*Black Weapons*

Here is chapter 4 as promised :3 I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this!

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"I'm tired of this. It's like, just when I think our goal is within reach; it slips right through our fingers. It's happened time and time again. Now, when we finally have it in our grasp, the truth slaps us in the face."

~Fullmetal Alchemist

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Song: Níl Sé' N Lá by Celtic Woman

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Chapter Four: Enter The Ball, Where's Maka and Ciel?

The next morning dawned quicker than anyone wanted. Ciel stared at his ceiling for a long while, after Sebastian had come back last night he'd been in a foul mood. There was no doubt in his mind that it was over his guests, but for the life of him he couldn't figure out why. Finally, he sat up, sunlight was streaming through his windows yet Sebastian hadn't come to him yet.

"Sebastian," he called out, fully expecting his butler to come running. Sure enough, several moments later Sebastian stuck his head in the door.

"Yes master?" He asked. Ciel jerked his head for Sebastian to enter his room.

"Have you figured out a plan for tonight?" Ciel asked moving to the edge of the bed. Sebastian moved to Ciel's closet to get his clothes ready for the day.

"I have them almost set into concrete master," Sebastian said turning around to face him. "I just have one more detail to work out with one of Princess Anya's girls." Ciel narrowed his eyes.

"I don't want to drag someone innocent into this Sebastian," he said lowly. Sebastian smirked slightly as he dressed Ciel and didn't speak until he was tying his shoes.

"If everything goes exactly as I have planned, no harm will come to Miss Albarn," Sebastian said standing up. Ciel made a soft noise of frustration but knew there was no sense in trying to talk his butler out of it if he had his mind set.

"Make sure then that everything goes as planned," he said forcefully as he too stood up. "And make sure that the Princess knows you're using one of her girls." He exited the room with Sebastian at his heels. He intended to head down into his study for tea and breakfast and hopefully, some peace and quiet before any of his guests got up, or his aunt showed up. Unfortunately for him, Kid and Anya were already down there with Lau and RanMao, their servants were nowhere to be seen.

"Good Morning Ciel," Anya said looking up briefly before returning to the book in her hands.

"Good morning" Ciel replied walking over to his desk. "No followers today?" He questioned. Usually Tsubaki was never too far behind her.

"Tsubaki and Maka are upstairs planning what I will wear tonight," Anya said. "Soul and Akane went out."

"Out?" Ciel raised an eyebrow.

"It was brought to my attention that Maka nor Tsubaki had something to wear for tonight, and I was not going to let them go looking shabby," Anya said looking up at him, her blue eyes schooled into a condescending look. "My servants do have to uphold some standard you know."

"My apologies," Ciel said quickly, wishing he had never asked. He looked away from the girl, but not before catching the amused look in Kid's eyes. Somehow, that made it even worse.

"Do excuse me master," Sebastian said. "I'll go get breakfast ready and go have that conversation I mentioned." The demon butler slipped out of the room quietly, leaving the group of people alone. He decided to go have a word with Maka before he made breakfast, as it would be the quicker of the two conversations. Approaching the girls' room, he paused a moment before knocking. "Maka, Tsubaki, may I come in for a moment?" He asked his best silky voice. There were some shuffling noises before Maka's green eyes appeared in the crack of the door, she looked slightly apprehensive.

"Does Princess Anya need us?" She asked opening the door a little wider.

"No," Sebastian said stepping inside. He skirted around Maka and noted the look that Tsubaki gave him, so Maka had told her about last night. "My master gave me orders to come up with a plan to try and find out if the Viscount Druitt is the Jack the Ripper killer." Both girls started and blinked a few times.

"Why would Ciel do that?" Maka asked. Sebastian narrowed his eyes, again another slip up on their part.

"He is the Queen's guard dog, he is tasked with having to keep London's underground in control," the demon said proudly. "The Queen sent him orders to apprehend the killer before he or she continued on their killing spree." Maka frowned slightly.

"So, why are you here?" The sandy haired meister asked. "Something to do with these plans of yours I suppose?"

"Very intuitive aren't you," Sebastian drawled. He sighed and shook his head. "Alas, I need your help, I would like to use you for bait."

"For bait?" Maka and Tsubaki said, their eyes wide.

"Are you insane?" Maka snapped. She glared at Sebastian, she knew that the Viscount Druitt wasn't Jack the Ripper, but Sebastian had no clue, and here he wanted to use someone as bait.

"I can insure that no harm will come to you, and I will be using the young master as bait, if you will, as well," Sebastian said, his wine colored eyes imploring this girl to go along with it. Maka looked at Tsubaki who shook her head.

"I'll do it," Maka said looking away from her friend. Tsubaki made a frustrated noise and turned away. Sebastian smiled and bowed slightly.

"Thank you Maka," he said straightening up. "I will gather you and the young master later to explain your part in everything." He bowed again once more before exiting the room just as Akane and Soul were walking in with garment bags over their arms.

"What was that about?" Soul asked glaring at the butler's retreating back. He kicked the door shut with his foot.

"Maka just volunteered to be bait!" Tsubaki said whirling around. "Kid is going to strangle you!" Maka smiled sheepishly when Soul turned to glare at her, while Akane tapped his chin with a thoughtful look.

"Why would you do that?" Soul asked looking at his meister like she'd lost her mind. "We just fought that psycho yesterday and barely made it back!" Maka rolled her eyes.

"Ciel and Sebastian believe that the Viscount Druitt could possibly be Jack the Ripper," she said slowly. "Which we all know isn't true. So what's the harm?" The others in the room paused. "And while that's going on, you guys can keep an eye on Grell without drawing attention from Sebastian or Ciel." Akane smiled and nodded, she certainly had thought it out.

"It's a good plan," Akane said. "But, if Grell makes his move tonight, Kid would be without a weapon you know." Maka frowned.

"Why would he make a move with all the people that will be there?" She asked.

"Who knows," Tsubaki said. She still wore a frown. Kid was still upset about yesterday's incident… He would be livid when he found out about this. She finally looked away from her friend and at the garment bags the boys had. "Let me see those," she said. "And get out!" She took the garment bags from them and practically shoved the two boys out the door.

"Hey!" Soul yelled banging on the closed door for a moment. It opened just wide enough for a book to be tossed out at the white-haired weapon. He rubbed his forehead and scowled when he heard giggles erupt from the room. "Whatever," he muttered turning away, he turned to see Kid and Anya coming up the stairs, from the look on Kid's face, Sebastian must have already told them of his plan. And boy did it look like Kid didn't agree with it.

"Are they decent?" Kid asked nodding at the girl's door.

"No, they kicked us out so they could get ready," Akane said. "How did you take Sebastian's plan for Maka and Ciel?"

"I don't like it, if we get separated, Grell could make his move and I'd be stuck without a weapon," Kid said. He sighed. "In the end it really is Maka's choice and Sebastian said she agreed." Anya slipped past the boys and into the girl's room. Kid sighed again. "Come on, we might as well go get ready," he said this as footsteps were heard on the stairs and Ciel and Sebastian came into view. Kid looked away from them and walked to his room without another word.

"Ah hell," Soul muttered. Tonight was bound to be full of arguing, and he could see no easy way of getting out of it.

*S*

A little more than three hours later, Kid, Akane, and Soul were waiting for everyone else in the main hall. Sebastian appeared not too long after they'd started waiting. A clear look of amusement on his face. The object of said amusement made itself known shortly after.

"I would like to say I hate you," Ciel said as he came into view. "This was not what I had in mind!" Soul took one look at the young Phantomhive and burst out laughing. Ciel had been stuffed into a dress and a wig, succeeding in looking very much like a girl. "Oh shut up!" Ciel barked at the albino boy.

"What is going on?" Tsubaki stuck her head around the corner and looked down the stairs, her hair fell around her in curls, down from its usual neat ponytail. She emerged from the corner wearing a form fitting black evening gown. The dress definitely made her look older than she was, which Anya had planned for. 'Keep an eye on Sebastian tonight,' the princess had told her. There was a slit up the side of the gown, allowing for more movement, should Tsubaki need to fight. And over her hands were a pair of elbow length black gloves.

"Oh nothing," Akane said quickly.

"Just our young lady putting up a protest," Kid said, trying and failing to keep the amusement off his face. Tsubaki looked confused before catching sight of Ciel.

"Yes, yes," Ciel snapped. His already short temper growing even shorter. "Let's all make fun of me. So glad I can amuse you." He glared at them all through his one uncovered eye. The other hidden by the bangs of the wig.

"Ciel it honestly isn't that bad," Anya said appearing from around the corner. She was dressed in a light blue ball gown. The top was form fitted and it flared out at the bottom. Delicate lacey sleeves adorned it. The whole dress had tiny crystals over it, just enough so that the dress shimmered when she moved. Her hair was pulled back from her face and left straight, and her crown twinkled in her hair. She also wore a pair of white gloves over her hands. She stopped and turned around. "Maka come on." She tugged at the other girl.

"I don't want to," came the muffled reply. "Soul will laugh at me."

"I will personally beat him if that happens," Tsubaki said turning to glare at Maka's weapon. Soul rolled his eyes.

"Come on Maka, it can't be any worse than the young lady down here," he called up the stairs, unable to resist another jab at Ciel's predicament. There was a moment of silence.

"Fine," Maka muttered coming around the corner. The blonde meister smoothed down the heavy skirts of her dress as she looked up to see everyone's faces. She was dressed in a corset-top ball gown. The color was a deep forest green that went perfectly with her hair and eyes. The skirt was silk with a layer of black tulle over it that was gathered and held with green silk roses, it flared out and was floor length. The top itself had silver and black beading and embroidery. In one hand she held a pair of elbow length black gloves, unable to put them on with her wrist in the wrap. Her hair, usually in pigtails was completely down and the bottom was curled.

"Wow," Akane said smiling, she certainly looked more like a princess than Anya did. Kid and Soul were still staring at her as a blush spread over the girl's face. Sebastian chuckled slightly but kept his own gaze on the two boys who seemed to be in a trance before turning his look onto his own master, whose eyes seemed to be stuck on Maka as well. 'Great,' he thought, narrowing his eyes slightly. 'Just what I need. A horde of hormonal teenage boys to look after.'

"Is it really not bad?" Maka asked as she descended the stairs carefully. Anya and Tsubaki had forced her into a pair of green heels that matched the dress.

"Of course not," Kid breathed, finally coming around. He suddenly smirked. The color of her dress was the color she'd described her scythe form having. He wondered if she'd told Anya and Anya had done it on purpose.

"You actually look like a girl," Soul said. Maka turned her look onto her weapon and narrowed her eyes dangerously.

"What was that Soul?" She growled.

"Nothing! I didn't say anything… um you look good, really nice," The albino was backtracking at the look he had received. He didn't particularly feel like dying tonight.

"That's what I thought you'd said," Maka said smiling brightly. She walked over to Ciel, who was following her every move with his eyes. "You look nice Ciel, though I have to say I'm disappointed. I was looking forward to see you all dressed up, as a man." She sent a teasing look over her shoulder at Soul and Kid, who both glowered and pouted.

"You look like a true lady Miss Maka," Sebastian said as the door opened. Madame Red entered with Grell right behind her.

"My, don't you all look wonderful!" She cried as her gaze swept over them. Lau and Ran Mao materialized out of nowhere and they were ready to go. Madame Red stopped Maka and held out a stiff brace for her wrist. "I'd be careful if I were you," she whispered in the girls' ear as they fell back.

"Was that a threat Madame Red?" Maka asked, steeling her gaze and she let the woman help her settle the brace. She winced when the red-haired woman pulled it a little too tight.

"More of a warning," the woman said not backing down from Maka's gaze.

"Madame Red, Miss Maka, come on," Sebastian called from where he held a car door open for the women. The two broke their stares and Maka held her skirts off the ground as she walked towards the car. She would show Madame Red that she wasn't afraid of her or Grell.

*S*

Viscount Druitt's Residence, The Ball

Thirty minutes into the ball, and it had turned into a pseudo game of hide-and-seek. Ciel was trying to stay away from Lizzy, lest the girl blow his cover. He was saved from having to run when Sebastian swept him up into a dance. His butler circled them around to where Soul and Maka were awkwardly dancing. From the constant wincing and whispered apologies, Ciel guessed that Maka couldn't dance very well. Kid was nearby dancing with Anya, but his attention kept turning to Maka as well. Though something kept nudging the edge of his senses, he turned to find Akane motioning for him discretely. Kid left Anya almost immediately, and wove his way between dancing couples.

"Grell has gone missing," Akane said once Kid was within earshot.

"What? How? He was just here," Kid said.

"As soon as your attention strayed he left," Akane said. "I almost didn't notice until I did another sweep."

"Damn," Kid growled. He looked around for Maka, he couldn't see her with his eyes, so he searched with his Soul Perception, she was with Ciel it would seem, and one other soul. That must be the Viscount Druitt's. He growled, he couldn't pull her away now. "Find Tsubaki and Soul." He muttered. Of all the times for Maka to disappear.

*S*

Maka frowned as she and Ciel followed the Viscount Druitt through his home. She had a really bad feeling, and she was starting to wish she'd stayed up with the others. Viscount Druitt finally opened up a door that revealed stairs and Maka thanked Lord Death that she was used to stairs. Though the heels on her feet she could do without. Maka stayed as close to Ciel as she could. Confidence was rolling off the boy's soul in waves, Maka smiled slightly, at least he didn't scare easily. Finally the Viscount stopped beside a door. He smiled as he opened it and ushered the two of them inside. It took Maka second to figure something was wrong, but even as she turned to yell, she felt her legs go out and her vision blur. Only through quick thinking did she manage to send a pulse through her soul, hoping Kid or Akane would feel it.

When she finally felt herself coming to, the first thing she noticed was the quiet murmur of voices. She then became aware of the ropes binding her wrists, her brace was also missing and her wrist throbbed with a dull ache. It was dark and she couldn't see anything, so she activated her Soul Perception. She jerked back when the room in front of her flared up with bright blue human souls, beside her somewhere was Ciel and beyond him was the Viscount Druitt. 'What's going on?' She thought to herself.

"And now what you've all been waiting for," Viscount Druitt's voice rang out. "Tonight's crown jewels." Maka felt something be draw away from her, however her eyes were still covered. "I'm sure they'd make a sweet decoration, or nice pets. You may keep them whole, or separate parts if you want. Buy them together or separate. The one in pink's eye are two different colors, but to the discerning collector that would add to her unique attraction." Maka heard Ciel growl lowly, something she herself felt like doing. She made a mental note to ask Professor Stein if they could have a class on escaping bonds as she fidgeted with the ropes restraining her arms. "The bidding shall begin momentarily. We'll start at a thousand guineas each." Maka felt someone untie her blindfold, and she looked over t see Ciel's being removed as well. The young earl looked livid. She gasped when he looked her way.

"Ciel…" She muttered, seeing that his eyes were indeed two different colors. She ignored the people now yelling out figures, each trying to win them. His left eye, his normal eye was a blue that rivaled Tsbuaki's own, but his right eye, was distinctly purple, and had a marking in it that Maka couldn't quite make out. Ciel turned away from her, looking bored.

"Sebastian," he said calmly. "Come get us now." Maka looked at him in astonishment, as his eye seemed to glow, no way could Sebastian find his way to them. Maka herself was reaching out with her soul, trying to find Soul, Akane, or Kid. Suddenly all the light went out in the room, leaving Maka to rely on her Soul Perception. She gasped when she recognized Sebastian's soul enter the room, and it was soon followed by grunts of pain before the lights came back on.

"Honestly sir," Sebastian's voice brought both teens looking to find the butler. "Are good for nothing but getting captured? How sad." The butler looked very disappointed and Maka frowned.

"How did you find us?" She asked, her voice ringing through the now quiet room.

"As long as the contract remains in place you'll follow me everywhere, whether I ask you to or not," Ciel said, both men ignoring Maka.

"This kind of contract is sealed by a demon placing a mark on his prey," Sebastian said as he approached the stage that Maka and Ciel were on. Maka stared at him with wide eyes. A demon… But… They hadn't heard of any demon other than the Kishin… And they all knew what happened to him. Sebastian looked sideway at Maka, gauging how she took this information in. "The more noticeably placed the mark, the stronger the bond is. The demon serves…"

"And in return the prey can never escape," Ciel said. Maka felt a small shiver run down her back, she felt as if this is something she shouldn't hear, like it was something that could end with her own death. By now Sebastian had reached the cage holding Ciel, he grabbed hold of them and bent the bars back easily.

"Yes, I will be with you everywhere," Sebastian said bending down in front of Ciel. He could hear Maka's heartbeat accelerate, and wondered what was going through the poor girl's head. She would live through this of course, not that her soul wasn't almost as sweet smelling as his own master's. "Until the end, I shall be at your side no matter what. Even should I perish in the world, I shall still be there, in the depths of Hell my Lord." He pulled Ciel out of the cage carefully. "This is how I differ from Humans. I do not lie." The ropes around Ciel's wrists fell away when Sebastian pointed at them and he made sure that his master could stand before he went to free Maka.

"Good, you'll never lie to me no matter what, understand," Ciel said, watching his butler as he bent back the bars of Maka's cage. The blonde girl jerked away from Sebastian, but calmed only slightly when the demon got rid of the ropes around her as well.

"Yes my young lord," Sebastian said helping Maka out of the cage. The meister moved a bit away from them, where she could keep an eye on both of them.

"I don't understand what exactly is going on here," she said quietly. "But taking a humans soul is unforgivable, freely given or not."

"What would you know about souls?" Ciel asked her, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"More than you I'm willing to bet," Maka shot back at him. "I know your soul has been askew since we got here, and now I know why."

"Oh good," Sebastian drawled. "You can see his soul, do tell, does it look as delicious as it smells?" He wore a large smirk, to which Maka gave him a glare.

"I have permission to kill any who take human souls," Maka warned. She liked Ciel, but if it came down to it, she was sure she could get Kid to help her take them down. They took down Asura, taking down Sebastian should be relatively easy.

"Hmmm," Sebastian muttered. "You must be a Reaper of some sort," he rubbed his chin. "Or an angel?"

"Neither," Maka said. Ciel wandered over to the unconscious Druitt.

"I guess this solves the Jack the Ripper case," he said looking down at him. Maka nearly snorted. "That was easier than I expected." Sebastian smiled and gave a short laugh.

"I imagine Scotland Yard will be here before too much longer," he said. "We should take our leave." He stooped and picked up Ciel easily before turning quickly and grabbing Maka as well.

"Hey put me down!" Maka yelped, panicking slightly.

"Oh, and in case it wasn't obvious," Sebastian said. "Not a word about this is to get to any of your friends, understood?" A threat laced his tone and Maka nodded, not wanting to fight about it tonight. Sebastian leaped out of the window without another word. He deposited Maka in the front hall, where guests were just starting to leave for the night, before he and Ciel disappeared.

"Maka!" Maka turned to see her friends swarming towards her, their faces lined with worry.

"Maka where were you?" Kid asked when they reached her. He turned her around several times, making sure she wasn't hurt.

"The Viscount Druitt had Ciel and I tied up," she said quietly, so no one could hear.

"What?" Soul exclaimed. "But we know he isn't Jack the Ripper…"

"I know this," Maka said, fairly tired with this night, on top of the fact that they had removed her brace and it wasn't anywhere to be found. "He was trying to sell us, human trafficking." Her friend's face twisted up in disgust.

"How did you get away?" Tsubaki asked looking around in worry.

"Authorities showed up and busted it, and Ciel and I were let go, Sebastian was waiting in the hall when we got here, he went ahead and took Ciel home," Maka said. She rubbed her eyes carefully. "I would also like to go home, it's late and it's been a horrible night." She sounded tired, and when Kid looked at her, he knew it was genuine.

"Alright," Kid said softly. "Let's go." Instead of trying to find a car, they walked. It would be good for them, and it wasn't too far a walk to begin with. Maka drug herself up the stairs when they reached Ciel's London Home. She vaguely heard Kid say something to Soul and the others. She looked around when she reached the top of the stairs before darting into hers and Tsubaki's bedroom. Her friend entered not too long after she did and the girls got ready in silence.

"It should go without saying that not a word of what happened reaches my father," Maka said as she flopped facedown on the bed.

"Of course not Maka," Tsubaki said as she laid down beside her.

*S*

The next morning they woke to find Ciel in a terrible mood. Maka spied a newspaper sitting on his desk with the headline: "Jack the Ripper Strikes Again". She figured he would be greatly put out by the revelation, she shook her head. From the corner of her eye she caught Sebastian with his head bent down close to Kid. Maka frowned. She wondered what they were talking about, but was called immediately to Anya's side. Akane was floating around by her, always staying in-between her and Grell.

"Grell disappeared around the same time you had," Akane whispered in her ear as she leaned down to see what Anya had to say.

"Kid is worried that he's going to make his move soon," Anya said, Maka peeked over her shoulder at Madame Red and her butler. Grell caught her eye and winked again.

"I'm really starting to hate this guy," Maka muttered as she straightened up.

"Come Sebastian," Ciel said suddenly. "I wish to speak to you in private." Sebastian and Ciel exited the room, the demon throwing a last look over his shoulder at Kid, and then Maka.

"I should be getting home," Madame Red said. "I have work tonight." She bowed slightly to Anya and nodded at Lau and Kid. "Come along Grell." Grell tripped after his mistress, unable to resist another wink and a slight wave at Maka. The blonde meister gritted her teeth and glared after him.

"I think I second that," Akane said quietly in her ear. "I'm starting to hate him as well."

"I think we all are," Anya said standing up. "By the way Maka," she said. "Kid informed his father about your unfortunate incident last night." Maka groaned and only imagined the talk she was going to get from her father when she got home.

"Wonderful," she said from between her teeth. Lau and Ranmao vacated the room soon after, leaving the DWMA students alone.

"I'm starting to wish we had the others with us," Kid said. "It's going to be harder to catch Grell in the act than we thought." He cast his golden gaze over the worried faces of his friends.

"We can do this," Maka said. "We handled the Kishin," she pointed out.

"Technically you handled the Kishin," Tsubaki said.

"I was sat out for all of those fights," Anya piped up.

"Protecting her," Akane said pointing at her.

"Passed out," Kid and Soul said together.

"Thanks for the optimism guys," Maka grumbled. Kid smiled slightly and walked over to her. He put his arms around her gently.

"I have faith in our skills as meisters and weapons," he said. "But last night was a wakeup call, we cannot afford to get separated. Is that understood?" He said looking around at them. They all nodded. "Good." They were ready.

*S*

Annnnnd MEGACON UPDATE! So hope you guys enjoy this. Next chapter will essentially be Episode 5, and will take a twist after that. I think I will take it all the way through the first season of Black Butler. Not quite sure yet.

As I said this is my MegaCon update. MegaCon is a huge anime convention in Orlando, FL. And this will be my first really big con and I'm super looking forward to it. If you happen to be there, drop me a PM telling me if you're cosplaying or not and I'll try and find you for pictures!

Also, Vic Mignogna, Colleen Clinckenbeard, Todd Haberkorn and Trina Nishimura will be there!

~Shimmerz~