A Soul's Tourniquet
Rushed Encounter
Shadows: Hi everyone! I was going to update during the Super Bowl last Sunday… But screaming people not only ruin your train of thought, they give you a major migraine. So I'm updating today while I have the time.
L: *eating piece of cake*
Shadows: L-kun, would you like to do the disclaimer for me?
L: *swallows* Very well… Shadows-san does not own Kuroshitsuji. All ownership of the series and its characters belong to Toboso Yana.
Shadows: And naturally all OC's belong to me! *turns to L* Thank you for helping L-kun^^
L: Mmm… You're welcome.
Shadows: And now, onward with ze story
The rain had started up once again just as the order was issued. Ciel stared absentmindedly down at the covered body of his Aunt. He had not expected this. He had not expected that his own Aunt would be 'Jack the Ripper'. In the back of his mind, the young Earl did not want to believe that the last living relative on his mother's side was a murderer. And yet, there he stood. Next to the dead body of his favorite Aunt, unsure of how he should act.
Above him, the fight between his butler and the Grim Reaper known as Grelle Sutcliff continued on into the night.
From the red haired reapers perspective on the roof of one of the buildings that formed the alley, the black clad demonic butler stood in front of the moon, causing an eerie shadow to be casted over his face. His clothing torn and covered in blood.
"I have been 'Sebastian' since that day. I vowed as much to the moon, you see?" The butler stated, giving his response to Grelle's previous question.
"Swearing on the moon is the act of an insincere man. Your eyes are the eyes of one who does not love—tarnished eyes. You are a devil that defiles innocent souls with your vile hands and lips." Grelle started, noticing how the black clad butler's eyes seemed to take on an unearthly feral quality. "Yes… Ohhh, yes… You're giving me the chills, Sebastian darling! If it's your child we're talking about, I think I'll be able to birth it!" He smiled happily, hugging himself at the thought of bearing the other's child.
A disgusted shiver ran up Sebastian's spine. "Please cease your folly. I find the mere thought revolting. Not to mention it is biologically impossible." He spat, still shuddering at the image the red clad Grim Reaper instilled in his mind.
"Aahn! Such an ice king you are!" The reaper swung his 'Death Scythe' at the demon, which he easily dodged. "A beautiful tyrant! An angelic devil! A raven with the wings of a dove!" Grelle ranted, swing his scythe again and again. Each time, the demon effectively dodging the weapon. "My little lamb with the appetites of a wolf… My very own Sebastian darling!"
Swinging downwards, the rotating blade of Grelle's scythe began carving up the roof. Dodging the attack once again. Sebastian used his foot to keep the Grim Reaper from lifting the weapon to attack him once more.
"I wish the sun would never rise. Then we could keep hunting each other for all eternity. But…" Grelle pressed his face closer to Sebastian's before continuing to speak. "This is the end of our romantic adventure." Taking advantage of the latter's slightly lowered guard, the red haired reaper head-butted the demon, raising his scythe once it was free of the demons weight. "Let us part with a passionate kiss… Sebastian darling! Now… I bid you a thousand, no, ten thousand adieus, my sweet prince!" He cooed; swing his scythe in a downward motion and cutting open Sebastian's chest.
Rebecca balanced herself on the windowsill, watching as stray clouds quickly passed over the moon. Something had woke her up from the dream she had been having, and now she couldn't get herself to fall back asleep. "Perhaps I should write to Mother and Father while I am still awake…" The teen mused, looking away from the window to the sleeping male in the bed. Benjamin slept like a baby no matter where the two stayed. Rebecca smiled, standing from her seat. She still had her pride, and refused to share a bed… especially with someone of the opposite gender. Luckily, Benjamin had understood her reasoning when she first explained it to him. He was a rather interesting male one they got to know each other better.
Sighing, the ebony haired teen walked over to the couch and laid back down, staring up at the room's ceiling. 'I suppose I'll take care of the letter in the morning before we head for Houndsworth.' Closing her eyes, Rebecca slowly drifted off into unconsciousness once again.
The fact that he was even CUT, surprised the demon butler. Sebastian's cinematic records immediately rushed forth from the wound on his chest, causing Grelle to grin manically
"Now… Show me a dramatic… no, a moving moving picture…!" Closely watching the film reels, the red haired Grim Reaper was presented with less than what he expected. MUCH less. Mishaps that the OTHER Phantomhive servants caused on a daily bases appeared on the reels. "N-no-! Now-! Now just a minute! Who the hell are these idiots? There's not even a smidge of drama here at all!" Grelle shrieked.
Sebastian smirked. "You will only find mundane happenstances such as these over the past year…" The demon coughed lightly as his wounds slowly began to heal.
"I'm not interested in ordinary folks like them! There's nothing beautiful about them in the slightest! Show me something juicier!" The reaper demanded angrily.
Using his demonic speed, Sebastian appeared behind Grelle, forefinger held up to his lips. "My apologies… However… you must pay to see the rest."
The reaper's tongue clicked against the roof of his mouth in disgust, narrowly missing a kick to the face. Grelle jumped back, keeping enough distance between himself and the demon butler.
"Oh dear… my clothes are in tatters once more… I had hoped that mending the shoulders would help, but… This tailcoat is beyond redemption." Sebastian sighed, looking down at the large rip across the chest courtesy of the red haired reaper's scythe.
Grelle chuckled. "Worrying about your outfit at a time like this is very cheeky of you. And you keep aiming for my beautiful face, you devil… perhaps your wounds were not deep enough? But I do love a man who cares about the way he looks… Sebastian darling!"
An annoyed huff left Sebastian's lips as he took off his tailcoat, glaring at the flamboyant red clad reaper before him. "I did not want to use this approach but… I fear I have no other choice."
"Tee-hee… So you've finally made up your mind to fight me seriously?"
Both males watched the other intently, waiting to see who would make the first move.
"How about we bring this show to a close with the next attack… Sebastian darling! Let us bid this would farewell… and be united in the next, okay? Sebastian darling!" Grelle continued, holding his 'Death Scythe' in front of him.
At the same time, both males pushed off from the roof, jumping into the air for their final attack that would decide the winner of this battle.
Using the blades rotating motion to his advantage, Sebastian held out his tailcoat, letting it get jammed in the base of the blade and ultimately stopping it.
Grelle looked at his scythe completely dumbfounded after his feet landed back on the roof. He tugged at the fabric in an attempt to free his device, but nothing came of his attempt. "! IT STOPPED MOVING!" He shrieked angrily.
"If the cutting edge of you death scythe is dependent upon its revolution… it occurred to me that I only needed to keep it from doing so." Sebastian explained.
"I'LL GET RID OF THIS RIGHT AWAY—!" Grelle hissed, fantically attempting to pull out the troublesome fabric, only to succeed in getting it even more wrapped around the inner mechanical parts of his 'toy'.
"That tailcoat is tailored from top quality wool. The frictional force of wool is significant. Onc caught, removing it will be no simple matter."
"WHAT THE HELL!"
Sebastian rested a hand on his forehead, shaking his head in annoyance. "As it is supplied by the manor… I had wished to avoid employing my coat at all costs, but… There was simply no way around it. It was practically all rags anyway."
The fight between the demon and reaper ended shortly after Grelle's superior, William T. Spears, appeared and literally dragged the red head by his hair from the scene, complaining how the reapers were already understaffed as is. Though his orders were not completed to their fullest, Ciel was too dazed to reprimand his butler. Taking the body of Angelina Durless to Undertaker, Sebastian and Ciel returned to the townhouse just after two o'clock in the morning.
The sound of coughing was what woke Rebecca the next morning. Looking over to the bed, the ebony haired teen spotted Benjamin's shaking body as he was thrown into another fit of coughs.
"Ben, are you alright?"
The dirty blonde male didn't speak, merely shaking his head as best he could before coughing once again.
Rebecca frowned. Tossing the blankets she had been using during the night over the back of the couch, the female walked over to the bed, resting the back of her hand against Benjamin's forehead.
"Bloody 'ell, Ben… Guess we will be unable to travel until your fever diminishes."
"I-I… 'ate being si-sick… Haah!"
"Unfortunately, there is not much I can do to help you myself at the moment. I will see if the inn keeper knows of a local doctor." The ebony haired teen sighed, grabbing her shirt and trousers s she walked over to the bathroom.
"Sp-splendid… I 'a-ate them even more—!" Another fit of coughs racked Benjamin's body as he pulled the comforter over his head.
After washing up and dressing herself, Rebecca walked back into the room and grabbed the messenger boy's cap she wore during her travels. Stuffing her shoulder length hair into the cap, the teen slipped on her vest and shoes before turning to Benjamin.
"I will be back as soon I can. Please stay in bed for now." With that, the teen close the door behind her as she left and headed down into the lobby.
The inn's lobby was full with occupants that had been staying prior to last night, causing the ebony haired teen to pull down her cap just a bit more than he usually would. Walking up to the desk, Rebecca cleared her throat slightly before deepening her voice to what she normally used when pretending to be a boy. "'Cuse me, do ya know o' any docta's 'ear by? My friends got a fever and we're s'pose ta be in Houndsworth 'fore the end o' the week."
The male sitting at the desk turned to Rebecca and looked her over briefly. "Yea… 'Here's a doc 'cross the street. 'E'll be willin' ta check yer friend if ya pay 'im 'nough."
"Thanks Mister." Nodding to the older male, the ebony haired teen quickly made her way outside.
The air in Richmond was slightly warmer than she expected. Many of the town's residents were out and about, enjoying the nice weather while it lasted. Rebecca quickly walked across the road to the small local clinic, opening the door and stepping in.
One other sat in the entrance room, briefly looking up to regard the new arrival. Nodding once, the woman returned to staring down at the floor, waiting for the doctor.
Shortly after stepping in, a door that led into another room off of the entrance opened, and out bounded a little boy with brown hair, followed by a middle-aged male wearing a white coat. The other female stood, patting the boy on the head before turning towards the male. "Thank you very much, Doctor Jackson." She curtsied.
'Doctor Jackson' held up and hand and smiled. "Not at all Misses Bailey. Should Mister Andrew lose consciousness again, please bring him over right away."
"Yes of course. Let's return home now darling." Misses Bailey smiled, looking down to her son as both took their leave of the clinic.
Once the door closed, Doctor Jackson turned to Rebecca. "How may I be of service to you Miss?"
"Ah! M-my friend 'as a fever and we're s'pose ta be in Hounds worth by the end of 'he week." Rebecca explained.
"I see. You must not be from 'round 'ere. I don't tend to 'ake last minute clients." The male stated, walking over to a small desk and picking up a few papers. "If you'd like Miss, you can make an appointment fer yer friend."
"With all due respect sir, we're only 'cross the street at 'he inn. We'd plan on 'eavin' this morn' but my friends 'ealth ain't the best fer travel. We don't 'ave 'nough money ta stay any longer than we 'ave ta." Rebecca pressed, trying not to seem desperate. Despite the fact the her parents sent her money with their letters, the teen didn't like the idea of staying in Richmond for much longer. Though the reasons why were even a mystery to herself.
Doctor Jackson sighed. "I s'pose I'll make an exception sine yer quite close by. It'll take a moment ta gather what I need, then we'll see yer friend."
The teen nodded, thanking the middle-aged male, and quietly waited while the doctor gathered his things and placed them inside his bag.
The atmosphere surrounding the Phantomhive Manor was solemn and lifeless. Its occupants mourning the loss of Angelina Durless, more commonly known as 'Madame Red'. The three normally incompetent servants sat quietly at the table in the servant's kitchen, awaiting their next set of chores from Sebastian.
"Madame Red won't be coming to visit the manor anymore… it'll be really lonely." Finnian replied sadly, keeping his gaze locked onto the table before him.
Bardroy looked to both Mey-Rin and the strawberry blonde gardener. Each of them quietly sulking. "What's with the long faces?" The dirty blonde ex-soldier demanded. "This is exactly the kind o time when we need to support the young lord!" He added, hoping to slightly cheer up the other two servants and raise their spirits.
Both the maid and gardener looked up and nodded in agreement. "Right."
The elder of the four servants quietly sipped his tea before looking out the window nearest him. Tanaka had known Angelina since the previous head married her sister nearly thirteen years ago. Following the death of her husband and the loss of her unborn child was the unexpected deaths of her beloved sister and brother-in-law and the disappearance of Master Ciel. Having served the Phantomhive name since Ciel's father, Vincent, was a boy, the elder male could only comprehend how the Madame felt. Taking another sip of tea, he sighed. "So you've gone to be with your loved ones my Lady. May you find peace."
Rebecca looked up from her book, checking to see if Benjamin was awake. The dirty blonde male had only woken up one other time since Doctor Jackson had given him the medication to reduce his fever, and personally the ebony haired female couldn't have been happier. She was glad that she only had to pay for one person to eat during lunch, and by the sounds of Benjamin snoring, she doubted that he would wake up to eat dinner too. The teen sighed, folding the upper corner of the page she was reading, and closed her book.
"Perhaps I should write their letters now instead of waiting." Laying the book down next to her, Rebecca grabbed her canvas bag and pulled out a small notebook and pen and began writing.
Dearest Father and Mother,
I hope that everything has been well back home. Benjamin and I arrived in Richmond last night. Unfortunately he fell ill at some point while we slept and we were unable to leave for Houndsworth. Hopefully he will be well enough for us to continue on by the end of the week.
Benjamin suggested we stay in London during the holiday. He said that he's always wanted to see the city during the Christmas season. We'll probably stay at the townhouse during that time to save what money we have.
I am sure that everyone is worried about my well being what with the 'Jack the Ripper' murders in Whitechapel. Please tell everyone that I am well. I shall write again once Benjamin and I reach Houndsworth.
Oh, and send my congratulations to Lydia and her husband. I would send them a letter, but regretfully, sister never told me of her husband's address, so I have been unable to write to them.
~Rebecca
9th of August, 1888
The teen read over her letter quickly before folding the paper and slipping it into an envelope that she had. With every letter she sent to her parents, they tended to send her extra materials for writing purposes along with letters from her other family members. Sealing the envelope as best she could, Rebecca wrote her Father's name and the estates address on the side and smiled.
Looking up at the clock on the nightstand, the ebony haired teen sighed, returning her notebook and pen, along with the letter to her parents, to her bag. Picking up her book, Rebecca continued from where she left off.
The scenery of the English countryside this time of year was nothing short of extraordinary. The leaves on the trees were slowly beginning to change, signaling to the start of the season. Two carriages traveled along the dirt path toward their destination of Houndsworth, carrying the occupants of the Phantomhive household.
Bardroy, Mey-Rin, and Finnian sang happily as they headed towards the town, excited about the holiday their young Master had promised them. "Resort, resort, we're so happy! Resort, resort, we're so happy!"
"Isn't it wonderful Mey-Rin? I'm so moved!" Finni grinned, looking to the only female servant that sat across from him and Bard.
"Yes, yes!" The red haired female nodded happily. "I cannot believe that the young Master's taking us to the Queen's health resort!"
"I guess the young Master has his good points!" Bard agreed.
Sebastian smirked at the trio's enthusiasm. Personally though, he was glad that he needn't worry about the state of the manor once he and Ciel had finished the Queen's latest request. "They are fortunate people. It appears that they are grateful to you, my kind young Master." His tone was teasing by all means, knowing that the bluenette would deny any form of kindness.
"I did not want to leave them behind by themselves and come back to find the manor destroyed." Ciel replied truthfully.
"Indeed."
The carriages traveled further up, stopping when they came to a wooden sign that read: Welcome to Houndsworth.
Hanging over the sign was a chain attached to a metal dog collar adorned with spikes.
The black clad butler turned his head towards the carriage behind him and addressed its occupants, as well as his young Master. "This would seem to be the entrance to the village." He announced.
The trio turned happily and looked out behind them, expecting to see the beautiful health resort that Ciel had promised they were staying at.
The three blanched at the sight before them. A dead tree littered with chained collars hanging from its branches and animal skeletons lay at its base. Definitely NOT what they had been expecting to see.
Bardroy, Mey-Rin, and Finnian shrieked in horror.
"I forgot to tell you one thing: this is the planned construction site for the resort." Ciel mentioned, not an ounce of regret shown on his face.
The trio stared at the young male in disbelief. "Young Master…"
~Earlier in the week~
"A trip, in this season?" Sebastian questioned.
Ciel took a sip of his tea before addressing his butler. "Sebastian, are you familiar with the leisure activity known as bear-baiting?"
"The word seems attractive and quite entertaining to me, but I am afraid not." He smirked. Humans came up with the most brutal of ways to entertain themselves.
"They tie a bear to a fence with a rope or cord, and fighting dogs surround it, bite at it, and killed it." The preteen explained.
"My, that does sound very human-like." And here he thought demons could be barbaric.
"It was banned by the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835, but there was a loophole: the laws did not apply to the attack dogs. What do you think happened then?" Ciel questioned. The idea of dog fighting sickened him greatly. 'Sebastian', a black German Sheppard that his family used to own was playful and also protective of the family. The teen couldn't help but remember the night he found the animal's dead body laying motionless next to his parent's lifeless and equally motionless bodies.
"I imagine they began having the dogs attack their own kind. Perhaps you would call it 'dog-baiting'?" Sebastian responded.
Ciel nodded, taking a bite of his Charlotte cake that the butler had brought up for him. "There is a village doing just that: Houndsworth. The place was originally famous for rearing hunting dogs, but behind closed doors they…" He let his sentence hang, taking another bite of his dessert. "She is heartsick. We will secure that village under the pretext of making it into a health resort. That is the goal of this journey."
Sebastian mentally groaned. "A village full of dogs, eh?"
"What is it?"
The demon merely bowed, taking to not look at the boy in the eye. "Merely that securing a construction site seems like a quite trifling job for you to be concerned with." He lied. Oh how he despised dogs.
"There is a reason." Ciel stated, causing his demonic butler to look up at him. "A reason why I, why the house of Phantomhive, must go to Houndsworth in person."
"Why the 'ell does this place 'ave ta be 'ull o' dogs?" Ben groaned, looking wearily from side to side as he and Rebecca walked around the town.
Both teens had arrived in Houndsworth a few hours prior, quickly securing lodging's for their time there. It hadn't been their most welcoming of arrivals, but then again, Houndsworth was practically cut off from the rest of society.
"It should 'ave been obvious given th' name of th' town, Ben. And 'sides, I see nothing wrong with it. Though granted I would prefer if not everyone owned a dog here." Rebecca sighed, mumbling the last part to herself.
The ebony haired teen liked almost any type of animal with four legs. Especially wolves and snow leopards. She had read about them in a few books that Horatio used during his studies and frankly, the teen found both animals to be rather stunning.
"You 'aven't met a stray though!" Ben shuddered. In his past experience with animals, namely dogs, the dirty blonde male had found out the hard way to never tease a stray with food.
"That why you prefer cats o'ver dogs then?" Rebecca smirked, knowing exactly what was going through her companions mind.
"Yea! An' stop laughin'! It ain't funny."
"I didn't laugh. 'Sides, perhaps if ya get a dog of yer own, you'll o'vercome yer fear of 'em." She suggested, hoping that her voice sounded the right pitch as the two walked past a young brunette male training one of his dogs a few tricks.
"Like fuck!" Ben hissed.
Rebecca chuckled and started to walk further down the street. In the back of her head, the teen felt as that it was important she stay outside a bit longer. And for reasons she couldn't understand. This was her first time this far out into England and it was the first time she had ever been to Houndsworth. Why she had felt it was of the utmost importance to come here three months back was beyond her own comprehension.
Benjamin ran up behind Rebecca after noticing that she had walked farther up ahead. She seemed to be lost in thought when he caught up to her and didn't bother speaking. Ever since they left Richmond a few days ago, something seemed to be on the forefront of her mind.
The two walked on a bit more, returning to the main road that led in and out of the village, as well as to the estate that sat atop a nearby hill. The local church bell resounded throughout the town and undoubtedly the surround area as it signaled the hour. Benjamin and Rebecca paused for a moment, catching the sound of hooves and wheels on cobblestone. Upon turning, both caught the sight of two carriages, just in time to step out of their way.
"Guess we ain't the only ones travelin'." Ben stated.
"Wonder why a noble is so far out from London?"
"Must b' nice ta 'ave all that money."
Rebecca didn't reply. Her attention was focused on the male driving the first carriage. From the corner of her eye, she noticed several females around her age swoon at the sight of the servant. Granted the male was handsome, Rebecca assumed that he was definitely the arrogant type. He certainly appeared that way.
"Ain't gonna swoon like they did?" Ben chuckled, swinging an arm over the females shoulder and pointing to the group of girls that were undoubtedly gossiping about the black clad male.
The ebony haired teen shot her male companion an irritated look. "Need I remind you of my statues as well? Granted he does sit well with the female eye, I do not particularly take to arrogant males. Besides, with a face like that, I am positive that he already has a wife." She sighed, dropping her vocal guise to remind Benjamin that she was a noble and brushed off his implication.
Once the carriages had passed, both teens crossed to the opposite side of the cobblestone street. Missing the second glance that the black clad servant had sent them.
Woohoo! Chapter is complete!^^
This was really fun to write mainly because of how Rebecca acted when Ben suggested she "swoon" over Sebastian like the other girls
Thank you to I Am Pandora and kat716 for reviewing and thank you to the many others who added A Soul's Tourniquet to their favorites.
Please review after reading. It helps me alot to know that people are reading this and it makes me want to write more. Creative criticism is welcomed and feel free to ask any questions about the story.
I'll be updating mostly on Saturday's unless I finish typing the chapter's before then. For example, I'll probably update chapter three on Valentine's day seeing that my school has no classes that day and I only have one class on Monday and Wednesday.
So until then^^