JO here...

Back from life, sort of. I thought it was time I posted the first chapter to the sequel. It's not as long as I would like, but I'll eventually make minor changers/additions at a later date.

Alright so here are some need to know basics:

1. This sequel is going to be rated M because things start to get real dark and mature.

2. Over The Crystal Gate will feature arcs of the manga from school to hopefully when the "Twin Ciel" thing happening at the moment.

3. Season 2 will also be a thing because I adore Alois with all my heart and don't worry, their involvement in the story will not be random. You guys have no idea how long I've had everything planned.

4. EVERYTHING will be revealed in this sequel. When I mean everything, I mean ALL the mystery I have been teasing you in TTLG about Hero, the demon mate thing, Sebastian, her dreams, etc.

5. And finally, Hero will decide who she'll choose to end up with. The consequences of her choice will be shown, explained and you'll even see snippets and scenes of her "future".

This is going to be it, folks. The time has finally come you all knew the truth, the theories, the everything and I can finally post fan arts about the story without revealing spoilers. So get ready, you're going to be in for a ride.

P.S. My writing is better too! So that's another thing to celebrate, though forgive me for minor mistakes.

Disclaimer: I do not Kuroshitsuji

1. Memories are a Thing of the Past

"You know something Pepper?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm getting really worried about Hero," Amanda confided over her chai latte one afternoon. The tall willowy blonde, wearing the latest in Lilly Pulizter, glanced cautiously over to the Hero in question. The small-ish Hispanic girl stood in line at the outdoor Starbucks, staring vacantly at the back of someone's shirt. Amanda's hazel eyes met Pepper's dark ones in concern. Pepper, for her part, scoffed lightly.

"Amanda please, you know Hero's like a zombie when she doesn't eat first thing in the morning, especially when she's gotta get to Dona Carmen's dance practice at 9," she replied calmly, stirring her drink. Pepper was a stunning curvaceous Chinese woman with straight dark hair. But what she was really known for, was her logical view of life. Something her overbearing mother had a hand in.

Amanda said nothing, sipping her latte. Her neat and even nails tapped rhythmically against the table. Pepper would have gotten lost in her own thoughts about her assignment for the week had not the noise that Amanda was making bothered her. She looked at Amanda who merely sat there, waiting. Peper mentally sighed.

"Okay, I give in, why are you worried about Hero?"

"It's been six months," Amanda whispered.

"Yeah it has. And if you're referring to her attitude, then I gotta tell you I much prefer this Hero then the Hero of six months ago," Pepper answered her honestly. Well, Amanda had to give her credit for that opinion. Everyone preferred this Hero then the Hero of six months ago.

"I know but…something weirder is going on with her," Amanda explained. "When we stopped by her old mailbox near the park, I asked her when she was going to take up her Detective business again and you know what she said?"

"What? That she started it in secret behind our backs and was keeping it on the DL? Wouldn't surprise me."

"No! She said she was done with being a Detective Extraordinaire! Forever!"

Pepper choked on her drink. Amanda had to pat her back and reassure the customers around them that they were fine. When at least the pretty Chinese girl could breathe, she looked at Amanda with shocked eyes.

"Are you serious? Hero? Not be a detective? What kind of joke is this? Oh my gosh you're right to worry. I mean, when Hero told me she wanted to be home-schooled instead of finishing high-school with us, I was so stunned. But now this?"

The pair of them glanced at the girl in question who was paying for her fruit smoothie.

"At least she's still into her fruits."

"Who knows when that will last," Pepper murmured worriedly.

When Hero Sanders had returned to the fold of Miami, Florida, friends and family were ecstatic to have her back. She was safe, alive and with them at last. She seemed to have returned the feeling with equal fervor, crying when she hugged her dad, grandmother and friends like life lines. Although when an inquiry and investigation was made about her whereabouts, Hero couldn't remember anything. When hospitalized, she was diagnosed with amnesia. It was a shock for everyone but they mercifully didn't bother her about her disappearance and what she could remember of it.

Everything seemed to have gone back to normal a few weeks after Hero had returned. Just like old times. But then…Hero became weird. She would constantly cry, mope around the apartment, sulk in public. She was depressed, unbearable and uncommunicative. Sometimes she would even mumble and cry in Spanish. She would get sick and basically worry the hell out of Phil, who at first thought that she was pregnant. When that scare was over and the doctors could find nothing physically wrong with her and the therapists were unsuccessful at getting through to Hero, Phil had decided to let her be, let her get whatever was wrong with her out of her system.

But that had gone on for months. She had refused to go back to school, had quit her extracurricular activities as Detective and dancer, and had stopped watching TV and cooking. Staring off into space had been her preferred activity.

Talking to Hero then had been painful for both Amanda and Pepper. While they had no problem helping Hero deal with her depression, she would sometimes lash at them, angry at them for no fault of their own. Phil seemed to be the only person she could tolerate, but even then, she would clam up in her room, blinds closed. Not even the dog Noodle was allowed in.

Phil had been contemplating on what else to do, when suddenly, about a month ago, Hero had emerged from her room, fresh as a daisy, smiling big and announcing she was going to go out and play with Amanda and Pepper. While everyone was shocked by her sudden behavior, they cautiously welcomed it. And indeed she remained…well, "normal"-ish, even to this day.

Although, Amanda was noticing some unusual signs.

Just as Hero was returning to them, someone had backed into her and the drink in her hand splashed onto her shirt, lid popping open easily. The offender turned around and sneered.

"Watch it bitch—"

Hero's remaining drink was thrown at the guy's face, hitting him squarely and making him smell like Magical Mango Mamba. Her angry eyes and mouth unleashed hell.

"You fucking watch it, dickhead. Some of us can't afford to get another drink!"

"Ugly bitch!" The guy yelled angrily, looming over the Hispanic girl.

Amanda and Pepper gulped in fear, getting up and hoping to avert a situation. Mostly for the guy's sake.

"The fuck did you call me?" Hero demanded, getting in the stranger's face. "Boy you better damn well pray I don't break your face, maldito pendejo!"

A crowd was forming around the two and before Amanda could do anything, the guy sent his fist flying. It smacked her in the face and made her back up.

"Call the police!" Someone yelled.

But quick as a flash, Hero gave him a high kick that smashed into the man's chin. It knocked him down. Like a cut tree falling, people scattered out of the way.

"Hero!" Amanda and Pepper gasped. They grabbed her arm and dashed through the crowd, hightailing it out of the area before the cops showed up. A few blocks later, the two girls collapsed in exhaustion. This was the most exercise Pepper and Amanda had ever done. Hero wasn't even breathing hard. In fact, she was looking pensively at the ground, cheek slightly swollen, nose trickling just a dap of blood.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

Pepper and Amanda eyed each other.

"Its fine," assured Amanda. "It was the jack ass's fault."

"Though you know, you could have just ignored him. Did you kick him…hard?" Pepper tentatively asked.

Hero shrugged. "He'll live."

The girls let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly, Hero's head snapped up as she checked her watch.

"Damn it. Sorry girls, I better return home and clean up before I go to Dona Carmen's," Hero said as she began to rush forward. She looked backed, running backwards. "Are we still up for Bayside at 6?"

After their confirmation, Hero gave them a thumbs up before turning around and running home. Ten minutes later, a little out of breath, her nose and cheek faintly stinging, Hero climbed the stairs to her apartment, grabbing the keys out of her pocket and going inside.

She lived in a small apartment building in Overtown, where the majority of the Latinos dwelled on the other side of the highway. It was a modest home, the only thing Phil could afford with his current salary. The building was old so there were a couple of things in the apartment that needed repairs but that had never bothered Hero or Phil so they let it be. They had lots of noisy neighbors all around but they took pity on the single father and daughter and generally supplied them with delicious leftovers that would last Phil and Hero for days. So they definitely weren't complaining!

Phil was home that day, lounging in front of the TV in his shorts and shirt, watching last night's game of the Marlins. Hero looked at him, watched his excited expression as the team scored another point. Hero didn't have the heart to tell him that they would lose. Phil glanced back at her arrival, making Hero hastily turn her face away. She'd rather not have to explain the bruise.

"Back so soon?" Phil asked curiously. "I thought you were going to be out for the majority of the morning?"

"I am, but I came back because I forgot something," Hero lied, heading towards the small bathroom. She turned the faucet on and washed her face.

"Tsk, tsk," Phil said absently, cheering yet again as the crowd in the TV roared. "Can't believe I missed yesterday's game. Thanks for recording it by the way. I had to tell Manny at work to shut up on the spoilers."

Hero looked at herself in the mirror and winced. She grabbed some make-up Amanda had bought for her but never used and started covering up the bruise on her cheek. Noodle patted inside, tongue sticking out, hoping it was his walk time.

"Not now Noodle. When I come back, I'll walk you, I promise," Hero mumbled, awkwardly applying the goop on her cheek, trying to remember how Amanda applied foundation to her face. Once she was satisfied she didn't look like a clown and that no one would be the wiser, Hero put everything away and walked out. She almost screamed in fright when she saw Phil waiting for her outside the bathroom.

"Oh sorry," he said, flushing.

"It's alright. I gotta run," Hero said.

"Don't forget to call Grandma around noon, alright? She's been anxious to hear from you," Phil added at Hero's retreating back. "And text me when you get to Carmen's alright? Text me when you finish too! Be careful!"

After shouting an affirmative, Hero raced to Dona Carmen's School of Dance. Today they would continue to learn how to tap dance and Hero was eager to learn. Mounting on her bike, she pedaled hard, avoiding pedestrians and crazy drivers that didn't know the existence of blinkers. While waiting at a red light, Hero blankly stared at the glowing red, feeling hot under the sun. From the corner of her eyes she saw a black figure, causing her to turn her head suddenly, feeling anxious.

But nothing was there. Just a crowd of irritated folks, waiting for the lights to turn.

"Alright folks! That's a wrap for today!" Dona Carmen announced, voice almost identical to the famous Charo. "We'll meet again tomorrow. Don't forget!"

Hero gulped down the water in her water bottle, using a spare towel to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Dona Carmen approached her, heels tapping against the wooden floor.

"Hero," she said, putting a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder. "Good dancing today. I'm glad you decided to stick around my little abode."

Hero looked up and smiled, teeth showing. "Of course! I love dancing Dona Carmen."

Dona Carmen stared at the younger girl, eyes betraying her true feelings on the matter that was Hero. She had been this girl's dancing instructor since she was twelve. Now that the young girl was seventeen, it amazed Dona Carmen how fast time flew by. She felt a little protective of her when she remembered the gaunt, lost look Hero had sported when she first came to America.

Dona Carmen would occasionally inquire about her welfare every now and then, asking how she was getting along, which was a lot more than what she did for the majority of her students. She had been worried when she heard what had happened to Hero in England. Thank God the child was home now! Safe and sound-ish!

She said sound-ish because though Hero was fine physically, there was something about her that seemed...off. She was different than before. Dona Carmen didn't know whether this change was a good or bad thing.

But instead of addressing her concerns, Dona Carmen merely sighed and returned the smile. She had a feeling Hero wasn't ready to talk about what happened yet. She might never be.

"Right. Now off with you, then! Be careful on your way home. Textea tu papa."

Dona Carmen didn't have to tell Hero twice. After changing in the locker room, Hero texted Phil, letting him know that dance class was over and that she'd be heading home. A year ago, texting Phil for anything other than an emergency or a grocery run would be a mystifying thought. Now it was a common occurrence. Phil wanted to know where she was at all times. If she didn't text in time, he'd literally go into his police cruiser and go looking for her. The last thing Hero wanted was to add or give him any worry and embarrass her at the same time.

Right after the text, Hero tried face timing her grandmother. When that was a no go, she simply called regularly and plugged in her headphones. She answered around the third ring this time.

"Hello? Hero! Good of you to call me! I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me," exclaimed Grandma Sanders.

"Hi, grandma," Hero said aloud, pedaling back home. "Just finished coming from Dona Carmen's. I'll be meeting up with Amanda and Pepper later at Bayside."

"That sounds fun, my dear. You be careful now, okay?"

Be careful. Those words. It's what everyone is saying to her nowadays.

"Oh and before I forget, I booked your plane tickets for the annual trip to Mexico next week," Grandma Sanders continued. "I'm happy you decided to go again this year."

"Of course, grandma," Hero replied, smiling. "I could never deny where I came from. It'll be good to give back. Plus Sister Teresa will be so excited to see me again and see how I'm getting on."

There was a slightly awkward pause. No one had told anyone at Casa de Maria what had happened to Hero this past year. Hero herself didn't plan to mention it and neither did Phil. Grandma cleared her throat and continued the conversation, telling her adopted granddaughter all about her charities that she's worked hard on up there in Orlando. This took about seven minutes of travel time for Hero who patiently listened without interrupting. Somehow along the way, Grandma Sanders shifted to the subject about Phil's lack of a love life.

"Has he found anyone yet?" She inquired like a true nosy mother.

"No, unfortunately. I know Joali has a crush on him but I don't think he realizes it. She's always stopping by, bringing over her famous Indian dishes. If he doesn't man up and see what's in front of him, I'm willing to do an intervention and marry the girl myself." Hero declared, stopping at another red light.

Grandma Sanders sighed. "That boy makes me worry so much. At least now he knows how I always feel."

Hero giggled softly.

"But tell me now deary, have you found anyone you're interested in?"

The laughter quickly died. A hallow feeling suddenly took hold of Hero, though she kept her voice neutral. "Uh, no not really. The boys around here suck."

Grandma Sanders tsked. "I suppose that can't be helped. But speak softly, I'm sure you'll find Mr. Right soon. Miami can't be all that devoid of fine gentleman," Hero didn't respond to that as she pedaled, the green light appearing. Grandma Sanders continued. "Well, I have to run, my dear. Stay safe. It was a pleasure speaking with you. I'll come down next month when I've finished all my engagements."

"Okay, see you later then. Love you, grandma!"

With that the line ended and Hero's thoughts ran amuck. When she made it home, she was silent as she climbed the stairs. Entering the apartment, Noodle ran up to her, tailing wagging, tongue hanging. She smiled slightly and bent to pet him.

"Hero?" Called Phil. He quickly emerged from his room, looking winded. "Good thing you made it. I've decided we should do something fun together."

Hero arched a brow. "Oh? Fun? What did you have in mind?"

Apparently, fun to Phil meant spring cleaning.

"Daaaaaaaaaaad," Hero whined as she started throwing away useless junk from the hallway closet. "This is lame."

"Maybe," Phil responded from the living room, throwing debris into trash bags and dusting. How weird! "But we'll feel better about it afterwards."

Hero peered at some old essays from middle school before throwing them away. "But why now, all of a sudden?"

"Well, I tripped over your skateboard that somehow ended up in my room—"

"That was Mrs. Dolores's kid! He's a menace."

"And then I went to the bathroom to search for a Band-Aid when I saw your collection of craft materials bulging from the cabinet—"

"There wasn't any space in the hallway closet!"

"And I didn't know that. So I went to put them in the closet. I open the door and everything came tumbling down on me."

Hero winced. Even she knew to avoid the hallway closet. No wonder she didn't get bombarded when she opened the door.

"So I think some spring cleaning is long overdue."

"If Grandma Sanders heard you now, she'd be doing back flips."

Phil flushed. "Adulthood, Hero. It does things to you. Anyways, what did mother say?"

"She booked our tickets for Mexico next week," Hero told him, discovering some eighties rollerblades. She held them out to Phil who perked at seeing them. "Dad you don't even use them! Do you know how to even rollerblade?"

"What? Of course I do!" Hero smirked, face saying "Oh really now?". Phil blushed. "Okay fine. But let me donate them instead."

Hero laughed as she handed them over. Phil crouched under the couch and pulled out some magazines and books.

"What about these fashion magazines?" Phil asked, staring at Noami Campbell's flawless face curiously.

Hero didn't look away from her task. "Just throw them away. They were Amanda's but she never reads anything that was two seasons ago."

Phil held up some smaller books. "What about these mango books? The one with this cartoon looking...butler?"

Hero's head swiveled around so fast it startled Phil. She stared intently at the mangas in his hands. Her face looked like she was having an intense inner battle. After about a few minutes of silence, Phil suggested an alternative option. "I can leave these aside so you can decide on them later—"

"N-No!" Hero interrupted, looking distressed suddenly. "Just...just throw them away. I don't need them."

Phil blinked. "Okay, if you insist."

And in the trash bag they went.

Hero was rushing back to her apartment after taking a quick grocery trip to Walgreens to buy some first-aid kit supplies.

After cleaning the small apartment, Phil had to knock his head against the one of the kitchen cupboards, cutting himself and making the wound bleed like a water fountain. They had discovered no first-aid supplies so Phil used an old shirt to staunch the flow.

"Head wounds always bleed too much, Hero. Don't worry! It'll stop in a minute or two," he told her, smiling like a simpleton. It was a wonder how this man was a fearsome police detective. Grandma Sanders was right to worry.

"You do that. I'm gonna go pop into Walgreens," she said, trying to find her wallet in her still untouched room. "You sit still."

Phil didn't stop her, though he did ask her to text him when she got to the store and when she left it. As Hero jogged in place, waiting for a rush of cars to pass through, a familiar girl approached her.

It was Hailey Richie. She used to be an old schoolmate before Hero had dropped out. Popular, but still a bookworm, Hailey had been a friendly and kind girl. She was a senior in high school now.

"Hey Hailey, what's up?"

"Hero, please! I need your help," Hailey pleaded, hazel eyes almost watering. Hero frowned in concern.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"My house got robbed yesterday. The thieves stole my dad's lucky key chain fob. The one he got when he was stationed in Pakistan. Please is there any way you can find it?"

Hero frowned, knowing where this was going.

"I'm sorry, Hailey, but I'm not into the detective business anymore."

Hailey looked surprised.

"What? Really? But why? You were so into it in school."

Then she remembered what happened. Everyone in Miami who was even closely associated knew all about the girl who disappeared in England for six months. Unspeakable horrors and dirty rumors abounded until she had been found, floating, lost at sea, wearing next to nothing (an exaggeration really). When asked what had happened to her, it turned out Hero had conjured amnesia so one really knew if the rumors were true.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Hero. I forgot."

There it was, the pity.

It bothered Hero greatly. She didn't need anyone's pity. She was adjusting to her life like always, so what if she did things differently now? Everyone changes after all.

"It's fine. And my not being into the detective thing doesn't have anything to do with what happened."

Hailey hesitated. "Um...would it be rude of me to ask, what did happen?"

Hero blinked.

What happened? Did it matter? Everything was business as usual. Besides...

"...I don't remember."

"That's it! I'm calling an intervention," declared Amanda as she got up from the table she and Hero had been sitting in.

Pepper was supposed to have met them an hour ago but her mother forbade her from going out tonight. She could do nothing but obey. This left Amanda to man the one-woman intervention show she and Pepper had been planning to spring on her.

While Hero seemed perfectly fine minus a few odd changes, Amanda, as designated best friend, had sensed something not right with Hero the minute she was released from the hospital. She hadn't pried like she normally would have and had decided to allow Hero some space before she was ready to confess. But its been almost half a year and Hero's attitude has been driving her up a wall!

So now it was time. Pepper was supposed to have helped but no matter, the show must go on!

"What are you on about?" Hero asked, munching on her churro as they waited for the live band to go on in the courtyard.

"Hero, you know I love you but holy moly it is time for you to tell me what happened to you during 'Those Six Months'," Amanda said, eyeing Hero's reaction.

The girl flinched and that made Amanda feel bad but she hardened her resolve.

Hero swallowed. "I already told you. I don't remember."

Amanda rolled her eyes. "Bullshit and you know it."

Hero stood up, stuffing the rest of the churro in her mouth before crumpling the wrapper. "I shaid—"

"Hero I'm your best friend. Emphasis on best friend. You can talk to me. I'm here for you."

She swallowed again. "What makes you think anything is wrong?"

"I heard from Max who heard from Tiffany who heard it from Amie who got it from Hailey that apparently, your officially done with being a detective."

Now Hero rolled her eyes. "Just wanted a change in careers."

"Oh yeah, what will you pursue then?"

Hero shrugged. "I don't know. I'll think of something."

"Hero, being a detective is your life. In fact, I haven't seen Louie at all." The Hispanic girl stiffened, not meeting the blonde's eyes. Amanda continued. "Granted you most likely lost it during your Six Months but you haven't brought it up once. Even that wouldn't have been bad but you've been extremely bipolar lately. Either your too moody or too angry."

Hero glared at her, standing up and walking away.

"I don't remember anything about that period! And I don't have to talk to about this!"

"Don't you walk away from me! I'm doing this for your own good!" Amanda exclaimed as she followed Hero through the Bayside outdoor mall. "I was with Ricky, my boyfriend, today when I spotted Phil at Firehouse Subs." Hero kept walking, her legs taking long strides to avoid the blonde. Oh but boy was Amanda determined! "I dropped by to say hi and he was telling me about the clean out you guys did. Told me all about how you had gotten rid of ALL OF YOUR BLACK BUTLER STUFF."

That's when an angry Hero whirled around, eyes shiny and flaring.

"Stop it! Just stop it! I can do whatever I want without it having to be related to that Incident!"

"But Black Butler? You love that show! You haven't even talked about it once since you came back! Like at all! And a new season for the anime just came out! Do you know how far behind you are in the mangas? Like three arcs happened and—"

"WHAT DOES IT MATTER?" Hero shouted. "That stupid show doesn't matter! Nothing matters! It's all over so leave me alone!"

Amanda gasped when Hero smacked a postcard stand over before booking it. That bitch! She apologized to the booth owner, helping stand the thing while people looked on. Oh that girl! No way was she going to let that idiot escape.

"What was with the yelling match? I thought Americans had a little more civility then that when in public," said an unfamiliar voice in a posh sounding British accent.

Amanda turned around and found a kid around his pre-teen years dressed in the latest threads staring at her from underneath his hat, looking bored and unimpressed. Well wasn't he a cute one? She especially liked his eyes. They were the prettiest blue she'd ever seen. She flushed, embarrassed.

"Sorry. My friend is going through a rough patch right now. I have to knock some sense into her."

"If she doesn't want help, then just let her be," he said, handing her a loose postcard that had flown.

Amanda frowned when she took the card.

"I would but its been months. She's in denial. I wouldn't have intervened if I didn't feel like this is what's best for her. I love her and I refuse to see her self-destruct and become something she's not because she can't cope. This is what I'm here for. I know she'd do the same for me too."

With that, Amanda left, heels tapping against the cobbled asphalt.

The boy looked after her, hands in the pocket of his capri jeans. So much for a useful night.

The boy couldn't believe how strange and useless this place was. He winced suddenly and blinked in one eye, touching it lightly. He noticed a small shiny card on the floor and picked it up, examining it. It looked like a credit card.

Amanda Garet.

"Alright there, Triple G-Pops?" Asked a well-dressed teen with neat dark hair and blue eyes in a cultured posh British accent. He approached the boy, sipping on a smoothie.

"Yeah. Hey this is important right?" The boy asked him.

"Is that...? Oh ho! You better turn that into the lost and found. Whoever lost it will be missing it big time!"

The boy sighed. "How troublesome."

"Hero? Hero, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I really just care about you," Amanda confessed, feeling like the world's most terrible villain.

Hero sat on the grass, head bowed, bawling her eyes out. Amanda crouched beside her, patting her back gently. Through the baggy t-shirt, the blonde could feel how thin Hero had gotten. When she had been found in the ocean she was a lot rounder looking.

Amanda wasn't sure if that had been a good thing.

The two stayed that position for a while, the older girl glaring at the people staring at them for making a scene, until Hero's sobs quieted. Amanda had never seen her friend break down like that. The situation felt like a scene straight out of the Twilight Zone. It was unnatural, scary.

Hero had always been a strong girl and not just physically. She didn't let anything phase her, instead she would jump forward like an unwanted pop up ad. Amanda knew extreme emotions unhinged the girl, made her feel uncomfortable. Hero preferred to be untouchable, objective when facing people. She had already gone through a lot as a child, she knew, so the girl liked dwelling in positive feelings. If something wasn't right, Hero liked to deliver swift justice and be done with it. As much as it pained Amanda seeing her friend broken, even for these few minutes, she knew this was good for her. This would allow Hero to grow and hopefully move on as well.

"I...I really can't remember," Hero whispered. Amanda said nothing, just continued to stroke her friend's back. A few minutes after, when Hero was silent, she spoke again. "You don't believe me?"

Amanda considered lying, but knew that would help no one.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because if you really couldn't remember, then things would be like business as usual. Nothing would change. You would stomp all over Miami solving mysteries and putting bad guys behind bars. You would be laughing and smiling like the idiot you usually are, determined to put Phil in an early grave. And you would be constantly yammering in my ear about Black Butler."

Hero giggled a little, but the smile faded.

"I'm sorry about earlier."

"You better be. That was embarrassing!" Amanda paused. "Listen, you don't have to discuss what happened but don't let it stunt the progress your life is heading in."

"...you should have been my therapist," said Hero, looking up. The darkness outside hid the red around her eyes and nose.

Amanda smirked. "That's what best friends are for. Course I've decided to go into law instead."

Hero sat, crossing her legs. "I still can't believe you quit being a model."

Amanda shrugged. "After you disappeared, those six months were horrible. It felt like you died. Time froze, everything became...cold." Hero fiddled with the Velcro snaps on her shoes, looking unsure for some reason.

Amanda continued. "While modeling was fun, it didn't feel like I was doing good for anyone. Like no was really benefitting from me being alive while you disappeared. You caught bad guys. I took pretty pictures. I felt useless. When job fair happened at school, I decided to research the judicial system on a whim and you know what...it felt right. You found the bastards while I made sure they stayed behind bars forever. This gives me purpose and I'm actually happy with it."

"You'll have to go to law school," Hero muttered.

Amanda chuckled. "Yeah. The only downside but it's a necessary evil."

"You're graduating this year," Hero pointed out, laying down on the grass, staring at the night sky and the few stars that were visible. Amanda leaned back, staring at the car filled street beyond them.

"You could too if you came back."

Hero shook her head. "It's not for me. I told my counselor I'd just take the GED test. The police academy will still take me. It'll be hard because I won't go to college but I can make it. I'll be like Phil one day."

Amana wasn't sure whether she should hug the stupid girl or burst into tears herself. She had broken through! The blonde smiled.

"Whatever you decide to do, I've always got your back. Same with Phil."

The distant sounds of car beeps and music from the live band coming from the other side of Bayside filled the air around the girls. For once, Hero felt...at peace.

"I fell in love."

Amanda sat up fast. "What? You...fell in love? As in your hardcore crushing on someone and thinking about going out and maybe becoming a serious couple who you'll eventually spend the rest of your life with?"

"...yeah. It's complicated though."

"Complicated? What? This is something to celebrate! Wait till Pepper finds out!"

"No please!" Hero said, sitting up. "Only you can know. I'm not ready for anyone else to find out. I wasn't kidding when I said it was complicated."

Amanda frowned. "Is it a guy or girl?"

Hero smiled. "Guy."

"Is he married?"

"No."

"Is he a criminal?"

"No."

"Is he an illegal immigrant?"

Hero laughed. "If anything I'm the illegal one."

"How old is he?" This time Hero flushed, refusing to meet Amanda's eyes. This only fueled the blonde's resolve. "You won't tell?"

"It doesn't matter anymore," Hero deflected. "He's not here. For a while, I wasn't sure. He was so adamant on me though. The attention confused me but it felt...nice. He could be a bit of a jerk, but he's actually really sweet."

"Well, is he at least hot?"

Again with the blush. "I mean, I guess. But that stuff doesn't matter." Amanda arched a brow. "Well, in regards to him anyway."

"So he's not hideous at least. Though leave it to you to sound like Belle. When did you meet him?"

Hero looked serious as she stared at the grass. Her fingers twitched.

"It was during the Six Months."

Amanda sucked in a breath. Could it be? Was this it? "So...you remember then?" Hero slowly nodded. "Why haven't you told anyone?"

"No one would believe me. I don't even believe me sometimes. It feels like a dream."

"Were...were you hurt?"

Hero snorted. "No more then usual. I'm always a magnet for trouble."

The relief was intense. "So you fell in love with this guy during your Six Months. You don't think this might be Stockholm Syndrome talking?"

"Hey, I may sound like Belle but I'm not actually her, okay? I wasn't actually kidnapped. When the Triband Cat Burglers came back, I hid in the oven. It was big enough for me. You were already gone and they had heard me."

Amanda winced. "I'm sorry. I freaked when I heard them. I called you when I rushed outside but I guess you didn't hear me. Worse part was it took me a while to figure out the police number in the UK. Did you know they have an urgent and non-urgent number? The urgent one is 999 and other is 101."

Hero smiled. "We probably should have thought about that before we went in."

"I shall refrain from saying, Bitch, I Told You So. What happened after?"

The smaller Hispanic girl hesitated. "This is where...things start to get weird..."

"So...wow," Amanda said at last, eyes wide.

It had only been ten minutes since Hero confessed all about her adventure in Black Butler world. Even as Hero explained, none of it sounded believable. But both Louie, her knapsack and her Sherlock hat were missing so that was enough to know she wasn't dreaming.

"Any questions?" Hero asked.

"Tons. But first, is Sebastian really real?"

Hero laughed. "Yes and he's insanely hot. Like you could eat him up forever hot."

Amanda blushed before furrowing her brows. "But he's a demon. That puts a damper on things."

"Right? I don't get how some girls can throw their life away for some carnal lust, though I completely understand."

"I think I'll stick to my pretty Ricky. He's yummy too," Amanda said with a wink.

Hero giggled some more before she sighed. "Do you think I really went to the past?"

Amanda stroked her chin. "It's hard to tell. I want to say no because shouldn't all that stuff have been recorded? And shouldn't there be a modern day Phantomhive family? I didn't see any such last name or title when I was over there. Not even the company!"

Hero frowned. That wasn't good news. She couldn't bear to think of what became of the Phantomhive name at this day and age. It was true that she hadn't heard a whisper of it other than in the manga/anime. Her stomach churned, her chest becoming heavy at the depressing thought.

"But what I really want to know is this whole bet that Madame Red made for your hand," Amanda snickered with a toothy grin.

Hero flushed again. "I'm not repeating that."

"I just can't believe it. How many guys were panting after you? You can barely make a civil conversation with one here without getting into a fight."

"Well, maybe I overreacted this morning but he spilled my drink! And called me a bitch!"

"Maybe it's because they're more mannered?" Amanda mused aloud. "I mean you look cute when you clean up. I suppose they could see the charm of your personality. If you compare it to all the other stuffy ones society ladies of that era exhibited, you'd be quite the popular lady. If you could act like one long enough."

Hero sighed. "You sound like Aunt Francis. Even Madame Red was starting to agree with her."

"Well, she does have a point. You can't be shocking people forever. It'll get tiresome. Novelty is good for a while but if its too much, you'll be ostracized," Amanda pointed.

"It doesn't even matter now! I'm here and can never go back."

Amanda had several things she wanted to discuss with Hero. Yes the tale sounded far-fetched but Hero had no reason to lie to her. In fact, she's kept quiet about the whole thing for far too long to make this up on a whim. Still, as Hero began, Amanda thought the girl was jerking her chain again. But as the explanation progressed, the blonde had a gut feeling that Hero wasn't kidding. The questions were bubbling impatiently on her lips, but there was only so much Hero could handle at the moment. The girl was probably emotionally exhausted right now.

"We'll talk more about this later," said Amanda, getting up and brushing the grass from her skirt. "Like tomorrow over lunch. But answer me this, who was it that you fell in love with? Who was the guy? I can tell its not Grey or poor Edward. Did you fall in love with Sebastian? Ciel?"

Hero's face started to reddened but Amanda stared her down. If there was one thing she was getting out of tonight, it was this! Who did Hero choose?

"Oh um, I," she began shyly, getting up as well and walking a little further away, probably trying to organize her thoughts. "You see, I kind of fell for—"

"Hey you," interrupted a voice from behind them.

Amanda felt like throttling the stranger. Fucking damn! She whirled around and was about to snap their head off when she recognized who it was.

"Oh hi."

"You dropped your credit card earlier," the small youth informed her, eyes blue and bored. "I turned it in to the lost and found of this place."

Amanda's eyes flew to her purse and rummaged through it desperately. Shit! She would just die inside if it turned out to be her new card.

"Damn, thanks for letting me know, kid. I better cancel it now," Amanda told him, whipping out her phone and getting on her card's banking app. The kid nodded before walking away. "Geez, I'm really loosing it. Come on Hero before the office closes—"

"Ciel?"

It was the tone that did it.

Amanda looked behind and found Hero standing there with wide saucer-like eyes, staring at the boy's retreating back as if he were an alien creature made of churros and mango smoothies. The kid stopped, his body stiffening. He whirled around quickly, his already big and bright eyes widening in shock.

"H-Hero? Is that—!"

Hero ran past Amanda, almost toppling the older girl in her haste. The Hispanic girl literally threw herself at the younger boy. Their combined weight had him landing on the grass, a sob escaping from the girl in his arms.

"This isn't real!" She cried.

The boy, who apparently was named Ciel, had his face buried in her hair.

"Finally," he murmured so softly that no one but Hero heard him.

Amanda wasn't sure what she was seeing, but one thing was for sure: this was going to be one hell of an explanation.