Holy snap cakes it's been so long! I'm sooooo sorry for the long Hiatus for those of you who have been waiting for me to continue Phobia's story. However, I reward you with this: The continuation and completion of Kuroshisuji: There is Always Someone Stronger. I hope this chapter and the following ones are up to par. As always, if you have any questions feel free to ask and I'll get back to as soon as I can.
"There's no need for you to look him up," Ciel's voice speaks up as we've once more woven our way around person after person to get to the actual scene of the issue. "His name is John Stanley. His identification papers are right here," he holds up a folder which Sebastian then takes to Randall to look over. I on the other hand stay close to my Master as any good dog would.
"Let me see that," Randall demands and snatches the papers from the other red eyed demon. Once he's done reading, he looks to the boy. "What do you plan on doing?"
"I simply need something off his body," Ciel assures.
"I'm sorry, Earl, but he didn't have anything in his possession when we found him," the russet haired man, Abberline tells us.
"...I see. Thank you, Inspector Abberline. Come Phobia, Sebastian," the boy turns and both Sebastian and I walk side by side behind the boy. While Sebastian and Ciel get into the carriage I step onto it and into the driver's seat. The window behind me is slightly open so that I can hear the conversation the three of us know is going to go down. With a light lash of the reigns the horses take off at a steady pace.
"What's the matter, Bocchan?" Sebastian speaks up as we go along.
"What makes you think that there's something the matter? Just because I wear this face doesn't mean that something is wrong with it," Ciel replies.
"I did not mean it in such a harmful way," Sebastian assures, "For me, looking at your face is always delightful". That's not weird at all.
I hear a sigh, "It's just that this case makes absolutely no sense. There's almost nothing to go on. What Mr. Ash said doesn't make sense either. Why simply destroy what I'm looking for?"
Earlier today, Mr. Ash, the Queen's personal butler, had come to give a case to Ciel as he normally does. However, Ciel is there again to speak with the man as he drinks his Japanese tea as he loves to do after giving an order. He told us that our target, John Stanley, was actually a man who worked just like my Master does. In that he worked with underworld issues as well for the Queen, but on his mission was killed. He then told us that Ciel was to find the object that the man was carrying, and dispose of it. Not look at it, not bring it back, but get rid of it once and for all. This was obviously odd, and it still is, seeing as Ciel is the Queen's most trusted Watchdog. However, Mr. Ash wouldn't say anything more on the subject of the matter, and took his leave soon after words.
"How are we going to go about his, Master?" I question, my voice drifting in through the slightly open window.
"...Go to Lau's den. We should try to figure out just why Stanley had been killed in the first place. And Lau is the best one to go to for such a thing. He also controls this area, and therefore would be of the most use to us," Ciel states.
"As you wish," I tell him, and lash the reigns a bit more for the horses to speed up if only just a little bit. It takes us a small amount of time to get to Lau's den, and soon enough we're greeted by the all too thick smoke of opium. I'm so glad demons can't get high. Not powerful ones such as myself and Sebastian at least. Lower demons, yes, but not us.
"Ahh, Young Earl, long time no see, what can I do for you? What brings you to my den?" Lau speaks up, basically covered in pretty Chinese women from lap to shoulders.
"I need information from you; your help," Ciel states as the smoke clears enough for him to see the Chinese man.
"Oh? So you're here about that are you?" Lau states.
"So it's already gotten to you," Ciel assumes. My eyes shoot to Sebastian and I raise a brow. Is lips turn up wards in a quick smile. Heh, the ass is playing the boy again.
"Not much around here happens without my knowing," Lau assures. "You should know that by now".
"Of course. So, are you willing to help me?" Ciel pushes.
"I am but a pawn on your side of the board. Of course I will help you," Lau assures once more. "But I have one question...What are we talking about?" Ciel blanches, realizing that he's been had again. "Why don't we go upstairs? It's so stuffy down here". I wonder why?
Once upstairs, with Lau only having Ran-Mao to hang off of him now, Ciel, with Sebastian and I behind him, sits on one couch while Lau sits on the other and Ran-Mao has her arms draped around his shoulders from behind. The two of them get right to business.
"Now let's see...If there's anything that someone in this town would be willing to kill for...It'd be drugs. Someone has been spreading new merchandise lately. To be quite frank, it's causing me a lot of trouble," Lau states.
"New merchandise?"
"Yes. The city is awash with rumors that say it's quite effective, but cheaper and lighter than opium. They call it 'Lady Bran'".
"'Lady Bran'? A white lady?" I wonder what he's thinking about at this moment. I know that his words remind me of that damn angel.
"Is something wrong?"
"No".
"The person found in Regent Dock...What was his name again?"
"John Stanley," I speak up as Sebastian walks over to offer a picture to put a face to the name, "However we think it's a false name".
"Hmmm...I've never seen his face before. As far as drug dealers go, I should know most of them," Lau states. He holds up the picture to the girl behind him and asks, "Ran-Mao, what about you?" She shakes her head to show she doesn't know the man or face either. He hands the picture back to the black haired demon, "There you go".
"There is a 'certain item' that I'm searching for," Ciel states.
"'Certain item?"
"Yes. Stanley was most likely killed for it. Therefore, there's something I want you to do for me," Ciel goes on.
"What is it, Young Earl?"
"I want you to spread a rumor saying that I have obtained a special item from the body found at the docks," Ciel answers.
"That can easily be done. Is it okay to ask why?"
"If news is spread of this, then the person who took something off the body will doubt the authenticity of what they had taken and come after me".
"Ahh, so you're using yourself as a decoy. As to be expected of the Queen's loyal Watchdog," Lau smiles out. "Hey, Young Earl. There's always been something I've wanted to ask you: Why are you giving such reverend loyalty to the Queen? She only gives nonsensical demands".
"You wouldn't understand," Ciel states, keeping the real reason to himself, "You, who ha left your home and are drifting around in a foreign country like a rootless blade of grass".
"So it would seem," Lau chuckles out lightly. It is after that, that we take our leave.
Once more I step onto the driver's block and lightly lash the reigns as to get the pullers moving. As we return home, Finny and Mei-Rin are off running an errand, and Sebastian leaves for the kitchen to make the young Master a small snack to eat. It is during this time that Ciel shows us just how lost he seems to be.
"A white lady...Sebastian, Phobia, you don't think that woman is involved, do you?" He questions us as he slumps on the couch. Sebastian is currently pouring tea for him, I on the other hand am leaning on the back of the couch with my arms crossed.
"Highly doubtful," I tell him, "I ripped out her throat before leaving the building. And then it collapsed on her".
"You ripped out her throat?" Ciel looks up to me, and I grin.
"I can still taste the blood on my tongue. She tasted like her scent; gone bad meat," I confirm.
"You resemble nothing but a lost puppy, Bocchan," Sebastian steps in as he hands the boy his cup, "It's rather sad really. I am nothing but a pawn in your hand, the same goes for Phobia. Isn't somewhat odd that you're asking the opinion of not one, but two of your pawns?"
There's a pause and then, "I'm still here. So that means that my desire has not yet been fulfilled".
"Yes, exactly," Sebastian agrees.
"And here I am, still doing my duty for the Queen as a descendant of the Phantomhive family. Just like my ancestors did before me. Yes...Nothing has changed," what's with those words.
However, I have no time to ask as an odd scent catches my attention and I push off the couch and head for the room's doors. I ignore the calls of Sebastian and Ciel and open the doors only to find the barer of the scent. Mey-Rin. In a flash, I have both her wrists above her head in one of my hands, and I'm pinning the rest of her form against the wall with my body. My nose twitches this way and that as I look for the scent. I ignore her surprised scream as well, still searching. My free hand also searches her form, and I can feel her wiggling under the touch. Come now woman, I'm not coming onto you. If I was, I'd be kissing you right now.
"Phobia! What are you doing?" Ciel demands.
"She has something that doesn't belong on her," I state distractedly. Though finally, I find what I've been looking for in her pocket. I pull it out and release her right away. "This stuff," I tell him. "It doesn't smell right".
"What? It's just candy," Finny assures as he pulls some from his pocket. "It's really popular; so much so that I've heard that most of the time it's sold out. Even the adults are going crazy about it".
"It's almost like you feel better when you eat it!" Mey-Rin agrees.
"Really? Let me try some!" Bard requests, and the maid hands a piece over to the chef. However, a quick handed Tanaka takes it first.
Silently he unwraps it before announcing, "This is not our company's candy!"
"What? How can you tell?" Ciel demands.
"While the wrapper is real, the company's policies are too strict for something as unsightly as this to make its way into the shops," he takes a lick, "This is-," however, he's reached his time limit and therefore shrinks the normally small Tanaka he usually is.
I take the drug from the older man and sniff it, "I knew something was up; it's a drug," and hand it off to Sebastian.
"Morphine made by opium, quite concentrated. This is probably the merchandise that Mr. Lau had told us about," he tells our lord.
"Lady Bran," Ciel trails off, a frown marring his face. His eyes widen and moments later, "Phobia, Sebastian, we're leaving. Now!"
"As you wish, Master," I nod out, and follow after his shorter strides.
"Yes, my Lord," Sebastian heads off after us.
"Phobia, you're in here with me, Sebastian, you drive," Ciel demands and we follow his orders. There's a jolt and a whiny of the pulling horses before we're off the grounds before we know it.
"You could have just ridden me, you know," I tell the boy in front of me.
"That would have caused too much commotion. Otherwise I really would have demanded Sebastian get you another suit so we could get to the factory faster," Ciel sighs out. There's a rumbling and the wheels of our carriage skid to a stop. The horses obviously aren't happy.
"What the hell?" I mutter, taking in a sample of the air. "We're surrounded, Master," I mutter lowly.
"What? By who?" He demands.
I take another whiff, "Scotland Yard," is my simple reply.
"What's going on, Sebastian?" Ciel demands as he slightly opens up the carriage's door.
"Earl Ciel Phantomhive, I am hereby detaining you for suspicion of violating the Medicines Act," Abberline speaks up with authority.
From there, I stand and open the door, letting out Ciel first, and standing behind him in the doorway.
"Bocchan!" Sebastian calls out, alarmed.
"Oh? You want to detain me, Earl Phantomhive. You, who have no noble title," Ciel speaks in a tone that obviously looks down on the human.
"That's right. You are suspected of being in league of a Chinese man named Lau, selling a new kind of drug," Abberline nods out.
"Lau? As if. He is but a pawn in my hand. Besides, it was known and tolerated by Randall that Lau ran an opium den. If you have issues with that, take him alone," Ciel goes on.
"There is a Funtom Company warehouse in the Docklands, correct?" Abberline questions.
"Yes".
"A large amount was recently found there," this surprises my Master, "With the vast quantity, you can hardly talk your way out of this by saying it was for personal use. It was also found in Funtom wrapping papers". What? Ciel slowly steps down to the ground, and I come out along with him, standing at his free side.
"Sebastian, this is an-" he tries, and my eyes narrow as Randall shows himself to us.
"Shut up, brat," the man states, "Abberline, didn't I tell you to separate him from his butler at once?" What, am I not special enough?
"Randall, you do know what it means to point a gun at me?" Ciel's eye is narrow and cold.
"Resist if you want," the man chuckles, "It'll just mean the end of your stained family crest, the end of the Phantomhives. Recently, I have been given a direct order from the Queen herself. From now until this issue is settled, the responsibilities and privileges are suspended. If you give the order to either of your men there, it'll be considered high treason, and you will be stripped of your title. As for Lau, President of Kunlun's English branch, who is deeply involved with opium smuggling, he will be paying for his crimes with his life. Ciel Phantomhive, would you like to confess as to where Lau's whereabouts would be, or the personal correspondence of the Queen herself is?"
"No," Ciel drones out gently, "I'm terribly sorry.
"Heh, if I could I would love to torture you. However, that has been forbidden by Her Majesty. Perhaps I should ask the butler and the Watchdog?" Randall sneers.
It is then that things move faster, and quickly the three of us are cuffed and shackled. I was tempted to rip the chains in half, grab Ciel and flee. However, Sebastian gave me a look that that would do us no good at all. Therefore, I sigh and force my body to relax. However, it's quite the hard thing to do, as I am not just any dog that you can chain to a wall and call it a day. I am a Hell Hound, and only one being has managed to tame me; Sebastian himself. If I had to choose between Sebastian and Ciel, I would choose the former. However, I am quite fond of the latter so it's not like I'd choose without some guilt. Sebastian and I walk side by side down the stairs of the dungeon we seem to be lead to. We have been told by our Master himself not to struggle or resist in any sort of way. And that when the right time comes, he will call our names. Yes, we will help our Master show those that have done this to us, just what happens when you make a fool out of him. And let me tell you, I can't wait until he calls for us. Because then, things will truly be interesting.
"So Sebastian, Phobia, are you willing to confess?" Randall demands coldly.
"I suppose I should," Sebastian sighs out. "It was actually I who spread the Black Plague".
"W-what? That was over five hundred years ago! Stop joking around!" Randall huffs out. He then comes over to lean over me. "How about you? Don't be like him. I'll let you go if you confess".
"Then I'll confess," I tell him from my laid down position. "It was I who created the art of hanging, drawing and quartering someone".
"Not you too, you buffoon! That's also five hundred years in the past!" Randall huffs and turns away from the both of us. "Have at it!"
"Oh? How wonderful! Two subjects for the price of one issue!" The old bald man coos out, spit dripping from his mouth. Soon enough Sebastian is chained to the wall, arms and legs splayed apart. I on the other hand am placed and locked onto a table. A metal ring around my waist, ankles and wrists, and my neck, all hold me down. "Shall I pluck out that eye of yours or scoop it out? Oh, burning it would be fun too!~" Ugh, ugly sadist. His attention comes to me next. "Both of you are quite beautiful beings for being men. However I know exactly what I'm going to do with you". For the next number of days, we are tortured and maimed to no end. Surprisingly enough, Angela is stilla live and kicking, and she took pleasure in beating us with her whip. It'd be sexy if she were actually pretty. However, she is no such thing. She went so far as to offer us a good spot in her world or whatever once she brought Doomsday along. All the souls we could eat. But unfortunately for her, I'm up on my soul numbers. Like normal wild dogs, we Hell Hounds pray on animals instead of humans. I've been eating animal souls ever since I came to this world. Sebastian, finds that he'd only be satisfied by Ciel's soul. Maybe three or four days later is when things start to get interesting to tell the truth. Finally.
"Heheh," Sebastian smirks out, head hung as he ignores the gashes on his person. "Finally". Looks like he's finally been called upon.
"H-huh?" The ugly old man stutters out as Sebastian easily breaks out of his bonds, his wounds healing without an issue and fixes his uniform after killing the old man. His eyes turn to me. "I'm going to leave you behind".
"What're you talking about," I sit up with ease and then hop of the table, "I've been waiting on you".
"You have been have you?" Sebastian raises a brow at me, making me grin wide and show him a set of fangs.
"Yup. And you've been waiting on our Master. Took him long enough," I chuckle out.
"Let's not keep him waiting shall we?" He bolts out of the room, and I follow him, right on his tail. It takes us little to no time to get to where Sebastian heard the call from. I growl, and while Sebastian takes out one half, I take out the other half.
"You're late; both of you," Ciel states bluntly as he climbs out of the carriage with my help of an offered hand.
"So are you," Sebastian throws back.
"We've been waiting for days," I tell him.
"Ciel!" The three of us turn our heads in the direction of Abberline. Wasn't he the one to help arrest us in the first place? What's he doing here.
"Don't come closer," Ciel states, and then looks back to his two demon pawns. "I'm afraid I've been slightly tainted by this man's purity. Let me rectify it. This is an order to both of you: kill Lau".
"Lau?" I tilt my head. The Chinese pawn? Why?
"Are you sure? This isn't an order you can take back," Sebastian confirms.
"Whether they are friend or even parent it doesn't matter," Ciel scowls at us, "I want his head".
"As you wish, Master," I nod.
"Yes, my Lord," Sebastian follows up. As the black haired demon scoops his charge up and leaps off, I grin to Abberline before following after words. It takes us little to no time at all to set up the castle's walls with their cannons to fire all at the same time. Especially not with my and Sebastian's power. As those two stand on one side of the head cannon, I crouch on the other side, ready to leap off and onto a cannon that'll carry us to Lau's ship.
"Fire!" Ciel demands, and as one Sebastian and I set the cannons off.
"Are you ready, Master?" I ask him.
"Let's go," Ciel nods out, and Sebastian and I take to our own private cannons.
When we land, we are soon enough greeted by Ran-Mao, who swings her large weapons at us with surprising grace and power. "I'd rather not hurt you," Sebastian tell her as he puts Ciel down. "Perhaps you can stand aside?"
"You plan to hurt my brother. I won't move," she tells him bluntly.
"Then I'll be your opponent," and the two launch at one another.
"Come Master, we'll find Lau," I tell the boy, and we run into the belly of the ship. We actually find Lau rather quickly. He's just sitting there on a couch, smoking like nothing bad is going down; like there's no fire around us.
"Ahh, I was wondering when you'd find me, Young Earl," the man greets. "It feels strange to greet one another under these circumstances. However for my part I always thought it'd end up this way".
"That's right, Lau," Ciel snarls. Pointing the gun he managed to get his hand on at him.
"Oh, before I forget, the iten you've been looking for it on that shelf," Lau casually inputs, and Ciel takes the ribbon closed scroll. "Say, Young Earl, what do you think is says in that? It's a diplomatic paper towards Germany and Italy proposing a military alliance. Your beloved Queen plans on rushing Europe- no, the whole world- headlong into a war. Starting with an invasion on France through opium, or rather, 'Lady Bran'. Yes, the same way your country once invaded mine through opium. Are you going to remain her loyal Watchdog then?"
"...Is that why you betrayed me?" Ciel questions, gun still trained on the close eyed man.
"No, that's not it," Lau states, getting up.
"Then why?!"
"Because...I am nothing but your pawn. Our relationship depends on expectation of gain. However, Young Earl, I was starting to get bored with playing as your pawn. So I figured, why not try playing the game myself? With my life on the line," his eyes open up to challengingly meet Ciel's only blue one. Ciel shoots, and the bullet is blocked by a Chinese broad sword. The man lunges, and I scoop up Ciel so that we can make our way out of the room.
"Sebastian!" The boy calls as I jump back and land not too far from the demon, the boy still in my arms and protected.
"My, what a number you've done to my beloved little sister. I've always wondered. You really aren't human, Mr. Butler," his eyes land on me, "Same with you, Mr. Guardian".
"It seems so," Sebastian replies, "I am one hell of a butler".
"I am naught but hell's guardian," I smile back, showing him two beaming fangs that lay in my mouth.
"Interesting, how interesting. I wonder if a world that is so interesting can be reality. I often wonder...If I've been dreaming since that time. Not knowing if I dream of becoming a butterfly...Or if the butterfly dreams of becoming me!" It is now that Lau rushes us.
"Phobia!" Ciel yells out, obviously not wanting to die just yet. In the blink of an eye, I place the boy down and place myself in the line of the sword- after pushing Abberline out of the way. My hard skin connects with the blade, causing it to come to a halt.
"Abberline...What are you doing here?" Ciel demands.
"Ciel," the man speaks up, stumbling to a standing position from his fallen one.
"Mr. Guardian, you're in my way!" Lau states, pulling his blade away from my palm and trying to get around me. However, I'll have none of it.
"I don't think so," I snarl out lowly, my hand wrapping around the sharp edge of the blade and pulling it out of Lau's grip. Sebastian and Ciel wanted to see the extent of my power; here it is. Hell Hounds aren't like the kind of demon Sebastian is. Not by a long shot. Sebastian's kind are weak in their human form, they can get injured and cut up even if their human form is at its strongest. Hell Hounds on the other hand, have fur and skin that is always strong no matter what form we're in. The only reason I had gashes in me earlier, when I was imprisoned with Sebastian, is because I had forced my body to relax and mold like a human body. However, as this human knows I am a demon- or at least not human- I can play the part. I growl again and lash out with my claws, catching Lau in the side as he jumps away.
"Heh," Lau lands, and then falls into a kneeling position and holds his side as the blood spreads. "How magnificent, Young Earl, it really is an inborn virtue". I got him real good, I realize as I stay crouching in front of my Master and Abberline. Sebastian is standing at my side, brows furrowed and body ready for a fight still. "Or should I say, vice?"
"Lau, you...," Ciel tries.
"This is the end of the ship as well, Young Earl. It seems that I didn't have enough strength to become a player," Lau continues, only to fall face first into the deck. He has officially joined his sister in death.
"Sebastian, Phobia, let's get out of here," Ciel demands. "Phobia, take care of Abberline," he orders.
"Yes, my Lord".
"As you wish, Master," I tell him as I scoop up the shorter man bridal style. It's odd to hold another man in such a way, but no matter. I'm maybe an inch shorter than Sebastian, and he's done it for me. Sebastian and I easily jump from the on fire ship to a perfectly fine one, and then move onto the docks.
Once I put him down Ciel walks up to Abberline and states firmly, "You should have never been there. You're lucky my Guardian saved your life". It's after these words, that we make our way home. That night, Ciel turned in early after a soothing cup of tea. I didn't go with him, but an hour later I decided that I should go to bed myself.
I was headed to Ciel's room when a clearing of the voice occurred, and I see Sebastian motioning for me to follow. I tilt my head like the innocent pup I am, and follow him into a random room. Although it's dark in here, I can see perfectly fine even as the door is closed and locked. My eyes widen in complete surprise as I find myself pinned to the wall next to the door, a slightly larger body holding me down. There's an arm around my waist, and the other hand holds my wrists above my head. "S-Sebastain?"
"You did magnificently out there, mutt," the demon replies smoothly, rust red eyes meeting my blood red ones.
"Uh...Thank you?" I'm not sure I want to know where he's going with this. "However, I'm a wolf I'll have you know," I don't think he cares at the moment.
"In fact, you've been a rather good dog as of recently. I should reward you," he goes on. However, I don't smell any treats near by. His hips meet mine, and my eyes widen.
"Woah there, what do you think you're doing?" I ask, pushing myself further into the wall, only to find that I can't go very far of course.
"I'm trying to reward you," the demon replies. "Be a good pup and accept it".
"I don't roll that wa-," lips smoothly meet my own and my eyes widen. I don't like this feeling.
"You don't. But it seem your body does," he tells me, kissing me again, his hips again meeting my own and then moving against them. Actually, again my body doesn't ike this. It's telling me to throw him off, but I refuse to mentally; he's my Tamer. But that doesn't mean I won't fight. Ugh. What the hell is he doing?
"O-oi," I demand, eyes narrowed as I push against this hold on me, over powering him just enough. "I told you, I'm not like that. And I don't like that you're trying to dominate me. I'm not weaker than you, you know".
"But you're not stronger, either, are you?" He throws back, forehead resting against mine. The hand that had been around my waist reaches up to brush against my lips. "I'm just rewarding you, nothing more nothing less. You're free to go now". He backs off, releasing me fully.
My eyes narrow him, and I move to open the door when his body again slams against mine, making my eyes widen and my chest to hit the door. However, before his weight can fully set in, I spin us around and this time I'm the one pinning him. "Nice try. Don't be cocky, for all you know I am stronger than you," I release him, and this time succeed in opening up the door. I wasn't expecting him to pull me against him and latch onto my neck with his mouth. A low rumble comes from my chest, telling him to release me at once.
"You once wanted to make me ultimately happy. I am the one who tamed you and taught you the basics of speech. Are you so ungrateful? Do you no longer want to see me ultimately happy?" He whispers into my ear huskily.
"I want to see you happy, however I won't be come onto like this," I tell him, my knees solidifying and a hand going to the spot that my hair luckily covers. "I'm not gay. I love you, but only as a brother would".
"I beg to differ. If you were truly only interested in women, you'd of had sex with Angela, but when I met you, you didn't smell a thing of her," Sebastian states, releasing me for real this time. "However, your words on calling me brother are...Viable". He sighs, and backs off for a moment.
"I'll tell you once and that's it. It's possible that the Tamer-Tamed bond has pushed us so close to one another that you've taken the want to protect me and mine to protect you as the human emotion of love. An it probably is love- I've seen demons fall in love before- but only that of a brother. I know that that's how I feel for you". I explain at length.