Chapter 3: Danny's POV

The next morning, I woke up and took a nice bath, soaking up the warmth and freshness. Of course if I was investigating in the Phantomhive Manor, from what I saw, I would be able to enjoy such luxuries all the time. I had splurged as it was to have a tub and ran the water once a month to enjoy it.

I continued through my routine, watering the plants around my small flat. Even so I was a Reaper, a Grim Reaper, Death, I couldn't ever shake my Human love for the outdoors and growing things. I had noticed many of my fellow Reapers didn't remember their Human lives as much as I did, and those few memories they did have, were not as vivid as mine. I suspected that this was one main reason why females were no longer used as Reapers. "Emotional creatures," where how many regarded the female Humans left when their male family members were Reaped.

The walk through London, and through the Portals, was calming. The gentle rain was soothing against the windows as I reached the main London Branch of the Society, making me calmer as I walked across the wide space of desks and early workers of fellow Reapers.

"Danny," William said as I approached. The small spark of fear went through his eyes and then disappeared as he adjusted his glasses. "Shall I stop your application?"

"Please don't assume that's why I'm here. I see it as my duty to finish the Tanaka File. It's done, but the Demon," I paused and shrugged. "It's attached to the File and I can't leave it undone."

William smiled and nodded. "A hard worker like you is needed. I'm not surprised when I saw you had that file."

"Ah, so that was the stack of files you were waving at me while I was going to my last Reap." I rolled my eyes. This was not the first time William had brought more paperwork as we wrapped up our reports. "So get me into that place to investigate this Demon."

William pulled a file from his desk and walked back to me. "Phantomhive. Ah a personal thorn in this department's side."

"Phantomhive?!"

I turned at the shrill voice behind me. I tried to be patient with Grell Sutcliff, the very vivid and overly excitable Reaper. If females were no longer good Reapers because of our memories and emotions, I always wondered about Grell.

"Did you say Phantomhive, dear Will?"

"Yes. We are sending Danny into finish his Reaping File."

"Oh, dear, who did we Reap? Do I have to go and comfort them?"

I raised an eyebrow. "You know this family?"

"Know of. I'd love to know one particular member," Grell said, clasping his hands and sighing. He had a far away look as he sighed. "Oh, Bassy!"

I rolled my eyes. Of course in a small Department we had heard much wooing and gushing about this "Bassy" but he was also reluctant to talk much about this mysterious love interest. I glanced at William and smiled a bit; the Department Head was frowning.

"We are sending in Danny. He has asked to finish the File and then can determine if he wants to really leave." William turned and glanced back at Grell. "Work a plausible document to get him in since you seem to know the family."

Grell's lovestruck look faulted. "William?"

William pushed his glasses up and shot him a glare. "A plausible document, Mr. Sutcliff."

Grell sighed dramatically and turned to walk to his desk. Dispute his faults, and flirtatious ways, Grell did a good job. He had helped me a few times to get documents to the proper places so my team and I could infiltrate and tag Demons who were contracting Humans or wandering a bit to freely with them. I walked by him and thanked him as I walked down the hall to my own department. Despite this one last infiltration and finishing their File, I was leaving after this. I was offered a chance to retire, much sooner than usual, because I was in the special department.

"Morning!" Albertine said in his perky Irish accent. "You came in."

"You expected me to be celebrating excessively about my soon retirement?"

"Well, I do forget you are American," he said as he handed me a cup of tea. "That beside, how was your last Reap?"

"Not the last thing I'm going to do before I leave, it seems." I told him about the File and the Record of the Demon. He flipped through the records we had on Demons in the area, shaking his head as I told him about this particular one. "So I'll be infiltrating one last time. This Phantomhive Demon seems to be known by the Department Head."

"Really? Well that is interesting. Is he trying to keep you here?"

I smirked as I sat down. "Don't get your hopes up either. I love my job, and it's needed. We have kept many Humans away from Demons, and tagged the ones who are merely keeping the balance."

"So you are concerned about this one because it may be untagged and may disrupt the balance?"

I leaned back and sighed. "A File should not be left open. Remember that when I'm gone."

He was quiet for a moment. "Shall I frame that quote, sir?"

I turned to him and smiled. "Yes, Mr. Davies, I think you should. Well, I'm not gone yet, shall we get these reports filed and on to the proper places?"

Albertine smiled and nodded, pulling a basket of files towards him. We quietly worked until noon, breaking for lunch. As I passed the main office, I saw Grell sitting back and stretching. He got up and saw me standing in the doorway,

"Oh good, you haven't gone to eat," he said as he scooped up a file and his coat and came walking towards me. "Care to share some company?"

"I'll not decline," I said. He handed me the file and I flipped it open and scanned the first page. "A tutor?"

"Oh, yes, a good one. Even if you are American," he said, winking. "I think that will work. All these upper crust want private learning. And, after a bit of research, I found that the Phantomhives have a son, a rather outspoken and hard to handle young child, I have found out." He leaned over and flipped the next page and pointed. "See? Kicked out of several Grammar schools locally. The last one was a well known to the Phantomhives, Weston College. There is a legacy of Phantomhives attending."

"It says he was sent home for a break," I looked up. "But Winter Break is still a month away. Surely he can't be that bad."

"He set a bundle of paper alight in the bathroom."

I looked at him and paused in my remark, simply straightening my back and nodding. "I do like a challenge," I said, both to remind myself and assure myself I could do this job. It had to be done so I could honestly walk away. "Boys light papers on fire a lot when they are that age."