Quick Vague Recap: Spilling secrets isn't easy, and Ciel had to admit that he was quite impressed that Roxas did over their snazzy tea party. Perhaps it's time to reveal some of his own?
Ciel Phantomhive had to admit, even he was confused and surprised by these turn of events.
He has been dabbing in the magic arts far too much for his liking.
He knew that Roxas was dangerous, but he just assumed he was someone who worked for a rivaling company somehow able to obtain more information than he wanted out there in the air. In fact, the only reason he allowed Elizabeth to bring in her 'cousin' was so that he could find out the source of the information and put an end to it.
He didn't expect his guest to be an individual without a soul, or heart he said, sent to kill him not to get him out of the way, but rather so that his... employers could obtain his body, leaving the soul to become a monster.
No wonder Sebastian was wary of the blond as soon as he arrived at the manor. He himself would become annoyed if his meal was practically stolen by another. Not even, they want the remains, the body, and just tossed away the soul… heart, he said.
Ciel watched as Roxas blinked at the table, and spent a few moments staring at the remaining food before reaching out to take the strawberry candy pop. He placed it in his pocket, and sighed. He stood up from his seat and started to walk up to the gate connecting the backyard to the front yard to get inside the carriage for their trip to London to visit the Undertaker.
The earl moved his eyes to his demon butler without turning his head to watch Roxas slowly approach. "I'm assuming that you have heard the conversation?" He murmured softly.
"But of course, young master. I must say, I'm rather intrigued by this turn of events. Never before have I heard of such a creature."
"Is he still human?"
"That I could not answer. However," The demon narrowed his eyes at the Nobody as he finally reached the pair, and he opened the gate for them. "Only you could get involved in such a mess, young master."
"Shut up," Ciel snapped as Roxas arrived, who blinked at Ciel's stern tone. "I… didn't say anything?"
Ciel facepalmed himself as Sebastian chuckled. "Very observant. If you would both just come this way…" They walked past the gate to the front yard and escorted them to the carriage that could fit six. The contracted and creature stepped inside, and Sebastian followed after the pair. After getting comfortably settled, the driver pulled on the reins on the horses and soon they were off to the streets of London.
Wanting to know his sense of direction, Roxas just stared out the carriage window, taking mental notes of each landmark on the road, the forks, the houses, and didn't turn back to Ciel when he cleared his throat. "Well?"
"Sebastian. What is he?" Roxas asked, still staring out the window.
"Sebastian is a demon, one who is bound to me as per a contract, details of which I will not say." Ciel watched as his butler's eyes went slightly wide as his young master told the truth. Only two people knew of that contract, and now he had just added a third member. A third, dangerous member who was out to get his life.
"Could you explain the details of the contract?"
"It is a contract penetrating to my personal affairs, and I must say that I don't feel like strolling down Memory Lane at the moment."
When Roxas let out a pained, soft laugh, Ciel realized how much he didn't know about the Nobody. He knew why he was sent here, he knew what he - it? - was, but he didn't know about the person known as Roxas.
But could he even be considered a person if he doesn't have a soul?
Did it really matter?
It depends on how deep you really want to go.
"I won't let that one count, since I will not give a definite answer," Ciel told him.
"Tell me about yourself," Roxas said, completely changing the topic, keeping his eyes on the stream on the side of the road.
Ciel shrugged. "Not really a question, but it'll count as one. Still want to ask it?"
Roxas just nodded, eyes staring past the glass. Ciel sighed as he began his well rehearsed speech.
"My name is Ciel Phantomhive, son of Vincent and Rachel Phantomhive. Thirteen years old, engaged to my cousin, Elizabeth Midford." He thought about what else to say, what is safe to say. "I also run the Funtom Company, which you sampled, and I – " Roxas cut him off.
"That's not an answer," The blond announced bluntly.
The earl was flabbergasted at the fact that he was interrupted. "I'm sorry?"
"That's not an answer." Roxas finally turned to the young earl, and wasn't surprised to see Sebastian hovering over his young master. "I already know all that, so that doesn't count."
Ciel narrowed his eyes at the blond, who just looked lazily at him back. "What do you know?"
The blond sighed. "This is your interview, not mine. You said you were going to answer my questions."
"If you recall, I never specified how well I would answer them. So you know the general details."
"Oh, I know so much more. But it's beside the point." The carriage seemed to have finally arrived in town, so he assumed that the ride was almost over. "I suppose I should ask my last question, huh?"
"Might as well. But I suppose this would be your second, since the last one didn't count." Ciel looked out the window himself, and saw that they were only minutes away before they reached their destination. The reflection of the pair was in the glass, and he watched as Roxas started at him with both of his sapphire eyes.
"Do you trust me?"
Ciel turned to him. "What?"
"I asked, 'Do you trust me?'"
"…" Ciel thought about it. He had known his companion for less than 24 hours, yet they have already opened themselves raw to one another. The only other being that he ever opened himself to was only Sebastian, but that's only because if not than he would have been dead all those years ago.
He may not be human, but he acts like one more than I.
"I suppose I do, yes." Ciel answered honestly.
Roxas smiled sadly. "Alright then, don't move."
Before Ciel could even blink, Roxas summoned his keyblade, the Kingdom Key - Ciel noted, and hurled it directly at the Earl of Phantomhive. Everything faded to black as he closed his eyes.
When Ciel blinked back into consciousness, he found himself in a pair of arms. "Sebastian?" He groaned, placing a hand to his head, feeling a concussion coming on.
"Sorry, he's under the carriage. Supposedly anyway." Ciel blinked into focus to find himself not in the arms of his demon butler, but rather in the arms of the blond Nobody. He jumped, trying to release himself from the assassin's grip. It was futile as he saw Roxas' sapphire eyes twinkle in amusement in his struggles.
"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you. Don't you trust me?" Roxas asked sincerely.
"..." Ciel looked down to the floor, cleared his throat and commanded, "Put me down."
"Alright, but take this." Roxas placed him down with one hand as he took out a misty blue green bottle with visible stars and moons inside from his pocket. He handed him the bottle, and the earl eyed it strangely, not taking it. Roxas was about to put it away when the earl started to wobble. He caught him before he fell.
"Here, let me do it." He uncorked the bottle and handed to the blue-haired boy, who refused to take it. Roxas sighed, then took a sip. Ciel was slightly concerned when he noticed that the blond visibly became brighter, glowing with an ethereal complexion before quickly fading as it came. "See, harmless!"
"You were practically glowing, that's not harmless! I'm not about to -" Roxas took the opportunity of the open mouth and placed the uncorked bottle to his lips, somewhat forcing the concoction down his throat. Ciel gagged, but Roxas refused to remove the beverage until it was finished. When it was finally empty, only then did Roxas remove the bottle and Ciel licked his lips.
Roxas smiled. "Feeling better?"
Ciel removed himself from the blond's support and found himself with no aches and no concussion. And probably glowing. "Yes, actually. What was that?"
"That?" Roxas tossed the empty bottle into an open bin. "It's just an elixir. What did it taste like?"
"Hmm..." Ciel placed his fingers to his lips. "I can't really put a specific taste; it tasted like… something celestial..."
"It's the stardust and liquid moonlight." Roxas shrugged. "It's expensive. You owe me, owner of the Funtom Company."
Ciel smirked. "Give me the recipe, and I'll make a much better version."
Roxas chuckled. "Good luck with that. So," He looked around. "Where's Sebastian?"
Ciel froze for a moment, glancing around for his butler. I've been alone this whole time?
"You look tense there. Well, understandable because of what happened. Remember? Hmm, you did kinda black out there for a sec... Let me give you a summary." Roxas walked back up to the carriage, and helped removed the crushed wood to reveal nothing underneath.
"Okay, so some Dusks came, tried to kill you and Sebastian I'm guessing. I threw them off with my keyblade, which is why I hurled it at you. I saw them in the window, and the carriage crashed." Roxas looked around for the driver, who was nowhere in sight. He tsked. "They got him… Anyway, I'm pretty sure Sebastian went after the Samurais I sent away, ignoring me." He shook his head. "They aren't on this world anymore."
Ciel blinked. "Dusk? The time of day? Samurais in England?" He muttered before realizing that Roxas was staring at him. He said louder, "You sent away samurais?"
Roxas shrugged. "Yeah, I guess they thought I needed some backup."
"Sebastian, come here right now." Ciel ordered, placing his hand over his eye patch. The demonic butler suddenly appeared behind his master, and both were still entertained at Roxas' reaction to the sudden appearance. "You called, my lord?"
"Stop chasing after those things, they aren't here anymore," Ciel commanded as Roxas made his way to the pair.
"So, now what?"
Ciel tsked at the sight of the ruined carriage, and looked around. "How far is it from here?" He asked Sebastian.
"Just a few blocks down the corner, young master." Ciel started walking in the direction Sebastian looked at. "Sebastian, fetch a new carriage. Roxas, come with me." He ordered as he continued to briskly walk to the Undertaker's, Roxas quickly following in tow. He was about to turn the corner.
"Will you be able to pay the price without me?" Sebastian's tone was that of mocking. Ciel sighed and replied without turning around, "Hurry up then." He turned the corner and halted in his tracks.
In front of him was a crowd of silver creatures, bending their skinny forms in positions as if they were in a ballet. The top where the head would be located had a large, cylindrical head with a flat top, with a rather curious symbol on its head. They swayed back and right, and in the center of their circle was their nameless driver, who was fading away into a vat of darkness, with a crystallized pink heart flying through the air as it disappeared into the sky. In place of where a presumed corpse would be, there was a small creature that resembled a rather giant ant with glowing yellow eyes, which wandered around its surroundings.
There are mysterious creatures, a blend of silver, white, and black, that have been attacking our citizens in the dead of the night, causing them to disappear without explanation.
A gasp choked in the young lord's throat, and they turned and the earl found that the silver creatures did not have any mouths, but a zipper in its place. Ciel could have sworn that they smirked as they flew in the air towards him with the giant ant close behind.
"Oh crap!" Roxas jumped from behind him, keyblade in hand, and slashed the ant first as well as the first few creatures as they approached before the remaining halted in their assault. "Leave! Now!" The blond harshly commanded, and the creatures shirked hesitantly from their target, hissing at their superior.
Roxas glared at them. "I know what I'm doing, I have my own subordinates. Now leave before I end your existence." Roxas tightened his grip on his blade, and Ciel was surprised at the blond's tone, ruthless and authoritative. The look in his eyes was as cold as ice.
"The letter from the Queen… must have been about these things…" Ciel noted faintly as he watched Roxas continue to converse with the things. "Now they are attacking in broad daylight?"
The silver creatures hissed some more before ultimately bowing and falling into the floor through pools of darkness. Roxas narrowed his eyes in concentration, and a single new creature appeared, one that Ciel deduced to be the samurai from the look of the blade it possessed.
Roxas stared at the samurai, and it bowed deeply, without any hissing Ciel noted, as it disappeared as well.
The young lord looked back to the corner."Sebastian, you can cancel my appointment," Ciel said as he heard Sebastian approach him from the shadows, carriage with horses close behind. He walked close to his manservant, huffing.
"Are you alright, young master?" Sebastian studied him. "I was able to save you from any internal damages, but there are no bruises from what I can see. However, you should be on the verge of a concussion from the way your head hit the wooden door. You also seem much… brighter."
Ciel glared at his butler before answering, "I'm fine, Roxas gave me this potion. Not poisonous, because he drank some as well. Getting back to the point, there wouldn't be any corpses from this case. They transform into the creatures to attack even more people. There were these… silver ballerinas, for lack of a better description… and our driver faded into darkness before transforming into a giant black ant. Clearly there is more to this than we thought." Ciel took the opportunity of Roxas' attention being fixated on the samurai, and briefly summarized past events.
After quite a long discussion, he looked back to see Roxas send away his assistant through darkness and sword… keyblade, he called it, in a flash of light and sighed.
"Roxas, you have a lot more explaining to do," Ciel murmured quietly as he shivered. Yet another close encounter with death. Sebastian removed his coat and placed it on his small shoulders. "Cold, young master?"
Ciel didn't answer, nor did he shrug the extra coat away. He started mumbling incoherent sentences while rubbing his blue family ring, causing his butler to give him a strange look before grinning. "Yes, your guest is quite a commodity."
Ciel ignored him. He couldn't get the kind guest's hard icy eyes and commanding tone out of his head. He had never seen it from him, but it was understandable considering they haven't even been in each other's company for even 24 hours. He shook his head as the blond was within earshot.
"Alright, sorry about that… I'm assuming I'll have to explain everything?" Roxas removed another crumpled piece of paper in his hand before it combusted into flames, ashes scattering in the wind, before turning to his company.
Eyes dead, he said lifelessly, "I don't even care if you don't want to explain yourself to me anymore. I have nothing left to lose but everything to gain at this point. I also kinda need for you to do me a favor, my last question. I have one left, don't I?"
He just couldn't believe the two versions of Roxas he had just seen in a span of ten minutes. "You do, and if it is not too much trouble, I don't see why not. What would that be?"
"Would it be possible for you to fake my death?"
After swearing softly at the Dusks leaving, Roxas removed the letter that Axel had sent him over the tea party, and reread the few words on the paper.
Good luck! You got this one! - A
The moral support letter that Axel sent him earlier was really encouraging. Now it just made him feel all the more guilty as he waited for the samurai to come back with his letter, spending the time coming up with a plan now that he was utterly screwed over by practically betraying the Organization during said tea party.
He only had to wait a few moments before it returned, kneeling low to the ground as it handed him the paper.
"For you, my liege," The samurai said as Roxas took the letter, thanked the Nobody, and opened Axel's letter.
I figured you needed some moral support. But the higher numbers are getting worried that you aren't calling back in with any news, but I was able to convince them to cut you some slack for your first solo mission.
Roxas smiled as he read the words, imagining Axel right next to him talking instead of in his mind. He continued to read.
I was able to research some more on your target after I found out that they sent Demyx for the Intel -
I knew it! Roxas kicked the air at the fact that he was right before continuing.
- and it turns out that he's an orphan who was kidnapped while his parents burned along with his mansion - which wasn't done by me I swear - and was subjected to torture. I was unable to discover how he got out, but they are really interested in his heart. There's something about it that just can't be described, but they want to obtain it before the Heartless notice it, but it might even be too late. The low-ranking Nobodies are disappearing, and I have a feeling that they might be stalking you on your mission. We were able to punish them, but I'm sure that a few escaped. But I know that you're fine. They even noted that he could be a possible keyblade wielder, my sources tell me. So you wouldn't be alone when you make him a Nobody. Hurry up with your stupid mission. Get the kid so you can come back! Everything's so dull and boring without you, I wonder how I was able to survive before you arrived.
Keep Flamin' - Axel
P.S. - Oh, so your samurai just came along and passed me the message, so I'll just add on to this. Well I already provided extra Intel, but if you need to talk, give it the time and I'll show up. Where… uh, use this letter and I'll portal to it. Since we're going to talk face to face, I'll end this now.
Until then - Axel
So Ciel could become a key bearer? Interesting thought, but something that will never come into fruition. How is one able to become a key bearer anyway? But that's beside the point. Roxas was able to deduce that Sebastian, a demon, must have somehow been involved in Ciel's escape, and there must be a reason as to why he serves him so faithfully. He should ask the earl about it later, since there were practically no options left open to him.
Once again, Roxas was jealous of the fact that Axel can burn letters with just a snap as he willfully summoned the fire to burn it. Before he can stash the ashes in his pocket however, the wind scattered them away.
Roxas watched them fly away before speaking softly, "Hey, Sam, you still here?"
"All of us will always be here for you, my liege." Sam bowed. "Until the very end."
Roxas smiled at his subordinate, and said, "I appreciate it, but it's okay. Thank you, Sam. That means a lot. Now, there has been a change of plans…" Roxas trailed off before he fell down to the ground, hands on his face to cover the tears that threatened to leak out of his eyes.
"Oh god, what do I do? There's nothing I can do! I can't betray the Organization but I already did over the tea, and now they are going to kill me! I'm going to die, going to die…" His thoughts trailed over to Axel, and he started to shake. "What have I done?" He whimpered.
"My liege, is there anything else I could do?" Roxas turned to the unfeeling Nobody before he composed himself, coughing as he stood up.
"Sorry you had to see that." He stared down at the ground, in disbelief that he just broke down in front of his own subordinate. He was known for his coldness, unfeeling, honor - everything a samurai should be, which is devoid of emotion.
"My liege, you were always were a strange superior," The samurai spoke in a tenor voice, contracting its superior's soprano. "Thanking us for obeying orders, expressing distaste but forgiveness when some of us fail said orders. Even giving us all the name 'Sam'. Showing emotions while all others superiors have none.
"However, we all favor this, because as samurai we are not allowed to show emotion, less we break the code. Even if we had emotions, we would be unable to show them. Since we cannot feel, it makes us proud to know that you have the emotions that we were born without. Feel free to express them to us even more so, express the emotions we were denied. And, your highness," Roxas looked up to eye level with his vassal, confused at his title.
"We will always be here to serve you. No matter what. So is the code of the samurai, to be faithful to our emperor until our end of existence." The samurai kneeled to the ground to Roxas, almost like a knight would to a member of royalty.
Roxas blushed faintly, and smiled a small smile as he rubbed his eyes. "Thank you, Sam."He turned back to Ciel, to see him conversing with his butler. He sighed, "Please tell Axel that it's too late for me, and that the Organization can't gain Ciel Phantomhive's Nobody." Hopefully Axel would understand. "I screwed up, and I betrayed the Organization. I told my target everything about our plans, motives… I failed..." A spark flashed in Roxas' eyes as his plan suddenly came to him.
"I'm going to have to die."
Sam gasped, "M-my liege?"before composing itself.
"Not die as in end my existence, but rather that I would… disappear." He turned back to Ciel. "I'm going to have to stay here. There's nothing else I can do. I can't release the heart of Ciel Phantomhive."
"Why?" Sam asked carefully, without any trace of emotion.
"…" Roxas thought about it. He couldn't really describe what it was. If he really had to compare it, Ciel was like a delicate rose, a shade of… Roxas thought of various colors… red, white, purple, or perhaps the nonexistent blue rose. Yes, that rose, it just seemed so fitting.
Blue roses aren't natural in nature, and it symbolized the unattainable, the impossible, which his heart was, Roxas assumed. There was something about this child that made him unique and powerful enough to summon a demon, a creature of the purest darkness. In reality, he didn't really know how to describe Sebastian, and probably never will.
But back to the rose analogy. This blue rose - Ciel - contains a magnificent, gentle, intoxicating smell that will attract Heartless and Nobodies alike. This rose, like all other roses, is protected by thorns. However, unlike other roses, this rose's thorns were as sharp as they could possibly be - just a touch and it will cut deeply into skin, as protected by Sebastian.
"He's protected by his butler."
The samurai waited for more information, and as Roxas said nothing, said, "I see. I know not why, and neither would anyone else."
Roxas smiled sadly. "You're a smart one. Anyway, I think I… might need to stay here." Because some people don't relent even with the thorns. Some just take great care to avoid the thorns and carefully snip them off. And where would the rose be now, but just part of a bouquet, not giving it the proper care and adoration it so rightfully deserved. It deserved in its protective garden of thorns and that single blue rose.
Roxas yet didn't know his role in the garden. He didn't want to be a thorn, because he didn't want to get snipped. Perhaps he was a rose as well, but of another color. Maybe lavender, enchanting others to distract them from the blue rose.
No, black. Another unnatural shade of a rose, but this one signifying death. His own thorns are his method of defense, his magic and swordplay would act as very sharp thorns as well. Perhaps not a good as Ciel with Sebastian, but still thorns nonetheless. Black seems good.
"I'll summon you again later, Sam. I need to arrange a funeral. Please stay on standby for any information. Oh, and, Sam?" Roxas looked at the slits where he believed its eyes would be as he reached into his pocket to hand it the strawberry lollipop he nicked from the table. "Please give this to Axel. And thank you. For everything."
Roxas was sure that if Sam could smile, he would have. He took the candy and replied, "My liege," before the high yet low ranking Nobody bowed before falling down to the floor through a pool of darkness. Roxas realized that he was still holding his blade, and dismissed it. He sighed, realizing that this was a huge favor to ask of the Earl of Phantomhive, and wondered if he would do it.
He hoped he would do it, because this was the only option he had left. He walked back to the Earl and butler, who were conversing. "Yes, your guest is quite a commodity." He heard Sebastian say, a small grin on his face, which was ignored by Ciel.
Here goes nothing. "Alright, sorry about that… I'm assuming I'll have to explain everything?" Roxas placed his hand in his pocket and felt the letter from earlier. He removed it and set it on fire, releasing the ashes into the wind. He doesn't want to keep any reminders about Axel, his only true friend that he was going to abandon.
He said dully as the ashes flew away, "I don't even care if you don't want to explain yourself to me anymore. I have nothing left to lose but everything to gain at this point. I also kinda need for you to do me a favor, my last question. I have one left, don't I?"
Ciel studied him. "You do, and if it is not too much trouble, I don't see why not. What would that be?"
"Would it be possible for you to fake my death?"
There was an awkward silence in the air as Ciel studied his guest, trying to see if he was serious.
"You're… kidding, right?" Ciel asked, feigning indifference as he found himself quite concerned with this change of character.
Roxas shook his head. "I'm not. Really. Now that I've told you everything, my life is forfeit. And I don't know about you, but I don't want to die. At least not yet anyway." He smiled sadly, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. "But I really don't know what to do…"
Stunned into silence, the Nobody's company looked at each other. Ciel couldn't read his butler's expression, nor did he want to. He had his own thoughts to straighten out.
What should he do? He couldn't just toss him away. He couldn't just deny what the blond was requesting.
But then again, why couldn't he?
Why should he care what happened to this kid, an assassin no less? This blond was no doubt more efficient with his swords - he has already proved so at least twice. He could have killed him just yesterday if he didn't call out Sebastian. He should be left to rot in the streets of London, pay for his insolent behavior. No one should dare threaten him and get away with it. Sure Ciel has been threatened, but soon after those people's lives would be forfeit.
But there was something about him. His background, the fact that he doesn't have one. His skills with magic, causing the paper from his pocket to suddenly combust into flames. His skill with his weapons, the keyblades, he called them. And of course, the most important factor: the fact that he is a moving, breathing, living person without a soul.
Was it a sad thing that Roxas, even though he wasn't human, acted more human than Ciel ever did after that tragedy that struck him and his family three years ago, when he acquired the demon he named after his dog Sebastian to get his revenge?
Ciel cleared his throat. His mind was made up. "You said your life was forfeit."
Roxas nodded, wiping his eyes from the moisture. "It is."
"So then, you consider your life worthless?"
"It might as well be."
"Well then," Ciel smirked. "Why don't you give your life to me?"
Roxas looked at him, confused. "Huh?"
"You say your life is worthless." Ciel began, reaching out his hand. "You say your life is forfeit. Because you broke the rules and told me everything. And yet you don't want to die. Understandable." He grabbed Roxas' ribbon, untying it and pulled it closer to him.
"But what else can you do? Can they track you? Can they stop you? Can you stop them?" Ciel paused for an answer, and continued when Roxas shook his head. "I didn't think so. So, why don't you stay here?" He dropped the lilac ribbon to the stone ground. "Work for me. You are certainly not worthless. If anyone can find a use for you, it would be me. Work for me, Roxas, and I'll help you disappear from England, this world, every world, so that your employers can't track you down.
"However, working for me is no easy task. You have to risk your life for me, protect and defend me from anything. But I don't doubt you. So, what do you say?"
Roxas choked, "A-are you serious?"
"Quite." Ciel turned and started to walk down the sidewalk, Sebastian following closely. "I'll let you think about it. However, I'll start the preparations. You said it yourself, 'I have nothing left to lose but everything to gain at this point.'" He turned and frowned that Roxas wasn't following him. "Well? We're already nearby. Come along then. We have a coffin to prepare."
A/N: Alright, sorry this took so long. Hmm, I like this chapter, somewhat. All that rose analogy and all that. Anyway, I posted a b-day fic for Ciel in this universe, titled Bittersweet. Ciel and Roxas fluff, I guess? Twas kinda angsty I suppose. Why am I even pairing them together? lol oh well, they be fun to draw together XD I didn't include it in here because I'm not up to it chronologically. Feel free to go check it out.
Anything else I need to say? Sorry for lateness? Did that already. Hmm… It's un-beta'd and I apologize for any grammatical errors? Sorry that these fandoms are taking the backseat as of the moment I'm typing this and that's why this is slugging along but since I have the next chapter halfway written Imma work on this fic supposedly again? Is anyone even still reading this?
… Got nothing else to say really? Okay then, thanks for reading, I ask that you review but I know that you won't, and stay tune for the next chapter. The Undertaker confrontation is next.