~Dismissed~
"I...I have...oh no! I can't let anyone see me like this!" The boy panicked yet again.
"My lord, everyone already knows. In fact, you are a hero of the town, you saved twenty seven children from the facility. The ones we were told of were the only ones reported. Apparently there were many others who were abducted for experimentation." The demon said as he put his hands on the boys shoulder. " There are other Neko's in the world Ciel. Other ones in London. They are just extremely rare and owned by very prestigious nobles."
" Owned?" Ciel spat as he tried to smooth his ears down, trying to see if he could blend them in with his hair or something, all to no avail.
"Yes, owned. Apparently, many times when a child is turned into a Neko they become more...hmm...well, less able to take care of themselves. But that wont make a difference for you hmhm..I do all the work anyway.."
Ciel fumed as he turned and looked up at the demon who was smiling authoritatively down at him.
"How dare you look at me in such a manor!" Ciel said as he reach his hand up and slapped the butler across the face hard. Sebastian merely let his smile fade but didn't move.
"How shall I put this. Do to the circumstances, the queen has personally asked me to take extra care for you. She gave me this.." Sebastian said as he handed the boy an official letter signed by the queen herself.
"Dear Mr. Michaelis, I have received a full and detailed report on what occurred the night of the Funtom Warehouse incident. I am terribly sorry for your troubles. I also understand that the Earl Ciel of Phantomhive was subject to the chemical experiments held at the facility. My adviser has informed me that young master Ciel has been turned into a Neko. Having this knowledge it is my duty to do what is right for both Ciel and you. From this point on you will be the permanent care taker of the young Phantomhive, I am signing over most of all authorities the boy had prior to last weeks experience to you. It is a great and sad loss to the royal guard. My royal guard dog Ciel is now being dismissed from the force. Again, I sympathize for you, and hope that all is well with you at the Phantomhive estate." Ciel read out loud and shuttered, looking up at the butler who had a new aura about him.
"Hmhm, don't worry master, head of the house hold or not, our contract still remains. I will serve you until the end." Sebastian said with a smirk as he guided the boy back to his bed. He pulled out an outfit for Ciel and set it on the bed. "I will draw your bath my lord." He said before walking away. After watching his demon butler leave to prepare his bath, Ciel saw a shine of light when he put on his ring. He realized it was from the sun rays hitting the gem and the reflection danced across the floor, Ciel felt very strange but soon gave in and chased after the light. Only to find out that because he was wearing said ring, it would not cast light now. But then another light danced across the floor and Ciel chased it playfully on the floor all the way over to the other side of the room where he found himself gazing at a pair of polished black shoes. Ciel blushed furiously and stood, his butler was smiling deviously down at him, his pocket watch open in his hand, that was what had been reflecting the light. The teenager pouted as he felt his cheeks heat up furiously and went to the baths, Sebastian following close behind.
"Hmhm, something the matter my lord?" Sebastian taunted from behind, he ignored him but then yelped when he felt a strange tug. He turned around to see a gloved hand holding the end of the Neko's tail. The ruby eyed butler was amused by his masters irritation.
"Let go."Ciel murmured. The demon didn't however, and instead he pulled the boy back to him, holding him against his chest, and petting his ears.
"Why should I? Hmhm.." Sebastian toyed.
"Let go this instant!" Ciel demanded and the butler did, but he did so with a chuckle.
After they got to the bath Ciel looked at the water and sighed in relief, he was so looking forward to soaking and relaxing. He stepped carefully into the water but the moment his tail touched it he jumped and launched out of the water. His butler watched him curiously.
"Something wrong?"Sebastian wondered if he'd made it too hot or cold.
Ciel looked at his butler and blinked then shook his head.
"Of..of course not..Now, go away. Go clean something." Ciel snapped, trying to get the butler to give him some space.
"Hmm..I'm afraid I can't do that."
Ciel glared at him.
" Now Sebastian!" Ciel blared, fists balled up.
Sebastian glared slightly at the loud voice.
" Get in the water master."
"No! Not with you in here!"
"Hm? Whatever has gotten into you? You normally wish me to stay so that I can chat with you about important Funtom matters or messages from the queen." Sebastian said curiously.
"I don't care! Get out!" The boy screamed.
"We are going to have to do something about that temper of yours."The demon said with little emotion. Ciel was raging by now.
"Sebastian, when I signed the contract with you your promise was to serve me and follow my orders."
Sebastian smirked, pulling this card was he?
"Yes, but also in that contract, I signed to protect you and care for you if the time should arrise that you need it. It is important for you to bathe regularly my lord. Especially now, you havent had a proper bath in a week." The man said as he sighed and tried again to get the poor Neko into the water.
"Sebastian stop!"
"Honestly young master, your acing like a toddler. Now, get into the water."
"No.."Ciel spat.
The butler sighed and began taking his clothes off.
"Uh, w..what are you doing?" The boy snapped, his ears laying against his head and his tail flicking in a testy manor.
"I am joining the bath with you..isn't that obvious?" The demon answered, he got down to his boxers and got into the water, grabbing his masters wrists to force him in. Ciel panicked and flailed, but finally Sebastian managed to get him into the water, and now that the boy was more relaxed, he could actually help bathe him. He began by wetting his hair, which the boy fought, and lathering in the soap. Careful not to let it drip into the childs eyes. Then Ciel leaned forward so that Sebastian could rinse it. It wasnt long before Ciel was throwing another fit. He was really being incredibly testy. Sebastian, after finishing cleaning the boy, wrapped a towel around himself, and carried his master into his bedroom and dried him off, putting on some comfortable but nice clothes.
"I'll be back..you stay right here." Sebastian commanded after redressing himself. Ciel rolled his eyes and scoffed, but sat on his bed and sighed, watching his butler leave the room. He couldn't understand why the bathe was so difficult. He normally enjoyed relaxing in the warm water and sometimes having his Japanese style tea, float beside him on a went over and picked up the letter that the queen had sent, rereading it over and over.
"Dismissed.."Ciel whispered to himself. Feeling incredibly insulted. Then he captured an idea. He went to his closet and picked up his healed shoes, and put on his eye patch and his hat, as well as his coat. This was the most he had dressed himself in a while. Once he finally got his shoes tied into big knots, he made his way over to his nightstand and put on the Phantomhive ring, then walked out the door and down the hall. He would order Sebastian to take him to the queen so he could talk to her himself, and prove to her that he wasn't ill, and was perfectly capable of continuing his duties as her loyal guard dog. His heals clicked silently down the empty hall until he reached the stairs that led him to the lobby room and the front door to his manor.
"Young Master?" A curious voice called from opposite of the room. "Are you going somewhere?"
Ciel turned to see the demon who was pushing a cart up the path, obviously he was going to the young masters room. The Earl slightly glared at his butler and grabbed his cane.
"No. We are going somewhere. Sebastian, I order you to take me to see the Queen. At once." He commanded in a slightly harsh authoritative tone. The demon simply half smiled.
"My Lord I must insist other wise. You haven't fully recovered yet. I was just bringing up your lunch and your medicine for today." Ciel watched as the demon wore this expression that sort of gave him the feeling he was disobeying his direct order.
"Sebastian!" The head of the household snapped. "That is an order. You are held by contract to obey my orders are you not?" He shot death glares up at the young man, which didn't seem to bother him. Never the less, the demon sighed and shook his head in a slightly irritated way. As if he was thinking that he was a child throwing a temper tantrum. This caused the boy to fume, his tail switching around under his coat.
"As you wish, Master." His butler said. " But please, at least allow me to administer your medicine, the doctor has had you on them since the night of your incident with the warehouse case."
Ciel sighed but walked over to Sebastian.
"Very well. Sebastian, I must ask you something." He said firmly but still in a slightly curious tone.
"Oh?"
"Yes. The night you came to rescue me from that horrific lab, who was the doctor. Who is Claude Faustus."
Sebastian looked rather uncomfortable at the question but looked on at his Master in a curious way.
"Why do you wish to know? Clearly you already know he was the head doctor at the facility."
"Was he also a demon Sebastian. I order you to answer truthfully and tell me all you know of him." The young Earl demanded in sharp words.
The butler simply bowed slightly and sighed.
"Claude Faustus, is indeed as you suggested. A demon. Such as I am one as well. He however, allowed his young master to proceed in the experimentation, in which the boy did not survive. Claude had tried to do to him what he did to you, but the boys body wouldn't accept it. At least, that's what he told me. Theres no proof of if what he said was true."
"Is that all? You didn't lie about anything did you.."
Sebastian simply smirked and put on a look of fake insult.
"Hmhm, of course not my lord. I do not tell lies."
Ciel waited for a moment, but then closed his eyes and accepted the information.
"This afternoon, you are to contact my doctor and demand that he find a way to change me back to what I was."
The demon butler chuckled slightly at this and looked sympathetic.
"I must apologize my lord, but there is no way to reverse what has been done. I specifically asked Claude in person. Being that we are both demons, we were able to discuss things in a proper, dignified matter. Although his monologuing is slightly annoying."
"I don't care if you think there is no way. Find one. I will not be humiliated by being a Neko. I was the queens top guard dog, her most trusted employee. I will not be degraded in such a manor as growing cat ears and a tail."
Sebastian wore his trademark relaxed, but almost devious smile. He picked up two small white pills from the saucer on the cart and handed them to Ciel, following a large glass of water.
"Please, if you will my lord."
The young phantomhive grimaced but took the tablets and popped them into his mouth, following a few large drinks of water to wash them down.
"Now lets go, stop dallying."
"Young Master, I need you to drink all of the water." Sebastian said softly.
Ciel grumbled and turned to him, snatching the glass out of his hand and drinking the rest, which surprisingly took a little work.
"Now, I order you to take me to the queen!" He snapped, very irritated. His butler smiled down at him, and straightened out his masters coat, re-buttoning it so that it wasn't crooked. With that he walked with his demon out to the carriage and climbed in. His official letter from her majesty in hand. He gazed out the window, as Sebastian climbed on top and snapped the whip making the horses take him away from the manor.
It was about twenty minutes of the horses at a fast trot before the carriage came to a stop. Sebastian opened the door respectfully and guided the young lord into the royal court. Ash was there, but the queen was not.
"Ah, the Lord Phantomhive has come to visit?" The man dressed in all white said cheerfully. His silvery hair framing his face.
"I wish to see her majesty, it's of the utmost importance." Ciel instructed as polite as he possibly could at he moment while keeping his authoritative manorisms.
"Hmm...that's unfortunate. I must sincerely apologize, but her majesty is currently resting in her chambers."
"Then go wake her!" The boy shouted in an aggravated way, shooting a deadly glare at Ash.
Sebastian leaned down to the boys ear.
"Master, perhaps I should continue with the demands hm?"He said and Ciel just shook his head with his eyes closed and nodded.
"Excuse me sir Ash. My lord hasn't been feeling his best. What he needs to see the queen about is of dire importance. I assure you, we will allow her to return to her resting as soon as you allow Ciel to see her. If only just for a moment, again I apologize for my Master's behavior."
Ciel side glared up at his butler, but ignored the thought of being spoken of as if he were a small child.
"I'm sorry. But her majesty is not in any shape to take part in conversation at this time. I must ask that you return another time. I shall send footman to deliver a telegram to let you know when she is able." Ash said as he bowed slightly in respect. Sebastian bowed deeper and turned to his master.
"Uh, my lord? Are you ill?" The butler asked as he saw Ciel slightly swaying and looking a little out of it.
"S..Sebastian, take me home at once. That's...an order." He said in a confused, tired voice.
The demon simply smiled and picked up the boy and carried him out.
"My lord?"
"What sort of medicine was that you gave me?"Ciel slurred a little. "Was it a sleep inducing drug?" Ciel asked quietly but trying to sound in control.
"Hmm...Let me think, ah yes. I do remember something along those lines. Of course, you wouldn't allow me to do anything about it earlier, you ordered me to take you to try and speak with the queen, and I have. The effects of the medicine should help you sleep soundly until dinner is ready my lord."
Ciel tried to argue with his butler but was unable. Instead he gave in and without realizing rested his head on his butlers shoulder. Sebastian put him into the carriage and proceeded with taking the young lord back to the estate. When they arrived, the demon in black took the Earl out of the carriage and into the house, the boy's top hat fell off, the butler of course caught it, but it revealed his cat ears just in time for the three servants, (stooges?) to walk into the room.
"Oh t' young masta' not feeling to good?" Bard asked, of course, they knew of the young lords appearance, and being a Neko.
"No, hes just taken his medicine and needs to rest. Bardroy, get started on dinner preparations, and for heavens sake don't catch the kitchen on fire."
Ciel was still partially awake and gave his best smirk at the demons words.
"For heaven's sake? I'm not sure you bare the right to consider such a thing" He said quietly, resting his head against the demons shoulder.
Sebastian chuckled and smirked down at the boy.
"Perhaps you're right."
He took him up to his room and helped him into his night clothes and put him into his neatly made bed. The pillow comforted Ciel, and called him into almost immediate sleep.
"Rest well young Master." The butler said before leaving. "Their are some things we will need to discuss once you've recovered from sleep."