Chapter 15- Indian prince and kitten ears
Ugh, I told you not to rely on my word here. Guilty is me who relied on a ten year old flash drive to suddenly start working again after being infected with viruses and wiped clean soon after only to be reused nonstop for two weeks after… Don't be a sob, Spirit.
Ok, but really. I need a mousepad. I got this new table with this glass that has these strange grooves on the bottom and the light won't catch on the glass very easily… anyone got a spare one? (I kid…ish)
Also, thank you to one special follower: Major-fangirl-in-here17, I'm going to go ahead and drop the special character that resembles me into the story. Hopefully you guys support J
Also, you: Major-fangirl (new nicknames for everyone!) I love you're emblem. Just saying, I've been rewatching death note again for the n-th time and I had that same exact pic as my phone background for a while. : D and thank you for the support ahead of time and the welcome back. *gives bear hug*
Ok, so I seriously hope this chapter reaches your expectations. I worked very hard on this chapter. You may also notice me using new or bigger words that I wouldn't necessarily use before. I never was good at vocabulary and that matter, so doing that is be trying to get better at is. If I ever use a word wrong, please let me know. Thank you!
Please enjoy! (This one will be a very long one)
"So, does this mean you're a servant of mine now?"
"I-I… not quite, but I'll do work if it keeps me here." Sebastian finally made a face. His is squinted slightly, and I realized he was smiling. An earnest smile. I grinned and locked eyes with the mini devil. "So, Master, what's this case again?"
T-G-R
Winter in England… I used to love it. I used to admire the quaint little flecks of pale white that fell down from the sky and melted once they touched the ground. Now I saw it differently. Wet, cold, water in soft forms that got you soaking wet once they melted on you. "Disgusting little flecks." I growled as I wrapped my tail around my waist tighter trying to avoid the tiny little angels.
Sebastian chuckled as we walked side by side in the snow-paved streets. "You really must hate water after all… just like a cat."
"Shut up. I'm a cat, I'm supposed to hate water." I sneaked closer to him slightly to avoid the snow hoping he wouldn't notice.
"Oh, so you are getting closer to me now?"
"Don't be a perv, Sebastian. I just want these little freaks off of me!" Sebastian chuckled quietly in return. I thought back to what Ciel had said about the case.
"According to this letter, there has been a strange series of deaths of British citizens who had recently returned from India being continuously attacked, stripped of everything and hung upside down from the Hindustani coffee house in Portman square. Since then noblemen or soldiers who had returned from India were meeting the same fate from time to time. Those victims all had the same papers stuck to them.
"'Watch this you wild, pathetic chosen children of sloth and depravity. England is the motherland of the devil. It steals everything and forces its worthless, rotten, and decadent culture on you instead. To all the bitch-dominated idiots of this land, you are the ones that deserve the vengeance of heaven! Now, the day has come!' there was also a poorly-drawn tongue at the bottom."
"Why a tongue? I know now a days that a tongue is playful jest, but this kind of thing…" I took the note from him and peered at the redrawn image of the tongue. I mimicked the tongue with my own and chuckled quietly at the thought of what I may have looked like doing so. "Anyhow… something doesn't seem right about this case. It doesn't have the feel to it that it should with a regular case."
I hadn't really pushed too far on the case after I said that. Apparently that put Ciel on edge and made him extra cautious. We walked up to the café where the officers greeted us in a somewhat unfriendly way.
"Earl Ciel Phantomhive!" The commissioner Randal yelled. I noted how he looked similar to the Lord Randall from before. "Why are you here?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to clean up the mess of an old hunting dog." I grinned a bit at that snap. I never did like any of the commissioners of Scotland Yard. Ciel snatched away the paper and mumbled to himself. He glanced at me for a moment before speaking again. "A series of crimes only directed to those who have recently returned home from India. I see the victims aren't dead." My eyes widened some and I looked up to Sebastian. "If this was just a highwayman I wouldn't get involved, however I won't just sit back and let the royal family be insulted."
Sebastian walked forward towards Ciel after glancing at me. He took the paper handed to him and read along as Ciel spoke. "The criminals are referred to as 'chosen children of sloth and depravity' which is quite accurate. I agree that England would be better off without India's wealthy upstarts. They are cowards who are too busy with extravagance and indulged in worthless pastimes."
"Most of them upper class people in this so-called Great Britain." The commissioner added.
"Upper class… how worthless. Anyway… what is this mark?" Ciel asked, meaning by the meaning for it, mimicking the tongue on the page by sticking his tongue out.
The commissioner lashed out and yelled. "He's making a fool of us British and the queen! What an idiot…! Targeting only those who return from India means that the criminal can't be anyone other than a vulgar Indian barbarian!"
My lips curled into a frown. Indians weren't so much a problem anymore. Why was this so much of big deal to them? Of course, I know Ash is reenacting the past, but going this far is too much. Scotland Yard shouldn't be targeting the Indians, they need to target Ash and the others that are reenacting the past events.
My eyes darted upward towards the top of a building where I spotted a shining object. At first I thought it was a bird or anything that could shine or reflect sunlight, but no. I focused my eyes and scowled. "Ash." I muttered. Sebastian turned around and followed my line of sight. He mimicked my scowl and yanked my arm, pulling me against him.
"Ignore it for now. Now's not the time or place to start a scene. That is all he wants." Sebastian whispered in my ear having a faintly deeper and angrier voice. I nodded slightly and looked back. I noticed Ash spread his wings and take off, most likely knowing I wouldn't go after him.
"So I'll make a move in my own way. I want to return to the manor house quickly." Ciel looked back at us with a frown, probably thinking we were doing something bad. "Sebastian did you memorize the documents?"
"Yes." He simply replied, gripping my wrist a little tighter but not too tight.
"Let's go then Sebastian, Catherine."
"Yes, my Lord." He pulled me along after Ciel towards the car.
Once we got in, Ciel growled angrily at us both. "What was that? Were you two trying to make a fool of me?"
"Ciel, Ash was watching me." I said instantly before he could begin.
Without saying another word, he nodded and directed his attention to the outside world beyond to glass of the car. Eventually we arrived at the location, but at that time, I hadn't known what that 'location' was until we actually went inside.
"This is the place right?" Ciel asked, nearly in disbelief. "It looks much different than before."
With a fickle smile Sebastian nodded. "Yep."
I really thought my ears would fall off. 'Yep' is so casual for the Sebastian Michaelis. I chuckled quietly to myself behind the two, which made them both look at me if I was insane. When we got to the door at the bottom of the stairwell inside, I hissed at the god-awful smell and gripped Sebastian's sleeve tightly.
"Ah, I forgot, you cat demons despise opium." Sebastian chuckled but put a hand to be back to stable me anyhow.
"Very much; it's the opposite of cat nip." I began coughing until Sebastian handed me a handkerchief to cover my nose and mouth with.
"Ah, it still feels kind of weird for you to see me this way, however these days were known to come. Welcome demon Earl, long time no see!" Lau grinned while puffing a few times and cuddling against his… lady friends. I nearly winced at that. "Ah, and I see you brought the kitty too! How are you? Is the opium too strong? You are in the opium underworld after all." He began chuckling at me with his precious Ran-Mao smiling happily at me.
"What's with these two? I swear it's like they could read my soul!" I growl angrily at the way they were looking at me. "And don't you two say anything!" I snapped quickly at Ciel and Sebastian who replied with thick chuckles.
"Come now, a fellow Asian could relate well, right? The colors seem a bit dull. What do you think of adding some red lanterns here and there?" He pointed out. He waved his pipe around at certain corners of the place as if he seriously meant putting up red lanterns.
"What? How did you-"
"You are Japanese born aren't you? Well, this time at lease… You have such pretty hair for a Japanese born. Tell me, what is your fur color?"
"Lau! Enough, we're here strictly for figuring out this case. Bother her on your time, not ours." Ciel butt in angrily. I couldn't tell if it was his way to keep me from arguing with Lau or if he was simply being impatient with the man.
"Fine, fine." Quickly they talked aimlessly about pointless things and I zoned out.
Lau was right though, red lanterns would look really nice in here. It would brighten it up some and distract from all the smoke wafting in the air. Though, wafting isn't quite right. It was more like a thick, unmoving haze of suffocating, zero-oxygen space. But that's from a view of a nekomata. Hey, nekomata is really a nice way of putting 'cat-demon'; I'll have to let Ciel and Sebastian know about that.
While my mind was far off, thinking of red lanterns and nekomatas, I noticed Sebastian politely telling a few girls- who happened to be dressed in very short and tight clothing- offering him opium and practically clinging to him. My fur on my tail stool on its end and my eyes flashed the usual red-pink color. No way, I'm not jealous… right?
I took the cloth from my nose and sighed. Before I knew what I was doing, I was stalking towards them with a scowl. I broke between the few and clung to Sebastian's arm. "Here, I don't need it anymore. I think I'll be fine without if for now." I smiled a huge, 'adorable'-or what I was going for- smile that made the girls flush with anger. They quickly walked off, swaying their hips as they did so, with angry mutters.
"My, my, what was that?" Sebastian asked. A smile was plastered on his face proudly.
"Don't ask stupid questions. You know what it was." My face was beet red and I was tugging at the fur on my tail like a girl would mess with her hair around the boy she liked. I knew what I did now, and I didn't regret it, but I knew it was going to make him tease me about it for a while.
"Well, it was certainly cute, and very flattering." He placed a hand over mine with a smile. Damn you Sebastian, and that smile.
Somehow, we were on the streets with Lau leading us with his mouth running before I even realized it. I was still side by side with Sebastian, but not attached anymore. "Ah, sorry, I got lost in the conversation and it seems that we are lost now." I heard Lau say to Ciel. Instantly I saw the temper rise.
"Well firstly we'll return to- Tsk…" Ciel began but was cut off when a shady man bumped into him. I heard his 'sorry' almost come out before the man began screaming about something.
"It hurts! My ribs cracked!" He shouted and hunched over his 'hurting' ribs. Sebastian and I both sighed heavily. Somehow I felt like Ciel should have been expecting this since it happened in the past… right? "Someone come and help!" The man shouted again.
Almost instantly after that, we were surrounded my men all dressed the same with the exception of headdress color. Sebastian grabbed my wrist tightly, keeping me slightly behind his back. I was blocked in the center of Ciel, Sebastian and Lau.
"Showing up in a place like this… you're asking for it!" The 'cracked ribs' man said angrily, grabbing Ciel by the front of his coat. "That's quite a nice suit you have there. A noble, eh? Pay me consolation money! Strip everything you have and give it to me!" The waved his hand in front of all of us pointing at our clothing. I noticed he never once looked at me, meaning he probably hadn't seen me yet.
Sebastian carefully tucked me deeper into his back. "It seems we are caught some irritating punks yet again, Master. Shall I…?"
"Dispose of them right away." Ciel ordered firmly. For a moment I thought of it being typical of Ciel to let Sebastian do the work, but Ciel quickly took Sebastian's position in front of me, shielding me with himself.
"As you wish." Sebastian nodded, stepping closer to one of the men, all the while adjusting his pristine white gloves.
"I'll tell you… All of us here despise nobles." The shady man shouted again. "They brought us all the way to England and then dumped us like trash! All you British are selfish." A few men in the crowd around us agreed with shouts at each point he made. "Because of you guys, we end up living like miserable gutter rats. Our country was walked all over by your shoes! First of all I have something to ask you!"
I scoffed and shook my head weakly. As if they really knew what it was like to have their home country walked on and to actually be gutter rats for a while. I heard them bribe Ciel with 'delicious food' if his answer was useful.
The man heard me scoff and began to walk towards me when a voice in the far back shouted. "Wait a sec… that's not how it goes!" The person parted the crowd towards us and smiled. He looked dignified and royal with the clothing he wore. "We're searching for someone. Have you seen any Indians who look like this?" He held up a picture of a woman but the drawing was terrible and resembled probably closer to a bird than a woman at all.
"He has a butler…" The man muttered. "You are British Noblemen?"
"And what if we are?" Ciel countered, not changing his facial expression at all.
"Then I shall side with the people of my country. Agni…"
"Yes?" His butler asked with a nod of the head.
"Defeat them." The man said sternly. For once, someone actually reminded me of Ciel. Even his tone and expression were the same when he said them.
"Your wish is my command." Agni replied sternly. His bandage around his hand began to unravel. "I will swing this fist blessed by the gods for my master's sake."
Agni charged at us quickly, but Sebastian cut him off, blocking him with his arms. I knew the look he gave Agni too well. Before any of us could react, Sebastian was moving Ciel and me out of the way of Agni's hands.
"Don't forget that we are here also!" a hooded man shouted, running towards Sebastian's back. Sebastian ducked, tacking us with him, making Agni hit the man in the face.
"Ah, I'm sorry brother!" Agni shouted as he chased after us. Sebastian was pulling Ciel along while holding me in one of his arms. The fighting kept going on, while I maneuvered behind Ciel like he motioned me to.
Right as Agni said it, I realized what he was trying to do by hitting Sebastian on the arm in specific spots. "I've hit your marman (pressure points) countless times. Your arm should be paralyzed." I nodded in agreement, but I knew the reason for it not being true, unlike Agni.
Finally, Ciel cut in. "Hey, we had barely step foot in this place and those guys picked a fight with us. Do all Indians act like Barbarians and indiscriminately attack the British?"
"What?" the royal-looking Indian muttered and began yelling to the others. "You lot! Did you really attack this man for no reason? That's not right. Picking fights without reason is childish. Agni! Our brothers are the wrong ones here. We shall help this man now."
Without hesitation, Agni began beating up his own until the last one was down. With that, he smiled. "It's done Lord Soma."
I gaped, nearly choking on air. I had heard of this man before. He had visited our village in Japan once when I was younger, but Huto's parents wouldn't let us go see him. I mumbled a quiet 'wow' and he beamed at me brightly.
"You, you know who I am?" Soma asked, pointing at me.
"Hmm? Oh… uh, yeah. You came to my village when I was little, but I never actually got to go and see you because my friend and I couldn't go. I was really young though." I answered back shyly.
"Where?"
"Eh… Japan… Kanto, Japan. It was a really tiny village in the middle of the forest. I believe you came for the Kanto festival during that time."
"Whoa! You mean you're one of those villagers!? How amazing!" He was now beaming at me brightly with a huge grin. He quickly cleared his throat and looked back at Ciel. "Anyways, I hope you guys aren't hurt or anything. But, anyhoo, I'm in the middle of a search and need to split. See you, Kanto girl!" He waved goodbye and quickly took off with Agni at his side.
I frowned. 'Kanto girl'?
"Those two are amazing!" Lau shouted from the roof a building. Until now did I actually realize he had disappeared?
"And what exactly have you been doing?" Ciel questioned, irritated.
"Meh, just waiting for the right chance to jump in. By the way, who are those two? They definitely aren't people who live in the east end. Also they wear pretty dresses. Their English accent is pretty too."
After turning the Indian guys into the Yard, we returned home tiredly. Of course, Ciel, Sebastian and I talked about the case a little longer with Lau sitting idly in the room doing whatever he was doing. We decided to wait on Commissioner Randall to see whether the criminal was among them or not. By that time I was lazily tossed across an arm chair with my tail swinging back and forth beside me. While Ciel and Sebastian were chatting about the case, Sebastian was standing behind the chair, massaging one of my ears making me purr quietly.
"You both seem tired, most likely from the cold. I will go make tea." Sebastian said, letting go of my ear making me huff and turn over on my back.
"Instead of English tea, let's have Chai." Ciel muttered. Sebastian nodded. "What the…"
I perked my head and saw Agni and Soma standing at the door. I flattened my ears quickly and tucked my tail under my shirt. I grinned at them and they both beamed back quickly.
"Why the blazes are you here?" Ciel screeched making Sebastian and I chuckle.
"Huh? But we met earlier today? Did you forget? Besides I saved your life. In India, it's common to welcome and entertain benefactors. We even have a saying for that: 'entertain your guests even if you have to sell your treasures'." He rambled quickly. "Oi, you, where's the bed?" He pointed at me with a huge smile.
"Why are you looking for a bed?" Lau and I asked in unison. I sat and tipped my head to the side.
"In India, we sit together with guests on the bed." Soma said matter-of-factly.
"Pri-ince! I found it!" Agni shouted from the top of the stairs.
"Hey, listen to me!" Ciel shouted. I laughed quietly, just realizing how hard he was trying to get everyone to listen.
"Meh, however narrow it is, I've decided to stay." Soma muttered, marching right up the steps.
"Wait a minute, why do I have to look after you?" Ciel growled angrily.
"Oi, wait for me!" I cheered happily just to annoy Ciel. I jumped up and ran after Soma and Agni. Soma waved me over to sit with him. I happily sat next to him and chatted until Ciel cut us off again.
"Not you too, Catherine! Sebastian, make her stop fraternizing with them!" Ciel yelled angrily.
My ears shot up right after he said that making Soma squeal happily. "Oh you have ears! Little kitten ears! How cute!" He tugged at them gently, making me purr again.
"C-Catherine!" Sebastian stuttered.
"What? Are you… jealous?" I grinned and leaned into Soma's petting.
"Is it common in England for people to kick benefactors out in the cold?" Soma asked, now playing with my tail that slipped from its hiding.
"Catherine, stop fraternizing with Soma!" Sebastian and Ciel both yelled at me.
"Oh? Is this what fraternizing is? I'm sure those girls in the underworld wouldn't have said so…" I grinned. My eyes shone for a moment before I leaned into Soma's hand for him to pet me again.
"You really are like a cat aren't you?" Soma giggled happily while petting my ears. "Anyways, I'm going to stay for a while, okay midget?"
Ciel probably lost it at that point, because without saying a word, he stalked off angrily to the hall before completely losing his temper there. "GET OUT!"
"Hey, I'm heading off to school!" I shouted, running down the hall in my uniform. "Ah, Sebastian, I need a hair tie! My tail keeps slipping!"
"You really plan to tie up your tail? How would a hair tie even work in that case?" He replied behind me. He held a piece of toast in front of my face and I greedily took it with my teeth.
"Becuth… I'm gunna puth ith in a roll lith a pother…" I said, talking through the bread in my teeth.
Sebastian took the toast back and held it in the air. "Again?"
"I'm going to put it in a roll like a poster. Watch." I took my tail and tried curling it into a circle. "Ow, ow, ow! Nope, not going to do that. Oh, what about a safety pin?"
"NO!" Sebastian scolded. "Here, hold this." He handed me the toast and knelt on his knees. Taking my tail in his hands he began lifting up my skirt.
"NO, YOU SICK PERVERT! I'LL FIGURE IT OUT ON MY OWN! GOOD DAY TO YOU PERVERTED DEMON!" I shouted angrily, whacking him on the head before taking off to school.
By the time I got close to school, Alois was back at my heels chatting away about Claud and the others. "By the way, how are you two?" He asked poking me in the cheek.
"He's a f-ing perv. I swear!" I growled.
"Ohh, what he do this time?" Alois laughed his usual laugh that sounded terrifyingly evil.
"I was having trouble with my tail and he tried to 'help me' by lifting my skirt. He didn't get very far before I shouted at him and ran. I bet he's getting chewed out by Ciel now. ~ Heheh."
"You know, when you laugh like that you sound a lot like the undertaker."
"What can I say, he raised me for a few yea- Oof. I'm sorry!" I ran right into someone running from the horizontal street in front of me and quickly backed away.
"N-no, it was my bad. I just… didn't want to be late for class. I forgot what time it started…so I wanted to be early just in case." The person replied slowly, not making eye contact once.
"Hey, you're the new kid right? I uh, never got your name from the class though. I'm Alois Trancy, at your service." Alois bowed his head quickly and lifted it back with a huge smile.
"Catherine Demetrio. Nice to meet you…"
"Elias… Conroy. Nice to meet you too." They bowed their head quickly and glanced back up at me. "Uh, your um…' they pointed to their head quickly and chuckled.
"Huh? Oh man!" I patted down my hair quickly, hiding my ears. "Please don't tell anyone about them."
"Oh, don't worry. I have some too." They muttered quietly. "It's a little harder for me since mine are bushy. Especially my tail."
"What? Really?" I gaped with a huge grin. "Do you mind me asking…?"
"Wolf. Okami, preferably."
"So you're Japanese too?"
"Partially. I'm half Japanese half British. Though I grew up in Japan until this past December. We just moved here." Elias smiled.
"It's so cool meeting someone out like Cat." Alois chirped. "But, if we don't start walking, we really will be late."
Thus, we began walking, and of course, Alois had to ask all kinds of questions about Elias. He asked about their hair and everything from there to the heritage and the place Elias grew up.
(*A/N* Elias will be a reoccurring friend character like Huto. That's why I am putting details about them. Plus, Elias is just cool legits in the future chapters that they show up in. XD *)
Elias had a lilac fauxhawk, which they said was one of the easier ways to keep their ears up but still hidden. The color was just for fun and what they wanted. Elias grew up in a similar town like Huto and I's village. They knew many animal demons there and had gone through vigorous training. Elias was born with the name Haruhi, but around the age of 15, they changed it to Elias because of their sexuality being Agender. Elias said they even knew Huto for a short time. He was the reason Elias wanted to leave Japan to explore other countries.
"So, do you know any non-animal demons?" Alois questioned.
"Nope. I've never met one. My mom said they aren't as trust worthy as animal-demons. They don't have as much as emotion as us. I can't give an opinion on that though, since I've never met one."
"Elias, I know one… well two, but I know a nice one that wouldn't snap at you over making really dumb mistakes…" I chuckle quietly. "You should come with Alois and me to meet both of them. He's coming over to study with me, you can come with and study too."
"Really? Thank you!" Elias grinned happily. "Oh, yeah. Are either of you guys going to the curry festival?"
Aaaaaand we'll end it there. XD
I tried to make this a humorous chapter at some points and just be kind of a major filler to refresh somethings… not many but… Eh.
So… Elias. *nudge nudge*
Elias: keep me out of this.
Aw, but you're an asset!
Elias: to what?!
Um… So, how'd you guys like Elias in the short piece I gave you guys of them? They will actually be in more of the next chapter than I planned but as I said, Elias is legit cool AF. I swear.
Random person: aren't you technically calling yourself cool legit AF because Elias represents you?
SHEETUP RANDOM PERSON IN THE BACK! *throws apples at person*
Ok, note, this ended up only being one volume/chapter of the manga because this is literally 10 and half pages long. If I did 2 it probably would end up being over drawn to like 20 pages with way too much for a chapter and I'd have no cut off spot to end it. I'm trying to mimic the Manga by cutting off to a new chapter when they do. It worked perfectly this time around.
I'm really really happy I did this. Like REALLY! I love the whole thing. I tried really hard and my work paid off. Huzzah!
On another note, I'll be putting up a poll right after this goes up. It's going to be about another pairing besides catxsebby. It's going to be a minor pairing that doesn't show up too much but I want another pair in this story. You guys can vote on the one you want or leave it strictly to SebbyxCat.
Ok, so I'm done with my author's note. I hope you enjoyed.
Leave me your thoughts in the comments guest or user alike. And please R&R fav and/or follow and vote on that poll! Thank you again!