Dismissal?

Indeed, Ciel and Allen became the fags of their upperclassmen, Clayton and Cheslock.

Something that greatly concerned Edward, their cousin and Cheslock promised him not to stress Allen too much. The new fag that replaced the dishonest Cole was Johann Harcourt. Another Scarlet Fox beauty but this time, instead of judging by hearsay, Redmond thoroughly checked his background to be double-sure as he is deeply troubled by the past few days regarding Cole.

And then Cheslock found out Allen has a BOYFRIEND...

Said Senior Fag to Prefect was shocked because he stumbled into a very private moment in the grounds of Violet Wolf, wherein he saw his Fag in the arms of an older senior.

Said boyfriend is someone who is high up in the ranking and someone about to graduate soon at spring, a son of a Marquis just like Edward and they get along well splendidly but a fling is a fling because said boyfriend would graduate soon and would marry his fiancée who he never saw anyway. Just heard of. And the mood of his fag is noticeably down and depressed when he graduated and is mostly staring off in space.

To the disbelief of the Swan Gazebo group, Allen and his boyfriend are actually a couple with a healthy romantic relationship, not just 'friends with benefits' since Allen spoke highly of his character in such romantic adoration and how he was kind to him and actually cares for him romantically, such he was sad to see him go as he is five years older. He even left him a parting gift which he now wears on his jacket, a golden flower brooch he is never seen without since, and hesitant in entering another relationship since he didn't want short relationships anymore. He wanted one that actually lasts. His depression affected his Arts that Cheslock could not stand the gloomy atmosphere and decided to bring the redhead out of his depression.

Ciel and Edward were in shock that Allen was actually in love for real and managed to keep it a secret.

'Hey Sebastian, did you know that Allen has a lover these past few months?' Ciel asked Sebastian as the butler brought him dinner.

'Yes, I knew but while he is indeed in a relationship, he also managed to subtly wrangle information out of his lover.' said Sebastian. 'His lover is witness to a terrible incident some months ago before we received this mission.'

'A terrible incident?' Ciel frowned at his butler who took out an envelope.

'Yes...according to Young Master Wyndham, he was witness to things nobody would ever expect of Derrick Arden, a young man of dazzling lineage with a stellar background.' said Sebastian. 'Long story short, he is another Maurice Cole. But unlike Cole, Arden is of a high status and a direct relative of the Queen at that. And while Cole manipulated hearts through his looks, Arden's methods were violent bullyings. As much as he wanted to tell the prefects that Arden...and their first fags are all fakes, he could not in fear of retaliation to his family. And then for some reason, 5 months ago, they disappeared. Hence our job in this institution. Who made them disappear now is our question.'

'And why didn't you two tell me this sooner?!' Ciel twitched in annoyance.

'Young Master Allen insisted on letting his lover graduate first before giving us what he knows to protect him from who made the boys disappear. Because those who knows too much tend to vanish after all.' said Sebastian with a chuckle.

'But who did it...tsk, if only that person knew more...' Ciel grumbled. 'We were so close too!'

'It can't be helped...it seems we need to ask around some more. Apparently there are people who knew a lot but stays quiet in fear of retaliation to their families and its no secret who his relatives are.' said Sebastian thoughtfully. 'We'll start with the boys from Master Arden's year level, shall we...and in the meantime, I fear we must ask Master Edward's help as well. With us three, we can cover three houses. However...'

'Soma.' Ciel groaned in a rather long-suffering voice. 'I can't trust him with a delicate job like this! Agni would have been ideal but he's too old! For now we tackle what we have!'

And so...

'You need to talk to me for a bit?' Edward blinked as Allen is in his room at Green Lion dorms, having snuck in.

'Yes...Ciel sent me with an important and delicate task. We need your assistance.' said Allen seriously and Edward knew this IS business.

'I knew it...the two of you would never bother coming here unless there's a catch.' Edward pinched his nose in exasperation with Allen looking sheepish before going serious. 'And? What is this business?'

'Edward, let me ask you this...for how long were you in school?' Allen asked him seriously.

'...I've been here since freshman year you know.' Edward told him. 'All Midford Men in history of my family goes here!'

'Which means you were in the same year level as Derrick Arden. Convenient.' Edward's eyes widened. 'You catch on quick. Her majesty sent us to investigate his disappearance yet he never left this school. What is your impression of him?'

'Arden? Well he's a cheerful personality with overflowing talent.' said Edward. 'Redmond, Greenhill, Bluer and Violet who were made new Prefects last year are so impressed with him and he's Redmond's first fag. But for some reason, Arden and the three other fags vanished...and then they chose us. Me, Cheslock, Clayton and Cole. We replaced those fags that vanished.'

'I see...but what I got was another thing entirely from Charles.' Allen said softly as he sat on the bed.

'Your...boyfriend?' Edward choked out because he really couldn't believe it. He's heard rumors but...to think it actually happens stunned him.

'Yes. Seven months...two months before they disappeared, Charles witnessed those four fags haze a group of younger students into doing the work the Prefects assigned them.' said Allen to Edward's shock. 'Since his first time seeing them, he began stalking them since. He even took incriminating photos for proof which I have in my possession but he could not out their dastardly deeds in fear of retaliation on his family. Arden is the son of a family bearing the rank of Marquis and his family has the same rank as yours but what makes his family different in power and status is who their relatives are. Not only that, he's the nephew of Queen Victoria. What could he do? Nothing. All he could do...is this.' he reached into his coat and took out a wad of photos which he gave to Edward...

Edward wore a horrified and disgusted look on his face as he looked at each picture.

'Oh my gawd...'

'You think? Your mission is this...no doubt a lot of students here are very angry with these four boys.' Allen told him. 'Everyone therefore is suspect. These are your copy of photos. Look for the guys belonging to the Green Lion dorm and you are to ask things...subtly. I will do my thing in Violet Wolf and Ciel will tackle his dorm. Can you help us out?'

'To think something like this is...' Edward shook. 'And how am I going to face the Prefects with a straight face after seeing this?' he cried. 'Moreover they must know something because the first fags were casually replaced with us and no mention of them since!' Allen looked rather thoughtful before he took a deep breath.

'Hooo? That's interesting.' Allen then stood up. 'But your task remains the same. After that, we will hide your involvement in this case to protect you.' and he left by the windows. much to Edward's freak-out.

'Hey, I'm on the 4th floor!'

xxx

Investigation began by asking around the victims of the previous Fags.

Sebastian used his 'kindly counselor' persona, Ciel asked those who were 4th and 3rd years with notable skills who are most likely targets. Edward took to casual conversation when not around Greenhill, Allen went by his operation. Hypnosis. With this, he was the first to finish his job. Sebastian came next, Ciel also got something given his newfound authority, and Edward is having trouble.

A lot of students in the past were systematically targeted for their talents and bullied and beaten by the previous fags into doing tasks for them and threatened into silence. These students bore great grudge and hatred, but could not do a thing and forced to grit their teeth, while cursing the previous fags. In fact, when they disappeared, they celebrated!

'That's what we got it seems.' said Ciel as he, Edward, Allen and Sebastian met up at night. 'A lot of them bore grudges but could not do a thing so they're not our culprits.'

'Indeed...all that's left are the Prefects but it will be a tough task.' said Sebastian.

'Good grief, getting something from Greenhill is like a Sisyphean Effort most of the time.' Edward moaned in dismay.

'And my Prefect is a bit...weird.' Allen twitched. 'Ciel, your Prefect seems to be the sanest in the bunch.'

'Looks like its up to me.' Ciel grimaced. 'I have to handle this with utmost delicacy.'

'Good luck.' Sebastian, Allen and Edward chorused much to Ciel's dismay.

The next day however, Allen received a summons...from the Vice-Principal.

xxx

'You called for me, Vice-Principal?' Allen reported in an orderly fashion.

'Yes...we received a telegram from Lady Barnett, your mother.' he said. 'She wishes for you to come home immediately and has arranged for your Withdrawal.'

'WHAT?!'

xxx

'WHAT?!' everyone at the Swan Gazebo looked at Allen incredulously.

'Y-you're leaving school? Why?!' Redmond gasped. 'Your performance is exemplary and you're a well-behaved student!'

'The thing is...something came up in the family.' Allen fidgeted weakly. 'There's trouble I cannot disclose in the family, I didn't even get a reason why but mother pulled me out of school and I have today to pack and go straight home.'

'You've got to be kidding!' Cheslock moaned. 'You're the only Fag I can deal with and you're leaving!' he whined childishly.

'I-it can't be helped if something like this came up I think. Something very big and wrong must have occurred.' said Harcourt fretfully. 'This is worrying.'

'I hope my cousins didn't do anything crazy.' Allen sighed with a deflated expression. 'My cousins are doing crazy things in hopes of becoming Uncle's Successor so I hope nothing scandalous happened. So um yes, I'm leaving.' he said meekly.

'Awww...'

"This, is problematic." Ciel swore darkly at this. "We need his skills! What the heck happened to the Barnetts?" he and Edward exchanged troubled glances because their job will get harder from now on.