Chapter 37: Black Suit

After what seemed like a fun and perfect moment Joker drag all three of us out of the main tent and started to show us around the circus. Wearing this dress for some time now, I started to feel a bit odd in It. It could be because I don't like wearing dresses most of the time... Maybe that's the reason why. I am going to go with that. Joker seemed really happy with having us on board, it made me smile until I remember why we were here in the first place. "Now I'll give ye a quick tour. Come with me."

"First these are the tents ye'll be sleeping in." I look over to the said tents. "This is where the so called 'Secondstring members'- the stagehands, newcomers and the like." So we would be staying there? Okay then. "There's usually two or three to a tent."

Joker then turn around and pointed to another tent nearby. "And that there's the dining tent that serves as our larder. It's up to ye new to cook up the meals too, so give it your best!" That won't be so hard... Seeing as Sebastian is here with us, ha!

Joker pointed the thrid tent. "The tent all the way back is the first aid tent." I stare at that tent with a sudden frown. I didn't want to be reminded of what happen last night with Beast and Sebastian. I felt a small bit of rage now but I shook my head and held it back. It's in the past now and thinking about it would only make things worse. "And from here on the back are the private tents of the main cast."

"Private tents?"

Ciel questions, looking a bit puzzle. Of course I know what those two are thinking of. Joker nodded and pointed to one of the said tents. "That's snake's tent, so ye should stay away for your own good." Yeah, we figured because of the snakes, ya know... "There are a great many poisonous snakes roaming free, so one bite and ye go to the other side." Like I just said- "Snake and his slithery friends are still veeery shy- so newcomers especially should stay sharp round these parts." I hope I don't get bitten by one.

After saying that, Joker begins back onto the quick tour until he stop and actually turn to Ciel with a puzzle look of his own. "… By the way... What's become of your right eye, Smile?" Ciel's eyes grew wide and his hand quickly went right for the eye patch. "EH?! Ah... This... There was an accident..." Joker's lips turn into a frown and he made his way over to the Earl and gently placed his hand upon Ciel's head. "How sad... For someone so little to had such misfortune befall him." The two stare at each other for a moment until Joker went back to smile cheerfully again.

"… Right."

"Well... Everyone here got their own issues, so ye'll get along just fiiine!" Joker said, hand now on Ciel's shoulder. Ciel looked kind of spooked now and nodded his head in agreeing, face going a bit pale. I sighed as Sebastian open his mouth now to speak. "Like us, did everyone here join the troupe while the circus was making the rounds?"

Joker blinked and turn to look at the demon. "Nnn? For the most part, yes. But all the first string members come from the same town. Guess ye could say we're all childhood friends." Sebastian blinked. "Childhood friends?" And Joker nodded. "Yeah. But Snake's still a rookie. He's a genius with his snakes, he is... And we were without a snake charmer at the time so he become a member right quick." I blinked at this new found information and listen closely. Joker looked off into space as he continue on. "If ye join the first string, ye don't have to help with prep, and ye don't have to worry about fighting for meals. And ye can get your own tent. That's why everyone does their best to get to the top."

I couldn't help but find that... Kind of sad. Everyone should be equal here. I looked down to the ground. I hope this whole circus job isn't going to be too bad. Feeling even more upset now, I quietly follow behind the others as we made it into what appeared to be a training grounds of sorts. "And here we are. The training ground." I perked up and looked all around us. The feelings I had only moments ago begin to fade away and be replaced with joy and excitement.

"Newcomers train and train here... With the hope of debuting in an actual performance one day." Wait so all they do here is train and nothing else? I actually wanted to be a part of the show! Do something on the tightrope, maybe even do stunts! This isn't fair, everyone should get a part in this! I sighed again, this time in giving up. Sometimes I wish this time zone could actually be loads better like mine. Being caught up in my thoughts, I didn't realize that Joker left now.

"A tent full of poisonous snakes at the entrance of the main cast's private quarters, hm?" Ciel broke my term of thought and I blinked at him. "Huh?" Ciel ignored me while Sebastian smirked. "Guard snakes instead of guard dogs, eh?"

Did you just-

"So to gain access to the private area, we've no choice but to get into the first string... Is that it?" Ciel questions, finding a spot nearby to do warm up stretches. Only problem with that is he had to have Sebastian help him out. "Poisonous snakes won't kill you. Go see whether the children are here or-!" Sebastian cuts him off. "They are not here." Right...

"Eh?"

"I have not sensed the presence of any children at all in this circus, not last night and not during the tour earlier." So that means... Ciel looked up at his Butler. "But we have yet to find proof that the circus has no relation to the missing children. We can't leave until we've looked into all of the nooks and crannies of this place." I also gave a nod at Ciel's words. "He does have a point." I begin, finally speaking up as I stood by the two. "We're here now so it's probably best to keep our eyes and ears ready for anything." Ciel nodded his head back in agreeing as Sebastian continues to help the boy out.

"Quite."

He begins.

"It is entirely possible that they may be in such a condition that I would be unable to sense their presence." We both frowned. "Don't say such an ill omened thing. She wishes for the children's safe return." The Queen, he's talking about. "Yes, sir." Sebastian then stop when he seemed to have remembered something. "That reminds me..." I blinked up at him. "Instead of the children, I did sense-!"

"Heeeeey!"

Suddenly the three of us jumped at the sound of Dagger's greeting. "Ye can't be stretching all slow and steady, like! Pick it uuup!" Damn him. I growled and placed my hands on my hips. "Oi, Dagger!" I shouted out, getting the man to perk up at me. "Don't do that- you scared us!" Dagger only chuckle lightly and said his apologies. Before I could even say anything though he went right to the point. "We gotta decide on what your acts gonna be! Requests?"

Ciel looked annoyed at the remembrance of what he had to go through with the tightrope and growled. "I'm fine with anything that doesn't involved me using my body, like the tightrope." Sebastian and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Anything but that." Dagger also gave a chuckle. "Ha, ha, haa! Yeah, ye do look awful weak! Well at least our Madam Hatter knows how to use the tightrope!" I blushed a bit but didn't say anything. "I suppose I'll teach Smile all he needs to know bout knife throwing. What about you Black?"

Sebastian nodded in understanding.

"Well, I do not have any requests in particular..."

"Ye've got good reflexes, riiiight- so I'll be watching, so show me what ye can do."

"Yes!"

And just like that Sebastian went right for the flying trapeze. I couldn't help but giggle lightly. Sebastian truly is like a Superman. There is just about nothing he could not do. He can do anything! It's annoying but I'm just so used to it by now. The demon bulter did just about anything and everything he could see from within the training tent. Juggling, pole climbing, passing through a ring of fire... The list goes on. Just as he pick up a sword, Dagger stopped him before he could continue.

"Then-!"

"OKAY, OKAY!"

And just like that, everyone else who is here all came running to Black in amazment. I crossed my arms and shook my head. A smile upon my lips. Sebastian, why do you have to be such a show off? No one answer that! Ciel ran over to him and whisper something to him, he didn't look pleased with what Sebastian has done. Dagger couldn't help but laugh in joy as he crosses his own arms at this point. "Man, I give up. Another mad great new filler?! For real?! I can't lose to ye!"

Suddenly Dagger pointed up to the tightrope high above us. I blinked and follow to where Dagger pointed at, as well as getting Ciel's and Sebastian's attention as well. "See, now ye've got their attention..."

"… Another newcomer?"

Ciel comments in surprise.

"There's this guy who's just joined. He's amazing! Over there!" I blinked again when I spotted a man in a suit. I tilt my head in wonder of who this person is when... I suddenly felt like I have see this man somewhere before. But where? "He used to be a civil servant or something, and is serious like ye would have believe!" A civil servant...? I don't know anyone who could have-! "Heeey, come down here for a biiit!"

Wait...

That spear thing he's holding...!

It then hit me.

My eyes went wide in terror.

"Suit!"

My heart skip a beat.

The memories of that night begin to cloud my mind.

Madam Red's death, Grelle killing her and hurting Sebastian, that man...!

What was his name?

I...

It's...

William T. Spears!

William, or Suit in this case- sighed in response from his spot on the tightrope high above us all. Dagger waved for him to come down. "I thought I sensed something unpleasant..." William called down as his eyes landed upon our demon bulter. "It was you, was it?" Sebastian and William stare at each other in a moment of silence. The reaper sighed again. "Good grief." He commented before suddenly his spear weapon grew longer and one end of his weapon went right past us and hit the ground.

"I never thought we would meet again..." Sebastian commented back. William rolled his eyes. This is just like what happen with Viola, only and most likely a lot worse then that! Please don't do anything stupid you two! Oh gosh, please let there not be Grelle crawling around here either!

Suddenly William jumps right off the rope and his spear begins to go back to normal. "Whatever did you come sniffing around to devour this time?" He landed in front of Sebastian and pointed his weapon right at him. "You devil!" He shouted, causing everyone to react. Without thinking about it, I ran right in front of the two and pushed William's weapon away. For a moment both looked like there were going to react but stop just in time. Dagger looked a bit confused as well as looking scared. "De... Vil?"

William stared down at me and I knew Sebastian had his eyes on me too but both did not do anything to push me away. I glared at William, hoping that he'll get the idea to back off. He stared into my eyes for only a few seconds, it felt like time begin to slow down really before he decided to remove his weapon from us but that did not stop him from keeping his mouth shut. "In this day and age, when there are rarely enough Grim Reapers to get the job done even at the best of times..." My eyes slowly went wide again as he continue on. "The appearance of a devil of any means I shan't be able to clock out on time yet again."

Dagger looked even more confused, now even panic! "Grim... Reaper...?" Ciel begin to panic as well. William frowned and did not stop. "And now you're using her as a shield. And I thought you monsters don't use your prey as body guards." I couldn't believe what I just heard. I stood there in shock. I'm not anyone's meal! William continue to stare at Sebastian and not even look and make eye contact with me. "Or... Is she something more then just a meal for a beast like-!"

"That's enough of that big forehead friend!" Dagger cuts him off, actually patting William's forehead a few times but he didn't react to it. "Ye said it with such a serious mug, I couldn't have tell ye were joking! Been shooting off strange jokes from day one! He's always going on bout souls and the like... And he's mad for anything to do with them ghosts and stuff." I stared at William in silence, wondering what William was going to say before Dagger cut him off. William turn away though. "I am not one for joking."

Sebastian placed a hand onto my shoulder and took a step around and now stood in front of me. Dagger continued on through, ignoring what William said. "I'll introduce ye. These are the rookies who joined today. The tiny one's Smile. The middle one's Madam Hatter. And the big one's Black. Yer all rising stars so play nice now!" William had other ideas and begins walking away from us. "I do not, by any means , wish to make nice with a noxious beast." Dagger frowned and chased after him. "'By any means'?! Teamwork's important in the circus ye know!"

After they left the tent and we were finally alone from the rest, Ciel had to ask. "Why is a Grim Reaper here...?" Sebastian didn't look pleased. "It is unusual for a Grim Reaper to go about snooping of his own accord... But now we can be sure of one thing. This is something going on at this circus after all!" I turn to look away. "It looks like he's worth investigating."

"Sebastian-" Ciel started, only to have Dagger come back and wrap a arm around him. "Eeey! What are you doing, Smile? Ye gotta practice, practice, so ye don't lose out to Black!" I didn't watch the two as Dragger forced Ciel to get back to training. I turn away all the while... That said, I didn't noticed Sebastian staring my way. As we stood there, Ciel continues to get dragged away off to another spot for his training and once he was gone, I knew Sebastian would come walking over to me.

"Alex."

I flinched but sighed again. I look up at the demon before me.

"What?"

I watch as his placed a hand upon my shoulder. I stood there in silence, waiting. He stare into my eyes and looked serious now. "It would be wise not to stand in front of a Grim Reaper again." I frowned and turn away from looking at him. "But-!" He cuts me off by grabbing my face and making me look back at him again. He still held onto that serious look. I started to feel a bit scared by that look of his. "Not all Grim Reapers follow the laws of harming a human." My mind went straight to thinking of Grelle and I flinched once more. He notice this and frowned.

"You know this." He begins. "Grelle broke the laws of harming a human life, he is not the only one who has done this and will not be the last. You cannot trust them." Trust them? Who said I trusted anyone who's a Grim Reaper? Well okay, maybe I trusted a bit on Grelle but that was kind of different... Okay, no- it wasn't any different. He was still a Grim Reaper then and most likely still is now.

I closed my eyes and nodded... Or try to nod. "I know..." I replied. "Then you understand that William could have hurt you, correct?" I nodded. "We are lucky actually." Sebastian's serious look slowly disappeared. I slowly perk up in response as he lets go of me. He smirked at me actually. "With this many people here, he would most likely get into trouble with someone even of an higher rank then him." What is he getting at? "We're very lucky indeed to have him still above those laws of the Grim Reaper." I frowned. What is his point? Is he just talking out loud to himself now?

Sebastian continue to smirk at me nevertheless. "Please do not risk your life again." He spoke and I couldn't really tell if that was a warning or he really got worried about my safety. I couldn't really stop myself from doing what I did but I suppose I should have thought twice before acting so fast. And sadly, that is a weakness of mine. A bad habit in other words. I sighed in defeat and Sebastian turn away from me, making his way over to William now.

I watched the two talk for only a few seconds until Sebastian grab his wrist and I could have sworn he was about to hurt or break his wrist but he didn't. The next thing I knew, they both begin walking outside with William leading the way. A part of me wanted to go out and see what they were talking about but I stopped in my tracks and sighed. It would be too suspicious if I did that, so instead I went right for the tightrope.

With Sebastian

"On top of the London district being perpetually understaffed, that I, a member of the management, must go out into the field to retrieve souls simply because the retrieval division is missing one employee... What a travesty." William complained while the demon himself- Sebastian stood there with both hands to his sides. He listen the whole time and did not speak once until he finished. Once the man finally did, he spoke. "So... What brings such a busy Grim Reaper as yourself to a place like this?"

William stare at Sebastian for a moment before he actually answers. "I'm here cleaning up after that scum dispatch member who is currently suspended. I didn't think I would be made to do so just because that thing and I are coworkers... And without any extra pay at that." Sebastian smirked at this. "A Reaper taking the trouble to come here for the purpose of investigating covertly leads me to believe... That perhaps there are special circumstances at play?"

He questions but William did not give what he wanted. William held onto his weapon tightly. "I cannot give information pertaining to souls to a fiend. It amounts to throwing a rabbit in front of a carnivore." Sebastian's smirk disappeared. "I am afraid... I have no interest in cheap souls."

William didn't buy it. "Big talk for a starving devil. When the reality is that you're mad with hunger." Sebastian smiled like the Devil he truly is. "I grew weary of indiscriminately devouring souls long ago." He begins, placing a hand upon his chest. "The more ravenous I am... The more delicious the dinner." William frowned. "You have poor taste..." Sebastian only continue to stand there with that smile of his. "That rubbish employee of yours still has me squarely beat." He begins to remove the gloved hand with his own mark of the devil on it. "Moreover, as I have a collar around my neck at the moment... You have nothing to fear."

William stare at the mark on his hand in thought.

"… Very well."

He responds and loosen his hold on his spear. "Since you have the honor of being the greatest evils to appear 'before I get to work,' let me warn you. We, the Grim Reapers, are tasked with judging those who are scheduled to die according to the soul retrieval list that is distributed to us. We use our death scythes to check each person's memories- their cinematic records- one by one... And judge whether they deserve to die or not. And without understanding the great effort we put forth, you devils go about snacking away at those souls like crows on a corpse. Let me be blunt. A few days hence, we will judge a large number of souls in this vicinity. This is a special case, so please refrain from interfering."

Upon hearing this, Sebastian looked a bit surprised at this new information. He went back to smiling again though and bow his head down for a moment. "My goodness. That must be quite a chore to handle alone. Still, a large number of souls... Shall I lend you a hand?"

Suddenly William took up his spear and try to attack Sebastian with it but the demon move right out of the way quickly. William try again and this time manage to get his black top hat. The two froze in place and Sebastian's smile disappeared again. When the moment die down, William shot a glare. "I refuse to work overtime free of charge. I will hunt you down if you get in my way." His spear begin to go back to normal and Sebastian got back his hat. "Well, myself I have no desire to be involved with Grim Reapers either." Sebastian comments and places his top hat back upon his head.

William still didn't look too happy with Sebastian and stood up straight, pushing his glasses back a notch with his index finger. "And one more thing..." The Reaper begins. "Do not lay one finger upon Miss. Monggle." Sebastian raises an eyebrow and waited for him to finish. "You and I both know she doesn't belong here. She must return shortly to her time period. If she continues to stay, the time zone will change and cause other events to happen. More importantly, she is not allow to become your meal... Or your mate."

Sebastian's face remained the same.

The same with William's face.

Sebastian's raised eyebrow went back down into place. After making sure William is done, he begins talking. "I maybe be a demon but I am also a gentleman." He begins, seeing William's hold on his weapon tighten again. "I have no intentaions of touching Miss. Monggle in any way or form as well as marking her as mine." He didn't stop from there. "As for her being a meal, I highly doubt she will become one. After all- you said she must go back to her time... When she's ready." William's glare hardens. Before anyone could say anything- Ciel appear into the room, a hand on his hip.

"Hey! That nosely knife thrower is looking for you." William perk up and turn to face Ciel. "He doesn't seem all that high quality to me... I truly don't understand you devils..." And just like that, Ciel has had enough of this. "You. Stop calling Sebastian that. What are you going to do about it if the troupe members get suspicious? We were lucky they thought you were just joking before..." William realize his mistake and cursed to himself. "… The fact that you can't even blend in among people makes you lower then that vulgar reaper."

Sebastian smirked. "Indeed. As we will not get in the way of your duties... We hope that you will not get in the way of ours." William glared at Sebastian before sighing. "Thank you. I do not even want you in my field of vision." Ciel roll his eyes. "Perfect. It's settled then. We agree to not interfere with each other at all." William turn to look at Ciel. "Right then. Smile. I'm counting on you to hold your dog's lead tight."

"I don't want to hear it from specs, who can't even manage a covert investigation properly." Ciel replied back. William fixed his glasses again. "I am not specs. I am Suit." With that said, 'Suit' begins to leave the room. Ciel looked over to Sebastian and begins walking away as well. "Come on Sebastian." Sebastian followed behind him out of the room.

With Alex

By the time we finished training that day, Joker made his way over with a list in one hand. He looked very happy and I couldn't help but noticed that he brought two other people with him. People I have never seen before but could also tell that they work here. "Now here's what ye've been waiting forrrr! Time to announce room assignments for the rookies!" And unlike Ciel, I looked excited.

"The results of the impartial lottery are as follows... Smile will be in tent eight." And just as Ciel looked up from his spot, Joker pointed to another kid. One who looked a bit older then Ciel. "This is your roommate." The kid smile at Ciel as Joker then looked over to me. "Madam Hatter will be in tent 11 with this young lady right here." He then pointed to the other person who came along. A woman with many flowers in her hair. Joker then went right to Sebastian. "Black will be in tent nine."

Ciel's eyes went wide in terror.

"Seba- Black and I won't be in the same tent?!"

Joker blinked at him. "Hn?"

Dagger gave a laugh. "Ha, ha, ha! Smile sure is sweet on Black."

"Th- that isn't what I mean-!"

"Ye gotta learn to be more independent!"

"I really do think I should be with Black-!"

"And Black's roommate is-!"

He just ignored Ciel, ha- ha!

"Suit!"