Chapter IV! We start the next arch. No, no tigers show up. But the reference will be understood by those who also keep up with the manga~

Disclaimer:

I own nothing but my OC(s). Everything related to Black Butler/Kuroshitsuji belongs to Yana Toboso. And all songs quoted/helped to inspire this fanfic are property to their rightful artists. I intend no copyright infringement. (I would suggest the song "Lully, Lullay" by Nightnoise. I do not own the song's title- nope nope! But it has a good feel, I was listening to it a lot this chapter!)

Stay with Me, in the Firelands

IV.

Lully, Lullay (Thou Little Tiny Child)

The whistle of a kettle on the stove brought the Undertaker into the back office, his happy smile widening just a bit more at the sight of his office secretary already busy at work. Abbie looked up, nodding at her boss as he made his way to the stove.

"So you finally decided to wake."

The Undertaker grinned, picking up the box of tea leaves to ready for the morning brew. "I just couldn't pull myself from bed, heehee."

"Clearly not," Abbie remarked. "Be prepared, word has it the little Earl Phantomhive is back in London."

"Oho?" The Undertaker sat at the other chair at the small dining table. "Tha' means he'll be 'round here for sure. He's never in the city this time o' year."

The woman brought her brown eyes to level out the veiled face of the Undertaker's. "So the Queen has called her puppy, has she?"

"Seems that way."

"…You may be right then, about him coming by."

"And I guarantee this all has to do with the circus that's rolled into town."

Her eyes widened as his smile broadened into a grin. He laughed. "I know you've read the headlines. Missin' children and what have you. The guard dog is immediately going to assume the worst."

Abbie groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Then I guess one of us better prepare something sweet. There have been no bodies matching up to the description of children."

"So you've been looking into it as well." It wasn't a question.

"Yes." She sighed. "Something doesn't sit right."

The Undertaker sighed a little sadly, reclining back in his chair. "I know. However, I do believe it will turn into an interesting show."

A few hours passed when a familiar child and his butler clothed in almost entirely black came through the shop doors.

"Are you here? Undertaker." Ciel Phantomhive enquired into the dark storefront.

Abbie sighed at her boss's antics, hearing the crash of his little bowling game and noting the displeasure from the boy, and the Undertaker's usual inquiry and laughter. Shaking her head, she prepared the tea, making her way as smoothly as possibly with the tray out to the storefront lobby.

"Heehee. Well have a seat. I just baked a cake."

"Only because I told you to."

Three sets of eyes looked to the office doorway, seeing, for once, a familiar woman with an unfamiliar expression akin to a pout. Although it faltered at the startled expressions Ciel and Sebastian both seemed to share. The Undertaker just grinned.
"The cake has cooled and been iced. It is ready to serve." She enlightened, placing the tray on a larger coffin, pouring out two cups of tea.

The Undertake hummed thoughtfully. "Children's corpses, eh?"

The butler nodded stiffly, pulling from his coat a pile of documents. "The surface world has not yet found the missing corpses, it seems."

"And in the underworld, children's corpses are an everyday occurrence, after all." The Undertaker barked out with a laugh. "Which the Earl knows veeery well, doesn't he?"

The boy's jaw tightened. "We've brought you the documents."

The Undertaker peered at the papers thoughtfully. Abbie glanced over his shoulder while she poured another cup of tea for him.

"Are there any children you've 'tidied up' amongst them?" Ciel enquired of them.

"I wonder," the Undertaker glanced between the files, looking up to his employee. "Were they there?" He was grinning like a loon. He turned to the child. "If I saw something interesting, I think I'd remember."

Abbie began pouring Ciel another cup, brushing off his questioning gaze.

"A first rate laugh. If you do thaaat,we'll tell you anything you want."The Undertaker came up to the child, poking his cheek delicately with one of his long nails. "You understand, don't you, Earl. You'll have to give me that." His grin never wavered.

Ciel grimaced. "Sebastian…"

The butler nodded, albeit he did not appear to be enamored with the idea. "Then- "

The Undertaker heaved a hefty sigh. "You're really going to rely on him again?" His laugh grew to sound more like a whine. "I wonder…if the butler isn't here, is the Earl just a child who can't do anything?" He sighed again. "Though if it's amusing…I don't care who it is."

With his pride on the fragile line, Ciel snapped. "I'll do it."

Sebastian was a bit taken aback. "You'll do it?"

The child turned and pointed not only to his butler, but the inconspicuous young woman as well. "Leave. Don't either of you dare to peek. That's an order, Sebastian."

Both the butler and the office worker stared, before Michaelis bowed. "…Yes, my lord."

By the elbow she's been dragged outside. And once the two were safely away from Ciel's impending humiliation, a stale stillness surrounded the two.

She noted Sebastian was clothed in black again. Sebastian noted her dress today was a baby blue with crème satin lace for a framing effect. It still suited her well. Although he'd much rather see her in the full colors of autumn, but he wouldn't admit that aloud, not under current circumstances.

"I can see now." Her musing brought his gaze from her waistline up to her face. Her light hued hair was loosely pulled back, allowing it frame her face. A youthful face, a usually bright face. But yet…

Sebastian raised a thin brow her way.

She laughed hollowly. "I can see why it was him. He is…unlike so many of them. He burns so bright in the shadows, and yet the darkness is where he has decided to stay."

The butler at her side was a bit perplexed. She only knew that by the shift in his eyes. His posture was otherwise neutral and unfazed.

"Don't worry," Abbie looked back to the door. "I'm not after your Little Lord."

"Then why- " Sebastian began quickly, but was silenced by a noise from inside.

Abbie brushed passed her companion, peeking within. Noting the pleasured expression the Undertaker possessed, she beckoned for Sebastian to follow inside.

"My," the Undertaker tittered, "the Earl would go that far…"

The butler focused on fussing over the child and his disheveled appearance, throwing in a quip at his expense. Abbie returned to the documents splayed out from before, contemplating the information they possessed.

"There," Ciel snapped. "I gave you your reward. Now tell me about the children."

The Undertaker sent a knowing smile up to Abbie. The woman sighed, tossing her gaze to the boy behind her. "There aren't any."

The Earl and his butler froze on the spot.

"None of these children were my clients." The Undertaker slouched over the tabletop. "And I haven't heard any rumors from the underworld companies."

"So in other words," Ciel bit out, "you know nothing about this case."

"That's not it." The Undertaker grinned. "I know that I 'don't know' anything."

"You deceived me!" The boy accused.

"I didn't deceive you." The Undertaker simpered. "It's a great clue, isn't it?"

"Certainly." All eyes fell to Sebastian. "You two knowing nothing of this case means there's no truth to the idea that the children were murdered by underworld companies."

"If corpses haven't shown up on either the surface or in the underworld, then there's a high probability that the children are still alive." Ciel noted. But his face creased to a displeasured frown. "Does this mean…we've no other choice but to examine this circus firsthand?"

"I'm afraid so," Abbie confirmed, stacking the files into a tidy pile.

"If we've decided," the boy turned his back to the Undertaker and his secretary, "let's go, Sebastian. Contact me if any information surfaces, Undertaker."

"Earl."

The young Lord Phantomhive paused in his steps.

The Undertaker flashed the child a wide grin. "Keep your soul safe, at least."

"I know that," the boy snapped, and made his way out the door.

The Undertaker cackled. "I reeeaaally wonder, heehee."

Abbie stared at her boss with a puzzled look. His last remark to the boy before he made his swift exit intrigued her as to how much the Undertaker was aware of…And how involved he really was…

"Oh!"

"Michaelis! Lord Phantomhive!"

The child Earl and his black butler turned around at Abbie's call, slowing their gait to an abrupt stop as she came running after them.

"Thank goodness!" She laughed. "I caught up to you before you made it too far!"

"Miss Abbie?" Ciel wondered out loud with a puzzled look. "What are you doing? A lady should never chase after a man."

She chuckled a little sheepishly, brushing back a sweep of hair that fell loose from her loosely twirled bun. "I have a small favor to request, actually. Well, that might be overdoing it. I'd like for you to keep an eye out for me."

The butler frowned thoughtfully. He shared a look with his master, and upon receiving the acceptance to the woman's request, enquired of her, "How may we help you, my lady?"

She twirled the loose lock around her middle and forefinger. "I'd appreciate it if you two could keep an eye out for a black cat."

Ciel either did not notice or did not care at the silent blanching splutter coming from his butler. He scoffed. "I do not deal with cats."

"Oh I'm not looking for a retrieval." She grinned impishly. "If you happen to see it, I'd simply appreciate you letting me know."

"Very well then," the child sighed. "However, with the outrageous number of cats that roam these streets, I'm not sure how you expect us to find the silly thing."

Abbie pressed a finger to her lips, winking at the boy. "Oh believe me; you'll recognize him without any trouble."

The evening fell heavy over the city of London. In the townhouse in his family's name, the squabbling between the Indian prince, Sohma Asman Kadar, and the young Earl Phantomhive resonated tirelessly against the walls. Sebastian Michaelis sighed, shaking his head just slightly at the childish behavior. The servant to the prince, Agni, chuckled sheepishly behind his bandaged right hand. But the sight of the other servant jogged him.

"Oh! Mr. Sebastian, a delivery came today."

The black butler paused abruptly, his brows narrowing as his gaze shifted to Agni. "We weren't expecting any deliveries today…"

Agni smiled kindly. "A lovely young woman brought a cake over. She mentioned something about how the 'Little Lord will find it quite appetizing.'"

"Ahhh," Sohma smiled, approaching the two servants. "Such beauty, I've never seen a specimen like her."

"Such simplicity, but what a beauty," Agni nodded. "The Prince was smitten, he couldn't utter a word!"

"AGNI!"

Taking the opportunity, Sebastian excused himself to the kitchen while Ciel made his exit to his room. On the counter, a small parcel sat unobtrusively. He opened the top with quick workings of his hands, finding a perfect little cake placed perfectly within. His mouth quirked just the smallest amount, the hardness of his eyes softening the slightest.

Author's Endnote:

So here we are! A shorter chapter than last time, however I hope it was still enjoyable. We've moved into the 'Noah's Ark Circus', and with it a new truth will be learned/confirmed.

The cat isn't a major character. Just a milestone component in Abbie's history (and a bit of comedy later down the line. It won't appear very often). Development will come soon, bear with me! (I'd recommend listening to the song I mentioned at the beginning. It suits the stressful mood nicely, as well as Ciel's beginning struggle to be strong on his own.)

The random ending? I simply thought it'd be cute~

Also! I'm actually tempted to tamper with an alternate universe, where immortal creatures do not exist. I'd still keep Abbie. But the setting would be modern. I've been reading a few fics on here that I found to be very wonderful. And it's giving me some inspiration. (Not to mention the "what-ifs" of Sebastian being human, Undertaker not so devilish in his hobby, and Reapers being real office-by-the-book people. I'm mulling over it for now.)

Next Chapter:

Mayhem ensues when the butler is recruited by the circus. Night falls, and a Reaper shakes up the game.