Butler Swap

Chapter 1: Meet the family, Japan

Why did Bocchan have to arrange such a thing. I know he likes to test me from time to time, but really this is too much, Sebastian thought to himself with a sigh. Sending me to another country like that, another time period as well. For me, it's not impossible but it's very troublesome. I hope Bocchan doesn't try and do anything to get himself killed while I'm away. He sighed again.

Sebastian was standing inconspicuously against a wall in his usually tailored clothes. He was watching a small girl yelling angrily at a large box with moving pictures, he had been informed that this box was called a "television" and had received and incredulous look from the girl for his effort. Sebastian has suddenly found himself in the 21th century on an impossibly large estate in suburban Tokyo, under the employ of a Nagi Sanzenin. From what he had observed of her so far, she hardly ever left the mansion and instead lazed about the mansion all day playing games and reading "manga". He had been lead to believe that the correct terms to describe Nagi were "hikikomori" and "otaku". What strange words these Japanese had. He could, of course, speak Japanese fluently, but it had been awhile and a long time in the past.

He noticed that the sounds from the TV had stopped as he surfaced from his musings. He looked toward the screen to find it had been turned off and the controller had been discarded on the floor. He saw the Nagi was looking at him impatiently.

"Yes, ojousama?" he asked politely.

"I'm bored," Nagi declared. "I want to play with Tama."

"He should be out in the grounds, by the lake or swimming pool, perhaps. I'll go fetch your hat, one moment."

They found Tama sprawled on a deck chair by the side of the pool. As they had approached, Sebastian had seen Tama hastily shove a book, a cocktail glass and sunglasses under the chair and his eyes had narrowed. When Nagi had rounded the corner, Tama was sprawled on that deck chair, every inch a sunbathing cat.

"Tama!" Nagi called.

Tama looked up from where he was lounging, got up and raced towards Nagi, before rubbing his face enthusiastically on her legs. Nagi patted his head lovingly and it wasn't long til Tama was purring contentedly. Sebastian moved back a bit to give the pair some more room while looking at Tama's strong, sleek, if slightly tubby form admiringly.

After a few moments, Tama noticed the butler and pulled away from Nagi. She was surprised by his sudden movement and turned to look at him, to find him standing rigid with feet spread apart and body bristling with pent up power. A low threatening growl was coming from the back of his throat, the full force of which was directed at Sebastian. Sebastian looked on calmly, a look of mild interest on his face. His red eyes gleamed as he looked at the deadly beautiful feline form in front of him.

Without warning, the tiger leaped at the butler, who moved imperceptibly out of the way of the attack. The tiger then soared comically though the air into the convenient bushes behind the butler with a crash and a thud. Sebastian turned to face the crumbled vegetation, surveying it with some dismay. He was probably the one who was going to have to fix it, or at least organise for someone else to. The tiger emerged from the bushes and again growled at Sebastian, his haunches raised. Sebastian gave Tama that look, the one that let a glimpse his inner nature to the surface, that of a demon. He seemed to be saying : "I'll deal with you later."

Tama stopped growling and sat down suddenly with a thump. Who exactly is this guy? He has a strange aura that can't quite be defined but feels cruel and evil. Tama shivered slightly. He didn't want that sort of guy around Nagi, which is why he had instinctively attacked. Nagi's voice broke off his train of thought. She had moved forward to stand beside Sebastian, who was now smiling politely, and glanced between the two.

"Tama, this is Sebastian. He'll be working here for the next couple of weeks, on a sort of butler exchange. Play nice, okay?"

That evening, he had finished his chores and Nagi had been put to bed, on his way to his room is was accosted by the tiger.

"Who are you?" asked Tama, who was now upright.

"I'm just a hell of a butler," came the reply, with a polite smile.

He didn't seem surprised to find the tiger talking, who commented as much.

Sebastian shrugged slightly. "Should I be surprised?"

Tama nodded. "That kid, Hayate, was. It was very funny, actually."

Sebastian shrugged again. "I have the utter most respect for cats. Now if you'll excuse me, I suggest we stay out of each other's way for the rest of my time here. Bocchan thinks up the most troublesome pranks. Goodnight." He shook his head slightly and strode off down the corridor.

This is my first fan fic and I don't do a lot of writing...

I hoped you enjoyed the first chapter, and I'll try and add more humour to later chapters. Sorry if the characters are a bit OOCish. I need to watch some more Hayate no Gotoku.

I'm looking forward to putting Seb and Hayate in awkward and potentially dangerous situations .