Vampy: I have to say, I am really in the writing zone right now. Thank you to everyone who has followed/favorited/reviewed on Lover's Morgue. I appreciate you all so much! I don't own anything from Black Butler.
"So. . . Where are we?" Lau asked as the group stood in front of a run down building that had a few coffins leaning against the outside wall.
Madame Red turned to him, outrage clear on her features. "You mean you don't know?!"
"Of course not, Madame. What ever gave you the idea that I did?"
Ciel let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as he listened to his aunt's angry screeching and Lau's relaxed laughter. Grell was trying to calm his mistress down but was failing miserably. The little earl truly hadn't the faintest idea as to why he brought the rapidly dubbed Second Troublesome Trio along. They were nothing but a nuisance and, most likely, would be a hindrance to the investigation rather than an aid.
Sebastian smirked at his master's obvious displeasure with their unwanted tag-a-longs. "Is something wrong, Young Master?"
"No." The little boy ignored his butler's smirk. "I do so appreciate your concern though."
Madame Red interrupted any further conversation between the two as she looked up at the sign above the building and asked, "The Undertaker? Why does my nephew know such an unsavory character as a mortician?"
"Who else to go to when in need of information about the dead, but the very one who works with them?" Ciel replied. He glanced at Sebastian from the corner of his eye, noticing that the demon seemed to be distracted by something. "What is it, Sebastian?"
Sebastian turned towards Ciel with his famous smile. "Just a frightened kitten, my lord."
Ciel narrowed his eye slightly, but let it go as his butler opened the door to the shop. Any suspicions the boy may have had about Sebastian's answer was pushed back as he called out, "Are you in today, Undertaker?"
"How can he live like this?!" Raven exclaimed in disgust as she looked around at the dust and cobwebs that covered every surface in the front part of the shop. Cleaning materials were at her feet, ready for use. The young woman had taken it upon herself to wash, scrub, dust, and polish every thing in her savior's home. She wanted to do something to repay him for everything that he had done for her and, since she really didn't know a lot about him, cleaning seemed like the obvious choice in payment.
With a determined nod of her head, Raven rolled up the long sleeves of the shirt she had borrowed from Undertaker's closet and immediately got to work.
She hadn't been working very long before voices could be heard outside. Panic caused adrenaline to shoot through her veins, but Raven did her best to calm her racing heart. Undertaker had killed all of the men that night, so she didn't need to worry about them looking for her. Her father wouldn't give a damn either. No need to panic. No need at all. . .
But, Raven decided, it was better to be safe than sorry. So she walked over to a small window and looked outside.
A group of three men, one woman, and one boy stood in front of the door. A Chinese man looked to be arguing with the woman while the boy watched with an annoyed expression on his face. Raven's eyes skipped right over the plain, brunette man. For some reason, her gaze was drawn to the tall male who wore all black. There was something about him that just screamed 'enemy' to her.
Raven's breath caught in her throat when the man turned and looked at her. Their eyes locked on each other for what seemed to be hours before his eyes glowed fuchsia. She let out a terrified squeak and turned away from the window, fleeing from the room without bothering to grab her cleaning supplies.
Undertaker had just finished cleaning up from working on one of the bodies in his workshop and was currently in his room (which was the room he was letting Raven stay in) getting dressed. He paused to look at himself in the mirror, eyes on his reflection as his fingers traced the jagged scar across his chest. Phantom pain flared up at his touch as the retired reaper remembered how he got the wound that left such a terrible mark on his body.
He shook his head to dislodge the memory and started to pull on his shirt when Raven ran into the room, tackling Undertaker to the ground before he could fully comprehend what was going on in time to prevent them both from tumbling over.
Raven grabbed Undertaker's shoulders and began shaking him in her panic. "Adrian! There are people outside! One of them had these glowing red eyes and I swear he would have killed me if I didn't get you!"
"R-a-a-a-veeeen," The poor man said jerkily as he was shaken, "Ca-a-alm doooown!"
She let go of Undertaker like he was on fire, just now realizing that she was sitting on top of the half dressed Shinigami. "Sorry. . ."
He waved her apology off as he sat up. "So, it looks like Little Earl Phantomhive and his butler have finally arrived. I was wondering how long it would be until I had the pleasure of their company again, heeheehee!" A wide grin spread across his face.
With inhuman speed Undertaker finished dressing, grabbed Raven's hand, and dragged her back to the front of the shop. He stowed her mop and bucket away in one of the coffins before he pulled Raven into another empty coffin with him, carefully closing the lid once they were both inside.
Raven was certain that Undertaker could feel the heat from her cheeks as she was pressed against him. He smelled like chemicals, wood, and faintly of cinnamon. She could feel his heartbeat against her palm. The girl looked up at his face and saw him watching her with his head tilted slightly to the side, almost like a curious child. Raven couldn't help but find this strange man absolutely endearing.
She opened her mouth to say something, but a different voice sounded.
"Are you in today, Undertaker?"
Undertaker leaned forward slightly to move the coffin lid. "Kukuku, are you here for a coffin fitting, m'lord? If so, I would be most honored to measure you! Heeheehee!"
Raven turned to see the reaction of their unexpected-but-still-somehow-expected guests. The brunette, Chinese man, and the woman all looked terrified. The boy still seemed annoyed. I wonder if that's his usual expression. . .
She avoided looking at the scary man.
"Who is this?" The boy asked, studying Raven suspiciously with his uncovered eye. She wondered what happened to his other one.
The silver haired mortician pushed himself out of the coffin, taking Raven with him. "Now now, Earl, you know that it's polite to introduce oneself before asking for the identity of another."
"Hm." Earl Phantomhive, Raven supposed, closed his eye for a moment before opening it again. "Very well. I am Earl Ciel Phantomhive. Accompanying me is Lau, Angelina Duress, her butler Grell, and my butler Sebastian Michaelis."
"Aren't you just darling?!" Madame Red exclaimed, hurrying forward to cup Raven's face to tilt it this way and that. "Oh, I would absolutely love to doll you up sometime!"
Lau strolled over and casually through an arm around the girl's shoulders. "So miss, do you come around here often? Ahahaha!"
Raven stiffened as anxiety hit her like a kick to the gut. She looked at Undertaker pleadingly.
"This is my associate, Raven. Forgive her if she doesn't talk, she is rather shy." Undertaker moved forward, causing the other two to back away from Raven. It did not escape the notice of anyone that Undertaker positioned himself so that he was blocking Raven from view.
Ciel raised an elegant eyebrow at him, but continued as though there hadn't been any other conversation. "I am not here for a fitting today, Undertaker. I'm here for information."
"Say no more, dear little Earl. I know exactly what it is you want. But I want payment this time. Heh heh, yes, I was quite generous during your last visit."
Lau stepped forward. "Ah yes, every good informant needs an income. How much are you asking for?"
Undertaker moved away from Raven, his smile disappearing as he walked over to Lau. "I don't want the Queen's money. It's worthless, much like Her Majesty."
"Watch what you say, Undertaker." Ciel spoke up. "As entertaining as it would be, I really don't want to arrest you for treason."
The mortician waved a hand, grinning once again. "Then give me what I want, little lord. Give me laughter!"
Raven chuckled softly at Undertaker's strange request. She sat down on one of the coffins to watch the proceedings despite not being very interested in the words themselves. She watched Undertaker mostly. The way his grin lit up what was visible of his face, the way he used his hands to gesture as he spoke, the way he expressed himself though his eyes were hidden behind his bangs. He was stunning.
While Raven was watching Undertaker, Sebastian was watching her. He wondered why Undertaker suddenly had an . . . associate, as he so nicely put it. Never before had his master's strange informant had someone working with him (though Sebastian doubted that anyone actually wanted to work with Undertaker). It was curious to say the least. Even more curious was the fact that Raven wasn't human. The demon wondered if Undertaker knew that.
It would certainly be beneficial to have someone like her on our side. . . As the saying goes, keep friends close. He looked over at Grell, who also seemed to be studying Raven with keen interest. And keep enemies closer.
After some time had passed and he had gotten all the information that he needed, Ciel stood up. "I think that's everything that we need from you, Undertaker. Sebastian, let's go." The boy walked out of the shop along with Madame Red, Lau, and Grell.
The butler bowed slightly to Undertaker, then bowed deeply to Raven and kiss her hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Raven. Please pay us a visit someday." His eyes glowed momentarily before he straightened and followed after the others.
Undertaker frowned as he watched Sebastian leave. Something about the way he treated Raven rubbed the mortician the wrong way. He would have to make sure that Raven did not go to visit Earl Phantomhive and his butler.
"Adrian? Is something wrong?"
He looked at her worried eyes and couldn't help but grin. "Darlin', I've never been better! Let's go make some cookies!"
