Lightening flashes across the sky, and thunder rumbles angrily. A young girl pulls her hat further over her face. She looks back and knows she doesn't have long before she has to get inside, and she is completely lost. As she continues to walk she suddenly sees someone ahead of her. A young boy with an umbrella runs up to her.
"Hey! He was right! There is a girl out here!"
"Wh-who are you?" The girl looks the blonde boy up and down.
"Finnian! Come with me!"
"Where?"
"To my masters mansion of course! I was sent to find a girl that Sebastian saw. He said you looked lost. Are you lost?"
"Yes..."
"Well then, come on!" He grabs her hand and runs back to the mansion. The girl allows him to drag her, though she wonders who could have possibly seen her in this darkness, in this storm...
"Sebastian!" The two walk into the front room of a mansion. "I found her!"
"Good." The girl frowns as a butler walks out and looks at her. She sees his red eyes, then takes a step back. He frowns. "Something wrong?"
"N-no, nothing." She looks down.
"You look tired. Come with me. He heads upstairs. The girl hesitates, but finally gives in and follows him. As they walk down a hall she frowns.
"Why did you send that boy to get me?"
"When I saw you out there I told my young master. He said to have you brought here out of the storm."
"I see..." They stop in front of a door. He opens it to reveal a charming room. It was a darker blue, and had a very soft bed.
"It's nearly time for dinner. I'll set another place at the table. When dinner is ready I'll come and get you."
"a-alright, thank you." He smiles.
"Please, make yourself at home, relax. When my young master sees you at dinner he'll have some questions."
"Alright." He starts to walk away. "You're Sebastian, right?"
"Yes. You know my name, but I don't know yours." he looks at the girl, and the two lock eyes. They're silent for a few moments, until finally the girl smiles.
"My name is Aiko." He nods.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Aiko."
"You as well." She walks into the room and shuts the door. She leans back on the door for a few moments, then sighs and finally takes off her hat and coat, tossing them at the foot of the bed. She then tosses a bag onto the bed and sighs. "This is so irritating... I hate storms." She looks down at her soaked clothes, then sighs again. She grabs her bag and pulls out a dry set of clothes and changes, then she walks over to an empty dresser and looks in the mirror sitting on top of it. Her blond hair was soaked. She sighs and moves some of the blond away, revealing a single streak of red. it flows down her back. She then looks at her hands, they were in gloves. She pulls the gloves off, revealing two hands that could be called perfect were it not for the marking on the back of the left one.
"Miss Aiko, dinner is ready." Sebastian opens her door. She quickly covers her left hand with her right, then smiles over at him.
"Alright, I'll be there in a moment." He nods.
"I will wait out here for you." He closes the door, and she runs back to her bag. She pulls out a new set of white gloves, quickly putting them on. Then she sits and looks down at her outfit. When she was younger she wore dresses like most girls. But that changed not long ago. In fact, it was only four years ago when that change occurred. Now she would wear pants and shirts. It wasn't that she suddenly had a dislike of dresses, that was a gradual thing for her. It was that she had no choice but to wear pants. She sighs, shaking her head. The memories that were coming back she didn't want. She heads out to the hallway and Sebastian smiles. "I see your hair has suffered from the storm."
"Oh, yes." She smiles shyly. "It seems hats are useless in this weather."
"Indeed." He looks at her outfit and is surprised. "It's a rare occurnce to see a young lady dressed like a man."
"It's... I worked on a farm, no brothers." She smiles shyly again. "I found it hard to wear dresses and help my father with all of the work, so I've been wearing pants since I was young."
"I see. Well, shall we head downstairs?" She nods and follows him to a dinning room where she finds several other servants and a young boy. He looks at her, then stands.
"Hello." she smiles at him. "I take it you are the young master I've heard so little about." He smirks.
"Yes." He bows. "I am Ciel Phantomhive, head of the Phantomhive household."
"Phantomhive?" She blinks. "Really? That's where I am?"
"Yes. I'm guessing you were lost."
"Oh, yes." She sighs, then smiles slightly at him. "When the storm picked up I lost track of where I was." She bows. "Thank you for you hospitality."
"It's nothing." Aiko is shown a seat, and when she sits down so does Ciel. "So, what is your name?"
"Aiko."
"Do you have a last name?"
"I... Well..." She smiles slightly. "Triyon."
"Interesting." Sebastian serves the food, a delicious looking chicken dinner. "Tell me, why are you traveling alone?"
"My family died recently, and I've been on my own. I decided it was better to travel and find somewhere new to live where I might have a chance than stay on the farm and die because I can't handle the work on my own. I sold the farm and have been using the money to travel." Ciel takes a bite of his chicken.
"If you're looking for a job I'm sure we could provide one."
"Really?" She smiles. "That would be wonderful."
"For now, you are a guest. Tomorrow Sebastian will talk with you about any possiblities."
"Alright. Thank you Ciel." When they finish eating Aiko heads back upstairs. She practically falls onto the bed, then curls up. Outside the storm is still raging. She sighs. "It looks like I'll be trapped for a little while..." she shuts her eyes and slowly drifts off to sleep...
Screams can be heard from any hallway in the hidden underground rooms. both preceeding and following the screams are a few words and laughs.
"Stop. Please... please..." The exhausted voice of a young girl quietly pleads.
"Come now. You know you'll be happy about this in the end."
"You must trust me."
"No... please..." She screams again. Then crying is heard, crying that could break any heart, except the hearts of those who caused her the pain...
"No!" Aiko sits up, breathing heavily. She looks around, suddenly remembering where she is and whats going on. She runs her fingers through her hair. "Seriously, i cant escape..."
"Escape what?" She frowns and looks at the door to her room. Sebastian is holding a light, looking at her. "And why are you here without your demon?" Aiko frowns, then looks down at her hands. Her gloves had been removed.
"You..." She growls and glares at Sebastian. "It's none of your concern."
"Who are you really? and why are you here?"
"It doesn't matter." He takes a step toward her. "Stay away!" he stops. "I hate demons." she growls. "I hate how you manipulate, how you destroy. You ruin lives, ruin hearts. I despise you demons."
"and yet..." he smirks. "So tell me, what are you doing here?"
"Running." She looks out the window. Sebastian walks over and sets the light down on her nightstand. "as for the demon, he's the one im running from. I didn't want this deal..." she looks at her hand. "but what choice did I have?"
"Plenty."
"No, i didn't." she smirks. "Sebastian, this demon I'm running from, I made this deal with him..." she looks back out the window, then at Sebastian, her expression suddenly changed to that of a hurt little girl. "I made this deal so that he would break his deal with my friend."
"what?" Sebastian frowns. She sighs, then looks out the window.
"It's such a long, complicated story. But, to summarize it, about four years ago my friend and I were in my room, our parents were out talking. We..." she blushes, her mind wandering to what had happened...
"Jaz..." a boy with brown hair and near black eyes looks over at Aiko, who is sitting on her bed. he walks over to her and sits on the bed next to her.
"What's up?"
"I..." she blushes and looks away, then smiles at him. "I'm so glad we are together." He blinks, then smiles, blushing slightly.
"Me too." they both hesitate, then lean close together. Suddenly they hear a scream. Both jump to their feet.
"Jaz!" They hear feet running down the hall, towards Aiko's room.
"Stay behind me!" He steps in front of Aiko. The door is thrown open, and the two are rushed by men who are already covered in blood. Jaz tries to grab Aiko, and she tries to grab him, but they're yanked away. "Aiko! Aiko!"
"JAZ!" She screams. "Please! Don't hurt him!"
"Shut up." Aiko is suddenly knocked out...
"So, kidnapped. How interesting." Sebastian smiles. "What was this all about?"
"They..." She shakes her head. "Its..." She sighs. "For three years I was trapped there. They tortured me, experimented on me... It was horrifying. I didn't even realize Jaz was in the same place. But then, one night, after the worst experiment yet, I heard talking. I was so out of it... I should have been dead." She rubs her neck. The image of blood splattering, and a knife's shadow floats in the back of her mind. "I realized one of the voices was Jaz's. I heard everything. I shouted to him..."
"You understand what this means?"
"Yes." Aiko, who had been lying lifeless on the floor, suddenly moves. The voices, one of them, she knew that voice, somewhere in the back of her mind. "you kill them, kill all of them. You save her and I. You give us back what we had. The money, the comfort, the protection. And then, you help us to be together, give us that shot at happily-ever-after."
"Jaz?" Aiko says.
"Aiko? Aiko! is that you?"
"Jaz?" Aiko feels tears well up in her lifeless eyes. "Wh-who are you talking to?"
"Don't worry Aiko. I'm going to make sure everything will be alright. I swear."
"Jaz?"
"In exchange for my services, once I have completed these tasks, I get your soul." Life suddenly comes back into Aiko's eyes.
"Jaz!? Jaz!?"
"Deal."
"JAZ!?"
"After that, everyone was killed. That demon, he took us away. A while later, while he was waiting for Jaz to finish a meeting I went up to him. I told him that I wanted to make a deal, essentially my soul for Jaz's. Apparently my soul had more value than Jaz's did. Our deal was he would then and there break his contract with Jaz, but still fulfill all parts of it, and once he did that he would leave Jaz, leave his soul untouched, and be my servant for ten years, or until I die. Then he could have my soul."
"So, you've been running so he couldn't fulfill the final part of his deal with Jaz, and therefor can't have his soul or yours."
"Yes." She looks at her hand. "He didn't think about it before he made that deal." She smiles. "I picked my hand because its an easier spot to hide something than where Jaz's seal was."
"where was his?"
"His neck. Like a hideous tattoo." She shuts her eyes. "I always hated that seal, that contract. His skin was so beautiful, so perfect, and then..." She shakes her head.
"I see." Sebastian reaches over, but stops when Aiko glares at him.
"Don't touch me. I hate demons, all of you. You are all the same in my eyes."
"That hurts. I am certainly not like any other demon. and I thought we had made such progress. Look how close we are." She looks out the window, watching the rain pound against it.
"Yes, I let you be close. But I'm also very tense, very uneasy. I don't like you being anywhere near me." She shuts her eyes. "Demons, you destroy everything. All that was good is turned black, stained with blood. One doesn't need much darkness in their heart for a demon to ruin them."
"What darkness is in your heart?" Aiko suddenly finds herself looking into Sebastians eyes. Her innitial reaction is to pull away, but Sebastian has pinned her arms down so she can't escape.
"D-don't..." She can't seem to make herself talk. She wasn't sure why. The only thing she could think of was the shock of a demon being this close, particularly one she didn't know, one that might kill her for the fun of it, but somehow that didn't seem like the real reason.
"What is it? Is there a love, a lust perhaps? Anger, or hate? Pick your poison." She shuts her eyes, trying to regain her composure.
"No. My hate is for you creatures." She opens her eyes and glares at him.
"I find that hard to believe." He leans his face closer to hers. "Come now Aiko, what is it? Perhaps love for Jaz?"
"No." she smirks. "I love the Jaz that died long ago. I may be saving the Jaz that lives now, but he isn't the man I love. I save him for the sake of the boy I grew up with, of the boy I used to adore." He frowns. "All I have is hate for evil, and an empty spot where my love used to be."
"I see..." He strokes her cheek, and she cringes. "So, should this demon appear to return you to Jaz, what should I do?" She turns her head and shuts her eyes, not wanting to continue to stare into Sebastians eyes.
"Get rid of him. I don't want to see him again." He smiles.
"I will do that then." He gently turns her face, and she slowly opens her eyes. "But you will owe me something."
"Wh-what?" She frowns, worried.
"This." He gently kisses her. Aiko blushes badly, then slaps Sebastian. He pulls away, frowning. She glares at him.
"You, you..." She growls. "You..." a few tears build up in her eyes. She suddenly felt like she had been violated. Like something had just ruined her. She felt sick. Her first kiss, and it was with a demon.
"I'll come to wake you in the morning to discuss your situation." He stands and grabs his light, then walks out. Aiko sits there, unable to do anything. Finally, after a few minutes, she curls up tightly on her bed and falls asleep...
"Careful!" Aiko quickly runs and catches the falling plates, and falling Mey-rin, before they can hit the ground. Mey-rin blushes.
"S-sorry. I was trying to carry those to the dining room." Aiko helps her stand back up, then hands her a smaller stack.
"Listen, you must be slow and careful. If you want to take large amounts get a kart. But in your arms, you need to carry the dishes as if they were children. Wrap an arm gently around the outer side to keep them from falling, and walk gently. Don't carry a stack too tall that you cant reach the top and bottom with your arm." Aiko smiles. "It's better for the job to be done right than done quick. Speed comes later."
"Y-yes ma'am." Aiko helps her carry dishes to the dinning room, and allows mey-rin to go on and on about her life in the mansion and her problems. Finally they get all the dishes in, and Aiko smiles.
"Well, I suppose I have somewhere else to be this morning."
"Alright. Thank you for the help!"
"Not a problem. Just remember, like a soft, brittle child."
"yes!" Mey-rin smiles. Aiko walks away, though she isn't sure where she is supposed to go. She had left her room early to go for a walk, and she knew she must have missed her wake-up call from Sebastian. Now she had to find him to talk about her staying in the mansion. The storm had died down during the night, so if she didn't speak with him she would have to leave. And she didn't want to leave, despite a demon being so close. She could use him for protection.
"There you are." Sebastian walks down the stairs in the front room. Aiko looks up at him.
"There you are." He smiles and walks up to her.
"Where were you this morning?"
"I was in the garden, looking at the damage the storm did."
"I see." He reaches over and wipes a smudge from her cheek. She winces slightly at his touch, but otherwise doesn't protest. "Well, we should discuss what is going to happen to you then. Come with me." He leads her upstairs and into a room. Aiko looks around, curious. The room was fairly empty, and extremely boring. Yet that is what interested her. It seemed so out of place. "Now, you need to tell me who you really are."
"What?" She frowns.
"Of course I know you aren't from a farm, so who are you really?" She looks away.
"It doesn't matter."
"It may. Now, explain." She glares at Sebastian.
"Setrous. Aiko Setrous."
"Setrous?" He frowns. "A noble family, part of the queens court even. I had heard they were all killed, along with Setrous' sister's family, and the children..."
"Reappeared mysteriously three years later, where they took control of everything that once belonged to their parents with the aid of a mysterious butler. A story not unlike others." She looks down. "Now, can we move past who I was to who I'm going to be?" He smiles.
"One more thing..." He walks over and lifts her chin. Aiko slaps his hand away, then glares into his eyes. He can't help but smirk. "I know you aren't a normal young girl anymore. Even put aside the contract you have, something else is different about you."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Lying is very bad for a young lady."
"It doesn't matter. Just give me a job."
"Alright." He sighs, slightly dissappointed. "I suppose I could use some competant help around here. The others are useless for housework. And I grow tired of having to clean up after them."
"Fine with me." She turns to leave, but he grabs her and shoves her into the nearby wall, pinning her to it. She cringes, then glares at Sebastian. He strokes her cheek.
"Tell me, why are you so cold? I haven't done anything to you to cause this." She growls.
"You have too. But even without that, you are a demon, an irritating, hideous creature."
"you're a human, a weak, dull creature."
"I'm stronger than you realize." She shoves him away, then walks out. He smirks.
"No matter how strong you are, I will find a way to break you..."
"Stop!" Bardroy is about to pull a trigger and burn dinner. Aiko sighs, running her fingers through her hair. "What in the world do you think you are doing?"
"I'm cooking!" She walks over and takes away his flamethrower. "Hey!"
"If you touch this again for cooking while I am here, or anything similar, I will make sure you know what your food is going through." He frowns as she sets the weapon aside, then looks at the food. "Alright, Bardroy, correct?"
"Yes."
"turn on the oven. Art takes time to create. It's a slow, beautiful process." She smiles. "And I heard you see cooking as an art." He smiles.
"Why yes I do! But..."
"No buts. Few others appreciate art, particularly art that is burnt." She works with Bardroy to get dinner cooked properly. When she feels confident she leaves the kitchen, then heads outside. Finnian is trying to water the garden. But he keeps knocking over trees and crying.
"I'm sorry tree!"
"Finnian." She sighs, then walks over and smiles at him. He looks at her, then blushes.
"Y-yes?"
"Would you like some help?" He smiles.
"I'd love some help!" She smiles back.
"Alright. Here." She takes the watering can and lifts it over the flowers, then gently tips it and walks slowly along the gardens edge. "You swing your arms around so much you hit plants nearby that you don't mean to. It isn't something you should cry over. Just take a deep breath and relax yourself. It's a simple matter to fix." She smiles. He smiles back.
"Yes ma'am!" Finnian takes the watering can and walks slowly and gently, like Aiko had done. after a while she heads inside where she checks back in on bardroy, and then mey-rin. Everyone is doing well. She smiles and decides to have some tea while she relaxes. she makes a small pot of tea and pours herself a glass in a back room for the kitchen, then takes a sip. It tasted great to her.
"What are you doing?" She frowns, not expecting to hear the irritating voice. "I've been looking for you."
"I know you have." She sips the tea again as a man with brown hair and light red eyes walks over to her. he, like Sebastian, was dressed in a nice, butler style attire. He also, like Sebastian, is a demon. "I'm surprised it took you so long."
"I was held back by Jaz."
"You should have stayed with him. I'm not returning." He goes to grab her arm, but she glares at him. "Don't touch me." He stops. "I hate you."
"I know you do."
"Leave me alone."
"I can't." He kneels in front of her. "Your soul is the one I want. Why would I leave you." She growls, then looks away.
"I hate you."
"I know." He stands and grabs her teapot, pouring her another cup. Aiko looks at it, unsure whether or not she wanted to drink it. Then she sighs and does. She had spent half a year drinking and eating what this demon had prepared, she would just be ridiculous if she suddenly insisted on not touching the tea.
"Alex, why won't you just give up? You know that because I refuse to come back you won't get my soul or Jaz's. you should just break our contract and leave."
"Why should I give up like that?" He smiles. "Your soul is one I greatly desire to devour. I will wait until you find yourself incapable of resisting anymore. You'll come back to Jaz. and even if you don't, I will find something else to drag you down."
"Never." She glares at him. "I will always create a loophole for myself."
"how selfish." He continues to smile. "To deny me like this. You are such a selfish human."
"I guess I am." She looks down at her tea. "But I enjoy this selfishness. It's your punishment for trying to drag Jaz down into darkness..."
"I thought he had succeeded." They both look at the rooms door to see Sebastian walking in. "or were you lying to me?" Aiko growls.
"Go away. Its none of your concern."
"Well, what is my concern is an unwanted guest." Alex stands and faces Sebastian. Aiko almost expected some big clash, but they seemed to have a mutual sense of respect for each other, which irritates her.
"I am sorry. I'm here to retrieve my master." Alex bows.
"I don't believe she'll be leaving. She even took a job here."
"Has she?" alex looks back at her. she smirks slightly, enjoying the irritation in his eyes.
"Yes, I have." He sighs.
"Why must you be so difficult?"
"To harm you."
"Humans can be so cruel." Sebastian sighs.
"Well then, I suppose I should be returning to Jaz." Alex shakes his head, then bows again to Sebastian. "I am sorry to have intruded." He then walks over to Aiko and kneels in front of her. He takes her left hand and removes the glove, then kisses it. "I will be back soon for you." He then stands and leaves. She looks at her hand in disgust, then puts the glove back on.
"Irritant." She mumbles finishing her cup of tea.
"You enjoy his suffering quite a bit."
"Yes, I do." she shakes her head. "But he deserves it. He knows now that he's trapped, but he refuses to just leave, to give up."
"your soul must mean very much to him." Sebastian smiles, thinking of his own relationship with Ciel, and his craving for Ciel's soul.
"It doesn't matter. He will never have it." She stands and leaves the room. Sebastian sighs, then walks out as well...
"I can't believe this..." Aiko mutters as she tries not to drop the two large, and very heavy, boxes she was carrying. "How did I get myself into this mess? Where is finnian?" She sighs angrily, then squeaks as she begins to lose her balance, and the top box starts to slide. She takes a few steps back and bumps into something.
"What are you doing?" Sebastian sighs. He helps Aiko steady herself, then takes the top box. He's surprised by how heavy it is, then he smiles. Aiko frowns. She didn't trust his smile. The two walk in silence towards a back room where the boxes are set down. Aiko sets hers in a corner, then Sebastian sets his on top of hers. She then tries to quickly escape, but he shoves her against the boxes, pinning her to them. "So much strength in these little arms." He runs a hand down her arm. "I think it's about time you told me all of your little secrets. You see, I'm not happy when someone lies to me."
"I..." She looks away. Sebastian turns her face so she's again looingk at him, into his eyes. The red both unnerves Aiko and calms her. "I just..."
"Come now Aiko..." He smiles. "I'm guessing those experiments worked, didn't they?" She looks down and shuts her eyes, not wanting to remember.
"Shut up."
"Clearly you became stronger. But what else?"
"Shut up."
"Something else. What happened? What did they do? just stick needles in your arms? Or..."
"Shut up!" She glares at him.
"Tell me then." She looks away, growling...
"Which ones have succeeded?" A scientist looks over his notes.
"strength was only partial."
"alright."
"Her intelligence and reflexes are greatly increased from yesterday. That was a success."
"What else?"
"Speed."
"Has anything failed?"
"In fact, no. Strength wasn't a complete success, but it was close. Other than that, she has responded to everything we've given her."
"Then we have the perfect subject."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure." Aiko is on a table, listening to the scientists talk about her fate. It had been three long years in this horrible place, and she had almost completely lost her will to fight. Still, it wasn't completely gone. So she was strapped down tightly. "Come now." They walk over, and other scientists watch in fascination.
"My dear, you've done so well with everything. Normally we wait to give you another injection."
"But this one is important." She suddenly feels a sharp pain in her arm. Aiko screams and struggles. This hurt, badly. Pain was shooting through her body. After a short while it slows to a dull ache, and she calms down.
"Now, for the test." She looks over at a scientist walking up to her with a knife, and suddenly Aiko becomes afraid. Nothing good came from these men, and definitely nothing with a knife. She begins to struggle, but she's held down by the straps, and other scientists hold her still. One grabs her chin and pulls her head so her neck is exposed. Aiko panics more, suddenly realizing what they're doing.
"No! Let go!" She yells. But no one listens to her. then she feels it, the blade running through her neck. she freezes, in shock. They had just sliced through her throat. Blood went everywhere. She sees on a wall the shadow of the scientist holding the knife, and a drop of blood escaping from it's dark clutches.
"Did it work?"
"It did!"
"she's alive still!"
"Look at that!"
"Amazing!"
"More tests! More tests! Get those! don't forget the other weapons! We must see if this girl is now truly immortal..."
"Immortality?" Sebastian blinks, not expecting what he was just told. "You've become a superhuman."
"Yes." She glares into Sebastian's eyes. "That day, when I was returned to my cell, thats the day Jaz made his deal with Alex."
"I see." Sebastian smirks. "So this is the source of your sassy behavior, and your confidence. you know you can't die. you know no matter what you'll be fine. the only thing that could make you end..." He leans in close, unnerving Aiko. "Would be to have your soul stolen away." Sebastian strokes Aiko's cheek, making her growl. He then makes sure her arms are pinned to the boxes behind her, then kisses Aiko. She blushes badly and tries to fight Sebastian, but her strength wasn't enough to defeat his. After a few long moments she finally gives in. It wasn't bad. In fact, she enjoyed it. That scared her. It scared her a lot, and disgusted her. When he pulls away she takes in a few deep breathes, then suddenly feels sick.
"I-i'm..." Sebastian steps back. She falls to her knees, hand covering her mouth.
"Your hate of demons seems to be very extreme." he smirks slightly. Once Aiko has choked back the sick feeling she glares up at Sebastian. He kneels in front of Aiko, looking into her eyes. "You fascinate me my dear. I can't believe how interesting, and how trouble-some you are."
"You... You sick, twisted..." She growls. "Go die you lowly, irritating, and grotesque creature." He strokes her cheek, still smirking.
"I can see that you truly believe that." He stands. "I will see you later my dear." He walks over, leaving her alone. Aiko shakes her head.
"I'm gonna throw up..." She stands, hand back over her mouth. "I despise demons." She heads to the nearest bathroom to thuroughly clean her mouth out...
"Aiko!"
"Help!" Aiko jumps the railing of the main stairs. She throws open the front doors, then ducks, barely avoiding a bullet.
"What the heck?" she frowns and looks out at the fight happening. Ciel had been taken to town by Sebastian, he was requested as a contest judge for a charity event. So the attackers that had suddenly appeared were attacking for nothing. Still, they had to defend the mansion.
"Aiko! Here!" She's tossed two guns by Mey-rin. Aiko sighs. She didn't like guns. She also didn't like fighting. She looks out at the men, then dodges another bullet.
"This is irritating." She shoots at the men, hitting them in their arms or legs, rendering them incapable of continuing to fight. When she runs out of bullets she tosses the guns aside. She was glad to have run out so quickly.
"Aiko! We can't hold them off for long!" Bardroy shouts. She frowns.
"What?"
"We need more help!"
"We need Sebastian!" Mey-rin yells as she pulls out more guns. Aiko gets outside and, despite the inumerable negatives, finds herself grateful for her enhanced abilities. She easily dodges all the bullets, and catches some to throw back, hitting the attackers. She doesn't kill anyone though. She finds herself incapable of doing so.
"Wow."
"You're amazing!"
"Like Sebastian!"
"But, we're still overwhelmed!" Aiko frowns more. She knew they were right. There was such a large amount of attackers, and she could see more coming from further off. Without Sebastian they were going to be overwhelmed. Aiko bites her lip. She didn't want to do what she knew she had to do, especially not in front of anyone. She sighs angrily, then runs around back, away from prying eyes. She pulls the glove off her head, then sighs angrily.
"Alright..." She hesitates, but then the sound of Finnian yelling after a bullet hits his arm forces her to say the words she had refused to say for the longest time. "Alex, I order you, come here now and get rid of these irritants." She then shuts her eyes. After a few moments she suddenly hears screaming. When it dies down she opens her eyes. Alex is on one knee in front of her, bowing.
"I'm sorry I was so slow." She looks away, irritated that she had to resort to what she did.
"I don't care. Just return to Jaz."
"As you wish my lady." He leaves. She heads around front, then looks away. As she expected, he had killed more people than he had merely scared away.
"Aiko!"
"you missed it!"
"It was amazing!"
"Someone suddenly showed up and killed all those people! It was spectacular!"
"Really?" She fakes a smile. "Thats amazing!"
"Where did you go?"
"I had to do something." She heads back inside. The others frown, but then follow her...
"A visitor?" Bardroy smirks. "well we'll just have to show them the best of what we got!"
"How long is he staying for?"
"I heard a week. It's an old friend of the masters. Someone he hasn't seen since he was a real small chap."
"I see. Well, this'll be great then!" Aiko had been listening, but she didn't care much. Instead she sat in the corner of the kitchen, drinking her tea. Sebastian walks in and looks at her, as if the others weren't there.
"We have a lot of prep work to do for the dinner tonight. Our guest is very special."
"Who is it?" He smirks slightly at the question, worrying Aiko.
"Aiko, I do need your help. Would you come with me?" She sets her tea down and stands. Sebastian walks out and she follows him.
"Sebastian, who is the guest?"
"I feel you are better off not knowing at this point in time." Aiko sighs. She was definitely worried by this visitor. Sebastian leads her upstairs and to a guest room. "We must straighten this room and the next up. These will be for the guest and his butler." Aiko frowns, the thought suddenly popping into her mind of who the guest is.
"Sebastian..."
"yes?" He starts to straighten up the bed. Aiko growls. She walks over and grabs Sebastian's wrist, then spins him so he's looking at her. Sebastian smirks at her. Aiko glares at him a minute, then turns and walks away.
"I'm leaving."
"Why would you leave so suddenly?"
"I'm not..." She's stopped by the sound of the doorbell. "I-i thought..."
"Yes, I expected this reaction. So I told everyone the guest was coming later than he actually is." Sebastian walks out of the room. Aiko growls, but follows. She stops at the top of the stairs, and watches as the door is opened.
"Master Notrun. I'm glad you could make it. Master Ciel is excited to see you again."
"thank you." Aiko watches as the once love of her life walks in, followed by Alex. He looks up at Aiko and smiles. Jaz notices Alex's stare and follows his gaze. He smiles. "Aiko! You're here!" He runs up the stairs and practically tackles her. "I've missed you!"
"Y-you too." she smiles slightly.
"I can't believe this! why are you here?"
"I-I ended up here, and stayed for a job."
"A job? What would you need a job for?"
"J-just a new experience." He shakes his head, then smirks.
"Aiko, you are such a strange one. I adore you." Jaz smiles back at Alex. "Alex! Isn't this wonderful?"
"Yes."
"Well, since you know each other so well, why don't you show them their rooms?" Sebastian smiles at Aiko, who glares at him. Then she turns and starts to walk away.
"Come on Jaz." Jaz happily follows Aiko. When he sees his room he smiles.
"It's wonderful." He looks around, then smiles at Aiko. "Aiko, please come home when we leave. I've missed you so much."
"Jaz..." She looks down, then sighs and looks at him. "Jaz, I'm..."
"Please. I know when you left you swore to me you would never return, but..." He looks heartbroken. "Please, I love you. if it was just me back there, being tortured, I wouldn't have made the deal. But i knew you were there, and I knew I had to get you out. You can't stay mad at me for asking Alex for..."
"yes I can!" She growls. "I can be mad at you for any number of reasons, but that is the worst one! That is..." She's stopped when he places a finger to her lips.
"I know..." He strokes her cheek. "I'm sorry I upset you. I love you though. Please, I love you."
"Jaz..." He leans forward. Aiko blushes, but she doesn't pull away. Jaz kisses her lightly. When he pulls away he strokes her hair, and smiles.
"I love you." She hangs her head.
"You're a fool Jaz..." She walks out, leaving Jaz alone. As she walks out Alex bows to her.
"My lady."
"Leave me alone. He's your master for now." She starts to walk away.
"No longer."
"What?" Aiko spins around, frowning. He smirks.
"You see, the final wish was merely for me to bring you two together, to give you the chance to be happy with each other. As you two shared a kiss, an intimate moment together, you were brought together. You were given the option of returning, not by me, but by Jaz himself. So all of the requirements have been met."
"Wh-what? n-no! you're joking!"
"His reasoning is sound." Sebastian smiles at Aiko. She glares at him.
"shut up."
"My lady." Alex smiles at Aiko. She growls, then runs away. Alex sighs. "She seems very resistant to the idea of losing her soul."
"Yes." Alex smirks. "Her soul has no dark tendencies. Of course, she is human, but especially as of late all she has done that could be called dark would be her cruelty towards Jaz." He looks at Sebastian. "I am sorry to cause trouble in this home."
"It's not a problem." Alex nods, then follows after Aiko. He finds her in her room, sitting on her bed, knees pulled up tight to her chest.
"My lady..." He walks in, closing the door behind him, then bows. "Is there anything you need?"
"For you to leave." She mumbles, annoyed. "I hate you." He smiles.
"I know." He walks over. "There is plenty of time before bed. Perhaps you should go spend time with Jaz."
"I don't love this Jaz." She rests her forhead on her knees. "Go tell him what happened." He bows.
"Yes my lady." He heads to the door.
"Alex..."
"yes?"
"Don't return tonight. I don't want to see you again."
"Yes my lady." He walks out. Aiko looks out the window.
"I despise you..."