"Ahh... Yes. My first love. I remember her now, so crystal clear. It's one memory I am fond of, and will forever cherish above anything else." Sebastian cooed, settling back into the chair, crossing his arms and legs. "She was a simply blissful woman. Sleek...Slender. She had the most beautifully soft hair... I believe it was Aphrodite. That was her name."

"You mean someone named their child Aphrodite?" Haricku asked with skepticism, sneering at Sebastian. "That's stupid."

"No, I bestowed that name upon her myself, for the goddess' beauty that she held. It's not stupid, it's complementary."

"Sebastian..."

"Quiet, I'm telling a story. Ah, where was I? Oh, yes, I met her in Greece..." He sighed happily, holding a hand to his heart, positively melting within his chair, closing his eyes, trying to play this sweet lie into a beautiful truth. "It was the first time I was on E-... On... European ground... I was very excited. Athens was so beautiful. It was there, where I had first met her, and she was simply amazing. For the day, I had roamed around, taking in my surroundings, enjoying the sights, the sounds, the culture. All of it was beautiful. Yet, I was missing something. Someone.. To share this experience with. Someone that would understand me, walk with me, someone that I could hold and take along... And from the corner of my eye, I noticed a slender, black haired female, sitting alone alongside a fountain, tenderly washing her arms and face in the Greek heat. I was in disguise as a charming young man named...Uh... Let's go with Ernest-"

"Why the bloody hell would you choose your name to be Ernest?" she asked scathingly, crossing her arms over her chest, glaring down at her lap. It was obvious she wasn't enjoying the story, with each compliment of the woman, her face becoming more and more sour. "It's not even Greek."

"I told you, I was in disguise, for certain reasons. You didn't expect me to be using my real name, did you? Of course not, so I had to come up with a fake muse and outlook, I was playing as someone that could fit in easily."

"Might as well used Hercules or Zeus." Her eyes rolled, lowering in the bed, listening with irritation to the story, trying to drown the details of the encounter, green eyes flickering towards Sebastian every few seconds to see what expression he had displayed whilst speaking, finding lack of any.

"As I was saying. She noticed me from across the way, and gestured towards me, using her flawless charm as bait, beckoning me over, instantly hooking me into a passionate stare-off with her. Aphrodite's voice... Oh, how I yearned for it to call my name... However, she could not just yet, so, I went, a heat within my eyes, a longing to hold her. When I was close enough, I got onto my hands and knees, ran my hand along her back and leaned in close. Oh, how she purred... I asked her out and she silently accepted. Oh, how happy I was."

"Tch, so?"

"I brushed her black hair... Ah, it was so soft. My whole being was simply engulfed within the simplicity of her tender locks."

"I... I really don't want to hear this." Haricku wasn't liking the story at all, feeling as though he was telling her the story on purpose to get some kind of reaction out of her. The only thing she felt was pain, her heart heavy with sadness.

"Green eyes..."

"Huh? Black hair and green eyes... Do I resemble the woman that Sebastian loved? Could it be... That's why he hates me?" she thought curiously.

"A flexible body... Oh, my, she was so skinny. Aphrodite could move in ways I never thought was possible for someone such as her. Especially her tongue-"

Having had enough, Haricku let out a riled sigh, putting her hands to her ears. "J-Just stop!"

"Ah, Minamoto... Are you jealous, perhaps? No... It isn't 'perhaps'. The jealousy is ridden all over your face, your eyes, the way you move, and the way you speak. You can't stand me with another woman, can you? It's a shame for you, that I've been with so many... You're just another puppet in my show."

"What's wrong? I thought women loved romance stories."

"N-Not... Not all of us do!" protested she, shaking her head quickly, the thick, black hair swishing around her face messily. "Give me gore, give me horror, I'll even take Shakespeare's plays, but nothing concerning romance."

"Oh? My apologies. I thought you'd want to hear the story of how I had set my sights on a black cat." Sebastian gave a shrug and looked away. "If you don't want to hear it, that's fine. I'll tell you some other time then?"

"W-" Haricku stalled all movement, a subtle anger welling up within her, making the room dead silent as she stared at the man before her intently, then pulled off the covers from her body, swinging her legs to hang off the bed, planted her feet to the floor, albeit a little unstable, sat up, and stood to face Sebastian. "A cat." Her face was drained of any expression as she towered over the man, glowering down at him with a thick aura of annoyance, her teeth gritting together, hands gripping into shaking fists while her nails dug into her palms. "You made me – You... I. ..Hm. Over a cat."

"You really are jabbering now. Haricku, I suggest you sit down before you-" A slap reverberated through the room as Haricku's hand made contact with Sebastian's cheek, leaving a red handprint of bitterness behind. "Haricku?" He called out, shocked from the intense slap he had just received. The demon had to admit... It had hurt quite a bit.

"Why didn't you just say so from the beginning!?" She yelled at him, pulling on his cheek and ear, like he was a little child that had done something wrong. "You had me going there for a second, yes you did! Why would you make it so ambiguous in the first place?!"

"I said it was a love!" He protested, leaning towards her hand to lessen the tug. "I didn't remark whether it was an animal or being love!" His fingers wrapped around her wrists, trying to pull her off, but she instead grabbed onto his hair, pulling his head into her chest as Haricku got him into a headlock. With the situation, Sebastian was shocked she would attempt to abuse him out of anger, although it wasn't entirely unexpected, but where his face had been corralled made him blush.

"You slimy git, you're the worst! Ever!"

"Watch who you're calling a git!"

"I don't care who you are, you don't toy with someone like that!"

"Haricku!"

"Sebastian!"

"Let go!"

"I will not until you apologize!"

"Haricku!"

"Sebastian!"

"Aleistor!" A cheery voice called out before the doors slammed open, and a cry of anguish roared through the room as the Viscount gazed upon the two fighting, shaking his head. "Please, please, do not have a lover's quarrel! My home... Should be filled with love and beautiful women!" The Viscount entered the room, again, with an over-dramatic appearance as usual, white doves erupting behind him, shooting out the tall, open window on the opposite side of the wall.

"Lover's quarrel!?" Both the maid and butler exclaimed for a moment, looked at one another, grimaced, then scoffed back to the Viscount. "Never!"

"Now, now, now, I saw how the 'Black Dog' gazed upon his prey of the 'Helpless Minx'! Even if he appeared to want to devour her, he knew he couldn't! I saw the distress in his eyes as he desired to help her! To love her! What terrible conscious could you two have to not see it!? To not accept it!?" He cried out, swaying again as he put an arm over his eyes, valiantly sobbing. "What a cruel world, where two lovers are devoid of the passion they share for each other!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Haricku yelled, but her face flustered brightly as she dropped her arms from around Sebastian, looked away from the men and made her way towards the window, crossing her arms under her chest, looking down upon the neat, beautiful garden that the Viscount owned. "I can't love anyone. Especially not an oaf as rude as the butler."

"Ahh. Even more so for me. I could never allow myself to be smitten by the likes of a disastrous, nerve-wrecking, dangerous-"

"Dangerous?! How am I dangerous?!"

"You attacked me. I think you left a mark on my cheek, you know. It still stings..." To put on a show of airs, Sebastian sighed dramatically and put a hand to his red cheek, rubbing thoughtfully.

"People, people! Man, woman!" The Viscount cried out, stepping in between Haricku and Sebastian, shaking his head, his light, golden hair swaying smoothly with his movements. "This is madness! A world where two people do not accept the love of their counterpart is absurd! I know. You two shall dine here, tonight!"

"Dine here?" asked Haricku, curiously looking to the Viscount questioningly.

"I'm sorry, I must return to my master. I do not have time to be focused with the likes of Minamoto, let alone dine with her," Sebastian stated coldly, eyes glaring at the maid with a peculiar glare.

"I-Idiot! It's not like I wanted to have dinner with you, anyway!" Haricku yelled, looking away, putting a hand to her hip, snarling. "Stupid butler."

"Oh? You sounded a bit happy when the Viscount mentioned it. Damn maid."

Aleistor sighed, then moved towards Haricku, put his most charming smile on and took her hand atop his, placing a soft kiss onto it. "Very well, if the Pup doesn't want to dine with you... What do you say to dine with me?"

Instantly, Sebastian shot Viscount a stern glare, but softened his expression, looking away acting like he didn't care.

"How insidious... Of course she'll turn him down. She's in love with me, not that weirdo-"

"I accept."

"What?!" Sebastian blurted out rather loudly, mainly in shock, turning to stare at Aleistor and Haricku intently.

"Did you not hear me, Mister Sebastian? I'm dining with Viscount Aleistor Chambers."

"Ahah... Sir. She's just a maid. Courting her wouldn't provide you with any political gain," Sebastian protested, trying to make a point that he was a Noble, and Haricku, being a lowly servant, would not be as useful as a woman of social status. "B-Besides, I'm-"

"You're what, Michaelis?" Haricku sneered unsparingly, her emerald eyes showing little mercy, annulling Sebastian's protest of him courting her.

"Is that so? That doesn't matter to me. A beautiful, flower, whether owned by a garden gnome, or watched over by an angel... Either way, both are lovely to me."

"I- … I don't really understand where you're coming from, sir," Sebastian said, a hard look upon his face.

"It's fine, Pup. You said you had a master to tend to? Please, we shan't keep him awaiting any longer, you may leave. Miss Minamoto shall be taken care of with the utmost attention!"

Now, Sebastian had suddenly regretted everything he had said, moving a foot against the tiled floor. "Right." He mumbled, pushing from the chair and stood up, not wanting to leave without the maid. "Please take care of the Phantomhive maid. She is the only one doesn't paint the stairs white."

"Do not fret, she'll be returned to you. Or, maybe if we are well acquainted.." The Viscount grabbed Haricku's hand, pulling her close to his body, and locked his purple eyes with her own shining green ones, a desiring lust filling them. "She won't return to you. But, you don't mind, right? You two, aren't together, afterall?"

Not having a retort to this, Sebastian bit his tongue, glared at the couple and headed for the door quickly, glancing over his shoulder. "Have fun." The sound of the doors slamming angrily shut made Haricku flinch, and she pulled away from the noble, dropped her arms to her side heavily, sat on the bed and put her face into her hands, not speaking or talking.

Aleistor glanced towards the maid, then the door, sighing lightly. "You two really do love each other. It's painful to see that you deny it."

"I don't... Love him," she mumbled, falling sideways onto the bed, rubbing her wet eyes. "It's... Just a small crush. Something I can get over... I always get over them."

"It's quite redundant to keep your feelings inside, my little sugar cube." Aleistor walked around the bed, sitting next to Haricku, placing a hand over her forehead, leaning down. "But if you don't love him, what shall I do to win you over?"

"I'm not a prize, Viscount. You'd do well to remember that."

"But you're as valuable as one," he teased, moving the hand from her forehead to her cheek, caressing sweetly, "Let's fit you into a dress..."

"I'm not feeling too well... Can we do it later? It's still early."

"Ahh, you are feeling under the weather, still? What a shame... I'll take you to my room. You'll be better taken care of whilst there."

"N-No... I'm fine in here," the maid said hurriedly, attempting to sit up, but Aleistor pushed her back down with a stern force, pinning her to the bed, towering his body over hers like a preying hawk. One hand was pressed firmly to her shoulder, the other holding her cheek rather tight. "...V-Viscount..."

"Don't move," he whispered the order, leaning his face down as he dragged a leg over to rest beside her waist, pressing into the bed, making it give an execrable groan. Haricku's heart beat wildly from the action, and she lifted her right hand to her chest, feeling for the small books that she usually carried, and yet, there wasn't anything to find. After all, she was wearing only the bandages, so how would they have fit anyway? Furthermore, the Viscount wouldn't have put them back if he had found them... So where could they have gone off to?

"Aleistor," Haricku's breathing and voice hitched in her throat as she suddenly felt the gentle touch of his soft lips on her own, turning her cheeks pink with a hot glare, and causing her eyes to widen. It was a strange kind of kiss, one that settled Haricku, yet put her on the edge, making her body quiver and tingle. This certainly wasn't something she had wanted, but something about the sweet aroma that was around the viscount, and the contact of his lips, together, with hers, made things seem dreamlike, like she was sleeping, but attune to everything that was going on. Too soon, was it over and Aleistor had begun to move the hand from her shoulder, downwards, inch by inch over her bare skin, dragging his fingers like she was a delicate wine glass he was touching, until it reached the bandages, one finger hooking under them.

"Just relax," he whispered into her ear, the side of his face pressing against her own to force her head to the side, allowing more access to her neck, his tongue expertly gliding over the bare, pale skin of the maid, his lips suctioning onto the flesh, suckling to establish his mark upon her, the bandages started to go down increasingly, little by little. Haricku's heart beat wildly, one hand debating to smack him off, the other wanting to caress his hair. Still, the bandages went lower, and lower, passing over her breasts until-

"Stop!" cried out Haricku, feeling her throat dry, and her heart pound away like a train's engine. Both of her hands were against Aleistor's chest, tears now streaming out of her eyes spilling over the side and down her temples, disappearing within her black hair; her mouth contorting into a pained frown, pushing him off harshly and rolled off the bed, slamming into the floor which issued a cry of discomfort from the distress the wounds shot up. Already, she could feel the small amount of blood well up within her stomach bandage, a red blot appearing slowly, like a target.

Down the hall, Sebastian had been making his way very sluggishly towards the exit, not entirely willing to leave just yet, waiting for that single hope of hearing the woman call for him. In his mind, played a little scenario, where she left the arms of the Viscount, tears running down her face, calling for him urgently, throwing herself upon him and begging for forgiveness. However, upon hearing the distress yell to halt whatever it was Aleistor was doing, his eyes glowered with a slight constrict of his pupils and he stopped where he was, turned around, and began running back to the room as quickly as he left.

"Come now, my sugar cube." Aleistor pressed on wards still, stepping off the bed, closing the gap between the two of them, and crawled over Haricku, moving his body between her legs, his waist against her own and grabbed one of her wrists and the other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling their bodies close, and pushed her against the wall, settling onto the floor. "You shouldn't fight me... It'll be bad." His eyes shone with a hidden malice, to which Haricku felt uncomfortable with. These were eyes she had not seen present in anyone for a long time – These are the eyes she had feared, above anything else.

The only thing Haricku felt like doing was glare, and she quickly found this to be useless as she watched his face draw closer, and closer, his features going out of focus, awaiting the pressure of his lips again, so she closed her eyes, hoping the Viscount wouldn't toy with her for too long, for the energy to fight back was nonexistent within her. Without her magic, she didn't want to move. With it, she could have escaped without hurting him, and the situation right now seemed too unreal to happen. This situation, the Viscount, made her feel like nothing but a play toy.

Then, the lips were pressed against hers, and she felt herself calming down, letting out a shuddering whimper, not moving away from the kiss. What was different? Why didn't she pull away? The kiss was more auspicious this time around, more uplifting, infinitely sweeter, the lips warm and inviting, yet had a mysterious bite to it, as though trying to entice her was its goal, and the pressure from her wrist and waist left, replaced by two strong arms swathing themselves around her, lifting her up. Who was she to protest? She wasn't anything. She wasn't anyone. Letting out a deplorable, defeated whimper, she opened her eyes, noticing the white image of the Viscount's outfit and torso gone, replaced with an alluring black, a small tinkling of a chain presiding, causing a stir of confusion within her, and Haricku looked upwards to see the neutral, pale face of the butler, standing tall, striding towards the exit of the mansion, eyes fixated forward, carrying the smaller maid within his grasp protectively.

"Seb-" she began to stutter, but the butler cut her off punctually.

"Sh."

"But-"

"Shh..." He gave the maid a reassuring smile as he opened the french doors of the manor, stepping outside into the bright sunlight, squinting his crimson eyes. "Let's get you home."

"...Why," croaked the weary Haricku, slamming her forehead into the man's strong chest, feeling the warm tears begin to run away from her, her voice crackling from the strain of holding in the desperate emotion, fingers gripping to the collar of his shirt. Her usually strong demeanor had broken down, crumbled into nothing, all from the actions of a lustful man. "Why did you come back? You weren't even gone that long, you idiot."

"What kind of gentleman would I be, if I didn't help a lady in need when she called for a predator to stop? The said predator not stopping, I found it convenient to intervene, unless you want me to go and put you back? I don't think the Viscount would mind trying to get at you again," He asked, all emotion gone from his voice.

"N-no... I'd rather not... Please, don't put me back," she breathed out quietly, shaking her head, her face rubbing into the black tailcoat he wore, the chain clinking merrily. "Sebastian..."

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For... For what I said. And how I acted..."

"Everyone loses their temper at times." Looking around carefully, he sighed, and then admitted, "I'm sorry, as well. I was out of line in what I had discussed. I'll keep my teasing you to a less painful level."

"It was my fault, anyway," she paused to rub her palm across her eyes, sighing softly, "I shouldn't have let the story get to me."

"It wasn't a 'story'. It was the truth."

"Right... I'm sorry."

Silence swallowed them both as they trekked back to the Phantomhive manor. Sometimes, Haricku wondered if she should ask Sebastian for her to get off and walk on her own, but all the while, he kept his arms embraced around her tightly to him, making the effort to move little to naught; thus, she decided to allow the butler to take her back home, the silence almost stifling, yet serene, until Sebastian changed his gaze from the forward position, down to Haricku, his head cocking to the side just a bit.

"Haricku?"

Her eyes grew upon hearing his voice speak to her, having not expected any conversation to be ingrained between them on their way back to the manor, but she quickly replied to him, "Y-Yes?"

"If I may ask... While you were unconscious, you were saying something about a woman named Colette?"

To this, Haricku's heart, along with her stomach, sank like a stone in a still lake, her body becoming rigid from the question. "W-What did I say about her?"

"Hm, if I remember correctly, you were laughing quite a bit."

"Laughing..."

"Mhm. You also murmured something about...What was it.. Angels, demons, and something about 'God' existing. Was she a religious teacher?"

"Y-Yeah...You could say that... She was a french immigrant that had come over here when I was younger. She was my God-mother, so to speak, and when my parents had passed away, she sort of... Raised me, I guess, in a way."

"Oh? How long has it been since your parents died?"

"Ten years or more... I was about five. I don't remember."

"Well, how old are you now?"

"I will be turning twenty one at the end of next month..."

"So, then, almost fifteen years. My, my... Your math is quite terrible."

"S-Shut up! It's not like I wanted to remember something like that!" She protested with a glare, lifting her face to give the man an analytical look, glancing over him.

"I understand, do not worry. My parents died when I was young as well."

"Would make sense, considering your manners towards me are a total mockery."

"That's not because they died... Hmmph," he scoffed and closed his eyes, turning his head from her. "It's because sometimes, you annoy me."

"I've been trying to be nice to you since I've been here," she snarled at him with a glare, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Whatever the case may be... I'm just not used to kindness, I suppose."

"So you lash out at me? That makes sense." Haricku rolled her eyes with a jutting frown.

"Sorry? Is that what you want me to say?"

"Nevermind. How much further til the manor?"

"Not much. Look, there's the main road leading up to the front. Just past the gates, and I'll draw a bath for you once we're inside. See? I can be nice as well."

"Right... Well, I hope it's to stay for a bit," she stated matter-of-factly, looking up the cobblestone road, craning her neck to catch the front of the house. The warm feel of Sebastian's lips lingered onto hers, and the young maid couldn't help but to run the tip of her finger over them inquisitively many times, as though trying to replicate the same sensation. Carefully watching her, Sebastian let out a small smirk while she did so, feeling quite accomplished with the outcome and how she reacted towards the kiss.

"Let's see... How much longer must I endure this? Master Ciel told me to court her, and yet it doesn't feel as though we are. Perhaps I should try harder? Hm, what am I saying. This is merely for information. What else should I inquire about? Colette is certainly something to touch on, whatever Haricku had stated within her comatose proved a bit useful. Such a young child to commit a murder... It almost excites me, fufu. And that laugh... I haven't heard one in such joy of sending another human to their death for a long time. My master is at least a little humble about it. Haricku, however... Well, now she's a different project entirely, isn't she. No wonder Matthew had taken a grasp of her soul... It'd be certainly a delicious one he's sown over the last decade or so." Sebastian's thoughts stopped in their tracks, as well as his feet, now standing in the middle of the road, just outside of the gates, eyes narrowing sharply. "So Matthew wants this soul...I see why he wanted it sooner than later, but he won't get his fill upon her just yet... I cannot allow it until my master's orders are complete. To ensure she is not a threat upon the Funtom Company."

Seeing that they stopped again, Haricku looked up at Sebastian, slightly worried, and tugged on his shirt gently. "Sebastian."

No response.

"Sebastian?"

Again, nothing.

"Hello?" She pestered on, tilting her head to the side, then sighed, climbing down from his arms and headed to the gate, stumbling a bit, hanging onto the rods, pushing open the gates, glancing back to wait for the butler.

Coming out of his sense finally, once the sensation of Haricku's weight left his arms, he lifted his head from contemplation, hurrying after Haricku. "Sorry, did I worry you?"

"No, I just assumed your body finally shut down."

"Shut.. Down?"

"Since you work like a machine, I thought you were broken. I'll be sure to call an engineer if that happens to you again."

"Very funny. Now get going."

"Me? You're the one day dreaming, butler." Her body rotated ninety degrees, hobbling up ahead of Sebastian to the front door, opening it and slipped inside, leaving the latter behind, who had stopped again, his nose picking up something he wished that was not present when he was around.

"I'll be there in a minute for your bath!" Sebastian called out cheerily.

"W-wait, you're going to be giving me a bath-...Sebastian!" Haricku tried to call after him, but shook her head as he left the premises. Stupid butler... Should make me biscuits before you give me a bath.

Waving his arm about at her momentarily, then frowning, dropping the arm and took off for the eastern part of the forest that governed the manor, engulfing it in a green, botanical defense. This scent...It's him, isn't it?

Traversing through the trees and ascending to the upper branches, Sebastian shot like a rocket through the foliage, weaving his way up and about to avoid a collision with anything, suddenly gripping a thick branch, his fingers crushing around it as he swung upwards, left leg extending outwards, making contact with something soft that unfortunately happened upon the same path. (To Sebastian, this was intentional.)

"Ow!" the shrill cry of pain rang out among the trees, and a large mass of red shifted from above the treetops, falling onto the forest ground, disappearing into a thorny bush. "What kind of man hits a woman, that's unethical! Inhumane! Especially in the face, why must you be so mean, Bassy!?" Grell yelled exasperatedly, poking his head from within his confide, waving an arm angrily towards the butler, who had perched himself on another branch, adjacent to where the Shinigami was.

"I had to make sure whatever was heading towards the manor didn't make it farther than this." A cheery, yet cold smile crossed Sebastian's face, standing up to full height and brushed himself off, not a mark on him as he posed triumphantly above the red head. "Now, if you don't mind, may I ask why you have business here?" Cracking his neck to the side, Sebastian closed his eyes, yet the smile ever remained, now giving off a creepy feel. "Or should I violently bash it out of you."

"Come now, Bassy! That's secret information, I can't just give it out!" Grell stuttered, holding up both hands in defense in front of his face, flinching away. "William would have my head on a silver platter for dessert!"

"I'm not very concerned about that at the moment. I have more pressing matters to tend to." With a leap, Sebastian withdrew the silver cutlery he normally kept on him, from within the vest, landing gracefully on the ground and pushed off towards Grell, throwing the knives that were docked between his fingers from one hand, keeping the other hand to his side, ready for a counter attack.

"W-Wait!"exclaimed Grell, ducking down and rolling from the bush, the knives just narrowly missing from his face and body on a mere centimeter. "Why do you want to know so bad?!"

"My patience is running thin with everything. Either you tell me, or I shall be serving a new kind of sausage."

"Th-The activity of you and that other demon!" Grell yelled, eyes quivering at the advancing butler, then throwing himself upon the ground, shaking his head. "H-Hold it!"

As on cue, Sebastian pivoting to the right, sliding the sides of his feet into the ground, coming to a quick stop, casting dirt and dust onto the red-clad man, crossing his arms over his chest, glaring with thick hate. "What about us."

"O-On the ledger... You had affiliations with a Ms. Abigail Devini before she died. However, her soul hasn't been reaped! Will's department believes it's the cause of you and Matthew doing something suspicious together. It's why I came to investigate, now please don't kill me! I like living!" bargained Grell, holding his hands together, bowing in front of Sebastian repeatedly, eyes filled with tears, watching the butler think deeply.

"... So the Shinigami are even in on this... What do you know about Abigail?"

"Me? Why would I know anything?"

"I only asked. You're the shinigami."

"I probably only know as much as you do, Bassy! Seriously, who would keep track of a filthy old wretch like that! She was well into her 80's, what kind of woman lives that long!?"

"The lucky ones." A thought struck Sebastian. "... Or maybe ones lucky in magic."

"Magic?" Grell sneered disdainfully at this, shaking his head. "Bassy, don't tell me you believe in that rubbish?"

"Of course I do. I've seen it. Besides, the contract us demons make with a human is a type of magic: A seal."

"Balderdash, you couldn't have! It simply doesn't exist."

"I saw a different kind. Alchemy, Magic, whatever you may call it does exist. If you don't believe, just watch the Phantomhive maid for a while."

"You mean pinky? There isn't anything magical about her except the invidious way she tends to break everything within the manor!"

"Not that one! The black haired one!"

"Don't speak of that one!" Grell moaned, gripping onto his hair mournfully, shaking his head. "The one that was with you and being carried by you, right? I can't stand her! There is definitely nothing magical about her!"

A smirk crossed Sebastian's expression, chuckling. "Are you jealous?"

"Of course I am! Bassy should be the one to hold me in such a comforting way!"

"Hmm... How about a little bargain?"

"A bargain?" Grell was instantly hooked, and pulled his body right next to Sebastian, batting his eyelashes provocatively, wiggling his body in a wanting way. "What kind?"

"If you give me all the information that you find about Abigail, I'd be more than happy to carry you around for an entire day." His smirk grew wider, no intention of even coming to terms with the offer within his statement, however Grell bought it straightaway, letting out an exclamation of joy, twirling about, under the nearby tree, hugging the trunk, ignoring the few little trickles of water drops as it started to rain. Sebastian looked upwards, blinking away a stray droplet that bombarded his eye, making him sigh wistfully, leveling his face once more forward, shaking his head, the rain slowly descending upon the two figures faster.

"Bassy! Bassy... Bassy!" called out the oblivious Shinigami, not noticing as the butler slowly made his escape, taking the frivolous action as a yes, while the former daydreams the contact he will share in the future with Sebastian.

Trying to ignore any kind of thought that Grell could be conjuring, he arrived soon at the manor, stepping inside, shaking his wet hair from side to side, the water flicking off onto the ground, collecting around the front doors. Mey-Rin shuffled from where she was waiting towards Sebastian, poking her fingers together hesitantly, a blush already on her cheeks.

"M-Mister Sebastian," she started to say, "I'm glad you're home, I did my chores for today, and I didn't even ruin everything!" Mey-Rin hurried talked to Sebastian, stricken by the wet-setting of his person, trying hard to not reach out and caress him. It didn't seem Sebastian was even listening as he glanced at her with a far-away gaze, only nodding towards her.

"Mey-Rin, do you have towels in your bathroom?"

"A-Ah... Towels?!" Getting the wrong idea quickly seemed to be what Mey-Rin loved doing. Why else would Sebastian ask such a question for her? Could it be...? "Towels... Y-Yes! Allow me to check!"

"Very well, I'll come with you. I'm heading there anyway."

"Yes! … I mean... Yes, sir, Mr. Sebastian, sir!" Shaking with excitement, Mey-Rin practically ran to the maid's quarters, covering her palms onto her cheeks, breathing slightly hard, the crushing she has for Sebastian obviously apparent.

"What is going on with her?" Sebastian thought with a raised eyebrow, following behind her slowly, still looking around the manor of which he could see to determine whether the pink-haired maid actually did her job. This time, it seemed everything was done, and let alone, it was done accurately and perfectly, shocking Sebastian a bit. Who knew that Mey-Rin could actually do her job well?

"Here, Mr. Sebastian!" Mey-Rin had waited impatiently at the door for him, then threw it open once he was nearby, all her color draining as she saw Haricku on her bed, laying upon it. "W- … what are you doing here!?"

Turning over to look at Mey-Rin in confusion, Haricku batted her eyes a few times before answering, sitting up slowly, wincing at the pain from her side, noted by the sudden slap of her hand to put pressure upon the wound. "I was badly hurt... And so I stayed elsewhere."

"B-...But... That can't be." Mey-Rin's heart was shattered, her fingers gripping on the front of her apron, shaking with anger towards her work partner. "You shouldn't be here... Sebastian... And I-"

"Oh, is he back?" Haricku asked, smiling at Mey-Rin, not noticing the other maid's distress, carefully pushing herself off the bed to make her way to the bathroom, where she sat in front of the tub on a stool, inspecting the wound a bit more in the light.

Mey-Rin's speech left her, her eyes fixated onto the leaving back of Haricku, watching the young woman enter the bathroom. "Yes... He's back," She murmured, her shoulders dropping dejectedly with a sigh, moving her gaze back to the encroaching demon, who pushed by her, stopping at Haricku's side, lifting his head as though he remembered something, but turned his gaze towards Mey-Rin instead, cold and annoyed.

"Are you still here? Shouldn't you be sweeping up the front?" he barked at her, crossing his arms over his chest loosely, taking a glance down Haricku quickly before sighing, looking at the other maid. "Actually, would you happen to be in the mood to do me a favor?"

"Yes, Mister Sebastian! Anything for you!" she exclaimed happily, standing more at attention than before, making quite the effort to appear her normal, carefree self.

"In the master bathroom, there is some iodine and gauze. Please fetch those from me, if you can even manage a simple task like that. If not, stay beside Haricku-"

"Oh. I think I prefer staying with Haricku," she stated, glancing to her 'friend', then quickly added, "If that's okay with you, sir!"

"I suppose that it is fine with me," he said rather confusedly, returning his attention to the woman sitting beside him, bending down to her level. "I will leave for about five minutes or so. Think you can handle yourself?"

A smirk crossed Haricku's lips as she tilted her head, giving Sebastian a 'you have to be joking, right?' type of look, shaking her head and chuckled, mainly to herself. "No, I don't think I will. The scary water monster might get me in those five precious minutes you're gone," she teased with a smirk, then nodded. "Of course I'll be fine. What do you take me for?"

"Just making sure. All right Mey-Rin, stay here. I'll be back soon," he asserted himself, briskly marching out of the quarter's and towards the master bathroom, closing the door with a dull thud behind him, his soft footsteps disappearing quickly down the hall. The two maids were alone now, both feeling very disquieting, trying to conjure up a conversation or a question; Anything to break this humdrum that plagued the silence among them. It was Mey-Rin who broke the silence first, walking into the bathroom to cross her arms and give Haricku a snide smirk, leaning against the doorway.

"You and Sebastian having fun? He seems attached to you as of late."

"S-Sebastian and I? Well, perhaps that's true," Haricku though, furrowing her brow. "Come to think of it, she's quite right. I wonder why that is?"

"Are you... Courting him?" Mey-rin tried to sound carefree and nonchalant, but failed as she came out rude and accusing, almost as though Haricku had done an evil deed that the former did not agree with.

"Courting- Who? Sebastian? Are you honestly serious? You're mad if you think that!" she stopped talking, fidgeting in her seat a bit, shyly pouting as she looked down to the floor, rubbing a foot against the tub rug. "Or, well, I suppose I would have said that a couple days ago. Now, though, I'm not too sure. He seems different for some reason, I can't put my finger on it, but the change about him is possibly for the better."

"Are you implying that you've changed him? Sebastian?!" Mey-Rin gave Haricku a cold stare, clenching her teeth as tight as she could, pressing her arms against her diaphragm until it hurt. "That... That is nice. I suppose, if you're a toy."

"A toy?" Haricku snapped her attention to Mey-Rin, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "What... What do you mean a toy?"

"Oh my. I've said too much, yes I did!" The pink-haired woman clasped her hands to her cheeks, shaking her head. "Mister Sebastian told me not to say! I can't say much more!"

"Mey-Rin, it's okay, we're friends, right?" Haricku's stomach clenched at Mey-Rin's words, but she didn't want to piece it together, regardless if it seemed to fit. No way would she admit to herself that the past few days meant nothing to Sebastian, because after all, they shared a kiss, had they not? Besides, what if Mey-Rin heard wrong, perhaps Sebastian was speaking of a toy for the master? Or simply for the Funtom company? Excuses rode through Haricku's head, almost not paying attention to Mey-Rin's words as she spoke.

"Well, you didn't hear it from me, but the reason I asked if you're courting is," Mey-Rin trailed off, dropping her voice into a deadly whisper, speaking soft, but on the verge of a threat. "He's going to be married in April, yes he is. Master is already paying for the wedding!"

"He- ….Sebastian is getting... Married?" Right there, those words. Those words broke, ripped, scratched, mutilated and tore Haricku's heart apart; she didn't want to believe it, but it made enough sense. Ciel had certainly bought a lot of Chinaware lately, as well as roses, ordering special foods, different meetings to set 'something' up – For what reason? The young lady exhaled deeply and slowly, pushing on a fake smile that passes to be real, her insides feeling quite empty and void at the possiblity. "Who is the woman?"

"I... I don't know."

"You don't know, and yet you tell me this? I'll ask him about it-"

"NO!"

"Eh? Why not? It's only fair to congratulate him on such a happy occasion."

"He doesn't want people finding out."

"Then how did you come to figure this out, Mey-Rin?" Haricku asked rather guardedly, slowly raising her eye's gaze to lock onto the glasses of Mey-Rin's. "I am sorry, but perhaps you heard wrong... I cannot comprehend that Sebastian would be getting married, as he does not have a ring displayed on his finger."

The ring. That's what Mey-Rin missed; how could she have been so stupid to forget that? The woman stayed where she was, stuttering and stammering out of embarrassment, looking for a way to get out of the situation she put herself into, suddenly stopping, whipping around where she is.

"Kill her."

A voice?

"Go on, Mey-Rin. She's just in the way of you and Sebastian. Wouldn't it be easier if she disappeared? Was gone? Forever and ever? You'd have Sebastian all to yourself."

"Who's there?" Mey-Rin called out, ignoring the questioning calls of Haricku behind her, becoming frightened. The voice was a woman's, but sounded much older, more sinister than what was comfortable for Mey-Rin as the tone of the voice sent chills racing up her spine, a cold covering her arms as the prickling sensation of goosebumps began to emerge on her skin. "I'm not playing around, Finnian! Bardroy! Stop that, it isn't funny you know!"

"How cute. You think this is a joke? A trick? Don't worry, little girl, your wish will soon be granted. Don't despair over the loss of Sebastian, for it is only temporary, soon he will be in your arms. You want that, do you not?"

"I do want that," mumbled Mey-Rin to no one in particular. By now, Haricku was standing behind the woman, tapping her shoulder, calling her name, but the only voice that got through to Mey-Rin was this elder woman's voice, speaking to her very soul, her very desires. Frightened by the odd behavior of Mey-Rin, Haricku thought it'd be best to go get Sebastian, so she stepped around the woman, but was quickly stopped by the grab of her wrist, the grasp violently jerking her backwards into the bathroom again.

"H-Hey, Mey-Rin... What's wrong?" Haricku tried to laugh, thinking it was some sort of joke, however even she didn't believe this to be true when she saw the blank, disfigured look of Mey-Rin's eyes upon herself. "She's being manipulated, but by who? She and I are the only ones within this room!" She began to slightly fear the woman, stepping back and away from her, the back of her knees suddenly hitting the edge of the tub, causing her to tumble in, hitting her head to the faucet, earning a sharp and loud yelp of irritated pain. With her head pulsing in rhythmic waves of distress, Haricku tried to scramble out of the tub, but the wound held her back, searing with its own pulses of bitterness, taunting her that she is handicapped.

Being wrapped up in the pain, Haricku did not notice Mey-Rin grabbing the basin off the counter, advancing towards the woman with malicious intention, holding it high above her head, ready to bring it crashing down onto Haricku with sheer brute force.

The vase broke, scattering the water onto Haricku, causing her to gasp and sputter, dazed as to what happened, moving the hair out of her face to see. From the corner of her eye, she could see the blood dribble into the tub slowly, dark crimson polka dots lining the tub, but give way to small pools, which merged and started to become a puddle. As she stared at the blood, it was carried off by the water droplets falling off of her, carrying the deep red liquid away into the abysmal drain.