Wow... I've made you all wait a month didn't I? -_- I really hate myself for making you all wait, but I really appreciate the reviews and alerts while I was away. I'll make sure to update my schedule to finish the chapters for you guys. ^_^ I'm hoping maybe when I have free time after school, I'll try my best to get working on the upcoming chapters. :)

I also found a theme for Jane, if you are interested. Type in Nemo by Nightwish, and you can listen to the instrumental one if you like. (I prefer that one since it's much more epic, but then again, some songs are awesome for her.) Maybe I should make a soundtrack for this story. What do you guys think? XD Hahaha~!

So... about this chapter, I thought of doing a trip down to memory lane and put up about maybe three to five chapters of Jane's past (two parts on one of them). I hope it sounds good, because I thought this would be a good time to experience her memories that remained in Jane's heart. ^_^ Enjoy this memory arc. XD

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~Chapter Twenty-Four: His Bride, Reborn~

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February 13th, 1883.

That day took away seven-year-old Jane's happiness, faith, and gave her loneliness. Her mother would tell her stories until she fell asleep so she can prepare her birthday event. Her father would take her around town to see what she wanted for her birthday. If those responsible didn't burn down her mansion, then how would she meet the demon that saved her?

The cold snow touched her shoulders, making the little girl wrap the black cloth around her tightly for warmth. The calm, quiet winter described her emotions perfectly. The snow represents her positive emotions falling slowly. The gentle, yet freezing wind expresses the pain she encountered earlier. And the moon, that endures the night, means that she is alone.

The rain and thunder that occurred when Jane named Sebastian was short and only drenched the flames from her mansion. The tragic day seemed to explain Jane's emotions with three weather conditions. Sunny: her cheerfulness and smiles laid that time. Rain: the tears Jane shed when her home and parents were taken away from her. Snow: the calmness and coldness that is growing onto Jane to make her a totally different person.

Her faith was fading, more likely since the demon who offered a contract would make her be damned to Hell until her true goal is achieved: to kill those who took her parents' lives. He would become her shield, her sword, her butler. Sebastian thought to himself that eating human souls would just be boring and the same thing over and over again. He was wrong. This time, he realized that the young girl was something special.

In his mind, he found the perfect meal.

Jane was mesmerized by the demon's appearance despite her young age. In the cold night, she watched her "butler" rebuild the mansion, as she ordered him. It has been only two hours since the mansion burned down, and he was nearly done rebuilding the roof. In the moonlight, he was awestruck to look at. Amazingly, he remodeled the furniture just before rebuilding the rest of the house.

She watched him jump down to the front of her mansion, where the girl was waiting.

"How can you do that in a matter of hours?" she asked with slight praise. The demon rested his gloved hand over his heart, grinning.

"You see, my lady, I'm simply one hell of a butler." Jane turned herself to the newly furnished door, gripping onto her black cloth again.

"I'm going to bed. Wake me up when morning comes."

"As you wish," the demon told her.

Watching his new lady heading to her room, he took out a piece of paper from his coat pocket and looked at it.

Dear Earl and Lady Worthington,

We apologize for not being able to make it today. Our son was sick and had to be taken care of right away. However, we would like to make it up by giving our future daughter-in-law a present for her birthday tomorrow.

Sebastian took out a small box, opened it, and revealed out a diamond ring with a sapphire in the very middle. He put it back in his coat pocket, continuing on reading the letter.

We'll let you know when we can make up our day. As much as I support you on our children's marriage, I hope you can forgive our absence.

Sincerely, Earl...

The rest of the letter was singed. With that, Sebastian headed to Jane's bedroom, which took him a couple of minutes due to the reconstruction of the mansion. His red eyes laid on the sleeping girl which resulted him in a dark chuckle. For a little girl like her, she slept peacefully, unlike other children at her age. Taking out the box that held the ring, he placed it on her new nightstand.

Looking at her in the moonlight and falling snow gave him some perspective. He can see her dark side, her hatred, but in moonlight and such, it was like a disguise. Humans to him are such confusing creatures, but how they work to survive interested him. With his grin, he left the room, waiting for tomorrow. For her eighth birthday.

A happy birthday indeed...

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The day has come, yet, it feel as if it was just a normal day. What was strange is that Sebastian didn't make it to Jane's room to tell her to wake up. Has something happen to him, or was he trying to find the murderers of her parents?

When Jane woke up, she heard a strong pound at the front door. "What...?" she groaned softly, slowly getting up from her bed. Her nightgown flowing slowly resulted in her determination to know who has come on her eighth birthday. She then stopped herself, realizing about what happened last night.

A small frown dressed her lips. Her hands embracing herself from the cold that she felt. And more importantly, her eye. The eye that her demon butler laid the contract on. No one, but those close to her can find out. Closing that eye, she went down the stairs to hear the louder knocking. She took a deep breath and slowly opened the door, seeing a familiar person picking her up into his arms.

He is still alive after all.

"My lady! Thank goodness you're okay!" Tanaka's voice echoed in her eyes, resulting joy for her. At least for now, she still has her parents' butler. She couldn't speak, due to sheer happiness. All that was for her to respond was tears and a smile. When the old man put her down, she got her voice back and wiped the tears away.

"What happened to you? How did you survive?"

"My lady, I think he should tell you," was all he replied. Turning her head to see what he meant, she saw a familiar grin.

"He was stabbed in the back right after you went into the manor," Sebastian told her. "Before I came to you, I sent him to Royal Hospital, after hearing that a friend of your parents works there." Jane looked at Tanaka worriedly.

"You know what he is then, don't you?" He nodded slowly, leaving the young brunette to open her eye, revealing her contract. She looked at the pocket watch the demon possesses, resulting her in a gasp. "Tanaka?" she looked back at the butler. "You gave him your watch? Why?" She looked back at him.

"He shall be succeeding me as the new Worthington butler," he replied. "I'll take over your father's job until you are of age. Sebastian, he can protect you until he can claim your soul." He frowned, feeling guilty about saying that to the only heir of the household. Jane herself doesn't care, however.

She's doing this for her parents. She will not regret of what she decided for her fate. "My soul may be damned to Hell..." Jane paused, seeing Tanaka's reaction. He was shocked to see a little girl not afraid of dying in the hands of a demon. "...but that doesn't mean you should feel guilty." She smiled so warmly. "For our love ones, it's my duty as the next heir of the Worthington household, to find the truth of my parents' death."

Sebastian licked his lips, grinning afterwards. His eyes narrowed down to the girl, admiring her bravery for her age. He was right: he knew he made the right decision to become her butler. "My lady, shall I make preparations for breakfast?" Her smile faded after hearing her butler's deep voice. Not that it ruined her mood, but what is happening now until her death is what made it so.

"Yes, Sebastian," she replied calmly. "I'll head to my room to wear proper clothing." The demon bowed, respecting her motivations.

The hours that drove by seemed an instant to the little girl. Wearing the dress her mother made her before her final hours, the necklace that is to be worn by every successor of the family, and an eye patch to cover her contract she made with the demon.

Even if the hours pass by, how many days, weeks, months, or even years will it take her to uncover the mystery of her parents' death? The wind that drives toward Jane, was just a second, something done with and simple.

"Jane!" a feminine voice called out. It was familiar, yet different. When she turn around, she spot her cousin, Isabel. The blond stopped, surprised Jane's display. Her frown made her worried, because she was cheerful when she was with her. Her eye patch especially, shocked the young girl. "What happened to you?!"

"I hate to say this to you, but my eye was damaged due to the injuries I received last night." Jane hated lying, but her cousin must not know she's the prey of a supernatural creature like Sebastian. Isabel didn't cry, but she ran to her like a lost puppy and hugged her.

"You shouldn't go through this during your birthday!" she told her. It made it easy for Jane to even reply to that.

"It's okay," Jane warmed up, smiling at her. She stepped back and closed her eye. "There's always more birthdays for me. You should be thankful that Aunt Harley drove you all the way here from Scotland just to see how I'm doing and paying respects for my parents. I still have Tanaka, and if it wasn't for Sebastian, then this house wouldn't be fixed completely."

"Who's Sebastian?" the six-year old asked. The two girls heard footsteps, making Isabel turn around and see a taller man.

"That would be me, Lady Isabel," he replied with a bow. I'm so relieved they won't be brats for much longer, he thought on the inside. In his past, he had to deal with a prey who's little sibling would act like one and he could get away with it. Despite Jane being a child, she will develop into a pretty young woman. Isabel was stunned, his appearance catching her green eyes.

"It's nice to meet you, Sebastian," she bowed in respect. "So how long-"

"Isabel, dear!" The blond looked at the view, seeing her mother waving.

"I should get going," she said to them. In what looks like a fist, she unfolded it and gave something to Jane. "Let all the sadness that lives within you be gone forever," she whispered to her. All Jane could do was nodded, later watching her close cousin leave to her home country. She looked at the letter she received from Isabel.

Her feet guided her to the manor, heading to the library and reading the letter. Sebastian watched as she read the letter, then moving his eyes to the flames of the fireplace. Jane threw the letter to the fire, watching it burn slowly just like the manor itself last night. Despite having a new life and Tanaka, she felt that smiling was just a lame excuse or showing fake feelings.

"Positive feelings are nothing more than just impressions that die away right after," Jane said with a glare, but without the anger in her voice or feeling. The fire that lays across her violet eye burns brightly like the stars. The flames that try to interrupt her way shall be extinguished right away, no matter how big. She turned away from the flame and looked at her butler. "Isn't that right, Sebastian?"

The demon grinned. "Yes, my lady."

Yes... Jane will do everything in her growing power to destroy those who ruined everything perfect and loving in her life. With Sebastian, every command will be valid, every answer will be yes, and everything will go her way.

Until Sebastian hears her final command, it will be in his honor to be her shield, sword, and trusting companion who will not lie to or betray her. Since he's just becoming one hell of a butler, those who interfered with them will receive eternal punishment from the hands of the Devil.

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I hope you like "Her Memories Arc"! That's probably the title of this arc in Part II. XD Since you basically got the idea that she would've been engaged, you won't believe who it will be, and how it never made it. :) I thought that he shouldn't, but he's awesome. He will be in the chapter after the next one. Hope you're ready. ^_^

Also, I want you to look at my poll to see what kind of story you would want to read from me. It's a tough decision since it's not Black Butler related (sadly), but one thing's for sure is that the lemon you requested will be uploaded sometime before Part II is over. It seems far away, but better late than nothing, right?

I also want to make it clear that I will put this on break. I hate making you all wait without warning, and I deeply apologize. :( I'm not going anywhere (except freaking school and sometimes church), and I promise that I'll update weekly on Saturday mornings. The chapters that are written already based on this arc will take time for me to edit, get references/help, and follow how the present is occurring. (I hope that makes sense... O_o) I'll see you soon! :)

If you like this story and want more, alert me and review along the way at the bottom of this chapter! :)