Hello everyone! We are back in the present time of our story and... as we draw closer to the end, it is time for the truth to be revealed and for relationships to evolve, based on honesty, for once! Please, enjoy! 😊

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 63: The Tutor, Truth and Nothing but Truth

Silence covered the blood spattered, filled with dead bodies, entrance hall of the Phanthomhive manor, as the long and painful narration came to an end. Streams of dried tears were visible on Undertaker's pale cheeks as he took a deep breath before speaking again.

"You know or can imagine most of what followed after that meeting. Vincent invited me in his house, in his family in a way, and I was happy watching him and his family grow... it was what was left of Claudia and I had every intention of keeping them safe..." His lips turned down sadly and his head lowered. "Of course, I failed to that too and could not bring him back... he was so horribly burnt... it would be impossible, even for me, to keep him alive, but... little Ciel." He caressed the cold cheek of the dead boy again. "My experiments had progressed so much, I was near absolute success so I had to save him! I just needed a large scale test and..."

"You simply decided to manipulate, use and fool an ambitious idiot that shared your vision." Sebastian's voice was heard in a matter of factly tone. "And then you continued harvesting blood by selfish idiots, who thought would reach enlightenment or whatever your puppet sold them." He said and threw a side glance to the absolutely terrified Blavat shivering on the floor. The demon smirked at the thought of how close to success Undertaker reached indeed... but did the mistake of underestimating him, his young master and his mate.

"I am also a selfish idiot... stepping over everyone and everything in my path to achieve my famous revenge, so I am not suitable to judge you, Undertaker..." Young master said with wooden voice and expressionless face. "But that does not mean what you did is not utterly sick or punishable." His voice turned to ice now.

"So... I guess that yer actual plan, after reviving the real Ciel, was to show us what Sebastian really is so that we would try to kill him - in case you failed - releasing young master from him and then...?" Bard asked suddenly.

Undertaker nodded and giggled. "There would be nothing separating the brothers, their brotherly competition would stop and... they could continue from where they left off." He shrugged with a smile like he was daydreaming.

"Right... Excuse my ignorance around supernaturals and yer points of views in relationships but... in my poor human opinion, that was too much to be considered a healthy brotherly competition. Brothers that love each other, usually compete on who runs faster, does this or that better... not framing or killing each other!" The chef seemed quite frustrated with how absurd Undertaker's plan seemed to him. Any fear or hesitation he might had, concerning the revelations for his co-workers, totally gone.

Undertaker's smile withered away as he turned to the only Phantomhive heir left alive. He furrowed his brows and tilted his head to the side confused, as he blinked in an effort to see the boy's face clearer - it seemed the effect of the dust the witch had sprinkled his eyes had already worn off. He attempted to lean closer, stick his face to that of the boy's, but the reapers pulled him back and Sebastian pushed him brandishing a knife on the scared throat, something entirely ignored even when it dug a little in Undertaker's skin.

"My lord, I cannot see your face... do you despise me? No, you understand why I did what I did, right? You must understand, you are the only one that can understand! You know how it hurts losing everyone!" He kept saying the same time Grell and Ronald pulled him back on his feet and away from the kneeled and bloodied group.

"Come on, it is time for us to go. You have a lot to answer for and be punished." William's voice was heard, calm and stable as always. The stern reaper did not even bat an eyelash during the narration; whether any of these touched him a little or not was impossible to know.

"My lord..." Desperation took over Undertaker as young master remained silent.

He knew the boy would not love and forgive him all of a sudden, but it seemed it was really important for him to know that he did not despise and hate him, at least. It seemed so out of his character, but then again... He had changed so much the last few months and now, during the hour his narration took place, many more sides of himself were revealed, making it almost impossible to claim knowledge of the reaper's true character, other than he was always an extremely sentimental man. That was what Selina could tell for sure and knew how it felt up to a point, but there was something she needed to ask.

"I do not understand..." Her voice was heard after so long.

For a moment, Undertaker returned to his giggling self. "I knew you would not... Humans are so amusing, they keep claim they understand and feel all the drama life brings, they even get so melodramatic, but in reality-"

"No! I understand your loses, I understand your insanity... parts of it feels... dangerously familiar. What I cannot understand is... why did you end your life before avenging your son?" Her tired and pale face showed genuine confusion.

Undertaker remained quiet staring at her for a while, like he too could not understand what she was saying. "What good would that do to me? Would it bring the boy back?"

She shook her head. "No, but did you feel okay knowing that... creature was still drawing breath while your boy didn't?"

"I searched for him in the next village but was long gone by then, what else should I do? Search the world to find and murder him?" He sensed more than saw the blond witch nodding. "That would be totally meaningless, turning me into a monster and eventually... a demon!" Disgust flashed on his features for an instant.

"Perhaps, but at least it would be an honest course of action. Instead, you chose to end your human life, be damned to an immortal one that succeeded in prolonging your suffering in various forms and in the end... you became exactly what you despised, a deceiver, taking advantage of people's dreams and needs, fooling them to believe you had the answer... you became a charlatan yourself!" Selina said and a light angry red painted her cheeks smeared with blood.

That single word seemed to literally stab Undertaker right in his heart and gasped as his knees almost buckled; Grell and Ronald held him up. "No! I did not become that! My experiments were successful in time, you saw it, the vice headmaster was one of my masterpieces, he was my greatest as he should be!" He pointed to the dead Ciel. "I was about to overcome the need for so much blood and then-"

"And then you would have to overcome whatever it was that made him revert back to his... zombie-like state once he heard your whistle, and then overcome something else that would come up... and then, and then, and then..." Sebastian interrupted staring at the insane reaper quite bored. "Even malevolent, merciless and... whatever you want to call us, demons know we cannot tamper with what is already dead and gone."

"What is lost can never be regained... everyone knows that..." Young master was heard once again with a cold voice; his mind miles away.

"Hmm... I am afraid I will have to agree with the demon and the child... Sorry, Silver Fox." Othello was heard and shrugged his shoulders casually.

Undertaker did not agree, but could not find any more words or ways to prove himself right. After a few moments of silence, William T. Spears announced it was time to take their prisoner and go before human police arrived and complicated things.

"I am absolutely disgusted with myself for saying that, but I..." His eyebrows furrowed as he pushed his glasses up his nose. "I trust you, demon, to take care everything, without rising questions about the true mastermind behind all this."

Sebastian's smug smirk returned in all its glory, making Grell's and Selina's knees tremble for a moment, Ronald's eyebrows fly up in surprise and William to let out a faint "tsk" sound.

"What kind of a Phantomhive butler would I be, if I could not take care of loose ends in my master's affairs?" He said bowing his head to the reaper mockingly and stare once again at Blavat.

William rolled his eyes completely disgusted by the 'loyal servant' act of the demon and gestured to the other three reapers it was time to go, and truly, they were gone in a blink of an eye. Finny and the others blinked a couple of times surprised, but then again... it was not the first time they saw that, the least surprising event of this night. Blavat's panicked cries pulled them back to reality.

"No! No! No way! You will not use me as an escape goat for him!" He was crying out, seeing the eyes of demon, master, witch and even angel pinning him down making their intentions obvious. "I accepted going to prison for him, to assist in reviving Lord Sirius, but... not for this! I... I did not... I did not know he was creating such creatures, I thought he only collected blood!"

"You knew perfectly well he drained people from their blood, I am sure you were present... perhaps you were the one draining those fools in the second music hall you were preparing." Sebastian said.

"It was blood needed for Lord Sirius' radiance to prevail!" The fortune teller screamed terrified, watching the angel getting up from her knees and stepping back, while the demon assisted the witch to also stand.

Blavat felt like a trapped animal, seeing the way the three supernaturals stared at him. It was at that moment he finally realised how loose his bondings were for quite some time now. With violent movements, he slipped them off of him, bit the purple string binding his fingers and then... saw the pistol the fake Earl was having in his pocket. With what he thought a movement fast as lighting, pulled the boy's coat open, grabbed the pistol and pointed it at its owner. The four remaining servants made a movement to attack him, but a signal from their master halted them in mid-movement, along with the blond gigantic butler and the Indian prince.

"Let him be, do not touch him." The only Earl left commanded everyone.

"But, Smile-" A high pitched voice was heard.

"I said... let him be."

With slow, cautious steps, Blavat managed to get away from all of them. His trembling hands did not lower the gun from pointing to fake Ciel even for a moment and his fingers had already found the trigger, ready to pull if they had to. He was heading for the door when a chuckle cut him off.

"Do you really think you will be able to get away from the police that is indeed on the way here - the reaper was not bluffing - and by getting lost in a forest I know better than anyone?" Sebastian asked, obviously having extreme fun with the scared man.

"You were ordered... not to touch me, anyone!" Blavat cried out and took one more step to the door.

Selina made a strange sound. "Wrong answer, I'm afraid. You see, young master ordered everyone else to not touch you, because I have promised him I will personally take care of you. You know, as a grey witch to another... nothing personal." She smiled at him the fake smile copied from her mate; admittedly it was useful at times.

"Grey... grey witch?" Blavat asked confused.

"Oh god... you don't even know what you are? How pathetic, why do I even bother?" She said to herself, rubbing her right temple. "Anyway, young master, I am sorry to say I will need a small assistance." She pointed to her wounds that now did not seem to bleed much, as the blood had already started congealing around them.

"Do what you have to quickly, we are running out of time." The boy demanded.

The witch looked at the demon, who gifted her one of his most charming smiles, and before Blavat blinked twice, they were both on him. The demon grabbed him from behind and turned his hands so that the gun pointed directly to his own heart and the witch was standing right in front of him with a murderous smile. Her eyes had changed, glowing, blue flames dancing in them, and a strong aura surrounded her entire body. Suddenly, her right hand, enveloped in blue flames, turned transparent and dived in his chest; her fingers wrapped around his soul and squeezed without mercy, the same time Sebastian pulled the trigger. Blavat let out a horrible cry, as blue flames seemed to run through his body for a a few seconds, and then fell back on Sebastian's chest, lifeless with glassy eyes staring at the abyss Selina sent him by destroying his soul.

"Apologies... under different circumstances perhaps I could even become your mentor and teach you everything about your powers, for which you knew nothing, but under the current situation I would hate meeting you again... as a demon." Selina said casually, but with honesty in her eyes, withdrawing her hand and dousing the flames of her fingers; her eyes also turning back to normal.

Sebastian dropped Blavat's body on the floor without batting an eyelash and then saw that all eyes were on him and Selina, who returned the gaze quite thoughtfully and worried. Young master saw it and asked Sebastian what time it was; the demon dutifully pulled his watch from his pocket and responded they still had forty minutes for the police to arrive.

"All right." Young master took a deep breath and seemed to slowly return to his normal self. "Sebastian, Miranda, I will have to ask you to take Tanaka and... my brother to the upstairs rooms until the police's coroner gets here." He ordered.

Sebastian bowed, Miranda nodded and each did as told. Sebastian took Mr. Tanaka's limp body in his arms and allowed the others to position the dead butler's head on his shoulder, he lifted his mortal senior with great care and respect that brought tears to his colleagues' and mate's eyes. Miranda took the dead boy in a similar manner, only her touch was more tender and affectionate, as her red from crying eyes looked at the living twin with great guilt, shame and apology; the boy did not seem to care, as he kept watching his beloved twin brother being taken away from him, once again.

Only when both bodies were out of his sight, allowed himself to let out some of the tension he seemed to hold in for quite a while. He quickly composed himself and stood, looking servants and friends straight in the eyes, without hiding his marked one; it was the time to show everyone who he really was, the legal and only Earl Phantomhive.

"You have all witnessed strange, unnatural things tonight. I am not going to explain what you saw but I do recognize they might made you feel uncomfortable, tested your sanity or scared you to death. That is why I am willing to let you go if you want, you are free from my service, if you choose so..." He said looking at the trio. "...but please, be warned, I will not tolerate any form of treason again. If I hear you speaking of me to others or working against me, you will see more clearly Sebastian's true face... and you will not find it handsome at all." That last bit clearly targeted the far-sighted maid who immediately blushed. "However, I have one thing I have to tell you all... I have lied and used each-"

"Pfff! Tell us something we do not know!" Young Sieglinde's voice was heard, surprising and taking aback everyone. A fake snobbish look of superiority on her face, as she wrinkled her little nose.

"W-What?" Young master stuttered, looking at her with goggled eyes.

"Let me save you the trouble. You lied and used every one of us. Let me start from myself. It is only obvious that taking me with you here and saving Wolfram was not out of any sympathy or compassion. The Queen ordered you to bring me to her - she actually told me herself - and I'm sure you thought I would be a useful pawn and insurance in case your relationship with her turns badly. Did I get everything right?" She stared at the boy with a fake innocent look.

"M-my lady? Do you want me to-" Wolfram said with quite a surprised and hesitant expression, but his soldier pride did not allow him to not think of avenging his lady and that was why he clenched his hands in fists.

"Stop, Wolfram." Sieglinde forced him to abandon his threatening stance and return to supporting Elizabeth lying on his lap bandaged and quite exhausted. "Anyway, do not fool yourself you are the only one doing the 'using' part. I used you too! You presented me a unique opportunity of getting out in the open world of infinite knowledge and expansion of mind... I would be a fool to lose it, remain in Wolfsschlucht, waiting if you would ever return to bring me new knowledge. I did not follow you for the sake of your blue eyes and cute face... midget." The last phrase was followed by a light blush and then a scowl.

"What did you call me?" Young master cried out with flushed face and wide eyes.

Whether his blush was out of anger or embarrassment at her words was not clear, but it immensely amused his chuckling demon butler, having returned to his side, and his tutor with her cousin, trying hard to stifle their spontaneous giggles.

"My, my, young lady! Earlier tonight, while talking to young master's brother you sounded less calculating and more... emotional towards my master and his dire situation. Is that not right, my lord?" The demon did not lose the chance of teasing Sieglinde and enjoying both hers and his master's growing blushing embarrassment.

"W-well... that was... um..." She fell silent for a moment, making the demon's smirk to widen, but then a light appeared in her emerald eyes and she resumed her snobbish attitude. "You were obviously in a tight spot and I was in a charitable mood. Anyway, we are even now, we both used each other and... that is all, I believe."

"You know, Sieglinde is right." Prince Soma's voice was heard and he looked serious. "Indeed you lied and used us and you did not even tried to hide it. I mean..." He shrugged. "it was bright as the Bengal sun that you used me in Weston and then in the Phantom Five - you did not bother giving me a heads up both times - but... I cannot believe that my very own brother would wish for me or Agni to get targeted and be harmed in any way, no matter how annoying, childish and naive I have been."

Sebastian bowed slightly to the prince. "Prince Soma, allow me to deeply apologize, on behalf of my master, for that sad incident and please, know that if it was within my powers to bring Agni back I would gladly do it. He was an exemplar butler." He said, just to receive a look filled with adoration from his blond mate... and a totally freaked out one from her angelic cousin, who once again could not believe the things coming out of this demon's mouth... but were certainly true.

Soma, now standing in front of young master, nodded to Sebastian. "It is alright, scary khansama... although it is natural to be scary since you are just not human." He turned to the younger boy. "Forgive me for doubting you; my pain and grief clouded my mind and eyes for a while, but... I will double and triple my efforts to become as smart as you are and earn my place beside you as your loyal ally!" Enthusiasm and determination evident in his eyes.

"Oh my! Look at that, my dear. I believe young master might have started forming his own 'Aristocrats of Evil', do you not agree?" Sebastian smiled sharply looking at Selina at his side, who nodded with fervour and a smile on her own lips, while Miranda was whistling in awe.

Young master cleared his throat. "I also apologize for allowing this to happen to Agni... and yes, I believe it is time for you to grow up." He said seriously, in an effort to shut up his giggling supernatural servants.

Hissing was heard from where Snake was, as the young man listened to what his reptile friends were saying, he nodded and looked at Sebastian, Selina and young master. "Black's scent was weird from the first time he came to the circus, his eyes glow and can withstand my poison, it is obvious he is not human... says Webster. And that means, no simple human would intrigue and please him so much for him to always return to; not someone like Beast, but more like Selina... says Bronte!" The said snake winked mischievously at the demon who smiled smugly, while Selina at his side turned beet red. Snake's eyes opened wide at his snake's words, as he did not seem to previously know that last piece of information.

"How observant you and your friends are, Snake." Sebastian said with a sharp smile.

The pale, young man did not pay attention to the demon, as he was staring at the young master now. His eyes had a begging look, begging for truth. "Joker and the others... are dead, are they not?" He said with a small, shy voice no one - except Selina, once - had heard before.

The younger boy nodded returning the stare.

"Yes, to be precise, according to their reports, Finny ki-" Sebastian started saying casually, but was interrupted by his mate's and the angel's voice calling him with quite a judgemental tone in their voices; when he turned to them their eyes had the same look. "What? I was just being helpful..."

"No! You were just being a heartless asshole!" Miranda stated with a scowl on her face, as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"What Miranda means is, that this is not the best time to let your true self slip out, right, my love?" Selina said, lightly touching his arm. The demon nodded with a smile, as he seemed lost in the witch's blue eyes staring at him lovingly now. For once again, Miranda was left speechless!

"Pff... Demons, witches, angels..." Bard was heard and all turned to him the moment he was lighting his cigarette quite casually. "Sure, it's too occult for my taste, but when in war you want the most efficient comrades... now if they happen to be a little supernatural... big deal." He shrugged his shoulders already dismissing the issue.

"E-either way, Selina is our friend, helping us-" Mey-Rin started.

"She calms down Mr. Sebastian when he is angry with us!" Finny interrupted in his ever enthusiastic manner and a bright smile of adoration for the witch.

"A-and Mr. Sebastian has been good and kind to us, yes he has! Scary when angry but never, never hits us..." At that, Bard looked at the maid while rubbing his jaw. "...and he even compliments our skills..." Mey-Rin finished and a blush exploded on her cheeks, instantly lost in some memory of hers certainly involving the aforementioned, so charming butler.

"Also, he has patiently taught us so many things... lets us eat the rest of the sweets he prepares for young master and go outside whenever we want to!" Finny gifted one of his so disarming smiles that always confused the poor demon.

"Guys, guys! Hold on a second." Miranda was heard all of a sudden. "If I understood correctly, are you all saying you will remain by young master's side, loyal to him? Without minding having a heartless demon breathing down your necks, while waiting for the time to come, eat your master's soul and then disappear... or a temperamental witch that could turn you into toads or something more disgusting whenever she likes?" She asked and received a collective nod that pleasantly surprised her.

"Or a discriminating angel waltzing in and out of the manor, spurting nonsense." Selina said, and weakly slapped said angel's arm, who seemed more offended by the 'discriminating' part rather than the gesture.

"Of course, we do! My little brother is lost without us to protect and save him!" Prince Soma said, throwing one arm around young master's shoulders, pulling the blushing boy closer. "No offence, scary khansama and funny shikkhika!" He added looking at the couple with a smile.

"None taken, prince Soma." Sebastian bowed slightly, back in his gentlemanly, butler manners. Selina nodded, quite surprised at how Soma called her; he had never shown her role as tutor amused him or anything, she actually thought he did not give more than the needed attention to her.

"All right, now that everyone reaffirmed our loyalty and allegiance, can we move on? I need Elizabeth resting in a comfortable bed to properly tend her wounds, the bleeding has stopped but we must avoid infections!" Sieglinde said in a leader's tone.

It seemed that her voice was what was needed to break the spell young master was in, all the while Sieglinde and the others announced their intentions. The boy shook his body to get rid off any lingering daze and immediately started distributing orders that all were eager to follow.

Wolfram took Elizabeth in his arms so gently, like she was the most fragile china, while Finny offered to assist Sieglinde and Mey-Rin ran upstairs with them to find a proper room and bring clean water, linens and everything the dark haired lady needed. However, Finny, before climbing up the stairs, turned and looked at his master and the demon butler, respectively, with so serious eyes.

"Liar or not, Earl or not... demon or not, butler or not... for us, young master and Mr. Sebastian will always be our most important people, as well as Mrs. Selina and Miss Miranda of course, and we will always... love you, honestly!" He said and a new wave of tears flooded his eyes.

The young, so sensitive gardener was experiencing a great emotional confusion. On the one hand, he was immensely sad and grieved for watching Mr. Tanaka dying and then his master having to kill his own brother, but on the other hand, he was also happy that, despite what the people he treasured so much were in reality - scary and deceitful creatures of darkness - he would still stay with them willingly and forever. His sobs were so heartbreaking that Sieglinde could not help but hug him, as she was sitting in his arms, and stroke his hair in an effort to console him as he turned and continued his way up the stairs.

"Aww, my God! He is so pure and sweet! I really want to squeeze him in a hug and protect him from everything and everyone, right Selina? Selina?" Miranda finished quite alarmed, turning to her cousin and seeing her having turned white in the face and barely standing before her legs gave out.

Selina had been standing by her master's side all this time, and the adrenaline from all the action was keeping pain and exhaustion away, but now that she was certain her master was surrounded by people that really cared for him - with the exception of Sebastian, of course... probably - she allowed herself to relax and let out a breath she was keeping for days now; she instantly felt dizzy and all the energy leaving her body. Thankfully, she did not collide with the marble floor since two strong and familiar arms instantly held her up.

"Oh dear, do forgive me! With all that blood mixed in the air I could not tell for sure which one was yours, but you have actually lost quite a lot!" Sebastian said with urgency in his voice, scooping Selina in his arms and starting for the stairs, excusing himself. Miranda followed him with her heart pounding in her chest worried.

Young master was equally alarmed, seeing his tutor fainting like that, so he ordered Sebastian to take care of her - even though the demon was already at the top of the first staircase - and then call the Midfords and inform them about Elizabeth's state.

And with this... we say goodbye to Undertaker for this story! *me waving bye bye at him, pleased he finally gets punished* And he should be grateful he gets away with just imprisonment for... a century or so. 😈

OCiel & Sieglinde: Guilty as charged... there is quite a bit self-insertion in both of their reactions in this part, but I strongly feel it fits their characters as we have seen them so far. I'm totally the type of prefering to admit I have lied before someone accusses me of it and turning the tables on others. Like "You say I lied/you used me? Joke's on you! I never said I was always honest and I used you too!" Good or bad... don't really care. That's how I am. *shruggs*

shikkhika: That's Google Translate (that I hate to use) and some google research... If it is wrongly used, please let me know, dear readers, and help me find the correct word. Thank you all! 😍😍

Snake:... Those who have read the latest manga chapter know... Please, find solace that in the Comforting Darkness universe, he will always be with us! *hugs him tightly*

That aside, I was pleasantly surprised that Toboso-sensei showed he knew the truth about the circus troupe deep inside... As you can tell now, I was totally of the same idea, because I consider Snake one of the smartest and most observant characters in the series! Also, I always thought he himself had chosen the names for his snakes (I appreciate Jumbo much more now), so it had slipped my mind Snake would not know how to read. Therefore, the scene of Sebastian teaching him and Finny assisting... melted me! That bastard demon confuses me so much sometimes...

Till next time! Bye! 😘