"It seems that both shops shipment of traditional flutes have sold out" Sebastian reported.

"Can you speak a little louder, Sebastian? The bandages subdue my hearing" Ciel asked.

"Oh, of course" Sebastian replied, a little louder this time.

"So who bought all those flutes?" Alois asked.

"Only a few people would know how to get such a high pitch" Ciel replied.

"Did you see the person's face? Or hair? Skin color?" Alois asked.

"He was Asian. Japanese descent to be exact. He was dressed in traditional robes" Sebastian replied.

"Then we need to visit a Japanese temple. Or a costume shop" Alois said.

"There is a temple right in the countryside that we could visit. That's where all the flutes have been delivered" Sebastian said.

"We'll have to pay a visit" Ciel said.

They got to the temple which was actually a large Japanese style home with sliding doors and wooden walkways.

"This is a rather peaceful place" Alois commented as they entered.

"Where is everyone?" Ciel asked.

"I have informed the monk of our arrival but there's no one here" Sebastian replied looking around.

"Maybe they fled?" Claude asked.

"That would make them look guilty. No, there's something else" Ciel replied.

"Maybe we should have knocked on the front gate?" Luke suggested and Alois held him close.

"I didn't want to bring you here" Alois said.

"I know but I'll stay near Claude and Sebastian at all times" Luke said.

They walked a little more until Ciel stopped suddenly.

"Is something wrong?" Sebastian asked.

"I can't move" Ciel said.

She stood frozen and Alois grabbed her hand to drag her. Her feet wouldn't budge.

"Sebastian, help me" Ciel's eyes widened as Sebastian grabbed her around the waist but she couldn't move.

"Why can't you move?" Luke asked.

"I don't know. What's happening to me?" Ciel asked panicked.

Then Ciel felt her feet walk forward.

"Ciel? Where are you going?" Alois asked as Ciel moved forward.

"I don't know. I'm not moving myself" Ciel replied and then her feet began running.

"Ciel!" Sebastian grabbed her and planted his feet onto the floor to avoid her escape.

Ciel threw off Sebastian's arms enough to make him fall onto the floor and then broke out into a run.

"Ciel!"

Sebastian, Alois, Claude and Luke ran after her. Ciel was quite fast and then she ran right into a man dressed in white robes. The man lifted her up bridal style and then smirked.

"We have been waiting for your arrival, Countess" He said and Ciel stared wide eyed at him.

Sebastian stopped suddenly and they were immediately surrounded by guards dressed in traditional Japanese uniforms and holding long swords.

"What is going on?" Alois asked as he stared at all the swords.

"Put her down!" Sebastian roared as Ciel began struggling in the monk's arms.

"I knew you would come here, Countess, Earl. This is perfect message I can send to the Queen. For years she has been countering the demolishing of my temple which I do not enjoy. Your death can prove that I won't give up my temple" the monk said.

"I won't let you kill anyone" Claude said and the monk laughed.

"If you couldn't resist my attack on the theatre, how can you survive the death I'm going to give you?" he asked.

"Monk Deok Seong!" a loud voice shouted and it distracted the monk enough for Ciel to remove herself from his arms.

A man came forward dressed in black robes holding a shield and a sword. His hair covered the sides of his face but the front part of his face was visible.

"Arran, what are you doing here?" Ciel asked in shock.

"I have business with you, Deok Seong. Let her go" Arran said ignoring Ciel.

"Gakusei Choi, you should be getting ready to behead her. Go sharpen your sword" Deok Seong said.

"Choi? Who's Choi? That's Arran" Alois asked.

"You can't kill her. Not while I'm here" Arran ignored Alois.

Ciel stepped forward to go to Sebastian but an arm on her shoulder made her stop. She glanced over and a saw a young woman with a smirk on her face holding onto Ciel's shoulder. Ciel's eyes widened as she felt her body temperature rapidly increase.

"Xiao, hanase kudasai!" Arran shouted and the woman shook her head.

"What is she doing?" Alois asked.

"It seems that all these people here have some sort of special training that enables them to control a few elements. It requires years of discipline and control" Claude replied.

"So where's our flute player?" Luke asked.

Then a man dressed in blue and white robes jumped right in front of Arran. In his hands was a long bamboo flute.

"Move out of the way Eum Ja" Arran's hand clenched around the hilt of his sword.

Eum Ja didn't move so Arran jumped into the air to attack him. Eum Ja unsheathed his sword which was inside his flute. Ciel watched wide eyed at the fast paced fight that was going on. Then Deok Seong whistled which made Eum Ja pause. He sheathed his sword and then lifted the flute into his arms.

"Oh no" Ciel groaned. Her body temperature was rapidly increasing which made her feel incredibly light headed.

Eum Ja played his flute and the high pitch made Ciel clamp her hands over her ears. Claude and Sebastian quickly shielded Luke and Alois's ears. Ciel looked around at Deok Seong and Xiao who were standing there like they had no problem with the high pitch. Arran crumpled to his knees as he began bleeding from his mouth and ears.

Eum Ja kept on playing and then Ciel fell to the floor. Arran's eyes widened and he stood up. Alois and Luke gaped at the lightening flowing all over Arran's body. He attacked which made Eum Ja's flute fall to the floor. Eum Ja glared at Arran and then picked up his sheathed sword.

They began their fast paced fight again and Ciel pulled off the soaked bandages around her ears. She then ducked when Arran threw the shield at Deok Seong. Deok Seong held out his hand and the shield stopped in midair. It exploded to pieces and Arran finally succeeded in pushing Eum Ja away from him.

"Arrest the betrayer!" Deok Seong commanded.

"I will never be captured!" Arran declared.

"I'll burn her to ashes then" Xiao said still holding onto Ciel who clutched her head in dizziness.

Arran hesitated and then glanced at the soldiers surrounding all of them. He glanced over at Ciel and then nodded. He threw down his sword and immediately the guards surrounded him. He was pushed down to his knees and he glanced at up at Ciel who had a tear running down her cheek.

"I'm done watching this" Sebastian said and then leaped into the air.

He jumped over the guards and right in front of Deok Seong.

"Take her inside. Guards, grab the Earl!" Deok Seong shouted and Xiao wrapped an arm around Ciel to drag her inside.

Arran used this distraction and grabbed his sword. Still kneeling, he slashed at the knees of the guards around him and then used one guard's shoulder to jump over and land right next to Sebastian. Sebastian glanced over at him in surprise and then turned back to where Xiao was dragging Ciel away.

"You can take her. I'll take care of Deok Seong" Arran said.

Sebastian nodded and then ran after Xiao and Ciel. Ciel struggled against Xiao's strength and then finally threw Xiao away from her. Xiao ran towards her and then Sebastian stepped between them. Xiao wrapped a hand around Sebastian's throat and tried to strangle him. Sebastian chuckled and then Ciel was struck by an idea.

She looked around and then found a pot of drinking water. There were also some rags near it. She grabbed the rags and soaked them in water. Sebastian pushed Xiao away and she banged against the wall. Ciel ran forward and pressed the wet rags against Xiao's hands. Immediately steam began rising from her hands as the heat reduced.

Xiao grew enraged and ran forward to attack Ciel. Sebastian grabbed a sword that was hanging on the wall and flung it right through Xiao's chest. Her eyes widened and she fell to the floor. Ciel breathed a sigh of relief and then leaned against the wall. Sebastian immediately wrapped his arms around her and then began leading her outside.

They came out just in time to see Arran deliver the winning blow towards Deok Seong who fell to the floor dead. He panted and then sheathed his sword.

"That was amazing" Alois exclaimed.

Luke bent down and picked up the flute from Eum Ja's hands.

"Just what in the world is going on? How are you here?" Ciel asked leaning on Sebastian.

"We should get out of here first. I'll explain later" Arran replied.

Translations:-

Gakusei- student

hanase kudasai- let go