Chapter 5

"Ahh, hello Earl~! Ooh, and you have a couple of new friends, too! Isn't that nice, Ran-Mao?"

"Nice."

The group stood in front of a large wooden desk, on the other side of which sat the head of the Chinese trading company's English branch, Lau. He wore a blue kimono, which clashed slightly with the red one worn by his sister, Ran-Mao, who was in her usual perch; Lau's lap. A light pink tinted Ciel's cheeks as he saw them; he could never quite get used to seeing her sitting so provocatively, especially on her brother's lap.

"So, who are you?" Lau asked, looking up at the Doctor curiously.

"I'm the Doctor." the man answered with a polite nod.

"Doctor who? I know a lot of doctors."

"Just the Doctor."

Lau nodded slowly, then turned his attention to Ankara.

"And who are you, pretty one? My, even all dirty like that you're still a rare beauty~!" Lau purred at her, sending a shiver of discomfort up her spine.

"My name's Ankara." she said softly, not at all used to being addressed this way, especially by a human male.

"Well, a lovely name. Is she a present for me, Earl? You missed my birthday, you know~!" the Chinese man chuckled as Ran-Mao nodded in agreement.

"Decidedly not. She's helping us with a little investigation. One we wish for your assistance with as well, Mr. Lau." Sebastian growled, barely keeping his voice under control.

Ciel looked up at his butler with mild surprise. He had never seen him so irritated;well, at least never when the situation involved someone other than himself. Perhaps it was instinct for demons to protect other, younger ones of their own kind; especially ones of the opposite sex. Ciel smiled softly. If that butler was being overprotective of this girl he hardly knew, perhaps another part to this game should be to see how protective he acted as the game progressed.

Lau's response to the butler snapped Ciel back into reality.

"Oh, is that so? An investigation? Did the Queen put her loyal guard dog up to it?" Lau asked, leering gleefully down at the young earl.

"No. I'm looking into this out of my own personal curiosity, as well as a few other factors." Ciel responded, giving the trader a regal look.

"Ooh, how interesting~! Well, what does my young earl require from me, hmm?" Lau asked, grinning.

"We're trying to find someone, and think they may have purchased or traded something through the underground." Ciel said in a purely business tone.

"Hmm, alright." Lau frowned a bit and reached into one of the desk drawers, pulling out a massive record book.

He flipped the book open, showing lines of names and trade numbers, as well as different colored boxes next to each list.

"Alright, Doctor. Tell him what we're looking for." Ciel instructed.

"Right. Okay, we're looking for a screen, something really high-tech. Probably would have come in a few weeks ago at the least. Would have to have arrived in a big box, shipped from somewhere to here, and ordered by a man named Remiel, or something similar." the Doctor explained quickly.

"Hmm...Remiel, Remiel...I seem to remember that name...let me see...ah! Here we are~! Remiel! Yes, a very large box came in for someone by that name a week and a half ago. It was addressed to that abandoned warehouse near Big Ben, but he specifically asked us to deliver it to the cemetery. Odd place." Lau said, pointing out the line to Sebastian.

"Hmm...he wanted it delivered to the cemetery, eh? Well then, we need to talk to the local mortician next! Someone that really knows what's going on out there." the Doctor said softly.

Sebastian gave a cat-like smile and looked at Ciel.

"Looks like we need to go see the Undertaker, young master." he teased in amusement.

"Indeed. Then we shall see him tomorrow. It's getting late, and I want to pick something up for Lizzie before this game makes me forget. Her temper-tantrums are no game, and they aren't fun." the young earl sighed and led the group out of the shop.

"So, a quick question about the cemetery. There aren't any weeping angel statues there, are there?" the Doctor asked nervously.

"None that I recall, unless I'm forgetting any." Ciel answered, giving the Time Lord an odd look.

"Oh, you would recall these if they were there. They're notoriously hard to forget." the Doctor replied with a relieved look.

Ciel sighed and rubbed his temples, still very confused about the whole situation.

"Sebastian, when we get home prepare some tea for the Doctor and I. I wish to talk to him in the study. As for Ankara..." Ciel looked from her and Sebastian with a curious, amused look.

"Why don't you two get to know one another better while we talk? For now, let's go find a gift for Lizzie."

"Who is she?" the Doctor asked.

"She's my fiance."

"Oh, fantastic! Get her a banana! Banana's are great! It's always important to keep a banana with you." the Doctor said matter-of-factually.

"Why?"

"Great source of Potassium!"

Ciel sighed and rolled his eyes. He had a feeling this was going to be the most tiring game he had ever played.