Scandal

Chapter VIII:

The Summer Holiday

Thank you guys for those who reviewed and alerted my story:

xenocanaan, jesssayshello, NightlyRowenTree, sousie, Yamaras, scarlettravencrove- Thank you all for the lovely review! Please enjoy this horrendously late chapter from me! Hope you enjoy happy Easter!

Majopi- Undertaker will make his appearance here and there; he is very a background character until something major happens and turns out he's quite the mastermind! So he will do what he does best is watch things from behind the curtains until he has to intervene or reveal his intentions.

Time unmercifully ticked by and July was approaching. While Vincent seemed wholly unfazed by the mounting works and tests, she knew he was just as stressed as any students were in their exam season. Strangely, although she didn't mind and enjoyed his company as well as the amount of cakes and sweets he brought along, he began to use the barn to study rather than holing himself in the corner of library like he did before.

She didn't bother him and he didn't talk to her other than asking her help for certain questions he struggled – and if she didn't know, they worked together to figure it out; or, in rare time he decided to give himself a rest away from the books, initiated the conversation by asking her about her world or her life.

Today, she was showing him how a phone worked.

"Thank the battery lord that I always prepare an extra battery, charger and 100% charged phone." Julia jabbered excitedly as they were currently engrossed in one of the videos in her photos.

It was a video her friend in media department edited of their holiday to Ibiza, Sihanoukville coast, Machu Picchu, Salar de Uyuni, Labun Bajo, Komodo Islands, Rinca Island, Pink beach, Gili Laba, Mount Rinjani and skydiving over Victoria Falls to look like one of those expensive travel vlog they saw on social media. In reality, they took the cheapest routes they could find and backpacked most of their way to the next while showering once a fortnight and cleaning themselves with wet wipes. Not as glamorous as the videos looked but traveling has always been their dream that they spent three years part timing to save up the fund to go somewhere.

"I nearly died during skydiving but it was so beautiful."

"People in the modern time jumps out from the sky willingly, even with the possibility of death?" Vincent frowned in confusion, "And everyone is partially undressed. The flying metal bird, while ingenious, sounds outrageously dangerous and scientifically impossible…and this contraption of yours'..your world it's very..chaotic."

"Sure the idea of the plane – the proper name for flying metal bird – and phone seems impossible but so am I being in your time so let's never say never. And yes we throw ourselves out of the plane and we pay to do it."

Vincent, now knowing how touch screen worked and that flicking right would proceed to next picture or videos, gave an exasperated look before taking the phone from her and albeit with awkwardness with its handling, operated the phone with more ease than at the beginning.

See, even a 19th century Victorian person can get used to modern apparatus given enough time and gentle induction.

Julia took her attention to Vincent's book on chemistry and biology, comparing to modern knowledge she knew while occasionally checking the screen to see what he was seeing. He was still in her photos, swiping on various pictures and videos.

"Is this your family?"

She turned to look and it was indeed her family picture including her dad during Halloween where they decided to dress up as Addams family, looking all stern and fear-inducing with her dressed as Wednesday and her sister deciding to dress up as Amanda.

"Halloween costume, that's my mum, my dad and my sister, Kylie."

He left it at that and returned to more perusing.

"What is this picture supposed to be? You have many pictures like this." He held it up for her and found herself lost as how she could explain what it was.

"It's called memes."

Vincent raised a brow in silent plea for the explanation to be put into words he could comprehend.

"So, the picture is describing visually what the words on top of the picture are trying to say." Julia explained although she was losing him fast, "Like this picture shows a woman panicking and it said on top 'when you lose your mum at the grocery store' and it's suggesting no matter how old you are, when you go out with your mum to buy something and you get separated, you'll panic because she's the one that's paying for the shopping and stuff."

"So it is a self-expressive art?"

"Yes! You get it!"

He nodded then returned to the phone, probably thinking modern people have weird perception of arts.

After few minutes, his finger came to a pause on a certain picture, "Is he your lover?"

Julia immediately shut the book and snatched the phone from him to see what it was about the picture that made him say with confidence she and this man were involved romantically. Lo and behold arsehole #too-many-to-count with his arms wrapped around her waist and his face partially buried in her neck as she smiled up at the camera in a bar. Thought she deleted all those pictures but with 10,000 pictures and 300 videos at her disposal, she wasn't surprised she missed some of them.

Hitting the delete and watching the photo getting sucked into the trash bin icon, she handed it back, "Nope, ew, no, never, he's a fuckboi."

Vincent's frown deepened as she justified, "So fuckboy is slang for a player. Casanova. A special type of arsehole."

"So someone like Stuart?"

She clapped excitedly. Oh he was so clever, "You are genius! Yes, someone like him! Modern world have thousands of Stuart. You know, if you landed in my time, it won't take long before you get used to modern world."

"I'll take your word for it."

"So how many exams do you have left?"

"Two next week then it will be over."

"What will you do when the exams are over?"

"Focus on the next work and read few books I have been wanting to."

"No rest?"

"I shall take it slowly."

Which was his word for no rest but he won't hole himself in the library or barn for it, Julia thought.

Then he seemed to hesitate, his lips forming incompletely as though he was on precipice of speech.

"You're worrying again." She commented, having studied several of his expression to – not completely – but enough to discern some of the emotions flashing by.

He seemed surprised by this and cleared his throat, controlling his countenance before, "The school closes in July after the final exam is over and everyone will be returning to their home, including I."

"And you're worried about me."

He opened his mouth once again, closing with thought before remarking, "I am worried what mischief you will be up to."

"Well if you're worried about me staying here, no worries 'cuz I've got somewhere to stay outside of the school during the holiday weeks."

He blinked then deduced it must be with that former, pregnant maid but feigned ignorance, "With whom?"

Julia narrowed her eyes, pointedly revealing, "Let's not play dumb, Vincent, if you can learn an ancient language at fourteen, then you're clever enough to know who I'll be staying with and I'm clever enough to keep up with the Kardashians in chronological order which means I know you've been forcing Helga to show you my letters to Clare before you give the permission to send it off."

Finishing her tirade, she studied Vincent for his reaction and as expected, even getting caught with red hands, his face betrayed no ounce of emotions that suggested any hint of shame or guilt or surprise. He regarded her coolly before handing her the phone back and slacking against the haystack in an ungentlemanly fashion, declaring succinctly "You knew."

"Of course I knew. Helga didn't tell me before you blame her or something."

"I know she didn't tell." He confidently stated. "I presume you are sharp enough to discern guilt on her face whenever you ask her to send those letters."

"Actually, Helga is a good liar. The 'what-if' were all from my intuition of you as a person."

"Oh?"

"I could write a whole book on my tingling spider sense but unfortunately, no computers here. I have a feeling you're hiding something from me. Like breaking, first page news level secret."

He looked at her with an almost daring stare and it was one of few times he became tall enough to stare down at her who was on her stomach with neck strained up to look at him.

"You have a good intuition."

"You're not going to tell me?"

"Perhaps utilise that good intuition to figure it out yourself?"

"Do I look like paparazzi to you?"

"The what?"

"A photographer who stalks high-profile person all day and taking picture of them doing anything while disregarding their privacy."

"I think it would be a good use of your time, no?"

Julia snorted loudly, "Oh, you have no idea what kind of hell paparazzi can bring can you? If you were born in a modern day to a modern aristocrat family, fifty people will follow you around every day, every hours, every second, taking your pictures whether you're eating, sleeping, attending school or going out with your friends and any embarrassing, humiliating pictures will be on the front news the very next day for the whole world to see – you sure you want that? If you want it, I can be your hell."

"Is that some sort of twisted love proposal?" A small, sly smile reached him and she burst out laughing.

"Pfft to you, a kid?" Almost instantly, his face faltered and the temperature dropped as she quickly added, "Because it's illegal. You're fourteen, I'm nineteen nearly twenty so in the eyes of the law, you're a minor and I'm legally an adult so any inappropriate relationship is illegal because I would be taking advantage of you."

"But I'm the one taking advantage of you."

She blinked, brows burrowed, "What? No, we are in a mutual symbiotic relationship, you help me out and I help you out in whatever way I can."

"Of course." He simply said as he gathered his book and slung the backpack on his shoulder, "I am leaving; I will bring your dinner later."

Julia watched helplessly as sulking boy made his way out of the barn, clearly not amused by her belittling of his age although she understood the reason. When she was fourteen, the last thing she wanted was someone treating and viewing her as a child with desperate desire to grow up quickly.

She sighed, falling back to rest her cheek against the cool wooden floor of the barn. Kids are so bothersome. Wait till you get to my age, then you'd realise why Peter Pan said no to growing up.

The rest of the month passed without much incident, except that boy can really hold his grudge and while not outright ignoring her, inaugurated a cold indifference to their relationship. Perhaps this formality was what should have been in this acquaintanceship, an aspect that a 19th century aristocrats would have been more familiar and comfortable being shared between a man and a woman and not the playful, teasing one that she was more accustomed to that might have conveyed a wrong message. That type of thing was definitely not something she intended. Never. Ever.

So came the final day of school and all the junior and senior students began to head toward the gate with their luggage where their carriages awaited to drive them back home until start of the new term. Julia, in the school uniform, met up with Vincent prior to the chaotic assembly as he had offered to take her to Clare's dwelling which she accepted purely because she was too lazy to walk for an hour.

She was surprised to see a genteel Japanese man, while youthful looking; one could see few age lines already beginning to form in subtle corner of his face upon close inspection suggesting he was in his late twenties to early thirties. He wore a neatly pressed black and white suit with a brooch proudly displaying the Phantomhive crest in the left of his chest and greeted them with a fatherly smile, taking the bag from the young master's hand.

"Young master, I did not know you had another company with you."

Vincent shared a glance with her before explaining, "A fellow friend of mine, he need to head to city and I agreed to take him on our way home."

Deepening her voice, he stretched is arm with an open hand, "Sebastian Rolls-Royce, nice to meet you."

The man regarded him for a moment, smile slightly expanding as he return with the firm shake of their hands, "Nice to make an acquaintance, Master Rolls-Royce, please address me as Tanaka. I am the butler of the Phantomhive family."

She liked this man.

Vincent, however, seemed tense throughout their interaction, avoiding a long talk with her on their way to the Central. He was conscious of Tanaka's presence, she could glean, and careful with his wordings so she remained mostly quiet throughout and Tanaka seemed content to not initiate any small talk other than brief 'how did you come to know each other?' as she brushed it off with a typical excuse one could think of as to why a senior would befriend a junior. She was a recent foreign transfer student and Vincent had been the one to guide him around at school and they became close. Tanaka nodded satisfactorily.

She asked to be dropped off in Russell Street, a popular coffeehouse area and great social levellers, open to all and indifferent to social status that it wouldn't be strange for a senior school boy to meet up with a lovely lady. Julia had already arranged with Clare to meet in Will's Coffee House, eat and head home. Thankfully, Vincent had given her some money few days earlier.

Unfortunately Helga declined to come along although she promised to drop by at a later date.

With a brisk nod, she stepped down from the carriage and waved goodbye.

"Goodbye Vincent, enjoy your summer."

Vincent returned with a nod, "You as well. I shall see you in school."

Julia watched as the carriage trotted down the street, waiting until it was out of sight before she began to observe her surroundings. She was familiar with Russell Street and Bloomsbury like the back of her hand in the modern time, with Bloomsbury being home to most London universities and was pivot of students' community. Although her campus was located in South Kensington, she favoured the bustling Bloomsbury etched with long history of diverse students' life and with extensive collections of academics in Senate House, it meant she and her friends often travelled to mingle with other fellow students there.

But the Russell Street that was thriving in front of her eyes right now was a mere alien place in a strange déjà vu like dream, familiar yet strange alternate world she was dropped in. Gone were the students, gone were the professionals, gone were the academics, gone were the traffic that never moves, no more double decker bus, no more underground, no more sky tall buildings, no more planes in the sky.

Everything she knew was gone. Replaced by 19th century Victorian England.

A hand clasped her shoulder, jolting her out of this inner turmoil that was sweeping her mind. Her head whipped to the hand's owner, gazing into the familiar dark, round orbs that Julia always thought was her most fascinating feature.

"Julia..?" It was the first time Clare saw her cross-dressed despite her previous message entailing that she will be wearing a school uniform and not of the maid.

"Clare…" Julia could feel her voice tremble, eyes tearing as she threw her arms around the delicate former maid.

"Woah!"

It was good to see something familiar in this unfamiliar world.

"Uh..Julia…" Clare began, voice muffled by the uniform, "I don't mind the hugging but..people are staring."

Julia lifted her face from Clare's shoulder, noticing that few (actually all) stares were on them. While they were standing in the middle of street surrounded by the cafés vibrant with various patrons at its peak time of the day, the image of a public school boy and a lady in embrace who's standing was obviously too moderate for their paths to ever cross and by a miracle if so, rarely led to a positive relation.

"Right, sorry, I've suddenly became emotional."

"Are you alright?" Clare frowned, seeing the wetness in Julia's eyes, "A-and why are you dressed as.."

"Long story, I'll explain let's go to that café you mentioned about."

It seemed Will's Coffee House was a famous, foremost café in England favoured and frequently visited by famous patrons from the Royals to Bourgeoisie driven to find good connections.

"They don't have venti, pumpkin spice frappe with extra cream?"

"Uh what?"

"Can I take your order, sir, Miss?"

"Venti iced skinny hazelnut macchiato, two pumps of honey syrup, extra shot, light ice, no whip."

The waiter couldn't possibly look more lost than her being stuck in 19th century, "Uh, Sir, I'm sorry what?"

"Then grande chai-tea latte, pumpkin milk, white water, 2% foam extra hot, but not too hot."

The waiter's and Clare's jaws dropped down until they were gaping unattractively and the two were staring at her as though she grew an extra two heads.

"We will have cream tea with Earl Grey, thank you George."

"Actually George, she will be having water. Just one tea."

"Yes, Miss, Sir." The waiter nodded and walked backed to the kitchen.

"Julia..what was that all about?"

Julia shrugged, "The cafés I used to go to would know what I'm talking about." Actually she would instantly be labelled as that total bitchy customer and that it was a modern term for declaring war with the barista and people waiting in line. Even so, she'd rather take the death staggering glares the barista gave as they wrote down the order on the cup along with deliberate misspelling of her name than the world where they didn't even know what a cappuccino was.

"What sort of cafés did you visit?" Clare muttered as she thanked the waiter for the tea and refreshments.

"You want to explain why you are dressed as a student even though you are a maid?" Clare hissed, lines of worries framing her lovely face, "Do you know what the matron will do to you if she finds out you stole a student's uniform and imitate being a Weston's student?! She will put you in prison! Are you crazy?!"

Yeah, she saw Orange is the New Black, nope prison life wasn't for her and she wasn't planning to be anyone's bitch.

"Would it be difficult to just say trust me?"

"Yes."

"Well, trust me. It's a long story and there are some things I can't really explain but I'm safe. I'm being looked after."

Then Clare's face paled, her whole body stiffening, "..A-are you..you're..are you sle–"

"Nope! Let's not go there, no. We are in a purely business relationship for a purely business purpose."

"..Right."

"Anyway, let's move on from me and focus on the real treasure. How's the baby? Are you eating well? You eating lots of fruit and vegetables and meat right? But make sure you cook the meat well and avoid any moulded cheese, raw shellfish and limit your intake of oily fish like salmon, sardines and always boil milk before you drink them. No alcohol or smoking. Any morning sickness? Make sure you keep warm but open windows to let some fresh air in and lots of sunlight in the morning 'cuz Vitamin D, and absolutely no heavy lifting or stress, at least 8 hours of sleep. You are visiting the hospital regularly right? No wearing tight corset and light exercise each day." Julia was glad to see Clare wearing an empire style dress, foregoing corset to avoid putting too much pressure on the abdomen.

"Yes, mother(!) It does feel awkward not wearing a corset anymore but the doctor agreed not wearing a corset is good for the wellbeing of the baby." Clare mentioned, "The baby is fine. There's a little bump, not very noticeable but it's there when you look. I try to eat but I get nauseous every time and throw up and I cry because I feel hungry but the thought of food turns my stomach more and I can't stand the smell of eggs." She picked up the glass of water, taking a small slip.

"Drink lots of water. Especially after you vomit."

"I try to."

Julia smothered the scone with generous amount of clotted cream, taking a large bite. At least these homemade scones tasted delicious compared to the modern variations. One positive thing about 19th century.

"It suits you."

"Hm?"

"Being a man." Clare said, mentioning her horrendous table manners.

"Thanks, it sure is more comfortable."

"I found a new job."

"Hmm?"

"I got an apprenticeship as a seamstress, it's only been a month since I've started and with the money you gave me, I'm thinking of opening a small shop after few years."

Julia grinned, "That's great! Maybe you can practise your sewing skills on me? I need some clothes actually. And I got some great dress designs I was hoping you could make."

"I'm not great but sure, plan up some designs and I'll make it when I get better."

They spent the whole day talking and buying few essentials as they walked back to her small flat in the corner of Regent Street, most popularly known in this time as well as in hers' 'centre of fashion' selling imported and exotic products and beloved by the wealthy upper class and niche consumers. It also meant the rent was considerably higher than a more affordable neighbourhood like Covent Garden, Soho and Gerrard Street where, once a stylish residential area to the aristocrats, they had mostly moved onto a more fashionable area like Mayfair to be replaced by prostitutes, music halls and small theatres – something she wanted Clare and her unborn child to avoid.

Vincent kept his attention on the changing scenery from his carriage window, knowing fully well Tanaka will be asking questions about Julia despite his silent insistence he had no intention of explaining.

"Will you grant me an answer as to why a woman is dressed as a Weston student?"

"Who is to say he is a woman in disguise?"

"Young master, I am still sharp enough to discern between a man's features from a woman."

"We have an agreement. That is all I shall say."

"..What sort of agreement?" Tanaka asked with a particular gleam in his eyes.

Flustered, Vincent's jaw tensed before reassuring, "Gramps," He addressed the butler with the olden nickname he used to favour as a child due to the difficulty of pronouncing the foreign name and at present, when irritated by his unnecessary intercession, even if it were for his sake, "It is purely a business agreement."

"Yes, sir, let one hope it stays that way."

Vincent repressed the urge to groan, opting to close his eyes, cross his arms across his chest defectively and leaned back against the seat as the Phantomhive manor came into the view.

That later evening, Vincent was called into his mother's study and he couldn't shake off the ominous feeling that the talk of the discussion might be far from the usual subjects of his school or matters related to Phantomhive name. He remembered any chidings or berating for whatever he or Francis may have incurred as children happened behind the closed doors of his mother's study and those experiences had left such an imprint in his mind that he and Francis were instinctually gripped by nervousness when they were called to this very room.

Her mother's back greeted him as he knocked and opened the study's door, unresponsive to his entering and for a while they stood in their respective place, unmoving. The slender, ivory cigarette holder delicately held between her index and middle fingers, white dragon smoke snaking up to the air from its end.

He could espy the reflection of his mother from the dark window; face partially darkened by the shadows the light failed to reach and occasional escape of thick smoke from her pink lips. Vincent wondered what she could be observing through the abyss that was the outside of this manor.

She spoke first, appraising the start of the discourse, "I hear you have been indulging in an interesting hobby."

The slight twitch at the corner of his lip was the only indication of his displeasure. He hated being caught out, priding on cunningness he honed since young but recently, that had been the case. It wasn't that he underestimated these women's intelligence, grudgingly respected them and even revelled in the challenge it brought, it still irked him nonetheless that he was the one on the losing end of this game. He hated losing.

"Tanaka told you."

"His loyalty lies in the Phantomhive family. I am its head for now. Anything that concerns us, I should know."

For now. She spoke as though the title was such a transient thing. As though she would not be one soon. As though she would die.

"It is not something to be concerned, mother."

"What sort of arrangement is it?"

"Business. Nothing more."

She turned around, walking around the desk to settle one of her legs on the top, resting most of her weight against it.

"And how did you and that girl come to an agreement?" Her voice was sharp although he knew it was a sign she was worried that her son may have been taken advantage.

"There was an incident, of which I was not involved. She asked me for my help to find her way back home and I accepted."

She pondered over his reason, nodding, "It is very noble of you, helping a lady in distress although it is unlike you to act like an altruistic Samaritan. What made you wish to extend your help and bear the responsibility that follows it?"

"She is.." a time traveller, "Foreign."

"Exotic."

"Unusually strange." He corrected.

"Insane."

Sort of. "Cultural difference."

She regarded her son apprehensively, taking another puff of the deathly stick. The acrid, sharp, sour note resembling a burning timber pierced his nose, stirring unwanted association he formed of the smell to that woman.

"What sort of culture was she born into for you to sneak her into the college and have her dressed as a male student to be smuggled out of school?" He could hear her voice gain a momentum, rising higher and deeper, "You have been concealing her in the school ground from the staff and students all the while carelessly jeopardising yourself to the risk you've created."

By the time she finished, his head was lowered so that his mother could not see his eyes. Mind racing to find a rational excuse to this ridiculous state of affairs he had placed himself in. Regret was the first emotion he registered, then anger, after aggrievement and finally, resignation.

Claudia knew her son would not retaliate to her rebuke, verbally at least and not immediately. He was the type to do so after methodically calculating the most effective method of counterstroke at the moment where the damage will be greater than the one he had received. Fortunately, Francis advocated a more moral idea of lex talionis.

"I wish you spared a grain of that sympathy for your sister when her cat was killed by a stray and you thought it was a good idea to voice welcoming a pet dog in front of the cat's grave we were paying respect to." Claudia muttered, stubbing out the cigarette on the ashtray.

"So, what makes her different? From anyone's perspective, you are like a boy besotted and I hear she is older."

"One cannot enter into a contract of formal agreement with the other sex without needless emotions being involved?"

The corner of her lips lifted, "It can become complicating if one is not too careful."

"Like you and Undertaker?"

The left index on the table flinched slightly, so small and inconspicuous anyone else would think her son's sharp retort meant nothing to her but both knew this affected her more than anything he could say in its place.

A defeated smile appeared on Claudia's lips, a sign that her son had won and realisation of Vincent's wordless plea beneath the refined eluding of the subject, "It seems there are some things I am unaware of, I apologise. Even the closest family have untold secrets from each other and this seems to be yours'. You may go."

Vincent nodded, turning away from his mother.

"Vincent," His mother's call halted him in his track but did not look back to her.

"Can I..meet her?" The streak of implore in her hesitated request stunned him, eyes widened by the encountering of his mother's unfamiliar side, a rare peek at her vulnerability left him perplexed to how he should respond.

"I shall ask her." Vincent managed to answer.

A/N: Thank you for reading! The story is picking up pace and would love to hear your thought on my future plan regarding this story.

I'm thinking of doing few time skips to the day of *gasp* Claudia's death which would bring Vincent into the centre plot of the story and everything else that entails it.

Also, we have yet to unveil the mystery surrounding the Phantomhive family and Undertaker's relationship to them nor do we know how Claudia died which really stirs up lots of questions and confusion amongst us readers.

That also means as a writer, you have the freedom to carve out your own conclusion from past hints and canons. I'm pretty sure Yana-sensei will reveal the truth behind Phantomhive but by that time, this story would have evolved with its own plot. So this story will probably take a different route to canon Kuroshitsuji since generation before Ciel has not really been explored.

I'm rambling here, sorry, okay so time skips okay or nah? You wanna to read the slow developing relationship between them or get down to the business (ha!)? Time skip is unavoidable since I'm writing the story as few weeks to months passing than day passing time but when I say slow I mean not too often if you get what I mean compared to by the next chapter, Vincent is suddenly an adult and graduating.