*WARNING* This chapter is a bit more intense than others as far as descriptions go. So, M rating is emphasized in my opinion for borderline gore mentions.

Author's Notes: HEY LOOK, TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE WEEK. AND THIS ONE IS LONG. ISH.

Side note, I made a major change in my story. Like, MAJOR change that's being implemented now. I blame the comments for sparking this particular plot bunny. Its opening the chapter and will be better developed later on. But I HAVE A PLAN. ISH.

Also, still looking for a beta if anyone is interested! Details at the bottom of chapter 28.

BookaholicGurl78: Thanks! And I'm happy that this story makes you so excited! :D

DeathlyIceMaiden: Sebastian just really knows how to handle a serious moment, doesn't he?

MzAkumaGore: Such is the woe of the writer. Having to decide whether or not your character has suffered enough. v_v

And I'm currently a fourth year, but I'm taking a slow year to focus on hard sciences so I'm gonna have an extra year tacked on to this. My goal is vet school, once I get my degree (So. Much. College.) And thank you so much! But she is doing a lot better. She is currently asleep on my foot. XD


Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji.


Chapter 29: Her Cleansing, Part II.


Isabella had a secret.

With silent glances and unspoken thoughts, she diligently worked to excel at her job. Each success and perfect execution garnered her quiet praise, subtle acknowledgement, the small smile from her teacher. And eagerly, she drank all that he gave her, savoring every last drop till she was left with nothing but the craving for more.

The young Reaper soon soared up the ranks, earning the respect of many, but only caring about the respect from him. Teacher turned to comrade, to friend, to hidden obsession. As they grew closer, she grew bolder, more daring, finally acknowledging the natural womanly charm she spent so long ignoring.

So one day, with a harmless tease, a test of carefully practiced and devised flirtation, she moved.

And he responded.

"You are dear to me, but you are practically my sister."

She did not betray herself. Her face remained unphased, wearing a happy laugh while declaring him to be practically her brother. He did not know the truth, nor did he suspect the painful throbbing of her still heart, though it had died years prior. She betrayed none of this as relief crossed his face.

But deep within her, a small part of her simply… snapped.

And so, from this snap grew a new goal, and a routine was born. She would tease him, push him, till he grew flustered and embarrassed from her advances, guiding them both closer and closer to the cliff's edge of where neither could return once the plunge had been taken. Then, once the edge had been reached, she would boldly declare them siblings, pulling back from the edge and easing his mind while slicing yet again into her suffering heart.

Her heart bore so many scars, so many wounds that had yet remained open. Nothing was left except for a rotten and festering lump of flesh, one which she continued to poke and prod at, refusing to allow her wounds to heal. The empty throbbing became a necessary lifeblood to her maddening soul.

And though she sought relief in the arms of another, she never allowed her heart to stray. She never allowed her torment to lessen. The pain fueled her madness, and she reveled in it.

And she never told him the truth, the truth of how he unknowingly held her heart in his hands. Of how she tortured herself, twisting and pulling, tearing and ripping upon her much abused heartstrings, Of how addicted she had grown to this dull pain of her dead heart, feeling like a lame limb that should have been cut off long ago. She never told him. Her teacher, her comrade, her friend.

Her brother.

Isabella had a secret.

One that she would carry beyond the grave.


Isabella would be the death of him.

Of this, William was certain. Chaos followed in her wake, and she reveled in the destruction her curiosity wrought. He had known of this since early on their partnership, since the time she coerced him to see her family, back when he was simply the reluctant teacher.

Had someone told him that by the end of her training she would have him wrapped around her little finger, he would have scoffed at the notion. His hatred of demons was deep, and when he had originally heard of her, he had briefly contemplated ending her. However, after reassessing the situation, he decided to seek out proof that his hate justified.

Proof would have resulted in less paperwork over her death.

Now, here he was, his nerves a complete and utter wreck as he raced to the aide of the young half-demon he now called his sister.

An angel. Of all the things to stick her nose in, she had to choose an angel. And not only an angel, but one of the fallen, if the demon's description was correct. Based on the unusual seriousness of said demon, William assumed the beast was likely speaking the truth. As the unlikely pair approached the source of the otherworldly energy, William found himself faced with the reality that the demon's words were true.

Locked in battle with the seemingly crazed angel wielding a glowing blade, Isabella wielded her scythe with practiced precision and deadly grace. Landing in a crouch, she could only momentarily acknowledge with a flickering glance of her eyes at their arrival on the edge of the clearing. Brightly glowing magenta eyes could easily be seen at the distance, her fingers transformed into claws as her face remained twisted in a feral snarl.

As she lunged at the angel who in turn swooped towards the half-demon, William noticed the shallow but profusely bleeding slices along Isabella's arms and calves. Her usual trench had long since been abandoned on the side of the field, and her pants were beginning to tatter and fray from the damage mixed with sweat and blood. The only item which remained pristine was a peculiar looking rose tucked into a braid against the side of her scalp, black as night though shining with red tones and contrasting to the blue tones of her hair.

William acknowledged all this within a few moments notice, and began to take a step into the battle.

"You could die."

Barely hesitating in his step, William glance over his shoulder towards the demon. His wine colored eyes flashed a magenta all too similar to Isabella's as he turned his eyes back towards William. "You most likely will die."

William continued forward. "Then I die helping my sister."

And leapt into the fray without even waiting for a response.


Sebastian had to give the Reapers credit. They could fight. And they could fight well.

But he had never expected this outcome.

With measured steps and obvious trust within each other, the two made quite the pair on the battlefield. Each knew where the other was at all times, and they knew how to play off one another to their own advantage. When one blocked a blow, the other attacked. When one paused, the other guarded. When one needed the push, the other pushed harder.

And Sebastian found himself believing they could win. Now, if he had assisted earlier on, the win would have been more certain. Angela likely would already be dead on the ground. The fight and angelic aura dragging up Isabella's more demonic side perhaps might have even aided in making her more receptive to Sebastian, acknowledging his power as attractive rather than a threat.

But with Mr. Spears present, Sebastian found himself wanting to simply watch this through to the end. Should her life come at risk, he would intervene. His Young Master would be angered should his cousin fall to serious harm, and Sebastian could not quite bed her if she permanently left this plane of existence. Besides, the deal was still in play, evident with the rose still clinging to messy hair, which wildly fanned around her shoulders.

Angela displayed her anger and frustration openly across her face, before a wicked, devious smile settled on her lips. Sebastian furrowed his brows just as the angel kicked up her attack. Slamming the hilt of her angel blade into Isabella's stomach, the half-breed went skidding back a few paces, stunned. Angela took this moment to propel herself up into the air with her wings before diving back down at near impossible speeds.

Her blade stretched before her as she reached her target, and William barely had the time to register the attack before the angel was upon him and plunging the sword into her victim…

"William!"

Sebastian had always known Isabella to be foolish, but he had never expected her weak heart to drive her this far.

The squelch of the blade sinking done through the half-breed's collarbone into her torso, mixed with the occasional snap of bone and tendons, echoed through the otherwise silent field. William, sprawled on the ground a few feet away having been shoved out of the way of the attack just moments prior, watched in horror as Isabella became the new sheath to the angel's blade. Her face twisted in agony, silently screaming as blood seeped out of the deep wound and down her pale skin.

For a moment, Sebastian found himself frozen in shock. Of all the outcomes, he had not expected this. Her selfless deed contradicted anything a normal demon would do: but then again, Isabella had never been normal.

And he soon found himself entranced by the way the blood trailed down the hollow of her throat, tracing a path around the swell of her breast to lead into her corset…

The sickening sound of the blade being withdrawn from its flesh sheath brought everything back into motion. Sebastian took off towards the group, lunging at the angel while William cried out in anguish to his fallen comrade. Angela simply swooped up out of reach, cackling maniacally as she soared higher above her wounded prey.

"Her cleansing has been completed! Such a vile and sinful creature, tortured by her own madness: such an honor for her to become my blade's sheath!" Looking down upon them with a wild look to her eyes, she lifted the bloodied blade again and declared, "Soon, all your bloods shall be mixed as you become more sheaths to my blade!"

William merely cradled his partner, muttering pointless scoldings and useless assurances to the quickly fading half-breed. She coughed in his arms, her steadily pouring blood staining her partner's suit as she struggled to keep her eyes on his face, attempting to reach up to his cheek but her arm too weak to reach up to close the distance. Acknowledging the severity of the situation, Sebastian spoke to the Shinigami while keeping his eyes locked upon Angela.

"Take her to get help," he ordered. "I will handle this vulture."

Angela shrieked in rage, swooping down towards the trio. In a split second decision, the demon snatched up Isabella's discarded scythe beside its fallen master. With a well-aimed swing, he deflected the angel's attack while slicing through her wing with one of the blades, leaving behind her scream and splattered blood as she darted back up high, struggling to stay in the air.

Finally looking back to the two Shinigami, one coughing up blood and the other watching him in disbelief. Sebastian viciously snapped, "I would rather not have to explain to my Young Master why his cousin is dead on my watch. Now, go!"

Schooling his face back into his usual impassive stare, William stiffly replied, "Isabella will need that scythe back."

"But of course." With that said, William finished carefully gathering up Isabella in his arms and vanished, while Sebastian turned back to the matter at hand. He needed to work quickly.

Ciel would need waking soon.


Yes, I am evil, MORE CLIFFHANGERS. I AM JUST EMBRACING MY CONSTANT NEED FOR CLIFFHANGERS.

Anyway, quick poll of the masses! I kind of want to follow the manga from this point on. So, question to answer in comments:

Should I kill off Angela? I have no plans for her and Ash yet, but idk whether to keep them or not.

Let me know what you think!