"Who?"

"I don't know Elizabeth. that's why I said, someone. " Ciel growled.

"Tell me." She insisted.
Ciel muttered something about meddling fiancee's and spoke more audibly. "I investigated the murders of several of my employees and the arson at one of my factories and as I was leaving the premises Sebastian and I were attacked."

Elizabeth looked anxiously at his injury, barely registering his words.

"We went into a roundabout detour to throw them off so that's why I was missing, then we arrived back here. I had gotten a cold so we expected to stay here and then you came along to MY MANOR. WHICH IS A TARGET! Then all hell broke loose."

"Ciel let me look at your-"

"No. Someone might find us."

"What does that have anything to do with-"

"I feel pain Elizabeth." Ciel said pointedly.

"Ciel. If you do not let me help you I will take off your eye patch." She whispered.

His eye widened, "You wouldn't."

"I would." She crossed her arms.

His eye was solemn and Elizabeth had the sudden urge to kiss him but reminded herself this was not the time. She had to do something about his injury. "Please." Elizabeth whispered.

Ciel rolled his eyes and offered her his arm.

Elizabeth ripped his sleeve off and ordered him to lie down.

Ciel refused.

Elizabeth scowled and used the wadded up material from his shirt to apply pressure and stop bleeding. Ciel looked at the door.

"Stop that." She hissed. "Calm down."

"You're in danger and I'm supposed to calm down?"

Impulsively, Elizabeth hugged him. "You do care about me Ciel!"

Ciel sputtered. "Uh. Er. I don't- Lizzie. I've been shot."

Elizabeth started to continue to clean him up and ripped off his other sleeve and bandaged his arm. "Aren't you going to take out the bullet?" Ciel asked.

"Might make it worse." She muttered.

Ciel shrugged back on his coat, grimacing.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"For what?" Ciel asked distractedly.

"You getting hurt."

"It was your life or my arm getting an injury. I choose the injury."

Elizabeth fought the impulse to hug him again. "Ciel, what are grim reapers?"

Ciel froze. "Don't be ridiculous, such fairy tales do not exist."

"I am not stupid."

"Of course not." Ciel said, glancing over the top of the couch at the door.

"I heard you and Sebastian are grim reapers?"

"I will tell you when we get married." Ciel said, still looking at the door.

Elizabeth grabbed his arm and yanked him down. "Listen to me tell me Ciel Phantomhive. I demand to know-"

Ciel clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Avent checked in ere." A voice said loudly.

"Fink an earl would hide in ere?" Another said

"Check everywhere." The other said slowly as if thinking was difficult.

Ciel gripped his gun and Gave Elizabeth a meaningful look. 1, 2, 3 he mouthed. Ciel stood and shot. Ciel grabbed her hand with his bad arm and carefully they exited the room. He stood flat against the wall and peeked around the corner to check that the corridor was safe. He yanked Lizzie along.

They stopped at the next twist in the corridors and saw a girl with auburn hair. Mey-Rin. She was surrounded. Mey-Rin held a pistol and shot the Man nearest to her. Another smirked and said, "Ida rather met a beauty like you in a pub."

"Don't call me a beauty." Mey-Rin turned away from the man and shot him almost lazily. "Young Master, Lady Elizabeth." She said with a nod of her head. Elizabeth noticed something odd, without glasses Mey-Rin's eyes were almost catlike. Golden and focused. One side of her skirts was buttoned to her sash, showing her leg. Elizabeth guessed it was so she could run more easily.

"Forgive me." She said smoothly and turned to aim out the window, "No matter how far you run it is as if you are right in front of me." She murmured. Mey-Rin shot and turned back to Ciel."Young Master, where is Sebastian?"

"Trying to take the vermin out at their source." Ciel said calmly.

"And how are you Lady Elizabeth?" Mey-Rin said kindly.

"Fine."

"Good. I am glad to hear that." Mey-Rin smiled and suddenly the floor shook. "That. Would be Bardroy."

They started off, Ciel still holding Elizabeth's hand. She followed Mey-rin with her eyes, admiring how she was always on the lookout, guns at the ready. Ciel was calm. "Are you ok LIzzie?"

"Fine."

Bardroy suddenly appeared out of nowhere, coughing. "Flamethrower again?" Mey-Rin asked, snickering.

"Shut up." he mumbled. "Glad to see you're alright young Master."

Ciel gave a noncommittal grunt, rolling his shoulder back uncomfortably.

Elizabeth let go of his hand.

"I'LL GET YA YOU-"

"Calm down Finny." Bardroy hollered.

Finny appeared, holding an enormous statue over his shoulder. "Young Master! Lady Elizabeth! You're alright!" He exclaimed, promptly dropping the statue on Bardroy's foot.

"You oaf!" He shouted, clutching his leg. "You dropped that statue on my effing foot!"

"Oops." Finny said bashfully. "Here ya go." He lifted the statue off his foot and Bardroy cuffed Finny on the side of the head. "Ow! Wha was at for?"

"That was for dropping a bloody statue on my foot."

Finny rubbed the back of his neck and laughed nervously.

"Elizabeth and I need to leave. If Sebastian comes back before I do tell him I am dropping her off."

The three nodded.

"Start to clean up and Mey-Rin?"

"Yes, young Master?"

"Drive the several guns and ammunition. You need to watch over Elizabeth's house while I am present."

"Really?" She exclaimed, bouncing up and down in excitement.

"As long as you don't kill me." Ciel muttered, "Sebastian set up a carriage before this with Elizabeth's horse and one of mine. We need to get Lizzie to safety."

"Ciel. No. You are staying with me." Elizabeth protested.

"No." Ciel briskly walked away and Elizabeth sprinted to catch up.

Elizabeth was glaring at Ciel and he returned the gesture just as furiously. The ride passed in silence as Elizabeth sulked. Ciel was going to stay at her house. He had to! Especially since he was neglecting to care or himself!

"Young Master?" Sebastian's voice said.

Elizabeth jumped.

"Come in." Ciel said, irritated. The Carriage door opened and Sebastian stepped in, his hair windswept but otherwise the picture of a proper butler."You do know the carriage is moving. Right?" Elizabeth asked.

"Indeed I do thank you for your concern. It is much appreciated."

"Are you sure you are quite alright? How did you get here so quickly?"

"I am simply one hell of a butler."

Ciel snorted. "Well?"

"I was unable to take them out. several men I tortured but got nothing out of them. I lost the trail." Sebastian looked angry.

Ciel scowled and mumbled something about useless butlers. "Do you find it amusing to fail me?" Ciel demanded.

"No my lord."

"Sebastian."

"Yes my lord?"

"Tomorrow I am getting a dog. And you will be its main caretaker."

Sebastian smiled, "I loathe dogs. Why not a lovely cat?"

"Because caring for a dog might get it through your abnormally thick skull at how disappointed I am in you," Ciel said. "and I am allergic to Cats and if the dog dies you'll be in trouble."

Sebastian gritted his teeth. "Yes, my young lord."

Elizabeth leaned forward, "Sebastian could you assist me with something?"

"Certainly."

"Could you tell Ciel he must stay with me at my house as he is incapable of caring for himself?"

"I take care of the young master-"

"-very well." Elizabeth finished. "But Ciel will work himself to death, will ignore you and continue to do what he wants instead of recover."

"I am afraid I cannot force my Master to do anything." Sebastian said.

Ciel looked smug.

"Ciel, I will find out what grim Reapers and Demons are If you do not stay." Elizabeth said.

Ciel put his head in his hands."I am too exhausted to deal with , just, I dunno. Make her-"

"Ciel." Elizabeth snapped.

"Dammit. Fine I'll stay."

Elizabeth squealed, "That's wonderful!" She flung her arms around him, "Oh thank you, Ciel! Thank you, thank you thank yoooou!"

"Don't suffocate me."

"It seems the Lady Elizabeth can-"

"Sebastian!"

"Yes, young Master."