Alrighty! So begins the first chapter in the Book of Circus Arc.
I gotta be honest, I have a bit of a love/hate opinion for this particular Arc in the Kuroshitsuji story. I love the characters you get to meet, but the violence and drama, was a bit much...especially the screams...
I will of course, brave out another round of the anime episodes for the sake of this story. I can do it!
Oh, and this chapter will contain hints from chapter five of the manga (before the 'Jack the Ripper Arc').
Wish me luck, and enjoy the latest in this adventure!
Come a few weeks later, and we now enter February, as the misty London fog rolls across the greenery to greet the early morning at the Phantomhive Manor.
During this time, is when the head butler, Sebastian Michaelis, begins prep work for the day, including ironing the newspaper for his young master. Once all of the necessary work was done, Sebastian would then make his way up to the young earl's bedroom with a trolley that carried the early morning tea:
(Ka-chak)
(Step, step, step...)
(Shhhnk)
He then goes to draw back the curtains, the sun streaming brightly through the glass of the window:
"Young lord, tis time to rise and greet the day."
Groaning slightly from his interruption of sleep, the young earl, Ciel Phantomhive, then rises to a sitting position with a yawn, as Sebastian prepares him a cup of tea.
"(Sip) Today's tea is the Assam, hm?"
"Spot on, as ever. I took the liberty of bringing your London Times this morning."
Sebastian then hands the newspaper to Ciel, and as he sips more of his tea, Ciel reads the following article title:
Brandel to acquire a long established tea manufacturer.
A little time passes, and Sebastian is assisting Ciel in dressing up while informing the young earl of his schedule for the day:
"Today begins with a dance lesson. Your instructor is Ms. Meyal. After lunch, you'll look over proposals from the Funtom Company Toy and Confectionery Divisions. Finally, at six o'clock you have a meeting with Mr. Cedric Brandel of the Brandel Tea Company. Also in attendance will be Mr. Lau of the Chinese Trading Company Kong-Rong."
"What does Brandel want?"
Slipping the blue coat onto Ciel, Sebastian replies,
"Apparently his company is hosting a tea salon. He would like to acquire a number of Funtom products to sell to the children who will be in attendance."
As his eye-patch is tied on, Ciel says,
"We can't refuse an acquaintance of Lau's out of hand. (Smile) Extend him every courtesy."
"(Bow) Quite. Yes, my lord."
Now walking down the hall, Ciel suddenly says,
"I can't say I'll be looking forward to it."
"Indeed, but it wouldn't do to cancel the meeting."
"No, not the meeting. It's the dance lesson I dread."
Sebastian puts a finger under his chin in thought with a somewhat mocking smile:
"Ah yes, of course. We could always cancel that if you would prefer to show Lady Elizabeth the parring, staggering waltz at the Queen's ball next month. I'm sure she'd be duly impressed with your originality."
"Hmph. Don't be so cheeky."
(Ka-chak)
"If you'll come along then, my lord, your dance lesson shall proceed as planned."
"Heheh, still tryin' to get out of dancing, eh?"
Ciel looks toward the windows of the small dining room, and sees Coraline, dressed in the simple blue dress and shoes, occupying an amused smile:
"You and dancing seem to have a similar relationship to that of a many failed-attempt escape convict and a prison guard."
Ciel smirk-glares at Coraline and replies dryly,
"Hilarious. And what does that make you?" As the two teens sit down at the table, Coraline says,
"Probably the prison psychologist."
"Tch, really? According to what credentials?"
"My certificate from the medical school of none-your-business, but that's not the point. Anyway, speaking as your appointed shrink, I'm just gonna state it bluntly: There's no escape man, so stop trying!"
Ciel scoffs lightly, and Sebastian chuckles quietly before serving the two:
"Today's breakfast: Here we have a ham and grapefruit salad, lightly-poached salmon, a soup of roasted root vegetables and flaky croissants."
As Ciel and Coraline begin eating, the latter bites into one of her croissants before saying to the former,
"You know, you really are getting better at dancing. Skills like this just take time to get the hang of, is all. Heh, if anything, your moves are way better than when I try dancing the Polka."
Ciel looks up at her with a raised brow:
"...Are you really that terrible?"
"Oh yeah. I suck so bad at the Polka that your waltzing looks flawless in comparison. There's only one move I've managed to prefect, and it's not even an official move!"
"Oh? And what is the name of this 'unofficial move'?"
Coraline smiles weakly before answering,
"A little something I call, 'Tripping On Air for No Apparent Reason other than The Universe Hates Me'."
...There's a pause, before Ciel bursts into laughter, and Coraline laughs with him while saying insistingly,
"I'm not kidding! I become a master of tripping on air every time I attempt to do that blasted dance!"
Once they caught their breath, and each took a sip of tea to quench their thirst, Ciel quirks to Coraline with a smirk,
"Perhaps I should have Polka music played in the manor sometime so I can see this 'graceful' move of yours..."
Coraline glares lightly with a menacing smirk back and retorts,
"I would highly advise against doing that, otherwise I might be forced to sink Lizzie's cutification on you. Heh, I can already picture you in a lacy blue bonnet..."
Ciel's visible blue widens, and a shiver runs through his spine at the thought of being dressed so obnoxiously cute...Coraline sees the shock, and adds with some sass,
"Yeah that's right; I don't need no demon butler to back me up. I got girl power on my side."
Small Time Skip
We move ahead to the dance lesson, with Coraline joining Ciel so he had a practice partner, and so he wouldn't 'suffer alone':
"One, two, three. One, two, three. Oh heavens, rather clumsy footwork, my lord. Strive for more grace. And young lady, do keep your eyes forward and back straight."
Ciel makes a noise of discomfort, while Coraline stutters,
"U-Uh, y-yes ma'am."
While the young boy and girl continued with the lesson, Sebastian went to the kitchen to direct the servant quartet to their duties for the day:
"Your tasks are as followed: Mey-Rin, collect and launder all the bed sheets."
"Right, Sebastian!"
"Finny, tend to the plants in the greenhouse."
"Yes, sir!"
"And Baldroy, you shall see to the bread."
"Gotcha. Consider it done."
"As for Tanaka, just do whatever it is you usually do."
"Ho-ho-ho..."
Sebastian's expression then gets more serious when he says the following:
"Listen carefully: We are expecting a guest this evening."
Bard's eyes light up:
"Uh...! Crikey, you know what that means, then: I'll make a special-Ulh!"
His train of thought comes to an emergency stop, courtesy of a roller, pointed at his face by a fake-smiling Sebastian:
"What that means is, you three will stay quietly out of sight and not do anything unless you've received my expressed orders. Keyword, quietly."
With that caution in the wind, Sebastian claps his hands together, signalling the servant's dismiss:
"Provided that you have understood your duties, off you go. Step lively."
"Right!"
And the three scramble off to work, while Sebastian lets out a sigh of exasperation...
Time Skip, Afternoon, Ciel's Study
As soon as the dance lesson was over, Ciel went to work on the proposals for his company, while Coraline went to hang about in the gardens. After signing yet another document, adding to the stacks on his desk and one on the floor, Ciel sighs while tiredly laying his head down:
"I want something sweet, Sebastian. A cake, maybe."
After preparing the afternoon snack, Sebastian comes over to the desk with a knowing smile replying,
"I think not. Best not to spoil your appetite before your dinner meeting."
"I said, I want something sweet..."
(Clink)
"I prepared some hot chocolate for you. Can you make do with that?"
Ciel lifts his face up, before noticing something missing:
"Where's the cream?"
"I've served it with toasted nuts, and some caramel syrup."
Ciel makes an expression that almost showed protest, but decided against it...Sebastian then exits the study, and checks his pocket watch:
"Now then...I shall begin to prepare for receiving our guests."
He starts by choosing the dinnerware:
"First, dish selection. Heron dinnerware is lively and colourful. It will help set a tone suitable for a meeting about children's products..."
He's then seen polishing silver:
"Next, to polish the silverware until it gleams." But just as he sets a silver fork down:
"GYAAAAHHH!"
"Perfect...What now?"
Following the source of the yell, Sebastian opens the door to the Laundry Room:
"Mey-Rin, whatever is-"
He then comes across the sight of huge bubble suds, with Mey-Rin popping up distressingly:
"Oh, Sebastian, thank goodness you're here!"
As she shakes off the suds on her person, Sebastian asks,
"What happened here? Why are there bubbles everywhere?"
"It's the detergent! I put in thirty spoonfuls, just as the directions say, but it's a disaster! It doesn't make sense!"
Sebastian looks at the instructions on the box Mey-Rin was holding out, before replying,
"Mey-Rin. Read the instructions again, carefully."
"Uh?"
She does so, with some difficulty due to her poor eyesight, and Sebastian adds,
"You'll find that it says three spoonfuls, not thirty."
As Mey-Rin's jaw drops from her blunder, Sebastian mentally rants,
Why, this imbec-that is to say, housemaid. It would seem the problem no longer in with her eyesight. Why does she fail to realize that there is something clearly wrong with her own brain and not the instructions?
Word has it that the public adores silly maids, but I do not think I will ever understand it. I myself would like to wring her neck.
With an expressionless look, Sebastian tugs his glove before saying,
"Right. Now, step aside."
He then proceeded to mop up all of the excess laundry soap, using some of it to finish washing the bed linen, while Mey-Rin watched, blushing in adoration...
A few minutes later, all of the sheets were hanging on the clothesline:
"There, that should sort it out. Now do you think you're capable of cleaning the Laundry Room by yourself?"
"Y-Yes, yes I am!"
Sebastian then notices something off in a bubble reflection, and mutters,
"Naturally. Always when I'm busy..."
Sebastian then heads back into the kitchen, bringing a small bouquet of flowers with him, before continuing his work:
(Fwap)
"Next, to set the perfect table. The flower arrangement is of upmost importance. I'll use a refine blend of Snowdrops and Christmas Roses to evoke winter. And the napkins shall be folded into roses to match..."
Just as that part was done:
"UWAAAAAHHH!"
...Sebastian follows that outcry to the greenhouse:
"Finny-(Flinch) Why is it so hot in here?"
A bawling Finny walks up to the butler to explain what happened:
"I-I'm so sorry! It looked like, (sniff) the roses were right about to bloom, and I thought, (sniff) you know, I'd could speed things up by bringing in the stove!"
Sebastian gains a tick-mark as he goes into his second mental rant:
Why this imbec-that is to say, gardener. How does he suddenly get an idea like bringing the stove into the greenhouse and lighting it up to make plants grow faster?
Though the saying goes, 'An idiot and a pair of scissors can both be of use', giving this useless brawn a pair of scissors would be trouble in itself.
The way his brain can easily cast away blunders so disastrous...I have surpassed anger, and I am, in fact, rather impressed.
"There's nothing else for it."
Sebastian then empties the greenhouse of the ruined roses and stove:
"This is unfortunate. I had hoped to set the manor with roses, but that will be impossible now."
He then turns to Finny:
"Go on now. I expect you can finish cleaning up on your own."
"Auh, yes I can! Right!"
As he walks away, Sebastian mutters irritably,
"For goodness sake, whyever must they vex me so?"
Back into the kitchen he goes, with a wild bird tucked under his arm for the main meal in the coming evening:
"The most vital part is the main dish. Tonight, we have freshly caught pheasant, sauteed with a rich rosemary and sage paste, which will pair quite nicely with a grand crouge champagne."
As he goes to grab the bottle of champagne, suddenly:
(Ka-BOOM)
Bard comes in with a flamethrower aimed at the where he was baking the bread!
As he coughs and sputters from the smoke and ash, Sebastian turns around with a sigh:
"And of course...Well, let's hear it then. You may as well explain yourself."
"Well, I was thinkin' tha' since we have guests comin' and all, we should treat 'em to a new menu all special-like."
"Of course. (Facepalm) How many times must I tell you? Cooking requires fire, not 'fire-power', you colossal idiot."
"Don'cha sweat the details (since you already have dozens of times in the past). Besides, cooking is art! And art is explosion!"
Sebastian of course, ignores Bard's declaration, as he goes into his third mental rant of the day:
Yes, idiot sounds quite right. You should talk about cooking after you have actually 'cooked' something edible. I believe eighty percent of what you've managed to 'cook' has been charcoal.
Save your art for your hairstyle, and cook something edible...otherwise...I wish for you to become charcoal yourself.
As he assessed the damaged caused by the explosion, he utters,
"Here we go again..."
Sebastian then heads outside with Bard, handing him a stack of bricks:
"Now use these to patch the hole in the wall...And meanwhile..." He then removes the flamethrower from Bard's torso:
"I'll just be confiscating this."
Sebastian enters back into the kitchen to put the tool away, before heading down the hall somewhere else:
"It's always something. All these interruptions and I've barely gotten anything done...And would you look at that, the guests shall be arriving any minute. I must pick up the pace."
"Heh-heh, sounds like you could use a vacation, Sebastian."
"Hm?"
Sebastian turns to glance behind him, and sees Coraline coming up beside him:
"Though I suppose it would be next-to-impossible, considering the possible chaos that could erupt courtesy of the servant trio. Hah, I wish I could help somehow, but wouldn't know where to start..."
Sebastian smiles softly at the young girl, and replies,
"I appreciate the thought, Miss Coraline, but I can manage on my own just fine. Besides, I've noticed that your presence here in the manor has actually caused those three to be a little less destructive as of late."
"...Really?"
Sebastian nods, as he thought about the young redhead walking alongside him:
Those three aside, this young lady, by name of Coraline Croft...her own presence in this world is a mystery in itself.
Entering this world through a vortex caused by some rather careless humans, whom were after her because of a, 'special trait' she carries...It's rather remarkable the girl is still among the living.
So far, she has been quite useful in evoking a sense of calm here in the manor. Yet, much like the young master, her own tragic past continues to haunt her, and will do so until the day she achieves her own goal of vengeance...
Heh, I can't help but wonder what the little Aura Reader's Soul would taste like...
Just as they come to another hall going left, suddenly:
(Pulse)
"Huh?"
Coraline feels something off, and turns to look out the window to the back gardens...
"Do you sense something amiss, Miss Coraline?"
"...Right corner of the hedges, then straight onto the forest edge."
Sebastian looks to where Coraline was indicating, and shifts into a smirk when he sees what she's detecting:
"Ah, yes. Not to worry; I shall see to it."
Coraline nods, before starting her way down the left hall to her guestroom:
"Alright, then I'll be continuing to my room to get changed for dinner. I'll see you and Ciel later."
"Indeed, Miss Coraline."
Small Time Skip
A few hours later, there came a carriage down the path leading up to the Phantomhive Manor.
The occupants include Lau, Ran-Mao, and Cedric Brandel:
"It is almost time now. Are you ready, Brandel?"
Brandel chuckles ominously in response, and Lau asks with his signature calm smile,
"Something amuses you?"
"This'll work. Yes, heheheh...When the dusk settles today, I shall be the victor. Yes, that's right, I shall succeed, even against Earl Phantomhive!"
"My, no need to work yourself up into such a lather, is there?"
Brandel calms himself, and leans back into his seat:
"No, of course not. You're quite right, hehahaha..."
Lau suddenly opens his eyes a fraction, revealing a dusty dark-hazel pair of irises, as he adds ominously,
"But it's when your guard is down the dog is most likely to bite. I confess, I am most interested in how this evening's events shall play out, my lord."
Once they had pulled into the drive and entered the manor, Ciel - now dressed in a gray-blue suit, with a blue flower-bow on his collar tied to his left side, and black outlining parts of the entire ensemble - came down from the right side of the balcony staircase to greet them.
Walking with him was Coraline, wearing a semi-formal long-sleeved dress of gray-blue with matching low-heels, her hair styled into two low ponytails in the back, with a black rose tied in the top of each one.
"Welcome to the Phantomhive Estate. I am Ciel Phantomhive, the current Earl and Family Head."
"Such a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Cedric Brandel. I, had not imagined you quite as youthful, my lord."
As he and Ciel shake hands, Lau chides to Brandel,
"I told you there was no need to feel intimidated. He's ever so small and precious." Ciel hmphs and replies dryly,
"Quite..."
Coraline smiles at Lau and says,
"Easy there, Lau. Even a small boat can send huge waves across the ocean surface."
"Haha, yes, I suppose that's true..."
Coraline then turns to Brandel with a polite smile and introduces herself:
"My name is Coraline Croft, daughter of the previous Mathias Croft. I will also be joining as a guest this evening. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."
Brandel smiles a bit and replies with a small bow,
"Likewise, Lady Croft." Ciel then speaks again:
"I've had a small dinner prepared for us. If you'll follow me, please," and he leads everyone to the dining hall...
(Pop, fizz...)
Sebastian then opens the champagne, and pours it from atop a pyramid of fine glassware. Brandel was impressed by the display:
"Oh, how lovely..." Ciel says to him,
"I could've simply set out some Arper Tea, of course, but I thought this presentation would be the thing."
(Ka-chak)
The door opens, and Mey-Rin comes walking in with a plate of appetizers:
"Ahm, if you'll excuse me, master, I have the hors d'oeuvre..."
Because of how nervous she usually gets during jobs like this, coupled with the fact that her glasses were not of the correct prescription, Mey-Rin was having difficulty seeing straight:
"S-Shaking like a l-leaf..."
Then came the final problem, which would be an undone bootlace:
(Trip)
"Owaaah!"
The platter goes flying, and crashes into the pyramid of champagne glasses...!
Time seemed to have frozen, as Sebastian's eyes flash that pink fushia, before he springs into action, grabbing each of the glasses, saving the champagne, and speedily setting each glass down onto the ground without spilling a single drop!
He finishes by catching the platter of hors d'oeuvre on the champagne bottle, while Coraline went to catch Mey-Rin before she could face-plant onto the ground...Brandel then asks blankly,
"So, uh, what just happened?" Sebastian smiles before answering,
"If you'll pardon me, ladies and gentlemen. This particular vintage is a bit on the bubbly side, so I made the last minute decision to give it a nice defermenting."
Coraline then helps Mey-Rin stand upright again:
"Are you alright, Mey-Rin?"
"Y-Yes, thank you, Miss Coraline." Coraline then frowns and says,
"I really think we should have an eye doctor appointment set up for you. Those glasses aren't doing you any good favours..."
"...Hah, yes, I'm starting to think you're right, yes I do..."
Sebastian's voice then cuts in, causing Mey-Rin to discreetly side-step out of the room in a hurry while he says,
"Please, have a seat and I shall bring you a glass."
"I say, good show. You'd lead to stardom in any acrobatics troupe with that trick."
Sebastian responds modestly to Lau's comment of praise:
"Heavens, me, a star? Surely, you jest. I appreciate the compliment, but I am simply one hell of a butler."
As everyone took a seat, with Lau and Brandel sitting on the sides closest to Ciel's end, and Coraline occupying the other end beside Ran-Mao, Brandel says,
"My lord. I must say, your home provides no end to surprises. Your manor is so beautiful; I can hardly imagine it was in ashes three years ago."
Coraline cringes a bit, worried Ciel would be stung by that reminder from the past...But, Ciel manages to maintain control, and replies dryly if a tad irritably,
"I find small talk dreadfully dull for dinner conversation. Let's move on to the business at hand, shall we?"
Brandel is slightly taken aback by Ciel's bluntness, but nonetheless proceeds:
"In the interest of sustaining profitability, I would like my company to begin marketing to children. And since children throughout London know the Funtom name, it would be most adventurous of me to work with you, my lord."
"Indeed. Children are better judges of both Art and Food than most adults can give them credit for."
"Indubitably, and meeting you only convinces me all the more. I'm beginning to think I've discovered the secret of the Funtom Company's success in that market."
"Oh?"
Ciel suddenly sets his silverware on his plate, and asks with a frown,
"You're saying I'm a child then, and that's why my company has been so successful? Is that what you're suggesting, Brandel?"
Brandel immediately jumps to a defense:
"Oh, no! Why, I would never imply such a thing!" Ciel then smirks lightly and replies,
"Easy, I'm only joking."
"Ah...Haha-hahahaha, my, my, but you do have a wicked sense of humour, my lord."
Coraline giggles a bit from her seat at Ciel's tease and Brandel's nervousness:
Oh Ciel, must you poke fun at clueless adults?
Washroom, Lau and Brandel
Brandel comes out of the lavatory, mumbling,
"Damn that spoiled brat, making sport with his elders. Lau, is that miserable twit really the Queen's Guard Dog like everyone says?"
Lau replies from the sink counter,
"Yes. I told you as much and you know I'd never lie to you."
Brandel goes to sit on the small couch in the room, lighting a cigarette as he rants,
"He hunts all those who oppose him, 'The Policeman of London's Underworld', this 'Villainous Noble', this 'Rabid Guard Dog'..."
(Smoke puff)
"...Impressive markers for a boy. We could move weapons with little expense using the trade routes we've established with the tea companies, but no, wards are all too afraid of the bloody Queen's bloody Guard Dog to unload them."
Brandel then smirks before quirking to Lau,
"Come, are you sure you're not simply buying into an overblown reputation? How awful could he truly be? No one will say what happens when you oppose him..."
(Smoke puff)
"I'd wager that it's because nothing happens." Lau finishes drying his hands, and asks Brandel,
"What exactly do you have planned for tonight?"
"Why, a coup of course. At precisely eight...The Guard Dog's reign will finally be at an end, and its Underworld will have a new order!"
As Brandel goes to exit the room, Lau replies nonchalantly,
"Sounds lovely. I am certainly looking forward to how that all plays out."
Small Time Skip
Brandel has now made his way back to the dining hall entrance, with Lau absent from his side. Before he could open the door, however, Sebastian beats him on the other side:
"Oh. Mr. Lau is no longer by your side, I see."
"He excused himself. Pressing business to attend to, you understand."
Ciel comments from his seat,
"That man isn't fit for polite society."
"Indeed, it's a shame. We have prepared a tasty treat to suggest for your tea salon, and he will be unable to sample it. Most regretful."
"Ah~, you've peaked my curiousity."
As Brandel looks at the time - smirking a bit when he saw the time was close to eight - his thoughts were interrupted by Sebastian:
"Pardon me, allow me to present...a Gale de Roc. It should pair perfectly with your company's tea selection. A conventional albeit festive confections served with a thick creme de maroc. In accordance with tradition, one slice contains a doll known as La Fife. Whoever receives that slice, shall also receive this crown, and be declared King of the Feast, or Queen, if you prefer."
Coraline nods in acknowledgement from her new seat on Ciel's right. Said Earl of Phantomhive adds,
"Just the thing for children, I say. It will be quite popular; the younger so love to play games. I know I do."
"Oh, capital. A sweet treat and a game all in one. Leave it to a little brat like you to come up with something an adult never would."
At Brandel's sneer, Coraline gasps, and Ciel responds with a glare:
"What?"
(Clatter)
Brandel then rises from his seat and shouts,
"Many call you the Queen's Guard Dog, but all I see is a brat who's showing off! If there are two things I cannot abide, it's cocky brats, and losing money when I should be making it!"
(Bong, bong...)
The clock then strikes the next hour...
"Eight o'clock, time for you to die!"
Brandel then ducks under the table, and in came a piercing shot:
(BANG)
Ciel is shot through his head, going down hard on the table...!
"My lord!" "Ciel, NO!"
(BAM)
(Bang, bang, bang...)
In came more men through the doorway, guns at the ready, and they rained bullets throughout the room, several shooting into Sebastian's body, and one shot through Coraline's chest:
(Bang, TOK)
"UH!"
Brandel hears all three bodies fall, and he chuckles half-crazy at his scheme being successful:
"It's over, I did it. I put down the Queen's Rabid Dog! The Underworld has a new ruler now!"
...But...
(Bong, bong...)
...Brandel suddenly hears the chimes of the clock that was suppose to have been destroyed in the attack. Confused, he rises from under the table, and becomes shocked stupid when he discovers...
Nothing Happened.
"Sorry, Mr. Brandel. Did you misplace something of yours?"
As he looks back and forth frantically, trying to make sense of what just occurred, Ciel chuckles before asking teasingly,
"Oh dear. Had a bit too much to drink, have you? Have some cake, it will help, and perhaps forgo the champagne for now?"
"Y-Yes..."
Sebastian helps guide Brandel to his chair again:
"Do sit down." Coraline smiles before saying lightly to Ciel,
"Impairment of one's judgement is one of the many reasons I plan to avoid alcohol altogether."
"Heh, yes, I can see why..."
Meanwhile, Brandel's mind was running frantic in dumbfoundment over what could've gone wrong:
I don't understand; he should be dead by now. Where are the men I have stationed outside?!
(Bite)
"Uh!"
Brandel's teeth then come across a foreign object that was in his slice of the dessert, and Sebastian quirks,
"Ah, why congratulations to you, sir. It seems La Fife was in your slice of pie."
(Spit)
And low and behold, the foreign object, is revealed to be a bullet!
"Your friends left that little token behind, you see. I thought I should return it."
Brandel flinches back from Sebastian, who then explains what really happened to the snipers:
"They arrived earlier today, quite a bit before you graced us with your presence. Don't concern yourself; I already gave them a warm, Phantomhive welcome..."
Flashback, a Few Hours Earlier...
The bubble reflection from the detergent incident, was in fact some of the hit-men skulking in the forest line...
Sebastian would then use his demon speed to sneak-attack, and knock out/kill each one, snapping the neck of the last one...It was in that area he discovered the Snowdrops...
Next came the men positioned behind the greenhouse, whom were rained down on by multiple pieces of silverware...It was there he killed a wild pheasant for dinner...
Then came the tree snipers outside the hole in the kitchen courtesy of Bard...
Sebastian was particularly destructive this round, using Bard's confiscated flamethrower to burn them all alive...Shortly after scaring off/killing the last of them, is when he discovered some wild chestnuts for Ciel's snack...
Finally, there were snipers hidden in the garden greenery and the forest edge, that were in fact spotted by Coraline, courtesy of her Aura Sight...
Sebastian would easily dispatch them with his bare hands, picking up a small pair of black roses to give her to use for her hair...
End Flashback
Brandel is in disbelief:
"No...Tha-That's impossible! There were at least fifty men out there! And just...and just one of you!"
"Well, I did lend a small hand in locating some of your men posted in the gardens."
Brandel looks towards Coraline, and she adds ominously,
"You see, I have a talent for orienteering, one would say. But then again, (Sheen) with greed-ridden Auras like yours, it's not hard to pinpoint you all..."
Brandel flinches from the girl's glowing eyes:
"Wh-What are you?! Some kind of witch?!"
"Oooo, sorry, wrong guess, but thank you for playing."
Brandel then focuses on Ciel:
"Lau informed me of your side business dealing guns on the Black Market, you see. That man does have his uses."
"Damn, that rat! He turned on me?!"
"Not at all. He was never actually on your side in the first place. Perhaps you're not aware that Her Majesty is distressed by all the gun-related crime among the lower classes..."
As Brandel begins to sweat nervously while gritting his teeth, Ciel sighs a bit while setting his tea down:
"Sebastian, make Coraline and I a new pot of tea. These second-rate leaves are positively foul."
"Yes, please, Sebastian. I must agree with Ciel, this is very poor quality tea."
"Indeed."
As Sebastian moves to do as the young teens requested, Brandel suddenly rises, pulling out his own gun from his coat pocket!
"I'll kill you then!"
(Bang, bang, bang)
...But none of the shots fired made contact...
"This simply won't do..."
Sebastian then shows the caught bullets between his fingertips:
"You must be more careful, sir. It seems you keep misplacing your belongings. There, you see? Three more..."
(Ring...)
The bullets drop to the floor, before a spooked Brandel shouts,
"W-W-What's going on here?! What are you?!"
"Oh I am no one special, Mr. Brandel. Simply somebody who cannot be killed by the kind of toys you carry around."
(Bang...bang...bang-boom)
"Gaah!"
Sebastian then plugs the gun on the third failed shot, the recoil sending Brandel to the ground, and the gun is shown to have been blown open around the firing end!
As Brandel cringes from his newly injured hand, he cries out in fear from seeing Sebastian approaching him, before proceeding to try and make a break for it. But just as he reaches the door, it opens, revealing a fake-smiling Sebastian blocking his way out:
"You've forgotten one additional item, I'm afraid..."
As Sebastian places the crown on top of a shaking Brandel's head, he fearfully utters,
"You're, a demon!"
"Oh my. Very discerning for a human, aren't you?"
(Fwip...)
The candles on the chandelier are mysteriously blown out, as Brandel gets shoved back into the room, and Sebastian slowly releases his demonic energy, creating a spectral black wind, his eyes aglow:
"Yes. As you no doubt know it by now, I am simply one hell of a butler."
"N-No! Stay away from me!"
"Brandel."
He turns to see Ciel, who looks at him ominously while holding Coraline to him, shielding her face towards his chest from the scene about to unfold:
"You've noticed nobody talks about when the Queen's Guard Dog catches you. Any theories as to why that may be?"
Tightening his hold on Coraline with his left arm, he then reaches to remove his eye-patch with his right, quoting with a dangerous smile,
"Well, it's because 'Dead men tell no tales', you see."
(Sheen...)
The twin marks of the covenant glow, as Brandel's scream rings true, his form swallowed by the shadows...
Small Time Skip
(Ka-chak)
"I've returned, my lord. All finished here?"
Ciel takes his cup of new tea from Sebastian and asks Lau,
"Where were you all this time?"
"Well, as it happens, I was waylayed by some lads who gave me this."
Lau then hands over a letter to Sebastian, who passes it to Ciel:
"Yes, I see. Wait, who gave this to you?"
"Some funny old chaps dressed in white, that's all I know. They seemed to have taken me for a servant. Can you imagine that, my lord?"
Coraline goes to pick up her new cup of tea, her hands slightly shaking from the sounds she unfortunately had to hear before Brandel's demise, as she thought about the description:
Dressed in white...Oh! They must have been from Her Grace's Service.
Ciel opens the envelope, but not only finds a letter, but two tickets for an upcoming event, that Lau seemed to know about:
"Curious. These appear to be tickets to the traveling circus that's coming to town. The Noah's Ark Circus, I believe they call themselves..."
"Noah's Ark, huh? Interesting name choice..."
(Rattle, spill)
"Ah, damn..."
Coraline then accidentally loses her grip on her teacup, it falling onto the saucer, and half of the contents spilling onto the table.
"Sorry..."
Ciel then notices that Coraline's hands were still trembling a little, and grabs them gently before asking,
"Your hands are shaking...Are you okay?"
Coraline looks up at his unreadable expression, and smiles faintly before replying,
"...I'm fine. I, guess tonight's encore has left me a tad rattled, is all..."
Small Time Skip, Ciel's Bedroom
"You've worked hard today, my lord. You must be tired."
Ciel climbs into bed, his nightshirt now buttoned on, and sits on the side while saying boredly,
"Today's game was dull. It didn't offer any challenge."
As he took off Ciel's eye-patch, Sebastian replies,
"That's likely not because you believe you could ever lose...not with me as your loyal chessman."
"Loyal? Tch, don't make me laugh, you just want my soul."
"Yes. That is correct, my lord. I shall remain by your side, so long as our contract lasts. (Bow) I am yours to the very end, even if your wish is a foolish revenge. I shall remain here."
"Foolish revenge...Heh, I suppose it may be. And you are not the first to tell me so..."
(Knock, knock)
"Come in."
(Ka-chak)
Coming into the room, was Coraline, dressed in her nightgown:
"Hi."
"Ah, and here comes your other loyal chessman, 'The Chess Piece with No Name'."
Coraline smiles sheepishly and replies,
"Gee, I didn't think the name would actually stick...Um, are you sure, me sleeping here is okay?"
"...Yes. I can tell that Brandel's scream had scared you quite a bit...and, I'd rather you not plagued with nightmares tonight..."
As Ciel lightly blushes, Coraline smiles appreciatively at the young earl:
"...Thank you."
Ciel nods, and gestures Coraline to come to bed, to which she does. With Coraline on the left side, and Ciel on the right, Sebastian draws back the covers over both their bodies:
"You have an extremely full schedule tomorrow. Best that you get a good-night's sleep, then."
As the butler bows before making his way out of the room, he stops when Ciel calls to him:
"Sebastian...Stay in the room. Just until we fall asleep."
Sebastian smiles, before answering back,
"Yes, my lord."
A demon's nights are long. He must keep a sharp watch to prevent anyone from harming his delicate prey. Such purity must not be sullied. He does whatever necessary to ensure that he receives the Soul brimming with despair, until his master's foolish desire is fully met.
Sebastian watches Ciel's form, noticing Coraline sleepily reaching her hand out to his, grabbing hold before succumbing to slumber...
The young earl subconsciously squeezes back...
The butler, eyes shining fushia, smiles while finishing his thoughts:
"It is all a part of the demon's aesthetic, you see..."
(Foom)
He blows the candelabra out, and adds,
"Goodnight, my lord, miss...Sweet dreams."