9. What It Means to Be A Hero

JO here...

I remember when Michelle Obama came to my college campus for a speech when this chapter was first posted. Ah, good times. She made her speech about the importance of voting so all you US citizens of age here reading, get registered and VOTE!

EDITED 6/27/23

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji

=/=/=

9. What It Means to Be A Hero

=/=/=

.

Before the big battle could begin, Sebastian unbuttoned his coat and placed it over Ciel's head. "Please do not allow yourself to catch a chill. I will prepare some hot milk when we return to the house. And I shall sweeten it with honey or brandy or something of the sort."

"Brandy? Are you serious?" I said, feeling incredulous that Sebastian would give the kid alcohol when the boy was barely fifteen.

Sebastian smiled at me. "Yes."

I looked at Ciel. "Alcohol is bad for you. You're taking it with honey. End of discussion."

Ciel sighed but didn't argue against me. Behind us, Grell's chainsaw whirred to life menacingly.

"I'm not going to let you go running home just like that, you know?" he said. "My little death scythe here and I are both full of so much pent-up energy these days 'cos our quarry has been much too easy to—," Grell jumped in the air and lifted his death scythe, "—hunt!

Sebastian, quick as a flash, pushed Ciel and me out of the way from the oncoming attack. The death scythe came down with roaring ferocity as it brutally slaughtered the cobblestone below. Dude. If Grell wasn't trying to kill us, this fight would have been so epic to watch. Thankfully Ciel and I were safe from harm. Grell had his eyes set solely on the handsome demon butler.

"You see, rather than be chased, I prefer to do the chasing, Sebastian darling!" exclaimed a maniacal Grell as he came at Sebastian. "So let's have ourselves a marvelous round of tag, shall we?"

"Well, isn't someone excited tonight," I muttered to myself.

Sebastian looked at Grell with contempt. "I have asked you before to refrain from uttering such vile drivel."

He quickly back flipped as Grell sliced the air he used to be in.

"Oh don't be like that! You'll get hooked on my little one once you've had a taste I'm sure!" Sebastian quickly deflected Grell's move by using a nearby lamp post. "You may not look it, but you're pretty powerful, Sebastian darling! Warms my cockles too, it does."

I had a feeling Sebastian was mentally gagging, but his straight face was impeccable as he resisted against the death scythe's force.

"Sebastian move away!" I shouted. "Grell's death scythe will cut right through the lamp post!"

"How right you are little miss Hero!" Grell grinned. "The death scythe can cut through a gas lamp like a twig!"

Before Sebastian could move away, the death scythe sliced through the lamp like butter and nicked his arm. Sebastian gaped silently as what I figured reels of film spouted from the small bloody cut.

Sebastian's face remained shocked as he gripped his injured arm. It was obvious that he was seeing the cinematic records. I briefly wondered what it was like seeing them in real life. Don't get me wrong, I definitely did not have death wish, but curiosity is real, man. Beside me, Ciel became confused by Sebastian's odd reaction to the small cut, not seeing or understanding what the big deal was.

Grell giggled.

"How was it for you, hmm? The pain you felt must have been dramatic no? That just now was a little talent we reapers have. The 'Cinematic Records'," Grell declared grandly. "Grim reapers have a list of those who are scheduled to die and judge them by playing back their memories using the 'records'."

He grinned at a frowning Sebastian. "Should we allow them to live or should we kill them?"

I rolled my eyes as Grell got more dramatic with each passing minute.

"Uh, hello? Still raining here!" I shouted at them.

By now my clothes were saturated. I cursed the fact that I was the type of girl who liked rainy days from inside a nice, dry and cozy environment. Rainy days were to be wisely spent snuggling in bed. And Madame Red and Grell were totally ruining that!

Grell glanced at me. "I swear you're trying my patience. Can't you see I'm trying to have a moment with Sebby-darling?"

"Then get with the fighting and screw explanations! Everyone knows that you people use your death scythes to sever memories and souls from the victims. And that the saying, 'my life flashes before my eyes' is literal."

Grell cocked his head. "I'm now realizing you're not normal, are you? And I don't think it's because you're American."

I winked at him. "That's cause I'm a detective extraordinaire, Red One. And don't you forget it."

=/=/=

Sebastian chuckled as he turned away from Hero and faced against Grell. "I had presumed you were only guilty of poor taste, but to be a peeping tom as well? You truly are the lowest of the low."

Grell grinned as he lunged toward Sebastian once again. "Non, non! That is our job, but—" The death scythe came close, but Sebastian evaded it before Grell reappeared behind him. "I admit, I am a wee bit curious about what lurks in the pasts of fine men like yourselves. Especially when they seem to be the bad-boy type!"

Down came the sharp edge, but luckily Sebastian caught the sides and held it away from his head as Grell applied pressure. The reaper giggled.

"Tee-hee, you can't make-believe like you do humans, Sebby-darling! The death scythe can slice right through memories, souls, dimensions…"

Sebastian's eyes widened at the confession.

Dimensions. Then that means…there was a way for Hero to return to her time.

The thought didn't please Sebastian in the slightest bit. He couldn't let Hero know of this possibility. Not yet at least. Not until he figured out what was going on exactly. Sebastian quickly glanced in Hero's direction, wondering with apprehension if she had heard. Luckily, it appeared Hero hadn't heard that last bit as she and the young master were a little preoccupied with Madame Red at the moment.

=/=/=

So Ciel and Madame Red were having their little talk now. I stood next to him as we faced his aunt, who by the way, is my favorite female character in this entire freakin' show. What a bummer this night was turning out to be.

"Why?" Ciel asked her.

"Why? What is the point in asking me now?" she mused with a curve to her red lips. "When you and I have become the 'Watchdog' and its 'Prey'. If I don't hunt the Watchdog, then I will be hunted. In which case, there is only one way out!"

She lunged at Ciel with a knife we hadn't seen before. I would have been panicking if I wasn't already all over it like a hobo on a ham sandwich—unless they're Jewish.

Just as Madame Red extended her arm to stab Ciel, I grabbed her wrists firmly and twirled her around so that I had her in a sort of chokehold. I applied pressure to her wrist until the knife clattered to the floor. I pushed her away and stepped on the knife, kicking it far from us. I exhaled in relief, glad I timed everything right.

By now, Ciel was somewhat used to me fighting, but he still looked a little stunned at seeing me in action. I winked at him. On the other hand, Madame Red looked downright shocked at having been disarmed so quickly.

"How did you…"

I placed my hands on my hips. "I told you I was a woman of many talents. And as Ciel's pawn, you'd better watch out."

Madame Red didn't look too upset however. In fact, she chuckled.

"Ciel really knows how to pick 'em. First Sebastian, now you."

"Madame," Ciel began, clearly upset. "You are a physician. Why would you kill—"

"A brat like you will never understand!" she exclaimed, interrupting him. Her face was contorted in rage as she glared at her nephew. "Not ever!"

And that was when she took out a gun.

My jaw dropped in shock. WTF? The anime and manga said nothing about a gun!

"Madame Red that's cheating!" I called, this time panicking for sure.

She smirked. "I recall someone telling me that in reality there is no situation where one can win merely by following the rules."

I glared at Ciel and he looked away in guilt.

"Besides, I wish that someone like you," she said, her gaze filled with hate as she stared at Ciel's wide blue eyes. "Someone like you had never been born!"

I heard the click and froze. Fear set in.

Ciel didn't hesitate like I had. He rushed to stand in front of me, intending to take the hit.

No, I thought desperately. No! NO!

=/=/=

Madame Red had every intention of pulling that trigger. She had every intention of easing her suffering and ending the reminder of what she could have had. Who she could have been. The torment, the anger, the jealousy, the depression. It had been eating away at her like a silent parasite until she found herself doing things she would have been ordinarily appalled at doing. It was amazing what human beings were capable of once driven to the boiling point.

Therefore, after having tasted sweet release from her pain and becoming jaded to the horrific consequences of her actions, the deterioration of her character, Madame Red had every intention of pulling that trigger…

But then, Ciel's wide eyes and cute face suddenly morphed and shifted before her wet vision until all she saw was her smiling older sister with her kind eyes and glowing ginger hair. The precious darling sister she had always adored and looked up to. The one who had held her when her mother had died. The one who showed her warmth and love when their father had been unable to.

The one who had dried her tears and told her that even if the whole world was against her, she, her sister, would always be in her corner.

=/=/=

When Sebastian spotted Ciel and Hero about to get shot, his brown eyes shifted to a demon red color as his teeth sharpened.

"Young master! Hero!"

Then, all he saw was red as he reappeared behind the woman in red who dared threatened his young master and demon mate. His body had darkened until it was a black miasma and undisguisable, its human shape deformed. His sharpened hands lifted high, ready to slice the head clean off Madame Red's shoulders when at the very last second, and it was very last second, the young master cried out.

"Sebastian stop!"

The gun clattered to the floor as Madame Red, struggling with herself internally, covered her face with her gloved hands.

=/=/=

I gasped at Sebastian's half-demon, half-human form hovering above Madame Red, his hand a few inches away from her head. My heart was beating a mile a minute at the close call and vengeful intensity overflowing in the demon's red gaze.

The image was terrifying. If I hadn't known Sebastian was a demon, inhuman, I would have screamed like a terrified ninny without hesitation. I probably would have fainted too.

"Do not kill her!" Ciel ordered, voice firm.

Sebastian shifted back to his human form, taking a wobbly step back, looking majorly wrecked—and damn if he still didn't look sexy in his battered human form. His right arm was somewhat severed from his shoulder, blood dripping freely down and soaking his sleeve.

"Sebastian…?" Ciel whispered.

"I know this is a stupid question," I said, looking at the wound. "But are you okay?"

"Tee-hee!" Grell giggled, not too far away. "Why Sebastian-darling! You've got guts! To think you'd sacrifice an arm just to go rescue those brats." Grell started walking toward us as he frowned. "But you are a whole different story, Madame!"

I noticed Madame Red flinch. Hmm, could it be that all those times, deep inside, Madame Red secretly feared Grell? Well, really, who wouldn't fear a gay psychotic grim reaper? Especially one wielding a chainsaw?

"You go on and kill that brat, you hear?" Grell demanded as he got closer.

Madame Red looked like she was in pain. "No…I cannot…I cannot kill this child…"

Grell looked outraged. "How can you say that now? After you've chopped up all those women? If you don't kill him, he'll kill you instead! And after I've gone to all the trouble of assisting you!"

"But, but…" she said, eyes far away.

I noticed Ciel was troubled as he watched his aunt internally struggle with doing the right thing; she looked like the poster child on the dangers of peer pressure. Swallowing my earlier fear, I dashed towards Madame Red as she turned her back to me to face Grell and defend her case.

"This child is my—"

"Oh no you don't!" I grabbed her arm and swung her away from Grell's sneak attack.

She safely stumbled back against Ciel, sans red jacket, complete shock evident on her face as she realized what Grell had done and what her status as a human being would have been if I hadn't moved her out of the way. As for me, I did a split and evaded Grell's chainsaw by a fraction of a millimeter. I quickly moved away as I gauged Grell's surprised face.

He looked at me. "On my life there is definitely something odd about you!" he exclaimed, definitely ticked that he hadn't killed Madame Red.

I stuck out my tongue. "Right. And there's nothing wrong with you?"

"I have a license to be the beautiful way I am. You on the other hand are a stupid human."

I pointed at him. "That's Miss stupid American human to you, sir!" I tossed him Madame Red's jacket, which he caught with one hand. "And take this in exchange for her life. Goodness knows she's been through enough."

Grell looked annoyed. "Hmpf! As if I'd care a shred for the plain woman she's become. I'm so disappointed in you, Madame."

Madame Red looked at Grell with unreadable eyes, a ticked frown marring her perfect red lips. Guess she's still pissed he tried to kill her off. And who wouldn't be?

"I helped you set up your alibi too. And I even broke the rules that govern us reapers, killing women on the list, all for your sake. What a let down! You're just like all those other women. You definitely don't deserve to wear the color red." With that Grell expertly and sloppily put on the jacket. "I say farewell to you, Madame Red! I shall have much pleasure reaping your soul."

He started to walk away, grumbling to himself. I sighed and went over to Madame Red who was now leaning against the brick wall. I smiled gently at her.

"At least you're rid of him. And you can always buy another red jacket."

Ciel walked over to us and clutched his aunt's hand. His eyes were too blue as he stared at Madame Red.

She smiled wryly. "I suppose I've been caught, eh? Looks like I've lost this round."

"Sebastian, what are you doing?" Ciel said, not looking away. Sebastian lifted his head in confusion as he stared at his young master. Ciel faced him. "I ordered you to 'hunt Jack the Ripper'. It's not over yet. So don't stand around twiddling your thumbs, man." Sebastian's eyes widen as he stared at the boy. Ciel was dead serious. "Hunt down the last one."

I sighed and shook my head. I knew Ciel wouldn't take the reprieve, but whatever. As long as Madame Red was safe, my mission here was done. I looked at Sebastian and smiled.

"Yeah, Sebby! You heard what Ciel said. And make it snappy! It's still raining!"

Sebastian suddenly smiled with those too perfect and sinful lips. "As you wish."

Grell giggled, his back facing us. "I was all ready to let you go 'cos I'm really not feeling it anymore, but if you're that desperate to die, I'll do you the favor of sending the three of you…" He turned around and swung his death scythe where Sebastian used to be. "To heaven!"

Sebastian backed several feet away in time to spot some wooden crates near him.

"Heaven was it?" He picked one up with his foot. "I am not fated to go there, I fear."

He threw the wooden crate at Grell. The grim reaper slashed it to pieces, grinning.

"Yours truly is in the foulest mood so don't expect me to go—" When Grell turned around, Sebastian was gone. "—easy?"

He felt sudden weight on his death scythe and saw that Sebastian was perched lightly on it. He swung a leg towards Grell's face without preamble. Grell dodged just in time.

"Hey! You just aimed at my face, didn't you? For a lady, her face is her life! You fiend!"

Sebastian chuckled, evilly I might add. "Oh you are quite right on that account. For I am a devil of a butler."

He actually sounded proud of that, but I didn't blame him. He was a demon, if his earlier stunt didn't already prove it. Try as you might, reform him all you want, the fact of the matter was that Sebastian was a demon and there was no changing that. Grell looked annoyed.

"Hrmf! Do you think a devil can win against a god, hm?"

"It is difficult to say. Having never fought one, I cannot be sure, but, if the young master tells me to win then win I shall. And if Miss Hero tells me to finish this quickly then so I must."

"I don't know what's happened between you and those brats, but you're awfully into them. Especially little miss Hero! She just riles me up!" I raised a brow. What'd I do? The chainsaw came back to life. "But even a devil such as yourself will perish if hunted with a death scythe, you know? Aren't you just quaking in your boots at the thought?"

Sebastian smirked as he placed a hand over his chest. "Not at all. This body and soul, everything, down to the last hair on this head, belongs to my master for now. For obeying the master's orders so long as the covenant endures, that is a butler's aesthetic. His philosophy, if you will. If he tells me not to die, I will not die. If he tells me to die, then I shall disappear."

I was expecting Grell to make his little retort next, except Sebastian continued speaking. This time though, he looked at me, beautiful smirk still in place. I flushed. Dude what was with that gaze? It could have melted my clothes right off! Ciel noticed and scowled at Sebastian.

"Of course, once it is all over, once the master has attained his goal and I devour his soul, I shall rightfully take what is mine. And not a single creature on this earth will stop me. After all, once I am free, my entire being, down to my essence, will solely belong to my little demon mate."

Ciel frowned. "Demon mate?"

"It's like a soul mate for demons," I explained, remembering the conversation about demon mates. "Apparently, every demon has one. But the chances of finding them are slim to nonexistent. Sebastian still hasn't found his yet.

"How do you know that?" Ciel asked.

"Sebastian told me," I replied with a smile. Ciel didn't though, smile that is. Instead he narrowed his eyes at the demon butler who merely smiled innocently at them before bringing his attention back to a rather jealous Grell.

"I'm so envious right now! To think my Sebby darling will belong to another. How utterly unacceptable! And you seem rather calm about the situation considering my feelings," Grell accused. "I do rather like men who pursue their arts, but suddenly I want to stomp on that composed face of yours with my heels and make you lick my shoes!"

Grell swung his death scythe and Sebastian, like the perfect butler he was, dodged it with ease. He did a mid-air back flip and landed a few feet from a grinning Grell.

"A devil and a grim reaper," began Grell. Sebastian used his foot to land a blow to Grell's head, but the grim reaper shifted his head, avoiding the hit. "Will we never be able to understand each other? If a reaper is one whose job it is to retrieve souls, then a devil is a noxious beast who steals and devours those souls! My feelings will be never be recruited. It is almost as if we," Grell jumped in the air and Sebastian pursued him, "were the star-crossed lovers from the tragedy Romeo and Juliet!"

I busted out laughing my ass off, pointing at the demon butler as Sebastian visibly gathered goose bumps on his skin and clothes. Ciel looked a little disturbed by the proud she-male.

Grell landed on the edge of a roof. "Oh yes. If you and I are the stars Shakespeare will surely grieve."

I giggled, no doubt Shakespeare would be rolling in his grave if such a thing were to be true. I looked up at the sky and smiled.

"Look, Ciel! The rain stopped!"

"Ah, Sebastian-darling!" Grell crooned. "Deny thy master, and this ridiculous demon mate of yours, and refuse thy spiteful name…and cast your eyes upon me alone!" Grell flipped in the air gracefully. "Wherefore art though, Sebastian darling!"

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I laughed again behind my gloved hand. Ciel just grabbed my other hand and smirked at Sebastian. It would seem he was enjoying the theatrics at his butler's expense.

Sebastian stared at Grell before he revealed his own smirk.

"From the time my master called me 'Sebastian'," he gave Grell a high kick to the chin, which the bastard avoided. "That word became my covenant and christened me anew. I have been 'Sebastian' since that day," Sebastian landed a few feet away, not knowing just how handsome he looked. "I vowed as much to the moon, you see?"

"Swearing on the moon is an act of an insincere man. Your eyes are of one who does not love. Tarnished eyes. You are a devil that defiles innocent souls with your vile hands and lips. Yes, oh yes, you're giving me the chills, Sebastian darling!" exclaimed Grell as he panted.

Correction: now Grell looked and sounded like he was going to orgasm any second.

"If it's your child we're talking about, I think I'll be able to bear it!"

Is it possible to die of laughter?

=/=/=

Sebastian's left eye twitched.

"Please cease your folly. I find the mere thought revolting."

Not to mention it is biologically impossible, he added mentally.

He glanced at Hero who was still giggling at the confession. If anyone should bear his child in future, it would obviously be his demon mate. But first he'd have to get rid of this idiot.

Sebastian looked back at Grell.

"Such an ice king you are! A beautiful tyrant! An angelic devil—"And on and on went the strings of disturbing praises. It wasn't until Sebastian placed a foot on Grell's hands that were about to lift the death scythe that he felt the end was near. Unfortunately, Grell was still speaking. "I wish the sun would never rise. Then we could keep hunting each other for all eternity. But," Grell's face leaned in close to Sebastian's stoic glaring one. "This is the end of our romantic adventure!"

Grell head-butted Sebastian. He had definitely not been expecting that attack.

"Let us part with a passionate kiss, Sebby-darling!" Grell lifted his death scythe gleefully. "Now I bid you a thousand, no, ten thousand adieus, my sweet prince!"

He swung and Sebastian heard Hero gasp as a fountain of ruby blood arched into the night breeze from Sebastian's chest. Pain blossomed.

"Now show me a dramatic, no, a more moving picture!"

=/=/=

I couldn't see anything, but from my memory of the anime and manga, I knew Sebastian was recalling his last three years as a simple Phantomhive butler. Ciel was confused over the sudden lack of fighting.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Sebastian's going down memory lane," I told him.

On the roof, Grell looked shocked. "Now wait a minute! Who the hell are these idiots?"

Sebastian quickly recovered, but smirked as blood trickled down his mouth. "I'm afraid you'll only find these mundane happenstances over the past year."

"I'm not interested in ordinary folks like these. Show me something juicer! There's nothing beautiful about them in the slightest!" Grell complained.

Sebastian was behind the grim reaper in a flash. "My apologies, however," I almost swooned. Sexy face alert! "You must pay to see the rest."

Grell clenched his teeth in irritation. He avoided Sebastian's blow and landed a few feet away. Sebastian looked down at his clothes and tsked.

"Oh dear, my clothes are in tatters once more. I had hoped that mending the shoulder would help, but this tailcoat is beyond redemption."

"Is he really worrying about that?" commented Madame Red from behind us.

I giggled. "Yup. The man is nothing but 'one hell' of a butler."

Ciel shook his head.

As for Sebastian, he merely took off his tailcoat with a deadly look. His eyes shifted color and became pinkish-red again.

"I did not want to use this approach but I fear I have no choice."

Grell smiled. "Tee-hee! So you've finally made up your mind to fight me seriously?"

They both faced off one last time. I waited on pins and needles as they ran towards each other. This was it! In the next instant Grell's chainsaw sounded like it was dying. Before long, it stopped moving. Grell looked at it with confusion and tried removing the cloth Sebastian had used only to find it stuck within the machine. He then began to freak out.

"Eh? It stopped moving?"

I smiled. Finally, this battle was ending!

Sebastian smirked from not too far away. He explained that if the death scythe stopped moving then it would obviously render the machine's usefulness to zilch.

"I'll get rid of this, right away!" Grell exclaimed, trying with all his might to get rid of the cloth but failing.

"That tailcoat is made from high quality wool. The frictional force of wool is significant. Once caught, removing it will be no simple matter," Sebastian explained patiently. He then sighed dramatically. "As it is supplied by the manor I had wished to avoid employing my coat at all costs, but there was simply no way around it. It was practically in rags anyway," he chuckled. "The death scythe that can cut through everything. That is, if one can actually wield it, right?"

He approached Grell with a smug face, looking very menacing in the moonlight. I whistled. Grell was gonna get it now. Sebastian bestowed his most evil friendly smile as he cracked his knuckles on the frightened Grell.

"If we simply make this a battle of fists, I do have some confidence I can win."

"Whoo!" I cheered, fist pumping. "Go Sebastian! Give him the old one, two!"

Grell paled. "H-Hey, wa-wait. Just not the face!"

Five minutes later, Sebastian smiled again as he wiped his forehead. Grell was beaten black and blue before him, his cheeks swollen and his face utterly disfigured. He mumbled something along the lines of "I won't forget this".

Sebastian merely chuckled.

"Oh? I should expect no less from a reaper. A physical assault cannot kill you," Sebastian picked up the discarded chainsaw and pointed it at Grell. "But what if I were to use this?"

Grell's eyes looked alarmed. "…!"

"Since the death scythe can make mincemeat of anything, then it follows I should be able to make mincemeat of you as well, no?" He tore off the cloth and the chainsaw geared to life.

"What are you thinking? Hold it—GYAH!" Sebastian stepped on Grell's head repeatedly with an innocent smile.

"I do not enjoy being stepped on, but being the one doing the stepping is another story altogether."

"OOOOWWW! D'OWWW! OUUURRCHH!"

"Your wails have a rather tuneful ring to them.

"SEBAS—GYAAH!"

"As a reward I shall send you to the next life with the help of your favorite toy."

I frowned as I stepped closer to him. "Um, Sebastian? Don't you think that you're taking this a little too far?"

"Plea—Please, Sebastian darling, stooop!"

Oh dear. He said Sebastian darling. Sebastian heard and smiled sweetly at me.

"I think not."

And with the look of a deranged killer, Sebastian lifted the death scythe. Grell's eyes filled with terror as he looked up at the demon butler.

"SOOOOOPP!" he screamed.

And before I could react, before Sebastian could slice the grim reaper in half, a metal spear came out of nowhere and prevented Grell's untimely death. I stared at the metal clipper thing in confusion until it hit me like a stray baseball. Everyone looked up to the roof of the building next to the fight. Perched up above the edge of the roof, stood a very familiar figure.

"Pardon the interruption," he began. "I—"

"OH MY FUCKING GOSH IT'S WILLIAM T. SPEARS!" I squealed like the total fan girl I was, startling everyone. Amanda would have killed to be in my shoes. "NO WAY, NO WAY! IT'S HIM IN THE FLESH!"

Now, the Undertaker was like the kick ass uncle I never had, but William T. Spears was the amazingly hot boy next door that you drool over like an all you can eat buffet. Just sayin'—that and the fact that William reminded me of Greg Holroy, my dad's effin' hot lawyer friend that comes down to the station every now and then. As Amanda knows, I am an appreciator of fine male beauty.

"Who's William?" demanded Ciel, walking towards me.

"He's from the management division of the grim reaper dispatch and he's come to take Grell back," I explained. I turned towards William. "Did I get that right?"

"Indeed, though as eerily as uncanny as that was. Who are you?"

I saluted him with a smile. "Hero Sanders, Detective Extraordinaire. At your service!"

"Hero Sanders, eh? A human," he concluded, eyeing me up and down dispassionately. It felt like I was being scanned by a judgey robot. "Although there's something odd about you—"

"Will! William!" Grell exclaimed as he painfully looked up at his partner. "You came to rescue—"

The red reaper's last words were muffled by William jumping down without an ounce of sympathy onto his head. The stone beneath his face cracked into pieces. I winced. William calmly opened his notebook.

"Dispatch member Grell Sutcliff. You are guilty of having violated our ordinances." He proceeded to kick Grell in the face. "First, by killing those not on the list of the dead." The kicking continued. "Second, by using a death scythe without submitting an application for said use." The violence did not cease.

Sebastian, Ciel and Madame Red didn't know what to feel or say to their supposed rescuer.

"We will return to headquarters right away and have you submit a written apology and report," William concluded.

I whistled. Essays, that sucked.

"Listen!" Grell complained through massive swollen cheeks. "I was just about to get killed, you hear? You're so cold—"

"Quiet," commanded William as he flipped Grell over and knocked his face against the cobblestone ground. He then went over and bowed towards Sebastian. "I apologize for all the trouble that thing has caused you. My card," he handed over his business card to a rather extremely confused Sebastian.

"I…see," he replied.

To my delight, William handed me one too. Score! I tucked it away in my knapsack for safe keeping. William gave Sebastian a disdainful parting look.

"Really, having to bow to a noxious beast like you is an affront to all reapers," he admitted bluntly.

"Now, now, William," I chided him. "Don't be so mean."

Sebastian chuckled darkly. "Then please keep watch over your underlings so as not to inconvenience said noxious beast," he smirked. "Humans are so easily tempted. When they are poised on the edge of hellish despair and a spider's thread of salvation presents itself, they will invariably grasp it, no matter the manner of human."

I looked at Sebastian, catching glimpses of his real self through the veil of humanity. Just when you think you knew somebody, they always come back and surprise you.

William fixed his glasses. "Taking advantage of that, you devils seduce humans and live by leeching off of them, isn't that right?"

Sebastian smirked. "I do not deny that."

"At least he's being honest," I told William, who wasn't very impressed. He glanced at Ciel.

"Though as a collared pet dog I suppose you're somewhat better than a mad dog with no sense of fidelity, hm?" Ciel didn't say anything. He stared at the new reaper without an expression. William turned to me. "I also offer you advice to stay on guard. Just from the way he looks at you I can tell he's interested in you. And with him as a demon it will obviously not end well."

I blinked several times, my smile frozen in place. What?

Ciel's expression morphed into anger as he glared at William.

William walked back to Grell. "Alright. It's time we returned, Grell Sutcliff." Said red reaper remained silent as he was dragged away. "Good grief, we're understaffed to begin with and now I shan't be able to clock out on time thanks to you," William muttered to himself.

I smiled dreamily at the retreating duo. "He's pretty cool isn't he? Very skilled and efficient at what he does. Plus he's hot too." How I wish Amanda was here to agree with me.

Sebastian's eye twitched as he took the chainsaw in his hand and flung it at the pretty cool, skilled and efficiently "hot" grim reaper.

And true to the praises said about him, William, without flinching or looking back, caught the thirty-five miles per minute chainsaw between two fingers, stopping the deadly machinery in midair beside his face. He looked back slightly and saw eyes filled with an intense dislike that said something along the lines of "back the fuck off" and something else, something territorial. Once the message got across, the demon butler's frown turned into a radiant innocent smile.

"You forgot something," he said.

William didn't seem outwardly bothered by the passive aggressive Sebastian, but something told me he was both annoyed and mildly worried about something. Probably me since William gave me a pointed look. He must have heard my earlier compliments and didn't appreciate the harassment from Sebastian over my platonic interest. I winced. William fixed his glasses.

"Cheers," he said by way of thanks. "Now if you will excuse us."

He turned around and continued to drag Grell along with him as they vanished into the dark.

Sebastian sighed and turned to face Ciel. "Forgive me, sir. I have failed to capture the remaining culprit."

I waved his statement away. "Doesn't matter, Sebastian. In the end, no one important was harmed."

"Yes," agreed Ciel. "Just let it go."

He turned towards a silent Madame Red as she watched them all, expression unreadable. I glanced nervously between nephew and maternal aunt.

"Well, I don't know about you all," I interrupted loudly, catching their attention. "But I'm tired and wet so why don't we all head back to the townhouse, hmm?"

In the end, we all went back to Madame Red's place. I cannot begin to tell you how relieved and still unable to believe that I managed to keep Ciel's aunt alive. It was decided that she and Ciel would have a chat, so Sebastian was in Ciel's room with me serving up that milk he promised as I finished changing behind the Chinese screen in his room.

"I assume your 'mission' tonight was to ensure that Madame Red wasn't killed?" started Sebastian from the other side of the screen.

"Yup. She was going to die for not killing off Ciel and I couldn't have that happen. She's a good person deep inside who just had to suffer a suckish life," I told him as I got into my nightgown.

"I see. Will you want the honey in your milk?"

"Of course, but I'll have you know I've never had honey in milk before. My flavors usually consist of chocolate or strawberry. Vanilla too."

"People from your time even have chocolate in their milk?"

"You should try making it. Though I'd give anything to taste strawberry milk. That's what I usually get in school. Hey, wait, how long has it been since I've stayed with you guys?" I asked Sebastian as I buttoned up the nightgown. So many damn buttons! I'm gonna have to introduce Nina to the beauty of zippers.

"Precisely three weeks, five days, twenty-three hours and twenty-four minutes. Why?"

I just had to stop and stare at Sebastian from around the side of the Chinese screen.

"What in the world? How come that's so precise? You couldn't possibly be keeping track all this time?"

Sebastian smirked. "What kind of a butler would I be if I couldn't even keep track of how long you've stayed with us?"

I could sense the undercurrent and it brought to mind all those things people have been saying. Grell pointing out that Sebastian fawns over me and William saying that Sebastian was interested in me. What could they mean? Of course Sebastian liked me. I was a good person and a friend. They couldn't possibly be inferring that…

I started to laugh as I finished buttoning up my gown. Twenty four to go!

=/=/=

From the other side of the screen, Sebastian turned his head toward the petite woman.

"Is something amusing?"

"Yeah!" she exclaimed between fits of giggles. "I just thought of something really silly and ludicrous."

"Oh…?"

"I remembered things some people have said."

"What have people been saying?" he remarked absently as he carefully finished pouring the hot milk in his demon mate's teacup.

"That you might be interested in me in a 'romantic' sense. Isn't that silly?"

Sebastian was so surprised that her dense mind finally discovered this fact that his hand moved slightly in the wrong direction and the hot milk spilled onto his hand. He tsked at the mess and set the cup down. But Hero must have heard the noise because she came from behind the screen and gasped at the mess. She rushed over to his side.

"Oh my gosh! Are you okay? Did you burn yourself?"

Sebastian looked at his gloved hand, now soaked with hot milk. He sighed. "Only slightly. I'm afraid my glove is ruined."

"Uh, dude? Who cares about that? As long as you're not burned," she gently grabbed his hand and took off the glove to inspect the damage. The action caught Sebastian off guard, but he suspected it was her habit. She fussed over people. He had seen her doing plenty of it over the young master and the servants back home. Even to himself. She would admonish him and tell him not to burden himself so much and just relax every once in a while.

He smiled slightly. Yes, his little demon mate was certainly fearless and rather foolish in relaxing her guard around him. He saw her eyes widen when she noticed the contract mark on his hand. After the initial surprise her eyes swept past that and assessed the damage.

"You shouldn't worry too much. Demons heal quickly," he told her, relishing the feel of her warm hands on his skin.

"Just because you do doesn't mean you don't feel pain right? We should put your hand under cold water. There, see? Your hand is slightly red and…," she trailed off after seeing the redness begin to lessen rapidly. In seconds the red was gone and his hand was healed. She lifted her face to stare at him with wide brown eyes. "Okay, I admit that freaked me out but it was pretty cool."

Sebastian smirked. "Your very open minded about this and not fearful, considering you were once raised by nuns."

She grinned teasingly at him.

"I believe in God, ghosts, apple pie and hope that the world will find peace. The nuns taught me to be tolerant and have faith. And because of that I'm a rather optimistic person. Plus I've seen scarier things." She tapped his contract mark with her index finger. "Besides, I can't judge you. You are what you are and I can't stop it. So all I can do is nag at you like an annoying wife."

She was joking. He knew she was. But she just had to say that, didn't she?

Hero saw Sebastian's eyes glow with an indecipherable expression on his face. The hand she had been holding suddenly cupped her cheek and his face leaned in close towards hers. Sebastian saw her blush furiously as she stiffened. His smile practically felt feral.

It was time.

"S-Sebastian? W-What are you—!"

He kissed her. Effectively silencing his demon mate.

=/=/=

Oh. My. Fucking. Sugar Honey Iced Tea.

Sebastian Michaelis kissed me.

No, he's kissing me, as in lips still connected. My brain short-circuited.

I couldn't think. I could only feel warm lips pressed against mine. Soft, sinful. My eyelids drooped when Sebastian deepened the kiss. My body grew warm, skin prickling. I leaned into him, my lower back tingling slightly where his bare hand rested. The cotton of my nightgown that met his skin suddenly felt sheer.

This was…divine. I closed my eyes.

Despite how pleasant the kiss was, some part of me, some inner spiritual part, felt a slight tug at it's, how should I say this, aura? No, more like—ohmyfuckinggod! SEBASTIAN'S TONGUE IS IN MY MOUTH!

The rush of heat was so sudden it seared me.

I broke away from him suddenly and jumped back all the way across the room. My face had to be a flaming red because my lips were burning—I wasn't sure if that was a good feeling or a bad one. I held the back of my hand against my lips to make sure the skin felt normal. I looked at Sebastian, eyes wide open as if he'd grown three heads.

Sebastian, on the other hand, seemed unruffled by what he just did. If anything, he chuckled, gauging my reaction. He looked pretty pleased with himself. After a moment where I gave him a flat expression, he stopped smiling and sighed, closing his eyes.

"Well, are you going to stand there all day with eyes wide and mouth agape or are you going to come inside, young master?"

OH SHIT!

I turned and noticed Ciel standing in the doorway. His eyes were wide—he had taken off his eye-patch earlier—and his mouth, as his butler had put it, was agape. It took a minute for his mind to function again and when he regained his sanity he was angry. Very angry.

"Sebastian, you bastard, just what the bloody hell do you think you're doing to Hero?" he demanded, entering the room and slamming the door closed. He faced his butler with a fierce glare that would have had me begging forgiveness.

"I had hoped to tell you this when you were much calmer, but it seems like now is as good a time as any to tell you."

"Tell me what?" Ciel said through clenched teeth. "What could you possibly tell me that would excuse the fact that you kissed Hero? On the lips, like some sort of lover!"

I'd like to know that too.

Sebastian smiled innocently. "But young master she is my lover."

Both Ciel and I double blinked.

"WHOA! Hold the phone!" I exclaimed, arms outstretched to hold off any other outlandish claims. "Sebastian what the hell are you implying? You were my second kiss in my life! Ciel was my first and that was last night!"

"So you finally admit you two kissed," said Sebastian like a parent discovering their teenager's dirty secret.

Ciel blushed furiously. "T-That was a complete accident!"

"So because it was an accident it makes it alright as opposed to mine?"

"Yes! I mean, no! I mean, stop! We're discussing you right now, not me, now explain!"

Sebastian looked at Ciel with a knowing patient look but finally sighed as if inconvenienced. "I suppose it's finally time to tell you the happy news."

"What news?"

"That Hero is my demon mate."

"WHAT?" cried both Ciel and I.

I think I may have fainted—there's only so much real life drama I can take man.

=/=/=

So let me get this straight: I'm Sebastian's demon mate.

After Sebastian revealed that I was his demon mate, Ciel had been shocked and couldn't believe it. Heck I couldn't believe it either. What was I supposed to say to that?

Sebastian had gone into depth a bit more about this whole demon mate thing. Apparently, with a demon mate, all Sebastian had to do was feed on some of my soul and he would become the ultimate powerful demon in all the Seven Circles of Hell—apparently he was quite high on the totem pole but not high enough for his satisfaction. With me by his side, Sebastian wouldn't have to go around looking for a meal because my soul was like a self-replenishing buffet table. In exchange I get immortality out of it and a youthful appearance, so long as my "mate" was alive.

Joy! Sort of.

However, for all that to happen, Sebastian has to claim me so the weird birthmark on my lower back can turn black and I can be his forever. Forever. The word made me feel twitchy.

Of course, Ciel had a reply to this: FUCK NO!

Well he didn't say it in those exact words but that's what his tone implied. And soon after that, Ciel confessed to me, his pale little face blushing after Sebastian goaded him into it. His eyes stared at mine steadily, his expression so serious it nearly had me running out of the room. Ciel admitted, voice low, that he was interested in me. In that sense. The elusive romantic one.

My brain was overloaded. How I would give anything for Amanda right now. She's had boys fight over her before so she would know what to do in such a situation.

"Um, can I get in on this piece of action and say something?" I plowed ahead after recovering a little. "We're kind of forgetting something important."

"Like?" Ciel inquired.

"How about my feelings? Like, just ten minutes ago, I thought we were like the three musketeers. You know? The three amigos? Best friends forever?" I exclaimed, flushing.

"So much for that fantasy," Sebastian said with a smile.

I'll say.

"But you need not worry," he continued, "I am bound by the contract to serve the young master until he has achieved his goal. Afterwards is a whole other story."

Cue smirk. I gave him another flat stare. Ciel glared at Sebastian in response, clenching his fists.

"I'm not planning to hand Hero over to you," he challenged.

Sebastian's smile grew wide. "Of course not, my lord. But need I remind you that you are presently engaged?"

Ooh.

That was a sucker punch to the gut. Ciel gritted his teeth. There wasn't much he could say to that so he just continued to glare at the unabashed Sebastian some more.

"So," I interrupted, the tension in the room steadily rising. "I'm kind of tired. Why don't we just retire for the night and fight tomorrow? Capice?"

In the end, Sebastian tucked us in bed, made sure everything was secure around the room before he blew out the candle and bid us good night.

I couldn't sleep; all that life shocking information still whirled in my brain. To think I'm Sebastian's legendary demon mate and that Ciel Phantomhive likes me, as in more than a friend.

If I had one of those arcade hammers then I'd have whacked those annoying beavers to oblivion in my frustration and confusion. Seriously, what was I supposed to feel? I've never had to handle love stuff before. I mean, it should be obvious by me calling it "love stuff" for Pete's sake! I sighed and sank further into my pillow.

Beside me, I could sense that Ciel was awake but he stayed silent. The crickets serenaded the night, the air in the room feeling cool to my burning skin. My eyelids fell slightly, sleep finally grabbing hold of me. I think maybe an hour had passed since Sebastian left us alone. I thought Ciel had gone to sleep by now but he suddenly spoke, voice soft and clear.

"I'm sorry, Hero."

That caught me off guard. What was he apologizing for?

"For what?" I asked.

He rolled over and stared at me in the darkness. The faint light from the window was blocked by thick curtains. It just barely illuminated his round face.

"For putting you into such an uncomfortable situation," he said.

"Oh." That surprised me. He cared? "Well, thank you. I'm just not used to this kind of…attention."

Ciel smirked softly. "And I'm not used to feeling this way either, but…it definitely feels real. When Madame Red pointed her gun at us, all I cared about was your safety. I wanted to make sure you were safe. If I lost you I don't know…what I would have done," he looked at me, his expression bewildered but utterly serious. I was entranced.

"I've been rather jealous lately," Ciel admitted, gaze lowering, "by all the attention you've been receiving by other men. Deep down, I wanted to lock you away so only you and I could…interact."

Aw, that's so sweet, if not a little strange and sudden. It was surreal to have Ciel, of all people, confessing to me! Like legit this time. As shocked and thrilled as I was though, I couldn't help but doubt the legitimacy.

"So basically you're in love with me?"

Ciel blushed.

"I, well, it's—I mean, I feel…very, very strongly. Maybe it's premature to call it love, but it feels like it. I've never been in love, but based on books that I've read and tales from others, I wouldn't rule it out of the realm of possibility."

What a roundabout way of saying "yes, maybe?". I smiled and nodded, shifting my gaze away. I couldn't believe it. I wasn't really sure what I personally felt, but I knew that I cared about Ciel. A lot. I would have been really happy by his words had Sebastian's earlier confession not come to mind.

"But Ciel, aren't you kind of engaged?"

Never mind that his soul was also at risk.

Ciel sighed and closed his eyes. "Yes, I am. But I also know what I feel and quite honestly…I'm not going to let my engagement stop it."

My eyes widened in shock.

Boy, is Lizzy gonna get maaad. And that kind of killed me inside because I liked Lizzy and I didn't want to upset her. I wondered how this was all going to work out. I'm also Sebastian's demon mate, apparently, and who knows how he feels about me. Just thinking about him brings back the tingling sensation on my lips and I flushed.

"Another thing," added Ciel. "Thank you."

I arched a brow. "What's the thanks for?"

"You saved my aunt. If you hadn't pushed her away, then the grim reaper Grell would have killed her."

I smiled, eyeing him tenderly. "Oh. No problem. I'm just really happy she made it in the end. Speaking of which, what did you two end up talking about?"

"I told her that I wouldn't report her to the Queen. Since Jack the Ripper is no more, there was no need to reveal such a thing. She in turned explained to me what lead to this mess."

"I wouldn't worry about that much anymore. It's over now and we can only look to the future," I told him cheerfully. "Besides, you'll soon have bigger fish to fry, so buck up!"

Ciel chuckled softly. "You really are a foolish girl."

I grinned and winked. "That's Miss foolish American girl to you, sir." I yawned, my eyes drooping. "It's getting late now. We should really go to sleep. Good night."

My eyes closed, the day's events beginning to float away from me.

Something soft and warm pecked my lips. It was brief and I snapped my eyes wide open to find a smirking Ciel. He just sneaked kissed me!

"Sebastian gave you one so I thought I should too. I won't let him best me and I was serious about not handing you over to him or anybody else. You're my pawn and so you shall remain. I'll be damned before I lose you to anyone."

Boys. Just when you think you knew them. I grabbed his hand and smiled ruefully at him. "Alright, I get your point, mister. Now let's get some shut eye."

And so I mistakenly believed things would work out in time. But there were several important things I missed like when and how would I be getting back home.

I couldn't possibly stay here, could I? And what about Lizzy? She's bound to object to Ciel being in love with me—something I'm still trying to process at this very moment; would that make me a cougar or cradle-snatcher? Besides, the little Earl was hers so what right did I have to hold his heart? I wasn't even from here.

And then we have Sebastian, the perfect freaking butler in the whole universe. I was his demon mate and as soon as he finishes his contract with Ciel, I was all his for the claiming, so he said. But even if I was his demon mate, did that mean he loved me? I doubt it. Sebastian himself had said that demons didn't know how to identify real love. And there was no way I wanted to end up with someone who didn't love me.

What was worse was that both Sebastian and Ciel intended to woo me. And me being the densest girl in the whole freaking universe, I had NO IDEA how all this was going to end.