Kuroshitsuji © Yana Toboso
OCs © reaper-of-lost-souls
Jennifer © danceydancetime
Annalise © Grimm The Undertaker
A/N: Yep. Now you guys are seeing a break in Sophie and Jericho's relationship. Figured that would happen? =O Well I don't know. And what's that presence coming closer? Oh someone's in trouble… probably XD ENJOY!
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"How do you deal with difficult people Grell?" Sophie sighed, slumping back in her chair as she sat by his desk. "Have you ever wished there was a formula that could shut idiots up?"
"All the time," Grell chuckled as he tediously signed forms. "What's with the questions?" he asked, setting his pen down and figuring the conversation would be more interesting then paperwork.
"Jericho," she grumbled under her breath. "You know, you would think he would have asked about what happened to me, but all he said was he's used to my antics. What bull!"
"Ah I see," Grell nodded, "trouble in paradise~. I say don't worry about it. All men are infuriating at times. Just look at me and William. One minute we're fine and the next we're not –"
"Oh is something the matter?" Sophie frowned at the mention of a problem.
"No," he shook his head, "I'm making an example. Whatever your problems are they will be fixed through time, though if you don't fix it soon you can end up with a lot of heartbreak."
"… Y-yeah I suppose," Sophie sighed as she subconsciously began to twist a few pieces of auburn hair around her black glove. "I don't know Grell. He seems different since I came back… could you think he's intimidated by me?" she shrugged. "I wouldn't be surprised if he is…"
"Maybe," Grell responded, "but if that's so then that's his problem. If he can't handle your fabulous self then he's not worth it."
Sophie nodded, a chuckle escaping her throat as she thought. "Y-yeah… thanks Grell," she looked up to him with a smile on her face.
"Hey no~ problem," he grinned, "a mentor should be wise, yes~?"
"Yes," she smirked, "but mentors are better at some~ aspects then others."
"And what does that imply?" he huffed.
"Nothing~ Grell," she snickered, "nothing at all~~" Grell huffed again and crossed his arms over his chest, causing Sophie to giggle at his as she hid her mouth behind her hands.
"Hey what's going on here?" came a voice from behind, Grell and Sophie looking over to find Annalise making her way to her desk, which was right next to Grell's.
"We're talking about impossible~ men," Grell sighed dramatically. "Care to join~~?"
"Sure why not," Annalise shrugged as she swung her chair next to them and sat down. She chuckled lightly as she busied herself with her hair, looking at her hair and noticing the drip coming down off of her neon blood red hair.
"Yeah we were just talking about how irritating Jericho is getting lately," Sophie sighed as she crossed her arms over her chest and slumped back in her chair, giving no notice to the heavy amount of blood that was dripping down from the other shinigami's hair. "… so ever had any problems with a man?"
"Men in general yes," Annalise chuckled, "but not lately. I don't have anyone right now…"
"Ah I see," Sophie nodded. "I didn't get to ask, but why did you leave France? It's such a beautiful city."
"Well I just had to go," Annalise explained, "and there was nothing they were offering me there. The reasons are a bit personal and I don't want to go into that."
"Okay sure," Sophie shrugged. "Oh! So since you're a demon you must have other powers correct?"
"Yes," Annalise shrugged at her comment, barely giving notice as she ran a finger through her hair and lapped up some of the blood.
"You don't have to feel bad about it," Sophie chuckled. "I think half-breeds are the coolest. I'm a half-shinigami and half-human mix. Not as interesting as a demon, but still cool in my opinion," she smiled. "Anything you'd like to share?"
"Not really," Annalise shrugged again, swinging a piece of her hair behind her head before looking over at Sophie. "I haven't been here for that long. How old are you?"
"What?" Sophie gasped dramatically. "To ask a woman her age, really~. Heh, just kidding. I'm almost forty years old… thirty six I believe," she smiled.
"Wow that's young!" Annalise gasped. "To think you're working here at such a young age… wow… Did you come from somewhere else?"
"I grew up as a human here in London," Sophie explained, "and I was killed by a demon when I was seventeen. So… well I was at this academy and when I graduated I was transferred to the American Division where I spent fifteen… yeah I think fifteen years before returning here."
"I can see why you came back," Annalise nodded, "since I hear those divisions are getting crowded."
"Yes they are," Sophie chuckled, "and full of intolerable men too!"
"… I heard that your nickname is the Dark Rider," Annalise continued. "Is that true?"
"Yes," Sophie nodded.
"Then how did you come across that name?" she asked.
"Let's see…" Sophie thought to herself. "I would ride this large black horse around in the desert and wore black clothing. I think I got that name when I was seen in a town and was there for one second and was gone the next. I don't know. The name just stuck with me it seems," she chuckled lightly. "You see, in the unit I worked in my first few years we had to take side jobs in the human world to survive. I was a bounty hunter and caught bandits. Also did things like conduct funerals and such, but where I gained the name was from catching troublesome humans and locking them in jail."
"Oh wow!" Annalise smiled excitedly. "How exciting! How many did you catch?"
"I don't remember," Sophie shrugged. "It was so long ago for me and I lost track after the fifty fifth one… I'm wondering how much you know about me."
"Well that's all I've been told," Annalise shrugged, "that your name is the Dark Rider. The woman I asked didn't really help me. She was getting hysterical talking about you that I had to leave."
"Oh I see," Sophie chuckled. "I left the American Division as the Paranormal Operations Director in the West of North America and came here to be the Paranormal Operations Director of the British Isles. Not really a step up or anything, and since they needed the workers I decided to come here for the field work. Ugh! If I got another promotion I would have to shoot myself," she shook her head.
"Don't like the job?" Annalise frowned.
"No I do," she tried to explain, "but I have a lot of work to do: both here and other places."
"Other places?" Annalise raised an eyebrow.
Sophie blinked a little before she chuckled again, "Being a shinigami isn't my top job and isn't as important as another one I have."
"And what's that?" she asked, getting curious.
"… Have you ever heard of a God of Death?" Sophie decided to ask her.
"Sorry I never have," Annalise shook her head.
"How about you do a bit of research first," Sophie smirked looking over at Grell with a wink, "It's easier to explain everything once you do." Then she scooted her chair back to her desk and grabbed her bag. "It's been lovely chatting, but I better get back to work."
"Aw~ you want to leave?" Grell pouted.
"Duh," Sophie grinned, "its field work~" With the tip of her hat she turned and walked away, the two shinigamis looking at her as Sophie walked to the stairs and began to decent down the stairs.
"… I can see why she's popular," Annalise commented, "but she doesn't seem as scary as the stories dictate."
"Once you get to know Sophie you see she's a little pussy cat," Grell snickered lightly before letting out a sigh. "Yeah… she's a confusing soul and a powerful one too, but oddly enough she isn't as scary as she seems. It's all just an act. I taught her of course~" he pointed to himself and winked at her. "She was a little girl who wanted nothing more than to pass on, still is I'm assuming. She can just hide her feelings deeper now," he sighed, "and I miss how she'd talk to me about everything. She doesn't do that anymore… something changed."
"Hmmm…" Annalise nodded, looking at the stairs before she turned her attention back to Grell. "So you love her?"
"In a motherly sense yes," Grell chuckled, "but as a lover no. Actually she's a reason why I'm so open now. It was her attitude at me I suppose… she loved me for who I am and not what I pretend to be. She can notice when you're lying too."
"Oh shit really?" Annalise pouted.
Grell snickered. "Don't worry about it~. She doesn't care about that. Anyways welcome to the team, but if you make goo-goo eyes at my William~ then you'll wish you were never born," he huffed.
"Alright fine," Annalise chuckled lightly and held up her hands in defense, "I won't."
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Sophie hummed, blowing the smoke off of her gun as she flipped them into her holsters and began her journey back to the shinigami realm. She wasn't in any hurry so she decided to walk, passing by horse-drawn carriages and giving the passengers waves as they at her looked confused and frightened. She whistled as she walked, her voice keeping her company down the dusty dirt road. Hearing a loud familiar sound coming from the woods she wandered, deciding to follow the sound as she stealthily made her way through the woods. She smirked; noticing a shinigami crouched down beside a soul as they quickly evaluated the records. "My my~" Sophie chuckled, "a little silent killer I see."
"Oh!" The shinigami jumped back startled, adjusting her glasses and holding her hand to her heart. "You scared me there. I thought you were a demon."
"I see…" Sophie nodded, "Jenny right?"
"Yes Mrs. Serbus –"
"It's Sophie," she held up her hand, "but thank you for the formality," she chuckled.
"Why are you walking around?" Jenny asked as she finished the reels and wrote down notes in the book in her hand. "Shouldn't you be getting back to the office?"
"The office life is old and stuffy," Sophie huffed, "and I'd prefer the breeze every once in a while. Hey since you're done would you like to take a walk with me back to the realm? It gets lonely walking along the road with no one to talk to."
"To be honest I'd rather not," Jenny huffed. "I take my job very seriously –"
"And I don't?" Sophie smirked. "Wow~. You don't know me that well do you?" Sophie stood there for a few moments staring at Jenny, eventually letting out a sigh as the other woman stared at her annoyed and confused. "Suit yourself," she said as she turned around, "but my offer still stands if you change your mind."
Jenny stared at her confused, watching at the other shinigami walked away from her and made her way towards London. Scratching the back of her head and fiddling around with the bow in her hair she huffed, dashing after the other shinigami and walking ahead of her. "I'd prefer if you don't walk around when there's demons on the loose," she responded, trying to make up an excuse to walk along side her. Sophie smirked as she looked up to the sky, watching as Jenny slowed down and looked over at her curiously. Sophie sighed, feeling the strain of her popularity and prestige weighing her down when she tries to talk to other beings. Instantly they consider themselves to be unworthy of her presence, but most of the time she is the one who has to build up the courage to talk to them. Even when she's years younger they still hold her in higher respects, which gets on her nerves more than serving the purpose of flattery or a compliment. She wished they could understand that she is only trying to talk to them on friendly terms, not with the intention of harm. She sighed yet again, a light chuckle escaping her throat as she thought and looked to the other shinigami with a smile.
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"See it's not bad to side track a little is it?" Sophie chuckled, holding the door for Jenny as she walked into one of the white buildings in the shinigami realm.
"No I guess," Jenny smiled, "but I'd rather be working."
"Whatever," Sophie shrugged, smiling behind her as they walked down the hallway and made their way up the stairs. "It was a nice day today and I didn't want to waste it inside. There's more the life then working, like enjoying~ it?" She chuckled as she thought to herself, "You wouldn't believe how many times I've told Mr. Spears that."
"How can you talk to your supervisor so casually?" Jenny decided to ask as they neared level E.
"It's not a matter of being casual~" Sophie responded, "It's a matter of speaking your mind and talking as if you're old-time buddies. In reality I'm actually his boss, but I don't like talking about the subjects of work unless I have to. Otherwise life would be boring if I did."
"I see…" Jenny looked at her unsure; shrugging as they walked down the hallway to Sophie's cubical. "Hello Ronald," she smiled as she watched Sophie set her coat and hat down on her desk. "How are you?"
"Same old stuff," he sighed, "but only a few more souls right?" Ronald chuckled, "How are you?"
"Great," Jenny chuckled, "but I should get back to work. Thank you Sophie for the walk."
"Yeah no problem," Sophie shrugged as she sat down, crossing her legs on the top of her desk and leaned back, "Do it all the time. Just remember what I said about enjoying life alright?" She chuckled and gave her a wink. Jenny smiled back and turned around to go, walking to the stairs and continuing walking up the stairs.
"What was that all about?" Ronald leaned to her desk with a confused look on his face.
"We just took a walk after reaping, that's all," she shrugged again. "Why, jealous~?"
"N-no," Ronald pouted as he sat back in his chair and turned back to his desk. "Not at all…"
Sophie looked over at him and shrugged yet again, letting out a sigh as she closed her eyes to think. As she sat there she felt an unnerving presence behind her, starting to suffocate her as long black gloves reached to touch her face. She let out a yelp as the hand wrapped around her mouth to silence her, pulling her chair backward and into the middle of the hallway. "Long time no see, ain't it little rider?"
"OOOMPH!" Sophie yelled and bit down on his hand, the man laughing hysterically as she pushed him off of her and scooted back to her desk. "What the hell?" she growled. "Some greeting… you noisy pathetic mosquito."
"Oh I'm more~ than just a mosquito," the being grinned as he ran a black glove through his short and messy raven hair. He looked over at Ronald through dark brown eyes, Ronald shuddering as he thought he just saw a tint of red shining at him, but felt he was mistaken.
"Don't scare people," Sophie sighed as she crossed her hands over her chest and stared up at him. "So what are you doing here Rob?"
"Aw~ you're not excited to see your old boss again?" Rob sighed. "I expected more from you."
"Oh come on!" Sophie huffed. "I know you. You're only here because you need something. So what is it this time?"
"Actually I'm not," he chuckled as he scooted her stuff to the side and sat atop her desk. "No reason in particular," Rob grinned, Sophie glaring at him and mumbling under her breath about how confusing he was. "Now I must be off. Apparently I have to go transfer my forms."
"… Y-your staying?" Sophie asked as she swung her coat over her body and grabbed her hat.
"Perhaps," he shrugged, "but I have to head back home –"
"Oh yuck," Sophie stuck out her tongue with disgust. "I get it. Don't explain." Rob chuckled and gave her a wave, walking to the stairs and beginning his decent down the stairs.
"… Who was that?" Ronald had to ask.
"My old boss from America," Sophie sighed. "He's a prick, but he taught me a lot of what I know so I can't argue."
"He seems… eerie," Ronald frowned.
"Well aren't we all?" Sophie chuckled. "I need to get going. Tell William I need to go do something." Ronald nodded and watched as she left; scratching the back of his head wondering if the red glow he had seen was real.
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"Hey Undertake – What's wrong?" Sophie pouted as she set her stuff on a nearby coffin and closed the door behind her. Undertaker didn't take any notice of her as he picked something off of the floor, Sophie gasping to find Alistair gripping his chest tightly. "Al!" she yelped, running over to them, but was stopped by his hand.
"Go get some water and I'll set him down in the living room," Undertaker told her in a calm voice, Sophie nodding and dashing past him to the kitchen.
Her hands began to shake as she grabbed for a pot and carelessly dropped a few pots and pans, cursing under her breath as she set the pot under the sink and set everything back in their rightful places. She grabbed a few rags that were lying around and placed them in her hand, picking up the pot now full of water and walking into the living room. She frowned as she saw Alistair sitting on the couch, lightly pushing Undertaker aside and wetting a rag. "Don't worry Alistair," she said in the calmest voice she could muster, "I-I'm right here…" Undertaker watched as she wringed out the water from the rag and set it upon the young boy's head, clearing noticing a fever as his body began to shiver.
"… You should have told me he had…" Undertaker paused, Sophie looking behind her before sighing and placing a hand upon the boy's cheek. "Little maiden," he shook his head, "did you take up this life as his aunt to prove something –"
"I'm not," Sophie huffed, shaking her head as she grumbled under her breath. "… It's my fault the boy has the Thorns of Death and I've tried to stop the progress… but… nothing…" her voice began to crack, rubbing her eyes before shaking her head and tucking the boy in. "Let's keep him here till he wakes up and then I'll take him to the infirmary –"
Sophie stopped, feeling big, strong arms wrapping around her back causing her to freeze. "Don't frat little maiden," Undertaker said softly into Sophie's ear. "How about this, you go to the library and look for a cure while I stay here and tend to the boy for a while. Will that set your mind at ease?"
"Y-yes… thanks," Sophie sighed, the man giving her a quick pat before letting go and letting the girl wander off.
"Oh and Sophia~" he sang to her, causing her to turn around before running down the hallway. "Don't blame this on yourself. You can't do anything about it if the boy dies –"
"Y-yes…" Sophie nodded, "but… but I'm the reason he's like this," she finished, turning around and running down the hallway.
She dashed out the door and slammed it behind her, the Undertaker letting out a tired sigh as he looked upon the boy as his body started to get clammy. "These things happen little maiden," he said to no one in particular as he talked softly to himself and tended to the boy with as much care as he would one of his inanimate guests, "and beings die. It's just how life is… I suppose…"
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A/N: Alistair has collapsed? Will he die? =O Well you'll have to wait for the next chapter to find out the results ^^ Anyways that's all I'll be posting consistently this week. See you later!