Janus — The Heirs, He Who Wishes To Wear the Crown, Endure Its Weight
-Phantomhive Manor Murder Case Arc-
Chapter XXXVII:
Disturbance
Title: Janus (Sequel to 'A Kiss To My Prince and The King 2 Hearts)
Summary: The light turns on at a dark street, I'm wondering around to find something again. The unfamiliar darkness is all that remains in my hand. This world approached me with an unfamiliar face, everything was taken from me by that first glance; I have changed, this have switched everything. Run away, disappear far away, give me back the lost time, I ask of you. Any time, any fate – it's a rough road that won't end though I'm ripped apart and in pain, I will smile, watch me, I promise. I will win and win and smile, watch me. I ask of you.
Pairing: Sebastian x OC x Ciel with Claude x OC x Alois!
"My name is Yuri Park. There was an incident and I woke up in 1887. Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet. I decided to stay in this world...and this is my story."
Thank you guys for those who reviewed and alerted my other story: 'A Kiss To My Prince' and 'The King 2 Hearts':
'A Kiss To My Prince'
Anon- I know my grammar is rather lacking as English is not my first language however I wish to try and improve on my own. Not to mention I have no idea how beta reader works too ㅠㅠ I'm thankful to point out my errors as this allows me to encourage to improve. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy this chapter :)
shadowprincess100-Haha what can I say, Yuri is totally dirty minded XD Glad you like Yuri and Ciel couple hehe and yes Edward is such a cutie for his age LOL!
vampireXgirl13X- I'm happy the story delighted you hehe! See you in the sequel~
EmmaRin- Me too! I like Kuroshitsuji with OC in it! Yes, falling from a building haha! Terrifying experience to Yuri who has fear of height (like me). Well, Koreans are not rude but when times calls, you are looking at a tigress! And bonus she intelligence. Asians haha! Aww thanks for happy birthday message~ feels like it's my birthday all over again haha. Ciel is cute and serious at the same time LOL bonus combination! The 6 minute about the cigarette is what I say to my dad-well shouting- it's also what Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds quote too!
'The King 2 Hearts'
shadowprincess100- Well, probably because he is Alois haha!
'Janus'
xXxStrawberryJamxXx- Yay I always wanted to play priest but my friends told me I was too messed up to play those roles XD OMG we didn't have bachelorette party! We should so have had one! Hahaha, so where will the honeymoon be LOL! I recognised your other guest name. There are only one StrawberryJam even without the xXx in front and the end of it! I recognised you right away hehe! Thanks for telling me!
Enchanted Elf- Grey do like Yuri though in a rather sadistic way. He want to see her cry and being fearful of him because he's that disturbed haha! The way he feels he finds it hard to act in a way one would deem to act for the woman he likes. He's kinda sadist LOL!
Paxloria- OMG THAT SUCH A BIG HEART! Hahaha I like it! I hoped you had good new year! Me? Not really, studying for test really takes away your fun about anything OTL. Yuri wouldn't go down easily without a fight if someone want to kill her haha! Well, Claude had to act as a dutiful butler but maybe he was standing outside of the door.
VampireSiren- Here's the update you've been waiting for hoho! Hope you like it! Yes, Grey has to watch Yuri haha! Well, who knows what Yuri will do as little revenge haha!
LufenCrosszeria- OMG I'm looking for the place too! I mean, Hong Kong allows you to kill your spouse if they caught cheating but only with hands-scary, wish there was a bro version for that too haha! Well, jail..I think it will be a new experience for me haha! Yea, apparently you could get like a free tattoo in jail LOL! Vincent is described as handsome and HAWT but you gotta admit its his personality that makes you laugh more haha! He's like in his 20s isn't he? Who cares if he's old?! I like older men to be honest LOL!
If I get a dog, I'd probably name him Sebastian or Ciel. Maybe I should get two dogs..hmmm. Claude suddenly being nice would be more scary than his usual scary self haha! If Yuri dies, I think they would take out the whole Earth. Divide into two group of two and rip half of Earth each LOL.
I'm glad you like mystery plot hahaha! I hope you like this chapter as well and I hoped you had better Christmas/New Year cuz I surely didn't. Tests and staff-takes all the fun out on anything.
Yugao702- I know right! I took so long time to update *Scratch hand embarrassingly I was busy studying(?) for my A-level which is like UK version of Advanced Placement in USA so I had to get serious(?) for it. The tests was so horrible except psychology- quite easy but it will be awkward if I get a F or something after I was bragging how easy it was LOL!
WHAT?! FIRST THE CLIFF NOW THIS?! You have lot of physical pain in your life and I thought I was the one with the most. OMG you're brother tried to kill you by disguising into accidental(?) causes! Wow, crashing into vase stand...hope you didn't suffer any concussion or anything! Well, I hope you recovered by now and enjoy this story as recovering gift haha! I think you need to get away from your brother haha! Yes I saw the newest chapter of Kuroshitsuji! LOL, ah Ciel is so evil in both proper evil and prank wise! I was laughing the whole way through XD 'Blue Miracle'? Isn't that the personal care or something? It's been a long time since I visited hospital. I think I need to visit soon LOL!
I really pray for your protection from physically harmful staff, including your brother haha!
AquilasKiss- I'm glad you loved it! Since my test is over for now, I can concentrate on the stories hehe! I'll try to update as quick as possible :) Ahh reading from the first story haha, brings back memories! I'm happy you liked my stories! Thank you and enjoy~!
Dontgotaclue88- Thank you! Enjoy~!
darkangel- I loved your quotes! Please tell me more if there's any other quotes you like! For some reason, I really like reading quotes don't know why but it's hobby of mine haha! Yep, I probably be staying in Berlin with my friend Lea, who after 6 years together, I found out she was German THIS YEAR. I was shocked...so was other people! And then I found out my other friend had a TWIN. A TWIN. Seriously, things people don't tell to others haha awks moments.
My friend Lea, I trust she can protect us haha! Cuz she's quite strong and rather scary too-if she want to! I'm excited to see the Christmas market too! I'd probably go crazy haha so don't be surprise if you see me on news well if you see news headline saying 'Crazy Asian girl goes crazy in Berlin Christmas Market!' that's me! LOL! I LOVE CONAN! My friend, Kristianna has a hard crush on the Phantom thief haha! The small Conan is too cute and sometime I don't want him to revert back to his teenager form. I wonder what will happen at the end of Conan though because the manga is still going, like over 1000 chapters now.
I love BOTH Naruto and Bleach. OMG you guessed my favourite characters right! My favourite character for Bleach is: Ulquiorra-cuz he's awesome and I like his personality and secondly, Grimmjow *Blush, he's so animal-like. I like that! Hahahaha I like wild, animal like man LOL!
For Naruto: Basically literally all members of Akatsuki (Except Orochimaru..I like snake but he's just no. And my friend Arianna keep teasing me saying I had an affair with Orochimaru -_-) I really like Itachi-he is the BEST brother one will EVER HAVE. Only if I had a brother like that...why God did he gave me the brother I have now! *Cry, Uchiha clan cuz those guys are always hot (Izuna, Madara, Tobi AKA Obito etc) I really like Gai-sensei and Kakashi, those two are just OMG so funny XD I just laugh so hard I get six pack from watching those two interact haha!
OMG have you read the latest Naruto chapter?! I cried SO MUCH!
Oh and the crime fact you love will come up probably next chapters or something like that! Enjoy~!
Wonderwomanbatmanfan- Well, what will Yuri do? Kekeke! Thanks for reading and enjoy~!
Cereza101- OMG ME TOO! Everytime I read those 19th Century novels with mansion and murder, I'm like in 'Butler did it' LOL! Classic!
sebby-fan- Yuri will not go down without fights! She ain't afraid to get dirty haha! What will happen to Sebastian? Hmmm..
Katherine S- I'm so sorry for late update! I was so busy studying(?) for my four tests in January which is quite important if I want to get into university so hehe! Hope this chapter makes it up for the VERY LATE update :) Since tests if finished and over for now, I'll put all my energy and time to update ASAP.
Don't worry. Yuri will show off her brilliant mind but not in the last chapter, not until there is more audiences keke! Because in the latest chapter, there are scenes which will allow Yuri to show her intelligence and you will not be disappointed.
Yep, Alois, Ciel and Arthur is getting close haha! A writer must get closer to his inspiration to write great novel :) I'll try to make the chapter more longer haha!
Guest #1- YES! NICE GUY WHOOO! I thought the quote described the world Yuri lives in now! I mean, the former reporter now madam has similar background with Yuri-being from normal background, although the girl in drama had quite poor and mistreated life but those two were introduced into world of 'High class'/'Royalty-like life' so I just remembered the quote and wrote it hehe!
HanaDemon- I have a feeling you're Guest#! cause you guys said the same thing word for word but just in case, I wrote separately if I'm wrong hehe! Yes, I have been watching Nice Guy! I love that drama! Yes, I have been reading 50 Shades of Grey but then my friend took the book while I was on like page 300 ish -_- she still need to give it back to me so I can finish reading.
wiwi- Yayyyy I have a fan! I'm happy you liked my story haha! Well enjoy this chapter! ;)
blue polkadot- Here's the update! Yes I watched the TV series Sherlock! And I love it! Do you know they made the TV series into manga? They basically made Benedict in manga version! And they looked quite alike too! You can see it on Mangareader and type in the search box: 'Sherlock'
asiangmaniac- I'll try to make my chapter long so that you will be extra happy haha! Well, I was actually supposing to be studying(?) for my tests in January and it's quite hard with all those things going on the internet -_- Thank you! The Twilight fic is dedicated to my friend who is a Twihard fan.
Kitana Lunara- Yes, God bless the internet haha! Well since I'm usually on my phone almost 24/7, I prefer reading online. Beside, I don't want my bro to go through my manga and read some stuff I'm sure I don't want him to see and run off to my mum to tell about it (E.g. Highschool of the Dead) Woah, your brother got you an art tablet?! OMG you brother is so MUCH BETTER than mine! He got me a penny and its the one he picked it up from the water fountain near the Buckingham Palace -_- who does that?!
Since we, Asians, don't usually celebrate Christmas (Well, my family don't and apparently my friend says most of Koreans are too serious to celebrate Christmas in English style lol) I don't have any Christmas presents ㅠㅠ
OMG this arc and the ship one is my favourite too! Yuri is going to have so much fun with the zombie outbreaks hahahahha! And yes, his scythe is die for cuz I'll take that scythe and take a swing at my bro LOL. Woah, I hope you done well in your studies and test-I know how it feels. January was also my exam month OTL. I'm glad I could provide some stress relief cuz I know how I came to appreciate those little things during that month.
Lovely-Dark-Shadows- Well, I think me updating this chapter has been rather more than forever! Even I felt like centuries have passed since I last updated the chapter whew! I'm glad you like this story hehe and yes my friends really liked them that she drew it in her own notepad and trying to perfect it ^^. The next one will be better because all the knowledge Yuri hid until the right timing is coming to alight! And she will also have more time with the two Earls' kekeke! I think Yuri is asking that same question to herself to-why her? Glad you've fallen in love with my character haha!
nabila-nobody- Well Yuri knows the significance of blood exchanging from Sebastian in the previous prequel, 'The King 2 Hearts' but perhaps she's too blood drained to care? Knowing the blood has healing properties. Yuri never had a boyfriend before in her universe which of her inexperience will be shown to light in later chapters. Well, on the last chapter of 'The King 2 Hearts' her whole world forgot about her so the gaps in them re-link themselves with other separate memories only without Yuri in it so they won't notice huge gaps in their memory all of the sudden. (And not to make them suspicious and somehow end up remembering Yuri which can have huge consequences in the both universe)
My friend will defo shed tears of blood, I'm sure haha! Let's hope it wont end soon.
ShizukaRen-Hime- Glad the story is mysterious like a detective novel keke. You will see more of Yuri's sassy streak soon haha
Blackbutlersmexi- Thank you! XD I hope you love this chapter also! Enjoy~! (Pss, I encourage fan girling haha!)
sleepy kirby- The chapter will become more amazing soon hehehehe! OMG, I was laughing while writing too! Hahaha but seriously there is some pretty good similarities between the two minus their names! Aww hope you got better with the medicine of my story XD I wish you thousands of lucks for your exams, *sigh I have more during summer ㅠㅠ
Haruka Nya- Ni hao~~~~~~~~~! XD How I missed you! How are you? Yes, defo long time no see! Yes I have hehe! I hope you like them :) Yuri's character will be more developed through the stories so anticipate it! Sorry for late update though haha, even I have a story block sometimes!
Doll with No brain- Thank you for reading~! Yes it is a wonder what you can do with both anime and manga, I just thought the person who directed the anime seemed to made it easier for you to morph with the manga in my opinion. Haha yes many people loved that particular scenes LOL.
To answer you question regarding Hannah and Yuri:
"So if Hannah brought Yuri to the Kuroshitsuji world and made her choose between the two worlds and after the other world forgot about her, why did she do it?"
Hannah had gone against the law of nature-her existence as demon itself violates the law of nature-and by bringing Yuri into another world while Yuri's existence belongs in her world; too much nature's law has been disregarded (Since Kuroshitsuji world is full of supernatural creatures/events adding even a tinniest more would make the world imbalance as it is and bringing a person in would create a huge imbalance) which could bring heavy consequences of having two dimensions collide with each other as the barrier/invisible wall that prevented either of the world, co existing or even one part of the world interacting with another part of second world impossible because people's memory is a powerful thing; no one leaves the world without a story.
Yuri existing in Kuroshitsuji world making new memory, new place in that world while her existence still lingers in her own world would disrupt the two worlds altogether as they were not suppose to mix. And by making the people in her world forget about her and as result erasing Yuri's existence in her old world and making her now part of Kuroshitsuji world would make the world balance. Simply, you cannot hold two apples in one hand thus one apple must be gone.
"Why all four are interested with her? They just want her because the other wants her?
Well it is not that they desire Yuri because other guy wants her but it first started out like that. Have you ever wondered why for example, your friend like something and you don't understand why so you try to find out what about them/thing that make your friends like that e.g Boy bands.
Ciel- Ciel is famous in social gatherings for not showing himself and often very rarely does he participate in the upper society so he would not have time to meet and pursue other 'areas' (In real 19th Century, this would be considered quite abnormal as Noblemen, it is their duty to get involve in the inner circle of upper class and be sociable.). Yuri is the first girl, except Elizabeth who is Ciel's cousin and never considered her more than as family, and he's quite taken by her bold actions and words. She also understood his need for revenge and wished he could be happier selflessly and helping him without anything in return as Ciel knew many would want something materialistic such as money or status but she doesn't care about them with realistic views understanding why they do. Love doesn't feed you, money does something like that.
While women in 19th Century is educated however they are encouraged to take on more feminine subjects e.g dancing, singing, embroidery. Signs of rebellion were swiftly crushed by fathers, husbands, even brothers; they were not able to speak their mind or pursue any 'male' subjects such as law, physics, engineering, science and art although few women did. And here comes the 21st century girl with 21st century mind and morals inserted into her, he's quite shocked with things she was taught growing up. She taught Ciel, who was reluctant to trust anyone who was human or demon/supernatural, being able to talk to him like an equal showed what a friend could be.
Alois- He was abused and except Hannah, there was no woman who could shall we say, teach him love and such even though Hannah tried but Alois wouldn't let her in. Note Yuri said Alois was surrounded by men in previous sequel- being sexually abused and receiving no help he needes (therapies which would allow him to feel control over his own life again as result) and thus he lashes out those trauma with sadistic streaks and need for constant evidence of control and his own power via over the servants, particularly Hannah due to jealousy. He grew up without a parent and substitute their place with Claude who is a demon with no knowledge of what Alois truly desires as he does not know love himself, Yuri provides all that. She was his 'mother', 'brother', friend and lover and she knew his past including his trauma and adjusted herself to help him.
Sebastian and Claude- Both demon who doesn't know any feelings what so ever, they think those emotions are weakness and in metaphorically their 'death'. They lived for a very long time, they saw and did everything; they knew what humans were capable of and are but to their eyes Yuri is purest human form although she admitted in the first story, she's too dirty minded to be pure LOL. As you can see long time ago, people was very frightened of unknown and those powerful then them e.g demon, witch etc even now too but with all those romanticised visions of vampires and demons (E.g Kuroshitsuji and Twilight XD) most teens, including Yuri, would probably be those ones who would fangirl when they see one haha) often committed things Sebastian and Claude believe more demonic than they are-wars, witch hunts. Yuri with her 21st Century mind, learned of history how people was very narrowed minded, innocent people persecuted as scapegoat etc. Yuri is very opened minded, she isn't fearful of demons but she very well knows what they are capable of so while she's at ease around them, she's respectable at the same time by not pushing her limits too far.
Those two demons are surprised by Yuri's courtesy of respect and equality. She doesn't wish anything like the greedy humans they encountered over the time although Yuri does agree she wants them but gain them on her own. She grew up in UK so you can say she's now taken an individualistic culture although there are some part where she likes to be dependent. Westerners are supposedly individualistic culture who values independent while Eastern (E.g Asia) are supposedly collectivist culture meaning they do not value independent and think it is selfish and believes unity/going along with others are valued.
"I also liked how you named it 'Janus' because I love Greek mythology since I started reading a certain book series( which I'm still waiting for the next book of the sequel series) and am wondering how you came up with it?"
I LOVE Greek mythology! I have this Korean manga of Greek mythology and I still read em haha! Oooh what book is it? I read Percy Jackson ones and I like the modern Greek Gods haha! In the first chapter of Janus in author note, I wrote:
In Roman mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions, thence also of gates, doors, doorways, endings and time. He is usually a two-faced god (probably a symbol of the sun and the moon) looking opposite direction since he looks to the future and the past. The month of January was named in honour of Janus by the Romans.
I thought the name described the story itself since it's the beginning not the end kekeke!
Oh and UK is great! Haha I really enjoy it and although I still miss Korea, I made new friends and UK is like my second home :D. I can't help but every time I go to London and see Big Ben (Now renamed Elizabeth's Tower after the current Queen Elizabeth II) and the London Bridge, it just automatically reminds me of Kuroshitsuji haha! OMG, I was thinking of studying in America for my University keke guess we all want the bigger world haha! The studying here is great but as my new friend who moved from British Columbia not long ago, she said the transportation (bus, trains..) and curriculum of works since US and UK grading system and such is different it's quite difficult at first but you get used to it haha! Who knows, if you decide to come to UK even as holiday, I'll show you around with my friends who are equally obsessed with manga and anime LOL!
AnimeFanGirl99- Woah, all my three stories in one day?! I'm shocked (In good way) haha enjoy~!
Illusa- OMG I think you are more stress than I am! Math..the world greatest wonder and the top reason of headache haha! I heard physics is really hard...I totally flunked them in my secondary exam -_- which brought down my overall science grade OTL never taking that again haha! Woah, Entrepreneurship?! That's so cool! At least you're doing something about your future...I really have no idea what to do! I'm torn between so many things I wanna do ㅠㅠ I feel like our boat is overflowing LOL! Well I'm still happy you can read my update more easy now hehe! You will see more Grey here haha! And yes you are correct! The title is to do with SHInee's Sherlock album~!
UNICORNSPOORAINBOWS- XD I'm happy you love the last chapter! Hope you enjoy this chapter too! Kekekeke~!
ItsMyCircusNow- Thank you hoho! Enjoy!
yanatobosofan- Thank you so much! /(*o*) *blush. I'm really happy you enjoyed my two last sequel and I will not disappoint you with this either! Just like this story title' Janus' this is only the beginning hehehehe! Wow your soul?! OoO-XDDDDDDDDDDD No thank you!
MoonlessMelody- Hahaha your encouraged threat was big part of push to finish writing this story ASAP! (I also installed some CCTV hahaha) Here's the rope, hold tight! Hope you enjoy this chapter! And love your pen name!
Aleiafae- Long time but hope you love this chapter! Thanks for being so patience :)
Guest(1)- Thank you! I know it has been a rather long time but I hope this chapter is to your liking :D
kat- Hi~! Long time no see! Sorry for late delays of the update, but enjoy. And yes, Sebastian watch out!
vampireXgirl13X- Sorry for long time delay! Here's the update you've been waiting for centuries. Enjoy and thank you for reading :)
Guest(2)- Manage A Trois? Well...who knows kekekekkeeke!
chibiamu- Your situation sounds alot like mine so I can quite understand. I too have been quite under pressure with all those school deadlines and such ㅠㅠ it's very stressful and tiring. Your mum lost her car?! How? I hope it wasn't stolen because I've seen those happen to my friend's mum when I was with her and my friend to go to her house for sleepover. Looking for job isn't so easy either with all those high unemployed rate even for part times. I so understand the fanfic being rubbed out..all your hard works gone just like that. Well, I'm happy you actually found time to read and review! I'm so touched! I hope you enjoy this and good luck on your search for job, your college and hope your mum could somewhat recover or even get some replacement for the car she lost.
A/N:
Hi guys, sorry for super, ultra delay! It has been quite a hectic months for me *whew! Since the beginning of my AS levels, I've been so busy with course works and homework..I wanna go back to childhood ㅠㅇㅠ! But I want to thank my readers for being so patient with me and hope with this chapter, it will be up to your standard.
-Thank you once again, Cutie Bunny-
This chapter contains: 5th Arc of Kuroshitsuji manga 'Phantomhive Manor Murder Case Arc' chapter 41-42
"Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere common places of existence. If we could fly out of that window hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the roofs, and and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and leading to the most outre results, it would make all fiction with its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and unprofitable." ― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
The sound of pattering rain drops was a lullaby in my ears that was dulled by my sleeping senses. Along with the sudden magnified sound that I was suddenly became aware than before as I slowly diffused into hypnopompic state, with the silent foot steps that quietly graced the carpet, I was awaken when a light weight pushed down the left side of the bed.
Those silent couldn't have been made by humans, it sounded too elegant; too graceful to be made by clumsy walking but-
"Sebastian?" I stood up from my lying position, meeting his devious smirk. His dark beauty seemed more eternally beautiful in the night. His form, instead of being camouflaged, the darkness seemed to embrace his demonic look, releasing the aura of mysterious. Like being blinded so that you were constantly surrounded by the abyss-attracted to it yet fearful of its potential.
When the lightening quietly flashed, shining its silvery light in did I noticed still warm blood seeping from his black attire. Although it was bound to happen, I couldn't help but feel struck of guilt of my part in this.
His gloved hands gently gripped my shoulders, pushing me back onto the bed so I was trapped between the mattress and him. His eyes glowed red; alluring, intoxicating. My whole existence seemed to be trapped in that two crimson eyes even if it was staring at me with those hungry looks that set off my panic.
"After this night, I will no longer be able to admire you beauty but from the distance." His voice was suave and smooth, emphasising each letter, "However, I wish to quench this thirst of which you only can provide..will you not give it to me, Yuri?"
Even if I was shield in the cloak of night, I was sure he could see the blushes creeping up to my neck with his perfect demonic sights. He tangled his gloved hands into my hair, pulling me closer and closing the distance with a kiss that was filled with desperation and longing.
His tongue expertly snaked its way through, meeting my inexperience tongue half way before leaving trails of kiss down my neck. He sucked on my skin. Hard. As if branding me for the time he won't be able to then a tiny pang of prick was felt. I was sure I would never be able to get used to it-it was weird hearing your own blood being sucked.
Sebastian soon returned to my lip once again, this time with the tangy taste of my own blood.
"Ah.." He moved away, tracing his thumb against my bloody red lip, "Those look you make for me are the only thing I'll see, my lady."
Now I understand where all those sexual connotation of demons came from.
He pressed his lip on my hand and lingered there as if leaving a soul burning mark like a brand.
"Please give me a convincing performance tomorrow." Sebastian soon disappeared soundlessly and ghostly as he came in. His whole presence was like a ghost of a dream. The one that was so fragile yet contained the fantasy you wouldn't want to wake up from. The one you'd so long to remember when those fragile binds that keeps those dream together shatters by reality.
The strange and queer sound of my ragged breathing was the only source of any sound in the quiet room.
I was sure if I were to die, it would be from those demons—hey, he took my pillows!
The demon headed to the familiar servant quarter, opening the door to the sleeping chef and proceed to wake up the former solider.
"...rd...Bard!"
Baldroy's eyes snapped open, pupils dilating to become more aware of his surrounding and his muscle tensing for flight or fight response; his whole body moved in instinctual act, retrieving the gun under his pillow and pointing toward the intruder. His alertness even in his sleep was adopted and somehow became part of him during his time as a war solider, where sleep was a luxury one could not afford to indulge for fear of death, those characteristic no matter how much he tried seemed to stay there even though he kept telling himself it was over.
He remember Yuri calling this 'Shell Shock' or 'Post-traumatic stress disorder'.
The assailant easily grasped his weapon pointing hand, directing it away from the target. It took a moment to register the 'enemy' Baldroy expected was Sebastian and relaxed, retrieving his gun, surprised at the sneakiness of the butler. Wondering how one could move without a sound for Baldroy took in pride he was a very light sleeper but he could not notice Sebastian's presence.
"What the hell, it's only you!" He sighed, "Don't come in here while hiding your presence, I thought you were a ghost or something. What do you want?" The former solider was sure Sebastian would be a deadly assassin — if he chose to.
"It is about the schedule for this morning."
Baldroy lied back onto his bed, cocooning the blanket around him and snuggling into the warmth, "That stuff can wait till tomorrow right? I'm tired, man." He said dismissively.
The butler only roughly turned him to face him with a serious undertone, "But I'd like you to listen right now."
Fear was evident in Baldroy's eyes at the serious expression of the butler that send ominous feeling through the chef. The silent message seemed to have gotten through him as he sat, taking out a cigarette from the white rectangular pack, ruffling his slept in hair, "Fine. I get it."
Sebastian answered at his subjugate behaviour with a cold smile, "Well then, first up is breakfast, but since I expect to be held more around lunch time, I'd like you to prepare something a little heavier. I've put a herring pie and a spinach quiche in the storehouse, so please take those out. I cannot stress this enough, please do not take out food such as the kidney pie." Sebastian warned.
"Then after that, I made plenty of curry and put it on the stove, so please use that for dinner. Next, as an appetizer use the cut vegetables for..."
"Hey, hey!" Baldroy intervened, objection clearly in his voice, "Even though you say it one by one like that, I'm not a recorder! Like I'd remember any of that!"
"Right." Sebastian sighed, knowing the rather inferior limitation of humans' memory, taking out several papers that was neatly organised and clearly written that even a child would understand; handed the instruction to the chef.
"Which is why I prepared this memo with instructions for three days of the schedule and where I put the food I prepared in advance...as well as instruction on how to heat it up."
Baldroy scanned the paper mindlessly, frowning, "Wha? Even though it's something like this, for you to personally and out instruction is..."
"Whazzup?" Tiredness overtook his ability to think, his eyes heavily closing before falling into a light snooze while attempting an incomprehensible question to the butler.
"Finnian." Sebastian called, "Did I wake you up?"
The gardener tiredly rubbed his heavy eyes, barely able to open to see a mere blurry figure of the black attired butler, "Mr Sebastian? What's wrong, at this kind of hour..."
Finnian glanced at the clock, trying to see the time through his draping eyes. He could make out it was five to three in the early morning. Too early even for the servants to be awake.
"Finnian, you won't be able to do your job in the garden for a while with this storm going on. From tomorrow on I want you to change the coke from the hearths in the mansion." Sebastian ordered, "Please do it first thing in the morning. Is that OK?"
"Yeeees." Finnian managed to reply even if it was a lazy drawl before limply falling back to the bed.
Sebastian covered the sleeping gardener with his fallen blanket tightly, "Well then, please go to sleep, tomorrow will have an early start."
"Then, I'll leave tomorrow's matters in your hands. Chef." Baldroy was quite taken aback at the mysterious smile the butler gave over his shoulder as if tomorrow wouldn't be a normal day as everyone was hoping but different.
"Will do." Chef replied hesitantly.
After giving the white snow owl to Mey-Rin, instructing her to release the bird at dawn to deliver a letter wrapped around its leg, Sebastian walked toward the guest room.
Urgh.. Arthur fidgeted uncomfortably for the last few hours, I can't sleep...
Arthur's eyes darted between the two teenagers sleeping side to side between him, disbelief at the facts he learnt about those two.
Even so...fourteen? The same age as my litter brother, Ed...he's still a snot-nosed kid.. He was one again surprised at the far level that clearly separated him and the two Nobles who carried those particular air about them that told others they were special.
They have such long lashes... He noted, once again admiring their rare beauty and comparing to his younger brother. His younger brother was like any other normal brats but those two, Alois and Ciel undoubtedly had distinct look that separated from your average thirteen years old.
The two groaned before rolling to the side so their backs faced him.
Smile appeared on Arthur's lip at their cuteness, "When they're asleep he looks as cute as his age suggests he would be." He laughed quietly, "Instead of being 'The Earl' I'm getting more of a 'child' vibe right now.."
Sebastian sighed, "Indeed, they are a lot cuter when they are asleep."
"EH?!" The oblivious author turned to face Sebastian like a child caught with a stolen sweet, "WAI...YOU WERE STILL HERE?!"
"You're late, Sebastian."
"Huh?" Arthur turned his head to the source of the familiar voice.
"You too, Claude." Alois followed Ciel's suit, standing up and looking as if he was not asleep a minute earlier.
Arthur noticed behind Sebastian was Claude, clutching a pillow. When did they walked in? Where those two Earls awake while he stared at their 'sleeping' face?!
"EEEARRLS?! You two were awake? U-Um...did you hear..." The stunned author stuttered.
Ciel ignored the obvious caught in the action but reached out his hand toward the butler, "Give me the pillow already."
"Huh?" Arthur blinked, seeing Alois demanding the same, "Pillow?"
"You're late, Claude." Alois chided lightly as Claude placed them on the bed.
"Forgive me, I was merely fulfilling your previous request." The spider demon replied, not an ounce of sorry in his voice.
Sebastian smirked, replacing the current pillow with the ones he brought, "This is what you'd call the young master's blanket I guess?"
Ciel plopped onto the pillow, "Non-sense. I just like this pillow."
Sebastian looked down mockingly at his young master, "Would you also like a lullaby?"
"No way!" Ciel abruptly sitting up with clear anger on his face, "And like you've ever sung to me before! Your sense of humour is lacking! Don't say it like you want someone to misunderstand!"
"How's Yuri? I smelled her blood." Alois asked, too quiet for the human to hear.
Claude's eyes travelled toward the bickering demon pair, eyes narrowing in displeasure, "She is fine and content."
Alois laid back, "I wish you could sing to me just like before, Claude."
"If that is your wish." He nonchalantly replied.
"You're mad. Still."
Claude did not reply but his silent told Alois more than the words, "I don't hate you Claude, I merely found a will to live."
Claude closed his eyes, bowing, "Sleep peacefully, master."
"Go back to your rooms already." Ciel ordered to the two butler but perhaps toward Sebastian more, angrily pulling the cover over his head, "I'm going to sleep."
The crow demon bowed, "Please excuse me. Well, I will return to my work then."
"Hmph."
It seemed as soon as Ciel had hit the pillow, he fallen asleep. This surprised Arthur, So fast! So he really can't sleep without this pillow?! Even though he didn't say anything about it before... He turned to Alois to equally surprise to see he too had seemed genuinely fallen asleep, They must have been holding it out...
"Mr Wordsmith, I'm sorry to have caused you trouble."
"Not at all."
"The two young masters' stands firm as the Phantomhive and Trancy family's head of house respectively, but they are still fourteen. They are still a children." Sebastian explained.
"That's right." Arthur agreed sympathetically, "It's only natural for them to be uneasy when been caught up in this kind of incident."
"You don't believe the young master did it, Mr Wordsmith?" Sebastian replied with a surprised look.
Arthur firmly nodded his head to his opinion, "Yes." He confidently answered, "I do not think the Earls or Miss Yuri would do something like that."
Sebastian bowed his head on behalf of the gracious thanks on the two Earl, "...Thank you."
"I'm really glad they chose you to watch over them."
"Huh?"
Sebastian's hold over the pillow tightened, "Mr Wordsmith. I'm leaving the young master and Miss Yuri...in your hands."
The ghostly melancholy smile that held mystery meaning behind them left the Wordsmith with numb wonder. Unable to ask or mutter the questions that buzzed in his lip but held his tongue, Sebastian was asking him to take care of Ciel. Both of them. Keep them safe. Arthur was surprise at how much trust the butler seemed to have entrust in him — a mere inexperience and insufficient eye doctor, part time failed writer- with such honourable responsibility.
Sebastian swiftly left, nothing but a light gust of wind whirring in the room to tell of his silent departure. Something travelled along with the wind — a scent. A woman's scent to be exact.
The unique feminine perfume that smelled mixture of exotic flowers and fruit he never smelt before until that evening. Miss Yuri's.
Her smell had embedded onto Sebastian's black attire that rather suggestively told him the two was in a rather very close proximity for the perfume to be rubbed onto the butler's clothes. Were they..Arthur shook his head at such scandalous thoughts although Earl Trancy did suggested there was two more man other than them.
That scent did not end there for it soon waved over strongly once again. This time however, the source was not the evaporated scent from the butler which became weak soon after but from somewhere near him.
Those pillows.
Their insomnia may be contributed by the fact they were not near her and only her scent would sooth and comfort them of their obstructive sleep patterns.
The thoughts proceed to wake him more and more, challenging his head with ambiguous questions. Arthur, intrinsically accepted this plead entreat gladly, but he knew he had no whatsoever influence over the majority on his controversial opinion.
However, in the end the situation doesn't really allow for anyone but the Earl to be the culprit. But I really can't imagine them being the killers.
Are some of the others lying?
And if so...who?
Flashes of faces appeared vividly in front of his eyes like snippets of pictures, mentally playing out his evening once again but with careful purposes. The servants, the butlers, the aristocrats, the Noblemen...
As for the people who were with me, I can be sure no one left their places...so that would mean...
It's either one of the servants who were working together at the time...or one of those three.
The suspicious three being Carl Woodley, Lau and Ran-Mao if excluding the original suspects.
...Those three are really suspicious. But when they met us in the hallway they were certainly coming out of the lounge. So then the most suspicious ones are the servants...and amongst them the most suspicious ones are...the two that found the body first.
Arthur knew from many of his research into crimes, the finding of the body was crucial in both evidence and attributing to the suspect. He came to find, most of them time, the ones who discovers the body turns out to be the one who was involved in the crime itself in order to flunk the suspicion to others via reverse psychology.
Leaning his body forward and resting his lip thoughtfully on his propped up fist, his mind began to dwell on the motive, the why after who.
For example, if they managed to perform the locked room manoeuvre before we came running at Lord Siemen's scream...what would be their motive? Could they have wanted to pin the crime on the Earl and run off together? A butler's life is dedicated entirely to his master, he has to give up everything. So he can't marry without his master's consent either.
Image of Sebastian whisking the maid away to their secret night tryst was a reasonable motive- a crime of passion. But the connotation of love attributing to the crime seemed to trigger something else in his mind too. Miss Yuri. How her scent lingered strongly in his clothes was suspicious too.
If she were Ciel's mistress and the third was Sebastian, it greatly made sense of such murder. Basking the crime over to the master and he would have Miss Yuri all for himself.
Tormented by the thought of their future in a love forbidden by his master...? It's the most common plot in the mystery novels today..it's not impossible. The butler Sebastian was unusually calm when Lord Siemens died, Miss Yuri too. Was it because he's the killer? They had plot this together?
But... Letting out a groan of frustration and irritation as he buried his face deep into his hands in despair, his body lazily fell back onto the soft mattress, pushing down below at the soft weight above.
Why am I advancing the story on supposition?! Even though I'm writing a mystery novel! The reasoning didn't hold up from the start...
Though first of all, no matter how much I think about it, it's impossible to hide the murder weapon and the perform the locked room with the needle and thread in the small amount of time before we came running in there. Also, why did I start some monologue to prove the Earl's innocence...who did it...and why..
His eyes started to drape heavily against his inner conflict to stay awake as the exhaustion dominated his mind, clouding his judgements and synthesisation of informations.
'Insensibly one begins to twists facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts' was one of Arthur's favourite quote. He didn't know when or how he came up with this sentences but it seemed to make more sense. His inner voices continued to echo those words in his mind even while his lid lost against the creeping effect of sleep and closed, succumbing to soundless slumber.
Sebastian once again stepped into the blood soaked room, darkening the blood into blacky ink effect due to the gloomed light flickering in the candle he held in his gloved hand. He was ready to what was to come, which Yuri seemed fearful, fulfilling his duty as forever bound butler to his now demon master.
"Well then." He muttered, eyeing down the radiating fireplace.
"...smith. Mr. Wordsmith." Arthur could vaguely hear the words being called from distance then those gentle calling seemed to be magnified and sounded much close then he anticipated. His eyes peek open to see a dark, blurry figure overhead, looming over.
Those blob soon took sharp shape to form a figure whom he soon recognised as Earl Phantomhive, "Please wake up Mr Wordsmith."
"Woah! Good morning." He hurriedly sat up, attempting to adjust his inappropriate stand in front of a noble. He noticed the Trancy Earl was awake for awhile too.
"Mr Wordsmith." Ciel firmly stated, "Something is wrong around here."
As the author's eyes trailed to the serious expression of Trancy Earl, matching that of Ciel's and the sudden drop of temperature in the room alerted the situation was not of a light matter.
"Something is wrong around here." Ciel confirmed the dark, stomach churning instinct in Arthur.
"Huh?"
"Even though it's quite past the time that Sebastian was suppose to come and wake me...he still has not come." Ciel gestured to the gold antique clock on the fireplace. It was past noon.
"Wha..?" Grim look filled Arthur's face. No way, did he actually ran off?!
There was light knock on the door as black polished shoe stepped in. The dark colour gleamed and reflected the light of the room, for a moment, Arthur thought it was Sebastian until metallic yet equally cultured voice introduced itself.
"Please excuse me." It was Tanaka.
"I'm sorry to be this late."
"Tanaka...where is Sebastian?" Ciel's expression darkened before the trio ran toward the commotions.
"What the hell happened."
"How terrible..."
"How did it end up like this..."
W-What do we tell...the young master." Exasperated tears flowed down Mey Rin's eyes, overflowing her cupped hands endlessly.
"Young...master." Baldroy muttered, noticing his presence first before all the eyes set its target upon him too with dreadful looks mirroring each others. As to their grim filled expectation, shocked and disbelief look immediately dawned over the Earl's face.
A corpse. Whom used to be his once faithful butler lied on the floor. Dead. It was very haunting look: his head turned as it stared into absent space with its glassy eyes wide open; few strands of his raven lock softly fell in the direction of his turn and curtained part of his face and eyes, his mouth parted in silence screams that seemed to echo in our heads.
The fire iron jutted out of his chest, prodding sadistically between presumably his ribs, having pierced out through his back. The dramatic spatter of the blood told me several things, it was close range and probably with sheer and raw strengths.
Through the corner of my eyes, I saw several people-including Alois and Charles Grey's eyelid dropping over his light grey eyes filled with different meanings toward the situation. Behind my back, I felt certain gleefulness from Claude who contained his inappropriate emotions but some still slipped through the cracks of his façade which went unnoticed usually at these heights of emotions.
"Seba...s...ti..an..?" He slowly and numbly approached the body, staggering, matching the each pronunciations of the letter of the demon's name, dripping with doubts of this reality.
Mey Rin mournfully held him back, tightening her grip around his waist in fear he would suffer more once he is touched by the blood.
"Y-You can't! Young master you shouldn't go closer!"
"Let go!" Ciel demanded, thrashing his hands in attempt to repel the servants away.
"Let him go." Alois stepped forward, putting his hand on Mey Rin's shoulder.
Hesitantly, the servants loosed their holds from Ciel. Flinching at every steps he took as though they were being stabbed little by little. The Earl crouched down on Sebastian, chiding him for sleeping on the floor before lashing out at the non-responsive body with hard slaps and hit on his bloody chest with frustration, ignoring the seeping of the blood at his robe.
"You...only you...you were suppose to be by my side until the end."
The servants pulled him back, roughly as the strength required it. Baldroy grabbed hold of Ciel's wrist in mid air from striking the dead body once again before announcing Sebastian's death. Perhaps Baldroy said it too coldly. Those words, "He's dead." Fell from his lip too familiarly if not, nostalgically, like one would mutter name of one's home. Those words which is overused too much, like how he would first start with heavy heart and lip to announce their deceased status to one's friends and family before he was baffled how light and easy he could do as time flowed.
"Things got just interested."
Arthur shockingly and fearfully stared at Lau with sinister lightness in his voice. The harmless a person seems to be, more scarier one was.
He was standing with his small back shaking in grief. Even so, not once a tear fell down from his eyes. Did his pride as the master drive him to the restrain himself so...or does this mean that even his tears have dried up already...
-TOWN HOUSE-
The Bengal Prince stared out of the window with a small hint of distaste as droplets of rains hit the glass.
"Master Soma." The door clicked open, "The preparation for your meal are..."
Agni found his Prince staring thoughtfully at the rainy scenes, gently walking close toward and repeating his name.
"Master Soma?"
"What a terrible amount of rain. Even during the monsoon in Bengal it doesn't rain this much." Soma grumbled, remembering how Yuri complained of the weather, he now understood why.
"Yuri was right...Britain weather's are unpredictable.."
"Indeed." Agni agreed with a smile, "Since Surya(1)* won't show her face, the divine protection of the Goddess Vishnu(2)* will also..."
"It gives me a bad feeling." Soma blurt out nonchalantly, "We were kicked out because there were guests but...I'm worried about Ciel."
The surprise look swept Agni's face before soothing into a delighted smile at the Prince's selfless thought, "Don't worry. Master Ciel has Mister Sebastian with him. So there's nothing to worry about."
How wrong yet right they were.
"What the hell is wrong with this mansion?!"
Sweat drop rolled down Arthur's forehead as he loom over the butler's corpse.
"To have two murders overnight!" The opera director wrapped his arms around his lover protectively.
Her eyes trailed toward the thrown fire iron, that skidded across the floor and leaving trails of blood at the direction when Ciel had viciously pulled it out during the confrontation.
"M...more over with that..."
Baldroy cursed under his breath, running his hand through his hair, "He was stabbed with the poker alright. How brutal."
Arthur lifted up Sebastian's head carefully after quickly examining and noticing something, "There are also traces of being hit in the head. He must have been hit from behind while collecting ashes."
"You're saying that wasn't enough to kill him...so they gave him the final blow by stabbing him in the chest?" Baldroy greeted his teeth.
"Either that or they just continued attacking without checking if he was already dead." Charles Grey proposed, "Two hits would be more likely to kill him than just one. Strange. Even though he didn't die from the blow to the back of his head...why did our killer go out of his way to stab him from the front?"
"Certainly it makes more sense to attack from the same angle a second time." Baldroy muttered.
"Perhaps...there were multiple culprits." Arthur revealed.
"What?!"
"For example, one of them came from up front and started chatting to attract his attention...meanwhile the other one snuck up behind him and hit him over the head. Then in a flash the one up front gave him the final blow by stabbing him."
"Well no matter how, it's certain that this killer didn't fell any mercy or hesitation." Lau nodded, easy going tone still evident in his voice, "To have killed even that butler, the culprit must be extremely..."
"Stop it already!" The voice shrieked, silencing the room. It was Finn who wrapped his arms protectively around Ciel with one hand dabbed over his ears.
"Why are you having this conversation in front of the young master and Yuri?! Please think of their feelings!" The people noticed how unusually quiet I was. I may have enjoy some black humour but I knew when to kept my mouth shut until the right moments.
"Finny!" Mey Rin chided quickly, knowing his outbursts was highly inappropriate and rude as she bowed apologetically, "P-Please excuse him!"
Grey scuffled his hair, "...Well certainly...instead of standing around like corpse like this, why don't we temporarily move this thing to the basement. We can discuss who did it and such later over some food."
The people noted the use of 'thing' instead of 'him' regarding the butler.
"Isn't that just a little too easy going..." Woodley berated.
Lau shrugged, seemingly agreeing although his tone of voice said otherwise, "Indeed...there's no point of being hasty."
I twirled and walked out of the room, finding it hard to talk or even feign an act at the situation. Of course, my exit didn't went unnoticed.
"Ah, my, my..Miss Yuri did favour Mr Sebastian.." Lau playfully muttered.
"It's decided then." Grey ignored Lau's last comment, turning to exit, "So you guys are in charge of cleaning that up. Oh and..." He looked over to Tanaka, "The preparation for breakfast also. I'm going ahead to the dining hall...I'm starving."
"We're going too." Grimsby led Irene out of the door, giving Ciel one last apologetic glance, they left leaving Alois, Claude, Tanaka and the two servants.
"It's as they say. Move Sebastian to the basement." Ciel ordered, eyes cast down with subtle shame, "I'm sorry for losing it."
"But..." Mey Rin attempted to intervene.
"Tanaka."
"Yes."
"Sebastian is dead. From today on, you're my butler. I entrust you with the management of the mansion and supervision of the servants. This pin..will be returned to you also."
At the familiar stigma of Phantomhive family crest, Tanaka's eyes softened. It held many memories of his service to the Noble bloodline.
"The pin of the head butler...how nostalgic. Should you really be hiring an old man like me?"
"It's just until I've found a replacement."
"Certainly. I'll hold onto it firmly." Tanaka clapped his hands to gather the attention of the three Phantomhive servants.
"Well then, first we'll prepare the morning bath. Mey Rin, the hot water if you will. As for you two, please carry the hot water to the young master's bathroom after moving Sebastian. Hurry!"
"Yes!" The three servants scattered.
"Let's go young master, you'll catch a cold dressed like this. Let's give you a change of clothes first."
"Your Highness, we must prepare you also." Claude said.
Alois, unfazed, heedlessly nodded and headed out to the door, guided by Claude toward his room.
"I didn't know Ciel was such an able actor."
"The demon clearly went out of his way to stage this." Claude muttered, disapproving of the lavish staging as they walked deeper into the hallway.
"The head of the Phantomhive house should not be shaken by something as trivial as the death of a servant." Tanaka reminded.
"I never once saw the master lose his composure due to such trifles."
Ciel smirked bitterly, "You're strict as ever...old man."
"Mr Wordsmith." Author turned to see Tanaka kneeling down to hand him a pair of slippers.
"I'm truly sorry, for something like this to happen..."
"It's OK...rather than myself say with him...please stay by the Earl's side."
The old head butler nodded appreciatively, "I deeply appreciate your concern well then...let's go young master. We shouldn't keep the guests waiting."
Closing the door behind me, my lung rose and fall slowly in attempt to calm down my fluttering heart.
A small tear? Yes.
Shocked? Yes.
Maybe it was because I was seeing this in realistic point of view, the manga sure down tone with its black and whiteness but this time it was coloured. Too real. Not to mention it was someone who's close to you would bound to stir up some emotions regardless of their foreknowledge.
It wasn't as worse as the Jack the Ripper case, I thought, totally more worse.
I shook my head, turning my attention to the thick chemistry book I was holding. Gladly, the toxin was actually there as it apparently to do with biochemist.
"Tetrodotoxin frequently abbreviated as TTX...first isolated and named in 1909 by Japanese scientist Dr. Yoshizumi Tahara."
Strange, if I remember correctly, it's already been found well since this world is different from mine, I guess it could happen.
"There have been successful tests of a possible antidote in mice, but further tests must be carried out to determine efficacy in humans. Fampridine has been shown to reverse tetrodotoxin toxicity in animal experiments." My finger scrolled down the bold printed letters.
"Blocks action potentials in nerves by binding to the voltage-gated, fast sodium channels in nerve cell membranes, essentially preventing any affected nerve cells from firing by blocking the channels used in the process. The binding site of this toxin is located at the pore opening of the voltage-gated Na+ channel." I sighed, chemistry is not my best subject.
"Its name derives from Tetraodontiformes, an order that includes pufferfish, porcupinefish, ocean sunfish or mola, and triggerfish, several species that carry the toxin. Although tetrodotoxin was discovered in these fish and found in several other animals (e.g., blue-ringed octopus, rough-skinned newt, and Naticidae) it is actually produced by certain symbiotic bacteria, such as Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis, certain species of Pseudomonas and Vibrio, as well as some others that reside within these animals. Its mechanism of action, selective blocking of the sodium channel, was shown definitively in 1964 by Toshio Narahashi and John W. Moore at Duke University, using Moore'ssucrose gap voltage clamp technique."
I ignored additional details and scrolled down to the symptoms.
Symptoms typically develop within 30 minutes of ingestion, but may be delayed by up to four hours; however, death once occurred within 17 minutes of ingestion. Paresthesia of the lips and tongue is followed by hypersalivation, sweating, headache, weakness, lethargy, incoordination, tremor, paralysis, cyanosis, aphonia, dysphagia, seizures, dyspnea, bronchorrhea, bronchospasm, respiratory failure, coma, and hypotension. Cardiac arrhythmias may precede complete respiratory failure and cardiovascular collapse.
The first symptom of intoxication is a slight numbness of the lips and tongue, appearing between 20 minutes to three hours after eating poisonous pufferfish. The next symptom is increasing paresthesia in the face and extremities, which may be followed by sensations of lightness or floating. Occasionally, some reeling or difficulty in walking may occur. The second stage of the intoxication is increasing paralysis. Many victims are unable to move; even sitting may be difficult. There is increasing respiratory distress. Speech is affected, and the victim usually exhibits dyspnea, cyanosis, and hypotension. Paralysis increases and convulsions, mental impairment, and cardiac arrhythmia may occur. The victim, although completely paralysed may be conscious and in some cases completely lucid until shortly before death. Death usually occurs within 4 to 6 hours, with a known range of about 20 minutes to 8 hours. If the patient survives 24 hours, recovery without any residual effects will usually occur over several days.
Therapy is supportive and based on symptoms, with aggressive early airway management. If ingested, treatment can consist of emptying the stomach, feeding the victim activated charcoal to bind the toxin, and taking standard life-support measures to keep the victim alive until the effect of the poison has worn off. Alpha adrenergic agonists are recommended in addition to intravenous fluids to combat hypo-tension. Anticholinesterase agents have been used with mixed success. No antidote has been developed and approved for human use; but a monoclonal antibody specific to tetrodotoxin has been developed by USAMRIID and was shown to be effective for reducing lethality in murine tests.
I cursed under my breath, wondering how the hell did people in history actually found out things like this. There was a click of the door opening and I quickly shut the book, finding a place to hide before quickly hiding it with my skirt. I could have hidden it beside the curtain since I'm sitting on the window.
It was Grey.
"Don't you knock?"
"Ahh, don't be like that~ I was merely notifying you of breakfast. Everyone's waiting."
Breakfast...for a moment I considered skipping breakfast— "Did you know sumo wrestlers skips breakfast to get fat more?"
Sebastian's pretending to be dead, can I really swallow breakfast?
Deep in thoughts, it was a while until I noticed the sudden close proximity he put between us, leaning in dangerously close that I could feel his breath over my ear.
"I told you not to regret it. Why anger me in the first place?"
I scoffed, "Wow...you really don't know."
He narrowed his eyes, clearly taken aback, "You're really irritating you know that?"
I forced a smile, "Obviously."
My confident stature slightly faltered when his gloved hand brushed against the sensitive part of my ear. From far away, one would believe it was gesture between affectionate lovers before his thumb and index finger grasped my small, rectangular silver ear ring. He pulled it. There was a sound of glass shattering comically, like a slap of reality that he was not capable of such sincere gesture.
"Ow!" I hissed angrily. Bringing my hand up to my right ear, I noticed it was missing a set of accesory and the 'New Look' earring comfortably resting between Charles' ring and middle finger, holding it up for me to see as if some kind of trophy of his victory.
I swallowed the temptation to insult him, 'Tell me face to face, what's wrong? What are you unhappy about? If you have something you don't like, just say it. You're not even a girl but how could you be so sensitive every day?' comeback, opting to be more glad my ear wasn't ripped in the process but he just pulled the clutch and the ring apart, the friction resting on my skirt.
Childish cry escaped my lip in frustration, glaring at the Earl with light hearted glare with a pouted lip. I know so many Korean girls did this as 'aeygo' (Acting cute like those girl groups in KPOP) but seriously, I was not being cute. I had nothing against kawaii or aeygo kind of thing but I always did found it did not suit me-once nearly had my friends puking with goosebumps at my attempt-the first time I heard those words, I thought it was some bridge name.
No, Yuri..you're better than this.. 이씨..너 죽어서!(3)*
I stood up, giving him a smirk of contempt. Not many people made me swear in Korean.
He offered me his hand with a wink and a devilish grin that seemed to take delight in people's misery (Like me) and I slapped my hand into his unlady-like.
The breakfast was filled with uncomfortable and tense silence, even with the delicious aroma filling the air, the food didn't seemed to ease the other guests as it would have before traumatic events.
"He really served us by preparing all this properly." Ciel noted as Tanaka served the rest of the food.
I sat next to Lau and Ciel who was rightfully seated in the edge of the table as the head of the manor alone, across my direction of the table (unfortunately) was Charles and next to him was Alois.
"This smells good! I'm gonna dig in! I'm really hungry since I didn't get to eat this morning."
His inappropriate cheerfullness definitely superseded mine.
I noticed Irene, the beautiful opera singer, regarded the food with little interest and held a napkin in front of her mouth, looking nauseous.
"What's wrong, Irene?" Grimsby worriedly asked, "You didn't even touch your food."
"I'm sorry." She apologised, her pale complexion darkening with sweat beads with slight hue of green, "I'm not very hungry."
There was an iceness in Charles' gaze toward Irene's action, almost ridiculing her for lapse of air before pointing out an empty sit with an untoched plate of food.
"Oh my..indeed, there's one too many." Irene noted, "Perhaps the chef got the numbders wrong."
"The one who prepared breakfast was Sebastian. He wouldn't mix up the numbers." Ciel stated as matter of fact.
"Huh? Then whose is it?"
"We're all...ah! Mr Phelps is not here, is he."
"Ahh since he's always so inconspicuous I didn't notice. Now that you mention it, I have not seen him all morning. Looks like he overslept a little too much." Carl Woodley shurgged off with attempted humour but Arthur thought otherwise with foreboding thought. He did not know however that the scent of blood had already reached the nose of three demons in the room, oblivious to the humans' inferior senses, who comprehended doomed fate of the ship's supervision executive.
"Excuse me!" Arthur abruptly stood up, deviating away from the social norm of etiquette, "Should we not go have a look...in the Earl's bedroom?"
Ciel's eyes narrowed before schooling to feign ignorant, following Arthur he also stood up from his chair, "I'll take you there."
The two minority seemed to have triggered those supressed ominous feelings amongst the majority, other soon following the suit as Arthur raced toward Ciel's bedroom.
"It's over there, to the right." Ciel called out from behind, choosing to fit the human speed with the rest.
"Mr. Phelps?!" Arthur banged on the door alarmingly with prevalent strength, "Mr. Phelps, if you are in there, please answer me!"
—...
Sinister silence. Not even a shuffling movement behind the door, not a movement.
I saw Arthur's eyes widened with horror and despair, pulling the door handles but it only shackled disapprovingly.
"It's locked! Earl's where's the key?"
"I do not know."
"WHAT?!"
"Sebastian took care of the key to my room. No one knows where he kept it except for him. Since he's dead, even I do not know where..."
Finnian stepped forward, "Please get back young master. I'll-"
"Get out of the way." Cold voice commanded with high authority.
I ducked quickly, cursing 'Why me?! Why am I in front of him!?' as something sharp strick toward with agile and mad speed over my head. Charles sword made four swift crosses as the oak door feebly collapsed much to the observers shock and fear of their lives.
"We need to be quick seeing as there's still dessert."
I might have love dessert more than the starter or the main course generally but I was sure I was not this desperate with love for them.
Arthur quickly recovered from stupor of his near death experience at the hand of the Earl Grey and ran toward the inner door of the room connecting to the bed chamber.
"Mr. Phelps!" He burst the door open, relieved it was not locked like the first entrace.
Squish
Arthur felt something under his shoe, soft and lumpy like-
"Huh..." His eyes looked down, resting upon a thin wrist his shoe had stepped on.
The man's body had slide down to the floor, bringing down some sheet along. It was obvious he died of painful death as the misery of paroxysm clearly etched and carved in his twisted face.
His hands crawled and gripped the fabric as if he had agonisingly crept toward the door in failed attempt to retrieve any aid as his body shut down, rendering his limbs useless before his final breath left his lip slowly and painfully.
The saliva had trailed down his chin to pool around his face as he undoubtly lost control over his nerve system, resulting in facial nerve paralysis. The man's eyes were wide open with petrifying stare, his pupils largely dilated with absent pupiliary light response.
"MR PHELPS!"
"There are certain clues at a crime scene which by their very nature do not lend themselves to being collected or examined. How's one collect love, rage, hatred, fear...? These are things that we're trained to look for." James Reese
A/N:
Vocabulary:
"Since Surya(1)* won't show her face, the divine protection of the Goddess Vishnu(2)* will also..."
(1) Surya- Indian word for 'Sun'.
(2) Vishnu- The Goddess Vishnu is the deity of the sun in Hindu faith.
(3) 이씨..너 죽어서!- Damn! You are dead! (Although non-serious way)
Oh by the way I named this story Janus because:
In Roman mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions, thence also of gates, doors, doorways, endings and time. He is usually a two-faced god (probably a symbol of the sun and the moon) looking opposite direction since he looks to the future and the past. The month of January was named in honour of Janus by the Romans.
I thought the name described the story itself since it's the beginning not the end kekeke!
Once again, I am extremely sorry (and ashamed) for such late update! Please understand my situation had changed due to my college works and expectation are very high, 180 degree different from works and exams I've done. Thank you guys for reading! Tell me your thoughts in the reviews~~~~~~
