Hey you gaiz!! (Sorry, Hetalia reference __)
Sorry for taking so long to update this, I've had a lot of other stuff going on and forgot about this, but thanks to everyone who favourited/reviewed/watched this story. I really appreciate it all.
Anyway, I kinda rushed through this and am soo sorry if I let anyone down with it. I'll try harder with the next chapter, promise.
But please enjoy.
Amy.
"Well," Sebastian explained to Ciel as they stood in the entrance hall to the mansion, "It would appear to be a Sherlock Holmes and his companion."
"I've heard of him," Ciel mumbled, "Yes, his companion would be a Doctor Watson. He's a detective, not in Scotland Yard, but I private detective I gather."
Sebastian sighed, "I'm surprised, I thought he was quite intelligent, but he came across as a complete idiot when I spoke to him. His excuse for being all the way out here was unbelievable even his friend seemed stupefied by it."
"So you know of his work, already?" Ciel asked.
"The Blackwood case? Of course. Isn't that the one the Queen called on you to help crack, but you were too late?" Sebastian said calmly, though he looked very smug look twitched on his lips for a brief moment.
"We, Sebastian. We were too late, not just me. I blame you," Ciel replied rather childishly and crossed his arms.
"Yes, well. I assumed a great mind like that would at least be able to come up with a decent excuse," Sebastian said in ignorance.
"Aren't you slightly concerned?" a familiar voice came from behind them.
"But you said…" Ciel said to Sebastian as he turned to see the source of the voice.
Lau was standing, eyes shut, facing Ciel and Sebastian with a grin and Ranmao behind him.
"I thought he was," Sebastian answered Ciel's unfinished question.
"Did you think I was away on business?" Lau asked smugly, "I'd much rather stay here and visit my dear friend, the Earl," he leaned down to Ciel.
"When did you get here?" Ciel asked, still not quite recovered from the shock of Lau's sudden arrival.
"A few days ago," Lau stated like it was a normal thing, "I was going to see how long it took before you noticed me, but got fed up and thought you could use some information on a Mister Holmes."
"Sebastian, how did you not notice him?" Ciel asked Sebastian.
"Nevermind," Lau interrupted before repeating, "Aren't you concerned?"
"About what?" Ciel questioned.
"That the greatest mind in all of London is visiting your mansion? I'm sure you have some secrets that you won't want to escape," Lau eyed Sebastian suspiciously.
"But apparently he's an idiot," Ciel answered.
"He's much more intelligent than you both are giving him credit for," Lau smirked, "He may be playing you like a deck of cards."
The door knocked and everyone turned to face it.
"Oh well, I'll be leaving," Lau grinned.
"Please do," Ciel growled.
"We'll be in the drawing room, if you need us," Lau smiled.
Ciel sighed in annoyance as Lau and Ranmao disappeared into the labyrinth that was the mansion.
"Sebastian," Ciel ordered, motioning at the door.
Sebastian walked over to the door and opened it.
Sherlock stood with a grin from ear to ear and Watson stood just behind him to his right looking slightly annoyed to have been dragged out there.
"We've been expecting you gentlemen," Sebastian stated with a smile, "Come in."
"Take this, butler," Sherlock said, happily removing his jacket and handing it to Sebastian who grudgingly took the jacket, but with a smile.
"We're sorry to impose, Earl Phantomhive--" Watson began.
"But we got horribly lost in the countryside and were wondering if you could offer us a place to stay the night," Sherlock butted in, "I'm Sherlock Holmes and this is my assistant, Doctor Watson."
"Yes, I know who you are," Ciel responded, "But I'm afraid I cannot offer you a place to stay."
Sebastian leaned over to whisper to Ciel, "Wouldn't it look worse for you if you turn them away?"
"I suppose it's just one night. If he's as stupid as you say he is, it won't be hard to keep everything hidden from them," Ciel muttered in agreement before saying to Sherlock and Watson, "It appears I can offer you a place to stay, but only for one night."
"That is quite alright, Earl. We are grateful for any hospitality," Watson said politely.
With that Pluto, in human form and naked, ran through the hall and up the stairs and along into one of the corridors. He was followed momentarily by Finnian, Bard and Meirin.
"Come back Puru Puru!!" Finnian yelled as he darted up the stairs.
"Pluto~!" Meirin shouted as she ran alongside Finnian.
"Stop, you damn dog!" Bard cursed, running with the others.
Ciel and Sebastian stood silent in a brief moment of shock at the event that had just occurred.
"My, what a strange household, Earl," Sherlock said cheerfully.
"Did he say 'dog'?" Watson asked curiously with a look of shock.
"You must be imagining things, gentlemen," Sebastian smiled in an attempt to look reassuring.
"So we're going for the denial?" Ciel whispered to Sebastian.
"Of course, how else are we to explain what just happened?"
Watson still stood with a face of disbelief.
Meanwhile Sherlock's attention had waned and he was now wondering around the main hall with a keen curiosity.
"It's a splendid mansion, Earl," he said as meandered around the room pausing every so often and gazing at different features of the hall, "A replica of the original Phantomhive mansion I gather. It's quite extraordinary. Only two years old, is it? Or is it three? Exceptional attention to detail."
"Thank you, Mr Holmes," Ciel stated emotionless, "I had it rebuilt after the fire, though I assume you know about that too."
"Yes, of course," Sherlock smiled before looking to Sebastian with a smug grin, "I'm not some kind of idiot, after all."
Sebastian sighed, "Shall I show the gentlemen to their rooms, Young master?"
"Yes, Sebastian," Ciel answered, "I'll be in the dining room, waiting for dinner."
"Mmm, dinner. I haven't anything to eat all day, did I mention that? What's on the menu?" Sherlock asked with a cheeky grin.
"Holmes," Watson scolded, "Once again, I'm so sorry for his behaviour."
"Yes well, so I am, but I'm still hungry," Sherlock said, but his tone was less apologetic.
"Sebastian, show them to their rooms, then cook a dinner big enough for me and my guests," Ciel said grudgingly.
"Of course, Young master," Sebastian bowed to Ciel and then turned to Sherlock and Watson, "Gentlemen, you're rooms are this way."
Sebastian led them through a labyrinth of corridors until they reached a corridor that led to a dead end with a window.
"There are two guest rooms down there, Gentlemen. Please make yourself at home. Dinner will be served at eight thirty exactly, the Earl likes have dinner on time so please don't be late," Sebastian told them with a smile whilst pointing down the corridor and then vanished off into the corridors leaving Sherlock and Watson alone in the dimly lit corridor.
"The game is afoot," Sherlock grinned.
"I feel terrible for imposing on them. You should at least act guilty," Watson rolled his eyes.
"Let's go look around," Sherlock said, ignoring Watson.
"No, let's just settle in the rooms, have dinner and then leave in the morning. You have been very inconsiderate," Watson scolded, "The Earl is only a child after all."
"Yes, you'd think, but I think he knows more of the world than the average child of his age," Sherlock answered, his curiosity leading him away from that corridor and Watson left with no choice, but to follow him, "Or of many adults, honestly."
"You realise I have no idea what you are talking about," Watson said as he struggled to keep up with Sherlock's fast pace as they headed in seemingly random directions around the mansion.
"Watson, that is why I'm a detective and you are merely a doctor," Sherlock tutted.
Watson rolled his eyes again, "Stop being childish."
"Yes, childish. A quality the Earl, a mere 12 year old, lacks. There is something behind this all. The burning of the old mansion, him showing up with a new butler and hiring new staff, his lack of childlike qualities with the exception of a supposed love of sweets and deserts. It's a mystery, Watson, and I intend to unravel it," Sherlock told him, Watson sighed at this, before Sherlock continued, "And that eye patch, as far as I recall from my research he sustained no injuries from the fire so what's with the eye patch?"
A grin spread across his face again. The worrying grin.
As soon as Watson noticed it he cautiously asked, "What are you planning?"
"The eye patch," he grinned, "I think it'll provide an insight," he emphasized.
"Ha, very funny," Watson said sarcastically, "But in all seriousness, you can't just take his eye patch off," Watson read him like a book, "It's unnecessary and no matter whether he lacks a childish quality he is still a child. And how do you know there isn't something wrong with his eye?"
"Well, that is why you are my sidekick and I do the thinking," Sherlock grinned smugly.
"What thinking? Have you thought any of this through?" Watson asked, almost frantically.
Sherlock continued to grin, "Moderately. Now do as I say. The investigation begins…"