Kuroshitsuji: Another World

Chapter 43: Self-righteous suicide…NOT!

"She's with this Hannah person?" Snake repeated in an unconvinced tone, "and she's going to be sacrificed?"

"Yes, she will be if we don't find her before midnight," Will stated, finally managing to remove Grell from himself, "I don't know why I'm telling you all this, it's not like I'm here to help any demon, but her soul is still unaccounted for and I would like to obtain it as quickly as possible…even if it involves aiding a demon."

"I'm not as excited to be working alongside you either, Spears," Sebastian replied icily, "but if it'll see that Nekohime will be alive with her soul attached, then I'll endure it."

"I think you've hurt her enough, demon," Snake hissed, crossing his arms, "I will go with Spears to rescue her….that is if he even knows where she is."

"I don't know where she is," Will said, "but I do have a theory of where she could be."

"Where do you think she could be?" Ciel asked.

"Ciel Phantomhive, I know that you know where this place is," Will answered, "Only you and Sebastian know. It's the one place where you were supposed to have died two years ago."

Ciel's eyes widened in realization as his brow narrowed in confusion, "The occult church of the pentacles."

"Exactly."

=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=

Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You have come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before

As we finished our 'meal', I began looking around the room for a recognizable sign of where we were. The room, however, was bare, offering no distinct signs. I sighed in frustration, now thinking about an escape plan that involved leaving Alois behind and me (miraculously) finding my way back to the manor.

"Nekohime, why do you think Hannah brought you here?"

"That's what I'm asking myself too," I replied, running my fingers through my hair to untangle any knots, "it's all a mess right now and I don't know what is real anymore. I don't even know what's right or wrong…." I fell to my knees (I think I was being a bit too overdramatic, but hey, I'm a girl and entitled to do such every now and then), covering my face with my hands, "I just feel so lost."

They are calling
From across the distant shore

"Don't cry, sister," Alois comforted, coming towards me to hug me.

"I'm not crying, I'm just overwhelmed," I replied, letting my hands fall to my lap, "for some reason…I have this eerie feeling that something bad is going to happen real soon."

" You're probably imagin-" Alois was interrupted by the door to the room we were in opening.

"Luka, Jim," Claude sneered, crossing his arms (behind him, I noticed, stood three identical men), "either follow me peacefully or come squirming, I don't care for you both will get what you both deserve."

"Claude," Alois demanded angrily, his hands turning into fists, "What is the meaning of this? You know very well that my name is Alois not Jim. Jim is dead."

"No," Claude continued, moving to let the triplets come into the room, "but he will be."

I was held tightly at my arms and wrists and Alois was held by the last one. Their grip was frightening, it hurt. I was struggling as much as Alois (only he looked like he was having more success).

"Thompson, lead Alois out first," Claude directed, immediately walking back out the door.

Silently, my captors followed 'Thompson'. I stopped struggling, now scared at what this could lead up to. As we all walked, the passage we were walking in gradually got darker until we were finally in pitch blackness. We were being led up, I would know for the ground was gradually sloping upwards. Eventually, we made it to the surface. Alois had not been lying, this was a sort of church and a theater…but not a good kind. It was the place where Ciel had summoned Sebastian.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched Alois to continue struggling. When I wanted to walk towards him, I was held back by my captors. Alois was lead to the stone altar, ironically acting exactly like Ciel had when he was to be pinned to the cruel surface. My mind, gratefully tuned out his sobs and his screams…still my eyes continued to watch in horror. The woman known as Hannah was speaking something while Claude and Thompson were holding Alois down. She held some sort of blade over him, still speaking words that I could not here (not that I wanted to hear what she was saying to begin with).

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping

A black light flooded the blade, making me realize something. I couldn't breathe, couldn't move, and couldn't speak. Alois was going to be sacrificed in some sort of ritual…and I was next. I dropped my gaze, I couldn't bear to watch. Why? Why all of this? What did she want with me? What was going on?

What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home

=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=

And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All souls pass

"It's 11:30," Sebastian replied, breaking the silence after checking his pocket watch, "if we are to rescue her, we must leave now!"

"Yes, Sebastian, let's go." Ciel stated, turning to walk out of the room, "Snake, if it will suit you, you may follow us…but be warned, you may soon regret it."

"I'll never regret anything that Nekohime is part of," Snake replied, standing slightly behind Sebastian, "I love her too much to leave her to death and pain."

"Hold it!" Grell demanded, trying to re-attach himself to Sebastian steel form (that is, after letting go of Will), "I go where ever Sebby goes, even to the depths of Hell."

"You idiot," Will replied, pushing up his glasses with his death scythe, "Hell is the one place you are not allowed to tread, for it is a realm of demons far worse and fiercer looking than your precious demon."

"But Sebby would be there to protect me!" Grell pouted, "He would nev-"

"He would be the one to hurt you the worst," Will growled.

"Look, the more we keep arguing whether or not if Sebastian can hurt anyone," Ciel interrupted, sounding irritated, "the more we will fail at rescuing Nekohime. So either help us or go back to your world. Snake, come."

"Yes, Smile," Snake replied, standing to hold open the door for Ciel

"Wait! I'm coming too!" Grell exasperated, following Sebastian's retreating form.

"And you, Mr. Spears?" Snake asked, still holding open the door, "What will you do?"

"….I know how much it must pain you to see someone you love on the brink of danger, possibly death," Will sighed, taking his time to walk out the door, "but you must realize that Nekohime might get rescued, but she might also not be the girl you once loved. Even if I….even if I have to give her the final rest she deserves…just don't forget what she meant to you…..and you to her." He walked out and disappeared down the hallway.

Snake stayed silent, lost in his thoughts for the moment before rejoining the rest of the rescue group.

Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say: "We have come now to the end"
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again

=X=X=X=X=X=X=X==X=X=X=
And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping

Before the knife could plunge into Alois, a violent anger surged deep within my soul. Without my knowledge, my body was reacting on its own. I was fighting my captors….not just fighting but tearing them to shreds! Literally! Limb from limb, I rendered them to nothing but a bloody pile of ripped flesh that made sickening sounds that I couldn't hear. Glancing up, I couldn't hear the anguished cries of Thompson as he watched me rip apart his other identities, but I did see him launch himself at me.

My fury built up even more, Hannah and Claude were not paying any attention to the fight between Thompson and I, still they went on to continue chanting over a scared Alois. I didn't care for Thompson's petty attacks, compared to this new unknown strength that coursed through my veins, he didn't stand a chance. I effectively gave him the same treatment I had given the other two, but in half the time. Now I trailed a fiery gaze up at Claude and Hannah, Claude of which smirked back at me.

That set me off. In blind, raging fury, covered in blood, I attacked…but a moment too late, for Hannah plunged the knife straight into Alois' heart. I screamed at them, attacking Claude with fury ten times what I had used on the triplets.

He was strong.

Very strong, so strong that I was nearly overwhelmed with the sheer brute force he used to throw me into the surrounding stone seats. The pain never really registered, because the same force that I was somehow channeling to give me strength was also protecting me from most of the physical destruction. During my recovery time, I glanced over at Alois. For some reason, I could tell that he was no longer alive anymore. Hannah continued to watch the fight escalate between Claude and myself, amused at the fight I was giving. I struck back with all I had, Claude matched me point per point.

=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=

Sebastian set down Ciel on the dirt path that lead up to the first steps of his interminable past. The others were barely catching up. For the moment, they were utterly alone.

"The one place I cannot escape," Ciel sighed, staring up at the black, blank stone structure, "but the one place where it must irrevocably end."

"Are you troubled, young master?"

"No….and yes," Ciel continued, "Sebastian, thought that I wouldn't be prepared for the time. Strangely enough, I'm calm. "

"Young Master-" Sebastian whispered, reaching out a hand as if to touch him.

"When all this is said and done, Nekohime's safe, and Trancy destroyed," Ciel continued, "will you carve the pain of my life into my soul?"

"Young master, I-"

"I want you to make it as painful as possible," Ciel interrupted, now turning to fully stare into Sebastian's glittering, ruby eyes, "That's an order." He whispered strongly.

Sebastian's throat suddenly constricted, staring-hypnotized-into the revealed sapphire blue eye of his contractor, 'I had promised myself to see that no harm should ever come to him, even if intentional…but if it's what he wants…'"Yes, my lord."

=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=X=

I launched myself at Hannah, determined to rip those smug, smirking lips from her face. Claude fell into the chase, tackling me from behind. With all the years from perfected martial arts training, I used his momentum to flip him in front of me. My timing couldn't have been more perfect. As I flipped him, I side-stepped and twisted, Claude ended up up-side down with his spine making a sickening ninety degree angle on the stone altar where Alois had died upon. Claude's wide eyes indicated to me that I had hit something vital. In his shock, he released me.

I jumped back, grabbing him by the waist of his pants and his tucked in shirt. I spun and threw him through a black door. The sharp smell of the wooded night flooded my senses, that and the scent of rage mixed with blood.

I took a bounding leap, landing only to look up into a pair of clear, crimson eyes. Sebastian's eyes. In my rage (even though I knew it was Sebastian), I mistook him for Claude and began clawing at his clean shirt. Every blow connected, my nails dragging blood and gore from the triplet victims and Claude into his wounds.

Sebastian hissed at me, blocking my swipes and punches, efficiently drawing me away from Ciel (who stood nearby in shock). A flash of red blinded me, this momentary color turned my rage onto a fuming shinigami. Grell held out his scythe in a furious, striking pose. Will also stood next to him, his facial expression never faltering from his usual cold demeanor.

"Neko!"

A cool, night-scented pair of arms drew me into a rippling frame. I twisted, now scratching at Snake's face. He immediately released me, backing away without trying to fight me.

"FIGHT ME!" I roared, jumping at him to continue my assault.

He blocked my every move, pain and grief written plainly upon his face. My mind screamed at me to stop, but my body continued on its rampage. I ruthlessly bit and scratched, purposely drawing blood. Grell jumped in to Snake's aid, out of the corner of my eye I saw Claude face-off against Sebastian and Will strike at Hannah. A furious, misplaced punch allowed me enough leeway to give Grell a nasty clawing to his face. He screamed bloody murder and re-doubled his attack. I jumped over him as he tried to block an attack on Snake and pulled his hair. Using my all, I threw him towards Sebastian and Claude, neatly pinning Claude beneath his near unconscious body.

"Neko, why are you doing this?" Snake cried, feinting a hit to the left but dodging right, "I don't want to hurt you!"

"Are you even real!" I questioned, pulling short a kick that would have broken several ribs.

Snake used my momentary pause to wrap himself around me, pulling my face close to his and kissing my lips softly, "Of course I am, and so is my love for you," He kissed me again, at this moment I stopped struggling, "I was wrong to let Sebastian have you," He kissed the tip of my nose, "I was wrong for leaving in the first place," kissed the center of my forehead, "I was wrong for ever doubting my feelings for you," he kissed my lips again, this time pouring every ounce of love that he could into the kiss, "and I was wrong for ever doubting your love for me."

What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home

A murderously feral scream ripped through the air, I turned as Snake released me to fight-by my side-whatever came at us. Will was lying unconscious next to a bloodied Grell, who stood swaying. Sebastian continued to fight Claude, their hits were point for point, neither giving up any ground. Hannah lunged at us, the knife used to kill Alois held dangerously in her hands. I quickly shoved Snake aside before dodging to the opposite side, a moment too soon. A flash of black pulled me into another warm, strong body as another scream form Hannah sounded.

"Looks like you guys started the party without me, pity."

"Undertaker!" I exasperated in disbelief, unconsciously clinging to him as he warded off Hannah single-handedly with his black scythe.

"Good to see you again, my beautiful Neko," Undertaker grinned at me, his grip on my waist hard, "Now, Hannah, is this any way to treat your helper?"

I spun out of his hold, landing to stand in front of Ciel (who had backed into a tree with a frightened look on his face), "What are you talking about?"

"I brought you to life," He replied, parrying a thrust made by Hannah, "so essentially you have me to thank for giving you a second chance at life, Luka."

"So you knew!" I replied, pissed, "You knew all along and you never told me!"

"You never asked," Undertaker hissed, side-stepping Hannah and turning to face me, "I had hoped that you would have asked the day Sebastian had brought you to me, but you didn't. Don't you remember that day?"

My eyes widened, I did remember, "Yes, and you also said that you needed to find out more information, what information was it?"

"Heh, I simply wanted to find out what Hannah wanted with you and why she had wanted me to combine a human soul with a demon body." He replied, smiling coolly at me.

"I wanted to fulfill Alois' death wish."

I glared at Hannah, who looked at me with soft restraint, "You killed him, so what does his wish have to do with me?"

"I didn't kill him the first time, but he was the only one that still showed me a form of familial love that I wanted," Hannah sighed, watching Claude and Sebastian continue fighting, "At first I was once in love with him, Claude that is, and I ended up pregnant. You were a stillborn, but your powers were dormant. I grieved and Claude drifted away from me. I asked Undertaker to help me keep your body, which he gladly did…for a price. I gave him my womb for his medicinal practices, and in exchange your infant body was kept. I was then called to Luka's aid….I helped him for the price. He gave me his soul. I was still in grief, so I kept it and stayed by Alois' side…just as Luka wished. Later when Alois was dying, I was then asked to protect someone dear to Alois. It was then that I decided to use his brother's soul since I knew that I had to go into hiding after killing Claude. I fell into the Hell's whirlpool and waited for you to become alive. Against my wishes though," She now glared half-heartedly at Undertaker, "You were sent to another dimension to grow up. I don't regret any of it, though. Your powers are what I'm going to use to rid the world of death and of miserable demons such as Sebastian. The only thing now standing in my way is…"

Hannah launched herself at Claude, reaching down her throat and pulling out a sword. She stabbed him through his heart, pulling out the sword just moments before Sebastian was impaled upon it. Claude instantly went slack, falling to the ground.

"Now that that has been taken care of," Hannah began, "Now I will proceed to gain what I rightfully claim. My daughter's powers and dominance over the rest of the world! Ciel and I will rule together, side by side, for all of eternity!"

"No! You gave her to me!" Undertaker spat, menacingly holding out his scythe, "She is mine! Neko belongs to me! I'll not see a filthy demon go back on their word, especially you!"

He lunged at her, slicing the air in front of him. Hannah jumped back, landing near enough to Ciel for Sebastian to join in the fray. I only stood my ground, momentarily paralyzed. Hannah kept the blade used to sacrifice Alois between her teeth, cutting the air in front of her with the sword she'd withdrawn from her body. I moved to protect Ciel, acting as a human shield. Grell eventually found enough strength to fight with Sebastian, but was thrown out of the fight, landing unconsciously next to Will.

"Neko!"

Snake wrapped his arms around me, securely. I allowed myself to shed a small tear of sanity, comforted by his soft embrace. I had never felt so tired in my life, already the strength that I had felt earlier seemed to be waning…my vision too, seemed blurry.

"Oh, Snake," I whispered, closing my eyes against the carnage, "What have I done?"

"You did nothing."

We turned, CIel's strong voice didn't match the terror in his eyes.

"This is all Hannah's fault," Ciel continued, "She's the one who tangled up this entire mess. She's the cause of your despair…Neko or Luka, it doesn't matter-"

"Doesn't matter!"

Snake pushed me into CIel, a sickening rip sounding in the air. I turned and a heart-wrenching, guttural cry rendered from my throat. A malevolent black light streamed forth from his eyes and mouth, his mouth open in a silent scream. Hannah had pierced him in his heart with the black blade used on Alois. Tears streamed down my face, I could see that he was in excruciating pain, already from the black light a viscous black cloud was forming in the sky and blanketing the surrounding area. Everything was being turned into what it once was, dead trees and a desiccated building became the entire landscape.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Hannah screamed, lunging forward to rip the blade from Snake's body.

I moved and in a punishing strike, snapped Hannah head back with a powerful kick. She flew back, blood dribbled from her mouth, she was injured…but not fatally. I had wounded her. I reached down, ignoring the cries from Sebastian as he tried to get within distance of Ciel and I, and picked up the sword that Hannah had dropped in her momentary fury.

"Don't touch the Demon Sword!" yelled Undertaker, shielding Grell's and Will's bodies with his own.

I picked it up, it wasn't as heavy as I had expected but it wasn't exactly light either. The weapon fitted perfectly in my hand….even welcomed my grip. It was genuinely unexpected, but I paid it little attention. A new light blazed from the blade, much brighter and clearer…but still as black, this time as desecrated raven colored snow. I carefully launched the blade into the air, it hovered before slamming into the ground.

"What'll you do now, daughter?" Hannah questioned, snapping her neck back into place, "I'll have what Alois and Luka wished for!"

She lunged at me and we began a game of chase.

"There will be no death!" She clawed at the empty air inches from my face.

"No pain!" I dodged another swipe and aimed a well-placed kick to her stomach.

A newer light blazed from the sword, battling with the light coming from Snake. Ciel was in the firing range of the light. Immediately I jumped between the light and Ciel. I embraced him just as I felt the light from the Demon sword overtake us.

Water filled my nose and mouth, still, I held onto Ciel. Against the rapidly churning water, might waning strength lost my grip on him…the last I held of him was his cooling hand. My weary body was giving up.

'I'm drowning?...'

And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the West


"Into the West" by Annie Lennox

Hey, it will definately be a while, but summer break is hear (and I'm a Graduating Senior! WHOOO!) so yeah, I am (for now) too poor to afford a computer with access to FF. I'm not giving up on this, 'Another World' is after all my baby. I will update when I can, but as a warning this will be a while. Cheer and Pray for Nekohime hard enough and you will read the rest to the end. Just for now, PLEASE BE PATIENT. BE PATIENT and wait calmly.

Bard, Mei-Rin, Finny: "Aishitsuji said it twice...she said it twice she did..."

Sebastian, Ciel, and the rest of the crew: *facepalm*