…and it's also one of his weak points!" "Alright, gotcha', kid!" with that , Chubbs struck out. Snapping back quickly, Sebastian dodged the onslaught of rod and blade.
However, he was not quick enough to avoid the jagged teeth of a saw wielded by the kitten who had jumped off of Chubbs' shoulder. Quickly summoning a whip of burning energy, he lashed the kitten off, successfully sending the little one flying, and the older one falling back. Staggering a few steps back from the attacks, Sebastian spat out some blood and wiped his face clean again with the back of his sleeve. "N-nyaaa….." Peter mewled weakly, slowing getting up and crawling over to Chubbs, who looked twice as battered but was nonetheless standing. Looking down briefly before scooping the kitten up, his emerald eyes flashed with worry. "It's alright, I got you. He's gonna' pay. I swear it…if not for the Master's honour, then definitely for your injuries…" His gaze fell upon Sebastian, burning with murderous rage. "C-Chubbs….w-we…we have to use that…" Peter said weakly, clutching his key-like saw[6]. "Yes, I know…I hate to admit it, but he's too strong…alright, let's do it." He replied with resolve. "Are you ready?" "Uhn." The child nodded back resolutely, both of their weapons glowing before returning to their original forms. In Chubbs' hand was his wind-up pocket watch, and in Peter's hands he held up a matching wind-up key. "Okay, let's do this!" The older opened the back of the watch, revealing a key hole. Peter inserted his key into the keyhole without hesitation, and instantly the two items glowed an eery blue-green. Instantly, the watched morphed into a golden machine gun, the hour needle enlarged into a bayonet[7]. The key, meanwhile, had transformed into a rifle, the minute hand of Chubbs' watch attached as a snipe.
"Ready?" "Ready!" With their new weapons in hand, they aimed at Sebastian. "Hope you're ready." They both said in unison, smirking. 'I have to admit that couple transformation is impressive…dammit, does Ciel do that with this…this two-timer too? I can't have that! Absolutely not! I will definitely take him back…and maybe we can develop a joint attack like that too! I'm definitely better-suited to be his partner than this stray cat…' Sebastian thought with jealousy as he retracted his energy whip and instead poured his energy into one of his longer feathers. Instantly, it transformed itself into a long, obsidian sword. "You can bet I'm prepared…just hope you two are ready to die." Sebastian smirked as he rushed forward, excited to cut into the synchronized pair of gun-wielding cat demons. In response, the feline pair began a series of rapid fire shots, most of which were parried by Sebastian's skillful swordplay. Some bullets clipped Sebastian's heels, and others took out some feathers from his wings. The battle raged on for some time, the cat demons and Sebastian sustaining equal injuries. Though on the whole, Chubbs had more injuries, as he had taken some blows aimed at Peter as well. However, the more he protected the kitten, the more it agitated Sebastian. 'How dare you flaunt your partnership while fighting me! Do you think I'm merely a trifle? Then let's see how you like seeing your little lover bruised and battered!' He thought angrily as he aimed his blows at the kitten instead. "Nyaaaah!" Peter cried out helplessly as he blocked the swipes of Sebastian's sword with his rifle, inching farther and farther away from Chubbs until he was finally cornered.
"Oi, your fight's with me! Leave the kid outta' this!" Chubbs shouted irately, parrying and blocking the attacks aimed at Peter as he grabbed the kitten. "Heh, what's the matter, heartache? Does it hurt to see your precious little one attacked? To see him helpless and separated from you?" Sebastian taunted, his eyes glowing a malicious red as he continued to swipe mercilessly as the cat demons slowly moved back. "Oi! Are you guys almost done recovering the Master? I'm almost out of juice!" Chubbs yelled back to Marie and René, who were busy trying to snap Ciel out of his dazed state. "Just a leetle more time, s'il vous plait[8]!" René shouted back, funneling more of his healing energy into Ciel slowly, to avoid another rush. 'Pleaze, Mastehr, vake up soon[9]!' he thought desperately as he accessed the situation for alternatives while focusing on recovering the boy's mental state. "Just try to hold up for a little longer, alright? If worse comes to worst, I'll get us out!" Marie shouted in reply as well, maintaining her barrier to create an environment of absolute isolation so that Ciel might recover faster. Chubbs and Peter continued to fire their rounds, but unfortunately for them, their weapons soon ran out of bullets.
"Crap…we're out of bullets!" Chubbs called over his shoulder to Marie and René, who stiffened at the news. "You 'ave to be keeding me! Ve 'ave not recovered Master Ciel yet!" René panicked, half of his composure lost. "Just…just try to hold him off a bit longer!" Marie yelled back desperately, maintaining her barrier. "Alright…" Chubbs gritted his teeth and stood his ground as their firearms turned back into their original weapons, the flail and saw respectively. "Well~ it looks like luck is on my side today…now if you'd quietly hand over the Young Master, that would be much appreciated…" Sebastian strode up to the two cat demons, victory smirk in place as he raised the sword above his head to deliver a finishing blow. 'Everything has happened as it should…for you see, Ciel, I am the one fated to be your Knight. No other can replace me, as you will see now…' Sebastian brought his blade down as both Chubbs and Peter braced themselves for the final blow, "I am feeling merciful today, so I suppose I'll let you both die together in one fell swoop…." However, before the blow could hit, the sword was intercepted. "What?" all three parties stopped, and looked up in shock.
Standing between Sebastian and the two cat demons was none other than Ciel himself, fully recovered and gripping the blade, his blood dripping from where the blade dug in. The crimson droplets, however, were quickly absorbed by the hungry demon blade. "M-My Lord!" both Chubbs and Peter cried out in unison while Marie and René sighed in relief as they made their way beside Ciel. "How good of you to be merciful, Sebastian. I'm afraid your mercy will have to go to waste, however…since they will not be dying today." Ciel smirked, his hand still gripping the blade which Sebastian had long since stopped forcing downwards as soon as it was gripped by the blue-haired boy. "Aww, how mean of you to reject my gift! But surely it is no great loss if a few chess pieces broke…?" Sebastian returned with equal smugness despite his injuries. "Hmph. Let me remind you they are MY chess pieces…they'll break when I want them to, and not any time before that. It would sully my name if I could not protect my servants from just one demon…regardless of who that demon is." Ciel replied with cold determination. "Heh. Of course, how like you. My dear, precious Young Master." Sebastian said resolutely, his sword lowered and eyes closed in mock defeat.
Ciel walked past him without so much as a side glance as the cat demons trailed after him. "Do NOT call me that. I am your master no longer, Sebastian…no, Your Highness Prince Samael[10]." Ciel finished with a steely, formal tone as he jumped out the broken window, landing on Grudge Cat, who waited outside to receive them. As soon as all the cat demons were on its back, Grudge Cat set off, and flew away into the distance. Sebastian kept his back turned even as the cat demons went farther and farther away. Hot tears made their way down his porcelain cheeks before he could stop them. Raising a shaking hand to his face, he brushed the drops lightly. He sank to his knees, one hand clutching his heart tightly as more searing tears dropped from his eyes and landed on the ebony floor tiles. He knew Ciel would one day find out about his identity in Hell, but never had he thought Ciel would ever call him by his title. Neither had he thought it would hurt so much to hear Ciel so formal towards him. 'No…bocchan….Ciel…don't call me that! Call me Sebastian again, like you always used to…' As the tears flowed freely, something fell from his jacket and fluttered lightly to the floor, absorbing his tears.
It was the picture he had taken of Ciel back when the camera was first invented in the human world. Beside the boy stood himself, proof that he was the boy's most prized possession. 'I used to be dearest to you…can we really never go back now? I know I shouldn't have let my guard down…I can't believe I've grown so weak…if it wasn't for the lack of souls, those cat demons would not stand a chance against me…I am a Prince of Hell, after all… That's it! I must form another contract, and regain my powers by consuming another soul. I will make Ciel want me again.' Sebastian stood up from the floor, hard determination in his eyes as he mended everything in his house before setting off for the human realm again.
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Aaaaand it's done! Finally…the fight scene took a bit of careful planning…I'm really sorry if it sounds repetitive…DX It was hard trying to design their tools and weapons…hopefully I can draw them out too…I'd really like to attempt that.
[1] two-timing: Sebastian assumed that Chubbs and Ciel have an intimate relationship, which is why he thinks what Chubbs did to Peter was adultery. For the record though, Chubbs is simply extremely loyal to Ciel. His lover is Peter, and same thing with Peter. Peter only assumes he is to be Ciel's mate before because he bears the last name Phantomhive. However, that is because Ciel had planned for Peter to be his heir, because he (Ciel himself) does not expect to create a biological heir.
[2]tea-egg: A small, ball-shaped cage about the size of a ping-pong ball which dangles on a chain with a hook at the end. It is used to hold loose-leaf tea so it doesn't get into the cup when the tea is poured. The hook at the other end is used to secure the tea egg to the pot, so it doesn't roll around while the tea is brewing. I've enlarged it so it is roughly the size of a basketball when Marie fights with it, but the size can change. Speaking of which, Marie's abilities are to Retrieve and Isolate (Barrier). Her combat skills are decent, but it's clearly not enough to go against Sebastian. However, her defense is the highest of all the servants, and her isolate ability can make or break the target. On one hand, it cuts off all ties to the outside from the target, which can make the target helpless or keep them in complete peace.
[3]mask: If you guys remember, René was first introduced as an elegant man with a phantom-of-the-opera styled face mask that covers half his face. This mask actually has the ability to clear the wearer's senses, which is why he put it over Ciel as soon as they got him back. René's ability is Healing/Awakening. He has almost no combat skills, but his healing is very effective. His defense is second highest, next to Marie. He often works with Marie because their abilities are related to each other.
[4]flail: A rod with a chain, and usually a spiked ball attached to the other end of the chain. Chubbs' flail is actually more like an upside-down spear with a blade and heavy metal ball attached to the blunt end (top) with two chains. It's a very far reaching weapon, and to add form to function, because it is transformed from a brass pocket watch, it's completely golden. Out of Ciel's demon guards, Chubbs is the main offensive power. Although he's an overall balance (he can pretty much do what all the other servants do, but not as well as they can do it).
[5]weak points: Peter's special ability is Keen Eyes. He can easily pinpoint the most important things, as well as small details of a target. Which is why he was first used to spy on Sebastian back in chapter 3. His combat ability is higher than Marie's, but not as high as Chubbs. He is mainly fast rather than powerful, and because of his small size and ability, he is good as a hunter or assassin. However, because he is still young and rash, he has yet to be told to assassinate anyone. He is mainly the sniper of the group. His defense is also the lowest out of all the servants, due to his small size and his speed. He needs to sacrifice some defense in order to maintain his speed.
[6]key-like saw: Peter's own weapon. It is an enlarged skeleton key, the jagged edges make for a very dangerous looking hand-saw. Peter only uses it for close-quarter combat, and even then, it is not all that useful, since it generally hinders his speed. However, once he digs into a target, he can saw pretty fast. XD
[7]bayonet: A sharp blade that is attached to the end of a rifle, but I decided to play with it a bit and put it on Chubbs' machine gun instead. This piece is basically a sharp knife, and its length varies depending on the owner. Basically what it does is turn a long bodied firearm into a makeshift spear of sorts when the user runs out of bullets. Just thrust forward and stab.
[8]s'il vous plait: Literally "if you please", but it's generally meant as "please". It doesn't matter whether the subject is singular or plural, the plural form of "you" is always used to confer respect, because the speaker is asking someone to do something for them. I have seen some fics translate it as "s'il te plait", which I understand is translating it for a singular subject. However, that is, as I understand it, mistaken. I'm not too sure about French in the United States, but I've never come across "please" ever being spoken this way in my country.
[9] Pleaze, Mastehr, vake up soon: René clearly thinks with a French accent as well. XD (Well, as good of a French accent as I can convey through typed words)
[10]Your Highness Prince Samael:I know it's barely been mentioned, because Satan probably only brought it up twice throughout the fic, but it's what I see Sebastian as being. Samael of Lust and Wrath. In an earlier chapter, I had explained that it was peculiar for Sebastian to have the last name "Michaelis", which can be read as "Michaels" or "Michael-is", denoting that he is somewhat like Archangel Michael, or close to him. Samael is the Angel of Death, who was defeated by Archangel Michael during the Fall, and became the demon of Lust and Wrath, which seems to suit Sebastian's character. Remember the nun-banging (anime first season), and punching Grell in the face after he found out Grell really hated face-attacks? Yeah, Lust and Wrath right there. Ciel's usage of the formal address to Sebastian denotes that he is no longer close or dear to him anymore, which is why Sebby is heartbroken when he heard Ciel call him that.
Next chapter: Sebastian takes on another contract! What will Ciel do? Will he get jealous? Will Sebastian fall for his new master? Or will he gain the power he needs to make Ciel want him again? Stay tuned~!