A/N: …Alright. You can kill me now! You can throw me into flames or into Sebastian's clutches.
(I'd prefer the latter. XD)
I deeply apologize for not updating for…in forever. I guess I just couldn't find the right way to connect the 'Felix-is-leaving' part and the 'First-Arrival-at-the-Mansion' part. This is the connection piece, so sorry if it fails. ; I had a lot going on though. There was a leadership convention, finals, formal, work, Drama, new classes and such. But I plan to update more regularly again, xD so expect more chapters soon!
Disclaimer: Though I own a Kuroshitsuji T-shirt, I own neither the anime or the manga series. These both are the most heavenly gifts of Yana Toboso to whom I am forever grateful.
Chapter 13: An Uneventful Carriage Ride (slight-intermission)
"Kurt, look at me."
The emerald eyed boy turned to his guardian who was speaking much lower and seriously with each passing day. The child was beginning to wonder what type of butler Felix was going to be. Would he still be the older brother that he chased after from London?
The boy was roused from his downward spiral from his hair being ruffled playfully; and he knew those hands anywhere.
"Oi! What do I say about listening to your elders?"Felix raised a brow. Kurt gave a smile as he was reassured that his soul-brother could never change.
"You're not that old! Why should I listen to you-eh? Put me down!"Kurt demanded as he was thrown onto Felix's shoulders,"Stop! Come on! Let go you bloody horse hair!"
"Horse hair? I'm saddened by such a feeble insult."Felix feigned disappointment, though his eyes were burning with amusement. Kurt saw immediately through the badly hidden facade.
"Its not that bad! Now put me down!"
Felix turned his head upwards to look at the boy sitting on his shoulders with what should've been a serious look.
"Are you going to listen now?"
Kurt nodded and the red-head sighed before hoisting the boy back to earth. He glanced behind Kurt to watch Sebastian load the last few bags; his cargo wasn't among them.
"You have a choice-"
"We already talked about this! I'll be lonely and bored without you!"
"You don't have to come with me. You can go live with Michael, take over my place in the London Partnership, meet them-"
Kurt didn't let Felix finish as he punched him in the nose with a calm face the whole time. The impact echoed as might a slap, making birds fly from a nearby tree. Ciel and Sebastian halted in their steps to gaze at the rare scene of the two fighting while Mayrene squeaked in was silent as shock swept through him in sharp waves before a chuckle erupted and he sighed.
"I see...forgive my impudence."
Kurt nodded before following Ciel into the carriage while Felix helped Sebastian with Ciel's last suitcase and Mayrene took the reins. (though to Sebastian's displeasure)
The demon blinked at the man expecting an explanation. Felix turned towards the obviously confused butler with a small grin set in place.
"Pardon me, but what the hell was that all about?"Ciel asked Kurt. The brown-haired boy gave a malicious smirk while Felix just shook his head at the demon butler.
"It's what you nobles would call, an order."
"An order for what?"Ciel raised an eyebrow as to how someone could order without having spoken a word. Felix answered before Kurt could.
"-In the simplest terms, it meant 'Shut the hell up.'"
Ciel smiled at the thought of doing such a thing to Sebastian and said demon butler sweat dropped at the thought of his young master doing so.
After having hoisted the final piece of luggage, the two butlers finally entered the confined space.
xxxxcxxxxcxxxxcccxxxx
"Oh my, this is quite the predicament we have."Felix sighed.
"I-I'm so sorry sir! The horses freed themselves, they did!"Mayrene cowered in fear at Sebastian's overwhelming presence.
"..."Sebastian wasn't sure what to say besides twitching his eyebrow and trying desperately not to kill the maid. Felix swore he saw lightning strikes behind the demon, but he didn't acknowledge it.
Ciel sighed at the sight while Kurt and Felix were gathering up the luggage from the crash. A wheel from the carriage was still turning even though it was on its side.
"Why must this always happen to me?"Ciel groaned as he took another look at the crashed and horse-less carriage. Felix pondered the Earl's question for a moment before continuing to set the suitcases aside while admiring the view.
It was the beginning of winter, he could smell it on the leaves of the maple trees around them. Their amber leaves gave a warm light to their rather unfortunate situation. Felix could see the silver scales of a few fish swimming underneath the stony bridge. It's cold stone reminded him of the factory so far away and Michael who was waiting for them to return. He sighed to himself.
'Yes, but return when?' he thought,'Weeks, months, years? It could be eternity before we saw him again.'
"My, why so down?"Sebastian asked with feigned concern. Felix only flinched this time, making him even more worried. The more used to the demon's presence he became, the easier it would be to sneak up on Felix. The redhead frowned at this before sending cold amber daggers over his shoulder to the butler. Red eyes seemed to dance dangerously back in challenge.
"I'm not down...simply reminiscing."
"Over?"Sebastian asked innocently. Felix wasn't fooled.
"That's nothing you need to know."
Sebastian smirked darkly before cocking his head, almost like a bird. A raven; a dark and morbid symbol of graceful death. Felix shivered at the thought of being on the receiving end of such a demise.
"As you are a new servant, I want you to know that you can trust me with such concerns... as they can tend to get into the way of your work."Sebastian stated cordially.
'That's your real concern isn't it? If I don't work hard, I'll screw up your schedule just as much as those imbeciles...'Felix sweat dropped, but knew that the butler was half-correct with his statement.
"I wonder if or when I might see my friend again. He's offered to watch over the factory. He's cold, but kind and knew that even though I denied wanting to come, that I would be leaving."
Sebastian smiled,"It sounds like this friend is very wise."
Felix raised an eyebrow questioningly and the butler picked up one of the cases of luggage and helped the ginger-haired man with the other.
"For him to know you better than you yourself, is a skill uncommon among men. Your friend is very wise."Sebastian smiled.
'-for a human.'he added in his mind.
Xxxcxxxcxxcccxxxx
"Sebastian."
The red-eyed butler looked down, amused at the cobalt haired boy in his arms. Ciel's azure gaze was furrowed in frustration at his servant. Felix noticed the sudden tension, as did Kurt who was walking alongside the publisher calmly.
"I know that the carriage broke down." Ciel began.
Sebastian nodded, his eyebrow was raised in question, but it was obvious he knew where this was going in his crimson eyes.
"Yes, my lord. After all, Mayrene is behind us carrying the luggage recovered from the crash."
Ciel's eyebrow twitched.
"But why must we walk a bloody ten miles instead of sending Mayrene to get a different carriage?"
Kurt blinked and Felix cleared his throat. His red hair was already being mussed up by the wind moving briskly over the grassy hills of the countryside.
"Forgive me for speaking out of turn Lord Phantomhive, but if we were to simply wait for another carriage to arrive, it would be far too late in the evening before we were able to return to your mansion. For though the mansion is 10 miles away, the nearest town is 15, not only that, but the amount of time it would take for your maid to find a carriage man who would ride so far out of his predetermined route would be an hour or so. The reason we are walking is so that we may be able to arrive at a more appropriate time to your butler's schedule, since it would take far longer to simply wait for a carriage to arrive." He explained, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but would it not be in your desire to arrive at your manor by nightfall? We only have a few miles left after all."
Kurt smirked as Ciel flushed in heated frustration and embarrassment at being chastised by a new servant, let alone being outspoken by logic.
"I-...I do not need you to tell me that."Ciel humphed as he pouted childishly. Sebastian didn't even try to hide his smirk.
"Do not worry young master, I can already see the small glow from the manor. No doubt we will be there soon."
"Good! I need something to eat! Felix, will you make me a pie?"Kurt asked.
"Sebastian, as soon as we get to the manor, bring me a parfait."
They looked up at the two eldest men, one with sparkling eyes and the other with a sovereign and orderly azure gaze.
"I cant deny you since I'm technically a servant now..."Felix sighed. Kurt jumped in the air ecstatically, obviously excited at the prospect of ordering someone around.
"-but perhaps after dinner." Sebastian and Felix stated in sync.
There were two very disgruntled masters by the time they all arrived to the driveway of the mansion.
A/N: So, I'm thinking about perhaps changing the format of their thoughts to italics since I've, ahem, studied many fanfictions that use that type of format. Again, I apologize for my impudence. I will try to get at least one chapter in every two weeks at the most. Now I have a question for you guys, who should find Ciel's dress from the time when he had to crossdress at Viscount Druitt's party? Felix or Kurt? You tell me. Sorry again! Please R&R if you havent already stopped following this...;(