A/N: Just a warning, the plot involving Claude and Alois overarches the entire story (at least, as I currently have the story planned, it does), so don't expect a lot to happen with them for a little while.

Disclaimer: I only own Faye.

Chapter 4: Old Friends

Noah's Ark Circus

Faye walked out into the dark night to find William alone, which was exactly what she'd hoped for. The circus had just fed them dinner and was soon going to assign the new talents tents to sleep in. For now, they had a few moments to themselves.

William turned and regarded Faye carefully.

"Why are you here, William?" Faye asked.

"I'm afraid that's classified information," William said turning away from Faye to look up at the night sky. "As you're no longer an associate of the Grim Reaper Dispatch Society, I cannot tell you."

Faye sighed. "It's not as though we cannot help each other out. You were willing to work with Ciel and Sebastian before when an evil soul had been brought back from the dead and used to animate a puppet. Why not work with the Phantomhives again? We know that children have gone missing in every town the circus has gone through. Is the reason you're here related to that?"

William sighed. "I can't work with a filthy demon. You have no idea how many regulations it would break. I was able to do it before because I had you, who were not a Grim Reaper, be the one to work with them. It was a loophole I took advantage of for the sake of a concerning situation."

"But can't you work with me?" Faye argued. "Isn't that different at all? You must take the lives on your list, I understand that, but don't you wish to keep the lives lost to a minimum? This case will be solved faster for both you and us if we work together. I know how you hate overtime and having to go so far as to go undercover in a place where you have to stay all day and all night must be using a lot of overtime," Faye coaxed.

William turned back towards Faye, an uncertain look on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted before he could say anything. One second Faye and William were facing each other, the next, Sebastian was in between them.

"Really, my Lady, what are you thinking speaking to one of them? You do realize you no longer have to have contact with the Grim Reapers, correct? You no longer work for them, and how could you possibly need to request their help with anything when you have me? I really don't see why you're out here by yourself at night conversing with Suit."

"Filth," William muttered from behind Sebastian. "You're very existence is insult enough, but for me to have to tolerate it from close quarters is nearly unbearable."

"Isn't this just one more reason to work together?" Faye asked in exasperation. "So that everyone can get away from each other as soon as possible?"

"No," William and Sebastian answered in unison.

"It seems to me," Ciel began as he joined the group, "that the best solution in this situation is for us not to interfere with you, and for you not to interfere with us. After all, the Grim Reaper's business belongs to Grim Reapers, and the Queen's business belongs to the Queen's Watch Dogs."

"Quite right," William agreed, using his pruner to adjust his glasses. "I believe that is the only way for us to handle this situation."

Faye shook her head in irritation, wanting to use her magic to bind them all until they agreed to her plan instead. There were children involved, for Heaven's sake. Didn't that take precedence over everyone's personal feelings? She wanted to say she didn't understand why they couldn't all work together, but after spending three years as a subordinate of William's she knew very well why. After all, he was the one who taught her to hate demons.

"We should all be getting back to the tent," William said, giving everyone a piercing look. "They will be announcing the room assignments soon. We should not be late."

"Of course. After you," Sebastian said with feigned politeness as he moved aside for William to pass.

Faye stood off to the side, bored as assignments were handed out. She could already imagine how well Ciel would handle living in a tent, which was not well at all. She wouldn't enjoy the experience either, but she was more used to doing things for herself than her brother the Earl.

Faye laughed out loud when Sebastian and William were assigned to be together. They both turned to glare at her. So far as Faye could recall, it was the first time Sebastian had ever glared at her. Other than perhaps their first encounter, before he had been spelled to fall in love with her.

If only they could have been semi-honest about their true identities, perhaps Ciel and Faye could share a tent since they were siblings. As it was…Ciel was paired with a nice looking boy while Faye was pared with 'Mystery'. The woman looked more like she belonged on the streets trying to attract men than in the circus. She was a short, curvy woman with hair even darker than Faye's. She looked Faye up and down, her nose scrunched up like she smelled something awful.

This mission was going to be oh so joyous.

Faye's Tent

"So, you're new," Mystery said snidely, looking Faye up and down again, obviously trying to size up her competition. Which was ridiculous since Faye was a knife thrower while Mystery was a contortionist. They weren't even competing for the same position in the circus, and Mystery was either also new or sub-par in her talents since she wasn't a first tier member.

Faye sighed, wondering how best to handle this situation. They had a mission to complete. Children's lives were at stake, and Faye couldn't be bothered looking over her shoulder at some fool woman trying to sabotage Faye in order to make herself look better.

"Yes, I'm new here," Faye said, casually taking out one of her knives and watching it glint in the light. "How long have you been here for?" Faye barely glanced past the knife to look at Mystery.

Mystery's eyes caught nervously on the knife. "I—six months!" She started out weak before nearly shouting her answer to make up for it. She flushed before flouncing down on her bed angrily, fussing with her thigh high boots to avoid looking at Faye.

"Mmm. All that time and still haven't made much of yourself have you?" Faye asked, adopting a pitying voice. She lifted the knife higher, still staring into it. "I wonder if anyone would even notice if you went missing."

"Wh-what?" Mystery stuttered, turning pale.

Faye finally turned her full attention to Mystery. "Oh? Nothing, really. I was just wondering if you were important enough to the circus that anyone would notice if you went missing." She smiled.

"Shouldn't you return that knife?" Mystery asked, tossing her hair back as she spoke with false bravado.

Faye smiled again. "Why would I return what's mine? This isn't a throwing knife. It's my personal knife that I always keep with me." Technically, Faye had a tendency to keep eight knives on her person at all times. Ten when Sebastian made her carry the poisoned ones. Sadly, the more revealing outfits favored by the circus wouldn't allow her to carry so many.

Mystery abruptly stood up and stumbled out of the tent. Faye put her knife under her pillow and readied for bed. She wondered if Mystery would sleep in someone else's tent tonight, or if she would complain about Faye's behavior. She was banking on the first option. Mystery wouldn't want to do anything that could jeopardize her position in the circus, and, technically, Faye hadn't done or said anything to threaten her.

Dining Tent

Faye smiled the next morning at Ciel's groggy expression. He probably couldn't sleep on the lumpy bed and rough sheets provided by the circus.

"Rough night?" She asked Ciel, who only gave her a baleful glare in response.

"I'm afraid he's not the only one," Sebastian said as he sat down next to Faye. Too close. He wasn't actually touching her, but every time she moved her arm she brushed against him. Faye frowned and tried to scoot over, but he just followed her.

Faye gave up and asked, "And why would that be?"

"I'm afraid my tent mate won't allow me to look around at night. He refuses to allow his roommate, who is 'under his responsibility' to break any rules."

"You didn't find out anything?" Ciel and Faye asked at the same time. Faye threw her fork on her plate and went in search of William. They couldn't have him interfering at every turn. They'd get nothing accomplished that way.

She found him after a little searching, sitting at the edge of a table away from everyone else. Of course he would separate himself out.

"Would you mind explaining your behavior last night, William?" She hissed quietly as she sat across from him.

He gave her a stern look and said, "Whatever do you mean, Danger?" Apparently, he was upset she hadn't used his circus name. "Do you mean my forcing that butler of your brother's to conform to the rules? We all may be here under false pretenses, but we should obey the order of things while here."

"Are you serious?" Faye asked. She knew William's love of order very well, but couldn't imagine him wanting to abide by the rules in this situation. "You do realize that the people who have instituted this 'order' you so dearly wish to follow may be responsible for all the kidnappings? They could be, and likely have been, committing all sorts of atrocities to those children, and you're worried about rules they have instated? How do you plan to accomplish your own mission?"

"I can accomplish exactly what I need to within the parameters of what I am allowed to do. You and yours will have to do the same. I will not abide by rule breaking. Especially not from one such as him. I'm sorry, Faye, but I will not compromise on this."

They engaged in a stare off over William's eggs. Faye blinked first, of course, but wasn't done yet. "Oh? So you are dead set against any rules being broken, even for the possible welfare of others? Tell me, my old friend, did you break any rules when you made a demon fall in love with me in an attempt to control him?"

William's eyes lost their cool and controlled look as he blinked guiltily. He quickly reverted back to the normal coat of emotionlessness he wore when on duty as a Grim Reaper. "Extenuating circumstances," was the only excuse he gave before returning to his breakfast. Faye glared at him, but he refused to pay her any more attention.

Faye muttered under her breath as she returned to Ciel and Sebastian. "We'll just have to investigate during the show today, when all the first tier members are away from their tents."

Ciel and Sebastian agreed.

Main Tent

"Honestly," Alois sniffed, glaring balefully at all the bright colors around. "What could Ciel Phantomhive be doing in a place like this? I wouldn't take him for one to enjoy this sort of thing."

"I cannot guess to fathom the mind of the Earl," Claude said, pulling at the collar of his suit. It felt like he couldn't breathe…or perhaps more like he was parched. Both scenarios were equally ridiculous as he didn't need to breathe nor drink, but there it was. He tapped his fingers against his seat as he searched the audience for either the Earl or Sebastian. If they were here, he would find them.

"What are you doing?" Alois demanded, staring at Claude's tapping fingers.

Claude glanced down in surprise, unaware that he'd been doing anything. He curled his hand into a fist and laid it in his lap. "It's nothing, your Highness."

Alois continued to stare at Claude as Clause searched for their targets. "What is wrong with you? You've been acting strange lately. Has something happened that I'm unaware of?"

"No, of course, not," Claude assured, barely glancing at Alois. The only thing that had happened was the box that Grim Reaper had locked him in for a few minutes, but why would that have done this? Whatever this was. The worst part of all this was that Claude didn't even know what was wrong. In all his many centuries of living, he'd never felt like this before. This need, this craving for something. If only he could figure out what it was, he would use all of the considerable power at his disposal to obtain it.

The show ended, and while Sebastian had made in appearance in the show, there was no sign of the Earl. Sebastian was useless without Ciel. They could not obtain what they wanted from Sebastian without Ciel.

Alois was in a terrible mood afterwards, shoving other circus goers out of the way as they exited the tent. "What is that bloody idiot playing at?" Alois demanded angrily. "Why is his butler performing in the circus, and what is he doing?" Alois turned to glare at Claude. "You're the one who brought us here. I wanted you to find me Ciel, not Sebastian! Find the correct target next time, you oaf!"

"I will endeavor to do my best, your Highness," Claude said with a bow, wondering where Sebastian's master could be. Claude slowed to a stop, pausing to take a deep breath. For a moment, he'd thought he smelled something…luscious. He tried in vain to recapture the scent, looking around at what may have caused it. Whatever it was, just the smell made his heart pound erratically, like only the most explosive and brilliant of souls could do.

"Claude!" Alois screeched when he realized Claude was no longer beside him. "Come! Now! We're leaving."

Claude reluctantly obeyed, part of him wanting to stay until he found the source of the smell.