Chapter Thirteen: Information and Lolitas

Tessa smirked in triumph. "Yes! I've found you!" She hadn't been overly sure of his name, but since the records kept pictures as well, she'd finally been able to find his file. It had just taken longer than she'd hoped it would, but then, the files apparently went back quite a ways and it had taken her a moment to find the correct dates to search in. After that, with a bit of help from her magic, she'd been able to go through the files without too much difficulty.

She held up the papers marked with Kyo's name. They gave the general details, along with his grades, which were average. It also noted that he had some attitude problems and had been sent to the principal's office a few times. Apparently he'd also only recently started attending the school, having transferred over a little over a year ago.

Then she saw what she was looking for, information on others who knew him. There was a Shigure Sohma put down as his current guardian. He also, apparently, lived at the same location as this male. A few other names were added to the "family" section, including a Kazuma Sohma, who was actually labeled as his adoptive parent, which gave her momentary pause. Also listed was a Yuki Sohma, a name she recognized as belonging to the student council president. That might present some problems, she decided.

After going through a few more files, she found a whole slew of others who shared the same last name, including a Momiji Sohma and a Hatsuharu Sohma. And, after a little more digging, they all seemed to have one person in common, a Tohru Honda, who not only was in Kyo's class, but she also lived in the same house he did. She'd have to do something about that. But before she did that, she needed to know more.

Tohru was just about ready to open the front door when a knock sounded from the other side. She blinked in confusion. Who could be visiting at this time of day? She glanced back at Ciel and Sebastian, then turned back to open the door.

"You're home!" Momiji Sohma practically bounced into the main entryway, followed by a more sedately paced Hana.

"Momiji! I wasn't expecting you!" Tohru couldn't help but smile at the younger boy's exuberance. It was infectious, after all. "Hello, Hana."

Hana smiled back at her friend. "Hello, Tohru. I hope you don't mind. Momiji ran into me earlier this morning and I decided to follow him."

Momiji beamed. "That's right! I wanted to invite you guys to have a picnic!" He twirled around energetically, his arms spread out like airplane wings, acting like a child, even though he was already in high school.

When the strange, blonde-haired boy had first entered the room, Ciel had found himself quiet shocked, and, without thinking about it, he'd somehow managed to hide himself behind Sebastian's tall frame. He peered out almost warily. Why did this strange boy remind him of Lizzy? Was it because he was so energetic? That had to be it.

Sebastian had been momentarily taken aback by the sudden intrusion of what had to be another relation of the Sohmas, or, at the very least, a friend of Tohru's. Though he had gathered it was probably the latter from the name. It rang familiar with those mentioned as being part of the family. "Good morning," he greeted formally, offering a slight bow.

Momiji paused to glance at this strange, tall man who stood behind him. He blinked a few times, then stepped forward and offered his hand. "Hi! I'm Momiji Sohma! I'm also one of Tohru's friends!" He noticed the younger boy standing just behind the odd man. He peered around the butler to get a better view.

Feeling a bit foolish, Ciel tried to straighten himself out, which was a little hard considering his good arm was in a sling.

Tohru noticed the direction everyone's attention had taken and quickly stepped in. "Oh, Momiji, Hana, this is Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian Michaelis. They came all the way from England to visit me! Ciel's an earl! Sebastian's his butler! Isn't it amazing?" She beamed at everyone around her.

Hana glanced over at the two strangers. She could feel a very unusual electrical wave coming from the both of them, but more so from the older man. She didn't think he was human; for all that he looked like one. They both had a residue about them that felt somewhat familiar, something she'd definitely felt within the last twenty-four hours. Were they the ones who had changed the fabric of time? Possible. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she said with unblinking eyes.

Ciel decided to stop acting childish and moved out from behind his butler. He gave a charming smile and half a bow. "The pleasure is mine," he said courteously. "I understand you are a friend of Tohru's?"

"Yes," she replied, still not blinking. "Tohru and I have been friends for many years. How long have you known her?"

Sebastian chose that moment to step in. "The young master and Miss Tohru have been exchanging written correspondence for the past half year. Is this not correct, young master?"

Ciel nodded and gave an almost shy smile. "Yes. We're written back and forth since that time."

Momiji stood back on his heels, sucking on his teeth, hand behind his back. "Say, why do you have your arm in a sling? Did something happen?"

Tohru's expression changed to one of shock. "Oh! That! Well…"

Ciel continued to smile. "Tohru invited me onto the roof to see the view, but I was careless and almost fell off. This is a result of that incident." He indicated his arm with a bit of a shrug.

Hana watched the exchange with little comment, finally deciding to slip back into the conversation. "It would appear that you were planning on going out. Am I correct?"

"Oh! Yes! We were going to take a tour of the city," Tohru answered brightly. "Ciel also wanted to find some clothes that were more—"

"Like what we're wearing?" Momiji interjected. "They are kind of funny looking." He leaned over to look at Ciel's high-heeled shoes. "Can you really walk in those things? I thought only girls wore them."

Ciel cringed slightly and his butler tensed. "I suppose they are rather gaudy, aren't they?" He lifted one heel, then the other, as if inspecting them.

"Perhaps it is what an earl wears," Hana said, sensing the odd pair's discomfort. "After all, each culture is different. Am I right?"

Tohru sent a silent thank you towards Hana, hoping that Momiji would buy the excuse. After all, she couldn't let them find out where Sebastian and Ciel really came from. She'd made a promise.

"Yes, that would be correct," Sebastian answered smoothly before Ciel could. "It is not uncommon for those in high society to wear such attire."

Momiji nodded. "Good. I almost thought you were trying to dress as a Lolita!"

Ciel blinked. It was the second time he'd heard someone say something along those lines. His curiosity was getting the better of him. "What, exactly, is a Lolita? I've heard the term one other time since we arrived, but I have no idea what it means."

Hana took that moment to step forward once more. "Lolita is a fashion trend," she explained. "There are many people our age who like to dress in the fashion, usually consisting of skirts and tops in the Victorian fashions of England. However, in your case, you would be sporting more the style of a Ōji Lolita, the boy's version where the wearer dresses more in the style of a Victorian era boy. There are many other types as well, such as the classic style, gothic style, and cute style."

Tohru's eyes sparkled in admiration. "Wow, Hana! I didn't know you knew so much about fashion! That's amazing!"

Momiji looked somewhat confused. "So, are you saying this guy here," and he indicated Ciel with a pointing thumb, "is actually a girl dressed up like a Victorian era boy? Wow! That's kind of like Ritsu! Only he doesn't dress like a Loli. He just dresses up in kimonos. And sometimes Yuki too. He did wear that dress at the cultural festival, after all, and a lot of people do say he could pass for a girl."

Ciel stamped his foot. "I'm not a girl!" His action sent a jolt through him that made him wince as his arm was jostled and his headache pinged. Having had to pretend to be a girl with the Viscount Druitt had been humiliating enough. There was no way he would allow himself to be mistaken for a girl again.

Sebastian refrained from letting out the chuckle that wanted to come out, having to stifle it with one gloved hand. He remembered having dressed Ciel in an elegant gown to fool the Viscount during their investigation of Jack the Ripper. He was well aware of how uncomfortable the boy was with even the idea that someone might think him of the wrong gender.

"Just because one dresses in the Ōji Lolita style does not mean they are female," Hana emphasized, sensing the discomfort Momiji's comment had caused. "Even though the Lolita fashion is typically worn by females, males also like to occasionally dress the part. It is very possible that whoever you encountered earlier thought you were dressing as such."

Momiji put one hand to his chin, as though thinking. "No wonder you want to find some different clothes! Especially if these are the only kind you brought! You'd stick out like a sore thumb! I know I wouldn't like it if someone called me something I wasn't."

"Which is precisely why the young master would like to venture out at this time," Sebastian interjected, reminding everyone that they were on their way out the door.

Tohru's eyes lit up. "I know! Why don't you two come with us! Wouldn't that be more fun?"

Momiji practically jumped up and down. "I'd go anywhere with you, Tohru! You know that!"

"Shopping does sound fun," Hana added. She was thinking of the possibility of convincing Tohru to try on a few more cutesy items. Though she, herself, did not wear such attire, she felt that Tohru should wear more such items, like a doting mother trying to spoil her little girl, who was oblivious to the fact. "Perhaps we might be able to have that picnic Momiji mentioned earlier while we are out."

Tohru looked over at Ciel and Sebastian. "Is that okay? I know you wanted to spend time with me and everything, but maybe it will be more fun this way?"

Ciel felt like gritting his teeth in frustration and annoyance, but he was a gentleman, if nothing else, and an Earl at that. He had his reputation to maintain, even if he was not in his own time period. Not to mention that he was in the presence of ladies, and Sebastian would probably make him do it anyway. He might as well pretend it was a good idea and go along with it. At least he'd still be able to be out and about, investigating as he was supposed to be doing.

He made himself smile. "I would like that very much," he said cheerfully, pulling out all the stops, like he did when he was placating Lizzy.

Hana wasn't fooled though. She gave him a bemused look. "If everything is settled, I think we should be on our way."

"I know!" Momiji jumped again as they closed the door behind them. "I can call a taxi! And I'll pay for it too! After all, I'm the one who wanted to tag along."

Tohru almost froze as he spoke. "Momiji! I can't let you do that!"

Hana put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Why don't you let him," she suggested quietly. "I don't think your friends would do so well walking the entire time." She glanced pointedly at Ciel. She could already tell that he was weaker than was typical for someone of his age.

Tohru let out a bit of a sigh but she smiled. "You're right."

"Yay!" Momiji twirled around and pulled out his cell phone to call for a cab.