Chapter 20

Parry. Push. Lunge. Block. Parry. Block. Push. Lunge. Disengage. Parry.

Luciana furrowed her brows indifferently watching Sebastian train the kid earl. She had never been very interested in fencing, nor had she seen any sense in it; to her the sport just looked like two people hopping back and forth- granted they had foils which could literally poke someone's eye out but still, it utterly bored her. She sighed. The only reason the girl was currently watching their lesson was Mey-Rin. Luce didn't want to run into her gossip-buddy just yet. She still hadn't figured out how to explain that breast-touching incident. 'Not that there was even anything to explain…' She reasoned silently with an eye roll. But knowing Mey-Rin, the red-head had probably already come up with a million scandalous scenarios. So fencing seemed the safer choice. Maybe then her fellow maid would calm that wild imagination of hers. 'Highly…unlikely' Luce groaned.

"When will you finish?~" Soma's whine rang through the room; his tone was laced with total boredom. And though she agrees that there were tons of other, better activities than fencing, his whines were getting truly annoying. "And just what are you doing?"

It seemed that even the young earl had finally had enough. A sharp intake of breath and he snapped. "ARGH! SHUT UP ALREADY!" Ciel screamed. She had been wondering how long his patience would hold. "I can't concentrate!" 'Not that long it would seem.' Luciana giggled, earning herself a harsh glare.

"No need to get mad." The prince mumbled turning his head away with a pout. He was honestly spoilt.

"Fine." Exasperation clear in his voice, the kid finally gave in. "I get it." Ciel ripped the other foil from Sebastian's hand, throwing it over to the prince. "If you want my attention that badly, then be my opponent."

A satisfied grin spread across Prince Barney's face. "So if I beat you, you will play with me?"

"Only if you win." She raised a brow at Ciel's statement. The boy sure was smug.

And so the match began, both boys looking much too sure of themselves as they took their stance. Her gaze followed their movements. Thrust. Block. Parry. Disengage. Swipe. 'Swipe?' She furrowed her brows in confusion.

"Hah! I got you- what?!" Soma's victorious smile faltered into a look of shock and disbelieve as his foil curved against Ciel's leg. "It b-bends?" He gaped at his weapon.

"Well, of course." The kid's face adorned a conceited smirk.

"Wow, who knew he was such a bully…" Luce shook her head, noticing Sebastian's lips twitch at her comment. She winked at him before her eyes went back to the match. Ciel took advantage of the confusion, beginning his counter. Lunge. Disengage. Parry. Thrust. Disengage. Parry. It was truly a sad sight. The Indian prince was pushed back parry after parry. Finally the kid's foil thrust forward onto Soma's chest aiming for a winning point-

"Prince, that's dangerous!" Agni ran between them with a distressed expression, quickly blocking the attack and hitting Ciel's arm out of instinct. The foil instantly fell to his feet as the earl's arm went slack. A moment of silence endured and the boy dropped to his knee, his arm twitching.

Luce narrowed her icy orbs at the boy. Then her gaze moved to the Indian man in thought. There was something different about the way he fought. She remembered noticing it back when they first ran into the duo. Luce furrowed her brows and cocked her head to the side, remembering the event. When Agni first attacked Sebastian; the hits seemed to be random, yet at the same time not- it was almost like he was aiming for certain spots. She stared at the ground with unseeing eyes, not minding the other occupants in the room. The way he attacked, hitting certain spots and how he was baffled by Sebastian not reacting to the hits—her thoughts stopped and her eyes widened in realization. 'Pressure points…' Luciana nodded at her assessment.

"Seems like the little maid agrees." She snapped to attention as Lau slung an arm around her shoulders. "Here, butler." The Chinese man threw a foil to Sebastian. She looked at him with a questioning gaze, silently asking him to explain.

"Indeed…" Sebastian's gaze bore into her puzzled stare before turning back to his master. "It's because you were being mean to a novice who didn't know the rules." Sebastian looked down at the kid earl. 'Ah… that's karma for you.' She cracked a small smile, but couldn't help but find the way he looked at the kid to be truly condescending. "However, when the master is injured like this," He continued with bored, cold eyes, moving the earl to the side lines. "…as a Phantomhive butler, I cannot ignore it." 'Translation: It may be the brat's own fault, but he's currently my contract, and who would I be if I just let you run all over him?' Luce deadpanned at the demon's pride. "Moreover, we are behind schedule." She face palmed. That statement was so typical of him.

"That's your real motive isn't it?" Ciel's eye twitched with annoyance.

"Interesting- then, Agni! In the name of Kali, win!" Soma commanded with a self-satisfied grin.

"Sebastian. This is an order." The kid earl narrowed his eyes, "Silence that brat!"

"Jo ajna." "Yes, my lord." The two butlers took their stands; one with a cold disregard, the other with a serious passion.

The match began. Parry. Thrust. Dodge. Parry. Disengage. Parry. Their speed quickening with every jab and their accuracy at its finest. Parry. Dodge. Thrust. Dodge. Parry. Several times the thrusts seemed to be lethal. One mistake and either of them would get hurt. Block. Parry. Dodge. Parry. Agni thrust, nearly hitting the butler's throat. Sebastian dodged, retaliating with a jab to the forehead. The Indian butler barely avoided the hit. Their match only grew more serious, more ferocious. Parry. Dodge. Parry. Dodge. Agni narrowed his eyes. Parry. Dodge. Parry. The demon's eyes burned a menacing red. Both jabbed at the same time, their foils meeting at the tips, bending from the force and breaking.

Eyes wide from shock both Luce and Ciel followed the tips with their gaze, one clattering to the floor, the other caught by Sebastian. "Oh my, it broke." He sighed.

Thank you for reading and all the reviews! I really appreciate them.

Have you seen the carpool cover of all I want for christmas? So cool