Yay! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Here's another chapter like I promised. XD Enjoy!

NOTE: I'm still looking for a beta-reader, so if you like this story, happen to be a beta-reader, and will be immensely patient with me, please let me know via review or PM plz. XD

PLEASE R&R!

Disclaimer: Kuroshitsuji & Kuroshitsuji II © Yana Toboso
Claimer: Everything else © me

Chapter Three: The Calm before the Storm

Everyone was gathered into the main hall where there was dancing, music, and food, and mostly everyone was dressed up in various costumes, including Ciel himself, who was dressed up like a pirate captain. Lizzy was dressed up as a Native Aboriginal princess, her maid Paula dressed like an ancient Egyptian servant. Prince Soma dressed as if he was Sherlock Holmes, and Agni was dressed in similar attire as if he was Holmes' assistant: Dr. Watson. Even the three idiots of the Phantomhive Manor were dressed up as well, as the Monkey King and crew from Chinese mythology.

"Well, all seems to be well here," Anna said, carrying Tristan in, the child dressed up in a butler's uniform like his father, except he was sporting little fake angel wings and a fake halo above his head.

"Awww!" Lizzy cooed, "He's so adorable!"

"He's like a miniature version of Sebastian," Finny agreed. "How cute!"

Anna chuckled. She herself was still only dressed in her maid outfit, deciding it best that if something should happen, she would still be able to easily carry out the duties as expected of the Phantomhive Head Maid.

Sebastian? You there? She asked via their Blood Contract, but received no response.

"Why aren't you dressed up, Anna?" Lizzy asked, pouting. "You would've looked so cute."

She smiled. "As flattering as that comment is," she began, "I am merely a servant of the Phantomhive Household. Plus, I was too busy trying to get this little one dressed up for the ball."

Tristan giggled innocently, hugging his mother. "Silly Mommy."

Meanwhile Lau was sitting on the couch with Ran Mao, stroking her smooth silky legs as he was dressed up as a Japanese Shogun, his personal assassin garbed in a little too-revealing kimono.

"This is going to be a fun party, isn't it, Ran Mao?" he murmured in amusement, and she gave a brief nod in reply.

Oh, the irony… 'fun' indeed…

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Sebastian was slinking around, searching for clues, when suddenly the door opened.

"This is a fabulous room," Sebastian said knowingly, turning to face Trancy butler Claude Faustus. "Bed making, cleaning, and the insides of desks – everything is perfect. It shows genuine effort and thoughtful attention to the user. I have learned a lot."

"That is fine," Claude responded calmly. "You are devoted enough to be a sneaky thief for the job. I am the one impressed."

The Phantomhive Head Butler smirked. "Thank you for your compliment." He walked past him, now speaking in all seriousness. "I will not hand over Young Master. I am but one hell of a butler for Young Master."

"Master's orders are absolute. I am also but one hell of a butler," Claude challenged.

Sebastian's eyes narrowed, glaring at him. There was just one thing he knew he couldn't overlook. Perhaps Claude and Alois' target was not just the young Earl Ciel Phantomhive as it just so happened that another extremely valuable soul resided in the Phantomhive Manor. "Please excuse me," he said, walking away. Be it the Young Master or Annabelle, he thought determinedly, I will not hand over either of them to the likes of you.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Back in the ballroom, after the humiliation of the Phantomhive trio of idiot servants, Anna was busy trying to make up for their mess while Tristan was kept company by the others. Suddenly an unfamiliar blonde maid bumped into Ciel, accidently spilling wine onto his costume jacket.

"I'm sorry," she apologized immediately.

"It's nothing," Ciel assured, "Don't mind it."

"N-No," she insisted, "it might get stained." Her clear blue eyes met his. "Please follow me."

Ciel was suspicious, and thought of calling Anna, but thought against it and followed the maid into one of the guest rooms where Ciel removed his coat, giving it to her and she began trying to clean it with a cloth, Ciel watching suspiciously as she did so.

Finally, "I'm done."

Giving the coat back to him, Ciel realized that in fact the coat had not been cleaned at all. "Hey!" he exclaimed.

Before he could say anything else, the maid grabbed his left hand and raised it to look at the ring.

"What a lovely blue!" she exclaimed. "I wonder if the souls of the dead are in this colour…" Looking into his eye, she added. "It's the same colour… " She grabbed his face. "The same colour as your ring."

Ciel was getting annoyed and disturbed by this apparent failure of a maid. "What are you talking about?" he demanded.

"Could I be the same blue… if I became one with you?" she asked in a low voice, surprising him by tracing her tongue over his ear before grabbing his eye patch, revealing the Faustian Contract over his eye.

"Yet your other eye has been corrupted," the maid said knowingly, dangling the eye patch like bait before running off out of the room.

The truth was that despite Sebastian and Ciel coming to an agreement that Sebastian would continue serving as the head butler to the Phantomhives in return for Annabelle's resurrection and return, they had ended up entering another Contract… much to Anna's chagrin. However, since the deal had already been done, she could do nothing but scold them harshly for it.

Ciel ran after her with a hand over his Contracted eye, but after entering the hallway, the maid had disappeared. Whirling around, he suddenly saw the maid running down another hallway, and immediately gave chase.

Just who the hell do you think you're fooling?! He thought. You're not getting away from me!

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Meanwhile back at the grand hall, the trio of idiot servants were being scolded by Anna.

"Good grief, what troublemakers!" she scolded, "You're lucky Sebastian's not here, otherwise he would have your heads for this!"

Their heads were bowed in shame at the fury of the Head Maid of the Phantomhives. "We're sorry…" they apologized in unison, remorse filling their voices.

Anna sighed, her anger quickly simmering out. "Well, no one was hurt, and it seems the other guests were more distracted with what myself and those servant triplets of the Trancy's did," she reasoned, "so I guess it's okay."

"Prince!" Agni addressed, approaching with a covered silver platter in his hand.

Soma's eyes brightened in delight. "Is it done, Watson?"

"Yes," he agreed, raising the cover to unveil a pile of steaming curry buns.

"Bun-buns!" Tristan cheered, running over towards Agni before being swept up by Anna.

She chuckled, hugging him against her. "You're not getting away from me, little guy," she teased, rubbing her cheek against his, making him giggle profoundly.

"Oh," Lizzy realized in delight, "it's curry bread. How did you make it?"

Agni smiled. "I used the kitchen here to make some," he answered. Taking one and handing it to Tristan, who accepted it with both hands.

"Thank you," Tristan murmured, remembering the manners his mother and father had taught him.

"D'awww…." Lizzy cooed. "So cute…"

"You're welcome," the servant responded with a grin. "Be careful, it's still hot."

Tristan blinked at the bun for a few moments, sniffing at the warm, moist, delicious scent pouring from the little fried bun in his hands. Biting down into it, a wide smile spread across his face as subtle warmth spread through him.

"Yummy!" he exclaimed, smiling happily, and his joy was easily spread to the others around him, who couldn't help but feel the toddler's happiness.

Anna chuckled, hugging him close. "Perhaps I'll make some for your birthday too, next year," she teased. "But you should try your father's curry bread. After all, he is the one who invented it."

"Really?" Tristan responded, blinking up, and Anna could have sworn his eyes sparkled, "Daddy?"

She nodded. "Ask him later," she told him, "perhaps he'll tell it to you as a bedtime story tonight, 'kay?"

"Yay!" he cheered, biting back down into his curry bun.

Suddenly Anna sensed that something was wrong, and surrendered Tristan into Meylene's arms. "Here, take Tristan. I've got something to check out. I'll be back soon."

"Mommy," Tristan said, pouting, using one hand to reach out for her while the other was still holding onto his half-eaten curry bun. "Mommy, Mommy!"

Very gently Anna kissed him on the forehead. "Stay here," she told him, looking deeply into his eyes.

Leaving the hall, she thought additionally, Mommy's gotta go rescue your Big Brother Ciel.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Ciel had run out of the Trancy Estate and into the forest in chase of the mysterious maid. Leaning against a tree, he fought to control his breath from running so much.

"What's the matter?" a familiar voice asked.

Immediately Ciel tensed, peering into the darkness in front of him before the maid stepped out into view. "Are you suffering? Does it hurt? If it hurts, I'll lick you and heal up your wound."

"Cut your act out, Alois Trancy!" Ciel snapped.

Alois smirked, pulling off the wig. "So you knew. How boring," he responded.

"I knew you would make your move if I was alone," Ciel revealed.

"Did you follow me on purpose? Even if you did…" Alois said, smirking as his demon butler Claude Faustus stepped out from behind a tree to stand behind his master. Almost instantaneously the three demonic triplets seemed to drop from the trees to land nearby their master.

Ciel was unperturbed by Alois' apparent backup, even going as far as smiling devilishly. "Don't you look down on me," he warned.

"It is exactly as Young Master says," Sebastian Michaelis' voice said as he consequently stepped out from the tree behind Ciel. "I should have warned you earlier, Claude."

"Well, this is certainly an interesting development," a female voice greeted before Annabelle Michaelis stepped out from the same tree behind Ciel, curtseying politely to Alois. "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Trancy."

Alois smirked. "It's nothing really that warrants both of your head servants to be here," Alois defended playfully, "I just wanted to talk in a quiet place."

But Ciel didn't buy it one bit. "Hosting a costume ball and even dressing up like that… what do you want from me?" he demanded.

"I want you," he replied bluntly.

Ciel's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I want you," Alois repeated. "That's all it is, Ciel Phantomhive." He looked back towards his estate. "If you refuse, everyone in there will be slaughtered."

Tristan! Anna thought immediately in alarm, but controlled her own physical emotions, knowing that the Trancy earl's goal was to unsettle them.

Sebastian glanced to see Ciel's reaction, but his expression revealed nothing.

"I prepared for some entertainment," Alois alluded, "Once that begins, everyone will die, including your loved ones."

Ciel thought of all of his friends, family, and servants inside the Trancy Estate, and his gaze hardened.

"What will you do?" Alois challenged.

"Do as you please," Ciel answered with a mild scoff.

His answer surprised Alois and Claude, but was expected by Sebastian and Anna. There was a reason why Ciel's soul was so precious and rare to demons.

"Is it really alright?" he asked.

Ciel smirked. "Sure. If you can, that is. I have something to ask you as well.

"What is it?" Alois asked, "I'll answer if you kneel down before me and wag your tail, that is."

"I wonder who'll be the one to wag his tail," the earl challenged.

"You sound quite confident," he responded. At his opponent's lack of response, he added, "Don't get big-headed just because you have a pretty good butler. My Claude is far better!"

Sticking out his tongue, Alois revealed the orange Contract mark on his tongue.

"As I thought," Ciel began, "you are one too." He paused, but though his posture did not change in the very slightest, he now addressed his butler. "You understand, don't you, Sebastian. The Contract between you and me initially was for you to lend me your power and to protect me from death until my goal has been fulfilled."

"Of course," Sebastian agreed. "I have been your loyal servant since then. Following that success, we made a new Contract following that to rescue a certain someone."

Anna glared. "Out of your own free wills," she argued. "I didn't ask you to bring me back."

"Either way," the demon continued with a shrug, "I will grant your every wish until the very day our new Contract completes and parts our souls."

Ciel smiled evilly. "That's a good answer," he agreed, causing Anna to sigh softly.

"Hoheo taralna," Alois recited, "rondero tarel. Claude, get Ciel!"

"I order you, Sebastian, protect me no matter what!" Ciel ordered.

"Yes, Your Highness," Claude responded automatically.

"Yes, My Lord," Sebastian agreed.

What am I, chopped liver? Anna thought depressingly as she had appeared to have been completely ignored by Ciel, and Sebastian could sense her discomfort. Does no one remember I'm here too? I'm not completely useless, people…

"Anna," Ciel addressed finally, "I trust you know what needs to be done."

"Of course," she responded with a short curtsey. "Leave it to me."

Ooh, things are gettin' interesting. XD Let the battles begin! :)

Anyway, I hoped you liked this chapter, and I'll update ASAP, 'kay?

For the mere fun of it, let us reopen the tradition of what began in my first Kuroshitsuji fanfiction: "Ask the Characters!"

If you're familiar with this story's predecessor, you will know that in your review, you may leave a question or two for the characters of the fanfiction, and those questions will be answered in the next chapter. Questions may also be posed to the writer (me), however, if in regards to plot devices and such, no spoilers will be made. XD Nyahahaha.

SO, with all that in mind, the characters open for questions are: Sebastian, Anna, Ciel, Alois, Claude, and Tristan! (Though with Tristan, don't expect a straight, proper-grammered-English answer. LOL)

PLEASE REVIEW!