"Thank you for your hospitality." Aiko and Ciel are standing outside. Sebastian is loading Jaz's bags into his carriage, and Alex is waiting for Aiko at her carriage.
"it was nothing." The two stare into the others eyes for a few moments, exchanging looks of sympathy, and of challenge. "Perhaps we can play some more games soon." Ciel smirks.
"Perhaps." Aiko smirks back. "I'll wait for you to make the first move." Aiko then leans down and kisses Ciel's forhead, making him blush. She winks at him. "Goodbye Ciel."
"B-bye..." Ciel mutters as he wipes his forhead. Aiko walks to the carriage and gets in. Alex then gets in with her, and the driver pulls away. Aiko looks out her window, her mind drifting away. Alex watches her, thinking about the next ten years, and his prize once that time was up.
"Alex."
"yes?"
"When Lizzy tries to organize a day for us to spend together, try to steer the day away from her house."
"why?" Aiko sighs.
"Her brother..."
"Her brother?"
"Yes, edward, he's..." She shakes her head. "He's annoying, to say the least."
"What does he do?"
"If i tell you then for amusement you'll arrange for me to go over there."
"I may do that anyways." Aiko sighs.
"You're an irritant."
Aiko sighs as she goes over paperwork. She had just woken up and eaten breakfast, and already she was swamped with work.
"My lady, there is a visitor here for you."
"What?" Aiko looks up. Alex opens the door to her study and in walks someone that makes Aiko smile. "Undertaker!"
"Hello my dear. It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" Aiko abandons her papers and practically tackles the Undertaker. "My, you're affectionate."
"I've missed you!" She giggles. "Do you have any stories for me?"
"Perhaps, but you must come back to my shop for them. You can even relax in one of my custom made coffins while I tell them!"
"Sounds wonderful!" Aiko smiles. "Then, if you won't tell me stories, what brought you here?"
"Yesterday Jaz came to my shop. Still such an upsetting boy, isn't he? And he gave me these instructions." He hands Aiko a paper. she reads it, then frowns.
"Alex, go find Jaz. He's trying to kill himself. the idiot."
"What?" Alex frowns.
"Go find Jaz. If he's alive then make sure he can't kill himself, and find someone to watch over him. If he's dead... if he is dead then we will take him to the undertakers shop."
"Yes my lady." Alex bows, then leaves. Aiko sighs.
"Tell me, why would he do such a thing?"
"It's complicated..." Aiko looks at the paper, then hands it back to the undertaker. She walks back to her desk and sits down. He sits on the edge of it and leans down.
"Why don't you explain? we have time." Aiko looks at the undertaker, then nods.
"I suppose I've been cruel to you. I haven't stopped by to tell you what happened to us."
"Yes. I've had your coffins ready for quite some time now."
"Well, we were kidnapped. And..." Aiko sighs. She summarizes everything that has happened as best as she can, even up to when she fell for Alex's plan, and had the first part of her contract with him fullfilled.
"I see. Thats a lot for a young lady like yourself. So in ten years I should have your coffin ready." Aiko smiles.
"yes. But you should make it a safety coffin. I suppose anything can happen during that time. and if I find a way out of the contract, i'm afraid i won't be in need of your coffin."
"Now that would be a disaster. To not need my coffin, i'd be very upset."
"I know. it wasn't my choice." Alex walks in, and the two look at him.
"He tried to shoot himself."
"the idiot." Aiko sighs. "I take it he's alive."
"Yes. apparently he doesn't know how to handle a gun." Aiko laughs.
"Of course he doesn't! he's such a coward he never learned!"
"Well then, it seems my coffin wont be needed."
"Not now at least." The undertaker stands, and so does Aiko. she hugs him.
"When should I expect your visit?"
"Soon." Aiko smiles. "I'm looking forward to the stories. You owe me four years worth." The Undertaker laughs as he leaves.
"I'll have a coffin ready for you." Alex shows him out, then returns to the study.
"You know that man?"
"Of course." Aiko smiles as she returns to her paperwork. "He was a family friend. When I was little he would visit and tell me stories all the time. Then after his visits with us he would always have to rush off and go to the phantomhives, or return to his shop."
"The Phantomhives?"
"Yes. He was close to Ciel's father, and often helped him. There was a whole group of them."
"Really."
"Yes. In fact, i snuck into a meeting of theirs once." Aiko giggles as she recalls the memory.
"Do you have to go?" A six year old Aiko frowns as she walks with the Undertaker back to his carriage.
"Yes, I'm afraid thats it for our stories today."
"But why must you rush to the Phantomhives? You're my friend! you musn't go!"
"I'm sorry little one." he smiles and ruffles her hair. "I will be back tomorrow." She sighs.
"If you must leave, then i can't stop you."
"Oh, Undertaker!" He stops as Aiko's father walks up to him. When they finish talking the Undertaker looks back at Aiko, only to find her missing.
"Well, looks like she's an escape artist." He laughs and heads to his carriage. When he arrives at the Phantomhives he takes the coffin he brought inside with him. It's set down leaning on a wall.
"Undertaker, I'm glad you could come."
"Always a pleasure."
"Care for a game of pool? We were just about to start."
"No, I think I'll stand back and watch." He leans back on his coffin. After a while knocking is heard coming from the coffin, and everyone stops. "Oh, a guest!" Undertaker smiles.
"Undertaker." one of the men frowns. "Who did you bring?"
"I haven't a clue!" He opens the coffin, and Aiko takes in a deep breath.
"Don't squish the coffin when I'm in here! I can't breath if its closed!" She angrily looks up at the Undertaker, who laughs.
"You're a stowaway! I could have kept that coffin shut!"
"No! then you wouldn't have anyone to tell stories to! or to eat those treats with! you'd be so lonesome!"
"I suppose I would."
"Undertaker, who is this girl?" Vincent stands. Aiko looks around. she had figured out who most everyone was by listening to them talk, and was a bit surprised that she was here. She was also surprised at the things she heard.
"This is Aiko Setrous, daughter of MarquessSetrous."
"Setrous?"
"What are you doing here?"
"The little spy..." Aiko frowns, the tone of conversation going somewhere she knew wasn't good for her. She hides behind Undertaker, clinging to his cloak.
"I'm no spy!"
"I doubt she could be a spy." Vincent smiles. "Aiko, why were you in the coffin?"
"Undertaker was leaving, and I didn't want him to go. But I couldn't stop him, so I thought I could go with him and listen to more stories."
"hahahaha!" Undertaker laughs. "You're a cute little girl! I guess we'll have plenty of time for stories!"
"She can't stay here."
"Why not?" Vincent smiles. "She's already heard a lot. she might as well stay to hear what she came to hear." He looks at Tanaka. "Would you send a message to her parents? let them know she wanted to go on an adventure, and she'll be returned home later. But inform them she is with Undertaker, not that she is with us."
"Of course." Tanaka leaves and Aiko smiles.
"Thank you Mr. Phantomhive!" She giggles, then pulls on Undertakers cloak. "Undertaker, could you lay the coffin down?"
"Of course!" he laughs and lies the coffin on some chairs. He then sets Aiko in it. She giggles as he pulls up a chair and begins to tell her a fantastical story about a soul that didn't want to give itself up. Vincent smiles as he takes his turn at the pool table.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Of course." Vincent hits a ball into a pocket. "Her family may not be a part of this world now, but look at her. And think about the rumors about her. its hard to imagine she won't become a part of this." He hits another ball, this time it misses. "Perhaps she can be an example for Ciel."
"Her?"
"She has all the characteristics that he will need." Vincent looks over at Aiko who is enraptured by Undertaker's story. "She's going to be pulled into the darkness whether or not she wants to be...
"I actually attended a few of those meetings in that way. I'd have been a part of more, but he began checking his coffins at my parents request. so i had to be sneakier."
"I see." Alex smirks, then frowns. "My lady, i've heard those rumors before."
"What rumors?"
"About those who would get close to you..."
"Oh, those rumors." Aiko looks down, then sighs. "Yes, I remember those events..."
"what happened?" She growls.
"It was my father. my foolish father." Aiko looks up at the cieling. "Alex, weren't you curious as to why I didn't react with more fear when I saw you for the first time?"
"Yes."
"Its because my father was a fool. I was his only child, and i came after years of failure at having children. so my father, when i was very young, summoned a demon. he promised him his soul at the end of his life so long as the demon kept away everyone from me that my father didn't approve of. This demon often stayed out of sight, and he never protected anyone but me. but, when we were attacked, my father died before i did, so he no longer cared to protect me. my father had his soul eaten, and because of how things played out so did my mother, and Jaz's parents."
"How do you know that?"
"Because when Jaz and I returned, while we were out, Undertaker left me a note where he informed me."
"What?" Aiko smirks.
"Oh, yes, i suppose I should tell you that Undertaker is an ex-reaper."
"What?"
"Yes. his stories are often about souls that he collected, or adventures he had when he was younger."
"I see." Alex sighs. "You seem to have been fated to this life."
"Yes." Aiko shakes her head. "It does seem that way..."
"Why do we need buckets and bandages?" Alex frowns. Aiko sighs as she walks into the greenhouse.
"It's important." She walks up to a tree where one of the young branches has begun to whither. Aiko takes the knife she brought and carefully pulls it down, cutting off the dead branch. "You see, we have a particular way of pruning plants. it takes longer, but its far more worthwhile. We cut along the natural curves and feel of each plant, then..." she puts the dead branch in a bucket, then takes the bandages and wraps the tree. "you wrap the plant to help with healing. if its a large cut, or you accidentally do some more severe damage, an important thing for the plant is to put some sap over the injury."
"Interesting..." Alex sighs. he wasn't extremely interested int this. he would have to hire a gardener to do this job.
"I hate gardening myself."
"Really?"
"Yes..." Aiko cuts off a dead leaf from a flower and wraps a thing piece of fabric around it. "I always hated it. but i have my family name to keep up." they take care of every plant, then aiko grabs a watering can. she fills it up with water, then pulls open a hidden door under a table. she reaches up and pulls out a small vial. She pours a few drops into the water. "This is the family recipe. it goes into the water each plant gets. only a few drops for a full can."
"whats the recipe?"
"i'll show you how to make it later."
"why not just tell me?"
"The recipe is never spoken out loud. ever." Aiko waters each plant. When she finishes she sighs. "Alright, we're done with these."
"This can't be all of your plants."
"Of course not. but this is where we do our tests, and we have one of every plant at least, more of some. We have a large amount of white roses."
"Why?"
"two people. the queen regularly orders a large amount of white rose boquets. and the Phantomhives order live roses when theirs die."
"Phantomhives?"
"yes. my family was far more involved with the phantomhives than the public, or even than many noble families, ever realized."
"Really?"
"Why must you doubt whatever i say?" Aiko sighs. "Yes. the queen and the phantomhives order their plants directly from my family. of course, they'll go to the store to buy them now and then, but big or important orders are taken directly from our personal greenhouse or garden."
"Interesting." Aiko nods. The two walk out of the greenhouse, then they walk around the garden. Finally they stop at a particular bush that didn't have a single bloom on it. "what is this plant?"
"This is a very special plant. that spray you used on my hair, it comes from this rose."
"What is it so special?"
"Its a unique type of fall and winter rose. my parents discovered it on my birthday."
"Really?"
"Yes. funny thing, they discovered it growing in my room. they set me down for a nap in my new room after i was born, and when they came back to check on me this rose had grown up the side of my crib."
"Interesting."
"You need a larger vocabulary." Aiko sighs. "this rose is very particular to me. we have the one bush of it."
"Why only one bush?"
"we can't get more to grow." Aiko sighs. "If we could we would. So very few people know about this flower."
"Who does know about it?"
"Well, of course us, Jaz, undertaker, and Ciel's parents used to know."
"Is that all?"
"We never even told the queen because if she made a request for the flowers we could never supply them to her."
"What do they look like?" Aiko smiles. She heads inside, then upstairs to her bedroom. Alex follows. When they walk in she opens a drawr in her dresser and pulls out a flower in a resin globe. it was a rose where half the petals were white with red swirls along it, and the other half were the same, but reversed colors. "thats a remarkable flower." Aiko hesitates, then holds it out to Alex. he takes it, looking it over carefully.
"Yes. thats the one that grew in my room. after my parents got the seeds and started growing the bush they did this so that if nothing else we could have this flower left." Aiko takes the flower back and sets it back in the drawr. she closes it.
"I..." she sighs, then shakes her head. "Alex, I'm going to take a nap."
"That probably isn't su..."
"I need a nap. I need to rest a bit. alright?" Aiko looks at Alex. "Please, just go." Aiko walks to her bed and lies down. Alex sighs and starts walking out. "And Alex..."
"yes?" Alex looks back at her.
"I think its time we hired some more servants. you know what we would need. and, if you can out do Ciel..." She smirks.
"Yes my lady." Alex walks out, leaving Aiko to rest...
"Sneaking out. what a trouble maker." Aiko smiles as she munches on one of Undertakers treats.
"Isn't that what you always loved about me?"
"Of course!" He laughs. Aiko looks around. He opens a coffin. "This one is the one i made for you. I even made it a bit bigger incase you showed up and it turned out you had grown before you died. It's got those cushions i knew you liked."
"Wonderful." Aiko lies in the coffin. Undertaker laughs.
"You've never been afraid to get in one of those. even sneaking into them. I wondered what would happen to a girl like you, one who seemed to enjoy coffins as much as myself."
"Well, now we know." Aiko munches on another treat. "So do you have any fun stories for me?"
"Of course. I even have a few from these past few years that might interest you." He pulls up a chair next to Aiko and begins telling her about a few of the things that have been happening. About Ciel and what he's managed to do, and about some of the guests that have visited the shop. When he finishes he laughs. "such interesting things have happened!" He looks at Aiko, expecting some response. Instead he finds her asleep. He smiles. "Ahh, so tired. Alright, I'll let you sleep a bit." He grabs a sheet and places it over Aiko like a blanket. Then he starts working on some experiments.
"Undertaker!" Ciel walks in. "I need some information about some..." he stops when he sees what he thinks is Aiko. He walks over to the coffin, then frowns. "What is..."
"Not so loud young earl. This little girl is sleeping. She fell asleep while i was telling her some stories. teehee." Sebastian walks over and smirks.
"What brought her here?"
"She came for some story time. And while I told her my stories she was in this coffin. it was made for the young lady back when she disappeared. but i gave it some extra room incase she grew, so now it fits her perfectly."
"Anyways..." Ciel sighs, then looks at Undertaker. "We need some information. I just recieved a request for help on a certain case. I believe you recieved some young male clients, they had their hands chopped off, but the fingers were then also taken off and the palms were taken."
"Ahh, yes." Undertaker leads Ciel to a particular coffin. "This is the one you want. The others have already been put to bed."
"Is there anything else unusual about them?"
"No, nothing. but having that piece of them missing if very peculiar. And whats more, whoever did this took extra care with the left hand, but the right was slashed up. took some time to make those hands pretty again."
"Whats going on?" They look over to see Aiko sit up. She yawns. Sebastian, who is still standing next to Aiko's coffin, smiles.
"You seem to have fallen asleep in a coffin. We didn't mean to disturb you."
"Huh?" She looks at Sebastian, then jumps. "What are you doing here?"
"We came for information." Ciel says. Aiko looks at him, then sighs.
"Wonderful." She lies back down. Ciel sighs, then returns to discussing the body with Undertaker. Sebastian, however, leans down and taps Aiko's cheek. She opens her eyes, then glares at him.
"What?"
"Just making sure you are alive."
"Do that a bit further away then."
"Why should I do that?" Aiko growls.
"Don't be too mean to the young lady." Undertaker walks over and pats Sebastian's shoulder. "She needs her rest if she's falling asleep during my stories. She never has before."
"Thats right. go away." Aiko curls up the best she can on her side.
"I see. how long have you two known each other?"
"I was there the day the little girl was born."
"don't tell THAT story." Aiko groans.
"Yes, she was a cute little thing. I was called over because her mother had been ill, and the birth was already late. There was a doctor as well, but just in case something happened they wanted me there. When I got there I found the mother in extreme pain. But she soon gave birth to a tiny little baby girl. She was loud and excitable!"
"Please stop!" Aiko sits up, frowning. "I hate that story."
"Of course, when she was finally cleaned off her mother was too weak to hold her, and her father was all a fret about her mother, and so was the doctor, so I got to hold the little baby. It was funny being there at the beginning of a life. and of course when I held her she stopped crying. The little girl was so facinated by me. she just stared. so i told her a story, and she giggled. that made me giggle! and that made her giggle more! so this continued! it was quite a treat for me!"
"Enough!" Aiko hides under the sheet, blushing. That was a story she hated to hear.
"you were the cutest thing! I loved talking with you! all you ever did was stare at me like I was the most facinating thing you'd ever seen or heard!"
"You sound like you were adorable!" Sebastian pulls the sheet of Aiko. she slaps his hands, then closes the coffin on herself.
"Of course she loved to hide in coffins!" Sebastian goes to open the coffin.
"Touch the coffin i'll make you regret it."
"What was that?" Sebastian tries to open the coffin, but Aiko grabs the inside fabric and keeps it closed. For the next minute the two struggle with each other. Finally Ciel has enough.
"Sebastian! stop playing around! I got what we came for!"
"If you insist." Sebastian stops. He and Ciel start to leave.
"And of course, when she was younger one of my most favorite things was when she dressed up like a cat to play with the kittens that her family took in." Sebastian stops. "I even have pictures."
"Oh no..." Sebastian quickly walks up to the undertaker. Aiko practically jumps out of her coffin.
"Don't you dare..."
"Here they are!" Undertaker takes pictures out of his sleeve and shows them to Sebastian. Aiko blushes badly.
"Stop it! Don't show him those! Those pictures are private! why do you have those!?" Aiko tries to grab the pictures, but Sebastian snatches them away, looking them over.
"Calm down, they're just pictures."
"But, but, but..."
"So adorable." Sebastian sighs. Aiko growls.
"Give those back!" She tries to grab the pictures, but Sebastian holds them up out of her reach. After a minute of her fighting to get them back she finally snatches them out of his hands. "Don't touch these again." Aiko glares at Sebastian, then glares at Undertaker. "what did you do that for!? You're so mean to me!" she sighs.
"Mean? this is making me laugh!" Aiko hands the pictures back.
"Everything makes you laugh." Aiko mumbles.
"Well, we must be off." Ciel says, clearly irritated.
"Perhaps the young lady here could be of assistance." Undertaker says. "Why not take her along?"
"What?" Ciel frowns.
"She knows far more about this case than I do."
"What case?" Aiko frowns. "Are you spreading rumors about me?"
"Of course!" Aiko sighs.
"Fine." Ciel walks out, Sebastian following. Aiko walks to the door, then looks back. She smiles.
"Next time won't you tell me what you're working on?"
"Of course my lady, so long as you keep it a secret." Aiko nods, then heads out, following Ciel.
"So, what is this case?"
"Young men are having their hands cut off."
"Sounds... interesting." Aiko frowns. "is that all?"
"No." Aiko stretches, her arms reaching up towards the sky. "Their fingers were removed and left with the bodies, but the rest of the hand was taken by the killer." Aiko stops, completely frozen. Sebastian stops and looks at her, then Ciel does the same. Both are worried by the sudden look of shock on her face.
"Aiko? Is something wrong?"
"Aiko?" Aiko isn't hearing them. What she hears is a voice, one that haunts her. You can hold their hands as along as you like... But they can never hold yours...
"Aiko!" Sebastian places a hand on her shoulder. Aiko blinks, then pulls her arm down. She shakes her head.
"I-I'm sorry. I just..." She looks down. "Wh-what else?"
"What?"
"What else happened to the bodies?"
"The Undertaker mentioned that the left hands were cut off with care, but the right were done carelessly." Aiko cringes. "Is something the matter?"
"Its... I..." Aiko takes a few steps away from Sebastian. Then suddenly a young man runs into Aiko. The two fall down, and Aiko feels something being pressed into her hand. The man whispers into her ear with a bonechillingly familiar voice.
"A present, my dear..." As he quickly gets off and runs away Aiko catches a glimpse of his eyes beneath his hat and scarf, and the sight, combined with the voice, makes her lie there even after he's gone, horrified.
"Aiko?"
"Aiko? Are you okay? Sebastian!"
"Right." Sebastian runs after the man. Ciel kneels next to Aiko. He places a hand on her shoulder.
"Aiko, are you okay? did he hurt you?"
"Wh-what?" Aiko blinks, then looks at Ciel. "O-oh..." She sits up and is about to rub her head when she remembers there is something in her hand. She holds up the small, paper wrapped package.
"What's that?"
"H-he put it in my hand... th-thats why he ran i-into me..."
"Aiko, do you know what it is?"
"I..." She drops it. ciel frowns. "I d-don't want to touch it..." Ciel opens the paper, and is suprised to see a left hand without fingers.
"I'm sorry young master. He disappeared... Is that..."
"He put this in Aiko's hand. Sebastian! whoever that was, he's the killer!" Ciel pauses. "Aiko, do you know who that man is?"
"I..." Aiko hesitates, then nods. "But he's no man..."
The group are in a small cafe, drinking some tea and eating some pieces of cake Ciel bought. They were products from the Funtom company.
"Who is the killer Aiko?" Aiko stares at her tea, her mind floating back to her childhood.
"The killer... is a demon."
"Demon?" Sebastian frowns. "How do you know that?"
"Alex wasn't the first demon I met... When I was youger, like two, my father made a deal with a demon to watch over me basically. He was to get rid of everyone who tried to be a part of my life, but my father didn't approve of. Those kids who were killed or seriously hurt, that was the demons fault."
"So how do you know he's the killer?"
"Because... When I was about six, he started this horrifying habit... I clearly remember the first time..."
Aiko is six, running outside with a young boy. The two are laughing.
"See! Nothings happening! I'm fine!"
"I know but..." Aiko stops, looking sadly at the boy. "You should go, and not see me again. you're going to get killed."
"No. We can beat this curse on you." The boy grabs Aiko's hand, smiling. Aiko starts to smile back, but then the all too familiar face of a demon appears behind the boy. His throat is slit, and some blood is thrown onto Aiko. She lets go of his hand, wiping the blood off her face.
"All of these boys are so enraptured by your beauty my dear..." The demon smirks at Aiko. "If only they would listen to you." He looks at the body on the ground, then smirks. "But perhaps you're the one who needs to learn a lesson." He takes the boys hands and, to Aiko's horror, rips them off. Then he pulls the fingers off the hands. "You always hold their left hand. So here..." He throws the left hand at Aiko. She catches it, and is in shock. She had never touched one of the dead bodies before. She had seen them die many times, enough to have already become immune to the sight of death, but never had she touched one. "You can hold their hands as long as you like. But they can never hold yours..."
"What a horrifying experience to have gone through as a child."
"At that point I was numb to seeing them die... I had watched so many people die because of me... but to actually touch the body..." She shivers. "I have never gotten over that... And every time a boy would hold my hand he would do that to them. always tossing their left hand at me because thats the hand i always held..."
"So this demon is... Aiko, do you remember the boys who weren't killed, but were injured?"
"There weren't a lot. I remember everyone..."
"Perhaps these young men that are being killed are the boys that had survived the previous attacks on them."
"What are their names?"
"Joeseph Multon, Francais Vinton, Joshua Smith, and Vincent Trock."
"Yes... I remember all of them, they were all boys that had survived..."
"Can you name all the other boys?"
"Yes." Aiko is handed a paper and pen. She quickly writes five more names, then hands them to Ciel.
"Sebastian, find these men and take care of them."
"Yes, my lord." Sebastian leaves. Aiko sighs, then looks at Ciel.
"Ciel, I don't know what this demon wants. His contract with my father is long over."
"Perhaps what he wanted all this time isn't what your father would allow him to have."
"What are you talking about?" Aiko knew exactly what Ciel meant, but she didn't want to be the one to say it.
"Perhaps its your soul he craves." Aiko looks down, then shuts her eyes.
"Yes... Maybe we can use that to our advantage."
"How so?" Aiko smirks at Ciel.
"He wanted to give me this gift. He wanted to let me know he's here, and he's coming for me. So when he does come for me, we should be ready." Ciel smirks back. His thoughts drifting in the same direction as Aiko's...