I own nothing but my OC.


That Butler, On The Hunt 3


'thoughts'

"speech"

"Demonic speech"

{setting/stage directions?}

SOUND EFFECTS

An entire sentence like this, without quotes, is narration for dreams or stuff like written letters.

=†=†=†=†= scene shift/time shift


Previously:

"Urrgyaaah!?" Bard screamed bloody murder as Chêne suddenly set his broken arm, and started bandaging it in a temporary splint for until after Francis left, and they could take him to the hospital to get a proper cast for it.

"Take some aspirin while I clean this up, and then you can go back to making whatever you like—As long as it doesn't involve being heated by ANYTHING." Chêne said strictly as she stood up and started cleaning. At least the food cabinet she had stored her cake in was untouched...


{The Phantomhive stables}

"How do you like this, Marchioness?" Sebastian asked Francis once they had reached the stables. He had guided them to the stall of a magnificent black stallion. "We sent for a horse with a magnificent bluish-black coat to serve as our master's steed..." Sebastian noticed that Chêne was rejoining them as he spoke. She looked a little tired, but anyone would be after dealing with those three...

"...And we have been looking forward to the day you might take a look at it Marchioness." Chêne said, smiling, as she walked up beside Sebastian and pet the horse. The horse neighed happily. Sebastian raised an eyebrow at Chêne, as if to ask what had happened, but she just shook her head, and gave a look that said 'please, just don't ask.'

"Ohh... A fine horse, indeed. The hip is sturdy, and it looks well." Francis said thoughtfully as she stared at the noble steed, impressed. "I have it!" She said, turning to Ciel. "Ciel. What say we do a little hunting together?" Francis suggested, grinning slyly at him.

"!?" Ciel said, surprised. "With you, Aunt Francis?" he asked, making sure he hadn't misheard.

"It will be a good opportunity to see how good a man my daughter's fiancé is." Francis said, smirking. "Or... is 'hunting' too demanding for Earl Phantomhive, who possesses a constitution more common to the fairer sex?" She taunted.

"Oh, snap!' Chêne thought. Francis had just basically called Ciel a 'sissy.'

"Very well." Ciel said, furrowing his brow in irritation. It was on now. "Sebastian, Chêne, prepare for the hunt." He ordered.

"The game is afoot, Ciel!" Francis declared, smiling cunningly as competitive sparks flew between them.

=†=†=†=†=

{In the woods on the Phantomhive property}

Sebastian led their hunting party on foot, followed by Ciel, who had Lizzie riding sidesaddle with him, on his black horse. Francis picked up the rear in a white horse that Chêne had selected for her, before she left them to prepare a lunch for when they needed to take a break from hunting. She was to bring it to them once it was finished.

"Sebastian." Ciel said simply, knowing the butler would understand his order.

"Yes, Sir." Sebastian said. The demon butler sniffed the air. "...Young master." He caught a scent. "This way." Sebastian said, leading them to a prime hunting location.

"Does your butler double as a hound?" Francis asked drolly, smirking.

"He... is sort of like that." Ciel replied cryptically.

"Then we shall begin here." Sebastian said, once they reached their destination. "The rules are as follows: maintain your territory, twenty-five meters on either side... and avoid shooting at birds flying lower than the prescribed altitude... are we agreed?"

"Yes." Ciel and Francis answered, ready to begin.

"The game is now underway. The time limit shall be three hours." Sebastian said, pulling out his pocket watch.

"See you, Ciel!" Francis said as she immediately turned her horse around, and rode off to begin her hunt, not wasting any time. Ciel, Lizzie, and Sebastian watched her ride away.

"Lizzie, get off here. I can't hunt otherwise." Ciel said, sweat dropping.

"Ehhhhhh!? But we finally get to spend time together!" Lizzie protested, blushing slightly, as she pouted. Sebastian could hear the faint sound of a gunshot in the distance.

"1 – Nil." Sebastian reported.

"!" Ciel said. Francis was already leaving him in her dust...!

"As expected of the Marchioness... she has already shot a bird. It seems she will be a formidable opponent, even for you, Young Master, hm?" Sebastian said, smirking at Ciel. Ciel frowned at Sebastian, furrowing his brow.

BANG!

"Kyaah!?" Lizzie cried, startled when Ciel suddenly aimed his hunting rifle straight up into the air, and fired.

FLAP. THUD.

"Too bad for Aunt Francis... but I'm not very good at losing any kind of game." Ciel said. Smirking devilishly as the pheasant he just shot fell from the sky. "Lizzie, it's dangerous here so stay with Sebastian. All right?" Ciel told Lizzie as he and Sebastian helped her down from his horse. Lizzie watched, blushing, as Ciel grinned a little excitedly and gallantly rode away to join the hunt.

"—I'm glad." Lizzie said suddenly, causing Sebastian to look at the petite blond girl. He realized that she and Chêne were about the same height now. "Ciel seems to be feeling a little better." Lizzie said, smiling softly. "Aunt An loved Ciel best, so... I was worried. I don't want Ciel to suffer anymore. I always try to cheer him up in my own way, but... It never seems to work out. I always overdo things and make him angry." Lizzie said, smiling self-deprecatingly.

'Heh...' Sebastian thought, smiling slightly at the girl. He thinks he might finally be starting to understand why Chêne found Lizzie 'cute' the two girls were rather similar in some ways... "I am certain my master senses... your kind consideration as well, my Lady." Sebastian told Lizzie, smiling as he knelt before her.

"Eh-heh-heh! Thank you. You're sweet Sebastian. Chêne has told me the same thing before." Lizzie said, smiling wryly, and blushing a little. It wasn't any mystery to Lizzie why Chêne loved the gentlemanly butler. Lizzie hoped that she and Ciel would be able to get along with eachother that well when they were older too...

"Oh, there you are!" Chêne said, smiling and waving as she walked up to them. She was pushing a large cart that held everything they would need for lunch... including the table and chairs.

"Wow, I didn't know you were that strong, Chêne!" Lizzie said, impressed. Chêne laughed.

"Neither did I! It looks like all the training I did with your mother really paid off..." She said, sweat dropping as she smiled wryly. She had gotten a lot stronger since she 'changed,' but she was still nowhere near Sebastian's level.

BLAM! BANG!

The three of them paused and looked in the direction the gunshots had come from.

"5 – 4." Sebastian said, updating the score, as he pulled out his pocket watch to check the time. "It is a close contest. Let us cheer them both on." He said, grinning.

"Yes. I can't imagine the Marchioness losing to anyone, but Ciel hates to lose, so there's no telling who will win." Chêne said, smiling.

=†=†=†=†=

{Some time later...}

"The Marchioness shot ten pheasants, a brace of foxes, and three rabbits for a total of fifteen points. Young Master shot eleven pheasants, three foxes, and one rabbit for a total of fifteen points..." Sebastian said as he tallied up their scores, and Chêne served their lunch. She and Sebastian had set the table while the three of them had waited for Ciel and Francis to finish their contest, and today's lunch was steak & kidney pie and salmon sandwiches... Chêne couldn't help but feel the British had some really strange food combinations, but then again, she was from a city that served alligator on the menu in some restaurants... it was quite delicious, actually. "The result is a draw. Is that acceptable?" Sebastian asked. Chêne smiled wryly. She had a feeling she knew what their answer would be to that...

"It most certainly is not! I prefer definitive results, one way or another!" Francis stated bluntly.

"How odd, Aunt Francis. It seems we agree on this point." Ciel said, smirking.

BZZZZT.

Another competitive spark flew between the two of them again.

"Then... how about we settle this with another round after lunch? ... Winner takes all?" Chêne suggested, glancing at Sebastian for approval, to make sure she wasn't messing up their schedule. That was a big pet peeve for Sebastian. He hated falling behind schedule.

"Yes, I believe that is an excellent suggestion... and now, if I may..." Sebastian said, smiling, as he took the wine from the cart so he could pour Francis a glass. It was one of the bottles Chêne had recommended after her taste test/drinking contest last night. Even before her senses were sharpened and enhanced, Chêne had always been something of a gourmet and connoisseur when it came to food.

"Fine!!" Ciel said as he and Francis continued to stare each other down.

"No complaints here." Francis said. "But I daresay we've overhunted here. We'll have to find a new location for the afternoon."

"Ah..." Sebastian said, pausing as he inhaled, scenting the air to see what he could sense. Chêne tilted her head to the side, watching him curiously. She wondered just how sensitive his nose was... Sebastian was like a bloodhound. "Not to worry, Marchioness. Big game still lurks on these grounds." The demon butler said calmly as he poured the wine. Chêne raised and eyebrow at that, and decided to see if she could smell that far too. She finished pouring Lizzie and Ciel some homemade sparkling grape juice and sniffed the air. Chêne's eyes widened slightly in surprise... when she caught the same scent Sebastian had.

'Is that a...!?' Chêne thought, alarmed.

"Now that the rules have been decided... Let's eat~!" Lizzie said excitedly, smiling happily as she inhaled the savory aroma of their delicious lunch. "This smells diviiiiine..." Lizzie said, freezing when she realized something was looming over her from behind. "Eh?" Lizzie said, shocked when she turned and found her self face to face with a huge bear. "EEE—!" Lizzie screamed in terror.

"Liz—!" Ciel yelled as he and the others desperately sprang into action as the bear lunged for her. Everything happened in an instant, but to Sebastian and Chêne, it was almost as if everything were playing out in slow motion. Francis grabbed her rifle as Ciel and Chêne ran to Lizzie.

"Kyaaah!" Lizzie screamed, flinching in fear as the bear raised it's claw.

"LIZZIE!!" Ciel screamed as he tackled her to the ground, shielding her with his body.

"Urgh...!" Chêne roared as she grabbed the empty chair, and shoved it at the bear, blocking it's claws.

CRRAAACK!

The bear's claw shredded the chair to splinters.

"!?" Chêne said as she threw herself on top of the Ciel and Lizzie. Now that she no longer had a weapon, at least she could shield them, and she would definitely have a far better chance of surviving being mauled by a bear than either of the kids would.

BANG!

The bear froze. Its claw was only an inch away from Chêne's head. She, Ciel, and Lizzie stared at the bear, shocked as it began to sway on its feet. Chêne's eyes widened in surprise. She could smell blood and gun powder.

'It's been shot...!' Chêne realized as they watched the bear collapse and fall to the ground, dead.

"Phew." Francis exhaled as she lowered her rifle.

"Aunt Francis...!" Ciel said, surprised. Chêne sighed in relief.

'Thank God.' She thought as she loosened her grip on Ciel and Lizzie

"..." Ciel said as he held Lizzie and stared at the dead bear. "... Heh! 16 to 15. It looks like I've lost this game... Aunt Francis." Ciel said, smirking. Although he hated losing, Ciel knew how to accept it gracefully when he actually was defeated. Francis had not only killed that bear, but she had saved his and Lizzie's lives... He owed her.

"Hmph. You've still got at least a decade before you can even think of winning against me." Francis said as she lowered her rifle. "... However... I commend you for daring to protect my daughter... with your life." She said, flashing him a debonair smile, before bowing slightly at the waist. "And... I am in your debt."

"!!" Ciel said, surprised.

"I would expect nothing less from the man who is to become my son... Lord Ciel Phantomhive." Francis told him seriously. Ciel blushed slightly. No one (other than Chêne had, once) had ever referred to him that way before, like he was more than just a replacement for his predecessor... "Now the game is over. Let's head back." Francis said as she straightened up and turned to leave.

=†=†=†=†=

CLIP. CLOP. CLIP. CLOP.

As Francis had suggested, their small hunting party was now returning to the manor. Sebastian led the way, carrying their rifles, and the huge bear over his shoulder. They had tied the bear to a long and sturdy tree branch, and a bag holding the smaller prey was tied to the end of the branch Sebastian wasn't holding. Chêne sweat dropped as she walked beside him, pushing the cart for the table and chairs, and now empty picnic basket. She was glad no one was suspicious, but... it was amazing that no one had figured out Sebastian wasn't human yet when he constantly did things like casually carrying a 400lb bear on his back, by himself, like it was nothing! Behind them was Francis, and Ciel and Lizzie were bringing up the rear on his horse.

"... Hey. Over here... Butler." Francis said as she pulled her horse up beside the two servants. "You forgot this." She said as she held out one of the table knives. Chêne raised and eyebrow. That was not a mistake Sebastian would make...

"... Oh? How careless of me to forget a precious piece of silverware..." Sebastian said, smiling wryly as he held his hand out to accept the knife from Francis.

"Indeed. You forgot it in the bear's head." Francis said calmly as she narrowed her eyes slightly at Sebastian. Chêne's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Come to think of it... she might've seen a flash of silver when the chair broke... She glanced curiously at Sebastian as Francis continued to speak. "It was you who struck it down, right? My bullets missed. With my daughter in danger, I had trouble aiming properly. I must be getting old. But a butler's duty is to save face on his master's behalf. So why did you let me win?" Francis asked sternly, suspicious of his motives.

"The young master has an inordinate talent for games. Consequently, he seems to overconfidently believe that he 'cannot lose'." Sebastian explained calmly. "But at times. It will be necessary for him... to carry himself with humility while striving for his goal... Otherwise, he will eventually trip up... as the place for which young master aims is not an easy one to reach. Perhaps it is not my place to say this, but..." Sebastian said thoughtfully.

"?" Francis said, wondering what more Sebastian had to say on the matter.

"... I would like you to be an exemplar for my master, Marchioness." Francis stared at him, surprised. Chêne smiled. She definitely agreed with the demon on this one. "So... in other words, you used me. Humph!" Francis said, huffing indignantly. Did Sebastian take her for a fool.

"Ha. Ha. I did no such thing..." Sebastian said, smiling wryly. "Our master is now but a 'child'... yet he is also the 'head of the family.' An 'adult' who will be firm with him... is just what the young master needs." Sebastian explained.

"Don't say such proper things with that lecherous face of yours." Francis deadpanned with a gleam in her eye.

"..." Sebastian and Chêne said.

"Do I really seem that way to you?" Sebastian asked as Chêne sweat dropped.

"So if done for the sake of his master, a butler's duty includes admonishing said master by letting him get burned as necessary...?" Francis asked cynically. Sebastian had better not been endangering her nephew purposely...

"As I am... one hell of a butler... I only did what I thought best for my master." Sebastian replied smoothly.

"As his 'servants' there is only so much that we can do for him." Chêne explained bravely. "It may be presumptuous of me, but I care for Ciel as though he were my younger brother, and I often treat him as such when there is no need to keep up appearances, however... as I am his 'maid,' Ciel still holds the upper hand and almost complete control over our relationship, and my ability to scold him when he needs it. I, too, will feel more at ease knowing Ciel has such a dependable role model." Chêne told Francis, smiling.

"Hmph. You two are a tricky pair." Francis said, smiling wryly as she shook her head. At least she knew that Ciel was in good hands.

=†=†=†=†=

The sun was starting to set by the time they reached the manor house.

"As the hunt was a success..." Sebastian said as he opened the door to let them in. "... I shall do my best to—"

"Ah~!" The three stooges said when they realized they had company. Mister Tanaka chuckled.

"Welcome baaaack~!!" Finni called out cheerfully as he, Mei-Rin, and Bard rushed forward to greet them. Chêne sweat dropped. The were all in tatters, and had bandages on their faces and hands... Bard even had a broken arm and an injured ankle. He was leaning on a crutch for support.

"Wh-What is with you lot...!?" Ciel demanded, flinching in surprise at their disheveled appearance. He sweat dropped. Just what had they been doing!? Sebastian glanced at Chêne. If this is what they looked like after Chêne had helped them, then he was almost afraid to ask what had happened. Chêne sweat dropped. She thought they would've at least changed their clothes to something a little cleaner...

"Heh!" Bard said, smirking, with a devil-may-care attitude as Finni held pulled a plate out from behind his back.

"Look, look~! We made this together~!!" Finni said, smiling radiantly as he showed them the plate of... what exactly was it supposed to be? The plate had been piled high with what looked like chocolate syrup, banana slices, melted ice cream, assorted candies, and... was that rice on the very bottom...? They had stuck a whole bunch of candles and sparklers into the strange concoction... was it supposed to be a birthday cake!?

"!?" Ciel and Chêne said as idiot hairs popped out on their heads. The 'cake' was so colorful that it looked like the rainbow had thrown up... that was also most likely what

"Huuh?" Ciel asked, grimacing slightly, wondering why they even felt the need to do such a thing to begin with. The table setting— the china and silverware—was actually done fairly well... it was just a tad messy... The most disturbing thing was actually the fact that there were several more bowls of the same strange concoction Finni had just showed them... But Chêne's cake had somehow managed to make it safely onto the table, so there was at least something normal to eat...

"I made donburi full up with young master's favorites!" Bard said proudly.

"I set the table. Following Mister Sebastian's example... and Mister Tanaka brought out the Bûche de Noël Chêne made." Mei-Rin said, blushing and fidgeting nervously.

"..." Sebastian, Chêne, and Ciel said, appalled, as they stared at the display. Chêne knew they didn't mean any harm, but... Francis loomed behind them, emitting a dark and dangerous aura. They gasped as they whipped their heads around to face their latest threat. 'Oh no!!' They thought, paling slightly.

"Hmph. They beat me to it." Francis said as she took a step towards Ciel. That's what I came here to say today. Happy thirteenth birthday... Ciel." Francis told him, smiling affectionately at him as she placed a hand on his head. Chêne smiled, touched by the heartwarming scene. "And everyone... I hope you will continue taking care of both my daughter and my son." She told the servants, referring to Lizzie and Ciel.

Sebastian and Chêne nodded at Lizzie reassuringly, prompting a dazzling smile from the young girl. The other servants smiled warmly at Lizzie and Ciel too.

"Thank you... so much." Ciel said, smiling wryly as he laughed. And for the first time in a while, it was a real, honest-to-goodness smile of happiness. Chêne had to resist the urge to glomp Ciel and his cuteness... for now at least. She would leave that up to Lizzie.

"Sebastian, you and Chêne have my gratitude for attending to us today." Francis told Sebastian while the others began sticking candles in the Bûche de Noël cake Chêne baked so Ciel could blow them out and make a wish.

"Yes, my Lady." Sebastian said, smiling as he bowed.

"There's just one thing I thought I ought to mention." Francis said.

"!?" Sebastian said, surprised. What now?

"You should thank Chêne for taking care of the shattered china... the ruined garden... and the burnt kitchen." Francis told him slyly, winking.

"So you knew all along?" Sebastian asked, smiling wryly as he sweat dropped and chuckled. "Yes, my Lady."

"It's a partyyy todaaay!!" Finni cheered. As Chêne lit the candles on the cake.

"Free booze~!! Free booze~!!" Bard cheered.

"Didn't you have enough last night...!?" Chêne asked him incredulously. "We're not drinking alcohol at a thirteen-year-old's birthday party!" She told Bard firmly.

"Tch!" Bard said, clicking his tongue in disappointment.

"Marchioness, we're waiting for you to sing 'happy birthday'~!" Chêne said, smiling happily, as she positioned the cake in front of Ciel. Francis smiled as she joined them, and they all began cheerfully singing the Happy Birthday song to Ciel. Sebastian watched silently for a moment, before he turned and quietly left the room.

=†=†=†=†=

{The Phantomhive Downstairs, Sebastian's private kitchen}

"Alas..." Sebastian said as he opened one of the cabinets in the dark room and removed a silver platter. He removed the cover, revealing a beautifully crafted birthday cake that was decorated with strawberries, icing roses, and a mini chocolate top hat. "... I suppose I shall not be needing this." Sebastian said, smiling wryly as he ran a hand through his slicked back hair, and tousled it, returning his raven locks to their original style. He had originally baked it last night, when he noticed that Chêne had not made a Bûche de Noël yet, just in case she didn't manage to make one in time. He slowly removed the glove on his left hand... the hand bearing the mark of his covenant with Ciel, as well as the 'ring' symbol of his bond with Chêne. "Goodness... Human creatures really are difficult to understand." Sebastian said as he dipped his black nailed finger into the soft chocolate top hat. "To think they consider something like this..." Sebastian licked his chocolate-coated finger. "... delicious... Now really." His crimson eyes glowed as the demon silently stood in solitaire, alone in the darkness.

"Ah!" Chêne said when she saw him, and ran into the kitchen. "I finally found you! What are you doing in here all by yourself?" Sebastian's eyes widened slightly in surprise. She had been looking for him? He smiled softly at her, but Chêne was unfortunately too mesmerized by the cake to notice. "And why are you keeping such a delicious looking cake to yourse—!?" She demanded indignantly, but she was cut off when Sebastian scooped more chocolate onto his finger and stuck it in her mouth, silencing her. Chêne stared at him, eyes wide with shock. Sebastian smirked. She was stunned, like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Oh, is something the matter, Chêne? I thought you wanted a taste..." Sebastian said, smirking devilishly at her as his crimson eyes glowed. Chêne blinked, forcing herself out of her daze. She looked up into Sebastian's eyes. The jerk was definitely enjoying toying with her way too much... Chêne decided it was time to fight back. Sebastian's eyes widened slightly in surprise when Chêne began to slowly, almost sensually lick his finger with her tongue. He smirked as he raised his other hand, and caressed her cheek, leaning in closer to the petite girl's face.

CHOMP.

Sebastian blinked in confusion and stared at Chêne, stunned. She had just bitten him. It hadn't really hurt that much, but it surprised him that she would actually dare to do such a thing. Chêne sucked some of the blood from his finger before opening her mouth and releasing him, taking a step back from the demon.

"My, Sebastian~! It's like you're a mind reader~! I was just thinking it was about time for my monthly 'blood donation.' Thank you, ever so much~!" Chêne said, smiling a sickly sweet shit-eating grin at him as she grabbed the cake and ran from the kitchen before he could react. Sebastian stared after her for a moment, stunned.

"... Heh." Sebastian said, smirking as his eyes glowed, amused by Chêne's sudden streak of mischievousness. "That little minx..." He said, grinning like a Cheshire cat as he followed after her. It didn't matter how far Chêne ran from him. He would always find her... Always.

=†=†=†=†=

"Ah~!" Finni said excitedly when he glanced out the window. "Young Master! Young Master!! It's snowing~!" Finni said excitedly. As he ran up to the window, and watched as the pure white flakes floated down gently through the crisp winter night. Lizzie, Ciel, Francis, and Tanaka all turned to look. Tanaka was sitting on the nice, new bearskin rug.

"Ohh~! It's snowing!?" Chêne asked excitedly as she entered the room, holding Sebastian's cake. "I love snow~! It's always so beautiful to watch it fall like this..." Chêne said dreamily, smiling, as she watched the frozen flakes with child-like wonder and amazement.

"Yes. Pretty, isn't it—?" Sebastian said, smiling.

=†=†=†=†=

{Somewhere, out in the streets of London... near Big Ben}

"It's cold. Agni, what is this?" An Indian boy, who was wearing a scarf wrapped around his head, asked as he held his hand out to catch the snow.

"It is known as 'snow' and falls in Great Britain during the winter... My prince." His older traveling companion said. This man, though still rather young, had white hair.

"Snow..." The boy said, removing his scarf, and revealing wavy, dark-purple hair. "Great Britain, eh...? It is rather beautiful. I want to take it back and show it to mother." He said, smiling confidently.