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

-Phantomhive Manor Murder Case Arc-

Chapter XL:

Nights of Masquerade


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'

XXDD Smiles- Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy this chapter as well~!

'Janus'

Yugao702- Haha yep I'm back! Glad you enjoyed the chapter! Did you already had your summer holiday? This week is my last whoo hoo! (Sorry to rub it in hehe) Oh yes I've read the latest chapter! I actually expected you-know-who (Don't want to spoil for anyone who hadn't read the manga) to be the school principle haha the manga just needed to confirm my suspicion! The thing I wonder is, is he an enemy or an ally? Haha when you see Yuri as a teacher, you know the troubles are brewing XD although comical ones of course! Yuri wouldn't like Voyage arc very much I guess LOL!

nekolover3- Thank you! Here's another chapter! Enjoy~!

Cereza101- Don't worry! He won't be 'dead' too long! Hahaha, I guess rising from dead is quite common in the manga LOL! I'm glad you can connect to Yuri's life in her world, to be truthful, some of them are based on my own experiences and I know, even if many of my friends don't discuss them, sometime in their life went through some of those things too. I'm not going to paint Yuri as a girl who was happy and satisfied with her life and had solid stability; that's not realistic at all. I hope things got better for you..to me, I guess it did but it falters often.

Hope you did well on your finals and good luck on cross country practise...I remember running that in my sports day -_- came to sport day just to skip school end up running for my class. Came last though haha! More Father Jeremy action this chapter!

Illusa- Well, if you loved the previous chapter, here's another one for you to love! I'm fine! My exams are over and things are getting better (I think) and I can't wait for my summer holiday whoo hoo! How about you?

darkangel- Don't worry, I knew you were darkangel even if it said darkpetal! OMG what exams? Good luck to you thousand times! I'm glad we survived our school days...I'm still thanking God. I actually read 'Attack on Titan' like last year but stopped it because of exams and such! Quite freaky but there's something about it just makes you want to read it! Yep, I told my friend about Umineko and she said she'll check 'em out hoho! I really love the story arcs! Just my style! Oh well I do remember watching this anime, 'Slayers', I remember watching them when I lived in Korea and still remember them! I didn't know 'Attack on Titan' had an anime?! I shall check them out! Mirai Nikki- she's quite alright, crazy yes but kinda me crazy haha!

Well, Undertaker. He's quite mysterious character and half the time, you don't even know what he's thinking. That's what I want to show in my story. You see Undertaker treating Yuri in a way one would treat a girl he likes then the next a mere friend or sometime detachedly in a way it's like you would treat a stranger. I guess he think of her as amusing like he regard Ciel, he likes her but whether romantically or platonic, who knows ;) you will see their development further in the future chapters. Yuri's cinema record will be shown in Voyage arc or somewhere around there to them.

Wonderwomanbatmanfan- Thank you~ here's another chapter for you to enjoy keke!

Doll with No brain- Well, Arthur is author of 'Sherlock Holmes' books so he is quite sharp and observing. Glad you like the psychology explanations keke, some are what I learnt in psychology lesson so putting it to good use! OMG, your sister has same name as my anime-crazy, doctor who obsessed, hetalia-obsessed, anime convention obsessed friend, Arianna?! Duh duh duh! I told her what you said and she was like, 'OMG, let me speak to her!' haha!

Oh, your friend is part Asian? Awesome! Everyone should have an Asian friend once in their lifetime hahaha! Your friend sounds very confident and funny! LOL! Hope there will be next book soon to explain the cliffhanger then!

Enchanted Elf- Glad you like the focus(?) on Yuri! Here's another chapter though it doesn't focus on Yuri but the plot itself keke! OMG seen the Kuroshitsuji musical in YouTube but it would wonderful to see it first-hand ㅠㅠ I like the actor who plays Ciel, so cute~ I think the actor's name was Nishii Yukito for Kuroshitsuji Musical 2. Have you?

MrsGooglyBear- Thank you~! Here's another chapter and hope you enjoy it like the last one hehe!

VampireSiren- Hahaha yes I'm back! Really? I'm surprised Evil Dead isn't about zombie like the original one! That's unique! I better watch it then! Hahaha! OMFG I want to watch WWZ! Was it good? I saw the trailer and I was like, 'Mum, we need to get outta here!' hahaha! Have you seen the 'The Purge'? So want to see it!

ItsMyCircusNow- Hoho yes I have! Here's more for you to enjoy~! Sebastian? I guess your fav character?

SomeoneThatExists- *Throws rope* Grab on-wait you didn't phew~! Here's another chapter! Haha enjoy! Stay away from the cliff!

Anon- Thank you for your compliments! I'm very grateful ㅠㅠ since English is not my first language you must excuse my tardiness. Oh, I corrected Arthur's name...there was like 43 mistakes..so shocked! But thanks for letting me know! Here's the next chapter. Enjoy~!

AmandaSingh0- Well, here's more Sherlock Holmes quote hehe! Here's more faster update~

Dontgotaclue88- Here's more! Hope you love it and enjoy~

Paxloria- Oh yes, Claude will get his private moments I think in this chapter! And yes he will get the chance to correct the state of affairs keke! Enjoy~!

NoLookeyBasterd- Thank you my awesome reader! Glad you like my OC keke and yes she didn't rant or crept anyone out (Well, for that long) haha! Hope you enjoy~!

Rileypup- Aww thank you! XD I'm glad you like my story hehe and it will be quite a long way until I finish the story but hope you will enjoy it then too. Here's the next chapter you've been waiting for~~~ enjoy!

A/N:

Hi hi! So today is my birthday (3rd of July) and to me birthday is both giving and receiving thus I am updating TWO chapters! Hehehe hope you guys enjoy this day as much as I do with these chapters! Enjoy~!


This chapter contains: 5th Arc of Kuroshitsuji manga 'Phantomhive Manor Murder Case Arc' chapter 47-48


"There are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world without them." ― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Red Headed League


"This...this is the...killer?!" Arthur shockingly exclaimed, widened pupil captured killer.


Knock

Knock

I looked up from the bed that somehow seemed more interesting than what was going on. Alois and Ciel sat on the bed side by side between me with Claude stood tall beside Alois.

"Excuse me." Tanaka clicked open the door, "We were successful in capturing the killer." He announced it to the whole occupants that formed protective circle around Ciel. He slightly pulled back the large black hood before looking up also.

"I told them that the young master and the rest of you were hiding out in Master Woodley's room, so I expect them to arrive soon." Tanaka explained as the three Phantomhive servants sighed in relief.

Knock

Knock

The door open wide again, as Arthur walked in followed by Charles who pointed over his shoulder nonchalantly, "We brought the killer along."

"EEEK!" Irene face blanched, fearfully flinching back from the 'killer' as Grimsby wrapped his arms around her defensively immediately at his lover's cries.

"'This' is the killer." Jeremy said with a smile as he held out the killer for people to see. "A snake?! That's ridiculous!" They shouted in disbelief.

The snake's body was tangled into a tight, unnatural knot to limit any movement, rendering any possibilities it may have slithering to attack the people in the room as Jeremy held the snake's head and its tail in both hands firmly.

The brownish grey snake hissed threateningly - revealing its sets of sharp fangs where the deadly toxic could easily decide the timing of your death with a mere bite - and thrashed about in Jeremy's gloved hand as his senses were overwhelmed with multiple scents and like many other animals, could sense the tension and uneasiness of its preys in the room.

I immediately knew the reptile belonged to Snake.

"It's hard to believe but it really came to get the young lady wearing the Earl's clothes." Arthur mentioned as Ran Mao nodded naively. Arthur was trying not to look at her for Ciel's clothes was too small and tight on her, revealing an ample amount of skin (legs and cleavage) that Arthur was not used to nor any other men in the room.

"To compensate their lack of sight, snakes have a highly developed sense of smell and hearing." Jeremy stated, "That's why they are able to find their prey in the dark through sound vibrations and smell. In other words, the snake was most likely trained by being fed right after it was exposed to the Earl's scent." He continued, "If one uses a snake, it doesn't matter if they have a key or an alibi."

I noticed the snake colour was mixture of olive, brownish, gray, or sometimes khaki depending on the angle of light. It was quite young, since a young snake colour is lighter in colour and as they age, their colouration tends to get darker. Its under-body was cream-coloured, blended with greenish yellow.

There was dark spots or blotches that speckle the back half of the body, and have alternating dark and light scales near the posterior, giving the impression of lateral bars. The inside of the mouth was dark blue although it looked inky black.

The body was slender for fast speed; its head was large but narrow and elongated, with the shape of a coffin - quite suiting seeing it is the longest venomous snake in Africa. The eyes were dark brownish black, the one that resembled mine actually, although it had silvery-white to yellow edge on the pupils.

"This is a 'Black Mamba', they inhibit South Africa and possess a strong neurotoxin. lts neurotoxic venom is one of nature's most effective poisons, acting on the nervous system, causing paralysis. In Africa, the saying goes 'In the bush, an elephant can kill you, a leopard can kill you, and a black mamba can kill you. But only with the mamba is death sure.' Hence its handle, 'Death Incarnate.'"" Jeremy explained.

"The venom of a black mamba can kill a human in four hours, if, say, bitten on the ankle or the thumb. However, a bite to the face or torso can bring death from paralysis within 20 minutes. The amount of venom that can be delivered from a single bite can be gargantuan. 10 to 15 milligrams can be fatal to human beings. However, the black mamba can deliver as much as 100 to 400 milligrams of venom from a single bite. The victim will inevitably die within one hour of being bitten. Finally it possesses special characteristics such as the world's fastest movement and an excellence in climbing trees. It's the perfect snake to use for murder." The pastor finished with a sigh, "...But a snake is still a snake. It didn't know whether the person it bit was the Earl or not."

"I see..." Arthur realised, jotting down Jeremy's explanation fervently, "For the criminal it was an unexpected development that the Earl was sleeping elsewhere."

"And the one who slept n my bed that was..." Ciel trailed off in unease.

"Patrick Phelps!" Arthur finished.

Jeremy nodded, "I figured it would probably show up again when it got hungry. So we stood guard and it appeared as expected. We were lucky to have this young lady that could wear the Earl's clothes and take his place. In an emergency situation, the Earl wouldn't have been able to avoid the attack right?"

Ciel knew Jeremy was toying with his previous humanity, knowing his newly found demon body was immune poison - something that would have been otherwise fatal if he was still human.

"If the Earl died, we'd be in trouble." Lau said to the others before directly asking, "Right Ran-Mao?"

"Glad you're safe." Ran-Mao hugged Ciel affectionately, in a way that a worried sister would hug one's younger brother and the absent look on Ran-Mao made it more cuter.

"At least put something on!" Ciel stuttered, blush creeping on his face at the indecent attire. I frowned, that's not how he's like behind doors.

"In any case!" Ciel cleared his throat, "I was made to wear the butler's coat to hide my body odour?"

"Isn't it great how it hid your entire body?" Jeremy playfully said, motioning toward the hem of the coat pooling around Ciel due to the largeness of the cloths size.

Vein prodded on Ciel's forehead, "You really don't know when to stop talking do you..."

"However, it's illegal to transport poisonous snakes on trading ships." Arthur revealed, "I used to be a doctor on a boat that sailed the African sea course as a part-time job, the luggage was checked quite strictly."

"Which means it was smuggled." Lau said, "Bribing a privately managed freight ship is probably the easiest way."

"Indeed," Alois agreed, "You'd need close connections with an African business."

"If you're talking Africa, imported products would be gold or dia..." As if on cue, realisation hit Arthur along with the inhabitants of the room. Their eyes shot to the direction of Carl Woodley, silently suspecting and demanding explanation.

"N...no." His hand waved in air persistently, denying of any charges that is made against him, "It wasn't me!" Then he pointed his accusing finger to Lau, "T-Trading is Kun Lun's thing, isn't it!"

Lau laughed with shrug shoulder, "Awww too bad! We don't do business with any African companies."

"Well," Grey intervened, "It really is a bit much to be deciding the killer based on the snake being from Africa alone."

Woodley nodded, "T-That's right!" He said desperately, "And what about when Siemens was killed?! I have an alibi."

"That alibi might not be worth all that much."

"What?" Woodley turned his head to the owner of the voice, Jeremy who was leaning against the wall with confident smirk.

"What do you mean?" Grimsby asked, as if he could not fathom Jeremy's very word.

"What if the corpse the butler and the others found wasn't a corpse?" Jeremy suggested.

"WHAT?!" Arthur and the others exclaimed at the perplexity at the pastor's question, "But he didn't have a pulse and there was blood on his chest..." Arthur tried to reason.

"Did you thoroughly inspect the wound?" Jeremy countered.

"That's..." Arthur frowned, "It was quite dark, so I wasn't able to..."

"Does everyone know of the potion Juliet drank in 'Romeo and Juliet'?"

"You mean to go into a state of apparent death but come back to life?" Irene replied.

Arthur gasped, soon connecting the scattered dots, "You mean..."

"That's right. It actually exists." Jeremy revealed, "A poison that would induce this state!"

"Wha" At that moment, horror and fear filled Woodley's face. The revelation of this fact would indeed make Woodley's alibi useless and therefore a likely suspect.

"There is a substances called tetrodotoxin(1) that was recently discovered and is being studied." Jeremy reported, "It seems that if you refine it in a certain way you will be able to achieve a state of apparent death much like Juliet's."

"Tetrodotoxin is the poison puffer fish and octopuses carry, isn't it?" Arthur said.

"As expected," Jeremy acknowledged, "You have the latest information, doctor."

"It would take 30 minutes of ingestion." I added, "But it can be delayed to four hours depending on people and method."

"Siemens was found after an hour or two so that gives plenty time for the poison to act." Arthur supported.

"Yes." Jeremy said, "When I investigated Lord Siemens' body I noticed a faint scent of the sea. Perhaps that was the scent of a poison made using puffer fish."

"I just have one question here." Jeremy asked to others, "Why would the scent of poison come from someone who had allegedly been stabbed?"

"It was set up?" Ciel suggested although it was a question, the certain tone in his voice told otherwise.

"!" Grey narrowed his eyes, glancing at Earl.

"Indeed. He himself drank the poison, which according to Miss Yuri would take a mere half an hour, got rid of the bottle and pretended to be dead. Then it wouldn't matter what room he was put in. He probably figured that people without specific medical knowledge wouldn't examine the wound closely, hence it would work as a temporary deception at least."

Arthur's head bowed in shame as a doctor for failing to save one's patient, his eyes closed, "I should have looked at it more closely..."

"But when I checked the body just now he was certainly stabbed to death." Jeremy revealed, surprising Arthur with this newly found information.

"What?"

"So what was meant to be a fake turned out to be a real murder?" Lau asked.

"No." I said, "The murderer intended to kill Siemens in the first place. The only reason the murderer would use poison is it's certain. Using deadly poison particularly, meant the murderer was 100% trying to kill someone."

Arthur nodded in agreement, "I, too, agree with Miss Yuri. If we look at the situation, the killer might have wanted to lure the Earl into a trap." Arthur mentioned uneasily.

"Me? It's impossible to know whether Lord Siemens was an accomplice though. Because he seemed quite out of bounds once he had some alcohol in him, the killer might have invited him to 'Give everyone a good scare' or something." Ciel suggested, although he dismissed them as unlikely, "But the Lord and myself had never met before, there is no reason for him to want to lure me into a trap. We can just look at it as him being used and then silenced by being killed."

Arthur closed his eyes mournfully once again, head bowed, "How sad..."

"There would have been plenty of chances to talk to him during the buffet party." Jeremy said.

"If so, anyone here could have egged him on!" Woodley shouted angrily, his face becoming red, "I don't even have any kind of alibi!"

"We could inquire as to what everyone talked about with Lord Siemens but..." Jeremy trailed off.

Grey's eyes glanced downward, avoiding direct eye contact with anyone.

Jeremy shrugged, "Let's not. Humans are lying creatures."

"That's right." Grey agreed, "In fact, you could be lying as well. If he drank a poison, where'd the bottle go?"

"That's easy, he got rid of it in a place no one cold examine right away." Ciel countered, "In the fire for example."

"Isn't it kind of hot in here?" Baldroy thumped his fist against his palm as realisation struck him, "That's right. There was a ridiculous amount of wood in the fire back then."

"We definitely wouldn't find it there." Arthur sighed, "And if he collected it once the afterglow had died out..."

"However, that wasn't possible." Ciel reminded, "Because of Sebastian."

Arthur gasped, "Ah! That's right! Before he could destroy the evidence, the butler had already come to collect the ashes!"

Jeremy smirked discreetly.

"THAThat's nonsense!" Woodley defended heatedly, "If he had found the proof of a set-up, his precious alibi would go up in smoke. He acted quickly and immedately killed Sebastian. Next...he recovered the evidence and returned to his room...then the one who has it is the killer! I don't have any such thing! You searched us right?!"

"That's right." Ciel smirked, knowing Woodley had fallen into his trap, "Outside the hearth that is."

"!"

"Isn't it the perfect hiding place?" Ciel continued, his eye travelling toward the still burning fire place, "It's not like we would come to search the room again. If you recovered and destroyed it after we were done searching it'd be perfect."

Woodley huffed, "Th...that's a false accusation! There is nothing like that here!"

"Then show us!" Grimsby growled angrily, flouncing toward the hearth and messily digging out the burning woods as it stained the floor with its dark soot and smog, "Let's see if it's there or not!"

I coughed as the thick, suffocating smoke filling the room.

"Ah!" Grimsby's eyes widened, "Glass shards?!"

"Wha?!" Colour left Woodley's face like ice melting into water.

"But it's not like we can tell what it was like this..." Arthur covered his mouth and nose with his sleeves.

"It'll be fine if we pick it up and put it back together." Jeremy reassured.

"WHAT?!" Arthur exclaimed in disbelief, "That's impossible! It's been reduced to bits!"

"Nonsense, it's like a puzzle without a picture. Hmm..it's done." Jeremy showed a small glass vial. It's size was humble however enough to contain lethal amount of poison nonetheless.

"W...wow!"

"Looks like an ampoule of medicine." Jeremy stated

"T-To find this here means..."

"You're the killer after all! You murderer!" Grimsby interrupted, pointing at Woodley furiously.

Disappointment appeared on Arthur's face, "To want to trap a child...why on Earth would you do that!"

"I!"

"Diamonds." Ciel stated. It was succinct and brief but the message was well received.

"Huh?" Arthur tilted his head in question.

"There was a top secret plan for a major company in the diamond industry, Roze who are in alliance with Earl Trancy's company and my company, that possesses the world's leading technology, to co-operate and enter the jewellery industry." Ciel explained, "But a few days ago, the autocratic president, Mr. Roze was murdered, putting the plan temporarily on hold. However, if the plan was put into motion again the Woodley Company, that boasts of having the latest technologies, will certainly receive some damage."

His eye narrowed. "That's why you thought you'd kill me now right? It was a careless thought anyway."

"I didn't do it, please believe me!" Woodley plead desperately but it was obvious his pronouncing words of innocence went deaf on others, "I'm being set up here!"

Those desperation flee away and replace with rage, slanting his index to the two Earl, "By them! The Queen's Dog and Spid—"

Sharp sword pressed against the vulnerable skin of his, a mere inch away from his subclavian artery as another voice coldly ordered, "Shut up." Grey's face was devoid of any emotions, his look more threatening than the sword in his hand as he stood behind the large man, "I do not need your idle explanations. I'll listen to your stories at leisure in prison."

"I-I didn't do it…I DIDN'T DO IT!" Tears of demise began to form at the corner of Woodley's eyes.

"If you do not want to be killed, I suggest you be quiet. I'm in a really bad mood right now." Grey threatened with a biting glance, pressing the silver rapier warningly against the man's exposed throat.

"Earl Grey," He turned to see the owner of the voice as I held up the chains he used against me, rattling it as it swayed sadistically in the view of his eyes, "Here." I threw the one end of the chain as he swiftly caught it in his had before I threw the another end.

Cryptic glint of something flashed pass his grey silver eyes.

With loud 'clack' the metal chain painfully tightened against Woodley's wrist before pushing him out of the room in unspoken silent in acquiesce manner.

"Let us leave the rest to the yard," Arthur told others, assuring them of the fear they have felt for past few days as they stared at the caught murderer, "With this, case closed."

"I'm so relieved." Irene sighed, finally feeling safe.

"Yeah," Grimsby gave her a weary smile.

"Come to think of it, what was that dark red liquid then?" Finnian suddenly blurted out.

"FiFinni! There's no need for that anymore!" Mey-Rin shushed.

"Ah that's right, I have not discussed that yet." Jeremy said, having forgotten such trivial thing amidst this chaos.

"Dark red liquid?" Ciel echoed.

"The maid seemed to have found a dark red liquid in Ms. Irene's room." Jeremy reported, "She was wondering if the always young and beautiful looking Ms. Irene was a a vampire."

Grimsby stance became defensive, "What's up with that?! Are you questioning Irene?!"

"Grimsby!" Irene chided, "Please wait, that's..."

"I dare-say the contents of the bottle were..." Jeremy shifted through his pocket before revealing a small leaf I was very familiar as an Asian.

"A leaf?" Mey-Rin blinked.

"Ah, that's a red perilla!" Finny realised.

"The red perilla has an anti-ageing effect." Jeremy explained.

Huh...so mum wasn't kidding. Can't believe she didn't tell me it was true.

"Th..that's right." Irene blushed.

"The extract that is taken from its boiled down leaves is the origin of your beauty...is it not?"

Her hands came to cup her blushing cheek in embarrassment, "I'm sorry, I never thought it'd turn into something like this...I take it because I want to remain young with him forever." She linked her arm with Grimsby lovingly.

"Irene..." Blithe smile spread across his lip, a smile of a proud man for having a beautiful lover.

"Wha...whaaaatt?" The three servant couldn't help but shiver at the lovey-dovey scene playing out in front of them. I didn't notice three sets of eyes momentarily flashing toward me.

Jeremy held up the bottle, "This can also restore fatigue. So upon that notion, why don't we celebrate the solving of the crime with a toast of this?"

The atmosphere seemed to become more lighter as Jeremy poured the red liquid into eight wine glasses while in the background, Mey-Rin bowed in apology much to Irene's view of seeing a funnier side of it. I handed the glass to Alois, Ciel, Claude then Arthur.

"Well, if Mr. Wordsmith would like to make the toast then." Alois suggested.

"Me?!" Arthur gasped at the proposal.

Ciel smiled, "Because of the indispensable help you gave us today."

Arthur flustered, "We...well then."

He brought the wine glasses up, forming a circle in mid-air as others followed the suit, "To celebrate solving the crime...a toast!"

Clink


Like this, the almost demonic night at the haunted mansion ended...and each of us set out to return home. The sky cleared up as if yesterday night had never existed.

Arthur waved farewell to Irene and Grimsby as they entered the carriage with his own waiting behind him.

The orchestra of rain conducted by a demon had turned into the chirping of little birds.

Arthur saw Woodley being escorted by a member of Scotland Yard into the metal police carriage, Grey overseeing the process. However, Arthur noticed dark angry look plastered on Grey's face as if the capturing of the murderer did nothing to soothe him.

However. For some reason, a small sense of discomfort had left a stain on my heart. Like a cloud that trickled a shadow over the clear sky...

With heavy steps, Arthur entered the carriage before settling down beside the window seat. I wonder why. Arthur thought with uneasy heart, We solved the case. It's like a mist has settled before my eyes...like I'm overlooking something big... Arthur looked out to admire the impressive architecture of the Earl's mansion.

Knock, knock

He was pulled away from his wondering mind at the sound of glass knocking, "Mr. Jeremy?"

"What a gloomy face." He commented, "Even though we solved the case."

"No," Arthur laughed nervously, "It's not like that..." before his face melted into a sad look, "You helped us out tremendously, Mr. Jeremy, thank you very much."

"I should be thanking you." Jeremy shook Arthur's hand firmly, "We probably won't meet again, but all the best."

Arthur returned the last greeting with equal gratefulness.

"Monsieur. Wordsmith. (Mr. Wordsmith.)"

French? Arthur noted.

With a mysterious smile, "Merci d'avoir pris soin du jeune maître. (Thank you for taking care of the young master.)"

Before Arthur could say anything else, Jeremy gave a strong knock against the black carriage to signal the driver to go as Arthur was whisked away inside.

"Ah..." Arthur gasped, surprised at the sudden movement as he poked his head outside the window, founding himself staring at the pastor with uncertainty.

Huh?

"I leave the young master in your hands."

Those words echoed in his mind, disturbed at how similar their words sounded. Arthur shook his head whatever his chaotic mind may make up, Impossible. He certainly died. There is no way that...

His eyes widened further, sweat beads dripping down side of his face, No...wait! If I think about it, there's nothing but odd facts! His conduct on the night of both Siemens' and his own death were as if he had known the future. And pastor, Jeremy's words just now were surely a follow-up to that time...

He was yanked out of his thoughts with frightening immediacy and hesitating no further, Arthur grabbed onto the out-shift of the carriage to support his weigh while he shouted to the driver perilously, ignoring the fact he could fall and be killed, "PLEASE RETURN TO THE MANSION! IMMEDIATELY!"

The carriage turned back, horses trotting in fast speed although for Arthur it felt slow. He quickly jumped out of the carriage, barely a second it stopped and ran up the stairs. He slammed the door open, in time to see the four figures up on the majestic staircases.

I glanced over my shoulder.

"Why so flustered?" Jeremy asked smugly as if he had anticipated Arthur's abrupt arrival, "Did you forget something?"

"I came back to confirm the truth." Arthur said in between panting and huffing at sudden strenuous exercise he was not used to as he was a writer and part-time doctor, "Pastor Jeremy...no. Butler Sebastian."

"I told you he would come back." I intervened.

"Y-you knew?" Arthur blinked in surprise.

"Excellent." 'Jeremy' acknowledge with smile, "Seems we underrated you a little. Or wouldn't I be more likely to say..." His gloved hand came up to his face, gripping the second skin before tearing it away - a reminiscent of one pulling away a thick mask at the end of long masquerade to reveal their secrets beneath.

"It appears that we have rudely underestimated you, sir?" Indeed, behind the thick and convincing façade, was the handsome face of the very butler thought to be dead, "Mr. Wordsmith."

"I..." Arthur stuttered, his whole body shook, "I can't believe it..how could something so unreal be happening..."

"Oh." Sebastian said with hint of disappointment, "Did you not come back because you were certain of this?"

"Humans are foolish creatures whose knowledge is vastly limited; what do you expect." Claude muttered nonchalantly.

The harshness of Claude's words attracted Arthur's attention for the first time, as if he was seeing this man for the first time to true deepness. He had been so so quiet, almost the perfect butler like Sebastian but he was seeing this man in new light after this revelation that he in fact knew the true identity of pastor Jeremy.

What surprised him more was the fact his arm around Miss Yuri's waist, a lover's embrace and the possessive glint in his eyes. He must be one of Yuri's lover.

"If you had just gone back, you would have returned to your peaceful 'reality'." Sebastian informed, "So why did you come back then?" The butler raised his brow, "Trembling, even." noting his shaking hands on his knee.

Arthur flinched and gulped, "B...Because, if my uncomfortable feeling wasn't 'simply' at an uncomfortable feeling. I'd have to go after the yard's carriage immediately!"

"Haha." Ciel laughed, snickering, "Your sense of justice is so strong, Mr. Wordsmith. I can see why Yuri likes you; you're just like her."

"Not that strong, Ciel." I retorted, "Just a bit twisted."

"Or otherwise you would have stopped him, would you not Yuri?" Alois ventured. Then turned toward Arthur, "You did mention in your works that you liked the knights of the Middle Ages." He said to Arthur.

"Yes..." Ciel gazed down at Arthur with menacing tone, "Didn't you realise that if you knew the truth, you would not be able to return home?"

"What?!" Arthur flinched, suddenly regretting his decision to come back.

"I'm just joking." Ciel simply dismissed, "Beside, Yuri would hate me for doing so when she enjoys your companionship and your works."

"Don't use me as excuse when you like him too." I corrected.

"Hmph." Ciel smiled in defeat, "Seems like I can't hide anything from you." Glancing toward Arthur's way, who's face contorted into an absolute horror and fear- he looked more pale than when he discovered the murder.

Ciel turned around, continuing up the stairs, "...It's as you guessed."

"Woodley wasn't the criminal." Ciel revealed, glancing over his shoulder, "In 'this' crime at least..."

"!"

"However," Ciel continued, "He deserves to be in that carriage."

"...What do you mean?" Arthur questioned.

"Let's not stand and talk. We might as well have some elevenses(2) prepared. Sebastian."

"Yes." He nodded before stepping down the stairs and guiding Arthur, "I'll take you there."

Arthur gulped and flinched back. Sebastian couldn't help but feel amused, "You wish to know the truth, don't you? Don't be scared, we won't eat you."

Arthur followed him although hesitatingly, momentarily gazing to the three and catching as Claude leaned down to steal Yuri's lip much to the Earls' and Sebastian's dismay. Blush crept across his cheeks at the sight of taboo.

"What had happened to not allowing me approach you?" The spider demon teased.

"I said you can't like me." I reminded him, "But I didn't say that I can't like you!"

"Good girl." Before giving another playful kiss.

"Oi.." Ciel said in disgust. Alois didn't word out his jealousy either but his eyes narrowed in displease as Ciel.


Sebastian led him to an indoor garden that resembled elaborately designed rainforest, seeing the three was already waiting for him as he sat stiff and rigidly, feeling out of place like the first time.

"Today, I prepared you Fortnum and Mason's Darjeeling second flush. For snacks, I have petit fours." Sebastian said, pouring the tea before setting the cup in front of Arthur while Claude prepared the snacks and presented on the table.

The cup and the delicious looking snacks seemed to sparkle in Arthur's eyes. The rose decorated teacup was definitely expensive china for sure- more pricey than he could earn in his lifetime.

Although it may seems rude, he did not help himself to the delicacies he was offered. Half of him could not bring himself to eat such high class food - something he wasn't used to at all and half of him was suspicious of the content in the food.

Ciel smiled, respecting Arthur's suspicion as he brought the tea to his lip, "We haven't poisoned it, so please help yourself."

Arthur glanced toward me as I sipped the heavily sugared tea before following the suit, "Ciel isn't the type to poison people. He prefers revolver." I said, biting into the delicious confectionery.

Ciel simply smiled, sipping the dull tea.

"...So? How did you know that he was alive, Mr. Wordsmith?" Alois asked in amused tone, "I'm sure it was quite hard to fathom."

"Actually, it's not like I had sort of conviction that he was still alive." Arthur replied, "It was more that I kept having this vague sense of discomfort. I'm not sure how to say this but he was just...too perfect."

"They should be." Alois commented, sipping his tea once more.

Arthur, having misunderstood the subjective phrase that Alois methodically quoted; that Sebastian is butler therefore should be meticulous regarding his job, continued, "Even though I had this uncomfortable feeling about the butler Sebastian and the pastor Jeremy, there wasn't a single flaw in either of them to be suspicious of...they were too perfect. So perfect, it was strange instead."

"And by this you are trying to say?" Sebastian said, asking him to elaborate.

"That there is no way you could have prepared everything so perfectly before dying...well, being murdered. The food, the owl, even your words to me were too perfect." He explained, "That wasn't just a foreboding. The pastor Jeremy who appeared afterwards was suspicious no matter how you looked at it. But his alibi was so perfect that there was no reason to doubt it. And then his words at our parting..."

"Merci d'avoir pris soin du jeune maître."

"The moment I heard that I realised the true nature of my constant discomfort...and also 'the possibility of something unreal' that would overthrow all of our reasoning."

"The possibility of something unreal?" Ciel repeated.

"The possibilities..." Arthur gulped, "That the butler Sebastian had not died. When I thought of that, I just couldn't contain myself..."

"To think you'd come to believe this and return after just those words..." Sebastian mused, "You're all one would expect from someone who earned the young master's praise."

"Stop saying such unnecessary things." Ciel growled, irritated at the unnecessary trend, "Yuri alone is enough."

Sebastian wordlessly smirked down at Ciel, almost playfully much to Ciel's dismay before asking Arthur, "And? What part of me made you think so?"

"Once was at the time of Lord Siemen's death. At that time you weren't doing anything but observing our movement. We're talking about the person who reacted so swiftly during the disturbance at the evening party here. When I think of it now, I cannot help but think there must have been a reason for it." Arthur said, "Then when the Earl was suspected, you didn't utter a single word in his defence. For a butler to not protect his master even a little is strange. Didn't you know? That the suspicions on the Earl would be lifted as soon as the next murder occurred."

Smile bloomed on Sebastian's lip, "Of course...I realised this."

"Do you really―?!"

"However." Sebastian flawlessly interrupted, "That wasn't the reason I didn't protect the young master."

Alois chuckled, bringing Arthur's attention, "That was his way of rebelling against Ciel..although I cannot say much for my butler either..right, Claude?"

Claude simply smirked, sadistic glint in his eyes, "Your Highness, we are forever bound to you and are now one of us..I was simply enjoying those humans desperately crying for help something you also enjoyed."

Alois pouted, "Even so..not even a utter word of defence to your master..I'm disappointed, Claude. Shall I punish you once again?"

Claude did not reply.

All this while, Arthur couldn't understand the dynamic of the two Earls and their butlers'. Claude's words left seeds of dangerous curiosity and confusion; their words as if they were..different. It was certainly a kind never seen before.

"Hmph." Ciel frowned in displease, "You probably thought it served me right, didn't you?"

"Not at all?" Sebastian sarcastically, "I was just taken aback at how, while you predicted that something would probably be set up, you quickly gave in to sleep and I was left to take care of the mess."

"EhWa-wait a second!" Arthur stuttered, "By predicting you mean..."

"We knew beforehand that there was a person mixed up in the dinner party that wanted to torment the young master and Earl Trancy."

"S..so you mean? You predicted that this incident would occur?!"

"Indeed." Sebastian told, "We also predicted that Master Siemens would probably be made a sacrifice for it. And that I would be killed."

"What?!" Arthur burst out of his seat in shock, tableware rattling in vibrations.

"Mr. Wordsmith."

"Watch..."

"Shut up!"

"In your hands."

"Don't let the coal in the hearths go out."

"This is...the killer?!"

"Confinement!"

"He's dead!"

-2 DAYS AGO-

"Guh!" The sound of pained yell stopped Mey-Rin, Claude and Sebastian in their track, "Gwaaahhhh!" It sounded more of an injured animal, whining and moaning for help.

Crack? Sebastian thought, hearing a sound of something shattering that was too faint and quiet for Mey-Rin to hear with her human ears.

"What's wrong, Master Siemens!" Mey-Rin anxiously shouted, "Master Siemens!" She called, hearing no reply but ominous silence from behind the door.

"What's wrong? What's going on?" Grey came running, followed by other crowds.

"Let's break open the door." Sebastian suggested, kicking the wood down effortlessly into small tiny sharp splinters. The small smoke that arose from the impact died down, revealing motionless corpse.

"EEEEEEKKKK!"

"WAAAHHHHHHH!"

"Ah, Mr. Phelps!" Woodley quickly caught falling Phelps.

"Excuse me!" Arthur motioned for people make way, "...He's dead!"

Surely I heard the sound of something breaking, but there's nothing broken to be seen. Sebastian thought, I don't smell blood either, which means... His eyes trailed toward the fireplace where the fire still strongly flickered, There will probably be some sort of bottle that contained poison in here...

"Wait a minute!" Arthur interrupted, "Why didn't you say that immediately?! If you had said so, surely it would have been settled without the Earls' and Miss. Yuri being suspected!"

"The young master seemed to be observing the situation, so I did the same." Sebastian explained.

"A murder under those circumstances...at first I thought it must have been a set up." Ciel told, lightly lowering his teacup onto the tea plate, "Aside form him being alive or dead, I did guess that Siemens had taken the poison himself. After that it's as the butler said. I thought we wouldn't be too late even if we moved after catching the criminal's tail."

"I see.." Arthur muttered uneasily after few minute of sinking in the newly found information he was given, "That's why you made him refill the coal, right."

"I caught on to that as well. There's no need to collect ashes in an empty room. Even so, he was killed in that room while collecting ashes." Ciel said.

"Indeed." Sebastian interjected, "That order's true meaning was...'inspect the hearth closely.' Though you are such a cruel master. Since you gave me the order, knowing I would be killed if I inspected the hearth."

"I never thought it would go as we expected for so long." Ciel reasoned.

"As expected?"

"It meant," I joined, "They knew what was going to happen, even the tinniest bit of things."

"Yes, that night I was killed."

Clop

Clop

In the quiescent silent night, pit-a-pat of Sebastian's footsteps was heard as he entered the equally dark room holding some candle light toward the hearth, the another only light source.

"'Don't let the coal in the hearths go out'...was it." He muttered.

"This wasn't a scenario decided by God or fate."

Soon enough, after shuffling some woods around, discovered the very evidence that proved his suspicion.

"But one decided on by my master."

Through his heightened demon ears, he could clearly hear the masked footsteps drawing near but decide to remain oblivious.

"With timing decided by my master."

Upon his gloved hand was two set of small glass vials: a small alcohol carrying bottle that likely held Siemens' whiskey and medical ampoule that contained the poison.

"I was killed by the criminal expected by my master."

The figure blended in the dark approached the butler, quietly and slyly with the lethal weapon in hand.

"As I thought..." Sebastian said, the figure's identity menacingly reflected on the glass vial, the silvery-white eyes glaring toward Sebastian, "This is..."

Earl Grey.


"Some facts should be suppressed, or, at least, a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them." ― Arthur Conan Doyle


A/N:

OMG guys did you heard they are making live-action film of Kuroshitsuji?! So excited but I'm so sad Ciel is not in the film ㅠㅠ Why~! Although I like the actress who is playing 'Ciel' roles.

(1) Tetrodotoxin, frequently abbreviated as TTX, is a potent neurotoxin with no known antidote found in pufferfish, porcupinefish, ocean sunfish or mola, and triggerfish, several species that carry the toxin.

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.

The first recorded cases of TTX poisoning were from the logs of Captain James Cook from 7 September 1774, on which date Cook recorded his crew eating some local tropic fish (puffer-fish), then feeding the remains to the pigs kept on board.

The crew experienced numbness and shortness of breath, while the pigs were all found dead the next morning. In hindsight, it is clear that the crew received a mild dose of tetrodotoxin, while the pigs ate the puffer-fish body parts that contain most of the toxin, thus being fatally poisoned.

The toxin was first isolated and named in 1909 by Japanese scientist Dr. Yoshizumi Tahara although it seems in Kuroshitsuji time, the author brought it more earlier than it was actually founded for plot purposes.

(2) Elevenses are morning (around 11AM hence the name) snacks similar to those found in high teas etc. In Australia and New Zealand, elevenses is called morning tea or smoko (often little lunch, recess or playlunch in primary school). In Canadian primary schools, the custom is common and is known as recess.

In many Spanish-speaking cultures the term las onces (the elevens in Spanish) is used to describe a similar meal. Among Chileans it has shifted to later in the afternoon, more closely reflecting the pattern of British "tea time".