Disclaimer: Don't own Kuro and its characters except the OC and the lovely fan art.

A/N: Hi everyone, I am so, so very sorry for the extreme lateness in the update. Can't believe it has been more than a year since I last uploaded a chapter. Graduated school, but there was still a year in training to get myself to the real work force (with exams, and work together). It had been a rough year for me, so please do accept my apologies for not updating in ages. And thanks loads to everyone who followed, reviewed, faved - thanks so much for your support, much appreciated :)

I will try to update more frequently, but with full time work, we'll see. Hopefully it won't be such a hiatus like last year. Thanks!

Curry Arc : The Duels

"I've finished praying," announced Soma before grabbing Ciel and dragging him out of the dining hall. "Let's go out, midget! You'll be my guide!"

"Why me? And my name is Ciel, not midget!" cried Ciel, struggling.

Malum held out his hand stopping both aristocrats. Looking apologetic, he said that the little runt had to study and work. A very heavy schedule, he had stressed.

"As you can see, I'm very busy. If you're going to look for that person now, do it together with Agni." Ciel shrugged Soma off.

Seeing there was also no need for my presence I slid away, heading towards the library.

Sial.

I slammed Dante's Inferno shut. Malum sounded irritated as I hurried to wherever they were – so many rooms, what a waste of space!

Ciel had a large scowl on his face, gripping a pen so hard it could snap while Malum had a smile on his face as usual but his eyebrow was twitching. He hasn't gone into red eye mode yet which is still a good sign.

"Yes, My Lord, you called?" I asked.

"Nikolas, can you ensure that Prince Soma is entertained for the rest of the day?" the earl barked.

"Please leave it to me." Now what the heck am I supposed to do with both of them? Agni perhaps can help to clean the place – my eyes landed on a sparkle from the window – not like the house needs any more cleaning, really…It has to be this annoying prince who is giving Ciel and Malum a headache.

The door to whatever room that was slammed shut and I was stuck with the two Indians.

"I don't understand what he's so angry about, interrupting his art class! Having to draw those stupid things like apples and bottles! He could have drawn a naked woman, that maid was also there, she has nice curves! And she dared to say she'd only undress in front of the man she loves! I'm a prince, how can she disobey me!" grumbled Soma as I led them to the parlour.

I almost stopped short. Did he subject Maylene to sexual harassment? Good on you, Maylene for answering him like that, the bastard! No wonder that Meena girl probably ran away from such a jackass master!

"Please make yourselves comfortable here," I bade, showing them the sofas.

The prince slouched on the sofa, putting his feet on the coffee table, yawning, "I'm bored…"

This prince really is no better compared to some of my brothers who are real slobs!

Agni excused himself, saying he wanted to bring his master some refreshments thus leaving me with the pompous royal.

"Hey, you…"

'You'? I suppose it beats being called a midget... "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Why is that midget so busy? He can't even take care of his guests, what a lousy host!" Soma grumbled as Agni returned to pour his master some tea.

So says the person who has nothing to do. "The earl has got to run a toy and confectionary business he inherited from his family," I answered.

"Ahh, I know! I'll write up a business plan which will be so brilliant that that midget won't have anymore work and will play with me! Ahaha, I'm so smart!" cried the prince suddenly, his face beaming. "Agni, get me paper!"

Needless to say, another shout of, "Get out!" was heard, the two guests shoved out of the door and the papers chucked out while I scrambled to catch them.

Sial, which part of the young master's orders did you not understand: to keep the prince entertained the entire day?

I gripped onto the sketches which depicted an elephant – how exactly is an elephant a business plan? What, perhaps elephant rides?, trying not to shake. I'm doing the best I can, Malum! It's not my fault that I don't know a million tricks like you do! Try stopping someone with an attention span shorter than a minute!

Ah, so you acknowledge that I am indeed very superior…

I wanted to throw my hands upwards in exasperation. Weren't there already enough conceited people around in this world? The problem was that I couldn't go against Soma even if the young runt was supposedly my 'master' since the prince's status outranked an earl's. Surely Malum knew that as well!

"Mr Agni, perhaps his Majesty would like to have his meal first, considering how preoccupied his Lordship is," I suggested. It was past the lunch hour and I was sure that Ciel had eaten already, hidden in one of his rooms.

My fists were clenched. I was trying to avoid eye contact with Malum.

In just ten minutes, right after an extremely heavy and scrumptious meal Agni had presented to the prince, the spoiled royal had bounded upstairs to look for Ciel once more. With me hot on his heels, obviously.

Couldn't he take a nap right after his meal or something like that? I had been tempted to do 'something' to make the prince lose consciousness for the rest of the day, but how was I going to do it in Agni's presence?

"Hmph, what time will you finish?" whined the prince as I heard him mutter something about midget being like an old man. "And just what the hell are you doing, wearing those strange clothes?"

Ciel was currently having his fencing lessons, so he was dressed in such attire. "AAARGH! SHUT UP! I CAN'T CONCENTRATE!" he screamed, his patience totally tested.

I must admit, I had totally expected him to let out some 'F'-riendly words but it seems he was still cultured enough to contain his language.

The earl glared at me, his eyes telling me, "Didn't I tell you to – "

"I apologise, my Lord. It would have not been the Phantomhive hospitality if I had done so." I hoped to worm my way out of this mess.

"Hey, there's no need to get angry…," Soma tried to placate the younger aristocrat when Ciel grabbed the other sword and thrust it into his face.

"Okay, I get it. If you want my attention so much, you become my opponent."

Soma waved the sword around like a sabre. "I've only studied Kalaripayattu and Silambam though…but, have it your way."

So they struck a deal that if Ciel lost, he'd have to play with the prince and likewise if Soma lost, he'd have to keep out of the earl's way. Clearly it was in Ciel's advantage since the prince only knew his own culture's martial arts.

And I have no idea how on earth Lau suddenly appeared next to Agni because he wanted to watch the duel as well. What a busybody…

The rules were read out by Malum and right after he proclaimed the start of the match, the Indian royal wasted no time in launching an offensive attack. "Take this!" he hollered.

Meh, probably imagining he's some sort of hero…I folded my arms, standing beside both Lau and Agni.

Ciel hadn't moved at all, and the sword thrust from Soma merely bent around his lower leg.

"That's not a valid fencing point! Too bad!" The earl immediately moved, stabbing at Soma who was ducking all the moves like he was stepping on hot coal.

"That's not fair! I don't even know the rules, you coward!" whined Soma. It was clear Ciel was playing dirtily however who could blame him for having his schedule interrupted, but I noticed his smirk was returning, so he had to be enjoying himself.

Brother, looks like your young Master is enjoying his current fencing competition. Wouldn't you have been a more exciting opponent?

Would you like some fencing lessons, Sial? In just one move I know I'll have you captured…and you'll be begging for release…

"Are you alright, Nikolas? Your face looks pale but your ears are red…," asked Agni, looking concerned.

"I'm fine, Mr Agni." I tried not to clutch at the front of my shirt. Sonofabitch!

Ciel must've had some sympathy for Soma as every move he made he was teaching the older boy some tricks. Unfortunately Soma really wasn't used to handling a sword as light as it, so he was still swinging it blindly.

"Your torso is wide open!" Ciel viciously jerked forward.

"Prince! This is dangerous!"

Agni flew from his position and blocked Soma. Didn't he know that those fencing swords wouldn't really injure anyone fatally…? His fingers shot out, pressing at Ciel's arm and caused the boy to drop his weapon.

The rest of us were wide eyed as the sword clanged noisily on the marble floor.

"My deepest apologies, Sir Ciel! My body moved on its own when I thought my master was going to lose!" Agni stammered, looking panicky. It was out of his station to carry out such an action on a person of a higher status. Malum was tending to Ciel, whose arm was shaking. The force from Agni's fingers seemed small, but to have such an effect…?

"Ahaha! I praise you, Agni for protecting me! In other words, I won! Now, you shall play with me, Ciel!" cheered Soma, clapping Agni on the back while I retrieved Ciel's sword.

"Give me that," spoke Lau and I passed him the weapon, puzzled. He flung it towards Sebastian. "Here, you should take reprisal for your master, butler!"

Now this was getting interesting…Maybe I should make some popcorn ready.

"What are you going to do, Ciel's butler?" Soma provoked while Agni looked unsettled.

"Indeed, because you were being mean to a novice who didn't know the rules – "

"What?" Ciel glared at him.

"However, when the Master is injured like this, as the butler of the Phantomhive, I cannot let it slide like this." Malum stood up with the sword in his hand.

"That's your real motive, isn't it?" scowled the little runt.

"We're already behind schedule by ten minutes." Who knew my brother was such a punctual demon?

Your duel is going to make both of you further behind schedule, you know…But this is definitely a duel I want to watch!

So, with both masters' prides bet on the duel, and the usual, "You can't lose, understood!", the duel began.

"Hey, do you want to bet who will win?" asked Lau discreetly.

My lips curled upwards, my eyes still on both fighters. "It's not something you can easily bet upon, Mr Lau."

Assessing both Malum and Agni's moves, both had clear advantages and disadvantages over each other.

Malum was a demon so his moves would be swifter and more agile than Agni, however he could not use his powers in order not to insult Soma should he defeat Agni.

Agni's advantage was that Soma was of a higher status than Ciel so it was alright if he 'defeated' Malum, but since he had already injured Ciel by accident, I knew he was feeling guilty about that so he would not be using his full strength either.

Their moves were superb, mirroring each other occasionally and each of them had barely hit vital areas before swerving and avoiding these hits.

I don't know if Lau knew this – he ought to, being in business for so long – that even if this duel was just a whim of two selfish masters, it was actually quite political. Who knows, if any side lost – a possible war could be waged between Britain and Bengal due to the losing party feeling insulted. Men have waged wars over petty things before and countless lives killed simply like that.

I blinked. I shouldn't be thinking about such matters.

Plang!

Both butlers aimed their swords at each other, but suddenly Malum bent backwards, catching something in his other hand.

"Oh my, the sword's broken," he said.

Agni looked at his own sword – the blade also had broken into half. "It'll be impossible to compete anymore, so this match ends as a draw?" he suggested.

"Was that what you meant, Nikolas? What a pity…," said Lau.

I shrugged. "I'm not good at betting, Mr Lau."

Soma agreed to it being a draw, declaring Agni being the strongest fighter in his city and this was the first time someone tied with him.

Ciel looked stunned that it ended up in a tie. I could understand what he was thinking: Agni was as strong as a demon.

Actually he isn't, Ciel. You're just not aware of the implications if Agni loses.

Agni apologised once more to Ciel before returning to Soma who was speaking to Lau.

"What exactly is that guy? Is he that kind again?" the earl demanded, referring to death gods.

"No, he's human…He may possess abilities we do not have, that's what I presume." Malum's eyes flickered in Agni's direction, glowing red momentarily.