WELCOME BACK! I am currently in school, just sitting by one of our computers, writing this. We had a free period and I got bored! It might not be as accurate as other chapters, as the teacher and everyone in my class keep on staring at me but ah well, screw 'em! ENJOY!

Annalise's POV

I walked back into the large area tent, ready for practice. I watched as William walked back in, his death scythe in his hands.
"Damn, he is gonna cause so much attention," Gemma smirked.
"Well, then we'll just have to divert that attention, won't we?"
"Of course. Have you got the music?"
"Of course I have, lets o show them as first tear performance." Gemma walked out and came back in with a large stereo. She placed in a CD as I pulled my hair up. The CD began to play as we took our positions. 'This Little Girl' by Cady Groves played as we kept in rhythm to the music. We flipped, jumped and danced along. For the finale, we both ran to the large springboard in place. We took our places and jumped high into the hair. We clasped hands in the air and dove down. We landed with flare on our knees before looking up and smiling. People had gathered around and began to clap widely. It was priceless the look of shock on Ciel and Sebastian's faces. Joker walked over, smiling.
"Seems you've still got it!"
"Never lost it." He handed us both large bottles of water and we drained them down. "Thanks, Joker."
"No problem, Harley Quinn." Both Gemma and I were on the floor, laughing. Sebastian walked over.
"Harley Quinn?"
"Have you been living under a rock?" He looked at me confused. "DC? Marvel?" He shook his head. "Harley Quinn is..." looked at Gemma and she shook her head. "She is a character from a comic book." I prayed Joker would catch on and thankfully he did. I smiled and sat down as Dagger snuck up from behind Ciel. I smiled as Dagger suggested they begin to practice.
"Yeah, Ciel, you got to practice. Just don't upstage us."
"I'd be a dead man walked if I did." I smiled and he smiled at me.
"I can help you with practice if you-"
"Actually, Diamond, can you help me with something?" I looked at Sebastian carefully before sighing.
"Sure, Emerald can help you, Smile~" I winked at the before leaving with Sebastian.
"What are we looking for?"
"William." Great. Absolutely Great.

"Pardon me, as you've been here longer than I have, perhaps you could be of assistance." He smiled and I found my cheeks heating u and his hand found mine and held it tight, but I didn't let it go. "I'd be grateful." William adjusted his glasses, his eyes scanning Sebastian and me.
"I have no interest what so ever in offer you my assistance." He began to walk away but I grabbed his arm.
"I suggest you come and offer you precious assistance, or I would just be dying to tell Grell and Sebastian all about the time I saw -"
"Fine, very well, I'll come. But you shall not speak of that again."
"Remember, I make the rules," I smirked evilly at him. "I have all you precious reapers under my thumb, don't forget my legacy."
"You would never let me."
"Guilty." William struggled as Sebastian had gripped his other arm. I let go and turned to Gemma, who was laughing at Dagger.
"Look, they're best mates already." Ciel awkwardly looked away ten to Sebastian and me. I winked before the three of us stood in the tent

Beast hid in the curtain before scowling at Ciel, Sebastian, and William. She smiled slightly at me before flouncing away.
"The recruits have been a set of odd ducklings lately."
"Yes, but talented ducks they are."
"Plus, I am here. I am the best person you could ever ask for." Beast jumped as I snuck up behind her and gave her a hug. "I never said hello properly." She turned around and squeezed me tight. "I missed you. I missed you all." A tear fell down my face as I clasped her hand. "It was very lonely, but we made a new family... they are like me." They nodded. "Not mages, just half demons."
"Listen, all of ye. Peter, Wendy, Beast, Jumbo, Diamond." We all turned our attention to Joker. His expression turned cold and his accent dropped. "I spoke with Father." I clasped Beast's hand tighter. "He said we have not yet gathered enough sweets for the main event. I guessing you know what I mean, Dimond?"
"Yes. Yes, I do."
"Will you still help us?"
"Of course. Family first." Joker's face softened a bit.
"What about Giggles, Cards and Emerald."
"What they don't know can't hurt them." He nodded.
"We'll do it tonight." I looked down as Beast clasped me hand tighter again. I placed my other hand on Wendy's shoulder and she welcomed it. I smiled slightly and Jumbo and he gave me an attempt of a smile back. Peter look at me.
"You really haven't changed. You care about other people's feeling before your own."
"I have changed, even in that sense. I stopped caring for those who didn't care back. I am just thankfully all of you still do, even after a year and a half."
"Family is family. None of us could have survived really if you hadn't helped."
"Neither could Gemma, Alya, Mathew or me. I hold no grudges or debts, remember that."
"That'll be all, pass it on to Dagger and Doll, aye?" His accent came back as we stood. We nodded and we all went our separate ways. I walked over to Joker and pulled him into a hug. It didn't take him long to hug back.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too." (Y'all, all of this is 1007 words AND I AM 1 MINUTE 19 SECONDS IN. I NEED HALP~~ literally, I am just as the intro, which I love so much)

"Why am I here, in a circus of all places." The night began to fall and the only light was a dim oil lamp that loomed overhead. The rustling of leaves and the shadows of animals filled the night with wonder and fear. William adjusted his glasses once again. The corner of his eyes caught mine, the yellow core, and green outside attempted to pierce through me, but I remained smiling smugly. "Well despite the fact that I am an administrator -" Whoop di fucking do for you! "- I have been drafted to fill in for a certain prat while he is suspended. Ridiculous, isn't it? I curse my luck."
"I'd say it's your charming personality that caused this." It was faint and under my breath but Sebastian caught it. He chuckled and me, clasping his hand in mine. I relaxed and leaned my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes. I was drained from that night practice, plus I had the performance only moments ago, William looked at the two of us with his piercing stare.
"Is there something I am missing?"
"Despite a brain, no." Again, I muttered it under my breath but, once again, Sebastian heard it and chuckled under his breath.
"I didn't realise graduating with him meant fixing his numerous mistakes."
"Yes, but he beat you in exams. All of them." William scowled at me.
"I have to presume that a special circumstance is involved for a Grim reaper personally doing undercover work."
"You cannot believe I would reveal I would reveal soul related information to two demons?"
"A demon and a half demon half mage. Mages also collect souls, you do remember? When a reaper fucks up, they call us. Not many of us left are there?" William scowled at me once more. "Careful if the wind changes..."
"I'm afraid you mistake out intentions, we have no interest in cheap souls. My taste is more refined." His hand tightened around my waist as I closed my eyes once more.
"Fine words from a starving demon like yourself." Sebastian's eyes glowed fuchsia as we continued to look at William. My own eyes turned to stilts as I glared at the reaper. "I know you must be half mad with hunger. She is probably not far off."
"I don't remember either of us asking for your opinion on the matter? And, for your information, I am already mad. Absolutely insane."
"Again you are mistaken. I have long since tired of ripping into every stray soul I happen upon. After all."
"The hungrier one is, the more satisfying one's dinner is," Sebastian smirked down at me, my head still rests on his shoulder.
"How perverse."
"Not nearly as perverse as that ginger friend of yours. And you can rest easy, for now at least, I am on a short lead."
"What about her."
"She has a name." He scoffed. "And her, she doesn't need souls to survive, at least for now."
"Oh, very well." He jabbed his scythe into the ground, but it did not break through the earth. The wind blew madly for a moment before all was calm. "I'll speak plainly then, in the next few days, we attend to review a large number of souls near this circus. This is a special case, so I would appreciate it if you didn't interfere."
"Sounds quite tempting, I would be happy to offer you my assistance." The reaper swung his scythe and I blocked it from Sebastian without a moment to spare. It cut from my eyes brow down my cheek, scraping my neck and then my chest and stopped at my stomach. Sebastian looked from me to William, and look that I had never seen. He glared at William. He tried to walk over to the reaper but I grabbed his hand. I shook my head and I gripped his hand tighter, the cut stung painfully and it began to re-sow itself. It was the only way to heal a wound caused by a death scythe. I shakily stood as the last of the wound disappeared.
"Oi, the show is beginning soon and the knife thrower is looking for you." He turned to me. "The once with the skeleton hand is looking for you."
"Dagger and Joker. I'll go now, can't miss a performance." I took a shaky step forward before running to the large tent.
"You're cutting it fine."
"I know, I know. But I am here now!" He smiled at me. "And I am ready for tonight." He nodded and stepped from the curtain.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Noah's Ark Circus."

We took our bows as the show ended and we stepped from the ring. Joker and Dagger set off to sort out the tent and I turned to the other.
"Don't wait up for me, kay?" They nodded and set off for our tent. I walked over to Beast and we waited for Dagger. He eventually stuck his head and nodded to us. We got up, Beast headed to Betty and I walked to Joker. He opened a long grate and handed me my swords. "You kept them?"
"Didn't have to heart to get rid of them."
"They have still been my favourite birthday present ever." He nodded. He grabbed my arm and pulled me into a hug. It didn't take long for me to hug back. "I'm sorry for leaving."
"No, I know that you had to." I nodded. "We should go." We met the other outside the gate, hand in hand. No one made jokes, now was not the time. We set off into the night, our shadows disappearing along with the light.

The pitter patter of feet against the wet gravel drew closer and closer as a young girl stopped and began to admire out posters.
"A circus..." She mumbled softly. Her face split into a grin. The sight broke my heart but I dared not move. "Maybe if I work really hard, I can take Jimmy to see it one day!" No, she would never get to take her poor brother to see the circus. That was her fate. And this was mine. The Pied Pipers song played in the background as the young girl turned. She looked down the long dark alleyway that we remained. I squeezed Joker's hand and he gave me a nervous smile. Her mind full of curiosity, she began to follow the sound. Jumbo stopped playing as she stepped in and Joker and I stood up. I smiled warmly at the girl.
"Hello there, darling." She jerked her head towards us before turning, unable to see us. "Do you like circuses then?" We swooped down behind her and she spun around. I took a step towards the girl.
"It a pleasure and an honour to meet you, my lady." I bowed low and Joker did the same. I hope you'll join us?" I plucked a rocked from the heart and threw it up in the air. Joker caught it swiftly before turning it into a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She smiled delightedly at us as Joker through the flowers into the air.
"It's ShowTime!" The petals danced in the air, transforming the dark alleyway into a beautiful flower path. Doll popped from nowhere and lifted her umbrella high in the air Before smiling sweetly at the girl, who looked at her with wonder. Doll leapt into the air gracefully and landed softly, she continued to leap and jumped beautifully. farther down before launching herself into the air and disappearing. Peter and Wendy swung into the air, smiling at the girl.
"Hello, there!" Wendy said, smiling brightly.
"Welcome to dreamland!" I stood behind the girl with Joker as she gasped excitedly. Joker turned to me and I nodded. I flipped over the girl as she squealed. I started walking on my hand before flipping forward. I danced and pranced around before jumping over her once more, and stood behind Joker.
"There's nothing to be afraid of here," Joker whispered into her ear. "Past the hill, thy chariot awaits its princess. Well of ya go, now my sweet." I clasped the girl's hand and led her down the road to the carriage as she smiled excitedly. She dropped her coin and once rolled past the alleyway, which returned to its normal appearance for me. I looked around before noticing a policeman. I signalled to the others, but I was the smallest bit late. A whistle sound and a flashlight shattered before setting ablaze. I handed the girl to joker before running over, pulling the swords from my pocket. The girl turned around as I raced towards him. To her, my swords were candy canes. Curse that child imagination. I would never live that down. The other pounce as more joining us. Dagger threw his knife and it hit the policemen, he turned and winked at the small girl, she turned her attention to the others and I turned to Dagger.
"She is like six, stop flirting." He threw more dagger, knocking own policeman after policeman. Smiling to the little girl. She clapped delightedly as Beast cracked her whip at the men. I sliced through the men swiftly and quickly. When the last man had fallen, my costume was drenched with blood and the reek of death floated the area. More policemen came around the corner and I nodded to Joker.
"Your chariot awaits you."
"Right!" She smiled delightedly. She stepped into the carriage as my swords swung deeply into a policeman's chest. The shine of glasses against the moon caught me eyes, I was distracted for a moment. A knife flew through the air as I policeman had attempted to hurt me. I smiled slightly at Dagger. The final policeman turned the corner and shakily pointed his gun to the carriage.
"Stop..." He began to pull the trigger but Doll swooped down. He fell to the ground and she aimed her umbrella tip at him. "Please... how could you... she is just a child." She hesitated and I swooped in, delivering the final blow.
"Yet no one gave a damn about us..." Joker walked up.
"I told you to never hesitate."
"Joker, its hard... it took me ages to take my first kill."
"Are ya hungry? Do you want one of them?"
"I had better not... one of the other kind is here. I just want a word with him." They nodded and set off back home. I jumped up into the air and landed swiftly onto a large rooftop. Ronald Knox stood at one end.
"All done." He turned to me. "Haven't seen you participating in this for a while now."
"Haven't seen you anywhere. I always look out for you." He nodded.
"I know."
"Does our deal still stand?"
"I presume so. I won't tell anyone you were here."
"At I won't tell anyone about that night. Don't tell William especially, he attacked me earlier."
"I heard." We stood in silence before I ran over to him and pulled him into a hug.
"I never said congrats for passing your test." He hugged me back.
"I missed you training us." I nodded before breaking apart.
"I should go. Good luck." Like that, I was gone into the darkness, leaving behind the remains of the fallen.

I lay asleep in my bed. I tossed and turned as the nightmare played in my head.

I was gathered in a large empty room, all the people I loved were there. They were all chanting murderer. I was screaming.
"Someone! Anyone! Help me..."

I was shaken awake within a moment. Joker looked at me worriedly.
"You okay?" I nodded.
"Just a nightmare is all. I am fine." My stomach grumbled. "And hungry... very hungry."
"Lucky. Breakfast is on the way." We walked out of the tent, laughing and smiling. We arrived at the cooking area and I saw Ciel, shivering in the cold. Sebastian passed a comment on his potatoes. I walked over.
"He is hardly going to be Gordon Ramsey hen he has done little cooking before." I walked over and placed my hand and Ciel's head. I transported heat from my hand down his body and he relaxed slightly. He smiled slightly at me. I sat down and began peeling some of the potatoes.
"I though first tier didn't cook breakfast," Sebastian said, raising his eyebrow at me. Joker walked over, laughing.
"Diamond had never been one for rules."
"Are you complaining when my cooking is so amazing?" I asked teasingly at him.
"If I was, you'd murder me!"
"You got that much right."

Sebastian served the food and everyone tucked in. I sat with the rest of the first tiers as we laughed happily.
"God... I really don't wanna practise today. All the running..." Dagger smiled.
"Hey, where is Giggles?"
"Still in bed. She doesn't feel too good." Dagger rose from his seat.
"I'll check on her." He turned and I waggled y eyebrows at the rest of the table and we all laughed. We cleaned our plates and watched as the rest of the tent drained away. Soon it was just us. Sebastian loomed in the corner 'cleaning up'.
"So, Diamond, now that your back, will things leave off as they were?" Dagger inquired. Alya wiggled her eyebrows at me and I shot her a warning look.
"I hope to at least. I liked the way it was before" My cheeks burned bright red at Joker's words.
"You really know how to romance a girl" Once again we all laughed. But I could still feel an intense stare on my back. Eventually we headed out to the practise tent. I clung to Gemma but soon felt myself being pulled back. He didn't even let me turn around before he started playing twenty questions. "Geez calm down... I am sure you've had people who were more than just friends before me, so don't go acting all high and mighty on me."
"I don't want you spending time with him."
"Well too bad, he is my friend."
"But is he more than that." I remained silent. How the hell was I supposed to answer that? "Surely an old fling can't burn that long?"
"It wasn't exactly a fling..."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we were... engaged." The look on his face made my brain yell ABORT ABORT. But Sebastian clung to my arm.
"You were what!"
"We were engaged…"
"Did you love him?" I remained silence. The looked on his face changed from surprise to anger.
"You hid him from em…"
"You never asked…" His face became scarier. Oh God… What have I done… "Look, Sebastian… let's talk about this when things calm down ok?" I didn't give him the chance to answer before I pulled my arm from his grasp. I swiftly turned around and ran to the practise tent. Glad to be gone from there. I didn't dare 'take in my surroundings'. Until I heard the conversation between Ciel and his bunk mate. They were discussing William and Sebastian as they both balance high in the air.
"Their bloody super human!"
"You don't even know."
"Just like Diamond!" I smiled.
"Oi, my ears are burning, why are you talking about me." He smiled at me.
"What's it to you." I stuck out my tongue and he copied me.
"Well, stop gossiping and get yourselves cleaned up before dinner, show Smile the 'showers."
"You have showers in this place?"
"Well..."

The sun set as I walked over to Ciel, who was shivering on the ground. Gemma and I ran over. I pulled Ciel close and began to warm him up.
"C'mon, Ciel, stay still." Sebastian walked over but did not address me. Two can play this game. I grabbed the blanket from his hands and wrapped it around Ciel's freezing body. "Deep breathes, okay?"
"Enough."
"What, My Lord?" Ciel snapped his head up.
"I said I've had enough." I stared at him confused.
"C'mon Ciel... it's not that bad-" Gemma began.
"You would say that! You are used to this!"
"Hey, don't snap at Gemma, she is trying to help! We both are!"
"Enough, you wouldn't understand. If I have to continue this, I swear I'll go mad!"
"What, do you think it was rosy for us? We couldn't walk till we came here, plus we had only started out when w joined. So, don't spin some bullshit that your life is hard! We barely had the clothes on our backs and the limbs in our body! So, don't tell me you can't handle it! It's been a day and a half!"
"You cannot allow such trifles to bother you." I felt Ciel tense before me. I saw the memories coming back to him. His crouched low in a cage as people actioned him. He screamed out for someone to save him... then Sebastian did. A tear fell from my face.
"Look at us... three broken souls..." Gemma sat down beside is and I rested my head on her should and placed an arm around Ciel. He released a breath and jerked away from my hand.
"No, it's not like me, huh?" He grabbed the blanket and flew up, drops of water fell to Gemma and me. "Indeed, it's not." Gemma and I stood. "I'm head of house Phantomhive and the Funtom company. It's not like me to live like this, still though there is a task to do." He turned around and faced us. "We'll finish this as swiftly as possible." Sebastian bowed.
"Yes, My Lord."

FINALLY! Been a while. MERRY CHRISTMAS! I started reading 'Book of The Atlantic' arc in the manga, and I was wondering was the boat meant to represent the Titanic? Please let me know if you know the answer! Love you guys and thanks for the Follows and the Favourites and all the review. If you have any questions, review or DM me. Have an amazing Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Goodbye Pixies,

Fairy OUT!