~Kouichi~

I stopped on my tracks as I stepped on two dark figures casted on the ground by two people, their body intercepting the light given off solely by the moon. I raised my eyes to meet the gaze of a tall male adult with black hair and red eyes, dressed in a butler outfit that consists of black trousers, a tail coat, and a vest. A face that was all too familiar to me to forget over the years of my existence.

"My master and I wanted to personally extend our gratitude on the hard work you all put in pursuing the traitor." The butler smiled as he bowed courteously, putting his right hand over his masters' shoulder.

I shifted my gaze over to the boy with blue eyes and dark navy-blue hair; another familiar face. For a 12-year-old boy he's dressed in a very extensive and elegant wardrobe. As expected from the head of a noble family.

"Isn't it past your bed time?" I prod, earning a glare- no.. Half a glare from Ciel Phantomhive. The head of the Phantomhive noble family and the owner of the famous Funtom Company. He's wearing a black eye-patch with a single cord over his right eye, though not because he is missing it, but because that is where he hides the sign of his contract with the said butler.

"It is, but he insisted on coming along with me to see you specially." The butler replied unable to hide his amused smile, also earning half a glare from his master.

"Sebastian!" Ciel hissed, the butler fell silent but the amused smile did not waver.

"I must say, not only do you resemble your father, but you also take hold of his dangerous seductive charms." I glared at Sebastian only to get a chuckle from him.

Sebastian Michaelis is the Phantomhive's dutiful and dedicated butler. However he's no ordinary butler for every time he says, and I quote: "I am simply one hell of a butler" is already a give-away. And so, let me rephrase: Sebastian Michaelis is the Phantomhive's dutiful and dedicated demon butler.

"Don't associate me with the likes of him." I retorted, he gave me that amused smile of his.

Now I know why Ciel detests it so much.

"Your father is a very respectable and honourable man. I have always admired his works, most especially the Black Plague." Sebastian replied contentedly.

He claims to know my father, no- he claims that he is very close to him. There's no mistaking it though, he knows more than I do anyway.

"How ironic." I scoffed.

"When was the last time you saw your old man, Kouichi?" He asked smiling maliciously.

He knows I haven't seen my father ever since he left and yet Sebastian asks every damn time we see each other. How sadistic; knowing how this gravely affects me and yet still talks about it, but I guess I expect nothing less from a demon.

"Heeey if it isn't little Phantomhive! What's the queen's watchdog doing out in London's streets way past his bedtime?" Aki exclaimed cheerfully putting an arm over my shoulder as he looked down at the kid. For some reason he always gets this happy when he sees Ciel.

"I still don't understand how a demon and a reaper can stand each other, all the more work together." Ciel half glared at both Aki and I.

"What's not to love about demons? They're beautiful creatures." Aki shrugged giving Sebastian and I a heartfelt smile.

"I have a strong distaste of Grim reapers and that feeling has been returned for as long as I can remember." Sebastian bitterly replied giving Aki a cold stare.

"If the job of a Grim Reaper is to recover the souls of the dead, then demons can be likened to pests that snatch these souls away just for the sake of devouring them."

We all turned to the voice automatically, recognizing it immediately. A man with long, dark red hair, and neon green eyes was on the rails of London bridge. His red-framed glasses that is accessorized with a neck chain containing skulls glinted as he pushed it back up on the bridge of his nose taking a good look at us with a huge grin on his face exposing his shark-like teeth.

He jumped off the railings and landed feet first just a few steps away from where Aki was. He's wearing his typical attire which consists of a suit, gloves, bow tie, and (who knows why he wears these) high-heeled ankle boots. He also has a red coat which he annoyingly slings off his shoulders and wears around his elbows.

"Well if it isn't one of Lord Death's own flesh and blood!" He exclaimed excitedly at Aki as he danced in place, his hands clasped together and his hips were swinging from side to side.

"Grell Sutcliffe.. Have you been demoted lately?" Aki scoffed, with a noticeable distaste in his tone.

"There you are damn it!" Natsume barked making us look his way.

Everyone is just so damn lively tonight.

"The girl almost got away because of you!" Hiro growled. But Grell just continued dancing, ignoring the two.

"You don't make a flashy entrance by kicking the door down, waltzing in then yelling over to the countess that you'll be taking her life! It's called an assassination for a reason dumb ass!" Natsume continued grabbing the red-head by the collar and slightly raised him from the ground.

"You're so cruel, not so much of a 'thank you'. I was even trying to help out, thinking it would be easier being straight forward with her." Grell pouted.

So it was Grell's fault that I had to cancel all my plans...

I sighed thinking it would be useless to punish him given that he would actually love it.

"Aki, can't you demote him for getting in our way?!" Natsume barked, harsher than he intended.

"I can't do anything about it." Aki casually shrug.

"Can't or won't?" Hiro prod.

"It's too troublesome, besides-" Aki put both his hands on Natsume's shoulder and massaged it lightly making Natsume's shoulders and grip loosen.

"-We got the stained soul and the traitor is as good as dead. It's a win-win situation for everyone don't you think?" Aki patted Natsume's shoulders and with that, Natsume sighed and threw Grell to the ground.

"How about keeping him on a leash next time along with that hell-hound of yours that burned the place down." Natsume pouted. A vein involuntarily twitched on my forehead.

Apparently, letting the girl escape wasn't the only problem they had to worry about.

Why is it that when we're here it's always never a secret to society? Something chaotic always HAS to happen. Don't these idiots know it's crucial that no one has to know that we were here in the first place?

"We will make the necessary arrangements to keep your existence hidden." Sebastian smiled like he knew what I was thinking of.

"Think of it as your reward for pursuing someone we were after." Ciel continued, briefly pointing the skull of his cane at me.

"It would be better if you didn't see us at all the first time." I thought as I contemplated retrospectively, blocking all the bickering and argument they were having with Grell.

I hadn't realized I was already lost in my thoughts until Sebastian spoke up. "It would be absurd not to recognize Mikhail's and The Adversary's own flesh and blood, and forgetting about you is out of the question."

Now I remember... It was Sebastian who saw me when we came here the first time. I didn't even notice he followed me around that night.

"Kouichi Mikhail Hyukagi... How's your old man doing?"

That was the first thing Sebastian said as soon as I was alone. The last five words were like salt, rubbed on the only wound I worked so hard on to patch up. And I can never forget how much it stung me again...

Something tells me this night would never end if I opened my mouth. Instead, I give him a casual shrug. I begin to walk, one foot after the other making the night quiet down and not long after I hear foot steps following behind me.

"We'll keep in touch, yes?" Sebastian smiled as I walked past him.

"Maybe." I sighed, putting both my hands inside the pockets of my blood stained pants.

I almost forgot about the stain.

How troublesome.