A/N: (Warning) side-quest. If you want to get onto the plot, feel free to skip to Chapter 41 (Resolved). If you like reading for the hell of it (and cute antics), continue reading chapter-by-chapter.

Summary: Sebastian is out on delivery. During these meaningless (macaron-topped) errands ordered by the Undertaker, Ciel notices. Shenanigans ensue.

Chapter 38: That Librarian, on delivery.

(Sebastian)

Playing-delivery-person-for-the-Undertaker was amusing for the first fifteen minutes that I was able to lead Ciel astray.

He followed me doggedly, nearly-expertly tailing me as I left the campus. He was so intent on being sneaky that he didn't seem to notice that I directed him to a "game center." Which in the local language was another way to say "arcade." Ciel watched me closely, his cobalt eyes sharp as he hunted between the claw games, and even ventured up to the racing and shooting games on the first floor. Then he saw me leaping out the door on the ground floor and out of his reach.

"Hey!" He shouted. Surely he huffed and puffed to catch up.

I nearly lost him near the post office. I suppose his little legs simply couldn't keep up with me. But by that time I was cozied up in a nearby café, transmitting seemingly useless information about what-passes-for-nobility in this area. One of the highest bidders for this information was the petty crime organization; there was a notable amount of information devoured by them. Reach, they may have, but power? Hardly. Unless of course, the Undertaker was only giving me the inconsequential information. Particularly about the Phantomhives.

I lazily texted:
[TO ]WaruTDL
"The Phantomhive household uses three times the amount of laundry detergent as other household of comparable size."

I quickly followed up with the following:
[ TO]TokyoDarkLords
"For a family with a personal chef, they order a substantial amount of takeout. Furthermore, their garden is in a state of ruin and replanting exponentially more than surrounding households."

I looked up, watched Ciel disappear out of view, and let myself out of the café and incidentally, into his line of sight.

"Sebastian!" Ciel puffed, sweetly out of breath.

"Your inhaler, young sir," I reminded him. I gestured at the breast pocket of my own vest.

"I don't need it!" He brushed my concerns aside.

I bowed, backed up two steps, and ducked into a rather convenient group of job-hunters, notable for their all black attire and plain footwear. In times past, I would have suspected them of professional mourners, but this was entirely the wrong assumption for the modern day.

I walked nonchalantly with them for a ways. Then we parted company as I made my last stop to deliver a parcel. First, to pick it up.

Meow. A delightful specimen of feminine beauty arched her back, looking at me with honey-colored eyes. She was sitting on a green tarp with a dog bone for a marker on top. She moved, being an agreeable sort, when I approached.

I took just a few minutes to soothe her before traipsing off again.

Ciel, poor child, was unable to follow as he had a rather unfortunate allergen attack. I could hear him sneezing for nearly a block.

This delivery was not far; it was merely on the other side of Tokyo. Even without the distraction, it would have taken Ciel hours to commute using the train lines. He would be hopelessly lost with no more hints from me. My phone beeped as I made it through the doors. I paused to check the message.

DeathScycthe: pausing to smugly gloat on your progress?
Demandols: No.
DeathScythe: Well don't stop now.
. . .before you head in, drop by the sweets shop on the cover. Add this on the corner of the package.
(he inserted a rather ridiculous picture of himself holding a pink macaron)
. . .and that'll do the trick.

I sighed, turning away just as someone glimpsed me. Taking a detour to retrieve the macaron now? It would have been simpler to tell me beforehand. Nevertheless, I was repeating myself a few minutes later. Needless to say, both watchmen were watching me curiously, as they'd witnessed my, ah, hasty retreat.

"What's this?" The doorman asked. I instantly dub him Doorman.

I bowed, but offered no words of explanation. Instead, I turned and stepped into the shadows before they could properly make sense of it, or memorize my features.

"What the?" The other one, rather taller and considerably rounder, mirrored Doorman's befuddled expression.

They exchanged glances, and Doorman eventually said, "Do you think we could eat it?"

In the picture I sent to Undertaker (no need to exchange words if I could avoid it), Doorman and his companion were not altogether happy. They looked flabbergasted, in fact, their eyes were overly large and their noses running in the chilly February air.

I lazily pushed send.

"It's not the goods," the second man continued. "Those are in the box, wouldn't you say? I think we can eat it." He looked at the Pink Macaron.

"But what if it's a sign…?" Doorman's brow wrinkled, and I left them to the debate.

Undertaker's humor was decidedly odd. I pondered it as I returned to the school while he heckled me for more direct quotes. For the most part, I ignored him.

Ciel found me again at the school gate. I smiled down at him, wondering what he would think at the various errands Undertaker had me on.

"Sebastian," Ciel began, his sweet smile belaying the annoyed tone, "I need a book to study for the entrance exams. Get me a good one."

"Are you interested in going to purchase one? I could take you to a very interesting shop. However, it's after five, Ciel. I have no obligations." Let him seethe on that. "I would be very interested in hearing your demands and orders when you take on the mantle of master." I put a finger to his cheek. "Until then."

I left him standing there, shivering and shouting rude comments.

o0o0o0o

For delivery, the tag read in stylish copperplate.

This new assignment seemed less innocuous... I fingered the black ribbon surrounding the manila file, my eyes flashing. I had the distinct feeling that Undertaker was testing me, somehow...

The logo of a phoenix on the folder seemed altogether less playful than the colorful macaron on the previous package. I considered the phoenix, with its rich symbolism and history. Immortality, rebirth, and let us not forget fire. These things reminded me of Ciel Phantomhive, which could very well be what Undertaker intended.

"Um…"

I looked up from my desk, and smiled at the latest student invader. "Study tables are open on the far side of the library," I remarked blandly, feigning ignorance to the gaggle of giggling girls following the first.

"He's here for him isn't he?" One of the girls whispered when they were a few aisles away. "What do you think about it?"

"I dunno…" one girl replied while the others made so-called 'cute' replies consisting of airy breathes and musical sighs. "It seems…strange. Like the underworld is expecting an attack or something. He's a bodyguard, isn't he?"

"No, of course not," the first girl hissed. "He's probably another dark noble, you know." She turned to look back at me, and I favored her with a devilish smile.

"Please keep your voices down, ladies," I admonished, pressing one finger to my lips.

Of course, one of the girls had to run into the nearest bookshelf, upsetting a display and tangling her hair in a mobile (a Noh stylized devil, a book, a cat, and a girl in a frilly dress). "Oh!" She exclaimed loudly.

I closed my eyes. These children.

"Professor…" one of them warbled. Apparently I'd taught her before. "I'm so sorry…"

I had her untangled and leaning on my arm in an instant. Feeling Ciel's eyes on me, I dipped her with a slight twirl. Ciel would be watching of course, perhaps wondering what it would be like to dance with me. I had her on her feet again soon enough though, and glanced briefly at where Ciel was standing.

As predicted, his expression was not a happy one.

"Michaelis?" A voice called from the front of the library.

"Ah, Professor Grey…" I left the girls without another glance. "The book club members will be here after they complete their cleaning duties," I informed him. "If you could kindly watch the desk until then?"

"Yes, yes, and lock up at five. I remember," Grey remarked. He looked at me with fresh eyes, and very little of the competitive nature he'd had before. If anything, I would say he looked sharply, suspiciously at me. Strange, that. Especially if Undertaker had worked his memory magic. "Good luck on your business trip."

I smiled my thanks and nodded, escorting him to the library desk. He kept himself at an appropriate distance away, and his demeanor was nothing but proper. We exchanged no more words, and when I went back to my delivery (the envelope), I realized something interesting. Ciel Phantomhive was not where I'd left him. In fact, he was exactly where he oughtn't be.

"What is this?" Ciel asked, holding the crème envelope. Kitten-like, he'd found it. Trust him to find his way to the only bowl of milk.

I patted him on the head in as condescending a manner as I could. "Now, now, Ciel. You're too old to excuse pawing other people's things. Off with you now. I have school business to attend to."

"Who are you delivering it for? And where? There's no address." Ciel frowned. "Shouldn't you be using school envelopes if it's school business?" He took a step forward, the foolish thing, as though his stature could intimidate me to say anything more. "You're lying."

"And how the young sir hates lies," I purred, "though he whispers little else."

Ciel glowered, furious. "Tell me."

I took his face in both hands, one hand's fingers reaching over his scalp, the other taking purchase just under his chin. I tilted his face up in just the way I would begin a contract, or end it.

I wouldn't say 'he didn't smell of fear,' then. But he also felt of ambition, and pride. I leaned forward, my lips parting.

"No," I answered.

"He'll see you," Ciel hissed. "Grey is just over—"

"He's not looking." In one smooth move, I took my envelope back and turned Ciel away, giving him a little push toward the door.

My cellphone blipped.

DeathScythe: the aurora society. 第一号館の窓口。(Building 1, window office.)

Another irritating .GIF laughed fiendishly at me.

"Who's contacting you?" Ciel asked, suspicious as ever.

"One of your father's contacts."

Ciel actually gaped. Then he sputtered.

"I would consider telling you," I purred, "in return for some information."

Ciel wavered.

"What happened on that day?" I asked him.

"Librarian." A high pitched giggle interrupted the scene. "Are you prying?"

I sighed, turning to look at the interloper. One moment later and I was looking at him, my back straight and hands at my side. "Principal."

"Principal?" Ciel blinked several times. "No, Sebastian, he's in charge of the café."

I perhaps lost a touch of my professionalism as I erupted into snickers. He had fooled me, too, after all.

Undertaker leaned casually against one of my bookshelves containing the demon and spirit exhibition artifacts. He grinned at Ciel in that way of his. "Principal? I do enjoy that job."

Ciel looked at a loss for words yet again.

"Things are not as they appear," I told him.

Undertaker shook his head imperceptibly, but he waved one finger at me as though I were a naughty child. "Tsk, tsk, Sebastian," he drawled, his voice dropping to a low croon, "don't tease the child."

Ciel looked as though he wanted to be teased. "If you're the principal," he said, "you have been the whole time I've been enrolled. You've known my father since…well, always." He looked up, blue eyes swimming with anxiety, panic, and something older than our little relationship. "Sir." He stepped forward. "Don't tell him. Forbid him the information, even if it's in my file. I don't want him to know."

I regarded Ciel Phantomhive with some admiration. How had he guessed? How had he known that Undertaker could do this very thing?

Undertaker laughed again, and I saw a few heads turn to stare at him. "Don't find out about Mr. Phantomhive's tragic past, his traumatic experiences, or otherwise pry into his ten-year-old memories, Sebastian Michaelis."

I turned my back to Ciel, facing only the Undertaker as my eyes flashed red. "Yes," I said simply.

Undertaker smiled and closed his eyes. The scar on his face never seemed so pronounced as it did then, and I turned away from it.

Ciel continued to look at the pair of us suspiciously. Perhaps he didn't know whose power he just borrowed. Ah, well. Perhaps he would figure out who held my leash because of it. And it was only for a month. I could pry as much as I wanted afterward. The trick was, though, getting Ciel not to give up on me in the meantime.

"Mr. Michaelis, I came to remind you of the kimodameshi (*1) later this evening. The test of courage," Undertaker purred. "You are to take part in it. You did remember, didn't you?"

Seeing that I had not been informed of this until that very moment, I couldn't very well say anything. I just looked at him, awaiting instruction.

"The gym teacher who was supposed to be overseeing it is out with influenza. You will be taking his place organizing the Test of Courage. It's to be held in the traditional washitsu, Japanese style room with tatami-mats, in a seminar building. The maps should be enclosed." He nodded at the envelope, as though it really had anything to do with school. "You need to go check the facilities out and talk to the owners so that you'll be prepared for this evening. It takes an hour to get there, and don't forget—" he started to turn around, his long silver hair swaying as he went, "—bring that demon mask of yours. The students will love it."

Ciel raised his voice. "Undertaker," he said with as much authority as his small body could manage, "I'm going too."

"Fine." Undertaker grinned. "I'll add your name to the list…"

I smiled at Ciel. "Until later then." I bowed at him.

From across the library, I heard a not-very-quiet voice. "They've been talking forever…"

A hissed quiet! at that. Followed by, "What do you think they're saying?"

"I wanna talk to Professor Michaelis!" One girl whined pathetically.

And then, "Girls, be quiet." That of course was Grey. "This is a library, not your home."

Ciel, instead of blushing or looking embarrassed, threw a dirty look in their direction. He raised his chin.

I took advantage and slipped out.

o0o0o0o

(*1) Kimodameshi, 肝試し . A test of courage. This sort of test usually involves couples or pairs of students, ghost stories, and sometimes people popping out at you like in Haunted Houses. Otherwise, it's a walk in a scary building followed by a scary story in a dark room. People do these before big events: usually before entrance exams, so Ciel is just the right age for it.