A/N: As promised, I'm sticking to monthly updates, weekly if possible, and since it's July, why not? Lol. Anyhow, our infamous Earl arrives and this is where the story takes a turn. Just a reminder, next chapter is in first pov.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji, nor will I ever. Everything read not included in Kuroshitsuji are my ideas and characters alone.

Chapter 5
The books Undertaker brought her ranged in genre from medical knowledge to prep her as an apprentice to poetry and fiction. Fortunately for her, she had prior knowledge of the human body thanks to her specialized education in healthcare for high school so she didn't need to worry so much about it. She skimmed some pages, other times reading the few that caught her eye. However, thanks to modern technology, she could already tell what facts had yet to be proven wrong given she'd traveled back in time. She was aware, but not by how much. She focused more on the books that had to do with his profession as a mortician such as embalming, prepping the body, etc. Poetry, she wasn't much a fan of but she kept it for free time anyway. As such, that's how she spent her few days in recovery, reading until she felt up for moving around. Of course, she couldn't do anything strenuous, but she could at least shadow him.

Undertaker, for the most part, kept up his daily visits to check on her progress. He was delighted to know about her prior exposure to human anatomy so, being the bastard he was, piled her with more books. Otherwise, he supplied her daily meals and conversation, occasionally helping her dress due to the stitches. And speaking of the devil, said owner poked his head around the door he quietly opened. "Feeling better, are we?~" Taking another step, he fully entered the room.

She looked up, a medical book on her lap before returning to the page she left off. "Mm." Her responses were usually short, but he'd learned quickly that it was simply her nature to be astute and direct, sometimes to the point of rudeness although it was unintentional.

He grinned and she inwardly cringed, expecting nothing good in the next few moments. "If you're feeling up to it, you may join me as I tend to my next guest~ I'll have a tailor come by to make you some clothes sometime tomorrow."

She nodded, closing the book before getting up. He'd removed the stitches by the second day given her regeneration and allowed her to move around a bit. Today shouldn't be too hard. Or so she hoped. She followed him out of the room, entering the shop area where he usually worked and sat on a coffin. "I didn't miss anything, did I?"

"Hi hi~ nothing to trouble yourself over but a couple of new guests~" He walked over to a fresh corpse laying on his work table whom he sat up and grabbed one of its hands, waving it at her. He giggled at her unimpressed stare before laying it down. "Poor Mr. Durby here got ran over them carriages~ Seems that people have their heads in the clouds nowadays. Well, can't blame 'em since London's so gloomy all the time~" he sighed dramatically before perking up again and grinning at her. "Lucky I have a spot of sunshine to keep me going!" He giggled as she twitched before turning back to his guest. He picked up a set of makeup to apply over the bruises as Rachel got up and wandered around the shop.

She traipsed around coffins to the shelves with glass containers holding various body parts. She picked up a beaker holding an eyeball floating in liquid in it, studying it in silence before placing it back. She noticed Undertaker look up bemused at how unaffected she was with gore in general but she ignored him as usual. She glanced outside before absentmindedly asking, "By the way, what's the date today?"

He looked up, humming before looking back at his guest. "Let's see now, fifteenth of August, 1885. That sounds 'bout right~" he nodded in satisfaction, his cockney accent giving him a childish air before looking at his assistant's shocked face. "What's the matter, m'dear?"

Rachel blinked, still processing the information. /Eighteen eighty-five?! Kuroshitsuji officially starts in 1888, right?/ She looked away as he tilted his head, holding her chin in thought. She pulled out her phone, scrolling through her photos until she came across the timeline pic of the Kuroshitsuji storyline, looking through the dates. /So then just before the attack on Phantomhive manor, then. That's a lot of time./ Her pale forehead creased in thought before she looked to the side to see silver bangs and a wide grin. She was so lost in thought that she hadn't heard him creep up behind her and rest his chin on her shoulder.

He giggled and unashamedly asked, "Whatcha lookin at?"

Thinking fast, she turned it off and stuffed it in her pocket. "Nothing, just checking." She looked away, frowning a bit. The accident of Madame Red's husband still remained unknown so she had yet to know if it had passed or not, but that fortunately wasn't a major concern for her. "So three years until then…"

The Undertaker's chin dug into her shoulder as he spoke. "Three years til what, love?"

She turned to look at him, wondering how to reply until the door to his shop opened accompanied with the ring of the bell attached at the top, announcing the arrival of a potential customer, only it wasn't.

"Hi hi, Lord Phantomhive~ Why, isn't it a surprise for you to drop in so suddenly! To what do I owe the pleasure?~" The Undertaker hadn't moved an inch but instead placed his sleeved hands on her shoulders and moved his chin to the top of her head.

"Undertaker, good evening. Apologies for the abrupt arrival, but business arose as per usual and I've come seeking information." The Earl, Vincent Phantomhive to be precise, stepped in, removing his hat before taking a look at Undertaker's latest addition. "And who's this young lady?" He looked quite bemused at the display, somewhat similar to a puppy hanging off its owner when, in reality, it was quite the opposite.

She sighed, unable to shrug off Undertaker successfully despite her attempts. "Rachel Rose, Undertaker's newest assistant; at your service, my Lord." She kept a blank face, making it clear she wasn't enjoying the torture. The three of them kind of stood around awkwardly - or at least she was, the other two were amused, as if waiting for something to happen - so deciding to break the silence, she added, "I'll just go and make some tea now."

The Earl raised a hand to stop her. "No need, I just wanted to drop by quickly and invite you two to my manor. I have matters to discuss with the Undertaker, after all. Perhaps now would also be the opportunity to introduce you to the family, as well?"

She realized he was leaving the invitation open to her, and since decorum demanded it would be impolite to refuse, she glanced at Undertaker for confirmation with which he responded with a cryptic grin before accepting. "But of course."

The Earl smiled, delighted before putting on his hat again and opening the door, gesturing to the carriage. "Right this way, then. I'll hail a carriage later on to send you both back."

"Hi hi~ Much obliged, m'lord." The Undertaker's chin dug into her scalp as he giggled. "Come, m'dear, your carriage awaits!~" He started to tug her along like an impatient child.

She twitched before freezing and looking down at her clothes. All she had on were her clothes from her own world; a pair of black jeans, a light coat, a white button-up with a black vest, her fedora and black shoes. "Wait, aren't my clothes a bit improper for women of this era?"

Undertaker glanced quickly at her before shrugging. "Nothing wrong on my part~ M'lord?"

The Earl's head was cocked to the side, thoughtful before brightening. "Ah, let's say a traveler perhaps? That oughta ease some suspicion although you may want to put up your hair. Societal norms and all that." He waved a hand dismissively.

She pulled a face as she swept her mid-length hair into a bun with ease. "That's your concern? You Englishmen are odd for sure. But I can agree on the traveler part since I am from America. Hopefully after today we can get a tailor to come by." She looked pointedly at Undertaker as they walked out of his shop and into the carriage. She and Undertaker sat facing backwards given their status as commoners while the Earl faced forwards. Propriety was a pain in the ass, but what could she do?

Undertaker giggled per usual. "Not a problem at all, m'dear~"

She hummed in content before staring out the window as the men began to converse. Rachel was caught up with enjoying the scenery as the bustling city gave way to rolling green land and forests while the ride progressed. A few minutes later, she was startled at the sudden silence before looking back and noticing both of them were staring at her in amusement. Again. With a careful blank face she looked back at each of them, forcing down her unease. "What?"

The Earl came first. "Enjoying yourself?"

She rose an eyebrow. "…It's nice." She didn't know what to expect from these people which left her wary.

He smiled. "That's good to hear. From what Undertaker tells me, you don't come from here. Where from America do you specifically hail from, my lady?"

She panicked internally as she chanced a glance at the Undertaker before looking back at the Earl. They never took the chance to discuss what not to say nor discuss where she came from, and from the looks of it, she was on her own. The asshole. "Texas, which is the state."

"Ah, and how did you come to work for Undertaker?" He tilted his head with an innocent smile.

"Well, about that, you see-"

"I found her on the streets of London, you see~" the Undertaker interjected, grinning widely. "Quite roughed up and dressed rather unusually for a lady of these times, so I took her in, patched her up, and here she is! Good as new~" He patted her head familiarly. "Then we set up an apprenticeship and my bodyguard, too! Hi hi~"

She swatted his hand away, annoyed. "Is it safe to tell him this much?"

The Undertaker grinned but the Earl answered for him. "Well, you see, Undertaker thought it would be a brilliant plan for you to join our organization known in the underworld as the Evil Noblemen. Surely you're familiar with such given your station as an assassin?"

Then, something interesting happened. Rachel stilled before deadening her expression, silver eyes dulling as she focused her attention on Vincent. Somehow, she looked older, almost foreign to Undertaker despite being the same person sitting in the carriage with them. She wasn't Rachel anymore, that much he could tell.

"Oh?" The small acknowledgement was enough for them to know she was somewhat interested but also a step away from doing something. The atmosphere tensed, but no one gave away any indication that it bothered them.

"If you'd like, we can discuss it more when we arrive. If you accept, then our next meeting would be appropriate for your introduction. Is that alright with you?" The Earl managed to keep his cool, not giving away any fear which was a feat that impressed Rachel. Well, it was to be expected of the Queen's Guard dog after all.

She glanced darkly at Undertaker before looking back at the Earl, replying with a terse nod before looking away. She didn't quite relax but she wasn't quite on guard as before. Her only concern was how much he knew and how much Undertaker told him. Actually, speaking of which…

"How much did you tell him?" Her accusing glare settled on Undertaker as he rose his hands innocently like some man wronged of a crime he didn't commit. His grin said otherwise.

"Why, as much as you told me!~ While you rested, I took it upon myself to inform the Earl. I didn't think he'd come this soon, however~" He grinned at Vincent before looking back at Rachel who was now squinting at him. He pouted. "Oh, come now, dearie~ Surely you're not that mad~"

She twitched before sighing. "Nevermind. Let's hear this proposal of yours when we get there." She turned back to the window, disgruntled at the turn of events. At least it wasn't worse. She fingered the locket hidden in her coat. She'd yet to tell him about the pocket watch, but now, she wasn't so sure.