Author's Note: Just know that I really did try to get this out immediately but fate had other plans. Sheesh. I'm thinking I've stretched out my original plot way too far -_-'. Had not meant to do that, making room for it during the manga events is challenging but it was after all my original plan to depict how I believe the manga would have gone if my OC were involved. Hey btw, looking over the Phantomhive manor blue prints I came to notice that they actually have an indoor pool. That's pretty badass for their day. Soooo…. Yeah. Now let us begin our next adventure shall we? See you on the other side O_O… …..Yeah I don't know.
Disclaimer: I do not own right to kuroshitsuji. Once again if I did, I would not be writing about it here on this site xD. All I own is Ivy and the other various OC minions of mine.
Chapter Thirty-Eight: That Maid, Discovery
"Freedom in general may be defined as the absence of obstacles to the realization of desires." –Bertrand Russell
It was still dark out when Ivy opened her eyes blearily to the steady rhythm of a heartbeat. Heavy eyelids blinked slowly, disoriented and her fist gripped fabric slightly familiar to the touch in her drowsy state. She was enshrouded in a comfortable warmth that kept her from all out panicking at her unfamiliar surroundings but her eyebrows drew together in suspicious confusion. Her cheek moved against the solid, support that offered this warmth and Ivy recognized the smell of Phantomhive laundry and something else. Some other scent that struck a chord of recollection into her. Every fiber of her being said it didn't matter, to go back to sleep because this was oh so comfortable, and oh so perfect, and it was oh so early, and no time to wake up.
Still, she struggled to focus, sucking in some air and arching her back subtly. All it took was a large hand sliding up her back, adjusting her position slightly, to get her eyes to pop and sharpen.
"Awake?" She knew that deep purr of a voice. The one that had just made the warm wall of support rumble pleasantly against her ear… the ear that was pressed against his chest. Her shoulders stiffened but Ivy completely refused to look up to confirm her situation for fear of what expression she would see on that creature's face. Instead her currently saucer shaped eyes stared at the blank wall of her room. Obviously fate would not allow this to be a simple nightmare. No, that would have been merciful and we can't have that can we? There was suddenly a very dull empty stare in those eyes.
"Oh. God. Why." She groaned, releasing the lapel of a black butler's coat and clutching her fists into her chest. Shutting her eyes tightly she grinded her teeth and pulled into a fetal little ball with her ears back. When he chuckled, she twitched.
"Sebastian." She hissed noticing that by trying to curl into a ball that his arm was trapped between her calves and the back of her thighs. "What. The. Fuck. Is this?" He must have carried her here.
"You fell asleep. I took it upon myself to bring you here." He smirked.
"And you are just a good natured gentlemen doing me a favor is that what I'm supposed to assume?" The neko hissed sarcastically. Before he could answer she noted how her skirt had ridden up to her thighs. Her eyebrow twitched. "Alright! Let's magically assume I'm that stupid, and stick a pin in my logic for the moment to ask: WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL IN HERE?" She rolled out of his grasp with a push against his chest. Was he watching her sleep? Did he do that often? Ivy was ready to self-destruct.
"Settle down. You were having another nightmare and you cleaved to me like a frightened kitten when I moved to take my leave; you've been holding on to me tighter than a bear for a few hours since, actually." She felt his hand smooth down her hair and jerked away defensively, hugging a pillow. Oh no. How embarrassing.
Ivy groaned loudly into the pillow and one couldn't be sure if she was weeping or not. Sebastian leaned over her, tilting his head. When she lowered the pillow to meet the sight of his eyes she squeaked and winced. Then she glared up at him.
"What?" She snapped. "Aren't you done yet?" Sebastian just raised an eyebrow.
"I'm going to arrange for Ms. Hopkins to design your evening gown. I've told you this now so that you can be mentally prepared to put up with her." He informed. Ivy stared at him like he'd grown a third eye…. on his neck. She then rubbed her eyes with extra frustration and a deep sigh.
"Why do you put up with her crap? Are her clothes really that good that you can't find anybody else with less crap to put up with?"
"Simple. Nina Hopkins is supremely talented but most of all she doesn't ask questions and is trustworthy when secrecy is needed."
"I see. That makes sense, …because honestly, I would never have pegged you or Ciel to be the fashionista types. Presentation is a big thing in high society, but there are so many revered names in the fashion industry that I'm sure could live up to the proper standard." She murmured. "Hey, you pick out Ciel's clothes don't you? I remember West saying…" The later hour was catching up to her again so she interrupted herself with a yawn. The demon smiled down at her curiously. She had remembered that even though she quite obviously tuned that disgrace of a nobleman's dribbling out?
"What is it like inside that mind of yours? It's as though you pick apart every detail of what you see and hear around you and then pick apart the details of those details until there is nothing more to pick apart, before storing it all away and never forgetting." He stated.
"So that I can use and make connections with them later." Ivy yawned a small squeak of a yawn, confirming his statement in her semi-inebriated state. "It's… safer that way…" She curled onto her side with an almost peaceful sigh as she shut her eyes. Her hand slid over to push against his chest.
"Go away, I'm sleepy." She frowned childishly. What a small, little hand it was. The demon frowned down at the appendage as if in deep study. With only a touch it was always simple for the demon Sebastian to ascertain how easily shattered another individual was to him. Humans were essentially Styrofoam to him. Such easily broken fragments of life they were, yet so fascinating in their nature. Each was unique and then again… not unique at all. They all had the same innate nature in the end after all. Normally he thought nothing of how easy it was to destroy an individual, in fact it was almost always him who dealt their end anyway. And it was always done without even a second thought. No manner of intriguing meal could ever change that.
Ivy Ashcroft was not Styrofoam; she was considerably more solid than that. But it was clear that she was in fact easily broken. His frown deepened. How easily exactly? He'd never tried to find out; it had never been important before. And now?
He found that her genes made it difficult to tell exactly with a simple touch. She felt so soft and little simply because that's what she was. It was amazing that something that held such physical force could be so fragile. She could break through a wall, tear through solid oak like tissue paper, carry the weight of over ten human men, but if she touched you it was with the touch of just an ordinary girl. Her durability could never be deciphered through such a touch.
It was the sort of touch that made creatures like him ready to defile and destroy. To entertain the thought displeased him. How easy it would be for someone like him to simply wring her slender little neck beyond recognition. The idea disgusted him more than he thought it would. What a disgraceful waste of an extraordinary existence that would be. What ignorant, tasteless, blind, fool of an organism would think to snuff her out?
At his long silent pause she'd apparently become tense. Her small push to his chest became much more insistent this time and she growled.
"Sebastian… Are you deaf?"
He looked back at her face to note that her eyes were still closed; in fact they were screwed shut in frustration. A reddening hue graced her features. Now it was time to laugh at the picture she painted. Yes indeed she invoked the craving to taint, but for him, who was not a demon of ordinary tastes and desires, he more wondered at the stirrings invoked by such a touch.
Being as he was, nobody ever really touched him with the simple neutral familiarity that she did. Anyone bold enough to touch a fearsome beast like Sebastian Michaelis did so with great caution and timidity or with outright feral aggression. Or if they were.…well… the third option is rather obvious. Her touch, even when she was irritated like now, held a personal sort of warmth, probably the same force that drew human men in like flies. Each slender finger echoed the natural tenderness she possessed.
What would such hands feel like if they were to stroke and pet with a different sort of familiarity? As if he had said the thought aloud, the neko's foot shot out and kicked him off the mattress before she snuggled into a cocoon with her blanket. Her eyes opened slightly in time to note his surprise and she scoffed.
"You're too strong for me, but you're not too heavy." She admonished sticking out her tongue. The demon butler recovered quickly with a smirk. As always, Ivy was much stronger than she looked.
"We are demons after all. Our weight is not a contributing factor to our physical force." He murmured. "A human could have carried you up here just as easily…well to be fair… not just as easily. To me you are essentially weightless. But you do have some weight to you for a human man to support, even at your dainty size. Agni at his size would have very little trouble, but I'm afraid Grey would require more effort."
"Are we still talking about Grey?" Ivy's voice suddenly didn't sound that tired. "I get it. I fumbled at the stupid ball, and you don't like the way we get along because…um…well you're a prick. All factors have already been reviewed, can we let it go now?" She groaned, glaring in exasperation from her protective bundle of fleece. "Can we not focus on your ridiculous notions that I allowed him to impose on me? It shouldn't bother you anyway you freak." Seeing the singular opportunity in her statement the butler smiled, and the demon pounced.
"No as a matter of fact…not anymore than any… romp of mine should bother you." The huddled mass on the bed shifted very suddenly. Ivy's eyes seemed to have struggled to a greater state of awareness. In fact they were so wide that if she were suddenly able to see into the future it would not remotely surprise him. He could only imagine the self-admonishment that was coursing through her mind at orally impossible speeds at that moment. If she had been wide-awake, she would never have given him that kind of opening. Her defenses were usually precise and untiring.
"And they don't." She responded with a prim little sniff, turning over to face the wall.
"Oh no?" Sebastian rose to the occasion leaning over the bed to keep looking at her. She simply pulled the blanket over her head stubbornly. "Then you did know about it." That much was obvious by their previous nasty little confrontation. "I'm very curious…could it be possible that my actions angered you somehow?" Ivy very sharply sat up with a murderous expression that lost its effect due to the fact that the blankets still wrapped about her made her look like a worm with eyes.
"I have no idea what the hell you're implying. And romp Sebastian? ROMP! You speak like this is all some harmless GAME to you!" Flailing her way furiously out of her self-made bundle, she kicked aside her blankets. Her mind fumbled through all the thoughts whirling around in her head. "Ha! Maybe it is! Precious few things could ever cause you harm after all. Not physically, mentally, or emotionally! Yes I did know about what happened but it doesn't matter! And seriously, Grey and I are a completely different case from whatever you call what went down between you and THUNDER TITS back there! It's a completely disproportionate comparison and you KNOW IT!"
"…Thunder…?" He was not sure whether to laugh or be confused. It didn't matter once she whacked him with a pillow hard enough for goose feathers to fall all around them however.
"I SAID GET-*hack*! Pfft!" Her action apparently had backfired on her because she was now coughing, sputtering and generally trying not to swallow or inhale the fluttering plumage. Sitting up she upped her efforts as the demon simply swept them from his hair and eye lashes. He patted her on the back helpfully with an amused little expression. "D-..Ptttpp!- Sto-p-p. Stop it- go away." She managed to utter, swatting at him. Her rage had died down after the embarrassing little ordeal so she just huffed and faced the window.
"You silly thing…" Ivy felt his hand rest atop her head as he murmured knowingly. "You were upset weren't you?" Though she would never admit it, it was pretty clear. The neko just rubbed her eyes and growled.
"Not the way you think."
"Mm?"
"If you are going to force me to be an insomniac tonight for the sake of this pointlessly cruel conversation you are going to have to compensate me."
"Is that so?" His fingers trailed down her spine and she arched away shivering.
"EW NO! I SAID COMPENSATE NOT COPULATE, AND NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY CRIPPLE EITHER!" She threw her blanket at him and ran to the other side of the room. Pulling the covers from his head, he raised an eyebrow at her.
"You know, you are very much prone to exaggeration." He remarked dryly.
"And you are very much prone to spoiling the joy in life and inspiring severe psychological hatreds."
"Oh dear, do you hate me then?"
"Passionately."
"Prove it." He smirked knowingly. She flushed and gave an annoyed puff of air.
"Even if I wanted to, I have no possible way to hurt you enough for the message to get across." She backed away warily when he made to approach her.
"You once said that I take enjoyment out of doing things the hard way. You are right; I love the anticipation. To agonize over what we want for a while makes it that much more enjoyable when it is ours." He seemed taller as he moved closer and moved more fluidly. She made sure to keep away from him.
"What is your point?" She hissed fiercely.
"Miss Ivy, it has been several years since I have last fed. You yourself have taken note of it as 'starving myself'."
"That's because it is!" She exclaimed.
"And you hate me enough for it to bother you?"
"Shut up! I just want to know why damn you!"
"Ah yes, forgive me. I was digressing from the point." Sure he was. As if Ivy would believe for a millisecond that he was accidentally hitting every point that worked in his own interest. Whatever the hell that interest was.
"Is that right?" She grumbled menacingly. There was more to this? Oh joy and break out the confetti.
"I spent many a millennia devouring every available meal I could you know. Mortals are always so simple to coerce and manipulate to my will."
"Is there really a point to this? Because it's giving off the vibe of a lecture right about now…" Ivy Ashcroft was not about to sit through one of those when she could be asleep. The butler sighed and gave her a flat stare. She blinked twice with an equally flat expression. His mouth twitched before pulling into a wicked sort of smirk
"You want me to skip through to the point?" Ivy's heart dropped into her stomach, suddenly feeling that she should have allowed him to be more discreet. The thought had no time to settle into her brain before she was caught against the rock and the hard place. Literally. The neko girl gasped loudly, startled by the sudden movement and the firm grip of his arms around her. "Very well. As you wish." His breath touched her face, and she was jarred enough by this to violently jerk about and screech.
"LET GO OF ME, DEVIL!"
"All in good time, little one." He patiently pulled her away from the wall. The hands that had pushed at his shoulders for distance now moved to attack his face. With a sigh he had to pull her wrists away and turn her around to keep her limbs away. "Keep your claws in you, hell cat. So stubborn."
"GET YOUR SULFUR COATED LIMBS OFF ME! What are you DOING!?" She panicked slightly as he pinned her hands to her chest and steered her. "WHERE- Oof!"
"You were angry with me, in fact I got the distinct impression that you were furious with me. I've been more than patient over the situation, if you do not wish to hear why I wouldn't take Ms. Beasts soul, then tell me now. Why were you avoiding me?" Ivy simply went limp in his grasp and remained silent aside from small groans, just like a petulant child. "Miss Ivy." He shook her lightly in his arms to coax a response. Nothing, just the slight sway of slender arms and hair. The demon rolled his eyes at the angry noise she simply emitted. Tilting his head, he tried to look at her and she turned her head sharply the other way. Her hair fell around her head like an ebony curtain. He moved to the other side and she turned her head the other way. "Pfu-!" Now he was trying not to laugh.
"Unresponsive then. The silent treatment is it?"
She sniffed curtly. The demon butler smirked. Her hair, falling into the curtain barricade in front of her face, had left the back of her pale neck exposed.
"That isn't very nice, little one…" The demon leaned down. He could feel her tremble and tense up. Every muscle in her body tightening as his lips brushed the sensitive untouched skin that lay there. Her head jerked back up and nearly smashed into his nose as it had once before.
"…The FUCK." She hissed over her shoulder with wild glowing eyes. Rather than respond, he frowned at the gold little chain still around her neck and proceeded to unfasten it. With his teeth. Ivy gasped indignantly and Sebastian knew that they were back in business. "UM! …No. No! Oh my God, stop. STOP!" He did so as the egg clattered to the floor. "You could've broken that you jack ass!"
"So much for not speaking to me." He uttered with a smug sort of triumph in his voice that made her entire face twitch, that's it, that's all it was, just everything twitched. One giant tick in the face. How? It was doomed to be one of life's eternal mysteries.
"This-WHAT EVER IT IS-! This is not going to work! Now…TAKE YOUR MITS OFF OF ME, MISTER MICHAELIS!"
"Just as soon as you tell me, pet." He reasoned like it was the simplest thing in the world. This was the same thing he did to all those other girls; except for her it was the reverse method! Green eyes stared incredulously at him over her shoulder.
"You-!" Words completely escaped her. "You will not treat me like one of your stupid little victims who fall at your feet and get any actual results for your efforts." He twisted her to face him, holding her upper arms against her sides. She snarled at him, her lips curling, and shoved at him. It was impossible to get out of his grip but she took pride in that she managed to get him to stagger. He simply snickered.
"Certainly not, but that suits me just as well." She was lifted off the ground with a squeak. "Look at me."
"What are you doing?" Ivy had to tilt her chin down to properly glare down at him, hands tense and white knuckled against his shoulders.
"Tell me why, little one." He purred insistently.
"Get off!"
"Tell me or I'm afraid I can not release you, and you'll not get to sleep." The tone of his voice was amused but she could tell that he was mostly serious.
"GET OFF! OH!" He had dropped her onto her bed and leaned over her so that he could cover her mouth.
"No need to get so noisy now." Her screaming was muffled, and Sebastian was sure that if he removed his hand he would be listening to quite the tangent. One that would make sailors blush no doubt. She even kicked him, and he grunted at the impact before pinning her beneath him to stop the rest of them. Clearly she was ready to spontaneously combust from utter horror. Sebastian gave her a look. "This is your own fault for making the situation more difficult then it has to be. It is too late at night to be shouting so."
"Hmph!" She turned her head to the side and shut her eyes tightly, intent on not saying a word. He took a moment to examine the now bare curve of her neck and took quick notice of a charming little mole he had forgotten about, just beneath her ear where her jawline met the lobe. Still as adorable as ever.
"…Though I must say that I have no objection. It is rather cozy." And when she bit him in outrage, he drew his hand back. "Impressive jaws. Be careful, pet. I might be tempted to return the favor." Ivy winced and gave a frightened yelp at the sight of his teeth.
"You're sick! You're a sick bastard!" She covered her eyes, not wanting to see his expression. If this was what Maylene was talking about, then the redhead was officially the world's sickest puppy. "H-how, How, How the hell do you seduce these women-how do you seduce anybody like this?" She screeched. The half-breed had known all along that he would eventually insist like this for her to spill, but that didn't make it any less horrifying. His eyes lit up with amusement, apparently ready to answer that question.
"Well one takes their cues from each unique subject. For example-"
"NONONONONO! I'M SURE WE CAN COME TO SOME SORT OF UNDERSTANDING!" Even though you obviously already think you know you git. She held up her hands imploringly. Much to her delight however, a grand idea over took her and she ignored his smug expression easily as he backed off. Quickly she sat up. "If you promise to go away and stop bothering me, I'll tell you what the reason for my foul temper was." She barely finished her sentence before she felt something.
Just then, both demon and Halfling jerked their faces in the direction of the window. "It seems we have guests tonight. Human most likely." Ivy let their presences soak and found it rather hard to believe what she sensed. These were two presences that she had known for a great majority of her life. Did they walk all this way? The butler sighed.
"A butler's job never ends." This snapped Ivy out of her maternal concern as Sebastian stood up.
"Don't you hurt them!" She stood up on her bed, as imposingly as such an act permitted, with her hands on her hips. He blinked up at her, looking more entertained than usual before he raised an eyebrow. Folding his arms, he turned to face her curtly.
"Hurt who exactly, little one?" At this her expression changed slightly and she huffed.
"It's Wesley."
"Wesley?"
"Yes Wesley."
"…"
"The chimney sweep you pretentious snob! Damn it you're so uppity! Yes! Wesley! And Roxy is with him too!"
"Ah. I remember that girl." Sebastian remarked stroking his chin. Staring flatly at him, Ivy rolled her eyes.
"Okay I give you zero credit for that. Roxana Carmichael would never allow anybody to forget about her. It's physically impossible for a personality like hers to just fall out of anybody's head." She found herself grinning.
"I'm sure you exaggerate."
"No really, what you saw was only the tip of the iceberg. Speaking of which, she WILL touch you, ye be warned." Ivy tried her best not to laugh at the prospect. It was always a treat to see Sebastian uncomfortable for once. The occasion was a rare one. A sudden thought crossed her mind and she frowned.
"You wouldn't hurt her would you?"
"I don't know whether to believe you think me evil, or pathetic with that statement. Why should I take precious time to harm a fourteen-year-old human girl? To do so would mean less to me than if I had accidentally dirtied my shoes stepping on a bug-."
"How dare you!"
The demon sighed. "So sensitive."
"You disgust me- ACK! WOOAHKAY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS TIME?" He lifted her off the mattress easily with his arms around her thighs, making her feel wobbly and unbalanced.
"That is a shame….because I'm actually quite fond of you." He murmured up at her, both smug and amused, chin resting on her belly. She still smelled like apples. Ivy screeched trying to regain her equilibrium, regardless of the fact that he was not dropping her anytime soon.
"SEBASTIAN THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE! WHAT IF YOU DROP ME?"
"I wont. There is no need for such dramatics." The butler promised pleasantly with a scoff. Ivy's eye twitched. There was really no guarantee that he wouldn't do it just because he found it funny. He turned around swiftly and she flinched, clutching his shoulders. "We both ought to greet our visitors then oughtn't we?" Ivy wriggled as he spoke, he was heading for the window and there was no way she was going to stand for this.
"NOT the window, Mister Michaelis! Stop! Do I look even-NO, don't you DARE!"
"The window is faster. It is better that we make haste and greet them before Finnian does." He reminded. "Don't you trust me at all?" His head tilted as he eyed her sour, pinched expression.
"No, I really don't!" The neko's voice cracked awkwardly. She fisted his coat anxiously and looked down to the gardens below. "…I really don't want to hit my head or something." Her teeth worried her bottom lip. Sebastian laughed and she withered. "Honestly, you've never seemed to mind jumping from heights before." He reminded. With one arm he just pushed open the glass pane.
"Yeah! When I'M in control of my own body!"
"And you are. I haven't paralyzed you."
"Be serious, Sebastian!"
"Very well." He relented with a sigh and Ivy relaxed when his grip loosened. It was short lived unfortunately, seeing as he quickly maneuvered her to rest bridal style in his arms. "Is this better?"
DO! NOT! WANT!
"Not by much." She twitched, not giving him the satisfaction this time, the effort causing a vein to pop out on her left temple. Heat suffused her face and she begins to think. Maybe knocking her head against the window frame or falling to the ground from several stories up would be preferable to this. Pain vs Sebastian. Actually those terms were kind of synonymous. "Look, just put me down, damn it!"
"I do not feel like it." He informed breezily as he leaped gracefully down. Ivy gritted her teeth and clamped her hands over the black scarf in her hair, giving an angry feline yowl. As he landed gracefully onto his feet, the neko proceeded to pummel him with her little fists of fury.
"Why don't you ever listen to meeeee!" She screeched with a high-pitched tone that carried well, looking very much like a child.
"Come now, little one. That was not so dreadful was it?" He smirked with satisfaction, lowering her to the ground gently regardless of her attacks. Ivy just reared on him and shoved him, completely unaware of the amazed observers who hid themselves from her scope.
"GUH! IT'S FREEZING OUT HERE YOU INCONSIDERATE PRICK!" She hugged herself. "I'm only in my nightgown-wh-NIGHTGOWN? WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN! DID YOU DO THIS?"
"We had better hurry then."
"SEBASTIAN!"
….
"Can you believe this mother-fucking-shit?" Cavin was mortified by the series of events that had unfolded already. And now this? Not only was this probably one of the most insanely disgusting things he had ever seen, but it was supposed to be impossible! His sharp green eyes blinked, as if focusing on the interlude better would make it disappear like the figment of his imagination that this had to be. Beside him sat the fox with his hood covering any expression one might see on him. Naught but his long ethereal braid of hair was visible, falling over his shoulder. "There is no way her luck is still that good."
"One could even consider it the 'devil's luck', eh, Ashcroft?" Cavin just ignored his companion's horrible pun.
"What could she possibly be giving him to be treated so well?" He uttered aloud, shaking his head. Still he was careful not to lose his cool. He needed complete control to keep them concealed. They had kept a careful distance but with eyes like theirs, could observe in quite keen detail.
"Not to him, dingbat. The contractor obviously." The kitsune responded. "She must have the protection of the contractor. He could not harm her if such a thing violated the rules of the contract." It was simple logic really.
"You sound redundant. Almost like you're trying to convince yourself of that." The neko tracker remarked coolly.
"It's perfectly logical and you know it."
"Do you hear the things she says to him without a thought of repercussion? Do you see the utter lack of fear she's oozing? She feels safe in this place. Why?"
"This place is her only option. You continue to underestimate how smart a half-breed can be. What is there to fear if he can not harm her?"
"Listen, any other of his kind would not need to harm a halfling in order to have her appropriately cowed. He allows her to behave like a spoiled brat, enjoys it even by the look of it." The neko's lips thinned into a stern line. "Ugh this is a nightmare!" he hissed in frustration as he leaned back to look at the sky, utterly exasperated. His fingers disappeared into his black locks, pulling at his hair. The damnable little snipe! Bodyguards basically just fell out of the sky for her! Devil's luck indeed! Shinsho was unmoved by his anxiety.
"You think he's fond of her." His tone was calculating. A spoiled brat he said? Demons were capable of the worst unfounded superiority complexes. When Cavin said spoiled brat he obviously only meant she wasn't scraping like she had no right to breath air and occupy space. It was obvious that she was only behaving like a normal girl. He cared little for the neko's distress. His distress came from the obstacles implied by the possibility. To get her out under his nose would be non-negotiable. Unless they could, somehow, come to an understanding with the contractor who lived in this manor. This was not likely. If she was living here there must be a reason that whoever controls the demon would want a trouble magnet like her in their home. Maybe she didn't tell them who was after her?
"He is too attentive. How am I supposed to draw her out?"
"Jet is going to throw a fit if he sees."
Cavin was silent for a moment. "….He…He he…hehehehehe! I'm actually looking forward to that, you know?" The tracker was momentarily looking quite gleeful.
"Focus Ashcroft. What will happen to the girl if this doesn't succeed?"
"Hm. If we don't succeed well then goodness knows what sort of depraved motives the Bercarius' family carries for the girl. If none of us succeed… well…. that would be up to him then wouldn't it?" They both sat thoughtfully on a branch. No matter, Cavin could work with this. He was nothing if not adaptable.
….
"This is the estate?" Roxy eyed their surroundings. Winter sucked and she was glad to be at their destination after asking around for ages and walking her toes black and blue. Still it seemed a bit odd that there were no hounds chasing them down by now or something. Didn't manors have that kind of thing to keep people out? Wesley walked ahead of her cautiously but kept a grip on her hand so as not to lose her. It was dark around here.
"Yeah." He breathed quietly, not daring to speak loudly through some unrealized instinct in him. "Come on, keep up Roxy." The admonishment was light as he tugged her along. Their breath puffed out slightly in front of them as they breathed.
"You'd think a place like this would have tighter security." The girl whispered. Something about the night surrounding them, and the scenery, seemed to forbid any disturbance from the two. Usually she enjoyed the crunch of snow beneath her shoes, but it currently felt like a nuisance. Good thing the snowing had already stopped a while ago and was going down a bit. Winter would be over soon. The older of the two gave a wordless nod but placed a finger to his lips to indicate silence.
"Unless they already know we're here…" He whispered just as softly as Roxy had.
"There's no way they could know that already. I think you're getting more paranoid about this than I am, Wess." She commented, blowing a stringy auburn strand that obstructed her line of vision. He didn't seem to pay her statement much mind. "Besides if they knew, they would've-"
"You guys?"
"AHHHH!" The chimney sweeps shouted simultaneously, jumping almost five feet. Wess tripped on a root and they both nearly tumbled to the ground. They staggered about trying to regain their bearings. Ivy stood before them, blinking curiously. How had they not seen her there? She hadn't seemed to really take any real notice of their embarrassing moment and simply looked at them, her arms clutched a large black tailcoat around her body. It was big on her and revealed only her fingers. Beside her stood a butler with a very self-satisfied expression. 'Nightmares, eh Ivy?' The fourteen-year-old thought slyly and gave a wink. Wesley was not looking at him though.
"Are you alright?" Green eyes lit softly with concern. "What are you doing here?"
"Ivy-we-…you…" At this point Roxy stepped forward with a huff.
"We came to warn you, Ivy girl." She stated and Ivy's eyes slid to her in their usual eerie way they did whenever she was especially concerned. "When you came with the Phantomhive kid-" The ravenette held up a hand for her to stop talking. It was dangerous to talk out there.
"We will have to talk about this inside. My toes are going to fall off." She 'explained'.
"Why are you out here like that?" Wesley frowned at her state of dress.
"Your visit was rather unexpected I'm afraid." Sebastian replied coolly, a slight jab at the rude intrusion. "For her sake, I'll allow you to-"
"TALKING LATER!" Ivy bellowed over her shoulder as she bounded like a gazelle toward the back entrance. Her feet avoiding patches of the snow that she loved so much with skips and hops. "Eep! Yipe!" Wesley moved his gaze from her to the tall butler and his eyes hardened. Sebastian smirked at him knowingly and motioned with his arm for him to follow.
"Please come inside. I'm sure you're tired."
"Yeah, yeah…" He muttered, eyeing the Phantomhive servant suspiciously as he did so. Roxy on the other hand had no qualms about latching onto his arm, making the young man roll his eyes at her unhesitant betrayal.
"Sooo! 'Ello again there, beautiful. I never did catch yer name." The butler raised an eyebrow, slightly amused at the child and was about to respond.
"His name is 'Royal Footstool' just like every other butler."
"Shut it, Wess! I didn't ask you!" The girl snapped at his rude statement.
"Hurry up!" Ivy called impatiently poking her head out of the door. "Wesley I hope you aren't trying to antagonize Sebastian! You promised me." She sounded a lot like a mother. The young man huffed.
"Why, Miss Ivy. Your defensive behavior is quite sweet." The butler remarked. "But quite unnecessary I assure you." Ivy narrowed her eyes at him.
"Get over yourself, I wouldn't waste the air and spit necessary to speak on your behalf, Mister Michaelis."
"I was speaking in reference to Mister Wesley, actually." The butler smirked and Ivy turned red before disappearing with a louder huff than Wesley's.
"So…Sebastian Michaelis, is it?" Roxana was undaunted by all the awkward social tension dominating their immediate environment. Wesley, however, was loathe to allow a certain fourteen-year-old responsibility of his to fraternize with this stuck-up, stick of licorice. He quickly intercepted her from grabbing onto the man again.
"Yes, I remember Ivy and Liam saying so at the festival." He confirmed very curtly keeping her trapped under his arm like a light load of lumber.
"How flattering that you remembered." The butler was either doing a horrible job hiding his snobbery or was just not trying to hide it at all. Wesley was betting on the latter explanation.
"Damn it, Wess, no cock blockers allowed past this point!" Roxy struggled angrily drawing an imaginary line with her hand. Both men looked down at her at this point, utterly taken aback for entirely different reasons.
"No- what?" Wesley blinked. "Really Roxy. It's like I 'ardly know you!" Wesley Andrews was really uncomfortable about the idea of little Roxy growing up and…doing the sort of things that….come with... growing up and…stuff.
"ROXANA CARMICHAEL!"
Aw, crap. The girl sank into Wesley's grip now, sulking and withering.
Ivy had stepped back out with a very purposeful stride and an incredulous expression on her face. She placed her hands on her hips. "DO NOT EVEN ENTERTAIN THOUGHTS LIKE THAT! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT'S BEEN!" Sebastian cleared his throat in disapproval but Ivy paid him no mind. "AND THAT IS KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WORLD COULD REALLY DO WITHOUT, TRUST ME!" At this statement Roxy pointed triumphantly with a joyous guffaw.
"THEN HE IS YOURS, ISN'T HE!" Unable to accept being restrained for this long the girl reached up and twisted her captor's nipple.
"Oi!" Wess protested, dropping her in both shock and the pain.
Sebastian simply stepped beside the neko soundlessly. It was odd to watch Ivy socialize with these humans. Granted he did the same often, but for obvious reasons. She actually valued them in ways that he was simply not capable of.
"I TOLD YOU! IN. MY. NIGHTMARES."
"Oh? You've been dreaming of me, Miss Ivy? My, my, I simply don't know what to say."
"DON'T YOU START!" She whirled on him. Roxana just cackled uncontrollably. Ivy seemed to remember how cold she was and scurried back inside with a whimper, followed by Sebastian. The other two took this as a cue to follow. Wesley grumbling and Roxy looking awfully pleased with herself.
….
Ivy was sure he had brought her out there so suddenly on purpose. Roxy was asking too many questions about Sebastian's coat. It didn't help that he didn't take it back when they were inside. He said it was because she had no dressing gown to cover up her sleepwear but Ivy really couldn't convince herself that, that was it. Unlike Roxana, Wesley said nothing about it, but the neko could feel his disapproval from across the manor if she had to. The demon may have been many things, but Ivy was grateful that he allowed her to speak to them without any interruptions. Wesley did not need that sort of provocation and neither would he talk openly in front of him. Roxana did not seem to notice her distress; she was far too preoccupied pouring her heart out, spilling all the details as to why they two had decided to come all this way.
All the while Ivy listened anxiously and more than a little bit puzzled.
"So…" She murmured finally. "You remember all this accurately? You're certain?" Could they have really been so careless? Or had they done a horrible job wiping her memory on purpose? It was an alarming thought, for if they had done so on purpose, then their presence here was intentional and thereby a threat.
"That's the thing!" Roxana paced, her honey gold eyes flashing and auburn hair whipping behind her. "I didn't! And it drove me insane! I… I fought so…hard, Ivy." It had been a long time since Ivy had heard so much emotion in her voice. "Wess did his best to lift me spirits… but it just didn't do no good. I spent most of my time alone…alone and terrified and just knowing that I was missing a vital piece o' something…of myself… that I just couldn't seem to get a grip of. Then one night…I just stopped trying." Her eyes dulled at the memory, until Ivy's hand gently clasped her wrist, wordlessly beckoning the girl to come sit under her arm. Roxy understood Ivy's silences better than anybody. It was she who the silent, somber, Ivy had cared for without uttering a sound all those years. Wesley came over to kneel at their feet, not daring to intrude completely but aching to be of some comfort.
"Then it didn't mattered what I couldn't remember…but what I did remember was something those monster had no idea I had even seen: the burning of the Bedfordshire orphanage." She sat a little bit straighter now eager to get to the point. "Do you remember what I told you and the Phantomhive boy?" She was doing her best to be well-spoken. The neko nodded, motioning for her to continue. "I was so afraid of what I'd seen that I didn't take into account what exactly I 'ad 'eard. They were looking for someone…Miss Mitsy spoke to them like they 'ad come to the right place, they were looking for a girl from what I could tell. But Ivy, the only girls who weren't killed in that place were you and me. And…those things… they weren't after me obviously." There was a long silence after this.
Roxy frowned. "Don't you understand?"
"Yes…I do." Ivy responded blankly.
"Well…after that. I slowly recalled everything that had happened and- Ivy we-"
"Ivy let us 'elp. Please." Wesley spoke up then forlornly. "I'd do anything for you, you must know that by now." The half-breed felt her heart wrench and she turned to regard them. Finally with a sigh she made her resolve and spoke to them. A gentle sound, almost a whisper but it carried an awful lot.
"The two of you shouldn't have come here." Their expressions dropped instantaneously. A pin could be heard dropping.
"What do you mean?" Roxy cried feeling slighted after all the trouble they had gone through.
"Ivy….would you rather we did nothin about it?" Wesley stood up with a wounded frown. "Or did you already know about this?" Green eyes stared up at him with their usual unfathomable depth. It frustrated him that he could never touch this place she appeared to dwell in. That she would never share her burdens with him for this reason. This news that they gave her didn't remotely look like it surprised her, it only seemed to trouble her. Her mouth was set in grim neutrality. He was right. She had known they were coming for her.
"You should rest so you can leave in the morning. It's not safe-"
"Ivy please don't do this to us!" Roxy was near tears. Wesley placed his hand on her head to calm her before speaking up.
"Why, Ivy? Why do those…men…or things, or-or whatever! Why do they want you?"
The girl huffed tiredly. "I won't endanger you by involving you in this anymore than you have to be. I can handle this myself."
"No!" Roxana moved away from her now. "You mean you can handle this with them! And not us! Why are we suddenly not good enough anymore?" The neko gaped at them.
"Were we ever good enough?" Wesley croaked, recalling the distance she had often kept from them.
Was I ever good enough?
She did not snap at them. "I can not tell you the truth no matter how much I want to." Ivy shook her head. "Because whether you believe it or not, if I did tell you everything, then you would hate and fear me as much as I hate and fear them. I could never live with that. I've had enough hatred. So please don't make this harder than it has to be, and don't you dare imply that I would shun you over petty ideas of superiority. It has nothing to do with you, or with Wesley being good enough."
"We could never hate you! Can't you see that?" Roxy shook her head in disbelief. The neko didn't respond. If only Roxy really knew.
"Ha ha Blimey." Wesley placed his hands on his head laughing bitterly. "I don't know what to believe about any of this!"
"I never asked you to believe anything. I only ask you not to make yourself a part of this."
"That's impossible Ivy! And completely selfish of you! It's too late for that! We are already part of it! Didn't you think for one instant that if anything happened to you others would suffer!?"
"And why should they?" She responded.
"'Why should we?' Ivy girl 'ow could you be so thick!" Roxy began to cry now. "Don't you see?" Wesley moved toward the girl and she jerked away from him, not ready to be silenced. "I never 'ad no parents. They threw me away long before I could even remember 'em. I can't remember anything 'cept…" She trailed off and calmed herself down, wiping tears. Thinking over her words she spoke.
"The earliest memory I 'ave is of grasping at your skirts while you did a 'orrible job of sewing a patch onto a 'ole in me winter coat. After that…it's still just you. You: making sure I 'ad enough to eat, nursing me-all of us- through scarlet fever and the croop, taking punishments that should've been mine. Ya see, Ivy? You were everything I 'ad. The only thing I could come close to calling me…me mum. I… I couldn't not come 'ere. I'll live without you if I 'ave to. Isn't that what I've been doin? But don't ask me to be'ave like what 'appens to you don't matter!"
With a soft sigh Ivy quickly stood and held the girl to her chest where she sobbed. "I'm sorry." She apologized stroking her hair. "Thank you for coming. We know everything… and we are ready, I promise."
"That's all I wanted to 'ear." The girl's form trembled under the older girl's arms.
"Okay, it's alright, rest now. You've had a lot of excitement these past weeks." Ivy led her to sit down. Wesley did not seem remotely satisfied but he remained silent and moved to sit in a nearby windowsill. His youthful visage was illuminated by the moon outside, as he listened soundlessly to the girls who spoke in hushed tones nearby. Not too long after, exhaustion took hold of the younger girl and she was instantly asleep. The two who remained awake simply sat in silence. Ivy knew he had something to say but he was going to have to speak up, she would not bring it up for him, nor would he appreciate being pressed. She was not a nag. Instead she sat calmly where she was, with one hand in her lap and the other petting her small friend's hair.
"Awright. You an I obviously need to talk." He murmured, his calm monotone piercing the silence. Ivy's silhouette didn't even twitch in response, black even among shadows.
"Okay then. I'm listening."
"Why are you sending us away? Why wont you let me stay and help?"
"Some things are better left unknown Wesley." She said after a moment of silence, searching for the right words. "You resent being kept in the dark, I understand that but-"
"Ivy…I've already accepted that you will never want me the way I think I've always wanted you. It took me…such a long time to get over that but I did even if it still 'urts sometimes." His words jarred her. She turned her head fully to face him. The sharp breath she took to respond was interrupted as he continued. "Please don't tell me you weren't wise to it already… or you wouldn't 'ave come to me on Christmas that time when you were-"
"Wesley I was twelve! And stupid! And I didn't understand people very well. There would've been nobody else I could have asked, it had no idea with thinking you thought of me like…that, and how many times do you expect me to apologize?" Ivy wondered if he could see her eyes as clearly in the dark as she could see his. Not likely. All he did was sigh tiredly.
"I'm not mad about that anymore Ivy girl, it was a long time ago, even though at times it still hurts. Apologies don't take that away ya know." He uttered. Ivy was ready with a reply but stopped when he kept talking. "I just thought I should start by talking about my feelings from back then. It was always sort of in the air between us but I never really said anything to you because even though sometimes you made me feel like I had a chance, I still never had the confidence to bring it up. It was like you lived on a completely separate plane from us." He shifted to sit facing her now elbows resting on his knees. He was still talking but one thing he'd just said stuck in Ivy's mind. "You were so strong, and pretty, and talked so good that I didn't…"
You made me feel like I had a chance. So she really had strung him along? Suddenly the half-breed had a sour taste in her mouth.
"Did you feel as though I had led you on?" He was silent for a moment and ran a hand through his hair before making up his mind.
"…Yes." He responded softly, not looking at her.
She winced and shifted away slightly to find some words…any words to make amends. Ivy had never wanted to be that girl. Thinking back on her younger years, she realized that it could be said that she used Wesley as an emotional life raft of some sort. She was all alone and so she had craved positive attention. The chimney sweep found himself, quickly trying to make himself clear.
"Ivy I was still a kid too, and I was stupid too! I was resentful back then but I don't still think that you-"
"No, it's alright. It's just that I- Sebastian even told me once that-" Now the youth suddenly switched gears.
"Okay! Um one more thing about this conversation, can we not make this about 'im?"
"I wasn't, but apparently casually mentioning someone in a discussion somehow changes the theme of the conversation." Ivy frowned, responding in kind. Wesley huffed and shook his head. "Can you tell me why you're taking your dislike of him out on me suddenly?"
"I'm not going to argue with you about that only 'cause I never win arguments with you. Yeah. We can all agree you've got an answer for everything."
"You wanted to talk to me about something so don't get smart with me now of all times. I'd rather not fight either, so get to the point of this please." Ivy really did not want to deal with this but it was apparently inevitable.
"Ivy…you're seventeen-"
"Eighteen." She quickly corrected.
"Eighteen years old. I've never once seen you act like a girl around us…you always acted more like you were responsible for both of us, not just Roxy. Sure we had fun together but…its difficult to explain the distant air you always carried. I thought this distance was something inevitable in your persona, I thought it would never go away…ten years Ivy…I've known you for ten years. Still I've never seen you act like a regular girl…until tonight."
"Outside, back there, you were squeaking and blushing like a…well…like an eighteen-year-old. Ten years and I never penetrated your strange unseen world where I couldn't follow…. you spend one winter in this house and that butler suddenly lives in that same bubble."
"You misunderstand so much Wesley. I never allowed him as close as you assume. He's always lived on that plane. Sebastian can know what you can't because we've both always lived in that world you describe, he and I… we are different but we're also the same."
"Ivy this isn't about you and him I was just making a point." He ignored the throbbing confusion bouncing around his head at her words. "If I'm going to switch over to the main point of our conversation. I want to know why the hell you are pushing us away after seeing all the trouble we went through to come and warn you. Don't you think, that after all of that trouble that it didn't matter to us how difficult it would be to help. We would do anything."
She ran a hand through her hair, exhaustedly. "Please-"
"I've never been able to give you anything, Ivy." He stood up determinedly. "I'm not even asking you to return my feelings but let me do this one thing. Please I'm begging you."
"There's nothing you can do Wesley."
"No." he said cynically. "There's nothing I can do that he can't do better."
"You're taking words out of my mouth. I never said-"
"Then why the fuck do 'e and that brat suddenly qualify for the situation. What is it that makes them so much god-damn better than us?" He obvious wanted very badly to shout but didn't want to wake the sleeping girl. Ivy buried her face in her hands and groaned desperately, miserably.
"Nobody is better than anyone! I want to explain, I really do but either way whether I do or not, it apparently means I'll lose you two. But mark me, I'll do anything to protect you, even if that means breaking your hearts."
"Ivy-…what are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that I don't want you two to get involved, and yes Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian Michaelis are my only option to end this."
"So you're choosing them. Well good for you, quite an upgrade, yes?"
"That's not fair."
"No none of this is fair, Ivy. Like I said…I can't offer you anything, especially not what they can. Don't take away the only opportunity I have to take care of you. I don't got anything of value to me name… the only thing of mine I can really say 'as any value is my identity…my very being… and its already yours." He murmured glumly. Ivy stiffened and eyed him with alarm, her hackles rising.
"Don't say that to me…you don't know what you're saying." She whispered anxiously, fists clenching her skirts.
"Oh I don't? You are trying to tell me what to think now?"
"Be careful, Wesley…" She warned keeping her glowing eyes away from his view abruptly. He walked towards her and she tensed even more, posture rigid. "You're very being is sacred… it's your soul."
"What do I need with a soul? It's never done me any good." He scoffed harshly.
"Shut up." She scolded him very sternly. "It's the unspoken beauty of humanity, a gift given to each man, woman, and child: that all would be free to choose their own fate. They are the masters of their own being, their own soul to do with as they please. Why spoil the possibilities by just throwing that away?" It was kind of ironic that she would be the one saying that, but it pissed her off that anybody with a normal existence would take it for granted.
"If it's my choice then I can still decide to let you-" She couldn't let him finish that statement. So she did the only thing she could to discourage such an offer from him.
-SMACK!-
He stood in astonishment, holding the side of his face. Ivy felt the sharp pinprick of regret but knew she had done right to stop him. "It's like I said…I'll do anything to protect you, from yourself counts too." Noting his expression, she continued. " Please. If our relationship means anything to you, you will never say that to me or anyone like me." He didn't understand what had just happened, but that was okay by her. Finally he responded, but barely audible.
"Oh our relationship means plenty to me, but apparently nothing to you. You make absolutely no sense, Ivy, and are riddled with secrets that go way beyond what I thought were there, friends don't hide everything from each other. If you don't want us here, fine. I don't see any reason to stay here." He spoke decidedly. Ivy frowned.
"I did my best to avoid this. I already felt awful enough about what happened to Roxana and I would rather you didn't know anymore about this, then you guys showed up and I-."
"Oh, so this is our fault?"
"It's not safe! Can you at least try to just trust me?"
"I'm not so sure o' that anymore." He uttered plainly. "It's okay though, we wont get in your way now." Leaning over, he shook Roxy's shoulder lightly.
"What are you doing?" Ivy hissed in admonishment.
"Oi, Roxy. We're leaving."
"Wha-whaa…? What's happening?" She rubbed her eyes groggily.
"Wesley." Ivy whispered in disapproval.
"Nothing's happening, kiddo. It's time to go." He ignored the neko. "Let's get you bundled up."
"You're seriously just walking out in the middle of the night!" She placed her hands on her hips, incredulous. He pulled the girl out and down the hall. It all happened so fast after that.
"Wess, I'm tiiiired." Roxy whined as the moved. He glared at their surroundings, this place looked so twisted.
"We aren't staying."
"Why the hell not?"
"Let's go." He pulled her along. "I don't like the look o' this place."
"Oi wait a minute! Ivy!"
"Wesley. It's not safe at night-"
"We got 'ere just fine tonight on our own. I think it'll be fine."
"C'mon Wess! What 'appened?"
"Its nothing! Let's go!" He shouted sternly at the vocal girl.
"Don't you yell at her!" Ivy snapped.
"Oh what now! Are you gonna hit me again!"
"We're in someone else's house! Show some respect! Besides it's not her fault!"
"No, its not 'er fault! It's yours!"
"Will somebody just talk to me?" Roxy screeched.
"Stop screaming!" They both responded. There was complete silence in the hall, just beside the servant's entrance after that and they all stood staring numbly at each other.
"Please I've 'ad enough o this. Let's get outta 'ere, Roxy." He led her off again by the arm and she stumbled behind him, looking over her shoulder anxiously. Ivy felt spent already. Could this get any worse? Didn't she have enough to deal with? "Bye Ivy! Please take care okay? Let us know you're okay! Please let us know!" She called back. The neko nodded and waved as they hurried out of the back entrance.
"I will, Roxy. Stay warm, you two."
"Tell that butler of yours he better take good care of you, you hear! His beautiful ass better have you covered!"
Ivy winced and forced herself not to face palm. The air was tense enough around them already. She could feel the tick in Wesley's presence at this. The older of the girls sighed in exasperation. "Goodbye, Roxy." She gave another wave slowly closing the door once they disappeared from her sight. Whipping off the tailcoat she stalked to find the butler and give it back.
"Is this for me?" He appeared to her left soundlessly. Ivy gave a start and held her chest. These hallways were too damn dark at night and he blended with it too damn well. That was soooo on purpose or he would have been holding a candelabrum like he usually did.
"Damn it, Sebastian!" She hissed, still clutching the cotton fabric over her heart. He smirked slightly. "How long were you standing there?" She muttered resentfully, shoving the item into his chest. He folded his coat over his arm with his usual finesse.
"Standing where precisely?" He inquired smoothly. Instead of snap at him she just waved him off tiredly. The dark servant frowned at the uncharacteristic response. "Is something the matter?" He drawled curiously. Ivy's eyes darkened. As if he actually cared, or didn't already know. The neko was not about to play the runaround with this. She was far too tired of everything, so she folded her arms and kept her gaze on the patterns in the wallpaper.
"So you were right." She told him dryly.
"Mm?"
"It seems my behavior does give innocent guys the wrong idea. I've discovered that it seems I really did string Wesley along like a dim-witted puppy. I'm sure you're very pleased with yourself." Her words came out very tersely but Sebastian remained unaffected by them.
"Oh dear. Are you really so upset by it?"
"Excuse me, if I prefer to known as a straightforward person! I don't like unnecessarily hurting people! Welcome to the world of human genetics!"
"Regardless of his feelings and what I've said before, you are right, little one. You were not selfish for being kind to the silly whelps. Human men have an annoying habit of confusing acts of friendship and generosity from the fairer sex as signs of deeper feelings they want to see there or just imagine to be possible."
"UGH! I can't believe he actually thought I-" She motioned at the butler with her hand awkwardly. "I- you-…-Ew."
Sebastian just rolled his eyes. As usual: prone to exaggeration. "He will manage his disappointment."
"You can be all logical about it, but I feel like an ass. How could I be so ridiculously insensitive?"
"You were a child…a half-demon child actually. You also like yourself very little and so often have a difficult time accepting or even noticing when a man has a deeper interest in you." It was simple really. "Humans can be so sensitive."
"Still! You were right about the whole thing, damn you!"
"Of course I was. You'll find I often am."
Ivy gave him a look, folding her arms and moving to stand in front of him. At this distance she had to look up at him.
"Am I to understand that you are trying to be…comforting?" She raised an eyebrow. He smiled back down in response, surprising her by pinching her cheeks. Ow.
"You…should be sleeping now. Come along."
Ivy startled him with a kick to the shin. "Stop doing that. I hate that." She hissed, shoving his hands away. He was ready to give a smug reply but then she surprised him again when her arms clasped around his waist in a tight hug. "You creepy bastard. I must be really, really sleepy." A little gratitude never hurt anyone.
….
"Well hellooo~!" Cavin landed gracefully in front of the two urchins. Roxy instantly began to hyperventilate and fell onto her bottom. Beside him landed the lithe figure of the kitsune who accompanied him. Wesley started in alarm and stepped in front of her. "We've been hanging around here for quite a while waiting for an opportunity like you guys to come our way. I must say this is most providential is it not?" His grin grew when the girl pulled out her revolver. "Say, I remember her." He drawled tilting his head, his eyes catching some moonlight from the openings in the canopies above, glowing. The young man shielding the girl paled at the sight.
"What in 'ell fire are you?" He breathed. They didn't seem to hear him.
"Shinsho?" He turned to the fox.
"Let's leave the girl be…just one will do." He answered, only his mouth visible from under his hood.
"Practical…I like." They both slowly turned flashing eyes upon their prey and were upon him even before Roxy could properly let out a scream.
Author's Note: Again I'm really sorry for the delay. I definitely need a break from these people. Ugh. Anyway I hope you enjoyed this. I kind of rushed through the proof reading cause I was in a rush to finish so there might be a surplus of errors but bear with me lol. Review if you were at least entertained. I'm personally not very pleased but by now I'm aware that I'm often too harsh on myself so…yeah. I hope I kept Sebby in character…we wouldn't want to mistake him for a caring individual now would we? xD. (Love you SEbberz!) The details don't flow as well as in the other chapters but once again I was in a rush lol. Hope you hear from you all my lovelies and many thanks for the wonderful cookies of love!