Kuroshitsuji: Another World
Chapter 35: I've seen your face a thousand times, I have all your stories memorized….
I was in an office building. Everything was neatly organized and in a specific spot. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that there were no windows and no doors. There were rooms, but everything was open.
"Hey, Will?" I asked, continuing to allow him to pull me.
"What!" He asked, his voice reeking with malice.
"You're hurting me."
His grip loosened a bit, but he was still walking at the same menacing pace. I was led to a dim hallway with blank walls and well-worn 'blushing wine' carpeting. Now, I noticed, there actually were doors.
"Um, Toto? Are we still in Kansas?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"Shut up," Will hissed.
'Okay, this hallway is getting to be ridiculously long,' I thought grimly, trying to study the doors. There were gold plaques on each door, "Where are we?"
"This is the hall of records, and under no circumstances am I to find you roaming around in here unattended."
"Geez," I sneered, "Do you not know how to speak proper English? I feel as if I listening to a snake."
"I am speaking properly, it's you who's ignorant of death," Will countered, "Didn't your mother ever tell you that it's impolite and rude to disrespect your elders?"
"Which one?" I asked, stopping myself from walking any further, "Yurine Kurotsuki or Hannah Anafeloz?"
Will immediately released my wrist, staring back at me with hateful eyes, "Anafeloz? You're Hannah Anafeloz's daughter?"
"I'm not sure if I want to be any more!" I complained, "I don't even know who she, if it even is a she, is! WHY WON'T ANYONE TELL ME?"
"Nekohime!"
I was glomped from behind (again) by Grell.
"What are you doing here! Did you do something to make Will-chan mad at you?" Grell exclaimed excitedly, grinning madly.
"Mr. Sutcliff, please refrain from making a fool of yourself during office hours and while on punishment," Will stated sternly, pushing up his glasses customarily, "Now, since I've kept up my end of the deal, give me my book back, demon."
"Nekohime's no demon, Will," Grell said, helping me stand up.
"Hmph, shows you how much you know about the people you hang out with," He sneered, "I don't even think her true name is Nekohime."
"Of course it is," Grell chided, smiling at me but scowling at William, "Nekohime wouldn't lie to me. Friends don't lie to each other."
"Oh, no?" Will pursued, "but they can mislead can't they? Demons, too, mislead. Your lust for THAT bound demon has clouded your judgment of others."
"You're one to talk, Will," I jumped in defensively, "I looked through your soul book and not ONCE did I even see my name."
"That's because your name isn't Nekohime, is it?" He asked, crossing his arms.
"Of course it is!" I declared, my hands clenching into fists, "What else would my name be if I really weren't Nekohime?"
"Hmm, gee, let me think," Will replied, giving me a droll stare, "Oh! yes~ Luka Macken."
My brow furrowed in confusion, "Who?"
"You heard me, demon" Will continued, "I'm calling you out on your act. Reveal the whereabouts of Hannah Anafeloz and I promise that you'll end up in the nicer part of hell….."
"Um, excuse me, Will, darling," Grell intervened, "Maybe you need to get a stronger prescription for your glasses, but Luka Macken WAS a boy and is now dead because of Hannah, who consumed his soul. Nekohime is clearly a female. You're just upset because you didn't get your quota completely filled last night."
"I'm not-"
"Of course he is," Grell turned to me, pulling me with him to another hallway, "Now, let me take you to my room-"
"That demon is not to step foot anywhere near the living rooms of the shinigami headquarters," Will growled, taking threatening steps as he followed us.
"Psh!" Grell retorted, pulling me into a room and swiftly closing and locking the door behind him.
After Will's furious pounding at the door, Grell looked at me and squealed in delight. I smiled awkwardly at him, not sure of what this visit would entail. I looked around amazed and amused at the same time, Grell's room was lavishly decorated with the crimson color in every shade and hue.
"Wow, I'm impressed," I murmured, lightly touching the nearest surface, "your room is beautiful."
"Thanks, I've been working on the matching color scheme," He replied, jumping on the plush bed and sitting crossed-legged, "It used to be just silk, but I'm thinking of incorporating lace. What do you think?"
"Hmm," I thought, sitting on the red wood desk chair (which had been conveniently pulled out due to the sheer amount of paper work that was strewed on top of the desk), "Maybe, you could add a second color…"
"Such as?"
"Um, black?" I breathed, hoping that he wouldn't shoot down my answer.
He seemed to contemplate this, green eyes sparkling, "Why?"
"Uh, because," I began, "Black lace would perfectly complement the red, plus…." I lowered my voice to a whisper, "It would be a color scheme reminder of your love for Sebastian."
A new grin flitted atop his mouth, "Sounds perfect."
I smiled, glad that my idea had won his approval, "Good."
=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=
"Sebastian," Ciel called from his study, completely bored out of his skull (since he had finished all of his paper work nearly half an hour ago).
"Yes, young master?" Sebastian answered as was customary.
"Where is everyone?"
"Mey-Rin is currently washing the weeks linins, Finnian is out purchasing new trees for the backyard, Bard is currently with Finnian; but he is acquiring the purchases that I had made earlier." Sebastian clarified, "Tanaka is having his mid-morning tea in the garden and Snake is-"
"I know where he is," Ciel interrupted, "and I want to know why. Tell me, Sebastian. I know that you and Nekohime probably had something to do with it."
"Nekohime and I have something to do with Snake residing in the greenhouse as he usually does?" Sebastian asked, a quizzical look masking his face.
"No," Ciel clarified, "I want to know why Snake has run away.
"He ran away?"
"Yes, I found a letter from him on my desk this morning stating such," He continued, "Now, tell me why."
"I don't have any idea, young master," Sebastian prompted, immediately thinking as to why.
"Sebastian."
"Yes?"
"Where's Nekohime?"
"I haven't seen her since this morning," Sebastian replied.
"What did she say or do?" Ciel asked, intrigued that another person was missing.
"She demanded Mr. Spears' soul book and walked away."
"Was she angry?"
Sebastian's eyes fell downcast, "She made it clear to me that she was. But I don't think she ran away with Snake, especially not with the soul book."
"No, I don't think she would be so stupid as to do such," Ciel contemplated, "Did she happened to mention that she would be going somewhere?"
"Not that I know of, but I did manage to overhear that she wanted Bard to take her somewhere…"
"Well, when Bard and Finnian get back," Ciel began, "Ask Bard where she went, if he refuses because she asked him to cover for her….get out the correct answer no matter what the cost. Just don't forget to not reveal yourself, understood?"
"Yes, my lord."
=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=
"Whew, thanks Finny for the help." Bard grinned, wiping off the thin perspiration that formed on his forehead.
"No problem," Finny replied, walking back out to the garden to plant the newly bought trees.
Bard sighed and proceeded to put some organization into the purchases that Sebastian had ordered.
"Bard," Sebastian called from the Kitchen entrance, walking closer.
"Uh, Hey!" Bard called nervously (nervous that he was under scrutiny so soon), "Good afternoon, Sebastian."
"Where's Nekohime?"
"She…..uh, she's…" Bard began, blushing with remembrance and rubbing the back of his head, "she went to London."
"For what?" Sebastian asked, coming to stand a short distance away.
"She didn't say, only that she wanted to go to some freaky looking shop," Bard confessed (more form intimidation), "I left her there because she asked me to not stay and wait for her…did I do wrong?"
"No, but thank you for the information." Sebastian stated, walking back towards Ciel's office, "Oh, and Bard, please don't touch anything. I will be back in a moment to put everything in its place."
"Yes, sir!" Bard replied, standing attention.
=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=
Sebastian knocked softly, waiting for Ciel to call him in.
"Enter."
He quickly opened and closed the door behind him, walking to stand next to his master.
"Well?"
"She's at Undertaker's," Sebastian replied with a slight bow.
Ciel looked up at him, "She's probably just thanking him, but we should go just in case. Come, Sebastian, ready the carriage."
Sebastian nodded his agreement, bowing customarily, "yes, my lord."