A/N Hello, my pretties~! I would just like to say, thank you, thank you, for all the wonderful feedback I get while writing this. I don't think I've mentioned it enough. :)

So, without further ado, let's get it started!

Disclaimer: Let's just say that if I owned it, the rating would be changed.

Chapter Eight: The Cliffs of Insanity

"What?" Ash leaped up on to the deck, beside Grell. They peered out into the clear night air, and sure enough, someone was following them.

"P-probably just some local fisherman, out for a nightly job... in eel infested waters..." Ash said hesitantly. Grell looked at him. "It's nothing to worry about!"

Ciel's ears had pricked up at the mention of a possible rescue. Now Ash glared at him. "He's no concern of ours," he snapped. "Keep going!"

Morning came, and the boat hadn't stopped tailing them. "He's right on top of us!" Grell whined. "I wonder if using the same wind we are using..."

"Whoever he is, he's too late!" Ash cackled. "See!" He flung his hand out, pointing towards the fog-ridden island in front of them. Great, sheer cliffs rose to meet them, too steep and high for Ciel's brain to even register. Unbidden, he let out a quiet whimper.

"The Cliffs of Insanity!" Ash cried, elated with their victory. "Hurry up!"

The boat was still gaining as they docked at the thin strip of beach. Ash, however, took no mind. "We're safe," he said triumphantly. "Only Agni is strong enough to climb them!"

The boat still gained.

Ash fitted a harness around Agni, then looped one of the straps around Ciel, another around Grell, and another around Soma. (Whoa, he's still there! Oh, he gave me a heart attack!) He looped the final one around himself. And Agni began to climb.

He climbed quickly, but it wasn't long before the other boat docked beside theirs, and a man dressed all in black hopped out. He spied the rope and began to climb, using his feet to speed up the process.

Grell looked down. "He's climbing the rope." He blinked. "And he's gaining on us!"

"Inconceivable!" Ash murmured, amazed. "Faster!"

"I am going as fast as I can..."

"I thought you were supposed to be strong!"

"Well, I am carrying four people, and he has got only himself..."

Ciel half-listened to their bickering. He was watching the man in black, and indeed it seemed he was gaining. There was something oddly familiar about hi, he decided, something like from a dream he'd long ago forgotten...

He was jerked out of his thoughts when a piece of spittle hit him on the cheek. "Did I make it clear that your job is at stake!" Ash shrieked furiously.

Disgusted, Ciel wiped his cheek. Thank the Gods they were almost at the top.

As Agni clambered over the top, the four scrambled to claim their spot of safe ground. Ciel sighed, and leaned into the dirt. A few feet away, he could hear Grell kissing it.

Only Ash Got to his feet. Pulling out a small knife, he began sawing at the thick rope that had brought them up.

He sawed and sawed, and finally the rope gave. The others watched as it fell over the edge, no doubt taking the man in black and Ciel's last hope with it.

Grell and Agni went over to check, but were met with an unhappy sight – the man in black had clung to the rocks at the last minute, and was hanging on for dear life.

Ash ran over. "He didn't fall? Inconceivable!"

Grell looked over at him funny. "You keep on using that word, he mused, but I do not think you know what it means..."

And then the man in black stared to climb.

A/N Yeah. So, shortest chapter in the history of short chapter, but I have to split them up like this. Otherwise, it would be inconceivable! *likes using that word out of context*

Tell you what. I'll make it better by updating really really fast, okay? And you can help me, too – by reviewing! After all, reviews are the Speedy to my Gonzalez!