Alrighty then guys, guess who's back with another full-on story!
My Christmas present to all of my faithful readers!
I'd like to start by thanking all the people who matter out there! On this Christmas day, we can't always be with the people we love, and thus, I'm lucky that I have an entire day of family.
But, moving on, I love you reviewers like family; and thus, this is my Christmas present to all of you guys!
I hope you all enjoy, I stayed up so many nights to plan this all out for you guys! And, fair warning, just like all of my other stories, this one is gonna be long as fuck.
So, if you don't like long stories with hidden clues, romance, adventure, thriller, a bit of gore, a dash of humor, and a sprinkle of mystery; then you know where the back button is.
Hell, this story is a TRY at said thingies that I listed up there.
Fair warning.
But, for all of you guys that are still around, I hope you enjoy!
And now, let's move onwards!
The streets of England has always held an air of mystery, danger, and murder.
Oh hell, did England have a lot of murder.
The buildings stood tall, casting down tall shadows, allowing so many places for people against the law to hide. The alley ways stank of crime, just waiting to be cleaned out. Ever shop held a secret, every person held skeletons in there closets.
England truly was a dark place-
"Hurry it up, Zig! I didn't wake up this early to miss my chance to yell at rich people!"
...Or was it?
Atop a tall building, one of the many surrounding the town square, a person stood, a wide smile on her face.
She had a black jacket over her pure just-washed white shirt, a pair of baggy black pants, tucked into her busted old black boots. She wore a white hat over her boy-cut wisteria-dyed hair, her periwinkle eyes shining with a mischievous gleam, as she pulled at her blood red scarf with her dark grey gloved hands.
She smiled once again, spreading her arms, "Look, Zig! I'm the queen of England! No, I'm queen of the whole damn world!"
"Very nice, Erin." A girl behind her said, finally pulling herself on top of the roof. She was at least a foot shorter, she had long jet black hair, golden brown eyes, and a straight line for a mouth. She wore an old long sleeve red shirt, dark blue shorts two sizes to big, being held to her tiny waist by a long cord of leather. She had two leather shoes, the only thing that wasn't over two years old.
"Aww, come on, learn to smile a bit, Zig!" Erin said with a grin, taking her cap off, as she allowed the winds to mess up her already messy hair, "I took you instead of Fang, feel lucky!"
Zig allowed her mouth to stretch out just a bit more, her own version of a smile, before looking over the side, "Any sign of them?"
Erin shook her head, "Not that I saw. Any of them follow us?"
"No." Zig said sharply, before pulling up her sleeves, "It was cold in Japan, but this winter weather is ridiculous."
"I hear you," Erin murmured, "But, you can't have everything when you're technically homeless."
"True." Zig muttered, before she spotted someone in particular, "Hey, Erin, get a load of that."
Erin looked over the three story building, spotting the boy that Zig had pointed out. He looked younger than Erin was, being 19 and all that, with navy blue hair and an eye patch.
Erin snickered, before pretending to shout, "Hey, kid! Halloween's was three months ago!"
"What do you think a nobleman like that is doing here?" Zig wondered aloud.
Erin shrugged, hands slipping into her jacket pocket to ghost her hand over her pistol, "If you ask me, he's just asking to be robbed. I wouldn't mind answering that call, if I do say so myself."
Zig nodded, "I don't like the look of his butler bodyguard, though."
Erin looked over the man Zig was talking about, quickly spotting a taller male, with wine colored eyes and black hair. He wore a butler tailcoat, which Erin found amusing, "If only I had enough free cash, I'd buy a camera and take a picture."
Zig nodded, before something caught her eye, "Hey, should we go down now?"
Erin nodded, "I don't see why not, I've got a few coins on me, and we've avoided the Ash-heads. Besides, we've looked over the place."
Zig nodded, heading over to the ladder from where they had gotten up, turning to face Erin on her way down, only to give her a look when she remained standing on the ledge of the building, "What are you waiting for?"
Erin grinned, before turning around, arms out as if she was going to start a great show, "You're no fun, my stupidly tiny friend! You take that way down, I'll meet you there!" She said, smirking like the daredevil she was, before leaning back.
Any normal person would have screamed, possibly try to grab her, but Zig just shook her head, "I wonder how the other gangs will react when they figure out that Dusty is dead." She murmured, before going down the ladder.
Meanwhile, Erin expertly jumped from one window to the other, causing multiple people to jump back on instinct, even waving to a few children on the other side, before finally landing in the shadows of an alleyway.
She shoved her hands into her pockets, pulling her cap over her face, her scarf covering her smirk, before walking into the square. Today was one of those market days, which meant that many tents would be up, meaning that many people would be around.
Erin smirked, no one would notice a simple thief.
She walked around casually, looking over some merchandise, while scanning the people around. She ended up forcing herself away from a toy booth, but not before pulling a wallet from one of those expensive looking bastards.
It's not like they'll miss a few hundred dollars, right?
"You got anything yet?" Erin asked, turning to face Zig, who seemed to suddenly apparated behind her.
"A few wallets, but, I managed to get this." She murmured, sliding the switchblade out from her long sleeve for a few seconds, before slipping it back inside.
"Wonderful," Erin said, as the two walked around, "You see, this is why we work together so well! You do a lot of the dirty work, and I run the show!"
"You're the master of puppets, Erin." Zig deadpanned, sarcasm dripping straight out of her mouth, "And, for the record, I don't mind the dirty work."
"And I pride myself in knowing that." Erin said, before smirking, "Check it out, it's the rich boy."
Erin and Zig watched from afar, as the young boy seemed to be very angry with a tent owner, questioning the facts behind a certain toy.
"Wow." Was all Zig could say, before whispering, "How much do you think is on that boy?"
Erin shrugged, "I really don't care." She murmured, before holding her hand out slightly. Just as she'd predicted, a rich looking women walked past, and with expert timing, Erin closed her hand, holding a rather expensive looking pearl necklace.
Zig did the slow clap to end all slow claps, "And you say I'm the best."
Erin shrugged, "I've been doing this for a while, and to be fair, I taught you everything."
"Not everything." She murmured, before her eyes narrowed, "Look out, it's some of Kiko's boys."
Erin looked up, and just as Zig said, a group of three boys a bit older than her walked around, all of them dressing differently, but they had one thing in common.
A tattoo of a dragon on the back of there hands.
"Definitely Kiko's," Erin murmured, "But this is my part of town. Remind me to have a talk with ol' Kiko later on."
Zig nodded, before whispering, "I think they're going to make a move on Richy."
Just as she had said, the group had been slowly circling the navy blue nobleman. From there point of view, the butler was nowhere in sight.
Erin groaned, "I can't allow them to steal from my part of town!" She growled angrily, ready to stomp her way over as she watched one of them grab the boy by his collar. To her surprise, he kept a cold expressionless face, before another of them took a small leather pouch. The boys seemed to yell something at him, dropping richy to the ground before running off, jeering.
Erin growled, "Zig, head back to the base, I'm going after them."
Zig nodded, knowing better than to question her, "I'll find you if I find something out." She murmured, before disappearing into the crowd.
Erin nodded, before she took off after them.
It honestly wasn't too hard to find them, since she knew a lot of the alley ways around here. This was her part of town, after all!
She quickly found them all in a smaller alley way, counting their coins, before she cleared her throat, "Boys, didn't your boss tell you to stay in your part of town?"
One of them sneered, pulling out a glass bottle, before smashing the bottom against the wall, "Yeah, so? What's it matter to you?"
Erin chuckled, cracking her knuckles, "You three are new, aren't you?" She said, grinning wickedly, before pulling her scarf down a bit, showing a burned red mark on the side of her neck, "Even so, I'm sure you've heard about this mark and what it means, yes?"
One of their faces suddenly dropped, expression filled with dread before shaking his buddy, "Dude, that's her!"
His buddy scowled, shaking him off, "Come on! You know that the boss was just shitting us! I mean, no way anyone could pull half the crap he talked about, much be a girl with her own gang."
"Wanna find out?" Erin asked, before she got into a fighting position, "I'll take you all out."
The last boy laughed, "Come on now, little girl! You're bluffing! Now why don't you go ahead and turn around? Maybe if you ask nicely, we'll still let you leave."
Erin snickered, her fist clenched, before rushing forward. The boy dropped to the ground, knocked out the second her fist came into contact with his jaw. His nose began to bleed furiously, getting all over the place, while his unconscious eyes rolled into the back of his head.
Erin laughed, wiping the boy's blood from her nose, watching the other two boys, "Come on, now; please tell me that you two can give me a challenge."
One of them whimpered, the only guy that was able to tell who she was, before the other one huffed, "That was just a lucky shot!" He yelled, before rushing up at her, fist cocked back.
Instead of moving, Erin stayed put, the side of her mouth pulled upwards, as he clocked her across the face. He then grabbed the sides of her head, bringing her face down on his knee. He chuckled, turning to his friend, "And that is how you take out a-." He tried to say, only to have a knee hit his crotch. His eyes widened, his voice raising a few octaves, before falling over.
Erin grinned, pushing her finger against her nose and blowing blood out the other, "Come on, I let him get a hit in, too! What an absolute pussy." She grumbled, before turning to the last boy, "Now then, do you want to test your luck too, or ya wanna just give me the money?"
He looked like he was about to toss her the money, only to have something rather large drop from behind him, bringing it's fist down on his head. Erin could only watch as the poor coward crumple to the ground, the leather bag of money rolling onto the ground.
Erin coughed, waiting for the dust to clear, before glaring at the figure. After a few seconds, she couldn't help but scowl. Wine red eyes and raven black hair, what the hell was he doing here?
"…Can I help you, butler boy?"
The butler's face lit up with surprise, before bowing, "Please, madam; call me Sebastian."
"Alright," Erin sighed, "Sebastian…What do you want?"
Sebastian looked around on the ground, before bending over, "Ah, there it is." He said, before picking up the leather pouch, "I've come for this."
Erin sighed, before groaning, "Oh, come on! I just fought two guys for that!"
"And I was able to get the bag first," Sebastian countered, putting it into his back pocket, before bowing, "Now, if you'll excuse me…"
"Hold it right there, Bandit!"
Erin groaned, could this day get any worse!?
The two turned to face the group of six men or so, each blocking off the entrance to the alleyway. Each of them wore the same ash-colored uniforms and tall hats, a rifle in each of their white gloved hands. The one that had spoken stood in front of the group, his dark green eyes narrowed angrily, a small bruise-like burn mark on his neck.
She pulled her scarf up higher, cap a bit lower before smiling, holding her arms out as if they were old friends, "Crayden, old chump, is that you?" She grinned, before bowing, a smile of mockery on her face, "Sir Crayden, what an absolute pleasure! I see the burn mark is almost gone!"
Crayden growled, "Shut up, you irritating git!"
"Oh, how you've hurt me so!" Erin acted, holding her hands over her heart, before smirking, "I've taken your squad down before, I'll do it again with ease." She snickered, before taking a step back, arms up and ready to throw hands.
"Umm, don't mind me," Sebastian murmured, smiling a humorless smile, "But, I'll be on my way now-."
Crayden's squad blocked him off, "Apologies, sir," Crayden said, the smirk on his face saying otherwise, "But, you've been found with the bandit. I'll have to take you in."
"That's total bull!" Erin yelled, "I mean, for the few seconds I've known the guy, all he really does is irritate me!"
"I can't do anything," Crayden sighed, as if he wanted nothing more to do with this whole predicament, (which was complete and utter bullshit, in Erin's book) "I must take you in."
"You'll have to drag my cold dead body in." Erin murmured darkly, before pulling out her pistol. All humor was quickly masked, as she aimed for Crayden's head, "Your call."
Crayden smiled, before snapping. Two of his men had there guns quickly trained from her to the butler, "I know that you'd steal from the rich, but, if I've learned anything, you've never stood for the death of someone you hold close. Or has that changed, Bandit?"
It took Erin a moment to realize what Crayden said, and even then it took a lot of willpower not to laugh in his face. Did he really think that she'd be working with a butler like this guy? He had to be kidding! But, he was right, she hated it when bystanders died, especially when it was her fault. The last time it had happened, she felt guilty for a whole two weeks! Evaluating her position and options, she knew the one sure fire way of getting out of this situation:
Lying.
"Alright, you've got me." Erin said, dropping her gun, "Let the butler go, and I'll go in with you guys."
Crayden smirked, taking the gun, before laughing, "You idiot, you really think that I'd allow either of you to live?"
Erin sighed, listening to the guns click, "Actually, I was counting on that." She murmured, before giving the butler a look, "Hey, Sebs, duck and run, my friend." She murmured, before looking up at the shadow of a familiar figure, giving her the thumbs up.
Crayden gave her a look, before a small white ball dropped from the sky. It quickly popped open, white smoke spewing forth from it. Erin smirked, before punching Crayden, grabbing her gun, bringing it down on his head. Being how she wasn't one to leave a job half done, she made sure to kick his unconscious body over.
"Thanks, Zig!" Erin yelled, ducking under a bullet shot, "I'll meet you back at the base!"
Making her way out of the smoke, she stopped when something skid behind her. She whipped around quickly, ready to fire, only to have a hand shoved into her face. The butler smiled, "Do you need a hand, my lady?"
Erin gave him a look, before slapping away his hand, getting up herself, "No thanks…Hey, wait, didn't I tell you to duck and run, Sebs?" She murmured, the nicknames causing Sebastian's eye to twitch.
Before he could say anything, Erin cursed to herself, the smoke in the ari slowly becoming thin, "Smoke's almost up." She then gave Sebastian a look, smirking, before bowing mockingly, "It's been fun, butler boy. But now, I must be off."
She didn't even give him chance to say anything in retaliation, before she began to quickly scale up the brick wall, quickly pulling herself to the top.
She looked down on him, blowing him a teasing kiss, before dashing off.
Sebastian could only watch, before the smoke began to clear, the remaining four men getting out of there surprise and daze. Crayden had finally woken up, looking around, before cursing, "She made it out. Again." He growled, before glaring at Sebastian, "But, it would seem as if she left you to rot."
Before anyone could get another word it, the sound of footsteps echoed down the alleyway, the sound of heels on the ground giving it a loud clicking sound.
"Just what do you think you're doing!?"
Sebastian sighed, before turning around, bowing, "Young master-."
"Not now, Sebastian," Ciel said, waving him off, before glaring at Crayden, "Just what do you think you were doing with my butler?" Ciel demanded, pointing his cane right at the old man.
Crayden scowled, "Excuse me, sir! Why must I tell a brat like you anything?"
"I'll have you know that I am the earl Phantomhive!" Ciel said, his one visible dark blue eye narrowed, before facing Sebastian, "I ordered you to recover my money. Were you at least able to do something as simple as that in the time you've been gone?"
"Yes, young lord." Sebastian said, giving Ciel the money, before the bluenette glared at Crayden.
"You, explain what happened here." Ciel commanded.
Crayden scoffed, "You have no reason to know anything that the Ashford family guards do. Besides, I don't need to tell a child anything, earl or not."
"If I may," Sebastian said, stepping in, "While obtaining you money, young master, I've come across a girl attempting to do the same as I. I believe she went by the name of Erin?"
Crayden scowled, "Of course you'd know, butler! You work with her!"
Ciel scowled, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose, "I'll have you know that you are speaking nothing but rubbish! Sebastian works for me and only me." He said, before waiting for Sebastian to go on.
"To put it simply, this Erin girl was able to outsmart these men, injure them, and get away." Sebastian reported.
Ciel smirked darkly, "Well then, sir Crayden, is it? It would seem as if the Ashford family is in need of some new guards. What on earth does a girl like this 'Erin' have to do with the Ashford family?"
"None of your business!" One of the men said.
Crayden nodded, before glaring at Ciel, "I have no further reason to speak with you! Good day, sir!" Crayden said angrily, before turning around, marching off, leaving his men to stumble around after him.
Ciel sighed, before glaring at Sebastian, "I'm waiting, Sebastian."
"Certainty, my lord." Sebastian said, bowing slightly, before he went on, "She seemed to be an outlaw-type of girl. To be honest, my lord, I'm not entirely sure who and what she was. I found her beating the boys that had your money, attempted to get away with it, only to be caught by myself and the Ashford guards. She then outsmarted them and got away."
Ciel nodded, before looking up at the building that she had used to get out, "…Seems as if London has yet another thief in the streets…"
"With all due respect, my lord," Sebastian murmured, "We've worked with much worse."
Ciel gave Sebastian a look, "…Sebastian, I have another order for you." Ciel said, his dark blue eye narrowed even more, as if wondering why he was going to order him to do this, "I want to…meet this strange girl. I order you to find her, and bring her to the manor. If she has the abilities I need, I'll make her my new maid."
Sebastian nodded, hiding a smirk on his face, as he bowed, "Yes, my lord." And with that said, Ciel blinked, Sebastian gone as soon as his eyes opened.
Ciel sighed, before looking to the sky, "I expect you to be back before dinner at the very latest, Sebastian." He muttered into the night air, as if depending on the winds to carry the message on for him.
Well, what did you guys think?
Like Erin?
Hate the story so far?
Tell me in the reviews!
I hope you guys enjoyed, but, till the next chapter, I must go!
Laters mi amigo, till later!