Hello fellow followers!
I know, it's been a while. Feeling a little guilty, but I bring you this long-ass chapter once again. I have a feeling you guys don't mind them thanks to the manga lol. I appreciate all the follows and comments, guys. Bless your hearts :D. Oh yea, sorry if I have a lot of grammar mistakes, I really true to check for them.
I'm going to advertise my discord channel again because why not?
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Until next time guys! Thanks for reading and the support! (Btw we are almost at 200 followers, holy crap.)
With my snow boots on, I kick some snow at Bard with a snicker. The snow is tossed all over his legs and he presumes to scowl in my direction. I hide behind Finny in response and stick my tongue at him childishly.
"Get over here!" Bard yells while picking up a bunch of snow. I can only guess so he could make a snowball.
"Um...let me think about that." I smirk and begin to leave Finny's back. For a pause, I let my sentence hang until I dash away. "How 'bout no?!" I laugh.
I could see my heavy puffs of air a float out of my mouth, creating heat around my face. I could hear the snow crunching behind me as he runs after me. Bard, you are such a sissy. I purposely slow down, pretending to be out of breath. Good thing I am not in a corset, or else I really would be. But Bard does not know that, thanks to the winter coat.
"I got you now!" he shouts with a gleeful look as I turn to look behind me, feigning fear.
He is closer than I thought, damn he must be using them legs. Bard, if there is one thing in this world you should know, it is to never underestimate your opponent. I smirk deviously as I practically juke him out and take a sharp left toward the manor. He lets out a yell in frustration before I hear a distant 'oof'. I stop to turn to look at him, only to find him in the snow face first. I raise a hand to my mouth as a stream of laughter pours out of me again.
"T-That's what you get!" I cry as I point at his prone form.
He whips his face out of the snow with a glare so heated, I'm surprised it did not melt off his face. All he did was glare at me until he decides to voice his anger, "Mey-Rin! Finny! Attack her!" he commands.
I pale slightly before I saw two servants in the corner of my eye. Scary! I think as their eyes gleam with determination. I would not be able to escape I realize as they pummel towards me.
"W-Wait!" I protest, waving my hands in front of me with a panicked look.
It did nothing to stop them.
Before I know it, I am pushed onto the snowy ground and I shriek at the random coldness. They were on top of me with smiles. I giggle and they get off me with their own laughter. I start to do a snow angel on the ground as I stare at the gray clouds in the sky. My fingers were numb but in a good way. The servants were fighting again in the snow. I hear snow crunch around me again abruptly as I lay on the soft blanket.
I spot black in the corner of my eye and I opt to look at them. What a shocker, guess who it is? Sebastian. He simply stares down at me, a look of what I want to describe as a disappointment. "My lady, what are you doing?" he sighs.
I move my arms back in forth, making the snow angel deeper. "Playing in the snow. The same as last year."
"You are not a child, no?"
I stick out my tongue at him, trying to irritate him. "I can be." He sighs again and I shake my head in disbelief. "Do you know what fun is?" I ask sarcastically as I get up, brushing the snow off my bottom in the process.
His face remains emotionless, "Yes, and I do not care for it."
I scowl at him, "Do you have seasonal depression or something? Is that what it is?"
"What?"
He tosses me a confused face. Maybe he's got it because Christmas is nearing. I do not think he mixes well with the holiday if I think about it now. I only like Christmas because of the food and presents. I reach down and grab some snow with a smile. I pack it into my hands, and he stares at me warily. "Do you like snow, Sebastian?" I ask curiously as I toss the newly formed snowball in the air thoughtlessly.
"Not particularly..."
I smirk and throw it at him in a flash. He dodges with a scowl and I take his moment of distraction. I run at him, he was not far and push him to the ground. I land on top of him, straddling his waist with a triumphant smirk. His eyes glow slightly, and I could feel his hate and irritation for me grow, yet his hands were on my hips? I do not take notice to the position as much as I feel something wet hit my forehead. A bit confused, I turn to look around me as light snowflakes begin to fall. I smile at the sight and raise a hand up as they fall into my hand.
"Snowflakes are so pretty!" I comment thoughtlessly with a warm smile as I examine one in my palm. "Did you know that every snowflake is different in design?" I ask.
He sits up, brushing the snow off his arms as he watches me appearing somewhat interested and much less irritated. "This is common knowledge." he remarks.
Multiple flakes land in my hair and I couldn't help but find them more pretty. I wish they stayed longer. "I suppose so. But it doesn't change the fact they are unique, but they remain the same too."
"Much like you humans."
I raise an eyebrow to that and shift in his lap, interested in what he had to say. "How so?" I ask curiously with the tilt of my head.
He smirks then and picks up a lock of my messy hair from running around. "Human's vary. Whether it be personality, skin tone, hair color, physical features, and emotions. All different from one another. All tasteless beings who are greedy and thoughtless. They all work the same in the end." he snides slightly.
I frown, completely disagreeing with him. "Idiot." I scold and flick his forehead. "You need to open your eyes more. A stereotypical bias judgmental creature you are. You need to meet more humans; I feel as if you demons have met only the rotten ones."
He narrows his eyes at me while glaring at my retreating appendage as if he is disturbed. "You are blind to your own kind."
I let out a soft 'pft' and smile slightly, "No, Sebastian, you are blinded by us."
His eyes widen in surprise until it turns to a glare, "This debate is pointless."
"I know you are."
He scowls at my retort and before I know it, I'm smothered in snow. I shiver immediately and my teeth chatter. I wipe the snow from my eyes with my own glare now. "Y-You asshol-e." I chatter.
He sits smirking deviously at me and smacks the back of my head lightly, "Language, my lady."
0-0-0-0-0-0
After taking a warm bath from the winter fun from earlier, I begin to have problems with my nose constantly running. That bastard of a demon gave me the beginnings of a cold. It's been forever since I've had one! Not since the twins were toddlers, I have been healthy as a horse since then. I keep shivering constantly, I found myself wearing custom made black cloth pants that were heavy. They were incredibly soft, much like sweatpants. I also choose to wear a sweatshirt that is light pink. I tried to keep my developing cold under control.
Ciel got a letter from the Queen not long ago and we were headed to London. I wore a cloak so my brother and Sebastian could not berate me with questions as to what I am exactly wearing. The carriage ride is cold, as no heating systems were a thing. A long and cold ride to London is not exciting in the least. Especially as I start to feel worse the longer, I sit here.
I cough lightly, trying to hold them in but I could not any longer.
"Rina, are you okay? You look kind of pale." Ciel asks while placing today's newspaper in his lap.
I nod yes and bury myself further into my winter cloak, the fur tickling my neck. My coughing continues to increase and Ciel stares at me with concern now.
"Don't tell me you're sick." he sighs heavily.
I send him a guilty look, "Sadly, I think so."
He frowns and I cough inside my cloak. I can't get him sick; his asthma might come back if I do. "Why didn't you say anything? I'll have Sebastian prepare medicine and tea when we get back." he announces.
My eyes practically bulge out of my sockets at the thought of medicine. "No! Anything but medicine-!" I protest until I start coughing again. He gets out of his seat to come closer to me, but I push him away, back into his own. He stares back at me in surprise at the action. "Sorry, it's just I don't want to get you ill either." I explain.
"You will take medicine; I don't care if I have to shove it down your throat by force."
I gulp and sink into my seat, my brother being overprotective is nice and all. But when he threatens me it can be a bit scary; I cry internally as he glares at me.
Eventually, we make it into town and Sebastian helps us out of the carriage. I hug myself in an attempt to warm myself up. Ugh, I feel like absolute shit. I follow the child-butler duo as they walk to wherever the hell it was. I am irritated I keep sniffling to keep my nose from running like a damn river. Everyone is silent but I am okay with that as I don't really feel all that well.
We come up to a shop that has four hanging bodies on it, and I gasp at the sight. That is not something you see every day. I spot Commissioner Randall and some other guy he is talking to by the hanging bodies. I groan at the thought of the old man; I hate him as much as my brother does. The man never shuts up.
As we approach closer to them, Randall crunches a piece of paper in his hands, appearing quite pissed off. "Damn it! This is the twentieth one now!" Randall snarls. "You haven't apprehended the culprit yet, Aberline?!"
I note down as the man next to him as 'Aberline' briefly as his face contorts to one of guilt. "My apologies!" Aberline cries to Randall.
"Feh, and the glory of catching Jack the Ripper was stolen from us also by that little brat." Randall sneers loudly.
"Oh look, brother! The poor chief is still terrible at his job." I jab back, a bit angry from Randall's comment towards my brother.
Randall swivels his gaze in our direction in surprise as I cross my arms with a frown. I tap my shoe against the ground in a fuming manner. Ciel simply smirks in response and tugs on his hat, "Nothing new here then. Sorry for being such a brat."
"Earl Phantomhive! Lady Phantomhive!" Randall exclaims.
I stand a little closer to my brother and cough lightly in my cloak. Damnit, to hell with sickness.
"Hey, you! How the hell did you get here?" Aberline asks us in confusion.
Randall raises his hand and effectively cuts off his co-worker with a stern look. "Lord and Lady Phantomhive, why are you here?"
"Heh. Isn't it obvious? We're here to clean up the mess made by an old pathetic hunting dog."
I snicker quietly to myself at Ciel's insult. Dear, my brother can be quite vicious sometimes. I notice some papers in Aberline's hand, and I snatch them out of his grasp. He stares at me in shock on how swift I was, "What the-" Aberline starts to protest.
"Hmm, is that so..." I mumble to myself as I skim the contents. I hand it over to my brother afterward, letting him examine it also.
"A crime targeted only at people who have returned to England from India. I see the victims aren't dead." Ciel elaborates calmly.
I do believe the Indians have been in London for quite a while now. Not to mention the very illegal actions the British use them for. If there is one thing about being human, I am not proud of, is the ability to even force people into horrible situations such as slavery or any poor treatment to another race. I mean, we're all the same. I hope for the day Gandhi comes and helps these people out.
"Don't just...!" Randall booms loudly, ready to start an argument with my brother.
Ciel interrupts with a sly smirk while raising the letter from the Queen to show Randall it, "If I was just a highwayman, I wouldn't get involved. However, I won't sit by and watch the royal family be insulted."
With a triumphant smirk at effectively shutting Randall up, my brother hands the papers in his hands to Sebastian so he could read also.
"The criminals are described as 'chosen children of sloth and depravity' which is quite accurate. I agree that England would be better off without India's wealthy upstarts." Ciel continues on whim still reading many of the papers gathered.
"England would be better off not intruding other countries in general and staking claims all together..." I mutter under my breath, full of disgust even at the idea.
Sebastian glances at me curiously, "That's quite an opinion." he mutters back.
Somehow, I heard him, and I frown in response, "It's the right kind, don't even get me started on this bullshit train of interculturalism in this era."
He raises an eyebrow and continues to read the papers. I peer over Ciel's shoulder, having not seen the one he is currently looking at.
"They are cowards who were too busy with extravagance and indulged in worthless pastimes. Most of the upper-class people in so-called Great Britain." Randall rambles after a short pause.
I stare at the bottom of the page my brother is holding curiously. There is a symbol at the end that reminds me of a tongue. I stick my own out at my brother and he does the same. "Upper class, how worthless. Anyways, what is this mark?" Ciel asks.
"Reminds me of a tongue." I point out obviously. "He's either making fun of us or it's a legit symbol for something else."
A tick mark pulses near Randall's temple at my comment, "He's making a fool of us the British and the Queen! What an idiot! Targeting those who return from India means that the criminal can't be anyone other than a vulgar Indian barbarian!" Randall snarls in a complete rage.
I glare at him, feeling quite offended by his remark. How dare he make assumptions! My head begins to feel very warm against the cool air, but I brush it off. "Excuse me?! How do you know it was an Indian?!" I shout at him, steam practically rolling out of my ears.
He glares at me back, "Well, who else could it be?!" he yells back.
I raise my fist at him, shaking it, "Maybe if you open your blinded eyes, you would have more options to narrow-!" I am interrupted by my own cough as I lean to the side as I suck in deep breathes. Holy fuck, it is like the wind was being kicked out of me.
"Rina!" Ciel shouts and comes over to me, putting his hand on my back.
I lightly push him away from me as I stand straight again, "I-I'm fine, I'm okay."
He nods, still watching me with cautious eyes in case I double over again. Randall's face was as red as a tomato, looking rightfully pissed off. I feel as if I have completed a task and I smile victoriously. Aberline comes closer to me and I watch him warily, not trusting him one bit. He smiles in a friendly way and scratches the back of his head, "Here," he says and hands me a cough drop. I smile at the kind gesture and nod my thanks, popping it into my mouth. Ugh, it tasted god awful. "So that's the reason you called me out here?" Aberline continues while looking at Randall now with a sweatdrop.
Ciel pulls me closer to him and Sebastian, so I stay by his side like he wants. "A majority of smuggling Indians have a stronghold in the East end. I can see that even city yards don't know what to do with a dark street like the East end. It's hard to identify the route and the exact number of smugglers, right?" Ciel asks rhetorically. He turns to look at me than Sebastian next, "So I'll make a move in my own way, I want to return to the manor house quickly. Sebastian, did you memorize those documents?"
"Yes." Sebastian replies with his signature smile and a small bow.
"Let's go then, Sebastian, Rina."
I follow my brother as I suck on the cough drop. It still tastes terribly bitter; I miss the honey-flavored Hall one's I think with a whimper.
"Ugh, it tastes bad." I complain.
"That's what you get for playing in the snow." he scolds with a 'tsk'.
I pout and cross my arms, "Blame your butler for my cold. He is the one who literally threw snow on top of me."
Ciel smirks slightly, "Who is the one who goaded him?"
"Hmph! It's not my fault he wasn't on his guard."
"Hah...?"
"That's right! I took him down with my body. You should've seen it. Not every human can say they tackled a demon to the ground." I huff proudly with my own smirk at the memory.
I feel a sinister presence behind me, like a very pissed off demon was at my back.
"My lady." Sebastian's voice cut through the air like glass. A shiver runs down her body at his tone and slight fear pricks at the back of her mind. "I would appreciate it if you did not spread lies about me."
My eyebrow twitches in irritation, "What?! I did so tackle you to the ground!"
I turn towards him, walking backward. "Who is to say I did not let you?"
I blink at the notion, not really considering it and he smirks thinking he won the small debate on what really happened. I narrow my eyes at him until I smirk back, "Who is to say you are not telling the whole truth?"
He raises an eyebrow curiously at my reasoning, "Please do enlighten me."
I grab his tie and pull his face down to mine which causes his eyes to widen, "I think you did not fully expect my mode of attack. Because why would you let me push you down, a full-grown demon would not let a little puny human do such a thing. Or you wanted me to tackle you. It is either, not in between." I explain.
Before he could reply, my brother decides to interrupt, "You two honestly. Stop your bickering!" he shouts, clearly irritated.
I let Sebastian off the hook as I walk next to Ciel's side once more. I don't need an irritating demon and cranky brother in my presence. I could feel Sebastian eye daggers digging themselves into my back as we walk. I had no idea where my brother is leading us until I ask eventually.
"So, where is it we are headed?" I ask curiously.
"Lau's den."
I pale at the thought of entering such a place, "You're kidding, right?"
"Does it sound like I am?"
Frowning, I cross my arms, very against the idea of going there. "I forbid you from entering that, that place."
He glares at me then, "You can't tell me what to do."
I raise an eyebrow to his rebelling attitude, "You will listen. Don't forget who you are talking to."
He scowls deeply with a hard glare, "You don't get to order me about."
I huff slightly, not believing this child in front of me. "Excuse me? Do you want to repeat that?" I ask in a scary calm voice.
He looks away hesitantly until he glares again at me again, finding the resolve to do so. "I can do what I want when I want." he rebukes.
"Oho!~ Look at you! And who said you could do that?"
He ignores me and I pull him back by the elbow, making us effectively stop. "Please tell me where what gave you such an idea?" I continue to berate.
"You say it all the time."
I gawk at him in disbelief, "That's because I can! You, on the other hand, cannot."
"I have earned it!" he shouts back.
"You're grounded when we get back home." I admonish with a shake of my head.
"What?! You can't ground me!"
"I can and I will, you need to learn clearly. Sebastian and I have been spoiling you way too much." I declare as I walk ahead of him.
"You're not my mother!" he shouts behind me and that makes me stop abruptly.
He shoves past me without looking back and I watch his form with wide eyes. His mother...huh. I sigh deeply and Sebastian comes to my side, watching my brother walk away also.
"You are not wrong." he mutters.
That surprises me as I look at him in confusion, "That boy needs to learn to not be selfish."
"You humans are all selfish, it does not matter how much."
I frown at his statement, not agreeing nor disagreeing. "I don't care, this is a ridiculous and dangerous mindset at his age."
"Does he not deserve such rights? I believe you don't realize this."
"What do you mean?"
"The young master will die at some point. Is it okay in human standards to be selfish in that retrospect?" he offers, his eyes glittering with humor and deep mystery.
I start to walk again, and Sebastian follows at my side, "In my eyes, no. What right does one, a child, in this case, get to be selfish to the point where no one can talk back to him?" I explain as I watch my brother's hunched figure. "If there is one thing about my kind you should know, Sebastian. Is that no human can learn without being told a simple 'no'. 'No, you cannot do this.' It helps us learn to differentiate situations and learn mannerisms."
"So simpleminded." he comments with a slight smirk.
"Yet, so useful." I rebuke. I give Sebastian a small smile, "I don't know how long you have been alive, but you have a lot to learn still. I wouldn't mind being the one to teach you."
His eyes widen slightly, and a silent gasp passes his lips until he fixes himself with a blank expression. "My, my, it seems you have enraptured me with your knowledge. You are the most unique in many ways."
"You're not the first to say that." I chuckle, remembering when Vincent met my young self. Yes, that will always be an unforgettable memory.
Ciel stops by a door ahead and waits for us to approach. He ignores my presence entirely as we come to a stop as well by him.
"We have arrived." Ciel announces.
I cross my arms again, "If you need information, send Sebastian inside and gather it. I won't allow you to go into an opium den."
He glares at me again and gives the demon an order, "Sebastian, open the door, we are going inside."
Sebastian bows with a smirk, "Yes, my lord."
He begins to put his hand on the door, but I grab Sebastian's coat. I pull him back, well, attempt to; though he is quite heavy, so heavy I couldn't make him move an inch. Did he superglue himself to the ground or something?! I unfold my super strength and try again. He budges slightly for a moment, but he roots himself in place again. Goddamnit!
"Sebastian, don't listen to him!" I shout with a growl.
He gives me his signature smile in response, "But the young master commands me to."
I release Sebastian's coat and I recognize I have no way to properly convince my brother to not go inside. Ciel smirks, knowing that I realized that I couldn't do anything to stop him. I glare at him again, "You think I'm going to be a pushover, huh? Alright, go inside and breath in all those chemicals. But once we are back at the manor, you're going to wish you didn't." I threaten with a hiss. I push past Sebastian and open the damned door myself.
I take off the scarf around my neck and proceed to wrap it around my mouth, tying it behind my head. My cough has resided because of the miracle cough drop from earlier. However, the opium is going to make me even more sick quick. Stupid brother. Stupid demon. Do they ever listen to me? No! Why should they listen to a girl who is clearly more intelligent than the two combined? Oh, yea because they're males.
I continue to walk down a staircase and my steps echo around me the more I go down. I could hear the other two behind me as well. I eventually reach a double door at the bottom and I reach for the handle with a sigh. I don't want to deal with Lau. Opening the door, it creaks with my arrival at this godforsaken place and the smell that hit me was suffocating, to say the least. I cough lightly at the smell as I peer inside the foggy room. I could hear people milling about and men asking for 'more.'
"Lady Phantomhive? It is a surprise you are here as well as finding this place." Lau voices cuts through the air abruptly.
"I'm not here for what you think." I state impassively, not really interested. "But I am not here alone."
"What an awful smell." Ciel murmurs behind me on cue.
"Earl. It feels kinda weird for you to see this way. However, I knew the day would come." Lau expresses.
The room is so damn cloudy, I had a hard time seeing much but the outline of Lau. Eventually, it clears and he comes into view. I sputter accidentally seeing him finally, he is smothered in women. Woah, talk about a player.
"And what kind of day is this?" I ask, feeling quite appalled by the Chinese man.
"Welcome Earl, Lady! Long-time no see!" Lau cheers, disregarding my rhetorical question.
The women around him leave until only Ran-Mao is left, sitting in his lap while holding a smoke pipe. "How you been? Ah! Wasn't it your birthday recently? Congrats. ~" Lau recalls with a smile.
Ciel sweat drops a little, "I don't really care about such things. I have something to ask you though."
As Lau talks, a woman comes up to me and Sebastian, holding an already lit pipe.
"Want a smoke?" she offers with a suggestive look.
I stare at her, slightly disturbed. "No, I'm good." I reply. Sebastian declines politely too with his hand up. I tune back in on my brother's conversation with Lau when the woman leaves us alone.
"The president of the British Branch of the Chinese trading company, KunLun...no. Shanghai mafia, Qingbang executive, Lau." Ciel states with a hard look.
"What? I didn't know you ran a mafia in Shanghai." I blurt out loud, a bit in awe by Lau.
"Hoho~ Surprised, little lady?" Lau smirks in amusement at me.
My eyebrow twitches slightly, "I am in fact, surprised as I did not think an idiot like could run such a business."
He puts a hand to his forehead, "Ouch! The lady is so mean!" he cries dramatically. "I don't really like being addressed as so though, it's too formal. Right Ran-Mao?" Lau expresses while lifting Ran-Mao's chin with his fingers leisurely.
I sweat drop and shake my head at his behavior. An idiot, for sure I think in exasperation.
"I'll leave the East End in your care. The numbers of people who move in and out of this street are in your control, right?" Ciel asks.
"Of course, I have done as you asked. It's the bribe that allows me to do business in the underworld of this country."
"So."
"Well firstly, I also want to ask you one thing."
I stare at him in question, wondering if he was going to make a request. "And that is?" I ask next.
"What exactly is 'that' incident?" Lau asks with an innocent smile.
I facepalm and give my brother an incredulous look, Lau really never stops surprising me with his idiocy.
"You..." Ciel mutters with hunched shoulders in defeat.
"Typical of a yes-man." Sebastian comments as well with a slight sweatdrop.
Great, now we must explain from the very beginning I think with a small groan.
0-0-0-0-0-0
As we walk around London, I look around at the hustle and bustle of the people who shop or go to work. What a nice life I think a little enviously. My cold is being a pain in my ass though. The cold air wasn't helping whatsoever either. I really want to curl up in my warm blankets right now. I know we are headed to the East end of London; however, I have never been there before. To simply put it, I am following the gang in front of me. A Chinese man, a British child, and a demon. I feel this could be some funny joke if one thought hard enough.
My brother ends the explanation on why we needed to go the East end with Lau who nods in understanding. "I see." Lau hums. "You want to arrest that mischievous kid. Since there are no casualties it must be because he's targeted, upper-class citizens or soldiers. Setting an example for the common people? It must be tiring for you, Earl."
"Nonsense." Ciel answers automatically.
"Nonetheless, we have walked for a long time now so where is this stronghold of Indian people?" Sebastian points out.
The buildings around us were poor and deteriorating slightly. I believe the East end is for the lower class or close to the poverty level of citizens. These were harsh times to live in.
"The quicker we get out of here, the faster we can return home. Let's hurry this, yes." I implore.
"I agree. I wish to return as well." Ciel chimes in.
"Sorry I think I got lost in the conversation, so it seems that we are lost now!" Lau exclaims with a hopeless grin.
I sigh loudly as we come to a stop in the middle of the street, "Great, just what we need." I grumble with a directed glare at him.
My brother glares at him too with a tick mark, "Why you..."
"I guess we'll have to go back to the manor and-" I start feeling quite irritated until someone bumps rather harshly into my arm and side. I glare lightly at the man who smacked into me, did he not see me standing here or something? He looked quite pissed too, but also dirty because all he wore is rags. What the actual hell.
Before I could comment on the situation, he decides to fall to the floor, clutching his side with a pain-filled hiss. "It hurts! My ribs cracked!" the man shouts.
"...hah?" I ask with a twitching eyebrow. He's joking, right?
"Someone come and help!" he screams louder, still on the ground.
People begin to enter the scene with shouts of concern and start to blame me with pointed fingers. Multiple tick marks erupt near my temple, becoming quite pissed off. I wanted to go home, I wanted to sleep, I wanted to read a book. But no, I've been dealing with a spoiled child, a teasing demon, and an idiot who pretends to know something. This cold is an addition on top of everything which makes my temper reach further heights.
I tremble in my spot as multiple men surround us, but I pay no mind to it as my hands tighten into fists by my side. We all glared at the men, but my eyes were trained on the one who lied about being hurt as he stands to make close eye contact with me.
The man grabs the front of my cloak, bringing me closer to his ugly mug, and he eyes the fancy necklace by my collarbone. "Showing up in a place like this...you're asking for it! That's quite a nice necklace you got there, little girl. A noble, eh?" he announces loudly.
I zero in on his hands that hold me closer to him, greatly disgusted by him.
"Rina!" Ciel whisper shouts next to me, but I continue to focus on the Indian in front of me. I know the British treat these people like shit, but don't take it out on me!
He continues to keep his grip on me, and my mind slowly goes blank the more he talks. "Pay me consolation money! Strip off everything you have and give it to me!" he demands to me.
A white-gloved hand wrenches the man's grasp on my cloak, off with not much force. "Please, do not touch my lady so carelessly." Sebastian quips with a signature smile directed at the man. I could feel Sebastian is greatly irritated by something; his touch sent a weird tingle down my back which brings me back from a cloudy mind state. "It seems we are caught amongst some irritating punks yet again, young master. Shall I...?" he analyzes afterward.
"Dispose of them right away." Ciel orders.
"As you wish."
The man who pretended to be hurt decides to talk some more, "I'll tell you, all of us here despise nobles. They all brought us all the way to England and then they dumped us like trash!" he shouts in anger, the veins popping out of his head. "All you British are selfish!"
Shouts of agreement from other Indians surround us and I feel a good amount of pity for them. No one should be treated like this in the first place, that's something I can sympathize with. But that does not excuse this man's behavior toward me, he really made me enraged.
"Our country was walked all over by your shoes! We'll give you a taste of how it feels to be plundered and humiliated!" he continues to shout more and more insults with a dagger being raised into the air.
I simply find this a bit boring, even though I feel bad for them. The time will come where they are free from this discrimination. The men around him keep agreeing with his speech of justice and I cross my arms, a bit annoyed. Why was I though? Their attitude pisses me off I suppose.
The man starts to preach about food suddenly and it makes us all sweatdrop. A bit confused the others around him also become so. Where does food fit into all of this?
"Wait a sec! That's not how it goes...!" the group of Indian men shouts and swivel to look at two men Indian men behind them which we mistook for the preaching guy.
"So, yea, guys, we're searching for someone. Have you seen any Indians who look like this?" the young Indian man asks. He wore some expensive-looking Indian clothes and he appears to be a little younger than me. Beside him stood a taller man who looks much older, he is super tall too! Like an NBA basketball member tall I think in awe. He even had long white hair!
However, the picture the young Indian man is holding of said 'person' is not what I was expecting, and I let out a small 'pft'. I tug on Sebastian's sleeve to gain his attention and stand on my tippy toes to whisper in his ear, "Am I allowed to laugh?" I ask lowly.
He smirks down at me, greatly humored. "It is quite the sight." he mutters back, and I snicker quietly but it quickly turns into a small cough. I want to say Sebastian gave me a brief look of concern, but then I'd think that's too crazy to be real.
The man who hit my side runs up to the young Indian man with his dagger out in a threatening manner. "What the?! You're in the way you bastard!" he shouts.
The young Indian man leans back slightly with crossed arms, "Eh? How rude...calling me such impolite things." he switches his gaze to us as he says this, narrowing his eyes in the process of examining our appearances. "He has butler...you are British nobles?"
"So, what if we are?" Ciel asks with a look of indifference.
The young Indian stands his ground, "Then, I shall side with the people of my country." he proclaims. "Agni..." he calls afterward.
The older Indian closes his fist over his heart, kind of reminding me of a knight honestly. "Yes." Agni replies.
"Defeat them." the young Indian commands.
I pale slightly as this man, Agni, begins to unravel the bindings on his arm. "Your wish is my command. I will swing this fist blessed by the God's for master's sake." Agni enunciates.
Agni moves so swiftly; I could barely dodge in time, but Sebastian helped me with that by pushing me away from him and blocking Agni's attack with his arm raised in front of him. I stare wide-eyed at the scene beginning to play out in front of me. I don't know anyone else who can move so fast besides Sebastian. Who is this man?! The man is even quicker than I am! Not that, that's normal or anything in the first place!
"What the-!" Ciel startles but Sebastian picks him up and tucks him in his arm by his side.
Sebastian reaches for me next, ready to carry me like my brother. But it seems that man who smacked into me had other plans and decided to grab me out of the crossfire. I let out a shriek as he tugs me close to him, his breath in my ear sent the most unpleasant shivers of disgust through my body. It felt wrong. He chuckles in my ear and dare I say it sounds husky; it distracts me from Sebastian's fight temporarily.
Some of the other Indian men decide to surround us with leery looks, and I scowl at them in response.
"Looky here, fellas. A noble bitch, what should we do with her?"
"She looks mighty pretty, just what you expect from the higher class." another man sneers.
"I under what's underneath that fancy garb..."
The man unties my cloak as I struggle in his grip, but another man held a knife to my throat; so, I stop resisting momentarily as my cloak falls to the ground. I shiver constantly and start to cough loudly; this is too much for my cold right now. The men gawk at my strange loose-fitting clothing and I take that moment of distraction. I knock my head back into the man holding me and he lets out a painful grunt, his grip loosening on me. I take the wrist of the person holding the knife and pretty much twist his wrist, effectively breaking it.
He screams in agony as he falls to the ground, the other men stare at me with frightened eyes. I smirk lightly when they take a couple of steps back. They scurry away eventually, too frightened to even face me. I huff in response and turn back around to the guy I headbutted. I step on his chest with my shoes which were flats with a little heel. I push down on him with some strength and he lets out a choked gasp.
"P-Please h-ave mercy!" he cries with terrified eyes.
I stare at him deviously, feeling a bit sadistic at the moment. "Honestly, men are pathetic." I tsk under my breath. I put more strength into my leg, and I think I hear something snap, but it doesn't concern me much. "Oops! ~ I think your rib really is broken." I jeer with a slight laugh.
He screams as he squirms underneath my foot in a bountiful of pain.
"My lady!" I hear Sebastian shout I look up in confusion. Ciel and Sebastian stare at me with wide eyes until I see a flash of white hair headed my way. I begin to get on the defense until Sebastian is suddenly in front of me blocking the unexpected attack of Agni. I watch as Agni hits a certain point on his arm, and I become quite fascinated.
Sebastian appears fine though but Agni is a bit confused, "I've hit all your Marman countless times. Your arm should be paralyzed. How is it that you can still fight?" Agni asks and stops fighting momentarily.
"Sebastian are you okay?!" I ask, a little worried.
He smiles slightly which surprises me, "Yes, I do not deserve your concern, my lady."
"Well, I am thankful either way. It's the least I can do."
Ciel breaks our conversation with a shout, "Hey! Sebastian, let me down!" he demands to the butler. "We had barely stepped foot in this place and those guys picked a fight with us! Do all Indians act like barbarians and indiscriminately attack the British!?" he cries out while looking at the young Indian man.
The young man crosses his arms in question, "What?" he asks and turns the group of Indian men. "You lot! Did you actually attack this kid for no reason?"
"More like he attacked me personally..." I grumble under my breath and pick up my cloak. The two Indian men I beat up were barely standing. Heh, serves them right. I whip it in the air to shake off any dirt on it and tie it back on. I sneeze by accident and sniffle, blasted cold.
"Eh? Reason?" a man ponders out loud.
"That's not right! Picking fights without reason is childish!" he admonishes and turns to Agni. "Agni! Our brothers are the wrong ones here. We shall help this kid now!" he orders.
We all stare at him blankly, truly stunned by the change is his rapid decision on who to fight with. Is this guy a dumbass too? Wait, where on Earth did Lau disappear to?! I wonder as I search the area around us for him. He vanished I summarize.
"Yes, sir!" Agni replies.
Before we know it, Agni detains all the men into a pile of injured bodies from using his trick. "It is done, Lord Soma!" Agni cheers with a smile.
Again, we were all dumbfounded watching the pair.
"That's right! So, I hope you guys aren't hurt or anything?" the young man, Soma, recalls while picking up Ciel's top hat off the ground. I didn't realize it fell off his head.
"Er, no." Sebastian replies with a slight sweatdrop.
Wow, even Sebastian looks a bit lost in this situation, how rare. "Not particularly..." I answer.
"Also, kid," Soma voices while practically slamming the hat onto my brother's head. "This kind of area isn't the place for a kid to wander about. Anywhoo, I'm in the middle of a search so I need to split." he announces with his hands on his hips. He turns around and looks back at us, "See ya."
What...
When they leave, we all just stand there in a stupor. What did I just witness?
"Yaa, those two are amazing." we all hear a voice from above say.
"Ah! That's where you went!" I shout in surprise as I find Lau looking over the edge of a house's roof.
"And what exactly have you been doing?" Ciel asks him with a tick mark.
Lau smiles and jumps down in front of us, "Meh. Just waiting for the right chance to jump in."
"I call bullshit." I state with a glare at him.
Lau smirks and wraps his arm around my shoulders in a playful way, "Why little lady, I wouldn't dare lie. ~"
I roll my eyes and shove his arm off me, "That's not something I would believe from a man who never smiles with his eyes open."
I didn't know his smirk could get any bigger and I walk away from the group to examine the beaten-up bodies piling high with groans of pain. Most of them were unconscious. I stick my foot out and tap it against one of the men with a hum as I listen to them talk.
"By the way, who exactly were those two men?" Ciel asks curiously, a bit perturbed by their presence.
"They are definitely not people who live in the East end. Also, they also wear pretty dresses. Their English accent is pretty too." Lau mentions.
Sebastian comes up to my side and I spar him a side glance as he crouches down beside the pile of men. "Somethings not right about that man." I think out loud.
Sebastian smirks slightly, "Perhaps."
"Oh well, it looks like our first job is to deliver these people to the Yard." Ciel surmises with a sigh.
0-0-0-0-0-0
We decided to go to the townhouse, not wanting to travel back to the manor. I am utterly exhausted; the minute my foot passed the threshold, I was ready to collapse.
I start to undo the tie around my cloak as I walk further inside, "Ahhh, I'm so happy to be home and warm." I state with a blissful mind state.
Even though my head throbs like a bitch, I think I have a slight fever. The snow outside when traveling didn't help me feel any better. My brother appears quite exhausted as well, "How tiresome." he drawls.
Lau accompanied us back unfortunately and Sebastian takes my cloak away from me. I give him a small smile in thanks, but it is interrupted with one of my coughs.
Ciel turns to me with a slightly concerned gaze, "Rina, you should go rest upstairs. You look horrible."
I scowl in response as I drag a hand through my hair, "Gee, thanks."
Suddenly, he crosses his arms with an irritated look, "Feh! Fancy calling me out to London because of this boring case." he raves.
Lau laughs in response and comes closer to my brother, "Well you can't help but bark if there is any sort of threat to the Queen. This is part of being a pitiful watchdog isn't it, Earl?"
Before my brother could bite back, the servants appear into the main foyer, "Welcome back!" they chant in sync.
"I see you brought all the servants this time." Lau notices.
I sweatdrop at the thought of not taking them, the whole manor would be destroyed. Sebastian seems to have the same thoughts with a grim expression, "Yeah, they would end up more of a burden eventually if we left them at home." Sebastian explains.
"More like there wouldn't be a home to come back to." I toss in. I turn to look at Mey-Rin, deciding to take heed of my brother's offer. "Mey-Rin, can you draw me a bath in my bedroom?" I ask with a light cough.
She frowns in concern, "Yes! Are you alright?" she asks afterward.
I walk over to her and together we descend up the stairs, "I caught a cold, probably from this morning."
She gasps and feels my head randomly, "Oh dear, yes! You are burning up quite a bit."
I sigh and my head hangs in defeat, "I had a feeling."
We walk into my bedroom when we arrive, and she heads into the connecting bathroom. I decide to undress behind quickly, finding it easy to as I did wear a dress, fortunately.
After a couple of minutes, she comes out and I am wrapped in my fuzzy blue robe, "It's ready to go!" she exclaims.
I smile my thanks and walk past her, "Thanks, really."
"Is there anything else you need?" she asks before I head inside.
"Hmm, ask Sebastian if he could make me some of my favorite tea later would be great."
She nods and curtseys before heading out of my bedroom. I sigh happily as I could feel the steam around the bathroom stir with its heat. Yes, a bath sounds marvelous. Shredding my robe off, I slowly sink into the warm water. Holy shit, a bath hasn't felt this great in so long. I get my hair wet and rub hair soap into it. Letting it sit, I lean my head back against the tub and close my eyes.
Suddenly, I could hear chatting outside the bathroom door. It is quite loud. My eyes snap open and I look at the door that I left open a crack to let the heat out. Oh my god, who the fuck is in my bedroom?! Did I not make it clear that I am taking a bath earlier when literally everyone heard me?!
Washing the soap out of my hair in a flash, I stand up as my brother's voice rings loudly outside the door. "You can't stay in this room! This is Rina's bedroom!" Ciel shouts, sounding pissed off. "Who the hell do you think you are anyways?!"
I grab a towel and try to scrub all the water off me in a rush. Wrapping the towel in a turbine, it sits on top of my head afterward. I shrug on my robe, not bothering to drain the tub right now.
I couldn't hear the person's response to whoever the hell is in my bedroom. They have another thing coming if they think they're staying in my room tonight. Oh, hell to the fucking no. I push my door open all the way with a furious look around the room. The whole bedroom goes silent at my appearance as most of the people were blushing slightly at my robed form; besides Sebastian who wore a glare at me instead.
Good to know that Soma and Agni are staying with us randomly and abruptly. I place a hand on my forehead with a sigh, feeling awfully warmer than usual. I could care less about my state of dress, as long as I am covered.
"What is everyone doing in here?" I ask with a mumble.
Soma smiles at me, which is odd honestly. "Ciel will be hosting us in turn for saving him."
I stare at him incredulously, "You can't stay here." I point out. "Find another room."
He frowns, clearly not liking being told what to do. Oh lord, not another spoiled brat; this one seems more inconsiderate though.
"I like this room though; I shall sleep here."
I glare heatedly at him, ready to tear his throat out. "Miss. Rina! This person's a prince!" Finny exclaims in his own awe.
Whatever I was going to say dies in my mouth as I stare the Soma with a twitching eye, "You're joking?" I ask.
Finny shakes his head no and gawk at Soma who lays across my bed. He smirks as if he knows what I am thinking, "I'm going to stay here for a while, midgets."
Did he just call my brother and me, a midget? I stare at him in exasperation.
"Then, as a symbol of our new friendship, this Agni will serve you, Chai!" Agni boasts happily. Eww, I don't really like Chai tea, I want my favorite, specifically the way Sebastian makes it for me. "On a cold day, Chai tea with ginger can be great!"
Agni begins to dash away, and Sebastian chases him out the door, "Er, wait. Serving tea is kind of my thing." Sebastian protests.
"Amazing! ~ So, you really are a prince!" Finny exclaims again, his eyes practically stars.
"A...prince." Mey-Rin thinks out loud in an awed daze.
"Hmm, this is like, my first time seeing a real prince." Bard mutters.
Soma smirks lightly, "I shall allow you to come closer."
The servants ask multiple questions until my brother and I finally blow our roof, "Get out!" we both shout in anger and irritation.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Evidentially, I am moved out of my own bedroom into a guest bedroom. I can't even describe how aggravated I am. I can't believe I just got kicked out of my bedroom. I'm sick but does anyone care? No! The godforsaken prince is sleeping where I should be right now. I snuggle into my blankets that smell like linen. I miss the natural scent of my bedsheets in my original bedroom.
I sneeze suddenly and I sniffle, "Ugh, bless me." I utter.
A knock startles me slightly as my head felt really foggy. Sebastian walks in without me telling me to as he rolls in a tea cart. I sit up slowly and let out a small yawn, yes, he actually brought me the tea.
"I believe you requested your favorite." Sebastian mentions with a side smirk.
I smile and nod once, "Indeed, I appreciate you making me some."
He stops the cart by my side and proceeds to pour me a cup, "If the young master's sister requests such a thing from me, I must abide." he states.
"Now you make it sound like I am forcing you." He hands me the teacup and I take it gratefully. My favorite type of tea is green with a couple drops of honey.
"It is an order either way."
I frown and lift the cup up to my lips, taking an attentive sip; careful to not burn my mouth. "Sebastian, I do not wish to force anything on you."
"It is in my nature to do so as the young master wishes me to."
I sigh, seeing this debate going nowhere instead I shift the conversation as I take another sip. "I want to thank you again for earlier. I believe you saved my life twice, or rather prevented me from getting injured."
He stands perfectly still by the tea cart and he smiles coyly in response, "Do not think much on it. I was simply doing my job."
"If you weren't, would you still let me die?" I ask curiously.
His eyes glow subtly for a moment until it passes, "I cannot say."
I sweatdrop, not really finding out much from such an answer. "Good to know."
It becomes silent between the two of us, a little awkward on my part so I decide to continue to drink the tea quietly. That is until my cough interrupts randomly, making me gasp intensely. The tea sloshes onto my hands a little and Sebastian moves forward with a napkin already in hand, "My lady!"
He grabs the cup from my hands as my coughs lesson and I try to breathe properly. He dabs my hands with the napkin and rests a hand on my back. My eyes widen at the contact and I tense underneath his touch. He stiffens as well, peering at me with narrowed eyes as if he is confused by something. I push his hands away from me, not understanding the feeling well. It felt nice, cool, even relaxing I would say.
"W-What is that?" I stammer, unsure of what happened.
"I'm afraid I do not understand what you mean."
I reach behind my back, rubbing it in the area that he touched, it felt as if it was on fire. "What is this feeling?"
"My lady, I think you fear me to some extent." he voices his concern.
I stare at him wide-eyed in confusion, "...what?"
"You tense under my touch and much of the time under my true eyes. It is a natural response to such a thing though as I am a being of darkness."
"Oh..." I mumble, pretty sure I am not afraid of him. That is the last feeling I get from him, honestly. I decide to ignore this weird encounter again because maybe this is normal. For a human to be...relaxed (?) in his presence. The coping of a demon, it makes sense. Yet, he says fear is more natural though. Perhaps, it is because I am lonely in the heart and mind, that I find some comfort in him by accident. It is all so confusing, especially what I feel around him. What is true and false?
My back still tingles in memory, "You're so confusing, a damn mystery." I grumble in frustration. It only hurts my head more thinking about.
He smirks deviously then and crouches slightly to my eye level, "A demon should hide things, no?"
"I'll solve you."
His lips widen and his hair falls forward, "In exchange, I shall do the same to you."
Welp, I just dug myself into a deeper hole.
"Oh yea, Sebastian."
"Hm?"
"Tell my brother he gets no sweets or desserts of any kind for two whole weeks. A message from me of course, and if he disobeys, tell him I'm running away and never coming back. I don't forget my vows."
Sebastian sweat drops with a sigh, "Yes."
