Artemis stood next to Ciel, a piece of paper and a pencil was in his hands as he kept score of the game. Ciel was smirking. Artemis looked at the scores. ' I doesn't matter' Artemis thought ' Ciel's going to win anyway.' It's wasn't arrogance that made Artemis think that, it was the fact that Artemis saw Ciel beat many people at the game, with only one move.
Artemis glanced at the chief of Scotland Yard. He and Ciel were talking about the price of retrieving the drug dealer. Artemis's eyes moved to Azzurro. The man was biting his cigarette, causing it to bend.
Artemis's blue eyes moved to Ciel as he heard the clack of the pool balls. Artemis recorded the score. Ciel won.
Artemis now stood next to Ciel in the drawing-room. Sebastian poured tea for the guests. Artemis heard a sigh and knew it belonged to Grell. Artemis saw Madam Red's eyes narrow. " Grell." The butler straightened. " Yes ,My Lady?" He asked.
" Learn something from him." Madam Red said, referring to Sebastian. Grell sadly looked down, sighing. " Yes Ma'am." Artemis raised an eyebrow. ' What an intriguing relationship they have.' Artemis noted.
"I mean look at him." Madam Red exclaimed. Madam Red, suddenly, was rubbing Sebastian's. bottom. Artemis blinked , a bit appalled by the inappropriate behavior of the grown woman. Artemis wasn't the only one. Ciel let out a small cough stopping Madam Red's actions.
"I'm sorry, it looked like he needed a physical. Just a doctor's habit." Madam Red said, rubbing her head. Ciel didn't believe that as a red anger mark appeared on his head.
" Do you believe that the drug dealer was one of your guests?" Lau asked. Ciel raised his cup of tea. " Perhaps." Ciel answered, taking a small sip. "Why not leave this to Lau. Takes a rat to find a rats' nest." Madam Red asked, worried about her nephew's safety. Artemis watched as Lau stood and walked over to Ciel. Lau's hand touch Ciel's cheek.
The man was talking, but he didn't have much time to say anything as Madam Red grabbed Ciel away from Lau. " Get your dirty paws off my precious nephew!" Madam Red yelled. " I won't do anything here." Lau said. Madam Red let go of Ciel, causing him to fall. ' She let her nephew fall, to yell at a man.' Artemis thought, blinking. Artemis walked over to Ciel, reaching out a hand to the earl.. Ciel gratefully took the hand and stood. " Artemis, let's go." Ciel ordered as he walked away, hand on his head.
Artemis walked out of the room. Looking around Artemis saw everything was a mess with mice running around. "Master." Sebastian called. "Would you like some dessert?" Artemis followed Ciel as the earl kept walking.
"Bring it to my study." Ciel replied walking away. Artemis followed. In the office Artemis frowned. He noticed that a few things were amiss and the window was opened. ' Someone broke in!' Artemis thought. Eyes widening at the danger the young genius turned to warn Ciel. " Cie-mhhmp!" was all he could say before a cloth was forced on his mouth. Artemis brought up his arm to the one holding the cloth against his mouth, fighting. Before blacking out Artemis saw Ciel's eyes widen.
The earl leaned against the door, sighing at the piece and quiet. " Cie-mhhmp!" Ciel snapped his head up just in time to see Artemis fell unconscious arms falling limply to his side. Ciel opened his mouth, but a cloth was forced over his mouth as well.
Ciel woke up to see Azzurro smirking. " Well, well. The little Phantomhive brat. How are you doing?" Ciel said nothing as he moved his eyes around. Beside him Ciel saw Artemis bound, gagged, and blindfolded. Artemis's body was unmoving. 'Why did they gag and blindfold him?' Ciel thought. " Don't worry, your little friend he'll wake up soon." Azzuro said. The drug dealer leaned closer. Ciel could smell the man's breath, which stunk because of his cigarette.
" Now…where is it." The man asked. Ciel scoffed and smirked. " You'll never find it." Ciel said. Azzurro frowned and started to beat Ciel. " You little brat!" Azzurro grunted. Ciel let out a few sounds of pain. Azzurro stopped, walking away. " Humph, no matter I'll get it without your help." Azzurro walked over to his phone. " You find and kill the butler, and tell the other servants a ransom."
Ciel looked over to Artemis. Now he could see that Artemis was awake. He was just trying to untie himself from the ropes. Ciel could see that Artemis was close to freeing him feet. After all what could you do if you couldn't walk. Ciel heard a message. " We missed!" was all Ciel heard, with the sound of a car. " What! How could you miss!" Azzurro scoffed. "No matter get over here." Crackling was heard. " Something, something's following us!" Azzurro let out a laugh ' Is it a bear?" He laughed. His body guards laughed as well." It's catching up! Hurry. Move it!" Azzurro stopped laughing. " What are you talking about." Silence. " Say something!" Ciel looked at Artemis. He was close to cutting the rope. The line went dead. Ciel smirked at the fact that Azzurro was losing the game. " Looks let your game of fetch lost." Azzurro started to beat Ciel again.
" Hello! Are you there? Answer me!" More crackling until. " Hello? Hello? Master are you well?" Ciel smirked. " Woof." He said. Silence followed until," Very good Master. I'll be there momentarily." The line was cut and nothing more was heard. Azzurro growled. " Hurry, the servant is coming. I want every man guarding the entrance! Don't let him in!" Ciel glanced at Artemis. Artemis had stopped struggling. Ciel knew that Artemis was waiting until Sebastian would come, where it would be the safest to free himself.
Azzuro walked over, grabbing Ciel's hair. " Now be quiet, unless you want your friend to be alive." Azzurro growled, pointing his gun at Artemis. Ciel's nose twitch. ' His breath stinks.'
Artemis moved his hands around into his back pocket. He felt the ropes cutting into his skin. Artemis's hand grabbed something cold. It was a small little blade. Slowly Artemis pulled out the blade started to cut the ropes that held his feet together. The sound of Ciel being beaten made Artemis hurry. As Artemis heard someone come closer to him, Artemis accidentally dropped the blade. 'Curse my clumsiness.' Artemis thought. Luckily no one saw the blade.
"Very good Master. I'll be there momentarily." Artemis stopped his struggling. He knew that it would be best to free himself when Sebastian was here, where it would be the safest. Artemis heard Ciel grunt.
" Now be quiet, unless you want your friend to be alive." Artemis didn't need to see to know that Azzurro was pointing the gun at him. Gun shooting and yelling was heard in the manor.
Minutes later Artemis heard the door open. " I've come to retrieve my master and fellow servant." Sebastian said as he walked in. Artemis started to struggle again. He could feel the ropes breaking slowly.
"What's this I was expecting a giant but I got a scrawny man in a tailcoat " Azzurro said. " Who are you anyway, there's no way that you are a butler." His legs were free, now his arms.
"No sir, you see I'm just one hell of a butler." Artemis heard Sebastian say. Artemis was close to being free.
"It does not matter I do not intend to fight you " Artemis heard Ciel grunt again. ." You better have what I asked for." Azzurro demanded. Artemis yanked his feet apart. Now all that was left were his arms.
"Yes I do." Answered Sebastian. Artemis started to struggle again. He couldn't free himself. The ropes were to thick. Artemis tried to reach for his blade. He couldn't find it. "Here it is-" Sebastian started to say. Artemis heard the air whistle as bullets hit Sebastian. Wanting to see what happened Artemis got on his knees and dragged his head down, removing the blindfold. He was still gagged and tied up though. Azzurro began to laugh. " I beat him. I beat the master of games." Artemis turned his head to see Ciel held hostage by Azzurro. " I was going against the Phantomhives so I needed a trump card."
Artemis saw Azzurro tap the gun against Ciel's eye patch. " I may have damage the goods" He said removing the eye patch. " But I'm sure you'll fetch a good price. Especially with that boy there." Azzurro looked at Artemis, smirking. Neither noticed Ciel narrowing his eyes at Azzurro's look.
" But I'm sure you'll fetch a good price. Especially with that boy there." Ciel's eyes narrowed. ' Like I'll let you even touch him.' Ciel thought. " How long are you going to play dead?" Ciel asked. Azzurro looked confused. " Not long." Sebastian answered. Slowly Sebastian stood up, spitting out the bullets into his hand.
" I believe this belongs to you." Azzurro started to scream. " What are you waiting for shoot him!" The men started to shoot again, but Sebastian easily dodged and shot the men with the bullets in his hand.
Ciel felt the gun placed back on his head. "Master, it looks that they haven't been treating you well." Ciel glared. " Hurry up, his breath stinks." Sebastian placed a finger to his mouth. "Now Master, remember what you must do." Ciel frowned. " You want to break the contract?" He asked. " Shut up." Azzurro yelled. Ciel opened his right eye. " I order you to save me and Artemis." Azzurro trembled. " Shut up!" He shot the gun.
Ciel looked at Azzuro. Sebastian was holding Artemis with one arm. His other hand, holding the bullet. " This belongs to you." Sebastian dropped the bullet in Azzurro's pocket and picked up Ciel. Ciel watched as Azzurro's arm twisted back around twice.
Sebastian placed Ciel on a chair and ripped off the bindings. Then he placed Artemis next to Ciel. " I must say, I'm surprised tat you almost escaped Artemis." Sebastian said as he broke the ropes. Artemis reached up and untied the gag. " Thank you" Artemis replied dryly. Ciel glanced at Artemis. The skin around the corners of his mouth were bright red.
" Wait!" Both Artemis and Ciel turned to Azzurro. " Come work for me. What ever he pays you I'll pay more! I'll give you all the money and women you want!" Ciel looked at Sebastian. " That is a tempting offer, but-" Sebastian held up his contract sign on his left hand. " I serve my master, in return for his soul." Ciel placed his head against his hand. " You lost this game." Ciel stated. The room was slowly consumed by shadows. Ciel slowly fell asleep, tired from the morning. His head rested on Artemis's shoulder.
Ciel slowly opened his eyes. He glanced at the manor and saw it on fire. " Ciel?" The earl turned his head, beside him was Artemis, looking at him worried. Ciel glanced at the manor and saw that it was fine. Ciel looked up as the others walked out. " Master, Sebastian, Artemis! Your back." Ciel looked at the servants. They stopped and looked at him strangely. " What is it." Ciel demanded. Meirin blushed and pointed " Sebastian's carrying you." Ciel widened his eyes. " Let me down!"
Ciel heard Artemis snicker. As Ciel was let down, Sebastian bowed. " I deeply apologize Master," Everyone looked at the butler "I shamefully announce that dinner's not ready."
Ciel sat in his office, eating his dessert. Artemis was writing almost nonstop. Ciel found himself glancing at Artemis's lips again. This time it was to look at the pink marks at the corner of his lips. Ciel wanted the marks to disappear. He didn't like the way it marred Artemis's skin.
Artemis seemed to notice Ciel staring. The quill stopped and Artemis glanced at Ciel. " Is something the matter ,Ciel?" Ciel kept quiet. Artemis slowly stood and walked gracefully to the earl. Now Artemis stood in front of Ciel. " Is something wrong ,Ciel?" Artemis asked again.
Ciel shook his head, standing. " No, nothing's wrong." Ciel started to walk to the door. " Let's go Artemis." Ciel looked back, noticing Artemis standing still. " Artemis?" Artemis's eyes looked cold again. " Tell me what's wrong ,Ciel." Shocked at Artemis's change, Ciel stood still. Sighing the genius walked over to Ciel. " Is it because of this?" Artemis asked pointing to his lips. Ciel swallowed. Artemis noticed and raised an eyebrow. " Well?" Nothing happened. Both of the boys stood still, waiting.
Slowly Ciel reached up a hand a brushed it against Artemis's lips. Artemis looked shocked, but said nothing. Ciel's hand stopped at the pink marks. " Does it hurt?" was all Ciel could get out. Artemis looked at Ciel, raising a brow" Are you feeling guilty?" Artemis asked. Well… it was one of the emotions Ciel was feeling. Ciel didn't speak, he just stared at Artemis. The earl removed his hand and it laid at his side, limp. Blue eyes closed and the raven-haired boy opened the door. " Let's go Ciel." Eyes blinking Ciel slowly turned to the door. Together Artemis and Ciel walk out of the office into the hallway.
Once again they stopped at Artemis's room. " Good night Ciel," Artemis said, continuing their nightly tradition. Ciel nodded. " Good night ,Artemis." Ciel said. Artemis walked in his room and closed the door.
Ciel walked to his room…which was two doors away on the other side of the hallway.
As Ciel walked in he started to remember touching Artemis's lips. They way it felt on his fingers. Ciel sighed and sat on his bed, waiting for Sebastian to come and dress him.
A cerulean blue eye looked at nothing for another night. He was thinking of Artemis again. Ciel slowly turned to his side. ' Do I think of him as a friend or...' Ciel didn't dare finish the thought, but it echoed through his head '...or something more.'
Alright I'm revising Chapter 5 to make Artemis more in character. I'll upload it sometime later. Now I have a question. Should Artemis play the piano next chapter?