Chapter One: The Job Hunt

Mary hurried down the stairs in her maid's outfit, her nicely, polished shoes clacked against the oak stairs of her aunt's house, stopping in front of the mirror, framed by rose-carved oak. She fixed her maid's hat's black ribbon, making sure it was securely fastened, before gazing at her reflection in the mirror. Gray eyes of her father and her mother's red hair…Mary frowned. Red, she hated the very color. She couldn't reason why, she always had and probably always will; that's why she hates her hair. She wished she could be rid of this hair color, but her aunt forbade her from hiding underneath a wig or dying it another color. Such a nuisance! She spun on her heel and took her brown bag off the floor and hurried out the door.

"Mary!" A frantic woman's voice shouted from behind her, causing the young girl to skid to a stop. She whirled around to face a plump, round gray haired woman in a brown dress with a dark, brown coat; she had red lipstick and rouge cheeks along with white pearls adorned on her neck. The woman panted as she came up to Mary. "Goodness girl, you run fast!" Mary gave a small smile.

"Sorry, Aunt Janelle." She apologized, trying not to laugh. Her aunt shook her head disdainfully.

"Honestly, dear, how many times do I have to tell you? Call me 'Jean'. 'Aunt' makes me sound some dreadful, dead person," She said making a dark face along with a pout. "And 'Janelle' makes me sound like some boring person who sticks her nose in the air!" 'Jean's facial expression turned into one of absolute horror. Mary chuckled and blinked when her aunt shoved the brown parcel into her arms. "That's your lunch! Be it far for me to let you starve! Honestly, it's been three days straight you gone without breakfast!"

"I'm fine, I'm just been not getting much sleep lately," Mary said accepting the gift, before noticing the bus on the street was about to leave. Her eyes widen in horror. "Wait for me!" She yelled, before running after the bus. "Goodbye, Aunt Janelle, I'll be back!" She called over her shoulder, before pressing her feet to run harder and just as the bus was about to pick up speed she caught onto the pole, allowing her to pull herself up onto the vehicle, with the parcel in her arms. Janelle frowned.

"It's 'Jean'!" Janelle muttered. She frowned remembering her niece saying something about not getting enough sleep. Must be the nightmares…

The bus drove through London, passing by apartment building of well structures and shops and bakeries. Mary smiled at the smell of freshly baked bread. She had a feeling today was going to be good day. Too many days, she had been turned down: job after job.

"Not to day," Mary muttered underneath her breath. She noticed the agency building for women and pulled the bell, signaling the driver to stop. She quickly paid the fare and stepped off, walking toward the building. She looked up at the building's sign:

Rigby's Agency for Women Workers co.

We find the right jobs, for the right women.

Mary closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before opening her eyes and walking toward the door. The brass bell clanged when she opened the door. A dark-skinned and blacked-haired maid holding some parcel's stopped in her walk toward the main stairs, and looked at the newcomer, before smiling.

"Ah! Mary, so nice to see you!" She said friendly. "Just take a seat, and Madam Rigby will be right with you."

"Thanks, Claudia," Mary said cheerfully. Over the times Mary had come into this building these two women became friends. They had time to talk over the long hours of waiting for the other women to get their interview and found that they had common interests: music, art, nature and books. "So I take it that I'm the first to arrive."

"That's right! Looks like you're in luck this time!" Claudia said cheerfully before heading to her destination.

"Yes!" Mary said, pulling her fist in with triumph. "I knew today was going to be a good day." She sat down in one of the chairs by the window and smiled, dreaming of all the jobs she could possibly be doing. Earning the money she wanted to help earn her keep, and hopefully get a place of her own. She closed her eyes and widened her smile at the thought of her working for some wealthy young, handsome man. Tall, thick, black hair, pale skin, gorgeous blue eyes and a nicely primed suit; Mary couldn't help, but sigh and drool a little at the thought, before shaking her head when the door opened. She glanced up and saw Madam Rigby, a tall, thin woman with brown eyes, brown hair pulled into a tight bun and tight wrinkles. She wore red lipstick and pink rouge on her cheeks, her brown eyes shone behind her spectacles which were attached to a chain around her neck. Her dress was purple and a brooch with a figure of porcelain girl with her hair tied up in ringlets in the middle contrasted against a dark maroon background. She frowned sternly at Mary.

"Mary, come in." Madam Rigby said stiffly. Mary wasn't taken aback by the Madam's behavior. She was normally like this, so stiff and snuff that you'd think she got a bug up her—"Now." Mary snapped herself out of her thoughts and quickly stood up.

"Yes, Madam!" Mary breathed. She almost forgot her place. Quickly following Madam Rigby into her office, Mary closed the door behind herself as Rigby took her place behind her beautifully designed and polished desk.

"Take a seat, Mary." Rigby said, sounding a bit condescending.

"Yes, Madam." Mary said dutifully, quickly taking her seat, before the desk. Madam Rigby took the piles of papers on her desk and read through them carefully. Her expression unchanging, Mary waited for the results in anxious silence.

"Well, well, Mary, seems like you got a job offer!" Madam Rigby said with a smile. Mary blinked.

"Really!" Mary blurted, jumping from her chair. Her heart skipped a bit as she broke into an excited smile.

"Hold it, Mary!" Madam Rigby scolded. Mary sat back in her chair and folded her hands apologetically and waited for Rigby to continue. "The people who want to hire you belong to another agency. And that agency belongs in another city, understood? You'll have to travel far just to get there. It's in Milton Keynes, do you still want the job?" Rigby asked. Mary frowned a bit: another city? She lowered her eyes to her lap. That's so far away! But, Mary reasoned. It's the first job offer I've gotten in a while… and we need the money. Aunt's shop isn't doing so well right now and the bills are piling up…

Mary looked Madam Rigby in the eye.

"I'll take it!" She stated with determination. Rigby blinked in surprise, before giving a small smile.

"Very well," Rigby said. "I'll send word to them after you leave. You should head over to the agency tomorrow. Here's the map of the city they have given me. That should help you find your way. Now leave. The sooner we get this all done, the sooner you'll be employed and the sooner you won't have to see me again." Mary smiled as she took the map and hurriedly excited through the door. She couldn't believe it! She actually got a job offer! She burst through the door, smacking a man in the face with it. She skidded to a stop of hearing the man's pained groan. She whirled around and saw a man dressed in a tan, coat with a rugby hat. Her eyes widen.

"Oh, my goodness!" Mary gasped. "Are you all right?" The man held his hand over his eye in pain.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He muttered, before looking at the girl. He removed his hand as his expression from pain turned serious. Mary blinked at the change in his demeanor. "By the way, ma'am, I'm warning everyone to stay in their homes tonight." Mary blinked in surprise.

"What on earth for?" She asked startled by the news. He looked her in the eye.

"We got reports from Scotland Yard of two men who broke from prison. They've been to known for killing and cheating citizens out of their money." He stated. "That's all I know. Also they seem to be masters of disguise, so knowing what they really look like won't do you any good." Mary frowned worriedly.

"Okay, thanks for the warning, sir," She murmured. She'd better get home quick! She turned and her eyes widen in fear as she saw the bus leaving. "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT!" She screamed in horror as she charged after it. The man blinked as he watched her run after the bus and watched in amazement as she manage to board the bus in mid-ride. He let out a whistle.

"She's fast, I'll give her that much."

"So, the Queen's worried about the robbers that have escape?" Earl Ciel Phantomhive, a boy of thirteen years, stated. His blue eye peered at the dancing flames in the fire place, his arms were crossed upon his chest; he was wearing a blue over coat that hid his black vest and pants along with black dress shoes. He frowned. "And her Majesty wants to make sure they're dealt with." The messenger nodded worriedly, he was a mousy man, with scrawny limbs and brown hair.

"Yes, M'lord. Her Majesty can't sleep a wink until these mongrels are found." The messenger stated. Ciel closed his eye as he thought for a moment on the subject.

"Very well," He said after a long moment of silence. "We'll concede; we'll make sure these men are brought to justice." The messenger bowed courteously as Ciel opened his eye and watched the messenger leave the room.

"Two robbers? Shouldn't that be left for the police?" A familiar, smooth voice sounded behind the boy. Ciel blinked and looked up at his butler, a handsome man with short dark hair and crimson-brown eyes wearing a well-tailored suit. Ciel frowned and turned his attention to the fire place.

"The fact that the Queen asked ME to do this, proves this isn't your normal brand of robbers," Ciel reasoned. "And besides, it's my duty as the sole survivor of the Phantomhive family to look into this sort of matter. I have a feeling they'll be giving the Scotland Yard a run for their money." He looked at his butler with a glare. "And who gave you position to question my judgements?" The butler smiled.

"Just giving my opinion, my Lord," He stated simply. Ciel huffed, before turning his attention back to the dancing flames of the fire place.

"Your opinion is annoying. Just do as I say and have this case solved in no time, Sebastian, that's an order." Ciel stated bored. The butler named Sebastian smiled as his eyes glowed red, before he knelt down on one knee.

"Yes, my Lord."

Hey guys! ^_^ Um, so this is my first ever Kuroshitsuji fan-fic, so please tell me how I'm doing. Comments and Critiques are welcome, no matter how harsh. So please read and review. Oh and if there's anything you wish to happen, please let me know and I'll think about it. Thanks for reading ^_^