Previously:
"Are you aware of article 87 of Weston College's school regulations… Mister Michaelis?" Ciel asked.
"Article 87 of Weston College's school regulations… 'In case of an emergency, such as the onset of a fire or other calamity, within the school buildings or houses… all students must promptly evacuate to the schoolyard to answer the roll call taken by the prefects,'" Sebastian said. "Your conduct is deserving of expulsion if you are found out, Phantomhive." He smiled slyly. "However, as watchdog to the queen, your actions are deserving of great praise, Young Master."
"Prefect Bluewer was right. I should know the school regulations by heart," Ciel said. "I look forward to seeing what kind of fellow he is."
"What was that sound just now…? Uwah!?" a purple house student exclaimed as the fire was discovered inside.
"Something's burning!" another purple house student cried.
"We'll meet at last! Eh, Derrick Arden!?" Ciel said, smirking and crossing his arms while he watched the fire spread.
That Butler, Gaining Admittance
The fire raged in the room Ciel had thrown the lantern into.
"We'll meet at last! Eh, Derrick Arden!?" Ciel said confidently. He was shocked when Sebastian suddenly grabbed him, carrying him under one arm like a sack of flour. "Wah!"
"They will be here any minute now, Young Master," Sebastian said, jumping up and landing in a tree that was a short distance away from Purple House to hide in as the alarm went out.
WHAM! The front doors flew open as students of all ages came pouring out in various states of dress.
"Out with the lot of ya! Get somewhere safe!" Cheslock yelled at everyone as they fled. Everyone was panicking and some boys were screaming."No lollygaggin'!!"
"Sebastian! Locate Derrick and the others!" Ciel ordered.
"Yes, my lord," Sebastian said, removing his glasses. His eyes glowed crimson as he searched the faces of everyone coming out of Purple House.
"Have they come out?" Ciel asked.
"Not yet," Sebastian replied.
'What's going on? … Get out here already!' Ciel thought with his brow furrowed and a bead of sweat sliding down his face.
"Room captains! Do a roll call and report to the prefect!" Cheslock shouted urgently over the noise of everyone freaking out.
"Right!" the room captains said.
"..." Gregory stood a little apart, staring at the burning house. The flames reflected in his eyes.
FWOOM!
"!!" Gregory gasped when there was an explosion inside the house and a window shattered.
"Are they still not out yet!?" Ciel asked urgently.
"No, Sir," Sebastian said.
"Kuh…! Oh, very well," Ciel said, gritting his teeth. "Sebastian, go and get Derrick and the others out of th—"
"A moment, if you would," Sebastian said, furrowing his brow. He stared at the burning Purple House. The fire had already spread to half the dorm and there were still noises of panic coming from everyone outside. "It is as I thought..."
"?" Ciel said.
"There are no longer any traces of human souls to be found within Purple House," Sebastian stated.
"What!?" Ciel exclaimed.
"At this slight distance, one such as I can sense the presence of living humans from their souls," Sebastian said. "However, all signs pointing to humans in Purple House have already vanished."
"Are you saying that every resident has already evacuated the building?" Ciel asked.
"Indeed. Lord Derrick and the four other students who were to have confined themselves in Purple House are not present," Sebastian said. "In other words..."
'Derrick wasn't in Purple House to begin with!?' Ciel thought.
"Violet!!" Herman called out as he came running with the rest of the P4, their fags, and numerous other students. "Is everyone all right!?"
"Yes," Gregory said, pulling the hood on his cloak up. "Everyone's here."
'!!' Ciel and Sebastian thought.
"This is all… turning out very strange indeed," Ciel said.
"Quite," Sebastian agreed.
"The P4 is clearly concealing something having to do with Lord Derrick and the four other students," Ciel said. "If Derrick isn't here, taking this any further is meaningless! Put out the fire!" he ordered.
"Very good, Sir," Sebastian said, and he jumped up from the tree the were perched in.
"Green House! We need water here at the double, you lot!" an upperclassman from Green House shouted.
"Notify the masters!" another upperclassman yelled.
"Blue House! Top the other houses and bring water quickly!" the first upperclassman yelled. "Red House! Don't fall behind now!!"
"Everyonnne!!" Sebastian called out as a rumbling noise was heard. They turned to look and saw that he was rushing over on a sprinting elephant. There was a literal boatful of filled water buckets strapped to its side, and many buckets of water hung from its trunk. Sebastian was even holding a bucket himself while clinging to the beast's back. "If it is water you seek, I have some right here!"
"Mister Michaelis, sir!?" Lawrence exclaimed, staring at him and the elephant in shock along with Herman, Edgar, and many other students present.
"Oh! My elephant!" Soma said, surprised. Sebastian brought the elephant to a halt in from of Purple House.
"Quickly extinguish the fire before it spreads!" Sebastian ordered the students.
"Understood!" they all responded.
"Well done, I say!" Soma told his poor exhausted elephant, petting it.
"All right!! Green House, follow me!" Edward said, grabbing two buckets.
"Blue House will be heading in too!!" Clayton said.
"Stay out of Purple House!!" Gregory screamed suddenly.
"!!" everyone gasped, startled.
"B-But—" Clayton said.
"Is this truly the time to be saying such a silly thing, you fool!!?" Soma said strongly, pointing a finger at Gregory while holding two buckets. "You! You're supposed to be the leader of Purple House, are you not!? Your worthless pride won't protect your people, you know!? And if you can't protect your people, then you're a sorry excuse for a leader!!"
'Oh-hoh?' Sebastian thought, surprised by the spoiled prince's worthy outburst.
"Why you—!" Cheslock said, grabbing Soma by the front of his shirt. He had a vein throbbing on his head as he glared at the prince. "Who d'you think you're flappin' yer gums at!?"
"Cheslock," Gregory said loudly. "It's fine… Let's have them lend us a hand." He clenched his fists.
"… Yes," Cheslock said obediently, letting Soma go.
"Keep your mouth covered with cloth at all times… Don't inhale the smoke," Edward instructed everyone, pulling a cloth he had tied around his neck up over his face.
"Do not go about unwittingly opening doors. Doing so can cause the fire to flare up," Clayton shouted at the boys heading toward Purple House with buckets.
"Those who have been injured, please come this way!" Joanne said.
"I'll get you for this, you sods!" Cheslock said, gritting his teeth as he glared at them. He turned his back to them. "I'll… definitely return the favor! Just you wait!!"
"Hmph," Edward said, smiling along with Joanne, Clayton, and Soma, accepting Cheslock's rough gratitude.
"Oi! Don't drag yer heels, Purple House!" Cheslock yelled.
"..." Sebastian watched Gregory, who silently watched everyone else work.
=†=†=†=†=†=
The next morning, at Phantomhive manor, Sebastian was met by a moody Chêne who had dark circles under her eyes.
"You guys totally started a fire last night, didn't you…?" she asked sternly.
"Yes, but no one was seriously injured," Sebastian said in their defense. "It was a necessary evil, I assure you."
"Uh-huh. It's just that I couldn't help thinking about the last time you guys started a fire on a case, and since I had the dream during the middle of the day, it kept me awake most of the night with worry..." Chêne said grudgingly. "And in the end, the people you were looking for were nowhere to be seen, right?"
"Right. I am sorry we worried you, but now we at least know they are not being hidden in Purple House," Sebastian said. "Now, what would you like for breakfast?" he asked with a smile, trying to change the subject.
"Oh no, you don't," Chêne said strictly. "Don't be setting any other houses on fire! You're going to have to change tactics. What else is there? Ciel's aiming to attend the midnight tea party so he can see the headmaster, right? Isn't there a way for him to do that? I also saw you putting him on some kind of team. It's a bit fuzzy, but I think it had something to do with cricket?"
"Cricket?" Sebastian said, blinking. He held his chin as he thought about it, and then he smirked. "Brilliant," he told his wife. "You're right. There is a way."
"So you won't be setting anything else on fire?" Chêne asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I can make no promises on that. You will have to speak to the young master," Sebastian replied.
"And how am I supposed to do that with him at school? Are you going to bring him here?" Chêne asked.
"My, look at the time. I must be leaving now if I'm to get the necessary paperwork in order on time to submit it," Sebastian said, sneaking in a peck on Chêne's cheek before disappearing.
"..." Chêne stared at the spot where he used to be, still moody. "They're in big trouble if they seriously hurt any of those unsuspecting students..." she muttered grumpily, lying back down to get a few more minutes of sleep.
=†=†=†=†=†=
Ciel was walking from class with McMillan and two other boys. The others were chatting, but Ciel was silent, deep in thought.
'Derrick and the four other students who have vanished. The P4's stubborn silence on the matter. The only alternative left is to establish contact with the headmaster,' Ciel thought. 'However, only the P4 and their fags may attend the 'midnight tea party' hosted by the head. Maybe I should simply do away with Clayton and replace him as the Blue House prefect's fag… No, no.' He shook his head. That was no good. He hated to think of Chêne's reaction if he did permanent harm to an innocent student.
"What a relief yesterday's fire was put out quickly!" one of the boys talking with McMillan said. "But there are rumors that it was an act of arson. How frightful."
"Will the cricket tournament on the fourth of June be called off, do you think?" the other boy asked.
"But it's a legendary Weston tradition, you know? It'll definitely go as planned," McMillan said.
"Well! There's little hope of Blue House winning anyway," the first boy said.
"Word has it that the headmaster will be attending the tournament as well, so we mustn't slack on our cheer!" McMillan said, renewing his determination.
'What!? The headmaster will be attending the tournament!?' Ciel thought as he was jolted back into the conversation.
"And even if Blue House always comes in last, everyone still has an equal chance to be invited to the 'midnight tea party'—" McMillan said with sparkling eyes.
"N-Now just a minute," Ciel said urgently, grabbing McMillan by the shoulders. "Is that really true!?"
"Eh!? Blue House always taking last place you mean?" McMillan said, a little taken aback.
"No! What you said after that!!" Ciel said.
"The headmaster's very busy, but he always makes a point of attending the tournament, they say," McMillan said, holding up a finger. "And it seems that he extends an invitation to the 'midnight tea part' to the most valuable player, in commendation for his outstanding efforts during the course of the tournament."
'That's it!!' Ciel thought. 'My in to the tea party!!' "By most valuable player, you mean a batsman with the most runs for the winning house or something?"
"The reason's different every year," McMillan said. "Sure, the highest-scoring batsman from the winning house was selected one year, but there was another year when a player from the last place house was applauded for his sportsmanship."
"The headmaster selects the player from that year's tournament whose 'play is most befitting of a gentleman,'" the first boy said.
'What the blazes!? It's much more difficult to be chosen as that one player than simply to win!' Ciel thought, gritting his teeth.
"For example, I heard that the boy invited to the tea party the year before last… was a player who sacrificed himself to protect a spectator about to be hit by an errant ball," McMillan said.
"In other words, that was 'play befitting a gentleman' in the eyes of the school head?" Ciel asked.
"But a cricket team is composed of eleven players, so just getting to be a house representative is tough," McMillan said, waving his hand. "It's near impossible for us first-formers!"
'I hate to admit it, but I have no aptitude for sport,' Ciel thought with his brow furrowed. 'Being picked will be no small feat… Now what to do…?'
"Phantomhive!" Clayton called out, making Ciel turn to face him. Clayton flicked one finger out to point at him. "I need to talk to you."
—^—^—^—
Clayton took Ciel aside to a more private spot.
"Congratulations!!" Clayton told the young earl, pointing at him again. "You have been selected as a player in the inter-house cricket tournament to be held on the fourth of June!"
"Eeh!? I-Is that really true!?" Ciel asked, shocked by the fortuitous turn if events.
"Mm-hmm!" Clayton said.
"I-I am deeply honored!" Ciel said. "But… why me?"
"Our house excels in yielding strategic players, unlike the imbeciles from the other houses, who have muscles for brains. Your constitution is indeed poor, but you exposed the improprieties of Maurice Cole with intellect and pluck. I am certain you will prove an asset to the team. —Is what the person who strongly recommended you had to say," Clayton said, pushing his glasses up.
"Eh?" Ciel said.
"Mister Michaelis," Clayton said.
"!!" Ciel gasped. "I see. It was Mister Michaelis, was it…!?" He clenched his fist. 'Well done, Sebastian! I'm loath to compliment you, but you've assisted me in the best way possible!'
"Make sure to thank him," Clayton said with a smile, crossing his arms.
"Yes! I'll go see him right now!" Ciel said with a bright smile, blushing as he ran off to locate Sebastian. When he did find him, he was in a crowded area. 'Tch. There are people all around him. Guess there isn't any other way." He ran up to Sebastian. "Mister Michaelis," he said in friendly, sweet voice. "Thank you for recommending me to the team!!" He hopped up and half-glomped Sebastian.
"Now look here! Phantomhive, you must not run in the halls," Sebastian said calmly.
"I'm sorry, sir! But I wanted to thank you right away!" Ciel said in his fluffy voice.
"It is not necessary to thank me," Sebastian said. He helped Ciel stand up straight. "For I believe you have it in you to show us some truly wonderful play."
"Yes, sir!" Ciel said brightly, clenching his fists with a can-do attitude. "I have so many things to take care if before the tournament!"
"I will assist you, if you so wish," Sebastian said.
"You will!?" Ciel asked hopefully.
"Of course. Once I have checked that you have completed your assignments, that is. After all, I a, merely… one hell of a tutor," Sebastian said, winking.
'The outcomes of the tournament, a player's individual efforts, play that befits a gentleman… which of these will bear the most weight in the selection process is entirely dependent on the headmaster's whim...' Ciel thought as he and Sebastian smiled politely at each other. 'So long as there is no exact criteria, being singled out from all the students will be no small feat. But… all will be perfect if I score, make Blue House Victorious, and move everybody to tears in the process!!!' Ciel grinned wickedly, and Sebastian smiled slightly, guessing his thoughts. Ciel smiled innocently again and made a pose that would indicate he intended to try hard. Sebastian smiled and waved goodbye as he turned to leave. 'I'll do whatever it takes to get myself a seat at the 'midnight tea party'!!'
"Heh… I am very much looking forward to the fourth of June," Sebastian said quietly to himself, smirking slightly.
=†=†=†=†=†=
A couple days later, Chêne was sorting through the mail, looking for the invitation Sebastian had told her to expect. She saw the crest for Weston College in the corner of one envelope and plucked it out.
"Oh? What have you here?" Lacey asked, looking over her shoulder. "Weston. Isn't that where your hubby and the squirt went?"
"Yes, but you shouldn't call your boss a 'squirt,'" Chêne said wryly. She took the letter opener and opened the envelope.
"Should you be opening your boss's mail?" Lacey asked.
"This is for us," Chêne said.
"Is it?" Lacey said, curious. She and Chêne read the details on the invitation.
"What the? No servants for the opening night ceremony?" Lacey said, screwing up her face to show her displeasure. "This country sucks."
"But we can go to the actual tournament the next day," Chêne said.
"Hmm. Ciel playing a sport… Now that I've got to see," Lacey said, smirking.
"I can't argue with that," Chêne said, smiling wryly. Although she knew it was for work, she was glad Ciel was getting some exercise and lessons in sportsmanship. 'But then again, knowing those two… there's bound to be some level of cheating involved...' she thought, sweat-dropping. Ciel let nothing get in the way of his work.
—^—^—^—
"—And so, we're all invited to watch the young master play in the tournament," Chêne finished explaining to the rest of the staff, showing them the invitation.
"All right! We've got to cheer him on, then!" Bard said.
"Yaaay!" Finni said.
"We'll do the young master proud, we will!" Mei-Rin said.
"Hoh hoh hoh," Tanaka said, smiling.
"..." Snake was quiet.
"Something wrong?" Chêne asked him.
"Is it really all right for someone like me to go? —asks Emily," Snake asked.
"Sure. It says servants are allowed right here," Chêne said, pointing at the line that said it on the invitation.
"But—" Snake began, only to be cut off by Lacey.
"Are you worried about your looks?" she asked. Snake nodded. "If Ciel cared about that, he wouldn't have hired you."
"That's right. So what if you're a little unusual? Who isn't?" Chêne said with a kind smile. "It'd be boring if everyone were the same, right?"
"Right!" Lacey agreed.
"It's true. If everyone had the same mug, there'd be nothing new to look at," Bard said.
"How would you even tell people apart?" Finni said.
"It'd be confusing, it would," Mei-Rin said.
"Hoh hoh hoh," Tanaka said.
"But the question is… who's going to watch the manor?" Bard asked.
"Ah, that's right," Chêne said, holding her chin. "I guess we do need to leave at least one person behind to mind the place..."
"Then let's draw lots!" Lacey said. "That should be fair, right?"
"Sounds good to me," Bard said.
So they cut up some strips of paper, making one shorter than the others. Bard held the fistful of strips and let everyone else draw until they were all holding one. When they checked their strips, Snake had the short one.
"It's probably for the best. —says Wordsworth," Snake said.
"Don't think like that. We'll try to bring you back a souvenir," Chêne said. "Does the audience get to keep a ball if they catch it?"
"You've never been to a cricket match before, have you?" Bard asked her.
"Not really, no," Chêne said. 'Unless you count the one in that episode of Midsomer Murders...'
"Well, don't worry. We'll explain it to you as it happens," Bard said.
"Thanks. We'll be counting on you," Lacey said with a small wave.
"You too?" Bard said, frowning.
"What? We're American," Lacey said defensively.
"So am I!" Bard said.
=†=†=†=†=†=
{June 3rd, Grand Dining Hall…}
The room everyone had gathered in lived up to its name. Many Bright chandeliers hung from the high vaulted ceiling, and on the far wall was a stained glass window that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. In front of the window was a stage, on which there was a podium. Banners for the different houses hung from the walls, which were stone with wood panelling near the bottom that started at about twelve feet from the ground. In the walls were four doors large enough for a giant to pass through. Each had the crest of one of the houses on it. In the center of the floor, which held several round tables with candelabras and floral centerpieces on them, was a short platform that held a round pedestal and a giant goblet on top. Everyone present who wasn't a uniformed student was dressed in refined evening gowns and suits, and their quiet conversations gathered together produced something of a clamor.
"I do beg your pardon for interrupting your conversations, ladies and gentlemen..." Agares said, standing behind the podium. He waited for everyone to stop talking. "Hello, everyone. I welcome you all and thank you for attending the opening ceremony of our storied fourth of June cricket tournament." Lizzie's eyes shined as she listened, looking forward to seeing Ciel and her brother again. She was wearing a military-styled dress with a top hat that had a bow tied around it on her head. Both of her parents were with her. "I am delighted to once again be able to hold the tournament this year. Please enjoy the festivities this tournament's eve. Ahem! —Now then." He thrust his hand out dramatically. "Team representatives of each house, come forth!!"
"Wh-What's going on!?" one of the gentlemen said as many people gasped at the sudden rumble under their feet. "The floor, it's shaking!?"
"H-Here they come!!" a first-former said excitedly "Their overwhelming physical prowess and teamwork are second to none!!" The giant doors under the Green House crest slammed open. "Absolute champions, top of the world! The Green Lions!!" Herman appeared in a full suit of armor, complete with a helmet and sword. He was wearing a green surcoat with the Green Lion House crest on the chest and a cape. In his hand was a burning torch. He was followed by Edward, who was in a similar costume, minus the cape and helmet. Edward carried the house's banner, and the rest of the team followed holding their swords straight up in the air. The hall was filled with cheers.
"Biiiiig Brother!! You look terribly handsooome!" Lizzie cheered. She was surprised when a red petal fluttered in front of her face.
"L-Look! It's the second place house that drove Green House into a corner last year!" another first year said, pointing to the opening doors under the Red House's crest. "Captivating spectators with their elegant plays..." A perfumed breeze blew through the opening doors, scattering fragrant crimson rose petals. "The Scarlet Foxes!!" Edgar emerged dressed like a member of Tudor era nobility. He wore a scarlet coat with ermine trim and paneled sleeves over a top and pants of red and black. Around his neck was a gold chain, and his hat was decorated with two feathers and a part of a fox tail. He was holding a fancy candelabra. Behind him came Joanne, carrying the house's banner. He was dressed in a less elaborate but no less elegant costume in a style similar to Edgar's, as did everyone who followed him. Instead of swords they carried roses, which they handed out to who ever was closest to them. The dining hall was filled with squeals, and even some of the boys swooned over their beautiful and suave appearance.
FLICK.
The whole dining hall went dark. Then lights began to appear like eerie will-o'-the-wisps.
"C-Could this be..." one boy said nervously as he clung to his friend.
"… The house team they say throws their opponents into confusion with unpredictably tricky plays?" his friend finished, just as spooked. The doors under the Purple House crest rumbled open. "The swarming specters of the ghost legion. The Violet Wolves!!" Gregory crept into view first, wearing a mystical purple robe with a stole over his shoulders and an amulet with the house crest around his neck. In one hand he held a staff with a decorated wolf's skull on top of it biting the handle of a lantern. He placed his free hand on the shoulder of a nearby young woman, startling her. Cheslock grinned wickedly as he followed with the banner in a simpler version of Gregory's costume. Everyone behind him bore staves, the flames from the will-o'-the-wisps casting creepy shadows on their hooded faces. This time the dining hall was filled with shrieks.
"They're at their tricks from the start, what with not coming through the doors..." the boy who had spoken before said, white as a sheet, when the lights came back on and they saw that the Purple House team was not actually standing in front of the door, but off to the side for some reason.
FWEEE.
They all looked up and saw owls soaring above them.
"Those birds are… That house, is it?" a boy said. Everyone watched the birds in flight. "Though their physical strength may leave much to be desired… they aim for an opportunity to win the championship with their strategic game plans..." The doors under the Blue House crest creaked open, and Lawrence walked out wearing fancy scholarly blue robes and a scholar's hat on his head. He raised one arm to allow a descending owl to perch on it while he held a lantern with an owl motif in his other hand. He was followed by Clayton, who carried the house banner in a variation of his costume. Ciel and the others followed in the same costume as Clayton, raising their arms as Lawrence had done to allow owls to land on them. There was polite scattered applause.
'T-Talk about tepid…!' Ciel thought with a sense of doom. 'Can't expect anything else from the house that comes in last place every year, I suppose. Our entrance and the crowd response are far too plain!'
"Kyaaah! Ciel, you look absolutely charmiiiing! Give it your bestttt!!" Lizzie cheered and waved enthusiastically, surprising the members of the Blue House team and making the people around her murmur. Ciel's face flushed red out of embarrassment.
"Heh!" Sebastian laughed at the enraged look on Edward's face. Lizzie's older brother had a vein throbbing on his head and was gritting his teeth while glaring daggers at Ciel. The four prefects each stepped forward to surround the giant goblet, holding their lanterns, torch, and candelabra.
"Now light the flame of Saint George!" Agares commanded.
"We, the players..." Herman said.
"… in accordance with the great tradition of Weston College..." Lawrence said.
"… shall fight fair and square until the very end," Edgar said.
"This we do solemnly swear," Gregory finished. They all put forth their source of flames and ignited the goblet, which burned with a fierce flame. The dining hall erupted in cheers.
"Now… I do hereby declare open… the inter-house cricket tournament of 1889!" Agares announced.
