Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji
AN: Hello! Well now, the poll results are even and now I have no idea what to do. Actually, I kinda do...it shall be a surprise! Now they are in the creepy cult place and Phia makes an awful pun, just bear with her, she is off her rocker. Hope you have fun reading!
To be in his company for so long….if I wasn't insane already, I would be by now.
I grit my teeth as I struggled to stay still in the bumpy cart. The muffled voice of the Undertaker was audible through the lid of the coffin.
"I am here to deliver a coffin, as per the order."
"A coffin? I didn't hear anything about that."
"I have it here. Where did I put it? Here? No, was it here?" I could hear various objects falling to the ground, no doubt odd items.
We hopped out of the cart while he was distracted, and I scrambled to get away from Grell as fast as possible.
"Alright, you may enter. Same goes for the people over here." The gatekeeper wearing the black and red robes glanced over at the bushes where we hid. We popped out of the bushes a little sheepishly.
"Well then, I must be going now. I have played my part."The Undertaker mumbled.
"Is that so? Thank you for your trouble. May your soul be purified." We were lead in by him, following him through the trees that were aglow with the light of the sunset. It was quite peaceful.
"Hey, wasn't the infiltration supposed to be difficult?" The little earl whispered.
"Yes, indeed it should have been," Sebastian said thoughtfully.
Three robed members crossed the path ahead of us and they bowed in greeting politely.
"Impeccable smiles, aren't they?"The little earl said a little bitterly.
"Rather instructive for you, young master, who forgot how to laugh long ago." Sebastian smiled, just a tad mockingly.
"Hah, don't be ridiculous. Those are-"I laughed before I was interrupted.
"-False smiles," The little earl finished bitterly.
We walked into a large, dark coloured brick church, the setting sun lighting up the coloured glass. The little earl walked down the pews, flinching when he looked up at a certain coloured glass window.
"Young master?" Sebastian walked up to him.
I turned around as a bunch of lively children ran in, all dressed in identical sailor like outfits.
"Good evening! Today was a wonderful day again, don't you think?" They said happily.
"Ah, they are so cute! I have no interest in kids though," Grell said. They ran over to talk with him as I knelt before another.
"Hello!" I smiled kindly as I waved.
"Good evening, Unclean sister! You really are very unclean!" The boy said politely, like he was making conversation.
"What a perceptive boy you are." I patted him on the head, which put a horrified look on his face.
"Ah! I was touched by an unclean! I gotta be cleansed!" The bunch of kids ran out, Grell looking like he had just gone through a similar situation.
I only wish that was the first time someone has said that to me.
I sighed, closing the hand that was still extended.
The children ran out as Grell chased them, only to be interrupted by the arrival of a kind looking nun.
"After a certain age, all people are considered impure." She smiled as she explained. She looked over at us, scanning us quickly.
"Judging by your clothes, you are a recent convert. Don't worry, once initiated into the teachings of the Founder, you will be purified.
"Hey, this place-"The little earl began but Sebastian stopped him, taking the initiative.
"Impure? That is strange to hear? Such a beautiful lady as yourself could not possibly be tainted." Sebastian said silkily and I raised an eyebrow.
Well, what is this? Does Sebastian think he can seduce a 'faithful' woman? Rather, can this woman resist him? I watched on in amusement as Sebastian quickly closed in on her. She took a few steps back, shocked by the sudden intimacy. She hit the wall and I was surprised to see a faint blush on her cheeks.
Oh, my….I don't need a couple of lifetimes to tell me where this is heading…..
"I know close to nothing about this religious society. Could you please explain it to me in detail?" Sebastian asked charmingly.
"Of course, but then…what are you…" She stammered breathily, looking away when Sebastian suddenly slammed his hand against the wall beside her head. She jumped, shutting her eyes briefly as the blush deepened.
"A bug." He leaned in so close to her I almost couldn't see any distance apart from them. He leaned back, blowing it off his hand.
"You will explain it to me, won't you?" He said with a heavier inlaid tone of confidence. She nodded, completely sucked in.
"What a completely reckless means of obtaining information…I feel embarrassed for him." I choked out from my seat on the ground, covering my mouth with my hand to stop the laughter. We waited outside a small building, where Sebastian and our Miss. 'Clean' Nun were having their own private 'lesson'. The little earl leaned calmly against a stone pillar, amazingly mature for his age.
Does he even know what's going on in there? I coughed, covering up the stray snort of laughter.
"Monastery? More like moanastery! Ahahahahah!" I laughed way more than that pathetic pun deserved.
"What is with that?" The little earl grimaced at me.
"I'm a little unsure….it's quite possible it's a defence mechanism. The thought of Sebastian rendezvousing with that little dear in there is too much for my mind to take. Bear with me, young master." I bowed in apology.
Grell squirmed angrily and in frustration, whining non-stop.
"So, even he can use that approach…" The little earl said resignedly.
"She is definitely going on my Doomed to Die list!" Grell yelled.
"Oh, just shut up and enjoy the hilarity of the situation, Grelly." I waved at him impatiently.
"The Doomsday Books of those who live a long life become tainted. " She explained contentedly and softly while she combed her fingers through her hair. I looked away sheepishly at her comment, scratching my cheek.
"The Founder purifies a part of the taint recorded in the Book for us. He also says the Doomsday Book contains a record of both the past and the future.
"Oh? The future, he says?" Sebastian said.
"Yes, however, the only ones to learn about that are the children chosen for Heaven's Choir."
"Heaven's Choir? Are they singing hymns or something?" The little earl asked.
"The nuances of it are probably somewhat different from simple singing. They let their beautiful voices be heard from the Founder's bedroom."
"As only boys are being chosen for Heaven's Choir, the young master is the only who can get close to the Founder."Sebastian said to the little earl.
"Oh, really?" I looked over to Grell dressed, or more accurately, stuffed into the uniform the little boys were wearing earlier.
"I am almost certain I just died a little inside."I grimaced.
"Entering Heaven's Choir is something even I can do!" Grell twirled.
"So? Does it suit me?"
"Wah! I'll become unclean!" A half naked boy cried beside him.
"You…" The little earl seethed at Grell.
A gentle sound interrupted him and while it should have sent me into a cloud of bliss like such music usually did, instead I felt goose bumps rise on my arms.
"Ah, the time of the Founder's purification ceremony has come!" The little boy clasped his hands together, expression changing into one of delight.
"Purification?" Grell muttered.
"God literally knows I need one after seeing you." I covered my mouth in disgust. He leaped for me angrily and I stepped behind Sebastian, who was quietly contemplating through the tussle.
"As I said, something really stinks." Sebastian murmured.
"Is something wrong?"
"No. I just perceived the stench of an apple that has fallen to the ground and rotted through."
We sat in the back isle of the church, cautious of what was going to happen.
Someone sat at the organ, playing softly while a priest robed in white walked up to the podium. The church was lit by weak candlelight and it sent eerie dancing shadows across the walls.
"Tonight, all sinful filth will be purified here." He said, his voice projecting clearly and echoing against the hollow walls. Two people, a man and a woman were led up to him and they were unrobed to reveal the dark, twisted symbol on their naked backs. Another priest brought two books up to him while the bare pair knelt quietly.
"Are those Cinematic Records?" Sebastian asked Grell.
"We're too far away to be sure." Grell snuggled closer to Sebastian.
"Let us read from the Doomsday Books of these impure, stray children. Jill Peasant, born the second daughter of a farmer, fell pregnant at the age of fifteen." The priest said. Even from the back of the church, I could see her shivering and hear her whimpers. It was disconcerting to watch but I kept my eyes glued on the scene, morbid anticipation seeping through my veins.
"Thomas Atkins. Though he hasn't committed any noticeable evil doings, he let the years pass meaninglessly, and this is a grave sin." The members of the church all had their heads bowed in prayer, but it didn't appear any of us in the last row believed in the divine salvation this cult has offered us.
The pair writhed at the front and a black mist looked like it was rising off them. Their cries echoed around and I placed a hand on Sebastian's cheek.
"May I ask what you are doing?"
"Just checking whether you were sizzling up in all these holy happenings. You're okay. Though I suggest if you feel the slightest bit warm, you should immediately evacuate the church premises." I informed him.
"Duly noted." He replied, amusement evident on his face. Suddenly, a bright light filled the room from the coloured glass, and it was almost as if images were being played on it. There were flashes from the people's lives, just quick memories and images.
"This is…"
"Get rid of the immoral, get rid of the useless, get rid of the barren, get rid of the unclean!" With a loud shout and crack, the glass seemingly shattered and the contorted duo on the floor yelled. The light died and everything looked as if it were back to normal and I blinked, not in surprise per se, but just a little wowed by the things I had just seen. Incredibly unboring. Delightful.
"Now, there is no impurity on this platform. What shall we do with those washed clean?" The Founder, I presumed said triumphantly from his place on the podium. Shouts and words of amazement flew around the room as they stood up in excitement and awe.
"Founder! Founder!"
"Thank God!"
The marks had disappeared from the backs of the 'washed clean' and they were escorted off gently.
"This is strange. The books that guy was carrying weren't Cinematic Records." Grell mused. We were the only ones after the 'purification' that had remained in the once again gloomy and dark church.
"That should mean he has no power to see the past." The little earl looked like he was thinking hard.
"Ah, you are still here! Heaven's grace has been bestowed upon you!" A happy nun said joyfully.
"It's fine! I can do it myself, okay?" Ciel struggled with the two helpers as they tried to take off his shirt.
"You can't! Being chosen for Heaven's Choir means you must be cleansed down to your fingernails!" One snuck up to him, rubbing her face on his arm.
"Such impeccable skin!" She exclaimed. Ciel jumped away violently, struggling out of their grasps.
"Don't touch me!"
"Don't worry, we have already been cleansed."
"That's not the-"
"I beg your pardon. You can leave the rest to me." Sebastian interrupted.
"That won't do, you are still unclean." She protested. Sebastian looked hurt, like a puppy that was kicked.
"I am unclean?" He said innocently. Red creeped onto their faces and they looked at him adoringly.
Che, who are the unclean ones? Ciel stood there, annoyed and trying not to roll his eyes at his butler's performance.
"Maybe you are not…."
"You're probably very proud of yourself today." Ciel said.
"Not at all, I just wish for this matter to proceed smoothly. I do not intend to put my young master in danger." Sebastian said as he washed his back in the circular bath.
"To hear those words coming out of your mouth…"
"Even though the Doomsday Books used in the recent ceremony was fake, that doesn't change the fact that this Founder possesses some strange power."
"Unclean…that's what that puppet called me, and there is also this…" He glanced down at the symbol on his ribs.
"This pattern, which brought me all the way down to hell is the sole spiders thread I have left."
"Do you really believe that you can escape from hell by taking hold of it?"
"No, I am not going to escape. I will seize the spiders thread and pull down whoever is holding the other end into the hell I am experiencing." Ciel didn't waver.
"How like my master."
"I only expect you to say one thing in such a situation."
"Yes, my lord."
AN: Huzzah for Sebastian's way with ladies. Thanks for reading :)