Ciel scowled at the morning paper. 'Jack the Ripper Strikes Again?!' was clearly printed in large letters. He looked to the number on the card given to him last night and sighed.
"It looks like he was right."
"This is the Cheong residence, may I ask who is calling?" while she could take a simple guess as to who it was, she went with formalities.
"Sebastian Michaelis, butler of the Phantomhive Estate. I called to request a meeting with Lord Cheong, preferably at our estate." inwardly she cursed at the man on the line.
"He's next available at five O'clock. Usually an advanced notice is required, but, given circumstances he'll meet you at your address." every time she thought of how easily Sebastian caught her fist her insides cringed. Quickly he read off their location.
"We'll arrive at five then. Good day." before the butler could response she hung up. At the other end of the line he merely chuckled amused with her repressed frustration. While he didn't understand her ethics, she was entertaining.
Sighing, she made her way over to her master who was eating his evening snack. As she walked in she realized they had finally learned who the boy from the other night was.
"I just received a call from the Phantomhive estate." she explained as he chewed.
"Phantomhive? What are they doing calling us? Well, unless... The boy from last night was Ciel Phantomhive dressed in drag." he chuckled at the thought. He could easily blackmail the young lord, but, their awkward encounter staved off the idea.
"He requested we meet him at his estate for the season. It's near London I believe." her master sighed realizing she meant today.
"Very well, we'll meet him later. I guess he saw the paper this morning."
As the carriage pulled up Kaoru opened the door and lowered a step. Dressed in a black peacoat and black pants, he walked up the doorway stairs. As he placed his fist to knock, the door opened.
"Good evening, the young Lord has been waiting." The butler clad in black bowed as the pair entered. It was a smaller manor, which was typical given it was a seasonal house.
"I don't believe we've been... Properly acquainted. I am Torio Cheong, Lord of the Cheong house. This is my maid, Kaoru." He extended his hand to the butler, who was slightly surprised, but shook nonetheless.
"I am Sebastian Michaelis, butler to the Phantomhives. It is a pleasure to meet both of you." Kaoru curtsied at the man before following him to meet Ciel.
The boy sat at a settee while sipping on tea. His one eye turned to the maid and Lord as Sebastian followed. He gave a small grin for the two before folding his hands. Torio couldn't help but note the newspaper crumpled in the waste bin. Ciel stood to greet them and was met by an extended hand. The two boys shook.
"It's a pleasure to formally greet you, Ciel Phantomhive." Torio smirked.
"As it is mine, Torio Cheong." Nodding at each other, the three sat down as Sebstian poured tea.
"So, how exactly did you know the Viscount wasn't Jack the Ripper?" Ciel began.
"Right down to business I suppose." Torio commented "But, it isn't what I know, it's what I don't." Kaoru sipped her tea expecting it to be watered down and thin-as it came from a man she disliked-but, it had been made quite nicely.
Ciel found the statement to be rather annoying in it of itself. Why couldn't it be a straight answer for once? No matter where he turned it was always riddles and conditions to get the truths he so desired. Sighing Ciel began, "And what exactly is it that you don't know?" He sipped his tea.
"I don't know what Jack the Ripper is."
The four stood in an a forgotten alley. The cold air seeped past their clothes as the dark clouds threatened to give way to rain. Ciel leaned against a brick wall dressed in street clothes similarly to Torio. Both Sebastian and Kaoru kept juror formal servant attire.
Slowly but surely water poured from above as the gurgle of thunder ominously filled the air. The maid extended her umbrella for her Lord.
"So you're sure if we stake out this place he'll show up?" Ciel drummed his fingers against his other arm.
"Of course. Going off pattern of his victims, the next woman who received surgery often found business here." Torio nodded. Kaoru merely studied Sebastian.
While interested in what exactly the butler was capable of, every time she looked at his perfect face frustration bubbled within her.
"Staring is rude you know." the butler commented. Annoyed, she tilted her umbrella in a manner that the falling rain bounced off the fabric and hit the man dressed in black.
He merely chuckled at her gesture. The water didn't exactly bother him, he'd simply rather it didn't touch him. It would be fun to elicit similar reactions as he toyed with her.
Then a clawing sensation tugged at the hem of her dress. Curious, Kaoru peered down to see a drenched cat kneading her gown. Both servants felt their hearts beat faster at the sight of the creature.
"Stuck out in the rain. How terrible." the maid reached for the feline and felt it shake from the cold. Gently she patted it down with her hanky.
"A rare creature of the night." Sebastian watched intently as she handled the animal. A slight jealousy took hold of him.
"Here, to keep you warm." gingerly she tucked the cat under her jacket which functioned as a pouch. Happily it mewed as warmth reclaimed its cold figure.
"We're supposed to be inconspicuous you two." Ciel rolled his eyes at their strange behavior. It was bad enough Sebastian had a strange affinity for cats-creatures that made him sneeze-but another servant was simply too much.
"My apologies," Sebastian bowed at Ciel. Torio didn't mind his maid's behavior and allowed her to continue.
"I'm surprised he hasn't come through yet." Ciel looked around the alleyway.
As if a reply to the boy's comment, a scream filled the air.