Disclaimer: Kuroshitsuji belongs to Toboso Yana so Sebastian, Grell and Ciel do to...and we all want them so LETS RIOT FOR OWNERSHIP! -–high-fives whoever agrees–
The winter was only a month away, but being farther up north in England, the nights were darker and much colder for the young earl here. After Ciel and his butler had departed from the Undertaker's temporary home –or morgue–, the two headed to Ciel's noble friend and stayed in his home one last night. Tomorrow was the day a noble child was going to be killed, according to the previous murders. And if Ciel's soul was the murderer's true intention, the butler would need to stay in high alert.
As the final morning in the northern city came, Sebastian prepared their leave. He would not let the opposing demons take his pampered soul...he was one hell of a butler after all and no one was going to steal his food.
Ciel spent most of the day walking in the city with his butler close behind. A couple of times the earl turned to observe Sebastian; he seemed like the usual perfect butler, the butler before Grell had made an appearance in his mansion six weeks ago...but somehow still different. Ciel decided to ignore this about the demon butler; whatever Sebastian was currently thinking about better not interrupt the given mission. Then the cold, dark night began to settle in the city. The two dark figures moved to a secluded alley away from human eyes, somewhere the demons could not resist to strike; the alley –which was closed off on all sides by large stone buildings except the road leading there, a dead-end to wanderers– reminded the young boy about the Jack the Ripper case that happened not too long ago, irony considering his current position. They stopped and waited, time ticking by slowly, painfully slow.
It was now around two in the morning, affirmed the silver pocket watch in the butler's hands, and Ciel was getting drowsy. As the two were waiting to meet the demon murderers, Sebastian heard a familiar click of heels against stone behind himself. Ciel also noticed this despite sluggish senses and they both turned, expecting to finally see the perpetrators' faces.
Instead, a loud flash of red appeared before them, holding onto a two-story window's curtain (he must be really light to not rip it), red stiletto heels tapping the wall, from the building to their right.
"Sebas-chan! I didn't expect to meet you here~." His green eyes flashed with joy. He hoped down from the apartment's window and landed perfectly on his heels –the feet's heels not the shoes'–, hair floating around his face, the longer tresses falling around his feminine shoulders and slim waist. Grell walked towards the two, moving his hips slightly in rhythm with his strut making the red coat of the former Baroness move against the soft wind, and stopped before the young boy's form.
Sebastian felt a sense of relief seeing the reaper land in front of himself and his master, a good twenty feet apart. At least now he knew Grell was his usual rambunctious-with-a-hint-of-seductiveness self. He didn't show that of course. But as the redhead got closer, Sebastian felt a knot form in his throat and his arms go limp. 'What to say...'
"Hello, earl brat." The reaper patted Ciel's head, much to the other's dislike. "It's sooo good to see you haven't been turned to dinner yet. But I'm sure you're here for the two pesky demons causing me more work?"
"Yes, I am here to get rid of those disturbing peace for the Queen, but don't you have a responsibility as a Grim Reaper to remove them yourself?" Ciel slapped the hand patting his head like a puppy away. His face changed to one of perplexity as he saw in the reaper something was different. 'Ah, wasn't there a bow around his neck?'
"Well, I would, that is basic knowledge, but I knew that they wanted to get you over here, and since the little boy is always followed by the sexy butler, I wouldn't care less about the rules as long as I get to see him~." The redhead stared at Sebastian was he spoke the last few words. No surprise came to the butler, even in his current frozen dilemma, since Grell did always look at the rules more like guidelines. If a few people had to die for him to get what he wanted, it was a little obstacle to overcome with no guilt. Sebastian softly chuckled at the twisted logic. Maybe it amused the butler because he didn't really care about human lives himself, even when the young master was baring his teeth at the ginger for his 'wrongful' reasoning, and indirectly calling him short.
Momentarily finding words, Sebastian spoke. "I see you're the same as always, Grell. That is somewhat good news."
"Ooooh, I knew you would miss me~." He jumped forward opened his arms to embrace the tall man...before a palm to the face stopped his attempt. "Oof... Sebas-chan! You're always so mean!"
Ciel smirked as the redhead's squirmed. "Grell, stop. This is not the time for you to flirt." The butler stated with his monotone voice. 'I won't allow the master the pleasure of seeing through my façade.'
Lightly pushing Grell away, he spoke again. "Now, forgive my inquisitiveness, but how did you manage to hide so well from me as I searched for witnesses? I was sure you would do the opposite and chase me instead."
Grell scoffed. "Well, if I knew you were looking for me, I would have gladly come out of hiding."
The reaper removed his glove and inspected his crimson fingernails for flaws. "If you must know, I took the liberty of taking refuge with the Undertaker, since waiting for you two was so excruciating, and the demons would pick a fight with me. Your kind and my kind don't get along as well as we do, sadly." A pout developed in the redhead's lips. "Umm...technically, we don't get along that well in the first place...but at least I go by my business and you go by yours." Grell put his black glove back on.
"Naturally. Now Grell, as you just expressed, let me go by my business and you continue with yours." The young earl ordered with authority.
"Actually, my business is your business, remember? I have to dispose of the demons for causing unnecessary deaths. Pluuus, if Will finds out I ignored them, he'll probably lock me up in an office and force a month's worth of paperwork on me, that slave driver!" Grell crossed his arms and locked eyes with the little earl.
The two were in a staring contest by now, refusing to stop. Sebastian gained his composure some time ago, but now that his master and his lov– erm...the reaper started bickering, he had to get things back in order.
"Young master, Grell Sutcliff, keep in mind that we are working together now, alright?" The butler explained, but it didn't do any good. It just made the ginger stick his tongue out at Sebastian.
"Well, what do we have here?"
They all hooked their heads in the direction where the voice came from.
There, on top of the stone building's ceiling that ended the road, stood two figures next to each other, backs against the bright, waxing moon.
"I see our rabbit has decided to face the hunting wolves, right Everhardt?" The taller figure spoke.
"...Yes, our rabbit is very confident, and I can see why, Leander." The shorter, slimmer demon said, referring to the demon butler.
"Hmm, I remember hearing about you two." Sebastian announced.
"A demon duo that shares souls and contracts. Very rare among demons." The taller demon above them scoffed. "Now knowing that you wish to take my rightful soul, I must say your attempt is ludicrous and laughable." He paused momentarily to observe his opponents. "If I remember correctly, you were once a human contracted to Leander in the previous millennia...but somehow, you became a demon after almost dying in an...accident, right, Everhardt?"
Grell's POV
Once Sebas-chan and the two demons started talking, I got bored... When immortals have conversations it feels like an eternity! (No pun intended) So instead I contemplated the cute little one named Ever-something and that taller guy. Oh he was cute alright. Well, the Lion guy had wild, short, navy colored hair, royal blue eyes and a clean, somewhat skinny face; looking at him closely he was bit taller than Sebas-chan, surprisingly, and dressed similar to him too; he looked attractive. But that Everheart –was it? – was just so adorable! And he was an inch taller than me! I could tell even from the distance and the moonlight, his hair was an amber tone and his round eyes were of a crimson hue (such a wonderful eye color~). His hair was a little past his chin, but really well combed. It just glistened so beautifully... I didn't really care that I wish I had his high heeled boots; I was enchanted by those crimson eyes~.
Apparently in all of my staring, Sebas-chan already stopped chatting, I heard his last sentence barely. Something about an accident?
Oh, Sebas-chan is looking at me~.
Sebastian turned to see if Grell was paying attention, which he doubted knowing the reaper's impatient personality. And he was right; the redhead was busy gazing at the shorter demon, a dab of drool on his chin. The ginger looked at Sebastian and grinned.
"Grell, you're drooling." He spoke with spite. Something strange stirred inside the butler.
The ginger quickly but discreetly wiped the spittle off his features and mumbled. "I can't help it, he's attractive."
The butler twitched at the words and turned to his master, who was by now confused with the two's quarrel. 'Why am I angry at him?'
'Hmm, he's acting weird...could it be Sebas-chan got jealous~?' The thought rose to the reaper's head, and smirked.
"I think we've been forgotten, Leander." Everhardt said, as he watched the demon and the reaper below ignore them. "Leander."
"Yes, seigneur?" The taller demon asked.
"I'll take the boy; you divert the attention of those two." The red-eyed demon replied.
"Oui, mon seigneur." Leander spoke.
Right then, Leander leapt forward and landed on the cobblestone floor. Immediately, Sebastian assumed a protective stance, Ciel behind him, and Grell took a step back, standing at the right of the other two. The wild demon sprung forward and aimed with his hand, growing long claws, at the reaper. Grell sidestepped, barely dodging, getting a small scratch at his left cheek. His chainsaw materialized in his hands and roared to life as he rolled on the ground. "How dare you aim at a lady's face!" Grell exclaimed, quite mad.
"Sebastian, kill that demon." Ciel finally drawled.
"Yes, my lord." He drew out knives and forks from his pockets. Grell broke out and slashed his scythe at the demon. Leander evaded swiftly hopping backwards, but found his back exposed to the demon butler, to which Sebastian gladly shot at with his knives, landing one on his right shoulder blade. He winced only for a second, and then grinned, removing the kitchen knife.
"Gah!" Sebastian jerked his head to where that shout came from. His master was taken under the right arm of the other demon, Everhardt. "Sebastian! Get–wah!" Everhardt jumped with the earl in his arm to the roof where they appeared.
"I'll be taking this." The amber-haired demon proclaimed.
Sebastian, enraged, took a strong leap and extended his hand, claws prominent, to rip the arm holding his master to sheds. Unfortunately, Leander blocked his attack with a frying pan.
'What is it with demons and kitchenware?' Ciel thought.
Leander pushed Sebastian off and into the roof below, raised his pan and brought out from his inner vest's pocket what looked like a skewer and aimed at the demon butler. A chainsaw sounded and the skewer met metal-on-rotating-metal. Grell faced the taller opposing demon while Sebastian sought after the other skidding past rooftops.
"Uh-uh~, no one lays a finger –or weapon – on my man." The red reaper declared.
Sebastian ran after his master over by dozens of rooftops, houses, towers...but Everhardt was at the same level of speed, if not faster. In the midst of his rage, Sebastian put all of his strength into his dash, which shortened their distance to a mere ten yards, enough to strike with his sharpened kitchen utensils. And with a clear objective in mind, he waited until the slim demon hoped, and in that momentum, threw his forks like darts aimed at his back and hit.
"Grah!" The butler landed a good hit. Everhardt fell, gripping the young earl stronger, but found his grip oddly faint. As if his right arm had gone numb...
He confirmed it, the arm holding Ciel had been chopped off cleanly.
The shorter demon turned slightly and saw Sebastian pin him to a large brick chimney behind him, kitchen knife going through Everhardt's left shoulder and cracking the chimney. With his right arm gone and his other loosing movement at the cause of the knife going through some major arteries and cutting his deltoids, there was no way of unpinning himself without using sheer brute force. That would not be a good idea anyway since now he couldn't defend himself. Sebastian had caught his young master and placed him safely on the flat rooftop where Everhardt was locked in place, and pulled out a single butter knife and advanced toward the young demon.
"I must admit, you are a stealthy one, but did you really think you could run from me forever?" The black-haired man questioned, pursing his lips.
"No, but I was just a diversion for you." Sebastian raised a brow to this. The restrained demon chuckled darkly. "I suppose you could blame our exigent nature, but I wanted to give my immortal life a bit of a spark, I'm sure you understand. We could never steal the soul of another demon; it is too difficult and bothersome, but one can't help but try after all. Bringing about chaos and disarray amongst the humans and shinigami alike is much more enjoyable, this is true... This is not my comrade's wish, but if we started a carnage of humans, both our goals could be accomplished. I sought a fight for a delicious soul. He seeks the thrill of an impossible challenge."
"...What do you mean 'impossible challenge'?" The demon butler asked, warily.
"He yearns to kill a reaper, a task proven difficult and unachieved by any being so far." Sebastian's heart sank and his eyes widened. "You should know, Leander is much stronger than I am."
His body moved unconsciously in the direction where they had originally stood, unknowingly leaving his master behind. After realizing his mistake, he pushed it aside. Everhardt was secured on the wall, but more importantly, Grell was in danger. He passed atop the rooftops as fast as his legs would carry him, but he had crossed a long distance away chasing after Ciel. Too far, too slow, not enough time, precious seconds ticking by... 'Please, be safe.'
Grell had a tough time landing a hit on the tall demon. He was big but fast, and easily dashed out of his chainsaw's radius. And the brunette had a strong body. The redhead managed to slice the frying pan in half used as a shield; too easy for the scythe to render useless. Leander managed to stab through the reaper's right thigh in midair with his skewer, during his attempts at striking the demon, failed attempts. This slowed him significantly, even when wounds healed incredibly fast for shinigami, it would take a few more minutes until his leg could function properly.
So far, Leander had only sustained two cuts, one at the left of his stomach and one across his chest, a flesh wound since he pulled back fast enough to dodge the true intention of slicing him in half. He was winning, but ordinary methods wouldn't work to kill the embodiment of death. The bulk demon hatched a plan.
While Grell had regained some strength in his legs and thrust forward, chainsaw in hand, Leander positioned his skewer carefully and poised to thrust forward himself.
Grell's scythe had cut through the demon's left chest, tearing his lung in the process; Leander's skewer had been pierced at the reaper's left arm –his good arm– his grip on the death scythe loosened, falling to the floor.
"Guh..." Grell pressed his now punctured arm and flinched at the pain. There was a stone wall of a higher building behind Grell; he stepped back and held his balance on it.
"I wonder... What does a death scythe do to a Grim Reaper?" The injured reaper's eyes widened.
"D-don't even dare!" He yelled trying to sound menacing. A sudden pulse of pain went through his arm, and his knees gave out in pain.
"Hmph...Shall we find out?" Leander revved the chainsaw's engine on. Grell shut his eyes closed, not wanting to see his demise.
He heard the scythe slice flesh and clothes, blood trickling in the rooftop...
...but wasn't his own.
Grell dared to open his eyes, and froze.
Sebastian had the death scythe through his chest.
Leander, also surprised, pulled back, leaving the chainsaw impaled on the demon butler. A thick cough escaped his lips and blood fell on the reaper below him.
"I –cough– apologize...for dirtying your c-clothes..." Sebastian shakily removed the chainsaw, groaning at the agony. Doing so released cinematic records from the past months. "I believe...this is y-yours." He placed the bloodied weapon on Grell's lap.
"Y-you...why?" Grell exclaimed, staring at the cinematic records as they unraveled themselves, astounded.
It displayed him giving orders to the servants, fulfilling his master's wishes, preparing the meals... but, he saw something more.
The cinematic record showed the moments when Sebastian would clean a bowtie, his bowtie, softly, carefully, caressing it, then wrapping it over his neck as it was the day the reaper did so himself. Then finally hide it from view. The redhead's hand lifted to the other's neck and undid Sebastian's black tie. His bow was there, clean and wrinkle free.
The records stopped, returned to the body, and Sebastian lost his strength in his legs and buckled. His hands barely supported his heavy body.
"Grell... I'm glad...you're...safe..."
The world faded into darkness as he fainted.
To be continued…