A/N-Sorry my chapters have been so short guys, I wish I had made them longer. I guess I'm just trying to get a feel for the character's personalities and such…I'm so glad that some of you like it already. There's a sad lack of Sebby X Mey Rin content out there…I don't understand it! Such a cute shipping! T_T
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The next few days went on as normal, despite Mey Rin's absence. Finny worked the days away in the garden, plotting out the Halloween decoration scheme for the Ball and making sure the hedges were trimmed just so. He had surprisingly done very well for himself. He had little to no problems that would require Sebastian's interference.
Pluto had been extremely well behaved himself. Finny had not needed any assistance taming him as of late.
Bard had been busy discussing the menu for the Ball with Young Master, Ciel to make sure it would suit everyone's fancy. Of course, Sebastian had a few suggestions as well. Since it would be Halloween, it would only be appropriate to serve Funtom candy to the guests. He even proposed the idea that they hand-make some of the candy to achieve maximum freshness and authenticity. Of course, this would probably take a whole day and then some to complete. Sebastian decided to pull Finny away from his yard work for the time being, so he could help out. The Ball was only a day away.
"Oh, I justI love candy! I can't wait!" He shouted excitedly, dancing around the kitchen. "Halloween is wonderful, idn't it?"
It seemed that the change of seasons was having an effect on everyone.
Sebastian's eyebrow twitched slightly at Finny's energetic enthusiasm. It annoyed him that he was so reckless knowing how much strength he possessed.
"You're going to break something if you keep prancing around so foolishly." He warned as he fingered through the Funtom company cookbook. Finny ceased his twirling and stood at attention, removing is straw sun hat.
"Sorry, Sebastian." He pouted. He hung his hat on the coat rack in the corner and joined Sebastian and Bard at the prep table, where they had all the ingredients they would need at the ready.
"Now then," Sebastian began, placing the open cookbook on the table in front of them. He pointed down at the first type of candy they would be making.
"We will start off with something simple. One of Funtom's most popular candy; Milk Chocolate covered Toffee pieces. Once they are done, we will also hand wrap them in Funtom-brand wrappers of course."
"Oh, delicious!" Finny exclaimed.
"I suggest you don't get any ideas Finny. No sampling the products. If you both do well today, you can certainly have whatever is left over." Sebastian retrieved his spectacles from his front pocket, and proceeded to read over the instructions while Finny and Bard smiled excitedly like idiots.
"I will help you make this first batch, of course. But I will need the two of you to make the rest, as I have much to take care of around the mansion today."
"Yes sir!" Bard and Finny said in unison.
"Make sure you pay close attention to me as I do this." Sebastian said. Just then, Mey Rin entered the kitchen through the double doors.
"Oh my." She said, blushing. "I didn't expect you all would be in here."
Sebastian placed the cookbook back down on the table and lowered his spectacles.
"Mey Rin!" Finny and Bard greeted with a smile.
"Mey Rin, you should still be in bed." Sebastian said to the maid. "I will bring you some medicine and a bite to eat in just a little while."
Mey Rin stood in place, shuffling her feet nervously.
"Well, you see that's the thing. I feel a lot better today, so I figured I'd do it myself, yes?" she said. "You must be tired of having to tend to me…"
Sebastian looked taken aback; surprised at her modesty. He quickly compensated with a grin. "Don't be silly." He said simply, directing his attention back to the book in front of him. Mey Rin felt her heart flutter.
"You can make your own breakfast and medicine if you wish." He said, brushing his black locks behind his left ear. "If you still feel well enough afterwards, maybe you can help Bard and Finny make candy. It shouldn't be too strenuous on you."
Mey Rin smiled at his response, suddenly feeling the Halloween spirit again. "Yes sir! I'd love to!"
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Mey Rin loved Halloween. It was probably her favorite holiday. Some of the only memories she had of childhood were centered on Halloween. She didn't even remember much of Christmas as a child; But Halloween always took her back.
It delighted her even more just making new memories with her new 'family'. No matter what it was, she was happy to do it with them. For them. As long as everyone was happy, she was happy as well. And when the Young Master had no worries, neither did Mey Rin.
She defiantly felt at home and safe with all of them. The Young Master, Bard, Finny, Pluto and Sebastian.
Sebastian…
She had a great deal of respect for the man. He saved her. There was no other way to put it. She was living a hard life, doing things she didn't want to. She was merely a pawn in someone else's game.
Though very stern and strict, Sebastian taught her that she was capable of much more than she was brought up to believe. When she had first arrived, she had a great lack of confidence in herself. Sebastian disciplined her and shaped her in a way no one ever had before. He and the Young Master gave her room to grow and make mistakes. Though, she constantly lived in fear of being fired and thrown out into the cold, she knew in her heart even Sebastian would do no such thing.
"Then once it's almost cool, roll the chocolate over the chopped nuts."
Finny stood beside Mey Rin, instructing her as Sebastian had him. They were almost finished with the last batch of candy they would have to make. The sun was beginning to set upon yet another day. It literally was an all day affair, but they had around a dozen different candies to show for it.
"Look how fast we finished all this!" Finny marveled. "With all three of us, plus Sebastian's help."
"Yeah, I was sure we'd be stuck doin 'this all night!" Bard agreed, as he gathered all the soiled dishes and utensils in the sink. Finny and Mey Rin finished the last pieces of chocolate and set them on tin sheets to cool.
"They look great, don't they?" Mey Rin sighed, stepping back to admire their hard work.
"Sure do." Finny agreed. "But we still have to wait for-"
"-Are we finished already?"
Sebastian returned to the kitchen to check up on the trio. His white gloves were stained with dirt, as was his white shirt. He looked like he had been working in the garden a bit.
"Pardon me, but I must wash up a bit before I can help you here." He said, removing his gloves as he walked across the kitchen.
"I've been trimming the rose bushes." He continued. "Sorry for taking over your favorite part of the garden, Finny." He teased.
"Aww!" Finny fake pouted. "Oh well, making candy was more fun."
Sebastian grinned, wiping his brow of sweat and dirt.
"The roses will make an excellent decoration, tomorrow evening, don't you think?"
Sebastian stopped about halfway through the kitchen when he saw the finished product sitting on the tables and counters. He smiled proudly.
"Well, well. I don't think I'm needed here any longer. You three did a wonderful job."
The servants fell to the floor in disbelief.
"Really?!"
"Yes, indeed. They just need to cool for a few hours before wrapping, which you can leave to me."
Sebastian dismissed the servants for the night and thanked them for their flawless work, of course, remarking that it was 'better late than never.'
As promised, Sebastian allowed the three to have a few pieces of candy of their choice.
After cleaning up their mess, Mey Rin took a long, much needed bath before making some more herbal tea for herself. It proved to work just as well as Sebastian said it would.
Mey Rin lit herself a candle before departing the kitchen. She tip-toed quietly through the hallways; passing Bard and Finny on her way. They bid one another 'goodnight' as they usually did each evening.
Mey Rin set her candle and her tea on the nightstand. The room felt unusually hot, so she decided to crack the window a bit. She sighed in relief as the cool evening wind rushed in. The scent of autumn filled her nose, making her feel ever sleepier.
She reached up to remove her glasses when something on her dresser caught her eye. She took a few steps forward to get a better look in her dimly lit room.
It was a vase, with a red bow tied around the rim, filled with roses of all colors. Mey Rin gasped, lifting a hand to her lips. With the other hand she reached out to grab the vase so she could examine it further.
No one has ever given her roses before…Ever.
There was a small card attached, with the Phantomhive crest printed across the front. She carefully opened it; squinting her eyes to read the small but familiar handwriting.
"Mey Rin, I would like to thank you for your excellent service as the maid of the household. I do hope you are felling well again, and can return to work as normal soon, for your presence is dearly missed among your fellow workers. As a reward for your hard work, I have included a bit of money for you to pick out a costume for the ball. You can pick whatever you wish. Sincerely, Earl Ciel Phantomhive."
Mey Rin couldn't help but smile until her cheeks hurt a little; for she didn't recognize the handwriting as the Earl's. Surely he didn't have the time to write her a thank-you note, let alone pick her flowers.
Mey Rin sighed and set the vase beside her on the nightstand, along with her candle and tea, so she could remind herself to go into town the next morning.