"OH! How absolutely marvelous! A ball in the most beautiful dancing hall I've ever come to see!", Grell squealed in ecstasy as she hugged the envelope close to her chest.

She was enamored and honored.

This was honestly going to be the first time she ever attended a true ball, formality and elegance being the main theme for the event, a celebration of sorts for the new year.

Though she had to admit, it wasn't an invitation given to them personally. It was more of an assignment ticket. They were to attend a human ball for new years, while there they had to investigate a few series of mysterious and multiple deaths, odd deaths.

The types of deaths varied, but they all seemed to involve high speed attacks, something ungodly was killing these people.

Grell shrugged it off, they were too easy to kill. She smiled, they did however look marvelous painted red~

Anyhow, she was going to a ball~!

Ooo~ How exciting!, Grell though as she eagerly began to fill out her paperwork with renewed energy. Stacks of papers diminishing and work being done within the hour, she had gotten better at keeping still and filling mind-numbing paperwork after the high councils arrival.

Their influence and habits were rubbing off on the red head.

And maybe something more~, Grell though with a giggle at the thought of the male reapers in the group.

As Grell filled paperwork, she mentally made a list of what she needed to do later.

Pick out a new dress with Miss Mary and Bella (They were all going as well to the ball), go home and pretty myself up for the men~ Grell gushed.

She was absolutely thrilled, she was going to have her chance to dance with that hunk of a man, Blake!

As soon as she finished the last paper in the stack, she dashed like hell was at her heels to William's office with the paperwork in hand. She pushed the door open, handling the stack with much care, at least until she plopped it on William's desk.

The dark haired shinigami looked up from his own work to address the disrupting reaper, only to be cut off by the red head.

"Here is all the papers. The report is at the top, all previous cases following up. That's all. Bye!", Grell said as she hurriedly left before William could say a word.

The usually stoick reaper had a bit of a surprised look on his face as he saw the stack of papers before him. It was all here, all the work Sutcliff didn't do earlier that year. All of it. Completed, William thought as he shuffled through the papers. He sighed in slight relief. At least he wouldn't have to do overtime now that these documents were filled.

After much sorting and labeling of the files, he called in another reaper to send them to administrative offices, the reaper in question being Ronald Knox. The blonde shinigami came in with arms crossed supporting his head, a pensive look on his face.

"Knox, send these papers over to offices, they are all filed and ready to be put on the database", William said, handing the papers to Ronald, who absentmindedly took them, lazily looking over them, before his eyes shot wide.

"Wait, Sir, is this Senpai's work?", Ronald said hurriedly as he looked over the files. William silently watching in agreement with the shock, as he nodded his head to confirm. Ronald looked slightly upset. "Ever since the council arrived, he's been very… attentive."

"Impressing the council must be at top priority for him, he always has been one to flaunt his abilities, no matter how mediocre", William said dismissively, gazing back down at his own papers.

"No sir, I mean. Ever since…. That reaper came, he's been doing nothing but what he wants to do, or what he wants her to do", Ronald said as he ran a hand through his locks.

William stopped his pen, mid sentence. He looked up at Knox and his eyes narrowed at what the other was saying. The demon reaper? What did he mean?

At getting his boss' full attention, he continued. "He asks something of her, she'll do it. He orders something, no hesitation. He shows he something, full attention. No gushing, no squealing, no crudeness. He's not acting normally."

"Maybe he's given him a lesson in behavior, a high councilor will normally take troubled reapers and reform them when needed. This could have been seen as a good opportunity to fix Sutcliff", William said, dutifully giving an explanation to the lack of Sutcliffe's buoyancy and flirtatiousness.

"No, you don't understand! They're encouraging her behavior, but she won't react", Ronald said in exasperation.

What? William was now unsettled.

Knox continued, "I was following them on their reaping the other day and Senpai no longer pinned for the Phantomhive demon, instead he payed more attention to the high council demon." Knox said pacing. "The high Councilor is even flirting with her, he's… he's seducing her! That demon is doing something to Senpai! I don't know what, but he is. I mean, what if he eats her soul-"

William stood up so fast, his chair got knocked over.

It was one thing to have Grell pin for someone and gush over them, it was another thing to have them flirt back, it was another even more DANGEROUS thing to have that be part demon. "That…. filth should be no where near Sutcliff…", William muttered under his breath.

Ronald silently agreed, he didn't want his Senpai getting herself into these situations, but now someone was dragging her in that direction. That didn't stand with the young shinigami. Demons can't be trusted.

William thought over his next course of actions, he needed to keep an eye out for sutcliff. A single, idiotic move, and Sutcliff could be… William shook his head. No. He would not allow it. They were already understaffed as it was. They didn't need another reaper down, especially one all well performing as sutcliff, although William didn't say it very often.

Then another thought came to the cold reaper, the ball. William inwardly groaned, knowing Grell, he'd be at the ball as well as the council to overlook the work of the redhead.

Inevitably he'd ask the demon for a dance, and if things went out of hand… if the demon got his way… if Grell was too lovesick… if he wasn't there…. William shut down his train of thoughts and settled on a course of action.

"Knox, when is that ball?"