Happy end of the week, everyone! Real Ciel is officially back... "showering" his younger brother with love... no comment on that 😑! This chapter is the definition of consecutive shocks for our beloved characters, so I won't keep you long and let you enjoy it.
Big thanks to Light Seeker 001 (hope I avoided to spoiler you a lot) and darkangelynn5 for your comments! And... yes, darkangelynn5... I was the same. I admit that up until then, I thought that if it was for any "good" characters (meaning the ones we follow) to die in the end, would be either OCiel or Sebastian, as it is more or less expected. But Agni? Agni? 😠Now, I just hope that Toboso will not make us suffer like that again with how the manga is currently progressing...
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or its characters. I entirely own only my OCs, arcs and ideas/themes not mentioned in any form of the franchise (manga, anime, games, movies or musicals).
Chapter 51: The Tutor, The Nightmare Begins
"The head of the House of Phantomhive... is none other than I, Ciel Phantomhive." The boy said and his deep blue eyes were shining amused and satisfied, in front of the consternation his words caused.
The four servants had turned to the palest shade, staring at the child, not believing their eyes, doubting everything... even themselves. The black haired butler and the blond tutor seemed a little calmer now - it seemed they were already aware of the existence of two boys - but still quite confused, trying to figure out how it was possible for him to be here. And of course... the until now sole heir of the Phantomhive was barely standing on his feet, his eye open wide, almost popping out of its socket and his breath heavy and shallow, his chest felt quite heavy.
"He... Hey! What's goin' on here, Sebastian?!" Bard asked, turning to the black clad butler.
"Sebastian? I see, so you are the one with the name 'Sebastian'. I suppose this is our first time meeting. Thanks for what you did to me on that day." The boy said, irony and wrath evident in his voice and dark gaze, despite his smile.
"Yes... it is my first time meeting a person like you, as well." Sebastian responded casually; his attention fully directed to the boy and his mind at work, trying to find any possible loophole he missed due to his so strong desire to meet the soul calling three years ago... but however he thought of it... this boy should not be here!
"M-Mr. Sebastian! He is lying through his teeth, is he not?!" Finny cried out, grabbing the butler's arm quite frantically, with all his strength as he was not in a state to be able to control it. "Since, the young master Ciel that we are all well familiar with is..." He added, literally begging the butler to prove the other boy false.
Sebastian threw a sad look at the gardener and then a pitiful one to his master, standing a little further, his body slumping at the verge of collapsing. "He speaks the truth. He is the true Earl... Lord Ciel Phantomhive." He finally confirmed the terrible things the intruder was saying, shocking the four servants once again.
"No, it cannot be..." Mey-Rin whispered in her more than usually trembling voice.
"Then... who is Smile...?" Snake asked with a deep voice no one had heard before.
"Master Ciel, Here you are... I have been looking for you." Mr. Tanaka's voice was heard, as the old butler came down the stairs with a tray in hands.
Strangely enough, he looked healthier than usual. Like he had found all his lost strength and energy, something the others had seen really rarely and only for a short time, when young master was in grave need of him.
"Oh, Gramps." Said the new Ciel with a smile to Tanaka.
"Gramps?! You knew the whole time?!" Bard yelled again, unable to believe everything happening that day; his cigarette fell from his lips but he did not notice.
"Indeed." Tanaka said with a sad expression and tone in his voice. "I had planned to take this secret to my grave, but it seems there is no longer any need. Allow this old geezer to tell the tale..."
"Young master was... a twin?" Finny whispered utterly confused and at a loss, after Tanaka finished his narration about the identical twins Lady Rachel Phantomhive had given birth.
The real, as it seemed, Ciel smirked. "You see? Look what you have done. The servants are terribly confused. All because you pretended to be me. Gramps told me everything. Not only did you burn everything down, but you even hid the fact that we were twins? I was quite taken aback, to hear you had been deceiving everyone this entire time. You are such a naughty boy. Why did you go to such lengths to tell your fibs? I will not get mad... so go ahead and get it all off your chest." He said casually, like an adult that patiently reprimands a child; however, in Selina's eyes he looked far from that or a loving brother, truly ready to forgive.
Young master was breathing heavily with quite a difficulty; his right hand was digging in his left arm as his view was getting darker, feeling all eyes on him, staring at him, waiting, judging, hating, devouring him. "I... I... I am..." He tried to say but failed.
"I am Ciel Phantomhive. The heir to the earldom and house of Phantomhive!" was what he really wanted to say, standing at the verge of insanity, but his logic told him otherwise, it told him the truth... "I am but his extra." He finally thought giving in to the whirlpool of images and feelings that once again came over him, haunting him.
However, a loud laugh, identical but... somehow different from the one he knew and loved three years ago, was heard and violently pulled him out of his thoughts, bashing him to the hard ground of reality.
"You do not have to get all teary-eyed like that, it is really alright." Ciel said, still laughing, to his brother. "As I said before, I have no intention of reprimanding you for your lie. In fact, if there were anyone attempting to hurt you for your lies, I would stand firmly against them." He announced, surprising everyone again and making his twin tremble even more, as he managed to look at the other half of his soul that died that night. Real Ciel went on talking very casually, congratulating his brother for holding out quite nicely for three years, lifting all the weights of their family, but there was no more reason for lies, since he was back and ready to take over.
"Th-This is impossible... I... I saw it... I saw it with my own eyes..." Young master said with a trembling voice; the image of his stabbed, bloodied, dead brother lying on the sacrificial altar still burning in front of his eyes.
"Lord Ciel Phantomhive. I am absolutely certain you lost your life that night. Otherwise, I could not be here right now." Sebastian said, a thousand percent certain of what he was saying; there was no way he did such a grave mistake, regardless his hunger.
"A sharp observation." The boy said.
A new set of steps was heard descending the steps and a very familiar sniggering voice followed. "Indeed. It is as you say... Mr. Butler."
"You..." Sebastian said narrowing his eyes. Selina finally got back her voice just to mumble "Bastard", perfectly completing what the demon was feeling at the moment.
But then a wooden anatomy doll peeked behind the wall and for an instant confused master, butler and tutor; but then a hand with black, long nails appeared holding the doll and... Undertaker came out in his usual attire, happily waving at them.
"Undertaker! Were you the one... Did you bring Ciel...?!" Young master asked, also having found his voice, still trembling but stronger and more determined.
"Whoops, wait a moment, if you would like information, then I must collect an appropriate fee in advance... Or so I would like to say, but when you all came up with the 'Phantom Five' for the Music Hall showdown... that was easily worth three whole years of laughter!" It was obvious he had a really good time, still giggling at the memory. He let the doll stand as he turned more serious. "So I will tell you... The one who took the young Earl out from the fire that day was none other than yours truly."
"But why..." Young master asked, trying to understand.
"Is it not obvious? Because you cannot restore them back to their original form, if they have been burnt to ashes. Just like your father was. It has been a rough road getting here with many obstacles in my way." Undertaker responded, as if reviving dead people was the most natural thing.
"You are completely insane!" Selina said a little louder and her voice was dripping with the intention to kill him right on the spot. Sebastian signalled her to stop.
"Why did you go through so much trouble in order to revive him?" The butler asked.
The renegade reaper, looked at him behind his silver bangs, then looked at Selina for a moment and back at him; he smirked. "You would not understand... maybe not even now. I just could not take it anymore. I do not want to lose any more Phantomhives." He said and the smirk was replaced by a deep sadness, as he stood beside the revived Earl, embracing the boy's shoulder.
"I see now. So that is what you mean." Sebastian said, deep in thought but calmly.
Selina could not follow his example as her anger for the insane reaper was boiling inside her. "If you didn't want to lose any more Phantomhives, why weren't you there sooner, before all this happened? You have the power, you could have saved them both!" Her voice was hard with accusation.
"Silence servants. Do not speak without your master's permission. It is a cacophony to my ears." Real Ciel said in a very strict and rude tone, making the other servants shake with fear as this was something their master had never told them, no matter how he reprimanded them at times. Even Tanaka stared at the child sadly. "It is true that I died once that day, leaving you all alone... But I am here now! I get to meet you again! My one and only family member left in this world! I am so happy to see you!" Now he was smiling instantly changing from rudeness to happiness... and looked as cute as young master in the rare occasions he smiled.
Sebastian, unfazed by the Earl's 'order', said how they had suspected Undertaker's connection to the Phantomhive family in some way - the lock of hair in his pendant was a great hint - but it seems the Phantomhives have an even greater sentimental value for the reaper. Undertaker chose to leave that detail to their imagination, besides it was of no concern to the demon.
"You brought the dead back to life... You are insane!" Young master said, still shaking, but now his voice had something more... anger boiling in him, something that Undertaker seemed to either miss or dismiss.
"Goodness, me! Is it really that important whether people are dead or alive? Are you not happy about this? You finally get to see your big brother after all these years."
Then, Undertaker talked about his masterpiece, the boy he kept twirling around as if in a dance, until he managed to irritate him enough to escape his hands. Selina was staring at the pair totally freaked out, as it reminded her the reaper's dance with one of his mindless dolls on board Campania. However, her attention was drawn back to the discussion as an entirely serious and sober Undetaker - well known for his very characteristic giggles and macabre jokes - refused Sebastian's suggestion that every case of bizarre dolls his master had uncovered were preparation for reviving Lord Ciel... No, the reaper had began everything long before, the night he took Ciel out of the flames, he already knew what needed to be done and he did... little by little.
"Ever since you took him that night...? Where in the world did you keep him all this time...?" The boy using the name Ciel asked.
His brother smiled. "Curious? I have been by your side this whole time." He said shocking once again his twin... and informed him how close he always was.
In the coffin he sat when visiting Undertaker's parlour during the Jack the Reaper case, for instance, and from then on, Undertaker always brought him close to his brother in his greater moments of brutality or cruel ingenuity, as when burning the Kelvin mansion or winning the game in Weston.
"Let us cut the reminiscing here." A new voice said and a scarlet figure entered the scene... through the window, breaking the glasses, making everyone stare with mouths open. "Hi, there!" Grell said landing on the floor, with a signature gesture and a wink.
But that was not all, as a noise came from the manor's door and Othello, the scientist reaper, entered. "Oh goodness, Grell, you know there is a door here, so why not use it?" Grell, of course, had a different opinion on dramatic entrances. "Alright, now that we have finally met the favoured one... let us get right to it then, shall we? Naughty boys need to be scolded." He finished and his eyes never left Undertaker, who was also staring at the scientist quite emotionlessly.
"Young master, please stand back." Sebastian said, standing in front of the boy and at the same time pushing the tutor to their master's side. Both Selina and young master had somehow recovered from all the shocks of the night.
Evidently, Undertaker and Othello seemed to be old acquaintances, as they exchanged pleasantries on... who had the more loose screws in mind. Undertaker was curious to hear why a shut-in researcher came out in the field and Othello's response was that he was not allowed to be fully immersed in his own research, since the renegade's 'childish tricks' were drawing too much attention.
At that, Othello pulled out a small scythe and flung it to Undertaker with quite some determination... but the weapon fell on the stairs, not even close to where Undertaker was standing. Young master, Sebastian and Selina kept staring at the scientist reaper trying to figure out what was the meaning of this... supposedly power demonstration. Even Grell joined them utterly confused.
And then Undertaker broke out in one of his very characteristic fits of hysteric laughter that brought him down to his knees and then flat on the ground unable to take a breath for quite some time. Grell started yelling to Othello and both kept talking like they had simply messed up a stage play by not following the director's guidelines. Demon and child kept staring at them, not believing their ears and eyes. The witch beside them was shaking her head with a very painful expression on her features.
"Nasty, so nasty... such a nasty déjà vu, the worst... There goes my hope that age made them senile..." She lamented her luck, since she had obviously witnessed similar scenes between the two reapers in the future, her past.
Undertaker seemed to finally collect himself, after struggling for breath for some time, and pulled out of his garments' back a sotoba that instantly changed to his death scythe. Othello let out a scared high-pitched scream and hid behind Grell for protection; needless to say, how much that angered the scarlet reaper, but then again... she had no objection on resuming her unfinished bout on the ship with Undertaker. With no further delay, she jumped with chainsaw ready to cut down the silver-haired reaper, but he was too fast for Grell and when silver knives joined the fight, things became more complicated.
"Oh, my! Bassy, would you like to join us? Ah, a threesome with two handsome men, I cannot believe it! I wonder if my body will be able to handle it!" Grell said swinging her hips quite provocatively and then threw a disparaging look at Selina. "I knew you would not be able to keep him." She snickered at the woman, but the only response was the woman's middle fingers that with one fluid movement were replaced by two sharp daggers.
"You are not my concern. But this man has been constantly evading my grasp, so I wish to ensnare him once and for all." Sebastian said, rushing to meet the two fighting reapers. "Furthermore, should I allow the both of you to continue your violent rampages... the manor will be in shambles within minutes! Therefore, I must ask you to leave at once!" He finished with a very determined look in his eyes, while lunging a kick to Undertaker, who easily evaded it.
However, it seemed the demon butler's last phrase amused real Ciel who chuckled and then looked at him with the satisfaction malevolence brings. "You say that as if you were a part of this household. But you are not. So sorry, but you are the one who will be leaving here!"
At that very moment, a great clatter was heard, as the manor's doors burst open and an entire squad of Scotland Yard barged in, ordering for no one to move. Inspector Abberline along with Lord Midford and Edward followed the armed policemen. One policeman ordered for everyone to lay down their weapons... Grell did not like the idea, of course, but Othello advised her to do so.
"We have received an anonymous report that the perpetrator and mastermind behind the Sphere Music Hall murders, Blavat Sky, and the rest of his lot are hiding here at the Phantomhive estate! Lord Phantomhive, will you please explain what exactly is..." Abberline was saying when he realised there were two Ciels present; the man felt totally at a loss. "There... there are... two Earls?!"
"Uncle Alex! It is me! It is Ciel!" The one without the eyepatch said, as he saw Lord Midford and Edward also had a difficulty in believing their eyes. "A lot has happened, but I have finally returned. And for that sake... my younger brother has acted in my stead until now!" He went on with a pure look, shocking everyone.
They all turned and looked at the other one with eyes full of doubt, disbelief and disappointment; their stare was so intense that the already terrified and shocked boy started trembling again and stepped backwards, bumping on his tutor whose arms circled him protectively. He could not see her eyes at the moment but were burning bright with warning, if anyone attempted to get close to him would have to go through her. Edward was in denial, unable to believe all these were real, until one more unexpected but very familiar voice was heard.
"It is true. Ciel is not lying." Elizabeth said coming down the stairs. Her voice was so cold and determined that even Sebastian thought they had lost the game. "The one who was lying to us, all this whole time... was him." She finished, pointing an accusatory finger to the boy that had taken the role of the Earl Phantomhive for three years now. The girl looked at the boy and pain was mirrored in her eyes but did not make her waver even for a second.
"E-Eli-Elizabeth..." The boy said almost breathless and Selina felt him trembling even harder; for an instant his feet gave under him, but she supported him not allowing him to be further humiliated.
"I see now. So that is why Lady Elizabeth refused to return... because she had been reunited with her fiancé." Sebastian nodded understanding.
"Lizzie! Why did you hide such an important thing from us?! And Ciel, why did you not come home right away?!" Edward asked loudly, still struggling to force his mind understand and accept the new facts.
Elizabeth turned to her fiancé and now sadness and tenderness were drawn on her features as she gave her hand to him. The revived boy looked at her quite tenderly too.
"Edward, my body was in very bad condition. I could not even move freely. But it is because Lizzie was there to support me that I have been able to return here now." Lord Midford felt like his mind would blow up, overwhelmed by everything; he demanded explanations, it was his right as the guardian of the House of Phantomhive. "Of course, uncle. So, you will tell us, yes?" Ciel finished with a smile, looking at his younger twin brother, cornering him once more in one night.
"Inspector Abberline!" One policeman yelled, as he came out of one of the side rooms, only to announce a large number of stored bottles with blood was discovered in the cellar; as proof he held one out that had the label of Vega star on it. Another one called from the other side of the manor as he and his colleagues came out, dragging Blavat Sky who was hiding inside the manor.
Young master could not help but feel a noose tightening around his throat, despite the supporting and comforting touch of Selina, who continued to do so, even though he had somehow managed to partly compose himself. Deep down he had a hunch... he tried to deny the possibility but now there was no doubt.
The pieces of the puzzle fell in place. Even how frightened Violet was when looking at his face... until he realised the difference. Now he knew that "Sirius, the blue star" was his own brother, unnaturally revived and currently smiling at him from where he stood... probably pleased by the web he weaved around him... That realisation made his heart jump and then hurt like it was pierced.
"The founder? You think I am Lord Sirius? You lot must be as blind as bats!" Blavat was saying chuckling as an answer to Abberline's accusations. "Lord Sirius shines with a brilliance beyond comprehension. Rubbish stars like ourselves could never compare. I am just a missionary who spreads Lord Sirius' good word. One day I was simply charmed and attracted to the blue star's light. I was originally just a lowly fortune-teller, an inaccurate one with a poor reputation, at that."
One of the policemen threatened him to stop lying, but Blavat, quite unfazed, went on explaining how the Sphere Music Hall used all these rubbish stars, in exchange for their blood for the sake of Lord Sirius to shine as he deserved. He was certain that all the rubbish stars sacrificed to Lord Sirius were actually happy now...
"In any case, I am certain this situation is also due to the star's guidance. A challenge of this level will not dull his shine in the slightest. Is not that right? My Blue Star... Lord Sirius." Blavat said with a smirk and his eyes turned to young master, who now felt almost chocked by the noose.
"We have been had, young master. Someone tipped off the Yard, and as it stands, you are now a criminal who has been caught hiding Blavat, and hoarding a large amount of blood in the manor. In addition... there is the testimony from the key perpetrator, Blavat himself. This has become quite troublesome." Sebastian said, sighing quite troubled.
Selina almost growled at his side, almost having surrendered to her burning thirst for blood... she had many targets to eliminate if she wanted; her teeth gritted once again at the thought. Sebastian closed his hand around her tight fist being licked by small blue flames. He squeezed forcing her to calm down; the look in her eyes was enough to draw someone's attention.
Edward denied vehemently the policemen accusations that Funtom Music Hall was a branch of the same operation, but his confidence shook when informed the rapid increase of victims during its success; the young lord was shocked and turned to the false Ciel for confirmation.
Abberline desired more than anything to explain the whole plan and relieve the boy from this charge at least, but no one knew about the Queen's Watchdog existence and it had to remain that way. He had no choice, but keep his lips sealed and charge the fake Earl for misrepresentation and identity theft! He gritted his teeth, listening to the strangely apathetic black haired butler commenting on how "Well played" everything was, and realising how right he was. He took a deep breath.
"Lord Phantomhive, no... Mr. Phantomhive. You are under arrest for the suspicion of being a pivotal player in the serial murders committed by Sphere Music Hall. I am going to have to ask you to come down to the station with me."
Silence fell over everyone at these words. The servants looked terrified – Bard was more serious, his mind deep in thought – while the real Earl and his companion looked quite neutral at the moment, like knowing things would turn that way.
"Very well." The fake Earl's voice broke the heavy silence, and strangely enough it was as strong and steady as every other time, and nowhere close to the trembling whispers he had been mumbling that evening.
"You are always with him, so we will have you too." Abberline announced to Sebastian.
"As you wish." The butler responded, still apathetic, but when the inspector glanced towards Selina, obviously thinking if he should arrest her too, since she participated in everything the other two did, Sebastian's eyes seemed to light with a small but quite threatening fire. "Miss Clark is not involved in anything you think we are, she was just following orders and was not always with us." He said with a finite tone.
Selina felt his words as if hundreds of small daggers stabbing her everywhere; she understood he said it to keep her away from all this, to protect her in a way, but that did not mean it did not hurt. She shook her head in denial, tried to say otherwise but the warning glare the demon gave her, made her silent. She was still grabbing his sleeve, but could not do anything other than let it go, when Bard approached, after Sebastian looked his way, and pulled her away to where the other servants stood.
Abberline nodded. "Let us leave it at that for the moment..." He said accepting to let the woman go for now.
He then pulled two pairs of cuffs out of his pocket and placed them around the boy's and then the butler's wrists, something that hurt Selina more and let her head fall on Mey-Rin's shoulder, the maid hugged her friend tighter. The inspector and policemen got ready to escort the arrested persons to the station when Finny was heard.
"No! Please wait! The young master would never do such a thing! There must be some mistake!" He cried out, as in desperation for someone to confirm to him that indeed there was a huge mistake and none of this was real.
Bard's hand landed on the boy's chest pushing him back, in a way ordering him to stop. "So? Who d'we get our wages from now?" He asked Sebastian, shocking the others with how serious and cold he was; Finny and Mey-Rin had never seen him like this in the time they were all together.
"Now, just a minute! Is this really the time to be haggling over money?!... says Emily." Snake cried out, not believing what Bard just said, but the chef seemed undeterred as he kept staring at the butler.
Sebastian clinked his cuffs. "As you can see, I am afraid your pay will have to wait. Come and collect it later." He said coolly and without a second glance, allowed to be guided to the transfer carriage waiting outside.
Blavat, complaining for being the only one receiving rough treatment, followed and the demon's master preceded silent, lost in his thoughts and feelings swirling inside him.
Handcuffs on OCiel and Sebastian made me feel weird in the anime... and same goes for the manga! I cannot explain it, but it looks quite absurd to me for some reason.
Also, for once again, I'm so sorry I hurt Selina through Sebastian's words but... he has his reasons! I mean, aside from just being in protective mode. It might be just my own delusion, but I think that if Sebastian was ever to see his loved one being dragged to any kind of imprisonment... would take it far from lightly and would turn to protective mode... like instantly. What do you think, people?
Till next time! Bye!