Before you ask, ppl, YES I'M ALIVE! CONGRATS TO ME I SURVIVED MY FIRST YEAR OF UNIVERSITY! And since I'm done, that obviously means I'm free to do as much updates as I possibly can!

And I'm happy to release this latest chapter on my birthday. Once I noticed this, I was like: "Wow… it's been 3 years since I started 'The Butler and the Maid'." Another thought was: "Geez I'm old. XD"

ANYWAY, so, I hope you like this chapter! So, as a birthday gift to moi, I have a special request: please link/list recommendations of funny, stupid, or just plain WTF oneshot fanfictions in a review for me. My friend is doing a panel for a convention, and we kinda need some good of the above fanfictions. Of course please don't actually state which category you think the fanfiction is in respect to the author. PLEASE AND THANK YOU!

PLEASE R&R!

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

Chapter Six: The Private Ball

Leaving Tristan to rest with Fang, Kylee, and their kits, Sebastian and Anna went to go make breakfast for Ciel. Anna sighed heavily as she rolled up her sleeves to begin mixing ingredients to make dough for the pastries.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "You've been sighing a lot lately."

She pouted, glaring at her husband. "Well, I think it should already be obvious that I'm worried," she told him.

Sebastian chuckled. "Well, fear not," he assured her, "I'll do everything in my power to protect you, our son, and the Young Master as well."

"I don't doubt that," she agreed, turning back to her work, "but I can't help but worry. Based on yesterday's observations, it seems that all of the Trancy servants appear to be demons. And we're just a single demon and angel."

"I agree that the odds do seem to work against our favour," he reluctantly agreed, "but our skill and experience should make up for numbers. Let us not forget that the two of us defeated and eliminated a Greater Demon."

She rolled azure eyes. "True," she said. "But during that entire ordeal I died, Fang died, and both you and Ciel were almost killed. It wasn't easy, to say the least."

Very lightly he pressed his lips against the side of her head. "Do not dwell on what has passed, my dear," he told her gently. "As servants of Phantomhive, where would we be if we couldn't handle a few demons?"

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

It was a week after the ball when it happened. Ciel sat at his study examining various papers before Sebastian knocked twice on the door before entering with a single letter sitting atop a silver platter.

"Pardon the intrusion, Young Master," Sebastian began, walking over to the desk and extending the platter towards him. "But you have a special delivery, from the Trancy Estate."

Immediately Ciel perked, taking the letter and opening it, quickly reading it through.

'Dear Lord Ciel Phantomhive:

On behalf of the Count Alois Trancy I write to Lord Ciel Phantomhive this day to apologise for my master's discourtesy at the ball the other day and request your most honoured presence at the ball to be held here at the Trancy Mansion tomorrow afternoon at four o'clock.

We all hope you will be able to join us.

Sincerely yours,

Count Alois Trancy

As written by Claude Faustus

Butler of the Trancy'

Ciel smirked, tearing the letter in half before ripping it twice more. "Sebastian, make sure my schedule is clear tomorrow," he ordered. "Tomorrow at four o'clock: the Dance Macabre."

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Sebastian and Anna were quite quiet in the carriage, glancing over at Ciel, who seemed to be staring nonchalantly out the window at the scenery as it passed them by.

Do you feel ready for this, Sebastian? Anna queried softly. It's not that I don't trust you, but it will be dangerous…

I'm sure we will be fine, Annabelle, he assured her with a soothing tone. We are ready for this.

She tilted her head a fraction of an inch to the side, her eyebrows slanting with worry. I hope so, she replied softly. I truly hope so.

"Sebastian, Anna," Ciel addressed firmly, unknowingly breaking into their conversation. "We're here."

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The carriage door opened, and they found themselves at the Trancy Estate, they were greeted by an excited and eager Alois Trancy.

"Hey! You came, Ciel!" he greeted happily.

His eyes narrowed. "Alois Trancy."

"Welcome," Claude Faustus greeted with a bow. "We are graced by your visit." He exchanged a dark glance with Sebastian.

"Come! I prepared the best stage for today!" Alois invited.

Following them, they were brought to a huge chess board field with three giant titans sitting and playing it.

"This is?" Ciel began.

"It's an ancient duelling field, isn't it?" Anna answered.

"Hey, Ciel, let's do this," Alois called. "The servants of both houses will dance in our places. The one who manages to dance 'till the end will be the winner, and the loser must obey the orders of the winner. How does that kind of ball sound?"

"I'll have to pass with this ball," Anna sighed, "unfortunately I am not exactly feeling up to par today. I hope you can manage on your own, Sebastian."

He smiled. "Of course," he responded, "where would we be if the butler of the Phantomhives could not even dance a little?" Then he proceeded to lean down to whisper to Ciel, "It seems they also intend on a deadly encounter."

Ciel smirked. "It's a ball suited for us, isn't it? Better than a fake costume ball, at least."

Suddenly the bell tolled, ringing in an hour. Ciel tore off his eye patch.

"This is an order, Sebastian!" he declared, "Win, and bring Alois Trancy before me. I'm gonna get the bottom of this entire masquerade, and by its conclusion I will end his life with my own two hands!"

The demon butler bowed deeply. "Yes, my Lord."

Claude glanced over at Sebastian before his gaze fell upon Anna. "Master, your orders?" he prodded, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh? Oh yeah," Alois agreed, "Make Ciel Phantomhive mine. And, the finest suffering for Sebastian Michaelis. Can you do it? If it's you, Claude…"

The Trancy butler bowed deeply, his eyes glinting demonically. "Yes, Your Highness."

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The triplet servants pulled out a sword, an axe, and a crossbow while Hannah held moderate-sized twin daggers. Sebastian smiled, wielding his arsenal of dinner knives.

Hmm… this kinda looks… off, Anna thought, looking from the sidelines strangely.

"Well then," Claude prompted, adjusting his glasses.

Immediately the triplets and Hannah ran at Sebastian before…

"F-F-F-Fantastic!" a neatly-dressed blonde man interrupted, popping up from out of nowhere with a blue lobster hat on his head. "This is an ancient-duelling field where mythical heroes once crossed swords! That this would be a stage for both the past and the present… I've never felt so much honour from a summons to a ball!"

Immediately the atmosphere of the battle had softened dramatically.

"On what business have you come to our manor, honoured guest?" Claude asked politely.

He smiled, gesturing to himself. "Oh, I am the Viscount Druitt, Aleister Chamber, who was exceedingly honoured by an invitation to this costume ball."

"The costume ball was held last week," the butler informed flatly. "Today, the Earl Phantomhive was invited to a personal ball."

"W-What a blunder!" Viscount Druitt exclaimed, dropping to his hands and knees in horror. "To be the only one mistaken…" He began stalking off depressingly. "I think I'll just go home, now… But, why did nobody tell me? Indeed, the world is cruel to those with a criminal record…"

Then his gaze fell upon Hannah, and immediately his countenance changed completely.

"Like the surface of water, that perfectly clear countenance. The image brought to mind by that dark grey knife is that of Valhalla's fighting maidens. The enigmatic and gloomy beauty of the one eye hidden by bandages… No, rather, should I call you a beautiful demon?!"

Sebastian smirked. "To be expected of the Viscount. You have perceptive eyes."

"And you," the Viscount continued, sweeping over to Anna, grasping her hand in both of his. "Your hair, the beauty of these silver strands is as if they were woven from Rumpelstiltskin's spinning wheel. Your skin has the sweet paleness that exceeds the beauty of the moon. Should I call you a gorgeous angel?!"

The demonic butler twitched in irritation. "You really do have perceptive eyes, Viscount."

Anna smiled innocently, pulling her hand away and showing him her left hand, flashing the silver ring on her ring finger. "I'm sorry, but I'm married," she informed him kindly.

Immediately he returned his attention to Hannah following a courteous bow to the angelic maid who proceeded to travel up to join her master. Then he noticed the swords in Hannah's hands.

"Mm? A weapon?" he murmured.

"That is the theme of today's ball," Claude informed.

Viscount Druitt's hands cradled Hannah's, staring at the blade in awe. "H-How suspicious and full of the scent of danger this ball is!" he commented.

The next thing everyone knew, he was up sitting on the separate couch in between Ciel and Alois. "For this Druitt, a servant of the Goddess of Beauty… In the pursuit of knowledge, I will observe this without fail!"

Everyone took a moment to sink things in before the battle atmosphere began to return.

"Then, again…" Claude began, "let us begin."

WOOT! Finally things are gonna get heated! LET THE BATTLES BEGIN! As I'm sure you can tell, this is kinda going hand-in-hand with the actual plotline of Kuroshitsuji II, so I'm sorry if it seems like you're watching the anime all over again. Haha. But I promise you things will (eventually) pull apart from the anime plotline.

So again, I apologize if things seem a little tedious and predictable to you (considering I'm following the storyline atm).

And I also want to plz remind you all of my special little request: please link/list recommendations of funny, stupid, or just plain WTF oneshot fanfictions in a review for me. So plz, if possible (and if you have time), please consider my request (as a b-day gift. XD)

ANYWAY, hope you enjoyed this latest chapter! And please patiently await the next one as usual.

PLEASE REVIEW!