A/N: This time, thanks go to Maria, who wanted the thoughts of Kendra on Ciel. I promised that this one would be next, so this has to go up first, but that'll be next. And possibly soon. *smile*

Title: Fox Kits

Author: liketolaugh

Rating: T

Pairings: None

Genre: Friendship

Warnings: None

Summary: Aberforth brings Albus' letter to Kendra and they read it together.

Disclaimer: Sadly, Black Butler is not mine.

"Well, well! Why, if it isn't Earl Phantomhive!" - Harold West (Kuroshitsuji)

"Mum! Mum!" Footsteps pounded against the floor, pace swift and excited.

"Aberforth!" Kendra's voice came sharp and disapproving. "What have I told you about running and yelling in the house?"

Aberforth deflated. "That it's undignified and I shouldn't do it," he mumbled. But then he perked up again, blue eyes sparkling at his mother. "But Mum, Albus sent his letter!"

Kendra raised one eyebrow, interested now. "Oh, did he? Hand it to me, then, Aberforth."

Obediently, Aberforth handed the letter to his mother, who broke the wax seal and pulled out the letter. She glanced down at Aberforth, looking at her expectantly, chuckled quietly, and began to read the missive aloud.

"Dear Mum,

Hi, Mum. And hi to you, too, Abe – I know you're listening."

Aberforth jumped, red spilling across his face lightly, but he soon settled, eyes still twinkling. Kendra didn't even spare him a glance before she went on.

"School is better than I thought. The classes are painfully simple, though – why aren't they harder?"

Kendra laughed. "Of course," she said fondly. "Albus really is too smart for his own good. He doesn't really seem to realize how far ahead he is."

"He's really smart, though!" Aberforth objected. "So he should know that he's smart."

"We aren't to be taken so lightly. Well, not most of us, at least. The library has proven to be an interesting place, though, and we (Ciel and I) spend a lot of time there."

"Ciel?" Aberforth wanted to know.

"Perhaps he made a friend," suggested Kendra lightly. Aberforth considered this idea, but dismissed it with a shake of his head, protesting,

"But Al doesn't make friends very fast!"

"Maybe Ciel is different," murmured Kendra, going on.

"The Defense professor isn't so nice, though. I don't know what's wrong with her."

Both of them frowned, but didn't say a word to that.

"I made a friend-" Aberforth's eyes widened. "– two, as a matter of fact –" He gaped. "-and I know you weren't expecting me to, Abe, stop gaping."

It was a moment before Aberforth recovered enough of his dignity to protest weakly, "Hey! Al!"

Kendra chuckled softly at her son's antics and moved on, smiling to herself. Hogwarts, just like she'd thought, was good for Albus.

"One of them is Elphias Doge. He came down with a case of dragon pox not long before the school year started, and it showed – no one will go near him but me. Well, me and Ciel."

"Who is Ciel?" Aberforth pushed. Kendra raised her eyebrow at him. He quieted.

"And that's the second time I've mentioned Ciel, isn't it?"

"Yes!" Aberforth burst out. It was a sharp look this time, and he settled again, impatiently waiting to hear what else his brother had written. After a moment, Kendra continued reading.

"He's that boy you saw me with at the bookstore, Mum. We did end up becoming friends, actually. He's a Phantomhive,"

Kendra's eyes narrowed, but she didn't pause. The Phantomhives were a dangerous family to be around, but all the same… They weren't precisely Dark in the same way many other families were. But they were in no way Light.

Did she really want Albus around this Ciel?

Did she even really have a choice?

"the head of his family now."

Aberforth's eyes widened in awe.

"I don't envy him – that must come with a lot of responsibility, but also a lot of power. Well, I suppose those are almost synonymous, anyway."

"They are, indeed," Kendra said softly. Aberforth's head swiveled to look at her instead of the paper, but she didn't say anything further, just read on.

"I made Gryffindor, by the way."

Kendra smiled. Aberforth beamed.

"I'm gonna be a Gryffindor, too!" he announced proudly.

"I'm sure you will," Kendra assured him.

"Ciel is a Slytherin – he knew it even before the hat said so."

Aberforth's eyes rounded, but Kendra didn't react. It came as no real surprise.

"He's friends with a Slytherin?" Aberforth asked, voice hushed. "But they're tricky!"

"So is your brother," Kendra replied, eyes staying on the paper.

"Well, I've been having a good time. How go things there?

Sincerely, Albus."

Kendra folded up the letter and tucked it back into the envelope, smiling a little. "He seems to be doing well," she sighed, wondering.

How much had Albus told her, really?

How much hadn't he?

Of course, Aberforth had no such ominous thoughts, and he was almost bursting with excitement. "I'm going to go tell Ariana!" he exclaimed, snatching the letter from where Kendra had placed in on the table and running for the door. "She's going to be so pleased!"

Kendra's brow furrowed.

Ariana.

Ariana worried her.

But then she smiled.

Yes. Ariana would like to hear this; she liked Albus almost as much as she did Aberforth, and certainly more than she did Kendra.

She smiled again, a little wistful and a little sad, and stood to follow after her excited youngest son.

"Aberforth, make sure not to upset her," she called after him, knowing there was no risk, but needing to speak the reminder anyway.

"I won't!" came the protest.

No. He wouldn't. And she did know that.

She couldn't say the same of herself.

Not a lot of interest in this either. *shrug* Kendra's reflection on Ciel comes next. I'm not sure when it'll be up, but probably sooner rather than later. Please review, and remember that any request will be considered! And yeah... this Kit's quote sucks. I found it in a hurry. I need to fix my deposit of quotes that are about Ciel instead of by him; apparently it's deficient. Though I'm pretty sure some of you haven't even noticed them and most of you don't care.