A/N: My husband, WingedPanther73, has been editing this since Part 2. Sorry I didn't mention that earlier. This chapter is a set up for the coming confrontation.

Finny's Confusion, Part 5:

Snake had to make a quick decision, now that he had stripped Finny bare and had seen something that baffled and shocked him. Snake could modestly clean Finny, get him dressed, and tuck him in bed; all the while, Snake would have to hope the gardener didn't wake up. Or, Snake could back out of the water closet and forget the curiosity laying before him on the cold, black and white checked tile: Finny's nude body.

Finnian's torso had been clearly mutilated for some reason, but it look male. Snake could clearly see it now that Finny was without clothing. But it was what was missing below the hips that told main part of the story of what Finny was hiding. There was nothing male there, only female. He averted his eyes quickly so he didn't take in too many details, but he certainly could tell Finny wasn't a boy. He wished he'd minded his own business now!

He thought about calling for Mey-rin so she could finish taking care of Finny, but he doubted the maid knew Finny was... a... a female... of sorts. Mey-rin always referred to Finny as a "he." Same with Bard. He couldn't bring himself to think of Finny as anything but "he," even after seeing the most intimate anatomy between the legs of the younger teen.

Snake carefully, quickly, cleaned Finny of the bloody, highwaymen gore and dressed him in a shift from the linen closet. He hoped his luck continued, and Finny would remain unconscious. He was about to take Finny to the footman's bedroom, but Snake froze and headed back towards the general servants' quarters. He carefully tucked Finny into his own bed. He made sure there were blankets and pillows, but he left Finny wearing nothing but the shift. He was too afraid of waking Finny to dress him... her... properly. Snake slipped out before Bard came around after the dishes were cleaned.

Snake quietly went to the footman's bedroom and sat on the edge of his own bed. He was grateful he was a footman and had to stay in the tiny room next to Master Ciel in case there were emergency dispatches; he needed some privacy to think right now. He needed time to digest what he now knew about Finny.

Why had Finny lied to him, and most likely, the others? He had never heard the others even hint at Finny being a female. Heck! Snake could always smell the difference between the genders, but his senses had failed him this once. Why?! Oh! It was because Finny must not have menstrual cycles like normal females.

He had been played for a fool by Finny, and Snake had believed the lie he had been told! Yes, now he understood! He did remember a few weeks ago when he thought Finny was hurt, but now he felt so duped. That sent of blood must have been a female's menstrual cycle and not some gardening injury.

He ruled out asking Bardroy, Mey-rin, and, well, it went without saying, Tanaka. It went without question he would never even dare to ask Master Ciel or Lady Elizabeth about Finny, even after that goodwill Snake had built up after that traumatic, cruise ship fiasco. Snake did want to confront Finny and figure out why he was lying. If there was a really good reason, Snake didn't want to ruin Finny's cover.

The only other option of people to ask would be, of course, Sebastian. If anyone knew Finny's secret, it would be the Phantomhive butler. Snake knew the butler had his own agenda, he had made that clear, and would only reveal what he deemed necessary to the other servants. Snake felt some despair creep in.

Snake's mind came back around to wondering why Finny would perpetrate such a giant lie. Was he... or she, rather... being hunted and need to hide? When Finny was away didn't Bard mention something about Finny coming from some laboratory with a lot of scientists? Finny was infinitely more complex than Snake had first thought. Finny wasn't a common, poor street urchin at all.

Still, the fact remained that Finny had lied to him and was living a large lie. Snake calmed his mind when his friends crawled on the bed with him. They were acutely aware of Snake's bewilderment and consternation. After all, this was someone he desired as a mate, and now, he had to really think on that.

It wasn't so much Finny's gender that was bothering Snake, after the initial shock washed away, it was the lie Finny perpetrated that "he" was male. Snake would have accepted Finny as a male or female... or anything! Finny was a gentle, precious soul; he was someone Snake had grown to sincerely care about.

Snake knew his feelings could be the same towards Finny: male or female, but Finny had to have honesty. Snake had had too many lies told to him at Noah's Arc Circus. Those lies, told by Lord Kelvin and Joker, had harmed many children, and that's why he had an aversion to lies now.

He would have to protected Finny's secret closely, until he got to the bottom of this, but obviously the younger boy... girl... didn't trust him. That stung him unlike anything else, because Finny had seemed so open to him from the first day Snake had arrived. Finny had seemed so unguarded and kind, never once turning away from earning Snake's friendship.

Then there was a suspicion tinged with jealousy. Bard and Finny had been sharing a room for two years! How did Bard not know what Finny really was?! Surely the man knew! It made no sense. Snake shook his head in aggravation as his reptile friends started fooshing their tails back and forth, mimicking Snake's frustration. Maybe that's why Bard was chasing him off from Finny? Maybe the chef did know and had plans to be with Finny?!

He let out a huge sigh. He was so disappointed. He'd been lied to too much in his life. He couldn't risk believing any more lies, no matter who the person was. He would ignore Finnian for a while and treat their relationship in a formal, professional way.

At least, until Finny told him the truth about everything. That would be the only way Finny could re-earn his friendship. There was only one problem with all of this.

Snake flopped back on his bed and try to stop that steady drumbeat in his head to mate. He fell into a fitful rest and planned to leave Phantomhive Estate before Finny woke tomorrow morning. Madam Red was planning an earlier visit, so Snake had the excuse of going to fetch her personal effects and escort her. He was grateful to get out of the house.

He just needed time to think without looking into those beautiful, green eyes of Finny's.

It was a strong pull downwards, towards the bottom of the brass cage! I found the pull so hard to resist. One I needed to resist! I struggled against him, the one at the bottom of the cage, but I was falling towards him as he slithered in the murky darkness of the cage's bottom. I noticed something else now. That... creature... below had these dingy feathers around his back. Maybe I couldn't resist him after all if he could fly?

He urged me, saying, "Let go and fall towards me when you're ready."

"I'm not ready!"

"You will be soon. And when you are ready to fall, I'll catch you."

Finny jarred awake and tried to sort out his thoughts. Where was he? The servants' quarters. What time was it? Some time at night. Bard was in his own bed reading an American comic book by candlelight.

Finny then wondered what he was wearing? A plain shift and nothing else, he realized with a sinking feeling in his stomach. That meant someone had stripped him, changed his clothes, and tucked him into bed. That suddenly made his heart race in panic and lead to his next question. Who had changed his clothes and had brought him to bed? Surely, who ever it was, had seen...

Only Sebastian knew the details about all of his body alterations, but the butler was very firm. Finny must hide the knowledge about some of what had been done to him; Finny was to be like every other boy in the world. He wasn't allowed to talk to anyone about some of the changes die Wissenschaftler had made to his body.

Only Bard and Mey-rin, his closest friends, knew about his strength and that was it. Master Ciel, too, but that was different. Finny tried hard to obey Sebastian, but sometimes he wanted someone to confide in. Still it would be so hard to talk about because of all the shame that weighed him down.

"Bard?" Finny hated the tremor in his own voice.

"Oye! Kiddo, you startled me. You were out like a light when I got here. I came up after dinner service and you were already tucked in. You want to eat something?"

"I'm starving, but I have to ask something. You didn't bring me here, did you?" Finny drew the covered around his shoulders tightly, his face flushing.

Bard put aside his comic book and shook his head. "It wasn't me. Not sure about that." Bard then got out of his bed, threw on a robe, and said, "Sebastian said you wandered off the estate today, though. Not good, kiddo. You know you have to stay close."

"I had a reason. Snake was late. I needed to check on him. He was in danger with highwaymen!" Finny's heart thudded painfully in fear. That meant several things. He disobeyed a rule and left the estate without permission. He'd be in real trouble for that.

He may have hurt those highwaymen. Frequently, he did NOT want to remember when he had to fight. He did remember most of the times, though, like when he killed Snake's friend Jumbo, but he hated to remember. To tell the truth, he remembered all too much. Now, flashes of memory over this afternoon came to his head.

Also, this whole thing implied Snake was the one who had brought him here, had cleaned him up, and had changed him in a shift. Finny groaned and started trembling at the idea. His stomach clenched painfully and panic wouldn't stop. He fought the urge to throw-up.

"Bard, I'm not hungry any more," Finny said, knowing he wouldn't keep anything down. Bard paused, shrugged, and got comfortable in his bed again. Finny drew the covers over his head, but peeked out a little into the dim room. "So... you think... it was... Mister Snake?"

"Snake that did what?"

"Brought me here?"

"Stop mumbling, Finny," Bard groused at him, and then he sighed with a nod. "Probably. He's the only one you've been hanging around so much lately. Mey-rin didn't know anything about it, so I guess it was him."

Finny's panic went into overdrive. That would mean Snake would know things! After all, Finny knew he was naked under the shift. He burrowed deeper under the covers in spite of the unusual Spring humidity. Finny just knew Snake now had to be aware of the mutilations done to his body! That they had removed... something... from him... That he wasn't like normal boys any more.

He turned his back to Bard as his heart thudded painfully. Eventually, Finny heard Bard's rhythmic breathing and knew the American chef had fallen asleep. The room grew darker as candles burnt out. Finny's mind still couldn't rest. All he wanted to do at this moment was burst into Snake's room and explain what die Wissenschaftler had done to him when he was a very small child... even though he wasn't clear on it himself. He had never really spoken about it clearly, and he knew if he did that, Snake would feel repulsed by him.

Maybe after breakfast he'd get a chance to explain himself. He just had to be patient, but that wasn't coming. He needed to know if Snake actually had seen his body! What if he had seen the horror below his waist? His body was covered in scars, and he wasn't bothered too much by that, but what had happened between his legs would make him a target for rejection, ridicule, and recrimination.

His shame was great, but he'd have to wait to explain his body to Snake. Finny had to admit he wasn't sure himself of everything that had happened. He had tried to sort it all out, but it was just to painful to think on for any length of time. The only person with answers, Sebastian, was always too kind and persuaded him to not think on that topic at all.

His mind came up with all sorts of explanations about why he was so different, but nothing seemed right. He only fell asleep when he vowed to be more forthright with Snake in the morning. But that was also nerve wracking in itself.

Snake was gone on the errand to fetch Madam Red and Grell Sutcliff earlier than what she had originally planned. Master Ciel loved his maternal aunt, but he never liked surprises. Therefor, the young master was very grouchy. All the servants were keeping busy to avoid his and Sebastian's scrutiny. Finny's worry over what Snake had seen was a huge distraction as he tried to finish the planting in the vegetable garden.

He pushed his sun hat off the top of his head and saw a dust cloud in the distance. His eyesight wasn't nearly as good as Mey-rin's, but he could tell that was a carriage with the visitors expected: Madam Red and... yes, Finny groaned inwardly... Grell Sutcliff. Finny just hoped Grell had stopped with all of his suicide attempts.

Finny's stomach did a flip-flop. That meant Snake was coming back home with them, and Finny would finally have a chance to explain away what the reptilian boy may have seen yesterday evening. He steeled himself and quickly finished his job of planting vegetable starts for the season. He ran upstairs, washed off all the dirt, and got into fresh clothing.

He joined Bard and Mey-rin at a greeting line before the front steps of the mansion. He forced himself to breath when he saw Snake ride beside the carriage on a horse. Not only was he nervous about talking to the older boy, but he was truly glad to see him again. Though, Finny was disturbed by something. There was no eye contact. Snake was not looking at him at all.

Finny would usually giggle at the huge hug Madam Red would give Master Ciel after she got out of her carriage, but his amusement was cut when Snake stormed off towards the stables with his horse. Grell Sutcliff followed, who was driving the carriage.

After Madam Red dragged Master Ciel into the mansion by the collar, Finny bolted off towards the stables, ignoring Bard and Mey-rin's calls. Snake was leaning against the stable beside the doors and looking rather thoughtful.

"Hello, Snake! I wanted to see you!"

"Finny, we have to talk. Away from all this. After dinner. Behind the hothouse, says Oscar."

"But, Snake... Please listen to me. I need to talk to you now! It's important you understand that I..."

Snake firmly put his finger over his own lips to silence Finny as Grell came bounding out of the stables. Snake's posture straightened. Snake nodded to Grell and said, "We should go finish getting your mistress settled."

"Yes! Excellent. So, is Sebastian around? I do need to thank him for all of his hospitality on our last visit," Grell said. Snake motioned towards the mansion without giving Finny another glance.

After Grell left with Snake, the butler chattering with the silent footman the whole time, Finny lowered his head in disappointment. He hated having to wait rather than get this off his chest. He was so utterly miserable.

And that led to so many mistakes helping out with the dinner service. He ended up getting chewed out by Sebastian, and that only made him feel worse.

To be continued.