A/N: HEY GUYS! Sorry for not updating for… a week now? Yeah. It's been about a week.

I decided to take a bit of a break. Last week was tiresome for me, and I needed some time to myself. Plus, when I got interrupted in finishing my chapter 49, I kind of lost my momentum with this story. But, now I'm back! At least, I'm going to try to be. What's really killed me here is that I've been lacking sleep. Sleeping much longer then 8hrs, but then I'm not sleeping a full 8hrs at a time. Broken up into smaller hours, composing of naps. Yeah… I'm a terrible sleeper. I need to work on it.

Maybe I have insomnia? Or something else? More likely, it's my crappy old bed/mattress. That's half of my problems.

Anyways, here's another upload. Maybe I'll post one more tonight, before bed? Or after I've showered. I'm not sure, yet.

I have listened to your guys' suggestions/comments. I've been thinking… maybe I'll have an alternate/post story about Undertaker and Clara's family. I actually started it, to get my mind off of some things and get my creative juices flowing. Maybe? I don't know if it'll be canon to THIS story, but if you guys would like me to post it, don't be afraid to ask! I decided, though, in order to write that particular story, that it's an alternate story. Unless this story ends VERY happily, and quickly, then when the timeline of the 'baby' story [as I've called it in my docs] starts would be VERY soon and show up VERY quickly. So, it's an alternate story. Thing is, I'm not sure if I'll reach that point in THIS story… so… yeah…

If you guys want me to post it DO LEAVE A COMMENT. Or some indication that you guys would like to see it. I'll probably post it on this site, if I DO post that story. Thing is, dealing with writing TWO stories can cause me to be a bit flustered. I wouldn't even think about posting it until I have more of the story written, so… yeah. And with that story, sure, you may want to read this story first, but it wouldn't be mandatory to understanding the 'baby/family' story.

So… YEAH! If you guys would like to read it, do comment! Cause I probably won't post it, otherwise. I may just continue with this story, instead, and not bother with it… but I haven't decided if I will, yet.

And as for the smut/no smut poll on my profile page, so far you guys are in favor of smut. Right now, I probably won't be adding it in, yet. I'll tell you when I will, though! But it won't be for a while. I know I keep saying that, but, a, I need to be in a mood to write that sort of stuff. If I was going to make this a smutty story I would have started it out that way, and b, I'm currently writing some rather intense/emotional stuff. And, their relationship isn't quite there, yet. Yeah, it's slow, but I wouldn't put Clara as the type of gal to jump into a relationship, considering all the problems she's had with relationships in the past, and Undertaker… well, I've read him being a smuttster and other times he's the one who has trouble falling in love. And for this story, yeah. Slow is key, for now.

But anyways, I think that's about it! Sorry to keep you guys hanging for a bit. Once again, I kind of needed a break from reviewing and writing and posting. I'm feeling a lot better, these days. I think I was sick?... I mean, I do get hay fever in the spring. Actually, my favorite season, now, is fall, and spring is my least favorite season. I'm sure if I wasn't sick and dying I'd enjoy spring, but I usually don't. Now that I'm not in school, the anticipation of summer break isn't there anymore. So, yeah. Not my favorite season. But, yeah! ENJOY this story! And your week! And I'll talk to you guys later!

! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !

"I thought you were going to be at your townhouse," you scoffed the moment you reached the top of the stairs, two buckets filled with water in your hands, and your scowl only deepened while Vincent turned with a smirk on his face.

"I couldn't take away this opportunity to enjoy your living situation, my dear –"

"Shut up. What are you doing with my sketchbook?" you huffed, thanking Tanaka as he took the buckets from your hands, placing them onto a counter in the kitchen while Vincent chuckled to himself.

"This is yours~? I thought this was Undertaker's –"

"No, it's mine –"

"You're a very morbid individual, Clara," you heard Vincent say, but all you could do is roll your eyes as you gripped the other bucket, telling Tanaka that this bucket is for you. "… Should we go?"

"I mean, I don't honestly care. This place won't be any safer then just staying at your own residency," you scoffed, making your way into the hallway towards the bathroom, and you topped off your bathtub water, feeling the water to make sure it was warm enough and you wouldn't have to wait, or it got too cold, before you made your way back into the living room. "I'm changing. It'll be your fault if you walk in on me," you stated, smirking at the silence you got from Vincent, though you could tell he was blushing, and you turned to Tanaka and continued, "and we have leftovers from last night in the ice box. It'll be in the crypt, Tanaka-sensei."

"We could not possibly eat your food –"

"Nonsense. You're guests. If you want to be helpful, there's a hunk of beef. You can cut that up and make a nice dinner with it, and save the leftovers for me. I'm going to be hungry after this is over," you finished, leaving the men to… whatever it is they've been doing, but luckily for you no one followed you into the hallway, as you went between your bedroom and the bathroom to gather your belongings.

Finally, you got to wash up, though you know you'll end up having to get another bathe, again. But after the explosion and the ring and the mess you just cleaned up… yeah. You need something to relax yourself, and relaxing in a warm bathe or taking a nice long shower was enough to calm your nerves, if only a tad. The scented soaps, shampoo, and conditioner helped with your mood, as well, and as you ran the suds through your hair, making sure to get every little corner and scratch every inch, your eyes couldn't help but stare at the ring… you had sitting upon the sink's countertop.

You sighed tiredly to yourself.

Here, you thought the worse was over… but now, it seems like everything is beginning, again.

There was a lot you didn't tell Vincent. It was just easier to keep some things secret, but…

There was more to that 'four horsemen' thing you wanted to say, but luckily he didn't ask. More that you didn't want to reveal… yet.

And it's better that Undertaker didn't know just how close you were to… becoming one of them. Letting Death enter your being and manipulate your very soul. Your essence. Who you are as a being. You were so, so close to letting that happen…

Yet… at the end of the day, you wanted that to happen. To forget, everything. To let everything go. To show those damn council members that they cannot manipulate you… and destroy them. Utterly obliterate them.

Cause you're not War. Far from it. Sure, you have this strange bloodlust, when you let your reaper side take over too much. You get angry and emotional… but what's scarier, you've noticed, is when you just left everything…

Go.

An emotionless doll. No longer working for the sake of yourself, but for Death. Death's will, Death's choices… It's… scary, to lose that free will, but…

Oddly enough, it didn't feel weird or foreign. It felt… right.

Perfect…

Simply easy…

But the moment you think that way, you stop. You get scared and freak out. That's why you didn't become the very thing Undertaker feared from you. Those 'ancient legends' the council wanted to revive. Bring back to take out the threats that had opposed them. A reason why… the remaining 'legends' died off, regardless if they left the association or not. If they turned their backs on their own kind, or not.

The connection… to Death is still strong. If you let it in…

Your eyes fell back upon the ring before you sighed tiredly, again. Is this really up for debate? It shouldn't be, but for you, it feels like it is.

You let yourself become disillusioned that… you forgot… you began to forget the point. Why you're here. Why you're alive. Why you exist… More importantly, why you should keep fighting.

There's more to this war then just you. You know that. This… spiritual warfare. Every single time you thought you were going to die, you hoped it was the end. That it could finally stop… but no. Here you are, sucked back into the fight. Forced to do what you don't want to… but you do. Cause you're going to do it. Regardless what others think.

If you think you're weak or they want to be nice. That you don't deserve this. Well… it doesn't matter, because at the end of the day… this isn't about you.

It's about every single creature that ends up dead because of a bunch of idiots. Every life that is snuffed out, because no one can simply agree. No one wants to stop this. No one cares.

You care. And damn it, you're going to stop those demons before they mess everything up!

A new sense of determination, and a lot of stubbornness caused you to leave the tub, unclog the drain, and wipe the water off of your body before you wrapped a towel around your body and make your way into your bedroom. Closing the door with a kick of your foot, your ring in hand, you gripped the ring tightly, the bright blue stone glowing before you summoned a fairly large black and brown chest, with your family crest painted on with white paint on the top, and you held up your foot to stop the chest from flinging itself into the wall.

You sighed, placing the ring aside, as you opened the chest to look at its contents. Items… you weren't ever going to use again. Clothing… you never thought you'd see again. You don't know if you're excited, happy, or scared, but… you're going to do this.

You need to. You have to.

For every damned thing that happened in the future. For every promise you've ever made. You've worked and fought, and now is the time to stop playing it safe.

If the reapers won't do a damn thing… if Michael won't do anything… if everyone will just push you away… fine. So be it.

"I'm a Phantomhive, damn it," you scoffed in irritation, before you reached for your clothes, throwing certain items and tools onto your bed before you closed the chest, using your foot to shove it into a bright blue glowing portal, and once it disappeared you took off your towel, rubbing the water out of your hair and using a comb to brush parts of your damp hair, before you threw the towel aside and began to put on your clothes.

Your clothes.

It felt so… nice to be back in your own clothes. Clothing you bought, made, decided upon on your own. Things that make you, you. You've… missed this.

But also, you need to hide yourself away from these… pests. Not until the time is right. Not until you're ready to reveal yourself and… slaughter them. Like cattle.

Cause you're sick of playing games. This is going to end, here and now.

And then you'll deal with the results of your actions.

! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !

You sighed to yourself as you fixed your black juban, making sure everything was in order before you reached for your, heavier, accessories. Your hidden blades, outer armor, and ornamental items that just made your outfit… you.

You know your enemies are expecting you, but you need to dress the way you are supposed to. What your sensei taught you. After all, you wouldn't be a professional assassin otherwise. Still… it felt weird, yet… familiar wearing these clothes, and you couldn't stop yourself from smirking to yourself as you stood at the mirror, fixing every little item and inspecting yourself to make sure everything was secure. Your dark blue hakama was bound in place by your wide obi, decorated with a thin silver cord across the obi, while you tied it in the back of your body, securing the obi in place. Your knot was a simple design, without too much effort put into it, but you'd rather have it behind your back, slightly to the side, closer to your right side then your left, so you can draw your weapon quicker.

Your tanto, a small reaper blade, with the blade disguised behind a black, wooden demon sheath, was the only weapon you had in the open, placed behind your back, at your side, to be drawn out by your left hand. You had some hidden throwing blades, underneath your black and blue robes, and you began to secure your blackened padded armor upon your shoulders and knees. You grabbed your black socks, tugging them upward to make sure they were secure, before you knelt down and slipped your black, dirty ballerina slippers onto your feet. You sighed, standing back up, glancing at your hair with a thoughtful look on your face. Your hair, tied up into a simple ponytail instead of a bun, tied behind your head with a black ribbon. You reached for your dark navy blue scarf, wrapping it around your neck and letting the ends flutter behind your back, while you grabbed the front and made sure the scarf was tight enough around your face to be secure.

There. Good enough.

This wasn't your official outfit… or even the outfit you almost died in, but this was good enough. An attire that could hide your human and reaper nature, even hide your nature entirely. The Japanese style robes, made with demonic materials, and your scarf, given to you by Death itself… once.

But it's not just your scarf. It's actually a cloak. A black sheet that can increase and decrease in size, but it can render you completely invisible… to everything and everyone.

If you make it that way.

With a sigh you grabbed your Phantomhive ring from a table, before you grabbed a pair of fingerless gloves, which had black steel padding on top of the hands, and slowly began to slip them on. You bound the gloves over your kimono sleeves with long black ribbon, before you looked back at your ring.

The entire reason why you're in this mess. This damned ring… damn it. Why? Why do you have to care so much?

You know if Vincent won't freak out, then it'll certainly be Tanaka as you slipped your ring into a pocket in your robes before you began to walk out of your bedroom, noticing that Undertaker had returned. Finally.

You heard something smash, a glass Tanaka was holding, and you gave him a meek smile before you tugged on your scarf, revealing your lower half of your face. "H-hey."

"… What a strange outfit," you heard Vincent respond, only to hear Tanaka let out an annoyed snort.

"You're an assassin," you heard Tanaka say, only for a meek smile to appear upon your face as you turned to acknowledge the butler.

"Former –"

"What clan?" he asked, in his native tongue, and you gave him a curious look before you smirked deviously in reply, crossing your arms over your chest as you continued in a confident tone.

"It's not a human clan, if that's what you're asking. My training is enough to take down the evils of the world… as well as heavenly," you stated, before you turned back to the other two males to give them meek smiles. "Are you sure you want to accompany me, Undertaker?"

"Why not? –"

"I-it's just… if you get hurt –"

"I'm more worried that you'll be the one getting hurt, my dear," he smirked, gently grabbing your hands, only for you to slip them out of his grasp, which caused him to pout.

You gave him a serious look, studying his face, before you shook your head and scoffed underneath your breath. "… Do you need time to prepare? I'll give you twenty minutes –"

"No love," he smirked before his smile began to fall. "… Are you ready?"

"No," you stated bluntly, so bluntly that Vincent gave you a slightly shocked look, but you continued, "but that doesn't matter… You may have skills, but I need to tell you the rules," you began, stepping closer to him as you began to play around with his sash, wondering if you should make him take it off or not. "You can come with me, but you need to stay hidden. Keep your distance. I will handle them. They need to know I'm going alone, or else they'll flee," you began, pausing for a moment before you continued. "And… you need to trust me.

"Even if I'm getting beaten up, scratched, bruised, whatever. Even stabbed. You are not, under any circumstances, allowed to help me."

"But –"

"Shut up. Listen," you bluntly spoke, before you continued sternly, taking a step backward to glare up at him. "Until I call for you, do not reveal yourself. I'm serious, Undertaker. Trust me. I know how to handle myself… Think of this as a test," you finished with a smirk, before you turned your attention to Vincent, "and, don't mess up our house."

"I'll try," he smirked, but then you continued.

"And… Tanaka-sensei, please, I beg you, don't hate me too much over seeing this," you decided to say, gesturing to your outfit, but the man simply shook his head.

"We all make choices, young one. Besides, as long as you're on my lord's side, I will not see you as a threat," he stated, and you nodded your head before you slowly turned your attention to Undertaker, and then gently pushed past him.

"'Kay. Let's do this."

"Yes love," Undertaker responded, causing you to glance behind him curiously at his calm tone of voice, before you turned your attention to the stairs, and began to descend toward, towards the cemetery.