Madame Red's Manor

Reiko curtsied deeply to her new mistress, her red hair tied back neatly into a practical bun. Her emerald eyes sparkled as she addressed Madame Red.

"Thank you, Mistress, for taking me on as your new maid," Reiko said.

"You were highly recommended by my nephew, Ciel," Madame Red replied with a smile, her scarlet dress billowing as she leaned forward. "And I would do anything for him. He also mentioned you might teach my butler a thing or two."

Reiko hesitated, glancing briefly at the clumsy butler standing behind Madame Red. "Actually, Mistress, Grell is an excellent teacher. I have much to learn from an artist such as him."

Madame Red scoffed. "You make too much of him, Reiko. He's hopeless."

Vanel's Manor

Ciel sat stiffly in his chair, his icy gaze locked on Azzurro Vanel, who lounged across from him. The Italian mob boss exuded smugness, twirling a cigar between his fingers.

"The policeman of England's underworld," Vanel drawled, his Italian accent heavy. "One of the nobles who's done the royal family's dirty work for generations. The Queen's guard dog. How many nicknames do you have, little Phantomhive? And how many families have you crushed to earn them?"

"I suspected it would be you," Ciel replied, his tone cutting. "You shame your family, Azzurro Vanel."

"Haha, come now, my little lord Phantomhive," Vanel said, his grin widening. "Do you know how hard it is for the Italian Mafia here? You Englishmen have nothing but tea on the brain. To survive, we have to think outside the box. And so we found the drug trade."

Ciel's lips curled in disdain. "The Pharmacy Act of 1868 listed opium as a restricted substance. It is the Queen's decree. And I will eliminate both the drugs and the vermin who sell them."

"Ugh, this is why I hate you Englishmen," Vanel spat. "The Queen this, the Queen that. You act like this woman is your mother. Pretending you're better than the rest of us while lining your pockets with blood money."

"I have no interest in the likes of you," Ciel said coldly. "And I've left orders regarding your key. If I don't return, my servants will see to it that the authorities receive it."

"You brat," Vanel growled, his jovial facade slipping. "Don't underestimate me. My men are already at your estate. Tell me where the key is, or your servants will start dying one by one."

Ciel smirked faintly. "Oh, I think they'll be fine. You'd better hope your lapdogs know how to fetch."

Vanel's expression twisted with rage. "The time for talk is over!" he barked into the phone, barking orders to his henchmen.

Phantomhive Manor: Corridor

"Oh dear, this is troubling. Where could the young master have been taken?" Kuri murmured, her blue eyes scanning the hall. Her tone was calm, but there was an edge of urgency beneath the surface.

"Kuri! I found the letter, yes I did!" Mey-Rin cried, skidding into the room with a piece of paper clutched in her trembling hands.

"Addressed to whom?" Kuri asked, turning swiftly.

"To the servants of the Earl Phantomhive!" Mey-Rin squeaked.

"The letter, please," Kuri said, extending her hand.

"Uh… Yes, ma'am!" Mey-Rin said, fumbling to hand it over.

Kuri's eyes skimmed the note quickly. "Kidnapped," she murmured. Her gaze narrowed as her lips pressed into a thin line. "He did this on purpose."

She folded the letter with care, her movements precise despite the rising tension.

"Well, I suppose I can't just leave him there," she sighed.

Madame Red swept into the room, her sharp eyes darting between Kuri and the disheveled servants. "What is going on here?" she demanded.

"Sorry for the disturbance, my lady," Kuri said smoothly, bowing slightly. "I assure you, everything is under control. Please, do not concern yourself."

"Humph, nothing? Are you certain?" Madame Red replied, her voice skeptical.

Kuri straightened, her calm expression unchanging. "Everyone," she said, turning to the servants, "I have business to attend to. Please clean this up."

"Um… Clean up? That means we can eat it, right?" Bardroy asked, grinning sheepishly.

Road in the Woods / Vanel's Manor

Vanel slammed the phone down on his desk, his face twisted in fury. "Idiots," he muttered, pacing the room.

Meanwhile, his men skulked through the woods near the Phantomhive estate.

"Sorry, I missed!" one of them hissed into his phone.

"What do you mean, you missed?" Vanel's voice exploded from the receiver. "You're complete idiots! Get back here!"

"Wait, sir—something's off!" the man whispered harshly. "I see something… What's that?"

"Oh, what now? Did you girls find a bear in the woods?" Vanel snapped.

Suddenly, a scream ripped through the line. "AHHHH!"

"What is it? Talk to me!" Vanel barked, panic creeping into his voice.

"It's coming… closer…"

"Enough games! What's coming?" Vanel demanded, but the line went dead.

Phantomhive Manor: Woods

Kuri stepped calmly over the shattered remains of Vanel's henchmen's resolve, her sharp gaze fixed on the path ahead.

Two men stood in her way, trembling as they aimed their guns at her.

"Oh, I see," Kuri said, her voice smooth and mocking. "That's supposed to scare me?"

The guns clattered to the ground as both men dropped to their knees, paralyzed by the overwhelming wave of fear radiating from her.

"Fear… Pain… Despair… All of your emotions are mine to control," Kuri continued, her lips curving into a dark smile. "This is me being nice. You don't want to see what I'm like when I'm mean."

"Please! Don't hurt us!" one of the men begged.

"Tell me where my master is," Kuri said softly, crouching down so her eyes met his. "And I'll free you."

"Our boss! Azzurro! The kid's with him!" the man stammered.

Kuri smiled faintly, placing her hand lightly against his forehead. The man's body tensed as his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

She turned to the second man, who had tried to flee, catching him easily. Her hand glowed faintly as he too dropped.

"Don't worry," Kuri said as she stepped over their unconscious forms. "I'm not the 'me' who kills."

Sadako stirred within her, a low chuckle echoing in Kuri's mind. "Not yet."

Vanel's Manor

Vanel slammed the phone down as Kuri's voice rang in his ears.

"Pardon me, but I represent the Phantomhive estate," she had said, her tone cool and mocking. "I was wondering if my master might be available."

As the call ended, Ciel smirked from his chair. "Woof," he said softly.

Kuri was coming, and hell was coming with her.