Long time no see! How are we all?
Light flooded in through the cross-shaped windows as the early morning sun shone brightly. The blue drapes of the curtain swayed softly and the sound of the door being opened quietly echoed through the room. Sebastian entered into the room, but not in his regular Butler's uniform. He had on a grey colour jacket with a white frilled collar shirt underneath. His hair was longer now, too, and pulled back into a ponytail. He carried a tea tray before placing it down on the bedside locker of the large double bed where two young bodies were sleeping.
"I have prepared your tea, Master," He said, pouring the brown liquid into the two blue and gold cups.
"That is not how I am referred to," The elder of the two spoke. Sebastian paused for a moment before turned and placing his hand on his heart.
"Please forgive the mistake, I'm sorry," He said, though his voice was dull. "Your majesty." The elder of the two sat up, his shoulder-length blonde hair messy, while his younger brother slept, clutching a human skull close to his chest. The elders blue eyes glared at Sebastian.
~o/Intro\o~
"Ludlow castle?" Ciel spoke as he bathed. Sebastian walked towards him with a towel in hand. "As I recall we're remodelling the building into a hotel." Ciel leaned forward and took the note from atop the towel Sebastian was handing him.
"A petition from the builders. They want to halt construction and dissolve the contract. Ciel looked up confused before he stood up from the bath. Sebastian quickly placed a towel over his shoulders as he continued to read over the petition. As he read over the petition the brand on his left side was obvious.
~o/0\o~
"It's too quiet around here," Ryu said before he was promptly hit by a pillow.
"Don't say that you dumbass, you'll break this time of tranquillity." Yuri sighed. "God my back fucking hurts."
"Shouldn't have been so jumpy last night."
"I wasn't jumpy, that guy was a fucking monster."
"You still kicked his ass."
"You fought someone last night?" Ryu jumped as Ciel's voice boomed through the room.
"Fucking shit kid!" Yuri laughed at her brother, having not been surprised by the sudden appearance of the duo.
"No, I fucking annihilated someone last night," Yuri said.
"We're going on a day trip, do you want to join us?" Ciel asked.
"Sure, let me pack a bag." She stood up, wincing slightly before moving down to her room. As she got to the door to the hall, she turned to her brother. "Don't do anything I would do, and don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"But thats barely anything." She winked.
"Exactly." He sighed.
"Begone with you, heathen." She laughed as she headed down to her room. "Mind her," he said, speaking to the other two. "Don't let her out of your sight."
"We won't."
"One scratch on her head and-"
"You'll sell me as meat, yes, I am aware."
"Oi, don't start getting cocky. You may be the love of her life, but I'm her brother."
"Do shut up sometimes, brother, you're beginning to sound like a broken record." Yuri sighed.
"Well, fuck me for trying to look after you."
"I'm big and bad enough to mind myself, thank you very much," She said. "I don't know when you two got it in your heads that I'm some fragile being who needs protection." She scoffed. Her face softened, though, as she kissed her brother's head goodbye. "Thank you for the concern, but I can handle myself."
"Wouldn't be a very good sibling if I didn't worry about my sibling's dumbass all the time."
"At last, something we can agree on." She picked up her bag, tossed him a set of keys before heading to the exit. "Try not to let the place burn without me."
"And give you that satisfaction? Not a chance." She giggled as she headed up the stairs with butler and master, making sure to lock the doors behind her.
~o/0\o~
The carriage slowly pulled down the worn stone lane that led to the old castle.
"Pathetic," Ciel said as he, Sebastian and Yuri all entered the castle. "Are these contractors children? Cancelling construction because of ghosts," he mocked. "There's no such thing, there can't-" He stopped speaking for a moment before his eyes darted behind him to the demon butler, who was smiling.
"You seem a little unsure of that." Yuri chuckled at his tone.
"Rokudenashi (bastard)," Yuri mumbled, smiling to herself.
"Oh, be quiet," Ciel said to Sebastian. "let's wrap this up and go home." He waited with Yuri a little away from the door as Sebastian opened it.
"Of course." They entered the hallway and made it about halfway down before Ciel stopped in front of a painting of two young boys with blonde hair dressed in black.
"I've seen this painting before," Ciel thought to himself. "Is it a replica-" The door slammed shut and Yuri grabbed onto Sebastian's arm at the bang. A set of candles illuminated them to their right and the group stepped forward to investigate. Another set of candles lit before a voice boomed out.
"Who gave you three vagrants permission to enter our castle?" The voice said,
"So thats it?" Ciel said. "A travelling minstrel is squatting here."
"You dare insult me?" The voice said and a boy materialised. He had blonde hair and wore old fashioned clothes. "Me, the King of all England, I am Edward the Fifth." Ciel gasped in response before leaning closer to Sebastian.
"This... doesn't make any sense," he said.
"It appears ghosts do exist," Sebastian said.
"Approximately four hundred years ago, on the verge of his coronation, Edward the Fifth was confined to the castle, along with his little brother, Richard. They say the two were eventually murdered by jealous relatives. This is where the boys spent their time when they were young, I venture this is where their souls have returned." Ciel sighed dramatically.
"It may have only been a few months, but he was still our king, I can't change that," Ciel said. He nodded to the two of them.
"Oh, bite me," Yuri said. "I hate it when you two take me on trips. First, I get attacked by dogs, and now, I have to deal with a dead king." Ciel looked at her again and she sighed.
"Understood, my lord," The two said in unison.
"What're you whispering about?" The king asked. All three of them stepped forward, Ciel taking off his hat, and bowed to the king.
"Your majesty, may I present the right honourable Lord Phantomhive." Ciel continued to move forward before bowing lowly in front of the king before standing up again.
"Please forgive my rudeness, I was unaware Your Majesty was in residence," he said.
"Fine, you're forgiven. I don't get many guests after all," The king said, though he was still scowling.
"I am not a guest, Sire, my company actually owns this castle."
"Oh, so you would be the new caretaker, then."
"Not exactly. If I may be frank, sire," Ciel said, looking up to the ghost. "I would like you to vacate the premises."
"You're trying to evict the king and his brother who have lived here for over four hundred years?" He asked aloud.
"Naturally, I'll pay compensation to your wishes, I'll pay every regard to your wishes." Sebastian's gaze was caught by the small figure hiding behind a wall. "I'm sure we can come to an amicable agreement." The young boy stepped out, grinning to Sebastian. Yuri gave a soft smile and he giggled. It as at that moment Yuri noticed the human skull in the child's hand and she held back a gag, unnoticed by the others in the room.
"Well, well, it seems my brother Richard has taken a liking to your staff," Edward said.
"They are my loyal servants, Sebastian Michaelis, and Yuri Amari, your majesty," Ciel said as they both bowed again.
"We would have so much more fun if we had servants around," George said to his skull.
'He's fucking crazy.'
'He's dead.'
'He's talking to a skull.'
"Indeed, they seem to be an unusual pair. I think this could become interesting."
'I'm gonna murder him.'
'Yuri, darling, he's already dead.'
'That sounds like a challenge'
~o/0\o~
The two boys sat across from one another, a chessboard between them.
"If I win the game, you'll turn over your servants to me. If you win, you can do whatever you like with the castle," Edward said.
"Why need both?" Ciel said coyly. "Surely just the Butler would suffice." Edward paused for a minute.
"Understood. I win, I take your butler, you win, you take the castle."
"But brother-"
"Deal," Ciel said. "We have decided then. I hope you don't regret this."
"Let's agree to play fairly, or else it won't be fun."
"Yes, I agree." Sebastian watched on as the game progressed, as did the young George. Yuri stood behind Ciel, as she was not a prize to be won in this game.
Sometimes later, the game continued.
"I am holding you to the wager we made," Ciel said as he took the king's king with his knight.
"Of course you are," Edward replied before he picked up his knight, and the onlookers watched as the knight transformed into a queen piece, which Edward used to take Ciel's king. "That looks like Checkmate." Ciel gasped and Yuri's raged silently.
"Majesty, were you lying to me when you said you were going to play a fair game?"
"Excuse me? What did you say?" A dark aura enveloped the king as the anger contorted his face.
"Sire-"
"Don't accuse me of being a liar. I hate liars. This is still my chess piece," he said, holding up his piece. "I merely use my power to its full potential. That's not unfair."
"Your majesty," Sebastian interrupted.
"Butler, you have leave to speak," Edward said, his voice low.
"Unfortunately, I believe my master has forgotten his creed."
"Excuse me!?" Ciel said.
"Surely my master remembers his belief that people who don't use their pawns to the utmost are fools," Sebastian said. Flashbacks to the chess game with Madam Red and his first day with Prince Soma came to his mind. "MY master does not believe in holding back." Yuri silently fumed behind the boy at the butler's words.
"Well then," Edward said. "It seems our problem is resolved. Right, Richard?" The younger brother popped out from behind the chair and ran over to the butler, tugging on his sleeve and smiling up at him.
"I order you. care for these two boys. Do anything your new masters may ask of you."
"Are you sure, master?"
"I'm sure. I am the one who lost." Ciel looked away. "Yuri will stay with me."
"Indeed. As you wish."
"Very well," Edward said. "I'm sure a butler, like this one, will not die for some time. Sebastian will surely be our butler for many years to come."
"I will do my best," Sebastian replied.
"Come, Phantomhive, I would like to play some more, so you will stay here as my guest."
"I am honoured, your majesty," Ciel said, bowing his head. Sebastian turned to the maid to hand her the coat and she snatched it from his hands, keeping her head high but not meeting his eyes. Before he could question it, he was being led away by the two brothers.
"Now that you belong to me, get rid of that terrible tailcoat. You look like a crow."
"That cheating little-"
"Yuri."
"Kare wa orokamonoda (he is an asshole)," Yuri said.
"He's still a king-"
"I'm not talking about the ghost. I'm talking about the demon." Ciel looked puzzled. "He's very mean sometimes." Ciel blinked at her but her sour expression changed into a soft one. "Nevermind. Ignore me." There was a moment of silence.
"You should teach me to curse in Japanese."
"Don't tempt me," she responded, smiling. She extended her hand to the boy. "C'mon, let's find somewhere to sleep tonight."
~o/0\o~
Sebastian was carefully ironing out a shirt, the young Richard watching his movements religiously. He watched as the butler made the morning tea, making sure to brew and prepare it carefully. The young ghost looked down at the skull in his hands.
"Do you know what that is?" he asked it. This caught the butler's attention.
"These are Indian tea leaves, they were only recently discovered. Your highness," He adds.
Sebastian, ever the perfectionist, moved on to irons a thin string.
"He's even ironing the laces in my shoes," the boy said to the skull. "Why's he doing that?"
Next, the butler moved onto shinning his shoes.
"You're a man of noble birth, this is just the proper way to treat your footwear."
"I've never thought of it like that. I never even go outside." Sebastian paused momentarily at that.
As Sebastian pressed ruffles into the shirt, he turned to the young ghost.
"Do you want to change before tea, your majesty?"
"Yes."
"Very good. Let me hold onto that for you." Sebastian said, reaching for the skull. The boy shrank away, clutching onto the skull.
"Dont! No!"
"But how are you going to change your clothes if your hands are full?" Sebastian asked.
"I can't, this is something really really important, right?" He said, bringing it closer to his face.
"Who did it belong to?"
"Not telling!" The boy said stubbornly.
"As you wish, your majesty." Sebastian moved over to the cutlery, beginning to polish the silverware.
"You want to know?" The boy asked softly.
"Are you at liberty to tell me?" Sebastian asked.
"Not telling."
"Very well. As you wish." Sebastian continued his work.
"But I can't give you away." Sebastian side-eyed the ghost. "If I do, he'll be sad, right?"
"It's your decision." Sebastian bent slight, with the tray, to give the boy a cup of tea.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Ciel sat in a library, Yuri behind him, and was reading aloud from a book.
"In 1483, two princes disappeared from the Tower of London. Almost two hundred years later, the remains of the body are discovered. Were they the two princes and if so
"Who killed them," Edwards said, both boys speaking in unison. "If you wanted to find out, you would have to ask other dead people. I'm afraid I won't be able to answer you." Yuri gasped softly.
"Sire," Ciel said, moving to stand, but the king halted him with a hand gesture and Ciel returned to his seat.
"I don't remember anything about the day I was killed. it's a blank. One day I woke up in this castle, nothing more than a ghost."
"What a kind man you are," Ciel said.
"To wa ienai (I wouldn't say that)," Yuri said underneath her breath.
"What do you mean?"
"If I was treated as despicably as your majesty has been, I would never forget those who were responsible," Ciel said, with so much conviction in his voice.
"It was so long ago. Our killers are dead now, as are those who protected us. They are all long gone from this. And for me, I cannot even remember when it was happening." Both boys looked downward.
"Pain tends to heal as time passes, but personally, I don't want time to heal my wounds."
"Your strong, stronger than most."
The two were interrupted by Sebastian banging a large gong.
"What is that?"
"My guess is dinner is ready," Ciel explained.
"Ah, I see. Time seems to move more quickly when I'm talking to you Phantomhive."
~o/0\o~
Ciel stood at the end of the table.
"Please sit, you don't have to stand on ceremony," the elder boy said. Richard giggled as Sebastian pushed in his chair.
"Thank you, your majesty." Ciel went to pull his own chair out but Yuri shook her head. She moved the chair out and pushed it in for Ciel. Sebastian then moved to serve the dish.
"This is a hare, lovingly roasted with red curried jelly and local leeks."
"We're eating a bunny," the younger said, giggling.
"Psychopath," Yuri muttered quietly in shock.
"Have you found out anything yet? Hey, Sebastian?!"
"I must ask our guest to mind his manors. Courtesy dictates you carry out a conversation with the person next to you." Ciel boiled and was about to respond but Yuri quietly stopped him. He was about to complain until he noticed her slam her foot down onto his as he walked passed, shooting him a dark look.
"What do you mean 'the person beside me'?! There's no one beside me!" This was, in fact, true as Ciel sat at the end of a long table, isolated from the princes.
"What's all the fuss about?" The king asked. Ciel looked down the very long table to the king.
"Nothing, I was just making sure my butler was behaving properly.
"Yes, of course."
"I thought Sebastian was our butler now?" Richard asked. Ciel deflated slightly. Sebastian poured the wine into a glass.
"A glass of Clémence, sire," he said, before pouring some for the younger prince.
"Now then," Edward said. "I propose a toast to our new friend and our new butler."
"Me too!" Richard exclaimed.
"What's wrong? You're not drinking," the elder asked.
"Oh, it's nothing," Cile said, tapping his glass.
Later that night, as he lay asleep, he woke up.
"Sebastian?" he called but when he looked around, he realised the butler wasn't there. He looked over, to where a robe was folded neatly on a chair. He slowly draped the cloth on, sliding into his shoes. He stood up from the bed and moved to tie them. The door opened softly and Yuri crept in silently. She heard a sigh of frustration from the other side of the bed and moved over quickly to see what the matter was. She noticed him struggling to tie his laces correctly. She smiled softly.
"Here," she said softly, bending down. "Let me." He nodded, face a bit red as she tied his shoelaces. He watched her, as if trying to memorise what it was she was doing.
"Good heavens, you can't even manage to tie your laces alone." Yuri's smile slipped from her face as she finished off the second shoe.
"Sebastian..." Ciel said. "What about the princes? Or did you come in here for no other reason than to laugh at me."
"You just looked so troubled, like a little shoelace had triumphed against the great Lord Phantomhive," he said, his voice laced with laughter. "I must admit, it was an entertaining picture.
"Shut up."
"I'm here because I was told to look after our guest's comfort, if that's all, I'll bid you goodnight." Sebastian bowed and moved to look at Yuri who turned around to avoid him. He continued moving around the bed before opening the door and closing it after him.
"What an asshole," she mumbled. She turned to leave the room, kissing the top of the boys head. "Goodnight," she said softly. She opened the door and closed it softly, before being confronted by Sebastian.
"How long are you going to stay mad at me." She raised her chin before walking away. He grabbed her arm and crowded her in against a wall. "C'mon, dear, don't be petty."
"I'm always petty," Yuri said, her eyes not as hard as before.
"You hurt my foot."
"Good." She nodded. Sebastian smirked, leaning down to kiss her lips, but she moved her face so he got her cheek instead. He placed a hand on either side of her face, caging her in.
"Come on." He leaned down again, aiming for her nose. She pouted at him.
"You don't have to be so mean." He smiled again at her pout.
"you're adorable."
"And you're an asshole." He smiled and this time gently placed his lips on hers.
"Yes, but I'm your asshole."
"Kamiyo watashi o sukui tamae (god help me)," Yuri said, rolling her eyes. "Yes, but you don't have to be an asshole."
"It's so much more fun." Yuri stomped on his foot again. "okay, ow, sorry, I'll try and stop." He said, laughing.
"That feels like a lie."
"You doubt me?"
"Itsumo (always)," Yuri said, but kissed him again, hiding a smile.
~o/0\o~
After the hallway was clear, Ciel began to tail Edward. He followed him as he moved into the library. The prince turned before disappearing into the wall. Ciel moved from hiding behind the bookcase. He moved over to where the prince was.
'These books. They're fake,' he thought. 'Secret passage.'
"Pardon," Sebastian said.
"Yes, what do you want?" The butler ignored him, pulling out a ring of keys. He tapped the spine of one of the fake books and it opened to reveal a keyhole. "I say, Sebastian!" Ciel exclaimed. Sebastian, who was about to put the key into the lock, turned to the Lord.
"How can I help you, honoured guest? Do you want to go inside?"
"I haven't given you a direct order, what do you think you're doing?" Ciel asked. "I make the orders around here."
"It's just good service," Sebastian defended. "The trick to satisfying a guest is to think ahead, anticipate his needs and plan accordingly. What kind of royal butler would I be if I couldn't do something as simple as that?" A vein appeared in the boy's forehead.
"Thats it. I'm going to kill you."
"So, the guest does not want me to open the secret door?" Ciel sighed in defeat.
"Open it."
"As you wish." Sebastian entered the key and the bookshelf moved pack before sliding to the right, making a lot of noise. When the doorway opened, it revealed a long staircase down. The library door opened, revealing a sleepy-looking Yuri.
"I really cannot trust you two to not meddle for five minutes, can I?"
~o/Intermission\0~
"What is this?" Ciel asked allowed. All along the walls of the room, there were skeletons. Some were dressed in purple or red robes and seemed to be trapped in picturesque poses. Others lay on the floor, half together with bones lying around them. Some were missing parts of the skeleton, like the legs, and were left in awkward angles. Yuri gagged slightly. She dealt with just dead body, not nearly disintegrated ones.
"I believe it is a crypt," Sebastian said, as the trio walked through the hallway, Yuri trying desperately to not look down in fear of vomiting. Ciel, accidentally, stood on a smaller bone, cause a loud cracking sound to travel through the hallway. Yuri gagged again, willing herself not to throw up.
"Please be careful," Edward said. "This place has been untouched by humans for a very long time."
"Your majesty, where are we?"
"Originally, it had been a dungeon," Edward explained. "Criminals the church refused to bury were thrown in here and forgotten." He picked up one of the skulls and Yuri covered her mouth, looking away. "Even by the Grim Reper. The path to heaven is lost to them now, their souls cannot be saved." A dark purple swirl moved around the top of the skull in a circular motion. A collection of them swarmed together to light the chandelier. "Once, on a whim, I made something to remember them by." He stepped aside to show what looked to be a large casket. The lid was tiled black and white, like a chess table, and several skulls sad upon it. "Here, let me introduce you."
'he's crazy.'
'Yes, we know that, dear.'
'he's actually mental.'
"The king is my father and the queen in my mother. I suppose I could've been a bit more originally. The rook over there is 'L' Rivers (I looked this guy up and he was the brother of Edward's mother and was in charge of bringing him back from his studies abroad after Edward's father died, but Richard III intercepted them). And my uncle over there is the bishop. The family is reunited." Ciel looked over the board before his gaze settled on the empty square.
"One of the knights is missing."
"That place if for Richard," Edward spoke.
"You can't find him?"
"Thats not it. I have the bones that came to the tower 200 years ago, but Richard found the skull and he won't let it go." Edward returned his gaze to Ciel. "Don't you see, surely you must. All I want is to send my brother on. I want him to live with God, where there is no pain."
"Send him to heaven... with god."
'Someone's gotta tell him.'
'Tell him what?'
'There's no mythical man in the skies. We're alone in this world. We always have been.'
"Not necessarily.'
'God is dead. And we have killed him.'
'Reading Nietzsche, are we?'
'Who?'
"Yes. And that wish will come true if I complete this set."
"Alright," Ciel said, breaking into a smirk. "In other words, if you get that skull, you'll be satisfied? All you want is that skull, no matter what the sacrifice?"
"That is right. If I can do that then-"
"Sebastian." Cile turned his neck, looking at his butler.
"Yes?"
"I order you. Go get that skull." Sebastian bowed low.
"Indeed, my young lord," he replied, standing up again.
"And take the chessboard to the hall."
"Yes, my lord," Sebastian said, disappearing into the darkness. Ciel smirked as he left.
"I don't understand, what are you doing?"
"I am simply fulfilling your most dire wish, majesty," Ciel replied coyly. "That is, the easiest method."
"NO! Stop it! Just put me down, Sebastian!" Sebastian continued to carry the young Richard, despite his loud protests. Ciel sat down to the side of the chessboard, Edward standing beside him. Yuri stood just behind the chair, trying to block her view of the skulls.
"So sorry, your majesty." He grabbed the prince by the collar and held him up.
"How disappointing, I was hoping to see a fight between a demon and a ghost. What a pity."
"Let me go, Sebastian! Brother! Brother HELP!" Edward stepped forward slightly.
"Come now. Don't you think you can be a little bit more gentle!?" he asked.
"You got yourself into this. It's been going on for 200 years, don't you think it's silly?"
"I don't want to see my brother cry. That isn't silly."
Sebastian reached for the skull again as Richard opened his mouth to scream.
"Stop!" Yuri said. "Let me try." Ciel looked up at her and it seemed the whole room was looking at her. He sighed but waved her forward. She stepped out from behind him and moved towards Sebastian. "Put him down." Sebastian sent her a look. "Now, please." He slowly lowered the boy, who shrunk in on himself. "Hi, Richard." The boy sniffled. "I'm Yuri." The boy was looking into her eyes. "We need that skull of yours." He opened his mouth again but she shook her head. "Now now, no shouting. If I'm going to use my inside voice, you should too." The boy blinked at her. "Your brother needs that skull from you. You see the big table behind me?" He nodded. "There's a spot there that your brother left specifically for that skull in your hands. If you don't put it there, he'll be very sad."
"But it-"
"No shouting, please," Yuri scorned. "Now, I'm asking you again, but I promise you I won't be as nice next time." She stood up and extended my hand. "We'll do it together, yes?" The boy, instead of taking her hand, placed the skull onto her hand. Yuri gagged loudly before covering her mouth. "Oh my god," she said, gagging again. A flashback of that night played before King Edwards eyes as his brother screamed again. A guard holding his brother by the scruff of his neck, the sword so close to his face. Yuri took the skull, still pale in the face, and moved towards the chest piece. Edward looked on in horror.
"You said you wanted the skull, no matter what the sacrifice may be. If you take that statement, you are no better than the liars' you claim to hate!" Ciel said.
"Sebastian, I order-"
"I'm sorry sir," Sebastian said, cutting him off. "You have never been my master. I am contractually obligated to the Earl Phantomhive. I only served you and your brother because I was ordered to. All this time, I have faithfully carried out the orders of my true master."
"You- you betrayed us too?" Edward said.
"No. There had been no betrayal. I have always been faithful to the master I truly serve."
"Can I please put this skull down, I'm going to vomit."
"Yes, Yuri, can you please put that skull onto the board?" Ciel asked. She nodded, moving closer to the casket
"No! My brother Edward! My brother!"
"It's alright Richard, I promise. I will always be with you. Now, we can end this." Yuri looked at the empty square, placing the skull down before stepping away, whipping her hand dramatically on her skirt. The room was silent as nothing happened.
"What's wrong? Why is nothing happening?"
"I think there is something Prince Richard would like to tell his Majesty," Sebastian said.
" I couldn't. if I told, brother would have been sad," Richard said, moving closer to his brother. "I'm sorry brother, I shouldn't have lied to you like that." He was crying as he wrapped his arms around Edward, who had his eyes closed, a sad expression on his face.
"You lied? Richard, I don't understand!"
"That skull, the one I carry, it isn't mine. It isn't even part of the family. The skull belongs to someone else, someone we don't even know." Edward's shock bled into his features.
"No, that- can't be," Edward said.
"You forgot, our bones don't exist. They have already gone away. Since that day, they've been lost."
The tower slowly came into view, the two boys wrapped up in bed together.
"You're right. That day they were lost."
The slept softly, unaware of their harsh futures.
"That nice guard said goodnight to us, just like he always did."
"But he was the one who let the assassin in," Edward chimes in.
A dark shadow loomed over the princes.
"he said we wouldn't have to worry about anything. Because he was would protect us," Richard said.
Edward opened his eyes as the sword came closer to his face.
"That's why I hate liars so much."
Edward held his brother close, the sword point to them.
"First me."
Edwards body leaned against the wall, his eyes pale and lifeless, a large wound just above his heart.
"Then my brother. I saw it from a body that couldn't move. I'm sorry. You must've been so scared."
The blurry image of the man moving, Edward unable to see his brother until he was lifted, his face contorted in fear. the knife again raised to his face.
"But brother, the scariest part was when I thought I'd never get to see you again. I couldn't bear that."
The two bodies lay in a pool of blood, lying on top of one another.
"Then they chopped our body into pieces, and threw us in the Thames," Richard said.
"The fish picked away at us, as we sank into the mud. Our flesh and bones were gone."
Back to the present, Edward kneeled on the ground, crying as Richard tried to comfort him.
"I'm sorry Richard, how could I have forgotten something like that? How could I forget the night I failed to protect you." Sebastian noticed, for a split second, something in Yuri's eyes at the prince's words, something he hadn't seen since that day at the graveyard.
"Ah brother, please don't cry."
"Phantomhive, you were right all along, all the hatred and all the pain. They've been with me for 400 years!"
"Pain tends to heal as time passes. But personally, I don't want time to heal my wounds. You may think you've escaped the pain, forgotten in. But that's nothing more than stagnation. You can't move forward without the pain." Edward consoled his brother but his eyes opened, looking at Ciel.
"I see now. I've spent so much time hating liars, and all the while I was the one lying to myself and Richard." A bright light bloomed, and the younger printed noticed it emanating from their bodies.
"Look, brother, your glowing!" He said.
"Whats-"
"Preparing the funeral was nothing more than a formality," Sebastian said. The brother embraced, the light growing. "It wasn't bones or ceremony, that held the true power to release your wandering souls. Master, Butler and Maid looked on as the two brothers stayed close.
Night fell and the group move to the river.
"I am in your debt Phantomhive," Edward said, extending his fading hand. "I wish you a long life." Ciel took his hand, shaking it.
"Really, I didn't do much of anything," he said. The atmosphere was light now, Sebastian returned to his usual attire, and the trio even managed to grin slightly. "One more thing, you don't need to fear for the castle, I'll take care of it, that much I promise you."
"That eases my mind, thank you." Richard ran forward, burrowing himself between the maid and butler.
"Goodbye now, thank you!" he said. "You were great."
"Take care, your royal highness." Yuri smiled, waving goodbye to the boy.
They both rowed away in the boat that was being stirred by an unknown rower. Prince Richard waved goodbye, Prince Edward smiling as a goodbye. The boat faded away, but the trio remained put for the moment.
"Wakare no aisatsu (farewell)," Yuri said.
As night became day, two wreaths of lilies sat on the two new graves. Ciel was bowed before them, both Yuri and Sebastian standing behind him.
"Well," Ciel said, putting on his hat. "Thats that. the nuisances are finally gone." He now began to address the builders who were back to work. "Now let's make up for the lost time. Work. WORK. WORK!" He shouted up to them as they worked away, rebuilding the castle. Ciel, for just a moment, could've sworn he heard the soft chuckle of 'liar' fall from King Edwards voice. He looked up to the sky, Yuri following his gaze. She smiled, resting her hands on his shoulders.
~o/0\o~
Later, in the carriage ride home, Ciel sat by the window, gazing outside. Yuri said beside him, her eyes closed but not sleeping. Sebastian sat across from them, an unreadable expression on his face.
'Hatred and sorrow are power. They are yours to control. All you have to do is turn them into strength. And use that strength to move forward.'
Yuri smiled at his thoughts. She looked at the chess piece the young lord help in his hand. The king.
'Hatred and sorrow are what fuels him, and me. We have both faced the loss of family we love and the abuse in a cult and overcome it, using it to our advantage to form new paths and make new families.'
Sebastian looked at her, and she looked back, a smile on her lips.
'New family? Are we a family?'
She smiled.
'You already know the answer, deep down.'
He said nothing, but his silence also said everything.
Hey guys.
With everything thats going on at the moment, I was thinking that since we're all stuck at home, was there anything I could do to help you guys out? Like I was thinking of maybe you guys could ask any questions you want to know about the characters or the story in general, like a sort of Q&A. If you guys want that, or something else, just let me know and I'll do my best to accommodate. Just PM me or leave a comment!
Thanks a lot, guys,
Fairy OUT!