Sebastian quickly took care of the Shinigami holding on to him and then rushed to aid his master; once Ciel was free he and Sebastian ran over to get a better look at what was going on. William was down on the floor getting to his feet slowly surrounded by the other Shinigami that were all poised ready to attack but not moving forwards, Grell was stood by but looked at if he had no intention of joining them, instead he stared firmly at the two opponents before the Shinigami who were both smiling back at them all in a knowing and amused way. The undertaker stood holding out his enormous scythe in front to stop the Shinigami coming any closer to him and Rose close at his side.
"Undertaker?" Ciel said in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"Evening milord. What a lovely surprise to see you." The Undertaker laughed. "I was merely in the neighbourhood and fancied dropping in to see how things were going." The Undertaker looked over at William who had got to his feet and was straightening his glasses looking scorned.
"I knew you were involved," William said as his eyes glanced over to Rose who was looking rather pleased with herself, "However I am surprised that you lied to us about this."
The Undertaker laughed looking around the group surrounding them that looked very confused, "I never lie, you just didn't ask the right question, that wouldn't be my fault."
"You lied about this thief." William said pointing his shears at Rose.
"No I didn't." The Undertaker grinned, "I told you I didn't have a son, I told you that I never trained the boy you were asking about. I never said anything about a daughter." There was a murmur of gasps and talking from the Shinigami and William looked horrified.
"What?" Ciel exclaimed unbelievingly, "Rose...this can't be true?"
"Sorry Ciel, I didn't think it was vital to tell you." Rose said as the undertaker let her go but did not lower his scythe, "It's true. I could never have done all this on my own."
"This does explain the lady's fighting prowess and how she could infiltrate the Shinigami dispatch without being noticed," Sebastian said looking intently at Rose, "It also explains the strange resonance of that soul."
Grell could hardly believe it, he remembered now how her moves had been so familiar to him and he felt stupid that he hadn't managed to piece it all together when she had told him her history earlier that night, of course her father had to be the undertaker, he was the only on that could have trained her proficiently well enough.
"Well I am not surprised that you noticed," The undertaker said to Sebastian but then he turned to Grell, "It is surprising that you didn't though, especially when you got so close to my lovely Rose."
"I had my suspicions." Grell said crossing his arms.
"Did you now?" The undertaker grinned looking at Rose and then back again, "I don't think so. She's done far too well to get this far, I believe you didn't find out until today, in fact, I know you didn't." The undertaker grinned at Grell and Grell's cheeks flushed and he looked away, how could he have known about them, Rose hadn't had time to say anything, was it so clearly written across his face?
"No matter your involvement," William said pushing his glasses up and looking even angrier, "There will be just one extra to take down today." The other Shinigami were looking very unsure and talking between themselves, none of them were too happy about having to take down the undertaker, his fighting skills were legendary even if he were retired and getting on it years. "Nothing changes, this ends today."
"On the contrary, everything changes today." The undertaker said reaching in his pocket and drawing out the pink slip he had found earlier and handing it to Rose who stepped back a couple of paces and waved it at them.
"A death bookmark!" Grell exclaimed.
"I told you I could change things." Rose said looking up at Grell with an amorous look. "I can change things for us. We can change all this if you want to..." Grell wanted to change things, he wanted more time with Rose before he took her life, he couldn't bear the thought of never looking into those eyes again after this day.
"Heretics." William said glancing at Grell's confused expression and then moving into a fighting stance, the other Shinigami backing him up. "Don't worry Grell Sutcliff; despite your useless behaviour they won't get a chance to use it. Take them, I want that death bookmark."He said signalling to the Shinigami, they moved reluctantly forwards ready for the fight of their lives.
The undertaker wagged a finger at William, "That's not a very wise thing you've decided." He threw back his cloak and threw Rose her scythe that had been concealed there, she caught it above her head and twirled it round proficiently bringing it round in an arc and clashing it against the Undertaker's as he did the same with his own, "I do so enjoy family activities, don't you my little blossom?"
Rose grinned sporting the same smile as her father, "I can think of nothing more...entertaining."
"Now." William said and they all shot forwards into a sprint.
"Sebastian," Ciel shouted suddenly, he wanted the death bookmark, it would help him even if it meant breaking the flow of life, "Help Rose and Undertaker, now, I command you!"
Sebastian bowed low, "Yes, my lord."
Again all chaos ensued, the Undertaker and Rose ran into their own sprint towards the Shinigami and started to lock blades with them all, Sebastian got to them just in time to even out the numbers; the undertaker fought against four Shinigami whilst three took on Rose including William and the other three took on Sebastian, Ciel and Grell were the only ones not involved in the fray.
"Aren't you going to do something?" Ciel roared at Grell how turned around looking quite surprised, "You've held back this long not killing her, it's time to choose, them or her."
The undertaker's fight was coming close to Ciel and Grell, he was fighting with such ease and the Shinigami were all fighting their hardest against him but it was no use, when the undertaker got close enough he smiled at Grell, "I believe you made my little flower a promise didn't you reaper?" he continued to fight whilst talking easily, the distraction didn't even seem to matter, he swung the blade round his body in a spiral and knocked all the Shinigami to the floor, "I would be veeeery disappointed if you broke that promise."
"You're one of the best; I've seen you fight, what are you doing just standing around." Ciel said egging him on, he could see Grell wavering now as his eyes kept a firm lock on Rose who wasn't fighting as well as her father against the Shinigami, all it would take would be one wrong move and she would be finished, these weren't students they were the best.
"You're right." Grell's face changed into a determined look and he clenched his fists drawing himself up to his full height, "I'm not going to let them kill her, I made a promise and I don't intend to break it!" Grell bolted forwards.
"That's the spirit," The undertaker said reaching round the back of his cloak, "Hey redhead!" He shouted and Grell slowed turning around, "You might need this." There was a loud mechanical roar and the undertaker threw something up in the air towards Grell who held jumped up and grabbed it landing back on the ground with a razor sharp smile, his chainsaw in his hands.
"Oh my baby!" Grell exclaimed excitedly whirling round with the death scythe roaring loudly, "I will never let us be parted again!" He brought the scythe round in front of him then shot the reapers attacking Rose a deadly look, "Now let's deal with them shall we baby?"
Rose was finding it hard to keep up and swing the death scythe with her injured arm, it was still weak and the other reapers weren't giving her an inch especially William, she managed to find time to quickly glance over at Sebastian who was now dealing with the last reaper after the other lay broken and unconscious on the floor, her father seemed to be having even more luck and was now only facing William and another reaper but she was struggling.
Rose's distraction got the better of her, William hooked Rose's scythe and yanked it backwards so that her grip failed and it was torn from her hands pulling her forwards off her feet and onto the ground hard, she rolled out of the way just before a death scythe stuck in the group where her chest had been and she tried to crawl forwards and grab her scythe but William kicked it out of the way and stood on her hand.
"Sebastian!" Ciel shouted seeing Rose in danger and Sebastian turned to see but was attacked by the Shinigami he was fighting and tried to end the fight but it was proving difficult as the death scythe had caught him several times and he was bleeding heavily.
"I have no need to take the bookmark now; I would rather pry it off your arrogant dead corpse." William said crushing her hand under his foot, Rose gritted her teeth trying to tear her hand away but William put all of his weight onto it and kicked her in the face with his other but she didn't fall unconscious instead she spat blood at him which hit the cuff of his trouser. "You...dirty...little-"
"Ah ah Will darling!" Grell said roaring his death scythe through the air towards William's head but Will turned his body just in time as it skimmed the top of his head and cut through some of his hair, "I'm afraid I can't let you kill her." Grell swung out the scythe again this time for William's body but he bent inwards and it sliced through his jacket and half his tie fell to the floor.
"This was a brand new tie." William said picking up his scythe, "I don't know how you got that stupid thing back from my office but you'll pay for that." William stepped off Rose's hand and struck out for Grell but he was too fast and had a bloodthirsty look in his eyes, William had seen him look like this long ago when they had been in training together, this was the look of the long forgotten Grell of his memory, the Grell that was strong and unstoppable, it was the look that reminded him that Grell was still a AAA student and he was merely a B.
"You choose this deserter over us?" William said trying to hold his ground and fight back as hard as he could against the red haired reaper but it was no use, Grell had found new strength and determination in his actions, something that William could not break through, William felt truly worried for the first time since he had first been attacked by Grell so many years ago.
Grell looked angry, "Yes I do! I will choose love over work any day, life's been pointless until now, everyone using me and denying me, I've had enough! You're no exception to that William, oh I cherished you dearly and you turned out to be the same as the rest, I was such a fool! But no more, I've finally found someone who wants me for me, someone who wants to give me their life and I won't let you take that away from me! I made a promise, her soul is mine!" Grell brought his chainsaw high over his head and brought it down with such force that William's sheers buckled in half above his head and the chainsaw got through cutting through his shoulder and blood spurting everywhere, he fell to the floor in agony as his glasses slid off and all he could see in front of him was a blur of red.
"Don't ever touch my things again." Grell bent down in front of him and punched him in the face knocking him out, "And that's for all the times you hit my beautiful face!"
Rose pushed herself up off the floor and looked up to see Grell stood over her with his chainsaw resting on his shoulder and a wide sharp grin on his face, he looked truly magnificent sprayed in William's blood and looking passionately down at her own bleeding face; he bent down and took hooked his arm under hers and around her back lifting her up to her feet as she leant against him and held on to his shirt making bloodstained marks with her hands.
"You look frightful darling though that colour suits you." Grell grinned at her, "I'll get you out of those clothes later and make sure you are well attended to before I take your soul." He said with a sensual look as he pulled her close to his body and licked the blood off her cheek.
"I hope so," Rose smiled tightening her grip around his shirt forcefully, Grell blushed against her renewed strength and power, it drove him wild, "You wouldn't be much of a butler if you couldn't look after your lady and keep your promises."
"Ah my lady," Grell said submissively but then he changed and his dominant side burst through as he used the flat edge of the chainsaw in his other arm round her back to pull her close as he kissed her deeply, "No time for our love now my darling, have you still got the death bookmark?" he breathed as he set her free from his lips; Rose reached into her pocket and withdrew the pink bookmark and waved it in front of him smiling, "We need to get to your record, it must be still in the house."
"It's on the floor in the conservatory, with all the other things we knocked off the desk." Rose smiled at Grell with flushed cheeks and a sheepish smile, he returned her look with a devious smile remembering why they were all over the floor, "Come on, we're running out of time."
