Ciel and Sebastian stopped instantly upon hearing the name called.
"There must be hundreds of people out there with the name Tanaka, it can't be my Tanaka." Ciel thought out loud without turning around.
'"Unfortunately, there is a possibility that it could be and that party could-"
"Don't say it Sebastian. It can't be right, after everything they went through, they can't-"
"What do we do now?" the familiar, trembling voice asked. Ciel recognized the sound belonging to his gardener Finny and spun around to see.
"Nothin' it's over mate." Bard said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I deserve to be here, not any of you, no you don't. If the young master could see us, he would be so disappointed in us." Mey-Rin lamented.
"Courage now, the young master would expect us to be brave, even in the face of death. I think he would be pleased to know that we all arrived together and we took our consequences without fear. Nothing less can be expected of the Phantomhive staff." Tanaka said sternly.
"I miss the young Master and Sebastian, they were always so good to us, I feel like I failed them in someway." Finny said.
"Tanaka, Mey-Rin, Bard and Finny, former servants to the house of Phantomhive, I was given a request by the reaper who collected your souls to keep you all together, causes of death range from carriage accident, natural causes and Tuberculosis. All arrived today with minutes of each other." The voice said gleefully.
"I can see no other fitting punishment..."
"Ciel, what are you doing?" Sebastian asked as his mate left his side.
"Getting my staff, I'm not letting them go in there." Ciel called over his shoulder. Sebastian quickly changed into his butler form and followed.
"The four of you will-"
"Be returned to me." Ciel said loudly causing the group to turn to him, a look of complete shock on their faces.
"Y-Young Master?" Finny asked in disbelief. "Is it really you?"
"Yes Finny, I want the four of you to come with me. Gate Keeper, I'll take them from here."
"This has to be some kinda trick," Bard said. " The young Master doesn't belong in a place like this."
"It's a long story, but right now, we need to focus on what's happening. I want you all to come work for me again, you won't have to be separated, and it will be like before in someways."
"In order to do this however, you must become demons and live among them, and you must understand that things have and will need to be changed." Sebastian said joining the group.
"Sebastian!" The younger servants cried, happy to see him again.
"Welcome everyone, it's nice to see you all again, I never thought I would be saying that. Tanaka." Sebastian nodded politely to the old man.
The Phantomhive staff moved closer to them stepping out of the line.
"Good, the first thing you must know is that Ciel and I have quite a different life here. He is no longer my master, he is my mate and I-"
"Your mate?" The group looked at him in confusion, Sebastian sighed.
"Yes, it means that Ciel and I have gotten married, just about an hour ago actually. You will be expected to take on your usual responsibilities in the home I share with Ciel. If you accept this, please follow me and I will show you what needs to happen next." He turned to leave.
"Sorry, but you married the young Master?" Bard asked before the others could recover from their shock.
"Yes. If that bothers you, I'm sure we could find you another employer." Sebastian offered.
"No, it's just- is that legal, I'm mean the Master's just a-"
"I might look thirteen, but if I was still alive, I would nineteen, there for I'm of age and yes it is legal, things are different down here. Sebastian wouldn't force me into anything if that's what you're worried about." Ciel explained.
"are there any further concerns?" Sebastian asked.
"No, long as The Young Master's fine with it and happy." Ciel gave a faint smile.
"I am happy." He said.
"Then we're happy too." Finny added. They said goodbye to Sebastian's parents and made their way to the carriage. The group traveled in silence for a while, the staff grinning.
"Thank you for offering us our jobs, we haven't always been the most competent bunch and it means a lot to us that you would invite us back into your home." Tanaka said.
"naturally my Ciel would want to have you back, life has been...quiet shall we say. I should warn all of you that Cynna, my butler will be-"
"You have a butler of your own, what's he like?" Bard asked nervously.
"Do you recall the way I was?" Sebastian watched the group nod.
"He can be worse. I learned nearly everything about being a butler from him. I suggest you be on your very best behavior." Sebastian warned. "Also, do try to remember that yes, Ciel is my mate which by our law gives him half ownership of everything in our home however it also belongs to me and there are certain objects I will not tolerate being broken, they are priceless and irreplaceable. I suggest handling everything with care." He said making it a point to look at Mey-Rin as he spoke.
"Then have Cynna clean those, you know how my staff are, just avoid it from the start. " Ciel suggested. "Since the four of you have had a difficult day, and I've had a long day myself, I can have Cynna show you to your rooms and explain a few things to you and you can start your jobs in the morning."
"Thank you Young Master." they said in unison.
"It's still hard to believe we're gone."Finny bowed his head.
"I'm sorry, if I had been more careful on my way to get the doctor-" Mey-Rin began.
"It's alright, you gave it a good try, we don't blame you, right Finny?"Bard comforted.
"Right, you were the one looking after us, we're grateful to you." the gardener added. \\
"We should be thankful that we are still together and take comfort in that. We no longer suffer. It is those we left behind that we should think of now, for they are the ones in pain now." Tanaka said.
"Lady Elizabeth."they said together with heads bowed in sadness.
"What about Lizzy?"Ciel questioned.
"She would come around a lot after your departure, she misses you terribly. She would have a gathering at the house with your friends in your memory each year. She insists on wearing your blue ring, she says that when she looks down at her hand, it reminds her of you." Ciel sighed.
"Elizabeth hated that ring." he said quietly, Sebastian reached over and took his hand.
"But she loved you. That ring was always with you." The older demon pulled him closer.
"It hardly seems fair, here we are together, which means that she''s all alone now." Sebastian kissed the top of Ciel's head.
"She will be alright Ciel. Time makes it easier it seems. She will never forget you, nor will you forget her, but in time she will move on with your memory in her heart."
"Yes, I suppose so. It would be nice to know that she's alright, I-"
"In a week's time, my father has that important meeting, there are gateways throughout London, I was going to ask you to join me, it's important that mates are seen together when it comes to royalty. I think we could find a way to check up on her from a distance my love. Is that something you would want to do, knowing that you could have no interactions with her?"Sebastian asked.
"Yes. It would mean a lot to me." The carriage stopped and the staff was instructed to step out and wait for Ciel and Sebastian at the door, leaving Ciel and Sebastian inside the carriage alone, Ciel got up, standing in front of his mate who wrapped his arms around him.
"Thank you." Ciel said placing his palm on Sebastian's cheek. I know you didn't particularly want to have them around forever." The older demon leaned forward, resting his forehead against Ciel's.
"You have been so unhappy for far too long, if they ease this suffering somehow, even just a touch, it's worth it. I will do anything for you my darling Ciel, just say the word and it will be done." he said softly.
"Won't they bother you though, I'm not the only one who feels unhappy. You've still been feeling the loss. I know you-"
"It's true, but I still have you, it will take time, perhaps with this change, it will get better for both of us. Tell me, what made you say those things in my father's castle, did you feel obligated to go through with the ceremony?"
"No. I wanted you to have the chance to find someone to give you your child, if we weren't married it wouldn't be looked upon as unacceptable because you wouldn't be stuck with me in case you found that you loved the mother. After everything I've done to you, not just since I've been here but in our contract days, I just want you to have some kind of-" Ciel was cut off by Sebastian pressing his lips to his. Ciel allowed him to deepen the kiss.
"Married or not, I could never walk away from you. My heart belongs only to you Ciel, no one else could ever give me a family and I would want only you at my side for the rest of my life." Sebastian said after they parted.
"That's a really long time to be with someone isn't it, and not have the family you wanted."
"But I do. You're right here in front of me, I could never ask for anything more. Demons live such a long time and if you were not here to share my eternity, my existence would be meaningless, my life would be empty, you fill my heart with so much love and happiness Ciel Michaelis. I hope that in time, you can allow me to do the same."
"That's so sweet, yes it is. Sebastian loves the young master so much!" Ciel and Sebastian pulled away from each other at the sound of Mey-Rin's voice. The maid was standing just outside with Bard, Tanaka and Finny beside her. Ciel's face began to turn red.
"Were you not told to wait at the door for us, when I come out there-" The older demon said causing the maid, gardener and cook to let our a shriek of fear and rush for the house in front of them. Ciel smiled. He felt right at home.