Souls are decaying and Shigami are slacking off? Alex is safe and sound in a bed at the mansion, and Claude has returned with images of his findings. However things are much worse than either of them could have ever foreseen. Alex wakes up from a nightmare and figures out Sebastian and Claude are demons. What will she do? Grell has arrived as well, however he has no idea of what is going on and once again William T. Spears will be applying for overtime.

I hope you enjoy this chapter.

~The Dark Ringmaster

I do not own Kuroshituji.

Chapter 7: Tears

Any demon would recognize the scent, that pungent odder which irritated them. The smell of decaying souls, it was what happened when a soul wasn't collected by either shigami or a demon. They were simply left to rot, the rose reeked of it and Sebastian turned his attention to the photos again. These were even more gruesome than the single photo in the news, however that wasn't what had disturbed him. "I've seen this set up before," muttered Sebastian and he walked into his office. In moments the file was on her desk and Claude stared, the images from the crime scene of Alex's past were identical to the sight Claude had found. "A summoning, this time every element is perfect," commented Claude, "Sebastian this isn't a game anymore." Sebastian took a seat at his desk, he knew it wasn't a game. Souls were rotting from not being collected, innocent people were being killed to summon demons and someone was after the girl asleep upstairs. "I can't afford to loose my Graphic Designer, she signed a contract with Sterling, and just impressed Martinez," said Sebastian. Claude watched as Sebastian attempted to figure out what to do, "We should protect her, and I will have Hannah look into the case," said Claude. Sebastian nodded and was about to say something when he heard a scream emanating from the bedroom.

Both of them raced up the stairs to the room she was asleep in. "Miss Stark?" asked Sebastian, as he pushed open the door. The bed was empty and he slowly walked around the bed to find her curled up in a corner. She was shaking violently and she whispered, "No." Her voice trembled and Sebastian slowly approached her. "Alex," he whispered as he stood before her, Claude was beside him looked at the girl. "Stay back," she cried and Sebastian paused before slowly kneeling on the floor. "Do you remember who I am?" asked Sebastian. Alex paused and replied, "Yes." Sebastian slowly reached out to touch her and realized that was a horrible idea. "It's alright, you're safe," he said sweetly. Claude took a seat next to his lover and whispered, "I'm not sure what to do." Sebastian was as uncertain as he was, she had shuddered every time he had touched her in the past when she was afraid. However most would just hold her close, "Why?" she mumbled and the pair looked at her. "Why can I still hear them scream?" she whimpered and without hesitation Sebastian pulled her into his arms. Sebastian was shocked by this; he had never done this before and then realized that Sebastian was unnerved. He slowly wrapped his arms around both his lover and Alex. She had nuzzled into Sebastian's chest when she felt the other pair of arms wrap around her and Claude's broad chest against her back. As odd as it sounded she felt relieved being in their arms, Claude was always so stern and serious yet he had hugged her.

Sebastian looked up at Claude, a small red droplet of blood ran down Sebastian's cheek and Claude's gaze softened. He had only seen Sebastian cry one other time, it was after Ciel died. Claude squeezed them gently and Sebastian knew immediately who that was meant for, he could feel her tears through his shirt and listened to her cry. Slowly she ceased shaking and the tears stopped. She had relaxed and Claude slowly released them, "I'll make some hot milk," he whispered before disappearing. Sebastian slowly released her and asked, "Feel better?" Alex nodded and noticed the red lines Sebastian's own tears had left on his face, "Crimson?" she asked and then backed away. Her eyes widened and she remembered a voice from that dreaded night, a whisper which gave her a chill. "What are you?" she stuttered. Sebastian was shocked by this action and slowly touched his cheek with his fingers. He noticed the blood on his fingertips at once, they had once been tears. "Alex?" he asked softly and attempted to touch her hand. She slapped him away and glared at him, "You're a demon!" she shouted.

Claude who had been in the kitchen immediately stipped making the drink and sprinted up the stairs when he heard her shout. "Sebastian?" he called with concern. He found his lover on his feet staring at the girl, his crimson orbs were wide and his lips quivered. "You're what they tried to summon! You're the reason I am the way I am!" she screamed. Claude froze and noticed her gaze fall on him, it was cold and bitter. He had never seen a human's gaze as cold as hers. "You're a demon as well aren't you!" she yelled. Alex jumped to her feet and tears began to fall again. "You two killed them! You're the reason they died! The reason they scream!" she whaled and Sebastian simply stood there. His lips opened for a moment as if to say something but he couldn't find his voice. Claude intervened, "Please calm down," he said sternly. Alex glared at him and retorted, "I should have known better, if I wasn't going to be sacrificed I would fall into the hands of demons anyway." Claude felt a stab through his chest, those cold eyes screamed hatred to him. "I'm out of here," she shouted before attempting to run by them. Claude grabbed her waist and whispered, "I can't allow that."

Alex hissed and attempted to break free. She fought against him only to find it was impossible. "Claude, let her go," whispered Sebastian. Claude stared at him in confusion, "Sebastian…" he began when he noticed the expression on his face. He slowly released her she shoved by them and sprinted out of the room. Sebastian's eyes flickered purple and Claude knew instantly that he was furious. Sebastian snapped his fingers and all the exits of the house locked on their own. He spun on his heel and began to go after her; Claude quickly realized that Sebastian was going to do something he would regret. Alex was at the front door pulling on it with all her might when she noticed Sebastian standing in the foyer, "I simply want to protect you," he said. She knew immediately something was off, his voice was deeper and darker than usual. A shiver traveled down her spine and she tried to open the door even harder. "You have no idea what demons are capable of, blaming me for a deed I did not execute isn't courteous at all," said Sebastian as he stepped closer. Alex froze and shivered, she couldn't get her body to move. "Sebastian?" she asked. Claude dashed down the stairs and jumped between them. "Enough!" he commanded and Sebastian paused. Alex was once again being protected by Claude only this time it was from Sebastian. "My raven where have you flown to?" he asked, his voice was more passionate and Alex froze.

"Where has my sweet raven gone?" he asked, it sounded as though Claude was in tears. Sebastian fell to his knees and she heard the sound of his tears hit the floor. Claude was immediately at his side and she heard the doors unlock, yet she couldn't leave. "I'm sorry," he whimpered, "I just didn't want." Claude wrapped his arms around him and whispered, "I understand." He looked up at Alex, he was aware she had been through a great deal. "I will drive you home once I calm him down," said Claude. He continued to hug his lover and stroke his arm. She simply stood there and watched Sebastian slowly relax in the arms of his lover. "I'm going to drive her home," whispered Claude. Sebastian nodded weekly and rose from the floor, "Good night," he muttered before disappearing. Claude picked up his car keys and opened the door. "I know you hate us but please bear in mind neither of us want to hurt you," said Claude before opening the car door for Alex. She was silent and realized what Claude was saying, he seemed cold and detached compared to the way he was with Sebastian. It occurred to her that in his mind she had hurt him; she was the one who inflicted pain on him.

Claude pulled up in front of her apartment and said, "Wait," before Alex opened the door. She froze and looked at him, "Sebastian did not kill them, and he is already torturing himself over that." Alex felt a wave of guilt come over her, "He wouldn't have cried if he wasn't already upset," said Claude, his eyes were dead serious Alex could remember the red trails the tears had left on his cheeks, those eyes filled with pain and she realized instantly what she had done. "I'll calm him down, he may not be in for work on Monday," said Claude. Alex nodded and slowly opened the car door, she felt his harsh gaze on her back as she entered the apartment building, "What have I done?" she whispered.

What seemed like seconds were actually hours, Sebastian was walking in the garden. The sky was pitch black, not even the moon was visible. He could remember the anger in her eyes; it made him even more upset. He had never lost control like that before but at the same time he had never felt this kind of attachment to anyone. It wasn't an attachment like he felt for Claude, this was different. Claude was the love of his life but Alex was different, he didn't want to hold her like he did Claude but he did want to protect her. "Sebastian?" asked a familiar voice he turned to find Claude standing behind him. Sebastian sighed and leaned on Claude's chest, "I don't understand," he whispered. Claude ran his fingers through Sebastian's hair and said, "The scent of the rose set you on edge to begin with, her words just delivered the final blow." Sebastian was displeased with this answer and muttered, "Not that, why was she so afraid?" Claude kissed Sebastian's forehead and responded, "How would you feel if you learned the reason your friends and brother were killed was because of the person you had trusted?" Sebastian was silent and he whispered, "I shouldn't have done that, she'll never trust me again." Claude sighed and tilted Sebastian's chin, "Give her time, she'll forgive you. I always do," he said. He was about to kiss him when he heard the sound of someone's heels clicking and a high pitched voice screaming, "Sebastian!"

Claude turned around and stared as a flash of red came flying at him. Sebastian jumped away and Claude found himself being glommed by a long red haired man in high heels. "Oh Sebastian," he cried and Claude looked down at him. "What are you doing?" he asked and the man froze. "Grell, do I look like Sebastian to you?" Claude asked angrily. An expression of irritation appeared on Claude's face, there were two things he couldn't stand about this particular Shigami. The first was the fact that he had no problem acting like a woman and the second he was always trying to touch Sebastian. Sebastian was sitting in a tree beyond the shigami's reach. Grell looked up and spotted Sebastian, "Ah playing hard to get are we?" he asked as he pulled his chain saw. Sebastian jumped to another tree and Claude attempted to relieve him of his chainsaw. He sliced through Claude's shirt and stared at Claude's washboard abs. "Oh my," he said and Sebastian glared. Grell attempted to touch Claude when a flash of silver knives came flying his way. "Keep you're hands off my mate," shouted Sebastian. Grell backed off and responded, "You're in a bad mood." Claude slipped his glasses further up his nose and retorted, "Our moods would be better if you weren't here, or at least I know mine would." Grell glared at him and noticed how agitated both of them were, "If you would do your job I would be less adgitated," said Sebastian. Grell froze, "hmm?" he asked in confusion.

Claude sighed and said, "You shigami must be slacking off there is the unbearable stench of decaying souls in London." Grell froze and stared, "I've been working in France for the past ten years, William, Ronald and I were just called back here," said Grell. Sebastian paused and looked at Claude, "You mean to say you had no idea what's been going on?" asked Claude. Grell shrugged and responded, "How would I know I've been in working at the Paris branch." Sebastian sighed and placed two fingers against his left temple. "This is getting more and more complicated, how on earth could Shigami not notice that something was wrong with the souls?" asked Sebastian. Grell shrugged and replied, "That's a question for Will, not me. He's my boss after all." Claude looked as though he was going to kill Grell and Sebastian gave his arm a light squeeze. "Let's head inside, I'll make some tea," he said. Claude nodded and asked, "Is there anyway you can get in contact with those other two?" Grell nodded and pulled out his cell phone, these days even Shigami carried them, it was just easier. "I'll text them and have them meet us here," said Grell. Claude stared at the red phone in the shigami's hands, he was about to turn away when he noticed there was a picture of Sebastian's sleeping face. "Been in Paris for the past ten years, my ass! Where did you get that?" shouted Claude.

Grell hugged his phone to his chest and said, "It's a secret." Claude was shaking with fury, "Delete it now!" he shouted. He reached for the shigami's phone. Instinctively Grell hugged the phone to his chest and slapped his hand away, "No it's my treasure!" he cried. Claude's eyes narrowed and he threw silver knives at Grell. He no longer used the Trancy cutlery he had used in the past, he much preferred the high quality cutlery of the Phantomhives.

Sebastian had disappeared into the house when he heard the sound of a tree falling. "It sounds like they're at it again," he mumbled as he finished bringing the water to a boil. He turned around to see Ronald Knox leaning against the back wall of the kitchen. "Yo, you needed to talk?" he asked. Sebastian nodded and showed him upstairs. There was another loud bang as several more trees hit the ground. "Whoa," said Ronal Knox as he watched the trees fall.

Claude swerved and Grell missed his head with the chain saw by a few inches. "Erase it!" shouted Claude as he through more silverware. Grell came crashing down with his chainsaw and Claude stopped it with a few knives in his hands. "No!" said Grell as he pushed even harder on the chainsaw, sparks flew as the teeth of the saw ground against the knives. "Grell Sutcliff!" commanded a familiar voice as a red claw grabbed Grell's shirt collar, pulling him backward. "Will!" he shouted happily as William bashed him over the head with the book. Claude sighed with relief and looked at what was left of his silk dress shirt; he sighed and noticed the massive gashes the crazed fan boy shigami had made. "I'll take this into the mansion," said William as he adjusted his glasses. In seconds he was dragging Grell by the collar of his shirt. Claude fallowed him into the parlor.

"Now then what's this about?" asked William after throwing Grell in a chair. Sebastian finished pouring the tea and Claude began, "There have been a number of souls simply rotting, no one had collected them, and no contracts have been made with demons." William froze, Ronald and Grell looked at each other in confusion and William asked, "How do you know this?" Sebastian picked up the black box which had been resting on the table and handed it to William. Grell and Ronald watched intently as William opened the box, the stench filled the room. He slowly reached into the box and pulled out the rose, "That's disgusting," said Ronald. Grell grimaced and said, "Eww." William placed the flower back in the box and then closed it, "Where did you get this?" he asked. Sebastian crossed his arms and replied, "It was given to one of my employees." Grell looked at William and asked, "Who would want to defile a rose?" William paused he had no idea however this wasn't something that could be ignored. "It looks like I will be applying for overtime," he said and Ronald moaned. "Man, I've never had to apply for that," he said.