Black Butler (黒執事, Kuroshitsuji?) Yana Toboso
Black Butler and its characters all belong to Yana Toboso. The plot of this story and the Original characters belong to me, if seen elsewhere please do inform me.
V.I.R.T.U.E.'.S. L.A.S.T. .R.E.W.A.R.D: Good People Die
By Hopeless Desires
Special thanks to:
Animegal809 Thanks for the review! I was quite surprised to see you still reading this, and how fast you reviewed (five minutes after I published the chapter) made me feel like flying. I don't understand what you meant when you said to "Try not to repeat words a lot in a sentence,"? Long chapters pawn short ones. If every story had long chapters the plot would develop faster and better than if it were short unsatisfying ones.
EveLetter Thank you for faving and reviewing! I thought my story sucked because it's my first Kuroshitsuji story. Anyways, it's great to know someone German's reading my story (or anyone really)! And you're my age (probably)? That is one thousand percent awesome!
NightWindAlchemist Thanks for faving!
||::Chapter Two::||
Don't leave me…
Alex didn't sleep.
It's not like she had a choice really, she was insomniac. She couldn't sleep, couldn't run away from reality. She couldn't save herself the pain of reality because of some stupid illness she was diagnosed with. But there were times were she could sleep, but these times were mostly corrupted with nightmares. She had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. But it never seemed to bother her. She used to think it was because she was different. But then she had found that manga last night, and she had a few guesses.
It had described the life of Ciel Phantomhive and his butler, Sebastian Michaelis. She didn't know if it was even real. So today was the day she tested the manga.
Gently, she closed the manga and returned it to its place inside the bag. She found the pajamas inside a bit short for her liking (shorts that went above her knees and tank tops) but bearable. Much more bearable than the night gown Mey-Rin had presented her with. As she dressed for the day in an old fashioned black bow tie, a white vest, black gloves, and pants that look as though they are cuffed at the knee, and strapped on shin high boots, she couldn't help but drift of in thought. Truthfully, she had never thought that Phantomhive would have a tragic past. His orphan status was hinted when instead of leading her to the parents of the house, the demon lead her to a small kid a year or two older than her. It was hinted that he had more to him when she realized that the demon had contracted with the boy. Why would a rich Earl contract with a demon?
The realization that she truthfully was demon, a monster, hadn't struck home until she had seen the illustrations of Sebastian's supernatural abilities. Her chest felt tight. All this time stuck in a cage being ridiculed and tortured and called a demon she had denied it. But now she wasn't so sure. She had killed the guards with sudden strength and ruthlessly. The past two years she wanted many people to die, she never thought like that.
It scared her.
She wondered if by the end of all this, will she still have her grip on humanity? Or will she turn into a killing machine?
There was a rapping sound on her door. Alex snapped her head to the door as Sebastian entered. "Do you need help changing—…Oh, it seems we have one child in this place that can change." He chuckled.
"I take it Phantomhive is unable to change himself." She said, not really asking.
"No, Miss Alex."
He turned her head to the window and gazed out at the soft sky. A beautiful pale blue with occasional white clouds moving through it, the sun protruded rays of gold, a peaceful sight ignorant of the events that shall escalate today. 'I wonder what it would feel like flying freely,' she pondered as she threw the top hat that looked similar to Ciel's deep in the bag before she tightened her hands into fists, 'Such childish thoughts do not suit an adult. A foolish dream of an ignorant child.'
"Miss Alex, Young Master has a visitor today. He wants you to be present there. Also, breakfast shall be in the Young Master's room. Please do wear something suitable and appropriate." Sebastian added.
"Appropriate…?" her serious blue eyes crossed over towards his scarlet ones, "I shall wear what I like." Sebastian did not pressure her. He only hoped that she would not be wearing the clothes she was currently in, as nice as they were on her (Although a little big) they weren't the clothes of a lady.
"It seems your scars are healing." He said, "That should mean that your Demon Abilities are developing. I expect to see you after our visitor today."
She gave him a subtle tilt of her head, her questioning blue eyes boring holes at him."For training," he added.
"I see," she replied quietly, "You may leave." At that, Sebastian raised an eyebrow. She was rather cold today, at least more so than yesterday. She also seemed lost in thought. This girl rather strange and interesting to him, he inwardly smirked. Free entertainment was never bad to anyone. He turned to take his leave but was stopped just as his gloved hand touched the door's handle.
"And Sebastian," he turned to her smirking face, "Call me Alex. I'm no lady."
He nodded at her with a smirk of his own, "I can see that."
He closed the door behind him a fraction of a second after a vase came sailing through the air, crashing with a large shatter against the window situated outside Alex's room. Peering down the broken window he tsked. "I hope Finnian wasn't injured…"
Deep in the mansion, there were a couple of unwanted and rather loud occurrences.
"How in the world did this happen?" The butler demanded with an evil smile.
The three servants shrank in fear.
"I used undiluted weed-killer. I thought it would be effective!" The blonde boy—Finnian cried.
"I was trying to get out the tea set we use for guests, but I fell and took the cart down with me!" The red-head—Mey-Rin mumbled.
"There was some raw meat on the counter, so I figured I'd cook it…uh, with a flamethrower…," admitted the blonde and strangely handsome man—Baldroy, a cigarette situated in his mouth.
"Hoh-hoh-hoh." Uttered a small old man—Tanaka.
"We're so sorry, Sebastian!" They all cried together while Sebastian just sighed as he stared longingly at the set of forks he was cleaning in his pockets. He contemplated how much of an inconvenience it would be to get rid of them –permanently- and how much of a mess he would make in the process.
Meanwhile, Alex, who was standing in the side lines, was trying not to snicker. Reading it in a comic book was something, but seeing it with her eyes was another hilarious matter entirely. She escaped with a muffled 'Idiots,' that got everyone's attention directed to her.
"Oh, good morning Miss Alex," Mey-Rin greeted her good-naturedly.
"It's the alien!" Finny gasped.
"It's the brat that strangled me till I saw Heaven's gates!" Bard glared, his hand itching dangerously close to a certain flamethrower.
"…Miss Alex, why aren't you in the young master's room?" Sebastian asked.
"I got lost."
Cue face palm.
"…Young Master's room is five door downs from yours."
"Oh, thanks." She went right up the stairs. Seconds later she came back down. "…Once again, where's my room?" Sebastian sighed but gave her detailed instructions on how to get to her room and Ciel's room. Finally, she skipped up the stairs three steps a time, only stopping on the last step to turn around.
"Sebastian?" She said under her breath so that no one except the demon would hear. "Do it Japanese style." And with that, she walked towards Ciel's room.
A spark ignited above Sebastian's head….Literally.
"YOUR JUST GONNA LET HER GET AWAY WITH IT?!" The blond American roared, spurring his flamethrower into action.
Sebastian smiled satanically at him, flames surrounding him. "Bard, get the flamethrower away from my hair."
"…You really like tea, don't you?"
"You think?"
Alex swung her legs. Her feet were quite a few inches higher than the ground. The chair felt comfortable against her rear end. The red satin incredibly soft and the small round oak table in which she was eating from was –unfortunately- shared with the devil's spawn.
No, not Sebastian, he's the devil himself.
"Why don't you drink your tea?" Ciel asked as he sipped his own tea.
She gave it a quick glance before reluctantly holding it carefully. "You don't hold tea like that," Ciel held up his own tea cup, "One's fingers are placed to the front and back of the handle with the pinkie finger tilted slightly up for balance. It is rude to loop fingers through the handle or to hold the body of the cup with the palm of the hand." He gave her a scowl as she tried, and failed to hold the tea cup. "No, not like that. Try it again." She glared at him, "Why should it matter if I held it anyway I like? It's just tea; I don't even like tea to begin with."
"Tea etiquette," he stated like it was something he had practiced quite some time, "is a way to define one's social status. Even peasants know how to drink tea."
"Well, in my time, we have sodas and hot chocolate and cappuccino. And none of these have rules. That just serves to prove that Victorians are strict and old-fashioned." She answered, before her eyes started to glint as she smirked, "In fact, almost everyone there knows of your tragic month, really sad isn't it—" She was silenced by a dart flying right next to her ear.
"How did you know…" he growled, a dangerous undertone to his voice, "of that month?" his voice quavered slightly. In his hand was another dart that he had grabbed from the dart's place on his desk.
"No one told you how rude it is to interrupt a person's conversation, Phantomhive?" she replied calmly. "Don't waste your breath. In my time, you're quite popular. I don't know what they see in a bratty spoiled boy. Maybe it's your past? Or maybe it's your looks…? But it is not your charming personality, that's for sure."
The boy's eyes widened slightly. "How much do you know?" he croaked out.
"Everything… or maybe nothing? Who knows, but I sure know everything that's going to happen. And it's not pretty." She admitted.
"I see…" he said."That makes you a much better pawn then." He seemed to regain his stoic nature as he sipped his tea.
One eyebrow lifted up. "Pawn?" She lowered her tea cup, "I'm sorry, but this isn't a game, Phantomhive. And I'm not your pawn,"
Over the tea cup, Ciel's eyes seemed to mock her as he smirked. "Everybody in this game is a pawn of mine. You're no special case."
"Who says this isn't a game of mine?" She replied, "Obviously, I know a lot. I know everything about you. So would you please tell me what makes you so sure that I won't manipulate this whole ordeal and turn it around to amuse me? I'm a Demon, not an Angel, and definitely not Human."
Ciel snorted. "You obviously don't realize that your mentor is my butler. That should make you in service to me."
"You obviously forgot that you're his meal. That should make you my first meal too." She smirked.
"I hope my soul is enough to subside your hunger." He coldly replied.
There was a moment of silence in which Alex was surprised though she hid it well. She understood him; in fact she regretted being a demon because now she couldn't die. She was immortal, immortals, unfortunately, don't die. Even if she could die, she doubted that when she died she would go to heaven. Hell was the only place for people like her. She wasn't a stranger to flames, and suddenly she could feel the flames lapping at her body, embers that seared her flesh leaving burns and reminders. Her lungs were constricting, trying to breathe through the smoke, trying to ignore the screams of pain, but one scream in particular was very loud, and she found herself running, running towards it.
I can't lose you.
She could hear something far away. She felt like she was shaking, shaking hard, until there was a stinging pain in her cheek. She looked up in a daze, she could hardly see anything. Smoke, smoke, smoke. Smoke everywhere. But two eyes peered down at her; they shined a deep blue color, the color of the deep sea.
"Black." There was that voice again. She was hanging on its every word; it was her only hold on humanity.
"Black."
She swallowed, her vision clearing. "Black—" "What?"
His azure eyes stared at her for a while. His arms ceased to shake but were still planted firmly on her shoulders. One of his arms was raised high, Alex touched her cheek. "Would you mind letting go of me." She said coldly. Her insides felt empty. He let go of her, yet still staring at her as if she was insane. She could see something in his eyes. Recognition, remembrance, understanding. If it was anyone else, they would look at her with pity, sympathy, usually fake. And relief. Relief that it isn't them who's going through this. But he understood, he went through it too, he knew how it felt with every one staring at you with fake sympathy and relief.
When he spoke, is tone was laced with annoyance. "What was that?"
She stared at him, "Nothing."
"It didn't look like nothing."
"It's none of your business."
He glared at her, annoyance flickering in his eyes. "You're in my room, in my mansion. It is my business."
She stood up to his surprise and pushed a jab to his face, but another cold hand grabbed hers quickly.
"I don't think it's very wise to go and hit our master, hmm?" The ever so sultry voice of Sebastian whispered in her ear, hot breathe warming her cheeks. She stiffened instantly. She back-kicked him with her legs, missing him and instead hitting the rather hard chair behind her. "Don't touch me." She growled, her right foot feeling slightly numb because of the force she used to hit the man, "and he's not my master."
Sebastian didn't look like he agreed or was going to let go anytime soon until Ciel ordered "Let go of her, Sebastian." Sebastian complied with his master's orders. She shot him a glare which he returned with a devious smile.
She turned around and walked to the door, with her hand on the handle, she was stopped. "Where are you going?" Ciel's monotonous flat voice rang from behind her.
"To my room." She retorted and went out.
As she closed the door behind her she walked slowly to her room, feeling heavier with every step she took. When she finally went inside her room, she closed the door gently and leaned against it.
She was tired.
Ciel stood there staring at the door Alex ad just went through. He felt a mixture of amusement, confusion, and annoyance surge through him.
"Young Master, the guest will be here soon." His butler informed him. He didn't turn around as he replied. "Then go and give him the full Phantomhive hospitality."
The demon smirked as he bowed, a hand on his heart. "Yes my lord." He said before standing up and walking out in unbelievable speed.
Ciel walked out of his room, he walked slowly to the drawing room, his mind overflowing with thoughts of that girl.
That girl wasn't as easy to figure out as any other person. She was amusing though.
He sat down on a chair and eyed the game board Sebastian set up. There was something strange about that girl that attracted him. He didn't like socializing, but once she ceased to entertain him and he knew her background, he would get rid of her.
Yes, he thought as he played against himself, she's just a pawn in my game.
He wondered how she'd fall.
Walking across the hallway, Alex was bored. She didn't fancy staring at the Black Victorian styled walls of her room or at the cheerful sight outside the window, so she had ventured outside her room, hopefully, she'd be getting somewhere near the entrance of the mansion, as she wanted to go out.
Finally, she found the entrance and went out. She closed it quietly hoping no one heard.
She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. She could feel the wind ruffling her hair gently as the sunrays caressed her face. The smell of moist grass entered her nose. She found she quite liked it, as this was the first time she was out in a year or so. The garden looked different, more…Japanese styled.
Behind her, the door opened and out crawled a man she quite knew. She opened her eyes and peered down at the man shivering under her. She slyly smirked at the unsuspecting man, narrowing her eyes, she had rather long and thick dark brown eye lashes that made her look quite scary when she wanted too. The things you can do when you know the future.
"Mr. Damian, are you leaving this soon? It's rather early and there's so much you haven't seen yet!" she chimed.
Sebastian approached her from behind. "Indeed, Mr. Damian. You still haven't finished your game with the Young Master."
The two looked scary, standing there next to each other with their cold faces and confident stature. Sebastian's's eyes glowed a bright fuchsia as his pupil dilated like that of a demon's, while Alex polished a sharp edged fork she 'borrowed' from Sebastian's pocket.
"You still haven't finished the game, Mr. Damian."
"DEMONS!" The man screeched with tears falling down his face. He limped towards the darkened kitchen and into an oven that he mistook as a cupboard.
Alex turned the oven on and slid open the small rectangular latch, Sebastian peered through it at the frightened Mr. Damian.
Sebastian smiled at him. "My what an impatient guest you are. To think you would try to get the pudding in the oven…"
Mr. Damian gasped in horror. "O-Oven? Open up! Please, open the door!"
Alex's eyes then replaced Sebastian's. "Mr. Damian? Are you really that hungry? But I wanted to play with you!" She shook her head sadly, her voice low and flat with a sad undertone. "You're not supposed to be the secret ingredient for today. We had someone else planned, but don't fret. Italian pudding would still be just as tasty," She smileop sadisticially at him, her eyes coldly and unforgivingly glared at him.
She stood up next to Sebastian who was smirking at the open hatch of the slowly burning oven. "Don't Italians know? Plum pudding, mincemeat pie…," Sebastian smirked satanically as he continued. "There are many puddings here in England that contains animal fat."
Alex slowly closed the hatch as she glared at him coldly. "Good night, Mr. Damian. Phantomhives don't appreciate liars."
To say she hadn't burst out laughing with Ciel at the man's screaming as he limped away from the Phantomhive Manor would be a lie.
"He sounds like a pig." Ciel smirked at the limping form.
Standing behind him, but still able to see the sight, she couldn't help but agree silently.
Panting, Alex stopped to glare at Sebastian.
"H-how many more?" She managed out.
From behind the clipboard, Sebastian bemused face smiled at her. "Since you stopped, fifty more."
Alex gaped. "W-what? That's torture!"
Sebastian grinned at her. "And it will be hell if you don't start running."
She glared at him but he smiled at her evilly. "Fine then, make it seve—" "NO! Fine, fine, I'll run." She started running around the mansion. It was 12:00 AM and everybody, except the resident demons, was asleep. She had told Sebastian of her insomnia and he had told her that all demons don't sleep. And when they can sleep, it's usually for luxury, but that's quite rare. So he said that there would be training at night. Running first, Martial Arts second, and whatever else after that.
Breathless and tired, she finished fifty laps and came back to Sebastian.
"Now, martial arts." He said in a loud voice. He blew in the whistle on his neck loud enough to wake up the whole neighbor. Alex could feel herself turning deaf. This wasn't the first time.
"Oh boy…" she muttered.
"Attention," he yelled at her. He seemed to enjoy doing this as he reached for his whistle.
"TWEEEE—" "SHUT YOUR TRAP SEBASTIAN!" Alex watched in amusement at the vase broken over Sebastian's head. A grouchy Ciel in a night gown stood glaring out the window. He leaned out so far Alex was afraid he'd fall.
How hilarious would that be?
"What are you doing out there? " he finally shut up and talked normally. After all, he was talking to demons, not humans. They could hear him.
"Sebastian's in trouble~!" Alex whispered, a smirk stretching across her face.
Sebastian sent her a glance. "We were training, young master. May I ask why you are awake?"
"It was because of the bloody racket your doing! Go to sleep, its midnight, do your 'training' tomorrow."
Before Sebastian could tell him that demons didn't sleep, the boy slammed his window closed.
Sebastian sighed. "Well then, it was going to rain anyway," He nodded to Alex, "see you tomorrow." He walked inhumanely fast into the mansion.
Silently thanking Ciel, Alex headed to her room.
It was late in the night as Alex sat in her pajamas (shorts and a long sleeved nightgown on top) on bed, reading. She could hear the rumblings of thunder. The rolling thunder grew louder just as the lightning began to strike, flashing across her window. Alex ignored the fact that her fingers were starting to shake involuntarily. The storm was strong enough to blow open the unlatched windows. Her heart pounded in her rib cage. Thump-thump. It was beating so loud, she feared that he would hear.
He's coming.
He's coming to get her.
Thump-thump.
The thunder got louder. In a rush of fear, she jumped of the bed.
Where could she hide?
She could feel herself choking, the hair on her arms rising. Smoke, smoke, there was smoke everywhere. She couldn't see any fire; only smoke entering from her window, from under the door, choking her, entering her lungs. Everything was quite except for the storm as she stared at the door, at its handles.
He's coming.
She had to hide. But where?
Suddenly, there was a loud strike of thunder followed by a tortured, bloodcurdling scream, the lightning illuminated the room, along with Alex's frightened face.
She jumped under the bed. There was quite some space there, and the ceiling was high enough for her. Her hands fell on something soft, and she squeezed it, bringing it in front of her. It was a weird plushie that looked familiar. She tried to ignore the screams that were followed one after the other, like a tragic haunting song that seemed disturbingly beautiful, by fingering the pirate like eye patch. Alex could hear the pain in their voices, she even heard a child wailing. One of its beautiful deep blue eyes stared at her, the other hidden under the eye patch. Her breathe seemed knocked out of her as she heard slow heavy footsteps walking against the liquid floor, sloshing through thick liquid. She could smell a heavy metallic smell that overtook her nose, leaving her queasy and nauseous.
He's coming.
"Mistress!" A maid entered, her body covered in blood, the red contrasting with the black of her dress. The wall behind her was red in color. "Come, we shall escape!"
I have to stop this!
She wondered how she could see her. "Quickly!" she urged her on, her emerald eyes looking at the bed. "Mistress…?" So she couldn't see her, then.
Come in, maid, don't stand there!
For some reason, she felt her heart beating hard, she couldn't hear anything, she was chocking, not being able to breathe, and she felt like warning her.
But from what?
Please…don't stand there! You'll…you will…
Three shots rang out; it sounded very close to Alex. Alex brought the plushie closer to her, stuffed in her chest, its hair tickling her face, squeezing it in her trembling arms.
The woman looked down, her black bangs shadowing her eyes. A dripping sound deafened Alex. The woman's lips pursed as a chuckle escaped her mouth. She laughed hard as tears fell down her face, her hair becoming a brighter color than black, but still dark. Her dress seemed to color red, the crimson color traveling across her clothes.
"Mistress…" she whispered, showing her face."YOU'RE NOT MY MISTRESS!" She roared. She smiled at her, the tears coming out of her eyes a bright red, and her eyes…
Her eyes…
They were ripped out of their sockets.
Alex woke up suddenly, her shirt sticking to her back like a second layer of skin. It was just a nightmare.
Just a nightmare, she thought, a nightmare, a night mare, a night mare.
Just one measly nightmare out of many.
She was about to get out from under the bed, the plushie in her arm, which she identified as Ciel, (that made her lose her pride, realizing she was clutching it like that) until the thunder rumbled and her fear turned into dread.
He's coming.
She sat there staring at her door, her breath coming in short heaves, she felt like throwing up; the heavy metallic smell of blood was still there, bile rised in her throat and she puked a little in her mouth.
Muffled tortured cries...-Flash-...Shots ringing, blood splattering...-Flash-...Hiding under the bed, not able to breathe...-Flash-...Quick footsteps resounding across the hall...-Flash-...The serious face of one of the Mansion's two maid, Rayne...-Flash-..."We have to get out!"...-Flash-...The sound of bullets ringing in her ears...-Flash-...The woman's voice fading alongside her life...-Flash-...A blood red tongue slithering out of it's mouth, licking the bloodied knife...-Flash-...The bloodied face grinning wickedly at her, insane bloodshot eyes glowing in the lightening...-Flash-
She spent the rest of the night staring at the door's handles, clutching the miniature Ciel plushie tightly to her chest, over her rampaging heart. Her breath gone and her clouded eyes widened in a similar manner to an owl's or a frightened kitten. Flash backs of that thing from that night in which everything was taken from her haunted her.
He's coming.
Not once did she let go of it, or avert her eyes from the door.
She was tired and afraid.
I have no one else.
To be continued
A/N: IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!
Word Count: 5,000 something.
HELLO! So I hope you liked this chapter and that you liked Alex.
okay, I have edited the prologue, it's not her father who died, its her mom, okay? Great! I edited this chapter too, so read the last part again, please.
So I have three questions, were Ciel and Sebastian in character, and is Alex a Mary Sue? Did I put in enough angst and was it nice? I hurried in this one cause my computer was tree formatting and they almost deleted the document so I had to write it all over... and my ipad is a pain in the rear end when I type. But it's worth it if tea retheir and like it!
Can you please suggest a shorter title for this story?
If you think Alex is a Mary Sue, than you're terribly wrong, but you don't know that. Kekeke~! Only I~ do~!
For example, she ********************** and ******************* and you can't believe it but *******************.
Anyways, did you like the fact that nobody came for her in the storm (like Sebastian, Ciel, etc) to check on her? It's really cheesy when they do because unless the character was screaming, they never know if they're scared.
And I don't really se Ciel doing much cheering up, considering he suffers from the dreams too –shot-.
Alex isn't afraid that much of storms as she is of ***.
Oh, and every review I get is akin to a hug, so get the hugs shooting!
Sincerely,
Hopeless Desires/HD/Kairi-chan/Sora-Baka