Chapter 23

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN KUROSHITSUJI OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.

Guilty or Innocent

Ciel's POV

"Your gardener is suspected of murder."

"This is one elaborate prank you're pulling, but it should end now." I laughed.

"It's not a prank, but at least I know you're listening to me." Westly frowned.

"Finny, the happy-go-lucky gardener who hates harming others? I think you have the wrong man." I continued to chuckle. Sebastian looked angry (at being interrupted), worried, and outright confused.

"I know, but it's true. Now, if you wish to continue this let me know so I can tell you. I'll even have the decency to look away while you change." Westly turned his back toward me. Well, it wasn't like the mood between Sebastian and I was going to return and I was quite curious as to where Westly had gotten these wild notions from.

I nodded for Sebastian to get my dressing gown and shooed Mey-Rin off. Finally decent enough, I sat down on the bed and instructed for Westly to explain, "Tell me about what you supposedly know."

"It seems there have recently been muggings of men who, until recently, were thought to have nothing in common. It was just found out that all these men are homosexuals." he said seriously.

"And how does that have anything to do with my gardener?"

"The last victim of these muggings said he saw the man. It was a short blonde who was wearing a large hat. He was also abnormally strong and had a sort of tattoo on his neck. If that isn't your gardener I don't know who else it could be." Westly told me.

"Even if that is Finny," I still couldn't believe it, "how does that make him a murderer?"

"The Yard discovered the body of that victim who squealed in the Thames this morning." he said seriously.

"This doesn't make sense. If Finny was so against homosexuals why hasn't he attacked either Sebastian or me? He already knows our relationship. And also, he was left alone with James," I shivered, "who attacked me. He didn't kill him!"

"I'm not taking sides; I'm just telling what I know. If I were you I'd investigate your servants and find out what they know. I have to go though, Earl. Be careful." he bowed slightly and then left the room in a flurry of fabric from his cloak.

"That was…" I began.

"Interesting." Sebastian finished.

"Tell Mey-Rin I wish to speak with her as soon as I am finished with my breakfast. Then after elevenses tell Bard I will see him in my office." I ordered Sebastian.

"What about both Finnian and I?" he asked as he began dressing me.

"How about you tell me everything you know right now and Finny will come before Mey-Rin." I sighed.

"I know nothing about this. As you know, I was here all morning and last night so I am unsure if Finnian left the premise within that time. Before that to the most of my knowledge he only left to get supplies." Sebastian said thoughtfully.

"Could he have possibly mugged those other men while he was 'getting supplies'?" I suggested.

"I doubt it. Bard or Snake usually went with him. I honestly can't imagine Finny doing something like this." Sebastian frowned.

For the second time today someone entered my room without knocking, "I swear I didn't do it!" Finny shouted and fell to his knees.

"I never said you did. Get up, you look pitiful." I nudged him with my foot while looking at his red dripping nose and puffy wet eyes.

"But everyone thinks I did! I would never hurt someone!" he cried.

"I keep telling you we don't suspect you. We just need to find out as much as possible so we have something to support our case. Since you're already here, why don't you tell me what you were doing last night until this morning?"

"I was sleeping until this morning, then I was outside, tending the gardens. Everything was normal. I mean, I might have spaced out a little but I promise I never left!" he wept.

"Did you ever leave the manor without my permission and without another person?" I asked.

"… Only a few times, but I swear I didn't hurt anyone! I-it was just for a festival and I really wanted to go and-"

"So no one else went with you? You don't have someone you were with all night? Do you remember the dates when you left?" I questioned.

"I was with Bard for the first bit on two of the occasions, but he got pretty anxious and went back soon after we got there. Um… there is one person who I was with the other times though…" pink graced his cheeks, making him look like a schoolboy in love even though he was a fully grown man.

"Who is it?" I demanded.

"U-um, is it really alright?" he avoided.

"Unless you wish to go to prison, you better tell me." I huffed.

"It's a fellow I met. His name is Jacob Wescox. He lives on a farm owned by the Johnson family." Finny admitted.

"In most cases I would be in a particularly foul mood from all the ruckus that disturbed me this morning, but since one of my problems was resolved yesterday I'll give you two options. Option one, Sebastian goes to the Johnston farm, finds this Jacob, and interrogates him. Option two, you and Sebastian retrieve the fellow and bring him back here to be questioned by me. Now, which will you choose?"

XxXxXxXxXx

"Did you find him?" I asked Sebastian as he entered my study, Finny behind him.

"Yes, do you wish to see him now?" he replied.

"Sure. Bring him in." I reclined in my chair and waited to see the man that could save Finny from prison.

Sebastian brought in a boy of maybe seventeen with golden hair and sea green eyes. He wore a simple outfit, one that suited a farm hand, and he looked rather tired.

"Please sit." I motioned to the chairs that were in front of my desk.

He silently seated himself. I began, "I heard that on more than one occasion you have been with my gardener, Finnian, alone. Is this true?"

He nodded but didn't speak. I continued, "On what dates were you with him?"

He sighed, but didn't reply. Before my temper rose, Finny jumped in, "H-he doesn't like to talk. I can give you the times we were together. He can check them."

"Fine then. But he will have to answer eventually, whether it be to me or the court." I gave Finny a pad and pen for him to write the occasions when he left the house and met Jacob.

"Did you do anything illegal while you were out?" I asked.

His eyes opened wide and he shook his head. He then looked from Finny to me, then back to Finnian.

"Are those correct?" I pointed to the times and dates Finnian had written and Jacob nodded. "If that's all, then you may leave as long as you don't try to skip town or avoid us. We'll be in touch."

He stood up stiffly and Sebastian and Finny began to escort him out until I stopped them, "Finny, please stay in here."

"Alright." he bowed his head.

Apparently Jacob has other ideas. He looked startled and turned back around to face me, "Why does he have to stay?" his deep baritone rang out through the room.

"Ah, you finally speak, I figured you might. I still have a few things to ask him." I smirked.

"Why can't I be present?"

"Why do you need to be present?"

"…"

"If that's all," I began, "could you please leave. Sebastian will show you out." I waved them off.

"Did something happen that I can't know about?" this time Jacob's question wasn't directed at me, but instead at Finnian.

"…I'd rather not get you involved. It would be best if you just went home, it's not like we were friends anyway." he said with a sad smile.

"Not friends? What… seriously? You know what, fine. Don't come to see me again." Jacob stormed off with Sebastian politely following behind.

Finnian was looking down at his hands, not showing his face.

"That was quite a melodramatic exit. I guess that is what happens when people get the wrong impression…" I thought back on Lizzy and sighed deeply.

"I guess so." he chuckled.

"The thing is, if you weren't friends why are you crying?"

"Crying? Me?" Finny didn't look up still, and his tears continued to drip down.

"I'll ask this only once so you must answer honestly, what did you want your relationship with that man to be?"

We sat in silence for a minute, only disturbed by the sound of Finny sniffling. "I don't know. I guess I was angry and jealous at first. I was so mad that someone like him could be so normal, that even though he was strong he was human, and I couldn't be like that. But then I was curious. I wanted to know what it was like for someone so normal to live, and I found out that even people who seem normal aren't 'normal'." he spoke.

"Do you like him?"

"Even though I just denied it in front of it, I see him as my greatest friend, but I can't have friends because I have too many secrets. I tried pushing him away recently, but he just won't budge. I don't get it!" he clenched his fists.

"Earlier you said that he wasn't 'normal', what did you mean?" I continued to interrogate.

"I shouldn't tell other's secrets, especially my friend's." he replied.

"I guess I could call him back in…" I suggested.

"Why do you need to know?! It has nothing to do with me!" I shouted.

"I would recommend you not raise your voice at your master, mostly for your sake- Sebastian would be furious if he heard you." I studied my nails and Finny calmed himself. "Good, I can see that you don't want me to know so I won't ask at the moment. As long as you haven't told him any of the secrets that the Phantomhive carefully hide, I have nothing to complain about. It seems that the times you were together aren't even on the days of the muggings, so you have no need to worry. Since you were in the Manor. I trust that you haven't lied to me about leaving without my permission or without another servant, right?" I smiled at him eerily and he nodded viciously. "That is wise; it would not be the best thing for you to have kept a secret from me. Now, you may go back to whatever you were doing before so rudely interrupting me this morning. I may call you back in, so be prepared."

"Yes Master Ciel, I'll be going then." he bowed and left.

"Yes, yes." I shooed him off.

A moment later Sebastian entered, "Ciel…"

"A personal visit I presume?" I set down what I was working on.

"We were disturbed this morning, I thought I'd start where we left off." he walked around to my side or the desk and sat down.

"So you want to give me another massage? I'm willing to let you, my shoulders are killing me." I groaned.

"I was thinking more of this…" he tilted my head up and pressed our lips together in a mind numbing kiss.

Demons should not be allowed to kiss humans, ever!

"Even on a busy day like today your thirst is unquenchable, Mr. Butler." I breathed.

"With such a delectable wine poured for me, how could I not swallow it all up?" he leaned in again, this time aiming for my neck. He was most likely going to leave a mark, one that I couldn't cover up, so I pulled back.

"You don't like it?" he frowned.

"I just don't want to try and hide a mark is all. I do have to make public appearances within the week." I replied.

"So it's alright if they are easy to cover?" he smirked.

"Wait a second-!" within the time that I said that he had already pushed me onto my desk and began unfastening the buttons on my shirt.

"Why wait? Who knows what idiots could interrupt us this time." he had successfully removed my shirt and was now biting along my collarbone and leaving a trail of red marks.

"That's exactly why we shouldn't go further here!" I quietly argued.

"But doesn't a little bit of chance turn you on?" he smiled seductively, letting me know I lost an uphill battle.

"No-not there!" Sebastian was now gently rubbing my still clothed member.

"He seems to enjoy it." Sebastian continued to massage my half hard cock until it was fully erect, waiting to be completely serviced. "That didn't take too long…" he whispered into my ear.

"Shut up! Take off my underwear or else it will get dirty!" I tried to push his hand away but he was obviously much stronger than me.

"Then let it get dirty. I'll clean it later."

"S-stop!" I panted.

"You don't really mean that. Why do you always say things like that when you don't really mean it?" he moved lower so he was now kissing my hips and quickly getting closer to my erection.

"Nnh…" I wasn't able to think of a good answer to his question, not while my head was such a mess.

Sebastian smiled triumphantly and spread my legs apart after removing my pants. Moving his head towards my crotch that was still covered by my undergarments, he playfully kissed the bulge of the fabric then moved aside the damp clothing to then lick along my stiff member. While he was beginning to suck me he began to stretch my entrance with one hand and play with my scrotum in the other.

"Augh!" I tried to hold my voice back but it was not going to listen to me.

"It's okay, let it out." Sebastian said and went back to sucking me.

"I'm about to come!" I warned. He didn't stop even though I tried pulling him away. As I reached my limit my hand that was previously trying to pry him off of me was pushing him closer. My waist was thrusting up into his mouth while my hand was forcing him to be unable to back away.

I released into his warm, wet mouth and slowly came down from my high. Sebastian moved away, wiping my semen from his mouth.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." he smirked.

"Gah!" I blushed and covered my face.

"Stop that, don't hide such a cute expression!" he pulled away at my arms and held them back, "Ah, just adorable." he mused at my horrible attempt to remain straight faced.

"Don't stare…" I looked away.

"You say that but when you make such a cute face it's either stare or gobble you up." he pressed his head into the crook of my neck and smiled.

"…Staring's fine I guess…"

"Hmm… I take it you're not in the mood to be eaten right now." he said.

"Think whatever you like." I frowned.

"How did your interrogation of Finny go?" he asked. Is he seriously going to start talking business right after fellatio?

I guess there's no helping it, "He's keeping some secret about Jacob from me, but it seems that we have enough information to keep Finny in the clear. If any more evidence is needed I'll have to visit the Undertaker." I grimaced.

"I'd rather us not visit such an odd misshapen being, but if it is necessary so be it." he sighed.

"I suppose I should clean up in case someone comes…" I stood up and began to neaten the papers on my desk that we had scattered.

"I suppose so." he sighed again as he knew I wasn't going further right now.

"Don't pout, it's unbecoming."

"I'm not pouting." Sebastian whined.

"Yes you are."

"Whatever…" he was proving my point right now, and it was rather adorable.

XxXxXxXxXx

"If that's all…" I straightened the stack of papers on my desk.

"Yes, we are terribly sorry to inconvenience you like this." the two men from the Yard sat in front of me bowing their heads.

"Now that you know my gardener is not the murderer, I suggest you find another lead. Good day gentlemen." I stood and shook their hands and saw them off.

I sighed and leaned back onto, surprisingly, a body.

"Are you finished?" Sebastian had appeared behind me and was now wrapping his arms around my waist.

I relaxed into his chest, "With this particular problem. Now I have a few more to go."

"Such a pity. I feel like ever since we confessed to each other your workload has increased." he complained.

"It's just your imagination; I always have plenty of work."

"Maybe one day you'll get a break." he rested his head on my shoulder.

"I'll only have time to sleep when I'm dead." I said sarcastically but Sebastian noticeably stiffened behind me. I'd forgotten that my mortality was probably an uncomfortable subject for him, "Just kidding, I need sleep since you exhaust me so much." I quickly created a diversion, one that he wouldn't ignore.

"Exhaust you how?" he relaxed again and smirked.

"You know exactly how. I would have guessed you were a succubus if I didn't know you better!" I teased.

"You wouldn't just be standing here if I was one. If I were a succubus, I'd have you bent over that table, ass sticking out, panting-"

"Enough!" I covered his mouth with my hands, not even trying to hide my tomato-red face.

I felt his sexy smile and he opened his mouth. His tongue slipped out from in-between his lips and began licking my hands as well as occasionally sucking on them.

"You annoying pervert! If you want it so bad take me to my room instead of doing it here in the hallway!" I gave in, my face turning into a deeper shade of red.

"Well, if you say it's alright…" he grabbed me by my waist and hoisted me onto his shoulder.

"Put me down! Sebastian put me down right now!" I yelled and hit his back.

"As you command." he flung me onto my large bed.

Why did I let him do this to me, in the middle of the day no less?!

The world will never know…

XxXxXxXxXx

It was the next morning and I was positively groggy. Sebastian had left the room as soon as I had woken up-complaining about some sort of catastrophe that Bard had almost caused-and left me in my tired, dirty, and sore state.

Thank god that someone had prepared a bath. I slid into the warm water and exhaled deeply, my worries fading for a short amount of time. After indulging in the bath, I didn't care to get dressed so instead I put on a dressing gown and slippers.

As I walked stiffly down to the dining area I was stopped by an exuberant smile and a pair of glasses, "Hello Master Ciel! Isn't today just lovely?!" Mey-Rin beamed.

"…Sure," I grumbled, "do you know where Sebastian is? I need to speak with him."

"Oh, he went out to the Johnston Farm this morning after making sure Bard wasn't around any flammable items. I think Finnian went with him, but I can't be sure." she tapped her chin while speaking.

"Thank you. Is breakfast ready?" I asked her.

"Breakfast? It's almost noon…" she said innocently.

"…Oh. Well, could you have something prepared? Thank you." That damn butler, doing me until I was past exhaustion so that I wake up at almost midday. Someday I'll get him back for all this…

"Oh, Master Ciel!" Finnian exclaimed when he saw me on my way past the library.

"I thought you had left with Sebastian?…"

"We just returned. We went to apologize to Jacob… I though Sebastian said you had injured your back, are you okay now?" Finny said concernedly.

That damned… "Yes, I'm fine. It was nothing a little time couldn't heal." I smiled on the outside.

"You're awake already? That's a surprise, I thought after you went back to sleep you wouldn't wake up for longer." Sebastian appeared behind me and planted a kiss on my cheek before I could react.

"You-"

"Now, now, let's not fight…" he smiled.

"That's right, we won't fight, I'll just tell you to jump off a bridge and die!" I yelled at him.

"That isn't very nice." he said like a child.

Shit, Finny was still in the room, "Sorry, but I should go discipline him properly…" I said awkwardly at Finnian who smiled in understanding at my uncomfortable feeling.

"Oh~, sounds exciting!" Sebastian said into my ear.

"Learn some manners!" I smacked him and stormed off.

"I was just kidding!" he chuckled and went after me.

"Joke or not, it wasn't appropriate. I thought we were going to keep our personal affairs completely separate from our public ones." I frowned.

"Finny said he wanted to see it." Sebastian said.

"What are you talking abou-"

"I'm not lying. The reason Finny was sneaking out was because he was asking Jacob what it looked like when a man loved another man. Jacob is apparently like us in that aspect and Finny was too embarrassed to ask you or me to kiss and act like a couple in front of him until now." Sebastian said honestly.

"Ugh, this is so uncomfortable…" I massaged the bridge of my nose.

"Don't let it be, he was just curious and not upset. Act like it didn't happen." Sebastian suggested.

"Ignoring all that just happened, why are you such an idiot?! You overdid it last night when you take into account both during the night and earlier in the day!" I pushed him slightly.

"I couldn't help it, you seem to be getting more beautiful each time." he turned a little red.

"It might be fairly easy for you since all you have to do is put… well put that in, but it is much more straining for me." I turned beet red.

"I'll try to hold myself back, alright?" he sighed.

"Yes, thank you." I relaxed a little.

"Master Ciel, you have a visitor." Mey-Rin literally ran into me.

"Don't run, now who is it?" I steadied her.

"Duke Westly sir, he says it's urgent." she breathed hard.

"Everything he has is urgent! Very well, please tell him I'll be there in a few-"

"We'll talk right now." he smiled as he walked up from behind Mey-Rin.

"God man, is it impossible for you to wait a few minutes?!" I said, exasperated.

"It's much easier to just come to you and talk rather than wait forever. Besides, it's not like you have anything to hide, right?" he smiled devilishly.

"Just come in…" I shook my head and entered my room with Westly and Sebastian behind me, "What is it this time?"

"I see you haven't worked on my daughter's case yet, I suggest you hurry up on doing that or else you won't be getting your reward." he said seriously.

"I've been quite busy recently and I'm not sure if I can handle your daughter's case for a little while…" I sidetracked.

"What if I said I could get you back your previous position?"

I looked harshly at him, "We both know that would be impossible."

"No it isn't, a lot happened while you were no longer the watchdog. Honestly, the Queen could use you again." he stared into my eyes, telling me he wasn't lying.

"Who says I want to go back? I enjoy the more relaxing days I have here."

"Do you really enjoy it? I know if I got demoted I would want to get back as soon as I could." he doubted.

"I have plenty to keep me occupied. I will, however, do your case." I gave in partially.

"I'll go then. And remember- this time don't go to any parties you weren't invited to…" he smirked and I glared at him as he left. Sebastian looked at me in confusion.

"It's nothing. I just hope someday that man will grow up from his childish ways." I said grimly.

"You were once childish and sought only revenge too." he said.

"At least I was a child, not an old man! I grew out of that." I defended.

"At least you met me from your childishness." Sebastian smirked.

I guess there was something positive from all of those nightmarish days… I thought and turned to kiss him lightly on the cheek.

"What was that for?" he blushed.

I smiled, "Reimbursement for earlier."

Hello my friends! Is it alright to call you that? I see you as my comrades.

Send me reviews/PM's! I wan't to see them! If you ever want to get some WaSL information PM/review and I will answer as soon as I can! Also check m profile. I try to update it at least once a week about things concerning this fic.

Love you all!

KRM