Janus — The Heirs, He Who Wishes To Wear the Crown, Endure Its Weight

-Phantomhive Manor Murder Case Arc-

Chapter XXXVIII:

Danger


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/N:

There was a problem where I accidently replaced this chapter with one of other chapter from 'The King 2 Hearts' and because all my back-ups had been compromised due to technical problems (Virus attack), I am re-wrting this chapter so please understand if there's some parts that's missing or added. Also since I answered the reviews and it's hard work I won't be re-writing the review answersㅠㅠ sorry guys but don't hesitate to ask any questions and I'll answer them.

Thank you.


This chapter contains: 5th Arc of Kuroshitsuji manga 'Phantomhive Manor Murder Case Arc' chapter 43-44.


"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." ― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes


The pit-pat of the rain knocking on the window had never been so loud nor had the Phantomhive household ever been so silent. I instinctively grabbed Alois hand while my other hand gripped onto the hem of Claude's shirt, I felt Alois squeeze my hand firmly in a silent comfort. I then looked toward the two Earls; Earl Grey's expression of shock would have been an appropriate reaction amongst other similar expressions the other guests had if not for the subtle confusion and baffle.

"Why." Ciel frowned, unable to comprehend the reason for such action.

Arthur shook his head in sorrow, "Rigor mortis is already setting in. So he's been dead for a while."

"Are we having some kind of nightmare?" Keane asked in horror, disbelief evident in his voice.

"He doesn't have any external njuries lke the other two though…." Arthur examined, eyes widening in shock when he discovered something that could be a crucial evident in catching the murderer.

Pulling back the collar of Phelps' white shirt, revealing set of tiny bite that resembled that of fang mark, "There's a wound on his neck like he was stabbed by something! It might be from a needle like object that was used to inject a poison."

"Needle?" One of the guests wondered.

More like a snake, I silently thought, noticing thoughtful expression on Ciel's face.

Of course, my favorite one-plus-one had to worsen the situation by acting so carefree.

"Wo-w the Earl sure lives in a nice room~" Lau marveled, opening up Ciel's closet and messily sampling the clothes.

"Don't just search people's rooms as you please!" Ciel shouted in irritation, vein popping at the troublesome two.

Lau pulled out something, holding it up proudly was a short and revealing cheongsam, "You held on to the clothes I gave you~ did you wear them? No, perhaps it would suit Yuri the best!"

"Later Lau..." I said, quite surprised at his easy-going attitude. I may be the one to be most inappropriate at some situations but this was a whole new level (kinda).

"Listen when people are talking!" Ciel demanded angrily, "Like we'd wear that!"

The Phantomhive Earl sighed at Lau's knack for behaving most incongruous even in such serious situation. But then again, beneath those care-free behavior was perhaps most beast-like capability for cruelty. Certain memory flashed passed him: one of his cases where Lau was needed to retrieve a key; even after stabbing a man's back with an axe and step on the barely-alive, crawling man's face, he still had the audacity to carelessly twirl the keys with that annoying smile on his face. Certainly, Ciel never let Lau's fake façade deceive him. Not even once.

"It also resembles a kind of bite mark but…" Arthur trailed off unsurely.

This seemed to pique Irene's interest, "A bite mark in the neck…it sounds just like Carmilla."

"By Carmilla you mean Le Fanu's 'The vampire Carmilla'?" Ciel suggested.

"Yes." Irene confirmed, "Do you know it?"

"You're saying this guy's been killed by a vampire?! Don't be ridiculous!" Woodley scoffed, "You can't say that kind of occult and unscientific nonsense in the 19th Century!"

While the crowds were busy discus amongst others in panic of the possibility that a serial murder is amongst them, I took this chaos to whisper to Arthur, "Check out the clock near the bed."

"?!" Arthur looked at me in question but nonetheless went over to pick up the expensive clock that was knocked over beside the bed along with other things.

Ciel shrugged nonchalantly, "Unscientific huh…I guess you could say that."

"But who knows a time will come when we are able to explain such things." Alois entertained, igniting a slight disapproval look from Ciel.

"2:38." Arthur stated, attracting the four demons' attention with his very short yet curious statement.

"That's the clock I keep at my beside is it not?" Ciel said, recognising the clock. Of course, the last time he remembered was being locked away in a far cabinet because someone whom he shared bed with could not take a slight tick-tock sounds while she slept.

"I guess it probably fell down when he was withering in pain…it's broken." Ciel said, noticing the large crack that started from the corner that widened to the centre, stopping at the exact time of death.

"So in other words, Mr. Phelps died around 2:38?"

"Yes." Arthur confirmed.

Ciel noticed dark shadows beneath my eyes even if I tried not to show my tiredness above all things that happened. Someone had died. It's not the time to worry about someone else. I clasped my hand over my mouth as a yawn escaped my lip, an act that hasn't escaped Ciel as he turned around to Lau and Ran-Mao, "Rather than discussing this while standing here, why don't we sort out the situation while sitting down?"

"We'll drink some tea as well." Lau added, "Just to wake people up."

"Indeed." Ciel agreed, "Tanaka, please escort everyone to the drawing room."

"Certainly."


The guests were moved into drawing room where Tanaka prepared small snacks and teas to the hungry occupants.

"Well then, we've eaten dessert, so let's sort things out."Grey started as I took a bite out of the cake, "First of all, Lord Siemens. His death was around ten past one this morning. People who doesn't have an alibi is Earl Phantomhive, Earl Trancy and Miss. is the butler…his time of death is unknown. Finally Mr. Phelps. His time of death was thirty-eight minutes past two this morning…am I correct?"

"No, the Mr. Sebastian's corpse was found first, but who was actually killed first is still unknown." Arthur corrected.

"Ah. That's right." Grey nodded.

"From their condition we know that a few hours had passed between them being killed and our finding them." Arthur explained, "At this stage, me and the Earls who were chained to the bed till morning have an alibi."

"Me and Mr. Wordsmith got into bed and were chained to it at around 2 o'clock. Just before then, Sebastian said he had already guided Mr. Phelps to his room. And Mr. Phelps was killed at 2:38…" Alois revealed.

"So who saw Mr. Butler last?" Lau asked.

"That would probably be us, but…" Arthur trailed off ominously, "Not only was it dark, but the clock was rather far away so I can't tell you the exact time…"

"Ah!" Finny gasped, his hand shooting up in the air at the possible important piece of a puzzle, "We saw Mr. Sebastian in the middle of the night! So was Mr. Claude!"

"M…me too!" Mey-Rin put her hand up as well.

"At what time was it?" Arthur asked.

"I'm certain it was around 2:50." Finnian replied.

Arthur eyed Claude suspiciously, "May I ask when you last saw Mr. Sebastian."

"As soon as we went around talking to others, I went inside my room and did not come out."

"So this means…" Arthur deducted, "Mr. Sebastian was killed last. What did he want?"

"He came to me to confirm the food stock...and he gave this guy," Baldroy pointed to Finnian, "instructions on cleaning the hearths."

"He asked me to…take care of a delivery…owl?" Mey-Rin said ambiguously.

"An owl?" Ciel looked at the servants in confusion.

"As opposed to pigeons, owls can fly through a storm. It's just like him to think of everything." Baldroy acknowledged.

"What's in the letter?" Grey asked.

"I didn't see." Mey-Rin shook her head.

Arthur stared at the rain pouring down the window, "He might have sent a letter to the police."

"Seeing as the telephone wouldn't connect n a storm like this, I guess so." Ciel nodded.

I rubbed my eyes tiredly, meeting Grey's cold ones. He had a mysterious look before I cut the contact short.

"However, if Mr. Sebastian was the last to be killed, the story becomes a lot more complex." Arthur sighed, "The only ones who could lock the Earl's room would be Mr. Phelps himself, who was n the room, or Mr. Sebastian who had the key…which means that Mr. Sebastian being the killer is the most likely scenario…but Mr. Sebastian was killed."

"So maybe…" Lau entertained, "The butler joined up with someone and together they committed the murders, but then, afterwards, they quarreled over the rewards the job would bring and finally he was silenced?"

"It's not unthinkable." Ciel said, "In that case, the probability of the killer being someone who would gain from their deaths seems high."

"So it would seem— money makes the world go around."

"…." Woodley's expression darkened.

"Mr. Phelps was the heir to the Blue Star Line, a major company in the marine transportation business. He was a little weak-willed, but had enough skill to be entrusted with the foreign trade branch and recently even expanded to the Asian region." Ciel smirked, "Lau. He was your business rival."

"Furthermore you walk around carrying a needle in those dragging sleeves of yours do you not?" He pointed out.

"What?" The other guests looked at Lau questionably.

He smirked, "Yes, I am carrying one." Pulling out an acupuncture needle, "It's used in oriental medicine though."

"WHAAA!" The chaos ensued amongst the already panic-filled crowds.

I smiled excitedly among their accusations toward him, "I love acupuncture! Reminds me to come and find you!" I attempted to lift some suspicions and fears the people had of the acupuncture needles; it was not used to harm.

"Of course, Yuri!" Lau chuckled.

"Y-you killed Phelps!" Woodley accused.

"You bastard! You searched the Earl's room just now didn't you! Are you sure you weren't just destroying evidence?!"

Lau shrugged, "Oh my~ aren't you being a bit too rash about this? How do you think I could make a locked room murder from that far-off walk-in-closet? There's no door going outside there, it's not like we can just pass through ventilation shafts or something. And I have an alibi for the time Lord Siemens was murdered anyway. But awww the Earl is such a bully~ you don't need to take revenge on me now you know?"

"Do I really need to hear that from you, who suggested our confinement?" Ciel deadpanned, "Well, in any case, there's no one who could have killed all three even if they teamed up with Sebastian. I was just teasing you."

"!" Arthur gasped, looking at the notes he jot down, "That's true,"

"What are you talking about?" Irene wondered as I saw Arthur drawing alibi list, marked with O or X to those with/without alibi.

"It'd look like this." He held up the completed chart, "The only one who could have killed Lord Siemens at ten past one was Earl Phantomhive, Earl Trancy or Miss. Yuri. The only one who could have killed Mr. Phelps at 2:38 was Mr. Sebastian. And anyone but I, the Earls, or Miss. Yuri could have killed Mr. Sebastian at ten to three. So…even if they worked with Sebastian…it's impossible that a single person could have caused this string of murders!"

"You're right on all counts but one." I said, "I didn't kill anyone. They say a person can use his mouth to lie, but he absolutely can't use his eyes to lie. So what do my eyes tell you?" I smiled.

Arthur seemed convinced, even losing the hint of suspicion in his eyes as we gazed into each other. Arthur of course never believed she could have ever committed such things for any materialistic or emotional reasons; she was too rational for that.

Woodley and others however didn't seemed to hear any of neither our conversation nor our calamity.

Woodley growled, "IF IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ALONE THEN THE PEOPLE WHO CAME AS A PAIR IS THE CRIMINALS!" Surely criminal intending to get away wouldn't be that obvious.

Grimsby shot up from his sit, Irene holding him down from lashing out in fit of anger, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! ON TOP OF BEING TRAPPED IN HERE I'M BEING TRATED AS A CRIMINAL?!"

"GRIMSBY, CALM DOWN!" Irene pleaded.

"Yes, please calm down!" Arthur pleaded, "Also, I'm not saying it all comes down to two people, t's not something as simple as tha…"

BANG!

"SIMPLE OR NOT, I DON'T CARE!" Woodley shouted, pounding his jeweled fists into the table, "I'VE HAD ENOUGH!LIKE I'D STAY IN THIS PLACE ANYWAY!"

"Where are you going?" Ciel calmly asked although the coldness in his voice was evident, "Under these circumstances I'd like you to refrain from acting on your own."

"You're saying that to me?!" Woodley countered with rage, "YOU TWO ARE THE ONE THAT'S….!"

"I'm what?" Ciel challenged boringly while Alois simply raised a brow.

"I…I KNOW!" Woodley pointed to the two Earls, "IT WAS REALLY YOU WHO PLANNED THIS ALL ALONG WASN'T IT!"

Ciel chuckled at how pathetic the man looked, "I'm not sure what you're trying to say, but please calm down."

"YOU WANTED TO FINISH US OFF FROM THE BEGINNIG AND GATHERED US HERE TO SO RIGHT!" Woodley continued, "YOU THE QUEEN'S DOG AND SPIDER!"

The latter part seemed to have gotten their attention, albeit a very dangerous attention from their narrowed eyes. Arthur frowned, "…?" unable to understand the sudden drop in the room's temperature at the mention of a sort of nickname he suppose.

"He crossed the line." I muttered, something Arthur picked up.

"I'M GOING HOME!" Woodley hid behind the sofa, backing away to the door, "Like I'd let myself be killed!"

Arthur stood up, "Please wait! It's impossible in this storm! You should stay here to avoid suspicion as..I grabbed his arm, pulling him down before—

"I DON'T TAKE ORDERS FROM A MERE DOCTOR!" Before anyone could realise, Woodley's jeweled fist punched Arthur's face, flinging onto the table at the momentum, clashing with the delicate Chinas.

"EEEEK!" Irene screamed at the violence.

I quickly bent down to check Arthur's cheek that had few cuts from the sharp edge of the rings and the darkening red spreading across his cheek. He'll have a nasty bruise tomorrow.

Woodley huffed, his shoulder violently shaking from fear and adrenaline rushing through his veins.

"Woodley." An icy and stern voice warned, "The one who's telling you to sit is me. So sit down already." It looks could kill, his eyes seemingly flashing red. The guests gulped, unaware a child so young could even make such expression that struck fear through your heart.

With a sigh, I stood up; too tired and exhausted to deal with emotional outbursts at the crack of dawn. Alois' hand shot up, "Where are you going?"

"Sleeping." I simply said.

"Soon." He nodded as a silent 'I'll be there soon' before letting my wrist go.I headed to the door, opening it as Woodley's eyes landed on my back.

"AND YOU PLANNED THIS WITH THEM HAVEN'T YOU?! IT WAS YOU WHO KILLED HIM!"Their eyes widened as Woodley grabbed my shoulder roughly, intending to turn me around.

"Yuri!" Alois shouted, tensing up from his seat while Ciel shot up from his seat.

"Miss. Yuri!" Arthur and Irene yelled warningly.

I grabbed both his hands and arms before throwing him over my shoulder effortlessly before incapacitating him by placing my heel on his neck that even a tinniest movement would make the heel dig deeper as painfully as possible.

"I understand what you mean. But I'm just a poor and neglected neighbour who receives Ciel's compassion and care. A man who met the right parents through the random luck of fate, born with a silver spoon in his mouth and lived life comfortably and so easily, you're not at the level for me to play with." With a firm press on the man's Adam's apple, earning another painful groan, I walked away.

Tanaka held the man down as soon as the lady of the house exited the room, his knee firmly on the man's back, "Urgh!"

"Please excuse me Master. Woodley." Tanaka apologised, "If someone means any harm against the young master or young lady in this mansion…" He pressed the man's arm backward, "No matter who they are."

"AARRGH!"

"These servants." One could not miss the cold, glaring looks they sent to Woodley that cannot hide the dark past they lead before, "Will not have mercy on them." Before finishing with a smile, "Please understand."

"What the hell is this with this place?" Woodley cursed, strand of hair falling over his eyes, "…Damnit…"

"Wha…" Arthur stuttered in shock and surprise, "What was that just now…" He said in awe, "I didn't see her move at all."

"If I'm not mistaken, it's Japan's 'Bartitsu.'" Lau revealed.

"Ba…baritsu?" He repeated, "I've never heard of it…"

"Sorry, but please tell me about this baritsu in more detail…" Arthur asked, opening his notebook and prepared to write.

No one noticed the growing tension in the air or the sudden quietness in the Earls and a certain spider demon nor the sudden flash of angry red before all hell broke loose.

SMASH!

Their first reaction was to duck out of the harm's way as glass shattered inward, bringing the shards inside.

"KYAHH!" Grimsby quickly covered Irene's head using his body while others hid behind their sofas. Arthur was quick to recover, darting around for any bullets of sorts before his eyes landed on those who had not taken cover, eyes widening at the sight of redness in their eyes.

Arthur rubbed his eyes, blinking several times before trying to verify what he saw. Their eyes were….normal. He sighed; dismissing the crazy notion although he was puzzled as to how all the dishes in the room was also ruined. It seemed expensive and rare too.

Arthur could see the anger radiating from the two Earls, their darkened expressions. The woman they treasured was nearly hurt by someone. It's not something Arthur himself would forgive if someone he loved was attacked as well. But it was the calm façade they never lost control of, even if it slipped out for a second unbeknown to others that it frightened Arthur the most. He watched Alois shaking the glass shards remains off his clothes as if nothing happened, Ciel rubbing his ring thoughtfully.

"Tanaka. You can leave it at that." Ciel ordered, "Then clean this mess up."

'Mister. Woodley, you'll obey our orders then?" Tanaka asked.

"Tch..." He only bowed his hand in surrender.

"Well then..." Ciel began, "Currently the only one who really couldn't have been the criminal is Mr. Wordsmith. I think it'd be safest and fairest to put Mr. Wordsmith in charge of deciding our actions from now on."

"Me?!"

"Yes." Ciel nodded, "I don't really want a criminal prowling around in my manor..."

"I feel the same but..."

"Well..." Irene pondered in agree.

"Yes, us too...right?" Keane nodded.

"Then it's decided." Alois stated.

"There's plenty of time until the storm dies down anyway. Let's thoroughly corner this criminal. Right...Mr. Wordsmith?" Ciel and Alois smiled brightly, Arthur's eyes widening with fear at their so innocent, so like a child rewarded with treats they so desired…it scared him more than anything. More than the murder case of Phantomhive manor, more than any he had known…

In this castle haunted by the eerie presence of a killer, they smiled so innocently, like children. I don't think I'll ever forget those faces. Because with those cruel and beautiful smiles they looked like they were simply enjoying a game, like imps that had branched from demons.


"As a result of my conversation with everyone. Many things have become clear; however...the thing I'm stuck on is the whereabouts of the key to the Earl's room. According to the original scenario, the only one that could have been able to kill Mr. Phelps was Mr. Sebastian. But if we consider that the key could have been passed onto a third party, it becomes a whole different situation." Arthur explained.

"So in that scenario, I would be right thinking that the person who currently holds the key and killed Sebastian is the criminal?" Ciel clarified.

"Yes."

"Well, first let's confirm whether or not the Butler is carrying the key himself. Even though it would mean our theory ends here." Grey said.

"You're right. Also from now on, whenever we move, I'd like us to move as a group." Arthur advised, "Since it would be difficult asking a woman to accompany us to the corpse storage room, I'd like Miss. Irene to stay here with Mr. Grimsby."

"Yes."

"Also...I'd like Mr. Woodley to stay too..." Arthur carefully said.

"Hmph."

Alois stood up from his seat, "I'll retrieve Yuri." Arthur noted the pleasure in Alois' eyes when Woodley flinched at the mention of that woman.

"I'd like you to allow me and Ran-Mao to enjoy some tea over here." Lau asked, patting his 'sister' in affectionate way.

"Since I have nothing to do here, I'll tag along~" Grey volunteered.

"Please excuse me Earl, but would you mind guiding us through the manor?" Arthur requested.

"Not at all." Ciel nodded, "The servants are more familiar with the bottom floor though, so let's have them guide us instead. Is that okay with you guys?"

"Yes, young master."

"Tanaka and Mey-Rin can stay behind and take care of the guests."

"Certainly."

"Then let's get going."


"This place has the kind of atmosphere where one might expect a ghost to pop up at any moment, doesn't it." Arthur ventured, eyeing the shadows that often seem to morph into a frightful shapes.

"Will you cut that out?! There's no way there'd be a ghost! I only believe in things I can cut with my sword!" Grey stuttered, squeezing Ciel's arm for comfort.

"So can you please walk on your own then? It's hard to walk like this..."

"I thought you might be scared, I was being so kind as to..." Grey excused, quite loudly Ciel suppose.

"We're here, folks." Baldroy announced as the door creaked open to reveal the spacious cool wine cellar.

"Put these gloves on when you touch the corpses, will ya." The chef handed others the gloves. No one seems to notice the frightened expression in Finnian; it was a different kind of fear from Grey's; more honest and sincere of its kind.

"You're well prepared! That saves us some trouble." Arthur thanked.

"..." Ciel wordlessly slipped on the gloves.

"Well, please excuse me..." Arthur prayed, lifting the sheets covering the bodies and was shocked to discover what was underneath, "He's wet!"

"Looks like a leak in the roof caused it." Baldroy stared at the ceiling, searching for any leak holes.

"Poor Mr. Sebastian! Please move him!" Finnian pleaded.

"We should, if he's wet his body will decay faster as well." Arthur advised.

"De...cay...?" Finnian muttered in disbelief, he knew what would happen once a body decays. Its appearance would become unrecognisable to the point of horror. It's not something anyone would wish their beloved friends to look nor see.

"We'll need to investigate him but since he's still suffering from rigor mortis it'll be hard to take off his clothes." Arthur said, "Well first let's turn him on his back and..."

"STOP IT!" They halted as Finnian pushed Arthur et al away from Sebastian's body, "Don't treat Mr. Sebastian like a mere object!"

"Woah!"

"Mr. Sebastian is very dear to..."

"Finny." Ciel interrupted sharply, "If you're just going to have this pointless conversation, leave. It's a nuisance. You can move him later; let's search for the key first."

"...It isn't attached to the Albert*."

"He doesn't have it tied around his neck?"

Baldroy silently placed a firm hand on Finny's shoulder in wordless comfort. It was not something even Baldroy would accept but at least one could do is to catch Sebastian's killer and prove his innocence.

"Let's have a look."

"...It's not here huh." Ciel concluded after moment of searching.

"Couldn't it be in his room?" Arthur clued.

"Let's go look."


"This is Sebastian's bedroom."

The room was white and quite capacious with ample room for more furniture and belongings.

"It's pretty spacious." Arthur commented, yet couldn't help but notice the coldness and detachment the room seems to emit. The room was bare beside the necessities like bed, table, wardrobe, fireplace and beside table— one could say, the room was designed in simple luxury yet lacked the personal warmth to create a home.

"Can't you guys think of a place where he might have hidden it?"

"Actually it's our first time in here..." Baldroy revealed, despite their long time working together he had never stepped foot in his room.

"I've only been here twice since I gave him this room as well." Ciel said.

"In any case, let's search in places one might keep vulnerable." Grey suggested.

They searched any nooks and crannies they could from under the bed to the top of fireplace but there was one thing they had not touched. Ciel glanced over his shoulder, staring at the wardrobe for a moment before opening slightly just to glance at the inside.

"!" Nothing could have prepared him for what was about to be unleashed, "Woah!"
"What's wro.." Arthur asked, "CATS-!"

"Wah~! These cats are so cute~~!" Finnian picked up a white fluffy ones with blue eyes.

"That's bastard! He hid these from me! Don't let any of these critters set foot out of this room! Haaa tch ahhh...HATCHOO!" Ciel knew any kind of imperfections he had as humans were gone and he was no longer allergic to the cat, however, he had to play the part no matter how bothersome it could be.

"Young master!"


"However, he really doesn't seem to have any personal belongings." Grey concluded with a sigh, "Wouldn't it be nicer to have at least some things from your original home. Where did he come from?"

Baldroy shrugged, "Who knows...none of the servants know where he's from. Or even what he does on his days off. The only thing we know is that he was ridiculously good at his job, the perfect butler. Perhaps the young master knows something, but..."

"I don't know anything either." Ciel revealed, his eyes glassy with memories, "Where he came from...what master he served before or what he had been doing in the past...I never had any interest in it, it was fine with me. Back then anyone was fine. As long as they would be devoted to me and grant me my wishes. Anyone."

"Back then?" Grey narrowed his eyes.

"If we can't find it after all this, it's probably not here." Arthur let out a defeated sigh.

"Then how about we check everyone's luggage." Grey suggested, "Especially Mr. Woodley's."

"Naturally, don't you think they'll refuse that?" Sherlock writer asked, especially Mr. Woodley.

"I have more public authority than the Yard," Grey dismissed with a simple wave of his hand, "so if they don't want to show me, it will be okay for me to force them~ come on, let's get going!"

Mum…dad…brother…never mind, except you bro…McDonald…KFC….Burger King…TV…Doctor Who….Facebook…oh how I miss you fast food…

Alois couldn't help but chuckle at my weird posture when sleeping, half draped over the floor while other half barely hung on to the edge.

"Yuri, wake up."

No answer.

"It is dinner time." He said the magic word, watching my head shot up at the sound of food.

My long hair covered my face from the position I was in, making me look like some grudge-filled ghost, grabbing a strand of my hair to tuck it behind my ear, "Just stay there, and don't fall down." My hair unfortunately seems to disagree with me, falling down again to cover my face.

Alois watched with bizarre fascination at my grumbling sleep talk, "Oh? You aren't going to listen to unni? If you keep falling, I'll look like a ghost, especially because I'm wearing white."

Then my head dropped dead. Sleep, I mean.

Alois didn't know whether he should call a physician or simply accept that as a part of her unique individuality that never fails to amuse him. He never knew how one girl could hold so many…personalities, should he say?

She could be austere when obligated, playful when needed, imperious in self-reservation and of all, cordial when others desired.

"Just like the bird which is dead or perhaps it is its fate. Becoming a corpse and dying on the ground is a very natural matter. Or perhaps should I say, it's something that's certain. ButI think that's way too pitiful. You're the same, Alois. Maybe youdesire death, maybe living's torture. But...butifyoudied, I wouldbe terriblysad. When your heart's filled with despair, think about this matter. If my love for youis enough, I want to save that heart of yours that's always thinking of death."

It was her sincere words that perhaps he was here. No. It was the absolute reason why he was still here.

"Come. It's time we must head back to the drawing room" Alois gently shook.


"Thus, we would like to view your room and belongings...the women's luggage will be checked another woman, so we won't see it. Is that okay?" Arthur declared, scanning the occupants for their reaction.
"I understand." Irene nodded in agreement.
"Go ahead." Lau accepted.
"Do as you please." Woodley muttered.
Huh? That went unexpectedly well. He thought with surprise.

The door burst open with some cheery disposition as we entered the room.

"Sorry, I'm late." I announced, noticing Woodley stiffing up. I went and playfully slapped Woodley's shoulder, "No hard feelings Point Break, you've got a mean swing."

He muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like an insult so I bent down and said loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Your mouth is the problem. Even if you hate me, say the right things, I'm warning you. It's over, so I want to end things cleanly but you make it dirty till the end; there's a limit to how much I can take, I can't control it so I might explode soon so curb your mouth, don't catch my eye and don't even think about talking trash about me now. If you want to say something now, say the right things, look at me and say that again. Let's hear those proud lips, do it in front of me."

He gulped and smacked his mouth tightly, taking his silence as his self-reflection I sat down across him, "I'll watch out for you for a couple more days, be careful. Do you think it's easy for you to live at the bottommost pit after living so comfortably? Let's see who has the worst temper."

Arthur, for one second, had no doubt the aura could kill and the eyes were cold enough to drop a temperature or two in the room.

"Wanna check my room?" I broke the silence, facing Arthur, "I know you want to."

"Um..sure." Arthur stuttered.


No matter how much he searched, there was no key or any indiscriminating items. But what caught his eyes were books that were neatly piled on the table. It was science and mathematics books, university level, he noticed.

"You are interested in science?" Arthur couldn't help but ask.

"Yes." I replied, "Why, you don't think I'm capable to understand its logic?"

Arthur shook his head, he in no way had doubt to my intelligence, "No, no! It's just that I'm surprised because not many ladies would be interested in such subjects."

"Their choice." I shrugged, "So did you find anything?"

"No." He said, "None. I am satisfied you are not a suspect."

I grinned; thank goodness he didn't noticed the hidden doorway where my modern objects were hidden. It wasn't surprising since I read in the book most mansions has them installed for safety issues of the owner. Medieval stuff.

Arthur slumped on the sofa with defeated sigh, "It wasn't here after all…"

"Even with all this, Sebastian could have hidden it somewhere else..." Ciel suggested.

"That, or he could have thrown it out the window. Since it's small, if it was carried off or buried, in this storm, we aren't going to find it." Lau added.

Finny, Mey-Rin and Baldroy headed outside to search for the key in hope he might have dropped it or hidden it something that worried me they might catch a cold. But it was the look of loyalty in their eyes that made Ciel give his permission. They, after-all, owed Sebastian their life.

Tense silence filled the room until Keane suggested a game to lighten the mood, "…Hey, it's a little suffocating to stay quiet like this, why don't we play a game of cards? I brought some cards so I'll go get them from my room."

"Please wait, if you're going we should all go." Arthur insisted.

"I'll be right back." He reasoned.

"It's safest to move in groups since we still don't know who the killer is and more importantly, I don't want to see any-more victims made."

"That'd be the best action if the killer is amongst us." Lau blew out the smoke of his opium; I scrunched my face up in disapproval, "Though only if he is."

"What are you getting at?" Keane narrowed his eyes.

"Nothing in particular," Lau shrugged with a smile, "It's just my opinion."

"If he's not amongst us, where is he?" Grey contemplated.

"You mean the killer arrived before the storm but is hiding himself outside…or something?" Irene gulped with fear.

"Even so," Ciel began, "Isn't it unlikely he would be able to wander around the mansion and into a locked room without leaving footprints if he had been out in that storm before?"

"Wouldn't your 'unlikely' become likely with the existence of a 13th person?" Lau asked in a way one would ask a riddle to the audience to be solved. Vague, ambiguous yet held huge hints in the question asked that only the most observant and thoughtful person would catch. And this room was full of them.

"How foolish! There's definitely not chance of that happening!" Woodley shook his head, well all but one.

"Definitely?" Lau baited, "The one thing that doesn't exist in this world is 'definite'. If you reverse 'definite' then anything could be lurking in this castle. If he's lying in wait for a chance to attack, aiming for our lives…he might not be that far off anymore…"


Down in the kitchen, the staffs were in difficult situation of sorting out the lack of food. The amount of food were enough to feed five however there were more than ten people that was hungry and needed to be fed.

Their peaceful thinking was interrupted by a large bang against the door from the outside and the servants stepped back in defense. Who is it? What was it?


"This 13th person who shouldn't exist." Lau's sharp eyes opened, for a moment I too were surprised by the intensity held in those gaze. Maybe that was why he kept them closed. Anyone who saw them would know the danger this man held and it would tangle complicatedly with his 'merry' façade. Whoever said, 'eyes are the windows to the souls' were not far from wrong.


"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts." ― Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes


A/N: So I had to rewrite them from scratches because not long ago my computer had been attacked by virus which meant all my word doc. formats is broken and I can't open or recover them ㅠㅠ so that was why I was little late in updating the chapter but I wouldn't have known if observant readers tipped me off! I don't know how the hell chapters became replaced but here you go!

*An Albert is a chain meant for anchoring a pocket watch to your waistcoat. It was named after Queen Victoria's husband, Albert.