Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or Black Butler. They, and their characters, belong to their respective creators.

Chapter 15 - Movement

The clock struck four. What was taking Sebastian so long? Surely it couldn't be this hard to find two missing girls! Ciel tried to concentrate on the chess pieces in front of him but found that he couldn't.

Kyo scowled at the board. "Hey, you gonna move or what? Remember, this was your idea."

Ciel frowned down at the black pieces in front of him. What should he do? Move his rook? The bishop? Or should he move the knight? There were too many options. And despite Kyo's saying he really wasn't any good at the game, he was giving the young earl his money's worth. "I'm thinking," he snapped.

Kyo leaned forward more. "Well think harder or I'm going to capture your queen." He pointed out the obvious.

Ciel ground his teeth. This game wasn't as fun as he'd hoped it would be. The similarities between that and reality were too alike for his taste. Should he move the knight?

The door to the drawing suddenly opened, causing both Kyo and Ciel to look up.

"You're late," Ciel said coldly, the black knight in his hand.

Sebastian bowed. "My apologizes, Young Master. There were a few unexpected complications to my investigation, but I believe I have a full grasp on the matter at hand."

"Did you find them?" The boy's eye twitched.

Kyo sat on the edge of his seat, not daring to interrupt, his heart thudding. This was it. Maybe they would finally take some action.

"I did not strictly find them, but I know their location, along with the identity of their captor," the butler corrected. "But I'm afraid you won't like it. I am sorry to say that they were kidnapped by a demon."

Kyo felt the hairs on his neck standing on end as he thrust out of his seat and moved towards the butler. "What do you mean they were kidnapped by a demon!"

Sebastian's expression remained smooth. "It's just as I said. Both the Lady Elizabeth and Miss Tohru have been kidnapped by a demon, someone of my own kind. It's most unusual for something of this nature to occur, but it is not unheard of. There are a great many of my kind who bore easily of waiting for someone to die, or forming a contract with a human. In fact, the majority goes and hunts particularly tasty souls without regard to any other considerations, devouring the soul right there."

Sebastian frowned. "And some demons will use humans to capture other humans who they deem to have particularly tasty souls, as seems to be the case here."

Kyo felt like gagging while Ciel looked on without comment, his expression distant. "But why Tohru! What does she have to do with any of this!"

The butler tried to remain patient as he explained. "It's true that we demons prefer complicated souls, souls crying out in anguish, such as the Young Master's was when I first met him. It gives them a certain flavor demons love. But above that, the ones we crave the most are pure souls, such as the souls our two missing ladies have, though, I must admit, Miss Tohru appears to have the more pure soul of the two. They are like the most delectable food imaginable and are generally savored, especially if one can turn them to despair right before consuming them."

Ciel looked away from Kyo, who had turned a lighter shade of pale.

"From what I can gather, they are not the only two to be taken for this purpose, as I'm sure you've already deduced." Sebastian glanced at Ciel. "Several others have been taken, mostly young women. It would seem that women tend to have the more pure soul of either gender. It is my hope, however, that this demon is a patient demon, and that he will savor each soul brought to him. If this is the case, we still have a chance of saving them."

Ciel nodded. It all made sense. Humans working with demons. "I assume you investigated this thoroughly to be sure? We cannot afford any mistakes."

Sebastian smiled, showing his pointed teeth. "Of course. I had to use some rather unconventional methods to obtain the information, but it is accurate. However, time is of the essence in such cases as these."

Ciel agreed. "We should make arrangements and leave immediately. I hope you are up for the challenge." He smirked up at his butler. Now that the course was clear, he was full of energy.

The butler bowed. "But of course."

Kyo debated. Even though the thought of going up against a demon definitely scared him senseless, the thought of losing Tohru made him feel even more. And there was no way he was going to be left behind like an old granny. "I'm coming with you."

Ciel finally sat up from his perch, leaning forward. "Impossible. Weren't you listening just now? This is to be a battle between demons. Mere humans, like us, wouldn't survive. The only reason I'm going is because of the contract. As long as Sebastian lives, and our contract stands, I am guaranteed to survive. You have no such guarantee."

The ginger-haired boy balled his hands into fists as he glared at Ciel's shorter form. "Do you really think I care about that! We're talking about Tohru! There's no way in hell I'm going to just sit back while she's in danger!"

Sebastian's face was grim. "I won't be able to adequately protect you if I am trying to rescue both the Lady Elizabeth and Miss Tohru," he said. "Especially if I am also keeping an eye on the young master. It's best if you just stay here and wait for the end result. I will restrain you if I must." He glanced at Ciel, knowing his master could make it an order and that would be that.

Kyo growled, fists clenched in anger. "I don't need your protection! You have no idea who you're dealing with! As much as I hate to admit it, I have the Curse on my side! You can't stop me!"

Ciel laughed coldly. "And would could a little orange cat do against a demon? Albeit Sebastian is rather fond of cats, but that doesn't mean this other demon will be as well. And I'd rather not sneeze my head off, as I'm sure the demon wont' either. This has gone on long enough. Sebastian, this is an order."

But before Ciel could utter the command, Kyo had moved between them and covered the earl's mouth. "You don't know anything!" Kyo practically yelled. He didn't want to admit it, or use it, but sometimes such things were necessary, and there was definitely no way he was being left behind. "I told you! I won't need your protection!"

Sebastian paused. His natural instinct to remove the threat to his master was put into check. The boy hadn't tried to harm the earl, yet. "Explain."

Kyo gulped, his heart pounding. There was no turning back now, not if he wanted to save Tohru. "It's the Curse. The cat is the only animal to have two forms. If I use the other form, it should be okay." He was trembling as he said it.

Ciel's eyes went wide. Whatever the boy was talking about, he could feel the trembling coming from Kyo's hand, still over his mouth. What could cause this reaction? What was this "other" form? And why did Kyo fear it?

Sebastian smelled hints of a strange emotion coming from Kyo. It wasn't just fear. Fear would be understandable. Were there hints of desperation? Yes, but something more, a determination beyond any he'd felt in a long time, of someone unsure of the outcome, but willing to give it everything all the same, even if it meant sacrificing himself. Perhaps he'd underestimated him after all. "Young Master, why don't we let him come?"

Ciel blinked in shock, Kyo's hand slipping from his mouth. "What?"

"Chances are he will find a way to follow us no matter what means I use to restrain him. I sense that kind of determination." He glanced at the mantle clock. "Regardless of such, we're running out of time."

Ciel debated. It was one thing for him to knowing go where demons were. It was another matter entirely for him to drag a guest there, one who had only recently learned the truth of the matter, even if he was determined. But Sebastian was right. They were running out of time. "Very well. You may accompany us. But don't expect Sebastian to protect you. And, if you fall behind, you fall. We won't come back for you, understood?"

Kyo nodded, smiling grim but determined. "Wouldn't have it any other way. Let's go already!"

Ciel nodded and swept out of the room. "Make the appropriate arrangements immediately while I get a few things," he commanded. "Kyo, follow me."

Sebastian bowed slightly then slipped out of the room like a shadow.

"This way," Ciel said to Kyo as he walked to his own room. "I don't know what you are planning, but I'd best prepare you in the best way I have."

Once inside the outer chamber, the earl went to a dresser and opened the top drawer. He took out two pistols, handing one to Kyo. "Take it. Bullets are of little use against demons but there are others involved and it is less likely they will take kindly to having their plans interrupted. I'm sure the demon has promised them all kinds of things in exchange for their cooperation, though they are all likely just lies. All the same, they won't know that until it's too late."

Kyo took the gun with heavy hands. He wasn't used to using weapons like that. "I don't know how to use this," he admitted, the metal pressing up against his beads. But he did know how to use his hands. He gulped, still incredulous with himself that he was going to do what he'd set his mind to doing.

Ciel ignored the obvious signs of nervousness from his companion. "Let's go. Sebastian probably has the carriage waiting for us already." He grabbed his jacket and cane, putting the jacket on as he strode down the hallway, Kyo following.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Within an hour, the carriage pulled up in front of the industrial district and Sebastian stepped down from the high driver's seat to come around and open the door. "Young Master, we have arrived."

Ciel stepped down onto the filthy streets. "Ugh! This place? It's a rat hole!" He quickly stepped up off of the street as Kyo followed him from the carriage.

The red head looked around at the tall buildings. "They're keeping them here? This is worse than any slum I've ever seen! You sure you got the right place?"

Sebastian nodded grimly. "Just about. This way if you please. The building we seek is actually further in from the road." He strode ahead, leading them down a side alley.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Small ran towards the room his employer kept. He pounded on the door, sweating and shaking. No one was supposed to disturb him while he was with one of the girls, but this was an emergency. "Sir! Sir! Open up please, sir! We have problems!"

The door swung open, creaking as it did so and Small almost fell inside. He stumbled to catch his balance, only to run into a lifeless body on the floor. He recoiled.

Out of the shadows, a voice called out seductively. "What problems, Small? What could be so important that you would interrupt my pleasure?"

Small backed up a little. Even though the voice was seductive, it held a hint of malice to it that he could never get used to no matter how many times he'd heard it. Why had he gone and gotten himself involved in this mess? "Sir," he choked, "someone's coming. They got past the first line."

From the shadows, a form stirred. It seemed to take on mass as it moved, becoming a man. "Past the first line?"

Small bowed his head, not daring to look. "Yes, sir. And they're headed this way. It would appear that they know exactly where we are."

Deep purple eyes peered out at the trembling man from the dark mists. "Indeed. Well then, that changes things, doesn't it? Have those two brought to me immediately."

Small looked up. "Those two?"

White teeth flashed and shadows flailed out like a billowing cloak. "Yes, the last two."

Small continued to tremble as the shadows settled over the more solid form. "What about the others?"

The figure in the shadows smirked. "They are no longer of any use to me. Kill them, all of them. Just make sure our... guests don't make it past the main areas alive and you might have yours spared."

Small backed away hurriedly, bumping into the door. "Sir!" He fell through the opening, the door slamming shut behind him as he got up and ran to relay the instructions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyo smiled in smug satisfaction as he knocked out the last guy. "Take that! That'll show you to mess with me!"

Ciel rolled his eyes. This one could be quite violent if he chose, he decided. To think he'd been afraid he might not be up to the challenge. But the real question was what would he do when confronted with an enraged demon? Surely they knew they were coming and time was now ticking away as fast as sand blown in the wind.

Sebastian brushed dirt off of his gloves as he finished dispatching his opponent. "Shall we continue? I believe we will likely be ambushed the moment we enter the main complex. Young Master, it might be wise for you to stay back until the way is secured."

Ciel didn't need to be told twice. Though he was good with firearms, he only had so many bullets, and he wanted to use them only when necessary. If Kyo could continue to handle himself this way against those who were human, Sebastian could take on the demon himself. "Very well. Let's go."

~~~~~~~~~~

The door opened and two men entered the room where Tohru and the others were kept. The girl looked up. Were they going to drag another of the other women away? Her heart pounded as the two men skipped past those closest to the door.

"Which two again?" The taller of the two asked.

The shorter pointed towards Tohru. "Them. Once they're delivered, we can do what we want with the others." He laughed, but it wasn't a nice laugh, Tohru thought as chills went up her spine. "I'll get the shorter one, you grab the other." He made his way to Lizzy while the other made his way over to her.

"What do you want with us," Tohru asked, her voice shaking. "Leave us alone!"

Tall caressed her cheek with a rough finger. "Now don't be like that," he crooned in what might have been meant as a comforting sound but was far from it. "You get the special honor of being his last ones."

Short poked Lizzy. "Hey, she's still asleep," he commented. "Well, doesn't matter. She'll wake up soon enough, won't she?" He flung her over his shoulder like a sack of flour. "Let's go."

"Let me go!" Tohru protested as she received the same treatment, feebly pounding the man's back to no avail. The door shut behind them with a finality she did not like at all.