Memories of Murder:
Chapter 7:
There was an awkward moment of silence as they locked eyes. Ciel was the one to break it.
"You need to readjust your towel," he said awkwardly and turned around.
Sebastian closed his eyes and opened them. There was still a ghost in his bedroom. He readjusted his towel so it was not going to slip down anymore and tried to think straight. He had never thought this could occur due to the fact that Ciel was confined to school premises.
"How are you here?" he asked.
Ciel turned around to face him and looked faintly embarrassed. "I cannot take you seriously if you are half naked. Do you mind changing?"
Sebastian smirked as he sensed an opportunity for teasing.
"Does my semi nakedness bother you?" he winked.
Ciel glared at him. "I cannot take someone in a cat towel as an intelligent person."
It was at that point Sebastian realised Ciel was one of those barmy people that hated cats. He would have to make sure to wear all of his cat themed clothes too just to annoy him.
"Fine. Turn round again whilst I change into something else."
Out of vindication he selected a set of cat patterned pyjamas. The pattern was tiny so it was not easy to notice. He wondered how long it would take for Ciel to notice.
"You can turn around now."
Ciel looked him up and down before nodding. "That is much better. Your towel was very tacky."
If only Ciel knew he had just complimented something with cats on. He peered closely at him to see if there was anything different about him that would explain why he was in his bedroom. Even if Ciel had managed to leave the school grounds he should not know where he lived.
"Now that I am less 'tacky' will you explain how you are here?" he requested.
Ciel averted his gaze. "I did what you asked of me."
What he had asked was for Ciel to take a look at the headmaster. Judging from Ciel's actions it sounded like he was as scary as the rumours claimed.
"What did he look like?"
"He wears black. I could not see his face or hair because he was wearing a hat and his office is full of shadows and dimly lit," Ciel explained.
"Were you scared?" Sebastian asked gently.
"He looked in my direction and his eyes were terrifying. I immediately ran away and I thought of you. Then I ended up here. I was not sure where I was until I saw your name on those books on your desk."
Sebastian looked over and saw the stack of exercise books on his desk. He had a fair amount of homework due in the next few days that he had yet to start. He had left homework slide on account of the mystery.
"Am I stuck with you forever then?" Sebastian sighed.
The thought of Ciel watching him sleep was unnerving. He did not find it romantic in the slightest. He was not one of those idiotic teenager girls that considered it romantic if their love interest was in their room at night. Not that he considered Ciel a love interest.
Ciel's desolate frown turned into the beginnings of a smirk.
"Well, I have been stuck at school for six years. The possibility of exploring new places is quite exciting."
The thought of being confined like that for six years made him less inclined to send him back to the school. He didn't even know how to in any case.
"You can stay here with me. Just don't watch me sleep."
Ciel looked disgusted. "Why would I do that? Does that mean you read those books too? I overheard a conversation about it once between some airheaded girls."
"My mum read them," Sebastian shuddered.
A sudden knock at the door caused them to both get a fright. Sebastian almost made Ciel hide under the bed before remembering that no one else could see him.
"Are you talking to yourself?" his mother's voice called out.
The other issues of having Ciel around in his house were things he hadn't considered yet. The walls were thin so he would have to keep his voice down or find an excuse.
"Of course not," he answered loudly and waited for her leave.
"If you say so," she said doubtfully. "The cakes I ordered have arrived. Do you want to come and try them?"
"No," Sebastian replied instantly. "You know I hate sweet things."
At that very moment he felt like he was being given a death glare. There was only one other person in the room with him. Now he remembered Elizabeth telling him that Ciel wouldn't like him because he didn't like cake. He risked a look in Ciel's direction.
He was indeed glaring at him ferociously.
"Your loss," his mother said and he heard her walk away.
"You are inhumane," Ciel commented coldly.
There was a big flaw in the insult that Sebastian naturally exploited.
"You are not human either. You can go and have a look at all the cake. She always orders too much."
Ciel smiled suddenly and walked straight through the wall. Sebastian let out a sigh of relief when he was left alone. How was he going to cope with having Ciel constantly around?
When Ciel returned half an hour later Sebastian was partway through his pile of homework, he was planning on leaving the Japanese reading and writing exercises until last.
"How was the cake?" Sebastian asked.
"There were some types I have never seen before. It was quite informative actually."
Sebastian looked around at Ciel He looked unusually excited and Sebastian hid a smile. It was nice that Ciel was finally getting to experience things he enjoyed.
"Did you look into 'Shelling Ford'?"
Shelling Ford was the name written on the underside of the desk in the old clubroom. Sebastian had neglected that in favour of the skull.
"There isn't anyone with that name on social media," he told him as he calculated whether or not there was a significant difference between sets of figures.
"Have you done anymore in depth research into it? It doesn't sound anything like a real name," Ciel reminded him.
"Says 'Ciel Phantomhive'. I have lots of work to get though so it will have to wait. Unless you can read Japanese...?"
Ciel walked over and peered at his homework sheets. He did not look at all perturbed by them.
"I cannot believe you cannot recognise the Kanji for 'cat'."
Sebastian found his Japanese dictionary and checked. Ciel was correct.
"I think the first page is all animal names, the second is occupations, third is family," Ciel told him.
"Slow down so I can catch up."
With Ciel's help he had his Japanese homework done in half an hour so he had free time to devote to the mystery.
"Shelling Ford is definitely a unique name," Sebastian agreed. "Perhaps it is an anagram."
"I suggest you should just search it on a search engine before you start rearranging letters," Ciel offered his opinion.
Doubtfully Sebastian typed it in and instantly got some interesting results that were either tied to a village in England or to a famous fictional detective.
"Shelling Ford was the original intended name for Sherlock Holmes," he read aloud. "What kind of clue-"
He stopped as he remembered the posters decorating the walls of the classroom.
"There was a Sherlock Holmes poster on the wall."
Ciel nodded in agreement and sighed. "That means another night time visit to the old school building."
As this conversation was occurring two dark figures were having a meeting across Tokyo in the top floor of a sky scraper overlooking Tokyo Bay. What they had in common was that one they both worked at Weston International School and knew exactly what had happened to Ciel Phantomhive six years ago. One was the headmaster and the other was in a lower position of authority.
"I have heard that the mystery club are investigating the Seven Mysteries again," the headmaster said.
The other figure scoffed disdainfully. "That's hardly a concern. There is only one intelligent member and if he found out the truth behind them, he would keep his mouth shut."
The headmaster produced Sebastian Michaelis' school record and laid it out so his grades were visible.
"They have a new member who is just as good. He would run to the Police if he found out. His family are would be hard to apply pressure on because they have yet to be affiliated with my company."
The second figure scanned the information on Sebastian Michaelis.
"That's assuming they work it out. The means to solve the mystery should be beyond them because they won't break be able to break into the old building without leaving traces behind."
The head teacher pulled out a set of photos depicting Sebastian Michaelis accompanying a blond haired women in a pink dress.
"Unfortunately Sebastian Michaelis met up with Elizabeth Midford a few days ago in Harajuku. Under normal circumstances there should not be any connection between them."
"The person following her must be bored by now. All she ever does in buy clothes. Perhaps Sebastian Michaelis likes fashion too and they met by chance," the other person commented.
The first person burst out laughing. "If you saw what he wears to school, you would definitely agree he is not interested in fashion. The only possible connection between them is her cousin being a member of his club."
"Perhaps we need to issue a subtle warning to the club to stop them."
"I suggest starting with William Spears. He will recognise a warning when he sees it," the headmaster said with a nasty smile. "Do it as soon as possible."
