Quick Vague Recap: After purchasing a coffin from the interested-in-the-person-without-a-heart Undertaker, Ciel arranges for Roxas' funeral. After the Nobody goes to bed, Sam - the Samurai Nobody - arrives with a note of warning. Axel cometh. *Cue the dun dunn dunnnnn*
A/N: Lol. Happy Tenth Anniversary, Kingdom Hearts!
It was a dark and stormy night. Rain that was so harsh fell upon the ground caused for it for turn into mush. The trees were swaying. The sky was black. It was as if the earth was in mourning. And perhaps it was.
Or at least, that's what he wanted to believe.
As he stood on top of the tombstone, his face was numb from the cold. He picked up the flowers and placed them close to his face. Taking a deep breath, he smelled the rotten decay of the flowers. Although, it was strange since the flowers looked fresh.
He pricked his fingers from the thorns, but he paid the pain no mind as he snapped the stems of the flowers in half and quickly pulled off the petals from the flowers, letting them scatter in the wind.
What color were those petals anyway? Perhaps white. Would the blood from his fingers stain the petals?
He cannot show emotion. He couldn't even if he wanted to do so.
But was the rain always this salty?
He turned from the grave and headed to his carriage, ready to depart from this world and never look back as far as he knew.
As he got inside, he didn't look back and see two figures emerge from the trees and slowly make their approach to the grave as the carriage took off.
As the carriage brought the man further and further away from the cemetery, he left his regrets lie.
At least, the regrets that he knew.
Little did he know that he would regret not looking back, not seeing those who were about to disturb the dead.
Little did he know, that if he did looked back, he would have discovered the truth so much more sooner.
Even it was preferred by everyone that he didn't at all.
Watching the man leave the grave, one of the figures sighed and cleared his throat. "I thought that he would never leave." He didn't wait for a response before speaking once again. "As soon as he leaves the cemetery, let's go."
Although he was barely heard over this storm, his companion heard him just fine. Not a second after, the carriage left through the gates.
The figure faced his companion, and he could see a ghost of a grin on his face. In response he frowned and reaffirmed the cape he was wearing as well as taking the time to place a firm grip on his hat. He stepped out of the cover of trees, and carefully made his way to the grave, using his cane to help him walk to it.
His companion just followed, watching him, seemingly waiting for him to trip up from the wind. Although he lost his footing once or twice, he did not fall. He pointed to the tombstone with his cane, and addressed him.
"Hurry, Sebastian."
Sebastian bowed. "Yes, my lord." He rose from his bow and took out a shovel. The butler stabbed the shovel into the ground and began to dig.
The storm picked up, and the hat flew from the man's head.
Or, the hat flew from a child's head. Sebastian caught it in his hand before it could fly further away. As soon as the wind took away his hat, his cape was released as well and it was flying in the wind, revealing the master to be a young boy, who couldn't be more than thirteen. He shielded his eyes as reached blindly for the hat. Sebastian handed it to him and shielded him from the rain.
"You should have listened to me when I requested that you stay home for this endeavor," the butler lectured, causing for his master to scowl. "Would you like to return home and I will bring the coffin there? You look like you are about to drown in a sea."
Ciel placed the hat back on his head and thought about his servant's words. He shook his head. "That comment was unnecessary, but yes. I believe it would be better if I were to meet up with you at the manor. I can't work or think like this." He took a final glance at the grave.
Sebastian smiled before bending down to retrieve his young master from the ground. Carrying him bridal style, the butler whispered, "Close your eyes and we will be at the door. I will come back to retrieve our little friend here." He looked back at the coffin for a brief moment before turning back to his master, who closed his eyes as told.
Sebastian smiled and quickly made his way back to the mansion, taking about three seconds. "We have arrived." Ciel opened his eyes and quickly released his grip on his servant. He sighed, waiting impatiently for Sebastian to open the door.
Without further delay, the butler did so and Ciel hastily walked in, leaving quite a trail of water. He sneezed before shivering.
"Would you like for me to draw you a bath while I'm here?" he asked, giving his master a look of concern. Ciel shook his head and bit his lip.
"Go back and retrieve the coffin. We need to make sure that he's still alive."
Axel didn't understand. What went wrong?
It was simple enough, a test for Roxas to see if he could pass or fail as a leader of the organization. Everyone had to take this test, and it was a make or break it. Those who failed were turned into Dusks, a horrible fate that nobody - 'cuse the pun - wanted to befall.
Axel remembered his own test, having to set fire to that town that he didn't really care to remember. The screams of all those people before the shrieks of the burning failures of Nobodies didn't bother him at all. What was expected? Nobodies had no emotions.
Except for one…
He looked at his hands and willingly summoned fire to them, setting that photo aflame.
Those ashes that remained in the coffin, were they really the remains of his favorite fallen comrade?
What were these feelings? These feelings of loss and regret?
That was what disturbed him the most. How could he, a Nobody, have such feelings over a fallen comrade?
There was nothing he could do, however. The threat of that mysterious character of Sebastian Michaels has caused for the Organization to cease all ties to the new world holding one curious Ciel Phantomhive. This news of Roxas' failure, the higher numbers have closed off all contact with the world until further notice.
Axel paid it no mind, have a total disregard for the strict rules. And he did, by visiting the grave.
He didn't know yet if he regret doing so, but now all methods were closed off, with no loopholes that anyone could find.
He sensed a presence, causing for him to cease his mental, rhetorical questions.
"Get out of here, you puppet!" He yelled to the open hall, where someone shied before retreating away.
Well, at least the Organization would recover from the loss of their unique keywielder. This replica, this clone, Xion was her name, would take the place of the keybearer's Nobody.
Xion as in imaginary.
But it wasn't the same. Even with the same sky blue eyes matching another's, it wasn't the same.
Wait…
He shook his head. No, Sora couldn't do anything. Sora didn't even know anything. If all was according to plan, he would soon be arriving at Castle Oblivion. Axel had been assigned his next mission. He slammed his suitcase, done with packing. He was to be there for a while.
Perhaps he could lose the memories of the blond there.
Ciel finally allowed himself to breath out a sigh of relief. "That was close. Too close. Never do this again."
Roxas nodded, weary. Without any comment, he collapsed on his mattress.
Ciel wouldn't leave without hearing one, however. And Roxas knew that.
"I just want to sleep for at least a day," the blond whispered, closing his eyes as tears threatened to fall from them.
Ciel thought about it. The burns on his new chest piece were already starting to heal, and they were burns of the third degree. Eventually, the Earl nodded. "I'll give you a grace period of a day. After tomorrow, however, we need to get moving. Elizabeth will be returning soon."
Roxas said nothing underneath his pillows. Ciel watched him for a few moments before got up from the mattress.
"Good night, Roxas." Ciel said lightly as he made his way towards the door.
Roxas couldn't even give a proper reply, quickly falling asleep. Ciel doubt he would have received one anyway as closed the door behind him.
"My lord?" Sebastian's voice said from the darkness, moving out of the shadows to escort his master to his chambers.
As they walked to their destination, Ciel asked his butler, "Did he take the potion you gave him?"
Sebastian shook his head. "He did not, my lord."
At this news, Ciel frowned. "I see." He cleared his throat. "Could you prepare another?"
"It would take some time to gather the ingredients, but yes, I could recreate the potion," Sebastian replied, opening the door to the master's bedroom.
Ciel grabbed the doorknob, refusing the demon entry. He narrowed his eyes. "Well get to it. We have a lot to do before Elizabeth arrives. And don't make it so obvious this time. Even I wouldn't have drank it."
Roxas' head hurt. It took him a while, but he was able to shift a little in his bed."Ugh." He held his head as he got up, not enjoying the dry taste in his mouth.
"O-oh! He awakes!" Roxas blinked to find the maid that he had only seen for a few moments when he had first arrived.
"H-hello," Roxas rasped, desperately craving something to drink to get rid of this taste.
The maid blushed as he handed him a glass of water. Roxas gave her a word of thanks as he drank.
However, the water would not parch his thirst, even after he drank the whole cup. He looked for a refill, eying his pants pocket.
Would an elixir quench this burning fire of pain in his non-heart?
"How could you do this? To the Organization, to me?"
Roxas closed his eyes tightly, not wanting to remember anymore.
He felt his throat suddenly go cold, and dropped the glass onto the bed. He coughed harshly, gasping for air.
Meirin - that was her name, Roxas recalled - gasped, "Oh dear!" She bought a water pitcher into view and hurried to refill the glass.
In her haste, however, she lost her footing and spilled the water over the blond's head instead. She widened her eyes, sputtering inaudible apologies that Roxas couldn't understand when she covered his face with a cloth to wipe his hair. He was surprised at her strong grip, and she let out a small gasp as his hair continued to stand, regardless of the water, when she removed the cloth from his head.
She blushed, smiling as she poured what was left of the water in Roxas' glass. There was about a fourth of a cup left, and she brought it to his lips, and Roxas welcomed the cold water that seemed to lessen the dryness in his throat.
After finishing his glass, she exclaimed, "T-the young master!"
Roxas opened his eyes but before he could let in another word she scampered off. He sighed, laying back in his bed, and listened to the rain patter on the glass window. Before he realized, tears started to stream from his eyes.
"Don't go back to sleep."
The blond got up from bed again to acknowledged the presence of the lord of the house at his door, leaning at it with a passive face with Sebastian smiling beside him. Roxas wiped his eyes to rid the tears that fell against his will, still not facing the two.
Ciel studied him and didn't turn to his butler when he ordered, "Go prepare us some tea, Sebastian. Report back here when finished," as the two watched Roxas shiver.
The butler bowed and without a reply took his leave, to do as he was told. Ciel walked into the room with the same noble air around him, as always. He took a seat on the bed, something that Roxas didn't notice until the lord spoke. The blond turned to the Earl, with a dead expression that Ciel didn't like.
"What do you remember?" Ciel went straight to the point, not even waiting for the tea to arrive. He eyed the glass by the table.
Roxas stared at Ciel blankly. "Last night?"
Ciel shook his head, eye watching carefully. "Two nights ago. I've let you rest for an extra night as was your request."
Roxas looked out the window again, watching the raindrops hit the window before sliding down onto the earth by the cause of gravity.
"Thank you for respecting my wishes," he said quietly, not turning to address his new master.
Ciel was annoyed. He had given the blond an extra day. He was no longer allowed to mourn on the situation. "You rested longer than planned, and now everything's off schedule. You will suffer the consequences as necessary. Are you ready?"
The Nobody nodded, still not looking at the Earl. "As ready as I'll ever be," he murmured quietly.
"Liar," Ciel called him out on it, looking out the window with him. "This too shall pass," he told the blond.
And he knew that it will. No matter how much pain one is in, time will continue on, whether they're ready or not.
And even if Roxas wasn't ready, Ciel was going to push him forward.
"I…" The blond let himself smile - a very miniscule smile, but it was still a smile. He wiped his face from the excess tears before facing to the Earl. "I guess you're right."
Ciel rolled his eye. "What are you talking about? I am right." He rose from the bed and made his way towards the exit.
"Thanks, Ciel," The blond thanked once more, watching the child leave to quickly be replaced by the boy's butler, and Roxas caught the split second of eye contact between them.
"Good morning, Lord Roxas," Sebastian greeted, going to his closet as Ciel exited. "Would you like to know your schedule for today?"
Roxas blinked before turning to Sebastian, away from the door. He had a set schedule? Sure, he was given missions, but after doing so he was able to do whatever.
Ciel sighed, he had so much to teach this new unidentified chess piece. In spite of that, he knew that it would be worth it. "You do," he called from the hall.
The Nobody heard the advice. "Yes?" Roxas half-asked Sebastian.
He heard Ciel groan and say, "And I expect you to be in my presence in ten minutes or less," before Sebastian moved to close the door to block out the sound as well as grab the blond's attention with his outfit of the day in his hand.
"Certainly, Lord Roxas," he started, moving towards the blond's bed. Roxas moved to get up but stopped when Sebastian raised a hand. "Please do not get up, Lord Roxas. As a butler of the Phantomhive manor, it is my duty to attend to you."
Roxas nodded, moving to the side of his bed and sitting at the edge of it. "I forgot, Ciel told you to accommodate me as I'm a guest." He looked to the rain again.
"You forget, Lord Roxas," Sebastian said as he reached his side. "You are no longer just a guest. As an additional member of the household on an intimate level, one of very slight lower status than the young master, I am bound to serve you as well."
Roxas jumped as Sebastian took hold of his arm to pull him to the demon's chest. The butler swiped the clothing slowly, and Roxas experienced a quick flash of cold air hitting his bare chest before the fabric was exchanged black to white and long, white gloved fingers buttoned it. The same hands reached out for a lilac purple vest, ready to put the lean arms through them but before doing so, the raven-haired butler looked up to one of his masters, whose eyes were unfocused in his thoughts.
"Watching carefully, Lord Roxas?" He asked with a smile, bringing Roxas back from his mind. The sight he was welcomed by set the blond somewhat off-edge.
He managed to gather his courage and eventually Roxas nodded. "T-thanks for going slowly, I'm sure that I'll get it now."
Sebastian let out a chuckle, surprising the blond. He answered the confused look, "Masters such you no longer have the need to dress yourselves. I shall be attending to you after helping the young master every morning."
"C-can't I just get my own butler?" Roxas squeaked, not liking this situation at all.
He jumped slightly when Sebastian gave him a small chuckle in reply. "Of course not, Lord Roxas. Young master would never approve of such a thing." He moved down, pulling down the bottom pants to exchange it for royal purple shorts. Sebastian pulled up the dark brown garters before the white knee-high socks and black flat platform shoes before leisurely lacing them.
Roxas was antagonized, why was the butler dragging this longer than necessary if he no longer needed to learn how to dress himself?
Watching Sebastian smirk after pulling the last lace into a bow, Roxas realized that the demon was enjoying touching his body. The thought slightly disturbing him, he kicked his just recently laced shoes at the demon and quickly moved to the other side of the bed, away from the butler, who continued to smirk.
"Today you are to be quickly tutored in the ways of the aristocrats as the young master tells Elizabeth of the situation," Sebastian finally finished, Roxas adjusting to the sky blue ribbon around his neck before freezing at the name 'Elizabeth'.
He gulped. "W-what will he tell her?"
"Just of the ceremony," was the smooth reply. He took a glance at his silver pocket watch as he rose from the Nobody's bed, turning to the blond. "The tea would start to grow cold, Lord Roxas."
Everything just felt so cold…
He shivered, focusing on the demon's words.
Lord… he didn't need such a title. He was unworthy of being called a lord. "D-do you have to call me that?" he asked as he got up to follow the butler to his new master. Sebastian slightly tilted his head before he opened the door and motioned for Roxas to follow him to where Ciel was waiting. Roxas slugged along until Sebastian commented, "We have only three minutes," resulting in speeding the blond's pace.
The silence was deafening and, as all silences that Roxas had with the demon, awkward. Roxas wanted a distraction, but couldn't think of what to say. Memories of the funeral swirled in his mind as he shook his head in an attempt to get rid of them. Unfortunately it could not be so.
"I… I thought we were friends…"
"We are!"
"Friends don't do this to each other."
Sebastian said nothing as he led the blond down the hall to the salon for tea. Roxas slowly shook his head, taking steady breaths. Composing himself, the Nobody closely followed, making sure to study and memorize the passage of the mansion. Before long they reached the doors, and Sebastian took one long look at the lord impostor, eyes studying and curious.
The blond frowned. "What?"
"Lord Roxas has arrived, young master," Sebastian introduced as he opened the door, not answering the Nobody.
"Took you long enough," Ciel said, sitting down by the high tea. "And with eight seconds left to spare." Roxas flinched, and it wasn't unnoticed by the Earl and butler. Ciel gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit, Roxas. Come and have tea with me."
After taking glances at the one beside him and at the one across from him, slowly, Roxas walked across the room as Ciel and Sebastian held a conversation only with their eyes, or eye in the Earl's case.
As Roxas finally reached the chair, Ciel slightly tilted his head down and Sebastian left the room, leaving the two to themselves.
"Try the tea, Roxas," Ciel suggested, tapping his spoon to the teapot.
"O-okay," Roxas poured himself some tea and took a sip, making his head clear up.
After he placed his cup back in its saucer, Ciel asked, "Remember anything?"
"How is he?"
A chuckle. "Concerned, young master?"
"Of course I am, you fool, those burns - !"
"Look, young master. Look at them."
Roxas felt his body be raised slightly, to show Ciel the flesh wound around his waist.
"Even now, he heals, young master. They will heal within a few hours at this rate."
"… Very well then. Lay him down."
He winced, making everything even more blurry.
"Oh dear, this was unexpected."
"What?"
"It's still attached, should I pull it out?"
A sharp pain exploded in Roxas' chest, making him scream.
"Something's wrong, Sebastian!"
Roxas shivered, shaking his head.
Ciel narrowed his eye at the blond but nevertheless continued, "Regardless of what happened, we're off schedule." He took a sip of his tea, keeping note of Roxas spacing out when asked about memory. "The ceremony is to be in a few hours."
Roxas nodded and brought the cup to his lips, ready to take another sip.
Then the words sunk in.
He ended up dropping his teacup, shattering the cup and spilling his tea. "W-what?"
Ciel ignored the broken shards of porcelain as he reached out for another biscuit. "Cannot be helped. Elizabeth had made everything more complicated." The Earl groaned at the thought. "Her family is to be arriving shortly. Perhaps if we're lucky, by evening for the ceremony."
Roxas blinked. "H-how -"
"Don't worry, Sebastian will tutor you," Ciel comforted, eye back to the door. Roxas turned to follow his gaze to find the head Phantomhive butler clad with glasses and a long baton.
"Please come along, Lord Roxas, we don't have much time," called the velvet voice from the door, waiting for the blond.
Roxas didn't move, looking to the Earl. Ciel raised an eyebrow. Was that… fear?
"… Ciel?" Roxas asked, voice quivering.
"This is your first test, Roxas," Ciel said in reply, looking at the tray for another treat to eat. "To see and confirm if you have what it takes to work for me."
Roxas nodded, confidence coming back. "I'll do my best. I promise, you won't regret this, Ciel." Hastily, he left his place and his master and was next to Sebastian, who began to lead the lord-in-training to a study hall, leaving the Earl alone.
Ciel looked down into his still almost full cup chamomile of tea, eye somewhat murky.
As the footsteps faded, Ciel relaxed into his chair. "That was close," he breathed, looking out to the tray of cookies. He plucked one from the tray, bringing it to his lips. He took a small bite before giving a face of disgust. "Mint."
"What do you report, No. VIII?"
Piercing mint green eyes narrowed to apathetic golden ones, its owner furious at the situation. "He's gone."
"Are you sure?"
"… Yes."
"Very Well. This will be kept off the records. What is your input on the situation?"
"..." The redhead looked away. "Leave it for now. He will be in high alerts. We'll move back in sometime in the near future, but it's too soon to do so now."
The second in command nodded, agreeing with his old friend. "Very well. Take care of the puppet, will you?"
The Flurry of Dancing Flames narrowed his eyes at the Lunar Divider.
"Shortly. You will leave for the CO mission as soon as the guest of honor arrives."
The redhead had no expression, cold and unfeeling. "Should I go fetch him?"
"XI was assigned to do so, just be patient," was SaÏx's reply.
Axel growled in response.
"This isn't bad," Roxas commented off-handedly. At least he wasn't in front of a crowd hitting a ball in the air for their sole amusement. He wobbled between three stacks of books divided between his head and hands, balancing on a small ball with one leg that was starting to make its way towards the stairs.
"Careful, Lord Roxas," Sebastian warned, watching from the bottom of said stairs.
"Right." Roxas' wobbling straightened itself.
"Tell me how you will address the other nobles," Sebastian asked as he took out his pocket watch, watching the time.
"Treat everyone with the upmost respect and only speak when spoken to. Take everything with a smile and come up with witty retorts if insulted," Roxas recited perfectly, frowning slightly as he thought about his words. "But... I don't believe I'm ready for that."
"Do not worry about it," said a voice from the top of the stairs that came from opening a door to the hall where they were practicing Roxas' sense of grace. "I can handle those for you."
Roxas turned to the voice and ended up losing his balance. He managed to somersault and land on his feet, but fell to the ground when Sebastian moved to catch the falling stack of books, and did so without any harm coming to the blond. The two ended face to face with one another and, under such close proximity, Roxas quickly crab walked towards the wall and away from the butler, hyperventilating slightly. Both the butler and master laughed, making Roxas blush slightly from embarrassment.
"Still have that habit, don't you," Ciel stated as fact, making Roxas shake his head in denial as the blush died down. He was disappointed in himself. Now that he would be with Sebastian often, he must get used to his presence.
Seeing as he would not be getting a voiced reply, Ciel turned to his butler. "Have you taught him proper etiquette yet?"
Sebastian replied, "I was just about to do so during lunch," as Roxas moved to pick himself up from the floor.
"Excellent," Ciel said, turning to the blond. "Roxas, lead the way."
Roxas blinked before realizing what he was commanded. "E-eh? Me?"
The lord and butler nodded, motioning for Roxas to lead the way. "You do know your way along the mansion, correct?" Ciel asked. "You have been studying the layout?"
"Uh… I have…" Roxas answered and began to lead with slight hesitation. Ciel and Sebastian followed the hesitant Nobody down the stairs and down the next hallway. The blond turned to his followers, but quickly turned back to the front, nervous under their calculating gazes.
He walked along the route that he believed would bring them to the dining room that he was brought to with Elizabeth the first day he arrived. He could hear Ciel and Sebastian talking, but paid it no mind as he needed to concentrate.
Left, straight, right, left… Roxas struggled to remember, as during that time he was paying more attention to Sebastian Michaelis than surroundings. Perhaps the best idea at the time, but now he was paying for the consequences.
Ciel and Sebastian ceased their conversation and watched in silence as Roxas led them to the dining hall, actually impressed at how far he knew where to go. That is, until the blond made a slight error.
He turned right at a fork in the hall, but was unable to keep moving forward when Sebastian grabbed his shoulder.
"So close, we would have made it in another turn next hallway," Ciel sighed, taking the lead as Sebastian disappeared.
Roxas widened his eyes and couldn't help but let out a gasp at the missing companion. He stared at Ciel, who rolled his eye. "I have a very low tolerance for stupidity," he told the Nobody, who nodded as he took note of it. "But if you must know, he's one hell of a butler."
Roxas narrowed his eyes as they reached the hall. He understood the wordplay. "I see what you did there," is what he replied as he followed Ciel to the table. He moved towards the seat that he had taken the four nights ago. Before he could sit in it, however, Ciel slapped his hand and pointed to the opposite end of the long table.
"There."
Following the raised finger, Roxas quickly scampered to his new spot and took a seat. He studied the array of silverware in front of him, seeing them for the second time but paying close attention to it now, as it was different. But before he could actually see them, Sebastian cleared his throat, making the two seated turn to the door.
"Young master, it seems that they have arrived soonerthan expected."
As they were across a distance, it was difficult but Roxas could hear the Earl swear furiously as he moved to Sebastian, motioning for the blond to follow.
"You're going to have to learn this as you go, as we have to dine with the Midfords now."
"Ciel~!" Lizzy glomped on the Phantomhive Earl as soon as they walked into the lobby, making Roxas try and move discreetly as possible and scoot away from the pair.
His sapphire eyes trailed over to three others by the door, supposedly being assisted by Sebastian, who was next to them and taking their coats. He felt all eyes from that group look towards him so he glanced back to his master and his betrothed.
That emotion of love was a peculiar one, as it would seem that Ciel didn't love Lizzy as much as she loved him. Roxas noticed as Ciel smiled a smile that Roxas felt to be forced before taking his fiancée's hand to his lips to place a kiss. Unlike Roxas, Lizzy didn't seem to notice.
"Elizabeth," the Earl greeted, looking to the rest of her family. "Marquis Midford, Aunt Frances, Edward." He motioned to Roxas. "Allow me to introduce - "
He was interrupted as Lizzy detached from his person and latched onto to Roxas. "Roxas! I've missed you so much!"
"Elizabeth," the woman gave a look of disappointment. "Do not touch the undesirables."
Worthless.
Roxas winced.
"Mother! Don't call Roxas that!" Lizzy exclaimed, frowning but listening to her mother released Roxas.
Her mother tsked, motioning for her daughter to come back to her side, which Lizzy did. "We do not know who he is nor who is he related to. Clearly he is a suspicious character and does not belong here or anywhere."
Does not belong.
Roxas shivered. This woman was frightening - more so than Larxene, and that was saying something.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to his new master. "Aunt Francis," Ciel said, "Please do not insult him. He is a part of the Phantomhive family, in both name and in blood."
Roxas turned to Ciel. Did he say in blood?
"Has he proven himself?" She asked in response, "Is he worth risking your name if you're wrong?"
"He has," Ciel replied smoothly. "And I am not wrong. Roxas is a Phantomhive."
The tension in the air was thick before the Marchioness turned to the Earl's butler. "And you have the indecency to continue to keep your hair in that manner. You and your master!" She inspected Roxas head to toe. "And now you! You most and worst of all!" She grabbed the blond's hair, struggling to bend it to gravity's will. But the golden locks just wouldn't relent and continued to defy gravity. That didn't stop the Marchioness, however, even with the Nobody's cry of pain.
"Mother, I rather enjoy his hairstyle!" Lizzy told her mother, tugging on her sleeve. "Please…"
The Marchioness didn't relent. "All of you, clean yourselves up!"
Ciel tilted his head and Sebastian quickly left them, supposedly to tidy his hair and perhaps tend to the late lunch they were to have.
"Francis, dear," the Marquis finally interacted himself into the conversation. "Please, don't be so hard on them. Let me him see for myself." Finally, Francis listened to her husband and released the blond's hair, making him rub his head in an attempt to soothe his skull.
Ciel nudged Roxas towards Elizabeth's father, making him jump before moving towards the man. After getting in close proximity, about a foot away, Roxas quickly bowed. "Hello, Marquis Midford. My name is - "
"Roxas, I know." Alexis studied him, walking around the blond without another word, inspecting him. Roxas resisted the urge to tremble under the scrutinizing gaze before he suddenly found himself in a bone-crushing hug. "Gak!"
"So cute!" Alexis exclaimed, burying his face in Roxas' mess of hair. "Why are the Phantomhives so cute?"
He could see where Elizabeth got her obsession with cuteness from. 'Help me,' Roxas mouthed to the final member of the Midford family, who was distracted from his death glare to Ciel before realizing that the blond was struggling for air.
"Father, I believe that you are choking him," Edward pointed out, making his father release the blond, who coughed as per instruction by his lungs.
"Sorry about that, Roxas," Alexis apologized, patting the blond to help him out. It resulted with Roxas tumbling from his strength. "But I just couldn't help myself!"
"I-it's okay," Roxas replied after he stopped coughing, seeing Ciel converse with Lizzy and her mother about some things that he couldn't hear as Alexis continued to gush about his gravity-defying hair.
He was surprised when Ciel moved away from the Midford women and to him. "Elizabeth has informed me that everyone will soon arrive, but regardless of that we still need to go over your etiquette." He held out his hand. "Please come with me."
Nodding, the blond took the offered hand. "Right."
"Marquis Midford, Aunt Frances, Edward, Elizabeth, if you would follow Roxas and I," Ciel called as he led everyone to the dining hall, which Sebastian had readjusted so instead of setting two it now six, as Roxas assumed.
Roxas noticed something was different, someone was missing. He removed himself from Ciel's hand, who frowned at this action, but Roxas ignored it as he made his way to the young blonde. "Where's Paula?" he asked Elizabeth, who tilted her head.
"Paula?" She widened her eyes in understanding. "Shhh," she brought the blond lower and away from her mother and closer back towards Ciel. "Don't ask questions like that," she whispered, "Mother wouldn't agree, and you already know how much she likes you, no?"
Roxas looked down. "Not that much."
He heard Ciel faintly snort in front of them.
"She's part of the help, so she's with the rest of the servants. Don't worry about her." Elizabeth clapped her hands and grinned. "Now come on, let's all get acquainted before the rest of the nobles arrive! After all, we're going to be family now. And Mother is going to have to accept you. Eventually anyway."
"It took her a while, even for me," Ciel commented quietly. He grabbed the blond's hand, pulling him away from his fiancée. "But she will accept you. She has to. Now come along, show me some of your etiquette."
"Right this way," Sebastian addressed the four Midfords and escorted them to the other side of the dining room as Ciel squeezed Roxas' hand as to not jump from Sebastian's sudden reappearance. He's seriously going to have to fix that.
"Steady your nerves and follow me," Ciel muttered as he dragged Roxas to the seat that he sat in four nights ago, with Elizabeth and her family across from the Phantomhive family, and Roxas noticed that the Marquis took the seat that he was sitting in the last time he was in this room. "We have to do this down to the wire. Watch me."
After everyone had gone and got themselves seated, Sebastian began to bring out the late brunch.
"With the beautillion ball is to occur in a few hours, this will only be a three course meal. First is a gazpacho soup with avocado crème fraiche," Sebastian informed the nobles plus the lord-in-training as he placed the small bowl in front of them.
Roxas took time to study the various silverware in front of him. What the hell - when he ate with just Ciel and Elizabeth it was simple - just a knife, spoon, and fork. Now there were like three pieces of everything! Why must they be so fancy? They were lucky that Roxas knew how to even use the tableware, being used to chopsticks.
The Nobody slightly turned his head to Ciel, confused on what to do. He watched him pick up the second smallest spoon and used it to bring the soup to his lips. He turned to see everyone else doing it before doing the same, albeit with a shaking hand.
"So... Roxas, is it?" The Marchioness called from across the table in between spoonfuls. "Tell us, how did you meet my daughter and her betrothed?"
Roxas almost dropped his soup spoon as struggled to answer. "I..."
"I have told you, Mother," Elizabeth answered for him smoothly, "I met him down by the market."
Roxas gave her a look of thanks, but his relief was short lived as Francis continued, "And what were you doing in the market?" looking straight at the blond and not addressing her daughter at all.
"U-uh..."
"He was looking for me," Ciel answered for him, done with his soup.
Sebastian moved to take the finished dish from everyone, save Roxas for he was too nervous to eat, and exchanged it for another. "Here is a chipotle grilled steak filet with a mango salsa," he said before placing the plates in front of them.
"Interesting," Alexis commented, ready to dig in. "Mango!" The rest of the Midfords began to eat, giving the Nobody and Earl a moment of peace.
Roxas watched as Ciel grabbed his sharpest knife with his left hand and the middle-sized fork with his right before slicing a piece to eat. He followed, about to take a bite, when he heard Francis speak again.
"And why were you looking for my nephew, Roxas?" Francis continued the previous conversation as if the butler didn't interrupt them.
He froze. "B-Because -"
Ciel saved him once again, focusing on his food as he replied, "Because he's my brother."
"Ready to go, Axel?"
Axel nodded. He's been ready for a long time now. "I've been ready ever since I came back."
Saïx approved of this answer. "Do not fail in eliminating the traitors, Axel. Also, be sure to make sure that Sora isn't alerted to his other side."
Axel held back a wince, not wanting to be reminded nor look weak in front of the one second-in-command of who Sora's other half was.
Voice firm, he replied, "You can count on it."
All the sounds of people eating halted save for the one who had last spoken, who continued to eat while the silence continued.
After the news revelation, someone regained their senses and wits.
"Wait, what?" Edward exclaimed, looking at Roxas, who in turn just turned to Ciel, wide-eyed. "You look nothing alike! Your eyes, although the same hue, are of different shades!"
"He took after my mother," was the cool reply as Ciel finished his meal, dabbing his mouth with his napkin. He placed his silverware on the side of the plate, indicating to Sebastian that he was done. Roxas would have done so if he hadn't dropped his own on the floor. He was no longer hungry, if he even was hungry at all.
Regardless, Sebastian took the plates and exchanged them for a mousse au chocolat, basically a chocolate mousse as was the small taste that Roxas got from the smallest spoon, needing to eat it to prove his etiquette. He only took one bite, however, with no one else save for Ciel touching it at all.
"I see it..." Alexis said, "He has her blond hair and even her blue eyes." The discussion of Ciel's own blue eye was closed.
"A-and if what Auntie Anne told me, he also has the beauty, gentleness, and kindness Aunt Rachel had too!" Lizzy said, turning to her mother. "S-see, Mother?"
Her mother didn't buy it. She narrowed her eyes at the spiky-haired blond, who looked back down to his food. "If he's your brother, then how come we only know of him now?"
"B-because..."
"Roxas…" Ciel paused, closing his eye.
Roxas didn't know if it was because he needed to think of a story or if it's because he needed to make it seem it was a sensitive subject for him. He believed it was the latter.
"Isn't he older than you as well?" Edward added, raising an eyebrow.
Ciel cleared his throat, opening his eye to address at the Midfords. "Roxas was sickly as a child, more so than me. My mother hired a nanny to take care of him, since Aunt Anne was unavailable at the time." He placed his spoon down. "This unknown nanny kidnapped Roxas as a child, and he had returned just recently. That's as much as I'm willing to explain."
"You really do not expect us to accept such a story, do you?" Francis demanded, causing for Ciel to shrug.
"Regardless of what you think, Aunt Francis, that is the story," the Earl replied.
She rose from her place, outraged. "Madame Red would have mentioned an older brother, or if her sister had another child!"
Ciel narrowed his eye at his mousse. "Even if my mother asked for her to keep it a secret?"
The Marchioness said nothing, eventually taking back her seat. The rest of the meal was in silence before Sebastian took their barely touched dishes, save for one, away.
"Young master, the rest of the guests are arriving," the butler told the Earl when he returned, who nodded in reply.
"Right. If you would excuse Roxas, my butler, and I," he told his family-in-laws-to-be as he rose from the table, turning to Roxas to know to do the same.
However, he was still frozen, still in shock of what was just set as his back story, that of which he was to be the lost older brother of Ciel Phantomhive.
He didn't know who this Rachel Phantomhive, save for being the mother of Ciel and having a sweet personality with blonde hair and blue eyes according to Elizabeth and her father. Nothing else was noted about her in the Intel except that she died in the fire that destroyed the original mansion with her husband. Roxas winced, repressing any thoughts with fire.
Hopefully he looked enough like her that won't cause for any suspicion or speculation.
"Young master," Sebastian whispered, but Ciel just shook his head. Gently, he took hold of his 'brother's' shoulder and pulled him from his seat. Now that he was up from his chair, Roxas watched as Ciel began to leave the room, and followed. The blond saw a man he had never seen before, but looked vaguely familiar - a man with a monocle, grey hair and moustache in a tuxedo, by the doorway.
He heard Sebastian behind him and couldn't help but shiver. Luckily, the butler's stature kept that hidden from the Midfords.
"Please allow Tanaka to attend to you," Ciel told the noble family as Sebastian escorted his masters to an upper floor.
Roxas couldn't think. He couldn't concentrate on what Ciel and Sebastian were talking about besides the fact that he was now Ciel's older brother.
Before he knew it, they were back in his room, and Sebastian was pulling out a new outfit for him to wear, this one similar to the one that he had worn when he had first arrived at the mansion.
Scratch that, the exact same one he had worn when he had first arrived. Roxas recognized the jewel pattern.
"So now you know your story," Ciel told him as Sebastian moved quickly to change the blond, having neither the time nor the privacy to tease him. He blinked. That was at least two seconds! But he couldn't think of that now.
"Be sure not to forget it," Ciel said as he waited by the door.
"Brothers?" Roxas asked before he was pulled back up from the bed and was brought back outside and into Ciel's own, this time by the means of the demonic butler. He was ignored and left to his own devices as Ciel moved in front of the mirror, standing idly as his butler approached to dress him.
"It's the only way that this would work," Ciel answered as Sebastian began to unbutton his shirt. Not wanting to watch, Roxas turned to them and to the window, where everything outside had been beautifully decorated in shades of white and black. "When did -"
Ciel interrupted, "What did I say about stupid questions?"
"R-right..." Roxas watch the many, many guests began to arrive, all dressed in elaborate clothing with elaborate means of transportation. And… were those gifts?
Roxas stared as they were escorted inside the mansion as by the other household members, needing a distraction.
Oh god, the last group was dressed in red...
"Young master," Sebastian said, "What of the Queen?"
A hushed silence were cast over the three, two of ominous intent and one of confusion.
A queen? A queen obsessed with red hearts came into mind. Hopefully this queen didn't want to cut off his head. He winced. Red.
"We'll figure something out," Ciel replied, pulling Roxas' hand and the Nobody out of his thoughts before moving out the door with Sebastian closely behind them. Roxas barely noticed, head still caught up in the whole brothers issue and the color red.
He heard Ciel reply, "She wouldn't do something so brash by coming to this event."
"Considering your relationship, I would think she would," Sebastian commented, making Ciel halt in his dragging. A wordless argument started between the two, Roxas could get that much from the air, before Sebastian shook his head and motioned for the two Phantomhives to wait in the dim hallway. The master turned away his butler, causing for Sebastian to leave them.
"She hadn't come to see me face to face since the re-instating of my earldom," Ciel muttered, moving Roxas to be alongside him. He turned to address him.
"Now, just smile, look pretty, and let me do all the talking." He waited three seconds before tightening his grip on the blond. "And Roxas," Ciel said, taking hold of the blond's chin for direct eye contact, allowing for the blond to truly see him.
The true Phantomhive heir was dressed in a similar outfit as his, except in midnight blue, almost borderline black, contrasting Roxas' white and sky blue.
Ciel stiffened and released him as the Nobody let out a harsh laugh, a laugh that brought shivers down Ciel's spine the first time he heard it - the time when Roxas was speaking with that man of fire.
"Brothers," the blond interrupted, his face turning up into a twisted smile. "I don't even know what that is."
Ciel said nothing as he turned away, pulling the blond with him before Roxas was able to pull his own weight and walked along side him and to the guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor and pleasure to introduce Earls Roxas and Ciel of Phantomhive," Roxas heard a distant voice that sounded like Sebastian introduce them as the pair was moved from the darkness and into the bright party room and the applause of people he didn't know, nor did he feel he needed to know unless they were harmful to his master.
He had a feeling that they would be though, still attracted to the rose's scent, but for different reasons compared to the Organization.
He narrowed his eyes at the patrons of the party, the various people dressed in the fabulous dresses and suits, toasting and drinking wine as well as dancing to the music.
"We're going to have to dance later," he heard Ciel mutter to him as he caught sight of the orchestra band. He caught special sight of a silver flute, glinting in the light.
Suddenly, the room started spinning. Roxas stopped walking as everything turned blurry and he started losing his focus, everything swirling into a mesh of colors of gold and red.
Ciel felt a tug backwards and turned to see the honorary Phantomhive clutch his head. He was surprised when Roxas let out a moan.
"I..." Roxas cried out, before he closed his eyes and fell to the ground.
"To find is to lose and to lose is to find, I hope that you will find everything well in Castle Oblivion."
A/N: Time flows differently in between worlds.
Yeah, if you hadn't noticed, we've gone a little AR. Bring on the coma! Also, the Midford family might be a little OOC, just because I don't feel like rereading the Ship Voyage Arc to see how they acted exactly towards Ciel. I have a vague memory, but I don't want to pick through it just for the Midfords.
Do not feel like beta-ing… Meh.
Sorry that this chapter's actually pretty long. Usually, the chapters should be around 5,000 words and this one's over 9,000. Gah, I feel like my writing style has changed and this chapter is horrible compared to the others. So so sorry about that. Considering the fact that the beginning, of the cemetery scenes, was actually the very, very first draft for this fic… yeah.
I'm thinking of stopping this for a bit, just cause Kingdom Hearts is so emotional right now considering the fact that 3D is out in Japan and who knows when it'll come out in the States and I'm a little brat like that. I swear, if they don't have the 10th Anniversary extras, or the 3DS bundle… Gah, need to get a 3DS, so I need that bundle!
Hmm, about this fic… not sure. Maybe I'll end up working on it over Spring Break. Still, not too sure about my thoughts right now. Sorry about that.
Then again, seeing the newest chapters of Kuroshitsuji fires me up, so perhaps. Like, for example, that Ciel's currently in school in March 2012 - Chapter 67.
Goddamn it where is Pandora Hearts? WHERE?… Excuse me.
Roxas is in a coma anyway, so perhaps the next chapter should be Ciel-centric. What do you think? You readers never leave reviews, save for a few, and I thank you so much for the ones who do! But for the others, I don't know what you want! Please tell me! 'Cause I don't even know where I'm going with this anymore.
Long A/N's note is long and I know you don't care, but…
Happy Tenth Anniversary, Kingdom Hearts! You have forever impacted and changed my life for the better. Thank you.
Oh, and thank you readers for La Rose Bleue Diabolque! See you all next month for this fic!
Maybe.
If you would excuse me, I'm going to cry in a corner until 3D is announced and released in America.