That Butler, Midnight Romp

Setting: Ocean liner, Queen Mary sailing into the port of Charlotte Amelia

Time/Day: Monday Afternoon (5 days later) 2:00 pm

Occupants: All Passengers of the Queen Mary encluding the Phantomhives

Whereabouts: Everyone is enjoying there time away from each other

Story: …..Again, Sorry no story recaps for this chapter either

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) nor the characters, except for mine main character and other minor characters

Warning Rated M: Very coarse language and violence. Reader's discretion is advised.

Chapter XXI

Welcome to Paradise

Standing out on the second class level deck, Countessa gazed upon the expansive ocean's waves ebbing around the ship's bottom.

Slowly spinning around the deep red rose in her hand that Sebastian gave her nights before; Countessa smirked as she lifted it to smell the lovely fragrance the flower emitted.

Closing her eyes to the euphoric sensation, she could almost imagine seductive and haunting fragrance of the butler. So alluring and handsome as he...Just thinking about him made her body shiver in good and naughty ways.

Lightly kissing the top of the rose, Countessa sighed subtly as she continued to get lost inside her thoughts thinking about his words from that night Sebastian declared his affections for her.

Remembering that gaze of his docile ruby-reds gave off this believable sincerity about them; meant that he truly felt and cared for her. All though, the odd moments they've shared together, she'd guess this was his way of being close.

She was happy enough to know that he no longer wanted to play that damn Cat & Mouse game he kept instigating before their departure from London.

"My heavens he was truly irritating, but at the same time he did amuse me." she thought to herself with a smile.

And then that same night they've danced Under the Cherry Colored Moon. Was something she never expected nor experienced ever! The enchanting seductive energy the moon emitted captivated her intently.

It felt as if the Goddess Serene graced a saccharine tantalizing forbidden Fruit at her, tempting her, calling her to entertain the goddess with a desirable dance.

While adding the perfect touch of the dark and mysterious Romeo in her sights to ensnare the moon goddess faithful worshipping servant.

Speaking about another dark mysterious Romeo... Countessa hasn't seen Count Merin who danced with her at the Captain's Ball that night also.

Although it was rather strange for a large ship she would bound to bump into him again. She'd truly hoped nothing horrible happened to him and that he was safe somewhere enjoying his time.

The four days she'd been on the cruise has been most interesting. After the kidnapping incident, the young master seemingly himself again...

Requested Countessa and her twin sister for a bit of a song. And then afterwards Selita would immediately 'pamper' the young master like a baby.

Which to the young Earl's dismay he didn't enjoy very much because he knew Sebastian and Countessa would be quietly laughing at him. Much more on Sebastian's part than hers.

Countessa chuckled to herself a bit more to the thought of her twin's constant meddling with the young Earl. But she couldn't blame Selita for her yearning attempt to be a nurturing mother type?

Even thought Ciel doesn't like being handled so freely by anyone, but his trustworthy butler. She had to agree with her sister's actions in trying to give him some type of care for his ridged exterior.

However, knowing her sister... there might be something more deeper than just cuddling and cooing the young master. Remembering that look to her face, seemed kind of troubled…as if she was searching for something?...But what?

Now coming to think of it, before we took our leave from London a week ago, the young master has been acting quite stra...

"Te'ssa!" interrupted her twin sister coming from the opposite side of the second class level deck.

Barely turning her head towards her, Countess just glanced at Selita and returned her attention back to the ebbing ocean waters flowing around and away from the boat.

"Te'ssa? Didn't you hear me calling out to you? We need to get ready to disembark from the ship." demanded Selita rather irritated.

"Oh? I-I'm sorry... I did not." listlessly grinned Countessa in responce.

"Haa- Te'ssa..." Pausing for a moment as Selita approached her, she noticed a deep red rose held in her hand and not only that...she also took notice of that 'look' on her sister's face.

She thought it was rather interesting that her little sister has an deep red rose with her? Tilting her head in curiousity, Selita wondered who would give her such a rose. Usually those type of roses meant…..

Smirking merrily to herself and narrowing her gaze towards the flower in Countessa's hand; she thought of a sly plan to distract her sister. Casually approaching Countessa, she began to speak softly…

"That's alright little sister, I've just caught you off guard….without...realizing….you….were…" then suddenly Selita quickly snatched the rose from her hand.

"H-hey…!"

"OOohh what is this?" she said while holding it up away from Countessa's grasp. "A deep red rose from a secret lover? Or perhaps it's from that butler Sebastian?" she grinned widely.

"Selita...give it back to me."

"Ohh my! It is from him! And what's this...mmm this smells wonderful…oh the fragrance is just too lovely and rich. However strange...it doesn't smell like anything I've ever encountered?" reclined Selita as she slightly turned away from her.

Furrowing her dusky brows together with clenched fists together, Countessa protested again..."I've said give it back...NOW!" With widen eyes, Selita was stunned by the sudden interjected outbrust.

"Te'ssa...that is no way to yell at your dearest sister...now is it? Anyhow...since you're acting like a spoiled brat. I'm not going to hand you back this rose."

Sighing in utter frustration and then realizing that it was trivial, Countessa instead just shrugged it off nonchalantly. "Oh Well, lucky for me I've got another one from my secret lover this morning. Just Keep it."

"What? What are you saying? You're just going to give up and not fight for it? Most women would fight for something a lover has given to them, but you...you are too strange Te'ssa."

"Whatever..." she said while slowly walking away with her hands on her hips. Still staring at her sister wide-eyed in disbelief, Selita felt as if this was a game were being played at her expense.

Well maybe, but this seems a little different from when they were kids. This always follows by the usual teasing/blackmailing of her little sister in some way to get whatever information out from her...

and Countessa as usual would be a gullible dope for falling for it everytime, but not this time.

Selita realized that her little twin sister was no longer that naive, shy and gullible kid she once knew long ago. She was now a firm and confident woman..

Sighing in defeat, Selita reclined her silly actions and called out to her. "Te'ssa!...Te'ssa...w-wait. I-I sorry...I don't want to keep something that you cherish from the one man you have affections for." she said as she extended her hand outward with the rose.

Smiling slyly to herself, Countessa chuckled softly as she slowly turned around to face her dumbfounded sister. "Ah, I thought you would never change your mind." and with that she immediately snatched the rose right out her hand and dashed off back inside the ship laughing.

"Te'ssa! You...you...trickster, but I'm so glad that you're happy."

Meanwhile in one of the V.I.P Card Rooms...'Gilian' was in the middle of a whisky poker game with Count Merin?

"So now tell me Count Merin ." announced Gillian in a slyly seductive manner behind a full hand in cards. "Is it my move or yours?"

Not responding much to the question before him, Count Merin shifted inside his seat as he tilted his head upward and then downward. Only to square his crystal blues on the task at hand.

Without looking directly at his opponent, he slightly nodded and murmured "It's your move."

Smirking with glee, Gillian gladly layed down her cards in front of the jet black haired man. "My my look what I've got! A full house of three RED hearts...I win the game. My handsome darling!"

Before 'she' could scoop up 'her' winnings, Gillian was immediately stopped gently by Count Merin's grasp.

"I'm sorry, but I must inform you haven't won anything...madam." Now calmly standing up from his chair, Merin continued smoothly. "You see...I've won with a straight royal flush of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 all in BLACK spades." he finished with glee laying down all of his cards onto the table in front of 'her'.

Sitting in the chair clearly at a lost, Gillian slough in disbelief at the quick hand play from this man. "W-wah...but how did you? I don't understand how could you win in a few short hands!"

"It's simple really, I read your non-body movements. By reading you...you've gave me a big lead onto your next move. Moreover, Instead of paying attention to the game at hand. You were too busy flirting with me to notice your own fatal mistake."

"B-B-But...I wasn't flirting with you! How dare you make up such a vile lie...I w-was...uh...erm..." 'she' stopped talking when Count Merin pulled out something from his breast pocket and presented her the red hankerchef she had batted him with that whole entire afternoon.

Without much of a responce in counter-defense, Gillian just sat there with her eyes looking away in embarrassment and shame. Smirking in resolve Merin smoothly walked over to her and dropped the hankerchef right into her lap.

"Aheh, That's what I've expected 'Mrs. Stanley' if that's your real name, Moreover I've won this game fair and square. And with that I must take my leave good day...aheh madam." he said as he collected his winnings and then swifty turned away sauntering out the door from sight.

As soon as he set foot upon the corridor, Merin immediately hurried along to his stately room to ready himself to disembark from the ship in less than two hours. He must prepare himself for events to come and to seek out a special client that is waiting for his arrival in Port Charlotte Amelia.

Back insided the V.I.P Poker room, an anger and upset Gillian slammed her fist down on the table. "You maybe handsome and whatnot, but you haven't see the last of me Count Merin." and with that she too took her crossed leave from the room.

On another part of the ship, two other's where preparing to disembark from the ship also... A young man was preparing his master's luggage from his state room's closet, "My Lord we only have an two more hours until we've reached port of Charlotte Amelia, We must prepare to-"

Immediately interrupting him with an abrupt wave of his burly ring hand... "Ah be quiet, there is no need to rush my boy. I have plently of time to prepare...have you not heard of the saying 'Arriving with Style?'

"Milord I think you've ment "Arriving Fashionably late." replied the young man rolling his eyes while he packed his Lord's luggage.

Cocking an dusty grey eye brow in rile his only responce was "Tch, whatever...ahem...my boy have you tended to your 'duties' for today?"

"Ah, yes my Lord no need to worry about that. Those plans a have been already been laid it's only a matter of the perfect timing to capture her and to put that lit'l bastard out of business for good."

Not looking over his shoulder the older man replied. "Is it now? Hmm...well be careful she has that man and the young boy protecting her…However I don't want the same mistake to happen again, so there shouldn't be any suspicion. We must act like a steadfast shadow without warning do you understand me. I want to return home in time for the harvest season parties." he said rather sternly

The young man just stood there obey and bowed as he took the order. "Yes, without a doubt my Lord. I shall make arrangements as soon as we land ashore."

Two hours later...

The Oceanliner Queen Mary has made her first safe maiden voyage to the port of Charlotte Amelia in St. Thomas Islands.

Awed by the wonders of the tropical colors and the very sunny warm weather of the Caribbean, the passengers of the Queen Mary stepped off the ship and onto the docks to gaze upon the beauty of the port.

The young Earl had to shield himself from the brillant Caribbean sunlight that graced it's self across the land. He'd never seen anything this bright nor felt weather this humid in his entire life.

"Sebastian..." suddenly announced Ciel while slightly fanning himself. What was he thinking about wearing this type of clothing. Trying not to seem akward, Ciel immediately fumbled with his cape trying to take it off.

Looking down towards the boy who was in utter distress, the demon chuckled at his folly and replied as he graciously help him remove his cape. "Yes... young master?"

"Tell me, in your past have you ever traveled here? And if so... what was it like?" he asked him without hesitation.

The dark butler raised a curious, but amused raven colored brow in reaction. "Hm...Well in all honestly young master, I've never been to such a place. This is my first time being in this part of the world."

Learning about this astonishing reply, was Ciel suprised to hear this? Well of course, usually the beast would boast about being somewhere witnessing something or causing some major event in history. But this was the first time he ever confess that he's NEVER been here. Thinking to himself again he thought this would be very interesting Holiday indeed.

"The Queen's lit'l pup!" announced Chancellor Barns dressed in a all white suit from behind him suddenly.

Ciel immediately rolled his eyes in a disgusted reaction, "Ugh please… not this man again." he listlessly hissed under his breath.

The young Earl gritted his teeth together in secrecy from the utter annoyance of this blaggard. He so badly wanted to throw this bastard under the jail, but instead he had to lay in wait to seize an opportunity to catch him red handed in his misdeeds.

"Lit'l pup there you are, I was searching all over the ship for you. I wanted to ask you if you hadn't made arrangements for lodging yet... I do have room for a few more guest?" merrily grinned the old man.

"N-"

"Before you give him an answer young master, I'd wish to speak with you in private." suddenly intterrupted Sebastian from beside him.

Looking up at him quickly, Ciel nodded in agreement. "Haa, alright... Please Excuse us."

Immediately walking away from ear shot of Barns, the butler began..."Young Master have you forgotten that Miss Charles and her sister is with us? I'm quite sure that he is fully aware that both of them are here..."

Just staring at him in disappointment, Ciel sulked and then replied by brutushly cutting him off. "Don't be silly you fool...Of course I'm fully aware of the current situation and I'm completely prepare for things to come, However Sebastian I feel this would be a excellent chance to catch him. Just be my eyes and ears for the time being and then on my command 'strike' him without notice...is that understood Sebastian."

Devilishly grinning in resolve, the dark butler bowed with honor...and simply replied. "Yes, my lord."

"Now that this is settled, I shall give an answer to that man...come Sebastian." As told he and his young master returned to the older gentlemen who was now busy talking with his 'niece Lady Crey'.

Cocking an side-eye, the Chancellor stopped his conversation with his niece and fully turned his attention to the young Earl in front of him. "Ah, so you've have returned...what is your decision eh lit'l pup?"

"Yes, I have made a decision...I'll be honored to stay with you for a few days, however I've only made this choice to learn more about your sugar cane farms upon this Island." slightly grinned the young boy.

Ciel knew that he couldn't resist another opportunity to take a gander at his prosperous sugar cane farms and he also knew that Barns couldn't resist making a quick settlement for something more. In his mind, this was a healthy competition.

Laughing aloudly, Barns gladly returned his reply..."You're just like your father lit'l pup, he was all about business first...*Ahem* well anyways, I will not be accompaning you today...the queen's lit'l pup you see I have an prior engagment to attend too. My sweet and dearest niece will be escorting you and your servants to the manor located across the shore." pointed Barns to a smaller Island that is nestled away from the mainland town.

"I bid you adieu." tipping his hat the older man jumped into an awaiting carriage and sped off.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Revised 09/26/2011